Ranma was highly amused by the scene of his mother beating Reno over the head with a broom. The lazy Turk decided to make an unwanted advance toward the now single mom. After Ranma brought down Zack, everyone settled down and regrouped. That and Ranma rendering half of the "good guys" unconscious. Aeris began to explain the situation that had brought them there in the first place. Cloud seemed determined to stare at Sephiroth with a disapproving frown. Sephiroth on the other hand was currently restraining his girlfriend.
"We're sorry this whole thing escalated into a brawl. We really here to stop JENOVA and that's all."
Ranma regarded the woman in pink with distrust. Something about here just rubbed him the wrong way. His fists clenched read to defend himself. The only thing keeping him calm was Kasumi's hand on his. "So kill the thing and go home. "
Kasumi looked at Ranma in surprise. "Ranma, did you just suggest killing something."
"You heard them Kasumi. This thing will stop at nothing to get what it wants. It won't stop until it's dead. The sooner this JENOVA thing is dead, the sooner Blondie and his pals will leave and stop plotting to kill my father and most likely me by extension."
Kasumi frowned and began to look at the otherworldly visitors. Several wouldn't make eye contact and looked away. Some looked down out of guilt. The only ones who didn't were Vincent and Rufus. Vincent held the stare of the young couple whilst Rufus merely looked back in slight amusement of the situation. "I assure you my young friend that we wish to do this with the least amount of violence. Our numbers are really only to ensure JENOVA doesn't escape again. We brought several pieces of equipment to help in the search and as well as the treatment of the possible plague that JENOVA can unleash."
Sephiroth frowned. "What plague is that?"
Cloud scoffed. "It's called Geostigma. Geostigma is caused by JENOVA cells that invade and corrupt normal human bodies. You made a big production remember? Right before you tried to kill me again. Right any bells?"
"I only recall fighting you at the northern crater. So I don't recall this event you speak of Cloud. A JENOVA controlled clone may have been what you fought."
"You expect me to honestly believe…"
"SHUT UP! I don't care about some petty argument between you two at the moment. What about this Geostigma?" Kasumi shouted.
"It acts like a virus and infects normal healthy cells and causes the skin to discolor as it works its way to the surface. Causes severe pain as it starts to affect muscle tissue. If left untreated…its terminal." Vincent informed.
Kasumi felt sick. First some evil alien had arrived and now it could spread a plague. Life was starting to look up and now everything had to just fall apart.
"You mentioned treatment?" Sephiroth asked.
"A bath in Lifestream infused water. The Lifestream seeks out the invading cells and destroys them and heals the corrupted tissue. Aeris here is able to create the water." Rufus supplied.
Sephiroth maintained a far away look. "How long to make a batch of this I supposed holy water?"
"Not very long at all. Your body is rejecting the JENOVA cells isn't it Sephiroth?"
The long haired general remained silent. Several present looked in shock over such a concept. They all knew about how Sephiroth had come to be how he is. Hojo's twisted experiments on his unborn child had brought about what had become Heaven's dark harbinger. "Is that true Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth looked to Nodoka with a sad look in his eye. "Yes. Most of my right leg has begun to darken. It is also beginning to ache."
"We don't know what will happen to him if he is treated. He has had JENOVA cells since he was in the womb. His Father Hojo was a twisted scientist who wanted to know the effect of the cells on the body if injected prenatally." Rufus supplied.
"Hojo is my Father? Oh ye gods, How can I be related to that monster?"
"You're one to talk."Cloud said spitefully.
For his crass comment the failed clone was struck upside the head. Cloud looked to find that both Zack and Vincent had slapped him. Cloud had thought about what he had said and mumbled an apology.
"Best case scenario is that you'll be free of jenova cells and be a normal human afterwards. I'm hopeful that this will be the outcome,"
"And the worse case scenario?"
"worse case is an incredibly painful purging followed by a hospital trip due to parts of your body no longer being there." Reno piped in.
Several smacked the redhead upside the head. Reno once again ad put his foot in his mouth and was working on the knee. It was becoming a nasty habit in which Rude was trying to correct. It was hard to work with a partner who's mouth caused more trouble than necessary.
"Then it would be best to just be done with it. Ranma, I want you checked as well. You've been picking up a lot of my more unusual traits."
Ranma was unsure of Cloud and everyone else. The only person tat didn't rub him the wrong way was te man in the red cloak. "If you think they're ok. They still don't seem right to me."
"I understand, but this geostigma isn't very pleasant and I'd hate to see you develop it. I you have it we can delay it if I am… less than energetic due to my own treatment."
Ranma nodded. That made the situation a bit more tolerable. In the short amount of time he was here, Sephiroth had truly captured his title as father. Genma was nearly forgotten and almost never brought up. And thanks to the efforts of sephiroth, Genma would drop dead of a triple heart attack in about of an hour.
Soon all that needed to happen was for JENOVA to croak and the strangers to leave. Ranma would push himself as hard as he could to make that happen. If only fate would work with him for once and not against him.
Short update, but an update none the less.