Crisis Core: Remix
Summary: After Angeal leaves SOLDIER, Zack is assigned to investigate the desertion. But Lazard thinks it's time for Zack to take a leadership role for once, and puts another 2nd to work with him. They argue and argue, but could something else result from it? ZackxOC, NOT slash. AU.
Chapter 2: Arriving in Banora
Zack and Carina get out of the helicopter and walk up the tree-lined path. "Weird-looking trees," he says to himself.
"They're Banora White trees, or, as some people call them, dumbapples."
"Wait, so we're in Banora? Angeal's hometown?"
"I guess. Some people say that Angeal and Genesis have known each other for a long time." She walks on without a word, but stops, as strange soldiers appear in the path.
"I got em." Zack easily fends off the enemies. "I saw them in Wutai, too."
"They're here, then. There aren't any townspeople here right now- They must have taken over. I was told Genesis took a lot of weapons with him when he left. Our mission is to find and either bring back or destroy the weapons."
"Got it." They go along the path into the town, and see more of the soldiers and one of the weapons Genesis took. Zack fights off the soldiers while Carina advances toward the weapon. She ducks out of the way of a missile, which goes in Zack's direction. He slices it in half. They both take it down. Zack unmasks a soldier.
"A Genesis copy."
"Who told you that?"
"Sephiroth."
"That used to be Shinra tech. It was stolen from us. It allows Genesis's abilities to be transplanted to SOLDIER members and monsters."
"SOLDIER and monsters....are the same?"
"There's no sign of townspeople. We should check the houses." They walk to the first house, which happens to be the largest. "This is most likely Genesis's house, because his family's made up of wealthy landowners. Sephiroth told me that Genesis and Angeal were best friends."
"So Genesis deserts and gets his best friend to come with."
"Probably." Her glance moves away. "Look over there, it's a grave. I'll go check it. Go look for Angeal's house."
"Don't Turks always do this?"
"Do you see any Turks around here? No. Someone has to do it."
"Rough, huh?"
"Ehh, I get paid extra for doing this."
"SERIOUSLY?"
"Look for Angeal's house. But be careful, enemies may have taken over."
Angeal's house is..... He looks around. "I have NO idea!" Guess I'll have to check each one... He tries the third house from the right.
"Can I help you?" an old lady asks.
"Uhh, hello, ma'am. Are you Angeal's mother? My name is Zack."
"Are you.....Zack, the puppy?"
"Excuse me?" Puppy? Where'd she get that from?
She chuckles to herself. "My son wrote to me once about you. 'Zero attention span, restless as a little puppy,'" she says, and chuckles again.
"Thanks a lot, Angeal..."
"You're not here with Genesis, are you?"
"No, I'm not. Don't worry."
"What's going on with my son?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't know."
"Genesis came back a month ago with an army. They went on to kill many townspeople. Genesis used to be such a good boy."
"Is Angeal..." Zack trails off.
"He came here. But he left his sword and went somewhere." Zack takes a few steps toward the sword. "That sword represents our family's honor."
"No wonder. He never, ever, uses this sword. I'll take care of Angeal. You should go and hide somewhere."
"Don't be concerned. Genesis cannot harm me." Zack leaves. Angeal, where did you go? Zack hears a rustling sound. "What was that?!" He runs over and sees three Genesis copies. He easily defeats them, and his phone rings.
"Zack, there's a factory on the outskirts. I saw a few Genesis copies entering," Carina says.
"Think it's their headquarters?"
"Positive. I'm on a cliff overlooking it. A frontal attack is too obvious. We'll infiltrate from above. Meet me by the cliff, ASAP." When Zack arrives he kneels by Carina. "Genesis's parents were in that grave by the house."
"He..." Zack can't say the word. "He...his PARENTS?"
"We can't expect reason from him. What did you hear about Angeal?"
"He wasn't at the house. But give me some time! If I find him, I'll talk to him. If I convince Angeal, Genesis might come back too."
"Now I understand why Seph chose you. Genesis and Angeal were Seph's only friends. He doesn't want to fight them. That's why he's not here."
"Angeal's my friend too!"
"He's counting on you to bring them back. Both of them." She stands and brushes off her uniform. "We're running short on time. Let's go."
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Yayy!
Long chappie, took me TWO days! This long ol' chap is to make up for how short the first one was. I personally like this one better.
R&R!
