"There is no hate, only joy; For you are beloved by the goddess."
Angeal stirred, fingers twitching against the rough cotton of his infirmary blanket. Genesis's smooth voice helped anchor him in awareness this time. Every inch of him throbbed painfully. He had not felt this bad in a number of years, but he was awake.
Goddess help him, he was awake.
"Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds."
He could feel the tears prickling behind his closed eyelids and drew in a deep breath to try and keep them at bay. Angeal could feel Genesis's eyes on him, but his oldest friend was thankfully silent, giving him the time he needed to pull himself together. This moment of weakness would be all he could be afforded. Sephiroth and Genesis would need him. Zack would need him.
Zack. He knew rationally that his young protégé was the only reason he was not dead, but that did not stop him from being furious. Angeal had no idea what had possessed Zack to step into a fight that was obviously lost. The lunatic he had been fighting had put down a First with a whole squad of Seconds as backup. What did Zack think a lone Second could really do about it?
Angeal did not enjoy fighting, not the way that Sephiroth and Genesis did. The pair of them lived for the thrill of battle and the skill of a good opponent. Angeal saw his skills as the means to an end. He had been happier training Zack than he had ever been while leading a charge against an enemy. Either of his friends would have been in their element in Mideel. Maybe that was why he had lost.
When Sephiroth had asked him to take the mission, he had said that they needed the cooler head that Angeal could offer. The situation was tricky and would benefit from his careful observation. It would be too easy for Genesis to lose himself in the fight and the President would not allow Sephiroth out on a mission that was more than a day from Midgar. Probably because he knew that Sephiroth would not return until the threat had been dealt with.
He had told Sephiroth that he was going to bring Zack with, but to omit his name from the mission roster. As a Second, it would be easy enough for Zack to slip into the transport without anyone being wise to it. Without an official record, he would have the freedom to report back if things fell apart. If Shinra really had been behind the attacks, they would not know to look for Zack.
They had expected an ambush. They had not expected to be massacred by one lone swordsman.
Angeal had never had a fight like that in his life. He, Genesis and Sephiroth often pushed each other to the ends of their endurance, but no training could prepare you for a life or death fight. The blonde had been too fast and too skilled. He had strength that far surpassed anything Shinra had to offer. Angeal had never stood a chance, especially after the fighter had hit his limit break.
It had been brutal, the way the blades had cut into his skin. Each wound came too quickly to recover from. No matter which way you tried to dodge, there was another blade waiting. He had avoided the final attack by sheer dumb luck when he flinched at the sight of Zack in his peripheral vision. Before that, he had fully expected his opponent to land the killing blow.
The blonde's reaction to Zack made no sense, but it did confirm the thing that he and Sephiroth had both suspected since Shinra had refused to allow Sephiroth to suspend Soldier missions. The swordsman had admitted to having access to the mission rosters when he told Zack that he wasn't supposed to be there.
The only missing piece was what specifically kept Zack safe.
"Alright, that's quite enough brooding, Angeal." Genesis's voice was still soft, but stern, "Open your eyes and let us know that you still possess all your mental faculties."
With a groan, Angeal did as directed and opened his eyes. At some point, Zack and Sephiroth had arrived. Or maybe they had always been there and had been content to listen to Genesis read Loveless while the waited for him to wake. Genesis gave him a small smile from the seat he occupied beside him. Sephiroth leaned against the wall at the foot of his bed, looking exhausted but relieved. Zack stood on the opposite side of the bed from Genesis, grinning at him like he was not lying in the infirmary.
His eyes were too bright. Angeal groaned and let his eyes shut again. The situation must have been worse than he realized if they had promoted Zack to First while he was unconscious.
Just how long had he been out?
Angeal forced his eyes open again, "I want out of this bed."
"Good." Sephiroth said, a small smirk on his lips, "You've been in it for far too long anyway."
When he pushed himself up on his elbows, Genesis and Zack leaned forward to support him. Zack squeezed a shoulder, "Easy there, Angeal. Let us help you up."
"Don't strain yourself." Genesis added.
He wanted to be caught up on what had happened after he lost the fight in Mideel. He wanted to know what was so bad that Sephiroth and Genesis would promote his student without waiting for his consent. He wanted a decent meal and to be away from the company that would have been glad to see him dead.
Angeal accepted Genesis's help to stand as he swung his legs to the floor. Sephiroth handed him a spare uniform and the three headed for the door to give him the privacy to change. He doubted the doctors would let them go so easily, but in the end it would not matter. Too much had changed for Angeal to feel comfortable enough to stay in a Shinra infirmary for any reason.
He could hear Sephiroth commanding the doctor to stand aside as soon as he opened the door. No one argued with that voice. In the waiting room, Sephiroth stood ignoring the doctor's attempt to convince him to leave Angeal behind, any hint of fatigue hidden behind an imposing mask. Genesis stood on his left looking as he usually did, bored and self-assured. Zack had taken up a position behind the General's right shoulder. His usual easy-going smile now had a hint of steel behind it. He looked like he belonged, no longer just Angeal's student. Angeal easily fell back into place at Sephiroth's right hand.
The doctor looked on helplessly as the four of them strode out of the infirmary without a backwards glance.
Angeal forced himself to move without letting on how stiff he felt. They needed to look unbroken and in control. He tilted his chin up and shoved down the part of himself that wished he had never woken up. His pride and honor as a Soldier would not allow that kind of weakness now that he was on his feet again.
They moved swiftly through the building, tying up loose ends so they could be gone for the rest of the afternoon. They retrieved weapons from Genesis and Sephiroth's offices. Angeal was surprised when Zack disappeared into his own room to retrieve the Buster Sword along with his own sword.
Zack had only shrugged as he turned the blade over to its rightful owner, "Carrying it was as good as having you around to keep me in line. It weighs enough that I couldn't ignore it if I wanted to. I probably would have been better behaved if you had made me carry that as part of my training. It's like having your worst glare following me around."
It was just the sort of thing that Zack would have always said, but there was a hidden subtext that was new. Angeal grinned and squeezed Zack's shoulder in apology. He had been forced to do the last of his growing up too quickly since Mideel and Angeal had forced him to do it alone.
No one stopped them when they requisitioned a car, although Sephiroth eyed the troopers on security detail like he hoped that they would. Instead of stopping at one of the restaurants they often frequented when they needed to discuss something privately, Zack hurried into a Wutaian take-out place to pick up their to-go order.
The trip out to the wastes was faster than was probably safe, but Sephiroth's reflexes allowed him to handle the vehicle with ease at any speed. They left the car on the road and continued up the path into the hills. There was a flat patch at the edge of a cliff where they could watch for anyone who might follow them from Midgar while they ate.
Zack collapsed to the ground with a growl, "I don't know how you guys put up with this. I feel like everybody's staring at me."
"Years of practice." Genesis replied with a snort, "It will be easier now that we can actually do something."
"Bring me up to speed." Angeal said, sitting cross-legged on a boulder and ignoring the way his lingering wounds pulled, "Why is Zack a First? How long have I been down?"
"It's been a week and a half since the mission in Mideel." Sephiroth replied as he passed food around, "I recommended him for promotion after he brought you back."
Genesis knew the guilty look on Angeal's face too well, "We made sure he understood what he was getting himself into."
"It was my choice, Angeal." Zack added quietly, "I'm not just going to sit back and see what happens next. I'm going to help."
Angeal nodded and tucked into his food. Zack was a grown man who could make his own choices. Between mouthfuls he said, "I'm sure you've all realized that Shinra is behind this."
"No, we just thought the wastes made for a nice view during dinner." Genesis replied tartly, "We rushed you out of bed, just so you could enjoy it with us."
Angeal dug out a piece of broccoli with his chopsticks and threw it at Genesis. The redhead caught it neatly in his mouth. They all chuckled briefly before Angeal started again, "I'm sure Zack told you what happened. The guy knew that Zack wasn't supposed to be on the mission. Someone from Shinra is feeding him information. What do we do?"
"It is an unfortunate thing." Sephiroth said, somberly. He looked down into his carton of food with a sigh, "With things being the way they are in Wutai, not to mention all the trouble here, we are dangerously short staffed."
Zack crammed a vegetable roll in his mouth to keep from laughing. Even Genesis was failing to keep a smile at bay. Angeal arched an eyebrow at the Silver General, "Oh?"
"Until Shinra can guarantee their safety, every First Class Soldier, excluding myself, has refused to take another mission." Sephiroth glanced at Angeal slyly, leaving no question in Angeal's mind of who might have reminded the Firsts of their right to refuse missions, "Of course, this has caused insubordination in the ranks. You would not believe some of the things that have gone on. Nearly every Second Class Soldier is awaiting a disciplinary hearing."
"Even with Gen and I helping, it's nearly impossible to see everyone." Zack added, grinning mischievously, "Especially since they have to take the time to walk me through the process."
Genesis snorted, "Honestly, Angeal, your student is so dim. I can't imagine how you ever taught him anything. We've been over the meeting structure a dozen times and he still gets it wrong."
"I'm doing my best!" Zack said in a voice so insincere that Angeal could not help but laugh.
"Without Firsts and Seconds to lead the Thirds, we've hit a standstill." Sephiroth finished, "No one has been out on a mission in a week."
Angeal stared at his three dearest friends with disbelief, "I can't believe none of you has been killed yet."
"We've been keeping together for safety's sake." Zack admitted, "No one spends too long alone and we've all kept a close eye on you. The noise the Seconds have been making is enough to remind Shinra that Soldier is like a chocobo and without a head it would run amok leaving a trail of blood behind."
"Shiva's bright eyes, Zack, we're eating here." Genesis said, scowling at the dark haired young man over his carton of food, "That's disgusting."
"But apt." Sephiroth added.
Angeal forced his friends to focus, "So who is this guy?"
Sephiroth and Genesis shared a look. Surprisingly, it was Zack set aside his food and reached for a bag he had brought with him out of his room, "Alright. I have a theory. It's completely insane, but I can't come up with anything else. I wanted to wait until Angeal was up before I mentioned it."
He pulled out one of the green folders that housed the paperwork of a cadet. Angeal's eyes widened as Zack held out a picture of the man who had nearly killed him.
"This is Cloud Strife. He was born in Nibelheim and is currently a fifteen year old cadet." Zack handed the picture over to Sephiroth, so he and Genesis could look it over, "The man that Angeal and I fought was older… probably almost thirty… but that was definitely him."
"Father?" Sephiroth suggested, studying the photograph.
"This isn't just a good resemblance." Zack said, "This is same person and same person. I was walking the cadet floor a couple days back and saw his hair from behind. I didn't realize that it wasn't the same guy until I confronted him."
Genesis growled in frustration, "You saw what you thought was a dangerous Soldier killer on the cadet floor and engaged him without backup?"
Zack folded his arms across his chest defensively, "I was afraid I'd lose him. If anything started, you all were in the building. You would have been there in plenty of time to back me up."
"That's why I've been holding off on promoting him." Angeal said, as if Zack had not spoken, "He's got the skills, he just isn't mature enough to think before he jumps in with both feet."
"This is not the time." Sephiroth said, ending the argument before it could begin, "Obviously, this Cloud Strife is not the same person who fought the two of you."
"That's where my crazy theory comes in." Zack drew in a deep breath and let it out with a rush, steeling himself, "I think he grows up to become the guy who has been killing Soldiers."
They were all silent a moment before Genesis rolled his eyes, "Time travel?"
"Really, Zack-"
Sephiroth held up a hand to keep Angeal from scolding Zack, "There were scientific theories on materia that were explored some time before the Soldier program was ever imagined. One of those was that certain combinations of materia, used under very specific conditions, could effectively alter the fabric of time. The theories were dismissed as useless when they realized that humans would not be able to withstand the strain that such a casting would cause."
Zack perked up, "That might not be a problem with a Soldier… especially with as powerful as this one seems to be."
"This is insane." Genesis muttered, cradling his head in his hands, "You're telling me this… boy grows up to manhood, becomes a First Class Soldier, and then comes back to kill other Soldiers?"
"Or maybe some very specific Soldiers." Angeal said, "What if the early missions were just to draw us out? Once he saw me, he wanted nothing to do with my squad. I think he would have left them alone had they not attacked him. For some reason, he has a deal with Shinra to take us out. For some reason, Zack's safety was part of the deal. When Zack showed up, he let me live to show Shinra that he was the one making the rules."
"So what do we do?" Zack asked, "I mean, we've got to stop him!"
Genesis shook his head, "I still don't believe it could possibly be time travel. That's ridiculous."
Sephiroth stood, handing the photo back to Zack, "Regardless, we have to find him. We will try to figure out his purpose, talk to him if he will and kill him if he won't. We will wait until Angeal is back on his feet and spend time helping Zack get acclimated to his new strength. Once we are ready, Genesis will accept a mission and then we can take the place of his squad at the last moment. With any luck, this Strife will meet us at the mission site and we can end this one way or another."
"Don't wait on my account." Angeal protested, "I'm more than capable."
"Yeah!" Zack agreed, jumping eagerly to his feet.
Genesis scowled at Angeal and poked a spot over his ribs where a nasty cut was still healing. Angeal grunted and curled in on himself. Sephiroth gave them both a withering look, "Neither of you are any good to us if you are not prepared. We have time before Shinra will press us to resume missions."
"So you will heal up properly." Genesis said, nudging Angeal as he stood up and strode toward Zack, "…and you will train. Pick up your sword."
"Do not wear yourself out completely." Sephiroth warned Zack, seeing the anger burning in the younger man's eyes as he glared at Genesis, "Once he has finished with you, you will fight me. Neither of us will go easy on you. It is time you learned some control."
Angeal let out a chuckle that sounded more like a wheeze, "May you both have better luck than I had."
Zack looked away, embarrassed by the low opinions of the Soldiers who had all ushered him through the ranks. Genesis sighed and said, "We each have weaknesses, Zack. The important thing is to accept them and learn to work around them."
"Preferably before they get you killed." Angeal said, voice grim as he ran his hand over the throbbing wound at his side.
"Enough talking." Sephiroth moved to an angle where he could better observe the fight, "Let's begin."
Zack nodded took up a defensive position across from Genesis. The redhead drew his hand along the blade, making fire dance along its edge, before charging Zack in the first round of many.