Chapter 19

Jenova nodded.

"Hojo, you are excellent, dear," she said, running her hand over his ponytail, which really much repulsed her.

Hojo smiled devilishly. "Its such an infallable plan. Rufus was the perfect pawn in aquiring Sephiroth as well as the Cetras. It shan't be difficult."

Jenova smiled as she tapped the top of Hojo's hat and brushed off his labcoat. "Go on," she prompted, inspecting her own clothes. "Its time."

Sephiroth slowly blinked open his eyes, taking a careful look around the room.

He was obviously in a lab, but was strapped, shirtless, against a cold, steel gurney. His body, wrists, and ankles where bound tightly with leather and steel restraints. He noticed a glass cell on the opposite side of the room, and Tayeko and Aeris were lying motionless on it's floor.

Sephiroth lifted his head the best he could and tried to call out to the girls, but it was to no avail. His voice simply wouldn't listen.

Sephiroth's attention was called to the doorway of this "dungeon lab", where Rufus, the Turks, and a few members of SOLDIER entered the lab. Rufus flipped his hair back, standing over Sephiroth.

Sephiroth swallowed hard and dared to speak. "What....are you try...-"

Rufus laughed at Sephiroth's state of weakness. "Ha ha... Tseng, what was in those sedatives we used?"

Tseng was looking absently off into the cell where Tayeko and Aeris were contained.

"....."

Reno waved Tseng off. "He's acting like Rude now," he mumbled. "Those tranquilizers were made of something Scarlet's been creating for years."

Rude nodded. "Don't know how long they'll last on him," he said, nodding at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth turned his head and groaned, inwardly wishing he could kill everyone in the room and then run off with Tayeko and Aeris.

"Doesn't matter," Rufus mumbled in reply, glancing at his watch. "The Professor is being escorted through the building at this very moment."

Sephiroth's eyes popped open. "What....professor...?"

Rufus snickered. "Why, that's what you're soon to find out. I've run into perhaps the best scientific doctor living... and he's coming here to pick up research on you and the Cetra."

Sephiroth struggled to stangle Rufus, but couldn't hardly move his arms fron under the restraint of the gurney.. He didn't want to become the lab rat of another sick man's tortures, not again.

Tseng walked off towards the cell Tayeko and Aeris were contained in, shaking his head. "What's wrong with them?" he asked.

Rufus shrugged. "They're just knocked out."

Tseng was about to protest when there was a knock on the lab door. Elena skipped to open it, and a top member of SOLDIER stood, a a man and woman in lab coats behind him, and several other members of SOLDIER along too.

"Finally!" Rufus cheered, clasping his hands together. "Come in, and see your subjects."

The professor nodded, a demon like smile escaping his lips. He was thin, lanky, wore small rimmed glasses and a broad hat that shadowed his face. A long ponytail fell down his back.

"He looks a shit load like Hojo," Reno whispered to Rude.

The professor's lab assisant was a beautiful woman, pale skinned, wavy brown hair with dark shadowy blue eyes. She heard Reno's comment and turned to him, licking her lips as she answered.

"That's because he is."

Reno and the others glared at her pecularily before the professor removed his hat, revealing his face to everyone in the room. Despite his obvious weekness, Sephiroth screamed loudest of everyone in the room.

Rufus' jaw hit the floor while the Turks and SOLDIER drew their weapons. The lab assisant smiled as Hojo pulled needles and other tools out of his case, setting up by Sephiroth's bed. She walked over to the gurney and leant against it, looking down at Sephiroth's sweat covered face and into his dialated green eyes.

"Beautiful son..." she whispered, reaching her hand out to touch his face.

"Monster!" Sephiroth snapped at her, pushing his face as far away from her hand as he could until he finally felt her touch it. "Get... off me... Demon!" Jenova pretended to look shocked. She used her finger tips to close Sephiroth's eyes, seemingly silencing him for the moment. She looked at Rufus.

"I need time alone with my son. I suppose I'm done with you." Rufus glared at her. "Who the hell are you? And why the fuck is Hojo alive?"

Hojo snickered as Jenova crossed her legs and frowned at Rufus. "You are going to give over all of your labs, weapons, funds, and entire company to Hojo, that is why he is here," she answered. "And I'll give you a hint as to who I am."

Rufus looked around for a clue, but quickly found it when the mysterious woman closed her eyes. A few moments later, every member of SOLDIER groaned painfully before collasping dead to the floor, their weapons clanging against the linoleum.

"What the fuck?" Rude said aloud.

Rufus bit his bottom lip unconsciously as he stared at his dead SOLDIERs. "How..."

"I'm Jenova," she said, giving him a playful smile. "In a nice human form, wouldn't you say?"

Reno turned for the door. "I'm getting the fuck out of here," he said.

"Wait!" Rufus yelled. "You can't leave me!"

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again," Reno began. "A pro isn't someone who sacrifices themselves for their jobs... that's just a fool. And Reno J. Nevader is no fool. Let's go, Turks." Rude and Elena turned to follow Reno, though Tseng made no move from where he was glued staring at Jenova and Hojo from his spot near Tayeko and Aeris' cell.

"Stop!" Rufus yelled. "I forbid it! .....I'll give you a million gil!"

Reno pulled out a flask and swiged it as he stepped out the door. "Sorry, Prez," he said. "Its over. Tseng, you coming?"

Tseng shook his head slowly.

Reno looked at him strangely. "Why? I just can't leave a fellow Turk."

Tseng waved Reno off. "Leave, Reno. Take care of yourself."

Reno nodded slowly, understanding Tseng's position. Rude nodded his goodbye to Tseng, and Elena waved and tearfully blew a kiss.

"I love you, Ts-"

"Enough!" Jenova shouted. She flicked her wrist and a magical force shoved Elena through the door and slammed it in her face.

Rufus was fuming. "Why did you let them out! Why didn't you kill them?!"

"They weren't worth the energy," Jenova answered, absently admiring her manicure. "Besides, they were smart enough to leave while they had the chance... which I think you ought to do now."

Rufus folded his arms. "You're fucking nuts! There's no way in hell I'm going to let my company be taken over by some mad scientist and his sicko freak alien project so you can use two Ancients and General Sephiroth for some twisted world domination plan! Never!"

Jenova sighed audibly. "Please, Shin-Ra, don't make me kill you..."

Rufus pulled out his shotgun. "I'll be doing the killing tonight, bitch..."

"Rufus, get out."

Rufus lowered his weapon and looked at Tseng.

"What did you say?"

Tseng stared into Rufus' blue eyes pleadingly. "Get out, now. Or you will die."

Rufus was tempted to protest, but glanced at Jenova. The beautiful woman was still leaning on Sephiroth's gurney, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. Her eyes flashed and glowed red as she smiled demonically at him.

Rufus replaced his gun in his pocket and walked to the door, placing his hand on the handle. "Hojo, you son of a bitch."

Tseng swallowed. "Leave, Rufus."

Rufus scowled and opened the door. "This is not the last of me," he promised. He slammed the door shut, and Tseng could hear his temper tantrum quite well even from down the hall.

Rufus met Reno, Rude, and Elena by the elevator, pushing his way in.

"Ah, so you actually decided to be wise instead of the cocky bastard you usually are, huh Rufus?" Reno commented.

Rufus turned red. "Don't think you can talk to me anyway you want now, Reno. I'm still the President."

Reno took a sip from his flask. "I'm not workin' for ya.

Rufus ignored him. "I need your help. We have to get AVALANCHE. They'll probably be able to take care of this."

"AVALANCHE!?" Elena screeched.

"Nuh-uh," Reno answered. "I'm not going back there."

Rufus stopped the elevator. "Don't worry! We'll just tell AVALANCHE what's going on and let them take care of the problem, while we just leave. When they've taken care of it, I'll just come back and get rid of them."

Reno thought about Yuffie. "That's kind of harsh... using them to fix your problem and then killing them..."

"Since when did you get feelings, Reno?"

Reno shook his head as the elevator stopped and opened. "Fine, fine," he mumbled. "Let's go."

Cloud banged on the glass door of the cell, his anger reaching unbelievable levels.

"I've got to get out of here," he complained. "Who knows what's happened to Aeris."

Zack stopped where he was pacing wildly back and forth. "You're not the only one who's worried."

"Damn that bastard Shin-Ra!" Barret yelled, banging his gun arm, which was't cuffed, against the wall.

"Yeah, that fucking asshole leaves us here with no clue," Cid added, trying to reach for a cigarette with cuffed wrists.

Cait looked down and shook his head. "Miff if awff my falf," he said.

"What?" Reeve said, carefully using his shackled hands to remove the tape on Cait's mouth.

"This is all my fault," Cait repeated miserably.

Kat looked down at the stuffed cat she'd suddenly befriended. "No, Cait... you did the right thing."

"There goes Rufus," Vincent suddenly said.

Everyone turned their attention to the glass window of the cell, where sure enough, Rufus and three of the Turks appeared, walking quickly towards them. Rufus immediately opened the cell and addressed them.

"There's a crisis going on upstairs and we need - "

"Where's Aeris?" Zack interrupted.

"In grave danger, if you don't listen to me," Rufus spat. "Hojo and Jenova are here. They've taken over the lab and they have Sephiroth, Aeris, and that other one in their possession. I've been fooled-"

"Hojo....!" Vincent growled.

"Jenova?!" Tifa shrieked.

The whole group started talking at once, and Cloud managed to silence them.

"SHUT UP!!" he shouted.

Rufus pulled out a key and began uncuffing everyone. "You've got to get upstairs and get rid of them! Or else..."

"What are we going to do with you?" Cloud asked.

Rufus grinned at Cloud and folded his arms. "Well, you can take up your fight with me later... but your flower girl is in danger and the General is about to go bonkers again."

Cloud frowned but nodded and turned to his group as the the Turks finished uncuffing all of them. "Let's go, then" he said.

Rufus smiled. "We'll be right behind you."

"I smell a trap," Striker mumbled as they approached the elevator. The group squeezed in, all but Rufus and the Turks.

"Doesn't seem to be enough room for us," Rufus said. "We'll come up the stairs."

Cloud nodded skeptically as the doors slid shut.

"He's never going to come up," Tifa said as the elevator began going up.

Jenova turned to Tseng. "Why are you still here?" she asked.

He looked down into the cell at Tayeko and Aeris. "I'm not going to let you hurt them," he said.

"What makes you think you'll be any help?" Hojo laughed from where he was putting electrodes on Sephiroth's perspiring forehead. "What is it with you meddling Turks? You are the second one that has tried to interfere with my research."

Jenova lept off the gurney and walked towards Tseng, peering into the cell.

"I hate Cetra," she growled, her eyes flashing red again.

Tseng looked at the beautiful creature, worry etched across his face. "What are you planning?"

Jenova shrugged. "Hojo wants to collect their cells and breed one of them with Sephiroth," she answered. "I'll probably just kill the other one."

Tseng winced.

Jenova stared up into Tseng's eyes. "You know, you are very brave," she said. "What makes you think you even stand a chance against me once I decide to take action?"

Tseng shrugged.

"Tseng, you've never been one to act on impulse," Hojo commented. "Why the sudden change? You were usually always the first to obey the President's orders, especially Rufus'."

Tseng looked down. "The President was wrong..."

Hojo shook his head and turned back to Sephiroth. "I'll never understand Turks, my son."

"I'm not your damned son!" Sephiroth suddenly shouted, his eyes popping open, one arm snapping through it's strap. He grabbed Hojo by the throat.

"How..." Hojo garbled.

Jenova ran to Sephiroth's side. "Stop it, my son. Stop!"

Sephiroth's other hand flew up and grabbed Jenova by her neck, causing her to shreik. She was even more stunned when Tseng kicked in the glass of the cell and began to try to pick Aeris and Tayeko up.

"S..top...!" Jenova tried to yell. "Seph...i...ro...put me down...!"

Sephiroth continued to pull together his strength, successfully breaking through that straps the bound his legs. Tseng already had Tayeko over his shoulder and was in the process of lifting Aeris.

Sephiroth broke through the strap over his abdomen and lept out the gurney, smashing both Hojo and Jenova face first into the floor. Hojo cried out and staggered, but Jenova quickly lept up, her eyes bright red as she focused on Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth! My son, come to me now, Mother needs you..."

Jenova was cut off when the door flew open and AVALANCHE rushed in, Cloud and Zack in front. They made eye contact with her, and fell to the floor, grapsing their heads. Sephiroth too succumbed to this and fell, pulling out strand after strand of his silver hair.

Tifa screamed. "Rufus was right!"

Hojo picked himself up off the floor and grabbed Jenova's arm. "What do we...do...?"

Jenova threw him off and growled. "I'll get Sephiroth later," she snarled in AVALANCHE's direction. She blinked, her eyes flashing, and made herself and Hojo dissapear from the room.

Cloud, Zack, and Sephiroth fell out of their attacks when Jenova was gone, all collasping to the floor in sweaty, shaking heaps.

Tseng lay Tayeko ad Aeris carefully on the ground, as they both slowly and wearily lifted their heads. Tifa rushed to Cloud's side, helping him stand. Zack and Sephiroth also carefully found their footing.

"My god, Cloud!" Tifa exclaimed, allowing Cloud to lean against her for support. "What happened?"

Cloud, unable to answer, merely swallowed blinked. Sephiroth was fully recovered, but chose not to answer her. Zack rubbed his neck and began to talk, kneeling next to Aeris on the floor.

"Jenova brought me to some kind of dreamworld," Zack finally said, stroking Aeris' cheek. "It was horrible..."

"She is trying to force me to go back," Sephiroth growled.

Aeris shook her head to clear it and blinked up at Zack. "What...what happened?"

Sephiroth knelt down next to Tayeko and studied her as she slowly came to. "You're safe now," he reassured them both.

Cloud finally found the strength to stand on his own and shook his head. "I don't know what to do..." he said. "Something... something's wrong with me."

Tifa looked at him with concern written in her bright burgandy toned brown eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I... I don't feel right..." Cloud answered, placing a hand on his head.

Tayeko and Aeris both carefully stood, and the group stared at Cloud silently for a few moments, not sure of what to do next.

Finally Vincent broke the silence.

"Tseng, what are you doing here?"

Everyone turned to look at Tseng, who'd remained standing perfectly still next to the broken glass of the cell. He looked down.

"I..."

Aeris walked to him and took his hand. "Tseng, I don't understand why, but you tried to save us. What is going on? And how are you alive?"

"How is *she* alive, is what I'd like to know," Tseng said, pointing at Tayeko.

Tayeko shrugged inwardly. "Ask the planet," she mumbled.

Tseng smiled at the girl he once, many, many, years ago took care for, and took a few steps closer to the group. "I... I was saved by the old man in the Temple. He knows the magic of the Ancients and was able to heal me. It wasn't long before I'd heard everywhere that Rufus was dead... and even sooner I heard he was alive and well. I found my Turks, which were the only family I've got, and they managed to convice me to start working for Shin-Ra again. The next thing I knew.... it was almost as if I'd had been brainwashed into what Rufus and Shin-Ra wanted... Scarlet was back... Heideggar too. I guess, well... that comes with being a Turk.

"But, I've learned my lesson, and this time for real. I couldn't bare to see Aeris nor Tayeko hurt... not even Sephiroth. I'd watched all three of you grow... cared for you all in one way or the other... it's too much to bare."

Cid slammed his spear loudly into the ground. "I don't know if you morons forgot," he began, "But Jenova and that psycho Hojo are running loose like wild turkeys."

Tifa agreed. "Cloud, we've got to do something."

"Well what the hell are we gonna do with that damn Shin-Ra?!" Barret demanded, pointing at Tseng.

"Nothing!" Aeris and Tayeko shouted, nearly simutaneously.

Tseng lowered his head. "There's nothing more for me to do," Tseng said.

Sephiroth stepped forward and eyed Tseng. "There is something you can do," he told the older man.

"What is that?" Tseng questioned curiously.

"You can help us," Sephiroth suggested. "You can work with Reeve in his headquarters."

Reeve chuckled from the back. "My, wouldn't that be interesting."

Tseng shrugged. "I suppose I don't have any other options."

"What are we going to do now?" Striker suddenly asked.

Cloud shook his head to clear it. "Alright... I think we need to have a meeting, so we can work over everything."

"Sounds good to me," Zack said, grabbing Aeris by the waist. "Let's get outta here."

Cid pushed his way to the doorway. "The Highwind's parked outside of Midgar!"

The group was on their way out the New Shin-Ra Building when by the pathway sat Rufus in his dazzling white BMW convertible, and the Turks in their own black jeep, Rude at the wheel, Reno on the passenger side, and Elena in the back.

"Well, well, on our way out, are we?" Rufus taunted.

Cloud continued walking cautiously, his group behind him. "Jenova and Hojo escaped," he said.

Rufus ignored him. "Yes, thanks for taking care of that little problem for me. In fact, I have a reward for you. Two, in fact."

The group, now blocked by Rufus' car, stopped and waited suspiciously.

"You'll only get the second if you survive the first - a battle with the Turks!"

"What?!" Tifa screamed.

"We've been had," Red XIII said as the group began unleashing their weapons.

"Wait a damn minute," Reno called from where Rude was starting the jeep. "We don't work for ya no more, Rufus." "What?"

"We're sure as hell not sticking around here any more," Reno said, pulling out his booze. "I've had enough warnings. Turks aren't stupid."

Rufus' jaw hit the floor.

"See ya around!" Reno yelled as the jeep pulled off. "Take care, Tseng!"

Rufus turned red with anger as the Turk's jeep sped off into the freeway. He gripped his own steering wheel impossibly tight as his pet Dark Nation whimpered next to him in the passenger seat.

"Tseng, what the hell do you think you're doing?" he screamed.

Tseng shook his head. "What I should have done a long time ago, Rufus."

"Fine." Rufus said. He pushed a button on the dashboard. "Scarlet, bring it out." He turned to AVALANCHE. "Time for your second surprise," he said, laughing as he floored the gas and sped off."

"Geez, what's his problem?" Yuffie asked. Kat was about to answer when she heard a loud stomping sound coming from the alley adjacent to the New Shin-Ra Building. "What...?"

Cloud unsheathed his sword. "Something's not right about this... let's get ready.

AVALANCHE was unleashing their weapons when they saw what they had to encounter. "What is that?" Striker said, staring at the towering figure.

"Kya ha ha!"

It was an incredibly tall, perhaps 40 some odd feet high, robotic monster. It had claws that dripped venom and a devilish face. Cannons were arranged all over it's body, and already machine and automatic guns were surfacing from various places on its surface. And atop the monstrosity, in a tiny chamber, that awful laugh sounded.

"Gya haha! Proud Clod 2!"

"Kya haha, ha! Remade, simply beautiful! And a thousand times better than before, my dear AVALANCHE!"

Cloud winced seeing the blond head stick out of a small window near the Proud Clod 2's head. He could make out Scarlet's sleezy red dress well, and if he squinted his eyes just a bit more, he could see Heideggar's fat form lauging inside the chamber.

"Damn Shin-Ra and their high tech weapons," Barret muttered.

"Didn't we fight this thing before?" Yuffie complained from the back. "Only, it didn't look as, um... mean."

"What is that?" Kat asked her. "How can I fight that with this nunchaku?"

Yuffie snatched the nunchaku from Kat and stuffed one of her own Materia orbs into it's single slot. "There. That's a mastered Lightening materia. Pummel his ass with Bolt 3."

"I'll try..." Kat said, looking very frightened and skeptical.

Tayeko checked the materia in her gun and armor that Aeris had given her. "I need a summon," she said.

Cloud removed an extra materia from his pouch and tossed it to her. "That's the Leviathan summon," he explained.

"Hey!" Yuffie jeered. "That should be mine!"

"Thanks," Tayeko said, as Sephiroth helped her insert it into its slot.

"Kya haha! Good luck trying to take this baby down!" Scarlet laughed from the control panel. "He's practically invincible. None of your sorry Magic, and not even damned Sephiroth can get rid of my Proud Clod 2!"

"Gya! The whore's been working on this since you *thought* you killed us!"

Scarlet elbowed Heideggar. "You can't get rid of me, Cloud," Scarlet said. "Rufus will be so happy to see your carcuses rotting."

"Don't be so sure, Scarlet," Cloud called up to them. "You don't stand a chance!"

Scarlet laughed. "Sure, sure. Oh, Miss Lockheart!" She exclaimed, focusing her attention on the dark haired beauty standing next to Cloud. "I have a special surprise for you!"

"Wha..." Tifa started, just as an arm on the Proud Clod lifted and shot a wave of firey energy at Tifa.

"Tifa!" Cloud exclaimed, seeing the energy fly towards her.

Sephiroth, at incredible speeds, and raced foward and pushed Tifa out of the way, letting the Proud Clod's attack fly past them and hit the wall of the Shin-Ra building. It immediately sent out an electrical wave and burst into flames.

"Damnit!" Scarlet could be heard from the top. "I only had one of those!"

Tifa had been knocked to the floor on her side, and Sephiroth was on his knees next to he

r. The rest of the group was silent, staring at the two in disbelief. Cloud's jaw was nearly touching the floor. "Sephiroth..." Tifa whispered slowly. "You... You saved my life."

Sephiroth quickly stood up. "It's nothing," he said unsheathing the Masamune and checking his materia again.

Cloud reached a hand out and helped Tifa stand, asking her if she were alright. She nodded yes, and the blue eyed leader gave a unreadable look to Sephiroth.

The Proud Cloud stomped its feet anxiously, and AVALANCHE and company got into battle stance. Again, Aeris set up her protective magic over the group, and they began to pummel the creature with strong magical spells, seeing as their physical attacks were useless in this situation.

"Vincent, don't forget the Mime," Cloud called. "Ultimate End!"

"Mime!" Vincent in turned shouted, preparing the group to watch the thirteen deadly knights attack the Proud Clod 2, twice.

"Tidal Wave!" Tayeko yelled, anxiously unleashing her first summon. The god of water washed lethal waves over the monsterous Shin-Ra weapon.

"Shit!" Cid cursed, grasping his shoulder. The Proud Clod had hit him with several bullets from one of its hidden cannons.

"Cure2!" Aeris called. Cid sighed as he felt his arm heal, and in retaliation cast Bolt3 on the robot.

Red howled to the moon suddenly, startling Tayeko, Kat, and Striker. He lept in the air and unleashed deadly, scalding energy waves on the Proud Clod, deteriorating some of its surface.

Yuffie too had a breakdown, suddenly unleashing so many swift energy based attacks with the Conformer to the Proud Clod's main body parts that the robotic beast began staggering slightly.

"No!" Scarlet was screaming.

Sephiroth's eyes suddenly narrowed, unnoticed by the others. He rushed foward, leaping into the air the way only he could and penetrating what was probably the Proud Clod's abdomen with the Masamune. He remained suspended in the air, twisting and shoving the Masamune six feet deep into it's mechanical gut. He the withdrew his weapon as the Proud Clod 2 cried out in pain, and fell back gracefully to the floor, but didn't return to the ranks of the group until after he cast Bolt3 to all the creature's body parts.

Tseng aided the fight by tossing Reeve an extra gun, the two showering the monster with bullets Cait Sith cast confusing spells on th robot, laughing all the while.

Sick of using her magic and summon attacks, Tifa rushed foward and started attacking the Proud Clod with a wave of powerful punches, kicks, and other moves. Seething, she caused the monster to groan miserably with each hit she gave.

Striker threw knife after dagger at the control panel, shattering the glass in hopes of getting some attack aimed at Scarlet and Heideggar. Both crouched down low when the glass broke, afraid of being open targets for Striker's swift knife toss.

Zack winked at Aeris before rushing towards the Proud Clod and attacking it's ankles and legs viciously with his broad sword. The creature tried its best to stomp him, but Zack was much too swift.

Kat continually shocked the giant robot with Bolt3 spells, while Vincent constantly mimiced every powerful spell that was cast. Barret only stopped his barage of bullets to cast cure on someone.

The Proud Clod 2 now was not so Proud. At this point, it was on its knees, arms drooping. Cloud had enough for one night.

"Omnislash..."

Sephiroth closed his eyes when he heard the words. Cloud lept up high into the air, and unleashed the most powerful energy filled sword attack one could image. He slashed at every part of the Proud Clod 2, destroying every section, countless times. The ultima weapon ripped threw the metal, tore through the wiring and with a final, explosive slash, killed the giant, mechanical monster, leaving it to fall to the ground in a loud, twisted heap. People in the buildings nearby gawked out of windows as the 40 foot tall Shin-Ra, indestructable weapon fell in the middle of the street and broke apart, scattering scrap everywhere. Scarlet was screaming bloody murder.

AVALANCHE and the like watched silently as the machine crumpled, throwing up dust and leaving creaky, dying metal sounds in the air. After several minutes, the activity died down, and there was nothing more than a junkyard heap and sixteen tired fighters in the street.

"I think we took care of it..." Cloud dared to say.

Suddenly, there was movement within the rubble. Scarlet crawled out, pulling Heiddegar's body with her. He was cleary dead, and Scarlet was burned, cut, bruised and broken.

"She's still fucking alive!" Cid pointed out, shouting. "Can't get rid of the bitch!"

"Heideggar's dead..." Aeris said quietly.

"I couldn't care less," Scarlet sudden spoke, her voice pained. "He was useless, and got in my way."

Cloud raised his weapon. "You have no escape, Scarlet," he said.

"Fuck you," Scarlet coughed, getting up to attempt to run. But Cloud was much swifter and was quickly behind her and had her by her neck.

"Its too late for you now," he told her.

The blood staining Scarlet's blonde hair oozed down the side of her face. "Whatever..."

"What is Rufus really up to?" Cloud demanded.

Scarlet wheezed, her neck writhing in his grip. "I dunno..."

He squeezed harder.

".....!" Scarlet gasped. "He...wants... to take... the... world..."

"Where is Rufus headed?" He asked.

"I'm not..."

"WHERE?!" he shouted, shaking her by her neck.

Scarlet wheezed again, looking down and seeing her feet dangle off the floor. "Rufus... will hide... from... Hoj.."

Cloud dropped Scarlet. "Get out of here," he said, turing away from her. He faced AVALANCHE. "Let's go."

Scarlet rubbed her neck as she watched AVALANCHE and its other members, Sephiroth of all people included, congregate as they began to head down the pathway away from the buildig. When they were gone, she lept up, and in a dishelved heap, ran all the way to her own car in the lot.

Jenova spun around in Rufus' chair, her feet propped up on the desk.

"How nice of Rufus to give us his building," she droned, stretching her arms out. "And all that live prey to devore on the bottom floors..."

Hojo flipped through the pages of his journal. "Rufus didn't actually give us this building, we scared it out of him," he corrected.

"Doesn't matter to me," Jenova said. "All I care about is getting Sephiroth and Cloud.

Hojo looked at her. "The failure? What in Meteor's name could you want him for?"

Jenova narrowed her brilliant eyes at Hojo. "Failure? Come, now, Professor, I thought you were smarter than that?"

Hojo scowled at her. "What good is Strife? He has always proven to be useless."

Jenova chuckled. "You shall see, Hojo. You shall see."