Gifts and Curses
Hello, this is my first Story so dont be to harsh with me. It is Set at the Beginning of Crisis Core, at the Genesis War. Please read and review.
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 1: Shadows and Regrets
Zack turned in his bed for what feeled like the tenth time, still not getting closer to falling asleep. He just couldn't turn his mind of the thoughts of his missing mentor. The misson to banora had been an exhausting one, but his mind refused to shut off, even if his body demanded rest.
The man had been a constant in his live for more than a year now. He still remeberd the Day Angeal took him on as a apprentice, and smiled sadly at the memory.
Angeal...he still didn't understand his reasons to betray them, betray him, and it hurt him more then anything else. He still coulden't believe what the Man had done.
'Damn it Angeal, where are you?'
And Genesis, he didn't really now the fircy commander, but still, he wanted to help him. The wing he has shown him, it didn't look like the wing of a monster, it looked more like...an Angels Wings.
'However, can you really live on that Side?' Genesis word's still roung through his head. What had Shinra done to him?
More and more he was wondering if he was fighting for the right cause. If Shinra was really the good one. He had to know, and the only person how he could speak about that matter was the general.
Slowly Zack got up an moved to his wardrobe too get dressed in his uniform. He grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading to the shower. The apartment he shared with his mentor seemed so empty now. His footsteps sounding eerily loud in the silent atmosphere.
'Why?'
As he made his way out of the building towards the main complex where the generals Office was located. He had no doubt Sephirot was still at work, the man was know for inhuman working hours.
He stopped just before the Door of the General's office. Then he carefully knockt the door and waited for an answer. "Come in" he heard the general mumble. "General Sir, could I have a quiek word with you" Zack asked. "What is the matter Zack, shouldn't you be resting after your misson?" the General asked warily. "I just coulden't get to sleep Sir, can't put my mind of what happend..." he answerd truthfully.
For a moment, hes sure he sees somthing ankin to a frown flicker across the generls stoney expresion. "I understand, this has to be hard for you. What did you want to talk about?" the general asks, his voice sounding mildy concernd. "Well, I was wondering if maby you have and idea why he left? I really don't want to bother you with this thought, so if you don't want to talk about it..." he was stopped mid-sentence by the generals raised hand. "Zack, clam down. I can tell you, but you have to understand that this information is highly confidential." " Sir, yes, Sir" Zack answers, and stars to bounce exitidly. He was finally getting some answers.
"It all stared with a simpel sparing match, between me and Genesis, he was always obsessed with getting better then me, and things turned a little heated. So in the end, Angeal had to step in to prevent Genesis from getting seriously injured. He got away with a wound on his shoulder, and stormed off."
Zack nodded, exicted for Sephiroth to continue.
"But the wound refuesd to heal, and Genesis was getting worse and worse. The doctor, how was responsible for his maco treatments, Hollander, had no idea what was wrong with him, and Gensis body to be literally deteriorating, and there was nothing we could do about it."
"So I called Doctor Hojo in, the lead scientist. He found the problem. Genesis was facing extrem Cell Degradation, in face of incomplet DNA. I told him to search for a cure, he only laughed and said there is none. Furios, Genesis took off taking Hollander, and many SOLDIERS with him. Becuase I was to weak to stop him, to weak to help him, and now Angeal is gone as well." Sepiroth finishes with a pained grimace, betraing his normally expersonless face.
Stardeld at the Generals sudden outburst of emotion, Zack is unabel to comprehend everything at first. He takes a momment to let everything sink in. As he looks at Sephiroth, his face is bare of any emotion again. "So thats why he left...I kinda understand him. So Angeal, Genesis and you are friends?"
He chuckels "The best friends, we've know each other since we were children."
Zacks eyes widen at that, and he find himself wondering why the General isn't doing anything to bring them back. "With all due respect General Sir, why are you just sitting here, when youre best friends are somwhere out there?" Sephiroths eyes narrow, "I would if I could, but things aren't that simple. I can't just leave SOLDIER behind without a General, and in the end it's not only my decision, but the Company's, and in this case Director Lazard's, how decides what really is done."
"But there got to be something we can do? We can't just leave them to die!?" he cries at the general.
"Zack, they are our enemey now. They betrayed SOLDIER, betrayed Shinra."
"How can you even say such a thing, Sephiroth?! I thought they were your friends?" Zack asks with tears in his eyes. "They are, but I can't just turn against a direct order from the Company, they would notice immediately, but you on the other hand...you understand me, Zack?"
Zack still looks a bit shaky, but seem to catch his composure once again. "Im sorry Sir, I don't know what's come over me. And I understand of course. This hole mess with Angeal has just been on my mind for the past month. Do you think hes dete-something as well?"
"Deteriorating, and it certainly seems like a possibilty, but I'm not sure. He had the same mako treatments as Genesis thought, and he was also under Doctor Hollander." the General point's out.
"Even if this Hojo Guy said there is no cure, theres gotta be something we can do? Right? Right?"
"I don't know, Hojo is the lead scientist, and has been so for many years. I don't like the man. But hes a genius at what he does."
"Sir, theres gotta be a possibility, hes not the only scientist in the world!"
"I don't think...wait, I remeber now. There was a lead scientist before Hojo, he was said to be kind of a eccentric, but a Genius at genetic Work. He left many years ago thought. The resons he left are not stated in any file, but he still seems to be in midgar, the turks have been keeping taps on him."
"Great! Finally some good News! What is the plan, sir?"
"Don't get to exicted Zack, I believe it would be wise to pay this man a visist. But you have do understand Zack, this is no official shinra mission. We have to be discreet about it. The Company must not know of this."
"Understood, Sir. Where can I find this man?"
"He should be somewhere down in the slums of Sector 4. I will give you the ecaxt Location when youre there. Try to gain some information from him. See what he knows about the Degradation, and if he has any clues about curing it. Proceed with care, the man could be dangerous."
"I will do my best Sir, thank you so much" Zack stood there with a big smile on his face.
"Im sure you will, Dissmised. Now get some rest, Zack."
He salutes. "Sir"
Exicted, Zack runs out, leaving Sephiroth to ponder in his thoughts.
'Just where are you? Genesis, Angeal?'
'Finally some good News' Zack thinks to himself exicted, as he runs out of the Main complex, and back to the Baracks.
He stops thought, before entering the Apartment he had shared with his Mentor. Dreading the Silence and the places his mind wanders to, as he stars at the empty apartment walls. He wants to go out and do something, just anything to get his mind of the pain. But he has a misson for tomorrow, even if it is an unofficial one.
He takes a quick shower and then heads for bead again. But as soon as he closes his eyes, Angeal is on his Mind again.
'If you want to be a Hero, you got to have Dreams and Honor.'
"Damnit Angeal, what happen to honor? And Dreams? Your always one to talk about these things, but then you just..." He has to surpess a sob here "...I think I understand you a little bit better now. After talking to the General, you left for Genesis, didn't you? To find a cure for him?" he muses to himself.
He should really get some sleep now, looking at the clock, it's almost 0100. Willing his troubeld mind to go asleep he finally silps of to an uneasy slumber.
'Angeal...Where are you man?', are his last thoughts before falling asleep.
He dosen't sleep well that night.
So, i hope you liked it. Let me know what you think, and if you want me to continue this.