#TO: || Aileth (Final Fantasy VII)

[nanakithewarrior]

💧

It was difficult to make out anything in the foul weather aside from the next step... And a lump of red.

The growing headache not stopping her from the unexpected detour towards it; something felt... distant? lost? familiar?

"...k... ki?..."

Alone in the Rain || Always Accepting~

The rain was so loud in his ears... so heavy on his back. It clung to his coat, too soaked wet to retain any of its natural insulation ability, and sank straight through his skin all the way to the bones. That's what it felt like, anyway.

Shrinking against the side of that abandoned truck he'd found, Nanaki sat pathetically, waiting for the weather to get any better... at least enough for him to make out a shelter anywhere. Who knew the world here could be so different from the one he'd known before his capture, a year prior?

Here there were people everywhere... and walls of concrete, and roads and buildings barring the path. And everywhere, ShinRa's guards to be avoided lest he's captured again.

And what of this one? Was she friend or foe?

Instinctively, the beast recoiled, a low growl rising from the back of his throat while his only working eye struggled to discern the figure through soaked wet fur.

[roleplay-abiogenesis2]

There was no time for him to stop and ponder just on what level of the Creepy Scale he should rate Aileth's look in her eyes. Saruhiko let that sight sink in, shiver its way down his skin and then out of his mind again. This was time to work, and he had a job to do. He sternly refused to get another scolding from Veld, Tseng, or worst of all Reno. Failing here would mean going back to having just about any following task be under supervision again.

And that was bad for his personal business.

"This way!" He instructed her, hugging around a corner of the wall and making his way up a short staircase, all while trying to pay mind to the crowd running in the opposite direction. Somehow, he was still not getting bumped into. Whatever spell the girl had put on him still had some manner of effect, clearly.

He'd address that later. Coming around the corner, the two were finally met face to face with the threat that was sowing chaos all around.

A pair of large four-legged beasts lumbered its way down the entryway of the station. Sharp white claws scratched on the stone floor, clattering alongside the sound of deep grunts rising from their jaws. They stopped before them, and one of them rose onto its rear legs, shaking its white-maned head in an intimidation display. Fangs bared, they made no mystery of their aggressive nature.

"Well, that's the ugliest thing I've seen in a while." The Turk was alert, one foot forward and ready to bolt at the first sign of an attack. At the same time, his right hand flicked forward, a set of three knives springing out from inside his sleeve and quickly caught between his fingers with expertise.

Aim for the eyes first. It was his golden rule. Saruhiko didn't look away from his target, but spoke to his escortee still. He couldn't forget he had to look out for her too.

"You stay alive, yeah? Do what you can... whatever that is."

Hammering ring of alarm bells and their accompanying flashing lights suddenly erupted from the security system, adding to the cacophony. The stations emergency network only now activating, leaving the train disabled and people fleeing off the platform for the tunnels themselves.

Paying little mind to the scattering crowd, their individual strength not a threat- “wEaK” blood and gore replacing the swarming humans, “RePuLsIvE…”

A small twitch trying to shake off the painful hiss and violent impulses; her attention needed to be focused on the noise and potential danger ahead. Whatever conflict conditioning and biology was having wasn’t obvious in the experiments posture; ground rumbling with the approaching threat coinciding with her wince.

Draconic gaze snapped towards the unexpected contact, the growing static silenced; her glare sharp, hard, predatory…

Waiting.

A rare moment of sustained eye contact; touch almost always meant pain. Yet none followed, low mako glow flashing with confusion; heeding the order she let the barrier shrink, ultimately enveloping the Handlers person before following just off to his side, into the larger area.

Focused for now, the quiet inside was a strange feeling- stuffing down the same growing curiosity that sparked in containment. There would be time after to think, when there wasn’t a threat to the Handler. Despite the lack of expression, there was an unusual air of willingness with the experiment, for once allowing training and conditioning to take over. Relaxed, calm, the experiment followed close as ordered; at heel, a weapon to his off-hand.

[roleplay-abiogenesis2]

Send ♤ for our muses to be assigned as partners for a mission¿

First Interactions || Always Accepting!

Good grief, what a day this was promising to be. Saruhiko was certain that in his place, any other “fledging” Turk would have been only ecstatic to have a mission of the top security level assigned to them. It was a mark of appreciation and trust from the department, something that he knew would come in with higher pay and possible other benefits.

But to this one Turk, well.. it was an uncomfortable obligation at best.

“Good grief...” He muttered under his breath as he swiped the ID card into the panel adjacted the reinforced steel door. Normally he’d be more enthusiastic to be within the walls of the Science Department. Learning how everything worked in here would benefit his... ‘personal agenda’, but today he had no such luxury.

Escort Project H speciment to the assigned destination and cover up any traces of activity from the public. For how high profile as the order sounded, it was actually quite mundane. Couldn’t they just pack up this monster in a box and have it delivered by air like the rest? What was the deal with this one?

In the next room, a pale-haired girl was standing with her back turned to him. A worked at the labs, he initially assumed. And so with a dragged note to his voice that denoted a certain lazy demeanor, the young man in a suit asked:

“I’m here to pick up the subject. Where is it?”

[roleplay-abiogenesis2]

@projecth-aileth​ || Continued from here.

Things were changing around the Labs, not that it was something she understood the reason for, only that the atmosphere had been odd for a while.

To those that recognized, the slender figure bore a striking resemblance to both source material and a ‘misplaced asset’ under surveillance. Some conceited attempt to reproduce and improve on a previous project the triumph and failure of his life. However this one had been a source of irritating disappointment nearly from the start. Precious limited materials producing only four specimens. Of those, one survived, and had yet to even reach her predecessors records. Of course, that had nothing to do with being treated as less than a living thing.

Head slowly moving towards the sound of the heavy security door opening; pallid face tilting as she turned, sending silver hair spilling over both shoulders and back. Draconic eyes took in the stranger, their mako colour sparking at something new before suddenly darting to the floor. Any interest quickly, forgotten with the voice over the speakers.

“Good you’re here.” both flat and impatient, they didn’t wait for any response. “By accessing containment, clearance is authorized. Please note Handler safety is priority, however not guaranteed.” Brief and slightly hostile, the speaker abruptly cutting off with a sharp screech. Whatever happens wasn’t their issue anymore; the ones that would be responsible was the Turks now.

There hadn’t been any incidents of late, but the lab technicians still did what they could to avoid the experiment. Putting several measures and methods between her and them. White-coats, the researchers, butchers the ones that did everything, no matter what in hopes of even the tiniest amount of attention from the professor. Then there were the sadists that took great pleasure in dealing out torture, disguised under the name of science; each following directions from the head of the department- present or not.

Not wanting give this Handler an excuse for corrections so soon and drained from the days testing she stayed put as expected but kept eyes low studying the dark attire. It was… different… Being confined inside labs, the humans that frequently visited never wore anything that colour.

It was a good thing that none of those staff members were physically in the room with them. Or they might have noticed the way the young Turk’s face had drained its color in that instance.

And questioned it.

That would have been bad. But this wasn’t great either. Just as he’d started to get used to the notion that Sephiroth - the core of his own personal resolution to join ShinRa and take it down from the inside - had actually perished while on a mission in Nibelheim just some months ago, not by Saruhiko’s hand but his own doing, here came another of those things.

A new abomination of Professor Hojo, the man he’d been forsaken by and forsaken himself.

Even without being an expert in genetics or bioengineering, the similarities were too many for his guess to be incorrect.

The agent quickly retrieved his composure, well aware to be under observation even at this very moment. The lips that had pressed into a thin line hid the swallow of an unpleasant knot in his throat.

‘No matter. Just another name to the list.’

He’d take her out like any of the clones he’d identified and silently eliminated without the company’s notice.

It’d just be... far more complicated than those. It was one thing to ambush a sickly figure in a corner of the slums and make them disappear without a trace. A subject personally observed and contained within ShinRa HQ, however...

For now, he’d play along. For as long as the mind behind Project Jenova existed, his position within the company was too important to be put on the line. He’d never been this close to Hojo as here and now.

Play the loyal dog for one more day; he’d waited twenty years, he could wait longer.

“Right, then...” He muttered under his breath, scanning the girl with blue eyes ever so sharp despite the lazy expression of his features. An unfortunate genetic heritage along with his short-sightedness helped only by his square-shaped glasses.

He saw no restraints of any kind.

“Are you going to behave, just walking with me?”

[roleplay-abiogenesis2]

A voice so quiet against the bustle of a train entering a busy station. It would have gone lost in the hundreds of noises filling the air at that moment to the ears of an ordinary person.

And while Saruhiko didn't consider himself particularly exceptional - even considering the circumstances of his origins - he was still a trained member of the Turks. All of his senses were acutely aware and alert of his special escortee.

So he caught the mumble, and it was certainly unexpected. Enough for him to raise his eyes on her again and look at Aileth directly.

"... Yeah, that's the bare minimum you should expect for a song to be good. Can't make money if nobody cares to listen." He answered absently, the way one would be speaking to a dog or some inanimate object without real expectation.

'She's pretty weird, but at least the job seems relatively harmless', he almost heard himself thinking.

And the moment they stepped off the train, that thought was instantly crushed, when from the stairs that lead out of the station came a crowd of people screaming for their lives. They cried of monsters in the streets, and the noise of struggle and wreckage past the corner did nothing to reassure the panic among the people already occupying the platform.

Crackling static muffled the repeating announcements- an automated voice sharing information about skipped stops and something called an ‘express train’; metallic wheels screeching on the rails interrupted the machines rhythmic rumbling on sharper turns.

Not having a response put together before he apparently changed focus worked out in her favor; still needing some time to find a proper word for what had been shared.

His words were even toned yet, the way he moved… he seemed to be agitated once again, without it.

“…confirmed.” Her own stare was momentary, returning to watching the passing scenery out the opposite windows.

Somewhat relieved to finally have a direct command; still on the strange side but nothing compared to the questions he’s asked.

A few more announcements sounded from overhead but eventually, just barely audible over the ambiance of the empty room, “A… song.” Not intending to be heard she whispered, playing with the new word; savoring being allowed to continue to listening. “…interesting…”

[nanakithewarrior]

"Ah... I see." Red XIII had stopped at a distance from the rickety food stall made out of what looked like an old bus. At least, he thought it looked like what a bus should be, based on pictures he'd been shown by a friend in the past. "It's a food stall."

That posed a few problems. He doubted either of them had any money to actually buy those juicy-looking sausages that were sizzling on the small grill behind the open window. Maybe there was a possibility the vendor would be compassionate, but communication would be necessary to even verify that.

The creature looked between himself and Aileth, with concern. With the girl barely able to talk, and Red looking like something that should not be speaking at all, there were indeed a few challenges to their predicament.

Of course, he could try to run for it and steal the meat, but he'd rather avoid his shoulder the anguish of another race, if possible.

After lingering for a minute, he looked up at her. "I have a plan." He told Aileth. "But I need your help. Do you think you'd be able to repeat after me when I talk? I'm going to guide you and make you speak to that man."

He sat down, giving her a nod.

"Give it a try with me now, before we approach." Red XIII asked. "'Hello, how do you do?'"

However temporary the shelter had been, just being able to rest, out the wet had helped the fugitives mostly recover. Exiting safety, the two stayed close; unassuming, their red and black shapes winding through the shadows and bright lights. Easily keeping up with the eager search and uneven pace. Again, not understanding the words aside from ‘follow’; something relaxing slightly at receiving a clear command.

Thin steam rose from the ground; stray humans barely giving the pair a second look. If anything, the ones that did notice seemed to give a little more space despite the narrow halls; the experiment considering keeping the dark cloak if it meant people stayed away.

Their quest slowed, only for a moment- thanks to an unexpected crowd; the strangely loud and… unsteady humans were preoccupied with struggling to open a door. Swiftly moving to his other side; weapon between Handler and the potential threat.

Smoothly passing in the packed space, it had been brisk and without incident, yet she became closed off; cold expression hidden beneath the hood, a sourness lingered even after leaving them behind in the rather annoying maze. Trashed, rusted metal… crushed and broken rubble, familiar if… unclean; more… brown coating the floor and thinly over everything it seemed.

A growing bitter taste continued climbing her throat; glancing around, the walls weren’t overly tall, scalable structures were plentiful… more efficient to go over or through. These hallways… were too small, sides confining yet felt too exposed under the endless ceiling overhead; mercifully it was only a few more corners before reaching the source of the growing smoky scent. Something else carried under the smell- new and not…awful she felt pain; stomach finally acknowledging how long the specimen had been left on its own. She hadn’t been sure what to expect, this lab had been so strange and large; looking to him for the next steps.

[nanakithewarrior]

"You are losing blood." Red said, not quite getting up, but shifting his weight to rest on his belly, like a sphynx, and look at her straightforward. His eye observed her, with particular concern at the red and black staining her skin after she'd wiped it.

He had to help, somehow. But with what little they had, there wasn't much he could do. When his gaze left her to look in longing instinct at the window, he sighed softly.

"This is not going to do much without the moon... but let me try something." He said, lowering his head and closing his eyes in concentration.

The moon might not be there, but being able to at least see the sky's glow made it easier for his mind to recall its form. The shape, the soothing light, the coolness of the night breeze in the canyon. After a few moments of silence, Red XIII's body started to glow with a pale golden aura.

It intensified just a little, making his fur appear yellow for a few seconds, and then it spread out. Leaving the beast's body, it radiated all around, enveloping Aileth and reacting with her own aether. Her stamina would be strengthened. Her energy recovered, at least to a moderate amount.

The Lunatic High wasn't something he could do on a whim. It was a technique that succeeded only on the height of emotion. This small push alone was all he could muster for a while.

Red XIII sighed again, and looked back at her, ears tilted back. "Sorry, this is all I can do, I'm afraid."

The sudden cut off the all the noise with the shut door was already a relief; being out from the wet and covered from the endless grey ceiling made the sound overhead oddly soothing. Hood falling back with a cautious glance to the nearby street, short fabric coverings over the glass obscuring their presence; this area could be defended if discovered but… how an empty space could smell so… smothering. A layer of filth covering the scattering of strange objects throughout the space.

Attention pulled away from the weird collection as he settled further from the door; he was in pain and there was a – want… want? to have some way to ease it. However, he did not seem as agitated or to be critically injured. No visual damage or scent of blood. The watching experiment beginning to calm as well, yet that made the pain harder to ignore. Venomous whispers gone silent, replaced instead with a steady spike behind the eye.

The injuries from the creature… the arm that had held it back, the opposite shoulder and side impaled in the grotesque things desperate flailing. It burned, burned like His sludgy infusions but more potent and centered in the deep wounds that seemed to resist it- her accelerated healing. Blackened edges already retreated, leaving only the thin, dark, creeping veins in the depths of the open gashes and punctures.

Finally wiping away the slowing nosebleed, staring, unconcerned with the reddish black trickle, its colour familiar; the spreading burning sensation intensifying and easing with every heartbeat. Not answering immediately; drained, thoughts were still muddled, except for the attachment to him.

“Damage… slow, is… repairing” Safe, he was safe… handler…it- she would keep watch, and follow. “Can still function.”

[nanakithewarrior]

Red's sides heaved a sigh of relief when he understood Aileth would oppose no further resistance. He held her with his mouth for a bit longer, only until he was sure she was following him with no hesitation, and trotted as much as his own injury allowed.

His urgency did not leave him for as long as the noises of the commotion could be heard by his sensitive ears. The shouts, the sirens, the gunfire and the screaming of the victims. Horror and pain that Red wanted to leave behind as fast as possible. Even the drum of the rain beating down on them both was a better option.

Eventually, they'd made it to the city outskirts. Not quite out of Midgar, but not quite in the city proper, either. The tall walls that connected the reactors towered over them, casting a shadow on the underdeveloped cityside even as the sky above, albeit overcast, turned to the lighter colors of a new day.

Here, surveillance seemed to be more relaxed. Most of what surrounded them looked to be industrial and humble. Factories, residential blocks, and a city park made of concrete were their sole company, while the people moving around were far and few, too sleepy or too drunk to even care about the two of them, in spite of their unusual appearance.

To them, Red had to look like any other dog, and the girl by his side absolutely unremarkable.

"I think this is far enough for now..." He muttered, turning his head back to the ghastly silhouette of Sector 0 in the distance. Shaking his head, he bristled at the sensation of his fur still drying from the rain. He couldn't even imagine what it had to feel like for the girl to be still in those wet clothes.

"Come. There has to be somewhere we can go to rest around here. At least one of these houses will be empty."

So he wanted to imagine, anyway. The concept of a city and of so many people all in one place still felt so alien to him.

Sounds of the approaching troops were rapidly getting louder; the thrashing creature thankfully closer to the people danger than the two for now. Empty stare narrowed to him, ignoring the possible threats; rain diffusing the headlights and searching individual beams, casting a blurry haze camouflaging their figures from a distance.

Despite becoming passive the first step was stiff, not truly resisting- more like something being nudged into motion. A slight stagger at first but easily following his pace. Rebar dragging slightly in the muck and rubble before falling from her grip. The odd shiver running down the chilled limb he held, led with. The pair a shadow passing through a space in the fence; not stopping, slowing, or perhaps even noticing the black fabric snagging and ripping on the broken links. Nor reacting to the thing screeching again; accompanied by shouts and gunfire.

[nanakithewarrior]

It may be difficult to tell on a face that did not belonged to a human, but Red XIII was smiling a little. He was happy to hear her voice; it seemed that with each passing hour Aileth found better ways to express herself. How strange that of the two of them, the beast would be the one with the widest vocabulary.

"Yes, I'm hungry. You should be, as well." He nodded, stepping outside with caution. Making sure their presence wouldn't catch any undesired attention. All clear for the moment.

He then moved a few more steps forward, rising his nose to the air. Red inhaled deep, and sharp. He smelled mako waste before anything else. The oil used to keep that train from rusting. The lingering odour of wet concrete warming up in the daylight.

Then finally, something much more pleasant. He inhaled strongly, letting that prickly scent of smoke and meat fill his lungs. His stomach answered to it.

"Someone's cooking." He informed her, turning his head. "Follow me. Maybe they will share with us."

Subdued and somehow still grating, humans streamed by after the train’s noises quieted and slowed instead of roaring past; a new group of people headed towards where the others had come from, then there would be nothing. It was strange seeing humans dressed in so many… colours, so used to the White-coats and helmeted guards, these were… new. Cautious of any straying too close, curious of all the shapes and patterns and… perhaps textures? Unable to make out for certain from this distance. Yet an acidic tang underlies being near so many... foul creatures; dark whispering- so quiet, burning, prickling up her back and neck.

 Motion from the other room snapped the spiral, attention pulled away from outside; he had been so still, finally seeing him moving was enough of a distraction and eased the tension. He seemed… healthier, if at least dryer; nearly the reddish hue she remembered.

Head tilting seeing as random patches of fur remained sticking out in places after rising; that same tiny involuntary smile returning- a little bit shaky but a genuine expression sneaking out again.

Still resting on the crate, they were nearly level, and she resisted the urge to reach out, fix the coat.

Another unknown word, ‘sorry’ but his posture, and tone, it had a quality to it that made her own chest twist. If her ears could, they would have moved like his; unaware sleep had been expected of the experiment. It felt like failing, that wasn’t the right term, but it was similar enough with the same negativity.

Yet, she was slow to reply, staring again, contemplating, careful with each word “It was needed…” voice still quiet but steadier “for you to recover…”

 More than just an unpracticed skill, it was effort to defy the conditioning to not speak at all

“mm… kept watch, humans pass by in grou-” there was a concerning noise like a growl but… he was speaking… It was coming from somewhere else… from his sides? Did they share the same signs of hunger? that she could easily understand. “you are… needing rations?”

There should be a pause to all the people, that had seemed to be the pattern. Standing up to crack open the entrance, squinting hard, the empty path was unbelievably bright, like the exam rooms lights but emitted from the entire ceiling. Pale fingers ready to pull up the now dry fabric, she would be keeping the ragged garment if just for the depths of cloaks hood.

Holding the door, inhuman eyes turned back to him, “…orders?”

[nanakithewarrior]

He was stirred awake by the passing of another train. It had been a little while since the last one he remembered disturbing his sleep. It was possibly a sign that the city was awake on this side too now. Red could only make conjectures. He had no idea what a city worked like.

Stiff and tired, he stood up from his sleeping spot and stretched. His shoulder still hurt, but not as bad as last night. His fur felt wrong everywhere, but he'd have to leave self-grooming for later. His stomach commanded his full attention.

When he stepped by the door and found Aileth, he felt a bit less dejected. Misery truly loved company.

"Sorry, I think I fell asleep without meaning to." He said, ignoring the next rumble coming from his sides. His ears tilted back, in shame. "Did you sleep well?"

Disheveled and beggarly, her head tilted in confusion, turning the overall appearance into something more approachable. Tired and still so close to his strangely calming presence, the experiments inquisitive nature was showing again- transfixed by the growing glow; barely piecing together that ‘moon’ had something to do with the grey ceiling outside before her attention came fully to the gentle light. She could…almost make out a sound as each tiny spark glittered into and out of existence.

Caught in awe, the experiment was truly startled when the brightness lifted from his fur and drifted across the space.

Conditioning to remain still failed, unsteady and physically unwell; not meaning to react, she accidentally bumped the short stack of boxes by the door. Bare heel hitting a small wood crate, minutely cringing for the coming correction yet there wasn’t more pain… it was more… like the first breath of air after being submerged too long. It wasn’t much but the dizziness from small rush was enough to break her frozen crouch, sitting on the small crate under foot.

Sleeve falling back to staring at the injured arm; the bleeding had slowed long ago yet despite it being relatively small the sight was grisly up close. Sickly mottled burns over torn skin, that went too deep in some spots exposing the muscle shrank; smaller portions quickly, if uncomfortably knit together. Pain eased but not removed; dulled simply thanks to it no longer being concentrated to the lesions. Black veins seeming to fade but had spread further, glowing draconic eyes intensified as even the sclera darkened slightly. Burning sensation climbing and growing separately from the fading gold warmth; a rosy flush rising to her cheeks with a sigh.

This part was so like His infusions; each heartbeat feeling like a dense scalding wave but eventually the marks and fever would fade as chemicals were absorbed…  how an enemy could cause a similar effect was beyond consideration.

~ Never being taught anything beyond what was needed to be a weapon, the experiment could not tell time but understood cycles of light and dark and creatures need of rest for healing. Remaining dutifully stationed by the entrance, senses stretching for anything that might come too close to the exterior of the building. Inside, sights were on the exhausted Handler; idly musing the few clearest, broken memories that sluggishly came and went. Wheeled into an empty lab once more, the other containment unit dismantled and the contrast to the bright feeling now, observing him resting on the strange fuzzy floor.

That slowly building draw felt different now, a hesitance in the undeniable pull after what the two experienced; perhaps this would be different as well. An inexpressible emotion, wanting to follow.

[nanakithewarrior]

It wasn't much, but it would do for now. Red walked through the small living space, taking in its many old scents, none natural nor particularly pleasant. But anything was better than the strong reek of sterilizers and putrid flesh that alternated in the laboratories.

How desperately he craved to leave this city behind, he couldn't even put it into words. But for now he needed to rest. Their conditions weren't suitable for travel.

The beast sighed softly, lying down to rest on an old carpet before the small bed at the end of the room. His shoulder tingled and throbbed like someone had tried to tear it off him. It hurt, but there were no lacerations in his skin at least. Red hoped whatever was happening inside would mend itself overnight.

"Are you all right?" He asked, looking up at Aileth. "If there is anything you need, please tell me. I'll try and find us something. We probably should eat, as well."

The surroundings were strange, the further he led the less and less things made sense. The shapes and materials of things, the ground underfoot, still not the smooth cold metal that had always been there. Rough, gritty, layered with stuff that stuck to everything- and the smells were entirely unknown and almost suffocating. There was just so much on top of the pains and screaming static that buzzed relentlessly at the base of her skull; she did not try to understand and let the exhaustion fog over the growing headache.

 It was fine, there wasn’t a need- to think, just follow…

Despite the occasional slight wobble and vacant presence, had kept up with his pace- the clearest thing she could latch on was his intent to get away and unease at the humans around. Drifting to either side, when one got too close, blocking them from him, staring at each from the depths of the heavy hood. Some hazy combination of contempt and a miniscule amount of fear she failed to smother- as though one of those awful white-coats might suddenly manifest.

Barely registering the occasional muttering and direction change of some to avoid ‘one of those’ she was more concerned with the limp. He was.. damaged… the sight made her chest twist again. Most injuries had already closed but there were some that, that thing, had inflicted that were still stubbornly burning.

Eventually finding a suitable structure only a little more ways ahead; off the main path, clearly not visited and secure… well the walls were physically intact with a closable entrance. Pulling it shut behind him just as that rumbling metal machine returned; staying put, standing guard over the door. The train closer than ever before, thundering slower and longer; rattling the glass windows high up on the walls.

The noise aside, they were finally out of the wet. it would be easier to keep watch here until her own damage lessened enough to properly be useful, to protect.

[nanakithewarrior]

"Forget about the orders! We are not ShinRa's slaves anymore!" Red XIII practically barked in response. He could hear the approaching military more distinctly now. Voices were calling out instructions to one another, as the infantry searched for a way through the rubble and past the blocked pathways. Others were rounding up civilians.

They'd be upon them any moment.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let you go back there." He grumbled, moving up to Aileth next. With his mouth he inched closer to try and grab her, gentle but firm as he would to pick up a cub, hoping to lead her out of the crime scene before they'd be spotted. Let the company deal with that abomination themselves.

The thunderous clash of collapsing metal continued with the creatures directionless tantrum; bellowing as it repeatedly kept trying to pull its failing body together enough to mount another attack. The remains of a tanker began tipping over, Specimen 3 prepared to lunge as it fell; take advantage of the momentary obstruction to flank the enemy…

 Yet... missed the window of opportunity.

The shout had seemed so distant, in more ways than one, and rooted the experiment on the spot. Initially motionless, no acknowledgment of the question, and at first no reaction to his approach; just subtle cues of the intensifying conflict cascading inside.

Conditioning warring against the distraction, the static he brought, and the rapidly mounting need to slaughter, threatening to drown the rest out.

Turning to the now closer presence; pale as starlight, darkened veins seemed to pulse, inching up the specimens’ neck. Draconic eyes impassively staring- calculating? considering? Hand trembling, as though struggling to release the makeshift weapon.

Compartmentalize the pain, could still move… still fight..

The reddish beast before it was.. t-Th-hreat minimal-    rR-eMoV-…

R re mov… he, he was hurt… the sight made its chest twist painfully- familiar, warm it didn’t want to-there was no way within its understanding, it couldn’t explain the spiral inside, never having the desire to resist before- the experiment slowly being overwhelmed, fist shaking more.

His call somehow, cutting through again; over the noise inside, approaching sirens, and returning heavy rumbling. Distress flashed through mako emeralds as it gave several sharp inhales; a dark trickle beginning from one nostril. Listen… listen, she could…  he’d always been larger, stronger…  

“…o-orders…” waves of searing pain with each unnaturally slow heartbeat, “N..an-a ki…..”

[nanakithewarrior]

"Aileth...!" Red XIII emerged from the dark, staggering a little with one shoulder after being thrown off for the second time. His right paw was sending painful pangs with each step, but this was not the time to rest.

He caught up to her, looking around with worry. His ears heard noises, voices. Soon, the area would be quite crowded.

"Are you all right?" The beast asked instinctively, already noticing the concerning marks from the struggle with... whatever that was. Far from the ordinary monster, for sure. It smelled like the kind of stuff Hojo would spring to life. And life was a stretched term for what that was, too. "Listen to me, Aileth. We must go. ShinRa will be here any minute, now. We have no time to go after it."

The creatures body seemed to melt in her hand, once solid flesh morphing into dripping tendrils; it ran down, coating her forearm. Followed by the indescribable feeling of twisting black veins invading; pinching, stinging, burning as it dug underneath her skin. Voracious cracked skull inching in, it wanted her; instinctually, horrifically some part knowing- it would be worse than returning to the nothing.   

The weight suddenly pressed harder, but the thing reared back in pain; squirming, it attempted to buck the assailing beast off.

New, deep wounds tore into the monster no matter how it moved; unable to free itself it let put a terrible screech. The sound set every nerve alight, the scene whiting out as her head felt like it was splitting in two. Hardened spikes erupted from the creatures’ fleshy body in a desperate attempt to escape the pain. Several piercing the pinned experiment who barely let out a cry, straining to hold the mass back. Freed hand grasping for anything.  

Pulling the first thing she could really grip, rusted metal sliding from the pile; heavy jagged rebar sliced into the bleeding pulsing thing. Each swing, brandished with more and more raw strength. One more, and it was ripped from her with the crunching sound of breaking bones; hers or its, was unknown as it was finally launched a distance by the experiment’s unnatural strength.

Bits of black gunk clung where it had become embedded; left behind, burning, melting, still trying to consume… that wordless draw and venomous whispers screaming within. The need to fight, to destroy, conditioning clashing just as loud. The pain, the internal storm, overwhelming her awareness.

Still thrashing, shrieking, the monster crashed around in a blind rage, igniting discarded barrels and setting off more alarms.

Freed, she attempted to stand with difficulty, falling to a knee, before trying again, rising this time with strange twitching motions. An especially strong one contorting an arm, neck audibly popping as her head jerked. Her body burned, so many wounds obscured, protected? by the cloak.

Standing tall unmoving, any signs of tremors suddenly gone; expressionlessly shrugging off clinging chunks from the thick fabric, unaware of his safety, of approaching threats- blind to seemingly everything aside from the creature. Menacing pressure directed at her target.

Makeshift weapon, held to the side like a blade, at ease but ready; draconic gaze empty of life, showing nothing but cold intent.

sSh-e sh… ss- speCiMeN-3 was d-daMaGeD

removal of threat required

she knew the test would end when there was only one left, they always ended…

failure not an option

another test… ingrained orders

 eliminate

destroy

[nanakithewarrior]

Run! You need to run!

No! I have to fight! I cannot leave her behind!

Frozen in place, Red XIII stood but a short distance from the monstrosity that had struck at them. The noises were deafening. The aftershock of getting tossed and thrown like a rag against exploding debris still vibrated through his bones. He couldn't even hear himself think. His internal conflict was little more than a conscious feeling.

So much chaos, so far up the plate. It was impossible that no one would notice. Surely, this would attract attention. Unwanted attention. But at this moment, it may be what was necessary.

Although it was another reason why he should turn tail and leave.

NO. He was done running like his father had. He'd promised this to Deneh. He'd show her he was a warrior! A Watcher of Cosmo Canyon!

Red heard alert whistles in the distance. Soon, ShinRa would be here, too. He needed to free Aileth and escape, quickly!

When the large, heinous mass of flesh lounged at the girl again, that was when the beast snapped out of his frozen terror. With a snarl, he jumped and pounced straight onto the back of its stretched-out neck.

Fangs sank into something putrid and horrible. His tongue burned and recoiled with a burning feeling, like biting into rotten waste. Red XIII fought against the need to release and recoil, clenching its jaw harder, sinking his claws deeper into that nightmare. His back feet pushed and thrashed.

He could not deal a killing blow, but if this thing was even capable of feeling pain, the warrior would give it all.

Silent message received, her tensing posture responded in place of words; they needed to go, sooner than later… no… now, it needed to be now…

Yet, something felt… so, so wrong…

She could feel it searching, its desperation… but where? Closing in, but how close? There was nothing in sight, and she wasn’t used to not being able to determine a direction. The hunger and bloodlust exuding from all around.  A looming shadow. An echoing heartbeat chasing her own; like it was trying to sync to… something…

The tightening knot in her chest became a throat constricting lump; quickly growing horror at the sense of similarity. The calling that had guided the experiment here, to this trash heap- unknowingly almost back to the place of her torment, which had vanished without question- occupied with discovering him, was everywhere; overwhelming and pressing down on every sense. She couldn’t understand or fathom what it was that was approaching. This feeling of a warped mirror; same, different.

Head internally spinning, this was not something she had ever experienced; externally the experiment was frozen, every available faculty seeming focused on the darkness.

They needed to move. It was still searching.

~A painful throb in her chest and she was in the rain. How? She hadn’t moved- she knows… she hadn’t but… could feel the rain and twisting burning pain from numerous deep slices. From when? from what?

A strange glowing mass in the distance calling so loud so… bright.  Closer, still closer; unable to stop, unable to remember, understand what was happening what was hurting WHY?

Colourful hues radiating from two mismatched points; the scene pulsating with every throb of blistering agony. Precious seconds slipping away before it clicked; it was a heat signature. That was them. She was seeing them. Seeing through its ‘eyes’ while they sat stricken in the shelter; reality spun nauseatingly back to the proper place, but it didn’t matter there was no time left.~

She let out a forceful yet quiet “NO.” A dome of crystals blinking to life in the cramped space while she twisted around. Thin arms, far stronger than they appeared, wrapped protectively around his neck and back just as the shelter exploded.

Dark tentacles burst through the truck, unloading like a whip against the hunched bodies; the force unexpectedly violent and shattering her attempt at a barrier. Truck, trash, and portions of road were sent flying, separating the two despite trying to hold on.

The world whiting out in agony, body and debris crashing into a nearby metal tower. Frame bent, it fell, sending rusted piles and crates tumbling with noise loud enough to drown out the storm.

Relatively small, crumpled heap of fabric landing at its base; dazed and struggling to move, every instinct screaming danger, to get up. Yet she couldn’t tell up from down, the world still spinning even with the rain and mud weighing the heavy material to the ground.

Dragging herself up on an elbow enough get one hand under and squint around; mind having no time to register that her hands empty. Only pain and danger and to fight. Barely a moment to blink the rain away; nearly missing the misshapen creature rushing through the gloom.

 She moved, not quick enough; hadn’t recovered enough. A tentacle lashed out, wrapping around her middle and slammed her back against the destroyed tower. Catching another as it erupted from the attacking mass, crushing it in her hands; thick gelatinous blood oozed from the wound, burning everywhere it touched her skin.

It shifted, extending some sort of neck as she wrestled against the heavy mass; a misshapen skull full of cracked and crooked fangs pressed in determined to sink fangs into its prey. Thrashing around, it was having difficulties gaining leverage against the pinned experiment despite the savage assault, but the piercing ringing had returned and kept increasing; it was getting hard to focus, to fight.

She didn’t understand, a dying opponent shouldn’t be this difficult… and for the first time… that draw had become scary. Something inside screaming danger. That letting this thing, this living dying mass of twisted and tumorous skin; of sharp bone through mottled rotting flesh, exposed muscle, veins and sinew… that letting it take what it wants… was bad.

Another part… terrifyingly responding to the things pull.

[nanakithewarrior]

He too was awake, still sitting next to Aileth, albeit restlessly. Red XIII was eager to leave the city behind, but not so eager as to do so at the expense of a fellow living being, especially one he felt a sense of camaraderie for, like her.

When the girl had started to mumble incoherently and ultimately fallen asleep, he'd quickly given up trying to stir her awake, and sat silent at her side instead. She looked tired, and wet, and cold. The least he could do was protect her until she'd be able to walk with him.

That had been the plan anyway, until darkness fell and the rain still refused to let go. Then, something had come. Something was hunting.

He could feel the fur on the top of the neck stand up with each sound from the outside feeling closer and closer to their position. When Aileth jolted awake, Red's muzzle was twitching and curling back instinctively, baring his fangs intermittently. He was holding back his own growling for fear it'd give away their position.

They couldn't stay here any longer, and he knew that she knew as well. Shooting a look Aileth, he nodded silently in her direction.

Time to go.

That slow creeping feeling suddenly shot up her spine. The strength and weight of the water overhead seeming to grow to deafening levels causing her to shrink; completely washing out his voice, before the headache erupted. Drenched in static all over and nowhere. The dim shelter sparked white in her vision; flashing with broken scenes of cold distorted rooms, blurry silhouettes and discordant metallic voices.

There wasn’t a way to measure how many times… how often; written erased forged removed remembered forgotten reexperienced- layers of memories, lifetimes. How many first breaths. How many last. Tested, experimented, pushed to breaking, taken apart, pieced together.

Old new forgotten, it was so much information; indecipherable murmurs and a damaged display-

project (H)eir

gene wash/ specimen index:

41L37#-003

4 1 L 3 7 #  

A 1 L E T #

A…ileth… aileth? …

Externally, it didn’t last very long; her small jerk at the pain and previously steady eyes turned distant as she froze, unmoving. Mind suddenly sometime somewhere else before coming back in a slight daze with a flinch and silent gasp.

It hurt it didn’t- all consuming- there and gone so quickly; she didn’t know how to process the sensation. The low relaxed voice bringing her back; something to focus on that felt warm. She really liked warm, that was new, he was familiar, their small hide concealed.

The experiment settling to keep listening, that mako glow not quite as bright. Not truly understanding a name, beyond his ‘word’ referring to her. Who, where, when… all lost.

~

She had tried to follow… really but there were several things she wasn’t able to decipher. ‘Freedom’ more or less confirmed to be a possession, one that could be taken, she’d never had things before so maybe it was something just he had- he seemed to have equipment.

There hadn’t been any usable items around she had woken; hands reaching out from the fabric to gently squeeze the opposing forearm. Assured by the feel of crystal deep inside, she had at least been left ‘armed’… if, unable to recall which ones or if she was supposed to remember. To know the exact materia, she still needed to test but that most definitely couldn’t be done in here.

“…mmn, Lab made… don’t know…” she was drained and lost and the words didn’t sound related to her. More like human things, yet that made little sense. “outside…means…”

Unused to speaking, she didn’t offer any small-talk, rain filling the quiet. Listening intently and seeming eager to answer as best she could despite leaning more and more against the truck door. Able to rest for once.

Rubbing at an eye as she spoke; there wasn’t much to the experiment without an order or being threatened. Unaware of the aura given off and its effect on most other living things; their hostility met with hostility. Always needing to be ready for Him or the White-coats, their constantly changing rules and painful corrections. Yet like any fledgling predatory creature, control was learnt and perhaps there were some who would tolerate her presence.

Maybe this test had its benefits, this was an experience she hadn’t dare think of, even as a wish.

~

Floating… drifting between the layers; lost, alone, weak… empty. Burning-freezing, dissolved in light, consumed by the nothing. Compressed crushed stretched too thin… nothing to see, to hear, no way to move, to feel- unable to filter or hide forced to experience everything and all and nothing… 

Searing black, slithering; suffocating… piercing…  

RoTtInG…

hUnGeR…

a g o n y

desperation and rage

Abruptly sitting upright, eyes snapping open (when had they closed?) and staring hard into the night. A weight scraping over rough surfaces; dragged pulsing and bleeding through the pounding water, somewhere still out of sight.

There was something in the dark, something dying and dangerous,

and it knew they were out here.

[nanakithewarrior]

"No, Aileth. Not like that." Red shook his head calmly, with the tone of a patient parent. "The cage might keep you fed, and a roof over your head. But that isn't real safety, when you lose your freedom in turn."

It was a horrifying realization that the girl may never have known anything better than a life under Hojo's 'care'. He wondered about her past, about her home... if she even had any outside of ShinRa.

"... What of your parents?" He asked after a minute's hesitation. His tail shifted a bit closer to her, to help her stay warm. "Do you have any family? Someone else, outside of ShinRa?"

Despite the conditioning, the discipline, doing everything she was able to, to cement an indifferent mask over her face- protect herself from the humans in the lab; there was no way he could miss the cues and expressions no matter how restrained or muted. Draconic eyes snapping to him when the metallic roar suddenly thundered in range; startled by the train and the shear volume of the noises the machine made. Tensing, poised, ready… but he didn’t appear stressed. A few breaths, the experiment slowly relaxed to a similar level of his steadiness; noises not getting closer, they just continued. Eventually peering over the door frame, through the back seat of the truck, she couldn’t locate the machine itself; only the direction it was coming from. Lights and trash and fences between them and the fading roar.

He’d started speaking again, everything softer sounding in the train’s absence. Spotting a pile of fabric, she pulls it from the back seat to look at. The dark material was dry and fairly clean, yet it wasn’t comfort on her mind. She was pale, too pale and the light lab coverings weren’t much darker than her sun starved skin. Standing out too much compared to the surroundings had been a bother and made a easy target.

It seemed like a garment, finding an opening and what could be called sleeves- “People…h-elped?” Pausing inspecting the material, peeking around the side she was holding up; a muted clash of surprise and doubt gazed into amber. Confused, but there wasn’t any trick, no untruth. It wasn’t him though, people had always proven to be hostile.

Continuing to listen, silver head popping out the top somewhat clumsily; there were very few times she had to dress herself. Small sigh escaped leaning against the truck once more. So worn down, this test seemed to be very long- not equipped or given any instruction, which was unusual, not to mention this strange massive Lab. She hadn’t noticed before but finally being out of the weather, his steady little flame, and being covered… this was warm, much warmer.

He used many words she didn’t understand sinking sensation of him potentially heading into danger, it felt like how it did finding his cell gone but, “…safe?...” that she had to think about. This spot seemed to be safe for now. Yet there was only one place that she was generally left alone- received less corrections if someone entered without His clearance. “…in containment.” It was a hollow answer, attempting to survive here and stumbling across a former experiment had been the most positive she could remember aside from being left completely alone or falling back into the nothing.