Author's Notes: My brain is turning into gooey melted cheese! Hehehe. I guess this is what I get for writing extremely serious fics. Writing FF7: Lammas Night made my brain melt…well I hope you guys like it.
On another note, I apologize for the delay. I went home a few days ago to visit my family, friends and my loved one for a week, not to mention spent my birthday and Valentine's Day with my Teddybear.
And no, sorry I'm not going to delve much on Sylvia, because her relationship here with everyone is going to be different than to my other fanfics (this applies to everyone else). You can even say that Vile Rose is an AU of SOTL. Don't worry; I'll be dropping off some clues about her in this story. Ohohohoho!
Disclaimer: I don't own FF7. I don't own Squaresoft. However, all original characters belong to me. If you take them, I'll take your kidneys as payment.
Vile Rose
Chapter 6: Through the Looking Glass
by Silver Countess
"This doesn't make sense at all!" Reno threw the report on the table in frustration. He had been sifting through the reports made by the Turks regarding Aeris' capture in Midgar. And frankly the gory details on Don Corneo's death unnerved him.
"What doesn't?" Sylvia's smooth voice replied, not bothering to look up from Prof Hojo's report on her monitor.
"This!" Reno waved the folder marked 'Confidential.' "This absolute crap Tseng wrote about Aeris when she got captured." A few of the pictures dropped and Reno picked it up, looking a little green when he examined them. "What the fuck! This is disgusting! He didn't have to get pictures, and not this many!"
Sylvia turned around to take one of the photos that Reno was complaining about. The picture showed the body of Don Corneo, or rather what's left of him, which was nothing more than pink slop and half of his head. Granted it was disgusting, she'd seen worse. "What's so shocking? After being in Hojo's laboratory and seeing what goes there, I'm surprised you have such a weak stomach."
Reno wasn't listening as he continued to rave. "I bet he jacks off at this too, fucking bastard." Sylvia noticed that Reno tend to swear a lot when under stress, but in this case she understood his distress. He had grown up with Aeris and knew her to be a rather sweet young girl with some special abilities. Seeing her capable of committing cold-blooded murder, well not so cold blooded considering that it was in self-defense. Still the manner how she did it made her wonder.
"…he probably kept the damn video too…" Reno muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets as he fumbled for a cigarette and a lighter
"Video?"
"Huh?" Reno turned a cigarette in his mouth.
"You mentioned a video," Sylvia repeated carefully.
"Yeah," Reno agitatedly lighted the cigarette. "Don Corneo keeps some kind of recording equipment in his bedroom. He likes to watch himself." He made a disgusted snort.
Sylvia looked thoughtful. "Do you think Tseng still has that video?"
"Most likely, he's very thorough when it comes to this sort of thing," he motions to the folder filled with photos and reports.
"So why is it, that Hojo doesn't have a copy?"
At that Reno gave a chuckle. "The only thing me and that dirty old man have in common is a dislike over Hojo. Just the thought of that sick puppy seeing that video and after was enough to turn even Tseng's stomach. 'Sides, all that ruckus over Shin-Ra's demise and Rufus' stomping on territory kept the professor and Tseng busy to remember about it."
It didn't take much of a genius to think about what he meant by 'after'. "I see. I take it that the video is in Tseng's personal database?"
"Yeah," Reno replied as he blew a smoke ring, looking a little less stressed.
Slender fingers flew on the keyboard. "And the password?"
"tse23345"
Sylvia didn't comment on how he knew Tseng's personal password. It didn't take long for her to find the video. She clicked on it and began to watch.
It wasn't a long video, hardly less than hour when it ended and yet even she felt a little sick watching it. The near rape scene ended with Aeris literally turning Don Corneo into nothing but a slopping glop. She was grateful her console didn't have speakers. She didn't need to hear the screaming. Reno wasn't watching, in fact he had turned his back on her and was angrily smoking away.
When the video was over, she looked up to the Turk. "Reno, I want you to find the original video. Once you find it, destroy it. The same goes to any copies you see."
Reno stomped on his cigarette butt on the carpet. "On it," he replied a little gruffly as he left the office.
Sylvia watched him and clicked on the rewind button, and began to replay a particular scene, she did it three times over before picking up the phone and began to dial.
"Orion Corporation, Historical Research Department. How may I help you?" A rather pleasant voice on the other end answered.
"This is Sylvia. Connect me to Prof. Jarek please."
-oOo-
The morning was rather pleasant, as she spent a rather leisurely breakfast with Cloud and the others. Tifa had decided to skip breakfast for some reason or another, which Aeris didn't seem to mind. Cloud didn't either, in fact he was very attentive this morning.
But all good things must come to an end and soon enough they were on their way, this time to Junon. The walk wasn't too bad this time, the monsters weren't as problematic, considering that the area was very near Shin-Ra territory and SOLDIERs patrolled the area frequently.
It wasn't until near sun down when they finally arrived on what looked to be a very smelly fishing village just outside of Junon. The water by the beach didn't look all to clean and there was a rather tall looking electrical fence that protected Junon from the outside world.
"Well, Spike, any ideas how to get in?" Barret muttered as he squinted at the towering walls of steel and concrete. "Not like we have an invitation card handy."
Cloud looked at the direction he was looking at and then at the village. "There's someone in the village that might be able to help us. We once passed here a few months ago when we rescued a little girl who was playing in the beach from a monster. We found out later that her grandfather had relatives inside Junon. He might have an extra pass for us to borrow."
Aeris looked at the garbage-strewn beach, oil and other rubbish floating on the water. How could a child even think of playing in this filth? "A monster?"
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. She was out playing with her dolphin when a giant kraken appeared and attacked her. Her dolphin died trying to protect her but she wasn't fast enough to reach the shore. It was only luck that Tifa and I arrived here in time."
A kraken…? She heard a humming noise, not unlike the noise she had heard in Midgar. It was the sound of a Mako Reactor. She looked at the direction of the noise and saw the towers overlooking Junon.
Wasn't there anything mankind couldn't think of doing? They create wars, and set out to abuse and destroy the very land that gave them life and for what? Money? Power? But even then, without Shin-Ra, the humans would still remain so destructive.
Maggots. All of them are.
Nothing more than over-glorified parasites feeding on the Planet.
She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder interrupting her reverie and turned to see Cloud. "Let's go." She nodded and followed him.
Cloud led them to the direction of one houses, this one looked better than the rest as it had plants growing on pots, meticulously cared for. He knocked on the door and a few moments it was opened by a very old man. He looked pleasantly surprised when he saw Cloud and Tifa.
"Oh, it's you!" The old man smiled as he pushed the door wider. "Come in, come in all of you." They all stepped in, Cloud first followed by Aeris, then Tifa and the rest. Barret because of his bulk had to squeeze himself sideways through the door. The old man looked a bit nervous when he saw the red feline beast, but said nothing of it since the huge cat didn't seem to be ferocious. He simply assumed that he was some kind of exotic pet.
"So what brings you back to our humble village?" the old man ushered them to the living room as a little girl who looked no older than twelve bound down from the stairs, laughing as she hugged her grandpa who then picked her up.
"We were wondering if you could help us," Cloud began. "We need to get into Junon. You see one of my friends," he turns to Aeris. "Needs to see a doctor from there, but as you can see, we don't have a pass."
"Ah…" The old man turned to the little girl, a wrinkled hand on her shoulder. "Go upstairs and get the small box in grandpa's table." He put her down, as the little girl, eager to please him nodded and bounded up. She came down a few minutes later carrying an old ratty letterbox. The old man thanked her, patting her head as he opened it, and took out what looked to be a pass of some sort. He gave it to Cloud.
"Here, take it. We owe you that much." Cloud looked about ready to protest when the old man held out his hand. "Now, now, not after what you did for my precious granddaughter, that is the very least I can do."
Cloud accepted the pass without further comment. "Thank you."
Their visit pretty much ended very shortly when Cloud got the pass and they were all headed to the gate that would lead them within the city. However, Aeris knew that it would be rather suspicious if the guards all saw them go together. They couldn't split either; there was only one pass.
"You need not worry," the voice whispered. "You have the power. You actually don't need that thing. All you have to do is to talk to the guard…and he'll let you in, as much in the same way that your companion can not resist to your suggestions."
"I was thinking of that…but that would make me suspicious wouldn't it? Better to not let myself be revealed so soon, but it won't hurt to nudge things a bit to our advantage…just as long I'm not too obvious about it."
The voice laughed. "You're learning very quickly…" Aeris felt very pleased at that compliment.
Cloud stopped. "I don't think this will work…" he looked at the others then at the gate where a guard looked to be snoring at his post. "We look too suspicious."
Barret and Red looked at each other.
Aeris smiled as she placed a reassuring hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Why don't we try anyway? I'm sure it won't be much of a problem. The man is practically asleep. I don't think he'll notice too much."
Cloud looked about ready to protest, but gazing into her eyes he found it too difficult to resist her. What harm could her plan do? They couldn't get in any other way. He nodded finally in agreement, not really noticing how Tifa's eyes hardened when she glared at him. "All right, we'll try it your way."
He was rewarded by a bright smile that took his breath away and made Tifa fume even more. "That's great, let's go then!" she grabbed for his hand, as she tugged him playfully to the direction of the city gate.
"I can't believe her," Tifa muttered under her breath as she followed behind. "How can Cloud just go along with that?"
Barret apparently heard her and turned to Tifa. "Believe what? Spike's little crush?" Tifa steamed at that, Barret visibly winced at that. "Oh. Sorry."
"I've known him since childhood," Tifa began, ignoring his last comment as she glared at Aeris who was chatting up the sleepy guard. The guard didn't seem to mind them at all as he waved them through. "And Cloud isn't so easily distracted like this…"
Barret glanced at Aeris and Cloud and shrugged. "Well…with Aeris, there's something about her that makes it really hard to say no to her."
"I know…and that's what I'm worried about."
Meanwhile Cloud just looked pleasantly surprised when they found themselves inside Junon. "Well…that was easy."
"Too easy."
Aeris turned to Tifa, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Oh? But it got us in…didn't it?"
Cloud turned to the two women, suddenly aware of the tension between them. "Well it worked either way and I'm glad. But right now, I think it would be best if we split up. I heard from the guard that today is the President's inauguration so there'll be SOLDIERs and possibly the Turks around. I still need to bring Aeris to the doctor to get rid of the implant."
"Me and Red here head go off then," Barret replied. "But where do we meet?"
"The docks. I heard that Rufus is going to Costa del Sol using a ship so we'll be heading that way as well."
"How about you, Tif?" Barret turned to the brunette. She didn't seem to look too happy about the whole split up but she didn't speak.
She sighed, looking at the rather oblivious blonde and the witch beside him. "I'll go along with Barret and Red."
Cloud never saw the disappointed look in her eyes as he gave a nod. "Alright then. See you there once the inauguration is over. If we aren't there when the ship is about to leave, go ahead without us."
"Gotcha," Barret gruffly replied. "Come on, Tif, lets go and do what Spike says." Tifa looked hesitant looking at Cloud who now had his back on her and was leading Aeris through an alley. Her heart felt like breaking but she steeled herself. She couldn't let her win like this.
"Yeah. Let's go."
-oOo-
Sephiroth woke up, feeling a little tired and confused of the strange dream. Who was that child? And why did feel like he had seen her before…? It was strange, that old church. He'd seen it before but he couldn't remember either where.
He groaned, pushing aside the thin blankets. He could hear the band music and the excited chatter of people just outside his window. He almost forgot. Today was the day that the president would be arriving in Junon.
Well, his deal with the president was over and now he had to focus on finding the Ancient. He stood up, getting his shirt as he went to the toilet to get cleaned up and get dressed when he heard a soft beeping sound from his coat pocket.
Curious he picked it up and was surprised to see it was the device that Sylvia had given him last night. It was blinking and beeping incessantly. He frowned, wondering if it was broken. He carefully examined it, looking for anything to push or just to see if it was damaged in anyway when he accidentally touched something and a holovideo projection appeared with a map of what looked to be the city of Junon. A red dot marked a spot in one area of the city that Sephiroth recognized as the seedier parts of Junon.
"What the…" he looked at it in awe. He'd never seen anything like it before and was well aware that Shin-Ra did not have this kind of technology. Upon closer inspection on the device, he saw the trademark of an eight-pointed star with the word Orion stamped on the bottom.
This is a special device developed by our R&D department.
Technology that Orion has unearthed and studied.
Was it possible that he was holding a piece of the technology of the Cetra? Just exactly how far have they gone? But he had little time to muse about that. He still needed to find Aeris. Still, he can't help but think about that strange woman. There was something about her…that he felt was dangerous…and yet so achingly familiar.
There was a soft beep and the holovideo map disappeared. He placed the device back into his pocket just as he shrugged on his coat. Right now he had other things to think of, like breakfast for one.
-oOo-
The clinic was sparse and it was rather shocking to see that it was located in the absolute worst part of town. Well it wasn't so bad compared to the slums of Midgard. At least here the sun could still shine it, still it wasn't enough to erase the squalor.
The nurse that greeted them was a rather plain looking girl, with mousy brown hair and lenses that hid her eyes. She looked rather surprised to see Cloud, and there was a slight blush on her cheeks. "Oh Cloud! I didn't think you'd visit us again so soon. Please, come in both of you," she opened the clinic door and led them to a small waiting room where an old man sat down waiting. To her relief, the place was clean, the scent of antiseptic and alcohol tickling her nose.
"Hello, Rina," Cloud greeted her, not really noticing how the girl practically shied behind the clipboard she was holding. "We're here to see Dr. Kenneth. Is he in?"
There was a series of excited nods. "Oh…oh yes! He's here. He's just examining Mrs. Marshal right now. I'll tell him you and your lady friend are here." She made her way to the door with the metal plate and the name Dr. Kenneth Sands etched on it. It wasn't a very long wait, hardly ten minutes had passed when the door opened again and the nurse was escorting an old woman out. She looked up to Cloud and Aeris smiling. "You can go in. He's waiting."
Cloud and Aeris stood up, but they didn't immediately go in. Instead, Cloud turned to her, his expression was solemn, and she could see concern reflected in his gaze. "Are you nervous?"
Of a little pain? She wanted to laugh at him. Concern? How pathetic. He didn't seem this concerned when he abandoned her at Don Corneo's mercy. Aeris smiled and shook her head. "A little," she said softly. "It won't hurt so much would it?"
"Of course not. Dr. Kenneth is the best physician I know. Trust me," Cloud gently guided her inside.
Once inside Aeris turned to the doctor, expecting to see someone old. Instead she saw a man his late twenties. He had shoulder length black hair, his eyes were the color of the sea and they were hidden behind a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He had a face that she could only describe as ageless.
"Cloud," the doctor stood up, his rather solemn gaze turned to him before shifting to her. His eyes seemed to tense up a bit when he looked at her but immediately relaxed. His voice was deep and solemn when he spoke. "It has been a while. What can I do for you?"
He nodded. "It's about my friend," he places a hand on her shoulder. "Shin-Ra implanted something on her arm. We were hoping you could find a way to take it out."
The doctor didn't seem too shocked at that and he didn't ask any questions as he motioned Aeris closer. She obeyed, shrugging off her jacket and revealing her right arm. And there on her upper arm was along thin scar. It was almost invisible and Aeris didn't even notice it until Cloud had mentioned it.
Warm hands held her arm as the young doctor examined it, gently probing the flesh and muscle, trying to find where it is. She winced when he pressed a little too hard on the scar.
"I'll have my nurse give you an x-ray," he finally spoke. "It's tiny but it's there, just below her skin. The x-ray can give me a clearer picture on where to operate."
"So you can?" Cloud looked relieved. The doctor was already summoning his nurse who immediately came in.
"Yes. Of course, it's a fairly simple procedure. I'll be done in a few hours," he replied as he turned to his nurse. "Rina, I need you to prep Ms. Gainsborough for her x-ray and once that's done prep her for surgery." He added almost absently. "You'd better wait outside, Cloud. This will take a while."
"Thank you. About the payment—"
The doctor cut him off. "It's alright. You don't have to pay me now." He gave him a rather dismissive wave, telling him without words that he'd rather be alone right now. Cloud nodded, following Rina and Aeris as they left him alone.
The door just closed behind him when a thought came to him. Wait just a moment…he didn't recall telling him her name…
-oOo-
Reno had been smoking his fifth cigarette in the last ten minutes. It was morning and he was lounging on a well-worn settee in an inn waiting. He looked down at his hand, his fingers toying with a small white round stone that resembled much like a pearl, only bigger than a child's marble. It was caught in the petals of a silver rose and suspended in a platinum chain.
Aeris…
He sighed as he turned to look at the stone in the light. Where are you, kid? He thought to himself as he absently flicked the cigarette butt on the growing mound of ash and used up cigarettes on the ash tray. God if anything happened to you… He suddenly swore, slamming his lighter on the side table beside him, startling the passing innkeeper who stared at him with some nervousness.
Reno took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and at the same time resisted the urge to grab his cigarettes. He had been smoking and drinking heavily more so than before ever since Aeris was caught. He can't help but think of the last memories they spent together, safe in their own world, under the watchful eye of the church as it hid them from a cruel reality filled with such greed and neglect. A time when things were less complicated.
Geez, Reno, if you continue smoking like a chimney you'll end up smelling like one.
Soft hands rubbing against his back. I keep telling you to quit but do you ever listen? No! Now look at you, you've been coughing non-stop for almost two weeks now!
A soft laughter, like bells in the cool air. Hey! Knock it out…I'm not seven anymore…
"I wish you were…" he softly whispered to the stone in his hand, watching as he curled his fingers around it. He closed his eyes, wanting badly that this was nothing but a horrible dream, but it was real…as real as the pain of the pendant cutting against his palm.
"I'll bring you home…I promise…" he swore to himself, just as a shadow loomed over him. He looked up.
Sephiroth had gone down, hoping to find some breakfast before heading out when he noticed a sober, if not depressed Turk lounging in the same inn he was in. He didn't think it was hardly a coincidence and found it was best if he knew what he wanted and be done with it.
Reno had looked up and Sephiroth noticed that he looked far worse for wear. He had heavy bags under his eyes and his hair was even rattier than it usually was. The Turk quickly shoved something into his pocket which he felt was faintly magical. Materia maybe. "What do you want?"
Sephiroth watched as Reno picked up another stick of cigarette, lightening it first and totally ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign posted on the wall beside him. The innkeeper had done nothing of course, he knew better than to further agitate a Turk.
"You're after Aeris," it was more of a statement than a question. "I'm coming with you."
Sephiroth was annoyed. He didn't need Shin-Ra's lackeys dogging him each step of the way. "No."
"You don't have a choice."
"I've fulfilled my end of the bargain," he brushed past him, walking towards the door when he heard the Turk swear, the sound of a chair's legs scrapping against the wooden floor at being pushed back roughly.
"This isn't about your fucking deal with Shin-Ra!" Reno yelled at his back. The passion in his voice, the anger and desperation he heard is what made Sephiroth pause. The silence within the inn was almost deafening, most of the people have wisely fled, eager to avoid the possible bloodshed that might happen between the two men.
"This isn't about Shin-Ra…Orion or your stupid fucking mission," he spat, anger boiling within him. Alone, Reno knew that the chances of finding Aeris and trying to subdue her would be next to impossible. He needed Sephiroth's help like it or not. "This is about Aeris."
Sephiroth stood there, not moving…not speaking. "He couldn't understand…" Reno thought, his fists unclenching and clenching, trying to find the words to make him understand what he wanted to say but couldn't. But rather spoke the first things his heart had been yearning since the night he heard that Tseng had brought her in.
"I'm bringing her back home."
There was an even longer if not tense silence. Reno waited, and his stomach nearly lurched when the silver haired General gave a clip nod. "I know where she is."
-oOo-
The operation was done faster than what she had initially thought. Local anesthesia had only been needed as the doctor skillfully operated on her. It was strange how Aeris noted that the doctor both used traditional scientific medicine with Materia magic.
He was sewing on the wound, and through out the whole process he had not spoken a word to her. "But why does it feel like I know him…" she thought to herself. Still it was not an unpleasant silence.
Warmth tingled on her skin, motes of green energy floating just above the wound and watched the scar slowly heal, her skin flawless and hardly a mark where the stitches were.
"There…it's done," his voice was gentle, letting go of her arm. "You'll be fine. I'll have the nurse prescribe you some antibiotics, to avoid infection," he said, turning away to get his prescription pad and began scribbling on it.
The rest of the words were a blur to Aeris, watching him. There was something about him that tickled her mind. A smiling face of a man in white, there was a bright flash of light as she felt a strong pair of arms carrying her away. She heard a woman's voice…her mother's? What was this, a memory perhaps?
"Here," he handed the note to the startled young woman. "You should go. Your friend has been waiting outside."
There was no hiding the regret she could hear in his voice and the strange kind of sadness in them that made her think. She has heard of those words…but where?
"Thank you." She took the prescription, and walked out of the door, looking once back at the doctor who was already busy with something else.
The door closed with a click, and Dr. Sands sighed, leaning against his chair, his eyes closed. "I never thought…" he opened them again as he reached to pull open a drawer and pick up what looked to be a photograph. It was old and the edges were worn with age. The colors were almost faded but did little to hide the smiling young man in the picture, holding up a little girl no more than five in a pink dress in his arms. Beside him was another woman, with long brown hair and eyes the same shade of green as the girl's. They looked to be in a park of some sort.
"Oh, Ifalna…if only you could see her…" he whispered as he gently thumbed the photograph. "She looks exactly like you…"
-oOo-
I'm so sorrrrrryyyy! It's been a long time! I've been doing a lot of stuff right now, mostly personal. My mom's health has been ailing so I'm at her side most of the time, and there was this serious case of mental block. I'll try to update some more…well hopefully more. Will be putting up my own webpage soon too…wahh I need proofreaders and editors! Email me!