AN: I own nothing to do with FFVII. All characters and locations are property of Square Enix.
Chapter 6: Redux
Cosmo Canyon 12 hours later.
Nanaki looked down from one of the canyon walls. He was overjoyed to see his friends again after such a long time, but felt saddened that their reunion was under such circumstances. The first refugees had arrived from Edge but the airships had returned to pick up more from the areas surrounding it as well as Kalm where Rufus had taken his own refugee group.
Small fires dotted the canyon where groups gathered together to cook and chat. They had lost so much this day but still they carried on. As soon as Reeve had asked to bring them here he had agreed, he would not turn anyone seeking refuge away.
He turned back and padded towards the village. The meeting would be starting soon, they had much to discuss.
**********
Nanaki walked into the council room and looked around, it was busy there hadn't been so many people here in such a long time. Rufus was conversing with the Turks, Reno, Rude and Elena, but from what Nanaki could see Reno wasnt paying attention. He stood there nodding, tapping his Electro-Mag rod against his leg and stealing glances at Tifa. Nanaki chuckled to himself quietly. Humans! so obvious.
Yuffie was with Vincent although it was obvious he was trying to get away from her. He kept moving to different groups around the room but Yuffie was always him.
Cid was holding hands with Shera and talking to Reeve. Nanaki was still surprised even now that Cid had taken so long to realise how Shera had felt about him. He was happy for them though. Cid was to hot headed at times and he needed a woman like Shera to keep him in check.
He looked at Reeve. The man had once worked for Shinra, the ones that exploited the planet. Now he was a man who had taken responsibilities for his actions. The head of the WRO and a man trying to heal the planet. A man Nanaki was proud to call a friend.
Tifa and Barret were in the corner, Marlene was perched on His shoulder and Denzel was telling them all about how he had spoken to Reeve about joining the WRO again. This time Reeve had accepted.
Finally he turned to see Cloud leaning against the wall in the corner alone his arms folded over his chest. Poor tragic Cloud. Everyone here had something or someone to hold dear to. What did his friend have? Nothing. If he could have given anything to help any one of those here it would be Cloud. The man who helped free him from Hojo. The man who had gone through the tunnels and shown him that his father Seto was not a coward but a hero! Unfortunately it wasn't in his power to give him. Reeve excused himself from Shera and Cid's company and called the Council to order.
**********
"Its good to see all of you. I just wish it were under better conditions." Reeve paused and took a sip of the water in front of him.
"We have several things to discuss but lets start with the most pressing one. Genesis"
"I think I heard Zack mention his name. Although I'm not entirely sure." said Cloud frowning.
"That would be likely" Rufus added. "The Shinra files indicate Zack fought Genesis several times."
"Who was Genesis though?" Asked Tifa.
"A former 1st Class Soldier if I remember correctly. Although he turned against the Shinra." Replied Rufus. "While I may have been the President of Shinra my tenure was short and I didn't have long to look through the files. All I know is that he was part of an experiment involving Jenova."
"I hate that name" Growled Barret.
"if he is so important where has he been?" asked Nanaki.
"No one knows" Replied Rufus.
"And where the hell did he get a Weapon from?" Cid said as he lit another cig.
"That's a good point. I thought Omega was the last Weapon. Vincent defeated it didn't he?" Reeve asked no one in particular.
"There was no mistaking that thing was a Weapon" replied Cid as her puffed on his cig.
I know I know" Reeve replied.
"Weapon is born from the planet if I remember correctly. Then this Genesis must have some connection with the planet."
"Yes that's what we know Nanaki" Reeve replied.
"She said the planet was in peril" Cloud interjected.
The entire room turned to look at him. He looked up as he felt their gaze upon him. Cloud blushed slightly. He wasn't sure what to say to them.
"After I fought Hydrax I had a dream. Well I thought that it was a dream. There was a woman who offered me life or death. I didn't know who she was but she said she had made a mistake and needed me to correct it."
"Why didn't you tell us this before Cloud?" Barret yelled.
"I really thought it was a dream. She said I could go to the lifestream. Sorry." Cloud's head sagged again and the room went quiet. They all knew that it was what he wanted most.
"So we don't know where the Weapon came from fine. What about the object found in the church?" asked Reeve.
Shera replied. "It seems to be dying."
"What do you mean? What's wrong with it? Reeve replied.
"We know it was leeching excess energy from the lifestream and since it was removed from it the object has started to degrade. Its covered in brown and green spots now and is starting to turn soft to the touch."
"Maybe that's a good thing, do we really want it to activate?" said Rufus.
Cloud hammered his hands onto the table and stood. "Its not a bad thing. I know it!"
"How can you be sure?" said Nanaki
"I just know. I don't know why but we need it."
"Is there anyway to fix it Shera?" Reeve asked.
"Well if it was taken to a high concentration of lifestream energy I think it would be able to regenerate."
"But where we can't return to the church, its far to dangerous." Barret exclaimed.
"If we need lifestream energy I know where we can go" Everyone turned to Tifa.
"Mideel Its full of it."
"That's brilliant" cried Shera
Tifa smiled to herself.
"Can we really risk opening this potential can of worms now?" asked Reeve
"I'll drag it there myself if I have to Reeve" Retorted Cloud.
Reeve took another sip from his water. He knew Cloud would do it. "Fine Cid load the object onto the SHERA and transport it to Mideel. Let us know what you find Shera."
"I'm going as well" Said Cloud. "Me to" "And me" said Tifa and Barret.
"I shall follow you Cloud" Vincent added.
"I can't let Vincent go alone" added Yuffie.
"I swore an oath to defend the Village. But I have a bond with you Cloud and I feel my place is with you at the moment." Nanaki said.
Reeve sighed. "I can't go with you in person I still have a lot to organise the WRO is in tatters but I will send Cait Sith with you."
Rufus leaned across to Reno and spoke to him. After a few seconds they both looked up.
"Reno will go with you as well. You don't know what could happen and he might be useful."
Reno looked across the table at Tifa and gave her a smile. She looked down shyly as she caught it. Barret noticed and gave a hrummph.
"O.k we don't know how long the object has left before it completely degrades so you had better get organised. Get prepared and move out as soon as possible.
**********
Edge
Sephiroth finally found the abandoned WRO research facility. He had been forced to "Interview" a few of the WRO soldiers to get the code to enter the sealed sections. Somehow he knew that what he was searching for was here.
The current lab had been left just as it was before the evacuation order had been given. Notes where still scattered around and several experiments had spoiled as they were left abandoned.
Sephiroth stalked to the head Scientist's office. His monitor was still on, it showed the last few emails he had received. Sephiroth picked up a beaker and examined the contents disinterestedly, as he threw the beaker to one side a glint caught his eye.
He looked over and smiled genuinely for the first time in ages. It was really here. He could tell that it was the real thing without picking it up. It sat in an ornate frame backed by red leather. He approached and smashed the glass case.
"Masamune" He grabbed the scabbard and took his sword down from the frame. The weight felt good in his hand once again. Like it belonged there. He withdrew Masamune from the scabbard and tried a few practice slashes and thrusts with it. It was like he had never lost it. Silently he thanked the fool that had left his blade here.
The handles holding his sword depressed and a door to the side of the case opened with a low hiss and a cloud of steam. It was here, he knew it.
Clipping Masamune to his waist he entered the hidden room. Bizarre equipment lined the walls and monitors hissed with static. Reams of paper coated the floor hanging from printers and reporting findings from experiments that had been run in the past. He focused his attention on the glowing tank at the far wall.
It really was here! He stalked over to the tank and peered inside. It wasn't much to look at just a small vial. But inside it it held unlimited power. Sephiroth smashed the glass screen holding it with the hilt of Masamune and reached inside removing the vial.
The last pure Jenova cells left, the WRO had harvested them when Kadaj had fallen and they had taken his body away. That vessel had been to weak to properly utilize the full power of Jenova, it had been unfit to carry out Jenova's will. Sephiroth loaded the glowing pink vial into a nearby injector gun and lifted up his sleeve. He pushed the needle in and his finger started to tighten against the injector trigger.
He paused and thought, Hojo had added the Jenova cells while he had been growing in his biological mothers womb. What would happen if he put them in his body now? Honestly he didn't care, this would give him the power to defeat Genesis, and to take his revenge upon the one man he truly hated. Cloud Strife.
He pressed the trigger forcing the cells into his body. He dropped to his knees his body shaking and throbbing in agony. His mouth foamed and he doubled over in pain. in his mind a voice spoke to him.
"You have returned to me my son"
Sephiroth cackled as his lips frothed and one word escaped his mouth. "Mother.."
**********
Mideel 48 hours later.
Shera had been right thought Cloud, hours after the object had been placed into the lifestream lake the ugly spots on it had disappeared. It had started to pulse again with that bright white light floating just above the water.
Over the last two day's the friends had been able to catch up properly at last. Nanaki had told Denzel and Marlene stories about the planet and Cosmo Canyon, Denzel had kept asking about Seto and how he had held back the Gi Tribe at the cost of his own life. Nanaki had taken pleasure in reciting the story of his father's last stand numerous times.
Yuffie had been chasing Vincent as usual but even he had softened spending several hours at at a time talking to her. Barret and Cid had been drinking and smoking together, remembering their battle against Sephiroth in the Northern Crater.
Cait Sith was running between the groups and adding anecdote's about their times together. cloud couldn't blame Reeve, he never got to join them in their trips together.
Cloud had never liked Reno, In a way he reminded him of himself, stubborn and cocky. However he had found his opinion of him soar in the last few days. Tifa was still upset, he could tell even though she hadn't said as much to him. But Reno had been there for her. He brought her dinner and always fetched a drink when she was thirsty. Hell he had even started playing with Marlene and Denzel, despite Barret's objections at first. It had taken Cid pulling him to one side to sort that out.
"Look at Tifa, she's happy. So are Marlene and Denzel. If you barge in now you will only end up upsetting the lot of em."
"It ain't right, Marlene shouldn't be playing with a Turk." he had replied grumpily.
"I think that's her choice don't you Barret. Me and Shera were put of the Shinra years ago but you let Marlene come visit us."
Barret knowing he was wrong stomped away after that.
If Reno made Tifa happy now then Cloud wouldn't get in the way of things, she deserved some joy. If he hurt her though Cloud would make him pay.
It was the same as it had always been Cloud thought, despite all my friends I'm still alone.
**********
"Wake up you lazy spiky haired punk. Something happening"
Cloud rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Barret?"
"Who the hell do you think it is. Now come on!"
Barret dragged cloud by the arm out of the tent and towards the lifestream lake. It was night but the sky was flashing as if lightning was striking every few seconds.
Everyone else was already there watching the object, it floated lightly on top of the lifestream waters and it was clear that the flashing was coming from the object now.
"Its ready" Shera gasped
Cloud pulled the First Tsurugi from the its sheath at his back and walked towards the water.
"Cloud get back" Yelled Tifa.
It was to late though. Slowly the object descended into the lake and the flashing ended. There was silence nobody dared speak.
A massive pillar of light erupted from the centre of the lake causing everyone to shield their eyes from the blast. At that moment Cloud thought he could hear faint music again. Just as suddenly the light was gone.
No one knew what had happened. Around the lake everyone looked to each other searching for answers. A thin stream of bubbles started to rise from the middle of the lake. Something was coming.
The moon shone down on the lake casting its reflection on the water. The bubbles stopped as the surface of the lake rippled. A shape burst from the surface of the lake, it shaked itself sending drops of water back into the water causing ripples to emerge wherever they landed. The figure looked around and started to advance towards the shoreline.
Cloud's grip on the Tsurugi slipped and it dropped into the pool beside him.
As the figure advanced the moonlight reflected off of the soft white skin. Everyone was speechless at the sight before them.
Nanaki raised his head to the sky and howled.
Is this some cruel trick thought Cloud. He started to sob.
"Amazing" Barret cried and punched the air triggering bursts of gunfire from his arm.
Cid turned and kissed Shera as they watched the figure advance closer.
Its not real Cloud thought. This can't be happening
Yuffie jumped into Vincent's arms hugging him. This time even Vincent couldn't stop himself returning the hug, he was caught up in the moment,
Cait Sith was standing by the shore and bouncing from foot to foot.
Tifa jumped up her heels clicking together, she was beaming from ear to ear, Reno placed his arm around her.
Cloud dropped to his knees, he couldn't stop himself now, tears were flowing freely from his eyes and dripping down mingling with the waters of the lifestream.
Marlene squealed with delight.
There was silence once again after that though, as the figure knelt down before Cloud. They all knew this was his moment.
Reaching for his chin she took it gently in her hand and raised it until their eyes met.
"It's o.k now Cloud, no more tears." Aerith told him smiling.
He gazed into her eyes still crying.
But now they were tears of joy.
A/N Minor edits. 14/04/09
