While a massive overhaul was underway inside the Shinra Electric Power Company, Cloud and Barret were doing the opposite—running for their lives through the echoing steel corridors of the reactor. Their boots struck the grated flooring with a desperate rhythm, the alarms blaring in unison with every step.
"Why the hell didn't I give him more time?!" Barret roared, his voice ragged as sweat dripped from his brow. His wide eyes flicked down to his watch—five minutes left. Five minutes until fire and steel swallowed them whole.
Cloud remained silent, calm in contrast to his partner's panic. His sharp eyes fixed on Biggs and Jessie, who were waiting in shock near the exit. Neither of them had expected to see the pair back so soon.
"How much time's left?" Biggs asked, though the question was heavy with dread. The detail that mattered most was also the one he didn't want answered.
Cloud didn't speak. He simply turned his gaze toward Barret, the unspoken answer clear. In the same motion, he swept Jessie up into his arms.
Jessie's face flushed red, her heart skipping despite the chaos. For a fleeting instant, the thought that Cloud might finally treat her gently crossed her mind, but she shook it away as quickly as it came. Time was running too short for daydreams.
"Oh… hi," Wedge greeted awkwardly, offering a nervous smile, oblivious to the urgency.
"Run!" Barret bellowed, his bloodshot eyes bulging with fury and fear.
"Huh? EEEEEEEEEH!?" Wedge squealed, his face draining of color. He stumbled into a sprint behind them, only to glance back at the reactor's mouth just in time to see it erupt in a blinding burst of flames. The ground shook, and the roar of the explosion chased them like a beast set loose. "Shiiii—!" His words broke off in a strangled cry as he dove forward.
Far away, Aerith stopped in her tracks. Her eyes closed, her hands clasped gently at her chest as she listened to the flow of the planet itself. A breath of relief escaped her lips. "…No change in the Lifestream. That means… there were no human casualties this time."
"Zack," she whispered, looking to the man beside her.
"Yeah," Zack replied with quiet certainty, his voice firm but calm. "We cleared the place before the mission even began. No one was left inside." He glanced around, his instincts sharpening. "But we can't linger here. We need to get you back home before Shinra catches on. Things are about to spiral out of control."
Aerith hesitated, sensing the truth of his words. Then she nodded gently. "I understand. Let's go."
Zack allowed himself the faintest smile, though his expression hardened when his gaze shifted back toward the distant column of smoke rising from the reactor. He could feel it in his bones—change was coming. The next few days would alter everything.
---
"Everyone in one piece?" Cloud asked once the group had made it far enough to breathe. His voice was steady, but his eyes scanned each of them carefully.
"My leg's still killing me, but I'll live," Jessie answered. She shifted her weight and suddenly blinked. The pain she'd been nursing was gone, replaced by a strange warmth. Looking down, she noticed a faint green glow. "Wait… huh? It doesn't hurt anymore."
Cloud's expression didn't change as he lowered his hand. "I cast [Cure]. You'll be fine. Anyone else?"
"I-I… uh…" Wedge stammered, his face red with both pain and embarrassment. "The flames reached my butt…" His voice cracked, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
Cloud's blank stare lasted a long second before he wordlessly cast another [Cure]. The glow washed over Wedge, who sighed in relief despite the humiliation.
"Thanks… ugh… but does anyone have spare pants?" Wedge asked timidly, his cheeks burning.
Barret cut him off with a snarl. "Quit foolin' around! We don't got time for jokes." With a grunt, he tossed a spare pair of pants from his pack toward him. "Here. Now listen—we split here. You all know where to meet us."
"Understood!" the Avalanche members replied in unison. One by one, they dashed off into the shadows, but not before throwing quick words of thanks to Cloud.
Barret turned, his broad frame looming as he growled over his shoulder. "Station. Thirty minutes. Don't be late." He began to march off, but paused when Cloud's calm voice stopped him.
"Hold on. I've got something I need to take care of first. Don't worry—I'll head to Tifa's bar when I'm finished."
Barret froze for a moment, then slowly looked back at the younger man. His eyes narrowed. "Hmph. Fine. But watch your damn back. Don't make me the one who's gotta tell Tifa you're dead."
Cloud's only reply was a curt nod. He stood there in silence, watching as Barret's silhouette disappeared into the night. Then his own gaze lifted higher, drawn toward the towering Shinra headquarters that pierced the skyline. His expression darkened. Something about that place… something unseen yet unmistakable had caught his attention.
---
"The transportation of Subject J has been successfully completed, Hojo-sama," a young scientist reported, bowing slightly as he adjusted his glasses. His voice trembled, though whether from exhaustion or fear was hard to tell. He stood before the head of Shinra's research division—the man whose name had become synonymous with cruelty and unspeakable experiments.
Hojo turned toward him, his face splitting into a wide, deranged grin. His posture was hunched, his lab coat hanging loose like the skin of a vulture. "Perfect. With Subject Jenova secured, we may finally pierce the mystery of Subject W's genetic code. Once broken, replication will be trivial. With it, I will forge the ultimate soldier… a being beyond Sephiroth himself." His thin, reedy laugh echoed through the sterile lab.
One of the other scientists, emboldened by curiosity, stepped forward. "Forgive me, Hojo-sama, but there is something I've long wondered…" His brow furrowed as he spoke carefully. "What exactly does the designation 'Subject W' mean?"
Hojo's grin faded into a thin line, his eyes narrowing behind his spectacles. Then he chuckled softly, as if amused by the naivety of the question. "An interesting thought. The answer is simple, yet its simplicity conceals the weight of history." He began to pace, his hands clasped behind his back. "Normally, I would not waste time with lectures when the Jenova Project calls to me. But I understand your kind—the curse of curiosity is a monstrous thing. So I will grant you a hint…"
His voice dropped to a whisper, as though uttering a sacred word. "Tell me—have you ever heard of the term Weapon?"
The scientist blinked, confused. "Weapon…?"
Hojo's grin returned, sharper, crueler. "Good. Then your assignment is clear. Discover the meaning yourself. When you truly understand what Weapon signifies, you will also understand the purpose behind 'Subject W.' Until then, you will remain ignorant."
He waved a hand dismissively, already turning back to his workstation. "Now leave me. I have no time for further questions. There is still the matter of that slippery little mouse who has evaded Shinra's grasp for years. Let us see just how long you can keep running, Gast's heir…" His voice dripped with venom as he muttered the final words, his eyes gleaming with cruel obsession.
"I didn't expect to see you so soon," an elderly man said gruffly. His lined face was half-lit by the glow of a lantern, his arms folded as he leaned back against the wall of his cluttered hideout.
Cloud stood opposite him, arms crossed as well, his expression guarded. "What can I say? Someone's gotta keep an eye on every ripple in the sectors after the first reactor went up. But you know that's not why I came here. I'm here to hear what you know about Shinra's latest moves."
The old man scoffed. "Information isn't charity, boy. You want answers, you pay for them."
Cloud didn't hesitate. He tossed a pouch across the table, the heavy clink of coins filling the room. "Here. Now talk."
The man loosened the pouch, peeked at the gold, and nodded with satisfaction. "Fair enough. Here's what I've got. Shinra's been tightening their computer security. Seems someone's been poking around where they shouldn't, feeding false data to the higher-ups. They finally caught on." He shook his head, puffing at the pipe resting between his fingers. "Means my work's about to get a whole lot harder."
Cloud's eyes narrowed. "So… they discovered it?"
The old man shrugged. "Not exactly. Let's just say whoever was stirring trouble in their system won't be stirring it anymore. Either caught, or smart enough to vanish. Hard to say. Anyway, that's not all." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "The science division made a transfer recently. Something out of Nibelheim."
Cloud froze. A sharp, almost physical pain flared in his chest. Memories—burning houses, Sephiroth's silhouette, the screams—threatened to claw their way up from where he'd buried them. He forced his face to remain impassive, but the old man caught the flicker in his eyes.
"Ah. Judging by your expression, you know exactly what I'm talking about," the man said with a sly grin. "Care to share? Give me that knowledge, and I'll owe you a favor. A big one."
Cloud's jaw tightened. "No. That kind of information is too dangerous. That thing… it should never fall into anyone's hands. It belongs buried in Gaia, sealed forever."
The old man's eyes narrowed. "So you do know. And yet you won't tell me."
Cloud shook his head firmly. "No."
"Tch. A shame," the man muttered, leaning back with a shrug. "Fine. Be that way. Still, there's more. Shinra's special branch has been on the move lately."
Cloud's eyes flicked up. "The Turks?"
"Exactly. Their suits have been seen moving all through Sector 5."
Cloud's expression shifted—sharp, serious. The reaction alone made the old man smirk. "Hah. You've got more information rattling around in your head than you let on. Makes me wonder—why so stingy about sharing it?"
But Cloud gave no reply. He simply turned and walked out into the night, the door creaking shut behind him.
The old man watched him go, then lit his pipe, smoke curling lazily into the air. "That kid…" he muttered. "Needs to learn how to do business."
Cloud moved swiftly through the narrow alleys of Sector 1. Around him, chaos churned. Citizens shouted, some calling for help as others fought to protect their shops and homes. The aftermath of the explosion still lingered in the air—fear, confusion, and the rising anger of a city betrayed by its own lifeline.
"The Turks in Sector 5…" Cloud muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed. "That's bad. We can't leave Aerith exposed. Not with those bastards sniffing around. But how did they even find her? We covered her tracks. It shouldn't be possible."
He shook his head sharply, pushing the thought aside for now. Without hesitation, he leapt into one of the massive transport tubes, his body glowing faintly as he cloaked himself in a thin layer of mana for protection.
Zack's senses sharpened instantly. His eyes scanned the shadows, every muscle tense. There it was—the subtle weight of being watched. Whoever was out there wasn't a random thug. Their presence was disciplined, trained. "…The Turks," he whispered grimly.
"Zack?" Aerith asked softly, frowning as a chill crept down her spine. She felt the danger too, even if she couldn't name it.
Zack turned to her, his expression deadly serious. "Aerith, listen. We're still in Sector 1. I need you to run to the nearest escape tube. Take it straight to Sector 7. Once you're there, ask for Tifa's bar. You'll be safe."
"Huh? But—" Aerith's voice faltered, fear and protest rising in her throat.
"Don't worry." Zack's tone softened, but his eyes never left the shadows. "This will be quick. But if they track you here, your home will be compromised. That would put your mother in danger. We can't let that happen."
Aerith hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. Her heart pounded as she ran toward the nearest pipe, but not before darting to a small hidden spot beneath the flowers where she kept a bag prepared for emergencies. Her fingers closed tightly around the strap before she disappeared into the tube.
Zack exhaled slowly, drawing his blade as the last trace of her figure vanished into safety. His gaze hardened. He knew exactly who he was about to face.
-
NEW WORLD - FINAL FANTASY VII ( AFTER THIS - DRAGON BALLS ]
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