A/N: Hello! Sorry it took so long guys! This monster refused to be written at first but now it's done so no worries! The next one should be fairly smooth sailing as this one leads into it pretty well. Tell me what you guys think and don't forget, BoomChick has posted the first few chatper of Falls the Shadow, the prequel to this one right here! So if you haven't read it yet make sure you do! She's writing about Zack and Sephy! On a side note, does anyone know any other good sites besides Media Minor that I can post this on? I kind of want to get it out there more. Just drop me line with any suggestions and please tell me what you think! Have fun!
Disclaimer: *Sigh* I wish.
Chapter 12
5/29/97
Shinra Airfield
06.00 hours
The airship was small, more of a cruiser than an actual ship but it would serve their purpose perfectly. Settling into the seat and strapping himself in, Koda flicked his shaggy black bangs from his eyes and glanced to his partner out of the corner of his eye. It was really no question why Tseng had decided on them for this mission. Don was a six foot five wall of muscle, black hair cut to military perfection, sharp brown eyes darting around every so often and crisp white shirt contrasting with his dark skin. Koda, in contrast was lanky in build though just as tall, his shaggy bangs fell to obscure his dark eyes and where Don had the strength, he had the speed and agility. Hopefully it would be enough to either subdue the beasty or injure it enough to force it to retreat should it still be hanging around. Unlikely, but possible.
"You have the camera, Koda?"
"In the bag." Kicking the small bag under his seat with his heel just to make sure, he nodded in confirmation and laid his head back against the head rest as the engines roared to life.
"Be sure to get the air sickness out of your system by the time we get there, Don. Throwing up all over the crime scene doesn't paint a very good picture for the Turks you know."
"Just like you showing up piss drunk on that shit you call whiskey."
"Better'n what you drink."
"Bull shit."
"Gentlemen, please make sure your seatbelts are fastened as we shall be taking off shortly. Our estimated arrival time is one hour and thirty minutes." With a sigh, Koda shut his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. An hour and a half may not seem like a long flight but it was the perfect amount of time for him to catch a nap.
~*~
SOLDIER First Class Gym
07.30 hours
With a sigh born of deep frustration, Genesis ran a hand through his hair as he followed Zack and Sephiroth into the large bottom floor of the first class gym. Unlike the top floor with its exercise equipment and shatterproof glass wall, this was a cavernous room with a large blue mat covering about seventy five percent of the floor. It was perfect for those that wanted to spar but didn't want to be limited to the VR rooms' options. Even this early in the morning there were some already warming up though they snapped to attention once they noticed the Great General in the room. Sephiroth waved a hand at them and moved to one side of the room, the door to the locker room sliding open as he approached.
"Not going to wear your leathers today, Sephiroth?" Genesis asked, following the man and tugging Cloud gently by the hand. The door hissed closed behind them, Sephiroth beginning to unbuckle his heavy jacket.
"Not today. There are some spare clothes—"
"In the first locker on the right, yes I know." Genesis said as he moved over to the aforementioned locker. The locker was really more like two or three put together holding spare clothes, shoes, cloth bandages, sports tape and a large first aid kit. Taking out two sets of clothes, Genesis handed one to Cloud, shut the locker and began to change. As he brushed is hair back from his face after pulling the tank top on, he got a strong sense of Déjà Vu. Years, centuries ago, this had been a normal routine for them: come to the gym, change, warm up, try to beat the shit out of each other, shower, dress, leave. Easy, simple, haunting. He shook himself quickly before it overwhelmed him and ruffled Cloud's hair.
"Come on! Let's go train!" Zack called from the doorway, tapping his foot impatiently. Genesis rolled his eyes, catching the amused shake of the head Sephiroth gave as he pulled his hair back.
"Very well, Zack." Zack grinned and bounced out the door, leaving the three of them to follow. Stepping out into the cool gym, Genesis curled his toes against the cold steel of the floor, quirking an eyebrow at the increased number of SOLDIERs on their level and the ones crowding against the glass above.
"You don't mind if we watch do you, sirs?" one asked.
"Just don't get in the way," Genesis responded with a smirk and stepped onto the mat. Glancing over at Sephiroth, his smirk grew.
"I wonder what they've come to see." He said after a minute. "Us sparring or you, The Great Sephiroth?" Sephiroth quirked an eyebrow at him in displeasure as he stretched, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing, the muscles of his back able to be seen rippling under the thin material of his shirt. Genesis all but purred. He was unsure how he felt about being in Shinra once more, and unsure where he stood with Sephiroth, but he certainly had missed this sight. Sephiroth slid to the floor in a perfect straddle; ridiculously flexible though that was one aspect Genesis could best him in. Looking at the picture it made, Genesis found he couldn't give up the opportunity.
"Glad to see you're still able to spread your legs so easily, my friend." He said with a smirk, bending backwards and planting his hands on the floor.
"Hm. Yes, but I'm not quite as limber as you seeing as how you can still get them farther over your head." Genesis barked out a laugh and quickly straightened before he fell over, planting his hands on his hips.
"When will you just admit that you're jealous of how flexible I am? You know that it just gives you something to strive for."
"Perhaps you could teach me in private later." The smirk Sephiroth sent him through his bangs sent him laughing again, a few of the spectators joining. On the edge of the mat, Zack grinned, arms crossed over his chest as he nodded in approval at his pupil, Cloud just watching confused.
~*~
Eagle's Cove Harbor
7.35 hours
The docks were understandably quiet and subdued when they arrived, the workers and none workers glancing around nervously, most likely looking for whatever could have killed all the people on the early morning ship. Quite a few of them though watched as the two Turks made their way towards it, whispers breaking out behind them when they passed. Don showed no reaction to it, eyes already scanning the ship and letting Koda watch around them in case the beasty really was still hanging around. Local police were milling around as well, snapping to attention once they noticed them approaching and waving them through to the Captain standing at the bottom of the ramp leading onto the ship. He gave them both a once over, eyes sharp despite his aged face and nodded to himself as though pleased.
"Glad you two could make it here so quickly," he said. "I am Captain Norris, head of the local police department."
"Koda and Don of the Turks. Pleasure to meet you, sir." Done said and shook the man's hand.
"Would you like a tour of the scene or would you prefer to examine it yourselves?"
"We'll look it over ourselves. Just keep your men off the ship. Have you moved any of the bodies yet?"
"Not yet. The scene is as we found it."
"Good. We'll be out of your hair shortly." Motioning to his partner, Don stepped past the Captain and walked up the ramp, taking note of the scene as he stepped on board. A click to his left let him know that Koda was already snapping photos, the camera taking in much more detail than the ones the local police had used. ShinRa technology at its finest as Rude would say. They had seen the pictures sent from the police already but actually being at the scene, stepping carefully around the bodies of the crew and the pools of blood around them, smelling the iron and decay in the air, seeing the first set of gouges in the solid steel walls made it real instead of the possibility of altered pictures to mess with the ShinRa president.
"Hm. These gouges couldn't have been made by a monster," Koda said. Don nodded in agreement, pulling out a notepad and starting to jot down some quick notes.
"Must've been a metallic weapon of some sort. We'll send the pictures and notes down to R&D when we get back." Koda murmured an affirmative and started snapping pictures again.
~*~
Grasslands outside Midgar
7.55 hours
Heaving a sigh, Mary watched the greenery below them, spotting the occasional roaming monster or chocobo as they flew towards the Chocobo farm. Just half an hour ago, they had discovered that they had lost contact with the research team in the Mythril mines so Tseng had sent her and her partner Marshall out to go check on them. Such a boring job really. They were probably either sleeping in, in transit towards the farm or mine, or just too preoccupied to notice the radio crackling.
"You know Tseng wouldn't send us out unless he actually thought there was trouble," Marshall said over the noise of the engine.
"But he also sends us out when he gets those hunches of his and half the time he's wrong."
"Better to be safe than sorry."
"So they say but I'm beginning to doubt that. How far are we from the farm?"
"Just coming up on it now." Nodding, Mary sat back in her seat, brushing her short, curly brown hair behind her ears and waited as Marshall set the chopper down a few dozen yards away from the farm. Unbuckling herself, she waited while Marshall shut it down and hopped out as soon as he nodded. The blades were spinning to a stop, kicking up a small wind that blew her hair into her face. As the rotors slowed to a stop, Mary squinted through the dying wind and carefully approached a lump of yellow lying on the ground nearby. It didn't move, which was odd as wild chocobos were skittish as hell unless you lured them with greens, and as Mary stepped closer, she noticed the blood spatter that grew into a puddle the closer she got to the carcass.
"What'd you find, Mary?" Marshall called, hopping out of the copter and walking over.
"Just a dead chocobo. Monster must've gotten a hold of it before it could run away."
"Poor thing. Let's go. The farm's just over this ridge." Nodding, Mary straightened from crouching over the bird and followed her partner towards the ridge. A sense of unease swept over her the closer they got to it. They should have heard the sounds of the chocobos waking up and calling for their breakfast by now but the faint breeze that always swept over the grasslands carried only silence to their ears. Silence and a faint trace of decay. Marshall, acting on the same impulse, slid the collapsible staff from the harness up his sleeve and curled his fingers around it, one finger against the side of the trigger that would extend it to its full length. Mary placed her hand on the gun at her hip and walked up to the top of the ridge. At first glance, it looked as though the paranoia Turks were known for had gotten the best of them but then the disemboweled chocobo six feet away proved that maybe Tseng had a reason to worry about the research team. By unspoken agreement, the pair moved down the small hill, carefully moving away from each other so as not to be in the other's way should the beastie that had gotten the chocobo, and by the looks of things every chocobo in the farm's vicinity, was still hanging around and hungry for more.
Mary gave the coral a quick twice over, taking in the lumps of red stained yellow that used to be chocobos before moving to the large barn. The doors to the building were open, one secured while the other was propped with the body of a disemboweled farm hand and a dewinged chocobo. Marshall circled around to one of the side entrances, taking note of the body pinned to the wall with a hay fork and the feathers strewn about. The side door was open a few inches, an inch or two of metal sticking through the door itself at the same height as his shoulder. Pausing by it, he waited, listening for any warning bells before reaching out and curling just the tips of his fingers around the edge of the door. He had to repress a flinch as the door let out a horrendous screech, the hinges horrifically rusty from the sound of it, as he flung it open, moving back quickly as a streak of brown swung at him. There was a grunt and a moan and Marshall nearly struck the poor man pinned to the door before he realized what it was.
"Mary! We've got a live one!" He called and reached up to carefully pull the man down. The man, who Marshall now recognized as the owner of the farm, groaned as Mary braced him against the door and Marshall wrapped a steady arm around his back, one hand reaching for the spike in his shoulder. He was barely able to choke out a scream when the metal was removed and he was carefully lowered to the floor, his throat raw from screaming. Mary pressed two fingers against the pulse in his throat and swore at the unsteady rhythm. Grabbing a nearby rag that looked mostly clean, she pressed it again his bleeding shoulder, muttering an apology when he let out a grunt of pain. Glancing up at her partner, she saw him settling his phone between his ear and shoulder as he grabbed another rag and began to check the man over for more injuries.
"Tseng," he said into the mouthpiece when their commander picked up. "We need medical assistance and two chocobos at the chocobo farm immediately. The research team isn't here but it is possible that whatever attacked the farm may go after them." He must've gotten confirmation that the medics and chocobos were being sent out as he snapped the phone shut a moment later and drew the farmer's attention to him.
"Sir, can you tell me what happened?" The farmer blinked his hazy eyes open, staring at a point just over Marshall's right shoulder and swallowed thickly.
"Was it a monster that attacked?" Marshall asked. The farmer shook his head and drew in a shaky breath.
"A-a w-woman," he stuttered. "A woman… w-walked up to John w-when he w-was putting the b-birds i-into the c-coral. D-don't know w-what she s-said b-but I h-heard t-the chocob-bos s-start s-screamin a-and the n-next thing i-I s-saw w-was her t-tearin' em a-apart. S-she w-was l-laughing."
"Do you remember what she looked like?" A spasm ran through the farmer's body as he shook his head.
"D-d-dark…. h-hair…… c-c-claws."
"He's losing too much blood," Mary whispered.
"Sir, you're going to have to stay with me alright? Just focus on me. What did she look like?" The farmer struggled to get something out as the shaking worsened, his skin loosing what remaining color it had rapidly.
"C-c-c-cl-cla-claws." Was all he was able to get out before is eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell still. Marshall quickly pressed his fingers against the man's throat, searching for his pulse. Nothing.
"Damn it." Mary said, tossing the rag away. Marshall heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
"Let's keep looking around," he said after a moment. "Maybe we can find something that'll tell us if this thing was human or not."
"He said dark hair and claws," Mary said as she stood. Marshall scowled at her and dusted his pants off.
"It wasn't him so don't start with that." Mary simply waved a hand at him and began to look around the damaged barn. Shaking his head, Marshall regarded the poor farmer once more before joining his partner in investigating the remains.
~*~
SOLDIER First Class Gym
8.30 hours
Dear sweet Gaia did he feel good! He had forgotten what a good spar was supposed to feel like. His muscles stretched and sang as he dodged, kicked and punched, avoiding and giving blows as he saw fit, for fun not survival. His sharp gaze tracked his opponent, relearning the man's style as they tried to beat the shit out of each other. The sounds of the others in the gym had faded to a dull buzz in the back of his mind as those of their foot falls on the mat and the impact their fists made against skin rose up to ring in his ears. Sephiroth's eyes were narrowed on him; tracking his every move, a smirk flitting across his face every time they exchanged a blow. Genesis had no doubt that the expression was mirrored on his own face and quite a few times he had to resist a joyous laugh whenever he came close to delivering a punishing blow to Sephiroth only to have it lessened and be tossed back or dodged all together.
He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the blood rushing in his veins. Adrenalin shot through him, energizing him, strengthening him. The wind from a dodged blow kissed his skin, the feel of his fist slamming against damp skin radiated up his arm. A grin stretched across his face as he pushed Sephiroth back and when his fist connected with his face to send him stumbling he made the startling realization that for once, he had the upper hand. The grin transformed into a feral baring of teeth as the warrior in him rejoiced.
Sephiroth felt an unfamiliar chill race down his spine at that grin, the glow beginning behind the red head's eyes tightening the muscles in his neck. They circled each other, Sephiroth keeping his eyes locked on Genesis's, waiting for the telltale crinkle at the corners to signal when he was going to move. It came though the ferocity behind the flurry of movement took him surprise. His muscles began to strain as they moved to block and dodge every blow thrown at him. He knew going into this fight that he was not completely restored to his current level. He also knew that Genesis was perhaps stronger than before and like a green cadet he had let his usual arrogance cloud him into thinking that it would not be a problem. As he felt the first pulled blow Genesis landed on him, he realized that the tables had turned on him. And that it was a feeling he did not like at all.
Those in the room watched in awe as the two battled, some cheering on their dear General while others felt new admiration for the former General. Genesis wasn't and hadn't been as well loved as Sephiroth but he had still been respected by most, looked up to by some and considered something to strive for. The feelings of betrayal still lingered in those that watched, still festered beneath the surface but some couldn't help noticing and devouring these new sides of their superiors. Sephiroth, the feared Demon of Wutai, actually working for a victory and Genesis, the cocky, sarcastic Red General, holding it over his head and laughing as he danced around and goaded the man.
Zack and Cloud watched from the edge of the mat, Cloud's eyes wide in wonder, Zack's narrowed in worry. He had only seen this kind of frustration a few times on Sephiroth's face during their time in Hojo's hands and could see the mounting irritation and the snarl curling his lips. In just a few moments, Genesis's goading would snap Sephiroth's last cord of restraint and it would take quite a few people to restrain him before he hurt himself. Cloud on the other hand, began to recall the stories he had heard of Sephiroth, the stories Genesis had told him of his own battles and tried to memorize everything. While savage, it was stunning to watch the two twist around each other, looking and straining for the upper hand, trading blows and insults, snarling and grunting. He had never seen something so spectacular.
If they keep this up, spoke a voice to his left. They're going to hurt each other and both end up in the infirmary. He hummed in agreement but continued to watch. The presence solidified, becoming a familiar, solid, semi-transparent form slightly behind him. If he looked, he'd see the usual stern expression on the man's face, dark brows drawn together, sharp eyes watching his two friends trying to send each other into a steel wall. Cloud could feel the man's disapproval increasing the longer it lasted and the more the violence escalated. The little blond was so wrapped up in the fight that he winced as Sephiroth nearly dislocated Genesis's shoulder flipping him onto the mat.
"Enough!" The loud voice directly next to his ear caused Cloud to leap nearly a foot in the air with a yelp, Zack startling at the sudden noise from the blonde. Cloud didn't hear his concerned question, his focus drawn to the figure racing towards the other sparring pair a few feet away. As Genesis ducked under Sephiroth's high swung leg, a familiar form raced from Cloud's left, shoving himself between Genesis and Sephiroth and attempting to catch Genesis's punch before it could reach the other's chin. Wide eyed, Cloud reached out a hand, smile flitting across his face.
"Ang—" The punch went through him and hit its target perfectly sending Sephiroth to the ground.
"Cloud?" said Zack. "What is it?"
"Angeal." Said Cloud, staring at the place where the SOLDIER had been, where now Genesis was celebrating his excellent hit.
"Cloud," Zack replied, wide blue eyes blooming with concern, "Angeal is dead." Cloud merely waved a hand at him and refocused his attention on the fight, frowning as he watched Genesis goad Sephiroth into pulling himself to his feet to continue the brawl. He saw Sephiroth's eyes glint through his bangs as he pulled himself up and retook his stance, the green bright and the cat slit pupil a thin line of black down the center. Genesis grinned and launched himself at his opponent, laughing like a child as he swung his limbs around, forcing Sephiroth into defending himself.
"You've got to stop him," whispered a voice against his ear. "If Genesis keeps this up he'll put Sephiroth back into the infirmary." Cloud chewed on his lip before nodding and taking a hesitant step forward. Genesis blocked a harsh kick and snarled, rushing forward to deliver his own to Sephiroth's chest. Cloud could see the muscles straining in his arms and the line of red slowly forming as the skin began to peel away from the meat below. He watched as Genesis spun and saw a smaller section peeling away on his side when his shirt flared up. Genesis stumbled back a few paces, thumbed the blood from his lip and launched himself into the fray again, disregarding the skin peeling off his arms. Red ran freely from the wounds though Genesis paid no attention to it, neither did Sephiroth as his feet landed in the growing puddle. The bright color flew around them in arcs to splatter on the mat as they twisted and twirled around each other, Sephiroth's hair getting streaked with it and Genesis's skin losing its color. The white of the wall bore his hand prints from when he tried to struggle to his feet, attempting to get to Cloud as hands led him away. Sephiroth kicked him to the side.
Snarling fiercely, Genesis flipped and landed on his feet, launching himself forward, hand outstretched to catch the fist aimed at him. His eyes widened as he saw the blonde appear in his path, eyes bright with worry and hands reaching for him. Quickly, he swerved to the side to avoid running into him and ducked just in time to miss catching the boy as he flew towards the wall, Sephiroth's fist hovering in mid air from the impact, eyes wide and face ashen. Genesis felt his heart stop when Cloud slammed into the wall, head bouncing against the steel before he landed with a heavy thud on the ground. He twitched once and lay still.
~*~
Mythril Mine
9.00 hours
Hm. Looked like she was wrong. The glowing rocks didn't look any better with red splattered all over them. Oh well. Hopping down from her perch, she flicked her bangs from her face and daintily licked the blood from her claws. As soon as she got outside she'd wash them off to get the gunk out from the joints that way they wouldn't stick but for now she'd enjoy her treat. She hoped that Genesis would find out about them and thank her for it when she saw him in a few days. At the thought of Genesis's happiness with her, she skipped down the rocky corridor, kicking one of the heads out of her way to ricochet off the wall and skitter off. Yes. Genesis would be so happy with her. Happy enough to sweep her into his arms and apologize for leaving her alone. And she would forgive him of course and they'd destroy ShinRa and scamper off the live together forever.
Her giggle echoed in the cave and with one more indulgent lick at the red still flecking her claws, she skipped out and over to the stream, pulling the heavy gloves off and dunking them in the water. Perhaps when she got to Kalm she'd get some new clothes.
