Just Keep Smiling
Plans of Rebirth
Lucrecia Crescent was holding onto Vincent arms at this point she felt horrific and in a sense it was all her fault. Omega, Chaos, promateria... If Grimoire and herself had steered clear of their research perhaps Vincent would have had a regular life, Grimoire would still be alive and perhaps she would have spent the remainder of her life with the man she realized she loved.
"The child must have been affected by Jenova cells. When the earth feels threatened by something foreign it uses weapon to defend itself."
They all knew this, but Vincent seemed the one who was listening intently as if trying to read deeper into something they all knew.
"With all these other clones displaying weapon characteristics it confuses the planet into thinking it's first line of defence is failing."
At this Vincent's eyes lit up with understanding he let go of the young woman turning around to face his teammates.
"Geostigma... Jenova's cells. The immune system recognizes Jenova's cells and is ready to fight it off again which is why a person cannot be afflicted twice. Yet, her cells while dormant, still remain in the person's tissues."
"He's using Denzel to lead, or at least be around his army while attacking major cities. The planet thinks that the army supposedly being weapon are incapable of holding Denzel back and will unleash Omega."
Red seemed to be following along, Barret Cid and Tifa understood, but they still didn't get how he could use Denzel; the boy was just a kid.
"Denzel would never! He's a child! He doesn't know how to fight or do any of that."
Tifa's voice rang through the room she bit down on her lower lip as the new information slowly started to sink in.
"No, but Tifa if it was Cloud you saw perhaps... no."
Nanaki didn't want to finish, but he looked up into the brown-red eyes of Tifa Lockhart knowing he couldn't hide it. With each word Nanaki spoke, Tifa's heart would sink.
"They're going to kill the kids and let Cloud kill the clones. With the first line of weapon gone and all the innocents sacrificed the planet will unleash Omega, but they cannot control a weapon."
"Vincent can control chaos with promateria, and with AEON materia the professor can control Omega, the rebuilding of the planet, and maybe even lifestream and those who come from it. It's probably why Cloud can't control himself. It was discovered by Grimoire, but he kept it even from you Lucrecia. No one knew where it was, but there were hints to it being underwater... it was where I sent Reno and Rude."
"Boss you said the materia we'd be looking for would be with weapon, but that it wasn't important and only focus on weapon itself. Ah fuck."
Reno felt like an idiot, but Rude kept his cool. At this point they should be used to not knowing the full picture, but he could tell by looking at the other Turks Tseng and Elena that they weren't too thrilled with not being in on it completely. Another figure appeared a second brunette but this one was dressed in a Turk suit.
"The fuck Cissnei you're alive?"
"Can't say I missed your loudmouth Reno. Still can't shut up?"
Avalanche at this point didn't care who was who, they just wanted to save their friends.
"He thinks with his unlimited supply of lifestream if he can control Omega he can live forever in his own utopia. His own promised land on earth. It's crazy and will not work the world will eventually have to balance itself and everything will be reset again. He needs a powerful Cetra."
"That's why my dad want's to bring me back Tifa. After what Hojo did to him and the tainted Jenova lifestream. That man isn't my father. Tifa I will not be used to hurt people. With AEON father can control any being connected to lifestream. He must be stopped it must be destroyed."
Tifa knew that telling everyone she was having a conversation with the flower girl would distract them from what was truly important. She mentally agreed knowing full well that they would come out of this with more emotional scars that when they started, but at least they could save many lives who deserved a chance to live fully. Tifa had decided she would tell them about Aerith when they were all back on the Shera.
Tifa hadn't realized that after Cissnei spoke, whoever she was, the room had gone completely silent. They couldn't let Gast get away with it; they could not allow him to sacrifice lives for his own selfish cause... even if it meant a perfect world for their friend the beautiful flower girl.
"My perfect world is right here Tifa. You have to stop my father. If he wants to bring me back he will bring me into misery."
"Aerith I don't want to have to lose you again. Cloud... it would break his heart."
"You never lost me Teef, I was always here. If you see me just remember it's not me. Don't worry about Cloud he's always fine. Just remember Tifa. Keep smiling they need you more than ever."
"Whatever his plan is, it doesn't matter. However he's going to use Cloud or Denzel we can't let it happen. We can't let this madman hurt the people we love. Shinra has already stolen years from this planet; Gast will not steal the rest."
Tifa didn't care what anyone had to say anymore. They had to find Cloud and they had to stop Gast.
"Then you would be wise to start in the forbidden city. If he means to bring Aerith back from the lifestream... what better place than the home of her ancestors."
Tifa turned to smile at Lucrecia. Of everyone here the woman was truly trying to atone. Shinra just didn't want another mess up on his resume. And he sure as hell didn't want to die. The rest were following orders, but she had no idea what was up with the last Turk.
"Cid I'll be waiting with Shera, your orders. When do we leave?"
"Firs' think in the mornin girl."
and like that Avalanche left Rufus and his men alone.
"Ah Mr. Strife you made it. And you brought your kids too."
Marlene was terrified. Her fingers clutched at Denzel's shirt as the caped man pulled his hood down. Did he just say Mr. Strife? Before she could ask the question the hooded man revealed his spike of blond hair
"Cloud!"
Denzel finally spoke he took a step forward, but when Cloud turned to look at them his face was void of any emotion... except for his eyes; his eyes said something else.
"Cloud why are we here? Are we going to be safe?"
Marlene's voice got lower her eyes found green ones, brown hair that was almost the exact same shade as her own.
"Aerith!"
Marlene hurled herself forward wrapping her arms around the flower girl. She could feel tears stream down her face as she buried her head in the woman's abdomen. The hug didnt feel right, not like when she wrapped her arms around Tifa. Looking up Aerith stared at her blankly there was no recognition no warmth and Marlene moved back bumping into Denzel and Matt who held her here- the latter completely confused and shocked into silence.
"What's going on Cloud? Why are you doing this? I wanna go home!"
Marlene's lower lips shook as Denzel spoke and as he took a step towards Cloud he raised his fist and pounded them against the man he saw as a father.
"Why? Why? Why? Why?"
"Denzel it's ok!"
Marlene held onto her friend tried pulling him back, but it was the sound of a foreign voice that made him stop.
"It's quite alright young man. Do not worry. Everything will be fine and the world will be a better place. Zack, Aerith, Cloud take the kids to their room. We have an important day ahead of us and we need them to be rested for tomorrow."
"Don't hurt us. Don't hurt Cloud."
The Professor smiled at them his eyes watching them all intently before turning his back to leave. Denzel allowed himself to be led away by Cloud, Marlene's hand held by the woman in the pink dress named Aerith and Matt by the last one named Zack.
"Hey wait he's the one who attacked us!"
Matt finally spoke taking in Zack's features much better.
"Nah kiddo, you must have me confused with someone else."
The one named Zack attempted to be light-hearted, but his voice was hollow and it did nothing to reassure them. Finding themselves in a room with three mattresses the kids huddled on the ground together frightened and shaking.
"Cloud knows what he's doing we're going to be alright."
Denzel had to be strong for his friends, but a feeling of dread and doubt consumed their minds as they all laid down and drifted to sleep.
He wasn't sure how, but ever since the materia was place in his chest he couldn't fully control himself. They were so sure of the materia's strength that they didn't even bother keeping tabs on him and he was allowed to come and go freely as long as he complied with his instructions. There were times where Cloud stopped himself from doing what they told him to, but he couldn't afford for them to see him resisting, not before he could let Tifa know what was happening.
It wasn't uncommon for him to black out altogether at times, but this time he knew he had blacked out for a while. When he came to Cloud found himself standing just outside of the 7th Heaven bar. He watched from the dark as an angry red headed Turk stormed out and he watched as his childhood friend fell asleep somewhere other than her bed. He willed himself forward using his keys to unlock the door and letting himself in.
She was peaceful chest rising and falling gently and he didn't want to disturb her, he didn't want to wake her up, but he would have to before he lost control again. His mind was out of focus and knelt by her sleeping form clutching his chest where the materia was embedded. Gritting his teeth he pulled Tifa to his chest cradling her in his arms and standing up. Making his way upstairs he felt her stir in his arms, but he was so afraid that if he did wake her up her anger would make him lose control. Placing her down he sat on the edge of her bed frozen as her eyes fluttered open.
"Cloud."
"Yes Teef?"
"Are we... are we a family? Is this a family to you?"
"I think so."
"Sometimes I wonder if you want to be a part of our family."
"Teef?"
"Sometimes I wonder if it can get better, or will I always look over my shoulder wondering when it will be the last..."
And like that her eyes closed again. He wanted to know what she was going to say. He needed to hear her finish her words and once again he felt like a complete idiot for ever hurting her. He knew she wouldn't remember the next morning. There were nights where she willed herself to her own bed only to be confused by how she got there; this would be another one of those nights.
Cloud reached over to try and wake her up, he needed to tell her, but as his fingers brushed her hair away and fell down to her cheeks he could feel the materia fight it's way for control. He pulled back quickly, he needed to get out before he endangered their lives. Standing up he forced his way out of the room pausing as he walked by Marlene and Denzel's it helped him push forward, helped him walk out of the 7th Heaven. By the time he was back to the professor in the Ancient Forest Cloud had lost control once more.
"Looks like we're going to need to add another one to him. He's definitely resisting."
The hollow voice of Zack sounded so far away even if he was directly in front of him.
"Aerith he is right... do it."
Cloud watched as the woman came close to him and placed another shard on his chest. This time he was ready for the pain, but he wasn't ready for the loss of complete control. Cloud wanted to try and fight it, but this time... it would be futile. No... no attempt was futile if it meant saving the kids.
Yuffie sat on the railing her legs swinging out as the Shera took off. The Turks were going with them and tensions were high aboard the ship not even Yuffie felt like she needed to speak, but that feeling was quickly starting to fade.
Vincent and Lucrecia were in one corner enjoying their time together. Yuffie could tell their vampire friend wanted to wrap her in his arms but resisted their conversation was quiet, but she could see that if she ran up and suggested he kissed her... well Yuffie knew it wasn't the time.
Red and Reeve through his doll were discussing action plans along with Barret. They were so well disciplined going over the various outcomes and what to do if it really came down to fighting Omega.
"I aint going to come down to that because the professor will be dead and I'd knock some sense into Cloud."
Yuffie wrinkled her nose and diverted her attention to Cid the guy was as usual barking order to his men while cursing and puffing away at his cigarette.
Yuffie walked over to the Turks. She never liked them, but she might as well cause a ruckus and push some of their buttons.
"So what? Haven't seen pretty brown here in a while?"
Reno turned to look at Yuffie a dumb smile on his face.
"Yea Cissnei here hasn't been seen in a while. Probably cried herself into a ditch after Zack die..."
He was cut off by the glare the girl named Cissnei was giving them.
"I had realized the error of Shinra's ways and decided to redeem myself elsewhere. If you weren't so dense you'd have known myself and the other Turks helped evacuate Midgar."
"Yea people still died, such a great job!"
"What where you doing you idiot? Spending the end of the world in a hookers bed."
Yuffie smirked as Rude and Tseng tried to quiet the other two everyone else was already starting to stare and as Yuffie walked away even Cid managed to high five her.
"Nice kid."
"You knew Zack?"
Tifa had been silent the whole time. She had explained to them earlier that Aerith had been speaking to her and after that kept silent as if trying to get herself mentally prepared for what was to come.
"He was a good guy you know. Nothing like the other SOLDIER. He really did stand for what was right and..."
"I hated him."
Tifa didn't let Cissnei finish she was watching the girl with careful eyes.
"And then I learned to love the brother I never really had. You know when he came to Nibelheim with Sephiroth. I lost everything and everyone and I blamed him just as much as I blamed Sephiroth."
Tifa pushed away the ship was silent, but Tifa did in that moment what she always did best. She smiled.
"And then I found Cloud and learned that Zack was the reason my best friend was still alive. Did you love Zack Cissnei?"
The girl blushed and turned a crimson red. She remembered their time in Costa the conversations they had... the close proximity of his body when he spoke.
"Loved, but his heart was with another and I learned to give him up and when he was gone I felt so guilty. Didn't stop me from loving someone else now."
This caught Tifa off guard. She wondered if she could do the same if she could even give Cloud up. No... she would not worry about that. Her first priority was making sure everyone came home safe and the planet would be safe.
Zack navigated their small plane everyone inside stayed quiet. Cloud sat across from the children who were still exhausted from their early wake up. He wasn't sure what they were going to do with the kids, but he needed to break free as fast as he could. Denzel, Marlene and their friend Matt watched Cloud with wary eyes pleading with him to tell them everything was going to be fine, but he was not permitted to speak and he had no control over it. It would take them the better half of the morning before they would arrive at the Forgotten City. Cloud had no idea what these people had planned next and he wasn't sure if he was looking forward to it. What he did know was that recently the army of Zack and Genesis copies infused with weapon had been there since that night.
"Do not worry children. Soon the world will be perfect and beautiful."
He turned towards Aerith and Zack smirking as he muttered.
"And a part of the lifestream rebuilding our perfect new world."
Cloud mentally cursed, his urgency to break free grew. He wouldn't allow these kids to die, he would not allow his family to crumble before they had time to establish themselves as a family. Cloud would not allow his hands to be tainted with anymore innocent blood.
A/N: And another chapter out. I will try to update every Monday (if not Tuesday) and every Friday (if not Saturday). I got a few PM's (and a Review) asking why Cloud was beaten so easily on the cliff. Well logically speaking when your best friend who you thought was dead appears in front of you all well and perfect I'd think you'd be shocked. Cloud was shocked and wouldn't expect to see his friend let alone get attacked by him he was vulnerable which is human. Next chapter I'll mention what Vincent and Lucrecia were talking about so if you're wondering don't worry it shall be revealed. I would really appreciate a few reviews especially with constructive criticism so the next chapters are stronger; questions are welcome as well of course. I also would like to apologize for my typos and mistakes in my last chapter. I had edited, but even though I pressed save I didn't realize till it was too late that the doc manager was being mean and didn't make any changes. Hopefully this one is better! Thanks for the support and hope you stick around for the next chapter!