Reeve: Since Rude's gotten so popular recently, Tyramir has decided to make
him do the disclaimer today. Take it away, Rude!
Rude: ...
Reeve: Take it away, Rude!
Rude: ...
Reeve: Any day now!
Rude: ....
Reeve: If this weren't only PG-13, I'd disembowel you.
Rude: ....
Reeve: Fine. You've forced me into it. Tyramir doesn't own the rights to FF.
Rude: Reno! I got him to do it. You owe me twenty gil.
Reno: Dammit, Reeve, you were supposed to hold out longer!
Chapter Twenty Four
Blood of the Ancients
Rufus looked over the lab, a smile spreading over his face. The Underwater Reactor had been converted perfectly to suit his needs, the power plant supporting a number of the projects he was running. For a month straight an assembly line had been contructed to mass produce weaponry. For a month, Proud Clod had been in the making, now improved from its original model. The Junon cannon was back in place where it belonged, defending the new Shinra Empire from being attacked by its old enemies in the east. But now, the most important project was finished.
"Is it ready?" he asked.
Reeve, who stood nearby, nodded and answered, "We're just waiting on the first test subject, a corporal named--"
"That won't be necessary, Reeve. The device is modeled exactly after the plans created by and since modified by Professor Gast, Hojo, and Hargun, correct?"
"Yes, sir. I looked over the device this morning myself. Everything matches exactly. There's no reason why this shouldn't work--"
"Excellent," the President said, cutting Reeve off again. "Prepare it now."
"Sir, I stress that we test it first. We don't know everything about it. It may be dangerous."
"I will wait no longer. This is to be mine, and mine alone. I will share this with no one, not even you, Reeve. Now, prepare the Mako shower."
"Yes, sir." Reeve's voice sounded worried, but not angry. He shouted some orders to the scientists on duty, and immediately they got to work. Machines came alive, buzzing with energy. The new Vice President of Shinra knew when to fall in line, and he was generally concerned over his President's safety.
The automatic door opened behind Rufus and Reeve, and they both turned to face the new comer. Reno, a large, rectangular object wrapped in white cloth, stumbled in, obviously straining under the weight of his prize. So, he had made it back from his mission successful. And yet his partner, Rude, was still missing.
Rufus waved a dismissing signal at Reno. The Turk placed the package down, and leaned it against the wall, then wiped his forehead of sweat. He flicked it to the ground. Rufus frowned.
"Everything's ready, Mr. President," one of the scientists said. Rufus nearly smiled. Hearing that title, hearing it and knowing that the person saying it meant it, was still wonderful. Knowing what it felt like now to be powerless, Rufus basked in gestures of respect and submissiveness from his employees whenever he got the chance.
Rufus stepped down from the platform he stood on and walked down the stairs to the lab area.
"You'll have to take off your clothes for this, Mr. President," the scientist said. There was almost a condescending tone there. Rufus made a mental note of that. At best the man could look for a dock in pay. At worst... well, that all depended on Rufus' mood after the procedure was finished.
Not even a hint of shame on his face, Rufus unbuttoned his coat and let it drop to the floor. He set aside his shotgun on a nearby table, which was then followed by the rest of his clothes.
The scientist at his side guided him to a small chamber where things resembling shower heads hung from the ceiling. It was surrounded on all sides by panaled glass, and metal grated made up the floor.
Another scientist came to stand by Rufus, a needle in his hand. The contents glowed green, making its own light around the scientist's hand. Throughout the vial were speck of black and red, floating sickly throughout it.
"Not that vial. Use sample 1.01."
"But, sir... previous testing by Professor Gast himself said that 1.02 was the safer choice. I insist--"
"I don't care what you insist. I am in charge here. Gast was a sentimental old fool who didn't want his precious specimen harmed in any way. Hojo was far more practical. Use 1.01. In this matter, I will trust the madman over the genius."
The scientist gulped, then nodded. "Very well, sir. Just let me get it from cold storage."
Rufus frowned as he watched the second scientist go, then glanced to the first. That face definitely held a look of superiority to it now, and a little disdain. That man would be dealt with when this was done. He would know who was in charge soon enough.
The second scientist returned, a new needle in hand. This one had a soft green light to it, more gentle than the harsh and obvious unnatural light of the first. This vial was unmarred by the specks that so contaminated the first.
The scientist swapped at his arm. He tried not to think about it. The needle jabbed softly into his arm, and he involuntarily flinched. The pain was nothing, but now, he realized, there was no turning back.
Without even waiting for the doctor to swab it again, he strode purposefully into the chamber, and closed the door behind him.
"Do it now."
He stared out the glass and directly at Reeve and Reno, who still waited on the platform by the door. His eyes focused on what was behind them both, the object Reno had risked his life to obtain. The bundling hid it, but Rufus still smiled. He managed to keep the smile on his face as the sensation of warmth and bitter cold swept over his body. Mako rained down on him, glowing green, pulsing softly. Liquid life ran over his skin, seeping into him. He wasn't even aware that he had screamed from the shock until his knees hit the floor. The conflicted sensation of temperatures changed abruptly. His body felt warm, quickly turning hot, but his eyes... his eyes felt they were freezing as Mako poured into them. He tried to force them closed, but found he couldn't.
The door popped open, and Rufus looked out of it, his vision blurry. Had the Mako shower stopped? Was this what it felt like to be Soldier?
He didn't feel stronger. Actually, he felt weak, almost half-dead. Everything in his body was numb.
"Am I...?" he asked as the scientists walked in. They wore rubber suits, complete with gloves and boots. Safety precautions to ensure that they didn't get any Mako on themselves.
Reeve was at his side instantly. Rufus looked up at him. "Am I...?"
"Yes, Mr. President. The tests will verify it shortly, but judging from your eyes, you are now the equivalent of a member of Soldier."
Author's Note:
I have no idea why, but I loved every minute of this chapter. Rufus is increasingly becoming my favorite character to write. I love his plotline, and I love what's going on in his head half the time. Next up, the Turks!
Rude: ...
Reeve: Take it away, Rude!
Rude: ...
Reeve: Any day now!
Rude: ....
Reeve: If this weren't only PG-13, I'd disembowel you.
Rude: ....
Reeve: Fine. You've forced me into it. Tyramir doesn't own the rights to FF.
Rude: Reno! I got him to do it. You owe me twenty gil.
Reno: Dammit, Reeve, you were supposed to hold out longer!
Chapter Twenty Four
Blood of the Ancients
Rufus looked over the lab, a smile spreading over his face. The Underwater Reactor had been converted perfectly to suit his needs, the power plant supporting a number of the projects he was running. For a month straight an assembly line had been contructed to mass produce weaponry. For a month, Proud Clod had been in the making, now improved from its original model. The Junon cannon was back in place where it belonged, defending the new Shinra Empire from being attacked by its old enemies in the east. But now, the most important project was finished.
"Is it ready?" he asked.
Reeve, who stood nearby, nodded and answered, "We're just waiting on the first test subject, a corporal named--"
"That won't be necessary, Reeve. The device is modeled exactly after the plans created by and since modified by Professor Gast, Hojo, and Hargun, correct?"
"Yes, sir. I looked over the device this morning myself. Everything matches exactly. There's no reason why this shouldn't work--"
"Excellent," the President said, cutting Reeve off again. "Prepare it now."
"Sir, I stress that we test it first. We don't know everything about it. It may be dangerous."
"I will wait no longer. This is to be mine, and mine alone. I will share this with no one, not even you, Reeve. Now, prepare the Mako shower."
"Yes, sir." Reeve's voice sounded worried, but not angry. He shouted some orders to the scientists on duty, and immediately they got to work. Machines came alive, buzzing with energy. The new Vice President of Shinra knew when to fall in line, and he was generally concerned over his President's safety.
The automatic door opened behind Rufus and Reeve, and they both turned to face the new comer. Reno, a large, rectangular object wrapped in white cloth, stumbled in, obviously straining under the weight of his prize. So, he had made it back from his mission successful. And yet his partner, Rude, was still missing.
Rufus waved a dismissing signal at Reno. The Turk placed the package down, and leaned it against the wall, then wiped his forehead of sweat. He flicked it to the ground. Rufus frowned.
"Everything's ready, Mr. President," one of the scientists said. Rufus nearly smiled. Hearing that title, hearing it and knowing that the person saying it meant it, was still wonderful. Knowing what it felt like now to be powerless, Rufus basked in gestures of respect and submissiveness from his employees whenever he got the chance.
Rufus stepped down from the platform he stood on and walked down the stairs to the lab area.
"You'll have to take off your clothes for this, Mr. President," the scientist said. There was almost a condescending tone there. Rufus made a mental note of that. At best the man could look for a dock in pay. At worst... well, that all depended on Rufus' mood after the procedure was finished.
Not even a hint of shame on his face, Rufus unbuttoned his coat and let it drop to the floor. He set aside his shotgun on a nearby table, which was then followed by the rest of his clothes.
The scientist at his side guided him to a small chamber where things resembling shower heads hung from the ceiling. It was surrounded on all sides by panaled glass, and metal grated made up the floor.
Another scientist came to stand by Rufus, a needle in his hand. The contents glowed green, making its own light around the scientist's hand. Throughout the vial were speck of black and red, floating sickly throughout it.
"Not that vial. Use sample 1.01."
"But, sir... previous testing by Professor Gast himself said that 1.02 was the safer choice. I insist--"
"I don't care what you insist. I am in charge here. Gast was a sentimental old fool who didn't want his precious specimen harmed in any way. Hojo was far more practical. Use 1.01. In this matter, I will trust the madman over the genius."
The scientist gulped, then nodded. "Very well, sir. Just let me get it from cold storage."
Rufus frowned as he watched the second scientist go, then glanced to the first. That face definitely held a look of superiority to it now, and a little disdain. That man would be dealt with when this was done. He would know who was in charge soon enough.
The second scientist returned, a new needle in hand. This one had a soft green light to it, more gentle than the harsh and obvious unnatural light of the first. This vial was unmarred by the specks that so contaminated the first.
The scientist swapped at his arm. He tried not to think about it. The needle jabbed softly into his arm, and he involuntarily flinched. The pain was nothing, but now, he realized, there was no turning back.
Without even waiting for the doctor to swab it again, he strode purposefully into the chamber, and closed the door behind him.
"Do it now."
He stared out the glass and directly at Reeve and Reno, who still waited on the platform by the door. His eyes focused on what was behind them both, the object Reno had risked his life to obtain. The bundling hid it, but Rufus still smiled. He managed to keep the smile on his face as the sensation of warmth and bitter cold swept over his body. Mako rained down on him, glowing green, pulsing softly. Liquid life ran over his skin, seeping into him. He wasn't even aware that he had screamed from the shock until his knees hit the floor. The conflicted sensation of temperatures changed abruptly. His body felt warm, quickly turning hot, but his eyes... his eyes felt they were freezing as Mako poured into them. He tried to force them closed, but found he couldn't.
The door popped open, and Rufus looked out of it, his vision blurry. Had the Mako shower stopped? Was this what it felt like to be Soldier?
He didn't feel stronger. Actually, he felt weak, almost half-dead. Everything in his body was numb.
"Am I...?" he asked as the scientists walked in. They wore rubber suits, complete with gloves and boots. Safety precautions to ensure that they didn't get any Mako on themselves.
Reeve was at his side instantly. Rufus looked up at him. "Am I...?"
"Yes, Mr. President. The tests will verify it shortly, but judging from your eyes, you are now the equivalent of a member of Soldier."
Author's Note:
I have no idea why, but I loved every minute of this chapter. Rufus is increasingly becoming my favorite character to write. I love his plotline, and I love what's going on in his head half the time. Next up, the Turks!