The Man In The Stone

By
DarkBeauty

Please Feel Free to mail any comments about this story to DarkBeauty: [email protected]

Part 3:

It must have been hours, quite possibly the whole day that I had been in this dark sanctuary. And quite possibly that he had been through every book in the shelves, but that observation never seemed to plague his mind, for he knew something the he wasn't about to tell me. He grabbed book for book like a mad man, possessed by some unknown spirit that was claming his mind to leave no stone unturned in his neverending search. His head was constantly downward, not leaving his sight from the book. Keeping his attention on it as if his life depended upon it.

I took to pacing just as he had. Stretching my body out with a not so apparent eagerness due to the pain that still was embedded within me. I looked aimlessly around the room. Quite possibly about the hundredth time to see anything that was noticeable. Nothing. I had looked at every detail within this domain out of boredom, weariness, and nervousness. All that was left in my mind were very few things to go on.

My father. He must be worried.

I missed him already. I've missed him even before these events came. When he dropped me off at the Academy. His look, for what I can remember, was probably the same as mine. But.... of course.... out of parental instinct. He told me he had his doubts. But as any parent would, he did what he thought was best for me.

I hope he knew that.

My visions and dreams. I wondered when they came.
It didn't occur or overwhelm me before. Although I did have outlandish feelings that have been lightly taunting me ever since I was little. I did not know what it was, but it was something. Something that was missing in me. But I never told my father this.

I never told anyone this.
The visions and the voices only came from the direction of the mountain. Was that place special and of some significance? I wondered. My head was spinning with those questions all over again and I forced myself to relax. My mind was weary now, and I was thinking too much. But the contemplation and inquisitiveness my body and mind had was very compelling. It somehow would not let me rest. But I had to try. I was tired of worrying about things over and over again that have, if not, been somewhat settled.

Like she said.

The answers will come in due time.

But, my childish curiosity wanted to know now. And like a parent to a child. I had to discipline myself. This was not the time to push things. Especially with this mysterious and lithe man that was standing far before me.

I looked at him in a daze.

Somehow, and for no other reason, I had a guarded respect for him. Not so much out of fear, though I was frightened at his presence somehow when he would lash it. But somehow...I did have this keenness towards him.

He said I had a certain power in me. Even stronger than his. Maybe he is the only one who can give me an answer to my feelings I have been having. And everything else that has been going on.

Did he foresee this?

Is he powerful?

He must be.

He said his conquest was to become a god.

My mind was in a norm as I gazed around the room once more. I thought everything was already examined. Until something caught my eye in one of the shelves where the books rested.

~*~

It has to be here! I thought, it was here when I was searching...

The accusation trailed off as I realized it had been years. Years since I reclaimed my body. Years since I came here and found out the truth I did not, at first, want to see, hear or touch. Years since I slaughtered the people of Nibelhelm. And years since I came back, had a second chance to regain my revenge and rightful possession, and failed due to the incompetence of my own copy.

But that will all change.

Somehow deep within me, something told my soul that I should have waited a little bit longer. Long enough to gain the real fruit of God ship. Somehow there was a way to get it that I had missed. That I'd just passed over thinking it was nothing of importance. But now I'm paying the price for that error. I had twice paid the price. Now I was here. To find the mystery of this certain treasure that I held within my grasp.

The young girls' materia. And herself.

The description. The description of how her power commenced replayed in my mind as I tried to recall what my memory had left in me when I was here before. But it failed. All I could remember was that there was a theory written within these scriptures, and I will not stop until I find what I've been waiting for. Just as I had when I found out about my true fate.

I looked over with the corner of my eye to check on her; making sure she didn't get smart and escape. She was there. Just wondering around in the library, seemingly to herself. Humph.........curious child. She's too inquisitive, I thought, we must be careful with that, perhaps she's not as naïve as she looks.

Or perhaps she is....

I wonder.... if she knows the power she possesses. I grinned at this. She was DEFINITELY of value to me. But I must keep her in check. I knew if she found out about that certain power...and took control....

No matter.... I'm sure that I'm far superior in strength than she. Then yet....... she rose me from my grave in which I slept. I don't know whether to give my gratitude or to just pass it by like nothing of significance.

I shook those pity, triviality thoughts out of me.

That doesn't matter right now. Now we're wasting time. Too much time for some reason. I needed to find that manuscript. I ruffled thru every book, even the books I had already looked at just to see if I had missed anything.

While I was comesing this act, something else nagged my intuistion. I had a foul feeling that someone may have been here before. Before what had just happened. Before these events occurred. Or maybe after the events which lead to my demise. Those feelings were incredibly strong. But I will go by any means to find out this mysterious conundrum.

Making haste, I did the best I knew how, skimming though every page. I caught on quickly to the information there. But it wasn't what I was searching for. My patience was running through like sand and I was getting frustrated in the stupefaction on where had the book gone.

This game is getting me nowhere, I thought in rage, how could've I lets this pass me by? HOW COULD I?!

Suddenly, I heard a thump.

It came for where she was at.

In the library.

Without wasted time, I dropped the book I held in my hands and approach the offending noise. I looked around the corner only to meet within Alana's gaze of surprise.

My eyes never left her face as I walked towards her. Then her eyes down casted slightly to the floor below. I paused and then followed her action, only to find one out of the many books that were in this forsaken library on the floor. Then her voice suddenly appeared.

"I...Uh.... thought I'd found something, it was sticking out of the b-" I cut her short by retrieving the book that had fallen. I had picked it up, and examined it carefully, running my hands over the cover. It had looked the same as any of the books here. And I opened it trying to find what she was claiming to be there.

"It looked like a piece of paper," she noted. I ignored it as I kept on turning the pages. In aspiration in what I expected to find, something caught me, the only piece of evidence.

The book was missing some pages. It had looked as if someone ripped them out. My eyes narrowed. I was close. But how close. I read what was left in the contents of the book. The writings in here looked familiar. Could this be it? It had to be. Some of the theories and experiments were recorded in this particular book were in comparison to my own thoughts about the girl and her materia. And now that I took a good look at the library and its massiveness, some how it had been tapered with. Some books were missing even equipment. Something was odd.

I kept on reading until an object in a flash, slipped from the book. I glanced down to find that the girl's conviction was correct. There on the floor where the book once was, was a scrap. I turned to her, and in return she gave me an introverted gaze. I turned back and knelt down to claim the paper in my hand, and once I did I began to read silently.

What was left of the paper seemed to be a contract of some kind and the paper seemed recently new. It was nothing much to go on, but something caught my attention again. Down in the corner of the paper was, or what was left, a certain address and a name:

MIDGAR ALLIANCE

Something snapped. And my mind began to take play.

Of course. This whole place seemed a little different from the start. Things were a lot more out of order than the way I left it years ago. I felt my grin getting wider as I contemplated more on this.

It may have not been exactly what I had been expecting, but it was at least valuable.

I turn to the young lady, who was standing behind me, shyed out and timid. I was close to the treasurer.

Soon the planet and everything around it will be mine.

"Prepare yourself, we're going to Midgar."

****

MIDGAR

The streets uttered in quietness, along with the compliment of the half light brightness of the afternoon. The massive plate that once covered the city in eternal blackness, now only can fight with the light of the afternoon's sun with only the half plate available to it. Around the corners and alleys, everything was in a massive rubble, but only to be cleansed away by some of the people who would rebuild their lives there. Along with them, once the pride of the Almighty Midgar, now the struggling but not defeated soldiers, participated within the rebuilding.

But not for the cause of graciousness on their part. They were there under another objective. Under orders. For in no way the Shinra were to let this mishap destroy their purpose. That was why they had sent out the soldiers in the first place. To regain power. That was their soul purpose. The rebuilding for them wasn't in any way a burden to them, nor a mourning, or loss. But it symbolized a new beginning. But for their own bidding.

For the bidding for the one who was behind it that is.

As the afternoon ambers disappeared in the almost arising evening, the cool wind made its entrance upon the mangled city. The streets debris lightly went along with the motion and joined the dance that the wind offered. The place was swarming. Businesses were back up and most of the crowed markets were up to play, just as it was long ago before the Incident with the Rage of the Skies. Among these crowed sectors and some of the demolished cities that were under repair, stood a tall rebuild building. With its glory and massiveness, it greeted the sky, which it did not have the privilege or honor to do so before. Its lights reawoken once again, and the glass tainted the building as it's clothing along with its steel coated walls that slightly shined. Such magnificence, was one person's thoughts when he was the first to rule this ruined empire of mako reactors. The tubes that conjured its features served as veins for the massive giant, which at one time had the power to suck up whatever was left within the earth. But as time passed, its right to do so was diminished. And now it had to reprocess again. But this was not in the mind of the figure that was standing before the window within the heart of the building.

Gazing upon the crippled city, which was in healing of its wounds, the figure could only watch in wonderment in the fact the orders were for some purpose. And only the figures boss knew the purpose. Remarkable, the figure thought. And that was the only thing that ran through his mind as he continued to watch with an uncomfortable awe. Every thing seemed in a haze, while some office clerks and scientist's assistants came in and out of the office's domain. Such a thing was ignored by the figure, for he was concentrating on something else. Something that seemed to be troubling his mind.

A lot of things weren't explained to him. Things that were left in a norm for him to discover. But somehow he will find out. Things always come out in due time.

His head kept him confined with these contemplations, but soon it would wear down. It always did.

Some of the troops that were once in the room with him, had to leave for a certain "appointment", or so he was told. His plans for the rejuvenation for one of the sectors were put on hold because of this arrangement. His best troops for assistance were obligated to that arrangement. It was an order by a high official. The one he, himself, took orders from.

But he was in a higher rank than the troops, and the only gratitude he gave to his Superior was that he was at least grateful to be put in a higher authority position. But that gratification was faintly put into credibility. He wasn't sure about him. It seemed to staged.

This was nothing new. He had these feelings ever since he worked for him. Ever since the beginning of the rebuilding of Midgar and the start of the Junion Academy. He had learned to cope with them for a long while. But until that day he was put to the high rank position in the Special Forces, something had been keeping him on the edge of his feet, ever since then. And quite possibly, that "appointment" had something to do with what he was contemplating, and why he was stuck in that god-forsaken office with nothing to do.

He shrugged off the thought about their meeting arrangement, just in time to catch the person that was entering the room.

"Well I see you're having fun," Reeve said while leaning against the massive door's frames, "So, any improvement so far?" "From what I see, yes pretty much," the figure responded and shifted slightly to turn in Reeve's direction, "So, how was the "meeting"."

Reeve smiled. He knew his cocky but cool attitude when he knew something was up. Zack was always like that. "Um...it was.... interesting."

"Really? Tell me the details," Zack replied in almost gleeful excitement. I knew something was up! He thought in success on not saying it aloud.

"Well, It was quite brief for one. Usually Mr. Gothen takes up more time in a meeting than what I saw when I was with him." Reeve paused, which only made Zack even more anxious than he already was now. "Go on, go on," Zack insisted while showing the motion to persist. "Well, he was discussing some events that happened in Icicle Inn near the crater. And the excavation site that Instructor Wills's class was on." Reeve said and continued on telling the rest of the story to Zack. But only what went on in the meeting. He was going to in anyway tell him what other things had been going on after the meeting. Yet. Just incase someone might be listening. He reasoned that he'd tell Zack later.

"Poor Kid," Zack started, "do they know who the kidnapper was?" "Nope. But it seemed that Gothen new something was up." Zack's attention started to perk up a bit, "Really?" his eyes started to narrow a bit. Bingo.

"But I'm not sure, the guy is quite secretive. He keeps a lot of things to himself ya know. Like someone I remember." Reeve trailed off. That thought almost made him shiver. "Well would this case involve the Special Forces Department?" Zack asked which broke Reeve's intuition. He looked up to see Zack's face with his usual cocky smile. He gave one of his own and said, "Yep it certainly does, but you and the others have to wait for orders from Junion. Gothen is not dispatching yet. The navigators have to find a possible search area to find the girl and her kidnapper. It may take awhile for them to find the trace."

"Darn and I was about to tell the guys to get ready," Zack moaned in a humorous sarcastic tone. But his face soon softened and his voice soft and in a serious tone continued, "So, how is your friend Vince handling all this? He must be pretty strong. I mean, who knows what could happen to his daughter."

Especially what the outcome was, Vince, just pray. Reeve thought, just pray that this will be all over soon.

"But tell Vince and not to worry, we'll handle everything." Zack added. Reeve took that to heart on what he said. But to be honest with himself, he wasn't worried about the Special Forces finding Vincent's daughter. That was the easiest thing to for them to do. No doubt they'd find her.

His worries, along with Cloud and Vincent's, laid within the Shinra, Gothen, and most of all...The Crater. Yes, indeed. Something is about to happen. He and the others just have to wait to see the events unfold.

He looked at his watch and was startled. They were running late. "Specking of handling things, Zack, we gotta go to down to the science lab. That's were the Special Forces will be receiving their orders."

"Got ya. Thank God. I can now get out of this office. I was about to rot." Zack went to get his jacket from the chair that was near the desk with the thought in his mind that he was on the chase to find out what was going on. This gratified him. Even more so than his promotion.

He put his jacket on and rushed by Reeve in a buoyant manner. "Well, lets get goin." Reeve smiled and let Zack proceed first out the door.

****

The Lab's headquarters wasn't too far away from where they were. It only took afew good minutes to head to their destination. Once they did, they found themselves within the mist of the laboratory's workers, who were in a rush to get things done. Gothen owned the lab himself, and there he did not tolerate tardiness in deliverance of work. Zack and Reeve knew this well and decided not to disturb them from what they had to do.

They proceeded into one of the lab's offices to wait for the call until one of the lab's assistants came to escort them to one particular room, which had been prepared to receive orders. Zack and Reeve complied with the instruction and went their way to the room. Reeve was the first one to enter. The room was fairly basic in its appearance. A desk and reclining chair was within its usual contents. And upon the desk was the visual monitor, where it was usually used for occasions like this. Zack entered and closed the door behind him. It only took a couple of seconds for the two men to be startled by a voice.

"I'd keep that open if I were you, the other two are coming also," peered out of the reclining chair was Rude, dressed in his usual, ancient Turk outfit. His sunglasses were now a normal feature to his face as he stared at both Zack and Reeve. An odd silence remained a few moments as both Reeve and Zack were looking around the room.

"I've never seen this office before in the lab," Reeve stated. "That's because Mr. Gothen never mentioned it," Rude started, "To us that is. You know how he is. Always keeping things to himself. He's one mysterious character that's for sure. But I'm not the one to complain, I just take orders, I don't evaluate anybody. You can say it's the "old-Turk-tradition" in me."

"So is that suit," Zack snickered, trying to conceal his formidable giggles. "Very funny, but I'm not about to wear those uniforms that he gave us. It's just not my style," Rude shot back, and then he ignored Zack, who was now letting out his chuckle, and turned to Reeve. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be back at Icicle Inn, still on the watch?" he asked. Reeve turned "Yes, but Mr. Gothen called it off. My watch duty is over now. My next order was to follow the troops back to Midgar and warn you and the others in the Special Forces take notice about the incident. Gothen notified me to tell the troops to hold off the order and that he'll give it out until they pinpoint a location where the kidnapper may have taken the girl."

"Who is they?" Rude asked. "Basic troops, and some high official SOLDERS, some of which know a lot about detective work." Reeve winked back. Rude gave a query look and just stayed silent. For a few minutes it stayed that way. Only the sound of busy footsteps from the lab's employees satisfied the silence. This kept Reeve wondering why was it such a rush day for the assistants in the lab. It seemed odd. They were usually like this when things were planned, and usually Gothen notified him if any events were to come up in the lab. Somehow in this situation, it didn't fit.

Reeve's curiosity was cut short when he saw a certain folder that was left upon one of the file cabinets. He walked towards it. Just to take a peek. His boredom was taking affect. He was careful not to attract attention to himself while Zack and Rude were there. With his casual stride he continued to approach the folder as if he was finding another destination to get comfortable. Then when he was close enough, he managed to take a peek at its cover. His eyes started to widen.

The Shinra Seal.

He hadn't seen it in years. He didn't know that they still existed. What was a confidential, Shinra file doing in Gothen's office? This was a shock. But no as a shock as to what he read next.

FILES CONTAINED: SEPHIROTH THE JENOVA PROJECT.

What the Hell! Reeve couldn't believe his eyes. How did he get his hands on this file? Reeve thoughts went spinning. Gothen, by no means, was dumb enough to leave something this valuable behind for anyone to attain it. Quite possibly one of the employees working there may have left it behind, or carelessly left it there, thinking it was nothing of importance since it was an old Shinra file. Reeve had this matter engraved into his head. But then another thing caught his attention, like a predator that has caught its pray. Below the file, there was writing. It looked as if someone had written something there recently. Reeve peered closer to the file just to get a good look at what was written.

NEW PROJECT ATTAINED INSIDE: CONFIDENTAL.

Reeve knew with out a doubt that this could be one clue to one answer about Gothen and his motivations, which seemed odd. Reeve looked behind. Rude was now standing and Zack was now sitting on top of the desk. If he could only sneak the folder within his jacket....

A knock came at the door. Reeve cursed silently. He would have to accomplish this during the meeting. Rude walked to the door to reveal Reno and Elena standing before the doors' entrance.

"About time," Reno stated with an attitude, "what were ya going to do? Let us stand there and watch the lab rats work there way around their next "experimentations"."

"Oh shut up," Rude replied as he expanded the entrance. "Hmm. Like old times I see," Elena nodded a bit and stepped in, while pushing Reno slightly to do the same. Rude closed the door behind them while Elena continued.

"Well enough good time greetings, when is the boss gonna call?" Elena said. "Soon quite possibly," Reeve answered. "God damn I hope its not one of those "bug hunt" missions again," Reno burst, " I hate being stuck with those. It seems like nowadays were being stuck with crummy old assignments? And I thought this was supposed to be a "Special Force" team."

"Well its not like it was years ago Reno, we're not the Turks anymore. The Turks are extinct just like the rest of Shinra," Elena sighed while slumping back into Gothen's chair. Zack was tuned into the conversation. And he knew Elena was right in a way. They could rebuild Midgar, it can have it's magnificence back just as he saw in the building, they can still have their determinations, but in the end, the Shinra will never attain the power it had before. Zack knew something else was taking over.

Zack just sighed. "Well we just have to stay cool until Mr. Goth calls," he said while getting off of the desk and resumed to standing. "So what'll we do till then?" Reno replied while lazily leaning against the wall.

"Like he said," Rude cynically replied, "Stay cool." Reno shot back a crude look to Rude and went back to his usual business of mumbling to himself.

"Can we quit this childish rivalry? Please? It's getting quite tiresome, especially after all these years," Elena pinched the bridge of her nose; quite noticeably she was getting a headache, "Reeve do you know what all of this is about?"

Reeve let out an exasperated sigh and prepared to tell the others what he just told Zack and Rude. Due in his mind he found it quite strange. Why in that case he had to explain everything to them when it would be explained in their mission and why was the course of action to dispatch the Special Forces team immediately put on hold? That realization hit him quickly. And he found himself pausing in mid sentence.

"And...so...what? We knew that particular class was going to that site...go on." Elena said waking Reeve's trans. "Huh? Oh...sorry," Reeve shook off, "Well, you see there was an incident that happened with a young girl and..." An assistant that came in interrupted Reeve. He looked shyly at the group, most likely expressing an apology of his intrusion. He went towards the cabinet to retrieve the files that were on top of it. Along with the files that were the only key to this mystery.

Damn it!!!! Reeve cursed repeatedly to himself, while trying to not to show it. He had to keep his composure. He quite possibly knew that the file might still be outside. While devising a short plan, he was interrupted by Elena, who gave an occasional clearing of the throat as a sign to continue. Reeve looked back to see the rest of the group staring at him as well.

"Oh right," Reeve resumed with a nervous smile, "Ahem.... as I was saying...at the meeting it was discussed that the girl was injured due an incident at the crater, where the site was. As we all know. But while the girl was recovering the night after the incident, the next day she was apparently kidnapped by someone unknown." Reeve knew he wasn't telling them the whole story. Not the part of the mysterious findings at the crater. He couldn't tell them just yet, for it may bring up quite an uprising. For still the former Turks weren't his allies quite yet. Even though the facts were proven for the worse at the meeting that was just held back at Icicle Inn, things were still in the norm. He couldn't prove it right then. There had to be more.

"So let me guess..." Reno started, "Our mission to find this girl and her kidnapper am I right?" "Yep, you got it," Reeve exchanged a look of confirmation on his face. "Yep. Another sappy mission," Reno said, preparing one of his usual arguments, "I can't believe that we were promoted to higher authority and we get a simple hunt that normal troops can do." "Hold on Reno," Elena stared, "If it were another "sappy" mission why did he summon all of us here? If it were to be a simple mission he would only send one of us with a few troops to take care of the job. I'd say this is probably quite big. I mean, a girl was kidnapped, you have to at least think about that Reno." Reno just stayed quite as usual. He couldn't complain to that logic.

But Elena wasn't done; she turned to Reeve with a quizitive expression, "Did you say that there was some incident that happened at the crater, Reeve?" She exchange a concerned look and Rude cross his arms and looked at Reeve puzzlingly and at the same time with the same expression Elena had. Reeve didn't know what to say at that moment.

"Well, yeah..." he started but was cut short by the humming buzz of the monitor that was starting to upload on the screen. Reeve let out as sigh of relief. Saved by the Screen. Zack approached the monitor to get it into its visual mode, once he did so successfully, the screen appeared. And at the other end was his Superior. Gothen. Zack controlled himself, trying not to glare at the man. Now was not the time. He stepped back from the screen to let everyone view, as Gothen got comfortable at the receiving end.

As he did he looked up at the crew with an almost settle glare. "I'm glad to see you all made it," he began to speck through the crackled intercom, "And now shall we get down to business immediately?" "Uh, yes Mr. Gothen," Elena managed to speck up, while the others were still somewhat awed. Zack knew the feeling. Even when Gothen wasn't in the room, he still had this presence that made everyone feel...well...non-composed.

Everyone took a seat where they could. Reeve himself was about to take a seat when Gothen intervened. "Reeve, you are done for today, you may leave us." Reeve looked up in mild amazement. Zack turned his head a bit to show a bit of concern, but Reeve shook it off. "Oh, well thank you Mr. Gothen." This came off as luck and an advantage for Reeve. He can now quite possibly spot the file the assistant took with out being noticed. Hopefully. Then make it on time to Monet to meet up with Vince, Cloud and the others.

He silently walked to the door as the others followed his pace. He turned back, smiled and stepped out of the office for them to discuss their mission.

****

Reeve walked in a quick steady pace towards one of the lab's stations near the experimental labs. He knew that is where they did most of the filing and kept certain records. He walked quickly, but to be ever so careful not to look too suspicious, he slowed down his pace a little. He got there in time. No one was in the room yet, due to the lunch hour for the employees. He cautiously went in and closed the door behind him.

There were plenty of file cabinets to fill the room up, but well enough to perform whatever duties the assistants were assigned to. Reeve walked around a bit. Thinking and observing were the file might be. He knew that they couldn't file things right away, since it had to be approved for filing due to it being a Shinra file. So it had to be somewhere near or on top of a table somehow. This thought was confirmed as he noticed some files and papers on top one of the lab's counters. Like a child with a gift, he silently rushed to the counter to retrieve what he solely was after. Before proceeding further though, he looked around cautiously; making sure no one was around the area.

Once it was clear, he slowly opened the contents of the file. It apparently was quite stuffed with documents over the years; full of old reports and findings. Which he knew the profession had left behind. What he saw, at first, was some of the old Shinra reports. The usual information they kept long ago. A few minutes later, Reeve hit the gold mine. The reports that were contained on the Jenova Project were there as they had been years ago. Along with the nemesis they have just defeated. The information that was there on him was the secrets they've already found out about him during their conquest and along with that other things that were not of mentioned before. Those memories were still in his mind. Lucrecia. If only she'd known what would have happened. And in a way...If only Sephiroth known...

Reeve woke himself up from his daze and kept on searching to find the new file that was hidden within the folder. What would Gothen want with Sephiroth files? What dose it mean that there's a New Project? What is he up to? Those questions fluttered his mind as each anticipated finger flipped each page of the documents. Each page with its information and valuable essence he absorbed quickly, but it wasn't what he was trying to find. That new file must be something of significance. It must be a new project underway. ... I don't like the way the picture is coming out. He glanced at the clock that was parallel to him.

The time was running thin. He didn't have much time to skim through documents. The employees would come soon and he didn't want to get himself caught within the web. He picked up his pace a little faster, skipping things that weren't necessary to read. Old reports, files, anything that wasn't related to what he was searching for to accommodate time.

He was determined to find what was going on, though he was getting tired of not finding anything yet. He could stop. Not just yet. He could give up on Cloud and the others. He could give upon Vincent.

He could give up on Vincent's Daughter.

That thought made him even more fired up. But his search was soon rewarded. He suddenly bumped into an odd subfolder that didn't quite belong in a Shinra folder or a folder for the company. I was a blue folder, and it cover was labeled as a school document. Much like the school documents in the Junion Academy. The schools files? Reeve look at it with a notion. As he was about to open the folder, something told him that what he was going to find wasn't going to be grand.

And just as he was about too....

"Um...sir what are you doing?" Reeve shot up immediately, startled by the voice. He was prepared for the fight of his life.

A young woman stood at the door, apparently with a look of confusion that formed her face. Reeve only did what came to his mind. "Oh I'm sorry, I was just...uh...checking my results." He gave the best honest smile as he possibly could. "Your results?" the lady questionably echoed.

"Uh...yes...yes. You see I had a nurse's appointment a few weeks ago and they told me that I could find my files here. They said they had made a mistake with the files and they accidentally transported it here." Reeve prayed to whom ever was up there that the young women would buy it.

"Did you ask permission, by the authority here?" she asked. Luckily Reeve was prepared for that one. "Yes, I informed Mr. Gothen earlier about this case." Reeve took out an old paper. Which was a notice from Gothen a long time ago from an earlier notice. Luckily whoever signed it for him forgot to put the date. Ever since then he used it to his means.

The woman looked at it, and gave him a reassuring grin, "Ok sir," she replied. "Thank you," he said back. While the young woman turned and went back to the other side of the lab, Reeve decided to take a quick glace in the file before tucking it in his jacket for more observation later.

But his plans for that observation would come sooner than expected. Reeve opened it and what he saw almost knocked the breathe right out of his soul. His plans for Monet would have to be scheduled late.

****

"I'm sure Reeve has informed you on what was discussed during my meeting with Mr. Wills and the other occupants," Mr. Gothen started, "However I have other motives."

"Other motives sir?" Zack asked. He didn't like the way this was starting to sound. Gothen the four his coming eerie smile, one in which Zack knew all too well. He was definitely devising something.

"Yes. Other motives." He echoed back, "I'm sure all of you already know what your mission is am I correct?" Gothen wait for a reply, which for a moment was answered in silence. Until Reno broke it.

"Uh. Yes sir. To find the girl and her kidnapper and return the girl to her father," Reno looked around to the others, "We suppose."

Gothen sneered a bit and growled under his breath. It was quite obvious that he was quite annoyed by that answer. "You suppose nothing," he began, "However, you are correct on your mission on finding the woman, but," he paused and assumed his uncanny smirk, "I don't want you to bring the girl back to her father, but rather, I want you to bring her to me. And if the kidnapper is with her, which he most likely will be, bring him to me as well," He cocked his head to the side a little and chuckled softly, "You may need specialized weapons for the kidnapper though."

"But Mr. Gothen, why not to her father?" Elena started but was cut short. "That is none of your concern! Just bring the girl and the kidnapper to me as ordered!" He sternly shot. Elena immediately kept her stand. She didn't want over step that boundary with him.

As soon as Elena's reprimand was done with, Zack decided to speck up, but in a more respectful and light manner. He knew how to rub Gothen the right way. When he was in the right mood. And now he did seem to be, beside the occasional mishap. "Sir, we will bring the girl as you wish, but should we also notify the father?"

"Hahaha," Gothen's laugh was only half the reply, "What father? She has no father, that sorry excuse for a man that adopted that girl was in no league to be a parent. He generally wasn't authorized." Zack eyes widened, he knew exactly what he was saying. That bastard! "You mean..."

"I mean that the papers that was for her adoption was fake, the real papers were of a temporary document which granted the scientific department to take the girl in custody before her 20th birthday. The girl was under the Shinra's care before the incident occurred with the Meteor. She was given to the last professor to satisfy the ultimate curiosity. Now I will take on that project."

Zack couldn't believe what he just heard. Dear God, no. was all he could think of as a silent reply. The story was enough to shock the rest that were in the room. Reno even gulped after hearing the explanation.

Elena closed her eyes and took a deep sigh, "Ok sir, has the location been confirmed?" Silence remain again as Gothen took out some papers, read trough them silently, and then grinned. He looked up at the screen with almost a dark gaze, "Yes, most definitely." He paused for a while as he usually did, the same way he absorb the information back at Icicle Inn, "The subject you're looking for quite possibly headed south west. Near Nibelheim. Or maybe, in Nibelheim."

"Nibelheim? But that's miles away. Sir how will we catch up with the kidnapper?" Reno said, but flinched back slightly, expecting Gothen to lash out at him as he did with Elena a few moments ago. But to his and everyone's amazement, he chuckled a bit and resumed.

"I have that taken care of, right now as we speak an air jet is stationed right out side Midgar's port. It should escort you to your assigned destination in no time. From then on I expect success, if the kidnapper and the girl should get away I want you to follow the trace immediately. I don't want to see any of you empty handed. Is that clear?" Gothen said and waited for a reply, which Rude gladly gave. "Crystal, sir."

"Very well," Gothen began, "Specialized weapons, troops, and some of my employees have been signed for your convenience. That'll be all. This meeting is adjourned." Gothen finished and just when Zack was about to turn off the screen, "Oh. And yes...how do they say. Good Luck." Gothen signed off with one of his giggles that made any man shiver.

But Zack wasn't in no mood to be creeped out. His thoughts were slowly simmering in anger and worry. There was more to this story. And it had to do with something with the girl and her kidnapper.

"Hey, Zack." Reno said breaking the stillness that remained with in the office, "Do you know who the kidnapper is?"

Zack was in a daze, but that didn't stop him from answering the question, "Gothen said that we may need to use some sort of special weapons?" Zack contemplated, "Reno, I think I might know who it is, but I'm not to sure. I can't pinpoint on it." Elena sighed while reclaiming her stance and putting on her sunglasses, "Well, anyway lets get going, we can't waste anytime, we have our orders. Even though they seem a little treacherous." Zack was sort of shocked by that remark from her. Usually, she would take her stand, just as Rude and Reno did about their "Turk Philosophy". But in this case, there was nothing rational in what his Superior had ordered them.

But then yet, who was he? Their duty was only to do as they were told. Zack laughed silently at this. And realized, nothing much has change within the Shinra. Some of its sprit still remained.

"Yeah, your right we can't keep the ride waiting," Zack began, "And it's nightfall now, we should hurry, it would be the best possibility that the kidnapper may change his location at this time."

The rest agreed and within a few minutes, four were out and headed to the Midgar port, where their mission would begin.

****

The noticeable sky was quiet and calm with in the flutters of the night. It complimented well with dark circle that surrounded Midgar and its dark ground and serene, which could only stretch out so far.

Beyond the gloom of dust that the wind carried, something came into light of the moon. The features were distinguished, and the stature seemed to be carrying a body that was unconscious of some sort over its shoulder. The stature stood over one of the hills to peer into Midgar's features and to contemplate on how to absorb its way in.

My My...How long has it been? The figured wondered. It didn't take him long to get there. To his desired destination. With its given powers, which was born in him, he was able to get there in less than no time at all.

Suddenly something woke him from his thoughts. A sound deep in the sky that didn't sound natural at all. That was what disturbed him. He peered up at the sky, to find himself staring at a plane that was taking flight at tremendous speed. The man quickly ignored the distraction and turned back to his objective. The body he held with in his grasp began to moan and move a bit. But the figure was not worried about that problem.

For he was to absorb in his accomplishment, soon he will face his obstacle and control it. And then attain his prize and importance.

Sephiroth grinned at this and along with Alana slumped over his back; he proceeded cautiously to the city, where he was once long ago.

~*~

~The End Of Part 3~

****

The end... For Now.

To be continued...