Author's Note: Yep! Finally a new chapter! It's a shorty, but as we wrap things up, I want to make sure I don't miss anything. We are into the home stretch and with that I want to thank everyone who has added this story to their watch lists, fave lists, and have added me to their fave and/or watch lists. That means a lot to me through my health issues, writing blocks, and anything in between that messed with my writing :) You guys are the best!
Again, sadly, no beta work on this, so please know any mistakes are mine and I'm sorry about them. I try my best to catch them all. :) Enjoy!
Chapter 54: The Future is Ours
Sephiroth rolled onto his back and stretched while covering a yawn. He turned his head when he felt the bed shift beside him and smiled.
Tifa was asleep on her stomach, but she must have been moving in her sleep. The blankets had somehow made their way down her body so her back was completely bare. He brushed her hair aside and leaned forward, pressing soft kisses along her shoulders.
"I've missed this, Seph."
He chuckled softly and caressed her spine. "I've missed it too."
Tifa opened her eyes and turned her head, watching him while he kissed his way along her shoulder. "You have a meeting, Seph.
"I care very little for meetings when I have you right where I want you, My Chosen."
"Well, when you put it like that…"
Walking back into the boardroom almost felt like the old days. Angeal looked around and very little seemed different, except walking in this time he knew they were planning a future that would involve all nations, territories, and districts working together, not against each other. No more shady dealings or lies to lull each other into a false sense of security, just honest peace negotiations and a way to deal with each other that wouldn't involve war.
"Fuck. I wish I had a caramel macchiato." Genesis yawned and dropped into one of the chairs.
"Ask and ye shall receive, General." Gail leaned around Genesis and put an extra large cup of coffee beside him. When he opened his mouth to say something, she smiled. "Extra large, caramel macchiato – extra caramel sauce – with two shots of espresso."
Genesis smiled. "Gail, my darling! You remembered!"
"I never forget a coffee order, especially for my favorite SOLDIER Generals!" She turned and handed Angeal a large cup. "And for you, black coffee with one sugar."
Angeal leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek. "Thank you, Gail."
Genesis made a face. "Angeal, why are you so damn boring?"
"Gen, we've been over this before." Angeal shook his head. "Not everyone likes to turn their coffee into the equivalent of a child's sweet like you."
Genesis rolled his eyes and got to his feet. "I'm not talking about your coffee – which is absolutely horrid, by the way. I'm talking about calling Gail by her name! She is quite charming and clearly you both feel some kind of attraction…"
Angeal felt his cheeks warming. When he looked at Gail, her cheeks had a touch of pink to them, but she was smiling.
"Genesis, you stop teasing us!" Gail put her hands on her hips and arched a brow. "Do you want to keep that coffee or not?"
Angeal had to cover a smile when Genesis practically cradled his coffee to his chest. "I see you've tested her before only to end up with no coffee."
"Indeed! I've learned my lesson!" He smiled at Gail. "I shall behave myself for you."
"You're so weak, Gen."
He pouted when he looked at Cissnei. "My darling, coffee is very important!"
She just rolled her eyes and smiled at Angeal. "It's good to see you both back here. It wasn't the same when you were gone.
Angeal looked around the boardroom, a soft smile on his face. "It's been too long. The last meeting I attended here, I knew I was leaving. But now…I'm home."
Sephiroth walked in to a very familiar sight when he entered the boardroom. Rufus was speaking with Lazard and Tseng, Genesis was sucking back a large coffee, which – in his opinion – the already hyper man did not need, Angeal was patiently waiting for the meeting to begin, and Zack was doing squats.
A small smile tilted his lips up at the corners. Some things never change.
There were some differences, though. No Hojo or Hollander, for one thing. Though, Strahm was there, the oppressive air Hojo and Hollander brought with them wherever they went was gone. All the remaining Turks were there. Cloud was talking to Elena, smiling in a way Sephiroth hadn't seen in all the time he'd known the boy.
They won't want us here.
Sephiroth turned and looked at the clones hovering outside of the boardroom.
They hate us.
Sephiroth could see the tears welling up in Loz's eyes. He shook his head.
They don't hate you. Mistrust you, maybe. Sephiroth sighed. The same is probably true for myself.
"Sephiroth, you're here."
He turned and faced Rufus. "I'm sorry I'm late. I lost track of time."
Genesis snorted. "I'll bet you did."
"Classy, Gen." Cloud shook his head.
Genesis smiled sweetly at Cloud. "I really enjoyed fire balling your ass, Chocobo."
Godo looked past Sephiroth. "Ah…the infamous clones, am I right?"
Sephiroth gestured for them to enter the room. "Emperor, these are my Clones: Yazoo, Loz, and Kadaj."
Each Clone stepped forward when they heard their names.
The tension in the room was palpable and Sephiroth could feel the anxiety rising in his Clones.
Godo got to his feet and slowly approached them. He looked at each of them before finally looking at Sephiroth.
"You have fought against my armies in many battles as the Demon of Wutai. And we had all thought you were living up to that name." Godo paused. "Tell me truthfully, General: are you and your Clones the Demons we thought you were?"
Sephiroth arched a brow. "Will you believe my answer, Your Highness?"
"You may have been known as a demon, General, however you were always respected on the battlefield and you never lied to me even as the man who conquered my country."
"We are not the Demons you thought we were. We were nothing but pawns at the whim of a power-hungry monster and madmen in the labs." He gestured at his Clones. "They are frightened and alone in a world that will hate them, but I will help them see the life beyond Jenova, Hollander, and the torture all SOLDIERs have known in the depths of ShinRa's labs."
Godo never let his gaze fall from Sephiroth's face. Eventually, he nodded. "Then they will be given the same chance every one of us in this room gave each other."
Even as enemies, Sephiroth had always respected Godo. He inclined his head. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Once they were settled in their seats, everyone instinctually looked toward Rufus.
Everyone was looking at him. They were waiting for direction – his direction.
"ShinRa is clearly a symbol of evil. But I want to change that. The only way we can do that is through honesty." Rufus leaned back in his chair. "As a start, Wutai and ShinRa will have a peace pact. No cease fires, no revocation of war orders. We will both step back and allow each other to not only exist, but co-exist with each other, helping each other return the life to the planet that my father has coveted, stolen, and perverted during the existence of The ShinRa Electric Company."
Godo nodded. "I agree. The time for watching each other without trust is over. To heal the planet of all the evil our wars have caused should be our priority as well as protecting it. We can't forget that Professor Hollander and most of his scientists have not yet been found."
"Agreed." Genesis leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "While I'd say he'd likely make an ass out of himself by trying some form of revenge and failing miserably, I don't like that some SOLDIERs have disappeared as well."
"There is also the fact that a fairly large project called Deepground was removed from the databases." Tseng shook his head. "Without knowing its details, it would be foolish to write Hollander off. SOLDIER defectors and scientists together – as we have proven – is a deadly combination."
"I think what we need to know, at this point, is what will happen to the SOLDIER program." Vincent looked at Rufus. "As long as Mako is pulled from the Lifestream, we are weakening the planet. The weaker it becomes, the easier it will be for unsavory forces to bring us closer to destruction."
Strahm sat up slightly. "I have a solution to that."
Everyone turned and looked at him.
"Something that's not just a pipedream, I hope." Rufus didn't want to get his hopes up.
"It may take some time, but we – the Science Department – have been working on a synthetic Mako that could replace the Mako protocols ShinRa's been using since the beginning. One of the benefits would be we could stop Mako treatments all together. There wouldn't be a chance of SOLDIERs succumbing to Mako rage, no more painful Mako Showers, and the monthly visits for Mako absorption tests would be only once a year."
"Should SOLDIER even continue to exist?" General Tomatsu shrugged. "With the balance of power still in ShinRa's control, how can we know something like this won't happen again?"
"I won't let it happen again." Sephiroth just shook his head. "I formally resign my commission as Primary General of SOLDIER."
The room erupted in protests and questions.
Rufus lifted a hand and looked at Sephiroth. "What do plan to do then?"
Sephiroth paused. "I can't come back to ShinRa, surely you must see this."
"I think we can all understand this, however how will you live?" Lazard leaned forward. "You don't exactly blend into the background, Sephiroth."
"Are you going to join Wutai's army?" Rufus did his best to remain calm but this wasn't supposed to be how it all ended.
"No."
Okay, now Rufus was confused. "Alright, so if I understand you correctly, you are leaving ShinRa but not going to Wutai's army. Sephiroth, what the hell is your plan?"
Sephiroth hadn't stopped thinking about his future since recovering from the effects of Holy. He couldn't return to ShinRa. He couldn't work for Wutai. In good conscience, he just couldn't pick one side. So…he wouldn't.
"I propose something different." Sephiroth looked at both Rufus and Godo. "Given the tenuous relationship between Wutai and ShinRa, picking one side would do nothing to ease those tensions. There is still a place for SOLDIER. It was something that men aspired to join and protect the planet, however over the years, it was perverted by President Shinra and his Directors, as well the Science Division under Hojo's – then Hollander's – control. SOLDIERs began stabbing each other in the back to gain promotions and instead of that being punished, it was rewarded. The Infantry was nothing more than Hojo's playground when it came to experiments. But my path isn't with ShinRa anymore." He looked at Angeal and Genesis. "Whatever you choose to do, I'll support you. Don't feel you have to follow me. It was an honor to fight with you both and you are the closest thing I've come to having family." He again looked at Rufus and Godo. "I propose a neutral military body be created that works to protect the planet."
"And…you would be in charge of this body?" General Tomatsu shook his head. "You expect us to trust you after you fell to the Jenova cells still within you?"
Genesis narrowed his eyes. "Spoken like a man who never had the misfortune of visiting Hojo's labs. You have no idea the mental strength Sephiroth has to have held Jenova's cells at bay as long as he has!"
"Yeah! And if we hadn't started Reunion, Brother would still be holding those cells off!" Loz looked ready to start ripping heads off.
"Loz, calm down." Sephiroth smiled slightly, mentally thanking him for his defense, and that seemed to calm him down. Once Loz was settled, Sephiroth looked at Tomatsu. "I understand the concern, however it would not just be me. I would like to see a blending of all military bodies into one neutral body. Select SOLDIER's, Infantry, Wutai Imperial Army, and Crescent Unit agents all work toward protecting this planet from anything like this ever happening again."
"You must be – "
"That's enough, Tomatsu." Godo looked at Sephiroth. "For the past two years you have protected and defended Wutai as though it was your home from the beginning. Every promise you have made, you have kept. You have made a good point: the trust between my people and the people here in Midgar is broken. Perhaps your vision of a neutral party made up of military personnel represents what we've been fighting for: a world everyone has an opportunity and a responsibility to protect."
Rufus nodded. "You have a point, Sephiroth. We all have to focus on the planet."
"I don't mean to break up the tree huggin' and overall planet love-fest, but what about us?" Reno gestured to himself and the other Turks. "We're kinda the secret police of ShinRa. Our very function is to spy on everyone. Where do we fit, yo?"
"That is the same function of our Crescent Unit." Godo looked at Lazard and Rufus. "Would you have any objection to sharing a few of your Turks with this neutral body the General is proposing?"
Rufus was quiet for a moment. "I would not have any objections."
"Whoa. Just a second." Zack shook his head. "We all just got back together and now…what? We're all going our separate ways? This sucks! I don't want to say goodbye, guys."
They all looked around at each other.
"This doesn't have to be goodbye, Zack." Sephiroth looked at Godo. "I would like to settle in Wutai, Your Highness. It has been my home for the past two years and…I've never had a place I call home."
Tomatsu looked ready to raise some kind of protest, but Godo raised his hand to stop whatever he was going to say.
"If we are going to take our new way of life seriously, then refusing anyone a home in Wutai would go against this." He smiled. "You are welcome to call Wutai your home, General, as are any of you."
Rufus watched Godo before nodding. "I agree. In fact, in order to maintain transparency among nations, I would like to set up satellite offices in all parts of Gaia. It would be a place where SOLDIERs, Infantry, Turks, Imperial Army, and Crescent Unit Operatives will work as one."
"I would like to make a suggestion, if I may?" Reeve looked around the table. "I support Sephiroth's plan to create a neutral body to protect the planet from unsavory elements that could easily appear in a free world. However, we need a body specifically designed to revitalize the planet…perhaps even an Infantry of its own to protect those workers from people who don't take kindly to our new way of life."
Lazard nodded. "I agree with Reeve. Places around Gaia have taken considerable damage: Corel, Banora, Nibelheim…The Wastelands used to grow grass and trees once upon a time."
"Something that needs attention is the slums." Reeve shook his head. "The plates can be made safe from dropping now that the President is dead. But life on top of the plates has always been for the rich. Everyone deserves the right to live on the plates."
"They also deserve the alternative to be something better than it is." Cloud had been quiet so far. He looked quite serious. "They shouldn't just be "slums". There are elements below of what Midgar grew out of to become what it is today. Below needs to become something better too."
Reeve nodded. "I agree. We have major work to do, but we can do this if we all work together."
"Then I think we all need to think about where we see our futures." Rufus looked at Genesis and Angeal. "I know ShinRa broke your trust and set you both down a path that gave you almost no options but the choices you made, however…I want you both to know that if you see your future here with SOLDIER, you'd be welcomed back with promises of a better future."
"At this point, I think Rufus, the Emperor and his party, Reeve, and I should leave you all to discuss your options." Lazard got to his feet. "We will map out this new world we want to create and when you're all ready, we can figure out how we all fit in."
When the door shut behind the men, Genesis – who looked like he was going to burst from holding in his opinions – finally spoke up.
"Okay, what the hell, Seph? You're quitting SOLDIER?"
Sephiroth knew Genesis would have that kind of reaction. "Genesis, what did you think would happen?"
For once, Genesis was at a loss for words. "I – I don't know. I never really thought our fight would ever end."
"Well, I think we all have choices to make." Tseng looked at his Turks. "We have to decide where we will call home and what career we'll follow."
"As far as I know, I ain't going no where." Reno shrugged. "Unless I marry me a fuckin' princess and get a sweet upgrade in my pad!"
"So, Reno wants Midgar." Tseng shrugged. "I can't leave Rufus. I made him a promise to stay by his side always and I intend on keeping my word."
"I want you all to know that I would consider it a great honor to have you on my team." Sephiroth looked at his Clones. "I will of course be taking you with me until you have had a chance to learn how the world works and just what your place in this world will be."
Angeal was quiet. "I'm staying with SOLDIER."
Genesis choked on his coffee. "Are you fucking serious?"
"Sephiroth is right. SOLDIER was once full of promise and honor." Angeal smiled softly. "I think it can be again. I want to fix it, Gen. With the right men, I can."
"What about you, Zack? Cloud?" Sephiroth was genuinely curious about what they would choose. They had been quiet during most of the meeting. "Any inclination as to where you see your paths leading you?"
"I was never SOLDIER and I was a shit Infantry grunt."
"Aww, Spikey…"
Cloud shook his head. "It's true, Zack. My future isn't with SOLDIER or the Infantry. I'd like to be taken on as a Turk, Tseng."
Genesis' mouth hung open for a few minutes. "Turk? Why the hell would you pick Turk?"
"Gee, thanks, Gen." Cissnei rolled her eyes.
"Cissnei, my love, you know I feel no ill will toward your career, but…Cloud?" He made a face. "That little Bobo would rather seethe than take action!"
Cloud arched a brow. "I'm sitting right here, Princess."
Genesis ignored him. "He doesn't have what it takes to be a Turk."
"Actually, I disagree." Tseng shrugged his shoulders when Genesis just stared at him with his mouth hanging open. "True, he wasn't the best Infantryman and he never made SOLDIER, but he managed to sneak into the Midgar Mako reactors without detection. He's experienced terrible loss and survived severe Mako poisoning in Hojo's labs. Cloud has a spirit that won't be broken. In fact…being here with us after the things his Jenova cells led him to do is brave. The Turks have always been a family and Cloud, you would be a welcomed member of our family."
Cloud smiled. "Thank you, Tseng."
Sephiroth looked at Genesis. "I would consider it an honor to continue serving with you, Genesis…not as your superior, but as your equal. Would you consider joining my Special Forces unit?"
"Seph…really?" Genesis looked shocked. "I mean after everything – "
"It may have escaped your observation over the years, but I have the utmost respect for you as a SOLDIER and a friend." A small smiled tugged at Sephiroth's lips. "Even if we would fight like cats and dogs, I trusted you on the battlefield…and off of it."
So many emotions were swirling behind Genesis' eyes and washing over Sephiroth – he was going to have to learn to control that side effect of Reunion – almost overwhelming him. But they were all good emotions.
"Seph…" Finally, Genesis just nodded. "Yes, I'll join you."
"And your Clones?" Tseng looked at Sephiroth. "If you have no plans for them, Turk is always an option."
Angeal nodded. "SOLDIER too, Sephiroth."
"As I said, for now, they have a lot to learn about life after Jenova." He turned and looked at each of the clones. "But once you learn to navigate this world, you are welcome to live your lives in the role that best suits you. Tifa and I will be there to help you along the way."
They all nodded, but stayed silent.
"So, Zack…what's going to be?" Angeal smiled warmly. "You've grown into an outstanding SOLDIER 1st Class and you've made me proud. I would be lucky to have a SOLDIER like you help me fix everything wrong with SOLDIER right now, but it's your choice."
Zack smiled. "SOLDIER, Angeal. We can make it great again."
