Final Fantasy VII (Zack/Cloud)
The strident call thundered across the practice field and Cloud was saluting even before he finished turning in the right direction. “Sir?” he shouted back.
“Get your ass over here!” Sergeant Lanheig ordered, arms crossed over his broad chest with characteristically limited patience. Trying not to let his confusion show on his face, Cloud detracted himself from the line of tired troopers staggering towards the showers and jogged over.
He stopped and saluted again. “Yes sir?”
Sergeant Lanheig gave him a strangely assessing look. “Got a message from High Command,” he said gruffly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at a blue suited soldier waiting patiently behind him. “You’re wanted in the General’s office stat.”
“The G-general?” Cloud blurted in surprise. Zack was away on assignment right now. Why would Sephiroth want to see Cloud?
“McInley’ll take care of your kit,” the Sergeant told him. “You’re free to return to barracks when the General’s done with you.”
Provided you haven’t been kicked out, the look in his eyes added, mute evidence of the Sergeant’s low opinion on Cloud’s ability. Four months ago, Cloud would probably have agreed with that observation.
Saluting instinctively when the Sergeant dismissed him, Cloud followed the messenger off the field towards the main building complex, trying to ignore the way twenty pairs of eyes were boring holes in the back of his shirt as he left. The fact that most them probably weren’t expecting him back didn’t really help any.
Cloud glanced at the man beside him, looking for a hint as to what was going on, but quickly realized he wasn’t getting any help from that score. The soldier was looking straight ahead with a bland, disinterested look on his face that made it very clear that, whatever Sephiroth needed Cloud for, it was no concern of his.
And normally that would have worried Cloud, would have sent him reeling with fears and panicked, half-mad imaginings of what on Gaia he could’ve possibly done to deserve a personal reprimand from the Silver General himself. Not that he was discounting that possibility entirely, of course, but for once he felt more puzzled than concerned.
After all, Zack was the General’s friend and Zack had decided that Cloud was his friend so the General probably wouldn’t have Cloud court martialed while Zack was away and wouldn’t get a chance to complain about it. It just wouldn’t be polite. And Sephiroth, Cloud had noticed, was very much concerned with behaving appropriately to those he deemed worth the effort.
He was still trying to come up with a plausible reason for his summons that didn’t involve Zack planning a coup and starting at the top when his taciturn escort stopped smoothly in front of the door to the General’s private study. Cloud had been here once or twice before, although usually for only a few minutes while Zack tried to wheedle the General into coming with them on some crazy adventure or other. He still couldn’t help a shaky swallow as the messenger knocked on the door and stuck his head in, calmly professional.
“Sir? Private Strife to see you.”
“Very good. Send him in,” Sephiroth’s voice came from the other side of the door and Cloud decided that maybe he was just a little bit concerned after all.
The soldier stepped aside to allow him in, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him loud in the quiet room.
“General Sephiroth sir!” he saluted, acutely aware of the fact that he was still in his practice gear, not his uniform, and that the overly large grey shirt made him look paler and thinner than he actually was. The only sounds in the room were the light scratch of General Sephiroth’s pen and Cloud’s own breathing. “Private Strife reporting as requested.”
“Ah yes.” Sephiroth glanced up from his paperwork with a bland expression. “At ease Private,” he directed. “And please come over here. It is difficult to talk to you when you’re standing at the door.”
Jumping slightly, Cloud hurried forward until he was standing before Sephiroth’s overly full yet still impeccably tidy desk. He waited for a few moments, daring a nervous question when nothing further was forthcoming from the General. “Um, sir? Was there something you needed me for?”
Sephiroth signed his name at the bottom of an official-looking document, then fixed his attention on Cloud. “It’s about Zack.”
An icy fear seized Cloud by the throat. “Is he alright?” he demanded, too preoccupied to remember the formal ‘sir’ at the end.
Only Sephiroth looked mildly alarmed and that, more than anything else he could have done, went a long way towards slowing Cloud’s heartbeat.
“You misunderstand,” the General clarified hurriedly. “I have no reason to doubt that Zack is in anything other than excellent health, as always.”
And then Sephiroth paused and, while Cloud wasn’t exactly gifted with Zack’s ability to translate the General’s subtle changes of expression, there was only one way to read the half-irritated, half-puzzled, all hopelessly resigned look that his General was wearing now.
Cloud sighed heavily. “What’s he done now?” he demanded, and he wasn’t really sure, but the next expression on Sephiroth’s face looked an awful lot like relief.
“You know that Zack is currently away on assignment?” The General asked, more a formality than anything else. Cloud nodded anyway. “Did he tell you where he was going?”
“No sir,” Cloud answered, not really knowing where this was going but more than willing to follow the General’s lead. “It’s often an issue of military security so he never says. Not to mention that he thinks his strange souvenirs are more effective if nobody knows where he’s been to get them.”
Sephiroth nodded, although whether that was in approval of Zack’s discretion or because he was used to receiving random reactor-shaped keychains and decorative flowering cacti, Cloud wasn’t sure.
“Zack’s current assignment is rather closer afield than usual,” Sephiroth started, then paused, green eyes thoguhtful. “What I’m about to disclose to you is confidential information, Private Strife,” he admitted, tone somewhere between military warning and personal confidence. “You are not to repeat it to anyone, understood?”
Cloud saluted on principle. “Yes sir.”
“Good.” Sephiroth paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, then continued. “Zack is currently in the Midgar slums, infiltrating a group of anti-Shinra radicals. Most of them are under-plate youths who object to the Plate system and the current structure of the education routine employed in the city.” Sephiroth shook his head. “And, while their concerns have some merit, Shinra cannot approve of the methods they are attempting to employ to precipitate change.”
“Methods?” Cloud echoed, not sure he liked where this was going.
“Guerilla-style rebellion tactics including, but not limited to; letter bombs, public protests, threats, coercion and riots. None of their activities have resulted in any fatalities thus far, but the reach and frequency of these… stunts, as Zack would call them, is increasing in magnitude.” The General’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is more concerning, however, is that this group has begun drawing supporters from among the ranks of Shinra’s defense forces, which could be a serious threat to the solidarity and security of the Shinra Corporation.”
“No kidding,” Cloud breathed, ducking his head slightly when Sephiroth arched an eyebrow at him. “Sorry sir. Please continue.”
“Thank you. Zack volunteered to infiltrate this organization by posing as another military sympathizer. His objective was to determine the level of threat presented by these radicals and report back with proposed methods for neutralizing the danger with limited fatalities.” Sephiroth paused and Cloud thought he caught a hint of consternation in the slight twist of the man’s lips. “Unfortunately, he was due back three days ago and has not reported back once since he left.”
Cloud’s eyes felt like they were going to fall out of his head they were open so wide. “He hasn’t come back?” he managed, the sick feeling returning to his stomach with a vengeance. Hadn’t the General said Zack was okay?
Sephiroth seemed to recognize the source of his agitation. “Zack may not have returned yet,” he admitted. “But Shinra has not received any sort of communication from the radicals indicating that they are forcibly holding him. As a SOLDIER First Class, Zack would be a powerful bargaining chip for them to use in their efforts against Shinra.” He shook his head, silver hair swishing across his shoulder guards. “No, I suspect that Zack is well, but circumstances have made it difficult for him to return.”
Well that made sense but -
“Can’t you send someone else down to- er, back him up?” Cloud asked, surprised by the unusual weariness in Sephiroth’s face as he shook his head.
“Zack will already be under scrutiny because his eyes betray him as a SOLDIER. If another SOLDIER were to ‘join’ so soon after Zack’s arrival, it would increase suspicion on both of them and make discovery more likely. Zack’s presence among the radicals is extremely unofficial because Shinra Corp does not have the public authority to enable an official inquest into the nature of this group. Having either he, or someone sent after him, identified as a member of or a spy within this organization would be incredibly damaging to Shinra’s efforts within the city, not in the least because of the damage it would do should people start believing we are in the habit of sending spies into the slums. Hence the reluctance to have someone else ‘back him up’ before we know for certain how things stand.”
“And a regular trooper would be even more difficult to select,” Sephiroth continued before Cloud could object. “Because most lack the ability to support a SOLDIER and, due to potential of insurgents within the rank and file, it would be imprudent to select someone without being certain where their loyalties lie.”
“So we just have to wait for something to happen?” Cloud asked, trying to keep the accusatory note out of his tone. How could the General be this blasé about his friend?
Only Sephiroth was looking at Cloud like there was someone important standing there instead. “Actually, Private Strife, I’m telling you this because I would like you to investigate the situation.”
Cloud ran that through his head a second time, but it didn’t make any more sense than it had the first. “Um, pardon?”
“Not to break the insurgency ring,” Sephiroth assured him calmly. “But to locate Zack and provide the necessary support to get both of you back to base safely. Shinra Intelligence reports that the rebels’ base of operations is within Sector 8 - you’re most likely to find Zack there.” Green eyes pinned him with deliberate intent. “Do you understand, Private Strife?”
Cloud’s head was starting to spin. “Y-yes, but…”
“Good. You will be exempt from your standard duties until you return.” The silver-haired General pulled a requisition form out of his desk drawer. “You’ll also be issued a PHS. You can use it to contact the base should you have any problems.”
“…understood.”
“Oh, and Strife?” Cloud blinked at the wry, secretive little smile on Sephiroth’s face as he added, “If you find out that Zack’s spent the last three days getting drunk on Wall Street, you have my permission to hit him.”
“I- yes, sir. Um, sir?” Cloud hazarded, hating himself for being so useless but determined to make sure the General knew the whole situation. “I understand why you need a Regular trooper to infiltrate the rebel base, but are you sure you want it to be me? Not that I’m not ready to help in any way,” he added hurriedly, worried that the General might think he didn’t want to help Zack. “But I’m sure there are many other trustworthy troopers who’d be better at it than me.”
The General looked at him blandly for a moment and Cloud steeled himself not to be disappointed when Sephiroth agreed and asked Cloud to help him choose someone else.
Then Sephiroth shrugged. “Zack would trust you to do it,” he said matter-of-factly, ignoring the way Cloud’s jaw thudded open. “So I will also.”
~~~~~~
Forty minutes later, Cloud was on a train hurtling towards Sector 8 and wondering what in Ramuh’s name he was getting himself into.
At least the train wasn’t too busy - Sector 8 wasn’t as dangerously poor as Sector 7 but it came close, and had none of the gaudy nightlife of Sector 6 that might attract visitors. All of which meant that Cloud had a train compartment almost entirely to himself and could fidget in peace without anyone looking at him too funny.
At least he’d had a chance to shower and put on some clean clothes before leaving base, although it was mildly consternating that it felt strange to be wearing civilian clothes instead of his uniform. But this way he’d be basically anonymous, since there wasn’t much about him that was worth paying attention to if he wasn’t in uniform. Which was more than a little pathetic, but for once Cloud didn’t mind. Not if it made it easier for him to find Zack.
Zack had to be okay. Not only because a SOLDIER First Class was a match for pretty much anybody dumb enough to go up against him, but also because this was Zack and Cloud couldn’t picture anyone keeping Zack down for long. The man was completely irrepressible.
And if Cloud did find him on Wall Street, the whack the General had permitted him wasn’t going to be nearly enough to punish the idiot.
Rusty rails screeched painfully as the train hurtled into the station, hydraulic brakes hissing with the effort of slowing the fast-moving vehicle. Cloud watched the platform lights flash past the windows, most definitely not nervous as the train jerked once and the doors slid smoothly open. A few tired-looking passengers shouldered past him to get on the train and Cloud side-stepped them instinctively, most of his attention on avoiding the garishly painted gap between the train and the edge of the platform. The doors snicked shut behind him and the train pulled sluggishly out of the station, windows winking in farewell for a few moments before the train trundled round a corner and was swallowed up by the darkness.
Cloud stared for a moment after the spot where the train had disappeared, then squared his shoulders and turned towards the station complex determinedly.
And it was right about then that he realized he didn’t have the faintest clue what to do next.
Cloud stared blankly at the train station for several moments, made a face at himself when he realized what he was doing, then hurried off the platform towards the entrance where he could space out a little less obviously.
Where should he start looking? The General hadn’t told him where this rebel base was, nor how to recognize any of the insurgents if he saw them. Cloud cast a despairing glance at the rabbit warren of broken-tiled streets radiating out from the train station, already dreading how long it would take him to investigate the entire Sector. If it had been Zack, Cloud was sure he’d have come up with some brilliant, crazy plan that would have had the radicals practically begging to show him where their base was. But Cloud wasn’t Zack.
He couldn’t stand here forever, though. The General was counting on him and Zack… well, Zack would tell him to stop being so worried about doing things wrong and just do his best. And Zack had never steered him wrong before - not when it counted - so Cloud figured his best was just going to have to do.
He let out a single, shaky breath and started down the station steps, shuffling his feet and trying not to look too out of place. He buried his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders almost as an afterthought as he remembered the dangerous belligerence with which he’d seen the thugs around Aeris’ church behave. Belligerent, right. He could do belligerent. Probably.
It was still early afternoon but the streetlights were already lit, flickering fitfully as they tried to brighten the perennial darkness under the Plate. Cloud skulked aimlessly through the streets, hoping not to get lost. He’d never been to Sector 8 before and figured that he’d have a better chance of finding this secret base - and getting away again - if he knew how to get around it. And if it felt strange to slouch so much after years of trying to look taller than he was and months of standing to attention during drills, Cloud was pleased to note that it apparently didn’t look as bad as it felt. His hunched, shuffling walk didn’t attract much more than a passing glance from the people he saw on the streets - thin, hard-eyed people who probably had better things to do than stare at one more homeless kid starving to death in the slums.
Cloud couldn’t say he minded the lack of scrutiny, especially when he realized how well sound carried in the echoing confines of the under-Plate. His grumpy, bent-legged walk gave him plenty of time to separate certain conversations from the muffled cacophony of the dirty streets he passed through, to catch snatches of information that helped guide his feet towards his destination.
It still took several hours of wandering, of piecing together snippets of conversations and figuring out the things left unsaid, of backtracking and getting hopelessly turned around until he was hardly even certain which way was up anymore, but when Cloud finally turned a corner and saw the boarded-up potions storehouse with shiny new hinges on the front door, he knew he was in the right place.
Mentally going through all the things his drill sergeants had yelled at him about storming enemy strongholds, Cloud peered cautiously round the corner of a grey-walled house, hoping his hair didn’t stick out too much. The storehouse looked disconcertingly solid, surprisingly well build for this part of the Sector. There was a shabbily-dressed man slumped on the ground in front of the door and, while he looked pretty harmless at first glance, Cloud could see the wary tension in his shoulders that made it clear he was no beggar. Cloud wouldn’t be getting through that door without a fight, that was for certain.
He leaned out farther, hard stone rough against his cheek as he stared at the storehouse. Like most of the structures in the slums, it was build right up against the buildings on either side of it, so he wouldn’t be getting in that way. There were a few windows on the second floor that he was probably limber enough to scramble through - provided he could find a helicopter to help get to them, of course.
Cloud made a face. This was not going to work.
Pulling his head back before someone could ask him what he was doing plastering himself to the side of the building, Cloud crossed his arms and mulled over what to do next. He supposed he could always wait here and hope that Zack would come waltzing out and save him the trouble, but when had Zack ever made things that easy? And Zack was supposed to be in trouble so if he did just walk out Cloud would have to try and beat him up and would probably end up getting arrested.
Huffing a stray lock of hair out of his face, Cloud leaned back against the wall, thinking hard. He wasn’t going to be able to bully his way in, that was for sure. And he couldn’t even rely on the cover of night to try scaling the walls or anything because lights never went off in the slums. And trying to cause a power outage would probably also get him arrested, so that was no good either. Cloud frowned deeper, wondering moodily how long the General would let him flail about before sending someone else to do this job properly - potential turncoat or no.
And then Cloud jerked his head up so quickly that he bashed it against the wall and had to grit his teeth to keep from swearing out loud. It was several long moments before his ears stopped ringing, but he could feel the smile tugging at his mouth even despite the pain.
He would join the radicals. It was surely what Zack had done, if he had been sent in as a double agent. Sephiroth had said they were recruiting members out of the Shinra army - why couldn’t Cloud be one more?
Rubbing his sore head absently, Cloud considered and discarded several ideas before settling on a plan he figured he could work with. And if his hands were shaking just a little bit at the thought of how badly things could go if he screwed this up, well at least no one could see them when they were in his pockets.
Before he could talk himself out of it, Cloud levered himself away from the wall and rounded the corner, muttering irritably to himself as he skulked towards the storehouse.
He could sense the guard watching him from under the brim of his floppy hat but Cloud didn’t slow, eyes fixed firmly on his feet as he continued his grumbling litany. Most of the complaints he was mumbling were pure nonsense, although he made sure that the phrases ‘SOLDIER’ and ‘fucking Shinra’, came out nice and clear as he passed right by the wary guard.
And then he had to keep walking, heart hammering in his chest as he let his feet carry him right past the storehouse and further into the back alleys of the Sector. He wound leisurely through the poorly lit intersections, still muttering loud enough that no one would have much trouble tracking his progress. His sense of direction started to get fuzzy after about 20 minutes but he kept his pace deliberately steady, ignoring the icy fear coiling in his gut.
Then he turned another faceless corner and had to struggle not to grin as he saw four young men, not that much older than he was, lounging against the walls and watching him approach.
Cloud drew to an abrupt halt, hunching even further forward as he did his best to sneer at the figures blocking his way. They didn’t appear affected by his show of hostility, if anything, the one at the front looked vaguely amused.
“Greetings brother,” the front man said, grinning at him through his long black bangs. “Welcome to our playground.”
Cloud scowled. “I’m not your ‘brother’ buddy,” he declared. “Get out of the way.”
The man’s smile widened. “And what if I don’t want to?”
The three figures behind him detached themselves from the wall and stepped forward, flanking the leader. Cloud stiffened warily. “Chill man,” the leader said. “We just wanna talk.”
Shifting his weight as though preparing for a fight, Cloud surveyed the group in front of him. “Well I don’t,” he declared, pivoting on his heels to go back the way he’d come. “So fuck off.”
“You failed out of the SOLDIER program didn’t you?” the guy asked and Cloud froze, just like they wanted him to.
“They didn’t want you, did they?” the leader demanded, voice low and insidious, the barbs meant to stick. “Why was that? Too small? No good in combat?” He paused, and Cloud could hear his smirk as he added, “Too girly for their liking?”
“What do you know about it?” Cloud demanded harshly, trying to keep his breathing under control. It was just an act, he told himself, the best excuse for turning his back on Shinra, but dammit if the guy’s words didn’t strike a little too close to Cloud’s own uncertainties. “Shut the hell up.”
“Easy brother,” the black haired man soothed, and Cloud could hear him coming up behind him with slow, easy steps. “We know how you feel. You’re not the only one with a grudge against Shinra’s backstabbing.”
“Too young, they said,” Cloud forced himself to say, somewhat disappointed with himself that he didn’t even need to fake the bitterness in his voice. “Couldn’t pass the physical.”
“And you ended up down here,” the man observed knowingly. A hand hovered briefly above Cloud’s shoulder before coming down in a comforting pat. Cloud flinched instinctively but didn’t try to escape the touch, which gave the other man enough encouragement to draw up right next to him.
“You’re just like us, brother. Shinra fucked with your life and left you to rot. Forget them,” he added, and Cloud could sense the man’s followers coming up behind him. “And come with us. We’ll help you get your revenge on those bastards.”
Cloud twisted sharply, mustering his courage as he glared into the dark eyes only inches away from him. “I don’t think so,” he spat. “I didn’t leave Shinra to be someone else’s toy soldier instead.” He shifted, trying to get away, and was morbidly pleased that the grip on his shoulder tightened, keeping him close.
“Hey now, don’t be so sharp.” The black haired man gave him an appraising look. “You’re a little scrapper, aren’t you?” he asked with a smile. “Not a toy soldier in the slightest. We could use a guy like you - and you’ll need our help if you want to get back at them.”
Stilling in what he hoped looked like hesitation, Cloud waited for the guy to take the next step.
He wasn’t disappointed. Taking his silence as acquiescence, the man shifted his grip into something a bit more friendly and started walking, smiling as he led Cloud back the way he had come. Cloud let him do it, the echo of booted feet following them as the other radicals fell in step.
“So who are you guys?” he asked finally, tone somewhere between wary and curious. “You’re not some political faction or anything, are you?”
If nothing else, the black haired guy had a nice laugh. “Oh no, nothing like that,” he promised. “We’re just trying to punish Shinra for all the wrong it’s done to the people of Midgar.” A hand was thrust in Cloud’s vision and he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. “I’m Kale,” the man introduced himself. “Sort of a squad leader for the resistance.”
“Cloud,” Cloud responded in kind, shaking the offered hand. “Resistance against what? Shinra?”
The man named Kale smiled. “Got it in one.”
His new companion kept walking, intimately familiar with the twisting streets, and Cloud resigned himself to being thoroughly lost. Hopefully it wouldn’t matter too much in the long run.
“So,” he tried. “What are you planning to do to, er, get revenge against Shinra? You said you could use me,” he pointed out, trying to diffuse the question. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Easy brother,” Kale admonished lightly. “All in good time.” Then his voice dropped. “These aren’t the kind of things to talk about in the open, y’know.”
Cloud glanced around as much as the arm around his shoulders would allow him, figuring it was kind of expected. Kale laughed again and squeezed his shoulders familiarly, nothing at all like it felt when Zack did it.
And then Kale’s footsteps slowed and Cloud nearly cheered to see the familiar façade of the storehouse materialize around the corner of a run-down toy store.
“Stick close, Cloud,” Kale ordered, as if Cloud had a choice. The group of rebels frog-marched him up to the door, faces shuttering with something dangerously professional.
The guard tensed slightly as they approached and Cloud noticed a glint of metal amid the folds of his tattered clothes. Kale was eminently confident though, flashing a smile and an approving nod the man’s way. The guard nodded back and shifted away from his position, making no protest when Kale opened the door and ushered them all inside.
It was dark inside and Cloud frowned, squinting as he tried to get a sense of the space around him. It was a large room of some kind, he could see that much, and piled high with jumbled stacks of darker shadows that Cloud couldn’t distinguish. Warm breath gusted across Cloud’s cheek and he jumped, not even bothering to hide his nervousness as Kale leaned in close.
“This way,” the man said, guiding Cloud unerringly through the blackness towards the far wall. “Watch the stairs.”
And then they were going down, Kale in the front and the rest bringing up the rear. Cloud swallowed against the lump in his throat, boots clumping loudly on the stairs. It was even darker in the room at the bottom of the stairs, although Cloud could hear one of the man at his back scraping along the wall looking for the switch.
The light clicked on and Cloud was pathetically relieved to find himself in a relatively normal-looking room, dominated by a large table scattered with maps and notes and stray bullet casings. Kale took a couple of steps forward and turned, smiling at him through his bangs.
“Welcome to our base of operations,” he declared and Cloud blinked.
No way it was that easy.
“Your base?” he asked hesitantly, wondering why he was surprised when Kale nodded, pleased.
“We’re the rallying point for all those who believe Shinra are wrong for treating us like sub-humans, just because we live in their slums.” Kale gestured at the room around him. “This is where we plan all of our campaigns.”
“…oh.” And that wasn’t very in character, was it? “And where do I come in?” Cloud demanded, chin thrust out pugnaciously. “Need my help for one of these campaigns?”
“Your support,” Kale corrected with a wink. “For one of our biggest campaigns yet.”
That sounded serious. Cloud hesitated, not sure how he ought to respond, and Kale gave a supportive smile.
“Go home and think about it,” the man offered. “And if you decide to join us, come back in the morning. The password to get through the door is Ifrit’s Fire.” He grinned. “It’ll be a meeting that no freedom fighter would miss.”
~~~~~~~
After being dismissed from the rebel base, Cloud spent most of the night curled up on a bench in the train station, doing a spectacularly poor job of getting some sleep. He still wasn’t entirely sure he hadn’t been followed, a fact that kept making him twitch at the smallest sound, unable to manage much more than a fitful doze.
He gave up altogether when the morning train rumbled through the station, people swirling around him as the echo of the train’s whistle ricocheted off the walls. He then spent several minutes peering blearily at the flaked green paint on the bench, hoping that Zack appreciated the lengths he was going to.
Eventually rousing himself enough to stumble out of the station, Cloud stopped for a quick breakfast at a run-down Wutain place near the station. The food was more than questionable, but the coffee refills were free and Cloud was able to come out much more awake than he had been going in.
And then there wasn’t anything to do but slouch off towards the old storehouse, the edges of the PHS digging into his palm as he fisted his hands nervously.
This could be a trap. Cloud didn’t really think it was - why bother setting traps for a below average Regular? - but it was a struggle to keep his pace even as he drew near to the storehouse. Which was silly, because he’d go in regardless if it meant getting Zack out, but Cloud still found himself feeling more than a little shaky as he strode up to the door and the guard glared up at him.
“Ifrit’s Fire,” he said, with all the confidence he could muster.
And the guard nodded and stepped aside to let him in.
Breathing an involuntary sigh of relief, Cloud hurried through the door and was brought up short by the sudden crush of people he found himself in. The lights were on this time, and Cloud could see that the room was full of people, mostly young men, standing in small groups or by themselves and all facing a low shelf at the back of the building, waiting. There weren’t all that many of them, Cloud guessed about 65, which went a ways to explaining how he’d got accepted into the resistance so easily.
But even 65 men could do a lot of damage if they put their minds to it.
Cloud lingered uncertainly by the door, idly watching as a few more people trickled in to join the congregation. Looking around the room, he realized that the large shadows he’d seen the night before were a haphazard mix of banners, materia bracers, posters, a whole bunch of other stuff he couldn’t identify, and guns. His blood ran cold at the sight of the last one.
“You made it,” a voice said to him, and Cloud turned to see Kale coming down what had to be the stairs to the second floor. The dark haired man grinned. “Good to have you aboard Cloud.”
“Thanks,” Cloud answered gruffly. “But I just want to get back at Shin-ra…” And then he was staring, numb with shock as a very familiar figure tromped casually down the stairs behind Kale.
Zack drew up short, eyebrows raised in surprise, and Cloud felt something ease in his chest as he took in his friend’s whole, unharmed self.
But now Kale was looking at him oddly. “Something wrong brother?” he asked, a slight edge to his voice and Cloud drew his thoughts in sharply.
He bared his teeth in a snarl. “What the hell’s a SOLDIER doing here?” he hissed, glaring blue murder at Zack. “I don’t want anything to do with one of those glowing eyed bastards!”
“Now calm down,” Kale soothed, tension melting out of him like water as he looped a friendly arm over Cloud’s shoulders. “He’s one of us,” he confided. “Fighting fire with fire and all that.”
“Yeah kid,” Zack declared, swaggering forward with a half-warning grin. “Save your anger for the real enemy.” His face was an easy mask of smooth confidence, but Cloud could see the questions and apologies and reassurances swirling in violet eyes. Zack stuck out a hand. “Name’s Jake, by the way. Former SOLDIER Third Class.”
Cloud ignored the hand, rocking back defiantly on his heels. “Jake huh? Sounds stupid to me.”
Hey now, Zack’s expression objected, aggrieved, and Cloud was hard pressed not to smile under that familiar regard.
A nudge in the side distracted him and Cloud shifted his attention obediently to the radical still draped over his shoulder.
“Play nice now, Cloud,” Kale said, smile taking most of the sting out of it. “We’re all on the same team here.” He smiled once more then let his arm drop, the same eerie professionalism from the day before creeping up his spine as he turned his attention to the crowd. “And I think we’ve all waited long enough for this day.”
Cloud stayed where he was when Kale and Zack and two of the flunkies from the day before started heading through the crowd, hands fisted even tighter in his pockets to keep him from reaching for Zack as he passed. The crowd parted for Kale like water, and Cloud belatedly realized that he’d apparently been recruited by the only ‘squad leader’ the radicals had.
Kale climbed up onto the low shelf, Zack and the flunkies right behind him. “Brothers!” he proclaimed, voice sweeping over the crowd with effortless allure. “You are here today because you believe in justice! In the right for all people to be treated like people - not worthless commodities to be used and thrown away! It is the depth of your fervor that has spread our message and drawn numerous supporters from across Midgar! And we will make Shinra change its ways! Too long has the President ignored the cries of his people! We will not let him mistreat us any longer! The fire in our hearts and the strength in our limbs will change this world for the better!”
It was strange, Cloud thought, listening to a speech like this. Kale’s passion was an almost tangible thing, leaping through the air with fire-bright sparks and swelling the hearts of his listeners. Cloud could feel that pull too, not as surprised as he should have been to realize how much of it he agreed with. Which was hard, because he was part of Shinra, and still had hopeless dreams of becoming a SOLDIER and maybe catching up to Zack someday.
He wondered what Zack thought, listening to Kale’s words and knowing that they were there to stop him - whether he was right or not.
And then Kale came to the meat of his address and Cloud was forced to put his own musings aside, ears straining to catch every word. This was the important part.
“Up until now, we have been mostly non-combative in our attempts to force Shinra to change,” Kale reminded them, eyes alight with revolutionary fervor. “But Shinra continues to dismiss our needs! And so, if we are really serious about creating change, we must be willing to take the next step.”
“Therefore!” he declaimed, confident as a showman. “We are going to overrun this Sector’s train station and seize all the trains that travel through it! Without them, Shinra will have no way of moving people or goods through the Sectors - or between the slums and the upper city! And when all of Midgar grinds to a halt, stopping the flow of productivity that Shinra values above all else, the President and his pet General will be forced to address the state of affairs that they themselves have precipitated!”
A ragged cheer surged from the belly of the crowd and Cloud found himself staring at Kale in consternated shock. Take over a train station? Without getting completely destroyed by the Shinra army?
Kale held up his hands, calming the enthusiasm in the room. “We have carefully analyzed the station and determined the best position from which to hold it,” he told them. “We have also been gathering weapons for the last several months,” he added and Cloud eyed the ragged piles around them with an unhappy shudder. “Which we will use to defend ourselves and our rights from the forces of Shinra.” Kale spread his arms wide. “You are all here because you’re not afraid to fight for what you believe in! Many of you come from the ranks of the Shinra military, betrayed by the organization you served! Even one of their SOLDIERs has joined our ranks,” a wide sweeping gesture towards where Zack stood solidly behind him, “And his might, along with ours, will help us triumph over Shinra’s wickedness!”
The place erupted in cheering again but Cloud hardly noticed, lost in his own thoughts and the frightening implications of Kale’s words. Shinra wouldn’t let something like this pass without a fight. Cloud had no idea whether Kale and his men could hold the station or not, but he did know that a lot of people were going to die if they tried. He looked desperately up towards the stage, but Zack was wearing the bland, obedient face he always used for official functions and Presidential addresses, his expression giving no hint about how he felt about Kale’s proposition.
Cloud listened almost dispassionately as Kale outlined the specifics of his plan, mind swirling with images of blood strewn cobblestones and uncomfortable green benches reduced to splinters as men with rifles blew each other to pieces. How could anyone think that was a good way to exact change?
Kale concluded his speech with another ringing exultation and a reminder of the date and time of their attack. Though he was tempted to bolt for the door as soon as he could, Cloud forced himself to linger, waiting until the impassioned murmurs in the crowd had died down and the room began to empty. He let his feet carry him through the door on autopilot, following the throng for a while before slipping down a side street and hurrying away.
He stopped at a dressmaker’s shop and went inside, picking a few shirts at random off the rack before shuffling away to the changing rooms at the back of the store. Once the door was safely locked behind him he pulled out the PHS, fingers remarkably steady as he dialed the number he’d been given.
His heartbeat thumping in time with the rings, Cloud clutched the PHS and waited anxiously for someone to pick up.
“…Sephiroth speaking.”
And nearly dropped the thing in shock as he realized the number the General had given him was his own.
“…Hello?”
“General!” Cloud blurted quietly, listening with one ear for the approach of the sales clerk. “Private Strife reporting.”
“Strife. Have you found Zack?”
Cloud nodded reflexively. “Yes sir. And I know what the rebels are planning.”
Sephiroth listened wordlessly as Cloud told him what he knew, deep voice dropping over the line only after Cloud had fallen silent, panting slightly and still clutching the forgotten shirts to his chest.
“Good work Strife,” Sephiroth said and Cloud didn’t even care how pathetically pleased he was to hear that from the General. “I’ll ensure that Shinra is prepared to defend the station against the rebels.”
“Um sir…” And Cloud must be insane to even consider saying this to the General. “You’re not going to kill them, are you?”
“I will do my very best to keep that from happening,” Sephiroth promised solemnly, apparently not minding Cloud’s breach of etiquette. “But in the meantime, may I ask you to remain there and support Zack? It will… ease my mind to be able to contact you as preparations move forward.”
“Yes sir!” Cloud promised, figuring it wasn’t worth mentioning that he would have stayed anyway. He wouldn’t want to worry Zack by disappearing after all. And what did he have to do back at barracks without Zack anyway?
“Good,” the General’s voice said. “Are you able to contact me at this same time tomorrow?”
Cloud bit his lip thoughtfully. “I think so. The attack’s not until the day after so I should be able to sneak away without a problem.”
“Very well. Till tomorrow then.”
“Yes sir.”
Cloud hung up and shoved the PHS back in his pocket, offering the sales clerk a sheepish shake of his head as he slouched out of the store without buying anything. The man looked down his nose at him unhappily and Cloud made a mental note not to come to the same store tomorrow.
He ambled aimlessly back the way he’d come, wondering what he was going to do with himself for the rest of the day now that most of his job was done. It wasn’t like there was much to do in this Sector, at least not when he wasn’t busy infiltrating rebel organizations. Cloud sighed restlessly and was toying with the idea of trying to find somewhere he could stop for lunch when an arm shot out of a narrow side street and dragged him into the darkness.
His elbow was swinging towards his attacker’s face before his mind had quite figured out what was going on, but a solid forearm blocked the shot with frightening ease.
“Quietly!” the man hissed and Cloud blinked, pausing mid kick.
“Za-, er Jake!” he whispered back, just in case Zack was being followed. “What are you doing here?”
“Convinced ‘em to let me take a walk to stretch my legs,” Zack admitted in a low voice, the familiar flash of his crooked grin making Cloud’s heart dance. “First time I’ve been outside in nearly a week.”
“S-seph’s worried about you,” he accused, Zack’s informal nickname for the man rolling clumsily off his tongue.
Zack shrugged. “I figured as much.” Then he smiled cheekily. “Good to see he sent the cavalry after me though.”
Cloud rolled his eyes. “You know, it’s pretty pathetic when I’m rescuing you,” he said and Zack poked him in the side.
“Aw, you’re just getting practice for when you’re a great heroic SOLDIER like me,” Zack told him, speaking with such conviction that Cloud could almost believe him. “And I’d love to argue that point with you, but I gotta get back before they miss me. You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah,” Cloud answered, surprised to find he was telling the truth. “I talked to uh, Seph, and he’s sorting everything out.” He offered Zack a shy smile. “Although a kiss for luck wouldn’t hurt.”
It hadn’t been that long, but damn had Cloud missed the sound of Zack’s chuckle. “Far be it from me to refuse a request from my rescuer,” Zack murmured, leaning down for a sweet, gentle kiss that had Cloud swaying forward for another before he’d quite realized the first had ended.
And Zack was looking at him with frustrated fondness, but Cloud knew as well as Zack did that they couldn’t linger.
“Go on,” he urged. “I’ll be around, so don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easily.”
Zack’s eyes shone with more than mako as he grinned at him. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Watch yourself.”
And then he was gone, sprinting down the alley out of sight faster than Cloud’s eyes could follow. Cloud took a different route and resumed his skulking walk, hoping that no one noticed the goofy grin on his face. His stomach rumbled hungrily and he decided that lunch sounded like a good idea after all.
And maybe when this was all over, the General would issue them a vacation or something.
~owari
“Get your ass over here!” Sergeant Lanheig ordered, arms crossed over his broad chest with characteristically limited patience. Trying not to let his confusion show on his face, Cloud detracted himself from the line of tired troopers staggering towards the showers and jogged over.
He stopped and saluted again. “Yes sir?”
Sergeant Lanheig gave him a strangely assessing look. “Got a message from High Command,” he said gruffly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at a blue suited soldier waiting patiently behind him. “You’re wanted in the General’s office stat.”
“The G-general?” Cloud blurted in surprise. Zack was away on assignment right now. Why would Sephiroth want to see Cloud?
“McInley’ll take care of your kit,” the Sergeant told him. “You’re free to return to barracks when the General’s done with you.”
Provided you haven’t been kicked out, the look in his eyes added, mute evidence of the Sergeant’s low opinion on Cloud’s ability. Four months ago, Cloud would probably have agreed with that observation.
Saluting instinctively when the Sergeant dismissed him, Cloud followed the messenger off the field towards the main building complex, trying to ignore the way twenty pairs of eyes were boring holes in the back of his shirt as he left. The fact that most them probably weren’t expecting him back didn’t really help any.
Cloud glanced at the man beside him, looking for a hint as to what was going on, but quickly realized he wasn’t getting any help from that score. The soldier was looking straight ahead with a bland, disinterested look on his face that made it very clear that, whatever Sephiroth needed Cloud for, it was no concern of his.
And normally that would have worried Cloud, would have sent him reeling with fears and panicked, half-mad imaginings of what on Gaia he could’ve possibly done to deserve a personal reprimand from the Silver General himself. Not that he was discounting that possibility entirely, of course, but for once he felt more puzzled than concerned.
After all, Zack was the General’s friend and Zack had decided that Cloud was his friend so the General probably wouldn’t have Cloud court martialed while Zack was away and wouldn’t get a chance to complain about it. It just wouldn’t be polite. And Sephiroth, Cloud had noticed, was very much concerned with behaving appropriately to those he deemed worth the effort.
He was still trying to come up with a plausible reason for his summons that didn’t involve Zack planning a coup and starting at the top when his taciturn escort stopped smoothly in front of the door to the General’s private study. Cloud had been here once or twice before, although usually for only a few minutes while Zack tried to wheedle the General into coming with them on some crazy adventure or other. He still couldn’t help a shaky swallow as the messenger knocked on the door and stuck his head in, calmly professional.
“Sir? Private Strife to see you.”
“Very good. Send him in,” Sephiroth’s voice came from the other side of the door and Cloud decided that maybe he was just a little bit concerned after all.
The soldier stepped aside to allow him in, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him loud in the quiet room.
“General Sephiroth sir!” he saluted, acutely aware of the fact that he was still in his practice gear, not his uniform, and that the overly large grey shirt made him look paler and thinner than he actually was. The only sounds in the room were the light scratch of General Sephiroth’s pen and Cloud’s own breathing. “Private Strife reporting as requested.”
“Ah yes.” Sephiroth glanced up from his paperwork with a bland expression. “At ease Private,” he directed. “And please come over here. It is difficult to talk to you when you’re standing at the door.”
Jumping slightly, Cloud hurried forward until he was standing before Sephiroth’s overly full yet still impeccably tidy desk. He waited for a few moments, daring a nervous question when nothing further was forthcoming from the General. “Um, sir? Was there something you needed me for?”
Sephiroth signed his name at the bottom of an official-looking document, then fixed his attention on Cloud. “It’s about Zack.”
An icy fear seized Cloud by the throat. “Is he alright?” he demanded, too preoccupied to remember the formal ‘sir’ at the end.
Only Sephiroth looked mildly alarmed and that, more than anything else he could have done, went a long way towards slowing Cloud’s heartbeat.
“You misunderstand,” the General clarified hurriedly. “I have no reason to doubt that Zack is in anything other than excellent health, as always.”
And then Sephiroth paused and, while Cloud wasn’t exactly gifted with Zack’s ability to translate the General’s subtle changes of expression, there was only one way to read the half-irritated, half-puzzled, all hopelessly resigned look that his General was wearing now.
Cloud sighed heavily. “What’s he done now?” he demanded, and he wasn’t really sure, but the next expression on Sephiroth’s face looked an awful lot like relief.
“You know that Zack is currently away on assignment?” The General asked, more a formality than anything else. Cloud nodded anyway. “Did he tell you where he was going?”
“No sir,” Cloud answered, not really knowing where this was going but more than willing to follow the General’s lead. “It’s often an issue of military security so he never says. Not to mention that he thinks his strange souvenirs are more effective if nobody knows where he’s been to get them.”
Sephiroth nodded, although whether that was in approval of Zack’s discretion or because he was used to receiving random reactor-shaped keychains and decorative flowering cacti, Cloud wasn’t sure.
“Zack’s current assignment is rather closer afield than usual,” Sephiroth started, then paused, green eyes thoguhtful. “What I’m about to disclose to you is confidential information, Private Strife,” he admitted, tone somewhere between military warning and personal confidence. “You are not to repeat it to anyone, understood?”
Cloud saluted on principle. “Yes sir.”
“Good.” Sephiroth paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, then continued. “Zack is currently in the Midgar slums, infiltrating a group of anti-Shinra radicals. Most of them are under-plate youths who object to the Plate system and the current structure of the education routine employed in the city.” Sephiroth shook his head. “And, while their concerns have some merit, Shinra cannot approve of the methods they are attempting to employ to precipitate change.”
“Methods?” Cloud echoed, not sure he liked where this was going.
“Guerilla-style rebellion tactics including, but not limited to; letter bombs, public protests, threats, coercion and riots. None of their activities have resulted in any fatalities thus far, but the reach and frequency of these… stunts, as Zack would call them, is increasing in magnitude.” The General’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is more concerning, however, is that this group has begun drawing supporters from among the ranks of Shinra’s defense forces, which could be a serious threat to the solidarity and security of the Shinra Corporation.”
“No kidding,” Cloud breathed, ducking his head slightly when Sephiroth arched an eyebrow at him. “Sorry sir. Please continue.”
“Thank you. Zack volunteered to infiltrate this organization by posing as another military sympathizer. His objective was to determine the level of threat presented by these radicals and report back with proposed methods for neutralizing the danger with limited fatalities.” Sephiroth paused and Cloud thought he caught a hint of consternation in the slight twist of the man’s lips. “Unfortunately, he was due back three days ago and has not reported back once since he left.”
Cloud’s eyes felt like they were going to fall out of his head they were open so wide. “He hasn’t come back?” he managed, the sick feeling returning to his stomach with a vengeance. Hadn’t the General said Zack was okay?
Sephiroth seemed to recognize the source of his agitation. “Zack may not have returned yet,” he admitted. “But Shinra has not received any sort of communication from the radicals indicating that they are forcibly holding him. As a SOLDIER First Class, Zack would be a powerful bargaining chip for them to use in their efforts against Shinra.” He shook his head, silver hair swishing across his shoulder guards. “No, I suspect that Zack is well, but circumstances have made it difficult for him to return.”
Well that made sense but -
“Can’t you send someone else down to- er, back him up?” Cloud asked, surprised by the unusual weariness in Sephiroth’s face as he shook his head.
“Zack will already be under scrutiny because his eyes betray him as a SOLDIER. If another SOLDIER were to ‘join’ so soon after Zack’s arrival, it would increase suspicion on both of them and make discovery more likely. Zack’s presence among the radicals is extremely unofficial because Shinra Corp does not have the public authority to enable an official inquest into the nature of this group. Having either he, or someone sent after him, identified as a member of or a spy within this organization would be incredibly damaging to Shinra’s efforts within the city, not in the least because of the damage it would do should people start believing we are in the habit of sending spies into the slums. Hence the reluctance to have someone else ‘back him up’ before we know for certain how things stand.”
“And a regular trooper would be even more difficult to select,” Sephiroth continued before Cloud could object. “Because most lack the ability to support a SOLDIER and, due to potential of insurgents within the rank and file, it would be imprudent to select someone without being certain where their loyalties lie.”
“So we just have to wait for something to happen?” Cloud asked, trying to keep the accusatory note out of his tone. How could the General be this blasé about his friend?
Only Sephiroth was looking at Cloud like there was someone important standing there instead. “Actually, Private Strife, I’m telling you this because I would like you to investigate the situation.”
Cloud ran that through his head a second time, but it didn’t make any more sense than it had the first. “Um, pardon?”
“Not to break the insurgency ring,” Sephiroth assured him calmly. “But to locate Zack and provide the necessary support to get both of you back to base safely. Shinra Intelligence reports that the rebels’ base of operations is within Sector 8 - you’re most likely to find Zack there.” Green eyes pinned him with deliberate intent. “Do you understand, Private Strife?”
Cloud’s head was starting to spin. “Y-yes, but…”
“Good. You will be exempt from your standard duties until you return.” The silver-haired General pulled a requisition form out of his desk drawer. “You’ll also be issued a PHS. You can use it to contact the base should you have any problems.”
“…understood.”
“Oh, and Strife?” Cloud blinked at the wry, secretive little smile on Sephiroth’s face as he added, “If you find out that Zack’s spent the last three days getting drunk on Wall Street, you have my permission to hit him.”
“I- yes, sir. Um, sir?” Cloud hazarded, hating himself for being so useless but determined to make sure the General knew the whole situation. “I understand why you need a Regular trooper to infiltrate the rebel base, but are you sure you want it to be me? Not that I’m not ready to help in any way,” he added hurriedly, worried that the General might think he didn’t want to help Zack. “But I’m sure there are many other trustworthy troopers who’d be better at it than me.”
The General looked at him blandly for a moment and Cloud steeled himself not to be disappointed when Sephiroth agreed and asked Cloud to help him choose someone else.
Then Sephiroth shrugged. “Zack would trust you to do it,” he said matter-of-factly, ignoring the way Cloud’s jaw thudded open. “So I will also.”
~~~~~~
Forty minutes later, Cloud was on a train hurtling towards Sector 8 and wondering what in Ramuh’s name he was getting himself into.
At least the train wasn’t too busy - Sector 8 wasn’t as dangerously poor as Sector 7 but it came close, and had none of the gaudy nightlife of Sector 6 that might attract visitors. All of which meant that Cloud had a train compartment almost entirely to himself and could fidget in peace without anyone looking at him too funny.
At least he’d had a chance to shower and put on some clean clothes before leaving base, although it was mildly consternating that it felt strange to be wearing civilian clothes instead of his uniform. But this way he’d be basically anonymous, since there wasn’t much about him that was worth paying attention to if he wasn’t in uniform. Which was more than a little pathetic, but for once Cloud didn’t mind. Not if it made it easier for him to find Zack.
Zack had to be okay. Not only because a SOLDIER First Class was a match for pretty much anybody dumb enough to go up against him, but also because this was Zack and Cloud couldn’t picture anyone keeping Zack down for long. The man was completely irrepressible.
And if Cloud did find him on Wall Street, the whack the General had permitted him wasn’t going to be nearly enough to punish the idiot.
Rusty rails screeched painfully as the train hurtled into the station, hydraulic brakes hissing with the effort of slowing the fast-moving vehicle. Cloud watched the platform lights flash past the windows, most definitely not nervous as the train jerked once and the doors slid smoothly open. A few tired-looking passengers shouldered past him to get on the train and Cloud side-stepped them instinctively, most of his attention on avoiding the garishly painted gap between the train and the edge of the platform. The doors snicked shut behind him and the train pulled sluggishly out of the station, windows winking in farewell for a few moments before the train trundled round a corner and was swallowed up by the darkness.
Cloud stared for a moment after the spot where the train had disappeared, then squared his shoulders and turned towards the station complex determinedly.
And it was right about then that he realized he didn’t have the faintest clue what to do next.
Cloud stared blankly at the train station for several moments, made a face at himself when he realized what he was doing, then hurried off the platform towards the entrance where he could space out a little less obviously.
Where should he start looking? The General hadn’t told him where this rebel base was, nor how to recognize any of the insurgents if he saw them. Cloud cast a despairing glance at the rabbit warren of broken-tiled streets radiating out from the train station, already dreading how long it would take him to investigate the entire Sector. If it had been Zack, Cloud was sure he’d have come up with some brilliant, crazy plan that would have had the radicals practically begging to show him where their base was. But Cloud wasn’t Zack.
He couldn’t stand here forever, though. The General was counting on him and Zack… well, Zack would tell him to stop being so worried about doing things wrong and just do his best. And Zack had never steered him wrong before - not when it counted - so Cloud figured his best was just going to have to do.
He let out a single, shaky breath and started down the station steps, shuffling his feet and trying not to look too out of place. He buried his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders almost as an afterthought as he remembered the dangerous belligerence with which he’d seen the thugs around Aeris’ church behave. Belligerent, right. He could do belligerent. Probably.
It was still early afternoon but the streetlights were already lit, flickering fitfully as they tried to brighten the perennial darkness under the Plate. Cloud skulked aimlessly through the streets, hoping not to get lost. He’d never been to Sector 8 before and figured that he’d have a better chance of finding this secret base - and getting away again - if he knew how to get around it. And if it felt strange to slouch so much after years of trying to look taller than he was and months of standing to attention during drills, Cloud was pleased to note that it apparently didn’t look as bad as it felt. His hunched, shuffling walk didn’t attract much more than a passing glance from the people he saw on the streets - thin, hard-eyed people who probably had better things to do than stare at one more homeless kid starving to death in the slums.
Cloud couldn’t say he minded the lack of scrutiny, especially when he realized how well sound carried in the echoing confines of the under-Plate. His grumpy, bent-legged walk gave him plenty of time to separate certain conversations from the muffled cacophony of the dirty streets he passed through, to catch snatches of information that helped guide his feet towards his destination.
It still took several hours of wandering, of piecing together snippets of conversations and figuring out the things left unsaid, of backtracking and getting hopelessly turned around until he was hardly even certain which way was up anymore, but when Cloud finally turned a corner and saw the boarded-up potions storehouse with shiny new hinges on the front door, he knew he was in the right place.
Mentally going through all the things his drill sergeants had yelled at him about storming enemy strongholds, Cloud peered cautiously round the corner of a grey-walled house, hoping his hair didn’t stick out too much. The storehouse looked disconcertingly solid, surprisingly well build for this part of the Sector. There was a shabbily-dressed man slumped on the ground in front of the door and, while he looked pretty harmless at first glance, Cloud could see the wary tension in his shoulders that made it clear he was no beggar. Cloud wouldn’t be getting through that door without a fight, that was for certain.
He leaned out farther, hard stone rough against his cheek as he stared at the storehouse. Like most of the structures in the slums, it was build right up against the buildings on either side of it, so he wouldn’t be getting in that way. There were a few windows on the second floor that he was probably limber enough to scramble through - provided he could find a helicopter to help get to them, of course.
Cloud made a face. This was not going to work.
Pulling his head back before someone could ask him what he was doing plastering himself to the side of the building, Cloud crossed his arms and mulled over what to do next. He supposed he could always wait here and hope that Zack would come waltzing out and save him the trouble, but when had Zack ever made things that easy? And Zack was supposed to be in trouble so if he did just walk out Cloud would have to try and beat him up and would probably end up getting arrested.
Huffing a stray lock of hair out of his face, Cloud leaned back against the wall, thinking hard. He wasn’t going to be able to bully his way in, that was for sure. And he couldn’t even rely on the cover of night to try scaling the walls or anything because lights never went off in the slums. And trying to cause a power outage would probably also get him arrested, so that was no good either. Cloud frowned deeper, wondering moodily how long the General would let him flail about before sending someone else to do this job properly - potential turncoat or no.
And then Cloud jerked his head up so quickly that he bashed it against the wall and had to grit his teeth to keep from swearing out loud. It was several long moments before his ears stopped ringing, but he could feel the smile tugging at his mouth even despite the pain.
He would join the radicals. It was surely what Zack had done, if he had been sent in as a double agent. Sephiroth had said they were recruiting members out of the Shinra army - why couldn’t Cloud be one more?
Rubbing his sore head absently, Cloud considered and discarded several ideas before settling on a plan he figured he could work with. And if his hands were shaking just a little bit at the thought of how badly things could go if he screwed this up, well at least no one could see them when they were in his pockets.
Before he could talk himself out of it, Cloud levered himself away from the wall and rounded the corner, muttering irritably to himself as he skulked towards the storehouse.
He could sense the guard watching him from under the brim of his floppy hat but Cloud didn’t slow, eyes fixed firmly on his feet as he continued his grumbling litany. Most of the complaints he was mumbling were pure nonsense, although he made sure that the phrases ‘SOLDIER’ and ‘fucking Shinra’, came out nice and clear as he passed right by the wary guard.
And then he had to keep walking, heart hammering in his chest as he let his feet carry him right past the storehouse and further into the back alleys of the Sector. He wound leisurely through the poorly lit intersections, still muttering loud enough that no one would have much trouble tracking his progress. His sense of direction started to get fuzzy after about 20 minutes but he kept his pace deliberately steady, ignoring the icy fear coiling in his gut.
Then he turned another faceless corner and had to struggle not to grin as he saw four young men, not that much older than he was, lounging against the walls and watching him approach.
Cloud drew to an abrupt halt, hunching even further forward as he did his best to sneer at the figures blocking his way. They didn’t appear affected by his show of hostility, if anything, the one at the front looked vaguely amused.
“Greetings brother,” the front man said, grinning at him through his long black bangs. “Welcome to our playground.”
Cloud scowled. “I’m not your ‘brother’ buddy,” he declared. “Get out of the way.”
The man’s smile widened. “And what if I don’t want to?”
The three figures behind him detached themselves from the wall and stepped forward, flanking the leader. Cloud stiffened warily. “Chill man,” the leader said. “We just wanna talk.”
Shifting his weight as though preparing for a fight, Cloud surveyed the group in front of him. “Well I don’t,” he declared, pivoting on his heels to go back the way he’d come. “So fuck off.”
“You failed out of the SOLDIER program didn’t you?” the guy asked and Cloud froze, just like they wanted him to.
“They didn’t want you, did they?” the leader demanded, voice low and insidious, the barbs meant to stick. “Why was that? Too small? No good in combat?” He paused, and Cloud could hear his smirk as he added, “Too girly for their liking?”
“What do you know about it?” Cloud demanded harshly, trying to keep his breathing under control. It was just an act, he told himself, the best excuse for turning his back on Shinra, but dammit if the guy’s words didn’t strike a little too close to Cloud’s own uncertainties. “Shut the hell up.”
“Easy brother,” the black haired man soothed, and Cloud could hear him coming up behind him with slow, easy steps. “We know how you feel. You’re not the only one with a grudge against Shinra’s backstabbing.”
“Too young, they said,” Cloud forced himself to say, somewhat disappointed with himself that he didn’t even need to fake the bitterness in his voice. “Couldn’t pass the physical.”
“And you ended up down here,” the man observed knowingly. A hand hovered briefly above Cloud’s shoulder before coming down in a comforting pat. Cloud flinched instinctively but didn’t try to escape the touch, which gave the other man enough encouragement to draw up right next to him.
“You’re just like us, brother. Shinra fucked with your life and left you to rot. Forget them,” he added, and Cloud could sense the man’s followers coming up behind him. “And come with us. We’ll help you get your revenge on those bastards.”
Cloud twisted sharply, mustering his courage as he glared into the dark eyes only inches away from him. “I don’t think so,” he spat. “I didn’t leave Shinra to be someone else’s toy soldier instead.” He shifted, trying to get away, and was morbidly pleased that the grip on his shoulder tightened, keeping him close.
“Hey now, don’t be so sharp.” The black haired man gave him an appraising look. “You’re a little scrapper, aren’t you?” he asked with a smile. “Not a toy soldier in the slightest. We could use a guy like you - and you’ll need our help if you want to get back at them.”
Stilling in what he hoped looked like hesitation, Cloud waited for the guy to take the next step.
He wasn’t disappointed. Taking his silence as acquiescence, the man shifted his grip into something a bit more friendly and started walking, smiling as he led Cloud back the way he had come. Cloud let him do it, the echo of booted feet following them as the other radicals fell in step.
“So who are you guys?” he asked finally, tone somewhere between wary and curious. “You’re not some political faction or anything, are you?”
If nothing else, the black haired guy had a nice laugh. “Oh no, nothing like that,” he promised. “We’re just trying to punish Shinra for all the wrong it’s done to the people of Midgar.” A hand was thrust in Cloud’s vision and he blinked rapidly, trying to focus. “I’m Kale,” the man introduced himself. “Sort of a squad leader for the resistance.”
“Cloud,” Cloud responded in kind, shaking the offered hand. “Resistance against what? Shinra?”
The man named Kale smiled. “Got it in one.”
His new companion kept walking, intimately familiar with the twisting streets, and Cloud resigned himself to being thoroughly lost. Hopefully it wouldn’t matter too much in the long run.
“So,” he tried. “What are you planning to do to, er, get revenge against Shinra? You said you could use me,” he pointed out, trying to diffuse the question. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Easy brother,” Kale admonished lightly. “All in good time.” Then his voice dropped. “These aren’t the kind of things to talk about in the open, y’know.”
Cloud glanced around as much as the arm around his shoulders would allow him, figuring it was kind of expected. Kale laughed again and squeezed his shoulders familiarly, nothing at all like it felt when Zack did it.
And then Kale’s footsteps slowed and Cloud nearly cheered to see the familiar façade of the storehouse materialize around the corner of a run-down toy store.
“Stick close, Cloud,” Kale ordered, as if Cloud had a choice. The group of rebels frog-marched him up to the door, faces shuttering with something dangerously professional.
The guard tensed slightly as they approached and Cloud noticed a glint of metal amid the folds of his tattered clothes. Kale was eminently confident though, flashing a smile and an approving nod the man’s way. The guard nodded back and shifted away from his position, making no protest when Kale opened the door and ushered them all inside.
It was dark inside and Cloud frowned, squinting as he tried to get a sense of the space around him. It was a large room of some kind, he could see that much, and piled high with jumbled stacks of darker shadows that Cloud couldn’t distinguish. Warm breath gusted across Cloud’s cheek and he jumped, not even bothering to hide his nervousness as Kale leaned in close.
“This way,” the man said, guiding Cloud unerringly through the blackness towards the far wall. “Watch the stairs.”
And then they were going down, Kale in the front and the rest bringing up the rear. Cloud swallowed against the lump in his throat, boots clumping loudly on the stairs. It was even darker in the room at the bottom of the stairs, although Cloud could hear one of the man at his back scraping along the wall looking for the switch.
The light clicked on and Cloud was pathetically relieved to find himself in a relatively normal-looking room, dominated by a large table scattered with maps and notes and stray bullet casings. Kale took a couple of steps forward and turned, smiling at him through his bangs.
“Welcome to our base of operations,” he declared and Cloud blinked.
No way it was that easy.
“Your base?” he asked hesitantly, wondering why he was surprised when Kale nodded, pleased.
“We’re the rallying point for all those who believe Shinra are wrong for treating us like sub-humans, just because we live in their slums.” Kale gestured at the room around him. “This is where we plan all of our campaigns.”
“…oh.” And that wasn’t very in character, was it? “And where do I come in?” Cloud demanded, chin thrust out pugnaciously. “Need my help for one of these campaigns?”
“Your support,” Kale corrected with a wink. “For one of our biggest campaigns yet.”
That sounded serious. Cloud hesitated, not sure how he ought to respond, and Kale gave a supportive smile.
“Go home and think about it,” the man offered. “And if you decide to join us, come back in the morning. The password to get through the door is Ifrit’s Fire.” He grinned. “It’ll be a meeting that no freedom fighter would miss.”
~~~~~~~
After being dismissed from the rebel base, Cloud spent most of the night curled up on a bench in the train station, doing a spectacularly poor job of getting some sleep. He still wasn’t entirely sure he hadn’t been followed, a fact that kept making him twitch at the smallest sound, unable to manage much more than a fitful doze.
He gave up altogether when the morning train rumbled through the station, people swirling around him as the echo of the train’s whistle ricocheted off the walls. He then spent several minutes peering blearily at the flaked green paint on the bench, hoping that Zack appreciated the lengths he was going to.
Eventually rousing himself enough to stumble out of the station, Cloud stopped for a quick breakfast at a run-down Wutain place near the station. The food was more than questionable, but the coffee refills were free and Cloud was able to come out much more awake than he had been going in.
And then there wasn’t anything to do but slouch off towards the old storehouse, the edges of the PHS digging into his palm as he fisted his hands nervously.
This could be a trap. Cloud didn’t really think it was - why bother setting traps for a below average Regular? - but it was a struggle to keep his pace even as he drew near to the storehouse. Which was silly, because he’d go in regardless if it meant getting Zack out, but Cloud still found himself feeling more than a little shaky as he strode up to the door and the guard glared up at him.
“Ifrit’s Fire,” he said, with all the confidence he could muster.
And the guard nodded and stepped aside to let him in.
Breathing an involuntary sigh of relief, Cloud hurried through the door and was brought up short by the sudden crush of people he found himself in. The lights were on this time, and Cloud could see that the room was full of people, mostly young men, standing in small groups or by themselves and all facing a low shelf at the back of the building, waiting. There weren’t all that many of them, Cloud guessed about 65, which went a ways to explaining how he’d got accepted into the resistance so easily.
But even 65 men could do a lot of damage if they put their minds to it.
Cloud lingered uncertainly by the door, idly watching as a few more people trickled in to join the congregation. Looking around the room, he realized that the large shadows he’d seen the night before were a haphazard mix of banners, materia bracers, posters, a whole bunch of other stuff he couldn’t identify, and guns. His blood ran cold at the sight of the last one.
“You made it,” a voice said to him, and Cloud turned to see Kale coming down what had to be the stairs to the second floor. The dark haired man grinned. “Good to have you aboard Cloud.”
“Thanks,” Cloud answered gruffly. “But I just want to get back at Shin-ra…” And then he was staring, numb with shock as a very familiar figure tromped casually down the stairs behind Kale.
Zack drew up short, eyebrows raised in surprise, and Cloud felt something ease in his chest as he took in his friend’s whole, unharmed self.
But now Kale was looking at him oddly. “Something wrong brother?” he asked, a slight edge to his voice and Cloud drew his thoughts in sharply.
He bared his teeth in a snarl. “What the hell’s a SOLDIER doing here?” he hissed, glaring blue murder at Zack. “I don’t want anything to do with one of those glowing eyed bastards!”
“Now calm down,” Kale soothed, tension melting out of him like water as he looped a friendly arm over Cloud’s shoulders. “He’s one of us,” he confided. “Fighting fire with fire and all that.”
“Yeah kid,” Zack declared, swaggering forward with a half-warning grin. “Save your anger for the real enemy.” His face was an easy mask of smooth confidence, but Cloud could see the questions and apologies and reassurances swirling in violet eyes. Zack stuck out a hand. “Name’s Jake, by the way. Former SOLDIER Third Class.”
Cloud ignored the hand, rocking back defiantly on his heels. “Jake huh? Sounds stupid to me.”
Hey now, Zack’s expression objected, aggrieved, and Cloud was hard pressed not to smile under that familiar regard.
A nudge in the side distracted him and Cloud shifted his attention obediently to the radical still draped over his shoulder.
“Play nice now, Cloud,” Kale said, smile taking most of the sting out of it. “We’re all on the same team here.” He smiled once more then let his arm drop, the same eerie professionalism from the day before creeping up his spine as he turned his attention to the crowd. “And I think we’ve all waited long enough for this day.”
Cloud stayed where he was when Kale and Zack and two of the flunkies from the day before started heading through the crowd, hands fisted even tighter in his pockets to keep him from reaching for Zack as he passed. The crowd parted for Kale like water, and Cloud belatedly realized that he’d apparently been recruited by the only ‘squad leader’ the radicals had.
Kale climbed up onto the low shelf, Zack and the flunkies right behind him. “Brothers!” he proclaimed, voice sweeping over the crowd with effortless allure. “You are here today because you believe in justice! In the right for all people to be treated like people - not worthless commodities to be used and thrown away! It is the depth of your fervor that has spread our message and drawn numerous supporters from across Midgar! And we will make Shinra change its ways! Too long has the President ignored the cries of his people! We will not let him mistreat us any longer! The fire in our hearts and the strength in our limbs will change this world for the better!”
It was strange, Cloud thought, listening to a speech like this. Kale’s passion was an almost tangible thing, leaping through the air with fire-bright sparks and swelling the hearts of his listeners. Cloud could feel that pull too, not as surprised as he should have been to realize how much of it he agreed with. Which was hard, because he was part of Shinra, and still had hopeless dreams of becoming a SOLDIER and maybe catching up to Zack someday.
He wondered what Zack thought, listening to Kale’s words and knowing that they were there to stop him - whether he was right or not.
And then Kale came to the meat of his address and Cloud was forced to put his own musings aside, ears straining to catch every word. This was the important part.
“Up until now, we have been mostly non-combative in our attempts to force Shinra to change,” Kale reminded them, eyes alight with revolutionary fervor. “But Shinra continues to dismiss our needs! And so, if we are really serious about creating change, we must be willing to take the next step.”
“Therefore!” he declaimed, confident as a showman. “We are going to overrun this Sector’s train station and seize all the trains that travel through it! Without them, Shinra will have no way of moving people or goods through the Sectors - or between the slums and the upper city! And when all of Midgar grinds to a halt, stopping the flow of productivity that Shinra values above all else, the President and his pet General will be forced to address the state of affairs that they themselves have precipitated!”
A ragged cheer surged from the belly of the crowd and Cloud found himself staring at Kale in consternated shock. Take over a train station? Without getting completely destroyed by the Shinra army?
Kale held up his hands, calming the enthusiasm in the room. “We have carefully analyzed the station and determined the best position from which to hold it,” he told them. “We have also been gathering weapons for the last several months,” he added and Cloud eyed the ragged piles around them with an unhappy shudder. “Which we will use to defend ourselves and our rights from the forces of Shinra.” Kale spread his arms wide. “You are all here because you’re not afraid to fight for what you believe in! Many of you come from the ranks of the Shinra military, betrayed by the organization you served! Even one of their SOLDIERs has joined our ranks,” a wide sweeping gesture towards where Zack stood solidly behind him, “And his might, along with ours, will help us triumph over Shinra’s wickedness!”
The place erupted in cheering again but Cloud hardly noticed, lost in his own thoughts and the frightening implications of Kale’s words. Shinra wouldn’t let something like this pass without a fight. Cloud had no idea whether Kale and his men could hold the station or not, but he did know that a lot of people were going to die if they tried. He looked desperately up towards the stage, but Zack was wearing the bland, obedient face he always used for official functions and Presidential addresses, his expression giving no hint about how he felt about Kale’s proposition.
Cloud listened almost dispassionately as Kale outlined the specifics of his plan, mind swirling with images of blood strewn cobblestones and uncomfortable green benches reduced to splinters as men with rifles blew each other to pieces. How could anyone think that was a good way to exact change?
Kale concluded his speech with another ringing exultation and a reminder of the date and time of their attack. Though he was tempted to bolt for the door as soon as he could, Cloud forced himself to linger, waiting until the impassioned murmurs in the crowd had died down and the room began to empty. He let his feet carry him through the door on autopilot, following the throng for a while before slipping down a side street and hurrying away.
He stopped at a dressmaker’s shop and went inside, picking a few shirts at random off the rack before shuffling away to the changing rooms at the back of the store. Once the door was safely locked behind him he pulled out the PHS, fingers remarkably steady as he dialed the number he’d been given.
His heartbeat thumping in time with the rings, Cloud clutched the PHS and waited anxiously for someone to pick up.
“…Sephiroth speaking.”
And nearly dropped the thing in shock as he realized the number the General had given him was his own.
“…Hello?”
“General!” Cloud blurted quietly, listening with one ear for the approach of the sales clerk. “Private Strife reporting.”
“Strife. Have you found Zack?”
Cloud nodded reflexively. “Yes sir. And I know what the rebels are planning.”
Sephiroth listened wordlessly as Cloud told him what he knew, deep voice dropping over the line only after Cloud had fallen silent, panting slightly and still clutching the forgotten shirts to his chest.
“Good work Strife,” Sephiroth said and Cloud didn’t even care how pathetically pleased he was to hear that from the General. “I’ll ensure that Shinra is prepared to defend the station against the rebels.”
“Um sir…” And Cloud must be insane to even consider saying this to the General. “You’re not going to kill them, are you?”
“I will do my very best to keep that from happening,” Sephiroth promised solemnly, apparently not minding Cloud’s breach of etiquette. “But in the meantime, may I ask you to remain there and support Zack? It will… ease my mind to be able to contact you as preparations move forward.”
“Yes sir!” Cloud promised, figuring it wasn’t worth mentioning that he would have stayed anyway. He wouldn’t want to worry Zack by disappearing after all. And what did he have to do back at barracks without Zack anyway?
“Good,” the General’s voice said. “Are you able to contact me at this same time tomorrow?”
Cloud bit his lip thoughtfully. “I think so. The attack’s not until the day after so I should be able to sneak away without a problem.”
“Very well. Till tomorrow then.”
“Yes sir.”
Cloud hung up and shoved the PHS back in his pocket, offering the sales clerk a sheepish shake of his head as he slouched out of the store without buying anything. The man looked down his nose at him unhappily and Cloud made a mental note not to come to the same store tomorrow.
He ambled aimlessly back the way he’d come, wondering what he was going to do with himself for the rest of the day now that most of his job was done. It wasn’t like there was much to do in this Sector, at least not when he wasn’t busy infiltrating rebel organizations. Cloud sighed restlessly and was toying with the idea of trying to find somewhere he could stop for lunch when an arm shot out of a narrow side street and dragged him into the darkness.
His elbow was swinging towards his attacker’s face before his mind had quite figured out what was going on, but a solid forearm blocked the shot with frightening ease.
“Quietly!” the man hissed and Cloud blinked, pausing mid kick.
“Za-, er Jake!” he whispered back, just in case Zack was being followed. “What are you doing here?”
“Convinced ‘em to let me take a walk to stretch my legs,” Zack admitted in a low voice, the familiar flash of his crooked grin making Cloud’s heart dance. “First time I’ve been outside in nearly a week.”
“S-seph’s worried about you,” he accused, Zack’s informal nickname for the man rolling clumsily off his tongue.
Zack shrugged. “I figured as much.” Then he smiled cheekily. “Good to see he sent the cavalry after me though.”
Cloud rolled his eyes. “You know, it’s pretty pathetic when I’m rescuing you,” he said and Zack poked him in the side.
“Aw, you’re just getting practice for when you’re a great heroic SOLDIER like me,” Zack told him, speaking with such conviction that Cloud could almost believe him. “And I’d love to argue that point with you, but I gotta get back before they miss me. You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah,” Cloud answered, surprised to find he was telling the truth. “I talked to uh, Seph, and he’s sorting everything out.” He offered Zack a shy smile. “Although a kiss for luck wouldn’t hurt.”
It hadn’t been that long, but damn had Cloud missed the sound of Zack’s chuckle. “Far be it from me to refuse a request from my rescuer,” Zack murmured, leaning down for a sweet, gentle kiss that had Cloud swaying forward for another before he’d quite realized the first had ended.
And Zack was looking at him with frustrated fondness, but Cloud knew as well as Zack did that they couldn’t linger.
“Go on,” he urged. “I’ll be around, so don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easily.”
Zack’s eyes shone with more than mako as he grinned at him. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Watch yourself.”
And then he was gone, sprinting down the alley out of sight faster than Cloud’s eyes could follow. Cloud took a different route and resumed his skulking walk, hoping that no one noticed the goofy grin on his face. His stomach rumbled hungrily and he decided that lunch sounded like a good idea after all.
And maybe when this was all over, the General would issue them a vacation or something.
~owari