Hey guys/gals, hope you're all well.
Another new chapter here and while it is on a slightly longer side then I intended for any of the chapters to be, I didn't want to rush my take on my backstory of two characters I greatly love :D.
I am pretty pleased with this chapter and I hope you guys like it but I am especially super duper excited for the next part of the story which I have had planned a long old time and will run over the next two chapters. Now I just have to go and write them :D
Thank you Ocena and Moosh, two awesome loyal reviewers, you are honestly very appreciated ladies :)
On we go!
For the second time in the short space of two days, Genesis Rhapsodos was proudly gracing the halls of the prosthetics wing with his presence, very much aware but rather enjoying the attention he drew from fixated onlookers in the area. He had decided to let the young terrorist doctor stew for the best part of the entire day and was returning to her office late in the evening, donning his familiar impeccable outfit of crimson leather coat and black leather trousers with his blood red rapier stationed visibly at the hip. It all contributed to the future commanders intimidating and striking appearance and not being made to wear the hideous blue uniform like every other second class SOLDIER was, in Genesis' opinion, one of the greatest perks of being 'special' patients of Hollander's and Hojo's that he and Sephiroth got away with.
Retracing his steps and finding his way back to the pretty little doctor's office with ease, Genesis frowned in disappointment when he saw light spilling out from beneath the doorway. Returning later in the evening it had also been his intention to give the troublesome woman plenty of time to get a head start as he was quite expecting and rather hoping that she would have tried to run. All things considered Genesis knew an intelligent opponent when he saw one and combined with the girls natural and refreshing feistiness, hunting her down across the upper plate or even the slums themselves would have been enjoyable.
He approached the outside of the unimpressive office door slowly, a strange and rare moment of uncertainty taking hold as he briefly considered whether he should knock first or simply enter like before. His hand hovered silently over the handle, time standing still in tense unease while he considered the style of his entrance.
"GEN!"
The auburn haired second deep in thought recoiled and jumped away from the door so hard in fright that he nearly threw himself through the wall opposite.
"Benoran ram piss! Gainsborough are you trying to kill me or get killed!"
The bright-eyed teenage brunette came jogging towards him, smiling impishly.
"Ahh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, I just wasn't expecting to see you here!"
Genesis stood upright and composed himself before addressing the entirely unexpected little encounter he was staring down at.
"You realise I very nearly incinerated you?"
The fourth member of the not quite trio giggled light-heartedly and took both his hands in hers.
"Oooh you're right, they are quite toastie. Awww Gen I'm sorry, bless you your all on edge now! You jumped so hard. Youuuuu must have been doing something naughty mister" she teased at the end with a mock reprimanding voice.
"Hmph. What can I say, you got me" he replied absently, looking back towards the door behind him.
"Yay! One down two to go!" she cheered then tilted her head sidelong at him. "Hey is everything ok Gen?"
"It is. Why do you ask?"
"I'm only checking, to see whether you came down here just to have another one of your grumps"
"Aerith I do not have 'grumps'… and even if I did, this would be the last place I would chose to have them" he stated adamantly, looking around the entire place distastefully.
"Weeelllllllll… I'm glad to hear that because if you WERE in a bad mood then I couldn't do this!"
The bubbly cheery female bounded into him and imprisoned the man on a serious mission in one of her classic waist high restraining hugs.
"Watch it! Do watch the clothes! You are making creases! You are creasing the clothes!" he implored pathetically then gave in and laid his hand lightly on top of a crown of curls as a small smile played on his face, wondering how she still had so much energy and enthusiasm at this hour.
"Aerith it's almost 10pm, what are you even doing here?"
"I was over your side getting some advice from Angeal and this is a shortcut back to my dorm" the junior nurse replied up at him innocently.
"You were seeking advice from Angeal, about what?"
Aerith looked away to the floor, her expression suddenly becoming downtrodden.
"About Seph… I feel bad because I kinda shouted at him yesterday and I'm worried I might have upset him"
"He probably deserved it" Genesis scoffed.
"No... not this time he didn't. I asked him about going down into the city for my birthday…"
"... ah yes and let me guess, he said no because the almighty and sacred 'science department' would not approve correct?"
"Yeah… but I feel terrible, it was unreasonable for me to put that on him"
The auburn haired swordsmen placed both his hands on small shoulders.
"Excuse the vulgarity of my language but 'fuck that', I find the request far from unreasonable. If he will not have the spine for it then I will take you. Unlike Sephiroth I do not answer to Hojo"
"Gen…"
"And if that insufferable little pipsqueak of a scientist tries to make a deal of it then I will deliver swift retribution and hang him from the top of the Shinra tower in nothing but his undergarments"
His off-the-cuff threat made the Cetra teenager laugh tunefully and her face and arms returned to his torso in their unrelenting mission to wrinkle his clothing.
"Oh Gen, you're so silly sometimes. That's really sweet of you but I think we should spare mankind and the rest of the world from having to see that, and besides, I wouldn't want anyone getting into trouble on my behalf"
"I would not fret, Lazard is already busting my balls about some cadet I allegedly traumatised, what's one more deranged professor to the mix?"
Aerith hung to his midriff for longer in comfort and Genesis silently chastised his raven haired colleague under his breath. Clearly Angeal had not fully appeased the girls emotional turmoil upon her visit to see him, Hewley had probably been more focused on his romantic endeavours with a certain sexually frustrated female from finance.
"Gen"
"Mmm?"
"It's kinda strange that you're down here, what are you doing here? Are you lost?"
"No he's here to see me"
Snapping alert they turned to see the tall slender junior doctor whose office they were camped the way across from, standing in the doorway and looking apprehensive.
"Oh... you're Shal-... I mean doctor Rui…" Aerith chimed then looked to Genesis questioningly.
He simply nodded, not caring to either elaborate or lie to the girl.
"Right um… well I've got to be off anyway, I've got training with Seph first thing. It was nice meeting you doctor Rui"
"Shalua, please" the doctor insisted as the two woman exchanged a courteous nod.
"Cya Gen"
He gave Aerith a meaningful nod, acknowledging and apologising that he was being evasive which she took hint of.
"Farewell"
Aerith smiled and began to leave but not before she angled her face away from the doctors line of sight and mouthed the words 'be nice'.
Shalua was the one who eventually broke the silence unsurely as they watched Aerith disappear from earshot and then from sight.
"Sorry… I heard your voices outside my door. Thank you, I'd given up hoping that you were coming"
"How long were you stood watching us?" he asked blandly.
"Long enough to see you really care about that girl"
He had been afraid of that.
Genesis cleared his throat.
"Shall we get this over with then?"
He turned on his heels and marched aggressively passed the tired but well-presented doctor who tensed and pressed herself against the door frame to get out of his way.
"… y-yes… please come in"
Entering the mellow but sufficiently lighted room that was illuminated by two tall lamps that stood in the corners of the office, Genesis' eyes were first drawn to Shalua's desk that looked meticulously set up for the occasion. Two chairs were positioned in an almost interview like fashion on either side of the table with the secret file that was the source of all this aggravation laying ominously in front of where she expected him to sit.
"Again, thank you for coming, if you'd like to sit…"
He took the file off the table and went to sit on the small black two person sofa set against the backwall.
"… or there"
He watched in satisfaction as Shalua slowly closed the door behind her and approached hesitantly, looking around while hovering awkwardly in the middle of the room, unsure on where she should sit now that he had moved to the far end of the room. Genesis grinned coldly, she was uncomfortable and that was exactly how he wanted it, people were always easier to read and worse at lying to you when they were uncomfortable.
The displaced prosthetics junior caught a back end glimpse of his smirk before he could hide it and narrowed her teal-green intelligent eyes at him. Next thing Genesis knew she marched over determinedly, took the seat next to him and folded one of her long legs over the other within a proximity that a small two person sofa made far too intimate for comfort. He kept his exterior calm and unreactive but internally it was dawning on him that she had just made his little sofa plan thoroughly backfire on him.
"Look Genesis, I don't want to play games…"
"You experimented on your sister, why?"
Shalua paused in surprise and stared at him wordlessly for his firm and direct interruption.
"Well? Cat got your tongue?"
Shalua uncrossed her legs and leaned forward while clasping and fidgeting with her hands in her lap, exasperating him to see that the mere mention of her missing and presumed dead sibling was already upsetting her.
"... no... it's just" Shalua closed her eyes and took a deep breath to keep it together. "I've never spoken to anyone about Shelke before... you'll be the first… I'm not quite sure where to start"
"Try the beginning. Why did you use her in a vast array of experiments? Needed a guinea-pig did we?"
"NO!... I mean no... it wasn't like that. I never used my sister and I never experimented on her"
"This file seems to say differently" he tossed the item onto the distressed doctors lap beside him, not feeling the need to open what he had already seen.
"… everything I did in here… was for her own good"
"Yes you doctors like to use that line don't you!?" Genesis barked, his aloof control suddenly vanishing before he had a chance to realise the subject bothered him so much. "You doctors think you can use people and children like materials in your fun little projects, it disgusts me!"
Genesis stood up and the stunned woman grabbed his arm in fear that he was leaving but in truth he just needed to get off of that sofa and gain some much needed personal space.
"No! Please don't go already!"
She stood up with him and let go off his arm sharply when he eyed the point of physical contact with hostility.
"Genesis p-please… look Shelke was special… no, IS special… just like I said. Let me explain, you see her mind works differently to everyone else's, it's hard to explain but the synapses in her brain have the ability to process information and make connections at a rate that is far beyond any normal human beings, so much so it's closer to that of a machine than a person"
Genesis stilled, smoothed his jacket and slowly made his way over to the chair positioned at the desk, his interest peaked.
"Go on"
"O-ok... So at first we all just thought she was smart. Shelke was always top of her class, so much so that every few terms they were skipping her ahead into older years, eventually it got to the stage where she had outgrown the school and even the teachers themselves were struggling to keep up. Then by the time she was writing up advanced computer coding at home and helping me with my first year medical exam studies, it was clear that smart didn't cut it"
Shalua sighed unsteadily and walked around him to gingerly take her seat opposite Genesis while absently toying with a silver circular pendant than hung between her cleavage.
"I used to let her sit in front of the computer for hours, she loved it, she would learn stuff in a day that would take most people weeks or months to learn. At first I figured learning that much could only be a good thing and after a while Shelke's academic knowledge was advanced beyond that of someone three times her age, yet she was still only a child and she was still my baby sister…"
"But hardly dumb enough to go wandering off into the slums alone" Genesis mumbled, fingering a small crystal cube that sat on the edge of the delicately light-skinned females desk as he eyed her keenly.
"Exactly"
"That still does not explain why you experimented on her"
"They weren't experiments, they were tests. Like I said, at first I thought Shelke's gift of processing information could only be a good thing, then things started going wrong"
"...?"
"Shelke started getting these headaches, it wasn't hard to guess that they were being caused by her overworking her mind, taking in too much information in too short an amount of time. So I started limiting her time on the computer… but it didn't change anything. The headaches started becoming migraines and then she had her first seizure…"
Genesis watched the fear and grief of recollection play out in the strawberry blondes unfocused eyes, finding it uncharacteristically unnerving that he was listening so intently. He had never had any patience or interest in listening sob stories before, why and how had he got himself into this convoluted position of playing agony aunt in the first place?
"In the end it didn't matter how much I kept her away from books, or school, or computers or the TV, her mind wouldn't slow down. She would learn and come out with things without even knowing where it came from herself, it was as if her brain would evolve on the information it already had all by itself. By the time she was 8 the migraines and seizures were happening every day... that was when I knew I had to do something, really do something"
Slender hands gripped the edge of the desk fiercely which Genesis knew if they let go, would release the dam of tears the doctor was holding back.
"Why didn't you take her to a hospital?"
He knew why, he just wanted to hear it.
"I took her there a few times when things got really bad, but it always drew so much attention so I avoided it whenever I could. I was scared, scared of what might happen if they found out what Shelke could do. We all know what the science department can be like, I was scared they would take her away from me"
Genesis reluctantly nodded, "wise".
"That's why I started testing her myself, to try and understand exactly what was going on in Shelke's body and find a way to help her cope…"
"… and for that you needed the use of company equipment"
Shalua looked at him, a hopeful expression on her face that he was following her logic.
"Precisely. I did most of it in secret, I figured with all of the hundreds of patients we get through here that the occasional use on Shelke would go unnoticed. But after… she went missing" the medical graduate swallowed a lump in her throat. "I went back over everything I had done. I retraced my steps and I found that someone else had accessed my sisters data"
"So you believe someone discovered from one piece of random data on a company system, that this sister of yours had readings that were off the chart and decided to stage a kidnapping based on that alone?" he asked dubiously.
"More or less yes, I…"
Genesis groaned, "miss Rui, I understand your thought process but that is thin to say the least"
"No, please listen to me. The machine I used was a Stasio scanner and the only one in the company belongs to professor Hojo's department"
"And let me guess, you therefore believe Hojo kidnapped your sister?"
"If he saw Shelke's data then…"
"Miss Rui stop. I know he is a creep and let me assure you that I would take an inordinate amount of pleasure in framing that man as a villainous child snatcher, but the jump you have made here is too great. I have seen no child in the department, nor have I been informed of any child being present there from two colleagues of mine who are frequent visitors of that deparment"
"He could be hiding her!"
"Where? In his underground dungeon that is somehow being kept a secret from the world without so much as an incline of suspicion or even the sparsest of rumours floating around? It is too farfetched"
"I know it is a push but I think it could be true! You see I started looking into other strange and suspicious disappearances within the company and I found a number of cases in the past that have had the records tampered with. I collected everything I could and started piecing them together until my research led me to a man in AVALANCHE who knows stuff"
Genesis eyes snapped up from the crystal cube and he stood up, as did the female doctor.
"Ahh, now we get to the real matter at hand"
"They have information on all kinds of big secrets that Shinra have been keeping hidden and they said they could help me find my sister! They verified my findings and they also have information of people with special talents going missing. Five years ago, a 1st class SOLDIER who's name was erased from the system was found to possess an incredible affinity with wielding materia, one month later he disappeared during a last minute and very suspect mission here in Midgar. He was never found. Now listen to this, his younger brother went missing no more than a year later, he wasn't in SOLDIER so not much was known about him, but it wouldn't be hard to guess that he could have shared his brothers talent. Or six years ago, a nineteen year old girl called Argento who could wield infused blades without training goes missing from a Shinra naval base in Mideel..."
"Miss Rui" he interrupted.
"Shalua. Please call me Shalua" she practically panted after bombarding him with information and hardly remembering to breath.
"Shalua then. You intentionally went looking for information to incriminate Shinra for the disappearance of Shelke yes? Do you not find it in the least bit coincidental that an AVALANCHE fanatic happened to be there, ready and willing at the end of the line to give you exactly what you wanted?"
"No it's more than that! They have proof! Records! Evidence!"
"Conspiracy theories strung loosely together from old cases, by terrorists who told you what you wanted to hear, does not constitute as proof"
The hope that had been desperately clinging to the womans face disappeared.
"I understand that but there's stuff I've found in the company myself, not just from AVALANCHE. It might not be solid proof but it's enough to lauch an enquiry…"
Shalua scurried from behind her desk with the folder Genesis was beginning to wish he had never opened clutched in her hands.
"Enough to incriminate Hojo with something more than the fact you once used one of his machines without his permission?"
"Sort of… and not just on Hojo! Others to like professor Hollander…!"
Genesis recoiled a few steps away from the advancing girl.
"Hollander!?"
"Yes! In one of his papers on G-cell superiority he talks about his work on developing a synaptic net drive. There is a section in his written dissertation that specifically states the human interface fails because of limitations in the subjects abilities to process knowledge in the worldwide network. Shelke would be exactly what they…"
"SILENCE"
Genesis' hands erupted into flames causing Shalua to drop her file in alarm and stumble backwards into the desk behind her.
"Do you think I am so senseless as to believe that ludicrous story? Do you think that I cannot see through your attempt to persuade me by including Hollander's name and work in all of this because you happen to have read that I am the subject of that exact same G-cell research!?"
"N-n-no! It's not like that! I mean yes... I knew that you were connected with Hollander but..."
"But!? But what!? It is merely a coincidence!? Is that what you are going to claim!?"
"Wait! Calm down! I thought so to at first, that's why I grabbed you in the elevator the way I did and I was so convinced it was you who broke into my office! It wasn't simply because I asked around and people said they saw you but because I knew you worked with Hollander! I thought that perhaps he had discovered I was onto him and had sent you to find out what I knew. But then after speaking to you I realised that wasn't so, believe me!"
"This conversation is over miss Rui"
Genesis left for the door, he knew when he was being played with and he did not take kindly to being manipulated.
"Hold on! I know how this all seems but professor Hollander's G-Cell…!"
He rounded back on Shalua who had pursued him to the door and pressed his finger to her collar bone until she was backed up against her desk once again.
"Listen here! The mere insinuation that professor Hollander had anything to do with the disappearance of your sister is ridiculous enough, let me assure you that I am the ONLY subject of his G-cell research! But to make a claim that he may ALSO be working with that lunatic Hojo is simply laughable, if you knew the two professors you would know they would sooner share graves with one another than their research"
Shalua's eyes streamed with petrified tears as Genesis' furious and aggressive outburst unleashed itself upon her.
"N-n-not sharing… but I think H-H-Hojo could be use… using your professors research… perhaps… I just need more time and I can…"
"ENOUGH ALREADY! You are finished here miss Rui"
"No… please…"
Genesis took out Shalua's keycard that she had handed to him earlier.
"Luckily for you I believe your story about Shelke and I believed you did try to act in your siblings best interests, that is why I will grant you this one courtesy"
He threw the badge at the unmoving woman's feet from his place at the door.
"You are to be gone by this time tomorrow, you know the consequences if you are not"
The crimson SOLDIER stepped out and slammed the door behind him, his head pounding erratically and his conviction wavering as he paused momentarily in the corridor to hear the ruined doctor sob.
Pivoting on her heel and twisting away from the long reach of his blade that her much shorter arms worked hard to compete against, Aerith dodged her best friend, adopted brother and disciplined mentors attack. Her heart was beating hard in her chest with excitement because training with Seph, while it was relentless and never easy, always gave her a tremendous buzz. Not simply because it gave her a chance to hone and excercise her own skills with a sword but because it also gave her an opportunity to watch his. Even if it was only a watered down version, Sephiroth's unrivalled talent with a blade was a wonder to watch. The way he looked and moved and executed each movement with finesse and grace, it was more like watching a beautiful dance than someone training in deadly combat. Aerith would have to be careful that she never accidentally said that out loud though, knowing Seph he would probably take it the wrong way and it would hurt his man-pride.
One day she really hoped she could be half as good as him with a sword, which was ironic considering she would never in a billion years want to hurt or kill anybody.
The Cetra brunette ducked down onto her haunches to avoid a horizontal strike aimed at neck height and swung her own sword up to defend against a downward sweep that followed straight after. Their weapons collided and although her arms and thighs were beginning to ache from the long intense session, Aerith dug deep and pushed back. She grit her teeth in determination, knowing it was only a matter of minutes before Seph put her on her back again but she kicked off from the floor with her heavy black combat boots and swung her training blade in with real effort none the less. A loud twang of blades pierced the empty space of the gymnasium and was followed by the surprising whoosh of blunt steel spinning through air.
Her tutors sword went spiralling from his grip and Aerith turned around quickly in absolute shock as she landed deflt down onto her feet. She had attacked him much harder in the past and there was no possible way that what had just happened could have happened.
"Seph...? Sephy are you…!?"
"I'm fine" his tight fitting black leather glove went up when Aerith moved towards him in alarm to see that for the first time in years that he was breathing heavier.
She pulled to a stop in front of him, looking up at intense green eyes that didn't seem to burn quite as pleasantly as usual today.
"Are you… sure?"
He smiled lightly and tipped his head with certainty.
"So... what was that? What just happened?"
"What can I say, you got me"
The girl who was days away from being sixteen nodded back slowly, oddly she had heard the exact same thing from Genesis yesterday and usually she would have been over the moon to hear that from Seph but this time she wasn't.
"Umm… ok, so what happens now?"
"We continue"
Sephiroth turned and stiffly went to retrieve his weapon from the floor while she thoughtlessly let hers hang at her side. It had either come on so suddenly or she had only just noticed but Sephiroth didn't look right, his steps looked heavier, tired even.
She watched on apprehensively as the silver SOLDIER's hand went down to collect the fallen sword and gasped when he dropped down on to one knee.
"SEPH!"
Aerith let go of her weapon and ran over to kneel beside him, grabbing his arm to offer support.
"Sephiroth what is it!? What's wrong!?"
He quickly got back up, trying to resist her effort to help but she gave it regardless.
"Aerith calm down. Too much work, too little sleep and not enough breakfast is all. Let us resume"
She pulled his arm around her forcibly and adamantly tugged him towards the benches over by the wall.
"No way. We're sitting down, I'm tired now anyway"
Her equally stubborn partner huffed dramatically, which was ridiculous considering she was now having to link both her arms around his waist to hold up some of his heavy weight. Once she was there, Aerith ungraciously dumped him onto the bench and crouched down in front of Sephiroth with worried eyes, taking his lightly trembling hands between hers.
"Please talk to me. Tell me what's wrong. Do you feel sick?"
"You know SOLDIER's do not suffer common viral ailments. Like I said I am fine, you worry too much"
"But… but you don't look so good Seph"
He chuckled and pulled on her hands to make her get up off the floor and take a seat beside him
"Owch, you flatter me"
"You know what I mean"
"Honestly it is nothing a few hours sleep won't fix. Anyway, now that you have seen it fit to terminate training, I would like to speak with you about the other day"
"You mean the other day in the canteen? I've wanted to talk to you about that to! Seph I'm sorry, I'm really sorry I shouted…"
"No no no, not that. No that is quite forgotten about and besides if that is what you call shouting then I truly despair. No I wish to discuss something different with you"
Feeling calmer and slightly more convinced from the normal sound of his voice that she had in fact over reacted to his dizzy spell, Aerith nodded and cosied in closer beside him so their shoulders were touching.
"I understand that birthday gifts are typically exchanged on the actual day of a person's birthday, but it is to my understanding that an event such as this requires an extended period of prior notice for the preparation of clothing and the general heightening of anticipation to be fully appreciated"
The emerald-eyed ancient clasped her hands together and inhaled.
Surely he didn't mean…?
Sephiroth's hand reached into his jacket pocket and Aerith's eyes widened into saucers as he pulled out two VIP tickets to see Midnight Kalm perform on saturday at the 'Blugu Bar' in sector 3.
"Uhhh! No way! Sephy no way! You didn't!" she practically squealed like a dolphin but quickly stopped when he winced because of mako enhanced hearing. "Sorry! I can't believe you did this!"
He grinned brightly, a grin that was criminal to be hidden away as often as it was.
"How did you get these!? How did you convince the science department to agree!?"
"I didn't, I simply submitted the request stating I would escort you and they agreed. It seems you were right and I underestimated them"
Sephiroth handed her the tickets and seeing and feeling they were real beneath her own fingers only served to escalate her excitement.
"Oh Seph! Thank you! Thank you I love you!"
He knew it was coming and was ready for it when Aerith lauched herself harder than what she probably should have considering he could hardly walk a moment ago to hug Sephiroth tight. Then as she squished herself against him, she thought about what she had just said and reconsidered her words, not wanting him to think she was only saying it because he had fulfilled her biggest wish.
"I een I ahwees uv oo" she muffled into a jumble of black leather coat, soft dark kevlar shirt and belts.
"Would you like to run that one by me again?" he chuckled.
Aerith pulled her face away, radiating with joy.
"I said 'I mean I always love you', not just because you got me the best present ever"
For a second time today, which had to have have been a record, she saw Seph's pure and undisguised smile and although she knew he wasn't comfortable enough to use the 'L' word back, she was perfectly happy with it because thats just who he was and for her the smile alone was more than enough.
