The Highwind slowly settled on the flight deck of the Shinra tower. A lone man stood waiting, the breeze blowing back his hair and suit jacket. He walked forward as the loading ramp extended. Elena was standing on the other side.
"Mister President!" she said in surprise, "We were going to report to you."
"I appreciate the concern Elena," said Reeve with an uncharacteristically serene smile. She wondered idly what had happened to him as he walked past her into the cargo deck. There the other Turks were waiting.
"Mister President," said Rude.
"Let me see her," replied Reeve. Reno walked through the conference room doors and emerged a moment later, followed by Pandora. She peered at Reeve fearfully. His face twitched and for a moment a shadow enshrouded his soul. Then he brightened.
"I'm President Reeve," he said finally as he took her hand, "I'm pleased to finally meet you Aeris." She blinked in confusion.
"Boss called her Pandora," said Rude. Reeve glanced at Rude with a distant expression considered that.
"The man does have a strange kind of poetry to him," he remarked as he put his hands in his pockets. Pandora nervously played with the cuffs of her oversized suit jacket.
"Did she join the Turks or is this something I don't know about?" he inquired with a small grin.
"I think it belongs to the Boss-I mean, Mister Valentine," said Rude.
"What are we going to do with her?" asked Elena.
"We're going to ask for her assistance," said Reeve, "She's the last hope for humanity." Pandora looked up.
"I am?" she asked. Reeve nodded thoughtfully.
"Absolutely," he said, "Will you help us?" She looked around at the Turks. They did their best to look impassive.
"Can you help Vincent?" she asked finally.
"We'll do everything we can for him," stated Reeve. She nodded slightly.
"What do I have to do?" she asked.
"Rude, escort our guest to Mako Reactor 8," instructed Reeve. Rude nodded and gestured her to follow. She left with him and they walked down out of the ship. Reeve peered back at Elena and Reno.
"Time to pay Mister Valentine a visit," he said darkly.
They walked past some workmen into the chocobo stable. Chained to the opposite wall was Vincent. His arms were spread out over his head, which was slumped forward. Reeve stepped inside first.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" he asked after a long pause.
"Kill me," croaked Vincent weakly.
"What?" gulped Reeve in horror.
"My rages are becoming worse," whispered Vincent, "I am losing control of them."
"Your rages?" asked Elena.
"You met one of them on the beach," said Vincent. Elena and Reno exchanged a knowing look.
"They want to use her power for revenge," he added, "You must stop them."
"Revenge for what?" asked Reeve.
They stared at him expectantly, but he remained glumly silent.
"Well?" demanded Reno. They heard the ugly sound of metal rasping against metal. Vincent's claws flexed and extended.
"All the ugliness of my soul is contained within the rages," he said slowly, "The parts of me that want to hurt everyone as much as I've been hurt."
"How can you stop them?" asked Elena.
"They'll die if I die," replied Vincent with frightening equanimity, "It is a fate I deserve."
"Out of the question my friend," said Reeve flatly, "I don't want you on my conscience." Vincent slowly looked up and met his gaze.
"It must be nice to have one," he said. Reeve gestured to Elena and Reno. The three of them stood to one side in a huddle, whispering urgently to each other. After a few minutes, Reeve stepped back and nodded.
"Are you sure it will work?" he asked.
"With him, I doubt it would be lethal," reminded Elena. Reeve turned and faced Vincent sorrowfully.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked.
"I'm already serving a life sentence," said Vincent darkly, "I would welcome oblivion." Reeve sighed.
"Reno, Elena, escort our guest to the cryogenic storage facility," he instructed sadly.
"Look after Pandora" said Vincent.
"You have my word," he said grimly.
"And tell her I'm sorry," added Vincent.
Pandora peered at the city lights of Midgar as they streaked past. She was sitting in the passenger seat of a long sleek bullet shaped black car. The glittering buildings towered overhead. Rude sat at the wheels, the street lights reflecting off his glasses.
"Do you remember any of this?" he asked. She turned from the window.
"Have I been here before?" she asked. Rude glanced sideways at her for a moment. He then turned left down a side alley. The buildings loomed closely on either side. At the other end was a ramp leading downward. They raced down several stories until she saw a vast slum, precariously lying underneath a massive metallic ceiling. The buildings looked like they had been recycled from the junked remains of the buildings above. Smoke rose from dozens of chimneys which added to the haze.
"Where are we going?" she asked anxiously. Rude didn't reply. He drove down the winding earthen streets past junk piles and feral looking people. He pulled to a stop in a large metal door that blocked the road. Rude climbed out.
"Let's go," he said. She nodded and climbed out as well. They walked through a large notch cut in the door. On the other side was a cathedral. She peered up at the double oaken doors. Rude walked up the steps and pushed one open. He gestured for her to follow him. She walked into the entrance and saw the long aisle leading to the altar. Her footsteps echoed hollowly on the wooden boards as she walked between the pews, entranced.
"What pretty flowers," she said kneeling next to the flowerbed.
"Do you like them?" asked Rude, hovering in the shadows nearby. She looked up at him.
"Yes," she admitted, "But it feels strange."
"Strange?" echoed Rude, "How?" Pandora laid a hand on the dirt.
"It feels warm," she said as she closed her eyes, "I can sense a lot of love here." Rude felt his forehead breaking into a cold sweat. The doors creaked open slowly behind them. He turned to see a woman walking in, dressed in a sensible green dress with a white apron. Her brown hair was tied up into a topknot and she was carrying a bag and a watering can.
"Ah more visitors," she said in a kindly voice as she walked down the aisle. Pandora turned to face her.
"Mrs. Gainsborough…," began Rude quickly. He wasn't fast enough. Elmyra's face went as white as a sheet and she slumped sideways onto the floor. Pandora gasped and held her hands to her face.
"Crap," muttered Rude, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Vincent and the Turks rode in the elevator in sullen silence. When the floor read '33', the doors opened to reveal a vast under lit space. A long catwalk ran between long rows of metal hemispherical domes, each one half a foot tall by three feet in diameter. The only light was a soft blue glow filtering in through the grating on the floor of the catwalk. Reno prodded Vincent and they walked down the passageway to the far end. They came up to a large steel reinforced door.
"End of the road Boss," said Elena as she punched a number in the keypad.
"Don't call him that!" snapped Reno.
"Why not?" she demanded.
"He has a point," added Vincent.
"I don't need you help," countered Reno irritably.
The door rumbled open revealing a room that was fairly small, but surrounded by thick shielding on all sides. A dome similar to the others outside rested on a central pedestal.
"They kept her here," said Vincent glancing around appreciatively. Elena and Reno looked at him as he ran his claws lightly over the walls.
"What is it now?" asked Reno.
"It was unwise of the planet to spare Cloud and I," he said as he turned to face them, "The memory of her cells still call to us,"
"You mean the Jenova cells?" asked Elena. Vincent covered his claws with his right hand and clenched them tightly.
"You must hurry Elena," he urged. As she walked over to a wall mounted control panel Reno noticed Vincent's hands were shaking. A large glass cylinder rose from the floor, mounted with thick glass. A small circular hatch on the side swung open. Vincent walked over and climbed inside. Reno shut the hatch behind him and turned a small wheel to seal it tight. Elena punched a small intercom switch.
"Are you ready Boss?" she asked. Vincent stood there impassively and slowly nodded. As Elena reached for a lever, Reno grabbed her hand.
"Give me five minutes with him," he said.
"Reno our orders are clear," began Elena pulling her hand away.
"Please!" he implored. She glanced at Vincent and sighed as she walked through the large door. Reno faced Vincent and lit up a cigarette.
"I'm the one who tipped off Cloud," he said quietly. Vincent looked up, intrigued.
"Don't give me that," snapped Reno, "I knew he couldn't resist."
"And you could get revenge," echoed Vincent's voice faintly out of the intercom.
"Yeah but this wasn't supposed to happen," continued Reno, "You weren't supposed to double cross us!"
"Or involve Pandora," added Vincent. Reno paled and coughed.
"Where did she come from?" he demanded.
"Shinra created her as a replacement for Aeris," mused Vincent, "But she has none of her memories."
"What are they planning to use her for?" asked Reno weakly.
"You'll find out, won't you?" asked Vincent with a small grin. Reno walked over to the controls. As he reached for the controls, he heard Vincent's voice.
"Why did you tell me all this Reno?" he asked. Reno didn't turn around.
"I dunno," he said with a frown, "I needed to tell someone I guess."
"Someone who won't talk," said Vincent.
"Better you than me pal," replied Reno. He heard a faint sound of metal tapping against glass.
"Do it," said Vincent quietly. Reno pulled the switch. He heard a strange hissing sound. Once it subsided, he turned to glance at the tank. It was now filled with eerily glowing blue fluid. Vincent floated in the middle, his body covered with frost, like an ice sculpture. Reno's eyes widened as he saw Vincent's hands were pressed against the glass. Totally freaked out, hit a switch. The cylinder retracted into the floor and several bolts locked it into place. Then he got the hell out of there.
Elmyra Gainsborough slowly opened her eyes but all she saw was darkness. She felt a wet cloth being lifted away from her eyes and she saw a ceiling made of intersecting wooden beams. She was lying on a couch in the living room of a hexagonal house. Two people looked down at her anxiously. Her careworn face lit up as she grasped Pandora's hand. She frowned a bit in puzzlement, as if she had not expected her hand to touch anything solid.
"Aerith my dear, I just had the strangest dream," she whispered. Pandora rested her free hand on Elmyra's face.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," she said soothingly.
"I dreamed you were gone," said Elmyra, trying to stem the tide of tears, "Cloud came and…."
"It's okay, I'm here," said Pandora her heart breaking. Elmyra sat up and pulled her into an embrace. They cried together as Rude walked over to a window and admired the view of the garden built on a series of round terraces. He decided that he really needed a good stiff drink. Elmyra pulled back a little and looked Pandora in the eyes. With a slight frown, she placed her hands on either side of Pandora's face.
"What's wrong, don't you recognize me?" she asked.
"She has amnesia," said Rude as he turned from the window.
"Areis?" asked Elmyra tentatively.
"Who is Aeris?" asked Pandora.
"She was my daughter," said Elmyra trying desperately to smile, "You look exactly like her." Pandora looked from her to Rude.
"Is that why everyone freaks out when they see me?" she asked. Rude nodded. She looked bewildered and lost.
"I don't remember any of this," she said, "This house, these people."
"What do you remember?" asked Elmyra taking her hand.
"I remember being in warm water," said Pandora distantly, "Then he came."
"Cloud," suggested Elmyra.
"Vincent," she replied, "He said he would take care of me." Elmyra shared a troubled glance with Rude.
"I want to remember more," she said helplessly, "But I can't!"
"Maybe I can help," prompted Elmyra, "Why don't you upstairs and get changed out of that suit?" Pandora nodded and walked up the staircase. Elmyra turned to Rude.
"She's not really my daughter is she?" she asked, trying hard not to start crying again. Rude looked down at the floor.
"I was hoping you could tell me lady," he replied absently. She sniffled as she rose and crossed over to a small kitchen nook.
"Every day I look at that door and expect her to come walking in at any moment," she said wistfully as she stacked some plates in a cupboard.
"I'm sorry," said Rude. Elmyra stared at him as if she was noticing him for the first time. She opened a cupboard and carried a tray of muffins over to him.
"Have one," she said, offering the tray to him. He stared at her in puzzlement as he took one. They sat together on the couch and ate in silence together.
"These are really good," he said eventually.
"What will become of her?" asked Elmyra.
"I don't know," he replied, "But I will bring her back to you."
"I've heard that promise before," she muttered sadly. They heard the creak of floorboards above and turned toward the staircase. Pandora slowly descended, dressed in a long pink dress with a short red jacket. She wore round metal bracelets on her wrists and large boots on her feet. She smiled self-consciously.
"I look funny, don't I?" she asked. Elmyra brought her hands together. Rude whipped off his sunglasses and openly gaped at her. For the first time they could see his dark intense eyes. Slowly Rude realized that he was now being stared at.
"I'll be outside," he said sheepishly as put his sunglasses back on, "We'll need to leave for Reactor 8 soon." As he left, Elmyra walked up to her.
"Do you remember wearing that dress before?" she asked. Pandora shook her head.
"It feels familiar, but I can't think of a time when I wore something like this," she said. Elmyra led her to couch where she sat down. She pulled Pandora's hair back and began to braid it.
"Aeris liked to wear her hair like this," she explained.
"She's dead, isn't she?" asked Pandora numbly. Elmyra's hand began to shake a little.
"Yes," she said.
"I'm sorry," said Pandora as she felt tears beginning to flow.
"Thank you my dear," said Elmyra, "But it wasn't your fault."
"It must have hurt you so much seeing me," said Pandora, "A pale imitation of your daughter." Elmyra wrapped her arms around Pandora and hugged her from behind. Pandora could here the woman sniffling.
"Just don't die," said Elmyra, "You must live my dear."
"Don't worry," said Pandora as she squeezed her hands, "Vincent will take care of me."
"Be careful around Shinra," said Elmyra.
"I have to go," said Pandora reluctantly.
"Let me give you something first," said the woman as she stood up. Pandora watched her walk over to a chest of drawers with vases of fresh cut flowers on top. She returned with a picture and pressed it into Pandora's palms. Pandora looked down to see a familiar looking girl standing in a field full of flowers. She walked over to a mirror and compared her reflection to that of the girl in the photograph. They were identical. Pandora slumped to her knees and began shivering.
"It's me…but how," she stammered, "I don't understand." Elmyra walked over and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Now you know how I felt when I saw you in the church," she said.
"I have to go," said Pandora as she stood up and ran out in a panic. Totally freaked out, she ran down the path into a seedy-looking cluster of metal buildings that formed a marketplace. Rude was standing at a kiosk downing a tall glass of something clear and intoxicating. She approached him.
"Mister Rude?" she asked. He looked at her and nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Why did you come back?" he asked gloomily.
"You guys will help Vincent if I help you right?" she asked.
"But you belong back there," he countered.
"I just made things worse for her," said Pandora sadly. Rude took a deep breath and handed her the Angel Guard.
"This was hers," he said, "I think you should have it." Pandora ran her hands over the handle lightly as he drained the rest of his drink. They walked over to his car and climbed in. Rude switched the car in reverse and back into a corner, then drove off down the dirt road. As the slums sped by, she turned to him.
"I know why you wear sunglasses now," she said with a faint smile.
"What?" asked Rude, trying to focus on driving.
"You don't want people to see how you feel," she added.
"You can't afford feelings in my line of work," he replied.
"But you still have them, don't you?" she asked.
"Maybe I'd be happier in another line of work then," he said. They drove up the ramp and soon emerged in the glittering city above. At the end of the street she could make out an enormous metallic cylinder built like a skyscraper-sized smokestack emblazoned with the number '08'. Soon they were in its shadow. They drove up to a high security gate. A guard in blue held up a hand. They pulled to a stop. Rude handed him his identification.
"Please continue," he said, waving them through.
They drove through the gate into a long tunnel. At the end were a small parking area and a very annoyed-looking Elena. Rude climbed out of the car.
"Where the hell have you been?" she snapped, "I've been waiting for ages!"
"I was delayed," he said as he opened the passenger door. Elena fell strangely silent as she saw Pandora step out. She felt acutely self-conscious now that she understood why everyone looked at her the way they did.
"I'm ready," said Pandora.
"Let's go then," said Rude. The three of them walked up to an elevator. The doors opened and they climbed inside. The doors closed behind them as they ascended up to the reactor.
Towards their fate.