A/N: Just a quick note here. One of my reviewers has been absolutely amazing and wanted to provide a few illustrations for this story. I can't get the image to attach here, but it is up on the Quotev posting if you are interested. I have the same username there as I do here.

Chapter 12

Rufus's eye narrowed at Senna's exclamation, and his tone took on a hard edge as he said, "Indeed. I take it there are things you have been purposely hiding?"

Instead of being intimidated, Senna scoffed. "Yes, and for a damn good reason. You can't tell me that you would have believed me if I led with talk of being reincarnated because a goddess told me I was snapped to where you are due to some sort of bond between our souls."

There was a brief moment of silence as Rufus's expression cleared. His voice was no longer hard, but it was still cold when he said, "And you are claiming that is what happened?"

Senna was so over his attitude already. Yes, logically, she understood his wariness, but damnit, it wasn't like she asked for any of it. If she had her way, she would have gone back to her own bed and hoped like hell she would see Natasha at the law firm the next day instead of standing there fighting off panic because she knew on a fundamental level that she had died.

Thankfully, she was able to keep most of that internalized. She had to take a deep breath and still didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked around until she found some tissues on a nearby table and worked to remove the evidence of her tears. When she was sure the damage was cleared, and she could at least present a confident front, she turned to see Rufus was watching her with narrowed eyes.

She was actually surprised that he had given her time to compose herself, but she wasn't going to be unappreciative. She calmly nodded as she said, "Yes, as hard as it may be to believe, that is what I was told. As for the truth of it, honestly, I don't know. It's kind of hard for me to swallow too. If I hadn't seen my own grave, I would have written it off as a hallucination. But I haven't woken up yet, so this is looking less likely to be a dream by the minute, even if I wish it was."

There was a brief pause before Rufus took a few steps closer. He stopped an arm's length away before he said, "And you insist that it was a goddess that told you this?"

Despite trying to hold it back, Senna made a frustrated noise before she responded, "Look, all I know is that she was the only one who could see me, and she called me one of her children. The way she made it sound, everyone on the planet was her child—or like she was the planet we all lived on. So I say goddess. It's the best thing I can think to call her."

Senna was shocked when Rufus blinked a few times, and his expression turned contemplative. "So you are saying the voice of the planet spoke to you directly? Is that ongoing?"

Something in the way he said that put Senna's nerves on edge, but she was already too emotionally drained to think it through before she huffed a mirthless laugh and said, "No. I can't say I talk to planets on the regular. And right now, the only thing I hear is you grilling me with questions I don't have any more of an answer to than you do. Oh, and whoever the hell is in the next room that hasn't shut up since I woke."

She rolled her eyes and nearly glared at him as she continued, "Honestly, with as much effort as was obviously put into these apartments, you'd think the walls would be thicker."

Confusion passed through Rufus's eyes for a split second before they widened. Although it didn't take him long to get that under control as well. He then lifted one brow as he looked at her with interest as he said, "And what exactly are they saying?"

For a moment, Senna had the nearly overwhelming desire to go bang her head against the wall. Surely that would be more productive than talking to the man in front of her. Instead, she took a deep breath as she said, "I can't hear them well enough to understand the words, but it is definitely more than one voice. Can you not? I mean, I didn't think simple mako exposure would enhance my hearing that much."

Rufus put one hand on his chin, and he looked down with a contemplative expression. It was several seconds before he looked back up. "I suppose it could be due to your mako exposure, but not in the way you are implying. There is no one in this part of the building besides you and me. And the Turks outside the door, that is. What you are hearing isn't a physical voice."

Senna opened her mouth to snark back but realized his eyes held no hint that he was lying. Her jaw snapped shut, and she looked around with a furrowed brow. There were no words to explain just how unsettled she was by the idea that she was hearing things that weren't there. At least they weren't loud enough to keep her constantly distracted, and she was able to ignore the voices in favor of frowning at Rufus. "Ok, so let's say that it's just auditory hallucinations for now."

She had to pause as she repressed a shiver but forced herself to continue. "How the hell was I exposed to mako anyway?"

Rufus seemed to hesitate for a moment, but that was the only indication of his thoughts when he said, "That is something we planned to ask you. While we do know your exposure was recent since you spent the last several days recuperating from the effects. That does nothing to explain why you showed up unconscious in front of my door and already suffering from mako poisoning."

Senna almost felt like screaming in aggravation. Instead, she took a deep breath and focused. If she tried to think of it logically, Rufus had no reason to lie, so that meant somehow, when she was transferred from Earth to Gaia, she was dipped in mako along the way. Maybe that was what the goddess had meant when she said a promise had been made. Although, if that was the case, Senna wanted a refund. Mako poisoning was nothing good.

She knew Rufus was standing there waiting for an explanation, but there were none. At least none that made sense. Instead, she sighed and rubbed one temple to try and stave off the building tension. It was likely that she would end up with another migraine if she didn't find a way to relax a little.

Finally, she gestured back toward the couches as she said, "Ok, it feels like we have been working at cross-purposes this whole time. Can we start over? I honestly don't have much information about what's going on, but maybe we can figure it out if you are willing to work with me. I'm not asking you to trust me; just listen without that accusation in your eyes."

Rufus didn't argue and followed her back to where they were seated previously. However, as soon as they were both comfortable, he caught her gaze as he said, "You know, I haven't yet accused you of anything."

Senna barely caught herself in time to keep from rolling her eyes. Still, she gave him a sardonic look. "No, you haven't. Yet being the operative word there. Although, your expression has been telling a different story."

Rufus smirked in response, but his eyes still held a hard edge as he said, "Perhaps. That could also be entirely because you have yet to give me a satisfactory response about any part of this situation."

Instead of letting his attitude get to her, Senna tried to look at it from his point of view. Why should he believe anything she had said so far? He definitely wasn't the type of man to buy into the metaphysical—no more than she was. Yet, if she really was on Gaia, that was the only explanation.

She let out another soft sigh and tried to ignore the pain growing behind her eyes as she looked straight into his. "I know they aren't satisfactory—not for you, and they wouldn't have been for me either if I were in your shoes. However, they are the only answers I have. It's not like I asked to be separated from my family, friends, and career so I could wind up somewhere that could easily get me killed—again."

Just the thought of her death was enough to make her nausea nearly unbearable. The pain that was almost fully blossomed in her head didn't help. She grimaced and covered her eyes as she tried to keep going. "Look, I may not be in a position to negotiate, but can I ask that you at least give me time? As much as I hate to admit it, I just can't deal with this right now."

Senna barely noted that Rufus didn't respond right away. However, she looked up in surprise when he softly said, "It would appear that you are still suffering from the effects of the mako. I will agree to put this conversation off, but I do expect answers. For now, you should rest. I will have the doctor return to examine you shortly."

The last thing Senna had expected was a reprieve, but she wasn't going to pass on it. She hated facing such dire circumstances while she felt like her head was about to explode, but there was no more to be done about that than there was her situation as a whole. She didn't bother arguing as she stood to head back toward the bedroom she had been in. She only paused long enough to nod at Rufus as she said, "Thank you."

His only response was to raise one brow, but Senna had already turned toward the bedroom. She was too far gone to care what he thought about her actions.

By the time the doctor made it in to see Senna, she was already in full-blown migraine mode. It had been one of the fastest onsets that she had ever seen, but given the situation, she wasn't surprised. Not that she had the capacity to worry about anything other than keeping her revolting stomach in line. She hadn't eaten anything in god knew how long, and the thought of nothing but bile coming was enough of a motivator for her to do whatever it took to keep from getting sick.

She was more than grateful when the same man she had seen earlier came in. It didn't even matter that he was wearing a lab coat and carrying a syringe. At least it was not long after he injected her that blessed sleep finally overcame everything, and for once, she was happy to slip into the darkness.

Senna blinked to try and become accustomed to the harsh bright light coming from somewhere above her. At least the pain in her head was nothing more than a dull ache that, thankfully, was not ascerbated by the glare.

She had not even finished trying to get her bearings before she heard a familiar voice behind her. "I had thought these would no longer be a problem as I am, I presume, presently in the room just down the hall from you. Care to explain why you have pulled me here?"

Her limbs were still not fully cooperative, so it took Senna a few moments to push herself shakily to her feet. Once she was standing, she did her best not to stumble over the uneven terrain as she turned to face the man behind her. A frown formed as she confirmed it was indeed Rufus Shinra. Although, he surprised her as he stepped forward and took her arm to steady her. "You look rather ill."

It wasn't her wisest decision, but Senna scoffed as she glared up at the man. "I take it you've never had a migraine. If so, let me tell you that you're lucky I have experience with them, or else your pretty, fine-woven cotton shirt would not be so pristine."

Senna was shocked when his response was a chuckle. Although his humor was restrained to nothing more than a smirk when she looked up sharply. He ignored the look as he took a firmer grip on her arm and led her to a nearby boulder. She was happy to lean against it.

Once she was settled, she gave Rufus a curious glance as she said, "While I do appreciate the assistance, given our last conversation, I have to ask—why aren't you pressing on with the interrogation?"

Rufus took a step back, but his smirk was still in place as he said, "Perhaps I would rather not find out if you are truly that ill—dream or not."

While Senna was sure the man wasn't lying, she had a feeling that wasn't the whole truth either. She raised one brow and gave him a pointed look. Even so, she was shocked when he chuckled again as he looked around. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. This feels familiar—aside from the fact that you have been in my dreams for most of the last two weeks. That and I know the state you are in."

His smirk lifted ever so slightly when he saw her widened eyes, and he shrugged. "Besides, given our history, I figured you would tell me why we are in the wastes outside Midgar soon enough. What words of caution do you have for me this time?"

His words had Senna looking around with a frown. She hadn't noticed the city in the distance until he said something, but being in the wastes certainly explained the unrelenting sunlight. She finally looked back at him with a shrug. "There is no telling. I have a feeling not a lot goes on out here."

For just a moment, Rufus looked taken aback, but that only lasted until their attention was drawn to loud noises coming from the other side of a group of rocks. Neither of them said anything as he helped her stand and held onto her arm while they made their way around to see what was happening.

As soon as they made it around the outcropping, Senna froze. In the near distance, several transports had stopped, and well over a hundred infantrymen were pouring out. When the large group started toward where Senna and Rufus were standing, she immediately turned to him and said, "We need to get out of here!"

Rufus looked at the troops and then back at Senna with a raised brow. "You are telling me that my own men would dare raise their weapons against me?"

Senna's nausea was getting worse as she thought about what was to come, and it caused her to be snippier than usual. "Not everything revolves around you! But I refuse to stay here and watch this. I can't—"

She cut off as she realized what she was about to say. The sight of the infantry was enough to terrify her, but mostly because she knew what was probably about to happen. Still, could she walk away? Would they even be able to see her if she didn't? If not, what could she possibly do other than make herself miserable?

Surprisingly, Rufus hadn't said anything at her outburst, but that was explained when she looked up to see the man was watching as the army of men drew nearer. However, at least one of her questions was answered when the closest Seargent ran close enough to see them. He froze with wide eyes before he nearly knocked his helmet off as he saluted. "S-sir, we weren't expecting you to be out here."

The man then looked around wildly as the rest of the group seemed to have seen Rufus at last. The sudden silence as they all skidded to a halt was eerie, but that didn't keep the soldier from saying, "Sir, you should evacuate immediately. Two dangerous specimens have been sighted nearby."

Right after he was done, his eyes flicked behind Rufus to where Senna was standing, and for a moment, Senna was sure his jaw would come unhinged. Surprisingly he seemed to be more competent than she expected as he immediately turned to Rufus and said, "I-if you would prefer, I can spare a few men to escort you and the lady somewhere safe."

Rufus turned back to Senna with a raised brow. "Still say you don't have any words of wisdom?"

Senna rolled her eyes at him and opened her mouth to snark back but snapped it shut before anything came out. She suddenly had an idea of how she might be able to help. It was just a dream, and she knew it, but she couldn't walk away. Nowhere would be far enough to escape the sounds that would follow or the guilt she would feel.

Her eyes were hard as she nodded to herself before she looked up at Rufus. "Like I said, not everything is about you, but I'll be damned if I don't try."

For a moment, Rufus looked unsure of how to take her words. It was enough of a delay that she was able to slip past him and walk to the front of the group of infantrymen. Thankfully, Rufus stood to the side and watched with curiosity instead of trying to get involved.

When Senna started to hear the whispers from the gathered men, she realized that she was still in the grey dress. Not that it made a difference to her plans. She was just glad that it wasn't the nightgown again. Instead of worrying about it, she held up both arms as if that could block the path and raised her voice as she said, "The two men you are looking for are not just specimens. They are humans that don't deserve to be hunted like dogs."

The gathered infantrymen shifted uncomfortably, and several of them looked to where Rufus was standing and then back at her. However, the company executive did nothing more than watch the scene with curiosity. When it became clear that Rufus had no intention of interfering, one of the infantrymen stepped forward and called out. "Ma'am, please move, or we will be forced to restrain you."

Senna's glare was heated enough that the man took an unconscious step back as she said, "No. I will not."

For a moment, the group looked unsure of what to do about the situation, but then the sound of footsteps coming from behind Senna had all of them raising their weapons. A few of them looked like they were unsure where to point them, so the muzzles kept jumping back and forth between Senna and whoever was coming up behind her. She didn't bother looking back to find out.

Although, her surprised gaze did jump to Rufus as his voice cut across the tense silence. "If any bullet so much as grazes her, whoever fired will forfeit their lives immediately."

Senna was appreciative of his statement, but she still gave him a confused look as she said, "Don't you think that's taking it a bit far? I mean, thank you, but I am the one that put myself in front of a bunch of loaded guns."

Rufus only raised one brow as he said, "I still have unanswered questions. Until I am satisfied, your life is of more value to me than any one of theirs."

Senna had no idea how to respond to that because, honestly, it just didn't make sense to her. She almost felt bad for the men that heard him too. That had to have put a dent in their confidence. Not that most of them hadn't probably already heard something similar from one of the other assholes in Shinra management.

By then, the footsteps behind her had come to a halt. She still didn't turn and instead focused on the infantryman from before as he said, "Ma'am, I'll ask you again to please move. One of the specimens is right behind you, and we cannot afford to have you injured if the vice-president deems your life to be of such value."

Senna felt her rage spike again. She was beyond caring what any of them thought anymore. "And I already said I won't. If this is the only way to protect those two men, then so be it. I will not allow you to kill two people that were once your comrades, and in one case, your commander. I know the name of Soldier First Class Zack Fair can't have been forgotten. And you may not remember the infantryman named Cloud Strife, but he was still one of you. If circumstances had been different, it could have been any one of you standing on this side. Or all of you. Hojo gives absolutely zero fucks who he uses in his experiments, and he does so with the president's full backing!"

Her words finally seemed to be getting through, and she felt hope well up when several of the men in front of her lowered their weapons. She was on the verge of a smile when she heard an exuberant voice from behind her. "Heh, I'm not sure who you are, but you have my thanks. Still, this fight is mine, and I'll gladly face it as the price of freedom. Me and Cloud have come this far together, so I'm gonna make sure we get to Midgar."

Senna didn't even get the chance to respond before several things happened at once. She felt Zack's hands on her arms, and she looked over her shoulder in time for him to whisper an apology before he shoved her toward Rufus. She was shocked that the young blonde was able to catch her before she fell and get them both back in the amount of time it took Zack to draw his Buster Sword.

She watched in horror as Zack put the blade to his forehead. She couldn't make out all his words, but she didn't need to. She already knew what he was saying, and tears sprang up as he spared her one last grin before he rushed into the group of infantrymen while yelling his defiance.

Senna's echoing scream was swallowed by the sound of gunfire and crashing metal. She wasn't sure if it was a blessing or not that the image started to fade, and she was soon left to float alone in a sea reminiscent of starry midnight.

A/N: First, I want to start with an apology for not having this out Monday. I tried, but life happened. Plus, I struggled to make this chapter come out the way I wanted. Finally, I just had to say enough is enough. As for the content, I'm sure none of you were expecting where this went, but I promise, there is a method to my madness lol. We get to see the fallout of these interactions between them and maybe a few explanations...along with something else. Anyway, I hope you are looking forward to it, as I know I am! Thanks for reading and cheers!