Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hateful Transformation ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Hateful Transformation

Chapter Five

Disclaimer: -Doesn't own FFVII stuff-

The next morning, Cloud woke up early, unable to be able to sleep because of worry from the following day's activities.

He had to make sure he would be able to make himself `acceptable'……………. in front of Hojo…………. And the others. Especially Shinra…………….. Cloud was pretty sure President Shinra had known Sephiroth from the time he had been born too……………..

……………..Would he be able to do this? After all, Zax had noticed something was wrong with him immediately. Even if he had seen Cloud's `trauma' act that morning………….. Zax had only known Sephiroth for, at most, three or four years. And now he was going to have to deal with people whom had known him since the very beginning…………… Would he be able to pull it off…………..?

~~

A few hours later, after many happenings that frustrated him greatly, Cloud managed to get what he wanted………… to look professional. Pleased at himself, he grinned widely, surprised that he had managed to actually -look- like Sephiroth……………… his own styles were much different. His, by far, were more casual. Combined with his blonde spiky hair, there was no way someone could say he was uptight before they spoke to him.

But Sephiroth……………. He was different. People always expected him to look perfect, and being the best SOLDIER there was, all the people of Shinra expected him to also. While the other high personal Shinra employees could go around looking like a pig, with food slopped over their clothes………….. Sephiroth had to look perfect, clothes without a single wrinkle, every strand of platinum hair in place.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the door. Cloud turned, and stared blankly at it for a moment, then shrugged and went to open it.

"Ha ha ha………… Hello Sephiroth."

"Hojo."

"-Professor- Hojo, Sephiroth."

Cloud fought the urge to scowl, and fought even harder against punching the pathetic excuse for a man in front of him. "What are you doing here?" He asked rationally, voice level, emotions hidden.

"To check on you, of course. I can't let my first-and best-specimen go around without restriction, after all." Hojo, without warning, suddenly snatched Cloud's right hand, and stared at the glove. "Still hiding the tattoo I gave you, eh? Are you ashamed of it? Ha ha………… Why be ashamed?" He dropped Cloud's hand, and Cloud let it lazily fall by his side, glaring at the scientist. Hojo chuckled as he saw this expression. "You've always hated me, haven't you? Before…………….. You always tried to go to Gast. I must say, it is much more pleasant now at Shinra Labs …………… without him."

Sephiroth's childhood memory flashed through Cloud's mind, as well as the videos he had seen at Icicle Inn, of Gast and Ifalna, Aeris's mother, causing Cloud's glare to become far more intense, as he began to whisper, "Don't…………You dare speak ill of him. He was far a better scientist than you shall ever be."

Hojo's eyes narrowed dangerously, his navy eyes staring spitefully behind his thick glasses into Cloud's turquoise ones, "I have always been a better scientist than he was," He said coldly, "I have -always- been better. Ever since I began my career as a scientist……………..Wait, why am I having this conversation with my -own- specimen? That's rather idiotic of me………." He shook his head, laughing slightly, causing his shoulders to shake. "Well, Sephiroth, I believe it is time to head to the meeting……………"

~~

Cloud followed Hojo to Shinra Headquarters, his head down, eyes downcast, the entire time, not saying a word. Hojo spoke the entire time, telling him of his future experimentations, but Cloud barely listened to any of it, far too lost in his thoughts.

"Sephiroth!" Hojo yelled, causing Cloud to automatically come to attention. "Let's……….. Play a `game'…………..I………. Want you to go up the stairs………….. And beat me before I get there on the elevator."

"He wants me…………. To beat him using the stairs………….?" Cloud thought disbelievingly. "Well……… whatever," He mumbled, and shrugged, adding a quick "Yes Sir!" shortly afterward.

"Good, good……….. Now………… Go." Hojo ordered, and calmly began to walk through the double doors, as Cloud ran to the left and began to descend up the many stairs.

Fortunately for Cloud, this time going up the many stairs wasn't nearly as hard as the first time had been, way back when Tifa, Barret, and himself had gone to Shinra Headquarters to rescue Aeris.

At least there were some advantages being………………… him.

~~

Cloud barely beat Hojo, missing him by only a few seconds. Hojo showed no reaction to seeing him there first when he finally did walk into the meeting room, not even a glance his way. All he did was find a chair at the gigantic table, and sat down.

Everyone was present, it seemed, as all the chairs were filled, and Shinra had stood up to begin his daily announcements, about the stock market, the Mako intake, and so on. Cloud only halfway listened to it, waiting patiently for the big announcement about him to come.

"Oh yes," President Shinra said loudly, voice ringing over the silent group. "About your mission, Sephiroth. This mission is rather important, and much be completed as soon as possible. We were planning on transporting you to your destination tomorrow…………."

"And where shall I be going, President?" Cloud asked coolly, feigning ignorance.

"To a small mountain town…………… Nibelheim. The first Mako reactor ever made is located there." Shinra explained, and nodded at Hojo. "You continue, Alius."

Hojo stood up from his chair slowly, his arms going behind his back almost immediately. "This mission was assigned by me. Anyway………… the reason that you're going is simple…………..Recently, there have been several reports from the townspeople about dangerous creatures randomly spawning near the reactor, and we need to find the problem for this…………….. And neutralize it. On this mission, you may take one first class SOLDIER, and two guards, of your choice. And, as President Shinra has already mentioned, you shall be leaving tomorrow. Any questions?"

Cloud shook his head slowly, and Hojo sank back into his chair without saying another word. Shinra began to drone once more on that week's activities, and all the employees began to chat amongst each other in low tones, hoping the President wouldn't notice.

~~

A few long, dull hours past, and finally Shinra declared the meeting to be officially over. Nearly everyone walked out in twos, continuing their talk with the person they had been sitting beside. Only four people were leaving alone. Out of these four, there was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old Rufus, wearing his ordinary white, strawberry red hair slightly wind blown. The others Cloud knew by sight, but did not know their names. "Reeve," President Shinra suddenly called, and a dark haired man, one whom had been alone, looked up to his boss. "So that's Reeve…………" Cloud silently said to himself, and then opened the double doors leading to the hallway. He headed for the staircase when he noticed the two elevators were packed. This time, however, he went down slowly, having nothing to do anyway.

"Who will I take……………..?" He lazily thought, and then a small grin came across his face.

He -was- a general now.

Could he make his own past's dreams come true?

Why -wouldn't- he be able to? Sure; it would be completely random, and Zax would probably fall to the floor laughing about it, but seriously………………

Who would -care-?

Where would he be now…………..?

The barracks maybe………… yeah, he would try there first. It was only a short walk away from the main Shinra building. It wouldn't take him any longer than ten minutes, tops.

~~

A little while later, Cloud was standing in front of the humongous wooden doors that opened up into the Guard building. He gradually turned the handle, and pushed one of the doors open.

A small group of guards were standing in front of the door when he opened it, playing a game of cards. They were all having a conversation of sorts, but they all fell silent when they saw him standing at the door. Every member of the group's mouths dropped open in unison, and a few even saluted him.

"General Sephiroth sir!" One said; stepping forward. "May we help you?"

"Will you tell me where a young master Strife would be please?" Cloud said seriously, feeling odd asking about himself.

"Strife'll probably be in his room at this time General……………" The guard answered. "It's at the very back…………. Room six hundred ten, I think."

Cloud nodded stiffly, then started to walk straight, down the hundreds of hallways.

"Six-ten, six-ten…………….." He mentally reminded himself, reading the room numbers. He went through the one hundred hallway, and turned left to go the two hundred hallway. He mindlessly strolled down these hallways, until he came across the six hundredth hallway. "Six hundred one………. Two………… three……..four………….. five…………… six……….. seven…………… eight…………… nine……… ten! Finally!" He muttered to himself. He knocked at the door, and waited for a moment. A pale, short and apparently bored brown haired boy opened it. The uninterested expression disappeared as soon as he saw who it was, however.

"Sep…………. Sephiroth?!" The boy said disbelievingly, eyes as large as saucers. "You're…………. Sephiroth, right? Sir, I mean, General, erm………….. I mean………………."

Cloud rolled his eyes, and interrupted him. "Does Strife preside here?" He abruptly asked.

"Ye…….Yes Sir, he does. Do you wish to see him Sir? I'll get him now, sir." The boy stuttered, and ran back into the room, slamming the door in his face, leaving Cloud standing there alone. He heard four different voices inside, all muffled ……….. The brown haired boy, two he recognized from his memory from that time, and……………… himself.

The door opened again, and the boy from before was standing there, as well as the younger version of himself, age sixteen clothed in the blue Shinra guard uniform…………….. A uniform he had despised greatly.

"Private Strife?" He asked, trying to be as formal and business like as possible.

The young Cloud nodded, and said shrilly, "Yes Sir, I'm……………. Cloud Strife." He began to look at the ground, worried shimmer in his blue eyes, which at the time…………. Had been normal eyes.

"Don't worry, you're not in any sort of trouble, Strife. In fact…………. I believe you'll like this bit of news I have for you." He said, and smiled weakly.

Young Cloud looked up at him, eyes widening, a small grin appearing on his face too.

"Congratulations, Strife. You're no longer a Guard……………. You're going to be first class, starting today."

~~