Final Fantasy VII: Redemption Chapter 7
By Aujang Abadi
Yuffie couldn't believe it. The mere thought of Vincent not alive, not with her on this insane journey, was beyond frightening- it surpassed her very mindset. It could not happen, not here, and not like this. Numbly, Yuffie curled into a ball and rocked herself back and forth, telling herself it hadn't happened.
"No... no... Vincent is not dead. Everyone's dead, but not Vincent. Too many people died. Vincent can't die. He's not dead. He's not dead." She cradled her head between her knees and started crying.
A few minutes later, she wiped her face clean, and took a deep breath. She rose unsteadily, and looked to the Core.
"Whatever the hell is here is really going to regret it by the end of this day." She clutched her boomerang and stepped into the outer Core, where the failed experiments were.
Even in her hardened state, the sight of this area shocked her. What once contained capsules of degenerate beings was now a wretched scene of crushed glass and rotting carcasses. The shattered remnants of the restraints placed on the failed experiments were smoldering heaps of metal now, utterly destroyed by something very, very powerful. The same green glow shined from the walls, but now it was tainted red by the blood staining the corridor. Yuffie swallowed nervously, and forced herself to continue up the stairs. Near the top, there were three intact capsules. She stopped by them, and looked in.
"Empty? Huh?" She wiped dust off of the glass and read the individual inscriptions.
The first was the oldest of the three, and had very clearly printed on it: Project V. Accelerated JENOVA reactions, incompatible DNA strands cause frequent mutations. Highly unstable. Mako fusion incomplete, therefore unsuccessful. Subject escaped, terminate with extreme prejudice. "Project V? Who could that be?" She searched the capsule a bit more, and a small glint caught her eyes. On each of the hatch handles were a set of dogtags. She lifted the first. Vincent Valentine.
Yuffie gasped. She looked around, to all of the destroyed test subjects, all of the failed experiments. Had they all been manipulated, tortured, to lead to these three successful capsules? She moved on to the next one, noticeably newer. Project S. Complete JENOVA acceptance, DNA mutation to allow new genetic material. Mako fusions complete, Project S was largely successful. Incredible advancements in physical and mental capability as result. Note: psychological discrepancy in third injection. Observe carefully for possible instability. Below the inscription were the dogtags. Sephiroth Valentine.
"Sephiroth and Vincent... who could be the third?" She moved on to the final capsule, and looked for an inscription. Instead, there was a file folder, with at least three to four pages detailing the final experiment.
"Project C... a unique case." She read it with a raised brow. Unlike the other abstracts, this file was complete and very comprehensive.
Project C was acquired from Nibelheim reactor, after Project S's psychic deterioration. After further study of the subject, it was agreed that the killer of Project S had potential for JENOVA acceleration. A picture of Sephiroth, dead, was clipped on the first page. Yuffie scratched her head.
"Wait a second... we killed Sephiroth, not this Project C. What's going on?"
Project S's remains showed a large discharge of energy. We fear that somehow, JENOVA preserved S's psychological profile. However, since no evidence can be brought forth to affirm this yet, we left S for dead and turned our attentions to C.
The first injections of Mako showed little to no effect, which was highly abnormal. Whoever C is, he is showing a startling immunity to the effects of Mako thus far. After extensive scanning of his DNA, we found that the Mako had attached itself easily. Could his body have accepted the Mako without the initial resistance?
After the first Mako injection, we continued on and began the JENOVA insertion. Project C's readings were unlike anything we'd ever seen. His body merged with the JENOVA in a matter of seconds, and nearly every cellular function in his body accelerated to quadruple normal rate.(See Experiment Notes 6041-SSC for the complete laboratory procedure.) Its almost as if he was born for this! Professor Hojo was ecstatic.
The second Mako injection brought similarly amazing results. His body wasn't just adapting, its actually changing the injections as needed to suit itself! C will be a veritable god at this rate. Attached are the pictures of his DNA patterns. The third helix is the result of JENOVA. His body has creaed what it needs to use the alien substances. He truly is merging! We have dubbed him The Unifying Factor. We believe that he isn't completely human, but some descendant of a race even more ancient than the Cetra. Project C may be a genetic weapon.
"God help us... there was something more powerful than Sephiroth?!" Yuffie flipped to the next page. Now there was a picture of an open capsule.
Project C was found missing today. Hojo was absolutely furious, and had the guards executed on sight. This is an extremely dangerous situation. Project C was never given the third Mako and second JENOVA supplements. He is missing the necessary stability to adequately control his powers. C is extremely unstable now, and is at JENOVA's mercy. The disappearance of S's corpse confirms that JENOVA is planning to use S's superior control of its own injections to control the infant stage that C is in. If C is found, ELIMINATE IMMEDIATELY. PROJECT C MUST BE DESTROYED.
Yuffie closed the folder and snatched the dogtags. Frantically, she turned them over and read the name of Project C. Cloud Strife.
"Oh God. Oh my God." Yuffie covered her mouth with her hand. "Cloud... Sephiroth... he killed Sephiroth... JENOVA revived him... oh my God, Cloud is the Unifying Factor!" She fell back, looking towards the door that led to the inner Core. "Did Cloud... do this?"
She stood before the door, and pushed it open, wondering if the answer truly lied ahead.
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