Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
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year 5, quarter 3
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Tseng had to read the print a couple of times before it finally set in. The, well now ex-Turk, had been looking into physicians as he knew the things he could get himself into could take a turn for the worst, so he wanted to find the best one possible. If he were to find the same line of work that he had previously been in, he would want one that would stick to the doctor-patient confidentiality part of the process very well. There were some things Tseng did that no one needed to know about.
Did he want to keep that lifestyle now that he wasn't on Gaia anymore? One on hand, it was something he knew, and something he did very well. He could prove to be a good asset to the people here on Zephon. Then again, maybe it was time that he settled down and lived a normal life. As Tseng wrote down an address, he realized one thing about himself. There was no way the normal lifestyle was for him anymore. He was trained to be a Turk, and he would find a way to put that training to good use in this new world he had found himself in.
The first thing on the agenda for the day was, to check out this physician that he had found in the phonebook. Gloved hands shoved in his pockets, pistols in their place under his suit jacket, Tseng made his way down the street. He knew where some things were now, but that wasn't surprising. The former commander was excellent at memorizing places, so his journey to Torensten was a breeze. Getting to the office was another task, but he managed to get there in good time. Stepping inside, he went up to the front desk. "I'm here to see Dr. Hojo. I don't have an appointment, but just tell him Tseng Xu would like to speak with him." The receptionist seemed confused, but went back anyways.
The old woman comes back. She still is rather confused as to who this man is and why he is certain that the good doctor will see him but... an odd thought crosses Margret's mind. Doctor Hojo had mentioned off-hand that he had a son when she broached the subject of family. A son that the good doctor suspects he may never see again. There is a faintly similar cast to this Tseng's face... Perhaps the son takes more after his mother?
"He's at the end of the hall, sweetie. Just go straight down and then turn right."
The office itself looks like any other. The stacks of papers and assorted folders strewn across the desk speak of a busy schedule and perhaps in-depth research. For a heartbeat it almost seems like the man sitting at the desk could be a coincidental similarity (much like how there reportedly ten Cids who are all into engineering) but... Even before the man looks up there is a dead giveaway: There is a thin mythril bangle hanging off the scientist's left wrist. The small beads would seem like nothing more than pretty gemstones but the swirling embers in the core of the 'gems' mark them as something mystical. Doctor Hojo of Akito Clinic is confirmed as Doctor Don Akito Hojo of Shinra.
"I should had known that the first person I would see would be a Turk." The tone is bitter yet there is a spark of wry amusement in Hojo's eyes. Oddly enough he looks a decade younger. Still worn down from decades of long hours and with deep frown lines, but definitely younger compared to when Tseng saw him last before Zephon. Happier too, which would probably unnerve a lot of people who know of the man. "I suppose it is gratifying to know that I am not the only one trapped here."
Given the lack of Shinra and its biological research department, Hojo is painfully aware that there is nothing preventing Tseng from executing him. Obstinately for a lot of things but the main item in this case would be for some past actions against the Turks. If no one figured out that Hojo was involved with Valentine's disappearance then they are more stupid than he ever dreamed. The death would be enough but if anyone knew of the joint experiment between Lucretia and himself over the man's revived corpse... But if Veld had any inkling that Felicia survived Kalm and was processed along with others for experimentation then revenge would had likely won out over any loyalty to Shinra. Sentimentality is less than worthless particularly when it comes to foolish things like love. Revenge only helps so much and the bitter feelings persist even decades after. Lucretia... Gast... At least the Cetra and the Turk suffered miserably for stealing them away.
On the other hand with the lack of overt violence and the fact that Tseng announced his arrival (via the medical receptionist but still it was announced), it is likely that Hojo is not about to be murdered. There is still a non-zero possibility and there is a chance that Tseng is delaying to gather answers or lull him into a false sense of security. But it is possible.
"If you needed a confirmation of my presence here then you wouldn't have bothered to come inside. You could have simply waited outside. If you have backup then the sniper is at a disadvantage due to this room lacking a window. You have yet to 'subtly' threaten me. What is it that you want?" He idly considers charging extra for his services if that is what Tseng is here for. If the man simply wants to talk with someone and anyone who remembers the same things? ...Don can indulge him for a bit.
The secretary returned shortly and told Tseng where to go. Giving a polite nod, he makes his way in the direction she told him. During his time here so far, Tseng had already gathered quite the amount of information. He was a Turk after all, having all the information that one could was key to success. It seemed that everyone came here in the same way, being pulled from their own world. What he was still trying to make sense of was that the very same person being pulled still could live on in their home world as well. There was a chance he was still in Gaia as well as here, and he didn't know it.
That being said, there was a chance that the Hojo he was about to meet with was not the same Hojo he himself had known. Of course Tseng was prepared for most outcomes, so there was no signs of worry on his face as he entered the office. The comment made by the man before him brought a small smirk to the Turks' face. "It would seem old habits die hard." So this was the scientist he once knew, only he knew him from the past. Meaning, the man looked the same as he did a few years after Tseng had joined the Turks.
Tseng had to question then. Was he aware of anything that had happened in the last decade? There was a high chance he didn't, and if Tseng knew anything about the scientist, then he knew he probably wouldn't care that much, especially if the chances of it happening here were slim to none.
Hojo's words were not surprising to Tseng, given the past of the man at the desk. Of course Tseng knew what happened with Vincent Valentine, he was very well connected. However, what had happened back then isn't any of Tseng's concern, and he really didn't have anything against Hojo personally. Crossing his arms, he gave a shrug. "I was skimming the phone book and came across your name, so I had to see for myself that my suspicions were correct. In reference of your statement earlier, I also wanted to see if there was in face someone else here from Gaia."
Old habits... A slight against his research? Shinra profited well enough from the Jenova Project and the resulting biological work in SOLDIER. To say nothing of the sideline projects for Deepground and the results of his own genetic experimentation. Only a fool would talk like that about one of the more successful and profitable departments. And say what you will about the Administrative Research Department and some of their questionable choices in employees but fools do not survive long in their numbers.
Or is it a comment about the High Stakes Office Politics game that the Shinra directors play? Its not that Hojo cares about it. But given how often Scarlet, Heidegger, Deusericus, and Palmer each conspire to take funds from the Scientific Research budget for their own reasons... No, it is far easier to funnel their attempts back onto Urban Development. Its not like Midgar needs any new additions to the Plates. He has no patience for thieves and spies and Turks by their nature are both that and more. It is always best to nip meager attempts at deception in the bud.
(How successful Hojo is at stalling the Turks is a completely different story. When he is not exhausted or distracted by some fascinating new datapoint, anyway, as every man has his blindspot.)
"Congratulations, you have found me with your impressive ability to read an address directory." Sarcasm and mockery drips from the man's tongue. "As I said, you could had confirmed I was myself without approaching me. You cannot possibly have missed hearing my voice. What do you want, Turk? If you want a private doctor you will have to pay out of pocket. If you want to peruse my research, I am still gathering data on the various nonhuman sapient lifeforms. I have seen six confirmed species, three subspecies, and a possible artificial Cetra variant. Much of the information is still preliminary."
The admission galls the man as much as it has the scientist clearly excited in ways only previously seen when discussing his work in Project S. Hojo hates how he has to build trust with these free-roaming specimens, but the sheer variety is too appealing to let the old impulse interfere. And knowing the Turks they would sneak in to read his notes to compare with their own on the local sapient species and transdimensionally displaced ones.
When Tseng mentioned that old habits die hard, he meant his own. There was no way Tseng could just settle down and live a normal lifestyle, not with the things he had seen and what his training had done to him. It would take a lot make this man change who he was, and he wasn't about to start looking for answers to that now. He was going to start over here in Zephon, but only because he now needed new contacts and a new organization to call home. He needed to get everything back in order to continue doing what he did best.
Tseng had to chuckle at Hojo's sarcasm, glad to know he hadn't changed one bit. Why would he though? There was no need to be a different person here. Like himself, he knew Hojo wasn't going to turn a new leaf anytime soon. "Yes, though that was a different way to search for someone than I'm used to. It seems this world isn't as technilogically advanced as Gaia is. Or I just haven't seen it yet. It has only been a few weeks since I arrived, there is much more to figure out." During his time investigating, he had no seen such advancements. That didn't mean they didn't exist.
To be fair, Hojo would be the first person that Tseng would trust to put him back together if something were to happen to him. Mostly due to the fact that Hojo never really cared enough to ask questions, so it was usually quick and to the point. "Seeing that you know what my body has gone through in the past, I see no harm in that continuing. Paying out of pocket is not a deal breaker for me, I can handle that." Tseng knew where to find work without having a job, or to even make side money with a job. Money wasn't an issue for him.
Raising his eyebrow, Tseng couldn't help but crack a smile. "Hm, new research? Can't say I'm surprised. I can only guess that there isn't much information out there about these lifeforms, so you're basically on your own for all of this?" There was a chance Hojo had his own team already, but Tseng wasn't aware of any of that. Once again, old habits die hard.
There was no need to change because nothing changed for Hojo. There is a loss of past primary subject of research in the form of Subject S, secondary subjects in the form of Deepground, and no longer needing to keep the President invested in whatever claims necessary to keep the Gil flowing to the labs. He still is the same man with all his flaws and obsessive tendencies. And none of these would put Tseng at direct risk of harm from the scientist; not when there are dozens of new sapient species and countless more nonsapient fauna and flora. For the Turk, once money is exchanged, Hojo's interest in the man's body will be simply repairing it from whatever disaster was inflicted upon it. And cataloging the damage and what caused it. So why ask questions he does not care one bit about? It would be a waste of time and a Turk would be unlikely to give an honest answer in the first place.
"Of course this world isn't as advanced. I appeared in a location filled with psuedo-mako crystalline structures. This location is more advanced but it still pales in comparison to Midgar. Even Tuesti's work would be better than this dated dreck." Hojo does take not that there is a marked difference in length of time experienced here, or more likely their arrival. He does not remember exactly how long it has been for himself but in the end it hasn't been a year and it does not matter to him beyond the loss of confirming the Reunion Theory.
"I cannot imagine you of all people working freelance. How it must gall to be without your arsenal running missions." The former Director of Biological Research is aware that he is projecting. Hojo found his human tools useful once broken in and trained on proper procedure. His observations suggested that the other Directors felt the same of their own departments' assistants and grunts. Why wouldn't General Affairs's Investigative Sector have a similar mindset? Yet the dissonance of knowing the Turk's loyalty to Shinra fades away. No Shinra, no conflicts of loyalty. Yet the fact remains that Tseng lacks his usual collection of minions. His 'arsenal' as Hojo said (for what other reason would their codenames be based on their preferred weapons?). So whatever new system Tseng is working with must be as poorly optimized as the medical group that allowed Hojo himself to start a clinic.
But... Tseng... was unaware of his research? Hojo's grimaces. He had assumed that the Turk had scouted out the location before arrival. Damn it! But it is no loss. He had been expecting the Turk to have gained access and he would've eventually. "I have yet to identify anyone interested in such research beyond the basics," Hojo bitterly admits. No scientists. No assistants. No team. "There do seem to be magic researchers but they seem more in line with the Materia Synthesis labs than biological. That is to say that it is not unlikely someone does exist or that a contemporary has been pulled from their own world to this one like we have been. After all there is an artificial Cetra whose body alters in the presence of aetheric energies. Someone had to have had a hand in her creation. If they are present then it is only a matter of time before they track down Subject TB-01. Their work is far more polished than anything that hack Hollander had a hand in! A shame that there is a strong likelihood that their research notes wouldn't come with them to this world..."
When it came to the reasons why the Turks were injured like they were, detailed answers were never given. A short and simple "I got in a fight" or something along those lines were the only details that were needed. If it was Hojo working on them, they would let him know if there was anything out of the ordinary for two reasons. One, so that Hojo could look into what it was, in case he wanted it for research. Two, because he was the one who would know if any specific treatments were needed in order to stop anything further happening to them. The Turks knew Hojo wouldn't go around saying anything to people who didn't need to know.
The man in front of him confirmed that technology here was less advanced, and Tseng made a mental note of that for the future. Tseng had never really interacted with Reeve Tuesti much, but he knew that he was the least "popular" of the department heads within Shinra, and that was putting it nicely. To be fair, Tseng didn't really mind the guy, but he was a thing of the past now, so Tseng made no comment about Hojo's statement.
"I seem to have found myself with no other option at the current time. Until I find those that I can trust here, relying on my own self would be the best option." Tseng was never one to trust many people, so there was a chance it would be quite some time before he had another team like his Turks. They had all known each other for so long, they didn't even have to ask what was to be done half of the time. Though he would never show it, Tseng was disheartened when he thought about the others, and the fact that he would probably never see them again.
Listening to Hojo speak was starting to put Tseng at ease with this new place, as odd as that would sound to those who knew the scientist. Maybe it was the fact that this was the first person he had seen who was also from Gaia, or the fact that this "version" of Hojo wasn't as, crazed, as the one he just left. "It seems you are able to pick up from where you left off, or at least close enough. How do you plan on finding such a person?" It was true, Tseng should probably try to stop Hojo from becoming what he had become in Gaia. Then again, there was no Shinra here, so there could be a chance that it wouldn't happen.
The Turk's issues with trust and self-reliance would cause him trouble, and while needs must be fulfilled as you can... The people in both of their respective fields in this world are evidently inept or lacking compared to anyone who passes the employee requirements in Midgar. They both might have better luck with other globally displaced people then. "How bothersome..." Hojo mutters before his attention snaps back onto Tseng.
"Yes. I've obtained a facility for personal research. It is not as though I haven't lost both my greatest creation or decades of work culminating with the final proofs of my theories regarding J-Cell interactions." He all but spat the words out. Yes, the clinic has its uses, but lacking even a sample of JENOVA material has caused everything to have been for nothing. The only useful thing remaining was skill refinement from decades of research and experimentation. "It is possible that I could find them but the odds... I would have better luck putting another advertisement out for comparative research. Anyone worth their salt would disregard such an advert as nonsense. No. TB-01 is my best chance for the time being."
Hojo quickly discards the topic. The longer he dwells on the loss, the more likely he will do something that will catch the locals' attention. Instead he tallies the numbers for an on-call doctor, add the belligerent fool wasting time tax, slight docking for acknowledging competence, add on for risk... He jots down an rather large number on a spare scrap of paper. "You will be paying me for my services. It can be broken down to this much per visit instead." The second number is much more manageable but isn't as cheap as a single visit should be. That'll be the difference between having someone on retainer and paying for each visit.
"...and presuming that we will not be the only ones now that I have confirmation that more than person from can appear for a single world, this will be how much if one of your tools show up." The amounts go up a little more since Hojo tends to assume that any 'minor' Turk isn't as skilled as whomever are the top two or three members. "And this will be if you acquire enough members for an organization." ...the new pair of numbers look like something out of a ShinRa Department Budget. On the other hand it is cheaper than paying out of pocket for five or more Turks' healthcare. Part of it is confidence that should Tseng collect his arsenal, they will be able to prevent most idiotic damages. Mostly it is because one of them will be bound to have a Restore which isn't a replacement for proper medical care but goes a long way in keeping any pack of fools alive.
A small grin grows on Hojo's face. The man is about to do something harmless if petty. "As this is a consultation during work hours, you owe me this amount." The final number written down is the equivalent of $400. Nothing like the other numbers demanded but still a pretty coin for such a meager amount of time.
Tseng was never one to bother Hojo on his thoughts when he seemed to escape reality. Not to say he wouldn't understand, but in a sense, he really wouldn't. Nor was he eager to do so. He could follow along and grasp the information from the scientist, but not the fascination. Science was never really something Tseng liked to dwell on. In no matter of time, Hojo's attention was back on him.
Crossing his arms, Tseng listened as Hojo explained where he was at in his research. It seemed there was a chance there were others from Gaia here, and Hojo believed it too. Neither of them seemed keen on going out to look for them though, not without the resources they once had. Had it been in their, well, previous lives, finding someone was but a simple task. Here though, their connections were limited as was the technology to do so. They could be better off roaming the streets calling names.
Tilting his head slightly, Tseng looked at Hojo. "What are you planning on doing with the research, if I may ask?" He wasn't sure if the other man would answer, but it was worth a shot. To be fair, he wasn't really aware of what he had been doing before this, but he didn't want to see anything disasterous happening, and could maybe prevent it if he could. He would wonder why Hojo didn't just stop that experiment all together and move on, but he knew why. There were some things that just wouldn't change about a person. You spend your life doing something, you want to see it done.
The subject was changed to money, which didn't come as a shock to Tseng. Approaching the desk, he took the paper in his hands. The numbers didn't surprise him either, it was reasonable for the type of work Hojo knew Tseng could get himself into. "A fair price." Some would call it excessive, but it would be needed to have someone like Hojo there if things go sour, which they could very well do. When Hojo stated he owed for the day, the grin on his face put a small smile on Tseng's face as well. "Lucky for you I inquired about the currency of this new world. I'm sure you would not have appreciated being paid in Gil."
Hojo raises an eyebrow at the Turk's question. What does he plan on doing with his research? That... Admittedly there are multiple potential paths for the use of such information. The most obvious could be introducing DNA strands across species lines. Altering the genetically bound lifespan could enable one to have a longer lived specimen or one that much like a lab rat would display proofs of inherited alterations or contamination more rapidly. And that is only a single aspect of what could be done.
"For now, comparative research to known genetic information between our world and the inhabitants, both native and non. It would be very useful for you to donate a blood sample... ideally other pieces such as skin and bone marrow. A sample size of one is pathetic for this purpose now that I no longer have access to just one source of genetic information. It would be something that idiot Hollander would do if he had the mind for proper research. Ultimately..." Hojo pauses.
In the end the only real reason he's had for doing any of this is the sheer fascination of something new. Something to take his mind off of being stolen away from the culmination of a lifetime of work and a sideline of multiple branching projects. It is aggravating at times, but should there be a path back to their world then he could introduce the new genetic information and create whole new breed of specimens. He could even recreate real creatures that have been consigned to myth and summontales. Imagine the sheer incredulous expressions at seeing real Cait Sidhe or Moogles! Not even Gast would have denied the temptation to see such faces if he had the chance.
"Ultimately I am doing this research because I can. What I can do with it doesn't matter just yet. Genetic bank for biological augmentation is the obvious potential path. This could pay well... initially. With how this world seems to treasure magic rather than any real sciences, it would be little more than a passing fad." As the man has been known for, Hojo's answer reflects how everything outside of the Jenova Project is based on whims and idle moments of fancy. Of getting further money for his research. But without Shinra, the need for money is based entirely on what is needed for his projects. At their current state, TB-01 and the genetic research projects require very little funds given his current setup. No need for keeping test subjects or specimens in a single location or keeping them alive cuts down on the costs dramatically.
But given his own habits... Hojo's paranoia is getting the better of him as he easily envisions someone stealing his work and then dispatching him. The lesser evil would be being held captive for more creations. He'd be alive and be able to be as spiteful as can be, but death is death. It prevented many problems from growing. It would prevent him from further action as well. "You will find me if I disappear." The acknowledgment of both potential risk and the Turk's skill flows as easily as the following insult. "If you do not then you are not as skilled as you thought you were."
"The local currency is better than you attempting to cheat me with something that cannot be exchanged at its proper value." Hojo agrees. Money is only valued when its value is backed and proven. Otherwise it is only worth the material it is made from. And Shinra-issued Gil is designed to be cheaply made. What Wutai uses as currency could be a better reflection of its value but Shinra always goes for little ways to maximize the company's own profits.
