The Specimen

"I promise… you will regret this," Hojo said, summoning a massive monster, what looked like something eldritch merged with a skull. It was attached to a skull that was leak out glowing blue matter. It had a giant cannon on one arm, and a wicked claw attached to the other. Cloud steeled himself. This could be the end, he thought, as Hojo fled, going up a freight elevator to the next floor.

But Barret was right about one thing: the microlaser was overpowered, and with one strike he completely severed the creature's cannon. A few more well-timed strikes and the specimen was a smoldering heap.

"Hey! Hojo's gettin' away!" Barret yelled, and the three ran to the freight elevator, riding up to floor 66. They saw Aerith in the center capsule, and Hojo far above her in the control tower.

"Aerith!" Cloud called out. She waved from behind the energy shield.

"Very impressive. I really must thank you for providing me such invaluable combat data," Hojo said.

"Cocky little egghead, ain'tcha," Barret growled.

"We're taking Aerith back!" Cloud yelled.

"Oh? "Take her back" you say? Correct me if I am wrong, but did the girl not come here of her own free will? Or do you mean to tell me that she is your personal property?" Hojo chortled.

"We're going to free Aerith no matter what you send out at us," Cloud said. Hojo looked at him in for the first time.

"Corneo's newest bitch, I see. My, are you a SOLDIER?"

"Yeah," Cloud said, his face flushing.

"No, not quite. Oh, now I recall. My memory was mistaken. My boy, you weren't a SOLDIER..."

Cloud's headache returned with a vengeance this time, crippling him and forcing him to his knees. But then the phantoms appeared, roiling over Hojo and taking him down the hallway.

"What!? What is this—fascinating phenomenon!? What's happening!? Where are you taking me!?" Hojo cried out, his voice fading away.