Chapter 24. White Lies.

Elie's POV

I remained staring at nothingness way long after Zack left.

In the dark, recalling, remembering, trying to figure out if, by any chance, I had forgotten something. A crucial detail, something that might… matter.

I sighed, getting up from the chair.

No, I think I had it all covered.

And now, everything depended on Zack. The future, the only chance of changing reality into something better… was on his hands.

It consumed me - not having an active paper in all this. I wanted so badly just to got there, do something, accompany Zack in the whole process and make sure, see for myself, that things went out okay.

That all of them would return home safely.

All of them.

Being passive in this story was not only frustrating. It was also intense. And not in a good way.

But, then again, I couldn't do a thing to prevent any of it. For all intents and purposes, I had done my job and now I had to just… let go and trust him.

Zack Fair.

A man with a fierce and strong will.

Please, don't you fail on me.

Zack's POV

I left the Science Division with my heart heavy.

I didn't recall how I got home, to my apartment, but all I wanted was silence. Be in peace with every word, every sentence.

My hands grabbed fiercely the file Stevens had given me. Made out of recycled paper, I felt it adjust to my sweaty hands.

In a second, my eyes landed on the file. 'Top Secret', it said, in red capital letters. And right there, resting against the door of my apartment, I opened the damn thing, to find a page inside.

Hand writing.

Stevens's.

Her descriptions were short, concise and straight to the point. Key warnings, details on what would happen in every point of Nibelheim, The Reactor and all the Surrounding area.

My body took me to the sofa. I sat, comfy and took my time reading the whole thing.

One time, two times, until I lost count.

-/-

The leather cracked against my back as I stretched my tired muscles.

I had slept on the couch, for a change. That thing was more comfortable than an ordinary bed. I went for a quick shower, powering the biofireplace first. I had to do things methodically if I wanted to succeed at this.

The tepid water of the shower felt rather gratifying. My mind raced, thinking of strategies - it was a fact I didn't want to die and knowing what awaited me if I didn't do something tickled my nerves.

I had several ideas - to avoid the disaster from happening. But of course that, considering the advantage I had, I felt a little revolted with Sephiroth. Knowing what he would become and how he would end me… hurt.

I knew him enough to doubt Steven's theory, but thing was, something inside me warned me she was indeed right. My instinct screamed, warning me to be careful - more careful than usual.

I sighed, closing my eyes at my chaotic thinking. My life had changed.

Information had changed me - I felt it inside me.

In a sudden gesture, I left the shower, putting a new uniform on automatically. My travel bag was already prepared, the ticket to Costa del Sol landing next to it.

Vacations. Right.

Those were definitely ruined. At all levels.

But first there were a couple of things I had to do first.

My legs took me to the living room again, where a blue and orange fire lived inside the metallic box. I took Stevens's file with the information I had been reading - and approached it to the flame.

I let the flame consume, eat the paper until a fragile shape of paper, mingled and grey, rested on the base of the fireplace. I let the whole biofuel consume itself - until there was nothing.

Time to leave.

But not before visiting someone first.

Aerith's POV

I had to admit I felt a little nervous about the whole 'staying safe' at the HD, just like the girl - Eleanor-, had told me to. But then, I had seen everything.

Literally.

Being a half-Ancient had these things. I had my room here, a nice place where I was guarded night and day, concealed from various threats. Some I had felt already, others… Eleanor had showed them to me.

Her spirit was very white. She hid nothing, and seeing the future how she knew it to be… was overwhelming and sad. Namely because I had seen my own death, Zack's and so many more.

And knowing the man who would take my like wandered around, completely uninterested in the fact I was who I was bothered me a little. I had seen him several times, and he paid no attention to me whatsoever.

Now, with Eleanor, that was a different matter. His interest in her was possessive, and I was willing to bet he was a very greedy man - namely over information. I sensed he didn't know his own death was at hand, but oh, did the man suspect something was going on!

He was a mix of human and something else. Something alien, something serious - and he was completely unaware of that. On the contrary, Eleanor was aware of every and little detail.

Okay, I got the rush on that.

Plus, she had this secret fascination over the General - it was something she felt but wished she didn't. It still wasn't pure affection… but still, she cared about him. Too much - and she knew that, the thought bothered her, but she kept the whole thing for herself. Hidden, like a forbidden thought.

Especially because John suspected her care had something more to it. He even had talked about it with me - in our vast and countless conversations.

Of course I wouldn't disclose a thing. I had nothing to do with that and well, I had more to worry about.

Cloud's future, for instance. His growth wasn't that gratifying to see… not the way Eleanor had shown me. It was sick and sad.

And then… Zack.

Oh, Zack.

How I missed those eyes, that cute, smug smile of him. The image of him dying made my heart bleed every time I pictured the scene. The event Eleanor had shown me was very graphic. Just the very thought gave me-

"Aeris."

That voice. I turned immediately, knowing to whom it belonged.

"Zack." I said, smiling.

And then, I just walked towards him. He urged me to close the distance we had between us and held me.

"Here." He said, his mouth on my hair. "Are you okay?"

I nodded with my eyes wide open, focusing on the details of the fabric on his chest, the smile vanishing as my mind greeted the moment with images of death. His. Mine.

"I just came here to-"

"Say goodbye." I anticipated, sensing the impending moment. Zack was so transparent to me I could easily sense the nature of his feelings.

His soul grieved right now and I didn't know why.

"Am I that obvious?" He smiled at me, our stares finding each other.

"Yes."I admitted, a sample of smile decorating my face. "Yes, you are."

Zack's eyes met mine with sudden seriousness.

"I've been handed a great responsibility." He paused, as if considering what to say next. "But I want you to know that… I'll be back in one piece…" And then that typical smugness of him returned. "…ready to kidnap you and…"

He stopped and I couldn't help but to giggle.

"Go on…"

He raised a eyebrow and made a face at me.

"Do I have to say it?"

"You can whisper it to me."

Zack smiled - one of his sexy, confident smiles. And then, he just approached his mouth to my left ear, his hot breath making me shiver with wanton. The words he rewarded me with were tender and loving. And I couldn't wait to see him again.

"I'd like that." I said, my cheeks hot.

"Then we have a deal."

There was a silent pause and I sensed the imminent leaving. It hurt - at all levels.

"Be careful, Zack." I said, now very serious.

"I will."

His tone was wary and serious as well, what made my soul feel a little less distressed. But then, his right hand came out of nowhere and he started to delineate all the details of my facial anatomy with the lazyness of a man who had all the time in the world.

Which was not, in fact, his situation.

Zack surprised me with a sudden action. I didn't expect he would touch me - in any way, in such a rush, but there it was. In a moment, we were lost in eachother's stare; in another moment, our faces were one. His lips glued to mine in an effective, decisive move. The initial shock didn't let me act accordingly. I just stayed there, feeling the touch of his mouth on mine, my heartbeat beating like crazy and a wave a heat coming out of me.

The moment was over before I could predict.

"Wait for me, Aerith." He whispered, his eyes pleading.

My heart constricted at the sight.

"Always."

And before I could say or do any other thing, he was out of my premises.

Elie's POV.

I had to admit the days were hard to pass by. I tried to busy myself but not even the most complex technique at the Recombination Lab would take my mind out of the gutter.

A silly feeling of guilt invaded me. Didn't know why.

Since I had informed Zack of the whole thing, it felt I had been conjuring against - him. Again.

Pffffff, I had never imagined that doing this would be so mind-consuming.

I thought it would be easy and not complex - after all, The General didn't have to know a damn thing about himself going nuts and all I had to do was stay cool and find a natural way to avoid it. Period.

Right.

Easier said than done.

I took a deep breath as I excused myself from one of the labs. The coffee and the company were just great but I was so off it hurt to see.

I guess today I wasn't simply in the mood. Aerith was now John's favorite company - which I understood, in a way. She was an Ancient and well, there was a lot she had to offer. Namely, information on stuff that would change the way of interpreting the Planet and all of its components.

E.g., a vast playground for scientists.

I walked absentmindedly through the hall, thinking it would be an excellent option to go in search for a book to dive my face into for the rest of the day.

So, I knew where to go first. John's office had a mini-library of non-technical literature, so I had a lot to pick from there.

After invading John's office and taking a consistent five minutes to pick a thick old book on dark fantasy and hideous creatures, I decided my bed would be the best place for me to devour the contents of that mofo- smelling piece of literature.

I walked towards my bedroom, passing by the coded doors and the second one that would finally allow me some piece of mind-

Wait up.

It took me a moment to realize someone was inside my own room. Standing there, by the window, like a living ghost and with that… face.

The loud click of the door scored the moment and I couldn't just believe… he was there. By my window. Oh-uh.

I gulped dry as his piercing green stare met mine, feeling guilty to the bone as I recalled I had talked the whole thing secretively with Zack and he wasn't aware of anything. Damn, why did I feel so bad about it!?

"What's with the face?"

His question was genuinely curious, and I wondered how terrifying my facial expression would be for him just to simply - notice it.

Get a grip, Elie. Don't fall into him, er… his traps.

And as I remained with my back glued to the door, I managed to think of something to say.

"Ah… I wasn't expecting you."

My tone came out a little shaky and my idiotic giggle by the end of the sentence didn't help. At all.

Sephiroth stare was cryptic on mine and I wondered what would follow. Several thoughts went through my mind, the scariest being him knowing the whole thing. Images of him torturing Zack into telling him everything I had said invaded my mind.

"Right."

I didn't miss his sarcasm, and I decided I should go straight to the point - or my nerves would kill me.

"What are you doing here?"

There. I had said it, and that had earned a serious look. Sephiroth eyed me with miserable distrust, as he took his time exiting the position by the window and approaching me. Right there in front of me he remained, studying me like a guinea pig, that stoic figure of his engulfing my senses.

So the man was absorbing - at various levels. Not that it was news by now.

He took his time doing whatever he was doing. His stare was locked on mine the whole time and I wondered if there could be anything worse but to be scrutinized by the General. Lazily he raised his right hand and removed the book I was grasping against my chest.

His eyes finally left mine and scanned the cover attentively.

"Dark realms." He quoted, finding my stare again. "Do you think you'll enjoy it?"

I had a difficult time processing his question, namely because I had a feeling his words hadn't been naïve. What was wrong with him, anyway? What did he mean with that, if I would enjoy it? For a moment, I had a feeling we weren't talking about reading books at all.

"I think I'll find out." I declared, my voice failing.

What the hell was going on here?

But then, all that talk about books - or not, changed tone. He threw the book at my bed, his eyes never leaving mine. Okay, there we go.

"Why so spooked, Stevens?"

Oh… shit.

"I don't understand what you're-"

"I find myself troubled."

Oh, good God. I widened my eyes and gulped dry again - my heartbeat deafening. Had I been caught? Zack? Really, was this really happening?

"Now that Zack is on vacation, something strange happened. I am sure you know what I am talking about."

He tilted his head a little, clearly waiting for me to say something. And well, I didn't know what to say, except… mentioning a distraction?

"Uh… Genesis copies?"

The General's stare was now soft on mine - and in that moment I sensed the whole Zack-conspiracy-thing was safe and sound, for now.

"Indeed. What can you tell me about it?"

Phew. Man, I felt like a ton had been removed from my shoulders!

"Nothing special, I mean… Genesis copies will be everywhere spreading chaos. The real Genesis has Hollander behind hoping he would help him, but he stands no chance."

"What do you mean?"

"He's ill. And he won't make it."

And that grasped the General's attention.

"Oh."

"He'll try to reach you and blabber the most nonsense things to get you to donate your blood to prevent his degradation but it won't work."

"And when will that happen?"

Shit. Why did I keep falling on his traps!?

"It won't happen." I declared, making a serious effort to keep a steady tone. Or the man towering me and scrutinizing me would eat me alive. Literally. "I'm just telling you what he plans to do, what he thinks."

The General blinked a couple of times at me, obviously doing the math.

"So he'll… die?"

Uh.

"Eventually."

"And Angeal?"

Oh-uh. I took a deep breath, hoping to sound reasonable.

"The same."

He paused a little, studying my face. Clearly, he was waiting to make his last statement. His eyes met mine and I felt uncomfortable - Sephiroth had that ability, since the first day I had met him live.

"What about me?"

His tone was soft and inquiring. As if that was possible. Curiosity burned in those alien eyes and I gulped dry at the sight. Mesmerizing and scary as hell at the same time.

"What about you?" I asked, pretending I hadn't got his point.

But then again, he smiled at me, shaking his head and focusing on my eyes again. Okay, so the hard part was about to come.

Hit it.

"When will I die?"

Oh, man. Shit. Fuck. I was so damn tired of this… cat-mouse game!

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Because we're all the same. Genesis. Angeal. Me. If they are dying… I assume I must be as well."

He was right - very right indeed. That would be the way logic would work, if they were all the same. Thing was, they weren't. He wasn't like them - even if he didn't know that. Yet.

His face lowered a little, like a predator cornering a prey, that intimidating stare doing terrible things to my physiology.

"Stop cornering me." I declared, my stare hard, trying and hoping to match his. "And you're not.. dying, for…Christ's sake. I assure you, you are healthy enough."

That seemed to confuse him for a second.

"Then why-"

"You're not like them. Trust me. So don't worry about that."

A painful second passed by and he put some distance between us again. I saw him return to the window again, his eyes focused on the landscape.

"So I assume you took care of that already."

And just like that, I blushed - shamelessly. I didn't even have to say a damn word.

"I'm not stupid, Stevens. Not one bit."

Oh, well, same here.

"I know that very well, trust me." My voice was barely heard and I avoided purposely his stare.

"Then why all the renitence concerning my future endeavors? It's pretty obvious it is related with death."

Oh, for Christ's sake!

"Just stop being so… upfront." I declared, our stares meeting again. "It's not that freaking simple, okay? I am doing what has to be done. That's it. I couldn't just-"

"Oh, you couldn't. Right."

And how I hated he interrupted me like that. With sarcasm and shit.

"You're being unfair. At me, at my judgments. There is no one in this place that knows better the terror this Planet will suffer if I don't do something about it. So yeah, judge me all you want only for wishing the best for this place."

My words hit the silence like a rock, and the General took his time processing my speech. He remained by the window, calm and neutral.

"We'll see about that."

"We will. Most definitely, we will, General."

What a stubborn bastard…

He moved suddenly, my eyes finding his out of sheer luck. He was preparing to leave. Thank God.

"There's a meeting scheduled for tomorrow."

"Oh."

Well, that was great. I wondered why John hadn't told me about it yet. But then again, he had other priorities now. Right?

"It's approaching, isn't it? The moment you so dread."

I narrowed my eyes at him, as I processed his words. I sighed, tired - I was so done with his provocations, really.

"It's just another mission, I assure you."

The General snorted at me, before exiting my premises.

Man. I couldn't wait for all this to finally end.

Or I would risk going crazy - instead of the General.

Sephiroth's POV

I arrived early at the Science Division. This time, Tseng and Veld would be there, the two highest representatives of the Turks.

John was very dry lately. It was like he had, somehow, lost his interest concerning the event-prevention in the company.

My guess was the Ancient was becoming a priority to him.

I sat at the table we usually used for these meetings. There were three more vacant chairs, not counting John's, behind the desk.

"Good morning General."

And there was our man. Scientist. Doctor.

"Good morning." I greeted. "How are we today?"

I saw how the man sighed loudly, as he took his position behind the desk.

"Tired."

I scrutinized John, realizing this was the first time he complained about something in life. That was odd, to say the least.

"I wonder why, John," I declared, a little ironic. "Handling two women in your labs can be very consuming. An alien and an Ancient. That's a load for a mere human."

And he got the hint.

"Very funny," he said,narrowing his eyes at me. "But I can handle them just fine, thank you very much."

I snorted at John, amused with his reaction. It was clear and obvious he was overwhelmed with work but the man insisted in having the full responsibility over the Ancient and Stevens.

However, it was also very obvious to everyone that reality was going to change eventually.

"Morning, gentleman."

Tseng from the Turks interrupted our acidic dialogue, which was only great. I was actually fed up with John's stubbornness and not to mention Stevens's. Impressive, how that woman had the capacity of innerving me - she was not only stubborn. Her will was unshakable and I couldn't just stand-

"Hi."

A feminine voice scored the silence, and I knew she was there. The object of my recent thinking had taken form right there by the door.

My eyes found hers, and I noticed how she averted her stare from mine immediately. That was not shyness. It was fear - and nervousness.

She's going to drop the bomb, I concluded.

"Please, have a sit." John's speech was directed to her, and she took the last available seat in the office. Right there, half under my sight, Veld and Tseng building a bridge between us.

"We can start." John declared, with excessive impartiality. "Please, Eleanor."

All eyes shifted to her - except John, who remained with his stare locked in some sheets of paper by the desk.

Her feeble voice finally was heard.

"Genesis copies will attack Costa del Sol, Junon and Midgar. Following those attacks, which won't have anything special going on, the Turks will be finally summoned to go to Neibelheim. Tseng will preside the operation."

Tseng's stare shone a little as she said the words, the opposite happening to Veld. It was getting obvious through the meetings that Veld would be replaced by Tseng but I guess it was only different to hear the words.

"The reactor started malfunctioning in late August and some workers disappeared, so the Turks are sent there to investigate... as you well know, Veld."

Veld gulped, and it didn't take much for me to realize it was supposed to be a secret of sorts - a secret that was no more now.

Stevens kept on.

"The place is invaded with creatures, dragons of sorts. Tseng will find a guide, Tifa Lockhart, to help out with mountain trails and find an easier way to reach the reactor. In the meantime, there will be an investigational team going to Neibeilheim. SOLDIER will be there. As well as Zack and you, General."

Her eyes met mine directly for the first time. And I didn't like what I saw there.

"So what's the problem with the reactor?" I asked.

"Malfunctioning. Broken part. Any random SOLDIER would fix it up. And that's pretty much it."

We all blinked in silence, surprised with such… simplicity.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked, refusing to believe that was only it.

Stevens took her time gathering her thoughts. Conjuring, my mind corrected.

"There are creatures on the loose there, an arrangement mainly done by Genesis. That's what scared the hell out of the workers."

"Is that it?" Tseng asked, a little taken aback.

"Yep."She declared, nodding. "Just… persecute and kill the creatures spreading around Mt. Nibel and you'll have the situation under control."

Man. It sounded so damn simple.

"All right, any questions?" John was the one interrupting our lines of thinking, and truth be told, there was little we could think about right now. It was all so freaking simple that there wasn't much to ask or… whatever.

"Then, gentlemen… we are due for today."

As a reflex, everyone got up from the chairs. John resumed to arranging some papers by the desk - as usual, but before I knew it, my stare flew to Stevens.

Really? Is it really that simple?

My inner voice screamed at her, punishing her, as I tried to understand what was going on. It was obvious she hadn't said it all - she was hiding information.

I felt it, it was so there it hurt.

I got the confirmation when her eyes landed on mine. It was there - everything I needed to know - but sadly, it was coded in her own language, hidden in that little mind of hers, shielding everything away from me.

The thought revolted me.

Her emotions were like a rollercoaster. There it was again - that sensation of communicating with someone only with a stare, a gaze. It took me back to that moment in the conference room, right before she was almost shot.

It had been like this.

A bridge, a flux of content hitting us both - like soft, invisible lifestream.

"Eleanor."

But, hélas. Tseng walked in. And I just took the hint to just excuse myself and leave.

I just couldn't stand it anymore.

John's POV.

That hadn't been bad at all.

Elie had informed about the whole mission cleverly avoiding the facts - but covering everything in a smart way. Everyone seemed to buy it - of course, except for the General. The man just had a sixth sense, it was actually no use for us to just lie.

He knew it, he sensed it and there he was staring at her that way. How I hated when that happened. It was so private and intimate - it was like they were having a mental conversation of sorts, whispering words of comfort to each other.

Man, the sight made me nauseous.

Thankfully, Tseng interrupted the damn thing out of nothing.

He started talking to Elie, hint that the General took to leave without a word. Elie didn't miss it, scanning the door one last time right before the General left. I didn't know why it made me feel so bad. It was so wrong, so… damn. I had confronted Elie so many times, but she kept denying it.

"John."

Her voice took me out of my reverie. There was no one in that room but us - me and Elie. And her face didn't hid the worry she felt. Let me guess…

"He knows." She said, her eyes serious on mine.

"What?"

Okay I needed to refocus. Thankfully, Elie was the one speaking again.

"He knows I'm hiding something."

"Nonsense."

Really, it wasn't such a nonsense but I had to try and take her mind out of the gutter.

"There's that look in his eyes." She said, anxiety all over her. "I just know it. Shit, I don't want to screw this up, John."

Yeah. You don't. And what choice did I have but to support her, like I did every time?

"Calm down, you've talked it out with Zack, you've done everything you could." That seemed to calm her just a little. "You just… can't do everything by yourself. Look what going into field got you in last time."

It was true. Trouble! Did I have to spell it?

"I hope Zack makes it. Really, I do."

Her despair was unnerving.

"He will." I declared, hoping she would feel a little better afterwards. "He's a man of word."

"He is." She mumbled, her eyes lost in some random detail on the wall. "He is…"

"He'll find a way." I insisted. "Trust me on that."

"I hope you're right." She said, her tone weak as her eyes met mine again. But this time, what I saw there just freaked me out. "I really do."

A/N - And there you go. Hope you enjoyed it!

The new plot is designed, and I'm sure it will surprise you - :) you know the drill - read and leave a review, can't wait to take a sneak peak at your comments!

Thank you so much for reading and… see you next chapter, entitled: Nibelheim - Part 1.