Chapter 67: The Calm Before the Storm
A knock sounded my front door.
"Who is it?" I called.
"I found something of yours outside," called a familiar-sounding alto.
That sounded weird to me.
"Coming!" I announced as I put my face mask on.
I then opened the door.
Tifa was standing there, carrying Tobin over her shoulder. His pants were starting to fall down, and his butt crack was visible.
I immediately killed myself laughing.
"Tifa!" I exclaimed.
She then set Tobin on the ground and hugged me.
I took my mask off and led her inside.
Tifa decided to cut right to the chase.
"I came here because we've found out a few things that I need to let you know about," she announced. "Particularly about that infamous Christmas a couple of years back when everyone escaped."
I led her to the kitchen table and sat us all down. I had spent the past fourteen months wondering what had happened.
"Rufus Shinra is back," Tifa began. "We've confirmed he's from the prime timeline. We don't know how he got back here, but it was probably aboard the Urchin from 0016. He took over the Eastern Continent under the pseudonym 'President X.' He has since turned the Shinra Building back into the Shinra Building. He was also involved in the Christmas incidents. He sent moles and freed the Balen brothers."
"So that's it," I said.
It was a relief to finally know what was going on.
"Not entirely," Tifa continued. "The person who freed Sephiroth is believed to be from our group."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "Why do you say that?"
I was beyond disturbed. After hearing about how Yuffie rejected Zack, this was the last thing I had wanted to hear.
"Sephiroth's cell was protected by a code," Tifa explained. "Only a code could open it. Either someone with the code freed him, or someone with the code gave it to him."
"Who has the code?" I asked nervously.
"Just six people," Tifa replied. "Barret, Jessie, Red XIII, Reeve, Cid, and Shera."
"So we have a traitor," I said. "And it's one of those six."
"It gets worse," Tifa added. "They're the same codes that activate the security system on the Presidential Palace."
I sighed. I should've known it was bad news. Tifa usually wouldn't come over unannounced unless she had some. It's the same reason I hate late night phone calls, because they usually mean someone died.
"What can I do?" I asked, knowing she obviously needed something or she wouldn't have told me.
"We need to be a hundred percent sure it was one of those six," Tifa replied. "I need you to do research. All related facts and all possible relationships. We can't accuse anyone until we rule out all other possibilities."
"No problem," I agreed.
"How long would that take?" she asked.
"All facts and all possible relationships?" I replied. "A year, at least."
"It's worth the wait," Tifa said. "But in the meantime, the aforementioned six are innocent until proven guilty."
I cracked my knuckles.
"I think we could all use a glass of wine," I then sighed.
"I'll take one," Tifa said. "Now that I'm finally of the drinking age and done breastfeeding."
MOMENTS LATER...
I walked down into the wine cellar, and turned on the light.
Aerith was standing there.
I didn't gasp or jump; I was kind of used to it at this point.
She was giving me a solemn look.
"What's wrong?" I asked. "Aren't you happy to see Tifa?"
Aerith sighed.
"It's time you knew the real reason why I've been appearing to you."
"Real reason?" I asked skeptically. "Aren't you trying to move on?"
"That also," she replied. "Let me rephrase that. It's time I tell you the problem we're actually facing here."
"What problem is that?" I asked.
I was somewhat annoyed, though Tobin and I were suspicious there was something she wasn't telling us.
"They're planning to come at Tifa," Aerith began.
This didn't sound good. I'd been suspicious there was a motive behind her visits, but I had hoped it wasn't bad.
"First of all," I began, "who's they?"
"Jack and Sumner Balen," Aerith replied. "With some help from Rufus."
"They're still sour over the election? That was two years ago!" I exclaimed. "What are they planning?"
"I'm not sure," she answered.
"You're not sure?" I asked skeptically.
In all fairness, Aerith seemed to know quite a bit.
"I'm a dead girl," she replied. "Not a goddess. I'm not omnipotent. I can't be everywhere at once, and I don't know everything either. They're communicating in a code I don't understand. Some ancient language, probably from the old world. They obviously don't want anyone eavesdropping, even a dead chick like me."
I sighed.
"So what are we supposed to do now?" I asked.
"Wait and watch," Aerith replied. "But we need to get ready, because it's going to happen sooner or later. Jack Balen will stop at nothing to get that presidency."
"She'll be up for re-election eventually," I pointed out. "Can't he wait?"
Aerith sighed.
"Sister, haven't you been paying attention to the stories I've been telling you? Those two don't ever give a shit about the law!"
"Wait a minute," I said. "That's why you've been telling me these stories?!"
Aerith nodded.
"I've already made peace with Zack long ago," she informed me. "And I've mostly made peace with Cloud. I know you probably think I wasted your time, but it was a necessary evil."
"Necessary evil?!" I asked skeptically.
"One, I needed everyone to understand how ruthless the Balens are," Aerith answered. "Didn't you notice they appear in just about every story I've told you, doing something horrid? I needed to make it clear how dangerous they actually are."
"Well, I know," I said.
"Two, I've told you things that only Tifa knows about," Aerith continued. "Repeat them, and she'll believe you when you tell her you're communicating with me. Otherwise, nobody in their right mind would believe you're talking to a ghost. That's basically proof that you were."
I looked at her in empathy; she was starting to have a point there.
"Three," Aerith continued, "I needed you to trust me."
"I did have to get to know you a bit," I admitted.
"So if I tell you something happened, you'll believe me," Aerith finished. "Now, I've got a hunch. I'm going to go watch over Cloud and Ada at the Presidential Palace."
"You think they'll try to break in there?" I asked. "Good luck with that. They have armed security guards patrolling the perimeter. If they're stupid enough to go there, they'll never make it inside the mansion. And even if they did, they have a security system they releases anesthetic gasses throughout the house. They'll be knocked out in thirty seconds flat. They won't bring masks because they don't know about it. Only top ranking government officials know this, and that's less than ten people."
In response, Aerith disappeared.
"Just in case," she said.
"Just in case," I muttered.
Realizing Aerith was probably gone for the night, I took what I came into the cellar for, and turned to go back up the stairs.
When I turned around, this time I did gasp in shock.
Tifa was standing there.
"Cissnei," she began, "who were you talking to?"