Seek the Stars

IX

Axel’s legs trembled. He’d been standing for seven hours straight and it didn’t seem like that was going to change any time soon. Everyone seemed to be off doing some other task which took up all their time. Axel, however, had been deemed gopher and once Saïx got through with him, Axel had been run ragged. Now he was forced to stand up while he watched the monitors in the surveillance room because someone had broken the chair, and no one seemed to want to replace it. The door creaked open and Demyx poked his head in.

“You hungry?”

“I’m tired.” Axel said. “I want to sit. But no, it’s somehow my fault the damned chair was broken so now I’m punished.”

“I could find you a box.” Demyx replied with a grin.

“Box, crate, I don’t care, I just want to – hello.” Axel leaned forward and hummed. “The kids are back.”

“Really?” Demyx moved into the room and stared at the monitor for the camera situated in the hangar. “Isn’t that Xemnas?”

“Yes. Yes it is.”

The two young men stared for a moment longer. Then Demyx made for the door. “I’ll get Zexion!”

“Get everyone!” Axel called after him. “And the medics! It looks like they’re all hurt!”

Axel didn’t hear a reply if Demyx made one, but he knew he’d been heard. He stared at the screen of the television and tired not to snarl at the sight of the kids. Bloody and bruised but otherwise whole, they seemed like veterans coming out of a rough battle. He clenched his fingers around his upper arms and prayed that all of them were okay, and wished he could go down there to help. But he had to stay here, to watch the screens, to make sure no more crises arose while those who could fight were tending to their youngest comrades.


Rufus stared at Kaoru, the least hurt of the group, from over steepled fingers. Kaoru stared at him with an expressionless gaze, giving Rufus nothing to use as an emotional weapon.

“What happened?” he said in a quiet voice. He got a flinch.

“We were attacked.”

“So we gathered from all reports. Except yours.”

Kaoru shifted and looked at his wrapped wrist, trying to come up with an excuse or a lie or some kind of story Rufus would believe. At least, that’s what Rufus thought. When Kaoru looked back at the President, Rufus couldn’t help but swallowed as he tried to keep initial fear off his face. Kaoru’s eyes, normally a white sclera and an amber iris, where completely black with a solid yellow iris and pupil.

“I lost control,” Kaoru whispered. “I have a tenuous grip now, at best.” He blinked once, and his eyes were normal once more.

“Have you seen the Leader yet?”

“Yes. He sent me here, to report to you.”

Which meant Rufus had called for Kaoru before Zack had had time to leash Kaoru. And Zack had let Rufus learn this for himself. Rufus heaved a sigh and rubbed his face.

“Go back and get yourself checked out.” Rufus said finally. “I expect a full report, though.”

Kaoru saluted, trembled for a moment, and Rufus wondered if he shouldn’t call for Tseng. But the boy simply turned on his own power and walked away, out of the office. Rufus heaved a sigh and looked over all the reports again, looking to glean something that he hadn’t gotten on the first read. He had disagreed with the Leader, but hadn’t fought to replace the kids with some of the Order. Perhaps what happened had been somewhat his fault as well. The blonde looked up as Tseng and Rude entered the office and his frown deepened.

“What’s wrong?” Rufus asked.

“Reno and Elena finally checked in.” Tseng said. “They’re in what used to be Edge.”

“So our world is back?”

Tseng shook his head. “By all accounts, its our world in about a hundred years in the future. Midgar, what used to be Midgar, is a forest. So is Edge. People live there still, but most are Geostigma victims.”

“They also found a boy.” Rude uttered lowly.

Rufus eyed the bald Turk in sunglasses. “That’s not unusual.”

“The boy is Denzel.”

Rufus blinked. “Denzel. They’re sure?”

“They’re positive. He’s the correct age, and he knows them. He looks like Cloud.” Tseng’s lips quirked as he fought the smirk. “He’s wielding the Buster Sword.”

Rufus sat chewing at his lower lip for a long while in silence. “Can they get back? All of them?”

“They’re trying. Or at least Elena is. Reno’s trying to get a full story out of Denzel, but you know Reno. Besides that, the boy has a severe case of Geostigma. It’s not spreading or infectious as far as Elena can tell, but until we have a real alb to confirm it.” Tseng trailed off. “Should I send someone after them?”

“Who would Denzel trust?” Rufus asked. “Sounds like they’re delaying because the kid won’t go in the Dark Corridors. Who would Denzel trust that we could send?”

“Tifa?” Rude put in and shrugged when Tseng looked at him sharply.

“Tifa’s off-world with Diablo, surveying the Land of Dragons.” Rufus said. “So they’re on their own for now. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

“Maybe.” Tseng frowned. “Vincent hasn’t reported in, has he?”

Rufus shook his head. He smiled grimly. “We’re spread thin, aren’t we?”

“Not too thin it’ll be a problem, but thin enough.” Tseng heaved a sigh. “There are too many worlds for the Order to look after.”

“Focus on what we have right now.” Rufus said. “We’ll deal with other shit when it happens.”

Tseng gave the President a short bow and left with Rude, leaving Rufus alone in the dim gloom of his office. He rubbed his face, leaned back and sighed.

Kaoru losing control; Reno and Elena, stranded; Members of the Order not checking in; Xemnas appearing; Rufus heaved a sigh.

Maybe it was time to consult the Watchers.

The blonde shook his head. Not yet. He wouldn’t ask them just yet. Maybe this he could solve with his own power. Finally, Rufus rose and left his office for the infirmary, hoping maybe Naminé or Roxas could shed some light on this dilemma, and Rufus could finally get some damn answers.

He hated not knowing what was going on with a violent passion. Of course, he feared the wrath of those who did know and had chosen to let him figure it out on his own. It was one of those lose-lose situations. Rufus heaved a heavy sigh and hoped Kadaj hadn’t gone off-world. Rufus was going to need some… exercise… to relieve this tension.

Yeah. That’s it. Exercise.

Rufus leaned his head against the elevator’s metal surface and heaved a sigh. Sometimes, he hated his position.


Sephiroth stepped up behind Vincent and studied the immortal’s back. The vampire had changed from the memories, black hair pulled back into an extremely childish braid, wisps of it curling loose around his shoulders. Gone was that metal arm, replaced by a flesh and bone hand. Death Penalty gleamed in the holster on Vincent’s back, a reminder as to how dangerous the immortal actually was.

“I can’t tell you.” Vincent said softly. “I’m bound by greater powers. I can only tell you about what you remember or about who you have met.”

“Why is that?”

Vincent gave an imperceptive shrug and glanced into those Mako green eyes. “Who knows?”

Sephiroth moved to stand beside the immortal and looked down at what Vincent was watching, smirking at the sight of Riku, Yuffie, and Sora toying with Cait Sith. “Tell me about Riku.”

“He is your son by blood.” Vincent replied.

“Why didn’t I know about him?”

“You were gone when he was born. His mother gave him to me to take somewhere safe so he couldn’t be used against you when the time came.”

“You knew his mother?”

Vincent’s lips drew into a thin line. “I know his mother.”

“But you can’t tell me.” Sephiroth muttered.

Vincent sighed. “Until you remember him yourself, I can’t. I can tell you he loves you, and he misses you, and he seems to get further away from us each passing day. But he’s always with you.”

“That’s still doesn’t answer any of my questions.”

“You haven’t asked any.”

Sephiroth looked sharply at Vincent and saw the barest hints of mirth in the crimson orbs. “The boys say we have to get to this place called Twilight Town.” The silver-haired man said, changing subjects. “You know it?”

“I know it. We go there often, as it’s closet to the Terminal Town Alexandria.”

“Can you take us there?”

Vincent frowned. “The easiest way to go would be through a Dark Corridor, but I won’t risk Riku on those pathways. Gummi ships are the next best thing.”

Sephiroth didn’t ask why his son would be a risk on this Dark Corridor; Vincent had turned his gaze aside as he’d mentioned it.

“Only Cid has a Gummi ship, and he won’t be convinced.” Sephiroth said.

“Then we’ll stay here.” Vincent replied mildly.

Sephiroth frowned at the immortal and then flicked his feline-like gaze onto the blonde pilot that had shown up to cuss out the teenagers. A lazy smile spread on the SOLDIER General’s face as he had a brilliant idea.

Vincent might be bound to silence, but Sephiroth sure as hell wasn’t.