towerofanimus

Entry tags:

Intro

Characters: Siira (

speaks_dirty) and YOU
Setting: Room 2-13, Cafeteria
Format: Prose to start but will match
Summary: Siira wakes up in a weird tower with a note saying the Planet was destroyed. Sephiroth will receive all her blame. And hatred.
Warnings: Potential violence? And definitely swearing!

Room 2-13

The sleep paralysis was bothersome. Very much so but the Turk kept herself calm, assuming it was a Stop spell. Obviously Sephiroth wouldn't have left the outside perimeter of Corel unguarded, how could she have been so careless?! Now she was a prisoner of a psychopath his followers.

'Elena.'

The Turk who defected. No, they were going to get her back. They'd grab her a run, knocking her out if necessary.

And then the sleep paralysis wore off and Siira was on her feet in an instant, looking around the room and falling into a defensive stance. Her clothes felt oddly constricting, hard to fight in. Her suit shouldn't feel like that. Siira looked herself and and scowled. The trunk at the end of the bed she'd woken up on caught her attention and she quickly yanked it open, pulling out everything she needed for her uniform.

It took less than five minutes for her to change into her suit and another three to tie her boots tight and stick a a few Materia into one of the bangles she had as well. Part of her was tempted to tie back her long hair but she'd never had to do that in the past and she wouldn't start now. Veld often remarked about how surprised he was that it never got in her way of fighting. As a last addition, she pulled out her rarely used gun. Every Turk owned one but Siira never used it. Check the ammo clip, she nodded to herself and flicked on the safety before tucking it in the back of her pants, jacket completely covering it.

And then the note. Read and then crumbled, stomped on and then spit on before she stomped on it again.

'Sephiroth!'

He was the only one that she could think to blame. And he was the only one she would blame before she stormed out of her room, not even bothering to check the room number.

Floor 27 - Lab

Oh yes, this was a familiar sight. Even if she wasn't SOLDIER or a scientist, Siira could easily recognize a lab when she saw it. It was one of the places in the ShinRa building that Siira avoided like the plague. There wasn't a single employee that hadn't heard about the shit that went down in there. Siira had a particular aversion to labs though. She knew about Aerith and Ifalna. Even with how diluted her blood was, there had always been a faint whisper in her mind, the Planet always there with her.

Like hell she'd ever hang around here. To the stairs!

Floor 25 - Meadow

It wasn't a gym or anything but it would do. Anyone that ventured here while Siira was on the floor would find a black jacket neatly folded several feet away from the woman. Her gun is safely tucked into the jacket and, with her insanely long hair, she's going to several exercises. Her movement is very careful, always planned, that of a champion martial artist. And she was one until Veld recruited her. Turks weren't allowed to compete in tournaments.

Floor 10 - Aquarium

Not a bad place to find but not something that Siira was ever interested in. Fish were interesting to watch but not very interactive. This place it slightly more interesting though, as she stuck her hand in and some of the less cannibalistic fish nibbled at the tips of her fingers. Drawing her hand out of the water and shaking it off to dry it, because she'd never wipe fish water on her suit, she almost missed a larger fish headed towards her. If it weren't for years of training and more for practice, she'd have lost her arm, just barely dropping her body to the floor as it tried to take a bite out of her.

"Suck on that, ya bastard!"

Cafeteria

Siira could be found sitting at one of the tables, alone, and eating the oatmeal in silence. There's an air of anger around her from finding the note. The woman isn't even complaining about the food. She just wants to finish eat and get back to searching the tower. Spending so many years retired and running a bar with her friends hadn't made her any less of a Turk. She'd know everything she could by the end of the day. Guaranteed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hojo isn't in residence at the moment, but the lab isn't unoccupied. Though it is dark, save for a single light. Fuhito is seated at a table not too far from the doorway, obviously making notes on whatever is happening in the dimly lit petrie dishes on the counter nearby. Sensing approach, he looks up from his work.
He would be alert and armed in any case, but given the prevailing darkness in the Tower he's particularly cautious.

Ah, another one, a female. Watching her, he notes her reluctance to enter.
After a moment, he gives into whimsy and speaks.]

May I help you?

[Siira's eyes snap towards the voice, watching him beneath the light. Her hopes of getting through this floor quickly were dashed in only a few seconds. The dim lighting and years since she last saw him were to his advantage as she gave no indication on whether she recognized him or not.]

No, it's fine. I was planning on just passing though.

[This place freaks her out. Especially with such little light.]

[Feeling he can spare a little more power from his portable emergency light, Fuhito dials it up a notch. He wouldn't this conversation to be interrupted by the arrival of some unseen horror.]

I see. With the power cut, there are lifeforms active during daylight hours that normally would not pose a threat except at night. Take care walking the corridors, Turk.

[There's a flicker of recognition across her expression, something-- Someone from years ago. Someone she did not like, who made life hellish for them.]

What Turks do you know that aren't careful?

[Martial Arts was, sure as hell, one of the more careful Turks.]

[There's a pause that might or might not indicate a grim sort of amusement. He glances black down at his notes, completes a line.]

The Turks I know are-- careful, perhaps. But they are also arrogant.
Navigating this place, especially at this time, calls for extra care.

There are "monsters" everywhere.

[And this Turk happens to be slightly impatient and easily annoyed when someone begins a conversation while working on something.]

Which Turks might those be? And we're hardly arrogant.

[Lies, several of them were in their early years. How could they not be though? They were made Turks after all.]

Can't be any worse than the shit back on the Planet.

Any true "monsters" you might have encountered on the Planet were abominations resulting from the exploitation and pollution of her Lifeforce by arrogant human beings. She struggles to compensate beneath the weight of the burdens they force her to bear.

[Fuhito closes his notebook.]

All human beings are arrogant. They believe their petty concerns to be paramount, above even the needs of the source of the very lives they waste.

The Turks are merely more arrogant than most, though with no more real cause.

[Fuhito allows a thin smile.]

There are more of your kind here, some familiar to me, some not. I suggest you seek them out.
When you find them, give them my-- respects. I'm Fuhito.

The Mako Reactors. They're long gone. The Planet is recovering. Slowly, but it is.

[Siira should know.]

We worked for the most powerful company on the Planet, who wouldn't have been arrogant at the time? You said it yourself, humans are arrogant by nature.

[Okay... All of her calm is gone now and her gaze turning steely. It's hard to forget something like that, even if over a decade had passed.]

Fuhito!

[Fuhito has no intention of rising, or of fighting. He does wonder why he feels compelled to needle this woman-- or any Turk, really. There is no point to it. They bluster and pose and refuse to listen to reason. All over again.

His patience feels worn a little thin, his collar a little tight.

He'd like to free himself from emotional motivations, but reminds himself that this is a process, and an interrupted one at that. He sighs, tilting his head. It's good to feel the woman's hatred, really. It makes him feel more like himself, reminds him of his duty to the Planet. He accepts that willingly.

Still, he has no intention of allowing himself to be picked-off by a lone Turk. The open holster at his side, below the level of the table top, the weight of the weapon within-- these are reassurances.]

Yes, I see you do know me-- would that be by reputation, or through experience? I don't recognize you, I'm afraid. You see, you all look alike to me. More or less.

[Oh yeah, just piss off a veteran Turk. That's... clever. Although, she remembers how smart Fuhito actually is which is why she's not making a move to attack. She'd prefer to have a couple more Turk around her if she ever were to.]

Experience, obviously! The Zirconiade incident, you left Elfe in the worst condition possible!

[For the man who manipulated two opposing forces (the ShinRa and AVALANCHE) only to come within a hairsbreadth of succeeding at his goal-- no, a Turk is not a threat.
They had never understood, none of them, there was nothing he would not have done for her. What life could matter next to her life? Not even his own.

How well he remembers that day.]

An incident. Is that what you think it was?

[Fuhito's shoulders move in a shrug.]
Yes, I remember. She had served her purpose. Had I succeeded, her suffering would have been brief.
But that suffering was never anything compared to the suffering of the Planet. Any true child of Gaia's would have been glad to offer up her life. As I did mine.

Now that I find myself here, I only wish to return to Her. Some of your kind believe She is dead. They are fools.

Oh, and what would you call it? Summoning something like that!?

[That burned her up a ~~lot~~ bit.]

"A true child of Gaia"? What, do you think you're one of the Cetra now?

Good for you, though, willing to give up your life for the Planet. That doesn't justify sacrificing Elfes' you know. You're lucky she and Commander Veld survived, or I'd be tempted to kick your ass right back to the Planet.

[There's no smile as such, but there is a definite air of amusement.]

Threats of physical violence, how-- Turkish. I will defend myself, of course, but you can do as you like. I don't fear death or pain. Both are temporary states in this place.

As for the incident-- "luck" has never been a factor in my actions, and I have never needed any justification other than Her righteous cause. Had I mastered the summon, we would very likely not be having this conversation. Or its content might at least be very different.

[Fuhito's voice is low-pitched, and grows a bit tender (for him) when he speaks of Gaia.]
I have it from a colleague here that the Cetra are no more in his time, his universe. Of course, all human life on Gaia, such as it is, had genesis in their cells. So yes, I am a true child of the Cetra, of Gaia. Her only true child, since only I have placed Her life above my own.

She has rewarded me, despite my failure. When I leave this place, I'll return to Her Lifestream.
Where will you be returned to, Turk?

I said tempted, I ain't in a mood to waste time trying to fight you.

[Damn, but he's got her curious now about that...] Temporary?

That colleague of yours would be wrong. The Lifestream has been resurrecting the dead. A Cetran among them.

[Crossing her arms.]

I'll be going back to saving the Planet.

[[OOC: I hope a science threadjack/team up is okay with you, just me know if not, it's cool! If you'd like Siira to react first, she can tag next. :3]]

[There's laughter from the darkness nearby. In the de-powered lab, there are many shadows, many places for someone or something to hide.

Hojo has been working, hidden away behind a partition along with the the light of his pen-light. He's been amused by their ridiculous gabbing about "The Planet"--really, that is a great failing on Fuhito's part, that sentimentality about what is, after all, only energy.

Shortly after the laughter from the dark, there comes a voice:]

The phenomenon you describe is, in fact, impossible, for a variety of scientific reasons, most of which I'm sure you wouldn't be able to comprehend.

Unless something very interesting were at work, but--

More than likely, you are either delusional, misguided, or from an alternate world. Or a combination of the three.

[[ooc: It is SO okay.]]

Shiva's tits! Where the hell'd you come from??

[Damn, that shiver down her spine is going to haunt her all day now. It was bad enough being heckled by Fuhito but Hojo's here too? Her life is hell...]

That 'phenomenon' was happening right before I got to this hell hole. I ran into too many dead people already, including those we knew that died around Meteorfall.

And I'm pretty sure how strict ShinRa always was about how mentally stable their Turks were, Professor. So you can scratch off the delusional part.

[Fuhito glances off into the shadows, then back to the Turk-- following the thread of conversation as well as making note of the Turk's reaction to Hojo. He agrees with the Professor in this instance. Hojo is a great man in many ways.

He isn't given to laughing aloud, but were there ever an occasion, this would be it.]

Strict?

I've plumbed the depths of the ShinRa files on the Turks. I assure you, "stability" was never in the top criteria for their ranks. In fact, precisely the opposite is true. What use would a band of well-dressed thugs be to the government if they were "stable"? It is precisely the neediness, amorality, and instability of the individuals chosen that makes them suited to be Turks. Fostering in these broken people a nearly pathological sense of group loyalty, issuing them a license to exercise their violent, criminal impulses-- well, what better way to play upon their natural arrogance, make them think themselves fit to be enforcers, the bloody hand at the end of the long arm of the ShinRa.

[Though he used AVALANCHE as a platform for his own secret goals, Fuhito was nonetheless very effective in it.]

Though it seems to be the same as far as the Turks are concerned, your universe seems to differ from ours. The phenomenon you describe is indeed impossible, barring incalculably catastrophic circumstances within the Lifestream itself.

And yes, one can die here, Turk. But the effect is temporary. Through some mechanism, the Tower will repair and revive your body. Though I understand it is possible to exhaust the effect, eventually.

[He doesn't emerge from the darkness yet, merely laughs, addressing Fuhito at first.] It's amusing, isn't it, that the very statement that Turks aren't delusional, is in and of itself delusional? But yes, you're quite right in your estimation of them. Well said. They seem not to realize that this very belief they harbor about their own stability was an encouraged misconception.

[He does come a little closer then, turning toward Siira.] Haha, I assure you, there is no need to educate a former ShinRa executive on our hiring practices, or indeed, anything about the company.

Hm, yes, any life form repelled by the Lifestream would be alien in nature or otherwise "unpalatable". That is why Sephiroth could return to life. So these life forms are likely manifestations of something that is not of the Planet. Though I could see how others might easily be deluded into believing something else. Unscientific minds arrive at unscientific conclusions, quite often and easily.

Meteorfall, Stigma... [These are events that Cloud mentioned to him, though he doesn't understand the latter completely, or know all the facts surrounding the former.] Such events can affect public opinion, leading to mass hysteria and numerous false beliefs--oh, there are countless possibilities.

They certainly don't let batshit insane bastards join the Turks. And my friends were anything but.

You're talking about how the Turks used to operate, Fuhito. When ShinRa was at the top of the world when it now focuses on restoring it alongside the World Regenesis Organization.

[~~Oh sweet Leviathan, why is he coming closer? Go awaaayyyy!~~]

He's one of the people that came back. His Remnants too, as well as Zack Fair, Dr. Crescent and Miss Gainsborough.

[The slightest of pauses and then:] And yourself, Professor. You were one of the scientists studying this phenomenon when you were resurrected.

[Without taking his eyes from the Turk, he nods in agreement with Hojo--he speaks in answer to the woman.]

The Company has, as the Professor said, encouraged misconceptions-- even and especially among its own people.

I've no way to either prove or disprove events and outcomes as they've occurred in your universe, Turk. But in mine, the ShinRa are still very much in power over humanity, and more importantly, over the Planet herself.

I can only act on the data available to me. I don't expect you to understand. I do expect you and your kind to come for me, without regard for my work in this place, but that expectation is based on hard experience.

I'm sure my counterpart in your universe would agree. Hypothetically, of course.

You seem to think only completely insane people can be delusional. It can be so trying to converse with people who don't understand the basic meanings of words. I will assist you: anyone holding an unrealistic or false belief is delusional. Not only gibbering lunatics.

Hm, you come here with stories and not data, and your impressions aren't particularly interesting to me. I'm more concerned with our current situation. If you had hard data, perhaps... Though--though-- I do note that all the people you mention were the subjects of my work. Now, that makes a little more sense--if it was another of my results. That I can see. [He laughs.]

Ah, his Remnants. [Well, that's a term Cloud hadn't used, but Hojo acts as if he knows it.] Of course they would.

And of course I came back. [He says this as if it were the most obvious eventuality. He's already planning to come back. He has his ways.]

But, as my esteemed colleague says, the current theory is that we all come from different universes, in case you were not aware.

That's all behind ShinRa now. President ShinRa has been honest to the public about his support of the WRO and of our intentions since Mr. Tuesti revealed their financial support.

Oh? And what work might that be?

[Oh Hojo, you can drive her mad. And she switches her focus to him.]

It's a bit difficult to bring hard data when I was in the middle of a mission. Even moreso since evidence of it would be someone who has also witnessed the resurrections or someone who actually came back. And everyone I've met seems not to remember anything beyond Meteorfall or Geostigma.

So explain how I'm supposed to prove anything?

You'll have to pardon my skepticism, Turk.

[Fuhito makes an abortive shrug.]
The universe I left is not as-- idyllic as the one you describe. Such a turnaround within the ShinRa would be all well and good. But it would hardly solve Gaia's problem. She needs a millennium free from the weight of humanity to recover properly. Humans truly interested in Her well-being would be glad to give up their lives for her.

Tuesti-- yes, the Head of "Urban Development" and the developer of the Mako Reactor. What a universe you must live in to allow a war criminal to rise so high.

As for my work, why I'm researching the Tower in order to discover the means to control or destroy it and its creators. The desire to return "home" is a common goal among the prisoners here. It would be in the best interest of the group if I were to be left in peace.

Not that I expect to be,

It is not behind ShinRa "now". We are not from the same points in time, and events are not fated to come to pass, as some wrongheadedly choose to believe. The future is not set. My world may reach quite a different end than the events you are familiar with.

[Hojo has to laugh again.

He is chuckling at the both of them, as they're both being ridiculous. He's not even going to touch Fuhito's absurd sentimentality when it comes to the Planet, and he's not particularly interested in Tuesti.]

My work is my work. I have no need to explain it to you.

You seem to think I expect you to have brought hard data. No, not at all. Exactly: you are not supposed to prove anything. I am simply not interested in your unprovable nattering. What good does it do me here? None at all, unless you have something of actual interest or relevance to share. Do you?

If the time comes that I am returned to life, as you describe, then I will be interested, and not before. I'll be able to study the phenomena myself at that point, without relying on unverifiable reports from unreliable sources.

[He does have to agree with Fuhito on one thing.]

Yes, we are working, now, for everyone's benefit.

That "war criminal" is doing a damn good job, with the WRO. And nobody should have to die to heal any damage to the Planet. The Mako Reactors are all gone now, there's less of a burden to it.

[She turned her attention to Hojo, glaring.]

You'll see when that happens, then. Excuse me if I'm skeptical that you'd believe it even then. Scientists and their need for logical explanations to everything, and all.

[She hated to admit, even to herself, that Fuhito and Hojo seemed to be genuine in that regard. Siira may not be in charge of the Turks but...]

I'll make sure the others don't bother you, either of you, if I can help it. We all want to go home, and I don't believe for a damn minute that our world is gone.

[Siira still hates the pair of them, and she's still scowling. They also still freak her out.]

Intro

Floor 27 - Lab

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