A/N: Thanks for reviewing everyone...I truly appreaciate it...and Sephy as always an extra thank you to you lol. So be sure to keep reviewing everyone...there are still lots of chapters to come!

Disclaimer- Still don't own a damned thing....(makes a note to Santa asking for Sephiroth for christmas)

Chapter Nineteen

Retreat

The clapping seemed to surround them and everyone looked around, trying to find the source of the sound.

"Congratulations, no one has ever defeated my monsters before."

A tall young man dressed in black stepped out of the shadows. He had black hair with green streaks and he smiled coldly at them. Jessi felt her heart stop as he emerged.

"Lets see how many more it takes to finish you off."

There was rumbling beneath them and the platform they were standing on began to crumble. Cloud jerked his head to the ship.

"Hurry up and get aboard, we need to get the hell outta here!"

Reno was about to protest but Sephiroth shook his head and pushed him up the ladder with Vincent helping Nanaki up and Jessi following. Cloud was about to start up when the rock beneath him crumbled and he began to fall. Jessi looked behind her and stopped climbing. Cloud landed on one of the creatures and the young man had jumped down and began to fight with him.

He grabbed Cloud's sword and kicked him to the ground. He placed his hand above Cloud's face and quietly spoke to him.

"Hojo's sorry he couldn't do this himself, but I don't mind, nothing personal Strife."

A blue light grew in the center of his hand and Cloud closed his eyes, the bright light beginning to blind him.

"NO!"

He opened them and watched as Jessi confronted his attacker, then retrieve his sword.

She ran up and kneeled next to him.

"You allright?"

He nodded as he took his sword. They watched as the man stood up and scowl at the both of them. He raised his hand to them and the light grew bright again, but he didn't release it. He was studying Jessi closely and she wished she returned the look. He slowly lowered his hand and the light faded away. Jessi heard the ship behind her and she turned to see the others looking down at them, yelling down to board the ship. She looked back at the man then helped Cloud stand up. She wrapped her arm around his waist and his around her shoulder.

"Hold on."

With that she leaped up and grabbed the dangling ladder with her free hand She climbed it a bit and yelled up at Reno to help her. The man watched them fly up a bit when people appeared behind and spoke to him.

"Well, well it looks like our leader has lost his touch."

"Hojo won't be too happy about this one Sean."

"…Who cares."

Sean turned to face them. A young woman and another young man around his age were watching the airship. They were wearing the same outfits and armor as Sean but their hair was different. The girl had long black hair with red streaks and the other boy also had black hair, but with golden blonde streaks. The both of them were his friends, his comrades and he was always thought of as their leader. The girl tossed her hair and smiled as she looked at the ship.

"I can get them from here and finish the job."

She began to raise her hands up to the ship when Sean held his arm out.

"Stand down Kristen, this is not your battle to finish."

She looked to the other man.

"Alex, give me a hand?"

The man shrugged. "He's right, it's his job not yours."

Kristen scoffed at him then turned to Sean.

"You had the perfect chance to kill them, why didn't you take it?"

"You're psychic, figure it out…"

"Heh, maybe he lost his nerve when he seen that young woman?" Alex mocked him. "He has a tendency to do that Krissy."

Kristen smiled at Sean and teased him.

"How cute. Sean found another girl to play with."

Using her powers she created an image of Jessi and the illusion walked around Sean and kissed his cheek. Sean looked at the girl and slowly smiled.

"I admit it Alex, I enjoy my women…"

He kissed the girl deeply then pushed her away.

"…Then I enjoy killing them afterwards as well."

He shot an energy beam at the illusion and smoke surrounded it. He and Alex began to laugh and Kristen looked at them disgusted.

"You two are real assholes."

"Oh come off it Kristen, you are the same way."

Kristen sniffed at them. "I don't kill the men I am with…"

"No," Alex said, "you torture them and drive them mad, making some take their own life… that's not killing, is it Sean?"

"Same thing." Sean muttered. "That's why your code name is Black Widow."

He looked at the spot where he blasted the illusion. The smoke started to clear and he seen an outline inside.

"What the hell? Why is your shitty illusion still here Kristen?"

They looked at the spot and were caught off guard when it spoke.

"Maybe because I'm the real thing…"

Jessi stepped into view.

"And not a mere illusion."

She looked at all of them calmly and didn't appear to even be afraid of them.

"Ooh, this girl is brave; I like her." Kristen said as she circled her. Alex smiled at Jessi darkly. "Yea, me too. What about you, Sean?"

He walked towards her and Kristen stepped aside. Sean watched from the side, apparently bored, but when Alex extended his hand to Jessi, something inside alerted him and he walked up and pushed him aside. Jessi, who showed no emotions this whole time, was surprised when Sean blocked her from the both of them. Alex looked at him incredulously.

"What the &$# got into you all of a sudden!"

"Don't touch her." He growled.

Kristen looked at him suspiciously but then slowly smiled.

"Alex, that girl is his. So if I were you, I'd back off."

Sean let his guard down and Alex snorted.

"Hell with this, I'm bored. I'll see you two later."

He smiled viciously at Jessi.

"Hope you said goodbye to your friends, it was the last time you would see them."

With that he disappeared down into the shadows of the crater. Kristen looked at Sean.

"Well, have fun then. I'm going back too."

She started to leave but then turned back to him.

"…You're not going to kill her Sean."

He narrowed his eyes and she placed her index finger on her forehead.

"So quit debating it. You don't have the nerve…let alone the guts to hurt her."

She disappeared as well and left the two standing there. Sean scoffed.

"She thinks she's so smart just because she can read our minds. Screw both of them."

He looked over his shoulder at her and she looked up at him, unsure of what to say. He turned to face her and she didn't flinch when he grabbed her neck and lifted her up.

"What makes her think I wouldn't hesitate to kill you right now."

Jessi smirked and said quietly.

"Because… you haven't enjoyed my company yet?"

Sean grinned, then laughed.

"Well, I suppose. But that's not the right answer."

His grip tightened and Jessi closed her eyes and swallowed.

"Then it's because you really can't, and we both know it."

She closed her hands over his arm and opened her eyes; tears were building up in them. Sean's grip lessened slightly but his face registered no remorse.

"Why didn't you shoot us back there. You had the chance."

"…I don't know why, something just came over me. Maybe I am losing my nerve."

He snarled and squeezed her throat harder.

"Then I will just have to kill you to prove them wrong!"

Jessi smiled as the tears traveled down her face.

"Go ahead, bring death to me. At least there I can rest with the man I know and love."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"The Sean I knew never would have destroyed an entire village and be able to live with himself…"

"I was a Turk, if I had an order to kill, I followed it…"

Jessi looked at him surprised and Sean shook his head.

"What am I saying, I wasn't a Turk."

"…Yes you were."

He looked at her and she continued.

"You worked as a lab-rat for Hojo too, that's why…"

He clenched her throat tightly and she winced.

"Shut up, just SHUT UP!"

He threw her aside like a rag doll and she slammed against a rock wall. Her head hit the solid wall and she shut her eyes tightly. Sean looked at his hands.

"Why am I talking like this? What's wrong with me?"

Kristen and Alex appeared a few moments later with Hojo at their side. Hojo scowled at him.

"Alex has informed me that you did not kill…"

He looked to the side and seen Jessi.

"Well, if it isn't Ms. Meadows. It's been a while."

Jessi opened her eyes and made out Hojo's blurry outline. She slowly got up and staggered a bit before pulling out her sickle. Sean looked at her, apparently confused. Meadows, what is he talking about? There's no way that's Jessi, but then why does it seem right…

"Ah, I didn't expect a warm welcome," Hojo smiled, "but I am much stronger than you think Meadows, do you still wish to fight?"

"…I grew strong too Hojo. You should know that." She growled.

"Yes, I know. But you are still an inferior…"

Jessi lunged at him and slashed his chest with her sickle. He bent over and she smiled at him.

"I am not inferior, you on the other hand, obviously still are."

Hojo began to laugh and stood up, exposing his chest; there was no wound, just a tear in his lab coat.

"What?" Jessi stepped back as Hojo continued to laugh.

"That virus which you despise so much holds great power in it Meadows, including the power to regenerate or heal. Jenova is quite a fine specimen."

"Oh," Jessi smiled "is that why Cloud and the others defeated her so easily?"

Hojo glared at her and the others looked at her darkly.

"You dare speak against her? Teach her a lesson then kids."

Alex nodded then smiled at Jessi. Kristen grabbed his arm before he started towards Jessi.

"Hold on, this girl is not our enemy."

She turned to Hojo.

"She knows Sean, Hojo. Her love for him is deep, plus she can be very useful to us."

"She would sooner try to kill me than join us Kristen, besides, Sean doesn't know this woman."

Jessi screamed at him. "And that's all thanks to you Hojo!"

She leaped at him again and threw him to the ground. She was about to punch him in the face when Alex pulled her off of him and restrained her.

"I swear I'll kill you Hojo! You took Sean and my sister away and you won't get away with it! Release me!"

She leaned forward and tossed Alex over her. Hojo muttered to the other two.

"Take care of this pest."

He turned to leave but stopped next to Kristen.

"If you think you can control her, do it then. Have your fun but don't grow attached, I will eventually kill her."

Kristen paid no attention to his threat. Hojo looked at Sean and snarled, "I'll deal with you later."

Sean flipped him off as he left and watched as his friend fought with the girl he seen in Tenneco, and thought he had killed.