CHAPTER FIVE

Secrets of the Sleeping Forest

Cloud gradually opened his eyes, the thoughts of the children heavy upon his mind. As he strained to focus, he could make out the shapes of the trees around him, the brilliant white almost blinding to stare at. He remembered the first time he had witnessed the strange phenomenon, and how Nanaki had explained the pattern of Spirit Energy among certain fertile lands. That was the night before…

He shivered, the numbing air of the forest passing through his clothing. Pulling the zip of his jumper to his chin, he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth. There came a faint buzzing to his left; a single firefly fluttering without purpose or direction amongst the weeds and flowers at the edge of the river. He watched its flight pattern for a short while, dreamily following the movements, glancing up as there came a flicker of silver amongst the underbrush on the opposite bank.

The wolf…?

He blinked, perplexed at its presence in such an environment, and found that the beast had again vanished without trace. Frowning, he began to wonder if he had imagined the animal as he searched his body for the strength to stand. Pushing himself from the grassy mound, he felt his world spin, a sharp pain emitting from the back of his head. Running his hand through his hair to the spot, Cloud touched the dry blood, and sensed a bruised lump shaping.

Kadaj…

'That was quite a fight you put up.' came a low voice from above him.

Cloud spun, his fingers wrapping around the handle of the First Tsurugi, scanning the surrounding branches. From atop the thickest arm of a nearby tree, he saw the figure of a lone man, his features hidden somewhat in the shadows cast by the moonlight. He was a tall man, clad in a black leather costume, veiled to an extent by his long red cloak. His burning eyes met Cloud's, his pale expression concealed by his high collar. Cloud allowed his body to relax, releasing the grip on his sword.

'Vincent?'

'Long time, no see, Cloud.' said the man, leaping weightlessly in a somersault from the branch, and landing with ease a few feet from him. 'How are you?'

'I've been better…' he muttered, unmoved by the unusual entrance.

'I could tell.'

'Vincent, what happened back there?' asked Cloud. 'Where are the children?'

'The children have left this place.' said Vincent. 'They went with the trio of men. Is that what brought you here?'

'I came to save the kids, but…'

'You were ambushed.'

'Yeah. How did you know?'

'I watched from afar.'

'What happened? How did I get here?'

'During your battle, you were knocked unconscious.' replied Vincent. 'I was able to fend the attackers off with Cerberus, and escape with you unscathed.'

'Then, I was right.' said Cloud, lowering his head. 'I'm no good to anyone.'

'You certainly put up a challenge against Kadaj.'

'You…you knew who he was?' stammered Cloud, glancing up. 'Vincent, what else do you know about all this?'

'I come here often.' he said, drawing his three-barrelled rifle, Cerberus, from its holster on his leg, and setting it against the mound on which Cloud sat. He folded his arms across his chest, the clawed fingers of the golden gauntlet on his left limb clasping his opposite elbow hard. An air of deep thought passed over him as he wandered towards the river bank, gazing out over the still waters with his back to Cloud.

'Vincent?'

'I've seen what Kadaj's group is doing. The stigma…' he began. Cloud grimaced as he spoke the word, clasping at his infected arm. Vincent turned, frowning as he read Cloud's face, his eyes falling upon his left bicep.

'It's nothing.' said Cloud. 'Keep going.'

'When all living things are born,' continued Vincent, returning his attention to the river, 'they are blessed with a strand of Spirit Energy. Inside our bodies, the Spirit Energy acts as part of the Lifestream's current. This current is what fights off any malevolent intruders inside us.'

'What do you mean by 'intruder'?'

'When the Lifestream burst from the ground to save the Planet from Meteor, Jenova's dismembered body was scattered across the globe. Her cells were absorbed by the people they came into contact with. Sephiroth's Will…Jenova's memetic legacy…call it what you want. Now that the Planet has rid itself of Meteor's threat, it seeks to eliminate its unwelcome guest.'

'Then, Geostigma is…'

'Geostigma is what happens when the Spirit Energy in our bodies tries to remove the alien matter…and overcompensates.'

'What do you mean?'

'It is not the cells of Jenova that are causing the deaths of the innocent;' said Vincent, his voice no louder than a whisper, 'it is the Planet attempting to expel them.'

'You're well informed.'

'I have been to the Forgotten City and listened to the incessant ramblings of Kadaj and his brothers. They revealed a lot to their prisoners…'

'Prisoners?' said Cloud.

'Tseng and Elena.' replied Vincent. 'They were taken there half-dead, having been brutally tortured. I did what I could to rescue them, but…well, it was ugly…'

'They were tortured?'

'They had it coming.' Vincent said, snorting. 'They got they're hands on Jenova's head.'

'Then when Kadaj says he's looking for 'Mother'…'

'Heaven's dark harbinger…the Calamity from the Skies. Kadaj is after Jenova.'

'So, that's why he calls me 'Brother'.' said Cloud thoughtfully, gently climbing to his feet. 'He must view everyone with Geostigma as his surrogate family.'

'It seems that way…'

'Kadaj…what is he?'

'It appears that when you defeated Sephiroth's consciousness in the Lifestream, his Will was still too strong for him to dissipate into Spirit Energy.' said Vincent. 'His refusal to be absorbed into the Lifestream caused an unbalance, contaminating the Spirit Energy around him. That contamination was able to manifest itself into three tangible entities; Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo.'

'Those guys are the spirit of Sephiroth? His Will in a physical form?'

'Exactly. At this moment, they are nothing more than a mere shadow of him, but…'

'But what?'

'I've been trying to discover why they are seeking the remains of Jenova.' sighed Vincent. 'The three have individual personalities, separate from Sephiroth…'

'Vincent, what are saying…?'

'Do you remember when we discovered that the Sephiroth we had been chasing was nothing other than one of Jenova's incantations?'

'Yeah.'

'Hojo said that Jenova had the ability to manipulate, both physically and mentally. We witnessed that at Northern Crater. What's to say it couldn't happen again if they were able to retrieve the head?'

'Then, Sephiroth's Will merging with Jenova's cells…'

'If they wanted,' said Vincent, 'Kadaj and his brothers could bring back Sephiroth…'