Tifa finished looking around the lab and walked back to where Rufus was unbinding the still unconscious Yuffie from the lab table.
"What you find?" he questioned the brunette as he turned to face her.
"An empty folder with the number 1120 on it.. some papers were scattered around with various notes and such. Plus Yuffie's conformer and materia," she frowned. "There's also various bottles with body pieces around." Putting the folder down on the nearby desk she neatly tucked the papers inside. "Then there's mako everywhere. Gods.. what were they going to do to her!?" yelled the martial artist as she slammed her fist down on the now closed folder. Yuffie is like a little sister to me.. I swear, if those bastards did anything to her, I'll kill them..
"Calm down Teef.." consoled Rufus as he hugged the woman before him. "I'm pretty sure I know what's been done to her."
"How would you know that?" snapped Tifa involuntarily, then apologized as she realized her harshness. "Sorry.. I'm just over protective is all.." she explained as she hugged the blond tighter.
"...Hojo didn't stop his experiments on human specimens after his family and Vincent you know.. I suppose I mean.. he didn't stop his experiments on people he knew personally." As the martial artist let go of him, he leaned over the ninja and opened one of her eyes, then closed it again. Nodding to himself he turned back to Tifa and pulled a folder out of his jacket. "I found this folder earlier and picked it up. It's my specimen folder. Hojo labeled folders with birth dates usually. June 18th, so, number 0618.. I would believe they were using this knowledge to work on Yuffie."
Tifa hugged the blond again, "that explains the folder and papers then... number 1120, November 20th.. is Yuffie's birth date.. but how does that explain what they did to her.. or were planning to?"
"Easy," came a voice from behind them. "Though it would seem you two are getting along nicely."
"Well hello Tseng," smiled Rufus over Tifa's head. "And yes, we are getting along quite well," he smiled down at Tifa, "more on that later however."
"Are the rest here?" questioned Tifa as she turned her face to the Wutaian. A slight blush was visible on her cheeks.
"Yes, Rude and Elena are checking the rest of the complex. Vincent is outside fighting what I'll believe to be.." he looked up to see the figure on the lab table. "Another.. test subject.
"What about Reno? And did Karia ever come..?" questioned Rufus.
"Yes but..."
"But what..?" demanded Rufus rather impatiently. He knew something was wrong from the way Tseng was hesitating.
"Karia was wounded badly by the test subject that Vincent is battling. Reno is taking car of her."
"She going to make it..?" questioned Tifa, even if she didn't know the girl, she hoped she'd have to chance to do so.
"I'm not certain, but I would assume so. I really can't see Reno letting her die on him."
"Reno?" asked Rufus as he raised an eyebrow. Deciding to move on to the next subject other than Karia. "He's not exactly the first person I'd expect to take up the responsibility."
"He can surprise you sometimes. Besides, he loves her," stated Tseng as though it was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Things sure change rapidly when you're away," said Rufus. "Since when did he go from arrogant to caring? Well.. caring that way" corrected Rufus, as he knew Reno cared deeply for his friends, just relationships, not to mention love weren't exactly his ups.
"Since Karia straightened him out," smirked Tseng.
Rufus laughed, "I can somehow believe that. What about you Tseng, who's going to straighten you out?"
"Not a chance in hell of that happening Rufus, so don't even ponder such. Though I see you seem to be in the same boat as Reno," the Wutaian smirked again then walked to the lab table.
Tifa blushed again then decided to change subjects, "So how does your folder explain what happened to her?" questioned the brunette as she motioned to Yuffie on the table.
"Because they had my folder on the table with her, as well as an abundance of mako. It's the same idea shinra used for SOLDIER, only a more advanced case."
"They give you a more advanced treatment if you're a Turk," added Tseng as he leaned against the lab table.
"Or if you're me," said Rufus. "Added strength is one of the only side effects I know. As well as glowing eyes, more so than the SOLDIERS of course. Mine glow as you've noticed, so do the others Turks, and Karia as well. Yuffie's glow now as well, hence why I'm assuming she's had the same thing done. I would assume my living through the attack by WEAPON was also due to the treatment."
"And my wound from Sephiroth.. who knows what Hojo infused us with," explained Tseng who then looked down to the ninja on the table. "Kisaragi.." he stated.
"How would you know her last name?" questioned Tifa.
"Have to know the background information when you're tracking someone. Turk rules. I remember from the meteor incident. Besides, I'm from Wutai, everyone knows a Kisaragi when they see one."
"Let's get out of here," stated Rufus finally. He took the other folder and Yuffie's conformer from Tifa. "You'll need your hands free to fight," he smiled at the brunette. "I can use my shot gun with one hand."
Tifa nodded, "what about Yuffie?"
"I've got her," stated Tseng as he walked past the pair with the unconscious woman in his arms and started up the stairs. "Elena and Rude should be waiting for us at the ground level by now"
"More than likely," replied Rufus who walked behind Tifa up the steps. "Tifa and I checked the building earlier."
"Oh! Wait!" yelled Tifa as she spun around. "I forgot Riane!" with that she nearly knocked Rufus over as she disappeared back down to the lower floor.
"Forgot what?" questioned Tseng, still cuddling Yuffie to himself.
"It's a kitten, same breed as Dark Nation was.." explained Rufus as he sat the contents in his arms down on the stairs.
"Hmm.. not surprised. While we were outside fighting, some adult versions were set on us," commented Tseng.
"Well that makes her being present more understandable.."
"They were altered, however.. not sure what was done to them," said the Wutaian.
"I have a bad feeling about this.." expressed Rufus, "take Yuffie to Rude and Elena, then come back and get these items. Don't forget them no matter what, I'm going with Tifa."
Tseng nodded then watched the blond disappear down the stairs much like the female before him had.
Bending down Tseng grabbed the folders and put them in Yuffie's lap as he still held her. Grabbing the shuriken off the stairs he still managed to hold onto the girl. "Come back, ha, underestimating me.." voiced Tseng then started his way up the stairs to meet Rude and Elena.
"Tif, wait!" called Rufus as he neared the bottom floor.
"I'm just getting Riane, Rufus."
"I know just.." stated Rufus to himself, he could hear Tifa calling the kitten's name then she stopped. Walking into the lab again he looked around and saw Tifa inspecting what seemed to be a wall, Riane sat on her shoulder.
"What you doing Tif? You found Riane.."
"Yeah.. but there's like... a hidden door or something here, it has to lead somewhere," she replied. "I think we need to open it from a control system."
Walking over to a panel and a computer Rufus inspected the controls. "I can unlock it from here... not really sure if we want to however.."
"If we don't the curiosity will eat me alive.." explained Tifa as she now held Riane in her arms.
"Fine.." Rufus tapped a few controls and the door opened almost soundlessly.
Making her way in first Tifa looked around. Scrunching he face in disgust she scowled and hugged Riane closer.
"What in hell..?" expressed Rufus as he looked around.
"This is just downright sick.." spit Tifa as she looked around. Glass compartments held creatures not unlike the one Tifa held in her arms. At various ages, the creatures ranged in size from adolescents to full grown adults. Walking up to one of the tanks which housed an adult Tifa frowned. "What can we do? Can't we let them out..?"
"I don't think we should.." stated Rufus matter of factly.
Tifa turned to look at him, "why not?" she questioned.
"They've been altered. We can't do anything for them.."
"How do you know?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Tseng told me earlier.. They fought altered versions of the creatures outside. They wouldn't respond kindly like Riane does.. or like Darknation did."
"Sir?"
Rufus turned, "Rude."
Looking around the room as he walked to Rufus and frowned. "Just like the ones outside... should kill them now.."
"That was blunt.." expressed Tifa as she started on her way out the door, "I want to go."
Rufus nodded, "just turn off the oxygen supply Rude.. They're comatose at the moment and won't feel anything.."
Rude nodded and Rufus followed the brunette as she started upstairs again.
Looking around he shook his head. More of these creatures to die.. this really is disgusting. Looking at the computer he started to type in commands, shutting down oxygen supply to each tank. Adult male... supply down.. Adult female.. supply down.. adult male.. supply down.. adolescent female.. supply down.. adolescent female, supply down, adolescent male, supply down and... Blinking at the screen Rude took his sunglasses and pushed them onto the top of his head. "Kittens..?" Walking over to the last tank he looked in. Three small bundles were sustained in the liquid. About the size of that one Tifa had.. Shaking his head and putting his sunglasses back over his eyes, he walked back to the computer and typed in a command.