[Harvard Cantab Theater Review. I've got another paper due tomorrow, but I
don't care, dammit! %)]

Disclaimer blah blah C&C blah blah. On with the fic.

Andrew: I feel compelled to finally give a review to this series. I've
loved it all along, and not said anything. To make up for that, I'll even
do an MST.

Nanami: Okay, Andrew, let's just go, all right?

-------------------

Final Fantasy VII: Children of Jenova

Chapter 10

The Highwind was getting very full.

It now carried the entire Highwind family, Cloud, Tifa, 
Vincent, Yuffie (who was in the engine room hurling as 

Andrew: Ah...how...um.

Nanami: Weren't you about to say "cute"? I seem to remember from a
previous FFVII review that we did--

Andrew: Cute CHARACTER, I mean! Really!

Nanami: [frowning] Besides, what's so cute about Yuffie puking?

Andrew: Endearing weakness. That sort of fing. Thing! I'm starting to talk
like Gaspode.

Gaspode: [trotting in the room] Wot?

usual), Red XIII, Barret, the usual flight crew, and Aidan, 
who was huddled in the chocobo hold where Junior had been 
before. Nobody was sure what to make of Aidan. Since he'd 
boarded the Highwind he'd said three words: "hurts," "help," 
and finally after much coaxing and pleading, "Vail." Great. 

Gaspode: Hm. Not a man of many words, him.

Nanami: I think he's got other things on his mind. Like horrific pain.

Andrew: Ayep.

"At least now we have some idea what's happened to him." 
Vincent sighed after the bunch finally decided to leave the 

Andrew: Vincent sighs?

Nanami: Well, he's not completely cold.

Andrew: Still, I dunno about Vincent sighing a statement.

shivering Aidan alone. "One of Vail's experiments, there's 
no doubt." Red XIII grunted in assent.

"As soon as we arrive in Junon, Cid and his crew will get 
the tracking device set up. After that, I think we should 
find Vail first." Red looked up at Cloud and sighed. "I'm 
sorry, Cloud. I know you want to find your son, but if we 
give Vail any more time to do these things..."

"I know." Cloud muttered. "If we find her we probably find 
Zack anyway. Let's just get her before she...before 
something happens." He looked back towards the chocobo hold 
and shivered. "That guy gives me the creeps."

"Somethin' tells me he'd look right at home in a black cape 
runnin' around wailin' about Sephiroth," Barret quipped. It 

Nanami: Bah. Bad taste.

Andrew: Well...that's Barret for you, I guess.

didn't sound as funny as he thought it would. "We gotta get 
that dude to a doctor."

Cloud nodded. "Cid's already let Reeve know about him, and 
there'll be one waiting at the airport. The sooner we get 
him off this airship the better." The fact was, Aidan scared 
the shit out of him. His eyes were glowing. Mako eyes. And 
that scar on his neck--what was that from? There had been a 
bump underneath it, as if something had been inserted under 
Aidan's skin and maybe it was Cloud's imagination, but it 
appeared to have moved at least once. Creepy. Cloud wasn't 

Nanami: Ewwww.

Gaspode: I've had worse.

Andrew: No doubt.

sure he wanted to know what it was, but he had his 
suspicions.  And he hoped to God he was wrong. "Whatever 
Vail did to him is killing him. He needs help."

Nanami: Why isn't this guy named "Wedge"?

Andrew: Urgh. Spoil the chapter for us, why doncha?

Nanami: [giggle] Oops. Sorry.

*			*			*

Scarlet snapped her head up sharply as someone strode into 
her office without so much as knocking. That was really 
starting to get on her nerves. "You know, Raven, I close my 
door for a reason."

Raven smirked and sat on the edge of Scarlet's desk. Unlike 
Elena, she wore a skirt with her Turk ensemble. A rather 
short one, to boot. She nonchalantly crossed her legs, 
causing her already revealing miniskirt to reveal a bit 

[Nanami looks over at Andrew with narrowed eyes. Surprisingly--to her, at
least--he doesn't seem to be enjoying this or anything. Just starting
blankly.]

Nanami: Hm. I'd have figured you to start nosebleeding by now.

Andrew: [scowl] Raven repulses me. She might be nicely built, but her
personality just turns me off like a switch.

Nanami: [blinking] Oh. Wow. [She turns back to watch the screen, smiling
slightly.]

Andrew: [thinking] Heh. It worked. [frowns] But, well, it's true
anyway.... [out loud] Raven just buggers me.

more, then she reached down and plucked a leaf of paper off 
the top of the stack Scarlet had been pushing around. "I 
guess you know we lost another SOLDIER."

"He must have bailed out in all the confusion when that 
other thing broke loose." Scarlet rubbed her eyes. "I guess 
Heidegger filled you in on the details." Had anyone else 
sauntered into her office, parked their ass on her desk, and 

Andrew: Grammar nitpick: anyone is a singular pronoun, but then you use
"their", a plural.

Nanami: But the author _is_ trying to avoid gender specifications. She'd
have to use "his @$$", which would conflict with the fact that Raven's a
her--

Andrew: [mumbled] Quite clearly.

Nanami: [apparently not hearing] and doing "his or her @$$" would be
slightly clumsy.

Gaspode: Are you two done?

started playing with her paperwork, Scarlet would have gone 
positively nuclear. But then, few of her employees looked as 
good as Raven; twice already Scarlet had found her eyes 
travelling up Raven's long legs. No, damnit...Scarlet was 
the one in control here. She would not let Raven forget 
that.

[Andrew finally starts to feel some pressure in his...nose. Ahem! He
pinches it, drawing Nanami's attention.]

Nanami: [raised eyebrow] You were saying something earlier?

Andrew: [still with pinched nose] Well, nobody's berfegt.

"Yeah." Raven yawned. "There's no trace of him. He probably 
fell off the mountain. Even if we did find him, we'd 
probably spend all day blotting him up with Handi-Wipes. 
How're the rest of the SOLDIER kids coming along?"

Andrew: [releasing his nose] Okay, that's better. Her voice puts me right
off, for some reason.

"Better than Vail expected, and she just called in saying 
she's got some supertroop getting locked in a pod as we 
speak. I can't wait to see this guy. He must really be 
something." Scarlet pushed her chair back. "Are you just 
here to shoot the shit about SOLDIER with me, or is there 
something else you want?" 

Raven shrugged. "Oh, nothing really." She slipped her jacket 
off and dropped it on the desk, right on top of Scarlet's 
paperwork. "I think Vail's gone off the deep end, though." 

Nanami: Umm...only Vail?

Gaspode: I suspect something is about to happen. You humans are rather
interesting this way.

Andrew: Er, yes. [he blinks]

She loosened her tie, pulled it off over her head, and 
before Scarlet knew what was happening, Raven had secured it 
around both of her wrists and pulled it tight; then she tied 
the loose ends behind Scarlet's neck. "I did a little 

Andrew: Uh...er....

Nanami: Uh...must be pretty quick, there.... [she gulps]

eavesdropping last night. That 'supertroop' of hers is a 
six-year-old boy that's full of Jenova cells she didn't put 
there. Now she wants to do her little trick on him and see 
what happens. I think she's fuckin' nuts, if you'll pardon 
the expression."

Andrew: [shaking head] Pot. Kettle. Black.

"She's doing a good job so far. I don't see any reason to 
interfere yet." Scarlet tried her damndest to act like 
Raven's actions weren't affecting her, but her voice cracked 
on her last few syllables. "She hasn't screwed up yet." 

[Andrew is shaken out of his slightl shock and snickers.]

"'Yet' is the operative word here." Raven kept her pistols 
holstered under her jacket, and she unbuckled both holsters, 
first setting her pistols on Scarlet's desk. "What's she 
doing with that sword, anyway? She can hardly lift it." She 
knelt down and secured Scarlet's ankles to the legs of her 
chair with the holster belts. "People are starting to talk 
about her."

[Andrew slips right back into his slight shock. Nanami isn't much better.
Gaspode is just confused.]

"People have been talking about you for a long time," 
Scarlet pointed out, and Raven just laughed. 

Nanami: [quiet voice] No doubt.

"Including you? And no, in case you were about to ask, I 
didn't get any...friendlier with Heidegger than I had to in 
order to get my promotion. I didn't even have to touch him, 

Nanami: [turning slightly green] BLEAH!

Andrew: [turning slightly mauve] Oh, that's not something I needed to
think about.

thank God. And in case you've forgotten, I'm not a mad 
scientist. I just do what I have to in order to get what I 
want." Raven finished securing Scarlet to her chair, taking 
special care not to touch her more than necessary, and 
Scarlet couldn't stand it. She decided that if, IF, she were 
somehow able to squirm loose, she was going to have Raven 
right there on the desk; screw the paperwork, that's what 
copy machines were for.

So at least one of the great corporate rumors was true.

Andrew: Ohhhh, boy.

[Nanami merely twitches a bit.]

Gaspode: Wot the 'ell is goin' on here?

Raven stepped back to admire her handiwork, leaving Scarlet 
panting in her chair. "So what -did- you do?" Scarlet 
finally asked.

The black-haired Turk leaned down close enough that her lips 
just barely brushed against Scarlet's ear, and Scarlet 
strained at her bonds to no avail. "This," she whispered, 
and she turned, picked up her pistols and her jacket, and 
walked out of Scarlet's office leaving the President 
securely fastened to her chair. 

[Andrew, Nanami, and Gaspode blink.]

Nanami, Andrew: BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

The phone rang several times in the space of time that 
followed, and Scarlet could do nothing more than glare at 
it. It probably wasn't important anyway, but it was the 
principle that mattered. 

Andrew: [gasping for breath] Oh, damn, that was just evil.

[Nanami is still laughing.]

Gaspode: No idea. None.

Heidegger found her some three hours later. He didn't laugh. 
No shrill bray of "Gyaa ha ha" passed his lips. He simply 
shook his head and sighed. "Raven?"

Nanami: [recovering slightly] Heh...wow, that's pretty restrained for him.

Andrew: I'd say that Scarlet's the one who's res--

[whap]

Nanami: No puns.

Gaspode: Hmm. Good idea.

Andrew: Ow.

Scarlet's silence spoke volumes.

[Andrew and Nanami break into laughter again.]

"It could be worse," Heidegger said, unbuckling the belts 
that held Scarlet's ankles to her chair. "At least Archer 
didn't find you. I didn't think he'd ever stop laughing."

"Oh, shut up. I don't want to hear it," Scarlet spat.

[The two humans are still laughing. Gaspode would go to sleep, but there's
too much noise.]

*			*			*

The Highwind touched down in Junon, and as promised, there 
was a doctor waiting at the airport along with Reeve and the 
old Turks. The five of them boarded the airship; the doctor 
took off to the chocobo hold to examine Aidan while the rest 
made their way to the bridge.

"Cid, here are those plans Elena dug up for you. I've told 
the mechanics to help you out if you need it, and they're 
more than happy to." Reeve took a look around and spied 
Junior, still covered with Vincent's cape and her head on 
Shera's knee. "Poor kid. Is she okay?"

Andrew: Aww, how cute.

[Nanami starts to rile up, then realizes he's talking about a six-year
old. She deflates. Andrew notices.]

Andrew: You done?

Nanami: [blinking] Uh, what?

Andrew: [grinning] Wow, you're a jealous one, aren't you?

[whap]

Andrew: Must...learn...to...keep...mouth...shut....

Cid nodded. "She'll be fine. She's upset about Zack. We all 
are." 

"That was a terrible thing Vail did," Reno started, "and for 
what it's worth coming from me, I'm sorry. If we didn't have 
a reason to be pissed off at Shinra before, we've got a good 
one now." 

Andrew: I've always been fond of the Turks. Just a bunch of decent guys
working for a bad company.

Nanami: And a girl.

Andrew: Right. Elena. Hey, you actually wanted to remind of a pretty
female?

Nanami: ...

"Thanks." Cid lit up a cigarette and puffed on it nervously. 
"I don't suppose you've tried to call Scarlet up and ask her 
what the hell she thinks she's doing?"

Reeve shrugged. "I tried right before you got here, several 
times. She's not answering her phone. I guess she's tied up 
with something else right now."

[Nanami and Andrew barely suppress guffaws.]

"Bah. Figures." Cid scowled. "You think she's behind this?"

"I don't know." Reeve sighed. "I wouldn't put it past her, 
but I don't think so. I think Vail went out on her own and 
did what she did." He fidgeted a bit. "I don't suppose I 
could bum a cigarette from you?"

Cid snickered. "I thought you quit years ago." But he lit up 
a second and passed it to Reeve anyway; Reeve took a shallow 
drag off it.

"You know what they say; quitters never win, bleah bleah 

Andrew: [frowning] Never heard that phrase used in this context....

Nanami: Yech. Hate cigarettes. Fujisawa-sensei always did smoke too much;
his classroom reeked all the time.

bleah. You know, I consider myself something of a gentleman, 
and I think I would rather dye my hair orange and green than 
strike a lady...but if I see that broad in person I think I 
might just have to haul off and bust her one. I can't stand 

Andrew: Likewise. Vail's such a bitch.

Nanami: Well, there's a reason. She is a Sephiroth clone.

Andrew: What, you're defending a mad scientist who does kidnapping part-
time?

Nanami: Just playing devil's advocate.

her." He shook his head. "I've got half a mind to come with 
you in person on this one." Reeve took another halfhearted 
drag, blew out smoke, and coughed. "I don't see how you can 
stand these unfiltered things." He ground it out on the sole 
of his shoe and tossed it over the railing.

"No way." Cid said firmly. "Who's gonna run Junon if you're 
out running around getting your white-collar ass kicked with 
us?"  

Reeve shrugged again. "Actually, I've got Cait Sith standing 
in for me today beacuse I called in sick this morning--"

Nanami: I love Cait Sith. Such a cute, fluffy cat--

Andrew: Who can do some serious buttock prodding. That stuffed Mog is
pretty brutish, sometimes.

"He was on his deathbed," Rude added with an emphatic nod. 
"Really."

"At least I was conscious, unlike SOME people."

Rude snickered. "Do I need to tell them what happened to 
your favorite tie?"

Andrew: Drunk people amuse me. I've gone to a few parties with alcohol
involved--didn't drink myself, but I watched others get drunk. Very funny
stuff.

Nanami: You're weird.

Andrew: Damn straight.

"All right, you two, knock it off or I'll stand you both in 
the corner." Cid rolled his eyes, then he grinned evilly at 
Reeve. "Put away a few last night, did we?"

"Don't remind me." Reeve rubbed his eyes; his headache was 
starting to come back. "If I spend enough time in therapy I 
MIGHT just be able to repress most of what happened last 
night."

"That'll teach you." Cid lit up another cigarette. "So what 
is it you were trying to make yourself forget?"

"Huh?"

"Look, Reeve. I know you. You hardly touch that shit unless 
there's somethin' eating you."

Reeve sighed. "I'd rather not discuss it around C.J., if 
that's all right with you, so I'll give you the edited-for-
television version. I had one hell of a nightmare and I 
couldn't get it out of my head."

[Nanami and Andrew shudder.]

Nanami: Now that _was_ disturbing.

"Good enough for me." Cid nodded and started to say 
something else, but a sound from the chocobo hold silenced 
him: a very loud, shrill, and terrified "WARK!"

Junior snapped awake instantly. "Bugs!" She jumped up and 
started to run for the chocobo hold; Cid caught and held 
her. 

"You stay here, Junior. I'll go check on Bugs." Cid took off 
at a run, followed by the Turks and then by Cloud and 
Vincent. 

Yuffie was already in the chocobo hold when Cid and the 
others arrived, and she was on the verge of hysterics. "What 
the hell's wrong with that guy!?" she shrieked, pointing at 
Aidan. Or, more precisely, the thing that was clawing its 
way out of Aidan's body. The doctor was hiding behind a 
crate of greens; Bugs was kicking at the creature with his 
clawed feet and squawking loudly. 

Nanami: See? Should have called this guy Wedge.

Andrew: -_-;;

The thing looked up at Yuffie with its lidless green eyes 
and made some sort of gurgling sound, then it went back to 
pushing and tearing its way out of its human prison. Then it 

Andrew: Aww, nasty.

Gaspode: I _haven't_ had worse. Thankfully.

seemed to give up, its body going limp. Aidan let out a 
little choking gasp, dropped to his knees, and then fell 
onto his back, dead.

"Holy shit!" Reno stammered. He gingerly reached out with 
his nightstick and prodded the thing's arm. It reared back 
up, hissing and gurgling at Reno, and with no warning broke 
free of the mass of flesh that had held it; it launched 
itself across the chocobo hold with amazing agility and went 
straight for Reno's throat with its lipless mouth. Both went 
down in the struggle. "This fuckin' thing's stronger than it 
looks! Someone get it OFF ME!" Reno cried, blindly throwing 
punches at it as it sank its sharp little teeth into his 
shoulder.

Andrew: Yeesh. I'd be wigging out about now, too, in his position.

"Reno!" Elena screamed, diving forward and throwing her fist 
into the thing's ribs. It let loose a little cry, then it 

Nanami: Go, Elena! Yeah!

[Andrew looks at Nanami oddly.]

Nanami: Hey. She's pretty cool.

lashed out with one clawed hand, catching Elena's cheek with 
one or two of its sharp little talons. One of the thing's 
claws fell off as it did so.

"What the hell!?" Cid couldn't risk swinging at the thing 
with his spear; he'd more than likely decapitate Reno in the 
process as much as he was squirming. "Hold still, Reno..." 
He brought his foot back and then forward, planting the 
steel-reinforced toe of his boot into the creature's 
midsection. Its mouth was forcibly removed from Reno's 
shoulder, taking with it a large bite of blue fabric and a 
smaller bite of flesh. 

Andrew: [wincing] Yeowch. That can't be pleasant.

Reno cried out through gritted teeth as he felt the 
creature's teeth rip through his suit and his skin. Several 
of its teeth remained embedded in Reno's shoulder, and he 
picked them out grimly. "Jeez, I hope this thing's shots are 
up to date..." Reno scrambled to his feet as the thing stood 

[Nanami and Andrew laugh weakly.]

Gaspode: Ah, shots. Overrated.

Andrew: The only reason _you_ don't need any is all the diseases that you
_do_ have are too busy fighting each other to attack you.

up woozily, and he swung at it full force with his 
nightstick. He connected as well, sending the creature 
sprawling into Bugs's lunch. It stood up once more, bits of 
greens sticking to its body, and charged at Reno a second 
time. This time it did not arrive at its destination. There 
was a sharp crack and a scent of burning gunpowder, and the 
thing fell in a lifeless heap onto the floor. A single 
bullet hole between its eyes oozed green blood onto the 
planks, and Reno turned to see where the bullet had come 
from. Vincent stood in the doorway, firearm still raised and 
wisps of smoke trailing from the barrel, and Reno laughed 
nervously. 

Andrew: [impressed] Nice shot.

"Holy shit," he wheezed again. "Vincent, why the hell 
couldn't you do that while the goddamn thing was snacking on 
me!?" He sat down hard on the floor. "Oh, shit. What the 
hell was that thing!?" He looked down at his shoulder, which 
was bleeding profusely. "Damn...the little son of a bitch 
got me good." Elena whipped her tie off, wadded it up, and 
pressed it against Reno's wounded shoulder to try and get 
the bleeding under control.

Nanami: Wow. Elena's being awfully nice to Reno, suddenly. Hmm.

Andrew: I think they'd look kind of cute together.

Nanami: [rolls eyes] Of course, Mr. Matchmaker. What was that you said to
Stefan Gagne earlier? That Shizumaru and Rimururu from Samurai Spirits--

Andrew: That's Samurai Showdown, here in the US.

Nanami: --would also be cute together?

Andrew: And why not?

"That's what Vail's doing to them," Cloud whispered 
hoarsely. "The eggs. She's implanting them in people. Oh, 
God--Cid, we have to get Zack back before she does it to 
him!"

Nanami, Andrew: O_o

Cid surveyed the damage in the chocobo hold. Bugs was scared 
shitless but otherwise unharmed; the doctor was in much the 
same condition. "Is it gone?" the latter asked in a small 
voice, peeking out from behind the crate of greens. Cid 
nodded.

"Guess we won't be needing you after all, doc." Cid said 
flatly. "We gotta clean this mess up."

Andrew: Bleah. And a half.

"Forget it," Yuffie spat. "I'm not going near that thing."

"Oh, for God's sake, it's DEAD." Elena rolled her eyes. "I 
don't suppose there's a mop on board..." She poked at the 
dead creature with one gloved finger; it twitched feebly and 
was still. "Oh, yuck."

Nanami: [turns green again] Oh, geez....

"Fine, I'll do it." Vincent sighed, shaking his head. "I've 
seen worse." 

Andrew: Wasn't he always cleaning up Yuffie's puke in some random FFVII
fic out there? [chuckle]

Nanami: Don't say that you think _they'd_ be cute together....

Andrew: Well, maybe.

[Nanami sighs and shakes her head.]

"Did anyone notice that thing dropping teeth and claws all 
over the place?" Reno asked, holding up a few of the bloody 
little fangs he'd plucked out of his flesh. "Looks like baby 
teeth or something. God. Talk about your problem children."

Andrew: [laughing] Good line.

"We better get you and Elena patched up." Cid looked back 
over at Vincent, who was busy cleaning up the mess their 
battle had left behind. He really didn't want to know what 
Vincent could have possibly seen that was worse than this.

Nanami: [blinking] Good point.

*			*			*

Two of her children were dead. She had felt both of them 
die; their silent cries of agony rang through her mind like 
some unearthly church bell. Her children. Her poor murdered 
children. 

Andrew: Could it be....

But she still had her daughter and her puppets, and soon her 
son would be reborn as well.

Nanami: Might it be....

Jenova reached out with her mind into the green water around 

Nanami, Andrew: Ack! It's the headless bitch from outer space!

her and felt that strange creature's presence again. It was 
watching her. Plotting against her, probably, but lacking 
the fortitude to carry out its plans. It had the audacity to 
wear her son's face, no less. No matter. It was helpless, 
wracked by guilt and self-loathing, and even if it did 
attempt to move against her it would fail. 

Andrew: Ah...Sephiroth Lumina, AKA Sephy's conscience.

So why did its presence fill her with dread? 

"Go away," she hissed at it, and it did so, watching her all 
the while. It was almost out of her sight when it spoke.

"I will not let you do this," it said.

Nanami: I think there's been at least one other piece that had a Sephiroth
with a good side.

Andrew: Yeah...the one where he and Tifa...

Nanami: ...hooked up.

[Both blush madly.]

"You don't have much of a choice," Jenova shot back. "Just 
how would you stop me? Would you steal the body of one of my 
puppets?" There was no reply, and Jenova smirked. "I thought 
as much. Pathetic."

"Pathetic? That would be you. Only a coward would use a 
child like you would."

Andrew: Wotta bitch.

Jenova screamed in rage; at that exact moment yet another 
Lifestream geyser shot up right off the coast of Junon.

Nanami: Yow.

*			*			*

"There it goes again." Reeve stood on the bridge looking out 
over the sea, watching the glowing green water spurt up 
higher than ever. "What's going on down there, anyway? Those 
guys have been gone a long time...I hope they're okay."

Right about then, Cid returned to the bridge. Following him 
was a pale and shaken Cloud, the chewed and clawed Reno and 
Elena, and Rude. "I wouldn't go in there right now if I were 
you," Cid advised.

"What happened!?" Barret exclaimed, his jaw hanging. "Is 
that guy okay in there?"

Cid looked over at Junior nervously, then he stood close to 
Barret and whispered, "Aidan's dead."

"Shit." Barret shook his head. "How?"

Nanami: You do _not_ want to know.

"I don't think this is a good time to discuss it." Cid lit 
up a cigarette with shaking hands; whatever had happened 
down there had been enough to rattle even him, and that 
scared the hell out of Barret. "Tifa, could you give Reno 
and Elena a hand here?"

"Sure...oh my God, what happened?" Tifa gasped as she took a 
good look at Elena's wounds, and then at Reno's. "Did a 
monster get on here somehow?" She took care of their 
injuries via Cure spells; the ragged hole torn in the 
shoulder of Reno's jacket and shirt remained, serving as a 
mute reminder of the grisly event he had just been part of.

Nanami: I'm going to have nightmares after seeing that thing.

Cid nodded. "Something like that. I'll tell you all about it 
in a bit." He sat down next to Shera and Junior. "Everything 
okay up here?"

Junior nodded. "Is Bugs okay?"

"Bugs is fine, punkin." Cid put his arms around Junior and 
Shera and held them both tight. "You two better go ahead and 
scoot. I got a bad feeling about all this." He kissed 
Shera's lips and Junior's forehead. "I'll be back for you as 
soon as I can."

"Hurry." Shera stood and picked up the two bags she'd 
packed. "Come on, Junior."

Junior didn't move. "Daddy..."

"Junior, please go with your mama..." Cid tried to nudge her 
off the seat; she still wouldn't move. "Come on, I'm not 
taking you with me this time!"

Junior bit her trembling lower lip, crossed her arms, and 
huffed. It was obvious that she didn't plan on going 
anywhere, and Cid tried one last desperate plan. He stood, 
walked over to Reeve, and whispered, "Help me out here."

[Nanami and Andrew both grin a bit.]

Reeve sighed, sat down next to Junior, and patted her on the 
head. "I know you want to stay with your dad, but it's going 
to be really dangerous. He just doesn't want anything to 
happen to you." Junior huffed again in reply, and in 
desperation Reeve took her tiny hand and held it tightly. 
"Okay...if you won't get off the airship for your dad, will 
you do it for me?" Jackpot. Junior stood up slowly and 
looked up at Cid.

Nanami: [giggle] Isn't that so sweet?

"Sorry, punkin." Cid picked her up and hugged her tight 
again. "I'll be back. I promise."

"You better," Junior grumbled, trying to sound brave. "I 
can't start the engine on my plane by myself. Someone's 
gotta do it for me."

"Yes, ma'am." Cid kissed her forehead one more time and set 
her down; she shuffled over to Shera and took her mama's 
hand. "You take care."

"Bye, Daddy." And with that, Reeve led Shera and Junior off 
the airship. The Turks remained.

"You three lugnuts going or staying?" Cid asked. Reno 
shrugged.

"I dunno yet. How long is it going to take to get that 
tracker set up?"

Cid frowned and looked over the plans Reeve had given him. 
"It doesn't look too complicated. Give me about three 
hours."

"I'm going," Elena said. "You two can do what you want, but 
I'm going. After what I saw in there just now, I can't just 
sit around waiting for Vail to do that to someone else. 
Especially not some little kid."

Andrew: Well, what exactly would she be doing?

Nanami: She's the hacker, remember? I'm sure she'd find something that
would help out.

Rude shrugged. "I think I'm going to stay. I wouldn't be 
surprised if Scarlet started sending SOLDIERS over here real 
soon, and Reeve needs all the muscle he can get to keep 'em 
out."

"Damn." Reno shook his head. "I'll let you know in three 
hours, then." With that, he and Rude left the bridge. A few 
seconds later, Reno poked his head back in. "Elena?"

"Yes?"

"Could I talk to you for a minute?"

Andrew: Hmm....

Nanami: Is that guy putting moves on her again?

Elena shrugged and followed Reno into the engine room. "Need 
something?"

"Nah." Reno scratched his head nervously. "Listen, I just 
wanted to thank you for helping save my ass in there."

"Oh, that." Elena shrugged again. "It was nothing."

"Yeah, well. It wasn't 'nothing' to me. I owe you one." Reno 
coughed. Damn, he wasn't any good at this stuff..."Maybe I 
could take you out to dinner or something."

Nanami: Hmm. Nice gesture, but this isn't going to come across the right
way at all.

Andrew: Ayep.

Elena stared at him for exactly four seconds, after which 
she burst out laughing. "Oh no. I know what you're pulling, 
Reno! It didn't work before and it's not gonna work now!"  

Nanami: Bingo.

Andrew: Ayep.

Nanami: Can't you say more than that?

Andrew: Well, what else is there to say?

At that moment, Reno felt about two inches tall. "I didn't 
mean...oh, never mind. Be careful, Elena." And he turned and 
left.

Elena stood there, shaking her head as she watched Reno and 
Rude go. "What's up with him?" she wondered aloud.

"Duh," Yuffie's voice shot back from the other side of the 
engine room. "It's pretty obvious. He thinks you're hot."

"Duh, yourself. Any idiot could see THAT. He's been trying 
to score with me forever. But he's never told me to be 
careful or any of that stuff...wait, what the hell am I 
telling you this for? It's none of your business."

Andrew: Maybe there's something more there?

Nanami: Calm down, Andrew.

"Well, maybe he really likes you. Give him a chance." Yuffie 
sat down, swinging her legs over the side of the catwalk she 
was perched on. "I mean, you don't have to be so rude to 
him."

Elena shot her a pained glance. "Don't you have Materia to 
steal or people to rip off or something?"

Yuffie thought about it a second, then she shrugged. "Nope."

"Great," Elena sighed, rolling her eyes.

Andrew: Heh!

Nanami: [grin] Wow. For once.

---

Author's notes: Well, well, well! Show of hands: who saw the 
Raven/Scarlet lime scene coming (no pun intended!)?...so I 

Andrew: Nope, didn't see it coming. Anyway, the scene was just priceless.

Nanami: Yep. I loved it. [chuckle]

lied about that particular rumor being false. Sue me. And 
it's such a shame that Reeve will never know just how true 
his words were...y'know, I had half a mind to name the 
doctor "Wedge" and have the Jenova critter rip him to 
shreds, but that would have been just plain silly...possible 

Andrew: You see?

Nanami: She was talking about the doctor.

Andrew: Well, the same would apply to Aidan.

Elena/Yuffie friendship in the works? It could 
happen...that's all for tonight.

Andrew: Would be a nice detail, don't you think?

Nanami: Yeah. Anyway, great work, as usual.

Andrew: Hope that more comes up.

>From Andrew Huang, brought to you by his computer, Oddzilla
Oddzilla says, "Mmmmm...Evanjellydonut...."
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~alhuang/
Harvard Anime Society, President