Mother Dear - Part 3 (FF 7)

[Kainen]

As a young woman and her darling prepare for revenge, a soul searches for the purpose of his existence. What he finds is the cold truth that innocence is all but a sham and that love is merely a dreamer's reality. [Alternate Timeline/Universe]


Mother Dear
By Kainen


Since it was early morning, most of Hojo?s assistants and partners were still asleep in their homes. Their sanctuaries of rest were atop the many plates that surrounded the Shinra Building; which incidently, also made up the metropolitan city called Midgar. To the relief of Zack and the woman, security was not what is was four years ago when the two young men were brought to the Shinra labs. This was due to Cloud?s considerable weakening in strength and Zack?s ever deepening depression.

To put it bluntly, the guards that prowled the laboratory floors and holding cells were only there to keep an eye on Zack and to serve as ?escorts? for Cloud when going to the lab. Hojo knew how close Zack?s ties were to Cloud and thus implemented the guards to control Zack. They were constant reminders if ever he forgot that his only purpose to Hojo was to keep Cloud in touch with his sanity.

Because of the early hours and lack of personnel, there was no use for the labs to be lit at full power. The constant glow of the back up lights caused eerie shadows and obscurities to be cast upon the faceless, white walls of floor sixty-seven. As the doors of one of many secondary laboratories slid open, two figures clothed in shadows crept briskly past numerous vents and airing systems.

Except for the monotonous humming emanating from each, and the occasional moan of pain from Cloud, the air was silent. The dim lights of the lab cast colourless, black shadows of a man and woman as they treaded through the room. The darkened images of them, resembling elongated beings with contorted features, danced and swept over the metallic walls and machinery. Abruptly, their movements ceased and they were still.

Few people outside the Jenova Project #3, as it was called, safe for the guards, knew about the specially reinforced holding cells far behind the central and secondary labs. These cells were made specifically for Hojo?s more . . . unconventional . . . projects and specimens to be kept. Namely to date: Cloud and Zack. For this reason the woman had to be especially careful. She knew there would be guards surveying the surrounding area and would be checking in on the labs and cells as their nightly routine. Motioning for Zack to stop, the blond haired woman took out her keycard, and slid it into the decoder by the lab entrance. After imputing the six digit access code, there was a soft metallic sound and the main laboratory doors slid open.

The central laboratory was in one word: huge. As expected, it was outfitted with assorted mechanical devices and system generators, even more so than the surrounding sub-labs. The room itself had two levels and was far more detailed with technological advancements than any other facilities within Shinra?s Science Department. A small but sturdy elevator shaft connected the main floor to the one above it. Beside it was a simple emergency ladder with a metal wire casing around its upper part.

On the top level were mainly storage units for chemicals and genetic samples collected and classified over the years. They were safely guarded by an electronic access system with a lockout function. The second floor was built around the perimeter of the first, twenty feet above the ground. The floor?s edges were guarded by a thin rail.

At one end was a large structure with many buttons and levers. If one was familiar with operating such a machine, they would know that high above, attached to the ceiling, loomed a large crane. Its metallic fingers were hanging motionless, just waiting for someone to operate its controls below.

On the main floor, were many lab stations with different apparatuses set up. Scraps of paper, test results, notes, charts, and diagrams were scattered everywhere on each lab bench -- on the floor even -- without any trace of regard for them. Racks of test tubes and glass beakers littered the stations as well. Some even coming dangerously close to the edges.

Such untidiness was characteristic of the Science Department Head, Hojo. He was known to the Shinra executives for being brilliant and shrewd but also very unkept and disorderly. He sought prospects in genetics and anything connected to it. The ideas he came up with amazed and delighted the Board and employees yet at the same time frightened them. Someone with such astuteness had to be watched and watched carefully. Of course, no one dared to openly admit their nervousness around Hojo ? especially the executives. That would show their weakness and in the Game of Life weakness only won you failure. So, comments were only spoken in the mind and softly between friends. Rumors did arise though, and one of them even questioned Hojo?s sanity. . .

As Zack and the woman ventured deeper into the laboratory, Zack was beginning to understand just how large the facility was. He stood in momentary awe at the sophisticated technology surrounding him. Everywhere he looked there were tubes and wires running every which way, connecting to ports and generators. This kind of machinery was unknown to Zack and by all means should be.

For one, he had no real interest in such ventures. To be honest, the idea of playing around with genetics -- changing, ?improving? DNA structures -- scared him. With someone like Hojo at the wheel, the results could be disastrous. Cloud was proof. Another reason for his disinterest was that he had been a member of SOLDIER. Its men were taught to fight and exercise their brains only to defeat an opponent, not solve genetic problems. SOLDIERs were brawn not brain.

As Zack diverted his attention from his metallic surroundings, he came to focus on a part of the lab that was familiar to him and yet wasn?t. He?d been here years ago, he was sure of it. But when exactly and what for? Out of the corner of his eye Zack noticed the blond woman standing in front of what seemed to be the main computer. What for, Zack didn?t know. His attention was drawn back to what gave him a sensation of d?ja vu.

At the far end of the room stood a row of large cylinders, measuring eight feet tall and four feet in diameter. They stood tall and proud side by side like soldiers in a front line. There were six of these monstrosities aligned near the wall. As Zack neared, he noticed a bed of sorts nearby. At a closer inspection he saw that it had a thin mattress and that it was, in fact, a gurney. On the floor were pedals that, when depressed, enabled the bed to move its occupant into a vertical position or a horizontal one. For the moment the bed was parallel to the floor.

After gently setting Cloud down, Zack approached the first of six cylinders. The front was made of tampered glass while the back appeared to be solid metal. Laying his hands flat on its smooth surface, Zack peered through the glass door. Inside was a gas mask attached to a tube that ran to the top of the cylinder and out. Zack followed the type of tube and found that it was secured to a large tank. He read the label:

WARNING! PRESSURIZED MAKO

Mako gas. Hojo made people breathe this?!

As Zack inspected the pods more closely, he found that there were strong straps inside, along the back. Also, near the base there was a small platform that was elevated above the bottom of the pod. Kneeling down and squinting a bit, Zack saw bits of what seemed to be green residue clinging to the metal platform. The realization dawned on him. ?. . . liquid form. . . so that?s what Cloud meant. . .? he muttered to himself, backing away from the tanks.

The ex-SOLDIER?s thoughts went reeling. They drown him in that stuff! Not only that, he?s made to breathe it too! That?s what Cloud meant when he said they made him turn green. . . At that, Zack winced involuntarily, his shoulders twitching. He doubled over in pain.

Air. . . . . . .

Breathe. . . . . . .

Not the poison. . . . . . .!

Why. . . . . . .!?


?Wha. . .?? Zack gave a low groan and stumbled to regain his balance, hands clutching his head. What the hell? That voice. . .I recognize it. It was. . .no. . .I felt it. . .! The sharp pain in his head began to recede and then cease all together. After a moment, Zack was able to gather his senses.

Standing straight, the young man blinked and shook his head, gazing up. Just what in hell was that? Forget it. It was nothing, just your own mind screwing with you. Random thoughts crisscrossed his consciousness in a jumble of confusion. Zack gave a final, weary look at the Mako tanks before turning back to Cloud, still lying on the gurney motionless. At the sight of Cloud, Zack furrowed his brow. Is it just me, or has Cloud gotten paler in just those few minutes?

?Zack? I?m done. Are you ready to move?? Zack jumped, slightly surprise as he turned to the voice behind him. The blond haired woman stood there holding up two circular-shaped objects in her hand. ?There is nothing more I can gain from the computer files without the proper access codes. What I could retrieve though, are all on these disks.?

?What are on them??

?Almost every file Hojo has made on the Jenova Project #3. Once we get out of here, you can kiss these goodbye.? Turning and slipping the disks into her side pocket, the woman headed for a set of doors on the opposite side of the room. Pausing, she added: ?I also wiped out as much as I could from the hard drive.?

?Where to now?? Zack asked, as he picked up Cloud once again.

?Right through those doors which will lead --?

At that moment, the twin doors on the far side of the room slid open, the metallic noise it made seemed to resound throughout the lab. Before whomever had opened the doors could enter, the blond woman used the dimness of the lab to her advantage.

?Get behind that lab station -- now!? she ordered in a loud whisper, forcefully pushing Zack down.

Ducking behind the nearest table, the woman made a grab for a glass beaker nearby. On the floor she began to quickly gather up the papers that were lying astray. Zack ended up crouching low to the ground while managing to curl Cloud up in his arms. Because of the sudden movements and the abrupt handling, Cloud was beginning to gain more of his consciousness back. His head was against Zack?s shoulder and he groaned a bit before trying to move. Cloud then chose that moment to test his vocal chords: ?Hey, bud,? he whispered hoarsely, looking up at Zack, his eyes half closed. ?What?s up??

Please, Zack begged silently, not now. . .not here! Zack removed his arm supporting Cloud?s knees and gently raised it over his friend?s mouth. ?Shh, Cloud. Don?t worry, I?m here,? the young man whispered in response. ?You have to be quiet.?

?Mmm. . .? After a moment, Cloud nodded slowly against the supporting shoulder and closed his eyes. He did not stir again. Zack breath a sigh of relief and turned his head towards the woman who, like him, was crouching behind the lab station. She saw him and raised an index finger to her lips. Zack held his breath just as the silence was broken by a duo of voices.

?Don?t you hate the night shift?? a gruff voice asked. ?I mean, every night we walk around doing nothing but check in on empty rooms and hallways, just to get paid close to nothing!? Two pairs of heavy boots could be heard entering the lab, the metal doors shutting behind them with a soft clicking sound. ?Which is barely enough to live on!? the voice added in slight displeasure.

A deep chuckle filled the air. ?Jake, that?s because you spend most of your off hours down in Wall Market looking at the ?Honey Bees?,? The second man?s voice was lighter than the first and spoke with amusement. ?If you ask me, you should concentrate on things other than the ladies.? Again, the voice chuckled.

The man known as Jake rounded on his comrade, shifting his gun strap absentmindedly on his left shoulder. ?Hey, pal,? he started defensively, ?A guy needs a hobby, don?t he? Besides, who asked you?? His brown eyes, hidden by thick strands of hair, narrowed at the other man. Only after being sure he got his point across, and that his partner wouldn?t be making any other snide remarks, did he turn away. ?I hate the night shift.? Jake said again, brushing at his bangs, muttering. His comrade behind him sighed.

The Shinra guards then went about their duties: giving the area a general inspection. Soon they would be done and move to the other labs and then the hallway. The guards? tasks were that simple.

?Goddamn! Look at this place! The barracks are cleaner!? Jake?s voice was loud and distinct. His booted feet thumped hard on the laboratory floor. He was pacing.

His partner concurred. ?It is untidy for a science lab.?

The man looked about the room. Every time he and Jake went through the labs during their shift, the scene was always the same: the room always in disarray, Jake commenting with the same remarks and him responding with the same answers. It was getting monotonous. He looked at Jake pacing in front of him and sighed again. He didn?t know Jake as long as their other comrades did, but he knew his attitude. He was a man of personal opinion with a hole in his face resembling more of a horn than a mouth.

That mouth alone, he knew, was the reason behind all of his partner?s reprimands and trips to the brig. Surprisingly, it never bother Jake to have all those past incidents entered into his army record. It was a wonder to everyone in their squad he hadn?t already been discharged from the army for his behavior. But despite his crude manner and loud mouth, Jake was a competent soldier who was dedicated to his work. He was a good man but he could also be a jackass at the worst of times. Now was a perfect example.

Behind the lab station, the woman was getting restless. It had already been more than five minutes since the guards? arrival and they still had not shown any signs of leaving. She would have to do something about that. She turned to Zack who looked back at her with wide eyes. She had vaguely noticed that he had been tending to Cloud who had appeared to be regaining consciousness.


End Part Three


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