Chapter 27: Introductions
Normal POV
Kadaj smirked, seeing the slab of concrete pushed to the side. Yazoo wasn't anywhere, so he must've gone down there by now. Loz was closely following him. It was relatively close to past midnight, and the minutes that had just gone by were enough time for Ria and Trevor's little reunion.
Loz gulped. "They're down there?" he asked with big eyes.
Kadaj rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark you big baby. I want to talk to Ria now!" Kadaj demanded, descending the dimly lit lair.
vVvVv
Speak of Yazoo, and the Remnant shall appear. Ria sighed, and Trevor and frowned. At that instant, the female stood up instantly.
"Do I have to welcome him in?" Trevor asked like a little kid.
Ria gave him a look that said: they're-with-us-now-you-know. At this, the dark haired boy sighed frustratingly. It was getting late and it was best to settle in for the night for now. He and Ria would converse with the Remnants in the morning.
Just as thoughts cross her mind, a confused Yazoo had wandered into the room where Trevor and Ria were. He spotted them, and didn't say anything; just stood at the doorway and stared while standing as still as a statue.
"Are you gonna stare at us all night?" Ria joked, effectively rousing a smile to Yazoo's features.
He walked into the room, fully aware of Trevor's wary gaze. Yazoo gave him an intimidating nod that set the dark-haired man on edge. Ria appeared unfazed, and just returned the genuine smile that so rarely came from the cold Remnant, but Ria knew well enough about the feelings he hid for her.
"Trevor," the man beside Ria outstretched his hand for a shake with the Remnant.
Yazoo nodded, his silver hair bobbing unsteadily as he returned Trevor's handshake, gripping a bit more forcefully. The males broke apart while Trevor sneakily wrung his hands off the grip the Remnant possessed.
"Where's Kadaj?" Ria asked, looking up at the Remnant who was at least ten inches taller than her.
"Up there... I came down to find you," he smirked, the male Agent scoffed, glaring at the door leading to his bedroom.
Before anyone could say anything, a loud male voice was heard drifting from the room above, followed by heavy footsteps and a deep voice. Yazoo sighed. Kadaj and Loz had found their way in. It didn't take long for the two other Remnants to appear in the doorway.
"Took you guys long enough," Ria huffed, moving to introduce Trevor more properly as she dragged him along.
"Yeah... Some of us are just nyctophobic," Kadaj smirked cruelly at Loz who pouted much to everyone's amusement.
Ria's gaze traveled to Loz who joined Yazoo on one of the bean bags.
"Let's get some rest. We've got a lot to talk about in the morning," Trevor ordered coldly; a comment that made the Remnant leader wonder just who put this guy in charge.
"I think that's a good idea," Ria nodded once.
Trevor sighed. "Alright... I'll sleep in my own room. Ria can take the spare room, and you three can sleep here," he remarked, a hand on his hip.
Ria pursed her lips, unsure as to how the Remnants would react to this. She half expected Kadaj to wring Trevor's neck out upon seeing the look the silver haired teen was directing at her friend's way. The Remnant regarded him carefully, like he was reading the Agent.
"Objections?" Trevor raised one dark brow.
"None," Kadaj answered just as coldly.
"Good night gentlemen. And to you too Ria," he nodded at the brunette, suddenly so formal. "I'll see you all in the morning. We've a lot to discuss."
The people left behind watched as the Agent entered his room and shut the door quietly. Loz and Yazoo just sat there, not saying a word. Loz was already asleep of course, and Yazoo was on the verge of drifting off. Kadaj and Ria were left standing in the main room.
"Can we really trust that guy?" He questioned, folding his arms across his chest.
"You act like I don't know him well enough to trust him," she shot back, he shrugged, and she sighed. "Kadaj, he's my..."
"Best friend," he finished for her, locking eyes with her for a moment, "I know... You told me. I think you know by now that I'm starting to trust you," her face brightened at his words, a bit moved with them actually, "...though I don't like it," Ria glared at him, "But it's the best for all of us for now."
They were silent after a long while after those words. The brunette just stood there, unmoving, almost glued to her spot as she regarded Kadaj whose eyes were scanning the main room.
"I'm getting some rest. We'll all talk in the morning," she nodded once and shuddered as she walked away feeling the youngest Remnant's stare drilling onto her back.
vVvVv
"So, you're telling me, that Shin-Ra's scheming on reviving Sephiroth," Trevor pointed out at the four young adults seated around the dining room table.
The dark-haired Agent pinched the bridge of his nose. The story was almost unbelievable. AVALANCHE destroyed Sephiroth, and Shin-Ra didn't have any qualms with the idea, so why try and bring him back now? It really wasn't making sense. The Remnants were mostly silent during the whole conversation, just agreeing or disagreeing in forms of nods, or uncharacterized grumbling—which mostly came from Kadaj. Other than that, everything was okay. Loz was basically amused with a tea bag. Yazoo was just bored out of his mind. Kadaj was appearing to ignore the whole thing, but really wasn't. Ria and Trevor were really the only ones discussing.
"No doubt about it. He clued me in on it himself. He thought I was going to agree and join him. He was wrong and that's how the Healin massacre really started," Ria explained, sipping the hot chocolate in her mug.
"But how can they revive Sephiroth? He's basically dead—that's almost a self-written fact, and Cloud took him down. If they really want to make another Sephiroth, that means getting another lab baby and retracing the procedures from the Jenova Project..." Trevor pointed out.
"And you know this because..." Ria trailed off.
Trevor shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? I did research just like you." Ria pursed her lips. "Just in a different subject," the man added as an afterthought. "Are you sure they're really trying to bring back Sephiroth?"
"They had the chance to annihilate Jenova two years ago, so why didn't they do it? Obviously, they want to preserve her for further experimentation, and that's exactly what Rufus told me." Ria confirmed, glancing at the Remnants.
"It's a bit irrelevant," Trevor commented.
"You said it yourself. To recreate Sephiroth means retracing the procedures of the Jenova Project. I'm no expert in Shin-Ra experiment dirt, but the project title speaks for itself. To make another Sephiroth means infusing a newborn infant with Jenova's cells..." Ria explained, catching Kadaj's attention in the process.
"And exposing the baby to loads of Mako energy—which can have the risk of Mako poisoning." Trevor pointed out objectively.
"Right..."
"Now the question is why would they want another Sephiroth? The first one was bad enough already," Trevor explained, running a hand through his hair.
Ria shrugged. "Beats me. If they are intent on bringing Sephiroth back, the question is how. Mako reactors were shut down two years ago, and Jenova's dead. Maybe Rufus has just gone insane just like Hojo. Besides, they aren't the only ones who want Sephiroth back," she glared at Kadaj.
"What?" The Remnant interjected. "It's Mother's will." Ria sighed heavily. "If Shin-Ra wanted Sephiroth back, why didn't they just cooperate with us, and once Reunion is done, we'll rule the world, and then I'll have that Shin-Ra guy assassinated. Why didn't I think of that?" Kadaj mused enthusiastically.
"Do shut up," Ria muttered indignantly and Kadaj cast her a glare. The female turned to Trevor. "I'm thinking this is another one of his psychotic episodes. OW!"
Ria yelped after Kadaj lightly smacked the back of her head. Trevor shook his head amidst his amusement. Loz was staring as Kadaj and Ria bickered. And he thought: 'Yup... Those two are definitely flirting...'
"Can we get serious again?" Trevor managed after smothering a laugh.
"Right... but I don't get it... Really..."
"Doesn't that explain why Shin-Ra created the Remnants?" Kadaj raised an eyebrow, participating on the conversation now.
"You guys were just a link, not much after that," Trevor argued, staring the Remnant down.
"Why do you think I had the stigma infested children kidnapped?" Kadaj snapped back.
"So it was you!" Trevor exclaimed.
"Took you long enough. Anybody infected with the stigma shares Mother's mimetic legacy," Kadaj declared proudly.
"And by 'Mother's mimetic legacy' you mean?" Trevor inquired, setting his cup down.
"The Sephiroth gene," Kadaj answered coolly. "Reunion was supposed to happen, but they killed Mother," the teen seethed.
"And you're upset about it? You don't know how happy everyone else is!" Trevor exclaimed, grinning.
Kadaj looked genuinely hurt, seeing how the remarks had been against everything he ever believed in. But then again, he wasn't so sure anymore. Jenova had manipulated him countless times, and Ria even pointed that out to him that night he told her everything in the Northern Crater. He was seriously in a flux right now, and wanted to be neutral, but Jenova's hold on him seemed so binding that he couldn't even turn down the fact that he still wanted to make her happy. Was she really even dead? He knew his life mission, his ties to Sephiroth, his real purpose, but what then?
Without even meaning to, he found himself standing up from his place, unconsciously initiating a walk-out of some sort. Ria saw it of course—as did everyone else, and watched as he ascended the stairs leading out of the lair.
"I think you just hurt his feelings," Ria told Trevor who appeared smug despite Kadaj's actions.
"You think?" Yazoo pointed out sarcastically in a cold, flat voice.
"I'll get him," Ria sighed and went after the Remnant leader.
