Days, maybe even weeks passed. I couldn’t keep track.
I was allowed minimal freedom, that is only if the three identical clones
were with me. I passed the majority of my time praying my gun
and bag were still in Vincents’ possession. I also passed time
with the three silent clones who would watch over me while I indulged in
bathing and swimming in a secluded hot-spring that was nearby.
After some time I stopped caring that they were watching me.
I often wondered if Sephiroth was ever going to come out of his crystal.
What was he doing in there? Was he planning on how he was going
to help Jenova kill everyone? Was he manipulating someone?
If so, who? Sephiroths’ crystal was much different than the
crystal that ShinRa had me in. I was unconscious, Sephiroth
was aware of everything around him. This I felt, even though
he gave no sign of being awake. I just knew, that he was watching
a great many things from his perch. I also knew he was manipulating
something, somewhere.
It was Jenova that told me the three clones that accompanied
me were the only ones that were considered successful, they were exact.
Save for the fact that they didn’t think for themselves. Sephiroth
controlled them. I thank God and anything else that made that
visit her only one.
She was something of a marvel, however. When you
looked at her, well, you knew she had power. In her natural
form she was a beautiful creature. Like an angel.
She was a tad on the short side, 5’3”. Give or take an inch.
Slim, elegantly adorned in a simple sleeveless dark red dress.
I never took the time to notice any shoes or jewelry. Her facial
features were aristocratic with cat-shaped ebony eyes. Her
hair was long and pitch black. Her wings were something else.
They were more bird like wings than full back angel wings.
Their color covered the entire spectrum of red. They were absolutely
beautiful. I did not know is she was capable of moving or even
flying with them. During her brief visit they had remained
motionless.
A thought plagued me concerning Jenova...other than her apparent
fear of me. Only Sephiroth and I have seen the real her.
Only Jenova beasts were left behind for Cloud and his friends.
Why? Sephiroth was hiding, but even he had come out on occasion..
The Jenova beasts, were they a sort of purge? Was she trying
to strip certain things from herself? Or was she lulling her
enemies into false hope by letting them think that when they defeated one
of those beasts they defeated her? Did she use the beasts as
a temporary conduit for absorbing power? Such as the power
they used when they attacked her?
The day had come. I could no longer stand my suit.
I was tired of keeping it clean and lacking an iron, well you get the picture.
Rumpled Turk. I picked up my black gown and rubbed the silk
through my fingers. The memories this dress brought to me.
I remember I was pissed off that day. The meeting
earlier with fellow ShinRa executives had me fuming. They were
talking about an impending war. From what it sounded like to
me they were doing everything they could to make this war happen.
That angered me because I knew if war broke out I would be called upon
to serve in military ranks. I hated that idea, I was a Turk...legal
Mafia, Gestapo...not SOLDIER. If I had wanted to see front
line action I would have joined SOLDIER in the first place.
President ShinRa had cornered me after the meeting.
“I expect you’ll be at my birthday party?”
“Only if you make it an order.”
“It is an order. Oh, lose the suit. Wear
something elegant...you know...feminine? My son will be there.”
“Great. Bringing Rufus back from his banishment?”
“No, and he’s not banished. He’s on assignment.
He’s just coming to meet the new General.”
“New General? What happened to Kleary?
How come the new guy didn’t sit in on the meeting?”
“He’s busy, and who really cares about Kleary? The
new General is good, he’s around your age. His name is Sephiroth.”
“Busy huh? I’ll look him up in the data bank.”
“He’s sealed. His file is for my reference only.
So...dress? Earrings? Hair out of pony tail?”
“Only if you promise me that if I go through all that trouble
I won’t have to talk to Rufus.”
“He likes you.”
“Then he is suicidal.” The President just laughed.
“See you tonight Anne.” Hmph. What the
hell was the new General doing that he couldn’t attend an important executive
meeting? I shrugged not even wanting to contemplate Klearys’
fate.
I had gotten back to my office to discover that I not only didn’t
own a dress, but had few ideas about how to acquire one on such a short
notice. Another thing I discovered...roses?
Roses? I snorted. Tseng was kissing my ass again.
I called up Scarlett, she was the only person that came to mind
about obtaining a dress. She was happy to help (looking for
a promotion no doubt) and after making it clear that I didn’t want anything
sleazy she told me that she would get right on it.
I had sat down at my desk to read the card that was with the
roses. Tseng usually had something clever to say.
I opened it up to find this written. “Enjoy them.
See you at Dad’s party tonight. Rufus.” I remember
hitting my head on my desk a few times after reading that.
I never knew why but Rufus had always inspired me to be rather mean and
uncooperative. Bad influence... I grabbed the flowers and promptly
walked over to 66th floor window. Opened it, and watched the
flowers fall. ‘Yep. Gravity still pertains to flowers,
even if Rufus, the wanna-be God, sent them.’
I had spent the rest of my day dealing with paperwork.
Such as the daily-logs that all Turks were required to file, inventory
on weaponry, and applications. It was a rare breed that made
it into the Turks. You not only had to be an absolute asshole,
but be able to back it up.
My door chime rang. (I hated secretaries) “Ta-da!”
Scarlett was holding a strapless black, silk gown that had an eagle of
diamonds studded into the bodice. It had a long straight skirt
with a slit in the back that reached my knees, one hopes I wouldn’t be
forced to run this evening. “Oh you’ll need these.”
She was referring to the black stilettos, black opera length gloves, diamond
earrings, and of course a matching diamond necklace.
“Do I even want to know how much this is going to cost me?”
“No. You make really good money though, right?
After all you run the Turks, that has to be a good paying job.”
I had no witty reply for that. I did make good money.
“Want me to do your hair?”
“Only if you aren’t going to bill me.”
“No, I just need a vacation form signed.” I rolled
my eyes.
“Sure.”
I had to hand it to her when all was said and done I looked very
beautiful. She had spent around a half of an hour coaxing my
long auburn hair into an elaborate coiffure. In the end it
looked wonderful.
“Well, have fun at the party.”
“Mmmm. Rufus is going to be there.”
“So?”
“I despise him. He makes it a habit to gravitate
around me.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“The ultimate promotion. Sack him and you’ll get
anything you want.”
“That’s called prostitution, Scarlett.”
“So?”
“Good-night.” She got the message and left.
‘Cheap slut.’
The evening was horrid . I spent the evening shining
up to Tseng, even to the point of dancing with him, to avoid Rufus.
After a couple of hours I decided that I had lingered long enough so I
sought out President ShinRa to wish him a happy birthday so I could leave.
I remember seeing him for the first time. He was
in a classic tuxedo with formal white gloves on. His long silver
hair was pulled back in a pony tail at the base of his neck.
“Good evening Mr. President. I came to wish you well
so I can leave.”
“Anne, this is our new General. Sephiroth...meet
Anne Leonheart, head of the Turks.” We shook hands and I noticed
his bright green eyes. Mako eyes. Great, another
time bomb. Most people who were exposed to Mako, over a period
of time, either succumbed to insanity or they became comatose.
If they didn’t keel over dead.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you General. I’m sure we’ll
be seeing each other more often now that Kleary is gone.”
“The pleasure is mine Agent Leonheart.”
“Well, happy birthday, Mr. President. Good evening
Sir...General.”
“You’re already leaving? Why not have a drink with
us? We are on our way to re- join Rufus.”
“That’s why I’m leaving Sir. Tell Rufus ‘hello’ for
me.”
“No. Stay. That’s an order Anne.”
I remember a witty yet career destroying remark start to come on when Sephiroth
spoke again.
“Would you care to dance with me Agent Leonheart?”
“Anne. Call me Anne. Sure. Since
I have to stay anyways...” Sephiroth had never let me finish
my jab on the President. He had swiftly led me onto the dance
floor.
I sighed at that memory. That had been one of the
two times that Sephiroth had ever donned a tuxedo. The only
time I had seen him pull his hair back. All other time he was
in his trademark black leather with his beautiful hair loose. I remember
he had looked regal, but out of place. Suits and tuxedos’ were
designed for slim, somewhat small men. Sephiroth being a 6’1”
muscular man... well he really didn’t belong in a tux.
I remember he was very polite, probably because at that time,
I outranked him. Only in the event of war did his rank move
above mine. I had forgotten most of our conversation, even
when the dance had ended and we spent the rest of the evening chatting
at the bar. Fragments came to me...we had felt the same
about Rufus. Sheer hate.
I do vividly remember him mentioning that he had no hometown
that he was aware of. Remembering that made me snap out of
my memories to try to recall my childhood. I couldn’t.
With all my mental strength I could not picture my parents.
Did I have siblings? Where was I born? Where did
I go to school? Did I share my parents last name?
If I did, perhaps I could locate them. It seemed like I searched
my mind for hours. Before falling asleep all I could
remember was my first day with ShinRa. Not one thing before
that. Why? I hadn’t been infused with mako so my
lack of memory was not the same as Sephiroths’. Had I fallen
victim to one of Hojos’ experiments? Is that why I can handle
magic differently? Is that why they didn’t kill me?
Is that why Jenova fears me?