Disclaimer: Stop such foolishness. I do not own this.

Chap. 19

"He's your brother!"

Those words rang in Cloud's ears like a like a bell horn. Sephiroth...my brother? That's...that's...impossible. No, beyond impossible.

"What are you talking about?"

Lucrecia stood up, "Your mother was also part of the Jenova Project. She was there in order to create a second prototype SOLDIER like Sephiroth. That person is you, Cloud."

Cloud shook his head. This can't be right. It doesn't make sense. It's not true. It's not! Cloud raised the sword over Sephiroth once again, but found he was unable the draw the killing blow. What's wrong with me? I can do this. I can finish him once and for all. But...what if she's right? Cloud became unsteady.

"You time has expired."

Cloud blinked just to see a dark energy sphere fly at him and hit him in the chest. In pain, Cloud saw that Sephiroth had revived.

"We'll settle this another time. Be gone!"

Sephiroth waved his hand and the entire cavern filled with white light. Cloud was blinded and then he blacked out again.

Cloud.

I don't believe it.

Sephiroth.

It's not true.

Brother.

It's impossible!

"Cloud. Cloud, wake up."

Cloud's eyes slowly opened to see Tifa's face.

"Cloud. Are you alright?"

Cloud began to sit up, "Tifa. Where…?"

"Cosmo Canyon. When Weapon shot us back out, Cait Sith managed to get the Highwind here. You've been unconscious for half an hour. Are you sure you're alright?"

Cloud shook his head lightly, "I think so. I remember we were fighting Sephiroth and we managed to bring him down. Then…" It can back to Cloud like a train.

"He's your brother!"

Tifa face grew more concerned, "Then what? What happened?"

"Where's Lucrecia?"

"She's outside with Vincent. Why?"

Cloud swiftly got up and walked to the door. Tifa followed, "What's going on?"

"That's what I'm going to find out."

Outside…

Lucrecia had just told Vincent about what happened inside of Weapon. Needless to say, Vincent was shocked.

"I don't believe it."

Lucrecia looked away, "I know. It sounds too much like a nightmare. But with what has happened to us in the past…This may be some ironic twist of fate."

Vincent saw the sad expression on her face. He raised an eyebrow, "Fate? Strange word for a scientist."

Lucrecia smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood, "Perhaps. But times can change a person." She then looked forward and saw Cloud beginning to approach them, "He's not going to like what I have to tell him."

"Nevertheless, he must know. We all do if we're to save the Planet."

Cloud and Tifa had reached Vincent and Lucrecia. Cloud's face was a mixture of emotions; fear, anger, surprise, and wonder all lined his face.

"I can imagine you have questions."

Cloud simply nodded.

"Alright. But we better let everyone else know as well. It may be crucial for them."

Later...

Everyone is now gathered around the campfire at Cosmo Canyon. Lucrecia stared into the fire as she gathered her thoughts.

"This is something that you should all know. It may affect the outcome of what may happen in the future." She looked at Cloud, "I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but there's no turning back what has happened." She took a deep breath.

"Cloud, you are the biological son of Bethany and Hojo. You are also the second product in the early SOLDIER experiment."

Cloud was clearly shocked. Hojo…is my father? I'm…a product…of SOLDIER?

Lucrecia looked at his face once again, "Yes. It must be disturbing to know this, but there is more."

When it appeared that Cloud calmed down a little, she continued…

"It happened in Nibelhium a long time ago. It was a year after Sephiroth was born…

Flashback…

"How is he?"

"As expected. His bio-readings are 10.5% above normal."

"Excellent."

"How is he?"

He's performing well. Better than expected."

"That's good. Can I see him?"

"Not yet. We still have some more tests to run."

"You're not finished yet?"

"You forget that this is a very delicate matter. I can't just let it be delay simply because of your feelings."

Even before then, I knew that I would probably never see my son much, if at all. Hojo had changed a lot since the beginning of these experiments. He began doing more dangerous and horrific experiments after Prof. Gast's disappearance. And with many of the staff busy helping him, I was relatively alone. Vincent had disappeared a time ago. I didn't know about what Hojo did to him. Then she showed up...

"Hey there. What some company?"

".........."

"That's okay. I'll just wait until you start talking. I don't have anything better to do."

A young blond-haired, blue eyed woman sat by Lucrecia and began to hum to herself. After a long while, Lucrecia looked up at her strangely.

"Who are you?"

The girl smiled, "It's about time. I'd thought you'd never say anything. The name's Bethany. I live around here."

"Really? Must be quiet a lot."

"Yeah, but I have my way's around. So what's your name?"

"Lucrecia."

Ever since then, we've been close friends. She would come by every while just to talk to me. I wasn't really sure why she decided to talk to me in the first place, but it didn't matter. I was just glad to have a friend. I never told her what I was truly doing there or about any of the experiment that took place. They were secrets after all. But after two months, I found out...

"Another one?"

Yes. The progress with Sephiroth has caused us to take it a step further. We've already put it into action."

"Has a subject been chosen?"

"Five days ago. A resident of this area actually."

"A local?"

I had a dread feeling of who it was and that fear...became reality.

"Bethany?"

"Hey Lu. How are you?"

"You're the subject?"

"Yep. Looks like we can spend more time together now."

She was offered a lot of money by Shin-Ra to participate. But truthfully though, I don't think she had too many friends and just wanted to be around me. Inwardly, I was horrified. Now she would be subjected to the same pain I me. But I promised myself that I would help her....somehow. I couldn't tell her up front the truth of the experiment. Not if I wanted to get her out alive. But first, she had to know. It took me months to try to get to tell her without arousing suspicion. But that time, the experiment was already in its initial stages. Hojo had already injected her with his DNA as well as the Jenova cells. When I did tell her, she was as mortified as I had been.

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I couldn't. Before when we first met, you weren't even supposed to know. But when you became a part of it, I was too late to help."

"………"

"Please listen. All I want to do now is help you. And the only way you can do that is if you escape from this."

"Escape?"

"Yes. It will be hard and escape from Shin-Ra is no picnic, but it can be done."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because, you're my best friend. And I don't want you or anyone else to suffer the way I have."

After that day, I spent time in planning her way to break free. It took another two months to set up everything when I wasn't performing my other duties. During that time, the project continued and all that was needed was the child to be born. But that didn't happen…

"Professer Hojo! A section of the corridor is on fire! Bethany is trapped in one of the rooms!"

"What?"

I had planned it well. I set the fire using gas. Knowing Hojo, if I used a Fire material, he'd know that someone did it on purpose. I managed to set a secret exit to where Bethany would escape and the fire would destroy it, leaving no evidence. I also smuggled one of Hojo's left over experiments in case the fire left some evidence of a body. Lastly, I hired a chocobo wagon that would take her far away from Nibelhium. It was there that I saw her for the last time.

"Come with me."

"I can't. If I do, they would come after us. Besides, I am bound to all of this. Even though I may never be with him again, I will not leave my son."

"You've been a good friend, Lu. Thank you. Take care."

"Same to you."

The fire had done more damage than I thought, but fortunately no one was hurt, aside from the 'dead' Bethany. Hojo was extremely furious that months of work had literally gone up in smoke; however the data he stored from it wasn't damaged. He re-focused his efforts on Sephiroth and I was left alone again. Later on, he took Sephiroth with him to Midgar and I went as well. During that time, I heard from someone in the slums that Bethany had been there with a child; a boy. I wanted to visit her, but she had already left again back to Nibelhium. I didn't worry, because officially she was 'dead'. Besides, Shin-Ra had left that place alone for a long time so she was not in danger.

Lucrecia looked up at Cloud, "That's the entire story, Cloud.

Cloud sat there, saying absolutely nothing. Lucrecia half expected him to burst and yell and say that she was lying, but he did nothing. Quietly, he stood up and walked away from the other. When he reached a distance...

"Just when I think things couldn't get weirder, they suddenly do." Barret grumbled.

"Half-brothers. Somehow, that explains much." Red XIII commented.

"Who would have guessed?" Cait Sith added.

As they continued to comment, Tifa continued to watch Cloud as he walked on. This must be really hard on him. Looking over to Aeris, she slid closer to her so that only she could hear.

"You should go talk to him."

Aeris turned to her with a surprised expression, "Are you sure?"

Tifa nodded, "Yeah. He feels better when you talk to him. It's okay, I understand."

Aeris thought for a moment. Should I do that? Wait. Maybe this is what the Planet meant when it said that Sephiroth was the key. Aeris nodded, "Okay."

With that she got up and followed Cloud while Tifa watched her go as well. He needs her right now. As long as he is alright, I'm happy for him.

Those thoughts however did stop the single tear from escaping her eyes.