X
CHAPTER X
COMPANY MEN
Professor Hojo's mumbling could be heard from the flights above as he read aloud from his clipboard, accompanied only by the shuffling squeaks of his shoes. His footsteps were paced, suggesting each marble stair proved a difficult obstacle to his frail legs, moving leisurely through the floors with his attention trained solely on his report. His drawling voice filtered eerily down through the stairwell of the special block to the pursuing trio, low and nasal as if it was perpetually laden with disgust.
Swiftly and quietly, Cloud, Barret and Tifa trailed the scientist from a secure distance, cautious not to alert him to their position. Cloud noted the levels as they ascended from the markings on the security doors; '63: Department of General Affairs', '64: Executive Lounge and Gym' and '65: Executive Infirmary'. After a short time, Hojo came to a halt on the landing of the sixty-sixth floor. With what seemed like an eternity as he perused the final passages of his document, he finally swiped his card and ambled through the electronic doorway.
As the door closed after him, the three scampered up the remaining steps, biding their time for the right moment to continue after Hojo. To their frustration, they found that unlike that of the sixty-second level, the security door marked '66: Executive Conference Rooms' formed an opaque partition between themselves and what lay beyond. Pressing an ear against it, Cloud listened acutely for the muted sound of the professor's footsteps as they vanished from detection.
"You hear anythin'?" asked Barret.
"Not a thing."
"What now?" said Tifa, her large brown eyes showing a fleeting concern.
"I guess there's only one thing for it," Cloud replied with a shrug, pulling Mayor Domino's keycard from his brace pouch. With a direct swipe through the reader, the light above them switched from red to blue as before and the door parted.
They were met with the view of a magnificent broad corridor, lined by the most luxurious of maroon carpets, whose intricate weavings of gold and silver were a grand spectacle against the pale marble floor. Spacious open-plan secretarial offices bordered the main hallway, with a handful of smaller passages branching off towards numerous administrative and filing rooms. The carpet continued the length of the decadent corridor until it reached an extravagant pair of twin mahogany doors, one of which waited ajar for Hojo to skulk through, closing hurriedly behind him as he disappeared from sight.
The comrades began noiselessly down the hall, warily surveying the few unoccupied offices through blinded windows. Oil paintings of Shinra Executive members gazed pompously back at them from the decorative walls, their elitist expressions ridiculing those less significant than themselves. As they approached the mahogany doors, there came a cough and scrape of a chair from a nearby room, warning them of an employee's presence as the clicking of heels drew closer. Acting instinctively, the trio raced down an adjacent passageway, bungling their way through the first door they found.
The stale stench of urine filled their nostrils as they quickly realised they had stumbled upon the men's lavatory. The sound of their anxious breathing echoed around the white tiled bathroom, intensified by the mutual silence as they waited for any indication of being followed. When at last a number of dragging minutes had come and gone, they relaxed. Cloud exhaled deeply as he leant against one of the cubicles, his mind throbbing as he considered their next move. From across the bathroom, he could see his weary reflection in one of the tall mirrors, his hair matted to his head with sweat and grime. He sighed, half-heartedly running a hand through his spiked locks, but stopped dead as a strange sound reached his ears.
"What is it?" enquired Tifa, seeing the puzzled look appear on his face.
"Be quiet for a second," he shushed, holding a finger to his lips as he strained to distinguish the whispering voices.
"I hear it, too," Tifa gasped. "Where's that coming from?"
Taking a moment to locate the source, his eyes darting around the room, Cloud suddenly pulled the stall door aside and pointed towards the ceiling. Amid the spotless porcelain panels on the roof, the grated opening to a ventilation shaft rested a few inches from the wall. Climbing on the toilet lid, Cloud lifted the heavy dust guard into the duct, leaving a gaping square hole above the cubicle. The voices grew louder, drifting airily from the shaft.
"I think I can hear President Shinra," said Cloud as quietly as he could.
"You hear what he's sayin'?" asked Barret.
"No, but I can get closer."
"You think you'll fit in that tiny godsdamn hole?" snorted Barret.
"Well, I'm about to try..."
"…considering the large number of prospering factories, storage facilities, weapon-testing sites and other investments we had in both the Plate and the Slums, not to mention the closure of the Mako Reactor," read Reeve, his glazed eyes fixed upon his notes on the conference table, "the damages from both this incident and the one concerning the Turks and Fuhito two months ago have resulted in a loss to the Company of approximately ten billion gil. The Urban Development Department has estimated that the cost of completing construction in Sector4 and rebuilding Sector7 is…"
"We're not rebuilding," the President interrupted flatly.
"W…what…?" spluttered Reeve, gripping the edge of the long pinewood table as he staggered to comprehend the decision.
Struggling to catch his breath, his thoughts spiralling through his mind, he saw what small number of Department Heads had managed to attend the Executive meeting glance up at him with mocking stares. The obese Heidegger sat opposite Reeve, stifling a smirk as he turned his bearded face back to President Shinra at the head of the table. Clearing his throat, the President remained impassive, stroking his moustache as he chose his words. Behind him, the enormous window shimmered with the orange light of the Conference Room, the lamps casting long shadows over the pallid stone columns on either wall.
"We're leaving those sectors as they are," instructed President Shinra eventually.
"But…I…" stammered Reeve as he slowly sank into his black leather chair. "I don't understand."
"We're restarting the Neo-Midgar plan," explained the President, a thin smile spreading across his lips.
"The Neo-Midgar Program?" Scarlet gasped, her aristocratic voice one of surprise.
Scarlet, Director of Weapons Development, was one of only two females on the Executive. Her manipulative and intellectual ability had proven second to none in the few years she had taken to quickly rise through the ranks of Shinra, Inc. She was a woman in her late thirties, fully aware of her outstanding beauty as she seduced staff and Executive alike time and again to achieve what she wanted. Now, seated closer than any other to President Shinra as she so often was, she teased the men with a slimming cerise dress that had been fitted to emphasise a bust that was cleverly hidden by the strands of her silky blonde hair.
"After all these years," scoffed Heidegger, "it was mine and not that fool Veld's Turks that completed their task."
"Then, the Ancient…" concluded Reeve.
"The Promised Land will soon be ours," President Shinra declared triumphantly. "However, we will be needing some additional funding. Reeve, I want you to raise Mako taxes by fifteen percent in every region."
"Sir," he protested, "if you increase taxes, the people will lose confidence in the Company. You know what our public ratings have been like over the last few years because of terrorism…"
"Nonsense," boomed the President. "The ignorant citizens won't lose confidence. As long as we make them think that their money is going to benefit them in the long term, the people will blindly do as we say. If we promise that AVALANCHE has been eradicated for good, they'll be helpless but to trust Shinra, Inc. even more."
"After all," laughed Heidegger in his usual hoarse manner, "we're the ones who saved Sector7 from AVALANCHE, remember?"
"Do we have the casualty figures yet?" Reeve asked.
"We announced on Shinra News that there were little civilian losses," replied Scarlet with a wry smile, "but early indications show the death toll figure to be in the thousands and rising. We can't have the public thinking we didn't do enough, can we?"
"Are you still debating the decision, Reeve?" President Shinra posed, staring intently at the Director of Urban Development.
"I…I just think we could have thought it through a bit more," he responded uneasily. "Considering the damage on Reactor1 and Reactor5 caused by the recent terrorist attacks, an incident like this is bound to have some detrimental effect on the Company. The Chief of the City Planning Division earlier asked me to pass on that because of the poor management of the city's Reactors, the machinery is becoming inefficient, and it's badly affecting output. With that in mind, now that Reactors 1 and 7 are out of commission for the foreseeable future, we are all but running on half power. I can't help but feel that the consequences on the energy supply will…"
"That's enough, Reeve," halted the President, his jaw clenched. "Let us keep our focus elsewhere for now."
"Sir, will you be including the Space Program in the new budget?" asked Palmer in a bid to change the subject, springing enthusiastically from his seat.
Palmer, Director of Shinra's Space Exploration Department, was a man desperate to keep his branch alive. Like Heidegger, he had been a major suit in the running of Shinra, Inc. for many years, but his influence had somewhat diminished since the failed launch of the rocket, Shinra26, and his presence in the Conference Room was often considered unnecessary. With all his life ambition centred upon the possibility of space travel, the role of his department now was to aid Scarlet and Weapons Development in their design and implementation of compact rocket engines into some of their more advanced security weapons. An aging man, he had grown heavy and greasy, his thinning grey hair receding from his round face, but had not once lost his passion and hope that the Space Program may one day again be the focal point of the Company.
"Sit down, Palmer!" ordered the President irritably. "This isn't the Honey Bee Inn!"
"But…"
"Reeve and Scarlet will divide the extra income from the tax increase."
"What about Public Safety Maintenance?" frowned Heidegger.
"Do you have anything new to report from either the Army or SOLDIER?" said President Shinra.
"Nothing, sir," Heidegger replied. "The Vice President has been addressing the Navy and Air Force at Junon today. He should be returning to Midgar as we speak. The Security Division have not encountered any resistance from your order of martial law, and I have deployed the Turks to locate Corneo. All is in order."
"Then, why do you need included in the budget?"
"No reason, sir," Heidegger gulped pitifully. "I just…"
"Anyone else wish to request extra income for their department?" said President Shinra derisively, his inquisitive gaze moving across the faces of the Executive from whom there came no response. "No? Then, shall we proceed?"
"Yes, sir," mumbled Heidegger.
"Hojo?"
"Yes, Mr. President?" came the cantankerous voice of the scientist from the last seat of the conference table.
"How's the girl?"
With a weak groan, Professor Hojo rose from the desk, pushing his chair away from him, and brushing a few loose strands of his oily fringe behind his ear. Taking the clipboard in his hands, he quickly flicked through its few pages before setting it down again, nodding silently to himself as he analysed the findings. He began to pace slowly back and forth across the carpet, his feet barely moving with each step, his body hunched as always. The Executive watched him for a number of seconds, awaiting his report, but it was almost a minute before he finally spoke.
"The research lab has completed its initial tests," he revealed.
"And what are your results?" asked the President eagerly.
"As a specimen," answered Hojo, adjusting the square lenses of his glasses as he walked, "she is inferior to her mother, Ifalna. We are still in the process of comparing the girl to her mother, but for now there is a high difference of eighteen percent."
"What does that mean?"
"It means," continued Hojo, "that her strengths as an Ancient are less concentrated and developed than that of her mother. Our research will need to be more intense to ensure maximum results."
"And how long will this research take?"
"I've estimated a realistic duration of around one-hundred-and-twenty years," replied Hojo, not breaking stride.
"One-hundred-and-twenty years?" spluttered President Shinra.
"It's probably impossible to finish in our lifetime," said Hojo, "or the lifetime of the specimen for that matter. That's why I'm considering breeding her. We could create a specimen with the blood of the Ancients that could withstand our research for a long time."
"But, what about the Promised Land?" posed the President, his voice uneasy. "Won't that hinder our plans?"
"That's what I still need to find out," shrugged the scientist. "The girl is strong, yet has her mother's weaknesses."
"When will you know?"
"Soon, sir," said Hojo, a wicked smile crossing his face, "very soon. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to my work. If you need anything else, I'll be upstairs."
The Executive remained unmoving and without sound long after Professor Hojo had departed, most awaiting President Shinra's permission for them to leave. The President sat expressionless at the head of the table, his eyes adrift with the scientist's potentially-devastating news. After a while, he reached forward, arranging the records before him into a single bundle.
"That concludes our meeting," he muttered as he stood. "Goodnight, everyone."
Following his lead, the Department Heads grew to their feet and, one by one, made their way from the Conference Room until only Scarlet inhabited the vast office. She continued to gather her paperwork without much haste, repeatedly altering her cleavage and hair until eventually, having assembled her files, she strode elegantly across the room to the mahogany doors. Stopping at the entrance, she wrinkled her nose, and glanced up with disgust at the ventilation opening above her head.
"Something stinks…"
"So, did you find anything out?" asked Tifa, stepping back as Cloud dropped expertly from the shaft.
"There's a few things, but I don't have time to go into them right now."
"What about Aerith?"
"Hojo has her somewhere in his department," he explained, once again attaching the Buster Sword to its magnetic holster.
"Is she alright?" said Barret.
"I don't know," Cloud shook his head. "They've been doing tests on her."
"We have to find her," Tifa said worriedly, starting immediately towards the door. "We have to stop them."
The main corridor was empty as the three passed cagily from the confines of the bathroom, each of the Executive having departed the sixty-sixth floor oblivious to the lurking presence of the trio. Taking hurried strides across the carpet, they came quickly to the electronic door and escaped into the empty stairwell. Ensuring the path was clear to continue their pursuit of Professor Hojo, they began up the steps, their backs pressed against the wall to maintain vigilance.
They came to a landing unlike the others they had scaled after a single flight, unquestionably designed to ward off unwelcome personnel. Red and yellow signs warning of radiation and biological hazards were pasted across the plastic-coated walls, the print on each visually striking against the white surroundings. A bronze plaque at the height of the stairs read '67: Department of Biological and Biochemical Development: Storage Chamber', its polished face gleaming with the mirrored images of the three. Contrary to the extreme caution asserted by the displays, the security door of the sixty-seventh floor appeared as limp and powerless to defend its department as that of the sixty-first floor canteen. With a single tug by Barret on the lock, it slid weakly open, and the party moved hastily through.
A slim corridor furnished only by walls of sterile white and occasional sealed doorways wound southwest of the stairwell, its cold linoleum floor echoing their footsteps as they walked, the dull sound resonating before them like the low drum of a death march. Disturbing scythe-like claw marks had been gouged into the hard plastic at random locations alongside them, one of which had torn rashly through the card reader, identifying a possible source of the entrance's electrical malfunctions.
As the passage turned sharply in a more westerly direction, a row of windows appeared, its expansive view overlooking Sector5 and the sky-scraping industrial cranes of the under-construction Sector4. Reflected on the long glass panes, a series of electronic doors came into view, guarding unique and unusual laboratories. Through the small transparent panels on each, Cloud saw confined workspaces occupied by a handful of scientists as the three slipped past undetected. Several rooms were lined with shelves of jars and beakers containing bizarre materials and fluids, while others merely housed hulking tanks filled with substances that resembled liquid Mako.
After a short distance further, the corridor broadened and forked, with a second narrower pathway diverging towards the heart of the building, its shadowy walls labelled as the link to the 'Cell Block'. Situated adjacent to the hallway was a large office, visible through the windows, its purpose clearly for surveillance and control. A lone technician was sat next to one of the computer monitors at the far side of the room, clad in a worn grey suit, his attention concentrated upon alternating camera feeds of the various laboratories.
Beyond the office, the passage opened into the vast Sample Storage Chamber, partitioned by a tall pair of iron shutters that were currently fully drawn. A light mist of chilled air filtered from the entrance of the area, its ghost-like drear as unsettling as the room itself. The spacious layout was not unlike that of a cargo ship's hull interior; a high arcing ceiling of reinforced steel hanging over an assortment of units and containers. Dozens of wooden crates and boxes, every one stamped unmistakably as bio-hazardous, were lain untidily amongst the countless glass cages, all enclosed by scaling colourless walls.
Wild monsters of many species had been imprisoned within the collection of capsules, most of which scratched ineffectively at the unbreakable glass, desperate to claim liberation. Cloud was able to identify a number of the creatures from the Monster Investigation Program missions he had participated in during his time in the Army; floating firebombs like those found on Mount Nibel, the aptly dubbed 'death claws' whose six pincer-like arms reflected their vicious nature, winged ahrimans whose single sad eyes mirrored their longing for flight, and a selection of genetically-modified crimson hounds – the superior relatives of the guard hounds that the soldiers of the Security Division often utilised.
As he, Tifa and Barret cautiously crept along the edge of the room, there came a wheezing cough from nearby. Quickly crouching between the crates, Cloud peered through the cold haze, and saw the shape of Professor Hojo approximately twenty feet from them. The scientist stooped by the side of a rotund cylindrical capsule near the western face of the room, his nose pressed curiously against the transparent shell as he gazed transfixed at the creature inside. From his restricted position, Cloud was unable to make out which species of animal Hojo was observing, only a flicker of orange light from within the cell granting him a clue to its identity. Hojo muttered excitedly to himself for a few moments longer, tapping a crooked finger on the thick glass, but turned sharply as the sound of approaching footsteps reverberated from the rear of the chamber.
"Is everything ready?" Hojo inquired impatiently.
"As you asked, professor," came a man's voice.
"Very well," said Hojo. "We shall be starting immediately."
"Is this the specimen for today's experiment?"
"Yes," replied Hojo proudly, glancing back at the container. "Sample 418…my precious specimen."
"Precious specimen, sir?"
"Oh, yes," Hojo said hypnotically. "Extremely rare, this one. Be careful when raising it to the Fusion Chamber."
"Certainly, professor," answered the technician. "I'll do it right away."
Taking a minute to gather his thoughts as he skimmed once more through the charts on his clipboard, Hojo scurried after him, quickly disappearing from sight in the direction from which the man had come. After a few seconds, there came the clank of a closing steel partition, accompanied by a hum as the two made their ascent in an unseen elevator. Remaining motionless for a short time, Cloud listened intently for any further traces of movement. Satisfied that the area was clear, he stood, weaving his way between the crates to the centre of the area.
Only the dry scraping of claws and saddened howls of defeat from the caged monsters around him disturbed the silence of the Sample Chamber as he neared the largest of the capsules, frowning with puzzlement as the glowing orange light began to drift back and forth across the inside of the container. Wiping a thin layer of condensation from the surface, Cloud peeked inside, and gasped with disbelief.
A beast with a large feline body almost six feet in size, coated in fiery red fur, sat within, its back to Cloud, staring dreamily at the ceiling. Swaying unenthusiastically from side to side, the tip of its long tail blazed with a brilliant flame, illuminating the cell around it. He could see the animal had been scarred in battle, with the remnants of numerous wounds imprinted across its body, but noticed that amidst the dark tribal tattoos on its legs, a large 'XIII' had been branded to the bicep of its left foreleg. Grooming its spiked mane with a heavy paw, brushing against the eagle feather pinned behind its left ear, the creature turned its head unexpectedly to absently meet his gaze with its single remaining eye, an expression of mental exhaustion bore upon its thin, wolf-like face.
"Hojo's precious specimen…" whispered Tifa from aside Cloud, her voice laden with despair as she watched the animal sink to the floor. "Poor thing…are they gonna use it for an experiment?"
Cloud said nothing. He took his eyes from the prison, letting his attention wander from the beast as he sought to locate the elevator that would allow them to follow Hojo to the next floor. Scanning the mist as he strolled towards the rear of the room, his focus fell upon an unusual container a short way from him. Unlike the others, the capsule had been constructed with thick plates of iron, curving to form a low synthetic igloo. An unnatural pink radiance emanated from the small window on the dome, drawing Cloud to it as his mind became entranced. Stopping before the hatch, Cloud read the plaque above the panel and at once felt his heart stop.
Jenova…?
Bracing his arms on either side of the porthole, Cloud inhaled deeply and peered inside. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the naked form of a humanoid female take shape before him. Her disfigured body was covered by a frail layer of deathly blue skin, stretched and torn in places, wrapped within a cocoon of organic matter. Small globules of yellow puss oozed from open sores on her chest and stomach, the viscous substances staining her fragile skin.
As the pink glow grew fainter, Cloud gasped in horror; a sight more gruesome than he could have imagined met his widened stare. Where the head of the being had previously existed, nothing but a ragged stump of neck protruded from her shoulders. He gaped without comprehension at the figure, a great ringing sounded in his ears once more. Crying out with pain, Cloud fell to his knees, memories of that night flooding his mind.
…the intensity of the flames...the anger of betrayal…
"Cloud?" wailed Tifa, rushing to his side. "Cloud, what's wrong?"
"Jenova…" he stammered. "Sephiroth's….so they brought it here…"
"Not again, man!" said Barret with frustration, standing over him, his brows furrowed. "What the hell're you doin'? Get up!"
"Did you see it?" gulped Cloud.
"See what?" asked Barret.
"Inside the container…" pointed Cloud. "It's moving…still alive…"
"What're you talkin' 'bout?"
"Take a look for yourself," Cloud insisted, slowly dragging himself to his feet. With a look of annoyance, Barret stepped forward and held his face against the window. After a few seconds, he sprang back, his expression contorted with apprehension.
"What the hell?" Barret spluttered with disgust. "What is that thing?"
"The body of Jenova…" Cloud answered solemnly.
"But, where's its fuckin' head?" swore Barret. "How can it be alive? It don't make no sense…"
"It doesn't matter what it is," interrupted Tifa, her tone stern. "We still have to find Aerith, right? We're just wasting time thinking about it. We need to go. Right now!"
With great determination to escape the unsettling presence of what remained of Jenova, Cloud snatched his greatsword from the ground and jogged after Tifa and Barret. They came to a metal railing situated at the northwest corner of the room, guarding what appeared to be a simple lift shaft. Pulling the grate aside, Barret examined the cramped hollow, before slamming the button to recall the elevator. Within less than a minute, the three had climbed aboard the tiny lift, and readied themselves for what awaited them.
As the railing parted on the floor above, the trio burst from the elevator with their weapons held aloft, expecting to be met with an army of scientists and technicians. To their surprise, they found that the area was almost as uninhabited as the previous level. The arrangement of the room in which they now stood was as expansive as the Sample Chamber, void of any prisons, however, but for a solitary glass capsule at the centre of the room, encased by a shimmering energy field. To their left, a bulbous incinerator had been constructed into the wall and an elevated steel walkway grew along the lengthy perimeter of the area above it, ending at an enormous control system situated on the southern face. A male technician busied himself at the computer monitors, as oblivious to the intruders as Professor Hojo; standing before the lone container, speaking into a handheld recording device.
"…December 20th, [ν]-εγλ 0007," reported the scientist. "2:46am. Sixty-eighth floor Fusion Chamber. Ancient sample breeding experiment…"
"Aerith…" gasped Tifa, spotting the girl inside the tank as she shirked away from an instant, she began forward, sprinting across the room. "Aerith!"
"What the…?" growled Hojo as he spun from his position, startled by the interference. "What do you want?"
"We're taking Aerith back!" spat Tifa, knocking him aside. "We're getting her out of here!"
Within the cell, Aerith had sprung to her feet, joyous as she thumped his fists eagerly against the glass. Screaming at the top of her lungs, her pleas for help were unheard through the soundproofed barrier. Summoning all her might, Tifa thrust her body against the energy shield in a resolute bid to break it down, powerless to damage the field in any way. Snarling with anger as he regained his balance, Hojo lurched towards her, pushing her to the ground.
"Get away from her!" roared Barret, his gun-arm targeting the infuriated scientist as he and Cloud charged across the open floor.
With obvious distaste, Hojo took a reluctant step back, his arms raised in surrender. His scowling eyes passed from Tifa as she pulled herself up, to the barrel of Barret's arm, before settling upon Cloud. He observed his outfit with perplexed interest, his recognition of the resemblance to the SOLDIER uniform undoubted, but his menacing expression became twisted as he met Cloud's stare. His eyes blinking furiously with bewilderment as he studied the young man's face, Hojo pointed a frail finger at Cloud.
"You…but how…?" he mumbled. "You can't be here! It's not possible! You're all outsiders, aren't you?"
"You should've noticed earlier," Barret said through gritted teeth.
"Maybe," shrugged Hojo, slowly turning back towards the container, bemused. "But, it seems there are so many ironic things in this world."
"What d'you say?"
"Nothing," Hojo cackled.
"Hey!" demanded Barret, the barrels of his gatling-gun slowly starting to rotate. "Answer me when I'm talkin' to ya."
"Or else what?" scoffed Hojo. "Are you going to kill me? I don't think you should."
"Why's that?" Cloud hissed, drawing his sword and pressing its tip to the scientist's throat.
"Think of your friend," he replied impassively, tapping on the field, causing strange ripples of static to resonate around the point of contact. "The equipment here is extremely delicate. Without me, who would work it? I recommend that you think things out logically before you make any rash moves that may compromise her safety."
"Professor?" called the technician from the controls, his voice assertive. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Hojo responded, waving away the comment dismissively as he sneered at the three. "Now, bring in the specimen."
"Yes, sir."
With the flick of a switch, there came a rumble of activity from below. Behind Aerith, a circular trapdoor appeared in the middle of the cell's base, large enough for a person to pass through. She turned anxiously to face the gap, her back pressed firmly against the interior's circumference, but it was not until the flooring had returned to its original position that she was overcome by a true wave of panic. Banging on the wall in a futile attempt to escape, Aerith screamed in anguish as the red beast bore its dripping fangs before her on the pedestal. Arching its back, the creature howled, its burning tail flailing wildly as its maddened eye locked onto her.
"Cloud!" screeched Tifa, pounding on the container. "Help her!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" bellowed Cloud, tossing his weapon aside and clasping Hojo's throat himself, squeezing as tightly as his grip would allow.
"I'm lending a hand to two endangered species…" wheezed Hojo, his wicked smirk unflinching. "Both are on the brink of extinction. If I don't help, these animals will disappear."
"How dare you!" barked Tifa. "Aerith is a person just like us."
"Not like us, my dear."
"That thing's going to kill her!" Cloud snapped, watching Aerith edge around the glass in an effort to widen the distance between herself and the animal. "Barret, can't you do something?"
"Stand back!" commanded Barret as he raised his arm towards the doorway of the prison.
"Stop!" yelped Hojo, scrambling to break free of Cloud's restraint. "What are you doing? My precious specimens!"
An eruption of bullets battered against the shield, sending sparks of electricity in every direction as the onslaught ripped through the energy barrier. With a deafening crackle, the field shattered, exploding in a flash of blinding white. Grunting with discomfort, Cloud turned his face from the glare, his grasp on Hojo momentarily loosening. The scientist immediately capitalised on the opportunity and leapt from his stranglehold, rushing to the capsule as the firing ceased. He hauled the container door aside when the radiant beam began to dissipate, protecting his eyes as he examined the cage.
With a tremendous roar, the silhouette of the red beast quickly took shape amidst the cloud of light. Rearing up on its hind legs, it launched itself through the doorway with a mighty surge, pouncing on the stunned professor. Hojo collapsed to the ground under the weight of the creature, crying out as it tore savagely at his laboratory coat with its fangs. Cloud glanced up to see Aerith cowered against the far wall of the cell, her petrified gaze unable to shift from the animal.
"What are you waiting for, Cloud?" Tifa yelled over Hojo's pleas for help; her voice seemed a thousand miles away. "Get her out of there!"
Instantly regaining his bearings, Cloud darted into the capsule, assisting Aerith as she clambered to her feet. To his surprise, she embraced him, wrapping her arms around him tightly as she held him close, her entire body shaking violently with fear. Taking her arm, he led her from the container, stopping suddenly as she froze mid-stride.
Looking up, he could see Hojo stumbling frantically across the room in the direction of the exit, leaning heavily on the technician for support as he clutched his chest. The beast had now turned to face the four, its curious stare passing between them. Aerith whimpered, retreating behind Cloud as he reached down to close his fingers around the handle of the Buster Sword beneath his boots. Seeing this, the animal smiled and sat down before them.
"He was rather strong," it said in a hoarse but articulate voice. "More so than I had previously anticipated."
"It…it…you talked…" gasped Tifa in astonishment, her mouth hanging open.
"Yes, I did," replied the beast, panting softly. "And I will talk as much as you want if you acknowledge me as 'he' and not 'it'."
"What…are you…?" croaked Barret, finding difficulty in releasing his words.
"How very direct of you," he chuckled, his branded shoulders bouncing slowly. "An informed question, but one that is difficult to answer. My race has long since been referred to by its original name. My only honest answer is: I am what you see."
"Do you have a name?" asked Cloud.
"Professor Hojo gave me the epithet Red XIII," he said. "It is a name which has no relevant meaning to me whatsoever. You may call me what you wish. However, more importantly, are you alright, miss?"
"I…I'm fine," answered Aerith, presenting a nervous half-smile as she reappeared by Cloud's side.
"I must apologise for my behaviour just there," he offered gravely. "Please believe that I was merely acting to throw Hojo off."
"Don't worry about it…Red…" nodded Aerith, giggling slightly.
"She seems alright," sighed Tifa. "In more ways than one."
"Excuse me, but I too have the right to choose my partner," Red XIII retorted defensively. "Personally, I'm not attracted to two-legged beings…"
"We don't have time for this," interrupted Cloud. "Now that we have Aerith, there's no need to be here any longer. We need to hurry; Hojo has probably already activated the alarm."
"I agree," said Red XIII, turning on his heels, his golden ankle-bracelets jangling against the floor. "There is a time and a place for questions, but it is not now. We must get out of here as quickly as we can."
"We have to get back to the emergency stairwell," Cloud concluded. "It's the only way we'd have a chance of getting past the Army or security weapons."
"Come," instructed the beast, "I know the way."
Charging towards the passage down which Hojo had escaped, Red XIII led the group to a broad corridor marked as 'Unstable Specimens Inspection Area'. Panels of grey plastic enclosed the colourless stretch, interrupted at set intervals with doorways protected by impassable laser beams of luminous green. Scurrying rapidly along the passage, Cloud saw Red XIII turn his head tentatively towards the nearby sounds of snapping flesh and bone from inside a room labelled 'Sample HO512'; unmistakably haunted by Hojo's monster as it tore at its meaty feast inside the paddock.
Following the corridor east as it continued past the empty adjoining 'Cobalt XIV', 'Indigo XV' and 'Cerise XVI' cells then through a set of automatic doors, they came within minutes to the stairway. Like the level below, the card reader on the wall had failed, unable to stop the party effortlessly hauling the door aside and begin their descent of the Shinra Building. Rushing down the steps as fast as their legs would allow, they made their way swiftly through the special block tower, with Barret counting the floors as he retraced the route they had come. Bounding ahead, vaulting down each staircase with ease, Red XIII recoiled abruptly as he reached the lobby of the sixtieth floor, his snout twisted in a snarl.
"What is it?" called Cloud, helpless to stop himself stumble behind, realising at once why the beast had come to a halt.
"We have a problem," he growled.
At the centre of the room by the barrier of the open shaft, there stood two SOLDIERs, their standard issue Hardedge swords drawn, waiting patiently for the five. Cloud immediately recognised them as Third Class; the ashen turquoise uniforms differing from the majestic purple outfits of Second Class and the dark blue of First. The men each bore silver shoulder pauldrons and chest guards over their sleeveless polonecks, their faces concealed beneath their armoured metal helmets. Nodding to his comrade, one began to pace the ground between the parties, his weapon held threateningly aloft.
Yanking the Buster Sword from across his back, Cloud strode forward without hesitation. As he approached the SOLDIER, his mind focused on clearing a path for the others, the doors on either side of the foyer burst open. Swarms of Shinra infantrymen invaded the hall, their rifles trained on him, forcing him to retreat slightly. The soldiers moved expertly in squads, taking only a few seconds to entirely surround the glass entrance to the stairwell. Waves of metallic blue were cast along the mirrored walls, turning the men into an illusionary army.
Pounding silence enveloped the lobby as Cloud's uncompromising stare swept over the enemy. He raised his sword before him once more, relishing the opportunity to test his skills properly for the first time since regaining consciousness in Midgar. His accomplished eyes counted twenty-four infantrymen as well as the SOLDIER duo. He could smell their doubt; taste their uncertainty; many of them would know exactly what an ex-First Class was capable of. His fingers tightened around the leather grip; his stance deliberate; his breathing slowed; his honed mind dictating to him the moves he would follow. It's time…
"Cloud!"
Tifa's anxious shout echoed around the foyer, breaking his concentration as he prepared to launch his assault on the combatants. He glanced back over his shoulder to see her waving her arms for him to stop. He frowned, angered by her interruption, but quickly realised that a number of the soldiers had turned their aim on Aerith. If I were alone, this would be easy, but…the others. Cursing through gritted teeth, Cloud let the Buster Sword fall noisily to the floor, lifting his arms irritably above his head in surrender.
"Well, well," drifted a familiar voice from the shadows of the emergency stairwell. "What have we here?"
Cloud clenched his fists as Tseng emerged from the doorway and wandered casually between the soldiers before them, accompanied by two more male Turks, coming to rest at the head of the squadron. The man on Tseng's left was tall and broad, standing almost a whole foot larger than him. He wore a thin black goatee on his tanned face, a contrast somewhat to his polished bald head, the image completed by a series of ear piercings and the stylish legless sunglasses he had clipped to his nose. The second man appeared a subordinate of the others, his tailored uniform tidy over his slim build. He was smaller in height than Tseng, with the thick locks of his wild blonde hair covering one side of his handsome young face, and carried a set of nunchaku, his knuckles white as he cracked the chain back and forth with hostility.
"Let us go," begged Tifa.
"I'm afraid not," Tseng shook his head without emotion. "The President has ordered your capture. He wants to make sure he rids the world of AVALANCHE once and for all."
"Get rid o' us?" spat Barret.
"Don't you worry," sneered the smaller of the Turks, "you'll be given a fair trial."
"That's enough, Corin," glowered Tseng, brushing the long strands of his silken black hair aside.
"How does it feel that a group like us got past your security?" derided Cloud. "Does it make you proud?"
"Got past our security?" chuckled Tseng. "Oh, I see. It must have been a real thrill for you, all that sneaking around. Did it never occur to you that we were using the girl as bait?"
"Fuck you," barked Cloud, starting forward, but stalling as the stubborn clicks of two dozen rifle safety locks rang out around him.
"Indeed," the Chief of the Turks snorted with a victorious grin. "But, you should feel privileged. If you'll be so kind to come with us, the President has asked to see you. Rude, Corin…take them away…"
President Shinra remained unmoving from his seat at the desk of the Great Hall, smiling wryly as he watched the last three members of AVALANCHE be marched up the western staircase. A sensation of finality and accomplishment had settled over him; aware that their arrest symbolised the end to a war on terrorism and rebellion that had encompassed his Company for almost two decades. It had been over six years since the assassination attempt on his life at Junon, but only now could he feel the lingering pain of the gunshot wound on his chest slowly begin to ebb away.
These bastards will pay for the sins of their predecessors, and the names Fuhito and Elfé will soon be erased from the memory of all. A new world order begins tonight, with me as its ruler…
"Where would you like the prisoners, sir?" called the young Turk from behind the three as they made their way across the room, the iron rods of his nunchaku pressed hard against the spine of the enormous dark-skinned man.
"Line them up in front of me."
Ushering the trio to stand before the desk, the Turks took a step back. The group seemed greatly out of place in the magnificence of the Presidential Office, the bright lights of the marble pillars illuminating the dust and grime across their stern faces, each one with their arms bound at their back. Surveying the three, President Shinra recalled briefly their previous meeting at the Sector5 Reactor facility only two days before. As predicted, their attack at the Reactor had resulted in widespread insecurity and a global spike in support for the Company's strict policing. Although he secretly thanked them, his dislike for the trio at their first encounter had since grown to nothing less than hatred. Straightening his tie, he rose from his chair and strolled around his desk to where they waited.
"What have you done with Aerith?" snarled the blonde ex-SOLDIER as he approached, his blue Mako eyes flaring with rage.
"Don't worry," answered the President dismissively, "the girl's in a safe place. I wouldn't dream of harming something as precious as the last Ancient."
"The last Ancient?" mumbled the girl, casting her thoughtful gaze to the floor as she absorbed the words.
"Didn't you know?" the President scoffed mockingly. "Her mother, Ifalna, was a test subject of Professor Hojo for years. She was a full-blood…the last of her kind. Unfortunately, she only gave birth to a single child. Ifalna and Aerith were very important to us. We treated them well, but in the end they chose not to help our cause. After they disappeared, it took us years to find the girl, and even now we are still unable to locate the mother.
"Yes, Ifalna…she taught this Company many things. The people we call 'Ancients' were a race known as the Cetra, who inhabited this planet for thousands of years. They have for centuries been known for their strange and fascinating abilities, as well as their boundless knowledge. It is said that they were able to communicate with the Planet, and that they could wield the power of magic without Materia. For better or worse, the Cetra are now nothing more than a forgotten page in history."
"So, if they're just a forgotten race," asked the large man angrily, "what the hell d'ya need Aerith for?"
"The Cetra are destined to lead us to the Promised Land," replied President Shinra, folding his arms. "I'm expecting a lot from her."
"The Promised Land?" laughed the large man spitefully. "Isn't that just a legend?"
"Even so," shrugged the President with a wry smile, "it's just too appealing not to pursue. The Promised Land is said to be very fertile. One can only imagine; fields of green, lakes of sparkling water…"
"A land full of Mako," understood the blonde mercenary.
"Exactly!" nodded President Shinra, his eyes glazing as he licked his lips. "In a place like that, a Reactor has only to be constructed, and the abundant Mako will come out on its own. We will become rich beyond our imagination. That is where Neo-Midgar, Shinra, Inc.'s new glory, shall be built…"
"Quit dreamin', jackass!" scoffed the large man.
"These days, all it takes to make your dreams come true is money and power," sighed the President.
"You scummy bastard!" he roared, his biceps bulging as he vainly tried to break free of his cuffs. "Your dream was to destroy Sector7, was it? My friends died tonight 'cause of you! Don't you care how many people you killed? Is it all for money an' power? Don't you even care what you're doin' to the Planet…?"
"I'm afraid it's getting late," interrupted the President, his expression without concern. "I think it is time to draw this meeting to a close."
"Hey, I ain't finished with you yet!"
"I'm sure you'll have plenty to say at your trial," said President Shinra nonchalantly, turning from the prisoners. "Who knows, we may even get to see each other again there,"
"You asshole…listen to me!"
"Rude, have you received any information yet as to the current whereabouts of Corneo?" the President asked, ignoring the slobbering ranting.
"We obtained reliable intelligence from our source in Wall Market less than an hour ago, sir," replied the bald Turk, showing great strength as he fought to take control of the large man. "It seems Don Corneo has already fled the city. Director Heidegger has ordered Luxiere to lead a team of SOLDIERs and support the Turks in capturing him."
"Excellent," nodded President Shinra. "Then, that will be all. If you'll excuse me, I still have some work to do. Boys, lock these three up with the others."
Beginning without haste towards the tall windows at the rear of the Great Hall, he listened with amusement to the obscenities screamed by the large man as the Turks tried to remove him and his comrades from the office. A light rain had begun to fall outside, sending small beads of trickling water down the glass, marring the dry concrete of the helipad before him. Glancing to the west, he saw the waning smoke float lightly into the atmosphere above Sector7, and lowered his head.
"If you need anything else," he called over his shoulder, "speak to my secretary…"
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