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Destiny JENOVA III: Origins (Chapter 8: The Mysterious Virus& the Lament of Sephiroth)

Previously...

Yazoo and Loz were sent on a mission to rescue Kadaj and find out what was going on inside his home. After successfully finding Vincent and protecting Kadaj from further harm, JENOVA had met up with them and learned of what was going on and why Kadaj kept running away. Knowing of Vincent's serious offenses, JENOVA left the kingdom outlands with him, with plans of having him meet her at her throne the following morning at the peak of Mako Reactor to decide what to do about the fiasco and trouble he had caused. Despite being scared for what seemed like the first time in his entire life, Vincent made way to meet JENOVA at her throne in hopes of avoiding a worse penalty for not arriving as ordered.


Chapter 8: The Mysterious Virus& the Lament of Sephiroth


(This section will focus on Sephiroth as the speaker) For some reason, Mother had called me unexpectedly this morning while i was busy observing things at JENOVA Foundation. She didn't give me details, but said i must meet her at Mako Reactor Peak. This was the first time i was ordered to go there. I wondered what was going on aside from preparation for the WEAPON quests. It wasn't often that Mother called me or any of her children to meet up there, and when we did meet her there the reason was rarely good news. I had a feeling something bad had happened that i wasnt informed about. But as Mother's oldest and firstborn son, i especially was expected to comply without being difficult or complaining. I had already woken up earlier than expected since Mother had that emergency call, and that meant i would have to wake up President Rufus to get business rolling here on time. I left my suite and walked towards the middle of the room where the control panel for the facility power was, then turned on the lights followed by everything else. I walked towards the suite across the room where Rufus slept and entered. Surprisingly, he was already awake; and toying with what looked like some new gizmo of his. He was always playing with technology and having employees at the foundation perform experiments of all kinds; so much it seemed he was obsessed with it all. It might make him sound like a scientific madman, but it also served Mother's Foundation very well and kept her kingdom in very safe hands. He was a crazy man when it came to science, but that obsession of his was put to good use for protecting Mother's family. Taking notice of my presence, he turned to me and laughed, then said "Well hello there, Big Brother! Youre up pretty early." I then replied "So are you. How much do you even sleep?" He seemed to stop in long silence, then answered "Only five hours a day, of course! Somebody has to keep things going." No wonder he was so obsessed with science and technology; he barely slept at all. That explained why projects and experiments were finished so quickly, at least. Trying to ignore it, i said "Well, i came to wake you up but i see i didn't have to. Mother has ordered me to meet her at Mako Reactor Peak, where her throne is. I need you to keep this place running while im away." Suddenly seeming suspicious, Rufus said "Mako Peak? Whats going on..?" I shook my head and answered "I don't know, but i have a feeling it isnt good. Regardless, an order is an order; i have to go, Brother." Rufus smiled and nodded, then said "No problem, you know ive always got this place under control! You can count on me, Big Brother." I knew he would be happy to keep the foundation in order while im out; Brother Rufus loves his job as JENOVA Foundation President. He was always happy to run this place. I smiled back at him, then turned around and focused on setting a course for Mako Reactor Peak to meet with Mother.

Later that morning...

Once i arrived, i slowly landed beside Mother's throne at Mako Reactor Peak. I saw Brother Vincent standing across from Mother's throne, who appeared to be nervous and scared at the same time. This was bad; i knew he got himself in serious trouble for whatever he did. You only came here if you were guilty of a very serious offense, unless Mother ordered you to come for a different reason. I glanced around in silence, wondering where Mother was. She wasnt in sight, but i knew she would not be long given my general grasp of why i was called here. After several minutes of silence, the sky overhead went from a sunny bright to an ominous black and green mix in color: a sign Mother's lifestream had temporarily changed in nature. Shortly thereafter, Mother slowly flew down from above, booming with brilliant silver streams of light that were strongest around her silver metallic wings and above her head, seeming to illuminate from those areas. I had never seen Mother in such purity and feel her cells giving off so much power as they did here; it was all i could feel. Carefully landing in her throne, Mother locked her gaze on Brother Vincent. She was clearly very angry at him. Not hesitating at all, Vincent immediately kneeled before her. I could tell he was seriously scared. I walked to Mother's side at her throne, keeping silent out of respect. Mother was the first to speak "Young Vincent, my son.... you have committed a serious flaw. You, for some selfish reason, tried to shoot your own son, whom i was kind enough to bless you with through my reunion... you raged violence against your Sister Yuffie, out of your own disgusting hatred for your own son.... but why, my son? I was kind and giving enough to bless you with a cute little boy like Kadaj, yet despite that you continue these acts of ungratefulness and detest my wonderful blessing? I deemed you and Yuffie worthy of Young Kadaj, but you continue your actions in spite of all of this? What do you have to say for yourself, for acting so ungrateful and ugly about my most precious of blessings--a New Brother?" Tears were flowing from Mother's eye as she was speaking. Vincent was also crying; there was hurt on both ends here. Seeing that Mother was awaiting an answer, Vincent said "Mother, I.... I'm so sorry... I don't know what got into me, but... all of a sudden, when he turned 6, i just... there was something in me that didn't belong, like some malicious influence of some kind, and it told me 'Kill Kadaj, he's Mother's pawn and has to die'... i tried to shut it out, Mother, but it was useless... My JENOVA cells felt like they were trying to fight something inside of me that didn't belong, and thats when those words got to my head, and i dont know what happened but i couldn't fight off the bad force. I tried and tried, but it was too powerful... after that day, i got sick with something and ever since i got sick i haven't been who i should be... i don't know whats going on Mother, but please forgive me.... i had nothing to do with the abuse, something latched on to me and got control of me... Please, Mother..." My eyes widened immediately and i said "Mother, thats just like Geostigma..." Mother replied "Yes, my son. But it cant be Geostigma; that virus is caused by the radiation of my cells within my children, which would make being infected with that impossible for us. We are immune to it completely since my cells give all of us life and keep us alive.... this must be a different virus." I paused in silence, then said "But if theres a new virus, that would mean there has been a malicious intrusion within your lifestream, Mother. It would have to reach your lifestream before it can touch anyone in the family..." Mother sat in silence, then said "Youre right again, my son. But the only place a malicious intrusion could come from with the planet reclaimed is...." I didn't even have to hear her finish that sentence; we both knew the answer. Brother Vincent was the next to speak "Mother, am i... not in trouble anymore..?" Mother smiled and said "Of course not, my son. If there really is a new virus among us, though.... that means we may already be running out of time, my children." I nodded, then said "We cant let the new virus contaminate the entire planet, Mother. If the whole kingdom gets infected, that would be the end of your legacy. Whatever is among, it must be stopped. I may have failed twice on my own, but Little Sister taught me a very important lesson. If we all act as one, nearly anything is possible to overcome." Mother turned to look at me and smiled, then said "Of course, my son. I want you to go back to JENOVA Foundation with Young Vincent to have the new virus evaluated. Make developing a vaccine to it your first priority, Sephiroth. I will send Sephieroth and the Divine Guard out to capture Ultima and Omega to prepare Perfect WEAPON for the incoming attack. Im hoping this new beast will be enough to purify my lifestream before this virus becomes an out of control plague." I remembered what i told Sister about the perfect reunion and immediately said "Mother, if she doesn't have enough backup to enforce the perfect reunion, trying to seal Perfect WEAPON in her will kill her! Its too powerful!" Mother sat in silence, then said "Unless we have Rufus join the fray on her end of our objectives.... he even takes science out into the battlefield. Young Rufus may not be able to use the perfect reunion, but that child of mine is no slouch either. You know Young Rufus is smart beyond belief, Sephiroth." I had no reason to argue; Mother was right. Brother Rufus was extremely intelligent. It was to be expected of someone in his position. It was thanks to Rufus and that curious yet mad mind of his that we had such advanced technology and research that kept the kingdom in years of prosperity; everyone on this planet was able to live very fulfilling and comfortable lives thanks to all of that. Tampering with science and everything alien that came our way was what Brother Rufus did best: and with a joyful heart nonetheless. I knew he was very precious to Mother. With someone with insane IQ as his, i knew we had great support on our side. There was little to be afraid of with someone that smart and brave; he would play with anything, no matter how dangerous it may be. I smiled back at Mother and said "Alright, Mother. I'll send orders at the foundation to focus on studying the new virus. I will also ensure Rufus is with Sister's gang when both Ultima and Omega are caught." Mother replied "Thank you, my son. Please see that Vincent is treated or cured for this virus as well. Without any intel on what it is, we have proceed with caution. If its contagious, you know what that means." Vincent then asked "Mother, what about my son..? If he got infected too, then he will suffer the same way i did or worse..." I quickly replied "This virus... the way it caused you to lash out may be what caused Kadaj to suffer as well... Mother's lifestream is supposed to secure harmony across the whole planet. If there is suffering such as what you and Little Brother felt, then its possible he was also infected." Mother spoke next "Thats a possibility, but we dont have enough research to prove the explanation true. If only Vincent and Kadaj were infected, then there has to be some kind of risk factor involved here. Kadaj inherited his dark powers from his father, Vincent. If the virus has more power over people with high dark arts expertise or mastery, then thats a different story." I quickly replied "There's so much to think about... either way, i'll set investigating and neutralizing the virus as first priority, Mother." Mother then said "Thank you, my son. I will send the guard out to get Kadaj and have him evaluated as well. It really hurts me to have a little kid like him sent to the foundation, but if we dont do something and he's infected, he might die..." I then flew away from Mako Reactor Peak, setting a course for JENOVA Foundation as instructed. I was glad to see that Brother Vincent wasnt issued Family Expulsion, but not so happy to learn of the mysterious virus that was now among us. I had an icky feeling this virus was of Mother's worst enemy: SAKUI. If that was really true, trouble was already on its way. I had hoped Mother wasnt already detected by SAKUI and his seemingly endless rounds of troops. If it was SAKUI behind this virus, i knew the next thing he would do is target our Beloved Mother. I refused to allow that happen, no matter how bleak this may get--just like Little Sister would. I wont let him get anywhere near Mother--no different than Sister would. Just as my Sister always said herself, never giving up is the greatest strength there is. I knew that was why Mother loved and treasured her so much: she would smile even in the most heated of situations. That was not an easy thing to do, but she always did that so well. I suddenly felt just like my dear Sister: determined to end this incoming carnage with all I've got--just for Mother and the future of her legacy. I suddenly realized that my Sister's JENOVA cells were beginning to tie with mine, establishing a connection between both of us. Thats what had me feeling all of these things out of nowhere. I suddenly began to doze off mentally as i flew through the kingdom skies, and saw my Young Sister standing directly behind me in a thick space of white light, our backs just barely apart from each other. I stood back to back near her, and she said "What is it, Big Brother?" I heard but stood in silence. I then said "I want to try again..." I felt her hold my hand from behind as she said "How will you do that?" I once again kept silent, my gaze on the endless white space ahead of me. I knew why she was asking me that, but the answer wasnt such an easy thing. I knew the error in my approach during the last two reunions that ended in failure. I knew i wanted to atone for my failures. What i didn't know was how i would do it. I had no clue where i would even begin. After a long silence, i heard Sister say "Big Brother, you dont have to do it alone... you have me, Brothers Yazoo and Loz, even Sulbio and Mother." I then replied "But its my fight, Sister... im the one who let that monster run wild through the cosmos instead of doing something about it... so im the one who has to do this--who has to prove he's better than that." I was trying to hold back tears and avoid crying from deep regret. I felt Sister's wing gently touch mine, and i suddenly felt the sadness vanish into nothing. A gentle breeze swept through the endless white space, causing both mine and her hair to catch the breeze and seem to float mildly off what i thought was the ground. As the gentle wind continued to blow, i heard her say "That may be so, but you dont have to do everything alone. You may be the one, but you arent the only one, Big Brother." I suddenly felt surprised and said "What..?" I felt Sister give off joyful vibes as she said "We can figure this out together! We'll destroy that monster as one!" That was when the sudden vision ended and i realized where i was in reality: high above the planet. I had totally dozed off into some mysterious daydream and gone wayward--all the way above the planet. I focused on changing my course and started back towards JENOVA Foundation. I somehow had my eyesight in that daydream instead of reality. I didn't even know if it was fake; it all seemed so real i thought it was Sister trying to tell me something rather than a meaningless vision with no value. It was hard trying to focus on where i was going; that vision just kept repeating itself in my mind the whole way back to the foundation. I wondered what even happened out there. Either way, i knew what Mother told me to do before i took off, and focused on that.

To be continued....
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