Author's Note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and Myself. We don't own Final Fantasy VII!

Those Chosen By The Planet

Disc 3 Part 4:

Redirect

Airlia knew that something else had happened when Jenova used her healing aura… but she couldn't put her finger on it. However, before she could think to question it, an announcement came over the PA system…

Attention all employees of Shinra…

In light of the devastation from the recent events, we will be offering you temporary full functioning apartments within the Shinra building for your safety. We will house your family as well to protect them from any backlashes. If you need to get your family here… Seek any of our SOLDIERs to aid you in going there and bringing them back safely. We will be dealing with this situation shortly, but do not wish you to fear for your families and their safety.

Solomon Shinra

Tseng frowned before murmuring, "So it begins." He turned to Airlia, "At some point today, you will be coming with me down to the firing range. I want to make sure those… shots… you took weren't just flukes. Alright?"

Airlia nodded before turning to her fiancé, "Rufus, what are we going to do? We can't avoid this spill, but maybe there's a way to control the damage?"

Rufus sighed defeated. "I don't know. I don't want to deny Sephiroth. He's my brother-in-law, but at the same time, my father pretty much let him go with a slap on the wrist for what happened in Nibelheim when… He killed the entire town Airlia… Normally that crime would merit…" He couldn't say it, especially not with his sister glaring death daggers at him.

"We are not denying Sephiroth. I will never deny my husband!" She snapped at him. "And Father let him go because he knew Sephiroth would never normally do that. Just like he let Barret off for the same reason!"

"Anna, people are not going to hear that," Rufus said. "They'll say, 'Oh he's a Shinra, of course they let him off.' See how that might lead to a problem?"

"So what do you suggest! We just give up on him!" Anna shouted.

Airlia held up her hand. "Wait, I have an idea… It's not denying Sephiroth… Not exactly. What if you say that you didn't know that he was alive? No one knew I was alive for six years. You can come out with Nibelheim saying that in light of finding out he was alive, you sought to look into the situation and found out something terrible. But you will not say that it is of his own will. That you will look into it fully and do what's right." She looked at Tseng, "Which leads me to my suggestion from earlier. What if we have pocket cameras with live streaming of what we witness in trying to save Sephiroth? Something that can't be possibly faked. Show them the behemoth that is behind all of this."

Rufus looked at Anna. "Anna… I think… is our best bet for coaxing out the Behemoth that is controlling him. I don't like this idea… but it's our best plan. Sis… do you think you can do this… He's not himself, he could kill you…"

Anna kissed her brother on the cheek. "He's my husband, I love him, and he would never harm me. I will reach him. I will make that thing let him go."

Airlia shook her head, "It's the only thing I can think of to prevent an all out war against Shinra. I'm trying to minimize as many casualties as I can…" She hugged her best friend, "And proving that he isn't in control of his body is our only hope that people won't seek his blood later."

Rufus sighed. He hated putting his sister in this danger. "Airlia, go with Tseng now. Get in as much practice as you can. I'll run this plan by Father… he's going to pitch a fit…"

Airlia nodded as she left with Tseng to head to the elevator. "Let's do this… I hope I'm not a fluke good shot because it's Marlene."

Still outside Airlia's apartment, Barret and Scarlet stood together, each savoring their first kiss in a very, very long time. Tseng looked at Airlia with a raised eyebrow.

She shook her head with a smile. "It's fine. I'm just happy that they're finding comfort." She put a hand to her breast and blinked… It feels different… "They deserve happiness Tseng."

Rufus came out behind them, unprepared to walk right into them. "What the?"

Tseng swiftly shushed Rufus before they could interrupt the two. They didn't realize that there was no way they could.

Rufus smirked even though he said nothing. He merely saw two lonely souls finally finding one another. He whispered, "We should really go guys."

"Papa! Help me!" A little cry came from her bed.

Barret pulled away from Scarlet and ran towards the bedroom.

Airlia ran with Rufus towards Marlene's room as they saw the little girl thrashing in her bed. Barret looked uneasily as he tried to shift Boko into Marlene's arms. Airlia came over to put her hand on Marlene's forehead gently, rubbing soothingly as she hummed a small melody. It was something she remembered from her childhood as she tried to soothe her daughter. When she began to thrash, Airlia thought nothing of sitting on the edge of the bed and gently shifted Marlene into her arms. "Marlene… it's okay… you're safe. It's just a terrible dream…" She whispered softly, "Louise… please help my baby… Please."

Sephy came over from where he'd been playing. "Marlene okay?"

Airlia nodded, though her eyes belied her worry. "It's just a bad dream. Baby it's okay… it's just a bad dream… Time to wake up."

Barret watched as Airlia comforted the little girl as she woke from the bad dream. Marlene had called for him, why couldn't he bring himself to comfort her.

Airlia didn't want to say about the bad dreams… She had helped Marlene in the past when he was away on a mission or something else… Usually happened after Biggs would try to beat her. When Marlene was awake, she immediately went to her papa. "Papa! I was so scared!"

Barret uncertainly took her in his arms. "It's okay baby girl. Papa's here. And your momma too."

Marlene shook her head and clutched him tightly. "I was so scared papa!"

Airlia backed up uncertainly. She didn't want to interfere… he deserved to have time with Marlene as much as he did. She felt her heart catch in her throat at the tenderness… It's okay baby girl. I can share, you do what is best for you right now.

Rufus looked at Airlia and nodded. "Barret, we need someone to look after Marlene while she gets some emergency firing practice. Do you mind?"

Barret looked up at Scarlet before shaking his head. "Not at all. I love my little girl. My Marlene."

Scarlet smiled. "I'll help."

Airlia smiled, "Thank you both." She went to Marlene for a moment, "I'll be back soon to look in on you Marlene. I love you baby."

She turned to Tseng and nodded. "Let's go."

Anna came in for her son. "Sephy time to go to bed."

Sephy pouted but nodded before kissing Marlene on the forehead like his mommy liked to do. "Feel better."

Marlene smiled at Sephy, "Thanks Sephy…"

Rufus approached his father just before he left the office. "Dad... I guess you saw the broadcast..."

Solomon nodded, his face stern. "Yes, and I don't know how to even begin the amount of damage control. I've had already twenty angry calls, and they just keep coming. I've asked the receptionists to just take recordings of messages and their names with respective numbers and that I will call them back. I don't even want to see how badly inundated they are right now."

Rufus sat across of him. "Sis is in a bad way. Worse than five years ago when..." How to tell his father the plan…

Solomon nodded. "I know she is in a terrible situation. And now it's worse because she sees what happened to him five years ago. Do you have any ideas? I see that look on your face that I'm not going to like it."

Rufus took a breath and told his father the plan and what it entailed. "It's the only way. Maybe we can save him this way from their wrath."

Solomon growled. "You're right. I don't like it. There has to be another way! I don't want my daughter going out there again!"

Rufus played his trump card immediately. "The only other way is kill him ourselves. And I won't do it."

Solomon frowned. "I don't want him dead either! Fine! But all of the Turks are coming with you. I will surround myself with a few more Turks that were just finishing the last of their training. I want you to have all of the experienced hands you can get." He thought about it and added, "I really hope this live stream idea works for everyone's sake."

Anna put Sephy in his bed and covered him up. "Sephy, are you okay? Did that thing hurt you?" She stroked his forehead. How unfair to regain her son only to lose her husband.

He shook his head. "I'm okay… but I'm worried about Marlene and Daddy… But I know you'll bring him back."

Anna stroked silvery hair. "Yeah, I'll bring him back for us baby boy. And you take really good care of Marlene alright?"

Sephy nodded with pride. "Of course I will! I promise!"

Anna kissed his forehead and sang a little song that her Mother used to sing to her and Rufus when it was time to sleep. She sang until his eyelids drooped and he fell into a deep sleep. That's when she finally stopped pretending she was strong and let loose the flood of fearful sobs. What if she couldn't save Sephiroth? What if she couldn't bring him back? What if all of this destroyed her whole family? It was getting to be too much.

Airlia looked at the target some distance away as Tseng smirked. "Aim for the center and use all of the bullets. I want to see how accurate you are."

Airlia nodded as she took the practice gun and aimed. All she could see was the behemoth though, taunting her with Marlene's body in his arms. She aimed for the head and just fired rapidly. When the gun was empty, she turned to Tseng.

Tseng hit the button to bring the target back to them and gaped. "How many shots did you take? Six?"

Airlia nodded. "However many was in the gun. I think it was six. Why? Did I do bad?"

He held up the target to show her one big hole in the dead center. "No, you're aim was spot on…"

She blinked as she looked at the hole. "All I can see, when I fire the gun… is that behemoth. The one responsible for everyone's pain and grief. I just want there to be an end to the pain."

Tseng nodded understandingly. "Just don't be disappointed if it doesn't work. The Behemoth is not exactly alive, I think." Came a voice from the Firing Range door just before Vincent Valentine joined them with his own firearm.

Airlia nodded, "I know it won't end the suffering. But it just … helps me with my issues I haven't dealt with mentally. If that makes sense Vincent."

Vincent nodded with a strange look on his face. "I'm helping Shinra… I'm surprised I haven't run into Hojo yet… The man who imprisoned me…" He raised his gun and fired at a target. "The man who took away the woman I loved." He fired again.

Airlia looked at Vincent. "Every story has two sides. I'm sure it won't be long before you hear mine. So why not give us your side. I'm probably the least biased one way or the other you'll find here."

Vincent fired a third time as he told his own story. "I was hired by Shinra and trained as a Turk. I was assigned to the Scientist and his wife… His wife was a scientist as well but we discovered a rapport together. Hojo was rarely home. He took more pride in his work than in his family. Even when Lucrecia was pregnant. She...and I, maybe it was wrong because she said she still loved her husband but… I loved her so much and we… many times… were together when he decided to stay late at the lab… She died and he discovered our affair. He lost his control and he killed me." He fired a fourth shot. "Then through his sick experiments, he reanimated me and then infused me with these demons… like that Chaos… then I slept for 30 years locked in that room."

Airlia nodded. "I'm sorry you suffered. It's a terrible tragedy what grief can do to someone. I've lived it. I may not be dead and reanimated… I may not have literal demons living in me. But I do face my own demons… every day. Perhaps in a way it's a blessing… A chance to make things right, not necessarily with the one you think, but with others."

Vincent growled. "I'll make things right… by taking care of Hojo. He's the one who killed Lucrecia with his foolhardy experiments. Playing god... it's not right!"

Airlia shook her head. "You're right, it's not right to play god. But he's changed since then. He saved my life when I should be dead. Tseng, you remember my physical state when Rufus brought me back here the very first time, what about a week or two ago?"

Tseng nodded. "Yes, that sounds about right. And you hear me Vincent, I will not allow harm to come to the doctor. You're right, he had problems. But he has changed. Lucrecia however did not die due to those experiments. She went into labor far too early and the Jenova cells saved Sephiroth's life. Now since then, he's had to wonder. 'Is Sephiroth really mine? Or the product of the love affair she had with this man.' Don't get angry at him because you decided to go after a married woman." He stomped up away from the firing range.

Airlia looked at Vincent one last time, "Just remember what I said. Every story has two sides… He's changed. Take care Vincent." She took the left behind target from the shooting gallery and rolled it up before following the angry Turk.

Rufus stood on the stage in Junon, having chosen that to be the best place for this press conference. It had been several days since the broadcast and since there had been an attack a day on the towns of the world. A small star had appeared in the sky and everyday it seemed to grow bigger.

Anna stood beside her brother, her head hurting with anxiety. "Sephiroth, please...please…" She whispered to herself, as if praying.

Rufus looked around and smiled at Airlia who approached them. "Good, things are coming together. Now let's hope your plan works to break the mob up." He turned to Anna, "Everything is going to be fine Anna. I promise. We'll have your husband back and he will not be the object of detest if all goes right."

Anna nodded and she took the microphone, as planned. Hearing the words of a woman as distraught as the rest might help to dispel some of the anger. "Good morning everyone…" She started. "I know you are all feeling confused maybe a little betrayed and angry. I know because I feel the same way. For five years I thought my husband was dead, now he reappears and something is clearly not right about him. We did a little more research into the Nibelheim disaster and learned the truth… But I want to say this in his defense, this is not him… This is not him!"

One angry reporter glared at her. "So tell me then, how is it possible for the Shinra to not know that Sephiroth wasn't still alive?! You people make it your business to know everything!"

Airlia looked at Anna, "May I help with this one?"

Anna nodded as she gripped her chest, she looked out among the crowd as she sat back in her chair.

Airlia looked specifically at the reporter who asked the question. "How many of you know of the death of Airlia Marchand at the age of 15 years old… Six years ago today?"

A second reporter responded. "I covered that story. She was burned to death in a fire! Tell me how that has any relevance to now!"

Airlia gave him a strange smile. "Because I am her… I wasn't burned to death. Someone else was… I do not know who that poor person was. I was held by a terrorist cell. About a week or so ago… I was rescued by Rufus, near death. So if even the Shinras thought I was dead… then suddenly back… I could easily see how no one knew Sephiroth was alive."

The reporters all gasped in surprise. Anna stepped up. "It's true, she is Airlia Marchand." She started looking around the mass of reporters. "And I want to say something. Sephiroth, if you can hear me, come home… I know you're not like this. I know something is wrong and I want to help."

Airlia went back towards Rufus as she felt an unease in the air. "Please no… not here…" The unease had only been felt once before… at the Forgotten Capital.

Before the first reporter could say anything the sickening sound of metal impacting flesh was heard and the man fell to the ground, the Masamune sticking up out of his back. Anna retched and fell to the floor of the stage in shock.

Airlia and Rufus went immediately to Anna to help her up, each supporting a side as she looked at Sephiroth. "Don't… please don't do this." She reached for her gun. I must be careful… No one must know that I could really kill him… She pulled it up with her right hand, while Anna on supported by her left side.

Sephiroth grinned sickly as he pulled out the sword. Those who knew Sephiroth gaped at his words… "Well well… if it isn't the Shinra brats… And look who's with you… an impure… well at least I can deal with three birds with one sword."

Anna pulled away from her brother and Airlia and ran towards Sephiroth. "Sephiroth! Stop! I know you can hear me! Let me help you!"

Airlia could hear Rufus screaming for her to run. This wasn't the time or place to confront him.. Sephiroth grinned became even more crazed as he spoke, "Well I can finally deal with you then little princess. You refused your heritage… You betrayed your fellow Cetras. Time for me to complete my mission and give my judgement on this planet!"

Anna shook her head. "My husband wouldn't hurt me. He knows how much I love him! Stop pretending to be him!" She started to draw nearer to him. "Sephiroth please!"

He drew his sword up to slice her clean through as a shot rang through and skimmed his sword hand, making him growl in outrage. "Who dares?!"

Airlia stepped forward. "This weak kitten found her teeth and claws. Now Sephiroth, back off and leave." I have to… no one's around and we don't have the cameras to show that he was possessed.

Sephiroth hissed in anger at the little weakling doing just enough damage to him to break his hold over Sephiroth on regards to killing his little Anna. He took his Masamune and started coming towards Airlia. "You little bitch… I'm going to do what I should have had them do long ago…" The voice was no longer sounding like Sephiroth at that moment… "I will have my revenge on you for ruining all of my precious plans you bitch!"

Barret saw the sword coming and got out his own gun and stepped right in between the blade and Airlia. He never got a shot off as the sword made contact with his torso and the gun flew from his hands, landing next to Scarlet who watched with horror as her newfound love fell to his knees impaled on Sephiroth's sword.

Anna screamed bloody murder as she watched her husband. "Sephiroth please no!"

Airlia didn't have time to move or even blink. She stared into his eyes and saw the demon as Barret put himself before the blade. "No! Barret no! What about Marlene!"

She watched as Sephiroth withdrew his blade and smirked at her. "Now his blood is on your hands." He laughed darkly as Airlia shot another warning shot at him, missing him mere inches from his face. he jumped back and left as his cackle remained.

Airlia helped Barret to lay back as Scarlet pushed her out of the way to talk to her lover.

Scarlet pulled Barret away from Airlia. "No no... Barret no... Hold on please..."

Barret groaned as he held her hand, "Is Airlia okay? It's my fault that she suffered so much."

Airlia shook her head, "I'm fine, but you're going to be okay Barret. Just hold on..." She looked around for restorative materia. She had to save him.

Barret shook his head. "No... It's my time... Take care of Marlene for me... Scarlet... I ... I love you."

Scarlet's breath caught in her throat. "No, no... Please, I just found you. Please..." She ran fingers through his crew cut. "Please..."

Barret smiled up at her as he reached up to cup her cheek. "Don't grieve for me love… You made me a happy man these last few days… I'm always with you…" His hand fell limp to his side as his eyes closed one last time.

Scarlet screamed. "No! Barret! No!"

Airlia turned to Rufus and sobbed in his chest. She cried at the release of her pain, her ineptitude at protecting her friends and family… Because of her… Barret was dead now… Because she couldn't kill Sephiroth.

Anna watched the man die. "No...no more...please Planet... No more. Please give me what I need to fight this menace." She practically prostrated herself in prayer.