Next morning President Shinra called a press conference to announce the situation between Midgard and Wutai, Sephiroth was a few steps away from the President in a corner of the platform, which had a table set up for the Shinra leaders.
President Shinra was at the middle of the table with Heidegger, Scarlet, Palmer and Hojo at his sides. The boy felt uncomfortable in that place, he did not understand the reason why he was with them there instead of Lazard, since he was the person in charge of SOLDIER.
– Too many people... and most of them are looking at me... –thought the young man while he looked at the crowd, so far he had only dealt with the scientists and Lazard, which could not be said to be a very large circle, besides the members of Peace Preservation with whom he trained very rarely spoke to him.
In that room were reporters and cameramen all over the place, plus Shinra staff and many of the reporters were wondering: what is that boy doing in the company of Shinra leaders and why is he wearing a military uniform.
Sephiroth could feel each inquisitive look, he could hear some murmuring from the crowd, people wondering if he might be a son of President Shinra, others immediately denying claiming that the young boy had very different complexions from the man's progeny.
The boy looked at the president and immediately looked away, it was impossible that he was his son, he heard rumors in the SOLDIER facilities about Lazard, he knew he was an illegitimate son of the president who had not hesitated to give him an important position despite his youth and lack of experience, there was no reason why if he were his son that he would exclude him in that way.
– So foolish... I don't have a father... only Jenova... –thought the boy and discreetly moved his hands behind his back to touch his hair that he was wearing loose that day.
Sephiroth's expression was serious but at the same time gentle, a neutral expression that did not reveal how he felt and at the same time puzzled some curious people.
The president continued with his speech of why they would go to war calling the Wutai people primitives who refused to accept progress as well as the construction of the Mako reactor in their territory, this had resulted in the commercial trade that existed between the two nations coming to an end, leading to an attack by the Wutai on the Midgard representatives in the area, after half an hour of Shinra's eloquent words he noticed that the looks passed from him to the young Sephiroth more than he expected.
–It is not surprising that this boy caught your attention… –commented the president making a signal to Sephiroth to come closer, the boy hesitated but noticed a discomfort grimace in Hojo and the other ringleaders so he walked to the man and this one took him by the shoulders hugging him, something that made Sephiroth uncomfortable.
Being so close to the president was annoying and he smelled too much of tobacco but Sephiroth had to hold back the urge to cover his nose as Shinra continued speaking.
—This young man will be vital for the victory of this war we are about to face... He is the first of many soldiers whom we will restore the progress of the nation with... both young and adults willing to fight for the future of Midgar... Sephiroth is part of the new force of Shinra Electric Power Company... SOLDIER... a group of men and women that after being exposed to the mako energy in controlled circumstances by our best team of scientists, these soldiers have been enhanced their abilities and performance... awakening a power they would have never dreamed of... this boy is an example of Shinra's progress... he and SOLDIER are the ones who will carry us into the future we desire...
The reporters now seemed more interested in Sephiroth than before, and the president answered a series of questions without letting the boy speak, despite the fact that he would not let him break apart, after a few minutes the president covered the microphone to address the boy.
—It's time for you to say a few words, kid, but don't say anything that could damage the company's image... —the president warned the youngest before removing his hand from the microphone. —We have a few more minutes left... —he added, looking at his watch. -Sephiroth, do you want to add something...? Don't be shy, my boy... —he added, lowering the microphone so that the young man could speak.
Sephiroth really didn't expect to be asked to do something like this and he got nervous, he didn't know what he could or couldn't say and now everyone in the room had their eyes on him. —Ju... just... I just want to say that... we will do everything we can to keep Midgard safe.
—Well done my boy, that's the spirit, together... SOLDIER and the other departments of the company will ensure the victory, this fight is not only for Shinra Inc... is a fight for Midgar... a fight for the future... for a better life... —The president finally released Sephiroth and the young man took the opportunity to walk away even though he just wanted to get out of that place, while Shinra smiled for the cameras and several reporters tried to get more answers but it was clear that the president would not say anything else.
Some reporters tried to approach Sephiroth and ask him some questions, the young boy tried to move away but they surrounded him, asking him so many questions that he did not know what to answer, mainly after the president's warning.
–Sephiroth cannot answer questions at this time... the boy is too busy with his duties as SOLDIER... –said Heidegger and Hojo grabbed the boy to take him away.
–The researches are already compromised by wasting time with these things... come on Sephiroth... we have work to do... –Hojo told him and for the first time the kid felt relieved to have to work with him because being in front of those cameras was very uncomfortable for him.
Photographers took many pictures of him as he was pulled away from the crowd until he exited with Hojo through a door at the back of the auditorium. Sephiroth walked to the lab with Hojo for some new health tests as usual but noticed that there were considerably more people in the facilities now.
– They must be the new SOLDIER members that President Shinra mentioned. –He was thinking, looking at the soldiers who were lining up to enter different training rooms, he recognized some of them as part of Peace Preservation but if they didn't talk to him before, he didn't expect them to do so now. The young boy also noticed that among those recruits there were many teenagers but he did not see anyone his own age.
Once in the lab Hojo took blood samples from the young Sephiroth, they did endurance tests, measuring his brain waves along with his heart and respiratory rate, the numbers that Sephiroth reached were very high, something that was normal for him but after a few hours of tests Hojo already with the results in hand noticed something different in his blood and in the brain waves of the young boy.
The professor looked for the record from a few days ago in order to compare it however he did not understand why there was a change in Sephiroth's physical and mental endurance, as they had increased drastically in just a couple of days since his last checkup.
–Sephiroth, have you done anything different these last few days? –he asked the boy with a demanding tone.
–Something different, I've just been following the training as usual... working with the materia and combat in the challenges... today I didn't even have a chance to eat something...
–This makes no sense... –the professor said to himself, ignoring the rest of the conversation that didn't interest him, and went back to comparing the results. –The combats... yes... it must be because of that... –Hojo activated a communicator on the panel of his equipment and called one of the guards while he got up to look for something among the things in the laboratory.
About five minutes later, the door of the lab opened, letting in a soldier who normally guarded the access to the facility. –Did you call sir...?
–Yes... take this... use it on Sephiroth... –he said to the soldier handing him a material. –And you do not move... –he ordered Sephiroth who was completely confused.
–But professor Hojo... –replied the soldier, not sure about following that order, he knew well who Sephiroth was and what he was capable of, so he didn't like the idea of trying to hurt him.
–Stop wasting my time and hurry...
–Yes sir... –he said to the scientist and then looked at Sephiroth with some concern.
–All right... let's finish this already... –said the boy to the soldier, he seemed like a good man but Sephiroth wondered if he was hesitating because he was afraid to upset him or because he was a child.
The soldier equipped the materia in his armor and after warning Sephiroth he attacked him with Poison, the attack hit directly on Sephiroth because the boy knew that he shouldn't move and the boy waited for a few seconds but he didn't feel anything.
–Scan him... –said Hojo to the soldier and handed him another materia.
The soldier gave him back the previous one and he equipped the Scan using it on Sephiroth, for some strange reason that he did not understand it did not show all the information but what caught his attention was the list of magic to which Sephiroth was immune.
–He is immune... –commented the soldier. –He has immunity to poison... silence... sleep...
–I see... you may leave... Sephiroth go to the combat practice at the training room...
–They already repaired it...?
–I don't know... ask that to Lazard... go at once...
The soldier left the material on the lab table and walked out, he had never heard of a person being immune to so many altered states at the same time. Sephiroth walked out of the lab after the soldier leaving Professor Hojo alone who called President Shinra to tell him about the boy's new development.
The exposure to the material he had prepared for the previous night's test had generated some unexpected results but they would produce great results in future battles. The professor had noticed that Sephiroth's stamina was gradually increasing so he always did the stamina tests twice a week but the results although they showed exponential growth had never been as drastic as this time.
President Shinra seemed pleased with the numbers thinking that the young boy's growth that night could be repeated if the battlefield engagements pushed the young one to his limit. –That's just what we need, keep monitoring him, we'll see how he develops throughout the warfare. –He said to Professor Hojo, ending the call.
Although the president was no fool, he knew very well that this could also bring negative consequences, if Sephiroth's potential reached a level that they could not control then the boy would be a danger to them. So he was going to require an insurance in case things got out of control, he activated the communicator to contact his secretary. –Connect me to Dr. Hollander.
Sephiroth went to Lazard's office after passing by the training room, the place was still in bad conditions, the workers were carrying out repairs and he was going to be unable to use the place, the boy felt a little bad for the workers who had to repair that room continuously since he had been transferred to Shinra but he knew that it was not entirely his fault but the tests he was sent to complete. The minor preferred not to think too much about it, he just wanted to know if he could use another free room.
Lazard smiled as he saw Sephiroth gesturing for him to sit down. –You may not know it yet but... you have become very popular... –he commented, turning his computer screen so that Sephiroth could see a picture of him in an article about that morning's conference.
–Is it really going to be like this from now on? -he asked the blond with a worried expression.
–Maybe it's a hassle now but in time that popularity will help us to improve the facilities and your living condition Sephiroth...
–That's what they always say when they ask me to do more lab tests and even more dangerous combats... and now I have to participate in a war that I didn't have knowledge of ten hours ago...
–Things are more complicated now but I'll do my best to help you...
–Just as you were at that press conference?
–The president ordered me not to attend... there would be many reporters and... he prefers the attention to be focused on you for the moment and not malicious gossip...
Sephiroth understood that Lazard was referring to the relationship he had with the president so he decided not to push on the matter, it wasn't Lazard's fault that his father had had him out of wedlock. –Okay... but if you really want me to believe that you're going to support me then may I have the afternoon off?
–Oh, that's right... they haven't finished with the maintenance of the training room... it' s ok... you have the rest of the day off... let's do this... if the training room is still under repair by 1400 then you can take the afternoon off... you won't need to request permission... but if Professor Hojo determines that he needs you in the lab or wants to do a test in the evening you must be available...
–Fine... in that case I'll withdraw... –The agreement seemed fine but he knew that even if Lazard didn't order him to, Hojo would force him to tests after hours no matter if he had been locked up with lab tests or combat the whole day.
–Have fun on your day off... –said the blond with a kind smile, Sephiroth just looked at him and nodded, waving his hand as a farewell. The young man felt that Lazard really wanted to help him but he didn't know if he could trust him, at least not yet.
On his way out Sephiroth looked at the metal door that closed automatically, the boy thought that Lazard's life would be easy being the son of the president but apparently it had his problems too, Sephiroth turned again and walked in the elevator direction that would lead him to his room floor.
The boy wanted to pick up one of his books to read in the garden before going to lunch, the weather was nice and there weren't that many people there, everyone were at the training areas doing the tests to get into SOLDIER.
After a few minutes Sephiroth was already on his way to the garden, as he saw the soldiers he wondered the reason for which they had enlisted, for his part he had not choosen that life but he had no options either, he had nowhere to go and not even some money to fend himself for a couple of days.
– Lazard commented that this could change my life quality... I wonder if they are going to pay me to fight in the war?
Sephiroth sat on the grass and began to read but that day he could not concentrate, many people passed by, some looked at him, others ignored him, but no one approached him, the boy could hear several of these people talking about him and it was clear that the rumors had already spread among the new recruits.
– I thought it would take more than a day... rumors spread fast apparently...
The rest of the day was quiet for Sephiroth, Hojo strangely did not call him for more tests until the next day and the training room was out of service for two days, in which Sephiroth made use of the library as the gardens were now full with soldiers who had passed the SOLDIER entrance test.
The boy had almost forgotten that he would soon have to engage in a war when one day, less than a week before the declaration of war, the facility's alarms went off.
Sephiroth's phone rang a couple of times before the young man pulled it out of his pocket, it was Lazard. –Sephiroth... go down to the south gate... bring your sword and some materia.
–What's going on Lazard? -asked the young man as the building's alarms were silenced.
–The presence of Wutai soldiers has been detected... they are approaching the borders of Midgar.