A/N: Kokorohikaru - Yeah, I can look it up for you. I never typed up the Wall Market scene though, so bear with me while I get it typed up... ;p

-oOo-


: Chapter Six : Red XIII

"GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!"

Barret's words rung out into the great hallway, instilling instant fear and obedience into the hearts of the surrounding Shinra employees. Catching sight of his threatening gun, each person in the room threw themselves down to the floor. Barret wandered around the still bodies, squinting his eyes for any false movements.

"Right. We want safe passage through this floor, so we don't want no trouble from none of you, okay?" He motioned to Cloud with a wave of his hand. "Cloud? What you gonna do with 'em?"

Cloud threaded his way through the people. They were as immutable as the dead. He stopped. His eye caught out a man. He'd been shaking amongst the others, obviously scared out of his wits. A hostage... Cloud bent over and lifted him up by the scruff of his neck. The man began to whimper, his eyes wide with fear.

"You can't do this...The President will get you...!"

"Shut up!" Cloud shook himfiercely. "You're getting us up to the 60th floor. You wouldn't want my friend here topump your guts full of lead,would you?"

The man shook his head, his eyes watering.

"N...No!"

Cloud shook him again.

"Okay! You're getting us through!"

"B...but..." the man's voice was shot through with terror, "...I can't do that...only top Shinra personnel can get to 60th floor and over! You need a keycard..."

"You're gettingus one then!"

Cloud practically dragged the man over to the nearest lift and punched in the buttons. The door slid open smoothly, and fortunately, no one was in it. Cloud stepped inside, followed by Tifa, then Barret taking up the rear. He pressed the sensor for the 60th floor. A small screen lit up.

"Cloud, a keycard is required," Tifa read from the screen. Cloud turned to the man, who'd been hunching himself up in the corner of the lift fearfully.

"We'll borrow his."

The man hesitated, but thought better of it as he saw Barret glaring at him out of the corner of his eye. Searching in his pocket hastily, he produced a small, green swipe-card.

"J-just don't manhandle it, okay?" he dared to ask. "It took me a lot of trouble to secure the false ID."

"Don't worry," Cloud replied dryly, putting the card through a scanner, "we'll be taking good care of it."

The lift began to shift upward.

After a few seconds of silence, the man began to speak, screwing up his courage and taking hold of it.

"I know you," he stammered, "you're from AVALANCHE! I saw you on TV earlier on, you blew Sector Seven's plate!"

Barret's temper flared at the remark.

"Shut up, Shinra pig, otherwise I'll shoot yah!"

The man began to get a little more confident.

"You can't get away with this! It's impossible! You won't get out of here alive! They'll execute you, they'll send you to the gas chamber, they'll...!"

Tifa, losing patience, slammed her fist into the wall by his face.

"Just keep quiet, will you? You're doing my head in."

The man said nothing after that, but he sulked in the corner of the lift, until the bell that signalled the end of their destination sounded. The door skimmed open.

"At last," Barret breathed.

"Cloud what are you going to do about...?" Tifa nodded toward the scowling man. Cloud stared at him warily, making him squirm uncomfortably.

"I guess we gotta send him back down to the ground floor." He grinned. "It'd take an age for him to get down, so we should be far, far away by then. Besides, those people downstairs have probably alerted the guards already."

"Yeah," Barret said, scoring the area for the enemy. "Security will be on to us in a minute. We'd better be on our guard."

Cloud efficiently produced a length of rope from his belt. He looked apologetically at the man as he twined the cord round his wrists behind his back.

"Sorry about this, but we've got a job to do."

"So I gathered," the man mumbled dolefully under his breath. After sending him back down to the ground floor, Cloud turned to the others.

"Right, so how do wefind outwhich floor Aeris is on?"

Barret shrugged.

"Obviously,she's nowherebelow this one. If they're really interrogating her, it'll be on a high security floor." He shrugged his hefty shoulders again. "Which one is a mystery to me."

Atthat moment, a door opened at the far end of the hallway. A man and woman, both dressed in the dark navy of Shinra personnel, walked out, deep in conversation. They didn't appear to notice Cloud and the others standing in front of the lifts, and walked right past, toward a flight of stairs.

"Shall we follow them?" Tifa began. "They might lead us to where we're looking for."

"Might as well," Cloud agreed, and they began to trail the two, keeping a safe distance. The couple climbed the first flight, then went on to the second. At the next landing, they stopped, swiped their keycards into the scanner and walked through the parting doors. Cloud rushed forward behind them. When he was sure no one was lurking about, he motioned to the others.

"It's the 62nd floor," he informed them as they approached. Turning, he put the fake card through the scanner. It was accepted, and the automatic door opened.

"Do you think Aeris is here?" Barret asked doubtfully.

"Who knows?" Cloud replied. He looked round vigilantly, and spotted a group of people approaching. Startled at the sudden appearance, he waved a hand to Tifa and Barret.

"Hide!" he hissed. Obediently, the two hustled themselves round a corner. Cloud hid behind a strategically placed pot of yucca plants. Looking through the leaves, he could quite easily see the people walk down the corridor. There were three men and a woman in the company, though Cloud could not quite make out their features properly. As they neared him, he crushed himself back against the wall, hardly daring to breathe. They were so close, he could hear their voices.

"...this meeting's gonna be a good one!" a thick, stuffy voice sounded, as it's owner lumbered past, "The President's gonna be putting up the price on..."

The voice faded off into the distance, the small party with it. As soon as they were out of sight, Cloud deigned to breathe again. Shaken, he struggled to his feet. Barret and Tifa had disengaged themselves from their hideout.

"Cloud!" Tifa ran to him. "That was close. For a moment there..."

She didn't finish off for fear of even thinking about it. Barret stared after the Shinra's footsteps, a pensive look on his face.

"That sure was a lot of suits back there," he commented. "Wonder where they were goin'?"

"To a meeting," Cloud put in, "With President Shinra." He looked about him cautiously.

"What is it?" Tifa asked. Cloud began to search the corridor.

"I'm just thinking, we could spy on this meeting and get the inside story on the Shinra's plans. Perhaps they'll mention Aeris' whereabouts." He stood up straight. "Are there any air-ducts round here?"

Barret stared at him in horror.

"Uh-uh, no way! I ain't goin' up in one of those things again!"

Cloud smiled apologetically at him and shrugged. Tifa spoke.

"Where's the nearest washroom? There's bound to be an air-duct there."

"Good thinking!" Cloud grinned.

It didn't take long to find a washroom. Directly above the lavatory was an air-duct. Cloud climbed on to the seat and lifted the cover. He peered inside the tunnel. It was obvious that the Shinra kept its headquarters in good shape. Even the air-ducts were clean. After a general inspection, Cloud climbed down.

"It's safe," he assured.

Barret looked doubtful, and, surprisingly, so did Tifa.

"Cloud," she began, " I don't think I can."

"Why not?"

She flushed.

"Well, I'm not exactly built to go wandering into air-ducts..."

Barret gave her a funny glance. "What are you talkin' about?"

"Okay, okay!" Tifa took in a large breath and looked away in embarrassment. "I'm afraid my hips will get caught in the hole. I'm afraid of getting stuck in the entrance, and having my butt sticking out of the..."

"Okay, we get the message, Tifa," Barret interrupted in disgust.

Cloud smirked wickedly at her. "If you do get stuck, I'll push you through. Is that enough of an incentive?"

"I don't know what you mean." Tifa replied, innocently, but she agreed to climb up anyway. The shaft was a tight squeeze, especially for Barret, who seemed justified in his fear of the place. As they crawled along into the tight space, the distinct sound of discoursing voices drifted their way. Cloud strained his head over his shoulder toward the others.

"We must be near the conference room."

They crept on a little longer, until Cloud saw a shaft of light in the tunnel. As he neared the grill the shine was exuding from, he could hear the voices quite clearly. He signalled to the others to gather round. After severalawkward shufflings and hushings, they managed to get into comfortable positions.

"Right," Cloud whispered, "don't say a word. Keep quiet and don't blow our cover."

They peered down through the grill, into the conference room.

President Shinra was seated at the head of a large table. Around him were a group of four people, the same ones that had passed Cloud in the corridor. The room was brilliantly lighted, and various confidential papers had been spread across the highly polished desk. Bodyguards stood each side of the double doors, with hard, expressionless faces.

"Where's Hojo?" President Shinra was demanding in an irate tone of voice that spelt danger. Uncomfortable looks were passed between the Shinra members. The woman, however, seemed quite at ease with the situation. She was examining her gleaming red fingernails with an air of indulgent satisfaction. Out of her deep crimson lips, her raspy, affected voice answered the President's question.

"He's late, as usual. You know these scientists, Mr. President."

President Shinra banged an unwieldy fist on the table. It was evident, at the very least, that he was not in the mood to be trifled with.

"Well, I wish he'd turn up on time for a change. His unpunctuality is beginning to irritate me." He waved impatiently to a bodyguard. "Fetch Hojo immediately."

One of the expressionless men obeyed wordlessly. The President began to calm down somewhat. He gazed round atthe company, who instantly began to pay their full attention.

"Now," the President began in a commanding voice, "I've been waiting for reports on the recent destruction of Sector Seven. I trust you, Heidigger, have the information?"

A large man with a Germanic, bearded, shifty-eyed face looked at his papers.

"Of course, Sir." His voice was flatteringly foolish. "The death toll has been officially put at over 1,000,000, but is obviously more, as recent census results suggest. The cost of the damage is estimated to be approximately 10 billion Gil..."

Another man, lean, lank, with a neat goatee beard and an amiable face, interrupted.

"But that's ludicrous! I can't believe we're wasting all that money just to...!"

President Shinra raised a hand calmly.

"Reeve, let Heidigger continue."

Heidigger, shooting Reeve a nettled glance, turned back to his documents. "As I was saying, the damage will cost approximately 10 billion Gil..." he emphasised the words for Reeve's benefit, "...and recent reports suggest that the anti-AVALANCHE propaganda was successful. The people fully believe that AVALANCHE are to blame." He raised his sly eyes. "Incidentally, Sir, we've just had reports of AVALANCHE being in the building."

The President tapped his fingers on the shiny wood.

"Hmmm, I trust our guards are capable enough to take care of such insolent rabble." He changed the subject quickly, as though the present one displeased him. "Now, Reeve, we'll turn back to your little problem. I have a new proposal that will raise funds toward your Urban Development of Midgar, and toward the Sector Seven damages. We shall raise the Mako prices by 15 percent throughout the Planet."

The last member, an obese, balding, ungainly man, who Cloud recognised as the one who'd been talking outside earlier on, seemed excited by the proposition.

"Rate hike, rate hike!"

President Shinra banged his fist on the table again.

"Palmer!"

The fat man sat back in his seat, an injured look on his face, but he said nothing. Reeve spoke up.

"Forgive me, Sir, but raising the price of Mako by 15 percent will destroy the people's confidence in us."

"On the contrary," the President replied, "I think the opposite will be the case. Especially after AVALANCHE's little slip-up!"

They all began to laugh, except for Reeve, who looked disenchanted. The woman suddenly stopped laughing and abruptly stabbed the table with a nail file, making everyone around jump in fright.

"That AVALANCHE scum," she began, her attractive face contorted in a violent contempt. "You don't know how much I want to smash them."

She dug the file deep into the table, her knuckles white. Cloud felt a shudder pass through Tifa beside him.

The President looked amused.

"Your time will come, Scarlet, rest assured."

Barret turned to Cloud and spoke in a whisper.

"The woman's a psycopath."

Cloud nodded, and the door in the room was suddenly opened. A dwarfish man with a hunchback, about fifty years of age, walked into the room. He wore a white coat and his long, dark hair had been pulled back into a ponytail. The President addressed him.

"Ah, Hojo, here at last. What progress are you making with the girl?"

Hojo perched his glasses high up on his nose. A sinister look filled his educated features.

"Ah, you mean my newest specimen?" he cackled. "Compared to her mother, she is notably inferior. True, the blood of the Ancients flows in her veins, but it has been considerably 'diluted', so to speak. My last calculation recorded the similarity rate to her mother at approximately 80 per cent."

"How long before we are able to extract her DNA structure?"

"Hmmm." Hojo looked pleased to make his report. "Maybe 200 years or so. It's quite impossible to finish the extraction process in our lifetime. Or the subject's for that matter. DNA extraction, isolation and cultivation is an extremely delicate process, and we can't be sure that the subject's DNA structure is strictly human. I was hoping to breed her," he spoke with an intonation of indifference, "We're keeping her in close confinement in the meantime."

"Well, see to it that you get some proper information out of her," the President ordered, rising. "I want to find the Promised Land, but we need her co-operation."

The others stood in accordance with President Shinra.

"Now," he spoke, "You, Heidigger, will keep tabs on AVALANCHE. Reeve, Scarlet, take care of the Mako business."

Palmer looked at the President meekly.

"Sir, I was wondering...when is my Space Program going to have its funds raised?"

"Palmer," the President gave the air of talking to a child, "you know full well that the Space Program has been put on indefinite hold for the time being." He turned to the others. "Meeting dismissed."

Everyone began to file out. Halfway out, Scarlet turned and looked up, straight toward where Cloud and the others were hiding. In a panic, they lay low quickly.

"You know," Scarlet's voice could be heard clearly from below, "something stinks in here. I bet that air-duct is connected to the washroom. I'll have to complain about that."

The door clicked shut and no more was to be heard. Cloud shifted himself on to his elbows from his flat position. Tifa gave him a perplexed look.

"Was that Aeris they were talking about?"

"Must be," Cloud replied. Barret clenched his fists.

"The more I hear them, the more I hate them!" he cried. "Those evil, lying crooks. They should all be shot!"

"I'll go with that one," Cloud rejoined candidly."Come on, we'd better hurry."

They climbed back out of shaft and out into the corridor. The Shinra had just left the room, and Hojo was limping off down the passageway. Cloud hid behind the wall.

"So that's Hojo," he murmured, intrigued. Barret stared at him.

"You know him, Cloud?"

"No." He shook his head. "This is actually the first time I've seen him. But I heard a lot about him back in SOLDIER." He quickly made up his mind. "Let's follow him. He's bound to be going to where they're keeping Aeris."

They began to tag Hojo warily, but the scientist seemed to be too absorbed in his own thoughts to have noticed them anyway. He climbed another two flights of stairs to the 64th floor. Once again, the floor was a network of airy corridors, but with steel doors with closed portholes. Hojo entered one of these and shut it behind him. The others walked up to the door.

"Should we go in?" Tifa asked. Cloud slid open the porthole quietly. The room was a large one, completely white, with stacks of filing cabinets and shelves lining the walls. Hojo was not in sight.

"I think it's safe," Cloud said, pulling back the shutter. With a cautious hand, he turned the door handle. The door jarred open. On tiptoe, they entered the room. Cloud gazed round him.

"The coast's clear," he whispered, only to be cut off by a sound further up in the room. The three of them each scampered off to a hiding place. Cloud secreted himself behind a crate of chemicals, and watched Hojo's form appear from a side door. Unaware of the intruders, the scientist walked to the centre of the room. A glass dome was situated here and Hojo peered into the transparent case.

Cloud narrowed his eyes to get a better look. Inside the dome was a lion-like creature, but it wasn't a lion at all. It was like no other animal Cloud had ever seen before. It was crimson in colour, with blackened scars and tattoos dotting it's furry body. One eye was missing from its face and from its tail, a tongue of flames was blazing like a raging fire. It's long, vermilion mane flew out of it's back in a shock. Hojo bent over to examine the creature. It seemed to be asleep.

"Hmmm, my precious specimen," the scientist's sharp, raspy voice filled the room, "I have great things planned for you."

At this moment, the side door opened again, and another scientist with a clipboard looked through.

"Dr. Hojo, the experiment is ready to take place."

"Ah." Hojo looked up. "I shall be coming in a moment."

The man disappeared, and Hojo turned back to the lion-like beast.

"I'm counting on you," he said, quietly, then he began to laugh harshly. It was an unpleasant, grating laugh, one thattickled Cloud's ears unpleasantly. He shifted uncomfortably. Something about Hojo uneased him, though he couldn't place it. The door opened again. Hojo had left, still chuckling sadistically to himself.

Cloud stood up, and Barret and Tifa walked out from their hiding places. Barret jabbed a finger at his temple.

"Another mad one," he commented comically.

Tifa had walked over to the glass dome. She stared at the animal closely.

"You know, this dog is kind of cute. Or is it a lion?" She turned to Cloud. "I bet he's one of the Shinra's mutated experiments."

Cloud shrugged.

"I wouldn't be surprised."

It was then that he noticed a glaring light exuding from one of the isolation chambers nearby. The light seemed strangely familiar. Walking up to it, Cloud peered in through the open porthole. For a moment, he could see nothing, the light was so blinding. Then, what was inside became apparent. Cloud stood rooted, his blood suddenly curdling in fear. A thing, a monster was inside, encased in a fluorescent fluid. It had no head.

Cloud stood back. He could not think straight. There were words in his brain that were jumbling together, memories from the past; fear, terror...

Oh my God! was all he could think. Oh my God! Jenova...

He stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his feet. Tifa noticed his actions in alarm.

"Cloud, what's the matter?"

Cloud pointed at he window, his hand trembling wildly. "Look in there," he stammered.

Barret lumbered over, looked into the chamber. He turned back to Cloud, impressed.

"Yeah, it's headless. Another weird mutant, I suppose."

Tifa stared into Cloud's eyes, concern flooding her face.

"Cloud, are you all right?"

Cloud took in two, three deep breaths. Regaining some sense of normality, he nodded his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine...just shocked, that's all." He looked toward the side door Hojo had just left by. "Let's follow Hojo."

Obediently, Tifa and Barret followed Cloud through the door. On the other side was a far larger room. It was empty. To the side was an observation room, and in the centre was another glass dome. This one too, was occupied.

Cloud stepped forward.

"Aeris!"

Aeris was sitting with her back to them, her knees hunched up to her chest, her head resting on her folded arms. She did not see the others enter, nor did she hear Cloud call her. He walked hurriedly up to the glass container, travelling round it so that he was facing her. He pounded on the case.

"Aeris!"

She noticed him this time, her eyes widening in surprise. She stood up and ran to him, her faceshaken, timorous.

"Cloud!" He could just about make out her words. "Get me out, please!"

"Don't worry!" he called back "We'll get you out as soon as possible, Aeris!"

"That won't be necessary."

Cloud whirled round.

Hojo was standing in the doorway of the observation room, an oddly impressive aura to his diminutive presence. He smirked at Cloud and walked forward.

"The lovely Ancient here is completely in my hands. I cannot underestimate her importance to my work." He pressed a button on the tiny remote control in his hand. "While this prevents you from taking her away from me, I would be delighted if you could watch my first experiment on her. It should prove to be most entertaining."

A shaft opened up in the bottom of the dome. Aeris stood back, scared. From the hole in the floor, a creature leapt out. It was the lion-like beast that had been in the adjoining room. As it saw Aeris, it jumped up, growled, its fiery tail lashing from side to side.

Aeris flattened herself desperately against the glass, screamed. Hojo sniggered in glee.

"Enjoy the show!"

The beast arched its back savagely, its golden eye flashing in Aeris' direction. Panic-stricken, she ran back to where Cloud was and banged on the glass with her fists.

"Cloud! Help me!"

Hojo could hardly speak for his excitement over his newest demonstration of his so-called brilliance.

"Oh, this is too much! If this works, then...!"

Cloud shut him up.

"You've got to stop this! What are you trying to do, kill the only person who can assist your twisted plans!"

Hojo glared at him angrily.

"No! You people, you're all the same, you moronic imbeciles! I am merely trying to help them. Both creatures are almost extinct. It is in their interests that I do this. It is a mere game of survival of the fittest!"

"What?" Tifa cried. "By having them fight each other to the death!"

Hojo laughed maniacally.

"See! You're all fools!" He looked back at his two specimens. "If she really is a powerful member of her race, she will use magical power to keep her opponent at bay. And not just any magical power, no! Not the type we get from the infinitely inferior materia; but pure, magical energy!"

The creature looked as if it was going to pounce on Aeris. Cloud turned to Barret desperately.

"Shoot the door down!" he ordered. Barret moved forward to comply, aiming his gun at the doorway. Hojo tried to stop him, to no avail.

"NO! No don't! My precious specimens...!"

Barret, taking no heed of Hojo's pleading, fired several shots at the door with a remarkable aim. It fell off its hinges. The creature, seeing a chance to escape, bounded out and pounced right into Hojo, knocking him flat on to the floor. Aeris ran out thankfully. Cloud grasped her hand.

"Aeris! Are you all right?"

She didn't answer the question.

"Cloud, I knew you'd come back!" She looked over his shoulder "Oh! Hojo!"

Cloud turned round. The lion was attacking the scientist, tearing at his white coat and threatening to go even further. Hojo managed to pull the animal off him.

"How dare you...! Turning on your own master!"

The creature began to roar furiously at Hojo, still seemingly incensed. Hojo, however, succeeded in making an escape back into the observational room. The beast attempted to chase him, but realised his efforts would be futile.

"Come back!" it growled in a deep, gruff tone. "Come back and fight me, you coward!"

Barret looked at the animal in shock.

"It can talk!"

The creature seemed to notice the presence of the others for the first time. He turned, and seemed more pacified.

"Of course. And by the way, please accept my apology, young lady." He looked at Aeris. "I wouldn't have hurt you. I had to make it seem like I was playing along with Hojo's game."

Cloud noticed that the talking specimen had an intelligent glow to his eye. Without the fury fuelling his features, there was a sort of untamed perspicacity in his face.

"Do you have a name?"

The creature stared at him out of his single eye, cold and aloof.

"Name? I believe Hojo gave me a label 'Red XIII', a name that has no meaning whatsoever to me."

"Red XIII, do you know the way out of here?"

The crimson animal waved its tail from side to side nimbly.

"No," he replied, his voice firm and eloquent. "But I would be more than willing to help you find out."

"That's sorted then!" Cloud turned to the others. "We're moving out!"

"Cloud," Tifa began, nervously. "I think we've got to find our way to the elevators first. Once we find them, it'll be easy to find our way out."

"You're right." Cloud looked at Aeris. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Aeris nodded with certainty.

"Yup, I couldn't be feeling better." She blushed. "Thanks for coming for me, Cloud."

"No problem." He smiled at her. "We couldn't have that Hojo giving you any trouble."

Barret coughed.

"Sorry to cut off your little chat," he said sarcastically, "but we've got to get out of here."

Cloud nodded.

"Sorry. Let's find the lifts then."

The group, with its new addition of Red XIII, ran out of the laboratory and out into the corridor. Owing to the fact that all the passageways looked the same, it was difficult to place exactly where they were. Nevertheless, it was not long at all before they found the elevator entrances. Cloud pressed at the down button. He turned to the others.

"This may be difficult," he remarked casually, "but try to look inconspicuous. We don't want to get caught again unless we can help it."

With the sound of the elevator bell, the doors swung open. They bundled inside the lift.

"Everyone in?" Cloud asked. The other four nodded briskly, eager to get out. The doors closed shut.

"Okay." Cloud put out his hand to press the downward sensor. "We're going down."

The doors unexpectedly opened again, to everyone's trepidation.

In the doorway stood a lofty, imposing, black man in shades, well over six foot in size. He wore the navy blue and red of the Turks uniform.

"Oh no," he spoke in a terse, succinct tone, his face blank behind the shades, "You're going up."

"Shi-t," Barret breathed. "You guys just don't give up, do you."

Another man entered the lift from behind the other. It was Tseng.

"Do you think the Turks would give up so easily?" he spoke seriously. "You underestimate us, my friend. We are more than dedicated to our work." He turned to the tight-lipped man next to him. "Well done, Rude. You got there just in time."

Rude conceded a nod, but little else. Tseng smiled, maybe at his colleague's graveness, or maybe because of his latest catch. His eyes roved the faces of his prisoners, and he stopped when he got to Aeris.

"Ah, Miss. Aeris, we meet again." His voice was unusually soft. "And what are you doing with this common rebel group, hmm? You weren't thinking of leaving me, were you?"

Aeris said nothing and lowered her eyelids to the floor. Seeing he would get no response from her, Tseng gestured to Rude.

"Let's finish this."

Turning round, Rude swiped his keycard through the sensor.

"Going up," he repeated coldly.

-oOo-


Next: President Shinra reveals the company's true intentions...