"Flame, your late."
Zack slipped into the seat opposite Sephiroth, who sat at the head of the table. The black haired man stretched, yawning boldly, and swung his arms.
"Sorry. I hadn't expected to sleep so late. What's for breakfast?"
The general looked over his newspaper at the man. "It happens to be lunch, Zack, and we are eating sandwiches. As usual, Shinra supplied us with little for the cross seas trip, and dumped us with cash for the ground trip. Typical."
Zack nodded, reaching for the coffee pot, which had been set in the middle of the table.
"Seen Cloud?" The man asked, pouring himself a cup of the liquid. Sephiroth observed Zack with distaste, and continued his reading.
"I am afraid the boy has taken up residence inside of the bellow deck bathroom. I have cut him from his duties."
"Taken pity on him, you mean." Zack said, before tipping the glass backwards.
"Perhaps. Have you had the pleasure of reading the paper this morning?"
Zack glared at Sephiroth from over his cup. Swallowing, he shook his head. "Nope. You pick that up before we leave?" The general nodded.
"Take a look." Sephiroth carefully peeled away a page of the paper, sliding it across the cotton table cloth. Zack glanced at the older man, then lifted the page into his view.
General Sephiroth, hero of the Wutai war, and SOLDIER Zack Flame have come to the call of the Mako Reactor in Nibelheim. Accompanying them is a group of Shinra Guards. It has been rumored for some time that the reactor has become host to a number of creatures, or that these creatures have crawled from the reactors core.
The people of Nibelheim have been forbidden to visit the reactor, and have been locked up tightly inside their homes for some time now. When asked to comment on the coming of Sephiroth, and the situation, a Mr. Lockheart said, "We have been wishing for help for some time. The sooner Shinra gets in, and gets out, the sooner we can go back to living our lives normally."
Though there have been a few guards posed through the village at random times, their attempts to keep the monsters at bay have failed. They cannot predict when the monsters shall strike, and have given weapons to any who can wield them in the village.
Sephiroth, on the visit to Nibelheim, commented that "We are pleased to finally be sent to the aid of Nibelheim. I wish that we could have done something more sooner."
Continued on page A2
Zack looked at the silver haired man, frowning. "This is bazaar. I thought Shinra was keeping our coming as low key as possible. I don't get it."
"Neither do I."
"Why didn't they interview me?" Zack frowned, handing the page back to the general. The man looked at Zack, setting down his paper.
"Flame, they didn't interview me either. That's full of lies. They never sent guards to that village. I have been watching this place for some time."
Zack's eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth to voice his opinion, when the door swung slowly open. Sephiroth turned his head to look at the doorway. There stood a very pale, very shaky, looking Cloud Strife.
"You alright Cloud?" Zack asked, watching the boy slip into a seat. The boy shook his head.
"I-I'll live. Wh-when are we going to get there?"
"Another day or two yet." Sephiroth said, standing and stretching. "Flame'll find you some pills you can take, in the first aid room. You'll be alright."
With that, the general left the two young men there. Zack looked at Cloud, who's eyes were struggling to stay open. Standing as well, Zack went to follow Sephiroth out. Resting a hand on Clouds shoulder momentarily, the man then went to find a nurse.
