Project Gillian

'''This is not FF7 canon. Well, some of it is. Most of it is not. This is mostly me trying to keep my notes straight. Spoilers abound.'''

Yet another branch of the Jenova Project. Project G, or Project Gillian was overseen by Professor Hollander. The goal was to create a child carrying the genetic code of the Ancient Jenova.

Angeal
Although there were more surrogates involved, the only one to produce a live birth was a woman named Gillian Hewely. Because of this, the project bears her name. Her ova were infused with Jenova's cells and then fertilized externally. The embryo was then implanted in her uterus. She was able to successfully carry to term and gave birth to a baby boy: Angeal. She was permitted to keep the child and bring him up within her family. Although Angeal's birth was a success, it left Gillian barren. Her harvested eggs would produce one other child, but she herself would not bear any other children.

Genesis
The second success of Project Gillian came a year later in the form of Genesis Rhapsodos. Because Angeal's birth had left Gillian unable to carry a second child, a different woman was used as a surrogate. The Rhapsodos family had been having fertility issues and volunteered for the project. Mrs. Rhapsodos was successfully implanted with a second embryo and also gave birth to a son. Again, the birth left her unable to carry further children. Genesis was also allowed to grow up under his mother's care.

Complications
Angeal and Genesis led very different lives despite sharing maternal DNA and living in the same small village. Unaware they were half-brothers, the boys became best friends and remained close into their adult lives. Both went on to become SOLDIERs and commanding officers in the Shinra army, surpassed only by their friend and General, Sephiroth. Both men also suffered similar trauma upon discovering their origins. Neither of them took it very well, though it must be said that Angeal handled it rather better.

Genesis, already ill from a wound sustained in the training simulator, inadvertently passed his illness to Angeal via their ability to copy and share genetic information via touch. Although Angeal did not exhibit many outward symptoms, his health began to fail. Unable to find a cure, Angeal eventually succumbed to the illness. It is assumed that Genesis also died of the same, unnamed disease.