Chailo parked her hover bike over a hieroglyphic transpad and dismounted. Home was just a train ride away! She drove through the right mountain cave in Junon and was able to merge into the entrance to the Mythril Mine. To say the Mythril Mines were usually described as short dungeons, they were certainly in beautiful condition and the monsters were short in number. The ceilings were blue, and purple crystals lit with electronic lamps gave the ceiling a mystical effect. The descending brown limestone protruding from the ceilings were illuminated brightly from the light and hues of the crystals. The pathway to another tunnel glowed in serene blues and purples. Mythril formations, bronze and proud, were springing from the ground and gave some limestone a healthy brown glaze. A large fresh water pool held swimming monsters, gemstones, and koi fish in its dark, murky sands. The pool was a sapphire blue and clear with tufts of anemone, seaweed and families of shrimp giving it color.
Less harmful monsters were drinking from the large pool of water in the underground cavern. They looked upon Chailo's form and greeted her with small whooping sounds and friendly hisses. She nodded to them and joined them as she drank from the fresh waters. Honestly, she had been running and fighting for several weeks because of ShinRa. She was near tears in hopes of a bath soon. A baby dragon crawled towards her and scooped her hand up to be petted. She picked the creature up into her gentlest embrace and hummed to it. The baby's family came to her and rested near her as she sang unto them. Rustling from the next cave sounded and alerted the dragons. The elder and wildcat, Koneko, came and greeted Chailo.
"Avus," Chailo whispered, watching the elder rest next to her. "Koneko."
"Have Mokuki and his pack returned home?" Koneko asked.
"Mokuki has brought a kunoichi to an ally's home," Chailo answered, petting the baby. "His pack may be waiting for his return or investigating under his order."
"Investigate what?" the elder asked, removing his cloak.
The elder was a lean man in an orange linen shirt and brown pants. His hair was bushy and white, and it reached to the middle of his shoulder blades at a point. The white hair was prevalent in his bushy beard and moustache though had hints of dark grey. His ears were long enough to touch Chailo's hood or poke her in the eye. He had dark brown skin, but he hardly had any sagging. The skin was tight and tough, yet it was soft to the touch. The elder had strong bones and striking yellow eyes. He placed his walking cane in front of him and folded his legs. Those glowing yellow eyes watching the life that inhabited the underground cave.
Chailo removed her blue tattered cloak and sighed in relief of not having to hide or run for a while now. She was a beautiful brown girl, lighter and richer in color than the elder. She was a lithe, curvatious woman in a gray denim ruffle skort and a white lace-up ruffled top. Her hair was flat and black, and it hardly covered her neck; the longest part of her hair were the bangs that reached to the bottom of her breasts. Her ears were long though hidden beneath her thick, black hair. Her ears flapped to flip her hair off them to appear nearly half the size of the elder's. She had soft, healthy glowing skin hidden beneath armor and tattoos. Her bones were fine and her eyes green. She and the elder had sensuous lips and long eyelashes.
"This planet is doing something peculiar. My birthmarks were responding to it," Chailo said. "Mokuki and the kunoichi mentioned something about the WEAPON, the planet's defense. All the WEAPONs were destroyed years ago: years we were not present."
"What was the Planet doing on the surface?" Koneko asked, sitting on his haunches.
"I saw a river that glows and a finned creature being born in the sky," Chailo answered. "The sky fish was named WEAPON."
"A WEAPON was in the sky?" Koneko questioned, standing on all fours and beginning to pace.
"More or less," Chailo answered, taking glances at the red wildcat. "It didn't seem to be a living creature."
"A spirit you say?" Koneko questioned, pacing more. "Was there only one?"
"Yes. In Junon," she answered, scratching behind the baby dragon's ear.
"Two WEAPONs have been destroyed in Junon: Sapphire and Emerald," Koneko said, having stopped pacing. "If the creature in the sky appeared to resemble a fish, there is a higher chance that the WEAPON being reborn is Sapphire. Eight years ago, a man named Sephiroth attempted to destroy the Planet by Meteor, a master spell using black materia. He was a super soldier created by ShinRa through their science department. When he obtained the black materia and summoned Meteor, Sapphire emerged from the waters having been called by the Planet. His head was blown off by ShinRa's Sister Ray cannon; he never completed his duty to protect the Planet."
"Such a poor creature," the elder said, scratching his chest. "You rise to protect, yet you die to fail. Dis t'ing may be risin' to protect Gaia. A fallen warrior c'n be a restless spirit should 'e not 'ave de honor 'e deserves."
"The sky fish can only do so much as a spirit," Chailo said, thinking of something logical. "There may be a possibility that the sky fish is being reborn to find someone to take his place. Perhaps, a WEAPON that Gaia has created, but she may not have enough power to give it life. Taking the powers of these creatures may have been her only option."
"Your birthmarks would not have spoken to you if Gaia just needed to give WEAPON life, Chailo," the elder said, looking into Chailo's eyes. She gave him a curious look. He said, "You are being called to help her. She shows her fallen because she need new. You have life. She be needin' yer powers."
"I refuse to be one with another planet," Chailo said, firmly and angrily. "I will not become one with her. Should Gaia have to be one with me, I will leave this place and watch it suffer."
"Child, you bear no ill will before. What be happenin' to ya?" the elder asked.
"I will not succumb to my destiny, avus," Chailo responded. "Punish me for my disobedience as it is written on your back, but I do not regret defying our traditions this time. I will not succumb to my destiny!"
It was an early morning in the smallest department of the new ShinRa Electric Power Company. Doctor Palmer, quiet and angry, was fiddling with a set of toy cars on a small racetrack. His time was running out in the Department of Space Exploration. Two weeks from now, he had to pack his things and be off. All of his years of devotion to the company were being thrown away because of Rufus. If Rufus wanted to play the game this way, then he would have to do something to piss him off just as relentlessly as he was. He had one solution.
His office door had opened and a familiar face stepped inside. Palmer smirked at the man before him then gestured for him to sit in the chair in front of his desk. Reno sat down and watched as Palmer pulled a fruit bowl towards him.
"We have some business to discuss," Reno started, taking a cherry from the bowl, "is what you said over the phone. Whaddaya want with me, yo?"
"Oh, nothing in particular," Palmer said, grinning as he fiddled with a blue car. "I was just curious to know if you would like to participate in finding your ex-girlfriend."
"I've had a bunch of those, Palms," Reno said, eating the cherry.
"If I remembered correctly, there was only one person you were reportedly infactuated with who you haven't laid," Palmer said, shrewdly.
"Like your mother?" Reno insulted, glaring at Palmer. He spat out the cherry's seed viciously and growled. "Cut this shit and give me something I can understand!"
"I think you understand who I'm referring to quite clearly," Palmer hissed, amused by Reno's uncharacteristic defensiveness. "Your little roommate you used to take out drinking. Come on, you know who I mean. A black woman about 5'4" with tattoos, long legs, black hair, green eyes. You remember, don't you, Reno?"
"Whatever it is that you want with me, you can shove it up your ass!" Reno shouted, hatred boiling under his skin.
"I want revenge," Palmer said in a still voice. "I'll get it with or without your help, but for me to get revenge I need someone who knows how to get even. Rufus is after someone who was a very precious asset to my department, and I am willing to make a bargain for her reassessment. To have that someone back, I need a person who is strong, willing to negotiate, and knows something about Chailo Shinboru. She has a pretty big bounty on her head, I hear, but I don't want the money. As I said, what I want is a bargain. That's the reason for me calling you, Mister Reno."
"Tough nails, yo," Reno commented. "I don't want the bargain."
"How else are you gonna get your girlfriend back then?" Palmer asked, grinning wily. "Rufus wants her dead more than alive. I'm sure after the fight you said you had, she already doesn't trust you anymore. Your friendship is practically in shambles. Now, I don't want her dead anymore than you do. I prefer her alive and well. I know, in your heart as a lover, you want her to be the same way, too. Isn't that right? You find Chailo Shinboru alive and bring her to me, you can stay with her in a refuge I'll reserve for the two of you. You can make up, make the best of your living together, and everything will be peachy."
Reno sat in the chair, gripping its arms, in silence. Palmer was right. He tarnished his friendship and trust with Chailo for good after the fight in Mount Corel. When he found her again, she had already found new allies with AVALANCHE's members and the WRO soldiers. Yuffie Kisaragi was one of them. He couldn't mend the pieces of their broken relationship, even though he was in love with Chailo. She was wanted dead or alive. Reno gritted his teeth, realizing there were no more logical options. He couldn't keep lying to Rufus by saying he underestimated Chailo's strength or couldn't trace her signal properly. The technology they used was far superior than that, and any computer could trace Chailo's signal. He went through more options as Palmer grinned at him, but he turned up short on each one.
"What you said," Reno started, furrowing his eyebrows, "about me being able to live with Chailo... Did you mean that?"
"Yes," Palmer said. "She is to be found alive and brought to me. I will provide you with the necessary resources needed for her safe return. Once she has been returned, you will keep her in hiding for a few weeks. I plan to open my own business, granted Chailo works for me. That is what I want. If I get that, you can have your life with her. Do we have a deal?"
Reno's mouth set in firm line then gradually lifted in a resigned smirk. He said, "Of course, granted Chailo stays with me while under your proprietorship." He took another cherry and dangled it suggestively. He continued, "I dunno what you plan to hire her for, but I want to be sure you keep all...the right assets of her person still in one piece, yo. If, by coincidence, you do find Chailo before me, I request that you hire me as well. That little refuge might be used for...other purposes while I search for a more fitting dwelling for us. Should either of us find her, she's equally ours to take."
"Pleasure doing business with you," Palmer said, nodding. "When can you start?"
The sun poured through the window to wake Shelke Rui from a peaceful slumber. Autumn breezes were passing through the city of Edge, and the winter would soon be approaching. Shelke yawned audibly then stretched as she looked out her window. She had been with Reeve at WRO headquarters yesterday when the monsters began to attack. Once Tifa and Cloud had returned home, she and Denzel came home too. It was strange to have seen monsters appear then disappear so quickly. Shelke stood to her feet then went to her bathroom to take a bath.
Tifa was making breakfast while Denzel helped clean the bar. Nanaki was walking about, making sure nothing was out of the ordinary. It was unnerving to see everything at peace after yesterday's disturbance. Cloud had rushed over to Vincent's house after being called so early. He didn't have time to leave everyone a note saying if he were fine or not. The most he wrote was the following:
Tifa,
Vincent gave me a call about Yuffie. I left to go check on them. The meeting is still on for tonight. Close up shop early, okay?
Cloud
That was all from her typical boyfriend, Cloud Strife. They had been dating a year after the events with Deepground. During that year, peace had finally been realized and Cloud popped the question on her. No wedding ring, unfortunately. They were four years into the relationship, and it all seemed fine except everyone kept picking on them about kids and marriage. Everyone except Vincent, Shelke, and Nanaki. Now, everyone and their grandpas were on Vincent about dating, even Cloud! Shelke went on a date with Denzel and made him happy, but the pressure to go on another one was too much. They were good friends instead. Marlene's boyfriend was nearly killed by Barret, but that was a memory everyone could laugh to and not pressure Marlene into dating later on. Apparently, she learned her lesson the first time: Don't ever take your new boyfriends to your father unless they have a background check. It was hell with Vincent, though. Once Reeve hired a young woman to work for the WRO, there were rumors that they were dating. Although, the true extent of their relationship was unknown. After Yuffie found out about Reeve, it was open season on Vincent.
Tifa giggled a bit at poor Vincent. He was probably fed up with everyone's attacks on him. That was only their way of making sure he had gotten over Lucrecia Crescent, though. His past was such a tragic one, having loss the love of his life to a madman, and only Shelke had contact with Lucrecia's spirit other than Vincent. Shelke probably knew the most about the silent gunner. No one else bothered to question the man for fear he would unleash some serious led in their bodies. There was also the possibility of being mulled by his one claw. Besides that, Tifa wouldn't have minded seeing Vincent with someone out of curiosity to know his tastes in women...or men?
Wouldn't that be an interesting twist? Tifa thought, laughing aloud.
Cloud was in Vincent's room, praying he would tell him how Yuffie ended up in his apartment. She was lying on his small loveseat, sleeping and mumbling incoherent phrases in her sleep. How she found the seat comfortable was beyond anyone's guess. Vincent was just as confused as Cloud was, honestly. When he came home, she was already there on the couch. He didn't even know she knew where he lived. The most he ever said about his residence was that he stayed in Kalm. He never invited anyone over for the holidays.
"So...she was here...just like that?" Cloud asked, clarifying the details he had received from Vincent.
What Cloud understood was that Vincent had gotten a ride home from Cid after finding him at WRO headquarters. Reeve left to speak to someone and told Vincent to find Cid in the airfield. Cid was looking for more monsters but turned up with nothing, so he looked for Tifa instead upon Vincent's request. They found Tifa at her bar and decided to speak to her tomorrow morning so they could pick up better leads on where to find Yuffie. Vincent came to his apartment, opened the door, and wouldn't you know the missing ninja was in his loveseat. Cid had already left home, so he couldn't tell him to turn around. Instead, Vincent waited until morning to call Cloud and told him Yuffie was in his apartment. That's what Cloud clearly heard from the man in full detail, or as full as he would give him. Nothing explained how the girl made it through the door of Vincent's apartment. Vincent nodded at Cloud after giving him his story and glanced at Yuffie as if he was telling Cloud to take her out of his place.
"Why do we need to meet later then?" Cloud asked.
"The Planet put the Lifestream in mid-air after the monsters attacked and around the same time Yuffie went missing again," Vincent said. "We should discuss these recent events to know if there is a connection that can be made to know what the hell is going on and why. Chaos reacted to the Lifestream very faintly, but it could be serious should something suddenly happen to the Planet."
"I see," Cloud said quietly, hearing Yuffie's moaning as she stirred awake. "Looks like she's waking up. Well, I'll take her off your hands for the day. What are you planning on doing about the Lifestream incident?"
"There has to be a connection with the Lifestream and the Foreign Shadow," Vincent started, regretting having to say his next words. "ShinRa seems to have his hands full with the latter, so he might be involved with the Lifestream as well. If Deepground can summon the Omega WEAPON, what's stopping ShinRa from calling the Lifestream?"
"Vincent?" Yuffie called, wiping her eyes.
Cloud and Vincent turned to Yuffie. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying. She stood to her feet and walked up to them.
"Do you mind if I watched your TV?" she asked, sniffing.
Cloud noted that this depressed state was unlike Yuffie. What happened to her? He said, "Yuffie...are you okay?"
She shook her head then asked again, "Can I watch your TV, Vinny? I'm not in the mood to talk right now."
Vincent was beginning to worry more than Cloud. Yuffie never refused some sort of conversation with people. It wasn't in her nature to deny someone of her company. Something was wrong, and it was terribly so. He led Yuffie to his small bed and turned on the television with his remote. Yuffie held one of his pillows in her arms as she changed channels with his remote and sat there. She wanted someone to hold her, but she didn't want Cloud or Vincent to do the deed. A chocolate commercial suddenly came on and depressed Yuffie more. She thought about Chailo then quickly changed the channel to watch music videos.
"Yuffie," Cloud called, taking the remote to turn down the volume. "It isn't my intention to hurt you, but I need to know what happened to you. How did you end up here?"
"It's a longer story than I'm going to tell," Yuffie started, snuggling the white pillow. A long, thin black hair tickled her nose and made her wiggle it. She picked the hair and compared it to Chailo's own black locks. She said, "After having Vincent drop me off at Aerith's church, I followed a girl the same age as me through a portal. When we got out of the portal, we were teleported to Junon. Everything was fine, but... She pointed her gun at me and threatened to fire because she was afraid someone would know where she was hiding. She didn't kill me then because a WEAPON stopped her. It was being formed in the skies. Her friend brought me here and opened the door for me. He threatened to kill me if I left the apartment, so I stayed here. I wanted you guys to meet her because she was such an interesting person, but she's a fugitive and on the run. She can't risk trusting anyone no matter...how much I want her to. We trusted each other in battle, but why doesn't she trust me now? She could have hidden away from everyone with me in Wutai! I liked her..."
Cloud and Vincent looked at each other with the same expression. A WEAPON was being reborn at the same time the Lifestream was above everyone's heads!