Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no money from this work. Anything recognizable to the Final Fantasy VII series and its associated parts belongs to Square Enix and affiliated companies.

Green Dreams

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Will You Commit to This Program

I knew you when you were a Turk.

A blue-suited Turk thrust a gun into Reno's hand, and the door was slammed shut behind him. The man was unknown to Reno, but he was beginning to suspect what was going to happen. In fact, he was beginning to suspect a lot about what was going to happen.

Reno knew Shinra had some weird things going on, but an entire underground training facility? The damn thing was like a labyrinth. Reno had been wandering around in the dimly lit metal interior for nearly two hours, and he hadn't gotten anywhere. Although, he was pretty sure he was back in Midgar. The city's smell seeped into everything.

The only direction he'd gotten was, according to Tseng, he'd "know what to do".

Asshole.

I knew you when you were a Turk.

The maze was dark, riddled with dead ends, pitch-black tunnels, monsters like the ones in the slums, and a confusing array of other Turks, who would happily shoot him. He'd had more near misses than he could count, especially when there was no cover and he had tosprint for it. So far Reno had only found a box of ammunition but no food or water.

Was he supposed to kill the Turks shooting him? Most of them were up high in alcoves, and he hadn't been able to do more than duck around a corner and fire blindly. The low lighting, not to mention that there were loads of boxes, cubbyholes, and hidden balconies for the would-be snipers to hide behind, made it near impossible to get a good shot. No wonder the goddamn survival rate was 30%. They were actively trying to kill him.

Reno dodged behind a wooden crate just in time as the bullet skimmed by him. The reportof the gun was deafening in this metal maze, echoing over an invisible ceiling and making his ears ring every time he fired. He'd given up shooting back, letting the Turks think he'd run off in the other direction or something.

I knew you when you were a Turk. I knew you when you were a Turk.

What the fuck, Cloud?! Slip me a stupid note before you disappear and you tell me that?

The words continued to repeat themselves even as Reno moved through the maze, only half a mind on how to get out. The other half focused solely on Cloud. Turk? Reno had never been a fucking Turk. Nothing seemed to make sense with Cloud recently, but this one topped the cake. What kind of cryptic message was that?

It was another three hours of this mess, including a nasty encounter with some fiend that looked like a cross between a crab and a lion, before Reno finally seemed to be getting somewhere in the maze. Cloud's words were still a really annoying mystery, but one that was set aside for his immediate survival. You always knew you were deep in enemy territory when either the gunfire turned up a notch—or when it completely stopped. But at least it gave him some information about what was going to happen next.

The dark hallway he was carefully walking through opened up to a larger room. Reno couldn't make out detail as he crouched to the ground, but he could sense the space in the air. Roughly ten minutes ago he seemed to have passed the barrier of their "guard", the people that were firing on him. Now he just needed to figure out Tseng's non-instructions.

Keeping low to the ground, Reno carefully peeked out from the hallway then risked sticking a booted foot out. It had more protection than a bare hand—barely—and if he kept it low he might not attract unwanted attention. If there were someone or something there, they would leap for that first.

When nothing grabbed or shot at him, Reno tentatively stepped out. His footsteps reverberated in the still air as he made his way through the large expense, only vaguely sensing the opening where another hallway began. It was mad creepy wandering around in the dark like this. Reno seriously hoped he was getting to the end of it.

After a couple more turns, Reno started to notice the change in atmosphere. The metal ground became a carpet, there were doorknobs at even intervals, and after jumping up, was able to touch the ceiling, complete with electric lights, though none were on. It felt like…an office.

The doors were all locked and it was too much risk to break one open lest someone hear, so Reno stalked down the black hallway with little idea of where he was. He couldn't see more than three feet ahead of him, and he hadn't the faintest idea exactly what he was supposed to be doing other than surviving. Was there a goal? Was he supposed to do something? It felt like somewhere between a video game and horror flick.

As Reno walked though, he began to hear the sound of steady breathing. It echoed faintly in the quiet, and his every sense heightened almost painfully. Reno slowed his steps and evened his breaths, moving carefully but steadily closer to the sound.

It was through that door, the one Reno could now see, barely two feet from it, that was slightly open. He could almost feel someone in there, breathing quietly, probably muffled behind their hand from the sounds of it. Another recruit? Were they supposed to duke it out? That would be totally cliché Reno couldn't help thinking. Either way he was not dying in some barbaric test of Tseng's creation.

Holding the gun in both hands, arms taunt and body ready, he jumped out and aimed, finger just a hair over the trigger, but didn't fire.

There wasn't any movement, just a hitched breath, and Reno could see now that there was a low light here, illuminating a person tied to a chair with duck tape. He was wearing a standard Shinra soldier uniform, and it was impossible to tell his identity because of the black bag tied over his head.

Reno had been through a lot of shit today (or was it two days? He didn't really know how much time had passed since he'd been kidnapped.), and he really didn't want to deal with a hostage. Free him? Drag his sorry ass to safety without getting both of them killed?

He didn't have to think long before Tseng stepped out of the shadows, flicking the light on more. Reno almost shot him there, but held his ground, squinting in the bright light as Tseng moved behind the hostage tied to the chair.

"So you made it." Tseng's lip curled a little, but Reno wasn't sure if he was displeased or something else. "Kill him."

Reno thought for a split-second that Tseng was telling someone else to kill him, but when nothing happened, Reno realized then what this test was all about: he had to kill the guy in the chair.

The muffled voice behind the bag wasn't understandable, but it was pretty clear the guy was alive and terrified. Reno felt slightly green at the thought of the squirming man who could hear every word.

"Reno, kill him." Tseng was standing right there looking almost nonchalant about the whole thing. Something about the tension in Tseng's face though told Reno he maybe wasn't as onboard with this as he looked.

I knew you when you were a Turk.

Reno needed to stall. He needed to feel the situation out first.

"What's he done?"

Tseng shrugged. "Does it matter?"

Reno watched Tseng as he spoke, careful to analyze his expression. This could be a backwards test, but if this were to become a Turk…

I knew you when you were a Turk.

"Your order is to kill him."

Reno paused to consider the guy strapped to the chair. He didn't look that old from body structure alone. A soldier then? Reno had only killed in the heat of the moment, so standing there preparing himself for it felt wrong. A shoot out in the slums wasn't really meant to kill someone; it was just to scare the others off. The only real time he'd ever truly killed another human being was when he'd fired at one guy who just kept coming, and even then the adrenaline from the gun pointed straight at him had been a big part of it.

This was…different.

Reno raised the gun though, aiming down the barrel for the man's head. The only mercy of a soldier was a fast death.

I knew you when you were a Turk... Knew? As in known, been friends with? Not just known he was one, but knew knew?

"Hey, Tseng… when you knew something, it already happened, right?"

He pulled the trigger before he could try and be moral.

If there was one thing Reno was thankful for, gunshots are a pretty clean way to kill. Other than the spasm of impact, and the head dropping forward, there wasn't much evidence. The dark uniform and bag hid any bloodstain. Reno was quite thankful then he didn't have to see the man's face.

Tseng's clapping echoed mockingly as Reno pointed the gun at the Turk.

"Reno," Tseng said, looking awfully relaxed for a man with a gun dead-set on him, "Welcome to the Turks."

I knew you when you were a Turk.

Tseng said something more, but Reno wasn't really listening. Cloud had known. The blond had known Reno was being eyed by the Turks, he'd known that Reno would pass their stupid test and become one. It was like he could see the future…or something. God that sounded stupid when he thought it but—

Reno didn't finish the thought. Tseng had whipped off the black bag on the man's head, revealing the face.

Maxwell.

He'd shot and killed Maxwell. A fellow cadet. A bastard of one, but still a peer.

Had Cloud known that? If he'd known Reno as a Turk…

The return trip to Midgar was one giant party.

It had taken seven helicopters to fly everyone out to Nibelheim, but in the end it took only two helicopters to fly them back. Eight cadets had passed to join SOLDIER. Those that didn't make it back to Rocket Town in time would be rounded up and returned to join the regulation army.

Despite Dan and Reno's missing status, Cloud was still able to join in the good feelings of those eight that made it. His dream of SOLDIER had finally come true,but it was bittersweet that it had taken until now for him to do it. He would be a SOLDIER.

When they landed in Midgar, there were more shouts, calls for another wild night at a bar, and all manner of celebration. These lucky eight were moving up in the world, and even Cloud was drawn in once again, his smile bright.

The cadets—now SOLDIER Thirds technically—were dismissed. Before Cloud could move off with the others, Zack's arm landed on his shoulder, squeezing again.

"Proud of you Spike."

Cloud closed his eyes, memorizing the words again. Zack had been saying that since yesterday, when he'd come bursting into Cloud's room shouting congratulations and beer and steak. Zack treated him to dinner, drilling him about the second half of the exam the whole way, and recounting his own promotion to SOLDIER afterwards. Though Cloud was forced to severely edit his recount of the exam, he was more than happy to hear about Zack's promotion properly this time.

Before—in truly another lifetime—Cloud had heard second hand about Zack's advancement to SOLDIER. It had been during the war Aeris explained, when just about everyone became a SOLDIER because they needed the men. He'd jumped from Third to First is two months, Zack had filled in, and Cloud just sat back and let his friend talk, gesturing the whole while. If Cloud could, he'd never have it any other way: a full stomach, troubles forgotten for the moment, friendship, and laughs. This was why, he told himself as he just let Zack's voice wash over him, that he did this in the first place.

When they'd finally returned to the hotel after dinner, it was to a mystifyingly distracted Sephiroth. Zack didn't seem to react immediately to it though, perhaps still caught up in Cloud's promotion high. "What's up Seph?"

Cloud fought not to fidget when Sephiroth glanced briefly over at him, but he got the impression he wasn't involved. This offered little relief though, because something was clearly bothering the General.

"I wished to congratulate you, Strife, on your performance. You will be a welcome addition to SOLDIER."

Sephiroth's tone was formal, and Cloud responded in kind with a stiff bow and murmured thanks. Zack shot the General a look, seeming to catch on now, but otherwise didn't say anything.

There was an awkward lull that Zack immediately strove to fill. "I'm pretty sure I saw some guy with pudding earlier on. You want some Seph? Cloud?"

Cloud shook his head, murmuring something about a full stomach. Sephiroth didn't offer anything more than a "no thank you", before leaving for his room. Zack looked mildly worried, but didn't ask Cloud for any help with Sephiroth's enigma.

Zack ruffled his hair one more time and said with a slightly wider smile than he might have otherwise sported, "Catch you bright and early tomorrow, huh?"

Now, Zack laughed good-naturedly had told him to pack up, patting him on the back and stirring from his reminiscences on Sephiroth's off behavior. "You're going to get the dress uniform when you get to your new rooms—four guys in one bunk! Ceremony's tomorrow, bright and early. Then we'll see about an apprenticeship, huh?"

Cloud could feel something short-circuit in his brain. "R- Really?"

"What? You weren't expecting that?" Zack really laughed then, "Everyone in SOLDIER's been asking me why it's taking so long. Now that you're a Third I'll start training you for real."

Zack punched Cloud's shoulder lightly then, and waved as he began to walk off to join the General. Cloud's eyes followed him as he did, and he really smiled for what felt like the first time in years as he jogged back to the cadet barracks.

The ceremony was like all the ones before it, except that Zack was beaming like a proud father and bragging about Strife every chance he could get. This was expected behavior for the Lieutenant General, but this time it was genuinely annoying him.

The General stood stiffly at the head of the room, while Heidegger rambled on about pride and glory, swelling at times like a pimple about to burst. Sephiroth was in no mood to be doing this formality. All he wanted to do was disappear for a while and think.

Cloud Strife's enigma had bothered him as much as ever during the exam, because hee simply had no answers, and now knew he had no way to extract them without due cause for alarm. While waiting for the blond to finish the final part of the exam, Sephiroth decided it was time to do a little more serious digging. He was never one for hacking, but Sephiroth liked to be well rounded, and he knew a thing or two about computers. Borrowing Zack's computerfor both the clearance and the lack of spying eyes—it had been a long-standing aggravation that he had to borrow one of his First's computers if he wanted any privacy—Sephiroth quickly accessed Shinra's main database.

He should have done this earlier, he thought, as he skimmed public records. Zack was off chatting with the other SOLDIERs, so Sephiroth had some time in his makeshift office unbothered. No doubt Zack would want to help, knew the other man was just as bothered by the questions,but Sephiroth wanted to do this alone. He knew, logically, that he shouldn't be making this personal, but it was growing more difficult with every run-in with Strife.

The files on record matched those in Shinra's database from when Cloud joined, so the blond hadn't lied in that respect. He'd also never won any sort of competition—in fighting or otherwise—so finding out if he had personal training would be difficult. Especially considering in a small town like Nibelheim arranging that sort of thing would be informal.

Digging deeper, Sephiroth considered other possibilities. He had entertained the thought that Cloud might be associated with a group like AVALANCHE. If that were the case, other departments in Shinra might have a file that may have clues. There was also, regrettably, Hojo. The man was, among other things, very organized, and he often kept private files on anything that caught his attention. Cloud might very well be one of those things, though the thought was off-putting.

He could only access limited parts of the Turk database from outside Shinra HQ without stirring up their interest, but there was nothing about blond associates of AVALANCHE or any of the myriad of gangs and political groups they kept an eye on. Other searches across varying department pulled up the same blanks, and eventually Sephiroth turned towards the Science Department. What Sephiroth had found in Hojo's hidden files last night had been disturbing and highly upsetting. Until Sephiroth could find a way to confront Hojo about it, or at least covertly deal with his own feelings on the…abomination Hojo had spawned.

Heidegger, with his famous 'horse laugh' as it was known, finally finished whatever tedious speech he'd been making and left through a side door. Sephiroth said his rehearsed bit, hardly hearing himself despite the eight new Thirds hanging on his every word, and left quickly. He sensed Zack's concerned look, but ignored it.

He needed to find better coping mechanisms than killing things, but that would do for now.

The first two days of being a Third were mostly orientation. SOLDIER's do this, your canteen is here, training gym over there, make Shinra proud, blah blah blah. Yet, despite the dullness of those days, all the other boys were seeing the world in a new light, through the lens of power and prestige. Cloud was just as happy about SOLDIER as the rest, but he couldn't see the world like that—mostly because he'd been on that side of the lens before. Now that the great looming hurdle of SOLDIER was jumped, it seemed to throw the rest of what Cloud had to do in relief. Reno's still unexplained disappearance was becoming disturbing, but he held out hope it was the Turks. Not to mention that Cloud had yet to see Dan, which begged the question of what happened to him.

Most worrying of all though was Jenova's mysterious departure. There were just too many things going on to be light-hearted for long, and in his experience, things would in fact, get worse.

It was the third day of SOLDIER when Zack kicked open Cloud's door at 0800. The blond was not at all expecting Zack's visit, and so was barely dressed in time to be dragged out the door. His three bunkmates were no more thrilled than the blond was.

Zack wasn't talking, just grinning stupidly as he wolfed down his breakfast with Cloud, before hauling him off again.

"Zack, where are we going?"

"Aw Cloud, you've asked like fifty times. You'll see in a sec." Zack was far too excited for Cloud's liking, and it was making him nervous.

Cloud was pretty sure it was the third time, but let it past. Still pleased with the easy peace between them, it was strange now that after years of fantasizing about these small interactions with the man he was able to have them.

They arrived in front of a building on a part of the compound Cloud had not been to yet. "Um…"

"It's the First Class' gym!" Zack swiped his card and pushed the doors open, walking Cloud past an impressive pool, weight training room, and finally to a large gymnasium built especially for sword fighting.

"Zack!" Cloud hissed, suddenly uncomfortable as a First passed by, giving Cloud a curious look before grinning at Zack. "I don't think I'm supposed to be here."

"Puh-leez," Zack laughed off, waving away Cloud's concerns. "I reserved the whole gym just for this."

Cloud was about to say something, but the words died in his throat as Zack swung the door open. Sephiroth, in full battle uniform, was standing in the center of the room with Zack's buster sword in one hand, and what looked like an older one in the other.

"Ready to take a swing?"

If someone had thrown Cloud off the roof of Shinra HQ, he probably wouldn't have noticed.

Zack didn't seem to notice Cloud's stunned expression, or if he did he misinterpreted it. "I know you've been hankering for a go, so Seph and I dug up this old buster sword. She's a fine piece of work despite her age; I think you'll like her."

While Zack was talking, Cloud could sense Sephiroth's curious skin felt itchy, and his hands began to sweat. He was undoubtedly here to watch and see how Cloud was doing. The blond was pretty sure this was the precursor to the inevitable interrogation. Even still, Cloud couldn't control his ingrained reaction to the man when he was dressed in battle gear.

"Sure," Cloud murmured, only half-hearing Zack as he took the proffered blade from Sephiroth, not realizing how he'd continue to keep a steady eye on Sephiroth's sword hand.

It was an old buster sword that had seen better days, but the blade had been sharpened and the handle rewrapped. As Cloud hefted it up, he could feel the mean weight of the weapon, and it felt right somehow. Regular swords were always, somehow, a little inadequate compared to the brute strength of a buster sword.

It was hard to compare his old buster swords to this one. If it weighed less, he couldn't tell given the alterations in his physique. Not to mention that it had been, what, almost half a year since he'd held one? Had it really been that long?

Sephiroth assessed as Cloud examine the weapon, but he could already see what Zack and he had talked about. Cloud knew weapons. He had experience as a warrior, and seemed familiar with the buster sword, which was suspicious because heavy weapons like a buster sword were rare. He looked over to Zack, noting his friend's expression.

For Zack, it was undeniable now, and a small lump formed in his throat of what he and Seph were doing to Cloud. It had to be done, but it was unfortunate they couldn't be more straightforward about it.

Lifting up Galatine to rest on his shoulders, Zack offered Cloud a cocky grin as he indicated the sword in Cloud's hand. "Warm up a bit first, and then swing her around a bit. Get a feel for it. Then I want to see what you can do."

Cloud looked distracted by the sword, and so Zack was able to sneak a look at Sephiroth, who was standing off to the side. The General's eyes were on Cloud, watching his every movement. They slid over to Zack's though, confirming what he thought. This was probably the best way to do it. Cloud was an exceptionally hard nut to crack, and they agreed that it had gotten to the point that they needed to prove they knew something was up. Plus, there was no way Cloud could hide his training from both Zack's andSephiroth's sharp eyes.

After Cloud had gotten the chance to swing the buster sword a bit, Zack called for a slow start. At first they followed the basic kata, letting Cloud get a feel for how the blades connected, the speed he could swing it, how he had to adjust his movements to compensate for the different shape and size of the weapon. Zack could see the way Cloud's arms trembled sometimes, whether from exertion of the movement or just sheer weight he wasn't sure. Sometimes he forgot that hefting around a fifty-pound sword was beyond some people's limits.

Cloud, on his part, was doing his best to not do his best. It felt good to swing a buster sword again—too good. Sephiroth's scrutiny was like a burn on the back of his neck, not to mention that Zack's eyes were following his every breath, step, and swing. It was unnerving and making him more than a little uncomfortable.

"Okay, faster now Cloud."

They began to speed up, and Cloud's shoulders began to ache a little at having to hold such a heavy blade. He had none of the training he'd had before, when it had been no problem to wield the completed Tsurugi in one hand.

Now though, it was tough. Not to mention that Zack was slowly weaving in more complicated movements. Some of the attacks were more difficult to deflect, and Cloud was often sidestepping and trying to avoid them rather than parry.

They sped up more, and Cloud's biceps began to really shake. He didn't have anywhere near the endurance he'd had before. It was also harder to fight when two sets of eyes were watching every move and every twitch he made.

"Okay, enough."

Relieved, more because the exercise was over than the chance to put the blade down, Cloud lowered the sword to the ground and rolled his shoulders.

Sephiroth, taking note of Cloud's distraction, flicked his eyes at Zack and nodded at theregular broadsword he'd discreetly set aside. This was the real test. Cloud's real strength would not be concealed if he were overwhelmed, and most especially if he didn't have time to think.

The other SOLDIER put down his own buster sword and took up the other sword, throwing one last, somewhat reluctant look at Cloud. Zack was never one for more manipulative means, but the First hadn't needed too much convincingto prove that a direct approach wouldn't work. "Here Cloud!" Zack called.

Cloud looked up from where he'd been watching the rotation of his arm, only just fumbling to catch the blade tossed to him in time and forcing him to turn and grab the handle or risk skewering himself. Dropping the buster sword and about to yell at Zack about things like basic sword safety, he was abruptly cut off by a silver blur that Cloud instinctively jumped away from. He didn't have much of a chance to catch his breath though before Sephiroth was on him, the totally unexpected fight catching Cloud completely off guard.

It was like a nightmare. What was going on? Where had this come from? Had they planned this? Zack wouldn't do this to him. Sephiroth?

There wasn't time to think though.

Sephiroth was a fast opponent, especially while wielding a ridiculously long sword, and Cloud had to be on his toes if he didn't want to get seriously injured. He had no doubt, considering the force behind the blows that the General wasn't holding back nearly as much as he probably should have on an unenhanced.

It was beautiful and terrible to see Sephiroth this way. Sephiroth and Masamune was a legendary pair for a reason. Not only did Sephiroth know exactly how to manipulate the blade best at its full reach, but he was also excellent in close-quarters combat. He could make that blade sing.

Cloud's tired shoulders and arms were completely forgotten in the wave of a quick series of slashes followed by a thrust that almost eviscerated him. If it weren't for a nifty wrist twist he'd learned from hundreds of these battles with a very different Sephiroth, he might have only one kidney.

The blond didn't register Zack's low whistle as Sephiroth drove him backwards, the regular broadsword he'd been tossed barely adequate for defending himself.

Sephiroth continued with the motion as Cloud blocked his blade, spinning on the ball of his right foot and using the momentum to drive Masamune home again. He'd trained for years to perfect the art of swordplay, and his keen eye told him Cloud had too. Though a little clumsier and not as refined—speaking of perhaps some self-taught techniques—innovation and a knack for picking up patterns in fighting gave Cloud the edge needed to keep up.

All of the General's frustration at Cloud's enigma was being vented as he swung the sword in a downward arc—using only one hand since he didn't actually want to kill him. The blond had clearly been hiding a lot more than anyone thought, and considering his skill with the blade it was almost a crime.

Why? Sephiroth kept thinking, Why would Cloud hide something like that?

It was this revolving thought that kept Sephiroth moving in a constant flow of motion, never letting the blond stop for breath, no lull in battle. The constant pressure might cause Cloud to slip, and more importantly to break the classic SOLDIER form Zack drilled him in, and instead fight like what his master taught him. Sephiroth hoped to be able to pinpoint this, or at the least recognize where Cloud had learned swordplay.

Thrusting once more, Sephiroth wasn't surprised when Cloud leapt back, attempting to create space despite the considerable reach of Masamune. Logical, but useless. Sephiroth dashed forward quickly, blade fully extended, erasing the distance in less than a blink.

Sephiroth's speed was no match for the unenhanced, and Cloud knew that considering he didn't get much of a chance in the way of fighting back. He was only just defending himself, and more often than not was dodging within a hairsbreadth of each attack. All those years of fighting Sephiroth were actually proving to be a disadvantage now. If he had any chance of hiding anything, it was gone now. Cloud knew Sephiroth patterns; knew the rhythm of his combat since he'd fought him so often, knew that when Sephiroth extended too far to the side it was to follow through with a powerful second swing. He ducked just in time to avoid the first move of the attack thatwould have taken his head if hehadn't been careful. Masamune's razor sharp blade sang through the air, loping off a lock of hair as Cloud bent backwards to avoid the reflexive response.

It was survival instinct now though, as Cloud parried one sideswipe by Sephiroth. He recognized the follow-up combo move, catching the trust to his left side with the flat of his blade, and then jamming the tip into the ground, used his momentum to land a kick with his boot to Sephiroth's open chest.

The surprise in both combatants was palpable, and Cloud nearly dropped his sword because he'd just kicked the General, except that his opponent recovered quickly and immediately made another swipe at Cloud's head. Barely evading it, Cloud tried to dash off to the right, only to be cut off by the end of Sephiroth's blade.

Quick reflexes allowed Cloud to duck under the vibrating blade, leaving Sephiroth temporarily open. The blond, in a moment of clarity, did not take the chance, instead opting to attempt to escape the situation.

Of course, for all Cloud's speed, it just wasn't enough. That he had the chance at all was something.

There was the whiz of the blade cutting straight through the air that tipped Cloud off. Unable to evade in time, Cloud flipped the broadsword over his back, shielding his heart in a move that would have been a lot more effective if his blade had been as wide as his buster sword. Fortunately, the blond's sidestep the split-second he realized this managed to save him from being speared, but it was a little too close.

Cloud spun and crouched, and Sephiroth reflected his stance. They both waited for a long second, eyeing each other, before the blond make a sudden feint to the left, then turned for a dash to the right, straight at the door.

Cloud stopped dead though as Masamune's tip rested just an inch from his unprotected neck.

"Yield."

Sephiroth's voice was cold, but his eyes were not. They were, rather, curious as they sized up Cloud's potential.

Cloud dropped his weapon, and as Masamune was drawn away from him, he could hear Zack's applause quite suddenly. All sound seemed to come back to him in a rush as his focus came back from his fight.

The blond dropped his gaze from the General's, mind turning over furiously. He had been set up.

"Cloud," Zack said as he approached, looking happy despite the warning in Sephiroth's eyes, "That was amazing. Why would you ever try to hide that?"

The blond tried to think, tried to come up with some explanation everyone would buy that would be difficult to confirm. At the very least, he needed to think of something that might get them off his back long enough for Cloud to arrange a back-up plan.

"I've been waiting for an explanation, Cloud." The way Sephiroth said his name made his heart pound, and not in a good way. Sephiroth had only ever addressed him by first name after Jenova took hold. He'd said it then with the sort of loving hatred of an arch-nemesis, now it was nothing like that.

"I…" His mind spun. What could he say? The time travel thing was impossible. Not only would they not believe him, but it was too crazy sounding. He could fudge it, but he didn't know what they were thinking, what theories they'd already come up with, and what might be plausible and what not.

"Spike, you know you're just worrying us, right?" Zack interjected slowly, though he continued to stand by Sephiroth.

Cloud ignored Zack's words, instead his eyes going again to Sephiroth before looking away.

There was always…that.

No one really wanted to question it. If they went looking, well, Hojo was great when it came to hiding things. It might be semi-believable. In fact, it might cover him in the future too. Cloud had not forgotten the mako treatments expected of all SOLDIERs.

He swallowed, even as he made up his mind in those last seconds. He didn't like it, but it was the only thing he could think of. It also wouldn't really be lying. Not completely, which in the long run made him feel better.

"I was… Hojo…"

What Cloud had imagined would be a painful, drawn out explanation, barely got past that. Zack's audible gasp, coupled with the tightened features on Sephiroth's face said it all.

Thank the Planet, Cloud thought with a huge sense of relief. They'd already guessed something like it. That would make this a lot easier.

"I was an… experiment." There was no need to hide his distaste. He wasn't lying at this part. "I don't have a number, but well… Hojo he…" Cloud sort of shrugged, playing up his discomfort in talking about it. If he'd learned anything from Vincent, it was to let people draw their own conclusions if you didn't want to implicate yourself.

He didn't look at the other's faces as he spoke. "It was a while ago, and I don't remember a lot, but… it changed me, and well SOLDIER…"

Zack came towards him as he spoke, and gingerly put an arm around him. Cloud stiffened, but didn't push him away. He felt a deep welling of guilt for deliberately misleading his best friend. "Look, I just… It's not that big of a deal." He meant it too. Zack's comfort felt strange, foreign even. It had been different when they'd both gone through the ordeal. Now though…

Sephiroth's face showed little though. He stared somewhere over Cloud's head, probably thinking of his own childhood.

There was an audible pause as Sephiroth refocused and moved to speak. "Where did it happen? And," there was a pause as Sephiroth seemed to hesitate, "How did you get out?"

Cloud swallowed, and Zack's hand rubbing his arm actually helped a little. "It was in Nibelheim, and I…" his gaze went to Zack's hand, and he didn't quite know what to say. "I was a failed experiment anyway," he murmured under his breath.

Both SOLDIERs heard it, though neither said anything outwardly.

"And the training?" Sephiroth said after a moment.

"When I got out… someone taught me." Cloud swallowed, his throat strangely constricted. "I didn't… didn't want to be weak anymore." Zack rubbed Cloud's shoulders, before shooting a look at Sephiroth that the blond couldn't interpret.

Nothing more was said about it.

At least, for now.