The Price of Freedom: A Hero's Sacrifice
Chapter 2: Simulation
"Wings symbolize freedom for those who have none…"
"So, a Turk, huh?" Zack set his tray down on the table in front of Cissnei before sitting down, "You new or something? I haven't seen you around."
"Yes, I'm new. I'm going to be the liaison between SOLDIER program and the Turks. It's something new that Tseng thought up, in order to increase the productivity when we have joint operations."
The SOLDIER stopped with a hamburger halfway to his mouth, "Oh, nice. Does that mean I'll be seeing you around a lot? Making our two groups play nice with each other?"
Cissnei smiled, this was almost too easy. The man was practically writing the script for her. "Of course. Why do you ask? Looking forward to seeing me more?"
She was rewarded with the man almost choking on his food, and he hit his chest furiously, trying to swallow. It took a few moments to recover. "Ah, well, you know. I always thought Turks were a bit weird. It'd be nice to see one around that doesn't make me feel like I did something wrong."
"A bit weird? What makes you say that?"
"I don't know. I always feel as if I'm being watched when I see a Turk poking around. Like a cop, I guess. I always feel guilty even though I didn't do anything."
If only he knew. A pang of remorse gnawed on the edges of Cissnei's stomach, but she pushed it down. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. I'm here to promote us working together. You'll probably be seeing a lot of me in the next couple days. Especially with recent events, it's important that SOLDIER and Turks learn to work together smoothly."
Cissnei knew she had erred when his face fell. Had he really been that close to the defectors? The SOLDIER went from a smile with vibrant eyes to looking but not really seeing her. It was if a part of him had died. The pang grew, but she continued to ignore it.
"Interesting company you keep, Zack." The two of them jumped and she immediately recognized the silky voice as Sephiroth set down his tray next to Zack. "Care to introduce me?"
"Ah, well, um, Cissnei, this is—"
"Sephiroth." She finished, eying the man warily.
Zack turned to her with a questioning look on his face, so she elaborated. "His reputation precedes him." She said a bit more tersely than she wanted.
"Cissnei, hm?" Sephiroth looked amused. "Interesting name. Very appropriate."
Zack glanced suspiciously between the two and Cissnei was quick to interject before he could start asking questions. "Yeah, I like the name too. What about yours? Never heard of anyone with the name 'Sephiroth' before."
"My father named me, you'd have to ask him." The white haired man looked to Zack, "I don't have time to stay. Just stopping by to let you know that after the class is over, you're to report to Director Lazard. Also, turn your phone on. I'm not his errand boy."
Zack at least had the decency to look a bit embarrassed as he pulled out his phone. "Oh, sorry. Guess I let it die again. I'll be there."
Sephiroth picked up his tray and left without another word, though Cissnei felt the heat of his stare. That man sent shivers down her spine. Something about him was fundamentally wrong.
"Cissnei? You alright?"
She jolted back to reality. "Hm? Yeah, I'm fine."
He laughed, "Don't worry. He just comes off like that. He's actually a good guy."
"I'm sure."
"Anyway," and Zack looked at his watch, "I got to be getting back. I'll show you to the office now, if you want?"
She thought about it. Overall, their first encounter had gone exactly the way she wanted to. It was espionage 101 that males generally had a soft spot for a woman in distress and waiting to run into him like that had been a perfect introduction. She should probably cut it off for today. The groundwork had been laid.
Cissnei's subconscious had other ideas, "I don't have to be there immediately. Mind if I see what you do? As a SOLDIER 1st class? I can always just go to the office when you have to. Plus I get to see your facility a bit more."
What the hell? Her mouth had betrayed her! Zack lit up though, and she noticed he had a tendency to tilt his head when he smiled. "Sure, we'd love to show a Turk what Shinra pays us for. Today is assault training, so it should be a decent show."
"Sure, I'd be interested in seeing that."
They threw away their trays and made headed back to the training room, making small talk along the way. Cissnei was a bit concerned when about halfway there, she realized she didn't mind the SOLDIER's company. In fact, she was enjoying the banter.
The notion picked away at her as the dual doors slid open to reveal several rows of SOLDIERs waiting patiently for Zack to return. Well, if anything, you could at least call them disciplined. "Sir!" they chorused in unison as Zack entered.
"At ease!" and Cissnei noticed an immediate change in demeanor in Zack as he addressed his men, "Today we're going to be sharper than usual. We practiced the basics and now we're going to apply them with a full simulation. Furthermore, the Turks will be watching us. Let's show them our SOLDIER honor, our SOLDIER pride!"
Cissnei felt the weight of many stares on her. They ranged from warily curious to openly hostile. It kind of annoyed her. Challenge accepted. She stared back, taking on the air of nonchalance as she crossed her arms. The room began to flicker as it slowly shifted to the training scenario. The air became thick and heavy with acrid smoke and a burning town came into being off in the distance. An overwhelming heat hung about, causing everyone to sweat immediately.
"Yo, Cissnei," Zack said, hefting his sword over his shoulder, "Pull up an observation screen and watch from here. This is how we make our money."
She nodded, "Computer, open up an observation screen for a non-combatant. Authorization code: T-0294. Password: Swan."
"Authorization granted. Notice: user is now invisible for the purposes of the exercise." A female computerized voice announced, pulling up a floating screen for her. Cissnei centered the view on Zack. He had a smile on his face.
"Alright men, as we practiced. Let's take this town!" There was a cheer and the charge was sounded.
The SOLDIERs sprang up from behind the sandbag wall, and the pounding of gunshots sounded in response, bright flashes coming from various hiding points of the town. The bullets whistled and Cissnei could see the sparks as the SOLDIERs used their weapons to block the hail of bullets. Green ripples of magic flared into existence, forming a barrier that protected them from any that got through.
One SOLDIER paid a brutal price, a bullet slipping through, spinning the man violently to the ground. Zack didn't break his stride, summoning an explosion of earth to make an impromptu wall for the wounded man as he continued to dodge and weave, clutching his wounded side. She thought it was an interesting defensive use of the Quake spell. Besides the one casualty, they reached the edges of town rapidly when a massive new combatant entered.
The groaning and creaking of metal joints announced the arrival of massive combat mech. The technical part of Cissnei noted that the robot was an older model, from before the Wutai war. It turned slowly, locking onto the front line of SOLDIERs, including Zack. A bright light beamed from the head, giving the surprised troops only a moment to react, and then it fired, sending a white hot lance of light that had them scrambling for cover.
They were pinned under a veritable storm of lead and with the mech anchoring the center of the defense, things were starting to look grim. "Alright, cover me!" Zack yelled over the din of battle, reaching up to unsheathe the massive sword on his back.
The black-haired man didn't wait for a reply, trusting in his comrades as he pushed out from behind the building he was using as cover. Immediately the fearsome mech turned its weapons and fired. A large prismatic shield, maintained by those around him, coalesced right as the laser struck. Zack's hair flapped violently, and the air itself seemed to sizzle, but beyond that, nothing the mech threw at him stopped his charge.
Cissnei watched, not even realizing she held her breath as the mech stepped forward to meet the SOLDIER, it's drill arm leading the way, whirring with deadly intent. A slight gasp escaped her lips as the man shifted his weight, the tip grazing within a mere inch or two. The green flicker of magic encircled the man and he gave the slightest of taps on the mech's arm as it passed. There was a screech of protesting metal as suddenly the arm became too heavy for the massive mech to hold up. A massive cloud of dust erupted as the arm hit the ground, pinning the robot in place.
Gravaga!
In response the head turned, trying to lock onto Zack with it's lethal laser. It flared brightly and Cissnei, despite the knowledge of it being only a training simulation, felt her heart leap into her chest. Lightning forked from the SOLDIER's hands, striking the mech square between the two slits that served as eyes. The shot went wide as he leaped onto the prone appendage, using the makeshift ramp to leap high into the air. There was a flash as the sword struck once. Twice. Three times.
Zack landed on the other side, one knee gently touching the ground before he pushed himself to his feet. Flickers of magic energy bleed as bullets rang off the shield that surrounded him. He calmly ignored it, sheathing his sword as the mech crumpled unceremoniously to the ground, nothing more than a smoking heap of trash.
Author's Blurbs: So, what do you think? Apparently I've been smothered with requests to release another chapter for my other story (the Bleach one), so I guess I'll focus on that after crapping this one out in the document editor of FF. Hopefully this isn't too bad grammar and such, mostly due to my distrust of the embedded spell/grammar checker. Review and such. Any awkward sentences, vernacular, non-canon responses, or incongruities would be appreciated if it bothered you. Oh, and I don't own this, so don't sue me.
Music listened to while making this chapter: Machinae Supremacy - I Know the Reaper; FF CC soundtrack - Price of Freedom; Blood Stained Child - Stargazer.