Disclaimer: I do not own SquareSoft or any of that in witch has to do with the game of Final Fantasy VII. The Divine Being used in this section of the story is my own so don't steal…though, you won't come across his name in this chapter.
A/N: This chapter is still really introducing the story and as I said, if you have read 'In a Different Time and Space' you'll have a guide as to the events coming up…up till a point and I'll add the one simple change to the story. Enjoy!
Drugged:
In Midgar, a city that is called the 'floating city' because the better part of it had been built upon massive plates and is supported high above the ground. The futuristic like city was heavily populated due to a company that had been responsible for the building of the plate for the foundation of its headquarters. This company was the words lead supplier in mako electricity…nearly the words only.
All the smaller companies ever made were bumped aside or bought out by this massive company. The company, Shinra Inc., owned the plates of Midgar. But this company wasn't strictly just mako electricity anymore though; over the years they had gained the support of the people, become richer than any other in the history of the planet, and had grown powerful from their monopoly.
Branches of the company were still dedicated to making the use of mako energy more efficient, but most other branches were interested in nothing of the sort. There was a department dedicated to the well being of the people, though…this department was hardly funded anymore and most people didn't even know of its existence anymore. There were branches of idealist, engineers, naturalists, all studies in science, and the pride of the company…it's military.
The militaries main headquarters was there in the center of Midgar, in the Shinra Tower. The president always had the last say in the actions of the military, in truth; the president was ONLY the president of Shinra Inc. and nothing more. He ran Midgar but it did have its own mayor…if only to please the people in this day and age.
The Shinra Tower, the center of all Midgar, loomed high above the city and in all reality was a city within itself. With seventy floors, all the branches off were stationed in this massive structure…
On this particular day one of the top scientist working for this company was waiting impatiently on the first floors lobby near the front entrance. The glass doors allowed him to see out so he'd see the arrival of what he was anticipating.
He paced the tile floor smoothly, his white lab coat fluttering out behind him; there was a scowl on his face. He didn't like waiting yet he had been down there doing doing so for the past 50 minutes. He was startled to a halt by the sound of the nearby elevator doors 'ding,' signaling that the platform had arrived with someone form probably one of the upper floors.
Dark eyes watched for who would come out as the doors 'whooshed' open. Another man dressed in a white lab coat and slacks stepped out with an unhurried step. His sandy-brown hair was neatly combed back and cut neatly, total contrast to his colleague. He had a shock of nearly unkempt raven-black hair. Though it was cut, not nearly as neatly, it hung all the way to the back of his neck.
"Hojo?" the new arrival questioned in surprise of seeing the scientist already down here waiting. "How long have you been pacing around down here like this?"
"You don't understand anything Gast," Hojo said with an almost childish glee. "This could be the big break we've been waiting for! Just think of it…"
"He destroyed half of one of the elite troops that was out in the field for a training mission, in a flash of light no less," Gast stated warily. "He's very dangerous, I don't think you should kick the ball on this one…"
Gast didn't have the time to finish because at that moment the two front doors were thrown open wide by two SOLDIERs and held open. A military van parked outside opened the back doors to taxi a medical stretcher into the building. The object of their talk was strapped down to the stretcher and was being looked after by two medics while a third pushed.
Hojo and Gast neared the team of medics to see what the problem was. The man lying on the stretcher was looking dangerously pale and was trying to lift his head away from the mask being held over his nose and mouth. His eyes had dulled and had a wild/distant look to them as they slowly rolled in their sockets.
"What happened?" Hojo demanded at seeing the creature's poor state of being.
"He didn't take well to the drugs sir," the medic that had been watching over the vitals explained. "He was unconscious when we found him but when he woke up we had to sedate him. We judged by his strength that he'd need a bigger dosage and on the way here we almost lost him. We had to give him something else to wake him up and it should be just now kicking in fully."
Hojo pushed the babbling man out of his way and looked over the man lying on the stretcher. His breathing was ragged and his heartbeat was twice as fast as it should have been.
"Hojo, let me take care of him for right now. You have your own work to attend to right now," Gast instructed smoothly.
Hojo glowered at the slightly older man, just what made him think he didn't want a part in this strange humanoid like creature?
"Have you already forgotten about Sephiroth and his care Hojo?" Gast's voice was cold about the thought of the newborn baby. Hojo had left the mother for dead and took the child to the labs. "You're not going to push his care off onto your assistants after you went through all the trouble of 'creating' him are you?"
"No…" Hojo glance back at the struggling man then sighed heavily. "Have it your way Gast but I'm not going to be left out on this one." With that said he stalked off.
Gast sighed and shook his head after Hojo. The man was insensitive…to every thing and to every one. The man strapped down before him looked human enough but in Hojo's eyes he was just another lab rat.
"Will he be all right?" Gast directed his question towards the man Hojo had earlier shoved away.
"We don't know sir. It's like everything we give him makes his condition worse."
Gast sighed. "Lets get him up to my lab and I'll see what I can do for him."
The man turned his head suddenly, ripping free of the oxygen mask, and gasped desperately. He coughed a few times with a look of pain befalling his features then he lay still.
The medic went to replace the mask but Gast shook his head 'no' and watched the reactions of the man while being carted into the elevator. His breathing calmed once all the noise from the lobby died away by the elevator doors closing.
"Iya…zuyzsu…" the man spoke weakly in a strange language. "Etu kohk zy…voss xu…sovu zcod."
Gast pondered about what he had said until the doors of the elevator slipped open on their floor. He stepped off the elevator platform; he'd have time to figure that out later, right then he had to make sure this man's life wasn't in danger.
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-End Chapter 2-
A/N: Short and sweet. Again I suggest to have read my other story, and then you will have an idea about what was said in that 'strange language'…if you take the time. That's all.