"So where am I now?" Axel asked curiously. He and Valeria were sitting on a park bench in a completely different world than the last one, watching the people go by. And other things. "…Was that a giant crab?"
"That was a Jorta. They're a lot less simpatico with your race than T'assa are, but you can get along." Valeria pulled out a piece of gum, popping it in her mouth and chewing. "They can't stand us. We're even less formal than Terrans and it drives Jorta up the wall, especially since we can usually whip their asses." Valeria shrugged. "Mostly we have nothing to do with each other. That one would be a visitor. This is a joint Terran/T'assa colony. I lived here as a teenager."
"Ah. That explains the trees." They were nothing like the grey barked ones he'd seen on the first world. Instead they looked like oak, poplar and some possibly alien species. "This isn't Earth, is it?"
"No. Earth had a complete biosphere collapse. It's a long story." Valeria blew a bubble for a moment before sucking it back. "I don't really want to get into that. It's a lot of history. We have more important things to worry about."
"Mmm, okay." Axel could see that although he was very curious and intended to bother her later. Looking at Valeria he noticed there were huge, soft looking fronds growing out her back. They were yellow and dappled with black markings and reminded him of the petals of a flower. She was wearing a gown designed to leave her back free, and the bench they were sitting on had no back. "So I was wondering. What sex are you?" Valeria grinned at the blunt question and offered him some gum. Axel took it with a smile.
"So blunt! I'm both sexes really." Axel blinked at that as he chewed his gum. "My people are a bit more like plants when it comes to reproduction. You see the fronds on my back? They're my reproductive organs. We all make pollen and collect it, although it's a bit more involved than that." She tapped her hair for a moment. "My hair is what you would call cellulose."
"Wow… life on your planet must be totally different." It sounded like plants had gone sideways in her world, blurring the definition between the two. That would explain the moving flower.
"Yup! It's amazing that we have so much in common really." Valeria grinned, revealing white little teeth. "Especially expressions. But then, we're descended from pack predators and our ancestors always smiled!" Axel laughed at that and she smiled. "So, want me to tell you what I want from you?"
"Please!" That was something he was really concerned about. Valeria suddenly sobered.
"I want to be free. I'd prefer to live again but I'll accept death if that's all I can do. But I don't want to be in this half state anymore. I've been held on the edge of death far too long. I don't want to go on like this anymore." Axel swallowed at that thought, bright green eyes meeting darker. Had she been awake this entire time? She seemed to read his thoughts and shook her head. "I haven't really been awake until recently. The stasis is like a waking dream and the nanites make sure it's a good, pleasant dream. I've been observing everything around me but not really taking it in… it's sort of zen and hard to explain. But it didn't hurt. Still, it has to end."
"I see." Axel said slowly then grimaced. "They must have you in some kind of secret lab. Getting you out will be a pain." She nodded.
"I know. I can guide you if necessary but my suggestion is actually to take Roxas up on his idea and turn yourself in to Reno and co." She shrugged as he stared. "They'll probably take you right to me. Once you free me, there's mako baths around. You can dump me in one. It'll cure me or kill me, no middle ground."
"Hmm." Axel had to think about it a bit. "If… if I do this, I'm going to be in deep shit with everyone aren't I?" Shinra would be after him and Valeria both. She winced.
"Yes, I know. I'm sorry but I really need help." She said unhappily. "I can't do anything for myself." If she could she wouldn't be involving him. "You don't have to do this right away though. In fact, you should probably think about it a while. There's no hurry."
"Thanks." Axel was grateful for that. He didn't want to be rushed into anything. Becoming a fugitive from the law was a huge step. And would Roxas want to come with him? Maybe the blonde would. It wasn't like he was thrilled with his family.
He'd just have to see.
"You really should get that checked out." Zack said casually as he watched a pair of children at play.
"I know." Cloud muttered as he scratched his crotch, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's probably just the mako treatments. You only got them last month, there can be side effects. Nothing to be embarrassed about." The redhead was laughing as he tried to use a skateboard and the blonde was grinning. Zack smiled, feeling almost nostalgic. It reminded him of his own childhood.
"I know!" Zack turned his head and noticed his younger companion was blushing. Smiling a touch wickedly, he decided to make it worse.
"It's probably not herpes."
"Zack!" Cloud hissed and Zack laughed before turning his attention back to the children. They were heading off now and hadn't noticed their shadows at all.
This was an easy mission for them, but Cloud was brand new to his enhancements. And easy or not, this was important. Rufus wasn't willing to just take Reno's word that his brother was the perfect kid to play with Roxas. He'd checked with the school and found that Axel was two grades lower than he should have been. Zack didn't know if he'd shared that information with Reno yet but was sure he eventually would. Right now, though, he wanted to find out what the boys were doing. So far it was entirely innocent. They had grabbed some food at a local café and now they were skateboarding. Roxas' watchers pulled up to take him home and he waved goodbye to Axel before hopping in.
"So are we done here?" Cloud asked and Zack shook his head, watching Axel.
"Not just yet. Might as well do it thoroughly." So far everything looked good but they could do with more information about Axel. The redhead was sitting on a step, notebook out and sketching with a dreamy look on his face. Cloud was mightily bored when the kid finally packed up his book and went… where?
"Why isn't he going home?" Cloud asked and Zack frowned. They knew where Axel's home was. Reno had told everyone all about his little brother and how he was living with Dolang in the old family house. But Axel seemed to be showing no interest in going there. Instead he was what?
"Hmm." Zack broke out a pair of binoculars and took a close look at the place Axel was staying. It was a little shack. Rather well made but clearly the work of someone without a building permit. He passed the binoculars to Cloud, who took a look then frowned. "Maybe he's camping?" Zack suggested doubtfully and Cloud shook his head.
"It's cold out Zack. The weather forecast is snow." Cloud couldn't imagine sleeping in a shack when you had home and bed to go to when snow was on the way. Unless there was a damn good reason. "You know, I met Dolang in training."
"Oh?" Zack knew nothing about Dolang except his name. He'd been a member of SOLDIER a lot longer than Cloud, who had only finished his training a month ago. Cloud nodded somberly.
"He was a magical combat trainer. Really, really good at it but pretty hard on the trainees." Cloud hesitated and then shrugged. "I didn't want to say it when I found out he was Reno's brother, but everyone was kind of scared of him. He's got a temper and he's sort of creepy." Zack frowned and filed that under interesting but inconclusive.
"We need to report." Sephiroth would read their report and forward it to Rufus. He wasn't too keen on having his men wasting their time watching children, but Roxas was Rufus only close relative at the moment. Until Rufus was married and had children of his own, if that ever happened, the company and world government could possibly end up in the hands of an untried boy with a very unstable home life. What seemed like a waste might in fact be vital someday.
But they had done all they could at the moment. It was time to report their findings.
"Reno, how are you staying in touch with your younger brother?"
"Huh?" Reno blinked, pulled out of his thoughts by Tseng's question. "Axel? E-mail and video clips mostly. We've been meaning to set up a webcam so we could have real live meetings but haven't gotten around to it. Why?" He couldn't see why Tseng would care. The leader of the Turks pursed his lips for a moment.
"Rufus decided to check up on Roxas and your brother and found some interesting facts. He's been held back two years, his grades are straight C's and he appears to be a runaway. You have no knowledge of any of this?" Reno felt a bit like he was falling down a rabbit hole.
"That can't be right. Dolang has been sending me his report cards! He said everything's fine." Reno wasn't dumb enough to believe Axel without any confirmation. "Is Rufus sure? And what do you mean he's a runaway?"
"He's living in an abandoned lot in a little shelter. It's rather exposed but he's still there despite the snow." Tseng said disapprovingly. He didn't have children but he still didn't think this was the correct way to treat them at all. Even if Axel didn't want to live at home there were better ways. Reno stared at him, shocked.
"That's fucking ludicrous Tseng! I'm calling Dolang." Stalking away he flipped open his cell phone. "Dolang! What in fuck man?"
Reno? What? His brother sounded baffled and Reno growled.
"What's this I hear about Axel living on the streets? You've been telling me everything is fine!" Reno was sure Tseng and Rufus couldn't be wrong but nothing added up. His brother replied in a smooth tone.
Oh, he just likes to camp sometimes. And sometimes we fight. It's nothing to worry about Reno. Normally he would have been reassured by that tone. He knew Dolang was competent. Right now it just fanned his anger.
"Oh yeah? And what's this about him being two years behind and getting C's? You bullshitting me Dolang?" Reno growled then snorted. "Fuck this. I'm going to talk to him myself!" He snapped the phone shut and looked for Tseng. "Where's this abandoned lot Axel is staying at?"
"I can show you." Tseng said with a frown, feeling a strange suspicion in his mind. "Perhaps we should hurry." Dolang probably knew where Axel was staying too, and whatever was going on he had to be part of it.
He had no idea how prophetic that thought would prove to be.
Axel was whistling and drawing on stair near his hideout when he saw his brother come stalking up.
"Dolang!" His middle brother looked pissed. Axel swallowed hard and stood, looking for a good way to run. But Dolang wouldn't beat him up or kill him in public right in the middle of daylight! Would he? Then Axel suddenly remembered he had some weapons in his arsenal. That was comfort –
"OOOF!" Dolang had grabbed him around the collar and shoved his back to the wall.
"You little fucker, I should kill you." Dolang snarled as Axel squirmed, debating phasing out. But if he did everyone would know… "You and your fooling around with Rufus' cousin. That fucker checked up on you and told Reno!"
"Wh-who? Rufus?" That was a shock. Axel hadn't thought he would warrant such attention. "Oh, the house of cards is finally coming down? What a horror. Let go of me!" Axel spat out and Dolang grinned mirthlessly.
"Oh, I don't think so brat." Axel started to phase out but he remembered too late that it had no effect on electricity. Or magic. The magical shock Dolang gave him was calculated to incapacitate and Axel collapsed to the ground with a cry. Dolang frowned and flexed his fingers. Axel had felt oddly insubstantial for a moment… but that had probably been his imagination. Reaching down he gripped the boys' collar –
And was utterly shocked by a fist to the face. Dolang took two steps back in surprise and recovered just as a foot hit him in the chest. Gathering himself he snarled and launched an attack and was stunned as Axel grabbed his arm and threw him easily. This shouldn't have been happening. Axel was untrained.
"Axel, what the fuck!" Dolang spun on his feet and began calling up his magic but stopped for just a moment as he looked into Axel's eyes. They were empty as the eyes of a glass doll, as if the owner wasn't home. Instead, something alien was looking out at him. Dolang hesitated just a moment then scowled and threw his spell.
The fire magic was caught easily and danced around Axel's hands before being flung back. Dolang replied to it immediately with ice to block and Axel spread his hands in a lifting gesture. He wasn't summoning magic, Dolang could tell… but all the garbage in the lot suddenly exploded into the air and the shelter came apart, boards swirling around Axel in a cacophony of junk. Then they flew at him with stunning force and Dolang had to dodge frantically.
"What the hell?" Reno stared as he got out of the air and he vaguely heard Tseng calling for backup. There was one hell of a fight going on in front of him and people were already running for cover. "Dolang! Axel! Shit, stop!" Dolang was really trying to kill Axel and it looked like his little brother was returning the favor. But how was he doing this? Fire was flowing through the air and items were getting thrown all over the place, along with a vicious martial arts skill Reno had never seen in Axel before. His speed was amazing and none of the hits Dolang was getting in seemed to stop him for a moment. And the marks were healing freakishly fast but Reno couldn't pick up even the smallest hint of magic.
"You stop Axel. I'll take Dolang." Tseng thought they couldn't wait for backup to break this up or someone was going to die. Reno nodded sharply and managed to tackle Axel just as Tseng brought down Dolang. The ginger haired man had just enough sense not to strike out at the Turk. Axel wiggled for a moment then looked at Reno for a long moment. Reno wasn't sure what to make of the look on his face. It was so blank yet so calculating.
"Reno. Neutral or hostile." Axel cocked his head to one side then glanced over at where Tseng was reaming out a sullen Dolang. Then he blinked. "Reno…?" There was suddenly more life in his voice and Reno was relieved to see animation return to his face. "What happened?"
"I don't know, you tell me. How were you tossing things around like that?" Reno asked and Axel's expression went blank.
"Oh, I… have no idea." Reno scowled and let go of Axel's arms to slap him, hard. The redhead just looked at him blankly and Reno immediately felt guilty… but not too guilty. He knew Axel was lying.
"Don't lie to me! I have a right to know what's going on." He snapped and Axel suddenly scowled.
"Bullshit!" Axel snarled back, loud enough to attract Tseng's attention. "You don't know SHIT about me Reno!" Another car arrived and Elena and Rude piled out but Axel didn't care. "You haven't talked to me in four years! FUCK you Reno! You're worthless!" Axel tried to punch his brother in the chest but Reno blocked him. "Let me go!"
"Stop exaggerating." Reno said harshly. "We've been e-mailing and sending videos back and forth the whole time." Axel looked at him wide-eyed for a moment then threw back his head and laughed wildly.
"Wow, and it's so hard to fake e-mails and videos! Video editing here we come… I haven't sent you a damn thing Reno. Not a thing. You don't know me, now… oh fuck this." Reno suddenly found himself gripping nothing but air and a suddenly insubstantial Axel sprinted away. He passed into a building as Reno stared after him and there was a shriek from inside, confirming that whoever was in the house had just been surprised.
"Axel! Shit… after him!" Rude and Elena took off after the fleeing boy although it was nearly hopeless. Axel could go directly through buildings and hide in places they could never reach, but they had to try. Reno turned to glare at Dolang. "Dolang. You fucker. What's been going on?" Reno felt like one of the great certainties of his world had just been knocked to pieces. Dolang was breathing heavily and there was something feral and mad in his eyes.
"You know what's going on. It was all his fucking fault!" Dolang raged at his brother, who stared at him wide-eyed. "All his fault mother died! His fault father left us! He's the one who ruined our family and I HATE him! He should never have been born!"
"What?" Reno had heard Dolang say that before but he'd thought it was a passing fit of madness. "You… that's insane! He was only five! You were the one who left him by the river, if it was anyone's fault it was yours!" It suddenly occurred to Reno that Dolang probably knew that, deep down. Axel had fallen into the river at five and their mother had saved him at the cost of her own life. And Dolang had left Axel by the river in a moment of pure irresponsibility. But he couldn't accept the guilt for it. Had he been putting it on Axel this whole time?
"NO! He shouldn't have fallen in! That little bastard doesn't deserve to live!" The two brothers were shouting at each other when Tseng tuned them out and flipped open his cell phone to alert Rufus.
He needed to know that Axel's experiment was apparently a success and they needed to do something about it. The child seemed nice enough but they couldn't let him run around with these powers in a questionable mental state.
It was just too dangerous.