I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne
Chapter 22 – The Lake
Reno pushed the chopper's capability as far as it could go to get them back to Midgar. Elena was hanging on only because of Tseng's healing. She was losing too much blood and was unconscious. They had no idea how bad the injuries were, and Tseng wasn't speaking as he was concentrating on the Cure Materia.
"How much longer?" Rufus asked quietly, glancing at his Turk laying on the cot.
"We're passing the wastelands outside of Midgar now." Reno stated over the headsets. "Won't be too much longer."
Reno pushed the chopper even further, trying to make it to Midgar in time. Tseng was weakening by the minute and they were all worried for Elena.
They landed forty-five minutes later, and Rufus had medical on standby. Reno and Rude hung back with the President and let the teams take Elena with Tseng in tow. The Doctors were checking him out, but he kept swatting them away.
The President accompanied the Turks to their offices, though Reno quirked an eyebrow at him. It wasn't long before the staff physician, Dr. Meredith Wynan, graced them with her presence. She looked at each of them before addressing them.
"She is in grave condition and we rushed her to surgery." She began. "The Director is currently unconscious and…"
"Unconscious?" Rufus questioned. "We saw him walk in."
"And from what he said, he's been casting cure the entire trip and then some. Not only that, but he has also suffered his own injuries." She snapped at the President. "He is lucky to be alive."
"Any idea when he would awake?" Reno questioned.
"Not really. It depends on how fast his body recovers from the Materia casting. His other injuries aren't as serious." She paused. "I didn't get what fully happened, but judging by Elena injuries, she was protecting him and took the brunt of the attack."
"Jalyne said Sephiroth ambushed them." Reno stated. Dr. Wynan's eyes narrowed dangerously and she pointed a finger at the red-headed Turk.
"You tell that young lady I don't appreciate her damaging my instruments! She could have seriously injured herself taking the ventilator tube out herself!"
Reno's eyes widened as he looked at the doctor. Rufus somehow managed to keep his face neutral during that statement. "I just assumed she woke up and you released her, yo."
The physician looked at the trio in surprise. "Really? You think I'd release her that quick after being on a ventilator? Where is she anyway?"
Reno through his arms up in exasperation. "How would I know! I'm not a doctor!"
"Good thing too!" she snapped.
"She didn't return yet." Rufus told her quietly.
"I want to see her when she returns." Meredith stated with a huff and turned and walked out the door. Rufus waited until she was down the hallway before he turned to address the Turks.
"I don't want anyone to know I'm here, yet." He began. "I also don't want anyone to know the situation."
Reno nodded in agreement and looked at Rude in affirmation. "When do you think Jalyne will return?"
"I don't know." The president stated truthfully. "It sounded as if she had to do something."
"What do you think happened?" Rude finally spoke up.
"I don't know. She looked…determined."
"Try to find intel on Cloud's group. Where are they headed next and is Jalyne with them?" Rufus instructed. "Otherwise, we wait." He turned to leave. "I will keep you posted if there are any updates on Tseng and Elena."
Reno reclined on the couch, suddenly tired. "Do you think they'll pull through?" he questioned to Rude, throwing his hands behind his head.
"They'll pull through." Rude asserted. Reno sighed falling quiet, leaving his mind to wander.
Jalyne exited the Gate and spied the group not too far off in the distance. A small fire was burning as night began to fall within the area. Jalyne glanced at the sky, letting her memories of Jurvien cloud her mind. It was him that originally taught her about illusions. She sighed heavily at what she was forced to do not long ago and thought of the wandering soul for a moment. She walked calmly towards the group, only to be stopped just outside the light by a triple barreled shotgun. Jalyne looked down the barrel and nodded at Vincent in respect.
"Vincent Valentine." She acknowledged.
"You know me?" he questioned seriously.
"I spoke with Chaos some time ago." Jalyne answered. Vincent lowered the gun, and his red eyes took a far-off look.
"He says you are not from here."
"He would be correct."
"Then where are you from?"
Jalyne chuckled slightly and looked up into the darkening sky to see the stars just beginning to shine. Vincent focused on her.
"Chaos sends greetings."
"And I to him." Jalyne smiled. She turned and walked to the rest of the group; Vincent close behind. Aerith quickly rose and hugged her.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine." Jalyne responded, ignoring the black orb whispering in her ear.
"Did you retrieve the Black Materia?" Cloud asked coming to stand next to her.
"I did and pissed Sephiroth off." She paused in thought. "He'll come for it."
"I know." Cloud whispered. "We have to keep it out of his hands."
"For as long as possible." Aerith commented. Cloud gave her a sharp look but remained silent. Zack came up beside them.
"Uhhhhh…introductions?" he asked and Aerith giggled lightly.
"My name is Jalyne."
"You're a Turk." The raven-haired SOLDIER commented, eyeing her attire.
"Among other things, yes."
"I knew some Turks awhile back." He said extending his hand.
"Just as I've read your file." Jalyne commented lightly, taking his offer of a handshake.
"Where are you from?" Zack persisted conversationally. "I can't place your accent." Jalyne looked upward before answering the group.
"Trerran."
"What in the he—" Cid interjected and Jalyne smiled softly and chuckled, turning to Aerith.
"You didn't really elaborate, did you?"
"No." the Ancient answered sheepishly.
"I'm not from Gaia." Jalyne calmly stated. "What's the next move?" she asked the question to Aerith.
"I have to get to the Forgotten City. There's something I need to do there."
"I can do that."
Cloud and Zach looked at Jalyne incredulously. She sat down on a log and removed her jacket, careful not to lose the Black Materia and draped it over her lap.
"We lost Cait Sith." Tifa commented solemnly.
"He'll return soon enough." Jalyne commented knowingly. "But we must evade Sephiroth. It won't take him long to find us."
"What do you suggest?" Yuffie asked, eyeing the Turk warily.
"I Gate you there." Jalyne answered. "And get as far from you as possible."
"You're going to keep the Black Materia?" Cloud questioned shrewdly.
"This is not something that we just use." She hesitated a moment. "And nor should we. We need to find a way to dispose of it if that is even possible."
"So, you should keep it?" Cid questioned spitefully, brandishing his spear at Jalyne.
"Man, calm down." Barret interjected.
"She's not the enemy." Tifa reasserted. "Jalyne's always helped us."
Jalyne reached into her coat pocket and withdrew the dark materia letting it hover above her palm. "You're more than welcome to have it." She offered it to him while Cid shrank back slightly.
"You cannot touch it." Vincent observed. "Why?"
"Well…" Jalyne paused. "If you want me to absorb it, then I will touch it. However, I will warn you that if you think Sephiroth calling the calamity is bad, wait until what I do happens."
Vincent's eyes went distant like he was conversing with someone and he nodded absently at her. Cloud's hand reached his temple as pain racked his head. Zack mimicked the gesture almost immediately. They did not like to be exposed to the Black Materia.
"You can keep it." Zack interjected while Jalyne deposited the materia within its barrier back into the jacket.
"Are we staying here?" Yuffie questioned.
"I would rather not." Jalyne commented. "Sephiroth knows where we're at. I really don't want to be here when he returns."
Aerith nodded and stood looking pointedly at Jalyne. "We will take your guidance." She nodded at Cloud for agreement.
"How fast can you get us there?" he asked, shaking is blond strands to clear his head.
"Instantaneously." Jalyne answered.
"Well, let's get to it." Barret stated coming to stand next to Zack and Aerith.
Tseng had pulled through the night and awoke the next morning, much to the surprise of the president and the Turks. Elena, however, was still in critical condition. The Director looked over to the woman he just asked out with a sigh and struggled to get out of bed. He was still drained from the exertion of energy he displayed.
"Sir!" Reno exclaimed, rushing over to him to help him into the chair next to Elena's bed as he stumbled.
"I'm alright." Tseng commented.
"Right." Reno scoffed. "And Jalyne isn't a foreigner to Gaia." He cracked. Rude entered a few minutes later with coffees in hand for him and Reno. He placed them on the table and turned to leave. Reno chuckled lightly at him.
"What?" Tseng asked wearily.
"He's going to get you a coffee."
"Didn't know you were awake, Sir." Rude commented straight faced as he left the room. Tseng shook his head lightly, wincing at the pain that spiked up his head.
"What happened?" Reno questioned him lightly.
"Sephiroth happened." Tseng told him. "He's a piece of work. He was not always like this. Sephiroth ambushed us as we were entering the main chamber. Elena took Masamune in full force." He explained, taking her hand in his. "She threw herself in front of me."
Reno listened patiently, not sure what to say. After a moment he spoke. "She'll pull through, Tseng. She's tough as nails."
"But it will take time." A voice stated behind them. Reno looked up to see Dr. Wynan standing in the doorway. "And what are you doing out of bed?" she scolded Tseng. "I swear you Turks!."
Rufus and Rude snuck in behind her and walked to the bed, the doctor shaking her head.
"What's the verdict?" Rufus asked quietly.
"She's critical, but I'm monitoring her." The doctor turned to Tseng. "If you didn't heal her like you did, she wouldn't have made it."
Tseng nodded in thanks to the compliment. "How long do you think?"
"That depends on her." She answered, not dampening the news. "Her lung is punctured, I've had to stitch up her liver, stomach and colon. I'm keeping an eye on her that she doesn't develop any infections."
Rufus nodded in thanks and Dr. Wynan turned to leave. "She's a fighter though, her stats rose considerably after the surgeries."
The four of them were left in the sterile environment, each in their own thoughts. It was Tseng that broke the silence.
"Any news of Jalyne?" he questioned.
"None." Rude answered. "We have no idea where she is."
"You don't think she went home, do you?" Reno asked. Rude stayed silent in thought and Rufus looked out the window, furrowing his brows. Finally, the President turned to address the second-in-command.
"No." he paused. "She wouldn't do that without letting us know."
"You think so, yo?"
"You're closest to her, slum rat." Rufus sarcastically stated but with a hint of amusement. "What do you think?"
"I'm not as close as you would think." Reno muttered and then stared at Rufus. "But no, I don't think she would."
"How long before you think she'll return?" Tseng interjected calmly.
"When she wants." Rude answered, crossing his arms.
"We wait then."
"This is different." Jalyne commented as she came through the Gate at the Forgotten City. She looked around at the reflective white trees, idly remembering Litrandan and its trees in certain seasons. The colors were gorgeous in the night and Jalyne almost walked into Vincent because she wasn't paying attention. "Aerith?"
"We have to go down to the lake." She said. "It's a special place."
The group followed Aerith through the Forgotten City, winding through the paths in its structures. Jalyne ran her fingertips along some of the structure's engravements, looking at the pictures and symbols that were used. Some of them were Trerran descent, similar to what Sephiroth showed her in Nibelheim and Jalyne thought idly of the connections that were possible between the Empire and Gaia.
They ended up at the lake after what seemed like an hour walking and the group paused as Aerith jogged to the precipice of the water where a small shrine jutted from the rocks. She dropped down to her knees and began praying. Jalyne could faintly in the distance hear the Lifestream in response. They were in the north, it was colder here, though it didn't seem to bother the rest of them. She looked up to the stars, which were crystal clear in the colder atmosphere, and ignored the call of the Black Materia within her pocket. Jalyne scanned the stars, remembering the star charts and looked further to the north, unaware that the ex-Turk and the dark-haired SOLDIER came to stand beside her.
"What's up there?" Zack asked breaking the peacefulness of the night.
"My home." Jalyne smiled warmly at the thought of cruising the heavens, still looking upward. "Do you see the cluster of two stars right there?" she asked, pointing to a set a stars slightly away from others.
"Yeah." He answered squinting upward. Vincent looked upward, narrowing his red eyes.
"My home world of Trerran circles those two stars."
Zack looked at her surprised. "You're an alien?" he slipped out. Jalyne chuckled at his childness demeanor.
"Yes."
"What brought you here?" Vincent inquired.
"She did." Jalyne stated nodding at Aerith. "She interrupted my exile."
"Exile?"
"Yes." Jalyne looked at Zack. "For the power I hold." She paused. "What do we do now?"
"We wait." He replied. "and try to rest."
"We'll take shifts." Cloud interjected walking towards the trio.
"I don't need to sleep." Vincent commented. "I'll take watch."
"I'll help." Jalyne offered, looking towards the structure. Something was coming, she could feel it. "I don't dare sleep at the moment."
Cloud nodded in agreement and went over to where Tifa was laying down and stretched out next to her. Barret, Yuffie and Cid were dozing off to the side and Nanaki came over to her and sat on his haunches, his flamed tail swishing behind him.
"You are tired." He drawled to her.
"I just need to stretch." She commented non-chalantly.
"What happened with Sephiroth?" Vincent suddenly asked.
"We fought." She stated simply, indicating she didn't want to elaborate further. A moment passed and Jalyne swayed back and forth on her legs, impatient.
"He wasn't always like that." Zack interrupted. "He was the best of us and cared somewhat for his comrades."
Jalyne stared at him, then lowered her head in contemplation. "What happened?" she asked finally.
"He found out that he was the result of an experiment with Jenova cells."
"Jenova." Jalyne stated in thought. Her back started to itch and the infinity mark burned. She looked at Vincent. "Did Chaos relay to you who I am?"
Vincent shook his head. "Yes."
"Then you know I'm Jenova's daughter?"
"Yes." He stated ignoring the looks of Nanaki and Zack.
"That's why you stay close to me." She surmised. Again, Vincent shook his head but remained silent. They stayed that way for a long while before Nanaki spoke up.
"You are restless." Nanaki commented, looking at her.
"I'm apprehensive." She replied quietly. Jalyne looked at Vincent. "Something is going to happen." She cautioned.
"Do you think he'll appear here?"
She thought for a moment. "Yes."
Zack looked at the others huddled away from Aerith. "I'll protect her. She has to finish praying."
"We need a back up plan." Jalyne surmised. "In case that something happens."
"Can you keep him occupied?" Vincent asked. "We can escape into the forest."
"I can Gate you if necessary." Jalyne stated. The itching down her back continued. "In many ways, he's coming for the materia." She glanced at Aerith, watching the green glow come from her hair. "What is that?" Jalyne asked, remembering that Aerith had done something to her in Nibelheim.
"Her mother's materia. She claims it useless." Zack answered.
"It's not useless." Jalyne commented. "She used it on me a while back." She took a few steps backwards. Nanaki looked at her curiously. Jalyne closed her eyes, seeing the vision that was shown in the Lifestream of a green orb bouncing into water and lightly shook her head.
"What is wrong?" he asked, swishing his tail.
"I need to move." Jalyne answered and looked at each of them. "Please don't be shocked." And stepped further away and flexed her shoulder. Her wings materialized out from the left, pulsing in white light in tune with Aerith's green one. Zack's eyes widened and he reached out to touch them in marvel.
"I want them too." He slipped out. Jalyne lightly chuckled at the statement.
"They're a burden at times." She commented. "I'll take the perimeter." She stated to Vincent and lifted lightly in the air, unbeknownst to her that Cloud was watching the entire exchange. He moved from his position by Tifa and joined the other three.
"Where'd she go?"
"To scout." Vincent said.
"She thinks Sephiroth is coming."
"That's because he is." Cloud asserted. "I've been getting flashes and headaches."
"She has to finish her praying." Zack said.
"And we will protect her." Cloud agreed.
The night passed uneventful with Jalyne making rounds in the air every so often and Vincent staying close to the group. Nanaki never slept either and stayed close to Aerith as she continued to pray. The sky began to lighten in the east and Jalyne still had an uneasy feeling. She could hear the voices strengthening around her and knew that Aerith's prayer was being heard.
It came suddenly, the pain racking feeling filtered throughout the group causing each to grasp their heads. He appeared with Masamune raised, poised to strike the Ancient down and charged. The sound of glass hitting stone resonated throughout the area as the green orb fell to the ground and bounced down the rocks into the lake, to be lost to its depths. Aerith raised her head in shock and fell forward onto her hands from the force of the strike.
The pain suddenly subsided and the group looked to Aerith who was breathing heavily while on her hands and knees, hair falling to the sides of her and white feathers in her peripheral vision. Sephiroth snarled at the sight below him.
"You have interfered for the last time." He grated. Jalyne stood poised, Masamune clashed against her double blades. She had intercepted him just enough to change the direction of the sword stroke.
"Perhaps." Jalyne smirked back at him. "Perhaps not." She pushed upwards sending him back and looked at the others. "Go!" she instructed, extending her wings outward.
"I can't!" Aerith screamed. "It's gone!"
Jalyne looked into the lake and paused, concentrating lightly. "It's supposed to be!" she answered. "Now get out of here!" Jalyne lifted into the air, flexing her wings towards the back to deter Sephiroth.
"Your confidence will be your downfall." he told Jalyne.
"Your arrogance and dominance is yours." She replied. Jalyne could feel the Black Materia. It was slowly emanating power to her and she felt the strengthening of hers even through the barrier she created. She could do it, call her awakening. She swiftly glanced behind her and saw Cloud's group melting into the forest with Cloud and Zack nodding to her in thanks. Grow stronger, Cloud, Zack. She sent her thought out in farewell. Both of them stopped in their tracks and stared at the scene above them before backing up into the forest, a look of concern crossing Zack's features and determination on Cloud's.
Sephiroth charged to try to bypass Jalyne and strike the retreating group. She sped to his spot and blocked him, raising her sword, and knocking his aside. Sephiroth grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her wrenching her arm. Jalyne let out a groan of pain but brought up her left elbow to connect a blow to him, sending him backward. Jalyne extended her arms, releasing her power and binding him. The glow of Trerran's binding wrapped around his wrists holding him.
"You've grown in strength." He commented before he snapped the bindings, coming to hover in front of her, Cloud's group forgotten.
"I'm glad you think so."
"Hmph." Sephiroth sneered. "You will not think so when I'm done with you." He threatened.
Jalyne extended her arm and wrapped her power around him, holding him still. "It is not my place to pass judgement." She formally stated. "It is not I who will be the harbinger of your death."
He snapped them easily, raising Masamune to her with a smirk. His eyes glinted dangerously as he made the move to strike her down of which she parried easily and dodged, her confidence rising. She defended him expertly but knew she had to go on the offensive at some point. Sephiroth fired flare after flare at Jalyne and she dodged and weaved.
He used the distraction to hover behind her and when Jalyne realized he was there, backhanded her across the face, making her crash into the trees below. As the dust settled, she stared at the blade just inches from her face.
"Never lose track of your opponent." Sephiroth advised, the corner of his lip lifting in a sneer.
"I'll keep that in mind." She commented.
"If you survive." Sephiroth stated, but he had stepped just with reach of her of her legs. Jalyne pushed off the downed white tree, sliding towards him, sweeping her left leg to take out his. He was caught off guard and stumbled backwards, backflipping and landing away from her.
Jalyne reversed her blades and crouched low, waiting for his next move. Sephiroth's eyes narrowed as he assessed her, noting that she was an excellent fighter. She had folded her wings into her back and waited, somewhat impatiently.
Jalyne had somewhere to be, and no more time could be wasted. She launched her attack running with her blades low, as Sephiroth moved his sword to swipe at her. She slid on her knees underneath Masamune gliding to the back of him. Jalyne kicked out towards his back only to have her boot connect with the flat side of the sword.
Sephiroth pushed outward causing Jalyne to backflip out of the way and dart forward with blades drawn. The clash resounded throughout the silent forest as she connected in the front and spun around Sephiroth to connect on the other side from behind. Jalyne darted into the air with him close behind, not realizing that she had woven bindings around him with her strikes.
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at her and struggled within his hidden bonds as she came behind him, holding the tendrils on her power tightly.
"Thrice, you have had the chance to kill me." Jalyne purred in his ear with her accent coming through. "And yet you didn't." she paused, lightly brushing her fingers up his arm as astonishment crossed his eyes. "And I now know why." Jalyne stated as she brushed his mind lightly and reached up to pull his hair away from his ear. "I will not be dominated, Sephiroth." She whispered sultrily to him, further taking him off guard. "But you are welcome to try."
Jalyne lowered him to the ground still within the bindings and opened the Gate to leave. He snapped the bonds and pointed his sword at her. The shock of what she did made him rethink his strategy in dealing with this woman. Sephiroth lashed out with an energy blade to catch her attention, but she turned, crossed her swords, and disintegrated it. Jalyne narrowed her eyes at him dangerously, turned and walked to the Gate, knowing he wouldn't attack. She heard his voice as she neared the threshold.
I will come for you.
Jalyne stepped through, but paused and turned back to Sephiroth with her reply.
I know.