Chapter 12
Vincent was disappointed that he was still alive. He opened his eyes and saw the tide crashing around his ankles. Sand fell off his cape as he sat up and looked around. A bright white beach stretched endlessly in either direction, surmounted by tall cliffs. The Death Penalty was stuck barrel first into the sand near where his head had been, like a grave marker. Absently he ran his hand along the stock and felt something burned into the grain: a snake swallowing its own tail.
"Lucrecia," he muttered. He pulled the gun free and walked up a winding path toward the cliffs. A light breeze blew his empty left sleeve around. When he reached the top of the plains it took a moment for his sensitive eyes to adjust to the glare. Neo-Midgar sat smoldering in the center of the plains like a spent funeral pyre. Even at this distance, he could make out long lines of people and vehicles slowly streaming out of the city in all directions, like ants abandoning their anthill. How appropriate, he thought. He caught sight of a faint red figure sitting on a rock outcropping overlooking the city. As Vincent got closer he could see that it was Nanaki. He immediately felt a stab of guilt.
"Are you back among the living?" asked the large cat without looking around. Vincent fell onto one knee.
"Forgive me," he whispered. Nanaki turned to gaze at him, showing a mixture of pain and curiosity.
"You remember what Chaos did?" he inquired. Vincent nodded.
"We are part of each other," he replied bitterly, "And now I have yet another crime to atone." Nanaki shook his head.
"When Neo-Midgar started to rise, I ordered everyone to hide in the caves," said the big cat.
"But the village," protested Vincent.
"It was leveled," said Nanaki, "But it can be rebuilt."
"What should I do?" asked Vincent quietly. Nanaki sighed slightly. How embarrassing it must be to have the darkness in your soul exposed for the world to see.
"Take care of your problems," suggested Nanaki, "And let go of everything else." They stared at the city in silence together.
"Lucrecia came to me in my nightmare," began Vincent quietly, "She wanted to see her son."
"And is that your problem?" asked the cat. Vincent nodded slowly.
"I was willing to do anything to free her," he explained, "Now I must face the consequences."
"Is she part of the Lifestream?" asked Nanaki.
"That was my intention," replied Vincent, "But she could be anywhere." He brandished the Death Penalty and Nanaki inspected the serpent on the stock.
"An Urobolus," he said.
"Eternity imprisoned in an endless circle," elaborated Vincent.
"Are you going to look for her?" asked Nanaki, more as a formality than anything else.
"I cannot rest until I see her again," he stated, "But there is something I must take care of first."
A white helicopter took off from the landing ramp of the Shinra building and veered off toward Sector 5. Reeve peered out the window down at the devastated city below with the streaming masses of people abandoning their homes. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"You alright Mister President?" asked Elena who was sitting next to him, her face creased with worry.
"I'm fine," he lied. How could he explain to them that his dream was dead? No, only Elmyra Gainsborough would understand.
"I don't get it," groused Reno as he rubbed the bandage around his forehead, "How come I always get hit in the face?"
"You're just lucky that way," said Rude with a hint of a smirk. Reno sneered and fished out a cigarette.
"How's the ribs?" asked Elena.
"Itches like crazy," replied Rude, trying not to scratch. Reno lit his cigarette and blew the smoke out his nostrils. They stared out the windows in silence for a long time.
"You guys did a good job," said Reeve abruptly. The Turks turned to stare at him.
"But we failed almost everything you assigned us to do," protested Elena.
"You did your best," said Reeve as he folded his arms, "I'm still proud of you." The Turks warily gazed at each other, wondering yet again if their President was truly certifiable.
The helicopter came to a landing in front of Elmyra's house. Elena slid open the door and Reeve got out, followed by Reno and Rude. Elmyra opened the front door before they even reached it.
"Wipe your feet before coming in," she said. Reeve did so and the Turks followed suit. She led them inside to the living room. She gestured for them to sit on the couch and chairs. Reeve took a chair and Rude sat on the couch next to Elmyra. Elena and Reno remained standing, feeling a little out of place.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked.
"No thank you," said Reeve, "You know why we're here."
"You want to take her away again?" asked Elmyra sadly. Rude clenched his hands into fists as he fumed silently.
"No, but we do want to know if she's alright," explained Reeve.
"Cloud brought her home," said Elmyra, "She wouldn't say anything about what happened."
"Where is she now?" asked Elena.
"She's up in her room," she replied, "She won't come out."
"I'm glad she made it," said Reeve, "But I came here for a different reason." Elmyra merely stared at him expectantly. He cleared his throat.
"Shinra Incorporated apologizes for any inconvenience or suffering imposed on you or loved ones due to its short sighted policies," he stated, "The Company will reimburse you for whatever damages you feel are appropriate."
"Is that how you feel?" she asked.
"I just stated Shinra's position," said Reeve uncertainly.
"I know, but how do you feel about it?" she insisted. Reeve tried to put into words the incredible conflict he felt, idealism mixed with greed and fear. He knew nothing he could say to this woman could make things right again.
"I'm just…sorry," he said in defeat. Elmyra reached over and squeezed his hand. Reeve looked up in shock.
"I've been waiting for an apology from your Company for a long time," she said carefully, "But right now your apology meant more to me."
"How can you forgive me?" he asked forlornly. She shook her head.
"I don't want to," she replied, "But I know Aeris wouldn't want me to hold any grudges."
"She'd even forgive Sephiroth," said Elena bitterly. Elmyra smiled to her sadly.
"I'm sure she did," she said, "She would say he was acting true to his nature." An awkward silence fell over the group. Reno peered up the stairs curiously but didn't move from his spot. There was a polite knock at the door. Reeve gently pulled his hand away. Elmyra stood up and opened the door. Vincent stood on the threshold, looking lost.
"We've been waiting for you," she said, "Go up to her."
"We're just leaving," said Reeve suddenly as he stood up. Vincent stood to one side as they filed past him.
"How's the arm?" asked Reno. Vincent met his defiant gaze calmly.
"Never better," he replied. Rude paused in front of Elmyra.
"You should…wear your hair down more," he said hesitantly. She pulled the string out of her hair and unwound the topknot so her hair fell down.
"Better?" she asked pleasantly. Rude rubbed his neck nervously.
"Yeah…see ya," he said bashfully as he hurried out to the helicopter. Elmyra giggled behind her hand.
"They're not bad people," said Vincent, "Although they prefer to be seen that way."
"Do you prefer to be seen that way?" she asked. Vincent looked at a loss of what to say.
"I am a weak evil man," he said quietly. Elmyra sighed wearily. She was getting tired of martyrs.
"Go up to her," she stated firmly, "You're the only one she'll talk to."
"She is my responsibility," he said. He placed the Death Penalty in the corner of the room and ascended the stairs. He paused in front of her door, not sure how to begin. He rapped on the door lightly.
"Please leave me alone!" sobbed a voice.
"Pandora, it's Vincent," he said. He heard her footsteps echoing across the floorboards, heading his way.
"Vincent, you're alright!" she said from just the other side of the door. He placed his hand on the door, caressing the grain.
"I woke up alone on the beach," he said, "The Hand of Glory was gone."
"Oh no," she said, "Does it hurt?"
"Only a little," he replied, "But I'm glad to be rid of it."
"What happened to Chaos?" she asked. Vincent sighed and leaned against the doorframe.
"He still lives within me, but his voice has grown faint," he said solemnly. For a long time he heard nothing. Slowly the door unlocked and swung open. Pandora stood there, her hair disheveled and her eyes red.
"Come in," she said. The room beyond was very simple. The only furniture was bed and a chest of drawers against one wall. He vaguely recalled the room from years ago. Elmyra had obviously kept this room the same as when Aeris had used it. Pandora sat on the bed.
"I met Lucrecia," she said hesitantly, "She was scary." Vincent stared at her intently.
"Where?" he demanded.
"She said it was in your nightmare," she replied, "We had to fight your rages." Vincent walked over to a flower in a vase and began pulling of dead leaves.
"What did it look like?" he asked.
"It was a cave underground," she began, "No, it started in a mansion in a mountain town."
"Neibelheim!" exclaimed Vincent. She nodded absently.
"Yes, that was what it was called," she said.
"You must have been in the Lifestream," he said, "My past and sins." Pandora looked at the far wall morosely.
"You're going to look for her aren't you?" she asked flatly. He turned to look at her.
"I have to," he stated, "I was responsible for what happened to her." Pandora looked up at him.
"Before or after you were put in the coffin?" she inquired sadly. Vincent couldn't bring himself to answer that. Pandora took his hand clung to it desperately.
"She wants her son back," she said, "The one who murdered Aeris."
"You want to stop her?" he asked.
"Is she going to do to him what you did to me?" she asked plaintively. He hung his head in shame.
"Yes, I think so," he replied. Pandora kissed his hand.
"I'm glad I met you Vincent," she explained, "But I do not want anyone else to endure what I had to." Vincent pulled his hand free and used it to pull her into an embrace. He kissed her forehead.
"I am so sorry that you had to pay for my sins," he said. She shook her head.
"I don't mind," she said, "Just let me go with you." Vincent gritted his teeth.
"I cannot," he stated, "Your friends need you."
"They think I'm Aeris," she protested.
"You have her spirit," he said, "But you grew with different experiences."
"Aeris came into me while I had Holy," she elaborated, "I remember some of her life now."
"But it feels like someone else's life," he guessed.
"It was someone else's life," corrected Pandora, "And I don't want to be a ghost haunting other people's lives."
"My best friends are ghosts," said Vincent reflectively.
"Please take me with you," she pleaded. He pushed her gently away.
"I have to do this alone," he explained, "I've put you through enough." He looked at her longingly and then crossed to the door. Pandora fell facedown onto the bed and buried her face in a pillow.
Vincent almost made it to the door. Elmyra spoke as he reached for the Death Penalty.
"You not leaving her are you?" she asked. He turned to her with a brooding expression.
"She has grown in my shadow for too long," he replied, "She needs to bask in sunlight." Elmyra put her hands on her hips.
"That's a fine way to talk about your own daughter," she huffed. Vincent frowned at her.
"I don't understand," he said.
"You gave her life," she retorted, "And you said she was your responsibility."
"But you're her mother," he said. She considered that. Pandora was so much like Aeris yet so different.
"She's not Aeris," she stated carefully, "But she is my daughter."
"Then take good care of her," he stated as he opened the door.
"She loves you," said Elmyra. That stopped him dead in his tracks.
"I can't see why," he said sadly. Elmyra smiled.
"You the only one who accepts her for herself," she explained, "Everyone looks at her and sees Aeris." Vincent looked to her apologetically and walked through the door. He climbed onto a black chocobo and rode off toward the horizon. Lucrecia was waiting for him.
Aboard the Highwind, Cid lit a cigarette.
"Where to kiddies?" he asked.
"North Corel," rumbled Barrett.
"Drop me off at Wutai," suggested Yuffie.
"Costa del Sol," said Cloud. Everyone turned to him questioningly, including Tifa.
"Why there?" she asked. He offered an apologetic grin.
"You said you needed a vacation," he explained. She nodded with a smirk.
"We'll go there first," muttered Cid wearily, "I'm running a goddamned taxi service." Tifa watched Cloud leave the bridge and quickly followed. She saw him enter the meeting room. Inside Cloud stood facing the wall contemplatively. She approached him gingerly.
"You're thinking about her aren't you," she said. He nodded.
"I got to see her again for all of two minutes," he said sadly, "She got to meet the real me." Tifa sniffled slightly.
"That must have felt so cruel," she said. He stared at her intently.
"It did at the time," he said, "But the Planet needs her and I can't compete with that." Tifa felt stranded. Could she believe him?
"But you lost her again," she pointed out. He reached out for her shoulders and pulled her to him. She clutched his arms.
"I have you Tifa," he said his voice trembling, "And I never loved you in the way you deserved." Tifa cried and rested her head against his chest.
"I just want you to be happy," she said. She looked up at him searchingly. He leaned down and kissed her gently.
"I am happy," he whispered, "But can you put up with me?" She jabbed him under the chin with her knuckles and smiled playfully.
"Cloud you're such a doofus sometimes," she stated, "But that's what I love about you." Cloud was trying to think of a suitable response when she kissed him on the cheek.
"I'll always be there," she said, "Always." They clung tightly to each other as the Highwind sped off into the dusk.
The next morning Reno walked up to Reeve's office. Rude and Elena were already waiting.
"You're late," said Elena.
"Who cares?" retorted Reno sourly, "We're getting canned anyways."
"Bet you ten Gil we won't," said Rude gruffly.
"Shut up, both of you," groused Elena. The doors swung open in front of them. Reeve sat in front of his desk with his hands folded. His eyes were closed as if he was meditating.
"How is the evacuation proceeding?" he asked after an uncomfortable silence.
"Nearly complete," said Elena, "Most are being relocated to Kalm and Junon."
"We're going to have to begin with layoffs," said Reeve.
"So we're fired?" asked Reno. Reeve opened his eyes.
"Goodness no," he replied pleasantly, "In fact I have a new assignment for you."
"What is it?" asked Rude. Reeve leaned forward.
"Lucrecia plans to revive Sephiroth," he explained, "Find her and stop her."
"What about Vincent?" asked Elena.
"Try to cooperate with him," he replied, "But he may have to be dealt with as well."
"Sounds like a big job," said Rude.
"I'm assigning extra help," he said as he pressed the buzzer on his desk. The doors swung open again and a young woman walked in dressed in a dark suit and tie. Her hair was cut shoulder length and she wore dark sunglasses. In her hand was a long black metallic staff. The Turks blinked in amazement when they realized it was Pandora.
"Hi guys," she said cheerfully as she took off her glasses, "I'll try not to get in the way."
"You're joining the Turks?" asked Rude. She nodded.
"Well on the condition that you guys help me find Vincent," she explained.
"What happens if we find him?" asked Reno.
"I want to save him from himself," she replied nervously, "So is that okay?"
The Turks stared at each other questioningly. Reno began to grin fiercely and laughed manically. He flipped a ten Gil piece to Rude who began to chuckle quietly. They laughed together and began punching each other on the shoulder. Elena folded her arms across her chest and sighed wearily.
"Welcome to the Turks rookie," she said.