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I'm sorry for any mistakes.
Chapter 4: A Monster's Dream
SHINRA NEWS
Personnel Announcement 0103:
This is an official notification of the change in status for the following personnel.
Genesis Rhapsodos-SOLDIER 1st-Class: Killed in action.
Angeal Hewley-SOLDIER 1st-Class: Killed in action.
Also, effective immediately, SOLDIER operative Zack Fair has been promoted to 1st-Class.
* * * *
SECRET BASE
Genesis walked through the hallway while shaking his head. He was reading the newspaper and had just come across the Shinra Personnel Announcement #0103. He lowered the paper and opened the door to the bedroom he shared with Katra.
Katra was at her dresser, brushing her hair with it over her shoulder. She turned to him as he entered. She saw the amused look on his face and put down her brush. "Is something funny?" she asked him.
Genesis went over to her, moved some stuff out of the way, and sat down on the dresser. He held up the paper. "Have you read the paper yet?" She shook her head so he handed it to her. "Apparently, I'm dead."
She looked at the paper and then burst out laughing. "You're right. That is funny." She put down the newspaper and looked at him. "Why do you think they put out an announcement like that?"
Genesis snorted. "Shinra likes people to think they always have everything under control. If people found out Angeal and I betrayed Shinra it would be bad for their image." He jumped off the dresser and moved behind her. He put his arms around her shoulders and laid his chin on her shoulder. "That's why I've decided. We should pay a visit to Midgar."
Katra turned around to face him. "I love it when you come up with new plans." She kissed him.
When she pulled away Genesis smirked at her. "You know, we still have some time before we attack."
She smiled at that wickedly. "You are so bad."
* * * *
SECRET LABORATORY
Sephiroth and Zack were in Hollander's secret lab. Genesis copies had attacked the Shinra building and Sector 8. Some people had seen Angeal go into Mako Reactor 5 and Sephiroth and Zack had gone to find both Angeal and Genesis before the Shinra army in order to save them.
They were also trying to locate Hollander. Through investigation both Sephiroth and the Turks believed Genesis and Angeal were in league with him. So far there had been no sign of the ex-1sts or Hollander. There was also no sign of Genesis's cohort, Katra.
Sephiroth put down the documents he had been reading as he told Zack, "Project G gave birth to the man we know as Genesis." He let the information sink in.
Zack thought for a second and then it hit him. He looked at Sephiroth for clarification. "Project G?"
"'Project... Genesis'." Sephiroth looked at the documents he'd been reading. "Contrary to this report, Genesis showed clear signs of change," he informed in an angry tone.
Zack's expression turned to one of pity. "Degrading?" he asked softly.
Sephiroth turned to him and walked over. "Not only that."
Zack thought for a moment and then gasped. He looked at Sephiroth wide-eyed. "Copies?"
Sephiroth gave a nod. He turned to a tank that had a monster inside. He glared at it and grimaced. "Abominations...." he commented with disgust.
Someone came down the steps into the laboratory and the two 1sts turned around to see Professor Hollander. Hollander gaped as he saw the Soldier hero. "S-Sephiroth?" he said in disbelief.
Sephiroth stepped away from Zack. "Hollander." He took a few steps toward the Professor and he backed up. "I thought I'd find you here," he said with amusement.
Hollander smiled cruelly. "The degradation process?" His look turned smug. "Only I can stop it."
At that moment both Genesis and Katra flew down and stood in front of Hollander protectively. Sephiroth glared at them and then settled on his old friend. "Genesis...."
Genesis glared back at him and then put his sword to Sephiroth's throat. Katra glared at both Sephiroth and Zack. Zack looked back and forth between Sephiroth and Genesis. Katra spoke first.
"You can't take Hollander," she told Sephiroth and Zack.
Everyone was silent for a second. Then Hollander started to run off. Sephiroth gave Zack a quick glance, then turned back to Genesis. "Zack! Go after Hollander!" he ordered.
Zack gave a quick nod. "Alright!" Hollander and Zack disappeared from sight. Sephiroth knew something was wrong. Why hadn't either of them try to stop Zack?
Genesis lowered his sword. "There is no hate, only joy," he suddenly started quoting as he walked by Sephiroth calmly, "for you are beloved by the goddess. Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds."
Sephiroth scoffed. "'LOVELESS' again? You never change."
Genesis looked at his wing. Funny. He had thought he'd changed a lot. "Three friends go into battle," he told Sephiroth. "One is captured, one flies away, the one that is left becomes a hero."
"A common story," Katra said distractedly. Genesis looked at her and noticed she was looking at Sephiroth with a strange expression.
Genesis decided to disregard it for now and looked at Sephiroth. "If we were to enact it, Sephiroth, would I be the one to play the hero, or would you?" he asked angrily.
Sephiroth scoffed and turned to Genesis. "It's all yours," he said with irritation.
Genesis turned away. "Indeed. After all, your glory should have been mine."
Sephiroth turned away and shook his head. "How petty...."
Genesis froze as he saw inside the tank. "In hindsight, perhaps," he said distractedly. He grimaced at the monster in the tank and then spun to Sephiroth, making feathers come loose off his wing. "Now, what I want most... is the 'gift of the goddess'."
* * * *
MIDGAR-OUTSKIRTS
Genesis turned to Katra as they landed in the outskirts of Midgar. "What was up with you in there?" he asked her. She frowned in confusion. "Why were you looking at Sephiroth like that?"
Katra shrugged. "I was surprised by him. He's my big brother."
Genesis raised his eyebrows at that. "Sephiroth is your brother?"
"His mother is Jenova, right?" Genesis nodded. "I suddenly remembered when I saw him. When Professor Hojo had custody of me I saw a file on Sephiroth."
Genesis arched a brow at that. "Interesting. Does he know?"
Katra shook her head quickly. "I don't think he should know exactly what Mother is. Not unless it's necessary."
Genesis shrugged. "If that's your wish."
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