Chapter Twenty Eight

Jenova's Followers

Jessi and the others landed outside of Dercas then headed for the town.

"Allright Jess, go on ahead and take care of that guard. We'll get the other ones out of the way after."

Jessi nodded and walked up to the entrance while the others sneaked in the side entrances of the town. The guard looked up as she approached and stepped in front of her.

"Stop, this town is closed off to visitors without proper identification."

"Closed off? Why is closed off?"

"Haven't you heard about all the attacks on villages lately, it's been all over on TV."

Jessi shook her head, "This is the first I heard of it; this is just terrible, now my prayers won't be answered and I won't be forgiven."

The guard crossed his arms and chuckled. "Why does a pretty girl like you gotta worry about forgiveness?"

"Because I have committed a terrible act many times."

She pulled out her sickle and looked at her reflection. "So I need to pray."

"That's a pretty big weapon for you to be playing with missy, why don't you hand it over."

Jessi looked up and smiled at the nervous guard, "Think fast."

She threw the sickle so quickly that the guard didn't have time to block it as it embedded into his chest. He fell backward to the ground and pulled out his radio from its case; Jessi walked up, placed her foot on his chest and plucked the radio from his hand.

"Not very quick are you?" She pulled out her weapon harshly then walked away from the guard's screams and into the town.

She pushed the button on the two- way radio, "Let's get this party started."

As she pocketed the CB, she smiled when Sean responded by whooping.

Hojo and Jenova watched Jessi and the others terrorize the little town from a distance.

"That's it, have your fun while you still can. Avalanche is on their way to crash the party."

The Jenova monster looked over to him, "You're not going to help them if things get rough are you, because if something happens to them and you…"

"I know Jenova, I know…they will be fine, I created them…"

"But?"

"If they get hurt then they are not worth saving, only the strong survive," He smiled viciously, "and I am living proof of that."

"That does not make you invincible Hojo, you are as vulnerable to death as I am."

"No, I am immune to death. With the power to regenerate and heal easily, there is no way I can die."

"Pity, I thought you were smarter than that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Think what you wish Hojo but do not act rash; there is only so much that I can do in this form and if you along with the others are destroyed, I am helpless."

"Don't worry, we all have your powers to aid us remember? Ah, here come the heroes now."

They watched as the Highwind landed next to the village and everyone ran off the ship, ready for battle.

"This is where it gets interesting."

"Hojo and Jenova are not very far…" Sephiroth said quietly.

"We'll deal with them later, we need to help the villagers."

They were heading into the town when Aeris noticed a guard propped up against a wall. She kneeled next to him and began to dig around in her pouch, looking for a potion. The others stopped and waited for her.

"Hold on, I'm going to help you."

"No, don't worry about me. You've got to help the people."

"Don't be ridiculous, ah, here we go, drink this."

He tilted his head back and she poured the liquid into his mouth.

"Thank you, now go save the villagers."

Aeris nodded and followed the others into the town. The two Behemoth's they seen were chasing people around and destroying buildings, while two of the giant jellyfish were shooting energy beams, setting houses on fire.

Alex noticed they had arrived and smiled as he pulled out his radio.

"Hey guys look! Our guests have finally arrived."

Krissy and Jessi looked down from their Behemoth's and sure enough, Avalanche was there, watching the destruction they were causing.

"Ooh, I finally get to meet them!" Krissy jumped down, Jessi following behind her. "Which one of them was Hojo's victim?"

"You'll know when you see him." Jessi said smoothly.

"Let's go introduce ourselves properly Alex, since Sean was so rude as to not have done it when he faced them before."

The two of them headed towards Avalanche as Sean walked up next to Jessi and watched them; she looked up at him. "Aren't you going too?"

"The best always go last."

"Why, thank you Seany. I thought the leader was the last to be introduced; but it does make more sense for new people to go last doesn't it?"

He looked at her and smirked, "Smartass."

"Hey, you said it not me."

They looked on as Krissy and Alex stopped in front of the group and welcomed them.

"Hello Avalanche, it's so nice to finally meet you." Krissy said smiling cheerfully.

"Yes, we've heard a lot about you from a dear friend of ours." Alex agreed.

"You mean our friend, Jessi!" Yuffie said angrily.

"You call yourself a friend? Where were you when she took us on all by herself?" Alex asked her.

"She jumped off the ship without a word, we didn't know till it was too late!"

"Oh, some friends wouldn't you agree Kriss?"

Krissy nodded her head, "Oh yea, I would love counting on them in battle."

Cloud's face darkened as he went into his fighter stance, the others gripped their weapons followed his lead.

"It's my fault she's gone and I intend to take you all down as my apology to her."

"Oh, you think you stand a chance against us now do you? That's rich."

Alex laughed and Krissy tossed her hair.

"Well, they should at least know their killers. I'm Krissy, also known as Black Widow because of my deadly powers."

"You gonna try and bite us?" Reno asked then laughed, "I'll zap the little spider." He activated his nightstick and smiled at her.

Krissy smiled and raised her hand; the nightstick flew out of his hands.

"What the hell…Arrgh!"

The nightstick hit him in his gut then electrocuted him. He gritted his teeth and grabbed the weapon, he struggled with it a moment before turning it off. He straightened up and grinned.

"You'll have to do better than that, I have lightning-eater armor on. Had I been wounded, you would have just healed me."

"I'm well aware of that, I was just playing with you."

"How…"

"I have telekinetic powers, I can read minds and move objects just by thinking about it."

"Oh really, then I guess your friend has super strength or something?"

"He can if the being he becomes has that power."

They looked confused and Krissy laughed, "You're turn Alex."

"I am an Enigma, this is my power." Alex said as he transformed into Dark Dragon. When he opened his mouth, Yuffie ran up in front of everybody next to Cloud and held her arms out.

"What are you…?" Cloud began.

The dragon spat out a tremendous ball of fire and Yuffie yelled.

"REFLECT!"

A shield appeared in front of her just as the fireball hit and reflected back to its owner. Krissy quickly casted a shield over Alex and the fireball diminished as he transformed back. Yuffie sighed heavily as she turned to Cloud.

"Wasn't enough time to cast magic barriers on everyone."

"Good thinking kiddo!" Cid laughed.

"Please, if I was aiming to hurt you, don't you think I would have used Ultima instead?" Alex scoffed.

"Now, now Alex, don't be so mad because she's smarter than you."