The creature before Gabriel narrowed its eyes.  He peered
at it; the analytical half of his soul inspected it.  Saliva
dripped from its mouth with same oozing effect as the substance
which pussed forth from its barbed tentacles.  It was the kind
of monster children, well ones with really vivid imaginations,
might picture to be lurking beneath their beds or in their
closets late at night.  Or the kind of creature that rushed
towards the west in the early morning, hurrying to escape
the dawn.  It was a creature the inspired pure terror in the
human heart...one they would write stories about.
	The human half of him wasn't as liberal with words, and
summed it up much shorter and sweeter.  "Oh, shit..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Final Fantasy: Fated

Chapter 13: It Changes Everything

By: Chandra "Lady Chaos" Rooney

Started by: Samantha Rogers

Warning: Words.  Some of them aren't nice.  Actions.  Some
of them are violent.  Humor Attempted.  Laugh if you catch it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

	Yes, 'oh shit' summed the situation up nicely as far 
as one half of Gabriel was concerned.  He panicked, calm internal
balance fraying and beginning to waver.
	He was just one man against a living nightmare.  It wasn't
possible...it couldn't be done...
	The other half of his soul, the stronger will, seized 
control and cut that thought short.  Cool icy confidence flowed 
through his veins once more, chasing away panic and fear, and 
strengthening his resolve.
	"Ioviano, correct?" he asked, dragging the name forth
from the wealth of information an endless repetition of experiences
could provide.  "Funny, I wasn't expecting you to come here."
	"Gabriel..." Inno whispered from behind him. "Gabriel...
listen to me..."
	A flutter of emotion stole into that cool ice, melting it
ever-so-slightly, reminding him that this time things truly *were*
different.  People cared for him this go around.  Inno was worried
about him, concerned for his safely.  It was heartwarming.
	"Don't worry, kid," he told her, "I won't let him get you."
He dodged a tentacle as it crashed into the floor next to his
left foot.
	"Gabriel, don't hurt it," she told him.
	He nearly dropped the chain sickle.  "Excuse me?" He turned
and gave her an astonished look.  "Inno, this isn't some stray
dog looking for a handout...this thing wants to *kill* us."
Another tentacle-dodge, this one fell closer to his right arm.
	"It's sick," Inno explained.  "Killing it won't heal it."
	He looked back at Ioviano.  Yes, he could see the posion
of Jenova's cells infected this creature, but survival was his
prime concern.  Their survival.  "What are you doing here?" he
asked, debating how best to attack it.
	"The Mother wants this girl dead," Ioviano replied.  "And
So get out of my way, or I'll kill you too."
	"You acted before like you knew me, knew who I was."  He
noticed a barbed tentacle moving towards him and dodged as it
struck the floor.  Despite the loud noise, the rest of the party
continued to sleep.  Gabriel wondered if Ioviano had cast a sleep
spell on them.
	"You can change your face, but I know what to look for,"
the beast replied.  "Knock it off with these stupid games. Are
you afraid to fight me?  Come on and prove you deserve to be the
Mother's partner."
	Gabriel reeled with shock.  "Sense me?  How?"  (That's 
impossible,) he thought.  (Unless...damnit...I keep forgetting 
they injected some of my cells into Abel's body...our body.  
Hell, I'm doing it again.)
	Ioviano sensed his inner turmoil and used the moment to
his advantage, charging Gabriel again.  Fear tore through Gabriel's
mind, the momentary hold of the SOLDIER's battle training
disintegrating into pure human panic.  His legs refused to move
and he was sent slamming into the floor as one of Ioviano's
powerful limbs backhanded him.  He fell awkwardly, his leg
sinking into a rotted floorboard, trapping him.  His chain
sickle fell from his hand, bouncing along the floor and coming
to a stop beyond his reach.
	Ioviano chuckled, a low rumbling growl, and paced
around his prey, circling in for the kill.  "So, you
really think you deserve to be a god? Look at you,
you're so pathetic it makes me sick.  I'm doing Her
a favor by getting rid of you."
	Gabriel stared up into those eyes filled with madness,
and felt the cool steel of his will return to him.  (No,) he
told himself, (it will *not* end this way.)
	"In case you didn't know," he said coolly, "Jenova
and I haven't exactly been getting along this time around."
He smirked, his features easily molding into the old familiar
expression.  "And I'm more than capable of handling someone
like you."  He raised his arm, casting the motions of a spell
with the same ease and grace he had in countless lifetimes.
"[Fallen Angel]."
	He felt his confidence soar, knowing his trademark
spell would soon render Ioviano helpless, deliver him to 
Death's doorstep itself, and then the beast would have to
lay there and wait for Gabriel to administer the final blow
at his leisure. For an instant he connected with his full
potential; the power of all his previous incarnations was at
his disposal.  For a moment he was whole and complete; he was
Sephiroth the One-Winged Angel...
	(No!) the other part of him screamed, (No!  This isn't
me!)
	The connection severed.  The power faded away, returning
to the Planet.  Nothing happened.  No Fallen Angel crippled
Ioviano as he watched.  It was hard to tell who was more
surprised, Ioviano or Gabriel himself.
	"What the hell...?" Gabriel wondered.  "Oh, yeah...
I guess I can't do that anymore."  The true measure of humanity
hit him right then and there.  He was basically helpless.  No
Super Nova was going to come when he called for it; no Shadow
Flare or Pale Horse would drive his enemy back as he
watched.  Even the Masamune was lost to him in this cycle.
	But it hadn't been...for an instant he'd felt the
power, it had been there at his fingertips.  Until the other
half of his soul had interfered for some unknown reason.
	He was unable to question why as Ioviano crashed into
him, sending them both through the wall of the small house.
Gabriel landed on his back in the dust outside, the beast 
above him with his forepaws on either side of Gabriel's
neck.
	Ioviano rose above him, tentacles snapping about, 
leaking that ooze onto the ground.  Where it had fallen in
the house it had eaten through the wood; no doubt it was a 
type of acidic poison.  Gabriel honestly had no desire to see 
what it would do to a human's body, but if he didn't do
something soon he was going to find out.
	"Completely weak," the beast commented.  "Why did
you stop?  I sensed you call the power...
and then abandon it.  You are weak, Sephiroth," Ioviano
spat the name out as if it made him ill to speak it, "and it 
your weakness threatens Her.  I'm going to enjoy this..."
	"Does she know you're here?" Gabriel asked.  "Did she
send you to destroy me?"  He struggled to breathe as his
chest ached beneath the weight of Ioviano.
	"I'm here for the girl," was the reply, "you're just
an added bonus."
	"Listen, Ioviano," Gabriel tried to keep his voice
steady, "Things aren't what they seem."
	"Things seem that the Great Sephiroth has fallen
to playing house with little humans," Ioviano mocked.  Then his
expression turned to one of curiosity.  "Why are you protecting
the Other's host?"
	(The Other's host...?)  Gabriel felt ill suddenly,
and it had nothing to do with the noxious gas that was Ioviano's
breath.  The meaning of what was being said had sunk in.  (No,
I would know if it was her.  It has to be a lie.  Inno can't-)
	"[Esuna!]" Inno cried from behind Ioviano as a soft green
light enveloped the beast.
	Ioviano shuddered. The tentacles shriveled and disappeared.
The mad fury in the eyes faded, just as they closed and Ioviano
began to wobble.  "I can't feel the Mother's presence," Ioviano 
whispered.
	Gabriel hissed, and rolled out of the way as Ioviano
crashed into the ground where he had lain.  The sheer 
impact would have killed him instantly had he not moved.
	He stood, dusting off his clothing.  "All right, Inno.
I see what you had planned," he told her, "but I must admit
surprise that it worked.  Who would have thought a simple 
Esuna could overcome the power of Jenova?  She must be 
absolutely furious.  It certainly won't be allowed to
happen again."  He looked back at Ioviano's twitching form.
"However, there is no telling how long it will last.  Be ready
to cast it again.  I'm going to see if I can't get some answers 
from this sack of bones." She didn't reply.  "Inno?" He repeated,
looking up.  She was standing with her back pressed against 
the remainder of the outer wall of the house.  Her breath 
was coming in gasps, and she looked like she was about to
faint.  He took a step closer, getting ready to catch her 
if she fell.
	"Don't," she whispered, her voice cracking.  "Don't come 
near me."
	"What's wrong, kid?" he asked.  "We're safe now.  See?  
Ioviano's out cold for now at least.  I know it was probably
frightening for you, but it's all right now."
	Inno's lip trembled, and she spoke.  She said only four 
words, but they told Gabriel that things had changed forever.  
"It called you 'Sephiroth'."

*~ *~ *~
	
	Aeris dreamed.  In her dream she lay on the cool, green 
grass of a hillside.  A tall tree cast its shade on her, and a 
gentle breeze danced through the blades of grass and the leaves 
in the branches of the tree.
	She felt completely at peace.  This was a very special 
place.  Part of her recognized that.
	"It's funny," he said, turning to look at her, his green-blue
eyes untroubled, and his expression thoughtful. No trace of the 
malice she might have expected was there, but why would she expect 
malice from him?  Was he not the only other one who shared this 
burdenous gift?
	"What's funny?" she asked.
	"I know this is all just an illusion that our minds have 
created to help us adjust to this place," he told her, "I 
understand that.  But it all still feels so real.  I feel more 
alive that I do when I'm in the loop."
	Aeris laughed.  "I wish we could stay here forever."
	He nodded.  "Maybe we will soon."
	She turned somber.  "Is that what you think will happen
once we stop the loop?"
	"I don't know," he admitted.  "SHE never said what would 
happen.  Just that the resetting of history would  stop."  He
sighed.  "I want to trust HER, Aeris.  But I don't want to 
become a puppet again.  It doesn't matter if it isn't Jenova 
at the strings.  A puppet is still a puppet."
	"You're right.  SHE didn't promise anything," Aeris
agreed, leaning against his chest.  "But for now SHE has
our best interests in mind.  I think SHE's the best choice 
we have."
 	"Hmm...some call Jenova the Mother."
	"SHE isn't Jenova.  And SHE isn't the Other either.
SHE asked for our help."
	"But why us?" he asked, shifting.  "I thought Cloud
was her appointed champion.  Or Barret..."
	"Barret was self-appointed," Aeris smiled.  "SHE 
chose us because SHE felt we were the ones SHE wanted
for her cause."  Aeris paused.  "SHE came to me first...
and then SHE saved you."
	He sat up, turning her around to face him.  Silver
hair fell forward, slipping from behind his shoulders.  "It
doesn't explain why you reached out for me."  He looked at
her.  "Why have you forgiven me, Aeris?"
	She smiled up at him.  "Because you asked me to,
Sephiroth."
	

*~ *~ *~

	"It called you 'Sephiroth'," Inno repeated.
	Gabriel realized that no matter where this conversation
went now, it was too late for things to return to the way they
had been.  Nothing he did nor said would erase the memory of
the look on her face as she said those words.
	"Yes," he answered slowly, even though she had not
meant it as a question.  Perhaps the truth was best to tell
her, though he doubted anyone would be willing to hear it
nor believe it.  He sometimes had trouble believing it himself.
"Yes, Inno, he did call me 'Sephiroth'."
	"And?" She whispered, staring at him.
	"And...what of it?" he asked.
	"Are you?" her voice was barely above a whisper, but the 
demand in it made it clear that she expected an answer.
	He considered.  His first thought was to say 'no',
and to relate to her the story of Abel and the agreement to
merge, but he knew that to now be a lie.  For some reason
he was not equally merged with his human half...he was a
spirit...a consciousness resting inside a host.  He was the
dominant soul, mind, and will.  He was Sephiroth.  But he
was not the Sephiroth that she was thinking of.  He was a 
being so changed and different from what he had once
been that he was unrecognizable to the other half of his own
soul, and barely recognizable to the creature who claimed
to know him best of all, Jenova.
	Plus, to ignore the being that had allowed him entry
to the body was wrong, especially after they had worked
together for three years.  He was a changed Sephiroth...and
he coexisted with a man named Abel.
	"I'm Gabriel," he said finally.  It was the simplest
answer he could give and still speak the whole truth.
	She hardened her look, and clenched her fist, holding
tight to her resolve, refusing to let him escape the conversation
so easily.  "The truth.  Who are you?"
	He stared at her, she was shaking, and this worried
the human soul in his body.  "Inno, I am telling you the
truth.  I am Gabriel now."
	She shook her head.  "Then why did it call you
'Sephiroth'?"
	"Because...I am Sephiroth as well."
	She shook her head again.  "I don't understand.
How can you be both Gabriel and Sephiroth?  You can't be
two people, it isn't possible!"  The sudden outburst
shook her more, and as she stepped towards him, she stumbled.
	He reached forward to catch her, to help her as he
was so accustomed to doing, but she backed away.  "Don't
touch me.  I don't know you anymore."
	Pain tore at his heart, something he was only used to
feeling when he thought about Aeris.  "Inno...  Does who I once
was really change who I am *now*?  I'm still Gabriel, still
the one who caught you all those times you fainted.  I won't
hurt you, why would I have any reason to?"
	"Hey, roomie!" a cheerful voice exclaimed.  Gabriel
looked up to see Cait Sith waving from the other side of the
hole.  "Looks like someone tried to go outside but forgot
the door's over there.  What happened?"
	"Inno was attacked, Cait," he replied.  "I fought
off the creature, and it's unconscious for now.  It won't
remain that way for long.  Wake the others.  We have something
to discuss."
	The robotic toy cat looked from Gabriel to Inno, and
then back again.  He flashed the 'thumbs-up' to Gabriel.  "Sure
thing, roomie.  I'll have everyone up and at it in two wiggles
of a mog's tale."  The little cat raised his megaphone to his
mouth.  "HEY, EVERYONE, I JUST SAW SEPHIROTH!!"
	Gabriel flinched as the rest of the party rose from their
dreams, scrambling for weapons. "Bad choice of wake-up calls,
Cait."
	Cait Sith grinned.  "I wouldn't say so, roomie,
it certainly got the job done."
	Cloud stormed over, sword in hand.  "You saw Sephiroth?
Which way did he go?"
	Cait Sith scratched his chin.  "Well, I can't really
say...it was just something to get you all up quickly."
	Cloud gripped his sword and glared at Cait with a
look to kindle the Nibelheim fire.  "Seeing Sephiroth is *not*
something to joke about."
	"Roo-- er, Gabriel here wants to talk to us," Cait
replied.
	Cloud whirled on Gabriel, fury still in his eyes.  "I
told you I wasn't interested in what you had to say," he
snapped, and turning, began to storm back into the house.
"But since we're all up, who's coming with me to find
out more about this chocobo race?  The sooner we win one,
the sooner we can leave and find Sephiroth."
	(Searching for him won't be necessary,) Gabriel
thought.  (We'll see him again in Nibelheim.)  "Cloud..." 
He began out loud, "I really think-"
	"Save it, Gabriel," Cloud snarled.  "I'm tired
of listening to you.  You have no reason for even being
here."
	"Zack would have heard me out," Gabriel said
softly.
	Cloud froze.  Without turning he asked, "what did
you say?"
	"I said, 'Zack would have heard me out'.  You remember
Zack, don't you, Cloud?  He was there, in Nibelheim with 
us."
	Tifa recoiled in shock.  Aeris looked surprised
as well.  As one they asked: "You knew Zack?"
	Cloud turned, and stared at Gabriel.  In his
features shock was also clear, but his question was
a different one.  "What do you mean 'with us' in Nibelheim?"
He pointed a finger at Gabriel, "You weren't there, I
would have remembered you.  
	"I was there, with you and Zack," Gabriel replied.
	Cloud frowned.  "Zack?  Yeah, okay, I guess that was
the name of that lower leveled SOLDIER that was with me
and Sephiroth when we went up to the reactor.  Yeah,
Zack...that was it."
	"Cloud..." Tifa said softly.
	"And Tifa.  Tifa was there too," Cloud added.
"No one else.  So what do you mean, 'with us in Nibelheim'?"
	Gabriel met those blue mako eyes evenly with his
green-blue ones.  "You know what I mean.  You're not an
idiot, Cloud, despite your habit of acting like one.  Put
the pieces together."
	Cloud glared at him.  "You *weren't* there!  It
was Zack, me, Tifa, and...Sephiroth..." he frowned, eyes
troubled.
	"Go on, Cloud," Gabriel pushed, "ask me what you've
wanted to ever since the attack on the ShinRa ship, since
Costa Del Sol and our conversation in the bar."
	"You're spying for Sephiroth, aren't you?" Cloud
demanded hotly.  "That's why he keeps finding us when 
you're around.  That's why you know so much about him."
	Gabriel smirked, eyes bemused.  "She's certainly
sowed that seed deep in your mind."
	"Yes or no, *Gabriel*?" Cloud demanded.  "Answer
me."
	"No.  Rest assured that I am not nor have I ever
been spying on you for Jenova-Sephiroth."
	"Cloud," Inno spoke up quietly, as the rest of
the party seemed too interested in the exchange between
the two young men to step between them.  Cloud's words 
were angry and heated, Gabriel's cool and collected.  Fire 
and Ice.  It made for an interesting battle of wills.
	"What?" Cloud snapped, turning to her, breaking
the steady gaze he had held with Gabriel.
	"While all of you were sleeping," she began,
"something took control of me.  It was like I was
possessed.  I couldn't even control my own hands.
It was going to use the power to kill Cait Sith and
Gabriel.  But I fought it off, and another creature
appeared.  It was going to attack and kill me, and
Gabriel saved me from it.  He fought it off."
	"How very gallant of him," Cloud's voice dripped with
sarcasm.  "Another little ploy to gain our trust?  Maybe 
you're spying for ShinRa."
	"I have nothing to do with ShinRa," Gabriel snapped.  
"And Ioviano's impending attack was
completely unknown to me.  I was just as surprised
as Inno to see him here."
	"If you're so surprised then how do you
know what the creature was called?" Cloud jabbed a
finger in Gabriel's chest.  "That doesn't sound
like something a completely innocent person would
know."
	"That's not the point!" Inno yelled.  Both
men turned and looked at her.  She was shaking with
rage.  "Listen to me!  Cloud, the thing that attacked
me-"
	"His name is Ioviano," Gabriel interjected.  
"He works for Jenova."
	"Shut up!" Inno told him.  "Let me finish!"
She turned back to Cloud.  "The thing that attacked me, 
Ioviano or whatever, he *knew* Gabriel.  He recognized 
him.  And...he called him *Sephiroth*."
	A stunned silence fell over Cloud.  He blinked,
stared at Inno, and at Gabriel.
	"Don't look so surprised, Strife," Gabriel heard
himself say, voice cold and very effectively mirroring the
tone and sound of his previous incarnation's.  "I told you
I wasn't spying on you for Sephiroth.  Why would I have to?
I *am* Sephiroth."  He shrugged.  "Now, about the chocobo
race, who will be riding?"  He started for the house.
"I'd offer...but I have this dislike for Chocobos.  No
chicken should be that bi-"  Barret's gun arm pointed
directly in his face, his words and feet stopped.  "Is
there a problem, Mr. Wallace?"
	"Now jes' a sec, here," Barret said gruffly.
"You can't go saying you're Sephiroth like that an' jes'
go back to business as usual.  That changes everything."
	"How so?" Gabriel asked.  "Are we or are we
not still in the business of trying to save the
Planet from impending destruction?"
	"You jes' said you're Sephiroth!" Barret thundered.
	"So I did.  How does this affect our current
situation?  We still have to get out of this prison."
	"You jes' said you're Sephiroth!"
	"I believe I addressed that in my previous statement."
	"But you're tryin' to destroy the Planet," Barret
told him.  "You're tryin' to *kill* us!"
	"Spare me the melodramatics, Mr. Wallace,"
Gabriel replied calmly, voice and eyes cool as ice.
"My sole purpose for being amongst this collection
of souls is to protect Aeris, and carry out a little
task for someone."  He smirked.  "If *I* had wanted
to kill you, you would not be standing here."
	"Protect Aeris?" Inno asked suddenly.  A tremble
overcame her.  The voice...that thing inside her had
told her to protect Aeris.  Could that thing be...Jenova?
	"Yes," Gabriel replied.  "Protect Aeris. Ceasing
the cycle that begins with Nibelheim and ends with the
battle in the Northern Crater is my goal.  That's what
I'm fighting for.  Freedom.  What are you fighting for,
Mr. Wallace?"
	"It told me I had to stop Sephiroth and protect
Aeris," Inno said suddenly, and Gabriel turned to look
at her, surprise clear on his face.  "Protect Aeris,
stop Sephiroth, defeat Jenova and..." she frowned, "stop
Holy?"
	Gabriel's head hung a little.  "Then Ioviano was
right.  You are the host for the Other.  Only it would
command the defeat of Jenova *and* Holy."
	Aeris blinked.  "Holy?  What's Holy?"
	Gabriel looked clearly shocked.  "You...don't
know what Holy is?"  She shook her head.
	"You got some explain' to do, Mr. Sephiroth," Barret
said gruffly.
	Gabriel nodded.  "Of course.  Shall we all step
inside?"  The others nodded.  "Wait, I'm forgetting Ioviano,
he could be of help to us as well."  He turned, and saw that
the beast had vanished from where it had lain.
	"Where did it go?" Inno asked.  "It couldn't even
walk when I last saw it.  What happened?"
	Gabriel's expression sombered.  "Jenova."

*~ *~ *~

	Jenova-half hissed in rage.  (You are certain, my loyal
servant?) She asked the shadowy figure across the room.
It was keeping its distance from her...no from Sephiroth-half.
	(Yes, Great Mother,) Ioviano replied.  (It was
Sephiroth...defending the host of the Other.)
	(Very well, Ioviano.  You may rest now.  I shall contact
you with new orders soon.)  Jenova-half turned her attention 
back to the problem at hand.  (A clone perhaps?) She wondered.  
(No, it was *he*.  It was the one from the boat.)
	Sephiroth-half stirred, noting her discomfort.
(What is it?  Is that imposter again?  Allow me
to kill him, it is not right for something that
bothers you so to be allowed to continued to exist.)
	Jenova-half sent out her psychic tendrils, searching
for the one who claimed he was Sephiroth.  She located him
in the Corel Prison.  His mind was closed to her, carefully
guarded against invasion...but another mind was open to her
one from which she could listen, and if need be, force
actions.
	 Sephiroth-half was trying to get her attention.  
(What is it?) he asked.
	No answer, save a shushing.  He rolled in anger.
She treated him like a child...controlling him and limiting
his actions.  The body in the Scar waited for him...but
Reunion was still to far off.  (I grow tired of waiting.
I want my independence...my freedom that was promised to
me.)  Seeking out the mind she was reading from, he found
she had sealed it off from him.  She alone was hearing
what was happening.  (She keeps things from me.  Doesn't
she trust me?)

*~ *~ *~

	"The events from Nibelheim to the end of Meteor
keep repeating themselves," Gabriel explained.  "Although
to you it seems like this is the first time, it's actually
closer to the thousandth.  Jenova is determined to win
the battle being waged between her and the Other.  If Meteor
is stopped and she is defeated, then the other wins.  So she
keeps using her powers to reset time...to take it back so
she can try again.  Does everyone follow me so far?"
	"I was lost after the first sentence," Barret
admitted.
	"I follow," Inno nodded.  Tifa and Aeris nodded
as well.  Nanaki flicked his fire-crystal tipped tail in
agreement.
	"And you, Cloud?" Gabriel asked.
	Cloud looked at Gabriel blankly.  (Please continue,)
the voice in his mind said.  "Please continue," Cloud
repeated.
	"All right.  There is a third party in the battle,
very weak and often overlooked by the two.  The Planet.
SHE came to Aeris first as I've been told, and SHE told
Aeris what was happening.  SHE enlisted her aid because
Aeris is the last of the Cetra, and the only one that can
summon Holy."
	"Cloud told us that Sephiroth said he was a Cetra,"
Tifa commented.
	"Yes.  But that is incorrect.  Jenova is *not* a
Cetra.  Jenova is a parasitic life form from another star
system."  He paused.  "Aeris would tell herself something
different to try before each loop restarted.  Come a little
earlier, or a little later maybe.  But it didn't work.  I...
Sephiroth still ended her life.  Seeing this, SHE realized
to break this circumstance she would have make me aware
of what was happening.  At the end of that loop, SHE came
to me and told me the entire story of my family."
	"Entire story?" Aeris asked.
	"About a man named Hojo, and a woman named
Lucrecia.  My birth parents...or two thirds of them."

*~ *~ *~

	Jenova-half seethed.  (How dare he call them parents?)
	Sephiroth-half grew increasing irritated by her secrecy.
She could feel him trying to pry into her barrier, and trying 
to be discreet so she would not notice.
	(This fool must be stopped before everything is
destroyed,) She thought.  She momentarily lowered the
wall between.  (Sephiroth, I have a job for you.)
	(Yes?) he asked.
	(There is a mind that has closed itself to me, but not 
to you.  Lace your influence into its thoughts and take control 
of it.  Follow my lead, my angel.)

*~ *~ *~

	"Wait, *Professor* Hojo of ShinRa?" Nanaki asked.
"The man that Inno rescued me from?"
	Gabriel blinked, an easy feeling weighting heavy
on him.  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end,
and he took a moment to calm his pulse by breathing
deeply.  (Hojo indeed?) his mind asked.  Gabriel frowned,
that was not the voice of his human half...  He looked up,
searching Cloud's face and recognizing the dull look in
those eyes.  (Jenova is here,) he thought.  (Yes.)
	Cloud's eyes raised to meet Gabriel's.  (Well
done, my angel, let us finish this.)
	"Jenova." Gabriel muttered the word, not trusting
himself to think it.
	"Is something wrong?" Inno asked.
	He looked up at her, and wished he hadn't.
Eyes...wings...fangs...swirling in a cloud that swallowed
her completely.  The wings slashed out, not wounding
him physical but trying to wound him spiritually.
	"Gabriel, what is it?" Inno's voice asked,
but it sounded far away.
	(Ah, so you *do* see it,) Jenova-half's voice penetrated 
into his mind.  (You've wandered from me long enough, my angel, 
but it's time to return to me.)
	An intense pain shot through his mind, and he gripped 
his head between his hands...and grit his teeth.  (No,) he 
shook his head, (no!)
	Then the pain was gone, as if his will had driven it off.
	He blinked, and massaged his temples.
"What are you staring at?"
	"Are you all right?" Cloud asked.
	"I'm fine."  He shook his head again.  "This isn't a good
place to be talking about these matters. I feel it would be in 
our best interests to end this conversation for now, and speak 
of it later."
	"You're right," Cloud agreed.  "Getting out of this prison 
is the most important thing right now.  There will be plenty of 
time to talk later, and believe me, we *are* going to talk."
	"So what now?" Barret asked.  "You jes expect us to go 
'bout business as usual?"
	"We have to win a chocobo race to get out of here," Tifa 
said.
	"We should spilt into two groups," Gabriel announced.  
"One group should go up and attend the to the matter of the 
chocobo race.  I know of another exit to this prison, one that 
I can lead the second group to.  From there I propose that 
we reconvene at Cosmo Canyon."

*~ *~ *~

	Jenova-half instructed her puppet to nod its head in 
agreement.  This was easier than she had first thought.  
Sephiroth-half was easily manipulating the one that called 
himself Gabriel.  The others of the little group did
not suspect a thing.  Although, it posed a great danger to 
be so close to the Other, Jenova-half was certain that 
Sephiroth-half could easily use his puppet to kill the Other's 
host, finishing what Ioviano had come to do.
	Jenova-half knew of the concept of irony, and found it to 
be satisfying that the one who had stepped in and saved the girl, 
thus interfering with her plan, would be the one whose hands 
wielded the weapon ending the girl's life.
	"Now jes a minute," the man called Barret was saying, 
"Cloud, ya can't be serious!  You gonna jes let 'im wander off?"
	(He can be trusted,) Jenova-half whispered to her puppet.  
(I trust him.  He should take Inno with him. The ones at Cosmo 
Canyon might be able to help her.)
	"He can be trusted," Cloud repeated loyally, "I trust him,
and I think he should take Inno with him.  Maybe the people at
Cosmo Canyon would know a way to help her."
	
*~ *~ *~

	Sephiroth-half surpressed a smile at the look of dismay 
that the large man showed at Cloud's reply.
	"Your faith in me is reassuring," he said.  The body hosted
him nicely, and there was no need to go through the matter of 
planting the thought in the host's mind.  He simply spoke for it.
Although, your sudden trust in very will seem very suspicious 
to the others.) 
	"I don't like the idea," the girl, Lockehart, said.
"Sephiroth is dangerous, Cloud.  I don't think it's a good 
idea to let him run loose."
	(So, at least Lockehart has picked up on Cloud's odd 
behavior.  Hm, better luck next time, Jenova.)  He stopped.  
Where had that thought come from?  Or rather, where had the 
blatant lack of respect in the thought come from?
	"That is why Cosmo Canyon is the perfect place," the beast,
an _ignis sapiens_ spoke up. Nanaki,) the host supplied, (that is 
Nanaki.)
	"The protective spirits will not allow those who intend harm
to enter," Nanaki explained.  "Plus, Once someone has entered, they 
cannot harm another because the spirits will not allow
that either."
	"Exactly," Sephiroth-half replied, nodding. It was important 
to make the humans think that they were in control.  They needed 
to have no reason to suspect danger would befall them if they 
were with him.  It would be all the easier to catch them off-guard 
that way.
	"Plus," he continued, "the people there have spent their 
lives learning the knowledge of the Planet.  If anyone can offer 
guidance in the matter of how to aid the Ho-Inno, they are
no doubt located at Cosmo Canyon."
	Sephiroth-half quickly noted if any of the humans had 
perceived the fault in his speech.  It appeared that they had
not.
	"I would like to accompany you there," Nanaki said.
	Sephiroth-half nodded.  "Of course, your skills in combat 
should aid us on the long journey."  He paused.  "You should
also be able to defeat me if it becomes necessary."
	He frowned.  Why had he said that?  Gaining their trust 
was important, yes, but that seemed to take it too far.  "If 
it comes to the point where I become a danger to those around 
me, I want you to promise you will restrain me, and if that 
is not possible...kill me."
	"I don't think that will be necessary," Cloud said.  
Rather, Jenova-half instructed him to say.  "That's enough of
that kind of talk."	Sephiroth-half wished to speak to her, 
mind-to-mind as they usually could...but something blocked him.  
He could not communicate to her about how the words spoken did 
not belong  to him.  He felt no resistance from the host, the 
soul in  its body was not trying to cast him out, nor was it 
trying  to regain control.  Yet, these words and thoughts that he 
did not will it to have were still there.
	"I'll go to help out, too," the AI unit volunteered.  
Everyone looked at Cait Sith. It shrugged.  "Hey, roommates 
have to look out for each other.  Right, roomie?"
	(And no doubt you want to learn more about this to 
report to your boss, Reeve,) Sephiroth-half thought as he 
nodded. (ShinRa will *not* be allowed to have me again.  Never
again.)
	"I'm coming too," Aeris said.
	Sephiroth-half sensed great affection for her in the 
host.  But confusion flickered in his mind.  What would be 
*her* purpose for coming?  The host of the Other would come
so he could destroy her easily when Jenova-half deemed it 
necessary-- (Destroying the host will only free the Other.  
Surely you must know that Jenova, you can't be that idiotic.)
The AI unit would make the journey in hopes of gaining
information for ShinRa.  But why would this girl want to 
come?  There was no purpose- (I'm glad Aeris wants to come.
I want to talk to her...see what she remembers, if she 
remembers anything.)- her battle skills were weak- (There's
more to life than fighting and killing) - her magic purely
for healing- (She healed me.  And if that isn't magic,
I don't know what is.)- She would slow down the party- 
(We're not in a rush) - weakening them as they would 
have to extend more effort to defend her as well as 
themselves- (I'll protect her.  I promised I'd protect her.
It's the least I can do.) - Had he not just finished
telling her that his duty was to kill her?
	"Excellent idea.  You go with them, Aeris," Cloud 
said, or rather Jenova-half-- (I should stop this...I 
could scare her off, or at least alert the others that this
is happening-)-- said.
	Was the death of the gi- (Aeris)- the intention of 
Je- (I won't let that happen.) -- The girl was a naieve 
fool.  She was offering to put her own neck in the noose
by accompanying him.  Why trust him? 
	(She cares for me...maybe she's starting to 
remember the between times.)  Sephiroth-half rolled in anger.
Where were these thoughts coming from?  They interrupted 
him, making it impossible for him to complete a thou-
	"You want to come with me?" he asked Aeris.  Or
rather the host did.  Which was impossible as the human
inside the body had remained silent, not even reacting
when Sephiroth-half had laced his fingers into its mind.
That could only mean that the words belonged to him, and
had been spoken by his will.  But that was impossible.
	Aeris nodded.  "I'm safe when I'm with you, aren't
I, Sephiroth?"
	He smiled.  (Smiled!  What am I doing *smiling*
at her?)  "You can call me Gabriel if it's more comfortable
for you, Aeris."	(Pleasantries now?  What is going on?)
"And, yes, you're safe with me. I'll protect you, I give 
you my word."  (My word? To protect a worthless human?!)  
He tried to lash at the host in anger, to let it know that 
if someone it was doing this he was not pleased.  It was 
then that he made a discovery; he meant what he was saying.
He had made the resolve that he *would* protect her.  The 
implications of it were set in each of his thoughts, 
underlying all that he said and did.  The strength of the
conviction rivaled his loyalty to Jenova...seemed to even 
replace it.
	Recoiling in shock and horror, Sephiroth-half
tried to break free.  The host had done something to him; 
it had confused his thoughts by some treachery, making him 
think that he had attachments to these humans.  He had 
to return to Jenova-half before some greater danger befell
him.  But he could not release from the host.  Something 
was keeping him anchored to this human.
	He searched his body.  Cells from the body in the 
Scar existed in his body as well, (I know that, they've 
been there for over three years.), but they did nothing more 
than increase his strength, speed, agility, endurance, and 
resistance to certain attacks.  True, they enhanced his body, 
but he remained human.  The concentration of Jenova's cells 
was too low to have any real effects.
	Wait...when had it become *the* body in the Scar, and 
not *his* body?
	"Are you all right, Gabriel?" The Other's host asked. 
"You look a little pale."
	(Yes, I am Gabriel.  These are my friends. Inno is 
speaking to me.  Poor kid, she's had a tough break.  No one 
asked her if she wanted to be a part of this mess.  The Other 
just pulled her in.  I hope there's something we can do to 
help her...)  That last thought stemmed mostly from Abel's 
affection for Inno, but it was rightly placed.  (She has
a good soul, and a good heart.  She deserves better than to 
become food for the Other.  And Cloud, I should help Cloud 
out here.  He deserves to be more than a puppet.)
	He looked at Inno, and despite the wings that dove 
in and out of her body attempting to slash as him, he managed
a smile.
	"I'm all right, kid, I just have a thought on my mind."

*~ *~ *~

	Jenova-half shook in her physical body.  Her anger 
was all encompassing, and she threw aside her hold on her
puppet to return fully to the body.  (Sephiroth,) she 
spoke sharply, inflecting little stabs with each syllable, 
(what do you think you are doing?)
	There was no immediate answer, and she angrily hooked
her fingers about his essence, drawing it back into their 
shared physical body.  (Answer me.  What do you think you
were doing?  I told you to gain their trust...nothing more.)
	Sephiroth-half seemed disorientated, and took a long
time before answering.  (It was so warm...) he muttered, 
and Jenova-half gave him a strong psychic slap.
	(What happened to you, Sephiroth?) Jenova-half 
demanded, voice empty of concern, but full of anger.  (It 
cost us our plan.)
	(I don't know what happened,) Sephiroth-half 
admitted, (suddenly I could feel...so many emotions...
sympathy, concern, friendship...even love.)
	Jenova-half recoiled in shock. (You must forget 
what happened.  You must never think of those emotions.
We will deal with the threat a different way.)
	(But...) Sephiroth-half began, but Jenova-half's 
strong barrier had come down.  (I enjoyed those emotions,)
he continued to himself.  (They were my emotions...just 
for that little while.  And the feeling of...love
so strong and tender towards the flower girl...it seems 
remains ever so faintly lingering in my mind.  I
must learn more about her...and why I should feel 
such a way towards her.)  He reached out again for 
the mind of host, seeking it out easily, as if it was 
calling for him as he called for it.  (Come to me,) 
the mind seemed to whisper to him.  (Come to me and
we will be whole...)
	A barrier slammed down between himself and the 
mind.  Jenova-half's mind spoke coldly and clearly.  (That
is not a wise idea, my angel.  You are tired...rest for 
now.)
	The words were not advice, but an order.  For an 
instant the defiance that he had shared with the host 
flared inside him, and he sought to refuse to follow 
her orders, but a stinging pain reminded him why he could 
not be that disrespectful to Jenova-half.  He quietly
slunk back into himself, and ceased his thoughts of what 
he had felt while sharing a soul with the host.
	
*~ *~ *~

	Jenova-half waited until she was certain 
Sephiroth-half was back under her control, then she sought
out the mind of her more loyal servant.  (Ioviano.)
	(I am here, Great Mother,) the beast replied,
flicking his fire-crystal tipped tail in the darkness of
the room.  (I await your new commands with patience.)
	(And your wait is over,) she told him.  (Your new
directives are simple.  Succeed where Dyne failed.  Take
down the Golden Saucer and claim what lies beneath it
for our use.)
	(As you will it, Great Mother, it shall be done,)
Ioviano promised.  (The Golden Saucer shall fall before
sunset.)
	(See to it that it does.  And when you are finished,
return the items to me, and I will give you your long-term
directives.)
	(Yes, Great Mother.)  Ioviano bowed, and ran off
into the darkness.

*~ *~ *~

	"You know how to ride a Chocobo, I hope," the 
attendant remarked to Cloud.
	Cloud nodded, and grimaced.  His lingering
headache still hadn't faded away completely.
	"You okay, Cloud?" Tifa asked.
	"I'm fine."  He looked back at her.  Upon going 
outside again they had found Jesse and Biggs waiting 
with Marlene back at the Boss's trailer.  The six of 
them had gone back up to the Golden Saucer to attend 
to the matter of winning their release from Corel prison.  
  Barret, Jesse, Biggs, and Marlene had gone to get seats 
to watch the race, but Tifa had wanted to make sure Cloud
got entered before she joined them.  "I can't believe I
let the others go off with Gabriel," he told her.  "I must
have had a lapse of sanity."
	"I was wondering what you were thinking," Tifa 
agreed, "especially since he's claiming that he's 
*Sephiroth*."
	Cloud's mouth dropped open.  "What?!"
	The attendant tapped his shoulder.  "You're all 
ready to enter the race now.  Please follow me."
	"Good luck, Cloud," Tifa called, as the attendant
hauled him away.

*~ *~ *~

	"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Inno
asked.
	"You must be hot dressed in all black, roomie,"
Cait Sith remarked, cutting short the snappy reply 
Gabriel had prepared to give to Inno.
	"Hot?" he stared at Cait Sith.  "Well, since you
mention it...I am a little warm."
	"When did you start dressing in all black anyway?"
Aeris asked.
	"Costa De Sol," Inno replied.  "I noticed it, 
but didn't really think much of it."
	"Oh," Aeris nodded.  "Anyway, Gabriel, I was 
wondering if I could talk to you...about a dream I 
had.  Gabriel?"
	There was no reply.  Gabriel seemed to be faintly
muttering to himself, lost in internal thoughts and 
completely unaware of that he had been addressed.
	(Left up here?)  (Yes.)  He took a step to the 
left.  (No!) His mind snapped.  (Your *other* left.)  He
looked in the other direction.  (*That* is my right, 
not my left.) His mind grumbled.  (...Whatever.  Just 
walk that way.)  He gestured to his right.  "This way.
I hope.  Just a bit further."
	"With all due respect," Nanaki spoke up, "do you 
know where you're going, Gabriel?  I believe you said
'just a bit further' over an hour ago."
	(Must all ignis sapiens think so highly of 
themselves?) His mind asked absently.  (I don't see him
helping us find our way.)
	"I know I said that," he replied to Nanaki, ignoring
the other voice in his thoughts.  "We would be moving a
lot faster if someone didn't have a really lousy sense
of direction." 
	(We agree no insults, Abel,) Sephiroth replied 
coolly.  (In case you've forgotten, I didn't spend 
enough time outside to develop an internal compass.)
	(We agreed to merge, too,) Abel told him, (but 
that didn't last did it? Not very good at sharing, are 
you?)
	(I know what the agreement was.)  He paused.  (And 
I know that things have changed since then.)
	(So you're just stuffing me into a corner?) Abel
demanded.
	(You're in control right now, aren't you?)
	(Yeah, and how long has it been since the last 
time?  Why do you have to be the one in control all the 
time?  We had an agreement.)
	(My goals are just a little more immediate.)  
Sephiroth replied coolly.  (Sure they are.  I bet you've
completely forgot about our deal.)
	(I have every intention of helping you track down
the people responsible for what happened to you.  Later.)
	(What makes your goals so much more important 
than mine, anyway?)
	(You're starting to annoy me, Abel,) Sephiroth 
whispered softly. 
(Stop avoiding the matter at hand.  I want to know why
I'm getting short-changed in this bargain.)
	"Oh, shut up!" he said out loud.  Inno and Aeris froze.
	"Well, excuse us," Inno said, frowning, "but maybe if 
you'd bother replying to the question we wouldn't have to 
keep asking it!"
	"...I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to shut 
up."  He shook his head.  "I just have a headache, and I'm 
still trying to gather my thoughts."
	Aeris smiled.  "It's okay, Gabriel.  I was just 
telling...well, I guess since you weren't listening I was 
telling Inno about my dream."
	"It involved her and Sephiroth all alone on a grassy 
knoll," Inno said, "and, well...for a psychopath, he was 
certainly treating her nice."
	A brief image flickered through his mind.  (You can do 
*that* when you're dead?) he asked Sephiroth, shocked.
	"Some dreams are meant to be private things," he said 
out loud, face involuntarily reddening.
	"Oh, but nothing happened," Aeris giggled.  "At least 
not in that part..."
	Gabriel turned red again.  "Aeris..."
	Inno fought a pain of jealousy.  (I know Aeris dreamed
about Sephiroth, but why do I feel so jealous of how he seems
to feel about her?)
	"Anyway, the dream just was about some of the things 
you were talking about," Aeris said.  "About how time repeats
itself.  And about the Planet asking for our help.  I guess 
the dream might just be a dream...but I'm going to trust it 
for now.  And that means I'm trusting you as well, Gabriel."
She poked his arm.  "Don't make me regret trusting you, okay?"
	He smiled.  "You won't regret it.  Ever.  I promise."
	"Hey, look, grass," Aeris laughed, pointing.
	"Good job, roomie," Cait Sith replied, doing a 
spontaneous cheer atop his mog.  "Land ho!"
	"Perhaps, but it is still a long journey to Cosmo 
Canyon," Nanaki said wisely.  "We would be best to move 
as quickly as possible."
	"Nanaki's right," Gabriel nodded.  (We'll talk more 
about this arrangement once we reach Cosmo Canyon, Abel.)
	(And once again...you're in control,) Abel said, 
annoyed.  (And you're damn right we're going to come to 
an better arrangement as soon as possible.)
	"Gabriel," Nanaki cleared his throat.  "I don't mean 
to...offend you, but what will you do if you cannot enter 
the Canyon?"
	"Why couldn't he?" Inno demanded.
	"If his spirit is malevolent like Sephiroth's has 
previously shown itself to be, then he will not be allowed 
entrance."
	Gabriel blinked.  "I never considered the possibility, 
Nanaki.  I suppose we'll deal with that if and when we have 
to."
	"Great, that means you can deal with me right now," a 
voice said.
	The group turned to see a young, female ninja standing 
before them, a giant throwing star aimed at them.  "Hand over 
your materia if you want to pass by me!"
	Cait Sith scratched his chin.  "So, this is where you 
went, Yuffie."
	Yuffie Kisaragi lowered the star.  "Cait Sith?  Oh, 
well, I guess if you guys are with Cait I can let you pass...
with half your materia."
	(What is a Kisaragi doing away from Wutai?) Abel 
wondered.
	Yuffie noticed him looking at her.  "What's the 
matter with you?  You ain't never seen a girl before, 
or something?"  She glared and him...and then her 
expression changed.  "Hey, you look familiar.  Have we
met?"
	"No," Gabriel replied quickly. 
	She walked over and stood on tip-toe to look at 
his face.  "Are you sure?  You look like someone I knew of 
a long time ago...Abel!  Yeah, his name was Abel Woodshaft.
But I guess you couldn't be him since he died in the war."
	(Is that some sort of trick question?)  He wondered.
Just as he was going to question Yuffie further, his 
attention was draw back to the Golden Saucer hovering in 
the haze across the Corel desert's heat.
	Another explosion reached his ears, and the structure 
seemed to shake.
	"What the hell is happening?" He asked.
	"It almost seems like the Golden Saucer is under 
attack," Cait Sith replied.  "But who would do something 
like that?"
	An outer branch of the Golden Saucer's structure shook
and fell to the ground.
	"Yeah, I guess it *is* under attack," Cait Sith 
remarked.
	A feeling of dread fell over the small group as 
they looked at one another.  It was Inno that spoke up 
first.
	"Do you think the others are still inside?"  
She asked.

*~ *~ *~

	Tifa looked at Jesse and Biggs.  They were 
trying to hold their own, but there were so many 
black-cloaked men swarming in from all over.  They
all brandished some sort of weapon and were cutting 
down anyone that got in their way.  As she watched 
one stabbed Jesse, and another shot Biggs in the arm.
	"Barret!" she cried to her fellow AVALANCHE 
member.  "We have to find Cloud and get out of here!"

*~ *~ *~

	Reeve finished kicking back the black-cloaked
figure that had assaulted him.  It tumbled to the
ground and remained there.  Slowly, the Turk bent
down and lifted the thing's hood.
	A blank green-blue eye stared back at him from 
beneath a mess of limp silver hair.  On the left cheek 
was a number, *30*.  Then the creature shriveled and 
crumbled down upon itself, reducing to dust within in 
seconds.  Only the tatter cloth of its cloak remained.  
	"It looked like Sephiroth," Reeve muttered.  "Or 
as much as anything that looked like that could resemble 
anyone."  He looked around and felt another shudder 
echo through the floor of the Golden Saucer.  "Something 
very wrong is happening here."

*~ *~ *~

	Ioviano watched with pride as the clones carried 
out his orders to destroy the Golden Saucer and kill any
who got in their way.
	Soon it would all fall, and he would jump into its 
bowels and retrieve the item the Great Mother sought.
	And then he would take another step closer to 
becoming her favorite. 

*~ *~ *~

Author's Notes:

I didn't take any notes.  I fell asleep during the lecture.

Author's Rambles:

(Well, I think I fixed the formatting.)  (Good, I looked
at the grammar, but I've never been good at cleaning that
stuff up so...)  (Well, there isn't time now, the computer
has to be unhooked so they can take a look at the A:/ drive.)

(Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.)  (Yeah,
it was fun to write.)

(Don't forget to thank B.W.A. for his reviewing.)  (Right,
without the jokes and pointers this wouldn't have gotten
done.)  

(I hope this part goes over okay.  I tried to fix
the smear with Dyne and the missing Yuffie.  I hope
this at least gives the story a swift kick into action.)
(Hopefully there's at least something that the next
writer can work with.)  (Yeah.)  (Oh, don't forget
the email address in case anyone wants to acknowledge
this part exists.)  (Right.  I'd love to know what
people thought.)  (Email is sophiaroth@hotmail.com)

(Think anyone laughed at this?)  (Heh, I hope so.)

Lady Chaos  (Or so you say.)

"You can do *that* when you're dead?"