Renmazuo Sponsor - Zack
Ebony
Registered: Mar
2002 Location: Graveyard of Airships Posts:
30 |
Curriculum Vitae -
Mortality's Folly
Ehehe! Sorry for the delay, all, but this
turned out longer than I thought it would, so there'll be four
posts altogether. Don't worry, though, it's all done.
And add the fact that a very special something came in
the mail (it's Japanese, deadly, and starts with a "k" ), and you have my reasons for delay. That said, here
are the final two posts for Zack's introduction.
-----------
To the Midgar Scientific
Outreach Community,
My colleagues, partners, and
associates, it is with the utmost of pride that I write this
seventeenth log of the Netzach Project. I am pleased to report
that the project is proceeding just as I have planned, and
even ahead of schedule by several weeks, at that. The cells in
Source A are still too weak to be of much use to us, but the
recently obtained Source B (a result of my discovery in the
[Nibel] reactor) has provided us with enough stem cells and
tissue samples to sustain a full, prototype clone. The final
construction of the clone body will begin in seven days after
all preparations have been made. I expect that I shall present
to you, before a scientific assembly in Junon on the 25th of
August and not a night sooner, a complete Sephiroth clone.
There were some curiosities that I and my subordinates
made note of, however. Regarding the Jenova tissues I supplied
myself with (see log of July 13th), there were alternating
side effects. When 'Tipheres' was infused with the cells, it
responded quite well to them; I daresay it may even have used
the cells to strengthen itself. Of course, there were some
minor difficulties during the transfusion process, but we were
able to put 'Tipheres's' pain in moderation with the use of
the typical sedative and morphine. As I write this, 'Tipheres'
is dormant and resting. The last check of 'Tipheres's' vital
signs is improving to a state of normalcy. During the shock
treatments, 'Tipheres' as well as 'Geburah' suffered mild
calcification of their skeletal structures, causing an abrupt
drop in blood minerals in their bodies; muscular
microseizures, obviously, were commonplace in both specimens.
Fortunately, condensed Mako treatment repaired the damage.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that 'Tipheres', in
particular, has a very weak organic buildup, though I expect
the combined Jenova and Sephiroth cells to improve its
strength.
'Geburah' is what perturbs me, however. The
Sephiroth cells had the desired effect, as expected; it has
also received the first of the FFT (Fight-Flash Treatment, as
per your orders in log June 30). When its mind is again
stable, I expect 'Geburah' will mimic all known SOLDIER class
skills fairly well. Despite this, there has been grave
disappointment- the Mako Radiation Therapy had no effect on
the specimen, despite its exposure to Mako beforehand. On top
of that- this is what has fascinated my entire team- 'Geburah'
showed absolutely no response to the Jenova cells. The Mako
therapy I can understand, but Jenova cells are said to be
perfect, and ingrain themselves into the body in much the same
way as locusts mimic in the open field. Based on my analysis
on 'Geburah's' physiology, I have concluded that some unknown,
innate material has already set up a proven defense against
the Jenova cells. I have no doubt you are utterly fascinated
by this, and I assure you- my fascination is even greater. We
could very well be looking at something greater than Mako or
Jenova.
The lack of funding issues from this body of
science, however, have forced me to depart for elsewhere in
order to obtain the required equipment for further conducting
of the project. My team shall continue to monitor the readings
of both 'Tipheres' and 'Geburah' while I am away. In the
meantime, I request for additional Mako tanks for the purpose
of enhanced Mako showering.
I also request that I be
granted another cryogenic battery for a little project of my
own I have had going for quite some time, now. You shall be
reimbursed.
Scalpels, drill systems, place pins, and
any surgical tools you can spare are of course welcome.
Anesthetics are acceptable, but not required.
[December 14th note- because of the fires from the
Midgar power loss this month prior, sections of the
professor's July notes have been damaged; a section here has
also been destroyed]
such is the case.
A
salutory thanks to all of my colleagues at the Midgar Science
Committee, and I look forward to presenting the results of the
Netzach Project to you at the convention in Junon in several
weeks. Keep well until then- I guarantee a scientific
breakthrough.
-- Professor Maximillian Hojo
Netzach Project, log XVII . July 22 . X Year
--------------
It reeked in the basement of
the Shinra Nibelheim Estate, and badly. The Professor's many
escapades in this place would have given veteran morticians
nightmares for years- corpses dissected and reassembled only
to come back to life, people hacked up with stitches and then
sealed away in cryo-stasis, and bats so warped by the Mako
Radiation Therapy that they could literally kill a grown man.
It was unsettling to walk in the dark, blood-caked hall
outside the library, and for the lone guard that stood vigil
over the "specimens" in that library, it was a nightmare just
to peek out into the foreboding hall of grim stone. Overall,
most of the scientists in Hojo's team were thankfully unafraid
of superstition, but it was nonetheless uncanny to see a
"Yin-Yan" wail aloud as it prowled the steps of the hidden
chambers.
The library itself was a plethora of
Shinra's secrets. Stored in mass bookshelves were reports,
recordings, theses, and other assorted written works detailing
its most heavily funded- and darkest- experiments. It was also
a laboratory of the Professor's, something he kept for his
more private research. Though the professor was currently
away, it retained the old man's stink.
Well, at
least it's one stink I don't have to put up with anymore.
Zack cracked the knuckles on his left hand, taking a
moment to spit on the unconscious face of the gray-suited
scientist sprawled at his feet. His fist was sore from hitting
the man- who had been expecting to get an incoherent mumble
and a silent acceptance of the food tray now littering the
ground. The fact that it hurt meant he still had not recovered
his strength, but the scale on which it hurt was a godsend
after the hell that he'd been put through. On that
contemplative note, he felt a sudden pang in his chest, and
for a moment Zack thought he would faint.
Hours,
days, weeks spent in this hellhole...days where everything was
white with pain, nights where Cloud's crying and screaming
kept me up, times when my only solace was that memory, and my
friend's life. I thought I was going to...
Going
to...
"Z...Za..."
Cloud. Zack leaned on
the table in front of him and kicked the back of his heel to
send a sharp lance of pain up his leg, and his dreary reverie
was brought to a close. He quickly turned to the other pod-
beside the empty one he'd been kept in for what felt like an
eternity- and grabbed at the lock. A fierce tug and the simple
thing was broken, and then spicy Mako vapor filled his lungs
and blocked his vision with green. He winced for a moment, but
felt no real pain- Mako was something he was used to.
As the sylvan bubbles faded away, a smaller shape
crumpled to the ground in front of Zack. Blonde hair crowned
his head in a spiky crown, his lithe body wrapped in the blue
uniform of the Shinra Elite Guard. He breathed in a weak and
tired manner, like he'd run a whole marathon, and his wrists
were raw and scar-ridden. Zack winced again as he dropped to
Cloud's side, looking over one of his wrists. God, he tried
to bite through his own veins, his own damn veins...was it
that awful for you, too, Cloud? Your eyes, they're too full of
Mako...what the hell did they do to us? I'm so sorry,
buddy...
"You all right, Cloud?" Zack offered.
Cloud's head craned up in response, dark circles under his
eyes as he mouthed something. "Nngh...ifa...Sephir..."
Tifa. Sephiroth. Names Zack did not want to be
reminded of. "Yeah, I know...Tifa's all right, though," Zack
assured him, though he knew it was a lie. "And...'he' won't
get away. Sephiroth will pay for what he did...just like Hojo
will. Someday...I'll pay them back in kind. Don't you worry a
bit, Cloud, we're going to make those S.O.B.'s pay for what
they did to us, to everyone..."
He looked up from
Cloud's dumbly nodding form to the lab table. Sure enough, his
Buster Sword and accessories were there, covered in dust along
with a whole set of uniforms, armor, and even materia; the
scientists who'd brought them both in must have confiscated
everything, every piece of evidence, every shred of cloth
proving that something had gone seriously wrong in Nibelheim.
It made Zack want to vomit inside, but vomiting wasn't going
to get them out of here or help Cloud. He quickly went to the
table and grabbed the gold armlet and Power Wrist he was
accustomed to wearing, placing each on either wrist to form
gauntlets. Then he seized the hilt of his mighty butcher's
blade, hefting it up. It hurt to hold it at first, but he
found his strength was returning with each passing second.
Haha, feels just like when you gave it to me, Grandpa. Hope
I can make you proud...
He inserted his materia-
properly organized- into both armlet and sword. Clothes were
next. Zack could get by in his uniform- nobody in their right
mind suspected a guy wearing purple- but Cloud wouldn't get
far in a Shinra outfit. Placing the Buster Sword into the
makeshift sheath strap on his back, Zack found a garment
strikingly similar to his- purple shirt and pants, with
suspenders and armor for the shoulder and belt, gauntlets, and
hiking boots. He looked around again and grabbed a dirty pack
from the floor, dumping the contents onto the floor and
setting to work packing what they would need. He slipped the
clothes into the bag, along with a good iron bangle and three
materia orbs for Cloud. Zipping it up, he slung it over his
shoulder, turning to haul Cloud to his feet by the arm.
"Come on, Cloud, let's go," Zack murmured to his
friend's tired face. "Be quiet, though, okay, man? I don't
think anyone else is in the mansion, but we can't take our
chances. Just hold on and don't fall asleep..."
Cloud's breathing was heavy as Zack began to move with
him towards the gate, the younger boy's body slack against
Zack's. "Aaa...want mom...wanna home...mom..."
"I
know...I'd like my mom, too. Sorry, buddy...but it'll be okay,
we're gonna make it out to someplace better." Zack grimaced,
carefully easing them both out of the door- and further away
from this house of black nightmares. His words were true, he
knew it; one way or another, they wouldn't be coming back to
Nibelheim. And most certainly not to this unholy crypt. Try as
he might, he still could not forget what he had seen, here;
the line between "research" and "sadism" had been erased in
this damn torture chamber, lies and deceit hidden behind the
screams of young men. If Zack could help it, he'd find that
old man with the sloping forehead and narrow eyes- Professor
Hojo, he remembered. He'd find him.
And then, Zack
would get to listen to his screams.
----------------
"Ugh...man, that doesn't look
good."
Zack traced a finger over the new scar running
from his chest to his hip. It was a pretty angry cut, though
the swollen and red surface had died down a little to where it
looked like a pink line. Zack was accustomed to scars- he
sported a blatant one on his cheek, just below his left eye,
from a close encounter with a Stone Dragon as a kid- but never
from something like this. Whatever Hojo had done to him, it
was apparent; it looked like the sicko had cut him open and
examined everything in his body. The thought of the old man's
hands poking around in there disturbed Zack to a "T".
The truck bumped over a road block, and Zack winced as
his nail accidently chipped a part of the scar. "Ow! Hey,
watch it, pops!" he shouted to the driver.
"You don't
like it, then put a shirt on, kid!" the bearded trucker shot
back, running his truck further down the dusty road. "You're
lucky I even gave you a ride."
Zack rolled his eyes
and slipped his shirt back on, kneeling in the flatbed of the
truck. In the corner, beside him, Cloud sat bobbing his head
dumbly. He hadn't spoken a word since the escape a few days
ago, though he had shared a blank laugh with Zack while
changing uniforms. One of Cloud's hands hadn't been able to
move when they'd got out of Nibelheim, so Zack had had to help
him put on everything (and what an experience that had
been). The purple suit smelled, but it was identical to Zack's
and fit on Cloud like a second skin. "Well, you look sharp,
but I make this look good," Zack had cracked to his
senseless friend.
"Hungry?" Zack asked Cloud, already
foraging in the bag he'd taken from the mansion. Cloud's head
rolled on his shoulders, his eyes still glazed with the Mako.
Zack decided to give him something extra, so he slipped out
two things he'd gotten at Costa Del Sol the day prior- an
elixir, and a half-loaf of salami. He inched over to Cloud and
used the other's scout knife to cut a slice of the meat. "Work
with me, okay, man?" he said, tipping Cloud's mouth open to
slide a slice in. Cloud seemed to comprehend, and chewed
wordlessly before swallowing.
"Hey, that's an
improvement," Zack said with a grin, gesturing with his eyes
to the faded stains of spit on his uniform. He sliced another
cut of the salami and continued to feed Cloud, pausing to give
him a drink of the elixir- it wasn't exactly as good as soda,
but it resembled tonic water and tasted about as much. As
Cloud ate and drank, Zack blinked away sleepsand. He hadn't
slept much since they'd left...
No one had been left
in Nibelheim. The place was a ghost town, devoid of life, but
strangely, it had all been rebuilt...as though the fires of
hell had not surged over it that night. Zack had felt his head
swim at that- how long had they been kept down there? The
sunlight had hurt his eyes, and the air stung his nostrils,
but he'd never been happier to see a good 70-degree climate.
Zack had helped Cloud along, all the while worrying more and
more about his weakened friend- something had eaten at him
physically, sapped him of all his strength and then assaulted
him. Zack wished he could remember all that had happened- he
knew they'd been tortured, prodded and burned, shocked and
sheared, and even worse, but...he didn't remember how, or
when, or what he'd felt. There were only white flashes when he
tried to recollect...
They had walked on, long through
the day and well into the night. Zack strayed towards the
hills, away from the Nibel wolves that prowled the open land.
They'd camped near Corel first, and then gotten a ride the
next day to Costa Del Sol a few hours away. Under normal
circumstances, Zack would have gotten them a couple bikini
girl dates- these really awesome hotties named Yuna and Rafa
had been giving them the stiff one-eye- but he doubted Cloud
would have appreciated it, being half-awake and all. So Zack
had used about half of their gold to buy food and materials-
and about four Molotovs, as a nasty surprise for any would-be
pursuers- and they'd taken the independent ferry to a free
dock about sixty miles from Junon.
And then we ran
into this guy this morning, Zack noted, glancing over his
shoulder to old "Pops" in the driver's seat. "Pops" Vector, he
was called, an intermittent trucker who made very curious
deliveries to a place in Midgar. Judging by the box of speedos
in the trucker's side seat, Zack could only imagine what that
place was. Despite his poor mouth and latent nature, Vector
had allowed them to accompany him to Midgar. It was about
three in the afternoon, now, as opposed to the morning's
seven-thirty that they'd left. Zack imagined they were coming
up on Midgar right about now.
Cloud finished the last
of the salami, and Zack helped him down it with an elixir.
"So, what're you gonna do when we get to Midgar?" he asked,
kiddingly. He stood up and put his hands on his hips, glancing
around the rocky scenery as they proceeded down the path to
Midgar. Midgar...he felt in his pocket, fleetingly, and
smiled. Sure enough, the Lightning-materia badge of SOLDIER,
First Class, was in there. Aeris would be elated.
If she hasn't found someone else by now...it has
been a long time...
Zack crossed his arms,
shutting that thought aside for now. "Well, I got a place I
can crash for a little while- oh, wait...Elmyra. Ick, the
mother lives there, too...guess that's out..." He shook his
head. Elmyra was a good woman, but she really hated anybody
involved with SOLDIER. Just because of those brushes with the
Turks, anyone associated with Shinra in any way, be him patrol
guard or president, was about as welcome in her home as a
Marlboro on Haste.
"Yep, gotta change my plans," Zack
said, clicking his tongue. He was sure he could find Aeris at
the old church, if it was still standing. With her
resourcefulness, he doubted the Turks had gotten her yet- he
thought. Damn, I need to figure out if this is still the
year I think it is...
"Hmm...well, no matter what
I do, I'm gonna need some money, first, so let's see...what
pays?" He looked back at Cloud with a grin. "There's always
the dancing business, if you smell what I'm cookin'."
Cloud's head bobbed up and down blankly. Zack
scratched his head, thinking seriously for a moment.
"Well...hey! Wanna start a business? But...what could we do?
Think there's anything I'd be good at, Cloud my man?"
Cloud murmured under his breath, bobbing his head ad
nauseum. "Mmf...promise...come for you...in danger..."
Zack sighed. His friend still wasn't feeling better.
In desperation, he looked back to the old guy, Vector. "Hey,
pops! What do you think I'd be good at?"
"What're you
yappin' about? You're still young ain't ya?" Vector told him,
glancing in the rearview mirror. "Young folks should try
everything. You gotta pay your debts while you're young. Go
out and look for what you really want."
Zack looked
back to Cloud dubiously. "'Try everything'...that's easy for
him to say..." he repeated. Zack stretched his arms back and
yawned, suddenly realizing his muscles were terribly
unstretched. He tensed them and slowly eased down onto his
haunches, bringing his fists together in squat-thrusts. As he
warmed himself up, he considered what he was hearing a bit
more. Come for you in danger, pay your debts, try
everything, I'm young, Pops smells like grandpa's blade
cleanser, man, I want to see Aeris again...
"HEY!"
Zack whirled to Cloud, snapping out of his exercise.
He spread his arms wide and laughed as though the answer were
right in front of him the whole time. "Of course! I got a lot
of brains and skill that other guys don't! I'm young, I'm
strong, I'm pretty damn sexy, and I can fight. And I was
second in com...uh, second place in the swordsmanship
competition back in Gongaga. That settles it!"
Zack
glanced up to the darkening sky, grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm gonna become a mercenary! Yeah! Hey, thanks, pops, I
appreciate it."
Vector shook his head behind him,
breathing a very dramatic sigh. "Hey...didn't you even hear a
word I said?"
"Listen, I'm gonna become a mercenary
and that's that." Zack looked to Cloud and winked, sliding a
thumb under his suspender and snapping it. "Boring stuff,
dangerous stuff, anything for money. Ho-ho, with all the
anti-Shinra posters we've seen and the damsels in distress,
this business is gonna boom. I'm gonna be rich, buddy!"
Cloud bobbed his head again, his Mako eyes smiling a
little. Zack felt like playing with him a little more, so he
crossed his arms and leaned forward questioningly. "So, Cloud?
What are YOU gonna do? Maybe hook up at the Honey Bee Inn, eh?
Yeah, man!"
The smaller boy looked confused as his
head drooped. "U...uhhh..." he managed, his temples
practically pounding against his head. Zack smiled to him and
dropped to a knee beside him, clapping his shoulder with one
calloused hand. "Just kidding...I'd never leave you hanging
like that, my man. We're friends, right? Thick and thin, you
and me. We've tackled missions before, haven't we, and we've
always come out on top. We'll be great."
It was true,
that. In the brief time Zack had been in SOLDIER Second and
First, Cloud had accompanied him and Sephiroth on a few
missions to various spots. Even though Cloud had been crushed
when he hadn't made it into SOLDIER, he always came through
for Zack on whatever mission was needed of him. In fact, Zack
had decided to recommend Cloud for a repeat course in
SOLDIER's basic training when the fated Nibelheim job had come
up. Even if that was past, he knew Cloud was, indeed, SOLDIER
material.
He leaned his head over to Cloud's and
rocked his shouler a little. Cloud looked at him peculiarly
and blinked, but his head stopped bobbing. Zack grinned and
whispered into his ear, crystal-clear. "Mercenaries, Cloud.
That's what you an' me are gonna be. Understand, 'partner'?
I've heard of this group called AVALANCHE...supposedly
fighting to free the Planet or some stuff like that. Don't
know about any of that, but the pay's good and their base is
in the slums. We'll be checkin' them out."
A confused
smile made its way over Cloud's lips.
"Avalanche...mercenaries...?"
Zack laughed and ruffled
Cloud's hair. "Now you got it. Yep- Zack Ebony and Cloud
Strife, mercenaries for hire. Brawlers, diplomats,
swingers...anything for money. That's the life for us, Cloud."
Zack leaned back in the flatbed by Cloud and turned
his gaze up to the stars above them. The cool afternoon air
whipped against their faces, and Zack took great leisure in
breathing it. There was a hint of Mako in the air, but it was
fresh and promising, just like the future. Though the darkness
of Nibelheim lay creeping and unknown at their backs, and the
black skies of Midgar loomed on the horizon before them, Zack
knew their futures would converge to a very bright point.
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