Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, its characters or storyline. This collection is mine, as are the OCs. A few big nudges to the plot in this chapter. Some more references to Project Stasis and the Mercy Trilogy pop up in this chapter; these will be expounded on in the end notes. Enjoy!
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079 – Shelf Life
While most of Radiant Garden's files and information had been converted to digital storage since the establishing of the Alliance nearly five years ago, there were still mountains of documents that, for whatever reason, had been kept as hard copies. Said documents had all been painstakingly labeled, boxed, sorted, and shelved in the somewhat-cavernous basement storage warehouse under Alliance Headquarters in the middle of town.
Generally, retrieving these original documents fell along the lines of birth certificates, historical photos, and the like. This was not going to be one of those kinds of retrievals. Cid knew that right off the bat, but it didn't help when the secretary who worked at the manager station wheeled out a four wheeled flat cart.
"There are quite a few boxes." The mousey woman said, verifying Cid's signature and retrieval request on the sign-in sheet.
Cid just grunted in response to that.
The woman, Polly, was basically the librarian of all the hard copy documents in the Alliance. She maintained them, ordered them, and kept track of which members of the Alliance had checked items out for research or whatever other reasons. Tifa had sent Cid down to retrieve all of the documented information about Case 4219-A. She hadn't specified what that case was or what she needed it for, and Cid hadn't asked because he typically didn't care. But the fact that Polly was fetching the large pushing cart got him interested. Tifa was reaching the point where she shouldn't be handling heavy loads. And, as Cid watched Polly piling box upon box upon box onto the cart, this was going to qualify as heavy.
"Strange." Polly chirped, finally plopping what looked like the ninth box on the cart. "Usually I get just a few retrieval requests a month, and those are mostly for reference points in recon reports." She chattered on, "This month, though, whew-ee! First someone pulls all the files on Ansem the Wise's research. Then someone pulls all the records for the three decades before the Heartless invasion in Radiant Garden. Now, you're wanting all THESE?"
Cid just grunted again. Engaging Polly in conversation was inadvisable unless you wanted to get your ear yacked off for about two hours. He took over the handles on the cart and aimed it toward the door, muttering a quick 'thanks' before leaving the underground warehouse. Curiosity struck as soon as he was in the elevator, and as the lift chugged upward to the Combat Department, Cid popped open the lid of the top-most box.
Newspaper clippings, a few compact discs, and a composition journal with Merlin's flowery-ass handwriting on the cover: these were just a few of the jumble of items in the first box. He frowned as he read Merlin's scrawl on the journal and replaced the lid. The elevator let off a happy ding! He stepped off, pushing the cart ahead of him, and navigated through the halls of Tifa's Combat Department before reaching her office.
Tifa was sitting behind her desk, hands in her lap, staring at the office phone: looking like she hadn't moved since she'd called him to her office earlier. Her department was full of interns who could have gotten these boxes for her, but given the subject matter, Cid could understand why she hadn't. Though, asking Leon—her frickin' husband—would have been more discrete.
"Here we go." He announced his presence, shoving the cart into her office.
Tifa blinked and lifted her eyes from the phone, looking distant. "Oh, thanks." It came out weak, and she cleared her throat to try again, "Thank you, Cid."
He pursed his lips and straightened, folding his arms. "You want to explain why you just asked me to bring you every document filed under the Project Stasis investigation?" When Tifa just groaned and framed her face with her hands, he accentuated, "I thought we were done with that shit."
"WE are." She responded, sitting back in her seat, "Could you—" She gestured.
Cid reached behind him and shut the door to her office for more privacy.
"I got a phone call this afternoon." She confessed. "From Sora on Destiny Islands." He didn't say anything, letting her continue. "He's been having…He's starting to remember. Nothing too specific yet, but he told me the bits that he was beginning to remember, and, Cid, it's just the floodgates waiting to open."
He eyed the boxes before looking at her again. Ah, so there it was. There was no way that anyone on the Restoration Committee in their right mind would willingly go through all of the shit associated with that Project Stasis mess. They had all dealt with it and moved on, escaping relatively unscathed from the whole unpleasant situation. From what Cid understood, the whole experience had overwhelmed Sora and his mind had instinctively blocked all of the memories connected to Project Stasis. That wasn't hard to believe, considering the kid's past with memories and memory-tampering. But if Sora was starting to remember…
"I figure," Tifa was saying, "it would be better if he had some materials to make sense of these memories that he's recovering…rather than just being…y'know…left out in the cold: confused and with no one around to answer any of these questions."
Cid lifted an eyebrow, "So he called YOU?"
Sora and Tifa got along well enough, sure, but the woman wasn't exactly the first person that Cid would have guessed that Sora would call after something like this.
"Well, he called Leon's office first." Tifa looked at him sorely. "He was out of the building, so McCallister picked up the phone." Cid hissed at that but didn't interrupt. "She freaked out and transferred the call to me." She eyed the boxes. "Ugh."
Cid snorted. " 'Ugh' is right. You better get Leon or somebody to help you sort through all this mess. Don't wade back into this mess by yourself."
"Are you volunteering?" Tifa asked, jokingly—he hoped at least.
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080 – Sharing is Caring
Aerith looked at Cloud, feeling confused and wary…and trying not to get excited. "Really? You're serious?"
Standing awkwardly in the doorway to her apartment, Cloud inclined his head. "Yes."
"You want to know everything." She reiterated. "Everything-everything? My research, my notes, the experiments that I've been running, the goods, the bads, the uglies, and the bizarre, and you aren't going to crap all over it?"
Cloud deadpanned, but his eyes remained sincere. "Yes."
Aerith shifted her weight from one foot to the other and stepped aside, opening the door farther. "Well, okay then. Come on in." As he followed her, she glanced back, "Why this sudden change? You haven't wanted anything to do with any of my undercurrent research since I started." She asked apprehensively.
"Exactly." He replied quietly. "We've hardly been talking or seeing each other…and I…don't…like that." He mumbled, unable to just spit it out.
She softened a little. "Yeah, I've missed you too."
Color touched his cheeks, and Aerith offered a small smile, leading him past the door to Rinoa's room and instead into her own room. Aerith was usually a very neat and organized person, but her schedule lately had been hectic. As a result, all of her research and clothes had wound up in a hodge-podge strewn about the room. The entire wall opposite her bed was almost covered in papers, clippings, and pictures that she had tacked up for easier viewing.
"I've actually learned A LOT since we last talked about it." She said, feeling the excitement bubbling up inside her. "I've barely nicked the tip of the iceberg with this undercurrent theory. It's not just that the Heart of Radiant Garden, of all worlds really, is alive, but it's…it's so much more than that."
She gestured to some of the pictures that she had taken: the flower fields that had sprung to being after her first experiments, the deep gouges in the Great Maw's floor at her more recent experiments, and the strong trees where she had attempted to connect more fully to the Heart. These were the fruits of her labors that she had refrained from showing most of the Restoration Committee. The way she saw it, this was a matter that she would keep close to the chest until she really had a grip on what she was dealing with. Cloud had been the first person that she wanted to gush all of her findings at, but he had been emotionally unavailable to give her that.
"I think the Heart is sentient." She said, rapturously.
Cloud's gaze, which had been roaming rigidly across the covered wall, slid to meet her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Aerith bounced on her feet. "I've been running these experiments for months, but I've always been trying to control it: draw it out and make it do certain things…like you use a shovel or a pencil or something…But if you think about it, the Keyblade has deep connections to the realm of Light, just like the Heart of a planet…and Keyblades choose their masters and may refuse to serve certain individuals…Sentient, see? So." She drew out the word, backpedaling to where she had all of the boxes full of Ansem the Wise's research stacked on the floor. "I think that the Heart of the world is alive and aware. It feels…It has moods and a personality." She looked to Cloud expectantly.
He looked intensely uncomfortable and he was failing at trying to hide it. "What kind of…personality? Like a human?"
"Just as complex, but not as direct." She answered. "I started trying to…request…control of the undercurrent from the Heart. I used to just try to force control over it, like demanding obedience…but obviously THAT wasn't working…So I have been attempting to connect with the undercurrent on a more cooperative level. Some days, it lets me, and I have even gotten to the point where I conjured water from an unknown well nearly three miles away!" She squeaked.
"And…other days?" Cloud asked with concern.
Aerith tilted her head, "Other days…It just wants to be left alone."
Cloud pursed his lips, looking reserved and clearly withholding something.
"What?" She asked.
"Where did you get that idea?" He asked, suspicious but not accusatory.
Aerith tensed and faltered. "That's…why I'm glad you finally decided to hear me out about all of this." She rubbed her arm. "There's been a…new development."
Cloud glanced briefly to the wall of papers, "Clearly."
"Cloud." She said, that bubble of excitement bursting with the cruel return of reality. "Don't get upset, but…" When he just silently looked at her, her shoulders drooped. "I got a letter from…Jinx Prison in Agrabah."
"HE's been giving you these ideas?" Cloud barked, immediately reeling himself back in however. "Aerith, he's—"
"I know what he is." Aerith lifted a hand, "I went to see him—"
"What?!"
"—which was a mistake, I know that now." She said firmly, "But I'm not an idiot. His letter…It makes sense, parts of it anyway—Except this one reference. I checked out all of Ansem's research, but never once does he mention what this guy calls the Sorcerer's War—"
Cloud looked at her so fast that she heard his neck pop. "What did you say?"
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081 – Dangerous Waters
"Tada." Jake spread his arms, "This is the Marketplace, and there is the Accessories Shop."
Beside him, new arrival Mindy Tallman let out a breath of relief. "Oh, wow, now I feel silly." She chuckled lightly, "It was just right there in front of me."
Jake lifted his shoulders, "When in doubt, just roam around a little. Radiant Garden isn't really that big of a place."
The new girl in town had arrived with the latest Gummi of recruits for the Alliance. In Jake's experience, she didn't quite fit the image of a soldier. She was very girly and had clearly put a lot of time into her hair and make up that morning. Sure, none of the soldiers in the Alliance wore their uniforms all the time…except Tabaeus…but other soldiers' civilian clothes tended to be just pants and a comfortable shirt…never quite this 'dressy.'
"Well, you are my hero." She chirped, smiling widely at him. "Are you sure you aren't in the Alliance?"
Jake snorted. "Pretty sure. Ol' Strife wouldn't know how to train these bad boys." He flexed his arms in a manly pose.
Mindy Tallman giggled. "I don't know. He's a bit of a slave driver. Is that just a show to scare the newbies or is he really that hardcore?"
"Yes." Jake answered nimbly.
Mindy laughed and playfully smacked his arm, her curly blond hair bouncing as she shook her head. "You're funny, Jake. So, if you aren't a soldier, what are you doing in Radiant Garden?"
"Odd jobs, mostly," Jake explained, happy to be taken interest in. "But I work at the animal shelter during the week."
She crooned, "Ooh! Like puppies and cats?"
"And rabbits and snakes. We get the occasional turtle." He tutted.
Mindy laughed again lightly and linked her elbow through his flirtatiously. "Hey, I've got an idea. Since you're such a pro about the layout of Radiant Garden, could I possibly convince you to give me a grand tour? I'm geographically challenged."
Jake shifted, "Er," He hadn't quite anticipated that request.
Mindy withdrew and folded her arms together in a praying gesture, which also caused her arms to push her breasts together and puff her chest out. "Pleeeeeeeeease?"
Jake caught himself staring and blinked, lifting his eyes back to her face. This had 'bad idea' written all over it. Giving her a tour couldn't hurt, though, could it? It wasn't like he was taking her out on a date or anything; it was just a quick walk around to help her get acquainted with the town. Sure, her leaning toward him like that was weird, and her blouse was low cut enough to show off some fantastic cleavage. Did she realize that?
Tabaeus would have rolled her eyes at that question. Tabaeus never dressed like this. Tabaeus would never ask directions around town either. She was very much a 'figure out herself' person…Part of the character traits that made her such a good fit in Leon's department. Actually, now that Jake thought about it, Tabaeus never asked for help with anything. Either she didn't need it or she would expend every possible resource to do something herself before asking for help…and said help was never asked of him. It was…kind of nice to be asked, to feel needed.
"I…guess I could." He caved.
Mindy clapped her hands and bounced on her heels once…and the rest of her bounced as well. "Yay!"
He smiled at her enthusiasm and turned around, "Let's start from here and we can work our way back to the headquarter building."
Mid-turn, he spotted Leon across the Marketplace, in conversation with Scrooge McDuck, but his eyes were locked on Jake. The Hell? Jake tilted his head. The guy looked like he was trying to burn a hole through Jake's head with his eyes.
"Oh, first, let me get those accessories." Mindy quipped, sauntering over to make her purchases.
Jake glanced at her and nodded, "Okay."
When he turned back around, Leon was standing directly in front of him.
"Bah!" Jake staggered back a step. "Holy crap, dude. How did you get over here so fast?"
Leon continued to glare silently for a moment, looking over Jake's shoulder to where Mindy Tallman was chatting exuberantly with the owners of the shop. He looked back to Jake and raised one threatening finger. "Don't." His voice was low, even, and icy.
Jake sweatdropped, "Don't…what?"
"Don't even think about it." Leon finished.
Jake looked from Leon, back to Mindy, and to Leon again with a snort, "It's a tour. I'm not…I'm with Tabaeus…I would never…This isn't…It's just a tour."
"Watch yourself." Leon stared at him hard for an uncomfortable period of time. "Because if you hurt McCallister, I will end you. Are we clear?"
Jake blinked up at the taller man. "Yes, sir." He stammered.
Then, just as quickly as he approached, Leon made his exit.
This was going to be a very quick and brief tour.
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A/N: The contents of the letter that Aerith received will be more or less revealed in the next few chapters. The mention of the Sorcerer's War will come full circle over the rest of this story, as it ties directly into my finale series that is set after this story.
The first part of this chapter, and some of the second, again references my Mercy Trilogy and Project Stasis. If you haven't read those three stories, I would recommend that you do. Those stories directly tie into the end-game of this story. Also, because T Minus One Year is the lead-in to my finale story Sentient Midnight, elements of the Mercy Trilogy do factor into that as well. So, if you intend to follow this saga through the finale, I would really advise reading those three Mercy Trilogy stories. If you're just along for the ride of T Minus One Year and nothing more, then feel free to not read too deeply into the references.
I am going to publish a short two or three chapter story that spawns directly from the 'Sora is starting to remember' bit in the first part of this chapter. It will be a quick and dirty explanation of the Mercy Trilogy for those who don't want or don't have time to read the trilogy. It will also serve as a set up for some elements of Sentient Midnight.
Thanks for reading!
Preview for next week: "You opened a door, and your cat attacked me."