Lacey was carried into a large lab, even larger than the one
she entered the building through. Everything seemed to be
metallic, and sharply made. The men put her down on a cushy
examining table-the only thing in the room that didn't scare her.
The fat men left and her two "favorite" slave drivers
entered the room. Rufus gently seated himself in the corner in
the room, and let Hojo do his work.
Lacey squirmed, some people may think she was a wimp, but if they
only knew the horrors that went on in this place. Human
experiments, animal contortion-it was disgusting.
Rufus was enjoying this-feeding off his old enemy's fear. Soon
Lacey would be a powerful ally, if only she knew. Hojo carefully
set Lacey's leg with his hands. Lacey held her breath. The
pressure he out on her upper leg killed. Hojo gave her one of his
"naughty" smiles. :::Wham::::: everybody in the room
heard the smacking sound of Lacey's hand meeting Hojo's head.
Rufus laughed-this was very funny.
"Don't even start thinking Hojo, fix the damn leg before I
completely take off your head!" Lacey screamed as Hojo
finally finished moving the bone.
Quickly Hojo put a cast on the leg and walked-no, sprinted away.
Leaving Rufus and Lacey alone. Rufus laughed again. "That
man always takes his time-I've never seen him run so fast in his
life!"
Lacey didn't find the comment funny, nor did she find anything
about being in this building funny at all. Rufus actually
expected Lacey to laugh at his remark, but she just ignored him.
She wasn't behaving the way he wanted. He wanted her to love him-something
he knew would not happen, but he could come close to it-even
though it would be terribly unnatural for her.
Rufus turned away from Lacey so that she could not his front.
Careful Rufus grabbed one of the darts that were lined up off the
counter. He was about to just randomly chuck it until he
remembered Hojo's words. "I have perfected this to mutate
her genes and cells so that she will only remember the things
that you bring up. After 24 hours if you do not mention these
"things" she will forget them. But it has to be
injected into the neck."
Rufus sighed this was not going to be easy.... no- maybe it would
be. He located a stool and sat upon it, being careful to hide the
dart.
Lacey just stared at him wondering why she was still sitting here,
and not being confined in her room-or whatever they planned to do
with her. Lacey was just about to say something when Rufus began
speaking. "I plan to give you almost complete freedom. When
you heal you may roam the building as you please-except for here
but I imagine you wish to be nowhere near here."
Lacey was surprised by this-there must have been some "strings"
attached a catch going along with this...... hell why not. she
decided to ask. "What is the catch Rufus." Lacey asked.
She watched him with that same hawk eye.
Rufus felt as if she could see right through his very flesh.
Rufus blushed. "Well...."
Lacey nodded. "Yeah I thought so." she exclaimed.
"Well" Rufus began. "When you said yes you agreed
to our alliance/and our marriage. I have set the date of the
wedding for a few months. You will now become Gea's stepmother,
and the queen of Shin-Ra" Lacey shuddered. That was
something Lacey never imagined.
Yuck, being any part of Shin-Ra was bad enough-but to be
leading it, blah. she thought to herself. "Yeah I know
that, well what do you want?"
"Well if you are going to be my wife you may as well learn
to like-perhaps even love me." Rufus said calmly.
Lacey almost exploded, but she knew that this would come up
sooner or later. This was so going to be hard not to mention
completely WRONG!!!! She sighed. It was risky but if she could
convince Rufus that she did actually love him, she might be able
to escape with Gea safely.
Lacey made a fake blush of modesty. She was beginning to turn red......
Rufus though it was her blushing... But it was not, Lacey was
preparing herself for the one statement that would make her sick....her
action would also make her as ill....
"Well I guess it's not bad" she began. "After all
you are one of the most kind, powerful and handsome men I have
ever met." There she went...Lacey was about to toss her
cookies...this was just revolting....way beyond even being
desperate..
Rufus was taken aback by this statement-Lacey knew he would be.
ahem.. "Well then that was an un expected surprise umm.."
Rufus was trying to think of what to say to this. And suddenly he
knew. hmmm yes this dart would be injected..... While
Rufus hid his left arm behind his back, he slid his right hand
forward and held Lacey's chin.
Lacey grew hot. Thoughts began to run rapidly through her mind. God,
the slime ball is touching me.. God I can not believe I am going
along with this! Lacey thought. Rufus bent forward. Lacey
had to go along with this...otherwise she could end up dead...or
with another needle in her arm.....
Lacey and Rufus both braced themselves. Lacey bent forward...this
had to be perfectly put on...Yuck..
Rufus could not believe she was going along with this either...
Rufus bent even further and went to kiss her...
The small space of air between them fizzled and Lacey felt it. No
she could not betray Sephiroth this way, she could not sever the
bond they held.. so carefully and slowly she moved to the side so
that instead of them kissing it ended up being a hug.
Phew Lacey thought and relaxed until she felt a small
prick...(Matt's note:- No, she didn't mean Rufus's)
Rufus knew this moment was to good to be true...she was putting
him on. So as he went to wrap his arms around her he brought up
his left arm and inserted the needle into her neck. He watched
the clear liquid drain and then removed it. He sat back and
smirked.
Lacey saw the needle in his hand and looked behind him to the
counter. She finally noticed the colorful needles lined up each
with a label stuck on the table. She looked at the recess where
the needle Rufus held used to be, then noticed the label she
smiled, yes Rufus was really as dense as she thought.
Rufus kept on smirking as he saw the look of betrayal in Lacey's
eyes. Quickly Lacey hopped off the table, landing on her good leg.
She then tumbled to the counter, trying to look like she was
drifting off to sleep. Just at that moment Gea walked by, flowers
clutched in her hand. She saw the empty needle in her fathers
hand, and Lacey acting strange. Gea ran tears streaking her eyes.
She knew Lacey would never be the same again.
In a desperate attempt, Lacey knocked all of the labels and
needles off the table. As the glass needles hit the floor they
shattered and Lacey collapsed onto the floor.