Author's note: I hope those who read this chapter will appreciate some of the references I make in this section. I must apologize though, but I could not help it.

Chapter 8

Giving a quick glance over his shoulder, Hojo left the confines of the mansion and began to make his way up the path that led into the Nibel mountain range. A large hawk hovered nearby, seemingly searching the crags and patches of grass for prey. Hojo shouldered the pack he carried on his back and continued. Inside he had some minor recording equipment and several syringe samples of Jenova cells. 'That silly fool, thought you could keep the key from me, eh?'

Hojo had made plans since he first saw the body in cold storage to take samples. However, Gast made it impossibly by keeping the key to the basement and sleeping the very room that had the entrance. 'My precious syringes...'

The scientist finally came a to a stop at the first switchback and surveyed his surroundings. Not too far away he could smell the smoke of a small fire. He pushed past several bushes to find two Shin-ra soldiers sitting around a small campfire as they ate their rations. Hojo stood there for a second before he cleared his throat in order to gain their attention. The men jerked and jumped to their feet, saluting Hojo.

"Sir!"

Hojo merely rolled his eyes and walked past them. "What do you have for me, hmm?"

The soldiers looked at each other as though to determine who would speak.

"Sir, we have a specimen as requested, sir."

The man smiled as he tapped the tip of fingers together. "Excellent." Hojo followed after the soldier until they paused in a small clearing. There were several wire cages, but all of them were empty except for one. Hojo walked over and crouched down. He took off his glasses and peered at the white animal the cowered in the corner. Cleaning the lens he put his glasses back on and looked again.

"What is this, hmm? If I had wanted a rabbit, I would have done it myself!" Hojo straightened and peered at the soldier. "Mmmmyes, I think I found a new specimen."

The soldier swallowed. "Ssir!" The man stuttered. The second soldier slowly approached.

"If I may speak, sir? This is no pet store rabbit, sir." The soldier picked up a stick and poked it at the rabbit. After first there was silence as the rabbit sniffed it. It's long white ears laid back and it's eyes flared. The animal suddenly roared and began thrashing at the stick until it broke free. The soldier fell backwards trying to get away from the cage. "Sir, we caught it for dinner until we found it was nothing but a vicious fiend, sir."

"It almost tore my kneecaps off, sir."

The rabbit threw the remnants of the stick around before settling back down in the corner of the cage. Hojo leaned over it and smiled, admiring the rabbit. "What an excellent specimen you are. You will work just fine." He tapped the top of the cage before turning away. He removed the pack and unloaded the goods, which included a small field kit, tranquilizers, tags and the silver case that carried the Jenova syringes.

Gast stood out in the yard behind the mansion, trying fervently not to lose the phone signal.

"What? I can barely hear you...you're breaking up." He responded.

"Gast..." The woman's voice broke off into an inconceivable garble of words and sounds. The professor put a finger to his left ear trying hard to hear the botanist's fading voice.

"Ilfalna, can you speak up? What did you find?"

The connection faded in and out with causing Gast even more difficulty in understand the conversation. "Many things! …Come here." He managed to make out from the distortion of sounds.

Gast sighed. "Not at this time. I am tied up with Jenova right now. Though I think I should be freed up within the next month, at the soonest."

Silence fell over the connection as the signal finally failed. Gast cursed under his breath as he looked at his mobile phone. 'We should really work out a better form of communication. These phones are quite worthless.'

Ilfalna was the main botanist that worked up periodically near Icicle studying sub artic flora, with her main focus being lichens. Gast admired the woman for both being insightful and dedicated to her work. Normally she was either at the artic station or at a small university teaching. However with the discovery of Jenova, she spent her time at the glacier with several archaeologists as they continued their excavation site where the body was found. He knew they were still unearthing artifacts, but no more evidence of remains beyond Jenova's.

Gast turned off his phone away and walked around to the front of the mansion when he saw Hojo walking through the main gate carrying a small backpack.

"Dr. Hojo! I never thought you to be one for backpacking. Thought I could not blame you on a day such as this." Gast announced. Hojo paused seeing the professor approaching.

"Do you think I do something as frivolous as that when there is precious work to be done?"

Gast frowned briefly. "Of course not, but you are hear for observation. You are not the one doing the work."

Hojo snorted. "Indeed." He walked past Gast and paused. "What brings you outside, Professor?"

"I had to take a call. You know how poor the signal is from down in the basement."

Hojo merely shrugged and entered the mansion. Gast sighed and glanced back the gate. He still had some misgivings about the nature of Hojo's trip outside of the mansion. 'I wonder if he went up to the reactor? He should know how dangerous it is to hike up there alone. Maybe that is what the two soldiers were about that Mr. Valentine had mentioned he saw the other day.'

Taking a glance at his watch, Vincent sighed. He still had several hours to go before he could call it night. He leaned against the tree outside and looked up at the sky. 'I probably should shower after this. I just hope someone did not take off with my towel. It was not funny even the first time.'

Walking around the side of the mansion, he only made a half-hearted attempt to check the grounds. ' The only excitement here was that stupid gopher hole…' His mind quickly shifted the matter of Hojo.' What I would like to know is where Hojo goes, but I doubt it is here, probably off in the wilds somewhere…' He waved at the mosquito that buzzed near his ear. He waited for it to come close before he slapped it dead when it landed on his neck. 'Damn bloodsuckers...' Vincent rubbed at his neck and walked around to the front of the mansion. Giving a quick tug test on the mansion gate, he found it secure. Glancing around briefly, he finally went inside, locking the door behind him.

Shoving his hands in his pocket he starting make his last rounds through the mansion. Before he reached the stairs, a faint sound came from the ballroom. Glancing around, he knew no one would possibly up and if they were, they would be in the basement. Curious, he went through the doorway underneath the balcony and into the small hallway that connect the two wings. He found the main door was ajar with light leaking from behind. The music grew louder as he came closer. 'Who on earth is playing the piano at this time?' He slowly opened the door and peered around to see someone sitting at the grand piano playing a simple, but lively classical piece. He looked around the room to find the window bay table had a bottle and glass sitting on it. Vincent stepped into the room and stood quietly as the song continued.

The ballroom itself was artfully decorated with paintings, carved beams and electrical scones made to look like traditional oil ones that are rarely seen. There were several table and floors lamps scattered throughout the room, two of which were lit, one near the round table while another was move near the piano. The last several musical chords suddenly came to the end and the piano went silent.

"I didn't think I would be bothering anyone." Lucrecia stated in almost apologetic manner. She looked over the piano and sat Vincent standing on the other end. "Did I wake you or something? I know the Professor can sleep though an earthquake and not wake up..."

He merely shrugged. "I'm still on duty, Doctor."

Lucrecia sat back and placed her hands on her lap. "Good, um...not good, eh I mean, I didn't wake anyone then. I just couldn't sleep and I find this relaxing..."

"Don't let me disturb you, I was just about to leave..." He walked past the piano.

Lucrecia watched him approach the table and inspect the bottle. " If you wish to stay, I don't mind..." She watched him look at the glass bottle. "Oh that was all I could find storage. I was hoping for some gin, but brandy works just as well."

Vincent looked at the bottle once more before setting it down.

Lucrecia got up and look through the small pile of sheet music that was stored in the piano bench and withdrew another song and set it down on the music rest above the keyboard. Looking it over briefly, she began to play. Vincent paused for a moment and listened. 'She's pretty good for a scientist. Not like I can do better...Though if I were her, I would keep her day job.' He mused as Lucrecia waltzed the through the song.

Lucrecia ended the song and sat back. She looked over and found the Turk had gone, at what point, she couldn't recall. He had left as quietly as he appeared. She could not help but be reminded of a stray cat she befriended when she was little. At first it kept it's distance, but when she brought it food, it drew closer, but with caution still. But over time the cat came, playing and allowed her to even pick it up and be held. Though one day, the cat never came. Lucrecia's parents tried to tell her that the cat went back it's proper home. At the time, she believed it until one day she realized the dead cat she saw on the side of the road, appearing to have been hit by a car, was none other then stray cat she had been waiting for.

Feeling the affects of the alcohol, she pulled the keyboard cover down and left the room, turning off the lights before she closed the doors.