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

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

Chapter 36 – The Reprimand

They stood in the private office after hours. Reno briefed Tseng on the Fort Condor mission after dismissing the rest of them and provided details of all that happened. Tseng was surprised to see his Second as upset as he was and figured he was working through some personal issues. Reno glanced at Tseng and hesitated a moment, then pulled the summon materia out of his pocket.

"And how did you receive that?" Tseng questioned smoothly.

"Aerith." Reno answered. "For some reason she believes I will need to use this soon. She handed it to me quicker than Jalyne gave it to her."

"Where did it come from?"

"I'm not sure, yo." The Second stated. "Jalyne had grabbed the huge materia as it fell. Perhaps it broke apart, yo."

"And she thinks it will be you to use it?" Tseng pressed.

"She was specific about it."

Tseng furrowed his brows in thought for a moment, considering all the possibilities. He glanced at Reno and then nodded. "Keep it."

"What, yo?" Reno exclaimed. "You're not serious! You do realize I've never used a summon, yo."

"The Ancient seems to know or hear something. If you are to use it, then use it when it is needed."

"Are you going to tell Rufus?"

"No." Tseng replied leveling a gaze at Reno, who knew the risk the Director was taking. They talked for a little while longer until Tseng dismissed him, deep in thought about the events.

She stood in front of the President unwavering in her stance and never letting the steely look leave her eyes. Rufus sat behind his desk finishing up paperwork on this cold Monday morning, making his Turk wait on purpose. He stood and crossed in front of his desk to lean upon it, blue eyes hard as glass.

"You disobeyed Reno's orders." The blond started.

"Yes." Jalyne answered hard as steel. "I did."

"Why?"

"Because it needed to be done, Sir." She stated. "I will not allow a rarity to be destroyed for personalized weaponized gains!"

"You do realized what you did?" Rufus countered. "I cannot have disobedience within my Turks!"

"And I would do it again!" She grated raising her voice to him and staring hard at Rufus. "Until my last breath, I would not allow anyone or anything to destroy Faterian's daughter! I will always do what is necessary and right!"

"Jalyne!" Rufus slammed his fist upon his desk, making her minutely jump. "You accept the reprimand?"

"You haven't given it yet, Sir. You forget who and what I am at times." Jalyne closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, missing Rufus push off his desk and close the distance between them. When she opened them, Jalyne stared into steel.

"You are dismissed from duty." He said deadly.

Jalyne nodded in acceptance and stepped backwards, ready to leave. The President reached out and snatched her to him, pinning her wrists behind her, holding her tight.

"You weren't dismissed from my presence, yet." He threatened, leaning close. "You will report to me at three on Friday afternoon to resume duty." Rufus stared at her. "You will be attending the Christmas Party at my side. DO NOT disobey me again. Dismissed."

Jalyne took a step back after he released her and pulled her palms to her abdomen, left hand up and right hand down. She glared at him with emerald fire. "Order and perfection." She grated allowing her accent to become heavy. "Through dominance and submission." Jalyne bowed lightly, though not as deeply respectful as she has been known to do, relaying her anger to the President. "I will never be free." She turned and walked through his office door, slamming it as she left, leaving the President wide-eyed at her last statement.

Tseng and Reno were waiting outside the President's office while Rude and Elena were completing paperwork within the Turk office. Tseng assumed Rufus would want to see them after Jalyne's reprimand. As they waited they heard the raised voices from both of them. Reno glanced at Tseng and shrugged, unsure what was occurring but knew it wouldn't be good.

"Keep tabs on her, Reno." Tseng commented. "I'm pretty sure the President will want surveillance on her during this week."

"Is she only suspended for the week, yo?"

"Yes." Tseng through a glance at his Second. "She is to escort him at the party on Friday."

Reno raised his eyebrows but said nothing else to his superior. He jawline rippled as he finally worked up the nerve to ask Jalyne to the party, even though they were on duty for the evening and despite how angry she made him last week.

There was…a feeling he was getting over the weekend. Something that was amiss, or something that was going to happen, Reno didn't know which, but deeply knew he needed to smooth things over with her and bury his anger for the moment.

The door opened and Jalyne stormed through, slamming it behind her and taking the superiors off guard. She bolted down the hallway to the elevator intent on getting out of the building as quickly as possible. Tseng looked at Reno and nodded for him to follow.

"Go." Tseng ordered. "I will let the President know what is happening. Keep me informed of her movements."

Jalyne made it to her apartment in short order and changed into a leather riding outfit and attached her blades to her belt. She needed to blow off steam and decided taking the bike for ride out at the wastelands west of the city would be a perfect exercise.

Underneath it all, she realized it the was disappointment from Rufus and Reno that hurt her the most and she understood why. Jalyne was hoping they would understand her position and at least recognize it, even if they felt it was wrong. She was stubborn, though, and knew she was right and was doing a very poor job of relaying that to them.

The princess was upset most about the President's directive on the Christmas party. She had thought long and hard over the weekend about Reno, and as a last effort to see if they could be together, she was going to ask him to accompany her. In truth, Jalyne missed him.

"Where ya off to, yo?" a familiar drawl brought her out of her thoughts as she exited the apartment complex. "And dressed like that, yo?"

Jalyne turned to Reno staring him down and kept going towards the parking garage. "None of your business." She snapped. "I'm off duty."

Reno reached out and grabbed her arm making her stop. "Whoa!. Wait a minute, yo!"

She snatched her arm back and glared at him further. "Do not follow me." Jalyne stated entering the garage.

Taken aback by her attitude, the red-haired Turk paused just long enough for her to reach her bike and pull to the entrance. She revved the engine as astonishment crossed his face, and Jalyne smirked at him, pulling out of the garage with speed heading west.

Reno looked on and flipped open his phone. "Need eyes in the sky, boss. She's headed west. Want me to follow?" he paused, listening to the reply. "On it." He stated putting his phone away.

Jalyne passed the wall of Midgar in short order and headed to the wastelands, ignoring the warnings that her helmet was relaying to her. She felt the beasts presence and ignored it, wanting to get further away from the city. She rode for another twenty minutes, coming to stop under one of the larger rocky hills overlooking the wastelands.

Jalyne dismounted, setting her helmet aside and drew her swords from her belt, feeling the pack of Midgar wolves closing in on her location. She jogged away from her transportation out into the middle of nowhere and waited.

"Come to me." She whispered deadly, closing her eyes, and pushing outward to feel her surroundings.

Jalyne heard the snarl of one close by and snapped her eyes open, glancing around the rocky outcrop of the domain. It lunged for her, teeth snapping dangerous, but she crouched low, allowing the beast to jump over her. The second came around the side of the rock and Jalyne spun, kicking it aside to the ground and buried a sword within its temple, killing it instantly.

The first one bound around her, positioning to strike when a third came around from Jalyne's left, snapping at her arm, and clipping it. Both jumped at the same time and Jalyne lowered to the ground, crossing her swords above her, and slashing outward, gutting, and killing them both.

"Where are you?" She whispered searching for the leader of the pack. The large beast slunk around the boulder, red eyes penetrating her. Jalyne smirk at the beast, swinging her blades in reverse. The electrical wave that dropped the beast dead caught her off guard and she whirled upon the assailant without a second thought.

Reno was ready for her, knowing that taking away her focus would upset her. He really didn't want a fight but was ready for one. It was his job to keep tabs on her and keep her safe. There were all manner of interesting beasts along this area, and he worried for her, though the Turk couldn't exactly explain why.

Jalyne's sword clashed with his mag rod and she snarled at him. "I thought I told you not to follow."

"What are you doing out here, yo?" he questioned back.

"Releasing some anger." She heatedly answered.

"I can see that." Reno commented. "When'd you get the bike, yo?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

"That would explain why I haven't picked you up lately."

"No need." She snarled. "Or is me being independent against the directives too?" Jalyne pushed him off and struck out at her fellow Turk causing him to retreat. His turquoise eyes hardened to her.

"That's low, Beloved." The words slipped out before he could catch them.

"Beloved?" Jalyne exclaimed. "BELOVED! How am I so beloved!" she screamed. "Being held on a leash to the whims of others!"

Reno's eyes narrowed dangerously at the statements. "You know that's not true, yo." He could see the tears of anger within her.

"Really?" she called, placing her swords on her belt. She didn't want to really hurt him and as anger can be blinding, Jalyne knew to take the precaution. "All I am is a weapon for all of you!"

Reno narrowed his eyes at her, accepting the challenge and collapsing the mag rod. "You really think so?"

"Friday damn near proved it." She quietly stated. "I was only there to contain the flamed one. No one else could." She glared at him. "And you knew it!"

Jalyne charged at him, taking him off guard and clipping his right shoulder with a jab. Reno grabbed and twisted her wrist making her twirl underneath him so as not to break it. She kicked outward, catching him in the abdomen, making him wince in pain.

Reno hopped back assessing her. Jalyne was frustrated and angry, allowing those emotions to control her movements. He knew that blind feeling and studied it well within himself. She would have to work it out to calm herself. Reno did notice not one ounce of her ability had flared. At least not yet. The flamed-haired Turk ran towards her, half spun and kicked out, trying to take out her legs.

Jalyne realized the move but overcompensated and became off balance and Reno rolled her over his shoulders. Coming out of it, Reno pinned both her arms behind her.

"Calm down!" He pleaded. "At least let me explain!"

"NO!" and Jalyne promptly head-butted him, sending him backwards.

They combatted for a while, each taking their hits and jabs. Ever the professional, Reno never let on to how angry he was becoming with her and finally he threw her off and she landed on the ground with a humph and a glare at him. He slid on the rocky ground as she tried to get up to pin her for good and hopefully end it. Jalyne's heeled boot met his neck just as he was reaching her.

Jalyne pushed him off of her and leapt upward, coming down on top of him, knees to either side of his waist. She grabbed his wrists, pinning them to the sides of his head and glared at him for a long second. Reno saw the flash of hurt that crossed those emerald orbs and clenched his jaw. There was something else bothering her.

"I have no idea why I bother to stay." She hissed at him, but her eyes betrayed her to Reno. Jalyne released him, climbing off and started towards her bike.

Reno got to his feet and followed her, his ire rising. "Why do you stay, yo?" he yelled at her coming closer. "As far as I know, you can go anywhere you wish with that Gate of yours. What keeps you here, Jalyne?" he demanded of her.

Jalyne mounted her bike and paused in thought. She bunched her eyebrows together trying to keep the tears from flowing as she analyzed her feelings. When she finally looked at Reno, one escaped as she started the engine.

"You." Jalyne whispered to him and took off, headed back to her apartment, leaving the lithe Turk astonished once again at her words.

The week Jalyne spent with Rufus, she had a jacuzzi put in and the heater running on the pool. She absolutely loved swimming and in her current off-duty hours, she spent a great deal on the patio even in the cold beginnings of winter. It was here on the crisp Wednesday evening that she was hovering above the pool, weaving, and creating water waves with her magic, contemplating what she had read within the Trerran books earlier that afternoon.

Jalyne reached out to Sol and requested some more books from the library along with some of the holographs and records. She also requested her to contact DarkienLyy for Rufus's gift. True, Jalyne was still peeved at them, but understood her actions and consequences. In a certain perspective, Rufus most likely expected her to disobey orders to prevent unnecessary encounters – a realization that didn't occur to her until after her battle with Reno. That was probably the reason the reprimand was light as she gathered consequences could be quite severe for disobeying orders. Of course, the president could have just told her that.

Reno spied her from across the way in another building's rooftop, freezing in the evening chill. He was enthralled with what she was doing, watching the color and water swirl around her. The Second looked on as the colors changed in succession of what her thought process was going through.

The water arched upwards around Jalyne's hand, twirling, and reflecting her aura which was changing from blue to red to purple, mimicking the colder colors of winter. Little orbs floated around her, giving off a soft cool light and she danced within the air. It was a beautiful sight to him, and he just couldn't look away.

Jalyne brought her arms down and lifted them, allowing waves of water to arch over her head and swirl. She started creating scenes within them, depicting various memories of hers or events that she had read about. She spun around, unsuspecting of her surveillance and danced a little more with the water creating a scene that particularly stumped her. She brought her arms in, placing a hand on her chin and studied the scene. The beep of her cell phone carried her attention towards it. Reaching outward, the phone zipped to her hand.

Mind if I stop by, yo? Reno's text stated.

Sure. She responded.

Be there in a few.

Jalyne closed the phone and pulled the water back into the pool and made way to shower quickly to rinse off the saltwater clinging to her. As she entered the dining room after freshening up, she looked at the spread of books and holographs displayed around the table and chuckled to herself.

"I guess I should clean all of this up." Jalyne muttered to herself. She began sorting through some papers but left the holographs in place for the moment, not sure when Reno would arrive.

A beeping pulled her gaze to the communications orb from her ship and quirking an eyebrow, she reached for it. No one has contacted her private line in ages as she has been communicating with Solaria. Flipping the holograph on, Jalyne gasped at the image.

Your Highness. The young lady began squeezing the triggers of her guns. If you receive this, we need to speak urgently with you. We are at the space docks on the southern edge of Syb. You should remember the place. If it is possible Gate to our specific hanger warehouse. We will head to Iecidrankta.

Princess. A young man entered the holograph firing off the lasers from his gun. It is urgent. We've done something…well…let's just say it needs to be in your hands alone.

"What in the Heaven's?" Jalyne exclaimed shaking her head. She turned to the patio doors, allowing the frame to stabilize the Gate, taking some of the strain off of her. If Reno walks in, so be it. Jalyne thought and concentrated on what the holograph relayed.

The Gate sprang forth and Jalyne spied the heavy barricade doors slamming shut with two armored people dashing behind the crates. One was in red with bright green hair, flashing a white shotgun and the other was fuchsia haired with multi-colored armor carrying two pistols, one pink, one red. Jalyne adjusted the Gate, coming to waver in front of them as they looked at her in surprise and stood.

"Your Highness." They both addressed giving a quick bow, the light of the Gate reflecting off of their dark skin and shiny violet and white eyes.

"What in the Heaven's name." Jalyne started. "Cyferia and Tybyrn? What are you doing?"

"Creating weapons of mass destruction?" Tybyrn joked lightly, his green hair bouncing lightly and white eyes dancing mirthfully.

Cyferia reached out and punched him. "I told you it would work! Even if it were wrecked, she would have fixed it!" Her ponytails shook lightly, and shiny wide violet eyes danced dangerously at her brother.

"Okay, okay." He conceded raising his hands in defeat and winked at Jalyne. "Younger sisters…go figure."

"Only by a minute! We don't have much time." Cyferia started, her words tumbling quickly from her.

"Do you have an escape route?" Jalyne asked seriously.

Cyferia grinned at her. "Of course we do." She stomped on the grate beneath her.

"We'll be fine." Tybyrn stated non-chalantly. "One hundred and fifty billion people on Sybyrk, we'll sneak out easily."

"We were intercepted on our way to Iecidrankta. We created a new weapon. One that is indefensible. There's no counter to it."

"What is it?" Jalyne asked the twins.

"A phase modulator." Tybyrn answered.

"The bearer can phase through any matter or material substance. If your father gets a hold of this…" Her violets eyes glanced behind them at the door as it rattled, and she picked up speed with her words. "Then we realized you probably don't need it, with your power and all."

"How do you know that?" Jalyne questioned raising an eyebrow.

"Come on, Jalyne." Ty spoke up, aiming the gun at the door. "Seriously? We all know what happened during your last visit to Trerran. It was recorded and sent out. You're outlaw number one." He chuckled.

"Why is it indefensible?"

"There's no counter to phasing, Jalyne. It modifies everything on a molecular level." Ty explained.

"Think of what could happen should your father find it." Cy commented.

"I would surmise that it is those guards that are hunting you?" Jalyne stated.

"Of course."

"We created a faction within Sybyrk, against the Empire and totally behind your return." Ty explained hurriedly.

"There's a spy though and information leaked out." Cy affirmed. "We were going to visit Frae but was ambushed. Planetary defenses and all on Iecidrankta."

"Why do you think it can't be countered?" Jalyne offered as Cyferia pulled the box from the floor and placed it on the crate. Both of the twins turned to her in astonishment.

"Because there is nothing like this in the entire Empire, Jalyne!" they both exclaimed.

"I can think of two counters." The princess commented idly. Jalyne heard the elevator rumble. Reno was on his way. "One is to produce a subatomic energy counter to solidify the molecular disbursement."

The twins looked at her aghast for a moment and Cyferia stomped her foot in irritation. "Damn it, Jalyne!" she cursed. "Now I'll be thinking of all of those possibilities for the next year or ten!"

"Your talking about quantum mechanics, Jalyne." Ty mused. "That could get very interesting."

"You two are the geniuses." The princess grinned.

Reno had walked through the door and watched Jalyne speaking with two people in brightly colored armor and came to stand with her.

"The Lord Consort!" Cyferia said giddily and bowed at Reno. "Sol wasn't lying! That hair is awesome!" she commented, and Reno couldn't do anything but smirk cockily at her.

"My Lord." Tybyrn bowed.

"Reno," Jalyne smiled. "Meet Cyferia and Tybyrn – The technological geniuses of Sybyrk. Also the geniuses behind by personal fighter." Reno nodded in response.

"What was the other method?" Ty questioned looked at the blast doors start to bow inward.

"Stop time." The princess countered.

"You can't stop time, Jalyne." He scoffed. "That's impossible."

Reno glanced at Jalyne and chuckled. "They haven't seen it yet?"

The blast doors exploded inward, heading towards the twins with a fan of debris. The twins ducked instinctively and Jalyne raised a hand and clenched her other into a fist, directing it towards the Gate. The barrage of debris and doors stopped. The twins rose to their feet, staring at their Princess in awe.

Jalyne directed her gaze to the soldiers within the doorway and Reno spotted the darkened haze covering her eyes. She was concentrating, he mused, and she suddenly smirked laying her now clear eyes upon the twins as they straightened up.

"The imposter is named Vira." Jalyne started to say as the twins glanced behind them, wide-eyed. "My father's treachery runs deep here. Caution your parents on this and look for this symbol." She gazed at them imprinting the symbol within their minds.

"Well isn't that new." Ty commented wryly. "Look sis, she stopped time."

Cy grinned like a Cheshire cat at Jalyne and then turned to her brother. "Great times, brother! She is the one!" She turned her violet gaze to the princess and Reno, eyes dancing.

"The one what?" Jalyne inquired lightly, smiling at her friends.

"The one we've been waiting for." Ty elaborated grabbing the small box from the crate. "We found this in the most unlikely place. Seems the prophecy is coming to fruition."

Jalyne looked at what he was holding, eyes raised in question. "You found that on Sybyrk?"

"Yes." Cy stated. "Within it's pages is the phase modulator and updates to the communicators. Each of the allies has one and can contact you."

"Can you come through the Gate?" Ty asked, studying the supernatural occurrence.

"I can." Jalyne said. "But you can just reach through it."

Ty raised an eyebrow. "How do you do it?"

"Compression of time and distance." Came the answer. Jalyne could see his features twist in computation of formulas. She looked at Reno, slowly inching her hand towards his and took it, stepping through the Gate with him to stand in front of the twins. "It's innate."

Cy exclaimed wrapping Jalyne in a hug and Ty followed. "Empress." They both nodded.

"I am not Empress yet." she asserted. They bowed to Reno and looked curiously at him, following with a gesture of handshake of which he took.

"Beautiful place, Jalyne." Ty commented looking at the apartment behind them and handing her the text. "Perhaps we can see Gaia sometime."

"Of course." Jalyne replied. "When things aren't as hectic. I suppose Sol mentioned all of this?"

"Of course she did, Jalyne." Cy smiled and looked over her shoulder. "How long can you hold this?"

"A minute or so more."

"Then we better get going." Tybyrn reached down and opened the grate. "Ready sis?"

"Stay out of trouble you two."

"And miss all of the fun?" Cy commented with a wave. "Be serious."

"I am." Jalyne countered. "I will need you two on the Council."

They winked at her and dropped through the floor on their way to escape as Jalyne and Reno stepped back through the Gate. Jalyne released time and closed the Gate in one motion, looking at the Turk at her side.

"Well, wasn't that just fun." He stated sarcastically. "You have some interesting friends, Jalyne."

She was staring at the book and flipped it open, finding the phase modular and picking it up in her fingers. She walked to her safe where the Black Materia was stored and opened it, depositing the weapon for safe keeping. Reno was looking at the hologram on her table when she returned.

"You're studying this, yo?" he inquired. "What is it?"

"A map of where the fleet currently is stationed among the stars. Father is moving for war." She explained some of what was going on and Reno looked at the star map intrigued. Finally, he looked at her.

"Tell whoever this fleet belongs to…"

"That's Fraezkta's."

"Tell her to move them here." Reno finished, pointing at a destination on the chart. "It will prevent any passage of your father's fleet into the core minerals systems. He'll need that for supply."

Jalyne placed the book retrieved from the twins on the table and whispered. "Thank you." She walked to the kitchen and offered Reno a beer coming to sit on the couch. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Reno coughed and sat next to her. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine." She gazed at him. "There's something else?"

"I wanted to apologize for Monday."

Jalyne leaned back and studied him, finally closing her eyes. "I am the one to apologize, Reno. I was upset and you took the brunt of it." She opened them to look at him. "But next time I ask you not to follow…try not to."

"That upset?"

"I'm not sure whether it was the fact that you knew about the phoenix, my punishment, or that I'm to be Rufus' date for Friday." Jalyne raised her eyes to him, noticing the small ripple along his jawline. He did not like the idea of her being with Rufus in two days.

"It's a job for Friday. We're to be on guard during the party, yo." He answered slowly. "Do you think Rufus will try anything?"

"He's made it clear that I'm not to disobey him Friday, though how far that will go, is anyone's guess." Jalyne answered.

"Would you allow it?"

Jalyne chuckled and rose to stand at the patio doors, looking outward before answering. Reno came to join her, trying not to upset her. He noticed the new addition and certain images floated in his mind. She tilted her head at him.

"And if I told you to mind your own business…what would you say?" she inquired.

"You have every right to do so, yo." He answered her truthfully.

"Reno, we are both similar." She sighed. "Promiscuous and flirty and love sex. It is a blessing and a curse for me."

"How so?"

"It is my addiction – the pleasure of sex. I love it." She divulged. "I always have. But now I realize that there is a gift within it. I now give freely, the different levels of love, to those that warrant it. Before I kept it guarded a little better therefore the changes within one were miniscule. It is within the touch, the physicalness that my light shines."

"And now?" Reno asked.

"Now it is my curse."

"How so?"

Jalyne turned to look at him, a slight sadness within her eyes. "I know what I want now, and I do not know how to achieve it. It is complicated by another of whom my affections have changed their outlook and I am fond of him." She paused a moment collecting her thoughts. "I love everything, Reno. As there are different levels of love and affection, I have realized that there is only one that has truly captured my heart and I can no longer run or hide from him. It is compounded by the affection I have given to another in the past and by my own selfish desire and addiction."

In a bold move, Reno wrapped his arms around her, just wanting to comfort her as he thought his way through her cryptic explanation. So she is torn between two people, he gathered by the statement. "So in other words, it came back and bit you in the ass, yo. That's why I don't mind the one-nighters. I don't have any attachments."

She twisted in his grasp and stared into the eyes of the ocean that she had longed for. "I never did either, until recently. The previous encounters changed the perspective of the current predicaments." Jalyne elaborated. "As it is, I am apprehensive about the party."

"You think Rufus will try something, then?" Reno asked again.

"I don't know if he will or not, and I'm not sure how I would react if he did because I love sex. I crave the physical touch."

"So what if you fuck him, Jalyne." He pointedly stated, masking his own hurt and quelling the jealousy threatening to bubble through, by looking outward towards the city. "It's not really my business."

Jalyne laughed at his bluntness and pulled him closer, her lips just inches from his as she raised on her tip toes. "I don't want to be put in that position."

"It's our job for the party." Reno countered.

"I know that." She quietly conceded. "But I had wanted to go to the party with you." She whispered and kissed him, taking the flame-haired Turk completely off guard.