Chapter 4: The Shinra Initiative
The Mako-infused morning air crackled with electric anticipation as Xander stepped onto the facility's observation deck, his tailored Shinra executive coat billowing in the artificial wind generated by the massive reactors below. Sephiroth materialized beside him in a flash of silver light, his legendary presence causing the very atmosphere to shimmer with barely contained power.
"Phase One initiates now," Xander declared, his words cutting through the mechanical hum of a dozen industrial processes. Below them, enhanced SOLDIER operatives moved with inhuman precision, their Mako-enhanced eyes blazing like emerald stars in the pre-dawn darkness.
"Corporate doctrine is clear—we harvest consent before we harvest lifestream," Xander continued, his voice carrying the cold calculation of a man who'd orchestrated the fall of nations. "Terror creates martyrs. Hope creates consumers."
The SOLDIER operatives nodded in understanding, their Mako-enhanced eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
Xander released a mechanical spy drone—one of Shinra's latest reconnaissance models. The device showed no obvious military applications, appearing more like an advanced weather monitoring system. He sent it toward the village, then activated his neural link interface, a technology that allowed Shinra executives to connect with their deployed assets through shared sensory data.
Through the drone's crystalline lens, reality bent and twisted as Xander's consciousness merged with the surveillance network. The village below pulsed with organic heat signatures—fifty-seven potential assets, their bio-signatures painting abstract art across his augmented vision.
In the town square, chaos erupted with surgical precision.
"The sky bleeds silver tears!" Jenova shrieked, her human disguise rippling like water as cellular instability threatened to expose her true nature. The ancient entity threw herself against the stone fountain, her performance so convincing that even Xander felt a flicker of admiration. "The Planet's veins run empty! We are forgotten children of a dying world!"
Market vendors scattered their wares as the madwoman's words cut through the morning bustle like a blade through silk. But instead of dismissal, Xander detected something far more valuable in their biometric readings—genuine fear.
"The Planet weeps! The lifestream grows weak! We need salvation from the sky!" She gestured wildly toward the clouds, where Bahamut waited far above, cloaked and invisible.
A group of merchants laughed at what they perceived as an old crone's ravings.
"Salvation from the sky?" A trader jeered, tossing a small stone that bounced off her shoulder. "Maybe your 'sky gods' accept payment in gil, old woman!"
Jenova's eyes flashed with barely contained alien fury, her cellular structure briefly rippling beneath the human facade.
"Do not break character," Xander commanded through the neural link. The entity wasn't truly hurt—merely insulted by the mortal's dismissal.
"May I request that this one receive... special attention during the loyalty integration process?" Jenova's voice echoed in his mind, dripping with otherworldly malice.
"Noted. Target him for priority cellular manipulation," Xander conceded. Through the drone's feed, he watched the disguised entity look directly at the surveillance device and nod subtly.
"Sephiroth, that's your cue," Xander announced. "Remember—you're a benefactor bringing progress, not a conqueror."
The legendary SOLDIER activated his materia-powered flight system, streaking toward the village like a silver comet. His entrance was designed to inspire awe, not terror.
Through the drone's cameras, Xander smiled as Sephiroth descended gracefully into the village square, his massive wing creating a dramatic silhouette against the sky. The villagers gasped and stepped back, but their expressions showed wonder rather than panic.
"People of this village," Sephiroth's voice rang out with practiced charisma, "I bring word of a new age. An age where your children need not suffer in darkness, where your crops can grow in abundance, where sickness becomes a distant memory."
He gestured, and holographic displays materialized in the air—images of gleaming cities, abundant harvests, and people living in prosperity.
"The Shinra Electric Power Company offers you partnership," Sephiroth continued, his presence commanding absolute attention. "Clean energy that flows from the Planet itself. Technology that will elevate your lives beyond anything you've imagined."
Xander watched with satisfaction as the villagers leaned forward, captivated by the promises of progress.
"But first," Sephiroth said, producing a small device that hummed with contained energy, "you must understand the dangers that threaten such advancement."
He activated the device, and mechanical constructs—deliberately crude and menacing—materialized around the square. The villagers screamed and fled as the machines advanced, their movements jerky and obviously hostile.
"Fear not!" Sephiroth called out, drawing the Masamune in a fluid motion. "These are the forces that oppose progress, but they cannot stand against those who embrace the future!"
With elegant precision, he dismantled each construct, his blade singing through the air as sparks flew from severed machinery.
"Excellent performance, Sephiroth," Xander communicated through their mental link.
"Village elder," Sephiroth addressed the trembling leader who had emerged from his hiding place, "your people have witnessed both the threat and the solution. Shinra offers protection, prosperity, and progress. All we ask in return is cooperation."
He produced a small, crystalline device that pulsed with soft blue light—a miniature Mako reactor prototype.
"This will provide more energy than your entire village consumes," Sephiroth explained, placing the device in the elder's hands. "A gesture of good faith. Study it, test it, and see for yourself the benefits we offer."
The elder stared at the device in wonder, feeling the warmth and power emanating from within.
"What... what do you require of us?" the elder asked, his voice filled with awe.
"Simply your consent," Sephiroth replied smoothly. "Consent to build a proper facility here, one that can provide power not just for your village, but for the entire region. In return, your people will want for nothing."
"It shall be done," the elder declared, dropping to one knee. "If this technology can truly help our people..."
"How wonderfully predictable," Xander mused, satisfied with the plan's smooth execution.
As Sephiroth prepared to depart, a group of armored soldiers approached the village—members of a rival military faction wearing distinctive red and gold uniforms.
"Shinra operatives," their captain spat, dismounting from his armored vehicle. "Another corporate expansion disguised as charity work."
"Looks like we have competition, Sephiroth," Xander commanded through their link. "Don't eliminate them—we need them functional for interrogation and conversion."
The captain snatched the Mako device from the elder's hands, studying it with obvious expertise.
"Advanced energy extraction technology," he observed grimly. "You're not here to help these people—you're here to strip-mine their land."
"Let's head inside and prepare proper accommodations for our... guests," Xander announced to his team, the facility's blast doors sliding open with a pneumatic hiss.
Through the drone's feed, he continued monitoring the confrontation.
"There are laws governing corporate expansion!" the captain declared, crushing the Mako device beneath his boot. Blue energy dissipated harmlessly into the air. "The Planetary Protection Treaty explicitly forbids unauthorized resource extraction!"
He turned to Sephiroth with contempt. "You corporate dogs think you can buy anything, corrupt anyone. We'll shut down this operation and expose Shinra's true intentions!"
"Very well," Sephiroth replied, his tone shifting from diplomatic to coldly professional. "If you insist on interfering with progress..."
The soldiers followed as Sephiroth led them away from the village, heading toward the Shinra facility. Throughout the journey, they continued their accusations and threats, unaware they were being guided exactly where Xander wanted them.
"Here we are," Sephiroth announced when they reached the facility's outer perimeter. The soldiers laughed mockingly at what appeared to be a simple research station.
Jenova began to emerge from the facility, but Xander intercepted her. "I'll handle this personally. I want to test some new integration protocols."
He approached a bio-modification chamber and activated Shinra's latest enhancement systems, his appearance shifting subtly as synthetic muscle fibers and neural implants integrated with his biology.
"You're not the one we were told to expect," the captain observed, noting Xander's corporate executive attire. He searched for weapons but found none visible.
"Correct," Xander replied with a cold smile. "Sephiroth handles field operations, but I oversee... special projects."
"Well, whoever you are won't matter," the captain replied, drawing his weapon. "We'll arrest you, then shut down this illegal operation."
"Jenova Synthesis," Xander stated, his voice taking on an otherworldly harmonic as alien cells began integrating with his enhanced biology. His eyes shifted to an ethereal silver-green.
The captain fired, but the bullets simply embedded harmlessly in Xander's transformed flesh before being expelled as his body rapidly healed.
"Your weapons are obsolete," Xander declared, extending his hand. Cellular manipulation waves pulsed outward, and the soldiers' equipment began to malfunction as their molecular structure destabilized.
The captain stared in horror as his rifle dissolved into component atoms.
"Go," Xander commanded, his voice resonating with alien authority. "Report to your superiors what you've witnessed here. Tell them that Shinra's reach extends far beyond their understanding."
He gestured skyward, and Bahamut's massive silhouette briefly became visible through the clouds—a mountain-sized dragon whose very presence made the air tremble with barely contained power.
"Your forces are welcome to try stopping us," Xander continued with dark amusement. "But understand that you face powers beyond your comprehension."
The captain and his remaining soldiers fled in terror, their vehicles kicking up dust clouds as they retreated.
"Sephiroth, the captured equipment is yours to analyze," Xander said, using bio-synthesis to return to his normal appearance. "Reverse-engineer anything useful for our SOLDIER program."
"Thank you, Director," Sephiroth replied formally.
"If I may ask, Director," Sephiroth continued carefully, "won't this level of exposure bring significant military response?"
"Let them come," Xander replied confidently. "We don't need to defeat them conventionally—Jenova's cellular manipulation will turn their own forces against them. Every soldier they send becomes a potential asset."
He walked toward the facility, Sephiroth following with understanding dawning in his enhanced eyes.
Perhaps it was aggressive to attract so much attention, but Xander understood Jenova's true capabilities in this world. Military forces couldn't resist cellular infection once exposed, and their advanced technology would only amplify the entity's influence. Mako enhancement made soldiers more susceptible, not less, to alien cellular integration.
"Don't concern yourself, Sephiroth. I understand these systems perfectly," Xander stated with confidence. He had spent countless hours mastering Shinra's technologies and understood their potential better than their original creators.
The Planet's lifestream was vast and largely untapped. Even with full-scale Mako extraction, they could harvest energy for decades before the ecosystem showed significant stress. By then, Jenova's influence would extend far enough to make resistance impossible.
Only a few forces could potentially threaten their operation: the Weapons—the Planet's ultimate defense mechanisms; the Cetra's ancient safeguards, if any still functioned; and perhaps the legendary materia of the Ancients. Most conventional military assets would prove ineffective against their combined technological and biological advantages.
"How magnificently efficient our organization has become," Xander mused, mentally cataloging their strategic advantages while considering potential threats.
"Regardless, Sephiroth, maintain operational security. Increase SOLDIER recruitment while I coordinate with our other divisions to expand infrastructure development."
Sephiroth departed for the training facilities, leaving Xander alone in the executive suite. He settled into his command chair, multiple holographic displays showing facility status, regional intelligence, and Mako extraction projections.
"There's one more site I need to inspect," he said suddenly, heading for the executive transport bay.
After reaching the hangar level, he activated his personal flight system—a prototype that combined materia enhancement with bio-mechanical integration—and soared across the landscape toward the abandoned Shinra Manor.
What surprised him was finding someone waiting there: a figure in a dark cloak standing beside what appeared to be a mobile shop unit.
"Reeve?" Xander called out, landing before the familiar engineer who had apparently been working on autonomous systems development.
Reeve had been a controversial addition during the project planning phase. Many proposed including him as a potential board member, but corporate politics had ultimately sidelined the proposal. Apparently, some team members had continued his development independently as a final project contribution.
Before Xander could engage in conversation, the manor's doors opened to reveal a tall, elegant figure in dark clothing—Vincent Valentine, who must have detected his arrival through enhanced senses.
"Is there something you wish to discuss, Director?" Vincent inquired, his red eyes gleaming with barely contained power. He seemed eager to finally be included in active operations.
"Transform and roll out!" Xander blurted suddenly before catching himself. "Ahem—sorry, wrong franchise reference there. Could you show me to the manor's basement laboratory instead?"
Vincent regarded his Director strangely but dismissed it as executive eccentricity. He turned and gestured for Xander to follow him inside.
Xander nodded to Reeve before entering the abandoned facility.
"I apologize for that outburst, Vincent," Xander explained, still mentally cringing. "Some kind of neural cross-reference error. I assure you it won't happen again."
They navigated the dusty corridors in awkward silence—Vincent reluctant to speak lest he inadvertently offend his superior. Eventually, they reached the underground laboratory complex.
"Here it is," Xander announced, opening a sealed containment unit. "The Chaos Materia."
As he lifted the dark crystal, Vincent immediately recoiled as violent thoughts flooded his consciousness. He dropped to one knee in distress.
"I'm sorry for not responding to your earlier... request, Director! I'll transform immediately if you require it!" he said in confusion and fear.
"No! I'm planning to destroy this contaminated sample!" Xander exclaimed, startled by the response. "And I already told you—the transformation comment was a mistake!"
"Oh... then forgive me for assuming you intended to terminate my project, Director," Vincent apologized, his pale features flushing slightly.
"No harm done. Let's never mention this again," Xander said firmly, crushing the corrupted materia and letting the fragments scatter.
"Now, please take me to the other specimens."
They moved through the laboratory complex until they reached a preservation chamber containing three stasis pods with humanoid figures inside—prototypes for advanced SOLDIER enhancement.
"Director! Do you have new parameters for us?" the first specimen asked as all three awakened and stood at attention.
"Not exactly, but I want to conduct an experiment," Xander explained. "Your current enhancement limits your operational temperature range. I'd like to help you overcome those restrictions."
The specimens exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with anticipation at the prospect of improved capabilities.
"Subject Alpha, please stand beneath the environmental control system," Xander instructed. Though hesitant, Alpha trusted her Director completely and positioned herself under the chamber's testing apparatus.
Xander activated the system, flooding the area with sub-zero temperatures. The other specimens immediately moved away while Alpha endured the extreme cold, her enhanced physiology struggling but maintaining functionality out of loyalty to her Creator.
"Still limited by temperature extremes," Xander observed after deactivating the system. He approached Alpha with an approving nod for her dedication.
"I have access to Jenova cells, but they're sensitive to high-energy materia exposure," he explained. "If we integrate them with your current enhancement matrix, you should develop immunity to both temperature and energy-based attacks."
Every SOLDIER enhancement after the original program had involved combining different biological agents with materia infusion, so this theory should prove viable.
"Jenova Integration," Xander intoned, activating the alien cells within his modified biology. His body essentially functioned as a living repository of enhancement protocols—he could suppress some while activating others individually or in combination.
"Here, accept this integration," he said, extending his hand as silver-green energy flowed from his palm. The other specimens watched with barely concealed desire as their Creator offered direct biological enhancement.
Alpha immediately accepted the energy transfer, feeling something foreign but not unpleasant merging with her existing systems. Within moments, the SOLDIER enhancement and Jenova cells began to synthesize.
"Activating environmental stress test again. Maintain position," Xander warned, then reactivated the extreme temperature system.
To everyone's amazement, Alpha moved freely in the harsh conditions, showing no signs of discomfort or system strain.
"Integration successful!" Xander announced as Alpha demonstrated her new capabilities with obvious joy. They could now operate in any environment without their previous limitations hindering mission effectiveness.
"Who requires enhancement next?" he asked cheerfully, deactivating the environmental controls.
Subjects Beta and Gamma briefly competed for precedence, but soon both had received the Jenova integration as well.
Vincent stood watching, pleased for the specimens but unable to hide his desire for similar enhancement. Xander noticed his expression and felt sympathetic. He modulated the Jenova cells, uncertain how they might interact with Vincent's unique Chaos-influenced physiology.
"Come here, Vincent. You can receive integration too, if you're willing."
Vincent nodded eagerly and approached, his crimson eyes bright with anticipation.
---
How are you enjoying this corporate espionage approach? I hope the power scaling feels more grounded in Final Fantasy VII's technological themes. What did you think of Xander's interactions with the Shinra operatives and Vincent? Let me know your thoughts!