Chapter 8
I stood in the middle of the forest with my son holding onto me tightly. Looking into the distance, I saw the dark outline of black suits and guns drawn. Rude threw me a "thumbs up" and Tseng nodded in my direction. I sighed. Please don't let this turn out for the worst. "Mother…they are coming. I feel them." My blood turned to ice as I grasped Lucien even tighter.
Are you still near? I thought, hoping for an immediate reply. Mmmm…There's nothing to fear, I won't leave you again. I heard his deep voice fill my conscious and it gave me a small fraction of peace. I just wasn't sure if I could do this and face... him. My hands quaked under Lucien and I felt as if my legs would collapse in the light breeze that flowed through my white hair. I like it….you're hair. It suits you… Sephiroth once again filled my mind with his voice and a small feeling of heat crept up my body. Yea, well…It certainly wasn't voluntary… Lucien buried his face in my shoulder and I heard the drone of engines coming towards us … I would like to see it wet…. My breathing became harder and the heat continued to rise. Stop it! Lucien will hear you…and you need to concentrate…. As the motorcycles came into view, Sephiroth's low chuckle came into my mind and I braced myself for conflict.
Two Motorcycles rode up revealing two of Genesis' clones. Neither spoke as they climbed off the machines and continued to glare in my direction. "I hope you don't take me for a fool." I heard Genesis say behind me. "Did you really think I would so willingly fall into this little trap?" Genesis smirked, and my hand continued to clutch Lucien into my chest. "No, but yet here you are exactly like we planned. You must be as senseless as I always thought you were." Genesis' smirk turned into a frown and he unsheathed his sword. I started to turn around and face him, but another familiar voice struck me in the chest and I became paralyzed.
"You've been a naughty girl Cassmora. Running away from home and stealing my greatest experiment," He clicked his tongue and I could feel his sickening smile with every word. "I'll have to make sure to punish you." Lucien let out a sob and I noticed that my knees were knocking together. Tears began to stream from my face as I turned my eyes to meet my enemy's. "Hojo…." I whispered. He let out a manic laugh and my stomach turned to mush. "After all this time…I can still have quiet an effect on you." I began to feel an overwhelming sense of rage and I knew that Sephiroth was close. My heart began to beat again as I realized I wasn't alone this time. Not anymore, in an empty cage, undressed and vulnerable…
Sephiroth scowled at the pair as he brought his sword in front of him. Not a word was spoken but that didn't matter. His aura spoke a thousand words and I was genuinely intimidated just standing next to him. The fight began so quickly I didn't even have time to blink. Genesis attacked Sephiroth with so much speed I had a hard time watching, but he was no match. Sephiroth had always been the better combatant and he knew it. His sword cut through the air as if it were a dance and I was almost hypnotized by the scene. I scurried through the woods with my arms still locked around my son and began to speak into my ear piece.
"It's a go. They are here." I said. Immediately Vincent swooped down to scoop up my son in a hurry and trailed off through the woods. "Protect him." I said after him and although I was met with silence, I knew he would. Meanwhile, Reeve, Yuffie, Rufus, and Elena were working on communicating through the ancient machine to the planet. In some way, the plan was to send Genesis back to the Lifestream. I didn't understand how; the whole thing seemed a bit complicated. Without Genesis, Hojo had no one to protect him and we could destroy this thing once and for all. Cloud and Tifa along with Cid and Barrett were to aide Sephiroth, if that were possible. Knowing Sephiroth, he wouldn't let them and it would become a competition; a battle of the fittest. I raced back to watch the scene unfold as Sephiroth and Genesis continued their battle. The clones attacked Tifa and Cloud as Cid hung back for the trade off. We should have made someone else stay behind with us…is this a fair fight? I thought to myself. Sephiroth's thoughts flooded my brain. We did….YOU … His comment made me step back. I couldn't fight! I was a mother for heaven's sake, not a warrior. I couldn't fight Genesis! No…but Chaos can…
With that, Sephiroth pushed Genesis away in a huff and sped towards me in a bolt of light. Panic surged through my body as I began to see images pour into my mind of my Lucien being taken. Damn it, stop! But the demand was ignored. The images continued to enter my head as I felt my body become rigid. Why was he doing this to me? Lucien screamed for me and his little chubby hands shoved his attacker with all his might. I fell to my knees my hands on my head as Sephiroth stepped behind me. The final piece of the plan… I heard him say as Lucien's voice was silenced with the blade of a knife…by none other than Genesis himself. The image was burned into my brain and my reasoning with Chaos that this was all a trick of the mind was no use. My other half was taking over, so with one final thought I attempted to still be in control. Kill the bastards….
Sephiroth's POV
I had never seen Cassmora so beautiful. Her blows to the enemy sent chills down my spine as she continued to battle in a way I had yet to witness. Even I, the god of war itself, was mesmerized by the demon that possessed her as she threw another ball of fire from her fingertips at Genesis' head. Light smoke filled the air and it appeared as if her hair had caught flame as it danced around her. Her eyes burned white as snow and her lips moved to a language I had never before heard. As Genesis fell to his knees, his clones charged towards Cassmora breaking away from their ongoing battle with Strife and Lockhart. The two were no match for Cass as she split the two in half and they slowly dissipated into the air. The battle seemed to only last a few moments but it was clear who reigned triumphant. Cassmora stared into the ground, her hand outstretched behind her as if she was contemplating her final move. Her head then twitched up and she darted towards her foe like a bolt of lightning.
"Cassmora, don't cry."
The phrase seemed almost silly and I looked to Hojo in confusion. Cassmora came to a halt, her arm stretched out in front of her yet her face was twisted in pain. Hojo chuckled and walked up to put his hand on Cassmora's shoulder. "The most important part of creating a monster. Teaching them to submit." Cassmora fell to the ground with her hands on her head. I knew she was reliving some horrific nightmare but she wouldn't let me in to see it. She was too strong to break through. Cloud charged at Genesis but he was too late. Hojo and Genesis took flight and I watched them disappear from sight right before Cass fell to a heap on the ground. Her body began to shiver and it seemed as though she would erupt into a million pieces. "Cass…Wake up." I tried, but to no avail. She began to scream and I could see how powerful Chaos had a hold of her. Sweat poured from her brow and I began to see the change. Her memories were beginning to seep through and I saw many different images I didn't understand. Blood stained pillows. Total darkness yet a smell of antiseptics and the cry of a child. I knew she was back in the lab now and I had to try and find a way to dig her out. "Cass…let me in. Let me help you." She began to twist and turn bringing Tifa and Cid to the scene. "We have to help her." Tifa said and I grunted in agreement. Tifa tried to put her hand on her head but jerked away in pain. "Her skin…it's scorching!" I began to feel a sense of panic arise in me like it had never before. I didn't know how to get through to her.
And that's when I heard it. The smallest of voices entering my head and reaching a spot in Cassmora I could only dream to touch.
Mommy….You need to wake up now.
Immediately Cassmora started to slow. Her breathing returned to normal and I watched as her face eased into a peaceful slumber. I sighed a breath of relief. I bent down to pick up the mother of my child and nodded towards Tifa. The plan may have failed on our end but I was curious to see if the others had came through. We didn't get far before approaching them. "Didn't work." Reeve said with a shake of his head. Rufus walked up and shrugged his shoulders. "it seems as if the only thing we can do is wait til they come back and try again to stop them. I'm afraid next time, there will be a bigger, more powerful army so I suggest everyone stay on standby." Everyone started to talk at once and Rufus' eyes fell on Cassmora. "Gaia, what happened," He cursed. Stiffening, I took a step back feeling a pang of protectiveness surged through me. Rufus looked up at me with anger in his face. "You said she would be perfectly safe." "And she is…here in my arms." I said and began to walk out of the forest. "Where are you taking her?" Rufus called after me and signaled Tseng to follow. "Somewhere safe and secluded where they can't find us. Tell Vincent to meet us in the slums. I'm taking Cass and my son home."
