Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 15

“Ashen Skies”

Chapter 15

~**********************************~

Warnings: Violence and blood

~****************************************~

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

~***********************************************~

 

"Well, it's confirmed," Dr. White informed the couple. "You're expecting, Mrs. Fair."

 

Zack gave a little hoot and hugged his wife, who smiled and returned the embrace with enthusiasm.

 

"Thanks, Doc!" Zack said with a grin as he reached out and shook Dr. White's hand. "So, what do we need to do? She's got to eat right, doesn't she? I hear some women get swelling...should I massage her feet at night? What about vitamins? What should she take?"

 

Dr. White rubbed the bridge of his nose as the onslaught of questions provoked a headache. "One thing at a time, young man. Your wife is healthy and I'm sure she eats right on her own. Prenatal vitamins are unfortunately a requirement, given the lack of sunlight."

 

Zack nodded and Aerith listened quietly as the doctor gave instructions and wrote up a prescription for the proper vitamins. "The only thing that concerns me is your rather low iron count, Mrs. Fair. If you prefer not to eat red meat, you should consider eating more beans."

 

"I think for the baby's sake, I'll make an exception," she said. She rested her hand over her abdomen and smiled. "It isn't just about me, anymore."

 

Dr. White smiled at her. "I think you'll make an outstanding mother, young woman. You and your husband wait here while I retrieve your vitamins, will you?"

 

"Of course," she agreed. As soon as the doctor was out of the room, Zack lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her with passionate tenderness. Aerith's pulse quickened and she returned the kiss, combing her fingers through his spiked hair. "So I guess you're happy," she sighed with a smile once the kiss was broken.

 

"Honey, I'm so happy I could climb the walls," admitted the Soldier exuberantly. His blue-violet eyes were bright with excitement and he placed a big hand over her abdomen and rubbed it with protective love. "I never thought I'd live to be a daddy, Aerith."

 

She swallowed and hugged him. "You just be careful when you go out on missions," she ordered sternly. "I want our baby to have a father, understand?"

 

"Totally," agreed Zack with a grin. He lowered his head to kiss her tummy, making her giggle. "We've got to start thinking of some names, sweet thing."

 

Aerith's throat tightened and she nodded. "I was hoping we could name it after my mother, if it's a girl. Ifalna."

 

Zack looked up at her and smiled. "You've got it, Ifalna it is. So, what do we name it if it's a boy?"

 

"I'll leave that to you," Aerith said with a smile. "I trust you to come up with something nice."

 

~**************************************~

 

"Director, we're getting a distress call from Fort Condor."

 

Lazard looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "Give me the phone."

 

The SOLDIER operative handed the device over to him and Lazard put it to his ear. "This is Director Lazard of the Modeoheim base. What is your situation?"

 

Cid Highwind's voice answered him. "We've got WEAPONS coming in from all over the damned place! We need backup! Repeat: We need backup!"

 

Barret Wallace's voice could be heard shouting in the background, amidst explosions. "We've gotta evacuate!"

 

Lazard's brows drew together. "Have you contacted Cosmo Canyon yet?"

 

"Haven't had time to," answered Cid. "We're doing all we can to get people out of here!"

 

Lazard took note of the time and hastily scribbled it down. "We'll contact Cosmo Canyon and send reinforcements right away, Captain Highwind. Hold out as best you can, until then."

 

~*******************************************~

 

The sirens went off just as Angeal started to remove his lover's clothing. They looked at one another and Genesis swore softly.

 

"Well, duty calls," the redhead muttered sourly as he straightened his clothes.

 

Angeal likewise re-fastened parts of his own clothing and followed his companion out of the bathhouse. They barely made it through the entranceway to the underground shelter when they bumped into Sephiroth and Cloud. Falling into step with the General, Angeal looked at him sidelong.

 

"What's the situation?" he asked.

 

"Fort Condor is under attack," explained Sephiroth briefly. "We're to assist with the evacuation and transport some of the survivors back here. Cosmo Canyon is lending aid and they'll take on any civilians we can't fit here."

 

Angeal nodded. "How bad is it?"

 

"Very," answered Sephiroth. "Expect to face several Alpha WEAPONS and at least two regulars. Captain Highwind and Commander Wallace are doing what they can to evacuate but they aren't a match for the enemy on their own."

 

"Sounds quite ugly," Genesis remarked with a frown.

 

"We're trained for this," Sephiroth insisted, though his emerald gaze strayed to Cloud and expressed a brief moment of concern. "Just do your part and survive."

 

Angeal wanted to say something in response, but as they approached the corridor leading to the hangar, Zack came into sight. The one-eyed Soldier waved almost frantically at them and his grin puzzled Angeal until he spoke.

 

"I'm gonna be a dad!" Zack yelled as he closed the distance. He was practically skipping. "The doctors confirmed it, man. Aerith's pregnant!"

 

Angeal and the others stopped in their tracks and the muscular First shared a glance with his auburn-haired lover. "Congratulations, Zack."

 

Genesis gave a golf-clap. "Well done. I suspect your children will likely terrorize the lot of us soon."

 

"Zack, that's great!" Cloud said with enthusiasm, smiling openly at his friend.

 

Sephiroth said what was on everyone's mind, then. "Perhaps you should stay behind."

 

Zack appeared crestfallen. "Wha-? No way! You guys need me on this."

 

"Zack," Angeal began carefully, "This mission is more dangerous than usual. You've got a child on the way. I think Sephiroth is right. You should stay here and look after your wife."

 

Zack shook his head. "No can do, buddy. I won't sit back and let others fight for the world I want my kids to have, you know? I'm coming with you and that's that."

 

"Stubborn ass," Genesis sighed, but he clapped Zack on the shoulder. "As it should be."

 

"I suppose there's no convincing you otherwise," Sephiroth murmured.

 

Zack shook his head. "Nope. You guys are stuck with me and Aerith understands. Let's do it!"

 

There were no further arguments but as they approached the craft, Sephiroth leaned towards Cloud. "Watch out for him," he murmured.

 

Cloud nodded. "Of course."

 

~**********************************************~

 

They arrived to a scene of utter chaos. Reeve looked down at the carnage below and shook his head. "Vincent, I think we may need your alter-ego, here."

 

Vincent peered out the window with narrowed crimson eyes and agreed. "You're probably right." He looked at Reeve and hesitated. "He'll want payment."

 

Reeve nodded. "I expect as much. Those people down there are more important than you or I, however. Let him out, Vincent."

 

Even as he admired his lover's resolve, he hated it. Vincent opened the mental doorway that separated him from his demons and he coaxed the strongest one forward. ~Chaos...we need you now.~

 

It was painful. The sensation of losing control of his body was like fire burning in his veins. Vincent endured it as his physical form altered and grew in size. When he opened his eyes again, he was looking at Reeve through Chaos's eyes. He was powerless to act or speak.

 

"I trust you'll hold to our agreement?" Chaos inquired in his low, droning voice.

 

Reeve nodded, bravely holding his ground. "As we agreed," he murmured. "Help them and you can feed on me as much as you like."

 

Vincent tried to speak up against that but Chaos was too strong. "I'll hold you to your word, engineer."

 

No sooner did he say it then he was moving toward the hatch. Reeve watched him and wondered if he'd made a mistake.

 

~*************************************~

 

"Team one, deploy." Sephiroth commanded in a cool voice. The team immediately dropped out of helicopters on parachutes. Sephiroth looked Cloud in the eye, silently bidding him to be careful. "Team two, deploy," he said.

 

Cloud stood up and joined Zack at the hatch, glancing over his shoulder at his lover before diving out. Sephiroth gave him a nod of encouragement, which bolstered his courage. Zack leaped out of the chopper with a wild yell and Cloud followed him. Out the corner of his eye, Cloud spotted Genesis and Angeal diving from the sister chopper, along with several regular Soldiers. The Highwind airship loomed in the distance and fired cannons down at the WEAPONS below. Cloud did his best to follow Zack's trajectory and he saw other choppers to the west. Groups of people were emerging from the Cosmo aircrafts and it looked like they were using hover boards to descend into the fray.

 

"Fair's team, prepare to engage," Sephiroth's voice commanded over the earphones. Cloud bit his lip and waited to open his parachute until he saw Zack do it. Following his lead, he tugged on the pull string but nothing happened.

 

"Shit," Cloud grunted, freefalling helplessly as Zack and the others caught the wind above him. He heard Zack holler his name but there was nothing he could do. He yanked at the tab again with no result. "Fuck!"

 

Luckily, Sephiroth noticed his problem and the General swooped down and caught Cloud under the arms. Cloud heaved a sigh of relief and clung to his lover, grateful for the intervention.

 

"Parachute didn't work," Cloud explained against Sephiroth's chest.

 

"So I noticed," answered the General coolly. His wing caught the wind currents and he slowed the fall, hovering for a moment to allow the rest of the force to catch up.

 

"Cloud, you okay?" Zack shouted as he floated down beside the two of them.

 

"I think I need new underwear," the blond admitted candidly.

 

Zack laughed in a strained way. "Don't crap your pants yet, kiddo! We've got a big fight to get through, still!"

 

"There's still people trapped inside," announced a male voice over the communication system, "We're tryin' to hold 'em off long enough to get to 'em but we need you boys to get in there!"

 

"All forces converge on the Fort," ordered Lazard a moment later. "Protect any civilians you encounter at all costs and escort them to aircrafts. Don't worry about who goes where...we'll sort it out later." Some of the choppers stayed out of the fight and hovered in the distance, ready to take passengers.

 

Frankly, Cloud thought they'd be lucky if they lived for five minutes, let alone managed to get any civilians safely to aircrafts. He could see two gigantic WEAPONS and at least a dozen Alpha's below. It was clear to him that this was a deliberate attack against Fort Condor, orchestrated with the intent to wipe them out. He steeled himself and tried not to be afraid. A high-pitched female voice shouted over the intercom system, startling him.

 

"Let's GO, people! Kick some ass!"

 

Cloud saw the soaring group of Cosmo militia close in on the big WEAPON with fearless tenacity. He guessed that the holler of encouragement came from the petite woman leading the troops and his jaw fell open in admiration as she chucked a huge shuriken right at the beast's head. The WEAPON turned its attention from the Fort to the new threat and it glared at her and prepared to fire. Before it could power its lasers up, Reno's voice shouted over communications.

 

"Let's give it a little kiss, partner!"

 

Rockets fired from one of the black Shinra choppers and they struck the nearest large WEAPON in the head, doing just enough damage to make it stagger on its feet. The Modeoheim helicopters followed up with their own missiles, keeping the creature unbalanced long enough for the melee forces to touch down.

 

Sephiroth landed several feet away from one of the big WEAPONS but before he and Cloud could get their bearings, one of the Alpha's was upon them. They dove away from each other as the creature fired a blast their way the earth exploded at their feet. Sephiroth drew his blade with a little grunt of annoyance and Cloud likewise drew his sword. There was no time to think. He was running on pure instinct and adrenaline as he charged at the nearest threat with his sword drawn. He was vaguely aware of his lover beside him as he hacked and slashed at the WEAPON. He heard Zack shouting from somewhere to his left and he caught sight of his friend battling one of the Alphas.

 

Cloud yelled as he slashed with his sword and he was faintly surprised when he hacked the arm right off of the Alpha WEAPON that had engaged he and Sephiroth. He didn't pause or slow his attacks and together with Sephiroth, he sliced the creature to ribbons. He heard an ominous humming sound and Sephiroth shouted a warning to him. Just in time, he dove and rolled as a beam of white-hot energy struck the ground at his feet.

 

As if the confusion of battle wasn't enough, one of Cloud's fellow Soldiers yelled a curse that gave him pause. "What the fuck is THAT?"

 

Cloud glanced up in time to see what could only be described as a demon swooping down on one of the Alpha WEAPONS. There was something strangely familiar about the red-cloaked being and he stared in awe as it slashed at one of the smaller enemies with its wings alone. To his amazement, the strike did as much damage as Sephiroth's masamune and the Alpha Weapon was literally sliced in half. The demon tilted its head and gazed at its own handiwork with glowing amber eyes before turning to look at the nearest large WEAPON.

 

"He's on our side," Zack panted, coming up beside Cloud and Sephiroth. "Don't worry about him."

 

Easier said than done. The big WEAPON charged its lasers and the demon scowled up at it as if it were a bug. Angeal and Genesis were already diving towards the creature, attempting to engage it before it could fire upon the ground forces. The demon glanced at Cloud and the others.

 

"Get the civilians," advised the demon. "I'll provide a distraction, with the help of the other winged combatants."

 

Sephiroth nodded and joined the demon as he took to the air to engage the big WEAPON. The large creature was already peppered with shots from the choppers and the Cosmo Canyon forces but it seemed determined to blast the ground forces.

 

"You heard him," Zack shouted, motioning to Cloud and the other Soldiers. "Let's get into the Fort and get those people out of there!"

 

~*****************************************~

 

Aerith tried not to worry about Zack and Cloud. She busied herself in the gardens and she quietly hummed to the baby in her womb as she worked.

 

"Don't worry," she murmured to the tiny life growing inside of her. "Daddy's going to come home safely."

 

She wished that she could feel as sure as she sounded. The truth was, she couldn't guarantee Zack's safe return. Every time he went on a mission she felt dread in her bones and she worried that she'd soon hear his voice among the population of spirit voices from the Lifestream. She had to believe, though. She had to trust.

 

Hojo's voice was most unwelcome as it broke through her thoughts. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Fair. I trust you're in good health?"

 

Aerith froze and glanced around. There were no other gardeners nearby. Swallowing against a sudden attack of nausea, she turned to face the scientist and she made herself smile. "I'm okay," she said softly. "How are you today, Professor?"

 

"Much better than before," he said with creepy enthusiasm. He nodded at the guard accompanying him and Aerith was disconcerted by the dead look in the other man's eyes. She took a step backwards as Hojo moved towards her. "And how is the little one today?" he asked, his dark eyes intense behind the squared lenses of his glasses.

 

Aerith instinctively covered her abdomen with one hand in a protective gesture. "Fine, thank you." She didn't want to let Hojo anywhere near her but the scientist didn't relent and she was soon backed up against the planters.

 

"Ahh, that's a good thing," Hojo said with a nod. He cast a look around and reached into his lab coat. "My dear, I think you should come with me for some additional tests. You're at high risk, you see. We want to be sure that baby you're carrying is healthy, don't we?"

 

"I'm sure the doctors would have said something if anything's wrong," Aerith insisted faintly.

 

"Oh, but your doctors don't know what you are," Hojo said in a low voice. "They're treating a human pregnancy. We both know that isn't the case, Mrs. Fair."

 

Aerith's alarm increased and she glared at the man. "Leave me alone. I don't know what you're talking about but I'm not as defenseless as I look."

 

Hojo seemed to take delight in her challenge and he grinned in a macabre way. "No, of course you aren't, my dear. There's no need to get upset. I'm only trying to look out for you and your baby."

 

"I think you should leave," Aerith stated, clenching her hands into fists. "Now." Green flames manifested around her clenched hands and it took a substantial amount of willpower to resist the urge to blast Hojo clear across the room.

 

Hojo glanced at the phenomenon and he smiled faintly. "Such a temper. Very well, young woman. Just remember that standard care isn't good enough for you or your unborn child." Hojo nodded at his guard and took his leave.

 

Aerith didn't release the breath she was holding until the two of them were out of sight. She was trembling and for a horrible moment, she thought that she would be sick. She leaned against the nearest planter and took a few steadying breaths, reminding herself that she was safe as long as she stuck to populated areas until Zack returned. With that in mind, she decided that the gardens were no longer the best sanctuary. There weren't enough people around at this time of the day. She was better off spending her time in the den, where people were constantly coming and going.

 

"Are you feeling okay dear?" Asked Loraine as Aerith started towards the exit. "You look a bit pale."

 

Aerith spared a false smile the older woman's way and nodded. "I'm okay. I think I'm going to go and read a book in the den."

 

"Don't let that spooky man bother you," Loraine said with a nod towards the exit where Hojo had vanished. "If he keeps bothering you, just tell one of the guards."

 

Aerith chuckled, somewhat relieved to hear that Hojo's attentions weren't going un-noticed by others. "I'll keep that in mind."

 

She walked through the exit with the intention of heading for the den but something pricked her in the neck as soon as she stepped into the corridor and she turned alarmed eyes on Hojo, who had been lying in wait for her with his guard.

 

"I'm sorry it had to be this way, my dear," Hojo informed her.

 

Aerith reached inwards with the intention of using her powers against her attackers but Hojo quickly pricked her with the needle. A warm rush spread from her neck to the rest of her body and she began to collapse as her strength failed her. Paralyzed, she was helpless to resist as the Soldier lifted her into his arms and carried her, following behind Hojo with zombie-like devotion. They passed people on the way and whenever anyone looked curious, Hojo played it off like she'd simply suffered a fainting spell. Since he had a Soldier guarding him, nobody tried to stop him and Aerith couldn't speak to call for help.

 

~Mother...help me!~

 

~*************************************~

 

"It's okay," Zack soothed the frightened survivors as he and his group finished clearing away the rubble. "We're here to rescue you! Everybody follow us out, okay? We've got air transport waiting."

 

Cloud put his arm around an elderly woman and some of his fellow Soldiers helped gather children while Zack directed the rescue operation. Explosions from outside made the floor shake and caused fissures to grow in the rocky ceiling. People cried out in fear and it was all the operatives could do to maintain order and keep them moving steadily. Zack was a bastion of calm in a sea of human fear, reassuring the terrified civilians with kind, steady encouragement. Cloud admired his ability to be so patient with them and he understood why Zack was chosen to lead the rescue team. The man simply had a gift for gaining people's trust and they listened to him and evacuated the tunnels with greater efficiency than they probably would have under someone else's instructions.

 

"Dear, you're bleeding!"

 

Cloud paused as the woman he was helping reached up with a shaking, gnarled hand and touched his forehead. For the first time, he realized there was warm blood dripping down his face. He hadn't even been aware of the scalp wound and he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

 

"I'm okay. It's just a scratch."

 

Something large and heavy crashed into the ground outside and Cloud held the woman tighter and fought for balance as the earth shook beneath his feet. Zack cast a worried look over his shoulder as more rocks broke free.

 

"We've got to move faster," hollered Zack. "Come on folks, don't panic but don't be afraid to run, either! These tunnels aren't going to hold forever."

 

His words prompted the survivors to move at a faster pace. As he half-carried the old woman with him, Cloud wondered if Tifa was involved in the firefight going on outside. He guessed that she was safely staying behind at Cosmo Canyon but he had no way to confirm that and it made him worry. The voices breaking through over the communication transmission distracted him from his concerns.

 

"We got one of the bigguns down," announced the gruff, accented male voice from earlier. "What's going on with the rescue operation?"

 

Zack pulled his mic to his mouth and pushed the button as he walked alongside the line of evacuees. "We're coming out with about thirty survivors," he said, coughing a little as he inhaled some dust. "You guys just make sure those choppers are ready to take them away!"

 

"Roger that," answered Reno's voice. "We're keeping 'em busy for ya, Patchy. They ain't worried about who comes and goes from the Fort, right now. I don't know who the fuck that bat-winged freak is but he's tearing a few new assholes, yo."

 

Cloud looked up at Zack as the taller man fell into step beside him. "By the way, who is that 'bat-winged freak'? Any idea?"

 

"Chaos," answered Zack. "I've seen him in action before. I guess you could say he's Vincent."

 

Cloud almost stopped in his tracks. "So that's what Chaos looks like."

 

"Don't worry about it right now, kiddo," Zack advised, "just keep your eye on the mission and watch your butt."

 

Tseng's voice spoke over the communications. "Yuffie, move your team out of the way. We're about to fire on the target."

 

"Got it," answered the high-pitched female voice. Cloud finally had a name to go with the petite ninja girl.

 

They made it to the surface just as the Turks unleashed a mighty volley of missiles on the remaining big WEAPON. A more impressive explosion came from the hovering airship commanded by Cid Highwind and civilians screamed in alarm as the streaking projectiles struck the staggering WEAPON.

 

"Don't stop," Zack shouted at the evacuees. "Keep moving! Head for those choppers over there, people!" He drew his sword and whistled to his comrades as a couple of nearby alpha weapons spotted the group and started towards them.

 

Cloud urged the old woman he was supporting toward one of the civilian men and told him to keep moving as he drew his weapon. He ran towards the threat with Zack and the other Soldiers in their group followed, attacking the creatures to keep them away from the civilians. He dove and rolled, coming up behind one of the Alphas as it went for Zack. The one-eyed Soldier stabbed his sword through the WEAPON's eye-socket while Cloud swept its feet out from under it.

 

"Good work, kid!" Zack complimented in a shout.

 

Cloud didn't allow himself a moment of pride. He saw Sephiroth slicing another Alpha in half several feet away and he stayed focused on keeping the enemy from reaching any of the fleeing civilians. Overhead, Chaos held one of the creatures in his arms and Cloud looked up in time to see the demon rip its throat out with his teeth. He had time to marvel at the sheer power of Vincent's alter-ego before he heard Genesis shout a warning at him.

 

"Duck, Strife!"

 

Cloud unquestioningly threw himself flat and a barrage of flaming darts streaked over his head to strike the chest of another Alpha that tried to attack him in his moment of vulnerability. It rocked backwards under the assault and Cloud leapt to the attack, his blade flashing in the sunlight as he struck the creature. Genesis landed beside him and joined in, helping him bring it down faster.

 

"How many are left?" Cloud gasped when the WEAPON fell. The bigger one went down in the distance and the crash of its body made the ground buckle under his feet.

 

"We've practically cleaned them up," answered Genesis, glancing around with narrowed eyes. "There have been losses, but it could have been a lot worse."

 

Cloud was faintly surprised. He really hadn't expected the battle to go in their favor, given how difficult it was to take down just one large WEAPON. Strength in numbers clearly made a difference. He saw Sephiroth help Angeal finish off another smaller WEAPON and to the north, Yuffie's group took down two more. The civilians made it safely to the waiting choppers and the fighting teams finished off the last of the enemy and re-boarded their air transport, collecting the wounded and dying as they went. The primary goal was to get the Condor residents safely to the other forts, so no attempts were made to collect samples from the vanquished WEAPONS.

 

~*************************************~

 

It was early evening by the time they touched down in Cosmo Canyon and started sorting out who would go where. Cid and Barret had loaded a lot of the population onto the Highwind before things got really hairy and there were a lot more civilians to care for than first suspected. Rufus and Lazard reluctantly had heads together over it while the military saw to caring for the wounded and getting people fed.

 

Cloud stepped out of the chopper and he watched as Tifa ran into the hangar. She started toward Reno but she saw him and made a beeline his way, instead. Cloud almost laughed at the sour look Reno gave him as the barmaid hugged him.

 

"I was listening to the whole thing," Tifa informed Cloud as she embraced him. "It must have been terrifying!"

 

"Honestly, I was too busy fighting to be afraid for long," admitted Cloud. "I barely had the chance to think." He smirked at Reno and nudged her. "Uh, you might want to let your boyfriend know you're happy he's okay."

 

Tifa glanced over her shoulder at Reno and hurried to him immediately. Cloud fought a grin as the Turk gave him a jealous look before embracing the brunette. Obviously, the fact that Cloud was completely gay didn't stop Reno from feeling competitive. His amusement lasted until a tall, dark form crossed his path. He looked up...and up...into the glowing yellow gaze of Chaos.

 

"Uh...do you need something?" Cloud asked uncomfortably as the demon studied him. Zack was busy taking care of the civilians so there was no help from him. Angeal and Genesis were speaking with the medics and the other Soldiers were likewise absorbed with duties. Another tall form approached to his left and he was immediately thankful for Sephiroth's presence.

 

"You have our thanks," Sephiroth told the demon cordially. "If you're looking for sustenance, I'm afraid this isn't the right place."

 

Chaos gave Sephiroth a bored look. "You needn't worry, General. I've a better meal than your blond morsel." He turned his gaze away from the two of them and settled it on Reeve, who had just exited one of the choppers and was approaching.

 

Cloud looked at Reeve with a little frown and he noticed the way the older man's eyes locked with Chaos's in silent communication. A shiver passed through him as he began to realize the implications. He didn't know exactly what was going on but he suspected that Reeve was going to pay for Chaos's help in the fight, in ways he could scarcely imagine. The demon's gaze on the engineer was decidedly possessive.

 

"Well done," Reeve said as he approached. His compliment was obviously directed as much at Chaos as Cloud and Sephiroth. "We only suffered a handful of casualties and no loss of equipment. The battle could have taken a much larger toll."

 

Chaos inclined his spiked head. "I'll collect my fee when we have some privacy, Reeve."

 

Reeve paled a little but he nodded in agreement. While Cloud looked between the two of them and tried to figure out just what this "fee" was, Chaos seemed to shrink before his eyes. Within moments, Vincent Valentine stood in the demon's place and he staggered a little as the demonic essence faded from his body. Sephiroth nodded respectfully at him as if he'd seen the phenomenon before.

 

Lazard and Rufus argued over who would be going where until Reeve suggested they let Captain Highwind and Commander Wallace decide. Cloud was stricken by how alike in looks the President and the Director were and he remembered hearing that the two of them were half-brothers. Evidently, the rumors concerning their disdain for one another weren't exaggerated. Both men looked like they wanted nothing more than to punch one another but they managed to fight the urge long enough to get things sorted out.

 

~***********************************~

 

Cid and his wife stayed in Cosmo Canyon with half of the Condor residents, while Barret and his adopted daughter Marlene went with the other half to Modeoheim. Cloud said his goodbyes to Tifa and once again, the two of them were parted. He felt a little better about it this time, since he'd gotten the chance to see Cosmo Canyon himself. He slept through the trip back and they arrived in Modeoheim in the black hours of the morning. Sephiroth shook him awake when they landed and he yawned and stretched as he waited to exit the craft.

 

Zack was in a rush to reunite with Aerith and he was one of the first people off of the chopper. He hurried out of the hangar while the other passengers were still getting out. Reeve and Lazard began the task of taking names and getting new residents settled in. Cloud and Sephiroth were about to go to the kitchen for something to eat when one of the guards approached from the hangar entrance. He went straight to Sephiroth with a grim expression on his face and the General stopped in his tracks to listen to what he had to say.

 

"General sir, we have a problem."

 

"Go on," encouraged Sephiroth.

 

"Professor Hojo's gone missing, along with the operative that you assigned to guard him."

 

Sephiroth raised a brow. "How long has he been missing?"

 

"We're not certain," answered the trooper nervously. "The last time anyone can remember seeing him was yesterday afternoon, so our best estimate is around twelve hours."

 

"Are any of his equipment or medications missing?"

 

The guard shook his head. "No Sir, it's all accounted for."

 

"Keep searching," Sephiroth ordered. He motioned his fellow officers over as the trooper saluted him and left to comply with his orders. "Hojo is missing," Sephiroth informed as Angeal and Genesis walked over to him.

 

"Missing?" Angeal repeated with a frown.

 

"Yes...apparently since yesterday, sometime after we left on the mission. His equipment hasn't gone missing with him but we still need him found."

 

"I'd be just as pleased if he stayed lost," Genesis grumbled, "but I suppose we can't have him sneaking around on his own. I'll check the ruins and the bathhouse."

 

"I'll scout the perimeter outside," offered Angeal.

 

"Good," agreed Sephiroth. "Cloud, search inside the fort. I'm going to speak with Reeve about searching his data files."

 

They split up and Sephiroth approached the engineer and pulled him aside from his task. "Hojo has gone missing," he explained to the older man in a low voice. "Which means he must be up to something. I need you to search for any hidden data files that we may have missed in our last investigation. Scan deep and I especially want you to search for any information concerning Cloud Strife."

 

Reeve looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Don't misunderstand me, Cloud's a good fighter," he said, "but I fail to see what Hojo would want with him."

 

"Possibly nothing," Sephiroth concurred, "but he showed entirely too much interest in him and my instincts warn me that he may have done more than treat him for his lung infection. I want it ruled out, Reeve."

 

Vincent overheard and he came up beside the engineer and gave him a grim look. "Hojo also showed an abundant interest in Lieutenant Fair's wife. I caught him trying to drag her away to the medical wing the night the WEAPON came around. Don't put anything past him, Reeve."

 

Reeve nodded and sighed. "I see your point. I'll get his laptop now and start scanning it."

 

~*********************************~

 

"Cloud, have you seen Aerith around at all?" Zack jogged over to his friend as he spotted him in the corridor leading from the gardens.

 

Cloud shook his head. "No. She's not in bed?"

 

Zack shook his head and his anxiety increased. "I've looked everywhere. I even had one of the lady MP's check the bathrooms for her."

 

"What about the bathhouse?" Cloud suggested with a worried look.

 

"Already checked there," Zack told him. "I've turned this place inside out trying to find her!"

 

"Damn it," Cloud gritted out. "I don't like this. Hojo's missing, too."

 

Zack felt a ball of lead form in his stomach at the horrible implications. He knew the Professor was too curious about Aerith. "How long has he been missing?" Zack asked through stiff lips.

 

"Since sometime yesterday afternoon," answered Cloud.

 

Zack felt a tremor of fear shake him. He didn't want to believe it but all evidence was pointing to a link. One of the gardeners even told him Hojo had visited Aerith for a few minutes yesterday, but since he had a guard with him nobody thought much of it.

 

"Come on, let's keep looking," Zack said anxiously.

 

~***********************************~

 

"Have you found anything significant yet?"

 

Reeve glanced up from the laptop briefly and shook his head. "Nothing we don't already know. I've found most of his old records on the Jenova project and the Cetra but nothing that helps us...right...now..." He trailed off and his eyes widened on the screen as he gained access to one of the locked subfolders under the Jenova project and opened it.

 

"What is it?" Vincent queried, tensing in his seat.

 

Reeve gave a low whistle. "Well, I'll be goddamned. I've found something, but it isn't about Cloud or Aerith. "

 

"Well?" Vincent prompted with a frown.

 

Reeve looked up from the laptop and turned it around on the work desk to show Vincent the file he'd opened. "Confirmation of rumors concerning Sephiroth's parentage. I always suspected that Hojo wasn't his biological father but I wasn't quite expecting this."

 

Vincent sat frozen and Reeve had the feeling he suspected what he'd see if he looked at the monitor. "Congratulations, Vincent. It's a boy."

 

The gunman narrowed crimson eyes on the screen and read his own name on document. Hojo had covered it up for all this time but the man was too arrogant to destroy all evidence of what he'd done to his rival. It was easy to imagine him taking perverse delight in looking at the paternity test now and then, knowing that he'd taken Vincent's son away from him along with his humanity.

 

"I've always...wondered," Vincent admitted in a low, tense voice. His golden claw grasped the edge of the desk and wood splintered under the force of his grip. "I've always called him 'Lucrecia's child' but I never dared pretend he was mine, as well."

 

Reeve was suddenly aware that he might have made a big mistake, showing the information to Vincent at such a time. When the gunman stood up and abruptly turned away, Reeve shut the laptop and stood up as well.

 

"Vincent, where are you going?"

 

"To find him," came the ominous response. "He's lived too long."

 

~******************************~

 

"Where the hell could they be?" Zack growled, at the end of his patience. He saw Vincent and Reeve walking into the den and he looked at them anxiously. "Have you guys seen Aerith?"

 

"No," answered Vincent, "but I can almost guarantee that you'll find her if you find Hojo." His ruby eyes were blazing and his pale features were set and cold. People moved away from him warily and Reeve looked very concerned as he watched him.

 

"We've searched everywhere," Cloud informed them with a frustrated sigh.

 

"Then Hojo has some secret nook somewhere that we don't know about," reasoned the engineer with a frown.

 

A woman was reading a children's book to her son nearby and Zack found it distracting. He hoped to read to his own kid some day and his heart twisted at the thought of something happening to Aerith and the baby before he could get to them. The book had something to do with butterflies and Zack listened with half an ear as the mother read about how a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.

 

"I wasn't able to find any helpful information in his files," Reeve was saying. "At least, not concerning where he might be or what he's up to."

 

Vincent gave a meaningful shake of his head before the engineer could say more and Reeve lapsed into silence. Zack found the exchange a bit odd but his thoughts were becoming frantic and scattered.

 

"...And then the cocoon breaks open and the metamorphosis is finished," the mother explained to her son. "And that's how butterflies are born."

 

Cloud suddenly stiffened as if struck over the head and Zack frowned at him as he began to walk purposely out of the den and to the corridor leading deeper into the colony. Zack exchanged confused looks with Reeve and Vincent before following after his friend, calling out to him.

 

"What's up, Cloud? Did you just have an epiphany or something?"

 

Cloud didn't answer. He kept walking and he stared straight ahead. His behavior was a little scary, actually. Reeve fell into step beside him and passed a hand over his eyes suspiciously. Cloud neither blinked nor shifted his gaze.

 

"What's going on, buddy?" Zack demanded, laying a concerned hand on the blond's shoulder. "Talk to me!"

 

He might as well have been a breeze against Cloud's skin for all the reaction he got. Zack felt the urge to laugh hysterically as his stress and confusion reached painful heights. His girl was missing and his friend was acting like a zombie. It then occurred to Zack where Cloud's steady footsteps were taking them.

 

"Is it just me or is he heading toward the medical wing?" Zack muttered to the two other men accompanying them.

 

"It's not just you," Reeve confirmed. "I think Mr. Strife has been triggered."

 

"Triggered? You mean like in one of those stories where they make sleeper agents?" Zack almost scoffed at the notion but considering the things Hojo proved capable of doing in the past, the idea wasn't so ludicrous.

 

"Yes," Vincent murmured. "I suspect in Strife's case, he's suppressed his conscious mind so that he doesn't remember what happens to him while he's under the influence of the suggestion."

 

Zack shivered and gave the blond a helpless look. "Shit...so there's no telling what Hojo's been doing to him right under our noses...or what he might be doing to Aerith right now!"

 

"But what set him off?" Reeve wondered. "One of us must have said or done something to trigger it."

 

"We can investigate that later," Vincent said. "He's probably going to lead us to Hojo."

 

~**************************************~

 

"I must say, I've underestimated you as a specimen," Hojo said with bemusement as he tried again to get past the mystical barrier Aerith had erected around herself.

 

The paralyzing quality of the injection he'd given her kept her from fighting him at first and he ran several tests before giving her another shot. When he pulled her blouse up and started drawing dotted lines on her torso, he told her dispassionately that he was going to have to vivisect her to study her further.

 

That was when Aerith's desperation allowed her to draw on hidden reserves of strength and form the protective shield. She didn't know how long she could keep it up and Hojo waited with macabre patience, chatting with her as if everything was normal.

 

"I can't say I blame you for objecting to what I plan to do," Hojo told her as he checked his watch. "Vivisection is never pleasant business...particularly for the recipient. Still, I can wait. Your little barrier can't hold forever, my dear."

 

He was right. She could already feel it weakening. Soon she was going to suffer a painful death and Zack would never even know what happened to her and their child. A tear trickled out the corner of her eye and Aerith put all of her effort into calling out to her husband with her mental voice.

 

~Zack!~

 

~************************************~

 

Zack stood stock-still and tilted his head to one side, frowning fiercely. "Aerith?" he whispered.

 

Vincent kept following Cloud and Reeve paused to regard Zack with concern. "Don't tell me you've got a trigger too," sighed the engineer.

 

Zack shook his head to clear it. "No, it isn't that. For a minute, I thought I heard my wife."

 

Reeve looked around suspiciously. "I didn't hear anything."

 

Zack resumed following Cloud, now feeling a strong sense of "Aerith" up ahead. He couldn't explain it but he was sure his wife had just shouted for help in his mind and Cloud was heading straight towards where Zack felt her presence. Cloud led them into the corridor leading to the supply rooms. He stopped outside the back one and stood there wordlessly. Reeve and Vincent exchanged a look and the engineer pulled his keycard out of his pocket and swiped it.

 

Once the door was open, Cloud walked into the room and his companions followed, paying close attention to him. He stopped near the back corner of the room and stood motionless, facing the wall. Zack and the others examined the wall, pushing aside storage units to get a clear view. Vincent ran his human hand over the surface of the wall with a frown and he eventually found a seam in it.

 

"I'm hardly surprised," Vincent murmured as he depressed the spot and revealed an access panel. He motioned Reeve over and nothing happened when the engineer tried his keycard. "You'll have to crack the code on this one. There's a panel door over here and it won't open without the proper input."

 

"How the hell did he manage to make a secret room without anybody finding out?" Zack pondered in amazement.

 

Vincent gazed evenly at him. "The same way he constructed his hidden laboratory under the ShinRa mansion, I presume. He enlisted some aid and it's unlikely that they're even aware they've been helping him. I've seen it all before."

 

"So you're saying Hojo's got his own force of sleeper agents wandering around?" Zack scratched his head. "Even the MP's Seph assigned to guard him?"

 

"Probably," said Vincent. "He may not have succeeded in implanting suggestions in all of them but he's obviously managed to hypnotize enough people to conduct his business undetected. Sephiroth was right to be so vigilant of him."

 

Reeve worked as quickly as he could, his fingertips flying over the keypad while Vincent and Zack waited.

 

"What about Cloud?" Zack asked with a worried frown at his oblivious friend. "He's just standing there like he's stoned. Will he snap out of this?"

 

"Not right away, unless we discover the trigger word Hojo implanted," answered Vincent. "We'll have to leave him here."

 

"Ah-ha!" Reeve said, snapping his fingers as the control panel beeped and a section of the wall slid open.

 

~************************************~

 

Aerith struggled to keep her protective barrier maintained but it was a losing battle. Hojo grinned in triumph when the blue-green bubble of energy encasing her began to flicker and fade and he picked up his scalpel and started probing the weakening cocoon. Aerith tried to move but her limbs were still paralyzed. The most she could do was blink and part her lips to moan in fear. The scalpel hovered over her stomach and she silently prayed for help.

 

There was a crash against the door leading to the stepladder outside and Hojo paused and shot an annoyed look over his shoulder at the distraction. Zack's shouts could be heard on the other side, calling Aerith's name.

 

"I don't know how that simpleton found my lab, but he won't stop me from finishing my work," Hojo said in a madly determined voice. His eyes were utterly soulless as he looked down at the Cetra lying on his table. "I need to learn the secret. Need to open you up and find out what gives you those powers, dear girl. This time, I'll succeed!"

 

It was obvious that sanity had completely deserted him and even if she were able to speak, she'd never be able to reason with him. Zack was throwing himself bodily against the heavy door, trying to break it down. It shuddered on its hinges but held as Hojo began to cut Aerith's pale skin, drawing blood and a whimper from her.

 

~******************************************~

 

"Stand aside," Vincent ordered as he drew his gun.

 

Zack hesitated but when he saw the formidable weapon being aimed at the iron doorknob, he complied. Cerberus fired three rounds and broke the lock. Zack kicked the door in and immediately charged when he saw Hojo hovering over his wife. He slammed into the lanky professor with enough force to send them both crashing to the floor. The scalpel flew from Hojo's hand and Zack grabbed a handful of his lab coat and started laying into him with his fist. Hojo began to laugh. The ugly, mad sound only infuriated Zack more and he fully intended to put his fist right through the man's skull, but a moan from Aerith gave him immediate pause and he got off of Hojo and went to her side.

 

"Aerith? Sweetheart?" Zack saw the single, long cut in her abdomen and he placed his palm over it and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. "Talk to me!"

 

Reeve and Vincent entered the room and while the engineer got on his satellite phone to call for security, Vincent approached the giggling heap of Hojo. The gunman reached down with his golden claw and lifted Hojo by the throat as if he were a flimsy rag doll. The professor struggled weakly in his grip, wrapping both his hands around Vincent's metallic wrist.

 

"Vincent," Reeve said, "Let security handle him."

 

"He's mine," Vincent growled, his eyes briefly flashing amber.

 

"I...made you...a god!" Hojo choked with a ghastly, bloodstained smile.

 

"Vincent," Reeve warned again, but the gunman paid him no attention.

 

"You made me a monster," Vincent corrected. "You killed Lucrecia and experimented on our son. Rot in hell."

 

The horrible, mad smile never faded from Hojo's lips even as Vincent's claw constricted around his throat and crushed his windpipe with a sickening crunch. Zack held Aerith tightly against his chest, hiding her eyes from the sight. Reeve looked away with a shaken grimace and Vincent stared into Hojo's eyes and watched the life fade from them.

 

~**********************************~

 

Sephiroth got the call that they'd found Hojo and with a handful of MP's joining him, he followed Reeve's instructions to the hidden entrance in the supply room. He found Cloud standing by the entrance and when the blond didn't respond to his questions or touch, he ordered two of his men to take him to be examined by a doctor. When they made it into the secret room and saw the twisted body lying at Vincent's feet, it was obvious what had happened. The MP's shouted for Vincent to put his hands up as they drew their guns on him, but Sephiroth ordered them to stand down.

 

"B-but General...he killed your father!" one of the MP's argued.

 

Sephiroth stared at the corpse with detached interest. "I'm all broken up about it," he said flatly. He looked around at the lab before glancing at Aerith, who lay limply in Zack's arms on the table. "No charges will be pressed against Mr. Valentine. Hojo attempted to murder Lieutenant Fair's wife. Given his record of crimes in the past, I'd say justice was served here today."

 

He went to the refrigerator compartment and opened it, his lips pressed together in a grim line. He was unsurprised to find a supply of Mako, vials of Jenova Cells and several illegal medications inside. "I want a science team brought in here to conduct an extensive investigation," Sephiroth announced. "Have Mrs. Fair treated and examined. Mr. Tuesti, Mr. Valentine, I want a detailed account of what happened in here and I want to know exactly what Hojo did to put Cloud Strife in his current condition."

 

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Reeve told him unhappily. "Apparently Hojo's been using a method of hypnosis to implant subliminal suggestions in people's minds. Cloud was one of them and there's no telling how many staff and military personnel he got to. If we can find the trigger words we can reverse the hypnosis."

 

"He has to have documented all of this somewhere," Sephiroth insisted, somewhat relieved to hear that Cloud's odd behavior wasn't a medical problem. That still left the question open as to what Hojo did to him while he had him under his control. "Hojo wouldn't have risked forgetting his own codes. Go through his data files and hard files. Search everywhere he's touched."

 

He studied the corpse once more. "Have this mess cleaned up."

 

"Shouldn't we run an autopsy?" One of the MP's suggested.

 

Sephiroth raised a silvery brow and shot an exasperated look at the ruined mess that was Hojo's throat. "I think the cause of death is fairly obvious. Get to work."

 

The trooper saluted him, blushing with embarrassment.

 

Sephiroth looked at Zack's worried face and he came up beside him and gazed at the young woman in his arms. He saw the syringe sitting on the tray nearby and he recognized the vial of medication sitting beside it. "It wears off within a few hours," Sephiroth assured Zack. "Trust me...I speak from experience."

 

Zack nodded and checked the bandage he'd hastily taped over Aerith's stomach and then he lifted her into his arms and walked toward the exit. Sephiroth joined him and helped him get her up the ladder. They brought Aerith into the medical ward and Dr. White examined her right away, assuring Zack that her injury was superficial and the baby was fine.

 

Sephiroth entered the examination room where they'd taken Cloud and he approached his lover silently. Cloud lay on the examination table with a blank expression on his fair face. Sephiroth stroked his golden hair out of his eyes before turning away. He didn't see Vincent come into the room and he slammed his fist into the wall, creating a fissure in the stone from the brute force of his blow.

 

"It is temporary," Vincent's low voice assured him. "Even if we don't find the trigger word right away, the daze will eventually wear off."

 

"If we don't discover the code, this could happen again," Sephiroth answered. "He could be in the middle of battle and the wrong word will render him helpless."

 

"Then keep him off of the field until we've found the information we need to reverse it," suggested Vincent. "As you said, Hojo is bound to have documented each case. It's only a matter of finding where he's hidden the information and we'll likely find it in his secret lab."

 

Sephiroth looked at the other man, regretting having made a scene in front of him. "I should have killed Hojo long ago."

 

Vincent shook his head. "The blame lies with me, not you." He walked out of the room then, leaving Sephiroth to his thoughts and concerns.

 

Sephiroth looked at his oblivious lover again and thought of how this could have been avoided if he'd just listened to his instincts as soon as he became suspicious of Hojo's intentions. It didn't matter that there hadn't been any incriminating evidence. A lack of evidence when it came to Hojo didn't mean a damned thing and he knew it.

 

~**************************************~

 

"Did you tell him?"

 

Vincent regarded Reeve silently for a moment before shaking his head negatively.

 

"Why not?" Persisted the engineer. "I think it would lift quite a burden off of his shoulders to find out you're his real father, instead of Hojo."

 

"I think there've been enough shock revelations for today," Vincent explained with a sigh, taking a seat on the other side of his lover's desk. "When things have settled down, I'll consider it."

 

"Good point," admitted Reeve, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He saw Vincent's eyes change colors from red to amber for a moment and he laced his fingers together on top of the desk. "Chaos wants his payment, I suppose."

 

"Yes," Vincent agreed, "but you need your rest, first. He can wait."

 

~******************************************~

 

-To be continued