When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end, the Goddess descends from the skies. Wings of light and dark spread afar, she guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting.
Genesis recited his beloved poem by heart in his head as Hollander took several samples of blood from him, muttering to himself.
"Why did you go to the Kancheewas first, Genesis? You should have come straight to me."
Genesis kept down the rising growl, "you were unavailable and it was only for pain management."
Hollander continued to fuss over him, skin samples, amongst other samples were all taken to be analysed until he cleared Genesis fit for duty.
As Genesis got up to leave, he decided to ask. "Professor Hollander, do you know anything about cellular degradation in SOLDIER members?"
Genesis narrowed his eyes in suspicion as Hollander dropped the clipboard he was holding, watching the man scurry to pick it up, Genesis waited.
"Where did you hear that?"
"Answer my question, please." Genesis was not about to tell him that.
"Yes, I do. It is actually what you are suffering with. But how did you know about this?" Genesis' eyes snapped to Hojo who had come over to see what the commotion was.
"It would appear as though he wants the truth," this man made Sephiroth uncomfortable, he made everyone uncomfortable. "What are you going to do now, Hollander."
"Don't you have a patient, Hojo."
What truth?! He wanted to scream, but a sudden idea hit him, he knew how he could get the information he needed.
"It doesn't matter, Professor, I just needed to confirm what I had heard, that was all."
Turning to leave, Genesis headed up to the office of Director Lazard, Genesis knew he had gone home, therefore he could tap into his computer and find the truth himself.
"Be careful, Genesis," Brother spoke, falling into step with him. "This may not be the best way to go about this."
"There is no other way that I can get access to the information I need." Genesis argued.
"Well, actually there is," Brother pulled Genesis down another corridor. "The information is down here, Sister and I snuck in here once whist you were all sleeping."
Brother led Genesis down to the Turk archives, Genesis wasn't happy being in here; Turks were a territorial lot.
"In here? You're sure?" Genesis asked as Brother came to stop in front of a large shelving unit referred to as JENOVA.
Genesis turned to see Brother's nose wrinkled in disgust. "I am sure. The cameras will have stopped working by now, they won't be able to get them back up until tomorrow. You have until then to find the truth. I will stay with you."
Genesis frowned and cocked his head to the side; something was off with his wayward divine companion. "Are you alright, my friend?"
"My sister is under attack and there is nothing I can do to help her… we have been cut off from one another." Brother looked over at Genesis, "what do I do? I can see their plight, yet I am powerless to do anything!"
Genesis blinked. "Welcome to my world, my friend." Putting all thoughts of his Golden Flower being in danger to the back of his head, Genesis picked up volume 1 of 10 of the JENOVA project and began to read a book created by a female known only as Mrs F.
Herein lies a written account of the creature known as JENOVA. This account is more descriptive than personal.
First, I should introduce myself, I am Ifalna Gast, I am the last surviving pure-blood Cetra, an antient race long since lost to time.
Approximately two thousand years ago, an alien creature landed on Gaia, having travelled through space on a meteorite that crashed into what is now known as the Norther Crater.
"Genesis, stop reading." Brother's voice broke his concentration. Looking over at his friend, Genesis noticed him wiping his mouth; he had been sick.
"What is it?" putting the book back, Genesis approached his friend.
"Whatever it is you are reading; I can visualise it." Genesis frowned so Brother went on. "When my sister and I were born, we were born already able to walk and talk, we simply stayed the ages you see us at as we found them to be more comfortable. As we grew into our divinity and subsequent powers, we began to realise that we could see the memories of one of our parents, though until now, my sister and I were unsure which one."
"Your mother?"
"Yes. As you were reading that book, I could see JENOVA, I could see what it looked like, it was little wonder that it nearly killed my mother."
Brother sat down.
"So, it was hostile?" Genesis sat beside him for a moment.
Brother nodded. "Please, do not continue reading that book, I fear you will not like what you find."
Genesis was torn, but a longing look back towards the bookcase heard an audible sigh being heaved from Brother. "Go. Do what you must, my friend. I shall stand beside you no matter what."
Genesis smiled and pulled the book back off of the shelf.
The creature appeared to approach the Cetra, using some kind of mimic ability to destroy them. No attempt to come peacefully, JENOVA caused a sickness in the Cetra that was hinted to be a genetic part of the creature itself; it mutated those that were infected, turning them to monsters.
Genesis heard Brother wretch again, but continued to read.
JENOVA would then take on the former appearance of one of the monsters into get close to their families and loved ones, giving them the virus.
It was in this way the creature destroyed most of the Cetra civilisation whilst their daughter race – humans – hid away, safe from JENOVA.
What few surviving Cetra there were banded together to defeat the creature and quarantined it deep within the Northern Crater, where is would sleep, however, the damage was done and the Cetra race dwindled and died out, humans spread across the world and the Cetra themselves fell into legend.
Two thousand years later almost all memory of this creature had faded Until the ShinRa Electric Power Company unearthed the creature whilst searching the Northern Crater for Mako – which they now used to become the powerhouse of this world.
The Cetra and the Legend of the Promised Land piqued their interest and mistakenly identified this creature as a Cetra.
Genesis looked for the publishing date and found it only to be at least five to ten years older than Genesis himself… he shivered; something wasn't sitting right with him.
He stopped reading and turned to Brother, who was now looking very drained.
"Come on, you. I will put this to the back of my mind for now. Besides I don't think this was the book I was looking for."
Pulling Brother to his feet, the two of them wandered back through the halls until Brother stopped and looked down the corridor to their left.
"Genesis, what's down this way?"
Looking to where Brother was pointing, Genesis felt himself pull a face. "That's the science department's research area, you do not want to go down there."
Genesis was about to pull Brother away when he heard Hollander's voice down the hall.
"Hide!" he hissed, pulling himself into the air vent above him.
Genesis placed the grate back just in time for Hollander to come down the hall in a temper, with him was Sakura Kancheewa.
"You are the only other person who knows about this that Genesis would go to, Sakura." He growled. "You have no right to give Genesis information that you are denying your own children."
"The difference being in that my children are too young to know, which is another reason why you and Hojo can keep your grubby hands off of them." Sakura snapped back. "Genesis came to me looking for pain relief and saw the fact that his arm is – for absence of a better term – rotting, he panicked, what else did you expect me to do?"
Hollander got up into Sakura's face. "Stay away from my specimens."
Genesis blinked. Specimens? Is that how he thinks of me? Who else is he talking about?
"Specimens? Ha! That's a fine way to talk about the second and third in command to the army that you and Hojo are so proud of. Goddess, I really hope I live long enough to see my daughter make a peaceful living."
Sakura simply walked away.
After a moment or two Hollander began talking to himself. "If you live long enough, that is. You're too smart for your own good, wretched woman."
Once the coast was clear, Genesis and Brother came out of their hiding places, both looking considerably shaken.
"That was a disturbing conversation… I think we should go, my friend. The others will soon return to the shared apartments." Genesis led the way back to the apartments.
An uneventful evening took place after this leaving Genesis to ponder his next move.
I would like to see her again… maybe Brother and his sister can form some form of pathways with their bond… I shall have to ask when we have time to ourselves.
The next morning, Genesis was on his way to meet Sephiroth and Angeal for their usual morning coffee when a sudden idea hit him.
Sending a quick message to his friends to say that he was going to be late, Genesis headed for the elevator.
"What are you doing, Genesis?" Brother looked worse for wear this morning having witnessed the plight of his sister and Genesis' Golden Flower whilst he slept, meaning that the poor deity had gotten next to no rest at all.
"Getting leave for a vacation, there is something I need to do… Someone I hope I get to see." Truth be told, Genesis just couldn't get his Golden Flower out of his head, her presence was enough to keep his morbid theories out of his head.
Walking into the Directors office, he saw Hollander already there.
"Director Lazard, I would like to place a notice of recreational leave – Professor Hollander – you see, I have not been entirely honest with you and am not quite mentally prepared to return to active service."
"Is everything alright, Genesis?" Hollander cut across Genesis' further reasons.
Turning to the Professor, he gave a courteous nod, "yes, Professor, I just need a little while to recuperate mentally." turning back to Lazard who already had the form in hand.
"Of course, Genesis, just sign here and tell me how long you'll be gone for and I'll put it through for immediate effect." The good man was smiling, Genesis knew that Lazard was a good man at heart, he cared for his people.
*Tell him you shall be gone a month; we can find my sister and the others then.* Brother spoke as Genesis scribbled away.
"There we go, I shall be gone for a month, if that is okay?"
Lazard nodded, "I see no reason why not. Get well soon, Commander." Lazard shook Genesis' hand, who then gave a salute, nodded at Hollander and left.
Returning to the ground level of the ShinRa main building, Genesis made his way to the little coffee shop deep within the bowels of LOVELESS Avenue.
It was a quaint little shop, the smell of coffee beans roasting away, and the freshly baked cakes, cookies and pastries were enough to draw the three of them here. It was also nice to get away from the gaggles of squealing girls that usually followed the three of them everywhere. The shop keeper – whom Genesis swore was a former Turk – kept their fan bases away by threatening to report them to the Turks for harassment.
Spotting the other two in their usual booth, Genesis placed his order and made his way over to them, greeting the other regular goers as he passed.
"I'm sorry for keeping you both waiting, I just had a little matter to attend to."
"Is everything alright?" Sephiroth asked.
"I have put in for a month's recreational vacation," Genesis looked up to see both Angeal and Sephiroth looking shocked and puzzled.
"I need to find Hermione again, I…" he thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "There is something wrong with my thought processes lately and she seems to have a soothing effect on me, almost like a drug." He looked down at the coffee in front of him. "I can not explain it any better than that."
"What is wrong with your thought process, is it anything we have done? Or something we can help you with?" Sephiroth asked. It was unusual, Genesis knew, for Sephiroth to be so caring, he was always cold and often cruel, big headed… but then he had the right to be, he was ShinRa's star General.
"It's…" Again, Genesis had to choose his words, he did not want his next words to come out as an accusation. "All of this really began after I got that injury, from when I wouldn't back down in the company training room." Sephiroth nodded, "since then it has felt like I am being pulled somewhere, to something I don't really think I want to be. Hermione, she helps me when my thoughts stray to dark or too dangerous." He looked up at his friends, "the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone."
Sephiroth hummed in thought as Angeal shivered. Genesis knew that Angeal had been the blood donor as his injury wasn't healing, the dark thoughts Genesis spoke of were of Angeal not wanting to help anymore, that had been quite the confrontation as Genesis had let his emotions get the better of him. The two Banorans had not spoken in a week before Sephiroth made them sit together, words of apology were spoken and the two reconciled.
"Perhaps you will, indeed, benefit from this vacation, Genesis." Sephiroth spoke, finally. "We shall look forward to your return, give her our regards."
The next day, Genesis had packed a backpack with some extra clothes and a lot of small weapons, materia and many kinds of concoctions to help them on their journey. The other two were still sleeping as he left, Brother by his side with his own backpack.
The two of them hitched a ride with a squadron of infantry who were on their way to his hometown of Banora, Brother told them to drop them in the middle of nowhere before focusing his energy into finding the bond with his sister.
"There she is! And it is still just the three of them."
"Ron will return to her; of that I have no doubt." Genesis spoke.
Brother looked at his friend sceptically. "I cannot believe you would happily let her go to someone like him."
Genesis smirked, "I like Ron. I consider him to be a friend."
"Yet he is trying to steal your Golden Flower from you?" Brother teased as the two of them walked through the door that had just materialised.
"Hahaha yes, there is that to consider, but the decision is Hermione's to make after all." The door closed behind them as they stood in the middle of a dark forest, the first thing both noticed was the temperature.
"Great Goddess its cold here!"
"Come on, they're not far." Brother led the way.
/
Praise be to the fictional muses! I have returned with a somewhat half-baked chapter, this one has given me hell! This is due to the lack of "unimportant" information on a old game hahah. So I have and am going to continue to make up most of the JENOVA project information using what I have at my disposal.
Anyway, I have decided for the purposes of timelines to have Genesis stick around for a while, his degradation will continue to get worse, but will not manifest yet.
The "Hogwarts" side of the story is nearing completion my devoted followers! I hop I have not disappointed anyone!
Review for me peeps! I love hearing from you all! Next up in Lovegood's and Malfoy Manor!