Chapter 15 - Assessment

Note: Will be introducing an 'OC' this chapter, and a tie in to a minor lore character, including coming up for a last name that was never given to my knowledge.

"Alright people, turn to page three of your packets."

Reno of the Turks, idly flipped to his page, brushing a flick of his red hair out of the way, blue eyes half on their grim director in their oh so snazy Turk suit. It wasn't often Veld gathered them all like this, and when it happened, something was going to, or already had, gone very wrong.

Especially when he glanced at the page. "Bossman."

"Reno."

"Not that I'm complainin n all, but uh, should we be receiving transcripts of a meeting with the President?"

Veld had a tight smile.

Reno raised an eyebrow.

Veld's smile didn't budge.

Ho boy, something had really put the boss in a fit. "Somebody say something they shouldn't have? Whose the target?"

Veld's eyes were sharp. "There is no target, not in the traditional sense."

Reno blinked.

One of the others, Shotgun he thinks, snickered at his blank response, making Reno huff a bit.

"Wait, this is about the Ancient?" came Cissnei's voice.

Reno glanced back down at the packet and started skimming through.

"Holy shit, did she really threaten to axe the President?" chocked out Knife.

Woah woah woah, "What yo? She did what?"

"Read the packet," came Veld's harsh voice.

They did, and Reno's eyebrows steadily climbed to their peak. "She'd make a good Turk with dat attitude."

"Except the part where she has no loyalty to the Company or the Turks," pointed out Gun.

"Aww c'mon Emma," said Reno, a lazy smile on his face, "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Buried about six-feet under where I have no intention of joining it," she said flatly.

"Reno."

He turned towards Tseng. "Yeah?"

"Be quiet."

Reno's jaw snapped close. Hint taken. These guys were always way to serious, needed to liven up a little. Then again...

He glanced back down at the packet, where the Ancient had not-so-subtly threatened that she would kill any of them if she thought it would save the Planet. Hearing it second hand like this normally wouldn't affect him, but... it wasn't often he (ever) saw Veld look rattled. And Tseng, that jaw of his was set tight. Maybe this once he'd cut them some slack.

He could always prank them later, was always a good tension breaker

Veld gave them a few minutes to finish before turning on the meeting room projector, playing a clip of the lobby where Veld had confronted Aerith. It was one thing to read it, but when her cold and sharp voice rang out, it put a chill down his spine.

"I have nothing positive to think or say about President Shinra and all the suffering he has caused," she said coldly, "Nor of anyone who would support him over doing what is right. I don't want any of you to die, but make no mistake on what I will do to see to the Planet's survival."

He studied her body language, and swore under his breath. "Damn yo, she means it."

Veld clicked the projector off and moved to stand at the front of the room. "This changes things. Our primary objective is to still find and eliminate Hojo and Jenova. However, in regards to Aerith, our role is no longer solely about protecting her. She's more than capable of protecting herself, and if anything, we need to run interference to protect the Company from her, with none-lethal means. Preferably by solving conflicts between her and the board before they can come to a head."

Reno (wisely) chose not to comment on that.

Maur (Mr. knuckles himself!) cleared his throat. "What information do we have on these... WEAPONs?"

"Not much," admitted Veld, "I'm vaguely aware of some research done by Doctor Crescent back when she was involved with Valentine, but I'm not sure how relevant it is. That needs to change."

"Where is he by the way?" asked Two-Guns.

Veld waved towards the door. "Keeping an eye on the Ancient. She is, as far as I'm concerned, his primary responsibility."

"Well, frees us up from having to do that," mused Katana, shifting in his seat, "But that's not why he's not here, is it?"

Veld pursed his lips. "Once a Turk, always a Turk, until the day we die. Vincent died, and was brought back. He's also not the only being in that body. They are loyal to Aerith before even considering the Company, especially when Hojo was given free reign on Vincent."

A collective dark look passed the room, Reno couldn't help but crack his knuckles. If he ever got a hold of Hojo, oh he'd make that sick freak pay. No one crossed the Turks like that. No one.

"What does that mean for us?" asked Cissnei quietly, "You just pointed out that Hojo was allowed to do so."

Reno blinked. Ah shit, she was right.

"Rupert Shinra," said Veld thinly, "Is our President only in name."

Reno's eyes went wide, sharp intakes crossing the room. That was borderline treason...

"We all understand that if need be, we will die for this Company," said Veld slowly, "Our loyalty has always been Company first, Turks second, ourselves third, and then everyone else. That is a fact that should have been respected by the President. It was not. He allowed Hojo to take Vincent, and who knows how many other Turks that have 'died' under mysterious circumstances, not to mention..."

He trailed off for a moment. "...not to mention what happened with the Old Guard."

Reno tensed a little. The Old Guard, Turks before they were known as Turks, was a careful subject. Each and every member was all kinds of classified to hell and back. Very little was confirmed about them except that Veld and Vincent had been the team back in the day. And that Veld hadn't always been the director. Rumors about what had happened to the previous director...

Well.

There was a saying: 'You can't take back a bullet'.

And it was left at that. Digging into the past was a great way to get shot.

"That doesn't touch on family either," said Veld, eyes going over to their newest recruit.

Reno glanced briefly at Felicia, er, Blade as she was code-named now. Reno liked the nickname to be sure, but waaaay to many people gave him shit for his. Him and Rod had it the worst. Anyway, Blade was a stick in the mud kind of girl, way to quiet and serious. But they all knew what Hojo had done to her, taken from the Kalm survivors and experimented on. Sure she got off better than most of Hojo's projects, but still...

"Our priorities have now changed."

And there was the actual treason. Ho boy...

"We are loyal to our family first and foremost," said Veld calmly, firmly, as if what he was saying wouldn't get him shot under normal circumstances, "The Ancient second, and everything else at your own discretion within due reason. If you develop a conflict of interest with the Company, clear it with me first, and try to be discreet about it."

Reno whistled a little.

The heavy silence that descended on the room afterwords made him wanna turn on his phone and play some tunes to break it. He let his eyes slowly look around, sizing up everyone's reaction. Most of the older, more experienced Turks, kept it under wraps. Some of the newer ones, 'cept blade, were staring wide eyed at the Director. Damn room was way to serious.

"Bout damn time bossman," Reno decided to say, slappin the table, "Bout damn time."

Veld allowed himself a small smile before going hard again. "As such, I have new standing orders."

"Reno, Rude, you two are taking over the hunt for Hojo," said Veld, displeased, "As I will be disposed with the President for the foreseeable future."

Reno grinned savagely, "Won't let you down bossman."

He held up a finger. "But, if you find any sign of Jenova, you are to pull out and contact me. Am I clear?"

Reno nodded and glanced at Rude. "Up for it man?"

The bald Turk merely raised an eyebrow over his shades in response.

"We're game bossman," said Reno cheerfully.

Veld pursed his lips. "You and Rude will also be taking cyanide tablets with you."

Reno blinked a few times. "Eh?"

"If Hojo captures you, you'll want a way out," Veld said grimly.

Reno frowned a little, nodding seriously.

Veld turned to Tseng. "Tseng, I'm assigning you on inter-department relations. You are to facilitate communications between the Turks, SOLDIER, the Science Department, and Aerith."

"And the Science Department?" clarified Tseng.

Veld had a soft smile on his face. "Lucy is someone we can trust without Hojo there breathing down her neck. She'll clean it up."

Lucy eh? Doctor Crescent had an in with the Director it seemed.

"Other departments you will interact with at your own discretion," said Veld, "If something major comes up, contact me."

Tseng nodded and went silent.

"Two Guns, Katana, Rod, I want the three of you on research duty," said Veld, "Find me everything you can about these WEAPONs Aerith mentioned, and see if there isn't some folklore somewhere we missed about Jenova."

"Yes Director," echoed back the trio.

Veld frowned briefly, "Gun."

"Yes Director?"

"Any chance your sister is interested in joining up? Last I saw her scores in the academy were well within our range. Would be a shame to lose her to another department."

Gun shifted a little, uncomfortable. "I'm not sure she'd be suited for our life."

Veld raised an eyebrow. "Is that your honest opinion, or sibling rivalry?"

Gun scowled a little. "Elena has way to open a mouth, sir."

"I suppose we'll see, you and Shotgun are on recruitment duty, start with your sister and branch out from there," said Veld, "I have a feeling we're going to need to expand and bring any new members up to speed quickly."

"Judet, Maur," said Veld.

Pff, course Mr. and Miss fists got to be on first name basis with the Director.

"I want you two on watch duty for Scarlet and Heidegger," said Veld.

The two martial artists nodded.

"Shuriken," said Veld, an unusual hint of awkwardness in his voice, "I want you to keep an eye on Zack Fair."

Cissnei tilted her head. "Of course director, any particular reason or something I should be on the lookout for?"

"It's as a unasked favor to Aerith," said Veld, "He meant something to the Ancient in her visions, he's important, and I'd see that he lives to fulfill his potential."

She nodded. "Yes director."

"Nunchaku," said Veld, voice going serious.

"Yes sir."

"I want you to see if you can't get Legend back here," said Veld.

Eyes shot up all around the table. Damn... Veld thought shit was getting serious if he wanted Legend back.

Nunchaku nodded. "I'll do what I can, what are we prepared to offer him?"

"Truth," said Veld, "Do not, under any circumstance, lie to him. Inform him of the developments with Aerith, and our department. See if that can draw his interest back in. If not, return, because nothing else is going to sway him."

"Yes sir."

"Knife," said Veld.

"Yes boss?"

"I'll be giving you a list of... current and former employees deemed to unethical to keep in the Science Department," said Veld thinly, "Terminate them at your discretion."

"Of course sir."

"Daww, she gets all the fun," whined Reno.

Veld raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to swap? I'm sure she'd readily take the chance to slit Hojo's throat."

Reno smirked a little. "Naahh, I'll take on mr. creepy."

"Blade," said Veld, turning from Reno, "I will assign you to shadow various members and learn from them. More than anything, you need experience right now. You will rotate between teams, follow their instructions, and aid them as best you can."

"Yes fath... sir," corrected Blade.

"You all have your orders then," said Veld, "If there is nothing else, you are dismissed."

Aerith stared blankly at Crawford, "Come again?"

She had been, rather than meet him in a training room come Monday morning, led to an office on another floor. It was comfortably and homily furnished, with a large cushiony chair that someone could sink into on the other side of the office. Sitting at a desk towards the front of the office was a petite woman with glasses, redish-brown hair, and brown eyes dressed in a professional purple suit. She seemed almost familiar for some reason, but Aerith couldn't quite place it. Crawford had introduced her as... well...

"Since you need your ears cleared out," said Crawford thinly, "I will repeat myself this once. This is Doctor Alberta Redman, she has been assigned as your therapist. You are required to attend a one hour session with her at bear minimum once a week, more if either of you deem it necessary. Do you have any questions?"

The name didn't ring a bell, but... she could swear the woman looked like that one old member of AVALANCHE she had briefly met...

"Do... you have a daughter?" asked Aerith the therapist.

Doctor Redman blinked, a little taken aback. "Yes? Have you met Jessica?"

Jessica. Jessie. Oh. She wondered how Jessie ended up with Avalanche if her mother was a SOLDIER therapist... maybe the woman got killed at some point and that set her daughter against them? Wouldn't be hard to imagine with the woman's job to deal with super-powered SOLDIERs on the verge of cracking. Brave woman, or perhaps suicidal.

"Not directly, but, I knew a friend of hers who pointed her out to me once," half-lied Aerith.

"Hmm," said Doctor Redman, studying her.

Which, reminded Aerith of her initial surprise and confusion, turning to Crawford, "Why am I seeing a Therapist exactly?"

"Because you were ordered to Gainsborough," said Crawford, voice hard, "The order came from the top, and you will obey it."

There was... an air of wariness about the old SOLDIER instructor now when he interacted with her now, something Aerith didn't like. It was a watchfulness in his eyes, as if he thought she might snap or something. It was a bit irritating, and she really wondered who had assigned her to this, she wanted to slap them upside the head.

"And I have no choice in this?" asked Aerith.

"Not if you ever want to get promoted or assigned to anything but a desk job for the rest of your life," said Crawford thinly.

She scowled back at him, making him growl out, "You will cooperate with the Doctor, Gainsborough, that is an order."

"Yes sir," she gritted out.

"Good, I'll see you in an hour for training then," said Crawford, turning heel and then leaving the two woman alone.

Doctor Redman gave Aerith a pleasant smile. "I'm pleased to meet you Miss Gainsborough, do you mind if I call you Aerith?"

Aerith stared at the woman for a moment, a little tense. "Alright..."

She didn't have any issue with the woman herself, just the stupid situation she was in. She didn't need this...

"You can call me Alberta, or Alby for short," said Doctor Redman.

"Alberta is fine," said Aerith.

The woman nodded before glancing down at a folder of papers open on her desk. "I must admit, it's a privilege to offer aid to the last living Ancient."

Aerith blinked a few times. "You know?"

"I was called and read in yesterday," said Alberta, "It was all rather sudden, but reading the compiled information and what you've told various people about the vision the Planet gave you, I understand why."

Not another person...

She gritted out, "I'm fine."

Alberta gave her a sad smile. "Many people disagree, as do I. I'm not here to condemn or judge you, but to help."

Aerith pursed her lips, but didn't respond.

Alberta motioned to the cushony chair. "Would you please have a seat over there so that we may begin?"

Aerith sighed and stood, moving over and sitting down, sinking into the chair. Oh that was comfy... she couldn't help but relax a little. It was way better than the slab of bricks they slept on in the Third Class rooms. She was half tempted to snooze off the meeting.

Alberta pulled over her desk chair, taking the folder with her, and sat down a bit from her. "I know the thought of this sessions makes you uncomfortable, and that's understandable. No SOLDIER, in fact, most people even, dislike the thought of seeking help. There is a very foolish, and harmful, stigma about seeking counseling that prevents people from getting the aid they need. It does not make you weak to come here, in fact, I dare to say it takes a great strength to confront and come to terms with your past."

She tilted her head. "Or perhaps your future in this case."

Aerith snorted a bit.

Alberta smiled, not taking offense. "I admit, this will be a learning experience for me as well. No one alive can say they've treated an Ancient before, there is no exact precedent or experience that I can draw from to help us with some of the topics here."

She leaned forward and whispered as if it were a secret, "I guess we're both gonna be a bit nervous and stumble through this together huh?"

Aerith smiled hesitantly. "I... guess?"

Alberta leaned back, pleased. "Alright then. We're not going to go to indepth in the first session. It will be more like an introduction and brief overview. At the end, we can determine a schedule that will work best for you. Okay?"

Aerith shrugged and mumbled. "Okay."

"Great," said Alberta glancing down at the papers in her lap. "Hmm. So, a lot of your vision was vague, despite some of the more details specifics you gave others. Could you give me a brief timetable of how things would have went if you hadn't joined SOLDIER?"

Aerith nodded, it sounded easy enough. "Umm, okay. Well, if I hadn't come here, I would have stayed as an unknown flower girl for a few years until..."

Her throat constricted a little. "...until I met my Zack."

"Your Zack?" asked Alberta.

"T-there's...," began Aerith hesitatingly, "There's a Zack here, in SOLDIER, but he's... he's not the Zack I knew."

Alberta studied her for a moment before closing her eyes. "Oh, that's something I didn't even consider, did I? You told Mr. Hewely that you experienced these visions as if you lived them, correct?"

Aerith nodded.

"You're going to meet people that you knew, perhaps deeply, that have no clue who you are," said Alberta softly.

Aerith flinched and looked away. "I know..."

"Since I know this now, is that how you really know my daughter?" asked Alberta.

Aerith winced a little. "That easy to see through?"

"You're not a very good liar," said Alberta with a smile.

"Yeah, I... I knew of Jessie, I only really met her once briefly, technically twice,...," Aerith trailed off uncomfortably.

"Oh?" asked Alberta, a teasing smile on her face, "Did Jessica cause trouble again?"

Yeah, she blew helped to blow up two reactors, but she wasn't going to reveal that.

"She died," said Aerith softly, watching Alberta freeze for a moment, "She gave her life trying to stop a massacre."

Alberta closed her eyes for a moment, collected herself, before she opened her eyes, "I see. Well, I'm... glad Jessica found a cause worthy to give her life for..."

Aerith smiled sadly, "I met her for the second time briefly in the lifestream, she and her friends were struggling a bit to move on. Their lives in a few years from now and their deaths had been... hard. I helped them as best I could."

Alberta didn't respond, eyes furrowed in thought. "Hmm... I bet it was those two boys, always dragging her into all kinds of trouble."

"Biggs and Wedge?"

"Those are the ones."

Aerith giggled. "Maybe. She found her own trouble I'd say."

Alberta smiled a little. "She always does. I suppose I'll have to be more careful in my future then."

Aerith blinked a few times.

Alberta's smile turned a bit thin. "I'd never let my daughter get into life-threatening trouble or live a hard life if I was alive, Aerith. On that you can trust."

Aerith... didn't respond to that.

"Anyway, could you continue where you left off?" she asked, "You met your Zack?"

Aerith nodded, a sad, grieving smile on her face. "Yeah... he was so sweet... we started dating for awhile between his missions. I watched him... slowly shut down over time. He was always so cheerful, but, it was so easy to see when he was forcing it, or using me to drown and run from his own troubles. When Angeal died... it was the one time I saw him break down, it... it was awful..."

"I imagine it was," said Alberta sadly, "What happened after this time period? I was under the impression that..."

Her voice grew careful, "He passed on."

Aerith closed her eyes. "He disappeared suddenly for a few years. I didn't learn exactly what had happened to him, not until I died myself and entered the Lifestream, but... I think I felt it when he did pass on. He was gunned down for doing the right thing, gave his life for a friend. He... he was coming back for me when he should have just hid away and lived."

"Its not your fault Aerith," said Alberta, scooting her chair forward to reach over and gently grasp Aerith hand, squeezing softly.

Aerith jerked her hand away, moving her arms to cross over her chest. "...after that... I met someone who reminded me of Zack. I... I'm going to just call him my Bodyguard, I'm not giving away his name."

"What happens here is confidential Aerith," said Alberta sternly, "But if that makes you more comfortable, then alright."

Pff... confidential her ass. This was Shinra after all. If there weren't people listening in, she'd be shocked. It was... hard to ignore that fact and try to go through with this. It was personal after all, she didn't want some Turk or whoever listening in.

"My Bodyguard was a member of a Eco-terrorist organization called AVALANCHE," said Aerith, watching Alberta carefully, but seeing no outward reaction, "Not as crazy or super destructive as the original that would have come about in a year or so. I was... eventually abducted by the Science Department of Shinra, and he came for and rescued me. I left Midgar with them and joined them afterwards. I wasn't really a terrorist, but... I knew it was important to go with them, so I did."

Her eyes grew distant. "I traveled with them for a good long while, all across the world, until I... I stupidly broke away. I ran off on my own, and I died. I died right in front of them, in front of my Bodyguard when he came to try to save me, and it shattered him, shattered them. They fought on, but, it was never the same, especially with Clo... with my Bodyguard."

She took a ragged breath and let it out. "After that, I watched on from the lifestream and helped out as best I could through one crisis after another for years, until... well... they lost. They had fought so long and hard, hardly ever having a lasting peace, but every time he just kept coming back from the dead. It wore them down, and eventually, they fell. They died and... it it it was..."

"Awful," finished Alberta quietly.

"Yeah," said Aerith shakily, "I never felt despair as I had then. It was over, the Planet was going to die, so Minerva sent..."

She caught herself in time, "Sent me visions of this fate to stop it from happening."

"Minerva?" asked Alberta.

"The Goddess of Gaia, the avatar of the Planet," said Aerith.

"Oh," said Alberta, "Gods are real?"

"Well... Minerva was, but she wasn't really a goddess in the terms most people think of them," said Aerith.

"Hmmm," hummed Alberta, "Perhaps in our off-time I might ask you about that, I always find religion fascinating to study, to learn there's an actual real component to it, even if its not as we think of it, is interesting."

Not that it mattered much anymore, with Minerva being dead.

"So, then you woke up in the church, as a thirteen year old girl despite having lived to...?" began Alberta.

"Twenty-two," said Aerith, "Though, I lived on in the lifestream for almost a decade."

Alberta nodded. "So... you arrived back here, in your thirteen year old body, despite being roughly thirty-two years old, give or take how one mentally develops in the lifestream."

Aerith scratched her head. "I... guess?"

"It must have been jarring," said Alberta.

"Not really," said Aerith, drawing the woman's interest, "I didn't have time to stumble about. I started acting to change things immediately. There's a few things I've noticed, like having to go through puberty again, ugh."

Albert laughed. "Oh dear, that's going to be an experience go through twice. I can get you a few pads if you need them."

Aerith blushed a little. "I uh... yeah, I'd appreciate that."

"Anyway, that's... pretty much it I guess," said Aerith.

Alberta went silent, writing a few things down slowly, collecting her thoughts. "Hmm. I think we're going to split our time together into sections to be covered. Some will cover your experiences and life, which we will split further into individual sections. The others I think we will split into covering the people who encompassed your life, your homework for the next session will be coming up with nicknames for them if you aren't comfortable with naming them."

Aerith nodded, a little relieved that the woman didn't press on her friends identities. "Alright."

"I suppose first we will cover your early life," said Alberta carefully, watching Aerith tensed, "As I understand it, you were..."

"Kept in Hojo's labs," said Aerith harshly.

"Yes," said Alberta, adjusting her glasses, "Something everyone feared. I've had colleagues be brought into the labs to asses 'Specimens' who were then never seen again. I'm more than happy that the Science Department is getting an overhaul."

Aerith didn't respond.

"Then, we will cover your life up to meeting your Zack," said Alberta, "Followed by the years he went missing. It's important to keep them separate, as years spent never knowing the fate of a loved one is a difficult time. Afterwards we will cover your time with AVALANCHE, and then your time in the Lifestream."

"I'll admit, I'm very curious about what the afterlife is like," said Alberta, "I suppose we'll be saving the best for last."

"From your perspective," said Aerith tersely.

Alberta winced. "Ah, sorry. I meant no offense, I just find the prospect of life-after-death extremely interesting, how the mind adjusts to such a new experience."

"Mine wasn't exactly a natural occurrence," said Aerith slowly, "Most people simply dissipate into the lifestream and are eventually reincarnated in some form or another. Those who stick around are either me, or those having difficulty coming to terms with their deaths or their actions in life... or those who were tainted by Jenova."

Alberta nodded slowly. "It must have been lonely then."

Aerith shrugged. "I had Zack for the most part. I..."

She looked down. "I was selfish, cruel and selfish, I wanted him to stay with me, so he did, he never found peace and full release into the lifestream before it all ended. I never let him..."

"That was his choice," said Alberta, "That he would wait until you were ready to let him go speaks a great deal about his character."

"Or how I'd abuse his selflessness," muttered Aerith, her voice starting to wobble, "One of many who abused him. He suffered so much at the hands of those he thought he could trust. How he stood so strong, how he never fully broke, with so many people dragging him down and hurting him, I'll never know. Forget Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, or any of them, Zack... my dear precious Zack..."

She took a ragged breath. "Was the greatest SOLDIER who ever lived. He never forgot his honor."

Cloud... never actually made it into SOLDIER, and while Cloud may perhaps have had greater character in the end, they both were strong in ways the other lacked. Especially Zack...

"He sounds like he was a great man," said Alberta thoughtfully, "But... you will have to let him go."

Aerith clenched her fists tightly.

"You can't keep holding onto him," said Alberta softly, "Don't forget about him, but don't forget that the Zack here is his own person, who probably will walk a different path. Holding the memory of your Zack over him... is that really fair? To him or yourself?"

Aerith looked away.

"It's something we will look to help you deal with," said Alberta sadly, "And to properly grieve, because dear, judging by what I see, did you ever really get a chance? Before you met him again in the Lifestream?"

"I...," stammered Aerith, "N...no... maybe? I... I knew deep down he was gone, b...but..."

"It's alright dear, take a deep breath," said Alberta, giving her a moment to do so, before closing the folder on her lap, "I think that's enough for today. I'd like to discuss a schedule. Initially, I would like three sessions per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and slowly dial it back as we go. Is that acceptable?"

"I...," said Aerith, feeling so ragged, "Does it have to be three every week at the start?"

"If you feel you need more downtime between sessions, we can put them off a little," offered Alberta, "But not forever. Alright?"

"Okay."

"Now, would you prefer these sessions early in the day, or towards the end?" asked Alberta, "I've been asked to make our sessions my priority, so I can switch between first or second shift as necessary."

"Um... e-end of the day," said Aerith, "I'd rather... have the chance to sleep these off if... if they are particularly trying."

"Alright," said Alberta, giving her a soft smile, "I look forward to working with you Aerith."

Doctor Redman watched the girl shakily (and hurriedly) leave the office before she moved back to her desk.. She felt such pity creep up, and sighed softly, rubbing her eyes. This was going to be the most challenging patient she ever had, hands down. Never before had their been a patient like this in her history, probably not in anyone's. There was so much work to be down, the girl, despite how strong and harsh other people noted her to be in the files she was provided, was not in a good state. Not at all.

She began to write down offhand notes on a separate piece of paper, humming to herself:

General overwhelming guilt on many different things? Check.

More specifically, Survivors guilt? (Maybe) It was... an odd form of it.

Lost a loved one (all of them). Check.

Witnessed mass death (an entire world). Check.

Traumatic childhood (the worst possible with Hojo). Check.

Lost her parents, grew up adopted. Check.

PTSD (from her journey, and maybe what she witnessed while dead?). Probably.

Anxiety (Was on and off during that session). Check. Not sure how deeply it goes however.

Depression (In a way most people would never live through). Check, but attempts to plow through it rather than confront the root cause or allow it to affect her.

Stress (an ungodly amount, she saw the end of the world for goodness sake and is trying to prevent it). Check.

Which leads to perhaps a 'Super' Atlas Syndrome (Literal weight of the world on her shoulders). Check. (Gives to much for others and not enough to herself).

Isolation: From what notes I was given, she has failed to really make any friends since becoming a SOLDIER (very dangerous for SOLDIERs to be truly alone, especially when combined with Atlas Syndrome). Check

New condition: Dissociative Relationships (might need a new name?): Knew people perhaps deeply who would no longer know her. I can't imagine the damage this would do to someone. I'll need to take time to properly think this one over. I unfortunately can't talk to my colleagues about this and swap ideas on how to treat this properly. Perhaps I could study how people dealt with amnesiac friends or family members? Not exactly the same but might give clues.

*New* Condition: Death Trauma: Actually died, not just suffered a near death experience, but died and was not resuscitated. Check.

New Condition: Afterlife Trauma: Lived on after death. Need to learn more to figure out damage and treatment. Check.

New Condition (or issue perhaps): Reoccurring Threat: She didn't know who this person was that always came back from the dead (Did she mean Sephiroth? There was no hints that he could revive himself in the notes, scary thought though), but that had to invoke a sense of helplessness, that no matter what was done he'd just keep coming back, that nothing they did mattered. That there would never be safety or an end to the conflict.

New Condition: Visions: Suffered 'visions' of her life crammed in her thirteen year old brain by a Goddess. I can't even begin to know how to deal with this. Check.

Sidenote: Minerva is a bitch for doing that to a child. Couldn't she have done that to someone else instead of forcing it on the poor girl?

Alberta leaned back in her chair and sighed heavily. She closed her eyes and rubbed them tiredly before opening them and glancing over her scribbles. She had probably missed something, but this was good enough for now. She needed a bottle of something tonight, and to hug her own daughter to near death. Jessica was going to be forever grounded. She better not see those two boys around either. Probably going overboard, but she did not like the thought of her daughter dying so young...

Ring. Ring. Ring.

She paused her thoughts and looked at her desk-phone, eyebrows rising at the caller ID, and picked it up. "General Sephiroth."

"Doctor Redman," came his crisp voice, "How was your session with my SOLDIER?"

Oh boy... she'd have to give him something, but she didn't want to throw away Aerith's chances at SOLDIER. She was not disclosing everything she found the girl struggling with thus far. SOLDIERs with far less than Aerith had been... 'retired'... for being unstable. She couldn't do that to the girl. Would they go that far with the girl though?

"I can't go to indepth, patient confidentiality and all, but... I'm... not exactly sure how to classify what she has," admitted Alberta into the phone, "Its some kind of extreme survivors guilt, except she did die, which makes her feel guilty for how it impacted her friends. It's a conundrum. She is extremely guilt stricken, finding fault with herself on so much she doesn't need to. And that drive of hers... I need more sessions to try and properly classify her condition, but it will be a unique one regardless."

"I see," came Sephiroth's voice, "I expected as much."

"There is also a... unique and delicate matter concerning her relationships," admitted Alberta, "She knows people, in depth I'm sure, that will have no clue who she is."

"You believe this is a major issue?" asked Sephiroth.

"Well, imagine you've lived your life, and you suddenly found yourself at a point where you had just met Angeal and Genesis, you know them well, and they don't know you at all, how would you feel about that?" asked Alberta.

Sephiroth didn't immediately respond, choosing to work over his answer. "I am... unsure. I imagine it would be jarring. However, it might make things easier if I knew how to react to them in the beginning."

"Wouldn't that seem suspicious to them?" asked Alberta, "Wouldn't that put them on edge to have you suddenly familiar with them, or knowing their ticks and attitudes, when they know nothing of yours? It might drive them off instead of making things easier."

Sephiroth considered it briefly. "Ah, I see. She's not certain she will ever get back what she had with her friends. That, I can admit, would be... upsetting."

"I imagine that is something that weighs heavily on her," said Alberta sadly, "It's another pressure and pain on her when she already bears to many."

Sephiroth gave a non-committal hum into the phone.

"She needs people to ground her," said Alberta quietly, "To held her find stability, for support, and to help her carry the weight on her shoulders. Therapy will only go so far on it's own."

"I cannot force her to befriend people, or for other SOLDIERs to befriend her," said Sephiroth mildly.

"I know, it's... something to be worked on," said Alberta.

"Agreed," said Sephiroth, "You've done well today Doctor Redman. Take the rest of the day off, I'll clear it with your supervisor."

Alberta sputtered a little. "B-but...!"

"Good day," said Sephiroth, hanging up.

Alberta stared at the phone for a moment before sighing and hanging up. "Well, can't look a gift horse in the mouth."

She got up, went for her coat, and left the office, mind buzzing on what she could do for Aerith Gainsborough (Faremis, can't forget just who is her father either). Feeling a bit of the weight Aerith felt, because she knew helping the girl mattered more than she could possibly imagine...

Click.

Sephiroth hummed quietly to himself, hanging up the phone, eyes flickering to the video feed into Doctor Redman's office replaying before him. Patient Confidentiality was all well and good, but this was SOLDIER. It was hardly the first therapy session he had watched over. He was required to know the state of his SOLDIERs after all, especially this one. They never told their therapists, as it could cause... issues... with ones that refused to break their oaths. Never forcing them to lie made the sessions easier for both the staff and the patient.

There was much that matched up with his own thoughts, and a few things he hadn't quite realized, or tried to shy away from. The fact that she had suffered Hojo's 'tending loving care' as he did still made his stomach twist in ways he couldn't identify. He at last had a final age for the girl, technically. Did one stop mentally developing at death? Or did they continue? It was a difference of ten years, twenty-two or thirty-two, it would make a difference. Not to mention that slip up...

She had said 'Clo' when speaking of her 'Bodyguard'. Was this the Cloud she mentioned during the Glass Exercise? He had been a terrorist? Well that wouldn't do. He would have words with the Turks to keep an eye out for any 'Cloud' and see if they could draw this mystery man into Shinra instead. He would do the same for any other friends she slipped up and identified. Anyone that would stand up to an insane version of him would be to valuable an asset to let go. It made him a bit annoyed that she was going to hide them all.

His thoughts drifted to Zackery, Aerith's words of him being the 'Greatest' soldier. Considering the fates she had said had befallen the rest of them... as much as his inner warrior rose in uproar, he could grudgingly give it to the boy. They had failed, he had risen, and at the end, died a true SOLDIER rather than fall to madness. However... the boy was a mere unproven third with potential now, the trials the boy had gone through that made him such a SOLDIER most likely wouldn't happen again. He hungered though, hungered to see Zackery reach the pinnacle of his potential now that Aerith had placed him on so high a pedestal. Perhaps he could help Angeal with lessons, possibly convince Genesis to do the same. They would make the best damn SOLDIER they could out of Zackery Fair.

He would allow nothing less.

There was also... the curious revelation that she had given about himself. He revived himself after death? How was that even possible? On one hand, it was... interesting, perhaps comforting in a way, that he could not die, could not dissipate and fade away. On the other hand... he truly could not ever allow himself to lose control of his mental functions, because he at last understand the true threat her future faced. He had assumed that perhaps they could take him down and eliminate the threat once and for all, perhaps if there was enough of him left to allow it, but that he could just keep coming back?

He sighed softly to himself. After Aerith was taken care of, he probably should force himself to attend his own therapy sessions. The thought of being so weak as to need it was extremely off-putting. But he wasn't stupid nor foolish. He would do whatever it took to win this conflict. No matter the cost, especially if the price was only his pride. Not that he had that much left in himself after her disclosures.

Madman...

Genocidal planet destroying murderer...

He shook his head and banished the troubling voice, annoyed with himself.

He pondered Doctor Redman's last point. It was going to be difficult for Aerith to fit it, not even accounting for her personality. She had missed her chance over the last few weeks to really try to befriend her comrades. There were already rumors spreading, not that she'd notice as obsessed as she was with training, about just how she got into SOLDIER. There were some fools that allowed the notion she'd slept her way in. To either imply that she would be willing to do so, or that he or one of the other firsts would be so dishonorable to take advantage of a child, it made him want to take the fools by the throat and smash them through the nearest wall. There were other rumors of course, such as being the child of a high ranking Shinra staff (not technically untrue) that got her in (false). They were all like that, and while some rumors or notions faded away with her dedication to training, others (especially the 'to stuck up' one) sprang up in their place.

It reminded him of all the early rumors surrounding himself... and reminded him of another shared ache between them. It made him think, aside from Genesis and Angeal... who did he really have? She had less friends and acquaintances than him at the moment...

He frowned in irritation and agitation. This girl caused to many issues. Life had certainly never been easy before, but it had been simpler.

He shook his head and stood, deciding to go a round in the VR room. He allowed himself one last thought before he locked his office.

IF she failed to open herself up to her fellow SOLDIERs, he would... attempt... to correct that deficit. Though he had misgivings about it. He was more than aware of his own social 'faults', perhaps it was arrogance to think he could do anything. That also didn't consider what his 'alternate' self had done to the woman, which could make such attempts counterproductive.

That was a matter for another day.

For now, he'd see what Doctor Redman could do for the girl...

Author's Notes: Some turkyness and my initial attempt at a therapist. Condemn or acknowledge as you will.

Review Responses:

x3eloved: Teenage!BadassAerith. It wont be too much longer, it will be before Cloud/Tifa end up as cadets. And no, Aerith can't do it all herself, Deepground alone would destroy her, she couldn't take the Tsviets alone. Jenova VS Aerith near the pinnacle of the story is going to be bad because she tries it alone.

Kidness will somewhat come back, she's getting halp, and maybe two cute adorable cadets might help bring it out. *pinches cheeks*

Colegate: Nope, is it FF7 or another fandom?

Azure Shrine: Mmm, no? Aerith is the main character, and I'm not doing a villain story. Perhaps something got lost in translation for you. Cloud and most of the others will make an appearance throughout the story. Though some may only do brief appearances. Though the thought of doing an Evil!Aerith version of this story is an interesting one, I'm not sure anyone's done that or not. Anyway, hopefully I can sit at only two OCs with Crawford/Therapist for the story. We will see.

GreatAzureDragon: Hypocrite!Sephiroth? (maybe not at the end of the chapter anyway) :D.

UnLike Us: Reliable!Tseng. And thanks, trying to show major changes from a main developed character is always challenging without it seeming like a forced OOCness rather than character development. The Planet/Minerva has/had a vested interest in Aerith destroying it's enemies, they don't/didn't particularly care about motives (as you said) or emotion or consequences from that so long as the Planet lived.

Guest: Hmm, well, the Turks aren't going to particularly care if old man shinra bites it. Sephiroth probably wont kill him, but either Rufus or Deepground or Jenova most likely will at some point. No way that fat bastard gets to live to the end of the story. Regardless of that, the Neo Midgar Project was terminated last chapter.