animus_network | ♘ 1: Video

[The visage appearing over the video feed was...less than amused, honestly. MAKO green eyes framed with silver narrowed in growing consternation, as this particular user had been trying to make sense of this strange simulation for the last hour or so. With little luck, as this place damned sure wasn't his HQ field tent.

Not to mention that this thing in his hand certainly doesn't look like his PHS, there's a bloody collar around his neck (and for that, heads will roll, oh yes), his sword is nowhere to be found and some idiot considered it humorous to leave cryptic notes at the foot of his bunk... Needless to say, Sephiroth's temper with it was quickly evaporating.]

...I do not find this particularly amusing, gentlemen. We have work to be done, these pranks are better left for your celebrating at mission's completion.

[Granted, finding himself in a completely different place than the one in which he'd arrived the previous day did little to mollify his irritation, either. But, no matter the situation, a SOLDIER always kept a level head. ...most of the time.]

Fair! Strife! Report in, immediately!

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[He wasn't truly afraid of Sephiroth. General Sephiroth had protected him, on occasion. Even the other hadn't gone out of his way to harm him, and he might have. He easily might have.

Not that he had absolute faith in his conditioning of the subject.]

He does. And that's not all I've brought with me.

[He tapped, not his collar this time, but the back of his wrist, as if tapping a watch that wasn't there. He laughed again.]

A stern taskmaster I've taken on.

[Protected him under order of ShinRa's President, not out of any sort of affection. Yet here, the Old Man had yet to appear. And Sephiroth well remembered his "conditioning". Oh, he did.]

Then I wish you all the joys of it.

[Although your "Specimen S" will be watching you, Professor. Most closely.]

[He tapped his wrist for another few beats. That was the arm he'd injected. He had already ascertained that the Jenova cells within him were alive and well.

No, he'd never believe Sephiroth would go out of his way for him, or ever felt any affection for him. He knew that very well. But he didn't fear him. There wasn't much he had left to fear. What did the dead fear? He had--other concerns. Still, he was annoyed by Sephiroth's dismissive manner, and not for the first time. He frowned.

The conditioning was necessary.

He'd changed somewhat, but he remained the same in many ways. He knew he must make up for his failures. He had already set new plans in motion.]

I think you'll find, yes, someday you'll come to find that our goals are not so dissimilar as you believe.

If only you'd allow me to run some basic tests, we might learn a few things about our captors. [Though he knew he wouldn't, sure he was going to be irrational--he'd have to find more willing subjects, but one for whom he had a control sample (other than himself) would be ideal.]

[At that request, Sephiroth's gaze went cold. There was no way in all hells he was going to let that man get near him, or any of those under his command. Not ever again.]

I think not. I've endured quite enough of your tests, Professor.

[He smiled in the face of Sephiroth's familiar coldness. His smile wasn't particularly warm itself.

All the SOLDIERs were his experiments. SOLDIER was his project. He didn't see the use in retreading old ground in that direction, but it would be interesting to see if they had been altered, if there were differences. Who was more familiar with their physiology than he was? No one. What a shame. A perfect opportunity to research this place, squandered by irrational emotion.

He changed the subject.]

You're different. What is the last thing you remember?

[Sephiroth's expression softened only enough to become more than a touch cynical.]

What merit do my memories hold for you?

[Didn't you have all of them recorded somewhere, Professor?]

Did I ever say they held none?

On the contrary.

Nor did I. I was inquiring as to just what value they were to you.

Yes, the to me was implied in my preceding statement.

On the contrary, they are of value to me. You see--! When I last saw you, you looked quite different, and that interests me.

[There you go again, with that patronizing garbage, Professor.]

My apologies, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint.

[You're a reputable genius, old man. You figure it out.]

Ah well, I have a fair idea already.

...aren't you curious at all?

[Very, but he'd no more trust a word out of that man's mouth than he would it raining upside down.]

I am. [The only admission Hojo'd get.] But my efforts will be better spent leading my men and ensuring they survive long enough to return home.

Such a military mindset.

There's so many reasons we might be here, so many possible theories to explain this place. Don't you think study and understanding will help you? And your men?

Without a doubt. And we will do so. Most thoroughly. [An icy smile.] I'm not without my methods, as I'm sure you're aware.

[Sephiroth always has a way of annoying him with his dismissive attitude, though Hojo doesn't stop to think that he's just as patronizing, if not more so.]

Your methods, yes. I am aware.

When last I saw you, your methods had improved, ten--no, a hundred times. You learned so much.

[Small victories. He'd take them where he could.]

Then you've little to be concerned over.

[Really, such ingratitude. Sephiroth had been his prize experiment, his pride and joy, as they said. He had done everything in his power to make him stronger, so much better than all the others.

That's still what he wants. Only to augment, to improve.]

Did I say I was worried? I wouldn't go so far. I'm not worried for your sake. I'm well aware of your capabilities, and I have faith in them.

I'm interested in your progress. [Endlessly. He knows you hate him, but oh well.]

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