(Author's Note: Hey! I'm back! Okay…here's chapter 3! I hope you all enjoy it and I'll try to update again soon but I've got 3 stories going at one time so it might be every other day…I'll try for everyday though…anyways…enjoy!)
Disclaimer: FF7 and Squaresoft are not mine. Dete and Cassandra are. Rueh belongs to Rueh.
Chapter 3
"Are you sure it was Hojo?" Vincent asked. He, Red, and Sephiroth were sitting in the living room of the villa. Dete was still sleeping since it was nearing midnight.
"It sure sounds like it. From what Dete told you of the transformation it is him. We knew he could transform and he did when we fought him but he wasn't killed or if he was, he was able to…pull himself back together again," Red said looking at Sephiroth.
"It sure seems that way. And he has Cassandra and Rueh. We need to find them before he starts any of his experiments," Sephiroth said.
"Shall I call the other members of Avalanche?" Vincent asked.
"No. We can handle Hojo ourselves," Sephiroth said.
"But with finding them. Hojo could be hiding anywhere," Red said.
"There are a few places he could be. One would be the remains of the Shinra building in Midgar. Or they could be somewhere in the main complex in Junon," Sephiroth pointed out. "Those places would be the best for him to keep Cassandra and Rueh under control and to do experiments."
"Very well. Are we going to check those places?" Vincent asked.
"It's worth a try," Red said.
"But with all the monsters in Midgar we'll more than anything need more than just the 4 of us," Vincent said.
"Four of us?" Sephiroth looked at him sharply. "Who said anything about Dete going with us?"
"You can't possibly mean to leave her here by herself," Vincent said.
"Again, who said she would be by herself? I guess I have to agree with you about the group needed to get into Midgar but we don't need every member of Avalanche to go with us. The last time they talked I overheard Cassandra and Tifa's phone call and found out that Tifa was pregnant. That was 3 years ago though. So someone would have to stay behind to watch the 3 year old boy. They can watch Dete as well," Sephiroth said.
"But I should go with you. After all I was able to sense where you and mom were. So was Rueh but she's not here. I could be of help to you," Dete said from where she stood in the doorway. Her sudden comment made them jump. They hadn't noticed her. Sephiroth turned to look at her.
"And what if Hojo catches you and we are not able to get you back before he escapes?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"As long as you were trying to keep him from getting away you would have some of his attention and I would also be fighting to get away so put simply he would have his hands full with trying to keep you busy enough to get away and to keep a hold of me," she said.
"And if you were knocked out and couldn't do what you just said? Dete?"
For a moment her eyes closed halfway and got a glazed look to them. She swayed and started to fall over but came out of her dazed state in time to stop herself. "…would you really let Hojo escape with me after what he's doing now?" she asked softly.
"What do you mean?" Sephiroth asked walking over to kneel in front of her.
"I don't know…it was just a glimpse of a room and a sick feeling…a lot of pain…like I was in someone else's body…" she shook her head.
"What did the room look like? Could you tell who you were seeing through?" he asked.
"One question at a time please…first. I couldn't see what the room looked like…it was too dark or they were losing consciousness. Your second question…no I couldn't tell," she said.
Sephiroth looked down and took a deep breath. "Go back to sleep. We'll be going to Nibelheim in the morning," he said.
"And I will go to Midgar with you all after that?"
"…I'll think about it. Now go to bed," he said. She looked at him for a moment then turned and went back to her bedroom. "She's not going with us," he said when she could no longer be seen.
"It's for the best that she stay behind but I have to say that she could be helpful," Red said.
"I know. We better get some rest as well," Sephiroth said turning to Vincent and Red.
Vincent stood up. "We've got a room at the Inn. We'll meet back here in the morning," he said walking towards the door. Red followed after him.
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Dete stayed up after they left looking out the window in her bedroom. She slowly shook her head. She looked to the closed door when she felt Sephiroth stop outside of it.
"Bed. Now," he said.
Reluctantly she looked back out the window for a moment then went to her bed. "Happy now?" she asked.
"Just sleep Dete. We'll talk in the morning," he said and put his hand on the door.
Dete had only sat down for a second before sleep claimed her. Sephiroth opened the door and covered her with the blanket. "You'll be mad but that sleep spell is for the best," he said quietly.
She stirred for a moment and muttered something before being still again. He glanced out the window then left the room.
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