Cloud's heart raced as he stood before the camera crew and the Director. Sephiroth visibly tensed as he waited for him to recite his lines, praying to Jenova that he would remember.
Zack, who stood behind the Director, sighed silently with relief when he flawlessly finished the scene. "Cut!"
Cloud and Sephiroth both lowered their weapons, turning to the Director hopefully. "You spent entirely too long on this scene," the Director spat. It was… unsettling when he spoke, like there was some dark force hiding inside of him. "You're on my last nerve, Cloud. Mess up again and you guys can kiss the Compilation good-bye."
The shady man stood up, stalking away and leaving the three actors with his threat echoing in their minds. The camera crew groaned as they followed him, staying as far away as they could without being in a different room entirely.
Cloud fought to keep a straight face. 'Great,' he thought. 'The entire series is resting on my shoulders…'
Zack clapped his friend on the shoulder, flinching as his hand hit one of the rounded points on his shoulder pad. "Don't… worry," he said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, we'll get through this movie. And who knows? We might even get to make that new game that the Creator mentioned."
"Don't hold your breath, Sephiroth. Because of me I bet the whole series will be scrapped."
Zack frowned. "Don't talk like that. If they trash VII, they'll have to make a sequel to VIII."
All three of them started laughing. "I can't see Squall doing another unvoiced game, let alone one where he actually has to speak."
Rufus climbed out of his wheelchair, tossing the white blanket he had used to cover his face to the side dramatically. He held the box of Jenova cells in one hand and Kadaj stared in pure horror.
"A good son would have known." Rufus smiled cruelly.
They finished the scene flawlessly- and since they had only been working for about twenty minutes, the Director almost sounded pleased with their work. "Good job. After your lunch break, we'll work on your introductory scene."
The two actors nodded and walked off to go see how Cloud and Sephiroth were doing. Zack waved as they approached, calling, "Hey guys!" enthusiastically.
Rufus nodded in acknowledgement. "So Cloud, how did your scene go?" There was a long pause filled only by the sound of the other actors' footsteps as they rushed to the front doors of the studio.
"The Director's still not happy…"
Kadaj opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by a message on the intercom:
"Cloud Strife, report to the Director's office."