A/N: It's not my Crossing Boundaries story, but I'm having a bit of writer block on it and this was what was coming to mind. I actually really like Orvar, even if he's very gray and does nothing to help Zack, Cloud, and Freyja. He hates Hojo, which is a plus, and I feel like I was able to make a good character who's conflicted, but real, and generally likable. I hope, at least.

Anyway, if anyone actually reads this story, I hope you enjoy! If not, well, I enjoyed writing it, so yay!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7, Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, Before Crisis, or Advent Children. They are the property of Square Co., Ltd. and their constituents. This was made for entertainment and does not receive any profits.

Chapter 4: The Specimens

Tessa,

Zack and Cloud are really great! They've been telling me all kinds of stories and making me think of all the good times.

They found out about my letters, and at first I was afraid. I don't know why I was afraid, because I know that they would never hurt me and they would definitely never tell Hojo about my letters, but I was anyway. They were really nice, just like normal, though, and they even decided to teach me some new words that I don't know and even other languages!

I also showed them some of my drawings. They're not very good, because rocks are hard to draw with and the wall is hard to draw on, but they told me they thought they were really good for what I had to work with. I have a feeling they weren't just being nice.

Orvar suppressed a flinch when he heard another scream echo through the halls. He was doing his regular rounds through the facility, but he was nowhere near the experimentation rooms. It had been nearly a year since he was stationed at Shinra Manor. Throughout his time there, he had leaned many things. He had learned to hide his discomfort behind a mask of indifference. He had learned to eat his meals and actually keep them down. He had learned how to be silent when he slept and the harsh realities of his job found him. He had learned to hide.

Orvar briefly wondered if he would even be able to find his conscience again after always hiding it away deep inside his heart. He was quick to dismiss the thought before it could affect him. In the place he now found himself, sentimentality was the enemy. He was a Turk and he couldn't afford to feel sympathy for a couple of experiments who likely wouldn't survive for more than a few years, if even that.

Still, the screaming made it hard to concentrate. It was rare that all three of the Specimens were experimented on together. It made them all more violent and harder to deal with, especially Zack. Orvar suspected this was why Hojo liked to do it sometimes. He enjoyed seeing how they all reacted to each other's pain. It was a different type of experimentation.

Today was obviously one of those days, because he could hear the different pitches of their screams meshing together like some sort of sick symphony. As soon as he realized what was happening, Orvar stopped his patrolling and headed towards the experimentation rooms. If he and Ruluf weren't there, Hojo and the other scientists would be in danger. Orvar almost felt like slowing down when he thought of this. Instead, he pushed his body to go faster.

"There you are," Ruluf said when he saw Orvar and they continued their journey to the labs together.

"I was on the other side of the mansion," he said. "If Hojo wants us there before someone loses an arm, he needs to tell us before he puts those three together."

Ruluf gave a wry smile. "I don't think he cares if any of his scientists lose an arm."

"He'd probably use them as a shield," Orvar said in agreement.

As soon as the two Turks walked into the experimentation room, Orvar felt his stomach drop a little, but he made sure to keep his discomfort from his face. The three specimens were strapped to hard metal tables, writhing in pain. Several IV needles protruded from each of them, forcing sickly green liquid and other contents that Orvar would rather not think about into their bodies. If he focused hard enough, he knew he would be able to see the veins of the specimens bulging under their skin and giving off a glow that no human being should.

But Orvar made an effort not to focus on this, or the horrible inhuman screams of sheer agony that came from the three's mouths. Instead he focused on the straining limbs of the two men as they pulled against their restraints. If they kept at it, the stress they were causing would shatter the metal restraints, just as they had before. Orvar knew it shouldn't be possible, because they were made to withstand a first class SOLDIERs strength. But fear, desperation, and pure unadulterated hatred as well as an extra dose of the Planet's life blood could make just about anything possible.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Hojo said with glee.

Orvar's hand twitched minutely, but otherwise he didn't react to Hojo's insanity. Instead, he kept himself ready to interfere in case the specimens got loose. It's a good thing he did stay alert, because the moment Hojo was close enough, Zack broke free from his restraints and attacked him like crazed animal. Orvar and Ruluf waited only long enough for him to make a good swing at Hojo's face before they moved to restrain him.

It took a lot of struggling, maneuvering, and one scientist who showed enough bravery to approach and fill one of the IV lines with a sedative, before the two Turks were able to get Zack restrained again on the metal slab. Once he was sure it was safe, Orvar looked to see how much had been done to Hojo's face. The scientist was holding his nose and cursing up a storm as blood dropped onto the floor through his fingers. Orvar felt a twinge of satisfaction in his chest at the sight. It was nice to know that at least one of the many blood splatters on the ground belonged to the sick bastard and not one of his specimens or "disposable" subordinates.

"Serves the bastard right," Ruluf said after they had left the room.

Orvar nodded in agreement, but remained silent in fear that he might crack. He wondered how long he could continue to do this. Was this really his Truth, as Zack had said? Orvar wasn't sure, but he felt like he was being eaten alive inside.

A/N: And that's it. I might actually even have the next chapter up in a week or so, too. I don't know why my muses are working for this story and not the other right now, but as long as I'm writing, I think it's good. Just as always, the chapter was 1000 words. I have five chapters left before I'm finished with this little prequel like story and can begin the actual story, which will be fun, but also difficult to write...