The Good Life: Making Friends (ch. 99) (Patreon)

“What is this? How…?” Sephiroth questioned, hovering over me and Genesis with obvious concern that he didn't quite know how to express. The old professor allowed us a room to settle inside so I could inspect the wound that I’d inflicted upon the First Class SOLDIER. His shirt and jacket were removed, revealing the gray flesh and black spiderweb veins from the stone-like wound. He was pale and sweaty as he laid up on the bed that was offered, his breathing shallow and uneven because I was exasperating his symptoms. 

Genesis wasn't fine, but he was at step one of a long degradation. With me putting a thumb on the scales, he seemed like he was closer to step fifteen out of twenty. All of it to maintain the other SOLDIERs sense of urgency. 

“It's a form of Mako poisoning,” I lied, taking out a syringe that was filled with saline and injecting it into Genesis’ unconscious form. Forcing Hojo to shuffle his papers around had been rather informative. Far more so than I’d anticipated. “SOLDIERs, like you, have a natural resistance to Mako energy as well as an ability to absorb it. It's why genetic testing is so important during the SOLDIER recruitment process. Genesis… his body has burned through his natural resistance and the Mako energy in his body is cannibalizing it as fuel.” 

All lies, of course. But lies rooted in facts. Nothing to contradict what he might have heard over the years in Shinra.

When I stood before the Board, I had been three fourths right in my guesstimating in how and why the degeneration happened. However, I had been missing a crucial piece that I wasn't expected to know -- Jenova. The weird alien woman that Shinra mistook as a Cetra, like Aerith was. A person with a natural connection to the Planet and the Lifestream. 

I didn't really know that much about her, only that Sephiroth called her mother and had a whole mental breakdown about it. That, and I knew that the first version of SOLDIER used her cells to stabilize the Mako in their systems. Something that made Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis head and shoulders stronger than any of the other SOLDIERs. 

Sephiroth wasn't feeling that degeneration. But Angeal was, even if he didn't yet realize it. 

“What can be done?” Angeal questioned from near the door, a tightness in his voice that told me he wasn't as ignorant of the change within himself as I had believed. “Can you help him?” 

“Here? No, I can't,” I replied, taking out another syringe and jabbing Genesis with it to draw off colored blood. It was still red, just the wrong shade. Sephiroth's gaze sharpened, his jaw clenching and he went unnaturally still. Like he was about to try and fight the disease that Genesis was afflicted with. 

“That implies something can be done," Angeal noted, stepping forward and placing a reassuring hand on Sephiroth's shoulder. The man was still a coiled spring, but he let out a small breath and unclenched his hands. 

“I have my suspicions as to why Hojo retains control over your medical files,” I said, planting a few seeds into well fertilized soil. I didn't even need more than that as they all had well established reasons to dislike and distrust Hojo. “It's part of the reason why I requested you three. I didn't expect this, though. I knew Hojo was keeping secrets, but this…” I trailed off, swallowing a smile. 

“Can you help him?” Sephiroth questioned, a desperation in his voice he didn't know how to hide and I nearly cackled. 

“It'll require a detour,” I warned. “An unsanctioned one at that,” I added, glancing over to see their expressions. I didn't even need to tweak any emotions to prop up their resolve. Both of them nodded instantly, and I suppose there were few bonds that ran deeper than the bond between brothers. I was almost jealous. 

Seeing their expressions, I let out a theatrical sigh, “I know where Hojo keeps his original notes on the SOLDIER program. I can't promise any results, but if he can be helped, then I'll need those notes. And it has to be a secret, because if Hojo suspects that we’re snooping…” I trailed off, letting them fill in the blanks. 

“Won't this be a risk for you?” Sephiroth questioned, frowning in concern. “You're taking a significant risk for us. Shinra… they will be angry with us, but they need us.” The ‘you, not so much’ went unsaid. 

“Eh, what's life without a little risk? And the reward will be well worth it, I think. If I make a cure for this, then that pay raise is mine!” I said, giving a grin and a thumbs up. Sephiroth's brow furrowed for a moment before a soft smile tugged at his lips. 

Few things created loyalty like feelings of debt and gratitude. And there were fewer foundations of loyalty that were more solid than a secret shared and a risk taken together. 

Sephiroth and Angeal -- they were toy soldiers. Warriors who knew nothing outside of the battlefield. They had no connection except for their fellow SOLDIERs. This whole little trip was about laying the bedrock of that kind of loyalty. Cultivating it, so that when the time came… 

They wouldn’t be Shinra's attack dogs. 

They would be mine. 

“Thank you,” Sephiroth said, bowing his head. “Even if you can't help him… then thank you for trying.” And it said all that needed to be said that that was all he needed to be convinced. 

No hesitation. No ‘we should go to Hojo.’ No ‘Shinra will help us.’ Because, in the end, they weren't really loyal to Shinra. They were obedient, and would kill for Shinra without a second thought. But that obedience was rooted in ignorance, and the moment someone offered something better? That leash might not survive their tugging. 

It was a long con. One that would last years… 

But I had nothing but time.

…

Nibelheim was a quaint little village that was way out of the way from literally everything. A true backwater that people in the boonies considered the boonies. The only notable thing about it, as far as anyone was concerned, was the Mako reactor that the village was built around. Which most of the villagers worked at. 

The Huge Materia was sent back to Shinra while I kept my Bahamut Summon Materia, and the four of us continued on our trip. As far as Shinra was aware, we were on our way to the Ancient Forest to find another Huge Materia, but in reality… we drove the armored car to the coast, chartered a ship, crossed the sea and landed on the other continent that was more of large island in the same vein of Australia. 

From there, we made our way up to Nibelheim. The entire thing took all of a week since this planet was very much on the small side, during which I had been improving and worsening Genesis’ condition. Sometimes he was almost as good as new, other times he was worse than when he collapsed. Those swings became more frequent and drastic with every day that passed, leaving the other two feeling the stress. Conversations were short, clipped, and they carried themselves with a tense frustration that screamed that they wanted to help, but they didn't have the ability. 

“This is where Dr. Hojo created SOLDIER?” Angeal asked, his gaze flickering across the village. And it very much was a village. A good two dozen buildings, a population of less than two hundred, and it was small enough that you could see all of it from the main road. Between that, and the mountainous terrain and the rather poor monster infested roads, it was a bit of a tough find. 

It was also why the villagers that came out to stare at us weren't just staring because of the SOLDIERs. I got the very distinct impression that they didn't receive much in the way of guests. 

“It not looking like much is the point. It being isolated, out of the way, and difficult to find on a map is exactly why this is the best place to run those kinds of experiments,” I pointed out as the two carried Genesis on a stretcher behind me. The car that we tried to drive up with had to be left behind as the roads got too narrow. As we entered, a well dressed if portly man rushed out of a building, possessing a nervous energy with a smile that was too forced. 

“Greetings! Welcome to Nibelheim! I am the mayor, Brian Lockhart!” He greeted us, his gaze flickering between Sephiroth and Angeal. “We are honored to have such heroes stay with us! Is there anything that we can provide? A hot meal? A place to sleep or-” he caught himself as he just now noticed the stretcher and who was on it. His smile immediately dropped and he looked concerned, “Medical attention?” 

“We require a guide to the Mako reactor,” I informed, making his gaze snap to me. “As fast as possible,” I added, earning a shaky nod from the man. 

“Our best guide would be my daughter- Tifa! Tifa, get out here!” He shouted into the village full of people who were watching with interest, or pretending that they weren't listening. As soon as he called out, a door opened and out came one of the most iconic characters of the Final Fantasy franchise -- Tifa Lockhart. A woman that was so iconic that the porn of her kept a twenty year old game in semi-relevance to the point that it would eventually get a remake. 

She was young. Around twelve or thirteen. Long black hair, reddish brown eyes, wearing blouse and hiking boots. A far cry from the busty battle babe she was destined to become. The sight was a little disappointing, but I’d expected it given where we landed in the timeline. “I can help!” She said, lighting up at the idea. “I know the fastest ways there!” 

I feel like I should question why exactly a thirteen year old girl was the best path guide, but I chalked it up to protagonist energy. “Thanks. We'll be in your hands, Ms. Lockhart,” I said, offering a hand for her to shake. She smiled wildly at being treated like an adult. 

“You'll be safe in ‘em!” She said with traces of an accent. “Your friend isn't looking too well… we'd better get a move on!” She said, and I nodded, looking to her father. He seemed to be uncertain, wanting to say something but didn't quite knkw how to say it. 

So, I played the part of the kind hearted doctor and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, “There isn't a place safer than with three SOLDIERs. She'll be fine.” He seemed to cling to that and I glanced at Sephiroth. “Right?” 

Sephiroth looked like a deer caught in headlights for a split second before he offered a curt nod, “Yes. Of course.” 

“Thank you. And I hope you can help your friend,” Brian said, taking a step back and letting us through. The villagers eyes were on us as we moved through the village. Within my Room, I inspected each one, idly curious if I had arrived in time to meet the main character himself: Cloud Strife. 

No such luck there, it would seem. Pretty sure that I found his mom though, which was something I could play around with, but no sign of Cloud himself. Meaning that I had just missed him, probably. He hadn't turned up on any recruitment list by the time that we left, so he was probably on his way to Midgar. A little disappointing, but probably for the best. 

The walk to the reactor was a bit dull -- Tifa had little interest in a doctor, instead bombarding Sephiroth and Angeal with questions about their adventures. It gave me plenty of time to think as the reactor loomed in the distance. 

For the first time, I knew what I was getting into when it came to a world. A ‘setting’, I suppose. I knew the characters, the plot line, and the ending. I didn't know all of the details, or even most of them, but I knew enough. So, for the first time, I was confronted with a question -- ‘what to do about canon?’

I knew my goals for this world. The canon ending was absolutely going right out the window. No way was I going to let Shinra go under and the ‘good guys’ win. 

However, I was about nine years before canon started at this point. That was a lot of time to completely throw things off the rails… or to let certain things flow as normal. My knee jerk reaction was to do the former, as it was far more my style -- the only thing holding me back on that point was one thing. The eternal killjoy, Asami. 

I still didn't know how closely she was able to view this world when she was looking for places to dump Yoruichi, so I was leery of going completely off the rails because that could tip her off to my presence. That being said, I also didn't believe she had a hyper fine detailed timeline of events, or my presence would have already been, exposed, and I'd be getting jumped right about now. So, my assumption was she had a degree of viewership, similar to what I had. Perhaps a bit better, but roughly the same kind of satellite view. 

Meaning there was a needle I could thread. All the more so because this reality differed from the games, as seen with Huge Materia. 

So, as long as I hit enough milestones… it didn't matter too much if some details didn't match up. 

“Um… this way is to the manor. We're not supposed to go that way…” Tifa voiced, sounding a bit uncertain. 

“It's best if you stay close. We can escort you back once our friend is better,’ Sephiroth instructed and Tifa nodded with some hesitation. Then he looked at me, “This is the right place, correct?” 

I looked at the Manor that had seen better days, doing a very quick skim of things and shuffling a few books around as I noted the guests staying in the manor. “It's our best shot,” I replied, walking up to the front door. 

The doors screamed in protest as I opened it, revealing a dusty and poorly maintained forayer. There was a thick layer of dust on everything and cobwebs in every corner -- by appearances, we were the first to come through the front door in a very long time. “Set him down in the lobby. Sephiroth, you should stay on this floor with Tifa. Angeal, start from the top floor -- look for any text that relates to Mako or is signed by Dr. Hojo. He signs all of his notes in the bottom left corner.” 

“And you?” Angeal questioned as I waved over my shoulder, delving into the manor. 

“I'm going to go snooping in the basement,” I admitted, heading towards it. They didn't call out after me, simply doing as I instructed and tearing into every available book on their respective searching areas. They wouldn’t find anything. I made sure of that. 

It was a pretty basic precaution, honestly. Especially when this place entered my range and I read the notes of a ‘Professor Gast’ related to the Jenova Project… and sheesh. No wonder Sephiroth went batshit insane. All that reading material was shuffled down into the basement and the occasional book shifted around to fill an empty space. 

I wasn't sure when it was meant to happen, but Sephiroth was meant to destroy the town in a psychotic break. Zack and Cloud were meant to confront him and he gets tossed into a Mako reactor. I'm not sure if he died or not, but I do know that he comes back to stab Aerith and be the big bad evil guy. That Sephiroth, I'm not sure I could work with. I already had a murderous psychopath with a god complex as a friend, having another seemed like a pain. 

However, it was that murderous rampage that set several important events into motions -- it led to the capture of Cloud and Zack, who would be experimented on by Hojo, and their escape. During which, I'm pretty sure Zack died. Additionally, it sent Tifa off to Midgar where she would then eventually take over the Seventh Heaven and join AVALANCHE, the eco-terrorist organization that didn't yet exist. 

Meaning it was a canon event. 

However, it didn’t need to be Sephiroth that slaughtered the helpless villagers. If Cloud was registering to become a SOLDIER, I could press my thumb on that scale to make sure he made the cut. Or not. I could make sure that he was here, as was Zack, when the village went to hell. Because, just as I could create loyalty…

Well, a psychotic break wouldn't be that difficult. 

But, to do all of that… I needed a helping hand. 

I descended into the basement and passed through the secret passage that connected the reactor to the manor, walking right by the coffin that contained Vincent Vallentine. He, I didn’t know a lot about beyond the fact he liked the color red, his name exuded some real protagonist energy, and there was some funkiness going on with his DNA. He felt like a SOLDIER, but different. Something to explore later. For now, I wanted to have a conversation with someone else. 

Following along the secret path, I walked about a mile towards the reactor. After pushing open another secret door, I stepped into a laboratory. And it was there I found them. 

“She is beautiful, isn't she?” Hojo asked me, standing before the contained Jenova. Her skin was pale and faintly blue, her hair stark white while beneath a headset, a blood red eye peaked out. The scientist didn't seem at all surprised at my arrival, looking at me through the reflection of Jenova's container. “I was a much younger man when she was first discovered. I spent my life trying to harness her potential… but all these decades later, I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface.” 

I approached, closing the hidden door behind me. Jenova herself felt like she was in a sleeping state -- not quite asleep but not quite awake either. On the edge. And reaching out to both Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis. Brainwaves that she was able to broadcast and they would receive them through the cells in their bodies. I made sure whatever she was trying to say to them got lost along the way. 

“Time, huh?” I mused, walking up the steps. Hojo turned around, dramatically revealing the gun in his hand. I smiled, unbothered, “Oh, there's no need for that, Dr. Hojo. I'm not here to sabotage your experiment or steal this lovely lady from you. Quite the opposite, actually.” 

“I find that difficult to believe,” Hojo admitted to me, raising his gun. Then, with little hesitation, he pulled the trigger. In a millisecond, the bullet arrived into my waiting palm as I snatched it from the air. I made sure that the sound and smell didn't travel, simply chuckling as I flicked the bullet back at him hard enough that his gun was flung from his grip. 

There was no shock to be found on his face. No fear. Just fascination. “Interesting. You are clearly enhanced, yet you cannot be one of mine. No Mako glow in your eyes. What are you?” 

“An outsider,” I replied, taking the final step up the platform. “In a similar vein as our dear Jenova here.” 

“An alien?” Hojo questioned with a tilt of his head and a squint of his eyes. “No. Too humanoid. You are something else, yes?” 

“That I am,” I agreed, walking past the man and meeting Jenova's unresponsive gaze. This close, I could see the unnaturalness of her. How her skin wasn't quite skin or her hair not quite hair -- she was something inhuman trying to pass herself off as one. “The specifics can wait for another time, but I'm aware of your goals. We'll, some of them. Sephiroth in particular.” 

Hojo smiled, “Ah. My masterpiece. He holds such potential. I was quite worried when you brought him here -- it is too early for him to learn this. Something you missed in your presentation to the President -- it is the Jenova Cells that cause the degeneration. The weaker in personality the SOLDIER is, the less resistance they can offer against the call of their mother. Sephiroth will not fall to her yet. His support network must be destroyed first.” 

This was exactly why I wanted Hojo on my side. 

The guy was a mad scientist in its purest form -- he just did things for the pure love of the game, completely unbothered by ethics or morals. 

“And once he falls to her, she will consume the Lifestream,” I said, looking away from Jenova and back to Hojo. “And Sephiroth will become the ‘ultimate being.’” I even gave the air quotes. Hojo's reaction was immediate -- clenching his jaw, a flare of anger, but before he could deliver a retort, I continued. “I don't disapprove. With the information that you had available, it's the best that you could do. Your limitation was ignorance, not lacking ambition.” 

“What exactly is this ignorance that I should diminish?” Hojo asked, sounding more interested than offended. 

“This planet is small. It has… what? A few hundred million people? Perhaps a billion, if we are being generous?” I asked and there it was. A spark of interest in his eyes. “There are others out there with tens of billions. If not hundreds. Avenues of science that you haven't even dreamed could exist. You spoke of time? Decades? I could make you live for centuries.” 

Hojo licked his lips, undeniably tempted. Yet, he maintained his composure, “And why would you offer me this?” 

“Because, I have plans for this world and you play a part in them,” I admitted freely. “With what you have, you've done excellently and I've decided you are worth recruiting into my research and development division. You think you have infinite resources at Shinra, but… well, not all infinities are equal.” 

Hojo smiled lightly, pleased with the acknowledgment, “And Shinra?” 

“Oh, it's already mine. I've had a number of synthetic people created to replace personnel in key divisions,” I confessed and his eyes widened. Not with shock. Not with horror. But with fascination at the idea of a synthetic person. “I rather like the company, truth be told. I'd rather take it intact.” 

Hojo nodded, thinking it all over for just a few seconds. “You clearly have designs of your own. An expansion of my experiment, perhaps?” 

“To a degree,” I said, giving him a nod and a thin smile. “The Lifestream.” 

Ahh, the Lifestream. The centerpiece to my plans for this world. 

“When the dead die, their souls return to it. As things are, Shinra will run out of dead souls to power its cities with in ten years,” I started, and Hojo gave no reaction. The guy cared as little as I did. “Once the tap starts to run dry, the Planet's immune system will start acting up. WEAPONS of various types will attempt to destroy the cause of the destruction before things hit a point of no return. In this case most of humanity will be exterminated, but neither of us really care about that.” Hojo offered a small agreeing shrug to confirm it -- he didn't care in the slightest. 

Those Weapons were basically kaiju monsters. I didn't remember them from the games, but I learned a bit about them while I was here. Each one would possess a Huge Materia, which I could then harvest. But that was icing on the cake, frankly. 

“When these Weapons fail,” I continued, “The Lifestream will be at my mercy. Too weak to resist and desperate for survival. It is then that I will offer it a choice. To expand to the worlds I have already conquered and accept their dead into itself.” So I could power my network of Dias across my empire. I could use nuclear energy, honestly. I had plenty of fission based tech.

But, if I was being completely honest, I had a level of bias. Powering my network with the souls of the dead was just… oh, it was just too good to pass up. Perfect for my evil empire- I mean, it was a total vibe! Asami was going to be horrified. The fact that souls were an effective source of power for the Dias was just a justification, if I was being completely honest. I wanted Mako mostly for the soul harvesting stuff. 

“To what end?” Hojo questioned, absolutely enraptured by the idea. 

“Exactly. To what end?” I said, offering him a hand to shake. 

He looked down at it for just a moment before he clasped it in a firm shake, “We will need the Cetra to communicate with the Planet.” He noted, tilting his head ever so slightly when my smile widened. 

“I already know where she is,” I said, knowing that I had him. The man was as amoral as they came. So long as I gave him what he wanted and he felt like he wouldn’t get any better offers, he was as loyal as one could get.

But, with that, the deal was made. Now, all I needed to do was whip up a ‘cure’ for Genesis, and the ball would officially start rolling downhill.