Cloud stared out the small round window of the rocket, carefully watching the stars that seemed so close they could almost be touched fly past. Tifa squeezed his hand.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

Cloud gave her a small smile. "I'm feeling a little better," he said. "But I can't get rid of the guilt..."

"Cloud, please," Tifa whispered, touching his face with her fingertips. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault.. it wasn't even really you."

Cloud looked pained. "I know, Tifa," he said, touching her stomach lightly. "It's just that... well... I hurt you so badly, risked the life of you and your child, and then I have the nerve to drag you along on this mission... because I was too afraid to go by myself. You should still be in the hospital."

"Yeah right," Tifa laughed. "I was planning to come along anyway, in fact I was on my way out when you came. Your arrival was just a pleasant surprise."

Cloud touched Tifa's chin and stole a quick kiss.

"Aw, how sweet!" Randy called from two rows behind them. "That's the kinda stuff I like to see!"

Tifa blushed something awful and Cloud gave Randy a dark look before putting his arm around Tifa.

"This is your goddamned Captain speaking, once again," Cid's gruff voice suddenly blared through the intercom. "You are now able to remove your seatbelts and move freely through the cabin. It's smooth sailing from here on in. Just don't break nothing, ya bunch of idiots! And everybody keep an eye on Rufus and those damned Turks!"

Rufus rolled his eyes, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Finally," Zack said, removing his seatbelt and leaping up.

"Ah, leg room," Barret sighed, getting up as well.

"Eh, Cloud, Tifa?" Zack began. "Can I speak to you guys in the cockpit?" They nodded and followed.

The Turks got up as well, standing at the far end of the cabin and laughing quietly. Rufus stood by them, quietly listening to their conversation.

This left only Reeve, Isabelle, Randy, Striker, Kat, and Yuffie still sitting in the passenger area, as Red went to stretch out his legs and Cait was bouncing around bothering someone. Vincent was standing by a window, admiring the stars, as Reeve and Isabelle talked quietly.

Yuffie too stood to get up, but Randy propped his legs up on the seat in front of him to block the isle.

"Where ya goin', cutie?" he asked. "Why leave now? We should get to know each other better."

Yuffie's hands flew to her hips.

"Watch it, pal," Striker warned.

Randy threw up his hands defensively. "Sorry, dude! I didn't know she was your girl."

Yuffie blushed, while Kat looked at Striker strangely. Striker sweatdropped and scratched his head.

Randy grinned. "Hey, it's alright! I'll take the redhead, she's just as hot." Now Kat found herself blushing.

Yuffie leaned over Striker and stared into Randy's face. "Hey, I didn't notice that your eyebrow was pierced. That's... pretty cool."

Randy laughed. "That's not all. Look at this!" He stuck his tounge out, showing off that it was pierced as well.

Kat and Yuffie screamed.

"What's the matter with you guys?" Randy asked. "You've never seen a guy with his tounge pierced before?"

"No," Kat said quickly.

"That's.... interesting," Yuffie said.

Randy shook his head. "Lotsa people pierce their tounges! And what's your problem anyway, Carrot Top? You've got like, four holes in each ear."

Kat blushed again and touched the earrings in her ear. "Yeah... but..."

Randy waved her off and stood. "You kids are weird."

Cait bounced over to where the Turks and Rufus stood.

"I can do magic!" he announced proudly.

Reno waved his beer bottle at the stuffed cat. "Shoo, get out of here," he said.

"Hey, hey!" Cait protested. "Let me stay, I'll make ya laugh! Two jokes for the beer of one!"

Reno actually did laugh, and Elena elbowed him in the ribs.

"You see?" Cait praised himself. "I win, I win, I get some beer!" He took Reno's beer bottle and gulped down a huge swig.

"Hey!" Reno yelled, snatching it back.

Cait bounced around aimlessly for a few seconds, hiccuping as he went. "I'm drunk! I'm drunk!" He collasped on the floor in front of the Turks.

Tseng chuckled.

The other three Turks as well as Rufus snapped their heads up to look at Tseng. "Tseng, did you just laugh?" Reno asked.

Tseng shook his head, still laughing. "That thing's funny."

"It's stupid," Rufus said, giving Cait a rough kick.

"Owww!" Cait shrieked, leaping up.

Reeve turned to look at them from where he sat in the front, his arm carefully around Isabelle's shoulders.

"Cut it out, Rufus," he warned.

Rufus laughed. "Yeah, right. I don't think I'll ever be able to take Reeve seriously again."

"Oh, I wouldn't take that from him," Randy suddenly remarked from the third row, forgetting to mind his own business. "He's trying to call you a loser!"

"Randy, just shut up!" Yuffie berated. "You're worse than Reno!"

"I heard that, Candy Lips," Reno called to her.

"Look at that," Rude said, pointing ahead. "It looks like Reeve's finally got a lady friend."

"Lady friend?" Reno repeated. "Rude, must you talk like that?"

Rude shrugged.

"I think Reeve's got the right idea," Elena commented. "Now's a good time for love." She looked at Tseng.

Tseng gave her a faint smile and looked down. Reno whistled.

Rufus stared at them, disgusted. "This is just insane," he said.

Zack wiped his forehead nervously and looked at Barret and Cid, who were leaning against the controls in the cockpit.

"Don't look at me," Cid said, pulling a drag on his cigarette.

"We just here for support," Barret offered.

Cloud tapped his foot, and Tifa's eyes grew concerned.

"Alright..." Zack began, running a hand down his hair. "You know, Tifa, when you were, um, injured, how you were in the hospital?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Well... your baby needed blood, and they asked me, since I'm like, the father...."

"Right..."

"Well... they took my blood, and it was a match, but...."

"But what?" Cloud blurted impatiently.

Zack looked at the floor and took a deep breath. "They've come to find out that I'm not the father."

Silence.

Zack squinted his eyes, preparing to either feel someone hit him or hear a whole bunch of yelling. Yet there was nothing.

He opened his eyes carefully. Cloud's eyes were wide and Tifa looked as if she'd been shot. Cloud shook his head.

"WHAT?"

Zack stepped back, covering his ears. "They took my blood and they said I wasn't the father. I'm not!"

Cloud blinked, and turned to look at Tifa.

"I..." she was at a loss for words.

Cloud shook his head. "I'm not angry, Tifa," he struggled to say, sounding as if he were trying to keep from making a threat. "I just want you to be honest with me."

Tifa looked painfully at the floor.

"Who was it, Tifa? Is there more than one?"

Tifa looked up, her eyes filling with tears. "No!"

Cloud flinched, sorry for making Tifa cry. He touched her shoulder gently. "I'm sorry," he said.

Tifa turned away from them, hiding her face. "It was Rufus," she whispered. "Rufus?" Zack repeated, a little too loudly.

"Rufus?" Cid echoed. "That dirty MFin' scumbag! I outta..."

"I'm gonna bust him up good," Barret said, leaping to his feet.

Cloud blinked and stepped closer to Tifa.

"Tifa, did you just say Rufus?"

Tifa nodded.

"It was while you were with him, wasn't it?"

She nodded again.

"Did he force you?"

"......"

"Did he rape you, Tifa?"

Tifa whirled around to face him. "No, no! It wasn't like that!"

Cloud's face was red with anger. "Sure it wasn't. I know you wouldn't throw yourself at Rufus for fun, Tifa. Whether he physically raped you or not, I know he had to have somehow forced you!"

Tifa covered her face with her hands.

Zack's mouth was wide open. Cid cursed and Barret banged the control panel with his gun arm. The rocket suddenly jerked to the side.

"Cut that out!" Cid scolded. "You're throwin' us off course!"

Cloud's hand reached for the door. "This isn't going forgiven," he said.

"Wait, Cloud!" Tifa cried. But Cloud was too quick, he raced into the cabin, Tifa, Zack, Cid, and Barret on his heels.

"RUFUS!"

Rufus looked up from where he stood near the back. "Yes? What is it?"

Cloud came running straight at Rufus, catching him off guard. He grabbed the ex Shin-Ra President by his neck, lifting him off ground. Stunned, everyone watched, gasping and yelling.

"What's going on?" Tseng asked, the Turks coming closer.

"Cl..ack," Rufus managed through Cloud's lethal choke hold.

"Holy hell, a fight!" Randy yelled, climbing on top of the seat and watching.

Tifa ran up behind Cloud, Zack, Cid, and Barret behind her. She grabbed his shoulders.

"Wait Cloud, let's explain first!"

"You touched Tifa!" Cloud screamed into Rufus' face. "You filthy, greedy, bastard... you've dirtied her with your nasty touch... How dare you! I'm going to kill you...."

"Wh..." Rufus wheezed. Dark Nation growled and latched his teeth onto Cloud's leg.

"Shit!" Cloud yelped, jumping back and releasing Rufus. He pulled out his sword and glanced at the dog. "Stupid dog..."

"No!" Rufus yelled, throwing himself in front of the dog before Cloud could bring his sword down. "Don't!"

Cloud stopped and stared at Rufus, who was using his own body to block the huge black dog that was his only friend.

"Why did you force Tifa to sleep with you?" Cloud shouted, dangerously close to slashing Rufus open with the Ultima Weapon. "Do you realize what you've done?" Rufus' blue eyes stared into Cloud's with a fearless sincerity. "I'm sorry," he said firmly. "I was trying to win her affection for my campaign... I wanted to have an heir, then get rid of her, for my company's sake. I never knew we'd become allies...."

"Well, guess what, President Shin-Ra?" Cloud spat sarcastically. "She's pregnant!"

"Aeris," Hojo called through the microphone, "I assume you do know Miss Jenova, correct?"

Aeris groaned her response in pain.

"Well, she isn't very pleased with your behavior as of late," Hojo said. "First you summon Holy and ruin all her plans, then you get the Lifestream to further ruin everything. Then you make her one and only son turn against her, and now... you're not giving me the answers I need."

Aeris slowly picked her head up off the gurney to look at Hojo through the glass of the control room he and Tayeko sat in. Her vision was blurred, and she couldn't make out much.

"Now, would you please tell me what I need to know, or do I have to bring Jenova here to punish you?"

Aeris couldn't respond, even if she wanted to. She'd sustained powerful, painful electric shocks, time after time again when she couldn't provide Hojo with the answers he wanted. She wondered if she was going to die like this, lying on a cold steel gurney, shocked to death, wearing a burned and tattered pink dress as her helpless friend watched.

"Again," Hojo's voice echoed through her ears. "Does the Promised Land contain an abundant mako source?"

Aeris closed her eyes and swallowed, preparing herself for another painful shock.

"Txourn, my son," King Hsien addressed him. "We have a very important matter to speak about."

"What is it, Father?" Prince Txourn asked.

Hsien shook his head slowly, his long, greying hair sifting to the sides. He ran a hand down his long beard.

"Jenova is back, son," he said.

Txourn's eyes filled with panic. "J...Jenova?!"

Hsien gripped his rod tightly in his hands. "Yes... and she's brought with her Cetra and Humans."

"Cetra?" Txourn gasped. "Why would she do that? Cetra are the enemy! And humans... why, they're just stupid, Father."

Hsien looked at his son in disdain. "Yes, son, I know," he said. "But there is nothing we can do until she is found. She's managed to hide herself quite well."

Txourn's face grew serious. "Have you sent out the troops?"

"Yes," his father answered, sighing deeply. "They are searching across the lands of the planet in hopes of coming across her."

Txourn nodded. "I shall accompany them." He turned to leave.

"Be careful, son," Hsien warned as his son disappeared out the door.

"She's WHAT?"

Cloud folded his arms. "Pregnant!"

Rufus stared at him stupidly.

Randy threw his hands up and dropped them on top of the seat he was kneeling backwards on. "Come on! Ya know, when you knock a chick up and nine months later-"

Striker punched Randy in the arm to silence him.

"I know what pregnant means!" Rufus shouted, brushing his suit off. "You don't look like you're carrying a baby," he said.

Tifa wiped the moisture from her eyes. "Rufus, that's because its only been a month. And besides, I'm not carrying the baby anyway!"

Rufus' eyes went wide for half a second. "What, we have surrogate mothers now?" he looked at Yuffie. "Are you carrying it?"

Yuffie looked disgusted. "No! Shut up!"

"The fetus is in the hospital in an artifical womb," Tifa explained. "And it's none of your business why!"

"That's even worse," Rufus commented.

Barret shook his good fist. "Stop getting smart, Shin-Ra!"

"Why, "I've always been smart," Rufus said with an irritating smirk.

Barret advanced foward angrilly, but Cid managed to hold him back.

"Enough," Cloud said sternly. "Rufus, I haven't forgotten what you've done to Tifa." He unsheathed his sword. "Now you have to pay."

Rufus didn't look impressed.

"Cloud, cut this half witted shit out!" Cid yelled. "You can't kill Rufus, we might need him later."

Cloud didn't blink. "Oh, I'd say he's pretty expendable."

The Turks stepped forward.

"Cloud, I wouldn't advise you start a fight with us at this time," Tseng warned. "We've offered to help you, but we still protect the President, at any cost."

Rufus' grin made Cloud sick.

"Fine," Cloud said, sheathing his sword. "But when this is all over, I'll deal with you. And don't forget you have responsibilites to Tifa's child now."

"Who's to say it's mine?" Rufus asked unsympathetically.

"The hospital," Zack spat.

Rufus made a face. "Fine," he said, walking back to his seat near the window. "I have an heir... and nothing for it to inherit."

Cloud waved his hand, signalling the confrontation was over, and everyone went back to what they were doing.

"Let's go back to the cockpit," he told Tifa, taking her hand. "There's a nice view of the stars there."

Tifa nodded, and they followed Cid and Barret back into the cockpit. Zack sighed, following as well, and the Turks continued their conversation. Tseng went to sit next to Rufus.

"Are you alright, sir?"

Rufus nodded, looking down at Dark Nation, who was laying on the floor by his feet. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"A child, Rufus?" Tseng said. "You are going to be a father."

Rufus trained his face from showing emotion. "Yeah, Tseng. I know that."

"There's alot of responsibility involved," Tseng added.

"It's mother is Tifa, for Christ's sake," Rufus said. "She's slum trash! As of right now I don't have a company for it to inherit, so I'll just give it money and leave it at that. What good can I do when its always going to be around those AVALANCHE losers? It's step-father will be that idiot Cloud, for the love of Mako. Responsibility my ass."

"That child will eventually know that Cloud is not its father," Tseng said.

"Like I said, it can know who I am, but it won't expect me to be hanging around alot. It's just not gonna work out like that."

"Well, then, I suppose that will make you just like your father," Tseng said, standing to his feet and walking away.

Rufus stared at Tseng's back as the tall, stoic man returned to stand with the Turks, his long and perfect straight black hair moving only slightly as he walked. He turned to the window and stared at the stars, thinking about what Tseng said.

My father? he thought. I can't be like him...

Rufus sighed. No matter what, he'd have to figure something out. Whether the child's mother was slum trash like Tifa or not, it didn't deserve to live the same way Rufus did. After his mother died, he saw even less of his father. He hated the man, always leaving him with caretakers and never bothering to show him any affection of his own. At the age of twelve he went to Junon to begin his part as Vice President, though he was still learning. As he continued to age his father never spoke to him, unless to issue orders, till it got to the point that he couldn't wait for the bastard to die.

He meant to personally thank Sephiroth about that.

Rufus looked at Dark Nation again, who was sleeping quietly.

No, he wasn't going to do that to *his* child.

"Oh, it's over. Whatever shall we do?" Elena teased.

"Shut up," Reno snapped. "I need some booze every now and then, other wise I get to analyzing stuff too much. Then I might mess up."

Rude chuckled.

Reno glared at him. "What's so funny, Mr. Clean?"

"Is that what happened with Yuffie, Reno? Didn't have enough to drink that night, did you?"

Reno turned almost as red as his hair.

"What happened with Yuffie?" Tseng asked.

"N,nothing," Reno stammered.

"Please, Reno," Elena began. "Don't think no one's noticed that Yuffie's alive and well when Rufus ordered you to kill her. What happened?"

"Yeah, Rufus was pretty skeeved about that, but we managed to keep him from bothering you about it," Rude added. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if it comes out your next check."

Tseng cocked an eyebrow. "Reno, is this true what I'm hearing? This is a first. You botched a job?"

Reno made a face and snatched a small bottle out of his pocket, unscrewing the top and letting it fall to the floor. "Ah! Just leave me alone, all of you!" He took a swig.

"Reno, have you noticed?" Rude said, pointing in Yuffie's direction. "Seems like she replaced ya."

"And pretty quickly," Elena noted.

Reno glanced over at Yuffie, who was leaning against Striker, his arm around her.

"Replaced him?" Tseng repeated, a bit stunned. "Reno, you and Yuffie Kisaragi were an item? What happened while I was injured?"

"Dead," Elena corrected.

"I wasn't dead, Elena," Tseng said in a simple way. "I was injured."

"But we thought you were dead," she argued.

"That doesn't change the face that I was-"

"It was an order from Rufus to get information out of her," Reno interrupted.

"But Reno ended up really falling for her," Rude said.

"Shut up, Rude!" Reno half yelled. "I can't tell you a goddamned thing!"

Rude smiled and looked at the floor.

"Who cares about Yuffie anyway," Reno said. "I'm gonna try to talk to that cute little red head over there."

"I think your friend Randy beat you to it," Elena giggled, pointing to Randy, who was in the row behind Kat, Yuffie, and Striker, leaning over the seat and playing with the schoolgirl's firey hair from behind her.

"Damnit," Reno cursed. "I can't win."

"Reno's looking at you again," Striker said.

Yuffie shrugged. "Who cares? Let him stare all he wants. I've got what I want right here." She patted his muscular abdomen.

Striker laughed. "Yeah, well..."

Kat shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Striker and Yuffie had become awfully close, and she wasn't sure what that meant for her. Not only that, but Randy was turning out to be a serious pain in the neck.

"What's the matter, hot stuff?" Randy asked from where he was leaning over the top of her seat from behind her. "You look kinda sad." He tugged on a peice of her hair.

Kat snatched the hair out of his grip and craned her neck to look at him. "I'm fine," she said.

Randy shrugged. "If you say so," he said. "So, what exactly is it we're gonna be doing once we get to this mysterious planet?"

"We have find Jenova, kill her, and save Tayeko, Aeris, and Sephiroth."

Randy's eyes went wide. "S,sephiroth? That crazy psycho girly man with the long hair? Are you serious?"

Kat giggled and nodded.

"Thats wild," Randy said, scratching his head. "Do we get to kill any aliens?" Kat shrugged.

"Go do something," Rude said, giving Reno's shoulder a push. "Get the girl before your friend does."

Reno wrinkled his nose. "Cut it out! I'm the Don Juan around here, not you, Rude! So quit actin' like I can't get a girl!"

Elena snickered.

"This is petty talk," Tseng said. "I'm going to the lower level to have a nap on one of the cots."

"They have beds here?" Elena asked.

"Yes, Elena," Tseng sighed. "If you three would have come to the launch pad on time, you would have heard the tech explain that." He turned and walked to the very back of the cabin where Vincent was still looking out a window, and went through a doorway to the bottom level.

Rude motioned to Randy to come over.

"What are you doing, Rude?" Reno asked nervously, taking another sip of his beer.

Randy patted Kat on the head and jogged over to them, his huge pants swishing against each other as he moved.

"What's up?" he asked, leaning on Elena's shoulder. She promptly pushed him off.

"That red head, what's her name?" Rude asked.

"Uh... Kate," Randy answered. "No, no... Its' Kit. I think. Damnit, I'm never good with names, especially females."

Rude smiled. "Hook her up with Reno."

Reno spat booze everywhere, angering Elena and causing her to jump up and down wiping her suit off. "Stop, Rude! I told you I can get a girl for myself! I'm the original Ladies' Man!"

"Aww, come on!" Randy complained. "I wanted to talk to her!"

"Please," Rude said softly. "Look at poor Reno, he's got no female companionship..."

"CUT IT OUT RUDE!!"

Elena covered her face as she laughed. "Rude, do you always mess with Reno like this when he's drunk?"

Rude smirked. "Pretty much."

"Fine," Randy muttered, feeling defeated. "I'll talk to her for him."

"Wait just a damn minute!" Reno yelled, grabbing Randy by the hood of his sweatshirt. "I can get the women for myself!" With that, Reno stomped over towards Kat's seat.

"This should be good," Rude said, watching Reno through his dark sunglasses.

Reno stalked behind Kat's seat and tapped her shoulder. "Hey, girl... What's your name?"

Kat whirled around, her eyes opening in surprise. Behind her was one of the Turks. He had a head full of sloppy bright red hair with a long ponytail, sunglasses perched atop his head and pushing hair around his face. His eyes were a bright, greenish blue color, and he had two deep scars, one beneath each eye. He had a gorgeous smile, and Kat almost lost it for a second.
"K...Kat," she answered.

"Kat," Reno repeated. "That's cute. How are you doing, Kat?"

"Damn," Rude cursed. "Foiled again. Reno's actually not making a fool of himself as I had hoped."

"What did you expect?" Elena asked. "Reno never messes up with women."

"Hey! What about me?" Randy asked defensively.

Elena looked disgusted. "Please," she muttered. "You ARE a mess to women." Rude laughed and shook his head.

"You know, that isn't very nice, Elena!" Randy retorted.

"It wasn't meant to be," she shot back, walking towards the doorway Tseng entered earlier to the bottom level.

"Women," Randy muttered, rolling his eyes and walking away, leaving Rude alone in silence again.

Reeve felt Isabelle's hand touch his, and he pulled his gaze away from the starry window to her soft, pale green eyes.

"Huh?"

"Is something the matter?" she asked. "You look... preoccupied."

Reeve shrugged and put his other hand atop of hers. "Yeah... I gues I'm a little nervous about this whole thing."

"Don't be," Isabelle reassured him. "Remember, we have each other. We'll protect each other."

"That sounds stupid," Reeve said, blushing slightly. "I'm the man... I'm supposed to protect you. But here I am, acting like a big sissy."

"Stop it, Reeve," Isabelle scolded. "We take care of each other, that's how it works. And besides, its alright to be afraid. I'm scared too. Everyone is, I'm sure, but you're just not as good at covering it up as the rest of us."

Reeve nodded and looked down. "I suppose you're right," he admitted. "I just hope I don't fail and ruin everything. I've never been a battle person, that's what Cait Sith is for."

Isabelle laughed and leaned against his arm. "It's going to be just fine, Reeve," she said. "Just fine."

"Uh...Tseng?" she called to him.

Tseng looked up at her. "Yes, Elena?"

Elena looked down at her hands and started fidgeting her fingers. "Tseng, do you think we could talk about something? Something... non professional."

Tseng eyed her cooly for a moment, then gestured to the cot he was sitting on. "Certainly. Have a seat."

Blushing just a bit, Elena nodded and took a seat next to Tseng on the cot. She folded her arms carefully and looked at him.

"So, what is it that you wanted to discuss?" he asked.

Elena looked at her hands again. "I wanted to talk about.... us."

Tseng knew it. He'd been waiting for this conversation ever since he got to Midgar, and now, here it finally was. He'd wait and see what *she* wanted before he went and spilled his feelings.

"Tseng, you asked me to dinner right before your accident with Sephiroth," Elena said. "I was wondering...."

Tseng watched her patiently.

"Is that date still on?"

"If you want it to be," Tseng replied calmly.

Elena broke out into a huge grin. "Oh, great! When we get back to Midgar!"

"When we get back to Midgar," Tseng repeated, keeping his voice low.

Elena kissed Tseng on the cheek.

Tseng stared at her. She'd just kissed him on the cheek!

Elena's eyes were glowing. Tseng leaned closer to her face, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Elena was blushing furiously. "Tseng..."

Tseng smiled. "I'm going to get some rest, Elena," he said. "Go back upstairs and make sure everyone's ready when its time to land."

Elena nodded as Tseng layed back on the cot, practically skipping out of the bottom level. Red smiled to himself as she pranced out, shaking his head.

Cid shrugged. "Beats me."

"Gotta ask Red," Zack said. "He's got the book on that stuff."

Tifa nodded and started for the door. "He's sleeping in the bottom level. I'll go get him," she said, leaving the cockpit.

Cloud put a hand to his chin. "I guess now we have to come up with a plan," he said thoughtfully.

"Damn right," Cid agreed. "We can't just land on some goddamned planet not knowing what the hell we're doing."

"We'll split up into groups and search the Planet," Cloud said. "How will we communicate with each other?"

"PHS," Zack answered.

"How will the PHS work on another planet?" Cloud asked. "There's no satellites there."

"But there's satellites in space," Cid said. "Come on, Spike, think!"

Cloud shook his head. "Fine. We'll split up and try to find her. We might run into cities or other civilizations, so we're gonna have to be careful."

"What about them damn Jenova creatures?" Barret asked.

"Tzumarians," Zack corrected.

"Whatever!" Barret hollered. "They might not be kinda hostile. I mean, what if a buncha them landed on our planet? We'd be pretty upset."

"If that happens," Cloud began, "Then we have to fight them."

"But wait," Zack spoke. "Didn't Jenova say she was exiled? They might be up in arms about her being there."

Cloud thought for a moment. "Well see what happens when we get there. We just have to remember to be extra careful. Red said there aren't hardly any monsters on Tzumron, so I don't think we have to worry about that."

Tifa came in the cockpit, carrying a book in her hands, Red XIII behind her. She set the book on the control panel and opened it, turning the pages. Red sat up on his haunches.

"So, you want to know how to get through this wormhole?" he asked.

Cloud nodded. "What do we need to do?"

Red looked at the pages of the book carefully. "Well, for one, we need to gather up an incredible magic force."

"How much magic?" Cloud asked.

"Oh, enough to summon Knights of the Round eight times with out getting exausted."

"What? How are we going to do that?"

"That's a shitload of magic power," Cid said.

"Perhaps we can gather all of our most avid magic users," Red said.

"Aeris, Tayeko, and Sephiroth were our best mages," Tifa said.

"Great," Cid spat. "That really fuckin' helps, considering they're not here and all!"

Tifa flinched.

"Watch it, Cid," Cloud warned. "Now who's good with magic? I know me and Tifa are -"

"Count me out," Barret declared.

"Me as well," Cid said.

"We need you to steer the rocket into the wormhole anyway," Red said.

"Red, your good with magic as well," Cloud continued. "So is Vincent - and definately Yuffie. Reeve probably couldn't use materia if he tried, and I don't know about the Turks."

"I'm pretty good too," Zack said. "What about that new kid, Randy?"

"I doubt it," Cloud said. "I don't think Kat's any good either. I don't know about Isabelle..."

"Rufus?" Zack asked.

Cloud frowned. "I don't know."

"Actually, I think Tseng is pretty good with magic," Red said. "We should involve him as well."

Cloud nodded. "Alright, what do we do to actually find the wormhole and get through it?"

Red took a deep breath. "This is the hard part," he said.

"What?" Cid growled. "You mean finding a bunch of morons that have enough magic power between 'em to summon KOTR eight goddamned times wasn't the hard part?"

Red shook his head. "No, we must each focus our magic without materia and open the wormhole in our minds. If we see it in our minds and we use our magic to open it, it will materialize and open," he explained. "The books says that if more than one person is summoning the wormhole, which in our case we are, then each person must hold hands to form a circle, connecting the magic forces."

Cid whistled and Barret scratched his head.

"What does that all mean?" he asked.

Cloud shook his head. "Nevermind," he said to Barret. "We'd better get started, then. I don't want to wander space any longer if it's not neccessary."

Tifa nodded and they returned to the cabin, leaving Cid at the controls. Cloud stood up front and tried to get everyone's attention.

"Where's Tseng?" he asked.

"He's sleeping," Elena said.

"Go get him," Cloud ordered. "We need him."

Elena nodded and went down to the bottom level to wake Tseng.

"What's up, Cloud?" Yuffie asked.

"Its time to open the wormhole," he answered.

"How are we going to do that?" Striker asked.

"I'm going to explain in a second," he said, as Elena and Tseng returned.

"Alright, here's the deal. We need to exhaust a ton of magic power in order to accomplish this. Myself, Tifa, Vincent, Zack, Yuffie, Tseng, and Red will sit on the floor, holding hands. We have to dream up the wormhole's image in our minds and, without materia, actually open the wormhole."

"WithOUT materia?" Yuffie repeated, feeling disappointed.

"Right," Cloud answered. "Now who else thinks they're good with magic?"

Isabelle stood. "I think I should be able to help you."

"Great," Cloud said. "The rest of you should sit quietly, and when the wormhole opens, Cid will guide the ship into it."

"Isn't this dangerous?" Kat asked.

"Don't worry, the magic will protect us," Red said.

"Wait a second," Rufus said. "What if you half-wits go through the wormhole to the wrong galaxy?"

Cloud balled his fists and looked at Red.

"While opening the vorex, each of has to keep in mind that we're looking for Jenova's home planet," Red explained. "Then the wormhole will not only take us to the correct galaxy, but as close to Tzumron as possible."

"Aren't you guys gonna freakin' exaust yourselves?" Randy asked. "We can't fight aliens if everyone's wiped out."

"We'll rest in the cots below before we land," Cloud said. "Let's get started." Cloud, Tifa, Tseng, Isabelle, Yuffie, Vincent, Red and Zack sat on the floor, grabbing one another's hands and closing their eyes, while the rest of the group sat quietly in the seating area, watcing intently.

"Yay!" Cait shouted into his megaphone. "We're going to the Nashua Galaxy!"

"Cait," Reeve scolded, whipping around to look at him. "You absolutely *have* to be silent."

Cait drooped his ears and pretended to zip his mouth shut.

"Alright," Cloud said quietly, squeezing Tifa's hand. "We start... now."

It was eerily silent in the cabin of the Shin-Ra 27 spacecraft, and the eight people seated on the floor worked carefully and thoughtfully to open the wormhole. Several minutes had passed, and Yuffie began swaying slightly in her place, and Cloud and Zack both broke out into a sweat. Tifa was squeezing Cloud's hand tightly, and Isabelle was wrinkling her nose. Vincent, Tseng, and Red seemed unfazed.

Cid's eyes went wide as he saw stars in the approaching distance disappear as a black hole formed in front of the ship. A soft, white, glowling light began to engulf the spacecraft, and Cid's hands flew to the controls.

"Well, I'll be damned!" He exclaimed to himself, grabbing the controls. "They're really doing it!"

"The hell's going on?" Barret yelled from his seat.

Cloud shook his head out, after having hit it on the wall. He looked around, seeing Tifa try to pick herself up and the others as well.

"What happened?" He asked. "The magic-"

"Hey morons!" Cid's voice boomed through the intercom. "This is your Captain speaking! Ya losers actually opened that damn wormhole! Take a look-see out the window."

Everyone struggled to get up, while the others looked at the windows by their seats.

"All I see is stars!" Randy complained.

"Damnit, Highwind!" Barret shouted. "You didn't do nothing!"

"Sure, but you see that glowing blue ball over to the east?" Cid called back through intercom. "That's Tzumron."

Not that it wasn't plenty warm enough in here. To be honest, it was hot and stuffy. The candles were burning strong and the scent from the incences Jenova'd lit were nauseating him.

Sephiroth wondered where he was in relation to the rest of this city. If Jenova was exiled from her home planet, then how could she waltz back in without any trouble? Much less situate herself in the midst of their civilization. He watched as more creatures flew past, some carrying packages in their hands or traveling in groups. It must be quiet easy to get around if everyone could fly. Sephiroth heard the door close.

"Sephiroth."

He turned around, not surprised to see Jenova standing against the door. She grinned at him.

"I'm ready. Are you?"

Sephiroth made a disgusted face. "I'll never want to be ready for you," he spat.

Jenova frowned. "Sephiroth, you hurt me," she said. "Hojo went through all the work of finding this beautiful body for me and preparing it, and I spent two and a half hours getting ready for you. The least you can do is be somewhat greatful."

"Don't hold your breath," he said.

Jenova walked up to Sephiroth and touched his arm. "Have a seat on the bed," she ordered.

"I don't think so," he said.

Jenova sighed. "Sephiroth, I don't beileve you have much of a choice." "I'll jump out this window," he said seriously.

"But what about your precious Cetra friends?" Jenova said in a sorrowful voice. "Who will try to save them if you are dead? And trust me, that is a pretty far drop."

"You are contradicing yourself. And besides, I can fly," Sephiroth reminded her. "Remember? You actually had me use that to your advantage quite a few times, you know."

Jenova growled deep in her throat. She snapped her fingers, and suddenly the window vanished, replaced with the wall as if it had never been there.

"How do you do that?" Sephiroth asked.

"You'll find out soon enough," Jenova said. "Now sit on the bed!"

"I'm not -"

Jenova's eye's glowed red and with a toss of her hands, knocked Sephiroth back onto the bed.

"My sword," Sephiroth growled, sitting up. "If I had my sword, I could dispose of you..."

"But you *don't* have it!" she snapped, climbing atop him and straddling him. "Now shut up! I want to mate!"

Sephiroth suddenly remembered his ability to call the Masamune to him from wherever it was. "Masamune, come to me!" he declared, holding his hand out. Nothing happened.

"Ha, ha," Jenova laughed in his face. "That isn't going to work here. You can only do that thanks to the force of the Lifestream. And guess what? There's no Lifestream on Tzumron!"

Sephiroth cursed his luck.

"Now, let's get started," Jenova said, running her hands along Sephiroth's smooth, toned chest. "Once we mate, you won't remember anyone, and you won't give a damn about that little Cetra I saw you clinging to. You'll only want ME!"

Sephiroth cringed at the thought. "Get off me, demon!"

"Sephiroth, I've really tired of the name-calling," Jenova said. "It would do you good to keep your mouth shut unless you intend to say something nice."

"GET OFF OF ME!" Sephiroth shouted at the top of his lungs. "You're supposed to be my mother! This is incest!"

Jenova slapped him. "Cut it out, Sephiroth," she said, grabbing his arms and pinning them against the bed. "I've heard enough!"

Sephiroth's glowing ice green eyes shone into her dark blue ones. "If you don't get off of me, I'm going to toss you through that wall!"

"Don't underestimate my strength, Sephiroth," Jenova warned. "Now stay still. It's time to mate!"

Sephiroth didn't take heed to her words. He broke his arms out of her hold and pushed her off the bed.

"Damn you!" she said, picking herself up off the floor. Sephiroth rolled off the bed on the other side and stared at her.

"Don't come near me!" he shouted.

Jenova climbed on her knees atop the bed. "You don't have a choice," she said, pushing a lock of hair out of her face and crawling on the bed towards him. "Now, get over here."

Sephiroth backed against the wall. "What is this, some sick game of cat and mouse?" he said.

"GET OVER HERE!" Jenova roared, her voice bouncing off the walls. She lept off the bed and pounced on Sephiroth, pulling him to the floor and falling on top of him.

She grabbed a lock of his long, silver hair. "Get in that damn bed!"

Sephiroth winced slightly at the pain in his scalp, and reached up to get his own handful of Jenova's hair. "No!"

Jenova cried out as Sephiroth pulled violently on her hair. She pulled tighter on his hair, and used her free hand to reach back and slap him again.

"Bitch!" he spat, tasting blood inside his cheek. How could she hit so hard?

"Oh, I'm not the bitch in this room, obviously," she said, standing up. "Now get on that bed!"

"I refuse," Sephiroth said, standing to his feet as he snatched his hair out of her grip. "I'm going to strangle you to death!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Jenova yelled. She waved her hand again and sent Sephiroth flying back onto the bed, his head hitting the back board. He groaned in pain. "This is more like it," Jenova said, straddling him again. She placed a hand on the side of his head. "Let's get started..."

Sephiroth looked up at her, but even her face was a blur. He had hit his head harder than he thought. She was trying to push her way into his mind again. He could't let her do that.

"Stop..." he said weakly.

"Ha," Jenova laughed. "Just wait."

Sephiroth groaned as he felt Jenova's fingers pushing into his flesh. His minds eye suddenly saw images, images of them making love, holding each other, standing on the deck of the Highwind, wrapped in the breeze..."

"STOP!" He shouted.

Jenova pushed further, and Sephiroth's body was filled with an intolerable pain. He saw more and more images of Jenova. He pushed them aside, trying to think of Tayeko. The pain intensified.

"Forget the Cetra," Jenova said. "Think about me, and the pain will go away!"

Sephiroth growled, summoning his strength. He pushed Jenova off of him, sending her crashing to the floor again. He felt relieved as his mind returned to him and the pain subsided.

Jenova picked herself up off the floor. "Fine! I've had enough of you! I'm going to take out my anger on one of your little Cetra friends... but I'll be back!"

"Stop!" Sephiroth yelled. "Don't you hurt them!"

"Having second thoughts, Sephiroth?" Jenova asked. "Well too bad, I'm going anyway. Don't worry, I won't kill them... yet. And remember, I *will* be back for you!"

Sephiroth balled up his fists as he watched Jenova leave. If anything happened to Tayeko, he'd have nothing to live for.

"That's Tzumron?" Yuffie yelled. "Cool, we're almost there!"

"It's actually very beautiful," Tifa said.

"Alright, everyone." Cloud began. "Let's check our materia and supplies. Cid, you can land her."

"Roger that," Cid called back through the intercom.

"Just a moment," Vincent said. "Don't you think we should take a break?"

"Yes, I'm very tired," Isabelle agreed.

"I guess your right," Cloud said. "Cid, you hear that? We're taking a nap." "I won't actually get close enough to the planet to land for another three or four hours," Cid called. "So take your damn time."

"Alright, then," Cloud said. "Come on, if you were helping out with the magic, let's go to the lower level and get some sleep. In fact, I'd advise all you of you to get some rest. We've got some hard work ahead of us."

The others nodded, and the tired magic users followed Cloud and Tifa down to the bottom level to rest.

"They've got the right idea," Rude said, following them as well. "I could use a nap as well."

"That's for sure," Reno added. "I'm going to catch some Z's too."

Elena folded her arms. "Great, now nobody's going to get any sleep with you down there!"

"Can it, Elena," Reno said, waving her off.

Elena giggled to herself as Cait Sith bounced over to her.

"Guess what?" he said, pulling on her jacket.

"What?" Elena asked.

"Reeve is turning forty next month," he whispered.

Elena gasped. "Reeve is turning forty?" she repeated loudly.

Everyone still in the cockpit looked at her. Reeve fumed.

"CAIT!" he yelled.

Cait laughed and bounced atop his moogle to the lower level.

"Damn, you're almost forty?" Randy asked. "Aren't you too old for that chick you were with? What is she, like, nineteen?"

Reeve frowned. "Actually, she's twenty-nine," he said.

"She's got a baby face," Striker remarked.

"Damn," Barret muttered. "And I thought me and Cid were the oldest mofos in this gang."

Cid came out the cockpit and leaned in the doorway. "I heard that!" he said. "I ain't old!"

"Besides," Reeve said. "Tseng is turning thirty six soon too. How old are you, Elena?"

"Twenty three," she said.

"I think you're a little too young for Tseng," Rufus suddenly said.

Elena blushed. "Shut up!"

Reeve blinked. "Elena, those rumors were true? You have a crush on Tseng?"

Elena blushed harder.

"Hmph, and I thought Scarlet was just flapping her gums."

"What happened to Scarlet anyway?" Elena asked. "I heard AVALANCHE took Heideggar out when they destroyed the Proud Clod 2."

Rufus laughed from his seat. "Scarlet's probably looking into selling herself right about now," he said. "There's nothing for her to fall back on now."

"That's a shame," Reeve said sincerely. "You really shouldn't have left her like that."

"What do you care, Reeve?" Rufus asked. "Scarlet was always picking on you."

"Yeah, when she wasn't trying to sleep with me," Reeve added.

Striker plugged his ears. "I think I've heard enough," he said.

Cait Sith came bouncing back into the cabin. "They threw me out!" he said.

"I wonder why?" Reeve said sarcastically. "Were you bothering them?"

Cait's ears drooped. "I was just trying to sing a lullabye..."

"Oh, for Christ's sake," Rufus muttered.

"Cait, why don't you settle down?" Reeve suggested. "You're gonna need to be well rested when we land on Tzumron."

"Fine," Cait said, hopping off his moogle and sitting down next to Kat. "I'll be good."

Kat giggled and ruffled his head. Elena sat down next to Rufus in the row behind them.

"I should have gone down to rest," she yawned. "Guess I can get some sleep in here." She laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. Rufus ignored her and continued staring out the window. He was too busy thinking about his child to be bothered.

Kat looked at Striker nervously. It was obvious he had feelings for Yuffie, she was sure. Maybe she shouldn't have went to Junon when Cid gave them that little break. None the less, she did have her eyes on that cute Turk. Kat shook her head, wondering how it was she could so easily switch her interests from one guy to the other.

Barret stayed standing, looking out a window. He was in no mood to sit down. He was in some far off galaxy, not knowing a damn thing about the planet he was about to land on. He scratched his chin, wondering how Marlene was doing. He'd left her in Rocket Town with Shera and Elmyra, as usual. He wished he could have brought her with him, she'd love this view of the stars. But it was too dangerous.

Barret sighed, smiling slightly. When it was all over, at least Marlene would still be there.

Cid returned to the cockpit, flopping down on the seat. He pulled out his lucky lighter and lit a fresh cigarete. He blew the first wave of smoke high into the air, admiring the way it formed circles from his lips. "Shera, girl," he thought out loud. "I love ya."