Shadow Of The Past Chapter 1: Prolouge, a final fantasy vii fanfic

FINAL FANTASY VII

SHADOW OF THE PAST

Prolouge

The truth was an illusion. Shinra was dead but its legacy continued to torment the planet. First had come Sephiroth in all his horrible power. The burning of Nibelheim, the killing of the last ancient. The summoning of Meteor and Geostigma. The

horror he inflicted upon those who had once trusted him. The way he had mockingly toyed with Cloud, purpousely putting himself in weak stances and using weak grips just to prove his superiorty as a swordsman.

Then came the war against deep ground, a super military formed by the late president Shinra. Led by the feirce and incredibly powerful Tsviets they shattered the town of Kalm and invaded Wutai. Their armies sprayed bullets and missles

upon the WRO, an orginization dedicated to defending the planet from those who sought to harm it. The rise of Omega, an ascension that nearly ended all life on the planet. The terrible pollution that surrounded Midgar, and the lifeless

wastelands and horribly mutated monsters. Genetic esperiments and the horrors of Jenova's attempt to take the planet for herself. All of these came from the same source, Professor Hojo. Head of the Shinra science department and a

maniac.

These threats were all met head on, and defeated as many times as was needed to keep them down. But can one really be sure that there is no longer any danger to the planet. There is always danger, the same way a human always faces

danger no matter who he or she is, or what background they have. The danger can come in many forms, a virus, an infected wound. Maybe someone will murder this person, or maybe they will be struck by lightning. Lightning may not pose a

threat to the planet, but there are quite a few things that do. Meteor's, such diseases as Geostigma controlled from beyond the lifestream by a malevolant force. Just as a person always faces danger from one source or another, so to does the planet. Victor Scathe sat in the back of the truck as it rumbled along, bumping over rocks pits and whatever else happened to be lying around. The truck's engine roared loudly and the noise echoed through the forest as they drove. The

interior of the truck was far from being a pleasant place to be. Dust coated the floor walls and ceiling, all of which were a bland grey color. They were a cold hard metal which had lost any shine it may have had long ago. Now they

were coated with dust and dried blood, the blood of those who had died in the war which presently plagued the land, a war that came years before the threat of Sephiroth, or deep ground. A war that came before the terror of Omega and

Jenova. Before Geostigma. The Wutai war.

The engine rumbled with a slight grinding sound that said rather plainly, need brake fluid. The inside of the truck stank of vomit and blood. The blankets were full of holes and were thin from use, covered in dust and lice that crawled into the

hair of anyone stupid enough to use the blanket. Most people learned to go without a blanket on the first night. The floor was made of wood metal, cold and lumpy. Still this was far better than they could expect once they reached

the frontline, Victor knew. Victor was a twenty-eight year old man and sat back in the cargo space crammed in with his comrades in arms. To his right sat second class SOLDIER, Vir Alto. Vir wore the traditional SOLDIER uniform,

which consisted of a dark blue shir with leather straps going up either side and crossing over the back, dark blue pants with leather combat boots. Steel shoulder gaurds rested on either shoulder providing protection from falls bullets and swords.

Across his back was a demonic looking longsword, a dark rustic color with a testure that seemed lumpy in an intimidating kind of way. He was roughly six feet tall with charcoal black hair that had been cut short, he sported brown eyes that

almost seemed to glowed in the dark cramped space. This glow was a part of the secret to SOLDIER's strength. It was a result of Mako infusions, which granted speed, strength, endurance, eyesight, hearing, and reflexes far beyond that of a normal human. The only none Mako enhanced people on the planet who could face SOLDIER's in one on one combat and have a fair chance of winning were the Wutain's.

Vir was only seventeen, but was still among the most elite warriors on the planet. Laying on the floor being careful to keep his distance from the blanket, was Kenson Milldon. Kenson was an MP. MP stood for Military Police. MP's while tough

were no match for even low ranking members of SOLDIER. Kenson had green eyes which did not glow at all, due to the fact he had not been infused with Mako. He had wavy strawberry blond hair, and wore the MP uniform, which was more

or less a SOLDIER uniform, only with a helmet with an auto-targeting system and nightvision goggles built in, and leather pants. A Shinra standard issue pistol rested on each of his hips, and he had layed his assault rifle on the ground next

to him.

Another MP who Victor did not know sat up front driving the vheicle. Victor wore a SOLDIER uniform and had dark brown hair that was a sries of downward angled spikes that reached just below his shoulder. His eyes were a stunning orange

that glowed with the light of Mako infusion. Victor however was no normal SOLDIER. He was a SOLDIER: First class. First class was the envy of the world. The most elite fighters in the world, capable of jumping twenty-thirty feet, and taking

blows that would kill or incapacitate a normal human, and keep on fighting.

"Agh, how much longer are we going to be in this damn truck!? We've been here nonstop for two days now!" Vir asked loudly. Victor looked at him and considered replying, but decided against it on the grounds that Vir would only get louder if

he knew the anwser to that question. Vir looked between Victor and Kenson for a moment with an expectent look on his face. "I mean i know Sephiroth needs help on the front line and all that! But why did he have to pick a unit that was so

far away from the front? Well? Helloooooooooooo. Anybody listening or have you all suddenly gone deaf?" Kenson must have fallen asleep during Vir's little rant as he was now snoring, loudly. Victor leaned back feeling the shifting weight of

the two katanas that were sheathed across his back in the shape of an x.

He had been working with Vir and Kenson for about a month now, and had become used to Vir going into a rant every hour or so over how unfair this whole thing was. Of course it was unfair. It was a war for crying out loud. What did Vir expect.

A nice fun little vacation. That would have been nice Victor had to admit. But war was'nt nice. Never had been, never would be.

Vir sighed and leaned back as he realized he was being ignored. He wiped his forehead with the back of one gloved hand. That was another thing about their current situation, it got really hot in this part of the world. Even at night. In Midgar it was cold both at day and night. A result of the large green smog that had formed above it as a result of the Mako reactors Shinra had set up. "We were picked because we were the only unit containing two members of SOLDIER, and because

we were closer than everyone else." Victor said without looking up. He had once been freindly and out going, but this war had changed him. He was still freindly, but more closed off. It was another thing about war that made it unfair.

Suddenly came a soft pitter pattering on the roof, almost like rain. Victor moved to the front and looked out into the night and frowned, his muscles tensing. He reached for his swords and said calmly and quietly "Enemies on the roof." It may

have sounded like it was raining, but a quick look out the front window confirmed that it was'nt. Suddenly the left side of the truck bent inwards fast and sharply with a the sound of something smashing into the truck and the tortured groan of

twisting metal. The truck flipped onto its side with a crash throwing it occupants onto the right wall, which had now become the floor. Victor pushed his foot onto the ground and kicked off smashing through the side of the truck with Vir

following only a second behind. They were surrounded on all sides by trees and plant life which they could see in the night only because of their Mako enhanced vision. A wutai soldier sailed through the air at him with a spear poised for attack, only to be dissapointed as Victor ducked beneath the thrust, then dashed forth slashing with both swords like an x slicing the warrior in two. Then Victor turned in mid-air deflecting several incoming shurikans off to the side before landing in

a crouch as Vir swung his sword overhead at another enemy.

Victor turned to see an enemy with a large orientel sword charging him. Victor narrowed his eyes and caught the attack by crossing his swords in an x. Then he went into a back flip raising his feet towards his enemies chin, but he ducked under it and swung his blade in a deadly arc for the side of Victor's head. Victor moved one of his feet back raising his right hand and blocking the blow as he ducked low, then lunged forward with a rising slash of his left sword but the

Wutai warrior half turned allowing the blade to fly by. Victor carried through with another step moving by his opponent and turning to parry an incoming slash. The blades met with the ring of steel on steel and a spray of sparks. "ENOUGH!!!" Victor roared, then jumped through the air flipping over his adversaries head and bringing his blade up towards him, and decapitating his enemy at the same time. He turned towards a whisteling sound, and caught a spear in the chest that

tore through his heart and sent him flying onto the ground. The last thing he saw before blacking out was the person who had thrown the spear get cut down from behind by Vir.

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Hojo looked at the dead First class as he was wheeled through the hall towards the morg. Hojo was dressed in a white lab coat that was buttoned up, and wearing glasses. He was wearing his black hair tied back in a pony tail. His typicall observant and somewhat insane look on his face. Standing behind him and slightly off to the side was the rounded President Shinra. Shinra had blond hair and a mustache, and was wearing a red buisness suit. They were standing in a white

polished hallway on the twenty-second floor of the Shinra HQ. The medical floor, where the injured were given treatment, and the dead were preped for burial. Hojo shifted his eyes onto the file containing all the information on this casualty.

The file read as follows.

Name:Victor Scathe

Age:27

Gender:Male

Hometown:Mideel

Education:Attended pre-school in hometown, showed excellent memory and fantastic hand-eye coordination. Later moved to Shinra highschool in Midgar. Past all tests with flying color's and signed onto the Shinra military. Completed MP

training and applied for SOLDIER. Passed SOLDIER exam at age of twenty-one. Made First class two years later.

Hojo lifted his eyes from the file onto the corpse which had been stopped in front of him. "Hmm, most interesting. He passes the requirements for the M-Warrior project, including being dead, yes this is quite good. Mr.President, i beleive this

is the one. He posseses the necessary strength and Mako enhancement. Though i must wonder how he will react when all is said and done, does he have a history of voilence? Off the battlefeild of course." Hojo said thoughtfuly.

For awhile now he had been waiting for a specimen for his latest project, a secret project that only he and the President knew about. Hojo had first gained the urge to preform this experiment while preforming research into the funtion of restorative Materia. He had begun to wonder what the effect would be if an exceptional specimen would be if he were to have Materia installed inside of him after death. But it was difficult, he wanted a First class SOLDIER as a specimen, but

even in this time of war they died very rarely.

However, Hojo finally had the specimen he had been looking for, and only needed the President's permission to proceed.

"I give you my full permission Professor. I to am curious as to what your results will be. Begin whenever it is convenient." Shinra said. Hojo smirked and walked off. Shinra watched him go until he rounded the corner at the end of the hall.

Then he turned to the doctor wheeling the cart and said "Be sure to get that up to Hojo's lab." The doctor nodded, then paused to push up one of his overly long bangs. Shinra narrowed his eyes and said "And get a hair cut."

Victor looked around himself but could see nothing, only a deep darkness that seemed to penetrate his very soul. He went to speak but was unable, panic tried to spring up but he pushed it down and allowed calmness to flow through him.

He focused hard on his surroundings, and after a time he began to hear faint whispering, though it was impossible to make out. He turned looking in all directions as he blankly wondered to himself "Am I dead? That makes sense, i did take a spear through the heart. Huh? Whats that?" A green light had become visible in the distance, dim at first but getting brighter over time. He felt compelled to move towards this light, but his training told him to be cautious. Take some time

to try and make sense of things, take everything into account. Then take action. However after about five minutes Victor was still unable to think of anything else, so he shrugged and began moving towards the light. For some reason he felt none of the aprehension he had expected he would be feeling, instead just a feeling of peace. He quickly realized that the closer he got to the light the more at peace he felt. It made no sense, but soon he did'nt care. He just wanted into

this light. If it felt this peaceful from a distance, then how peaceful must it be inside.But something was pulling him back and away from the light. Uncontrolable fear washed through him in waves. "NO! Let me go! I DO"NT WANT TO GO BACK!!!!!!"

His eyes opened slowly but quickly snapped close again as a rush of light met his pupil. A million thoughts were racing through his head. The last thing he remembered he had been fighting against Wutai warriors who had ambushed their truck.

He tried hard to think of anything else, but there was nothing. He groaned as he opened his eyes again, and was not really all that suprised when all he could see was colors and blurs. "Ah, you're awake. Good! Success! I WAS RIGHT!!!"

Said a high-pitched and definetely insane voice.

Victor turned towards the voice and was able to distinguish a white blur with splotches of black at the top. Must be someones hair. "You are probably wondering what is going on. Well i'll tell you. The truck you were in was ambushed by Enemy troops and you were killed. Confused? I brought you back you see, by placing a special Materia i've been working on in your chest. Right next to your heart in fact. Only a scientest of my calliber could ever have thought of something so brilliant

as that!" Victor tried to process this information as the persons rave turned into an insane cackle. He was unable to wrap his mind around this information so he pushed it to the back of his head.

He gathered his strength and tried to sit, but was too weak. Victor grunted in displeasure. "Hey, when can i go back on duty? Unless the war has ended i think my services will be more needed on the battlefeild than listening to your insane raving." Victor said impatiently.

The cackling stoped much to Victor's releif. He had been getting very sick of it. His vision seemed to be getting better, he could now make out the insane persons shape and even could see that he was wearing a pair of rather unstylish glasses.

"How disrespectful! You will refer to me as Professor Hojo, at all times! Do you understand?!" Hojo raged. Victor tuned him out and instead looked around for his swords, fully intending to dissembowl Hojo just for sounding so annoying. "Your not even listening to me! You owe me your life you miserable cretin!!" Hojo ranted on and on, and Victor ignored him as his eyesight finally returned to normal. After a minute Hojo finally anwsered the question with "You will no longer be working

in SOLDIER. You are above that now. You are now in my service, and i have a special mision for you. I want you to head to Nibelheim and go to the Mako reactor their. Then i want you to open one of the valves in the room of pods, then head straight back to me."

Victor narrowed his eyes. "What makes you think i'll follow your orders? You have'nt given me any good reasons yet, and i'm not gonna work for you just because you say i have to." Victor said angrily.

Hojo smirked as he said "I know you will obey my orders because i have implanted into your head a microchip that makes you obedient to me. You will be unable to refuse my orders, also i order you to never attempt to kill me." With that last

bit Hojo handed Victor his Katanas, which he quickly strapped across his back in the shape of an x. "Now go do as your told!" Hojo demanded. Victor walked forward unable to resist the command.

The next few days were very reveiling to Victor. He quickly discovered what Hojo had meant when he said special Materia. Victor had found that his physical power had increased greatly, which meant there was a strength plus Materia.

He also noted he had been moving much faster than normal, so fast that a normal human could'nt even see him move. Plus he could switch his vision into slow motion, giving him more time to observe other peoples movements. A time Materia had probably been used to gain those effects. Plus there was the fact he had been revive from the dead, which meant there was a life Materia in there too. Normally a life spell would bring someone back from the brink of death, not death itself.

But it was possible that having it right next to his heart might have increased its effect. Either way it mad suicide impossible. All of this told Victor that Hojo had mixed several Materia together, then stuck it in his chest.

He reached Nibelheim by swimming, which no longer held risk for him. Drowning was impossible with the Materia in his chest. He was just now finishing with the valve, feeling along his neck for anything that should'nt be there. He finished with the valve and stood to leave, franticaly searching for any sign of the microchip. "Come on damnit." He snarled. Then he found it, just behind his right ear. He smirked to himself as he pinched the object that should'nt be there and ripped it out

with a small spurt of blood. He groaned in pain as he dropped the object to the floor. He lost sight of it, but he knew it was the chip. He knew because he no longer felt the urge to obey Hojo. Suddenly he dropped to his knees as a memory surfaced, a memory of a green light. And with that memory, came hate.