The JENOVA Project
Chapter 5
Hojo…Hojo…
Hojo tossed and turned in his sleep, drifting in that strange state between sleep and consciousness. His mind was on the verge of waking, feeling the faraway sensation of blankets tangled around his legs, the warm presence of Lucrecia near. But the voice…the voice pulled him back down into the darkness.
Hojo…you are chosen. You must…awaken me…only you can…
"Who are you?" His dream-self asked, searching the darkness for some form or figure. Somehow, he had the feeling this was more than just a dream.
I am…Jenova.
Hojo awoke abruptly, throwing the covers off his body, which was now drenched in a cold sweat. He groped around for his glasses, eyes adjusting as his mind took in his surroundings, establishing that he was safe at home and not still wandering in the darkness.
"Jenova," he murmured, recalling the haunting voice that had called out to him; plaintive, beckoning. Was it real? His eyes drifted to Lucrecia, still lost in the folds of slumber. What would she think if he told her that their specimen was speaking to him? It sounded crazy, of course. And yet…she had said he was chosen, that only he could "awaken" her. Was it just an imaginary ego-boost? Or was there an active mind inside the sleeping Ancient; one that thought as he did—that he could bring true greatness to the JENOVA Project. One thing was certain. He must find a way to be alone with the specimen. To run some "tests" of his own.
That morning, a considerably dejected-looking Gast entered the lab, tossing down a large binder full of research data before slumping into a chair. Hojo and Lucrecia turned from their microscopes with questioning looks as he sighed loudly.
"Not good, I'm afraid," the Professor began. "President Shin-Ra is growing increasingly impatient with our seeming lack of progress. It seems the SOLDIER trials are not going well."
"SOLDIER? What does that have to do with us?" Lucrecia asked. But whereas she was concerned and puzzled, inside Hojo, a spark of excitement grew.
"The human trials have been attempting to infuse subjects with Mako, to produce a super-soldier, if you will," Gast explained as the other two nodded knowingly. "Things were going well at first, but now it seems many of their test subjects have fallen ill. One or two are comatose, with no expectation of recovery. They're calling it 'Mako poisoning'."
Lucrecia's face showed clearly her compassion for the victims of the trials, and for the scientific setbacks as well. They all knew that any failure with one aspect of the Research Department reflected badly on all of them, and could lead to funding cuts across the board. Now there would be even more pressure on them to find a successful application for the JENOVA Project.
"Did the President say anything about our project?" Hojo asked, his mind already processing the information Gast had given them and its implications for his own career at Shin-Ra.
"President Shin-Ra is failing to grasp the meaning of our initial trials," Gast said with an undertone of frustration, alluding to the tests they had spent the last few months running on mice and other creatures. While they had failed to bring the Ancient back to life, an injection of Jenova cells seemed to imbue the subject with her remarkable healing ability. "His main focus right now is finding sources of Mako for development of the energy and SOLDIER programs."
"Bah, him and his ridiculous 'Promised Land'," Hojo scoffed. He turned to regard Jenova, still floating serenely in her pool of Mako. "This. This is where the Promised Land is." Hojo glanced over his shoulder to see both Gast and Lucrecia regarding him with dubious looks, so he quickly cleared his throat and backed away from the Ancient.
"So, what does this mean for us, Professor?" Lucrecia asked. Gast shrugged and shook his head.
"I'm not sure. For the President, it's time to 'put up or shut up', as they say. For us…all we can do is continue with the trials and try to push forward. We must show President Shin-Ra conclusive results that prove the JENOVA Project is just as worthwhile an investment as Mako energy."
"Perhaps, Professor Gast, more research is in order," Hojo suggested. "We may still find the key to reviving Jenova." Gast nodded absently as he began gathering his notes back together. Hojo smiled slyly, hoping this would get Gast out of his hair long enough for him to spend some time alone with her.
"Yes, you may be right. Lucrecia, will you accompany me to the archives?" Lucrecia smiled brightly and slipped a notepad and pen into the pocket of her labcoat, following Gast to the door.
"Hojo, go ahead and finish up in here, I trust you by now to close up shop by yourself when you're done."
"Of course, Professor," Hojo replied politely, waiting until their footsteps had faded down the hall before turning back to his specimen.
Yes, he thought fondly, placing one hand upon the glass as he regarded Jenova's translucent blue features, my specimen. Whatever Gast thinks, you are mine. And soon, this project will be too. Hojo thought back to his strange dream, the voice that had called to him; Jenova's voice.
Yes…a faint whisper brushed his mind, startling him. He adjusted his glasses and stepped back, wondering if he had in fact heard anything at all. But then just as he was about to dismiss it, it came again.
Hojo…help me. Now is the time. Help me…live.
It hadn't been a dream. A wide, gleeful grin spread across Hojo's face as he stroked the glass separating him and the beautiful Ancient. The SOLDIER program was failing, the test subjects' bodies rejecting the infusions of Mako. To Hojo, the solution was as clear as the glass before him. Now, he just had to find a way to put his plan into President Shin-Ra's hands.
"President Shin-Ra, Hojo from the Department of Scientific Research is here, he'd like to meet with you."
The President frowned at the intercom sitting on his desk, wondering how either this Hojo or his secretary could be so presumptuous. He had no meetings with anyone from that department this afternoon! He silently regarded the device before deciding upon a reply. He itched to tell both Miss Scarlet and this Hojo off, but was feeling generous and so decided to play nice.
"And what would this be regarding?" He asked, voice dripping with false sweetness.
"He says it's about the JENOVA Project, sir."
Hmm, the JENOVA Project, eh? President Shin-Ra pondered. That project, which has seemed so promising, had had little to show for itself so far. He was beginning to doubt promoting Professor Gast so suddenly. And he had never even heard of this Hojo before. Why would Gast send some underling to discuss his precious project with me unannounced? He wondered. Curiosity won out, and he summoned the scientist into his expansive office.
Hojo walked with a hunched, shuffling gait up to his desk, his eyes never leaving the ground. Respectful, at least, thought the President, beckoning the man closer. Sunlight glinted off of Hojo's glasses as he at last raised his head to meet the President's stern gaze, giving him a somewhat sinister aspect.
"Now, what's this all about? And make it quick." President Shin-Ra asked brusquely, motioning for the man to take a seat. But Hojo declined, preferring instead to stand, feeling it might give him a look of superiority and confidence that he certainly needed right now. I must convince the President to turn the JENOVA Project over to me, he thought.
"Well, sir, as you know, research on the Jenova specimen discovered by Professor Gast is progressing…slowly," he began delicately, not wanting to seem overeager to denounce his colleague. The President nodded and gestured for him to continue.
"I have been made aware that the human trials for the SOLDIER program are not—erm, going well." The President glared at him, and Hojo swallowed nervously before continuing. He thought of Jenova's voice, calling for him to step up and claim his birthright, and it gave him the strength to push forward.
"I believe the problem is that the subjects are rejecting the Mako. While Professor Gast does not feel we are ready to progress to human trials with the JENOVA Project yet, I feel that the tests we have performed thus far are sufficient to conclude that perhaps incorporating the JENOVA Project with SOLDIER Project may be very beneficial to both."
Ah, now I've got your attention, Hojo thought smugly as the President stopped looking at his desk and began to actually look at Hojo seriously.
"Get to the point, man," he ordered, but though his voice was still curt, Hojo could see a glimmer of hope in the President's eyes.
"You see, sir, the Ancient appears to have remarkable regenerative properties, despite all appearances of being dormant. Our tests have shown that on mice, an injection of Jenova's cells will give them this ability. You can see, sir, how such a thing may come in handy for a member of SOLDIER. Not only will it allow them to heal themselves in the middle of battle, but I believe Jenova's cells, when combined with the infusions of Mako, will prevent their bodies from rejecting the Mako, resulting in an even stronger super-soldier than one or the other alone can provide."
Hojo could practically see the gears churning in the other man's mind as he processed this information. Hojo clasped his sweaty hands behind his back, not wanting the President to see them shaking with nervous anticipation.
"And why is it, Hojo, that Professor Gast sent you to deliver this information to me?" The President asked, regarding him with one eyebrow raised skeptically. Hojo wet his lips as he scrambled to formulate the prefect response. Everything—his career, his relationship with Lucrecia, the history of the Planet as they knew it- might hinge on this one, crucial moment.
"Well, the thing is, sir, I've grown increasingly concerned with the way Professor Gast is handling this project," Hojo began delicately, searching the President's face for clues to his reception. "As I said, he is for some reason unwilling to progress to human trials, despite my personal feeling that we have collected more than sufficient data at this point to move forward. In light of the recent setbacks with SOLDIER, I believe it is even more imperative we begin studying the effect of Ancient DNA on the human body. Both projects may depend on it."
There was a long pause as President Shin-Ra considered Hojo's words, taking into account all his great plans for his company, and the initial promise that had been shown by both the SOLDIER and JENOVA Projects. Even those men who had been deemed strong enough to make First Class ranking had eventually succumbed to the Mako poisoning, creating a potential PR nightmare for Shin-Ra should word get out to the public that their brand-new, limitless energy source may be toxic. And Gast had so far completely failed—or possibly completely ignored, he thought cynically- the directive of using the Ancient to locate the Promised Land.
President Shin-Ra made a show of straightening some papers on his desk as he surrepticiously examined this strange man, Hojo. He had gone behind his superior's back to bring this news to Shin-Ra; it was clear the man had ambition, and wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. Compared to Gast, he definitely seemed more likely to get results. And if his theory about the Ancient was correct, it would keep the SOLDIER program running, possibly even better than before.
"How would you like a new job, Professor Hojo?"