~ * ~
Disclaimer: The characters, items, places etc of Final Fantasy VII are property of Squaresoft Ltd. These objects are used without permission for entertainment only, not for making money. No infringement is intended.
This has shonen-ai in it and at least the implication of yaoi. If you don't like or can't tolerate that then don't read.
Oh, and if Sephiroth seems too much OOC, just remember that he is Cloud, and that Cloud is Cloud. ^_^ hehehe! You can work it out. The other thing is, Sephiroth's Cloud would have initially been older than Cloud, otherwise the timeline doesn't work, no matter how hard you twist it. This is set after the end of the game.
:: :: Conversation happening in someone's head.
~ * ~
The Other World
By Jade Tatsu
Chapter 7 - Reeve
Why did I take this job? He thought as he signed the bottom of a paper containing about the fiftieth trivial decision of the day.
Someone cleared their throat softly, trying to catch his attention without disturbing him.
Oh yeah, that's why, Reeve answered his own question as he looked up. The power, the respect. An under-secretary stood before him, standing rigidly at attention with a studiedly neutral expression that did nothing to hide his fear plastered on to his face. In his almost trembling hand he held an unusually thin sheaf of dispatches.
"What is it?" Reeve inquired after a moment.
The man placed the folder on the desk, gulped and began. "Sir, as per your standing orders, you wish to be notified if anything unusual occurs within NC Sector..."
"NC Sector," Reeve murmured, interrupting the man.
The man nodded and continued. "The Sensor Techs have reported picking up an unusual frequency, an energy signature coming straight from the centre of the Sector, NC-360. At first they thought it was a glitch but checking and rechecking the system has shown nothing abnormal. The signal has since be confirmed by Junon base although nothing is showing up on long range visual."
NC-360. 0 and 720 indicated the edges but 360 was the exact centre. NC-360 - the centre of the North Crater. Figures a problem would come from there. Reeve nodded. "Send a reinforced team up to physically investigate and have them bring anything they find back to NEO Midgar immediately. I want them to have left by this evening," Reeve ordered, without even looking at the dispatch.
The man nodded and left, leaving Reeve alone with his presidential paperwork.
Reeve looked at the million or so decisions that awaited his personal attention. NC-360... The place it had all ended. They can wait, he thought, suddenly irritated. It's time I did my Rounds. He rose and walked out.
The paperwork would still be there when he got back. He wasn't lucky enough for it to vanish, or for someone to fire bomb his office while he was out.
~ * ~
"Where am I?" Cloud struggled to remain calm, not to panic. There was nothing, no touch, no taste, no sight, no sound, no smell. He couldn't move. He couldn't feel anything, not even his body. It was as if the world had just gone leaving his consciousness utterly alone, with not even the dark, or blankness to keep him company.
::Calm down.::
"What? What was that? Where are you?" Cloud cried, or thought he cried, desperately trying to lock on to something.
::I'm here. I've always been here. But for now you must be calm and wait. Try to remember what happened if you want something to do.::
"What happened?"
What had happened? He had been on his way to discuss the situation with Reeve, after having come to a rather impossible seeming realisation that if he was sane, he being Sephiroth, he did love him. The impossible dream could be real because this Sephiroth loved him and was sane. But on his way to see Reeve the Turks had interrupted him. Then what had happened? He'd have almost certainly fought them but even if he'd lost, it didn't explain the complete nothingness that was around him.
"Am I dead?"
::Hah! You're not dead and you didn't lose.::
Right, he wasn't dead and he hadn't lost. He hadn't even been close to losing. He'd been trying to get Elena to talk but Reno had kept interrupting her. If Cloud could have he would have frowned, or rubbed his eyebrows in the effort to remember. Reno kept talking. He said... said..? What had he said? There was something there. A flash of anger in the perfect nothingness.
"He said I was 'Jenova's Puppet!'" Cloud blurted.
::He did but then he got a rather nasty surprise.:: The voice seemed to chuckle.
After that...
They are going to wish I was Jenova's because then I'd be merciful.
::I'll handle this...::
"You did something?"
::Yes. Not as much as I wanted to though. I didn't hurt them,:: it hastened to assure Cloud. ::Just made them keep their distance.::
"Right." And then... Than the world had gone red and Sephiroth... No, that wasn't Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't have wings.
::In your eyes perhaps...::
"You mean that was Sephiroth?"
::I didn't say that.::
"Then what did you say?"
::All right, I'll explain it.:: Cloud caught the distinct tone of impatience. ::The way you view any one depends on your feelings. For most of your life you've felt hate and the wings of an angel have no place on a being you hate. But on one you love..."
"Does he see me with wings?"
::How am I supposed to know? I'm you.::
"Yeah," Cloud laughed, keeping his voice light. The entire tone of this conversation was light. It helped him to ignore the nothingness. "But I don't think you're entirely me."
::Eh... Let's just leave that line of reasoning. Then Sephiroth, who had wings...::
"Sephiroth, who had wings..."
Sephiroth had appeared, his long hair streaming, glowing emerald eyes begging him, needing him but shrouded by a sorrow only he could lift. Even through the red, he'd been surrounded by grass and Sephiroth had raised his hand slightly, reaching out entreatingly and had called to him, his voice smooth and rich, yet full of longing. "Come to me..." It was an invitation though, not a forced demand.
"I was about to accept that then... Then everything shattered!"
::I know. That idiot Reno fired his weapon, naturally at the critical time and we ended up here.:: The voice carried definite views on what it thought of Reno's intelligence.
"Here? Where's here?"
::Here is no man's land so we're just going to have to wait until we can get out. Although knowing certain people that will be sooner rather than later.::
"Certain people?"
::Don't I ever shut up? You remember what Sephiroth told you about his world?::
::Yeah, I remember. I merged with Jenova," Cloud couldn't help spitting the name.
::Certain people happen then to be Reeve and Jenova, who are currently holding Sephiroth captive.::
"I can fix that."
::Yes, you can.:: The voice held a note of fondness. ::But I can't tell you anymore. You'll have to work the rest out later. When we get out.::
"So for now I wait?"
::Yeap,:: the voice seemed to sigh with a disgust not directed at Cloud. ::We wait.::
~ * ~
Reeve walked through the corridors of the ShinRa building on what he had come to call his Rounds, checking on his ex-comrades. They were all quite securely incarcerated and had whole bevy's of guards doing this but he wanted to be sure. He'd gong to too much trouble to have them escape now, and he knew how tricky they could be.
Their weapons were all in a vault on a different floor, although he had given though to allowing the Death Penalty and the Venus Gospel to be taken out and examined. While the workmanship on all the weapons was exquisite, those two would be the most use to ShinRa. It was only a pity he didn't have the Ultima Weapon. Being able to make an unbreakable blade that couldn't be chipped and that maintained its edge no matter what was done to it would be a real advantage to ShinRa troops. Although the SOLDIER's who almost exclusively used swords were gone, regular troops and Special Forces were still issued with knives.
Reeve shook his head, coming to the first cell. "What's lost is lost," he murmured, as he pulled back the peephole flap and peered in.
Tifa. She was being kept in a cell that vaguely resembled once created for the insane. The padded walls, floor and ceiling of her cell though, were not there to keep her from hurting herself, rather the padding was there to absorb the blows of her fists, keep the force of impact from reaching the concrete and steel construction beneath. But so far, the elaborate precaution had not been called upon.
Tifa was sitting as he had seen her every other time he had looked in. The same way she had been sitting every time the guards looked in. She was slumped in the corner, a vacant expression on her face. She ate her meals quietly, bathed and dressed herself without giving the guards the slightest trouble and went to sleep promptly when told it was time. It was rather sad actually. The vibrant, energetic, beautiful woman Reeve remembered was not there. Just a shell. If she'd been like this at Cosmo Canyon... Reeve felt a slight sympathy and admiration for Nanaki for taking care of her.
The few times Tifa had been persuaded to talk she'd only asked about Sephiroth. How he was, what he was doing. She asked nothing about why she was here, why the others were here and how long she was going to stay. She hadn't once snapped or screamed that this was unlawful.
Reeve shook his head and closed the flap. Tifa was contained and pining away for Sephiroth. You can pine as much as you want Tifa. He never even looked at you or Aeris like that. Did he look at the others or was Cloud the only one to his taste? And you never knew... Hmm... I wonder if I should tell you, to see if that will spark a reaction. Despite everything this was not normal behavior and Reeve was slightly worried.
Reeve continued on. There was nothing he could do at the moment. He walked down a long corridor inset with regular cells. A couple were occupied but their occupants had learnt the futility of attempting to rant at him as he passed. It was a fairly long walk between the cells Avalanche was contained in. He didn't want them talking to each other, not even through shouting and even if the other prisoners relayed messages he doubted Avalanche would trust any of theirs, above inquiries into each others health, to that system. They certainly wouldn't be making plans to escape together.
He flicked open another small flap, careful to be quiet about it. Barret. The man was asleep for the moment but Reeves care didn't stem from any desire not to disturb him but rather from the fact that Barret had been raging against his incarceration. Quite loudly and quite vigorously. Reeve checked the notes on the door and nodded. Barret was currently on sleep deprivation for lack of co-operation and was probably napping now that he could. The notes also said that apart from cursing ShinRa and himself, Barret had been asking about Marlene. Reeve frowned. Marlene. He did have troops looking for her. She had no parent or legal guardian looking after her and so should legally be in one of ShinRa's orphanages but he hadn't been able to find a trace of her. Whoever Barret had entrusted her to knew how to hide. It's only a matter of time though. I won't waver and nothing is going to distract me.
Reeve turned away and continued walking down the corridor. For the moment Barret was okay and he really hadn't been any more trouble that Reeve had been expecting. Marlene would eventually be found and brought in. If necessary she would be re educated. He was not about to allow the child of a known political agitator to become a problem.
Reeve looked at the tag of the next cell before he flicked open the peephole. Valentine, Vincent. Vincent didn't even look up at the intrusion. Instead he continued reading from the book he held open on his lap. Valentine had been as quiet as Tifa but his quietness was more worrying. It was his normal demeanor but Reeve knew it was also just one way he used to observe the situation. Even now a cold intelligence glittered in Valentine's eyes and Reeve knew his presence had been noted. There were quite a few special warnings given on the notes accompanying Vincent's prisoner sheet. Reeve had personally added a couple once he'd read through the file the Turks had on him.
Perhaps I should have kept Cid with him. Lovers or not, the noise might have annoyed him eventually. Of all of Avalanche it was Vincent Reeve worried about the most. The ex-Turk knew ShinRa procedures, knew when the best time would be to attempt an escape. Still, he hadn't tried anything yet and Reeve had left instructions to rotate the troops watching him so they wouldn't grow complacent. With constantly alert troops it was unlikely that Vincent would try anything.
"Pleasant day, Vincent," Reeve murmured as he moved away, knowing the man's sharp hearing would catch his words. There was no real point in hiding.
He crossed over to the 'new' wing of the ShinRa building before he got to his next guest. New as it this section had not existed in the old building but when rebuilding had gotten underway, certain extensions had been added. As a result ShinRa Head Quarters would now house far more prisoners and had a far larger lab capacity than in the old days. A few rival companies, long extinct, had once scoffed at the idea of housing prisoners within the Head Quarters building and while most prisoners were housed in dedicated prison facilities in the middle of no where, it did pay to keep the most troublesome ones close to home. It was much more symbolic too if you could trot them out whenever you wanted.
Cid Highwind. According to all reports the man was spending his time doing one of three things; chain smoking - Avalanche weren't exactly prisoners in every sense of the word and some accommodations had been made to make them happy or at least comfortable - raging against ShinRa over the loss of the Highwind or wondering how he was going to tell Shera about his relationship with Vincent. At that point he'd usually revert back to smoking. He, like the others, had not been causing them any problems.
Reeve had considered 'collecting' Shera as well but the woman was not really a fighter. She was a formidable mechatronic engineer though, whose skills were recognised by others who worked for ShinRa. In the end, he'd decided it would be better simply to watch her activities. If a closer watch was necessary he could offer her a job within ShinRa but so far all reports said nothing had changed with her. She went about her activities as normal.
At the moment Cid was leaning against his bunk, cigarette hanging precariously from his mouth as he muttered about something. "Yeah... I think that'll work on Shera... Ha! I'm a genius! Why didn't I think of it first?... But if she..." Reeve wasn't really interested in listening so he closed the peephole flap and moved on, ignoring the fresh tirade Cid was indulging in after he'd realised someone had been there.
One last visit before he checked the main attraction and settled back down to work. He'd left a million or so decisions that no doubt had to be made by him. He'd already made the one for the day he thought was important. That place was never going to leave him alone.
Nanaki was being kept more in a cage rather than a cell and it was probably closer to the labs than the big cat liked but Reeve wasn't about to move him. Although because of the openness of the cell it did mean more interaction.
The cat as always had smelt him coming and was sitting fur bristling facing the corridor he emerged from. Reeve looked him over carefully. After Vincent, Nanaki was likely to be the most troublesome but for the moment he had remained quiet.
"Good morning, Reeve," Nanaki greeted him politely as he sat down.
"Good morning, Nanaki," he returned the greeting. "How are you today?"
"This cage is too small." Nanaki said the same thing everyday.
"You are allowed exercise to compensate for that."
Nanaki shrugged around the metal collar on his neck. He knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with Reeve but it made seeing the man easier. "How are the others?" He was an experiment, the others did not hold similar value so he felt he had to ask.
"They are fine," Reeve answered truthfully. "Although I am a little worried about Tifa. She's been listless lately."
"She wants Sephiroth."
"She can't have Sephiroth. He's not interested in her. He never was."
"I know that," Nanaki said. "You know that and deep in her heart she knows that but when you want that badly for so long... It will take her a while to come to terms with it."
"That's exactly my point. She has done nothing! She hasn't cried, hasn't screamed. She just sits there, day after day... I'm beginning to wonder if I should tell her the truth."
"She already knows the truth."
"Oh no she doesn't. You don't know the truth. No one knew Sephiroth's secret except Jenova and Cloud."
"Jenova! You haven't?" Nanaki leapt to his feet, ignoring the mention of Sephiroth having a secret from them for the greater threat. There had been times when Sephiroth had been inexplicably sad. It wouldn't be that surprising if he hadn't told them all of the truth, kept something hidden from them. His barred his teeth and unsheathed his claws instinctively, a deep growl echoing in his throat. Jenova.
"We have," Reeve confirmed. "So it's too late to stop it."
"You idiot! You fought with us against it. Why?"
"Because ShinRa needs a perfect General and this time, that's what we're getting. Not Strife and certainly not Sephiroth but one perfect General."
Nanaki closed his eyes tiredly and sighed. "You're so stuck on the present aren't you, that you can't see the past and you certainly don't care about the future. Jenova isn't something you can use. It will destroy you and in destroying you, destroy the Planet."
"Not this time. The imperfections caused by Sephiroth have been removed."
"You're saying Sephiroth was responsible for Jenova going insane last time?"
"No, Cloud Strife was responsible but he only got the strength through his relationship with Sephiroth."
"They didn't have a relationship."
Reeve sighed. "That's what they wanted everyone to believe but they did, right up until Cloud merged with Jenova. Then after that Sephiroth's advances and Cloud's memories eventually drove our General insane. This time though Cloud is not there. There is only Jenova, only ShinRa's perfect General." Reeve smiled at the great cat. "I won't worry about it Nanaki, it's already done and you're not exactly in a position to stop me." He rose. "I'll see that your exercise time is increased," he said by way of exit, leaving Nanaki growling, all claws extended and fur bristling at the thought of Jenova's return and Sephiroth's relationships.
Why didn't he tell us? Why did he let us believe Cloud was the enemy? There were no answers forthcoming.
Reeve sighed as soon as he was out of earshot. He spoke to the cat because he was perceptive and could see things only implied. It was rather a pity Nanaki wouldn't work for ShinRa. He could have gone far, the same as Vincent but even if they suddenly did show a change of heart he wasn't about to employ them. He shook his head, settling into his office chair and punching the codes in on his computer. He wasn't actually going to visit his last guest. The last time he'd done that the scientists had scurried for the rest of the day, wondering if they'd done something wrong. It was easier to use the security cameras.
Sephiroth. Jenova's Child. He should have been one of the jewels in ShinRa's crown, one of their two perfect Generals but he'd betrayed them, given in to human weakness because he was afraid of perfection. It didn't really matter what had happened. He'd fought ShinRa but now he was back in the fold.
Reeve looked up at the screen as the picture formed. Sephiroth floated listlessly in his tank. They were a number of sensors pressed against his skin that he made no attempt to rid himself of. He'd been like this for the last couple of days ever since Jenova had destroyed the summon materia and he had collapsed in what the doctors all agreed was absolute and instantaneous magic draining coupled with physical exhaustion.
The magic draining Reeve could understand. Security log showed that Sephiroth had activated the materia and from all indications it took a whole lot of magic to get it going. But the physical exhaustion? Summons relied on magic not physical strength and at that point they hadn't done anything which might have taxed his endurance. It, like his complete apathy now did not make sense.
It all stems from that summoning. Reeve narrowed his eyes, considering as several claw like hands injected something into Sephiroth's arm. He didn't flinch or even watch the mechanised arms move, he just floated there, eyes half closed, a vacant expression on his face. Reeve might have taken it for an act but there was no intelligence gleaming at him from behind those eyes. It looked as if Sephiroth truly didn't care what happened to him. He looked dead but his body hadn't caught up. Why? What was that summoning?
Just after Jenova had destroyed it, she'd told him whatever had been summoned had died. Sephiroth had screamed a denial and then passed out. When he'd woken up he'd been like this and had said just one thing. "I don't deserve to live." After that there hadn't been even the slightest hind of rebellion in him.
It's a good thing we don't have to feed him - his body absorbed all his requirements from the liquid he was suspended in - I think we'd probably be forcing him to eat now. Reeve shrugged. Did it really matter? A passive Sephiroth was one they had to watch like hawks to ensure it wasn't part of some plan but one that didn't wish to live... That was a Sephiroth who wouldn't cause them trouble. Reeve dismissed the image and turned his head towards his remaining work. The million decisions look liked they'd spawned.
To be Continued...
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