Chapter 1
I have been freed, here I sit, in front of my locker in ShinRa Headquarters.
They tell me that it has been five years since they locked me in crystal.
They also tell me that Rufus had given the order to free me. I am supposed
to get into my uniform and report to his office.
I hold the locker door open with my right hand, with my left I reach
for my blue suit. The sight of my hand makes me sigh. A platinum band with
an engraving of a lions’ head looks back at me. I drop my hand and shake
my head. "Why me? There has to be someone else." My old colleague, Rude,
just snorts. Reno on the other hand voices himself.
"Like who? Hojo? Tseng? Cloud? He’ll kill them."
I look at him, rather upset that they decided to watch me dress. "Who’s
to say he won’t kill me?" Reno’s response was a shrug. "Yeah, you know,
Reno, you always did annoy me."
"Oh well. Tseng is the boss now." Rude snickered at that.
"Try this one on, genius. Who’s to say I won’t join them?" With that
I got dressed so I could make my way to President Rufus’s office.
I hadn’t seen him in over five years. Hmmm. He sat behind his fathers
desk. Truth be told, he looked better there. As always he was in his trademark,
pristine white suit, with a black silk scarf wrapped around his neck. The
closer I got the more I appreciated how handsome and almost regal he looked.
If only he wasn’t such a colossal jerk. No one has ever seen him bleed
or cry. I inwardly laughed at that. Before my trial I had made him bleed.
I’d almost killed him. Too bad I couldn’t remember why I didn’t. Hmmmm.
"Hello Anne."
"Mr. President." I nodded.
"I trust your confinement hasn’t diminished any of your power?"
"Only my patience." He laughed.
"Good. Well, I’m sure you have been told about your pardon. So...your
assignment is to catch both Sephiroth and Jenova and return them safely
here. Any questions?"
"Tell me, how does the Company plan to reimburse the five years I lost
because I was wrongly convicted?"
"We don’t. You have your life and job, that’s enough."
"My job belongs to Tseng now."
"He’ll keep it. I don’t trust you to run the Turks. If that is all,
I expect daily progress reports." He tossed a credit card at me. "For your
travel expenses. Your weapons are downstairs in Hojo’s old lab. It’s unlocked,
so, get them and go."
"I want access to his file as well as Hojo’s files."
"Fine. Most information regarding him is in the mansion. I’ll have
the information we have here printed by the time you leave. Reno. Rude.
Catch up with Tseng and Elena, inform them of what is going on."
I went to Hojo’s lab. It was a mess. It had the smell of death. I stopped
by the container that was labeled ‘Jenova.’ It looked like an animal with
claws of diamond ripped through it. I looked inside, no marks. Something
with incredible strength tore into this containment cell. Strength Sephiroth
didn’t have... or did he? It was imagined that Jenova had the power to
shape-shift in her natural lifetime, could this have passed to Sephiroth?
He did have her cells, but did he have that many? It seemed impossible,
but how else? Who was in the lab when she was freed?
After some searching I found my weapons, they were packed in crate.
I checked them over, first my gun. A clip loaded, semi-automatic pistol.
It’s a 40 caliber, and it’s silver with an engraving on the barrel. The
engraving is mostly leaves that are intertwined with a flower or two to
add creativity. I was happy to be holding my gun again, I had missed it.
It was to most faithful companion I had ever had. I treasured it, it was
very dear to me. I also checked over my black leather whip, it had once
been a cat of nine tails, but I had changed it to have one slight razor
imbedded in the tip of it. I also carried a razor- sword, that had no detailing.
It was a long, silver, slim blade with a simple, slim hilt. I had small
hands so I had to keep it easy for me to grip. I had also had a sheath
built into my boots for my knife. My knife was a jagged dagger that had
a jeweled hilt. None of my weapons, save for my pistol, were slotted for
materia. Even so, I carried very few materia orbs in my pistol anyway,
I didn’t need to.
I checked them over, they were fine. How nice... too nice. I disassembled
my firearm... yep... there it was, almost invisible to the naked eye. A
tracking device, no wonder they were letting me go alone. After a check
of the rest of my weapons I was satisfied that the one I had found was
the only one. I pocketed it and looked around the lab some more. All the
‘specimen’ containers were empty. No paperwork, or documentation. Nothing.
I looked up and saw a security camera. Of course! Get the tapes! Goody,
back to Rufus for those.
"I thought I told you to leave."
"You did, I have come across a couple of questions."
"What?" He pushed a button on his desk. "Bring the files in here."
He looked at me.
"How did Jenova get out? It looks like some sort of animal with incredible
strength ripped her cage open."
"I don’t know. Hojo had the cameras shut off. So only he knows what
it was."
"Where is he?"
"He resigned a week ago. Who knows?"
"Why did he resign? Is it possible that Hojo created the beast that
freed Jenova?"
"He resigned to ‘pursue personal projects.’ With Hojo, anything is
possible. Maybe Sephiroth has that kind of strength."
"Possible, but his body nor Masamune had the strength to tear that
container." Rufus just shrugged as a pretty brunette brought him a stack
of files. Then she smiled at Rufus and left.
"Here, Hojo didn’t keep many files."
"If I was in his line of work I wouldn’t either. It could be considered
proof, proof that could come back and destroy your life."
"Is that all?"
"Why was it allowed? I mean, who authorized Hojo to shut his cameras
off?"
"Probably my father. He was stupid enough to trust Hojo."
"Hmmm. Where was Sephiroth last seen?"
"Here, as far as I know. Sources report that Cloud and his friends
went into the Mythril Mines. So... maybe they know something my genius
Turks don’t."
"Yes, Tseng was such an incredible improvement..."
"You can’t have your job back!"
"Well, see you, Dufus."
"Junon, there’s going to be a parade. Be there. I expect extreme progress
by then."
"Yep." I left. The stack of files in my hand wasn’t near enough to
explain what was going on with Sephiroth.
After acquiring a ride to Junon I asked the man (who had his own small
plane) if he could hang out while I decided on another destination. He
agreed under the condition that I paid for his room, I did. My first thought
upon leaving Midgar was to come here. Other than private quarters in Headquarters
(which belonged to Heideigger now) Sephiroth had an apartment here in Junon.
I had the hope they didn’t re-rent it after my trial and sentencing. I
still had my keys.
I made my way to the only ‘plush’ area of Junon. After finding the
building I paused and looked up. The curtains looked the same, but that
meant nothing. I sighed. If I knew this day had been coming I would have
burned the gown and ran my sorry ass out of Midgar before the priest ever
showed up. I went into the office. I didn’t recognize the young man behind
the counter. "Hello Sir. I am curious, who lives in 3C?"
"Ummmm... It’s registered too..." He was flipping through books. "Ah!
Anne. A woman named Anne Leonheart. Funny, I’ve never seen her before."
"You’re looking at her."
"Oh!" He looked surprised. "I’m sorry to ask this, but I’ll need to
see some ID." I flipped out my Turk ID badge.
"Good enough?" He nodded ‘yes’, his eyes wide. He was extremely tense.
"Relax. You don’t have to be so frightened."
"They tell me you killed Sephiroth. But there are rumors he’s alive."
"I was accused and punished for his murder. But, yes, he’s alive. I
would never have hurt him. You see...him and I shared 3C." He relaxed.
Good, he fathomed why I was blamed for Sephiroths’ death. "Tell me, where
is Mr. Andrews?"
"My step-father is on his honeymoon."
"Oh. Well, give them my congratulations. Perhaps you can tell me, has
anything been moved or the locks changed?"
"Locks, no. But after you were convicted, according to my step-father,
he moved most everything to the mansion in Nibelheim."
"What do you mean, ‘according to’?"
"Oh. You weren’t in the papers. It was in the papers that Sephiroth
and two junior officers were killed. But nothing about you. Probably ‘cuz
you’re a Turk, right?"
"Yes." Inwardly I thought this. ‘Someone had plans for me... Hojo?
Rufus?’
"Oh, he said that ShinRa would probably stay away from the mansion,
so he figured it to be a safe place for your stuff. Um, all I know is the
room is locked and you’ll know where to find one of the two keys."
"If I can’t?"
"There’s a safe in the mansion. Key number two is there."
"Thank you..."
"Jimmy. The name is Jimmy."
"Well, thank you Jimmy."
I walked up to the apartment that I had once shared with the infamous
General. I went in. After a quick glance around the room I noticed that
Mr. Andrews left very few things. Furniture, clothes, some books, movies
and dishes. Anything that was personal was gone. All computers, notebooks,
datebooks, copy-logs and files were gone. I smiled, yes, he was a good
landlord. Hmmm. When all is said and done I’ll look to making sure ShinRa
gives the building to him. An idea struck me. I realized that I had to
unload the tracking device. Hmmm. Who do I curse with the watchful eyes
of the ShinRa? Perhaps Jimmy? No, if they catch him and they find out Mr.
Andrews hid my things from them. Well, they’ll call in the Turks. My pilot,
yeah. The only dilemma was to put it somewhere it won’t fall off or be
discovered. I sighed. Well, I should have another blue suit here. I checked,
yep. I pulled out a bag and packed an extra pair of shoes and a change
of clothes. Black pants, white shirt. I found a wizard bracelet... I packed
it. Perhaps my materia was with my other stuff. I found Sephiroths’ dagger,
that damned thing brought back painful memories... I packed it. An overcoat
came with me. After an extensive search of loose floor boards I found the
key, it was hidden amongst six elixirs. The elixirs got bagged, the key
pocketed.
I called over to the hotel to let my pilot know that I’d be ready to
leave shortly. He told me the plane would be ready. I took a shower and
headed towards the hangar.
Standing in the center of Nibelheim I couldn’t help but stare. This
was, perhaps, the best job ShinRa ever did of a cover- up. It was exact.
Only the people had changed. Obviously, they had been slaughtered. All
but that kick- boxer. Well, maybe the girl that attacked Sephiroth had
survived, but doubtful. She had been wounded so severely on so many levels.
Of course that guard could have gotten her out, but I’m sure he was found
by ShinRa. Him and Zack. They both witnessed events that ShinRa wanted
to erase. So, if Hojo hadn’t gotten them, they were dead. Hmmm. The girl.
She was there. Perhaps if I could figure out her last name I could find
her. Or that kick- boxer... they could possibly know what happened to Zack
and... Cloud? Yeah, Cloud. That was his name. Wait, the same Cloud that
Rufus had mentioned? No, couldn’t be. The Turks would have taken care of
him long ago. Hmm. People were beginning to look at me strangely. I smiled
and walked over to the nearest person. "Excuse me. I was wondering if anyone
here goes by the name Tifa? Or perhaps Cloud?"
He hook his head. "I think a woman named Tifa lived across the way
years ago, but other than that, nope. Are they in trouble?"
"No. Just old friends. I was hoping to have a drink with them." He
visibly relaxed. "Anyone in the mansion lately?"
"No, it’s very dangerous in there."
"OK. Thank you." I walked over to the hotel and rented a room. Of course
I got the same room Sephiroth and I had shared right before he went nuts.
Well, after putting my bag down I went to find my pilot. "If I need you
I can call?"
"Sure. I’m heading back to Junon."
"OK. Thank you." I smiled inwardly as I watched him walk to his plane.
I had paid Jimmy a thousand gil to plant the tracking device on the plane
when he returned. "Good riddance to ShinRa." I walked back into town. I
was trying to remember which house I had seen our guide materialize from.
I could not. It was late. I would take on the mansion in the morning. After
inquiring about my suit getting cleaned and pressed I fitfully passed out
in the last bed I had shared with my husband.
I awoke to an earthquake. After blinking the sleep from my eyes I realized
that I was... underground?! I was also staring directly into the Ruby Weapons
eyes.
I jumped to grab my gun... I had no gun. In fact I was dressed in a
formal gown. How the hell? I looked around wildly, I saw Sephiroth, he
was cased in some sort of crystal. His eyes were closed and he was smiling.
"What’s happening?!" I screamed at him.
A forceful female voice spoke to me. "It is over Anne... he belongs
to me. This whole world belongs to me. I have decided to destroy it."
"Jenova?"
"Yes, Anne. All life will be destroyed."
"That means you’ll die too."
"Oh, no. Not me. Good-bye." Out of nowhere Sephiroth charged at me.
I looked down to see that he had run me through. He laughed as I slowly
bled to death. I collapsed.