Chapter 51 - "HOJO INTERVIEW # 2 of 3 (Excerpt)" - #911229

MEETING TITLE: "HOJO INTERVIEW # 2 of 3 (Excerpt)"
MEETING TRANSCRIPT #911229

Meeting Attendees: Professor Hojo, Project S
Date of Interview: 12.29.91
Location of Interview: Room 102J, Floor 28, HQ
List of Acronyms:
Professor Hojo=H
Project S (Sephiroth)=S

Intelligent Verbatim Transcript

[Begin Transcript 00:00:02]

START OF EXCERPT

Professor Hojo (H): "Start of second interview with Sephiroth. It is the twenty-ninth of December '91 at 3:44 p.m.. This interview is four and a half weeks late and is taking place in the ICU of R&D in Shinra. Patient is deemed fully cognizant for the interview."

[pause]

H: "Twenty-six appointments, Sephiroth."

[no sound audible 00:23-00:35]

H [cont.]: "You have missed twenty-six appointments scheduled by R&D in the last seven months since you left for the front line. Two of them were scheduled with me."

[pause]

H [cont.]: "Don't look at me like that. You missed twenty-six appointments and then, finally, grew too ill for combat. Who do you think caused that?"

Project S (S): "I am no longer a child. I should be able to ask for help when I need help and refuse when I don't."

[01:00]

H: "And how exactly has that worked out for you?"

[pause]

H [cont.]: "Let's find out, shall we?"

[papers shuffle]

H [cont.]: "This report says that cleaning staff found you throwing up in your quarters. You insisted it was a stomach bug. Poor choice of excuse might I add, in all the years of the SOLDIER program a 'stomach bug' has never been reported."

S: "Good to know."

H: "Cut the attitude."

H [cont.]: "It took an additional five hours for your supervisor to wizen up as you didn't report to duty. His report says you were still conscious at that point but 'delusional with unfounded anxiety, sweating and experiencing acute pain with no visible cause'. The emergency medicine did not work either by mouth or intravenously."

[no sound audible 01:42-01:52]

H [cont.]: "By the time R&D was dispatched and arrived, the only way to take care of you was to bring you back to Midgar and directly into the ICU. Do you know how bad this looks?"

S: "I have been feeling healthy for months. The appointments did not seem necessary."

[02:00]

H: "Here you are. In one of our beds once again. Hooked up to our machines and suffering the consequences."

S: "I am not sure what you want me to say. Do you want me to express remorse that my medication became ineffective? The emergency pill did not work."

H: "You were too far gone. No simple combination of chemicals in a solid form ingested by your body was going to bring you back from your self induced flagellation."

S: "I have been healthy."

H: "Why don't you allow the people that have higher education to determine that? The people that are paid to take care of you."

S: "Being a First has made me prioritize my time."

H: "Ah yes, the slaughter of thousands is a busy task but how many of our people will be killed now in your negligence?"

S: "When will I go back to the field?"

H: "This is an interview. I am the one asking the questions."

[pause]

[Professor Hojo sighs.]

H [cont.]: "Let us proceed to the banality then. Statistically, you are one of the most lethal members of SOLDIER. In the last seven months you have killed more than we can properly count. How do you feel about this?"

S: "I do my duty."

H: "Do your duty. That is an easy sword to fall on. How do you feel about having ended so many lives?"

S: "I try not to think about it."

H: "I have heard about your own personal crusade, where you go around after battles and heal the SOLDIERs you can find. It is adorable but what do you think that it truly accomplishes?"

[03:00]

S: "My job is to support my men."

H: "The attacks led by you have had the highest casualties."

S: "And have been dictated to be the most aggressive by the Board. I lead my men but I take the orders of where and how from above."

H: "So it is Shinra's fault?"

S: "None of us would be attacking Wutai if it was not for Shinra."

[typing]

H: "There is only one other SOLDIER that is estimated to have killed more than you. Any guesses?"

S: "There is no need."

H: "It is only fitting that it is a mentor and mentee. Do you attribute your success to Dinand?"

S: "No."

H: "He trained you for years in the art of combat. If it wasn't for you, he would have made First already. I think he is due for a promotion, what do you think?"

S: "I have given it no thought."

H: "You don't think about him?"

S: "I know that Shinra has supported my training but I feel as if Dinand and I have never been a good match."

H: "How would you categorize that relationship?"

[04:00]

[no sound audible 04:01-04:30]

H [cont.]: "Answer the question, Sephiroth."

S: "I would rather not answer this question."

H: "Independence is not a good trait for a SOLDIER. I need clear answers for my data."

S: "…I don't understand why you feel the need for me to answer this . You have the reports. You know."

H: "Take this seriously. Remember. You are on permanent loan from our department to SOLDIER? That you belong in this room?"

[pause]

H [cont.]: "Don't make me repeat myself."

S: "I do not feel well enough."

H: "That's no escape for you. If you do not answer now, I will force Mariella to come and ask you this question or any of my other questions until we get an answer. Only then, will I approve the release for your new dosage in a pill pack and send you back."

H [cont.]: "Don't look at me like that. Wutai did this to you. We just have to deal with the broken pieces."

S: "I don't believe that I am broken."

H: "And I am a parent, not a scientist. Answer the question, Sephiroth."

[Professor Hojo sighs]

H [cont.]: "I'll repeat my question. How would you categorize your relationship with Dinand?"

S: "Unhealthy."

H: "Dinand has often reported you as being too sensitive. I am inclined to believe him."

[pause]

H [cont.]: "This would also explain your futile attempts to heal SOLDIERs on the battlefield afterward. Why don't you let the medics do their job?"

[5:00]

S: "Because only I can save them."

H: "So you are special too? You are your men's savor? I hear that a god complex is unfortunate."

S: "You misunderstand."

H: "Oh? So tell me."

S: "I care about my men. That is all there is."

H: "Not trying to hopelessly prove your worth?"

S: "No."

H: "I believe we will have to agree to disagree."

S: "I perform my duties adequately."

H: "Hmm…next question, who have you been intimate with?"

S: "Excuse me?"

H: "Sexual intercourse. Or do you need me to explain this to you too? Shall I draw you an illustration?"

S: "I understand that but what does that-"

H: "For this research, I need a comprehensive psychological profile. You have lived in a high stress environment. Isolated. You are young. Impressionable. Clearly. Who have you had sexual relations with?"

S: "…none."

H: "None what?"

S: "I don't do that. I haven't done it."

[6:00]

H: "Clarity is a valued trait."

S: "I haven't slept with anyone."

H: "No? Not at all? Gender doesn't matter."

S: "No."

H: "Not even with Rafiya?"

S: "Rafi? Gods no. How do you know about her?"

H: "She appears to be a candidate."

S: "She isn't."

H: "But why is that? Has she not worked hard enough at you? Are you still falling on some sense of honor that's not yet broken? PR has done a wonderful job of making you into a playboy. You act like you drip sex off of you in every picture that graces my screen. Normal women fall to their knees for you."

S: "I'm eighteen and command men."

H: "So? You act older."

S: "There has never been the time."

H: "The average time for a man is ten minutes."

S: "I have answered your question."

H: "When did you grow a mouth?"

S: "When I was forced to grow up."

H: "But you still haven't learned to use it, hmm? At least you are still a child in one respect."

S: "What's your next question?"

[End of Excerpt at 00:06:47. See audio drive or following transcript for the remaining 23:11 minutes of Interview 2 of 3. Transcribed by Edin Morse. Reviewed and verified by Mariella Haynes.]