Rufus and Cloud got back to Junon after spending a few more days in Cosmo Canyon, studying Planet life and making passionate love before going to sleep each night. Now, as Cloud followed his lover into a huge room in the command building, he felt a little nervous. Reno and Rude were there, chained, and guarded by armed men. For some reason, Cloud felt a small sense of pity for the two condemned men.
"Where is Scarlett?" Rufus demanded.
"Right here Mr. President." Scarlett replied, walking in. "Kyaa haa haa."
Rufus flicked back his hair as he nodded to her. "Good, are you ready to proceed?"
"Yes sir! I've been waiting since your father was in charge to test this new execution device out."

"Then get to it."

Scarlett looked at the two Turks. "Which one dies first?"

Rufus looked upon them too, his face a mask. "I think Reno should get to watch his friend die first."

Scarlett grinned wickedly. "Yes Sir!" She pointed to Rude "Put him in the machine first."

The guards hoisted up Rude, who was looking at the ground, and led him to the small chamber Scarlett had prepared. They strapped him into the chair and attached electrodes to his head.

Rufus nodded once the guards had left the chamber and closed the door. Scarlett flipped the switch and all at once Rude started screaming. Cloud turned his head from the sight, but his ears were still filled with the screams.

Turks he thought Geez, they can take so much pain without flinching. That must be horrible. He looked over at Reno who had a shocked and horrified expression on his face. Cloud hung his head. He had no idea it would be that awful. He felt sorry for the two who had hurt him.

Rufus didn't seem to share that opinion though; he seemed to be enjoying the execution. That made Cloud feel even sicker inside. His lover liked the pain and suffering of others. Of course, they had hurt Cloud, and Rufus was protective of him.

When Rude finally fell silent Cloud saw Reno's legs buckle. The Turk fell to his knees, the look of fear increased on his face. When they dragged Rude's body out of the machine Reno burst into tears. He sobbed as the guards helped him to his feet. Cloud could hardly watch as the guards placed the crying Turk in the chamber and strapped him down.

Once more, Cloud turned from the site. He knew the instant Scarlett flicked the switch for the room was filled with screaming. He hid his head, wanting to be far from the room. Timidly he looked over at Rufus. Rufus had a sly grin on his face; Eyes fixed away from Cloud and at the execution.

Unable to face the screaming/ sobbing any more Cloud slipped out the back of the room, hoping Rufus did not notice. He stumbled down the hall till he found an empty office. Going inside he locked the door behind him and sat weakly in a chair.

After the execution Rufus noticed Cloud was no longer in the room. Wondering where he had gone Rufus left Scarlett to dispose of the bodies and went in search of his lover. He looked up and down the hall, trying to figure out which way Cloud could have gone. That's when he heard the crashing sound from one of the supposedly empty offices. Being a quick thinker Rufus headed off in that direction. Upon trying the door he found it to be locked.

"Cloud?" He asked, making his voice loud enough to be heard through the door and the noise in the room beyond.

The crashing sounds ceased. There was a long pause before the door opened. Cloud stood there in a mess of paper work, looking shaken. Rufus was instantly concerned, but he figured what was wrong. The execution of the two Turks had gotten to him.

"That bothered you?" Rufus asked him.

Cloud nodded, his eyes looking at the ground. Rufus reached out of him. Cloud hesitated a moment then feel into Rufus's arms, sobbing lightly.

"Shh, shh." Rufus told him, hoping to soothe his lover. "I'm sorry you had to see that. You didn't have to watch."

"I know. I forced myself to. It was awful, that one guy was sobbing."

"Yes, I know." He rocked him gently; not really caring about any stares he might be drawing.

Cloud stepped back from his arms and wiped off his tears. "I'll be fine."

Just then Tifa walked over to them looking trouble. Rufus looked at her.

"That's the first public execution," Tifa told them, "I've ever seen."

Cloud frowned.

"And?" Rufus asked.

"It was," Tifa went on, "Terrible. The way the one was crying and screaming." She shuttered.

"Reno..."

"Remind me not to piss you off."

Rufus nodded. Cloud looked a little pale. Rufus looked at him in concern.

"You said," Tifa told him, "You were going to control the world with fear. Well, I think you just scared everyone good."

Rufus looked at her. "Yes, I know."

She looked at Cloud. "What's wrong with Clod boy?"

Rufus sighed. "He was there in the room."

Tifa blanched. "No wonder he looked like he's gonna keel over. It was horrible enough on TV. He had to see it in person. That and he had to be in the same room with that Scarlett chick."

Rufus's face was rather impassive. "Yes, but she's good at what she does."

"Rufus, what was with that look on your face?"

"Which one?"

"You were grinning like an idiot during the execution. The camera panned over."

"Hmm, I really can't help that. I was raised in that sort of thing. To feel no pity."

"Not even for Cloud?"

"I love Cloud..." He sighed. "I'm different when it's with someone I care about."

Cloud crawled over to Rufus and hugged his leg.

Aeris walked him. "Hi," She said, "What happened at the execution? I missed it. Hi Tifa." She smiled at Tifa.

"It was horrible to watch." Tifa explained. "And I think it fried Cloud."

"What happened?"

"The guy wouldn't stop screaming. He must have been in excruciating pain. Then the second one, Reno, he was sobbing. Crying like a baby. I felt pity. I didn't think you could kill a Turk. You sure they are dead Rufus?"

"Yes." Rufus replied.

"How horrible." Aeris murmured.

"I think," Continued Tifa, "The whole world stopped everything when they saw that on TV. Turks, I heard they can take pain like it's nothing, and they were screaming. It must have been..." She shuttered. Aeris reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Be glad you didn't see it Aeris. Poor Cloud, well, he was there. I guess the camera men didn't pick him up in the room."

"Well," Rufus asked, "Are we going on the Highwind or what?"

"Is that the airship?"

"Yes."

Aeris smiled. "I always wanted to ride that."

Cloud used Rufus to pull himself to his feet. Rufus helped him up. "Follow me then." Rufus said as he headed off to the airship. Cloud tagged along after Rufus. Tifa grabbed Aeris and dragged her along. Rufus walked onto the airport and looked up at the Highwind. Cloud looked up as well.

"It's big..." Cloud remarked.

"Yes." Replied Rufus.

Tifa walked up behind them, still dragging Aeris. Rufus headed up the ladder.

"Where are we going?" Tifa asked.

Rufus started to climb. "To the temple of the ancients."

"Oh." Aeris smiled.

"Oh great," Tifa muttered, "There goes Mrs. I talk to the planer again. She's gonna get a big head."

Aeris giggled. Cloud climbed up after Rufus. Rufus walked onto the deck of the ship with Cloud. Cloud looked around quietly. Aeris followed after them with Tifa. Rufus stood on the bridge.

"Rufus?" Cloud asked.

Rufus looked at him. "Yes?"

"How did the other Turks feel about Reno and Rude, or don't they know?"

"They are both on assignment at the temple."

Cloud nodded and went back to being rather morose and quiet. The airship lifted off. Cloud looked for some place to sit down. Rufus stood by the front, watching the sky. Cloud joined him and looked out as well. Rufus smiled.

"It's kind of," Cloud said, "Pretty when you don't think about how you could fall right out of the sky."

Rufus put his hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Feeling any better?"

"A bit. It's not every day you see that much pain."

"I have before."

"I know. That's probably why it didn't phase you."

Rufus nodded.

"You know," Commented Tifa, who was holding Aeris's hand, "This isn't that bad."

"What isn't?" Aeris asked her.

"Being nice to you. Trying to accept myself, you know?"

Rufus rubbed Cloud's shoulder gently.

Hmm," Cloud told him, "I don't feel sick."

"That's good." Rufus replied.

"I'm sure if we were wobbling back and forth or there were strong winds I would be holding a bucket."

Barret walked onto the bridge at that point.

"Hi Barret." Aries greeted.

"Yo." Barret replied.

"Did you watch the execution? I missed it."

"Long time no see." Cloud told him.

Barret nodded. Rufus Turned around to look at him.

"Yeah, hey." Barret nodded to Cloud.

"Well," Continued Aeris, "Did you Barret?"

"Oh, uh yeah," Barret shook his head. "I heard about it though."

"Oh. Tifa and Cloud were telling me how horrible it was."

"Hmm, an I missed it."

Red ran in. "Missed what?" He asked.

"The execution." Tifa replied.

"Da execution of Reno an Rude," Barret said, "Dem Turks."

"Oh, I missed it too." Red replied. "What happened?" He sat down.

"They screwed with Cloud again I guess." Tifa said.

"Yes..." Rufus's face darkened. "They really hurt him bad."

"Hmm." Barret crossed his arms.
"They didn't..." Tifa asked, "Violate him or anything, did they?"

"No," Rufus confessed, "Or they would not have made it to the execution. I would have killed them on the spot."

"He just seems real depressed, that's why I asked."

"He was there at the execution."

"Listened to them scream," Aeris asked, "And that one cry, right?"

Cloud sighed and Rufus nodded. Cloud fished in his pocket. Rufus handed him a tranquilizer. Cloud used it and the one from his pocket. Rufus sat down next to him. He was ready to catch him if he passed out.

"Ooh," Tifa went, "Cloud, don't OD there."

Red yawned. "Where are we going?"

Cloud fell asleep, leaning on Rufus. "Temple of the Ancients." Rufus told him. He smiled, putting his arm around Cloud.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Tifa asked, "He used two."

"He'll be fine Tifa."

Tifa nodded. "That idiot lives through everything and then some. I think he's too stupid to die or something."

Rufus's eyes darkened at Tifa. Barret shifted his blank stare. Aeris clutched Tifa's hand.

"Let's see Barret," Tifa explained, "The first guy, the bald one..."

"Rude..." Rufus interjected.

"He looked a little scared, getting strapped into the chair, then that chick flipped the switch and he started screaming. Makes me wonder what the hell they were doing to him."

"Ask Scarlett. She built the thing."

"Err, no thanks."

"How horrible..." Red said.

"Then," Tifa continued, "They panned to Reno. He looked scared. He seemed to pass out or something then they strapped him in. He was crying the whole time."

"Crying?"

"Sobbing, over his own death or his best friend's, I don't know."

Red shook his head. "You humans confuse me..."

"Well, anyway, while he was screaming and crying they panned over to Rufus. The look on his face was the scariest I've ever seen. It was like he was enjoying it. No offense Rufus, it was downright creepy."

Both Barret and Red glanced at him.

"I know." Rufus admitted.

"Poor Cloud," Tifa went on, "I wouldn't have wanted to be there..."

Rufus held Cloud, still feeling sorry for him. Barret scratched the back of his head.

Aeris looked at Tifa. "I missed the whole thing."

"Me too." Said Red.

Cloud started to mumble in his sleep, probably having a bad dream. Rufus looked at him."

"It wasn't something you wanted to see," Tifa said, "Although I'm sure it will be aired again."

"Yeah," Confirmed Rufus, "It will Tifa." He brushed Cloud's hair.

"Never thought Cloud was that sensitive a soul though. He was always cold and seemed to be in it for the money. Never knew the guy had feelings. He changed when he met Rufus."

Red scratched his ear again. Aeris leaned her head on Tifa's shoulder. Red got up and walked over to Barret. Tifa smiled at Aeris. Barret looked at Red.

"How long will it take us to get there?" Tifa asked.

"Not long." Rufus replied.

"Is he gonna be awake?" She gestured to Cloud.

"I hope so."

"You can use a hyper on him if you have to."

"I know." Rufus stood, gently lifting Cloud up in his arms. He set Cloud on his feet. "Time to wake up Cloud, we have arrived."

"We der?" Barret asked.

"Yes Barret."

"Aight." He stretched his arms and looked around.

Cloud mumbled something and began to come out of it. Aeris lifted her head off Tifa's shoulder.

"Well Aeris," Tifa remarked, "It looks like we might have an actual use for you." She smirked. "This is the Temple of the ancients."

Aeris grinned. "Yes, I know."

"Come all of you." Rufus said as he started to exit the Highwind.

Everyone followed. Rufus climbed down the rope and looked at the temple.

"It's big." Cloud said after nearly falling down the rope.

"Cloud?" Rufus asked, "Are you ok?"

"Yah. Just a little woozy."

The rest joined them on the ground. Rufus helped Cloud stay on his feet.

"We're here," Tifa said, "Now what do we do?"

Aeris ran to the temple.

"We," Rufus told her, "Find Tseng and Elena. They are here on assignment."

"Hmm," Cloud said, "Gotta hyper?"

Rufus handed one to Cloud. Barret nearly rammed into a wall. Aeris went to the ground at the temple. She seemed to be hugging it.

"I'm gonna kill myself someday," Cloud said, "From mixing drugs."

"I don't want you to die." Rufus told him. He looked over at the temple and started to feel strange. He walked over to where Aeris was.

"Oh great." Tifa exclaimed. "I'm being replaced by the planet."

Aeris stood up and looked over at Tifa. "Oh, come now." She hugged Tifa.

Red joined the others as Tifa smiled. Rufus stood where Aeris had been hugging the ground. He felt like he was in a trance. Everyone looked at him. He closed his eyes and felt like he was drinking the place up.

"Uh," Tseng moaned, "Mr. President."

Rufus opened his eyes and saw Tseng fall to the ground before him.

"Tseng!" Aeris shouted.

"Is he?" Asked Cloud.

"Oh no!' Aeris went on, "He looks hurt!"

Tseng breathed shallowly. Rufus walked over to him, with Aeris running up behind him.

"Sephiroth..." Tseng breathed, "Is inside the temple."

"Tseng," Aeris exclaimed, "You're hurt!"

"Sephiroth?" Cloud asked.

"Sephiroth huh?" Barret muttered.

"Sephiroth..." Rufus glared. "He's here?"

"It's not the Promised Land he wants..." Tseng went on. "He's going to kill us all. Aeris, I'm so glad I got to see you one last time. I'm sorry about sector 7. I didn't mean to slap you." He reached one bloody hand up to Aeris's cheek. "I love you Aeris, I always have." He closed his eyes and went limp in Aeris's arms.

"Tseng..." She started to cry.

"Another death," Cloud said, "This has to end here."

"We must stop Sephiroth." Rufus said, his face dark.

Aeris cradled the body in her arms, sobbing. Tifa frowned. Red sat down. Aeris continued to sob. Barret frowned. Rufus walked to the entrance of the temple.

"So, wut we standing around here for?" Barret asked.

"Come on." Rufus called.

Barret followed.

"We need to find him." Rufus said.

Barret nodded. He turned back. "Y'all coming?"

"I am." Called Red, running to them.

Rufus found the keystone sitting on the ground. He placed it on the altar. Cloud, Barret, Red, and himself were suddenly transported to a different place in the temple.

Barret looked around. "Whoa..."

"Ditto on whoa." Said Cloud.

"Hmm," Commented Rufus, "Fascinating."

"Up," Barret went on, "Down, but sideways? Eh?"

Rufus started off in a direction, feeling drawn to it. The others followed. He headed into the room where the guardian sat. He walked over to it. Then, after a few moments, he turned and left. The others followed.

Rufus walked into a long corridor with rocks smashing down. He managed to navigate them through it.

"It's almost," Commented Cloud, "Like you've been here before."

"I haven't," Rufus replied, "I just know what to do for some reason." Turning, he headed to the lake-like thing off to the side. "Hmm, how interesting." He walked around it.

"Wah?" Asked Barret.

"I've never seen anything like it before."

"Care to explain?" Cloud asked.

"Explain?"

"What you're talking about?"

"Oh." He looked at the pool and managed to activate it. "Ahh, there we go." It showed Tseng and Elena in the mural room. After talking, Elena had walked off and Sephiroth entered. He had talked to Tseng about his plans then sliced him. Then the image stopped. "Hmm, Sephiroth looks about the same."

"Yes..." confirmed Cloud.

Red scratched his ear. Rufus walked back to the other three. "We must go to that room." He told them.

"You seem to know what you're doing," Said Cloud, "Lead on."

Rufus smiled at him and led them off.

Sephiroth appeared in the middle of the mural room right after the group of them entered. Barret blinked.

"Sephiroth..." Rufus murmured.

Cloud blinked. "Sephiroth."

Sephiroth looked at all of them. "Cloud and Rufus...."

"So dat's da guy?" Barret asked.

Sephiroth swung his Masamune through the air a few times. "I have been waiting for you..." Sephiroth said.

"Have you..." Rufus began.

Sephiroth floated up then vanished. Cloud blinked and Barret looked around. Sephiroth reappeared in front of a mural. Rufus and Cloud walked over to him.

"Do you fools know what is coming?" Sephiroth asked.

"No..." Cloud told him.

"Soon, the whole world will be mine."

"What gives you that right?"

"I will become a god, to rule over every soul." He vanished. He reappeared over by the altar. He sat down.

Cloud walked to the altar and glared at Sephiroth.

"Soon mother..." Sephiroth murmured, "Soon we will be one..." He stood up and plunged his Masamune into the ground. "Once I make an injury large enough to threaten the life of the planet spirit energy will gather. And at the center of that injury will be me. That's where I will be come a god. I will merge with the life stream and become a new existence. I will cease to be who I am now."

"You're insane." Cloud told him.

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard." Rufus said.

Sephiroth took his Masamune out of the ground and waved it. "Don't you know anything?" Sephiroth asked. He rose up into the air. "Wake up!" He shouted, then disappeared.

Cloud shook his head. He looked at the mural on the wall and started to laugh. Just then Aeris joined them in the room.

"Cloud?" Rufus asked as he walked over to him.

"Meteor..." Cloud murmured.

"We need to get out of here." Aeris told them.

Barret looked at her. "Something wrong?"

"Yes. I think we are in danger. Come, please hurry."

Cloud started to babble then shook his head. Rufus put his hand on Cloud's shoulder.

"Come," Rufus told him, "We need to get out of here."

Everyone started to run out, following Aeris. Cloud and Rufus got left behind.

"Cloud?" Rufus asked.

Cloud put his hands on his head for a moment. "..." He seemed to pull himself back together. "Wha?"

Rufus hooked his arm. "Come, we must get out of here."

"Okay." Cloud nodded.

Rufus led him off to the others. As he left the temple with Cloud he saw Tifa and Aeris hugging.

"You left in a hurry." Tifa told Aeris.

"I had to. I had to get them out of there." Aeris replied.

Rufus hugged Cloud around the waist. "Are you ok?"

"What happened?" Cloud looked confused.

"You... you started laughing and murmuring, right after Sephiroth left." Looked back and saw the temple start to glow.

"Oh no!" Aeris yelled.

"Whoa..." Asked Tifa, "What's going on?"

Cloud leaned on Rufus. "My head is a little fuzzy feeling," He told him, "Did I take too many tranqs?"

"Maybe." Rufus replied. He watched the temple turn into Black Materia. Then Sephiroth picked it up and vanished.

"Eeep!" Aeris screamed. She clutched Tifa tightly.

"That..." Tifa said, "Didn't look good. What do we do now?"

"There is only one thing..." Aeris continued to hold Tifa. She looked into her eyes.

Rufus kept his arms around Cloud's waist. Cloud leaned into him.

"Last thing I remember..." Cloud told him, "Was Sephiroth, yakkin about becoming a god."

"He screamed wake up at you," Rufus replied, "Then vanished."

"Was I asleep?"

"Tifa..." Aeris began. "I have to go save the world from Sephiroth."

"Wait," Tifa replied, "That's a singular I there... Aeris?"

"No," Rufus replied to Cloud, "Something happened."

"Only I can do it." Aeris continued.

"I can't let you go after Sephiroth alone," Tifa replied, "He'd murder you... All you have is a stick..."

Aeris smiled. "Don't worry. Only I can do this."

"Something?" Cloud asked Rufus.

Rufus kissed him gently. "You got me worried."

Aeris leaned her head on Tifa. Barret scratched his head.

"You better come back Aeris," Tifa told her, "Or I'm gonna come find you, revive you, and kill you again."

Aeris chuckled. "Oh, that's nice of you Tifa."

"I'm very confused," Cloud told Rufus, "About all of this..."

"So am I." Rufus replied.

Barret sat down. Aeris joined him. Barret blinked.

"Hello." He greeted.

"Hi Barret." Aeris smiled.

Barret crossed his arms.

"Something wrong?" Aeris asked.

"Uh? Naw... not really." He shook his head, "Just this Sephiroth guy..."

Aeris nodded. "Yes, and I must go protect the world from him."

Barret scratched behind his head. "No offense, but, dun ya want some help?"

"Only a Cetra like me can do it."

"Cetra..."

"Really, I'll be fine."

"Hmm... heh. Wut wuz dat thing Sephiroth picked up?"

"Black Materia. It will call Meteor."

"Meteor?"

Barret blinked. "What kind of place would have dat energy?"

"The Promised Land..." Rufus interrupted.

Barret looked over at him. "Promised land?" He looked baffled.

Rufus flicked his hair back. "Yes."

"Hmm..."

"My old man was looking for the Promised Land. I will find it."

"Hmm, ok." He blinked.

Rufus held Cloud in his arms.

"Well..." Aeris announced, "I'm off to stop Sephiroth, bye!"

Tifa grabbed Aeris and kissed her softly. "You be careful..." She told her.

"Cloud," Rufus asked, "Are you ok?"

Aeris smiled and kissed Tifa back. "You too."

"I think so," Cloud replied, "Although I really wish I knew what happened."

Aeris let go of Tifa and ran off into the woods. Tifa sighed and murmured "Finally start to get attached to her and she leaves..."

Rufus looked over at Tifa. "Do we know where she is going?"

"No clue."

He sighed and looked at Cloud. "Let's go to sleep before heading off to the Promised Land."

"Promised land?" Cloud asked.

"We also have to stop back in Junon to get Hojo and the others." Rufus nodded.

Cloud sighed. "Sephiroth... what did he do to me?"

Rufus helped Cloud back up into the airship and brought him to a private room. Rufus laid him down as he whimpered.

"Cloud?" Rufus asked, frowning.

"I'm alright, I think."

Rufus rapped his arms around him. Cloud cuddled in his arms.

"My head feels like it is in ten different places at once," Cloud told him, "I hope it passes."

Rufus smiled softly, feeling Cloud's warm body against his. Cloud fell asleep in his arms. Rufus lovingly held him, curling up on his side.

Falls asleep as well and does not wake up till they get to Junon the next day. Cloud was still asleep, snoring softly. Rufus smiled at his love, not wanting to remove his arms from his lovely body ever. He didn't want to wake him up either.

Rufus kissed Cloud's cheek softly, sensing that Cloud was having a bad dream. Cloud clawed the air for a moment then woke with a sound of surprise.

"Love," Rufus asked, "Are you alright?"

Cloud shook his head a little. "I... I'm fine... just a bad dream."

"I noticed. You know I get those too. We're in Junon now, but still on the airship. The others should be getting Hojo on board as we speak."

Cloud sighted. "The past few days have been hell on me."

"I know."

"Hojo... We'll have to make him talk."

"Yes." Rufus stood up. Just then the intercom beeped. He went over to the wall and talked into it. Suddenly his face fell. "What?" He closed his eyes and nodded. Rufus turned off the intercom. "Well, it looks like the Turks are no more..."

"Hmm?"

"Well, I had two of them executed, one was killed by Sephiroth, and I just found out that the fourth killed herself." He sighed and sat down on the bed.

"That's depressing..."

Rufus looked down. "Elena..."

"I never met her."

"She was in love with Tseng, and good friends with both Reno and Rude from what I hear." He sighed.

Cloud pulled the blankets over his head. "More death."

Rufus looked at him. He ran his hands across Cloud's chest.

"I'm surrounded be it lately... It follows me, I swear..." Cloud went on.

Rufus moved the blankets away from Cloud's head and brushed his hand across his cheek. "Why do you say that?"

"Reno and Rude, even though they deserved it... Tseng... Elena... even though I didn't know them. I'm worried about Aeris, Tifa, You!"

"I'm worried about you. I love you more then power and money."

"Sephiroth... he dud something to me..."

Rufus sighed. "We will find out what."

"I'm very scared..."

Rufus looked down at him. "Fear... I'm only afraid of something happening to you."

"Something already has I think."

"I mean... Cloud, before I met you I thought I knew every type of pain, but there is a pain I never knew before... When ever I see you hurt, even to think of you getting hurt... It tears me up inside." He looked into Cloud's eyes.

"That's why you had them killed? If you don't want to see me hurt then why are you letting me chase Sephiroth?"

"Because I'm after him too."

"You know he is gonna hurt me..."

"I will not let him."

"What is he does, will you kill him?"

"I'd try."

"Lest then we'd be dead together, eh?"

Rufus smiled softly.

"I'd rather be alive and in your arms though." Cloud told him.

"I know." He rapped his arms around him, holding him tightly.

Cloud nuzzled at Rufus's neck.

"Cloud..." Rufus asked, "You ever wonder what you'd be doing right now if you hadn't let your emotions shine through and had fought me on the roof that night?"

"I'd be dead, you would have killed me."

"I know I'd not be happy as I am now. I'd still be after Sephiroth... and your friends would be dead too... or at least being hunted."

"Yeah. I'm still dying to know what Hojo was giggling about."

"Me too."

"How are you going to interrogate him?"

"Nothing bad. I mean, we lost all the ShinRa people who did those sorts of things." Rufus sighed.

"Think he'll talk?"

"He might."

"If he doesn't?"

"I don't know then."

"We could get Scarlett to make him talk..."

Rufus chuckled. "Most likely." He smiled at Cloud and moved one hand up to gently caress his cheek.

"Just have her threaten to kiss him or something."

"He's a wild ladies man."

"I dunno... Scarlett... I think she could turn any man off."

"Hmmm.... Come, we must go talk to Hojo, then set out for the Promised Land."

Cloud put his arms around Rufus, how held him tightly.

"Shall we go love?" Rufus asked.

"Yes."

Rufus smiled and walked out of the room, heading down the hall with Cloud. He found Hojo waiting on the bridge, with Scarlett and Heidegger watching him.

Hojo looked up and chuckled. "And how are you two doing today?"

Rufus flicked his hair back. "I'm fine."

Hojo grinned and starts to chuckle something again. Rufus watched him then looked at Cloud.

"Why is he always laughing," Cloud asked, "It makes me insecure."

"I don't know." Rufus replied.

Hojo continued to laugh. "I know things you do not."

"Yeah," Cloud said, "And what are those?"

"Well," Rufus ordered, "Why don't you tell us."

"No," Hojo replied, "Not yet." He shook his head.

Cloud walked over to Hojo. "Hmm," He said, "I suggest you do."

Hojo looked at him. "And why?"

"Because, I might do something not nice if you don't. " He smiled merrily.

"Oh? Really kid?"

Rufus looked over at them. "Hojo, you will speak."

"Kid, kid, kid," Cloud complained, "I'm 21."

Hojo grinned. "I'm 47... you are a kid."

"You're old man..."

"Not as old as the president."

"Hmmm," Rufus agreed, "Yes, he was old. Fat... evil... stupid..."

"So Hojo," Cloud asked, "Did you ever have a family or anything?"

Hojo grinned and looked at Cloud.

"Or," Cloud went on, "has it always been evil twisted experimentation?"

"No really," Hojo confessed. "Experimentation... what more do I need? Plus, I got girls flocking all over me." He grinned.

Cloud shrugged. "To each his own I suppose. Oh gee... look Rufus, all three of us have that in common."

"Sickening." Rufus said."

"Heh heh, don't forget Sephiroth... but that's because of me."

Cloud raised and eyebrow. "You take credit for his looks?"

Hojo grinned. "Well..." He grinned again, "You see... Sephiroth is my son."

Rufus's eyes went wide. "What?" He got out.

Hojo nodded. "You see, I gave the woman who was pregnant with my child over to the Jenova project. But, actually, that was the second child she had for the project. She'd been pregnant with a child the year before... a project for the president. But, I'm not going any further then that."

Cloud blinked and folded his arms across his chest. "I suggest you do."

"Why?"

Cloud shrugged. "I might get unfriendly. Of course... I hate being violent..."

"So? You'll find out who the other child is once you get tot he Promised Land."

Cloud looked from Rufus to Hojo then shrugged. "I'm out of sorts. My head feels like it isn't screwed on right."

Hojo chuckled.

"What's so funny now?" Cloud asked.

"Cloud, do you feel drawn some where?"

"Sephiroth... I'm always after him.... If that's what you mean."

Hojo chuckled. "I guess this is proving my reunion theory."

"Reunion theory? Explain."

Hojo grinned. "It's very hard to explain."

Cloud poked Hojo.

"Yes?" Hojo asked.

"Oh... just seeing if you were real."

"I'm very real."

Cloud elbowed Hojo in the head. "How about that one? You one of those who can't feel pain?"

"Huh?"

Cloud elbowed him in the head again. "I'm not getting any reaction here..."

"Hmmm." Hojo suddenly walked out of the room.

"Oh great. What the hell was he talking about?"

"I don't know." Rufus replied.

"I get the creeps around him."

"The records only said one child produced in the Jenova project..."

"Like he was looking at me from the outside of a test tube at one point or another."

"But her just said there was one before Sephiroth... I was never told this."

"Hmm... project for the president..."

"And I was the Vice President... I would have been told everything..." Rufus crossed his arms. "I think he was just lying."

Cloud frowned. "Jenova project, can you explain some of that?"

"Only that it created Sephiroth. Or rather, he was born the way he was because of the project."

"So it isn't his fault. He was just some unlucky kid... born that way."

Rufus nodded his Mako eyes flashing.

Cloud looked at him and shivered. "Rufus..."

"Who ever this child is..." Rufus murmured, "Now an adult... Hojo spoke of... they would be half siblings with Sephiroth." He looked up, hearing his name. "Yes?"

Cloud put his arms around Rufus. "Doesn't matter."

He held Cloud. "What doesn't?"

"Nothing love."

Rufus notices that they are drawing a few stares, but doesn't care. "Hmm... I don't believe what Hojo said..."

"What if it's true?"

"I would have known about it long ago if it was."

"I have a feeling," Cloud told him, "I'm not what I think I am."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What the hell was he talking about... Reunion theory? Rufus, did that jerk do something to me?"

"I don't know."

Cloud began to pace. Rufus stood in the front of the bridge. Suddenly, he turned to the pilot.

"Land in the chasm." He ordered.

"Yes Sir!" The pilot replied.

Scarlett turned to look at him. "Rufus, what are you doing?"

"I think that's where Aerie," Rufus replied, "And Sephiroth are."