Five years have now passed since the massacre of Nibelheim. The town had been completely rebuilt back to its original form. Those who began to settle the village were unaware that a great tragedy had occurred so many years ago.

For the half-decade Zack and Cloud were imprisoned in cryogenic chambers stationed in the Shinra Mansion laboratory. They were injected with Jenova cells to see how their bodies would react to them. After some lackluster results Hojo lost interest in them; returning back to his previous experiments. The bodies remained in a cryo chamber to keep them in good condition, and track of their vital signs.

Every afternoon a man would check in on them to record their status to see any improvements. One fateful day while he was eating his lunch, he spilled coffee over the monitoring system. Sparks shot out from the keyboards. He quickly tried to soak up the coffee with a handkerchief, but his only success was in carelessly flipping the release switch for the cryogenic chambers. Green fluids spilled to the ground as Zack and Cloud were ejected from the chamber.

“Oh, God!” the man whimpered as Zack got to his feet.

Zack advanced on him who pleaded, “Please don’t hurt me. I just work here.”

The SOLDIER gave him a swift jab to the jaw instantaneously knocking the man out of consciousness.

Zack noticed that he was still wearing the same SOLDIER uniform he was found in five years ago, but he was still unaware that so many years had passed. To his surprise, he found his Buster Sword in the corner of the lab. After obtaining the weapon, he aided Cloud who was still set in the green liquid on the floor.

“Cloud, you all right?” Zack asked as he dragged him out of the lab.

Cloud only murmured back incoherent words as he bobbed his head feebly.

“We have to get out of here,” Zack exclaimed, “You’re clothes are torn to hell, man. I’ve got an extra SOLDIER uniform. Let’s hope they didn’t move my stuff.”

Zack was able to find his spare uniform.

“Here, put this on,” Zack said, “It smells a little tough. Don’t complain.”

Cloud was unable to dress himself completely. He moved like an old man, and was unable to stand fully erect. Zack helped put on his chest plate, and gloves.

“You look pretty good with that,” Zack said with a smirk.

They left the town of Nibelheim. Cloud was still unable to speak or walk under his own power. Zack had to haul his friend all the way out of the village. Though Zack did get tired of carrying Cloud around, he refused to leave him. He found Cloud to be a good companion, and figured he would snap out his vegetable state sooner or later.

As Zack carted Cloud down the dirt road a man in a pick-up truck offered them a ride. He accepted the offer and sat in the back with Cloud.

Zack asked the driver what the current date was. He was curious on how long he had been captured. Shock overcame him when the driver revealed five years had passed since he was last conscious. The shock didn’t overwhelm Zack too much. He quickly accepted the fact and didn’t give the subject another thought. He was taken back by how well he aged. Zack felt great and more vigorous than ever, but Cloud, on the other hand, had seen better days. He sat hunched over with his head twitching and saliva leaking from his mouth.

“Yo, old guy,” Zack said to the driver, “ Are we at Midgar yet?”

“Shaddap!” The man said agitated, “Yer lucky I even gave you a ride.”

Zack sat next to Cloud and asked, “What’re you gonna do once we get to Midgar?”

Cloud only responded with a dismal grunt.

Zack began to observe the backdrop. They were on a barren road riding through a barren valley. Shrubs and rocks made up most of the scenery. It wasn’t much to look at.

“I know what I’m gonna do,” Zack said, “I got a place I can crash for awhile,” he began to think, “No, wait, the mother lives there too…Guess that’s out of the question.”

Cloud murmured something, but Zack couldn’t make out what it was he said.

“Yep, gotta change plans,” Zack stated, “No matter what I do, I need some money first,” he looks to Cloud, “Hey, wanna start a business?” he asked. “But what could we do. You think I’d be good at anything?” Zack got up and said to the driver, “Hey, old guy, what do you think I’d be good at?”

“What are you yappin’ about?” the man responded, “Yer still young, ain’t ya? Young folks should try everything! You gotta pay yer dues while you’re young. Go out and look for what you really want.”

“Try everything…that’s easy for him to say,” Zack whispered to Cloud.

“Hey! Of course!” Zack yelled finally realizing something, “I’ve got a lot brains and skills that other guys don’t! That settles it! I’m gonna be a mercenary. Yeah, thanks pops.”

“That’s not what I meant,” the man exclaimed, “Didn’t you hear a word I said.”

“I’m gonna be a mercenary and that’s that,” Zack proclaimed, “Boring stuff, dangerous stuff, anything for money. I’m gonna be rich,”

He sat next to Cloud again, “So what are you going to do, man?”

“U…uhhh…” were the only words Cloud could form.

“Just kidding,” Zack said laughing, “I won’t leave you like that.” He put his arm over Cloud’s shoulder, “We’re friends, right?” Zack said slightly shaking him, “Mercenaries, Cloud. That’s what you an’ me are gonna be. Understand Cloud?”

The gray skies loomed overhead. Zack dragged Cloud, his arm over his shoulder, with the premonition that Midgar was just beyond the summit of the steep hill. Days had passed since the man had given them a ride in his old battered pick-up truck. Zack coped with carrying Cloud around on the journey. He assumed this harsh experience would make him a stronger man, and when Cloud became fully conscience again they both would laugh about their exodus over a few drinks.

He peered to the sky already perceptive of the impending rain. The sky rumbled with thunder, and the atmosphere grew dim. Zack wished it would just rain. It was obvious the spells of rain were coming and he hated suspense. As odd as it might sound, Zack felt nature and the gods purposely built up this apprehension in people as a way of getting off on human emotions. Zack despised suspense and wanted things to unfold as they should in a prompt and punctual manner.

“There they are!” a voice yelled.

Zack turned to find Shinra Troopers advancing from behind.

He tossed Cloud on the grass next to a crippled aged tree. Zack equipped his Buster Sword to exchange blows with the troopers. Cloud remained on the grass looking to the tree above him. A mild wind gust through the branches swaying the leaves on the twigs gently. The wind whispered its song as it blew throughout the twisted undergrowth. Cloud tried to listen, but its melody was drowned by sounds of gunfire and Zack’s Buster Sword tearing the flesh of his attackers. Screams of agony filled the air as the men, who hadn’t die right away, held the stump that used to be their limb. Abruptly, the rioting ceased. Pounding footsteps approached Cloud’s position in a panic.

“They’re too many!” Zack yelled as he tried to pick up Cloud from the ground, “We’ve got to--”

Suddenly he was interrupted by a dreadful noise that echoed endless. It seemed to replay itself over and over again. It wasn’t thunder, but it had the same terrible force. A slight pain came from Zack’s chest. He began to choke on what he thought was his saliva. To his shock, blood burst from his mouth. Zack placed his hand over the pain in his chest and felt a minuscule puncture pouring with blood. The wound was such an insignificant presence.

“How could something so insignificant cause such tremendous pain?”

Zack stumbled on his knees away from his friend, pressing his palm over the pierce. Another bullet seared through his body knocking him down to the sharp blades of grass. It became difficult for him to breath. As if the oxygen itself was smothering him. His hands and feet became stabbing cold as the incredible pain rang every nerve in his body. A Shinra Trooper stood over Zack with his assault rifle locked on the fallen SOLDIER. Zack looked into the man’s empty eyes and cursed at him with a simple and bitter gesture of his bold and daring stare. Zack wasn’t afraid and didn’t regret anything. If this was his fate, then so be it. With his rifle, the trooper unloaded a whole clip of ammunition into the SOLDIER.

Another trooper hung over Cloud wondering what to do with him.

“What about this one, sir?” The man asked.

Another trooper in a red uniform looked him over, “He’s useless,” the leader declared, “Leave him here. This failure is of no use to us.”

The Shinra Troopers headed off, and Cloud was eventually left alone on top of the summit.

Little by little rain descended from the bleak gray heavens stinging his face. A refreshingly frosty wind past over Cloud as he continued to fix his eyes on the swaying tree leaves. He felt at peace and didn’t wish to move, but the voice in his mind urged him to move on.

“Get up,” the voice said with stringent authority.

“Who are you?” Cloud asked perplexed, “Who…am I?” He was ignorant of his own identity. His memory was a void and hallow object.

“You’re Cloud Strife,” the voice answered, “And you have much to do for me.”

“For you?” Cloud responded puzzled, “Who are you?”

“Get up.”

It was only after the mystifying voice vanished did Cloud finally rise to his feet. He stumbled to Zack’s corpse and pried the Buster Sword from his cold dead hands. Cloud was unaware of what he doing. He didn’t see Zack or acknowledge the fact he had taken the weapon. It was as if some unknown being had possessed him and was currently manipulating his actions. He wasn’t conscious of anything. Only that, before him, beyond the summit, was the flashing neon lights of the city of Midgar. It was an amazing sight to behold. Something seemed terribly upsetting on having such a vast landscape made of iron and steel. As if the mechanical metropolis was raping the Planet.

Cloud placed the Buster Sword on his back, and approached the city. His face was blank and featureless with eyes glowing a brilliant green.