A/N: Just another small chapter for some background, setting things up for later.
Chapter 15
Always Something with the Old Man
"I added these names and those at the bottom. Their current whereabouts are unknown." Elena edged around the desk, bending near and motioning at the paper Vincent in his hands.
She didn't stand too close. Vincent sensed her apprehension—and friendly esteem. Elena exuded loudly conflicted feelings toward him, instinctively fearing him due to his—augmentations. But there was also fondness. Vincent had earned her affection when he saved her and Tseng from Sephiroth's remnants a few years ago. Outwardly, Elena masked her emotions with the expertise of a seasoned Turk.
Elena continued as she straightened her back, "I've tracked down Professor Berry's last known location to Rocket Town. But I don't have any leads for Dr. Curie, other than her childhood in Banora. As for Professor Brukho, he continued to work for the company under Hojo up until Meteor. After that, he disappeared and was presumed dead along with everyone else." Elena tipped her head at Vincent when she completed her oral report, respectfully clasping her hands together to await a response.
"Thank you, Elena," Tseng chimed in, nodding at his subordinate. "We are investigating some information provided by Professor Parran, but it is important to note that Professor Brukho was not officially assigned to Deepground. He lacked the necessary clearance, thus prohibiting his knowledge of its existence." Tseng appeared to offer the explanation as fact only.
Vincent speculated Rufus hoped more ShinRa scientists would not be implicated in the unsanctioned research that had continued beneath Midgar.
"It's too much of a coincidence that this isn't the same Professor Brukho," Reeve interjected, folding his list into a binder as he looked to Vincent for confirmation.
"I remember him," Vincent supplied and stood up, prompting Elena to sidle next to Tseng near the door. "And my memory aligns with Parran's account. Brukho worked on venom producing agents during my time. The mansion archives showed he hoped to create a human hybrid that could spit poison." Vincent paused when Elena sucked in a breath. Tseng retained his usual thin, polite smile but turned his head briefly toward her, silencing any additional reaction she struggled to conceal.
"Venom wasn't his only interest," Vincent continued. "He tried to duplicate results deemed successful in Dr. Crescent's experimentations—introducing corrupt Lifestream into test subjects. His victims didn't have the same reaction as hers. They all perished. He'd hoped to impress ShinRa and become a lead researcher, like Hojo."
The others gawked at him, making the connection between Dr. Crescent's experiments and her singular achievement standing before them, alive and thriving. Vincent continued quickly, his discomfort increasing under their sympathetic regard, "It was all in my report on Nibelheim."
Reeve cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Dr. Bernard has already called several scientists on the previous list. Sad to say that they've all declined to help. A few specifically mentioning the SOLDIER program had been a disgusting venture that they were forced to work on—you get the picture."
"I would like to point out that those researchers were never considered an important asset to the project, according to our files," Tseng offered neutrally. "We maintain they would be of no use if they had agreed to cooperate. However—the more current list contains prominent researchers in the program who had worked either directly with Hojo or Hollander. A few started during the time Professor Gast was employed." Tseng raised a single eyebrow at Vincent as though seeking agreement.
"I remember," Vincent replied, validating Tseng's assumption. "And you're right—they are the ones we should be looking for."
"Unfortunately, Elena has confirmed that several have already passed on."
"How did they die? Illness? Hojo?" Vincent questioned, chest suddenly bubbling with anger.
Tseng politely bowed his head at the reference. ShinRa never officially took responsibility for Hojo's direct murders.
"Yes, that could also be a possibility, Vincent," Reeve intervened on Tseng's behalf, and Vincent nearly felt relief that he did. He knew this wasn't an appropriate moment to revisit his personal problems with the dead scientist. But this topic bared his resentment with the ShinRa Electric Power Company. This impending mission to Nibelheim was already wearing his nerves thin.
Reeve approached Tseng and patted his shoulder as he continued, "I'll have Shelke run the names through our system, see what she can dig up while the others head to the mansion."
"Yes, Elena has already started her inquiries. She will share her findings upon your return," Tseng said as he courteously bowed his head to Vincent. "I'm sure you will have substantial knowledge to add to whatever she uncovers."
"You're aware from the interrogation report that Professor Brukho had fled some days before the operation? Parran hadn't been sure how the man had known, but it clearly infuriated him to have been left behind with no warning of their impending discovery." No one answered Vincent as they pondered the possibilities of how Brukho knew of their Deepground mission.
As Reeve gave Vincent a contemplative look, the room grew quiet. But the silence was quickly shattered when several bangs on the door startled the group.
"Ah, I bet I know who that is. Tseng, would you mind?" Reeve lifted his chin toward the door.
Tseng opened the door and swiftly sidestepped as Yuffie burst inside with Yuri trailing close behind. The already cramped office turned into a claustrophobic nightmare and Vincent recoiled from the press of bodies, thankful the desk acted as his shield to their proximity.
Yuffie raised her phone, brandishing it as if to show them proof of another alien discovery. Elena had to duck as the device barely missed her head. Tseng pulled her closer to the wall behind the door. They looked at Yuffie with anticipation written on their usually passive expressions. She waved the phone high, hand placed on her hip, waiting for someone—anyone to ask what the matter was.
"I'm guessing you had a call, Yuffie," Vincent prompted for her, growing irritated at her dramatic entrance.
"Yeah—call! With my father!" She nearly shrieked through clenched teeth.
Reeve rolled his eyes. "Yuffie, we'll have to deal with this later. This meeting will be over in a few, and then I have a luncheon to attend. Can't we discuss Godo this afternoon?" He tried to move toward her and grasp the door.
Yuffie refused to be deterred and shook her head at him while Yuri crossed his arms and did the same. Vincent thought the young man practically useless.
"Oh, believe me! I get it. It's always something with the old man, but we can't wait until later. It has to be dealt with now."
Reeve sighed and looked apologetically toward Vincent, who guessed that the commissioner suppressed some shame that the Turks witnessed what was an almost daily spectacle with the princess.
"Alright, Yuffie. Please, go on." Sometimes it really was better to indulge her—helped to end the agony sooner.
"Some randy SOLDIER has been sniffin some Wutai tang!" Yuffie sat on the edge of the desk, eyes darting between Reeve and Vincent. "Oh, it gets worse," she continued as Reeve closed his eyes at the uncouth beginning of her tale.
The commissioner flopped into a chair and propped an arm on the rest, covering his face with a hand as she continued unbidden.
"She's pregnant! And my father has ordered all SOLDIERs leave immediately! Including Kunsel, who just returned. He's not gonna like that." Vincent didn't miss the look pass between Tseng and Elena at Yuffie's last statement.
Reeve stood up, suddenly looking haggard, and smiled at the Turks in apology. "Forgive me, Tseng. Elena. I believe we were concluding our meeting anyway."
Tseng gave another polite bow. "Not at all, Commissioner. Indeed, I believe that is all we can accomplish at this time. Mr. Valentine," the Turk addressed Vincent as formally as ever. "We look forward to our continued collaboration."
Vincent nodded at him as Tseng swept out a hand to Elena to exit. Once the door shut, Yuffie whirled on the two of them. "You're not gonna like this."
"Oh, I already abhor the discussion, Yuffie." Reeve agreed impatiently. "Now, tell me. What exactly happened?"
"Exactly what I told you!" Yuffie shrieked with a hand on her hip. "Some SOLDIER—we don't know who. He wasn't there with the WRO, maybe living the single life on his own—carefree and with his bitty willy doing the dilly. Anyway, he started dating a government official's daughter!"
"Well, isn't this a perfect storm?" Reeve exhaled in exasperation. "I assume she's not doing well?"
"My father says she's been bedridden for weeks. They only recently realized she's got a baby on the way. Some old backwoods doctor thought it was Chocobo fever. Apparently, it wasn't pretty when she confessed her monthlies disappeared."
Vincent could imagine. The culture in Wutai was significantly more conservative than on this continent.
"We've got to deal with this immediately." Reeve strode toward the door, and they followed him to the elevator. As they waited for the lift, he seemed to remember other current matters. "Oh, Vincent. You're set to leave in a few hours?"
"Yes, we're meeting at the helipad. I was going to the labs to talk to Dr. Bernard. He's coming with us."
"That's where we're headed. I want medication sent to Wutai on the next available ship."
Professor Rayleigh leaned against an empty lab table, talking to Dr. Shelly when they arrived at the labs. "Reeve? What brings you here?" She asked when he stopped in front of her, followed closely by Yuffie and her worthless husband.
Vincent remained in the doorway and scanned the room, no inclination to hear the story again. Yuffie was already flailing her arms and talking excitedly as Rayleigh covered her mouth with a hand and shook her head in disbelief. He spotted Shelke and Dr. Daniel Simon working at a table in a far corner and wandered over to them.
Simon sat in front of the girl as he prepared a syringe with a glowing yellow serum. Shelke presented her arm to the doctor in anticipation, waiting to be injected with the substance.
"What's that you got there?" Vincent nodded at the syringe in Simon's hand when they finally looked up at him.
"Hello Vincent Valentine," she greeted in her typical drone, forever unable to drop the unnecessary surname from her salutations. "This is experimental. But don't worry, I'm giving my full consent."
"Hmph," he hummed, feeling a tinge of humor at her attempted joke. "And what is this experiment?"
"This is an experimental age accelerant, or enhanced human growth hormone, Mr. Valentine," the doctor supplied as he wiped Shelke's arm with antiseptic. "The young lady here has not only volunteered as a test subject, but the project is her idea." Simon injected her skillfully, gently removing the needle and wiping the area clean once he emptied the syringe into her arm.
"We've culled much information from the Deepground archives. I've received permission from Commissioner Reeve Tuesti and Professor Sandra Rayleigh to use the data in an attempt to reverse my condition," Shelke explained. She pressed a cotton ball to the injection site, looking up at Vincent as she continued, "at this time, I do not believe this will work. However, I will offer my blood to Dr. Simon to study once the injection has had some time to integrate with my cells. It is my fervent hope that eventually we will find the right solution."
"I hope you do, Shelke." Vincent gave her a reassuring smile, which won him a thumbs up from the girl before she peered at the notes Simon was writing in her file.
Vincent returned to Reeve's impromptu meeting with Rayleigh just as Yuffie stepped to the other side of the room for a phone call. The princess talked animatedly, hands grabbing at her hair, and her head was thrown back in frustration. He tuned her out, guessing she was in a conversation with her father.
"Sybil, see that two months' worth of the 5C2 treatments are packed with the other medications we have prepared for shipment." Professor Rayleigh pushed her glasses up as she eyed the younger doctor. Vincent didn't miss the thin line that briefly appeared on Sybil's lips as her superior delivered the instructions.
"A cargo ship is leaving for Wutai later tonight on scheduled delivery. Yuffie and I will personally see that the medications are on that ship," Reeve said in assurance to the room at large.
Dr. Sybil Shelly stared at the floor with a frustrated attitude as Reeve spoke. Vincent caught the sound of her deep, audible breath before she offered her opinion, "I really think we should at least send a sample of the 6A1 mixture. The information I gleaned from—"
"We won't hear another word of it, Dr. Shelly," Dr. Simon called out as he joined the conversation. "Those treatments are as yet untested and do not have anything in common with those currently working best and showing the least adverse symptoms." Simon didn't hide his irritation with the young doctor. The tone in his voice suggested they'd had this argument before. "We will commit 6A1 to more trials with fetal samples, and nothing more until we have proven results to begin human testing."
Vincent could only guess at what Sybil might have said had Simon not interrupted her irresponsible assertion. He wondered if the information she gathered had anything to do with her little chat with their prisoner beneath the parking garage.
Tifa was surprised to see Cloud suddenly appear in the waiting room, looking around as if he'd misplaced someone. She thought he would check on Shalua before they left for Nibelheim.
"What're you doin hangin around the Maternity Ward? Lookin for a date?" Molly loved teasing Cloud. He rarely had a witty comeback and always turned beet red at her innuendos.
Cloud smirked at Molly but couldn't hide the flush that spread to his ears. Tifa covered her mouth when a snort inadvertently escaped.
"Came to grab your baby daddy," he said, pointing his thumb in Tifa's direction. Tifa playfully smacked his arm as he continued, "thought Pete might be here."
"Not yet. He texted me a couple of hours ago and said he'd meet me here. Must still be at the debrief." Molly pouted, making Tifa wish she was a better substitute.
Filling in as husband didn't prevent Molly from feeling strained. The checkups could be stressful. Pete had a job to do, though, and couldn't be at every doctor visit. The weekly doctor visits were taking their toll.
"I'll check Reeve's office," he said and left the two of them sitting alone in the large waiting room.
"So, what time are you leaving?" Molly clutched Tifa's hands as though desperate to keep her nearby.
Pete's absence was always hard for her. Fears surrounded the pregnancy, and Tifa knew Molly was far more anxious than she let on.
"Later today, but I'll stay here until Pete gets back, ok?" Tifa rubbed her friend's arms, hoping to soothe her unease.
The waiting room was nearly empty in this part of the hospital. Even a few years after Geostigma had been cured, the maternity ward did not see much use. Until recently, when SOLDIERs' partners started showing up, the wing only claimed nine or ten pregnancies each year. Tifa was beginning to think Molly was the only expecting mother with an appointment that morning until a door swung open.
Liza was rolled in, resting weakly in a wheelchair, and sleeping soundly as her husband pushed her into the room. If Tifa had been shocked by the woman's appearance before, now she was utterly devastated. Never had she seen a more frail-looking person.
A nurse appeared from their workstation and asked Luxiere to push his wife into an exam room. He followed her without a word but managed a glare in Tifa's direction before disappearing behind the door.
"I hadn't seen Liza walking on her own for days before Lux brought her in the other night," Molly whispered to her. "I don't think she'd been able to hold down anythin for at least a week. And let me tell you, every time Liza came outta the house, Lux was carryin her." Molly's head dropped into her hands as a small sob escaped her throat.
Tifa wrapped her arms around Molly, snuggling her close. "Don't worry, Molly. It's going to be fine." She hated that Molly was so upset and knew how frightening it was to see Liza's condition in continual decline.
"Oh, Tifa. I know what you're thinkin. And I'm not worried about myself. You might think I look fragile, but even Dr. Simon said I'm holdin up better'n all the rest. I'm the only one that's gained some weight, even if it ain't much." Molly stood up to show off her sizeable mound. Tifa smiled and forced back her own tears as she reached up and placed a hand at the top of her friend's tummy.
"Well, I don't like to see you like this," Tifa replied, rubbing Molly's back as she eased her friend back to the seat. "Pregnancy should be a happy time with maybe a few uncomfortable days thrown in and requests for pickled toad legs." They giggled at each other and wiped their tears away.
"But you know," Molly continued, holding onto Tifa's hands and gazing at the room Liza had entered. "He may be a complete ass to everyone else, but Liza is his angel, and he never wrongs her. It may be his only redeemin quality."
"That's certainly a good quality to have. I admit I wondered what she saw in him, but he does seem gentle with her."
"She's never seen the bad side of him, I'll tell ya that. I don't know why that is. You know, girl—he wasn't always that way. He started changin after Zack disappeared and then really took a turn when he got the order to help hunt him down."
Tifa was about to ask her to explain when heavy boots echoed in the corridor. Pete opened the door and tapped a finger to his lips, hinting that Tifa shouldn't announce his presence. Tifa had to shield her mouth and nose as his stench assailed her senses.
He crept up behind his wife and covered her eyes with his hands. "I know it's you, Pete. And let me tell you, those hands smell like a bucket of dirty socks and dead Sahagin."
"I'm sorry, sweet," he said, kissing Molly on the cheek and turning her around to look at him. "I ran into Cloud on the way in, and he said I smell like the summer rain! So, I didn't shower yet—just finished getting patched up."
"Oh, my gods, baby! What happened? You look like you got in a fight with a rabid Cactuar!" Molly grabbed his arm and eyed his wounds in a near panic. "Your arm! Baby! What is wrong with your veins?"
Pete's forearm was heavily bandaged, the wound itself covered, although the evidence lingered around it. Skin not covered by gauze had turned a pale gray color nearly up to his shoulder, and his veins appeared dark, spreading out under his flesh like muddy canals.
"I got bit by some kind of genetically modified—zombie—Heg snake—thing," Pete stammered, eyeing his arm with a shrug of his shoulders.
"How long is that gonna take to heal up?"
"Hmm, Dr. Simon wasn't sure. He thinks the mako will take care of most of it. I promised I'd check in with him on your next appointment."
"Pete, I don't like the looks of that. Your skin looks like it's rotting underneath, baby!" Molly turned his arm over to look at the underside, worry evident in her tone and eyes.
Tifa remembered the Heg snakes in the Cave of Gi deep within Cosmo Canyon. The snakes were nothing to toy with, but she didn't recall them challenging to beat. Their poison certainly didn't leave lingering symptoms. A simple antidote could have cured it up, no problem.
"Aren't y'all done yet with the Deepground? Seems like every time you go down there to clear more of it out, you run into some strange new creature those crazy professors came up with." Molly was nearly in tears as she pled with her husband.
Pete pressed his forehead to Molly's and whispered something to her Tifa couldn't hear. She stood and stepped away from them, not wanting to interrupt their intimate conversation.
"Molly Samuels?" A nurse entered the room and indicated that Molly should follow to an exam room.
"Well, that's me. I'll see you later, girl." Molly pulled Tifa into a hug, getting as close as her growing belly would allow. "Please, please be careful. I don't want you comin back with a toxic arm, too!"
"I will, Molly. Call me if you need anything. We'll be back in a few days." Tifa waved at them as she left the waiting room to catch up with Cloud.
"They're all currently at the consulate awaiting orders. He's keeping Kunsel under watch. Says he can't leave until all the others have packed up and gotten the hell off his continent." Yuffie smiled at Reeve innocently as she described her father's instructions in singsong. Still, Vincent heard the tone of frustration in her voice. After all this time and everything they had endured, their father-daughter relationship had not improved.
"It's a show, but it works in our favor that Godo likes Kunsel," Reeve tucked his chin into his chest and tapped his mouth with a finger. "I'll contact Godo now and try to smooth things over as much as I can."
Vincent left them to it; this development with Godo didn't change his mission, only gave it another layer of urgency. He moved to Dr. Bernard's workstation as the young man prepared his gear for their departure.
"Have everything you need?" Vincent smirked when Carlos jumped at his unexpected guest.
"Yes, Mr. Valentine. Just putting together a pack with some curatives. You never know," Carlos chuckled with a sheepish grin.
"Alright, I'm ready too," a female voice rang behind Vincent. Dr. Shelly was dressed in hiking gear with a full backpack strapped to her shoulders, to his astonishment.
"Did I miss something?" He asked, hoping her presence and costume didn't mean what it appeared to mean.
"Oh, my apologies, Mr. Valentine." Professor Rayleigh approached him with her glasses in her hand, wiping the lenses with her smock. "We cleared it with Reeve—your work will progress much quicker with two of our researchers instead of just one."
"I should have been notified," Vincent answered irritably.
"What's the problem? I've had some self-defense classes," Sybil argued with a childish tone in her voice. She turned on her heel and left the labs as Carlos looked at Vincent with a shrug.
Vincent exhaled impatiently and shot a glare at Professor Rayleigh before he addressed Dr. Bernard again. "The more, the merrier," he growled and held out a hand for the young man to follow his colleague out the door.
They arrived at the helipad to hear an argument underway inside the helicopter cabin. Vincent paused before the deck; eyes narrowed at Reno as the man knelt before Tifa. She struggled to push the Turk's hands away and was quickly losing her patience.
"I've told you, Reno. I can strap myself in. I don't need your help." Tifa's voice edged on a venomous snarl.
"Hey, babe! I got it, yo. But it's my responsibility as a pilot—as Captain! To ensure every passenger is safely belted in." Reno slid a hand under her seatbelt and started to adjust the strap at her hips.
The moment his fingers moved toward her center, Tifa connected a signature punch to his right eye.
"Ow! Fuck!" Reno cried as he fell backward and splayed out on the metal floor.
"Serves you right. Let's go." A big hand landed on his shoulder, and Rude dragged his partner toward the cockpit.
Cloud climbed into the craft, sitting behind the pilot seats, while Rude helped the two scientists alight onto the deck.
"Everything alright?" Vincent asked Tifa as he took the seat next to her.
"It is now," she said sweetly, beaming at him as she relaxed into the headrest.