Saria: I seem to have lots of readers!
Zas: Hope they realize that action will eventually come, but right now you're doing the slow build up.
Saria: I can't help it; I hate time skips so I wasn't going to start this story with "Two years later"!
Tori: We know.
SA: Just write already.
PS: Thanks to all reviewers and to a recent Guest named Rachel, I'd love to see what you came up with! As far as art goes, I know someone in RL who does mine for me and the pic she made for Rachas serves as my Avatar. Know that whatever you have come up with is probably better than anything I could!
zzzzzzzzzz
Aeris and Zack's honeymoon lasted three weeks and it was during that time that I officially helped Cloud finally set up the new delivery company. He and Zack had been unable to agree on a name thus far and I personally didn't view it as too terribly important until we were officially off the ground. Due to me no longer having to be at the church every day, I was able to start helping in the set-up paperwork, advertisement, and logistics of the business.
Cloud found my cargo restrictions funny at first until I explained the points behind them. Oh the joys of being experienced in the realm of cargo as a pilot!
Though the government of Gaia didn't have as many regulations as Earth's, I viewed that as due to Shinra's long standing dominance over the government. Reeve actually sat in with Cloud and me as I explained the dangers of several improperly packaged materials and made sure to include points on biohazards, radiation, gases, explosives, combustibles, and flammable materials and how altitude, enclosed environments, and various other factors would affect them. I didn't expect to have to go as in depth with Zack as I did with Cloud and Reeve both there and asking questions. I had a feeling that there would soon be some regulation suggestions if the notebook and pen Reeve wielded were any indication.
The Turks seemed to be having an increased presence recently also, and they weren't the ones that I found that I minded the least such as Rude, Tseng, or Cissnei. Reno had taken charge of watching the church and insuring the safety of the water and he was mainly aided by Shotgun and Katana. The ones that I noticed as having the main presence around me were Rod and another man who was dubbed Two Guns. To put it bluntly, I couldn't seem to even turn a corner without bumping into one of them and Rod was especially annoying due to the fact that he would always try to take cover behind something.
I spotted a Turk at least four times a day everyday starting the day after Zack and Aeris's wedding and the murmurs of the Planet assured me that I was under surveillance and it drove me up the wall.
Seven days after the wedding found me holed up in the house Reeve and I shared because two Turks were sitting in front of the house and I was officially sick of them. Over half the day slowly passed before I finally got restless and used the power to fog their minds so I could leave the house without being bothered.
Deciding to blow off some steam, I headed for a place that had been found by Kunsel and Yuffie to do some very serious training for the first time in several months. I took Aiden and my hilt with me.
The building that Yuffie and Kunsel had found was located in the Sector 3 slums, a former warehouse that was in decent enough shape all things considered. After setting Aiden in a corner that was open and free of debris; I powered up my sword for the first time in several weeks and started a series of katas, beginning with the easiest and working through to the more difficult ones before entering a meditation and using levitation. Though it was tempting I didn't try to check in on Aeris and Zack, interrupting a honeymoon is what phones are for.
I returned to the house almost five hours after leaving a little tired but feeling much better only to discover that the two Turks were right where they had been when I left and were very confused about where I was.
"Do they have an escape tunnel or is she asleep?" the one with the crazy looking black hair asked Rod.
Rod shrugged as he kept his eyes glued on the house. "Don't know, kinda prefer not to see her."
"That Ancient ain't bad lookin. I think ya just don't like gettin' your ass kicked by her friends."
"I maintain that it wasn't my fault!" Rod declared hotly.
"Actually it was," I stated as I stepped up behind them and had the pleasure of seeing two Turks jump in surprise. "Your outburst was the direct cause for my infection."
"How?! When?!" Rod demanded as I stepped past them to the house. I didn't answer as I unlocked the door and let myself into the house.
City of Edge Government Offices
Reeve glanced down at the notebook that had been filled with the points indicated by Rachas about hazards in the field of transportation. Eventually he would bring these points up once the government was stabilized but he could definitely use these points to aid in building the guidelines for weapon and material transportation for the WRO. It was unfortunate, but he had to admit that an army was going to be necessary while the planet recovered. They would need an army to deal with power grabs by militias and the various monsters that still roamed the planet.
That morning he had been introduced to several people that the new mayor felt he should know, amongst them were scientists and doctors that thankfully seemed very interested in getting the planet moving forward again. Most of them had seemed like decent people and authentically cared about helping to undo the damage to the planet, some of them seemed more interested on the idea that they would be stomping out what had been done by Shinra and essentially be standing in the way of the recovering company. One of them, a young woman named Shalua had seemed particularly interesting to him. She was listed as a former member of the original AVALANCHE that left the group when they proved to be very twisted.
The resumes and applications of these people had already been gone over by the small department he had put together to begin filtering applications so today was just a formality.
Turning down the corridor that would lead to the exit, Reeve was surprised to almost run into a woman. A very familiar, very unpleasant blond woman.
"Scarlet," he greeted politely with a nod then stepped right past the woman.
"Why Reeve, what a pleasant surprise!" the red clad woman declared in a tone that grated on his nerves every bit the way it had the last time he had seen the woman. "What are you doing here today?"
Reeve almost rolled his eyes as he glanced at the woman who determinedly was keeping pace with him. "I had a meeting with several possible recruits for the WRO."
"Ah, yes! The WRO that I heard you were establishing. How is that coming together? I imagine that it is probably difficult to have so few people with experience."
"Actually I've been getting a good number of applicants." He didn't glance at the woman nor did he ask what she was doing in this building. The less interest he showed in her then hopefully the sooner she would move on.
Scarlet on the other hand watched the former Director of Urban Development with a new sort of interest. He was putting together an organization that promised to become the most powerful force on the planet, which meant power and money. If she could get in with this, then she would be on the rise again.
"How are your former comrades?" she asked in an attempt to hopefully start a conversation to get on his good side. "I heard one of them recently had a child, one of the two Ancients I believe?"
"Ms. Kaze, and my friends are doing well." Reeve made it a point to state friends very clearly.
Scarlet barely restrained her grimace when she realized that AVALANCHE was a bit closer knit than she had hoped. In order to regain power she had thought she just needed to get on Reeve's good side but this could prove problematic. His formal reference to the Ancient though did mean that she had a possibility of getting a foot in the door. "So, Ms. Kaze had a healthy baby then?"
"Yes." Reeve pushed his way through the door and felt his eye begin to twitch as the click of heels followed him.
"You two were close if I remember, is the child yours?"
Reeve didn't deign to respond as he headed towards his house. Luckily Scarlet didn't seem intent to follow him any farther than the corner and he was thankful for it.
Scarlet on the other hand felt a slightly vicious smile cross her lips as she watched the man walk away. What his silence told her was that he wasn't quite sure about his relationship or about the child of that Ancient and viewed the subject as uncomfortable. Reeve had always been a bit too open, a bit too friendly within Shinra. Getting information from him was just a point of knowing which buttons to press.
Normal
By the time Reeve got home the Turks had thankfully departed and I didn't sense any more of them in the immediate vicinity. Unfortunately though, I had gotten a call from Tifa saying that Reno had called the Seventh Heaven and said that the water level was low so I would need to visit the church tomorrow. It was sad but a place I had originally viewed as a haven was quickly becoming somewhere that I didn't want to go if doing so meant I could avoid the Turks.
Aiden was in his baby rocker swatting at one of the hanging toys while I finished with some of the paper work for deliveries that would be made either by bike or airplane when Reeve arrived. I felt his annoyance before he even crossed the threshold.
"Being bothered by a persistent group as well?" I asked when as he walked in.
"More like a reappearance of someone renowned for persistence," Reeve replied as he moved over to the couch and gently kissed my forehead. "The Turks?"
"Can't even leave the house without them trying to follow."
Reeve sighed heavily. "Well, the Geostigma cure is very important right now so they likely view you as invaluable."
"At least they aren't trying to take me into "protective custody"," I replied as I shuffled through the sheets of paper and finally decided they were complete. "So, anyone I know?"
"More like someone I wish that I didn't," Reeve replied as he sat down next to me.
The next morning I headed for the church bright and early. I had taken to making my visits first thing in the morning just to get them out of the way and the Turks had noticed this.
The front of the church was every bit as crowded and chaotic as ever but the inside was silent and still with the exception of the normal Turks guarding the pool. But today was different in that there was a visitor.
"What are you doing here?" I asked a wheelchair bound Rufus Shinra as Rude appeared from the back with the hose to the water truck we had been using to fill the pool.
"Just checking to make sure everything is running smoothly," the blond President reassured with a small, polite smile. "How are you doing today Ms. Kaze?"
Internally I kind of wish that Rufus would either be a brat or a jerk when he spoke rather than feign interest and manners. Games of intrigue and pageantry had never interested me though I knew how they were played and had engaged in them to a certain extent myself.
"I am doing well though it seems I have gained a Turk doormat," I replied with a light touch of humor.
"My apologies if they have been getting underfoot." Rufus's smile put me further on edge though I fought to keep my expression neutral.
Setting down Aiden's carrier, I unbuckled him from the contraption as Rude finished filling the pool then pulled the hose back into the back and prepared to get into the water. I was thankful right then that I always remembered Aiden's hat and made sure that it was securely tucked on his head.
"We can watch him," Cissnei told me as I lifted Aiden and turned towards the pool.
"We'll be fine," I assured then slowly lowered myself into the water as I kept Aiden pressed to my shoulder. He cooed happily then laughed slightly as the water brushed his toes. Smiling slightly at my son, I called on the power of the Planet and began to mix the healing energy into the water, being careful of the balance.
The healing water only took about five minutes to mix any more so soon enough I was heading back to the side of the pool where I ignored the offered aid of Cissnei and Gun and pulled myself from the water using the power instead.
Tucking Aiden back into his carrier and buckling him in, I turned to head for the door without a word to the Turks.
"We can give you a ride wherever you are headed," Rufus called.
"I'll be fine," I called back as I headed for the door only for Reno to step up next to me.
"Boss man is leavin' anyway, might as well save yourself the walk yo."
"I could use the exercise," I told him right as a crack of thunder could be heard overhead and I barely suppressed a groan as Aiden whimpered.
"I'm afraid that I must insist Ms. Kaze. This isn't the sort of weather you should carry a baby around in." Rufus sounded every bit the gentleman that I knew Reeve was and it annoyed me, but his statement was true.
Another crash of thunder came and the sound of the first few drops of rain began to fall. Aiden whimpered again and I could feel his terror begin to rise. I needed to get him into a proper building and soon.
"Fine." I practically spat the word out.
Rufus nodded slightly as he directed his wheelchair towards the back of the church and I followed him out to where an expensive looking black car sat. Rufus was able to move himself into the backseat while Rude folded his chair and Gun attempted to direct me into the backseat on the other side of the car. I was severely tempted to jump into the front but there wouldn't have been a place for Aiden's carrier so instead I slid into the back also and Gun shut the door.
Aiden began to fuss as I situated his carrier into the seat and cried as more thunder sounded. He calmed down as I slipped my finger into one of his fists and sent a gentle, soothing feeling to him through the power.
"This is right around when the rainy season of Midgar started," Rufus stated in a conversational tone. "You might to invest in a vehicle of your own soon."
"Or a raincoat and a water-proof stroller."
Rufus glanced at Aiden from beneath his blanket and seemed to almost study him for a moment and I was glad that Aiden's hat was covering his hair right then.
"So, is that Reeve's son?" he asked.
"No," I replied shortly. "He might one day want the job though."
"Who is the father if you don't mind my asking?"
I shot Rufus a glare right then but couldn't answer. Aiden's birth certificate named me his mother but I had no one that I could declare as the father.
"Sorry," the man apologized. "Where can we drop you off?"
"The Seventh Heaven," I called up to the front where I knew Rude was listening.
Rufus nodded to Rude and the car pulled away from the church slowly, circling around to the front where a crowd of people were lined out of the entrance despite the weather. The car slowly circled them before heading towards Edge.
"What are you doing now that you have finished the cure?" Rufus asked after a few minutes of silence.
I hesitated before deciding to be polite. "Returning to work. How is your company?"
"Doing well though it seems that I'll need to rethink a number of my employees and departments. Shinra itself needs to head in a new direction it would seem, especially with all the alternative sources of power that are being installed freely."
'Not in weapons, not in weapons,' I mentally prayed as I remembered some of the basic Gaian history I had learned over the past year. Shinra had originally started as a weapons manufacturing company and I prayed they weren't going back. The last thing Gaia needed right now was bigger weapons.
"I dismissed Scarlet and have decided not to continue production of mako-based or complex weapons," Rufus continued and I thanked Minerva silently before glancing out the window, watching the buildings of Edge slowly approach.
"You might consider producing bottles and hardware," I said after a moment as I remembered the worn out tools and reused bottles that we had been using throughout the construction of Edge and the projects that still continued.
Rufus Shinra's poker face was excellent but not good enough for me to not feel his division between distaste and interest. He found the idea of producing such items distasteful and beneath him but in turn provided a possible lucrative suggestion.
"Possible, though currently I was considering expanding into the industry of PHSs."
Goddess I hoped he didn't. I wouldn't put it above them to install tracking and listening devices in all PHSs.
"Enough about me though, you said that you were returning to work. Are you intending to join the WRO?"
I shook my head slightly as Aiden squeezed my finger and I noticed he was pulling it slightly towards his mouth. Digging into the side pouch of his carrier, I pulled out a pacifier and pressed it into his mouth. "No, I'm going into business with Zack and Cloud. We will be doing some business with the WRO though."
"What kind of business?"
"A delivery service."
"So something similar to what you did before."
"Something like that," I admitted as my foot began to tap. The car wasn't going anywhere near fast enough and the storm didn't seem that bad to me. If this took too much longer I was going to brave the storm.
"I will need to get the name of your company for future reference."
"We'll look forward to doing business with you," I replied though internally I really hoped we wouldn't. Maybe it was petty to hold a grudge, but I still was terrified of going to Junon after being chased by Azul.
The car finally turned onto the street that Seventh Heaven was on and I was beyond ready to get out.
"It was a pleasure to have a civil conversation. I hope we can do this again in the future," Rufus said as I shoved open the door and grabbed Aiden's carrier.
"Have a nice day," I muttered and didn't even bother to look at him as I shut the car door and ran into the bar.
Town Hall
Reeve refused to glance up as a certain red clad woman entered his temporary office. She proved impossible to ignore though as a stack of papers were dropped onto the neat pile he was finishing.
"Scarlet," he said politely. "What are you doing here today?"
"I took a job as a secretary," she informed him with a smile. "Keeping busy?"
"Very," he replied then glanced over the papers that Scarlet had all but shoved under his nose. It seemed the city council and mayor were considering the points that he had gathered from Rachas on regulations concerning cargo restrictions and wanted to talk to some professionals on the matter.
"Do you need any help with something?" Scarlet asked as she leaned slightly towards him, exposing far too much of her chest for his tastes.
"No, please return to your other duties," he politely dismissed.
Scarlet huffed and though he wasn't looking at her, he was certain she was barely covering a glare.
Junon
Tseng barely suppressed a sigh as he and Elena finished combing the ship that AVALANCHE had stowed away on over a year ago. The cargo hold had been kept pretty much locked off since that day though someone had mopped the place.
According to Ms. Lockeheart when they had questioned her about places where AVALANCHE had encountered Jenova, this had been one of the places they had met Sephiroth and fought a piece of the monster. In the woman's recounting of the events after they had defeated the creature Ms. Kaze had taken the extra step of setting the limb ablaze and it seemed her wish to destroy the limb was successful since they had not found any trace of the Calamity thus far, and they had been covering every bit of ground that the group had traveled over, even that marsh full of Zoloms. It was time for them to move on to the Western Continent now but Tseng was pretty sure they would find nothing there. The Shinra mansion in Nibelheim seemed the only possible place where something may be but the entire basement was in ashes at this point. It was actually surprising that the fire that had caused such destruction hadn't burned the entire building down.
Ms. Kaze had seemed certain that if there were any pieces of Jenova to be found that they would be in the North Crater but unfortunately they couldn't reach the place currently due to the seasonal storms which was why he and Elena were tracing AVALANCHE's trail instead.
Knowing they still hadn't gone through the hardest part of the trip yet, Tseng had to admit he had a new appreciation for the dedication of AVALANCHE in their mission. Maybe it was easier for them since they were a group, but the journey was proving rough for both Elena and him. To insure they missed as little as possible, they were avoiding the use of helicopters at the moment and he could admit that he was tired and probably hadn't had his normal immaculate appearance when he had set foot in Junon. He didn't even want to think of how they would look after crossing the desert or Mt. Nibel.
"Elena, let's head back," he called to the young woman as she glanced around a pile of boxes, obviously hoping to see something she had previously missed.
"Yes sir!" she called back then fell in step behind him as he left the ship and headed towards the base where they could get a brief rest before continuing on their trip.
The Honeymoon
Zack and Aeris had spent the first week of their honeymoon in Costa Del Sol where the villa had proven more than spacious enough to make them uncomfortable to spend more than just the minimum amount of time needed to sleep there. Needless to say that Aeris was sporting a bit of a tan due to their time in the sun by the beach where Zack commented on how this was probably the first time he had visited the beach without the company of Turks, monsters, and performing squats to pass the time.
Currently they were just crossing the mountains towards Corel and had passed the old reactor which they saw had been torn apart to the point where it was hardly more than a skeleton. The tracks were in slightly better shape but no longer extended to the reactor.
It was as they approached the big bridge before Corel that they encountered an enormous amount of human activity as hard hat wearing workers streamed along the slopes on both sides of the river, the beginnings of a dam already having formed far below them.
"This'll be impressive," Zack admitted with a whistle as he glanced down at the structure.
"Think we'll see Barret?" Aeris asked as her eyes roamed over the workers, obviously hoping to see their friend.
"Maybe," Zack replied then caught hold of a man as he passed them on the bridge. "Hey, you know where we can find Barret?"
"Barret? Sure do!" the man said with a grin then nodded towards Corel. "He don't work on the dam, only the oil fields, but you should find him in town today."
"Thanks!" the former SOLDIER said with a grin of his own then offered his new wife his arm. "Shall we?"
Aeris laughed as they continued across the bridge and into Corel where they found that some actual buildings were beginning to replace the tents that the town had mostly lived out of. The train that AVALANCHE had stopped was almost completely stripped just as the reactor had been and the track that went through the town was now clear of all tents and buildings. Probably a really good thing.
"So, where should we start looking?" Zack asked as his eyes roamed over the rough town.
"The inn?" Aeris suggested. "I don't think he has a house yet so they might know where he is."
"Alright then!" Zack declared as he took three running steps then stopped to wait for his wife. Aeris smiled at his gesture as she caught up to him then laughed as he seemed to skip from foot to foot as they headed for the inn.
The old innkeeper recognized them and even greeted them with a smile then directed them to a recently constructed bar that served as the principle meeting place for the miners.
The bar was a rough looking place that seemed to have been mostly slapped together with some of the scrap metal collected from the train and the reactor. The miners who milled about were all friendly looking though and talked amiably. Barret was a rather noticeable presence in their midst.
"HEY!" Zack shouted into the crowd, causing most of the miners, Barret included, to turn towards him.
"Well look'it who it is!" Barret yelled as he shoved his way between the tables towards them. "Let's hav'a round fer the newlyweds!"
Cheers and shouts of congratulations came from the crowd and Zack and Aeris found themselves pulled into the thick of the crowd, mugs being pushed into their hands.
"No thanks," Aeris said as she pushed the mug to another of the miners.
"Gotta join us fer a drink!" Barret told her while Zack shook his head.
"She can't have alcohol!" Zack told him and Barret blinked at them for a moment before grabbing another mug and shoving it into Zack's hands.
"Congrats!" Barret roared as he solidly clapped the slightly smaller man on the shoulder.
Normal
Rufus wasn't present at the church the next time I had to replenish the water and I was thankful for it. The day after that the last of the paperwork was finally filed and Cloud made the first official run for Three Blades Delivery. It was Cloud that suggested that name after realizing that all of us used bladed weapons and I seconded it after Zack suggested FSK Delivery over the phone the day before.
The phone was unsurprisingly silent our first day of operation so Cloud didn't have a delivery the next day and spent the day helping Tifa around the bar. I unfortunately got a call from the Turks and ended up going to the church to replenish the water and a month and a half after the cure for Geostigma was publicly announced, I noticed that the crowd finally seemed to be thinning a bit which was a huge relief. It was while I was at the church that Cloud got a call for a delivery to be made to Mideel. I almost laughed when he told me about it when I arrived. I seemed to be falling into a pattern of the first flights I take always being to Mideel.
"Would you be able to watch Aiden tomorrow?" I asked Tifa after getting the details on the delivery.
"Sure, just be sure to bring his things," she told me.
Cloud glanced up then. "Just don't expect me to be on diaper duty."
"Aww, is chocobo afraid of diapers?" I teased as I unbuckled Aiden and gently bounced him as Marlene raced in surprisingly followed by Vincent.
"Can I hold him? Please please please?" the little girl begged and I glanced at Cloud who shrugged.
"Alright, but you have to sit down," I told her as Vincent surprised me by reaching into the carrier and withdrawing Aiden's bottle and walked to the back.
Marlene jumped into the chair happily and held out her arms where I gently settled my son then watched as she smiled at him. Several minutes later Vincent returned with the bottle and I allowed Marlene to feed him as I watched.
The door to the bar opened rather suddenly and seeing as it was a rather odd time for Tifa to have customers, we all glanced at the entrance and I instantly stiffened.
"Good day," Scarlet said in a honeyed tone as she sashayed to where I sat with Marlene and my discomfort rose exponentially as her eyes roved over Aiden's tiny form. "Dear, isn't it a little warm for hats?" she asked Marlene she reached towards Aiden's head and I reacted instantly, slapping the harpy's talon away from my helpless son.
"Don't you dare touch him," I whispered threateningly as Vincent moved to stand behind me.
Scarlet glanced at her hand and I saw the narrowing of her eyes before she planted a very fake smile on her face. "My apologies."
"What is your business?" Cloud demanded though he hadn't moved to stand. Scarlet by herself was no threat against any of us.
The red woman's eyes flitted over our various forms before she faced me again. "The mayor would like some insight from several of you on several topics. When would you possibly be available to come meet him?"
I stared at the woman for a long moment before glancing at Cloud and Tifa.
"We might be available the day after tomorrow," Tifa supplied after a moment and Scarlet's lips pressed tightly together for a moment before she nodded.
"I'll see what can be arranged," she promised before heading towards the door.
It was easier to breath after the former executive had left and Tifa visibly relaxed also. Vincent took Aiden from Marlene then and burped him before settling him into the carrier again and removing his hat.
"It is a bit warm," he offered as I glanced at him and I shook my head before taking the hat and rolling it back over Aiden's head, being careful to tuck all his hair in.
"Better that he get used to wearing a hat until he's old enough for it to be dyed," I replied as I straightened up.
"He's young enough to just look platinum blond," Tifa said.
"And what about in a few months when it begins to look silver? I don't think we should even try to use a dye before he's five."
Tifa shrugged then glanced over her shelves of alcohol while Vincent sighed and Cloud stood and stretched.
That night I told Reeve about Scarlet's visit and he admitted that the city council was thinking about regulations, Scarlet had been sent to talk to us due to her now working there as a secretary.
"They also want me to take an official title for heading the WRO and I've made it quite obvious that I don't want to be titled of "President". One of our newest recruits suggested the title of Commissioner and I prefer that one."
"Sounds good. Who suggested that?"
"A young woman named Shalua. She also had one of the saddest reasons for joining the WRO."
"How?"
"She had a younger sister who was kidnapped by Shinra as a SOLDIER candidate almost eight years ago. She thinks her sister is still alive but we've found no record of the girl."
"That's terrible!" I replied as I thought of how bad it had been for everyone when they were uncertain about whether or not Zack and Cloud had survived their dip in the Lifestream.
"I don't think the girl survived but it's a horrible thing to strip someone of their hope," Reeve continued. "Shalua declares that her sister is her reason for living."
"Maybe…" I started as I thought of the problem.
Reeve heard me though and stared at me. "Maybe what?"
"Maybe I can find her," I finished. At Reeve's incredulous look I explained. "I'm in touch with the Lifestream and am probably the best person for finding another once I know who I'm looking for. That's how we found Cloud and Zack previously."
"Maybe…" Reeve admitted before offering me a small smile. "I'll talk to her; see if she's willing to try such a thing."
The next morning I started out early and dropped Aiden off with Tifa by 7am before heading to the airport. The courier was there by 8 and I took off inside of fifteen minutes later and landed in Mideel right after noon.
The cargo was medicine and clothes for the still slowly forming village as well as several monsters repellants that should keep some of the local monsters out of the village. As my plane was refueled I went through the village with the doctor and found those who hadn't been able to get to Midgar just yet for the cure for Geostigma. They would have to get back to Mideel on their own, but when I took off at just past 1 in the afternoon the plane was seen off by almost half of the village as they waved good bye to their nine friends or family. They were the last people in Mideel with Geostigma and had either just started to show signs of infection or were so far along that they couldn't travel.
Just as I had that morning, I ran the plane hard and managed to reach Edge in just over four hours. We were met by ground crews who had been more than happy to load the patients into a crew van and drive them to the church. I had the misfortune of being offered a ride by a different crew.
"Hey! Need a ride yo?" Reno called from a nearby car as I headed for the street.
"No," I called back as I turned in the direction that should take me to the Seventh Heaven.
"Come on, been a long day no doubt yo. Just give ya a lift to that bar!"
"I'm fine."
"Please excuse our concern," Rufus's voice floated from the back of the car. "We just wanted to insure you weren't over tired."
Maybe I should take up terrorism again if it meant these guys would be less interested in my general wellbeing.
"I'm fine," I assured them again and felt my eye begin to twitch as the car continued to follow me.
"The forecast suggests that it will be storming again tomorrow. We could send a car for you to get to the church," Rufus continued the conversation.
Internally I groaned. Aside from Cloud and Zack, no one in my group of friends had a vehicle and a motorcycle wouldn't be good for moving around with Aiden. I could just ask someone to come over and watch Aiden since I probably would be meeting the mayor and council tomorrow, but last I checked Ruvie had work and Tifa was planning to go, and I wasn't cruel enough to ask Vincent to babysit just yet, especially to babysit for an entire day. Like it or not, I was going to bring Aiden with me tomorrow and if it really was storming then I would need a vehicle.
"We'll see how the weather is," Rufus offered as he seemed to pick up on my discomfort with the subject.
I continued my trudge down the street and the car continued to follow as Rufus asked several questions, sometimes drawing a simple yes or no response from me before the car finally departed right as I reached the halfway point to the Seventh Heaven. Around that point I felt two more Turks arrive and start to follow me from a bit of a distance.
City hall
Scarlet snarled as soon as she determined she was alone. She was so certain that she would be able to get on Reeve's good side within a few days and be able to join his WRO as a trusted employee, one with management experience and thus get her a respectable position. Her gestures though were dismissed completely; heck the man wouldn't even look at her!
When she had gone on that horrific little errand earlier to meet with those AVALANCHE pests and try to get a date in order for a meeting to be scheduled with that pathetic man who was elected mayor, they had obviously been weary but not threatened by her. Then that Ancient had struck her to keep her away from her son! If it weren't for Hojo and the experiments that he had presented to her and Heidegger, that child wouldn't even exist! Of that Scarlet was certain.
That little idiot should be thanking her on her knees for that child. It was no great feat to see the child wasn't Reeve's, and more importantly a tiny lock of white hair that had slipped out from under that ridiculous hat had confirmed that to her beyond a doubt.
Oh how Hojo would roll and scream in his grave if he knew that his specimen was being raised by that weakling Ancient. No, weakling wasn't the right word since she had seen what that one could do. She was just not a fighter and she'd ruin that child with pacified thoughts and deeds and those ideals that AVALANCHE followed.
North Crater
It was taking longer than she had thought it would to form these new beings that would aid Tenebrous who was resting once more, so once again she turned her attention back out onto Gaia.
Her children were almost completely gone whereas just two months ago they had been so numerous! No matter how she looked at this the conclusion was always that her plans needed to be stepped up and that filthy pool destroyed. That Cetra needed to also be destroyed and she knew how.
Trust that foolish Minerva to choose a Cetra that wasn't a true warrior to act as her enabler and enforcer. Well, her bad chose would be her downfall.
If she were to compare their Cetra then Tenebrous would be a SOLDIER and that woman would be a Turk, and everyone knew that in battle a SOLDIER won against a Turk. It was why her former children and those who had her cells were SOLDIERs.
For now though and to aid Tenebrous in his mission, she had three beings that would soon be ready that encompassed the remnants she still had of the Sephiroth she had called her son. His will, his allure, and his physical strength. It would be several more months before they would be ready, but she knew she could hold on. And she had already thought of such beautiful names for them.
"Kadaj for will, Yazoo for allure, and Loz for strength," she murmured with a smirk.
Normal
The next day came too quickly and just as Rufus said there was a storm brewing that morning. I managed to get to the church just fine with Aiden but had to accept the offered ride back to Edge and once again found myself sharing a car with Rufus Shinra. He made small talk during the ride while I mentally urged Rude to go faster.
Vincent agreed to watch Aiden while Cloud, Tifa, and I headed to the City hall, meeting Reeve in the entrance hall before entering the chambers of the council and mayor. The meeting lasted almost five hours and all we really discussed were possible regulations that they would present whenever a global or continental government was established.
The climax of my day was meeting Shalua Rui after the meeting who shouted that the last thing she needed was some sort of psychic fraud trying to gouge her for money. She was respectful of Reeve but felt as though I was encroaching upon his kindness and good heart. She also hated AVALANCHE with a passion.
In total, the day was not a good one though according to Reeve, we did help in setting the ground work for future endeavors.