Chapter 21 - Project S Report #841023

CLASSIFIED. CLEARANCE: EXECUTIVE - VIP LEVEL. SHINRA ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY. HARD COPY ONLY. STORAGE #31 - NIBELHEIM MANSION.

Project S Report #841023

SHINRA ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY
Department of Public Safety - Investigation Section of the General Affairs Department "Turks"
Subject IDs: #1256, #1257
Staff Assigned: Classified.
Report: 10/24/1984

On October 23rd 1984 at 12:47 am, Turk "1" observed and recorded the following conversation on security camera #21.J between Subject #1256 (further referred to as "M") and Subject #1257 (further referred to as "O").

O waited for M outside the main area of their work from 11:53 p.m. to 12:47 a.m.. M is observed to appear surprised to see O when they leave at 12:48 a.m. The following is a transcript of their conversation:

O: "Nobody should burn the candle on both ends."

M: "What are you doing here?"

O: "Waiting for you."

M: "Are you drunk?"

O: "No, but I sure as hell want to be."

M: "There isn't anything for us to talk about."

O: "How can you stand by and let this happen?"

M: "Go to bed."

O: "You know, the more that I help S, the more I think that you are just as heartless as Hojo."

M: "What is your point?"

O: "Why is this happening?"

M: "So you are still wanting the privileges that came along with being Gast's guard?"

O: "Yeah? That is what you have a problem with?"

M: "I don't know you. Project S is still a classified program. Go do SOLDIER initiatives."

O: "Oh so I am good enough to spend time with him but can't know anything else."

M: "Some remnant of his memory has mixed you with the professor. He needs all the support he can to move on from his trauma."

O: "Trauma? You sound like it is over. When I meet with him, he's different now. Shinra is swallowing this kid whole. Why are you letting them fill his head with dreams of being a SOLDIER? He's too young."

M: "You wouldn't understand and you reek of a bar. Go home."

O: "Take him out of the program."

M: "No."

O: "You can take him out of Shinra. I know you can. You head his program."

M: "Not an option."

O: "How about Dinand? You know how he trains. Does that strike your fancy?"

M: "I know. I'm aware. I've reported it."

O: "You've reported it. Cute."

M: "Don't get sassy with me. I'm documenting it if he goes out of line. R&D is insisting on Dinand's training."

O: "Professor Hojo is insisting."

M: "He is the Director."

O: "Get him out. I know you can."

M: "I can't."

O: "Not brave enough to face the music?"

M: "Gods. Listen to yourself. Why don't you do it then? Break him out as easily as you say. You could kidnap him. He trusts you. You are smart enough to come up with a good lie. He wouldn't figure it out until it is too late."

O: "And why was there a Wutai lab so deep in Shinra territory? Why was it in an abandoned facility? The more I think about that situation, the less it makes sense."

M: "You're deflecting. Answer the question."

O: "And so are you."

M: "Then we both need to go our separate ways and do our jobs."

O: "Bullshit. And you know what? I'm going to call you on your other bullshit. You are letting all this happen because you can't stand against Shinra. You care for that kid. I've seen you. I know. You aren't brave enough to get the kid out of this hell hole. Talk about trauma, Shinra will be a mountain of it, maybe more than Wutai ever was."

M: "I'm tired."

O: "No. You don't get away that easily."

M: "Ever since Professor Gast left, things have gotten more complicated for R&D. Please stick to the matters that concern you."

O: "It's not that simple."

M: "No. It's not."

O: "Explain it to me."

M: "It's above your clearance level."

O: "Don't pull rank."

M: "Fine. I don't have time to deal with this. What did Gast tell you about JENOVA?"

O: "That thing in the tube wasn't an Ancient."

M: "There are many who are nervous about Sephiroth. SOLDIER is the only viable path. Everything else has been cut off."

O: "If Sephiroth doesn't become a SOLDIER?"

M: "You've been here long enough."

O: "Fuck."

M: "Happy now?"

O: "No."

M: "Fine. What do you want me to say? That I want to spirit him away? That I want to take him back to Nibelheim to live his life? Tell him everything he's forgotten? How about Landon? I worked with him for three years. We raised a child together. How am I supposed to feel about him dying and then painted as a betrayer that Shinra doesn't want Sephiroth to know about?"

O: "So it was a-"

M: "Gah. No. Nevermind."

O: "Shinra…"

M: "To be frank, why am I inviting you to spend time with Sephiroth? Encouraging it? Because he needs a role model. He needs to see what SOLDIER can become. You are naturally already filling that role. Give him some hope."

O: "I don't want to be part of this horror show."

M: "I'm not asking you to be directly involved in the program. I can't change the decisions that have been made. None of them. I can only try to make them better at this point."

O: "Oh fuck."

M: "Isn't this what you wanted? A heartfelt confession?"

O: "I don't know. I'm half drunk."

M: "I'm not strong enough to do more. I'm not that brave. Are you?"

(pause)

O: "No."

M: "Just be his friend. Help me mitigate the damage."

O: "I don't want to sink further into this Shinra cesspool."

M: "Just think about it."

This conversation does not fulfill any of the stated parameters regarding M (Subject #1256) or O (Subject #1257). Recorded as evidence in case either Subjects complete clauses A8, B3, F7, K1, L11 or Q2 of written observation contract. No action has been taken at this time.

Further surveillance will continue.

Am I the only sweating by the end of this conversation?

As customary with reports, it is a double update week. See you tomorrow.

Thanks for reading as always. -Quin

Thanks to A for betaing this chapter. You can find their FFVII work on Twitter (AngealLovesYou).