============================================================== ============================================================== ============================================================== ============================================================== !!ACHTUNG!! THERE IS A REQUIRED READING FOR THIS WORK: Deus Ex Jenova (Episodes 1 thru 4) by Max Zhang. Find it at: icybrian.simplenet.com/fanfic/maxzhang.html AND AT whiteshadow.pornopartners.com/estoriesal.html --- M. Zhang and R. Richardson, June 1999 The authors and the site administrator are NOT liable for the consequences of reader's actions (or reactions), nor are Square Soft of America, its subsidiaries, and associated groups to be held responsible for any of the material herein. IN COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN ORDINANCE, DO NOT READ FURTHER UNLESS YOU ARE 18 OR OLDER. ============================================================== ============================================================== ============================================================== ============================================================== Last time: With the 'Jenova' episode settled and their whole life ahead of them, Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris settle down with an orphaned Marlene. Now comes the part we've all been waiting for. (Insert Beavis and Butthead laugh here) Contains ASCII graphics. Please use WordPad.exe to view. ============================================================== ============================================================== Trinity Part 1 of 5 (Rated X) Huh, huh, huhhuhh .... ============================================================== ============================================================== "Marlene!" the high pitched soprano floated through the house along with a splatter of footsteps, "Time to get dressed!" "No! I don't wanna!" "Marlene!" the voice became more stern, "I'm tired of having to do this everyday, now come here!" "No!" a chestnut haired girl burst into the living room just as Tifa came through the kitchen. "Well good morning hun!" she laughed as the tiny girl hid behind her, "What's wrong?" "Oh Tifa," an exhausted Aeris stood panting in the doorway, "Great. You got --- whew! --- you got her." "Hmm, I guess I do," the raven haired beauty set down her cup of tea, "All right Marlene, time for school." The girl shook her head, "But I wanna stay home and play today. Unco Cowd promised he take me to see kitty." "Cloud's not going to do anything but get mad if he hears you skipped school today," Aeris ventured closer, sweater in hand, "Now hold still before you catch cold." The girl began to squirm as the small woman pulled the blouse over her. "Why --- I --- put --- up --- with --- this ---," the pink clad woman grunted as she brushed Marlene's hair back into place, "--- is --- beyond --- me. There!" A small laugh caught Aeris' attention. "What's so funny?" she looked up. "Nothing really," Tifa smiled weakly, "For a moment, I thought you sounded a lot like mama when she yanked me out of bed." "I guess that's why she's so sluggish in the morning," Aeris chided her as she straightened out Marlene's locks, "I've got two children in the house." "What!? Who's pregnant?" The two women looked up and saw Cloud standing stupidly at the other end of the room. Aeris blushed as Tifa suppressed a grin. "Hello tiger," the dark haired woman blew him a kiss. "Morning love," Aeris began to shuffle Marlene off to the kitchen. "Wait," he pulled the healer's arm, "I gotta know --- who's expecting?" "No one," Tifa poked him in the ribs. Cloud turned to Aeris, "Then why'd you---?" "We were just talking," the healer reddened slightly, "Although we could try later." Aeris led her small charge to the table and sat her down for breakfast as the young man rolled his eyes. "I guess," Cloud kissed her and Marlene on the forehead, "Bye then." "Will we see kitty later?" the tiny girl piped up. "Yes, much later," Aeris cut in before the young man could reply, "Now hurry and finish your soup." He waved once more as Tifa eyed him mischievously. "So, where are you off to today?" she followed him out to the garage. "East Mytreheim," Cloud said quietly so only they could hear. "What?" her eyes grew wide, "Why!?" He patted her hand, "Don't fret Tiff. Just some problems with the chocos running too far off to the east. Into Kalm." "Oh," Tifa's eyes dropped. She braved a smile, "Well, at least you're getting a workout." "Yeah. I guess." Neither of them said much more. Kalm was where plenty of things happened. Some good, but it was mostly bad. Especially for Aeris. Elmyra died there. Along with most of the residents. Just as their partner never mentioned Nibelheim in their presence, Cloud and Tifa returned the courtesy and never said a thing about Kalm. It seemed better that way. "Aw shit, I gotta run." Tifa looked up to see Cloud open the garage door. "Be careful," she called out. "I will." "Hey! Wait! You remember what's today, right?" "Somebody's birthday?" Cloud hazarded a wild guess, "Marlene's?" Tifa shook her head. "Aeris'?" he squeaked sheepishly. She folded her arms. "Your's?" he gulped. "No, you big dummy," she playfully twisted his ear, "It's our anniversary!" "Of course," he cringed slightly, "I'll get you two something nice." "Never mind getting anything except Cloud Strife back home in one piece," Tifa snaked her hands down to his crotch and winked, "Or two. You know what we want to do tonight." "Yeah, yeah. I know," the young man groaned, "The same thing every night. I'll try not to wear myself out before I come home." "Good," she thumbed her nose at him as he mounted his cycle. "You might want to step back," he warned as he mounted up, "This new fuel is dangerous." "All the more reason for me to stay," her brown eyes beheld him with worry. Nevertheless, she took a step back. The noise of the engine blew through the roof and it grated in Tifa's ears. She wrinkled her nose as the fumes pervaded the house. "Tifa! TIFA!!" It was Aeris hollering from the kitchen. "WHAT!?" "SHUT THE DOOR!" Tifa quickly complied as Cloud drew back the kickstand. The young man gave her a quick nod before he throttled forward and zipped out the house. "Be --- careful," she called out as he disappeared down the street. Tifa sighed and closed the garage door before heading back inside. ***************************************************************** Cloud sat on the bench and brooded over his new assignment. "Hey, you Cloud?" He looked up and saw a young girl in a constable uniform. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail and she was twirling a shiny red yo-yo. "That's me," he stood. He towered over her by a good head. I guess Aeris isn't the smallest little bundle on Planet, he thought wryly. "I'm your new partner," the young woman stuck out her free hand --- her left. Cloud bent his right hand around to shake hers. "Right. Cloud." "Yoko." "Funny name," he remarked. "Like yours isn't?" she countered. And she has a smart mouth like Tifa's, Cloud made a face. Correction. The old Tifa. Or at least the one that he sleeps with. She never assumed her legendary temper outside the bed chamber anymore; at least hardly ever. Marlene really impacted their lives. All three of them. "So you're the famous Cloud Strife I've heard so much about," Yoko peered at him with her round almond eyes, "Or should I say *infamous*? I always thought you were a bit taller." "Yeah whatever," the young man snorted. Yoko stopped in mid-sentence as he spoke up again. "And don't bother. I've heard all the jokes *and* the other stuff too," Cloud said curtly, "So don't even start with me." The rookie blanched but recovered quickly, "Don't what? I just wanted to ask you if we're going now." "Yeah right," Cloud waved his hand, "Let's go." The two headed out the precinct building and towards their bikes. They mounted and started their cycles in silence. "Ai-yaa!" Yoko choked, "Your bike smells funny." "It's a new fuel the city is testing out," Cloud remarked casually, "It smells worse than Zolom shit, but it dissipates pretty quick." "Why don't you just use a Makou cycle like the rest of us?" she sniffed and put on her helmet. "I have my reasons," he said softly. Yoko shrugged and raced off. Her voice came through Cloud's headset, "We're heading for the choco farms on the east side right?" "Yup," Cloud rasped back as he followed her. "Isn't that where Kalm used to be?" "Yeah," he replied softly. "I hear a lot of stories about that place." Cloud heard Yoko's voice shift a little. "A lot of it involves you." When he didn't answer, she pressed on, "Or someone you were acquainted with." "Then you probably heard them all," Cloud snapped, "Now pay attention to the road." The silence wasn't broken until they reached the edge of the choco farm. Thousands of chocos with their golden feathers gleaming in the baking sun, ran hither and fro from one side of the holding area to another. "Hey!" Cloud looked up and saw a gnarly looking ranch hand run up. "You trying to scarr up my stock?" "We're here to help you," Yoko dismounted. "Bunch o' punks izz what you izz," the man growled, "Ain't it bad enuff that graveyard's gettin' them spooked?" "Let me introduce ourselves," Cloud drew up rigid, "I am Constable Cloud and this is Constable ---" he looked at her. "Just Yoko," she grinned back, "My friends call me Yo-Yo though." "I bet they do," the gnarled man snorted, "You the law? Who sent'cha?" "You did," Cloud wanted to add 'you shit eating hick', but decided against it. It was too minor to write a report up on. And besides, Tifa would just chew him out while Aeris would wear herself out over a small scrape. It wasn't worth it. "Oh damn," the ranch hand scratched his head, "Sorry 'bout all that ----" "You ought to be," Yoko muttered but silenced herself when her partner shot her a glare. "In any case," Cloud turned to the older man, "We're here. Now what's the problem?" "Well, you know the graveyard right?" "All too well," the young man nodded. "Good," the man went on, "Turns out there's some patches of greens growing out there and my boss' birds are running themselves silly to get thar." "So?" "They come back they do," the old man spat, "But sometimes they don't. Each of 'em gone is hurting the business." "So you want us to do what?" Yoko bunched her brow, "Round them up for you?" "You got that right," the rancher nodded. "You're kidding," Cloud shook his head, "We're law enforcement, not --- not bird punchers." "Well, I called the mayor fer help and thissis why he sent y'all," the man shot back, "So he might think highly o'choo. 'Specially you, eh? Mista Too Wyfe?" Yoko saw Cloud's face tighten slightly before he offered a reply, "I'll help you find the missing livestock, but I'm not here to do what you're paid for." "Fine," the man snorted, "I'll just hafta ask the mayor fer help frim someone else." "You do that," Cloud re-mounted his bike, "And we'll see what happens after I deliver the report." The young man started his cycle and raced off before Yoko could utter, "Wait!" "Ay! You 'is pah'tnah?" "Huh?" the rookie blinked at the grizzled man. "I said, izzee yo' pah'tnah?" "Um, yeah." A smile crept across the man's features, "Where you from girl?" Yoko frowned. If anything, she hated being called a 'kid'. That went even more so for 'girl'. "Junon." "Hunh. Then I giss you ain't in on the joke," the man snickered and headed toward the house. Yoko became thoughtful as she mounted her bike and raced after Cloud. What the heck was going on? The conversation kept going through her mind. As did the stories the other cadets told one another about the Strife family of Mytreheim. What a dumb name. Yoko was tempted to laugh herself silly over her partner's name. Except she couldn't. Not after having met the legend himself. Lots of stories surrounded the man and his family. Let's see if I remember. She swerved to avoid a rock pile and charged through some loose brush. The Strifes were one of the first few people who came to settle in Mytreheim after the so called Week of Terror that started when unknown forces attacked and destroyed Midgar after Meteor fell. Yoko wasn't even fifteen at the time, living with her family in lower Junon when the attackers tried to take the port city. The sub-commander, acting as the interim Commandant, organized a strike force that successfully beat back the attacks, but at a savage cost. She still remembered how long the casualty lists were. And the one name she couldn't forget. Father's. The young girl shook her head and cleared the memory. Heck, that's why I came to this place anyway, she told herself. To forget the past. Yoko went on with her private history lesson. Then word came that a giant explosion had rocked the western continent. Rumours flew of a giant flying machine --- a mythical WEAPON was destroyed. After that day, the attacks ceased as quickly as they began. Stories soon surfaced though, in the bars and streets of where she lived. Fantastic stories of how a small group of free lance adventurers defeated WEAPON and countless other horrors so Planet would live. Sephiroth, Jenova, Weapon. Names of individuals in a life Yoko could only imagine when she was growing up. Other stories surfaced as well. Tales of this man, Cloud and the two other people he lived with. "Yoko, I hear you behind me. Slow down. I have a stray in sight." The rookie blinked and squeezed the brakes in time to narrowly avoid a tree. "Y-you found one?" she rasped into her headset. "Yeah. I --- almost --- got --- whoa! Dammit!" Yoko heard cursing and the roar of an engine in the background as dust swirled over the crest. She gunned her bike over the hill and saw her partner running his own vehicle before a fleeing chocobo, trying to stave off its escape. So much for the glory of police work, she groaned as she realized *this* was her first day on the job. Yoko inched her bike cautiously forward. He's not going to catch the bird until it's tired out, she thought. And from what she heard, even the scrawniest of chocobos can run for a good fifteen to twenty minutes without stopping for breath. "Well this certainly sucks," Yoko threw her throttle open and raced forth to help Cloud. ***************************************************************** "Thanks," Cloud groaned and splashed some water over his face. "You're welcome," Yoko watched as her partner twisted the cap back on the canteen and handed it back to her. She accepted it with a question, "Don't you have a canteen, Cloud?" "Yeah, I do," he sighed and leaned against a gnarled old tree, "I just forgot it." "How convenient," she wrinkled her nose. Yoko remembered how often she heard that before from the soldiers at Junon. It was just a cheap excuse they used on the women in Lower Junon to eat them out of house and home before leaving them holding the mess in house and womb. She caught him staring at her and fidgetted uncomfortably. Yoko quickly averted her eyes and turned back to her bike. "I did leave it at home," Cloud growled, "Accidents happen." "What?" she eyed him over the bike seat, "I didn't say anything." "You were thinking it." Yoko shrugged and snapped her canteen back in place. They had finished rounding up the strays and had more or less agreed to the ranch hand's demand that they at least accompany the herd out as they grazed to recapture any wayward chocobo. "Where are you from anyway?" "Huh?" Yoko looked up and saw Cloud was propped up against the gnarled tree. He had a piece of veldt straw in hand and was peeling it apart bit by bit. "Where're you from?" he repeated. "Junon." He cast a sideways glance at her, "Originally?" "Yeah." "Funny, you don't look like you're from there." "What do you mean?" Yoko stood back up. "Your looks," he made a face, "They're too exotic. Like Tifa's." "Tifa?" the rookie's eyes widened, "That's your wife, huh? I mean one of ---" "She's my wife," his voice iron, "And yes. So's Aeris." Yoko gulped, a little unnerved by his forwardness. "Wow." she caught her breath as Cloud looked at her with disapproval, "I mean really wow. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked, huh?" Her spiky haired partner sighed and shook his head, "No, you shouldn't have. Frankly, I was hoping you'd be smarter than everyone else in town." "Really?" Yoko squeaked, "Sorry to disappoint you then." "Yeah, yeah," Cloud let the bits of grass float away on the wind, "Go ahead." "Huh?" "Go ahead and ask," he said, "From the looks of you, you're just about to explode." "Really?" Yoko asked with awe, "I--I can ask you anything?" "Why not?" Cloud made a face, "It's not like everybody else doesn't know already. And truthfully ---" He looked her straight in the eye, "I think you're better off hearing it from me than having the locals clutter your mind with a lot of made up rubbish." "Wow," the young woman knelt beside her partner, "Y-you mean I can ask anything?" "As long as it's not too personal," Cloud snorted, "Not like there's a lot left after Johnny let his damned lips run off. I'm glad Tiff stopped talking to that bastard---" The blonde man caught himself as Yoko blinked at his outburst. "Sorry," he chuckled, "See? I'm getting old already." "Maybe I should ask another time," she hesitated, "You don't seem all too talkative today." "Not really," Cloud smiled thinly, "I just had a rough week in the Ruins with robbers and all." "Yeah," Yoko grinned, "I heard you took 'em all in yourself." "Breya deserves the credit," he said softly, "She certainly earned it." "Breya? Wasn't she your previous--?" Cloud nodded glumly. "Oh." the young girl looked downcast. "Best damn bike constable on the Continent," he wiped his eyes, "She caught the Gray Rot trying to keep those grave robbing bastards from dying." "She must've been a great partner," Yoko said quietly. "Yeah," Cloud gouged a little hole in the earth, "So, what did you want to ask me?" "Oh that?" the rookie felt thoroughly awkward, "Um. Nothing now that I think of it." "Well, if you're not going to ask me anything," he paused, "Mind if I do?" "Wh-what?!" the young constable blinked, "Er -- sure. Go ahead. Nothing too personal though." "I wouldn't dream of it," Cloud laughed, "Now, about Junon --- am I still wanted there?" "I dunno," Yoko replied, "We moved here a little less than a year ago." "Really? With whom?" "My mom." "Any brothers?" "No." "Sisters?" "Nope." "And your father?" Yoko shrugged, "Dead." Cloud soured, "Sorry I asked. My condolences." "It's a long time kinda," she started, "We weren't that close anyway. He was a Sweeper jock." "A Sweepie huh?" he made a face, "Good one?" "No, not really," Yoko said reluctantly, "But he got the job done." "I'm curious," he asked, "Why didn't you apply as a Sweepie?" "Tried to," she sniffed, "They said I was too skinny to move the levers. I don't get it; my dad's Sweeper only had buttons to operate it and he wasn't a big guy --- Hey! Wh-what's so funny? Stop laughing!" Cloud rolled in the veldt, tears in his eyes, "Oh dammit. It couldn't be further from the truth, Yoko. I'm sorry." "Huh?" she blinked, "What do you mean?" "All the Sweepers built in Mytreheim don't use Makou anymore," he explained, "They use a process called 'internal combustion'. They need heavier equipment to keep the process under control, I think." "You think?" Cloud shrugged, "If you really want to know that stuff, go ask the techs at the precinct. I'm sure they know more about this than I do." Yoko snapped her fingers, "Your bike. It uses that --- that way of generating power, doesn't it? That's why it's so damn big and bulky." Her older partner smiled slowly, "Guess you're are pretty smart afterall." "But why not makou?" the girl stretched lazily on the yellow grass, "It makes things a heckuva a lot easier." "I guess they---" "And besides, Shinra raped Wutai's shores for the sake of makou anyway right? So why give it up now?" Cloud grimaced at her choice of words. "'Raped Wutai's shores?' You make it sound so dramatic," he said quietly, "Like a play." "Well my mom's from Wutai," Yoko remarked absently. "And they let your father operate Sweepers?" Cloud asked in disbelief, "This was when Shinra was still in operation right?" "War bride," the girl sniffed audibly. "Oh. Sorry." "Don't be," Yoko shrugged, "She could've done worse than my father." Cloud became pensive and fell silent although his partner went on. "I guess that explains my looks huh?" she sat up, "What about your wife? The one you said had the same look I had?" "Tifa?" the spiky haired man scratched his arm under the single shoulder guard, "I don't know really. I think she mentioned her grandma wed a guy from Wutai. That makes her, what? A quarter?" "Makes sense," Yoko nodded, "My mom always said I would have been the favorite of the family had it not been for my cousin. That and my mixed blood." "Cousin?" Cloud stretched. "Yeah," Yoko lay back on the grass, "Some prodigal nut who was born before I was." "Nut huh?" he listened with half an ear, "Any name?" "I dunno," the girl yawned, "But the father was my mom's brother. Some Wutai lord or something. Godo I think was his name. Mom always said if she wasn't stuck married to dad, the family head would've been me." She seemed more indignant about her fate than that of her mother's, but it was her words that caught his attention. Cloud sat still for a moment until he realized exactly who that 'prodigal nut' was. "Yuffie?" he said suddenly. "Huh?" Yoko looked at him oddly. "What's your last name?" he held up a hand, "I mean your mother's last name? Before she got married." "Ki-sa-ra-gi I think," Yoko grimaced, "Great Planet, I hate saying that. Makes me sound like I'm gargling." "Godo Kisaragi," Cloud whispered. "Yeah," the rookie nodded, "That's my uncle, I think. Mom always said he had a big part in the war, but I think she's just telling me stories to keep me from joining up with Shinra." "Yuffie's your cousin." "Huh?" Yoko sat up. "Your nutball of a cousin was our travellng companion," Cloud smiled wanly, "And a friend. Of sorts." "Y-you knew er --- is it a him or a her? I can't really tell with these weird names really." "Yuffie was your uncle's daughter." "Oh wow," Yoko was opened mouthed, "You actually knew my cousin. Oh wow." "Yeah," the young man's eyes suddenly found the grass interesting again. "Something happened huh?" she rocked on her calves. "I didn't say that." "Your face did," Yoko gave him a small grin, "Are you this easy to read? I bet your wives must be tickled silly to have such easy access to your heart and mind." Cloud's eyes crinkled slightly, "I guess they do." "So what happened?" the girl pressed, "To my cousin?" "She's dead." "Oh jeez," Yoko slumped her shoulders, "So much for being famous." Cloud darkened slightly, "She was young like you. But she knew how to behave like a grown up." "Sorry," the rookie twiddled her fingers, "I guess I was just excited knowing someone in my family actually hung around a legend like you." "Too bad she couldn't hang around longer." "Yeah," Yoko dimpled her cheeks, "When did it happen?" "A little more than two years ago." "Oh." Her partner fell silent as she gathered the courage to bring out the next question. "So tell me. Is it true?" "What is?" She took a deep breath, "About---about what they say?" Cloud was silent for a while before he nodded. "Oh." Yoko hesitated slightly before going on, "So --- H-how do you do it?" "That's none of your damn business!" he suddenly flared. She immediately snapped her mouth shut as the young man checked his temper. "Really," he said through clenched teeth, "I thought you knew what would cross the line." "Sorry. I didn't mean to," she blabbered, "I'm just curious that's all." She looked up and saw he looking at her. "How old are you?" "Me? Um. I'll be 18 by the end of next week." "You'll learn," he growled, "There's some things you just don't talk about like the weather, understand?" "Yessir!" she bit her lip and looked down, "I'm sorry sir!" Silence engulfed them for a while as they sank into their own respective thoughts. A young chocobo meanwhile, had stumbled near them. It's beak tore at a low patch of grass as they looked on. A soft voice shattered the peace like lightning on the veldt. "Yoko?" "Y-y-yeah?" the girl hid her face as she wiped her eyes. She hadn't been yelled at by anyone for so long, she had forgotten how much it stung. "Look, I'm sorry I chewed you out---" "--I deserved it---" "--shut up and listen will you?" Cloud glanced at her and rolled his eyes as the girl's lips began to tremble. "Aw hell. Here," he handed her a bright yellow handkerchief. "Th-thanks," she stifled her tears and blew her nose sharply as he patted her back. "Losing Breya was pretty hard on me. I kinda forgot she asked me the same questions you did when she first signed on with me." "R-really?" "Yeah." "Well I really made a mess of things, so I guess I should just shut up now huh?" Yoko handed him the soggy cloth. "Ah, no thanks. You keep it," he forced a grin, "Just consider it a memento." "Yeah. A messy one." They both smiled stupidly at one another until she realized just how long his hand had been on her. He noticed it too and quickly withdrew a safe distance away. "Sorry about that," he stammered quickly, "I--um, I'm just sorry." "Me too." Yoko beat lightly against her thighs to avert a disaster. Planet help me, she swallowed hard. I hope he doesn't notice my uniform just got stained with --- with --- Well whatever it is, it certainly wasn't piss. Her cheeks glowed a bright red as she hemmed her legs together to hide her crotch. "So if---if I really want to ask you about--about it," she looked up and watched him lay back on the grass, "Wh-what would I h-hear?" "Okay. I'll tell you how I got to be the way I am," Cloud looked at her, "Just like I told Breya. But promise me. Not a word to anyone, not even your mother or your friends or anyone else for that matter, understand?" Yoko nodded eagerly, "Yessir! I understand." "Okay," Cloud took a deep breath and started. ============================================================== Next time: Three Lovers and a Big Ass Wedding ==============================================================