A/N: Chapter dedication and thanks to my two betas. :D Go read and review their stuff... Please? It's really very good.
Chapter 12
Everything he had done to this point was designed to bring Valentine and the damned Poet of Hollander's to the brink of destruction, hopefully terminating the project before it could get off the ground. The appearance of Reno at his elbow, EMR snapping invasively into play reminded Hojo that he was under observation. His whispers to the semi-conscious and temporarily paralyzed Host of Chaos had been derived to destroy everything Rufus Shin-Ra had worked for. He refused to participate in Sephiroth's destruction, especially when he was so close to proving his Reunion Theory. Just a few more tweaks in the right direction was all he had needed and now this…
"Take it easy, Turk Reno. Damage me too much and I will be unable to fulfill my duties as your boss so desires." Hojo reminded the younger man as he seized hold of the scientist's arm to escort him from the surgery room. The trip back to his cell was broken only by ragged breathing and heavy footsteps as Hojo was pushed into the shared room.
Sneering back at him, Reno flipped him off and hauled Hollander out by the drab gray of his lapels. "Sure thing, Doc. Just don't forget why you're here." He added before slamming the madman's door shut with a heave of his arm.
Left alone, Hojo cackled and slid a vial from the sleeves of his coat. He stroked it lovingly while sending a superior look toward the door. "Oh, I haven't forgotten, you foolish boy."
Living Jenova cells, gathered prior to his capture by Rufus Shin-Ra flowed with dangerous potential in the mako rich vial, catching the dim lighting with eerie promise. "How can I possibly forget when you play so beautifully into my hands, even giving me the perfect Specimens for my work. Reunion…" he said drifting off into theories that had plagued him since the conception of the Jenova project.
Sephiroth was nearly ready to assume command of Reunion, to become a God of Gaia the likes the pitiful remnants of mankind had never before seen. A small, deranged giggle took apart the world, as he trembled with delight. Just a few more steps and he would forever be known as the man that created a God.
The moment was coming… he could feel it.
(Break)
The claw's movement drew the attention of the other man in the room, struggling through the drugs keeping him down, Genesis' head turned towards the action. The Soldier First quirked a lip up in irony as something rippled under the surface of the ex-Turk's skin and muscle. Purple fur sprouted across the man's body as Vincent's eyes opened in a flood of malevolent intent. Weakened though he was, he found the appearance of the first beast, Galian Beast, to be exceedingly amusing.
"How fitting that you would choose that form, Vincent Valentine." Genesis conceded, watching the demon like monster turn to face the door as it opened to admit Hollander and Reno into the lab. Brought up short, the red headed Turk cursed, spun around, and promptly fled as Galian's fanged lips pulled back before leaping after him with a roar.
Throwing himself to the side, Hollander barely ducked in time to avoid the purple furred monster that took off in pursuit of Reno. The too small door frame crumbled under the weight of Galian's massive claws as it ripped the wood to shreds and roared again. Turning to look at his chuckling creation, Hollander walked over to the surgical tray to look over the medications left sitting there. Picking up one empty vial, he allowed himself a smirk.
"How conniving of you, Hojo." he observed, dropping the medicinal vial onto the floor and reaching for Genesis' straps. "Do you still possess the ability to fly, Genesis? If so I want you to use that ability to capture Valentine."
Mako eyes flitted to the doctor's face as Genesis chuckled again. Pressing a hand to his temples, Hollander shook his head. Of course, Genesis would still be drugged. With something Hojo no doubt created to send His creation into a world of uselessness.
"Genesis, focus." he snapped.
The smirk disappeared and the Soldier reacted. His wrist tore up through the leather straps and tightened dangerously around the throat of his former tormentor as he pushed himself to his feet.
"My soul, corrupted by vengence. Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey. In my own salvation, and your eternal slumber."The red commander drawled, his lips whispering the words as he brought Hollander to eternal rest with a quick pressure upon the man's throat. The struggling man's limbs suddenly fell limp, his gasping breath locked forever in lungs that would never vent air again.
Tossing the body aside, Genesis clambered from the table and stumbled towards the path Galian had taken. A murderous rage lingered on the edges of his emotions as he grasped the walls for support. "The war of beasts is beginning, my friends. Will we fly into a world that can only hate us for our sacrifices?" he questioned, dropping to one knee as he heard a frightful scream from further up the hall. It wasn't Reno, but rather one of the hapless aids that Rufus Shin-Ra had hired.
"Galian… Damn it. Valentine, get back here." he called after the monster. "We've still got to get the boys out of here."
(Break)
Elena jumped to her feet, her head turning in Tseng's direction as he reached for the phone. "Sir, former Turk Valentine and Soldier Commander Rhapsodos have escaped." He said into the device after pressing the speed dial key two on his phone.
'Let them go.' The younger man ordered. 'They will better suit their mission once they are on the loose. Make sure to remove Strife and Fair though. We can't have them removed from the experiment before they are ready.'
"Yes, sir. I'll order all Turks to stand down." Tseng answered, closing the phone after Rufus hung up. "Elena, order Reno and Rude to retrieve Hojo, Fair, and Strife. We'll be moving to facility three."
"Of course." Elena responded, turning to retrieve her weapons from the desk and disappearing with a crisp snap of her heels on the floor. Looking back at the monitors, Tseng clicked random keys until he found the cameras leading through the vents. On a monitor close to the side blinked two red lights moving south by south-west.
Raising his hand to the radio on the desk, Tseng made his second call of the day. "Turk Cissnei, where are you located?"
"Just two hours out from Junon. Tseng, where are you? Shin-Ra's board is going nuts trying to find you." Cissnei crackled back over the radio.
"Never mind that. Listen, I want you to bring the chopper to the warehouse district. We've got Hojo and two others in our custody. Vice President Shin-Ra assigned us to tail Hojo after he went missing and what we've found is less then desirable." Tseng answered her.
Her end was quiet until it spurted back. "Don't lie to me, Tseng. I know the circumstances. The V.P. has a lot of explaining to do when he gets back to Midgar and it's my job to make sure that happens."
"I see." Tseng mused. "It is a sorry thing then that we cannot rely on your aid, Cissnei. You're a fine Turk."
"Tseng, don't you dare…" Cutting off the communications, Tseng grasped his own phone and headed out the door.
"Some sacrifices have to be made." he said.
(Break)
Minutes after deciding to escape, Zack and Cloud made a thorough examination of their cell. They found a small vent inside the bathroom just over the sink. Eyes of glowing blue and violet turned to look at each other before Zack gave a shrug. "I don't see any other option without risking getting caught by the guards."
Cloud said nothing as he stepped up onto the toilet and then set a foot to balance precariously on the edge of the sink. Running a hand against the ceiling, the blond boy smacked his palm into the vent and sent it skittering inside the darkness.
"We won't get anywhere standing around here." he admitted as he wrapped his hands around the tile edge of the ceiling. "Vincent and Genesis are going to need our help. There's no telling what they will do to them"
"Angeal said I was impatient?" Zack mused watching his blond friend slither into the opening and disappear into the darkness of the air vent. "Wait up Cloud, don't leave me behind."
Cursing the necessity of acting as voice of reason, he scrambled up and into the air vent in pursuit of the younger boy. "Hey, Cloud, didn't we have beans with lunch today?"
Pausing, Cloud looked over his shoulder at his companion with a with befuddled eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm downwind of you." Zack said steadily, winning a look of complete incredulity from the fourteen year old followed with a brief laugh.
Shaking his head at Zack's actions, Cloud continued to lead the way until the solid steel air duct gave way to slants of metal grating over other cells. Looking into the small areas, the two boys exchanged silent looks of confusion. Pressing a finger to his lips, the darker haired of the pair gestured for Cloud to continue on. As quickly as they moved, it still took a moment for them to a point over another cell where they found themselves observing Hojo as he mumbled to himself about escaping and reunions with Sephiroth.
Shrugging his shoulders, Zack slipped the grated vent from the top of Hojo's cell and dropped down into the room. "Professor Hojo?" he asked the man as he watched the teen come back to his full height. "We're getting out of here. Want to come?"
An amused chuckle from Hojo and the Third stepped back away from him. Hojo's eyes lighted with thought when Cloud slipped down beside the taller boy. "You two are far too weak to even think of taking on an entire army by yourselves."
Cloud scowled at him. A trait Hojo had long since concluded all teenagers had in common after dealing with Sephiroth and his friends. "That's why we intend to free Vincent and Genesis." the boy informed him, as if it was the most sensible thing in the world.
Raising a brow at the boy, Hojo smiled. He was indeed more sensible then Rufus had given the lad credit for. "Perhaps, Cloud, the three of us can come to an arrangement. A temporary boost in your power until after you rescue your two friends."
Wary eyes tracked his movements as Hojo revealed his vial of mako to the two boys.
"What is that?" Zack asked.
"Your last hope of keeping your minds free." Hojo answered him, his face impassive as he popped the cork on the vial. "All you have to do is drink half the vial apiece and you'll never have to worry about Rufus's plans again. What do you say? Freedom or slavery to a man unworthy of his position?"
"Will... will I be able to go home?" Cloud asked, hand reaching for Zack's almost without thought.
Hojo grinned. "...and you, Mister Fair? Do you wish to return to the honor and glory of being Soldier? Or go on to become the lab rat of Shin-Ra's brat?"
The dark haired boy glared before holding out his hand for the vial. "I'll do it. For Soldier."
Cloud nodded, watching as Hojo handed over his drug and continued to watch as he Zack swallowed a little less then half the vial's contents. Gagging on the after taste, the Third held it out for the blond. With only a last look at his friend and the Professor, Cloud tipped the vial and downed the remainder.
With a widening grin, Hojo cackled with delight. "Success." he whispered, watching the two boys descend into Jenova induced reactions. "Reunion... my reunion."