Disclaimer: All Final Fantasy VII rights and characters including Zack (unfortunately) belong to Square Enix and I'm only borrowing them for a bit. However Callandra, Landson, and Koyoto and all other OC's that I come up with belong to me. Touch without permission and I'll send a Bahamut Fury after you. Enjoy.

Silently she moved, easing from rock to rock. Wary eyes watched as a large group of men, several in lab coats carefully etched symbols into the dirt, taking painstaking care with every line. Twenty others seemed to be mercenaries and all of them carried guns or swords. Behind them, the ruins of Midgar loomed, a reminder of greed and innocence long past. Next to the men a large sword was embedded in the dirt. She knew that sword. It was a beautiful weapon in its prime and it still was despite the sand and scratches that tarnished the once gleaming blade. She often came here just to run her fingers over the hilt and remember.

One of the scientists stood back from the rest of the group, shoulder length blonde hair meticulously tied back in a ponytail that seemed so tight it must have been painful. Not one strand was allowed to escape. The man features, though handsome, were cruelly chiseled and refined.

Probably thinks he's too good to get dirty with the rest of them. Spice colored wavy hair fell into her eyes and the woman pushed it back with a blue-gloved hand. What are they doing? They don't belong here.

At last, the dark-haired man shooed the others away. "Very good. We are ready to perform the ceremony." He gestured toward the mercenaries. "Be prepared. We don't know how the subject will react."

Not waiting for a response, the blonde scientist reached inside his lab coat and withdrew a small, weathered book.

One hand reached back to one of the blades strapped to her back but still the crouched woman did not move. I need to know what they're up to first.

Long fingers opened the book to a previously marked page. He began to read from the book in a loud, firm voice, the words in a language that the woman had never heard before.

Still hidden by the large rock formation, the woman's eyes widened as the earth beneath her began to tremble and the sky darkened, nearly black clouds blocking out the sun. The wind lashed over the cliff causing long locks to beat relentlessly against her cheeks. Okay, whatever this asshole is doing isn't good. Time to move.

Long legs straightened but it was too late. Lightening struck the symbol-covered dirt, sending sand and smoke into the air obscuring the circle's occupants from sight for several long moments.

Finally, the wind cleared the smoke and debris, leaving only the faint smell of sulphur lingering in the air. Pale green eyes widened at the sight revealed. Lying amongst the now obliterated symbols lay a young man, face framed in soft, spiky, raven locks. The muscled form was dressed in a black uniform. As the cliff's occupants watched, his chest heaved drawing in a deep breath.

"Sonofabitch," the woman whispered, her mind filled with a long ago seen photograph, "They brought him back!"

Easing slowly from behind her rock to another closer to the group she kept her eyes trained on the scene before her. The man's eyes fluttered open and even from her hiding spot she could see the rich sky blue of his eyes.

"SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair," the blonde announced, satisfaction drenching every word.

The man moaned and rolled painfully to his side, pushing himself up leaning heavy on his arm. "Why'd you bring me back," he demanded, voice shaking with anger, "What the fuck do you want!"

"I need your assistance Mr. Fair," the blonde replied calmly, watching with keen interest as Zack climbed first to his knees and then unsteadily to his feet. "My name is Dr. Koyoto. I recently found some files belong to the late Dr. Hojo and I'm afraid I'll need you to come with us."

"Hojo," Zack found the name left his mouth feeling soiled, "I want nothing to with anything that bastard did. You had no right to do this!"

"The pursuit of science gives me every right, Mr. Fair," Koyoto said with continuing calm. "Now, please, come quietly. You'll only make my work harder if we're forced to damage you."

Moving quicker than anyone would have thought Zack capable of in his current condition the SOLDIER wrapped his hands around the hilt of the Buster Sword grunt as exhausted muscles heaved it free of the dirt. "I'm not going anywhere."

Sighing, Koyoto turned to one of the mercenaries. "Mr. Landson. I believe this is what I hired you for?"

"Yes, sir," Landson grinned, "Last chance, pal."

Glaring, Zack lifted the Buster Sword into a ready position. He wanted to laugh. He was exhausted and his entire body quivered with weakness. Once again he was facing a battle he couldn't win.

"I don't think it's very nice to pick on someone you just brought back from the dead."

All eyes spun to the woman emerging from behind a large boulder. In each hand, she held a gunblade. These were not like ones that Zack had seen during his days in SOLDIER but instead each blade was an elegant katana, sleek and deadly. The guns sat on the top, dull edge, and were heavily adorned with gilded carvings.

"Who are you?" Koyoto barked angrily, "This isn't any of your business."

Slowly, the woman lifted her eyes and smirked when a shudder ripped through Koyoto's body. Zack too was frozen in disbelief. Those eyes. . . I've only known one person with those eyes.

"Callandra," Koyoto declared, excitement and fear vibrating in his voice, "I read about you in Hojo's secret files. I had wondered what became of you."

Callandra smiled, the hateful expression not belong on the sweet face, "And now you know," she said dryly. "I'm only going to give one chance, Koyoto, leave and forget that this ever happened."

"Leave?" the scientist sneered, "It's take me years to find the necessary spell to revive Fair. I won't let him go now."

Callandra and Zack both tensed as the whirring of a helicopter approached rapidly.

"It's fortunate that I planned for any difficulties that might spring up," Koyoto laughed.

Not wanting to face a helicopter's guns with Zack so weak, Callandra leapt into the air, a spinning blur of flashing blades.

Forcing flashes of that final battle from his battered mind, Zack forced his sluggish body to move, the Buster Sword slicing easily through the flesh of the nearest mercenary even though it had long been exposed to the harsh elements.

Admist sprays of blood and the bark of her guns, Callandra fought to Zack's side.

"Who the hell are you?" Zack panted, already feeling his strength fading.

"I'm not them," she retorted, "And right now that should be enough."

"You got a point," Zack rasped, "Any ideas?"

"Do you think you can run for it?" Callandra demanded, blade snapping up to deflect a bullet.

Not really, he thought. But he said, "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

"As usual."

"Stay close," the red head ordered beginning to advance.

Zack had enough to do with trying to keep his own focus and not collapsing in exhaustion but he saw enough to realize that the woman was good. Really good. Almost as good as . . .

"This way!" Callandra called, "Run! Just go! I'll be right behind you."

Stumbling more than running, Zack staggered in the direction indicated. There was a familiar crack and the smell of ozone and then Callandra was beside him, pulling one of his arms over her thin shoulders, and dragging him away from the cliff.

Ahead, Zack saw a waiting motorcycle. "Thank Gaia," he murmured.

"Get on!" Callandra snapped, leaping onto the seat.

As quickly as possible, Zack climbed on behind her, mind flashing to last time he'd been on a bike. Not now.

"Hold on!" The woman revved the engine, pulling out sending a spray of sand pouring down over their pursuers.

Exhausted, Zack wrapped his arms around her waist hoping as he lost consciousness that he wouldn't fall off the bike.

"Shit!" Callandra muttered as she felt Zack go limp behind her. One hand reached down, getting a tight grip on the hands encircling her thin waist. Risking a glance over her shoulder she saw the helicopter had landed probably to pick up Koyoto and then resume pursuit.

"Just the opportunity I needed." Gunning the engine, Callandra drove straight into a cave, not slowing even as the path sloped steeply down. Once they were well away from the entrance of the cave, she slowed and switched on the lights illuminating the tunnel. There was little chance of discovery now. The tunnel extended for two miles underground, keeping them safely out of sight. The exit would bring them to the surface just outside of Midgar.

"Just a little further," she told her unconscious passenger, "And then you can rest."

Reaching her destination twenty minutes later, Callandra pulled up outside the building that had been her home for the last three years. The sector five slums were still mostly intact having been protected from meteor by the upper plates. Callandra would have rather lived in the abandoned church but the spiky-haired blonde visited far too frequently and she had not wished to be seen.

Getting off the bike and keeping Zack from pitching to the dirt wasn't easy but she managed.

"Zack?" she called, "Can you hear me?"

"Mmm?"

"Zack, I need to get you inside. Can you stand?" Callandra was doubtful but Zack blinked and using the bike as support got his feet under him. With her assistance, he managed to swing his leg over the bike stumbling slightly.

"Come on," the woman murmured, once again slinging his arm over her shoulders.

Distantly, Zack realized that his companion was tall for a woman, not as tall as he was but still probably stood at 5'8".

"Where are we?" he mumbled, taking in little beyond the wooden floor beneath his feet. Wish it would stay still.

"Somewhere safe," Callandra replied soothingly, "My home."

Callandra carefully guided Zack to the small bed in which she slept. Pulling back the covers with one hand, she gently eased Zack down onto the mattress.

The raven-haired SOLDIER went willingly, sky-blue eyes blinking dazedly up at her.

"Rest," Callandra instructed, "You are safe here." Her eyes ran assessing over the various injuries Zack had sustained in the fight. None seemed serious but would need to be cleaned and bandaged.

Sleep beckoned insistently but Zack needed to know before he could rest. "W-why are you helping me?"

Sighing, the woman reached down, brushing soft spikes from Zack's fevered forehead. "Because . . . Angeal loved you. And . . . Angeal was my friend."

Zack's eyes snapped open and he tried to sit up. "What?!" Vertigo swept over him and he slumped back to the mattress unable to fight the darkness that blanketed him, head lolling to the side in sleep.

Well, told you guys I was gonna right another piece and here it is. Let me know what ya think! Remember reviews make me write faster and they let me know what I'm doing right and what I need to change. See you next chapter!