September 18th 0002
Time 7:00 am
Year 00XX
While I was heading to my office early, I find Cloud standing by my door grabbing his right arm. He came up to me saying that his arm hurts. He even showed me his arm, the same arm where Hojo gave him the injection yesterday. I've never seen his arm black before. I took him to my office and grabbed a bottle of painkiller pills from my cabinet. It may not get rid of the black stain, but it'll reduce the pain from his arm. I told Cloud to take two pills daily and if the pain gets worse, let me know. After Cloud left my office, I contacted Hojo to tell him about Cloud's condition and his black arm. However, his only response was that it was not his concern and he already scheduled Cloud for another injection. Another injection? Why is he so heartless?
SOLDIER Briefing Room
Time 9:00 am
Two pills daily. That's all Cloud need if he wants to get rid of the constant pain in his arm. Opening the cap, Cloud grabbed two pills and quickly swallowed them.
"Hey Cloud!" Zack said, running up to Cloud. "Glad to see you here because I'm going to be your mentor for today's mission!"
"Y-yeah," Cloud said, quickly putting the bottle of painkillers in his back pocket. "That's great."
Curious, Zack read Cloud's face. "You okay? You don't look so good. If you want, I can call Lazard and tell him to cancel the mission so you can rest."
"Don't worry about me I'm fine Zack," Cloud said, coming up with another lie.
Is he hiding something from me? Zack thought. He's been acting strange since yesterday. Why can't he just tell me?
"Zack. Cloud. I'm glad you two are here today," Lazard said as he entered to the briefing room. "Let's get down to business."
Lazard handed Cloud and Zack blurry photos of Midgar. "Apparently, there has been multiple locations of monsters as clones. Most of them are from Sector 8. In addition, Hollander has been found walking somewhere around Sector 8. Find him and bring him back."
"Hollander? Why bring him back?" Zack said.
"It does seem that Hollander's the source of creating clones from Wutai. He may have created more and brought them here."
"Yes sir!" Cloud and Zack said in unison.
"Oh and Cloud one more thing," Lazard added. "I heard that you want to join SOLDIER. If you complete this mission without fail, then I'll promote you to 2nd class SOLDIER. Don't mess this up."
"Yes sir!" Cloud replied. "I won't fail you."
Hojo did not have time to help other scientists with their projects. To him, they're a complete waste of time. Suddenly, he found Zack and Cloud leaving the SOLDIER Briefing Room. However, things went into slow motion. Hojo noticed that Cloud started to feel exhausted. In addition, Cloud grabbed his arm in pain.
Hojo chuckled. "So Cloud decided to do the mission anyways. He sure is overdoing it when he's in pain. I wonder how you can handle your condition Cloud."
City of Midgar - Sector 8
Time 10:30 am
Sector 8 was already bustling with activity when Zack and Cloud arrived an hour ago. Multiple shops and entertainment were open. Hundreds of people from other Sectors and slums filled the streets which made the mission even harder for Cloud and Zack. How can they find the clones and Hollander without making a scene? One silly move and it will cause chaos.
Zack groaned in dismay. "Boy oh Boy. How can we find Hollander and his sidekicks from this large crowd?"
However, Cloud wasn't listening to Zack's question. The pain on his infested arm slowly subsided thanks to Timothy's painkillers, but it was still throbbing. Cloud gently rubs his arm in small circles, hoping to ease the pain.
"Hello? Earth to Cloud are you there?" Zack asked, waving his hand in front of Cloud's face.
Startled, Cloud quickly nods. "Yeah. Sorry about that. What did you say?"
"Stay focused Cloud," Zack said. "This is your chance to become SOLDIER."
Cloud slowly nodded. "I know Zack. I know."
Just then, they heard a scream. Suddenly, a girl carrying a small basket of flowers darted out from an alley and passed through a small crowd. She took a quick turn around the corner and disappeared down another alley. Three guys went running by, looking left and right for the girl. The trio then turned down the alley.
"The poor girl's in trouble!" Zack exclaimed, pulling out his sword. "Let's go Cloud."
Zack went after the trio first with his sword already on his hand. Before Cloud took one step, the world started to sway back and forth like a swing, making Cloud sick. He felt disoriented and light-headed due the effects of the swirling atmosphere. Cloud fell onto his hands and knees, gasping. He closed his eyes, hoping to get rid of the dizziness affecting him. Luckily, the dizziness stopped. Cloud slowly got back to his feet. Suddenly, he finds a person walking around as if he lost something. Then, realization hit him. The person he's looking for matched the description from the photo Lazard showed them.
"Stop Hollander!" Cloud yelled, running after him.
Hollander quickly took one glance of Cloud and darted off.
Sector 8 - Alleyway
Time 11:10 am
"Please, leave me alone," the girl implored, trying to find an escape from the trio stalking her. "I have nothing but flowers to sell."
However, one of the trios slowly walks towards her, carrying a knife on his hand.
Someone help me, the girl thought. Mother!
Suddenly, a SOLDIER came into the fray and attacked the trio that was stalking her.
"Clones," Zack said to himself. "So Hollander decided to let these monsters loose."
"Thank you," the girl said. "Thanks for saving me."
Zack grins at the girl. "Anything to save a cute girl."
"My name's Aerith," Aerith said. "And you are?"
Zack lets out a heroic pose with his sword. "Zack's the name! SOLDIER First Class! My friend beside me is Cloud! Soon to be SOLDIER Second Class!"
However, Aerith did not find "Cloud" beside him. "I don't see Cloud."
Zack felt confused. "Really? I'm sure that he was bes-". However, Cloud was nowhere to be found. Zack looks around frantically, hoping to find Cloud somewhere close. Where is he? Zack thought. If anything happens to him.
"Sorry that our conversation is short, but I have to find Cloud," Zack said.
Aerith nods in response. "I understand. I hope you'll find your friend. Will I ... see you again?"
Zack lets out a chuckle. "You bet for one date."
*sorry sorry sorry that was short!*
Sector 8 Dark Alley
Time 12:30 pm
After two hours of chasing, Cloud finally has Hollander cornered with no way out.
"There's no escape Hollander," Cloud shouted. "You're under arrest."
"I will not surrender to the likes of Shinra," Hollander said. "If you Shinra want me so badly, then come and get me."
Before Cloud took one step, dozens of clones randomly appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Cloud. However, just when Cloud pulled out his machine gun, the pain in his arm came back, causing Cloud to drop his weapon.
The painkillers, Cloud thought. Must take two if I want to get rid of this pain. However, just when Cloud pulled out the bottle of painkillers, one of Hollander's clones slammed its foot into Cloud's back. In addition, the clone kicked the bottle of painkillers away from Cloud's reach. Cloud struggled to stand, but the clone added more pressure on Cloud's back, preventing him to move.
"You're weak," Hollander said, walking towards to the immobile Cloud. "You can be my test subject for this project I am working on. My earlier ones were defected."
"There's no way I am going to become your test subject," Cloud retorted. "I rather be in SOLDIER than some kind experiment!"
Hollander sighed in dismay. "Have it your way. Kill him."
The other two clones slowly walk towards Cloud. One of them grabbed Cloud's machine gun and pointed the gun right at him.
"There's no way that you're going to get killed and miss the opportunity of becoming SOLDIER!" Zack yelled.
Suddenly, Zack tackled the clone that pinned Cloud to the ground, allowing Cloud to stand. Then, Cloud gave the other clone a low kick to the ground, causing the clone to lose its grip on the machine gun. Grabbing his weapon once again, Cloud fired shots at the first two clones while Zack killed the last one. After disposing the trio, Hollander quickly dash away from Cloud and Zack. However, Cloud tackles Hollander to the ground.
"Who's weak now?" Cloud teased, placing the restraints (or handcuffs ... do they use handcuffs during the Final Fantasy 7 game) on Hollander's wrists.
"Alright! Good work Cloud," Zack cheered. "Let's take this trouble-maker back to Shinra Corp!"
Shinra Science Department
Hojo's Office/Laboratory
Time 2:00 pm
Two hours had passed and Hojo was still researching. He already made another type of 'medicine' for Cloud's next injection. However, Hojo added a different kind of materia. He noticed before that Cloud's arm has a black stain so he decided to find some information about it.
"So our dear Cloud has geostigma," Hojo said. "Looks like the mako energy from the vial I've used before for Cloud's first injection had Jenova's cells mixed in them. Ever since the "Calamity event" two-thousand years ago, when Jenova arrived to this planet, her cells started to spread like a virus. And now, it has an effect on Cloud, giving him this rare disease."
Hojo started to chuckle. "This is amazing! Who knew that Jenova could bring such a huge impact on so many victims! Cloud is a perfect choice for my experiment!"
SOLDIER Briefing Room
Time 2:40 pm
"Excellent work you two," Lazard said. "The Turks are investigating Hollander at the moment. The monster you two found at Sector 8 are exterminated and no casualties. Cloud Strife, it is my honor to promote you to Second Class SOLDIER. Congratulations Cloud! You deserve it."
Zack started to rejoice after hearing Cloud's promotion. "Way to go Cloud! You did it! You're in SOLDIER!"
Cloud couldn't believe it. He's now in SOLDIER. After all the training and missions as the infantryman, he finally became a SOLDIER. No words could ever describe how happy Cloud is.
Cloud quickly went to formal position. "Thank you so much sir!"
"No need to be formal," Lazard said. "You've earned it. Welcome to SOLDIER Cloud Strife."
Suddenly, the dizziness before came back. Cloud could barely hear Zack's voice calling out to him as he became dizzier and dizzier. The sounds around him became so distorted that he could barely hear. To make things worse, he starts to burn up (fever guys) and his head begins to swirl. The floor slips out from under him and Cloud starts to collapse. The last thing he remembered was Zack running towards him screaming and Lazard contacting the hospital.
Shinra Science Department (Hospital)
Time 3:00 pm
Several doctors stood around bed, working frantically on Cloud. One of them began checking Cloud's temperature.
"His fever is not going down," one of the doctors said.
"What's his temperature now?" Timothy asked, inserting the IV in Cloud's arm. Cloud's breathing was raspy and uneven due to the effects of his high fever. His pale skin reveals the ugly black stain on his arm.
"105.5 F."
"Do whatever you can to lower his fever now!" Timothy demanded.
"Right away!"
I should've known that there was something in that syringe, Timothy thought. And now, Cloud is suffering from this geostigma disease. After Timothy finished with the IV preparation, Cloud starts to stir.
"Where am I?" Cloud asked tiredly.
"You're at the hospital. You fell unconscious from the SOLDIER briefing room and your friend Zack carried you here," Timothy replied.
"Oh. What's happening to me?" Cloud weakly asked, the fever was obviously taking its toll.
"Hojo called me and said that you have the case of geostigma," Timothy answered, checking Cloud's heart rate on the monitor. "It's possible that whatever was in that syringe last night, caused your body to get infected."
Fear starts to grow inside of Cloud. "Am I ... going to die?"
Timothy walks up to Cloud and grabs his hand tight. "That is not going to happen. I'll make sure of it." Suddenly, Timothy looked up as the door opened and Professor Hojo came in, holding a odd-looking syringe in his hand. Timothy felt uneasy about the syringe. If the first injection gave Cloud geostigma, then there's no telling what the other injection will bring.
"No more injections Hojo!" Timothy commanded. "Cloud has suffered enough from one injection. How much more pain are you wanting to inflict on him?"
Hojo gives Timothy a death glare. "You dare to order me around?" As I recall, Cloud agree to let me help him if he wants to join SOLDIER. Not you. You're just a 'lucky' scientist from the slums who accepted the offer of becoming my assistant. And if you dare try to stop me, I will make you and your family's life miserable."
Before Timothy replied, Hojo inserted the needle on Cloud's infested arm. Suddenly, Cloud's pain from his arm began to spread rapidly.
"NOOO! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! PLEASE, MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!" Cloud screamed in agonizing pain.
However, Hojo already emptied the syringe. The doctors quickly strapped Cloud on the hospital bed, preventing him from moving.
Cloud's POV
The pain's unbearable. My whole body ached. I screamed and begged them to stop. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. They're all watching me. Watching me suffer and they're not doing anything to help me. Why? Why? WHY?
What did Hojo put in me? I can barely hear the sounds around me and the pain is not going away. Timothy is not watching me suffer, but why is he not helping me? Why is he crying? It's hard to come up with an answer and my body starts to feel heavy.
Darkness closing in.
"Hojo are you mad?" one of the doctors asked. "We have to sedate him!"
Suddenly, Cloud's screams subsided and his body stopped moving. Then, to everyone's horror, the heart monitor displayed a long flat line.
"We can't lose him!" Timothy yelled. "Get the defibrillator machines running now!"
"It's charging!" one of the doctors said, placing the electric pads on Cloud's chest.
"Stop!" Hojo exclaimed. "Our patient is not dead."
However, before the doctor said 'clear', the monitor shows a rhythmic beep. Suddenly, Cloud wakes up and grabs the doctor's wrist, attempting to snap the wrist in half.
"Cloud! Stop it!" Timothy yelled, releasing Cloud's iron grip.
"Heh, Cloud is dead."
Startled, Timothy reeled backward. Wha-What happened to him?
Cloud, or something, lets out a sickening grin as if threatening the doctors across the room. In addition, his eye color changed. Not the color of mako energy, but solid red of hate and evil.
So the injection I gave him created a double-personality, Hojo thought. This is overwhelming. This is interesting! Cloud IS a perfect choice for my experiment!
Author's Note - Cloud is not dead readers. This has got to be one of my longest fanfic chapters ever! I have a busy schedule with quizzes and exams and I barely have time to update my other fanfics which in reality, sucks. 15 credit hours are not pretty. Not pretty at all. I hope you guys like Chapter 3. Review :)