Chapter 6: Just short of Something Big

The fast moving truck roared down the road entering the Midgar city gates, dust rushing behind it and three men sitting in the back. Zack half asleep snoozing off was woken up by Sephiroth, the silent Cloud had something on his mind as the night fell upon them. Arriving at the gates Cloud Sephiroth and Zack hopped off the truck, they smiled at the farmer as he took off. They walked through tired, dragging themselves along the road back to the SOLDIER headquarters. Zack pulled out a cigarrete, his lighter lighting up the area and his cigarrete slowly shining orange, he put away his lighter with the cigarette in his mouth, Zack let out a puff looking around as nobody was walking down the streets at the time of night. Cloud looked tired, his wound seemed to stop bleeding and walked much more silently. Zack tossed away the cigarrete as they looked up upon the SHINRA building, SOLDIERS rushing in through the door.

(Z): "What in hell...?"

All of a sudden a giant window broke, glass shards spreading all over the place as gunfire broke loose in the building, a man seemed to crash through the window falling down onto the floor shooting in mid-air.

(C): "Barret!"

(S): "Who?"

Two men walked out of the building with Hojo following after them, Barret running away. Hojo ordered his men to not run after them.

(H): "He doesn't know anything about JENOVA, theres no use running after him."

(Man): "But Sir, wasn't he the one responsable for the reactor explosions."

(H): "I said not to WORRY ABOUT IT, now get out of here!"

At the words of Jenova sephiroth stood shocked, his eyes widened open. He heard the name once before, he knew it was important, but he just couldn't remember it. Cloud looked off at Barret and ran after him, Zack stood still not knowing what was going on as Hojo's attention shifted over to Sephiroth.

(H): "Ahhh...Sephiroth. Its an honor. I've been hearing about your great works, in fact the president of SHINRA himself wants to meet with you now. I want you to proceed with me into the building."

(S); The president of Shinra...wants to meet...me?

Sephiroth and Hojo walked into the building, Zack who was ignored rushed in to the building after Sephiroth but the door shut in front of him.

(Z): "Damnit, that man..."

Zack looked up, he was anxious to see what would happen, he searched for a way to get up and looked back at the emergency staircase. Zack jumped up on the bulding, crawling up slowly untill onto the staircase. He then ran up looking through the window watching Sephiroth and Hojo walk,

he followed them up and up untill they reached the President's manor. Zack had to stand on his toes to watch through the highest window, Sephiroth stood in front of the president at his desk, Sephiroth bowed down then waited for the president to speak.

(Pres.): "Ahhh...Sephiroth. I have been anxious to meet you. I have heard many great things about you and I plan great things coming your way."

(S): "Sir, it's an honor..."

(Pres.): "Haha, no need for that. Now then, it's time to talk about your promotion."

(S): "...Promotion...?"

(Pres.): "Yes, your promotion you are now an A ranked SOLDIER."

(Z): ...what...he can't be serious.

Zack's feet began to ache, as Sephiroth stood astonished. He didn't know what to say. The president smiled and snapped his fingers, a SOLDIER came into the room holding a sheathed long weapon handing it to Sephiroth.

(Pres.): "Take it Sephiroth, it's yours...you earned it."

(S): "Wow..."

Sephiroth picked up the large skinny weapon. He un-sheethed it and sheethed it back.

(Pres.): "Yes, it really is special. It's a magnificent weapon. It's called the Masamune, but that's only one of the many great things that will come your way. Now that you are high enough rank, I am sure I can tell you about your duties...and your true identity."

(S): "My...true...identity?"

(H): "Mr.President...are you sure he is...ready?"

Hojo now began to sweat, he sounded very nervous. The president then cleared his voice and spoke.

(S): "Sephiroth...you were an...e-"

Before the President could finish speaking someone bashed through the door, it was a SOLDIER struggling to hold the girl with the brown hair and the pink dress. The girl screamed and yelled as Zack's eyes widened.

(Man): "Mr. President, we've captured the ancient, what should we do now?"

All of the people in the room stood surprised, Hojo letting out a grin.

(Pres.): "Please...this isn't a good time."

(S): "Tell me! Tell me who I really am!"

Zack then remembered the girl, he felt something he never felt before and just had to do it, he climbed up to the window and ran through the window into the room, busting it into pieces, he drew out his weapon and the whole room stood still shocked, Zack mouth then moved uncontrolobly a word that he never knew ached to scream out of his mouth.

(Z): "AERITH!"

To be continued in Chapter 7