Chapter 13

Natalie and Vincent searched the whole of their fortress for the best weapons, and gathered as many supplies as they could carry. After that task was complete, Natalie sent Vincent to their room to find them some clothes suitable for the job- everything down to the last detail had to be perfect, one mistake and surely they would be dead in an instant. Or turned over to the notorious Dr. Hojo. The thought made Natalie shudder, and she just hoped Lacey was not in that condition.
Natalie turned down the hallway and looked for the next most responsible person, one who could lead until they got back - if they got back.
She looked for what seemed an hour when she found who appeared to be the right person. Natalie stumbled upon a middle aged woman who was talking with a young man in the distance. Natalie walked a bit closer, and to her surprise it was the Shang Hai village healer Aeris! Natalie could not believe her eyes. She knew this woman was perfect for the job.
In the night they left leaving Aeris and a young man named Cloud in charge. She wasn't too happy with the man named Cloud, but she knew Aeris would do a good job. Satisfied she mounted her cat Kerridwyn and looked over to Vincent giving the signal to depart. The black panther and the Mountain lion pranced off gracefully and swiftly leaving no trace of their passing.

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Sephiroth decided to get some sleep because he and Dr. Hojo were to present Lacey tomorrow to Rufus. Sephiroth had to think of a new name for her, after tonight she would not remember a thing except that she belongs to Shin-Ra.
Hmm, Sephiroth sighed and turned to look out the window. Nibelheim was very dark, and shrouded in a shadow under the trees. The plants outside were withered with age and lack of water, the sky was starry and mystifying. He wished it didn't have to come to this, for sure he would not want to wake up in the morning and find he didn't remember anything.
He sighed yet again and tucked his bare shoulders under the blanket. He clutched his wounded shoulder and knee, and winced from the pain. He decided to ignore it and turned on his side, awaiting sleep. Finally his eyelids drooped and he fell asleep.

Vincent and Natalie crept by the two guards at the front gate of the mansion. Vincent then led the way to the under ground. Two guards, just about their size stood guard. Natalie and Vincent knocked them out and stole their uniforms so that they would not be recognized easily.
Slowly they worked their way through the maze of tunnels until they found the one that led to the basement By the time they walked through the entrance it was morning, and light began to seep through the basement door. They crept out into the middle of the room and were about to open the door when a figure stood in their way.
"Lacey!" Natalie shouted with glee and gave her a hug-not noting the cold unfamiliar stare in Lacey's eyes. Natalie shook her head in misunderstanding.
"Intruders in my mansion? I don't think so" Lacey said in a low tone of voice. Lacey ran up to the two and quickly tied them up, she did it so fast that Vincent and Natalie didn't have time to react.
Sephiroth and Hojo walked out from behind congratulating Lacey. Vincent wriggled in the rope enough so that he could see clearly and spoke. "Lacey how could you do this? What about Shin-Ra and Hojo? we are your friends remember?"
Lacey sank to her knees holding her head as if she had been struck by a painful memory. "Do I know you?" she said in a confused voice.
Just as she had a faint spark of recognition in her eyes Sephiroth stepped in. "Of course you know them, they are enemies. You have seen their profiles remember?" Lacey nodded, though still remained on her knees. Hojo shook his head looking disappointed.
Lacey stood up again turned. "No, this isn't right I......" Lacey was just about to remember her friends when she felt a needle in her side. There stood Hojo holding a large syringe full of a purple liquid. Sephiroth cringed at the sight and he turned away. Natalie and Vincent sat tied up in a rope, and surrounded by a heavy cloud of failure.
Lacey lay unconscious in Sephiroth's arms. Hojo was the only one willing to converse. "Vincent Valentine. Hmm I never thought you'd be caught back here again. Perhaps we should finish my experiment on you. I see the addition on your arm has been a successful experiment." Hojo pointed to Vincent's left arm- which was now a golden claw. They were all knocked out and caged.

Vincent and Natalie rested in the course straw, each curled about each other. Sephiroth and Hojo prepared Lacey, the put her in a blue empress uniform, and placed her in an elaborate "cage." The thing did not look anything like Natalie ands Vincent's cage but was carpeted with a crimson rug and a blue chair sat in the middle. The outside was surrounded by an invisible barrier. Sephiroth placed Lacey in the chair and stepped aside. Hojo then locked the barrier with a small remote.
Then they were off to see Rufus, a parade of soldiers marching behind.