Specimen Report 6 day, 9 month, 2017 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Sephiroth
Code: S-A02-C01
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 19 day, 1 month, 2017 year, CC
Blood Type: Unknown
True Age: 8 months
Physical Age: 2 years
Rate of Growth: 3 times faster than normal, at a linear rate. Professor Gast believes that the rate of growth is not a line, but, rather, a curve. As the child becomes older, the rate of growth slows. It is believed that the growth rate will gradually slow to the normal human rate.
Mental Age: approximately 6 years
Rate of Growth: 9 times faster than normal. Rapid mental growth was expected, but not to this extent. Again, it is thought that the mental growth is a curve, but instead of ceasing to grow mentally, as humans do, it is thought that the rate will simply continue to slow, but never come to a complete stop. Therefore, the specimen will continually grow smarter. Gast and I are in the process of developing a scale to use once the child's intelligence surpasses what can be measured in years, though I believe will will continue to refer to it as 'years' despite the fact that the term will be incorrect.
Physical appearance: Incredibly pale skin, most likely the result of indoor confinement. Specimen was born with Mako eyes. They appear to change color depending on the child's mood. Emerald green is a state of outrage, while pure blue is a state of calm, peacefulness, or a time when the specimen is willing to converse the most. General color-blue-green-must be a result of a maternal genome. Hair is a strange silver-white color. As neither parent carries this gene, it is assumed that it is a result of the Jenova specimen, the DNA structure for which we are still trying to unravel. Overall build is very slender, especially considering the specimen's age.
Height: 2' 10"(86 cm)
Weight: 21 pounds
Comments: Specimen is maturing rapidly. If the rate of growth does not decrease until maturity, then this will be a great scientific achievement. Childhood will be sped up considerably. However, if the specimen continues to mature, there is a possibility that it will age and die prematurely as well. This is merely one hypothesis, and not necessarily true. Specimen is beginning to be somewhat uncooperative. Disciplinary action will be taken-request for one of Shinra's Turks has been filed. The child will be trained in the art of a SOLDIER, that it may be instated sometime in the future if it is no longer needed.
Note-the specimen seems to display innate magical ability. As yet we have discovered no fool-proof way to measure it, but the child has shown potential in several every day situations.
One: Specimen was seen to light a fire without using a match or flint of any sort.
Two: Specimen turned off all the machinery in the laboratory in one angry swipe. Fortunately, no data was lost, and the child's anger was soon remedied.
Three: Specimen created some sort of invisible barrier in an attempt to keep us from performing tests. Fortunately again, Professor Gast owns a large collection of materia, and was able to cast Dispel.
Four: Specimen accidentally destroyed a lamp in its bedchamber by sending a strong electrical current through it.
It is clear that the specimen shows strong ability in the area of destructive magic. To use ancient terminology, it is a "black mage." However, as the child is still developing, it is possible that other talents may emerge.
"Talya, I want you to go find your daughter," came a harsh, familiar voice. She ignored it and continued reading.
Specimen Report 19 day, 1 month, 2029 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Sephiroth
Code: S-A02-C01
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 19 day, 1 month, 2017 year, CC
Blood Type: Unknown
True Age: 12 years
Physical Age: 15 years
Rate of Growth: As originally hypothesized, the growth rate is slowing, and it is believed that it will eventually become slower than human growth until the actual age is equal to the physical age, at which time it will proceed as normal.
Mental Age: 36 years
Rate of Growth: The rate of growth continues to slow down. While the specimen is not mentally maturing as quickly as it did after birth, its mental growth is still much faster than normal. Its intelligence rivals Professor Gast's and perhaps even mine...
Physical appearance: Talya has been taking the specimen outside regularly, so the child is no longer pale-skinned. Eyes retain the same characteristics, but strong emotion is rarely seen. Hair color remains the same, and it is proven fact that this gene is because of Jenova, although it is a result of a mutation, not a direct hereditary factor.
Height: 5'8"(173 cm)
Weight: 137 pounds
Comments: Magical ability has increased ever since it was first discovered. Specimen is now capable of far stronger magic than any materia can give. Destructive magic ability is strongest, 13 times stronger than that of materia. Curative magic is only 1.7 times stronger on average. When tested near the Mako Reactor, the results were 2.5 times stronger, when tested in the laboratory, results were 1.4 times stronger, and when tested outside, results were only 1.2 times stronger. It is believed that the influence of Mako energy causes the magic to increase in power. Defensive magic is 3 times stronger than materia.
Specimen also shows strong ability in the manipulation of objects. In one test, it was able to lift Talya of the ground several inches without touching her. It is not yet certain whether this is Telekinesis or some form of magic not given by materia...
"Talya, I will not wait any longer," came the impatient voice. "Get moving." She pushed it out of her mind. There wasn't much he could do to her. At least, she didn't think there was. He looked just as fragile and bony as ever, but she didn't really know what the Jenova had done to him. She was more interested in what it had done to Sephiroth. If she was going to find him...
Final Specimen Report 4 day, 7 month, 2035 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Sephiroth
Code: S-A02-C01
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 19 day, 1 month, 2017 year, CC
Blood Type: Unknown
True Age: 18.5 years
Physical Age: 20.6 years
Rate of Growth: Growth rate has remained steady. Mental Age: 50.3 years
Rate of Growth: Surprisingly, the rate of mental growth has remained relatively constant over the past three years. Intelligence increases by about 105 percent each year now.
Physical appearance: Eye color generally remains constant-emotions are well-controlled. Hair color is still silver-white and is now quite long, past the waist. Specimen remains slender, but is also well-muscled and strong.
Height: 6'1"(185 cm)
Weight: 171 pounds
Comments: Magical ability has remained constant since age 14. Statistics now stand at:
Destructive magic: 17 times more powerful than materia
Curative magic: 2.3 times more powerful
Defensive magic: 3.9 times more powerful
The ability to manipulate objects and living things is in fact a form of magic. The specimen is capable of controlling others to some degree, physically making them do what it wants. It also has great skill in mental manipulation, through deception...
Specimen has demanded that it be released, and I had to concede considering its power. It is quite capable of killing me in the blink of an eye. In fact, it is capable of destroying the entire area within a three-mile radius without much thought. In an attempt to safeguard the world against this possibility, I have erased most of the specimen's memory. It now knows only what is common knowledge, and only a little bit about itself... It is under the impression that it wants to join SOLDIER, which is fine with me. I have sent a copy of the specimen's statistics to Shinra Headquarters. Best to put its abilities to good use.
The specimen's intelligence has surpassed my own. I believe this may eventually prove deadly for it, but for now that intelligence will do it good, especially after its memory has been erased. That is all.
"Talya!" barked Professor Hojo. "I've told you twice already, go find your daughter."
Talya sighed and stood, scraping back her chair. "Yes, Professor..." She restacked the papers and put them back into the manila folder from which she had taken them. Then she turned to Hojo, who was actually several inches shorter than her, and put one hand on her hip. "What do you want her for this time? I thought you were finished with the tests."
"I am," he replied venomously. "I wanted to acquaint her with Sephiroth before you bring him. If he puts up a fight once he gets here, it will take the both of you to contain him."
Talya nodded. "Let's hope he cooperates... I don't like the thought of fighting him."
"Whatever. I did not come down here for idle conversation."
"Why can't you find her yourself?" she queried, slightly annoyed.
"She's wandered into the reactor and you know how much I hate it in there," Hojo complained.
The Turk groaned. "Ugh... I hate it, too, you know. There are way too many ventilation systems in there that she can crawl into, and about a billion more platforms, storage rooms, and materia depositories... Not to mention-"
"Just go," Hojo commanded, cutting her off.
"Right..." Sighing again, she turned to make her way into the reactor. She wondered for the millionth time how she had gotten herself into this. She had never wanted to work for Hojo, but of course the company had sent who they considered their least valuable Turk to aid him. In truth, she was almost as skilled as Vincent... but of course, no one ever noticed because she was a woman. It had been that kind of company... In the entire company, probably only three or four woman held high ranks in Shinra, herself and Scarlet included... Possibly another reason her skill was not recognized was because she, unlike Vincent, actually had morals... but none of that mattered now. Shinra was gone.
Technically, that meant she no longer had to work for Hojo. She had never gotten paid in the first place because she had lived in the laboratory, for which all expenses had been paid, including the cost of feeding and clothing assistants and specimens. She wanted to quit of course. Anyone would.
But things weren't that simple anymore. For one thing, she knew that Hojo would not let her take her daughter with her when she left. For another, she knew that he would no longer have any kind of restraint. He would be as ruthless as he dared to be in controlling his 'specimen' and capturing Sephiroth... And she couldn't let any harm come to either.
She looked up as she noticed the sound of someone humming nearby. She paused and looked around, then noticed her daughter walking along on a walkway that ran almost parallel to the one she was on, but slightly lower. The girl had taken a distinct liking to music, much like Sephiroth had. There was something strangely haunting about the girl's voice if you ever managed to catch her singing. Talya shook her head and made her way over to her daughter.
"Minerva," she said, not bothering with a greeting, "the Professor wants you."
She turned around, and her eyes were a near-blue color. "I suppose he wants to brief me on 'Sephiroth.'"
Talya blinked. Minerva also possessed Sephiroth's high intelligence... "Yes, exactly. You're getting much to smart for your own good."
The girl smiled minutely. "You say that quite often now, Mother."
"I guess I do..." she agreed. "Well. You had best be going, before his temper gets the better of him. You know how Hojo is when he's really angry."
Minerva nodded and brushed past her, on her way back to the lab. Talya stared after her, then looked around again. She wondered why her daughter liked walking through this place. It was a horribly ugly place, all bare, rusty-looking metal, so there wasn't really any aesthetic value. Maybe the girl just liked to wander off on her own, to have some semblance of freedom. Shrugging to herself, Talya made her own way back to the room she had been in before, the library.
She sat down and slid a different folder across to her, opening it. She had been meaning to look at the new report here.
Specimen Report 1 day, 6 month, 2052 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Minerva
Code: M-A05-C23
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 21 day, 5 month, 2035 year, CC
Blood Type: Unknown
True Age: 17 years
Physical Age: 18.9 years
Rate of Growth: Growth rate has continued to follow the same curve.
Mental Age: 46.4 years
Rate of Growth: As with specimen S-A02-C01, the rate of growth is following a sort of curve that grows wider over time.
Physical appearance: Eye color remains the same range of blue to emerald. Specimen expresses slightly more emotion than S-A02-C01. Silver hair seems somewhat finer than that of Sephiroth's, and it is not quite as long now. Specimen is still of slender build and tall height, like that of its father.
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
Weight: 135 pounds
Comments: Magical ability has remained constant since age 13. Statistics now stand at:
Destructive magic: 11 times more powerful than materia
Curative magic: 7 times more powerful
Defensive magic: 2.1 times more powerful
Specimen has fallen into an extremely melancholy state over the past week, once it found out that Talya was going to bring Sephiroth here. It is difficult to interpret this kind of response. I will leave that up to its mother. It is no concern of mine. Specimen also demonstrates a strong liking for music, and often wanders off on its own into the Mako reactor area. Within the past week, it has been walking around, idly using its magic to pick things up, put them back down, turn things on and off, and generally being useless and irritating. In training sessions, however, it has been unusually ferocious and has finally managed to best Talya. If asked about its peculiar behavior, the specimen will answer, "It is snowing, Professor. Can't you tell?" and then move on. Either it is beginning to loose its mind, or it senses something I cannot and chooses to phrase it cryptically to taunt me. More likely the latter. That is all.
Talya sat back, staring at the files for a moment. She, too, had noticed the 'peculiar behavior' but she had assumed that her daughter would sort it out for herself. Perhaps she was in the process of doing so, from her state of mind. She must have been deep in thought for her to be acting so idle. Scanning over the report again, she found her eyes straying to all the times Hojo referred to Minerva as 'it.'
She frowned. Hojo always did that, regardless of what species or gender the specimen was. And now that he was talking about her own daughter... it seemed strangely insulting. He had done the same with Sephiroth, and that, too, had made her grimace. It was as though he viewed the entire population as specimens, without names, just coded numbers. In fact, she couldn't remember Hojo ever calling her daughter by her actual name...
Approaching footsteps caused her to turn her head towards the doorway as Hojo entered, followed by an icy-eyed Minerva. Talya did not need to ask about this-Hojo was going to show Minerva some of Sephiroth's files to familiarize her with his abilities. She stood up and walked out of the room, assuming that Hojo would not want her present during this short session.
"Talya," Hojo said before she was two feet out the door. She turned around and he handed her a pair of folders. "It is good that you've been reading up on Sephiroth, but I want you to study specimens A-A04 and VV-01."
She blinked. "I know you want me to retrieve the girl, but why Vincent? What does he have to do with anything?"
"He has been seen accompanying both A-A04 and Sephiroth. The group has split up however, so there is no need to worry about him when retrieving Sephiroth. He may, however, be present when you retrieve A-A04, in which case you need to know his abilities. He is strong, but you should be able to defeat him if you use the correct strategies."
"Right, I understand," she told him, tucking the files under her arm and turning to leave. He did not stop her this time. She closed the door behind her and went off down the hall to her chambers. Talya sat down on her bed and opened the first in her lap.
Initial Specimen Report 29 day, 2 month, 2025 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Aeris?
Code: A-A04
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 7 day, 2 month, 2025 year, CC
Blood Type: O
True Age: 22 days
Physical Age: 22 days
Rate of Growth: Growth rate appears to be that of normal humans.
Mental Age: 22 days
Rate of Growth: Again, growth rate appears to be the same as normal humans. No variation is apparent, but it is yet too early to tell.
Physical appearance: Eyes are a brilliant, deep green, much like its mother's. This is believed to be a trait of the Cetra. It appears to be a dominant gene. Hair is a medium brown, also similar to its mother.
Height: 1'6"
Weight: 8 pounds
Comments: Specimen is too young for any real difference to be detected between it and a normal human. However, maternal resemblance is strong. There is little influence of the paternal genomes. Although, the blood type must have been received from the father, as the mother's is undeterminable. That is all for now.
Flip, flip, flip...
Specimen Report 7 day, 2 month, 2029 year, CC
Filed by: Hojo
Specimen Name: Aeris
Code: A-A04
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 7 day, 2 month, 2025 year, CC
Blood Type: O
True Age: 4 years
Physical Age: 4 years
Rate of Growth: Growth rate has remained constant.
Mental Age: 6 years
Rate of Growth: Growth rate is currently 1.5 times faster than that of the average human. However, as higher-than-average mental growth is sometimes seen among humans, this trait is not necessarily because of the Cetra heritage. Physical appearance: Child's eye color remains steady, despite whatever moods it may be expressing... Hair color has darkened somewhat, but only as a result of the lack of sunlight. The child is only slightly more slender than might be expected.
Height: 3'3"
Weight: 28 pounds
Comments: Specimen has been displaying some strange traits not characteristic of humans. It often seems to be listening to something, even when the room is entirely silent. When asked, A-A04 will say that it has been listening for the voice of the Planet. This coincides with Professor Gast's report on the Cetra. This specimen shows far too many differences from specimen S-A02-C01... This also coincides with the report on the Cetra, the part dealing with the Jenova creature, referred to as 'the Crisis from the Sky." Therefore, it is assumed that genetically, S-A02-C01 and A-A04 are complete opposites...Once the specimen reaches a more physically mature age, tests will be done to confirm this fact. Until then, I will have to resort only to observational science, rather than experimental...
The afternoon sun was ruthless in its heat as it shone down on the dry land beneath it. Huge cracks in the earth seemed to stretch for miles and rock slabs had broken off from the cliff wall to tumble down and crash into the canyon below where they lay in crumpled piles against the wall. The gold chocobo hopped over these obstacles quite easily, however, despite the two passengers she carried.
The small village near the center of Cosmo Canyon was easily spotted, with the metal-paneled observatory gleaming in the sun. Sephiroth steered the chocobo towards the town, then slowed it to a halt near the entrance. He let Katrina dismount first, then hopped off after her, gazing dispassionately towards the town. Katrina started towards the town, but stopped when she noticed that he was not following.
"You're not coming in?" she asked.
"Do you really think they'd let me in?" he queried.
"I see your point," Katrina amended, "but you never know for sure unless you try, right?" He nodded slightly and followed her up to the gate.
The gatekeeper gave a slight start upon seeing Sephiroth, but he stood his ground. He did not move aside for them to pass. "I'm sorry, I cannot allow you to enter..."
"Why not?" Katrina demanded.
"Oh, you can pass," the man said, "but he can't."
Sephiroth raised a slender eyebrow. "Is there any real reason for this besides fear?"
The gatekeeper did not answer this, but shifted uncomfortably. "Wait here... I have to check with Nanaki and Elder Hargo." Calling one of the villagers over to make sure they didn't try to enter in his absence, the gatekeeper strode off, heading for a set of steps that led up the side of the canyon. Sephiroth watched him go, then pulled himself up onto a nearby boulder to wait, one leg hanging over the edge of the rock while the other was pulled up near his chest. He turned his attention to the villager, who was staring at him rather nervously, and jumped a little on meeting his gaze.
Sephiroth sighed and glanced at Katrina who was walking around in circles, stretching her legs. They waited for only around seven minutes before a creature similar to a lion but with a longer muzzle and fiery red-orange fur and a flame-tipped tail came bounding down, followed by the gatekeeper, walking at a much slower pace. The animal seemed vaguely familiar, and he could tell by the look in its eye that it was intelligent.
"It really is Sephiroth!!" the creature breathed.
"Yes, Nanaki," said the gatekeeper as he walked up to the other. "You did not believe me?"
"Not really," Nanaki conceded, staring at Sephiroth with his one good eye. "But we killed him! Five years ago!"
Sephiroth hopped down off the boulder and all three, Nanaki and the two villagers, tensed. The one man glanced at Nanaki, then hurriedly walked back towards a large bonfire where several other people were gathered. "Yes, you did," Sephiroth agreed. "And I've regenerated."
"...regenerated?" Nanaki inquired, not relaxing at all.
"There is no need for you to worry," Sephiroth said calmly. "I am not insane as I was before. I have lost most of my memory, but it is returning, and Vincent filled me in on what I had done in my past life... I hope that it will not stand in the way of my gaining your trust."
"I must apologize if you are telling the truth," Nanaki said cautiously, sitting back on his haunches, but never taking his eye from the swordsman. "The Sephiroth we all know was a master of deception, and it is quite impossible for me to believe anything you say..."
"I understand," Sephiroth sighed. "In that case, I will simply continue on." He nodded to the gatekeeper and glanced once more at Nanaki. Yes, he seemed quite familiar... Then he turned to leave.
"Hey, wait," Katrina called, catching him by the arm. "You're just giving up that easily? I'm sure they'll let you in eventually."
He turned back around and looked past her towards Nanaki. "There are too many old wounds that I have reopened by just existing. It would be best for me to leave them alone. Besides, what need have I of visiting this place?"
"It's a beautiful town," Katrina argued. "You can't just go through life focusing on duty. You have to stop and smell the roses, you know?"
Sephiroth blinked at her. "If you say so..."
The girl sighed and threw her hands up, walking back to the gate. "I swear, you may be really smart, but when it comes to enjoying yourself you're completely clueless." He merely shook his head, supposing she was right, but not really caring. "Listen," Katrina said to Nanaki, "if he was going to be violent, wouldn't he have just killed the both of you already and gone ahead to massacre the town?"
Nanaki tilted his head to peer at her. "You have a point, but I must ask you why you are defending him...?"
"Well, obviously no one else is," she stated flatly. "Why won't you let him in? He's telling the truth."
"I don't think I'm going to trust the word of a girl I have never met before, or a man who once tried to destroy the Planet..." Nanaki said doubtfully.
"Then call up Vincent why don't you?" Katrina suggested.
Nanaki thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Do either of you have a PHS?"
Sephiroth nodded and handed one to him. "He is using Aeris's PHS and gave us his own to use."
The creature blinked, then set the device down on the earth. "Aeris's?"
"Yes... I revived her..." Sephiroth said slowly, knowing that his words would be doubted.
Nanaki nodded slowly, then used one claw that was somewhat duller than the others to punch in the number. He lowered his head down towards the PHS. "Hello, Vincent? This is Nanaki."
"(Nanaki? You are calling because of Sephiroth?)" Sephiroth could just barely make out the voice, even with his enhanced hearing. It seemed as though Vincent was speaking very quietly.
"Right," Nanaki said, seeming a little surprised that Vincent knew the reason for the call. "Is he... trustworthy?"
"(Of course. I suppose he has already told you why.)"
"Indeed. Are you certain, though?"
"(Yes. You do remember that he was not always intent on world-destruction.)"
"All right. I believe you."
"(But you do not believe Sephiroth.)"
"Can you blame me?"
"(No... but he can be trusted. Try to have faith in his words.)"
"Yes, goodbye..." Nanaki turned off the PHS and lifted his head to look at Sephiroth. There was a pause before he stepped back slightly. "I suppose you may come in." He scanned the swordsman up and down, probably noting that he was not carrying the Masamune, and nodded to himself.
Katrina walked in first, saying over her shoulder to Sephiroth, "See, I told you so."
He shook his head again and turned to Nanaki. "...thank you. I know it's hard for you to comprehend me as being non-violent."
Nanaki shifted uneasily. "I'm still not sure I believe you... but I know Vincent would never lie about something like this."
"Come on, Seph," Katrina called. "They're letting you in, so don't just stand there."
Sighing, he walked over to her. "'Seph'?" he inquired.
"It's a nickname," the girl informed him. "You've never had one?"
"No," was the curt reply.
Katrina shook her head. "Well, whatever. 'Sephiroth' is too much of a mouthful sometimes." She looked around at all the little shops suspended on the side of the canyon. "Let's go get you some new clothes, all right?"
"New clothes?" he queried, looking down at himself. He started to say something, then stopped and shook his head. "I wouldn't blend in no matter what I was wearing."
Katrina frowned at him. "I guess you're right... Your height would give you away anywhere... not to mention that hair of yours." She paused. "But one would think that outfit isn't really comfortable and-"
"It's fine," Sephiroth interrupted before she could finish her thought. "You're just looking for an excuse to shop."
She scratched her head. "How did you know? I mean... uh..."
Sephiroth smirked slightly. "Do what you like. I'm going to speak with the Elders. I may as well try to learn more about Jenova and the Cetra while I am here."
Katrina hesitated, then nodded. "Okay, Mr. I-don't-have-fun."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, then said sternly, "I wouldn't mock me if I were you. I do have a sword..." She gaped at him. "I was kidding," he explained, a slight smile on his face.
"Right, I knew that," Katrina said quickly.
"Of course you did," Sephiroth said before turning towards the stone stairs that led into the tunneled interior of Cosmo Canyon. He headed up into a room that looked to be a cross between a library and a storage room. It was lit by several torches set in the rock walls. An elderly man with grey hair was sitting atop a crate, book in his lap, glasses perched on his nose.
"Elder Hargo?" Sephiroth inquired.
The man looked up. "Yes... how did you know?"
"Intuition," the swordsman replied.
Hargo sat up straighter, peering at him over his lenses. "And you must be Sephiroth... What's the matter? You're staring at me as though I just grew horns."
Sephiroth blinked. "No, it's just that you're one of the few people I've come across that isn't afraid of me."
The Elder smiled warmly. "I'm sure that will change in time. Now, you wanted to ask me something? Most people do..."
He nodded. "Do you know anything about Jenova?"
Hargo blinked. "Jenova...? Oh, you mean the Crisis from the Sky. Yes, I know about it. What exactly do you want to hear?"
"Could you tell me about its involvement with the Cetra?"
"Ah, yes, the Cetra," Hargo said. "Well, have a seat why don't you?" he invited, gesturing towards another crate nearby. Sephiroth sat. "The Cetra were an itinerant race... they traveled from place to place, staying only long enough to make use of certain seasons. They also heard the cries of the Planet. And at that time, a little over 2000 years ago, the Planet told them that a 'Crisis from the Sky' had come.
"That was what you call Jenova, only it must have crash-landed along with some sort of meteor, much smaller than Meteor, of course. Now, Jenova was clever. And it was powerful. It was able to disguise itself as friends of the Cetra. It first befriended them, and then gave them what is referred to as 'the virus.' Many of the Cetra went insane and transformed into monsters.
"Eventually, a group of Cetra banded together and managed to defeat Jenova. It was then frozen in ice and buried deep below the earth, where it was hoped no one would find it."
"Yes, I've been told that part before," Sephiroth said in response to the last few sentences. "So what you're saying is that Jenova was a creature solely bent on the destruction of the Planet and its inhabitants."
"Yes, quite," Hargo agreed. "It seems Jenova never had any other purpose. Perhaps it was some sort of parasite, wanting first to wipe out all life forms, then leach off of the Planet's energy. But I'm just speculating."
Sephiroth frowned down at the floor. "Elder Hargo, what would happen if Jenova's cells were injected into a human child?"
"You're asking the wrong person," he answered. "I'm a historian, not a scientist."
"Yes, but... do you think that Jenova's traits of deception and betrayal would be implanted into the child?"
"I suppose it's possible... but I doubt it. Humans are born with souls and kind hearts, much unlike the Jenova creature." Hargo tilted his head at Sephiroth. "Why do you ask?"
The swordsman lifted his gaze from the floor to stare at the far wall. "I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Jenova Project." Hargo shook his head as Sephiroth glanced at him. "It used Jenova cells in precisely that manor..."
"That's terribly inhumane... but how is that related to you?"
"It created me," he replied.
"So you wanted to know if you would be as cruel as Jenova..." Hargo stated. The swordsman nodded. "Well, son, despite the whole Meteor episode, you don't seem particularly evil or cruel to me."
Sephiroth's brows creased in thought. "But what if I am just a puppet that Jenova is using. What if it is just going to be a repeat of what happened before-I'll befriend the people of this world, and then the part of me that is Jenova will take control and... give them the virus..."
"I won't lie to you, it is a possibility, but it's not a likely one. As long as you indulge in the human part of yourself, you should be fine. Try not to lock away your emotions. I've found that people with strong emotions are often the most strong-willed and defiant."
"And those who choose to hide their emotions and act coldly towards others...?"
"Most of them break because of too much pressure. At least, that's what I believe," Hargo added. "You shouldn't try to hide your feelings-they're a natural part of you. It's not healthy to hold them back."
Sephiroth's eyes strayed to watch the flickering torch-flame. "...what if you never had them to begin with...?"
"Nonsense, boy," Hargo declared. "Everyone has emotions. Even you."
Sephiroth stood up, glanced at Elder Hargo. "Thank you for your time..." He turned and walked out of the room without another word. On his way back down the steps, he felt something in the back of his mind, trying to push itself forward. He paused on a landing, looking out over the canyon and trying to let it through.
'Talya, the Professor said that my mother's name was Jenova.'
'Jenova?'
'Yes. He also said that she died in child birth.'
'...he was mistaken.'
'But I thought you said he was intelligent...?'
'Hojo doesn't know everything, though he may think he does.'
'You would think that he would know who my mother was. I've been here for as long as I can remember.'
'...and he doesn't always tell the truth.'
'I see...'
'Don't trust him. He has his own purpose in life, and he won't go about using fair means to get there.'
'But don't you work for him?'
'I have my reasons.'
'Mm...'
So the woman was Talya... The name was vaguely familiar, just like everything else was. He decided he would wait, try to remember more, before consulting Vincent on the matter. He sat down on the edge of the landing and stared down at the bonfire. There were even more people gathered around it now, talking, laughing, telling stories.
A few small children played near the fire, oblivious to the adults' conversation. A young boy and girl, probably brother and sister, around ten or eleven sat next to each other. They were relatively silent, but every now and then he saw one make a comment or lean close to murmur something in the other's ear.
The swordsman had a faint, nagging desire to go down there and join the group, but he felt as though he would not be welcome. He had never really been welcome anywhere. Even before the madness, people had either feared him, or admired him. He remembered that much... he had never been normal. He had never been just another person in a village. Indeed, from the few memories he now had of his childhood, it seemed that he had grown up in seclusion, removed from the rest of the world while the Professor performed his tests...
"Hello," chirped a child's voice from behind him. He glanced up to see a small girl standing there, a short braid sticking out from either side of her head in an almost comical fashion. Her large eyes were a soft brown and she was smiling. She looked young enough that she would not have remembered him from before. Likely she had no idea as to who she was talking to.
"You're an outsider, aren't you?" she asked. He nodded. "Whatcha doin' all the way up here?"
"I don't belong," he answered simply, knowing that the girl would not understand.
"Just 'cause you're an outsider doesn't mean you dun belong," she stated, then drew herself up proudly as she added, "We welcome newcomers to Cosmo Canyon. C'mon. I'll show y'around." She took hold of his arm and started tugging on it, trying to get him to stand up. He smiled slightly at the child's antics and got to his feet of his own accord. The girl stared up at him. "Jeez, you're tall."
He shrugged, looking down at her. "...what is your name?"
"Oh, I'm Kari," she replied. "Who're you?"
"Sephiroth," he answered.
She stared at him for a moment, then chattered on amicably as she led him down the stairs by the hand. "Oh, I've heard about a Sephiroth afore. He was all mean and he had a big sword." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "But you're nice and you dun have a sword, so you must be a DIFFERENT Sephiroth."
He almost laughed at the girl's reasoning. "What makes you think I'm nice?"
She smiled at him. "I c'n tell these things. Mommy says I'm good at figgering people out. The way you smiled just now-see, that shows you're nice." Strangely, Sephiroth found Kari's simple conclusion vaguely comforting. Children often had an innate sense of whether or not a person could be trusted. It didn't really matter what they looked like. Somehow, children could see past skin deep. But this ability was something they lost with their innocence, and it was one Sephiroth himself had never possessed-he had never been innocent.
She led him towards the bonfire and paused near the steps leading up to it. "This here we call the Cosmo Candle," she informed him wisely. "As long as it burns, we're all safe and sound. Grandpa told me it went out once and that something very bad happened."
At that moment, one of the women noticed them and stood up quickly, running down to jerk Kari away from the swordsman. "Kari, what are you doing!? Don't you know who that is?"
"Mmhmm," Kari chirped. "That's Sephiroth. But dun worry, Mommy, he's not THE Sephiroth."
"Yes, he is," her mother said worriedly, backing away from him. "You shouldn't be walking around with him. He might kill you!"
"No he won't," the girl said firmly. "He's nice. I can tell." She twisted out of her mother's grip. "And I said I'd show him 'round town."
"You'll do no such thing."
"Excuse me," Sephiroth interrupted, "but your daughter is right. I have not come here to hurt anyone, let alone kill them. However, if it still makes you uncomfortable, I am quite capable of finding my own way around."
The girl's mother shook her head. "I-"
"What's going on?" queried a friendly-looking woman with greying hair and fine wrinkles at the corner of her eyes.
The younger woman turned to her. "Elder Margo, Sephiroth has come into the village. Kari wants to show him around because she thinks he's nice."
"Well then, what's the fuss?" Margo asked. "You know how Kari is with people. She can pick out the good from the bad better than anyone else. Besides, Nanaki let him in, so there's no need to worry."
"Nanaki did what?"
"You heard me quite well the first time, Anne. And you know Nanaki wouldn't let Sephiroth in without good reason."
"But what if he fought his way in?" Anne inquired, still not convinced.
Elder Margo smiled proudly. "Our Nanaki is a strong fighter. He would not have gotten through."
"You're right," Anne conceded finally. "Especially now that he has Miera to help him." She turned to Sephiroth, looking a bit doubtful. "I suppose you're telling the truth..."
"So can I show him around?" Kari asked, bouncing up and down. "Can I, please?"
Her mother sighed. "All right, dear. Just be careful and don't stray into the Gi Cave, all right?"
"I won't!" The girl skipped back over to Sephiroth, grabbing his gloved hand and leading him off towards the shops and homes that stuck out from the canyon. "That's the inn," she announced, gesturing to an open doorway in the rock. "I think it used to be just a bar, but now it's both and they keep making it bigger 'cause more people visit."
Kari wandered over to a ladder and peered up it. "This leads to the older Materia Shop and some houses and things. There are a lot of different buildings along here now and they have new pathways connecting them and all."
"It sounds like this town grows bigger with each passing moment," Sephiroth commented.
"Seems like it," Kari agreed, waving to one of her friends that passed by. "Originally, we got a lot of people coming over from Midgar and the whole place was really crowded for a while. Now the people coming are a lot less, but it's pretty steady."
Sephiroth peered at her. "You look too young to remember these things. Did your mother tell you?"
"Yep!" Kari answered. She turned around to head back up the stairs. She paused near where he had spoken to Elder Hargo. "Now this's the library. A lot of the stuff was written by Elder Hargo, but some of it's Bugenhagen's."
"Who is Bugenhagen?" Sephiroth queried.
"He used to be the Eldest, sorta like everyone's grandpa, but he died just before Meteor came."
"I see..."
Kari led him up the steps to the next level from which several shops branched out, a ladder led upwards, and a large sealed door stood off to one side. "That's the Gi Cave," the child informed him. "It's sealed off, but pretty much everyone knows how to open the door nowadays."
"What's in there?"
"Well, Mommy tells me there are bad monsters in there, but I don't really believe her. I think she's just trying to scare me away." Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Wanna check it out?"
Sephiroth blinked. "You're mother told us not to. I believe we should respect her wishes, no matter whether she told you the true reasons or not."
Kari rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You're just scared. But I am goin' in." The girl let go of his hand and walked over to a small barrel. Hidden inside it was a small red button, which she pushed firmly. The door slid open and she turned to skip through it. Sephiroth frowned and followed. There was a rope leading down a wide, vertical tunnel and Kari had already climbed halfway down it. The swordsman found himself with no choice but to follow her. What if there really were monsters in the cave? The little girl was completely defenseless.
He climbed down and caught up with her, grabbing her shoulder to stop her. He sniffed slightly. "...I can smell blood," he said quietly. "It's dangerous here."
Kari shrugged. "I'm not scared."
"You should be," Sephiroth told her. "You have no way of protecting yourself."
She grinned. "I have you. You are Sephiroth, afterall, so I'm sure you c'n kill all th' monsters." With that, she broke free from his grasp and started down the next ladder. Sephiroth stared after her for a moment. She was saying that he would protect her? Shaking his head, he climbed down after her. Several more ropes followed until they reached the bottom of the cave.
There, a dim, rock-walled tunnel led off into the darkness. Kari started down it without hesitation, and Sephiroth followed her with more caution, eyes scanning the shadows for the creatures he sensed were there. Quite suddenly, Kari gave out a clipped scream. Turning towards her, he saw that a strange four-legged creature had cornered her in a small alcove in the rock. Without thinking even, the Masamune appeared in his hand and he darted forward, slashing through it several times before stopping and turning around to look.
The thing now lay in several, neatly cut pieces. Blood oozed from the remains, a spreading puddle that inched its way outward. Kari stood motionless, staring at it in disbelief. Slowly her eyes traveled over to Sephiroth and she jumped, quivering in her shoes.
He lowered the Masamune and walked over to her, crouching down to try and appear less frightening. "Are you all right?"
She nodded shakily. "C-can we go back? I'm scared now..."
"Of course," Sephiroth replied, standing up. Kari latched onto his hand, grasping it rather tightly as she stared into the shadows. He took her back the way they had come, but when they got to the first rope leading upwards, she refused to let go of his hand. "Kari, I can't climb without any free hands."
She only clung tighter to him. "What if I fall?"
The swordsman blinked at her. "You were fine on the way down." She shook her head and moved closer to him. He didn't quite understand this sudden change of heart, but he decided that it was something common to children that he had just not experienced due to his strange upbringing. Sighing, he crouched down near her. "Then I'll carry you up. Is that all right?" She nodded and climbed onto his back almost immediately.
He straightened and started up the ladder, still carrying the Masamune. He wasn't entirely sure how to make it disappear. It's appearance and vanishing were something he had no real control over yet. So he climbed up one-handed. Upon reaching the top, he set Kari down and looked up to find a worried group of villagers gathered near the entrance.
"Kari!" Anne exclaimed upon seeing her daughter.
"Mommy!" Kari greeted, running to hug her mother.
"When Ben told me that the Cave door was open I was so worried! I knew it was you down there," Anne said in a relieved jumble. "And then when I got here I heard a scream! Are you all right!? What happened?"
Kari wriggled out of her mother's arms and tugged absently at one of her braids. "I'm okay. See, I wanted to go see what was in the cave, so I went off by myself. Then a big monster came and tried to eat me, but Sephiroth came and saved me! So it's okay now, Mommy."
Anne blinked and stood up, peering over at Sephiroth, who was still standing just inside the entrance to the cave, watching from the shadows. She noted the sword, and especially the blood on it, grimacing. She smoothed her face and took a few steps closer to him. "You... saved Kari?" He nodded silently. She exhaled sharply. "I'm sorry for my words earlier... thank you."
He shrugged uncomfortably. "It's all right. I am used to harsh greetings by now."
"Is something wrong?" queried a creature as it padded down the hall. It appeared quite similar to Nanaki, except with a smaller mane, only two feathers as opposed to three, and only one tattoo. It also had both eyes, which were a pale yellow-green.
"Not really, Miera," one of the villagers answered. "Kari wandered into the Gi Cave and was attacked, but Sephiroth rescued her."
Miera looked over to Sephiroth. "You saved our Kari, did you?" She grinned a cat's grin. "Well, why are you standing in the shadows? Make yourself at home." The swordsman stepped out of the cave, walking over to the button to close the doors. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and he turned to look at them uncertainly.
"Why don't you join us at the Candle?" someone finally suggested. "I'm sure everyone will welcome you now."
Sephiroth nodded and said quietly, "Thank you."
"What are you thanking us for?" Anne inquired, smiling now. "You're the one that saved Kari."
He shook his head. "It was nothing. And I believe you know quite well why I am thanking you."
Miera smiled knowingly. "Yes, but you should not have to thank people for that. It's something that should come naturally. Unfortunately, it does not in certain cases." Sephiroth nodded. It was human nature to mistrust and to fear what they could not understand. It was not his tendency-but he was not human. He listened, and he understood, but he kept outside of the circle because he was the one who they did not understand, and therefore the one they feared.
Nanaki padded in behind Miera, bumping her head lightly with his, then glancing around at all the villagers, his gaze finally landing on Sephiroth. His nose wrinkled slightly at the scent of the blood that was slowly being absorbed into the Masamune. He looked to Miera and she spoke softly to him for a few moments, explaining. Nanaki looked back at Sephiroth. The silence hung heavily in the air before he finally spoke. "You have changed." There was a slight pause. "Come," he invited, turning to walk out. Miera followed right after him, and Sephiroth hesitated only a moment before walking after them, his sword vanishing after a few moments.
They led him back to the Cosmo Candle, where a handful of people were still gathered. One or two of them looked uneasy because of Sephiroth's presence, but they assumed that if Nanaki and Miera had brought him, it was all right. The others took places around the flame without hesitation. There seemed to be some kind of order, a ranking to it all. Nanaki and Miera were together on one side of the flame. Those flanking them looked wise, and one of them he knew to be Elder Margo. Towards the other side, the people were younger and younger until the seating came to Anne with her daughter Kari. Sephiroth had no place in this system.
Elder Margo beckoned to him, moving slightly to one side to allow him a seat between her and Miera. He sat, said nothing. He looked around the group again, noting who was seated where. The adults hesitated only a few moments before continuing whatever conversation they had had before. Kari got up after a while, prancing off to join a group of children who were chasing each other around the village. He caught a few phrases from them as they started a new game. "I'm the great warrior Seto!" one exclaimed. This was followed by "I'm the GREATER warrior Nanaki!" This, in turn was followed by Kari's "I'm the great huntress Miera!" There was a slight pause before another asked, "What's a huntress?"
Sephiroth smiled minutely, then turned his attention to the twisting flames of the bonfire. There was something oddly enchanting about the dancing of the flames. Faint memory told him that once an entire town had been consumed by such a fire. He could remember the sad beauty of it, the neat houses devoured by the inferno, the people trapped inside as they died of suffocation, some burned alive. The sweet chorus of shouts of horror and the screams of the dying... He shook his head. Don't think of it that way. Fire... it gave off a pleasant heat. Think of it as being warm... But I've never known that warmth...
'I have this memory... I feel very small and new, and someone is holding me. But I'm not looking at them... There is this woman lying in bed, looking very weak... And she keeps saying something, but I can't hear it very well. Her eyes are the same as mine... Except, well, they don't glow the same way...'
'...you're in a confiding mood today.'
'I think it's the weather...'
'Why should the blizzard have anything to do with how you feel?'
'I don't know. I just feel very... reflective. The snow keeps reminding me of that woman. It's like she has some secret she wants to tell me, but she's too far away... And the snowflakes, they're getting in her path and she can't see anything but the snow. I'm sorry. I'm talking too much again.'
'...that's all right.'
'Do you hear that?'
'Hear what?'
'The music...'
'What music?'
'...Maybe I'm imagining it. But it sounds like someone is playing a piano... It's very sad...'
'......'
'She's dead, isn't she?'
'What?'
'My mother.'
'...I won't lie to you anymore. She did die.'
'How, though?'
'That I don't know.'
'...I wish I could have known her...'
He could almost hear the music now, but it was just beyond the periphery of his hearing... or so it seemed. At another time, perhaps he might have been able to detect the melody, but not now.
"So, Sephiroth, what have you been doing since your... rebirth?" Elder Margo asked him, trying to include him within their conversation. He wasn't sure he wanted to be a part of it.
He shrugged. "It's only been a month or so..."
"You must have done something worth recounting," Miera said, a slight smile still on her face, as though she knew something.
"Where did you meet that girl you came in with?" Margo asked.
"In the icicle area," he replied curtly. The simple answer only got him a few raised eyebrows and expectant looks. They wanted him to continue. "She was being attacked by a pack of wolves..."
"...and you rescued her?" Miera finished. He nodded minutely. "Anyone else you've saved that you care to mention?" He shook his head.
"You said you revived Aeris," Nanaki prompted. "You were lying?"
"No," Sephiroth answered. "I simply don't consider that rescuing her. I was the one who killed her in the first place."
"No you weren't," Miera replied, the smile ever-present on her face. "That was another Sephiroth, out of your control. You decided that you should take responsibility for actions that were not really your fault."
He gazed levelly at her. "I may have been insane, but even that was still a result of my decisions."
"Hojo was more involved in that than you," Nanaki put in. "He deceived you. So don't blame yourself for something you didn't do."
"Strange, hearing that from you," the swordsman remarked.
Nanaki shrugged. "So far you haven't done anything wrong in this life... It's not right to accuse you of something you have no memory of doing."
Sephiroth shook his head. "The memories are vague, but many are present. And there is a pain..."
"Pain?"
He nodded, put a hand over his heart. "Here."
"That's guilt," Miera said quietly. "You've never felt it before?"
"Not that I can recall," he answered. "My memory is still too undefined." Glancing up at the sky, he noticed that the sun was setting. It had long since passed out of sight beyond the canyon, but only now was the sky beginning to light up with colors just as brilliant as those of the bonfire. Someone started to speak, but Sephiroth held up a hand to silence them and sat back, staring at the sky, watching the colors in all their brilliance. Only too quickly, though, the sky darkened to black and only the light of the Candle illuminated the surrounding area. He noted several torches placed around the village, but none nearby.
The dancing of the flames was only more enrapturing now that the sky was black, and the light played off of the faces of the people who sat around it. Shadows darted and flickered, as though they held a life of their own. Keeping far enough back so that the others would realize he wanted to be left out of the conversation as it started up again, Sephiroth stared at the fire, letting his thoughts wander. Bonfires are funny, aren't they? They make you remember all sorts of things. It took him a moment to identify the voice as Tifa's, a person whom he had not yet met, but residing somewhere within his own mind were some of her memories. Strange, where had he gotten those? It didn't matter...
'...I was thinking...'
'You often do.'
'Yes... but... You know a good deal more than you let on. I want to know the truth about my father.'
'...But I don't know who he was...'
'You're lying.'
'...'
'Tell me what you do know.'
'.........I can't be sure...'
'That's all right.'
'...There is a Vincent Valentine... and I know he loved your mother very much... but I don't know if he was your father...'
'Vincent Valentine...?'
'He was a Turk, like me.'
'And my mother?'
'A scientist.'
'...what were they like?'
'I didn't know Lucrecia very well. I only saw her once or twice... She was very beautiful, her eyes just like yours.'
'Do you think that she was the woman in my memories?'
'Maybe...'
'What about... what about Vincent?'
'He was... very cold. He barely spoke to anyone but her, and he was very... efficient in his work.'
'And what happened to him? Is he dead, too?'
'...In a way...'
'......?'
'I... I've said too much already. The Professor will be angry. I should go...'
'......'
...In a way? Does that mean he's... undead? I wonder if I can find him...
He blinked at the very idea of it. Vincent? His father? It took him a moment before he began to seriously consider the possibility. Their heights were definitely comparable, Sephiroth being only slightly taller. And though Vincent's coloring was almost the exact opposite of his own-black hair and red eyes versus silver hair and aqua eyes-their mannerisms were really quite similar. But then, Vincent would have known if Sephiroth was his son... So he cast the possibility out and decided not to think of it again unless something new came up.
He gave a slight start as Katrina sat down next to him-he hadn't noticed her approaching footsteps. "Hey, Seph," she greeted. "How are you faring?" He shrugged. "I heard you saved some girl named Kari from a monster."
"Word travels quickly around here," he commented flatly.
Elder Margo turned to Katrina, smiling. "Oh, hello. You're the girl that came in with Sephiroth, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am," she replied. "My name's Katrina."
Margo nodded, then asked, "What do you think of him so far, hmm? Has he been behaving?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and looked back at Katrina to see what she would say.
"He's not real talkative," she admitted with a grin, "but he's not mean or anything." The girl paused a moment to think before adding, "In fact, I think he's been pretty polite to everyone."
The Elder nodded. "Indeed."
Katrina rocked forward so she was sitting on her heels. "Well, anyway... It's getting late, and I came by to tell you that I got us a room at the inn."
Sephiroth blinked. "So now I'm staying the night here?"
She nodded. "What, you wanted to travel in the night?" He nodded slightly, shrugged. She rolled her eyes. "Weird, that's all I can say. Well. I guess you're staying anyway." She got to her feet. "'Night then. See you tomorrow whenever I happen to wake up. Don't you dare leave without saying goodbye."
"Or you'll do what?" he queried.
She hesitated for a moment. "Wait for me, and you won't have to find out."
Sephiroth smiled and shook his head. "Whatever. Goodnight."
"Right. G'night!" With that, she headed off for the inn. Sephiroth watched her go, then turned his attention back to the bonfire. His mind kept wandering back, trying to probe into the emptiness before his wanderings through the snow fields. There was little there to be found. He could remember killing Aeris, but he had no wish to explore into that memory.
Sighing, his gaze wandered back up towards the sky. Aeris. Why did her name seem so important? It was tugging at the back of his mind, something he should have known, something he should have remembered, but it wasn't coming to him. He frowned, hesitantly searched into the holes of his memory. There were so many of these that he knew did not belong to him. He often wondered who they belonged to, how he had gotten them, but now was not the time for that. He wanted to uncover this memory about Aeris before it completely escaped his grasp. But it was always just out of reach, just out of sight, a blur in the corner of his eye.
She told me she escaped from some kind of research laboratory somewhere. It didn't matter who that thought belonged to. Research laboratory... From what early memories he had, Sephiroth knew that he had grown up in a laboratory... That, was the key. He caught the memory, and let the familiar voices, his young one and Talya's harsh one, play through his mind.
'I saw a girl in the hallway today.'
'A girl?'
'Yes...'
'What did she look like?'
'She was perhaps four years old... Green eyes and brown hair.'
'Oh, that's A-A04. She's been here for about a month now.'
'A-A04? Does she have a name?'
'Aeris.'
'So you mean there are others here like me?'
'Not like you. They're different.'
'What do you mean?'
'You're only an experiment.'
'......'
So that was it. The same laboratory... Of course. Hojo would have wanted his 'specimens' in the same facility, so he wouldn't have to travel back and forth between Nibelheim and Midgar. Quietly, Sephiroth stood and hopped down off the platform upon which the Candle burned, out of the light and into the shadows that had crept through the canyon. He headed back to the inn, where the innkeeper quickly pointed out which room was his. He nodded his thanks, ignoring the curious, and slightly fearful, looks he was getting.
Sephiroth closed the door to the room softly behind him, barely taking any time to notice that there were two beds, and that Katrina was asleep in one of them. He laid down on the other bed, bothering only to remove his boots before closing his eyes and falling asleep, half-hoping for dreams.
"What are you trying to accomplish at that piano?" Talya inquired.
"What does it look like?" Sephiroth asked from his seat at the bench. "I want to learn how to play."
The Turk raised one eyebrow. "I don't think you'll have much luck teaching yourself."
The boy shrugged and played a few random notes. Then he placed both hands on the keyboard, pausing, then slowly began playing some tune, one note at a time. He trailed off, frowning. "I can't remember it right..."
"Remember what?"
"I'm not certain..." Sephiroth said, frowning at the ivory's. "It's something I heard once, a long time ago..." He tried again, this time more sure of his movements. The melody that ensued was both eerie and sad at the same time. Again, the boy faltered on a note and the song simply ended, dead in the air.
Talya was eyeing him uncertainly. "You seem to be able to play quite well, for never having touched a piano before..."
"I can't explain it either," Sephiroth replied. He was studying his hands. "...did my mother play the piano, do you know?"
There was silence for a moment, before she answered, "I... I think so..."
"Perhaps that is where I got my talent, then," he mused, sliding off the bench and wandering over to peer out one of the windows. "I wonder... will I ever set foot beyond these grounds, do you think?"
"I don't know... It would be too cruel to keep you here all of your life."
The boy glanced at her, thoughtfully, before returning his gaze to whatever lay beyond the pane. "...I seem to remember another scientist that used to live here, too. Whatever happened to him?"
"Professor Gast...?" She paused for a long time before saying, "Hojo... Hojo had him killed four years ago."
"Why?"
"He had... a specimen that Hojo wanted."
Sephiroth frowned. "Does it have anything to do with Aeris?"
Talya blinked. "Yes... Gast was her father..."
"And he was killed for trying to protect her and her mother," the boy finished.
"Someday that brain of yours is going to get you into trouble," the Turk murmured.
Sephiroth turned to face her. "Why? What's so important about Aeris...?"
"...I'm not sure."
She's an Ancient, his mind echoed after the dream faded away, as if to answer his own question. A Cetra. The Professor must have been surprised when he discovered you were so different from one another. But, of course-you were different. He thought you were an Ancient when in fact you were the exact opposite of one... Yes, quite. She is the one who is meant to protect the Planet, and your only purpose was to destroy it.
The curse of Jenova... You became part of their society, a reliable member of SOLDIER... Then, when everyone had completely forgotten your existence, you struck. Oh, how many people you must have tricked into believing you were something you were not. Yes, you especially enjoyed playing with Cloud's mind. To think, you actually got him to believe he was a puppet, and, in doing so, he became one for a while. Lies, you told him.
In the end, you were no different from Hojo.
I guess it's true what they say-like father, like son.
No, another part of him begged. I'm not like Hojo. It's not my fault. I want to fix things, can't you see?
How much longer are you going to believe that?
...what do you mean?
Jenova runs strong in you. You think she's pleased to know you're going around undoing all the chaos that you created before? She'll want to destroy this world. And soon enough, she'll take over your thoughts, your body, make you one of her puppets.
No...
Yes. Well, in the mean time, you might as well enjoy your freedom while it lasts.
...who are you?
...just a part of your subconscience. I just tell you the truth.
I'm not like Hojo...
If you want to believe that. You'll be ten times as bad once you realize the truth.
No.
I'm not like that...
There's more to me than just meaningless destruction. More than deception.
......isn't there?
She told me I was nice......
Sephiroth sat up in bed, his first immediate thought being, I'm not like Hojo. He shook his head to clear it. That was only a dream. Only a dream... He looked around. The room was somewhat lighter than it had been the night before, but there were no windows due to the fact that the room was carved out of the rock. The only light source was from the other side of the door, seeping in through the cracks along the door's edge.
He looked over at Katrina, who was still asleep. He didn't feel like waiting for her to wake up before leaving. He wanted to move on, to clear his conscience as best he could. The guilt weighed heavy on him. He wanted to take care of things swiftly-and he had already spent too long here. But what will you do when there's nothing else to fix?
Frowning, he tugged on his boots, wondering whether he should simply leave without saying goodbye, or try and waken her. Sephiroth got up and walked over to Katrina. She was fast asleep, and looked as though she was dreaming. He shook his head. Let her sleep.
He left the room silently and walked out of the inn and into the grey sunlight of early morning. He didn't bother stopping to say farewell to anyone. He didn't want anyone focusing on his departure. He was glad that it was so early-Kari wouldn't be up yet. Sephiroth knew the little girl would have made a big fuss out of him leaving, and probably begged him to stay. Children were like that, he was learning. Fickle.
Nodding to the gatekeeper, Sephiroth started down the steps that led to the canyon floor. The gold chocobo was waiting there, pecking idly at a few scraggly shrubs that had managed to grow there. It was probably hungry. He made a mental note to buy some greens for it the first chance he got. He took the bird's reigns and-
"Sephiroth." The voice made him freeze where he stood. Familiar, harsh, yet still quite feminine. "Long time no see."
Very First Author's Note: Wee, fun. ^.^ Ahem. I liked writing this chapter a lot. Well, until I got writers block for a week or so... but that's not the point. For the most part, it was the specimen reports that I liked doing. Why? I'm not really sure. I hope I didn't bore you with 'em, but in the game, I was always disappointed that you couldn't go through and read every single one of the books in the Shinra Mansion. ^.^; I also liked doing the flashback bits. I actually had those written up before hand--they were accumulating at the end of the document and I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. Lessee... while I'm at it, I might as well add that I really suck at battle scenes, and there are going to be some coming up(*siiiiighhh--was doing her best to avoid them*) so don't kill me if they're crap.
BTW, because I know there are some Aeris/Sephiroth fans reading this, I really haven't decided on any couples yet. I'm just letting the characters do what they want. ^.^;