I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne
Chapter 9 – The Interruption
They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, each not wanting to move, each trying to interpret what just happened. Reno shifted a bit taking his weight off Jalyne and ran his fingers lightly through her white tresses, invoking a shiver. He traced her tattoo from her left shoulder to right hip, marveling at the intricate design. Running his fingers up her side, she chuckled and squirmed, still not wanting to break the contact. Reno reached the base of her neck, tracing the first symbol.
"Sehexia." She instinctively replied. Reno traced the second one. "Pleharisu." He moved his hand down lower and traced a third. Jalyne froze. "Reno?" she asked barely above a whisper. "I hope you are just trying to tickle me."
"Hum?" He traced again causing her to gasp. "No. It is faint and not bold like the others." Reno traced it yet again. "What is it?"
Jalyne turned to face him then, studying his expression and her eyebrows creased in confusion before she answered. "Lovariae."
"Meaning?" Reno questioned, pulling her to him and kissing the top of her head.
"Our markings detail one's path, though for Trerrans, it's always been 'Doomnatiasiru'. Lehans will usually have 'Dovariae' as part of theirs. Sotharians will normally have 'Deteriarna'. There are always three. There hasn't been a different mark in the clans or populace in over a few thousand years."
INTRUDER ALERT – PERSONNEL BREACH DETECTED. MAIN LEVEL.
INTRUDER ALERT – PERSONNEL BREACH DETECTED. MAIN LEVEL.
"Uhhhhh." Reno groaned. "Will we ever not be interrupted." He bent down to find his pants.
"No."
"No rest for the wicked." He grinned at her as she walked over to her bags for fresh clothes, picking up the ornate box from the floor. "Time to go. Tseng will be waiting for us. And Jalyne?"
"Yes, Reno?"
"Don't underestimate Avalanche or Sephiroth." He turned serious. "Don't do anything reckless."
Jalyne nodded, slid her pants up and put on her shirt, leaving it unbuttoned for the moment, and picked up the box, staring at it.
"What is it?" Reno asked, coming behind her.
"Something I need to fix."
"OPEN UP!" a loud voice sounded followed by pounding on the door. "OPEN THE DOOR!"
Reno sauntered over with a quick glance at Jalyne to see how far she was at getting dressed and opened the door enough for the soldier to see him, half dressed and wearing a smirk.
"Alright, Alright." Reno said, opening the door. "Can I help you?"
The soldier's eyes widened at seeing a Turk behind the door. "S-Sir! I'm sorry Sir!"
"Yeah, Yeah. What's all the ruckus about?" Reno questioned, feeling a slight tug coming from behind him and running a hand through his hair to block Jalyne from the soldiers' line of sight. The soldier's eyes stared at him. "Well?" Reno smirked again.
"Sephiroth has been spotted, Sir. Up on deck."
"Reno?" Jalyne called. "Tseng needs us on deck."
Reno waived the soldier away and turned to Jalyne, his smirk turning into a grin. He clicked his tongue in admiration. She had not buttoned up her shirt or her jacket, leaving her abdomen and cleavage exposed. Around her neck was the necklace Reno had given her. "Holy Shiva." He swooped in leaving the door ajar and kissed her. "When this is all over, we're going on vacation."
Jalyne looked at him quizzically. "Vacation?"
"Yo, rest and relaxation. Do whatever you want. Time off." Reno looked at her appraisingly up and down. "Cause there's a bunch I wanna to you, yo."
"Ahh. Holiday." She stated rushing to finish. The ship rocked violently, throwing her and Reno off balance.
"Time to go, yo!"
Both ran out the door and the length of the third deck to get to the stairwell. Reno's speed was faster than hers and he pulled ahead taking the steps two and three at a time with his lanky build. Assuming she was behind him, he kept going to the main deck.
Jalyne rounded the last deck to head up the stairwell and stopped. Turning to look just past her shoulder, she paused concentrating on the wave of power she was sensing. It was…unsettling to her. When she turned to move forward, right arm crossed to her left shoulder, she was met with Twin Stinger. Glancing down the blade to its owner, she raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really wish to do that?" Jalyne questioned calmly. "I wouldn't."
The ex-SOLDIER edged the sword closer to her neck. He blinked and blades clashed, swatting his aside like air, taking him off guard.
"Cloud! Stop! Don't!" Aerith screamed running from the middle of the deck to them. "She's a friend."
"She's a Turk." The blonde responded.
Jalyne looked down find the red one circling her, eyes wide. She had never seen anything like him. He circled her again, the flame on his tail swishing and sat back on his haunches. "I am Red XIII."
"I am Jalyne." she turned to Aerith. "What do you think you are doing? You need to stay out of sight."
"I needed to warn you."
"About?"
"Sephiroth is out there."
"So, I hear." Jalyne paused. "What does he want?"
"We do not know." Cloud finally spoke up. "He is searching to change Fate."
"You cannot change Fate." Jalyne scoffed.
Yes, you can.
Mother?
Ahhh…you have not forgotten.
Not with you hanging around, I can't. What do you want?"
To tell you he's waiting for you.
How does he know me? But she was gone, leaving a ghostly chuckle reverberating in the hallows of her mind. Jalyne looked at the rest of the group. The large husky man with a gun attached to his arm still had it pointed at her, at the ready. The young lady with red eyes was a fighter, judging by her clothing and the leather gloves on her hands. Jalyne was about to say something when a wave rocked her body and pain laced through her mind.
Grabbing her head in both hands, she bent over. She could faintly hear the others were in a similar state judging by the gasps and groans. Jalyne closed her eyes tight, wishing the splitting migraine would subside. Visions swam in her head, of certain time periods on Gaia; past, present and possible futures, Jalyne theorized. She saw a flash of a sign labeled J-E-N-O-V-A with inscriptions of foreign language in a laboratory and from what she had read, a SOLDIER with black hair in battle. A cataclysmic event with a man in black and silvery hair flashed in front of her, but that wasn't what shocked her.
A one-winged angel? I am not…
Alone.
What caught her attention next was the scene on Trerran. She recognized the place, an old uninhabited region that housed one of the oldest structures on the planet and in the center, was a relic only foretold in lore. Then his image flashed in her mind. Red spikey hair with goggles on top, the lanky, relaxed build and beautiful aqua eyes; lying in water, floating with wreckage torn apart by a blast from the sky.
Come to me. Alone. A silky baritone voice echoed in the recesses of her mind.
Jalyne snapped her eyes open as the pain subsided, looking around at the Avalanche members. She locked on to Aerith's eyes and a mutual understanding passed between them.
"You may want to sit this one out." Jalyne commented turning towards the last stairwell.
"The hell you say!" Barret said stepping towards her.
"Don't follow." And she vaulted up the steps, the sense of calling tugging at her.
Reno had broken through to the upper deck and scanned the people to find the others. A crowd had gathered, most of the people on the boat, in fact. Some were opened mouthed in awe, while others paced nervously in anticipation of what was happening. Something was happening above, and he couldn't see it with all the people around. He nudged his way through the crowd and found Rude, staring into the sky.
"So, what's going on, partner?" Reno questioned coming to stand next to him.
"…"
Reno followed his eyes to the sky. High above, dark clouds swirled and circled, with lightning trailing the outer edges. The blue hue of the day was slowing being drowned out and turning an odd shade of light, blotting out the sun. As the sky darkened the people on the boat began to panic and shuffle around nervously. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to escape, being deep at sea with no land in sight.
"That is not a normal is it?" Reno commented in a sarcastic tone. The wind picked up, rocking the boat and the soldiers and crewmen became more nervous. Tseng, Elena and Rufus made their way to their side, watching the sky.
"I would say not." Rude said. The wind started gusting heavily blowing their clothing in all directions and the sails on the ship flapped wildly. The waves of the ocean became violent, rocking the boat dangerously. People started gathering towards the center of the deck, afraid of going overboard. The Turks and the President grabbed ahold of the railing for security. The clouds above continued to darken and whipped stronger a light forming in the center. The wind stopped, the slowed down and the waves calmed. Lightning crackled and the ball of white light streaked towards the ship.
"Oh boy." Reno said mouth dropping open. The sound of rapid bootsteps neared and before he realized who it was, a streak of black and white flew passed him and vaulted into the air. He stared at the figure lifting into the air. "JALYNE!"
She did not hesitate, not once. As Jalyne ran to the deck, she saw the energy approaching and her anger flared. A mix of emotions ran through her, anger, compassion, disbelief, resilience, and determination all warred within. The vision she had seen of Reno scared her and she realized it was a premonition of sorts. Events that had not occurred, a possible outcome that she wasn't going to let come to pass. The crowd parted enough for her run through without breaking stride and as she zipped by the Turks and Rufus, she launched herself into the sky with a scream, on a collision course with the energy.
Jalyne threw her hands down, pushing against the air to gain speed as she neared the energy. Plunging through the outer shell, she raised her arms out like an eagle and contracted them quickly, causing her to use the air to spin, bringing the energy with her as she darted to the dark clouds. Jalyne started absorbing the energy, using it to fuel her ascent. She looked to the center of the clouds and lightning to see them part, allowing sunlight to rain through. Grasping the last of the energy in a circular flurry, Jalyne extended her arms outward and settled to a hover in front of the target. She studied the figure in front of her for a moment. The poise, conceitedness, confidence and determination emanated off the Man in Black. Most of all she noticed his eyes., slit like a feline, and blue green that glowed in certain shadows. His physic was that of a fighter and a long, deadly sword rested in his left hand.
This, he did not expect. He glared at the woman in front of him for a moment before realizing that Fate may be trying to intervene. The Man in Black was expecting to find the ex-SOLDIER, for he knew there was unresolved contention between them after meeting at creation's edge and he had sent the invitation to him. He also knew that he was there on the boat, waiting and tracking him down to finish Fate's Duel. Still, he sensed, something within this woman. A great power untapped that he couldn't quite place. It intrigued him.
"Sephiroth, I presume?" Jalyne questioned, cocking her head a bit in thought.
"Hmph." He answered, gliding towards her. He circled around Jalyne inspecting her, appraising her. Her guard was up though outward she remained calm. "This is quite unexpected."
"Oh?" she said, tilting her head to over her shoulder at him. He was too close for comfort in her opinion.
"To send a Turk." Sephiroth commented, reaching out and caressing her right cheek. She closed her eyes, letting her feelings guide her. "And an unarmed one at that."
Sephiroth spun behind her, bringing Masamune in a wide arc to her throat, but she was ready. Jalyne's blade clashed with his and Sephiroth raised an eyebrow in astonishment. She quickly pushed him back and flipped, getting out of his reach.
"Who said I was unarmed." She goaded. "And I am many things…a Turk being one of them."
He smirked and charged; sword poised to strike. Jalyne deflected swooping out of the way, but he was quick and was on her again. Jalyne parried easily enough but the long reach of the sword made striking tricky. Both of her swords clashed with his in front of her body, locking them in place. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow in admiration. Jalyne grunted and pushed him back, unlocking the blades taking a low swing, turning and striking high. With a flick of his wrist, Sephiroth circled his sword and disarmed Jalyne of her right blade, sailing in a wide arc and falling to the ocean. She dropped below him and darted away. Sephiroth appeared in front of her with great speed and struck, though she blocked it with her left blade, and struggling to balance the weight of strike, Jalyne had to place her right hand upon it hilt. The sound of steel clashing rang throughout the air as onlookers watched from below.
"What the hell does she think she's doing?" Reno grated from the deck, not able to tear his eyes away from the battle.
"Looks like she's fighting Sephiroth." Rude stated simply. Reno stared at him and ran his hand through his hair with frustration and a groan.
The members of Avalanche looked on from behind the mast, disguised like other sailors.
"I'm going." Cloud asserted, grating at the sound of steel high above. "I distinctly heard his call." Aerith and Tifa each placed a hand on him to hold him back.
"There's no where to go, Cloud, if we're discovered." Tifa chided lightly. "We have to stay hidden."
"Jalyne will help." Aerith said giving a sad look at Tifa. But at what cost? The Ancient thought looking into the sky.
"I don't like it." Barrett commented hoarsely. "We need to be doing something!"
"We are." Aerith assured them. "We are doing what is right for the moment."
"By hiding?" Cloud said disgusted. "That should be my fight."
"Perhaps it is not meant for you at this moment." Aerith reassured.
Jalyne heard the wind from below. Glancing down, she saw a mass of clouds coming directly for them. She glided back from Sephiroth just in time for the clouds to come between them. They flowed upward and outward, circling around the two of them. As the clouds flew past Jalyne, she noticed they were not clouds, but had form and shape. Sephiroth lowered Masamune and waited for them to settle.
"What are they?" Jalyne questioned to herself, momentarily forgetting about the battle. She reached out to touch the one that broke free from the masses and hovered in front of her. She swore she heard it say something as she stared at the green glow emanating from its hood. It floated around her, almost beckoning, before it joined the others around the fighters.
"Fate's messengers." Sephiroth's smooth voice came through to her. "Whispers of the planet."
Jalyne snapped her eyes to him. "What is it you want?" she questioned harshly.
"What I want," he paused, "is to take this planet as mine, as it was intended by my mother."
"Your mother's desire?" Jalyne said. "And what will happen to its people?"
"They will perish, and I will roam the heavens as it should be." Sephiroth sneered and extended his right arm back.
"You know I cannot allow that."
"And who are you to stop me?"
"I am Jalyne"
"You are nothing."
Sephiroth brought his arm down unleashing lightning towards her. Calmly, Jalyne outstretched her arm and caught the blast and hurled it back to him as he charged. Masamune came up and dissipated the electrical backlash breaking through and catching Jalyne off guard. Sephiroth connected and nicked her on the side as she glided out of the way, tearing her jacket and drawing blood. Wincing in pain, Jalyne was breathing hard, watching the blood flow through her fingers. Slowed down, she lost tract of Sephiroth and when he grabbed her from behind, pulling her to chest, she let out a snarl of frustration.
"And are you prepared to do what is necessary?" he whispered, leaning down to her ear.
Jalyne dropped her hand from the wound, energy churning, and reversed her blade in her left hand, arching to strike Sephiroth. He blocked easily with Masamune, chuckling lightly at the feeble strike.
"I will do what I must." She answered.
"You will need to do better than that, Jalyne." Sephiroth silkily chided.
He didn't hear the rush until it was upon him. Below them, the wall of water, shot up from the ocean, forcing them apart, and carrying her disarmed blade. Jalyne lifted her right hand, snatching the blade out of the water and commanded it to strike, pushing Sephiroth back and into the Whispers at the far side.
"So, you say." Jalyne replied.
"You do have some surprises, then." Sephiroth smirked righting himself in the air and looking around. His eyes widened slightly when he realized she disappeared. Silently, Jalyne floated behind him and lashed out, pushing Sephiroth forward and lighting up the sky with energy. He retaliated with the same, aiming flares at her as she dodged and weaved.
The boat rocked back and forth. All of them had seen the wall of water shoot skyward from the ocean. The Whispers created a wall around the fighters so none could see what was going on. Reno paced the decked even as the ship rocked. Rude place a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"She'll be alright." Rude said. Reno turned to Rufus.
"There's no help at all?"
"Not to reach us in time." Tseng answered, flipping his phone down. "Midgar unit is out of reach, and Junon division is here on the ship on duty."
"She's all alone." Elena whispered. Reno lashed out in frustration, extending the mag rod and firing a triple EMR blast to the Whispers and continued pacing.
Jalyne was growing exhausted. Her sessions with Rufus and Reno drained her of her energy reserves. She was slowing down drastically, barely fending off Sephiroth's energy attacks. Jalyne threw her barrier up, to breathe a moment. Sephiroth smirked at her and raised his sword to the sky. She glanced upwards seeing the stars form in the opening that he was creating. A portal or an illusion? She thought idly watching the scene unfold. A few of the Whispers broke free and charged at him, attempting to stop him from doing the spell. Sephiroth casually swiped them aside, making them disappear and calling Comet through the sky.
Jalyne knew it was a diversion, but she wouldn't let any of the comets go the ocean below. She zipped around, dodging them and destroying them before the cosmic rocks broke the plane of the Whispers. She felt the blast from behind, breaking her barrier, stunning her, and causing her to tumble through the air. Jalyne shook her head to clear the dizziness and tried to clear her eyes.
She knew it before it happened and bracing herself, closed her eyes. Jalyne felt the blade slide thru her, just below her ribcage and the arm that encircled her waste, pulled her flush against him. Is this what Fate wanted? For me to fall? she thought. Jalyne felt Sephiroth shift and wind caressed her body. As she cracked her eyes open, she saw his wing fold in front of her around her right side.
"The power you hold, is untapped." He whispered to her. "You should consider being my ally."
She felt her skin prickle, and shifted into him, rolling her left shoulder. Jalyne gasped as her markings came into view as the form of a white wing. His astonishment rang to her ears and the Whispers disappeared, leaving them hovering in the cloud darkened sky.
"What is that?" Tifa questioned pointing to the sky. "Sephiroth has two wings? How'd did that happen?" The others looked on in wonder trying to interpret the scene above. His back was to the onlookers and Jalyne was hidden by his body. Both wings looked curled around him from their advantage point. They turned to Aerith for an explanation only to receive a shake of her head and eyes watering.
Reno had visibly paled, seeing the situation above unfold once the Whispers disappeared. He couldn't see her, but the way Sephiroth was holding Masamune made his heart fall into his stomach. The others crowded around him, enthralled with what was happening above.
Jalyne clenched her teeth in agony. Her energy depleted, she twisted trying to gather as much as she could. Visions swam in her mind of total catastrophic lost in Gaia. He was getting into her head and she fought against it. Gritting her teeth, she outstretched her power, taking Sephiroth by surprise.
"No." She grated. "I will not join you." As her power fluctuated, both wings flared outward and dissolved.
"The next time I see you," he stated, his hands tightening on her hip and sword hilt. "My blade will ring true."
Sephiroth gathered his power and lifted her by the hilt into the air. In one sweep, Sephiroth hurled her towards the waves below. Jalyne crossed her wrists in front of her, and as a last resort, threw her energy to him, opened heavens gate, and taking him by pure shock, blasted him through the opening.
Jalyne hit the water in full force, plunging deep into Gaia's ocean. Barely conscious she floated to the surface. Cracking her eyes open, she saw the white feathers being carried on the wind. Throwing her essence into one of them, she sighed, mustered what she energy she could, and sent it towards the ship with the slightest flick of her wrist. Feeling the consistency of the water change, she knew her blood tainted the cold ocean water. As she lost consciousness to sink beneath the waves, Jalyne swore she heard his scream echoing in the wind.