Disclaimer: I'm listening to "Price of Freedom" as I write this. I AM SAD! I HEART ZACK! Alas, I don't own him… (Shoots self)
A/N: I'm miserable with updates and writing my stories. Sorry…So, anyway, this is where Zack's skeletons come tumbling out of his closet and we find out how he managed to survive Shinra's attack on him. Please don't think ill of it. As I said before, it's Final Fantasy. What HASN'T been done already?
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Stand By Me
Chapter Four
WEAPON
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After a mostly silent dinner, Zack cleared away the plates, unsure of how to begin a conversation again with her after the unexpected stillness exchanged between them. Most of the time he could tell that she was lost in thought, but he wasn't much of an exception, either. Someone else who knew Aeris? Well, that wasn't unusual. Many people had known her. She was loved by everyone.
Especially him.
He knew what she was and what the Shinra had wanted from her. It was a real hard bind back then, and their meetings often had to be in secret. Even Elmyra, her mother, didn't approve of the relationship. Not that he could blame her. He was from SOLDIER. He was the enemy. And he wasn't sure if both Aeris and her mother knew it back then, but he had pulled strings to help keep Aeris away from Shinra a little longer. Tseng had been a big help, too, of course. It was ironic, really. In a way, he had to inwardly laugh at the thought of "sleeping with the enemy."
But he wanted to do all he could for this woman who knew the one he had loved. Any friend of Aeris' was a friend of his. And besides, Shinra was no longer a part of the equation.
"Where ya headed off to?" he asked after he showed her to her bedroom upstairs. Zack felt embarrassed at the time, so he hadn't quite told her that his room was where Aeris' had once been.
"I'm…" she was rubbing her arm again, nervous. She's always so edgy. I wonder why…? "I'm not quite sure. I was looking for someone, but I don't know if they're still in Midgar."
"I see," he nodded. "Well, tomorrow, I only have to work the opening shift, so if you don't mind, I'd like to take you around the city." Zack stopped to think a moment. "That'll probably be at around one. Is that all right with you?"
"Yes," she said. "I'll wait for you until then."
He watched her shuffle into the guestroom and slowly closed the door. Zack wandered back downstairs, unable to sleep.
You're in there, aren't you?
Zack was outside before he realized the voice. It came as a low stir, like an animal growl. His hands were in his pockets. He realized that he hadn't changed, yet.
Guardian Sapphire, you know who I am, do you not?
Everything else was quiet and the crickets were chirping in the flowerbeds. No one else heard the grumbling of the land.
No, he thought. This isn't the land.
Why do you refuse to answer me!
Zack looked to the sky. It was difficult to see the stars under the plate. And his eyes caught sight of the Mako Ray. It was aimed outside the wall at the voice who accosted him now. There were outsiders there, too. The voice told him so.
I can feel your presence. Are you afraid to speak? Is it because your soul is squirming within the wretchedness of human skin?
It was calming again. Zack stepped out onto the dirt road, past his Daytona, and towards the brown picket fence.
It has nothing to do with me.
You speak? But your words are bitter! How can you not participate!
Zack flicked the cowlick at his forehead. His brows had knitted together and deep creases formed around the edges of his lips.
Let the Shinra believe that their cause is just. Even all of their best efforts are in vain.
You are willing to sit back and watch? It's been nearly two years since we first beheld you and almost one since we've last seen you. Are you saying that you've grown accustomed to this human life?
I was human before you found me, and I'll still be human after. Call me a spectator. I, myself, would like to see the power of the WEAPON.
Your eyes…they're sapphire. They were always sapphire. Even Jenova could not break those eyes.
Show me why a WEAPON must fight. Show me. A WEAPON does not love, it does not hate, it only obeys orders. Because I obeyed the orders of a WEAPON, my happiness was lost. Sometimes, I wish you had left me to die in the Lifestream with the rest.
Zack ran a hand across the newly furnished boards of the fence. He was chewing on his lower lip.
I remember a time where the WEAPONS were once flawless. Only a human could show wavering emotions.
I always was human.
Zack chuckled, thinking back on it all. Nibelheim, Hojo, the experiments…It was there that the word "WEAPON" meant anything at all. Angeal had saved him, true…but so had something else.
Saved? Could he honestly consider this life had been saved?
It was not of my own will that drew me to the ocean that day. It was Sapphire's.
Aren't you Guardian Sapphire? Or has the human soul taken over you?
The former SOLDIER shook his head. Damn you, Hojo, for complicating my life this way.
The voice was silent and there was no more noise for quite some time after that. Then, Zack could hear the cutting of propellers through the air and a large shadow darkened across Midgar, flying by at incredible speeds. It was then that his attention turned to the Mako Ray, illuminating with a bright light as Mako powered the weapon.
If you fight here, the lives of all those will be lost.
It is the way of the Planet. Don't sound so fragile.
She loved the people! I can't let you do this.
How can you stop me?
The city was taken aback as the shot rang out into the skies, Mako streaming out into the sky. Zack couldn't see where it was headed, but he knew who the recipient was going to be. Grabbing the fence, he forced his balance while the world around him shook violently. The tremors only increased when the intended target had been struck, and he clutched at his chest, feeling the pain of the Planet.
There was another loud roar, but it came from the beast outside the walls, and Zack could see something else coming his way.
How dare you! Have mercy!
Calm yourself. You won't be hurt in the attack. A WEAPON has more power than that.
Zack took a quick step forward.
But the people…!
They will surely die, as should be their fate. Do not let it trouble you.
"SON OF A—!" Zack screamed to the sky, watching as the power of the Diamond WEAPON demonstrated itself to the vast city of Midgar, soon to become ruined. If this was to become their fate… Aeris…
Eyes flashing, Zack thrust his arm heavenward toward the Diamond Flash. You asked me to stall the attack at Junon and I did! Is it not fair to fall back when I ask you? If that is the case, then WEAPON shall face WEAPON! "Sapphire Cannon!"
Scales pulled apart, ripping human flesh from each set of limbs whilst tentacles emerged from what were fingertips of a person. Eyes that were once small grew larger and brighter, the echoing roars of a monster tearing the skies asunder. From within the body of the blue WEAPON, energy gathered at the peak of its chest, skin as tough as sandpaper and as deadly as the strike of thunder. Like voltage feeding through the heavens with great celerity, the ray of Diamond was knocked away from Midgar like a reflecting mirror to the sun.
The collision was quick, but magnificent. The wind roared at the heart of the power, thundering in the ears of all those who watched. Eyes were blinded at the extraordinary whiteness, and were shielded with a pair of arms. Some lost their balance, while trying to stand upright through the hurricane. Screams were drowned out by the rush of fight, deafening the minds of those who cried out.
Then it smelled of fire.
The Diamond Flash had been altered in its course, knocked to the very side of the Shinra building, crushing it and causing it to cave in. Whoever had been in there at the time could not have survived.
When the light faded and the noise ceased and all that was left was the smell of fire, Zack found himself sitting on the front porch to his old lover's house, staring up into the sky with a smile on his face. All was silent on the outside.
Now, wasn't that a sight?
There was a deep grumbling, as though the WEAPON beyond the wall had been injured. In pride only.
Pride! You think of pride at a time like this! Can the minds of humans have corrupted the Guardian of the Sea! I suppose you find yourself in such a situation as me, then! If not for the benevolence of the Planet, your regeneration would have been a failure! Both times, might I add! Your death as a man and your death as a WEAPON! There will be no third time for mercy.
Zack glanced down at his arm where a single blue droplet fell from his elbow, circled around one side of his arm, and plummeted to the ground below. His smile ran away for just a moment before he forced it back.
Silly fool. Being an aquatic creature does not stop me from preventing the likes of you from destroying what my Lady held most dear. And despite my miserable fate from the Sister Ray, it will not stop me from living, either. Now go, before those who are destined to destroy you do so.
Sapphire! The others shall learn of your treachery!
Then let it be known. Zack lay back until he was in a recumbent position on the porch, his eyes gazing to the stars. The god of the sea has failed in his duty. I'll gladly suffer my punishment with the Planet. Now let me rest.
Zack closed his eyes, shutting his mind down as he breathed deeply upon the coldness of the porch. He could still smell fire.
"Zack!" He recognized Shera's voice as she tore the door open and threw herself outside, nearly stepping on him. "Zack, did you see—"
"It was quite a sight," Zack interrupted, opening his eyes to stare up at her. She was still dressed as she had been earlier, despite his permission to use anything from Aeris' wardrobe, except for the fact that she was barefoot. Even in the moonlight, he could see her flushed cheeks and hear her heavy breathing. "Did you see it from your window?"
She shook her head. "I was only able to see the last moment of it. The vibration startled me awake and I saw the light outside. What happened?"
"I'm not sure," he answered, and used his arm to point to the Shinra building off in the distance, "but look. It's on fire."
She did look, stepping over him and jumping down the steps. Zack found the strength to sit up, though it did render him dizzy for a moment.
"Oh, my word…" her tiny fingers clasped her open mouth, eyes wide and sparkling in the rays of the moon. "It is on fire! I wonder if President Shinra is all right…"
"With a blast like that, I wouldn't be too sure," Zack replied, using the rail to pull himself to his feet. He slightly grimaced at the pain in his chest.
"Oh…" was all she said, an almost devastated tone attached to her voice, as though the thought of the President's death had moved her to tears. Or perhaps it's someone else she knows…
"I think I'll take a walk around, then," Zack said, patting her on the back once as he brushed past her. "Maybe I can find out what happened. Go back to sleep, Shera." He turned to look at her, smiling. "You don't want to be exhausted for tomorrow's trip, right?"
"Uh…" She grasped the ends of her lab coat, looking to the ground. "No. I…I guess I'll see you in the morning then. Goodnight, Zack, but be careful out there, all right?"
"Come on, 'Danger' is my middle name. I'll be all right. Keep a look out here for me, okay?"
Giving him a small nod, she retreated back up the porch steps and went back inside. Zack looked to the sky and heard nothing more.
"I made my choice," he said when he thought no one could hear him. "I never chose the life of a WEAPON. It was made for me, understand? You, the Planet, Hojo…" It made him want to laugh, and he did so. "Angeal thought it was bad because he was an angel. Wonder what he would think if he saw me as a WEAPON?"
Suddenly, something made his chest clench and he could mentally hear the cries of Diamond WEAPON. Whoever had been sent to destroy him was successfully doing it.
"I don't want to end up the same way," Zack whispered. "It may be the way of the planet…hell, it might even be your destiny, but it sure ain't mine."
He waited out there for a long time until the cries of WEAPON fell deaf against his ears. No one else could hear them.
But he could.
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Uh…yeah. So Zack's a WEAPON, which explains the reason he was able to survive past the Shinra attack. Hope it's not too anticlimactic for some. The idea of Zack being a WEAPON has been in my mind for years, and I finally thought I'd try my hand at it. Anyway, please RnR and let me know what you think, but please don't judge me too harshly. I'm trying my best at being somewhat realistic here. Heh…heh…
ML
