Books from the Shinra Libraries
The Jenova Project
From the Shinra Inc. Scientific Research Library
During a scientific expedition near Icicle Inn, scientists and Shinra staff unearthed a frozen specimen. It was found in the geological strata of 2000 years ago. Tests confirmed the specimen to be Cetra, or Ancient. The specimen was then named Jenova.
In an effort to preserve and continue the race of the Ancients, Proffessor Gast, a Shinra biologist, found two "surrogate" parents, his assistants Hojo and Lucrecia. By infusing their unborn child with cells from the Jenova specimen, Proffessor Gast hoped to be able to pull the Ancients back from the brink of extinction.
The result of the Jenova Project was the child Sephiroth. Sephiroth possessed super-human strength, intelligence, and had an uncanny ability to utilize Materia and Planet energy beyond normal parameters.
Proffessor Gast shut down the Jenova Project soon after Sephiroth was born. Hojo later tried to replicate Proffessor Gast's experiments, but failed. He is now working on a "reunion" theory that is indirectly linked to the Jenova Project.
File on Prof. Gast, Biologist
From the Shinra Inc. Scientific Research Library
Proffessor Gast was one of the Shinra's leading biological scientists. His work included the research of the final evolutionary stages of land-dwelling life and the Jenova Project.
While studying biological and historical aspects of the Ancients, Prof. Gast met Ifalna, a woman of Cetra descent, who was living in Icicle Inn. She explained the history of the Cetra and the significance of Jenova to him.
The two married and had a daughter--Aeris.
Prof. Gast was killed on orders from Hojo of Shinra Inc. Ifalna took Aeris and fled to Midgar, where she later died during the war with Wutai. Aeris's whereabouts are unknown at this point. The Turks are looking into the matter.
UPDATE:
Aeris has been located. She is living in the Sector 5 slums with her adopted mother Elmyra. She is currently being detained for scientific research to forward the Neo-Midgar Project.
The Ancients in History
From the Shinra Inc. Scientific Research Library
Over two millienia ago, the Cetra heard the cries of the Planet. The Cetra clan living at Knowlespole, now known as Icicle Inn, discovered the Planet's wound first. The Cetra did a Planet-reading and learned that something fell from the sky and caused a large wound. Thousands of Cetra gathered together to try to heal the Planet from this wound. The severity of the injury to the Planet was so great that only time, and a massive expenditure of energy, would heal the hurt. Because of the amount of energy required, the land around Knowlespole withered away, and snow covered the ground. The Planet pleaded, and finally convinced the Cetra to leave the area. As they prepared to leave, calamity befell. The images of dead mothers and brothers appeared, showing them the spectres of their past. Then, the one who caused the injury, the "calamity from the sky" appeared. He approached the Cetra at Knowlespole as a friend, decieved them, then infected them with a deadly virus. This virus drove the Cetra insane. They transformed into monsters and wreacked havoc. The "calamity from the sky" then moved on, from one Cetra clan to the next, infecting them with the dreaded disease. This was the end for the Cetra.
WEAPON
From the Shinra Inc. Scientific Research Library
Prof. Gast, a Shinra biologist, mistook the "calamity from the sky" for an Ancient. The Planet had to destroy the "calamity," or Jenova as it is now known, in order to heal itself. As long as Jenova remains, the Planet will be forced to "keep an eye on it" and will not be able to heal the wound caused by Jenova. In order to watch the "calamity from the sky" the Planet created WEAPONs. The WEAPONs were never used because a small group of surviving Cetra who were not infected confined Jenova. WEAPONs are asleep somewhere on the Planet. As of yet, the Planet is still watching Jenova, and has not healed itself.
