" Why is Cloud's opinion so important?" Vincent asked hiding his resentment towards Cloud at the moment because Vincent had deeper feeling that just friendship for Val.

" Well I have always liked Cloud since I first met him." she replied.

" I figured he would have went for your sister." he replied.

" Me too. You have no idea how I felt when he kissed me Vincent. It was as if everything I had ever wanted had come true." she replied.

" Really?" he asked as he stopped. So did she.

" Yeah." she replied.

" So no one else could offer you anything more?" Vincent asked. Val thought for a few moments.

" I suppose it depends on the person." she replied meekly.

" So would let anyone else try?" he asked a sudden conviction in his voice and she blinked.

" I suppose so." as soon as the words were out of her mouth Vincent kissed her. She was beyond stunned.

" Get a room you two." Storm replied. They pulled apart.

" What do you want?" Vincent asked annoyed.

" Cloud wants us all pronto." Storm replied. Vincent nodded and left.

" Storm I-" but Storm's hand silenced her.

" Don't worry about it okay. He likes you better, no surprise really." Storm replied.

" But…" Val started.

" Don't sweat it. I'm fine." Storm replied flashing her grin. None of her inner turmoil showed.

We walked into 7th Heaven. We were the last to get there. Both Cloud's and Vincent's eyes were on Val. I ignore it. The more I ignored it the less air there seemed to be.

" Okay we need to attack their base it's all we got." Cloud replied.

" Agreed." Barret replied.

" But, attacking the base would be suicide. They probably got more people there by now. We have to assume the worst." Cloud replied.

" So your saying we need someone to go in and scope things out?" Cait Sith replied.

" Pretty much." Cloud replied. He glanced at Val, and my stomach knotted.

" Would that person be fighting?" Yuffie asked.

" More than likely for their life." Cloud replied.

" So it's more complicated." Vincent replied his eyes glanced around the room and rested on Val. Breathing became a lot harder. I started to feel trapped and light headed.

" What about we interrogate the prisoner some more." Barret replied.

" We can't. He some how managed to kill himself." Tifa replied. Eric dead? I shouldn't have cared but I did. A hole was ripped out of my chest. Breathing hurts now.

" So what now?" Cid asked.

" We have to send someone in who will face extreme peril." Cloud replied.

" I'll go. I'm fats light and silent. I just have to silence my guns." Val replied.

" No." Cloud replied.

" He's right. You're a long range fighter and you could be easily over taken." Vincent replied. I felt as if I was caving into myself, the room swayed. A suicide mission.

" I'll do it." I replied. Val gave me a I knew you lied look. I eased her fears.

" I'm the most qualified you can't argue I'm not. I have already been in once. I'm not a long range fighter, and we all know I stand little chance of dying. It's the safest option we have." I replied. I'd even managed to convince Val. Damn I'm good at lying.

" Okay." Cloud replied.

" I'll get my things." I replied as I grabbed my sword and a materia or two.

I wasn't surprised to find getting in harder this time. But it was still a breeze knock out a few sentries and I was in. I was ready for the communication block this time and had a block proof ear piece, soon as I landed I head Cloud's voice.

" Can you hear me?"

" Loud and clear." I replied moving down the corridor. This time there were fewer guards that set me on alarm.

" What's happening?"

" Too few guards." I replied sneaking around. After a few minutes I found my self at the giant doors that led to Genesis's living quarters, she guessed that's what he referred to it as. So as I approached the doors they swung open, with a slight creak." Creepy." I replied to myself as I entered the darkroom. I felt my eyes warm as the room snapped into crystal clear clarity. I could see everything. I saw the guards bodies lying in the floor, all of which died from sword wounds. I could feel another presence in the room.

" Man, I really love what you have done with the place. The dead bodies are a delightful touch." I replied as I looked around.

" I thought you might." someone replied, I spun towards the corner of the room to see him leaning lazily against the wall.

" It's been a while. Still holding all the cards or did you lose a few?" I asked as I looked around the room.

" Make no mistake, we still have all the cards. You still don't stand a chance. Your alone what a pity, I was looking forwards to assessing Avalanche's strength. Guess I'll have to settle for testing your strength won't I?" he replied as he pushed of the wall and drew his sword in one fluid motion.

" Who are you talkin to? Don't start a fight Storm!" Cloud ordered.

" I'd love to dance, but it appears I am short on time." I replied.

" It'll only take a minute." Genesis replied as he lunged at me. I leapt out of the way of his sword nearly having been cut in half.

" Your good, but I'm better." I replied as I drew my sword. Our swords clashed again and again each time we gained speed and strength. My flaw was I was stronger than I was fast, so when he moved like a snake to strike me I couldn't move fast enough as his sword came at my face. I yanked my head to the side but not fast enough as he gave me a deep gash on my right cheek. I hissed in pain as I lunged at him. We continued fairly evenly matched, except in speed he was fast were I was stronger. Blow after blow we hammered t each other. After thirty minutes of some of the most intense fighting in my life I was tiring quickly, but he was fine.

" Storm get the hell out of there, if you haven't beat him by now you obviously can't win! Don't be stupid and get yourself killed!" he yelled but I wasn't listening to him anymore as I lunge at him again. Finally, I lunged at him as with break neck speed he disarmed me an d had his sword to my neck.

" You lose." Genesis replied.

" Storm!" Cloud screamed into the earpiece as it went dead. There were only two ways these earpieces could die, either the person wearing them was killed or it was destroyed. He was sure it was the first though. They all were standing there in the room stunned. They weren't sure what to do. But they were a asking the same question, was Storm still alive.