"Vincent!" Tifa shouted loudly as she gradually got to her feet. "What are you doing?!"

The creature regarded her with a diabolic grin. "Vincent is not present at the moment," he chuckled, "so I can do whatever I want."

"Vincent wouldn't let you!" Cid added to the argument. "Stand down, Chaos!"

At this, the demon merely threw back his head in raucous laughter. "He told me that I could stay out only until I killed that little miscreation; however, seeing as it fled before I could do so, I'm afraid I'm going to have to substitute one of you in it's place. As you can imagine, I'm feeling rather piqued after having been cooped up for so long."

Tifa and Cid swallowed visibly, but Cloud and Kether looked on with tired glances. "Chaos," Cloud spoke up, "you know Vincent would never forgive you if you killed one of us. Just chill out and go back to sleep."

"Insolent human!" Chaos bellowed. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner! I shall do whatever I want to whomever I please!" He took a dangerous step towards the group as he stared down at them, menacingly.

"Then do it to him," Cloud suggested, thrusting his thumb in Kether's direction. Kether shot him a furious look, but Cloud didn't pay any attention to it. "I don't think Vincent would mind if you eviscerated that low-life, although I think you'll find yourself quite outmatched."

"Oh?" Chaos murmured, now more than slightly intrigued. "And whom might you be, human?"

"I am Kether," came the even response.

Chaos regarded him silently, as if he were analyzing some new prey. "And you are special...because?" he taunted suddenly.

"Because I am merciless to anyone who would attack me," Kether grinned. "I know that Vincent is dormant inside of you, but don't think that'll stop me from killing you. After all," he replied, matching Chaos' evil grin, "Vincent is my enemy, too."

"Well just see how your words match up to your actions!" Chaos bellowed as he reached out a massive hand to rip Kether's head from his neck.

Kether's form disappeared from sight before reappearing behind Chaos.

"W-Wha-?" was all he had a chance to utter before a swift kick from Kether sent Chaos flying into the laboratory walls. Books that had been sitting on the shelves came tumbling down, burying the demon beneath their masses.

"Oh, so now you can fight," Cid uttered sarcastically.

"I'll come for you next if you don't shut up!" came Kether's heated retort.

"Don't treat me like I'm not here!" Chaos ordered loudly. With a deafening roar, he burst from his literary cocoon and formed a seal with his hands. "See if you can dodge this!" he sneered.

Kether waited patiently for the attack to come. "Whatever it is, it'll be your last," he said lowly.

Chaos didn't even bother to reply. He pushed his hands forward and a large, red seal formed in mid-air. In response, the entire building trembled malevolently as if it were on the verge of collapse. Suddenly, the atmosphere of the room took on a reddish tint, and the stench of rotting flesh and decay permeated the area.

Lowering his hands, Chaos flapped his wings so that he was hovering in the air. Then, using the wall behind him Chaos dug his heels into the wall and launched himself forward, ready to attack once more.

"Is that all?" Kether laughed in disbelief. "It's gonna take more than sights and smells to beat me!"

Even as Chaos threw a punch at Kether's body, the man sidestepped and reached out to snatch Chaos' hand inside his own. Then, with his free arm, Kether sent a powerful downward blow onto the demon's elbow joint, neatly snapping it in two.

Letting out a startled cry, Chaos dropped to his knees and stared wide-eyed at the wound that had been inflicted upon him.

"Had enough, yet?" Kether taunted.

The demon half closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. Then, with a slight grin, Chaos reached over and pulled his broken arm back into its socket with a loud popping sound. Flexing his repaired ligament experimentally, he was pleased to see the muscles beneath his brawny flesh rippling as he did so. "Heh. I got you."

"What?!" Kether's eyes grew wide in surprise.

Without warning, the ground beneath his feet exploded and he was now floating mid-air, upheld by some mysterious force. Struggling with all his might, he looked at the ground to see the open sockets of a demonic skeleton staring back at him.

"Dammit!" He seethed as he struggled vainly to remove the invisible force that was keeping him at bay. "You tricked me!"

Laughing maniacally, Chaos took a step back to observe his handiwork. "Your threats are as empty as your skull," he laughed. "All I have to do is give the word, and your body will be torn to shreds!"

"Like I'll let that happen!" Kether spat.

Closing his eyes, he began chanting the mantra that would instantaneously transport him to another location.

Unlike Tifa and Cloud, however, Chaos recognized the words immediately. "Not so fast!" he cried as he clapped his hands together. There was a loud explosion and a flash of white light that concentrated its full exertion on Kether's body.

A terrified cry tore through the room, causing everyone in it to flinch in pain.

"Kether!" Tifa cried loudly. "Are you okay?!"

The light slowly began to disappear from sight until Kether was visible once more. His body was hunched slightly, but his eyes still shone fiercely; he wasn't even aware of the blood trickling from his nose and ears.

Now that the attack was over, though, Kether's body slowly fell back to the ground where he immediately collapsed to his knees.

"Hm," Chaos observed with a hint of admiration. "You're pretty strong for a human. That attack has never failed to kill any living thing I've used it on."

"God...dammit," was all that Kether could mutter. "You were lucky! That same trick won't work twice."

"Hah ha! Just look at yourself! I won't even need to use it again!" With that, he brought up his massive hand and made ready to bring it crashing down onto Kether's skull. "Now, die!" he shouted gleefully.

His fist came tumbling down, but instead of connecting, it merely passed through the air.

"What?!" he cried angrily.

Glancing to the side, he saw Tifa holding Kether's limp body in her arms. She was now staring at him with a stern look on her face. "That's enough, Chaos!" she said. "You've had your fun! There's no reason to kill him!"

"What the fuck?! Tifa! How the hell did you move like that?! You were as fast as Kether!" Cid shouted.

Tifa ignored his comment. Right now, she had to keep all of her attention on Chaos. She hadn't yet gotten used to the increased speed, and her mind was getting somewhat fuzzy. If the demon picked this moment to attack, then she was as good as dead...

"You think you can beat me, little girl?" Chaos laughed.

Tifa leaned over to place Kether's body on the ground. "Don't think this changes anything," he grumbled at her. "You're still under contract!"

"Whatever," Tifa rolled her eyes. "Now's not the time for that!"

So saying, she returned her attention to Chaos and got into her fighting stance: feet apart, one slightly forward; arms help up in an ideal defensive posture. "I don't know if I can beat you," she said earnestly, "but I'm not gonna let you kill anyone!"

"Tifa!" Cloud said angrily.

"Shut up, Cloud!"

Chaos didn't even give her the benefit of a warning. With a mad grin, he charged towards her with his arms outstretched. "I'll enjoy eating the peeled flesh from your bones, child!" he laughed.

Tifa furrowed her eyebrows and concentrated. Speed...she needed speed now!

She saw a flash of light, and then her vision became blurry once again. Her perception of the world looked rather concave, so she assumed she was doing it correctly. Now it was time for something different: Tifa had already been able to form a fire type spell in her hands, but she hadn't done so while simultaneously under the influence of a haste spell. Hopefully she would be able to handle it; otherwise, Chaos would be free to do as he pleased with her...needless to say that was a bad thing...

Darting forward, she could barely make out the surprised look on Chaos' face as he tried to adjust the angle of his punch. He wasn't quick enough, however, for Tifa had already made her way under his arm and behind him.

"Now!" she thought desperately.

Cupping her hands together, she concentrated all of her energy into one of her fists while simultaneously forming a small fireball in the other. Tifa could feel herself begin to black out, but she gritted her teeth and by sheer force of will managed to stay awake.

Chaos had now turned to face her, but his arms were moving up in a defensive posture to block his face. This was, of course, exactly what Tifa had hoped for.

"Got you," she whispered gravely.

Thrusting the fireball into his gut, his immediate reaction was to lower his arms in response to the blow. As he did so, Tifa brought her other fist around and landed a punch squarely on the demon's face.

There was an audible crunching sound as bones splintered and Chaos tumbled backwards. The walls could not withstand the force of his impact, and they collapsed so that he went sailing back into the other room before he finally skidded to an abrupt halt.

Groaning, Chaos tried to push himself up, but it was no use. With a weary sigh, he fell back to the ground and closed his eyes. His form steadily receded and was replaced by that of their familiar compatriot, Vincent.

"Tifa!" Cid gasped and he ran forward to catch her from falling over. "Are you all right?"

"Y-Yeah," came her weak reply. She managed a half smile as she said, "I think...I'm g-gonna pass out, now."

"That's fine," Cid nodded. "You rest now, okay?"

"Okay," Tifa replied dreamily. "One thing, though."

"Hm?"

"Can we please get out of here?"

FFVII

When next she woke, Tifa found that she was once again in the Highwind's medical bay. Groaning slightly, she turned her head to see Kether laying on the bunk across from her.

"So," he said softly, "finally awake, huh?"

"Yeah," came her tired reply. "How do you feel?"

Kether narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what that demon used on me, but it really screwed up my head. I can't really walk in a straight line and my ears are ringing like crazy."

"Hm," Tifa murmured in reply. He probably didn't know how lucky he was just to get away with the injuries he had. She'd seen that same attack lay to waste various monsters of all sorts.

"And you? I'll bet you feel like crap right now," he chuckled mostly to himself. "I remember when I first started using hyper focused spells. You get used to it after a while, though..."

"So, you use the same thing," Tifa observed. "Cloud told me that it was a result of falling into the lifestream. Is that what happened to you?"

Kether closed his eyes and smiled slightly. "Something like that."

Tifa let out a frustrated sigh. "Why are you so cryptic? I did save your life, you know. Can't you at least indulge my curiosity a little bit?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because."

Tifa clenched her teeth and attempted to keep her temper in check. What was he, a two year old? "Because...why?!"

Kether opened his eyes and winced as he turned to look at her. "Look, there's no reason for me to tell you! Besides, I couldn't, even if I wanted to- my dad would be...extremely upset with me!"

"Your dad?" Tifa raised her eyebrows. "Aren't you a little old to be worried about what your daddy thinks?"

"I believe you would share my sentiment, were you in my shoes," Kether pouted as he rolled onto his side.

"Well, all right," Tifa relented. "Then tell me: who is this person? Your father, I mean? You mentioned him once before, didn't you?"

For a long time, Kether didn't reply, and Tifa was forced to stare at his back. She knew that he would answer eventually, however, so she was content to wait patiently until he was ready.

"He..." Kether began slowly. "He isn't my real father. Actually, to tell you the truth, he isn't even in this world anymore."

"Yet you're worried about him punishing you?"

"It's not like that!" Kether shouted back. "When I first came into this world I had no one. I didn't know who I was, or what I was doing, and it was only because of his help that I am where I am today. I just don't want to do anything to upset him, that's all."

"That's sweet...I guess," Tifa ventured. "But even if he isn't your real father, you must know his name. Did he maybe tell you who your real parents are?"

"I only have one parent," he replied matter-of-factly.

"Okaay," Tifa replied, "then what's his name?"

"You really wanna know?"

Tifa smiled sweetly, even though Kether wasn't looking at her face. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know."

"But you'll tell everyone, won't you?" he teased.

"I don't see why I would," Tifa retorted. "You know, you shouldn't judge someone before you get to know them. I'm actually a pretty reliable person."

"But I haven't known you that long, so how can I trust your word?" Kether pondered aloud.

"Well, I wouldn't mind getting to know you better...if I wasn't so afraid of you slitting our throats while we're sleeping."

"Then the only way to resolve this is to automatically believe anything that the other person says."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"After all, as fellow warriors, we should at least give each other the courtesy of the truth."

"Exactly!" Tifa replied triumphantly. "That's exactly the way it should be!"

Kether rolled over so that he was facing her once again. "And we should believe each other's words, no matter how odd they may be."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Fine, then. But I'm still not gonna tell you."

"W-What?!" Tifa's mouth dropped. Then, her face hardened and she shouted: "What the hell is your problem? Why won't you just tell me?!"

There was a loud, interrupting knock at the door.

"Who's THERE?!" she all but shrieked.

The door opened quickly and Cid stuck his head into the room. "Tifa," he said with a gravelly voice, "we just got a call from Barret. He just told us that there's been a fatality."

"From what?" she sighed as she slowly rubbed her temples.

"...Geo-stigma."

"What?!" she gasped, her irritation having swiftly vanished.

"It's true," Cid affirmed. "Barret was really upset about it, too."

"But that means that anyone who has it might...might..."

"Die?" Kether finished her sentence.

Tifa glared daggers at him. "Maybe you don't realize how much of an epidemic this is! Thousands of people are going to die, and we still don't know if it's contagious!"

"I do know how serious the situation is," Kether corrected her. "But if you have so many questions about it, why don't you ask Vincent?"

Tifa's eyes grew narrow as she shouted: "I knew it! I knew he was hiding something! Where is he? CID!"

"Whoa, slow down there," the pilot attempted to calm her. "Vincent's in the cockpit."

Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed, Tifa shakily got to her feet and pushed her way past Cid.

"Give my regards to Vincent!" Kether called after her with a slight chuckle.

"H-hey!" Cid shouted as he pointed an accusing finger at the man. "I dunno who the hell you think you are, but you butt out of our business! I won't have you stirrin' up a shitload a trouble on my ship!"

"Aye-aye, Captain," Kether mock saluted from his bed. "Close the door, please, and turn out the light. I'm going to sleep."

"Damn kid," Cid grumbled as he acquiesced to Kether's demand. He quickly joined up with Tifa as she steadily made her way to the bridge.

"How is he? Vincent, I mean?" Tifa asked once Cid had matched her position.

"Surprisingly well, considering the royal ass-whooping you gave him," Cid chuckled. "He tells me that he's not in any pain, but he has one helluva shiner."

"I see..." Tifa nodded. It was inevitable that Vincent eventually bear the blunt of her attack in the Shinra mansion, but at the time there was little else she could do. "He's not mad at me, is he?" she asked nervously.

"No," Cid shook his head. "But if you're thinking you can get him to talk, you're outta luck. I've been trying for the past half hour."

Tifa halted mid-step and turned to look at the captain. "He's gotta tell us something! If he knows anything it could help us save lives!"

"What are you two going on about?" came Cloud's voice from behind.

Both Cid and Tifa turned to see their spiky-headed friend ambling towards them.

"Well don't you just look like a million bucks," Cid commented dryly. "If you'd been that well yesterday you really coulda helped us out you dumb shit."

"I didn't see you do anything to help, Captain," Cloud replied with a grin. "Anyway, Tifa I just wanted to tell you that I'm really impressed with the way you handled yourself."

Tifa gave an embarrassed smile and stared at the ground. "You really think so?"

"Sure I do. Now, what were you two talking about?"

"Apparently," Tifa spoke up, "Barret called sometime this morning and said that one of the townspeople had died."

Cloud pursed his lips and nodded solemnly. "That's a shame. Did he say why?"

"Geo-stigma."

No sooner had those words escaped her lips than Cloud's eyes darted open and he jolted slightly. "W-what?" he stammered.

"Yeah, it looks like it's worse than we thought," Cid added.

"I see..." Cloud murmured softly.

"Cloud?" Tifa asked hesitantly. "Are you all right? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine!" Cloud assured her as he flicked a stray piece of hair out of his face. "So...uh, you were gonna go talk to Vincent, I guess?"

"That won't be necessary."

The trio's eyes moved to the doorway and found Vincent standing just outside the frame.

"Well, ain't this just a dandy little get together," Cid commented. "What's up, Vinny?"

"Don't call me that."

"Vincent," Tifa pleaded, "if you can tell us anything, it would mean a great deal to us all! Won't you reconsider?"

"What I know will not affect these unfortunate turn of events, nor will they help alleviate the inevitable results."

"So," Cloud spoke up, "I take it you don't know of any cure?"

Vincent's gaze turned to Cloud. His eyes abruptly narrowed when they fell on the man, but then he let out a weary sigh. "If I did, we would not be having this conversation."

"Oh..."

"However, Barret called again, and I just got off of the communicator with him. He would like for us to secure Marlene to make sure she's all right. However, since we still don't know if Geo-stigma is contagious, he doesn't want us to bring her to him."

"How awful!" Tifa remarked. "Did he say whether or not he's going to meet us?"

"Not for a while. As you can imagine, things are pretty hectic in Corel," Vincent replied.

"Not likely to get any better, either," Cid added as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Tifa merely stood there without saying another word. What else could be said? At least she could take solace in the fact that none of her friends were infected, though it did little to quell the grief she felt when she thought about all of the people that would die soon.

"Well, I'll get us on a course for Rocket Town, then..." Cid said quietly as he moved past Vincent towards the cockpit.

Tifa silently followed him, and once they were both gone Vincent turned to look at Cloud once more.

"What?" Cloud replied with an irate tone.

"This isn't over, yet," Vincent replied coolly. "I'm going to keep fighting for this planet. I believe Tifa and Cid, Barret, Red XIII, and Yuffie- they all will, too."

He turned and started climbing the staircase that would lead him to the outer deck, but he paused as he was about to ascend the first step.

"I wonder," he said softly. "...will you do the same?"

Cloud's eyebrows lowered in rage, but he did not reply. Even as he watched Vincent go, it was all he could do to keep the tears from escaping. In the past he'd overcome insurmountable challenges and faced ultimate odds, but until this moment he had never felt so completely helpless.

Why? After all he'd done- all the sacrifices he'd made? Why had it come to this?!

"God..." he seethed as he clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles popped. "God...DAMMIT!" Cloud yelled as he plunged his fist into the wall, denting the reinforced steel.

"Cloud!" came a reassuring voice. "You should know better than that."

He whirled around and saw Kether standing there, quietly.

"What do you want?!" Cloud shouted. "Can't you just leave us the hell alone! It's bad enough as it is without your presence here!"

Kether smiled serenely, which put Cloud off guard. Right now, to him, Kether looked almost...benevolent.

"Cloud," he said, ignoring the man's earlier comment, "I...I think I finally understand you. Through your struggles you have lost much, and yet you still continue on. Although I don't agree with what you've done, and though I do intend to fight you to the death, now I can finally sympathize with you. To be the kind of man who fights for what he believes in, even at the cost of everything...that is the man I hope to one day be."

"Kether..."

"There are things happening now that are beyond your control. I told you once before that the fate of humanity hinges on one thing, and one thing alone: the will of the planet. This Geo-stigma, as you call it- couldn't it merely be a kind of retribution from the planet?"

"But why? Many of the people are innocents! Why kill them off?"

"Who can say?" Kether shrugged. "But to an entity that is wholly and intrinsically 'one', what is the significance of the distinction between individuals? All are one to a body that is one."

"That...can't be..." Cloud stammered as he stumbled backwards into the wall. His head was swimming. Had the planet...really betrayed him and his friends? Was it his place to even argue against the will of the planet? With so many questions and no answers, he needed some sort of closure.

"Kether, help me," he said suddenly.

Kether tilted his head and looked at Cloud with a half smile on his face. "What do you mean?"

"There's something about you. I know you're aware of things that I have yet to understand. If you told me, I know I would be able to make sense of all of this!"

"You're aware of the things you spoke of. You just don't know it yet," Kether replied seriously.

"Then help me understand them!" Cloud pleaded. "I'm no leader, no great thinker! I was nothing before I ended up in Midgar seven years ago! I was only something when my path was clearly before me! Without some course, I am nothing! I need some sort of direction in life! Kether!" he repeated strongly. "As someone you respect, I'm asking you: set me on the right path."

"What makes you think I know what your path should be?" Kether scoffed.

"Because," Cloud replied lowly, "when I look at you, I see...myself. It's as if I'm staring into a mirror, and my reflection is staring right back at me."

Kether sighed. "Cloud, it is not my place to say what path you should take. I can, however, help to alleviate your burden. If knowledge is what you require, then that is what I shall give you."

FFVII

"There you are," Tifa spoke up as Cloud entered the cockpit.

Without a word, he walked up to the forward view window and stared out into the open sky. He showed no sign of even having heard her.

"Yo! Cloud!" Cid bellowed. "Where'd ya go, man? Where's Vincent?"

Cloud tore his eyes away from the window and looked at Cid. "I thought he was on the deck, but he's disappeared."

"That figures," Tifa grumbled. "He'll probably come back when it suits him."

"And Kether? Did he ever wake up?"

Cloud nodded.

"And? Where's he?"

"He's gone," Cloud replied lowly.

"What?!" Cid and Tifa shouted at the same time.

"Where'd he go?!" Tifa added to their shared exclamation.

"I dunno," Cloud shrugged.

"Well, did he say anything?" Cid pressed.

"...No."

"Just as well, I suppose," Cid sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "That guy's nothing but trouble. Glad to be rid of him."

A heavy silence penetrated the air, but it was Cloud who spoke up first. "Hey, Cid, can you do me a favor?"

"What's that?"

"Before you go to get Marlene, drop me off at Bone Village. I know it's out of the way," he added when he saw the odd look both Tifa and Cid were giving him, "but...please."

"Mind telling us why you're going there?" Tifa asked.

Cloud shook his head. "Please, Cid, just do it."

"I dunno, man," Cid said warily. "Somethin' about you is different. You sure you're all right?"

For the first time since he'd entered the cabin, Cloud's eyes came to life and he glared at Cid. "It's none of your concern! I'll go there myself if I have to, it's just that this way is fastest."

"Got a point," Cid agreed quickly. He was really in no mood to get Cloud all riled up.

"Cid!" Tifa complained. "Cloud, can I at least go with you? I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine."

"But Cloud-"

"I said I'm fine," Cloud repeated. However, this time his tone was dangerously low.

"Forget about it, Tifa," Cid told the frenzied woman. "We have to get Marlene, so let's worry about that for now. Cloud, I'll drop you off, but there's no guarantee that we can come pick you up right away."

"That's fine," Cloud nodded. "Thanks, Cid."

"Hey, you're welcome."

Tifa furrowed her eyebrows, but she forced herself to remain silent.

FFVII

"There is nothing but darkness here."

"You know that as well as I. But why have you come to me?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you. Until now, I didn't really see the connection, but now I think I understand."

"Oh? Do you? How can you even begin to understand me?"

"Do you enjoy watching them suffer? To be pitted against one another like animals in a cage?"

"Would you even care if you did not love one of them?"

"I love all life."

"Of that, I am well aware. But the love you have for that man is singular and unique. You would do anything in your power to help him, and yet you are held back."

"I cannot do anything for him if I disappear."

"Indeed. For by revealing any knowledge that exists outside of his reality, you sever the link that binds the two of you together in this place."

"That is why I have come to ask you a question in his stead."

"Then what is it?"

"What will you do? If Kether wins, I mean. Do you even care, so long as Cloud dies?"

"Of that, I am already assured, so their fighting is completely pointless in that regard."

"Then why did you sow the seeds of hate in Kether's mind? What purpose did it serve?"

"Because of Kether's relation to Cloud, he is now the only one capable of fulfilling my ambition for me."

"But why? If you're dead, then why continue holding on to the things of the living?"

"You should know better than anyone that death...is merely a term that loosely describes a state of being. As long as I am and continue to be, Kether is my archetype."

"For what?"

"For the only thing one such as myself could ever hope for..."