Chapter 3: Echoes of Expansion
I really should finish this headcount as quickly as possible, Xander thought, noticing his creations already beginning to sense one another's presence.
"Eighth floor," he called. The previous group stepped down as Reno and Rude moved forward. He didn't bother inspecting them—there was no time.
"Ninth floor." Professor Hojo, Scarlet, and Reeve Tuesti stepped forward.
"Tenth floor." Rufus Shinra, Palmer, and Heidegger approached. "Next," he said quickly, glancing uneasily at the growing crowd.
"Eleventh floor." Genesis Rhapsodos, Angeal Hewley, and Lazard Deusericus advanced, with Genesis carrying the unconscious form of Hollander.
"Hollander?" Xander muttered. "I thought we recreated him in his prime..." He studied the man's deteriorated features. "Maybe the degradation can be reversed."
Thank God their memories of the original lore aren't intact. Half of them would be at each other's throats by now.
"Twelfth floor." The most powerful creations emerged: Sephiroth with his silver hair gleaming, the towering form of Bahamut, the ethereal presence of Jenova, Omega Weapon looming like a mechanical titan, and the divine Minerva.
Sephiroth stepped forward, hand resting lightly on Masamune's hilt in a silent assertion of dominance. A ripple of unease passed through the room. The other figures—all prideful, all dangerous—acknowledged his presence with caution.
"Alright—oh hell, I forgot floor one." Xander grimaced. "First floor, you're up."
Several 3rd Class SOLDIERs and Shinra infantrymen filed forward—early-game adversaries, lacking the intricate motivations of their superiors.
"The headcount is complete. Return to your assigned floors. I'll meet with each of you in due time," Xander announced. As they exited the chamber—some saluting, others offering curt nods—he allowed himself a moment of relief.
Then he saw the door.
At the far end of the chamber stood a tall, reinforced gateway. "Ah. That must be where the World Item is stored."
He stepped inside.
There it was: the Planet's Core—a glowing orb swirling with vibrant green energy.
"This can manipulate Lifestream energy and construct entire ecosystems in moments. It was designed to recreate the Final Fantasy VII world..." He paused. "But wait—it can only build. It doesn't alter existing environments."
His eyes widened. "This world doesn't have a Lifestream network yet... Could I create one?"
The idea electrified him.
"We need to test this immediately."
Clutching the relic, he sprinted to the elevator and ascended to the upper labs. When the doors opened, he rushed to the archives, opening a locked compartment containing their masterwork—detailed blueprints of the entire Final Fantasy VII world.
"It took us months to map this," he whispered, reverently flipping through pages filled with hand-drawn schematics—Midgar, the slums, the world beyond, even hidden reactors and ancient temples.
"Our work won't be wasted."
He spread the blueprints across the main console and then activated the P.A. system.
"All personnel, return to the underground labs immediately. Construction is about to begin. I repeat: return to the underground labs now."
He monitored the facility via security feeds—every floor was cleared.
"Good. They're listening."
Xander activated the Planet's Core. A circular scanner emerged, glowing faintly as it swept over the blueprints. When the scan was completed, the orb pulsed with vibrant energy.
"Here we go..."
The laboratory shook as the device unleashed its power. Lifestream energy surged into motion, shaping structures from thought and blueprint alone. The tremors ceased within minutes.
"It's done."
Xander practically jumped into the elevator, heading straight for the twelfth floor.
The doors opened to reveal the outskirts of Midgar.
He stepped onto a familiar metal walkway, awestruck. The city loomed above—dark, industrial, alive with humming reactors and Mako lights.
"This is insane," he breathed. "It's real..."
Navigating quickly, he reached Sector 7, where mechanical sentries already patrolled the slums.
"Navigation's trickier than I thought," he muttered, searching for the Ancient Temple. After several detours through narrow alleys and underground routes, he found the hidden entrance.
He descended into the temple.
Ancient architecture greeted him—walls alive with pulsing glyphs and sacred energy. In the inner sanctum, a sudden presence made him whirl around.
"Minerva!" he gasped.
The goddess floated serenely. "Greetings, Creator. I sensed your presence in this sacred place."
"I need to know—where exactly are we relative to the real world? Is this still a contained space?"
"We exist within a dimensional pocket," she replied, her voice echoing like wind through the crystal. "But beyond this lies a primitive world—its people unaware of Mako, of the Planet's will."
"A primitive world..." Xander's mind raced.
He imagined deploying Shinra's corporate model—positioning himself as a benevolent innovator while secretly draining the planet's life.
When resistance came—as it inevitably would—it would only justify domination.
"Is something troubling you, Creator?" Minerva asked gently.
"No. Just... thinking."
"Summon the others," he ordered. "We need to talk."
Minerva nodded. Moments later, Sephiroth appeared in a swirl of feathers, Bahamut landed with a seismic tremor, and Jenova's chilling presence crept in. Omega Weapon followed silently.
"How are your new accommodations?" Xander asked.
"Nibelheim is reconstructed adequately," Sephiroth said, impassively. "Though its purpose is questionable."
Xander looked to Omega. "Thoughts?"
"This realm lacks the Planet's voice," Omega replied. "Yet energy flows. It is... acceptable."
"Good. Now, ground rules. No internal conflicts—especially you, Sephiroth. Your rivalries end here."
He turned to the group. "There's a civilization outside—primitive, unaware. We're going to initiate a controlled expansion protocol."
He outlined his strategy:
Sephiroth would approach the locals in disguise, introducing advanced technology and clean energy concepts.
Jenova would ensure loyalty via cellular manipulation.
Bahamut would serve as a deterrent for resistance.
Mako reactors would be established under the guise of progress, while the Planet's lifeforce was quietly harvested.
This is exactly how Shinra operated, he realized. Am I becoming like them?
Sephiroth smirked faintly. "Your methods mirror the company you once condemned."
"That's the point," Xander replied, though a shadow passed over his expression.
Minerva stepped forward. "These methods brought ruin once before. The Planet cried out in agony."
"This isn't that world," he said sharply. "We adapt or we die. Sentiment is a luxury."
The room fell quiet.
"You may begin preliminary reconnaissance," he announced. "But remember—we are not conquerors. We are corporate partners... offering mutually beneficial arrangements."
As the entities departed, Minerva lingered beside him.
"You seem troubled by your plan."
"I'm thinking strategically," he muttered.
She gestured to the walls around them, glowing with the artificial Lifestream. "Tell me, what do you sense in this world?"
"A simple people," he admitted. "They live in harmony, without machines or reactors. They're like the Cetra... before."
"Before Shinra," Minerva whispered. "Before the world was sacrificed for efficiency."
Xander looked into the green glow, seeing not just power—but echoes of a world already lost.
"And what if the efficient path is the only path forward?"
Minerva's gaze was unwavering. "Then ask yourself, Creator: What are you trying to afford—and is the price worth paying?"
He said nothing, lost in the hum of the Lifestream, already echoing with choices yet to come.