Chapter 6:

Wake Up

Star Laboratories covered a pretty big campus: roughly three times that of the now obliterated science wing at the college. Judging from all the large cryogenically-frozen containers, the second floor was used for storage. I walked through the first lab, slowly passing by autopsy tables and large windowed containers holding all sorts of interesting organisms. I searched through a nearby desk for any sort of paperwork on our "specimen" in question. I discovered a file folder in the third drawer I tore into with a large "CONFIDENTIAL" stamp across the cover and "J PROJECT" written across the tab. One could only imagine what its contents were. I flipped open the front cover and examined the documents.

"The Jenova Project," I read softly to myself. "An organism that was apparently dead was found in a 2000 year old geological stratum. X Year, X Month, X Day, Jenova project approved. Specimen's lower body sustained by life support functions; head sent to collegiate science facility for examination."

I looked down into the researcher's notes.

"This is probably the most interesting find since the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the Judean desert. Her face looks reminiscent of a human but the majority of her organs are on the outside. Her body isn't completely held together – it is missing some major tissue, possibly from deterioration or exposure? The North Pole is a pretty cold place. Strangely enough, a small black crystal ball was found not far from the ice prison that held the specimen. We've sent it to Wayne Enterprises in Gotham for further examination. The object seemed to absorb light and would provide no reflective properties: no matter how often you polished it, it just would not give off a reflection."

I looked at some of the enclosed pictures. Jenova was one ugly creature. Internal organs hanging on the outside of her body; half her head was open. Skin was an off cyan color. As far as her relevant location to me was concerned: I was getting warm. I took my leave out of the laboratory and pressed on into the next one. The next lab was chemical testing and synthesizing. Some of the beakers and burners had been strewn about giving hints to a struggle. Cabinets were ripped open and the air was stagnant. In one of the controlled-environment cabinets – for chemicals that couldn't be performed within the open area – a yellowish-green smoke flurried about. I walked around the table towards it. A scientist complete in his white hazmat suit was in the floor curled up in the fetal position. He had a large slice from his neck down to his waist, sideways. I rolled him over onto his back. Through the clear plastic window, the young scientist opened his eyes slowly. He reached out to me, barely managing to say, "Chlorine gas… be careful…" We both knew he was far beyond help, so I decided to ask what I came for.

"Where's Jenova?" I asked.

He pointed onward to the next lab. I nodded to him as I stepped over him and through the rows of tables and lab equipment. I brought up my sword as I entered the next lab. More cylindrical cryogenic tanks; in fact, complete rows of them. I walked among them, searching for Jenova's temporary home. The only ambience was the humming of the overhead fluorescent lights suspended in their ballasts from the high ceiling and the refrigerant pumps on the tanks. Finally, I came upon Jenova's holding tank. The label plainly stated "JENOVA – STAR LABS – AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY." I walked around to the front where the viewing window was. I slowly peered into the contents of the tank, and was taken back by the creature inside. As soon as my eyes landed on it, the body jerked. Images flashed inside my mind; the girl's voice started yelling at me. My head felt like it was about to cave in. I dropped the Masamune as I tried to regain control. I turned just in time to see a heavy black boot drop kick me in the face. I was knocked backwards into a reverse somersault before lying flat on the floor. As everything came back into focus, I looked up to see the personification of evil. My attacker, without a doubt, was Slade's apprentice. His extremely long, flowing silver hair reeked of death and despair. His glowing green eyes were filled with anger, determination, and misery. He was colder than I could ever be. His uniform reflected that of Slade's: utility belt, arm and shoulder cuffs, and the trademark bronze and black outfit with Slade's logo. He was officially branded. But behind him was a younger, shorter man, one with spiky blonde hair and intense glowing blue eyes. Like his counterpart, this one was also branded by Slade. The taller one wielded my weapon of choice, the Masamune. The other one wielded one about as wide and tall as his own body, slung over his back, with a slanted top and seemingly sharp blade. I pulled up off the floor and took a defensive stance. I began to back up to get some space between us when I backed up into a wall, only this wall was breathing down the back of my neck. I turned quickly to see Slade bust my lower jaw. I slid on the floor closer to the other two.

"I'm not very happy with you, young lady," Slade said. "Do you realize how much trouble it is to spawn such creatures of such magnitude from other places light years away? The younger generation never has any respect."

He talked as he walked, and when he got close enough, I leg swept him. As Slade fell, I leapt up and grabbed him, shoving his arm behind his back to try and gain some leverage. I kicked Slade at his knee joint, bringing him down to the ground.

I looked up at the two men standing in front of Jenova's tank, "I thought you only had one apprentice. What's this, a two-for-one special?"

Slade, disgruntled, replied, "After witnessing what you have accomplished, I found it in my best judgment to pick up a few extra apprentices. The sentries can only do so much with their limited skills, albeit a step up from my usual entourage. One must cover his ass thoroughly should he wish to succeed without mishap."

He pushed backwards, sandwiching me between his back and a cryogenic tank. I hit the tank hard and released my grip. Slade whipped around and tossed me back over closer to the two apprentices. The silver-haired one reached down and grabbed me by my arms. He picked me up with a tight grip on me as I squirmed fiercely trying to break free. Slade walked over to the tank and placed his hand onto the glass of the tank.

"Once Jenova has the rest of her body," he said. "The real fun begins."

I used my powers to pick up my Masamune behind the two apprentices. I worked in between the two's legs before spinning it. The blade caught the two in the legs and tripped them up. As the silver-haired one released his grasp, I grabbed a pipe hanging overhead and planted both feet into his chest. He knocked into the blonde-haired one and the two crashed into a storage shelf. I flipped around and kicked Slade in the throat, knocking him back into the glass. His head cracked as he slid down to the floor. Slade rolled backwards and was back on his feet, as were his apprentices.

"Apprentices," he commanded. "Keep the girl from interfering."

I turned as the two came after me. The silver haired man was the first to get his hands on me: he speared me in the stomach that flattened me against Jenova's tank. I started to fall forward, giving him the benefit of the doubt. The second he stood upright again, I gave him an uppercut to remember. He fell backwards as the blonde took his turn against me. Slade began to try and open the tank. The blonde apprentice threw his first punch – obviously not as efficient as his silver-haired companion – and missed. I grabbed his wrist and threw him into Slade. I picked up my sword and frantically started hitting my communicator to send off a distress signal. The silver haired attempted to roundhouse kick me into next week; luckily, I ducked and dodged everything he threw at me. I threw some moves of my own at him to get him to back up some. I called my Masamune; he picked up his. The blonde one stepped forward to assist but Slade held him back.

"No, Cloud," Slade said. "We shall witness what Sephiroth has learned."

"But, Master," Cloud protested.

Slade pulled him back, saying, "Patience, apprentice. There's plenty more for you downstairs. Come, we must get what we came for."

I gasped and summoned the power of the Earth materia. A giant hole opened up in the floor under Slade and his apprentice Cloud. Surprised, Cloud grabbed and dragged down a shelving system with him as Slade free-fell. Sephiroth turned to see the status of his partners; I took my chance. I ran into him, thrusting my shoulder into his chest as he was much taller than I was. With a loud "OOF!" he was knocked back over the hole that appeared. Unfortunately, the hole sealed back up before he could go through it. Sephiroth put his legs in the air and hopped upright.

"Let's see how you do," he said. "Master will not be stopped."

"Just shut up and fight, fuck-face," I growled.

He nodded and took his stance. I took mine. In the small aisles of cryogenic containers, we prepared for a huge battle.

Sephiroth yelled as he charged forward, Masamune in hand. I took the defense as we made contact. The loud clang of our swords, metal on metal, filled the entire laboratory. He took a hard swing at me and ended up getting his sword lodged into the side of one of the cryogenic tanks. I bounced off the tank and kicked him into the back of another. I used my powers to move seamlessly through the tanks to the next row as he began to regain his composure. I hid in the shadows as my opponent stalked through the aisles, his sword scraping along the tiled floor.

"Little bitch… WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!" he screamed.

I got in behind him.

"Right here, asshole," I sneered as I kicked him right between the shoulder blades.

Sephiroth smacked into another tank and fell backwards. Blood rolled out of his nostrils as he lay there motionless. A loud explosion occurred on the entrance of the room. I slid back through the rows of tanks to see Slade climb up out of a self-made hole in the floor. Robin leapt up from the floor below and grabbed onto him. Slade grabbed the back of his cape and threw the monkey on his back onto the current floor. Robin slid and rolled as I stepped forward. More explosions sounded below as thick smoke and dust debris floated upwards. There was excited yelling and magic occurring down there; one's mind could only wander what kind of battle the rest of the team was facing.

Slade was on his feet; Robin likewise.

"It ends here Slade!" Robin yelled, extending his staff.

Slade stepped forward, "Robin, Robin, Robin… you keep telling yourself every time we face, and yet, it never does end. And it never will, no matter how hard you try."

Slade threw a fast punch directly into the center of Robin's metallic rod. The metal snapped in two at the amount of force Slade put into it. Robin, astonished, moved backwards. Anger took over as he charged forward to take on his arch nemesis. As they battled fiercely, I made my way back to Jenova's tank. I used my powers to take off the air-tight door with some effort. Nitrogen gas escaped from every possible entryway it could, adding a newfound chill to the already freezing room. The headless body of Jenova rested easy inside her condensed metal enclosure.

Inside my body, my mind, she tried to take control. My power enveloped my entire being as I fought to retain control. She screamed at me, trying to force my mental submission and to let her in. I grabbed my head as the pain stabbed me without mercy. A high pitched squeal filled my ears. I could hear Robin's voice call my name before he was quickly cut short by a mighty blow from Slade. Then her voice, the one that always called to me when meditating, came in.

She called to me, "Don't worry, I can help you!"

"How…?" I asked.

"Don't worry about that… your friends need you…!"

I nodded, "Yes… okay…"

The world came back into perspective as Slade's metal tipped boot bashed me in the mouth. I felt a rear molar come loose. I slid and hit the wall, spitting out the tooth and blood.

"I'll take what I came for now, if you don't mind," Slade said.

Slade turned to face Jenova. Out of the corner of my eye, a barrage of star-bolts pelted Slade and the area around him. He stopped in his tracks.

"Yo!" Cyborg yelled. "We're not finished with you yet!"

"I wanted a fight, Slade," Ariel said. "Let's strike while the iron is hot."

Slade laughed through his mask.

"Whatever you want, my dear," he said. "Apprentices!"

Sephiroth approached from behind. Cloud climbed up through the whole and pushed through the Titans. The two came at a stance behind their master. Slade pointed at Jenova, "Take her. I'll be along shortly."

Slade took Sephiroth's sword and walked past them towards Ariel. Everyone else backed up into the previous room.

"Est-ce qu'il un jour beau à mourir, vous est-il ne pensent pas ainsi?" Slade said.

Ariel brought up her sword, "Soufflez-l'hors de votre âne."

Slade charged forward; Ariel met him half way. As the two began sword fighting, Sephiroth and Cloud began to unload Jenova. Starfire waved her arms, "BOLT!" A huge crack of thunder and an even bigger jolt of lightning exploded in front of the apprentices. Cloud and Sephiroth leaped backwards and skidded a little bit before turning their attention to the team. I pulled myself up, "Titans, GO!"

Cloud turned to Sephiroth: the two nodded. Cloud pulled out his enormous sword to take on the team while Sephiroth dealt with me.

"Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!" I screamed. The door that I had ripped off the chamber floated in mid air, deep within my power, and then smacked Sephiroth. It pinned him against the wall hard enough that he went through it and into another room. I got up and walked over to Jenova. I reached down and pulled my sword up off the ground.

"I'm going to finish this before it even begins," I said. I drew the Masamune blade back as I prepared to strike.

"I don't think so," Slade's voice said from above. I looked up as he came down hard with a forward slash. I blocked it, but I couldn't block his "Aero" attack. A large gust of wind – bigger than a level four hurricane – blew me and anybody in the direction back to the next room. Cloud regained himself and ran back to Slade. Before he left the room, he turned to the controlled environment that had the chlorine gas leak. I sat up just in time to see a smirk cross his face as he threw his sword at the glass. I screamed out "NO!" and tried to focus on his sword, but it was too late. Immediately I put up a field around the area where the gas was leaking. The sword had lodged itself in the glass, but there was no telling how much longer the glass would hold. Everyone else began to pick themselves up off the floor.

"Little help here, please!" I beckoned.

Robin got up, "Dammit! Slade's getting away with Jenova!"

"No shit, Robin, but we've got bigger problems. If I release the gas, then it'll kill everything on this floor, possibly the whole building. We've got to get out of here. Forget about Slade."

Robin slammed his fist down on a nearby table. Acknowledging the situation at hand, he turned to the rest, "We've got to get out of here, MOVE!"

"Wait a minute, where's Ariel?" asked Beast Boy.

"There's no time!" I commanded. "Everyone, get out, now!"

Cyborg blasted a hole through the floor. "This way!" he called.

Robin and Beast Boy followed. Starfire stayed behind.

I turned to her, yelling, "Starfire, what the hell are you doing! Get out of here!"

She shook her head, "I cannot leave my friends behind. I need to make sure you make it out safely."

"I'll be fine, Star…"

Sephiroth appeared in the far doorway. He lunged one of Slade's little explosive discs at me before turning and hightailing it out. The disc landed right in front of me and exploded. Starfire and I were blown across the hole Cyborg had made and I released my grip on the contaminated area. The chlorine gas began to float towards us like a dense fog. I scrambled over to Starfire who landed right next to me. I put my cape over her and descended through the floor to the bottom. Cyborg had continued to blow holes through the facility, making our own private exit. I put Starfire's arm over my neck and helped her through the large blast ways. The gas began to sink into the lower levels as it entered the ventilation system. A large explosion erupted from the other side of the building. With the absence of Ariel, I was slightly worried. I still had a lot of questions for our mystery woman. I heard Robin screaming our names from outside. I picked up the pace the best I could – Starfire was still woozy from being blown thirty feet away. More explosions tore through the facility, some ending up to be a chain reaction. I could hear support beams give way and the floors starting to cave in behind and around us. I leapt as hard as I could when we got to the exit hole, pushing Starfire ahead of me as hard as I could. Large napalm followed us on the way out, nearly catching my cape and clothes. I rolled down a grassy hill uncontrollably until I landed face-first at the base of it. I rolled over onto my back and sat upright. Beast Boy touched my shoulder, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," I said. "Where's Starfire?"

"She's over there; has a large bruise on the side of her head, but Robin just cast cure on her, so she'll be all right."

"Good. Where's Ariel?"

"Uh… we don't know. She's gone."

I slammed my fist on the ground, "Fuck."

It was going to be a long night.