Thread: Jenova High: Whispered Truths (As Day Fades & darkest_fate)

Just wait there, Hojo said simply in reply, turning from the girls, walking back to the side of that closest stainless steel table. Setting the bottle down, the scientist picked up an item beside it that he'd placed there before, an oddly shaped gun, holding it in his left hand, the same whose arm kept the clipboard pressed to his body. He fidgeted a moment with its settings, a '001' appearing on an electronic display that sat on the top and toward the back, where a sight would usually be. He didn't answer Selphie's question. Not yet anyway. A private sneer appeared on his lips briefly, back turned to the four, gone as quick as it came. Had he not given explanation enough? These were just test subjects. In what other field did you explain to your lab rats 'why them'? His face showed nothing as he turned back, walking over to Tifa first. Briefly Hojo wondered if this girl, the chesty black-haired one would be the most difficult, but with her ample athleticism and even more ample body for breeding and nursing, such a specimen was worth the initial 'pounding of the chest,' in terms of authority. We will begin shortly. He slid his bare hand beneath Tifa's long dark hair, moving it to the side, over her right shoulder. You will feel a burning sensation - don't flinch, as he lined the gun up with the back of her neck. A soft hold on the trigger illuminated forward a light, an outline to act as guide for his aim, and when he had it aligned how he wanted his careful, precision touch squeezed down more, causing a laser to come forth from the gun's tip. A soft hum sounded, and for Tifa there would be the immediate burning sensation - uncomfortable, a bit painful, but no worse than holding one's hand above a flame for several seconds. As trained combatants I would think this feeling trivial. It was similar in feel to getting a shot from any other doctor, just prolonged. It took twelve seconds total, Hojo having only to keep the device steady, the laser moving on its own as it etched a '001' into the back of Tifa's neck. Then it was over. He moved the fighter's long hair back into place, pulling it over her shoulder, letting it fall about her back, and moved on to the next girl. That would be Yuna. Again, do not flinch, as he brought his hands together, adjusting the display so it read '002'. His free hand this time smoothed up the back of Yuna's bare neck, lifting her hair up a bit to hold it out of the way while he aimed the gun, first using the projected light to center and align it how he wanted, then squeezing down slowly on the trigger until the laser hummed forth, burning the number into her skin. Everything in this laboratory is recorded. There are cameras everywhere, and at multiple angles. It was so long before any of you arrived. As such, it has been since you all got here, and will continue to be during, and long after I need you all. When she was finished he let her hair fall down into place and moved over to the next obediently kneeling girl, to Selphie. Everything was repeated, he taking a moment to adjust the display to '003' first, holding up the brunette's hair, aligning the gun as he wanted on her neck and squeezing on the trigger while the laser shot forth, going about its work. Everything here is streamed and recorded off-site for posterity - for science. As such, each of you will have a new name while you are here. Please answer to it, use it for yourself and refer to others as theirs. Different, but not too difficult an adjustment, I would hope. He let Selphie's hair bob back into place when she was done. Next and last came Rikku, the blonde girl. Hojo adjusted the display to '004' and set about moving aside her hair as he'd done with Tifa's, over the teen's right shoulder, though Rikku's was slightly more elaborate and he took a moment to move aside her stray braids as well as the long, loose hair itself. Tifa is 'Zero Zero One,' or 'Number One.' The gun projected its next number on the back of Rikku's pale white neck, was aligned, and began its engraving. Yuna is 'Zero Zero Two,' or 'Number Two.' Selphie is 'Zero Zero Three,' or 'Number Three.' Rikku is 'Zero Zero Four,' or 'Number Four.' For a moment he wondered if he'd gotten all their previous names right, but quickly he dismissed the thought as not mattering. When the blonde was finished he took a handful of her long yellow hair and returned it to her back. Now, I believe I saw you expressing an interest in the containment units, Four? He walked from Rikku, back to that same steel desk where he sat the gun device back down. Hojo turned back to the group, held his clipboard up and flipped through it a moment, looking for something. He muttered to himself, nodded at something, went back to holding the thin wooden board at his side and looked to Rikku. Would you like to assist in showing the others what they do? ...I recommend removing your clothing first. Three, glancing to Selphie briefly, then back to Rikku, please collect Four's things and place them on the table. When you are ready you may go to the pod with your number on it and stand inside, preferably facing us.