I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.
Chapter 64 – The Surprise
Reno reported to the President the next morning as the Turks gathered to hear the information. Jalyne entered and stood with Elena while Tseng and Rude sat on the couches in the office. Elena tapped her on the arm to catch her attention.
"Are you okay?" The Turk partner questioned.
Jalyne looked at her softly. "I am. Still a little tired, but I feel okay."
"Reno looks like his old self." Elena commented with a smile.
"We had a good conversation last night." The Empress stated. "We needed to clarify some issues."
"Oh?" the blonde Turk questioned.
"Our boundaries." Jalyne stated as an impish look crossed her features. "Of course…I have payback to give eventually." She chuckled.
"For?" Elena inquired looking at Reno with a raised brow. "What did he do now?"
"Tickled me to death last night." Came the response. Elena watched as Jalyne slightly lifted her hand and her fingers barely moved. A pencil on the president's desk jumped up, tapping Reno square in the forehead.
Rufus turned his gaze to his white-haired Turk, who simply returned his gaze innocently. Reno stuck his tongue out behind the president's back in jest, but narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Have a seat, Empress." the President commented evenly, though Jalyne knew the tone he took.
Jalyne and Elena sat opposite of the Director and Rude waiting patiently while Reno finished speaking with Rufus. The ladies chatted quietly as did Tseng and Rude when Jalyne raised her head sharply, turning to the president.
"Quit shouting." The empress admonished.
Rufus steadily met her gaze. "I wasn't aware that I was."
"You are." She smiled. "We'll all find out soon enough."
"Fine." Rufus nodded, holding his ire in check and walked around the desk with Reno in tow. "Since you are dying to know."
"I've had my fair share of dying, Sir." Jalyne retorted while Tseng threw her a sharp glance.
Rufus stood in front of the group with his arms crossed. "You're feeling better, I see." The president stated. "I sent Reno to investigate a facility that I only recently found in father's archives." He began. "It seems that there are multiple laboratories in Gaia that father hid. There is one in Sector Seven."
"Experimentation I would presume?" Jalyne inquired.
Rufus nodded at her in confirmation. "I need to know what was going on in there and who it was."
"What do we expect?" Tseng asked quietly.
"I'm not sure, Director." Rufus continued. "There are rumors that fiends are beginning to appear in larger numbers."
"Great." Jalyne stated flexing her wrists and fingers. "I need a good workout."
Rufus leveled a smirking gaze at his Turk. "I could help with that." He finally jabbed back to her.
Reno grunted behind him before settling next to his beloved, draping an arm around her. Jalyne raised her eyes haughtily at the President.
"I'm taken at the moment." She replied not missing the insinuation.
Rufus chuckled lightly before turning serious. His Turk was definitely feeling better. "Rude, Reno and Jalyne will investigate the laboratory." He paused before gazing at Jalyne. "I get the feeling that Trerran science has been prevalent for a long time here on Gaia."
Jalyne shrugged within Reno's grasp. "I wouldn't be surprised if that was case. Trerran technology is long established and across many worlds." Jalyne paused in thought. "Though this world is unknown to most. I should check the archives to see if there is any missing ships or adventures."
"Try to find out as much as you can." The president ordered. "How serious is this and what exactly they were building."
"Keep coms on at all times." Tseng ordered.
"All times, Sir?" Jalyne questioned, furrowing her brows. "Depending on the situation, that may be hard to accomplish."
Reno chuckled behind her and stood, reaching for her hand. "Let's get going, yo."
Reno dropped Jalyne off at her apartment before heading to his place for preparation. Jalyne entered to the buzz of her coms and looked down, shocked at the intrusion.
"Yes?"
"Your Highness?" The spunky twin questioned, eyes alight. "Are we interrupting something?"
"A mission." Jalyne answered wryly. "What's happening?"
"We wanted to pass along a new transmitter." Tybyrn answered holding an object.
"Seriously?"
"Of course." Cyferia smugly commented. "We all have them now. Just in case."
They conversed for a few minutes before Jalyne ended the transmission, looking at the new device with a chuckle after closing the Gate. The twins may need to make an appearance here soon. Reno picked her up shortly after sweeping her with a kiss. Jalyne laughed at his childness as he set her down.
"Ready, yo?"
"If we have to." Jalyne emphasized.
Reno grunted extending a hand to her. "We don't have to, yo. But I'm pretty sure the consequences wouldn't be fun." Reno paused pulling Jalyne close to him and slipping nimble fingers under her corset and jacket. "I can think of something else I would rather do, yo." He latched onto her sides as she doubled over in laughter as he proceeded to tickle her, lifting her up so she couldn't get away.
Rude was waiting in the car as the two of them exited the building, rolling his eyes behind his shades at the grins and smiles on his partners faces.
"What took you?" the silent partner questioned as the settled into the car.
"Our partner had to give payback." Jalyne chuckled.
"…"
They drove to Sector Seven, parking outside of the ruined rubble and Jalyne noticed Reno's eyes narrow in anger. He still held guilt for this destruction. She laid a hand in comfort as they stood by the vehicle. They wove through the broken plate and Jalyne fell behind, looking and glancing at the various ruined lives that still milled about in an attempt to rebuild.
The trio of Turks reached the playground with Reno and Rude moving towards a large circular structure with a slide attached to it. Jalyne caught the look a an older lady standing not too far from the covered entrance and moved to inquire of her question.
"What does Shinra want now?" the gray haired woman harshly questioned as Jalyne neared her.
"Do you know of anything strange in the area?" Jalyne countered politely.
"There's more fiends out and about." She peered at Jalyne curiously. "You don't quite look like a Turk. Not like the other two." The woman stated nodding at Reno and Rude who were peering into the opening.
"I am but I'm not. My name is Jalyne." The empress answered holding her hand out.
"Marle." The lady stated grabbing the offered hand, eyes widening. "You are not from around here."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
Jalyne nodded not pushing the issue and glanced around the playground.
"Be careful if you are going in there." Marle continued.
Jalyne quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"There are fiends everywhere to the point that they are overflowing to the surface."
"Ahh." Jalyne conceded. "We were sent to investigate." She turned to leave as Reno caught her eye. Marle reached out and touched her arm lightly.
"When you see Tifa, tell her everything will be okay."
Jalyne's eyes widened at the older lady. How did she know that she had contact with Tifa? She nodded and made her way to the boys as Reno was tapping his foot impatiently.
"We're not here to mingle with the locals, yo." He commented.
"You would be surprised on what you can find out if you stop and listen." Jalyne retorted wisely to Reno rolling his eyes.
"Let's go." Rude interjected dipping into the entrance.
Reno and Jalyne followed slowly, trying not to bump their heads on the overhangs. They reached a side path that Reno took and stopped at the ladder to descend.
"Why does everyone need to experiment underground?" She soured.
"Claustrophobic, Beloved?" Reno chuckled.
"I'm just saying that why do all mad scientists think that being underground is a good idea?"
"The Drum was in the upper levels of the Shinra building." Rude stated straight faced. Jalyne quirked a brow with an incredulous look.
"Okay. So that was the exception." She sarcastically replied.
"Let's go, yo." Reno extended a hand. "Ladies first."
"Hold on a minute." Jalyne responded reaching into her pocket. Reno and Rude watched her curiously withdraw a set of goggles and place them upon her head much like Reno wears his.
"I'm definitely rubbing off on you, yo." The flame-haired Turk's eyes lit up. "When did you get those?"
"When you dropped me off." She answered winking at Rude in jest. "The Twins paid me a visit."
"Oh they did, did they?" Reno laughed, remembering the brief encounter with the spunky duo.
Jalyne started down the ladder, smirking up at her love. "Yes, they did." She descended into the darkness. "Let's get this over with." As she lowered herself, her partners heard her grumble. "Descending into this goodness forsaken darkened chaotic death trap."
Reno shrugged with a smirk at Rude and started down the ladder. They lowered themselves to the ground and looked around with the small light Jalyne had hovering above her head. The Turks proceeded forward, following the path and they looked around curiously.
"Who in the world would go this far deep?" Jalyne asked curiously.
"Containment." Rude spoke up as she gave him a sharp glance.
"Containment for what?"
"Something powerful I would imagine, yo." Reno answered withdrawing his mag rod. "Be ready for anything, yo."
Rude took the lead, winding through yet another passageway and following the ladder downward. They walked onward, looking at the different barred cells and noticing boxes everywhere. She nearly walked into Reno as Rude held a hand outward to stop them.
"Wait." He said adjusting his gloves and nodding downward. The light filtered through the cavern by lights hanging across rafters and Jalyne could just make out movement.
"So we get to have a little fun on this trip, yo." Reno commented.
"This is your idea of fun?" Jalyne whispered. "You and I have different meanings for that word."
Reno turned and shot her a grin, eyes alight with mischief. "I've seen you in a fight, Beloved."
"And?" she grinned back at him, withdrawing her swords. "I never said I liked it." She commented haughtily.
Reno leaned in close, whispering something enough for Jalyne to blush lightly.
"What's the plan?" she coughed lightly trying to regain her composure.
"Deal, yo?" Reno pushed while Rude looked on with barely an inquiring expression.
"You really are pent up, aren't you?"
"Always, Beloved." The red head smirked at her.
"When would we ever find that stretch of time?" she quietly asked.
"I can arrange it, yo."
"From sunset until sunrise?"
"Yep."
Jalyne gave him a sidelong glance. "Rest in-between? Now? Or another time?"
"Nope, yo." He paused. "I could wait a couple of months. Longer in winter, yo."
Her eyes widened considerably. "Rude? A little help here?"
"No." He shrugged. "I know better than to bet against my partner. He always wins."
Jalyne's eyes glinted dangerously at her baelo, then narrowed. "I am Empress, you know. Very, very spoiled."
"Uh-huh." Reno smirked. "Deal, yo?"
"Suit yourself." Jalyne shrugged. "Folita i na."
An eyebrow raised in question. "Why do you think that, yo?"
"You're the one foolish enough to go up against a Trerran. We're known for stamina."
Reno chuckled and nodded at Rude. "She doesn't really know me, partner."
"Deal then." Jalyne reached up, whispering in his ear sultrily to which his eyes widened. She turned to them when she was finished as Reno's ears turned as red as his hair. "What's the plan."
"Unseen." Rude stated.
"That's a little hard when you don't know where you're going." Jalyne moved forward towards another ladder, grasping it and sliding quickly down to the shadows. She waited for the two to quietly climb down, peering around the edge and studied the fiends rummaging through boxes at the far end.
The three of them kept to the shadows, spying another staircase that led further into the dungeon. The attack swiftly came with shadow hounds emerging from the wall, taking Rude off his feet, alerting the nearby others. The silent Turk curled into a roll coming to crouch and slammed a fist into the ground, executing shockwave.
Tri-shot sizzled passed his ears as he righted himself with a nod to his partner. More appeared, circling around them, snarling and growling. Rude adjusted his gloves and crouched in a low stance, ready for defense or attack. Reno zipped by him taking out the rear fiends with pyramid and tri-shot. He leapt into the air coming downward with an EMP burst.
Jalyne watched as the electricity fizzled at her feet, reversing her swords and narrowing her eyes at Reno who held up four fingers with a wink. She grumbled lightly and took off at a run to the left as Rude branched out to her right. A shrieking howl filled the area making the trio grasp their ears and come to a stop.
More appeared in front of her and the wrath hounds circled around cutting her off from the staircase. Jalyne swung her swords, hearing the sizzling and feeling the static of Reno's electricity. She took down four of the wolves only to glance at blood hounds bounding up the stairwell.
Glancing at Reno, she smirked lightly, flipping her swords and dashing forward to attack. Rude was surrounded and holding his own, rocking the ground, leaping high and throwing punches. Reno humphed, assisting his partner to clear out behind him as Jalyne kept on clearing the stairwell for them to proceed.
"Turk Two-Step, yo?" Reno inquired of his silent partner who nodded lightly. Reno swung his mag rod to the side as Rude crouched in preparation.
Jalyne watched curiously, guarding the stairwell as the gentlemen leapt into the air. Her eyes lit up at seeing Reno's trail of turquoise energy and Rude's muted brownish one. She spun in a three-quarter rotation extending her right handed sword and unleashed an orb of blue molecular power. "Make it a hat trick!"
The energy met in-between them as they descended to punch and stab the ground causing a small detonation that filtered outward and disintegrated the enemies around them. They each righted themselves with Reno grinning wickedly at Jalyne as Rude nodded to her.
"Yes?" She innocently questioned.
"You just couldn't resist, yo?"
"Of course not." Jalyne shrugged. "Shall we. I'm not fond of this dark, metal grated, enclosed death trap."
Rude chuckled lightly, a sound Jalyne wasn't used to hearing, and moved to the ladder. They descended to the next level looking around the underground's area as Jalyne floated a small light source above their heads. They came to a staircase built within the ground when she stopped.
"How in the heavens is this stable?" she inquired running a hand across the rock. "How long did it take to build this?"
"I really don't know, yo." The red-headed Turk answered. "We keep going."
They continued downward following the path until it reached another overhanging metal grated area. Jalyne looked down, seeing a few levels more but could see the ground. As she started forward a gust of wind caught her attention a second before being thrown off of the landing.
Jalyne landed with a humph, hearing Reno scream her name. She was pinned on the metal grating and as she opened her eyes, her intake of breath was sharp at the fiend on top of her. Six eyes stared back and she didn't want to experience what the circular mouth appendage would do. It wrestled with her as she tried to push it off to stand. It reached its mouth to her neck as it slammed her back down only to meet the metal of her sword wedged between them.
"Ewwww." Jalyne commented as it went flying off of her by an uppercut punch. She stood brushing off her uniform and thanked Rude. "What was that?"
"Varghidpolis." He answered as Reno sped to them, grabbing her hand and pulling her with him.
"Time to go, yo."
"Re—"
"Don't talk – Run!" he stated resuming a normal speed as Rude came up behind them. Jalyne disengaged her hand but kept running through a passageway with him. They came to an area within the ground and paused.
"We are running, why?" she asked.
"Ummm….well."
"Too many." Rude supplied, peering around the corridor to check if the monsters were following.
Jalyne glanced at the coming hoard. "Huh. That is a lot. Where'd they all come from?"
"Fission replication, yo."
Jalyne stared at him crazily. "Seriously?" she asked to both of their nods. "Huh." She looked outward to the metal platform again. "Easy. I'll take care of this."
She closed her eyes to concentrate, moving one hand palm up in front of her. She balanced one sword on the top of her hand as her fingers moved, lit up with power and created an orb. She winked at Reno before tossing upward towards the massive collaboration of fiends. The explosion rocked the platform, unleashing lightening bolts and shocking the monsters. The trio watched as they fizzled and disappeared. A loud creak caught their attention as the wires holding the suspensions snapped and plummeted to the ground, effectively cutting off their route to the surface.
Reno stared down at her though he wasn't really upset. Suddenly, he turned and sauntered down the pathway, muttering to himself about why wasn't that done in the first place and how in the hell they were going to get out of this dungeon. Jalyne looked at Rude and shrugged before whispering that she'll try to gate them out.
They entered yet another metal overhang and Jalyne narrowed her eyes at monsters below. "Does this ever end?"
"The monsters or the descent, yo?"
"Both." She looked outward again.
"Experiments." Rude commented. "Some of them failed, some of them escaped and bred."
Another howl erupted throughout the caverns. "And what of that?"
"Dunno, yo." Reno smirked. "Guess we'll find out."
"You know Reno…" Jalyne started to say. "You're just having way too much fun with this." She finished, gliding past them to meet the fiends. She stopped at the entrance staying in the shadows.
"Right." Rude commented.
"Left, yo."
"Up the middle." Jalyne said grinning at her partners. "Looks like we'll reach the bottom after this platform."
Reno sped to the left taking on the trio of blood hounds that were milling about. Rude angled to the right to strike other mutationas of the Varghidpolis. A buzz caught Jalyne's attention and she held back, sliding her goggles over her eyes and threw a coms to whirl around her. The hologram filtered into her goggles.
"Sol?"
"Your Highness." Solaria stated. "Are you busy?"
"At the moment, yes." Jalyne stated charging up the middle to assist her partners.
"We need to talk, Jalyne."
The electricity of Reno's mag rod zipped past her to catch a monster sneaking up from behind. Jalyne sharply stared at him.
"Pay attention, yo!" he admonished continuing the battle.
"What's this about, Sol?" Jalyne pushed as she sliced a bugaboo in half. More started appearing and she noticed Rude swing around to the far side of the grate. Behind him was the last staircase to reach the bottom. More blood and wrath hounds appeared and the silent Turk battled on. Reno had his hands full with more wolves appearing as he glanced downward at the ground. Jalyne continued her attack strategies but was slowly getting irritated at the number of fiends.
"There are monsters everywhere, now." The queen started to say. "We don't know where they are coming from. They're attacking people."
Jalyne dashed into a inlaid rocky cavern for cover as Rude and Reno unleashed abilities which shook the metal scaffolding. She peered at the Queen and raised an eyebrow at the hologram. "That's –" the empress started to say, looking at her best friend.
"Yes." Solaria acknowledged. "Mother's armor."
"How did you find it?" Jalyne questioned calling the shaft of her staff and placing the blades upon it.
"I didn't." Sol answered. "It just appeared…along with-"
"Get your ass out here, yo!"
"In a –"
"Don't even say it, woman!" Reno screamed back. "We need you out here – not talking on the damn phone, yo!"
"Give me a minute, Sol." Jalyne requested walking calmly out of the crevice towards the battling duo. "I am dealing with an interempiric situation!" she retorted sharply. "I am NOT ON THE PHONE!"
Reno zipped over to Rude near the stairwell and was about to head towards Jalyne when he saw the glow inside her goggles heighten and noticed she had her staff, not her swords. He decided better of it and shoved Rude down the stairwell.
Jalyne slammed her staff into the metal unleashing a wave of disintegrating energy to the entire area and killing all of the fiends. As she met up with Turks, she continued the conversation with Solaria.
"You were saying, Sol?"
The Queen looked at Turks, as Jalyne flicked a button to expose her to Reno and Rude. "My Lords." She greeted both of them with a bow to Rude.
"Hey, yo."
"Highness." Rude addressed her.
The trio continued down the hallway, with Reno muttering all the way to a large door that was barely cracked and entered a large room filled with boxes and debris. Over in the corner lay a slain beast. The ground shook violently and they looked at each other as Reno sighed then widened his eyes into surprise and started to point behind them.
"Oh shit, yo."
"I am not turning around." Rude commented as Jalyne started to look back.
"A behemoth?" the Empress exclaimed. "By the go—"
The Behemoth charged at the trio flaring it's tusks dangerously and swiping the tail around. They dove out of the way and Reno started his attack as Rude circled around. Jalyne lifted into the air in the spacious area intent on attacking from above.
"What's a behemoth doing there?" Sol questioned idly waiting for Jalyne's attention.
"How would I know?" Jalyne answered. "I'm sorry Sol, but it'll have to wait until we're through with this."
"I'm patient." Sol stated. "Besides, you are requested to return."
Jalyne unleashed a lightening attack to coincide with Reno's mag rod and stopped to hover. "I'm what?"
"Requested to return."
"Not right now, Sol."
"More like summoned."
Jalyne stared into hologram and narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Say that again?"
The behemoth reared up, swinging it's tail dangerously as the trio dodged. Rude executed the strikes against it's left leg while Reno attacked the right. Jalyne continued to strike from above alternating helping her partners. The monster slouched downward, it's legs taken out as the duo hopped out of the way. It charged forward, trying to swing itself around to attack and Jalyne lifted higher, the coms swirling around her.
"Jalyne?" Sol's tone turned worrisome.
"I know, Sol." She paused. "I won't let anything happen to him."
The tail whipped upward, catching Jalyne unawares and slamming her into a wall across the warehouse. As she shook her head clear of fuzziness, she watched as the behemoth circled around crippled and pinned the boys against the wall.
"Jalyne…"
The Empress watched her friend's eyes start to glow dangerously. "I know, Sol."
The behemoth struck out pushing Rude to curve around to the corner of the room. He was blocked and lashed outward with a series of powerful punches ending with a leg kick. Reno moved around to attack and mistimed his electrical EMP burst. The tail whipped around, connecting with him and sending the Turk towards Jalyne. She pulled power to him, wrapping him to lessen the damage.
"JALYNE!" Solaria lit up like the sun she was named after, though the empress could detect a rusty glow behind her.
"I KNOW, SOL!" Jalyne retorted, watching Rude fall to the ground with the behemoth growling and moving to trample him.
Jalyne's instinct took over and her eyes emanated her power as she watched the behemoth lift his front leg to smash Rude. Reno stood shakily beside her and watched on in horror.
"RUDE!" she screamed extending her left hand and opening a gate.
Reno eerily watched himself in the opposite direction as Jalyne swiped her hand to the side and moved the gate around his partner and moving the Turk to them across the warehouse, still laying on the ground with his arms in defense. She half turned extending her right above her, eyes intensely glowing stronger as another gate opened above the behemoth.
"SOL!" The Queen came alight within the hologram. Jalyne turned to her partners with her wings outstretching behind her. "You might want to close your eyes!" she advised as she turned Reno around and pulling him to his knees over Rude.
Her wings spread around them as they heard Solaria's scream come through the gate. The ground shook and the Turks felt the energy wave filter through them as light came through Jalyne's feathers. The trio stood, looking around at the dust and smoke that filled the area. Jalyne collapsed her wings and turned to face her best friend as the gate snapped shut.
Out of the mist of light the silhouette of the queen moved towards them. She was not alone. Jalyne raised an eyebrow as the Turks stood on either side and bowed lightly as Solaria stopped in front of her. The orange-red haired lady came to one side and smiled.
"Solaria." The empress stated smoothly and looked at the girl next to her. "Staerlyia."
They each bowed. "Empress."
Solaria immediately went and hugged Rude, admonishing him lightly as Staerlyia grinned. Rude coughed lightly embarrassed but straightened up as she stepped back. "My Lord." She addressed Reno.
"Your Highness, yo." Reno smirked at them.
"What are you doing here?" Jalyne questioned the smaller woman then looked at Sol. "And who is overseeing Litrandan?"
"I thought I'd tag along, Jalyne." Staerlyia impishly stated crossing her arms. "Sis can't have all the fun." She rolled her orange eyes upward.
Jalyne circled around the queen looking at the armor that still glinted with light. "It looks good on you, Sol." She paused. "But you still haven't answered my question."
Solaria met her gaze with concern. "It has happened." She whispered watching the light of the heavens in green orbs widen.
Staerlyia chuckled which captured the empress' attention. "He returned."
"Suuna returned." Solaria elaborated.
"WHAT?"
"Brother came back." Staerlyia stated again. "Out of the blue. And with him, Mother's armor." She nodded at what Sol was wearing.
Jalyne shook her head in confusion. "They are not leaving anything to chance are they?"
"No."
The empress turned to the Turks and explained. "Suuna is the third sibling of Sol's family. The youngest of the three." She paused. "Meet Staerlyia, or Staer."
"Pleasure." Rude extended a hand and raising hers to his lips.
Reno smiled at the younger sister of the queen and nodded. "We've heard a lot of you, yo."
"All good things, I hope." Staer jested lightly.
Jalyne looked around at the destruction of the area and then settled on Solaria once again. "What were you rambling on about?"
"You are summoned to return to Trerran." Sol seriously stated.
"Who, exactly, would have the authority to 'summon' the Empress." Jalyne questioned resting her hands on her hips. She studied Solaria as the Queen turned pale.
"Your coronation is to occur in three days."
"I thought we agreed to hold off on it, Sol."
"Evidently it cannot wait." Staer piped up.
"And?" Jalyne continued. "You aren't answering my question."
"Something happened, Jalyne." Solaria began. "The appearance of one not seen since the beginning of the empire."
The color drained from Jalyne's features and she started to tremble. Reno put his hands on her shoulders in comfort and listened to the conversation.
"W-what happened?" Jalyne asked quietly, still shaking in Reno's embrace.
"The Temple of Soul is awakened."
Jalyne shook her head fiercely and closed her eyes as Reno rested his head on her shoulder. "W-who summoned me?"
"T'Karre."