"Why are we going to Cissnei's house? Do you need emergency help or something?" Johnny asked skeptically, crossing his arms.
Zack grinned widely and shook his head. "Not really. Just wanted to hang out. You haven't seen Cissnei in a long time, Johnny. It's been over a year, you know."
Johnny snorted, glancing at his watch. "Is it far? I can't stay long. I promised to have dinner with Aerith this evening."
"Relax, Boss. The apartment is still in Sector 8. Everything's under control," Zack replied lightly. "Besides, I want to give her souvenirs from Wutai. Oh, Cloud! You're coming with me today. I'll report to the Sergeant later that you got a special 'escort' assignment today."
Cloud immediately straightened his back. "Yes, Captain!"
"I told you, just call me Zack when we're off duty," Zack corrected, patting Cloud's shoulder.
"Right... Zack."
The three of them walked out of the Shinra Main Base, heading down the street toward the residential district. However, Johnny and Cloud realized what trap awaited them.
Zack had brought an unreasonable amount of souvenirs. Ranging from heavy replicas of traditional Wutai weapons, large boxes filled with Daifuku and Mochi, to various giant lucky charms.
"Hold this for a second," Zack said, shifting three large bags onto Johnny's arms and two boxes into Cloud's hands.
Johnny stared at the pile of goods in his arms with disbelief. "No wonder you forced me to come. What is all this stuff? Are you planning to open a grocery store or propose to Cissnei?"
"Relax, Johnny. I'll share some of the souvenirs with you guys later," Zack deflected without guilt.
"Tch. Typical. Turns out you're just as lovesick as I am," Johnny grumbled, though his hands gripped the bags firmly.
Zack laughed freely. "Of course! Love takes effort, my friend!"
Johnny turned to Cloud, who was almost drowning behind bento boxes. "You don't mind being a pack mule like this, Cloud?"
"Sir! Of course not, Mentor," Cloud answered sincerely, even though his legs were trembling slightly under the weight. "To me, this feels like a vacation."
Johnny shook his head. This kid is too innocent, he thought.
They entered the Highwind Street area. The scenery here was a stark contrast. On one side, the skyscrapers of Sector 8 loomed with glass facades reflecting the lights of the unsleeping Midgar city. Tram rails hovered overhead, trains gliding almost silently, leaving only a faint electric hum. Shinra holographic advertisements danced on the walls, offering dreams of a better life powered by Mako energy.
However, Zack turned toward a red brick building that looked old and "outdated" amidst the modern concrete.
"Here it is," Zack said, stopping in front of an old apartment building named Highwind Flats. "Cissnei's apartment."
Johnny looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't this a workday? Is she not on duty?"
"Cissnei took leave today. Luckily it worked out, I also just returned from the border this week," Zack explained.
The building felt strange for a Turk. There were no high-tech security guards, just a manual glass door and a quiet lobby. The residents looked like ordinary citizens—retirees, restaurant servers, or low-level clerks. Laundry fluttered on the upper balconies, and the faint sound of a neighbor's radio could be heard.
"Why does a Turk live in a place like this?" Johnny asked, puzzled. "Is the salary not enough?"
"That's exactly the point," Zack whispered as they entered the creaky old elevator. "Cissnei said she chose here because she wanted to feel like a 'normal person' when she takes off her suit. The best hiding place is in the middle of a crowd, right?"
They went up to the 3rd floor. The apartment hallway was lit by flickering, dim yellow lights. The floor was clean, but the carpet looked worn.
Zack stopped at door number 307 and knocked with a cheerful rhythm.
Knock. Knock-knock. Knock.
"Cissnei! Cissnei! Express package from Wutai is here!" he shouted like a little kid.
Light footsteps were heard, then the lock turned. The door opened.
The figure behind the door made Johnny and Cloud pause for a moment. Cissnei, the deadly Turk agent, now stood wearing a casual light blue house dress with a cooking apron tied around her waist. Her hair was tied loosely, and her face looked softer.
However, Johnny's attention was immediately drawn behind Cissnei.
In the living room sat a creature that made Johnny's fighting instincts scream in warning.
It was a dog—or at least resembled a dog—the size of a wolf. Its body was encased in shiny silver natural armor with gold accents. Most striking were the two white wings on its back; one large like an angel's wing, the other small and stunted.
"Zack! Johnny... and Cloud, right?" Cissnei smiled warmly, as if there wasn't a monster behind her. "Please come in, I happen to be cooking."
They entered. The room felt cramped and warm. The smell was a strange mix of lime floor cleaner, home cooking, and the sharp scent of gun oil. A faded dark brown sofa dominated the room, with Cissnei's service jacket draped carelessly over the backrest.
Zack, Johnny, and Cloud placed the mountain of souvenirs beside the sofa. The minimalist coffee table in the center of the room was already full of plates of food prepared by Cissnei.
"Zack... why did you bring so much stuff?" Cissnei smiled shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Hahaha! I haven't seen you for two months, of course I have to 'make up' for my absence," Zack said with a grin. "Well, let's sit."
Cissnei sat on the carpet, facing Cloud and Johnny who sat stiffly on the sofa. Zack, without the slightest fear, sat right next to the strange creature.
"Hello, Puppy... it's been a long time, buddy," Zack greeted softly. His hand stroked the winged creature's head.
The creature grunted softly, enjoying Zack's touch. However, when the creature lifted its head slightly to look at Johnny, Johnny's heart seemed to stop beating.
On the creature's chest or neck, faintly visible, were human facial features embedded in the flesh—the face of Angeal Hewley, with eyes closed as if sleeping in suffering.
Zip!
Johnny instantly stood up from the sofa. His hand reflexively moved to his back to draw his greatsword—but he only grasped empty air. He forgot, his Dragon Slayer was left at home. He only brought his toolbox.
Cloud, seeing Johnny's reaction, panicked as well, immediately jumping up and taking a fighting stance with bare hands.
"Zack!" Johnny shouted tensely, his eyes fixed on the creature. "What is this?! Why... why is Angeal's face there?!"
The creature growled low at Johnny's sudden movement. Its sharp eyes stared at Johnny with hostility, recognizing a killer's aura.
"Calm down! Calm down!" Cissnei hurriedly raised her hands. "He won't bite if you guys are calm. Sorry I forgot to mention it."
"Zack! You didn't say the pet was this weird!" Johnny protested, still in a ready stance. "That's not a normal guard dog. That... that's a G-Copy!"
"Relax, Johnny. Cloud, put your hands down," Zack said casually. He took a piece of jerky from the table and offered it to the creature's mouth. "See? He's a good boy."
The creature ate the snack from Zack's hand greedily, then returned to being calm. Angeal's horrific face lowered again.
"At first I was shocked to death too," Zack admitted, his voice softening. "But this dog... he has Angeal's memories. He doesn't attack me. He actually came here to guard Cissnei when I was gone."
Zack looked at the creature with a sad but affectionate gaze. "His name is Puppy. Ironic, right? Angeal used to call me that, now I'm the one taking care of his Puppy."
Cloud slowly lowered his hands, staring at the creature with a curiosity that overcame his fear. "May I... may I pet him, Zack?"
"Of course, try it. He likes being scratched behind the ears," Zack said.
Cloud approached carefully, then touched the creature's silver fur. The creature stayed still, accepting Cloud's touch.
Johnny slowly sat back down, though his muscles were still tense. He watched the creature intently. The longer he looked, the more he felt nauseous yet amazed. The body details, that one stunted angel wing... it was a symbol of degradation.
"You really are a weird guy, Zack," Johnny muttered quietly, shaking his head. "Keeping a monster in a Sector 8 apartment... only you would dare do this."
Zack just smiled faintly. "He's not a monster, Johnny. He's part of the honor that remains."
===============================================================
The atmosphere in the small apartment gradually warmed up. The four of them chatted casually about Zack's mission at the Wutai border, interspersed with silly stories and the recent appearances of G-Copies.
Zack and Cissnei ate with an adorable shyness. Occasionally their hands touched while reaching for side dishes, making both their faces turn red. Johnny just smiled faintly watching it, reminded of similar sweet moments when he had dinner alone with Aerith.
Beside him, Cloud ate with an upright and fast military posture. Understandably, he was sitting at the same table with a 1st Class SOLDIER and an elite Turk agent. For an ordinary infantryman, this was mental pressure in itself.
After eating was finished, Zack began distributing his souvenirs.
"Here, for the 'Guardian' of Sector 7," Zack said, tossing a red wooden mask with a long nose. A Tengu Mask. Johnny caught it with one hand. For him, this was perfect for disguising his identity if he later had to fight in the Wall Market Colosseum.
"And for Trooper Cloud," Zack continued, handing over a blue fabric amulet with Wutai kanji embroidery. "A lucky charm. So you don't get nauseous easily anymore."
Cloud accepted it with sparkling eyes. "T-thank you, Captain! Uh, I mean... Zack!"
Everything seemed peaceful. The strange dog—Puppy—was now fast asleep on the carpet after finishing the leftover meat, snoring softly.
Johnny stared at the creature intently. For a moment, his mood changed. The puzzle pieces in his head began to come together. He remembered Aerith's stories about Hojo's experiments, the G-Copies resembling Genesis, and now this dog.
Suddenly, Johnny laughed softly. It was a dry laugh devoid of humor.
"Hahaha... So funny," Johnny muttered, shaking his head.
His three friends turned to look.
"Why, Johnny? What's funny?" Zack asked, confused.
"This world is just getting more Dark," Johnny said, his voice turning serious. He pointed at the sleeping creature with his chin. "You know, Zack... Cissnei... Cloud. Seeing that dog, I have a wild speculation. A terrifying speculation."
Cissnei set her tea glass down slowly. "What do you mean, Johnny?"
"Yeah, don't scare us," Zack chimed in.
Instead of answering Zack, Johnny turned toward Cloud. His gaze pierced through his sunglasses.
"Cloud," Johnny called flatly. "Do you still want to be a SOLDIER?"
Cloud flinched, then nodded firmly. "Of course! That has been my dream since childhood, Mentor Johnny. I want to be a hero like General Sephiroth."
"Alright," Johnny nodded slowly, then shifted his gaze to Zack. "In that case, this is bad news for you, Zack. And a bleak future for you, Cloud."
"Huh?" Zack frowned.
Johnny began counting with his large fingers.
"Genesis Rhapsodos... SOLDIER 1st Class. Angeal Hewley... SOLDIER 1st Class. They were both the pinnacle of Shinra's human evolution, right? But look at what happened. They were 'copied'. They degraded. They turned into monsters."
Johnny leaned forward, staring intently into Zack's Mako eyes.
"If my guess is right... this copying or mutation process happens after the subject reaches a certain level of maturity. After they reach the peak of their power." Johnny gave a dramatic pause. "What do you think, Zack? You are now the only 1st Class left besides that damn silver-haired one. You are at the peak."
Zack's eyes went wide. His face paled. "I-impossible... That was Hollander's doing. He's a mad scientist who defected. The Shinra Science Department now led by Professor Hojo wouldn't possibly do that to its own valuable assets."
"Hojo?"
Johnny snorted roughly. He stood up slowly, casting a shadow over the coffee table. The killing aura he usually used to intimidate monsters in the Slums leaked out a little.
"You think Hojo is better than Hollander?" Johnny hissed.
"You know, Zack? That man is the one who killed Aerith's biological mother. Ifalna. She should have been my mother-in-law right now." Johnny's voice trembled, holding back anger. "Hojo doesn't care about 'assets'. To him, all living things are just minced meat for research data."
"If Hollander is crazy... then Hojo is a demon masquerading as a scientist."
The room went silent instantly. Only the sound of Puppy snoring could be heard.
Zack swallowed hard, staring at his own hands wrapped in black gloves. "So you mean... I... I will be copied too? Turned into a monster?"
"It's not impossible," Johnny answered coldly. "If my estimate is correct, in a few years—or maybe even months—it will be your turn to enter the experiment tube."
Johnny then turned to Cissnei, who sat frozen. The female agent's face was deathly pale.
"Cissnei," Johnny called softly but firmly. "You don't want your future husband to end up as a monster in an underground lab, do you? Or become a guard dog like the one sleeping on your carpet?"
"No..." Cissnei whispered. Her voice trembled. "We aren't... I mean... no, Johnny. I don't want that to happen."
"In that case, you have to choose," Johnny pressed. "When that day comes, where will you stand? Will you remain loyal as Shinra and the Turks' 'dog'... or will you side with Zack?"
Cissnei fell silent, biting her lower lip. That question struck at the loyalty she had held firmly all this time.
Johnny sat back down, looking at Cloud who seemed terribly shaken. The boy's dream of SOLDIER glory had just cracked.
"And you, Cloud," Johnny said, his tone now more fatherly. "Do you still want to surrender your body to be injected with monster cells and Mako? Do you want to end up hunted like a wild beast?"
Cloud looked down, his hands trembling on his knees. "I... I don't know. If that is the future of SOLDIER... what am I fighting for?"
"Listen, Cloud," Johnny patted Cloud's shoulder. "Being strong doesn't have to be with Mako or genetic mutation. Look at me? I'm just a workshop technician. But I can make Zack here break out in a cold sweat."
Johnny smiled faintly, trying to give hope.
"I can teach you various techniques, Cloud. Sword techniques, defense techniques, killing techniques... Pure human techniques. Without needing to become a monster."
Cloud lifted his face. In his blue eyes, doubt slowly replaced with new determination.
"Please guide me... Mentor."