Chapter 36: Nibelheim

Kairi stands in the VR room with Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis, all of them gathered on the Junon Sister Ray.

"...and what I'm saying is that we need answers," said Kairi firmly, holding up a arm and willing it to split down the middle, tendrils connecting both sides in a sickening red display, "This isn't fucking normal!"

There is a grimace, but no surprise at what she just did. Shit, did Mother do this during her 'testing'?

"Perhaps," commented Jenova.

Kairi sighed, willing her arm to fix itself before reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "I guarantee that whatever line they fed you about being 'recreations of the Ancients' is a bunch of bullshit."

"I have little doubt that things were held back, or information misconstrued," agreed Sephiroth, "But what exactly is it that you expect of us?"

"There is only one person who likely has a full idea of whatever was done to us," said Kairi, giving Sephiroth a pointed look, "We've warned them that we'd be killing Hojo at some point if he 'fucked up' again. I'm saying we use that."

"Oh dear apprentice? Wishing to interrogate that mad doctor, hmm?" hummed Genesis, "Set him up to die even if he's been toeing the line properly?"

Mocking he may sound, that dangerous glint in his eye says he agrees with the notion. Because Hojo will cross that line again, its only a matter of time.

Angeal crosses his arms, uncomfortable. "I really don't want to know more about what was done to us. The fact that we were experimented on at all is still a hard pill to swallow, even if most of it was done as embryos."

"Lucky you," said Kairi dryly.

He winced. "You know I didn't mean..."

She waved it off and nodded at Sephiroth. "He had even more time in the labs than I did."

A pinched look crossed Sephiroth's face, but he nods in acknowledgement.

"We deserve to know, we have the right to know, what was done to us," said Kairi sharply, "Especially for crazy side effects that we may not know about. Imagine if I had accidentally discovered this bodypart splitting crap in public. It would have been a nightmare. Same issue if I keep discovering more things, and whose to say I'm the only one that can do crazy shit? Have any of you tried?"

Genesis shrugged. "How would we even know how to do so? My wing is the only oddity I have, apprentice, I haven't exactly gone looking for more. I am unusually good at magic, but I've noted nothing else. Unless we count your mental web and gossiping girls as something."

She wacks his arm in retaliation, he just grins, unrepentant.

Angeal shrugs. "I've noticed nothing."

"I have considered it, but have been hesitant to attempt anything," admits Sephiroth, "While I have noted nothing out of the ordinary for myself, it does not mean I do not believe that I have capabilities beyond my current understanding."

He considers her for a long moment. "Forcing information from Hojo may give answers. It may not. But if you do find what you seek, will you like the answers?"

"Probably not," said Kairi, "But... I should have been trying to figure this out for awhile now."

She'd been so complacent... letting questions that needed answers falling to the wayside.

"I am not unopposed to dealing with the Professor before he can cause another mess," said Sephiroth calmly, "But there are logistics that need to be handled. It may be prudent to get Director Verdot involved, in fact, it is likely he would prefer to be involved."

Angeal groaned. "Are we really considering murder and coverup?"

"We do work for Shinra," pointed out Genesis, "Its practically company policy!"

Angeal put his head in his hands. "Genesis..."

Kairi claps him on the back. "Its fine Angeal, if you don't want to be involved, you don't have to be."

"Knowing about an upcoming murder and doing nothing is still involved."

Kairi shrugged. "Call it murder if you want, I call it putting down a monster that should have been dealt with years ago."

"Agreed," said Sephiroth, "As for..."

Kairi's PHS buzzes, interrupting the discussion. She sighs and fishes it out, glancing over a newly assigned mission. "Oh joy, reactor checkup and monster extermination. All the way on the other continent too."

Genesis huffs. "Conversation on hold for the time being?"

"Mhm, work over Angeal. Sephiroth, pose the question to Verdot," she instructed.

"Ah yes Genesis, help me become an accomplice to murder," deadpanned Angeal.

"Oh! Why yes, I shall endeavor to fulfill your request dear Angeal," said Genesis, giving a deep bow.

Angeal sighed.

Sephiroth shook his head in exasperation. "Just be sure this is what you want Kairi. I have no qualms about doing this, but there is always a chance this may blow up in our faces."

"Good thing we are being famous and irreplaceable assets to the company," said Kairi mildly, "And really, I have to ask, what could the company actually DO to stop us if we wished to merely waltz up to Hojo in a board meeting and take his head off?"

Sephiroth levels a hard look at her. "Having power does not mean it should be abused. I have no desire to become a dictator."

"Not sure how offing Hojo equals becoming a dictator."

"Its called the slippery slope argument," advised Sephiroth, "If we are to do this, it will be thought out, carefully planned, and carefully executed, not just a haphazard killing and show of force. I'd rather not have people terrified to be in my mere presence. The attention I already have is bad enough as it is without it turning negative or hostile."

"I'll drink to that," muttered Kairi before thumbing 'accept' on her PHS and pocketing it, "Alright, I'll catch you three later."

Sephiroth gives a curt nod, Genesis flaps a hand in dismissal, and Angeal looks to the sky as if begging for divine guidance. Kairi cracks a grin and leaves.

It would be the last time all four of them would stand together as friends.

Kairi watches with an eyebrow raised as Cloud hurls his lunch over the side of the ship on their way to the other continent. "Nice. Ten outa ten for projectile vomiting range."

He groans in response and doesn't answer.

"I thought being enhanced dealt with that kind of thing," said Tifa, walking over to rub his back.

"It usually does," mused Kairi, "Though some SOLDIERs with pretty bad conditions or genetic disorders still suffer them after enhancement. It lessens with each tier of enhancement. Its likely he either wont feel a thing from motion sickness if he ever makes 1st, probably at most an unpleasant feeling in his gut for 2nd."

"N'other reason to make 1st," groans out Cloud.

Kairi smirks and stretches briefly, glancing over their squad. Her, Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockheart, both looking snappy in their fresh 3rd Class uniforms, and five troopers. Its a small mission, something she could have easily done on her own, but having natives to Nibelheim as part of the team means they don't need hire a guide or waste time with directions. Besides, it helps the kids get their feet wet. The troops also serve as a buffer if they need between them and the townsfolk, and to keep lesser monsters out of the way incase anything big shows up that the SOLDIERs need to focus on.

She watches her two newest children bicker with eachother, Cloud ever so sour, Tifa a tease. Its endearing she supposes. It won't last, so she'll lock away the memory as a treasure. She's been lax in doing so with all her children, spending a lot of time with the trio, or out on missions, or brooding on her own. After the mission, and after Hojo is dealt with, perhaps she'll start trying to spend more time with them. Or as much as she can when they are a private force for Shinra sent out for missions and such.

The ship arrives at Costa Del Sol a few hours later, and Cloud is briefly relieved to be on solid ground...

At least until they pile into a military transport waiting for them.

"Puke on me and I will punch you," teases Tifa.

"That'll just make it worse Tifa!" he laments.

"We have sick bags sir, if that helps," offers one of the infantry, rifling through a box of supplies.

"Thanks," said Cloud, taking it and breathing deep, "Ugh. I'm going to make a fool of myself when we get home and puke at the gate. Its going to be bad enough as it is..."

Kairi tilts her head. "...you don't want to visit your home?"

"I made SOLDIER, yeah," said Cloud, looking up from his air bag, "But I haven't done anything yet! Having missions in the slums where we are being babied by a 2nd isn't anything to boast about. Its stupid, the stuff down there is nothin compared to Nibel's home monsters. We don't need help."

Kairi shrugged. "Company policy, no solo missions until you're fifteen at least."

Cloud crosses his arms and scowls. The green look on his face makes it not very impressive.

"Well...," said Tifa, "I'm really not looking forward to it. I may or may not have skipped town without telling my dad."

Kairi coughs and then then laughs. "Oh that's going to be fun to watch."

Tifa huffs. "Like hell was I sticking around to be married off and turned into a gossiping babymaker."

Kairi wrinkles her nose at the thought. "Glad you got out then."

Tifa gives her a shy smile. "I'm glad I met you and got the idea to do so. Seeing you almost be dragon-chow was terrifying, but, the idea that girls could be SOLDIERs, especially when it the news went out that it was possible, was a dream come true."

"I was not almost dragon-chow!" defended Kairi, avoiding the hero-worship.

Tifa rolls her eyes. "I still remember how much of a bloody mess you were. I never did ask if Commander Rhapsodos got his ass handed to him for that."

"He got a yelling," said Kairi vaguely, "And maybe removed as my mentor for awhile."

"Honestly, having you fight a dragon all on your own was ridiculous," lamented Tifa, "I mean, I feel tougher than ever! But I'm still not eager to trade blows with one of Nibel's overgrown lizards."

"Especially without a sword," said Kairi pointedly.

Tifa rolled her eyes and flexed her wrists. "I'm a walking battering ram at this point. You can have your pointy stick, I'll take my fists and gloves anyday."

"While the thought of a solely martial arts SOLDIER is cool, you're going to need to learn to use a proper weapon at some point, leaving it behind for missions is generally a no go," said Kairi mildly, not-so-subtly informing her not to do so again, "Angeal uses his fists a lot of the time, but even then, he still carries both his buster and a standard issue sword with him as well."

"Yeah yeah yeah," said Tifa, waving the discussion off, "What about you Cloud? I thought you were going for one of those long swords like 1st Class Sephiroth, what happened to that idea?"

Cloud flushed a little, scratching the back of his head. "Zack happened."

Kairi throws back her head and laughs. "That tends to be a good description of anything involving Zack Fair. Honestly, that guy is ridiculous."

She eyes the larger than standard-issue sword laid on the floor next to Cloud. "So Zack converted you to team Buster then?"

How'd he manage getting permission for Cloud to have anything but standard issue as a 3rd? Then again, its Zack.

Cloud scoffs. "I guess. I mean... S...s-ephiroth's sword is legendary, but really, its kind of the guy himself. I really didn't feel it when I was trying something like it in the training rooms. I guess I just like the Buster class more, its..."

He pauses to think. "More imposing to see a guy or girl with a giant sword coming at you."

"I suppose," agreed Kairi.

Then the car hits a bump and Cloud has to fumble for his sick bag. Kairi wrinkles her nose. "Do you want me to just cast sleep on you until we get there?"

Cloud pulls his face out of the bag, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, "I don't need to be babied."

Kairi rolls her eyes and goes to a supply crate, fishing out and tossing him a bottled water to rinse his mouth out. They arrive at Corel by nightfall. Kairi takes a moment to look over the town. Much of it is still a smoldering scrapheap from the reactor explosion, crews are still out in the fading light going through ruined buildings and plucking away at the scrap. A few of her girls assigned to the town wave briefly to Kairi, but don't break from their assigned work. There are a lot of tents outside of the broken town that people are either in or gathered around. A Shinra supply caravan hands out food in a line. The tavern either was fortunate to survive the explosion, or one of the first things repaired/rebuilt. Kairi makes the decision to see what room they have available if any.

She's a little exasperated when the current head of the town makes a brief commotion, the big burly dark skinned man shaking her hand vigorously. "Heard you took out that damn AVALANCHE monster they blew our reactor for. Damn bastards killed so many, lost my wife Myrna, my best man Dayne. So many dead and for what? To try n kill more people over n Midgar. All so pointless. So for you? Take a night at the tav free o charge."

"Thanks," said Kairi, "And I'm sorry for your loss."

Mr. Wallace scratches the back of his head. "Ain't easy. Speakin of that, before ya go, can I ask for a small favor?"

Kairi cocks her head, that's rather forward. "What do you need?"

"Well... I'm lookin after my best mate's little girl. Name's Marlene. She um... saw you on the telly when you were flyin them kids after yer ceremony..."

Kairi cracks a grin. "She wants to go flying?"

"Yeah, it'd make my little girl's world right now,' said Mr. Wallace sheepishly.

"Not a problem," said Kairi, "Catch me tomorrow morning before we leave and I'll give her a few minutes."

Tifa elbows her after they've been packed into a room. "You're a sucker for kids wanting a ride."

Kairi huffs. "Oh shush. If the most people want of me is piggyback rides for their kids then that's better than the alternative."

"What alternative?"

"People freaking about me having a wing?"

"Oh," said Tifa sheepishly, "Fair."

Cloud flops down onto his bed. "You coulda said no."

Kairi frowned. "The poor girl just about lost everything, a few minutes isn't much to ask."

"I didn't mean it like that," said Cloud, sitting up to scowl, "I meant you could have said no and made up any 'xcuse, but didn't."

He flushes a bit. "You're really nice for a top SOLDIER."

Kairi raised a single eyebrow. "Whats that supposed to mean?"

"Well... all the news articles and commercials make you all so serious most of the time," he said.

Kairi groaned and went for her own bed. "Public Relations is bullshit, Cloud, don't trust what you see on TV. We ALL hate being dragged in for those sessions. We usually don't even get to write our own lines to say."

"Really?"

"Mhm," said Kairi, "Trust me, if you came to SOLDIER looking for fame and glory, you're going to regret it if you end up getting what you want. Its an absolute pain in the ass."

He frowns thoughtfully, but doesn't respond, choosing to lay back down. Tifa goes through a set of stretches before she makes for her own bed and they all settle down to sleep. They next morning, Kairi gives an excited little wide eyed girl a five minute flight, shakes her happy adoptive father's hand one more time, then they are all piled into the military transport and off for Nibelheim. Both Tifa and Cloud fidget the closer they get. Kairi feels mildly entertained by it all. She'd step in if she thought it necessary, but Tifa could likely handle her own parents if anything got physical.

A crack of lightning and the barrage of raindrops on the hood of the vehicle is sudden.

"Hope its not as far north as Nibel," muttered Tifa, "Otherwise its gonna be snow."

"So?" asked Kairi.

Tifa gives her a level look. "Super SOLDIER or not, 'mom', you don't screw around in Nibel blizzards. If its snowing, we're not going up into the mountains today. Not happening."

Kairi huffs. "Fine."

She returns a cheeky grin. "Just more time for me to see you embarrass yourselves with your families then."

Both teenagers scowl at her, earning a snicker...

THUD

They all flop to the floor of the vehicle as it crashes into something.

*growl*

"Uh... Ma'am!" cries out the driver, "Trouble on the road!"

Kairi picks herself up and moves to the front, squinting out into the rain. "Whats the prob- is that a dragon?!"

"What?" exclaims Tifa, "This far from the mountains?"

"Both of you, stay here," snapped Kairi, shoving open the door.

The dragon in question is picking clean a wolf-like monster of some kind, the corpse's side ripped open and being feasted on. It snorts in their vehicle's direction, at least somewhat irritated, but not enough to stop eating. Though its likely if they just went around and sped off it'd draw its attention anyway, monsters love to play chase. Kairi could force a fight and attack it head on, but she's not interested in her children nor the troopers being caught in the crossfire, she has a better idea. She takes the initiative to end it decisively, flapping her wing and shooting off into the sky, drawing her sword, and free-falling down towards the dragon, gripping her sword two-handed, and cleaving through its neck as it bites into its food, taking it clean off, landing with a heavy thud on her feet as it collapses.

She wipes her sword clean on her leg, frowning thoughtfully at the dragon. "Mom? Why do I feel some of your cells in it?"

"Because, you grow near to my prison, and some of my cells are leeched out into the Mako that leaks out into the wilds."

Kairi pauses for a long moment. "You're imprisoned in Nibelheim?"

"The reactor."

Kairi sheathes her sword, staring off into the distance, and despite the divide between them, she's fairly certain she's looking in Mother's exact direction. "I suppose we'll be meeting sooner rather than later? Unless you still think..."

"No," cut off Jenova, "It is time we met face to face my child. Its time for me to be free."

Apprehension and eagerness war in Kairi for a long moment before she forces it away and returns to the vehicle. "Drive around, I imagine the wildlife will eat it at some point."

"Y-yes ma'am," stuttered the driver before they started up again.

She ignores her child's wide eyed awe and merely sits against a supply crate, nabbing a water bottle to sip out of.

"Your daughter's concern is active," commented Mother mildly, "There is a blizzard around the reactor, the town is around the edges of it, I imagine it will arrive at the town shortly after you do."

"Tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow."

Their arrival in Nibeheim draws a few curious looks as they enter the gates, then a lot of murmurs as Tifa and Cloud become visible.

"So, back home, feel as you thought it would?" asked Kairi.

"I can see the gosipmongerers going at it already," said Tifa dryly, "Pretty sure someone just ran for my Da."

Not even a minute later a man comes running. "TIFA LOCKHEART!"

Tifa grumbles to herself. "Pretty sure I'm reconsidering the blizzard."

Who Kairi assumes is Tifa's father walks right past her and up to Tifa. "Where have you been young lady! You disappeared months ago and... are your eyes glowing? Is that a uniform? TIFA! You went to Midgar? You went for SOLDIER? I raised you better than this!"

Tifa sets her jaw, "I'm not having this argument here dad. If it weren't for the storm I see coming for Nibel I wouldn't even waste my time since we're on a mission."

She grabs his arm and starts yanking him along, earning a yelp as he stumbles and is practically dragged by SOLDIER enhanced strength off to where Kairi assumes is their home.

"So... is your mother going to be equally pissed?" asked Kairi.

There is a soft laugh as a not-so-spikey blonde haired woman steps forward, smiling at Cloud. "Oh I never tried to stop him from going. I knew better."

Cloud shuffles forward and mutters. "Hi mom-omph!"

The woman pulls him into a hug and laughs. "So you made it then?"

"Ahuh, still just a third, but I got in!" he said, puffing a bit with pride.

The woman briefly glances at Kairi, "Alright if I steal my boy for a bit, ma'am?"

"He's free until tomorrow with the storm coming," said Kairi, "Afterwards we're heading for the reactor."

She nods and motions into the town. "Alright Cloud, lets go home, tell me all about the big city life and SOLDIER."

Kairi turns to the troopers behind her. "Alright, head into town. One of you book us a room at the inn, the others start questioning the townsfolk about monster activity."

"Yes ma'aim!" she's answered followed by salutes as they scurry off.

Kairi stares off up the mountain, listening to the whistling wind heralding the upcoming storm for a moment before shaking her head. She takes a brief look around town, identifying a shop if they need to re-supply at some point, and the location of the inn. Overall, the town is small and quaint, even smaller than her village back on the main island of Destiny Islands. It also has little that would have saved it if the reactor had been blown by Zirconiade and an avalanche came crashing down the mountain. Speaking of which...

She remembers what she had overheard the summon say to Genesis. Something about a sleeping brother?

Kairi makes her way towards the Shinra Mansion, briefly pausing when she hears loud shouting from one of the housing, Tifa's voice. She lets it go, the girl can fight her own battles, and keeps on going until she reaches the mansion gate and vaults over. She brute forces the door open and steps in, glancing around the abandoned place. A staircase going up, a few siderooms on the floor. Dusty and dreary with faded colors. She takes a brief look around the first floor, pausing when she notes a piece of paper on the floor. Her mood sours at the familiar handwriting on it.

"I must get rid of all those that stand in the way of my research. Even that one from the Turks. I scientifically altered him and put him to sleep in the basement. If you want to find him, search the area. But... this is merely a game I thought of. It is not necessary for you to participate if you don't want to," she reads aloud, "Oh boy, ten gil says this is going to end up with something that sends Veld off the deep end. And honestly Hojo, what the fuck? Making a 'game' out of experimenting on a Turk? Really? Has a damn deathwish."

She thumbs her PHS and dials Verdot, waiting for him to pick up.

"What is it Kairi?" he asks tiredly, "If this is about what Sephiroth was asking last night..."

"Not quite, but I have a feeling its going to encourage you to go with it. I've found something in the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim I think you need to be appraised of," she said before reading off the paper.

There is dead silence for about thirty seconds, all she hears is heavy, intense breathing, before Verdot explodes, "THAT SICK FUCKING SON OF A BITCH, I KNEW IT! I KNEW HE DID SOMETHING TO VINCENT!"

He seethes for a few seconds before snarling aloud, "Reno! I'm unavailable for the time being, reschedule my meetings and wave off anyone that comes in."

She faintly hears, "Uh... yeah sure bossman, whatever you want."

"Kairi," snaps Verdot, "Put and keep the PHS on speaker. I want live updates."

"Right," said Kairi, clipping her PHS to her belt, pausing when she spots another paper on the floor, "Now what's this? Something about a safe...?"

"Second floor, left side," grits out Verdot, "I recall Vince complaining about Hojo keeping important documents in a safe that any fresh Turk could crack."

"Okay, well, I'm going to physically crack it because I'm not interested in a scavenger hunt for the dials the paper is hinting at," said Kairi dryly.

She goes up the stairs, turns left, finds the safe room, draws her blade, pours the light energy down her hands and into her sword, then spears her sword right through the safe's door, starting to carve it open...

In hindsight, she really should have expected this.

But honestly?

"HOW THE FUCK DID HE FIT THAT MONSTER IN THE SAFE?" screeched Kairi after the door exploded outwards and an absolutely hideous monster that looks like two different ones stitched together down the middle unfurls itself, taking a swing at her that knocks her through the nearby wall and into the hallway with a spray of wood.

"Kairi? Kairi!" demands Veld.

"Busy, Hojo left a present," snapped Kairi, eyeing the monster as it pulled itself through the doorway.

She lures it downstairs back into the main lobby, much more open and easier to fight in. It takes a a swing at her. She ducks under the blow and surges forward, slashing horizontally. Her blade sears a white line into its flesh, earning a screech from it. She makes to kick the monster back, but when her foot hits the purple side, its like she kicked titanium, her foot throbs in pain through the boot, earning a hiss from her... and a swipe from the monster when she's offbalanced. She grunts as she's sent crashing into a wall, slumping down. She frowns thoughtfully and eyes the monster as she gets back it.

"I don't know why you are wasting time in this place," came Mother's voice suddenly, sounding exasperated like a mother who looked away for a moment then looked back and found her child getting into a mess, "But do pay attention. Feel the creature, its an amalgamation. One half immune to the physical, one half immune to the magical."

"Why'd my blade hurt both then?" asked Kairi.

"Because it is both when empowered by your light."

Fair point.

The monster comes at her, raising a fist again. She ducks and rolls under it, letting it embed its fist into the wall. She rises, turn, and cuts into the back of its legs, sending it screeching to the floor. It turns and glares at her, waving a hand and launching a Bolt at her. She grits her teeth, takes the magic attack, then leaps up and stabs her sword right into its face, dragging down and near bisecting it. It deals enough damage to kill the thing though, its parts separating and falling to the floor in a bloody heap...

And then the purple side absorbs the other, becomes fully purple, roars, and gets up. "The hell?"

It hits a lot harder this time, sending her rocketing across the room and crashing into the nearby wall, leaving a dent.

"What the heck IS that!"

Kairi turns her head to see Tifa storming in, Cloud not far behind her, a few townsfolk behind them, all staring at the monster.

"MOVE!" roars Kairi.

The monster leaps at them, both fists raised. The pair dive to opposite sides, large fists denting where they had just been. The townsfolk scream and flee. Which is good, because they'd be dead if they stayed.

Kairi frees herself from the wall, rushing at the monster and slashes her blade. It barely sinks into its flesh this time, the monster immune to its physical bite. She withdraws as it turns and bats at her. Then Cloud and Tifa charge at it's back, the boy's sword clanging against its skin, Tifa yelping as her fist impacts and hurts her instead. It turns and backhands the both of them, slamming them into and through the doorway with a splintering of wood.

Kairi snarls in rage at the brief sight of blood on the monster's fists. How DARE it hurt her children!

A whine of a limit break ignites around her. She swings her sword at it and roars, "Light Nova!"

The resulting explosion obliterates its face, literally taking a giant chunk out of its body and charring the rest. It collapses to the floor, finally dead. Kairi growls, kicking the beast as she passes, rushing for her children. "Tifa! Cloud! You okay?"

"I don't know what hurts more," lamented Tifa, sitting up from where she had crashed on the ground, "My pride or my fist."

"It chipped my sword!" whines Cloud, "What was that thing made out of?"

Kairi sighs, exasperated, but pleased that its mostly just a superficial whack they took. Their faces are a little bloody, maybe a broken nose or two, but otherwise fine. She briefly notes the townsfolk peering at them from the mansion's gate at a safe distance.

Kairi motions towards them. "Get yourselves looked at."

"But Kairi, shouldn't we stay as backup?" asked Tifa, "Scared the shit out of me when I heard that roaring. If there's anything else in there..."

Kairi shakes her head and smoothly lies (though it might technically be true?), "You two don't have clearance to be in here. Thanks for checking in, but I can handle myself in here. I've got a side job the Turks want me to look into while we wait for the blizzard to hit and pass."

Tifa sighs, but obeys, turning and leaving to join her now fretting father rather than angery father. Cloud just kicks at the dirt and follows her out. Kairi watches them go before returning to the mansion, stepping through the ruined door, briefly checking her PHS for damage. "Still with me Verdot?"

"I am," he answers before commenting mildly, "Technically, you don't have clearance either."

"Bite me."

"Bit young for that."

Kairi grins. "Veld, you know what cafeteria I eat in, right? Do you know what I hear in there?"

"Fair point."

She's hardly a little fourteen year old girl anymore anyway. Though she doesn't think she'd be into 'biting'. Who knows, she's hardly had the time, nor found the right person to fool around with anyway.

Kairi returns to the safe room, finding a red summon materia had fallen out of the safe. She gingerly picks it up, rolling it between her fingers. Powerful, but nowhere near Zirconiade from what she can tell. Nothing that the World Burner would have cared disturbing, so not likely the 'brother'. She pockets the materia and looks back in the safe. "Single key, single summon materia."

"Take both," ordered Verdot, "Don't know why an asset was left wasting away in a safe, summons are in high demand in all departments."

"Yeah, well someone else can have it when I get back, I've found myself disliking them."

"I can agree with that," he mutters before clearing his throat, "Head for the basement."

"Okay, so where is said basement?" she asks.

"2nd floor, right side, bedroom, there will be a push in switch on the wall that will reveal a hidden spiral staircase," instructed Verdot, "I recall Vincent bitching about the steps as a safety hazard."

"Luckily I have a wing," said Kairi with cheek.

She finds the secret stairway a minute later. There's really not much room for flying, so she gingerly makes her way down the steps. "Safety hazard is a poor description for deathtrap."

She hits the bottom a few minutes later, coming down a very dimly lit hallway. She tries the first door she comes across, locked. She puts the key in it, and what do you know, fits. She unlocks the door and moves in. "Room full of coffins. Mostly skeletons, one coffin sealed."

There is a heavy sigh from Verdot, his voice crackly from a little bit of interference. "Knowing that bastard, he probably left Vincent to fucking starve to death. Just... take a look and confirm a description if there is a body."

Kairi moves and yanks the coffin open, staring down at a surprisingly not-decomposed corpse. "Well intact body. Guy likes his leather. Long hair, red cloak drawn up to his chin, pointy boot, has a metal claw for one hand, old relic of a gun stuck in there with him."

"The hell would Hojo leave him armed... ah, suicide shot," muttered Vincent bitterly, "Pretty sure that's him. Just... describe the gun."

Kairi reaches down for it.

A hand reaches up and grips her wrist, and a presence flares to life in her awareness, powerful and strong. "To wake me from the nightmare..."

Red eyes shine out with an intense glow as he opens them. "Who are you?"

His presence...

Oh fuck.

It feels kind of like Felicia's did, a dualness to it. Though one side seemed dormant. This is the brother the summon mentioned. "Kairi, 1st Class SOLDIER."

"I don't know you. Leave," orders the man.

There is a strangled noise from the PHS. "Vincent? Vincent Valentine is that you? You're alive?!"

Valantine stares down at her PHS. "...Veld?"

"Vincent where the fuck... how..."

Kairi unhooks her PHS and hands it to Vincent. The man stares at it for a long moment before clumsily taking it in his normal hand. "I've been... sleeping."

"Sleeping? Sleeping you asshole! Its been decades! I thought you were dead!"

"I should be," said Vincent softly, "I failed her Veld, I failed her and her son. This... this is my atonement."

"Oh don't you dare," snarled Veld.

"Just forget about me Veld," muttered Vincent, "Better you focus on your family than a failed friend..."

"My family is dead," snapped Veld, "Linda died to a botched OP, and Felicia... Hojo got his filthy hands on my daughter and everything went to shit."

Vincent grips the PHS tightly, face darkening. "Veld... I'm sorry. But I..."

"I don't care for your fucking excuses Vincent, you will be returning to Midgar with Kairi after her mission is up and I am going to chew you a new asshole," demanded Veld.

"...do I have a choice?"

"Don't make me get on a helicopter and come out there," warned Veld, "Because I will, Valentine."

Vincent huffs. "You haven't changed."

"That makes one of us, because I don't remember you being a coward who takes a nap in a coffin for years on end," snapped Veld.

"Veld... I'm not... I'm not human anymore," said Vincent quietly, "I'm not natural. I haven't eaten since I was put in here and yet I'm fine. I've got... things inside of me that are dangerous. That I can hardly control."

"What did he do to you?" snarled Veld.

"He feels like Felicia did with Zirconiade in her hand, but before it went active," said Kairi.

"Fuck, he put a summon in you too?" gritted out Veld, "Dammit, we can't kill Hojo fast enough. Vince, just... get back here. We will handle complications as they come. We're setting up an OP to put the doctor down when you all get back. I trust you wish to be part of it?"

Vincent chuckles softly. "You always did know how to tempt me. I... alright Veld. I'll come back."

"Good, that's... that's good."

Vincent swallows thickly. "Have... have you heard from... how is Lucrecia?"

"I don't know Vincent," said Veld quietly, "Doctor Crescent disappeared shortly after you did. No one knows what happened to Lucy."

Vincent closed his eyes. "And her son?"

"Sephiroth is top of SOLDIER, 1st Class, a war hero if you ask the press."

What? Wasn't Jenova...

"The birthing vessel was inconsequential," snubbed Mother with disdain, "I am my Chosen One's mother in all ways that truly matter."

"Is she dead?"

"No, she's much like this fool, locked away in her own misery," mocked Jenova, "She could have forced the issue, I gave her enough power, but she chose to abandon my son instead, she deserves no pity and no mercy."

"...and I... I think I would like to meet him," said Vincent quietly, "Has... does he know about... Lucrecia? It was one of the reasons I confronted Hojo, that she wasn't allowed to even hold her own son."

"...I don't know what Sephiroth has been told about his mother," said Veld, "I'm not even sure he knows Hojo is his father."

Kairi coughed and sputtered. "The fuck? Are you kidding me? He experimented on his own son? Put his own son through years of the labs?!"

Vincent takes a sharp intake, but withholds an exclamation.

Her answer is a calm, brutal, "Yes."

Kairi closes her eyes, trying not to sway at the sheer betrayal of it all, moving to the wall for support. "Forget my claim, Sephiroth deserves the kill, no questions asked. His own son..."

She can't fathom her adoptive father back home having done even a fraction of this. Hell, the worst she had received as punishment was time out, she'd never even been spanked!

"Kairi?"

"Mom?"

Kairi pulls her emotions back to herself when she feels concern coming down the web, Genesis and her children poking her. "Classified bullshit. Genesis, focus and go private."

It takes a moment, but Genesis connects directly to her. "What is it apprentice?"

"Did you know Hojo was Sephiroth's father?"

Genesis is silent for a long few stunned minutes. "...I didn't, and I don't know if he knows. The few times we've ever discussed his family, he said his mother was dead and just laughed at the topic of fathers. He might. He might not."

"His own son, Gen, his own son...," she rasps.

"Do we tell him?" asked Genesis.

"I don't fucking know, it might be better for Sephiroth to simply kill the bastard and let it lay, but, if we find all the answers we're looking for he's likely to find out anyway, and he wont like that we held the truth back," said Kairi, "I... you should tell him. But don't be your usual crass asshole! Just..."

"I'll pick a good time," said Genesis, sighing, "Maybe I'll ask Angeal for support... or nevermind, right, he got sent on a mission last night. Woe is me, the sole hero with such a burden."

"Bye Genesis," she said, booting the connection with a playful jab.

When she focuses, Vincent is staring right at her. "...what lurks in me does not like you. Whatever you were just doing drew its agitation."

Kairi scowled. "I'm aware summons don't like me. I don't like them either."

Vincent's eyebrows furrow. "...I see."

"Who is this...?" murmurs Mother, "I care not for the vessel, but what slumbers... I have felt this one before... almost as if..."

Mother's presence snaps into tension. "Tread carefully child. This one is not to be trifled with."

"Is it as strong as Zirconiade?" posed Kairi.

"In some ways yes, in some ways no," said Mother carefully, "If this is what I think it is, it likely has less raw power than Zirconiade, but is far more lethal."

The hell does that make sense?

"For now, leave the creature be," advised Mother, "It will likely become a problem at some point, but when we are reunited, it will be a trifle matter."

"Well... I'll leave you and Verdot to chat, I'm going to take a look around the rest of the basement," said Kairi.

Vincent's eyes trail her out the door.

Kairi feels a shiver go down her spine, but keeps her back straight as she ventures down the hallway and find... a library? "Huh... if even a tenth of this is classified shit, Veld is going to have a stroke at how accessible it all is."

Kairi considers the merits of sticking her nose into it before she shrugged. She passes her hands along a few titles, realizing as she does some of these are journals, or a collection of reports. Then her heart skips a beat. "Northern Continent Jenova Expedition."

She thumbs it open and begins skimming, flipping through the first few pages, "...an organism that was apparently dead, was found in a 2000 year old geological stratum. Professor Gast named that organism, Jenova."

She blinked. "...you're a corpse?"

"The body is irrelevant," said Jenova sourly, "And is corpse-like because the body itself was a trap."

...how in the world does that make any sense?

She frowns and keeps flipping through the report, in which they half-way through suddenly declare Jenova an Ancient, without any theories, explanations, or proof. Kairi snorts to herself, Mother hates the Ancients. She keeps reading, noting a quick passage on the 'Jenova Project' being approved. She frowns thoughtfully.

"Huh, so they were serious?" muttered Kairi, "Shinra actually thought they were recreating the Ancients?"

She gathers a few books/journals/reports of related names and walks down the library to a comfy looking chair and table, plopping them and herself down. She opens the first one, a thesis on the Ancients, and begins skimming through it. It honestly sounds like shit she'd see on the fanclub websites or group chats. Propping up the Ancients as the greatest thing since sliced bread and bemoaning humans in comparison.

"So Mom, on a scale of 1 to 10, how pissy does this thesis make you?" teased Kairi.

Mother scoffed. "The Ancients were hardly the greatest species I have encountered in my lifetime. Clever in the way they entrapped me, but not the greatest."

Kairi frowned. "How exactly are you trapped?"

"Its simple, they sabotaged my vessel," said Mother, "This body itself is damaged, preventing me from acting. All I require is your strength, an infusion of new cells, and I can become truly alive again."

Kairi nods to herself and resumes reading. The next book she reads implies that humans are descendant of the Ancients, ones who stopped 'migrating'. It scorned humans as cowards who left the Ancients to fend for themselves when a 'disaster' struck. Kairi's eyebrows furrow and she hums.

"Are you the disaster?" asked Kairi.

"I've been called worse," said Jenova mildly.

Honestly, if the Ancients and Jenova were in some kind of war, it was probably the smart thing to do to sit the hell out of it. Not their problem to deal with.

Mother laughs briefly, lowering into a dark chuckle, but doesn't comment.

Kairi reads for roughly another hour, her reward is mostly just a headache. A lot of this is just seems odd...

There is a soft footfall and she looks up to see Vincent approaching, eyes flickering across the titles on her desk, before she hands her PHS back to her. She takes and pockets it. "Done with the catchup?"

"Hardly," murmurs Vincent, "Veld and I will have time for a full debrief another day."

He stares at her, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of gold in his eyes before its gone. "Where are we staying for the night?"

"The inn," said Kairi, pushing away from the table and standing, stretching briefly before walking passed. "C'mon, I'll see if can book you a room as well."

He hums in acknowledgement. "I'll refrain from mentioning you're pilfering through what is likely restricted information."

Kairi huffs. "Its a load of hogwash mostly, and I really don't care if you tattle to Verdot on me."

"I doubt Shinra has changed much in how it handles security breaches," said Vincent softly.

"You'd be surprised as of late, but really, it doesn't matter," she turns briefly to give him a cold stare, "I'd like to see Shinra try to 'forcibly retire' me. It wouldn't end well for the company."

There is a quirk of his eyebrow, but she ignores the unasked question. He follows her back upstairs and out of the house, making towards the inn. The edges of the storm had arrived, snow starting to fall.

"Hey Kairi!" comes Cloud's voice, jogging over to greet her, "Mom invited us over for dinner and... whose this?"

"Vincent, meet 3rd Class SOLDIER Cloud Strife. Cloud, meet Turk Legend Vincent Valentine," she said.

Vincent huffed. "Please tell me they don't actually call me that."

Kairi grinned. "I've heard you're still talked about up in Turk land. Ready for all the little Turk fanboys and girls?"

"No," he answers shortly.

"Umm... anyway, dinner?" said Cloud awkwardly.

A few minutes, she, Tifa, Cloud, and Vincent are sat at a table in Cloud's homely little house with his mother tuttering around filling their bowls with a warm meaty soup. There is a whiff of nostalgia, a reminder of home dinners years ago back on the Islands. The closest she had come to this had been the Sundays with the trio, eating and drinking together. It brings a smile to her face as she digs in. She lets the idle chatter wash over her, answering the occasional question, but mostly, she just takes it in. Honestly, she ought to try to figure out how to cook and invite her girls over for dinner. Then again, when would she have the time?

Kairi wonders if she and Mother will have moments like this.

She supposes she'll find out soon enough.

Author's Note: T-4 Chapters + epilogue to go for book one.

Review Responses:

Patrick the Observer: End game is here boyo. 1 Boss Fight, + Extended Final Boss to go!

It really depends how you define 'crashing down'. As in the corporation is destroyed, or new leadership is claimed? Two different things that could drastically change Shinra.

Haven't given much thought to Cid as of the moment. Might make an appearance in Book Two.

Hope you enjoyed the sugar while it lasted. Because its alllll downhillll from heeeeree.

Guest: Find out in two chapters.

Orchamus: Jenova being Jenova should be a tag, kinda like Hojo being Hojo. They are their own warning.

Eaglefeather873: Thanks for the comment, I always enjoy reading what people like. Lets me know what worked VS what didn't work, what left impressions, ect...

One major difference between Sephiroth and Kairi at this juncture in cannon VS Project K is that Sephiroth really didn't have anyone after Genesis/Angeal were gone, and Genesis kind of fucked with him at a shitty time. No one to depend on or that really depend on him in a family/freindship kind of way. Zack was kinda in that spot, but he was one person, didn't know eachother that well, and technically responsible for Angeal's death. There are a lot of things that went into Sephiroth's spiral. Kairi has a lot preventing her from entering her own such spiral.

And yeah, story update pace varies depending on: Work, other real life stuff, games, fanfics I'm reading, other fanfics I'm writing, and ofc mood/inspiration. It got the itch, the burn, to see Jenova Project K finished, haven't felt it in a good while.

I don't think there is persay any 'rules' like that, or at least it was never hinted at otherwise. Like, Minerva is barely touched upon at all. Most stories that incorporate her have to take it further on their own headcannons. I view Zirdoniade's role/rules around it in the literal sense, it exists to end the world after Omega has taken the Lifestream offplanet, leave nothing behind, especially any Calamity taint.

Spellflame: The 'final' confrontation is spanned across 3 chapters after the next one.

The Unplanner: Safe to say there will be no Safer Sephiroth in the Calamity of Light series. At most he might get the wing.

TimeDiver: Nah, the mission happened sooner. I'd have to dig back in to figure out the timeframes to be exact... but yeah, I believe we are mid-way through 2001 in the FF7 Timeline.

Nah, no need for another high rank. Kairi + 2 adds is enough. To everyone else, this mission seems just like standard boring shit.

Kairi has had a bit more time to get used to herself since the end of last chapter, hinted at by she's figured out that she can actually split her bodyparts in half if need be.

Wait for book two for question 3. It will go much more into detail about that kind of thing.

For 4, nah, this isn't like Calamity's Reign, Minerva doesn't have any in like that to Aerith.

I've got like... half of the next chapter for Wound in Time, just haven't found the motivation for it anymore than I've had for Aqua Heart of Pain, despite the popularity of it.