Phase 2

by Trakal

Fandom: Final Fantasy 7

Phase 2

-PROLOGUE (14 years ago.)

Hojo let out a sigh of disappointment. The great experiment had been a failure. He shook his head.

"Its a shame." he told the girl. "I had such hopes for you. But you're a freak. A worthless... " he didn't bother to finish. She wasn't even worthy of that. He went over to his desk and summoned the Shinra guardsinto the lab.

"Take this freak out of here."

"Do you wish for us to kill her?" the guard ask.

"She's not worth the effort." Hojo shrugged, "just leave her somewhere in one of the cities and leave her to her fate."

The guards did as asked. They knew nothing of the experiment. Didn't know who the child was and didn't dare to ask. Hojo was insane, that much was certain, and they were not about to make him any more aware of them than he was now.

The girl was left in the slums. She'd probably never wake up. She'd be killed in her sleep by thugs, her materia, what little of it she possessed, stolen, and her body left to be fed upon by the monsters that roamed the streets.

- Chapter 1 -

"Talissa," A middle-aged woman with light brown hair and brown eyes called to a teenage girl who'd just stepped onto the path, "where are you going?"

"Into the city, mom." Talissa called back from the path. "I promise I'll be home before it gets late."

"Must you go, my daughter?" The woman sounded worried. "Surely there is enough here to..."

"I just want to see it again."

The woman sighed. Of course, the girl meant the place where she'd been found all those years ago.

"Okay." she said. "But don't stay in that place too long. Its a terrible place. I wish you wouldn't go, but I know I can't stop you."

Talissa smiled and waved as she headed down the path toward the city. She had no idea that she would never again see the woman she thought of as her mom. It never occurred to her that she would never return from the city.

*****

The Place.

That's what her mom had called it when she was little, and what she called it now. It was the place where she'd been left as a baby. Left to die. The place where the kindly woman had found her. That she had been found while still alive had been nothing short of miraculous. The Place was always crawling with monsters. It had probably been just dumb luck, she thought, that she'd survived.

"Still alive."

Talissa turned. "Who are you?" she asked.

"You're quite an amazing little girl." the man said, in a cold voice. "I thought you'd be dead by now."

"I'm not a little girl." Talissa pouted. "I'll be sixteen next week."

"Yes, that's right." the man told her. "Sweet sixteen." he chuckled. "When he told me where he'd put you, I was absolutely sure you'd been dealt with."

"What are you talking about?" But Talissa knew. This was him. It had to be. The one who'd had her left in The Place to die. "You rotten bastard."

"You're the bastard, my dear child." the man laughed. "You had no father. No mother either if you want to be technical about it. Just a lab, a few random cells, and someone like me who you dared to disappoint. You weren't even worth the effort of killing."

"Shut up!" Talissa told him, growing angry. "I'm not a bastard. My mom loves me very much and..."

"That woman may love you, but she's not your mom."

"Yes, she is." Talissa wasn't about to argue the point with this jerk. He was starting to get on her nerves and she wanted to put as much distance between the two of them as she could.

But the man wasn't done yet.

"You really don't know who you are, do you, freak."

"I'm not a freak." Talissa snapped at the man. "I'm just a regular girl."

"Wrong!" the man told her. "You were made with cells taken from two Ancients. They were both dead by the time you were made, but they each had very special powers and abilities. Especially your father. But you have no powers, so you're a freak. Got that?"

Talissa blinked back tears. She'd always wondered about her father. She'd envisioned him as a good man who had been sent off to fight in some war. Perhaps he'd been lost in battle, or was a prisoner in some enemy fortress, thinking about her and wishing to be with her. Now she'd been told that he was dead. She felt this man could not be trusted, but something also told her that he was telling her the truth, or at least he himself believed what he was saying.

"You knew my father?" she asked, trying to remain impassive. The idea that she was a purebred Ancient with none of the race's legendary powers disturbed and fascinated her.

The man gave a slight nod.

"His name was Sephiroth." He told her.

Talissa shook her head. The man was lying. He had to be. She couldn't be the offspring of that... that monster!

"NO!" she cried out. "No, you're lying! It's not true! It can't be!"

"But it is." the man told her. "You were created as part of the Jenova experiment. But something went wrong. Instead of having the abilities of your parents, both of whom were of Ancient blood, you have no abilities at all. So, you are a freak, a throwback. And you were useless to the advancement of the Project."

Talissa covered her ears, shouting "No no no no no no!" over and over, trying to drown him out. "No, I won't listen anymore! You're a liar! Liar liar liar liar liar!" The chant replaced the "no no no no no!" chant for a bit.

The man's voice went up in volume, though it remained remarkably steady. "Your mother's name was Aeris, though you did not grow in her womb. You were grown in a laborator incubator as your father had been and ..."

Talissa couldn't stand anymore. She took off running. She didn't care where she went. Anyplace where this jerk wasn't was fine with her. She had to get away from him. She couldn't listen to these lies about her anymore. They had to be lies. They just had to be. She ran and ran until the last of her strength was gone. Then, she pitched forward onto the ground, not caring or even noticing if it were dirt, or gravel, or steel, or grass, and cried herself to sleep.

PART TWO

Sephiroth's daughter.

"No," Talissa whispered to herself. "That's not true. That man was lying to me. He had to be. I'm nothing like Sephiroth." She stood up and shouted at the sky. "YOU HEAR ME?!" she called out. "I'M NOTHING LIKE HIM!"

No one responded. No one was there.

Talissa calmed herself, then looked around. For the first time since she'd taken off running from the man who'd told her those lies. He'd lied to her because he was evil and evil people did those kinds of things. They lied to people to hurt them. That's all it was. Probably he'd been nothing more than someone who wanted her money. He'd lie'd and if she hadn't run, he probably would've offered to keep the 'nasty truth' a secret for a not-so-small sum.

But the man hadn't looked like he'd needed money. He hadn't looked like a street hood either. Those hands. She remembered them now, though she didn't know why. Yes, she did. They'd seemed too clean. People who worked on the street, who worked anywhere for that matter, always had something on their hands. They couldn't help it.

But this man's hands were clean and washed. So he didn't need to go around blackmailing young women.

Not for money anyhow.

No, she deci

"That woman may love you, but she's not your mom."

"Yes, she is." Talissa wasn't about to argue the point with this jerk. He was starting to get on her nerves and she wanted to put as much distance between the two of them as she could.

But the man wasn't done yet.

"You really don't know who you are, do you, freak."

"I'm not a freak." Talissa snapped at the man. "I'm just a regular girl."

"Wrong!" the man told her. "You were made with cells taken from two Ancients. They were both dead by the time you were made, but they each had very special powers and abilities. Especially your father. But you have no powers, so you're a freak. Got that?"

Talissa blinked back tears. She'd always wondered about her father. She'd envisioned him as a good man who had been sent off to fight in some war. Perhaps he'd been lost in battle, or was a prisoner in some enemy fortress, thinking about her and wishing to be with her. Now she'd been told that he was dead. She felt this man could not be trusted, but something also told her that he was telling her the truth, or at least he himself believed what he was saying.

"You knew my father?" she asked, trying to remain impassive. The idea that she was a purebred Ancient with none of the race's legendary powers disturbed and fascinated her.

The man gave a slight nod.

"His name was Sephiroth." He told her.

Talissa shook her head. The man was lying. He had to be. She couldn't be the offspring of that... that monster!

"NO!" she cried out. "No, you're lying! It's not true! It can't be!"

"But it is." the man told her. "You were created as part of the Jenova experiment. But something went wrong. Instead of having the abilities of your parents, both of whom were of Ancient blood, you have no abilities at all. So, you are a freak, a throwback. And you were useless to the advancement of the Project."

Talissa covered her ears, shouting "No no no no no no!" over and over, trying to drown him out. "No, I won't listen anymore! You're a liar! Liar liar liar liar liar!" The chant replaced the "no no no no no!" chant for a bit.

The man's voice went up in volume, though it remained remarkably steady. "Your mother's name was Aeris, though you did not grow in her womb. You were grown in a laborator incubator as your father had been and ..."

Talissa couldn't stand anymore. She took off running. She didn't care where she went. Anyplace where this jerk wasn't was fine with her. She had to get away from him. She couldn't listen to these lies about her anymore. They had to be lies. They just had to be. She ran and ran until the last of her strength was gone. Then, she pitched forward onto the ground, not caring or even noticing if it were dirt, or gravel, or steel, or grass, and cried herself to sleep.

PART TWO

Sephiroth's daughter.

"No," Talissa whispered to herself. "That's not true. That man was lying to me. He had to be. I'm nothing like Sephiroth." She stood up and shouted at the sky. "YOU HEAR ME?!" she called out. "I'M NOTHING LIKE HIM!"

No one responded. No one was there.

Talissa calmed herself, then looked around. For the first time since she'd taken off running from the man who'd told her those lies. He'd lied to her because he was evil and evil people did those kinds of things. They lied to people to hurt them. That's all it was. Probably he'd been nothing more than someone who wanted her money. He'd lie'd and if she hadn't run, he probably would've offered to keep the 'nasty truth' a secret for a not-so-small sum.

But the man hadn't looked like he'd needed money. He hadn't looked like a street hood either. Those hands. She remembered them now, though she didn't know why. Yes, she did. They'd seemed too clean. People who worked on the street, who worked anywhere for that matter, always had something on their hands. They couldn't help it.

But this man's hands were clean and washed. So he didn't need to go around blackmailing young women.

Not for money anyhow.

No, she decided, he hadn't wanted *that* either. He wouldn't need to blackmail for that either. It would be delivered to him however he wanted it. And if he were in the mood to go out for a little, the Honeybee Club could always provide him with a little amusement.

Was it true after all? Was she Sephiroth's daughter?

And then the truth dawned on her. Even if she was the daughter of Sephiroth, it didn't mean she had to become evil, did it? Even Sephiroth hadn't started out that way. He'd been a good man until the day he'd discovered who he really was. It had driven him mad and he'd...

She wouldn't think about it. She couldn't. Not know. Not when she knew... yes knew, dammit!... that what she'd been told was the truth.

Talissa was Sephiroth's daughter. <P

PART THREE

Talissa stood up, brushed herself, and then tried to get her bearings. Once she was home, she'd...

She stopped. Home? No, she couldn't go there. She couldn't. It would stain that kindly woman to have someone of her lineage in that home. //No,// Talissa thought sadly, //I cannot go home. I cannot allow myself to be welcomed into any home. I would not wish to compromise their good names. I must be a nomad. A wanderer for all time. Oh, father, why did you have to find out about Grandma Jenova?// A tear sprang to her eyes and she realized she was crying for him. For Sephiroth. Crying for what he might have been. Crying for the heartless, loveless enviroment that had made him a killer. Weeping for what must have once been a beautiful soul, forever lost the day it had learned its true heritage, not from Hojo, who had all but hidden it from him, but purely by accident, during an accident. Everyone knew the story, these days, of how Sephiroth had gone insane. Cloud Strife, who had once worshipped Sephiroth when he'd been a mere SOLDIER, had told the tale to a small group of people and it had spread from there. //I know I never can, but I wish I could go back. I wish I could go back to the day you were made. I wouldn't stop them from making you. But I would take you away from that place and I would give you to someone good and tell them who and what you were. I would tell them to tell you, gently, help you deal with the pain, with the anger.// She stopped. Why was she even bothering to think this. She couldn't go back in time, so there was no point dwelling on it anymore was there in describing a delicious meal if she couldn't eat it.

Speaking of which.

Talissa made her way deeper into the city. She would find a small room for the night, and have a quick bite before turning in.

PART FOUR

Talissa knocked on the door of the fifth inn she'd tried that evening. It was always one excuse or another. Pre-booked, bathroom out of order, room being renovated, no vacancies. She knew why rooms were being refused her. Standing in the pouring rain, she knew and she hated them. She hated them all for their prejudice against her.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" she screamed as a woman about her age opened the door.

"Of course it's not." the woman smiled.

"Oh, sorry about that." Talissa blushed.

"Don't worry about it, my dear. I understand. Please come inside."

Talissa shook her head. "I can't." she said. "I would dishonor you if..."

"You're one of the Jenova kids, right? Don't worry about it. We don't chose our parents. Come on in, believe me, you'll do no dishonor to me."

Talissa entered the inn, grateful to get out of the rain. She blinked at the woman

"Please, take off your wet coat and sit by the fire."

Talissa walked into the room and was surprised to see it was filled with boys and girls, some her age, some younger. They looked like her in varying ways and degrees. One boy in particular, a seven year old, was the spitting image of Sephiroth, though much younger. "What is this place?" she asked.

"For lack of a better name, we call it the Jenova House, after our grandmother." the girl who'd invited Talissa in told her as she joined her. "We're all sisters and brothers here."

"ded, he hadn't wanted *that* either. He wouldn't need to blackmail for that either. It would be delivered to him however he wanted it. And if he were in the mood to go out for a little, the Honeybee Club could always provide him with a little amusement.

Was it true after all? Was she Sephiroth's daughter?

And then the truth dawned on her. Even if she was the daughter of Sephiroth, it didn't mean she had to become evil, did it? Even Sephiroth hadn't started out that way. He'd been a good man until the day he'd discovered who he really was. It had driven him mad and he'd...

She wouldn't think about it. She couldn't. Not know. Not when she knew... yes knew, dammit!... that what she'd been told was the truth.

Talissa was Sephiroth's daughter. <P

PART THREE

Talissa stood up, brushed herself, and then tried to get her bearings. Once she was home, she'd...

She stopped. Home? No, she couldn't go there. She couldn't. It would stain that kindly woman to have someone of her lineage in that home. //No,// Talissa thought sadly, //I cannot go home. I cannot allow myself to be welcomed into any home. I would not wish to compromise their good names. I must be a nomad. A wanderer for all time. Oh, father, why did you have to find out about Grandma Jenova?// A tear sprang to her eyes and she realized she was crying for him. For Sephiroth. Crying for what he might have been. Crying for the heartless, loveless enviroment that had made him a killer. Weeping for what must have once been a beautiful soul, forever lost the day it had learned its true heritage, not from Hojo, who had all but hidden it from him, but purely by accident, during an accident. Everyone knew the story, these days, of how Sephiroth had gone insane. Cloud Strife, who had once worshipped Sephiroth when he'd been a mere SOLDIER, had told the tale to a small group of people and it had spread from there. //I know I never can, but I wish I could go back. I wish I could go back to the day you were made. I wouldn't stop them from making you. But I would take you away from that place and I would give you to someone good and tell them who and what you were. I would tell them to tell you, gently, help you deal with the pain, with the anger.// She stopped. Why was she even bothering to think this. She couldn't go back in time, so there was no point dwelling on it anymore was there in describing a delicious meal if she couldn't eat it.

Speaking of which.

Talissa made her way deeper into the city. She would find a small room for the night, and have a quick bite before turning in.

PART FOUR

Talissa knocked on the door of the fifth inn she'd tried that evening. It was always one excuse or another. Pre-booked, bathroom out of order, room being renovated, no vacancies. She knew why rooms were being refused her. Standing in the pouring rain, she knew and she hated them. She hated them all for their prejudice against her.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" she screamed as a woman about her age opened the door.

"Of course it's not." the woman smiled.

"Oh, sorry about that." Talissa blushed.

"Don't worry about it, my dear. I understand. Please come inside."

Talissa shook her head. "I can't." she said. "I would dishonor you if..."

"You're one of the Jenova kids, right? Don't worry about it. We don't chose our parents. Come on in, believe me, you'll do no dishonor to me."

Talissa entered the inn, grateful to get out of the rain. She blinked at the woman

"Please, take off your wet coat and sit by the fire."

Talissa walked into the room and was surprised to see it was filled with boys and girls, some her age, some younger. They looked like her in varying ways and degrees. One boy in particular, a seven year old, was the spitting image of Sephiroth, though much younger. "What is this place?" she asked.

"For lack of a better name, we call it the Jenova House, after our grandmother." the girl who'd invited Talissa in told her as she joined her. "We're all sisters and brothers here."

"Brothers and sisters." The boy piped up.

"Shut up, Sephie." One of the girls told him.

The boy pinged a bit of popcorn at the girl.

"Sephie?"

"Sephiroth." The boy replied. "That's what Professor Hojo named me when he saw how much I resemble ... I got taken out of there when I was eight weeks old. One of the people who worked there had been fired and decided to take me along with them just to get back at Shinra. I was raised to hate them, though the man who raised me never bothered to change my name."

END PART 4