Hojo Kuno had practically fled Wiley Odine's laboratory, irritated by his mangled speech patterns. The lift slowly took him back to the Surface. The need for security (both internal and external) of the Guardian Force project had pushed the 'Board' to install the more sensitive research overseas.
Officially, the old russian oil platform had been converted into a deep sea research center after its buying by Shinra. Ironically, it was supposed to be one but what the first crew found at the bottom of the sea changed everything.
The ruins were old, older than the first human civilizations. There, Shinra found the undeniable proof that Magic existed. It had been a godsend for the corporation which had wanted to branch out in the arms market for a while. Various projects on magical weapons and enhanced soldiers were born.
The Guardian Force project was now in the lead, thanks to Ranma. Had Sailor Pluto not intervened, it would have hit a dead-end, no subjects being able to survive the infusion process for long: A perfect example of a skeleton in the closet coming back to bite you in the ass. Now because of her, Shinra was becoming a very real threat to the Future as she saw it.
Hojo was in a way thankful to Ranma. Thanks to him and the things they learned during the experiments, he had been able to save his own son from insanity. Tatewaki was handling the infusion of the Guardian codename Yojimbo surprisingly well.
An helicopter was waiting for Hojo on the landing platform of the deep sea research center. He despised being used as an errant boy and wished to leave as soon as possible. He had better things to do...
******
The room was dark, the members of the Board covering behind anonymity. Hojo was standing in the middle of a upraised and circular table. A light shone upon him, adding to the unneeded (in his opinion) melodrama of the situation. His 'superiors' could play all the psychological games they wanted, he was above that.
"Your report, professor Hojo"
Hojo cleared his voice before starting "Ahem... I am pleased to report that subject Alpha-Unit 00 has survived the infusion process and recovered from his original injuries. He is currently going through intensive reeducation and programming. It's only a matter of time until he is ready for training"
"Excellent news, professor Kuno. What can you tell us about...," A Board member looked at a folder in his hands, "The practical effects of the infusion process on a human?"
"From what we've seen so far, Alpha-Unit 00 has gained incredible regenerative capabilities. His physical capabilities have been greatly enhanced as well, proof being of the level of restraint we have to use on him. It is also likely that the subject can now access the magical energy of GF Bahamut to cast spells and perhaps even make the dragon king manifest on our level of Reality"
"This looks extremely promising. I have a question, though. Why use children? Surely, adults should be a better choice and would be operational faster"
Hojo considered the question and shoock his head "I'm afraid not. When a GF is bound to a human, it takes residence in the mind of its host. We tried the process on adults, all of them went insane. A child's mind is ironically more appropriate as there is more 'empty space' to start with"
Another Board member intervened "Besides, while it will take longer for the subjects to be ready, children have the potential to be molded into extremely loyal soldiers. They're also more easily controllable"
"You have made your point. Do you have anything to add to your written report, professor Kuno?"
"Yes, doctor Odine has requested authorization to perform a second GF infusion on Alpha-Unit 00. He has assured me that the subject can survive the procedure"
"It sounds interesting but rather risky from what you've told us before. What is your personal opinion?"
"Frankly, I think the success of the first infusion has gone to doctor Odine's head. He may be right but I wouldn't risk losing our first viable candidate now. I say we wait and see how Alpha-Unit 00 is handling being bound to Bahamuth first. We can always try adding a second GF later"
The Board went silent, its members deliberating over secure private lines. Then one voice was heard "Professor Kuno, we have decided to follow your advice for the time being. Tell Odine to wait until we've observed more of the subject's progress. Such an investment cannot be made lightly"
Hojo smiled. If Ranma died, the project's future would rest on his son Tatewaki. He didn't bind a GF to his flesh and blood for making him into a mindless killing machine "Very well, I shall tell him immediately"
See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Thu, 19 Feb 2004 17:47)
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