DISCLAIMER: Still don't own… T.T
A/N and warning: There's a lot of emotional stuff going on in this chapter. Zack has a meltdown, which may confuse some of you, as he's thinking of the future while he lives in the past. But, our rationale is this: between the time Zack and Cloud escaped, to his death on the cliffside, he didn't have time to really process what had happened to him, let alone what he'd seen happened to Cloud. In death, most of the bad memories were glossed over and repressed to keep him from falling apart. So, now that he's alive again, he has to deal with them for really the first time, and it's very hard on him. Hence the meltdown.
Zack had never been a morning person- before or after his time in the Lifestream. Some things just never changed.
With a groan he rolled out of bed, rubbing at his eyes and yawning. Yesterday...had been hell in a hand basket...with a side of Little Red for the wolf. He shook his head. Kunsel was most likely waiting for him. Knowing his friend, he would be waiting, a list of prepared questions and subtly threatening to tie him down until he got answers.
Unfortunately avoidance only worked for so long.
He hobbled out of the room, tugging his clothes around to straighten them out. A shower would also be in order at some point, he still smelt...crispy.
In the living room, Kunsel was perched on the couch as if he had never left. To be honest, he'd moved very little - the bit of sleep he'd stolen the night before had been a catnap on the couch, knowing despite Zack's assertions that he 'slept like a behemoth' he'd wake the instant someone came in or tried to slip out of the room. Even as deep in thought as he was, he still registered the stumbling presence of his friend and summoned a wry smile. "Apparently 'morning person' was not in the new profile, huh Zack."
"Never was," he mumbled. He made it to the couch before looking around, somewhat lost. His eyes landed on the kitchen. "Coffee," he croaked, stumbling toward the pot, hand outstretched.
He couldn't remember when he started drinking coffee; frankly, he didn't give a damn. He was going to have some.
Arching a brow, Kunsel saved his progress on his presentation for Genesis, and set it aside, rising and moving with considerably more fluidity toward the kitchen, where he got down Zack's 'cookie dunking' mug and filled it with coffee. "How do you want it?"
"Sweet, with some cream and a bit of cinnamon," he gave Kunsel a grateful smile and promptly plastered himself against the refrigerator. "That cup," he mumbled, "was always my favorite."
The elder teen snorted in amusement, getting the coffee ready for him, then using it like greens on a chocobo to lure the spiky haired Third to the couch. "C'mon, Zack. You can do it..."
He scowled at his friend but hobbled his way over to the couch and threw himself on it with a huff. "Cup, now," he demanded, making grabby fingers with one hand and scratching his back with the other. "Fuck, did a herd of mosquitoes chomp on my back or what?"
Kunsel snorted, handing over the cup. "Let me see..." He walked around behind his friend, pulling his shirt back a little to glance at the skin.
Zack wiggled a bit and tugged the shirt completely off. He took a sip of the coffee and sighed happily. It had been a long time...far too long. Unfortunately they didn't serve drinks when you were dead. "How's it look?"
It took a great deal of restraint not to raise his visor to be sure what he was seeing was real. The tattoo was gone, which made sense since the sword was still against the wall. But, the outline of the tattoo was visible, in slightly swollen, inflamed red skin, looking like he had been repeatedly bug bitten. "Oh geez, Zack... that's not right."
"What?" He set the cup down and craned his neck around, trying to see. "What is it?"
"You've got like... fashion-bug bites. If your tattoo was still there, you'd have an itchy red outline." He took a quick picture, showing him. "See?"
Zack looked down at the screen and his face screwed up. "What the fuck? Where's that damn sword...going to send her a letter...don't appreciate her sense of humor," He muttered to himself as he glanced around and then hopped up when he found it.
"I don't appreciate this," he snapped at the hunk of metal in his hands, sighing as he pulled the blade back into himself, feeling the cool wash over his back. It still felt raw and inflamed, but at least it wasn't itching anymore.
Snorting in amusement, Kunsel handed him the coffee. He didn't comment aloud how interesting he found that... Zack would find out soon enough, after they discussed more important things. "Better?"
"Much," he smiled, taking the cup and going to sit back on the couch. "Okay, stop being all good cop on me."
He frowned at that, shrugging. "Zack, I'm not gonna lie. I know that there's something major off with the story I let you get off with. Some things just don't fit - luckily, it'll take a while before the Trio catch on, which buys us some time to create an airtight alibi... or at least, one that can't be proven either way. And we will. You're my best friend. I'm not letting you shoulder whatever the hell is going on, on your own."
"Okay then," Zack flashed him a grin. "Let's get started. If we're going to fool them we've got some work to do. Seph is sharp. He probably read way more than he even bothered to pretend to let on."
Kunsel arched a brow behind his helmet. "Indeed. He's known for his indifferent facade, but no military genius is so obtuse. Also, there's the issue of the Turks... but they won't be able to touch you, soon. I made some... arrangements... after you went to bed."
"Oh? And...those would be what?" Zack asked, losing some of his forced cheer.
He smirked. "Don't look so down. You're going to be apprenticed to Hewley, while Rhapsodos and I make our previous arrangement of occasional training formal. It helps explain away your sword, and, makes you virtually untouchable."
Zack's eyes widened. "Genesis trained you? How did I not know that?" He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Looks like there's a lot I don't know...So, 'Geal is gonna teach me then?" He shrugged with a somewhat melancholy smile.
Kunsel nodded crisply. "Yes. I also have an appointment with him this afternoon... to divulge some key information I've gathered." He tipped his head. "Information you seem unsurprised to hear."
His mouth fell open. Damn it, he really needed to pay better attention. This wasn't the Lifestream. He snapped his mouth closed and took another sip of his coffee. "You know me, I'm a laid back kinda guy."
The elder Third snorted. "I know you can't see it, so let me tell you about how I'm rolling my eyes at you right now. You think I'm buying that Zack? Sephiroth reacted more than you. For that matter, how are you so familiar with them? First names, nicknames, even! Don't try to play me. It doesn't work."
Zack scowled at him. "Fine, how about...let's see, I traveled back in time and I was like, best friends with Angeal and Genesis and Sephiroth and uhm, what else. Oh! I chatted with the Goddess and am supposed to save the world?"
He rolled his eyes at Kunsel and took a healthy gulp of the coffee. "You make good coffee, by the way," he said, sounding less like a twelve year old girl and more like himself.
Kunsel was almost certain Zack was kidding.
Almost.
But, there was something in the smoothness of how he angrily blurted that out... that was either very carefully rehearsed, or based on truth. Frowning internally, he smiled at Zack for the compliment. "Thank you. I make damn good eggs and bacon, too. You want to tell me what the hell went wrong that they had to send you back to save the world over breakfast?"
"Hell yeah, you make me bacon I'll tell you what Seph uses to cover his ass with," Outside, he was grinning...inside was a different matter. He was fervently pray that any humanity the Goddess actually had would make Kunsel believe it was all just a big fat, fucking joke.
Kunsel migrated to the kitchen, getting the eggs out. "So, tell me... how do you like your eggs, and what's going on with the world, huh?"
He sat down in a chair at the table and shrugged. "Oh you know the usual, bad guys, people goin' crazy. Shit like that. Scrambled!" He cheered the last word.
Food.
He could eat!
"Heh." Kunsel smirked at the brush off, thinking critically. Now, either the younger male was more interested in food than joking... or he hadn't been joking and was trying to disinterest him. ~Hm. Tricky...~ Starting to scramble up a dozen eggs, he asked casually. "So, 'bad guys, people going crazy' - did that include Genesis copies?"
He had no idea what a 'Genesis Copy" was, but, he could bluff with the best of them if it meant getting a reaction. Grabbing some shredded cheese from the fridge, he added. "Cheese?"
Zack looked up in genuine surprise. "Huh?" He frowned. "What the hell are you talking about? And yes, planet, I would love some cheese right now." A happy smile washed over his face. Just thinking about cheese and eggs made his stomach grumble loudly.
He eyed Zack warily, adding cheese to the eggs and putting on a slab of bacon strips in another skillet. "You don't remember."
"Huh?" Zack shook his head, focusing back on Kunsel. "Don't remember what?"
"Get my laptop, would you? It's on the couch." Without knowing, he had changed to his 'business' voice.
"Fine," he sighed as he got up and grabbed the laptop. Bringing it back to the table he set it down with a dramatic huff and took his seat once again. "There. Eggs! Cheese! Food!"
All ready serving up the food, he passed him a hearty plate of eggs and bacon before turning and flipping open his laptop, digging through the files to find the footage from the day previous. With a grim expression, he put it on full screen, turned the audio on, and turned it so Zack would watch himself, lost in his Mako haze, assaulting Genesis and shouting at him.
Zack watched the screen as he stood in front of a very confused, very pissed looking Genesis Rhapsodos. His projection self was rambling on and on, shouting at the man.
He felt his heart drop.
"You! You're just another one of those damn copies!"
"A monster!" He winced, forgetting his food. He'd called the man a monster...and that wasn't even half of it.
"I'm not talking to a pathetic piece of the puzzle."
He watched, in shock and horror as he continued to shout and slash at Genesis. Had he...really said all of those things?
Kunsel watched the sobering play of emotions as they flit freely over his best friend's face. Horror and denial were most apparent. Like he desperately wanted not to be seeing himself doing and saying such things. Which he could hardly blame him for. They were cutting words, meant to be used acerbically. Though, something told him he didn't mean them for Genesis himself. No, he saw Genesis, but believed... what? ~Copy... copy... a clone?~ It could be. Though he didn't think even ShinRa knew how to clone humans... else, why bother training new SOLDIERs? Just clone the elite.
"Zack." He touched his shoulder gently, grounding him in reality. "We need to talk." ~Trust me...~
Silently he nodded. He could...trust Kunsel. Couldn't he?
Kunsel had been there, even after his reported death- he'd never believed that Zack was dead. "Alright," he said quietly, bowing his head and raising a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.
While Zack looked away, gathering his thoughts, no doubt, Kunsel made a decision. Reaching up, he slowly and carefully removed his helmet. Blinking teal eyes, he ran gloved fingers back through wild strands of snowy white hair and sighed. Maybe he was being silly, but it seemed like a mutual show of trust was called for at the moment; in the least, he wanted Zack to be able to look him in the eye and make that human connection.
He heard Kunsel set something on the table and looked up, eyes going wide.
Never once had Zack seen Kunsel without his helmet. He'd never even thought about it really. The helmet was part of his friend...
He blinked, reaching up to rub his eyes. "...Kunsel?" A slow smile spread across his face as he took in the sight of his friend's face for the first time. On impulse, he reached out and brushed his fingers through the pale hair. "Wow."
The elder Third felt a telltale heat on his cheeks, and knew with his pale skin it would show. Still, he let Zack touch, chuckling with a good-natured grin. "You're seeing a face that's been gone from ShinRa history for seventeen years. The only person in the company who knows what I look like is Dr. Amber Rayleigh. Good girl. We'll see about getting your check-ups and such done by her instead of Hollander when the time comes."
Zack's smile grew as he sifted his fingers through the hair. "Damn it, Kunsel. You're pretty," he chirped, scooting forward. "How come no one sees you? I can't believe you would be self conscious, though that cute blush might say otherwise."
He paused then, hand freezing in Kunsel's hair. When...exactly...had he started flirting with everyone? He remembered Cloud...and after that is was always Cloud...
He pulled his hand back quickly, laughing at himself as he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry man."
Kunsel's breath caught in surprise, so unused to being touched. Oh, it happened... but, not here. Not in the walls of ShinRa. "I look just like my mom... and I have dad's coloring. Given that the Turks saw fit to dispose of them... it's not wise to advertise my relation. If you pull my file, you'll notice a distinct lack of personal information - that's not a coincidence. To get in here, and stay alive, I've had to hide."
"Shit man, you never told me..." Zack trailed off, relaxing back into his seat. What had Kunsel never told him? He tried to think back...what was he like at fifteen? Probably the usual and if Kunsel was older than him- another thing he hadn't known- then it made a little more sense...but still.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I wasn't kidding. About what I said earlier- it wasn't a joke."
The older teen smiled apologetically. "I'll tell you what, you tell me what you know, I'll tell you what I know, and we'll work on saving the world together, all right. I'm rather attached to it."
Zack cracked a slight smile and nodded. "Deal. So, let's make it a game. Since I obviously don't know much about you like I thought, we'll include personal information too cuz, ya know, that's what friends do. We'll take turns, like teenagers!" He paused, face going slack. "Wait. We are teenagers...whatever, the point is. You sure are on top of things, what's that about?"
"I want to see ShinRa either destroyed, or heavily reformed." Kunsel explained softly. "And the more I know, the more I want it. And the closer I am to figuring out how to get it."
He sighed, raking a hand back through his hair. "I told you about my uncle, the scientist? I didn't mention my father. He was a PI here in Midgar... top notch. He got killed for digging too deep into the assassination of my uncle. Luckily, he'd taught me everything by then, and had all ready hidden mom and I... both literally and figuratively."
"Well," Zack said, leaning forward. "It would seem we have the same goal in mind..."
A white brow rose in somber thought. Barely breakfast and they were talking treason. "You were always blinded by your strange ability to keep hoping in the good in others. What did the company do to you, Zack? What changed?"
"Honestly? You better not think I'm crazy, because, I'd hate to have to kill my best friend," his tone was teasing but, sadly, he was very serious. "They killed Genesis, Angeal, drove Sephiroth insane, and more. A...good friend of mine and I spent five years as experiments in Nibelheim while Hojo tried to 'recreate' Seph. The list goes on, but those are the main points. I died, he lived and went on to be a hero, though he never would have admitted it..." He trailed off, mumbling the last part as if lost in though.
"Shit, man..." That explained the phobia. Glasses and a labcoat reminded him of Hojo. Hospitals and needles reminded him of a lab. Where he was tortured. For five years. It was amazing he was still sane.
He looked at Zack seriously, seeing the shadows in his eyes, and nodded. "I buy it. Especially if they killed them in that order... easiest way to manage it."
"Right. Genesis...well, he might not have died. He was still alive after Spike and I got out..." he frowned. "He was degrading, a problem with his genetic makeup and the Goddess...I actually think she healed him down in the caverns...I killed Angeal and Spike threw Seph into the reactor. He came back though. But that was after I died..."
Teal eyes widened. "Ok, we're gonna have to break this down, one thing at a time... Degrading?" He knew the word, but, couldn't comprehend the application to a human. "Does this have to do with the J-Cells?"
Zack nodded, "Yeah, the cells didn't fuse with his body correctly and the degradation is supposedly caused from the J-cells not becoming part of the body- for Genesis they were just there. Degrading messed with a lot of things; your body starts aging, you become weak, and your mental stability can be broken down too. Also, I think Genesis could throw fireballs- without the materia...I wonder if he can do that now..." He cocked his head to the side, considering it for a moment. Shaking his head he focused back on Kunsel. "He lost...his color I guess- which is a bigger deal that it sounds. It's weird but Genesis is a bright spot- as crazy as he is- that's part of his soul, his humanity. He honestly believed that SOLDIERs were monsters. I think Angeal did too in the end."
He paused then, sighing before continuing. "Either way, he was wounded in a spar and taken to Hollander where a blood transfusion was required. They refused when Seph offered but took Angeal. I'm guessing it was because Angeal was part of the same Project as Genesis; that or Hojo wasn't about to let Hollander's 'Specimens' take from his prized experiment. It didn't heal. Even with the Mako and then Genesis found out about the degradation and where he came from."
Kunsel frowned deeply. "I'll be the first to tell you, Gen's bizarre, but, he's not any more 'unstable' than anyone else. That said, he is more fragile than some others. I don't think he had the same strong family bonds Angeal had to ground and nurture him growing up. And Sephiroth, of course, had none, with both parents MIA, possibly killed off by the company."
He hesitated, thinking. "There seems to be a very deep bond between the commanders. And of course, between the trio. Having those bonds stripped might be enough to topple Angeal... and would be enough to drive Sephiroth to dangerous lengths."
Zack felt himself grimace at the mention of Sephiroth's parents. "You know, Hojo claims he's Seph's father. I don't believe that bullshit though. There's no way Doctor Creepy made tha-Oh!" He yelped, jumping up. "That's what I was forgetting! I knew there was something." Zack turned to Kunsel and pointed at the laptop. "You got anything in there on a Vincent Valentine?"
Again, a pale brow found itself arching a little, a wry smile on his lips as he nodded. "Sephiroth's father? Yes, I have plenty." Just for kicks, he flitted through the files and found the photo he was looking for. "Look."
A small smile tugged at his lips as he looked down at a slim man holding a woman with long hair in a lab coat, bridal style. He was kissing her- it was the closest Zack had ever seen the man to smiling. Even though he'd never met Vincent Valentine he could remember his face clearly from the day in the caverns. "That's him. I know where he is."
Kunsel's eyes widened in shock. "You do?"
"Yeah. I found him sleeping. In a coffin. He's uh...not really...the same anymore though," he chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "But he was alive...er...next year? The year after next? Fuck that sounds strange."
Wide teal orbs blinked, and without another word, Kunsel went to get himself some of the apple brandy hidden in the false back of one of the cabinets, behind the pans. Pouring himself some, he came back, and refilled Zack's coffee. "All right. Sephiroth's father is in a coffin. I'm assuming that Hojo screwed him over instead of just killing him, after all?"
Zack took a huge gulp of the coffee. "Well...yeah. He's got a couple...inner demons to...uh...sort out..."
He tilted his head, sensing there might be something more to what was being said. "Demons?"
"Yeah," Zack nodded. "Literally. Uhm there's...Hellmasker, Gargus...Gergaus? G-something, Big Purple Beasty, and Chaos."
Kunsel blinked, vaguely familiar with Chaos, and tapped into his files. Researching his uncle's files, he quickly found what he was looking for and frowned. "I don't understand... Chaos was supposed to be Dr. Crescent's project..."
"Hojo shot him- point blank- for opposing the experimentation on Sephiroth. Lucrecia put Chaos in him to save him after Hojo claimed him 'failed' for remaining unconscious after the experiments." He ran a hand through his hair again. "He's in the caverns beneath the ShinRa Mansion in Nibelheim. There's a room off to the side of each wall with coffins in them. He's in one of them, sleeping, and Lucrecia sealed herself in a crystal cave up in the Nibel Mountains."
Horrified didn't even begin to cover his reaction, but, after years of training to override such emotional displays, his logic kicked in and he got to work, typing up a swift report, calculating, drawing up maps and flagging the regions so he would be alerted the next time missions came up in those areas. To Zack, he confessed. "I knew Hojo killed him... he found my uncle's papers... and, amongst them was a paternity test. Valentine was the father. He took it off to Hojo in a fit of righteous indignation, demanding they stop the experiments, that he would not have his child put through such a thing...
"So... Hojo shot him. And my uncle was damned in the process."
"That happens a lot with the science department," he unconsciously reached up to rub his cheek where two scars had once been. "What else. If I'm going to tell you about this, might as well go all out."
Kunsel swirled his brandy, taking a sip. "What is the relation between the Jenova Project, J-cells, and the fact that it says Jenova is the General's mother on his military records?"
"Jenova is not his mother," Zack snapped, anger flaring. "She's some alien bitch that's in a Mako tank up in the Nibelheim reactor. She's not human- a virus that destroyed the Cetra. Something that Hojo believes is an Ancient. 'J-cells' are Jenova's cells that are implanted into humans- Genesis, Sephiroth, and Angeal are three. Spike and I were another two, after Nibelheim happened."
The brandy left a bitter taste in his mouth. Maybe it was bile. Or maybe, maybe it was his body telling him ahead of time that his next words were poison, in that way he could always tell he should have known to hold his tongue. "What happened in Nibelheim, Zack?"
He turned to Kunsel with a shocked expression. "What happened? What the fuck do you think happened! That bastard stripped us of everything. He laid us out on tables and cut us apart piece by piece," he ground out.
Zack stood, fisting a hand in the back of his hair roughly as memories came flooding back- memories he'd worked hard to keep buried, stuffed away in the far reaches of his mind where they belonged.
"Hojo," he spat the word like the poison it was. "Thought he could create another Sephiroth, that maybe Cloud or I would work. I didn't. Maybe because I had more Mako in my system already, I don't fucking know. Cloud...Cloud worked though. Cloud spent hours strapped to that table while Hojo locked me up, floating in a Mako tank- 'Front row seats' he called it-, paralyzed so I couldn't even shut my eyes or bang on the glass. So I could be completely and utterly useless while Cloud screamed and bled and I watched. I fucking watched!"
His other hand came up to fist in wild black spikes, feeling his eyes sting as he pulled, trying to vent some of his anger on himself. "That fucking bastard," he shouted. "Have you ever seen someone have a bone marrow sample taken? Hojo cut open his thigh and sawed a piece of the bone off so that he could scrape around inside. Cloud was awake! He only passed out when the sadistic fuck was ordering someone to clean the blood off the floor."
~Sweet holy mother of Gaia,~ Kunsel felt his blood chill worse than when he'd gotten his first Mako shot at the descriptions - but more than that, the haunted, wild green eyes that glowed with rage.
~Mako Rage,~ he recognized - where high emotions were punted even higher by the level of Mako in the body. Trauma patients were known for it, and when they were set off, the best thing to do was get the hell out of the way, because they were like a dog with a bone, fuming until they were exhausted. But, if Zack had the Mako of a First... who knew when he'd calm down? "Zack..."
"Oh I have a name now? No more 'Specimen Z'?" Zack turned and slammed his hands flat against the coffee table, shattering the top and slicing open his hands. "Zack died a long time ago, when some sick bastard killed his best friend, the man he looked up to. When he had to kill his mentor because he was too far gone with guilt to be able to stand up and face the dreams and honor he once claimed to hold so dear. Zack died the day the ShinRa army shot him full of bullets on a cliff top right outside of Midgar. We were so close! So fucking close! To being free, to being human again."
He let out a frustrated yell and scratched at his chest and face, feeling the wounds like they were brand new. "That alien is the cause of everything, her and Hojo. Did you look at the reports of what Seph went through as a child? The tests? I met him in the Lifestream. Cloud killed him three times and there was barely anything left." Zack dropped his hands, fists clenching. "Forget that, there was nothing left, an empty husk of regret and memories that were clouded by a presence he'd had forced on him. There was nothing of the man I looked up to, admired. He went insane in Nibelheim, ranting and raving about how he was a god, that Jenova was his mother and that the humans had imprisoned her."
"And Aerith..." His voice hardened even as tears slipped out, "He stabbed her, killed her right in front of Cloud. And I can't even be fucking mad at him because it wasn't his fault! Jenova was controlling him! I can't even hate him because he had it worse than any of us did."
He reached for the comforting weight of the Buster only to find a similar handle but a different feel. Zack drew the sword forward, waving it out as he continued to shout. "What the fuck did any of them do to deserve this!"
Now was not the time to ask questions, he knew; Zack was armed. Armed and furious and if he went into a hallucination-induced rage, somehow he didn't think his two paltry daggers and handful of unmastered materia wouldn't help him. The only thing he could cast fast enough was Confu, and he had a feeling that would be asking for trouble.
The second fastest thing he could do is hit off a text message on his PHS. Even with gloves on and just using one hand, he sent a rapid-fire message to Commander Hewley, as promised, and then sent one to Genesis that would catch the fiery First's attention even if he was reading that damned book.
A blaring siren sound that Genesis did not remember ever putting on his PHS shattered the silence and he leapt up from the couch, hands at the ready and reaching for Rapier. He blinked, realizing it was coming from his pocket.
With a muttered curse, he grabbed the phone and flipped it open. His eyes widened and he was shoving on his boots, sword in hand, and charging out the door before he knew what he was doing.
One word was flashing across the screen under Kunsel's name- Help.
Angeal met Genesis in the elevator, all ready in full attire as he'd been getting ready to go out for a bit of early morning exercise, and looked even more concerned seeing his half-dressed comrade. "Did you talk to Kunsel, or did he just text you, too?"
"Text," he glanced down, just now noticing his bare chest and missing gloves. He brushed it aside for the moment. "Did he bother to tell you what the problem is?"
Angeal shook his head, tapping gloved fingers on his biceps and then shifting to check the Mastered Cure in his sword. "No. Just a text."
"Hmm..." Genesis bounced on the balls of his feet, sword still drawn. When the doors finally opened, he fairly leaped out and was running down the hall, fishing around for his keycard.
Following Genesis was easier than trying to remember the path himself, and something he did regularly, allowing him to pull out his PHS and leave a short message for Sephiroth - trouble with Kunsel, Gen and I enroute - before clicking his phone shut and following him to the door. "Try not to wave Rapier around, we don't want to cause more of an issue."
Genesis, too caught up in throwing the door open and barging in, didn't bother to comment in his usual manner. "Kunsel?" He hissed, slowing his pace and scanning for signs of trouble.
Kunsel let out a relieved breath and a nervous, too-tense giggle all in one at the sight of the two commanders, pointing and mouthing. Calm him down!
Looking up, Genesis blinked rapidly; taking in the sight of an irate Zack Fair. He could hear the young man clearly now that his panic had been pushed back behind the shock. 'Hojo', 'Cloud' and 'Jenova' seemed to be the most prevalent of the rambling mess coming from Zack's mouth.
"Angeal, look at that Mako glow. Can we do this without tranquilizers?" He chanced a quick glance at his friend
"Maybe..." The younger Banoran murmured. "He seems unreasonably close to us... I might be able to reason with him while you get Kunsel away."
He nodded once, turning and grabbing Kunsel's hand. "We're going outside, I will shut the door, yell if you need me. Be careful, 'Geal, he's just a Third but that's not normal."
Genesis turned back to Kunsel and froze, looking into teal eyes for the first time. White hair was falling down around his face and the commander could do nothing but stare. "...Kunsel?" He squeaked. "Your helmet!"
Kunsel nodded in frustration, gesturing behind Zack to where it sat innocently on the kitchen table. "I can't go out, Gen. Look, my bedroom can be sealed. Let's go." He tugged his mentor's hand, leading him back, one eye always on his friend.
Genesis nodded, letting Kunsel lead him away, too stunned actually seeing the Third to protest, much less think of a way to get him outside.
Left alone with the ranting Third, Angeal slowly edged into his line of sight, careful to stay out of the immediate range of his weapon, voice soft. "Zack?"
"What the hell do you want?" he snarled upon seeing Angeal.
The dark haired First flinched at the hostility in his tone. "I want to help. Whatever is wrong, Zack... please. You don't have to shoulder this alone anymore."
"What? You made me do it! You made me. Why would I believe that you want to help me? You couldn't take it so you forced all of your guilt on me."
Angeal frowned, narrowing his eyes slightly in confusion. "Zack, until yesterday, we'd never met."
The younger man stopped, dropping his hands down to his sides. His head dipped down so his hard fell down over his face. "'Geal, why did you make me do it? Why, 'Geal, tell me why?" The sword fell from his hands, falling to the carpet with a soft thud.
Out of the more famous trio of Firsts, Angeal was known as the softest hearted. And that heart was breaking to hear such pain in the young man's voice, such genuine agony at whatever it was he'd gotten into his head. Now that the sword was down, he stepped up hesitantly, and put a hand on the youth's shoulder, the other stroking his unruly spikes as his deep voice rumbled. "Tell me what I did, Zack."
"You gave up. You gave up and left me..." he whispered.
Sensitive hearing picked up the soft, hurt words, and he shook his head. "I won't. I won't leave you. On my honor."
Zack's head snapped up, watery eyes glaring again. "Right. The honor you threw away." His voice cracked, ruining the harsh tone.
Angeal narrowed his eyes, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "Zackary Fair, I don't know where your head is right now, but you'd best get it back down to Gaia right now."
Zack bit his lip, eyes overflowing. He sniffed then, raising a hand to his cheek. "Why...why am I crying?" He blinked up at Angeal, some of the Mako glow dissipating.
He sighed, melting a little at the vulnerable, confused youth before him. Damn, but the kid had the best puppy eyes he'd ever seen. "Puppy..." he muttered the appropriate moniker with soft affection. "I imagine you're feeling overwhelmed. It's ok to cry sometimes."
"A-Angeal," Zack choked out, flinging himself at the First just as a sob escaped him. He buried his face in the man's chest, clinging to the harness strapped there as he cried, knees giving out.
Slate blue eyes widened in shock, and he caught the teen up gently, supporting him as he cried. After a moment, his hand somehow found a way back to his dark spikes again, feathering through the surprisingly soft mass, hoping to soothe. "It's all right, Zack. It'll be all right now. We're here for you. Whatever happened... before... it won't happen again." Of course, he had no idea what this theoretical 'before' was, but if it involved shedding his honor and forcing the teen to do something that had so clearly scarred him, then he'd be damned if he saw it happen.
The commander was still staring, even as he questioned the young man having cameras in his living room. Honestly, he was happy that Fair was alright, and that Angeal had calmed him down. However, he was more than happy that Kunsel was as well and that the other Third hadn't injured him.
Though, he'd never actually admit such a thing.
The white haired Third merely shrugged at his mentor's expression of shock. "I need to know if there are... undesirables... in the apartment before I go out. Anyway, come on. Commander Hewley's got him on the sofa, but I don't want to give him too much brood-time."
Genesis arched an eyebrow at the word choice but nodded, standing and leading the way out into the front room.
Angeal looked up as Genesis returned, finally noticing Kunsel and blinking in surprise, but not commenting lest he stir the lethargic Third half curled on his lap. "He seems better now. Any idea what set him off?"
Kunsel looked sheepish, nodding as he went to retrieve his helmet. "Yeah. I didn't leave well enough alone."
"I apologize for being late," A soft voice said from behind them.
Kunsel tensed, not having heard anyone enter, and shoved his helmet on quickly, hissing softly as it thunked against his head before casting a dark, unseen glare at the visitor.
A silver eyebrow arched as Sephiroth moved to stand on the other side of the broken coffee table. "Would anyone care to explain?" he asked, making sure to keep his voice quiet.
Angeal glanced at Kunsel, raising a brow. "I think Kunsel was going to elaborate...?"
"It's not all my story to tell. Suffice to say... I got some more out of him, and triggered some painful flashbacks." His mouth set in a deep frown, pained as he looked at the three, thinking of what he heard. "I... need to talk to him. Alone. To help settle him - he knows me best."
"No," Genesis and Sephiroth said in unison. The latter raised his hand to silence any protests and continued. "You are the only link we have, if something happens we are without you," He said eyeing the sword on the ground.
Kunsel sighed, running a hand over his helmet and waving a hand at Sephiroth. "Maybe. Let me ask him." Kneeling by Zack, he stroked his hair softly, voice just as gentle. "Hey pal... you with us now?"
Red rimmed eyes blinked at Kunsel and Zack nodded once, still clutching Angeal tightly. "Yeah," he croaked.
The elder teen smiled sadly, on impulse brushing one of the tear-tracks off with his thumb. "We need to talk about what we can tell them... and, they... well... you know... papa-chocobos, all of 'em. Is there one that can sit in with us? We'll keep what you don't want to say vague, only cover what you're ready to."
"All," Zack whispered, rubbing at his face a bit before sitting up and looking around the room. "Sit."
Much to Zack's surprise, Genesis did exactly that and took a spot at the end of the couch, and after a moment's hesitation, Sephiroth did the same, only taking an open chair after wiping bits of table off.
Angeal stayed beside Zack, shifting a bit to see him better, and Kunsel rose, turning on his heel and initiating a high rank lock on the key card swipe, before tugging off his helm once more and running his fingers through his hair with a relieved sigh and plopping down in front of Zack, looking up at him with a gentle, reassuring smile. ~You can do this. I'm here for you.~
Zack coughed, clearing his throat. "Sorry...about that, I don't know what happened..."
"PTSD." Kunsel murmured. "You've seen it before."
"Yeah, but SOLDIER Firsts are beyond that," he muttered, scowling down at his hands.
Angeal raised a brow. "No, they're really not... several of us suffered during wartime. It's just kept quiet. But, I'm more interested to hear why you keep calling yourself one."
He blinked at the men in the room. Shit. Had he really said that? "..." He scratched the back of his head. "Uh..."
Kunsel nudged him with his knee. "Tell them. The big thing. It makes sense, and they're reasonable men."
"Reasonable? Kuns, it sounds fucking ridiculous."
"No, trust me, I've got the market cornered on 'fucking ridiculous' - I was fucking ridiculous before you were born, bud." Teal eyes twinkled with mirth. "I've got the docs to back up a lot of your stuff, and what I can't, they probably can - and it's stuff you could only know, you know, that way."
He groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "I traveled back in time because the planet wanted to fix everything that happened. I...knew all of you."
"...what?" Genesis' shock was apparent in his tone and Zack sighed.
"I told you it was ridiculous."
Angeal was watching him more calculatingly. "You were quoting Genesis and I, yesterday, then."
Zack nodded. "I used to hear Genesis reading from Loveless a lot, and you...I don't know how many times I got the famous 'Dreams and Honor' lecture."
The younger of the two commanders frowned. "I don't lecture."
"You do," Genesis said, pointing a finger at him.
Angeal flushed a little. "Not like you on your beloved poetry!"
"You like it, just admit it, 'Geal," Zack muttered, still hiding in his hands.
Kunsel snorted, amused. "Gen, Commander -"
"Might as well call me Angeal, if we're all going to be associates." Angeal interrupted, earning a pleasantly surprised smile.
"Angeal, then... now's not the time. You two have a meeting with Lazard this afternoon. We need to get things settled."
"Bossy, bossy," Genesis teased. "And things such as what? Specifically."
Kunsel nudged Zack with his knee. "We 'fessing it all up?"
"Go for it, you're running this thing," Zack muttered. Honestly, he had no idea where to start. At least the Firsts were there this time...he really didn't want to be out of control like that again.
"As Zack said... he's from the future. We didn't go into everything, but... it's not looking real bright." Kunsel tapped his fingers on his helmet. "I guess now's time to tell you, Zack and I just found out we have the same goal - to either reform, or remove ShinRa Company." He smiled mirthlessly. "I hope you're ok with that."
A thin silver eyebrow rose but Sephiroth remained silent, preferring to keep his opinions to himself. Genesis, on the other hand, raised a hand and wiggled his fingers. "I'm in. As long as you give me a shirt."
The Third snorted and rose. "Coffee, too, Gen, since we tugged you out of bed, no doubt?"
"I was not in bed, thank you very much," he sniffed, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "I was on the couch. Big difference."
Kunsel smirked. "Yesss... pants, obviously."
He scowled at the younger man. "I still want to know how it is you know such things. If you really wanted a peek you could have just asked."
"There's a club I frequent... and, people talk." He shrugged, smiling faintly.
"A club?" Angeal straightened, looking offended. "Where? And for Planet's sake, why?"
"Under the plate, I - " know "- doubt you've been there. And, people like to talk about other people. Especially interesting people."
Genesis smirked at his friend, "Then why in the name of the Goddess were they talking about Angeal?"
Angeal leveled his best friend with a meaningful look. "You seem to find me interesting enough."
"Maybe when you're-"
"Gen." The younger of the two growled softly. "Can we get back on topic? Please? The boys are talking treason, for Planet's sake!"
"Fine, fine. But first, can I get a Gaia-damned shirt please?"
Kunsel was, at this point, ready to tell his mentor that he should have thought of that sooner, when little green flecks of light began to gather around Genesis' torso. He pointed, incredulous, and as the others looked with him as a black knit sweater to match his usual one, with the words "Goddess Blessed" on the front in Mako green, and, on the back "Gaia Damned" in white, took form over his bare skin.
Genesis arched an auburn brow at his-soon to be- student. "Is there something wrong, Kunsel?"
He snorted at the elder man's obliviousness and reached over, plucking the soft material. "You have a freakin' shirt materialize at your bidding, and you don't notice?"
Blue eyes dropped down and the commander let out a startled yelp. "What the hell!" He patted his chest, brushing against the soft fabric and his eyes widened, reading the upside down words. "Goddess Blessed?"
A finger hit him in the chest as Zackary Fair turned huge eyes on the three Firsts. "See? See? Minerva did it."
"M-m-minerva!" Genesis blinked equally large eyes at Zack. "You're on a first name basis with the Goddess!"
"She sent me back in time, what the hell do you think?" He poked the older man in the chest once more for emphasis.
Genesis' mouth opened, readying a reply when Sephiroth cleared his throat. "Gaia Damned?"
"That's what he asked for, isn't it?"
"It is an expression, Mr. Fair," Genesis snapped, glancing down at his chest again. There was no way he was ever taking that shirt off.
Understanding dawned suddenly on Angeal. "Your sword... the 'lady' that gave it to you... was the Goddess." It wasn't a question.
"Yep," Zack chirped, happy that Angeal was believing him.
"She gave you a sword?" Genesis asked, incredulous. "A sword that looks exactly like Angeal's- which by the way, I would like to know why that is and I'm sure he would too."
"Uh...yeah..." He trailed off, eyes dropping to his hands. "She wanted to give me something I'd be familiar with..."
"Familiar?" Angeal's brow's nestled together in thought, his gaze leveling on the youth. How could he be 'familiar' with the Buster? It never left his presence, and he rarely, rarely used it.
But, Zack was supposedly from their future. Did something happen to necessitate the usage of his symbol of honor? Or... his expression darkened slightly, recalling the strange words the teen had spoken to him the day prior. If he'd thrown his honor away... perhaps, literally as well? He couldn't begin to imagine it. It was much more likely that he'd pass it on when –
SHIT.
He'd died. He'd died, and given Zack his sword. Was... was history repeating? Had Zack been his pupil before? Was that where this familiarity sprung from? "I gave it to you, didn't I? When... when I died?"
Still not looking up, Zack nodded silently.
Sephiroth glanced between the two, "And how, exactly, did Angeal die?"
A mumbled reply was his answer and Zack shook his head. "I don't...want to talk about this."
Kunsel put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Zack, the best way to prevent it from happening again is to make them aware of it."
He shook his head roughly but continued. "I...you made me and I had to because you needed me to so- you made me."
'What? You made me do it! You made me. Why would I believe that you want to help me? You couldn't take it so you forced all of your guilt on me.'
Zack's words from that morning came crashing back with the vengeance of new meaning. Slowly, the commander could feel his color drain as he stared at his accuser, breath catching in his throat. "But, but... why would I want to die? Why would I have you do it?"
"Angels have only one dream...to be human..."
Angeal frowned at the unfamiliar words. "Did... I say that?"
Zack nodded, finally looking up. "Yeah."
Angeal frowned deeper. "Zack, while I won't say I'm a horrible man... I'm no angel."
"I think, actually, it means you lost touch with your humanity by that point." Kunsel noted softly.
"But why -" he trailed off, looking at Zack.
Zack glanced around the room, then back to Angeal. "Having wings doesn't make someone a monster," he said quietly.
Sephiroth, Kunsel noted, had tensed ever so slightly, lips thinning and green eyes widening subtly - quite the tell from the normally stoic man. ~Interesting...~ Calmly, glancing at Zack but keeping the general in his peripheral vision, he noted. "I always wanted wings, when I was a kid."
"Me too, " Zack muttered, smiling sadly, eyes glassing over.
Across the broken table, Sephiroth bit back a frown. "Are you saying that...Angeal had wings?"
Blue eyes blinked at him. "Two, on his right side. They were white...like snow."
Angeal looked at him oddly. "I was lopsided?"
"Could he fly?" Kunsel asked eagerly, looking at Angeal with a sheepish smile.
Genesis snorted. "Only one side? Of course he couldn-"
"Actually he-"
"I was lopsided?"
Sephiroth cleared his throat silencing the room. "I think we're getting off topic," he bit out.
"No, you're just. Not. Getting it." Angeal bit out in frustration. "I have wings. They're just not here yet. Gaia knows, it's got to be Hollander's fault, and, you know, I wouldn't mind - except I'M FU- LOPSIDED!"
Zack watched as Sephiroth blinked owlishly at his once-was-soon-to-be-again mentor and choked. On his own spit. A laugh bubbled out around his wheezing breaths as he clutched his sides and laughed for all he was worth.
A hand landed on Angeal's shoulder. "It's okay 'Geal, everyone's a little crooked somehow," Genesis smiled up over at him, biting back his own laughter.
"Well, I wasn't worried about being straight!" He snapped, unthinking.
An auburn eyebrow arched at him. "I never expected you would be worried about such a thing, 'Geal."
Angeal blinked, playing that back in his head, and cringed internally, not even daring to look at Sephiroth. Fortunately for him, Kunsel cleared his throat subtly and raised a brow. "The General has a point. To recap, yes, Angeal had - has? - wings. White ones, two of them, on one side. But he can somehow fly - which is awesome, if I may say so, sir."
The General mentally filed 'awesome' away to consider at a later date. Slang was not something he kept up with; just another thing Tseng was useful for. "More importantly, you died and...evidently passed the Buster along to young Mr. Fair. Are we to assume that you forced him to assist you with suicide because your...wings pushed you to lose sight of your humanity and along with it, your dreams?"
"Tactful as ever, Seph," Genesis muttered, looking to Zack for confirmation.
The Third opened his mouth then snapped it closed, seeming to consider his next words before trying again. "Well...kind...of? Yes. And no."
"There was another factor." Kunsel clarified.
Zack nodded once and tossed a charming smile at his friend. "Yes."
A white brow arched and a brilliant smile was flashed back. "Zackary Kaleb, you can dance around all you want but we both know how this is going to end, so I suggest you just answer the question."
He sighed, smile dropping. "Why did I tell you my middle name," Zack grumbled. "Genesis might have had something to do with it. His...degradation was something else." The fact that is could be considered the event that sparked the events to follow was left unsaid.
"Wait. My degradation? I'm...degrading?"
"Yes," Zack said quickly, raising his hands in a passive manner. "Wait, I mean no! You were, before...or later...last time. You got hurt when you were sparring with Seph and 'Geal. It didn't heal properly and you started to degrade, a side effect of the Jenova Cells not taking to your body correctly or something."
Somehow, Zack missed the narrowing of green eyes and the frown marring his commanding officer's face.
Kunsel did not.
Rather than bringing up the various points that could be the cause of the Silver General's frown, however, he focused his mentor. Shocked now, he needed to talk him down before it actually sunk in and he spiraled into depression. "You mentioned something happened down 'in the caverns' when we talked, Zack? The Goddess healing him?"
"Y-yeah," Zack said, eyeing Genesis, slightly worried by the lack of reaction. "Minerva healed him, of the degradation and the insanity it caused..."
"...insanity? It's not enough that I'm degrading? I have to be fucking insane too?"
"If it helps, two out of the three of you went insane." Kunsel noted.
Angeal raised a brow, asking, before he could really stop himself. "Which two?"
"Other than your assisted-suicide, you weren't that crazy." The white-haired Third assured him.
"Thanks, I think..." He muttered, not quite sure whether to be relieved or not. He decided on "not" once he realized who it left as the other person, blue eyes widening in dawning horror. "You mean...?"
Zack winced, "Yeah. Him."
A silver eyebrow rose as Sephiroth took in the four pairs of eyes that had shifted to him and he bristled. "I am quite mentally sound, thank you."
"Says the man who's never had a radish," Genesis said, giving him a strange look.
"What do vegetables have to do with anything, Genesis?"
His friend shook his head as if there was something wrong with Sephiroth's reasoning. "At least I was not alone in the boat."
"Genesis," Sephiroth snapped, having had enough. "I am not crazy, nor are we in a boat with any radishes. Please, stay on topic."
"You're not crazy, Gen's not crazy - or degrading - and I don't have lopsided wings." Angeal spoke up. "These are things that happened in the future. Zack's future. But, as nothing's set in stone, we can avoid them if we know how."
"Right," Zack said quickly, wanting to leave the topic of vegetable alone. Damn, if there was one thing he hated it was radishes..."That's why I'm here- again. Minerva wanted me to fix things."
"The Goddess herself," Genesis muttered, glancing down at his shirt- still caught in mild disbelief that the little Third was one a first name basis with a divine being.
"And how do you suppose you are to go about fixing things?" The General questioned.
"Angeal told me to start with Hollander. That Hojo was a threat- not that I needed him to tell me that- but Genesis' defection is where it all started. Hollander told him he could cure the degradation, which was a lie." Zack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He was right, if Genesis wouldn't have left, then Angeal would never have followed. I would never have had to...had to...do that..." he trailed off. He hadn't meant to say that much.
"Genesis defected... because... he was degrading?" No, that didn't sound right. If Hollander promised a cure... then he would stay with wherever Hollander was. "No, Hollander told him to defect, in exchange for the cure?"
"Yeah."
"More of Hollander and Hojo's pissing contest, I presume. They've been fighting ever since Gast left." Kunsel mused. "But, Hollander doesn't have exorbitant personal funds... someone must have funded him..."
Zack laughed wryly. "Yeah, the President's illegitimate son."
"Assuming you mean Director Lazard..." The teal eyed SOLDIER considered. "Well, I can see how he'd have a grudge against the company... hm. Might make us a good ally."
"That's the one. He left- ran- after Angeal's death."
"Probably afraid Hollander would expose him, under the circumstances." Kunsel muttered in distaste; despite his late uncle's profession - or perhaps because of it - he thought little of most scientists.
"'Circumstances' being what, exactly?" Angeal wondered.
The teen glanced at the burly First thoughtfully. "You and Genesis are what keep Hollander from being a total laughing stock. With you dead, and Genesis presumably dying, the mindset of a man like Hollander would be, 'the world goes with me' - he's out for himself, no one else, unless it specifically benefits him. He might try to buy leniency with ShinRa by distracting them with Lazard's betrayal."
"So, Gen got wounded in one of our spars... and it wouldn't heal, tipping off his degradation? And then... then he must have gone to Hollander, who promised him a cure, in exchange for defecting. And I followed... must have gotten those wings somewhere along the line..." Angeal hummed, expression grave. "And then, somewhere along the way I lost hold of my dreams and honor... and asked you to kill me."
"So what's left? I'm assume that isn't the 'happy ending'?" Genesis waved a hand to Sephiroth. "What happened to us, exactly?"
"About that," Zack muttered, scratching the back of his neck, once again. He dropped his hand after a moment and continued. "You went crazy- so did he, but you went first. Seph was sent to hunt you down, but he refused- not being able to kill his friends and I was sent. I would have had you, too, if you hadn't cheated and flown away." Zack frowned, eyes glassing over in memory. "We fought a few times, well not really. I fought the Bahamuts you set on me. You need to get different summons by the way. I got tired of the Flare. We fought in the Banoran Underground and then the Goddess healed you, to be honest, other than dragging your ass out of that cave I have no idea what happened to you after that."
He took a deep breath and turned to look more at Sephiroth. "You went crazy slower. We were sent to this tiny town, Nibelheim and that...thing in the reactor took over your mind. She told you she was your mother- Which she's not by the way- and you...uh...cut off her head and carried it around. Cloud picked the Buster right before that and stabbed you through the back but you got up and stabbed him. Somehow, not really sure how, the guy used the length of your sword and managed to use it as leverage to throw you into the reactor. After that it was five years for Spike and I in the labs under the mansion."
"Oh," he added, blinking rapidly. "Genesis was there that first day at the reactor, he egged you on, asking for you to help him and you refused. After that you locked yourself in the basement of the Shinra Mansion reading about your past. I think that's what really drove you insane. It's...a horrible thing to read that." He trailed off for a moment then cleared his throat. "I died. When we escaped, Cloud and I. Took out a whole lot of Shinra Infantry though," he smiled a bit at that. "Cloud lived. My living legacy. I didn't mean for that to happen though, the memories. He made it to Midgar, was really messed up and then you came back, Seph. They hunted you down once they found out you were going to summon Meteor- 'to take revenge on the planet'. You did a lot of stuff; killed Aerith..."
"I guess I forgot to mention you burnt Nibelheim to the ground before the reactor before...They got you, eventually and Shin-Ra was taken out. They built Edge, right outside of where the Midgar Ruins were. Meteor hit, even with Holy cast. A couple years later...you came back again. Hojo's reunion theory, it worked. The remnants came and found Jenova's head and Kadaj turned into you. There was a sickness going around- The Geostigma. A lot of people thought it was the Planet, being angry. It was Jenova though; through you in the Lifestream. Cloud...he killed you again. After the reunion. That's three times now."
Zack's eyes cleared a bit as he looked around at them. "Seph, Jenova isn't your mother. I don't care what that bitch says or screamed or whatever. She's not. Lucrecia Crescent was."
Kunsel nodded firmly, smiling a bit. "I don't know much about Jenova... but yeah... you even look like your mother."
The General stared at the two of them. "..." For once in his life, he was utterly speechless. Subconsciously, he pulled his length of silver hair over his shoulder and ran his fingers through it
Teal eyes widened in shock, and the white-haired Third nearly gaped in disbelief at the sight before him. Would have, if the younger of the two Commanders hadn't cleared his throat in that 'listen to me' way they all seem to have down. "How do you know about Sephiroth's mother?"
Kunsel blinked, surprised. "I told you, my uncle had first hand dealings with both of the General's parents. He took pictures and made documentations that he thought would benefit said officer once he grew up, and was old enough to appreciate it."
"I want to see them," Sephiroth said firmly.
Kunsel nodded and rose, going to retrieve his laptop. Coming back, he dug deep into the files and pulled out all the photos he had on Lucrecia Crescent and Vincent Valentine, both before and during their stay in Nibelheim. "Here, General, may I introduce you to Dr. Lucrecia Crescent and Vincent Valentine, of the Turks?"
He hesitated before looking at the screen. After a moment of silence, the General stood and strode to the door, utilizing the speed enhancements some SOLDIERs were so fond of. It closed with a snap, leaving the room in silence.