The updates for this story will still be drastically delayed. But they will appear this is now priority one for me. Also, please don't give me ideas for later on in the story, I am very thankful for them but please hold on to them until about that point in the story. It throws off my mind and makes me think about later on when I should be thinking about the present and causes more delay. I love the ideas though.

Claire had been expecting some sort of talk with Sephiroth when they rejoined after the mission. She knew he was going to say something but the betrayal of Angeal had probably sealed his lips. Claire knew that Sephiroth was having a very bad time seeing as how his two oldest and only friends had betrayed the company and him.

It had been a month since then and Sephiroth had barely said a word. Many SOLDIER seconds and thirds had lost faith in Sephiroth's loyalty and were saying that he was going to join his traitorous friends. No one in their right mind would say that around Sephiroth or if he was even on the same floor.

Sephiroth was not the only one being badmouthed through the company. Many people had begun doubting the loyalty of Zack and Claire as well. Claire was relieved when she was finally called to the briefing room for a mission.

"Director," Claire said with a nod as she entered the room. Director Lazard gave a nod back.

"I'm sending you to the hometown of our missing SOLDIER first class, Genesis," Director Lazard said calmly to her, Claire nodded in response "His parents say they've had no contact with Genesis at all."

"They can't be trusted," Claire said for Lazard.

"Correct," Lazard stated with a nod "Now, you will be accompanied by one of the Turks."

"Sir, if I may," Claire said with a flat tone "But which one will be going with me?"

Before the director could answer, the door opened with a small hiss. Sephiroth was the one to interrupt the briefing.

"Director," Sephiroth said with a small nod towards Lazard "I must request that you send Zack on this mission. Serah has returned for the weekend and would like her to see her sister."

"Very well," Lazard replied without hesitation.

Claire and Sephiroth turned to leave as Lazard pulled out his cellphone. Just before the door shut behind them, Claire heard Lazard tell someone to contact Zack to send him to the briefing room.

"Glad to see Serah?" Sephiroth asked Claire with a look that said he already knew the answer. Claire just let a small grin appear to answer the tall silver haired General "I must say though, that mission was originally assigned to me."

"What?" Claire said with genuine confusion.

"Do you really think I would want either of us to be in Banora when Serah visits?"

"You do have a point," Claire stated with a mumble "Are you sure Zack will be alright?"

"It's just a minor investigation," Sephiroth said with a quizzical look "What do you think could happen?"

"I don't know," Claire said with a shrug "You're the one that gets paid to think," Sephiroth burst out laughing at the joke.

A moment after Sephiroth had calmed down, a third class SOLDIER rounded the corner infront of them. He ran up to Sephiroth and Claire and snapped a salute.

"Sir!" The young trainee said as he saluted "Your visitor is waiting in the lounge."

Sephiroth and Claire said their thanks and passed by him to head to the lounge.

Serah had been allowed into the SOLDIER floor and had been waiting in the lounge for Sephiroth and Claire. Even though they all were wearing helmets, she knew every SOLDIER that walked by gave her a strange look. It amused her to think that she seemed alien to these people. When she saw Sephiroth and Claire round the corner, she shot out of her chair and ran over them. Serah wrapped her arms around Claire in what would have been a bone crushing hold to normal people.

The first day of the visit with Serah went well. They talked about the school Serah was attending, Serah's new friends, what had happened since she had been gone. All had been well, until the second day of the visit when Sephiroth's phone rang. He flipped it open, a moment of silence, then he flipped it closed and clipped it back on his belt.

"Director Lazard would like to see us both," He said to Claire before turning to Serah "I'm sorry for this, but you can come to if you want."

Serah nodded and the three set off towards the Director's office. Sephiroth had a look that said he forgot to do something. He quickly grabbed his phone, flipped it open and pushed several buttons before holding it up to his ear.

"It's been a while, Zack. . . Come to Lazard's room," Sephiroth said in his most official voice.

"What is this about?" Claire asked her adoptive father.

"You'll see," Sephiroth replied with a smirk.

When the three arrived in the Director's office, Serah and Claire looked around the clean room. It was their first time in the office of the only person that was able to tell Sephiroth what to do. There were two desks, a large bookshelf set in the wall, opposite of the first desk and a black chair that had Director Lazard sitting in it.

Sephiroth grabbed a folder off the smaller desk, which was not Lazard's personal desk. He flipped it open and leaned against the smaller desk. Serah and Claire stopped with him and Lazard finally looked up at them and away from what he was doing.

"Ah, Claire," He said quickly as if he had just remembered why they were there "Please step forward," Claire obeyed and walked up to the desk as Lazard put his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers "Congratulations, You have been promoted to first class," Claire's eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped slightly "Not to ruin this moment, but I wish you were able to serve alongside Angeal and Genesis," Claire saw the director's eyes glance over her shoulder and back "Oh, yes," Lazard reached down beside him and placed a long box on the table "The weapons department wanted someone to test this prototype and I believe you were the best candidate," Claire began reaching forward but looked to Lazard for confirmation, who just nodded.

Claire slowly took the top of the box off and was stunned by the contents. It was a strange looking sword that seemed like it had many random and useless parts strapped to the side. The handle of the sword looked as if it had a trigger hidden in it.

"It can collapse into a short range Blaze Rifle," Lazard stated as Claire lifted the weapon out of the box "Pull on the black strip on the handle to make it change."

"Isn't there supposed to be a Blaze Cannon on the new model of Guard Scorpions?" Sephiroth asked Lazard.

"Yes, but the boys in Robotics affectionately call it the tail laser. And you're not supposed to know that," Sephiroth chuckled at Lazard "Anyways, Claire you have to change it to put it in the sheath, which should still be in the box," Claire nodded as she initiated the transformation and stared in awe as the sword transformed into a gun. She grabbed the sheath out of the box and slid the gun form sword into it.

The group of four heard the elevator doors open and heavy footsteps signaling Zack's arrival. He came around the corner just as Claire went back to the side of Sephiroth and Serah. Zack walked straight towards Lazard and placed his hands on his hips.

"Congratulations, Zack Fair," Lazard said calmly "As of this moment, you're promoted to SOLDIER first class."

All but Zack had been expecting the black haired operative to cheer or dance around. However, Zack only stood there dumbly for a second before saying anything.

"Huh,"He said as he raised his hands just above his waist "I thought I'd be happier," Zack looked at between his hands several times.

"Understandable. Too much happened too fast," Lazard commented, trying to raise Zack's spirit "Zack, I'm afraid I need your assistance again," Zack instantly turned towards Sephiroth.

"Are you pushing another assignment on me?" Zack asked in a slightly less than friendly tone.

Sephiroth sighed quietly and looked between Claire and Serah once before looking to Zack.

"My apologies," Zack turned back to Lazard.

"Whatever," Zack said in the same tone as before. Claire now wanted to hurt Zack quite badly.

"If you are done, good," Lazard said to keep any arguments from happening "The company has decided to eliminate Genesis and his cohorts. Sadly, this includes Angeal as well."

"What?" Claire nearly shouted.

"And you want me to do it?" Zack said in a tone that said he would much rather remove one of his own limbs.

"No," Zack looked relieved "the Shinra Army will handle it," Lazard said, his tone growing dark at the end.

"What about me?" Zack said quickly, almost interrupting Lazard.

"They don't trust you," Lazard said, more to the room than Zack individually.

"They believe your emotions will hamper your judgment," Sephiroth said calmly.

"Well, of course!" Zack said loudly after nearly collapsing on Lazard's desk.

"That's why when the mission is put into action, I'm going too," Sephiroth said calmly again.

Claire couldn't believe what she just heard. Sephiroth had just stated that he is going to help the Shinra Army kill his old friends. She suspected that it didn't even come close to that, that Sephiroth had a plan up his sleeve, because he had always had a surprise plan.

"To kill them?" Zack asked after the moment of silence.

Sephiroth didn't respond to the question. He stood in silence and let a small smile appear on his face that was hidden by his bangs from Zack and Lazard, but not from Claire and Serah. They could see it from their angle. It had confirmed Claire's suspicion.

Just as silence fell on the group again the buildings alarm went off and heavy armored shutters fell over the book shelves.

"An intruder," Lazard said from reflex "Sephiroth, the president!" Sephiroth nodded "Zack, Claire, entrance!" Zack and Claire nodded.

"Serah, stay here with Lazard," Sephiroth said before running to the elevators.

Claire was both angry and happy. Angry because whoever was attacking the building was interrupting Serah's visit and happy because she was going to be able to test out her new weapon which she had already classified and named. Claire was going to use her Gunblade, Blaze Edge, for the first time.

Readers, please consider this, should Lightning go to Nibelheim? It will drastically alter the story both ways. The deadline for the 'voting' will be the chapter prior to that event. Please consider both options carefully.