Crisis Core

Zack Fair

August 18, 1994

"*Wutai troops have hijacked *Shinra Express MK93 II." one of the pilots reported as he followed a speeding train from his helicopter. "The train is currently headed to *Midgar Sector 8. A *SOLDIER operative will be inserted to neutralize the situation. We are to proceed as scheduled. Commence mission in...3 2 1 mark. Begin mission. Operative is ready for insertion."

A young man around sixteen years old with black spiky hair and wearing a 2nd class SOLDIER *uniform, opened the door to the helicopter and inspected his destination.

"The train has been overrun by Wutai troops. Eliminate them and regain control of the train." a stoic and serious voice ordered the teen. The operative looked over to the commander and gave him a laidback salute.

"Oh yeah!" he said his fist pumping in the air.

"Get serious!" the man called back at him as soon as he jumped off the helicopter.

The teenager flew through the wind and landed cooly on top of the train.

"Zack!" the same commanding voice yelled out.

Zack turns around as another figure lands next to him. He looked about in eighter his early or mid twenties, with slicked back black hair and wearing a 1st class SOLDIER *uniform.

"Zack, focus!" the said teen grimaced at his mentor. " There are no Shinra troops on this train. Understood?"

Zack nods to him, cracking his knuckles ready for a fight, and sprinted off. He ran as fast as possible, jumping over emergency escapes and ducking tunnels. He almost tripped on one of the ledges and stumbles a bit just as a series of gunshots fire at his feet, making him jump numerous times until finally falling over. "Hello to you too!" He commented half heartedly.

He jumps back on his feet and continues to go to his destination, and more gunshots follow him. Zack was quick though, jumping over and dodging them all. It wasn't stressful at all, he was having the time of his life. His mako enhanced eyes glistened when the Shinra troops all file up, guns armed and ready to fire.

"Come and get it!" Zack taunted.

Provoked, the Shinra troops fire their weapons. Zack whips out his SOLDIER sword and reflected the bullets off. He ricochets them back at the SOLDIERs as he wipes them all out. He smirks in victory until he sees more coming his way. He jumps over a pipe and jumps on a SOLDIER who gasps in surprise then blocks Zack's attacks, summoning more troops. The next set comes quick which frustrates the operative, until he sees a short cut. Determined, he jumps up just as the big guns come out, firing right at Zack, and climbs through a tunnel, just as it explodes behind him. He breaks through just as the tunnel he was just in diminishes altogether.

"SOLDIER 2nd class Zack on the job!" He announces as he jumps back onto the train, disconnecting two of the cars. He puts his sword away, proud of his accomplishment.

"Train MK93 II re-routed to Sector 1 near Mako Reactor 1. Proceed to mission phase 2 and change surveillence rank..." The pilots announced to the other members.

Zack giddy with pride jumps off the train that halts by the station and lands in a flashy way. It was now time for phase 2. He grabs his sword ready for more SOLDIERs and heads to his next location.

The Midgar station was like the rest of Midgar, dark and foggy. "Why kodoku na sora wo miageru no-" Zack's phone began to ring.

"Zack speaking." He answered.

"Making progress, Zack?" the commander asked on the other line.

"What's going on, Angeal? Why are we fighting Shinra troops?"

"Their Wutai troops in disguise. Now, head to the open area above." Angeal ordered

"Toward Sector 8?"

"Yes, but first, you have to clear a path."

"Clear a path?"

"You'll see what I mean. Be careful." A swarm of "Wutai" troops came running toward Zack.

"So I can cut loose right?" Zack asked.

"Use some discretion." Angeal adviced, sounding somehow annoyed with his protege.

Zack hangs up the phone with a goofy grin on his face. "It's showtime!"

After defeating the swarm, Zack's phone rings again.

"Not too bad." Angeal complimented.

"Piece of cake! I'll make first in no time!" Zack says arrogantly.

"Go up the stairs at the end of the platform."

"You got it!"

Zack hangs up his phone and follows his instructions. As he climbed up the stairs most of the locals were running the opposite direction, fear screaming from their faces. Some people even bumped into him in their rush to escape.

"Why is everyone running?" Zack asked himself. he bagan to feel kind of worried that he is running right into something nasty. And he was right as he skidded to a stop.

There was a big fiery mad cerberus, he stomped angrily at Zack, clearly not pleased with his prescence. Zack gripped his sword tightly.

Suddenly the monster disapeared. Zack furrowed his eyebrow in confusion, and before he knew it he felt the tip of a blade touching his back.

"Showing your back to the enemy...Overconfidence will destroy you." A strong deep voice echoed behind him. Not recognizing the voice Zack turns around with his hands up and gasps.

He may not remember the voice, but no one can mistaken the man that stood before him. His long silver hair glimmered under the streetlights, and was wearing a long black coat, with silver pauldrons, and black boots.

It was Sephiroth.

"Wha-what is this?" Zack asked in surprise.

The silver haired celebrity charged for him, and Zack thought quick as he put up his sword. Sephiroth was slashing through crazily, and poor Zack was only able to struggle back.

"Damn it, your not the only hero!" Zack complained.

"It's over." Sephiroth said simply.

Zack struggled back, but Sephiroth was too strong, and he floored him, slicing Zack's sword in the process. The wind was knocked out of the young teen, and his weapon was out of reach.

"Impossible!" Angeal shrieked in surprise as he saw what was happening before him.

Sephiroth stood over Zack, with a victory grin.

"Is this how it ends?" Zack thought to himself, as he saw Sephiroth's katana point towards his chest. Zack shut his eyes ready for his death.

He heard the sound of swords colliding. Zack took the chance and opened his eyes to see that Sephiroth's attack has been blocked by his own sword. In Angeal's hand.

Angeal looked at Zack with a disapointed face. The two older men eased their positions and allowed the younger SOLDIER to sit up.

"Thanks Angeal." Zack told him with gratitude, trying to ease his heart rate. Angeal merely shook his head at him, and whipped out his cell. He aborts the mission and their *entire surrounding dissolves into nothing but polygons and cubes. Even Sephiroth wasn't real.

"Training's over." Angeal tells him.

"Wha? Why?" Zacked asked, furious, and glaring at his mentor. Angeal gestures him to remove his vision goggles they are required to wear when their in the Training Center. "You serious? I was just getting warmed up."

Angeal continues to not speak to Zack, and hands him his broken SOLDIER issued sword. "Zack. Embrace your dreams." Angeal tells him as he walks towards the exit.

"Huh?"

"If you want to be a hero you need to have dreams...and honor."

"Huh."

Angeal leaves Zack alone in the training center to think about his words.

*Wutai - Once a proud, powerful and independent nation state known for its peoples' honor and mystique, after the Wutai War against the Shinra Electric Power Company it fell to serving as a simple tourist attraction and resort, no longer serving as a global power. However some individual pockets of rebellion still seek to regain the countries' old glory and numerous rebel factions sometimes use Wutai as a base of operations.

*Shinra - a power company, supplying mako energy to the world and making electricity efficient and easily available. However, Shinra also operates in genetic engineering, space exploration, and has a strong military power including the elite group SOLDIER. This military power, combined with their monopoly of Mako energy, effectively gives Shinra a measure of control over the world populace.

*Midgar - the most technologically advanced location ever constructed on the Planet. Built by the Shinra Electric Power Company, Midgar is home to the corporation's main headquarters, which dominates the city skyline. Thanks to its eight Mako Reactors, the city's massive power demands are easily met, but at a cost: the surrounding countryside has become a wasteland.

*SOLDIER - They are advanced super-soldiers with superhuman strength, speed, and agility. Much stronger than the Shinra Peacekeeping Troops and the Turks, Shinra uses them for special missions that require the greatest use of strength.

*2nd class SOLDIER uniform - a blue violet sleeveless sweater shirt, with the Shinra vest and matching pants and black boots.

*1st class SOLDIER uniform - same as the 2nd class except in black.

*It wasn't a real mission, but a training session in a graphical training room, able to create any world.

*CHAPTER 2 PREVIEW*

"Hey Zack, you seem a little on edge." a young man about the same age as Zack says as he sits on once of the couches in the lobby.

"Can you blame me? All this training and no assignments." Zack griped, doing his daily squats. "Like their hanging me out to dry. You must be pretty busy with everyone off base."

Zack's friend gives him a confused face. "Off base? Wait, haven't you heard? There's been a mass desertion at SOLDIER."

That got Zack's attention, he stopped his exercises and sat next to his friend on the couch, hinting he wanted more info. The brown haired teen laid back so he can explain.