Finally! Ugh…sorry everyone! I came home (finally) just yesterday (in Croatia) and I'm so very excited to be home! It's so wonderful, the lush, green forest, the garden, seeing my precious dog Lara again…oh those feels! (clears throat) Right…sorry…just can't resist her adorable eyes! *.* Well, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
ANSWER S TO REVIEWS:
AkaiArashi1: Thank you so much! Hehe yeah, I wanted to try and create a unexpected twist…hope I pulled that through haha ^^ BTW: I'm really sorry for the late update! Most probably forgot about this story by the time I post this chapter ."
Astrid Midnight: Yeah I got that feeling too :3 Though I intend on writing a few lighter chapters so it's not "too" dark, I also have to listen to my readers and respect their wishes, I'll try to make a balance between lighter/humor filled chapters and more darker/serious ones. :D
Numinous-Aqua: haha Thanks! (scratches neck) hehe I loved Crisis Core…etc. but I was somewhat disappointed why they didn't dedicate more time on developing Zack before his death, showing how he struggled with coping with everything mentally, after all, talking to a comatose Cloud, being alone and on the run for so long…there is bound to be tremendous trauma involved. I'll try to portray his trauma as best as I can, it's similar to PTSD, I think.
Selkis1701: Hey there! Thanks for the review! Ugh yeah, being under Seph's control and on top of that being around HOJO of all people…not to mention those grotesque experiments… I'll write another chapter, or possibly squeeze the details of the lab here. :D
Chrizh: Hihi thanks buddy! Sorry if I forced you to read it lol, just wanted to hear your opinion on my story since a few of my readers find it half-decent lol. Hope I get to continue it, personally, it's one of my favorite stories I've written so far. J
NOTE: I just wanted to say that the escape from Hojo's lab will be slightly different, for dramatic effect purposes :P I guess…you know I love to create some drama and anticipation hihi :3
Disclaimer: Like I mentioned many times before, I DON'T own anything but the plot and my OC's (like Aaron)! Square Enix owns all the characters from FF7, Crisis Core and AC!
Chapter 38: Scars Left by War
Zack was running, running as fast as he could with Cloud hanging limply from his shoulder. He had to get away from them, away from…from that hellhole!
"Seize him!" Hojo's commanding voice only caused Zack to speed up his already dead sprint, dodging bullets, dogs and guards.
Zack's breathing was controlled but his muscles were burning from the strain, he didn't know for how long they had been stuck in those tubes, days, weeks, maybe even a few months but it couldn't have been too long. And yet, Zack felt as if he slept for years.
"What are you waiting for? Kill him! But leave the blonde alive!" Zack grit his teeth, his hold on Cloud tightening as he jumped on a oncoming duty car, jumping on its hood, roof and just barely managing to keep running forward, stumbling slightly from the added weight of Cloud over his shoulder.
"Come on buddy, wake up. I don't know if I can keep carrying you like this for long if they keep pursuing us!" Zack panted, looking for a split second at Cloud, who remained unconscious.
He cursed and continued running away, turning a sharp corner around the building and finding himself at a dead end.
"God damn it! If they catch up…" Zack briefly peeked behind the corner, mentally calculating about fifty foot soldiers and a helicopter as well as Turks he never met before following along with Seconds and Thirds. Wait…Hojo's men were also there…from the scientist department.
"Scientists following us? They must have something big planned for us if they are so adamant on capturing us again, damn it Hojo!" Zack carefully let Cloud lean against the wall, rolling his stiff shoulders and grabbing the Buster sword, swinging it around to get a feel for the hilt again after so long of not using it.
"Looks like I have no choice but to stay and fight them off huh Cloud?" Zack widened his stance and readied himself for battle, he didn't expect Cloud to respond in his unconscious state.
Little did Zack know, he would have these one sided conversations for far longer than he would have liked.
Zack panted heavily as he slowed to a stop in the dense forest, gently dropping Cloud on the soft grass as Zack himself dropped on the ground, dead tired from all the fighting and running.
Zack calculated that they had been running approximately well over three hours from Hojo and his men, Zack had to give it to them, they were persistent bastards. Not only that, now the Turks and SOLDIER were after them too.
Just what did they do wrong?
Zack refused to believe they were criminals on the run, but he couldn't remember anything before Hojo and the lab. He just remembered seeing a white figure just before he broke out of his mako tube and that was it.
Just what happened before they were captured?
Where were Angeal and the others? Why was Zack carrying Angeal's sword? Zack remembered making First Class, he remembered he wasn't very excited over the fact, but he had no idea why.
He always dreamed of making it to the top, so why hadn't he been happy back then?
Zack looked over at Cloud, he had disabled a First Class which had come a little too close to them for Zack's comfort. Zack did what he thought was right, he removed the mako soiled clothes from Cloud's body and replaced them with the First Class SOLDIER garb.
Zack rose an eyebrow, wait…
"Cloud was wearing clothes of a infantryman before I dressed him…wait…I remember talking with Cloud about making it to SOLDIER…we were at that one inn….but where?" Zack shook his head, his thoughts a complete mess. He clutched his head and fell down to one knee, breathing deeply to calm his thoughts and make sense of his foggy memories.
A church…I had been in a church? Flowers?
A girl?
Wait…that's Aerith…that's right…she was my girlfriend…my first love…
A black wing…
No wait…two white wings…
Hollander…
Banora…
Angeal's hometown…
Genesis…rogue SOLDIER…
The black wing…Genesis…
Sephiroth…
He had a black wing too…
Wait…
Sephiroth…he…went mad…destroyed something…
He destroyed a village…
Nibel…
Nibel..
Cloud…no…it was…
Nibelheim…
Mako reactor…
Project G…Project Genesis…no…
Project Gillian…
Wait…
Gillian…
….Hewley?
Angeal's mother?
Wait…mother…Sephiroth's mother..
Jenova…
Jenova cells…
Extraterrestrial being…
Experiment…Sephiroth…test subject…
Her son…Sephiroth…Jenova was his mother?
Angeal? Where…where was he?
Hollander…family?
I fought him…
I fought Angeal…
He had wings…two white wings…
He….turned into a monster…
I defeated him….
Angeal…
Protect your honor, always.
You have my thanks, Zack.
"No…." Zack completely fell to his knees, clutching his head, his blue mako eyes wide and unfocused.
"Why…..why am I…these images…memories…my memories…I….killed Angeal?"
Zack placed the Buster sword on the ground, inspecting the large blade, the long, red hilt…Angeal's sword…his family's honor…
"Angeal….he gave it to me….he…told me to…protect…protect my honor…and dreams…" Zack blinked, tears kept falling down on the blade, rolling down its smooth surface until the earth underneath absorbed it.
"I remember….I remember it all now…" Zack furiously rubbed his eyes, looking at Cloud, "Cloud….you….you have mako addiction…Hojo captured us…I fought against Sephiroth, you finished him…Hojo must have captured us then…" Zack strapped the heavy sword to his back, crawling toward Cloud, inspecting his seemingly lifeless eyes.
"Cloud…" he brushed the blonde spikes away from his friend's face, "…Just what happened to us buddy hm?" Zack smiled a bitter smile, ruffling his younger friend's hair affectionately.
"Sephiroth…destroyed your home…Tifa's too…he killed your mother…I remember Tifa…she was at the reactor too…Sephiroth killed her father, she wanted revenge…but Sephiroth cut her down…she was afraid, she told me how she hated SOLDIER and Sephiroth and me…"
Zack fell flat on his back beside Cloud, looking up at the sky, "Cloud…am I a monster? A killer?" he waited, but he received no response.
"Heh…I shouldn't be so down huh? But…I can't help it…not really…I killed Angeal…my mentor…one of my closest friends…" Zack rubbed his eyes again, fighting back the stinging tears.
He closed his eyes, using a meditation technique Angeal taught him once. He breathed deeply, sorted out his thoughts, thinking of what he should do next, what could he do…
He tried to estimate how much longer till sunrise, he needed to get some shut eye otherwise he wouldn't be able to fight off all their pursuers. He dispatched a good amount of SOLDIER, no doubt they would send more Seconds after them and maybe some Thirds and infantrymen… yeah infantrymen would do the dirty work…
Zack shook his head, Hojo said to leave Cloud alive…he ordered that he was killed but Cloud left to be alive…
Hojo needed Cloud for something but what?
Wait…
Zack opened his eyes, "Sephiroth…his cells…" of course, how could he be so stupid? Genesis had tried hunting down Cloud for his pure S cells…Hojo must have the same goal…
He had to get Cloud out of here, he needed to get someplace safe…he needed to get to Midgar…Aerith…that's right…she was waiting for him…she wrote him letters, many letters…88? Or was it 89? Her last letter?
Zack closed his eyes again, breathing deeply. Alright…he needed to get to Aerith at all costs, he needed to get Cloud treated, first he had to get them a ride.
Even thought Zack was First Class, not even he would be able to carry Cloud, fight off soldiers and navigate constantly through the terrain. If he could get them a ride then they would arrive much faster to Midgar, Cloud would get cured and he could flee with Aerith and him…
To where? Where could they go where SOLDIER wouldn't find them?
Zack stood up, shaking his head, he would think that far ahead later. He needed to desperately sleep, it was already well over midnight if Zack guessed right.
He looked over at Cloud, his head resting on his chest, his glowing blue/green eyes empty, "Well, today was tough huh? Those bastards kept following us everywhere I swear! I couldn't even go and pee in peace without having a gun pointed at my…well you know. God that was so awkward…it's good that you didn't see that, I would have laughed if I hadn't been busy knocking the guy out and pulling my pants back up…" Zack chuckled, shaking his head
"I tell you, SOLDIER's starting to get creative…poor guy too…bet he will have quite the tale to tell his superiors when he returns…" Zack gently punched Cloud's still shoulder, watching how he moved once before becoming still again, Zack just smiled, ruffling his hair.
He looked up at the dark sky, a bitter smile on his face, "I'm not the depressed type but…my old man was right…about SOLDIER, I mean. Heh, if only I didn't have such a thick skull like my mom used to tell me all the time." He looked at Cloud
"I'm sorry about your mom Cloud…I'm sorry about everything…" Zack rested a hand over his eyes, "I…never thought it would come to this, I wanted to be a hero, not famous, not being chased by my own company for my head..I'm sorry I got you into all of this Cloud, I never wanted to…" Zack looked at Cloud, ruffling his hair affectionately, pulling their heads closer to one another sideways.
"We will make it Cloud, we will make it buddy," Zack nuzzled his head against Cloud's, sighing loudly and looking up at the sky.
He checked their surroundings one last time, scouting out ahead just in case, he set up a barrier which would alert him should someone attempt to deactivate it. Zack finally let himself settle down on the grass, thinking one last time about Aerith's smiling face, before he closed his eyes and succumbed to sleep.
Zack was already awake before the first sunrays surfaced over the horizon, making sure to carefully cover his tracks, to walk as silent as possible with the added cargo on him and to make note of the terrain.
They were back on the road, Zack had seen Nibelheim, but it wasn't the destroyed, burnt to ashes Nibelheim he saw.
Nibelheim was standing, as if nothing happened, but Zack knew better. He had talked with a few of the townsfolk and none of them knew anything, nobody knew who Sephiroth was or who Cloud Strife was or Tifa.
Zack wasn't a fool, he knew Shinra set this up, the villagers were actors. They rebuilt Nibelheim to a "T", their only mistake was of not building Cloud and Tifa's home. Zack had memorized Cloud's home from when he saw Cloud running inside it to greet his mother before Sephiroth went mad…he remembered Tifa's home when he escorted her there to make sure she was safe at night.
He had also met her father, a kind but stern and protective man he learned. It didn't escape Zack how the older man had eyed him critically, whether it was because he was SOLDIER or for escorting his younger daughter home, Zack didn't know.
Zack sighed, counting to three before he readjusted Cloud, carrying him piggy bag style since he could divide his weight better. The only drawback was, he had Buster strapped to Cloud's back since he couldn't carry Cloud over the sword.
He only prayed it wouldn't put too much strain on his comatose friend.
"Hey Cloud, you hungry? Don't worry, I'll fetch us some dinner soon. I just need to find some river or something so we can drink alright? You promise to eat too ok? Yesterday you didn't eat anything again, you know you have to eat to grow big and strong right?" Zack smiled, after getting accustomed to talking to Cloud like this over the past few weeks…maybe even months, he learned to treat it like a completely normal conversation.
He needed to talk to Cloud, it just may help his friend recover sooner. Zack had heard war stories of his fellow SOLDIERs, how they dragged their half dead friends back home, talking to them to ensure they were conscious and alright and to offer them support to make it through.
While Zack's case was different, Zack did his best to be there for Cloud, even in this state. He cut small pieces of the food he caught, nearly mashing it into pudding and fed it to Cloud, moving his jaw and massaging his throat to ensure he would swallow it, it was little but enough to keep his system going. He would pour water into Cloud's mouth and tilt his head back so he didn't choke on it.
Though since Cloud had been exposed to mako, and a large amount of it, he knew his body wouldn't accept food so readily so soon. Zack himself was able to go without food and water for longer than a normal person, the mako in his body accelerated his healing abilities, metabolism but also prevented him from suffering from basic illnesses. He naturally hadn't been often ill in his childhood, but thanks to the mako, he almost never got ill nowadays.
Days passed, days soon turned to nights, long nights where Zack was mostly awake, keeping guard over Cloud and ensuring no enemies were near. He would only sleep a few hours, enough to keep him fit.
Though Zack had made one mistake, he didn't account for Cissnei going for their hide as well.
She found them one night, when Zack briefly stopped to drink at a nearby river. He had forgotten that he visited that riverbank already, he never visited any areas twice but due to fatigue he had forgotten.
Zack didn't want to draw his sword, not on Cissnei, she was a friend, not his foe. He told her as much, she had waited and Zack thought she was waiting for backup to arrive.
But she had been gathering her thoughts, in the end, she let them go. Because Zack had been her friend and saved her in her time of need. Zack had thanked her with a smile and she promised not to tell the Turks or SOLDIER anything, Zack had waved her off, telling her to tell Tseng if she desired.
Cissnei only replied that Zack had more allies than he realized, before she disappeared behind some trees and into the night.
Zack was sure Tseng wouldn't betray him, while he was duty bound and practically married with his job, he wouldn't sell out a friend, of that Zack was sure.
And so, without many incidents aside from Zack's usual clashes with pursuers, he moved along, navigating his way in the general direction toward Midgar, with Cloud on his back.
The days were long and hard for Zack, sometimes he would need to make several stops from carrying Cloud and fighting off, mostly one handed, his enemies. It was hard and Zack was so tired.
Tired from all the fighting, tired from running away, tired from fighting for survival and for their freedom…
"Say Cloud, you tired too buddy huh? Probably not, you're enjoying a free ride here," Zack chuckled to himself, adjusting Cloud on his back carefully.
"You know, when we get back to Midgar, I promise everything will be alright, we will cure you and I'll introduce you to Aerith, I've been known to date a few girls back in my younger days, but she's something else. She annoys me sometimes but she has spunk and she is so gentle and kind. You'll like her, I'm sure of it," Zack continued walking, looking back every once and a while to make sure he didn't leave imprints on the ground.
Zack stopped and carefully looked at his surroundings, he frowned, carefully easing Cloud off his back and on the ground. He took his sword from Cloud's back and again scanned the trees around them.
"How about I stop pretending I didn't notice you following us and you stop trying to hide from me," Zack called out to the seemingly empty woods, waiting with his sword on his side.
Nothing happened for several long minutes, before he caught movement on his left flank, Zack turned to it and spotted him.
It was a rather nervous-looking Second Class SOLDIER, no doubt sent by Shinra to try and eliminate him and retrieve Cloud.
Zack stood tall in front of Cloud, his sword resting on his shoulder leisurely.
The Second lifted his sword shakily, trying hard to hide his nervousness.
Zack's expression softened, "You don't need to do this, I'll let you off the hook, just tell them you didn't find us or that we are dead," Zack was about to turn around, but it seemed like the SOLDIER wouldn't back down.
"N-no! I have orders and I intend to follow them!" the SOLDIER lifted his sword, narrowing his iconic blue eyes at Zack, "Fight me!"
Zack shook his head and imbedded Buster into the ground, "I won't." the Second released a battle cry and charged but Zack side stepped easily, making sure he was between the SOLDIER and Cloud at all times.
The Second charged again, this time, Zack grabbed his wrist, his sword arm, and with his open palm he slammed it against the hilt of the sword. Both SOLDIERs watched as the standard SOLDIER sword fell to the ground a few feet away.
Zack released the younger man and moved to get Buster, the Second roared at Zack's retreating form, "Fight me you coward! I've always looked up to you! I heard stories about you! How you climbed up the ranks, how you were the pupil of Angeal Hewley, how you fought alongside Genesis Rhapsodos and the great Sephiroth! Why did you betray SOLDIER? For what? Because you didn't become as famous as Sephiroth?!" he spat venomously
Zack stopped and turned around to regard the furious man, "You're still in your teens aren't you?" he suddenly asked, approaching the increasingly nervous SOLDIER.
"Y-yeah, what's it to you?" he snarled at him, flexing his sweaty hands
"A word of advice, choose to follow it or not, there is more to SOLDIER, to Shinra, than they let on. Don't let them fool you, I hope you don't find out the truth the hard way, because then you will be standing right here where I am now,"
"W-what's that supposed to mean?!"
"Angeal, Genesis and Sephiroth…they were all my idols when I was younger, everyone knew them and adored them. As I became a Second and eventually First Class, I realized what Shinra was really up to. They aren't the company they make you believe they are, Shinra made me flee. I was loyal to Shinra before, as you are now, but I realized the error in my ways," Zack paused, looking back at Cloud.
"That's my friend, Shinra is hunting him down where he is as innocent as he can be. He's about the same age as you, still so young…" he looked back at the SOLDIER, "Get away from Shinra, flee, go back home to your family. I went away from home in the hopes of becoming a hero but I'm being chased and trying to get killed by my own company instead."
"You mean…Shinra…they…they forced mister Rhapsodos and everyone to defect? They aren't M.I.A.? You mean they…got killed? By Shinra? B-but…t-their own people..how could they.." Zack gripped the younger man's shoulders tightly
"Listen, what's your name?"
"J-James, sir,"
"Listen James, it's your choice if you want to trust me or not, but I don't want you to end up like Genesis and Angeal and…and me, alright? Go back to your family, don't keep them waiting like I did mine. If you have someone to protect and turn back to, then go. Work at your family's farm, help out your old man no matter how annoying it is, you may think you could have made it big in SOLDIER but…it's just not it,"
"My dad warned me about SOLDIER, about the dangers…why he didn't want to join them…why he tried convincing me not to join them…" Zack shook his head and smiled at the teen, "Go," he nodded in encouragement, hefting Cloud over his back again.
"W-wait!" Zack turned around to look at James
"Yeah?"
"T-take this…at least to help a little…for your friend…" James fished out a healing materia, a rather weak one, but Zack nonetheless smiled and shook his head, pushing it back towards him,
"Thanks a lot but it will take more than healing materia to cure mako poisoning. Keep it, I hope you don't but you may need it," Zack smiled warmly
"A-alright…" he pocketed the materia again, "Good luck sir! I hope you will make it out ok," he smiled
"Call me Zack," Zack smiled and winked, wishing for the SOLDIER to see his smiling face again before he may die…
"Zack…thank you," James nodded, clasping Zack on the shoulder with a bit of a hesitation, Zack did the same and bid farewell to the SOLDIER, praying for his safe return and his safe journey to home.
"Alright Cloud, looks like it's just the two of us now again huh?" no response
"It's alright, James reminded me a bit of you, though I have to admit, he's a bit more aggressive than you," he teased lightly, smiling at Cloud's comatose face from the corner of his eyes.
Cloud's breathing reassured Zack, made him strengthen his resolve to continue fighting, to hope for a brighter future.
They could make it. He knew it, they could.
And then, he spotted a yellow truck on the side of the road.
Zack smiled.
He knew freedom was just out of his reach. He would get to see Aerith, beg her for forgiveness and escape somewhere safe with her and Cloud.
Tifa bit her lip, listening intently to Zack retelling all the events and his time running away from Shinra with Cloud.
"…What happened next?"
Zack smiled bitterly, the images flooding his mind as he opened his mouth to tell her the final time he thought he would lift his sword in order to protect his friend and fight for their freedom.
Done! I'm SO sorry for waiting so long! . Forgive me everyone! I had such a severe case of writers block for FF7 suddenly I have no idea why ugh…I really hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I promise the next one won't be so long due!