Chapter 13: Scheming 101

The twins went back to their little base of operations and began putting some sense back to the soldiers. Ramiel cancelled his spell and everybody felt like they were in a dream.

He then contacted Lazard. "Hello, Lazard. This is Ramiel speaking. We need to go back to Midgar, report what we found and... Talk." Ramiel laid it on thick and Lazard squinted his eyes.

"I see, you've completed your mission then. Good job, I will send a chopper and get you guys back to HQ." Lazard wanted to talk to them privately and know what their true intentions were with Shinra.

"Sounds good to me, we'll wait here at our base." Ramiel cut the call and he sighed when he looked at his little flip phone.

"Why are you sighing, nii-san? We're going back to Midgar." Alex raised a brow and was wondering if something was wrong.

"No, no. There's nothing wrong, I just think that this little phone is a bit too... Old school, the reception is weak, the camera is crap, and it's slow as hell. Hmmm, maybe I should do something about this?" Ramiel had a great idea and it can help tons of people in the slums of Midgar.

"What's on your mind, I know that look on your face. You have an idea that will impact the world." Alex gave a grin and Ramiel laughed.

"My dear sister, what do you think of a computer that you can hold in your hands?" Ramiel smiled at her and she thought that was crazy.

"What do you mean by a handheld computer? That sounds honestly crazy, even I know how much processing power computers need. That will be quite amazing tech." Alex thought it was impossible.

"Hmmm, I think I know how we'll break through the matrix, we'll be rich baby! Remember the worldwide network of Shinra? That my dear sister, is the internet. Though they of course don't let the public use it too much except for emails and messages." Ramiel had a smile on his face, thinking of making smartphones and using Shinra's internet.

"Hmmm, that's fine and all. But won't that be pretty hard to control? We need to dominate Shinra first. They'll be opposed to this idea of yours by a lot." Alex was skeptical.

"We don't need to put it up in Midgar and over the plate. The slums, other nations and cities will be the ones using it. I'll call it a smartphone, it would just be technically a handheld computer with a good camera for now. But it will use Shinra's network later." Ramiel rubbed his hands and could smell the money and influence.

"Alright, I trust you nii-san. I don't know how you would do it, but I'm here to support you." Alex smiled at him and he patted her head.

"Thanks, now let's go back to Midgar. And I know just the person to talk to for this project. Though we need to focus on our career in SOLDIER first." The twins waited for their ride and returned to Midgar.

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Lazard waited personally for the twins and was quite impatient to talk with them in private. 'Are they onto something? They seem awfully different to children that are supposed to be raised in a controlled environment... They're too expressive and have individuality.'

Lazard has his suspicions, that something happened when they were raised. And Hojo wasn't really able to program them correctly.

A chopper arrived at HQ and the twins jumped out of it and landed softly on the ground. Showcasing amazing grace and control of their bodies.

"So, you have already returned. Status report." Lazard had to keep up airs and Ramiel gave him some files and maps.

"How about we talk over a milkshake? I could really use one right now, I forgot to bring some ingredients for a milkshake to Wutai." Ramiel shrugged and Lazard just went with the flow.

Lazard dropped off the Intel that they got from Wutai and they went to his office. He then pushed a button, eliminating all surveillance near his office so they could talk in private.

"Ooh, that's neat. So you really are planning some things behind your little office." Ramiel smirked at him and Lazard tensed up, thinking it was a trap.

But the twins just sat down and began sipping their milkshake. With Alex eating a cheeseburger, not really doing anything.

"Relax, so? What are you scheming? Lazard Shinra." Ramiel of course knew that he was an illegitimate son of Shinra, through Hojo's memories.

"So you know that as well, you aren't as simple as we thought then..." Lazard gave a wry smile and wondered what more did he knew.

"Let's get started then, Shinra is an incredibly corrupt company that wants absolute power over the world. And the planet is suffering from its blatant use of Mako. There is also a clear divide from the rich and poor." Lazard remembered his mother who did everything she could to raise him.

"That should be obvious, no? Why would an electrical company need an army otherwise? And enact cruel experiments, deep underground." Ramiel smirked and Lazard was shocked.

"So... You know that too? You're quite scary, how in the world did you learn of that? Anyways, let me explain more of what I've planned with professor Hollander. Hojo's rival in project Jenova when Gast left Shinra." Lazard went wide eyed at his seemingly deep knowledge of Shinra's darkest secrets.

"Hollander and Hojo had different ideas for the project. You are the product of project Binary. Pretty obvious already, but Hollander thought of a different way to use Jenova's cells. Project G, concerning a woman named Gillian Hewley." Lazard began the story of how Hollander started project G.

"Project Gillian was Hollander's vision for a much safer and consistent way to make SOLDIERs. Gillian Hewley got injected with Jenova cells and miraculously didn't mutate or experienced side effects from being a host. Hollander then transferred her cells with Jenova's traits to others in order to make them stronger with something much milder. Unlike in project Binary, where you two were given Jenova cells directly. A lot of it to be exact, which is why you two are superior in Shinra's eyes." Lazard frowned and the twins raised a brow at that information.

"So... Where are the test subjects for Project G then?" Alex was curious and felt a bit of affinity with the test subjects even if she didn't know them.

"I'll get to that, due to Hojo's massive success on you two. Project G got shut down and only 2 test subjects have been confirmed to be successful. Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley." That got Ramiel thinking.

'Hmm, will they be useful to us for more data in project Minerva? Most likely not, Shinra is right. We are more superior to them in every aspect. Even if I didn't add more Mako and Jenova cells than intended.'

"Do they have defects? I don't know about you, but Jenova cells are extremely corrosive. Not to the body, but the mind as well. This will surely come back to bite them later." Ramiel raised a brow at him and Lazard smiled.

"They technically don't have Jenova cells. That's the shtick of project G. Though it came with the downside of being weaker than you two. We've been continuing the experiments. I'm financing Dr. Hollander, we found out that we can pass their cells to make more SOLDIERs that would be comparable to 2nd class." Lazard had a smug smile on his face, but Ramiel had a feeling that shit will hit the fan.

"But won't that cause cellular degradation? Hah, Hollander is as crazy as Hojo. You guys are going to have a bad time later due to this. Just a little warning, me and Gast have been researching about biological engineering for years. And we haven't even gotten close to cracking Jenova's cells." Ramiel squinted his eyes at Lazard.

"Do not worry, read this. We have it all under control, besides. We aren't in a rush as well, Shinra is focusing on Wutai for now. This war will take years to complete even with your help." Lazard didn't know how capable they really were and the twins didn't really correct him.

"I guess, just don't come back to us later. I'll just say I told you so." Ramiel shrugged and read their reports. He quickly scanned their results and data. Almost making him frown when he saw it.

The copies from Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley mutates and adopts their appearances. Their cells take over the test subject and gives them increased abilities.

'This is a trait of Jenova's cells... No wonder they lost against Hojo. Our father might be a crazy son of a bitch. But he understood Jenova cells better. Only second to Gast, they don't know what they're dealing with.'

"Here's some of our findings on Jenova's cells. You should probably tell Hollander to not put G cells on other people before he reads that. Jenova's cells apparently weakens with Mako. Tell him that is Gast's research, he'll probably listen to you." Ramiel took out some files from thin air and gave it to Lazard.

He nodded at him thankfully and put it in a safe immediately. "Thanks, this is clearly an unequal exchange. You guys have more access to Jenova. This is extremely valuable, tell me if you need some help with something as exchange to even it out." Lazard offered.

"Nii-san, you were talking about something earlier. What was it? Smartphones, shouldn't you begin with that?" Alex advised and Ramiel's eyes lit up.

"That's right, I need a team of engineers. I'll revolutionize the phones of this world." Ramiel smirked and rubbed his hands, he might have tons of money from Hojo. But that wasn't enough compared to Shinra's wealth.

He needed literal tons of cash to phase out Mako energy from being used up by the world. Building nuclear reactors and power plants would be a pain in the ass. And he needed to begin building, now.

Nuclear power plants were his best option for now. Gaia's technology was weird, sometimes it was advanced. But in other times it is kind of outdated. A bit of a mix from the two, probably because of a lack of innovation and due to widespread poverty and magic.

'Hah, I've got tons of things to do and not enough time and manpower to do it... My life is just slaving away damnit.' Ramiel massaged his temples.

"What is this smartphone idea you have?" Lazard got curious and knew that they were really intelligent. They were well read and due to being genetically enhanced, their minds ran a mile a minute at all times.

"It's basically a handheld computer. We plan on distributing it to the populace first, but Shinra will definitely be on our asses when it comes out. We need support, it will be huge. Imagine all the information that humanity has ever archived. At the tips of your fingers." Ramiel smirked at him and Lazard went wide eyed.

"But how!? That's insane, Shinra will literally hunt anyone down that's related to this project of yours." Lazard thought that Shinra will never let it go through, information was power. And the majority of the world was in the dark. They prefer it that way.

"That's where you come in to play. This will also be an anti Shinra movement. We need to have access to the world wide network that Shinra created. And who else is the best man for the job, but an insider." Ramiel shrugged and Lazard frowned.

"That's... Incredibly difficult, Shinra has a tight hold on the world wide network..." Lazard thought it was impossible.

"You think too lowly of us. Of course we know they have a tight lid on the network. What we need first is to disseminate the product to the masses. Mass produce it, I told you. It's basically a handheld computer. And the poor do not have much leeway in entertainment." Ramiel shook his head in disappointment at his low ambitions.

"You mean, games and entertainment? Everybody will buy it with that purpose?" Lazard raised a brow at him, not really understanding it.

"Yes, we are building a new generation that will be seeped in this culture. Games and entertainment, the people are bored Lazard. Even the poor need entertainment. And Shinra will just view it as better cellphones or game consoles." Ramiel gave him some files again.

He planned on partnering up with Shinra through Lazard and buy components from the company. Mass produce the devices in a remote part of Wutai or Nibelheim. Then they'll start with the upper class of Midgar on the plate. Slowly give some to the slums as well. And launch an information attack at Shinra by hacking into the world wide network to inform everyone with a phone about their misdeeds.

"This... This is a terror attack that's made well. I don't think Shinra will recover from this if it goes through." Lazard was amazed at the details. Not knowing that he just came up with it in a few hours.

Alex chuckled, as she knew that her brother just made that plan earlier while they were en route to Midgar. He just has the right connections in Shinra, namely Lazard.

"Iron out the deal with dear dad, I don't really know how to make smartphones. But I have the general idea, I'll read up on computer engineering as well. Probably take me a couple of hours to read through multiple books about it." Ramiel shrugged and Lazard thought that being a supersoldier was just cheating.

"Hah, you know what? Got anything more up your sleeve? Before you go?" Lazard massaged his temples, suddenly receiving tons of work. But he was happy that they could truly begin to make a difference and speed up their rebellion against Shinra.

"Now that you've asked about it. I've been planning on replacing the energy of the world to something sustainable. Nuclear energy, it's how the sun shines. Pretty cool stuff, take a look at this." Ramiel gave him another set of folders and it was thick. Making Lazard sigh again.

"It's clean, safe, cheap, and more efficient than Mako. Mako reactors are huge as hell, and it only powers up Midgar, which isn't really that big in the grand scheme of things. One nuclear power plant can easily support a large city with one million inhabitants." Ramiel explained and Lazard's brain almost exploded from shock.

"I-it's that powerful and efficient? What are we doing with our lives then? That's revolutionary..." Lazard couldn't believe it.

"Umu, and it only needs about 20 metric tons of uranium fuel annually. Though of course I'm just eyeballing things, a couple of few power plants that are only a fraction of the size of Mako reactors can support Midgar reliably. Shinra will fall in a heartbeat, though this is a long term project." Ramiel rest his case and stood up.

"I see what you're doing, you're scary as hell. You'll launch an attack at Shinra that will bring them down with the help of the masses... Then you'll phase out Mako energy entirely, a complete overhaul of the world order. And military strength won't matter. You two aren't even at your peak yet." Lazard pieced it all together and he could see Shinra's downfall in a decade or less.

'This child... No, this man in front of me is a menace. The world is practically in his hands right now. Shinra just doesn't know it.' Lazard hardened his face and stood up as well, giving his hand to Ramiel.

"I'll definitely help with everything I can." Lazard could imagine the future, where everybody in Midgar could live better lives. Even the world, with his plans. A true revolutionary that doesn't stop at just one thing.

"Glad we were able to have this talk. You go and do your thing, we'll return to Nibelheim for a little vacation. I assume that the war will resume in a year?" Ramiel smiled at him and Lazard nodded. They then shaked hands and Alex pulled on him.

"Come on nii-san, I want to relax in Nibelheim. This place is honestly too stuffy. Hojo also gave a message to Shinra that he has new experiments in tow and wants us to be there." Alex hurried him up and they left.

"Wait a minute... Son of a bitch, they have Hojo in their full control..." Lazard gave a dry laugh and now knew why they have so much free reign. He excitedly began calling his contacts to begin their plans.

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Thanks for reading everyone, anyways ciao.