Another note: This chapter is pretty much based on some events from Crisis Core that is coming out March 25 for the PSP. I wanted to include them in it because they play a major role in how Final Fantasy VII was formed. I hope you like what I have done. I cannot believe I am almost done with my story, only a few chapters left! =)
Lucrecia came upon a dim path that ran even further back into the Spirit World where she had to go. Even as a spirit she had to caught her breath from such a hard jog from Zack and Aeris. Stepping lightly onto the gray road she felt a tremor of horror seize her soul as she tried to walk forward. Motivation seemed to help Lucrecia stroll the rest of the way until she met a guardian figure blocking the rest of her way. He wore a pure white silk robe outlined in silver that brushed the floor and a long golden rod as his weapon. His face seemed wise with all the wrinkles that were folded neatly on his handsome face. The eyes that started at Lucrecia lawfully were royal blue of great authority.
His voice rumbled when he asked her, "This path for anyone such as you Lucrecia is forbidden. Turn back now since your presence is not welcome here."
"Please let me through Wise One. I need to speak to someone on the other side about urgent business. It concerns a very ill woman on earth."
"Oh really, who is it that you wish to speak to on this side of the Spirit World? And who is this woman that needs help?"
"Wise One, her name is Larissa and as for the person I need to speak to his name is Genesis."
"Genesis?! How can he be of any help to that poor woman who is fighting for the Planet once again? You must be sorely mistaken."
"No Wise One I am speaking the truth. Genesis has the solution I am looking for, may I please speak to him? I only have two days to see if this will work."
The wise man studied Lucrecia a little bit longer before gesturing her to stay put while he went into the shadows to retrieve Genesis from the depths. While he was gone an old friend of Genesis as well as Zack's appeared out of the mist and said, "Do you really think it is a smart decision to talk to Genesis, Lucrecia?
She jumped at the sound of a muffled male's voice and said in return, "It is the only solution I can think of to cure Larissa unless you have a better idea. By the way, what is your name?"
A tall muscular outline came to be a man with long black hair in a SOLDIER's uniform. Lucrecia was a little taken aback by his appearance to be such a rough looking individual with gentle eyes.
"My name is Angeal. I was in SOLDIER with Genesis, Sephiroth, and Zack. As you can see Genesis and I have paid a heavy price for joining Shinra when we thought it would be great, so much for the hero fantasy. Larissa, that name sounds familiar."
"I would think it would to you since she was made when you joined SOLDIER along with the others. She is Sephiroth's other half and the last of the Jenova Project. She is the one who is fighting for our world to rid of what Hojo and Hollander started. But she is having difficulty functioning once again because her body is not holding up very well at all. It was poorly made for these harsh conditions she has been through already."
"Wait, that woman in the tank. That was what she was used for?! It just angers me what they have done to innocent people, especially to such a beautiful girl."
"Yes, she was also used for many other things, but I will not go into great detail about them. Too much time is already being wasted while I am waiting on Genesis to arrive."
At the mention of his name he appeared along with the Wise One in a pretty decent mood despite the condition. His eyes glowed in a hollow way as he said, "Well hello Lucrecia. What can I do for you? "
"I need your help Genesis, it's about Larissa. I need to know where I can find a huge sample of G cells."
"Larissa, that name. Why do I know it so well?"
"Because Genesis that is the woman that fought with you in Deep Ground for a short time before they moved her somewhere else."
What, that beautiful woman with the white broad wing?! So that was her name, she never did give it to me until later on. I remember that she wanted to break out of Shinra. Remember that Angeal?"
"Ha, I remember that like it was yesterday. I wish I could have gone with her."
"Yeah, and she was right about the cell projects from the very start. She told me one day when I was experimenting with the G cells that I would become weaker while Sephiroth would go insane because of his discovery with the Jenova cells. A very remarkable, intelligent woman."
"Does this mean you will help me find a sample of G cells to restore her? I have no other idea that can save her this time. It is my only hope that it will work."
"Hmm, well since you are being so nice about it I will help, but under one condition. You let me see Larissa and I will give you my G cells to replenish what she has lost. It is only fair don't you think so Lucrecia?"
"Why would you want to see Larissa, Genesis?"
"Because we have some things we need to clear up. I would have done it if I hadn't died beforehand. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes we have a deal."
"Good when I can see her Wise One?"
"I will lead you to her whenever you wish to go, but keep in mind that I will be watching you."
"Can we make the visit tonight? Sorry to rush you Genesis, but Larissa plans to fight Rufus and his SOLDEIR army by this Friday, which is in two days. Is there any way you can give me the G cells now so I can work on them?"
"Larissa plans to fight them? What would that accomplish?"
"Rufus is the one who started this whole thing. He wants to control her for his own use and energy, so she decided to fight back as any person would do."
"It seems Larissa and I have much to discuss. Fine, here are my G cells for you to work on Lucrecia. Take good care of them for they are the only ones I have left to offer."
Genesis took a black leather gloved hand over his heart and withdrew a thick test tube with a green liquid in it. Lucrecia gingerly reached out her white palm and took the cells from him with extra caution.
"I will treat them with the utmost care I can provide. Thank you."
"Yeah whatever, can I see Larissa now?"
"You have to be patient Genesis. It would be wise to warn her that someone wishes her presence, especially someone from the Spirit World. I am going to send a message to Larissa first to let her pick where she would like to talk to you. Remember it is completely her decision, we cannot force it."
The Wise One snapped his wrinkled fingers and a white dove appeared ready to take on the task. He tied a letter to the dove's slim leg with a silver thread then whisked it on its way. Flying out of the portal to enter the real world, the dove found Larissa meditating inside the church since Cloud was called away on another errand. The pure dove landed light as the feathers on its own body on her milk white hand. Opening one black eye she saw the dove with confusion etched around the corners of her mouth.
Seeing the piece of fine paper attached to the dove's leg, she removed it with ease and found scrolled in elegant manuscript:
Dear Larissa,
This is one of the Wise Men in the Spirit World sending you this message of importance. There is a spirit that wishes to speak to you and we would like to know if you grant him an audience. Please send this letter back with your answer in full detail, and I would like to inform you that if you do decide to talk to him that I will be there to supervise it. We do not want any suspicious activity going on while he is visiting.
Sincerely, the Wise One
"A spirit wishes to speak to me and he's male? Well I have nothing else to do today, so I might as well see what he wants," Larissa thought as she wrote on the back of the note to come to the church in Midgar for them to have their meeting. When she sent the dove away to deliver the message she continued to close out her mind to the world as a stress free exercise. The other reason for this kind of solitude was to remind herself who she was and why she was there in the first place. It kept her soul whole and healthy by bonding with it regularly.
The dove flew gracefully back into the Wise One's open palm with the letter tied to his leg again. He unrolled the message and fought back surprise at Larissa's answer as he traced his eyes over the letter twice.
"It seems Genesis that this is your lucky day. Larissa would like to meet you in the church where she is right now. Are you ready to leave?"
"Yes let's go."
With a flick of his wrist, the Wise One opened a portal to the church so they could go and meet her as planned. Larissa became fully alert once she saw the new ray of light coming from the ceiling. Rising from the floor by the flower bed, Larissa straightened herself for the newcomer's arrival. She looked casually at the light red frame of a man float down to her level along with an aged man carrying a golden rod for security reasons. The light red frame dissolved to reveal Genesis landing marvelously on the hard wooden floor of the broken church. Larissa had to flash her dark eyes to make sure she was not seeing things out of context.
"I never thought I would see you ever again after you disappeared in the Wutai war. What brings you here?"
"I have come to discuss what you are going to do about this Planet. It is in shambles."
"What do you mean it is in shambles? As far as I know it is doing pretty well under the circumstances. It's only Rufus and his SOLDIER's that are causing problems, which does not seem logical. He never used to be power hungry ever since he became president of his company. I wonder if he is being possessed by something."
"That could be a possibility, but why do you continue to live among these ignorant humans? If you form with me then maybe we could make sense of this world or make a new one."
"So that is why you are here Genesis, to take advantage of me. Well you are out of luck just like Sephiroth. No one will have me besides myself. Maybe that is why you are stuck in Limbo; the Gods do not know where to put you because of the surprises that come from your being."
"You really cannot blame a spirit for trying can you? Why do you continue to live in a world with so many flaws? There is still hope of creating an ideal race that can be ours to control."
"That is where you are wrong Genesis. There is no ideal race because if there were then they would all be like me. I was made from Hojo to be the perfect race for human kind, but look at me now. I am in disrepair and there is nothing that can be done about it. People like us should not exist for we only cause more destruction and heartache."
"How can you say that?! What has happened to you Larissa, you used to want to take revenge on this Planet to teach it a lesson. Now you just want to leave it in peace!"
"That is because I have met people who are not all criminals. They helped me see the light that this world has to offer and I would never corrupt it for a petty victory. Why destroy the whole planet when you can eliminate the parts that are causing the problems? Besides I cannot believe you have not noticed how well our kind has been doing. Look at us Genesis, we are all dead."
"Not all of us our dead. You can still carry our dreams. Merge with me and we can call on Omega to do the rest."
"You really have lost your mind to those G cells. Do you honestly know what Omega Weapon would do?! It kills everything and everyone in its path including us, and then it crumbles the Planet into dust. Our existence would be over along with the original human race. That is why I am so surprised this Planet has lived as long as it has with us thwarting its plans to survive. Here let me rattle a list of the people who have tried to accomplish this absurd task: Weiss, Azul, Rosso, Nero, Hojo, Sephiroth, you, Hollander and who knows who else. And where are they all now, dead! After we are all gone from this Planet it will be able to breath and I am no exception."
"Wow, I never really counted how many of our people have failed. But why does this plan keep bombarding my mind?"
"Because we were made by mad scientists who thought it would be wonderful to see the Planet shatter under their hand. We are just tools to them, which might be a reason why Sephiroth went insane. No human being should be experimented on for anything. We are full proof of that."
"Yes I suppose your right. Do you think I will ever be out of Limbo?"
"That I do not know Genesis. In fact I might be your room mate in there before too long or condemned to Hell."
"If that happens I hope you do not mind if I join you."
At this they both laughed heartily at their own fate while enjoying the bright sunshine coming from the natural sky light.
"I guess I will leave you now Larissa, you have given me much to think about while I wait. I wish you the best of luck against those SOLDIERs."
"Thank you and Genesis…You are an honorable man who would have turned out just fine if only those scientists had not gotten in the way. We all would have, please take care and find your light. It might be just the thing to take you out of Limbo, so you can join Angeal."
Genesis floated closer to Larissa to stare deep into her black hole for eyes and saw the light she was talking about. It was embedded deep in her soul where it was just itching to be set free.
"You have endured so much on your own Larissa; I admire you all the more for your strength."
He placed his hands on her shoulders then and gave her a light kiss on the cheek before he went back to the portal to depart for the Spirit World. A little stunned by his action she only watched him fly away with a small smile hidden underneath his firm gaze upon her. Once he was gone, Larissa could not help but smile herself while repositioning herself back onto the floor to meditate for a while longer before turning in.
In a makeshift laboratory on the other side of the Spirit World was Lucrecia working with the G cells that Genesis had given her not too long ago. They were very easy to work with and growing at a quick pace to Lucrecia's satisfaction. Soon they will double in size for Larissa to use for one last transformation. After this there will be nothing left to save her from anything else thrown her way. Hopefully the G cells will last for a while.
"Yes, these G cells will empower Larissa to do great things. I just hope they will be ready by this Friday."
Working endlessly in the laboratory made Lucrecia happy as Friday quickly approached for another battle against Shinra and Avalanche, may the rightful people win.