Surprise! I was holding onto one more update for you all. I figured today would be a good day to drop this extra-sized chapter for you all. Think of it as my gift to you all for all of your support. And we haven't even gotten to the really good stuff yet. I've got some big plans for the future. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and if it's not your thing, then I wish you an amazing day regardless! I would post more, but the fam is calling me for dinner, and I smell Turkey!

Enjoy!


The house of Barret's friend continued to crumble and collapse as the flames consumed it. The rest of the town wasn't fairing much better as Scarlet had wreaked havoc with her machines. Rude had come along under orders from Tseng. The reports stated that they were to provide support against the traitors. The informant had mentioned seeing a mysterious man clad in red accompanied by a bulky-muscled inhabitant of the town and the fugitive ex-Turk Reno. Rude had concealed his emotions well regarding Reno's surprising betrayal.

When he had seen Reno standing next to the cloaked man and Tseng had confirmed his identity as the Legendary Turk, Vincent Valentine whom had died on a mission decades ago it had given him mixed feelings about the company he served. If that really had been Vincent and he was alive then what other secrets was the company possibly hiding?

As he stood there staring down the SOLDIER who had obviously been surprised by his appearance his Turk training kicked in; searching the warrior for any telltale signs of dishonesty, deception or betrayal. To Rude, Zack's facial expression and the widening of his eyes was like catching a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. Zack was standing in front of the man that had been seen with the two Ex-Turks, obviously protecting him. This was the sign Tseng had told him to be watchful of; any signs that the SOILDER Firsts couldn't be trusted. This would prove Tseng right, but at the same time, Reno had been one of the most loyal Turks they'd ever have in their ranks. If he had turned then was there a reason for it?

Rude recalled Reno's words to Tseng before their chopper crashed; "Sorry boss, I got to see the big picture and I realized my family was on the wrong side."

Was there something going on that the Turks didn't know about? Had Sephiroth and Zack discovered some dark secret along with Reno and were trying to form a plan to deal with it? Rude needed to know more before he could do anything.

Zack tried not to let his emotions show, but it was hard after what he had just witnessed. "Uh, I uh, I figured it'd be better to take one of the traitors alive," he tried as a cover up.

Rude mentally commended the SOLDIER for trying to save himself and not blow whatever cover he had, even if he had failed. He made a motion to tilt his head as if examining the man at Zack's feet. "You failed. The report will read that two traitors died in the house and were absorbed by the Lifestream."

Zack blinked at him in surprise. It was amazing how well he lived up to his nickname of a puppy. "What? But…his arm, he needs medical attention."

Rude adjusted his sunglasses as he turned, "A Turk's observation is never wrong. Take care of the damage control here, I'll go meet up with the others." With that he headed off, back into town leaving Zack very confused.

A hand touched Zack's shoulder and the warrior turned, drawing his blade when he saw Vincent standing there. Immediately sheathing the Buster Sword, Zack sighed with a mixture of relief and agitation. "Jeeze! Say something first! I almost cut you in half!"

Vincent wasn't paying attention though he was focusing on Barret. Pulling out a mastered Restore Materia, he tried healing the wound as best as he could for now. He managed to stop the bleeding and get him more stable, but that was all the materia could do for now. "That Turk knows you're not loyal to Shinra."

Zack's shoulders sagged. "I know. My plan wasn't as well thought out as I had hoped. If Tseng hadn't been so obsessed with trying to get Cloud to join them it wouldn't have gotten so out of hand."

"That is partially my fault," Vincent admitted. "I've been host to Chaos for so long that I've become paranoid with the worst case scenario. All I could see was Sephiroth failing. I thought we'd need the Cloud from the future to pick up where Sephiroth would fall."

Zack shook his head. "I get it, I really do. I can't even imagine a future where all that bad stuff happened, but you misjudged both Sephiroth and Cloud. Who knows, he may have become a badass warrior without pushing fast forward. Sephiroth was going to help train him and get him into SOLIDER with me as his mentor. I think the general wanted to save him from any traumatizing memories like his hometown going up in flames."

Vincent looked up at Zack for a moment before looking back down to Barret. "Never believe a Turk when he tells you they're perfect. We're anything but."

Zack smirked before kneeling down and placing a hand on Vincent's shoulder. The ex-Turk looked up at him before the SOLDIER offered him a thumbs up. "Apology accepted, now let's get this guy out of here."

. . .

An hour later Sephiroth was standing in the middle of the burning village, waiting for Tseng to convince Scarlet to stop with her assault as her weapons had proved successful for the most part and the traitors had been dealt with. Rude was making the call for another chopper to come and pick them up. Zack had just returned into the heart of the village and let up with Sephiroth where the general was waiting for a report.

"Well?"

Zack placed his hands on his hips as he scanned the area. "Barret's gonna be okay. He lost a lot of blood and his right arm, but Vincent says he's got a good chance. I felt so bad for him when he was crying out a girl's name. I was afraid I had missed someone in the house."

Sephiroth blinked as he turned to look directly at Zack. "Was the name Marlene?"

Zack turned to his commander and mirrored his expression. "How'd you know?"

Sephiroth looked nervous, which unnerved Zack far more than he'd ever like to admit. "You didn't get her out?"

Zack recalled when he and Vincent got the edge of the village, away from the flames and Scarlet's troops. Reno was holding a baby and wanting Vincent to take it back before it needed a diaper change. Zack had asked why Reno was holding a baby when Vincent mentioned that she was important to Barret.

"Vincent saved a baby and said she was very important to Barret. That was probably Marlene."

The general's previous expression faded and returned to normal, which told Zack his hunch was right.

"Some things it seems cannot be avoided," Sephiroth voiced aloud. He closed his eyes and smirked, remembering the things his old friend Genesis often used to preach. "The fates are cruel my friend. Some things will never change no matter how hard you try."

"Speaking of things that can't be avoided," Zack added nervously, "I think I blew my cover in front of Rude."

Sephiroth turned to look at him then, his eyes focused and stern and it made Zack physically wince. "I couldn't let Barret die in the flames. Rude was there right as I got him out."

The general's glare intensified and Zack began to sweat. "He did something weird though, he said two people had died in the fire and told me to handle the clean up. He then left without another word. I think…I think it means he isn't going to rat me out."

"Or he's going to wait until he has more facts and reveals it when it would most benefit him. A Turk keeps his hand close to his chest and plays it at the right moment. Be careful to watch your actions closely."

"I know I screwed up. Vincent and I already had this chat."

"Then you'll do well to remember it," Sephiroth snapped before walking away.

"Hey," Zack wined, but the general didn't even look back. "That was a bit uncalled for…"

The trip back to Midgar was a quiet and uncomfortable one. A second chopper had to be called in and Sephiroth had avoided Zack and spending more time helping Tseng with the cover up. As the Turk mentioned after first calling in the pick-up, not all of the people were caught up in the 'accident'. It was sickening that they had come up with such a twisted story.

By the time he was back in Midgar, Zack glared at the report as he filled it out:

Faulty equipment caused the chopper to crash and Scarlet, whom was testing her new robots nearby thought it was an attack and began firing back. In the confusion we spotted the Fugitive ex-Turk Reno who was killed by the general, avenging the death of those his betrayal was responsible for. I tried to save some of the villagers, but was unsuccessful…

Zack crumpled the report before furiously balling it up and tossing it in the trash pale, but missed.

It landed next to a foot and Zack heard a familiar chuckle echo through the room.

"Rough day?...Don't worry, they'll get easier…not the tasks, but the ability to deal with them…"

Zack blinked as he looked over, expecting to see Angeal standing there by the door, but it was only his imagination messing with him. The warrior sighed before getting up from his desk and retrieving the discarded paper ball.

"Angeal…if only it were that easy… …I'm still struggling."

. . .

Over the moonlit cliffs of Cosmo Canyon, the ridges echoed with howls, but not from the local wolf population. Barret was crying out in pain for all he was worth as Aerith and the village doctors worked at trying to treat his horrendous injury. Finally after what seemed like several hours they had finished. They did what they could to save the arm, but it had been far too damaged. The man would just have to get used to having only one arm, or getting used to a prostatic. That wasn't what he was truly upset about though. Sure he was in pain, but nothing was more devastating than losing his best friend and his friend's baby girl in one night.

"Damn that Shinra…why Corel? What did we ever do to deserve this? Dyne…Marlene…Why did they have to suffer?"

Vincent approached him then and touched his arm, trying to get his attention.

"Leave me alone," was his broken reply, until he heard a small baby squeal and his entire demeanor changed.

Barret nearly sat up and stared, wide-eyed at the ex-Turk, tears of hope so timid that he was afraid to blink. Vincent pulled back the cloth from his cape and revealed the cooing baby in his arms.

The tears fells openly from Barret's eyes then as he took her in his good arm. He didn't take his eyes off her as he addressed Vincent. "…How?"

"I've already made one mistake this time…I wasn't about to make another. I saw an opportunity to save her and I did."

Barret hugged the little one closely to him and rocked her back and forth as the baby girl began to get upset. "I was wrong about you."

Vincent merely nodded. "First impressions rarely reveal one's true self."

Barret shook his head. "That don't matter. I was wrong. Anytime you're in trouble, know that I got your back."

Vincent found himself fighting back a grateful smirk. He and Barret had been good friends in the future, at least as far as the whole team's kinship went. He wasn't sure how the bonds would form this time with Cloud being forced (temporarily) on the sidelines. He was thankful for any solid ally he could get.

Outside the room, Tifa and Cloud had been waiting to hear how Barret was doing. Aerith had sighed, trying not to show how much treating his injury had taken its toll and gave them a tired smile. She let them know that aside from the obvious, he'd be fine. Tifa left with Aerith to help her out with anything and Cloud stated behind, waiting for Vincent. He had seen the man enter the room with something cradled in his arm and wondered if he had been injured.

He got his answer when Vincent reemerged completely fine. He made his way to leave when the blonde hurried to catch up. "Hey, so what's the plan now?"

Vincent stopped and looked down at him. "I have some more information to hunt down."

"I'll come with you," Cloud offered, but the older man shook his head.

"Too risky. If anyone outside the canyon saw you alive the SOLDIER's lies would be exposed."

Cloud couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're not serious. I can't just stay in this canyon the whole time! You said I was the leader, so let me lead!"

Vincent just turned without a word and walked away. Cloud glared after him and followed before the ex-Turk took the edge of his cloak, wrapped himself in it and took off, leaving the blonde calling out angrily in his wake.

. . .

A few days had passed and while everything had been quiet on the surface the general couldn't help but feel like things were happening behind the scenes. Hojo was still nowhere to be seen and as much as he hated the man, Sephiroth would have preferred to see the professor in the labs and attending normal projects instead of being off-base somewhere. It hadn't been the first time, but it never meant anything good. In fact, knowing what he did now, it most likely meant he was working on something big, secretive and very very illegal. If not by the company standards, than certainly he was committing crimes against nature.

It made it even more apparent when he received a coded message from Kunsel. He hadn't yet found Hojo's secret Wutian base, but he had been seen in the area. The latest report sighted him headed for Nibelheim. Sephiroth had to hand it to Zack. He sure knew how to pick well-informed allies.

Zack…

Sephiroth still wasn't used to interacting with others on a personal level, despite the steps he had taken ever since his trip through time. He knew Zack was feeling conflicted about what happened during the mission in Corel. And Sephiroth would never admit that he didn't know how to apologize to him regarding his harsh words. His anger had spawned from his worries of them being found out. Reno turning and helping them was, as Genesis would have put it, "a gift from the Goddess." Sephiroth didn't believe in miracles or higher beings, though the former seemed to be becoming more and more plausible as time went on. Rude on the other hand was a completely different story. Like Reno, he was a solid Turk through and through, but unlike Reno he had no friends in SOLDIER.

Still…why had he covered for them? It was obvious if Zack had been seen helping Barret; a Shinra-labeled traitor, that he wasn't loyal, but Rude had overlooked it. It was something he might request Kunsel to look into when the Second returned. For now though, he had some fences to mend.

Pulling out his PHS he flipped it open and texted Zack.

"Report to my office."

Eight minutes later there was a knock at his door.

"Enter."

Zack entered and Sephiroth knew something wasn't right when the younger SOLDIER just stood at attention instead of collapsing into the visitor's chair and relaxing.

"You wanted to see me," he asked, again in a formal tone that Sephiroth didn't like.

The general tried with all his might to channel Angeal's wisdom and tried to imagine how he might handle this situation.

"After careful deliberation regarding your behavior in North Corel I have come to a decision."

Zack tensed up as Sephiroth stood and walked around his desk to stand in front of him. He wasn't sure what was about to happen but the last thing he expected was for Sephiroth to reach out and gently shove him back, forcing him out of his stance.

"Your actions are to be commended; it was myself who was out of line."

Zack's eyes widened. Had general Sephiroth just apologized?! Sure it wasn't a direct "I'm sorry," but it was clear as a bell to Zack and he replied in turn with a smile.

"Well, I was pretty careless. Guess I still have a lot to learn."

"Indeed, as do I, but that's not the only reason why I called you here."

That had Zack's full attention. "A new mission?"

The general nodded. "There have been sightings reported that I need you to investigate, and before you go, I need you to sign this," he gestured to the form, reaching over his pen that was closest and took the one on the far end of the desk. His gaze flicked to Zack with meaning before picking the pen up and offering it to him.

It clicked for the younger warrior then that his commander was trying to tell him something deeper. He reached farther than he needed to and Zack tried to connect it to the mission. If he was going to Nibelheim, was Sephiroth secretly asking him to go a longer way? Then it became obvious. He wanted Zack to go through Cosmo Canyon, to check on everyone there. He was worried about Barret and the rest of them too.

Zack looked over the form before scribbling his name down. It was just a simple form for ordering more supplies for the Second Class vending machines. Something any First Class could sign for, but the true message was received regarding the longer trip.

"I heard there's some rough weather south of there. It may hold me up for a few days," he implied.

Sephiroth nodded. "This mission has no time limit, just be careful. I've got plenty of paperwork to keep me busy here."

Zack saluted him before being dismissed. He understood that too. Sephiroth had some digging to do within the company. If he could find something, anything, it would bring them one step closer to their goal.

. . .

The next day Zack found himself walking up the steps leading to Nanaki's village. The very citizen was waiting at the top of the steps and swished his tail in a greeting to which Zack returned with a friendly salute. "How's it goin' Tiger?"

"As well as can be expected…porcupine."

Zack smirked as they adopted their friendly banter of nicknames as the lion-wolf brought him up to date on the state of things.

"I just wish I could have gotten to Barret sooner, I might have been able to save his arm."

"As I see it, the man owes you his life. That level of valor doesn't go unnoticed," Nanaki replied.

"Yeah well…at least Vincent saved the baby. Has Barret seen her yet?"

The feline nodded. "He hasn't let her out of his sights since he woke up last night. Tifa, Aerith and even Cloud have taken turns holding her while Barret rests. He refuses to let her leave the room."

"Cloud too, eh?"

Nanaki nodded. "He's growing restless. He feels limited to what he can do, and is trying to find ways to prove his value I don't think he's too thrilled about being stuck here, though he's taking it better than your Turk friend Reno."

"What's he up to," asked Zack.

"As I understand it, he's trying to …'woo' the village girls, but without much luck. I must admit though, it was amusing to see Alyssa's mother chase him with her broom."

Zack huffed a laugh at the thought. "I'll bet." He then remembered Sephiroth's warning. "Hey, you might want to stay in the village for a few days. I came here to visit, but I'm on my way to Nibelheim to check on a tip that Hojo had been seen in the area. Seph doesn't want you to end up as a possible experiment again."

The lion made what attempted to be a thankful grin and nodded. "It's appreciated. I'll keep that in mind."

With that he waved his tail before heading off to meet with his grandfather, leaving Zack near the room where Barret was resting.

Zack stepped inside and was greeted with an amusing sight.

Barret was sitting on the bed, but not quite straight up as he watched Cloud try to feed Marlene. Well, watch wasn't quite the word Zack would use, more like criticize every move the blonde would make.

"No, not like that Spiky. You'll give her hiccups!"

"I'm doing it exactly like Aerith showed me."

"No you ain't! Hold her head higher or she'll choke!"

"Ugh, if you don't stop back-seat feeding I'll leave you to do it."

"I would if I could, hell, even with one arm I'd still do a better job!"

"Then why don't you prove it, hulking ogre!"

"Bring her over here and I will ya lil' shrimp!"

They both stopped when they heard laughter and turned to see Zack barely leaning against the door frame, hugging his sides.

"What's so funny," asked Barret.

"I'm sorry, you guys just sound like the perfect old couple it's hilarious!"

"We Do NOT," they both shouted at once and he broke into another fit of laughter.

Marlene had had enough of the arguing and let out a distressed wail which had startled Cloud and made Barret angry. "Now what'd you do?"

Cloud tried to gently rock her while uttering gentle shushes as Tifa made her way in. She saw the chaos and could only shake her head.

"Honestly, this group would fall apart without me and Aerith here." She gently took the baby from Cloud and adjusted her to lay comfortably in her arms while she took the bottle next, threw a cloth over her shoulder and gently bounced the baby, quietly shushing the baby as the blonde had just done seconds before, only this time it had the desired effect of calming the little one. Once the crying had stopped, Tifa sat down and offered Marlene the bottle to which the baby began to drink.

"There now, that's much better, huh? You just needed someone who knew what they were doing. Yush yuu did," she spoke in a cutesy tone.

Marlene's little eyes sparkled as she continued to chug away at the bottle.

Cloud scratched the back of his head. "I tried to calm her down. She was just a bit more fussy today."

Tifa smiled at him before brushing his arm. "You get an A for effort Cloud. They're not that easy to understand, you just gotta talk to them and make them want to do what you want, but it doesn't always work. I bet this time she just didn't like all the noise."

Not feeling like a total failure with taking care of a baby, Cloud turned his attention to Zack who was still trying to control a case of the giggles. "How are things at Shinra? Can I go back yet?"

Zack focused on him then and his mirth quickly faded. "That bored, huh?"

"It's not bad here, but I need to get stronger. I'm ready to do my part."

Zack sighed then, looking every inch the apologetic friend. It said everything Cloud needed to know.