An hour passed, still in her restraints, Wren rolled her head to the side. Her eyes begged to shut but she squints them opened. Her neck felt sore.
He took a lot of blood, Wren didn't want to remember the events, but the rawness of the countless needles puncturing her skin, her muffled whimper when the pain became too intense, his hysterical laughter, forced their way into her mind.
I hate him. She glared at the professor on the other side of the glass. I have to get out of here. Wren flexed her hand but remain limped, the mako thingy is still in me…
Fascinating… S2 pain tolerance is high. Its blood has an interesting pigmentation and the reaction it has melded with other subjects' blood. Professor Hojo typed away on the computer before noticing the time, Hmm… Precious time wasted instead of furthering my scientific endeavors. He pressed a button nearby then turned to the glass of S2's containment, he scoffed at her glare, "Now, Now S2. I have no time for your tantrum. Professor Reighleigh managed to pull through with your genetics and your telepathic abilities through her reports. Know that they are no threat to me. But now I do need a full assessment of your combat abilities…" Professor Hojo rubbed his chin, "I also need to begin breeding of the ancient with subject 13." He grumbled more incoherent thoughts.
Wren kept her glare, what is he talking about… Who's Professor Reighleigh?
Professor Hojo went over to a chemical cabinet to prepare a needle. Once the needle is prepared, he walked to S2's containment and opened the door, "Unfortunately, I won't be able to witness your abilities. I will have to watch the recordings. I will send you to the special floor with special specimens for your combat assessment. The Tsviets are brutish with ones not of their kind. Best to see how you can handle extensive combat before sending you down to Deepground. Most likely the strongest untamed one will be your first partner, which is the leader of course." He roughly grabbed her head and injected the chemical in her raw neck.
She gritted her teeth, Stop it! She tried to shake her head and glared at him. She remembered Professor Hojo What are the Tsveit?
"This should wear off the mako suppressants faster and put your abilities to the full test." The man grinned, "Don't consider attempting to escape, it will be fruitless. I have tempered expectations for you. However, you will fulfill your purpose in the end."
Shortly after, the lab door opened to revealed Tseng.
Tseng curtly bowed, "You called Professor."
"I would have called the troops, but since you deal with the Ancient and S2's captured meticulously it was the best assurance my subject is transported properly. I gave S2 an enhancement which should ensure it would be at the peak of its abilities when testing. It would've escape if I gave it to the foolish troops. I need 'it' to be taken to the test floor with specimen H0512."
I see, the vice president also wants to see its abilities… Tseng obediently nodded, "Sir."
Tseng unstrapped Wren from the chair then dragged her to the elevator.
Wren glared went from Professor Hojo to Tseng, Him… out of all people…
The elevator shuts and began to ascend to the floor.
Tseng stared at her as she glared at him.
A moment passed when suddenly Tseng kicked her against the door.
"Grrr…" Wren winced in pain, A-hole!
Tseng shrugged, "Your abilities haven't kicked in yet."
The elevator door opened; Tseng dragged S2 through empty closed off halls.
Wren attempted to move her hand. Fortunately, her fingers slightly twitched.
Tseng felt the child's leg slightly moved in his grasped, The suppressant is finally wearing off. Holding her leg, he slammed the girl against the wall, "Stop moving."
She grunts in pain again, "Damm… yuu…"
"You will die before killing me."
They arrived at a fortified door.
As it opened, Wren thrashed around more in Tseng's grasped.
Tseng threw the girl inside then presses the button.
Wren quickly composes herself standing up glaring at Tseng as the door shut.
'Good luck surviving.' She finally heard his thoughts when the door shuts.
The girl quickly run to the door but it was too late. She banged on it in frustration.
"Le-t! Mei-! Ouw!" Wren gritted her teeth and her eyes sting with tears, I hate all of them.
After while she stopped by turning away and sliding down the door in defeat, she looked around, "Whe-re… am... I n-ow-?"
The corridor lights flicker before ominous growls and crawling resounds through the area.
Wren tensed, "Ho-o bb-oi…"
~7~
The higher the floors they navigate, the more infantry men patrolled. The more they fought their way through. At the moment, Tifa, and Barret managed to sneak to the stairway of the 60th floor while waiting for Cloud doing one last recon.
"I told ya, that every floor above the 60th level is special and not easy to get to even for regular employees." Barret harshly whispered.
Tifa sigh before whispering back, "Well, you were the one who said to go through the front. We could've taken the stairs."
"It's the only quicker to get through the floors. Saving us time to save Aerith and the shrimp."
"That is true, but I hope we don't run into anymore unnecessary fights." Tifa hugged her arm, "I really hope Aerith and Wren are okay. Especially Wren, she's just..." She thought of the Wren's mannerism when she was with them, always looking around and waiting if someone noticed her as strange.
Barret huffed, "The shrimp is small but she ain't weak Tifa."
Tifa shakes her head, "I know but… I can't help it."
Cloud entered the stairway, "All cleared, the guards didn't expect anything." He noticed Tifa's concern face, "Is something up?"
I don't want Cloud to worry. Tifa blinked and recomposed herself, "I'm okay. Let's hurry."
~7~
In the wrecked corridors, Wren ducked behind some containers. The lights flickered while she covered her mouth attempting to steady her breath.
Her senses sharpened with her hearing catching hums of growls with heavy footsteps approaching.
What do I?! I need to get out of here! Wren shut her eyes, Think Wren. She takes a deep breath as her senses map out the area around her. Even with her eyes shut, she can see the grotesque monster and its crawling minions approaching but also the rooms nearby. That's it.
Wren opened her eyes and waited for the monster to pass.
She quietly makes her way to a room nearby.
Inside the room are wrecked examination chairs with some unknown substance spilled across the floor.
For a moment, she could see herself strapped in the chair fighting the people restraining her.
Wren grabbed her head in pain, "Why- This is not real."
Vividly remembering the pain, the shouts, the walls painted in crimson red, and even the people that ended by her.
Her breathing grew ragged and the vision swirled. She caught sight of her hands, for a moment she saw the black claws. Then black drops of liquid fell on her hands. Wren felt something drip from her nose. She wiped it with her forearm, black blood.
Why is it black?! Wren ears drowned out the noise, her body shake, her reality shifting back and forth. Stop! Wren slammed her head on the wall to regain her senses.
Everything stopped.
"O-ow..." She looked around the room again, then she also checked herself. The sight of the blood is there but not triggered like before. Wren frowned before taking a deep breath, "I need to find my swords."
Another loud growl resounded through the area. Wren quickly leaves for the next room. Little did she know that she was being secretly monitored.
~7~
The blonde hair man nonchalantly observed the girl through the cameras he hacked on his tablet.
He noticed how S2 cautiously maneuver through the area with its heighten senses. He witnessed the mental break of the experiment.
As soon as S2 enter the room, the child instantly froze before clutching its head in pain. It trembled as it looked at it hands while black blood dripped from its nose. It slammed its head on the wall to regain its senses.
"It has issues. It will be easy to use." He smirks, "But I will need to see more… A little incentive to fight back."
He pressed a button on the tablet. He switched to another camera to see the monster stocking approaching the area S2 was in.
The man chuckled, "Good luck surviving S2."
~7~
She failed to find anything and continues her search through the other rooms while evading the monsters stocking the floor.
Why are there more monsters? The girl sweat dripped down her face, Relax Wren. You can do this… Wren remembered her encounter with the president. He's not what I was expecting… She sigh, what was I expecting… I'm… a freak... Wren something wet coming from her eyes. She realizes it was her tears. She quickly wipes them, No… I have to survive.
More time passed until she managed to stumble into a room filled with computers and wires connecting to a chair and helmet.
"What is this place?" The girl mindlessly approached the computer. She ran her finger on the buttons that triggered the computer to awake from its sleep. The girl is taken aback by the computer booting up.
"Woah…" Wren eyes widened in amazement as she looked at the information flowing through all the screens. She paused. "Will I find out more about me?" She noticed the lettering on the computer. "S. N. D.?" She tilted her head in confusion as she read the smaller letters, "Syn- nap- tic-…. N- et-… Dr-ive-… What?" She looked over at the helmet and chewed her lip, "I shouldn't…" After a few moments, the gnawing curiosity gets the best of her, "It won't hurt… right?"
The girl approached the machine and sat herself down. The helmet begins to glow.
Wren calmed herself, "Here goes nothing." She shuts her eyes and puts on the helmet.
["Warning. Unknown entering the S.N.D."]
A female voice was all she heard before everything went blank.
"Who are you?" The voice said.
~7~
The blonde man narrowed his eyes at the tablet projecting static camera feed. Something or someone blocked him out.
He shrugged and flipped the tablet down, No matter. Everything is still going according to my plan.
~7~
Wren opened her eyes and finds herself standing before a shirtless man in a white coat with white hair sitting on a throne.
The man glared at her, "Who are you?"
A person? Wren swallowed, "W-who are you?"
'Does this girl want to die?' The man clicked his tongue, "Why should I answer to you?"
He seems mean… Wren frowned, "You asked the question. So-"
Instantly, the man went from the throne to in front of the girl with his sword pointing at her face. "Choose the next words carefully pest."
He's not scary… Not like the scientist… Wren looked at the man's eyes.
'It's not a Restrictor.' The man slower etched his sword closer to Wren's face.
He doesn't trust me. If I tell him I'm S2… He might back off… right?... I should do this slowly… Wren felt a cold sweat, "I'm… Subject S2."
"Subject S2?" The man stopped.
Wren almost sigh in relief when suddenly the man roughly grabbed the girl by the throat and lifted her in the air. She felt the air leaving, Wren senses were going wild.
"Are you trying to test my power?" He asked as he choked the girl.
Hoo boy… Wren coughed while struggling to answer, "No-o… I ju-just ne-ed to- know w-who I am… Hojo-"
The man pulled her closer, "Hojo sent you."
"N-No… The S.N.D-"
"Unfortunately, it was foolish coming in here."
His hand continues to crush her neck with a sadistic smile.
S2 struggled as her hand grabbed the man's hand that restrained her.
N-No I can't let it end here. NO! She gritted her teeth while using her full strength.
["Error. Enemy advantage."]
The man eyes widen, "What?"
In a split moment, S2's hands became black claws and ripped herself off the man's grip.
She coughed a few moments before turning to glare at the man.
"So, you can fight."
["Eliminate."]
Her mind shuts off as her anger burned, "Shut up!"
The man's smile grew, "Come at me."
"Haaah!" Wren charged at the man.
They fought like two feral animals.
His blades dodged moments before impact while S2 counters with precise hand combat.
Kill. Kill. Kill. S2's mind kept repeating while thrashing her opponent.
Her senses peaked like a third eye through seeing his whole being and the data that surround them.
["Updated. Enemy movement tracked."]
After another clash, the man relaxed his stance.
"I'm impressed. You're not any normal subjects sent here." He puts away his sword, "You may be useful to my cause."
["Advantage on the enemy."]
S2 mindlessly charged again. Kill. Kill. Kill.
The man anticipated her attack, "Shelke."
S2 stopped in midair while her claw barely a centimeter away from the man's eyes.
["Enemy restrained."]
The man smirk, "I guess I will humor you with an explanation."
["Obtaining enemy data for control."]
The chains revealed themselves holding S2 in place.
["Error."]
I… Kill. Kill- S2's mind continued; however, the restraints tighten more. S2 gritted her teeth, "Raaah!"
["Mind takeover initiated."]
The man laughed, "Yes. Show me more of your anger." He walked back to his throne and sat down. "Breaking free is a matter of time for you."
What- Kill. Kill. No- Why- S2 shuts her eyes while shaking her head.
"Deepground, a place where hell is a reality for the weak. Only the superior thrives here. However, the inferior humans, the scientist, think it's easily to cast us away down here forever."
["Mind Takeover 30%"]
Kill. I- Can't… S2 felt someone trying to search her and trying to move her body. Stop…
He continued to watch S2 struggle. "No doubt you are more like us. A strong being. You're not like the candidates that are easy to use and throw away."
["Mind Takeover 60%"]
I won't- Let- S2 made eye contact with the man.
'Shelke warned me of the unknown entering the S.N.D. 'Subject S2', it said its name was. A name not heard in Deepground.' The man smirked, "But you are free. This is useful. You won't die easily." He gets up and impaled a sword into her then retracts his blade.
She bled out black blood, What- The panic sets in, Am I dying? No-
["Error. Enemy slowly being eliminated."]
"Good luck surviving." The man waited in anticipation watching glee, It has black blood. This is even more entertaining.
Blood continued to spill as S2 memories went to Kai. The memories of when she was in the cabin to his last moments.
"Good luck surviving."
["Error."]
S2 eyes dilated and claws clenched, No-
["Mind Takeover 60%"]
S2 fought the pull, I will-
["Error."]
Survive! S2 forced herself to speak, "I- I'm not- your toy!"
["Error."]
Finally, S2 broke free and momentarily went limp on the ground.
["Mind Takeover Failed."]
S2 shakily got up. Unknowingly to her, the wound she suffered healed itself at an alarming rate and her claws reverted back to normal hands.
She survived.
She cautiously stared at the man.
["Enemy data successfully retrieved. Copying."]
The man sadistically grinned, "You exceed my expectation. You didn't die. Then again, I may have given you too much credit. Your consciousness didn't die."
He's saying he could've killed me if I was in a normal place, S2 huffed as she continued to glare, "Then, where am I?"
The man shrugged, "The S.N.D. A place where data is access and consciousness are influenced if they are weak-minded." He tapped his head with his finger.
Wait is that the giant computer in the room? S2 blinked, "I was in a room. There was a computer with a helmet attached to it. Is that the S.N.D.?"
The man laughed, "Those scientists had something like that lying around there. How interesting."
S2 frown, "It's infested with monsters, there are no scientists there."
"Then those humans got what they had coming. They always treated us as fodder, but in reality, they are always afraid of the superior beings we are."
S2 gulped, "Who's we?"
'This one will join us.' The man approached her with charisma, "We are the Tsviets."
They are the Tsviets that Hojo said he is going to pair me with, S2 felt a cold sweat. This man wants me to join them.
"The one who restrained you is Shelke the Transparent."
There is another one here? S2's eyes narrowed, "Where is he?"
The man smirked, "She is processing the data from our fight. I told her not to interfere with my hunt until my command. All for our cause."
This was a hunt? Then what did he mean when he mentioned his cause? S2 swallowed as she stared at the ground, "Then who are you?"
He gingerly lifts her chin, "Weiss the Immaculate. Subject S2. Is that the name you are were given?" Weiss waited for S2 answer, 'She can be the same value as my brother Nero is to me. A valuable person.'
S2 is taken aback by Weiss honesty. She sensed the faded hint of warmth in his thoughts. Weiss the Immaculate… Then, Nero must be another Tsviets… He wants me to join them. Hojo wants me to be with them too. I'm just another experiment… but… they're also experiments too. I'm not alone… Not breaking eye contact with him, S2 caved, "I- I- I only found out that I'm Subject S2."
To her, Weiss mind was sound quiet, patiently waiting.
She continued, "I still don't know who I am. They wanted to get rid of me. They didn't like me. Then they wanted to use me. Because-"
"They fear your gifts."
"I hate them." S2 admitted, "All of them."
"Then join us Subject S2. They want to lock the rest of us away."
"It's Wren. Not S2."
"Wren. Join us."
Wren read Weiss thoughts, both his words and mind were the same.
The fragile silence pass by.
"You are trying to break free too. That's why you fought me because I am free that I was able to break away from here. I survived. Right?"
'Smart girl.' Weiss hummed in amusement, "I would've killed you for not choosing a side. The offer still stands."
Will they look for me? They don't know I'm S2. I'm not human… Wren's heart hurt when she thought of Cloud and the others, "If I give you more data, will you help me find out where I am born. I can't help you if I am like this."
Weiss grinned, "I will overlook this because you showed me something impressive. This is the only mercy I will show you."
"I will tell what I know. From where I came. From what…" She remembered the dream she had, "… I remember."
Weiss walked back to his throne again, "Do tell. We have time while we retrieve more of your data. You will be among our ranks soon Wren."
Wren nodded, "I am searching for Mother."
Then Wren spent the time Weiss allowed her to stay in the S.N.D by divulging her reason for coming to Midgar, her capture, and Hojo's plan for her.
In turn, Weiss divulged his plan on taking over Deepground with the other Tsviets by eliminating the Restrictors in a repetitive grueling process and the virus that will kill him if one wrong move happens.
The child becomes swayed Weiss charisma through their kindred history of experimentation, even if she doesn't remember most of it, and their want of freedom. She was unaware of the being's true intent. She naïvely made a pact with a dangerous being.
A being that she will later regret helping…
~7~
Exiting the vents, Avalanche processing the information the leaders of Shinra decided to handle with the Ancient and S2.
Barret hits his fist on the wall, "Damn… Those Shinra slimes…"
Tifa hugged her arm, "How can they do that to… They're talking about Aerith and Wren."
She really wasn't an ordinary kid… and I failed her…dammit… Cloud clenched his fist, "Wren…"
For a moment, the gang went silent.
That scientist... Professor Hojo. Cloud finds the name eerily familiar. He snaps himself out of his thought and composed himself, "The man in the coat. Let's follow him."
Barret and Tifa nodded in agreement.
They make their way out of the restroom to follow the scientist, Professor Hojo.
~7~
Wren took off the helmet before rubbing her head, "A forest that has a Deepground…" She paused, Weiss the Immaculate… I wonder when we will meet again…
Suddenly, she dropped the helmet. Her eyes trailed up to the figure standing before her. Clear as day she saw every feature. Long silver hair, mako green eyes, a black coat, and a knowing smile. She shakes at the sight of him.
"Why are you surprised?" He spoke.
I can't read him… Wren got off the chair to a fighting stance, "Why-Who are you?"
The man smirked at her, "We share her blood, of course, you are one of our kind S2. That's why you're here. Searching. Searching for her."
She grabbed her head as it throbbed like memories ready to burst through, "W-who's mother?"
He smirked as he extends his hand to her, "Join me. I will show you the world we can create. Come now S2."
Her body moved on her own, like a puppet swayed back and forth making her way to the extended hand.
"Wren…" She heard a woman's voice called.
"No… Stop…" Wren muttered.
"Wren…" The warm voice called.
She shut her eyes, flashes of Cloud and everyone's warmth triggered a determination. I want to see them again… She yelled at the man, "No!"
He retracted his hand, "They won't accept you. If they know the truth. Your only place is here with mother."
"Go away. Just leave me alone!" She charged at him; however, he phased through, "What?"
When she turned around, the man was gone, only hearing his laughter, "Soon S2. She awaits you at the reunion."
Before Wren could react, the wall burst apart with the grotesque beast with tentacle arms howling. The monster ready to attack, but Wren dodged it.
Unfortunately, the minions' dog-piled Wren to the ground.
The girl struggled under the enemy.
She tried to claw them, but her hands were not turning into claws.
"W-what?! I did it before, why now?!"
The tentacle arm of the bigger monster ready to attack again. This time, she is thrown into the wall, breaking through it and into a now half-shattered containment cell. She is unaware something rolled out from her.
Those claws would be really helpful right now, Wren gritted her teeth as she got up. Her body ached, she felt one of her eyes hard to open, and something wet run down her face.
She saw the monsters coming after her.
"Damn…" Wren finally spotted the thing that rolled from her, That's-
Felicia took something out of her pocket, "Here, open your hand."
Wren did as she was told and was given an orb, "What's this?"
"A magic materia. It's called Ultima."
"Oh, but why give it to me?" Wren saw her eyes flash a twinkle.
'Because you remind me of me,' Felicia pats her head, "You're a mercenary. Besides, it will be good for close calls."
The monsters charged at her.
Wren used her strength to grab the materia.
Wren shakily got up, focusing her energy as Ultima glows in her hand. She felt the containment cell begins to move like an elevator, but she ignored it. She glared the monsters closing in, "Take this jerk!"
The bigger monster growled while leaping in to attacks as the monster one followed.
"Ultima!"
The energy exploded around them. The strong force of Ultima caused the containment cell to fall at a rapid rate with Wren and the monster in it.
~7~
Cloud and the other stood in front of the containment cell, trying to free Aerith away from the red beast she was with.
When they confronted him, they are disgusted by Professor's Hojo plan to breed Aerith and Wren for the purpose of "persevering the species" like they were animals.
We need to get her out of there and quickly find Wren! Cloud looked over to Barret, "Barret! Can't you do anything?!"
Barret realizes Cloud's idea, "Alright! Step back!" He raised his gun arm and proceeds to shoot the containment cell.
"Stop!" Hojo demanded.
Barret ignored him as he continued to shoot the cell. The power overloaded, causing the cell to turning white as the circuits go haywire.
The mad scientist runs up to the containment cell, "What… What are you do- Oh! My precious specimens…"
The door opened and when light died, the red beast jumped the professor.
Unknown to the others, the mad scientist pushed a switch he had as he struggled with his specimen mauling him.
"Now's our chance to get Aerith!" Cloud runs into the cell to help Aerith out.
Aerith took Cloud's hand, "Thanks Cloud."
The both rushed out of the cell. Tifa pulled Aerith in a hug and Barret huffed in content.
However, Cloud heard a strange noise behind him. He looks back at the containment cell.
Tifa noticed Cloud's concern face, "Cloud… What's wrong?"
Cloud realizes there is an empty space behind the containment cell to bring down another cell of it size. It was another elevator. "… The elevator is moving."
Professor Hojo manages to escape the beast clutches. The man begins to laugh, "This is no ordinary specimen. I sent S2 to its floor level to test it survival instincts! This a very ferocious specimen! I wouldn't surprise if S2 fails!"
The girls gasped.
Barret hollered, "That ain't right!"
Cloud glared at the scientist, "What?!"
The beast ear twitched and turned to the party, "He's rather strong. I'll help you all out."
The party stood stunned at the sight of the talking beast.
Tifa spoke, "It talked?!"
The beast nodded, "I'll talk as much as you want later, Miss."
The elevator suddenly made screeching noises like metal scraping against each other.
It's coming quickly, Cloud looked at the elevator then to the party, "We'll take care of that monster." He looks over to Barret, "Barret, take care of Aerith!"
Barret nodded, "You got it. This way flower lady."
Aerith nodded and turns to the others, "Cloud, Tifa, be careful." Then allowed Barret to escort her to safety.
Cloud looks to the beast, "What's your name?"
The beast hummed, "Hojo has named me, Red XIII. A name with no meaning whatsoever to me. Call me whatever you wish."
Cloud nodded, "Red XIII it is." Cloud looks back to the elevator that is now crashing down, "Come on!"
The party took a fighting stance. The elevator crashed and the floor shook as dust filled the place.
They heard coughing and someone limping through the dust.
Cloud's and Tifa's eyes widen at the person, "Wren!"
Wren looked up with her bruised and cut face in disbelief, "Cloud…"
Suddenly, the monster roared behind the girl.
A/N: Merry Christmas & Happy New Years Everyone! (Even it's a few days late. (^u^)) Thank you for enjoying the story. I know updating can be slow, but bear with me. IRL can be really time consuming. (^u^;) Also, for those requesting about writing DoC fanfics/ asking about adopting fanfic in my reviews, would you kindly please DM me about this. I would look into it and want to know details of the stories you suggest :) However, it might be a while to write them.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. (-^u^-) How will Cloud and Tifa react to Wren's claws? Or when the party finds out of her ability to read thoughts. I don't know, maybe, we will find out in the next chapter. ~('u'~) I wanted Wren to have connections to other characters that have Jenova Cells in them because she is one of Hojo's experiments derived from Project S. I think that they all have like a somewhat Kin relationship because they are influenced by Jenova cells whether they are aware of it or not. The mystery will continue to unravel as Wren tries to understand what she really is and how she ended up in the cabin with Kai when her memories finally become clear (but that will be awhile.). Also, it will be a while before we see some more DoC characters again and the one saying 'Error' and stuff was Shelke. Leave a comment if you have any feedback. Until next time~(-^u^-)y