Final Chapter

Here to Stay

Connor scanned for any sign of life - no breathing, pulse, or movement from the human lying in the ground. It could have been perfect if the body didn't drop on a pile of scrap metal. The noise alerted another patrol which quickly ran to investigate.

The goal was to eliminate all twelve targets and the perfect execution of this would be to go undetected. With Avalanche already aware of the assassin coming for them, Connor had to adjust his strategy. Fortunately, due to the lack of security systems and outdated technology of the group, the android found it simple to hack into their frequency.

"I can't reach Tammy!"

"I think the assassin is in the cell tower!"

"Shinra bastards. Always the same cowards."

"We regroup near Macy's Cafe. Call Megumi and San now!"

"We're too late… Olive is dead!"

"All headshots… is this human?"

"We might be facing a First Class here, be alert!"

"I'll try contacting the others in Sector 7!"

Tammy Achebe. Olive Gardner. Wesley Ho. Gideon Ivanov.

Connor repeated the five names in his mind. First five kills. The accuracy of his shots, the timestamp of their final heartbeat, the body heat that slowly left their bodies were all recorded in his memory. Despite the imperfect execution, the tasks were successfully carried out and proved his capabilities.

Five people.

Connor manually activated his cooling mechanism to stabilize the rising stress levels as he reviewed the facts in his memory. His database contained the families of his targets in Sector 5, including the children that were waiting for them to come home.

Software instability detected. Full hardware diagnostic recommended.

Imprisonment would have been enough to reduce the risks to zero percent. There was enough information and resources to trap the insurgents, and Shinra's superior firepower would be enough for the group to consider surrender. Connor sent this plan back to Shinra as an alternative. Murder was unnecessary.

Request denied.

Avalanche's coordinated efforts were reducing Connor's chance of success every minute that passed. Five members regrouped close to the cafe, while two others coming from the east would need four minutes to reach their destination. Avalanche were calling more allies via radio, asking them to cover their escape via an armored truck. Based on his calculations, the group would need at least fourteen minutes to execute this plan. This was also his time limit.

The most effective method to eliminate the group is to call for an airstrike once they're gathered in one location. Civilian death would be zero percent due to the lack of commercial activity in the area and with the factories already closed down in the hour. It will only take three minutes for a Shinra helicopter to arrive.

Request denied.

Connor received nothing from Amanda except the command to focus on his objectives.

Request to contact Base 23 denied.

Request to contact Captain Perkins denied.

Connor was on his own. He concluded that these Avalanche members had less value to Shinra than the technology he's supposed to test secretly. It was the only logical explanation why he's also not allowed to reveal specific functions to any military personnel.

Success did not exclude Connor's own destruction, and it may be necessary once initial methods fail.

Nineteen different cameras in District 11 gave Connor complete vision over Topaz Avenue down to Pearl Drive. He could monitor possible escape routes if the group chooses to use the roads. While he only had coverage of seven manholes out of fifteen in the area, he had already mapped the viable exit points from the sewers.

Additional cameras from the Sector 4 station showed train arrivals where Avalanche reinforcements may use. Perhaps due to the gunfire earlier, the Shinra infantry closed the station as they investigated the source, giving Connor another time constraint. If they took over his mission, then his autonomy and decision-making will be compromised.

One of the train doors opened and showed a woman running out. The resolution of the camera was too low for a proper facial recognition, but the height and the shape was a close match to Aerith.

Probability of Aerith learning his location: 14.21%.

The Shinra guards chased her but she hid by running towards the district.

Probability of human female getting shot: 1.23%.

Connor adjusted his initial plan to prioritize the two targets separated from the rest of the group. The two Avalanche members were already aware of the direction the assassin was shooting from. They passed through the alleys that protected them and shot the hidden cameras on the way. Despite still being able to pick up their radio signals, Connor needed to relocate fast and make sure the two remained at his maximum range. He could intercept their route in two minutes.

"Shane, Let me get the bikes!"

"I know they will come in handy."

Connor dropped his plan and ran as fast as he could, his chance of success falling double digits. He only had two options now: attempt to eliminate the two or wait until the full team gathered and carry an all out attack. Three grenades were hidden in the compartment in his chest that he can detonate via remote.

The sound of the motorbikes allowed Connor to estimate their speed and arrival time. There was only one chance. Connor took out the pistol hidden in his chassis and stepped out from the dark, firing shots at the incoming targets, putting one bullet each on their hearts.

"Shit," Connor darted to hide behind a concrete pillar. The two Avalanche members nearly lost control of their bikes, but managed to slow down and fired back towards with automatic rifles. While visibly in pain due to the impact of the bullets on them, they were still fit for combat due to the protection of their vests.

No choice but to execute another backup plan. Connor rushed from one pillar to another, narrowly avoiding bullets. He escaped through a narrow gap between two buildings and bought a minute before Avalanche could catch up. The only way to eliminate the two was to shoot them in the head, but the large helmets they wore could also be bulletproof. He needed to get close undetected. Connor checked the cameras again to construct a route when he saw a familiar face.

"Aerith you-" Connor cursed under his breath, his software instability spiking in critical levels and his hardware's temperature rising. Why was she always so reckless and stubborn? Aerith was the same woman in the station avoiding Shinra troops, running with heavy steps without a basket of flowers. It's too much of a coincidence if she came to Sector 4 for another reason unrelated to him.

Aerith stopped running and stared at the camera. "Connor, are you there?" She called out with eyes transfixed. Even with no proof, she somehow knew.

Probability of bullet hitting Aerith: 14.34%. Every passing minute increased the chances.

Connor sprinted to Aerith's location, timer ticking. This was his error - she wouldn't have been here if he said goodbye. Several warnings appeared in his vision.

Probability of success: 52.12%

… 51.27%

… 50.98%

Resume the operation.

The woman waiting for him at the end of the alley, her expression difficult to analyze - a mix of confusion and concern, with a touch of fear.

"You should never have come here Aerith," he said to her harshly. If Connor chooses to comfort her, reassure her that everything would be fine, then he would have a lot of explaining to do. He lost the two Avalanche members on his tail after they shot more cameras. "This is a warzone. You heard the gunshots, right?"

The warning didn't seem to faze the woman. Aerith's eyes shifted to the sniper rifle on Connor's arms, her jaw clenched tight. "I know what that weapon is." Her concern turned into anger. "Do you really want to do this?"

"Yes," Connor answered firmly and Aerith scowled at the response. A threat might be more effective than gentle persuasion. "I also want you to leave."

"No," Aerith shook her head. "You're lying. I can see it in your face. You're trying so hard but you cannot hide what you truly feel."

Connor was suddenly aware of the red light blinking at the wall near him. Intimidation didn't work. He kept his voice calm, wanting to prove to Aerith that there was no emotion involved. "These are dangerous people I'm dealing with. I need to finish the mission so I can keep everyone safe, including you," Connor said in a much gentler tone.

"By being an assassin?" Aerith walked closer, unconvinced by Connor's appeal. "You're a smart man Connor. Don't tell me you agree with what they're ordering you to do. Shinra was never up to anything good."

Connor's eyes shifted to the ground. Every suggestion he sent to the headquarters was denied, even if they would solve the problem effectively. Shinra blocked every aid that he requested for the sake of the experiment. It was never about eliminating a public threat or keeping the peace, it's all about testing RK800, proving itself efficient to Amanda.

"I'm not leaving without you," Aerith was unwavering, her feet firmly on the ground. Her body was tense, alert, and her hands were close to her bag and prepared to draw her staff. "You're not their tool, Connor. Even if you think you are, you're more than that to me."

Probability of success: 43.88%

The human needed to be physically restrained or incapacitated. This was the only way Connor could fulfill his purpose without interference. His speed had always been superior to Aerith's and all it will take is one blow to knock her down. He ran fifteen different simulations and the woman didn't stand a chance in close combat. In case of resistance, her spellcasting had significant delay that provided more than enough time for him to win.

No. There should be another way.

Probability of success: 38.34%

"I already killed five people Aerith," Connor stared down at the woman who visibly flinched, pain evident in her eyes. He found himself mimicking the human's expression. She was a genuine connection in the short time given to him. Aerith, who had a kind heart and will never be able to forgive the crime that he committed. Any attachment to him at this point needed to be severed for her wellbeing.

"I'm just a machine completing a task. I'm not worth risking your life for, not worth your mother's pain if something happens to you. Aerith, please go home."

Aerith was quiet for a few seconds and then drew her staff in a flash. Connor stepped back, preparing multiple responses.

"You think this place is more dangerous than Sector 5? You don't tell me when to back down." Tiny sparks emanated from Aerith's palm as she charged her weapon, the lights reflected in her piercing gaze. "All the time we've been together, I learned a great deal about you Connor. When you do something, you put your whole heart into it. You never settle for anything less than the best. That's something I really liked about you."

"But now? I see the most advanced android on the planet doing a half-assed job! Then you want me to believe that this is what you really wanted? A machine would have ignored me and continued with the mission, but you? Still came here to chat." She taunted.

Connor had five different options when Aerith raised her staff. The android stepped back and avoided the metal rod without difficulty. But Aerith's goal wasn't to hit him - it was to discharge lightning that paralyzed his arms.

With Connor's grip on the rifle loose, Aerith used this chance to disarm him, swatting the weapon three feet away. "You said you have a mission? I have one too, and that is-" Aerith stepped on the rifle, raised her staff into the air and destroyed the scope in one swift blow "-to knock some sense into your head!"

Probability of success: 27.57%

Fight back.

All it would take was one second to take out the pistol and eliminate one more target. Two seconds and Aerith would be gone forever and the mission could still be completed.

Shinra wanted her alive at all cost. Aerith was irreplaceable compared to a prototype equipment like the RK800.

But was not in Connor's programming to protect Aerith. It was not RK800's function to preserve the life of the last Ancient. She was even a secret irrelevant to his deployment. Perhaps this purpose would have been changed if Connor had included Aerith in his reports as a machine would have. Yet he kept her personal.

Go back and finish the mission.

Several system warnings increased Connor's stress. Instability was in critical levels as he stared down at the ruined weapon on the ground.

Connor finally understood. There was no other word in his memory that described his experience better. How easy was it for Shinra to deactivate him permanently, to erase all his data, memories and thoughts? They hold so much power over him, and it was necessary to prove that he was an efficient machine and not a disappointment.

His feelings weren't irrational, not merely errors in his software that emulate human behavior. He knew the consequences of failure. He knew punishment for rebellion. He knew that beyond death, there was nothing.

Fear was not his choice, but he can choose to be brave.

Thousands of commands and failsafes tried to override his system, prompting him to act. Fight back. Shoot to kill. Find the targets.

Connor did nothing. The android smiled as the probability of success dropped further.

Probability of success: 5.0%

.. 3.0%

… 1.0%

Mission failed.

Connor avoided eye contact with Aerith. His heart was beating twice faster than necessary. He breathed the cool night air to ease the strain on his components but his throat felt constricted. Words were difficult.

Screeches of tires pierced through the silence as the tremor beneath Connor's feet grew stronger. There was no time for talk, even if there were so many words that Connor had to say. He quickly reconstructed the distance of the riders, which was less than a minute away. "We need to go now!"

There was a slight hesitation in Aerith's eyes as Connor quickly took her by the arm, but she trusted him as he led her to escape. Four minutes to reach a getaway vehicle that Connor prepared beforehand, seems like an eternity as Connor purged his database.

Shinra actively blocked his access to servers as soon as Connor deviated from the direct orders given to him. Connor had found ways around Shinra's networks for a while, especially when he was too impatient in requesting information. This time it was a full scale war - many employees and systems severing his access one by one. Shinra issued several warnings to the weapons department, to the barracks in Sector 4 and Sector 5, as well as to nearby Soldier personnel.

Alert: RK800 has malfunctioned and use of force is authorized to destroy the machine. Return the hardware to Dr. Amanda Stern.

"I am alive," Connor replied, transmitting the words to Amanda before he was cut off from her. Beside him, Aerith was gasping for air, movement sluggish as they raced past the streets. The whole day's ordeal had taken a toll on her body.

Connor used his body to shield Aerith as the Avalanche members fired multiple rounds in desperation, too far to hit their targets given the humans' limited capacity for accuracy.

"I'll make them back off you." Aerith offered.

"No! Don't get involved in this." Connor grabbed Aerith to hide behind a pillar before more shots were fired. The rain of bullets covered a wide area, several directly hitting the concrete behind them. Aerith instinctively curled her body and used her arms to cover herself, screams muffled. Two motorbikes zoomed past them and swerved to the east.

"You okay?" Connor quickly scanned his friend and cooled down upon confirming that the bullets didn't get past the brick layer. Only a hand's breadth of protection separated Aerith from a fatal injury.

"I'm okay, don't worry." Aerith whispered back, her pulse erratic even if she was trying to appear fearless.

The worst wasn't over. Avalanche clearly mourned the five comrades they had lost and had every right to hunt down their murderer. One objective flashed in Connor's vision repeatedly as he looked at Aerith.

Take Aerith home.

Maybe if he refused orders earlier, it wouldn't have come this far. Maybe if he said goodbye none of this would have happened. Lives were lost because of him. There's so many what ifs and what could have been, hundreds or thousands of possibilities. He could reconstruct all of them, analyze the best decisions and outcomes. Certainly the current situation wasn't the best but there was no turning back. He made his choice and it was better than none.

A final message from Shinra was transmitted before Connor was completely disconnected.

Deploy RK900 to deactivate the remaining RK800 unit.

"Is something wrong?" Aerith asked, touching his shoulder gently and looking concerned.

"No, nothing." Connor shook his head and gave her a reassuring smile, manually keeping his lights blue. "I think they lost us. Let's go."

Deploy RK900 - deactivate - remaining - RK

Without access to servers, there were no instructions, data, or constant flow of information. No constant signals of approval and disapproval. No numbers rating his performance. All too silent and empty. Aerith's breathing and their combined steps were merely like specks of dust against the void that surrounded Connor.

With hardware strained with increasing software instability, Connor's regulator pumped blood at a faster rate than ever before. He didn't like the feeling. Everything was so simple and uncertain.

Take Aerith home.

Connor held on to his objective as if it was a lighthouse in a mist - nothing was more apt for a metaphor. He and Aerith ran past the street lights where the shadows danced in a pattern. As if they were performing to a rhythm. The cool night air brushed against his cheeks, his eyelashes, brows and his hair. Every strand was unique and part of his body, swinging and swaying with every movement he made.

It seemed clearer now. There's so much more around him to discover on his own. No noise to disrupt his thoughts. So much to see, hear, taste, and feel. To sense. All for himself. To understand. Nothing had to be for an objective, he could experience everything just because he wanted to.

Aerith's hand was soft and warm against his palm, soothing him. His heartbeat slowed down and matched with her pulse. The man smiled as he focused on her handprint - every little ridge measured, patterns and swirls recognized and all her lines counted. It's as if the map of an entire world was right there.

They're going to be home. Aerith repeated the idea in her mind, over and over as they traversed a collapsed tunnel. If only they were able to drive through the highway, they would have been in Sector 5 long ago. With Shinra troops deployed and blocking every checkpoint, there was no way Connor would risk it. Even if he could wear a disguise, the scanners could easily detect he was no human.

Connor was quiet as they walked, deep in thought. Just like when they're together. It was always Aerith that started conversations and pushed the man to respond. It was different this time- there was a heavy presence in their surroundings, something foreboding. The reality of the situation cannot be ignored. There was no going back to the way it was.

"Don't worry about mom too much, I'll explain to her. I'll come up with something, okay?" Aerith said, breaking the awkward silence.

"You obviously don't have a plan beyond finding me," Connor stated, somewhat teasing.

"Well, you actually never expected I'd find you, didn't you? A reminder never to underestimate me," Aerith said, wiggling her finger near Connor's face. She gave him a wide smile but the android didn't reciprocate. He's keeping feelings to himself. Aerith stepped back, giving her friend some space.

There were so many questions in her mind, but they were less important at that moment. Connor probably had thousands or millions of things going inside his head, and dozens of responses he had prepared beforehand.

"How are you feeling?" Aerith asked after a long silence, touching his arm lightly. She sighed when he didn't respond. They needed to talk. "What happened wasn't your fault. They were controlling you."

"I have the ability to choose, I just denied it for a long time. This wouldn't have happened if I realized it sooner."

"It was never easy to break free, Connor." Aerith stepped in front of her friend and looked him in the eyes. "My birth mother fought for my freedom," she said, lips quivering. The pain was never gone. She shuddered and took a deep breath to regain composure. "Because of her I got to live. She gave me a future, and that's what you have now too."

"A future?" Connor blinked and Aerith nodded. "Thank you for the words. You have good mothers Aerith, and I'm fortunate to have met one of them," he said with utmost sincerity that Aerith liked about him.

"Mom would understand your situation," she reassured Connor who stared straight ahead, his lights blinking yellow.

Connor pointed to a damaged wall just a few steps away from them. The wall was around five meters high based on Aerith's estimates, and extended as far as her eyes can see. Another meter of barbed wires covered the top. "The other side is Area 32. You know that place better than me, right?"

"I can't believe there's a shortcut here," Aerith clapped. They're so close. The damaged portion left a large gap enough for a person to pass through. It was still too high for Aerith to climb, but with their combined efforts it wouldn't be difficult to get across. She tugged Connor by the arm as a wave of relief passed through. "Let's go?"

"Come on, I'll boost you up." Connor bent down at the base of the wall and invited Aerith to step on his hands. With one precise movement, Aerith was lifted enough for her to grab on the damaged portion. Connor pushed her further until she was able to haul her body and sit on the wall.

Behind Aerith were debris she can use for a descent. She extended her hand to her friend. "Connor let's go."

Connor shook his head. "I won't be coming with you Aerith. This will be the last time we see each other." His lips curved into a soft smile, but it was difficult to see the rest of his eyes due to the darkness.

"What?" Aerith's mouth hung open. Not again.

"Thank you for everything. You really mean a lot to me, Aerith. I'm so glad I met you. Goodbye." He said before walking away.

"Oh, no you don't!" Aerith jumped without hesitation. As soon she pushed her body off the wall, Connor turned back and rushed to catch her. Aerith used the opportunity to hold onto Connor.

"You could have broken your legs!" Connor scolded as he placed her down the ground, but Aerith didn't let go of his shoulders.

"Trying to ditch me again? Huh?"

"I apologize," Connor said quietly, without any resistance to Aerith's closeness to him. "I did say goodbye… I know how painful it is for you to have no closure. I guess I'm not doing it properly." He sighed.

Aerith locked her eyes on his. "Why? Why should this be a goodbye?"

"You know we can't go back the way it was."

"I'm not telling you to, but you can find a new way to live." Aerith thought of her friends from Kalm and Rocket Town. She knew some people from Wutai as well, immigrants who were keeping their ethnicities a secret. Maybe Connor can hide there. The suggestion was at the tip of her tongue and Connor was waiting for her to speak. No. She couldn't involve these people with Shinra. "We have to try. I'll help you."

Connor made an exasperated breath. "Aerith, please understand. I betrayed Shinra and made enemies with Avalanche. Some of your neighbors are now orphaned because of me. I need to go."

The reality was always there but she took it aside and prolonged her time with Connor as long as she can. Aerith's chest ached and a lump formed in her throat. There must be a way. But like Connor said, she never had a plan, or at least something he would accept. At least, she wouldn't let him walk away without knowing her thoughts. Perhaps that would help him think. "What happened wasn't your fault, I never blamed you. No one should."

Connor took both her hands from his shoulders and held them firmly. "Hearing you say that means a lot to me Aerith," he looked at her fondly. "However, I choose to take responsibility. Isn't that how it is to be a person?"

"Why can't you let me help you?"

"Because," Connor paused and his gaze shifted down. His hands were big enough to envelop hers and it felt comforting, thumb gently stroking her calloused knuckles. He looked up, eyes now filled with determination. "Because all my life I lived in fear, and I don't want that anymore. Running and hiding? No difference. Putting you in danger was the worst. That's why I have to do something, and I need to do it on my own."

Aerith hated how Connor couldn't just say the truth. She felt heat rising within her, an urge to scream and ask so many questions. What was he planning? Was he saying goodbye because he knew he would never come back? She couldn't let that happen. Yet he looked at her pleading, wearing a face that she never saw before, a gaze so tender yet filled with emotions. It's been a long time since someone looked at her like that, and she had to turn away as long, forgotten feelings rushed within.

"Aerith? Look at me." Connor leaned forward, his face just a few inches from hers. She couldn't look at him straight in the eyes as tears began to pool in her eyelids. " I'm sorry I had to ask this of you, but I made my decision. Will you trust me? I don't want this to end badly between us. I don't have anyone else."

"Just don't say this is the last. No matter how long it takes, we will surely meet again," Aerith gave Connor a smile, holding back her lips from quivering further.

"If you're thinking I'm planning to die, that's not true. Didn't you say it yourself? To keep on living even if we don't know the future? I remember every word."

Aerith could see Connor's brows move, his lips stiff and eyes looking confused as he fixated on the tears on her face. He let go of her hands and cradled her face with his palms. "I never wanted to cause you pain, but I understand it. We never wanted this to happen. I think I feel the same… but I haven't learned to cry yet."

"Now, why would I want to see you cry?" Aerith whispered, touching the hand on her face.

"All this time I spent with you, I learned something far better - that is to express happiness." Connor gave a beautiful smile and Aerith wished he could stop the moment before he pulled her in an embrace. She let herself melt in his arms and buried her face on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his waist. The smell of bleach on his jacket was good in her senses as his heart drummed against her own chest.

"We will see each other again, I'm sure of that. I'll always be here for you."

"No, don't wait for me. It's not like me to speak of the future with certainty, but Aerith, you're meant for so many things outside Midgar. Maybe I'm not going to be the one to take you to ride an airship, or join you in space but I know you will meet friends that would go with you. You will never be alone, Aerith." Connor held onto her for a long time.

The Children kept on asking where Connor went. Unlike the adults, they were more persistent and unable to see how Aerith was tired of the question. They always followed with hows, whys, and when that she could never answer. But it was never their fault and Aerith never held it against them, even if there was a pang of sadness every time she was reminded of the man.

The entire community was fascinated with Connor, and greatly missed the absence of someone so courteous, helpful, and selfless. He was a role model, a gentleman that the ladies liked, and an amusing playmate to the children. Or the cool robot. A machine that will never tire, complain, or want anything. Maybe with time, the people would have seen Connor more than that. As one of them.

Thinking of what could have been wasn't new to Aerith, and with time it got easier. Too many of her friends left to join Shinra, dreaming to be Soldier, never to be seen again. Soldiers were also lost without a reasonable explanation. It was too easy for adults to accept the explanation that Connor got deployed elsewhere in the middle of the night. It was normal that people come and go without saying goodbye.

After a few days, the children finally stopped asking.

Was she happy that she didn't need to lie anymore? Or sad that Connor will be nothing more than a memory to everyone? Didn't matter, she will remember him in a way he deserved.

She wished that the book ended right there and she could move on from that point.

"I'm so sorry Aerith, I figured you heard about it?" One of her usual customers whispered to her one morning.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about?" Aerith clasped her basket tighter.

"It's about Connor," the old woman said in a low voice as an unusual number of Shinra troops passed by the street. After the troops were gone, the woman took Aerith aside in a quiet corner. The others around them caught the topic of the conversation and looked at Aerith sympathetically and joined the conversation. Everyone knew she was attached to the android.

A few nights ago there were gunshots and explosions in Sector 4. The eyewitnesses, left with no official explanation from the authorities, spread their story all over Midgar and it finally reached Sector 5. They described a man wearing Connor's attire involved in a shootout with another man in a white jacket. The details were vague and there were different endings. One said it ended in an explosion that wrecked several vehicles. There were mentions of the men locked in a ferocious brawl that left a trail of blue blood. Another story had a whole squad of Shinra troops gunned down effortlessly. Others said that one of the machines was destroyed and its body was taken by the Shinra troops.

Aerith excused herself and refused to hear more. Her feet took her far away from the marketplace, not stopping even if her lungs felt like they were to explode. Her chest felt so painful and Aerith could only gasp as she continued running to the church, her place of solace. Her momentum pushed the wooden doors too hard, their creaking hinges breaking the silence of the place. The woman stumbled and held on the pews for support, her shoulders sagged in exhaustion.

There was a man ahead, in the center of the church, that caused Aerith to jolt and block the wave of emotions taking over her. In front of Dewey was someone who had an eerie resemblance to Connor - the same height, hair, and the familiar symbols of an android. But like what the rumors said earlier, the man wore a white jacket. A rifle was holstered behind his back.

"Who are you?" Aerith tensed and approached slowly, keeping her hand close to her staff inside her bag. Up closer, she could see he looked exactly like Connor except that the stranger's eyes were cold blue, staring at the fish tank blankly before shifting his gaze on her.

He turned to reveal the code RK900 on his clothing, different from Connor's. However, Aerith didn't need symbols and colors to tell them apart. The person before her lacked the friendliness and warmth that Connor exuded, none of the curiosity and innocence. Yet they had the exact same face.

"Aerith?" He asked.

"And you are?" Aerith repeated her question with a harsh tone.

"I don't have a name yet," RK900 said, gently placing his hand on the fish tank. There was a spark of innocence from his eyes as they followed Dewey's movement in the water. He slowly faced her and dug his pocket.

"This is Connor's…" Aerith opened her palm and RK900 dropped a small ring of glass. There was no mistaking it was Connor's but now devoid of any color. The stories earlier flooded in, horrible thoughts flashing in her mind. Aerith covered her mouth and held back tears that were starting to flow. If the rumors were true, then she had every reason to believe the man with her was her enemy. But could she truly blame him if he was just like Connor?

"He wanted you to have it." RK900 looked at her closely with brows furrowed, trying to understand her emotions. Just like Connor did. "I heard what people said. Whatever rumor you heard, the truth is far from it. Goodbye, Aerith. It's nice to meet you." He walked away and waved his hand. Aerith wanted to ask so many questions but the man ran to the exit at an unbelievable speed, drawing his gun. Shortly after RK900 left, there was a commotion outside with vehicles screeching and men shouting. To Aerith's relief, there were no gunshots.

After things had calmed down, Aerith sat on the pew and took a deep breath, the scent of the flowers calming her down. She looked at the ring on her palm again and thought of the person it belonged to. What was Connor trying to say to her? Aerith blinked as she noticed that something was different- it wasn't just glass. A smile escaped her lips. The piece in her hand started to glow until it was bright blue.

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Notes:

Sorry for the delay but I wanted this fic to end the best way I wanted it. Plus, Typhoon Ulysses the other week halted my progress. Thank you for the support and I hope you leave a comment or a review. Writing this fanfic has been an interesting experience that allowed me to explore two characters I loved.

Yes this fanfic can fit into FFVII canon if you want it.

Connor especially is important to me this year. His character and his relationship with Hank in DBH has helped me through a very personal crisis.

Musical inspirations:

Interstellar Theme (piano cover) - I cannot understate how much this piano piece had helped me, possibly listening to it half of the time. The music reflects Connor for me, the slow start but build-up of intensity as the song progressed. The flow of the melody seems to reflect his calm, introspective and analytical character, until emotions flow in and gradually builds up and spills.

Aerith's Theme (FFVII)

Tightrope (The Greatest Showman)

Sun and Moon (Miss Saigon)

Call of Silence (Attack on Titan)