Chapter Twenty Two

Befriending the Enemy

Jessi opened her eyes and looked around. She was in an extremely dark room but she could see perfectly. She stood up when she seen a door and started for it, that was when she noticed she was chained to the wall.

"What!" She yanked on the chains but they were heavy and firmly attached to the wall.

"No," She whispered, "It's not fair, it's just not FAIR!"

She screamed as she pulled with all of her might against the chains, still they did not move. Knowing that it would not matter if she transformed or not, she choked back sobs as she dropped to the ground in defeat.

She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them; she buried her head in her arms and sobbed silently. "I knew it was too good to be real, he will never remember me and I will always be alone"… she said quietly.

"Like I told you before," Jessi looked up at Kristen's smiling face in the door- frame.

"He just needs a little convincing."

Jessi lowered her head and Kristen frowned.

"You don't believe me."

"Why the hell should I!" Jessi snapped, "All of you serve Hojo, and he is the reason I lost everything!"

"Well, you're wrong about that hon, we don't serve Hojo."

Jessi looked at her suspiciously and she continued. "We serve our queen, Jenova."

"Even better, I trust you completely now." Jessi muttered sarcastically.

Krissy took a deep breath to keep from blowing up at Jessi; she just needed a little convincing as well.

"It was not Jenova's fault your sister died and Sean 'went insane'."

Jessi winced and Kristen knew how she felt.

"Hojo gave your sister too much of Jenova's power and with her not ever being exposed to something that great before, her body couldn't handle it."

Jessi was absorbing all of this in and it had some logic to it, but she still was not going to forgive Hojo or the alien Jenova anytime soon. Krissy continued on.

"And yes, everyone takes her power differently; some die immediately while others become instantly stronger, that is what happened to Sean."

"But why is he…why doesn't he remember anything?" Jessi asked.

Kristen's expression darkened. "Hojo is to be blamed for that my friend."

"I know that already, what I am asking is what did he do to Sean."

"Hojo did to Sean what he did to Alex and I," Krissy smiled bitterly, "but it only worked on the two of them."

"…He blocked your memories?" She asked quietly, absorbing the information. It did clear up a few things.

" Yes, he brainwashed us." Krissy turned around. "But it had no effect on me, especially with my gifts."

"Your gifts?"

Krissy turned back around and smiled. "Yes, my gifts."

Jessi looked down suddenly when the locks on her chains clicked and then opened. She stood up and stepped back as the chains slid back to their hook on the wall. She turned to Kristen questioningly, "Why…"

"Because you want to learn the truth, and I am going to tell you."

"What's the catch."

"No catch, you are useful to us, and besides, Sean is going to remember you and I am sure you will want to be here when he does."

"I don't think Hojo is going to allow that sweet pea."

They both looked at the door that Alex was standing in, smiling at them.

"Hey gorgeous, how are you feeling?" He asked Jessi as he eyed her.

She glared at him but said, "Fantastic."

"Great, glad to hear." He started towards them but stopped in his tracks.

"What the… HEY!"

He was thrown out the door and it closed and locked him out.

"Kristen! What the hell you do that for?"

"I told you before, she is Sean's girl, not yours."

" Oh &, you then!" He shouted as he walked away.

"That boy is going to end up getting his ass kicked badly by Sean if he doesn't stop going after you."

"Not by Sean… definitely by me…" Jessi said and Kristen laughed.

"Sounds like a plan, now, we have a lot to discuss; let's go."

Kristen opened the door and held it for Jessi; she just stood there.

"Well?"

"…You trust me?"

"I never had doubt about you Jessica, Hojo was the one who had you chained up…"

"…Call me Jessi."
Kristen smiled and nodded, "Allright, Jessi."

Jessi slowly smiled back, I'll trust this one, only because she trusts me and wants to help… she thought. She walked out the door and collided with Sean.

"Wha… why the hell aren't you chained up!"

Jessi opened and closed her mouth, then turned around to Kristen.

"Take it easy Sean, I released her."
"Hojo will have your skin if he finds out Kristen…."

"No he won't, besides, what do you care?"

Sean looked at Jessi and glared.

"Whoever said I did, she is no threat."

Kristen took Jessi's arm and said, "Come on, we're wasting time."

Sean turned and watched them walk away.

"Where are you taking her?"

"It's none of your business."

"The hell it ain't!"

Jessi quietly corrected him, "Isn't."

Sean looked at her, "What?"

"…Nothing."

Kristen smirked and continued to lead Jessi away from Sean.

"You always used to correct him."

Jessi smiled, "Yea, you must have read his thoughts."

"No, I used to be one of his co-workers."

Jessi stopped. "What! You mean…"

"Yep, Alex and I used to be his fellow Turks."

Jessi looked at her, absolutely astonished. Kristen nodded.

"Oh, those were the days. He would always talk about you and tell us how much you drove him crazy. Anyway, let's go, everything will be revealed soon enough."

Jessi followed Kristen down many stairs to a large set of heavy double doors. Kristen stopped.

"Are you ready Jess?"

Jessi nodded and she smiled.

"Great, I have some advice to give you before we continue."

"Being?"

"I know what you have been told about Jenova, but all I ask is that you listen and wait before you decide what to believe."

Jessi hesitated a moment before finally nodding.

"Allright, I will hold my tongue."

She smiled. "Great, hang on a minute."

Krissy closed her eyes and said telepathically, 'My queen, it's me. I have Jessica here with me, she wishes to hear the truth. I think she's ready now, don't you?'

She waited for a response. 'Come on in, she is ready.'

The doors opened and Jessi looked inside in wonder. In the very center of the room was a platform that looked like coral was growing from it. In the center of the coral, trapped in a Mako crystal like the one Sephiroth was in, sat Jenova. Krissy walked toward her with Jessi following behind. Jenova opened her eyes when they came in and smiled at them. Jessi was shocked at how beautiful she was. She had long, sky blue hair with the same colored skin and her eyes were silver, it looked like she was blind.

"Jessi, are you ready to learn the truth about everything?"

Jessi nodded and Jenova smiled.

"Wonderful, Kristen, why don't you go on and tell her what happened when Hojo brainwashed all of you."

Krissy bowed her head, "Of course my Queen." She turned back to Jessi.

"As I told you, Hojo tried to erase all of our memories; but I alone was the only one it didn't affect. I remember everything and everyone from my past. "Hojo was disappointed that he couldn't make me forget and he thought I would be useless in battle," She smiled, "but I proved him wrong. Thanks to Jenova, that is."

"I warned Hojo that if he discarded Kristen, like he did to so many others, that he would be a fool and he would never be granted my true powers." Jenova said. "But as you can see, he cooperated."

"He never did give credit where it was due," Jessi said.

"You are so right about that, Jessica, and you are the best proof of that."

"How so?"

Jenova's smile grew wider. "Because he thinks you are inferior, but he is the inferior one and he is too naïve to see it."

"You proved that when you fought two of his best warriors." Krissy pointed out. "Alex, Sean and I wouldn't stand a chance against you at your full power."

"But you are all strong too, Hojo made it that way did he not?" Jessi asked.

Kristen nodded. "True, he made us stronger, faster and a hell of a lot smarter than he should have. I'm sure you know he used to work for Shin-Ra back in the day, correct?"

Jessi nodded, her friends told her about that.

"Well, when Sean, Alex and I were injected with Jenova's DNA, it affected us all differently. Alex was able to take on forms of other people and animals, my psychic powers that I was unaware of grew stronger, and Sean was able to cast magic without using materia. But with our gifts came side effects, being that we were human, we had problems adapting to the injection. Alex was unable to eat, sleep or talk. I was constantly having seizures and Sean became a future Sephiroth."

Jenova snarled, "But Sean was able to overcome his emotions."

"So to cover his sorry ass, Hojo put Alex and I into a deep sleep and sealed us away in containers that would sustain us, sort of like a life support machine. But Sean was sent to an asylum in Sector Four of Midgar. They kept him there for a while, until they were unable to hold him any longer."

"Why couldn't they keep him there?"

Kristen looked down and Jenova smiled. "Because he slaughtered everyone in the facility."

Jessi closed her eyes and put her hand to her heart. He is gone; my Sean would never…

"…I don't think I can help you Jenova." She sputtered.

"Why? Only because of the fact you can't kill? That's not a problem."

Jessi looked at her, surprised.

"Wh…how?"

"Kristen couldn't kill for a long time as well. But, when it is necessary, she won't ask questions and will carry out her orders. That's what made her such a good Turk."

"But I grew out of that. I would have helped kill all of your 'friends' for what they have done to Jenova, but Sean stopped me; he didn't want you to end up getting hurt."

Jessi looked away. "I can't believe that."

"Try to understand Jess, he is battling with his memories right now. Part of him is trying to remember you while the other part is reprimanding himself for letting these unclear emotions interfere."

Jessi nodded. "Allright, fine. So what happened after he slain everyone?"

"Well, he disappeared for a while and Hojo was desperate to find him before the public did. But he was already too late; Sean had killed many people and no one could find him. Until he made the mistake of returning to Nibelheim."

"Why did he go back?"

"He was looking for you, he demanded to know where you were and why you weren't there waiting for him. Hojo told him you joined the Turks and ran away with Vincent Valentine. Then, with some help of tranquilizers, he was able to contain Sean and store him in a tank alongside us."

Jessi felt like someone had punched her in the gut.

"He…but…I swear I will kill him!"

"You will have your chance soon enough, just be patient."

"…Did I just hear you right?"

Jenova smiled. "You see, Hojo has it in his head that he is in charge. He used to have high respect and think I was a goddess. But now that he is a part of me…"

"He doesn't think so highly of you, you are substandard to him, right?"

"Exactly. And so, that is where you come in."

Jessi crossed her arms. "I will gladly take Hojo down, it would be doing everyone a favor…"

"Go on."

Jessi looked at Jenova. "But I need him to destroy Avalanche, I have a plan."

Jenova smiled. "You want to use Hojo to lure them back to the crater so you can get your revenge for them abandoning you. I knew you would help us."

"Hang on a minute, I'm not doing this for you Jenova."

Jenova smiled, "I see, but technically, you are helping me."

Jessi thought about it a moment then nodded. "Yes, in a way I am. But I am mostly doing it for the people whose lives he's ruined, especially Sean and mine."

"Jenova, do you… don't you think Sean should know about this?" Krissy asked.

"My dear girl, do you think he would believe it?"

"I'm sure if you were the one who told him he would."

"I don't know, Hojo isn't that gifted but he is brilliant and he made both of those boys believe it was their family and the people around them that betrayed them; not the other way around." Jenova looked at Jessi when she said that.

"I…don't care if he will never remember me. I just want him to find peace."

Jenova looked at Kristen. "Go find him and bring him here."

Krissy nodded and left the two of them alone.

"Might I ask," Jenova began, "what made you change your mind?"

"I think, it was when I seen Sean and I were together."

"So then, you know that wasn't real. How did you come to that conclusion?"

Jessi smiled. "Two things. For one, I wouldn't be drowning in Lifestream. I'm pretty sure being underwater would be no different than being on land to me."

Jenova chuckled, "Well, you're right about that."

Jessi nodded. "The second was when he kissed me." She closed her eyes and lowered her head. "I know he would never do that, especially after he tried to kill me."

"Either I'm losing my touch, or you're too smart for your own good."

Jessi held her arms out. "Yea, and look where it got me."

She turned around when she heard footsteps.

"This better be good Kristen, I had to kill that girl before…"

Sean came in and noticed Jessi.

"I could enjoy her."

Jessi winced and turned back to Jenova. "That is why I've lost all hope."

"He only doesn't remember because you don't look the same. He doesn't recognize you."

Sean was looking at the three of them in confusion.

"What the hell is wrong with all of you? Does anyone care to explain why you think this girl is worth…"

He grew quiet as he noticed Jessi's appearance began to change. Her hair changed to a light brown color and began to grow, till it was well past her lower back. A lab coat and a blue shirt and white pants replaced her cape and body suit. Her eyes were the last things that changed. They changed from crimson red to light, emerald green with black glasses across them. Sean swallowed as Jessi looked down at her hands and felt her hair.

"Oh my God, I don't believe this." Jessi said softly. She laughed and turned around in a circle. "I'm normal!"

Her face was radiant and she was grinning from ear to ear.

"This is how he remembers you; isn't it Sean?" Jenova said.

Jessi looked at Sean and her smile faltered; his face was dark and full of hatred.

"You are not my… you're not her… return her to normal Jenova."

"You remember then…"

"I remember a bitch that ran away with that prick Valentine, but this woman can't possibly be her, change her back!"

Jessi felt fresh tears spring to her eyes, "Sean…it is me. I didn't leave…"

"SHUT UP! YOU LIE!"

He held his arm out and shot the energy beam at her. She closed her eyes and felt the beam pass her harmlessly, Jenova protecting her. When she opened them again, Sean was leaving the room and she was back to being a monster. Krissy walked up and placed her hand on her shoulder.

"…I told you, he's gone."

She broke away from Krissy and took off.

"Jessi, wait!"

"She's not leaving Kristen, let her cool off."

Kristen sighed. "I'm going to find her, she doesn't know this place well enough yet. I'll be back later."

With that she left Jenova and headed off to find where Jessi ran off. Jessi didn't know where she was going; all she did was run. She stopped at a large metal door and opened it. She walked down many steps and finally came across a set of sliding doors. She walked up to them and they opened automatically.

She stepped inside the room and the doors closed behind her, she looked around and realized she was in what had to be Hojo's lab. The doors behind her opened again and Jessi whirled around. It was only Kristen.

"You shouldn't be down here, Hojo would freak. Come on, let's get outta here."

Jessi followed her back up the stairs and down a few different corridors.

"I think you could use a break." Krissy said as she looked at Jessi's weary face.

"Yea, I think you're right. I need to devise a strategy to vanquish Avalanche anyway."

"I understand. Go up that flight of steps and take the first right you come across. There will be a small hallway with four doors on each side of the hall; the third door on the left is your room."

"Thanks Kristen, really."

Kristen smiled. "Please, call me Krissy; you're a friend now."

Jessi smiled and nodded. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna go out for a while; I'll come back later after you get some rest and we can go out later and enjoy ourselves."

"Sounds great, have fun."

She waved and headed up the stairs Krissy showed her. She turned right and almost collided with Sean again.

"Watch it." He growled.

"You watch it, asshole!" Jessi said fiercely and pushed him aside with her shoulder.

He looked at her incredulously as he turned to watch her open the door to her room and slam it behind her. He was agitated, but somewhat bemused as well.

"Wha…the nerve!"

He marched up to the door and pulled it open. Jessi was lying on the bed and she raised her head.

"Yes Seany?"

His jaw dropped and he looked at her angrily.

"Don't call me that…"

She smiled and lay her head back down.

"…Whatever."

"You've got a lot of nerve!"

"That's great, are you done blathering yet?"

Sean raised his right hand and shot the two wooden legs at the end of the bed. It dipped down and the other two legs at the front of the bed snapped, causing the bed to drop to the floor. God he likes showing off that little beam of his, she thought crossly.

"Now I am smartass."

"Then get out." She wasn't even phased. Sean walked up to the bed and glared down at her.

"Keep running that mouth and you'll regret it."

She returned the look and rolled over. "I'm so scared."

He glowered at her, angry that she dared to turn her back to him; but he grinned a moment later. He knew what would push her buttons.

"Did you like that little vision Jenova showed you? I bet you would love it if that really happened now wouldn't you?"

She flinched as he bent down and whispered in her ear. "You would just die of bliss, wouldn't you?."

"Get away from…"

Sean rolled her over and kissed her; she pushed him away and stood up.

"Get out! Get the hell away from me!"

Sean smiled as she pushed him away. "That's what you wanted though…"

"I said get out!" She pushed him back again and he grabbed her arms.

"My Jessi would have loved that kiss, you obviously are not her."

"You are not the same, you don't remember but I do."

He let her go and they stared daggers at each other.

"I may not remember much, but I do remember some things."

"Then you should know it's me, my appearance changed but my heart did not…"

Her gaze softened, "And it never will."

Sean turned and left, slamming the door hard behind him. Jessi went back to the bed, buried her head in the pillow and yelled furiously. I have to think of our plan against Avalanche. That will keep my mind off of him. But she soon fell asleep without even thinking of what to do.

A/N: ...heh....thats how the two of us used to really fight too...lol. Well let me know what ya think