Chapter Three

Sephiroth arrived in Nibelheim in the early afternoon. He clambered out of the back of the transport truck, disgruntled. They had been delayed by a full grown dragon attacking the truck. While it hadn't been much of a challenge, it did concern him. If the dragon was any example, the monsters around the town had no problems approaching civilization. Sephiroth waited for the driver to hop out of his seat. He looked at the entrance to the tiny town and spotted a girl watching him. She looked young, with long brown hair spilling about her shoulders from beneath a large Stetson. His attention startled her. She immediately got to her feet and darted into town. Sephiroth ignored her odd behavior for the moment and turned to the driver, asking about his orders regarding transportation.

"I have to go toward Cosmo Canyon to pick up some other operatives, sir. You'll have to contact me when you've finished your mission." The infantryman visibly shrunk under Sephiroth's annoyed glare. "Th-Those are my orders!" he stammered. "Since Shin-Ra's revamping the cadet system we don't have enough people to be at every SOLDIER's beck and call…" Sephiroth's eyes narrowed further and the man added, "Sir!"

The restructuring is taking effect sooner than I would have expected, Sephiroth mused. He dismissed the driver after registering the man's PHS number in his own device. The driver started the truck back up, leaving behind a cloud of dust as he drove away. Sephiroth turned back toward the town. Despite the evening not having a chance to settle in yet, the sun offered little warmth. The cool, dry air flitted across Sephiroth's bare chest. Had it been just a little closer to winter he might have considered a shirt for once.

Sephiroth made his way to the large building to his left. The sign posted outside was decorated with intricately carved sprigs of mistletoe, twisting around the stylized words 'Baldr's Inn.' Sephiroth eyed it curiously for a moment, but then entered the inn without giving it further consideration. The innkeeper, a plump middle-aged woman, looked up brightly at the ring of the door chime.

"Welcome to – Oh!" she gasped at the sight of him, taking in the sleek black uniform and the bright silver of his hair. Sephiroth waited patiently for her to get over the shock of his appearance. While the reaction was expected by now, it didn't make it any less irritating. Not for the first time he thought bitterly about dyeing his hair to a more natural color. Although with all the other odd things about him, hair dye might not make much of a difference. As the woman made no sign of getting over his looks, he approached the desk.

"How much for the night?" he asked, his words clipped. He began opening his wallet.

The woman snapped out her surprise at the sight of money. "Oh, it's 100 gil for a room." She continued to look him over as he pulled out the appropriate amount, blatantly staring at the large belt across his stomach. She looked into his eyes then. He was certain the eerie mako glow tipped her off as to his identity. "I take it you're a SOLDIER?" she asked.

"Yes." He placed the money on the counter.

"About time!" she chuckled. She dug around for the room key. "The mayor's been complaining about the reactor for months. Can't believe they just sent you out here – Your other people never came back to tell us what was going wrong…Ah, here we go." She handed the located key to Sephiroth and pulled out a ledger. "So just for the night, mister…?"

"Sephiroth. I'll know if I have to stay longer after I've inspected the reactor." He moved to head up the staircase to the second floor.

"Wait," the innkeeper called. "How do you—"

Sephiroth stopped in his tracks, giving her a pointed look. "S-e-p-h-i-r-o-t-h." He nodded at her sheepish thank you and took the stairs two at a time.

Spotting only one door, he found his room with ease. The room was well furnished, and clearly meant for multiple people. There were three beds with a small table between each of them. A vase and small ornament decorated the solitary dresser, and the desk looked as though someone had been sitting there working recently. The room looked more likely to be a part of someone's house rather than a traveler's inn, with cheery plants and a painting of a young girl on a stool as decorations. As Sephiroth walked over to the closest bed, he spotted another painting hanging above a short bookcase. A photo of what was surely the innkeeper's family rested on top of the books. Sephiroth suddenly felt like an intruder, as if he had barged his way into a person's home to take the bedroom for himself. It certainly didn't look as if they had been expecting visitors.

Zack's comment that the town was in the middle of nowhere sprung to mind. Sephiroth smirked slightly as he unloaded some of his things on the small bed. He had certainly been right about that.

"Where is the mayor's house?"

"Oh, it's just two doors down that way." The innkeeper leaned over her desk to gesture in the appropriate direction. She looked up at Sephiroth awkwardly from her position, and then retreated to her chair. Sephiroth exited without another word.

Upon arriving at his destination, Sephiroth rapped on the door. He heard the distant sound of a chair scraping along the floor and heavy footsteps. The door clicked open, revealing a muscular, grizzly-looking man. His mouth was entirely covered in a bushy mustache until it opened in greeting.

"You must be Sephiroth." The mayor held out his hand for a handshake. Sephiroth ignored it, simply nodding his affirmation. They held each other's gaze for a moment before the man withdrew his hand, running it through his short messy hair.

"You are the mayor of this town, correct?" Sephiroth asked.

"Yeah, that'd be me. Gilder Lockhart. Most just call me 'mayor' around these parts." He stepped to the side, holding the front door open. "Why don't you come in?" Sephiroth followed him inside through the front hallway and into the kitchen. Lockhart waved to the small table and Sephiroth pulled up a chair. Lockhart sat opposite of him, leaning on the table curiously. He reached for a half-filled mug of coffee and nursed it as he spoke.

"So," the mayor started, "How much do you know about the situation here?"

"I've been informed that the reactor seems to be malfunctioning, and as a result a portion of the wildlife has mutated into monsters."

"Yeah, but it isn't just the wildlife," Lockhart sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"Some of the regular monsters have gotten stronger too." He raised an eyebrow at Sephiroth, eyeing the soldier with suspicion. "What's your plan?"

Sephiroth frowned at the staring. "I had hoped to explore the town this afternoon to gather information on what's been happening. What can you tell me about the monsters?"

"Not much," Lockhart admitted, scratching his collarbone absent-mindedly, his wrinkled plaid shirt becoming even more wrinkled as a result of the motion. "They look a bit strange, but mostly they're all just stronger."

"They 'look strange?' How so?" Sephiroth asked. The mission briefing had been painfully lacking in information. The information it did have was largely speculation and rumors. Sephiroth pressed the mayor, hoping to get something concrete to work with.

"Well, ah…I dunno. I can't really explain it."

The mayor was proving to be about as helpful as the briefing, much to Sephiroth's chagrin. He narrowed his eyes at the man. "Try."

Lockhart's brows furrowed as he concentrated. "Well, they're sort of…uh…" He pointed at the joints along his arm as an example. "They look like they're breaking to pieces. I haven't seen many of them, to be honest – too much work keeping the townsfolk from spooking at them. Even had to arrange a curfew for the kids." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking Sephiroth over with a critical eye. "I figure once you fix the reactor things should die down. When are you gonna do that, anyway?"

"Tomorrow morning. I will make my way to the reactor and determine what has been causing the mutations." Lockhart nodded along to every word, his fingers covering his chin in contemplation. Sephiroth continued, "If possible, I will fix it myself. If not, I will call in specialists." Lockhart offered him no suggestions or extra information once he had finished. He stared intently at Sephiroth, making no indication of approval. Sephiroth felt himself tense under the other man's gaze. Lockhart was thinking over his words, of course, but he was also clearly scrutinizing him. Sizing him up.

"I guess you might be better off than the other guys they sent," Lockhart finally admitted.

That grabbed Sephiroth's interest. "What can you tell me about our other operatives?"

"Eh? Didn't they report back to Shin-Ra when the left?" Lockhart crossed his arms seeming genuinely confused.

"They never returned. We assumed they perished."

Lockhart paled. The hand that had been bringing his coffee to his mouth stopped in midair.

"Do you recall what happened before they disappeared?" Sephiroth asked.

"I, uh," Lockhart scratched the back of his head, suddenly nervous. "I had no idea they…wow…uh. They were checking the reactor and the outskirts of town for some guy. Lizard was it?"

"Lazard."

"Oh. Yeah, Lazard. That sounds right." The mayor leaned forward on the table again, stroking his mustache. "Nobody in town had seen him so those other soldiers were going to check around the reactor area." He sighed. "Next thing we know, the guys don't come back and the reactor's still bugging."

So no knowledge as to what transpired. Sephiroth resisted the urge to rub his temples. A headache had been slowly building, and this mayor's lack of information only seemed to exacerbate it. The sound of the door opening distracted both men. A girl's voice floated in from the front hall.

"Papa, Mrs. Strife was saying only one person from Shin-Ra came and he's—oh."

Sephiroth's eyes darted to the newcomer and recognized her as the girl he had startled upon arriving. She stood partially inside the kitchen, but hung back, resting one hand on the doorframe beside her. The deep red eyes locked onto Sephiroth, though they held more curiosity than fear.

"Tifa." Lockhart stood from his chair. "Come on in, we're just talking."

Tifa stepped into the kitchen, walking cautiously to the edge of the table where her father was standing. She smiled faintly at Sephiroth. "Hello." Her eyes flicked over his hair and armor. "Are you Sephiroth?"

"Yes." Sephiroth noticed the girl's eyes light up. He inwardly groaned, hoping she wasn't some far-flung member of the Silver Elite.

"You're the one Cloud was always talking about!" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow in questioning, but Lockhart quickly interrupted his daughter.

"Tifa here will lead you to the reactor tomorrow." He frowned at Sephiroth. Or tightened his lips. Sephiroth couldn't be sure with that bush of a mustache in the way. It was some form of displeasure. "She knows the paths up the mountain best."

Sephiroth nodded and stood from his chair. "If that's all you wished to discussed, then I'm going to investigate the town."

"Were you going to check out the Shin-Ra mansion?" Tifa asked.

Sephiroth mulled over the question. There hadn't been any information about such a thing in the briefing. "…I was not aware Shin-Ra owned a mansion in Nibelheim."

"It's got nothing to do with the monster problems," Lockhart grumbled.

"Papa, you've never even been inside it! You keep saying you're too busy with town affairs to see what's in there!" Tifa chided, placing her hands on her hips irritably.

"Someone else probably did it already a long time ago, Tifa, it's been over twenty-five years…" The mayor sighed at her antics.

"No one's been in there since the scientists left, you told me so!" Tifa countered. That statement caught Sephiroth's attention. As far as he knew, the Science Department had no business in a town like this.

Hojo would like it here, he mused. He'd have no interference. He glanced between Tifa and Lockhart. As the mayor argued about the mansion's lack of relevance, Tifa huffed at him with all the frustration of teenage defiance. Immature, certainly, but she seemed more likely to be of help than her father had been so far. She appeared to have a better memory, at least.

"Tifa." Sephiroth's address shut both of them up instantly. Tifa turned to him in askance while her father glared. "Do you know anything specific about the mutations I've been hearing about?"

"Tifa doesn't go past the town borders without permission. She wouldn't have seen the monsters," Lockhart scoffed. From his position, Sephiroth saw Tifa roll her eyes.

"I see. Then if it isn't too much trouble, would you lead me to the mansion?" Before Lockhart could protest, he quickly added, "I'll decide for myself whether or not it has any relevance."

Lockhart mumbled what sounded like curses under his breath. He gave Tifa a look. Sephiroth figured they'd argue some more later, but it didn't concern him. Lockhart cleared his throat and then tapped his fingers on the kitchen table. "Shin-Ra did send word that you'd have authority here," he said, trying very hard to keep the anger out of his voice. "So I suppose we'll have to help out however we can."

"Thank you," Sephiroth nodded, smirking softly as the mayor stood up. Tifa smiled and walked out of the kitchen.

"Follow me!"

Sephiroth took a step to the door and Lockhart grabbed him by the arm. An icy glare removed the offending hand, but Lockhart kept eye contact. "I'm keeping my eye on you, Mr. SOLDIER." Sephiroth sniffed scornfully at the statement and walked outside. Tifa smiled brightly and led the way, heading down the road.

As she led, Sephiroth studied the sleepy town. Aside from the homes and a large well in the center, he couldn't see much in the way of civilization. He frowned. Such a quiet place would be perfect for one of Hojo's experiments.

"So, those monsters…" Tifa said, derailing Sephiroth's train of thought.

"I take it you have been out of town and seen them, then," Sephiroth commented.

"Well, yes, but," Tifa hunched her shoulders, looking guilty. "Just…Don't tell Papa, please? He'd get mad and start lecturing me." At Sephiroth's nod, she stood straight again. "The monsters…They've been looking weird lately. They're stronger. More daring too – some of the dragons have even come down the mountains and into the valley."

Sephiroth recalled his own fight with the dragon outside of town. It hadn't differed much in appearance from its species, though. "In what way do they look 'weird?' Is it the mutations?"

"Yeah, definitely mutations. It's like…" Tifa pursed her lips together in thought. "They're a lot stronger, but they look…They look like they're unhealthy."

"How so?"

"They look kind of like zombies, I guess?" Tifa twisted a lock of hair around her fingers. "Their skin is turning all red and gray. They look like they're decaying or rotting or something."

Sephiroth's jaw clenched. Red and gray. Breaking apart. The monsters weren't decaying, they were degrading. The Turk sightings had been accurate after all.

Genesis copies.

"Have you ever seen that happen before?" Tifa questioned as they rounded a corner.

"Yes. I have an idea of what might be causing it." And it's certainly not the reactor.

"Can you fix it?"

Sephiroth was quiet a moment, thinking over his options. Fixing the mutated monsters was a complete impossibility. He'd have to dispose of them. In the meantime, he had to be on the lookout for Lazard and Genesis while keeping their involvement under wraps. It wouldn't do Shin-Ra much good to let it be known that they were fighting their own comrades.

Former comrades, Sephiroth reminded himself.

At length, he answered the girl's curious stare. "I can't fix what has been done already. I'll check the reactor as planned. Afterward I'll eliminate what mutations I can find." He didn't mention he'd be hunting a crazed ex-SOLDIER First. Genesis hadn't seemed to involve Nibelheim in his plans just yet. No sense worrying the populace even more.

Tifa stopped walking and stood the balls of her feet. "There it is," she pointed to a large iron gate built into an elaborate stone fence. Behind it Sephiroth could see the mansion. Pale grey stone fashioned into an elegant home for the visiting Shin-Ra employees. Its grandeur spoke of money the town clearly did not have. Sephiroth focused on the front gate, searching for a lock he was sure he'd have to break to get onto the property. He frowned as Tifa pushed open the gate without any effort. The girl turned back and waited for him.

"Something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Does this gate have no lock?" He couldn't imagine a Shin-Ra-owned building not having even the most basic security.
"Oh, well…" Tifa looked around the area of the fence. "I guess it rusted off or something. The wind's been blowing the gate open and shut for a while now."

Sephiroth examined the gate a bit more closely. It seemed like there was only general wear and tear on the iron. Rust from the elements, for the most part. He searched the area with his eyes, not finding any remnants of the lock that he would have expected to be there.

"Sephiroth? Everything alright?"

Sephiroth turned his gaze back to Tifa. "Fine." He walked past her and toward the mansion. If the scientists had left any of their research inside then it might explain why they chose to set up in Nibelheim, and possibly why they felt there was no need to keep the residents out.

Sephiroth pulled the large door open and stepped into the dusty foyer. Looking around, he took in the sophisticated layout and the impressive chandelier with some confusion. Scientists would have had no use for such grandeur. More likely that Shin-Ra had built it previously and the scientists appropriated it for their own use. The doors on the first level were all closed, and Tifa had already wandered over to the first door on the left. She tugged on the knob curiously, but the door didn't budge.

"This one's locked," she observed.

"I can see that."

Tifa put her hands on her hips, irritated. She turned away as if to check the next door, but instead threw her leg up in a swift back kick. The door cracked and swung open wildly, causing Sephiroth to flinch when it collided with the wall inside. Tifa walked into the room with a prideful strut. The soldier massaged his temples a moment before following.

The room only had a few desks, all shoved to the opposite side of the room. In the corner by the window, Tifa was holding two yellowed pieces of paper. At Sephiroth's approached she held them up for him to see.

"Look, I found them on that table." She handed the papers, letters, to Sephiroth, who opened them without hesitation. The letters were written in a barely intelligible scrawl that Sephiroth recognized at once with disdain. It read:

'I must get rid of all those that stand in the way of my research. Even that one from the Turks. I scientifically altered him, and put him in the basement. If you want to find him, then search the area. But… this is merely a game I thought of. It is not necessary for you to participate if you don't want to.'

Sephiroth could practically hear Hojo's maniacal cackle after the last sentence.

"Is it bad?" Tifa asked gently.

Sephiroth looked at her in question.

"You look angry," she clarified.

He quickly steeled his expression into a mask again, caught off-guard by his momentary slip. "I'm fine." He placed the letter on the table and moved onto the next one, which contained a set of instructions to find the code for a safe. Sephiroth attempted to recall if there were any missing Turk reports from over twenty years ago, but he had little knowledge of Turk affairs. Even when he was placed on missions with them they managed to keep a large amount of information to themselves.

"Wait, this guy did what?" Tifa's voice snapped Sephiroth back to attention. She was holding the first letter, reading it with horror written clearly on her face.

When did she…? Sephiroth took the letter out of her hands and folded it, opting to stick it in his coat until he had some privacy. "That's Shin-Ra business. None of your concern."

"None of my concern?" Tifa repeated, an edge to her voice. "That guy 'scientifically altered' another guy and locked him in the basement! In my hometown!" She stomped her foot on the ground angrily. "You can't tell me that's not my concern!"

Sephiroth sighed. His headache was only going to get worse at this rate. "You said no one had been here for over two decades, correct?"

"Well," Tifa crossed her arms. "…Yeah."

"Then the man is most likely dead."

Tifa's eyes widened considerably. Right when Sephiroth thought he had convinced her to drop the topic and get out of his way, or at the very least be quiet, she pointed straight at him, anger restored. "Then he deserves a proper burial! At least!" She gestured to him in exasperation. "Besides, you wanted to investigate the manor, right? Isn't this worth investigating?"

Sephiroth dropped his eyes to the second letter. Four numbers to a safe presumably in the mansion. It didn't seem like a difficult task, and it might shed light on what Hojo had been doing in Nibelheim in the first place. It didn't seem to have much to do with the mission at hand, but…

He looked back to Tifa. She stood defiantly, challenging him to disagree with her reasoning. He relented. Searching for the Turk's remains couldn't hurt.

"Fine. I'll look."

Tifa brightened instantly. "You mean we'll look. I wanna help."

Sephiroth mouth twitched back into a frown, but he acquiesced. The girl was about as stubborn as he was. He would just have to make sure she didn't stumble upon any questionable documents that could potentially endanger Shin-Ra's authority.

Again.