Cloud slid the door to his room shut, swiping his key card to lock it before he turned to head down the long hall way. The blond ran a gloved hand over his face, an exhausted sigh slipping past his lips. Today was supposed to be an off day for all cadets, since the previous day had been the 'entry exams'. This exam was to see if someone had the slightest chance of making it up into ranks of SOLDIER. Cloud had past, ShinRa posting the results the night of. He pressed the elevator button, watching closely for one of the four lights above the doors to flash green. Once the doors opened he walked into the small space, clicking the floor that was the science labs.

During the exam score reveal, they were told a strange bit of information that no cadet had ever heard of happening. Before they could go to the training camp to build up their skills, they had to take physical. Cloud just found it an unnecessary step. Before becoming cadets they had had a physical done, and they got check ups every two or so months. He just bit his tongue though, he had passed the exam and that is all that mattered. One more physical wasn't going to be that bad. Blue eyes looked up as the elevator chimed, alerting him that he had made it to his desired floor. He stepped out into the busy lobby, cadets who had passed flooding the small room. Cloud walked over the receptionist, who looked like she really didn't want to be there, and told her his name and ID number. She shooed him off once she confirmed he was entered. He walked over to one of the less busy corners and leaned against the wall, waiting for his name to be called. Two cadets that had been in his training squad noticed him, walking over to the smaller man.

"Hey Cloud." The shorter one waved, a huge smile on his face. Cloud shifted awkwardly, shooting a shy smile to him.

"This really sucks. I mean, we worked so hard to pass that damn exam that they harp about the second you join up. Now they tell us if we don't pass physical requirements, we don't move to camp." The taller of the two spat, arms crossed over his broad chest as he glared in the direction of the labs. Clouds eyes shot up, confusion on his face.

"When did they say that?" The smaller man snickered, patting Cloud on the shoulder.

"Before you got up here. You are late, y'know." Cloud glared at him, about to snap at him, when the large metal door to the lab slid open. A cadet that Cloud had seen once or twice walked out, almost seeming on the verge of tears. A older man with black hair in a low ponytail and glasses stepped into the doorway. He cleared his throat while pushing up his glasses, looking down at his clipboard.

"Cloud Strife." The man said, eyes scanning the room. The blond felt his heart skip as he took a step forward, hands clenched into fists to try and and hide his nerves. The older man looked him over quickly before waving the man in, disappearing from the door. Cloud quickly moved to follow the man, mind racing as he wondered if what his friends had told him. As he entered a small room he got a closer look at the dark haired man. His name was Hojo, he was the head of the science department. Cloud had seen the man once or twice around the building. He motioned for the blond to stand in the middle of the room, the cadet feeling like prey being watched by predator. Hojo walked in circles around the younger man, humming to himself as he scribbled down notes on his clipboard. Cloud sucked in a sharp breath as the scientist stopped right in front of him, a smile on his face. But it wasn't a happy smile, it was a twisted one.

"Remove your shirt." The man snapped, smile dropping. Cloud hesitated for a moment before peeling his shirt away off, exposing his slightly tone chest. Even after all the drills and missions he had been on, he was still one of the less build men in the cadets. Hojo began to circle him again, smile slowly growing back. The blonde flinched when a hand was suddenly placed on his stomach, close to his pants line. "My, you have such a feminine build." Cloud could feel his face heating up.
"Um… Sir?" He asked, watching as he moved to stand behind him, hand now resting on the small of his back. When the cadet got no response he moved to speak again, only to snap his mouth shut when Hojo let out a sharp laugh.

"I have found it! Exactly what I need." The man snickered as he walked over to a counter, placing his clipboard down and rummaging around for something. Panic washed over the cadet, the want to flee almost winning over him.

"Sir, I'm sorry but I don't understand. What is-" He was cut off by a gasp that left him. Wide blue eyes shot down to his stomach. Hojo stood in front of him, a syringe filled with a glowing liquid. Warmth spread through his body, numbness slowly creeping up his limbs.

"Don't worry, it's nothing that is going to kill you. Just some Mako mixed with some sedatives." The twisted smile was completely set on his lips, eyes gleaming with sick interest. "I'm going to have to ask you to cooperate with me, since I need to use your body for a very important experiment." A grown echoed in Clouds chest, the blonde sinking to his knees as his legs became useless. He tried to push himself up, tried to yell for someone, but nothing worked. Two larger men entered the room, walking over and picking Cloud up and moving him to a metal table. Hojo told on man to go out and tell the rest of the cadets that physicals were done for today. As the men both left, Hojo turned to face the small cadet, resting a hand on his stomach.

"You see, I got to thinking. What if men could some how bear children; was it possible? Could I make another Sephiroth, but stronger." He glanced up to met Clouds gaze. "But I need a man with a female build. Other men are just too built, no curves. That makes holding a child rather difficult." The scientist smirked, leaning in close to the other, and whispered. "And I have been told by a source that you and the SOLDIER, Zack Fair, are rather close. It is rumored that you two may be seeing each other. That would just make my work that much easier. He would make a fine test subject." Cloud wanted to scream and hit the man. He didn't want Zack dragged into this mad man's dream. He watched helplessly as Hojo hooked up an IV, sticking the needle into his vein. His vision began to wave, darkness creeping into his vision. He tried to fight it, but whatever the man was pumping into him was too strong.

X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-X

Cloud groaned as he cracked his eyes open, colors mixing in ways in a way that make his stomach flip. After a few deep breathes, he opened his eyes fully. first thing he noticed was he was in the infirmary. His head was throbbing and his torso hurt. slowly he pushed himself up so he was sitting, his head not approving of the sudden movement at first. The cadet tried to remember how he had got there, but his mind was blank. the sound of the door clicking open snapped him from this thoughts. Blue eyes looked up to see a nurse walking in. She smiled as she closed the door, glancing down at her file.

"I'm glad to see you have woken up. How are you feeling?" Cloud shot her a skeptical look. He was still so confused.

"My head hurts… and I feel sick to my stomach…" He murmured, realizing how dry his throat was. The nurse nodded, writing down what he said. She reached out and pushed the other gently, motioning for him to lie down.

"I'll go get you some medication to help with the head and stomach. Oh, Professor Hojo Is here to check up on you. I will send him in now that you are awake." She smiled before walking out. Cloud stared at the door, mind racing as he tried to take in the information. Hojo. wasn't he with him before all of this? He groaned, running a hand through spiked hair. His memory was just not coming back. Tired eyes shifted to look at the door again, but instead of the nurse, Hojo walked in instead. All the muscle in his body tensed as the scientist smiled. That twisted smile.

"I'm glad to see you are awake. I was getting nervous that you wouldn't make it." He moved so he stood at the end of the bed the blonde was lying in, arms crossed as he watched the younger man. "How are you feeling?" Cloud was silent for a long time before clenching his jaw and looking up to the older man.

"What the hell did you do to me? I don't remember anything…" He watched in fear as Hojo let out a laugh, reaching into a pocket that was on his lab coat. He pulled out a syringe full of glowing green liquid.

"You will find you soon enough. But you will be needing a dose of Mako a day, Starting tonight" He handed the syringe to the cadet. "Come see me when you need more. The moment you run out, come to me. You don't want to find out what happens what happens if you miss even one does." The nurse pushed the door open, a small cup with medication in her hand. Hojo stood as she looked between the two in confusion. Hojo moved to leave, waving the woman off. "He can be released today, I just checked him over." With that he left the room.

Cloud was soon released, syringe of Mako safely tucked in this pocket. The walk back to his room was long, almost all in a daze. He remembered the physical and Hojo talking about an experiment. Why couldn't he remember anything else? He wasn't sure how long he had been standing outside his door, just staring at it. He reached for his key card, swiping to unlock the door, before slipping in and locking the door behind him. He kicked off his combat boots, shedding his shirt and the rest of his cadet uniform till he was just left in the pants. The blonde flopped down so he was laying on his back in the center of his small bed. He bit his bottom lip, tears welling up in his eyes, his emotions getting the best of him.

He got up slowly, deciding that maybe a shower would help him, when suddenly the room started to spin. He gasped as the room started to be tinted but green and his head felt like it was about to break open. Panic shot through him. Was this because of what that madman had done to him? He cried as his stomach and chest began to sting, as if someone was stabbing him repeatedly. The words that Hojo had said to him earlier that evening echoed in his head. Cloud scrabbled around his room, finding the syringe on the nightstand where he had tossed it when he first walked in. He grabbed syringe shaking hands, taking a deep breath before pushing the needle into his arm and clicking the button on the top. Warmth suddenly began to fill him, his vision returning to normal and pain disappearing. He pulled the needle out, dropping it to the floor. his breaths came out in broken, shaken sobs. He was so scared. What had happened to him?