Chapter Four

The JENOVA Project had been up and running for nearly a month now, and while the Mako infusions had not been able to revive the Ancient, the initial tests had shown that Jenova's cells had a remarkable regenerative ability, despite her dormant state. Hojo and Gast were considerably disappointed that she hadn't been revived, and they were now scrambling to achieve results some other way, or face President Shin-Ra's displeasure.

He was pushing them to produce results which would lead them to the Promised Land; obsessed with the Mako he believed would be found there. They had already built one reactor at Midgar and another on the Western Contintent at Nibelheim, but they weren't bringing in enough Mako—or enough money—to suit him.

Nevertheless, a lavish party was being hosted that night by Professor Gast himself, to celebrate his finding, and while even Hojo, who was normally on the reclusive and anti-social side, had decided to attend, Lucrecia was back in their condo, feeling like she was on the verge of death despite his sudden celebratory attitude.

Ugh, what is wrong with me? She wondered, wrapping her worn but comfortable pink bathrobe more tightly around herself for warmth as she rifled through the medicine cabinet. She had thought it was food poisoning at first—after all, they had eaten at that shady Wutainese place in Sector 6—but days had passed and she still woke up feeling dizzy and nauseous in the mornings. She could have gone to the party, but the idea of retching up champagne and hors d'oeuvres the next day didn't appeal to her.

That's when it hit her. She couldn't believe that she hadn't considered this possibility before, especially being a scientist. You'd think I would know enough about these things…she berated herself as she strode over to the calendar hanging in their tiny, seldom-used kitchen. She mentally counted the days in her head as her fingers traced them on the calendar, then her shoulders slumped as the dates confirmed her hypothesis.

"Pregnant?" Hojo said incredulously, his voice squeaky and high-pitched with near hysteria at the thought.

"Pregnant," Lucrecia repeated, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite the flatness in her voice. She knew an unplanned pregnancy was the last thing both she and Hojo needed to deal with at the moment, especially in the midst of the JENOVA project, but part of her couldn't help but like the idea of them having a child together, even if sooner than expected.

"But….but Lucrecia, we can't—"

"I know, we can't afford to take care of a child right now," she replied, finishing his sentence for him as she looked around at their cramped condominium. "But the project is going so well, I'm sure we'll get more funding eventually, and then we'll each be paid a little more..."

"Yes but who knows when that will be at this rate!" Hojo said, rising from the chair he'd been sitting in since she had broken the news to him to begin pacing the room as he usually did when agitated. "You know as well as I that the President is frustrated by our lack of progress. We haven't been able to revive the Ancient and we're not in a position yet to persuade Professor Gast to try any other experiments with her. Why can't you just…you know…get rid of it?"

Lucrecia was shocked by Hojo's callousness, and while she knew the impracticalities of raising a child as well as he did, the motherly instincts in her immediately filled with rage at his suggestion.

"Get rid of it! Hojo, this is our child! How could you say such a thing?" Her angry words were choked off by the tears that filled her eyes and the lump that suddenly rose in her throat. Hojo's face softened as he saw how much he had upset her, and he crossed the room to pull her into an embrace.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to upset you so. I would never force you to do that, in the end it will be your decision."

"But you wish I would, don't you," she accused, peering up at him with a suspicious glare.

"No, no, of course not, forgive me. I'm just overwhelmed by all of this…the project, the funding, and now this…I spoke hastily." Hojo smoothed her soft brown hair soothingly, and this seemed to placate her for the time being, as she nestled her head back on his chest. Hojo peered over her to look out the wide picture window, which gave a stunning view of the impressive Shin-Ra building, a massive tower seventy stories in height, and in whose depths Jenova was being stored. Lucrecia was his fiancée, and it was only natural that part of him should want to have a child with her. But they were getting nowhere with the JENOVA Project, and in a field as uncertain as theirs in a company that only cared about the profits like Shin-Ra, it would be nearly impossible for them to raise a child properly.

It was late, and Lucrecia was already in bed, but Hojo was unable to sleep, so instead he stood outside on their narrow balcony, staring at the Shin-Ra tower and the plate that surrounded it. The plate was one of the newer additions to Midgar, like the Mako reactor. Having lived in one of the original settlements for a short time before being hired to work for Shin-Ra, he wondered how people were faring down there, underneath the oppressive metal of the plate. Shin-Ra was going to great lengths to elevate itself in the world, there was no question about that. With things like Mako and the SOLDIER program, they would soon rise even further. And he wanted to rise with it.

This project…Jenova…it could be my only chance, he thought, resting his elbows on the metal railing. My only chance to prove myself…to Shin-Ra, to Gast, to Lucrecia. Everyone. I want to make something of myself dammit! And the Ancient is the key, I know it.

"We'll be starting a new series of tests today," Gast said cheerfully as Hojo and Lucrecia entered the laboratory. Lucrecia was looking a bit pale and peaky, but had conquered her morning sickness, determined not to miss a day of work. They had important things to do.

"What kind of tests, Professor?" She asked, eyeing the small wire cage of white mice curiously.

"Well, we haven't been able to revive this specimen, but the President is adamant that this Ancient lead Shin-Ra to the Promised Land. Now, I know that isn't exactly a scientific pursuit, but I think I gives us a chance to take the project in another direction."

"You mean…" Hojo began, already anticipating what Gast was going to say, his expression wide-eyed and eager.

"Today my friends, we take the first steps toward producing a new race of Ancients."