Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 and all of it's insanely screwed up characters
belong to Squaresoft. You people know this. I make no money. I write
because it's fun to screw up these characters even more.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I'm planning on this fic lasting a while, but who knows? I'll only be able to write during the week, since I have to use my school library *grumble, complain, whine, moan* See you in Chapter 1!
Prologue Part 2:
Hojo glanced up at the clock on his office wall. His eye twitched as he realized it had only been fifteen minutes. Would he have to wait forever for the lab results?
A quick knock sounded throughout the room, followed by a breathless assistant. He stumbled in and came to an abrupt stop in front of his superior's desk.
"Sir," the assistant said, his hand clutching his heart.
"Yes, what?" Hojo asked.
"The lab results just came in." The assistant laid the report on the desk, then backed away quickly. "Anything else, sir?"
Hojo waved his hand at the assistant. "No, no, go away."
The assistant was more than happy to do so.
Hojo's eyes quickly scanned the report. He scowled at the first words: Experiment 00784- Failure. Scanning the other pages, he saw nothing new. As with the other experiments, the Jenova cells had taken no effect. The only change had been physical, which was not the objective of his ongoing tests. If only he had been able to get that Cetra woman in his lab, then he was sure there would have been results worth recording. Damn that Gast and his infuriating meddling.
Hojo reached down to open a drawer. He found an old file and pulled it out. 'An Extensive Study on the Cetra in correlation with Jenova Cell Experimentation'. Looking over his old thesis, he once again concluded that the only way he could have cellular change in his research subjects was first for them to be infused with Mako, then introduce Jenova cells to their systems. For the Cetra, since their link to the earth was so strong, the original Mako implants would not be necessary. It would save so much time, using that woman instead of his current Mako subjects.
The Mako subjects were all… passable, he supposed. But not perfect. President Shinra wanted to put the experimental SOLDIER program into use, but Hojo still had reservations. Yes, the already existing Mako subj3ects were 'successes', but to take random soldiers and implant Mako in their cells? It was ludicrous, and yet… it might produce some interesting results.
A loud ringing interrupted his thoughts. He grabbed the phone irritably. "What?" A pause. "What?!" Hojo stood up. "I'll be there shortly." He grabbed his coat and ran out the door.
So, Gast and the Cetra had a child? This should be most interesting…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Hojo stood outside Gast's house, flanked by Turks on either side. To him, they were merely assassins in neatly tailored suits, but they did have their uses. In instances like these, they were extraordinarily useful.
He signaled to one of the Turks, and a man strode forward. "Sir."
"Break down the door," Hojo snapped. The Turk walked up to the door and rammed into it. The first time made only a crack on the door, the second time it came off completely.
Hojo pushed him aside and walked in to find Gast sitting at his dining room table, looking up at him, surprised.
"Hojo?! What-" Gast started, standing up in greeting.
Hojo sneered. "You disgust me. Living here, away from your lab, and with a research subject no less."
Gast's eyes narrowed. "If this is what you came for, then I'll have to ask you to leave."
Hojo laughed, sending chills down everyone's spine. "You'll have to ask me to leave? In less than a minute, you won't be in any condition to order me around like some flunky."
A gasp from an adjacent doorway alerted the two men to another presence. Ifalna stood there, clutching little Aeris to her chest.
"Honey, what-" she started, when Hojo interrupted her.
"Ah, the subject arrives." Hojo turned to look at the Turks. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get her!"
"Run!" Gast yelled, casting a panicked look back at his wife. "Get out of here! I'll come after you when I can!"
Ifalna turned and ran. In seconds, she was out of the house with her precious cargo, Turks at her heels.
"Hojo, damn you- what do you want?!" Gast shouted.
"I'll be taking your Cetra into custody, no- actually, both of them." Hojo took a handgun out of his pocket and pointed it at Gast's forehead. "Guess I win." He pulled the trigger, and the loud noise was muffled as the bullet tore through Gast's flesh. Hojo watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his body crumpling to the floor with a dull thud. Blood slowly pooled underneath the body, and Hojo looked on in disgust. He kicked Gast over and smiled. Finally, things were falling into place.
Rapidly approaching footsteps alerted Hojo of someone's presence, and he turned around just as a Turk came in.
"Sir- the Cetra- she…" He gasped for breath, then continued. "She escaped."
"What?!" Hojo snarled, eyes flashing. "How?"
"We shot her in her chest, but she stumbled onto the train. It started moving before we could get on."
"Where was it headed?"
"Midgar."
Hojo sneered. "Well, find her! Make sure you capture her, and keep her alive! A dead research subject is of absolutely no use to me."
"Sir." The Turk saluted, then ran off.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ifalna quickened her pace. The Turks were gaining, but if she could just get to the train station, they could escape and meet Gast in Midgar. He had to get out alive. He had to. She couldn't think about what would happen if he didn't.
A gunshot followed by a curse alerted her to the Turks once more. They were still only feet away, and she ran even faster, trying to escape. Ifalna lifted up a silent prayer to the planet for the safety of her daughter as she made a sharp right around the corner.
"Stop! Cetra- stop where you are!" Another gunshot.
They wouldn't miss forever.
The train was in sight, and just leaving. Ifalna put on another burst of speed just as she heard another shot. The pain that shot through her stomach told her that she was shot, but she refused to believe it. She couldn't be hurt yet- when they were on the train, when they were safe, then she could be hurt. But not yet.
Her vision blurred over, and she felt herself collapse onto something hard. She felt a pair of strong hands grab her and haul her up. Then she felt nothing.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey! Hey, are you alright?"
Ifalna's vision swam in and out as she studied the man standing above her. He was dressed in blue, in a conductor's uniform. She smiled. So she must have made it on the train safely. Her eyes widened as she thought of Aeris.
"Aeris! Where's my baby?" she asked frantically.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down! She's fine. See, she's right over here." The conductor gestured towards a seat, and Aeris was lying there, safe and warm in her blankets. Ifalna sighed in relief. So they had escaped after all.
"Umm… ma'am? Why were those men chasing you?" The conductor looked at her seriously. "They were Turks, you know."
Ifalna nodded. "I know."
"But, then… is ShinRa after you?" The man stepped back. "'Cause if they are-"
"No, no," Ifalna said, shaking her head. "It's just-" She stopped as she felt a sharp pain slice through her.
The conductor grimaced. "You were shot." He looked down at her stomach, making sure to keep his face blank. "It's pretty bad."
Ifalna laughed faintly. "Oh, is it? Well, then, I guess I won't meet him after all."
"Who?" he asked, but she just shook her head.
Ifalna looked out the small window. The land was barren, and there was pollution hanging in the air. The smell of factories hung in the air- a mixture of gasoline, fuel, fire, and chemicals. The broken land held no life, no animals. Not even grass would dare to live this close to Midgar. Ifalna smiled sadly as she thought of the hardships Aeris would face without her. She would live all alone in this new city. Maybe the conductor would take care of her? She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling very tired.
"Ma'am?" the conductor asked, looking worried. "Hold on. Just hold on, y'hear? We're gonna be at the station real soon. For sure there'll be help there."
Ifalna said nothing, and simply waited in silence. The scenery outside got more populated, as the poorest residential areas passed by. Sectors that had no names flashed by the windows, and Ifalna imagined Aeris growing up in this world. How could she commune with the planet in such a lifeless environment? She would have to. The Cetra needed the planet to live, and Aeris would find a way. Ifalna once again prayed to the planet for the protection of her daughter. She knew the planet would provide, exactly as it had in the past.
She passed in and out of consciousness until a hand on her shoulder woke her. Voices danced around her head, but none made any sense. She felt herself being dragged out of the train and onto some steps.
"You just stay right here, alright? I'll be right back," the conductor said, as he hurried off. He passed by a woman he had seen every day for the longest time, and nodded in greeting. One thought repeated in his mind- that woman might die, and he was the only one who would know it.
Ifalna held Aeris tightly, and laid down looking up at the sky. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming by and saw a woman coming up to her. She was in her late twenties, early thirties, and had golden brown hair.
"Are you-" the woman started, then stopped. "Do you need any help?"
Ifalna heard the planet nudge her mind softly, like a gently push towards this woman. She nodded her head in understanding.
"Please…" she started, then gasped for breath. "Please… take care of Aeris." Ifalna held her baby out to this stranger who the planet said she could trust. A pair of confused eyes greeted her request, but the woman did so. Ifalna sighed as the little bundle was taken from her. Now, she would just have to trust the planet.
She heard a voice calling to her, but it was so far away. And the planet… she had never felt this close to the planet before. Warmth surrounded her, and she felt totally at peace. The planet was speaking to her in a soft, comforting voice.
Ifalna… Ifalna… It's time to come home, Ifalna…
Oh, how she wanted to follow that voice. So she got up and headed towards the voice, towards the lifestream. That green light was so similar to Aeris' eyes. Ifalna smiled as she thought of it. Maybe Aeris wouldn't be so separated form the planet after all.
Glancing back once more, she blew a kiss towards Aeris. Be safe, she thought as she stepped into the light. The light enveloped her, and she greeted the new surroundings with an open heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The woman looked down at the dead woman's figure and felt an overwhelming sadness. Surely, this was the act of a desperate person.
She looked at the little bundle in her arms. Aeris, her mother had called her. Aeris…
To be continued…
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I'm planning on this fic lasting a while, but who knows? I'll only be able to write during the week, since I have to use my school library *grumble, complain, whine, moan* See you in Chapter 1!
Prologue Part 2:
Hojo glanced up at the clock on his office wall. His eye twitched as he realized it had only been fifteen minutes. Would he have to wait forever for the lab results?
A quick knock sounded throughout the room, followed by a breathless assistant. He stumbled in and came to an abrupt stop in front of his superior's desk.
"Sir," the assistant said, his hand clutching his heart.
"Yes, what?" Hojo asked.
"The lab results just came in." The assistant laid the report on the desk, then backed away quickly. "Anything else, sir?"
Hojo waved his hand at the assistant. "No, no, go away."
The assistant was more than happy to do so.
Hojo's eyes quickly scanned the report. He scowled at the first words: Experiment 00784- Failure. Scanning the other pages, he saw nothing new. As with the other experiments, the Jenova cells had taken no effect. The only change had been physical, which was not the objective of his ongoing tests. If only he had been able to get that Cetra woman in his lab, then he was sure there would have been results worth recording. Damn that Gast and his infuriating meddling.
Hojo reached down to open a drawer. He found an old file and pulled it out. 'An Extensive Study on the Cetra in correlation with Jenova Cell Experimentation'. Looking over his old thesis, he once again concluded that the only way he could have cellular change in his research subjects was first for them to be infused with Mako, then introduce Jenova cells to their systems. For the Cetra, since their link to the earth was so strong, the original Mako implants would not be necessary. It would save so much time, using that woman instead of his current Mako subjects.
The Mako subjects were all… passable, he supposed. But not perfect. President Shinra wanted to put the experimental SOLDIER program into use, but Hojo still had reservations. Yes, the already existing Mako subj3ects were 'successes', but to take random soldiers and implant Mako in their cells? It was ludicrous, and yet… it might produce some interesting results.
A loud ringing interrupted his thoughts. He grabbed the phone irritably. "What?" A pause. "What?!" Hojo stood up. "I'll be there shortly." He grabbed his coat and ran out the door.
So, Gast and the Cetra had a child? This should be most interesting…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Hojo stood outside Gast's house, flanked by Turks on either side. To him, they were merely assassins in neatly tailored suits, but they did have their uses. In instances like these, they were extraordinarily useful.
He signaled to one of the Turks, and a man strode forward. "Sir."
"Break down the door," Hojo snapped. The Turk walked up to the door and rammed into it. The first time made only a crack on the door, the second time it came off completely.
Hojo pushed him aside and walked in to find Gast sitting at his dining room table, looking up at him, surprised.
"Hojo?! What-" Gast started, standing up in greeting.
Hojo sneered. "You disgust me. Living here, away from your lab, and with a research subject no less."
Gast's eyes narrowed. "If this is what you came for, then I'll have to ask you to leave."
Hojo laughed, sending chills down everyone's spine. "You'll have to ask me to leave? In less than a minute, you won't be in any condition to order me around like some flunky."
A gasp from an adjacent doorway alerted the two men to another presence. Ifalna stood there, clutching little Aeris to her chest.
"Honey, what-" she started, when Hojo interrupted her.
"Ah, the subject arrives." Hojo turned to look at the Turks. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get her!"
"Run!" Gast yelled, casting a panicked look back at his wife. "Get out of here! I'll come after you when I can!"
Ifalna turned and ran. In seconds, she was out of the house with her precious cargo, Turks at her heels.
"Hojo, damn you- what do you want?!" Gast shouted.
"I'll be taking your Cetra into custody, no- actually, both of them." Hojo took a handgun out of his pocket and pointed it at Gast's forehead. "Guess I win." He pulled the trigger, and the loud noise was muffled as the bullet tore through Gast's flesh. Hojo watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, his body crumpling to the floor with a dull thud. Blood slowly pooled underneath the body, and Hojo looked on in disgust. He kicked Gast over and smiled. Finally, things were falling into place.
Rapidly approaching footsteps alerted Hojo of someone's presence, and he turned around just as a Turk came in.
"Sir- the Cetra- she…" He gasped for breath, then continued. "She escaped."
"What?!" Hojo snarled, eyes flashing. "How?"
"We shot her in her chest, but she stumbled onto the train. It started moving before we could get on."
"Where was it headed?"
"Midgar."
Hojo sneered. "Well, find her! Make sure you capture her, and keep her alive! A dead research subject is of absolutely no use to me."
"Sir." The Turk saluted, then ran off.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ifalna quickened her pace. The Turks were gaining, but if she could just get to the train station, they could escape and meet Gast in Midgar. He had to get out alive. He had to. She couldn't think about what would happen if he didn't.
A gunshot followed by a curse alerted her to the Turks once more. They were still only feet away, and she ran even faster, trying to escape. Ifalna lifted up a silent prayer to the planet for the safety of her daughter as she made a sharp right around the corner.
"Stop! Cetra- stop where you are!" Another gunshot.
They wouldn't miss forever.
The train was in sight, and just leaving. Ifalna put on another burst of speed just as she heard another shot. The pain that shot through her stomach told her that she was shot, but she refused to believe it. She couldn't be hurt yet- when they were on the train, when they were safe, then she could be hurt. But not yet.
Her vision blurred over, and she felt herself collapse onto something hard. She felt a pair of strong hands grab her and haul her up. Then she felt nothing.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey! Hey, are you alright?"
Ifalna's vision swam in and out as she studied the man standing above her. He was dressed in blue, in a conductor's uniform. She smiled. So she must have made it on the train safely. Her eyes widened as she thought of Aeris.
"Aeris! Where's my baby?" she asked frantically.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down! She's fine. See, she's right over here." The conductor gestured towards a seat, and Aeris was lying there, safe and warm in her blankets. Ifalna sighed in relief. So they had escaped after all.
"Umm… ma'am? Why were those men chasing you?" The conductor looked at her seriously. "They were Turks, you know."
Ifalna nodded. "I know."
"But, then… is ShinRa after you?" The man stepped back. "'Cause if they are-"
"No, no," Ifalna said, shaking her head. "It's just-" She stopped as she felt a sharp pain slice through her.
The conductor grimaced. "You were shot." He looked down at her stomach, making sure to keep his face blank. "It's pretty bad."
Ifalna laughed faintly. "Oh, is it? Well, then, I guess I won't meet him after all."
"Who?" he asked, but she just shook her head.
Ifalna looked out the small window. The land was barren, and there was pollution hanging in the air. The smell of factories hung in the air- a mixture of gasoline, fuel, fire, and chemicals. The broken land held no life, no animals. Not even grass would dare to live this close to Midgar. Ifalna smiled sadly as she thought of the hardships Aeris would face without her. She would live all alone in this new city. Maybe the conductor would take care of her? She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling very tired.
"Ma'am?" the conductor asked, looking worried. "Hold on. Just hold on, y'hear? We're gonna be at the station real soon. For sure there'll be help there."
Ifalna said nothing, and simply waited in silence. The scenery outside got more populated, as the poorest residential areas passed by. Sectors that had no names flashed by the windows, and Ifalna imagined Aeris growing up in this world. How could she commune with the planet in such a lifeless environment? She would have to. The Cetra needed the planet to live, and Aeris would find a way. Ifalna once again prayed to the planet for the protection of her daughter. She knew the planet would provide, exactly as it had in the past.
She passed in and out of consciousness until a hand on her shoulder woke her. Voices danced around her head, but none made any sense. She felt herself being dragged out of the train and onto some steps.
"You just stay right here, alright? I'll be right back," the conductor said, as he hurried off. He passed by a woman he had seen every day for the longest time, and nodded in greeting. One thought repeated in his mind- that woman might die, and he was the only one who would know it.
Ifalna held Aeris tightly, and laid down looking up at the sky. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming by and saw a woman coming up to her. She was in her late twenties, early thirties, and had golden brown hair.
"Are you-" the woman started, then stopped. "Do you need any help?"
Ifalna heard the planet nudge her mind softly, like a gently push towards this woman. She nodded her head in understanding.
"Please…" she started, then gasped for breath. "Please… take care of Aeris." Ifalna held her baby out to this stranger who the planet said she could trust. A pair of confused eyes greeted her request, but the woman did so. Ifalna sighed as the little bundle was taken from her. Now, she would just have to trust the planet.
She heard a voice calling to her, but it was so far away. And the planet… she had never felt this close to the planet before. Warmth surrounded her, and she felt totally at peace. The planet was speaking to her in a soft, comforting voice.
Ifalna… Ifalna… It's time to come home, Ifalna…
Oh, how she wanted to follow that voice. So she got up and headed towards the voice, towards the lifestream. That green light was so similar to Aeris' eyes. Ifalna smiled as she thought of it. Maybe Aeris wouldn't be so separated form the planet after all.
Glancing back once more, she blew a kiss towards Aeris. Be safe, she thought as she stepped into the light. The light enveloped her, and she greeted the new surroundings with an open heart.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The woman looked down at the dead woman's figure and felt an overwhelming sadness. Surely, this was the act of a desperate person.
She looked at the little bundle in her arms. Aeris, her mother had called her. Aeris…
To be continued…