Inheritance

[Insert completely pointless blurb here]

Genome: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain; the full DNA sequence of an organism

R&R

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" . . . Halfway across Gaia just to see your sister!" Baku finished yelling.

Zidane scratched his forehead partially in annoyance, partially because it was itching. When he'd woken up, he'd checked his head for more silver hairs, and plucked out several, then, searched for Baku to ask if he could go to Black Mage Village. Needless to say, Boss hadn't been too happy about it.

"Please Boss!" Zidane begged. "It's really important."

"Does the Prima Vista 2 look like an Air Cab!" Baku shouted. "Sorry Zidane, but we have to go back to Lindblum today. Which reminds me, are you staying or coming?"

Zidane sighed. "I'm staying, but I'll be back in Lindblum soon. I want to catch up with everyone a little longer."

"Why don't you ask Garnet to take you on the Red Ro . . . "

"NO!"

Baku blinked at the thief's outburst. Zidane looked shocked too, and tried to explain it.

"It's . . . private. I can't talk to Mikoto with everyone around. I'll see if I can't get Choco to take me there. I think I have Gysahl greens in my inventory."

Just then, Benero ran in. "Zidane, aren't you meant to go see Dagger?"

Zidane grinned. "Yeah. I was just seeing if I couldn't get a favour. But I'll see you guys in Lindblum k?"

"Good luck Zidane" Benero answered, as the boy left the room.

'I wonder why he needs to see Mikoto . . . ' Baku thought to himself.

* * *

Garnet sat by the water's edge, watching as the boat on the other side was boarded. She hoped it was Zidane. She had to see his face again; she had to know it wasn't just a dream . . .

"What's a pretty face like you doing out here on your own?"

Garnet immediately turned round into Zidane's smiling face.

"Zidane!" she shouted, hugging him. "When did you get here? I've been watching the boats all morning."

Zidane snorted. "Puh-lease! I'm an escape artist. Where's the challenge in taking a boat?"

Garnet smiled, finally letting go of him. "You haven't changed at all."

'Don't be so sure about that . . . ' Zidane said to himself. Outside, he replied.

"Actually Dagger, I need to tell you something . . . "

* * *

"You're leaving? Today!" Dagger shouted. "But you only came back yesterday!"

Zidane shrugged helplessly. "I won't be gone long, not even half a day. But I need to see Mikoto."

Dagger frowned, then smiled. "Then we'll take the Red Rose."

"But Dagger . . . "

"No 'buts' Mr Tribal" Dagger interrupted. "I'm not letting you out of my sight! You can talk to Mikoto in private but I'm coming!"

"Us too!"

The two at the water turned to see Steiner, and Eiko running up from the castle.

"A knight must escort the Queen at all times" Steiner stated.

"And I just wanna come!" finished Eiko.

Garnet turned to Zidane smiling. "Looks like you're outnumbered."

Zidane hid his face in his hand. 'So much for going alone . . . '

* * *

The ship had barely stopped outside the forest before Zidane jumped off and raced towards the village.

"I'll meet you by the front of the village in an hour!" he shouted over his shoulder.

"Zidane!" Garnet shouted, walking off the airship.

"He must really need to see Mikoto" Freya mused.

"But why?" Garnet questioned. "What can she tell him?"

* * *

Zidane stopped running when he reached the entrance of the village, and called over a young Genome, who looked about six.

"Hey . . . uh . . . do you have a name?"

"The Mages call me No.913 the boy replied.

Zidane scratched his head. "Okay nine. Do you know where I can find Mikoto?"

Nine nodded, and pointed to the west of the village. "She is in the cemetery."

* * *

When Zidane had first been to the Mages graveyard, it had been pretty small. But he noted with some sadness, that it had gotten substantially bigger during his absence.

Mikoto was staring at a grave, surrounded by at least five 'Vivi's'. He didn't think she'd noticed him until . . .

"I thought you would come."

The Vivi's turned round, and raced towards him.

"Hi Mister Zidane!" one piped up.

"Your sister is smart," another added. "She teaches us a lot."

"Mikoto? Teaching?" he asked, grinning at his sister. She didn't smile back.

"Uh guys?" Zidane said, staring at the tiny Mages. "Can you leave me and Mikoto alone for a while?"

Several identical heads bobbed up and down, and waddled out of the cemetery. Zidane shook his head. They were so like Vivi it was scary.

Mikoto was still fascinated in the grave, and Zidane stood beside her, reading the inscription on the cross.

* * *

Vivi Orunitia

~How do you prove you exist . . . ? Maybe we don't exist . . . ~

* * *

"This one was a lot like you and I" Mikoto explained. "Different from the rest of his kind, yet exactly the same."

Zidane nodded. "Yeah. His . . . his kids told me in Alexandria that you told the Mages that if they ever had children, they would have much longer life spans. How did you know?"

"The Mages were created in a similar way to the Genomes" Mikoto answered. "We were not made from Mist, but the same process was there. It was obvious to one who knows the process."

"Oh, okay" Zidane replied. "What about the Genomes? Are they coping okay?"

Mikoto nodded. "They have started ageing. They didn't on Terra. But they handled it well. Many have taken names."

"I noticed. I ran into a No. 9-something or other back at the entrance."

"No. Not a number. They are picking names for themselves."

"Really?" That was more than Zidane had thought possible for the emotionless dolls of Terra to accomplish in a year. Vivi's idea of letting the Genomes live in the village really worked out, for both races.

"Enough babble."

The thief turned to Mikoto, who had finally turned to face him. "You came for a reason. What?"

Zidane frowned, and looked around. When he saw there was no one about, he explained everything.

"It's like this . . . "

* * *

"No.913? Not very original" Eiko moaned to the Genome. The Genome merely stared back.

"I like it. It is mine and no one else's. I have never had something that is mine alone."

" . . . "

"They seem to be doing quite well" Garnet complimented to a Black Mage.

The Mage (known as No.883) nodded. "It's strange, some seem to adapt better than others. Mikoto says that those created later on seem to have accepted it easier because they hadn't known life on Terra for very long."

"Where is Mikoto anyway? Zidane wanted to see her."

913 turned to the Queen. "The Angel of Death? He has gone to see Mikoto."

"Don't call him that!" Eiko shouted. "His name is Zidane!"

" . . . He has two names?"

" . . . Then again, not all have adapted as fast" 883 explained.

* * *

"So now I'm getting Kuja's memories when I sleep" Zidane finished, pacing just outside the cemetery, where the two had moved to hear Zidane's tale. "What's going on with me Mikoto?"

"You really don't know?"

Zidane stared at her. Her tone couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. She looked shocked.

"I knew you grew up on Gaia, but I thought Kuja would have told you before he died," she said. "Did he not mention anything of this. He was still alive for several minutes after you went after him. I sensed him when he died."

Zidane shrugged. "He just said this weird thing about there only being one Ultimate Angel at a time. Does that mean anything?"

Mikoto nodded. "You know Kuja was Garlands strongest Genome correct?"

Zidane nodded. "Yeah, but Garland said he was only temporary until I become stronger."

His sister nodded again. "I'm going to explain this as simply as I can. But do not interrupt."

Zidane nodded and stayed silent.

"Garland made the normal Genomes, then set about creating a Genome with a soul. He wanted it to be powerful in both strength and magic, and to be different from the others, solely to show its superiority to its race."

'Kuja was strong with magic, but he never fought physically' Zidane thought to himself. 'Guess Garland's plan didn't work.'

However, as he created the Genome, Garland realised that what he wanted was next to impossible. Very rarely is a Mage's physical attack as strong as its magic. It couldn't work. But Garland had an idea. He knew of the crystal, and the memories. When he took three souls, he manipulated them, making them completely different from anything else alive. Two could absorb the others, although the first could only be absorbed. The first soul was given to Kuja, the second to you, and the third to me. All at separate times of course.

Kuja studied magic, whilst you were stronger with physical attacks. Kuja, being the oldest and strongest at the time, inherited the unique ability the ultimate Genome would have. But when his magic was at its peak, and your strength was at an incredible height, Kuja was to die, and his abilities, physical features and memories given to you."

The gut feeling Zidane had had suddenly grew. "Wait, abilities, physical features and."

"Memories" Mikoto repeated. "Manipulated by the crystal, the memories of the one that died would be given to the strongest, to be used normally, not locked away from everyone."

"So let me get this straight." Zidane had started pacing. "You're saying that I'm going to start to look like Kuja, and have all his memories?"

Mikoto nodded. "And abilities. I'm actually surprised you haven't changed yet. It should have only taken a few weeks. I guess being in the coma stopped it. Now that you have recovered, it's started. You may even be able to use magic soon, and the merge should happen soon enough. You will be unstoppable in both magic and attacks."

"Wait a minute, merge?"

"Of course. Your mind and Kuja's will slowly merge with each other. It may create some clashes in personality, for instance, you may find yourself liking something you used to hate, or vice versa. Your mind should still be dominant though."

Zidane could only stare at her.

"Are you saying that one day soon I'm going to become that makeup wearing, mist monster making psycho!" he shouted.

"Quite likely."

Zidane started breathing heavily. Sure, he'd suspected something like this, but . . . but this . . . it couldn't be true!"

"So, one day I might wake up and find I have no feelings for Dagger, or even worse, want to kill those around me?"

Mikoto shrugged. "I do not know. It's a matter of chance. I honestly cannot tell you."

Zidane stared at the ground

"Don't . . . don't you tell anyone about this . . . "

Mikoto stared at her brother's back. "Ignoring it wont stop it" she replied.

Zidane didn't answer, and ran back into the Village

To be continued . . .

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Ouch, just got yelled at by my mother about wasting my time writing fanfiction when I should be studying. She's probably right, but these chapters seem to write themselves. I'm actually surprised at how easy I'm writing them. But I hope you got the jist of the explanation.

R&R!