Disclaimer: This story occurs post Dirge of Cerberus and makes references to it, as well as Crisis Core, the original Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children Complete, and Before Crisis-a game released on cellphones only in Japan. I of course, do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of the compilation. That pleasure belongs to Square-Enix. As well, I've chosen to use the fan names (according to the Final Fantasy wiki) for Cloud's various swords, since they don't have official names and 'Tsurugi' is Japanese for 'sword'. I've supplied a link in my profile as to which swords are named what from how I understand it-as the swords are not labeled which is which on the wiki.

It was quite the scene that Cloud and the others came across when they finally found the area where the people from Khymera Enviro and the hospital had ended up. People were assembling along the catwalk in an awkward gaggle of patients, hospital personnel and civilians. However, that wasn't even the strangest sight. Infantry uniforms were everywhere, black, green, red and blue. Cloud noted that the ones in green and blue uniforms were carrying guns, so he figured the other two colors had to be for former SOLDIER. They were organizing to evacuate, following the orders of an older man in a dark blue sweater and blue jeans. A troubling amount of people were lying very still in the cages, many with others near them in various states of distress. The mako fumes were more heavily condensed here and even with the filter mask on, Cloud was starting to feel a bit fuzzy. They would have to move quickly to get people out before even more succumbed.

They moved toward the others, Kunsel quickly heading over to explain to his fellows that they were there to help with the evacuation. While he was taking care of that, Cloud looked around to spot any familiar faces and finally located Tifa, who was edging her way around the former SOLDIER and Infantry to reach him.

"Cloud!" She reached out to hug him tightly. "Oh, thank the Summons you're alright!" She let go again and looked at him, then gave him a bit of a crooked smile. "Are you here to rescue us? ...And where did you get that mask?"

"Sorry I'm late." Cloud said, though without humor. He looked around at the people around him. "Shelke found us the masks. I don't think there were any more." He motioned at the older man. "Who's that giving the orders?"

"Mm." Tifa nodded slightly and glanced back at the older man. "His name is Veld, I think. Vincent left him in charge. He said he was the former Director of the Turks."

"He was." Reno spoke up. "We've been lookin' for him." He elbowed Rude. "Tseng's gonna be over the moon! We finally found the boss!"

"Good for you." Tifa planted her hands on her hips. "In the meantime, help out. Some people have diedalready from the mako exposure. It's nothing short of a miracle that we've been able to keep things so calm."

The two Turks looked at each other, then moved around Tifa to help with the organization of the evacuation and she turned her attention back to Cloud.

"Did you come across Vincent?" She asked. "He was taking Reeve and Yuffie up to call the WRO for help."

"Yeah. We found Reeve and Yuffie. Angeal took them back up." Cloud sighed and swiped at his bangs. "Unfortunately, it seems that...that Vincent was taken by Nero. By that same stuff that took all of you."

Tifa paled slightly and brought a hand up to her mouth. "...Oh no. Vincent..."

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Zack spoke up, doing his best to sound optimistic. "He's pretty tough, right?"

"If anyone would have a chance against Nero, it would be Vincent Valentine." Shelke agreed with a firm nod.

"...Of course. He'll be fine." Tifa gave a weak smile and turned away. "We should get back to helping..."

"Tifa..." Cloud reached out for her shoulder, but he and everyone froze when a piercing scream cut through the air. It took Cloud a second to realize that it was somehow an angryscream, though also very pain-filled.

"Oh geez..." Tifa put a hand over her heart and others around went back to their business. "Sorry. There's a woman in labor here...and she's getting to do it without any painkillers."

"My mother could relate." Zack said with a sheepish smile.

"I'm sure mine could have too..." Cloud muttered. "There wasn't exactly a hospital in Nibelheim..."

"Isn't one in Gongaga either. Small town boys, huh?" Zack gave him a grin and Cloud gave a slight shrug back before giving another start when there was another scream. This one however was definitely fearful and it became apparent within a few moments as to why when that ominous darkness that had brought them there in the first place reared up over the cages and began swarming over the area, rushing in their direction like a black tide. Unsurprisingly, those who could began climbing over those who couldn't to try and escape, but it moved too quickly and not even Cloud and the others had time to react before it overwhelmed them.

All around Cloud were panicked screams, but he couldn't see anything in the absolute black. "Tifa? Zack?" He looked around desperately for them and then started forward. He didn't make it very far however before the darkness surprisingly melted away again and he found himself face to chest with his best friend.

"Uh...oh. Hey there, Cloud. Careful, you wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea." Zack gave a bit of a cheeky grin and put a hand on Cloud's shoulder to edge him back, but it was fairly obvious that he was freaked out and frankly, Cloud couldn't say that he blamed him.

Cloud looked around, finding himself having to squint a bit even though it seemed to be early evening. The darkness was receding from the area and leaving people behind. They too were looking around in confusion and Cloud himself was left scratching his head. Reno had said that the darkness belonged to Nero, so what's going on?

Looking around again, his eyes adjusting to the change in light, Cloud's eyebrows abruptly shot up when he realized where they were and he looked back at Zack.

"We're in Junon!" He exclaimed in surprise, ripping the filter mask off. "That's the Khymera building! ...But how...?" His surprise faded and he frowned. This made no sense. They'd been right where Weiss no doubt wanted them, so why send them back?

Confusion and tentative elation was building throughout the throng, and voices were joining together as the people around them began to discuss what had just occurred. "You're right." Zack said after a few moments, looking around too now, and frowning as well. "I only hope that this doesn't end up causing a stampede, because that would be a reallyembarrassing way to die."

"...I still don't know how you can be so casual about that." Cloud muttered before taking another look around. "Where's Tifa and the others?"

"I'm sure they're somewhere. We got all jumbled up in th-crap!" Zack grabbed Cloud and yanked him away from darkness that was forming directly behind him. Cloud turned around in time for the darkness to draw away again and reveal one last person.

"Vincent?" He exclaimed incredulously before giving the other man a quick appraisal. Vincent looked tired, but all the signs of aging he had begun to exhibit had vanished. "...Are you alright?"

Vincent lifted his head. His bandana hung loose and obscured one eye, no longer serving the purpose of holding back his hair so he had to push both it and his hair back to look at Cloud. "...I am alive." He said softly, and then he removed his bandana completely to use it to tie his hair back into a loose ponytail instead to try and keep it out of his eyes. "Hopefully this will all be over soon."

"...What do you mean?" Cloud looked at him in puzzled concern. "What do you know?"

"I know where Weiss is." With his hair tied back, it almost gave the illusion that Vincent's eyes were slanted. "I am finally going to finish things."

Cloud couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Alone? ...Vincent...you're not in any condition to be doing this yourself. You've been through a lot of stresses these past few days. At least let me come help you."

"Chaos has returned to me." Vincent replied, looking away from Cloud at the people around them. It seemed that Veld and another person had taken control of the situation and were having the personnel and patients being funneled into the hospital. "It will aid me in stopping Weiss from becoming one with Omega once more. It agreed that it is too soon for Gaia's end."

"...Vincent." Cloud reached out to firmly grasp the other man's arm and jerked him around to make him look at him again. "I am giving you an order. Do not engage Weiss on your own!"

Vincent looked down at his shorter friend in silence for several moments, and then he smiled. Cloud blinked in confusion before his eyes narrowed. It was a sad smile.

"I am sorry Cloud." Vincent jerked his arm free and gave the blond a hard shove, sending him back into Zack. "He is my enemy, as Sephiroth has been yours. This is my fight." And before Cloud had a chance to respond, the darkness surrounded him and he was gone again.

"...And what about Genesis?" Cloud snapped at the now empty space, recovering his balance with Zack's help. "If you get ambushed again-!" He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, teeth gritted.

Zack put a hand on his shoulder. "...You have to believe he'll be alright." Zack said softly. "Come on. Let's help get these things sorted out."

"...Yeah." Slowly Cloud's posture relaxed again. Vincent would haveto survive this, so Cloud could ask how the hell Vincent-because it had to be Vincent-had gotten everyone back to the surface using an ability that was supposedly Nero's...and also, how he'd gotten Chaos back. When his phone rang, he nearly jumped out of his skin and fumbled to answer it.

"Cloud!" It was Cid. "Hey kid, sorry I haven't been in touch. Things have been so hectic, I hadn't noticed my phone had lost its goddamn charge! So, did I miss anything?"

"Cid..." Cloud smiled bitterly. "You have no idea..."

"Boss! Hey boss!"

Veld sighed and turned his head to look at Reno, who was making his way over to him and waving frantically as he approached. "Yes, Reno?"

Reno attempted to contain his elation. "Boss! We've been looking for you for weeks, yo!"

"Mm." Veld glanced away and then moved aside for a wheelchair. "For what reason?"

"Didn't you hear? Rufus sent out a pardon. The Direc-I mean Tseng, wanted to make sure you knew."

"I heard." Veld looked back at Reno, then glanced behind at Rude, who was helping an old lady on an oxygen tank. "I'm also however, somewhat retired. I have no interest in rejoining Shinra."

"Well, all the same." Reno continued. "Tseng would like to see you in person."

Veld turned away. "And if I refuse?"

Reno shifted uncomfortably. "...We didn't think you would." He admitted after a few moments, deeply embarassed. Turks always had a backup plan, but Tseng hadn't given them one for this.

The searing look of disapproval Veld gave Reno made him want to shrivel up and hide. Though Veld hadn't been around for years, his opinion was still important. At least, it was to Reno. "I see Tseng has let things slip, then." He said lowly.

"Yeah, well...nothing was the same after you 'died'." Reno told him, putting his hands in his pockets. "Maybe you should come back and have a talk with Tseng."

Veld gave a soft snort. "...Alright, Sinclair. I'll consider it." He ignored how Reno bristled at the usage of his last name and focused on keeping the path clear so patients and hospital staff could re-enter the hospital.

Reno turned away in frustration, hoping for some backup from Rude only to notice him helping that woman with the oxygen tank. Reno sighed softly, then smiled reluctantly. Maybe now wasn't the time for this. Let it never be said that Turks can't be gentlemen. He stepped forward to help someone else who was floundering in the-thankfully orderly-press of bodies. Provided that Veld didn't take the chance to vanish, he could talk to him again later.

The darkness parted from around Vincent and he looked around warily before marginally relaxing. He was in Reactor 0, or more specifically, the hallway leading to it. He was surrounded by Genesis copies floating in mako, just as brain dead as they were the last time.

So, this must be where he is, then. He'd asked Chaos to help him get everyone taken to Deepground to safety, and surprisingly, the protoweapon had done so. Now it had brought him to where Vincent supposed it sensed Weiss.

He took a few moments to ground himself and push his anxieties away. He had no room for doubt now, no room for fear. He had been Turk once, and the mentality would stay until his last breath. Turks did their job, they did not feel and they did not fear. When he finally felt ready, he drew Cerberus and stepped forward to the doors that separated where he was from the reactor proper.

The tanks were still there of course, though the mako that had poured out of them seemed to have evaporated. Vincent took all this in at a glance, then focused on the throne at the far end.

Weiss was there, legs crossed casually and head slightly tilted as he stared at Vincent from across the distance. He didn't seem surprised to see the intruder, and only appeared amused.

"Vincent Valentine." Weiss straightened up and smoothly moved to his feet. "You're quite tenacious, aren't you? The woman's writing indicated you would degrade very quickly if Chaos was ever removed from your body, but it seems she was wrong."

Vincent leveled his gun at the once leader of Deepground. "Her name was Lucrecia." He fired three times in quick succession, but he wasn't very surprised when Weiss was able to draw his gunswords and deflect the bullets. Being a severely enhanced soldier, not all of his speed had come from Omega, after all.

"Oh, now this isn't very fair, is it?" Weiss still looked amused. "You have a gun, and I have gunswords." He spun the weapons in his hands. "Heaven and Earth will be your demise, Valentine."

Vincent stepped into the reactor. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete."

"Hm?" Weiss tilted his head. "Is that a quote? How amusing. So you acknowledge my superority? Kneel at my feet then, and maybe I'll let you live long enough to see this world burn."

"It is a quote." Vincent agreed. "Anata ga teki o shiri, jibun jishin o shitte ireba, no shōri wa utagai de gaman dekinaideshou." He fired several more times on Weiss, beginning to walk down the corridor toward him. "Anata ga tengoku o shitte irushi, chikyū o shitte ireba, no shōri wa kanzen'na koto ga arimasu. The words as spoken by a wise Wutai sage."

Weiss had no problem deflecting these bullets either. "You speak Wutaiese? How amusing! Well. This has all been quite entertaining, but now it's time for you to die." He rushed forward, pumping the handles of his gunswords to fire off bullets of his own, though he looked mildly surprised when Vincent didn't even try to dodge and became even more so when rather than trying to avoid the slashes of his swords when he got in range, Vincent intentionally allowed himself to be run through so he could grab Weiss by the neck with his gauntlet hand.

"...Well." Weiss rasped around the chokehold. "This is a surprise..."

Vincent curled his lips back into a snarl and his eyes turned yellow. "You have threatened this world for the last time." He growled. "Now it ends."

Finally, the amusement was wiped off Weiss' face. "...You have Chaos back...but then that means..." Surprise turned to rage and he shoved his swords up to the hilt into Vincent's body, twisting savagely and yanking back violently enough to break the hold on him. Retreating backward, blood pouring from the wounds now etched into his neck from the gauntlet, Weiss' expression filled with near mindless fury. "You've killed him..." He hissed. "You've taken my brother from me..." In spite of the fury however, he just continued to retreat until he reached the throne.

"No." Weiss growled. "This isn't over. The protomateria is mine, Omega will be mine. You will lose control. Be destroyed by the weapon, Valentine! Feel the agony as it rips you apart!" He sheathed his swords and pulled something out of a pouch at his side, holding it up so Vincent could see it was the protomateria. He then stepped sideways and dropped into the mako.

Vincent stepped forward slowly and looked at the place Weiss had vanished. His eyes returned to normal and he dropped to his knees as he allowed himself to feel the pain of his slowly healing injuries. He stared for several moments longer at the bubbling mako, and then let out a rage-filled scream.

He'd failed again. Perhaps the mako would burn Weiss apart, if the reactor itself didn't chew him to bits, but maybe it wouldn't. Sephiroth had survived one such trip through a reactor, and Weiss was at least as enhanced.

But my story is over. He'd made a promise to Chaos, and he certainly couldn't consider breaking it when Weiss had taken the protomateria with him. Shakily he stood again, holstering his gun and taking out his cellphone. He didn't often use the extra functions on it, normally not seeing a point-though Marlene had made certain that he knew how to use said functions all the same. Calling up the text function, he sent a simple message; 'Weiss may still be alive. Went into mako'. He made sure to send the message to Cloud and then closed the phone again. Glancing at the mako briefly, he then turned away to leave. One final destination, and then he could perhaps have peace.

It had been two weeks. Two weeks since Vincent's text message and nothing heard from him since. Attempts to call his cell went straight to his apathetic-sounding voicemail. It wasn't the first time that the wandering man had gone out of range of cellphone towers, but everyone was getting worried all the same.

Though not as worried as they'd apparently been about me. Cloud thought with dry irony as he stopped his bike outside his destination. He dropped his goggles around his neck and looked over at Nibelheim, and he sighed.

He'd spent the past two weeks catching up on the deliveries he owed from his disappearance nearly two months ago. Now he was on the last package, the one he'd left for last for reasons that were obvious to everyone who knew him.

Tifa had explained her attempts to dissuade the client, but how he had refused to be shaken off, insisting that Strife Delivery Service was the only one he knew would get the needed package to its destination.

But why? No one had called on his services from here before. Was Shinra no longer supporting its farce, and the people put in place were having trouble sustaining themselves?

He got off Fenrir and picked up the box he'd been hired to deliver. It was meant for the general store, and he had no idea what was in it. That wasn't too unusual for his deliveries, but this time he felt somewhat more nervous as he headed into town.

He knew there was no rational reason for his trepidation. The man who'd handed him the package in Junon hadn't seemed in any way shifty or evasive, and no one in town was paying him too much attention when he walked into it. When he entered the general store, the man behind the counter blinked at him a couple of times, but then looked at the package in Cloud's hands and brightened.

"You're from Strife Delivery?" He asked hopefully.

"That's right." Cloud replied tersely, stepping over to set the package down on the counter. "Twenty gil for delivery. Sorry it took so long."

"Twenty gil? That's it?" The owner of the store opened the register and took out fifty, putting it down on the counter before taking the package. "There. Gas isn't cheap and I know we're out of the way here. Take the extra."

"Hm...thanks." Cloud took the money to tuck away in his wallet, then watched as the man opened the package to reveal what appeared to be pharmaceuticals. "Medication?"

"We're opening a clinic. With the monsters in the area, people get hurt...not to mention just plain getting sick." The shop owner gave a short laugh. "It certainly took long enough, in any event."

"I'm sure it did." Cloud sighed and turned to go. However these people had come to Nibelheim, he supposed they'd made a home for themselves now. Still, when he opened the door to leave and caught sight of the house that had once been his, he decided to try again to get someone to admit the truth.

He turned his head to look back at the shop owner. "Where were you from?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Cloud felt a flash of annoyance. "Before Shinra moved you here. Where were you from?"

"...Look, son." The man planted his hands on the counter. "I'm fairly sure I told you the first time you came here. I've been in this town all my life. There is no 'before'."

Cloud turned more fully to look at the older man, and for the first time he wondered if it was more than fear of Shinra that kept the lie alive. Maybe their memories were tampered with..."...Y'got a midwife in town?"

The shop owner blinked and straightened up, surprised at the change of subject. "No. Why? Someone gonna be having a baby?"

"There used to be one." Cloud pointed at his old home. "She lived in that house." And before the man could say anything else, he stepped out and let the door close behind him.

Well, that's that. Now I can head home. Instead of doing so however, he headed for Shinra manor.

"Drawn back again and again." Sephiroth sneered. "Lost little puppet, following his strings."

Cloud sighed softly. "I haven't heard from you in a while." He commented softly as he slipped through the manor's rusted gate. "I had almost forgotten you were there." Strangely, Sephiroth's commentary didn't bother him. It seemed to Cloud more like a lonely bully poking at scars that used to hurt. What else did Sephiroth have to do in his mind besides be a grumpy annoyance? He'd gotten strong enough to manifest when he felt like it, but it seemed that Cloud had adapted too, for why else would Sephiroth not have tried to take him over by now otherwise?

"I thought you wanted to return to the place you call home, Cloud?" Sephiroth seemed merely curious now. "What are you doing?"

"Not sure." Cloud admitted, stepping into the front hall and beginning to carefully make his way up the creaky stairs. "But I don't plan to come back here again, so maybe I'll just say goodbye."

"...You're hoping your missing friend is here, aren't you?"

"Maybe." Cloud replied. "But you can see my thoughts just as easily as I can, so why bother asking?"

Sephiroth gave him no reply and Cloud shrugged it off, heading down the planks to get to the basement. He hadn't acknowledged the thought before, but Sephiroth was probably right about his motives. Vincent hadn't been found when they'd looked for him at the crystal cave, and this was the only other place Cloud could think that the other man would have gone.

Still, when he looked into the room Vincent had once spent thirty some odd years sleeping away his sins in, Cloud hadn't honestly expected to find him sitting there in the coffin that had once housed him, looking in Cloud's direction like he'd been waiting for him.

"Everything makes so much noise in this place." Vincent commented softly. "I could hear the echoes so very easily." He sighed and tilted his head, drawing a leg up to rest his arm on it. "So, you have found me. I suppose I should have expected that you would all keep looking until proof one way or the other revealed itself."

"Vincent." Cloud leaned on the doorframe and crossed his arms. "I'm glad to see you're looking well. What's with you and running off, anyway?" He quirked a small smile. "It seems a bit hypocritical to get annoyed with me for doing it when you do the same thing."

"As I recall, it was not youwhom I was irritated with at the time." Vincent gave a heavy sigh and closed his eyes, lowering his head and letting the ponytail he had his hair tied in slip over his shoulder. "...I made a promise to Chaos. I told it that I would allow it to return to the Planet once it had helped me with Weiss. I had tried to release it back to the world once before, but it had returned to me then. Now it has decided that it likes it in my body." He laughed hollowly and Cloud couldn't help but shudder.

"Well...isn't that a good thing?" The blond asked after a few moments. "That it's going to stay, that is. You'll die without it, won't you?"

"I will." Vincent admitted, head still lowered. "However, I was ready to. I have...so many sins. Now however, there is a different problem." He opened his eyes and lifted his head to look at Cloud. "Weiss took the protomateria with him. I have no way to control Chaos. It will eventually overwhelm me...and then, I do not know what will happen."

"You got control of your other monsters." Cloud reminded him. "You even 'domesticated' Galian Beast. I'm sure you'll find a way to handle this too."

Vincent looked off to the side. "...Perhaps you are right. I do not want to think about if you are wrong."

"Then don't." Cloud spoke firmly. He was a bit annoyed with Vincent for when he'd refused to listen to him, but the blond had a feeling that Vincent felt more than bad enough as it was without having his failures hammered further into his head.

He pushed away from the doorframe and straightened up. "Have you explored down here at all, or did you just hole yourself straight up in your coffin?"

Vincent looked back at him from the corner of his eye. "I wished to contemplate my sins, and I know this basement quite well, thank you."

"Hm. I think you forgot...this is where I found Zack." Cloud turned away. "Come on. I never looked at it properly last time...and there's something I want to show you." He waited for the sounds of Vincent getting out of the coffin and then he led the way to Hojo's lab and the entrance to the secret passageway. A few tries on the keypad later, and they were stepping into the room of tubes.

Cloud couldn't help the shudder and sick churning of his stomach when he saw his own clone again, but he pointed it out mutely anyway.

"A clone Cloud." Vincent commented, stepping closer to take a better look.

"Yeah." Cloud tried not to sound ill. "Zack said you can't clone a soul, but that still leaves me wondering...you know...which one is me."

"You are you." Vincent responded immediately, glancing at him with an arched brow. "What does the body matter? If you cannot clone a soul, then whichever body houses it, is you. What is there to wonder about?"

Cloud blinked a couple of times, and then he gave a relieved chuckle. "You're right, Vincent. I've been worrying over nothing."

"Such is human nature." Vincent commented mildly, moving off deeper into the room and looking into other mako-filled tubes, even if he couldn't see anyone inside.

"...Are you looking for something, Vincent?" Cloud asked after a few moments of watching his examining.

"Not as such." Vincent responded. "But do you hear that humming sound? It seems as if it coming from back here."

Cloud blinked, but then moved to follow and when he got closer to the back of the room, he had to agree that there was indeed a humming noise. It was familiar in a way, though the pitch wasn't quite right. It wasn't until he followed Vincent through another door that he realized what it was.

"...A mini-reactor." He intoned in surprise. Unlike full-sized reactors, there was only one mako refinement canister, but it was larger than normal, reaching up through the ceiling and going who knew how far up. There was only a tiny window to look inside, but from the shadow being cast from inside, Cloud was almost certain that there was something within. "...Bad deja vu..." He muttered, taking a step back.

Vincent glanced at him, then looked at the reactor. "First things first; find the off switch." He looked around and noticed a switchplate. Heading over to it he opened it and began flipping switches one by one until the reactor stopped humming. The lights outside the room flickered and then went out, though they came back on a few moments later when an emergency supply no doubt kicked in. Cloud knew that power likely wouldn't last very long though, and he took another step back out of the room.

"We should go." He said softly. "The reactor's off. There's nothing more to do."

"There is one more thing." Vincent responded. He went over to the refinement canister and examined it briefly, then pulled a switch at the side. Both men could hear as the large canister began to drain of mako and then a thump as whatever was held inside impacted into the side of it. Cloud tensed, but Vincent gave no reaction and only continued to wait until the mako had drained completely, then he drew Cerberus and they watched as a previously unseen seam in the canister parted and opened, spilling out its contents.

Vincent and Cloud stared blankly at what-or rather who-lay sprawled facedown on the floor. Clamps had been attached to the ankles, though they had apparently released when the mako had drained and the mouth and nose of the individual was covered by what looked like some kind of breathing apparatus. They could clearly see the rise and fall of the chest-this person was obviously alive.

"You have got to be kidding me." Cloud finally intoned, deadpan and incredulous.

"Is this really such a surprise?" Vincent responded quietly, crouching down and reaching out to unhook the breathing mask as if he came across this sort of thing all the time. "Angeal was cloned and Genesis was cloned, so why not a Sephiroth clone as well?"

Why not indeed? Cloud clenched his fists. The remnants had been something like that, only one needing Jenova's head to become complete. But this was different. This was-or at least appeared to be-a complete clone of Sephiroth. But did it have a soul already, or was it an empty vessel waiting to be possessed? What did this mean? What would it mean? What was going to happen? His head felt filled with cotton, he couldn't think.

"Well...this is turning into a good day." Sephiroth commented with a casual tone, as if talking about the weather. "You found your friend, and a body for me on top of it."

The pressure in Cloud's head increased and he brought a hand up to press to his temple, shutting his eyes. "...Vincent...he...I think he's..."

"Let him."

Cloud squinted his eyes back open. "...What...?"

"Let him." Vincent repeated. He looked completely calm and at ease. Cloud knew that as a former Turk, this could be deceptive, but Sephiroth was going to get his way regardless.

There was a flash of light behind Cloud's eyes and he collapsed to his knees as the pressure was suddenly released. For several seconds he stayed there, kneeling on the floor and staring blankly downward. However, when he heard the cock of a gun, he lifted his head.

Vincent was aiming Cerberus at the Sephiroth clone while it twitched as the soul now within it got adjusted to its new home. Cloud drew his feet under him and shakily stood up, also fixated on the clone. He'd left Merciless with Fenrir, but even though he knew it would be useless in the enclosed space, he still felt somewhat naked without it now and it was a small relief to know that Vincent still had his weapon on him.

They stood in silence for nearly two minutes, and during that time Cloud mulled over why Sephiroth was having so much trouble. When Zack had come back to life, his only struggles had had to do with the fact that he was drowning in the stagnant mako. This body, unlike Zack's, had apparently been kept alive the whole time. Was it too old? Was that the problem? Or was there already a soul in there and Sephiroth was having to push it out?

Finally Sephiroth gathered his arms under himself and pushed himself shakingly into a kneel, his mako-soaked hair cascading over his shoulders and managing to afford him some dignity. He pushed it out of his face and tilted his head to the side, cat-pupiled eyes focusing on the gun being aimed at him. "You really think that's any use against me?"

Vincent cocked a brow, gun arm steady. "At this angle and distance, even a mako enhanced individual would have trouble."

"You would shoot me, the son of your beloved Lucrecia?"

Vincent twitched, but then his eyes only hardened further. "Words to manipulate and harm. Words you likely do not even believe. Do you truly deserve the second chance Aerith told us to give you, Sephiroth?"

"Well." Sephiroth replied calmly. "That's up to you, now isn't it?"

Cloud crossed his arms and considered the two men while they remained in their stand off. His head still felt a little fuzzy, but enough was clear to allow him to think.

"Sephiroth." He said finally. "Angeal is your friend, isn't he?"

Sephiroth turned his head to look at Cloud and his eyes narrowed slightly. "What of it?"

"Then swear by your friend that you won't try to harm the Planet again." Even though it chilled him, Cloud forced himself to make eye contact.

"And why should I?" Sephiroth moved to stand, ignoring how Vincent was tracking him with Cerberus and laborously began pulling his long hair back over his shoulders while trying to slough the mako out of it. "Angeal vanished two weeks ago. No one knows where he is, or if he still lives."

"Because unless his clone body gave out on him, he probably is." Cloud responded. "I was there at Modeoheim on that day-but you've seen my memories, you know what I know." Cloud shook his head slightly. "Angeal won't kill himself. He has that honor of his still. He carries a sword that Zack won for him at the Saucer. He'll show up again when he's ready. And if you're his friend" He made eye contact again. "you'll be betraying him if you go against the Planet."

"You don't understand a thing of what you're talking about." Sephiroth responded, now ignoring Vincent completely. "I owe this world nothing, and I owe Mother-"

"Nothing." Cloud interrupted him. "Jenova was a parasite that came to this world to destroy it. You said yourself that you'd seen it all while you were in the Lifestream. You know what she is. You know she's not an Ancient. So instead of being a world destroyer, side with humanity and maybe become the hero you used to be."

"Side with humanity?" Sephiroth said musingly. Thick black smoke seemed to crawl up over his skin, making both Cloud and Vincent stiffen. They watched mutely as Sephiroth formed his old clothing for himself, right down to his pauldrons. Sephiroth glanced down at himself briefly, then looked back at Cloud and curled his lip back in a snarl.

"Side with humanity?" He repeated, tone now decidedly hostile. "The same humanity that destroys the Planet that sustains them? Sucking out its lifeblood to fuel their own? The same humanity that makes war on itself to gain resources? That replaced the Ancients with their greed?"

"If you think you know better than we do, then why not try to show us?" Vincent spoke up, finally lowering Cerberus and holstering the weapon. "Mako reactors all over this world are being shut down. We're returning to using oil, and we're working on harnessing water and wind as well. That aside, nothing is ever destroyed, it only becomes something else. Atoms become different atoms and what we took from the Lifestream will eventually return to the Lifestream. We have wounded the world, but the Northern Crater is what hurts Her the most. She forgives us, for humanity is young compared to the Cetra. She knows we will learn."

Sephiroth regarded Vincent from the corner of his eye, looking mildly intrigued by what the other man was saying. Cloud himself was trying not to look too surprised, not only at this startling level of knowledge but also at the verbosity. He wasn't used to Vincent talking so much. After a few moments, Sephiroth nodded and turned away.

"Alright." He said mildly. "I'll think about it." He looked at Cloud. "I'm not swearing by Angeal, but I'll promise this much; I'll observe. I'll give humanity a chance to prove it deserves to live." He smiled coldly. "Humanity has a year. After that, we'll see."

Cloud sighed gustily."Fine." He said. "A year from this date." A year of peace, but also a year to train in case Sephiroth decided to go back to his old ways.

"Can we trust that?" Vincent asked, though he holstered Cerberus.

"When I give my word, I do my best to keep it." Sephiroth replied. "Now. I am going to find a place to bathe." He gave Cloud another cold smile. "I'll see you in a year, Cloud."

"Joy." Cloud stepped back from the doorway to let Sephiroth pass and then he and Vincent watched him leave. The lights flickered and the two men glanced up at them, then Cloud looked over at his friend.

"I'm heading back to Edge. Where will you go?"

Vincent considered the question. "I will head to Rocket Town." He decided at last. "I have a new godchild, and if she is even half as bad as Kyle, Cid and Shera do have to deal with her as well as their older son's potential jealousy. They would likely appreciate the assistance."

Cloud gave Vincent a strange look, then turned to go. "You're willingly going to put yourself in that position?"

"...Yes, I realize how strange that seems. However, I find myself remarkably good with children...and they seem to like me as well."

"If Marlene's any indication." Cloud nodded. "...You would have been a good father." He added quietly.

"Perhaps." Vincent replied. "Perhaps not. I will never know. She chose him, not me...the men of my generation were not normally very...parental anyway. Perhaps my upbringing made me lucky. In any event, I can do my best to be a good godparent. Kyle is a good boy for the most part, even if he is learning to curse as creatively as his father at an earlier age than I personally would like." He shrugged. "Ah, Cloud. Do you think you can go to Khymera Enviro hospital and retrieve my cloak? It feels strange to be without it."

"I'll see what I can do." Cloud responded.

"Thank you...and if Genesis still lives and you find him...let me know, please. I still have something to settle with him."

"...I'll see what I can do." Cloud said again. "I think you'll have to fight Sephiroth for the privilege of taking him out, though. He doesn't like Genesis much either."

"Not at all." Vincent replied. "I wouldn't dream of denying him the chance to settle his own grudge. He can come along. Perhaps it would calm him somewhat." They reached the ramp leading up and both looked up at the distance they would have to climb. A few black feathers floating down told them clearly how Sephiroth had done it.

"Can't deny I'm a little jealous of that." Cloud muttered and set forth to begin climbing back up, wary of every creak and small give of the wood under his feet. One day the boards were going to give out, and Cloud could only hope that it did so under a monster and not a person.

They headed outside together in companionable silence and Cloud returned to his motorcycle with Vincent still following. He turned back to his friend before climbing on. "Want a ride to Rocket Town?"

"No thank you." Vincent replied. "I'll walk. It may take me a little longer, but I don't mind the time."

"You've been missing for two weeks." Cloud reminded him. "Cid's going to be mad enough as it is."

"Let him be." Vincent said before smiling slightly. "Besides, I think he'll forgive me when I tell him Sephiroth has his own body. You have a headstart this way."

Cloud narrowed his eyes at the other man. "...You're right." He conceeded after a moment. "I'm going to get a lot more hell than you are." He sighed heavily and put his driving goggles on. "...You went against my orders several times this past little while, Vincent. When I'm your friend I'm your friend, but when I'm your leader, I expect to be obeyed. If you don't like what I'm telling you, you bring it up to me, not go behind my back."

Vincent looked at him silently for several moments, and then he gave a sad ghost of a smile. "Yes." He whispered. "I learned that lesson quite harshly. It seems I have never been very good at doing what I'm told, and it always gets me in trouble. I think I get that from my mother." He looked off at the distance. "I'll see you again, Cloud. If not when you get my cloak back for me, then when Halloween comes around."

Cloud sighed. "Yeah." He leaned down over Fenrir and turned the engine on, then guided the bike a bit away from Vincent before gunning the throttle and tearing off down the road. He wasn't anxious to tell his friends that Sephiroth was winging around free somewhere out there, but he knew he had to tell them all the same. They had a year, a year and then Sephiroth would decide whether to make war on Gaia once more or choose a more peaceful path. They would need to prepare for the worst.

Though Cloud expected the worst however, a part of him hoped for the best. Genesis might still be out there, but he at least didn't seem to want to destroy the world and Cloud just wanted to retire and be a delivery man already. Maybe if he could have enough peace, he could finally start thinking about things men his age were supposed to worry about-like relationships.

Time would tell either way. They had a year, and then it would hopefully be known once and for all if Sephiroth would be the Planet's enemy once more or become a protector of it. He would train and they would all prepare, but he would do his best to finally enjoy life a little in the meantime.