Vincent wandered the rooms of the mansion, seeing the pale light of dawn breaking through on Nibelheim out the dirty glass windows. It had lain abandoned for too long, without a caretaker or resident, and was now the breeding ground for countless species of monster. Vincent had spent most of the night discovering nests and warding off attacks, but the parade of demons was at a low ebb at the moment, and grey morning was starting to peep through into the mansion. As usual, sleep had avoided him the entire night, but it was not often a visitor, anyway. The only thing sleep brought to him was deeper nightmares.

He slowly made his way down the rickety wooden steps to the basement of the mansion, to the research libraries that were once diligently collected, over thirty years ago, and now lay in a state of ruin, books scattered everywhere, yellowed documents lying on tables, appearing to be so worn that they would most likely crumble at a touch. Too much had been left in disarray, important information tossed everywhere, probably the work of Sephiroth on the night he lost his sanity, the night he learned of Jenova.

/Lucrecia.../ He bent and picked up a book, the handwriting scrawled on the cover telling him it held information about experiments with Mako energy on humans. /Not this.../ Another dealt with research on the existance of Weapons, a thin volume with several missing pages. /No.../ Nothing on Sephiroth, nothing on Lucrecia. Nothing on Vincent Valentine.

He looked around him, standing tall in the darkly lit room, the candles he had lit casting ghostly shadows around the place and glinting on his brass arm. He had come here to perhaps find a greater understanding of the expiraments conducted on him, on her, but the books were too numerous for a quick search. His research could take days, weeks, months. Years.

But it wasn't as though there was anything else left for him. At least perhaps he would get a clue as to what had happened... to Lucrecia... Perhaps a clue as to where he could find her again...

Closing the door against any remaining monsters, he glanced round him at the tall bookshelves before choosing a pile of books and carrying it to the table. Then he set to work.

Hours later, Rufus shuffled down the stairs to the Cosmo Candle, wiping the sleep from his eyes and gently rubbing his right temple. He had spent the entire night in a fitful sleep, dreaming vaguely of his past, of the Lifestream, starting awake every time he called out to it. Eventually he had given up and simply lay there, staring out the window and pondering recent events, until he fell once and for all into a dreamless slumber. He didn't feel refreshed whatsoever.

"Good morning, Rufus!" Bugah greeted him cheerfully from out of nowhere. The boy started and whirled on his heel, noticing the Elder seated at a table in the corner of the bar. Immediately, he recomposed himself and all traces of weariness vanished; he was cold as ice once more.

"Sit down, sit down!" the old man exclaimed, seeing Rufus's quick squaring of the shoulders and the all too familiar glint in his eyes. "I won't bite. Have a drink!"

"I'm... not much of a drinker," Rufus muttered, slowly and warily taking the opposite bench. "No thank you."

"Hmm, so I hear. Tifa told me about last night." He took a deep swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, setting the half-full glass back on the table. "Pretty girl, don't you think so?"

The icy demeaner of Rufus suggested that he was enraged. "I beg your pardon?"

"Tifa! Of course, last night!" Bugah smiled again, cheerful and plucky on such a fine morning, though the warmth didn't permeate Rufus's steel exterior. "She tells me you two talked quite a while."

Rufus narrowed his eyes and stared at Bugah. "Perhaps we did. Why would-"

"Come, come, let's not waste our time," Bugah interrupted, shaking his head. "Things have changed. There is something we want to show you."

And quicker than his years and appearance belied, Bugah was on his feet and leading Rufus outside, tugging on the corner of his trenchcoat until the ex-President of Shinra was forced to oblige, muttering complaints the entire way. Bugah ignored every word and didn't relent, striding on until they came upon Red XIII and Tifa, standing before a small flight of stairs leading to further up the canyon wall. Only then did Bugah release Rufus and stand aside, hands folded behind his back and ambiguous expression on his face.

Rufus glanced at the three around him and cocked an eyebrow, putting his hands on his hips. "What is the meaning of this?"

"We have to show you something," Reeve replied from the top of the stairs. Rufus flicked his eyes up to the speaker at the sudden interruption, but didn't appear surprised that Reeve had been there. He affected to have known the executive was standing there all along. "This is the top location for the Study of Planet Life. And there's things you have to know."

"What do you mean?" Rufus sighed. "I don't understand how you got jurisdiction on what I need to know, Reeve. Wh-"

"You're going to *appreciate* this one," Tifa interrupted, shooting him a meaningful look. "It's something you've been ignoring your entire life. And it's very important."

He glared piercingly at her, but didn't reply. She faltered, but held her ground, staring pointedly back at him. He seemed to find this amusing.

"Anyway," Red growled lowly, causing Tifa to break her concentration and turn to regard the lion-beast somewhat apologetically. "Rufus, if you'll just follow us..."

"No thank you."

"Rufus, if I need to remind you-"

"No, that's alright. I would rather not play your little game, if you don't mind. Now if you'll excuse me-" He turned on his heel and pushed past Bugah, haughtily flicking back a few strands of hair. There was no way he was going to remain for this. He didn't trust anything they had to say.

Red abruptly cut off his departure by sinking his teeth into the hem of Rufus's trenchcoat. "You have to stay."

He turned and regarded the animal now pulling him towards the stairs with marked annoyance. "*Stop* that," he yelped, trying to kick at him, but Red darted out of the way before foot could connect with fur. Rufus scowled down and tried to pull himself free, but Red held his jaw firm. They struggled thus against each other a few moments before Rufus finally sighed in angry defeat and crossed his arms over his chest. "Stupid mutt."

"I'm not a mutt," Red replied calmly, releasing Rufus and absently licking the back of one paw. "Follow me." And then he turned and was loping up the stairs, checking over his shoulder to make sure Rufus was being obediant. He was. Though the glare in his eyes meant he obviously didn't enjoy it.

Rufus followed Tifa, Reeve, and Red up the stairs, down several hallways and past several dimly lit corridors before finally entering a small room with a ladder reaching up to the ceiling. A hot breeze blew down through it, and Rufus shielded his eyes from the sunlight glinting through the small aperture. It led to the top of the Canyon.

"Perhaps you knew of Professor Gast," Red remarked absently, wasting no time in sprinting up the ladder. It was completely vertical and obviously not made for animal paws to use, but miraculously, the lion-beast scaled the wall and sat back on his haunches at the top, watching Reeve climb up after him. "Gast gave these machines to my grandfather a long time ago. Then after my grandfather died, he left them to me."

"Gast? Him again?" Rufus stared up at Red and Reeve, glancing distastefully at the ladder. "What else did he do here?"

"Provided most of the files," Red shrugged. "He was a very smart man. But he was misled by Shinra."

Rufus narrowed his eyes up at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing at all," Red called to the floor below him, his tail switching back and forth. Rufus gave him a glare.

Tifa leaned on the wall, raising an eyebrow at Rufus. "After you."

The youth gave a sarcastic salute and ascended the ladder, as delicately as Red's withering gaze would allow, the metal rungs cold against the skin of his hands. He reached, hand over hand over hand, until he was able to poke his head out and look around him, at the huge machines and gadgets gathered on the small plateau, whirring and humming with life. The red Cosmo sky cast looming shadows on the grey mechanics, staining everything in a deep auburn light.

"Sir?" Reeve was looking at him questioningly, rubbing his goatee. "Need help?"

Rufus shook his head no and crawled out onto solid ground again, looking around him. It was a beautiful view from all the way up there, with the canyon stretching for miles out below them. The crimson sun shone high above, beaming its warmth onto his face and sending a dusty breeze across the plateau. He shoved his hands in his pockets as the flaps of his long trenchcoat began to flutter in the wind, trailing behind him like a cape.

"So," he yawned, breaking the silence that had fallen upon the four. "What is this you have to show me?"

"Follow me," Red muttered, and padded away towards a small hut near the edge of the plateau. Rufus shrugged at Reeve and complied, a bored swagger in his step, as though anything he was about to see would be quickly forgotten. Reeve just watched him silently.

"Think he's even going to care?" Tifa gasped, pulling herself off of the ladder and onto the red ground. "He's acting kind of strange. He was relatively nice when I ran into him last night, but now all of a sudden he's being a complete jerk..."

"Well, he needs to know this," Reeve said softly, holding out a hand to help her up. She took it hesitantly and followed his gaze to the ex-President's departing form, the red hair shifting in the breeze. "He'll probably get pretty mad at us, but he needs to know the reasons that Mako isn't an option anymore. Otherwise..." He trailed off, but they both knew the otherwise. Otherwise, Shinra Inc. would resurface, and Rufus would either get himself killed or further destruct the Planet. But this time there would be no Weapon nearby to provide an end-all. This time could be more destructive than that of all the former Shinra presidents' combined. He had to know, and he had to know now.

Reeve and Tifa followed the others into Bugenhagen's home, into his famous hologram machine, where Red sat licking a paw and Rufus stood unmoving, gazing around him with a contemptuous stare. /This is pointless/, he seemed to be telling them. /What a joke./

"You three all in?" Red called out, turning and putting his paws on the wall.. "I'm turning on the machine. Watch out."

Rufus looked unblinkingly on as Red XIII pressed a small button with his nose and the lights dimmed off, the cieling above him suddenly glowing with deep indigo light. But he was totally unprepared for the floor to suddenly start moving, carrying him upwards, but throwing him off balance.

"H-hey!" he yelped, grabbing Tifa's shoulder to steady himself. "What the hell!?"

The lights dimmed, and Rufus was immersed in darkness a long moment, before suddenly the world around him exploded with brilliant light. Stars, planets, suns and moons, swirled around him in breathtaking color and detail. It was the universe, a hologram of the universe, though it was real, so unquestionably real. He held his breath and dropped his hands to his sides, surveying the sights surrounding him, the song of the planets humming happily in his ears.

"My god..." he murmered, drawing back, as a comet sped past him and reflected in his glowing eyes. "This is... This is incredible..."

"Wow." Reeve scratched the back of his head and smirked sheepishly. "I've never seen it up-close before. This is amazing, Red."

"Thanks." Red appeared above them, standing on a small platform that faded into the background, all becoming part of the hologram. "It's my grandfather's."

"Oh my..." Rufus breathed again, reaching out a hand to touch Jupiter's image as it lazily made its rotations. Then something else caught the corner of his eye, and he turned his head to look. "*Hey!*"

"Mmm?" Tifa turned to look at him. "Is something wrong?"

Crimson started seeping into Rufus's cheeks. "Yes, there's something *wrong*.. Look at *that!*"

Reeve swung around immediately, eyes searching for any sign of danger, but there was none, only the planets circling around him and singing their cries of joy. But he had neglected to notice something that Rufus might not appreciate having with him, something he probably should have removed before he arrived. For the President was now pointing a finger at four glowing chunks of stone, floating at the far end of the machine. The huge Materia.

"That-... That's Shinra property!" Rufus spluttered. "Y- You can't just *take* that!!! That was supposed to be on the rocket we sent to space! The Shin-Ra 26!!! How...?" He trailed off, looking around him indignantly. "You *thieves!*"

"Rufus, calm down," Red sighed, flopping onto his stomach and dangling a paw over the edge. "We're not thieves. We knew it was too delicate to be in Shinra hands."

"But... But..." Rufus drew his hands into tight fists, feeling his nails digging into his palms. "You blatantly *stole* it from us! Just like the Airship! You can't just *take* everything you want, just because *I* have it! This- this is *criminal!!!*"

"Sir-" Reeve tried to interrupt, but Rufus quickly rounded on him. "And you think this is *alright*, Reeve? You still choose to side with *these* people? Even knowing full well that they have *stolen* several, *valuable* peices of Shinra property!? To think, for years my father and I trusted you, and you repay us wit-"

"Oh, shut up," Tifa snapped.

Rufus turned to glare at her. "Shut up!? I'm sick of this. I'm sick of *all* of you. I don't believe this. Turn off the machine, alright? Get me down from here."

Red sighed and pushed a button, wearily flicking his flame-tipped tail. But to Rufus's annoyance, the machine didn't hum back down to the floor, but instead, everything began to orbit the sun. The planets revolved around Rufus, and he stared at them in angry bewilderment, raking a hand through his hair. "What-?"

Red pushed another button, and Earth was right before Rufus, shining beneath its streaks of white clouds. A wonderful song seemed to be coming from it, happy and bubbling with laughter, a song that seemed somehow familiar to Rufus. He stared at the orb in muted awe, watching it and feeling almost as though he could see trees growing, men living and dying, animals running through forests, humans walking through cities. It was a *happy* planet, breathing and thriving in the middle of such a vast expanse of universe.

He stared at it a long time, taking in every detail, before murmering quietly, "It's beautiful."

"Yes. This is the Planet, hundreds and hundreds of years ago. It knows no Mako reactors, no domineering companies, and no meaningless wars. It's at peace. The Lifestream is full of life and flows strong beneath the Earth." Red pressed another button, and the Planet seemed to age, more cracks and erosion appearing on the surface, city after city being built and tumbling down. Hundreds of years passed in one second, men being born and dying soon after, the passage of time evident on the Planet but not ceasing its song. It continued to hum on, like an old woman singing warmly of the olden days, its voice careworn and bittersweet. "This is the Planet at the beginning of Shinra's days as an electric company. Your father is just starting the construction of the Nibelheim plant, plans are being laid out for more reactors in Corel and Gongonga, and Midgar is being dreamt of by several employees, as well as the President himself. You're about to be born in another five or six years."

Rufus watched with narrowed eyes as the Planet continued to live, but its voice slowly faded, the joy melting from its song. Suddenly, a wail pierced his ears, causing him to clutch his head in his hands and stagger back, looking helplessly at the lion-beast with pain-filled eyes.

"What... is that...?" he gasped, staring in horror at the Earth turning before him. "That... God..."

"Mr President?" Reeve rushed to his side, taking his elbow. "Are you alright?"

"What...?" he repeated, brushing Reeve aside and reaching out a hand to the hologram, reaching as though he could hold it close and heal it himself, do anything to stop the agony in the screams echoing around him. Every cry the Planet uttered was repeated deep inside himself, mirrored by something within him, searing through his brain like fire. He clutched his head and looked helplessly up at Nanaki. "Make... it stop..."

"That's the cry of the Planet. Heard when the Planet is dying or in danger. That's what Mako reactors have done to us." Red stared down at the former President of Shinra and nodded slowly. "Now do you understand why we cannot have any more? Why we fought so hard to stop them?"

"Stop... the screams..." Rufus gasped helplessly, desperately. "That's... torture... you morons..."

"Turn it off," Tifa murmered quietly.

"Why's it hitting him so hard?" Reeve wondered aloud, putting a hand on Rufus's head. The President was slowly falling to his knees, clutching his head and struggling valiently to close himself off from the Planet's cry. Every sound struck him deep inside, like a stab to the heart, sending wave after wave of pain through him. Every cry he heard was like his own. "Mr President?"

"Reeve, *stop* the damned thing!" Rufus snapped. "This is... ... My GOD!!!"

Abruptly, the hologram cleared, and all that could be seen was Reeve, Tifa, and Red, staring at each other questioningly, then turning their full attention on Rufus Shinra, slowly trying to breathe back his strength and sulking angrily at them.

"What was *that*? Torture!? You have a sick sense of humour, mutt."

"Why did that hurt you? Haven't you heard it before? The Planet cried out a lot when Sephiroth was festering inside of it. It's not a painful noise, at least not to humans." Red scratched the back of his ear and lept down to the lower floor, pressing a small button with his nose. The machine whirred to life and slowly lowered the four to the ground, dissappating the blackness around them.

Rufus scowled. "If it wasn't painful, why was I feeling pain?"

"We've gotta tell Bugah," Tifa whispered to Reeve. The executive nodded solomnly and slowly made his way past Rufus and out the door. The white-suited man glared at her, blue Mako eyes flashing.

"*Well,*" Rufus snapped. "Thanks a *lot* for that demonstration. At least now I know how little I can trust you."

Tifa waved him away and walked past him, Red close at her heels, leaving Rufus stuttering behind them and raking a hand through his careless hair. Tifa had had enough. She had heard him talk all he wanted, but his sudden display of bitterness towards her was completely unwarranted. She didn't even care.

But if she had taken a second look behind them, she would have seen the former President leaning against the wall, holding a hand to his face, Mako eyes chaotic in his disarray.

Reeve found Cloud speaking with Bugah in the meditation room of Cosmo Canyon, in deep conversation about something or other. Cloud's face was set in a deep frown, listening intently to what Bugah had to say, but the Elder didn't seem disturbed at all. He was, as always, peaceful and calm, though his words seemed to be having an ominous effect on Cloud.

Reeve hesitated, but strode up to the pair with a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Cloud, Elder Bugah, but-"

"Oh, it's no difficulty," Bugah shrugged pleasantly. "We were merely discussing the effects of Jenova's death upon Cloud, here. To the best of my knowledge, it shouldn't have any effect other than the cells in him would have nothing to communicate-"

"Yes, yes, Bugah, but I have more pressing-"

"-back to in the way of a Mother Parasite. Therefore, they would have no control over Cloud, though they will probably forever be in his body. Eventually, when he dies, they may die-"

"Bugah, it's-"

"Hold on, hold on," Cloud interrupted them both at high volume, waving them quiet. "You're all talking at once. One second, Elder Bugah. Reeve, where's Rufus?"

Reeve gave Cloud a thankful half-smile, but then turned to address the both of them. "That's what I came to tell you. Rufus- we just took him to see Bugen's hologram machine- and there... Well, there was something very strange in the way he acted..."

Bugah listened with his eyes on the ceiling, a frown on his face as though he was pondering something heavy. "Yes... When he saw the holograms, or when he saw the Huge Materia?"

"Well, he saw the Huge Materia." Reeve rolled his eyes at Cloud, who gave a mischevious grin, but remained silent. "But that wasn't it. We showed him what Earth was like a hundred years ago, then twenty years ago, and then upon construction of the reactors. When we showed him Earth with Mako reactors, it started screaming-"

"That's normal," Cloud reasoned. "The Planet cried out. You should know that, Reeve, you were controlling Cait Sith at the time. We all heard it."

"That's not it, though. When it cried out, Rufus... I don't know, it was almost as though it were hurting him. I..." Reeve shrugged helplessly, holding his hands out to the two of them. "I didn't feel anything, and neither did Tifa or Red, but he was yelling his head off about being tortured."

There was an odd note in Bugah's voice when he spoke. "Just when the Planet screamed?"

"Yeah. The screaming hurt him. I don't know how."

Cloud shook his head in wonder. "That's wierd. I know he's heard it before, right? I mean, the Planet was never quiet when Sephiroth had summoned Meteor.. Everyone heard it."

"Yeah, but he never mentioned anything about it to me," Reeve asserted. "We were at a meeting once, when the Planet started really crying, and all he did was ask what the disturbance was... I mean, it didn't even phase him..."

"But it hurts him now..." Bugah scratched his chin and walked away, contemplation marked on his features. "Strange. That could be a clue, my friends."

"Why would the Planet's cries hurt him? If he got an infusion, it wouldn't react like that, would it?" Reeve turned to Cloud. "Would it?"

The young mercenary shrugged, scratching the back of his blonde head. "It hasn't affected *me* like that..."

"Not Jenova, either?"

"No, not Jenova." Cloud shook his head adamantly. "Jenova has no pain at hearing a planet cry. She would love it."

Bugah had wandered away from the two, head bowed in thought, but he suddenly turned and gave the two a narrow gaze. "I may have a theory."

Reeve jumped. "Oh! Great! What!?"

"I can't say; not yet. I'm not sure, I just have a hunch..." Bugah shook his head, frowning. "I have to talk to Mr. Shinra some more before I confirm it.... This is a very long shot... and I am more than likely wrong."

"But it's closer than we've come this entire time," Cloud shrugged. "If you have an idea, we're getting *somewhere*."

"Where's Rufus now?" Bugah asked Reeve, gripping his walking stick in both hands. "Where would I find him?"

"I don't know. I left him at the hologram machine. He's *some*where in the Canyon, obviously. If I see him, I'll tell him to find you." Reeve shrugged. "Though he may or may not take my advice."

Bugah shook his head. "No need. I'll find him myself." And with a final nod over his shoulder, the Elder took his leave of the room and left Reeve and Cloud staring after him in anxious hope.

"Think he's got something?" Reeve asked after he had dissappeared.

"Maybe. I hope so." Cloud scowled into space, crossing his arms over his chest. "The sooner we get this guy out of our hands, the better."

She felt it inside of her now, felt the spirit and the power flow through her, and she knew at last her time had come.

Sephiroth had failed her, had failed her miserably, but he still left open a window of hope. He left behind him one chance that she had to take, one last opportunity at redemption. The Ancients had been exterminated, finally, at the hands of her son, and now the Planet lay helpless. As helpless as a newborn child, unable to do a thing to stop the black cloud that was hovering over it. No. Now She would come, ready to take the Planet, once and for all. Jenova.

She felt it even as her son had died, his last breaths breathing into her a new life. For now, Jenova was collected all at once into herself, finding new purpose, finding new hope. And though no one would suspect, Jenova had survived the Lifestream's attack on Meteor, huddled safe within herself. Now all danger for her was gone, and she could emerge, glorious and triumphant, into the world of men. They would take her in as they always had, less wary and off their guard, and then and only then would she strike. She would strike as her ancestors had struck, deep into their hearts and their souls, until they were her puppets. Soon she would have all men by the strings. And then would come the reign of her people. Another Planet would fall prey to Jenova..

Sephiroth called to her, his voice coming from deep within the Lifestream. She could hear it in dreams, in soft ghostly tones, crying out for her. Crying for redemption, for salvation. Her son cried out in his failure, but she was unable to silence him. Not until she could rule this world, and win justice. Especially against those who had caused him this harm. His murderers.

//No, my son, your sacrifice is not in vain. Mother has come now. Mother will have your revenge. ... I'm coming ...//

There was no time to waste. Jenova began her long journey into the dark world, moving through the day and deep into the night.