Somehow, Jessie had taken a wrong turn.

She'd been right behind Barret after they'd set the charges, following him as they fled back up the ladders and pipes. This was the Number Four reactor, and the security measures in here were much tighter than they had been in the other reactors. It had taken them double time to infiltrate the interior, and even longer to avoid the security measures in order to get to the reactor core. But they'd made it, set the charges, and everything had gone as planned.

Except this.

She paused in her running, gazing around frantically. Where the hell was she? One floor looked like another in these places. She cast a glance at her watch-ten minutes remaining. She had to get out now. A swift look around the area revealed nothing insightful, and Jessie began to run again down a long corridor.

"Barret!" She shouted as she ran. Her voice bounced eerily back at her, resounding off the thick walls. As she expected, no answer was forthcoming, and she doubled her speed. She rounded a corner, and bolted down another corridor. Her heart was in her throat; if she didn't escape in time she'd be caught in the explosive blast. So intent on her flight was she that she didn't see the man in her path until it was too late.

She collided with him, but he was unaffected. As she tottered backwards he stood straight and firm. She raised her eyes to his face and felt her breath leave her body.

It was Sephiroth, the legendary General. His expression impassive, he watched as she caught her balance and froze before him. His Masamune, infamous for the death it caused in his hands, was unsheathed, held to the side. Jessie couldn't help the sudden tears that rushed hotly to her eyes.

She was going to die.

Sephiroth took a step closer. In sudden terror Jessie bolted, trying to get past him. He lunged for her and caught her arm, but she ripped free and ran headlong down the rest of the corridor. At the end was a staircase rising upwards and she took them two at a time. Almost to the top, she screamed as a hand closed around her ankle and halted her progress. Unbalanced, she hit the stairs hard, and twisting around she kicked at the General as he pulled her back down. Her breath came in halting gasps; coherent thought had abandoned her. Survival was all that mattered now.

He dealt her a backhand blow that sent her sprawling down the stairs. Something in her leg snapped as she hit the floor, and the agony that resulted made her scream again. He was coming down the stairs slowly, resolutely; the absence of expression on his face was terrifying. Sobbing now in eerie silence she tried to scramble away, dragging her leg. She tried once to stand, failed, and tried again. Her strength gave out then, and she fell limply to the ground. He stopped above her, looming, imperious, and she knew then that she was pitiful to him.

A sudden shaking rocked the building, followed by a deafening roar. The charges had detonated. Momentarily distracted, Sephiroth looked away, and Jessie lashed out with her good limb. She connected solidly with enough force that he staggered backwards. She used the wall for support and got to her feet before backing away. Rage was evident within him now as he straightened. The entire building was shuddering as the core collapsed in on itself, but the shudders did not deter him. With preadatory grace he approached. Jessie had nowhere to go, backed into a corner; something shattered within her as she accepted her fate.

As he raised his blade, she did not cower. She stood tall, chin raised, and met his gaze with her own. She couldn't keep the terror from her eyes, but it was an act of rebellion, of strength. Tears ran in steady rivulets down her cheeks.

As the blade fell, she saw something in his own eyes she'd never have expected to see.

Respect.