The Last of an Elite
Chapter Four: Scars and Brainwashing
By InterfaceLeader
-~-~-~-
A short, squat man, with black hair that refused to stay tame, rough skin and a belly that had started developing when he was no more than 9, that had recently thickened even more with middle-age. A harsh voice, tiny yet bulging eyes, and a talent for clumsiness and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Heidegger had not been born a lucky man.
Despite this, he actually possessed a keen intelligence of the military kind. Although his people skills were relatively bad, Tseng knew for a fact that Heidegger had been one of the three factors that had won the war against Wutai.
The first, most important factor, had been Shin-Ra's resources. Better funded, better equipped, and with the weaponry to overwhelm the Wutaian army. The second factor had been Septhiroth – the Jenova "super-warrior" that Hojo had created – and the third had been Heidegger's superior military tactics.
As a result of his involvement in the war President Shin-Ra had promoted him to head of the army – renamed the 'peace preservation forces' – and had given him control of much of the weaponry and military might of Shin-Ra.
He was partnered with another person, a woman called Scarlet. She had probably been a beauty in her younger days, but had taken ageing hard. Most Shin-Ra employee's considered her loose, many termed her a slut and spread stories behind her back. Few happened to mention her skill with firearms and mechanical weapons. She had been part of the design team that created the Junon cannon, a weapon that protected the Shin-Ra military port from any oversea attacks, and allowed Midgar to protect trade and commerce channels. She had been active in the promotion and building of Mako reactors around the world, and ruthless in her treatment of any opposing factions.
Tseng respected them both, despite the commonly held views about them, and he awaited their decision on the new personnel with interest.
"We've looked over the two recruits Tseng. You've picked well, after the usual training they should both be excellent additions to the peacekeeping forces! Gya-ha-ha!"
"But!" Interrupted Scarlet "We have some concerns! Firstly their... how can I put it... their psychological profiles. We don't want a repeat of the tragic events that occurred two days ago, do we?"
"We also" added Heidegger "Have the problem of Reno Denli's family... he appears fairly attached to them. They could be a potential weak spot."
"Yes Sir. I understand that. However I still feel Reno has – certain talents we could utilise." 'Like blind luck and stubbornness' Tseng added in his head.
"Kya-ha-ha! I'm sure he does have... talent. But the fact remains his family are a drawback."
"Do you have any suggestions?" Tseng inquired.
"We do." Heidegger leaned back in his chair and contemplated Tseng. "Hojo believes he can utilise a new science technique to eliminate the attachment to anything except Shinra and the Turks. It's all a bit complicated" Heidegger frowned "But President Shin-Ra has given the go-ahead for the procedure to be performed on Reno Denli. Problem solved – and we don't need to worry about a repeat of the last incident then either."
"Yes sir. Will Rude be undergoing this procedure as well?"
"Kya-ha-ha-ha! No, Rude's psychological profile suggests him as being a stable, loyal employee. We will simply have normal training for him."
"Very well."
"Tell Reno to report to Hojo then." Heidegger stood, and looked hard at Tseng. "If the technique fails you must kill him, understand?"
"Sir." Tseng saluted.
"Gya-aha-ha! Dismissed!"
-~-~-~-
Hojo felt the edge of the scalpel, the sharp edge bringing a single drop of crimson blood that beaded and slid down the shiny, slippery surface. Wiping it clean on an antiseptic towel, he turned to the animal strapped to the table. It had been a bird, but having been infused with Mako it had grown abnormally large and a strange mutated lump had started developing along it's spinal cord. Hojo intended to cut it out and study it, to discover if it had purpose, and if so what the purpose of it was.
He was interrupted by someone knocking on his door. Setting aside his scalpel with a sigh, he turned to see who it was.
"um.. Hi? I'm er... looking for Hojo..." Reno stared at the bird.
"I am Hojo." The scientist regarded the Turk through his glasses. His white lab coat and pallid skin had been shaded green by the light being given off by the Mako containers in the room. The flickering light lent the scientist a "mad doctor" look, not helped by the strapped and mutated bird, the caged animals, the beakers of chemicals and the strange metal container in the centre of the room.
'I'm sure he's very nice really', Reno thought.
"Hi Hojo. I'm Reno. I've been told to see you. I hope you know why 'cause I sure don't. The guys round here like keeping everything secret and hush hush."
"I know why you've been sent here." Hojo unstrapped the bird and placed it in an empty cage. It gave a mild, drug-dazed squawk of protest. "Lie on the table."
"Okaaaaaay, I think there's been a mistake somewhere. Ya see I ain't a lab animal. So no lying on scary looking tables for me today, thanks all the same."
"Do you think you have a choice?" Hojo's voice was flat, but there was an almost sibilant undertone to it. His hands were filling a hypodermic needle with an opaque yellow liquid.
"Well, yeah. They wouldn't make me a Turk so some science dude could try and find a cure for cancer on me."
"Lie down." Hojo raised the hypodermic needle. "This isn't medicine. This is art."
-~-~-~-
Rude pummelled the punchbag. Anger at his embarrassing performance against Reno burned deep, but to the other people in the room he appeared expressionless, punching the bag with a robotic rhythm.
After Tseng had made the decision to make Reno a Turk he had ordered Rude to take him through the whole process, a guided tour, introduction to the Turks, and equipping him with standard issue items.
After Rude had performed that task Tseng had then ordered Reno to see Hojo. Rude recalled his own Mako infusion from SOLDIER. It had increased his strength and stamina. He assumed Reno was getting the same treatment. 'He held his own without Mako. Will this make him a better fighter than me?' The feelings he felt towards the redhead confused him. At first he had thought him annoying. Then he had felt sorry for him. Then he had been impressed by his fighting ability, but had assumed he could still beat him easily. Then the whole sorry scenario in Tseng's office had occurred and what he felt was –
"It's just jealously, that's all." The female guard who was also training in the gym spoke to her friend, a secretary who liked to hang around making pert comments about the men working out.
"I know what you mean."
"I know I'm a better fighter than she is – that's why I got accepted into the army, and she didn't. But why should that affect our friendship? It's not like I'm the one at fault here! I mean I hate to sound bitchy but she's not exactly the brightest spark is she? Bit of an airhead really."
"Yeah..."
"Well, if she can't accept that the problem between us is her, not me, I really don't see how we can stay friends. Ya know?"
"Mm, yeah. It's a tricky problem... I remember I went through a similar thing once..."
Rude phased the voices out. Stopping the punch-bag mid-swing, he left the gym.
1 'Is it jealousy?'
-~-~-~-
The sky. It filled his view, a great arc of nothingness. Vertigo threatened him, he could feel nausea and dizziness stealing his consciousness away. But he couldn't pull himself from the great grey sweeps of mist and smoke, the battling yellow-tinged clouds, the heaving turbulence of empty air, pushed into a frenzy by an invisible force that battered at the sky, screaming with rage, even as it tore the mists apart and flung the pieces around.
"Sweet Holy.... It's so different to what I expected..."
He had stood and stared at it for an hour, lost in its mystery. The people around had continued their lives, ignoring the sight of the awe-stricken slum-dweller who had come up. They had become used to the people who came up on a one day pass to apply for the Shinra army – the only real way out of the slums. Emerging from the train station, they all exhibited the same behaviour. It happened so frequently that the upper-plate citizens had termed the people "sky-spaced."
-~-~-~-
Pain. Pain that rushed through his veins. Even unconscious he tried to pull himself away from the source, but the straps, capable of holding down 12 foot tall monsters, held him firmly in place.
His mother. Her face twisted, strange, mutated.
His sister. A changeling. Abnormal.
His two brothers. Mocking, sharp, sliced.
Pain.
-~-~-~-
The sky again. Pain dissolved into euphoria. He could feel the wind, it pushed at him, not hard, but playful. Everything about him was good, the people were golden gods, shining, sparkling with goodness and beauty and love.
-~-~-~-
"Mum...."
The word brought on another burst of pain. His mind, attempting to shield itself from the agony, pushed the word away, downwards. Deep into the subconscious. With the word went the concept, the idea. Everything associated with the word "mum" disappeared into the churning void.
-~-~-~-
The sky. It shielded a perfect world. A perfect city. Powered by green light, suspended in the air. Hiding the dirt, the mud, the hunched diseased ugly drunks and junkies and whores and pimps. Protecting the beautiful and the innocent and the loving.
He wanted to protect it. Protect the city. Protect the sky.
At the centre of the city. A great spike of a building that stood proudly, reaching up to the sky as if to meet with it.
"Shin-Ra...."
The word triggered another rush of euphoria. Shin-Ra was good. Shin-Ra was proud. Shin-Ra held the city up, kept it floating, kept the light flowing.
"Shin-Ra...." Love replaced the euphoria. He would protect the city, keep it up. As a part of Shin-Ra.
-~-~-~-
Hojo glanced at the computer screen. A zigzag line crossed it, bursts of activity in the brain producing sharp falls and rises in the line. The line was currently fairly level, about two-thirds of the screen up. Hojo nodded to himself and turned away from the screen.
Glancing across at the table, where Reno was strapped, Hojo felt the flicker of hate that came more and more easily these days. The man that lay unconscious with a blissful expression on his face reminded Hojo too much of another man. They shared little similarity in looks, a certain smooth attractiveness, a certain underlying charm was all. But Hojo needed very little to remind him.
Picking up the scalpel he had tested earlier, Hojo approached the man. Resting the scalpel on one smooth cheek he allowed himself to apply just enough pressure. Blood welled up over the edge of the cut, slipping down the contours of the face and staining the table below. He drew a line with the scalpel edge that led from just to the side and under the eye down across the raised bump of the cheek and stopping just as it reached the hollow to the side of the nose. Raising the scalpel and allowing the blood to drip off its smooth surface, he slid one finger across the cut, smudging the blood across the face.
He then repeated the process for the other cheek, creating a perfectly symmetrical cut that marred the otherwise unblemished skin.
Behind the glasses his eyes flashed, remembering another place, another time.
"Not so pretty now, eh Valentine?"
-~-~-~-
President Shin-Ra was once again listening to opera music. He was once again gazing out over the city he shaped. Heidegger wondered if he was looking at the newly finished reactor which had been built in sector six. Work had proceeded well, despite the complaints of the people of the sector six slums.
"Sir! I am happy to report the Turks are once again a functioning unit! You can utilise them again any time you wish - Gya-ha-ha!"
"Hmm."
Heidegger blinked. He had expected slightly more enthusiasm.
"Where do we go from here Heidegger?"
"Sir?"
"We've done it. Midgar is nearly finished. We now have a monopoly on the power resources of the world. We're rich, powerful.... what's next?"
"Uh.... " Heidegger tried to think of a response. "There's always the Promised Land? Gya-ha-ha?"
"Hmm – you're right. We'll put Tseng on to trying to capture that Ancient, whatever her name is." President Shin-Ra smiled "Remember – there's always somewhere higher to reach. Thank you Heidegger."
"Gya-ha-ha-ha! Sir!" Heidegger saluted and left.
-~-~-~-
A/N: Well, I warned ya. Plot and character. The brainwashing technique Hojo uses has Freudian overtones – you can blame my Psychology class for that. Not really humorous, unless you find scientific madness funny ^^;; I'll try and keep the balance between humour/action and angst/introspection for future chapters, let me know if it ever gets too heavy. And thanks for all the reviews they're very motivating!
Oh, and if you're wondering about my use of Shinra/Shin-Ra it alters depending on which character is the focus... just another way of me trying to develop their personalities. I'll be doing something similar with Aeris/Aerith so don't flame me about mixing them up. Thanks! ^_^
Chapter Four: Scars and Brainwashing
By InterfaceLeader
-~-~-~-
A short, squat man, with black hair that refused to stay tame, rough skin and a belly that had started developing when he was no more than 9, that had recently thickened even more with middle-age. A harsh voice, tiny yet bulging eyes, and a talent for clumsiness and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Heidegger had not been born a lucky man.
Despite this, he actually possessed a keen intelligence of the military kind. Although his people skills were relatively bad, Tseng knew for a fact that Heidegger had been one of the three factors that had won the war against Wutai.
The first, most important factor, had been Shin-Ra's resources. Better funded, better equipped, and with the weaponry to overwhelm the Wutaian army. The second factor had been Septhiroth – the Jenova "super-warrior" that Hojo had created – and the third had been Heidegger's superior military tactics.
As a result of his involvement in the war President Shin-Ra had promoted him to head of the army – renamed the 'peace preservation forces' – and had given him control of much of the weaponry and military might of Shin-Ra.
He was partnered with another person, a woman called Scarlet. She had probably been a beauty in her younger days, but had taken ageing hard. Most Shin-Ra employee's considered her loose, many termed her a slut and spread stories behind her back. Few happened to mention her skill with firearms and mechanical weapons. She had been part of the design team that created the Junon cannon, a weapon that protected the Shin-Ra military port from any oversea attacks, and allowed Midgar to protect trade and commerce channels. She had been active in the promotion and building of Mako reactors around the world, and ruthless in her treatment of any opposing factions.
Tseng respected them both, despite the commonly held views about them, and he awaited their decision on the new personnel with interest.
"We've looked over the two recruits Tseng. You've picked well, after the usual training they should both be excellent additions to the peacekeeping forces! Gya-ha-ha!"
"But!" Interrupted Scarlet "We have some concerns! Firstly their... how can I put it... their psychological profiles. We don't want a repeat of the tragic events that occurred two days ago, do we?"
"We also" added Heidegger "Have the problem of Reno Denli's family... he appears fairly attached to them. They could be a potential weak spot."
"Yes Sir. I understand that. However I still feel Reno has – certain talents we could utilise." 'Like blind luck and stubbornness' Tseng added in his head.
"Kya-ha-ha! I'm sure he does have... talent. But the fact remains his family are a drawback."
"Do you have any suggestions?" Tseng inquired.
"We do." Heidegger leaned back in his chair and contemplated Tseng. "Hojo believes he can utilise a new science technique to eliminate the attachment to anything except Shinra and the Turks. It's all a bit complicated" Heidegger frowned "But President Shin-Ra has given the go-ahead for the procedure to be performed on Reno Denli. Problem solved – and we don't need to worry about a repeat of the last incident then either."
"Yes sir. Will Rude be undergoing this procedure as well?"
"Kya-ha-ha-ha! No, Rude's psychological profile suggests him as being a stable, loyal employee. We will simply have normal training for him."
"Very well."
"Tell Reno to report to Hojo then." Heidegger stood, and looked hard at Tseng. "If the technique fails you must kill him, understand?"
"Sir." Tseng saluted.
"Gya-aha-ha! Dismissed!"
-~-~-~-
Hojo felt the edge of the scalpel, the sharp edge bringing a single drop of crimson blood that beaded and slid down the shiny, slippery surface. Wiping it clean on an antiseptic towel, he turned to the animal strapped to the table. It had been a bird, but having been infused with Mako it had grown abnormally large and a strange mutated lump had started developing along it's spinal cord. Hojo intended to cut it out and study it, to discover if it had purpose, and if so what the purpose of it was.
He was interrupted by someone knocking on his door. Setting aside his scalpel with a sigh, he turned to see who it was.
"um.. Hi? I'm er... looking for Hojo..." Reno stared at the bird.
"I am Hojo." The scientist regarded the Turk through his glasses. His white lab coat and pallid skin had been shaded green by the light being given off by the Mako containers in the room. The flickering light lent the scientist a "mad doctor" look, not helped by the strapped and mutated bird, the caged animals, the beakers of chemicals and the strange metal container in the centre of the room.
'I'm sure he's very nice really', Reno thought.
"Hi Hojo. I'm Reno. I've been told to see you. I hope you know why 'cause I sure don't. The guys round here like keeping everything secret and hush hush."
"I know why you've been sent here." Hojo unstrapped the bird and placed it in an empty cage. It gave a mild, drug-dazed squawk of protest. "Lie on the table."
"Okaaaaaay, I think there's been a mistake somewhere. Ya see I ain't a lab animal. So no lying on scary looking tables for me today, thanks all the same."
"Do you think you have a choice?" Hojo's voice was flat, but there was an almost sibilant undertone to it. His hands were filling a hypodermic needle with an opaque yellow liquid.
"Well, yeah. They wouldn't make me a Turk so some science dude could try and find a cure for cancer on me."
"Lie down." Hojo raised the hypodermic needle. "This isn't medicine. This is art."
-~-~-~-
Rude pummelled the punchbag. Anger at his embarrassing performance against Reno burned deep, but to the other people in the room he appeared expressionless, punching the bag with a robotic rhythm.
After Tseng had made the decision to make Reno a Turk he had ordered Rude to take him through the whole process, a guided tour, introduction to the Turks, and equipping him with standard issue items.
After Rude had performed that task Tseng had then ordered Reno to see Hojo. Rude recalled his own Mako infusion from SOLDIER. It had increased his strength and stamina. He assumed Reno was getting the same treatment. 'He held his own without Mako. Will this make him a better fighter than me?' The feelings he felt towards the redhead confused him. At first he had thought him annoying. Then he had felt sorry for him. Then he had been impressed by his fighting ability, but had assumed he could still beat him easily. Then the whole sorry scenario in Tseng's office had occurred and what he felt was –
"It's just jealously, that's all." The female guard who was also training in the gym spoke to her friend, a secretary who liked to hang around making pert comments about the men working out.
"I know what you mean."
"I know I'm a better fighter than she is – that's why I got accepted into the army, and she didn't. But why should that affect our friendship? It's not like I'm the one at fault here! I mean I hate to sound bitchy but she's not exactly the brightest spark is she? Bit of an airhead really."
"Yeah..."
"Well, if she can't accept that the problem between us is her, not me, I really don't see how we can stay friends. Ya know?"
"Mm, yeah. It's a tricky problem... I remember I went through a similar thing once..."
Rude phased the voices out. Stopping the punch-bag mid-swing, he left the gym.
1 'Is it jealousy?'
-~-~-~-
The sky. It filled his view, a great arc of nothingness. Vertigo threatened him, he could feel nausea and dizziness stealing his consciousness away. But he couldn't pull himself from the great grey sweeps of mist and smoke, the battling yellow-tinged clouds, the heaving turbulence of empty air, pushed into a frenzy by an invisible force that battered at the sky, screaming with rage, even as it tore the mists apart and flung the pieces around.
"Sweet Holy.... It's so different to what I expected..."
He had stood and stared at it for an hour, lost in its mystery. The people around had continued their lives, ignoring the sight of the awe-stricken slum-dweller who had come up. They had become used to the people who came up on a one day pass to apply for the Shinra army – the only real way out of the slums. Emerging from the train station, they all exhibited the same behaviour. It happened so frequently that the upper-plate citizens had termed the people "sky-spaced."
-~-~-~-
Pain. Pain that rushed through his veins. Even unconscious he tried to pull himself away from the source, but the straps, capable of holding down 12 foot tall monsters, held him firmly in place.
His mother. Her face twisted, strange, mutated.
His sister. A changeling. Abnormal.
His two brothers. Mocking, sharp, sliced.
Pain.
-~-~-~-
The sky again. Pain dissolved into euphoria. He could feel the wind, it pushed at him, not hard, but playful. Everything about him was good, the people were golden gods, shining, sparkling with goodness and beauty and love.
-~-~-~-
"Mum...."
The word brought on another burst of pain. His mind, attempting to shield itself from the agony, pushed the word away, downwards. Deep into the subconscious. With the word went the concept, the idea. Everything associated with the word "mum" disappeared into the churning void.
-~-~-~-
The sky. It shielded a perfect world. A perfect city. Powered by green light, suspended in the air. Hiding the dirt, the mud, the hunched diseased ugly drunks and junkies and whores and pimps. Protecting the beautiful and the innocent and the loving.
He wanted to protect it. Protect the city. Protect the sky.
At the centre of the city. A great spike of a building that stood proudly, reaching up to the sky as if to meet with it.
"Shin-Ra...."
The word triggered another rush of euphoria. Shin-Ra was good. Shin-Ra was proud. Shin-Ra held the city up, kept it floating, kept the light flowing.
"Shin-Ra...." Love replaced the euphoria. He would protect the city, keep it up. As a part of Shin-Ra.
-~-~-~-
Hojo glanced at the computer screen. A zigzag line crossed it, bursts of activity in the brain producing sharp falls and rises in the line. The line was currently fairly level, about two-thirds of the screen up. Hojo nodded to himself and turned away from the screen.
Glancing across at the table, where Reno was strapped, Hojo felt the flicker of hate that came more and more easily these days. The man that lay unconscious with a blissful expression on his face reminded Hojo too much of another man. They shared little similarity in looks, a certain smooth attractiveness, a certain underlying charm was all. But Hojo needed very little to remind him.
Picking up the scalpel he had tested earlier, Hojo approached the man. Resting the scalpel on one smooth cheek he allowed himself to apply just enough pressure. Blood welled up over the edge of the cut, slipping down the contours of the face and staining the table below. He drew a line with the scalpel edge that led from just to the side and under the eye down across the raised bump of the cheek and stopping just as it reached the hollow to the side of the nose. Raising the scalpel and allowing the blood to drip off its smooth surface, he slid one finger across the cut, smudging the blood across the face.
He then repeated the process for the other cheek, creating a perfectly symmetrical cut that marred the otherwise unblemished skin.
Behind the glasses his eyes flashed, remembering another place, another time.
"Not so pretty now, eh Valentine?"
-~-~-~-
President Shin-Ra was once again listening to opera music. He was once again gazing out over the city he shaped. Heidegger wondered if he was looking at the newly finished reactor which had been built in sector six. Work had proceeded well, despite the complaints of the people of the sector six slums.
"Sir! I am happy to report the Turks are once again a functioning unit! You can utilise them again any time you wish - Gya-ha-ha!"
"Hmm."
Heidegger blinked. He had expected slightly more enthusiasm.
"Where do we go from here Heidegger?"
"Sir?"
"We've done it. Midgar is nearly finished. We now have a monopoly on the power resources of the world. We're rich, powerful.... what's next?"
"Uh.... " Heidegger tried to think of a response. "There's always the Promised Land? Gya-ha-ha?"
"Hmm – you're right. We'll put Tseng on to trying to capture that Ancient, whatever her name is." President Shin-Ra smiled "Remember – there's always somewhere higher to reach. Thank you Heidegger."
"Gya-ha-ha-ha! Sir!" Heidegger saluted and left.
-~-~-~-
A/N: Well, I warned ya. Plot and character. The brainwashing technique Hojo uses has Freudian overtones – you can blame my Psychology class for that. Not really humorous, unless you find scientific madness funny ^^;; I'll try and keep the balance between humour/action and angst/introspection for future chapters, let me know if it ever gets too heavy. And thanks for all the reviews they're very motivating!
Oh, and if you're wondering about my use of Shinra/Shin-Ra it alters depending on which character is the focus... just another way of me trying to develop their personalities. I'll be doing something similar with Aeris/Aerith so don't flame me about mixing them up. Thanks! ^_^