Reno found himself speechless upon hearing Rufus' request over the phone that afternoon, but not in a good way.
         He had been working alone in the Turks' office in the Shinra Building when the President's call came in over the secured line; Rude and Elena were out of the office for the afternoon, overseeing a physical endurance test for SOLDIER candidates. News of the Weapon monster's attack had already reached Reno through a SOLDIER lieutenant he was acquainted with, but other than that, it had been a fairly uneventful day.
         When he finally could speak, the first words that spilled out of Reno's mouth were, "There's no other way?"
         On the other end of the line, Rufus sighed. "You know how strong Sephiroth is. If we send troops or even mecha down into the crater, he'd decimate them."
         "What about a monster? You know, one of the Science Department's 'biological weapons'?"
         Rufus didn't reply. Reno narrowed his eyes at nothing in particular and said, "You've considered it, haven't you. Why aren't you going that route? Because there's no one in charge of the Science Department anymore?"
         "Certainly, there's no one presently there whose skills are comparable to Hojo's, and I refuse to hire him back since he can't be trusted. After all, his research is largely responsible for this mess."
         "So that leaves me, huh."
         "Yes. Once the barrier is destroyed, I want to send you down into the crater with as much backup and equipment as you require to take care of Sephiroth."
         Reno frowned grimly. On the one hand, he was pleasantly surprised that Rufus would be so accommodating on such a mission. Yet on the other, he knew that if Sephiroth wasn't taken care of, then perhaps none of them stood a chance of surviving. There was no doubt that Sephiroth had to be dealt with, and whoever Rufus put up to the task would receive only the best backup Shinra could afford.
         "There's just one problem with that plan, Mr. President. I'm not sure if Bahamut-ZERO is still with me."
         A pause. "What do you mean?"
         "I conducted an experiment on myself not too long ago. It was to extract ZERO from me, but the results were inconclusive."
         "Now you tell me. So there's a good chance that you won't be able to transform?"
         "I'm afraid so."
         "What if you had some people from the Science Department try and test your capabilities. They could pump you full of hyper and throw you to a pack of our fiercest guard hounds."
         Reno didn't like this proposal. Of course, it would be a good way to test whether or not ZERO was gone for good, but he dreaded the lingering effects—not only the mental instability, but also the dredging up of intensely painful memories. Then, an idea came to him. As a huge grin spread across his face, Reno replied, "Yeah, sure. I'll go to the Science Department and talk to some people there, see what they can do. Thanks for the suggestion, sir."
         With that, Reno hung up the phone and started toward the door. He'd talk to Shinra's scientists all right, but not about what Rufus had in mind.

         "…So that's the situation. No one's in charge around here and we need to send something powerful into the Northern Crater to defeat Sephiroth. I'll oversee the development of anything you come up with, just as long as it doesn't involve Jenova cells."
         Reno was addressing a hastily-gathered group of Shinra's best scientists and laboratory technicians. The plan was to have them cook up some monster—as what Rufus had thought of doing, but ultimately didn't want to—and ship it to the Northern Crater. In the meantime, he would work with the Company's current crop of materiologists in finding the best materia to use as part of a backup plan.
         After presenting his proposal, one of the scientists gave him a skeptical look. "You do realize there's a barrier over the Crater. Nothing can get in or out of there."
         "The President told me that he and the executives have come up with a plan to take care of that little problem. All we need now is something to send down there to kick Sephiroth's ass. You follow?"
         Another scientist raised his hand. Reno nodded in his direction, and the man asked, "And this will take care of Meteor how?"
         "We're still working on that," Reno replied grimly. "While it's true that spells can be cancelled out by the caster's death, the Meteor spell has already begun to take effect. As far as I know, no one's ever interrupted an active spell successfully, either by killing the caster or through other means. We'd be treading into unknown territory, but even so, it's something we must try."
         The Science Department crew murmured amongst themselves for a moment, then a female lab tech inquired, "You have the President's approval to do all of this?"
         "Of course! He knows that I used to be a staff scientist myself—"
         "For the Space Program," someone dryly interrupted.
         Reno rolled his eyes. "A minor detail. So will I have your assistance or not? You all don't have much to lose."
         More murmuring. Listening carefully, Reno caught snippets of conversation.
         "He wants us to make something that'll beat Sephiroth? Without using Jenova cells?"
         "It's possible. Remember that guardian we made for the Shinra Mansion's safe?"
         "I wonder who they plan on sending as backup."
         Finally, the chatter quieted down, and the skeptical scientist from before took a step toward Reno. "All right. We'll work with you."

*****

         It had been two days since Tseng and Zack left Cloud adrift near the shores of Mideel's main island. They had lingered there until someone came along and discovered the comatose young man; then, deciding that their part had been played, they plunged deeper into the Lifestream to return to the north, where Aeris would be waiting. As their urgent southward journey had been rather taxing, they took their time in making this return trip.
         Although it had been awhile since his death, Tseng still found the Lifestream to be a strange and unpredictable place, with something new—or old—to encounter with every rotation of the Planet. Now they were, by Tseng's best estimate, somewhere beneath the Northern Continent and drawing close to their final destination: the Forgotten Capital of the Cetra. Tseng was pushing on forward, with Zack bringing up the rear, when he broke through some sort of barrier into a brightly-lit area and fell a short distance onto a dirt path. As he began to stand up, he heard a second thud, which was surely Zack. Tseng started to brush the brown spots from his knees, which was when he noticed he was back in his old S-Class SOLDIER uniform. Taking a look around, he saw that they were standing before an iron gate, beyond which were some buildings set around a modest water tower. To his left was a large stone jar, and at his right stood an old, rusted truck.
         "Nibelheim…" he murmured.
         "Yeah," Zack said from behind him. "Sure looks like it."
         "We've traveled far today. Shall we take a break here?"
         "Not sure I want to. This place gives me the creeps."
         "I understand. Let's continue on then." Tseng started toward the town.
         "No. We need to go back and find a way around."
         "That bad, is it?"
         "Yoshiro, look at me."
         Doing as he was told, Tseng turned around. The sight that met his eyes was not one he had expected, but then again, that was the nature of the Lifestream.
         Zack was in his First-Class SOLDIER uniform, as usual, but this time large, dark spots were splattered over the front of his shirt and trousers. His old Buster Sword was in his right hand, the sharp edge stained with purplish-red blood. Behind him, a Shinra military transport truck stood, devoid of driver and passengers.
         Tseng wasn't sure what to say at first, but then some words spilled out on their own. "You look as though you've just slain a dragon."
         "I did, with Sephiroth, five years ago. Our convoy was a few hours away from Nibelheim; it was early in the morning and still dark." Suddenly, Zack dropped the massive sword. "I remember everything now. Being close to Cloud must've triggered it."
         Tseng stared at him. "You mean all this time you couldn't recall what had happened here?"
         "No," Zack replied, shaking his head, his eyes focused on nothing in particular. "Cloud had my memories. And right before we pushed him back to the surface, I could swear that I sensed something about him."
         "Which would be?"
         "That he's empty. Either that or… his own memories have been lost."
         "Hmm." Tseng turned back to look at the town, then resumed walking until he was directly under the gate. He reached over to his right and touched the cold iron of the gatepost with his hand, thinking all the while about what Zack had said. His memories had gone missing. This was probably because of the mako treatments he had received while in SOLDIER; memory loss was a common side effect of mako infusion. However, this whole business of Cloud having Zack's memories was rather unusual.
         Tseng pulled his hand away from the gate and stared at the water tower that lay just up ahead. "Zack, do you know where you were for the past five years?"
         "I was in the basement of the Shinra Mansion, with Cloud. We were held prisoner and experimented on."
         "For some reason, I'm not surprised to hear that. Now can you tell me, in your own words, what happened here? I want to know everything."
         "Why?"
         "Because," Tseng replied as he shoved his hands in his trouser pockets, still facing the water tower, "I'm the reason why you were sent on that mission with Sephiroth. I recommended you for the job, if you recall. Therefore, I feel partially responsible for your fate."
         "Yoshiro, you don't have to—"
         But Tseng wasn't hearing any more of it. He walked deeper into the Lifestream's latest illusion, this replica of a cursed mountain village. When Zack and Aeris first started going out together, he didn't like it one bit, but he could see what his friend found appealing about the flashy young SOLDIER. As such, a new kind of burden fell to his shoulders. As he looked out for and took care of Aeris, he came to feel similar obligations toward Zack, however subconscious. It was only natural; having her best interests at heart included making sure that not only she was taken care of, but those close to her as well. Even the one he didn't particularly like. He turned back to Zack, the one whom he could never call friend or brother, but was bound to nonetheless.
         "Yes I do. So will you tell me what you saw here or not? If you don't want to, I'll understand."

         Zack conceded, taking Tseng around to various places within Nibelheim, relating his story along the way, one bit at a time. Aside from a couple of houses and shops, there was the inn, where Zack said Sephiroth felt something familiar about the town, and the Shinra Mansion, where the dark secrets about Sephiroth's origins were uncovered. As Tseng listened, he mentally pieced together Zack's story with all the little snippets of information he had gathered over the five years since the incident. After leaving the mansion and starting on the path that led to the Mt. Nibel Mako Reactor, Tseng spoke for the first time since they entered this illusory town.
         "There's so much that makes sense now, except for one thing. Why did Sephiroth's 'mother', Jenova, have you kill Aeris if she was a Cetra herself?"
         "Jenova isn't a Cetra," Zack replied. "I'm not sure what she is, but I think she wiped out most of the Cetra. Whatever she—or it—is, it's evil to the core."
         Tseng didn't have anything to say to this, so he sank back into silence and continued following Zack along the winding path. Eventually, they reached and entered the reactor; aside from the hum of the machines, the place was silent. Then, they went inside the main control room to find Sephiroth standing at the top of the staircase, facing the door above which Jenova's name was inscribed.
         Without turning around, Sephiroth said, "It's been a long time, Kawaguchi."
         "Since you killed me in the Temple of the Ancients?" Tseng replied. "No, not really."
         "Hmm." Sephiroth turned around, and Tseng could see that his the edges of his lips were curled up into that familiar, disarming smile. "I was thinking of other times, other places… but you are right. The Temple was the last place we met, was it not?"
         "Yes, and you had changed so much."
         "I could've said the same of you." That smile of Sephrioth's would not fade. Tseng took a deep breath; this conversation was going nowhere.
         "What are you doing here?"
         "Besides revisiting an important moment in my life?" Sephiroth replied, lightly touching Jenova's door with one hand. The scene around them shimmered, changing into a stony plateau surrounded by the endless green of the Lifestream. "I'm here to tell you not to proceed any further in your journey."
         Tseng glanced over at Zack. The look in his eyes told him that they were thinking roughly the same thing: Sephiroth's terms were to be expected, but at the same time, entirely unacceptable. As Zack reached back for his sword, Tseng's hand started for the holster strapped to his hip, but paused partway. A gun would be fine against Sephiroth, but a sword, like the one he used to carry on occasion when he really was S-Class, would be even better. Suddenly, Tseng felt a weight on his back; he reached behind him and drew his old Enhance Sword, a standard-issue blade for SOLDIERs of his elite ranking. He adjusted the sword in his hands as he took an offensive stance; the eight materia were slotted in their usual configuration, and even the few tiny nicks and scratches on the hilt were exactly the same. Tseng smiled inwardly; the Lifestream truly was an amazing place.
         Sephiroth closed his eyes and nodded once. Opening them again, he placed one hand on the hilt of his Masamune and the other on the sword's scabbard. "Hmph. So you wish to continue?" he said, drawing the Masamune with a metallic shing. "Somehow, I'm not surprised that it's come to this."
         "This is pointless," Zack whispered over to Tseng. "We're already dead, in the godforsaken Lifestream. Sephiroth can't hurt us… right?"
         Tseng, whose gaze was completely focused on Sephiroth, replied, "Think again. This is a battle of wills, with our souls at stake. To win, we have to be stronger than him in ways that transcend physicality."
         "Shouldn't be a problem—I know I'm motivated. After all, he's blocking our path to Aeris."
         "Not to mention Holy."
         A pause. "Holy?" Zack asked.
         "Yes. The spell that calls upon the Lifestream itself, and the natural counterbalance to Meteor. It was what Aeris had cast at the time Jenova forced you to kill her."
         "So we can't have Sephiroth in Holy's way?"
         "Right. Our most important task is to ensure that Holy is free to do its job."
         Sephiroth, whose stance hadn't wavered, called out, "Well? Are either of you going to try and get past me?"
         "How're we gonna do this?" whispered Zack.
         "The only way we can: together. Are you ready?"
         "As ready as I'll ever be."
         "Very good. Now on my mark. One. Two. Three!"
         With the Buster Sword-wielding Zack at his side, Tseng rushed toward Sephiroth brandishing his own Enhance Sword. He wasn't sure they'd be able to defeat their strong-willed former commander, but he would be damned if they didn't give it their best attempt.

*****

         The Shinra troops weren't able to kill the Weapon that day, as it retreated during the fighting, headed toward parts unknown. Although it was not to be seen in Junon again, two more Weapons manifested themselves afterwards, each within a day of each other. One of these, a swimming mass of thick green limbs and protrusions, came near the Underwater Reactor, but curiously, did not attack it; the other, a fishlike being that was as large as the previous two Weapons combined, drove its massive body into Junon head-on. This third Weapon was particularly tough, and only after the mako cannon grazed its thick outer armor did it retreat.
         It was now the sixth day since Meteor had been summoned, and Rufus was tired of it all. Tired of fighting, of planning, and of the uncertainty that lay ahead of him. In particular, these recent Weapon attacks only served to elevate the President's stress levels. Because of them, many fine officers, SOLDIERs, and MPs had been lost, and the Company had to postpone the painstaking and time-consuming task of aiming the mako cannon precisely at the Northern Crater. At least he and his executives had decided, during a meeting earlier that day, what exactly they would do with Tifa Lockheart and Barret Wallace. It was all Scarlet's idea, and not a bad one at that—as a pacifier to the mass hysteria that had arisen since the Meteor first appeared in the sky, the Shinra Electric Power Company would execute these two AVALANCHE members, blaming them for this whole mess. The only problem was that Tifa was still comatose, though the doctor watching over her predicted that she would awaken soon. No matter; if it came down to it, they would just give her a lethal injection, putting her to sleep permanently, while the AVALANCHE leader himself was publicly executed.
         During their discussions, Heidegger expectedly backed the plan, while Palmer and Reeve expressed their doubts. However, these latter two conceded in the end, and thus was the matter decided upon. On the following morning, Tifa and Barret would be executed during a live television broadcast. A press release was soon drafted and distributed, and Heidegger assigned an inspection team to the gas chamber to make sure it would be in good working order for the big event. Rufus himself just wanted to get it over and done with, as there were more pressing matters on his agenda.
         A knock came at the door. "Come in," Rufus called.
         The door opened, and Hojo stepped into the office. "Do you have a moment, Mr. President?"
         Rufus narrowed his eyes at the scientist. "What do you want?"
         "I just need to ask you something."
         "Go ahead."
         "Have there been any sightings of that failed clone recently?"
         "You mean Cloud?" Rufus shook his head. "He has neither been seen nor heard from since we escaped the Northern Crater. He was caught in a cave-in, if you recall."
         "Yes, yes he was." Hojo shut the door again and hobbled further into the room, stopping before Rufus' desk. "However, this failure has surprised me before with his resilience and ingenuity. I was hoping that perhaps he somehow survived. There's much I want to ask him."
         "It seems unlikely," Rufus replied, although Hojo's words had made him doubt his own. One thing he had noticed about Cloud during the short time he knew him was that he always managed to show up at the most inconvenient moments. That being the case, it wouldn't be entirely unexpected if Cloud just appeared out of the blue to rescue his friends. If that happened, they had to be ready for him.
         "You've been very busy these days, young Rufus," Hojo said, steering the conversation in a different direction. "I've had trouble trying to get in touch with you."
         "The executives and I have had much to discuss."
         "Nothing that you can share with me?"
         "Technically, you're no longer employed with the Company, so in short, no."
         "Hmm…" Hojo replied. "Still, if that failure does turn up, will you let me know?"
         "We shall see."
         Hojo smiled and nodded, then shuffled out of the office. Once he left, Rufus picked up the phone and dialed Heidegger. The very last thing that he wanted was for anyone—especially Cloud—to disrupt the Company's plans. Of course, he'd been concerned about the Highwind escapees this whole time, but Cloud he had written off. No longer.

         Later that afternoon, Rufus left his office to visit the intensive care infirmary on the other side of the War Room. On his way there, he spied Reeve standing by the War Room's large window and talking on his PHS. Reeve turned his head and met the President's gaze, giving a small wave in greeting. As Rufus approached, Reeve wrapped up his call and turned to face him.
         "Hello Rufus. Taking a break?"
         "Actually, I'm on my way to visit our special prisoners."
         "Those two from AVALANCHE? I hear the girl still hasn't awakened."
         "Is that right. At any rate, will you join me?"
         "I'm not sure that I want to. You know that the feelings I harbor toward AVALANCHE aren't exactly positive ones."
         "You haven't seen them since their arrival?"
         "No," Reeve said as he turned away from Rufus and resumed gazing out the window, "but I suppose I should, since they're going to die soon."
         Recalling the debating that had gone on earlier that day, Rufus said, "You know, you surprised me in this morning's meeting when you said you were leaning against executing them."
         "I just don't see the point. I understand that the people want to hold someone accountable, but I'm not sure that it matters right now. First and foremost, people want solutions."
         "You have a quaint understanding of human nature."
         "Maybe that's because I take the long view. Distractions are only effective for so long. Besides, I've long frowned upon the death penalty—even for the likes of AVALANCHE."
         Rufus smiled. "Ahh, so the truth comes out. Well, I'm sorry, but their fate has already been decided upon. Now, shall we go see them?"
         Reeve tore himself away from the window and faced the infirmary door across the room. "All right. Might as well get this over and done with."
         "Just one thing before we enter: don't dare say a word about the execution plans."
         "They don't know?"
         "No, and for the time being, I'd like to keep it that way."
         Reeve gave a solitary nod as Rufus joined him at his side. Together, they walked toward and entered the infirmary.

         Tifa Lockheart was in her usual position, laying still on the examination table, eyes closed and breathing low but steady. Across the room, Barret Wallace sat in a chair, gazing out of the windows.
         "Mr. Wallace," Rufus said upon entering the room. Barret slowly turned his head to face the two newcomers.
         "What do you want, Rufus?"
         "Just checking in on you. Miss Lockheart still hasn't awakened, I see."
         Barret shook his head. "She's still asleep."
         With Reeve trailing behind, Rufus strode over to the examination table and looked at Tifa's prone body. Then, he heard Reeve ask, "Aren't you going to introduce us, sir?"
         "Eh?" Looking over at Reeve, Rufus saw that he was staring straight at Barret, and Barret at him. Between these two, a tension had arisen that was almost tangible.
         "Oh. Mr. Wallace, this is the Chairman of Shinra's Urban Development division—"
         "—Forrest Reeves, also known as Reeve." Barret interrupted. "Yeah, I know all 'bout him."
         Before Rufus could respond, Reeve himself replied, "Do you now, Barret Wallace, leader of AVALANCHE?"
         "Yeah. Your division is responsible for building and maintaining those damn mako reactors that've been drainin' this planet dry."
         "Yes, running mako reactors is a part of my job, as is looking out for Midgar's best interests. You and your AVALANCHE friends have made doing both these tasks very difficult."
         "Good. I hope we got our message across."
         "What, that violence causes more problems than it solves?"
         Rufus could see where this was headed. "Stop this bickering," he ordered, grabbing Reeve's arm. "Listen, I think we should go now."
         Reeve said nothing as Rufus pulled him out of the room, locking the door behind them.

         "Perhaps I made a mistake in asking you to come along," Rufus sighed as he pressed the switch to close the window shutters. He and Reeve were now in his office, the former ready to pack it in a little early and call it a day.
         "Don't worry about it. You seriously didn't expect me to keep my cool being in the same room as him, did you?"
         "No, but nothing you say to him wouldn't have done any good. You can't convince people like that to see things your way—it's as productive as talking to a wall."
         Reeve sighed wearily. "You're right. It's pointless. Especially since he's going to be executed tomorrow."
         "Mmm hmm." Rufus shut down his computer and checked his pockets, making sure he had everything he needed before going home. The only thing that remained was to pick up his coat from the hook by the door, and lock up the place. He walked around the desk and toward Reeve, who was leaning against the wall. The Urban Dev chair's face was still hardened into an irritated expression, which caused Rufus to smile.
         "What's so goddamned amusing?"
         A small laugh escaped Rufus' mouth; he reached out with one hand and undid the buttons on Reeve's suit jacket, one by one. "When you get angry like this—no, self-righteous—I find you very…"
         "Very… what?" Reeve asked, his tone lowered.
         After undoing the last button, Rufus reached forward and took Reeve's red silk tie in his hand, giving it a small tug. "Attractive."
         Rufus tugged on the tie again, a little harder this time, drawing Reeve away from the wall and toward him. Their faces were now so close to each other that Rufus could hear Reeve's breathing; it was a little shaky, but steady—much like his own. Slowly, he closed his eyes and started for Reeve's lips; the latter responded in kind. They brushed together, and Rufus felt every curve of those lips, as well as the short hairs of Reeve's beard, against his own lips, chin, and cheeks.
         Then, almost without warning, Rufus felt a hand ease up the back of his head, breaking the perfect shape of his hair, followed by Reeve pressing his mouth against Rufus', slowly coaxing it open.
         However long they stood there, pressed against each other, Rufus wasn't sure; all that he knew was that the moment ended far too soon. Reeve stepped to one side and began refastening his coat buttons.
         "I'm riding back to Midgar today."
         "Yes, I know. You said so at this morning's meeting."
         Reeve nodded. "I just wanted to remind you, so you don't think I'm blowing you off. It's getting late, and I have to leave soon."
         "You can't stay any longer?"
         "I'm sorry Rufus, but I have a lot to do back in Midgar. My city needs me."
         "I know. We'll see each other again soon, won't we."
         "Yes. Yes we will… Are you sure you won't change your mind about executing those two?"
         Rufus shook his head. "What's done is done."
         "You're as stubborn as your father was."
         Reeve reached out and gently pushed Rufus' bangs out of his eyes; the latter leaned into the former's touch and sighed. This man truly is wonderful… Rufus thought, as Reeve cupped the President's chin in his hand and gave him an equally gentle parting kiss. Drawing back, Reeve looked into Rufus' eyes, a strange sort of smile on his own face.
         "By the way, thank you for helping me to… calm down a little."
         "Of course," Rufus replied. "You should get going."
         Reeve nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
         Rufus walked over to where his coat was hung and picked it up, slinging it over his shoulder. His thoughts still lingered on the delectable moment that had transpired between Reeve and himself, and of how it ended too quickly, too suddenly. He should've stopped Reeve from leaving, slipped that blue jacket past his shoulders, loosen the knot in his tie, unhook his belt buckle…
         He tried to steel himself against these lustful thoughts, but it was too late; already partially aroused by the kiss, his mental undressing of Reeve only served to complete it. He hadn't had this experience since around the time he first fell for Yoshiro—such a fool he was back then. Not anymore. Even if they all did only have a month left to live, Rufus promised himself that it would be the one stretch of time he would not let go to waste. Carefully, meticulously, he would make Reeve completely his—body and soul—no matter what.
         However, he knew that to do this, he had to take things a little bit at a time, starting with a certain inconvenience that had recently manifested itself. He glanced over at his desk, making sure that there was a box of tissues resting atop it. Upon seeing that there was, he dropped his coat on the floor and walked toward the desk, fiddling with his belt as he did so. Step One had to be carried out right then, right now, and he would remained focused on his handsome, bearded goal the entire time.