FicWad

Chapter 3

She walked out her door, her three companions following closely behind, the tall dark-haired man scolding himself for staring at the woman more than he should have.

"Okay." Harmony said, stopping the group at the diner down the street from the police station. "I have a few potions in my bag that will immobilize a few guards, but most of this is going to be fighting our way through. We'll have to be fast and efficient. NO FATALITIES. I'll do what I can with my powers-"

"Powers?" Zack asked.

"Oh bugger, I'll explain later. Can I trust you to not let anything I do distract you?"

Zack snorted. "I'm a SOLDIER, I can do anything."

"Calm down, Pup." Angeal interjected, "You're throwing her off track."

"Thanks." Harmony said as Zack quieted down. "As I was saying. I'll do what I can to immobilize as many as I can, but using my powers will weaken me, depending on what I do. If I have to do something drastic, I'm trusting you guys to get the clones and me out of there. If you can't get me out…then you have to…" she trailed off, gulping loudly and taking a deep breath.

"Have to…" Genesis prodded.

"You have to kill me. If you can't get me out in that situation, you have to kill me because they can't get hold of the power that I have. There's a reason my kind stay hidden for the most part. The repercussions would be catastrophic."

Angeal and Zack's eyes widened, but they nodded in understanding.

"We'll get you out." Angeal said. "You have my word, on my honor."

"Yeah…you'll get out." Zack said. "Angeal here places a lot on honor."

"Good, 'cause I really don't want to die today. Lets go then. When we get inside, I'll let you know where to go, I should be able to find out if I touch one of the guards. I'll explain later." She held up her hand when it looked like Zack was going to question her once again.

The four made their way down the street to the station and Harmony paused outside to take a deep breath before pushing the doors open and rushing inside.

"Drop your weapon!" An officer said when she and the others rushed in and he saw their swords.

Harmony clapped her hands together, rubbing them together faster and faster before pulling them apart and blowing across her palm. A light powdery substance floated from her palm and the whole room seemed to freeze except for the four 'terrorists'. Harmony turned around and grinned at the three men watching her with shocked expressions. "Well, come on!" She touched the first guard's face and the others watched her eyes go blank for a moment. "They're in holding, being questioned right now. We have to hurry, they haven't been cooperative so far, if we're lucky it'll stay that way."

"Release us immediately!" Kadaj roared, slamming his fists against the door of the room they were locked in. They were alone, as Kadaj had insisted on killing any officer they placed in the room with them.

"Can it, nutcase!" came a voice from the intercom. "I'll ask again: Who are you?"

"We are the sons." Yazoo answered for the twelfth time in five minutes.

"Ugh." the voice sighed. "And what exactly are 'The Suns'?"

"Of Jenova!" Kadaj made that statement as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"And what is 'Jenova'?"

Loz growled and Kadaj slammed his fists against the door again.

"We're not answering any more questions! RELEASE US IMMEDIATELY!"

An exasperated sigh from the loudspeaker. "Right. Jorgenson, take them to the holding cell."

'Cooperate for now.' Yazoo's eyes gave the command as the three were cuffed and led from the cell.

"What do you think that witch did?" Loz asked as Kadaj paced the floor.

"Stopped Mother, you Dolt. Notice how she seems frozen?" He snapped.

"Yeah but why did she-"

A loud crash sounded from outside the door of the cell, followed by yelling and their guard saying "What the-!"

The guard went quiet and the door to their cell opened to reveal a very smug Harmony.

"You!" Kadaj roared.

"Shut-up." She said, "Kill me later, right now we have to GO! Grab onto me and DO NOT LET GO!" Six pairs of hands fought for grab-space and Harmony closed her eyes, the others watching intently as she panted, breaking out in a sweat. The door they had barricaded fell to the ground and Zack prepared to fight again as armored soldiers swarmed the room.

"Hate to bother you, but they're coming!" He said. Harmony nodded and her eyes tightened even more. Just as a soldier was reaching out to grab him, the group vanished from sight.

They reappeared in an alley behind Harmony's apartment.

"What the hell was- Harmony? Are you alright?" Zack said to the swaying woman.

She leaned against the wall and struggled to stay on her feet.

"Harmony…Hey, stay awake, what happened?" Angeal asked, grasping her shoulders to steady her and forcing her to look at him. He lightly slapped her face to keep her conscious.

"It was…b…blinking…I'm sorry…that's a very…powerful spell and I'm…I'm a little… tired… Use the fire escape…fifth story…any window…"

"Can you make it yourself?" Angeal asked.

Harmony shook her head. "Sorry."

"Its alright. Just hold on." Angeal lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder and started climbing the fire escape. Harmony used what little strength she had to grasp the waist of his pants and hold on. She smiled weakly at her situation.

"You know, this is very undignified." she said.

Zack snorted as he began climbing up, followed by Yazoo, Loz, Kadaj, and Genesis. The latter going last to ensure that the triplets followed.

"Harmony!" Cloud exclaimed as Angeal entered from the balcony, carrying her bridal style.

"I'm fine…I just need to sit for a minute… very… draining spell."

Angeal laid her down on the couch as gently as he could. Harmony tried not to blush as he did so, the thought popping into her head that he could lay her down for a totally different reason.

"Thank you." she said softly.

"You're welcome." He answered just as softly.

"Anything I can get you Harmony?" Barrett offered, the first time he had spoken to her directly.

"Maybe…a glass of water and the blue bag from the top of the 'fridge?" She said, not really liking having to have someone else get anything for her.

She thanked him when he returned and opened the bag. Retrieving a bottle of Tylenol, she took two of the pills and sipped at the water.

"Okay…Now that's over with, you three don't get to go running off by yourself. Thanks to you, the government knows that there are people out here that have connections to that outer-space bitch."

"WHAT?" Kadaj said, starting toward her.

"Oh Jesus, CAN IT." She waved her hand and a giant wave of water knocked him to the ground, conveniently disappearing after it hit him and leaving everything but him perfectly dry. He sat in that spot, a sopping mess, coughing and sputtering in complete and utter shock.

"I think I know why you all are here too, even though you died in that world." She motioned at Sephiroth, Zack, Hojo, Angeal, and Genesis.

"I'm supposed to help you change it, I think."

"That makes sense." Sephiroth said. "I don't like what I heard. And now, after speaking with Mr. Valentine, and knowing my true origins-which were kept from me-" He spared an angry glance at Hojo, "I can safely say that I will not be traveling that road."

With that sentence, a bright light enveloped the room and receded just as quickly.

"Okay…" Harmony said, looking around, "I think you just took a step in the right direction. Now we just have to figure out what else needs to change before you can go back. But before we do that, you guys need to blend in. You'll need new clothes, and hair dye, and most of you will need contacts." She looked at Zack and Angeal, who were crouched at eye level not far from the couch. "It's really pretty, but the glow has got to go. People will know you're not …well…from around here. Where does that come from, anyway?"

Zack smiled at her, remembering when Aerith had asked the same thing. "It's the Mako that we are exposed to when we join SOLDIER. The Mako glow."

"Well anybody with Mako eyes has to have contacts. Especially you, Vincent." She said, turning toward where he stood in the corner. "The red is awesome but it is not a common eye color and people will use it to identify you. The people here are going to be on high alert until we can get rid of Jenova."

"Right. That'll be so easy." Reno said sarcastically.

"Hey Reno?" Harmony asked, sweetly.

"Yes Ma'am?" He said just as sweetly.

"Do you remember what I showed you earlier? With the fire?"

"Yes Ma'am." he said, his eyes losing their sarcastic smirk.

"How'd you like me to demonstrate again, without the healing part? Or even the stopping part?"

"Well that doesn't sound very nice."

"Then shut the fuck up and stop patronizing me, jerk-off."

Everyone laughed. Even Harmony managed a weak laugh of her own.

"I like you." Genesis said. "You've got gall for a woman."

"Uh…thanks." she said, scratching her head. "Well, I guess we should get some rest. I know its still a bit early, but it's been a long day for everyone, and sleep wouldn't kill a single one of us. Find a spot and claim it." She turned to Rufus. "I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."

"Its Rufus ShinRa. Just call me Rufus."

"Okay. That wheelchair can't be too comfortable. You can sleep in my bed, if you want. I'll be fine in my study."

"Well, thank you kindly, Harmony. I think I'll take you up on that offer."

He wheeled himself to her room, Rude, Reno, and Tseng following him. Tseng leaned against the wall outside the room while Rude and Reno stayed inside with Rufus.

Harmony stood on wobbly legs, amused and grateful for the dozen hands that reached out to steady her. "I'm okay, thanks." she said. "Someone can have the couch. Where's Hojo. He's old. He should take it."

Cid laughed loudly at that and pointed to Harmony's study. Her eyes went cold and she marched - slowly - to the room.

"Okay, mad scientist, get the hell out of my library. I won't have your insane and inhumane ideas polluting my world, too." She pointed out the door.

"Hm. I get the feeling you don't like me, my dear." He said in his squeaky voice.

"Ya got that right, psycho. Get out and stay out. Just because I'm helping you doesn't mean I have to like you."

"Hmph!" He said, pushing past her and marching to the couch, where he lay down and crossed his arms, pouting like a child.

"Hey! Crazy Triplets! You guys can have the spare room, so you can keep the weirdness to yourselves. Try to keep the creepy psycho-ness to a minimum."

They took her up on her offer as well.