AN: The usual Hojo-chapter warning: Pseudo-science. I'm not entirely sure if I like how this chapter turned out. This one also felt like it took me forever to write... I blame Hojo.
XXVIII: Helletic
Professor Hojo was clicking his pen absentmindedly. He had been looking over the many papers that lay scattered on his desk, but no matter how long he stared at his own handwriting, he couldn't think of anything. His research had hit a brick wall.
He had multiple theories about the Monochrome Lieutenant's miraculous resurrection. One, there had never even been a resurrection at all. Instead of killing her, the Thunderbird had paralyzed her. Combined with the many injuries she had suffered, the Lieutenant had merely appeared to be dead.
At first, he had firmly believed this theory to be the correct one, the only logical explanation. However, after examining her only hours after the events, he had concluded that she had been dead, must have died. The amount of broken bones, the incredible blood loss and even a piece of shattered rib that had pierced her heart...
Not even Sephiroth would have survived that.
Hojo's second theory still made him cackle at the absurdity. The worst part was that he had actually considered it as a serious possibility. The theory? Divine intervention. Some God or Goddess, old or new, had decided it wasn't the girl's time yet.
The professor almost felt embarrassed for even considering it.
His third and final theory was both the most frustrating and the most likely one. As he had told the girl when she had awoken from her coma, the Mako SOLDIERs were infused with had an extra ingredient not many knew of; J-cells. These cells merged with the subjects' DNA, turning them into a hybrid. Not quite themselves anymore, but nothing like Jenova either. However, the more J-cells were added to the specimen's cellular makeup, the more their DNA would match Jenova's.
So far, he hadn't succeeded in creating a perfect copy. Each human had their own limit as to how many J-cells their respective bodies could tolerate. When this limit was reached, there were a couple of things that could happen. Mutation, Mako addiction, Mako poisoning or, if the specimen was lucky, a swift death.
Either way, there were four exceptions to the rules. Angeal Hewley and Genesis Rhapsodos had both broken the previously recorded ceiling, their DNA both well over sixty percent Jenova, forty percent their own. Then, there was his own son. He had broken all of those numbers by a spectacular amount. Despite his incredibly high tolerance, he had mutated as well, his hair not black as it by all means should have been and his eyes were cat-like. Usually, mutations meant the beginning of the end, the first sign of degradation and eventual death for the specimen.
But not for Sephiroth.
Lastly, the fourth exception, was the enigma that was Lieutenant Valon Harper. Just like Sephiroth, she had mutated. However, unlike the General, she had appeared to have an abysmally low tolerance, mutating at the first drop of Mako that entered her body. By all means, she should have died right then and there.
But she hadn't. She had recovered incredibly quickly and eventually became not only the first and only female SOLDIER, but Lieutenant of the army and Sephiroth's Second-in-Command.
However, there was no trace of Jenova to be found in her cells.
Hojo had discovered this only a short time ago. Because of how well she had responded to the Mako treatments, the professor had firmly believed the girl would become the closest he had ever been to creating a Jenova copy. And so, he had started injecting her more and more frequently. All seemed to go well, during the last tests her cellular makeup had been a very promising seventy percent Jenova, thirty percent her own. But after her resurrection, her DNA had almost appeared as it if went back in time, all physical evidence of Jenova's presence had disappeared, returned to the makeup of her own, and just her own.
Many a headache later, the only theory Hojo had about that peculiarity was that her own cells had devoured Jenova's to secure her own survival, her body put in some kind of stasis, appearing to be dead until her own had completely sucked the J-cells dry.
Hojo was positive this was why she had survived.
But then what?
Why and how had her cells overtaken Jenova's? Why did she still have both her physical mutations and enhanced skills while her DNA suggested she was nothing but a mere human? And, perhaps most importantly, how could the professor use this?
He shook himself out of his thoughts. First and foremost, he had some other issues he needed to solve. He cleaned his thick glasses with the hem of his shirt, resulting in only smearing the grease all over the glass. Nonetheless, he put the spectacles back on his nose and briskly started towards the exit of his lab. It was about time to ask the President just why he wasn't a grandfather yet.
Sephiroth stalked through the hallways, not bothering to acknowledge the salutes and respectful nods that were directed to him. The people who knew him on a somewhat personal level, mostly the higher ranking SOLDIERs, dipped their heads and stepped out of the General's way. When the silver-haired man wore an expression like that – a barely noticeable scowl, eyebrows knitted in a slight frown and eyes glowing bright, you got the hell away and you did it quickly, lest you'd risk getting skewered with the legendary man's equally legendary blade.
Not that that had actually ever happened, but the SOLDIERs knew better than to tempt fate.
However, Sephiroth barely even noticed the people around him as he made his way to the stairs, skipping multiple steps at a time and reaching the sixty-eighth floor in record time. The General almost didn't want to admit it, but a part of him was actually looking forward to this. After everything his father had put him through, over twenty years of torture and experiments and needles and pain and Gods so much pain. If you asked Sephiroth, the professor's execution was long due.
Nonetheless, he caught himself reflecting the Lieutenant's words. It's true that Hojo was the only family he had. However, there was a reason he had discarded the family name the day he had come of age. Changing his name from Sephiroth Hojo to simply Sephiroth had mostly been a rebellious act, a way to show his father he couldn't control him anymore. No longer burdened with the family name, the only tie he had left with the professor was through blood, and since the General was sure he had more Mako than blood running through his veins, even that tie was weak.
Many years had gone by since then, and not once did he regret that decision.
All of that didn't matter to the General though, not anymore. Even if he did hold any love for the professor, the man stood in the way of their goals so he had to be disposed of. Simple as that.
And so, Sephiroth stalked through the labs, promptly ignoring the assistants their shouts. With a few long strides he reached Hojo's private office, which he entered without knocking. The General readied the Masamune and prepared to strike...
Only to find the professor wasn't there.
He glanced at the desk and rose his eyebrows, the desk was an absolute mess. Leaving his research open for anyone to see was so unlike the professor that Sephiroth couldn't help but read the files. He quickly scanned the messy handwriting and concluded that Hojo was researching Valon's resurrection. With a 'tsk', Sephiroth unceremoniously dumped the pile in the bin and set it on fire with a weak Fire spell. Hojo would soon be dead so the act was redundant, really, but the General felt better afterwards either way.
He watched as the papers blackened and burned and eventually turned to ash completely before he doused the fire. Then, he turned with an annoyed grunt to search for Hojo, but was stopped again when he bumped into one of the assistants that had yelled at him earlier.
"Sir!" the young assistant looked at him wide-eyed.
"Where is Hojo?" Sephiroth straightened to his full length.
"Uhm, sir, he left for a meeting with the President only moments ago, but-"
What? The General roughly pushed the young man out of his way and dashed back through the labs, shoving multiple scientists to the ground as he did. He snapped his PHS open and hit the third person he had on speed dial.
Still caked in blood, Valon left Scarlet's office. She flinched when a woman screamed at her appearance. She was about to speak up when Heidegger's office opened and a rather bored looking Angeal stepped out. He raised his eyebrow at the Lieutenant before he cleared his throat.
"Everyone, stay calm. Leave the building and gather outside, that's an order in the name of General Sephiroth, so move it!"
Everyone present instantly dropped what they were doing and made a run for the elevator, all eyes glancing over Valon in both curiosity and horror. She ignored the glances and stares as she made her way over to Angeal, who was looking at her with an amused expression.
"Hey 'Geal," she greeted him. "How'd it go? I thought I heard screams outside."
"That's probably because I kicked Heidegger through the window," Angeal snickered.
"Brutal," Valon nodded in approval.
"Speaking of which, can I assume that's Scarlet's blood?"
"Nah," the Lieutenant shrugged. "Scarlet emptied her revolver on me. Six rounds and she couldn't hit a single vital spot. Anyways, she's dead. Let's confirm the other targets are as well and if Rufus and Tuesti are safe."
"Yes, ma'am!" Angeal grinned. He was about to grab his PHS when he spotted a familiar redhead exiting the elevator.
"Genesis!" the raven-haired Commander waved him over.
"Are Kya Ha Ha and Gya Ha Ha dead?" Genesis asked as he eyed Valon.
"Positive," she nodded. "What about the President?
"Dead."
"Good. Anyone hear anything from Zack and Cloud yet?"
"Not yet," Angeal said after checking his phone.
"Okay, can you try and get hold of Zack? He doesn't have much time left. I assume Seph is about done with Hojo as well, so I'll have the Turks get ready for the broadcast. How's the evacuation of the tower going?"
"Tseng is on it, so it shouldn't take much longer now," Angeal confirmed.
"Good," the Lieutenant stretched with a dramatic groan. "So now we wait for Sephiroth's sign and-" she was interrupted by the ringing of Genesis' PHS. He flipped his phone open and snorted when seeing the name displayed.
"Speak of the devil," he grinned, after which he answered the call. "Rhapsodos... Speak a little slower, General, I can't-... No, I'm with Angeal and Valon, why? ...come again? Hojo went there?"
Genesis cursed and looked at his two friends warningly. "We're on our way, we might be able to intercept him," at that, he snapped his phone shut.
"What's wrong?" Valon swallowed hard when Genesis drew the Rapier.
"Hojo is moving. He's on his way to the President's office as we speak. We have to hurry."
Angeal and Valon drew their weapons instantly and the trio hurried towards the stairs. They ran up to the President's office, but Hojo wasn't there yet.
"Gen, wait in front of the elevator. Angeal and I will block the stairs," Valon ordered. The redhead nodded and crossed the long hallway without another word.
"Why did Hojo change his plans?" Valon mused as they waited. She was about to open her mouth to elaborate when a loud yell caught her attention.
The unmistakable sound of battle made Sephiroth curse loudly as he sprinted up the last flights. When he reached the President's floor, he skidded to a stop as he took in the scene.
Angeal, Genesis and Valon were fighting a... monster? No, Sephiroth took a closer look and felt his stomach drop. That writhing mass of red and purple flesh looked an awful lot like Hojo, a tattered lab coat still hanging around the multiple spikes that grew from its body and a pair of thick, round glasses still on its nose.
He moved his gaze to his companions. Genesis had multiple cuts, but they were superficial and he appeared to be fine. Valon was bloodied all-over, but since the Goddess wasn't interfering just yet, Sephiroth assumed she was fine as well. However, Angeal...
The raven-haired commander was bleeding from his mouth and ears, suggesting he had been afflicted with a Poison effect. However, what worried the General the most was that the Buster Sword wasn't pointed at the mutated Hojo, but at the Monochrome Lieutenant.
"Angeal!" Sephiroth howled, but the Commander ignored him. He cursed when Angeal swung his blade at Valon's head, which she barely dodged while distracted by Hojo's barrage of spikes. When Angeal lifted his blade again, Sephiroth sprinted towards them and lifted the Masamune, blocking the strike only just in time.
"Seph!" Valon breathed. "He's Confused, I-"
With one quick movement, Sephiroth disarmed the Commander. He twisted the Masamune and knocked Angeal on his head with the butt of the katana, causing the man to fall over. He landed on his back with a loud thud.
"Angeal! Seph, what-"
Sephiroth turned to Hojo. "I only knocked him out," he explained as he eyed the writhing mutant carefully. It opened its horrible mouth wide, showing multiple teeth the same length as the General's forearm. It regarded them for a moment before stretching its neck forward, the act reminding him of a snake.
They jumped back in time to dodge another one of his attacks.
"Genesis, use magic from the back," Sephiroth commanded. "Valon, I'll distract him from the left side. Once he focuses on me, you come in and kill him."
"Sir!" Genesis and Valon yelled in unison. At that, they took their positions. Genesis instantly started casting, an explosive barrage of fire hitting Hojo straight in the face. Hojo retaliated by sending a Silence spell his way, but Genesis dodged effortlessly and continued his assault.
Sephiroth closed in to his left and cut through the flesh, not enough to seriously harm him but plenty to distract the mutant. It turned its horrid face to the General. Valon decided to use that moment to strike. She sprinted towards Hojo and jumped up as high as she could. With a loud yell, she aimed her blade at his neck. She pierced the flesh effortlessly and retracted her blade, then quickly jumped back to safety.
Hojo let out a horrible shriek. It thrashed wildly for a moment, but dropped to the ground after a mere couple of seconds.
"That's the General for ya!" Valon pumped her fist in the air, breaking the silence with a smile. "He comes to our aid and boom, job done in a matter of seconds!"
"Valon," Sephiroth reprimanded, but he couldn't hide the glint of amusement in his eyes. Valon winked at him and turned to Angeal, who still lay unconscious on the ground. "Hey Gen, can you heal him?"
"Of course," Genesis nodded as he sheathed his weapon and crouched down next to his co-Commander. Sephiroth scratched his head apologetically as Angeal woke up and rubbed his forehead in pain. He was about to say something when a loud screech startled them. They whirled around, facing Hojo once more as the mutated professor writhed and thrashed about, all the while deafening them with his shrieks. They watched in horror as Hojo's flesh started distorting, the purple slowly turning white as blue and golden metals started covering his shifting form. All his teeth and spikes slowly dislodged themselves from his body and fell to the ground with a clatter, and with one last distorted scream, his transformation was complete.
He slowly regarded the party with eyes they couldn't see anymore. After an agonizing moment, he raised a white- and blue tentacle-like arm. At that, the spikes and teeth that surrounded his floating form rose up as if alive and the sharp ends were aimed at them. Instinctively, Sephiroth raised his arms to shield his friends when Hojo fired the objects at their direction. The General inhaled sharply and grit his teeth, bracing himself for the impact.
