Chapter 24: Abduction

After a few weeks, Ramiel and Alex were feeling pretty lazy and bored. With nothing to do, they were just training all day.

They were just sleeping in and Alexandra snuck on his bed again. It happened pretty often, so Ramiel didn't mind now. But they heard a horn from a ship that was getting closer. And with their sensitive hearing, they groaned.

"Ugh, nii-san. Did you forget to turn off the television or something? It's loud as hell." Alex whined as she nuzzled her face on his chest.

"Wha? There's no t.v. here dummy. Ugh, what the hell was that?" Ramiel rubbed his eyes and he looked at the window. He saw a retinue of ships and it seems that Shinra was getting a little serious now.

"I see, they're sending in some big guns huh?" Ramiel saw the machines that Shinra sent. And it was most likely because of the worrying monsters that Wutai used.

Shinra was also of course pissed off that Wutai managed to kill the majority of the 2nd class SOLDIERs that were in their employ. SOLDIERs weren't that many. And 2nd class was even rarer, 1st class ones are nigh impossible to make.

They sent larger ships, and major weapons are going to be distributed right now. Wutai will be witnessing how vicious Shinra really is with warfare.

Large machines were being transported to the shores and the majority of the people that were in the ships were engineers and mechanics. Tasked with maintenance and repairs for their machines of war.

Alexandra rubbed her eyes as she started to sober up due to the amount of noise being generated by the transport vehicles. "Woah, they're really bringing the big guns eh?" Alexandra was quite surprised and thought of why not bringing those things here in the first place.

The majority of machines were foot soldiers that mimicked humans. Equipped with a machine gun for one of its hands. While the other was a lightsaber. Which is super lethal of course. (pic)

But the real heavy hitters were the mechs that were quite large and menacing. Super heavy armored weapons that can take a lot of punishment and dish out tons of it as well.

The first ones that got transported were scorpion sentinels. A mech that can use its heavy tail to puncture thick walls for sieging. Equipped with a high powered laser that can cut through steel. Miniature missiles with auto target functions. And of course, heavy caliber machine guns. It was highly mobile as well, having multiple crab-like legs for movement. (pic)

Next were Crab Wardens. A hermit crab looking tank that can ram through almost any obstacle on its way with its high velocity in straight lines. Loaded chock full of missiles and bullets for sieges and defenses. (pic)

Last variety were Gigantipedes. Centipede looking robots that could traverse on walls with its powerful sets of legs. Equipped with artillery rockets that can put down the punishment at almost any angle. (pic)

Ramiel whistled and Alexandra was quite annoyed that they just gave those bots right now. A lot less people would've died if they came with them at the start.

"Commander Ramiel, Alexandra! Reporting for duty, ma'am, sir!" A soldier saluted in front of them when they went out to look for the full amount of weapons and new tech they'll be using while in their pajamas.

But the soldier wasn't mistaken, everybody in Shinra knew that they could take care of Behemoths from their simulation footage. And those things will tear these robots apart in minutes. They're that vicious and strong.

"I guess Wutai is going to have a bad time." Alexandra shrugged and Ramiel sighed, hoping that Godo has more of those beasts. Because Shinra's going to press the attack for real with their new army.

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In Nibelheim, Hojo got a message from Scarlet that the chopper that will be responsible for his evac is already on the way.

"Kekeke~ I think it's time, no?" Hojo waited for Gast to come get him as Gast has been trying more and more experiments on Hojo every day that passes.

At night, Gast called for him because Aerith and Ifalna were already asleep. Hojo followed Gast down to the basement like always. But the brilliant scientist didn't know that Hojo has a wide grin on his face right now.

"Okay, Hojo. We've tested everything, I guess Ramiel's hypothesis was correct. Just really troublesome to get this all right. Every cell type needed adjustment on how much Minerva cells it can handle. And how much Mako is to be given for supplementation." Gast sighed in satisfaction as he has finally in all intents and purposes. Completed project Minerva.

Sure, it wasn't a one size fits all. And a lot more could be done to improve the procedure. Reduce the risks too, but with just precise and accurate calculations. Those can be quickly taken care of with just a few cell samples from the host that will undergo the augmentation.

"So it seems, Gast. My son is definitely a genius that will lead humanity to its pinnacle, wouldn't you agree?" Hojo answered back and Gast thought he was having a hallucination.

"D-did you just." Gast's confusion turned into horror and Hojo gave a wide smile at him. "Hehe. Guhahahaha! I like that look on your face, Gast. Suits the face of someone that will not witness this great achievement. What a shame." Hojo shook his head wistfully and Gast immediately sprinted for the emergency alarm for Ramiel.

"Nah uh, that's a big no no Gast. You should already know that." Gast heard Hojo's voice and he didn't care, he was only a few inches away from the button.

But he stopped in his tracks as he coughed up blood. A hand exited from his chest, clean through it. "A shame indeed Gast. You're such a brilliant man. But you just had to abandon everything and value your morality and wife too much. Too illogical, that's why you're dangerous. And I learned my lesson with my children. They're suuuper dangerous." Hojo whispered at his ears as Gast went wide eyed.

"T-they'll be coming for you... Hojo, mark my words... Even Alexandra will be enough to take you down... N-not to mention that absurd guy, Ramiel." Gast frowned heavily, starting to lose consciousness as his heart got crushed by Hojo.

"Oh I know, I'm not the one who'll be doing that Gast. The twins aren't even at their peak yet, but the older one is nigh invincible, right? I made him that way, I know. Kekeke~ Say goodbye to your little family though. I'll take good care of them." Hojo laughed and tossed him far away from the emergency button.

Gast's life started to escape him. But he endured, just for one thing. "Heh... You won't achieve anything in the end, Hojo... You will fail." Gast coughed as he put his all in staying alive.

"Hmph, why don't you just stay there and die quietly. Dying people have too many things to say and I'm not interested." Hojo replied as he started compiling all the data that Gast has gathered through the years.

Meanwhile, at Ifalna and Aerith's room. Ifalna gasped as she began feeling that Gast was beginning to return to the lifestream.

"Aerith... Aerith honey! Come on, wake up. We need to go, now!" Ifalna sobered up quickly and knew what to do. As Ramiel and Alexandra drilled it into her head thousands of times in case something like this happens.

Ifalna quickly carried Aerith and took a bag of gil that was inside the drawer of her nightstand. "Mommm? What's happening?" Aerith rubbed her eyes as she was still sleepy.

"Something bad is happening baby. Oh dear... Don't worry, mommy's here. Everything will be fine." Ifalna started tearing up as she ran as fast as she could with Aerith in tow.

After a few minutes, they quickly arrived at the woods and Aerith was confused. "Mommy, where's dad? Why isn't he with us?" Aerith asked and Ifalna calmed her breathing. Putting her forehead on Aerith's.

"Daddy's okay, honey. He just needed to do something, alright?" Ifalna smiled at Aerith. Suddenly, they saw a bright explosion at the location of the manor. Followed suit by the shockwave.

"Gast!" Ifalna gritted her teeth, but she carried Aerith again and began running as fast as she could.

A few minutes earlier, Hojo was finally done in taking everything that he needed. The only thing left is to take Jenova's body so he could transport it to Shinra HQ for project Minerva to be in full swing. Planning on creating tons of SOLDIERs and modified humans that would be the rulers of the new world order.

"Well, well, well. I guess you're tough, Gast. How can you still be alive? But don't worry, I'll definitely use your research for the greater good, and science too of course." Hojo laughed and Gast was at his limits. Already running on fumes.

"Ho...jo. You... Will not... Succeed." Gast's hand that was inside his lab coat took out another button, but it served another purpose.

"Asta la vista, baby. Ramiel... Taught me that." Gast pushed the button and Hojo wasn't quick enough to stop him. Being a scientist and all, he wasn't really capable of using his superhuman body to the maximum efficiency.

With a resounding explosion, the manor got blown to kingdom come as Ramiel and Gast filled it to the brim with explosives. The manor was also quite far from Nibelheim village. So they had the idea of a self destruct protocol if needed to. Jenova was too dangerous to be left to anyone, but them. And their research was too valuable, they could also just recreate it anyways.

After the dust settled, a hand exited from the rubble and Hojo excavated himself out of there. "Damn it all! Damn you Gast! Ahhhhh!" Hojo was safe and sound as he used a barrier materia that he stole in the manor just in case.

Hojo quickly sobered up and remembered that there was still things to be salvaged there. "Yes... The Cetra and her child, I can just make another set of Jenovas. Tough luck, Gast. I didn't quite die from your little trap." Hojo started looking for clues on where his two targets were.

At the forests of mount Nibel. Ifalna was panting heavily as she ran with all her might. Determined to run away as fast as she could with Aerith. Because for sure, Shinra will flip Nibelheim upside down. And they can hide as much as they like, but they'll be found out relatively quickly.

After almost an hour of running, Ifalna's body started to give and she needed to rest. The adrenaline wearing out as she plopped at the base of a tree.

"Mom, what was that earlier? Wasn't that where our house is? Did Ramiel-nii and Alex-nee use some kind of magic? Are they back?" Aerith misunderstood and Ifalna hugged her tightly.

"No, honey. But I sure hope daddy managed to call them..." Ifalna's anxiety made her almost go crazy from worry and fear.

"What a lovely little family, you are hehehe~" Ifalna almost strained her neck from how quickly she craned her neck to the side. Her heart dropped immediately as she saw that it was Hojo.

"Stay back!" Ifalna stood up and hid Aerith behind her. "Awww, such maternal instinct you have there. But that's not quite gonna work on me." Hojo used a sleep materia on them and Ifalna was able to resist for a moment. But due to the amount of Mako in him, the spell got elevated to new heights. the mother and daughter quickly losing consciousness.

"Ahhh, Aerith." Ifalna tried opening her eyes, fighting the creeping unconsciousness. But she fell to it in the end as she heard footsteps go near them.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.