Chapter Twenty

Jessi's Incarceration

"What do you mean she let go?!"

Cloud was being healed by Aeris when he had told everyone about Jessi not coming back on the ship; Vincent was not taking it very well.

"She told Reno to help me up onto the ship and she just let go of the ladder."

Vincent began to pace back and forth nervously.

"You should have told me when she did, Cloud!"

"You wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway since you had a hold of Nanaki." Yuffie pointed out.

"Yeh, an' besides, Jessi is strong. She can take care of herself." Barret said.

Vincent wasn't listening to any of them; he was too worried about what Jessi would do…

"We need to get her back, Vincent isn't always moody like he used to be since she joined us," Cid looked over at him, "I think he likes her."

Vincent shot him a sharp look and he jumped; he hated it when Vincent looked him in the eyes, especially when he was agitated or angry.

"None of you understand why I am so worried."

"Yes we do Vincent, you just found each other after so long and you are worried for her safety." Tifa placed her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. He shook his head.

"I worry about her safety, yes…but."

He looked at everyone else.

"I worry more about how she will not defend herself against Sean."

Jessi fell down hard on the rock platform and didn't get up right away. She turned her head and looked at Sean still standing on the side, not seeming to care she was taking a beating by his friend. She started to get up when Alex kicked her hard in her ribs. She didn't cry out once during this whole attack and she wasn't about to now. She clutched her sides and curled up on the ground.

"Is that all you got? She sure is weak." Alex said as he kicked her back.

"I wouldn't say that. She has taken your attacks quite well; she would make an excellent Turk. Maybe it's just that you're the weak one." Kristen taunted. Jessi slowly got up and seen Alex was furious about that remark.

"I'll show you weak!" He shouted.

He punched her face and sent her stumbling back, she coughed up blood and spat it out. He walked towards her as he said, "See? It's like Hojo said…"

He drew back his hand; "She is inferior to us…"

Jessi grabbed his fist before he hit her again. She looked at him and her face was consumed with hatred.

"I will show you inferior…"

She punched him in the face and kicked him in the chest.

"I think you might have angered her a bit Alex." Kristen said with a smirk while Jessi dropped to the ground and tripped Alex as he tried to kick her.

"Gee Kriss, you think?!" Alex snarled at her. He lunged at Jessi and she jumped up in the air and kicked his head to the side. He stumbled back, then spat out blood and cracked his neck.

"Well, maybe you can fight. But I'm just getting started babe!"

He punched her in the jaw as she delivered a massive blow to his stomach with her fist. Krissy looked at Sean with her arms crossed.

"Well?"

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"What."

"Aren't you going to help her?"

"If you are so worried, you go help her."

"That's not the point, she is your girl…"

"No she's not! I don't even recognize her."

"…That's because she has changed since the last time you seen her."

"What the hell do you know!"

He headed towards Alex and Jessi as she frowned.

"I do know, more than you can imagine."

Krissy had felt his feelings for the girl when he would not let Alex touch her earlier, she also sensed strong waves of emotion emanating from the girl: confusion, sadness, but the strongest was her love for Sean. She also had very hateful feelings for Hojo, but that was understandable. Anyone and everyone who had ever met Hojo grew to despise him.

With a soft sigh, she watched the battle continue on. Jessi had just knocked Alex to the ground when she seen Sean coming towards her out the corner of her eye. She turned to him and he hit her so hard and sent her flying a few good feet away from him. Alex got up and Kristen joined his side, a frown still on her face. Jessi looked up at Sean as he kicked her and sent her even further than before, she was near the edge of a cliff, Lifestream lingered far down below and Sean was still coming for her. Krissy stomped her foot.

"Sean! You know she won't defend herself against you, cut it out!"

"Shut up!" Sean yelled. She gave him a dirty look then yelled at Jessi.

"Don't let him overcome you! Prove these two wrong, show them your true strength!"

Jessi looked at her and then back at Sean. He raised his right hand and the energy beam began to charge. She rolled out of the way moments before it hit her. She jumped up and looked at the hole it left in the stone platform. She dodged Sean's punches as she pleaded with him.

"Please Sean, try to remember. You've got to be in there somewhere."

She ducked down as he tried to kick her in the head and was taken aback when he grabbed her throat and threw her down off the cliff. She grabbed for the edge and used what seemed to be the last of her strength to hold on, looking down at Lifestream gave her the will to not give up. She kicked at the wall and tried to pull herself up as Sean walked up and looked down at her.

"Sean!"

"I said shut up Kristen!"

"Krissy, just drop it. You're wasting your breath." Alex said.

Sean smiled coldly down at Jessi as she pulled herself halfway up.

"Rest in peace."

He jumped back as he blew up the rock Jessi was holding onto with his energy beam. Time seemed to stop as she opened her mouth and reached out for Sean, fully aware that Lifestream was waiting to consume her.

Sean watched her fall a moment before he faced the others.

"Now that that's over, let's go."

"…Whoever said it was over?" Kristen asked coolly.

"What are you babbling…"

"I couldn't have said it any better."

Sean turned quickly at the sound of Jessi's voice.

There she was in Harpy form, sickle in hand standing a few feet away from him. Sean snarled.

"You don't know when to die do you!"

He tried to punch her but she flew back easily.

"That's the beauty of it, I can't die." She said calmly

"So you think."

He kept trying to hit her and she continued to jump back easily. She jumped off the edge and he almost fell off. She smirked as she flew back towards him.

"So I know…"

She whipped around quickly and knocked him backward with her tail.

"Thatta girl, show him what you're made of!" Kristen cheered.

"Exactly whose side are you on Krissy?" Alex asked.

"Jessica's of course. Girls gotta stick together you know."

He looked at her, flabbergasted.

"Besides, I am going to make her one of us so she is technically on our side." She added.

"And how do you think you're going to do that?"

"Oh you are so imperceptive sometimes Alex! How do you think I am going to do it?"

"…I dunno."

"Ugh, I am going to use my gifts and convince her we are her new friends, with some of Jenova's help later of course."

"…Right, that is to say, if Sean doesn't kill her first."

"He won't, didn't you hear what she said? She can't be killed."

"Of course she can…"

"…You're so stupid."

She watched as Jessi poisoned Sean.

"Ah, here is where I step in. Now watch, and on my signal give me a hand." She thought at him.

Alex nodded at her and Krissy ran up in front of Sean.

"Good job, I knew you wouldn't give up that easily."

"Of course, now let me finish the job."

"Sorry, I can't let you do that. Besides, you don't want to hurt your old lover now do you?"

"…This is not the man I once knew."

"Ah, isn't he though? Did he not kill you when he had the chance?"

"No…"
"And," Kristen nodded at Alex and he slowly walked behind Jessi, "didn't he remember about being a Turk?"

"…He will never remember me, nor us ever being together."

"Sure he will, he just needs a little," she tilted her head up and Alex brought his hands together and lifted them over his head, "convincing."

Jessi turned her head around just as he brought his fists down over the back of her head. She staggered and dropped on her knees to the ground, she reverted back to normal and fell unconscious. Kristen smiled and turned to Sean as Alex picked Jessi up and hoisted her over his shoulder. She kneeled down next to him and opened her mouth. He sat up against a rock and averted her gaze.

"Don't you dare…"

"See how easy that was?"

"…Say it, you got lucky is all."

"Pssh, yea right, you're just jealous that I took her down in less time than you."

"Yea right yourself! You just happened to catch her off guard and Alex knocked her out, I could have done that."

He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths and concentrated as light surrounded his body.

"If the bitch didn't poison me…"

"Now don't be a sore loser. What does it matter anyway since you can cure yourself, hmm?" Kristen asked.

Alex smiled as he checked Jessi out.

"She has a cute butt eh, Sean?"

Sean clenched his teeth as he grabbed Jessi from him and pushed him aside.

"Geeze, talk about touchy." Alex said as he followed Sean with Krissy following behind.

"More like possessive. Come on, we've got to make sure that he doesn't try to kill her."