He sat with his head in his hands, silent and alone in the dining room. At least in here, someone could keep an eye on him, but Sephiroth hadn't moved an inch since sitting down.
"Shouldn't we do something?" Cloud whispered, peeking in through the doorway at the leader of SCYTHE.
Zack, just as worried as Cloud could only shrug, "What CAN we do? I doubt he'd take kindly to us trying to cheer him up. Seriously. What would you do if Tifa woke up one day and didn't have a clue who you were, or who she was?"
Looking towards Zack, his blue eyes wide and blonde spikes fluffing from the sudden movement, Cloud whispered urgently, "Is it bad as that?"
Gazing down, Zack scuffed his boot on the floor a bit, arms folded on his chest, "Yes," he answered simply, "Aerith said she doesn't remember anything... Look, Cloud, all we can do is wait for her to get better, okay? Leave Seph alone, he'll deal with this in his own way."
"But what if she doesn't get better?" Cloud demanded, then snapped his mouth shut as his voice echoed in the hall. Quickly, he glanced into the dining room to see that Sephiroth hadn't even twitched.
Once more, Zack shook his head, still having not lifted his eyes, "We've got to hope that she does. Okay? Go do something else, Cloud, go talk to Tifa, she's been making eyes at you ever since she got here. Seriously, I've never seen a girl so love struck- other than Aerith and Katy. Now git!" Finally, he looked up and shooed Cloud away.
Sighing, the blonde moved off, meandering around the halls until finally emerging outside. Standing on the landing, his eyes swept over the area, finally settling on the Candle. There were a pair of hunched figures sitting there, both in black with long hair. Shifting his shoulders, Cloud headed off to join the two female SCYTHE members. They were as silent as Sephiroth, though not quite so depressed. Aerith sat with her knees tucked against her chest, Tifa with her legs folded Indian style, and both staring at the flames without really seeing them. Hitching his pants slightly, Cloud took a seat next to Tifa.
"Hey," she said, stirring slightly to look at him. "How's Seph?"
Rubbing his palms on his knees, Cloud sighed, "Same as he was this afternoon," he replied, looking up at the sky. "Just sitting there. What about Katy?"
This time, Aerith answered, "She woke up a few times, but still didn't know who I was. I've left her with the Cosmo healer for now. Nothing will happen to her."
Silence fell then, and Cloud shifted uncomfortably. All this depression going around, even Zack being uncharacteristically quiet. His brows drew downwards, "Hey, at least the gate is stable," he pointed out, "she got that done, and we've got Vincent under watch."
Tifa straightened and pushed her hair back from her face, "Yeah, but the number of monsters on this world are increasing and they're becoming more organized. We've saved everyone we can in the area, but that leaves out the other two continents. Shinra's attacking that chain of islands that came from Earth, and winning. They've got some new super-creature that only follows Hojo's orders."
Aerith pulled her knees closer, "Michelle," she supplied, "Katy's best friend."
Cloud bit his lower lip, then got up and turned to head back inside. Tifa looked after him for a moment, then sighed, settling back down to what she'd been doing before... Nothing.
Taking the steps two at a time, Cloud headed into the Canyon's clinic, pausing at the door and peeking in to find that the room was empty except for Katy. She was laying with her back to the door, breathing slowly and quietly, her glasses on the table beside the cot. Entering carefully, he edged closer, then took a seat on the chair next to the cot.
She turned over and stared at him.
"Um..." Cloud faltered and looked down.
"Who're you?" she asked.
Chewing on his lower lip, Cloud looked at her again, "I'm Cloud. Cloud Strife," he told her. "You really don't remember me?"
Katy lay there for a long moment, squinting at him. The sheets had more color than she did. "You're cute. I think I'd remember a cutie like you."
Blushing, Cloud leaned away from her, "You're engaged," he told her, "To Sephiroth, and he'd gut me if anything happened between us."
A sly smile curved her lips as she reached out to get her glasses and put them on, getting a better look at him, "Hm, that Aerith girl said something like that to me too. But I really don't remember."
Taking a breath, Cloud shook his head, "Okay, lets start with this- what do you remember?"
She fell silent.
Taking a breath, she relaxed back in the cot, too fatigued to remain on her elbows as she had been. She was wearing her nightclothes, made of soft materials and floppy. Still, Katy said nothing.
"Come on, you've got to remember something!" Cloud urged, "Something small- like uh, your original hair color?" he regretted saying that, but Katy didn't take offence.
Shaking her head, she eyed him, "Hush, I'm trying, okay?" she retorted. "Hair color... I guess it wasn't red," she added. "um..." Again, she fell silent and Cloud wiggled on his chair impatiently.
"Hey." Looking up, they both stared at Curt as the barbarian-like man stood in the door, "Cloud, get out of here," he ordered, jerking a thumb.
Sighing, he got to his feet, "Just keep trying?" he asked her.
Nodding, Katy offered a smile, "I will. Uh- hey... I want to see this Sephiroth guy. He's gotta be a real looker, yeah?"
Blushing, Cloud shrugged, "I wouldn't know, but... um, sure, I'll see about it. Okay." Turning, he fled from the room, feeling his back burning from Curt's stare.
Cloud sat picking at his plate. Dinner was really great and wonderful, but he just couldn't concentrate on eating it. Sephiroth had removed himself up to the upper cliffs. Curt was watching him, Wren watching Katy, and the rest of SCYTHE just had to do whatever would keep them occupied. Aerith and Zack were taking care of the Chocobos, Perrie, Lloyd, and Morda were sparring, Tifa was helping in the kitchen, and Cloud... didn't feel like doing much of anything.
Abruptly, the seat beside him was taken. "You don't like my cooking?" she asked, and Cloud looked up to meet Tifa's red-brown eyes.
Blushing, he shook his head then nodded then sighed, "No- that's... I'm just. I can't concentrate, that's all. It tastes fine," he amended finally and she smiled slightly, putting her elbows on the table and resting her chin in them.
"I understand," she replied, "I was just teasing anyway. You usually wolf down anything I make, so I know you like it."
He blushed even more deeply and looked at his plate. "Um, I... you... cook often?"
Laughing, Tifa nodded, "Yeah, most of what you've eaten since I got here has been mine."
Cloud wasn't sure how dark a shade of red he could go, but he was probably trying for a record at the moment, "Oh."
Tifa smiled at him again, "It's okay that you didn't realize, you liked it, after all." Mutely, he nodded, unable to think of anything to say that wouldn't end up with his foot in his mouth. "So, what's got you so distracted tonight?"
Pressing his lips together a moment, Cloud took a breath, then a bite or two of his dinner before answering, "Katy... I ...went and talked to her. She'd forgotten that she was engaged to Sephiroth and called me cute..." He blinked, blue eyes turning to peer towards her as Tifa played with one of his spikes with one hand, a coy smile on her lips.
"You know," she said softly without looking at his face, "You're the reason why I joined SCYTHE. I couldn't let you get all the glory and stuff, you know."
Finally, his eyes flashed with humor, "I doubt that. You never much cared for that sort of thing. You just thought I'd get hurt, running around with that crazy bastard Sephiroth."
Her red-brown eyes focused on his, her smile fading briefly, then returned, "No," Tifa replied, "You can take care of yourself."
Snorting, Cloud turned his attention back to finishing his dinner, Tifa's fingers still playing with his spike. Scraping the last of his food from the plate, he swallowed the last gulps of water. "Lets go for a walk," Cloud suggested. "Just, patrol the area a little, make sure everything's alright..."
That knowingly coy smile touched Tifa's lips again, her eyes sparkling, "Sure," she replied and stood. Getting to his feet, Cloud hesitated, then offered his arm to her. Taking it, she fell into step beside him. "You've gotten taller," she told him, "Since you left for Midgar." He tipped his chin up slightly, getting that cocky look he'd stolen from Zack, including that air of casual confidence that came with it. Tifa thrilled to see it- he hadn't just gotten taller, he'd grown up too.
Companionable silence fell between them as they headed out of Cosmo Canyon's living area and out the front arch, taking a slow, casual walk down the path. There was no danger here, there were patrols on the ridges that would keep out the monsters and armed fighters frequently walked the path, ready to sound the alarm. But nothing was stirring on this night, and Cloud smiled slightly, enjoying the chance to just be with Tifa.
The day had been dull and generally disappointing for the members of SCYTHE. Katy had been awake for most of the day, but enforced bed rest had made her sleep a lot. Otherwise, she was silent and brooding. When asked, she would reply that she was trying to remember things, but that it wasn't working. She didn't even remember what she'd been doing to get herself in this state of total loss of self. At least she remembered things she'd been told flat out, such as people's names when they reintroduced themselves. She asked for Sephiroth several times, but he never appeared, even if Aerith, Zack, and Cloud had vowed to get him for her.
So, the day passed, and she was sleepy again.
It was quiet in the glade, with the cherry tree in full bloom and flowers everywhere. She smiled to herself, but couldn't help but feel like she was missing someone. She was alone here in this field of green and flowers, her silky hair getting pulled in the breeze that fluttered a never-ending shower of cherry blossom petals across the ground. "Hair color," she mused, thinking of that cute blonde. "Cloud Strife, and Sephiroth."
She stood, white sundress fluttering around her thighs and she pushed her hair back from her face once more. "Sephiroth."
Taking a slow deep breath, she let it out in a sigh. "That's who I'm missing. Sephiroth is supposed to be here with me, but he isn't. They are upset- Aerith, Cloud, Curt, Zack... They want me to remember, but I can't. They don't want to tell me what I should remember either. I want to remember, but the one who..."
Something dawned on her, "the one who remembered for me isn't here to return that to me. Sephiroth is not here. I want Sephiroth."
Another deep breath, and she screamed at the top of her lungs- jolting herself awake.
Sitting up, she looked around, finding herself in the clinic still. This was not where she wanted to be. Lifting her left hand, she looked at her ring, squinting without her glasses and in the dim light of the overhead oil lamp. Reaching over, she grabbed her glasses and put them on. Well, if Sephiroth wouldn't come to her, she would have to go to him.
Sliding her feet to the floor, she pushed the blankets off fully and stood. Pausing a moment to catch her balance, she shuffled from the room, past the sleeping man seated in the hall, who looked like Curt but much smaller and thinner. Though her theory was sound, the implementation was a bit problematic. She did not know where Sephiroth WAS! Oh well, she was tired of sleeping anyway.
Quietly, she shuffled along, wondering to herself, "Hair color. It's not an important thing. What matters is how I look wearing it. But Cloud is right, I should remember what it was originally." Down the hallway she went, silently opening doors and peeking into rooms. Some were bedrooms, some storage rooms, one door she passed was a dining room with a big round table. "I should remember something about that," she muttered, staring at the table.
But she couldn't, so she moved on, after all, Sephiroth was not there. Continuing down the halls, she finally shuffled outside by accident. "Oh how pretty!" she breathed, espying the large bonfire off a ways to the left. There was a figure seated at it, hair glowing fiery red from the light. "There you are," she whispered and smirked. Looking down, she carefully took the steps, then made her way across the open ground between herself and the man dressed in a black coat with the fiery-tinted hair.
He didn't move, didn't twitch as she came up behind him, but as she drew closer, her heart warmed. Yes, this was the one she had been missing, her body knew his scent, and she crept closer, kneeling behind him and wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders, burying her face into his hair, breathing. "Seph," she whispered.
Sephiroth stirred at last, blinking and looking down at the arms that encircled him. "Katy...?" he turned his head slightly. "You... remember now?"
"No," she replied curtly, but didn't remove her face from his hair, nor open her eyes, "You were supposed to. But you haven't been there to give it back. So I came looking for you."
For a moment, all he could do was blink, "I- ...was supposed to remember for you?" he asked. Katy didn't answer, just breathed on him. "I was," he said finally, remembering what she'd said before attempting the Gate the first time. "I was supposed to remember for you." Sephiroth sighed and lifted his hands, peeling her off of his shoulders and pulled her around in front of him.
Katy stared up at his face, as if seeing it for the first time, then smiled, "Yeah, you're a hell of a lot cuter than that Cloud boy," she determined and snuggled against his chest.
"Wait, what?" Sephiroth sputtered, jealousy rising like acid in his throat.
Humming softly, Katy twirled her fingers through his hair carelessly, "I saw him the day before yesterday. He asked me to remember what my hair color was. I still can't, but that's alright, it's not important. I remembered you, and that's important. I remembered that you're supposed to have my memories and that's important. So. Lets go to bed, Sephiroth. I wandered around for a long time, looking for you, I'm tired now, and I want to make everyone stop worrying."
Nodding, Sephiroth tightened his hold on Katy, then stood, carrying her easily in his arms as he headed back towards his room, the one he was supposed to share with her.
"Sephiroth- Katy's mi-...ssing..."
Katy sat up sleepily, clutching the sheets to her chest as she stared at Wren, who stood in the door that had been slammed open. Sephiroth blinked a few times and lowered Masamune, and it was only fortunate that Wren had not stepped into the room any further than he had, or he'd have been shish kabob.
"Get out," Sephiroth ordered and immediately, the door was closed. Sitting up, the general shoved the blankets aside and got to his feet, setting Masamune aside and hunting around for some clean clothes.
Yawning, Katy flopped out across the bed and wallowed in the place where he'd been laying, face buried in his pillow. "I love the way you smell," she murmured, voice muffled. "Specially after we make love. All musky and spicy and nice."
Looking back at her, Sephiroth snorted and replied, "You taste good." And with that, he headed into the bathroom to get cleaned up.
Heaving a sigh, Katy rolled out of bed, quite reluctantly, but there was no use staying there since Sephiroth had gotten up. Following him into the bathroom, she stretched and climbed into the bath with him to help him wash.
An hour later, they emerged and Katy trailed him to get breakfast. He was a bit grouchy still, having not eaten in a while, and Katy just thought it was funny. The group looked up as they entered. "Katy! Do you remember now?" Cloud wanted to know.
Smiling cheerfully, she replied, "Nope! But that doesn't mean we can't get on with things. I'm supposed to do something about Vincent, right? Where's he? What was I supposed to do? It's easier to remember things if you just remind me, okay?" she looked at Cloud and smiled, "Thanks for telling me Seph's name. That helped a lot." He blushed.
Sephiroth said nothing and just sat and waited to have something put in front of him. Tifa got up and headed off, returning with two plates and set them in front of the pair of leaders. "So, what're we going to do now?" Perrie asked from where he was seated straddling a chair, his arms folded on the back, Morda, and Lloyd were also at the table, lounging in their chairs, Lloyd's tilted back. Tifa retook her seat next to Cloud where he sat at the next table over, but his chair facing the others.
Not giving an answer immediately, Sephiroth ate his breakfast, his eyes flicking up to rest upon Zack and Aerith, who were standing off to the side, then at Curt and Wren, perched on the table Cloud and Tifa were seated near. "Fix Vincent," he stated, then looked towards Katy, "You're suppose to purge Jenova from him." She looked up, then nodded in understanding, "Then we're going to go stop Shinra from taking Hawaii and fix Michelle, who's the last candidate for being Jenova's puppet."
Katy sighed softly, "Almost done," she murmured, "we need to destroy the last of Jenova too, and then the worlds will be safe." Sephiroth nodded his agreement and turned his attention back to eating.
"Ah, here you are," the unmistakable growl of Nanaki's voice rumbled from the doorway. They looked over and Nanaki flicked his ears back, "Grandpa wishes to speak with Sephiroth and Katy. Are you available?"
Looking down at her plate, Katy nodded, "I'm done," her eyes turned towards Sephiroth, who was shoveling the last few mouthfuls into his stomach and stood. Once again, Katy followed behind, not knowing where they were going.
Upstairs was their destination, all the way to the top. Brugenhagen was waiting in his living room for them, hands folded in front of him. "So glad you could come right away," he said, completely serious for once, though Katy still couldn't see his eyes, hidden as they were beneath his brows. "Please, come this way."
"What's wrong?" Sephiroth asked, taking lead from Nanaki. Up the stairs they went again, up to the observatory. Brugenhagen closed the door behind Katy and turned to his machine. Silence fell, then the room filled with an ear-splitting wailing.
Sephiroth winced, then looked towards Brugenhagen who adjusted the volume, "That's the planet," the old man stated, "It's been crying like that since you got back. I've never heard it so loud before, or in that particular pattern."
The General's blue-green eyes turned towards Katy, who had gone still and silent, eyes closed. Brugenhagen seemed about to say something more, but Sephiroth lifted a black-gloved hand to caution silence. Light flickered from beneath Katy's feet, then arched upwards, and abruptly, the wailing stopped. The sudden silence set the hairs on the back of Sephiroth's neck on end; it was eerie.
A moment more, and Katy opened her eyes, the Lifestream fading from around her. "Sorry," she said needlessly, "The Planet's been trying to contact me- seems I came pretty close to doing that gate right, but not quite. I'll need Aerith's help though. And, I was told why I keep losing my memories." She cast a smile at them and turned towards the door. "I'll have to stabalize the gate first, Vince can wait."
Sephiroth paused, "Wait- you...remember now?"
Casting a look back over her shoulder as Brugenhagen opened the door. "Yep!" she announced, "Ifalna collected my memories and handed them back- and told me how to protect myself against losing them again whenever I channel large amounts of Lifestream." With that, she headed out and down the stairs, losing Sephiroth at the door to Brugenhagen's house. He scowled.
The day was hot, and it was only noon. Definitely summer, Katy sighed and wiped her forehead, slicking her bangs back from her face and pulling the black scrunchy tied with a Ribbon from her hair and fixed her folded-under ponytail. The Ribbon had been a gift from some adoring Cosmonian with the vow that it would deflect all status effects, which Katy figured would be quite useful. She'd never been Frogged before and didn't feel like having that experience in the middle of a battle to be honest. Black wasn't the best color to be wearing today, but Katy was wearing her sleeveless shirt, minus corset and jacket, her guns were present, however, as were the pants and boots of her uniform. Honestly, it was a lot easier to get dressed in the morning since they'd gotten their uniforms.
She took a breath and scratched Beltoren's neck lightly, then looked towards Sephiroth, who was riding Eris beside her. Behind, Zack and Aerith followed as they headed towards the faltering World Gate.
Looking up at the cloudless sky, squinting at the hot disk of the sun, Katy sighed, "You know," she commented to Sephiroth. His glowing blue-green eyes flicked towards her, but he said nothing. "I used to wish for an adventure like this. I think I even specifically said something about it shortly before our worlds collided. I thought it would be fun. I never thought people would die. I never thought it would be people I knew who would suffer for my amusement. I'm not enjoying this, not fully. It's hard to, when I know that Chris is dead, and Michelle may as well be dead, and I might even have to be the one to kill her. I failed her. I failed my promise- I said I'd protect her, I told her I'd give my life for her. I honestly loved her as much as I love my sister. She was my best friend, and it hurts that I was bitching the moment we drove off the road and into this world."
Closing her eyes, Katy fell silent, "I've been trying not to bitch so much since I realized this. Sometimes I don't realize I'm doing it, but I've been trying."
Silently, he gave a nod, not seeing any reason to make a comment. Katy licked her drying lips and continued, "I haven't been bitching much, have I?"
Seeing that this required a verbal reply, Sephiroth spoke at last, "Not really."
Looking down at the base of Beltoren's silvery-gold neck, Katy gave up and just dwelled on her depressive thoughts in silence. Sephiroth was being uncommonly moody today and it wasn't helping her keep her spirits up. It was like a flashback from before she'd come along- when she'd first met him in their dreams. He'd been so quiet and stony. She'd gotten so mad at him she'd thrown things in their dreams, in return, he'd chased her around till they woke.
The snort of amusement startled him out of his thoughts, "What?" he asked, thinking Katy was laughing at him for some reason. They'd almost reached their destination, the Gate was around the next corner.
Lifting her eyes, Katy gazed at him past the earpiece of her glasses, "Just remembering our first dreams together."
Sephiroth coughed lightly and looked away. "Oh, come on, I don't hold it against you," Katy teased, "It's kinda funny, actually." Instead of agreeing, he shook his head.
Smiling, Katy gazed ahead once again, "You kept chasing me, every night, cause I'd throw things at you, but you never could catch me."
"You flew," he stated, finally joining the conversation, "Just spread your arms and flapped them."
Grinning at him, Katy laughed, "It was a dream! I can fly in my dreams."
"You flew till I tied a rope around your feet," Sephiroth retorted, haughtily.
She snirked, "And I got you back."
Rolling his eyes skyward, Sephiroth sighed, "I'm glad no one ever saw that."
"I did," she pointed out, "You looked so cute! Pink suits you!"
Hackles raising, Sephiroth rounded on her, "Does not! And if you ever breathe a word about it-" he fell silent as the sound of Zack and Aerith sniggering behind them impinged upon their conversation. "Oh HOLY, you didn't tell them did you?" he accused Katy.
Laughing, Katy shook her head, "No, but you're making a scene." She pulled Beltoren to a stop at the Gate and dismounted without another word. The Chocobo warked softly, as if laughing as well and nuzzled her hair. Looking up at him, Katy kissed Beltoren's beak, "You're so sweet," she told him, "You live up to your namesake." His crest raised, an unmistakably sly look crossing his bird-face. Tipping her head to the side Katy eyed him, "Did I mistakenly create Companions?" she asked rhetorically, then blinked as Beltoren nodded. "Well, shit." Shaking her head, the Cetra ruffled his feathers, "Glad to have you around anyway," she told him and gave him another kiss.
"What are you talking about?" Zack asked.
Grinning up at Zack, Katy replied cheerfully, "Your mounts are intelligent- human intelligence to be precise. Meaning they're a lot more valuable in a fight than any normal bird. They'll stick to you like glue and if you need them, all you've gotta do is give a mental shout and they'll be there unless they're dead. You'd know if they were dead." She looked towards Beltoren, "Did I get that right?" the bird nodded once more and resettled his wings. Looking up at the three, Katy smiled, "It's a concept from a set of books I read..."
Aerith looked entranced, Zack curious, and Sephiroth... sour. "What're you not telling us?" he asked.
Wincing, Katy looked at the birds, "Is it okay if I tell them?" Beltoren heaved a sigh and nodded. "Right, well, they're not just human intelligent, they probably were humans at one point and use Lifestream. I don't know, the Companions I read about were horses and could use magic in a limited fashion, as in enhancing endurance and speed. They could also talk to their riders in their minds. It's up to your birds whether they talk to you or not, so, if you hear a voice in your head and it's not yours, look to your mount." She shrugged. "Anyway! Enough talk, it's time to get to work, before that blasted gate falls again." she looked back towards the gate, the frame of which pulsed and writhed, peeling off the archway it was built on then reattaching. It made her slightly ill to watch.
Finally, the other three dismounted, giving their Chocobos some odd looks. "Finally," a voice murmured as Katy loosened the bridal on Beltoren. "I was getting tired of you ignoring me," Beltoren nudged her shoulder, "I'll be there if you ever need me, and if you need assistance in magic, just ask."
Looking into his eyes, Katy smiled, "Thanks. So, were you created, or were you someone before?"
A soft chuckle echoed in her mind, "I was created. You created me. You mentioned that I lived up to my namesake. I am my namesake."
Katy's fingers went still, "meep..." she squeaked, "You mean... you're..." He nodded. "And you must know that I'm the one who put you through all that garbage..." Again he nodded, "Good thing you're really forgiving," she concluded, "Or I'd be in shit." Beltoren gave a chirping chuckle and shifted, taking hold of her shoulder, turning her to face the gate. "Yeah, yeah, get to work, right? We'll chat later." He gave a chirp.
Taking a breath, Katy headed towards the arch and scratched the back of her sweaty neck. "Are you ready?" Aerith asked, coming to stand beside the slightly taller Cetra as they gazed at the spell that was slowly tearing itself apart.
"As I'll ever be," Katy replied and looked over at Aerith.
Smiling, Aerith gave a nod and stepped forward, passing through the unstable gate without a hint of hesitation. Katy envied her calm at trusting her life to something that was obviously on its last leg. At least the return trip wouldn't be quite so scary.
"Third time's the charm," Katy muttered as she stared at the gate from the Planet's side. Aerith came to a stop on the other side and turned to face her, gazing across the gulf between the two planets. At least this time, neither of them had the danger of losing their memories, Katy having given Aerith the same training Ifalna had given her. Now there were two fully trained Cetra, and Jenova's ass was So Toast. Katy grinned a bit and Aerith smiled in return.
Lifting her hands, Katy placed them on the cross-over barrier, Aerith joined hands with her. As one, they called upon their respective Lifestreams. Earth's flowing past Aerith and to Katy, the Planet's flowing past Katy to Aerith. Light flashed, flickered, then became a steady glow as the two Cetra forced the Lifestreams to unite and become one.
Slowly, the now-combined Lifestream sank into the ground, the light coming off the frame of the gate now a steady glow. Opening her eyes, Aerith stepped through and sank to her knees, Katy doing the same, still holder her hands. "Wow." The half-Cetra breathed, then lifted her eyes to Katy.
Katy took a breath and swallowed, "I guess that makes us sisters, eh?" she offered with a smile.
Aerith laughed softly, "I've always wanted a sister," she replied.
Nodding, Katy leaned over and hugged the green-eyed woman, "Glad to have you."
Sephiroth, leading Zack, strode forward, and though he remained standing, Zack knelt. "Hey, what happened?" the black-haired young man asked, curious, but not worried, as they both seemed to be alright this time. "What did you guys do?"
Letting go of Aerith, Katy struggled to her feet, "Since the decision was to permanently link Earth and the Planet through a Gate, the only way to do so was to link their Lifestreams so that should anyone from Earth die here, they can join the Planet's Lifestream, and vise-versa instead of becoming a puddle of Earthliness that's stuck here."
"So you joined the Lifestreams into one?" Sephiroth interpreted into simpler terms and Katy nodded. "That means that if Jenova wounds this world, she can drain both planets."
Katy nodded, "But we're going to kill Jenova soon, and the only way she can wound the planet badly enough would be if she were to use the Black Materia, which she can't because WE have it."
Looking aside, Sephiroth stared at the gate, which lacked that pulsing frailty it had possessed before. "Jenova would have felt what you've done," he cautioned.
Grinning, Katy quickly pointed out, "Which means she'll have to come to us to get the Black Materia and we've already got this place fortified. Let's get Vincent purged before Jenova realizes she's got a Pawn ready to take out the King already." With that, she turned and mounted Beltoren. The bird, without directions from her, sprinted back towards Cosmo's town area, where they had Vincent locked away.
Hojo sat back in his chair, pushing his glasses up on top of his head, long manipulative fingers rubbing red sleep-deprived eyes. At last, he had Rufus finished, as well as his other project. He knew he was going to be in it deep with Sephiroth this time, and he knew he likely wasn't going to see the results of his experiment. If Sephiroth didn't get him, than age would.
He was getting old, already in his fifties, nearing sixty, and raising another child was certainly going to give him more gray hairs than he needed. But there it was. Hojo was a manipulative bastard and when given the chance to harvest eggs from a fertile young Cetra and combine them with his previous experiment, Sephiroth, he was going to do it, no matter the consequences. Curiosity killed the cat, as Lucrecia had used to say with that smile of hers. She'd proclaimed having suffered from it as well, and said that was why she'd liked Hojo- he was always trying to find out something new, always experimenting.
The scientist sighed and sat forward again, putting his eyes to his microscope to watch the bundle of cells divide and multiply. How easy it was to take life, and how easy it was to create it, how easy it was to manipulate and use it... But Shinra knew about this project, wholly supported it, as it was a chance to get a leash back on Sephiroth, as well as that Cetra woman he loved, as she would make a good weapon as well. She was intelligent and agile, as well as sturdy. She'd broken out of his high security specimen cells twice, even if she hadn't succeeded in getting away the first time, she'd broken into the tower three times, and gotten away. She'd escaped from his lab once as well, even if she'd had help on most accounts, she was still intelligent enough to use what was available to get what she wanted. Hojo was impressed, and had to admit, Lucrecia wouldn't have done anything like that. Lucrecia had been stagnating for the last four years of her life, and the only stunt she could claim was her manipulating of him to get a baby. One he knew wasn't his.
Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, if Sephiroth had been Hojo's, but even he had to admit that Seph wouldn't have been quite as physically developed. Hojo's family hadn't been one spotted with shining stars in the athletics department. Vincent, on the other hand, did make the grade as a fighter and what Shinra had wanted was a fighter, a super soldier, not another scientist.
Sitting back again, Hojo took the dish out from beneath the microscope, the bundle of cells would run out of nutrients in the dish fairly soon, and he needed to put the scrap of new life away- where it would spend the next nine months.
Turning, he headed towards his specially chosen surrogate mother. She was a healthy woman, and that was all one could say about her. Hojo had not chosen her for her looks or intelligence, since neither would play a part in the child he'd just created.
Loading the bundle of cells and hormones into a needle, Hojo took careful aim and implanted.
