The Future Imperfect

AN – Yet another story I didn't mean to start until at least one of the WIP are finished, but it just wouldn't leave me alone. There are so many stories that have helped to inspire this that I can't actually list them all – rest assured that if you write frequently for this fandom then you have almost certainly contributed in inspiring me to start this. Some parts I have found challenging to write and some of the voices are difficult, but I hope it interests and inspires those that read it.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything in FFVII or the compilation. Some of the first chapter dialogue is taken from CC, out of necessity, and there will be dialogue throughout from the compilation.

Prologue

Junon had once been a small fishing village. Located on the western edge of the Eastern continent, its naturally deep harbour and position close to the world's largest city Midgar (if you could ignore the mountain range in the way) made it an ideal place for fishing vessels and even the occasional luxury yacht. It had been pretty, quaint, and an ideal holiday destination.

But then the occasional insurrection against Shinra escalated into frequent attacks, Wutai started to take a stand; and Shinra decided that they didn't so much need a picture perfect fishing village as a military stronghold. Fishing boats and pleasure yachts were replaced by gunships and troop transporters.

The Junon cannon was an unmistakeable feature at any time, but as the evening sun turned the metal a burnished bronze colour it almost became something more that the sum of its parts. Angeal knew, really, that it was just a gun. A very large gun, so large that it loomed menacingly over the fishing village of Junon and required another city to be built just for its operatives, but just a gun after all. Something crafted by many hands over time into a weapon of destruction, ready to strike down Shinra's enemies.

By all accounts, just like the three of them. Maybe that was why it was their preferred training location.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky." Genesis's voice, lilting with his native banoran accent as he read the prose, cut through Angeal's musing and he straightened up from where he was leaning against the casing of the weapon. The sunlight felt warm, the breeze brushed against his skin and he would be forgiven for thinking they were really in Junon if not for the lack of brine in the air. As Angeal shifted his eyes never left Sephiroth, standing further long the barrel with his gaze directed towards the horizon. The tall SOLDIER was framed against the setting sun, long black leather jacket topped by silver pauldrons that glinted in the light. The most enigmatic of the three, Sephiroth turned back to Angeal and Genesis with a small smile, his long silver hair caught by the breeze as it blew in off the sea.

"Ripples form on the water's surface, the wandering soul knows no rest." As Genesis continued reciting, Sephiroth strode back towards them. Angeal caught the direction of his gaze and, in turn, craned his neck to watch Genesis next to him.

The red-head was perched on the back of the gun, the same casing that Angeal was leaning against, his long legs crossed elegantly as he held up the book in front of him.

"Loveless, Act One." Sephiroth stated, his voice deep but carrying a touch of humour. Genesis smiled at that, although Angeal thought it looked a little strained. He shook the thought away as Genesis snapped the book shut and placed it lovingly on his perch.

"You remembered." Genesis jumped down from his perch, his usual long red leather jacket flaring behind him. Sephiroth, still a few metres away, huffed with mock annoyance but a slight smile gave him away.

"How could I not, when you've beaten it into my head." He tapped his temple for emphasis, before cutting his hand down and readying Masamune, his six foot long katana style blade. Angeal personally thought it was a touch excessive, but then he carried around a giant Buster Sword on his back that he never used so who was he to comment on the sword choices of others. Genesis reached for his own Rapier, the crimson blade gleaming in the late sunlight, the runes etched into it catching the light and causing it to glimmer.

"Don't take Sephiroth lightly." Angeal warned as he drew his own sword ready for the spar, knowing that Sephiroth could easily defeat both of them and frequently did. But there was something in Genesis's expression today that made him feel the need to speak up in warning.

"Hmph, noted." The red-head replied, before both he and Angeal ran towards their taller comrade to begin their spar. Angeal struck first and was quickly swept aside by the Masamune, and so the dance began. Steel flashed and sang while all three pirouetted around each other, making the most of the cannon's huge diameter as they moved around the barrel.

So far, so normal.

Until it wasn't.

Angeal had just been pushed back by Sephiroth, jokingly commenting "All hail Sephiroth, eh?". It was common knowledge amongst the three first class SOLDIERs that Sephiroth hated the iconic status that Shinra had foisted upon him in an effort to rally recruits to their ranks. Nothing was out of the ordinary there. But the flash in Genesis's eyes as he moved Rapier to the side to block Angeal's next advance alarmed him.

"Angeal, stay back. I'll take on Sephiroth alone."

Not something they usually even attempted to do. Sephiroth was just too good, they all knew that. Taller, faster, stronger, despite having the same Mako enhancements that they all did. But Genesis…

Angeal could only watch as Genesis taunted Sephiroth, running his fingers along the blade to light it with fire before launching himself towards his opponent. This time the dance looked deadly and neither were pulling back, the cannon buckling under the weight of the blows that Genesis rained down on Sephiroth. The Masamune flashed in the air, slicing parts of the cannon barrel as it did so. Soon the pair of them had left the cannon behind and were in the air, still trading blows that Angeal could barely keep up with.

But it was getting out of hand, at the point where Genesis enveloped Sephiroth in a giant ball of flame Angeal knew he had to intercede, catching his friend's wrist. "Stop, you'll destroy us all."

There was an expression on Genesis's face that Angeal had never seen before, one that deeply concerned him. "That is no way to talk to a hero!" The red head shouted, using a fireball to blast Angeal's interference away from point blank range. Angeal fell back to the cannon, trying to clear his head while the fighting went on above him, more fireballs flashing overhead in the sky as the opponents flashed around.

When Angeal finally was focussing again, it was to the sight that Sephiroth had finally started to take the battle seriously. The force from the Masamune was shearing the cannon apart, huge chunks tumbling into the sea. They were beginning to move from the cannon into the city, both now so focussed on the fight they had begun to drown out everything around them.

Angeal slid back into the fray, catching Genesis's sword with this right and and using his left to withdraw the Buster Sword from his shoulder scabbard, just enough to intercept Sephiroth's blade. "Enough!"

"Angeal…" Sephiroth protested, but the manic gleam in his eyes was retreating.

"Out of my way!" Genesis snarled, launching a materia attack with his free hand. The force behind the attack and his flaming sword shattered Angeal's standard SOLDIER issue blade, the force reverberating back and hitting Genesis in the shoulder.

The red head fell to his knees, Angeal calling out his name as the scenery around them flickered, the cannon disappearing as the training room materialised once again. There were cracks on the walls, electrical sparks where wires had been cut through during the duel. In short, it was trashed. And not for the first time.

"Just a scrape." Genesis insisted, clambering to his feet. "I'll be fine." He reached down for his sword, picking Rapier back up with his right hand. But before he could take another step towards the exit, the room flickered around them again. Sephiroth turned confused eyes to Angeal.

"You set up a second programme?"

Angeal looked concerned. "No… there must be something wrong. Did we break it?"

"Improbable." Sephiroth's gaze narrowed on the darkness forming around them, his green cat-like eyes gleaming as the light levels faded. "This is not a programme I am familiar with."

"What is this I hear? Could the great Sephiroth be fallible?" Genesis voice was slightly mocking as he turned towards him. "Could-"

Whatever Genesis was about to say was cut off as the floor dropped away beneath all three of the First Class SOLDIERs, prompting a startled yell from Angeal. The room above them disappeared until the darkness became absolute, despite their Mako-enhanced vision Angeal could see nothing around him. He didn't even know which way he was falling. As he continued to fly through the void, Angeal realised he wasn't even able to hear his friends anymore.

Eventually, a small amount of light started to filter into his view. Not enough to fully see where he was, but just enough to make out shapes around him. He was still falling, but now it was past brickwork and switches. He turned, orientating himself so that he would land gracefully on his feet.

Just in time to get dumped into a sewer full of water.