I apologize for this being slightly later and that the events in nibelheim are taking so long. I was not expecting it to be this lengthy but here I am.
And as an answer to a couple people you can point out any grammar errors you find, I read over it once and get a friend to as well, but I miss shit sometimes. And as always feedback is appreciated.
Enjoy the cliffhangers~ Xar
A single black feather fell from the sky.
The reactor did seem abandoned, had it not been for the chocobo tracks passing their way to town. A faint whispering came from inside, but he ignored it for now. His prey was not there.
Sephiroth himself had come to Nibelheim, on a mission to investigate the oddities of the looming, dark structure, and that was whom he sought. He had followed Angeal's trail-both of his old friends, converged in the same place. What were they planning? Why was he always the one left out?
Angeal had brought his puppy and a strange blond-haired boy with him. His time was running out-for both of them, really-and yet he kept up this escapade that he was still human. That wings did not mean monster.
They were not his goal. Jenova was. Hollander was. And yet…a faint warmth in his heart had led him to be curious about old bonds broken. Here the three friends meet again, but who shall be the hero?
The black feather gently rested against the ground as the mysterious man took flight.
"Okay, spill it, Reno. What do you know about Cloud?" Zack was getting defensive at the red-head and certainly not helping the situation. Cloud however, didn't stop him, since not only had Reno been acting weird, but he'd just found one of his missing books in Hojo's former lab.
"Chill, chill. Your mom ever teach you that askin' rudely gets you nowhere?" The Turk held his hands up.
"Then speak up, Turk." Angeal's voice was as frosty as Sephiroth's glare.
"Like I said, ask-"
"We do not have time for politeness. You will speak now, or hold your tongue," Sephiroth said, his tone laced with a threat.
"Look, I'm riskin' my life here!" Reno suddenly shouted, and all semblance of his easy-going attitude completely disappeared. No longer was he just a Turk, but a teenager who had seen and heard too much. That shocked everyone-even the General-into silence.
Cloud wanted to tread carefully here, as desperately curious as he was. Something had disturbed his new companion badly. "What is it, Reno…"
The red-head let out a short laugh. "Well, if I end up like Vincent, I'm comin' back to haunt all you guys." He clapped his hands together. "'kay, so you know how Tseng sent me on this mission to give you guys a hand, as much as you hate it?"
Various nods all around and a silent stare from Sephiroth.
"Well, he ain't the only one who told me to do somethin' while I was here. Professor Creep-show-or I should say Hojo-also decided to put in his two cents," Reno said, putting his hands back in his pockets.
The wooden beams of the chair broke under Sephiroth's grip, and Reno suddenly backed up. The other two SOLDIERS were far more vocal.
"What do you mean, Hojo?!" Zack said loudly, staring at the Turk. The red-head had his hands raised defensively, like he was afraid everyone in the room was going to jump him.
"Calm down and let him speak." Vincent's soft voice cut quickly silenced the protests, and everyone turned to him in surprise. It was the first time he had spoken to anyone who wasn't Sephiroth while they were in the library.
"Tell me what he wanted, Turk…" Sephiroth growled, the chair again creaking dangerously. Cloud merely stood his ground between Reno and the agitated SOLDIERS, which now seemed a very dangerous place to be, but at least the mysterious Vincent was on his side.
"Holy shit, guys, an' you wonder why I didn't wanna say anything…"Reno really did looked freaked out by the General and Cloud actually felt sorry for him, even if it was overrode by dying curiosity.
The Turk took a deep breath. "Hojo was off rantin' about how nothing was going his way, and because of that he needed my help. Somehow he knew the two of you-" he pointed at Zack and Angeal-"were gonna be here, and sent me along for a 'special' mission."
There was a horrible, deadly silence in the room, and Cloud swallowed slowly.
"That special mission was not to keep an eye on the General, but rather to bring a certain someone back to Shinra at all costs," Reno said slowly, avoiding all eye contact.
Cloud could hear Sephiroth muttering something under his breath, and backed up slightly, accidentally running into Vincent, who didn't seem to notice. Zack and Angeal however, both had strained looks on their faces, even if the younger SOLDIER was the more expressive of the two.
"Reno….who did he want you to bring back…" Zack said slowly, as if afraid of the answer.
"Was it me?" Angeal asked, looking around at everyone. The others seemed to agree with that assumption, but Reno shook his head wildly, his eyes wide.
"No, I thought you or Sephiroth too, but he shot me down. He didn't care about any of you!" The red-head's fingers started playing with his EMR.
"Then who…." Cloud asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Reno didn't answer, but merely let out a long breath, his eyes sliding over to the trooper. As soon as Reno's gaze met his, Cloud's blood ran cold. I was right….
"He wants me," the trooper said, and the Turk just nodded. Cloud's hands dropped to his side, and he started breathing heavier, attempting to stay the panic that was rising from the pit of his stomach.
"Are you serious?!" The trooper turned to see Zack, who had a horrified expression. "Cloud? Are you fucking serious?!"
"You think I'd make up shit like this?" Reno said. "I have no idea why the hell he wants the kid but that's what he told me!"
Cloud was almost afraid to look even farther and see what the General's reaction was, but he did it anyway. Sephiroth was staring straight at him and he fought down the urge to cut and run. The cold eyes, boring directly into his soul….the hairs raised on the back of his neck as he tried keeping his composure.
"Why…"Sephiroth muttered. "Why you…"
The chair could not take any more abuse and finally collapsed, causing Cloud to jump backwards and knock into the wall. So that's why he was freaking out…the only person who could shut up a Turk was Hojo.
Zack himself looked positively murderous. "And you were just going to do it, Reno?"
He started walking towards the Turk, hand on his sword, but the trooper quickly raised his hands, hoping to stop him. However, before he even got close, Angeal's hand rested on Zack's shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
"Zack, stop this. He is not the enemy," The older man said. "He is risking his very life to tell us."
"You got that right, yo! Hell, he told me if I ever did, well, I'd end up like Vincent." Reno cast a significant look to the red-cloaked man, who had been watching the whole exchange impassively.
"So THAT'S why you freaked and ran away…" Cloud said. It all made sense now, since the Turk had only started panicking after Vincent had mentioned the name Hojo.
"I thought he was lyin' when he said he could disappear a Turk. But if he could do it to the great Vincent Valentine, then, well, I'm screwed." The red-head grinned, but Cloud could see the tips of his fingers shaking.
Luckily, that managed to calm Zack down, who was still looking murderous, but at least not at Reno. Sephiroth, however, was another story. He was still staring at Cloud, but saying nothing, and it bothered him to no end.
"Do you…think it's some connection to my book being here?" Cloud slowly asked, trying to break the tension. It didn't really work, but at least Angeal answered him.
"I don't know, but it leads to the conclusion you are now involved whether you wanted to be or not." The larger man sighed. "I am sorry, Cloud."
This time he didn't answer, because he didn't know how.
"I left a message with Tseng so he's probably figurin' out what he can," Reno said. "I can't do much though, an' you know that. I ain't gonna end up as a lab rat for that creep."
Cloud glanced sideways at him, several odd feelings coursing through him. Had the Turk ever really wanted to sell him out? Despite his annoying personality, he really didn't seem that bad of a guy, and Tseng had trusted him enough. And there was the fact that Reno had gone out of his way to try and make friends with him-except did he do that to complete his mission?
"Look, I can't say anything okay? I really can't but it ain't 'cause I'm out to get you or whatever."
He'd been completely serious when he said that. The look the red-head was giving him now told him the same thing.
Cloud would have to trust him.
Besides, if he tried anything, I'm fairly certain Zack would attempt to behead him.
"Cloud, you okay?" Zack was looking at him in concern, and he just nodded, trying to get him to not worry. He could deal with this.
"I'm-I'm fine…" he said, casting another glance at the General. Sephiroth had not moved his gaze away from the trooper, but rather his stare had grown more intense. Had he done something to upset him?
"Hojo…he wants to use you next…" Sephiroth continued to mutter, even if everyone in the room heard him.
Next? For what?
He did not want the answer to that question. Suddenly, Sephiroth straightened up, looming over the room. "He will not have his way again, Strife."
Cloud nearly choked on his next breath as the General said that. Was he promising to protect him? THE General, the man he looked up to his whole life. Sephiroth was on his side?
"Needless to say…I don't think we can do anything about it now. It's getting late, and we should wrap things up before heading to the reactor tomorrow," Angeal said, attempting to calm the nerves of the crowd.
Cloud was grateful for this, because the constant fighting was getting to him and sleep sounded nice, as long as it was as far away from Nibelheim as he could get.
"Yeah…come on guys, lets get back up to the mansion proper," Zack answered, herding Reno and Cloud in front of him. None of them spoke any further, but they all knew the same thing: returning to Shinra now might not be the best thing to do.
Sephiroth and Reno were to return to the inn in Nibelheim, being the only ones officially here on the mission. The rest of them-including Vincent, Cloud assumed, he had not seen the man since they left the library-would stay around in the Shinra manor, where no one would find them.
"Everything is covered in dust and I'm gonna be sneezing all night!" Zack complained as they searched for a good place to stay.
"You could always sleep outside with the chocobos," Angeal said with a light smile, earning him a scowl.
"No thanks, I'd rather stay in that creepy lab…" the younger SOLDIER continued to grumble under his breath, and Cloud would've smiled at the spectacle had he not been troubled by all that Reno had said. The book was still clutched in his hand, having refused to let it go since it was a memento of his late father and possibly a clue to how he was related to this whole mess.
He chose to stay in the room right by the secret passage, if only for the convenience and he could tell if someone was heading down there. Zack practically forced Angeal to go to bed, and then turned suddenly on Cloud.
"You can't go back to Shinra," he said, standing squarely in front of the trooper.
"Why not? You just said you'd sponsor-"
"To hell with that, Cloud! If Hojo's after you, you can't go back!" Zack looked desperate, even reaching out to hold him in place as he tried to leave. "If you go back, something terrible might happen to you! Did you not hear what I had to say?"
Cloud shook his head. He did, but it wasn't that simple. "Zack, I don't want to-"
"I don't want to lose you too!"
That one shocked him into silence.
"Everyone…everyone's been involved in this case, and everyone's been affected by it and Angeal, he just….he just left me behind! And Sephiroth, he's hurting and he doesn't trust anyone. Genesis is another story and the Turks…Tseng can't do anything. Cissnei can't do anything. Don't you get it? They are all my friends and they keep leaving, and have this shit happen to them, and I don't want you to be like that too!" Zack's voice got more frantic as he went on until he was nearly running out of breath. "Please Cloud, you're a great kid. You can't suffer like them."
He couldn't say anything to that. How could he? He had never seen Zack this desperate and this…scared, not even after he had blown up at Angeal and Sephiroth for ignoring him. Even then it had been more out of frustration than anything else.
What can I say to that?
"Zack…." He didn't and just stood there, desperately trying not to become visibly upset. He could hear Zack's breathing again, and feel the SOLDIER's racing pulse against his shoulder. This was the man he'd looked up to for being so strong and sure of himself and yet here they were, Zack again holding onto Cloud as if he were a last lifeline.
He was looking at the floor, so Cloud couldn't see his face, but his friend began to speak in a low voice. "I want to protect them. Please tell me I'll be able to, Cloud…"
"I…don't think I can. But you're really…strong. If anyone can do it, you can." Cloud spoke the truth, once again, and this time he wasn't teasing. "I made this promise before, but I can do it again. I promise you, I'll become stronger. I'll join SOLDIER, with your help and I'll become stronger, so you don't have to be alone."
Where the hell was this stuff coming from, I sound like a melodrama…
He briefly wondered if Tifa and his mom would be alright with him promising someone else as well. Cloud hadn't forgotten, not for one second why he needed to be so strong, but it seemed the only way to get Zack to understand that he still had friends. It was only fitting to promise that to the man who had given him a second chance to redeem himself.
I'm not gonna be that little kid any longer, I told myself that.
Deep down his promise wasn't just to his friend, but to himself as well. To all of them.
Still, I hope she'll forgive me…
The grip on his shoulders tightened for a second before letting go, and Zack drew himself up, looking none worse for the wear, though Cloud thought he spotted a mysterious sheen in his eyes. "I'll…hold you to that. Don't let me down, okay?"
Cloud nodded, trying his best to smile to get his friend to in return. It sort of worked. "I won't. You can count on me."
"There's…really nothing I can say to make you stay, is there?" Zack asked, again running his fingers through his hair.
"You've tried like three times before, why would this time be any different?" It was a weak joke but Zack still laughed.
"Just…stay safe, okay? For everyone?"
"Got it." He nodded again, and this time Zack didn't do anything but wave at him and head off to wherever he was sleeping. Slightly surprised, but also sort of pleased, that Zack was just letting him go back this easily, he laid down on the dusty bed and just then registering how tired he was, immediately went to sleep.
The night passed calmly for everyone except Vincent Valentine. Though he had slept for these past twenty years locked in a coffin, he had trouble going back to that state now that he was fully awakened. The beasts that resided inside of him added their whispers to his consciousness, further driving him from the darkness whence he came.
Or…so it was described to him. His boots lit down silently on the wooden floor as he made his way through the house. Everyone else was asleep, so it mattered little how stealthy he was being, but by now, it was instinct.
Though they had not realized he was there, Vincent had heard every word of the conversation between the blonde boy and his friend, Zack, having not wished to leave the manor. Again, it had left a strange feeling in his heart. Perhaps it was because he had not been around humans for so long that he'd forgotten what companionship felt like.
No…long before that…I gave up my humanity when I became a Turk.
He stopped discreetly in the room leading down to the basement, sensing the boy, Cloud to be there. Turning his head slightly, Vincent noticed he had fallen half on the bed and was sleeping soundly. If what the others said had been true, this boy defeated the Lost Number that guarded his cage by himself.
A very impressive feat for a trooper.
Chaos began to whisper again as he drew closer to the sleeping figure, causing him to stop in his tracks.
What is it? He asked silently, demanding answers of the creature, but Chaos just faded away, refusing to speak.
You will see, foolish human. If you dare go to the reactor.
What was it about this boy? Vincent had been absolutely sure earlier Cloud had heard Chaos speak to him without any prompting, and now he had learned Hojo had been after him from the start. If he were up to his old tricks again…
Vincent did not count himself among the most compassionate of people, but it disturbed him to no end that this boy here might end up like him, tied to a table, cut open and twisted, all for the sake of science. No one deserved that fate.
He hesitated for just a moment, unsure of what to do, then gently shifted Cloud until he was all the way on the bed and pulled the cover over him, removing the sword so it wouldn't get in his way. Briefly, Vincent cast an eye on the book the boy clutched in his hands, resolving to later pry the information away from it.
Perhaps, Lucrecia, my debt is to save these new SOLDIERs from the war...
For now, he had work to do.
Cloud wished he had dreamed of the girl in the flowers that night, but she only showed up briefly. The rest of the night he fell in and out of sleep, dreaming he was being chased by the safe monster who was suddenly wearing a pair of glasses. When morning came he jolted upwards, throwing off his covers.
He stared in confusion, not having remembered even making it fully onto the bed, much less under a blanket. His sword was lying out on a table as well, Cloud not having put it there. Had Zack….he must have after I fell asleep.
Yawning, he pulled himself out of bed and strapped the sword in its harness again, feeling slightly empty without the other one. For a minute he was confused about having the SOLDIER uniform, until he remembered the events of yesterday. It all seemed like a lifetime ago to him; the monster, finding the Turk in the basement, his storybook…
Cloud suddenly turned back and snatched it up, afraid to let the book out of his sight as if it would grow legs and wander off, denying him answers. This was his only link to this place and possibly why Hojo would be interested in a nobody like him. Quietly walking out into the main area, he looked to see if anyone was awake. Not wanting to disturb Angeal or Zack, he snuck outside the mansion, looking possibly for something to eat.
He breathed deeply, feeling the cool air brush against his skin, calming him. He'd been tossing and turning all night, afraid of the nightmares Hojo created in his mind. He didn't know what sort of plan the madman had for him, but Cloud had sworn to not let him get close. Even if becoming SOLDIER meant…well being under his thumb.
Rubbing his eyes, he took off after the chocobos, who while wandering, immediately returned to the little trooper when he called. That's some great skill to have, chocobo whispering…
They all seemed fine, even Zack, though something out in the mountains seemed to have spooked them. Cloud could only hope it was some normal monster.
Normal. What has the world come to, me wishing for something normal to attack us…
"You sure this is a really good idea?" Zack asked his mentor as they trekked up the mountain. Angeal didn't answer for a moment, thinking it over.
"Any other way would be more difficult. You know how Sephiroth gets." He looked pointedly at the younger SOLDIER.
"Yeah, yeah, I know…" Zack shook his head. "Still feel kinda bad for Cloud getting stuck there with him."
"He's a big kid. He can handle himself, yo," Reno said, walking up behind them.
It had originally been Angeal's idea, at least after Vincent explicitly told Sephiroth to stay away from the reactor. Knowing his friend would not be happy with the idea of someone ordering him around, he had woken Zack early to follow the former Turk up to the structure himself, alone. What he had not counted on was Reno guessing his plan and showing up out of the blue.
The red-head assured him that everything had been taken care of with the two regulars assigned to the mission, but Angeal didn't quite trust his judgement. There was little they could do about it now, though, except finish this mission quickly.
"Y'know, there was this girl back in town who kept askin' me if I'd seen a blonde-haired SOLDIER around. You think she coulda been talkin' about Cloud?" The Turk kept rambling and Angeal ignored him.
"Well Cloud did say he promised someone he'd return as a SOLDIER, so it makes sense." Luckily, Zack humored him instead.
"Ahh, a childhood sweetheart, I see." Reno smile grew wolfish, no doubt planning on teasing the trooper about it when he got back.
"Reno, don't be mean. The kid was really upset about it. He didn't want to even go back to Nibelheim."
"Still-"
"No, Reno." Zack sighed in exasperation, and Angeal couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Now you know how I feel when I'm trying to convince you to not do something, Zack," he said, earning him one of his student's famous puppy looks.
"I am nothing like him!"
"Says you." Angeal kept smiling and walked on. He could see up front of them the shadow of Vincent Valentine traveling soundlessly across the ground, something not even Sephiroth could hope to match.
Hearing Zack's characteristic protests-and a cutting remark from Reno-could only cheer him up a little as he stared up at the looming tower. A sense of wrongness perverted the reactor and its rather pristine surroundings. The metal twisted like a scar on the ground, and were it not for his friend's sake, Angeal would refuse to continue further.
The aching in his body and head grew worse, and he almost had to stop a couple times. The concerned eyes of his student were more than enough to spur him forwards but it could not wipe the whispering of a soft voice from his mind.
"There is something very wrong with this place…" he said.
"She lies inside there." Vincent said suddenly, drawing out his handgun. "The Calamity awaits."
Everyone was silent and unmoving as the red-cloaked man loaded his weapon, preparing himself for what was inside.
Cloud looked curiously at the ground where his chocobo had been scratching at. A few black feathers were scattered on the ground, and he almost mistook them for Zack's, but they were much too small. He stooped down and picked a couple of them up, running his fingers down the bristles. For one, they were too skinny and lightweight to be chocobo feathers, and the birds didn't normally shed unless they were molting, and it certainly wasn't that season.
Curious…He kept a few of them in his hand as he made his way back to the front. Luckily, there had been something for him to eat-Zack had always made sure of that-and a puddle of melted water to try and wash his face and hair out of any excess mud, so he was feeling much better.
That feeling faded when he heard the click of a gun being pointed at him. Cloud slowly held his hands up, practically jumping out of his skin.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" A voice came from behind him, but he didn't recognize it. This one sounded like it meant business, unlike Reno's trick and he nervously debated his chances of talking his way out of this.
Cloud didn't answer but slowly turned around, surprised to see another Shinra trooper with a green scarf, the rifle aimed straight at his chest. This must be one of those regulars assigned to the mission, crap!
"I um-I can explain! I'm not the enemy here!" Cloud protested, his hands still held up.
"Then why are you wearing a First's uniform? I don't recognize you from this mission," The trooper said, not budging an inch.
Zack I TOLD you it would get me in trouble!
"I'm not a SOLDIER first, I'm a trooper like you, my uniform was just ruined so I had to change. Sephiroth-the General knows I'm here!" Cloud didn't know what to say, if the others had established a cover story for them right now, but he was more concerned with not becoming a pincushion. At least Angeal wasn't here, that would ruin everything…
"A trooper? Name and squad number." The man ordered. He couldn't see any of his face past the helmet so Cloud didn't know if he was buying his story or not.
"Cloud Strife, sir, I'm with Squad 7. I was sent on the Modeoheim mission with SOLDIER First Zack Fair, and after getting separated, made our way here to Nibelheim." He held in his breath, hoping that was vague enough to satisfy him.
The gun lowered slightly, but did not completely so Cloud still held his hands up.
"Then what are you doing around here?" The trooper demanded. He opened his mouth to answer, but instead stepped back in shock when the General, impressive as ever, appeared behind the infantryman.
"Strife? What is going on?" Sephiroth asked, giving a significant look to Cloud's aggressor. The trooper jumped, just realizing he was there, the gun still trained on Cloud.
Never have I been so glad to see him…" Uh, sir, he thinks I'm a threat."
"…Stand down. Strife is with us." The General held up a hand and the trooper immediately backed away, looking almost apologetic. After a few quiet words to the trooper, who then stood by the gate, Sephiroth walked quickly over to Cloud, whose heartbeat got faster every step he took towards the boy.
"Where are the others?" The General demanded.
"I um-well I was about to look too…" Cloud tripped over his own tongue in his haste to answer him.
"Reno was gone before I woke up, and I suspect we will find the same for the others…" Something in Sephiroth's tone indicated he was upset, and Cloud unconsciously took a step backwards.
"I-maybe. I haven't seen them yet."
Sephiroth cast a long glance at him, causing his heart rate to go up again, before swiftly turning to the building, his hair brushing against Cloud as he did so. "We will see if you are right."
Cloud could only follow him into the mansion, wondering what had ticked him off.
As it turned out, Cloud was right. They had checked their room only to find Zack and Angeal were long gone, with a hastily scribbled note in their place. Vincent, it seemed, had vanished as well, for Cloud could no longer sense the man anywhere on the premises.
"What does it say?" The General was pacing around, his voice tightly wound up.
Cloud took a deep breath and read out loud. " 'To Cloud and Seph. Sorry we're just leaving you here in the mansion together, but something really wrong is in that reactor, and Vincent says neither of you should come, or something bad will happen to you. So the three of us are going to check out whatever is in there are report back to you. Stay put and don't burn anything down. Love, Zack.' "
Neither of them made a single noise but Cloud could feel Sephiroth's radiating annoyance from across the room.
"I guess…they did leave without us," he said slowly, testing the waters.
"So it would seem…" The General did not seem pleased, and that was putting it nicely.
Cloud didn't know if he should speak, since it was hard to not start stammering, but he was the only one around. The other trooper had elected to stay by the gate, obviously believing the ghost stories about the place.
"Well, do you, uh, really want to do what Hojo wants you to, sir?" He asked. Sephiroth looked like he hated the man, and Hojo had been the one to order him to the reactor.
"….I suppose not. However, I do not like being left out of discussions," The General said, gracefully sitting down on the bed.
"Yeah, it's kind of annoying, isn't it?" Cloud remarked, glaring at him, reminded of all the times Sephiroth himself had kicked him out. The silver-haired man looked up at him in actual surprise, and Cloud suddenly realized what he did.
"Ahh! I'm sorry, sir, it just sort of slipped out-" He covered his mouth with his hands before he could damn himself further, but Sephiroth was still looking at him. He could feel the heat rising on his face and Cloud wanted to melt into a yellow puddle on the floor and disappear.
"I suppose it is." There was a hint of actual amusement to the General's voice, and Cloud nearly bit his own tongue. Was he actually finding his remark funny?
He didn't say anything and just sighed, slouching back on the nightstand. The man he admired so much and Cloud just talked back to him.
Right now, however, the General had a conflicted expression on his face, which was curious. "I suppose I should explain my actions. Zack and Angeal are friends of mine and I was not expecting others to join us. I did not know your motivations or purpose."
"Y-you care about your friends, don't you? You wanted to protect them," Cloud said, the words just slipping out of his nervous lips. Having an actual conversation with this man….
Sephiroth looked up at him in surprise again, or at least, his version of surprise. Cloud held his hands up, trying to explain himself. "Well, you didn't trust us because we might take your friends away or uh…something. But I promise you I'm not. I can't speak for Reno, but he's not a bad person either."
His cat-like eyes flicked away, seeming to contemplate what the blond trooper just said.
"You don't have to admit it or anything." Okay, he really needed to shut up before the General used him for target practice.
Except Sephiroth was actually smiling slightly. "You know, you remind me of Genesis."
"I-what?" Cloud stared at the taller man. He didn't know anything about Sephiroth's friend other then him being a royal pain in the ass, but…
"Yes. Except…"
"Except?"
"Except nicer," Sephiroth said, his lips twitching with his own private joke.
I'm-I'm not really sure how to react to that, Cloud thought. Reminding the General of his old friend might be a good thing, but Genesis did not seem a very good role model. At the very least, Sephiroth looked like he was calming down. To be honest, he was rather annoyed with Zack and Angeal that they left him behind as well ALONE WITH THE GENERAL OF SOLDIER, but actually talking to the man and not seeing him behind a wall was a treat he was never expecting.
They both were quiet for a moment, so Cloud pulled out the storybook he found to make it less awkward. "I'm, uh, sure Zack and Angeal are just concerned for you. And Vincent. I think."
"Hmm." Sephiroth's slender fingers toyed with the hilt of his sword. "It's true I place stock in that Turk's words-I do not wish to give any more to that man."
Cloud's grip tightened on the books binding as his breath quickened. They were getting into dangerous territory here. "I'm sorry, I don't know why he's doing this."
"No need to apologize Strife, someone like you would not be important enough to know such things," He commented.
"Gee, thanks…" Cloud said.
"Do you want to be important to him?"
"Hell no! I don't want to end up like y-" Cloud gestured wildly, realizing what he was about to say, and then just gave up. "I'm just going to stop talking now."
The General did not seem too outwardly bothered. "I do not want you to end up like me either."
This time Cloud nearly dropped the book. Is he-he's concerned for me? LIke before? Not knowing what to say, the trooper just stayed quiet, hoping this awkward feeling would only good thing was that Sephiroth seemed to be just as bad at communication as he was.
I wonder what they are doing at the reactor….
After a few moments of tinkering, Vincent blew the control switch off the door, permanently opening it.
"You would think if we're coming here on a mission, they'd give us a way to open the thing," Zack grumbled. The retired Turk said nothing but instead, turned to examine the interior of the reactor.
"I'm guessin' the General has the key or somethin'." Reno was hanging back by the metal staircase, seemingly content to not go any further.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to Vincent's enhanced eyes so he gestured slightly with his metal claw at the rest of the group. The other SOLDIER-Angeal-was not looking good. Signs of degrading aside, he seemed to be using his student for balance. Perhaps bringing the other Jenova-tainted SOLDIER was not a good idea, but there was little he could do about it for now.
The deep, barren voice beckoned him into the reactor, and Vincent stepped forward, making no noise. The inside looked pretty standard, with pods lining either side of the metal staircase leading to the core of the reactor. They were empty, as Vincent could sense nothing living inside them-rather, the presence was much deeper.
"Is feeling sick a normal reaction?" Zack came up behind the former Turk. He nodded slightly, but Angeal had already answered the question.
"Reactors often make…SOLDIERS injected with mako feel sick. Something to do with…the Planet, I believe." The large man let out a heavy breath, grasping the handrail for support.
Is he too, affected by Her?
"Angeal. Angeal, are you okay?!" Zack was at his side within seconds.
"I'm…something is affecting me." Angeal looked up, and Vincent spotted a flickering in his eyes. The degradation seemed to be getting worse as well; the grey was spreading.
"You should not go any further," Vincent said, still staring at the door leading to the core. "She lies in wait there, and you will only be a liability."
"She…?" Both SOLDIERs were looking at him, questioning.
"Jenova. The Calamity from the sky," He snarled, and at that name, Chaos jumped awake inside of him. It was starting to get hard to control him, despite the glowing stone embedded in his chest that seemed to suppress the creature.
"The thing that was used to create Sephiroth?" Zack said wildly. "That…thing is in there?!"
Vincent merely stared at him, unwilling to repeat himself.
"I can hear something…but if I go further, I don't think I will be of any use. I'll wait…"Angeal leaned heavily against the guardrail, gesturing Zack to travel further with Vincent. "Reno is outside. We can handle things…here."
It was clear he was in pain-it twisted through his face and his eyes, and Vincent knew the man did not have much time to live, with Jenova ravaging his body. Perhaps with the creature gone, we can end this curse, Lucrecia….
Unfortunately, from his decades-long nap, he did not have much ammo left for his gun. He would have to make this quick, or rely on their aid.
"We don't have much time," Vincent said, walking towards the door. "Are you coming?"
Zack did not look happy with these arrangements, but he would have to make do. Securing his grip on his sword, he joined Vincent by the door. "Let's go kill a thing."
The green light of the planet pulsed below, resonating with the stone buried inside him, and consequently, Chaos. The more they drew on, the worse the whispering got, and Vincent started getting outwardly affected.
"Are…you okay too?" Zack asked hesitantly, but Vincent held out a claw. He was not weakening like the other man. No, he was getting angrier….stronger.
Becoming a monster.
His eyes blazed a brighter red than they had ever been and Vincent smiled. "I am coming…"
He suddenly took off down the catwalk, his metal shoes clinking slightly on the surface. Ignoring Zack's shouts and attempts to keep up, he leapt at the door, bringing it down with a few inhuman melee attacks.
There she was. In the room, at the very end, was Jenova, or so the banner above Her head proclaimed. He raised Cerberus, pointed it directly at her, as she opened her eyes and let out a screech.
My son, my son where is my Son you are not my Son why are you HERE, SQUIRE OF OMEGA?
Zack again was shouting something, but Vincent could no longer hear anything other then Jenova's sickening voice, and his own demons. All of them rose at once, scraping and clamoring to be let out, but Chaos rose to the surface. The last thing he heard was an inhuman scream.
It was a very odd thing, talking to Strife on friendly terms. For one, the trooper had been very skittish of him from the start, though Sephiroth attributed that to the fact he did not trust the boy. However, even after he made sure to express that was no longer his intention, Cloud was still nervous, and Sephiroth could not understand why.
People had never been his strong point, something Angeal and Genesis had always taken great pains to tease him about. Strange then, that Strife was now reminding him of his old friend. Sephiroth watched him closely, and every time his gaze lingered on the boy for longer then a second, Cloud would flinch nervously and glance up at him, nearly dropping the book he was attempting to read. It seemed familiar somehow, and yet…
Ah. I remember…Many of his fans acted the same way, though in a far less cramped environment. Could Cloud actually hold an admiration for him? Or as most would call it, hero-worship him? It would certainly explain many things.
Despite him being annoyed by Angeal and Zack's sudden disappearance and the shock of finding out about his own personal history, he found himself inordinately fascinated by the once-ordinary blonde. Now that Sephiroth knew that Hojo was after the trooper-a thought that left a terrible taste in his mouth-he desperately needed to figure out why. Hojo would not spend his time on something useless, so why him? Why would this child need to get involved?
"What is in that book?" He asked. The first step, Cloud's connection to the strange volume he'd found in the mansion's hidden office. Per usual, Cloud looked up suddenly like a frightened chocobo and Sephiroth suppressed a flash of amusement.
"I…Well, like I said before, it's basically a bunch of children's stories and fairy tales." The boy's fingers ran down the cover as he got lost in thought, perhaps remembering his past. Sephiroth almost wanted to ask, having never had a family or a childhood to speak of, but it was not his place.
"I see…" Then why was it there?
Cloud it seemed, had been pondering the same thing. "I don't recognize the writing in the margins, but it might be my dad's. It keeps saying stuff about the Cetra, or…Ancients, I guess they are called."
"What do fairy tales have to do with the Cetra?" Sephiroth asked.
The trooper sighed. "I don't know…my dad was always fascinated with them and their stories, maybe a bit too much. And my mom would read me these stories almost every night…"
Sephiroth said nothing, content to let the boy keep talking, since he seemed to be growing more comfortable.
"He always said that the Cetra were close to the Planet and thats how they…knew things. Sometimes things that would happen, or stuff about the Planet no one else would know," Cloud said. "Like it resonated with them or something. And according to this book, the stories had something to do with that. Like a recording of their knowledge. It's weird."
Cloud's left hand shifted to rub at his right arm unconsciously, and Sephiroth's keen eyes spotted a small red materia stone. What exactly…
"Then would it be possib-" The General was cut off by the book suddenly dropping out of the troopers hands, landing with a thud. Cloud's eyes had gone wide, his pupils dilated. Sephiroth quickly stood up and walked over to him, but he did not react. In fact, it appeared as though Cloud no longer registered his presence.
"Strife? Strife, are you okay?" He leaned down slightly to the shorter boy, but still, nothing happened. It was only then he began to notice a strange glowing light creep into Cloud's eyes. It was much like the eyes of a SOLDIER, except brighter and Strife had not had any mako injections-
"Cloud, what is wrong?" Keeping one hand on Masamune, he reached the other out to the trooper, stopping short when he spoke.
"Jenova." The voice was flat.
"What is going on? Strife, answer me!" He ordered, but Cloud's hand suddenly shot out and latched onto Sephiroth's wrist.
"She awakens and she will kill us all. The Calamity is calling for you…" The trooper's head slowly twisted until he was staring directly at the General. He did not panic-it was not befitting of one such as him-but Cloud's pupils were almost completely overwhelmed by blue. "Jenova's Cradle will then die by my hand."
Sephiroth attempted to free himself of the trooper's grip, but was completely surprised by his immovable hand. He couldn't make him let go. A sharp pain started growing in the side of his head, making his vision blurry.
What is this? I am the General, I cannot afford such weakness. I cannot be affected by-and yet…
"But I can't. I was not born for that purpose!" Cloud's voice grew more desperate as the grip tightened, and it sounded as though multiple people were talking at once. "Jenova must die! You must not listen to Her! Don't listen to…don't…Chaos is….She is awake."
As soon as the last line was spoken the pain in Sephiroth's head grew to nearly unbearable, but just as sudden as it came, it was gone. After his vision cleared, he looked down to see Strife collapsed on the floor. Kneeling on the ground as he was from his sudden headache, he reached down and checked to boy's pulse, which seemed to be normal. He was alive, but merely unconscious.
Sephiroth reached a hand up to his own face, a sick feeling creeping through his mind. He had found out he was a monster from Vincent and this could only be proof of that.
What is going on here…?
Zack didn't know what the hell was happening at all, but it was nothing good. One minute they were heading to the reactor, and then Angeal nearly collapsed, and now the mysterious Turk was looking rather mad. As in crazy mad.
All of a sudden a shriek came from out of nowhere and Zack had to cover his ears, not even noticing that disgusting thing's eyes opening. Vincent's body suddenly sprouted wings and the rest of him blurred, reforming itself.
What was left did not look human or friendly at all. The creature had a giant red headdress, some of the strands slipping over its eyes like the Turk's headband, and had Vincent's strange golden boots and arm tacked on. The most disturbing part however, was the face for it looked exactly like Vincent Valentine, minus the pale skin.
"What the hell?" Zack shouted at the thing, which took very little notice of him. Instead, it unfurled its wings, and flew directly at the Jenova creature, raising the Turk's decorated handgun to fire. He only got off a few shots before the chamber broke, releasing a strange black fluid and another unearthly wail. Zack stumbled against the side of the room, the sound driving needles into his skull.
Dammit, I need to focus! I need to kill that thing! Whatever Vincent had turned into, it looked like they had the same goal, so Zack just took it. Drawing his sword, he started advancing just as the creature turned monstrous.
He wasn't sure if the thing had a head, but it certainly had a large and bulbous red body with tentacles coming out of it. The Vincent creature paid the transformation no mind, merely raising its gun again and firing dead center. The Jenova monster, whatever it was, let out a scream and a laser shot out from it's mouth almost directly at Zack. Diving back out of the way, it hit the catwalk and blew a hole in the wall instead, partly destroying it.
"Woah!" Zack clung to the metal as the catwalk swayed dangerously. "That mako does not look friendly!"
Oh god, what is that thing even…The creature drew back, obviously preparing itself for another attack but the red-winged creature kicked it in the head. "The calamity from the skies has no place in this world!"
That was the first time the thing Vincent turned into spoke and even the voice sounded exactly the same. He briefly wondered what was even going on before leaping over another magic attack and slashing at the massive red body.
Jenova screamed and he stumbled again. God, fighting this thing was terrible when she could affect him so much…his only boon was Vincent's transformation, who just seemed to get more enraged the more she was injured. The crack of the gun went off again burying a few more bullets into the monsters flesh before he flew away.
Something told Zack materia would work here, so he merely kept at it with his sword. The Buster Sword would've been far more useful for breaking through the monster's thick hide, but there was no way he was dragging Angeal into this. He deflected a tentacle to the ground and ran his sword up it, slicing it in half.
Out of nowhere, something rose up from the ground and what seemed like a giant rock attempted to crush Jenova from below. Zack dodged out of the way, next to Vincent's creature, who was glowing blue. Obviously, his attack…
It did massive damage, for after the rocks stopped falling and the building stopped shaking, he saw that Jenova was beginning to lose her form. "Hey, let's finish this!"
The thing-Vincent-merely nodded, and they both rushed with their final attack. Zack broke into limit break and threw Blade Beam directly at her, while Vincent fired off his final shot. Both blows tore through her flesh, ripping the beast apart until there was nothing but scattered remains. He heard another resounding scream, but this time it seemed farther away then before.
Zack however was concerned with his monster friend, who seemed to be losing his shape. The ornate gun clattered to the ground and the creature stumbled forward, his form blurring again. Zack caught him and in a few seconds he was holding an exhausted Vincent Valentine.
"Hey, you okay, man?" He said quietly, helping him stand up again. The strange Turk said nothing, casting only the briefest of glances on the SOLDIER. The golden arm reached down to retrieve his gun.
"Chaos…was again too strong. I am in control now. He can hear Her voice…." Vincent said, standing up again.
"Her? You mean that thing? Jenova?" the SOLDIER asked him. Vincent merely nodded, his eyes widening as he looked past Zack's shoulder.
Zack whirled around and he saw why the Turk was so upset. Jenova was gone.
He had tried calling Cloud multiple times, but the trooper still refused to wake up. Sephiroth had thought the pain in his head had subsided, but instead it was being replaced by an almost unbearable urge to run straight to the reactor. On top of that, he seemed to be imagining voices…
Vincent had told him about his origins, how Jenova was not, in fact his mother, how he was just as human as his other friends. How it was Hojo's fault for manipulating him and wanting to twist him into a monster, but now he was even beginning to doubt those words.
Sephiroth did not feel human at all, as much as he was grateful for Vincent's words to say otherwise, and this incident was only proving it so. Here he was, the great General, hearing voices and longing to go meet the creature who had partly created him.
No. Terrible things would happen then, Vincent had said, and he no longer desired to push his comrades in danger, nor turn himself into the killing machine Hojo wanted. He attempted to focus on the small trooper in the room instead of his own pain in a futile attempt at distraction, but the boy remained sleeping.
What had come over him, he did not know, but the boy spoke of Jenova and a thing called Chaos as if he knew them, which was not possible.
I will kill them all…all the ones who cause me suffering…A sharp scream burrowed through his head again and the pain of it brought him to his knees, almost on top of Cloud.
"She is calling me…."His fingers twisted around strands of his hair and he could not see could not think it was just her she called him and she wanted him to return she wanted him to destroy everything could you not see how terrible the humans are to you just kill them all my Son, you are stronger then they will ever be, claim your birthright-
Suddenly, he felt a hand that wasn't his own against his face, and slowly opened his eyes. Cloud was staring straight at him, smiling gently. His eyes were still covered in blue, but it was not an evil light: rather, it was gentle, like an embrace from the Planet.
"It's okay…..She cannot harm you while I exist. You are not Her son…" he whispered. Sephiroth stared at the trooper, who was speaking again with a voice that was not his own.
"Do not listen to Her. Her voice is full of lies. Please, do not…you deserve life." Cloud's hand was shaking, whether from strain or emotion, he did not know, but Sephiroth felt as though he was listening to something far older then the trooper.
"Who…no, what are you?" he asked, reaching up to break away from the touch, but stopping short when Cloud smiled again.
"I am hope reborn. I will save you, I promise….everyone…" Cloud closed his eyes as final time and slumped to the floor, Sephiroth catching him just in time to set him gently down.
What just…happened? But no matter how long and hard he stared at the trooper, he just lay there, sleeping peacefully.
The first thing Cloud noticed when he woke up was that he was on the ground, and Sephiroth was sitting next to him.
"I…what?" He mumbled, then realized his situation and sat up quickly, nearly hitting his head on Sephiroth's sword.
"General! I'm-what happened?" He looked around, confused. There didn't seem to be aftermath of a battle or anything that had been disturbed. The last thing he remembered was looking at his storybook, and then the world grew all cold and green…
He looked over at the General who was staring back. Not even out of curiosity but just staring at him. "Did…something…happen?"
"I don't know…." Sephiroth looked just as confused as Cloud felt, which was not helping his sense that he had done something terribly wrong. Sephiroth brought a hand up to his own face, as if checking to see if something was still there. "You started acting oddly, froze in place, and then collapsed. I checked to see if you were okay, and then you started speaking to me. Are you telling me you have no memory of this?"
"What? No." Cloud shook his head vigorously. "All I remember is seeing a green light and someone shouting at me from really far away."
"This is concerning," Sephiroth said, continuing to stare directly at him.
"What exactly did I say, sir?" Cloud asked, curious as to what actually unnerved the near-immovable General.
"You…spoke of Jenova and how you would…save me." The way Sephiroth said the words made him feel incredibly weird.
"Me? Save you?! I said that?" But he was just a trooper! A trooper who apparently liked to randomly pass out at important events. The only consolation was that Sephiroth looked about as uncomfortable as Cloud felt about this event. "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened…"
Sephiroth opened his mouth, presumably to say something in reply, when a very different voice cut across the room.
"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess."
Cloud whirled around, hoping to see possibly Zack or Angeal or even Reno standing there but instead, it was someone he'd never expected to meet face to face.
"Hello old friend. How are you today?"
It was Genesis.