A/N: I know the gift of the goddess is a Banora apple or a.k.a a Dumbapple and whatever, so I'm not ignorant on what it actually truly is.
I also know that Minerva was the one who stopped Genesis' degradation but I'm changing that so that it might be Cloud who helps him instead. Heh, they look so similar, no? Cloud and Minerva.^^ Still~, my idea!
I've decided to submit three chapters first. If it ends up likable, perhaps I'll submit the next tomorrow.
Chapter 3
They met up at the gates to the Shinra Mansion. Tifa was already there and so was a strange man holding a camera. Zack expressed his surprise at seeing Tifa while Sephiroth started assessing, with cold eyes, whether she would be up to the challenge or not. Cloud just sighed, which earned him a quick look by Sephiroth before he turned his attention back towards the girl.
"Tifa! You're our guide?" Zack looked happy.
"At your service!"
The strange man with the camera stepped up. He was an odd sort of man who seemed to really want a picture of Sephiroth.
"Okay… Say Cheese!"
There was a snap and the picture was taken. Cloud frowned. He had had so much trouble because of that one photo in the past.
Tifa ignored the man and continued talking to Zack.
"Nobody is a better guide than me in this town."
Zack protested. "But it's too dangerous!" He frowned. "We can't get you involved in something like this!"
Sephiroth finally sighed. "She'll be fine, if you protect her."
On their way up to the reactor a rather large monster started attacking them. Zack and Sephiroth both pulled out their swords, Cloud wished he could have had his at the moment too, while the other cadet pulled out his gun. Unfortunately, it went straight for him and all he could do was react quickly.
He side-stepped the beast and hit it behind its neck with his bare hands. When the creature, having been knocked down, started rising again to screech at him Sephiroth speared it through.
Zack ran up to Cloud. "Stay back, it's just knocked out. It could wake up and start chowing down on you!" Cloud started dusting his uniform before he received odd looks from everyone.
"What?"
"You know how to fight bare fisted?" Zack gawked at Cloud.
"What about you? You didn't pull out your sword."
Zack gave a grin. "Use brings about wear, tear, and rust. So usually, I just hit with the blunt side."
"Uh-huh…"
Tifa waved towards them from up ahead. "Hurry, we're almost there!"
Cloud and Zack started towards her but not before Cloud saw Sephiroth considering some things with that look of his. He tensed. Maybe he figured out who the 'spy' was from yesterday. He just went along stiffly towards the reactor.
On the way, the bridge collapsed…and they lost their second cadet. Sephiroth decided they couldn't waste any more time looking for the man so they had continued. Cloud felt himself mourn, again, for the man. Perhaps this was fate. Feeling resigned, they continued heading for the Nibel reactor.
The Nibel reactor was big, old and rusty. It looked like a reactor that had been out of working order for more than a decade but, apparently, the look of the thing didn't stop Sephiroth from ascending the steps.
"I want to go inside and look, too!" Tifa cried out.
Sephiroth stopped and turned around to shake his head as he would towards a child in a disapproving manner. "This is a top-secret facility. Non-Shinra personnel are not permitted inside." He explained smoothly.
"But…!
Ignoring Tifa's ranting, Sephiroth turned towards Cloud. "Keep the young lady safe."
Cloud wasn't excited about the idea of having to watch Tifa…again…but for now he would have to just sit and listen to his superior.
Zack ran up the steps to catch up with Sephiroth before looking at Cloud with a thumbs-up and a smile. They left Tifa and Cloud alone.
Looking at Tifa, Cloud found that she seemed to have some questions she wanted to ask but was afraid to do so in case she was mistaken. Cloud didn't feel all that comfortable either…
Their shared silence stretched on for ages.
xxx xxx
While waiting with Tifa, Cloud came to some disturbing realizations. For one, when earlier Tifa had asked if there were many 1st Class Soldiers, Zack had answered no, that they were a small but elite group. But thinking of it now, Cloud could barely remember something from a long time ago. He remembered that there were two other Soldier 1sts with Zack and Sephiroth.
This was when he had mako poisoning from Hojo's tinkering for five years. His body may have been incapable of doing anything but he was still a bit aware at the time. Thankful for that now, he realized Zack had called the man 'Genesis'. He wondered where Genesis was now, and whether he was deteriorating as he had been before.
But there was another puzzling issue. Often times, he heard Zack refer to another Soldier. Cloud guessed that dog-like creature with one set of white wings on its back was that particular Soldier at one time or another. He had saved his life long ago as Zack went to face Genesis. He felt grateful to the creature, and Zack had called it Angeal. That and the fact that Director Lazard, if that man that didn't look like the director really was him, had said that he was made into an Angeal copy. Now he knew what the other two 1st Classes looked like.
But wait a moment. There was something strange going on inside the reactor last time at this very moment. Before, he had been too weak and simply following orders to head inside and to find out what was happening but, this time, he had to try and do something.
He whipped his head in the direction of the reactor enough to hear the fire materia being cast. His advanced hearing with the help of the mako helped make things clear. He rushed up the steps but not before telling Tifa to stay put in a serious voice.
He ran inside fast enough to hear Genesis call Sephiroth a monster after having Zack blasted away.
Genesis landed on the steps behind Sephiroth. "Sephiroth…" he drawled. "You were the greatest monster created by the Jenova Project."
Zack struggled from where he was sprawled. "Genesis… So you are alive!"
Genesis looked towards Zack. "I suppose I am, if you can call this living."
Sadly, Cloud saw that Genesis was indeed degenerating, but he had no time to think about how to help the man for now. Instead, he hid behind some of the generators which harbored the failed experiments of Hojo. He sneered in disgust but he had to reach Sephiroth and Genesis quickly before Genesis decided to make Sephiroth doubt his existence.
He started climbing behind the generators row by row. Since he proved he could be elusive to even Sephiroth he was betting he could try the same to the other 1st Class Soldier.
Eventually, he crawled close enough to be right behind the generator next to Genesis, at least enough to hear their conversation clearly.
"What is the Jenova Project?" Sephiroth demanded.
"The Jenova Project…" Genesis began, and that was the cue Cloud needed to jump from his hiding place and to dive straight for Genesis.
"Wha-" Genesis crashed into the floor with Cloud on top of him. Surprising to the others, and to Genesis himself, Cloud was able to keep the Soldier 1st within his grip. Genesis grit his teeth. "Who are you?" He demanded.
Cloud ignored him and turned to Zack. "Zack, help me with him!"
"Cloud?"
"Cloud? What an adorable name." Genesis snorted in amusement. "Now, why would you wish to stop me?"
"Zack!" Cloud called again. This time he looked towards Sephiroth to see if the man was going to try and stop him. Instead, Sephiroth looked towards Cloud, surprised that he had been snuck up on again.
"I'm coming!" Zack struggled to his feet. "Hold on."
By this time, Genesis had managed to struggle an arm free from Cloud's hold. "Who are you to wish to stop me?" He punched Cloud in the face, effectively knocking off the helmet. He paused in his second attempt in hitting Cloud and went wide-eyed.
"Cloud!" Zack struggled to all fours but he was still rather slow. Sephiroth, on the other hand, had taken a step forward subconsciously to try and prevent something. He didn't really know what side he should fight for though and, when he saw that Genesis wasn't hitting Cloud again, he stayed where he stood.
Genesis lowered his arm and stared long and hard at Cloud. "The gift of the Goddess."
"What?" Cloud asked confused.
"The son of the Goddess Minerva." Genesis breathed defeated. Cloud looked strangely at Genesis.
"You are Genesis…" He stated simply. "And I have a mother."
"What? Do you know me?" Genesis gave a cold laugh. Cloud couldn't answer because otherwise he would have given himself away.
"I…I could help you."
Cloud didn't know for sure at the moment but he figured that since he still had a lot of his strength, his body had also retained some of the Jenova cells, Sephiroth's cells, within him. Genesis looked at him doubtfully.
"How could a mere infantryman help me?" Cloud looked square into his eyes in a frown, which happened to make Genesis widen his. "Mako? How?"
Cloud looked away. He had forgotten about that. Genesis looked like he was analyzing Cloud's face before using enough strength to struggle free. He rose from the ground and flew out of reach.
"You have an interesting acquaintance, Sephiroth." Genesis chuckled and looked towards Cloud. "We shall meet again." He flew away.
Cloud sat squarely on the floor where he had been pushed off. He could feel that the others had so many questions to ask him but he looked away and sighed. This was becoming more and more difficult with each passing second. What was his mode of action now?
"Cloud!" Zack ran up to him. "Hey, are you alright?"
"Yeah…" he shrugged.
Zack got all excited on him soon afterwards and sat down straight in front of him. "So, how'd you do that?" he grinned.
"Do what?" Cloud looked confused at Zack.
"You know, sneak up on a 1st Class like Genesis!"
"Uh…"
"Oh, and how you held him in place though he should be stronger than you!"
"I…"
"And what did he mean when he called you the 'son of Minerva' or something?" Zack scratched the back of his head.
"I'm not sure."
"And-"
Cloud suddenly jumped to his feet. "Wait! Zack!" He looked down at Zack in worry. He remembered something from the past when he had been beaten by what looked like the Soldier Genesis but was not. "We have to help Tifa! There are Genesis like clones that are coming to attack her!" He rushed to the door, paused to pick up the helmet that had fallen near, put it on, then rushed out.
Zack scrambled up. "Wait, how do you know?" Zack yelled after him.
"Damn it." Cloud cursed under his breath. Last time, Cloud had been injured trying to save Tifa and she had to help him all the way down the mountain.
Running outside, he saw that he had been right, though they were still a little ways away. Tifa had taken a battle stance and the enemies were approaching quickly. He pulled out his gun and started firing rapidly. They quickly dodged but not before a bullet had grazed the main one. If he remembered anything it was that a gun's bullets would do little damage. He needed a sword.
Zack soon rushed out after Cloud. He skidded to a stop as he saw the large creature wielding the scythe. He drew his blade and readied himself for combat.
"Zack!" Cloud yelled back. "A gun won't do anything! I need a sword!"
Cloud started being pushed back and he took Tifa with him. He started taking Tifa around the reactor and into the back where they might be shielded for a little time if any.
"Just take Tifa and run! I'll take care of this!" Zack started charging at the creature, all the while aiming his materia to the other monsters that surrounded it. This was going to be rough.
Cloud pushed Tifa into a corner under the stairs. He needed to help Zack fight off these creatures but how? Looking around, the only thing he could think of was to grab Zack's blade and start swinging it around himself. What good that would do…. On the other hand, there was also the option that Sephiroth might lend him his sword, which would be even more ridiculous, especially since only Sephiroth could wield the Masamune blade.
Cloud was running out of options so he just charged ahead bare-handed. He was abruptly stopped by a hand gripping his shoulder, and when he turned to see who it was, the black gloves gave it away. He looked up to find Sephiroth behind his back. Sephiroth was looking at him in a contemplative manner.
"We have quite a bit to discuss." He frowned at Cloud as if trying to figure him out, but soon gave up. "For now, stay with the girl. I shall help Zack." And drawing his sword, he made his way to Zack.
Credit to Sephiroth's strength, the monsters didn't last very long against him. At one swing of his blade the creatures fell before him and didn't even bother to twitch. Cloud found himself struck in awe once again as he witnessed Sephiroth doing battle with someone other than himself. The thought stuck. He was always going to be amazed by the man's skills.
Sephiroth flicked his sword once to flick off all the residue left on it before returning it to its rightful place by his side. He, then, turned towards Zack and found him scrubbing his sword as well.
Finally done, Zack stood and reattached the blade back on his back. But, taking a glance around, he saw that Sephiroth had taken a seat on the metal stairs while Cloud and Tifa had struck a conversation on the bottom, surprisingly with Sephiroth interjecting every now and then to add a comment or suggestion. Zack walked up to them.
"What're you guys talking about?"
"Oh," Tifa explained. "How to effectively prevent monsters from coming into town, the reversal of the deterioration of Genesis, and what this Hojo scientist plans to do with his research." She frowned at the last part. "Hojo…, why does everything seem so familiar? Like I've lived it all before."
Cloud gave a nervous sweat before Sephiroth interjected. "That cannot be possible. Otherwise, you would be living in the past." he simply stated.
"Well, anyhow. We should be heading back. I'm beat." Zack proclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm a bit tired too." Tifa yawned.
Deciding that everyone was tired for the day, they all headed back to the inn. Cloud kept glancing at Sephiroth from time to time, wondering if he would head towards the Shinra Mansion. It would be troublesome if he did.
"I have to get home now, so bye." Tifa waved goodbye before running out towards her home. Zack did some squats before he retired as well, Cloud followed but not without keeping a wary eye on Sephiroth that he do the same.
Sephiroth seemed preoccupied with his thoughts to be unable to notice Cloud giving him such an odd look. Although, he did take the hint that he should retire as well and headed towards his room in amusement. Everything seemed fine…for now.
Cloud sat on his bed as Zack squatted off his nervous energy. When he was finally satisfied he made his way to the bed.
"I'm gonna crash. Night!" he announced before automatically dropping dead as soon as his head hit the pillow.
"Zack?" Cloud waved a hand in front of Zack's face but all he was greeted with was a snore. Satisfied, he grabbed his gun and headed out the door.
It was probably too early for Sephiroth to think that they had all fallen asleep so this was the perfect time to make it into the Shinra Mansion. It was getting dark and not many people would approach the mansion anyhow, so the creaking of the wrought iron fence made little difference.
Cloud entered the room with the hidden door that led down to the basement after retrieving the key and Odin. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Odin behind. He smiled. The first thing he had to do was wake Vincent, so he left his gun leaned against the grey wall and opened the door to make his way down and into the hall. Unfortunately, it was as dirty as he remembered it to be so on his way to the room with the coffins; he slipped at one point and fell into the dust. This was just wonderful.
Cloud dusted what he could off before opening the wooden door that barred his way. He automatically went for the one where Vincent lay asleep and opened the lid. He laid asleep the same way as he had before and found the situation humorous.
"Vincent. Wake up." He poked the man on the arm. Being disturbed for the first time in years he groggily opened his eyes to reveal the two red orbs that matched his whole outfit. At first, when Vincent looked at who had awoken him, he thought he was still dreaming. But after he sat up a bit more and looked around his surroundings he decided otherwise.
"…Cloud…?" the man asked.
"Yeah, it's not a dream." Cloud straightened up. "Aerith sent us back in time so now not even Tifa has guts enough to find out whether I'm really here or not."
"…You…are younger." Vincent now stood and stepped out of the coffin before turning to face a much shorter Cloud than he remembered.
"I know. I woke you five years before I actually had before….in the future, before…" Cloud nearly growled. "This is too confusing."
Vincent seemed lost in thought for a moment before looking at Cloud again. "The others?"
"They all still think it's a dream. At least, I think so anyway. I haven't seen them yet, besides you and Tifa."
"…" Vincent gave a look to Cloud demanding he explain the situation without actually saying anything. It was one thing they had shared in common.
"Sephiroth is sane." Vincent's eyes widened by just a fraction. "And he's here right now. I'm trying to stop him from ever going insane and I think I'll need a little more help than what I am now."
"…I see…"
"I need to stop him from coming down here but I'm not sure I can stop him alone –" there was the slight creaking sound of the gate opening.
"Is that him?"
"Yeah. We should probably get out of here now." He started heading for the door. "I'm going to sit in front of the entrance so that he doesn't come through. We have to stop him at all costs."
Vincent nodded. "Understood."
Cloud ran towards the door and shut it, knowing Vincent would be able to get out with that disappearing trick he did. The last thing he should worry about was Vincent so he relocked the door, grasped his gun and sat on the floor in front of the stone wall before Sephiroth arrived.
A half an hour passed and Cloud started wondering if Sephiroth was ever going to come into the room. He started dozing, slightly, before the door opened and the man himself stood in the room. What a perfect timing he had.
Sephiroth looked surprised to find Cloud dozing in front of the wall in the room where the secret passage was supposedly hidden. Why was he here? And how had he known someone, mainly he, would be there later in the evening? So many questions popped into Sephiroth's head, all of which were unanswerable unless he goaded the boy into telling him, and it disturbed him that a cadet might know him better than he knew himself.
Sephiroth hadn't thought about going to the Mansion until later that night when he realized Hojo's old research documents might be scattered about someplace. He believed it would prove the things about his existence and the reason why Genesis kept calling him a monster.
He frowned at that. Was he really so different to be called a monster? But then again, Genesis was deteriorating. That meant that something was going on with the research facility and the developments of Soldiers.
Looking back at the cadet in front of him, Cloud Strife, he felt that he wasn't understanding the entire situation. What was missing? What about this boy made him hesitate with so many emotions? And how had he managed to elude him, twice now?
He figured that the one he had been chasing the other day was Strife. Not many people could avoid his senses for long, and there sure as hell couldn't be a coincidence of two people doing the same within a matter of two days in this town. He needed answers and needed them fast.
"Strife."
Cloud looked up at Sephiroth as if there was nothing unusual about his being there. "Sir?"
"What are you doing here?" was going to be his first question, though it hadn't come out as strongly as he had intended. Instead, he sounded more flabbergasted.
"…" What could he answer with? Should he say something like, 'I was waiting for you, sir?' or maybe something like, 'I knew you would be here, sir?' or perhaps something like, 'I wanted to make sure you didn't go mad, sir?'. This was ridiculous. There was no way to answer that question without revealing too much of what he knew. Instead, perhaps he should have left it to Vincent.
Sephiroth looked at Cloud. Obviously, the boy couldn't say anything without revealing too much so he decided to rephrase his question a bit.
"How did you know I was going to be here?"
Cloud frowned. He didn't have an answer for that either. How was he supposed to answer Sephiroth's questions when all they said were 'I'm from the future!'? Exasperated, Cloud just sighed.
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't say."
Sephiroth quirked a brow in question. This boy was truly a mystery to be able to leave so many puzzle pieces around without anyone ever being able to solve it. Running out of options, Sephiroth decided for a tactical move.
He glanced around. "I see you have found the door to Hojo's old lab. May I be let through? There are some documents I wish to look over."
Cloud's face went serious and grim. "Sorry, sir. I cannot let you through."
"Your reason?" Sephiroth was beyond curious now. What exactly was he hiding in a lab that he couldn't show to him, and how had he discovered it in the first place.
Cloud looked away. "I can't say…, sir."
"Cannot or will not?"
"…" He really didn't know.
Sephiroth was getting impatient but, surprisingly, not mad. He found this game the boy played to be intriguing in the least. Now, the question was, what could he mention that would incite a response in him? Or at least say something that would make him slip up some information.
"If I am not" and he chuckled darkly with humor, "allowed, then I might as well see if you have the answers I seek." Sephiroth towered over Cloud as a show of a bit of force to try and intimidate the cadet. "What do you know of the Jenova Project?"
Sephiroth smiled. Ah, there it was. Cloud had tensed just slightly at the mention of the name. This was going to prove to be interesting, indeed.
He looked around until he found an old wooden chair. Pulling it up, he sat on it in front of Cloud and leaned back. Cloud was still sitting on the floor with absolutely no inclination to move. Sephiroth smirked at Cloud's indignant huff before bitter resignation was written over his face. Interesting. He knew he was in a losing battle.
"Perhaps you can enlighten me on why you have mako in your eyes." He started.
Cloud lowered his head in defeat, very much like a puppy would, and glanced sideways. Sephiroth relished in his little victory.
"I…fell in a pool? Sir?"
"A mako pool?"
Cloud still wouldn't look at Sephiroth. "Yes?"
There was a small silence, which only proved to unnerve Cloud, before Sephiroth continued. "Are you lying to me, cadet?"
Cloud's gaze shifted to the other direction but didn't answer, which was answer enough for Sephiroth.
"Then what of Genesis? How did you know his name and face?"
"A poster?"
"He was supposed to be secret case."
"…" Darn it. He was trapped. Where was Vincent when you needed him? Though, even if they did escape, the documents would still be there. Then what would they do? Sephiroth would go mad…again….
"Strife." Sephiroth sighed and ran a hand through his hair, which brought back Cloud's attention. "How did you know about the Genesis clones and when they would attack?"
"…"
"Answer me." Sephiroth looked sharply at Cloud though the tone itself wasn't harsh. Cloud had no choice but to obey to some extent. Sephiroth was that kind of man, one who demanded your attention even if you didn't want to be demanded of.
"I…" Should he tell him that he had gone through it before? Could he tell him? He had no idea. He was getting frustrated so he snapped his head up to look Sephiroth square into the eyes. "I've seen it before."
"Seen?" Now this was getting interesting.
"I've done it before." Cloud faltered a little.
"Done?"
Cloud grit his teeth. 'I've been through all this before, only, I'm trying to change it now!' was what he wanted to say but no, he couldn't. Instead he said, "In a dream, sir. It was kind of like a premonition that I wasn't sure was going to come true. Though, apparently, it did." He huffed silently.
Sephiroth sighed and looked at Cloud. He could tell the boy was telling the truth…at least to some extent, so he left it at that for now. Now his main concerns were those documents. He wanted to see what compelled Genesis to call him a monster, and to see if he really was one. Steeling himself he stood. He had to take a look at those documents.
"Stand aside, Strife." He hoped the boy wouldn't oppose him.
Cloud stood as well. Apparently, he sensed ill intent, or at least grim determination. "I'm sorry, General, sir. I cannot stand aside." He looked straight at Sephiroth. "Especially for you."
Sephiroth found this odd but could only see the size difference at the moment. The boy barely reached his chin, how could he continue his persistence?
"Even if I were to kill you right now?"
"Even if, sir."
Sephiroth blinked in surprise. That wasn't the answer he was expecting. Most people would rather cower away when a threat was made against them by him. This, on the other hand, was a strange thing to see in an infantryman. It also sent an unpleasant feeling through his stomach, which was also something new. Sephiroth thought that, perhaps, it was because of the unexpected answer Strife gave him.
"Why?"
Because, Sephiroth, Cloud thought sadly, the last time you saw those documents you destroyed everything, injured Zack, and stabbed me in the chest. You summoned Meteor, awoke the Planet's WEAPONs, and had me kill you.
"I…cannot…say." He grit between his teeth.
Sephiroth gave Cloud an incredulous look. "You would die protecting this door?"
"Yes."
Sighing in defeat Sephiroth turned. "I don't understand you. What could be so important you would give your life for it?"
Cloud didn't answer.
He glanced back. "If it remains that important to you, then I am willing to leave it be…for now." He walked to the door. "I suggest you head back to the inn for some rest, as we will be heading back for Midgar tomorrow." Sephiroth walked out the door and down the hall. Cloud didn't move from his position until he heard the creaking of the gates again.
He sighed as Vincent appeared next to him. "We need to make sure he never finds those documents."
Vincent nodded. "Agreed."
"Maybe we should burn everything…"
Vincent shook his head and frowned. "Others should be allowed the right to know the outcome of such foolishness…as we have seen."
"Where should we put them then? In your coffin?"
"…"
Cloud just had an idea. "I know where to hide them…for now. But it's a long trip from here." He sighed. "Too bad we don't have Cid and the Highwind."
Vincent cocked an eyebrow very much like how Sephiroth had done.
Cloud gave his variation of a dark smirk. "The mountains beyond Icicle Inn. There are caves there where no one goes. That would be perfect."
"Do we have time?"
"We could pack them all tonight, in reinforced boxes, and ship them to Icicle Inn. Don't worry, only we will hold the keys, and without knowing what to do with them, the inn owner should just leave them someplace where we'll pick up someday."
Vincent acknowledged it as a plausible action and nodded in agreement. Cloud frowned, still in thought.
"That reminds me, we still have to prevent Red from capture. He'll understand our situation like we have and put his knowledge to use. We'll send a letter out to Cosmo Canyon and ask for a reply so that we know he received it."
xxx xxx
After they had finished packing all of the boxes, they had them all transported out the Icicle Inn. Cloud headed back to the inn after they had decided Vincent would go to Midgar as well and stay with Aerith. Vincent had found the thought pleasing, to be able to rest peacefully surrounded by a rather large garden, and was very willing to head out after they had finished. Cloud had also sent a letter to Cosmo Canyon about Hojo signed by both him and Vincent. It would act as proof that his dream was not actually a dream at all.
Arriving at the inn and heading to his shared room with Zack, Cloud collapsed on the bed in exhaustion. It had been a tiring twenty-four hours with no rest at all. He fell straight to sleep in uniform, gun, and boots.
Tomorrow, he would see if he could get more rest on the way back, though he still got a bit of motion sickness.
Sighing he lay in bed…but the alarm was already ringing.