Chapter 12.
Sephiroth's POV
I hated this. Really, I did.
With a heavy sigh, I arranged the suit coat and the shirt beneath it, easing the pressure of the tie knot on my throat.
I hoped the action would give me some relief, but it didn't.
March, 0001 had been a disastrous month. That ought to be hard to forget.
In spite of all my efforts, I was forced to announce - officially - the deaths of Angeal and Genesis - 'Killed in action'.
Lies. All lies.
How. I hated. lies. It went against everything I believed in, against my own principles.
But the President ordered it and I had no choice but to obey. Even in a bed, still recovering from a gunshot, the man remained fierce and authoritarian as always.
I had tried to reason with him, asked for more time to perform my investigations but his will was unshakable. The president didn't care about Angeal and Genesis where-abouts. For him, they were dead, period. And they should be dead for everyone else, as well, as he told me personally.
I got it, to a point.
SOLDIER was a respectable entity - and the President wanted it to remain that way.
The image the mirror rewarded me with was a stranger.
I blinked, amazed with my own logics. How could I've changed this much, why had I become so conscientious about everything?
I sighed, annoyed. I knew why. Deep down inside I knew very well why I felt this way.
I abhorred the perspective of not closing cases successfully. Genesis and Angeal's case was still a huge interrogation point in my head - and I was being forced to close my eyes and abandon everything concerning it.
The woman's case was another matter. The whole event of her appearance in the base had thick fog around it.
Thick, consuming, choking fog.
'God damn it.' I whispered, closing my eyes for a while.
I wanted to leave it, I wanted to focus on something but that, but something… something held me to it with invisible, strong as steel chains.
With a sudden move, my fingers arranged the tie knot around my throat and I narrowed my eyes to the image in the mirror - an image that mimicked my actions.
"You think high of him. You always did."
That woman's words echoed in my mind, randomly. How could she have known that I admired Gast, if I hadn't made a comment on that? Ever. How?
My breathing became audible.
"Don't go to Nibelheim."
Why? Why avoid that place lost in the middle of nowhere? What did she know? How could she know a thing about that and… and…
Out of reflex, I closed my eyes and supported my upper weight on the sink, my hands grasping the cold porcelain. I managed to draw a consistent breath, trying to exhale worries out my system.
It wasn't working.
When I opened my eyes again, the reflection on the mirror was the same as always.
I was there. As I had always been.
Confident. Superior.
The General. The one that commanded legions of men. The one that had control over everything.
I smirked slightly. It was time to act like the person I was.
In a decisive move, I left the bathroom, headed towards the main Shinra building, ready to be what I had been born to be.
General Sephiroth.
Zack's POV.
This recruiting thing was eating my brains. Literally.
Working with the Turks was okay, but even I had to admit the whole thing was tiring. But, what could we do? We were bound to the President's orders - and Sephiroth made absolutely sure we were doing as told.
He was always there, supervising and checking everything, like a shadow. Silent and deadly. Authoritarian as always.
Even in the announcement of Angeal and Genesis's death the General had been implacable. Not a sign of emotion, sadness or pain, of any kind.
That man behaved like a robot. Sometimes, I wondered… if there would be anything on this planet capable of moving him - touching him, make him feel something.
With a sigh, I concluded that, most likely, there would be nothing.
I, on the other hand, felt everything a little too close to the heart - a trait Dr. Hojo disliked immensely. I had been handled in the labs accordingly. I had lost count of the extra Mako injections I received because of my stubbornness.
They had done little to atone my will. But I had improved somehow, learned to defend myself; I had learnt to hide my emotions rather efficiently and separate heart from brain, according to the circumstance.
Even during the ceremony of my promotion, I remained serious. It had been this morning. The General was there, as always. He didn't say a word, except for a cold "Welcome". Right. It was only protocol.
Officially I was now a 1st Class SOLDIER - in body, mind and paper. For the company - Shinra, now I belonged to the rank I've always dreamed of.
The very thought of it put a smile in my face.
"It's a mess down there!" Reno screamed, as he dodged several bullets coming out of a corner. The red-head ran towards us, trying to catch his breath. His stressed tone made me focus on what was happening.
"What's the status?" I asked, hoping Reno would give me a quick heads up.
"Me and Rude spotted Hollander today at the company, after the alert on some missing documents and the whole malfunctioning robots thing. We're on him since then, but the robots are making this very difficult, man."
A bullet scratched the wall, right next to our heads and we reacted, crouching a little in defense. Reno spoke again.
"They're everywhere. Civilians are being attacked and I've been informed there are several Genesis flying around Midgar."
I felt myself froze inside as I processed Reno's words.
"What do you mean, several Genesis?"
"It means that exactly." Reno answered, admitting a defensive position. "I called for backup. Ciss, Rude, any word on Hollander?"
I waited for the answer, as Reno tried to focus on what was being said through the audio, in between the noise that surrounded us.
"Sector 8." The red-haired informed.
"Let's get going then." I declared, and we both ran towards the streets that would lead us to Sector 8 itself.
On our way, Reno's information got me thinking. The chase after Dr. Hollander - who seemed to have invaded the company and stolen some important documents - was categorically being interposed.
Think was, Shinra's robotic security had been tricked and the robots were attacking everybody. Hollander had been smart indeed. But this hadn't been a random thing - how could have a man like Hollander known about offing an alarm like a pro?
Nah. Something else was happening here.
He had to have that information from someone… specialized.
The President itself had ordered me to go and help the Turks - apparently, not only with robots issue, but with Genesis.
Curiously, the same Genesis that had been declared 'killed in action' one day ago was obviously alive and spreading terror all over Midgar.
But the worse wasn't only that. There were copies of him - dozens, hundreds.
And deep down inside, I wondered if Angeal was part of this wicked plan as well. Part of me didn't want to believe that.
But, truth was… instinct was telling me Angeal was involved. And that hurt more than anything.
John's POV
What a terrible way to start the week.
First thing, the company had been invaded and the Turks were everywhere, scanning everyone. SOLDIER were around as well, surveying every step, every move as if we were all suspects of murder on the loose.
Geez. Those guys sure took their job way seriously.
After the daily rollercoaster I had to been through to get inside the building I worked in, I thought I would be in peace for the rest of the day.
I was wrong.
As soon as I arrived in my office, the phone was ringing like crazy. Thing was, it was early - very early. Who would want to reach me at this time of the day?
Yes, it was a simple question with a complex answer.
General Sephiroth.
I recognized his voice immediately. His neutral tone made me recoil immediately. The memory of what he had done to Eleanor still was too damn vivid in my mind.
"What is it?" I asked, trying to sound unbiased.
The answer was swift and straight to subject.
"I need to confirm some information with your test subject. I want to make it simple and quick, given the current events. Is she available for questioning?"
I sighed, and tried to disguise my annoyance before I managed to talk again.
"It takes a lot of nerve for you to ask something like that considering what happening days ago."
Silence invaded the line for a heavy second.
"Is your test subject available or not?"
The General's arrogance made me react at once.
"I have proof enough you were there and tried to-"
"Medina." A harsh voice interrupted me at once. "Reckless words won't help you and your department. Your biased emotions are becoming a very serious flaw in your… investigation. You wouldn't want a report to the Ethical board denouncing your very impartial investigational techniques, wouldn't you?"
I got lost without words for too long, my mind frozen. How dare he?
"I thought so." The General declared. "I'll be there in five."
The line went dead immediately.
I breathed out, my heart beating like I had run a marathon.
What a sick bastard, threatening me like that.
In a rush, I put my lab coat on and went immediately to see Elie. I had to warn her the General was coming - for questioning.
I hoped she wouldn't react panicking.
When entered Elie's bedroom she was exiting the bathroom. Taking in her aspect, she had just taken a shower. Her white pajamas fitted her fine, and for a moment she reminded me of a tennis player - barefooted and without racket. My silly thought put a faded smile on my lips. The mark on her throat and neck was still there - faint and greenish, for the most part. But it was there, that constant reminder of how animal the General had been with her.
Speaking of which… he wouldn't take much longer now.
"What's happening?" She smiled at me, sitting on her bed in between the sheets and that green blanket with Shinra logos all over.
"Problems in the neighbor building." I declared, thinking of the softest way of telling her the General was coming to see her very soon. Like now.
"Hollander?"
Her sudden question made me narrow my eyes in reaction. I didn't know if that was Hollander or not. Nothing had transpired outside, I had no idea who or what was involved in the mess outside.
But, then again, it was pretty obvious. I was the one that tended to forget Elie knew certain things. Varied, classified things that put her in a very delicate position.
"I was going to ask you how could you know about that, can you believe it?" I smiled, genuinely, squeezing the chart on my hands. Gosh, this whole thing sure was affecting me.
"I do." She smiled back, analyzing my reaction. And before she would ask me, I decided to be quick.
"The General called. He wants to know if it's okay to-"
"Is he here?"
I looked at her in the eye, taken aback with her calm, sudden reaction. What, was that eagerness? She was that keen to see the man that had almost strangled her? What kind of reaction was that?
And why?, my mind asked, almost immediately, but I didn't quiver. I resumed answering her with the truth.
"Probably."
"He can ask me himself then." Elie declared, raising an eyebrow. "I don't bite."
Oh my, she was so not helping!
"Elie-"
Before I could say or do anything, warn her not to be cocky with the General, a voice sounded right next to me.
"It's fine, Medina."
Damn. I was so annoyed with all this. First, all the demanding and the threats, then… Elie's reaction to his presence. They locked stares like they had some private joke going on, something that only either of them knew and understood. But neither of them was smiling. On the contrary, they were dead serious.
Shit. I didn't like all that powerful eye-communication at all. I was feeling completely off their little world of silent war or whatever.
Hence, I applied a consistent effort to sound reasonable and neutral.
"Go ahead." I gestured towards Elie.
The General stepped towards her, approaching her bed frame. He purposely left a safety distance between them, and Elie's complexion seemed to be carved out of stone. Right now, she looked as stoic as the General usually did.
His Mako eyes focused on hers, shifting to her throat for a moment. She didn't miss it.
"Admiring your work?"
I cleared my throat, trying to warn her. Great, this had started just great. Thankfully, the General didn't seem to give her provocative comment any importance. The man was very focused today - I had a feeling it had something to do with what was happing outside.
"Is there any relevant information you want to share about this incident?"
His voice was clear and straight to business.
"You mean Hollander stealing confidential documents right under your nose?"
Eleanor's statement surprised us both. Damn, she actually knew what on the Planet was going on.
"You mean under the Turks' noses."
"No, I mean under your nose because the Turks don't regularly guard the documentation area, am I right?"
"Yes."
Oh my, I thought, appalled. This was really something. The General was actually confirming everything with Elie and … Damn, I couldn't even think straight. I hadn't ever considered asking for Elie's help in situations like these.
Well apparently, the General did.
"Right. Hollander was the one programming the alarm and the robot malfunctioning to spread chaos all over." Elie declared, never leaving the General's stare. "Genesis instructed him."
I had never thought to see a man like Sephiroth gulp dry at her words.
"Genesis." He quoted, narrowing his eyes at her for the first time.
"I assume you already declared him 'killed in action', right?"
At her words, I was the one looking at the General's face, waiting the answer.
I didn't need one to realize she was more than accurate. Eleanor was the one speaking again.
"Genesis is alive, spreading terror with his army of copies…" She stopped for a moment, as if considering her words. "Zack… is on mission with the Turks, am I correct?"
"You know he is."
"Hollander will be detained."
The General nodded, but he didn't seem satisfied with her answer. He averted his stare from hers for a while, scanning the wall for brief seconds. When his voice sounded again, they had locked stares once again.
"The Turks informed me they lost track of Zack in Sector 5. What happened there?"
"A misunderstanding with… "
Elie's hesitation got the General thinking, and he tilted his head a little, with a confidence mask all over.
"Angeal?" He asked, and Elie nodded in agreement. "And then what?"
Elie blinked, and her cheeks started to get reddish. I wondered why.
"Uh… well… Zack fell off the roof of a church."
We both raised our eyebrows at that information. The General was the one speaking again - with a disdainful tone.
"Really?"
"Listen… Shinra Headquarters will be attacked very soon. Genesis is making the call. They'll go for Hojo."
I never had seen the General so stiff, reacting after Elie speaking, clearly processing the seriousness of her words.
"Why?"
"Genesis is despaired, General."
In silence, I saw the General blink a couple of times. The man was categorically thinking way ahead.
"That'll be all." He snarled, preparing to leave Elie's premises. What a relief, I thought. But… the General's hand was still resting on the door handle when Elie's voice sounded again.
"General." My. What a despaired tone. "Prepare for the attack. Genesis won't go soft on you."
He looked at her and said:
"I know Genesis and his… ways."
And with that, he left us alone.
My stare met Elie's, who still remained fixated on the door, apparently lost in thinking.
I dared to approach her, my hand touching her forearm.
"Are you okay?"
She looked at me, her eyes sad.
"I am. Thank you."
"I am sorry I couldn't warn you with anticipation."
Elie smiled a little, disengaging her stare from mine.
"It's fine."
Like hell it is.
"You can't let him affect you this much." I declared, not knowing from where the words had come out. Elie met my stare again.
"I would like to help. I know things, important things that can change the reality in which we all live in. But he…" Eleanor's strangled voice at the mention of the General perspired disappointment. She gulped dry before speaking again. "…he just keeps seeing me like an insect to crush."
It was obvious to me now that the General's opinion mattered very much to Eleanor. Now that I was looking at her and her frustrated complexion, that silly nervousness that seemed to take over her whenever the man was around her… it disturbed me to a ridiculous point. I almost got the guts to ask her why, but I decided otherwise.
Maybe in time I would have the courage to ask her about that - the reason behind such anxiety when the General was around her.
"He'll come to terms with your potential." I declared, my eyes searching hers. "He must feel threatened by your capacities. I can only imagine the amount of pride that cost him grab the phone and ask me to question you."
My last words got her attention. She turned to me, her stare on mine. Eleanor Stevens looked genuinely surprised.
"You can't be serious."
"But I am." I stated, smiling a little. "It's pretty obvious."
"That's… unreal, I'm not a threat to him. I'm just…"
And there she was, undermining herself again.
"Well you, better than anyone, know he's not… average. In any way."
It was risky, for me to say such thing, but what the hell. I was talking with Elie, and she was so comfortable with us speaking that I decided not to mind this time. She smiled as she processed my speech.
"Yeah…"
And a change of subject was most needed right now. Or I wouldn't be able to think straight with her amazing eyes staring at me like that.
"Okay, so… the other day you said you wanted to speak with me. What was it about?"
The smile on her face disappeared at once and a heavy silence blossomed around us. So yes, we were going into sensitive, serious territory - again.
"I need to speak with Zack."
Her sudden statement surprised me.
"Zack? You mean SOLDIER Zack Fair?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"What I am about to tell you is… damn serious." Elie whispered, and her face remained grave. "Shut down the recording system."
I looked at her right in the eyes. Her words made me impatient, keen for information that would remain only between us.
Secrets.
Reflexively, I put my hand in one of the pockets the lab coat had; I searched for the tiny remote.
And I hit the 'stop' button at once, while my other hand reached for the chair that remained close by.
I sat and I smiled at the woman in front of me.
"I'm all ears."
A/N - Sorry this update took me AGES, but I was sick with flu for a while and then work kidnapped me and I've been trying like crazy to prepare chapters for updating. Anyways, hope you liked it. :) There is more to come and with multiple POV's; the plot will be going a little faster as well:)
Please, R&R, can't wait to hear from you and have your marvelous feedback :D