X.
William Triniman walked his stocky self down the hall of the lab, with papers containing his own research in hand. He had a pencil stuck behind his ear, the pencil being a bright yellow that contrasted with his black receding hairline. He adjusted his glasses.
It had been a few days since he saw the kid with the red coat and the nose cast leave. He knew he had something to do with Ridgeson, and thought about it often, as it was strange Ridgeson was getting outside help.
Now Triniman was about to enter the storage closet where certain chemicals were held under a strong laser-based shield to obtain some for his research. He punched in the number password. The door didn't open.
"Damn," he growled. "Someone's changed the password." He hit the control panel with his fist, which then made the door decide to open. "Seems everything around here works like that," he mused to himself.
When he looked inside, he was horrified at what he saw. All the chemicals were gone inside the room. In their place, inside the laser shield, was a strong-looking young man of about 25 years of age or so. His skin was a sickly green, and he was covered in dirt and bruises, and obviously had some broken ribs, by what the scientist could see. He was blindfolded, and attached to the wall by thick mythril cuffs by the neck and arms, and to the floor by the ankles. Triniman tried to get some information, at least his name, from the young man, but he was too far gone to give an answer.
"God, he's just a kid...And even so, this is barbarism!" he said to himself. He tried to find the remote control for the shield, but couldn't find it. He resigned to the fact hat hte boy was stuck until he got help. He got up to leave, and hopefully find some explanation for this.
As he was on his way to see the results of his ex[periment, Ridgeson was disturbed when he found the door to the storage closet slightly ajar. Outside the door, he stood, concerned that someone finally found his research. I even changed the password!, he thought to himself. He flung the door open to find Triniman on his way up from kneeling next to the boy.
"Ridgeson, do you know anything about this?" Triniman asked.
"He's-being used for reasearch." Ridgeson stammered out.
"Well, it MUST be yours, since you're the only other research scientist that's working in this facility! Why are you doing this to this boy?" He held out a hand toward Cloud, whose head was turning unconsiously back and forth in the cuff around his neck.
Ridgeson was stuck. Well, maybe if he confided in his associate, he might get him to help.
"I-I am in the process of testing the effects on the human body of injected Lifestream," he said.
"But like this? Why not at least get a volunteer? Why use this boy that you had people drag in here for you?"
"Do you know who this boy IS?" Ridgeson whispered. "This is the only living Sephiroth clone that Hojo helped produced through his research! He can take it!"
"Ridgeson, it wsn't necessary to do this to him...he's got to get some medical attention!"
Ridgeson glared at him with his grey eyes. "And if he's completely healed by the Lifestream and Mako energy in him, what's the difference?"
Triniman glared back. "And what if he dies?"
Then I'll use the knowledge to control the planet! he thought to himself. Triniman only saw the scientist glare at him without an answer. Ridgeson spun around on his heel and left. Triniman went to the boy again. "I'll get you out, young man. But I can't do it alone. I'll get some help for you."