Binah stepped back in shock. "…what?"

Cloud rose to his feet and slowly approached her. "That's what the phone call was about," he said. "My friend in Midgar? He has access to Shin-Ra's old files. And what he was able to find out about you is that you were created by combining the genes of Sephiroth with a woman named Aerith Gainsborough. The fertilized eggs were implanted in surrogate mothers who carried you and your brothers and sisters to term and then after you were born, the surrogates were killed.

"Aerith was one of my best friends," he continued. "She was the last of the Cetra and at this altar, she summoned Holy, which was necessary to stop Meteor and save the planet. And Sephiroth killed her for it. Ran her through with his sword on this very spot."

Binah nearly collapsed at this news. "It… it can't be true…"

"It is," said Cloud. "You and the rest of the Sephira were bred to kill Sephiroth and stop Meteor. But Shin-Ra fell before you were ready. Somehow, you were still kept in captivity over the course of five years. That's the only part I haven't been able to figure out."

"Cloud…" she said. "You have to understand, this isn't what I am. I'm not like him. I mean… I knew what the reports said about him, but I didn't want to believe them. That's why I came on this journey, to find out for myself. But… it's all true, isn't it?"

Cloud nodded. With each step, he came closer to her. "Every. Last. Word."

He grabbed her hair and roughly pulled her close to him as he drew his sword. "Now my question is, what does this have to do with me?"

"Argh, what are you doing?"

"Getting some straight answers for once!" said Cloud, throwing her against the ground. He pointed his sword at her. "Tell me what this is all about. It's no coincidence that you and Gebura ran into me on Mt. Nibel. You were waiting for me, weren't you?"

"No!"

"All this talk about wanting to discover where you came from, it was all a lie!" said Cloud. "You knew everything about Sephiroth before you even met me! And you've had me going with you on this journey… for what? So I could help you destroy the planet? Are you controlling me like he once did? What is this?!"

"Cloud please, you have to believe me!" she pleaded. "I was sincere with everything I said to you!"

"I don't believe you," said Cloud. "So here's what's going to happen. From now on, you do the leading. You're going to take me to the rest of your family and then I'm going to kill you all, understand?"

"No, I don't think you will."

The feminine voices echoed all around the chamber. Cloud looked up and saw three black and silver blurs streak past him, before all three landed on the main platform. All three were women with silver hair and green eyes. All three of them wore black leather and all three wielded swords.

"Thank you, Binah," said one of them. "You played your part perfectly."

Cloud glared at Binah. "I knew it!"

"Cloud no, you don't get it!" she screamed. She looked back at the first woman who spoke. "Get out of here, Chokmah!"

"No," said Chokmah. "Chesde, Tipheret and I aren't leaving unless you and the vessel are coming with us."

"Vessel?" asked Cloud.

"That's right, vessel," said Chokmah. "You're going to provide us with the means to resurrect our father."

Cloud pressed a switch on the hilt and one of the swords popped free. He grabbed it with his open hand and leapt from the altar towards the platform. He brought both his swords down and the three Sephira raised their own blades to block. They forced him back and Cloud's feet skidded on the ground until he almost went to the edge. He rushed forward, swinging both blades interchangeably.

The Sephira kept up their own assault, deflecting his blows with their swords. They began to leap around him, moving in quick succession. With their speed, he wasn't sure if it was a haste spell or if they were just that fast.

Cloud flipped back onto one of the pillars leading to the altar. Before he left Nibelheim, he made sure to equip his materia. He concentrated on it and one of the orbs began to glow. Cloud's hand reached out and green energy exploded outward as he cast an ultima spell. The three Sephira were caught in its wake, falling to the ground in pain as the magical energy swirled about them.

Something else happened, though. Once the attack ended, all three Sephira were surrounded by a golden aura. Cloud recognized the effect—Aerith used to be able to cast spells like that without the use of materia. He looked over his shoulder and saw Binah's hands outstretched, her eyes clothes and her lips moving, mumbling something.

Chokmah, Tipheret and Chesde felt reinvigorated, healed from the attack and advanced on Cloud again. Their attacks were relentless, each one thrusting their blades at him. Cloud deflected as best he could, but even with two swords, it wasn't enough.

Blow after blow pierced his body, and with each strike, his movements became slower, more sluggish. He couldn't keep up the attack much longer. That was when Chokmah grabbed him by his collar and leapt into the air, dragging him with her. Once she reached the apex of her jump, she threw him towards the ground with all her strength, and Cloud fell through the altar with a resounding crash.

Chokmah raised her sword, the blade pointed down, and fell. On her descent, the blade was aimed directly for Cloud. But just before she struck, the blade hit another blade with a loud clang.

Binah stood over Cloud, holding up her own sword. Chokmah stepped back and brought her sword into a battle stance.

"Do you want to fight me, sister?" she asked.

"No," said Binah, then sheathed her blade. "But did you forget we need him alive?"

"I wasn't going to kill him, just stab him," said Chokmah. "A final insult."

"It's excessive and we can't risk damaging the vessel," said Binah. Cloud began to stir but Binah placed a hand on her forehead, a materia orb glowing on her armlet. "Sleep," she said and he fell unconscious. Binah looked up at Chokmah.

"You see? There was an easier way to do this."

"We did it your way, and it nearly cost us," said Chokmah.

"We needed to come to the Northern Crater anyway," said Binah. "That's where our father's essence still resides."

"You spent a lot of time alone with him," said Chokmah. "That's dangerous."

"I'm fine," said Binah. "Let's get moving."

"Where am I?"

"Don't you know?"

"No…"

"You've been here before. First time you've invited me, though. I have to say, though, this place could definitely use a woman's touch."

"What do you mean?"

"It's so… drab. Very dreary. C'mon Cloud, can't you do better than this?"

"Dreary? I don't know. Why can't I see anything?"

"Because your eyes are closed, silly. Try opening them."

Cloud's eyelids slowly rose, revealing the strange, blue glow of his mako eyes. He was sitting in an old chair and the girl was right—the place was dreary. It took him a few moments before he realized exactly where he was.

"Shin-Ra Mansion," he said.

"Surprised you didn't change it to something a little more personal."

"Like what?" he asked.

"Like… Cloud Mansion or Casa de Strife or something like that."

Cloud shrugged. "Not really much point. No one else lives in Nibelheim anymore. By the way, who are you?"

"Don't you know?"

Cloud sat up and walked out of the room. He followed the sound of the girl's voice, or at least he tried to. Every time he heard her speak, it sounded like she was right next to him.

"I know it's been a while, but I had hoped you wouldn't forget me."

"Sorry," said Cloud. "The past few days have been…"

"Crazy, I know. I've been paying attention."

He stepped outside the front door, but once he did, he was somewhere else. The Forgotten City, right before the altar. She knelt on the ground, her hands clasped together, her eyes closed in prayer. Her long, brown hair was tied in a braid by a pink ribbon. She wore a pink dress with a small, red jacket over the top. She opened those big, green eyes and looked at him with a smile.

"You came!" she said.

"Aerith…" said Cloud. He suddenly remembered what was about to happen. "Aerith, look out!"

He sprung from his position, leaping up the pillars just as he saw a black figure descend from the top of the altar. He leapt forward, attempting to push her away, but it felt as if he were swimming in molasses. The blade went through her body cleanly and she slumped over.

Sephiroth looked up at Cloud with a despicable grin as he slid the sword out of her body. Cloud reached behind his back for his own sword, but it was gone. "Huh?" He looked to his armlets but saw no materia orbs there.

"Really Cloud, haven't we done this dance enough times already?" asked Sephiroth. He sheathed the massive blade and leaned against the rail around the altar.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's time to move on," said Sephiroth. "Time to find something else in life. You're in this endless cycle."

"He's right," said Aerith. Now she appeared behind Cloud, placing a hand on his shoulder. The scenery changed again, this time they were in the church in the Sector 5 slums.

"What is this?" asked Cloud.

"A tour of your psyche," said Sephiroth. "The process is beginning."

"And I'm here to try and help you get through it," said Aerith.

"What process? What's happening?" asked Cloud.

"It's our children," said Aerith. "They're trying to use you."

"Why?" asked Cloud.

"It's fairly obvious, I would think," said Sephiroth. "They want to install my essence in your body."

"That's not going to happen," said Cloud.

"Oh?" asked Sephiroth with a raised eyebrow. "I don't think you have a choice in the matter."

"Yes you do!" said Aerith. "Cloud, listen to me… no one is beyond redemption, you understand?"

Sephiroth drew his sword and impaled Aerith on it once again. "Enough with your prattling," he said. "The time has come, Cloud."

"Cloud!"

"CLOUD!"

Cloud's eyes slowly opened and he looked around. His friends were all around him, strung up by vines in a deep cavern. Also present were the Turks. And, directly across from Cloud, was a man he thought he saw die.

"Zack…?"

"Yeah," said Zack. "It's a long story."

"I guess so," said Cloud. He tried to move his hands and found he was also strung up in a similar fashion. "Great… just great. Can someone tell me what's going on?"

"The Sephira plan to use you to resurrect Sephiroth," said Vincent. Install his essence in your body."

"Why me? Why not them?" asked Cloud.

"Because we aren't pure," said Daat as the Sephira entered the enclosure. "You, on the other hand, are. Your body has become so saturated with mako and Jenova cells that it's almost identical to the levels Sephiroth had in his own body. All we need is to complete the summoning."

"What do you mean you're not pure?" asked Reeve.

"Yeah, aren't you supposed to be Sephy's bastard children?" asked Reno.

Gebura swiftly punched Reno for that remark. The Turk reeled, then slowly turned his head. "You slap like a bitch."

Gebura struck him again. "How was that?"

Reno slowly turned his head and spat into Gebura's face. "The teenybopper ninja hits harder than you."

"Hey!" exclaimed Yuffie.

Gebura's rage built but before he could draw his sword to kill Reno, he heard his name shouted by Keter.

"Leave them be," he said. "He's nothing compared to you. To us."

"That's right, you're all special," said Reno.

"To answer your question," said Daat, ignoring Reno's remark. "We're inferior because we don't have the purity of genetics our father had. We've been corrupted by Cetra blood."

"You sonnuva bitch!" shouted Barret, struggling. "The only part o' you that's worth a damn is what came from Aerith!"

"We were the products of an underground Shin-Ra faction you've never been informed of," said Daat. "Raised in a secret location, an organization that has lasted even after the fall of Shin-Ra."

"The DGS clearance," said Reeve.

"Precisely," said Daat. He looked at the rest of the Sephira, then turned to their captives. "We must go prepare. Just think, Cloud. Tomorrow, you will serve as the vessel for the return of the most magnificent being to ever set foot on Gaia."

The Sephira left. Binah lingered in the back, looking at Cloud. He shot her an angry stare and she looked to her feet before following the rest of her family out. Once they were gone, Cloud struggled against his bonds even more.

"It's no use," said Cid. "We tried already."

"Doesn't mean we're just gonna give up," said Cloud.

"Why not, sure seems to be what you've done," said Tifa.

Cloud eyed her cautiously. "Now's not the time."

"We may not have another time," she said.

"Then it's something we're not going to discuss," said Cloud.

"Yes it is," said Tifa. "What were you thinking? Abandoning us like that?"

Cloud sighed. "I tried, okay? I tried to settle down, live a normal life, but I just couldn't. I was… lost."

"You could have asked for help," said Tifa. "You didn't have to take it all on yourself."

Cloud shook his head. "You don't understand."

"Sure she does," said Barret. "You was bein' selfish."

"And who the hell are you to judge?" asked Cloud.

"I'm the guy who's gonna knock some sense into your spikey-headed ass," said Barret. "You ran off, didn't tell anyone where you was. Never lifted a finger to contact any of us. An' your surprised that we got pissed?"

"I know, I let you down," said Cloud. "Seems to be what I do best."

"An' enough with the damn pity party!" said Barret. "Christ, you think you the only one who's messed up? But you ain't gonna get off that easy by just givin' in. Ain't no one in this room gonna let that happen."

"Actually, I think I might."

"Shut up, Reno!" said Elena.

"Oh what, you gonna act like we're all buddies here?" asked Reno. "Unless you've forgotten, we were at each other's throats a few years ago."

"That was then," said Rude. "Things change."

Reno shrugged. "A Turk's only loyalty is to the Turks. Everyone and everything else is expendable."

"Shin-Ra's gone, Reno," said Elena. "It's time we stopped playing by their rules and started making some of our own. And if that means joining up with the people we used to fight, then I'm willing to do that."

"Y'know, I hate to interrupt a big kumbaya moment like this…" began Yuffie. "…but does anyone know how the hell we're gonna get outta here?"

"Don't worry 'bout it, Yuffie," said Barret. "Cloud here's already given up. This time tomorrow, we can start callin' him Sephiroth. Finally got to be your big hero, huh?"

"Shut up, Barret," said Tifa.

"Just tryin' t' help."

"And you're doing a horrible job," said Tifa.

"Listen," said Red XIII. "We can either keep bickering or we can try to find a way out of here."

"I'm open to suggestions," said Zack.

"Let's take stock of the situation," said Red XIII. "Does anyone have anything on them? Materia, weapons, anything?"

"They stripped us of all our gear," said Reno. "And just my luck, I got frisked by the big guy instead of one of the babes."

"…Fenrir."

"What was that?" asked Reeve.

"My bike," said Cloud. "It has a remote system on it. They didn't take the remote when they searched me. Probably didn't know what it was."

"Where is it?" asked Tifa.

"The Forgotten City, so it might take some time to get here."

"So Cloud's bike gets here and then what?" asked Reno. "Does it transform into a robot that can break us free?"

"I have spare gear in it," he said. "There might be a few materia orbs in one of the hidden compartments. Once it gets in range, we could use the materia to get loose."

"Can you reach the remote?" asked Red XIII.

"I… think so…" said Cloud. He struggled, trying to reach his fingers for the edge of his glove. There was a hidden pocket and he snapped it open. A small remote fell into his fingertips and he pressed a switch on it.

"…is that it?" asked Reno.

"Assuming the signal can reach it in here," said Cloud.

"Well if it's alright by you, I think I'd like a back-up plan," said Reno.

"Then come up with one," said Yuffie.

Binah entered the room and the conversation fell dead in an instant. She looked around at all of them and walked over to Cloud.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"To talk to you," she said.