Disclaimer: Final Fantasy remains under the copyrights owned by Square Enix and the author makes no profit from this work of fiction.

A/N: Chapter 20! I've never written twenty chapters of anything before, so this is a big deal for me. Thank you all for your lovely reviews and feel free to add more if you wish. Thank you all and keep reading.

Sephiroth sat remarkably still in his seat, ShinRa noted. He took notes on the military formations he was watching. From what he could tell, they were very neat and detailed notes. When the clip finished someone came up at took the paper away, reading intently.

"What went wrong?" he asked.

"The formation was sound, but the enactment was not," the boy said, sounding like...well a general, "The commanders obviously were not prepared for the ferocity of which their opponents would react. They assumed greater numbers would ensure their victory. It did not."

"And..." the man asked, still reading.

"An attack from both the front and rear would have wielded better results," Sephiroth continued, "A full frontal attack allowed for many to get away and return during the retreat." The man nodded.

"Very good," he said and handed the sheet back. Sephiroth continued to write. He ignored Hojo entirely when he entered the room, only pausing when Hojo took the sheet for a look himself. He resumed wordlessly once he had attained approval.

Hojo came in behind the President and approached the window.

"I'm impressed," ShinRa said. Hojo merely nodded. "You have permission to continue."

"What about...his mother?" Hojo said. It was almost a sneer.

"She can take it up with me," ShinRa said.

Cass knew who this guy was. She'd never had the pleasure (or displeasure as it were) of actually meeting him. She'd actually was kind of hoping that she'd never meet him. It was probably inevitable that he would...become involved. She really didn't want the Turks all up in her business. She knew enough about them to really not want that.

Yet, when Director Veld of the Turks knocked, she opened the door.

"How can I help you?" she asked him politely. He seemed a little surprised with that. She felt a spike of fear, but years of conditioning (and Hojo) prevented her from showing it. You don't know who he is, she told herself, even with that fucking scar, Odin's balls Cassi don't do that to yourself.

"Mrs. Durmont?" he asked, as he were unsure. Shit, shit, shit, she thought, Okay, okay play along.

"Miss," she corrected. His expression did not change.

"I see" he said, "My apologies." Who the fuck says 'my apologies'? Stop it Cassi! She waved it off. She opened the door a little wider, but didn't offer him inside.

"What can I do for you, Mr..." She trailed off. She didn't know him after all.

"Veld," he said simply. Okay, so far so good. "I just had a couple questions for you. You are Cassiopia Durmont?"

"Yes," she said. It was useless to deny it at this point. "Please, come in." Still polite. Mama's voice was in her ear again, demanding that she keep her head. She could at least be the crazy bitch who said "thank you".

Veld was surprised at the inside of her office. First of all, there was no desk. A sofa and a good view, but no intimidating desk for her to sit behind. It was open. A little welcoming, really. This was not the impression that he got from Architecture and Engineering. They held her in a terrified, high esteem. Interesting.

"Shall we sit down?" she asked him. Handing over the controls to him. Also unexpected. He took them to see what she was up to. Perhaps he'd overestimated her.

"Please," he said. Equally polite. Ahh Fuck. He sat in Sephiroth's chair. She kept herself from reacting to that. Nobody but Sephiroth sat in that chair. She chose her usual one and forced herself not to cross her legs. Ankles, Cassi. A lady crosses her ankles. And sit up straight for Heaven's sake.

Veld was rather impressed. Without Tseng's report, he might have considered her anyway. Not many people could look at him like that. Not glance between his arm and his cheek. Even strangers did that. She kept her eyes on his, her expression blank. It usually took until after training for that to set in.

"So, what brings you to my office Mr. Veld?" Cass asked. Her usual opener for the new people. It relaxed her just a little.

"It's Director, actually," he corrected, "I'm from the Department of Administrative Research."

"Oh," Cass said. She couldn't resist. "My apologies."

"I just have a few questions for...clarity's sake," he said, "It shouldn't take more than a few minutes of your time."

"By all means," she said. Veld nodded.

"How long have you worked for the ShinRa Electric Power Company?" he asked. Bullshit first eh? I can play.

"As a consultant or overall?" she asked back.

"Both."

"I began with consulting a little over two years ago," she said, "I started working for this company around six years ago. Part time." Veld nodded.

"May I ask for what department?" he asked.

"The infirmary."

"I see," Veld said, "and how precisely did you go from the infirmary to...here?"

"I graduated from a university," she said, "with a very expensive degree in Mathematics."

"I meant, how did you get promoted from...I'm guessing a nurse to consultant. It's a long leap."

"I can add," Cass said. She felt Mama's nonexistent hand slapping her upside the head. Totally worth it though. Especially since Veld was quiet for an abnormal amount of time as he tried to figure out how to respond. Cass knew what he would pick. Hardball, they always play hardball.

"Are you aware that your parents were eco-terrorists?" Veld asked. Cass blinked. Then she told the truth.

"My parents died when I was two, Director Veld," she said, "I don't even know what their names were, let alone what they put on their tax forms under Occupation."

"Are you aware that they died after attempting to sabotage the construction of a Mako reactor?" Veld went on.

"I was only told that they had died," she replied.

"Do you know the whereabouts of your brother or the alias he goes by?" Veld asked.

"He's called me three times in my entire life," she said, "He gives me a different name each time. I haven't heard from him in seven years. He could be dead for all I know."

"What do you know about your family?" Veld asked.

"What you just told me," Cass said, "unless that was a lie too. You could tell me my parents were circus freaks and that my brother was on the moon and I'd know just as much."

"You received an inheritance from a Aurore Durmont?" Veld asked moving right along.

"Yes," she said, "To use to get that expensive degree."

"I take it she was your adoptive parent."

"Yes."

"Would you care to explain how you went from the Hubbord family to Mrs. Durmont?" Veld asked. Cass clammed up automatically. She had an out for this one. She reached over and grabbed a sheet of paper and started writing down the number Nell had forced her to memorize for such a question.

"I am legally prohibited from disclosing any of that information," she said, "If you want to know you will call this office and ask them." She passed it over. Veld didn't take it.

"I've already asked them," he said.

"No you haven't," Cass said, "If you had, you would have brought a sheet of paper for me to sign stating that the order has been lifted for such an occasion. Call that number if you really want to find out." Veld was surprised for a moment, then he took the paper. He wasn't used to people being able to call his bluffs so easily.

"May I ask why you know this process so precisely?" Veld asked as he tucked it away.

"I had to do it once so I could get into a university and spend a large sum of money on a Mathematics degree."She checked the time. "Are we nearly finished, Director?"

"Just one more question," Veld said, "Explain to me how you were able to spot and identify each operative I sent to you?" The magic question.

"You certainly spent an awful amount of time dancing around that question," she said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Everything you've asked me is easily explained in my file," Cass said, "With the exception of the period between my foster family and my adoption. You aren't even the first Turk that has asked me those questions and you know it. I recommend that you all coordinate the story you tell me about my birth parents. Eco-terrorists is the third variation so far." Veld was silent for a long time.

"Answer my question," Veld said.

"Because I was looking for them," Cass said. That was the answer Veld was expecting. He leaned back a little. It was the first sign Cass had seen that the man was actually human and not some pre-programmed machine.

"Damn," he muttered, more to himself than to Cass. He looked up, the first trace of emotion in his eyes.

"I apologize for the whole song and dance," Veld said.

"Nah it was fun," she said, "I always enjoy poking around in my past. It's so deliciously depressing." Veld shook his head.

"I won't lie," Veld said, "If I had my way, you'd be working under me."

"I already have a job," Cass said, "And a really, really expensive degree. In Math."

"So I've heard," Veld said. Minerva's pants! The man can joke. "And I've heard many things about the use of that expensive degree. However," Veld stood up, "should the occasion ever arise, the offer is there." Cass stood up as well.

"Thanks...I suppose," Cass said.

"Good day Miss Durmont," Veld said as he exited the door.

"Likewise," she replied. She started to shut the door, then paused.

"I think your boss has a crush on me," she said, "What do you think twerp?" She didn't hear a reply, but caught a hint of a slight exhale of air that might have been a stifled laugh.

Cass and Hojo glared at each other, refusing to budge. Cass's arms were folded across her chest, a sign that she was royally pissed off. Hojo's fists were clenched. Sephiroth watched the standoff from afar.

"The President gave his explicit permission," Hojo said.

"I know," Cass said.

"So back down," he snapped.

"No," Cass snapped back.

"It is happening with or without your consent," Hojo said, "I'll get a direct order if I have to."

"You're such a fucking baby," Cass said. Hojo lost his composure for a moment. Cass was already going though. "I didn't say I was planning on fucking stopping you. He can have his fucking sword, but it will be his sword."

"You dare to assume-"

"Yes!" Cass yelled, "Yes, I dare to assume that Sephiroth has a fucking opinion. I have let you poke and prod and poison him, but I will not let you decide this. This is Sephiroth's decision, not yours."

"I know-"

"Jack Shit!" Cass said, "You know nothing about what he wants. I will let him continue this 'training' as you call it, but he gets to pick the weapon he's going to use for the rest of his life. Not you and not anyone else."

"What's going on here?" Hojo and Cass turned as the President made a most likely once-in-a-lifetime trip to the laboratory. Hojo beat Cass to the punch.

"She's refusing to allow Sephiroth to continue his training," Hojo said.

"I am not you hunchbacked cunt face," she said. Gods it felt so good to say that out loud.

"Then what's the problem?" ShinRa asked.

"Sephiroth feels uncomfortable with Hojo's choice of weapon," she said, "I am demanding that he get to pick his own."

"That sword is perfectly-"

"For fuck's sake, a fucking buster sword is not the ideal weapon for a seven-year-old," she said, "he doesn't like it. He can barely lift it and he wants something else. It's suicide to force someone into using a weapon they aren't comfortable with. Sephiroth knows what's he's built for. No machine can tell you that." ShinRa looked between the two.

"She has a point, Hojo," ShinRa said. Hojo glared at her. She returned it.

"Sephiroth will pick out his own weapon tomorrow," she said firmly, "I'll buy it myself if I have to." She walked away from the confrontation, pausing only to have Sephiroth catch up to her on their way out.

"Why am I doing this?" Sephiroth asked as he picked up the standard issue sword.

"Do you want the long explanation or what Hojo is going to tell you?" Cass replied.

"I want your explanation," Sephiroth said. He set the sword down again. It felt cheap and clumsy.

"Well..." Cass began, "It's been my experience that a weapon is sort of like...a pair of jeans. It isn't comfortable unless it fits well. If it doesn't fit well you are clumsy and confined. If it does fit well you are graceful. The only way you can find out if it fits or not is to try it out." Sephiroth nodded.

"Is that what you did to find Fergus?" Sephiroth asked.

"That's exactly what I did to find Fergus," Cass said.

"Except mind is a sword and not a gun," Sephiroth said, picking up a slightly thicker sword and immediately setting it back down.

"Precisely," Cass said.

"Where do I start?" he asked.

"Well..." Cass said moving a little closer and perusing along with him, "The most common was this one," she fingered the hilt of the standard issue, "What did you think of that?"

"It felt clumsy," he said. She nodded.

"Then you'll probably want one of the smaller ones," she said, "You're built more for speed than for muscle."

"How do you know that?" Sephiroth asked.

"I can just tell," she said. He was quiet for a while.

"I like this one," he said, "it feels the best to me." Cass came over.

"It's a bit big, don't you think?" she said.

"It's long," he said, "Not really big."

"Very true," Cass agreed. She sighed. "I'm going to put my foot down though," she said, "You cannot have a sword with seven foot blade."

"What if I were taller?" Sephiroth asked.

"When you get taller we can have this conversation again," she said. He nodded and looked at the shorter ones.

"This one?" he asked.

"Did you try it?" she asked, "Take a couple swings." He did.

"It feels better," he said.

"Try a few more, just to be certain. We've got time." Cass said. He did.

"I like this one best," he said, "after the other one." Cass resisted shaking her head at his longing stare at it.

"Okay," she said, "I'll tell them that."