♘ 1: Video

[intemperiae]

[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!

Comments

[Video]

[pauldrons]

[Well. That's a familiar voice, thank Shiva. He was beginning to wonder...ah, well, not the time. Have one familiar second in command appearing on screen, General, and yes. He's tugging on his own collar as he speaks.]

Not a prank, sir. And I can't find Cloud anywhere...hells, I can't even find my sword.

[Video]

[intemperiae]

[There you were. Good.]

While I don't exactly frown upon the odd shen--[Then he caught sight of Zack's own neck-wear and his voice went flat.] What are you doing with that around your neck, Zack Fair?

[Video]

[pauldrons]

[Of course he's here. Someone's got to keep you from blowing everything to smithereens. He's also shaking his head, giving his collar another tug.]

No idea. It was on when I woke up and now I can't get it off. It won't tear or give or anything. Can't find a latch or clasp, either.

[And it's getting annoying; yes, his nickname is puppy or "dog of Shinra", but he's not actually a dog!]

[Video]

[intemperiae]

[Praise be.]

Hn. [Green eyes narrowed.] Suffice to say I am less than amused.

[He didn't bother to pull on his own; no, his plan was simply to find the culprit responsible and "explain" how he'd rather not wear the bloody thing. ...by hand, if necessary.]

What's your location? [As near as they could figure, rather.]

[Video]

[pauldrons]

[The less than amused part is...fairly evident, General. Stating the obvious should be your thing. But, yes, orders are orders and that was close enough to one that Zack stops tugging before he chokes himself by accident.]

Some kind of terminal. I'm guessing it's on the third floor or something, cause the closest door reads 3-06.

[...Just how close is he, Sephiroth? Did he not notice you nearby?]

[video]

[denigrator]

Why, hello, Sephiroth. What a surprise to see you here.

[Smiling, Hojo doesn't sound surprised at all, although it is true that he hadn't expected to see Sephiroth. Especially not like this. What's happened to him?]

Calling for your men? [Now that is interesting. He hadn't been in a military frame of mind when Hojo had last seen him.] Cloud Strife... [Hojo does know the name of that particular infantryman.] He is here, and I don't doubt he'll be glad to see you.

[At this, he can't help but laugh.]

[Video]

[guardiano_perduto]

--how 'bout counting down from ten, first?

[Video -> Action]

[intemperiae]

[Sephiroth blinked, suddenly snapped closed the "phone" and not far down the hall a door opened, a tall figure stepping out into the hallway.]

--and here we are. Quaint.

[Video]

[intemperiae]

[What the bloody devil? --it's a talking...animal.]

Excuse me?

[Action]

[pauldrons]

[Oh, thank Shiva, there you are. Don't mind him grinning, Sephiroth, he'll just be doing so as he walks closer, obviously relieved.]

Guess that's one thing you could call it. Cloud's village is a lot quainter, though.

[Video]

[guardiano_perduto]

Taking deep breaths? Yoga?

You just seem kinda miffed. Wanna talk about it?

[video]

[intemperiae]

[A thousand nightmares instantly flashed before green eyes, but all Sephiroth allowed was a minute clenching of his jaw, barely noticeable behind a fall of silver.]

--Professor. [Said in as cordial a tone as he could muster.] Is this..."simulation" some experiment of yours?

[Because if so, you and he were going to have words, Hojo. Oh, yes.]

[video]

[denigrator]

[He folded his hands as he regarded the screen.]

Mine? Oh no, it isn't mine. It is an interesting experiment, in its way, but it's nothing to do with my work... As far as I can tell.

[Although now there was another of his experiments here.]

Wouldn't it be fascinating if it were?

[He unfolded his hands and touched the fingers of one to the collar at his throat.]

If you would take the time to examine your surroundings and this network, you might learn a little more. Someone with your background should have no trouble, haha.

[atouchofstrife]

[ No no no no no no. Not here. Not now! Cloud stared at the screen - and Sephiroth would probably note the sudden flash of surprise mixed with horror in the Mako-tainted eyes - before all expressions were cut off outside of a grim frown. ]

Sephiroth. [ No 'General'. No acting like a mere infantryman flustered over a higher ranking person remembering his name. Just a cold determination. A careful observer would note the maturity in his face, his washed-out blond spikes, the blue collar and the non-military clothing the camera showed. ] We are not on the Planet any more.

[ Then as if carefully poking a bomb, he adds... ]What are your plans for this world?

[Action]

[intemperiae]

[Sephiroth glanced around and snorted softly.]

Well, I'll have to take your word for it, since my first glimpse of the place was so woefully brief.

Have you word from the cadet yet?

[video]

[intemperiae]

[That small little screeking noise? That was the plastic casing around the device shrieking in pain because black-gloved fingers were strangling it.]

I'll thank you not to patronize me, Professor. [Your head was only so attached to that scrawny neck, you know. But a small spark of wicked amusement lit MAKO green eyes to see Hojo's own collar.]

So. It seems you're no less a prisoner, then. Interesting, indeed.

[Video]

[intemperiae]

[Whatever those miscreants had spiked his coffee with, Sephiroth was going to take it out of their asses, yes sir. Because there was a talking animal speaking out of his PHS. The technicians back at ShinRa had never mentioned this sort of hallucination in their listing of MAKO withdrawal symptoms, by Shiva.]

I'm perfectly fine, thank you.

[Understatement of...ever. All things considered. And gods, weren't there a lot?]

[Action]

[pauldrons]

Probably better than mine. All I saw was a couple of rooftops on the way in.

[But first impressions, and all that. Also, that's definitely a headshake.]

None. I'm starting to wonder if he actually came here in the first place...not like him to stay this quiet.

[intemperiae]

[Ah, there you are, Cadet. Finally. Under more normal circumstances, Sephiroth would have indeed taken note of the changes in Cloud's appearance and demeanor, but unfortunately, the current circumstances were less than ideal and the man hadn't even had his morning coffee yet. Thus:]

Rendezvous with Zack Fair and meet me here-- [He paused, disappearing for a moment to check the number on the door.]-- 3-02. Immediately.

[A spark of wry humor flashed briefly.] It seems your village has gone missing.

[Action]

[intemperiae]

Mm. You know him better than I. [Sephiroth's lip twitched wryly.] And I suppose there's little chance in contacting ShinRa with these...things. [A snort of disgust indicated the little communicator devices.]

[Action]

[pauldrons]

Guess so, since every number I tried didn't even go to voicemail. [siiigh.] Though that may be cause we don't have a world anymore, if you wanna believe that letter. I haven't found a window to check through yet.

[Action]

[intemperiae]

While I don't doubt the possibility, given those in power back home, I do doubt such a feat occurring without at least some notice of such. So, all things considered, I do believe I'll keep an open mind regarding that news.

Priority for now, however: locate Cadet Strife and whomever else might be stuck here and locate a way back to where we're supposed to be.

[atouchofstrife]

...Zack's not here. [ What are you smoking? Are you playing tricks with him again because he does not appreciate your bringing up Zack's name. Not one bit at all. Cloud is frowning harder -if possible-. Careful, his face might get stuck that way. ]

Of course it's gone. [ Oh he is going to start up a righteous growl here but then... He realizes something here. He had talked a little with Reno who didn't know about the stigma or the Remnants and thought Cloud had been still under the delusion of being Zack's better cousin. ]

[ He pressed his lips together and then the feed goes off. A door will open from room 3-08 and Cloud will step out, but if the feed wasn't being paid attention, the flesh should be because what steps out and starts down the hall in a slightly angry huff was Cloud all grown up. ]

[Action]

[pauldrons]

[Zack nods, glad to have some kind of purpose before the feeling of being put out to pasture with no idea why can sink in again, and also just glad to have something to do before his mind can wander into what the hell happened and why they're here but everyone else isn't. It's a terrible idea to let him think and Sephiroth knows it.]

So much for an easy mission, huh, Seph?

[intemperiae]

[Sephiroth stepped outside his own door, hearing the footsteps in the hallway. And his eyebrow lifted sharply to see the cadet, because this certainly wasn't the one who'd accompanied him and Zack Fair to that ass-freezing mountain just yesterday.

Nevertheless, the big General was a soldier still, and, whether Cloud liked it or not, it was still his commanding officer who stood in front of the open door, arms crossed over his chest, waiting. There was an inherent question in the tone, but his voice was just as quiet as always.]

...Cloud Strife?