Pater Familias

“Sephiroth, don’t be stubborn.” Aerith stamped her foot. “Your father is perfectly capable of flying the helicopter. I know this from experience. He flew me to the compound like an expert.”

“But, I have training for it.” Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest, a sure sign of determination. I knew he would not be moved.

“Don’t fret over it,” I said to Aerith while throwing the last bag into the storage area. “It doesn’t bother me one whit if he wants to pilot the huey. If we encounter trouble, I can take the controls while he deals with it.”

Aerith narrowed her eyes at both of us. She put her finger just under Sephiroth’s nose. “You’re too used to getting your own way,” she announced.

Sephiroth, smiling a very smug and infuriating smile, just looked at her a moment. Aerith suddenly flushed scarlet. She grabbed Sakura’s hand and tugged her into the back of the helicopter with her. Still, she had a smile of her own.

Shiva only knew what sexual innuendo my son threw around in the Cetra’s mind. Feeling proud of him, I climbed into the co-pilot’s seat and strapped in.

He refused to wear the mike or engage the com-link. Like he’d flown a helicopter all his life, Sephiroth lifted us from the ground and we departed Midgar. I relaxed, content to trust his abilities. I noticed this bird displayed fewer electronics and a lot more switches than the more modern ones. If only my brilliant son would apply himself to computers the way he applied himself to his wife, he’d be an expert in a few hours.

I heard that.

You hear everything. I’m not censoring my thoughts for you, boy. Tune me out if you have a problem.

I would, but your internal monologues fascinate me.

I chuckled aloud.

In the back I heard Sakura and Aerith chatting away. I loved hearing women talk. Man-talk often irritated me, being nothing more than a series of concentrated, one-up-man-ships. I’d never enjoyed chest-thumping. Leave that to Turks. If I had an issue with someone, or wanted what they had, I killed them and left it at that. Oh, not before making use of their meat first, of course. Some people only had value as test subjects.

Sakura and Aerith began giggling. I smiled at the sound. They got along very well. Sakura could only benefit from the time she spent with Sephiroth’s little Ancient, and, Aerith needed a girlfriend. Her old friends didn’t understand her very well, except for the clone. I didn’t count him because he had no constancy. He wandered around trying to find the meaning of life when none existed.

Do you really believe that, father?

Which part?

That there’s no meaning of life.

Oh. In a manner of thinking, yes. There is a secret of life, however.

What is it?

That there’s no secret.

Sephiroth’s silence rang out. Then, he coughed.

You really infuriate me at times, you old bastard.

I grinned at him. Think on it awhile, son.

No. I want instant gratification and I want it yesterday.

I sighed. Sephiroth, the meaning of life, or the secret of life is meaningless. Life is the prize, not a key to something else. That sweet little wife of yours behind us is the secret of life. The baby inside her is the meaning of life. The fact that you got to fly the helicopter is the meaning of life. Get what I mean?

More silence. Sephiroth suddenly exhaled very loudly. Yes, but I hoped for more arcane knowledge, he admitted.

By Da-Chao’s left testicle, boy, you’ve already mastered the elements, materia, a holy sword, the Lifestream, and every extra-sensory ability in existence. What more could you want?

I want to know why everyone thinks I’m an angel, for one, he answered.

Because people need angels to have hope, and you’re the closest thing. It doesn’t matter if you’re an infernal angel of the pit, really, because your existence still points to there being bigger and better things to reach for, to hope for. I patted his hard shoulder briefly. You worry too much about that angel business. Could you be an angel when you have a devil for a father?

Sephiroth suddenly smiled knowingly. Turning his head, he met my eyes. I know for a fact that hell has angels too, so the answer is yes.

You’re a smart-mouth even when you don’t move your lips.

I’m too big to spank.

You’re not too big to put in a corner. All I have to do is talk to your little wife and-

Don’t you dare set her on me.

Just reminding you I’m your father.

I could never forget. I see too much of myself in you, daddy.


He went quiet, apparently content to let the issue rest. Aerith requested switching places so she could talk to Sephiroth for a few minutes. I obediently climbed into the rear while she slid past me and took my seat.

“Hello.” Sakura gave me a little finger-wave, smiling. She already looked more relaxed.

“Hello back,” I returned, going along with her pretense that we hadn’t woken up in the same place and had breakfast together. “What’s a pretty little redhead doing in the back of the helicopter?”

Her smile widened. “Oh, you know,” she hedged, “enjoying the sights, talking, waiting for you to come back and thrill me.”

“Indeed,” I said. “And how shall I thrill you?” I buckled in and looked at her, wondering why she had that particular, pleasantly secretive glint in her eyes.

“I don’t know, but you manage it often.” Sakura leaned closer to me a moment, sniffing. “You used that nice aftershave this morning. My sinuses were so clogged before I couldn’t smell it, but now I can.”

“Aerith bought that for me,” I told her, pleased she liked the scent.

Shiva, I was a hopeless cause for a pretty woman and small talk. And, I could blame Aerith for that. Until she’d cured me of the mess in my head, I hadn’t paid any attention to either, period.

Sephiroth gave a great bark of a laugh from the front. I wondered if my thoughts amused him or if his wife entertained him.

Anyone else tries the small talk on you and you won’t pay a damn bit of attention, my son sent. You’re falling for that one, dad. She’s got you. You’ve already eliminated three of your competitors.

They didn’t count, I shot back.

“When you get that absent look on your face it makes me think you’re hearing voices,” Sakura said, seeming just a little concerned.

“I am, but only one voice,” I answered. “Sephiroth and I can communicate telepathically.”

“Oh.” Sakura’s face took on wonderment. Her eyes enlarged and her lips parted. “How…remarkable. Have you always had this ability?”

“No, just since Aerith treated me for my various, interesting mental illnesses,” I answered. “Before that, Sephiroth could only pick up bits of my thoughts. Now he has an ear for me when we’re right beside one another, in sight, or if I reach for him mentally.”

“That’s really incredible,” Sakura murmured. “Are you telepathic or do you depend on him for the communication?”

“I mostly depend upon him for it, but I am able to reach for him, as I said.” I smiled. “Don’t worry.”

Sakura gave a shaky laugh. “For a minute I got worried you’ve been hearing my thoughts.”

I didn’t reply. Omitting information didn’t mean lying.

“I wonder how far you could be,” she went on. “I mean, if he’s in Wutai and you’re in Midgar, could you still reach out to him?”

“I suspect the distance won’t make a difference, but I don’t know. We haven’t tried anything like that yet.”

It would be interesting to try, Sephiroth said in my head. The stealth capabilities are interesting. Still, our bond is not likely something you could induce in others.

Well put, I answered.

“See?” Sakura relaxed farther back into the seat. “You’ve already thrilled me. I’ll be thinking about telepathy all day now.”

That and your beautiful, black eyes, Sephiroth teased. She thinks about them a lot. And, your hair. Oh, and your hands, too.

Quit chattering at me, I scolded, feeling irritable. I can’t keep up with both of you at the same time.

Fine. I’ll remember that the next time you complain I should learn how to multi-task.

“Forget about telepathy,” I advised Sakura. “Like many things Sephiroth and I share, it’s a gift from Jenova and not easily repeatable.”

“Jenova,” Sakura murmured. “Your work with her didn’t make the news very often. I’m sure a lot of people knew nothing about her until the trial.” She reclined a little more, turning her head so she could still look fully at me. “I suppose no one should have known, but there was that leak to the press eight or nine years ago.”

“I killed that leak,” I said, seeing no reason to dissemble. Sakura would have to know about me now. I couldn’t involve myself with her and keep her ignorant. I’d tried that with Lucretia and had the whole relationship blow up in my face.

Sakura neither appeared surprised nor horrified. “I suspected someone had when the source dried up. Who was he?”

“A very foolish lab aide who decided he’d make more money being a tattle-tale than an aide,” I answered.

You should keep this one, Sephiroth added. She’s not a bit put off by your little shocker.

Sephiroth, mind your own business for fifteen minutes!

Make me.

“Aerith,” I said, leaning up.

Fine. I’ll tune you out for awhile.

“Yes?” Aerith twisted around in her seat, giving me a warm smile.

“Would you remind me to speak to my brother concerning a few potions I asked him about?” I returned her smile mostly because of Sephiroth’s tense shoulders. “I’m afraid I won’t remember once we reach his home.”

“Of course I will, Hojo,” she said, giving me a daughterly little pat on the jaw. “You want me to wait until we’re all settled or do it at once?”

“Wait until we’re settled,” I answered. “Thank you.”

I returned to my seat, feeling smug. Even if Sephiroth eavesdropped, which I could do nothing about; he’d stay quiet a short time. I turned back to Sakura. “I’m happy to answer any questions about Jenova,” I told her. “But, bear in mind my answers may not be complete. She had partial control over me for many years, because I first introduced her cells into myself before giving them to anyone else.”

“Well,” Sakura said slowly, her eyes showing interest. “What are some of the effects of her cells besides telepathy?”

“Mutation and transformation are two of the most noticeable effects of her presence.”

Sakura’s eyes flicked to Sephiroth’s back before returning to mine. “You both look normal to me.”

“Sephiroth doesn’t transform unless he wishes it, but I tend to mutate under stress,” I answered. “You may have seen my skin go a little green?”

“Once,” she admitted. “When you were fighting Michael I noticed a green tinge to your skin.”

“Yes, it’s the precursor to my Heretic form, which I’m told is quite ugly. After that I further mutate to Lifeform.” I shrugged. “It’s probably ugly as well. I don’t look in a mirror when I’m transforming, naturally.”

“You’re pretty scary,” Aerith called out helpfully from the front.

I ignored her. “My son exhibits the most of Jenova’s powers. I have little of her abilities.”

“You’re pretty strong, I notice,” Sakura said.

“That is mako, not Jenova. Mako and Jenova work together very, very well, however.”

“In what way?”

“They are highly compatible, complimenting the strengths and downplaying the weakness of the other. I find this incongruent, since Jenova wished nothing more than the destruction of the planet. I hypothesized she merely wanted to use the planet like a battery, mistaking it as a non-sentient ball of rock with tasty, mako-blood.”

Sakura blinked her surprise. “The planet is sentient?”

I shrugged. “Aerith,” I said again. “Time for you to switch places with me; I can’t field your area of expertise.”

“Oh,” she said teasingly, sliding around me once more. “But, I would have let you try.”

“Speaking to me again?” Sephiroth muttered as I took the front passenger seat again.

“Why not?” I posed.

Are you sure you did the right thing, telling her how freakish we are? She’ll find out on her own, I’m sure.

That’s true, boy, but I won’t start anything with a woman unless she knows what she’s getting into.

Sephiroth nodded. I understand.

I heard an element in Sephiroth’s mental voice that I didn’t like.

What is it? I asked.

I… Sephiroth’s head gave a little jerk. You really do like her, don’t you?

I’m beginning to anticipate her company very much. I looked at him closely, seeing how he clenched his hand around the stick. Does that bother you, son? Because if it does, I’ll break it off.

I liked Sakura. I really, really liked Sakura. But, Sephiroth came first. If he had an issue with me linking up with a woman, I’d address it. I’d put off anything, even a decent relationship with a suitable female, if it meant keeping my boy.

He’d taken the back burner far too often already.

It doesn’t bother me in the way I thought it would. Sephiroth stared out the windscreen, his eyes fiercely straight ahead. I want you to have some of what I have. I want you to have a good woman to come home to. He blinked a few times before hitting a few control switches. I can’t tell you what’s wrong, father, only that I don’t disapprove of her or your relationship. She seems like a woman who would adapt to you very well. Aerith likes her very much, and she is the best judge of character I know.

I could not shake a feeling of unease, not even with Sephiroth’s assurances. Still, I sensed he could not or would not say any more on the subject. Honoring that, I did not push.

In a short time our coordinates warned we neared our destination. I barely remembered the area, having only visited a few times. I did easily recall the tiny town just sixty kilometers from Syvas’ home. I tapped my son on the shoulder. “Set down for refueling,” I said, pointing at the tiny filling station. “Better to do it now instead of on the way home. I don’t even know if they would open by the time we leave on Sunday.”

He nodded and began taking us down.

Needless to say, our arrival in this backwater caused a stir. Old men and young children gathered at the front of the tiny, log frame store, watching us descend. The Shin-Ra logo on the chopper, well known all over the world, doubtless kept the small knot of people from rushing us. They peered in at us from a distance of at least twenty meters, shielding their eyes from the dust we kicked up.

“You might want to stay in here,” I told Sephiroth. “Can you imagine the fuss you’ll create?”

His right cheek bunched up as he considered it. “A localized fuss, surely,” he said. “Do they even have landline telephones out here?”

“No, but they have chocobos, which run nearly as fast as people’s mouths,” I said. “What people don’t farm vegetables and livestock around here, raise the birds. I suggest you lay low.” I hopped out before he could say more, determined to set our refueling in motion quickly.

I strode into the store, eyes searching for the checkout counter. A bent old woman leaned upon the oak, her alert blue eyes tracking my entrance. “Hope you got gil,” she said. “We don’t take credit cards here.”

“I realize that,” I said, showing her my wallet. “I don’t know how much fuel we need, so I’ll come back in once I finish, yes?”

The woman gave me a hard look. “You might empty the tank.”

I wondered if she had a mental problem. “I might,” I said.

“If you do, locals ‘round here might be pinched.” The woman paused to spit into a cuspidor.

I showed her a five hundred gil note. “Will this make up for the inconvenience, madam?” I found my usual appreciation of women hard-pressed. This creature beat anything I’d ever made in my lab.

She grinned. “Sure.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.”

I went out and began the fueling, silently cursing Syvas for insisting upon a home in the bowels of Bahomet’s bottom. The ticker kept counting. At two hundred and fifty six gil, it stopped. I walked back in and slammed the five hundred note on the counter. “I didn’t empty it,” I said.

“Damn near,” she commented.

“Then keep the sodding change,” I said. “Use it in the fund to install a bigger tank.”

“Can’t.” The woman grinned again. “We already have the largest tank a person can get out here.”

“Then keep it for yourself and go drinking tonight,” I said, walking for the door.

“Can-do, city boy,” she shouted.

I whirled on her. “I’m eighty-four,” I declared. “Not a boy. So take your attitude and shove it where Shin-Ra don’t shine.”

“Ohh, he got you, Jean!” And old man said, cackling as I walked by.

“Fuck you, Harry,” the woman grumbled.

I got back in the helicopter, fuming. Sephiroth, apparently having listened to my inner monologue the entire time, lay bent over the stick, suppressing laughter.

“Get us back in the blue,” I ordered, strapping back in.

“Can-do, city boy,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

“You shut your damn mouth.”

Still laughing, Sephiroth took us up.

“Was there a problem?” Aerith asked.

“Just some dirt-diggers with attitudes,” I answered.

“Hey!” Both women said at once.

“Pardon,” I said sourly. “Some local yokels with barely-functional mentalities.”

Don’t you apologize, father, Sephiroth said. They were indeed dirt diggers.

Tell that to our botany squad, I huffed mentally.