Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 19

"Ashen Skies"

Chapter 19

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Warnings:

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*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.*

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Cosmo Canyon, the next day:

 

"President, I've had words with Tuesti and I think I can make use of the parts we salvaged from the Alpha WEAPONS in the Fort Condor mission."

 

Rufus stopped talking to Tseng in mid-sentence and looked up from the meeting table at Scarlet, giving her a displeased look. "And this information couldn't wait until after we've finished this meeting?" The woman had just barged in un-announced. Not only had she been late for the scheduled meeting but she'd chosen to interrupt the conversation once it began.

 

Scarlet's ruby tinted lips curved into the conniving smile he was so familiar with. "It could have, but I know you like to hear about every edge we can get in this war, Rufus."

 

Tseng busied himself with the reports sitting before him and Cid raised his eyebrows at the blonde before shooting a look at Rufus. "Sounds like you're having some trouble keeping your woman in line, Shinra."

 

Rufus clenched his jaw and begged unseen gods for patience. "I suppose there's nothing more to discuss today. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for participating." It was a clear but polite dismissal and the Turk, military and science representatives got up and took their leave. Cid opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more before heading out the door but the warning glare Rufus gave him was evidently enough to quell the urge.

 

When they were gone and he was alone in the room with Scarlet, Rufus locked the door and turned to face her. "That was both foolish and crass of you. A display of disrespect like that deserves something unpleasant, I think."

 

Scarlet stepped closer, squaring her shoulders and deliberately thrusting her breasts out. "And I suppose you think you're the man to conduct this 'unpleasantness' on me, Rufus?"

 

His eyes briefly strayed to the pale, delectable cleavage displayed for his benefit and he backed her up against the wall, planting his hands against the surface of it on either side of her head. He nodded, staring her coldly in the eye. "I know how to deal with whores."

 

Scarlet's palm swung out and slapped him across the face, hard enough to whip it to the side. Rufus worked his jaw and briefly wondered if she'd knocked a tooth loose before turning his glare back on her again. Her eyes glittered in challenge and he returned her slap, making her reel. Not one to be outdone, Scarlet recovered quickly and pounced on him, shoving him against the table. He winced as the spiked heel of one of her shoes dug into his foot but he hardly got the chance to respond to her attack before she grabbed hold of his tie. She yanked on it, cutting off his oxygen. He raised his hands to shove her but instead he gripped her arms as her soft lips met his in a brutal kiss.

 

The argument turned into an abrupt session of sex on the table. It was none to gentle and neither participant gave the other any quarter. An onlooker probably would have described it more as mutual mauling than lovemaking and by the time they were finished with each other, Rufus was sporting three long scratches on the right side of his face.

 

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

 

"Holy shit, Boss man. You been wrestling a mountain lion or something?"

 

Rufus spared a glance at Reno as he selected his dinner. A cough tickled in his chest and he quickly covered his mouth with his hand and turned away to let it out. "Something like that," he answered after recovering.

 

Reno gave him a sly look. "There's gotta be plenty of ladies you could pick that won't tear you up like that, yo."

 

"I'm satisfied with the arrangement I have now," Rufus assured him, even as the scratches on his cheek stung.

 

Reno shrugged and cast a look around the cafeteria for his own lady. Spotting Tifa sitting at one of the tables with Shera Highwind, he grinned. Maybe he didn't have a right to talk, since one of the things that turned him on about Tifa was the fact that she might be able to kick his ass in a fight. He saw Rude come in and he nodded to him, noticing that the bald man had a companion with him for dinner. It was one of the members of Avalanche. Jessie was her name, if Reno remembered right. She was a pretty little thing, if a bit tomboyish. He didn't know if Rude had something going on with her or if they were just eating together, but he planned to find out.

 

Reno finished grabbing his food and he went to Tifa's table and took a seat. He briefly reached under the table and gave her knee a squeeze before he started eating and she returned the gesture with a quiet smile. When Rude and Jessie finished selecting their meal, Reno waved to him and motioned him over invitingly.

 

"Come sit with us, partner. Plenty of room, here."

 

Rude nodded and went to join him, with Jessie following. They talked about everything that had happened and Jessie started getting teary-eyed when the subject turned to her companion that was still unconscious from his injuries. Rude silently reached into his blazer and retrieved a handkerchief, offering it to the girl.

 

"I'm sorry," Jessie apologized as she took the offering and wiped at her eyes. "It comes and goes. We...we lost a lot of people in the attack and I'm worried about Biggs."

 

"Don't apologize," Tifa soothed. "You've been through a lot and you've got every right to worry about your friend. I'm sure he'll pull through okay."

 

Jessie gave her a grateful look and hesitated in the act of handing the used handkerchief back to its owner.

 

"Keep it," Rude offered gruffly. "You might need it later."

 

Reno shot a grin at his partner, guessing it wasn't just charity that motivated him. Knowing he could only get himself in trouble if he said anything about it aloud, he glanced across the room at Rufus and sobered when he noticed him coughing again.

 

"I think the pres is coming down with something," Reno muttered with a nod Rufus's way. "He's been coughing a lot this week, yo."

 

Rude frowned and looked through his shades at the president as well. "Could be hay fever."

 

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

Later the same day:

 

After taking off and seeing to it that the new refugees were fed and given medical attention, Zack began to ask polite questions of their leader.

 

"So how did you manage to survive so long in Midgar, without any WEAPONS coming to finish you off?"

 

Shalua regarded Zack silently for a moment, her good eye narrowed thoughtfully on him. Finally, she seemed to decide that he was trustworthy enough for her to answer the question. "You've seen Midgar. The WEAPONS rarely patrol there any longer. However limited their intelligence is, they appear to have enough logical facilities to write off Midgar as an inhabitable place, for the most part."

 

"But they do come sniffing around now and then?"

 

She nodded and glanced at her sister, assuring herself that she was sleeping peacefully. "Yes, but we keep an eye out for them and we go underground when they get too close. Much as I hate to use it, the Deepground facility in Sector Zero provides a good hiding shelter when we've got a risky situation."

 

Zack and Cloud nodded and the latter regarded Denzel with curious blue eyes. "What were you doing out by yourself, when we found you? Were you lost?"

 

"No," answered the boy with a shake of his head. "I know Midgar pretty well. I grew up there. I was out hunting."

 

Cloud exchanged a puzzled look with Zack. "Hunting what?"

 

Denzel shrugged and glanced at the girl near Shalua, whose name was Shelke. "Sometimes I can find these turtle creatures in the sewers but they aren't always around. Most of the time I can only get rats."

 

Zack made a face and Cloud bit his lip. "Rats?" repeated the blond. "That…isn't a very healthy diet."

 

"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard," Zack agreed tactlessly. He unbuckled his safety belt hastily and started to get up. "I'm going to go and get you more sandwiches, kid."

 

Denzel shook his head, smiling a little. "I'm okay, sir. Seriously, I can't eat another bite."

 

"But, you've only had rats and turtles and gutter water—"

 

"Zack, I don't think his stomach can handle too much food at once, right now," Cloud guessed, smiling at his friend. "Doesn't sound like he's used to getting more than a meal a day."

 

Shalua nodded, her expression softening a bit on the dark-haired Soldier. "I know you mean well but give the food time to settle, Lieutenant Fair. As your companion said, we've been living off bare minimums for a while now. The food you've already given us was the best meal we've had since this all started."

 

"You never tried to go out and get something…er…cleaner for the kids to eat?" Zack queried. He was trying to be polite but he couldn't help but blame her for not taking better care of her charges. She was obviously the most able-bodied adult in the group, despite her prosthetics and the vision handicap he could identify with so well.

 

"I did what I could," she said firmly, pressing her lips together. "Going far from the city alone wasn't an option—not when I had sick people and children depending on me."

 

"Shalua had her hands full," Denzel defended, "she couldn't do it all by herself so I volunteered to help hunt for food. You don't know what it's been like! She lost her arm and a bunch of in…internal organs trying to fight off Deepground and hey, maybe if you were starving, rats wouldn't look like such a bad meal!"

 

"Denzel, that's enough," Shalua said softly, giving him a fond but warning look. "They don't know our situation."

 

"It's okay," Zack soothed, feeling like a complete tool. "I deserved that. I'm sorry. I really don't know what it's been like for you guys. Compared to how you've been living, we've had it easy."

 

Denzel calmed down and had the grace to look a little ashamed of his outburst. "That's all right. I'm just kind of tired, is all."

 

"Why don't you try to get some rest?" suggested Cloud sympathetically, "it's going to be a while before we reach Modeoheim and you've been through a lot."

 

Denzel nodded and tried to relax in his seat. Cloud got out of his and solicitously showed him how to recline it. When the boy was settled, Cloud reached into the overhead compartment for the small pillow and blanket that was stashed there. While he tucked Denzel in as best he could, Zack got up and helped Shalua do the same with her sister. Shalua gave them both a warily grateful look as she shut her eyes and sought her rest as well.

 

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

 

Unfortunately, the sickly man amongst the refugee group died en route to Modeoheim of liver failure. His body simply couldn't hold up under the strain and the medical team could do nothing for him except ease his suffering as he passed. Lazard had more questions once they got settled in at Modeoheim and he ordered a meeting between himself and Shalua. Shelke was taken to a holding cell for observation despite Shalua's protests, but Zack assured her she'd be safe and she could see her whenever she wanted.

 

"It's just for security," he told her, "and you can give her the Mako infusions she needs yourself, if you don't trust anyone else to do it. Right now, you need to talk to Director Lazard. The sooner you can get things cleared up with him, the better off everyone's going to be."

 

"I'm going with her," Denzel said stubbornly.

 

"No," countered Shalua with a shake of her head. "You've done more than your share, Denzel. I'll speak to this Lazard on my own and I want you to have a good meal, a bath and a good sleep. Understood?"

 

"But what if he does something to you?" Denzel's uncommonly mature composure was finally starting to break and his voice quivered. "I don't wanna lose you too!"

 

"I'll go with her," volunteered Cloud. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder and squeezed it supportively. "Would that make you feel better?"

 

Denzel looked up at him with glistening eyes and hastily wiped a hand over them, trying to conceal the tears threatening to break. "Do you swear you won't let them hurt her?"

 

Cloud nodded. "I swear." He didn't make any boastful claims beyond that and he half-expected the boy to refuse his offer. He hadn't exactly charged into action when Vincent nearly shot Shelke, but perhaps Denzel understood that his hesitation was due to shock. The boy nodded and gave Cloud a severe, piercing look.

 

"You'd better mean it."

 

Cloud's mouth twitched, partly with amusement and partly with empathy. "I do. You'll see." He couldn't expect Denzel to believe Lazard wouldn't just pull a gun and shoot Shalua on the spot. He himself wasn't entirely sure, given the Director's orders concerning her sister.

 

"Zack, would you mind checking on Sephiroth and telling him we're back for me?" Cloud asked his friend.

 

Zack nodded. "Sure thing."

 

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

 

Lazard wasn't at all what Shalua expected. She'd been prepared to face a large man, perhaps with unattractive looks to match a personality that would coldly order the death of a child. Instead, she was escorted into his office niche to find a handsome, refined blond man wearing oval glasses and a stylish—if worn—business suit. He certainly didn't seem the type to lead such an impressive military force. She would have picked him as the bookish sort but then, she could be accused of sporting that look herself. She adjusted her own glasses self-consciously and felt ridiculously aware of her missing eye and cybernetic arm.

 

"Please, have a seat," Lazard invited graciously with a wave of a black-gloved hand. He raised an eyebrow at Cloud, who stood by the door quietly as Shalua cautiously took the invitation and sat down across from the desk. "Is there a reason you're still here, Soldier?"

 

"I made a promise," answered Cloud readily. "I'm her escort."

 

Lazard smirked. "More like her bodyguard, I take it." He examined Shalua with interest and then shrugged. "So be it. You would have been part of the briefing concerning this matter anyhow. You may stay, Sergeant Strife."

 

Cloud nodded and stood quietly in the background while Lazard took a seat behind his desk and laced his fingers together. "We have quite a situation, Miss Rui."

 

"Yes, we do," she agreed, crossing her legs and folding her robotic hand over her normal one in her lap. "You tried to have my sister killed."

 

Lazard's gray eyes briefly followed her motions before settling on her face again. His expression was stern and unrepentant as he replied. "Her biological ties aren't important to me. What does matter is that I have over seven hundred civilians living in this colony. Protecting them from harm takes priority over the life of a single individual."

 

"But she's not a threat any longer," insisted Shalua, keeping her voice as level as possible. "She sleeps most of the time and the Tsviets tried to kill her once she fulfilled her purpose. They were going to sacrifice her to Omega, like the rest of us. You'd be guilty of murdering an innocent girl if you went through with your plans, Director."

 

"What purpose did she fulfill?" inquired Lazard with narrowed eyes. "Enlighten me."

 

Shalua sighed and hesitated. Telling him might provoke him to sentence Shelke to death again, but she'd already deduced that beneath the dashing appearance was a man who shouldn't be trifled with. There was no choice, not really.

 

"Shelke has the ability to dive into virtual networks. Deepground found out about this and they kidnapped her, brainwashed her and experimented on her in order to get their hands on something called 'Protomateria'. They used her to search through old research files in order to locate it."

 

"And I assume she must have, if they decided she'd served her purpose," Lazard murmured when she paused.

 

Shalua nodded. "That was when I found her again, nearly ten years later. I didn't get the chance to ask her more about it before she was hurt in a fight against one of the Tsviets. Ever since, she drifts in and out of consciousness and her memories seem scrambled, but she's not under Deepground influence any longer."

 

Lazard nodded. "I see. And did these…Tsviets…ever get the Protomateria?"

 

She shook her head. "I don't think so. All I could get out of my sister was that it was grafted to a human being, in order to channel Chaos."

 

Lazard went still and Shalua felt Cloud stiffen behind her. "Chaos?" the blond Soldier muttered.

 

Lazard made a commanding gesture at the young man and shook his head. "Can you tell me anything else about this Protomateria?"

 

"Not much," she answered with a suspicious frown at him. "It's my understanding that the owner can control Chaos. It was formed in an experiment, some time ago. If Shelke ever recovers, she can probably tell you more. She absorbed all of the data concerning it."

 

"Interesting." Lazard tapped his fingers against the surface of the desk, his eyes never leaving hers. "You say Shelke was taken as a child. She would have had to have been an infant when they took her, if reports concerning her present age are correct."

 

"That's because the experiments and infusions stunted her growth," explained Shalua. She knew how far-fetched it sounded and she could see in his expression that he didn't believe her. "She's a nineteen year old trapped in the body of a ten year old, Director. I know you don't believe me but there are files to confirm that."

 

"And where are these files?"

 

She grimaced and lowered her eyes. "In Midgar. In the old Deepground facility."

 

Lazard blinked slowly. "Of course. And yet you failed to mention this before leaving the ruins, knowing that this information could be crucial to proving your story?"

 

"I had other things on my mind at the time," she snapped, "such as keeping your people from shooting my sister. I suppose exhaustion and fear never influence your actions?"

 

Lazard's mouth curved up at one corner. "I seem to have touched a nerve. Well, Miss Rui, I might have a way to confirm that your story about the files is the truth. I assume the Deepground operatives responsible for these experiments kept computer files on record?"

 

She nodded. "Shelke could retrieve them for you, if she were recovered." She was beginning to sound desperate and that didn't sit well with her…especially when he gave her a knowing look.

 

"There are other ways to get them," Lazard told her. "I need more information from you, however. Can you provide any reference we could use to locate these files?"

 

She considered the question, thinking deeply. "I remember the names of the scientists mentioned in them. They were involved in the Chaos harnessing theories. Grimoire Valentine and Lucrecia Crescent."

 

Lazard went still again and Cloud shifted but kept his mouth shut. Shalua narrowed her eyes at the Director. "There's something you aren't telling me. Do you know these names?"

 

"I can't be certain, yet," answered Lazard evasively. He inclined his head towards her and fixed his gaze on her arm. "How did you obtain that prosthetic arm?"

 

"I was injured trying to stop them from taking my sister," answered Shalua. "The people who found me took me to a specialist, who replaced the damaged parts with bio-synthetic ones."

 

"Who were these people?"

 

She sighed. "Defects from the ShinRa army, for all I know. I was more concerned with finding my sister than getting the details. They wanted someone to test the equipment and I agreed, so that I could keep going."

 

"You mean, continue living?"

 

"Well, that and rescue Shelke," she agreed with a shrug. "I couldn't very well do the latter if I were dead. The damage was too extensive to allow for survival without replacement organs."

 

Lazard appeared to absorb this and she found it heartening. He looked at her wordlessly for a few moments before speaking again. "I'm going to interview all of the survivors who were with you and investigate this matter further. For now, your sister is safe and you can remain here with us, under observation. If I find any reason to suspect your story is false, I'll have no choice but to remove the danger immediately. I can't risk a whole colony. Do we have an understanding, Miss Rui?"

 

Seeing as she had no other option, she nodded in concurrence. "I think I understand you perfectly well, Director Lazard."

 

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

 

"Vincent, what did you see when that girl looked at you to make you react that way?"

 

Vincent looked at his lover and paused in the act of undressing for bed. He was normally thankful that they had Reeve's workshop to sleep in and thus, more privacy than usual. Now was not one of those times, as he knew his lover might not have asked the question when others could overhear.

 

"I'm not sure," he answered softly.

 

Reeve hung his shirt over the chair beside the bed and gave him a look. "Really, because you sure as hell seemed spooked for something you aren't sure about."

 

Vincent sighed and stopped unfastening his armor to regard the other man warily. "I wouldn't know how to tell you. At least, not in a way you'd believe."

 

"Try me," challenged Reeve. "I've seen a lot of unbelievable things, over the past few years."

 

"If you insist," Vincent conceded. "The girl…when she looked at me, I saw something in her eyes."

 

When he didn't elaborate, Reeve made an encouraging gesture. "And what was this 'something'?"

 

Vincent met his eyes. "Lucrecia. I saw a part of Lucrecia looking back at me. Not just in her eyes but in her facial expression. I don't know how and I don't know why, but…she was there."

 

Reeve's face screwed up.

 

"I told you it was unbelievable," reminded Vincent crisply. He resumed undressing and his motions were sharper than he intended. He heard the other man's footsteps approach but he didn't look up. Reeve stopped before him and placed his hands on his shoulders.

 

"Look at me."

 

Vincent slowly raised his gaze to meet Reeve's. He fully expected the engineer to remind him that Lucrecia was long dead and tell him he couldn't possibly have seen what he thought he saw. Reeve looked back at him with warm, brown eyes and when he spoke again, he took Vincent by surprise.

 

"I believe you."

 

Vincent blinked. "Why? It's madness."

 

"Because whether it seems like madness or not, you're not given to flights of fancy and you've never been dishonest with me," answered the other man readily. "If you believe you saw it, then you must have. The only question is how and why."

 

Vincent couldn't fully hide his relief. How Reeve could be so patient and understanding—particularly when this involved a woman who Vincent once loved—was beyond him. Nevertheless, he was grateful for it and he caressed the engineer's jaw lightly with his golden claw. He wanted to speak, to say how much he appreciated his unquestioning support. Reeve's satellite phone chose that moment to start ringing, however, spoiling the moment.

 

"Ah hell, it starts," grumbled Reeve. He went to his discarded jacket and retrieved the ringing object from one of the pockets. "Tuesti, here. Hello, Director. Really? I…well, I suppose I can attend." His eyes flicked to Vincent. "Yes, he's here with me, why? I see. We'll come. I'll see you shortly."

 

Vincent cocked his head quizzically as Reeve put the phone away and grabbed his shirt to start putting it back on. "Lazard is holding an impromptu conference," explained Reeve as he dressed. "He's gotten some information from that woman from Midgar and he says he thinks it's important."

 

"I couldn't help but notice you said 'we'll come'," remarked Vincent.

 

Reeve nodded and gave him a thoughtful look. "The Director said it involves you. This might help us answer the questions concerning what you saw today, Vincent."

 

"So it might," agreed the gunman softly. He too resumed dressing, wondering what answers this conference might bring.

 

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

 

Lazard poured three sifters of brandy and set two of them before him on the desk. "Have a seat and have a drink, gentlemen," he invited, "you're going to need it."

 

Vincent exchanged a glance with Reeve before taking one of the offered glasses and sitting down. The engineer did the same and sipped his drink with a little wince. "This should be interesting."

 

Lazard's eyes were on Vincent as he got to the point. "You in particular may find this difficult to hear, Mr. Valentine. I understand you had a…relationship…with Sephiroth's birth mother, Lucrecia Crescent."

 

Vincent nodded, tensing involuntarily in his seat. "What does she have to do with this?"

 

"It seems the girl I ordered executed was taken into the Deepground project because she possesses a unique ability called 'Synaptic Net Diving'. She can merge with virtual networks, absorb and influence data found there. I don't know how far her ability extends or what other uses it could extend to but it involves you in more than one way."

 

Vincent took a swallow of the brandy. "Go on."

 

"According to the information her sister gave me, Shelke was taken when she was a child and the procedures they used on her halted her aging process. She was made to search the network for old research files concerning Protomateria. One of the professors whose files she found was none other than Lucrecia's."

 

Seeing Vincent's eyes narrow, Lazard took a drink himself and spoke again. "I trust you know something about the Protomateria?"

 

"Yes," answered the gunman. "I used to have it on my person. It enabled me to control when and if Chaos takes over, but the Tsviet Rosso the Crimson tore it out of me during a fight between the two of us. She hoped to use it to control Chaos and thus myself."

 

Vincent felt the being in question stir, felt his amusement as he pushed to the surface. He couldn't stop him from partially manifesting and adding his own input. "She soon learned that we aren't so easy to control," the demon's low, resonant voice said from Vincent's throat. The gunman felt his lips pull into a smile and his canines elongated. His vision shifted, becoming sharper. Vincent saw Lazard scoot his chair backwards subtly, his complexion losing a bit of color.

 

~That's enough, Chaos,~ Vincent silently said to the demon, ~I need full control now.~

 

Vincent took control of his body again and he could feel Chaos' lingering amusement as the demon compliantly retreated. He shut his eyes and took another drink as his features shifted back to normal. "Chaos was meant to be the harbinger of Omega," he explained softly. "His task was to gather souls for the journey. I believe the Tsviets thought they could use that to their own ends if they had the Protomateria, but their logic was warped. It's difficult to say exactly what they were thinking."

 

"Maybe they thought they could inherit the planet if they could force Omega to take all of the normal humans, without leaving a barren world," hypothesized Reeve thoughtfully. "They obviously knew Omega's purpose and total destruction of the world would have meant their own deaths, too."

 

"So they not only fooled the planet into thinking the life it was nurturing was coming to an end," Lazard murmured, "They set out to alter Omega's objective and corrupt its task for their own benefit. The destruction of Omega was the final straw. It makes sense, if Gaia sensed what Deepground was trying to do. It's no wonder the planet is convinced humanity must be done away with entirely."

 

"What's done is done," Vincent reminded them both, "Deepground failed in their objective and our immediate problems have nothing to do with Protomateria or Omega any longer."

 

"True enough," agreed Lazard. He gazed at Vincent searchingly from behind his oval lenses. "I'm curious, however. What motivated you in the end, Mr. Valentine? You lost your ability to control Chaos at will and from the reports I received, the two of you appeared to work together in the end. How did you convince him and what gave you both the strength to vanquish Omega, if you don't mind my asking?"

 

Vincent cast a quick look sidelong at Reeve. "The absence of the barrier between the two of us caused a merging of our natures," he tried to explain. "A part of Chaos is now human and a part of me is now demonic. Things that mattered to me began to matter to him, and vice-versa. I personally had two reasons to save the world."

 

If the faint blush of pleasure growing on Reeve's bearded face was any indication, he understood that he was one of the reasons hinted at. Lazard looked between the two of them and nodded, too disciplined and well-mannered to say anything. Vincent chose not to tell either of them that near the end, he thought he heard Lucrecia's voice urging him to fight, telling him he could win. Some things were simply too private to share.

 

"Whatever happened to the Protomateria?" asked Lazard. "Perhaps we could recover it."

 

Within Vincent's mind, Chaos snorted. ~It seems the ambition to control me extends to your allies as well as your enemies, Vincent.~

 

"That isn't his intention," Vincent muttered aloud. "At least, not in the way you believe."

 

Lazard's eyebrows went up and Reeve shifted uncomfortably.

 

Realizing he'd just argued with his demon out loud, Vincent felt a moment of embarrassment. "The Protomateria is gone. Either the Tsviets destroyed it when they learned they couldn't use it themselves or it's buried somewhere in the ruins of Midgar."

 

That fact was why he'd chosen to go into hibernation in the first place, after the battle. He could no longer control Chaos and he was weakened. The new feelings and thoughts that bled into him from the demon's influence were more than Vincent could bear and he thought humanity would be safer if both of them retired for a while. Vincent felt Reeve's hand squeeze his shoulder in silent understanding and support. He was grateful for it and he no longer felt resentful towards the other man for waking him up. He was learning to live with Chaos day by day and what he once saw as a parasitic relationship was becoming a symbiotic one.

 

"The girl," Vincent said after a moment's thought, "Are there any side-effects to her absorbing data through this Synaptic Diving ability she has?" He thought of the way Shelke had looked up at him and announced that she knew him. He thought about the expression on her face and the sense of Lucrecia he got when looking into her eyes.

 

"I can't answer that question," sighed Lazard. "Perhaps the girl herself can, when and if she recovers from her condition. Evidently, she's in a state of confusion and she drifts in and out of consciousness."

 

Vincent nodded. His questions concerning her link to his former beloved would have to wait. "What do you intend to do with her?"

 

"The order for her execution is delayed, of course," answered Lazard, "I'm not entirely lifting it until I can determine that she's truly not a threat to the colony. If what I've been told is remotely true, she could prove to be a valuable source of information as well. We could possibly even make use of her abilities ourselves to end this conflict once and for all. Until we know more, I'm putting her under strict observation and I'm to be informed the moment she's fully coherent."

 

"I have questions of my own I'd like answered," Vincent admitted pensively. "You'll have me notified in the event that she regains her senses, I trust?"

 

"Of course," agreed Lazard.

 

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

 

Cloud went to see Sephiroth after escorting Shalua to her sister's cell. Zack patted him on the arm and took his leave as he entered and the Lieutenant hurried off to go and find Aerith. Cloud sat down with Sephiroth and explained everything that Zack hadn't already told him. Sephiroth listened quietly with thoughtful, narrowed eyes as Cloud recounted the events of the rescue mission and the conversation between Lazard and Shalua.

 

"I couldn't move," Cloud sighed in shame. He chose not to mention Vincent, for fear that doing so might somehow trigger his lover again. "All I could do was stand there when someone started to carry out the execution order. I couldn't believe the director could be so cruel."

 

Sephiroth stared at him broodingly for a moment before answering. "The order wasn't given out of cruelty, but necessity. Cloud, you're rising quickly in the ranks and you need to understand something about what it takes to be a leader."

 

Cloud listened, knowing that Sephiroth knew a little something about leadership. Lover or not, the man still inspired awe and admiration in him. "I'd like to understand."

 

Sephiroth nodded and sighed, lowering his gaze. "Command decisions are made for the good of the whole—whether it's the platoon or the civilians they protect. Sometimes those decisions are hard and can be cruel, but the survival or victory conditions make them necessary. Lazard is the highest authority here because he's a brilliant tactician who thinks with his head before his heart, not because he's a strong fighter. The ability to make those hard decisions—whether they seem moral or not—is an important part of leadership."

 

"So you're saying you've never been guilty of thinking with your heart instead of your head?" Cloud challenged.

 

Sephiroth lifted his gaze to meet Cloud's and he smirked subtly. "In certain cases, I suppose I could be accused of being guilty of that."

 

Cloud returned the little smirk, blushing shyly at the insinuation. "But there's more to leadership than being callous," he murmured, "isn't there?"

 

"Absolutely," agreed Sephiroth, "which is why Zackary Fair and Genesis Rhapsodos made the cut to be third and fourth in command. Charisma, passion and bravery are all very important qualities as well. The problem is, too much compassion gets in the way when morally unsavory ends justify the means. Too much passion can interfere with discipline. Zack inspires his troops with his heroics. Genesis boosts their moral with his fearlessness, but neither of them are the most ideal candidates for a permanent position of top command. Angeal is second in command because he tempers his passions with greater discipline than the two of them."

 

"But, Angeal refused to carry out the order too," reminded Cloud with a frown.

 

"I never said Angeal was perfect," countered Sephiroth dryly.

 

Cloud smiled a little at that. "If you were there, you would have done it?"

 

"If I were there the girl would probably be dead now," agreed Sephiroth without apology. "Lazard and I see eye-to-eye on most command decisions, Cloud. I would have had the three of you arrested for insubordination and carried out the order. That's the kind of man I am. Regardless of friendship or personal feelings, my duty is to serve by whatever means possible. Do you think you can accept that?"

 

Cloud looked at him searchingly and hesitated. Sephiroth's emerald gaze was steady and unyielding on him but there was a silent message behind it, assuring Cloud that the actions he'd have taken as a Soldier had nothing to do with his personal feelings for him. It was part of what drew Cloud to him, after all. If he tried to change that, he'd change part of what he loved about the man. He nodded and hesitantly reached out to place a hand over one of Sephiroth's.

 

"I understand. I don't like it, but I can live with it."

 

Sephiroth's expression softened slightly and Cloud was rewarded with a hint of a smile before the General leaned in to murmur in his ear. "You're stronger than you realize, Cloud."

 

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

 

By the end of the week, both Sephiroth and Genesis had been through several psychological evaluations and hypnosis sessions. The science team believed that they had removed the latter's trigger but in order to test it, they had to put Genesis within sight of Sephiroth and speak the culprit word. Reeve escorted Genesis to Sephiroth's cell with several armed Soldiers in tow and while the redhead rolled his eyes at these precautions, he didn't argue with them. Cloud was unsurprisingly in the cell with the General when they arrived and filed in.

 

"It's time to put Lieutenant Rhapsodos' recovery to the test," Reeve politely informed as Cloud and Sephiroth stood up from the bunk they were seated on. "Sergeant Strife, please step out for this." He was speaking formally, letting them know in no uncertain terms that his orders were to be followed.

 

Cloud looked at Sephiroth and reluctantly withdrew. Genesis smirked at him as he passed. "Don't look so worried, Strife. They're prepared to give me a good an proper dose of tranquilizer if this goes badly."

 

Cloud grimaced and nodded, glancing at Reeve when he noticed the older man draw something from the confines of his coat. It was the same gun he'd used against Sephiroth the day he attacked Vincent. Cloud supposed if it could put a man like Sephiroth down fast, it should do the same for Genesis. Then again, Sephiroth was stunned with a tazer before being shot with the tranq dart.

 

"Are you sure that's going to be enough?" Cloud asked Reeve before walking out the door.

 

Reeve glanced at the gun in his hand. "Anything stronger could put him to sleep permanently. Don't fret."

 

Cloud's anxiety wasn't entirely curbed, but he didn't argue further and he peered over the shoulders of the guards as Sephiroth and Genesis faced one another. Genesis looked sidelong at Reeve and heaved a sigh.

 

"Must you point that thing at me right now? It's rather distracting."

 

Reeve didn't lower the weapon. "I'm sorry but yes, I must. I'm not willing to take chances that one or both of you could get injured."

 

Genesis rolled his eyes. "If the trigger does go off, all I can do is grapple him. We're both unarmed."

 

"Your fists can do quite enough damage to each other," argued Reeve. "Let's just get on with it."

 

Genesis shrugged and smirked at Sephiroth. "Fine. I'm ready when you are, General." Despite his cool demeanor, Genesis shut his eyes and visibly tensed in anticipation.

 

Sephiroth gave a curt nod. "I'm prepared. Do it, Reeve."

 

"Htorihpes," the engineer obligingly said.

 

Genesis stood still for a few heartbeats before opening one eye and peering around suspiciously. "Well? Did I do anything?"

 

Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest and gave him a sarcastic smirk. "Unless standing there with your eyes shut is your latest battle tactic, no."

 

Genesis opened his other eye and pursed his lips in irritation, but his body visibly relaxed. "Thank Minerva. So this means my trigger is gone, does it?"

 

Reeve lowered the tranquilizer gun and smiled. "It's gone. That's one down and one more to go. Sephiroth, I'm afraid yours is going to take more time."

 

"Of course," Sephiroth answered coolly.

 

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

 

"You've been unusually quiet, lately," Aerith said to Zack as they settled down for bed that night. She scooted back against the wall to make room for him as he pulled his pajama pants on and stretched out next to her. "Is something bothering you?"

 

Zack shrugged. "I guess I'm just tired from all the action. Seems like the WEAPONS are increasing in numbers faster than we can compensate. With Seph still out of the picture things aren't going as smooth as I'd like."

 

"But there's more than that," she insisted, snuggling up to him. "Even when you're stressed, you usually talk to me about it. You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

 

Zack's good eye met hers and he hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I guess we've gone past the stage where I can hide things from you." He stroked her cheek and gathered his thoughts for a moment before moving his hand down, caressing her shoulder and arm in passing. He laid his palm flat against her lower abdomen, which was beginning to show the first hint of her condition.

 

"Those people we brought back from Midgar were living off slum rats and sewer turtles," he murmured, his dark brows knitting, "and one of the main providers of that great diet of theirs was just a kid. I don't think he's more than twelve. You've met him, right? Denzel?"

 

Aerith nodded. The boy Zack spoke of helped her in the garden the day before, in fact. "Yes. He's a quiet boy but he's sweet. He seems really mature for his age."

 

"The kid was out hunting rats for food when Cloud's group found him," Zack went on grimly. "By himself, in the filth. All of the adults in the group were too weak and sickly to help him. The other kid in the group is a girl that had connections to Deepground."

 

Aerith shook her head on confusion. "I don't understand where this is going," she admitted softly. "You told me most of this when you got back. You told me Lazard ordered the girl executed at first but Reeve changed his mind. She's safe now, isn't she?"

 

"For now," he agreed. "I just…Aerith, what kind of world are we bringing a baby into, where kids have to hunt rats to eat and little girls are targeted for termination?" He rubbed her stomach in gentle, loving motions and his face was troubled. "All I could think of was what if it was our kid?"

 

Aerith felt a surge of sympathy and love for him. "It's because you think that way that I knew I wanted to have children with you. Zack, you've told me stories before about children starving in war and that happened before all of this started. There will always be suffering somewhere but as long as there are people like you to defend them, the innocent will always have a chance."

 

"I don't know about that," Zack muttered.

 

"Well, I do," she said firmly. "If we waited for the perfect world to start having children, we'd never have them. We're safe here and our baby is going to have plenty of clean food and shelter."

 

"Our kid's going to grow up living in a cave."

 

Aerith stroked his hair and struggled for words. It was unusual to see him so depressed but he had valid concerns and his duties were stressful. "It might not always be that way. Things could change and until then, the children here have a loving community and protection. Please, don't start having second thoughts about this baby now. I need your support."

 

Zack looked at her with an expression of guilt on his face and he kissed her briefly. "I'm sorry," he murmured against her lips. "I don't regret this baby. I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's the world we live in I'm feeling unsure about, not our kid. I'll stop being such an emo-tard now."

 

A giggle bubbled on her lips and she kissed him back. "You aren't being an emo-tard, whatever that is. You're being an expecting father for the first time with normal insecurities and concerns."

 

She didn't mention that she herself suffered moments of terrible anxiety, at least once per day. Ifalna told her that some men were fragile when expecting a child for the first time, because the baby wasn't growing inside of them and they had only the mother and doctor's word that everything was okay. She didn't want to add to his stress by adding her own fears to his. If she admitted she was a bit scared about the eventual birth he'd only get worked up again and strain his already taut nerves trying to make her feel better.

 

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

 

After the weekend, Shalua requested a meeting with Lazard. He honestly didn't want to speak alone with the woman but he was curious about what she wanted. Choking off his misgivings, he accepted her request and invited her into his office.

 

"I'd like to work on the research team."

 

Lazard regarded the woman with a frown. Despite the glasses she wore, she didn't strike him as a particularly scientific or bookish individual. For one, Shalua always dressed as though she were going out to a nightclub. For another, she'd expressed mistrust of the medics and science team. Reasoning that her attitude toward them was inspired by the medics trying to examine her sister, he supposed he could understand.

 

"I see. What sort of experience do you have?"

 

She took a seat on the other side of his desk without waiting for his invitation and she crossed her legs. Lazard noted the way her already short skirt rode up and he politely avoided looking at the spectacle. He briefly wondered how far up those legs went but the thought was interrupted when she spoke again.

 

"I was being trained for biological lab work before this all happened," Shalua explained, "and I learned a few things from the people who implanted my prosthetic arm and replaced my damaged organs." She leaned forward, fixing him with one earnest, hazel eye. "Director, I can't just sit here day by day, waiting for Shelke to say more than two words at a time. I need something to occupy me and you need more people on your research team. This would benefit us both."

 

Lazard again averted his gaze as he caught a glimpse of her cleavage in the halter-top she wore. He pushed his glasses further up on his nose and looked her in the eye. "What sort of 'biological lab work' were you being trained for, exactly?"

 

"Genetic splicing, virus identification and treatment, blood work," she responded. "I never had the opportunity to train in surgical procedures but I'm not half-bad at identifying and treating illnesses."

 

"If you do say so yourself," Lazard said dryly. "Without some form of reference, I can only take your word for it, Miss Rui."

 

She nodded. "And you can take it or leave it. Assign me on a trial basis if you like. Have me monitored and if I fail to meet your approval, you can take me off the team. No harm, no foul."

 

Lazard was highly tempted to refuse her offer but there was something about the look on her face that stalled him. After a moment he recognized it as ambition. He really didn't need another Hojo to deal with but if Shalua did have nefarious plans, this would be the way to flush them out into the open. He calculated the risks and the rewards and he finally nodded. He stood up and extended his hand to her cordially.

 

"I believe we can compromise, Miss Rui."

 

She took his hand and shook it, smiling with confidence. "Thank you for being reasonable, Lazard. Oh, and why do you assume I'm a 'Miss' and not a 'Mrs.'?"

 

He was about to remind her to address him by his station rather than on a familiar, first-name basis but her question caught him off-guard for a moment. Why, indeed? Despite her disfigurements, her form was pleasing enough to the eye and she had attractive facial features. He quickly looked at her hand and felt mild relief to see no ring on her finger.

 

"The absence of a wedding band was my first clue," he said coolly. "Then there's the fact that you and everyone in your group never mentioned a spouse."

 

"Not the cybernetic arm or the missing eye?" She smirked. "You're certainly not a shallow man."

 

Lazard pressed his lips together. Perhaps he wasn't as opaque as he thought. "I think you'll find your assumptions about me aren't completely accurate either, Miss Rui. Have a pleasant day."

 

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

 

-To be continued