Disclaimer. Hmm… could've sworn I told you already.
Well this is gona be a real twist in the blender that has become this story. Koty has officially gone mad. He has unwittingly resurrected sephiroth and now having destroyed the last of shinra stands as the greatest true threat to gaia since the company's glory days. Cloud has gotten wind of his actions through a mysterious and cryptic series of dreams that have plagued him for the last few chapters and now rides to confront his now mad 'brother in law'. Shelke refusing to let this lie herself accompanies him and they leave Tifa supposedly safe along with the rest of avalanche. However Denzel has also taken a wild hair and gone off on his own in search of something beyond the group's knowledge. With Tifa's goodbyes said the story takes a turn for the worst in this latest instillation of bright eyes. Now as always read and enjoy… or if you don't enjoy read anyway… and then flame if you must… please R&R
Immaculate conception "the theory 'mimetic legacy'"
"it would work… so simple yet the complexity of these algorithms is quite utterly complex." Koty paced the floor looking over documents that had been left behind by the remnants of shinra. They contained detailed documentation on the jenova projects and even test results containing theories on mako infusion and cellular reconstruction.
Being the ever curious person as he was Koty absorbed the knowledge with a fascination that far exceeded his partners. He poured over the notes at an alarming rate and with a scatterbrained yet very precise series of motions began annotating things as if they were part of some grand play.
"you are enthusiastic." The man opposite Koty's side of the room spoke as he too pored over a few loose documents. "however if you really want this to work you must be cautious not to overlook anything."
"true… if I miscalculate the repercussions could be catastrophic. Alas angel… I am glad you have the sense to see these things through." He sifted through the notes again as the silver haired man that was his partner circled the tank that contained what he had heard Koty refer to as the paradox.
"so… this is the… paradox…"
"correct… do not touch the tank… I'm not sure how that machine works as of yet and for that matter I haven't found a way to properly dispose of the paradox."
"how so?"
"being that the creature is in a constant state of simi ethereal regeneration I cannot destroy it. Not without destroying its life force. And that I cannot do."
"and why not exactly?" he looked intrigued at Koty's particular dilemma.
"its soul is bound to someone very precious to me. I cannot destroy them… and therefore I must find another means to eliminate this creature… perhaps…"
"would the study that shinra was doing not prove useful in this?"
"too risky… the more I experiment the more resilient to testing that thing becomes. And besides without something familiar with its power or a host far superior to a human it would inevitably end with the abomination getting free. And I cannot allow this creature to simply run wild."
"but if we were to find a host suitable for this would it not prove beneficial to capitalize on someone else's fouls?"
"you may have a point… however there is much more work to be done. I still haven't the knowledge to operate half of this machinery… wait… what if?"
"oh?" the silver haired man looked on with an analytical grin at Koty's current brainstorm.
"yes… if I could manage not to contain it but merely repress the ephemeral impulses perhaps I can make this beings power docile enough to be housed in an infantile soul… however… not just any soul will do… and I simply don't have the time for that."
"I think you do."
"what do you know angel?"
"the woman… the one whom this 'abomination' is bound to… do you not know of her current condition?"
"alive is all that concerns me… but what should I know that you aren't revealing?"
"she is with child." A sinister smirk crossed the man's face. "the process would be relatively simple I believe… you would only need bring her here…"
"but the risk would be cataclysmic if I should fail."
"but you won't… remember… you have my blessings… I will assist you… but first I will need you to do something for me."
"name your price… oh divine one."
"jenova… she is… in danger… should cloud strife find her… we will lose our only chance to recover your beloved… I only ask that you protect this place should he come here… surely the Turk you allowed to live would have told them by now… and they are probably on their way here… should they realize that jenova's body is here… they will try to destroy it."
"very well then angel… I do not wish to fight cloud… but I am now too close to allow anything to stand in my way… including my brothers… thy will be done."
"good… see that you do your mission well."
Cloud pushed the bike to its limits only stopping when the engine finally quit and he had no longer the gas necessary to continue.
"damn… finrir." He whined at the machine as its roar dissipated. "sorry shelke… looks like we're hoofin it… there should be a town up a few miles from this road. We'll bed down there for the night."
"alright… cloud?" she seemed extremely nervous given her usual robotic demeanor.
"what's wrong?"
"I'm worried. About Tifa…"
"she can handle herself… and besides zack's there… he'll watch out for her."
"you trust him that well…"
"not that I haven't before but I trust him with my life… he saved my skin more than a few times… so yeah." They continued in silence until cloud was stopped in his tracks by a set of eerie mechanical red eyes staring back at him.
"you're looking for him aren't you?" a robotic/human tone echoed from the fiery orbs as cloud reached for his weapons.
"show your face." Cloud wasn't patient as he ordered the strange entity forward.
"relax strife. It's me." The strangely familiar form of Jonah walked into the dim moonlight as cloud sheathed his blade.
"what are you doing here?"
"I came to warn you."
"about what?"
"the paradox… I don't think Koty understands yet."
"and you do?"
"not entirely… but I think I have a better handle for it than he does. He thinks its linked to Tifa because it was a result of her interaction with Liz… however… I think he's got it all wrong."
"and what's he missing? I thought he had dealt with paradoxes before"
"he has… but not like this. Normally the paradox he contends with are results of outside interference this time however… it was interdementional… so I don't think the paradox is completely linked to Tifa… I think it's linked to him…"
"what? That doesn't make any sense."
"haven't you noticed… it only seems to bother you when he's not around… yeah… when you were at the base and slaughtered those troops… you didn't… the paradox was trying to draw Koty out… using you as a form of human bait. It can only directly affect those who are a solution to its existence… and you were manipulated… that tells me that you are either A… Koty's spectral counterpart… B the cause of the paradox yourself… or C the answer to the problem… take your pick… but I'm telling you Tifa is only an instrument of correction."
"what's all this father stuff?"
"what father stuff?" he tilted his head in confusion.
"it said 'father why do you reject us' what does that mean?"
"could mean that you're of the B category… or it could just be messing with you. Who knows…"
"what's that suppose to mean?"
"the paradox is intelligent. However it's also got a one track mind."
"so this thing is smart."
"yeah… really smart… only thing about it is that it often doesn't bother using intelligence… you see there are only a few ways to get rid of one.. and the only sure fire way to do it is to pretty much 'kill' whatever was its source."
"don't tell me that."
"sorry but you need to know… now if this thing was created by Koty then it's probably pretty strong… takes a hell of a lot of power to create one and also they kina gain something from their benefactors… like kids… or pets or something… the thing that created it gives it a form of spiritual power… the ability to take physical form only results when the paradox has enough of that power to conjure a body… however with this paradox its different."
"for someone whose half machine you're pretty well informed. How did you figure this out?"
"reeve keeps me filled in on the research they do on base. Being a cyborg has its perks."
"so how is this thing effected by Koty's power."
"it doesn't display it but I think maybe it feeds from him directly."
"so it's eating him…"
"no… its gaining power through his mental state. The more emotional he is the more power it has. Unless I'm wrong and it is attached to Tifa… in which case we don't have a lot of time."
"how do I stop it?"
"quick to ask eh… well the only two ways I can think of would be offin little Mrs. strife… or destroying my home demention."
"I take it you're not gona let me do the later."
"not that I give a damn… but how are you gona… takin out a demention takes some serious juice… not the kind you get from a sword either… you would need to use a power great enough to cause a disruption in the space time continuum. Then to seal the deal you would need enough power to sever it from the continuum. That my friend is well out of our reach… however I've gotten wind that shinra was working on a way to alter the paradox and eliminate it through some form of reintroduction process…"
"what…"
"they were trying to break the chain by making a kid that might could house the paradox and correct the disruption that made it."
"how did they fair with that?"
"don't know… lost contact with Rufus about 24 hours ago… then I came looking for him and caught you haulin ass this way… I figured you're looking for him… otherwise you wouldn't be in such a rush."
"I need to get to modeohiem… you got a chopper I can catch a lift from…"
"well… now that you mention it… yeah I think we can pull that off." The man then placed a finger to a headset that hung tightly to his left ear. "alright guys… bring in the bird." He then returned to cloud. "still a good flight there… but it'll be a lot faster than on foot… so mind if I ask what's in modeohiem?"
"my brother in law…"
"oh… I didn't know Tifa had a brother…"
"long story… but he's in modeohiem and I think he may be the reason you haven't been able to contact Rufus."
"whys that then?"
"don't ask."
"but I just did."
"just did what?" cloud walked past the man without another word and into the small clearing where a WRO helicopter had landed. "let's move… like you said we haven't got a lot of time."
"fine by me."
"I hope you know what you're doing cloud. For all of our sakes." Shelke followed without hesitation and leapt into the chopper. 'Koty… please nothing rash.'
In modeohiem.
"now… I think you can pull her through to here… can you not." The long haired man Koty had only known as 'angel' beckoned him to display his power.
"yes… but she will not keep consciousness…"
"she won't need to be awake for this… I promise no harm will come to her… on my word… we will not allow any harm…"
"as reassuring as that sentiment is it doesn't help my opinion."
"take it on faith then."
"very well… stand back." Koty lifted his left hand and his eyes took an ebony sheen.
The wind swirled around the room and right in front of the silver haired man's eyes a black mass that seemed to absorb all that surrounded it formed at the base of the other man's hand. Suddenly and almost instantly he was gone.
Koty was pulled into the mass and yet the object lingered in the air. Needless to say the other mans interest was peeked.
He was in darkness. A primal darkness that felt as though it had been in existence since the dawn of creation. In that darkness he could feel nothing, see nothing, and yet in the midst of the nothingness was a voice. Deep and primeval. Like the voice of a god calling unto a disciple.
"do you know where you are… outcast?" it spoke to him as if it knew him.
"no… who are you… where are you… show yourself."
"but I have… you see me now… all around you… I am the creator…"
Sephiroth wasted no time in taking up his project. He had been waiting for Koty to vacate the premises since he had been revived. Now he had his chance.
He took the crystal that the man had held so dearly and commenced his operation.
"very soon mother… we shall rule this pitiful world. With this soul… I shall give you life." He walked over to the tank containing the body of the calamity and pressed his hand to the glass.
Koty instantly took stance "what manner of sorcery is this… release me…"
"but you don't understand… the goal you are trying to accomplish is futile… you shall fail… you shall die…"
"not if I take you first."
"hahaha… we shall see… but first I think I shall watch… child."
He was then awoke in Tifa's room. The dark haired woman slept soundly on the bed in front of him and he knew he had to act fast. Grabbing the woman he again chose to warp. However he didn't see the darkness again, nor did the voice taunt him. he simply opened his eyes to reveal 'angel' hard at work configuring and tampering with the machine that held jenova's body.
"angel… what is it you try to do?" he spoke as he placed Tifa on an operating table close by.
"if my theory is correct then your beloved needs only a body to be revived. In that case the only body that could possibly be stable enough to accommodate her soul would be this one… jenova is ancient… her power is limitless in its potential… and thus the perfect candidate to receive a powerful soul like this one." He spoke quickly as if he had anticipated the question.
"I do not think that is the wisest of theories… though you do hold some ground I doubt that the ancient one's body alone could accommodate such a process… it is risky."
"all great movements require sacrifice… and it is one you must be willing to make." The phrase had an obvious dual meaning but Koty failed to catch it as he went about studying the notes again.
"I think if I act now I may can…" he held out his hand and prepared to execute his plans.
"stop." 'angel' grabbed the man's wrist and pulled violently away from the young woman.
"why do you stand in my way?" the now frustrated Koty roared in anger at the silver haired man.
"patience… cloud is coming… and you won't have the strength to deal with him after this… ill keep her sedated you should go great our guests… ah here they are now."
Koty could hear the sounds of a chopper far off in the distance and then realized the man's words were true.
"I want no part of this… but it must be done… do not allow her to wake…"
"you have my word…" the man bowed and pocketed the crystal he had commandeered.
Outside modeohiem.
"alright… if memory serves me right then this place is abandoned and shinra has a few tricks up his sleeve… so let's make it quick X-ray, delta… on me… bravo you follow cloud in and alpha will cover your ass… miss rui… you should stay here." Jonah issued commands like a natural born leader.
"like hell I will." She sparked her sabers and jumped from the deck following after cloud who had jumped before Jonah began giving orders.
"works too…" he then followed suit and several others piled out.
"so where is this base… we need to get in and get out…" cloud asked as the others approached him.
"well… if I'm right… and I usually am Rufus was broadcasting from underground… our best bet is the… hey… look who's here to greet us… HEY… KOTY… OVER HERE!"
"damn… this isn't gona end well." Cloud readied himself for battle as soon as he saw the look in Koty's eyes. They were jet black and radiated a violence that even cloud hadn't known they could contain.
"hey Koty… it's… whoa man what the hell!" Jonah dodged a shot of energy that took down the soldiers behind him. "come on man I know we didn't see eye to eye all of the time but… oh shit."
Koty was bombarding them with a massive amount of energy and the soldiers that Jonah had previously issued command's to fell like leaves at the man's awesome power.
"Koty stop this… we're here to help you…" cloud deflected another shot as the man started tearing into the soldiers with his bare hands. "what's gotten into you… stop… damn… cool it." Clouds voice became dark as he violently slammed the side of the blade into the man.
"I cannot… I must finish the formula… there can be no other solution… I will not abide more sorrow… gods own hand a one winged angel has been sent to my aid… and with his resolute divinity I shall restore that which has been lost." He threw cloud along with his sword violently to the side and continued his rampage.
"you mean bringing Kara back… Koty… let her go… her soul isn't in that crystal… she's on the other side…"
"you lie… you only try to weaken my resolve." He then turned on cloud and slammed a mighty fist into the man's blade sending him spiraling backwards.
"it's the truth… she spoke to me… she said you have to let go… she tried to make you move on… that's why shelke was there… that's why we were there… she brought you to us…"
The man stopped.
"Koty… don't you see… if she wasn't watching out for you… Vincent would never have found you… and shelke… would never have even met you… she's been there the whole time… trying to make you move forward…"
Inside sephiroth reveled in his moment of near victory.
"ah miss Lockhart… I see you're waking up." he mocked the woman as she sat up in a groggy haze.
"ugn" the insides of her stomach felt like they would soon find refuge elsewhere as she sat up. "where… who… sephiroth?" she gasped as she looked straight into the cyan eyes of the nightmare himself.
"do say my name again… I do so love it when you fear me… but that can wait… I've a friend for you… but first… I think I know something about you that you may not know about yourself."
"and what's that…" she sat in defiance of him.
"did you know that you carry clouds seed?"
"what?" she was stunned and before she could really react to his words he lifted his hands to the tank containing the paradox.
"and this poor creature… he wants to play… don't you…" the creature thrashed inside the pod as if answering him. "she is your goal isn't she."
Outside.
"what you speak is fairy tales and lunacy strife… she is condemned… and I have passed her judgment…" Koty's vindictive tone cut the man.
"I'm telling the truth… she told me…"
"and she has been dead longer than I have known you…"
"you bring the dead back… so what's so crazy about me talkin to'em."
"…"
"that's what I thought… and that angel you're talking about… I'm pretty sure you don't even want to know…"
"he is the one winged emissary of god."
"no… its sephiroth…"
"preposterous…"
"no… I know you won't believe me but it's the truth… he's probably in there right now… isn't he."
"cloud… I think you should know something…" Jonah spoke up. "the reason there's a base here… it's because… shinra… they found jenovas body… the real body… they transported it here…"
"no… you idiot why didn't you tell me that sooner…" cloud dashed past Koty now fully aware that sephiroth was alive and what his intentions were.
Koty darted after the blond in an attempt to stop him but he was too late cloud had a large head start and easily kept the distance between them large.
"if he has jenova's body then…"
intermission.
Yeah fast pace I know… but I have too many ideas and not enough time words or sleep so forgive me… now let's get back to the drama of the situation before it fades.
resume
Immaculate conception "mother of ruin 'ancient goddess.'"
"she is your goal isn't she." Sephiroth chuckled as he stroked the glass with an absent hand. Outside he could hear the sounds of explosions and screams along with the clanging of metal on metal. "ah… and your dear brother does such wonderful work."
"you mean… Koty… oh no." she whimpered as her body refused its command to move "what? I… cant… move."
"ah another side effect of the lovely paradox… your body alone will not allow you to escape your inevitable fate… now you are mine. But first… I will give you a great honor."
"what are you talking about?" she hissed as he came closer allowing his hand to slip from the glass and trace the edge of the operation table.
"you see her don't you? Mother? She is coming back." He moved his hand in an almost introduction like motion towards the tank that housed the body of the calamity. "you shall witness the birth of a goddess. The mother of ruin. My mother… now mortal watch in awe as I awaken the rightful ruler of this world."
Tifa couldn't move she could barely breath. She was helpless but to watch as sephiroth held up the crystal that he had stolen from Koty's all too trusting hands.
"your brother is far too trusting. He should know better than to believe in angels. Now behold." The crystal illuminated instantly and shown with a brilliant light as sephiroths laugh erupted with sinister vocalization.
"sephiroth no… you don't know what you're doing… stop!" she clinched a fist as the light blinded her. The sounds of gunshots and explosions from outside silenced as sephiroth stood before jenova's glass prison.
"what… it… couldn't have… damn… it appears this soul was not strong enough… another failure. No matter…" his attention turned from jenova and again to Tifa. "I still have you to play with… now… let us continue shall we… oh yes… you…" he looked at the tank containing the paradox. "you would like to play as well?"
The creature gave no indication that it even acknowledged his presence but instead stared coldly and almost hungrily at Tifa.
"then why don't you come outside?" the masamune in hand sephiroth slashed the tank and a darkness that seemed to radiate from the creature engulfed the area where the containment device had once stood. "now… it's your turn… have your fun."
The creature moved forward like a mist. It consumed the light itself as it walked towards the immobile woman.
"no… no… cloud… Koty… CLOUD! Oh gods…" she had never been afraid of anything in her entire life but the coldness represented by the violet orbs that watched her with a cold indifference flooded her with an unknown dread. "no… stay away!" the voices she had thought the mako had killed so long ago came back. Whispers and painful screams flooded her mind to the point that she felt it would shatter. "n… no… no… CLOUD!"
It was no use her screams would not be heard by her knight in shining armor. She was now at the mercy of this unholy entity.
Dark tendrils erupted from its body and wrapped themselves around her limbs hoisting her high into the air. They then slithered from her wrists and ankles to cover her arms and legs.
"no… let go… shut up… stop!... CLOUD!" she screamed to no avail as the creatures appendages continued to slide up the length of her limbs.
Koty chased cloud in a pursuit that could have easily killed any normal human. Over fallen buildings and through solitary walls fists and blades waging a war of passion as one contested with both the others strength and resolve.
Cloud had once prided himself on his sword skill but without the sheer amount of power Koty possessed he lacked the physical ability to stand for long. Choosing instead of fighting to run forward he took to a defensive tact.
His fists were indeed powerful weapons as they again and again bounced off of clouds blades, each hit sending the ex soldier flying further.
"Koty don't you get it… we're in danger if he gets a hold of jenova… He'll destroy the world." Cloud tried to reach the man in vain.
"I will not waver… even for you brother…" his demonic tone shook the very ground beneath them.
The battle raged onward making even more of a warzone out of the already demolished town. Cloud almost found himself on the receiving end of several devastating punches before Koty simply ceased his assault.
"wha?" cloud looked back to see shelke standing behind Koty, sabers drawn and looking at the man with a determination even cloud envied.
"stop… stop it now… what would Kara think?" she kept her general monotone as she stood off with the man.
"how would you know… you would seek to erase her… silence do not speak her name." he retorted.
Seeing his golden moment cloud dashed to the inn. 'that's it… its gota be the place… it's the only building in any form of decent condition… sephiroth…' he wasn't without notice as immediately Koty gave chase again and quickly caught up.
"sorry Koty this is where I have to put my foot down." He turned on the man and his eyes took their own shade of black "back off." He swung his sword straight down and the familiar blue field of energy erupted with twice its general force. "don't go anywhere."
Noting Koty was now buried underneath quite a bit of rubble cloud again resumed his pace. 'this time there won't be any distractions.'
He ran into the building with a determined flare of resolve overflowing him. he didn't waste time looking for a door and instead proceeded hacking away at the house until he tore down the wall that led to the hallway. 'there' he then dashed into the dark corridor.
"CLOUD!" he could hear Tifa's voice.
"Tifa? No… it can't be… what…" he paused momentarily before remembering what Jonah had said. 'I've gotten wind that shinra was working on a way to alter the paradox and eliminate it through some form of reintroduction process…' "TIFA!"
He cleared the rest of the corridor with record speed and slammed head long into the door sword first knocking it down for the second time in its career.
"Sephiroth!" he knew his target was in the room and his eyes immediately shot forward to meet the silver haired nightmare.
"ah… cloud. So nice of you to join me… I was just busy entertaining a guest of mine and he seemed rather hungry… wouldn't you like to join him for dinner… it appears Tifa is going to be a dear and take him on the offer." Sephiroths cold voice hinted as he motioned to the other side of the room.
Cloud was horrified. "TIFA!" the creature now held Tifa aloft and tendrils slinked up the extent of her legs, surrounded her arms , and wrapped tightly around her waist. "no let her go!"
He charged the creature recklessly and found himself slammed into the far wall. His body was then instantly too weak to move and he stayed in his now broken in metal bed. "n…no… Tifa…" he spoke her name as if it were his only hope. "please not her… anything but her…"
"what?" Koty's demonic tone roared with an angry thunder as he stumbled in onto the scene. "how…"
"so gullible… did you really for a second think any of this was for your benefit… you are a fool. But I must admit… you did live up to your usefulness." Sephiroth insulted the man as he tucked masamune behind him.
"You… you betrayed me?"
"betrayed you now… betray is such a harsh word… I think that's why it suits the situation so well…"
"and Kara… what of her…"
"oh the crystal… it outlived its usefulness… much like its owner has." A twisted smile crossed his lips as he charged the man.
"enough!" Koty's left hand shot forward and cloud couldn't help but gawk as sephiroths generally dominant form then dangled from the man's hand as helpless as cloud himself now was. "A FOOL I WAS TO TRUST YOU! To think that god would send me an angel… but no… a demon in angels clothing… now… you perish…" he hurled the silver haired man against the wall to the back side of jenova's tank and then averted his gaze to Tifa. "release her fiend."
He rushed the black mass. However he too met with a similar fate to cloud. He was thrown aside by a blackened tentacle and then stapled to the wall with said tendril.
"he… help… me." Tifa managed to wheeze as the large tentacle around her waist slinked around her body and proceeded to constrict her.
"no please! Anything… I'll do anything… please just not her." Cloud plucked himself from his confines and crawled towards the creature.
"M…M…M..O…TH…ER" the apparition spoke as the tendrils curling up her legs slinked themselves up to her thighs and then over her belt.
"NO! PLEASE NO!" cloud was desperate as he continued to crawl only to be thrown back again.
"MoThER…" the creature spoke again as the tendrils slid beneath Tifa's belt and her legs began to contract in pain.
"NO… what are you doing to her? NO STOP!"
The tendrils around her arms then began to slither over her shoulders and creep up her neck in the most slow and almost painfully gruesome fashion cloud had ever witnessed.
"c…cloud… I… I love you…" her voice was silenced as the large tentacle around her waist suddenly constricted further. Cloud thought he could hear the cracking of ribs but Tifa didn't scream.
The tendrils that had now covered her neck began slithering into her mouth and nostrils almost as if the creature were trying to tear her apart from the inside out.
"NO TIFA… TIFA HOLD ON… I love you!" now too weak to hold himself upright cloud pushed forward and fell as close as he could to his beloved.
"MothEeer…" the creature again hissed as the tendril around her waist released her and then quickly retracted. "We… NEEd…MothHHERR…" several smaller ones then reappeared and quickly tore off the clothing that she was wearing.
Cloud could now see what the monster was doing. The several smaller tendrils that had slid beneath her belt now revealed themselves to be deeply buried in her delicate folds. She winced and kicked violently in the creatures grasp but failed ultimately as it began moving further into her.
"no… not her…" cloud was on the verge of tears as he watched the creature ultimately devouring Tifa from the inside out.
"Noowww… WEeeEe… will beE…OneE" the several smaller tentacles that erupted from the creature now formed into a large spire like appendage similar to the one that had pinned Koty.
"KOTY… HELP…. YOU GOTA HELP Me…" clouds tears were now rolling as he looked at the unconscious juggernaut pinned to the wall "Wake UP! COME ON WAKE UP… DAMIT!" he slammed his fist frustrated into the ground and crawled again towards the creature to once again be thrown this time into the door frame knocking it down and blocking the only escape or entrance into the compound.
The large spire that the creature carried then edged itself tip first towards Tifa. As if it were contemplating killing her. Then as if it had second thoughts the tendrils separated to clouds relief. However as soon as he felt the relief the tendrils then had another spike like apparatus within their center. Notably smaller it still did little to quell clouds horror as the small tendrils latched themselves in a circle around Tifa's navel.
They seemed to stretch her belly as if prepping to give her a shot however cloud had pictured what was to happen and still watched on in horror as the spire within the center moved backward.
"NO PLEASE… DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN…" he prayed to whatever deity was listening for some great shock that would wake him from this nightmare.
The prayer was not answered as the sharpened spike plunged deep into Tifa's navel and she began to writhe in agony.
"NOOOO!" cloud suddenly found the strength to stand and again charged the creature this time not only being swatted back but receiving the same fate as Koty. A large pike like appendage now pierced his chest and he struggled to free himself from the wall it had pinned him to. "Ti..fa…" he wheezed in pain and reached his hand out to the woman.
Tifa was in so much intense pain she felt as though she was already dead and burning in the most fiery pit of hell. 'ahhhh… cloud… cloud please… please be alright. Ahhh….' She fought back the urge to cry as the tendrils inside of her femininity began to pulsate with a disgusting motion. It hadn't been too unbearable until the large spike found its way into her abdomen 'ahhhhhh….' She screamed even in her mind as she felt a pulsing in her stomach. 'what's happening to me.' The tendrils in her mouth also pulsated as if trying to go further inside. She could feel the twisted masses sliding down her throat and all the way down into her stomach. The others felt as though they were traveling through the rest of her organs to meet with their counterparts somewhere in her core.
It was a horrific pain as the spire the creature held felt like it had split into several smaller ones and then began throbbing as well. 'just let me die all ready… cloud… I love you… but… I can't hold on…' she felt her consciousness slip away but the pain continued even in blackness until suddenly Tifa felt nothing. No emotion, no pain, no fear, absolutely nothing.
"Tifa… Tifa…" a voice called to her from the darkness. It was deep and almost maternal but the voice carried no definite gender as it changed. "its not over… you aren't dead… just sleeping… Tifa… you are special. You serve a very special purpose…"
"who… are you…" she couldn't see anything.
"I am a great many things. Some have called me Jehovah… others have called me ether… leviathan… some have even called me god… I am the creator… I am time… my name… parados prime…."
"what…"
"belief or disbelief rests with you… but know this… I have watched you… the great will has seen fit to grant you life… you shall not die… but be warned… he who transcends time… shall be given the ultimatum… this paradox isn't yours… your trial is far from over…"
"wait… what do you mean?"
"you will understand soon enough but for now. Sleep." The voice then left and Tifa felt her soul fade into non existence again.
Cloud watched as the paradox let out a howl and then as if it were too weak to maintain itself the tendrils pinning himself and Koty retracted. Seconds later the creature writhed in pain as if something were burning it. After a moment of monstrous screams Tifa seemed to be unconscious and the paradox without warning followed with its many tentacles and slithered into her body. And with that she fell.
"TIFA! Gahhh…" cloud gripped the hole in his chest and tried to move forward before noticing Koty dart towards the now unconscious woman lying on the cold floor.
He lifted his left hand as if he were going to strike her. Then its glow faded. "Tifa… big sister… I'm so sorry… I have failed you."
"yes you have… and now is my long awaited moment of vengeance." Sephirotrh was now standing and he swiftly moved with a quick pace over to cloud. "now strife… your life is mine."
"b…bring it…" he coughed as blood poured from him to the floor below.
"enough!" a strong feminine voice called from the far reaches of the room stopping sephiroth in his tracks and chilling cloud to his soul.
Sephiroth turned around and cloud looked in the direction of the voice before hearing sephiroth speak again.
"Mother?" he seemed like an enthusiastic child until Koty's powerful left uppercut caught his chin and he was sent straight through the ceiling into the sky beyond the ground above.
"I've heard enough…" his demonic tone now faded to a more humanly tenor as his hand ceased its luminescence.
"you… you are injured…" the physical body of jenova walked forward to cloud and her gaze pierced his soul.
"stand down… you will not have him." Koty was quick to put himself between the woman and his friend. "harm him and I shall rend your soul."
"strong one I shall contend with you latter… for now… this child needs tending."
She pushed past Koty and walked with a hypnotic sway in clouds direction. "this is not the place to die strife." She lifted him and placed her hand to his chest. As if it had never been there the injury closed and healed.
"You… you're" cloud stuttered as he recognized the pale blue features of the woman before him.
"I am jenova…"
