They Live!
Chapter Five: Introducing… The Enemies!
Professor Hojo
"I would like to introduce to you the latest of my developments! Upon request by our dear President, I've decided to finally complete the experiment, therefore, came up with my ultimate potion…" Hojo pulled out a small test tube from his lab coat, revealing to them some green liquid inside.
Rufus stared at the liquid for a few moments before turning back to his laptop. It was another boring meeting with his Old Man and the executives. Unfortunately, since he is the Vice President, he had to be there.
President ShinRa smiled slyly. "Is that what I think it is, Professor Hojo?" he asked.
Hojo nodded. "Yes, President ShinRa, sir. It's the Black Death." He explained.
"What's so black about that? It's green?" Rufus asked airily.
Hojo and President ShinRa eyed him annoyingly before the former proceeded, "If you open it, black smoke will come out… and it can kill hundreds of people… including small organisms like insects and small animals."
"Hundreds only? Why not make it millions?" Scarlet asked with an airy tone.
"Can you open it now?" Rufus asked with a challenging tone and a sly smile on his face.
"Stop it, Rufus." President ShinRa snapped impatiently before turning back to Hojo. "Very good, Hojo. We'll be using that in a matter of time… maybe by January…" he began, but Hojo shook his head. "This is only a prototype. But the formula is with me. Since all the other Sectors are big, we'll need more… isn't that right, sir?" he asked.
"Yes, we do. And how long will it take you to complete more of those?" President ShinRa asked.
"Around two years." Hojo replied.
President ShinRa looked somewhat dismayed upon hearing that, "How come?" he asked.
"The fusion of the poisonous fluids and gasses could take around two years to fully combine with Mako." Hojo explained with an evil glint in his eyes.
"Mako?" Heidegger asked.
Hojo nodded as he eyed the test tube that he was holding. "The Planet has an abundant supply… so why not make use of it?" he asked with a sly smile on his face.
President ShinRa clapped his hands. "Very well, Professor Hojo. I'll be expecting results in 2 years." He said.
Rufus frowned as he flipped his hair before raising up his pen to call Hojo's attention, "Professor," he called out.
Hojo turned to him. "Yes, Sir Rufus?" he asked.
"What exactly are you going to do with those?" Rufus asked with a serious look on his face before turning to his father, "Is there something I am not aware of?" he continued.
President ShinRa smiled slyly at his son, "Well, Rufus… I'm glad you asked. And since Hojo showed the Black Death to us in this session, I guess the secret's out." He got up and cleared his throat. "The people from the lower Sectors cannot contribute to the development of Midgar, ergo, they must be taken care of…" he eyed everyone before saying, "…they are the scum of this Planet. We don't need them here, so we'll get rid of them."
Rufus maintained his composure but he shrugged, "So you mean to say that you are going to kill them?"
"Exactly." President ShinRa said.
"Which Sectors, specifically?" Rufus asked, wanting more details to be elaborated.
"Sectors 5, 6 and 7… the slums." President ShinRa replied with a cold look on his face.
"Sector 5? But isn't that the Wall Market where most economic activity of this City take place?" Reeve asked.
"The Wall Market will be moved to a better sector. The rest of Sector 5 will be wiped out." President ShinRa explained.
Rufus just stared blankly at his father before turning back to his laptop, but his left hand was already holding his mobile phone and sending a text message to Tseng saying, "Go to Sephiroth. Inquire about AVALANCHE helping. Discuss 23rd."
After he sent the text message, President ShinRa finally adjourned the meeting. While on their way out, Hojo approached Rufus. "Sir Rufus, your father said that I should approach you for financial aid." He said.
"How much do you need?" Rufus asked mindlessly.
"Five hundred million Gil." Hojo replied.
"Five hundred million Gil for small test tubes and poisonous gasses? Can't you just use your fart?" Rufus asked mockingly with an impatient look on his face.
Hojo frowned upon hearing that, "The fund is not only for the Black Death. It is also for the upgrading of the Laboratory Equipment and… for more developments for…" he got cut off by Rufus who just snapped at him, "No." and walked away.
"Can't you just write a check, sir?" Hojo asked.
Rufus just ignored him and proceeded to the elevators. Hojo went after him. "You don't really trust my works, huh?" he asked.
Rufus stopped walking and turned to face him again, "Like what I said, you are such a second-rate scientist. If I could have the authority to replace you, I will."
"And who would you choose to replace me?" Hojo asked with a mocking smile on his face.
"Who else but Lucrecia?" Rufus asked before turning away and waited for the elevator door to open. "I never liked you to begin with. You're always the stupidest person I know. I wonder why Old Man funds your experiments and projects… while I don't see the point in creating monsters for an army of SOLDIER." He muttered. "And be thankful that I'm not a snitch to tell Old Man that you fail to show respect to me even while we were dead." He said arrogantly as the elevator door opened. He stepped inside and turned to face Hojo again with a sly smile on his face. "If you need money, why don't you just steal it from Old Man like what you've always done before?" he asked before the door closed.
Hojo was surprised. How did Rufus find out that he's one of the corrupt officials?
Don Corneo
Yuffie had awoken to the sound of loud hammering and drilling… like there was a house being constructed just beside the Kisaragi Residence. Annoyed, she instantly got up and went over to the window, gazing out with an angry look on her face. "What's going on in here?!" she demanded impatiently.
Her door opened and there was her father, Lord Godo. "Yuffie," he began.
She instantly turned to her father with an annoyed look on her face, "Dad, what is going on in here?" she demanded.
Lord Godo had this miserable look on his face as he answered, "A new mansion's gonna be built there… and it belongs to the Don."
Yuffie froze. "The what?" she asked, wanting to be sure.
"The Don." He repeated.
She laughed slightly, not wanting to believe what her father had just mentioned, "You don't mean Don Corneo, right? Coz I think the old geezer's dead and…"
"Unfortunately, he is alive… for a reason even I cannot comprehend." Lord Godo replied.
Yuffie felt so weak all of a sudden. "Can I… skip training today?" she asked.
"Don't worry, my dear, since your bodyguard is still ill and I can't risk letting you out of the house with that old fart around." He told her reassuringly.
"Oh thank you daddy!" she said, jumping up and down before heading over to Zack's room. "Hey, Zack!" she greeted.
He responded with a moan.
She froze. "Oh… sorry." She said, realizing that he was still too weak and pretty messed-up. His legs are bandaged and it seemed to her that he will not be able to stand up for a week or so. She smiled weakly as she approached him with caution. He just glared sleepily at her as she spoke up, "Look, I'm sorry for what happened yesterday…"
Zack was too much in pain to reply properly. And worse, the banging construction noise next door was echoing in his skull… painfully echoing in his poor, injured, probably-dented skull. "Y… eh, eh, sure… whuzzat outside… banging?" he asked the ninja girl weakly.
Yuffie frowned. "Oh… that's just a DOM building a mansion next door. Hmf!"
"DOM?"
"Dirty old man. You know that Don Corneo? That old pimp-slash-maniac-slash-pedophile from Midgar? Grrr… thinking about him… and the fact that I was almost a victim… I wanna kill SOMETHING! AAAAAAH!!!" she started shrieking for some reason. Zack cringed. His dented skull pounded in pain. "Why don't you attack him now?" he asked.
"I don't know whether he's already there or…" Yuffie trailed off when she heard her father yelling, "You stay away from my property! How dare you… coming in here like we're in good terms?! I will never ever forget what you did to my daughter!!!"
And then followed by a "Hyuk hyuk hyuk! Yeowza! I'm just trying to be friends with you and I'm sorry if I… whehey! Is that her latest picture? Wow, she's so beautiful!"
Lord Godo yelled again, "Don't touch that! That's my late wife's picture when she was 18!"
Yuffie cringed. "Oh no… the Old Geezer is here!" she said in fear before heading over to Zack and hid under his blanket, surprising him. "AARGH! What are you doing?!" Zack exclaimed.
"GAWDS! What's it to you? I'm trying to hide!!!" she snapped at him.
"Why can't you hide in the closet like a normal person?!"
"There are roaches there! If I screech, there's a greater chance that they'd find me!" she reasoned.
They heard footsteps and Don Corneo saying, "I can smell her here!"
"Oh no you don't!" they heard Lord Godo say.
"OH MY GAWD!!!!!" Zack and Yuffie both cried out in unison before hiding under the covers.
They heard the door open and there was Lord Godo and Don Corneo… staring at them. Lord Godo became furious. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY DAUGHTER?!" he yelled angrily.
Don Corneo stared slack-jawed at the two.
Zack and Yuffie realized that hiding under the same covers together really triggered some bad thoughts on other people. Zack wanted to pass out but he still said, "No…let me explain… I…"
"Whehehey! Is this a live show?" Don Corneo asked.
"You pervert! Stay away from me!!!" Yuffie shrieked as she got up and threw shuriken blades at him.
The Don quickly dodged, but he became worried. "Whooo… that was close…" he said.
Lord Godo was trying to calm himself down, but he still felt smoke coming out of his ears. "Zack… explain…" he muttered scarily.
Zack gulped. "W-ell… uh… you see… er…" he began, but was distracted when Yuffie spoke up, "Dad, I got scared of cockroaches so I hid under his blanket in hopes that he'd protect me because you know, he's my bodyguard! Heehee!"
Silence.
"Okay." Lord Godo said plainly before turning back to the Don. "As for you…" he began with an angry tone.
Don Corneo just ran off. "Hey, come back here!" Lord Godo ran after him.
"Bye! See ya later, chickie-pie!" Don Corneo yelled back at Yuffie.
Lord Godo stopped running. He could not believe what had just happened. "Blasted Old Geezer!" he marched back to Zack's room. "You!" he said, referring to Zack.
"Yes, sir?" Zack asked weakly.
"You really have to do your job well on protecting and training my daughter, do you understand?" he asked.
Zack nodded. "Y…yes, sir. I'll double my efforts, sir." He said with a weak smile on his face.
"What for?" Yuffie asked stubbornly as she crossed her arms.
"THAT OLD GEEZER FOUND OUT ABOUT WUTAI'S MONEY PROBLEMS AND OFFERED HIS HELP IN EXCHANGE FOR YOU!!!" Lord Godo cried out in total impatience.
Silence.
"Grossness!" Yuffie reacted.
Zack felt so mortified. "And you let Yuffie get engaged to that man?!" he exclaimed.
"Of course not! But if matters comes to worse, he might really do something bad! I don't know what he saw in my daughter but… but… GAWDS! Of all women that he'll desire, why my one and only little Yuffie-poo!?!???!!??" Lord Godo began to cry.
Yuffie wanted to faint. "Why… me?!"
"All he said is that you were… saucy." Godo answered, still appalled.
Silence.
"Aren't you proud, at least it means that you're attractive, Yuffie," Zack complimented.
The Kisaragis glared at him. "You're not helping," they said in unison.
He shrank. "Sorry…"
"What can we do for the meantime, Daddy?" Yuffie asked, turning back to her father.
Lord Godo sighed. "The best I can do is to ask our guards to do their job well." He said.
"Why can't we just murder that ape?" Zack asked.
"We can't murder that ape! He is friends with President ShinRa…and if something bad happens to him, we'll definitely lose our heads. Besides, if ever that happens, what will the other nations think of Wutai? They'll think that we're a nation of murderers!" Lord Godo explained.
"President ShinRa?! You mean that other old ape is alive?" Yuffie asked in disbelief.
"Yes." Lord Godo said simply.
Silence.
"Okay, who else came back from the dead?" Yuffie asked.
"ShinRa's back… and President ShinRa's son is back too… also Heidegger, Palmer…" Lord Godo began to cite the names, but she cut him off, "Okay, okay… never mind. I don't wanna hear it anymore…" she said with a pout before stomping her way to the window. "It means that trouble will arise again… and I won't be there to help Cloud and…"
Zack's face lit up. "Did you say Cloud?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why?" Yuffie asked miserably before turning to her father, "Can't I return to Midgar? I think I'd be safer there with… with Cloud and Tifa and Barret and…"
"Did you say Tifa?" Zack asked in awe.
"Will you stop interrupting me?" Yuffie snapped at him.
"But… but… I know those guys!" Zack said in amazement.
"No you don't. Anyways, Daddy, can't I go back to Midgar? If the DOM decides to follow me there, I'll have more people to protect me!" Yuffie said, giving Zack an annoyed look.
Before Lord Godo could answer, Zack said, "Yeah I know those guys! Cloud Strife was one of my buddies back at SOLDIER! And Tifa… she was that girl at Nibelheim!"
Yuffie stared unbelievably at him. "GAWDS!!! So you do know them!" she said.
"Yeah!" Zack replied happily.
Lord Godo shook his head. "No can do, Yuffie." He said before leaving the room.
Yuffie slouched. "RATS!" she snapped angrily before she sat down on the floor facing Zack. He just stared at her, "So… how is Cloud?" he asked.
"I don't know about that spiky-headed jerk… probably alright? The last time I've seen him he's going to that Church in Sector 6 again. He likes going there, y'know… maybe because he hopes that he can see Aerith again." she said.
Zack's eyes widened. "Wh…what? Aer… Aerith?" he asked in awe.
"Yeah. Aerith. I think he really got it bad for her. Y'know when she died, I can see it in his eyes that he's really going to cry once he's alone… but he didn't. He kept it all to himself… so it was really hard for him. And when he buried her in the lake, oh gawds, that's the saddest part!!! Even Tifa cried that day!" Yuffie sniffed. "And when I think about it right now, it still makes me cry! sniff" she said with a weak smile on her face as she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"But… Aerith was… my girlfriend…" he said.
Yuffie froze. "What?" she asked.
"Yeah!" he said.
Silence.
"… How was she your girlfriend?"
"… Before I became a SOLDIER. She was my girlfriend. And Cloud was… What the hell happened when I died, anyway?!" he asked in frustration.
Yuffie's jaw dropped. "You DIED?!" And she remembered the full moon spell that the elders had performed. She felt weak all of a sudden. "So… you're one of those that came back from the dead…" she said softly before her eyes widened and she pointed an accusing finger at him as she moved away from him until her back hit the wall, "MY BODYGUARD'S A ZOMBIE??!!! EWWW! GROSSNESS!!!!!" she shrieked.
"N…no! Let me explain… I… I died because of Sephiroth… but due to some circumstances that I wasn't even able to understand, I got back here… and I'm alive! But… I never realized that… maybe President ShinRa also returned from the dead when I did…" he said in confusion.
"I guess it's the spell that our elders cast one full moon night. They thought it didn't work but… here you are! Eheh…" she laughed weakly as she stared at him, studying his current state. He seemed so alive and he doesn't look like a Zombie…
Zack struggled to sit up, "Please… explain to me… what… happened? Cloud and Aerith?" he asked.
Yuffie did not know how and where to begin. She just shook her head in confusion. "I'm not the right person to ask about that."
"You know, I don't really get the idea…" Sephiroth began.
"But you need to help us!" Tseng insisted.
"What if we don't want to?" Cloud asked with a threatening look on his face, knowing that Tseng has a crush on Aerith and he wouldn't let that Wutaian near his Aerith that's why he just told her to stay upstairs with Marlene.
Tseng, Rude, Elena and Reno exchanged weak smiles with one another. "Erhm… Please, Mister Strife? This is a good chance for you AVALANCHE dudes to infiltrate ShinRa during the masquerade ball! While Miss Lockheart can keep things busy in the ballroom, the rest of you can go around the building. We'll just disable all security cameras for you!" Reno pointed out.
Barret, Cloud, Vincent, Lucrecia, Tifa and Sephiroth exchanged blank stares with one another. "But you mentioned that President ShinRa would also like to meet Tifa's parents?" Lucrecia asked.
Silence.
"We'll find a way…" Elena began, but Barret suddenly had an idea. "I know! To make things easier… um… Lucrecia," he began.
Lucrecia turned to him with a surprised look on her face, "No way! Hojo might recognize me!" she protested.
"Mwahahahaha! Vincent can play Tifa's mommy!" Sephiroth suggested.
Silence.
"Bloody hell?! Why me?" Vincent exclaimed in shock.
Tifa stared at Vincent. "Hmm… you look nothing like my real mother… but… you have the perfect skin…even more perfect than any other woman's… and you have the perfect long ebony hair! My mom had black hair, I can remember…" she said softly.
"So you're suggesting that I wear an effing dress to that masquerade ball? What about this claw?" Vincent asked, showing to them his left arm.
"Oh that's easy. Your escort… or Tifa's daddy, will hold you by that arm all the time. And besides, you'll be wearing a mask." Barret pointed out.
"Oh me! Me! I can do your make up!" Elena said excitedly.
Vincent wanted to shrink. "Why me?! Why not Aerith??!!" he reacted in shame.
"You think I'll allow Aerith to do that? Besides she looks too young." Cloud said.
"And the others might recognize her and so the President might tell us to capture her again." Tseng said.
"Okay then… who will be my escort?" Vincent asked.
Silence.
"Not me. I'll assist in the infiltration." Barret said.
"He should be tall…" Reno said before eyeing Cloud's height, then turned to Sephiroth with a mean smile on his face. The rest of the Turks eyed Sephiroth with interested stares.
Sephiroth just raised an eyebrow at them, "Well as long as I won't play the 'mommy' part, it's alright with me…" he turned to Vincent with a determined smile on his face, "I'll be your escort, Vinny." He said with a wink.
Lucrecia frowned slightly before clearing her throat, "Ahem… I think I would like to assist in the infiltration, if you guys don't mind." She presented with a slight smile on her face. All eyes turned to her before she continued, "In ShinRa gatherings, everyone's in the ballroom including the executives, but they leave cameras rolling in their offices… most especially the laboratory. If you want to cause a big black out or check out the files, we can easily access them in Hojo's laboratory. I know the password in his computer." She presented with a proud look on her face.
"Oh that's great!" Barret cheered victoriously.
"Gah… just be careful. We'll be disconnecting all the security cams but I don't think it would help much because Soldiers are still roaming around." Tseng warned.
Vincent was beginning to feel uncomfortable, "Why can't Cloud and Aerith just be Tifa's parents?" he asked.
"Because they look too young." Elena pointed out.
"With a little make-up, they could look more mature!" Vincent protested.
"End of discussion!" Reno said, clapping his hands in adjournment. Tifa smiled sweetly at Vincent, "Don't worry, mummy, it's going to be one bloody hell of a good time! Heeheeheehee!" she teased.
Vincent just turned to Lucrecia with an agonizing look on his face. She just smiled calmly at him. "Don't worry, Vinny. I won't let Hojo catch you." She said sweetly.
Tifa sighed heavily. "And what about me? What will I do?" she asked.
"You'll act like Tifa, the daughter of the ambassador of Gongaga… and the girl who… erm… accompanied the Prez—er, Rufus in the HoneyBee Inn," Reno explained with a malicious grin. "If you know what I mean…"
She frowned in response. "Is there something that I don't know?!"
The two other Turks nodded meekly. Elena bit her lower lip nervously as she fumbled for the words to say. "Er… we kind of made it look like that you and Vice President Rufus… uhm… did it, and President ShinRa thought he heard it, so…"
"… I'm not even gonna ask," Cloud remarked, trying to keep a straight face. Barret can't help but laugh out loud.
Tifa, on the other hand, tried to keep her calm… in vain. "What?! How?! And why me?! Why not… why not…"
"It was an accident!!!" Elena yelped helplessly when she saw Tifa's eyes flare dangerously.
"Does Gongaga even have an ambassador?" Cloud asked.
"You should ask Zack that. He used to live there, right? Heheh," Sephiroth replied.
At the mention of the name, Cloud felt somewhat enraged… for a reason that he himself could not even understand. Instantly, he just stomped his foot. The others jerked in surprise when he did that.
"What?" Sephiroth asked, turning to him.
Cloud swallowed the lump in his throat before glaring at him, "N…nothing… but… by any chance, did that guy come back with you?" he asked, forcing a smile.
Sephiroth wondered at first why Cloud was acting like that, but upon thinking about all the others who were revived with him and then thought about Aerith, he finally realized why. He just shrugged. "What if I say yes?" he asked.
Cloud felt his heart sink.
Sephiroth laughed, "Mwahahahaha! We'll talk later." He told him before turning to Tifa, "So, daughter dear, what are your other plans?" he asked.
"I have no idea. First of all, it's a masquerade ball. Second, I have absolutely nothing to wear… third, you and Vincent have nothing to wear too. Fourth, I'm worried about getting caught." Tifa said with an impatient tone.
"Oh, regarding your clothes, it's gonna be taken care of by Rufus." Tseng assured with a kind smile on his face.
"I just hope he picks out the right size…" Tifa muttered.
"That's why we need to get your measurements." Elena said happily.
Silence.
"Vincent is a 34-25-32." Sephiroth pointed out.
"Hey--! How did you…" Vincent began.
"It's one of my specialties; I can determine your measurements just by looking at you," Sephiroth said before turning to Tifa. Tifa frowned at him, "I'm so disappointed… Vincent's waist is smaller than mine!!!" she snapped.
"And mine too!" Lucrecia said in surprise.
Sephiroth snickered, "And you, Miss Lockheart, I could tell that you're a ..." He began, but Tifa cut him off when she just stood up and raised her hands, "Alright, that's enough! I'm going upstairs to check on Aerith, 'ayt? I'll just see you guys later!" she said with a loud voice dominating that of Sephiroth's as she headed for the stairs and went up.
"I was only joking," Sephiroth muttered with a silly smile on his face as he turned to his mother who was looking shamefully at him.
"Okay, so we'll just see you on the 23rd." Tseng said before recapping his pen and then returning his small notepad inside the left breast pocket of his blazer. "Rufus will be sending a limo for you here… but we'll make sure that we're the ones who will pick you up instead of the other SOLDIER members so that you won't get busted." He assured them before he got up. "Your gowns and suits will be delivered tomorrow evening… maybe I'll just ask Elena to drop by here. Rufus might go shopping this afternoon once we return." He continued.
"Oh yeah, don't forget your presents. Heh heh." Reno told them with a wink.
"Presents?" Cloud asked.
"It's a birthday masquerade party!" Reno reminded him before he led the way to the door and opened it for Tseng and his other comrades.
Sephiroth snickered, "I think I'd like to go shopping now for Rufus's gift." He told them.
From upstairs, when Tifa arrived upstairs, she was surprised to find Aerith just seated at the last step of the stairs and listening attentively at the conversation downstairs. "Oh, Aerith. You were listening all this time?"
"Well… yes, it was getting interesting. I can't imagine how you're going to act as Rufus' girlfriend, though," she replied, giggling a bit.
Tifa frowned and she decided to change the subject quickly. "Why is Cloud so protective of you nowadays, Aerith? He wouldn't even let you join us downstairs…"
"I'm not really sure… maybe because he doesn't want the Turks to see me?" Aerith replied, although she was unsure.
"And that Zack guy… I can remember him… but Cloud sorta reacted violently when the name was mentioned." Tifa began as she sat down beside Aerith. Aerith blinked. "You know Zack?" she asked.
"Yeah. Why? I was there when I toured them around Nibelheim. I even have a picture here with him and Sephiroth. Heehee!" Tifa said as she reached for her wallet, opened it and pulled out the picture that she was talking about. Aerith just took a quick glance at the picture and then made a face. "I can't believe I used to like that guy…" she muttered.
"Who, Sephiroth?" Tifa asked.
"No, Zack!" Aerith pointed out.
Tifa face-faulted and then began to laugh hysterically, "Yeah right! You actually liked that hedgehog-looking guy?! I mean, the first time I saw him, I almost laughed… but since he's a SOLDIER and he was quite nice, I just respected him…" she trailed off before pointing an accusing finger at Aerith as she gasped, "Oh dear! Don't tell me you have a fetish for spiky-headed guys?!" she asked in shock.
Aerith raised her eyebrows at Tifa in disbelief, "Of course not!!! Cloud is different from Zack… and it just so happened that… they seemed so alike before, but now I can see the real Cloud so… so I love him… and Zack's just a fling because I was so young and so naïve and…" she trailed off when she realized that she was already shouting… and everyone from downstairs could hear what she was saying. She just realized it when Sephiroth started laughing, "MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Zack and Aerith?! Mwahahaha! That's so gross! Mwahahahahah!"
The two girls heard a very loud and feral growl, followed by Sephiroth's yelps of pain. "Cloud?! I was just kidding!!!" and crashing noises… and Lucrecia yelling, "BOYS, THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" and Barret saying, "Couple o' foo's! I'm outta here." And the front door slamming… and Vincent saying, "Oh dear. Oh dear. Oh dear! Careful with the vase!"
Tifa and Aerith exchanged looks before they slowly got up and just decided to hide in Marlene's room for a while, feeling somewhat sheepish.