"So, where is the exit for the canon going to be? Do you know?" Zack asked as Sephiroth directed Cloud towards the building.

"Hmm," Angeal said. "I don't remember any particular floor that had something like that in the game."

"We have no possible means for a logical guess as the canon is, in reality, still under construction in Ju—" Genesis started but cut off as Cait Sith ran (hopped?) out of the main doors to the ShinRa headquarters.

'No, no! The Sister Ray's not this way!"

"What." Genesis said.

Angeal groaned while Zack put his chin in one hand. "It must be back underground—in one of the left tunnels."

A pause. "I take back what I just said." Genesis grumbled.

"You say a lot." Angeal prompted.

"About the narrative," the red-head dramatically huffed, including an eye-roll. "I just said it was well-played. I retract my statement!"

"Oh, the 'back to the beginning' thing," Angeal hummed. "I don't think the fact that we aren't going inside the building negates that. We're still in Midgar, in Sector Zero. Game Insanity shouldn't ruin the few good bits we've seen."

"Angeal, you get it!" Zack said brightly. "Though… it's possible we might still be able to go in, and there might be some good stuff-"

"If it's not required, then I'd rather not," Genesis interrupted. "We already spent a lot of time in the tunnel."

"Yeah, the game pretty much just told us it's either a dead end, or it's optional," Zack conceded.

The banter helped and gave Sephiroth the few seconds needed to consciously force himself to relax. Definitely a positive as the controller had been creaking in his hands a little. Perhaps a break would be prudent? Except… unfortunately, he couldn't pass the controller off at this point because the only person who likely wouldn't have similar issues was Zack, and he'd never actually played this game. And they needed to get this done….

Though… he'd been running on the assumption that the game would handle differently than the many other games Zack played, much like weaponry, based on some of the boy's comments. Perhaps Zack would be able to play this one…? No. The temptation to ask was there, but Sephiroth wasn't going to make him now. Instead, he silently counted down from ten in Wutian and then had Cloud turn around and head back into the tunnels. One switch-track scene and a couple of fights later, he had Cloud running down the first left track they came to. Fortunately, it led out of the tunnels and into what looked like the base of a tower in one of the sectors. Likely Sector Zero seeing as they were that close to the ShinRa building.

It took the General a little bit to find where Cloud needed to go, but eventually he realized he needed to climb the tower to the next level of the street. Then the blond jumped off and Sephiroth ran towards the top of the screen. No sooner had Cloud taken three steps then the controls stopped working, the other two in the party ran out of Cloud, and all of them turned to look down, off screen.

The screen shook a little and Barret asked what 'that' was as the top half of a mecha walked onto the bottom of the screen.

"I agree with Barret," Genesis said, eyebrows furrowed together. "What is that?!"

"Maybe… something of Scarlett's?" Angeal offered in disbelief.

"That much is apparent, but I was admittedly looking for an answer more along the lines of 'an abomination' or the like."

"Monstrosity?" Zack offered, to which Genesis seemed pleased. At least until it registered who had said that, then he scowled, though it seemed halfhearted.

Sephiroth shook his head, smiling mildly before focusing back on the game and the top half of a mecha as it filled up the bottom right corner of the screen. After a moment, it stopped and a door in the front–away from the screen and only barely visible–opened. Then what looked like a hand lifted up to sit parallel with the bottom of the screen just before Heidegger and Scarlett stepped out onto the metallic appendage.

"I understand the power of a good staging and pose, but going that far to posture goes beyond ridiculous," Genesis said with a roll of his eyes as the hand rotated outwards so the two executives were easier to see.

Sephiroth and Angeal both shot the red-head a dry look. If he noticed, he didn't comment on it.

The two executives claimed that AVALANCHE had treated them like dogs, killing the soldiers (the infantry, Sephiroth deduced from how the word presented, though it was Scarlet speaking, so maybe she meant her mechanical soldiers?) and how in the end they (AVALANCHE) were worthless.

"We treated them like dogs?" Angeal asked, incredulous.

Sephiroth still found it strange that his friend seemed to take personal offense, identifying and siding with the AVALANCHE in the game. It wasn't a safe thought, and if this were a week ago, they'd probably never have even risked voicing it, Genesis's jammer or not. But Sephiroth found he could hardly disagree at this point. They had, after all, gone through the entire crisis with them.

"We would never do such a thing,"Genesis agreed, nodding. "That would be far too insulting to dogs."

"Genesis!" Angeal admonished, but Sephiroth could tell he was trying to hold back snickers. Zack didn't even bother.

Sephiroth said nothing, but he did allow himself to smile again.

"Besides, we've fought the planet's WEAPONS," Zack said, a little smugly. "Something Scarlett made shouldn't be a problem."

"True, but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down," Angeal said.

Sephiroth nodded in agreement while Genesis rolled his eyes. Again. Sephiroth was more curious about Heidegger using the term 'anti-Weapon' without full capitalization. Maybe he meant anti-Wutain weaponry, because, even though the mech stood several stories tall, it still paled in size to the actual WEAPONS.

On the screen, the mechanical hand lifted the two executives back up and through the door they'd come through before. After a moment, the grate closed. The mechanical… robot? Suit? Weapon leaned forward and Scarlett said she'd show them the power of the Proud Clod.

"Isn't a 'clod' an idiot?" Zack asked, a little confused. He turned to Genesis for confirmation. The man looked surprised, and then impressed.

"Indeed it is."

"I'm pretty sure that's not what they meant," Angeal said dryly.

"So?" Genesis asked with a shrug.

Meanwhile Sephiroth started the battle. With full view of the mech, Genesis's prediction of abomination proved to be fairly accurate. From the front, it certainly looked like a miniature mechanical WEAPON, with four arms, clawed hands and feet, a very small head atop an enormous body. And… it wasn't an easy fight.

"This shouldn't be this difficult," Zack grumbled after a couple of minutes with Sephiroth thinking several points in advance so he could keep the party alive. He especially didn't like that he couldn't use 'sense' to find out how many hit points the robot had.

"I do remember someone saying something about a 'WEAPON buster'," Angeal said.

"I am annoyed that I'm impressed with the weaponry Scarlet managed to work into that monstrosity," Genesis grumbled.

Sephiroth tuned them out, focusing on the game and defeating the enemy. This may not be an easy fight, and they were not as prepared as they probably should have been, but he was confident he could beat this.

Honestly, he lost himself to the rhythm of the battle. It wasn't the same as a normal, in-game battle, but it had its similarities and it was something he found he could focus on to an extreme. Thus he didn't know how much later it was when the screen faded out to black and the typical blue boxes of the menu slid in from the side and bottom of the screen. It actually surprised him.

Everyone leveled up, and Sephiroth clicked for the screen to fade out. It faded back in to behind the robot with a buzzing sound.

'No way! This is the Proud Clod?!' Scarlet (probably) screeched. The buzzing, static-like rumbling sounded louder from the screen's speakers and the mecha's metal changed color. Lightened. All over. To a pink color? Mauve? Sephiroth didn't really know what the difference was. It was still ridiculous.

Game Insanity, definitely.

Heidegger yelled, 'Whooooooa!'

The screen cut to white and then back into the street, where the robot had vanished. Just like that.

"That was weird. I didn't think they'd have the mech just disappear," Zack said thoughtfully.

"What?" Genesis asked.

"You know how the enemies disappear?" Zack asked matter-of-factly. "That's how it is with most games. It's just easier to deal with logistically."

"Except if the defeated enemy has something to add to the story," Sephiroth added dryly, recalling the many times they'd defeated some part of Jenova or the game Sephiroth.

"Well, yeah," Zack said, rubbing the back of his head. "It's just weird that it still vanished, but outside the battle screen. Wait, has there ever been any dialogue in the battle screen?"

"Not that I recall, but… maybe?" Angeal answered. "I think Palmer laughed, but it was in a box by the top of the screen, like an attack name. Not the dialogue we normally see."

Zack huffed, clearly puzzled. "I got no clue then. It might be tech limitations, but…" he left the sentence hanging, and simply concluded with a shake of his head and a shrug.

Sephiroth only half listened as he continued on in the direction he'd taken Cloud earlier. The figure ran off screen and into what very much looked like a dead end, with boxes of treasure, a save point, and everything.

"Uh, oh…" the Second said.

"Boss fight?" Angeal asked tentatively, apparently wanting confirmation of what Zack had said earlier about save points often coming right before a difficult fight.

"Probably."

"So soon after the previous one?"

"At least they're letting you save. Multi-stage boss-fights can be a nightmare." Yes, Sephiroth did not like the sound of that.

"Hojo?" Genesis grunted sourly, speculating.

"Have you fought many people?" Zack asked, shifting a bit. Likely disliking the thought.

"Plenty of infantry in the not-boss battles. As boss fights though… Palmer." Genesis smirked.

"Huh," Zack said with a shrug. "Then it's possible. We have to move on to find out, though."

The weapon for Cloud they got there was, admittedly, very good statistic wise. Ragnarok indeed. And a Mystile bangle. Sephiroth had never heard of such a thing before, but it also had some very good stats.

"Good, that last fight looked bad. I'm starting to wonder if we're a bit under-leveled." Zack looked relieved.

"I'm going to extrapolate, and assume you mean our ability to get through a battle?" Genesis waved a hand. "If that becomes a problem, how would we address it?"

"Grinding."

"Ah, yes. That. I'd rather not if we can at all avoid it." Sephiroth heartily agreed.

Once sufficiently equipped, Sephiroth saved the game, then took the stairway in the center of the dead end up. At the top, Cait Sith bounced, telling 'Cloud' to go 'this way'.

"Yes, because there is obviously somewhere else to go," Genesis grumbled.

The fights they ran into would have definitely been on 'boss' level back at the beginning of the story, but they made it through relatively easily and continued on. Wind began to whoosh in the background as the wooden staircase turned into what looked like a metal one, and they found a green box that had a 'Missing Score' in it.

"What is that?" Genesis asked drolly.

"Check it out!" Zack said excitedly.

It turned out it was a weapon for Barret with amazing stats. Angeal whistled and Zack's jaw dropped. However, it had no materia growth. Hmm.

"That is for mastered materia," Genesis whispered, almost in awe.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"What?" he asked.

Sephiroth just shook his head with a tiny grin, and moved on, pushing Cloud to go up the next flight of stairs.

Eventually, Cloud ran onto the platform they'd seen before, where Hojo sat at the console. Electricity sparked everywhere… that couldn't be safe. Then again, it was Hojo, who had never cared for safety above the absolute bare minimums that would allow him to keep his job… and sometimes not even then.

They ran up to Hojo and the game took control. Barret and Vincent ran out of Cloud, standing behind him on either side.

'Hojo, stop right there!' Cloud said.

'Oh, the failure.'

Sephiroth's fists clenched and the controller creaked ever so slightly. He took a deep breath. He'd personally always thought being one of Hojo's failures was a far kinder fate than one of his successes. If the game really was right, then that morbid thought was more true than he'd ever wanted to admit. Even to himself.

Cloud demanded that Hojo remember his name. Sephiroth snorted derisively. Hojo? Remember something that didn't relate to his successes? Not likely.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Zack had looked down and his clenched fists braced him on either side.

Sephiroth wasn't sure if he should be grateful or upset that someone else seemed to understand, at least to a small extent. Angeal and Genesis just looked uncomfortable and likely angry on his behalf, but… it wasn't the same.

And, just as he'd predicted, Hojo went on to talk about how every time he saw Cloud, it pained him that he (himself) had such little scientific sense. Then he went on about Cloud being the only one to succeed as a Sephiroth Clone.

The controller creaked again. Sephiroth breathed and forced his hands to relax. Again.

Then Hojo went on to say how much he'd begun to hate himself. Sephiroth didn't believe that for a second. Hojo didn't bother with such 'mundane' things like 'love' and 'hate' beyond their use as tools for manipulation.

Sephiroth tried not to remember how the man had punished (tortured) him in his youth for any excessive (or depending on his mood, any at all) emotional outbursts, because he had to be the perfect specimen after all (yes, Sephiroth fully realized the hypocrisy in the man). For the scientist, everything revolved around science, and only his science at that. But love and hate? No. Hojo's behavior resembled 'obsession' far more closely.

"He really has gone crazy, hasn't he?" Zack asked, voice soft and even, almost flat. Not like the Zack Sephiroth had come to know at all.

"I thought we'd already established that," Genesis somehow managed to drawl, even with his teeth clenched.

Once again, they told the former(?) scientist to 'stop this nonsense'.

Hojo turned around, laughing. 'Sephiroth seems to be counting on the energy, so I'm going to lend him a hand.'

"I wouldn't want it," Sephiroth almost spat.

This time everyone turned to look at him and he took several more deep breaths.

"Doesn't that just prove it's not you?" Angeal asked. "Not really?"

The Silver General, who had just gone to press the button to advance the scene, stopped again and met his friend's gaze. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zack watching them warily. Genesis hadn't said so much as a word and was pointedly not looking at them, staring down at the last bites of his food instead. Sephiroth appreciated that, actually.

"I'd… like to think so," he finally admitted.

Angeal smiled warmly. "Well, there you go."

They all turned back to the scene at hand and Sephiroth clicked for it to go on.

Cloud asked Hojo why he would do that.

Hojo told him to stop asking. What an incredibly 'Hojo' response.

Then he told Cloud he actually might make a good scientist…

Um.

What?

"What does he mean by that?" Zack asked, offended. "Spiky's smart, sure, but he's not…" he faded off, looking for the right word, and eventually settled for gesturing harshly at the screen. "That!"

"More evidence behind the insanity theory," Genesis said dryly, almost sounding bored. He wasn't, but the fact that he didn't seem to want to draw attention to the strange comment—or the scene in general—said so much about his normally abrasive character.

It was times like this when Sephiroth was thankful for Genesis' company and friendship. He was more thoughtful than he let on.

On the screen, Hojo turned back to the console, commenting that power was at 83% and was taking too long. Well, at least they were back on normal ground.

Sephiroth knew almost immediately that the thought had come too soon. His gut warned him, much like it would in a fight, that something unpleasant was coming and he only had a moment to brace himself before the worst words he could have imagined spread across the screen.

'My son needs power and help… that's the only reason.'

For a moment, the world stopped existing, leaving only Sephiroth staring at the damning words, reading them over and over again without really seeing or comprehending them.

No.

No.

No, the game was lying. It was mistaken.

It. Was. Wrong.

You know it's true, you've suspected for how long? A voice—not Jenova's, but something else that sounded remarkably like his own, but mocking and derisive—whispered in the back of his head.

The controller dropped out of Sephiroth's hands and onto his lap.

The words, 'my son, my son, MY SON', kept running through his mind in Hojo's nasally voice.

He vaguely registered hearing the others talking to him, but couldn't make out their words. He could sense worry in their voices, urgency and fear… but he couldn't seem to make himself react or even move. His eyes remained fixed on those words.

Those awful… horrific words. Those disgusting… and all too true words.

He could deny it no longer.

He hated the game for that alone.

Because as long as he could deny it—ignore it—then it didn't exist. Then it didn't affect him.

And how childish was that?

Child.

Child.

His child.

My son.

Part of Sephiroth felt sick. Disgusted to a point he was as likely as not to vomit. If he didn't have such control over himself, he would have already.

But part of him… the part of him connected to the creature, raged.

Almost as if brought on by the realization, a cocktail of emotion hit him so hard, he almost gasped. Anger, rage, hatred, disgust… all of the emotions he'd just been feeling dialed up to eleven…

He'd never felt this before, and he couldn't help but think that if it went on anymore, he would explode. He had to release it, had to get it out, had to…

Reunion.

Had to kill.

And he knew just whom to target.

xXx

Zack couldn't remember ever being so scared. Not even at the end of his game. That had been… disheartening, and stressful, and horrifying, and yes, even scary, but not like this. And he didn't know what to say or do. Sephiroth was just… sitting there, staring at the screen. Angeal had scooted to the edge of his seat and looked halfway to battle ready. Or as close as possible to fully battle ready without being in an active battle or spar. Genesis… hadn't moved. No, he'd stiffened in his position next to his commanding officer, an alert stillness, like he'd suddenly found himself next to a king behemoth, and was trying to decide how quickly he could get a spell off before he was noticed.

"Sephiroth?" Angeal tried again from the dubious safety of the far end of the couch.

"Angeal?"

"Not now, Zack."

Zack swallowed and tried not to look like he was about ready to reach for his own sword… the sword he didn't have. Where was it? Had he brought it today? He couldn't remember because it was happening. In front of him. Oh, Gaia, it was happening early! The look on Sephiroth's face… The graphics of the game he'd played hadn't been great. Not lifelike in any case… and yet…

They'd captured that expression perfectly.

But, he'd promised. He'd promised to Zack that he wouldn't become the Sephiroth in the games.

Zack had to do something. He had to do something.

Zack glanced at the screen and made to go and stand between it and Sephiroth, but before he could, the General moved.

The new Second blinked. He'd expected Sephiroth to produce Masamune and just start swinging or… well, maybe not that exactly, but still.

Instead, Sephiroth calmly set down the controller on the coffee table and stood, looking around as if searching for something.

"Sephiroth," Angeal tried again. Zack noticed how tight his voice sounded, as if his words would cause him–or something–to snap. "Talk to us."

"No need," Sephiroth said, his voice smooth and even. Then his eyes landed on his boots of all things, which completely threw Zack's thoughts off of the mental battle preparations he'd been running. After only a moment, the General strode over to the corner where they'd been moved. Wait, was he going somewhere?

"What's going on then?" Zack blurted, knowing he probably sounded like the teenager he was, but he couldn't help it! This was bad. This was bad. This was so bad.

Sephiroth paused, seeming genuinely confused as he fixed his green eyes on the younger boy. His slitted green eyes. Zack pushed back the urge to swallow again. Everyone in SOLDIER (him included) had gotten used to the man's unusual pupils, they didn't stand out nearly as much as the hair, after all. Both were just part of what made the General, the General. But just then, as their gazes met, the second could only see a predator before him. Sephiroth looked dangerous. Almost… alien. And didn't Zack hate to think it.

Is it not obvious?" the (predator) General asked, voice calm, toneless… flat.

No. No, it really wasn't. Not with the weight that flooded the room. Because he could be planning on doing so many things at the moment, and most would be very, very not-good. "Um… not really?" Zack decided to settle on.

"Oh." Sephiroth looked thoughtful. And still so blasted calm. Then he nodded and turned towards the corner again, reaching out for the pair of boots

"It's quite simple." His words sent shivers down Zack's spine "I'm going to kill Hojo."

The world dropped out from under Zack and he felt his chest seize. It hurt. Because he'd hoped he was wrong. He'd so hoped otherwise, but…

It wasn't what Sephiroth said. It was the way he said it. Like there was nothing wrong. And yeah, it was Hojo, but… but Sephiroth obviously wasn't thinking… and Angeal and Genesis seemed to actually relax their posture (they agreed?!) and… this wasn't a slippery slope, it was bait dangling off the edge of a cliff that Sephiroth didn't even seem to be able to see and…

No.

Zack felt his resolve firm.

No.

It would not happen again. Not like in the game.

"Sir!" he said. Sephiroth ignored him, having sat back down to do up the buckles… on his original uniform boots, not the SI boots Zack could see by the door–the ones the General had taken to carelessly throwing on when he needed to leave recently. He tried again. "Sir!"

Angeal and Genesis were talking, but Zack couldn't focus on anything but Sephiroth and the disaster about to happen before his eyes, couldn't make out the words past Angeal eventually trying to get Sephiroth's attention again. Trying and failing. Zack could hear his breaths, so loud… too loud. Everyone moved as if in slow motion.

Angeal finally said something that made sense, asking if they should stop Sephiroth, but his tone read all wrong, like he was asking out of obligation and not like he really believed it. Then Genesis said something about killing off Hollander too.

"SIR!" Zack all but shouted to cut them off. That was not helpful. Zack was starting to like Genesis, now that he had the opportunity to interact with him outside his game–much like Sephiroth–but this? This? Did they think this was a joke or something?

"What?" the red-head scoffed. "We won't let him go down there alone. And if you'd like to try and stop him, be my guest."

Zack's blood ran cold. Was this really… couldn't they…?! He glanced back. Sephiroth had finished putting on his uniform, finally manifested his sword and… and no one was stopping him.

And then Zack moved.

xXx

Beta note: Well, the chapter was getting long, thus it had to be split, so unfortunately you readers have to wait ONE more chapter for bestest-boy Zack's 'mic-drop'. (Patience, dear readers. I think we can safely promise: it will be WORTH the wait!) Regarding the wait from the previous chapter though, simply put: summer is the busiest season at my job, and Obi and you all are amazingly patient, so thank you all for that. (I take full blame for the delay.)

Author note: Imagination wouldn't let me post this until I had at least two more chapters written so I don't end up leaving you all on a cliffhanger for months on end. ^^; You can thank her now. (BTW, she says it's her fault for the delay… but I was the one caught up in PJO universe… so yeah.)

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