Chapter 12

When Saber Wolf awoke she was surrounded by a green water- in some sort of tank. She blinked to clear her vision. When her eyes adjusted she gasped.
On her face was an oxygen mask and when she looked straight ahead she realized where she was. In the experiment tube-in the basement of Nibelheim mansion! She was about to shriek when two figures walked up to her "tube".
"Oh, she's finally awake." said Dr. Hojo with a sneer. He turned around to write something on a chart. The second figure she could easily recognize as Sephiroth.
Sephiroth put his hand up to the tube, and Lacey put her hand to his. Yes, the crystal still held it's bond - still a thread. Hojo then came close again an switched some dials on a machine to her right. The tube began to bubble and Lacey turned around wondering what to expect. She was beginning to get a little woozy, and felt unusual.
Saber Wolf found she could talk when she said "Ow." Sephiroth asked if she was OK and so Lacey found out they could hear her. Then she yelled at Hojo.
"What are you doing to me you sick bastard!?"
Yet again Hojo let out one of his vicious laughs. "Well my dear. You will be joining us for a while. We will stop those attacks of yours. You will help us."
Lacey gave Sephiroth a cold look and he just turned. Hojo laughed and said in a mean cold tone, "Now you'll get what you want, and we get what we want." She knew exactly what he meant. She would get Sephiroth for a price-Shin-Ra would yet again have the luxury of her on their side.
But Hojo forgot one thing. She hated Sephiroth-her heart was black.
"No you don't," Sephiroth said and he turned around and pointed to her crystal. It was glowing again against her will.
Now evil she would truly be. They both laughed at their triumph as Lacey drifted into unconsciousness.

**************

Vincent and Natalie were worried sick about Lacey. If Shin-Ra had her who knows what could happen. Shin-Ra would have Anya and the wolves and even Natalie's largest cat could not handle that. They had to get her back some how.
But how?
Natalie paced the floor and an idea popped into her head, "I know where they must be."
Vincent looked up a frown still on his face but a light of hope in his ruby eyes. Natalie continued with her theory, "Vincent they must have taken her to Nibelheim. That is where Hojo's lab is. He has Jenova and the mako tubes there. Lacey must be kept in one of those. But how would we get in unnoticed?"
Natalie frowned. Even though she was a master of the shadows the place would be guarded very heavily. Just then Vincent smiled and Natalie looked at him, she knew he had a plan. Vincent began, "Natalie, I was locked in that mansion for years. I know one thing that even Sephiroth and Hojo doesn't know. The under ground tunnels. And the secret door that leads to one of the coffin doors. We will sneak in through there." Natalie hugged him in gratitude and he returned the gesture. They were going to take her back. Even if it cost their own lives.