When Kadaj finally awoke, the first thing he noticed was how unbearably cold it was. Where on Gaia am I? he wondered sleepily. Shivering, he slowly came to, and as his vision cleared, saw two familiar faces hovering above him. My brothers, he thought, and jumped away from them, startled as he became fully conscious. They…kidnapped me? Realization suddenly hit Kadaj like a thunderbolt, and he tried to scuttle away from both Yazoo and Loz, as they approached.
"Yazoo…Loz…what is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice breaking. "Why did you bring me here?" And how did I get here? Kadaj was aware that he hadn't come willingly; the lethargy he was feeling seemed to indicate that he'd been drugged. Wonderful, he thought bitterly. Sedated by my own brothers, then kidnapped.
Squatting over Kadaj's reclining form, Yazoo laughed. "Oh, you know very well why you're here, brother," Yazoo crooned, brushing a strand of hair out of Kadaj's eyes. "You have something Mother wants…and you're staying here until she gets it."
"No!" Kadaj yelped, struggling to sit upright, but Loz's arms held him back in an iron-like grip. "Shh, little brother," he whispered, grinning stupidly. "Mother doesn't want you to upset the baby, isn't that right, Yazzy?"
"Right," Yazoo said slowly, sounding bored. He sighed, letting out a slow exhalation of air, as he stood up. "Mother will be needing your brat, soon as it's born…for some reason. She hasn't really told us why. You know what?" Yazoo said scornfully. "I really don't like kids. I hope I don't have to change its damned diapers…"
"You really can be an unfeeling asshole, Yazoo," Kadaj muttered. "Where are we, damn it?" he demanded.
"Can't you tell?" Loz jeered tauntingly. "We're closer to Mother…can't you feel it, Kadaj?"
"I feel…something," Kadaj agreed, nodding. He felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. "She's close…so close…" Looking about him for the first time, Kadaj noticed they were in some sort of cavern…stalactites dangled in the ceiling above where he lay.
"Are we in…the northern crater?" Kadaj whispered, sitting up and looking about him, as recognition finally registered. Of course…the crater…why didn't we think of looking here before, for Jenova? Kadaj shook his head, as if to clear it from his conflicting thoughts. No…finding Jenova would be bad…so very bad…she must remain hidden from everyone…but especially Yazoo and Loz…they really don't know what they're dealing with…
"She's here, Kadaj," Yazoo said softly, helping Kadaj to his feet. "She's somewhere, here, in the crater. And you will help us find her."
"But I need to get out of here!" Kadaj said stubbornly. "I can't help you right now, I need to go back to Rufus! Brothers…be reasonable! I'm going to need medical care, even Jenova said so!"
"Pfft," Loz grunted dismissively. "We don't care about the Shinra brat, Kadaj," he retorted. "You will bring Mother to us, little brother."
"And how am I to do that?" Kadaj snapped, defiantly.
Yazoo threw his head back and laughed. The sound was decidedly creepy, Kadaj thought. "Kadaj, you're the one who was always closest to Mother. If anyone can find her…you can!"
"Yeah!" Loz agreed enthusiastically, nodding. "I mean, we know we're close, right Yaz? We just need to find a way…to lure Mother to us. Which is why you are here, little Kadaj." He sneered, as Yazoo laughed his creepy laugh once again.
Kadaj thought it was funny, how that had never occurred to him before, how unnatural Yazoo's laugh sounded. Then again; Kadaj was realizing, perhaps too late, how unnatural Yazoo and Loz themselves seemed to him, all of a sudden. Kadaj always had an easier time blending in, than his brothers did; Yazoo was so aloof and dreamy, people thought he was high all the time. As for Loz, he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, Kadaj thought wryly. All brawn, and zero brains.
But…what makes me so special, out of us three? Kadaj mused. How am I…different, from them? Am I not a 'failed Sephiroth clone', just as they are? Something had changed in Kadaj's mindset, but what?
Jenova no longer has a hold over me, Kadaj thought, smiling. And, my brothers are getting desperate…she is getting desperate. They need me alive…for now…I must tread carefully, if I am to escape. Gods, I hope Rufus is looking for me, he thought, silently praying.
Kadaj turned his attention back to Yazoo and Loz, a puzzled look on his face. "What do you mean…lure Mother, Loz…what do you mean by that?"
"He means," Yazoo explained patiently, "the Shinra brat. Your bastard child…if that doesn't help us find Mother, then nothing will!"
"No!" Kadaj exploded, horrified. He clutched at his abdomen protectively, feeling the life inside of him wriggling. Shh, baby…it's okay. I'll make sure we're okay…go back to sleep… "You will leave my baby alone, damn you!"
"You will not refuse us, Kadaj," Yazoo warned.
"Ahh!" Kadaj groaned. The buzzing was starting again…Jenova was trying to get into his thoughts, and it damn well hurt. "Mother is close by," Kadaj murmured. "I can hear her…feel her presence…"
"Hurray!" bellowed Loz, abruptly hugging Kadaj, lifting him off the ground as he caught him off guard. "You know, you always were Mother's favorite, Kadaj," Loz complained, grinning.
"I don't know about that," muttered Kadaj. "I..will try to talk to her. I don't see how you think I can find her, any better than either of you can, though." I hope I don't regret this…perhaps I can reason with her…I know, it is madness to even consider trying, but I must…
Kadaj let down the mental block he'd been keeping up in his mind, to keep Jenova out of his head. At this point, Kadaj felt he had nothing to lose; surely Yazoo and Loz had already told Jenova he'd walked out on them, declaring his love for Rufus Shinra.
The shrill, angry buzzing that filled Kadaj's head sounded like a billion angry bees. He sank to his knees, clutching his head in pain.
"Gods, Mother!" he cried. "Please! Don't be angry! I've come back…to ask for…forgiveness!" Gods, she won't buy it…will she? Kadaj fretted.
And why should I forgive you? Traitor!
"Oh Mother, please!" Kadaj cried desperately. "Can't you see…this is madness! I see it now, why can't you?" He knew his argument was futile, and would fall on deaf ears. The only one who seemed to be showing Kadaj any sympathy, ironically enough, was Loz.
"Poor, poor Daj," Loz murmured tearfully, rubbing Kadaj's back comfortingly. "I don't like you sad."
"Thank you, Loz," Kadaj murmured appreciatively. "You're a good brother. Such a good protector."
I warned you not to trust that bastard Shinra. Just like his father. And you fell for his lies.
"Not lies, Mother," Kadaj argued. "He truly loves me. I can feel it…in here," he said, ghosting his hand over his heart.
"You seemed to enjoy playing house with El Presidente, though, didn't you...Kadaj?" Yazoo inquired, eyeing Kadaj suspiciously.
"Yazoo," Kadaj replied slowly, looking his brother in the eye. "Put yourself in my shoes for a minute. I have been ostracized – regarded as a freak, for my entire life. Rufus said…that none of that mattered to him. That he loved me, just as I was." Kadaj's voice caught, as he felt the tears coming.
Just words, Kadaj. Words of a charlatan, with no meaning behind them.
You lie, Jenova, Kadaj thought angrily. Just as you lied to me, my entire life. Rufus and I have a connection with each other…and nobody can break it.
A thought suddenly occurred to Kadaj, and he asked aloud: "Mother…what of my medical care? Won't my pregnancy need to be monitored?"
Yazoo and Loz…they have jumped the gun, a bit, in kidnapping you, Kadaj. Their idea. I appreciate their eagerness to help, though. No, you will not be able to enlist Rufus's help now, Kadaj. Your brothers will deliver the child, when your time comes.
"Yazoo? And Loz? THEY are to be my midwives? Seriously?" Kadaj asked incredulously. "No offense, brothers," Kadaj murmured, turning to Yazoo and Loz, "but…neither of you are exactly trained in this, you know."
It matters not what training they have or do not have, Kadaj. They will get that baby out of you somehow. Your survival is secondary, and not my concern.
"What?" Kadaj blurted, horrified as he realized just how precarious his position was. "I know…you said I might not survive childbirth, Mother. But I didn't think for one second that you'd…just let me die?"
So trusting you are, Kadaj. You're such a fool. You are merely a tool, a means for me to get to my goal, and destroy this planet. And Yazoo and Loz will see my plan through to the end.
"We will, Mother," Yazoo replied. "Gladly!
"I'm sorry, Daj," Loz whispered. "We gotta listen to Mother though, you know? We don't have a choice."
"There is always a choice," Kadaj hissed. He collapsed helplessly in a heap, as the tears finally came. It makes no difference, what I do from here on in. I will die anyway.
"Damn you all!" Kadaj screamed, wiping his eyes. He decided to uncloak his mind, and allow Jenova into his innermost thoughts.
"See that, Jenova? I refuse to call you Mother another minute longer. You're a monster!" Kadaj cried.
Idiot! You really are in love with Shinra, aren't you? You know he lies. He doesn't love you.
"No, you are the one who lies, Jenova! Not Rufus! And what do you know of love, anyway?" Kadaj retorted.
"Why are you talking to Mother that way?" Loz asked, frowning. "You're not being a very nice son, Kadaj."
"And Jenova's not much of a Mother," Kadaj snapped. "Don't you two get it yet? She'll kill you both just as easily as she plans to dispose of me. Don't think you're safe!"
"But we would happily die for Mother's cause, Kadaj," Yazoo replied. "You were once willing to do the same…"
"That was before I saw the light," Kadaj retorted, "and saw Jenova for what she truly is." And, before I fell in love with Rufus.
I am very disappointed in you, Kadaj. Yazoo – Loz? You must restrain Kadaj, make sure he does not escape. He is not to be trusted any longer. As soon as the baby is full term, you will cut it out of him.
"No!" Kadaj screamed, horrified, as Yazoo and Loz picked him up bodily, restraining him. "Let go of me, you idiots! Puppets, both of you, just like Sephiroth…and Cloud Strife were!"
Yazoo laughed his creepy laugh once again. "Don't worry, Kadaj," he said in a sing-song voice. "We'll lock you up, like the pretty little bird that you are. You will be well cared for until the baby comes."
Loz began to sniffle, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, as he and Yazoo carried the struggling Kadaj to a small cave, which would soon become his prison.
"What is it now, Loz?" Yazoo asked, in a bored tone.
"I'm just…sad," Loz muttered, trying to compose himself. "I love my brother, I don't want to kill him. But I know I will have to."
"Yes, well," Yazoo replied absently. "So long as you realize that, we'll be okay."
"Please don't kill me," Kadaj begged. "I don't want to die! I want to see my child being born, please, Loz, please…" He broke down into desperate sobs. Oh gods, Rufus…please, I hope you are searching for me…please…
Loz gently placed an exhausted Kadaj down on a pile of dirty blankets, while Yazoo readied a hypodermic needle. "This will help you sleep, Kadaj," Yazoo whispered, as he depressed the plunger. "I am sorry, but you leave us no choice."
Rufus, Kadaj silently prayed, as he drifted into the opium fog of drug-induced sleep. Oh gods, if you can hear me…please, please find me…and our baby.
Before it's too late.
Reno was visibly shaken as he looked out the open door of the penthouse. "I swear to you, Rufus," he told the president. "Those doors were secured by myself and Rude. New keycards for all of the re-keyed locks, and Kadaj did not have a keycard, per your orders."
"Then just how did Kadaj get the fucking door open, then?" Rufus demanded.
"I'll watch the security footage right after I call Tseng, sir," Reno said, as he quickly dialed his cellphone, meaning to call Tseng and inform him of the events. He stopped short as he saw a body lying in the corridor outside of Rufus's door. "Oh gods," he muttered. "Sir? Your doorman…he's dead," Reno informed him, toeing the body gingerly with his foot.
"Shit," Rufus muttered, pacing. "Do you think…someone took Kadaj? And killed the doorman?"
"That'd be my guess," Reno replied. "We'll watch the footage to verify, but I don't believe Kadaj left here willingly."
"Oh gods," Rufus mumbled, his voice catching. Kadaj…I failed you…couldn't keep you safe…
"Tseng!" Reno barked into the phone. "We've got a possible code 207 here, I need everyone here now."
"Understood," Tseng replied briefly. "Kadaj?"
"Yeah," Reno muttered. "It's Kadaj. Going to review security tapes now. See you when you get here." Hanging up his cell phone and pocketing it, Reno turned to Rufus. "Right," he began. "Need to watch the footage, and we'll be able to learn what happened." Reno shut the outer door behind him, and locked it.
"I'd like to know, Reno," Rufus said icily, glaring at Reno, "how this could have happened right under your nose."
"I'd like to know that as well, sir," Reno replied, staring down Rufus. He knew this wasn't his fault; the Turks had taken every precaution available, and still, somehow, someone had gotten through to Kadaj.
They returned to the living room, where Reno took his laptop out of its bag, and connected a cord to a jack in the wall. "I can line into the security system from here," he told Rufus, as they both sat on the couch while the computer booted up. "In just a moment, we'll be able to see what happened."
When the laptop booted up, Reno quickly went through a few mouse clicks, and brought up an embedded media window. He clicked on a time stamp from a half an hour prior, and then clicked "play," then fast forwarded through some frames, to bring almost up to the current time. Both he and Rufus leaned expectantly over the laptop as the images began to display.
"What in the blue fuck is that?" Reno muttered in amazement, transfixed at the images on the screen. "Looks like…smoke around the door? Sir, there's Kadaj," Reno said, pointing as the figure of Kadaj came into frame.
"Yes," Rufus said quietly. "I see him. What's…he saying?"
"Here, I'll turn up the audio," Reno replied, clicking on the volume control. Kadaj's voice came over the laptop speakers. "Rufus? I need your keycard…forgot it's locked…please hurry, the baby is hungry!" Kadaj's laughter echoed off the marble floor of the foyer.
"Oh gods," Rufus murmured, his lip trembling. "He didn't intend on leaving, did he."
"Hold on," Reno muttered, pointing. The smoke surrounding the perimeter of the door thickened, and, as soon as it cleared, Yazoo and Loz appeared.
"Brothers?" Kadaj questioned, as he slowly backed away from them. "How did you get in here?"
"You saw how we did it, Kadaj," Yazoo replied teasingly. "Aren't we clever! Now, you're coming with us."
"We're going to see Mother!" Loz cried joyously.
"No," Kadaj muttered, still backing away. "No! My place is here now, with Rufus – no, let me go, damn you!" he cried, as Yazoo and Loz restrained his arms.
Yazoo jabbed a hypodermic needle into Kadaj's arm and quickly depressed the plunger; the younger man crumpled into an unconscious heap in Loz's arms. The two men quickly fled through the front door, carrying an unmoving Kadaj.
"The whole thing…it took under sixty seconds," Reno stated, somewhat impressed, as he paused the media player on the laptop. "From the time they entered, to the time they rendered Kadaj unconscious. I've never seen anything like it."
"We need to get them back," Rufus mumbled, appearing almost catatonic. "I want my family back."
"Family," Reno repeated dumbly. "Of course, sir," he continued murmured sympathetically. "The rest of the Turks are on their way."
"Good," Rufus replied. "Reno? Call Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine. We may need their help as well. Hell, call everyone you can think of," he said, setting his jaw. "I want to use every resource available to me, to track down these bastards who took my family from me."
"On it, sir," Reno replied, reaching for his cell phone once again. Rufus…a family man, he thought absently, as he punched Cloud's number into his cell. I suppose he really is a family man now…baby on the way and all. Never thought it'd happen for him.
"Yo, Strife," Reno said into the phone, as he heard Cloud pick up.
"Reno," Cloud replied sleepily. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Shit," Reno muttered. "Sorry I woke you. Kind of an emergency here." Glancing at his watch, Reno suddenly realized it was approaching midnight. Damn, he thought, yawning. Can't remember the last time I slept, come to think of it.
"What emergency?" Cloud inquired, suddenly sounding more awake. "Reno, what's going on?"
"It's Kadaj," Reno replied. "Kidnapped from Rufus's penthouse, by Yazoo and Loz…his brothers, I guess? Cloud, I've never seen anything like it. Rufus and I just watched the security footage – it took less than a minute for them to get in, and take off with Kadaj, while I was helping Rufus."
"What was the matter with Rufus?" Cloud asked.
"Erm…he was a little tied up with something," Reno muttered, stifling a giggle. "But anyway. These dudes turned into fucking smoke, and they like…got in the door that way."
"Holy shit," Cloud murmured. "Like Sephiroth. He could do that sort of thing…shape-shifting, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah," Reno said dryly. "Believe me, I know."
"Why are you calling me about this, Reno?" Cloud inquired, yawning. "Do you need something?"
"Matter of fact, I do," Reno told him. "Rufus has asked me to round up everyone I can think of, for Operation Rescue Kadaj. He, um…is quite adamant that we get Kadaj back."
"Why's he so concerned about a Sephiroth clone?" Cloud asked. "You know that Kadaj is a clone, right?"
"I know that now, Cloud," Reno replied, a bit irritably. "Well…it's like this. I might as well tell you what's going on. Rufus and Kadaj are…involved. And Kadaj is pregnant. It's Rufus's."
"Wait, what?" Cloud sputtered. "How in the hell is—"
"Kadaj has girl parts, yo," Reno informed Cloud, interrupting him. "And boy parts too, apparently."
"Holy Shiva," Cloud whispered. "Now that, I did not know."
"Neither did Rufus, apparently, until…well, it was a big surprise, let's put it that way," Reno explained, grinning. "Anyway, can you help us, Cloud? I'm gonna call Valentine too."
"I'll call him," Cloud offered. "I don't know what I can do to help, but I'll do what I can."
"Hey, thanks man," Reno replied. "Anyone else you can think of – Barret, Tifa, maybe?"
"I'll let Tifa know too," Cloud told Reno. "She'll alert the masses, I'm sure." Reno laughed; he could practically see Cloud rolling his eyes with his comment.
"Thanks much, Cloud," Reno said. "And hey…you still owe me a drink, yo."
"I do?" Cloud inquired, sounding surprised. "Actually...I thought I owed you a date, 'yo'," he added, stifling a small laugh.
Reno's face turned as red as his hair. "Oh…um, yeah," he replied. "We'll talk about that…later."
"Bye Reno," Cloud said tauntingly, as he hung up the phone.
"Bye…" Reno stared at his phone dazedly for a few minutes. Shit, he thought with a grin. I finally wore down Cloud Strife.
Reno walked down the hall, heading toward Rufus's office, where the president had gone while Reno made his phone calls. He found Rufus sitting at his desk, holding his head in his hands, and looking despondent.
"Sir?" Reno spoke quietly. "I've rallied some allies who will help us with our rescue mission. Is there anything else I can do for you?" The Turk was feeling a bit rattled at how shaken the president was; normally cool and unflappable, he was anything but, since Kadaj had been kidnapped.
"No, thank you, Reno," Rufus replied softly. "That'll be all. I expect Tseng will be here any minute now."
"Yeah, probably so. I'll go and keep an eye out for them, yo," Reno said, and turned to leave.
"Reno," Rufus called. "I want you to know...it's not your fault. I see that now, after reviewing the footage. There's nothing anyone could have done, they were just so damned...quick, in taking Kadaj."
"Thanks for saying that, sir," Reno replied gratefully. "And we'll get Kadaj back. We have to."
"Yes," Rufus replied sadly. "We do have to." Sighing, he turned his chair so that his back was to Reno. The Turk took this as his cue to leave the president's office. Soon as Tseng gets here, we'll gear up and head out, Reno thought, already formulating a plan in his head, for the rescue mission. But Gaia only knows what we'll be walking into, either.
Note: Code 207 is a police code for a kidnapping.
Itty bitty subplot I worked in, with a Reno/Cloud flirtation. :) I don't think it'll get to be much more than just the flirting in this fic, but I did want to establish a good rapport between the two...hence, the mention of a bet, and a date. XD
"Yazoo…Loz…what is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice breaking. "Why did you bring me here?" And how did I get here? Kadaj was aware that he hadn't come willingly; the lethargy he was feeling seemed to indicate that he'd been drugged. Wonderful, he thought bitterly. Sedated by my own brothers, then kidnapped.
Squatting over Kadaj's reclining form, Yazoo laughed. "Oh, you know very well why you're here, brother," Yazoo crooned, brushing a strand of hair out of Kadaj's eyes. "You have something Mother wants…and you're staying here until she gets it."
"No!" Kadaj yelped, struggling to sit upright, but Loz's arms held him back in an iron-like grip. "Shh, little brother," he whispered, grinning stupidly. "Mother doesn't want you to upset the baby, isn't that right, Yazzy?"
"Right," Yazoo said slowly, sounding bored. He sighed, letting out a slow exhalation of air, as he stood up. "Mother will be needing your brat, soon as it's born…for some reason. She hasn't really told us why. You know what?" Yazoo said scornfully. "I really don't like kids. I hope I don't have to change its damned diapers…"
"You really can be an unfeeling asshole, Yazoo," Kadaj muttered. "Where are we, damn it?" he demanded.
"Can't you tell?" Loz jeered tauntingly. "We're closer to Mother…can't you feel it, Kadaj?"
"I feel…something," Kadaj agreed, nodding. He felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck. "She's close…so close…" Looking about him for the first time, Kadaj noticed they were in some sort of cavern…stalactites dangled in the ceiling above where he lay.
"Are we in…the northern crater?" Kadaj whispered, sitting up and looking about him, as recognition finally registered. Of course…the crater…why didn't we think of looking here before, for Jenova? Kadaj shook his head, as if to clear it from his conflicting thoughts. No…finding Jenova would be bad…so very bad…she must remain hidden from everyone…but especially Yazoo and Loz…they really don't know what they're dealing with…
"She's here, Kadaj," Yazoo said softly, helping Kadaj to his feet. "She's somewhere, here, in the crater. And you will help us find her."
"But I need to get out of here!" Kadaj said stubbornly. "I can't help you right now, I need to go back to Rufus! Brothers…be reasonable! I'm going to need medical care, even Jenova said so!"
"Pfft," Loz grunted dismissively. "We don't care about the Shinra brat, Kadaj," he retorted. "You will bring Mother to us, little brother."
"And how am I to do that?" Kadaj snapped, defiantly.
Yazoo threw his head back and laughed. The sound was decidedly creepy, Kadaj thought. "Kadaj, you're the one who was always closest to Mother. If anyone can find her…you can!"
"Yeah!" Loz agreed enthusiastically, nodding. "I mean, we know we're close, right Yaz? We just need to find a way…to lure Mother to us. Which is why you are here, little Kadaj." He sneered, as Yazoo laughed his creepy laugh once again.
Kadaj thought it was funny, how that had never occurred to him before, how unnatural Yazoo's laugh sounded. Then again; Kadaj was realizing, perhaps too late, how unnatural Yazoo and Loz themselves seemed to him, all of a sudden. Kadaj always had an easier time blending in, than his brothers did; Yazoo was so aloof and dreamy, people thought he was high all the time. As for Loz, he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, Kadaj thought wryly. All brawn, and zero brains.
But…what makes me so special, out of us three? Kadaj mused. How am I…different, from them? Am I not a 'failed Sephiroth clone', just as they are? Something had changed in Kadaj's mindset, but what?
Jenova no longer has a hold over me, Kadaj thought, smiling. And, my brothers are getting desperate…she is getting desperate. They need me alive…for now…I must tread carefully, if I am to escape. Gods, I hope Rufus is looking for me, he thought, silently praying.
Kadaj turned his attention back to Yazoo and Loz, a puzzled look on his face. "What do you mean…lure Mother, Loz…what do you mean by that?"
"He means," Yazoo explained patiently, "the Shinra brat. Your bastard child…if that doesn't help us find Mother, then nothing will!"
"No!" Kadaj exploded, horrified. He clutched at his abdomen protectively, feeling the life inside of him wriggling. Shh, baby…it's okay. I'll make sure we're okay…go back to sleep… "You will leave my baby alone, damn you!"
"You will not refuse us, Kadaj," Yazoo warned.
"Ahh!" Kadaj groaned. The buzzing was starting again…Jenova was trying to get into his thoughts, and it damn well hurt. "Mother is close by," Kadaj murmured. "I can hear her…feel her presence…"
"Hurray!" bellowed Loz, abruptly hugging Kadaj, lifting him off the ground as he caught him off guard. "You know, you always were Mother's favorite, Kadaj," Loz complained, grinning.
"I don't know about that," muttered Kadaj. "I..will try to talk to her. I don't see how you think I can find her, any better than either of you can, though." I hope I don't regret this…perhaps I can reason with her…I know, it is madness to even consider trying, but I must…
Kadaj let down the mental block he'd been keeping up in his mind, to keep Jenova out of his head. At this point, Kadaj felt he had nothing to lose; surely Yazoo and Loz had already told Jenova he'd walked out on them, declaring his love for Rufus Shinra.
The shrill, angry buzzing that filled Kadaj's head sounded like a billion angry bees. He sank to his knees, clutching his head in pain.
"Gods, Mother!" he cried. "Please! Don't be angry! I've come back…to ask for…forgiveness!" Gods, she won't buy it…will she? Kadaj fretted.
And why should I forgive you? Traitor!
"Oh Mother, please!" Kadaj cried desperately. "Can't you see…this is madness! I see it now, why can't you?" He knew his argument was futile, and would fall on deaf ears. The only one who seemed to be showing Kadaj any sympathy, ironically enough, was Loz.
"Poor, poor Daj," Loz murmured tearfully, rubbing Kadaj's back comfortingly. "I don't like you sad."
"Thank you, Loz," Kadaj murmured appreciatively. "You're a good brother. Such a good protector."
I warned you not to trust that bastard Shinra. Just like his father. And you fell for his lies.
"Not lies, Mother," Kadaj argued. "He truly loves me. I can feel it…in here," he said, ghosting his hand over his heart.
"You seemed to enjoy playing house with El Presidente, though, didn't you...Kadaj?" Yazoo inquired, eyeing Kadaj suspiciously.
"Yazoo," Kadaj replied slowly, looking his brother in the eye. "Put yourself in my shoes for a minute. I have been ostracized – regarded as a freak, for my entire life. Rufus said…that none of that mattered to him. That he loved me, just as I was." Kadaj's voice caught, as he felt the tears coming.
Just words, Kadaj. Words of a charlatan, with no meaning behind them.
You lie, Jenova, Kadaj thought angrily. Just as you lied to me, my entire life. Rufus and I have a connection with each other…and nobody can break it.
A thought suddenly occurred to Kadaj, and he asked aloud: "Mother…what of my medical care? Won't my pregnancy need to be monitored?"
Yazoo and Loz…they have jumped the gun, a bit, in kidnapping you, Kadaj. Their idea. I appreciate their eagerness to help, though. No, you will not be able to enlist Rufus's help now, Kadaj. Your brothers will deliver the child, when your time comes.
"Yazoo? And Loz? THEY are to be my midwives? Seriously?" Kadaj asked incredulously. "No offense, brothers," Kadaj murmured, turning to Yazoo and Loz, "but…neither of you are exactly trained in this, you know."
It matters not what training they have or do not have, Kadaj. They will get that baby out of you somehow. Your survival is secondary, and not my concern.
"What?" Kadaj blurted, horrified as he realized just how precarious his position was. "I know…you said I might not survive childbirth, Mother. But I didn't think for one second that you'd…just let me die?"
So trusting you are, Kadaj. You're such a fool. You are merely a tool, a means for me to get to my goal, and destroy this planet. And Yazoo and Loz will see my plan through to the end.
"We will, Mother," Yazoo replied. "Gladly!
"I'm sorry, Daj," Loz whispered. "We gotta listen to Mother though, you know? We don't have a choice."
"There is always a choice," Kadaj hissed. He collapsed helplessly in a heap, as the tears finally came. It makes no difference, what I do from here on in. I will die anyway.
"Damn you all!" Kadaj screamed, wiping his eyes. He decided to uncloak his mind, and allow Jenova into his innermost thoughts.
"See that, Jenova? I refuse to call you Mother another minute longer. You're a monster!" Kadaj cried.
Idiot! You really are in love with Shinra, aren't you? You know he lies. He doesn't love you.
"No, you are the one who lies, Jenova! Not Rufus! And what do you know of love, anyway?" Kadaj retorted.
"Why are you talking to Mother that way?" Loz asked, frowning. "You're not being a very nice son, Kadaj."
"And Jenova's not much of a Mother," Kadaj snapped. "Don't you two get it yet? She'll kill you both just as easily as she plans to dispose of me. Don't think you're safe!"
"But we would happily die for Mother's cause, Kadaj," Yazoo replied. "You were once willing to do the same…"
"That was before I saw the light," Kadaj retorted, "and saw Jenova for what she truly is." And, before I fell in love with Rufus.
I am very disappointed in you, Kadaj. Yazoo – Loz? You must restrain Kadaj, make sure he does not escape. He is not to be trusted any longer. As soon as the baby is full term, you will cut it out of him.
"No!" Kadaj screamed, horrified, as Yazoo and Loz picked him up bodily, restraining him. "Let go of me, you idiots! Puppets, both of you, just like Sephiroth…and Cloud Strife were!"
Yazoo laughed his creepy laugh once again. "Don't worry, Kadaj," he said in a sing-song voice. "We'll lock you up, like the pretty little bird that you are. You will be well cared for until the baby comes."
Loz began to sniffle, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, as he and Yazoo carried the struggling Kadaj to a small cave, which would soon become his prison.
"What is it now, Loz?" Yazoo asked, in a bored tone.
"I'm just…sad," Loz muttered, trying to compose himself. "I love my brother, I don't want to kill him. But I know I will have to."
"Yes, well," Yazoo replied absently. "So long as you realize that, we'll be okay."
"Please don't kill me," Kadaj begged. "I don't want to die! I want to see my child being born, please, Loz, please…" He broke down into desperate sobs. Oh gods, Rufus…please, I hope you are searching for me…please…
Loz gently placed an exhausted Kadaj down on a pile of dirty blankets, while Yazoo readied a hypodermic needle. "This will help you sleep, Kadaj," Yazoo whispered, as he depressed the plunger. "I am sorry, but you leave us no choice."
Rufus, Kadaj silently prayed, as he drifted into the opium fog of drug-induced sleep. Oh gods, if you can hear me…please, please find me…and our baby.
Before it's too late.
Reno was visibly shaken as he looked out the open door of the penthouse. "I swear to you, Rufus," he told the president. "Those doors were secured by myself and Rude. New keycards for all of the re-keyed locks, and Kadaj did not have a keycard, per your orders."
"Then just how did Kadaj get the fucking door open, then?" Rufus demanded.
"I'll watch the security footage right after I call Tseng, sir," Reno said, as he quickly dialed his cellphone, meaning to call Tseng and inform him of the events. He stopped short as he saw a body lying in the corridor outside of Rufus's door. "Oh gods," he muttered. "Sir? Your doorman…he's dead," Reno informed him, toeing the body gingerly with his foot.
"Shit," Rufus muttered, pacing. "Do you think…someone took Kadaj? And killed the doorman?"
"That'd be my guess," Reno replied. "We'll watch the footage to verify, but I don't believe Kadaj left here willingly."
"Oh gods," Rufus mumbled, his voice catching. Kadaj…I failed you…couldn't keep you safe…
"Tseng!" Reno barked into the phone. "We've got a possible code 207 here, I need everyone here now."
"Understood," Tseng replied briefly. "Kadaj?"
"Yeah," Reno muttered. "It's Kadaj. Going to review security tapes now. See you when you get here." Hanging up his cell phone and pocketing it, Reno turned to Rufus. "Right," he began. "Need to watch the footage, and we'll be able to learn what happened." Reno shut the outer door behind him, and locked it.
"I'd like to know, Reno," Rufus said icily, glaring at Reno, "how this could have happened right under your nose."
"I'd like to know that as well, sir," Reno replied, staring down Rufus. He knew this wasn't his fault; the Turks had taken every precaution available, and still, somehow, someone had gotten through to Kadaj.
They returned to the living room, where Reno took his laptop out of its bag, and connected a cord to a jack in the wall. "I can line into the security system from here," he told Rufus, as they both sat on the couch while the computer booted up. "In just a moment, we'll be able to see what happened."
When the laptop booted up, Reno quickly went through a few mouse clicks, and brought up an embedded media window. He clicked on a time stamp from a half an hour prior, and then clicked "play," then fast forwarded through some frames, to bring almost up to the current time. Both he and Rufus leaned expectantly over the laptop as the images began to display.
"What in the blue fuck is that?" Reno muttered in amazement, transfixed at the images on the screen. "Looks like…smoke around the door? Sir, there's Kadaj," Reno said, pointing as the figure of Kadaj came into frame.
"Yes," Rufus said quietly. "I see him. What's…he saying?"
"Here, I'll turn up the audio," Reno replied, clicking on the volume control. Kadaj's voice came over the laptop speakers. "Rufus? I need your keycard…forgot it's locked…please hurry, the baby is hungry!" Kadaj's laughter echoed off the marble floor of the foyer.
"Oh gods," Rufus murmured, his lip trembling. "He didn't intend on leaving, did he."
"Hold on," Reno muttered, pointing. The smoke surrounding the perimeter of the door thickened, and, as soon as it cleared, Yazoo and Loz appeared.
"Brothers?" Kadaj questioned, as he slowly backed away from them. "How did you get in here?"
"You saw how we did it, Kadaj," Yazoo replied teasingly. "Aren't we clever! Now, you're coming with us."
"We're going to see Mother!" Loz cried joyously.
"No," Kadaj muttered, still backing away. "No! My place is here now, with Rufus – no, let me go, damn you!" he cried, as Yazoo and Loz restrained his arms.
Yazoo jabbed a hypodermic needle into Kadaj's arm and quickly depressed the plunger; the younger man crumpled into an unconscious heap in Loz's arms. The two men quickly fled through the front door, carrying an unmoving Kadaj.
"The whole thing…it took under sixty seconds," Reno stated, somewhat impressed, as he paused the media player on the laptop. "From the time they entered, to the time they rendered Kadaj unconscious. I've never seen anything like it."
"We need to get them back," Rufus mumbled, appearing almost catatonic. "I want my family back."
"Family," Reno repeated dumbly. "Of course, sir," he continued murmured sympathetically. "The rest of the Turks are on their way."
"Good," Rufus replied. "Reno? Call Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine. We may need their help as well. Hell, call everyone you can think of," he said, setting his jaw. "I want to use every resource available to me, to track down these bastards who took my family from me."
"On it, sir," Reno replied, reaching for his cell phone once again. Rufus…a family man, he thought absently, as he punched Cloud's number into his cell. I suppose he really is a family man now…baby on the way and all. Never thought it'd happen for him.
"Yo, Strife," Reno said into the phone, as he heard Cloud pick up.
"Reno," Cloud replied sleepily. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Shit," Reno muttered. "Sorry I woke you. Kind of an emergency here." Glancing at his watch, Reno suddenly realized it was approaching midnight. Damn, he thought, yawning. Can't remember the last time I slept, come to think of it.
"What emergency?" Cloud inquired, suddenly sounding more awake. "Reno, what's going on?"
"It's Kadaj," Reno replied. "Kidnapped from Rufus's penthouse, by Yazoo and Loz…his brothers, I guess? Cloud, I've never seen anything like it. Rufus and I just watched the security footage – it took less than a minute for them to get in, and take off with Kadaj, while I was helping Rufus."
"What was the matter with Rufus?" Cloud asked.
"Erm…he was a little tied up with something," Reno muttered, stifling a giggle. "But anyway. These dudes turned into fucking smoke, and they like…got in the door that way."
"Holy shit," Cloud murmured. "Like Sephiroth. He could do that sort of thing…shape-shifting, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah," Reno said dryly. "Believe me, I know."
"Why are you calling me about this, Reno?" Cloud inquired, yawning. "Do you need something?"
"Matter of fact, I do," Reno told him. "Rufus has asked me to round up everyone I can think of, for Operation Rescue Kadaj. He, um…is quite adamant that we get Kadaj back."
"Why's he so concerned about a Sephiroth clone?" Cloud asked. "You know that Kadaj is a clone, right?"
"I know that now, Cloud," Reno replied, a bit irritably. "Well…it's like this. I might as well tell you what's going on. Rufus and Kadaj are…involved. And Kadaj is pregnant. It's Rufus's."
"Wait, what?" Cloud sputtered. "How in the hell is—"
"Kadaj has girl parts, yo," Reno informed Cloud, interrupting him. "And boy parts too, apparently."
"Holy Shiva," Cloud whispered. "Now that, I did not know."
"Neither did Rufus, apparently, until…well, it was a big surprise, let's put it that way," Reno explained, grinning. "Anyway, can you help us, Cloud? I'm gonna call Valentine too."
"I'll call him," Cloud offered. "I don't know what I can do to help, but I'll do what I can."
"Hey, thanks man," Reno replied. "Anyone else you can think of – Barret, Tifa, maybe?"
"I'll let Tifa know too," Cloud told Reno. "She'll alert the masses, I'm sure." Reno laughed; he could practically see Cloud rolling his eyes with his comment.
"Thanks much, Cloud," Reno said. "And hey…you still owe me a drink, yo."
"I do?" Cloud inquired, sounding surprised. "Actually...I thought I owed you a date, 'yo'," he added, stifling a small laugh.
Reno's face turned as red as his hair. "Oh…um, yeah," he replied. "We'll talk about that…later."
"Bye Reno," Cloud said tauntingly, as he hung up the phone.
"Bye…" Reno stared at his phone dazedly for a few minutes. Shit, he thought with a grin. I finally wore down Cloud Strife.
Reno walked down the hall, heading toward Rufus's office, where the president had gone while Reno made his phone calls. He found Rufus sitting at his desk, holding his head in his hands, and looking despondent.
"Sir?" Reno spoke quietly. "I've rallied some allies who will help us with our rescue mission. Is there anything else I can do for you?" The Turk was feeling a bit rattled at how shaken the president was; normally cool and unflappable, he was anything but, since Kadaj had been kidnapped.
"No, thank you, Reno," Rufus replied softly. "That'll be all. I expect Tseng will be here any minute now."
"Yeah, probably so. I'll go and keep an eye out for them, yo," Reno said, and turned to leave.
"Reno," Rufus called. "I want you to know...it's not your fault. I see that now, after reviewing the footage. There's nothing anyone could have done, they were just so damned...quick, in taking Kadaj."
"Thanks for saying that, sir," Reno replied gratefully. "And we'll get Kadaj back. We have to."
"Yes," Rufus replied sadly. "We do have to." Sighing, he turned his chair so that his back was to Reno. The Turk took this as his cue to leave the president's office. Soon as Tseng gets here, we'll gear up and head out, Reno thought, already formulating a plan in his head, for the rescue mission. But Gaia only knows what we'll be walking into, either.
Note: Code 207 is a police code for a kidnapping.
Itty bitty subplot I worked in, with a Reno/Cloud flirtation. :) I don't think it'll get to be much more than just the flirting in this fic, but I did want to establish a good rapport between the two...hence, the mention of a bet, and a date. XD
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