This story is also on A03 under the same name if you prefer to read it there! :3
"Afternoon, m'am. Yes, I need to speak to Director Lazard."
Zack held the phone to his ear, waiting for the secretary to transfer his call. Luckily, he had left the device back in the inn before fighting Imposter. The screen was plenty scratched already due to him dropping it one or seven times, but it worked just fine.
"Lazard speaking."
Zack snapped to attention. "Afternoon, sir. This is First Class Zack Fair. I'm calling from… um, Niblehiem. I came here on a mission with Cadet Strife and… G-General Sephiroth. I-"
"Was there a compromise, Commander Fair? You sound quite flustered." It was an honest question, without any hints of venom or distress. It took Zack by surprise.
Cloud had mentioned that news in Nibelheim, thanks to its isolated location, traveled slow. Papers took weeks to be published, and another for the information to circulate. Technology wasn't a luxury either. Heck, there were hardly any cars. No wonder Lazard was oblivious…
Zack felt himself calm for the first time in hours. At least he had some time before it all reached Midgar — aka, the most populated city on the planet.
"You still there, Commander Fair?"
Zack blinked. "Right here! Listen, sir, I need transport back to Midgar's base soon as possible."
"You aren't scheduled to return until Thursday."
"I know, sir. But... it's urgent. There's gotta be something you can do!"
Some rapid clicking. "Well, one of you would have to stay behind until your assignment is complete."
"No problem," Zack assured. "I was planning on coming back alone."
Lazard gusted a sigh, muffled and cracked by the speaker. "Very well. We'll send over a chopper to retrieve you. Be expecting it by tonight."
"Sweet! Thanks a million!" Zack chirped, forgetting in his triumph to include a formal 'sir.' Seph wouldn't approve.
He hung up the phone, snapping it shut.
"You're gonna be just fine, bud..." Zack whispered to the closed device. "I won't let it be any other way."
When he lifted his gaze, Zack caught sight of a young couple perched on a fountain, right in the heart of town. The woman sat in tears as her husband tried to console her. Although, he appeared equally as pained.
"Hey, are you alright?" Zack shuffled off the bench and limped his way over. Upon seeing him — specifically the glow in his eyes — she buried herself deeper in her husband's arms. The man looked up with a face not quite hostile, but not welcoming either.
"No… no more Soldiers…" the woman sobbed. "I can't…"
"Hey now..." Zack went to place a hand on her shoulder. "It's gonna be-"
"NO!"
He instantly withdrew his hand. Zack gave her husband an apologetic yet questioning look.
"Our daughter was taken away from us.." he bitterly supplied. And that's all that was needed.
Zack's heart twisted taut.
Here he was, face to face with Imposter's aftermath. He could feel the arrow in his chest wrench, clawing further and deeper into his being. The look of sheer anguish, the horror they had experienced….
"I'm… I'm so sorry..." Zack said, knowing his presence wasn't wanted. The brunet then turned, starting down the road.
xxxxxxx
Zack's feet drummed against the helicopter's surface. Normally, he looked forward to these rides; pointing out the clouds he found best and coaxing Seph into a "childish" game. But if this mission had proved anything, it certainly wasn't normalcy.
He had already mapped out the plan in his mind: infiltrate Hojo's lab, collect anything he could about this Jenova monster, and return to Nibelheim where Seph would be set free. Then mission accomplished!
There were only a few complications. For one thing, ShinRa's science department was one of the most heavily-guarded facilities in the entire building. One needed a key card just to enter.
Second, there was no concrete way of knowing Hojo would even possess any information. Showing that the Jenova-centric documents in Nibelheim's library were written by ShinRa staff, It was the only logical angle Zack could approach. He could only pray that he would find some answers.
And if he didn't, well… he'd just have to cross that bridge when he got there.
It could be possible that Jenova had the potential to manipulate anyone. But if that was the case, why did it only choose Seph? There was something not adding up.
Zack returned to the present as his ride lurched. The familiar reek of sweat and Mako wafted through the air. They had arrived.
Before the vehicle had fully stopped, Zack leaped onto the landing pad. He dashed across the concrete field — which with his injuries wasn't a very fast dash — until reaching the base's entrance.
Zack felt like a pup compared to the colossal building. Over a hundred floors, twenty one gyms and sixteen classrooms. But only one science department. His eyes narrowed in determination, fumbling out his key card to unlock the doors. The machine blinked green, signaling its approval and allowing Zack to proceed.
"Thanks, door!" he waved, rushing through.
Once inside, he wasted no time heading to the nearest elevator. His crutch skidded behind.
"Zack! What happened to you?" Kunsel — a fellow Soldier — peeled off the wall where he had been leaning. He scanned his friend, digesting the bandages and stitches.
"Long story," Zack quipped. Well, it wasn't a lie. Lies left his tongue salty and bitter.
"Yeah, but-"
"Sorry, Kun, I'll catch you up another time. Promise!" Zack pressed the shaft's button, waiting impatiently for it to arrive. He was surprised that his boot didn't burst into flames with how fast he was tapping it.
"Where's General Sephiorth?" Kunsel pressed. "You went with him, right?"
Zack swallowed, feeling his insides knot. "He got a lil' hurt, that's all. Needed to stay back a bit."
"Seriously?"
"See ya soon!" Zack practically flew into the elevator, leaving a puzzled Kunsel behind.
xxxxxxx
"Mama?! Daddy?!"
The young and fragile voice echoed throughout the house. Wooden beams were collapsing from the ceiling, raining down on the girl who was frantically weaving out the way.
The temperature was growing dangerously warm. She could feel her breath being stolen, replaced by thick smoke.
"Daddy?!"
She wheezed, stumbling to the floor. The flames continued to close in. If only teardrops could extinguish them.
Just as she was about to call again, a beam fell from above. It landed mercilessly on her legs and back, leaving her pinned. Screams had joined the blaze's roar.
"Help! Mama!" She choked out some ash. "Mama…!"
Amidst the flames, a pair of green lights pierced through. The girl's heart thawed with relief. Someone had heard her call.
The lights advanced through her doorway. As they neared her, the rest of the figure was revealed: a tall man cloaked in black, lengthy, silver hair spilling behind. In his left glove he held the hilt of a blade.
The girl's breath became erratic as the figure approached her. She tried to scream for help, but the smog seized her lungs.
The girl sobbed with her dwindling breath, watching as his shadow engulfed her. Her eyes, hidden by tears, stared into those of a monster.
"Are… are you gonna… help me…?"
A slow, twisted smirk. "Yes."
And his sword went down.
Sephiroth awakened in a jolt. His breath escaped in rapid bursts, grasping the realization that it was just a nightmare.
Except it wasn't.
He wiped a glove over his eyes. Looking down at the trembling hand, he saw that it was drenched. Sephiroth scurried against the wall. Terrified of his own shadow, he hugged his knees close.
He had killed a child. An innocent, helpless, small child. She had her whole life ahead, full of dreams and wide-eyed wonder. And he had taken that away.
No… he hadn't. It did. He was merely the vessel… wasn't he?
But it was his fault that he had allowed himself to be taken. He wasn't strong enough to resist her pull, and death had been the consequence. It was his fault she was dead. It was his fault that others were hurt. It was his fault that Zack could barely stand. It was his fault that he couldn't protect anyone. He was born to bring pain, just as the scientists had said.
A weak glint caught his attention. Sephiroth looked up, seeing the light bouncing off of a metal bowl. One that waited patiently across the cell.
Sniveling, Sephiroth climbed to his knees.
The guard stirred in his chair. He blinked, awoken by the sudden sound of… crunching? He shifted around.
The cur was kneeling on the ground, shoveling handfuls of pellets into his mouth. He hardly stopped to swallow. Just kept eating and eating, inhaling the ones scattered on the floor once his dish was empty.
Starving and desperate the man assumed. He snickered under his breath, returning to sleep.
xxxxxxx
Zack let out a sigh, resting against the elevator's wall. He mentally kicked himself for acting so suspicious. Stealth was never his game; it was Seph's. The guy could keep up a poker face his entire life if he wanted. Which he absolutely did, Zack just knew better.
Thanks to ShinRa's advancements, elevator travel was speedy and efficient. In seconds he was on his floor. There was always a cozy feeling upon returning from overnight missions — almost like coming home. But not this time. This was a mission in itself.
Zack shuffled down the carpeted hallway, paying no mind to the numbers. He knew his quarters' location by heart.
The brunet stopped before his door, pushing it open in one motion. Seph would have definitely scolded him for forgetting to lock it… again.
Zack swept across his living space, ignoring the scattered toys and controllers he had neglected to clean up. He instantly headed for the bedroom desk and began digging through.
Scissors… batteries… candy bars... Where was it, where was it? Aha!
Zack fished out a keychain from the drawer, From the silver link, dangled a miniature Moogle plush, backup house keys and a card.
Zack smiled to himself. He knew pestering Seph would come in handy someday.
"C'mon, pal! Just in case!"
"Absolutely not," Seph had said, continuing to organize his desk.
"Why not?"
"That laboratory is a hellhole," he explained steely. "I am not giving you access."
"But you're down there all the time!" Zack pouted. "What if… a needle gets stuck and you need your best buddy to help?"
Sephiroth glanced up from the drawer he had been emptying, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "You would be able to surgically remove a syringe?"
Zack sheepishly rubbed his neck. "Well... no, but I'd just feel better knowing I could get to you if anything went wrong."
Sephiroth shook his head. He was silent for a moment. Zack tried his best to read the other's visage, but his bangs veiled it from view.
To Zack's surprise, however. a slab of metal was then slapped into his palm.
"For emergencies only," Seph insisted, his eyes like stone. "Do I make myself clear?"
It took a moment for Zack to process what had happened. But then he beamed, flashing a mock salute. "Understood, General Seph!"
Zack slammed the drawer shut. He tucked the keychain into his pocket, scampering out of the bedroom and into the den.
From what Zack had heard about the crazed man, Hojo would not appreciate him snooping around his lab. In the past, Seph confided in him about the punishments his unhinged caretaker liked to deliver. Yet he was always cryptic about it, never sharing any specific episodes.
But Zack could hear what was unspoken. Seph despised the fact that someone had been able to get under his skin the way Hojo had. He couldn't stand feeling vulnerable, helpless or defeated. Not after being expected of anything less than perfect.
But if Seph — the great, revered Soldier General — was afraid of Hojo… did he even stand a chance?
Zack fell onto the sofa, suddenly feeling weak. He contemplated his options.
He could create a diversion. Perhaps lay some bait and lure the professor out of his playground. But even then, there was no way to ensure that he would be given a long enough window to snoop.
Maybe he could find out when Hojo's next meeting was and infiltrate then. The only problem with that was his time: it was tapering by the second. Cloud had said that Seph would be put to death… tomorrow.
Zack's stomach twisted at the thought. He didn't have time to sit and wait. He needed evidence and he needed it now.
He had to get into Hojo's lab, whether it would seal his fate or not.
