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

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

Chapter 56 – The Release

She flew above the clouds headed towards the city of Mako and wondered how she accomplished the events in the cave. Her wings flourished unbidden and the motions of time, she controlled but couldn't comprehend how. Jalyne loved the feel of the wind around her and calmed with its passage as it ruffled her hair. Lost in thought she almost didn't hear the call to her and stopped suddenly, hovering above in the daytime sky.

Jalyne?

Aerith?

I need your help.

What's happening? Jalyne paused looking down, seeing the sun reflect off of the windows of Junon. And why do you feel like you are right beneath me?

Are you near Junon?

Yes.

Then I am. Aerith paused. They have Tifa.

Who has Tifa?

Shinra. Aerith stated. Scarlett took her and Barret. I've heard that they are going to execute them.

What? The empress exclaimed. Keep your thoughts on me. I'm coming.

Jalyne coasted downward casting reflect to allow light to bend around her. She settled outside of the Shinra building and glanced around at the busy street. She concentrated on Aerith as she rounded the corner of the building and paused, smiling lightly at who she saw nearby.

Adrian was poised in front of doorway, leaning against its frame and spoke diligently to a formal suited businessman. Jalyne idly wondered if this was for the new club in Junon and wanted to say hello, however, she didn't want anyone to know she was in Junon. Jalyne lifted her eyes to the building, searching for Aerith.

Where are you? Jalyne questioned.

Near the top floors, I think. The Ancient answered.

Wiggle curtains or something. Jalyne chuckled. This is a big building and I have to walk around it.

The empress walked the perimeter of the building with eyes alert on the top floors. Finally, on the last section of the building Jalyne spied the movement. Reflect still holding strong, she drifted to the window to come face to face with the Ancient who was smiling at her.

Jalyne crossed her wrists and dissolved the glass as Aerith stepped back, watching her friend intently. Jalyne's eyes glowed lightly as she pulled her wrists apart and held out her hand to the Ancient.

"What?" Aerith asked Jalyne naively, raising an eyebrow.

"We have to move." She chuckled in response pushing her hand forward.

Aerith hesitantly took it and Jalyne lifted her skyward. Aerith tensed as she looked to the street.

"Don't look down." Jalyne stated as she reached the rooftop and placed the Ancient on the cement. She disappeared for a moment, then settled behind Aerith, who whirled around innocently with a question on her face. "I had to replace the window." Jalyne answered the look. "Can't let the guards know that I'm around."

"What do we do?" Aerith asked.

"First, you are going to tell me what is going on." Jalyne stated. "Then, I'll get you to safety and we'll go from there."

"I heard the guards saying they were instructed to execute the prisoners." The Ancient began to explain. "As a way to calm the public and place blame on Avalanche."

Jalyne furrow her brows. "Rufus wouldn't do that."

"I'm not sure it comes from him but the guards seem to think so."

"You mentioned Tifa, but where are the others."

Aerith turned from her and bowed her head. "Barret is here too, with Nanaki. We don't know where Cid, Yuffie and Vincent are. We were separated after Meteor was summoned."

Jalyne's eyes darkened at the mention of the Calamity. "Cloud and Zack?"

Aerith sighed but turned towards the empress and shook her head negatively. "We don't know."

Jalyne growled sensing something amiss. "What aren't you saying, Aerith?" she pushed.

"They fell into the Lifestream." Aerith admitted. "Sephiroth attacked after you disappeared and the President left. We were separated from the others within the caverns and during the battle, they both fell into the river as Sephiroth struck. He won."

Jalyne looked aghast at the news of the situation. While she was off dealing with the empire, the others were still here fighting. "How did you end up here?"

Aerith bent her head and Jalyne could feel she didn't want to say. "Rufus had doubled back and captured us. I don't remember much but woke up in the room downstairs."

Jalyne narrowed her eyes at that revelation. After all that had happened, she had a hard time believing Rufus would still be this ruthless. "Where is Tifa?"

"I think she is there." Aerith pointed to the gigantic cannon that graced the center building of the city.

Jalyne shook her head free of the vision from the cave. Junon had it secrets. She escorted Aerith to the outskirts of Junon but paused before turning back.

"Zack and Cloud?"

"I don't know what will happen."

"Lifestreams course throughout planets." Jalyne commented over her shoulder. She bunched her eyebrows in concentration before continuing. "It will be alright." She whispered before lifting off of the ground and turned to Aerith. "Stay here. Stay out of sight. I will bring the others."

He watched the Weapon's Chief in the hologram, deeply thinking of outcomes.

"They need to be an example." Scarlett stated glancing over her shoulder at the bound member of Avalanche. "What better way to tell the populace that we apprehended the culprits responsible for Meteor."

Rufus looked on intently, no showing his inner emotions of the situation. His eyes narrowed shrewdly at her. There was an underlying issue with his Chief. "Bring her here."

Scarlett looked surprised at the direction. "We can take of it here, Sir."

"I would rather do the honors."

Again her eyes widened but she didn't reply right away. "I will make arrangements then."

"Do so."

Tseng remained impassive as Rufus leaned on one side of his chair. Finally, he raised his head and addressed the Director. "Where is Reno?"

"Still at Jalyne's place I would imagine."

"She hasn't returned?"

"Not that I have been made aware." Tseng answered quietly.

Rufus rose and went to the window. "You think I am wrong." he stated to his director.

"With all do respect, Sir, Avalanche had nothing to do with Meteor."

Rufus sighed before turning to him. "I know." He paused. "But the people need someone to blame. They're scared and panicking."

"But is blaming Avalanche really the answer?"

Jalyne glided to the alleyway next to the main building and glanced around the corner. There were guards present outside. She flicked her wrist, changing her appearance and moved to see her reflection in broken glass slung near the back entrance of a business. Dressed in a business suit with briefcase, she hesitated before stepping outward.

True, Jalyne could Gate into the facility, but she didn't know exactly where Tifa was being held. Not only that, but if she was detected, Rufus would be angry and she really didn't want to piss him off. Jalyne glance at her watch and suddenly smiled.

Stepping out of the alleyway, her right arm swung wide as she approached the entryway. Her black hair swung in the breeze and suddenly stopped. Jalyne darted forward, pausing minutely to study the Shinra guards with a smile and entered the building. She walked calmly to the large display over to the left though she didn't think it would give her the answers she was looking for.

Jalyne stood at the directory and slowly allowed time to flow, listening at the surroundings and the conversations that were floating in the background. She appeared to be studying the words when she picked up a familiar thought pattern.

"What are you waiting for?" A harsh voice questioned to her with a shadow appearing behind Jalyne. "Get moving! We have to move the prisoner!"

Jalyne whipped around startled and dropped her briefcase, papers flying outward. She hurriedly bent down to pick them up, hiding her smile when a heeled shoe stepped on her hand. Timidly glancing upward to the blonde, red dressed Chief, Jalyne tapped her mind lightly while mimicking the slight pain of her hand and caused Scarlett to drop her badge to the mess of papers.

"Don't just kneel there looking stupid!" Scarlett scolded. "Go get her and bring her to me! We have to leave!" she shrieked.

"Y-Yes, ma'am." Jalyne stuttered. "Which one?"

"The Avalanche bitch!" the Weapon's Chief screamed and then shook her head. "She's in the holding cells on the top floor!"

Jalyne bowed and hurried off in the direction of the elevators, hiding the smile and listening to Scarlett mutter something about finding good help. She ascended the elevator to the top most floor and stepped outward, idly wondering why the prisons were on the upper floors.

As she stepped out into the lobby, she noticed the staircase similar to the one in Midgar for Rufus' office. She noticed the sign for authorized personnel only and surmised this area was top secret. Tapping the stolen keycard on the console, she entered the restricted area and cautiously moved down the hallway.

It was silent in the hallway and Jalyne continued forward, wondering where all of the personnel would have gone. She listened for any sound and wound through floor slowly. Hearing no one around she called outward.

"Tifa?"

"Who's there?" a quiet voice answered.

Jalyne moved to the sound of the voice which came from the end of the hallway. Jalyne stood in front of the cell and placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head. She surveyed the young lady and her eyes swept the room, glancing at the cameras and where they were placed.

"It is time to go." Jalyne asserted, hoping Tifa would pick up on her tone of voice. She tapped the card again and the cell opened of which she stepped through.

"Don't you touch me!" Tifa glared struggling within her bindings. Her hands were tied to the chair and she flailed her legs outward. "Don't come near me!"

Jalyne moved forward and bent over her, looking at the electronic cuffs that surrounded Tifa's wrists. "Stop it." She whispered. She moved her hands over the cuffs causing them to disappear. "It's me, Jalyne."

Tifa's eyes widened but quickly settled into an expression for the camera and continued to struggle lightly. Jalyne lifted her up by the shoulder and wrapped her wrists behind her back. They moved into the hallway and Jalyne clenched the fist at her side, sending an orbing arch outward around them.

Tifa turned around and peered at her companion. "Undercover, huh?"

"For now, yes." Jalyne commented. "I don't need the President to know I'm here."

"Why are you here?"

"To release you, of course." Jalyne shrugged. "Aerith called me and I was in the area investigating something else."

"Where is she?" Tifa questioned.

"I took her to the outskirts of town, which is where we're headed." Jalyne paused. "What happened, Tifa?"

Tifa paused looking intently at Jalyne and the empress could sense a reluctance to answer. "The Turks doubled back after you disappeared. Sephiroth attacked again with you out of the way. Cloud and Zack are gone – they fell into the river of the Lifestream. We were drained from fighting Sephiroth when Rufus and Tseng captured us."

Jalyne listened to Tifa's account narrowing her eyes in thought. "A long couple of weeks then, huh?"

"Yes." Tifa replied. "I was to be made an example of from what Scarlett said."

"Well, let's change that Fate, shall we?"

Tifa suddenly looked around and noted no one was attacking and the camera's weren't blinking.

"I stopped Time." Jalyne explained. "Ready?"

Tifa nodded and turned around as Jalyne dissolved the spell. Off in the distance, they could hear gun shots and loud cursing. As they made their way to the opening of the hallway and back into the lobby of the floor, Jalyne cursed softly.

"Can you make it to the top of the building?"

"Of course." Tifa replied pointing to the door at the far end. "That should lead outward." She paused looking at Jalyne. "What are you going to do?"

"Get Barret and Nanaki to safety." Jalyne wryly stated with a shrug. "They don't need to be here, now." She nodded at Tifa and ran through the doorway, leaving the Avalanche member to make her way to safety.

"Where is she?" he screamed loudly at the soldiers with his gun raised. "Where's Tifa?"

The soldiers looked confused at him but followed orders to engage. Nanaki sprang forward, leaping high above them and clipping their shoulder, making them stumble. Barret unleashed a barrage of bullets, ducking behind a large shipping container.

As Jalyne rounded the corner, she slid to a stop and observed the scene in front of her. She backed against the wall and listened to Barret scream obscenities, chuckling lightly at some of the words that came out of his mouth. The leader of Avalanche was certainly colorful in his choice of words.

Jalyne pulled a set of daggers hidden within her coat. Her swords were too large to carry easily in this attire and though she hated the shorter blades, they would have to do. More soldiers piled into the room and corridor and she cocked her head, listening to them come upwards from behind.

She waited patiently, letting Barret and Nanaki handle the warriors in front, while she waited for the ones coming from behind. The hallway door on the other side of the room opened up and more came through, trying to surround the two fighters.

Jalyne sprinted forward, blades in hand and engaged them quickly, silencing the first few in rapid succession. She slid across the floor, clipping soldiers along the way and stood at the ready, guarding the rear. She listened closely after dispatching the soldiers and backed her way to the group, much to Barret's astonishment.

"What in the he-!" the large man exclaimed.

"We need to move…and leave." Jalyne retorted, throwing a dagger towards to leader of the front soldiers, who dropped with it hanging out of his throat.

Barret paused, lowering his gun and stared at Jalyne with confusion. "And just who do you think-?"

Nanaki curiously sniffed and sat down. "Calm yourself, Barret. It's Jalyne."

"Hope they don't have hounds…I really don't want to be picked up." Jalyne smiled at him and turned her eyes to Barret who wore a confused look. "I'm in disguise." Jalyne chuckled.

"Tifa?" Nanaki questioned.

"On her way up to the top. I came to get you to safety." Jalyne paused. "You're drawing too much attention. Scarlett is planning something."

"Execution." Barret huffed. "And how do you plan to get us out?"

Jalyne crossed her arms and looked at him incredulously. Nanaki chuckled and she wiggled her fingers in front of his face.

"Aerith?" Nanaki questioned.

"I'll take you to her. She's on the outskirts of town." Jalyne looked around, spying the cameras. "I have to take care of those first."

"Don't want your boyfriend to know?"

Jalyne devilishly grinned. "Nope." She closed her eyes to concentrate on disrupting the cameras. "And it's a bit deeper than that."

"Somehow, I think the President will find out."

She opened them and stared at him, raising her chin. "I'm not dating Rufus, Barret." She chuckled, throwing her arm wide and opening the Gate. "Reno is my Baelo."

"That fucking, cocky, holier-than-thou, god's gift to women, promiscuous, bastard?" He exclaimed. "You're insane!"

Again, Jalyne laughed. "Get through the Gate!" she scolded. "I'll follow with Tifa in a few minutes."

They ran through and Jalyne paused, picking up the irritating, condescending and annoying Weapons Chief thought patterns. As she made her way to the stairs, a tug pulled her and she stopped, lost in thought as she looked out of the window.

Smack!

"You bitch!"

Tifa dropped to the ground in wait, rubbing her cheek lightly.

"Of course I am." Scarlett said smugly. "I wouldn't have gotten so far unless I was."

"And by sleeping with everyone." Tifa retorted.

They were atop the cannon and Scarlett interfered with Tifa's escape, pushing her outward onto the large weapon. She raised her fists for the ready but Scarlett didn't advance.

"Huh. That doesn't really matter." The chief commented, checking her manicure. "It was fun, though."

Tifa darted forward, intent on taking out her legs, only to have Scarlett jump back out of the way. She followed with a few quick jabs and lauched into a backwards flip, clipping the weapons chief's chin. Scarlett tumbled backward, and drew her gun.

"I've had enough playing around with the likes of you." She sneered, aiming carefully at the dark haired woman. "Why the President wants you in Midgar is beyond me."

"Who cares." Tifa retorted. "I'm not going."

Jalyne coasted behind Scarlett undetected, wings outward and hovered, waiting for the opportune moment to interfere. Tifa's eyes flickered to her and as she returned her gaze to blonde woman, she smirked.

"What are you grinning for?" Scarlett demanded, finger on the trigger. Tifa adjusted her gloves in preparation.

"Absolutely nothing." The dark-haired woman stated as the energy started to flow around her. Tifa flew forward with a series of punches, ending with throwing Scarlett into the air and finishing with a kick into the metal cannon below.

Jalyne had never seen another limit break but she had to admit watching Tifa's dolphin kick was amazing. She crossed her arm in front of her, aiming for Scarlett and unleashed Stop, freezing time in place. Jalyne glided to her friend, who was running past the department head, and settled in front of her.

"That was awesome." Jalyne commented to her. "I've never seen a limit break before. Other than my own, that is."

Tifa chuckled as Jalyne threw open the Gate, looking at the others just beyond. "Time to go."

"I agree. I've had enough of Junon for the moment."

They stepped through and joined Barret, Aerith and Nanaki outside of Junon. Jalyne snapped the Gate closed, resuming her natural attire and form, and turned to them.

"So, I hear a lot has happened."

"You mean after you summoned Meteor?" Barret stated snidely.

Jalyne's eyes darkened momentarily. Tifa placed a restraining arm on her partner and looked empathetically at the Empress. Aerith stayed silent, deep in thought as Jalyne turned to leave, stretching her wings outward to the gasps of the ladies and Nanaki.

"I cannot change what happened." Jalyne quietly stated, lifting off of the ground. "But I know you are all safe for the moment." She looked at Aerith and nodded.

"Gotta run back to your Turk?" Barret kept up.

"I must return. I'm late enough as it is."

"Barret!" Tifa chided. "She helped us! That's no way to talk to her!"

The Empress remained hovering and studied the group for a moment before readying to leave.

The Ancient nodded back. "Thank you, Jalyne."

"Hey!" Barret called out, raising his arm to her. "Whose side are you on?"

Jalyne turned and lifted higher into the air, sorrow filling her as Barret's statement of the Calamity played into her mind. She looked over her shoulder at them before replying.

"The side that makes it right."