Please be advised that Basecom communications will be halted between the hours of 0900 and 1100 Midgar Central Time on Thursday July 17th. You are advised to leave a message if your usual check-in falls at this time. Direct all emergency calls to Commander Rhapsodos.

"A two hour V.R. training session?" A SOLDIER second asked.

"That's gotta be fuckin' brutal." The third on the other line said with a wince, "Think it's the mission ready test?"

"Nah, he's only just hit the enhancements. That's why he missed two weeks a while ago. Usually they wait about six months. Probably just a strength test. See where he lies y'know?"

"I hope the little guy makes it okay."

"Strife will be fine. Want me to ask him when he calls?" There was a long pause.

"Kinda."

"FUCK ME!" Cloud screeched, and dodged another blade. They were moving so fast he could hardly get an attack in. Which was the point.

Cloud had some very not nice words for Angeal and Sephiroth if he got out of this.

When. When he got out of this. It was so easy to forget this was all simulation. It was kinda fun at first. The first 30 minutes was basic stuff, letting him get used to how V.R. worked and having his normal swords back. After that it was pure hell. It just never stopped. Fangs, Thunderbirds, the halfway point was a baby fucking Malboro. And now...Tonberries. Three of the fuckers. Cloud wasn't sure he'd be up to forgiving them. There wasn't any mission parameters yet, just get there. He dreaded to think what they had dreamed up for up there.

He wouldn't be surprised if there was a full sized Nibel dragon at this point.

Cloud decided just standing and defending in the middle of these assholes wasn't getting him out, so he leaped up and out. He gave out a war cry on his way down.

Angeal let out one sadistic chuckle after Cloud yelled at the tonberries, but that was it. Both he and Sephiroth were taking notes.

"He's sloppy," Angeal said, "but...so far it's working."

"He hasn't been given much time to develop his own fighting style," Sephiroth said, "or at least I haven't. Given the mix of what he's learned I imagine it will always appear sloppy."

"Appear?" Angeal asked.

"He's only been hit once. He wore himself out with the tonberries, as expected, but otherwise he's gotten through very well," Sephiroth said, "he's using what we've taught more effectively than I hoped. Perhaps I should raise my expectations of him."

"Hmm..." Angeal noted as he watched Cloud's perfectly executed jump strike, "you may have a point there." Sephiroth looked up at his pause.

"Do you want to turn it up?" Angeal asked with a wicked smirk.

"We have tortured him a lot," Sephiroth said.

"Do you think he can't take it?" Angeal asked. Sephiroth thought a long time.

"Just a little bit," he agreed.

Zack was a little weirded out when Gen asked if he wanted to hang out while Cloud was in the V.R. Room. He said yes, but was a little wary. Gen tended to be...kind of hot and cold around him. Like he didn't know how to act when they were alone.

Zack couldn't keep the nervous tap out of his feet, he jumped when he felt Genesis pat his shoulder.

"He'll be fine," Genesis said, "Angeal promised he wouldn't kill him. Seph wouldn't let him anyway."

"I know," Zack said, "I just can't help it."

A long pause stretched between them. Genesis sat up a little more, making his coat creak a little.

"How is it going...between the two of you?" He asked. Zack gave him a look.

"Between me and Angeal?" Zack asked. Genesis laughed.

"Between you and Cloud." Genesis corrected. Zack coughed.

"Oh...it's going...well I think."

"You think?" Genesis asked.

"Well...Cloud's always been kinda quiet and shy," Zack said, "he's got a lot of pride too and that made it tough when he first started. Not a good combo for meeting friends. We've been going slow. I don't mind it...I just...we're good. I should have just left it there."

"You have to push him?" Genesis guessed.

"Sometimes," Zack said, "I don't want to push too far. He's my friend still, I'm not gonna lose that. It's just...you know my nickname for him?"

"Chocobo Head?"

"No," Zack corrected, "Spike."

"You have twelve nicknames for him. I had to be sure," Genesis said, but his grin said he didn't mind.

"It's correct it more ways than one," Zack explained, "He's...he's got a lot of defenses around them. I'm just taking them one at a time...but like I said I don't mind. He can be...he is very sweet."

"Is he a good kisser?" Genesis asked.

"Yes," Zack said.

"Good," Genesis replied, "not that it's any of my business...but if you think he's a good kisser then it's going fine." Zack debated if asking would get him burned or not, then decided he could dodge it.

"Is Angeal a good kisser?" Zack asked.

"The best," Genesis replied, "Sephiroth needs just a little work though." Genesis had never seen Zack turn so red before.

Head northeast towards the village. Get rid of the main threat to it and return to the crossroads to end the simulation.

The directions were clear, but Cloud was wary. Angeal's voice had nearly interrupted the program. It made him suspicious. Well...more suspicious than he was already. He didn't like this. He had a feeling something had changed.

He took three steps in, past the main town hall of what looked like a knockoff Kalm and then stopped.

"You are fucking shitting me," Cloud deadpanned.

"I was saving this for the second time he tried it," Angeal explained, "Last mission I had to take care of one of Scarlet's machines after it malfunctioned. This is like replica of it."

"I will blame you for this one," Sephiroth said. Cloud cocked his head at the mechanical monster until it attacked him. He dodged nicely, but seemed at a loss at how to attack. Angeal chuckled at his handiwork.

"Think he can handle it?" Angeal asked. Sephiroth was quiet for a moment.

"I think he's studying it," Sephiroth said. Angeal watched more closely.

"He already knows he probably can't just tear it apart," Sephiroth said, "He could...but he's tired, and instinct tells him he can't. He's looking for an easier way."

Cloud did a small roll towards the side of the robot and sliced up as he stood. Angeal smiled at it.

"He's going for the fuel lines," he said, "cutting off power."

"Very smart," Sephiroth agreed, "It's twice his size, but he focuses on the weaknesses.

Cloud cut one more before the bot landed a hit. It was hard enough to make Cloud hit the side of the wall of the V.R. Room simulation be damned. Cloud dropped one of his swords

"Okay," Angeal said, "that's enough."

"Wait." Angeal looked over at Sephiroth. Sephiroth was watching Cloud intently. Angeal followed his gaze.

Cloud stood up, an eery look in his eye.

"I think it's a limit break," Sephiroth said. Cloud leapt up once, bringing his remaining sword down as hard as he could.

The blow tore off most of the robot's left side...and shattered the blade. The robot toppled over, and Angeal ended the program there.

They came down to fetch him from the room as quickly as they could. Cloud had removed the headset and was looking at his broken sword in a bit of a daze.

"I thought I had to get to the crossroads," Cloud said.

"To be honest, you weren't supposed to beat it," Angeal said.

"Sorry about your sword," Cloud said to Sephiroth.

"It is your sword," Sephiroth corrected him, "and we can get you another." Cloud blinked a little blearily.

"Was that...your first limit break?" Angeal asked.

"Yeah," Cloud said. He nearly fell over when Angeal wrapped an arm around him.

"Cloud that's amazing!" Angeal said.

"It is?" Cloud seemed to wake up a little.

"A limit break is not a small thing," Sephiroth said, "It is a body's reaction against irreversible harm...even death. A gift from the planet that not everyone will ever unlock."

"Oh," Cloud said, "can I get my headset back now?" Angeal laughed at him.

"I think you need to sit down for a bit first," Angeal said.

Zack wouldn't stop touching him as Angeal showed him the last few minutes of his session. His hands were on this shoulder, clapping his back, ruffling his hair...holding his hand.

Cloud liked it...he was glad Zack seemed more interested in the screen though.

After about five minutes it hit him. He had a fucking limit break. That was...incredible. Cloud kind of felt like a badass watching himself. He'd seen Zack have one once before. It seemed terrifying...but actually having one wasn't as scary as it seemed.

"We need to celebrate," Zack said.

"You know tradition," Angeal said, "I set the session, so I buy."

"I helped," Sephiroth pointed out.

"So cover the tip," Angeal said.

"Do I get to come?" Genesis asked, "I'm bored of sitting here waiting for calls that never come."

"Up to Cloud," Angeal said.

"I don't mind," Cloud said, squeezing Zack's hand back as he was dragged forward.

Cloud balked a little when one of his check-in calls how his training that morning went. Zack took the opportunity to bellow "He had a limit break!"

Cloud buried his face in his hands.

Cloud really was tired when evening pulled around. It was a hard session. Angeal admitted he went too hard, but that he was very impressed with Cloud.

"You will be in Second Class very soon," Angeal said. Cloud was elated...and then had a sad thought. He might not be Basecom for long after that. He shook it off. He always knew this was a temporary placement. He just didn't think he'd get attached to it.

Zack hummed as he puttered about and got ready for bed. He had a mission early the next morning and he wanted a good night sleep. He smiled as he heard Cloud humming in the shower. He pulled out the book he had been reading. He loved teen novels still. He'd never get tired of them.

He was two pages in when he heard a knock. He looked up.

A damp Cloud was standing in his doorway.

"Hey," Cloud said, "I know you're leaving early tomorrow...but...I was wondering...if you didn't mind...can I sleep...with you...tonight?" Zack looked at him for a long time.

"I mean-" Cloud started.

"Yes," Zack said. Cloud blinked. Zack moved over and patted the mattress. Cloud came over, blushing a little bit. He crawled under the sheets when Zack pulled them back.

In a few minutes Zack had a soft, sleeping, cuddly Cloud next to him, with his ever so soft snores he was used to hearing through a wall. Zack ran his fingers through blonde locks with a stupid smile on his face.