The Dark Legacy
Chapter Two
Unleashing of the Calamity
The incessant ringing of his cellphone half woke him from a very deep sleep, and a dishevelled head poked his way through the sheet, (or was it the laundry he had to do this morning?) followed by a hand groping his way to the noisy offender. After what seemed an hour of intensive research, he picked it from where he had left it the day before (somewhere between the trash can and another pile of due laundry). A tired green eye finally decided to split open to look at whoever was calling him at that time of the night.
«Yo, Boss-ban… told yoo was sig for real, yo…»
There was a sigh at the other end of the phone.
« I know, Reno, I am the one that sent you back home yesterday, remember? Anyway. Something popped up, though, and I need you now. Think you can drive the chopper if I give you 2 hours to prepare yourself?»
The redhead rubbed his twin scars and yawned loudly. He absently picked up the elephant-sized tablets lying on his bedside table and proceeded to lift himself from the mess that was currently his bed. What he partially did by leaning on his elbow.
« Yeah… zust *achoo!* gimme time to pag m'self full of bedicine, an I'll be right over…» he said, eying said medicine evilly.
« Oh, Reno… Don't forget to shower, I can smell you from here…»
The line went flat and Reno plopped down as well, helped through that by the increasing pain in his temples, muttering something along the lines of 'fuck you Tseng' as he slid off the bed and dragged his sorry flu-ridden ass toward the cramped bathroom. To shower… and at the pace he was currently going, two hours may not be enough.
********
The ride had been bumpy, but they finally made it to old Midgar in one piece. Tseng, Rude and Cid hopped down the helicopter with a map in hand, weapons, materia and armour ready. With a possible leak, monster could quickly circle them, so they had to be prepared. The city had suffered a lot, both from Meteor and the last battle Cloud fought with Kadaj/Sephiroth on the Shinra tower, and the structure was frail in more places than they thought. The trek to the Generator #4 was hard, long and testing. At the end of the day, they reached their goal, the chopper unable to land in this part of the city.
The facility still glowed faintly of the typical greenish light that accompanied the Lifestream wherever it was, like in Aerith's church, where the pond there at night reflected a soothing aquamarine glow. Even though the WRO tried to shut down all the generators, this one was situated in a more remote place, where the debris and the fragile structures made it even more dangerous for a lot of people to built protective domes over the bubbling Mako pools. The original construction plans, however, showed that the Mako Reactor 4 had the longest pipes, twice as long as the other ones, because the Sector 4 was actually overlapping a lone hill in the plains. But the Mako pool below was of the highest purity, and that's why Shinra decided to build Midgar over it anyway.
« Only Mako from this Reactor was used in the SOLDIER infusion and the Turk training program.», Tseng informed them.
Finding the entrance was not, however, that much of a problem, Cid noticed, because the plan was very detailed. Gaining entrance, though, proved to be a challenge. With no energy left to lift the heavy metal door, they had to dig around for a few components that the pilot used in the making of a makeshift battery. Connecting the old wires to the datapad of the door, the blond hoped they were okay to pass on the current of Rude's taser into it.
« You get back, 'k? If it fuckin' fries up both, one of us will be able to call backup… Now, here goes nothin'…»
Rude nodded and the taser flickered, sending a charge into the battery and into the datapad… which worked long enough for Tseng to type in the code and open the door almost 5 inches long. Rude had to push it out of the way, but they were able to get access to the reactor.
********
Sephiroth woke up as soon as he sensed something different in the air. The quiet humming of the distant generators had disappeared and was now replaced by a familiar yet dreadful alarm; the energy platform was descending. When it locked into place, he shook Cloud, still slouched half-over him, to see if he had received an injection while he was resting. With relief, he watched him slowly come back to his senses. The magnetic doors were pushed open, letting in two lab assistants supporting a hunched figure between them, whose shoes scrapped the floor in a shrill protest. They walked past the cell, taking their prisoner to the platform.
After a few loud clicking noises, the grinding of the platform resumed. Cloud began to shake under him, anticipating the cries and the agony that was to come. Only, when their newest victim woke up, not only did Sephiroth heard the screams, but began to feel the pain physically. Along with Cloud, who suddenly arched and moaned as a particular loud crack was heard. His breath shortened and his left side exploded in pain, paralysing him. The blue, eerie cell shifted before his eyes, flashes of fire, blood and latent whispers tore up his mind for a few moments… or so he thought.
When he focused back into the room, Cloud had rolled down on his stomach, while he was lying on his left side. His hand was immersed in something wet and sticky. The excruciating pain had turned to a dull ache, now, but he still felt like his side was on fire. He tried to lift his arm to gaze at the blood he presumed was smeared on his hand… but he remembered that the heavy shackles prevented this so instead he turned his head to look directly, even if the movement jarred to life the pain in his side. His eyes went wide as saucers when he realised that the black, sticky substance couldn't possibly be blood…
********
«What the fuck is that!?!» Cid exclaimed, «This ain't no normal Mako pipe, not accordin' to yer plans… Plus, this lookin' more recent than the other ones…»
Tseng stood up and looked around the old reactor core. Pipes. Everywhere. And the plan he had only showed the main ones. How could he discern what was supposed to be and what wasn't? Everything looked old and he was sure that the construction plans could help them confirm that Cid's 'feeling' on this particular pipe was founded. He clicked his pen and started drawing, trying to find where the damn thing was coming out, or in for that matter.
«Rude, go over there and draw the pipes, would you? Maybe Rufus was right. Someone might still use that Mako reactor and we have to find out who it is, and where those lines are heading.»
The bald Turk did as he was told and headed toward the back of the main room, and he could hear the pilot do the same while muttering something about plumbing and a cigarette. They were quickly absorbed in their tasks, and no one noticed the green mist slowly raising from the depths of the reactor until it was too late. Cid was the first one to fall into a strangling coughing fit, and when Rude realised in what they were swimming, he did not had the chance to get the pilot out of there before collapsing next to Tseng, who just had the time to reach for his panic button lodged in his ear set. The Wutaian crawled a few meter more, and then everything turned fuzzy.
*******
The lab assistants dumped their charges onto the metal tables. Legs strapped first, so they could lift the torso and plug the tubing, the extractors and the different sensors that would need monitoring form the main platform. Professor Dover was looming over Cloud with an interested smirk, poking at the diseased arm with satisfaction. When his drugged patient started to squirm, the most he could do with the Mako-fortified agent in his system, he grabbed the wing, laid it out swiftly and bolted it in place with a sturdy metal clasp. The sound of boots coming up hurriedly distracted him from inflicting more pain to his victim and he sighed, exasperated. He faced the men with an annoyed grunt, and their worried expression only confirmed what he already knew; the invaders had escaped.
«Professor, when we-»
«You don't have them. I told you to bring them back to me.» Dover said, adjusting his glasses.
«N-no but when we, well when the Mako mist was cleared, there were no signs of them!»
«Did you check the monitors?»
«Y-yes, professor… There was someone else. Just when the mist cleared out, another one, a redhead, entered and… he took them out of the reactor. The monitors shows that he left them outside the main entrance, well two of them are still there, so we believe he will come back for them sooner or-»
The man was cut short when a hand caught his collar and brought his face and inch from Dover's, whose disapproval was more than clear.
«We now have a problem, do we? A redhead, black-haired one and a bald man? What do you think they are, Finns? I will tell you what they are; WRO hound dogs, ex-Turks, but mostly, they are trouble. They did not find the passage this time, but they will come back. I suggest you reinforce the security of this facility or the next time they intrude into that reactor, I will ensure that you join your fallen friends in the mutating pits.»
Finns swallowed slowly, a bead of sweat travelling down his face.
«Sh-shall I release the s-spawns?» he asked warily as the hand released him.
«Yes. And ensure that the idiots monitoring the security cameras keep their minds and their eyes on those monitors.»
«Y-yes professor Dover.»
But the Professor wasn't even listening to him anymore, as he was moving toward the next table, were his most precious catch lay down. A small darkening bruise had started to spread from his left side, which was a good sign. Now all he had to do was quicken the process to spread the disease even more, and the third step of the final stage would start. With a gloved hand he circled the injury, and in a neat slice the scalpel let a black, viscous fluid out.
«Geostigma… perfect. Lars! Is Valentine responding to the disease?»
«Yes, Professor! Stigma detected in upper torso, right shoulder. Sir, what are we supposed to do with the wings?»
«Pin them down and make sure they won't move. Plus, it'll make them squirm a little more. Just. Like. This.»
The white wing in his hands was as suddenly strapped as Cloud's black one. One last time he adjusted his glasses and, like a pianist in front of an eager crowd, he took place behind his console and began testing the program. One by one, the outer lights closed, the blue was replaced by the green and the tables moved into positions. Only a gleam shining on his glasses showed when he was moving, the greenish glow outlining his maddening frame.
«Pumping Mako into the tubes»
«MFA effects ending in 1 minute»
«Descending culture swabs»
The glow intensified, mobile parts of machinery moved and people reeled behind smaller monitors. Professor Dover smiled as the automate voice announced the regular processing of the program.
«Starting of Mako injections at predetermined sites»
«Diseased fleshes swabbed, rotating specimens now»
«Creation of new infection sites»
«Weakening process engaged»
«Extraction started»
«MFA effect ending now»
«Vital signs for all specimen peaking, natural defence system stimulated»
And the chorus of screams that followed was music to his ears.
*********
«By the Planet! What happened!?! Reno, answer me!» Rufus screamed, shaking the poor thing that was currently Reno. «How did this happen?!?»
Only a racking cough answered him and the strawberry blonde soon became a support for the collapsing Turk, whose fit didn't seem to have an end. Rufus called Reno a few more times, but when the redhead fell on his knees too, he immediately called for medical attention. At first he thought he was victim of the Mako mist, too, but the doctor quickly asked for a blood sample and X-rays. Rufus asked to be placed there as well, so he could talk to the Turk as soon as possible.
«If you absolutely need to, sir, you will have to wear this. This one's a nasty case of flu, and he could contaminate you.»
Just as he was to agree and let the nurses help him with all the gear he needed to get into, his cell phone began ringing. Leaving for a moment the medical aisle of the WRO Headquarters, he picked it up to answer. It was Reeve, and he sounded, to say the least, worried.
********
Rufus was standing across the table in front of Reeve, eyes glued to the test results in front of him, disbelief marring his features. Those were the results of Tifa and Cid's blood test after their respective attacks. Both were Mako tainted, but what was even more shocking was the presence of the JENOVA gene, incomplete, but still…
«The gene, combined with Mako, neutralised their nervous system, causing a momentary shutdown of the conscious responses. The Mako itself tainted their bodies, rendering them temporary unable to normally function, feverish and confused. And it is not all… »
Rufus stood up from his wheelchair and slammed a fist onto the table.
«Enough!!! This is just enough! How far goes Hojo's corruption?!? Even dead…… I mean, we had to throw ourselves up at the front three times just to eliminate his first project, Sephiroth, without mentioning that he almost destroyed half the planet by the time we did… then Deepground, and now what?!?»
Reeve sighed, picked up a folder and tossed it on the table. A few photographs slipped out and Rufus shakily took them out once he sat back on his chair. What he saw just triggered a sudden need of slamming his head on the wooden table hard enough to split his skull in two.
«Elena just came back with those. Whatever is going on there, either these are horribly mutated survivors of the Meteor crash, or someone is really using the reactor for experiments… »
There was a loud bang, followed by a slight hiss. Reeve winced; that ought to hurt…
«And they got Cloud and Vincent…» came a muffled reply «Did I ever told you my father was a dim-wit asshole for even hiring that freak Hojo?»
Reeve nervously scratched the back of his neck.
«More than once, actually. And without Cloud and Vincent, we'll need the Turks, Cait Sith and everyone... We'll have to send the Sierra to Cosmo Canyon, North Corel and Wutai as soon as possible. Cid won't have his leave at least before a week, Reno is tied to his bed until this nasty flu decides to call it quits but Rude and Tseng shall be up to the task tomorrow. There is much to bet that both of them are somewhere into that reactor … Rufus?»
*Bang*
*******
Vincent woke up groggily to the same pain than all the times before. The floor looked inviting, if he could just let himself fall flat from where he was perched… His wings were stretching painfully backward, jarring his shoulder and right side. From here he could directly see Cloud's precarious position; the blond was laid awkwardly on the 'extractor', as they called it, and Vincent could feel every little scrape of flesh being torn away from his arm… and then the agonising burn of pure Mako. He did not need to hear the screams, Vincent's body was currently reacting by itself, trying to yank out his own arm from the shackles to escape the phantom pain. Cloud's ordeal finally stopped when he could not endure anymore and became totally limp on the table, the screams dying down. The pain did not, however, and Vincent bit his lower lip as he literally felt Cloud's biceps muscles being pushed apart, sliced through to remove part of it, then burned with Mako to close the wound. By then he was sweating thoroughly, unable to see clearly and choking. Minutes could have been hours, he didn't know, but when everything cleared again, his torture table was moving down, passing slightly to the left of the prone form of Sephiroth, while Cloud's table was moving up to his right. With dread he realised that he was next… Panicking, the only thing he would remember would be the cruel smile of the Professor Dover.
When he came back around, he was back into the holding cell, without the metals cuffs, though. Anyway, there were no need for them anymore, since his whole body was unresponsive at the best, paralysed at worst. He didn't dare to open his eyes, but he could feel the presence of Sephiroth and Cloud nearby. The blond's status, though, was preoccupying and when he started moaning in pain, he immediately felt something amiss in his arm. Red eyes shot open and he looked in front of him at the crawling blond, one arm stretched out in desperation, silently asking for help. Vincent willed himself to move and slowly lifted a hand to grab Cloud's.
«Hold on», he whispered hoarsely, «I've got you…»
He pulled the shaking blond to him, somehow getting rid of the invisible restrains he have felt before, leaning Cloud against him. His left arm was a total waste, and as soon as it moved, he screamed. By the look of the large purple bruise just above the elbow, and his over-sized wrist, Vincent knew both were broken. His shoulder was sagging with an odd angle, too. He had trashed a lot under the «testing», probably enough to dislocate his shoulder and brake his forearm in a vain attempt to free himself. It was now clear that Cloud was going into shock, his eyes rolling wildly and the ex-Turk needed to comfort him. Apart from the normal buzzing of the different reactors far off in the labs, all he could hear was the blond's low moans.
He took a moment to survey the cell and its surroundings. The usual blue lights were out, apart from those back in the far off sections, and he could only discern the shadow of one person in the corridor. The faint smell of coffee hanged in the air, and from that he guessed it was night time. He could act a little more freely when the Professor Dover wasn't around. Someone moved to his right, and soon Sephiroth was shakily gathering himself up, only to slump against Vincent, curling into a ball on his side. The ex-Turk could see the geostigma spreading on both of their bodies… oddly he noted that his own didn't seem to grow, but was slowly receding. A sudden cry from Cloud brought him back to his current task. Feeling both wills slowly loosing their grasp on reality, Vincent tried to keep them from hurting themselves even more.
«Just stay put… »
He suddenly stopped as a blinding pain hit him, tearing his head apart. He could hear a scream, his own, as he felt his skull being split in two, seeing the memories flying in his mind, the images, sounds, emotions… then the blackness. He jumped out of his skin when the inert body of Chaos was carelessly dumped in front of him, black blood pooling around it. From the blood another silhouette emerged, one of a headless woman, coming right at him with arms wide open.
I am finally awake, my son…Unleasing of the Calamity
Author's notes
I'm planning to post this story as a 3 or 4 chapter book. I'm warning you; I am looking for nothing else than perfection…
See you soon in : Deadly Games