1. [Accidental Voice]

[mind-metastasis.livejournal.com]

[He remembers climbing stairs, counting them out of habit - a trick of training observational skills taught in elementary anatomy over four decades ago. Fifty five and not even halfway up. So many steps for such a tired old man. So many lights, blurred by the Midgar rain with its tinge of green bringing the smell of acid and regret.

Sephiroth - the singular thought. Hojo's own life and that of the Silver General's, cumulating to this spectacular moment. Sephiroth - the only true success, he who exceeded all of Hojo's grandest predictions and is about to do so again.

A vial of glowing green and several capsules rest in a metal case within Hojo's inner pocket - the promises of his last surrender. The sound of his heartbeat is as loud as that of rain striking metal at his feet. Hojo is happy. About to give up everything to see Sephiroth rise and cast off the last chains which bind him to humanity, the professor finds himself truly happy, for the first time in years.

Until the flash goes off in his peripheral vision, and he stumbles.

And wakes up in another place of lights, without the rain.]

What-

What is this? [There is a slight note of panic in his voice, the sound of shuffling as he takes a few tentative steps. The next jumble of words come out in the low, urgent tone of one who is accustomed to speaking to himself.]

Hallucinatory side-effects of the J-cell treatment? But- the calculated induction dose should be too low to penetrate into the central nervous system. The rate of infection is slow, initially slow- It is the next dose which contains the lipophilic mutagen-

[A few choppy breaths, then a growl of frustration:] Sephiroth!

Comments

[ audio ] <3!

[mind-metastasis.livejournal.com]

You have been caged. By whom? Did you go willingly, Red Thirteen? Did you miss captivity and docility?

Give me details, boy. Where are you? What is happening?

[His voice is that of the lion tamer, but slightly cracked from disuse. Perhaps it will not be effective now with its slight tremour; perhaps it had never been effective on this one. But there is no harm in trying.]

[ audio ]

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

And why should I tell you, Hojo? So you can attempt to one-up another scientist?

We are on Gaia. As for what is happening... that, I doubt many can answer. But here, the dead are alive and time flows strangely. You have proven that much yourself.

[ He hears the tremor, but of interest to Hojo would be the shake in his own voice -- Dr. Cid's experiments have left him sick, likely from the combination of the nethicite the Archadian tried to bond with him and the Jenova cells Hojo injected him with so many years ago. ]

[ audio ]

[mind-metastasis.livejournal.com]

Are you injured, Red Thirteen? You don't sound well at all. I would hate to learn my precious specimen is being mistreated.

[The dead are alive, the creature says. Hojo suppresses a shudder. There would be time to pursue that train of thought later.

He makes a small disapproving tsk with tongue and hard palate.]

Whoever is tampering with you now obviously doesn't understand the intricacies of your physiology as I do. Why - just listen to the state of you! I can't attempt to do anything without proper resources, though, if you shared what information you have...

...perhaps I would be able to help you.

[ audio ]

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

Of course not; he's from a different world. I am still an endangered species, just even more of a curiosity now.

[ There's a note of bitterness in his voice. ]

You would have to know what he did, first, even if you truly did want to help, and I can't tell you that.

[ He quickly tries to steer the subject away; Hojo's offer is almost tempting, and that is really just a sign of how much damage the experiments did. ]

I'm warning you, Hojo. If you touch any of my friends, or any of the other good people here, I will make sure that you stay dead, different world or not.

[ audio ]

[mind-metastasis.livejournal.com]

[Hojo's mind whirls, extracting what he can from what he is given. They are in a different time, still on Gaia, where death means nothing and people come from different dimensions. Would this count as proof of the multiverse theory? His thoughts are scattered and random - there is too much potential here. Too many opportunities. He finds it hard to concentrate.

The professor's voice becomes more steely. Determined. Once he has a goal, everything else comes easily.]

Your friends, boy? You are trying to defend your friends in your current condition? So there is another scientist here, fiddling with my masterpiece, hmm? Are you saying you can't tell me what he did to you, or that you won't?

Because the latter is hardly beneficial for you, is it, Red Thirteen? It is in your nature to protect these friends of yours. But how can you, if you are so severely ill?

Let's try this again - share with me what information you have, and let me help you. Otherwise, may hell come upon these good people while you're uselessly wasting away!

[ audio ]

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

You would threaten the citizens of both this world, ruled over by people who will not tolerate your cruelty, and the Sky People like ourselves? Foolish, Hojo; utterly foolish.

[ He growls; he can only imagine the sort of things Hojo would do to Mjrn, or to Eiko, and he is not going to let that happen. ]

I am unsure of the specifics, if you must know, and what information I have would hardly be useful to you. You are the ignorant one here, Hojo; children know more than you.

[ audio ]

[mind-metastasis.livejournal.com]

[Foolish. Ignorance. Those words were no doubt specifically chosen to cut deep, and they do.]

Don't talk to me like that, you ungrateful overgrown mutt. I'm not threatening your precious peace, merely pointing out that you are hardly fit to protect it should a real threat arise.

But if you wish to be difficult, Thirteen, then we have no more to say to each other at present. Good day to you, and good health.

[ audio ]

[flameguardian.livejournal.com]

Then allow me to point out that there are many who will, should that threat be you or some other menace.

[ Cuts the connection. ]