Rebirth

Chapter 37 - Lies

"It was supposed to control the effect Jenova DNA had on SOLDIER recruits," Reno
said. "I saw some of the people he had used it on when I went to visit a friend in the
veteran's hospital. They were . . . " his voice trailed off as the memory of that day came
back to him.

"They were what?" Cid asked as his eyes flashed with anger.

Reno looked down at the man in front of him. "They were empty . . . shells. There was
nothing there after he was done with them. I don't know what that drug did, but after
they used it, those people, they were turned into vegetables."

"Reno, think carefully before you answer my next question," said Red quietly, looking
straight in the young man's eyes. Rude had stopped his struggling and was listening
intently to the exchange.

"Where did Rufus get this drug from?"

Reno sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He knew this was coming. He gazed at the
static field glowing around him for a moment before answering. "He told me that his
scientist made it for him. A man named Dr. Tendo."

Red looked quickly at Cid and turned back to face Reno. "Not Dr. Hiro?"

Reno's forehead furrowed as he heard the question. "No, it was Tendo, I'm sure of it.
Why?"

"Shit," said Cid under his breath. He spun to face Red, fear showing on his face. "Red,
we have to get to them before he gives her anything!"

Red was already half way out of the room. He yelled over his shoulder to Cid, "bring
him with us and try and reach Cloud on your phone."

Cid and Red shoved a handcuffed Reno into the back of Rude's car and took off to the
hospital. They had tried to reach Cloud but found his phone was set to send all calls to
voice mail. They had no idea where Tifa and the others were but Red knew if he could
pick up the scent at the hospital, they had a chance of finding them. He jumped out of the
car and circled the ground where they saw tire tracks. Cid watched him from the car,
willing him to find something that would lead them to Tifa and Cloud.

Red finally picked up a familiar scent. It was Dr. Tendo, he was positive. He followed it
out of the hospital parking lot and out on to the street. Cid followed with Reno in the car.

Standing on a building above the area where Red searched, Kadj smiled down at the trio.
Soon, he would have Mother back. "She must be getting close to her time now," he
thought to himself. "Soon I will witness the birth of a God."

Back at the ship, Rude struggled against his bonds. They had left him there floating
inches above the ground still encased in his electric prison. His threats and promises of
dire consequences fell on deaf ears as he watched the other three leave the ship. Reno
looked over his shoulder at him as he exited through the door, a strange look on his face.