"Good news sir,"said Tseng as he walked up the stairs into Rufus Shinra's office,"we managed to locate Cloud in the town of" "Mideel and captured him"

Rufus looked up from the pile of papers he was signing."Good work,"he said,"have him brought up here so I can interrogate" "him."

"Yes sir,"said Tseng.He walked to the top of the stairs and yelled down."Reno,Rude,bring Cloud up here.Rufus wants to" "question him."

"Yes sir,"answered Reno.

A minute later the two of them appeared in Rufus's office carrying Cloud who was sitting motionless in a wheelchair.

Rufus stared at the sight as Reno and Rude sat Cloud in front of him.

"What number am I?"moaned Cloud.

"What is wrong with you idiots?"asked Rufus.

"What seems to be the problem?"asked Tseng.

"WHAT'S THE PROBLEM!"screamed Rufus,"he's just a vegetable.I can't ask someone in his condition any questions?"

"I don't see why not,"Tseng answered.

Get out of my sight you jerks,"screamed Rufus as he aimed his shotgun at the three Turks and started shooting.

Reno,Rude and Tseng raced down the stairs.

"I knew I should never allowed Hojo to clone Tseng after he died,"said Rufus shaking his head,"the guy's a bigger idiot than he" "was before."Sighing,Rufus walked over to Cloud."Now then,"he said,"where are your Avalanche friends?"

"What number am I?"said Cloud.

"I asked you a question,"said Rufus,"I expect an answer."

"What number am I?"Cloud said again.

"Answer the &#$%@! question,"yelled Rufus.

"What number am I?"said Cloud a third time.

"THAT'S IT,"screamed Rufus throwing his hands in the air.He walked over to his desk and buzzed his secretary."Naomi,"he said,"contact that quack Hojo and tell him I want him in my office as soon as possible."

"Yes sir,"said Naomi.

"What number am I?"said Cloud yet again.

Rufus screamed as loud as he could."AAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Ten minutes later Hojo entered Rufus's office."You wanted to see me?"he said.

"Yes,"said Rufus.He pointed at Cloud."I want you to give him a number."

"The failure?"said Hojo,"no way.

Rufus pointed his shotgun straight at Hojo's head."I told you to give him a number.Then he might stop saying..."

"What number am I?"said Cloud.

Hojo gulped."Okay,"he said.

"And take him with you,"said Rufus,"he's driving me crazy."

"Yes sir,"said Hojo.He pushed Cloud out of Rufus's office and headed towards his lab.

"What number am I?"said Cloud to everyone they passed by.

"There goes Hojo and his freak of the day,"one girl said to her friend.

Once in the lab,Hojo pushed Cloud off to one end of the room.

"What number am I?"asked Cloud.

"You don't deserve one,"said Hojo.He then walked to the other side of the lab.

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 Hours later Hojo approached Cloud.

"What number am I?"said Cloud.

"I told you earlier,"said Hojo,"you don't deserve one."

"What number am I?"said Cloud a second time.

"I'm not giving you one,"said Hojo.

"What number am I?"said Cloud a third time.

"FINE!"screamed Hojo,"you want a number.I'll give you a number.!"He stomped over to his desk and grabbed his tattooing gun.He then walked back to Cloud and put a number on his right shoulder."THERE!"he screamed when he finished,YOU'VE" "GOT A NUMBER.ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!"

Cloud looked up at Hojo."Yes,"he said as he stood up,"If you had done this to me years ago when I was your guinea pig I" "wouldn't have put you through all this."He then walked over to the exit where Cid,Barrett and Tifa were standing.

"You jerk,"said Tifa hitting the back of Cloud's head,"did you have to do that just to get Hojo to give you a stupid number?"

"Hey,"said Cloud,"as long as it worked."

The four of them then left the lab leaving a shocked Hojo alone

Sometime later Reno and Rude entered the lab and walked up to Hojo who was still in shock.

"Rufus sent us to see whether you've given Cloud his number yet?"said Rude

But Hojo just stood there.

Reno walked up to Hojo and waved his hand in front of Hojo's face."He's in shock,"said Reno,"Say,want to have some fun" "with him?"

Rude smiled and nodded his head.

                                                      *************************

The next day Rufus made up some flyers and sent them out to all his employees.

Tseng read the pamplet."If I ever find the person responsible for hanging Hojo outside my bedroom window last night I will" "make his or her life a living nightmare."He then lowered the paper and stared at Reno and Rude who were sitting on a couch nearby reading a similar pamplet and laughing their heads off.

He sighed and shook his head.