'If you don't look up now I'm going to have to remove your eyes. Look at me'
Reluctantly, I raised my head and stared into the face of a maniac. His features were distorted beyond recognition, namely the eyes, which had been so heavily infused with Mako that they shone like lights, leaving a blurring after image of green every time the hideous creature turned its head. I knew better that not to cooperate. I'd seen what this abomination had done to the previous victim. Only a few hours ago…
We all piled into the lift, Reno at the front, and us Shinra grunts squashed together at the back. Pretty soon we'd be on parade in the president's office, most likely for a trivial award ceremony. Maybe I'd get the 'More Shooting, Less Asking Questions Trophy'… Nah. On second thoughts, that'd go to Rude.
Reno adjusted his suit in the reflection of the elevator's glass, then looked over his shoulder at us.
'C'mon you three, check your uniform. Anybody who screws up will be thrown into a world of pain by Rude and I…' He grinned.
I drew my own rifle from its holster and did a last minute NSP (Normal Safety Precaution). All clear. So was Fox. Too bad for Jennings, though. There seemed to be something wrong with the cocking handle, he couldn't even open the dust cover…
'Pass it here,' I grunted, and forced the weapon open, giving it a once over, 'Yeah, it's clear,'
'Shut up, Hudson,' Reno growled without looking away from his reflection.
'Sir,' I replied and remained quiet for the rest of the journey to the sixtieth floor…
I'd only ever been in the president's office a few times, mainly when I'd first signed up, and three or four other occasions when there was a special even like an award ceremony. You could have stuffed at least two hundred soldiers in there, but the president obviously like his space. A light flashed above the elevator door, and we all stepped out, Reno at the front, me taking up the rear. As if anyone could break into Shinra, let alone get in the elevator!
'Fall in!' He yelled, as we hurried to get into order of size. Ten seconds later he took his position in front of us.
'Paaarade! Paaaarade-Shuuun!' He boomed, as we all braced up and stamped in. What an idiot…most Shinra officers just grabbed a few chairs and threw us in front of the big cheese. What a carry on…
We marched into Shinra's enormous office and lined up in front of him. Heidegger was here and Scarlet. Odd. After some pointless waffle with the president, Reno took his place behind us. It seemed to have slipped his mind that he was a Turk, not a drill sergeant. Oh well.
'Gentleman,' Shinra began, 'there has been a slight misunderstanding concerning Mako research. As you all know, we are in the very early stages of this new project, and…accidents do happen' He paused to press a button on the inside of his desk. A large screen on top of the desk buzzed into action, a surveillance camera. It showed a tall figure being strapped into some kind of bed nailed into the wall. Judging by the sounds he was making, the poor guy knew exactly what they were going to give him: a Mark 1, untested, highly dangerous yet groundbreaking Mako shower.