Chapter 6

Since the discussion I had had with the General, I had spent a large portion of my time thinking back on everything I could remember about the Final Fantasy VII game, trying to come up with something – anything – that might help with the health issues Rhapsodos was having. Not because I held any affection for the man in question – I could barely tolerate him on a good day – but because there was still the chance that Sephiroth might end up suffering through the same thing. That I had thought I might have felt the barest hints of the same wrongness in Hewley only added to my urgency.

Trying to recall as much detail about the game was raising some alarming red flags too.

I couldn't remember either Rhapsodos or Hewley even being mentioned in the game, which led me to believe they had died before everything had gone down. They weren't people who could have stood in the sidelines while a crazed Sephiroth was wreaking havoc.

There was a small glimmer of hope, however.

The half-Ancient girl, Aerith. She had had the ability to commune with the dead or the Planet or something, hadn't she? She had to know something I could use. I remembered her growing flowers in an abandoned church in the slums under the plate, here in Midgar.

And that is how I found myself there, standing in the doorway of a church that no longer had believers visiting it but was still enjoying the positive attention of at least one, brown-haired girl in a sun dress. It had taken me a while to find this place, but asking around had been surprisingly fruitful. And to my surprise, I had chosen a good time to visit because there she was, watering the flowers while humming softly.

The hard sound of my heel against the wooden floor as I took my first steps into the building was enough for her head to snap up, bright green eyes staring at me in surprise. No alarm, though. She was a naïve, trusting little thing, wasn't she?

"Hello", she said, shrugging off her surprise at having a visitor. She smiled at me and she was sweetness personified. As I stopped some feet away from her, she frowned at me and asked: "Do I know you?" I tilted my head in question and she let out a shy little laugh, "It's just that... You feel familiar."

"We haven't met before", I told her. "My name is Valkyria, and I am here hoping you might be able to help me."

"Help you?" She gave an adorable look of confusion, looking even younger than she already did. And she was younger than I had expected. She couldn't have been older than fifteen. I had expected a young woman, and not the teenage girl that was standing before me.

"What do you know about SOLDIERs?" I asked. The shift in her was plainly obvious. This was how she should have been from the moment she became aware of my presence: on guard.

"SOLDIERs?" She repeated. She looked afraid.

I was careful to keep my stance as open and unthreatening as possible. "One of the SOLDIERs - a friend of a friend, you could say – is ill. His name is Genesis Rhapsodos and I suspect it is the Jenova cells in him that are causing the issue." It was only because I was watching her so carefully that I noticed it. Suddenly, half her focus was somewhere else. So I asked her: "What are they telling you?"

Her attention snapped back to me. "What?"

"What are they telling you?" I repeated. "The voices you're hearing."

"I'm not - ! I don't - !" She stuttered, eyes darting around as if looking for help or an escape, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"You are half-Ancient", I calmly told her. "That is why I'm here." She looked like she was moments away from a full-blown panic attack so I said: "Calm down. I'm not here to harm you. I'm only here for advice." It took a while but when she looked like she was calming down, I tried again: "What are they telling you?"

"They're not big on words, even less so with sentences", she finally replied, and embarrassed, admitted: "I'm not very good at interpreting what they try to tell me. I've been practicing, though." She licked her lips nervously. "They said… 'Calamity of the Skies'."

I nodded. "That's Jenova. She's an alien, I think, and definitely deserves to be called a calamity. Do they agree with my assessment that it is her cells that are causing Rhapsodos' illness?"

The girl nodded, and looking deeply saddened, said: "She's turning him into a monster. I think… I think that's how she killed them… The Cetra. The Ancients."

"If they went through the same thing then they must know of a cure."

She bit her lip as she listened, not even trying to pretend she wasn't since we both knew what she was doing. "They're not making much sense", she absently said, brow slightly furrowed. "I don't think they do – know that is. But they say that someone does. All I'm getting is the word 'father', but I don't get the feeling they're talking about mine."

And I wasn't even born in this world, so obviously they weren't talking about my father either. 'Father' didn't do much to narrow down the options. That could mean practically any non-virgin man on the planet, both dead and alive. Unless it was someone who had adopted. Or a 'Father' in the priestly sense of the word. So basically, I was down to, let's say, half of the Planet's population.

"Is there anything useful they can tell me?" I pressed. "Even just a way to slow down the damage?"

Aerith nodded, slowly, thoughtfully, and said: "Casting Cure on him should have a positive effect." I was pretty sure that had already been tried, with little effect. "It would need to be strong, overpowered enough to feel like a horrible waste of MP. And even then, the effect will only be temporary." Uncertain, she looked at me. "Will that help? I mean, can you do that?"

"We have the materia and the MP to spare", I assured her. I was pretty sure though, that at least for the first try it would be me casting the Cure at the SOLDIER 1st. I had no doubt that should the first try end in failure, Rhapsodos would refuse a repeat of it. He was difficult like that. Not that I was planning on asking his permission. "Thank you, Miss Gainsborough."

She blushed, "Oh no, Aerith is fine."

"Aerith", I repeated and gave her a friendly smile. Preparing to make my leave, I started: "I suppose I – "

She cut me off though, the words seemingly spilling from her lips: "Are you from Shinra? Because you don't seem like you are, but you are looking for a way to help a SOLDIER so I was wondering if…"

"Yes", I admitted. "I work as the General's assistant."

"Does he…?" She swallowed nervously. "Does he know about me?"

"No. As far as I'm aware, he doesn't know about you", I told her. "I can't tell you how I found out about you, but it wasn't from anyone in the company." She looked like she might be feeling faint from relief, and she was smiling again. "I need to be getting back."

"Oh, of course."

I handed her a business card with the number of the phone on the General's secretary's desk on it. "Give me a call if you hear anything more about the cure." She nodded, and I knew she would, if they told her anything that might be of use. "Goodbye, Aerith."

"Bye", she replied and gave me a small wave. I could feel her eyes on my back as I walked away.

O O O

The moment I set foot in the Shinra building, I was accosted by Veld. Of course, he was probably going for more of an 'accidentally running into each other' kind of thing, but it was obvious he wasn't trying very hard to mask his intentions when he asked me: "How was your trip below the plate?"

"Informative", I replied. "Though not as fruitful as I had hoped."

"Oh?" He gave me a look of polite interest. It wasn't fooling anyone.

"Are you having me followed or her watched?" I asked. His silence was telling. Since there was no reason for him to deny having me followed were that the case, it meant that they were watching Aerith. "I see… Then perhaps we might agree that we are both better served by not having this conversation lest uncomfortable questions be raised." I didn't wait for a reply. He didn't follow me.

O O O

A couple of days later Genesis Rhapsodos swept past my desk pretending I was just part of the scenery and walked into the General's office. No knocking, no advance warning. Arrogant, self-centered asshole. Still, despite my – very, very – low opinion on the man in question, I started converting most of the energy I had stored into 'Cure'.

He was sitting in the visitor's chair - and more importantly: facing away from me – when I entered. Two steps in and then I zapped him.

The energy hit him and for a moment he glowed bright. Then he shivered violently before finally shooting up to his feet and turning around to face me, a mix of accusation, aggression and uncertainty painted all over him. "What did you do?" He snarled.

"Just a little something to keep you from expiring before I find a proper cure", I expressionlessly told him. "You will need another dose before long, but this should keep you going for a while."

He gaped at me like a little fish. No, really. He was doing the mouth opening and closing thing that fish do and everything!

I continued: "You're welcome."

That seemed to be enough to break him out of his stupor because he was all full of indignation again and he shouted: "I'm not going to thank a summon for casting magic at me for no reason!"

"'No reason'?" I repeated. "Really? You've been falling apart for weeks now and you've had no luck in finding a way to fight it. Professor Hollander didn't have much to tell you either, did he?"

Grinding his teeth almost audibly, he replied: "He called it degradation. Said he would find a way to fix it."

"He's over his head", I told him. "He won't be able to help, you no matter what he might claim." After all, unless I was horribly mistaken, both Rhapsodos and Hewley would have been dead by the time Sephiroth would have lost his mind. But that was without my influence.

"And you can?" He sneered.

"Are you not feeling better?" I pointedly asked.

He rolled his shoulder gingerly and gave me a look of disgust. That was a 'yes' if I'd ever seen one. "What did you do?" He asked again.

"Shot what equals to a ridiculously overpowered Cure at you", I explained. "It should alleviate the symptoms, if not completely stop the progression for a while. But it is temporary."

"You said something about finding a cure", he muttered, obviously reluctant to ask for help, especially from me of all people. Not that he had ever really admitted I was a person.

"I have already received confirmation that one exists", I said, "And it was from a source I would characterize as 'very reliable'. A little hazy on the details of who knows what the cure is, exactly. I will find it, though. Eventually. And we're going to keep you all Cured-up until then."

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What escapes me in all this is… why exactly are you helping me? We aren't exactly… friends." And let me tell you, I have never witnessed the word 'friends' spoken with more disgust. To make that word both sound and look like something utterly revolting is an achievement I couldn't help but commend.

I snorted, "Please, say it like it is: I hate your guts and the feeling is mutual. I'm not helping you because I want to help you. I'm doing this for the General."

And that seemed to be all that the red-head needed. It was like flipping a switch. Gone was all the tension and wariness. Suddenly he was all easy acceptance and sunshine. "Of course you are. You are a good little pet, after all." I rolled my eyes at the childish little jab at me. I preferred this over having him show me some uncharacteristic behavior like – God forbid – gratitude. He shot a mean little smile at the General and asked him: "Isn't she a good pet, Sephiroth?"

"Is a little respect too much to ask, Genesis?" The man resignedly asked, already knowing the answer was

'yes'. To me, he said: "Thank you, Valkyria."

I inclined my head, "My pleasure."

"An overpowered Cure, did you say?" Rhapsodos said, musingly. "So it doesn't have to be you casting it?"

I shrugged, "Anyone with a lot of MP to spare and Cure materia could do it. Of course, anyone you ask to do that would probably be wondering why."

He sneered at me, "Which is why I intend to take care of it myself."

I paused and then shook my head slowly, "I would not recommend it. In fact, it would be best if you refrained from overexerting yourself unnecessarily." And since it wasn't too hard to figure out where his thoughts were going, I continued: "It might also be best you didn't ask SOLDIER Hewley to do it for you either."

His eyes narrowed at me in suspicion. "Why?"

Glancing at the General I found him looking at me intently. I hated telling him this. "I think he's about to start degrading."

O O O

Director Lazard had called all three of the SOLDIER 1sts to a meeting. It was quite out of the blue and Sephiroth found himself lucky to have an assistant who was willing to – and easily capable of – moving the meeting he had been scheduled to have with some of his 2nds. One less thing for him to worry about.

Still, a meeting on such short notice wasn't common. Lazard tended to have more courtesy than that.

The man was also pleasantly quick about getting to the point, wasting little time in unnecessary pleasantries.

"The President has requested – ", read: commanded, " – that one of you be sent to Wutai. He… grows tired of the ongoing war." 'Grows tired of the monetary loss it causes, more like', Sephiroth translated. "He left the decision ultimately up to me and I feel inclined to suggest that the one to head out with the next batch of troops be Genesis."

Sephiroth's mouth formed the words before he made the conscious decision: "I'll go."

Three sets of eyes darted to him, surprise apparent in all of them. He wasn't exactly known for disagreeing with orders nor his lust for war. He knew though, that he couldn't allow Genesis or Angeal to go, not when it would endanger their health. Going to battle like that was exactly the kind of thing that inevitably put a strain on one's body. With the threat of degradation hanging over the two of them… He couldn't risk it. Especially when there was no way he could send Valkyria with the one chosen. She wouldn't be alright with that and he couldn't ask it of her.

It was the act of considering her possible opinions on the whole matter that had him pushing a spike of MP into her summon materia. It wasn't something he did often, but he knew Valkyria would read it as him needing her and would drop whatever she was doing and head right to where he was.

"I will go to Wutai", he said. "Genesis and Angeal will handle my duties in my absence."

Genesis huffed, crossed his arms with a scowl on his face, but didn't argue. They all knew how unusual he was acting. Genesis was a person who yearned glory and recognition. This was exactly the kind of opportunity he should have been fighting to have. To be the Hero of the Wutai War. But he was saying nothing.

Sephiroth knew why and by the looks of it, Angeal knew as well. Lazard though… If he knew, he was hiding it well. The expression on his face was mystified.

When the silence looked like it would stretch, Lazard pressed: "Angeal, Genesis? Anything to add?"

"Sephiroth is the best man for the job", Angeal calmly said. "I have no objection."

Lazard's eyes turned to Genesis, a curious look on his face, but just when Genesis was about to speak, the door to the office opened and Valkyria strode in. She strode right over to Sephiroth and took her customary spot at his right shoulder.

"General?" She said, question in her tone.

"It has been decided that one of the 1sts is to go to Wutai with the next batch of troops sent", Sephiroth explained.

A slow smile spread to her lips and she asked: "You have already volunteered, I trust?"

"Yes", he confirmed.

"A chance to stretch my legs, how wonderful", she almost cheerfully said. "How soon are we leaving?"

All eyes turned to look at their Director in question. He said: "Tomorrow."

Valkyria blinked. "A little short notice, isn't it?" She muttered and then turned to Sephiroth and asked: "Shall I go and reschedule all your meetings for the foreseeable future?"

"Yes", Sephiroth slowly said, "Everything for the next two weeks."

Her eyebrow rose. "Only for the next two weeks?"

"I do not intend to spend longer than that on this mission", Sephiroth simply said. Normally he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to deal with the matter, but as things were… He didn't want to keep Valkyria away from Genesis for too long, not when they had no way of knowing how long it would take before Genesis would be needing another dose of Cure cast at him and Valkyria and Sephiroth himself were the two people in the best position to do it.

Valkyria smiled, "Then two weeks it is."

"Two weeks?" Genesis finally asked, sneering. "You think you can end the war in two weeks?"

Sephiroth gave him a blank look and a simple "Yes."

"How arrogant can you get?" Said the kettle to the pot.

"It's only arrogance if he fails to deliver", Valkyria smugly quipped and added: "Which he won't."

Now the sneer was directed at her and grown in intensity. "Do you even know what's going on, on the Wutai front?"

"Most of the General's paperwork passes through my desk, what do you think?" Valkyria snidely replied.

"Children!" Angeal intervened, tone one of mock scolding. "A little maturity, please."

"Thank you, Angeal", Lazard said, pushed his glasses up slightly in what Sephiroth recognized as a nervous tick, and continued: "While I can certainly appreciate you volunteering, Sephiroth, it would be simpler to send Genesis. After all, he does have fewer duties here."

"No."

Lazard's brow rose in surprise at Sephiroth's reply and the tone it was delivered. "No?" He repeated, at loss for words.

"No", Sephiroth said, "Valkyria and I will go if one of us 1sts is to go at all. This isn't up for debate."

"Excuse me?" There was a hint of warning in Lazard's voice. Though he had always liked to deal with his men with silk gloves, it was clear he wasn't taking Sephiroth's refusal well. "I believe I am still the Director of SOLDIER, and as such the one responsible for decision such as this one."

Sephiroth nodded, slowly, thoughtfully, and then asked: "Would you like to take this matter to the President?"

The tension in the air was palpable as the two men stared unblinkingly at each other while the others watched the argument from the sidelines.

Eventually, Lazard sighed and said: "Fine. Go, if you must. But I'm holding you to the two weeks. If you are not done by then, Genesis will be sent out and you will return to your duties here."

"Of course", the General easily agreed. He really had no intention of taking longer than two weeks. And now with the Director's threat, he was doubly determined.

"The transport is scheduled to leave at 9."

O O O

I had spent the day clearing the General's schedule for the next two weeks, delegating his paperwork to the other two 1sts and topping up my reserves by having a training session with Zach Fair while the General had gone off to look into the men that were to be sent with us. The moment he returned to the office, I looked at him in silent question.

"They had prepared a hundred men from the general army and two dozen SOLDIER 3rds and a couple 2nds to be sent", he said. I quirked a brow and he continued: "I refused the troopers and reassigned a few of the 3rds." He paused for a moment before adding: "I would prefer to get through this tour without any needless loss of life."

"We are at war", I reminded him lightly. "There will be loss of life. That is the nature of this kind of conflict."

"I am intimately familiar with war, Valkyria", he said, a little coldly. "We will aim for the minimum."

I was tempted to ask whether he meant only the lives of our men or the lives of our opposition as well. I didn't ask, because I didn't need to. He wasn't a man who enjoyed the bloodier side of battle. He enjoyed the thrill of battle, but not the mass destruction he would be forced to deal out again.

Instead, I replied: "Of course, General. We shall aim for a swift and decisive end to this war." Because the people of Wutai would only surrender when they could feel it in their very bones that there was no chance for them to come out of this on top. We would have to kill their hope to spare their lives.

Of course, you could make your point without necessarily resorting to extreme blood-shed.

I added a trip to the SOLDIER's materia storage. This was an occasion for the Transform materia…

He nodded, and then gave me a rare order: "Protect our men."

While it was Sephiroth's life that mattered the most to me, we both knew, it was extremely unlikely he met his match in the battle field of Wutai. He wouldn't need to me guard him, so I would do my utmost to free him of the worry for his men. "I will", I promised.

"Have you received information on transport?" He asked.

"We will be flown all the way there", I said and his brow rose just slightly in surprise. "On the airship Highwind. I believe the President wishes to make a show of force to our foe." The Highwind was an airship of the newest technology, the crown jewel of all the aerial vehicles the company had. It was also the quickest way to get all the way from the west side of the Eastern continent, over the wide sea and to the islands of Wutai. We were lucky we wouldn't have to cross over the shorter sea by ship to the Western continent, across that by military trucks and then again across the sea to Wutai. A journey like that would have taken days, compared to the ten hours or so that it will take by Highwind.

He nodded. "The less time wasted on travel, the quicker we will be done." He was a fairly stoic man in general, but now the look he wore was almost grim. I didn't like seeing it on him. "I imagine there's still paperwork I need to get done before we leave."

Inclining my head, I confirmed: "Yes. I left everything that requires your immediate attention on your desk and distributed all the rest to the other 1sts or the Director."

Nodding, he headed toward his office only to stop in the doorway. He turned and said: "I would like to dismiss you early today, if you could come and inform me once you are done with the preparations."

It was doubtlessly a good idea for him to rest up as much as possible before we got to Wutai. Keeping me summoned was a considerable strain on him, specifically on his magical reserves. With that in mind, I asked: "At what time do you expect to summon me tomorrow?"

He took a moment to weigh his options before deciding: "An hour or two before we land." It would give him most of the day to preserve his MP while I would still have a few moments to settle before getting thrown into a possibly hostile situation. I would also be spared from most of the several hours long flight. I liked it and nodded. He entered his office while I finished what I had been doing.

Then I went off to find myself a Transform materia and a SOLDIER to use it on me until I could recreate that brand of magic to my satisfaction.

AN: Thoughts? I'd love to hear them! :)

Posted on February 4th, 2017.