Reunion
By Keedra2173
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A/N: Welcome back everyone. Here is the long awaited unveiling of the package. I want to thank everyone who added this story to their favorites/alerts. Also a special thank you to all those who reviewed: PiptheAlmighty, Byvenic, Sweet Sere, Hitokimi, and SephirothOWAxCloudStrife. I decided to post this chapter early just for you guys.
Marcus: You just couldn't wait to torture me some more.
Me: It was not my idea. Talk to Seph if you don't like it.
Marcus: You're the writer, can't you control him.
Sephiroth: No, she can't. I can do whatever as long as I don't upset her. So There.
Me: Just shut it. No one wants to hear from you two anymore.
Disclaimer: I only own the OC Marcus Knight and the plot. I do not own FFVII or any other brand name mentioned in this fic. If I did I wouldn't be writing fan fiction.
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Chapter 4
Cloud out of the Sierra's cargo hold and began checking him over. As the blond finished his check, Cid pulled up in his truck, "So ya gonna loan Yuffie your bike for her race?" Cloud mere looked at the older blond with a raised eyebrow. "No. I don't trust Fenrir with anyone but you and that's only for repairs," he stated.
Mounting his bike, Cloud pulled on his goggles, "I'll see you and Vincent at the bar. I really want to open this package." So saying Cloud started the bike and peeled out.
Cid watched patiently and turned to his lover, "Ya know I gotta feeling that whatever is in the box it's gonna change everything." Vincent dropped down from the wing of the airship into the truck and gave the pilot a small smile. "It will definitely be interesting."
The response of the gunman caused Cid to stare at him, "Ya know something about this, don't ya, Vinnie." Vincent merely smiled and settled in for the ride to Tifa's bar.
Shinra Lab Complex, Wutai
Professor Marcus Knight tried to concentrate on the data before him. The feeling of eyes watching him only stopped when he left the lab. Anytime he was in the lab he could feel Specimen S0's eyes on him. It was disconcerting. The professor was positive that that clone was conscious. However he was unable to prove it because since the first time he seen those eyes watching him; he had not seen them open again.
Marcus turned to the tank containing the specimen and began the routine of examination of the readouts. To break the quiet he had begun talking to the tanks and telling them his theories on the lab notes.
"Hello, Seph. I hope you don't mind if I call you that. I can't just call you S0," the scientist stated while taking notes, "You would not believe what Hojo discovered about J-cell and S-cell interaction." Walking around the tank, Marcus continued speaking, "As you know, J-cells experience a need to reunite or to perform 'reunion'. This need allows for telepathic communication between hosts and allows the host with the highest concentration to influence and possibly control the others." Marcus paused as he checked the other tanks in the lab.
"As we know, J-cells can boost the strength and stamina of the host beyond the levels of regular mako injections. Further J-cells require a certain amount of mako in order to mitigate or halt mutations. What I find interesting is that after a certain period of time the host body no longer needs mako injections to halt mutations." Marcus sat down at his desk and began to enter the data from the tanks. He knew that talking to the specimen was stupid but he couldn't stop. Something compelled him to share what he was learning.
"Hojo used the monthly mako injections to test S-cells on the SOLDIERS. He didn't do much with the Third and Second classes. The First classes got small doses to see how the S-cells interacted with the J-cells."
Sephiroth's eyes widened at the last comment. He knew that Hojo was experimenting on the SOLDIERS but he thought he was just increasing the J-cells in their bodies. The silver-haired man waited for the brown-haired scientist to continue. He wanted to know more about how his cells functioned with Jenova's.
Marcus continued his musing without seeing the impact it was causing, "I think Hojo would have been upset to realize that the interaction of the two sets of cells was hostile." The scientist was interrupted by an alarm going off. He hurried to the main control terminal and ran a diagnostic in the system. After punching a few keys, he ran out of the lab.
The silver-haired swordsman growled in frustration, 'What did he mean by hostile and why would this upset Hojo?' Sephiroth knew he had no choice but to await the scientist's return in order to get answers.
7th Heaven Bar, Edge
Cloud pulled up to the bar and dismounted from his bike. He began pulling various packages from the storage compartments and carrying them into the bar. 7thHeaven hadn't changed, it still had the warm welcoming feeling and he smell the various liquors and cleaning chemicals used throughout.
"UNCLE CLOUD'S BACK," came a scream from to top of the bar. Cloud hurriedly dropped the packages he was carrying and caught the blur that launched itself at him. In his arms he held a caramel-skinned boy just about 5 years old. "Hi there, Gabriel. Where's your twin," asked Cloud as he set the boy down.
Gabriel looked at his uncle and sighed, "Raphael is upstairs hiding from the babies. They wouldn't stop following us so we decided to hide." Once he was done speaking he ran back to the bar and hid behind it. Cloud picked up his packages and head to the backroom and the stairs that led to the apartment over the bar.
Once through the door, he felt two sets of arms wrapped around his legs. He looked down and grinned at the two caramel-skinned little girls. Each little girl gazed at him with chocolate brown eyes and both had midnight black hair. "Hello ladies," the blond said, "I hear your brothers are hiding from you." He began walking forward causing the children to giggle as they clung to his legs. "Okay girls, let you uncle go and go find your daddy," said Tifa as she entered the hallway. The children began pouting but changed their minds when the heard that their dad was home. Hurriedly unclasping Cloud's legs they ran off in the direction of the apartment door.
"Hey Cloud, I see you still let them run all over you. You wouldn't happen to have seen Gabriel and Raphael? I can't seem to find them," brown-haired woman said, "Rude has some presents for them." Cloud lifted an eyebrow at that statement, "I just saw Gab hide behind the bar and according to him Raph is in my apartment."
Tifa laughed and turned towards the apartment door. Cloud was glad that she could laugh again and no longer hovered and worried over him excessively.
As they entered the apartment, Cloud could see lots of boxes and packages everywhere. Curious he looked at the labels of the ones closest to the door. The blond jerked to a surprised stop as he read the labels. All of them were addressed to him and had the same label as the package he picked up in Icicle Inn.
"When did all these arrive," he asked, "I didn't order anything. So where are these packages coming from?" Cloud placed the package he had on top of a similar stack.
Just as Tifa turned to answer, Rude came in holding the twin girls with an older boy following him. Rude just nodded to Cloud and headed towards the kitchen. "Son, go get your brother so we can eat lunch," he said as set the girls down in their high chairs.
"Cloud, how are you?" Cloud stared at the Turk and hid a smirk as his daughter stole his sunglasses.
"I'm not sure," the blond said as he sat at the table, "I've been having flashbacks to my time before Nibelhiem." Rude gazed at the swordsman and nodded; as if he didn't expect any other answer.
"Babe, do you know who all these deliveries are from? Cloud says he didn't order any of it," stated Tifa as she sat down. Rude began pulling things from the fridge to make lunch. He thought about how much and what he should tell them. Tseng and Rufus were pretty clear that they didn't want Cloud to know they were involved. However, Rude didn't want to be sleeping on the couch either.
"I know however that information is classified," the Turk replied. Tifa and Cloud looked at each other and laughed. Rude didn't get what was so funny.
"Thanks, man," said the blond once he caught his breath, "You just told me everything I needed to know." Rude shrugged and continued preparing lunch. The front door opened and the twin boys came in and joined everyone at the table for lunch.
"After we eat, I'll open them up," said the blond, "I'm really curious to see what's inside."
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After finishing lunch and sending the children to play; the three adults gathered in to the living room. Cloud grabbed the nearest package and started to open it.
"Wait," Rude handed the blond a large envelop, "Read this first. It will explain things for you." Cloud grabbed the enveloped and opened it up. Inside there was a letter and several flash drives. He glanced at the Turk but couldn't read anything from him.
Cloud began reading the letter out loud:
To Mr. Cloud Strife,
This letter is to inform you that you have been appointed Director of Security and Law within the Shinra Electric Power Company. With this position you have been granted level G1 security clearance. This allows you access to the highest levels of the Company.
Due to recent developments, President Rufus Shinra has concluded that you are the foremost expert on the JENOVA Project and the SOLDIER Program. Due to the availability of space, all files and electronics have been shipped to your home address.
All decisions concerning these areas must be made by you. Certain actions will need presidential approval however you have complete autonomy.
If you have any questions concerning this development, please contact the Shinra Manufacturing Department in Administrative Research.
Thank you.
Rufus Shinra
President
Shinra Electric Power Company
Cloud stared at the letter incredulously. He couldn't believe it. He was given access to the highest levels of Shinra and it had been approved by Rufus. What the hell was he supposed to do with a title in Shinra?
"Are you kidding me," exclaimed Tifa as she turned to her husband, "Rufus actually gave Cloud a title and access to all the research pertaining to Jenova and Sephiroth. Why would he do such a thing?"
Rude merely looked at the two friends and shrugged, "I was only told to deliver the letter. Not what it contained." Tifa rolled her eyes at him, "You're Such a Turk." Rude smirked at her.
Cloud wasn't listening to the couple's exchange. 'What am I supposed to do with this? How am I going to figure out what boxes contain which files,' he thought, 'I'll have to start organizing then reading them.' The blond let out a long sigh and grabbed the closest box. Once he had it open, he saw a paper on top that stated what specimen the files pertained to and number stating it was file batch 5 of 15.
'Well this will make things a lot easier,' with that thought Cloud began searching and organizing the remaining boxes.
"I do have a question for you, Rude," the blond said after finishing his sorting, "how much does this job pay?" Rude looked at the blond and started laughing.
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A/N: Thanks for reading. Chapeter 5 will be on its way soon. Please review and let me know what ya think.