a/n This is a good day.


"They...they were selling them," Xigbar asked, his eyes wide. He, Axel, and Zexion were currently at the shelter with Marluxia and Vexen, listening to what he had learned from Rufus.

"Yes, they were. They had brainwashed them to be weapons, or 'programmed' as he called it," Vexen said, shuddering a little bit. "They're had three generations now. Project Fantasy, Project Turk, and then the two that happened at the same time. That was Project XIII, which was us, and Project Crisis."

"And that nut job, Sephiroth, came from Project Crisis," Axel asked, wanting to make sure he was correct. The blond nodded. "So then why is he trying to kill the children?"

"He wants to 'save them'," Vexen said. "I think it has something to do with his friend Genesis."

"Genesis?"

"Genesis...I remember hearing that name," Zexion exclaimed. "I remember some of the researchers talking about him. It was all numbers and medical reports though."

"That's because he got really sick," Vexen explained. "He was fighting against them, or 'going rogue' as Rufus said, and they tried to give him something to brainwash him. It ended making him very sick, and he died from that. I think he Sephiroth were really close, and that must have made him snap."

"Well, I mean, I get that," Xigbar said. "I flipped out when Luxord died."

"Yeah, and Reno lost the will to live when he lost Rude," Axel added.

"He must have already been unstable," Zexion concluded. "Or at least more unstable than any of us. That doesn't matter right now though. What matters is that we figure out what to do about the whole Shinra situation. They were able to get to Vexen, and they must have been behind the attack on my book signing."

"I remember running into a man in the park," Xigbar said. "He controlled robots, said his name was Reeve Tuesti and he was an agent of the exact guy you're talking about. He wanted to take Cloud and I into custody and I was just like 'as if'!"

"What did he look like," Axel asked.

"Small guy, black hair with a mustache and beard."

"Does he wear a blue suit with a red tie?"

"Exactly."

"He came to my dance studio," Axel said. "There was a woman with him, blond in a red dress. She looked a little bit Larxene if Larxene had class."

"Axel," Marluxia warned him.

"Oh hush," the redhead shot back. "Anyway the woman introduced herself as Scarlett and called the man Reeve, but they said they were journalists. They asked for information on Zexion's book tour in Japan. I didn't tell them anything but they must have gotten the information somehow."

"They're sneaky," Xigbar said. "I've only run into Reeve but he's pretty smart, and he can control robots. If he has an associate that must mean she's sharp as well. They must have sneaked the info out without you knowing."

"Well, at least we have a small idea of what we're dealing with," Zexion concluded. "We need to keep in contact. The kids are the be constantly monitored, and through that we might be able to find out more information about Sephiroth, maybe even trap him."

"Trap him," Marluxia asked. "You're insane. He's a bloodthirsty madman."

"I don't think so," Vexen stated. "He's definitely crazy, but he's not bloodthirsty. He has an actual purpose. If we trap him, we might be able to find out more of the information we need to formulate a plan to deal with Rufus. After all, he was a patient in Project Crisis, which was more closely tied to Rufus. He knows more about that than we do."

"Alright, if that's what you think we should do," Marluxia relented. "Remember when I used to be the ones making the plans?"

"Yes yes Flowey now let the smart people handle this," Zexion teased, smirking when the pinkette pouted. "Now, Xigbar, Axel, keep an eye out for Scarlett and Reeve. Clearly those two are pretty deeply involved. If we can get more information from them, we're one step closer. I'll do some research and see if I can find information on the Shinra family name."

"Alright, good," Axel said. "We have a plan."


"Having fun with your Cait Shit there?"

Reeve rolled his eyes and looked back at Scarlett from where he was bending on the ground. In front of him was a small black and white tuxedo cat that he fondly scratching behind the ears. He'd found the thing as a kitten, abandoned in a box on the side of the street, and took it in, having always been fond of animals. He'd named it Cait Sith and raised it like his own child, and his partner loved to to tease him about it.

"I don't know Scarlett are you having fun in the daddy issues corner," he asked. That affectively shut the blond woman up, and he smiled, taking his pet in his arms as he stood. He continued to stroke Cait affectionately and walked over to the woman. "So what are you doing here? You usually don't like to bother me around this time."

"I'd heard from the boss that you were acting rather strange," she replied. "He asked me to check up on you. I don't know when I became your babysitter but apparently that's my job so okay."

"Well, I've just been...thinking..." he admitted.

"Not this again," Scarlett groaned. She took a seat in his office chair and crossed her legs, looking at him with annoyance. "What has you so bothered? You've been like this since that book thing we went to."

"I've just been wondering if we're doing the right thing." Reeve didn't look up at her, fiddling with Cait's ear. He could tell by the silence that she was frowning though. "We caused so much destruction. A lot of innocent people died."

"Of course they died," Scarlett said. "It's like we've always been told: Everyone dies eventually. We're at war with traitors. There are going to be a few civilian casualties."

"Do you remember the other three," Reeve asked, looking up at her. She blinked, surprised at such a quick change in topic. "Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis."

"Of course I do," Scarlett said. "They were the first people we ever killed."

"Do you remember what they used to say though," he asked. "Angeal would always talk about how there was no honor in senseless violence. Sephiroth and Genesis always said that what the scientists were doing to us was wrong. That what they wanted us to do was wrong."

"Reeve, Angeal is dead," she reminded him. "We killed him. Genesis is dead too. As for Sephiroth? Sephiroth is and always has been a raving lunatic."

"But what if they're right?" The pair were quiet for a moment, pondering the severity of those words. "What...what if we're doing the wrong thing?"

"So what," Scarlett asked. "We're doing what we're told. That makes it the right thing."

"I don't want to be a bad person," Reeve admitted. He looked down at Cait, who looked up him and let out a small meow. "I don't want to be someone other people are afraid. I know I can use my powers to help people."

"You are," Scarlett insisted. "You're using your powers to help Rufus, the person who matters. The person who promised us everything."

"How do we know he's going to give us everything," the man asked.

"We have faith," the woman snapped. "Without faith we are weak, but you've always been weak Reeve. Without those robots you keep around you can't even fight. I'm going to go get food. I'll bring you Mongolian beef. Don't talk to me until you're ready to act like a normal human being." She stood up and walked out, and Reeve looked down at his cat, which had fallen asleep.

"Normal human being..." he muttered to himself. "Why can't I just be a cat? It all seems so much simpler."


a/n Alright last bit of writing for today but hell I WAS PRODUCTIVE! I took a small break with this chapter and my dad and I went and saw X-men Age of Apocalypse which was freickin amazing. Anyhow, please review and good bye. Maruba out.