Chapter 5

"Sir!, Sir!" Rufus was interrupted from his work by the unannounced barging in of one of the scientists. Looking up from his desk, Rufus scowled at the man, stood there panting out of breath. "We, we've done it. We've got him free from the materia." Rufus, stood up from his chair and leaned over his desk, his hands balled into fists resting on the large desk.

"You burst into my office to tell me that you have done something that I asked you to do over a week ago? Am I supposed to be impressed?" The scientist tried to interrupt obviously desperate to convey the other news, and hopefully save his job.

"No Sir. Of course not. It's just.." Rufus pounded the desk with his right hand.

"Well then, don't you ever barge into my office like that again. Next time you will find yourself sweeping the streets of…"

"But he's alive sir!" He interrupted. Rufus seemed unfazed by the news. But his eyes flashed with anger at being cut off.

"So, he's alive. I'll be down shortly. Make sure he doesn't wake up in the meantime." With a wave Rufus dismissed him. As the scientist left Rufus' office, Rufus reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Sliding up the screen to reveal the keypad. He dialled the last called number. The phone was answered within one ring.

"Sir?"

"Meet me in the laboratory… oh and one more thing…"

As the scientist turned down the corridor walking back towards the lab, he worried over the anger he saw flash across the presidents eyes. Praying that he wasn't in too much trouble for his interruptions and outburts he typed the six-digit code into the keypad next to the door. The lock snapped back and there was a loud ping to signify that the code had been accepted and the door was now open. He pulled the door open and was about to walk in when he noticed Reno was stood behind it.. Waiting for him. Reno smiled at the scientist and pointed behind him.

"That way". He turned round to find Rude now stood behind him.

"..." Rude nodded his head in the direction he was to follow.

In the lab the sound of beeping and whirring resonated around the room. The table in the middle now clear of the large block of materia that lay there a week previously. Instead firmly strapped to the table was the body of a man. His long silver hair sprayed out on the table underneath. There were no signs of consciousness. Only the stead rise and fall of his chest gave away signs of life.

The other scientist were busily checking on Sephiroth's vital signs and ensuring that he remained asleep to notice that their colleague hadn't returned. It wasn't until Rufus and Tseng entered the room they realised that he wasn't with them. One look at their faces told them everything they needed to know as to his whereabouts.

"S..Sir?" One of the other scientists began. "The team leader…" he hedged.

"Ah yes, congratulations on your promotion" Rufus replied. The new head scientist gulped.

"T..Thank you sir." "So" Rufus enquired. "Physically he is in perfect health. The materia preserved his body perfectly; he hasn't aged a day in the last 7 years. His mako levels are amazingly high. As you know the test subject from the reactor in Nibleheim, they were exposed to greater dosages than usual and it had, side effects." Tseng, hpmh'd in incredulity. " Sephiroth seems to have bonded with the mako however. His levels far surpass that of those from the reactor. That coupled with the power he had from Jenova's cells previously… Well, I can only surmise that he will have grown exponentially in all abilities. Possible even beyond imagination." Rufus stared at the prone form of the seemingly sleeping Sephiroth as he mused over this information. "As for waking him up. I don't know if that is possible. We think he is in a similar state to that of a coma. All we can do it wait I'm afraid." The scientist continued.

"I don't want him to wake up" Rufus countered.

"Sir?" Tseng enquired.

"The people of this world hate the ShinRa and everything it has done. As far as they are concerned and for all that they care, we are responsible for Sephiroth. We made him who he is. Let him nearly destroy our planet. We couldn't stop him. Cloud and his cohorts are revered for that feat. If we are to rebuild ShinRa, if we are to become the great company that we once were. We need to win back the hearts and minds of the people. Money was how my father did it. Now that would look like we are trying to buy our way back, they would resent us even more. I tried to control with fear, it worked, for a while. If we are to endear ourselves, then we need to do the same as Cloud. Defeat the enemy and win their hearts. Then buy their minds with money after that. Rebuild, create a new power supply, offer help and support. Provide jobs. Then before they know it. The ShinRa are in every part of their lives again." Everyone looked at the president. Some in awe some in disgust. Tseng spoke first.

"So how are you, I mean we, going to do that?" Tseng nodded in the direction of the table and Sephiroth. "What about him? If he wakes up..."

"He wont wake up." Rufus cut in. "Sephiroth is going to help us win the hearts of the people." Rufus smiled sinisterly.

"How. If we're not going to wake him?" one of the scientists piped up.

"Simple" came his reply, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Rufus turned on his heel and headed towards the door. Tseng ran up behind him to open it for him. They stepped through the door and let go of the handle. Rufus turned back around for a final view of the mighty Sephiroth and watched as the door began to swing slowly shut, the scientist staring wondering what Rufus had meant. As the door swung halfway to a close, half covering their view of the president. He answered their dilemma.

"Kill him".

Managed to get half an hour to myself this evening so i thought that i would get this chapter finished and up for you all. I was hoping to have it up before christmas as i said so i'm happy i've been able to manage it. Plus i havent updated for a few days which is quite bad for me. Unfortunately its probably going to be after christmas now before i get round to writing the next chapter... In true male fashion i havent even finished shopping for presents yet!! Or started wrapping them for that matter!! Bloody holidays getting in the way of my writing!! lol.

That being said. When i do get the time i will start writing it. If i get enough minutes to myself you never know.

Thank you all for reading and for all the interest that has been shown for this story either through reviews, alerts of favouriting. I shall hopefully continue to entertain. Things are definitely about to get very interesting from this point onwards! As ever read, review, rate, give feedback, we'll call it my christmas present if you do lol. But most of all Enjoy!

Wishing everyone a Merry christmas and see you on the otherside!!