This fic was previously named "An Inbox Full of Hope". I've been trying to think of a better name for it for a while...

*SPOILER ahead: If you haven't finished FF7: Crisis Core and don't want spoilers, then quit reading.*

First, an introduction. I hate tragedy, and I really hate it when a character as awesome as Zack seemed to face a cliff wall at every turn starting from dreaded Nibelheim. He had friends, and dammit, they wanted to hear from him and help him!

Keep in mind, this is now my world of Crisis Core. I will keep most of the story up until Nibelheim more or less true (as suits me, heh), but after Zack wakes up, Cyathula's law of common sense steps in and my CC world will be like this:

1) Shinra WILL NOT be pursuing Zack's ass right when he breaks out of the tube. Based on the researcher notes, they were pretty much written off as not too important. With only one researcher being bored to death in that lab, they would not waste a shit ton of Shinra troops and bullheads to make sure two stable experiments don't suddenly escape.

2) It has not been four years. It shouldn't take Shinra four years to the day Zack wakes up to send a message saying Zack and Seph are officially dead. It has only been about a year and a half.

3) This story may well bleed into FF7 land with Zack as the shiny lead star. This story will mainly be exchanges and dialogue between Zack and his friends. Not so much an actual narrative. I might throw in some thought processes later, but yeah, I'm keeping my options open. Suggestion, reviews, comments, are of course, extremely welcomed! It's the fuel to keep the inspiration going!

4) Yeah I know people don't normally write that much per text message, but let's just believe their Shrinra cell phone technology was brilliant, unlimited, and free.

Finally, I just wrote this chapter on the fly and eager to post. Chances are, I might want to streamline, expand, or correct stuff, so don't be alarmed if things change a few hours later... Oh, and, I don't own Final Fantasy. duh.

... = some time passage before the next message

The Ubiquitous Network of Zack Fair

Ch. 1 Kunsel: Where are you, Zack?!

04MAY22 0719

Kunsel: Okay, this is like the 10000th message I've sent, where the living hell are you Zack. You're alive I can feel it. Come on, don't disappear on me, man, this really isn't funny.

...

04MAY22 2207

Zack: hey kuns, how things goin?? listen, I just somehow broke out of a tank of mako in hojo's lab of horrors in the basement of a mansion in nibelheim, like literally three minutes ago. gimme a sec i need to lock up this scientist.

Kunsel: WTF? Zack! You really are alive?? Tell me this isn't some new virus I need to delete

Zack: no, it's me, and i got no idea why i'm alive and kickin and broken out of a tube o mako. actually i think like, angeal's damn spirit broke me out, but anyway, hey i'll give you a call, i need to bring my boy cloud outta the basement and somewhere safer.

Kunsel: Dude Zack, Shrinra's fucking just released a report saying you and Sephiroth died!

Zack: yeah i just got that too... is this coincidence? hey it just hit me, why the hell does my cell phone still work after being in the mako bath with me? fully charged, too! wait, shinra can't trace this or anything yeah?

Kunsel: Dude, cell phones run on mako, I forgive your stupidity this time 'cause you've been roughed up. Gonna check on the tracing ASAP. BTW, Zack, I'm 100% on your side, I just want you to know that. Let me know if there's ANYTHING I can help you out on. Your fan Luxiere is crying next to me cause he's so happy you're alive, you got solid friends on your side Zack, remember

Zack: hm your 10000th message is the first since i got tossed in the tube, i guess mako cuts signal. man, thanks, kunsel, but i really don't want you guys riskin your life and stuff

Kunsel: Dude, quit wasting text space on that shit, we're helping and you got no choice. Like we care about being in SOLDIER anymore, it seems once you become 1st, Shinra wants to dispose your ass. And since you're dead now, there's no more 1sts...

...

04MAY22 2320

Kunsel: Hey, I'm pretty sure cell phone lines are regulated by the Turks. If I hear anything on you, I'll try to let you know. HQ still seems quiet right now. We don't have much choice at this moment tho...

...

04MAY22 0006

Zack: Hey, kuns, can you find out more about mako poisoning for me too? thanks, man... hey you remember cloud right? i told you about him from the modeoheim trip. anyway, he was thrown in a mako tube next to me and he's showin signs of serious mako addiction. he's def alive but the only response i get from him is 'unghhh'

05MAY22 0532

*RING!*

"Kunsel!"

"Zack! Damn it's good to hear your voice again! You know it's been like nineteen months since you went to Nibelheim?! I keep trying to keep a shoulder out for your girl, but she won't take it."

"Aerith! Holy shit, how is she?? Is Tseng taking care of her?"

"Yeah, she's pretty depressed though, but I keep it real, you're not the type to stay silent the wrong way. Her flower business is booming though, you should see. Hey, what plans do you have?"

"I dunno, man. I have no idea what is going on. But now that you've mentioned Aerith, I'm going back to Midgar."

"Are you nuts?? This should be the last place to go to! Dude, I'm sure Aerith'll understand!"

"Hey, so you sure the Turks aren't just listening in on us?"

"Yeah, actually, I'm pretty certain they're laughing right now. Reno already came and told me we're 1st class dumbasses, but... since they're so inundated with an exorbitant amount of useless teenage text and drivel, it's hard to keep track. And since they take up so much space, it needs to get deleted frequently..."

"Man, I owe you guys too much..."

"Just don't ask them for too much, Zack, they got Turk jobs to do. But, your number currently doesn't exist, and I appear to call home a lot. Anything we say or text though, they know. So, plan accordingly."

"No worries there, I know how they work. Thanks guys, you know who you are..."

"I just sent you a doc on mako poisoning, by the way. It sounds like there isn't too much we can do without proper care..."

"Well, I changed him out of his mako-soaked clothes and forced a bunch of water down his throat. I know it's not much..."

"Yeah, his body's gonna have to flush it out itself. Water's always a winner though."

"How the hell do I feed him, though, that's what I'm kinda freaked on."

"Er, I think this report just has 'em on IV's..."

"Well, I'll worry about it in a sec. Anyway, Kuns, keep in touch, I need to scout this creepy ass place and clear out nuisances. This place is full of those retarded 'dorky faces.'"

"Man, remember when we had to clear Sector 4 of those things, 'cause they 'malfunctioned'. To this day I still don't get why that stupid scientist thought they'd be good pets for kids. Hey just promise me, one thing. I don't care if you need to keep secrets or whatever from me, but just stay alive, man, that's all I ask. I can only take so much of Luxiere's weeping."

"Absolutely. You stay alert and safe, too, ya hear? Who knows how hella monitored you are now."

"We're SOLDIER, in the real sense, trust me, I'm careful. Good luck."

"You, too."

*click*