The Legendary Titans of Gaia
By: Zeng Li

Chapter Eight:
"Borrowed Souls"

Notes on this fic and the Junior Turks:

1. The ONLY "Before Crisis" Turks I'm using are Rod and Klaus. Rod is the one with reddish hair that resembles Reno, and Klaus is the male with the black and gray hair. Elena is ELENA, from FF7…not the blonde BC girl. I assume that she was a junior Turk 3 years before FF7 and gets promoted in-game.

2. This fic is VERY alternate-universe and does not conform rigidly to FF7 or any of its related games/movies. Though I do pull common themes and places, as the author, I have taken creative license in making a fic that exists "apart" from the cannon FF7 events.

3. If these fics are difficult to read, they are ALSO posted on my personal website…see address in my profile page.

4. FYI – the Master Eye is not the same as the Third Eye. The Master Eye goes a step beyond the Third Eye (which everyone has) and is more focused and stronger than the Third Eye. It is actually located to the left and right of the Third Eye in the form of 2 "eyes" (one above each eyebrow.) People possessing such an "eye" are usually mystics or clairvoyants. The mysticism in this fic is based on real beliefs, but are modified for fiction use.

Reno chucked his cargo into the back of the helicopter just as the aircraft was cleared by the pre-flight inspection. Rude climbed into the pilot's seat, not even asking if Reno objected to him being the one to fly the 6-hour over-seas mission. The aircraft launched from the top-level platform of the main tower, quickly clearing the darkened skies over the city of Midgar.

Reno looked out the side window. Kalm was off in the distance to starboard. Reno adjusted his focus and could see his subtle reflection in the glass.

"I haven't seen the boss since…since before our mission to Wall Market," Reno mused aloud, speaking clearly so Rude could hear him through the headsets over the loud rotor blades spinning above.

Rude was silent. It was no surprise since he wasn't one to partake in reminiscence.

Reno saw the distinctive glint of mako eyes look back at him from the glass. "I suppose he knows what they did to me. I'm…still trying to get used to it myself."

"He knows," Rude said, more out of obligation than anything. His tone didn't offer Reno any sort of sympathy or compassion to go along with his strange feelings. Reno took it as a hint to stop.

The scenery continued to pass under them until it was eventually the large expanse of the ocean all the way to the horizon. Reno slouched a little and closed his eyes.

Tseng felt himself awaken…or at least he felt like he was awake. He sat up in bed. Looking around, he saw the temporarily familiar surroundings of his room at the inn in Cosmo Canyon. The first pre-dawn rays of sunlight were starting to wash out the stars of the eastern sky. His weightless-feeling body conformed to the laws of gravity as it stood up, but the convincing façade of true awakeness revealed itself as a farce as the walls around him dissolved. The illuminated glyphs he'd seen the day before once again appeared before his eyes, recreating the tunnel leading to the red-floored chamber where he'd astrally met Ifrit.

His astral feet glided him back into the chamber, this time alone. There was no threat of fiends on this journey, for it occurred outside of ordinary reality.

The tunnel let out into the familiar chamber, the glow of small glyphs fading behind him. This time, the chamber was dark, illuminated now by only the faintest of crimson light. The solid-materia floor was dimmed too, as if in observance of the night-fall in the physical world.

For a chamber housing the essence of the spiritual element of Fire, the place felt a little cold.

One by one, small torches built into the rock wall lit up. They continued to light a gentle fire in a clockwise pattern until they were all illuminated. The dozen or so small flames provided just enough light to see by. There was a lone figure kneeling in the center of the red disc that made up most of the floor in the room. Tseng walked closer, his footsteps now seeming solid enough that each one made sound that echoed off the hollow room's walls.

The crouched figure was human, dressed in a simple tunic and pants with draw-strings. His sandals looked well worn.

As Tseng approached, the man straightened his back and stood up, still facing the far wall instead of the visitor.

Who are you? Tseng asked rather bluntly, but it was necessary.

There are two sides of every element, the man said. Passive, like the flickering flames of a candle.

Tseng thought of the torches surrounding the room. Enough for light, but not much for heat nor hostility. He nodded.

And active…

The walls around them seemed to give off a beastly growl that echoed off the circular chamber so the sound surrounded them. A ghostly image of Ifrit appeared on the wall opposite the passage in, flames of a hellish inferno rising up around him. The image soon faded, but a waft of hot air washed through the chamber. Tseng squinted his eyes as it hit him, a reaction to fire that only his physical body needed to be concerned with.

So, you are…?

I am Ifrit, the young man turned around. A red gem on his forehead glowed bright with the orange-red flames of Fire, contained and hidden within the walls of the mystic symbol and under total control.

What a difference from the hell beast Tseng and the rest of the world was accustomed to! But at the same time, it seemed to make sense to the Turk on a higher level.

I understand, Tseng said, bowing slightly. Without passive to balance the active, or active to balance the passive…there would be chaos.

Yes. That is why you see me as a man. The glowing gem in the center of the young man's forehead divided. The replicated gems split apart and moved to the sides of the forehead an inch above the man's eyebrows. They turned sideways into eye-like slits that remained glowing red.

As that happened, Tseng could feel the activation of similar third and fourth eyes in the same areas of his own forehead.

Do you know why Tseng Wulong of Wutai was cast out of the land he was born in?

Life had a way of directing itself, and people rarely ever looked at the deeper Why.

It's because you contain the elemental alignment of Fire, said the human Ifrit. Water controls Fire and drives it away. Wutai as a nation is primarily Water-aligned, so it cast out Fire. You are but one who this has happened to.

Tseng nodded in a shallow bow. It makes sense. In a way, that's how it feels.

Yes, but Water controlling Fire is but one way that balance is achieved. Active Water douses passive Fire. But…active Fire evaporates passive Water, turning it to the control of the element Air. So, it is only a one-sided myth that humanity has acknowledged…that Water always wins over Fire. As you can see, Fire can still conquer Water. It's why Water is so afraid of Fire and attempts to drive it out. Unless Fire goes active, it can not defeat Water.

Tseng dropped to one knee before the human incarnation of the demi-god. His human eyes closed, but his Master Eyes remained open and could still see all around him. So, I can still save Midgar from the invading forces of Wutai and the Temple of New Light?

The human Ifrit changed shape and grew. Hell beast replaced human, and the heat of Fire warmed the room as the Aeon's body activated the Fire within.

No, said the deep, thunderous voice of the hell beast. YOU can not save Midgar. The battle is not really between human and human. It is between the Elements. Water is rising to the occasion where Midgar has allowed most its attunement to nature to go forgotten…to fall into disorganized chaos. Water was once defeated on its home turf by the elemental harmony that used to bind Midgar. Now, it sees an opening and has made itself ready and available through the Wutanese mystics who have devoted their lives to mastering its power. They unite materia to focus the energy and amplify it. Midgar has already seen the results in your absence.

Tseng wasn't comfortable with the thought that perhaps Midgar's fate rests solely on him. He was no Sephiroth. But Ifrit could tell he was concerned with his feelings.

It's not you who will neutralize the elemental forces attacking Midgar. It's me who will.

Tseng opened his human eyes and looked up at the fiery beast. Upon seeing the demon, he could feel the hot fires burning so close to him, forcing him to close his human eyes once again. His Master Eyes could see, but would not trick the mind into feeling the heat. Then what am I to do?

You are but a vessel. Humans summon elements using materia. Elements manifest through human intervention. When Water has been re-balanced, you will lose the piece of me that is in you. You may lose your ability to summon or cast magic without materia. You will be ordinary again, as will the mages from Wutai, if any of them survive the battle.

If any of THEM survive…but what about me?

You must survive, too. Just remember the power of active Fire. Water will be active in battle as well, but I am your ally for now.

Tseng stood up. His foot faltered, and gravity seemed to press down on him once again. He felt a bit dizzy, and in a sense, he felt himself fall…

…only to end up startled awake in his room at the inn.

He gasped, eyes wide open. Through the window, he could see the first few rays of the coming sun wash out the stars in the eastern sky.

Klaus stopped his motorcycle outside a perimeter of Shinra helicopters and trucks that had congregated on the spot thought to be where the Temple of New Light mage or mages had been when they Grand Summoned the Wutanese deity, Leviathan. Elena pulled next to him and shut the engine off, dropping her riding goggles down around her neck.

Hojo and as assembly of scientists were already on the scene. Some were using sensory materia and others used electronic devices to attempt to detect energies of a nature a little beyond the junior Turks' expertise.

Klaus reached for one of his hand-guns. "Hmm, not really sure if our weapons can do much of anything. They said it's a…ghost or something," he shrugged.

"Don't shoot at anything that isn't there," Elena cautioned. "If a bullet hits one of Hojo's scientists…well, I'd guess we'd have Hojo, Heidegger, Tseng, and probably Rufus to answer to. Scratch any hopes of promotion, you know…?"

Klaus put the gun back in its holster. "Shinra seems to be taking this rather seriously. Guess the least we can do is stick around and collect our pay."

A small cluster of white-coated scientists all at once backed away as a semi-translucent apparition appeared. Hojo, however, didn't flinch. He merely adjusted his glasses and leaned forward a bit, curiously observing the appearance of the Wutanese man.

"As I suspected…" he said as the figure wavered a bit, fading and growing more solid at irregular intervals.

My Lord…where are you! the figured cried in a hollow voice that buzzed through the air like a shaky television transmission.

"He doesn't seem to see us," Hojo said turning to face a less timid scientist who'd walked a little closer. "Lord must mean the emperor, ruler or what ever Wutai calls that man…"

"Godo, sir?"

"Yeah, yeah… Hmmm…" Hojo stepped forward as the ghostly apparition faded again until he was standing right where the figure appeared to be.

"What's that crackpot doing?" Klaus asked, observing Hojo's seemingly reckless approach to investigating.

"The deities summoned by materia are life force patterns etched into the Life Stream from long ago." Hojo clasped his hands behind his back and paced the vicinity slowly. "They exist, but on another plane of reality. When one is summoned, the magician taps into that invisible Life Stream and calls forth the energy of the being. They, too, phase from the material world we call reality and temporarily transition into the other plane, sometimes becoming invisible or unaffected by the environment or elemental forces around them, thus being protected from the destructive energy of that which they summoned."

Elena shook her head and cocked and eyebrow. Klaus shrugged. "Yeah, me too," he said, making a similar face in response to Hojo's somewhat confusing rambling.

"It's a myth…that one can be trapped between realities," Hojo continued, not really talking to anyone in particular as was often the case with the things that came out of his mouth. "Or it was…since no one's ever observed it happening before." He turned to a small group of men in lab coats. "This appears to be the first actual case. I want this area sectioned off from the public and guarded by soldiers at all times while we investigate further. You! Turks!" his glasses flashed bright white as he shifted his gaze.

"Oh, now he notices us…" Elena grumbled.

"If the magician materializes, take him alive and bring him back to my lab in the tower."

Godo-dono! A cry sounded in the mage's voice, his image flickering briefly. Bring me back!

The transparent image faded again.

"Baby-sit a ghost?" Klaus muttered, his voice conveying annoyance. "Is that in the job description?"

Hojo pulled something out of his coat pocket and shifted his attention. "Interesting that one of these would show up again. Here I thought it was a useless experiment, or even a hoax…" He turned the bracelet over in his hand, thoroughly examining that which two weeks ago the president had shrugged off. There were three orbs of materia in the bracelet, all of which were the red materia of summoning. "Perhaps materia will bring the mage back to the physical world," he mused aloud, turning back to the now empty space that the ghost had appeared in. "Or, maybe it will banish him to the life stream."

The scientist paced slowly, heading in the general direction of a parked helicopter either by chance or deliberate. The Turks weren't happy about the assignment and could only hope that the senior staff would soon return.

Reno and Rude looked up at the mountainous formation above them. Two hundred feet above and perched on the plateau was the bon-fire illuminated city of Cosmo Canyon. The arid conditions of the valley below reminded them of a desert without sand. Rude backed one of the motorcycles out of the cargo hold of the helicopter while Reno cleaned the shaded lenses of his riding glasses.

"This is why I hate coming to this place. Transportation in and out is primitive unless you bring your own wheels," Reno said, sliding the tinted side-shield glasses over his eyes. It was mid-day over the valley, and the trail up to the plateau was a 30-minute drive by motorbike.

"Hmph…" Rude looked at him, set to tend to his own bike instead of taking Reno's out for him.

"The boss still ain't answering his phone," Reno said, climbing back into the helicopter. "We have no way to know if he's still here, or even alive for that matter."

"If SOLDIER found him, we would know by now," Rude hoisted his backpack over his shoulders then mounted the bike.

Reno put the kickstand of his down and retrieved the extra fuel cells they'd be carrying, securing them into the saddle bags attached to the rear of his bike. "I just hope he wants to come back with us. If he's been acting as weird as they're talking about back at Shinra…"

Rude started the engine of his bike, mostly to shut Reno up and to signal his interest in going and getting back as soon as they could. Reno mounted his and started it up, riding off behind Rude as they began the ascent to Cosmo Canyon.

Their uneventful ride brought them to the farthest spot they could go before reaching the village itself. It was a spacious depot for vehicles that shuttled visitors and students to and from the town. Chocobos could be accommodated in hour- and day-rate stables, and a parking area was available for short-term visitors to leave their vehicles, which were not permitted across the plank bridge and into the village.

"Shinra's Turks!" a guard yelled as soon as he spotted them walking across the wooden bridge. The constable and a few guards hurried to the bridge where it ended at the entrance to the remote town.

Reno squinted his eyes and lazily turned his head. Rude just slowly shook his head and kept walking. Their heavy boot steps didn't slow or falter as they continued on towards the human blockade, spears and bows poised for possible action.

"How did Tseng ever get in here?" Reno mused aloud. "They're not very friendly here today."

"Stop right there!" said the constable, walking out a few meters onto the bridge, his guards still behind him. His hand gripped a small gun he pulled from his belt.

Reno and Rude stopped, casually regarding the unnecessary attention they were receiving. "Aren't visitors welcomed to this place, to study planetary life and other forms of enlightenment?" Reno raised his voice so the armed greeters could hear him.

"This place is getting a bit over-run with Turks lately," said the constable, his gun aimed at Reno's chest as he drew nearer. "State your business."

Reno rolled his eyes and looked over at Rude. "If you let us in to do what we have to, you'll be rid of not only us by night fall, but also one other Turk that you seem to think constitutes a swarm," Rude told the constable in his deep, steady voice.

The constable halted two meters in front of them. "Master Bugenhagen allowed Tseng here, and we've been informed that until told otherwise, we're to help protect him from his enemies."

"We're not his enemies…" Reno laughed. "He's our boss!"

The constable sharply raised his gun at Reno, his teeth clenched. "SOLDIER, Shinra, the Turks…we know they've all been ordered after him, and even though I don't have to like it, Master Bugenhagen's orders are orders…"

"We don't have time for this…" Reno said, right before springing high into the air, leaping over the constable's head as Rude shot forward and ripped the weapon out of the officer's hand. The agile red-head Turk could see the pair of archers draw back their bows. His hand reached into his pocket, rapidly flinging a pyrotechnic incendiary device at the feet of the guards positioned at the end of the bridge. The small grenade went off with a pop and a flash as Reno charged forward, his mako-enhanced eye sight dulling the effect of the bright flash and allowing him to continue forward and through the scattering blockade of men.

Rude held the constable's own gun to the officer's head, his other arm tightly restraining him as the Turk used him as a shield. "We're not here to harm anyone, not even one of your own," Rude said as he forced the officer to walk back towards his men.

Reno slid to a halt fifty feet behind the disorganized group of guards. He turned and watched his partner for a second before realizing that he had trouble approaching from the rear. His reflexes kicked in, and he ducked down as a halberd was slashed in a horizontal arc at him. He tackled the running guard's legs, lifting them up and dumping the man over him and onto the stony ground. The next guard had an unfamiliar weapon resembling a bladed tonfa. Reno had his electro-mag rod out and extended, ready to block as if he were holding a sword.

"Call off your men!" Rude hissed into the constable's ear, his one arm's grip tightening around his prisoner hard enough to stress a few bones to the aching point.

"I can't…Elder's orders…"

Reno deflected the weapon being slashed at him, grabbing the attacker's free arm and swinging his leg around for a high kick into the center of the man's back. The guard's shoulder loosened as the joint was wrenched out of it's socket. Reno casually let him go, the man collapsing to the dusty ground and dropping his weapon. Reno turned to the lancer who'd come at him before, poised for another go-round.

"You should have just let us pass…" said the younger Turk.

"I can't…let you go," said the constable. "Not after this…" He watched as other guards defended their fallen comrade. Other armed guards converged on the entrance.

"You're finding out the hard way what the Turks are capable of," Rude told him.

"Well, go ahead then…shoot me…"

Rude kneed him to get him to walk forward more without continued resistance. They were almost to the end of the bridge. "It's not my intent," said the bald Turk.

"Then you're a coward, using me as a shield!" His feet stepped off the bridge and onto the rocky ground. Rude let him go and pushed him.

"Just doing my job," he extended his arm, holding the barrel of the gun, offering it back to its original owner. The constable just looked at it. Behind him, he heard a snap of electricity followed by a scream from one of his men.

"All we want is Tseng," Reno whirred around, checking for anyone else daring to take him on in a fight. His electro-mag rod crackled with energy as it fully recharged for another elemental strike.

"Guards, put down your weapons!" called a voice…that of Elder Bugah.

The constable turned to the elder before he was able to reclaim his gun from the Turk. His officers turned to the elder as well. Reno set his weapon to uncharge, and his fighting stance relaxed a little bit as well.

Along side him was Bugenhagen, and behind them both was a weary looking Wutanese man with the black spot on his forehead.

"Tseng!" Reno hurried towards them, only to be blocked by the crossing of soldiers' spears in front of him. He halted against them, fighting back his instinct to dispatch the enemies. "Tseng…? You haven't actually defected, have you?" he asked.

Tseng halted and dropped his rucksack. The elders walking in front of him stopped as well. The Turk leader shook his head slowly, his eyes closed and head tilted slightly downward. Reno didn't like the somber expression, and it agonized him to have to wait for further explanation.

"I have not defected, Reno," Tseng said mildly, his eyes still closed to the mid-day sun. "I have new orders, but they haven't come from Shinra."

It didn't seem to make sense. Reno fidgeted, wanting nothing more to get past the guards' blockade.

"Shinra would be best off letting me carry them through. I know what Wutai is up to, and I know what it'll take to dismantle their attempts to avenge their defeat from the war," Tseng's eyes opened slowly, and incompletely. His coal black eyes looked shallow.

"What…? What's wrong?" Reno asked. "Something's wrong…! I know it…"

"It's nothing…" Tseng said, walking past the elders.

As if receiving a silent command, the guards withdrew their spears, and Reno immediately sprinted forward between them and up to his boss. He put a hand on Tseng's chest, and another across the Wutanese man's shoulders. Rude practically shoved the gun back into the constable's hands and hurried past him and to his commanding officer.

Tseng closed his eyes and let his head nod downwards. Rude walked past him and retrieved his rucksack. Tseng looked up, his dark eyes again opening to the day time sun.

"Gods…didn't you get any rest while you were here?" Reno asked, trying to invigorate him with a gentle shake. "We brought the bikes cuz we can't land a helicopter up here."

Rude caught up to them, shrugging his backpack off and putting it and Tseng's bag down on the ground. He pulled a wide vial out of his sack and handed it to Tseng. "Drink this. I brought some along just in case. You can rest on the flight back to Midgar."

Tseng drank the smooth liquid, like he'd done in the past. Rude was always kind enough to add some fruit flavors to his medicinal tonics to prevent them from tasting like chemicals. "There's no time to rest until Wutai is driven back."

"Too bad," said Reno. "We're heading back to the chopper then over to Shinra 26 to refuel and spend the night. Please don't make Rude force you to get some rest…"

"We don't have time for that! If you guys need rest, I can fly us back to Midgar…assuming they aren't going to greet me with weapons drawn…"

Rude packed his empty vial away and carried both his and Tseng's packs as they made their way back to the bridge out of Cosmo Canyon.

Reno loosened his supportive grip on Tseng. "Nah…Rufus told his dad everything, and the order has been withdrawn. He's as anxious to get you back as you are to return to us." He turned to the cluster of guardsmen standing to the side of the end of the bridge, some of them still smarting from the scuffle with the young Turk earlier. "Sorry 'bout all than, man…" he told them, shrugging. "Just doin' my job…"

To Be Continued...

Author's notes: IF ANYTHING IN THIS FIC SEEMS CONFUSING, REFER TO THE INFORMATION LOCATED AT THE START OF CHAPTERS 1 AND 7 FOR CLARIFYING INFORMATION.

An original story based on characters from Final Fantasy VII © 1997 Squaresoft Ltd. Characters used without permission. No money is made off of this fic. Written by Zeng Li. © 2005.