I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.

Chapter 35 – The Fort

Jalyne stayed with the President on Friday to study and relay the information she had obtained. He wasn't happy to see her banged up but chuckled a little upon hearing Reno made an appearance in Sector 4. Jalyne explained what had happened and the information she had gleamed from Victor. She studied Rufus for a minute deep in though.

"What?" he questioned quirking and eyebrow. The light suddenly went off in her eyes.

"That's it!" Jalyne stated snapping her fingers.

"What's it?"

"I've been trying to figure out why Raphael is so intent with women." She commented. "It doesn't make sense, until now." Jalyne paused looking at Rufus with a smirk. "The Christmas party is coming up and he's attending."

"So?"

"And you are single and available. I would almost bet my Empire that he's going to try to worm into your inner circle somehow."

Rufus sat deep in thought. "It's possible, I suppose. But he truly underestimates me."

"Just something to think about, Sir."

Monday came swiftly and Jalyne was a little apprehensive about returning to the Turks. Though she was quite able to maintain a working relationship, she was still torn on what to do about Reno. Obviously spending a week with the President didn't help matters and definitely didn't quell the feelings she had for the flame-haired Turk.

She walked into the office and took her place next to Elena noticing the boys weren't there yet. Tseng was at his desk and barely glanced in their direction. "They're on a mission." He stated quietly. "May take all day, depending on what they find."

They worked quietly through the morning and Elena and Jalyne had lunch in the cafeteria. Reno and Rude still weren't back and Tseng raised an eyebrow at them as they entered.

"Jalyne?"

"Yes, Sir?" she politely replied as they took their seats. Tseng walked around his desk to them and leaned up against the table and pointedly looked at Elena.

"Not a word, Elena." He commented looking down at his white-haired Turk. "What happened Thursday?"

"The President didn't say?" Jalyne inquired and when Tseng shook his head, she continued. "I was sent to Sector 4 to meet with the weapon's shop owner, Victor. He reportedly had information on Solarna. Solarna is specifically recruiting women or at least trying to recruit a specific type of woman."

"Why?"

"I've been trying to figure that out and then it dawned on me, Friday." She stated. "He's either going to infiltrate the President's inner circle or try to somehow get a lady to distract the President."

"You blew up the weapon's shop." The Director commented wryly.

"With all do respect, Sir." Jalyne started with a light grin. "They blew me up."

"Reno was in Sector 4."

Again Jalyne smiled. "I know Sir. He met Jerrie at the diner." She chuckled when he raised his brows. "And he helped after Victor blew me through the storefront."

"They're investigating the area at the moment." Tseng advised her. "There was intel that Victor moved out Friday. We are trying to ascertain where he would have went and if it leads to Solarna."

The week went well with each of the Turks completing their assigned duties and even getting training exercises in during the lull. She was sitting in the employee lounge on Thursday, picking at her lunch and gazing out of the windows when Reno found her.

"Hey, yo?"

Jalyne lightly smiled at him as he sat down across from her. "Hey."

"You doin' alright, yo?" he questioned.

"I suppose." She answered turning her gaze to him. "Just deep in thought."

"About?"

"A great many things." Jalyne chuckled. "So much going on." She stated tapping the antique text that was off to the side.

"Double duty, yo?" Reno chuckled lightly noticing the Trerran inscriptions on the cover.

"Always." Jalyne cocked her head at him with a light smile. "There's always something to learn. Though this…" she tapped the book again. "…is really cumbersome and boring."

"What have you learned?" he asked in between bites of his lunch.

"That T'Karvia is ancient and loves to speak in riddles." She laughed. "I did learn a limit break last week though." She added. Reno almost chocked on his sandwich at that statement.

"You did what?"

"The President called it Nova." She continued on and then furrowed her brows. "I'm not sure why it occurred though. It is a Gaian trait, not Trerran."

"Is there anything you can't do?" Reno inquired jokingly. Jalyne stood to leave with a nod when he reached for her hand to stop her. The jolt went through Jalyne and she looked down at him with soft eyes.

"Obviously, there is." She slipped out. "Excuse me." And walked out of the lounge, studying the flash of emotion she received in her mind and leaving Reno puzzled at the table.

Tseng was waiting for them as they returned from lunch with a folder within his grip. The Turks took their seats and waiting patiently for him to begin. "We have a mission for tomorrow." He started. "Fort Condor."

"Fort Condor?" Reno raised an eyebrow. "What in Shiva's name would be there?"

"A Huge Materia that the President would like to have." The Director answered. "You are to retrieve it. It is possible that Cloud's group will be on the way, if not already there. Jalyne, Reno and Rude will head out tomorrow. Elena will stay and monitor with me. Go get some rest. You leave bright and early."

The trip to Fort Condor was uneventful and as they landed, Jalyne could feel Aerith's presence. They came in from the north to be undetected by the soldiers below, who were on the southern side. As the trio made their way to the outlook for surveillance, Jalyne looked at the surrounding rocky and desert area.

They crept to a rocky outlook overlooking from the north the fort. Reno and Rude were in combat gear of which Jalyne had never seen the two dressed…so dangerously. Each had an arsenal of weapons in assorted places over the bullet proof and Kevlar protections. Jalyne looked a bit out of place with the duo, choosing only to wear the Kevlar with her swords attached to her belt.

"Sure you don't want to get armor on, yo?" Reno questioned with a side-long look to his female warrior.

"I'm fine." Jalyne stated easily. "Easier to move in."

"Not if you're dead." He commented.

"I thought we were here for information?" Jalyne skirted the comment.

"Yes and no." Reno explained. "We're to interfere if necessary."

Rude pulled down the binoculars to survey the scene. An army was approaching from the southwest and it looked like the Fort was answering the call, having troops begin coming down the mountain.

"What's that?" Jalyne questioned pointing at a large bird type statue was positioned on top of the Fort.

"Condor." Rude stated. "Near Extinction."

"That's a weird bird." She commented. "Interesting." She stated peering at it.

"How can you even see it from this distance, yo?" Reno asked turning to her. She smiled devilishly as she accepted his gaze, her power lightly covering her eyes.

"I don't need binoculars." Jalyne stated non-chalantly. She swore she heard him mutter under his breath something about being haughty and a showoff of which she smiled, remembering last week in Sector 4. They watched as the soldiers crept closer to the mountain, or hill, in Jalyne's opinion.

"We won't be able to get in." Rude commented. "Too late."

"Exactly." Reno agreed. "We may have gotten the information too late."

"And what information are we to investigate?" Jalyne queried. "And what exactly is a huge materia?"

"Combines all certain types of materia together." Rude explained succinctly.

"And we are to get it no matter what." Reno supplied.

"So information means taking what the objective is?" Jalyne lightly inquired raising a brow.

"Sometimes." Came the short answer from the red-haired Turk. "We do what is necessary."

Jalyne watched on, an uneasy feeling forming within her stomach. She sensed impending conflict and as she looked on, she spied the familiar markings of the Shinra army as they drew closer. She clenched her teeth and excused herself from the boys and walked back down the path, leaving them to stare after her. After making sure they didn't follow, Jalyne pulled out her cell phone.

"Sir?"

Jalyne.

"Why?"

Because the huge materia cannot fall into any other hands. Rufus explained.

"Or is it because you need it as a weapon?"

That too.

Jalyne let out a scoff and a sigh. "Please, Sir. Don't do this. There's something else there."

How do you know? The President questioned.

"I can feel it. There's…something much more going on. I can't place it."

You are to obtain the huge materia. Period. Rufus commanded.

"I will do what I must, Sir." Jalyne implored. "To protect Aerith."

She is there?

"Yes. And I will not let any harm come to her."

You know what will happen for disobedience Jalyne.

"And I will do what is necessary and needed." She hung up the phone and walked back to the guys who were still waiting patiently, overlooking the battlefield. The gun fire rang in Jalyne's ear and she ground her teeth together, watching the decimation of soldiers. She spied Zach and Cloud in the foray, and each was holding their own. There was no sign of the others.

"Let's get closer." Reno suggested, pointing to a hill on the western side of the Fort, close enough to the action, but far enough not to get into crosshairs. They took the trail downward sometimes sliding and made it to the base in a short amount of time. As the trio looked on, soldiers on either side were losing ranks and many lay injured or dead upon the battlefield. Reno heard Jalyne's sharp breath and snapped his head to her with a scowl.

"War is tough."

Jalyne glared at him. "Only when unnecessary. I am no stranger to it." She spat.

The ground rumbled beneath them, taking the three Turks off guard, and swaying lightly in their spots. Jalyne looked upward to the statue of the bird and gasped. Reno and Rude followed her gaze, eyes surprised at what they were seeing. A giant bird of flame materialized out of the stone, flexing its wings and shrieking. Soldiers on both sides stared at the creature, with the Shinra soldiers bringing forth heaving equipment to start firing at the phoenix.

"By the gods, no." Jalyne whispered closing her eyes. "Please." She entreated Reno, laying a hand on his arm. "You have to stop this…please…"

"Jalyne?" he questioned. "I can't disobey orders. We're to take the huge materia back to Midgar, yo."

"At the risk of killing something as wondrous and almost extinct? Please! You have to stop this!" Jalyne urgently said.

"I won't Jalyne. Simple as that, yo." Reno stared hard at her. "And you will do the same. Don't even think about disobeying our orders!"

"You knew!" she exclaimed pushing him against the rock and narrowing her eyes at him. "You knew the bird was guarding it! You knew that they would have to kill it to obtain the materia!" Jalyne turned from him, crossing her arms, and allowing tears to flow. It was wrong and she knew it. Her whole body shook with anger and when she turned back to Reno, she stared him down. "I will do what I must."

Stand down, Jalyne. She heard Tseng's voice in her earpiece.

"I will not!" and threw her earpiece at the ground stomping it to pieces. Jalyne turned and looked to the north.

How could you, Rufus? And after all we have learned. Jalyne threw her thought out to him sadly. I cannot allow this to happen.

You accept the consequences? His voice came to her sternly.

Do your worst.

Jalyne spun around facing Reno and Rude. "If you will not stop this, then I will." She stated deadly making her way past them. Reno grabbed her forearm and threw her into the rocks.

"You are a Turk, Jalyne! Do not disobey orders, yo!" he yelled at her.

"I am more than a Turk, Sir." Jalyne broke from his grasp and darted through the air as she watched Shinra soldiers try to contain the flaming creature. They had managed to rope its legs from about halfway up the mountain with a material Jalyne had never seen and its flames did not burn it. It let out a painful shriek. Others were trying to use ice and water materia to quench its flames.

Jalyne sped forward ignoring the anger from Reno that she felt. As she circled the nest, she spied them making their way to the battlefield to take part, most likely from Tseng's command. She landed in the nest, looking at the eggs that were there and starting to crack. Jalyne looked at the fiery bird but felt no flames and made short work of the ropes binding it. Another shriek filled the air as blizzard connected to its right wing.

She spun to rise into the air to create a barrier when Blizzaga hit Jalyne, stunning her in mid-air. Jalyne heard Reno's scream and as she absorbed the remnants of the spell, smirked down at the soldiers, eyes swirling. She extended her hand outward and tilted her head in mirth at the feeble soldiers that started cowering below her.

"Stop!" Reno yelled as he ran towards the Shinra soldiers.

"Sir!" The commander straightened up. "We were not aware this was under Turk jurisdiction. Our orders are to take everything within the Fort."

"Stop firing at the damn bird, yo." Reno commanded. Bullets from Fort Condor whizzed past them, causing them to duck for cover. Rude dove to the dirt and rolled, coming behind one of the barricades. Reno dove the other way, drawing his gun at the ready and landing behind a tank.

The Turks peered around their covers, assessing the area when they spotted Cloud and Zach. No others from Avalanche were present that they could see, and they were clearing a path for the Condor soldiers. Reno glanced at his partner and barely nodded, a mutual thought process passing between them.

Reno raised up, picking off four of the soldiers in quick succession, injuring them but not killing them. Rude did the same, emptying his clip quickly and in one strike. Cloud and Zack raised their swords for protection but kept advancing on Shinra.

Reno. End it now. Tseng commanded.

"Do you want the materia or not, yo?" Reno yelled back over the hail of bullets.

The President believes it is a lost cause, not expecting a flaming guardian. Came the reply.

"Fine, yo." Reno grated as more bullets ricocheted off of his cover. "And Jalyne?"

He will deal with her Monday. When you return, report to me, and dismiss the others for the weekend.

"That's just fan-fucking-tastic, yo." He swore. "I have half a mind to leave her here then."

Reno… Tseng warned. Despite the outcome, Jalyne is still one of us.

"Well right now I could kill her myself, yo."

"Incoming." Rude stated pointing at the direction of Cloud and Zach. One of the catapults unleashed a bomb, heading straight towards their partner high in the air. Both Turks gasped at the sight and held their breath, watching Jalyne get knocked backwards and into the nest above the Fort.

"Orders are to end this, partner." Reno called to Rude, tearing his eyes away from the sky.

"Then lets end it."

The president had already issued the cease and retreat as the Shinra soldiers quit firing at the Fort. Reno yelled to the commander to get out of here and let him and Rude deal with the ex-SOLDIERs.

"Yes, Sir!" the commander called back, signaling the retreat and the helicopters.

Cloud and Zach had lowered their swords enough to pause, looking at the retreating soldiers with slightly confused looks on their faces. They signaled to the Fort commander to bring the warriors into the hideout. Reno and Rude stepped out from behind their cover.

"Thanks for not dicing us, yo." Reno sarcastically stated, walking towards them slowly.

"Tsk." Cloud sighed. "What do you want?"

"To end this." Rude supplied. "Orders."

"You want a rematch?" Zach asked raising his sword defensively. "Seriously?"

"Can it SOLDIER boy." Reno spat. "We don't want a fight. The President withdrew troops."

"Then why are you still here?" Cloud questioned again, narrowing his eyes further. Reno tilted his gun skyward in answer.

"Jalyne!"

She turned to the voice below her, seeing Aerith and Nanaki at the top of the Fort. Jalyne raised her arms outward, casting a barrier around them and the phoenix, leaving the soldiers forgotten.

Jalynemidenovia e T'Karvriandria.

Jalyne spun around to stare at the phoenix. "You know me?"

I am Desetinii. The bird paused and stood onto its legs within the nest. Jalyne looked at the huge red materia nestled between its legs. I am here to guard this until your arrival.

The Princess widened her eyes in recognition to the name. "You are Faterian's daughter."

I am. She replied dipping her head in respect. And I have been waiting for you for what seems like an eternity.

"My arrival?" Jalyne questioned. "What is it?"

An essence that will be needed soon enough. It is a pleasure to finally meet the one that will change all there is, though it is time for me to depart and continue my journey. May blessings be upon you. And with those words the phoenix dematerialized into the green flecks of the Lifestream, leaving Jalyne bewildered at her statements.

The detonation breaking her barrier flung Jalyne into the nest with force enough to dislodge the red materia and bouncing down the hill. Aerith and Nanaki both missed grabbing it as it fell and watched as it clinched downward.

Reno and Rude saw the glint of red falling from high above the mountain and darted up the hill, sidestepping the two SOLDIERs to intercept the materia. Cid, Barret and Tifa rushed out of the front entrance to defend the fort from the Turks when a rush of air made all of them pause and look around wildly.

Nanaki and Aerith appeared minutes later to the astonishment of the others still trying to figure out what occurred. Vincent and Yuffie followed behind them. Cloud and Zach had rejoined the group and all of them were staring at the two Turks.

"Heh." Reno smirked, running a gloved hand through his dusty hair.

"Leave." Cloud spat at them.

"Missing one." Rude commented in his deep quiet tone.

"And we don't leave any behind." Reno told them snidely.

Another breath of wind caught their attention and Jalyne settled in between the two parties. Floating above her palm was the red materia so sought after.

"Let's go." Reno commanded, half turning and when she didn't budge. "Jalyne!"

The princess ignored him, walking towards the Ancient, hand outstretched. "You should have this." Jalyne said quietly, turning her wrist to deposit the materia into Aerith's hand.

"Are you sure?" Aerith asked quietly then peered at the lady in front of her.

"I already have one of them." She replied sadly, looking towards the northwest. "Though for how much longer…"

"It will be soon, you think?" Aerith whispered. Jalyne nodded and took a step back, feeling the anger roll off of Reno.

"Rude." Reno commanded with his silent partner stepping towards Jalyne. She turned and walked to him, avoiding Reno's hardened eyes, and left. Reno waited a moment studying the rag tag group in front of him before bringing two fingers up to his head in salute and turned to leave when a soft voice stopped him.

"Reno?" Aerith called meeting him down the path. She stood in front of him and held out her hand with the red orb. "This is yours." The Ancient whispered.

Reno turned to leave when Aerith grabbed his hand, placing the summon materia in his hand. He looked at her wide eyed and in question.

"You will need it before long." She cryptically said.

"How do you know, yo?" he questioned, studying her.

"I just do."

"Pfft." And turned once more only to be halted by Aerith blocking his path.

"You have watched over me, Reno. Please trust me." She paused. "A choice will be made soon. One that will change everything."

"A choice by who?" Reno asked, looking down at her, but Aerith just shook her head slowly with brows furrowed.

"Please. Don't be too hard on Jalyne."

"She disobeyed a direct order." Reno spat. "There are consequences." He left the Ancient to look after him as he walked down the hill.

"Just as there are consequences if the wrong choice is made." She fretted.

The Turk made his way to the helicopter and Rude had already started the engines. Jalyne was in the back, gazing out of the window, features unreadable. As he climbed into the chopper, he debated on whether to say anything or not to her. Anger winning, he turned to her.

"You disobeyed a direct order, Jalyne." Reno sternly said. She raised her gaze to him. "There will be consequences."

"Yes." Jalyne calmly said.

"Damn it Jalyne!" He yelled slamming his fist near the window making her jump a little, though her look didn't waver from him. "Do you have any idea what you did, yo?"

"I know exactly what I did, Sir." She grated and turned her gaze out the window. "Perhaps the Turk life isn't for me." Jalyne whispered.

Reno reached down, grabbing her chin to face him with eyes hardened like glass. "You better hope an execution order isn't placed because that's the only way to leave the Turks." He flicked her chin away and took his pilot's seat performing the starting sequences. He relayed Tseng's orders and lifted off, heading to Midgar.

Jalyne closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her cheeks. "I will always do what I feel is right."