"Jenova Crystals"

The group in town had arrived at the theater about half an hour before the late showing of LOVELESS, though Rosso had been completely soaked by the rain by then, Elicia's paws were wet, and Weiss had soaked one sleeve. Yufi and Shelke were sprinkled with little droplets of water but were largely dry, and the others had been under umbrellas so hadn't gotten wet. With a faint sigh at the states of Elicia and the Tsviets, Ed had decided to spare everyone the smell of wet fur and the discomfort of two people being soaked, using his knowledge of the arrays to heat and dry the three outside the covered doors while Rufus arranged seating and meals (small ones for all but the Tsviets, as they hadn't been allowed to eat much during the tournament) for them. Of course, that meant private balcony seating with only their party and servers allowed in, which was good for Ed's sanity, which was already strained.

Finally they had gotten to their seats, and had watched the first half of the play without incident. The others found the sheer awe Weiss, Rosso, and Elicia watched the play with to be both amusing and endearing, both intense and childlike. It also caused most of them to realize the Tsviets, and most of the people in Deepground by extension, had been so isolated from society that they'd never experienced simple things everyone took for granted. Introducing them to what they'd been missing also went to the top of nearly everyone's to-do list, because if anything would bring their sanity back, or give them any semblance of it to begin with, it would be living normally.

Now, they were at the halfway mark, when there was a scheduled half-hour break between Acts Three and Four and everyone was allowed to get up and walk around, have their meals, and so on. Ed made his way to the corner of the balcony and rested his arms on the rail while Elicia was poking around the edges of the 'room', which she hadn't done earlier due to her attention having been on the play. After a few minutes, Weiss joined him there, just standing silently beside him for a few minutes, then deciding to also lean his elbows on the rail.

"I don't get it," Weiss suddenly said quietly.

"Get what?" Ed asked warily.

"Why do we need to retrieve you at all? You don't actually have anything to offer Deepground. No offense meant, but you're—not like us," the younger of the two replied.

"I'm not a psychotic murderer, you mean?" Ed asked in dry amusement. Weiss huffed a small laugh at the words, but the older man went on, "You haven't been told anything about who or what I am, have you? All the experiments done to me, all the things I can do—you don't know any of that, do you?"

"We haven't been told, only that we were supposed to retrieve you. It's not a high priority mission—Shelke Rui is higher on our list than you, and I don't know why we need her, either," Weiss shrugged. "I personally think her value is higher as she is now, just for the sheer entertainment value she provides."

Never before had Ed heard Weiss describe Shelke that way, and his instinctive response was to laugh at the words, since they were truly amusing. "I have to agree. She makes a fantastic distraction without even trying," he agreed once he'd calmed down. "But you should at least know the skill she has which the President wants control of."

"SND," Weiss agreed. "But, we weren't told any of that for you. If you had something like SND, we'd have been informed of why we were sent to retrieve you. That's what typically happens when those orders come down from the President, especially since the Restrictors and scientists have your files."

Actually, that was a good point, and this was the first time no one had told the ones sent to get him why they wanted him. What was the President playing at? "I'm actually worried about the fact that you don't know anything, because you're right—they should have at least told you what I'm wanted for, otherwise you'd be walking blind into what would likely be a fight."

"You can't fight, though."

"I haven't recently. That doesn't mean I can't."

"...Why wouldn't you?"

"Too much mental trauma, which left me in a mental state where I can't actually...offer resistance to someone trying to harm me. Or kidnap me, or whatever."

Weiss was silent for a few long moments before sighing and saying, "If that's true, you would be a useless addition to Deepground, even if you theoretically had skills we could use."

"That's never stopped the President and the Restrictors before, and I know for a fact he wants to try to create others like me, something Hojo is sure is impossible—I can't be replicated, and as he put it, I also can't be added to, otherwise my genetic structure would just begin unraveling," Ed answered. "When I asked my doctor what that meant, she said it meant I'd turn into a useless pile of skin-colored goo."

"Ew," the younger of them muttered, making a disgusting face. "But if it would turn you into goo, doesn't that mean anyone else would end up in a similar state just trying to be made into what you are right now? Whatever that is?"

"Pretty much," the blond agreed.

"Why do something pointless? It's a waste of time, energy, and resources which could be better used elsewhere for something actually viable," Weiss sighed, and Ed got the impression he was musing over it rather than asking a question he wanted an answer to.

"I've been finding that most people who already don't have their heads on straight, like the President, prefer to take 'something pointless' as 'something which just hasn't been tried in the right way.' How many ways has he tried to take complete control of the world, and how many times has it only been marginally successful, after all? He honestly believes he can gain actual total control of the world, even though free will makes that impossible by default, even with control chips, and as a result keeps ignoring the facts in front of him. It's still just 'not the right way', and he has to keep trying until he finds 'the right way' to gain total control. And even martial law won't give him that control—it'll actually result in him having less control in the end—but he's still going to try it, just because he hasn't yet, so 'it must be the right way to get control.'"

For a long time, Weiss stared blankly at him, then asked bluntly, "Why are we supposed to be loyal to a blind madman?"

"Because he's the most wealthy man on the Planet," Ed replied sardonically. "And, sadly, he controls the world's power supply. Until people reject Mako energy, he's going to have more power than is healthy for him to have."

By activity below, on the stage, it looked like the play was going to start again momentarily, so the two returned to their seats, and it was only after the fourth Act ended that Ed realized how incredibly important Weiss' final question was. It looked like Deepground was actually collectively more sane than in any previous dimension, despite or because the President had tried far more for control rather than pumping up their power. This had never happened before, and the only real factor different enough to produce this result was Lady Shinra's presence indirectly causing some intrinsic shift in Deepground's root development.

What frightened him, however, was what that would mean for the Restrictors. This shift also meant many of their behaviors would likely be different, and this time, he wouldn't know what they're thinking. His having revealed his knowledge of Veld's name suddenly became much more daunting.

FoWD

Morning came shockingly early for nearly everyone in Shinra.

Public company announcements informed everyone that Deepground was taking applicants, though it at least admitted their requirements were harsher than SOLDIER's, and that SOLDIER itself would gradually be phased out—it would only last as long as infusions did. At this point, a candidate could usually still choose Deepground or SOLDIER, but in about a year's time, Deepground would start getting first choice and SOLDIER would get those Deepground didn't take. Since Deepground had their own doctors and facilities, other than a small 'branch' being added to the Science Department team—four of the Deepground Scientists and doctors—everyone who joined Deepground would be going to their facilities.

In those same announcements, the pending specialized cafeteria and other changes to the training floors were announced and were expected to be in full use in about two months tops. It was stipulated that the new facilities required Turk, SOLDIER, or Deepground ID to enter, which irked most of the Turks and SOLDIERs as Deepground shouldn't have been part of it. Though, it was also reiterated that Deepground was 'just an elitist branch of SOLDIER', hence why they could use it. People who didn't belong to those three groups could enter only with someone who had appropriate ID.

Kariya had let Ed borrow his PHS to read the announcements, and Ed read them thoroughly, even the inane, minor changes also being initiated at the time (like Deepground's official payroll state or upgrades to the general employee gym, which Deepground wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole). In the meantime, the man made them breakfast, and the blond had just set the PHS aside when Kariya brought the food to the table. Since he was now done with his recent chemical therapy, Tifa and Kariya had managed to strike up an agreement that he would take care of breakfast and alternating lunches while she took care of the lunches opposite Kariya's and supper. This day in particular was one of Kariya's lunch days, and Ed was thankful. He was also thankful that Yufi had decided to head for Tseng's at dawn.

Elicia didn't need to eat, so she played with the pegs from the game Kariya and Yufi had been playing before, using them to make colored patterns and pictures while Ed and Kariya ate. The two found it amusing, and often watched her play during meals, though Ed had noticed her picture types changed depending on his mood. He didn't think Kariya had noticed, but it was pretty obvious to Ed that Elicia had been programmed to pick up even minute details to determine his mood. When he was upset, depressed, or distressed, she tended towards brighter and less specific images—more like starbursts or just simple patterns, things which would cheer him up—and when he was neutral, happy, or feeling other positive emotions, she'd make actual pictures—trees, animals, devices, things on that line.

As they were finishing up, there was a knock on the door, so Kariya got up to answer it, pausing in obvious surprise before asking, "What can I help you with, Second...?"

"Fair—Zack Fair," the person outside replied. "Commander Rhapsodos said I should discuss this...issue I found out about with Ed, who apparently lives here right now?"

"What kind of issue?" Kariya asked in surprise.

"That's kinda—private," the young man outside answered.

Kariya turned to look at Ed questioningly, and after a pause, the blond asked, "How long ago did Genesis tell you to ask me?" He knew, even when speaking at his normal volume, that Zack would be able to hear him clearly.

Sure enough, the young man answered, "Yesterday, probably not long after the tournament ended, when I got back from my mission."

After a long silence, Ed sighed and nodded, but before Kariya turned back to Zack, he said, "I don't think I've ever had a situation like this where it wasn't important enough to warrant leadership presence, so Lady Shinra should probably be involved. You should call her to find out if we go there or if she comes here."

"Will you be okay to go out just now?" Elicia asked him, looking up from her picture apprehensively.

"If I don't have to be around a lot of people, I think I'll be okay," he answered her.

"I'll make the call, then," Kariya sighed faintly, heading over to the table to grab his PHS.

"Um, but I haven't even given you an idea of what it's about yet," Zack pointed out from just inside the door, where he'd moved to because Kariya had left the door open.

"You don't need to—if Ed says it's important, I have no doubt it is, and neither does anyone else around here," Kariya answered dryly, then turned to his PHS to greet Lady Shinra. He told her about Zack's arrival and his having something important to share with her and Ed, finishing up by asking, "Will it be easier if we head there or did you want to come here? Ed said he's okay if there aren't many people around." A minute later, he said, "We'll be there soon, then. Thanks." When he hung up, he looked at the others and said, "Well, let's head out, then."

Ed rose as Elicia deserted her pattern and jumped onto the blond's shoulder, and the three men made their way to the elevator and up to the sixty-ninth floor. When they stepped into Lady Shinra's office, a very pissed off Scarlet and a bemused Reeve were standing to each side of the Vice President's desk, and an exasperated Lady Shinra sat between them. Up on the back of Lady Shinra's chair, Carbuncle was sitting up, ears waving in obvious amusement.

"Really...?" the woman asked tiredly. "You two really can't just work together on this, taking the best parts of both your projects and putting them together for the best possible option?"

"Who's defining the 'best parts' when my project has no flaws?" Scarlet bit back.

"Besides hyper-sensitivity which means someone sneezing in the next room would set it off, you mean?" Lady Shinra replied dryly.

Scarlet's eyes widened, and Kariya knocked on the doorjamb. "Are we interrupting?" he asked in amusement, motioning at Ed and Zack.

"Oh, if it isn't the Lady's Stray!" Scarlet suddenly grinned, making her way quickly to Ed and giving him a quick hug, which made everyone else stare in shock as Carbuncle giggled. "You're looking better," she smiled when she drew back. "Stress and all. That's good to see."

"Uh...Thanks, I guess," Ed agreed, and she chuckled.

Her expression became shrewd as she glanced up at Zack, then she turned back to Reeve and Lady Shinra, saying, "Fine, we'll try this one more time and come back later today. Come on, Reeve." She stepped past the three at the door as Reeve threw Lady Shinra a look, got a nod back, and followed her quickly. Stepping into the room, the three made sure the door was closed before heading to her desk, where they found seats when she motioned them at them.

"So, Second Fair, you had something to share with us?" the woman asked him.

"Yeah, Commander Rhapsodos said I should share it with Ed, but without even knowing what it was, he said you should hear it, too," Zack offered. She blinked, but motioned him to go on. "I don't know if you're aware of the strange stone he and the General found, or that I was sent back to Cosmo Canyon to see if the group I saw there had been burying one as well?"

"Lazard shared the report of the first one with me and his intent to send someone for the likely second one out there. What happened?" Lady Shinra asked.

"Yeah...There's someone who knows a lot about Jenova and about things that happen in the world—healthy people dying by literally just not waking up—and she told me about what those stones were," Zack said. "And while some of what she said is not literally proven, there's a good chance she's right."

"Sounds like Aeris or Ifalna," Lady Shinra replied in vague amusement.

"Most likely," Ed agreed. "I got that, too, but I had other worries at the time. Those were oddly peaceful deaths and almost weren't felt."

Zack gaped at them for a moment before asking, "Why do you know her? Wait, is that because of Hojo's—"

"Ifalna is a good friend of mine," Lady Shinra cut him off in amusement. "Aeris is her daughter, though she and I have only met a few times."

"And Aeris is my sister in all but blood," Ed added, also amused. "Now, what stones, and what happened?"

After taking a minute to process the fact that these people were completely okay with Aeris and her oddities (and that Ed apparently had them, too), he explained about the events surrounding the odd haze and what had happened in those areas. "While I did talk to locals to find out if there had been strange monster activity in the area, and there had been, I knew where to go to find the other two because Aeris pointed me in those directions. She also said the stones were Jenova's version of crystallized Mako, giving her the ability to use them to manipulate the surroundings. By extension, there's a very good chance those deaths or other unusual activities in the area were her doing directly. The big questions are finding them all and destroying them, and I can't just openly blurt out my source as a public record."

The others looked both thoughtful and horrified, but Lady Shinra turned to Ed to ask, "Well, in your vast knowledge, has something like this ever happened before?"

"No, it doesn't sound familiar," the blond sighed faintly. "Rather, the area it's being used over is unfamiliar. She's created those crystals before—I've taken to calling them 'Jenova Crystals'—but they were a couple placed in a small space to achieve something only there. She's spreading them far and wide, which also means she's found some way to create a lot of them. Since the others I encountered came from the Northern Crater where she was dug out from—Minerva's crystallized Mako transformed into Jenova Crystals—there's a good chance most of the Mako which had been encasing her qualifies as Jenova Crystals. And the scientists tore apart a large section of those Crystals while they were digging her out, so it's not like the monsters have to break them free themselves."

"So how much control does she have of them if they were made from the Planet's energy?" Lady Shinra asked with a puzzled frown. "And what's the difference between Materia and Mako Crystals—which, to me, are the same thing—that the later could be mutated in the first place? Unless she can also turn Materia into Jenova Crystals?"

"No, Materia is a different thing, even if it's made from the same substance," Ed answered wryly. "The major difference is the arrays. Materia are data storage chips with defined data in place, not formless essences with a chemical compound but no actual 'data' present. Defined data is a stabilizing factor, making it harder to change things without knowing how. Since Jenova operates on different rules from Minerva, the instructions Minerva gives to Materia are intrinsically different from what Jenova would give, so she can't modify that. Formless energy, in energy or liquid form, however, is a different matter.

"Think of Materia as deliberately-formed data chips. Mako crystals, on the other hand, are more like the forming of a stalactite or stalagmite, where calcium carbonate and dripping water pulled them into a shape and they solidified that way. They formed randomly from what was there, not by being instructed to form in a specific way. They have no data, so the existing formations are like a blank canvas waiting to be drawn on, and Jenova just seeps the paint which loves to draw on any blank canvas she can find, and even on already-existing images if she thinks she can. Over time, with her seeping energy directly into that formless energy, she effectively mutated it into hers, and Minerva no longer has any say in what they do."

"Then how do we find and stop them?" Kariya asked apprehensively. Ed had been right to say this was big enough for Lady Shinra to know.

"Destroying them is actually easy with the right arrays," the blond answered.

"Yeah, Commander Rhapsodos said both you and he could easily destroy them," Zack agreed.

"Any Mage can do it if they know how," Ed clarified. "It's literally just a matter of getting the right knowledge to the right people, because the arrays for the Purify spell on the Cleanse Materia will destroy them, it just has to be held for around thirty seconds." He gave his head a shake and said, "There may be a pattern—I know a few types Jenova is likely to use, but that's still a shot in the dark. Minerva may not be able to influence them, but she may be able to locate them."

"Which would mean you could chart them on a map for us?" Lady Shinra asked hopefully.

"No, sorry, it's not that easy," Ed replied, making a face. "This is in the same category as when I tried to find Kariya when Fuhito snatched him. It's variable and directional—it depends on someone like Ifalna, Aeris, Nina, or me being able to guide people in the right direction to find them. But I can ask her if she's capable of tracking them, since it's still more to go on than random checking?"

"You don't need to," Zack put in, making the others look at him. "It's directional like Ed said, and yes, Aeris can track them if she asks Minerva for help to find them. That's how I found the two further from Cosmo Canyon, after all. But what does that mean for finding them? And what about the ones already here? The Commander thought those were a death trap as much as I do."

After a long silence, Lady Shinra met Ed's gaze and said, "In this current climate, I have a feeling Hojo would help us, especially if those stones were one of the things the President wanted to take away from him. Are you willing to go to him to destroy them, but make it look like you went for the testing Hojo said he wanted for his records?"

"Um...I guess I can try that, if someone like Doctor Crescent will be there, too," Ed offered, but he looked a little ill.

"I'll call her—she should still be in the department," Lady Shinra agreed. "And for tracking down the other ones, that would mean travel parties who can either meet up with Aeris and Ifalna, or who you would trust to go with you to travel and find them."

"Who do you think could leave for that kind of extended time and not be noticed?" Ed asked her in reply.

"Why are you even trying to hide this from the President?" Carbuncle suddenly asked curiously. "Getting rid of the Jenova Crystals is beneficial to him, too. I don't think he would stop it."

After a moment of silence, Lady Shinra pulled out her PHS and made a call, saying to the person who answered, "Sorry to bother you, but has Marius taken an interest in those odd stones like the one Commander Rhapdsodos and the General found?" After a pause, she asked, "All right, could I ask you to come to my office, then?" Another pause followed, then she said in amusement, "I wouldn't interrupt your work unless it was important. Honestly, you should know that by now. You won't be gone long, either." Apparently, after a moment, the other person hung up, and Lady Shinra hung up her own PHS.

"Carbuncle, to answer you," she said, looking up at the creature. "He's decided, like with stagnant Mako, that he should take them and give them to Deepground to experiment with. We don't want to keep them intact in those circumstances. Lucrecia will be here shortly for Ed, because we only have until after the noon hour at best to get them destroyed."

"Oh. The President is truly an idiot, then," Carbuncle answered, shaking its head.

"I thought you already knew that, Carbuncle?" Ed asked in amusement, feeling better suddenly for some reason he didn't understand.

"Yeah, but...I guess every new thing he does just validates it more?" the Summon replied in a whining tone as it gave a motion like a shrug.

Suddenly, everyone was laughing.