Chapter 2

Sitting down infront of her computer, Lucrecia brought up several files and glanced over the statistical data that was reported not too long after Professor Gast investigated the near artic find of the ancient body in the glacial ice and snow.

Leaning back in her chair, she stretched and inhaled. She rubbed at her face and then ran her fingers through her brown bangs. She had spent most of her career studying Mako poisoning and it's affects on the biological and psychological system of the human body. However with the discovery Gast had made in the North seemed to have turned her professional world upside-down. Being the prominent Biologist, Gast began immediately after the discovery to examine whether the DNA of the body could be study. Lucrecia shared his concern that the DNA maybe too old to examine let alone duplicate. The sound of her phoning ringing brought her out of her reverie. Rolling over to the other side of the desk, she picked up the receiver.

"Dr. Honestas."

"Ah good, I have something you might be interested in." Professor Gast's voice rumbled from the other end. Lucrecia smiled.

"You best not be teasing me. I know how much I hate that."

Gast chuckled. "Patience, dear, Patience. I have something better then a report, Lucrecia..."

She frowned, glancing briefly up at her office door. "I'm listening."

"I will need your help recreating a Cetra."

Lucrecia could hear Professor's Gast's voice edged with excitement.

"When will the research begin?" She inquired. Gast paused.

"Shin-ra would like us to begin in a week. I need to gather my previous data and prepare it for lab. I was hoping to gain your assistance in that."

"I am your assistant, Professor."

Gast sighed. "I know, but I wanted to let you know, if we are successful in our studies, I will be willing to put in my reference for your own research. Shin-ra would be interested in your studies on Mako Radiation."

Lucrecia stopped coiling her finger around the phone cord. 'Is Gast serious? Could this by my chance?' "Professor, I would be honored…"

He chuckled. "Oh don't sound so shocked, you have worked with me for a several years now, and if all goes well, you might have a chance. I just want to warn you, it might take several years of work…. and then getting past the Department head…"

Lucrecia frowned, that meant it had to be approved by Dr. Hojo. "Of course."

"Oh, speaking of which, I also wanted to call about a visitor that insisted on coming by..."

Someone pounded on her office door. She glanced up and then away. "I think your timing is uncanny, Gast."

"He will be coming to observe our work."

"Sure." Lucrecia hung up sounding doubtful. She redirected her attention to the door.

"Enter." She stood up and saw a man, probably no older then she, his black hair was cut short and wore round glasses which only seemed to accentuated his heavy bowline. A large white lab coat trailed near his knees.

"Ms. Honestas." He approached her desk in a lumbering shuffle, his shoulder were slightly hunched assumingly from the years of looming over books and reports.

"Dr. Hojo, it has been a while, please come in." She struggled to remain hospitable toward the department head.

"I wanted to see what you have scribbled down about Jenova."

Lucrecia forced a smile. "I am still compiling that information, Sir."

He paused infront of the small bookshelf filled with books and research reports.

"It seems that the quality of assistants have become, shall we say, slacking in recent years. I am sure part of it has to be that some people just who shouldn't be the field of science." He pulled a book from the shelf and thumbed through it. "Would you not agree Ms. Honestas? I am sure you are fully aware women your age are married and at home? Oh but I am sure you hear enough of that…"

Lucrecia straightened up the scattered research on her desk. A piece of paper fluttered from the desk to the floor during the shuffle. She bent over to pick it up. "But wasn't it you who approved me to work under Professor Gast?"

He paused observing the backside of her bent form from behind the book. "Mmmyes," Hojo then shut the book. "But it was only because I ended up owing him a favor. I have several promising young men to his disposal, and he insisted he wanted you." He glanced up at her. "Not that I can't blame him for wanting something of a different view during those long, late hours in the office."

She clenched her jaw, forcing a smile. "The Professor recognized my potential…"

Hojo waved her comment away. "Everyone has potential. But their skills are not proven until the steel has been tested by both flame and hammer. None the less, I came to make sure what you will be bringing will be satisfactory for the Project."

Lucrecia's eyes went wide momentarily 'Hojo is the one coming to observe the project? Oh this could be trouble.'

She pursed her lips in frustration. It was not the first time men and some women had thrown around their weight in power in order to gain what they wished, even if it were for a better parking placing in the structure.

"Of course, Dr. Hojo."

The phone rang. Taking the opportunity to stop the conversation, she answered. Saying a private prayer of praise, she set the receiver down at the end of the message. She gathered up her clipboard and a small notebook.

"I had a pleasant time chatting, Dr.Hojo, but my lab analysis is complete, so if you will excuse me." She walked passed him. Folding his arms, he followed her into the hallway.

"Well, I am heading off to meet with my daughter for a couple of days." Marcus finished up the last of his paperwork and dumped it triumphantly into the out basket. Marcus Brenner was a man that seemed to demand respect despite his low-key appearance. He wore his brown peppered hair trimmed short either slicked back or falling freely around his temples. What seemed to call the most attention were his bright, piecing blue eyes. Whatever harshness existed in his youth was now easily mellowed with the growing lines and wrinkles of a man in his early forties.

Marcus held a picture he kept in the inside pocket of his jacket. He looked over at the summer image of his once youthful child. Her red hair was braided into pigtails and freckles speckled her flushed cheeks. Marcus smiled realizing how dated the picture was. His daughter was no long a spirited six years old, but was edging into womanhood. But in a couple of days, his red-headed child would be turning sixteen. Marcus had a hard time grasping how fast time had flown by.

"Sir?"

Marcus looked up at Vincent who stood infront of the desk. It seemed like only yesterday when he brought to meet the newest recruit that had been weeded from the military applicants. Vincent, even though talented, was not the only Turk he supervised.

"Sorry, I tend to get a little nostalgic." Marcus joked.

"I know sir."

"She is the reason I am still here, Vincent. When I am dust, I want her to be okay." His eyes glanced down at the wrinkled, crumpling photo. Heaving a sigh, he placed the picture back in his jacket pocket. It was hard back when she was little. He rarely got to see her and his wife. When Katherine was about seven, his wife divorced him simply stating she could not handle him being away all the time and not being allowed to know what was going on. Marcus still felt the hurt of her words, but the line of work he was in was not an easy one, especially if one had a family on the outside.

Vincent sat quietly watching his supervisor. When he first applied for the military he expected a low ranking position, but after repeated diagnostic tests and interviews, it became apparent his skills were desired elsewhere. That is when he was introduced to Mr. Brenner. Vincent's brown eyes focused on Marcus's face and could not help to see a brief melancholy in his mentor's aging eyes. As quickly as he saw it, it was gone replaced by the usual focused almost piercing gaze.

Marcus stood up and grabbed his dark jacket. "I was thinking of catching a quick drink before I leave in the morning. I think the boys have another game going this evening."

Vincent nodded. Marcus grabbed his keys and turned off his desk light. "Remember, I taught you what you know, kid."

"Sir?"

Marcus chuckled. "Just don't swindle me like the rest of them. I need gas money." Not that Marcus was broke.

Vincent grinned and stepped out into the hallway, waiting for Marcus. Once the door was locked and secured, the two snipers walked down the hallway toward the elevator. "Now give you a word of advice about women. Don't get involved with any that wear an apron, short skirts or blonde wigs." They reached the elevator and pushed the down arrow. Marcus slung his jacket over his shoulder. "Especially if the blonde wig is also wearing the fishnets...I can guarantee that she is a he..."