I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.
Chapter 60 – The Betrayal
She was silent as Reno lifted the chopper from Costa del Sol. They had only spoken for a few minutes and she knew he was still peeved at her. Jalyne sighed and closed her eyes, deep in thought at the events with Sephiroth. Why it happened, she didn't know but it made her think in depth of all the things she had learned.
Jalyne slowly opened her eyes and looked out of the window to the light of the horizon. She glanced at Reno, who was relaxed in flying the helicopter. She leaned her head back on the rest and settled for the long flight back, content to stare at nothing.
"He's angry, yo." She heard Reno's voice through the headset. "Not sure exactly why though. He granted you leave."
"I do." Jalyne responded, turning her attention to the outside.
"You know," he began. "We're partners, yo. I can't help if you won't let me in."
"I could say the same." She quietly retorted.
The sound of his fist colliding with the console made her jump and she finally turned to him. He turned to stare at her flipping the chopper on autopilot. "I'm sorry that I didn't mention it, yo." He paused. "What happened at the Crater?"
"I-I," Jalyne started to shake but raised a hand. "It happened again." She inaudibly answered. "I thought I was fine."
"Is that why you called the King?" Reno snidely spat before he could take it back. He knew they were close but what was going through his mind was uncalled for.
"Yes." She paused. "His name means Dark to Light."
Reno stared at her and narrowed his eyes but otherwise didn't say anything further and gave an exasperated sigh at Jalyne's stubbornness. They were silent as they travelled over Junon's ocean. They were coming over the eastern continent as his mind travelled quickly on different subjects and scenarios. He threw a side glance at her curiously but stayed silent.
Never did Reno think that there was so much to learn about the Lifestreams and magic. He was slowly mastering what Jalyne was teaching him, outreaching to her subtly and felt…depression, fear…betrayal. Keeping his expression neutral, he wondered why she would feel like she betrayed them…or him. Glancing at her once more, Reno noticed her eyes slit and glowing lightly.
She didn't want to talk. Not a the moment, anyway. Jalyne closed her eyes to think about what happened with Sephiroth. There was so much happening at one time and she felt lost as if she couldn't make sense of anything. She knew she was wrong for leaving and staying away for as long as she did, but also didn't know how to correct the issue.
The anger for the Turks was replaced by the episode at the Northern Cave. He had preyed on her eroticism, provoking her weakness and with it twisted her allegiance with her companions. Jalyne felt she betrayed Reno and it stung and dug deep. On Trerran, depending on the situation between two people, it is punishable by harsh means…even death depending on the severity. Her and Reno had not discussed the openness of their relationship and it sat heavy on her heart. Jalyne sighed to herself, looking down at her hands.
Jalyne heard the call and deciding not to dig herself in deeper, answered. Sometimes being a telepath had it's drawbacks. She listened patiently, hearing the frustration in his voice but stayed quiet. He was commanding and it made her think harder on her role with the Turks.
Reno. When you arrive, Jalyne is to see the President in the simulation room seven. They both heard Tseng's voice. We will be waiting.
"Copy that, yo." Reno stated. "We're heading over the wastelands now. Give or take thirty minutes, yo."
He didn't bother looking at her as he heard the inaudible sigh though Reno wondered what the President had planned. He settled the chopper on the helipad and cut the engines. Disengaging the safety harness, he made way to the door but turned back to Jalyne who was still sitting in the co-pilots seat.
With an audible deep sigh, she made her way to the door, only to be cornered and blocked by Reno. He leaned close her, trailing a light finger down her cheek and jawline, making her flitter involuntarily as she gazed at him.
"I'm not sure what is going on with you, yo." He whispered. "But I really wish you would make up your mind cause I really can't take much more, yo."
With that he opened the door and hopped out, turning to extend his hand to help her. They walked slowly down the halls through the building to the training level where the rest of the Turks were waiting for her.
"He's waiting." Tseng stated sternly, nodding lightly at the door.
Jalyne pulled her hands to her abdomen and bowed deeply to the Director and the Turks, reserving the final bow for Reno. Changing the hand configuration to one they have never seen, she bowed even deeper to her love, before reaching up to cup his cheek fondly.
"I made up my mind long ago." She whispered, lightly brushing her lips to his. "I am sorry, Myak Lovtka, for putting you through this."
Jalyne turned and walked through the first set of double doors and paused as they slid close, waiting to hear the click of the locking mechanism. Flicking her wrists, her entire being changed as she molded the traditional Turk suit with heeled boots. She glanced at the reflection from the shiny steel walls, looking at her flowing black hair and vibrant green eyes without her diamond mark and idly thought how…different her younger form was.
Jalyne hesitated, taking a deep breath before heading through the second set of sliding doors, head high. As she entered the simulation room, she spied the green pulsing light of the cameras. A live feed. He was waiting for her with his back to her and gun at his side. The only sound in the room was her bootsteps, caused by the slow cadence of her walk to meet him.
"Sir." Jalyne said, nodding in respect.
He didn't want to do this. It was an extreme measure to quell an extreme situation with the people. They wanted answers and it was his job to provide the best possible outcome to save the company. The rumors were ugly and panic in Midgar had already set in. The people wanted resolution and he would give it to them, not that he believed it would work.
Rufus spun quickly, raising his shotgun and firing in one motion. This was his Turk and Jalyne gave him a way to answer the masses. It was over in two seconds and he watched the outcome without a change in the passive and neutral expression.
The force of bullet entering just over her heart and into her left shoulder caused Jalyne to teeter backwards but otherwise remained standing. She raised her right hand cover the wound and felt her blood gush through her fingers. She never dropped her gaze at Rufus, and maintained a neutral expression, though if one was watching closely, could just detect the surprise within her eyes.
The blood soaked her uniform and she took a deep breath before dropping to her knees in a bowing position, resting on her heels. Rufus calmly walked to her and stopped at her right side.
"You will never betray me again." He whispered before exiting the simulation room.
Tseng flipped on the monitor for all to see what was occurring with the President. Reno refused to look and leaned up against the screen's wall, shoving his hands in his pockets and watched his friends look on. He thought on Jalyne's last words to him, cryptic as they were. Was she sorry for putting him through everything lately? But she said 'this', indicating a current or possible scenario.
"Are you sure you don't want to watch, Reno?" Elena asked before turning her attention to the monitor.
"Nah, yo." He said. "I don't fancy watching her get her ass beat by the President, yo."
"He won't hurt her, Reno." Tseng assured. "He wants to make sure she's on the same page."
"And what page would that be, yo?"
"The page that she understands exactly what her job is and who she is." The Director firmly commented. "Did she talk on the way back?"
"No." Reno admitted sullenly. "Not about much anyway, yo. Only said it happened again but I have no idea what that means."
They watched her enter the simulation room and walk to the President. Reno noticed that Elena was trying desperately to hide her expression at what she saw and had to look close to Tseng to see he was surprised.
The shot rang out and Reno closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and expected a few more to be heard. When he opened them, Rude had his brows raised in shock and Elena's hands were covering her face with Tseng remaining impassive as usual. The doors slid open and Rufus glided out, stopping at Reno with his head bowed.
"Take care of her. Make sure she heals." He whispered to Reno. The President looked at his Second. "Thank you." He calmly stated before turning to leave.
Jalyne was lost mentally, blood was flowing through her fingers and she felt lightheaded and dizzy. She raised her eyes to the cameras to make sure they were off. She reached into her pocket and withdrew an orb and concentrated. They would all know what occurred at the Northern Cave in a few minutes, though Rufus already did. She concentrated, putting her memories into the orb which glowed slightly with dark blue. She deserved this.
That is how Reno found her, breathing heavily and still kneeling with the blood pooling underneath her. Instantly, he noticed her black hair and black Turk suit, something he hadn't seen in long time and her mark was gone.
"Jalyne?" he whispered, reaching for her chin to raise her eyes to her. He knew then something was wrong. "Heal, Beloved."
She stared at him blankly. "I…can't."
He didn't know what to do. Running a hand through his spikes he tried again. "You've taken a bullet before, yo. Heal."
"I can't."
"Beloved!" Reno's voice grew louder as he pleaded to her. "Activate your healing!"
"I CAN'T!" Jalyne screamed outward which ended in her coughing up blood.
Rufus heard her screamed words and whirled around but the others were already entering the room when he jogged to follow.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Tseng made it to Jalyne first as Reno was draping her across his lap, putting pressure on her wound. She was bleeding out a little faster for where the bullet hole was, he thought, and he settled near her head, placing his hands at her temples.
Elena let out a quick shriek before running to her side and assisting the Director. Rude knelt in between Tseng and Reno, helping his friend apply pressure to her shoulder.
Rufus came through the double doors in shock at the scene in front of him. Reno raised his gaze in question as he moved forward but otherwise didn't say anything.
Jalyne shook her head trying to stop Tseng from casting Cure. "Don't, please." She whispered at him.
"Jalyne?" he questioned. "Let us help you."
"No." she affirmed. "There is no help. It won't work."
Tseng tried anyway with Elena doing the same at her side. The green glow of Cure began to filter to their hands only to be uninpenetrable to their directive. Reno scowled as he watched the magic float upwards.
"Stop it, Jalyne." He whispered sternly.
"It's not me." She whispered, breathing haggardly.
The whispers appeared pushing the Turks and the President back, leaving Reno with Jalyne. They swirled around them and she struggled to move, opening her eyes slightly to stare blankly at him.
"Jalyne, stop this, yo!" he pleaded with her watching the Lifestream start to surround her. A whisper huddled close, gazing it's sightless face at her before settling into her body.
"Watch, Myak Lovtka, and see why." She barely said, closing her eyes. "I am dangerous. It is better this way." Her left hand released the orb, rolling across the steel floor and activating.
Reno watched the orb glide across the floor and looked down at Jalyne. She was so stubborn and none of this made sense to him. Why was she so intent on thinking that she was wrong.
The holograph visage sprang to life and caught the attention of all within the simulation room. They watched diligently and with interest though the President kept a indifferent expression.
She opened her eyes and looked around the green haze. She had felt when the whispered entered her body and knew the Lifestream was interfering with Fate. Or so she thought.
"It's about time." A voice sounded behind her. "I was almost tired of waiting. Right, friend?"
Jalyne whirled around in surprise for she thought she was alone. "Zack?" She looked around and spied the other one. "Cloud? What are you doing?"
Zack pushed off of the table he was leaning on and grinned, walking towards her. "Waiting for you." He paused waving a hand at her. "You took forever, right Cloud?"
"Hmm." The blond stated looking at her and nodding.
"Why are you here?" Jalyne questioned again looking around the Lifestream.
"We were told to wait for you." Zack laughed. "Strange one that one was, wasn't he, Cloud?"
"Yep. Burgundy hair and all."
Jalyne crossed her arms and chuckled. So, Fate had other plans then. Zack walked to stand in front, towering over her and she looked at the dark haired SOLDIER inquiringly.
"Are you done yet?" he asked. "Cause this isn't really like you from what I understand."
"Done with what?" Jalyne asked.
"This woe is me, self depression and dark shit."
Jalyne sighed and bowed her head. "But I betrayed them. I deserve this Fate."
"When you can come up with a better reason on why you think that…let me know."
She snapped her eyes to his. "But that is what occurred." She paused. "and I can't control my power."
"That's not what we see." He waved an arm outward and the scene changed to show the current events with her in Reno's lap and the others anxiously around her. Some of them could see the whispers and others could not as evident on their expressions. They were watching the events at the Northern Cave.
"You know what we see?" Cloud interjected. "We see an empress following her heart and trying to make it right."
"I offered him an alliance!" She exclaimed. "On Trerran, that can be punishable by death."
"Is that why you didn't deflect the President's bullet?" Zack asked shrewdly.
"You are not on Trerran." Cloud stated.
"I couldn't." she answered. "Something is wrong. I-I can't access my full abilities."
Cloud nodded at the scenes playing before them. "Do you think that perhaps it's because you absorbed his aura."
Jalyne thought for a moment. "That spark within. It's my doing. I put it there." She concentrated for a moment.
"That's not what we asked."
She furrowed her brows remembering the events. "I suppose it could be."
Zack shrugged. "Could that be why you are…off."
"I can't feel the light." She stated. "It's like it's not there."
"Sephiroth has a way of doing that." Cloud interjected. "Clear your mind."
"He wasn't always like that though." Zack stated. "He was one of us."
Jalyne looked onward watching Reno clutch at her as he watched the events. Elena had inched closer to Tseng as they renewed the efforts to Cure her. Even Rufus knelt beside her and laid a worried hand upon her arm. Rude stayed with Reno, trying to stop the bleeding at her shoulder. She bowed her head.
"Perhaps if I had more time with DarkienLyy to learn control."
"Well, you didn't get that opportunity." The dark-haired SOLDIER commented. "But it's a conscious thought to fight it. Stop being afraid of the dark." Zack paused. "Of course, I suppose you could change it."
Jalyne looked incredulously at him. "That's why I'm dangerous." She raised a brow at him. "How did you know?"
Again his jovialness took over and Zack chuckled. "Your friend advised us. He said specifically to remind you of what your name means."
Jalyne smiled warmly. "Faterian is like that."
Cloud nodded at the scene. "See. You corrected the mistake."
Her eyes widened lightly as she watched the occurrence take place. Perhaps there was hope. She looked at the group around her and sighed.
"Family." Zack commented. "And though I can't believe that I would say this, but, they are your family here."
She continued to watch on, looking at their reactions. "Why do you say that?"
Zack shrugged again. "Remember, I knew them years ago, Jalyne. Then, I wouldn't think they could change. Cold-hearted and malicious. Now, look at how you've changed them. Even the President isn't a hard-ass like his father. They love you. Especially Reno – and I definitely wouldn't have ever thought that it was possible."
"Can sins be forgiven?" she asked looking at the group around her.
"Sure they can." He answered as him and Cloud walked to stand next her. "Time for us to go."
Jalyne bowed her head in thought. "Where are you headed?"
They both laid a hand on her shoulders. "You are our hope, Jalyne. Empress of the Heavens." Zack said with a nod.
"We're not done yet." Cloud stated. "We'll be around."
Zack sighed and turned serious with a whisper. "Always remember…Protect Your Honor…"
"…as SOLDIER." Cloud finished.
Jalyne's eyes widened in understanding. "But I am not SOLDIER." She whispered quietly.
Both squeezed her shoulders and chuckled lightly.
"Sure you are…" Cloud quietly said.
"You're an Empress SOLDIER Turk." Zack chuckled. "The first of it's kind."
Reno growled holding his beloved within his arms.
Sephiroth lifted Jalyne and kissed her. She pushed off of him and landed a few feet from him.
"How dare you!" she grated at him and lifting her chin haughtily.
Sephiroth smirked back in response, charging forward and grabbed Masamune to strike. Jalyne neatly sidestepped him, calling her swords and struck outward with a swipe. He dodged coming behind her and quickly jabbed as she leapt upward and over him, spinning and clashing the swords with his.
"And yet you still resist." He commented sneering at her again.
"And yet you still think that you are the only one worthy of being a god." She glared back.
Sephiroth scowled at her as she twisted her wrist and pushed off of him, slicing her sword horizontally. The sound of metal rang throughout the area as they connected again and again, each holding their own. Jalyne slowly backed him into a wall of the cavern and with a quick jab of her sword, disarmed him. Masamune arched high, spinning before landing dug into ground a few feet away.
Jalyne backed him further bringing her left sword to his throat and the right one edged at his abdomen. She stared into the cat-like eyes that narrowed dangerously at her and her lip curled upward slightly. If Sephiroth was surprised at being disarmed, he didn't show it.
Her eyes flickered to his chest where she could sense the tiny spark within. Jalyne slowly raised her right hand, sword held tight to it before looking back at his angered expression. She put more pressure on the left sword before leaning closer to him.
"You are but a pawn in a much greater game." She whispered seductively. "Why do you carry so much darkness and hate?" Jalyne's eyes flickered back to his chest and her fingers lightly caressed him, starting to bring pull and bring out the light.
Sephiroth reached upward slowly, to not startle her, and brushed a stray strand out of her eyes, leaning closer to her. She was doing something to him and he wanted to know what it was. She was mere inches from his lips when her eyes widened.
"Naio!" she exclaimed nicking his throat with her blade as she backflipped backward.
Frustrated, Sephiroth lashed outward with dark energy catching her in mid move and engulfing her. He heard her scream in pain and sneered once more, watching the energy consume her.
Jalyne screamed as the energy made contact with her. It held something different and it was suffocating. Her wings flared outward as she absorbed it and settled to the ground.
"Did you ever consider that you are on the wrong side?" she asked him as the energy flowed into her.
Sephiroth raised his eyes to her in question. "The only side there is," He paused. "Is mine."
"Are you sure of that?" she questioned extending her hand to him. "We could change that, you know."
"Is this what she was worried about, yo?" Reno asked no one in particular.
"Yes." Rufus quietly answered. "She thinks by that offer, she betrayed us and you."
"But she was doing what she thought was right, yo."
"We know that." He continued. "But evidently it affected her to a greater extent."
"How did you know what happened?" Reno suddenly asked his superior.
"A drone was present and recording. Shotgun left it there at my instruction."
"In the chopper, yo," the red-head continued. "She was resting, but her eyes were glowing."
Rufus paused before speaking. "I reached out to her." He confirmed.
"And this, Sir?" Tseng finally spoke up. "You said you were just reprimanding her."
"She did me a favor." The president stated. "A way to calm the masses for the moment." Rufus shook his head lightly gazing at his Turk still bleeding and draped across Reno's lap. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"What was the plan, Sir?" Elena spoke up respectfully.
"She was to hold the bullet until the cameras were off, then heal."
Sephiroth studied her before walking to her outstretched hand. He was quick in his action, grabbing her and pulling her close. Jalyne gasped as she felt his hand cover just below her breast and he forcibly pushed his aura to dominate hers. Her wings sprang around them in defense then stretched backwards.
"Oh, I am sure." He whispered in her ear. "If anything, you will succumb to me."
Her natural ability struck outward, pulling his black aura within hers and she pushed away from him taking a few steps back. Her eyes flickered to the sky. As she righted herself, Jalyne tried to calm the aura that she absorbed. She looked at him haughtily once again, trying to maintain strength though she felt she being torn apart.
"Seven seconds until the end." She began as he slowly walked to her and she raised her right sword to stop him. "One can last an eternity."
Sephiroth humphed lightly at her but continued to approach her.
"Three have already passed." Jalyne continued, the left side of her lip upturning a bit in a confident smirk. "But what will your ultimate choice be, Sephiroth?" she challenged.
He surged forward, knocking her blade away and giving her a crushing kiss.
Reno didn't miss the power around her left wrist flare and as her hand twisted back just a hair, the transmission blinked and returned to Sephiroth posed with his hand outward in a grabbing motion. Reno narrowed his eyes in thought and speculation as Sephiroth's expression turned to one of surprise.
Jalyne wasn't there.