Tseng shoved Zack down to his knees. He unlocked Zack's hands from the cuffs that bound his wrists.
"Don't make me come back in here. Behave yourself," grumbled Tseng as he dropped the metal cuffs into the pocket of his crisp black jacket. Zack sneered at him, but inwardly he was grateful. His arm with the cast on had been aching terribly from being stuck in such an uncomfortable position for so long. He couldn't wait to get it off.
Tseng turned to face the President and bowed lowly. So low that his ponytail fell over his shoulder and brushed against the cold marble floor.
"Sir!" he said as he raised himself up, "At your request. Zack Fair. SOLDIER, First Class."
"Good work, Tseng. You are relieved," said the President.
"Sir!" Tseng bowed again and then turned to exit the office, leaving Zack alone.
President Shinra pressed himself out of his armchair and ambled around his massive desk. Zack had never seen the President in person before. For safety concerns, whenever he made announcements it was done on camera and broadcast over the television. He only made contact with the Heads of Department and that was only during weekly board meetings that were held in secret behind heavy, steel doors. The President had always looked stocky on screen but it was nothing compared to the real thing. He was huge. His three chins shook like gelatin with every step taken around the desk. White blond hair lay flat against his rotund head. The blood red, designer suit that the President wore had to have been custom made to make room for his ample waist. But it still seemed to be too tight. Zack saw the strain that the Presidents gut put on the shiny golden buttons that held the jacket together. They looked as if they could pop off at any moment.
The President came to a stop in front of Zack and glared ruefully down at him. Knelt before him, Zack felt impossibly inferior and small.
"I have questions, Mr. Fair," began the President, "questions that you will answer. It is in your best interest to cooperate if you want to get out of this building in one piece."
Zack rose from his knees. Standing at 6'2, Zack was at least a foot taller than the diminutive President. He'd had enough. There was no way he was going to let anyone threaten him. Not after everything he'd been through. The President's eyes grew wary but he held his ground.
"I don't take orders from the Shinra anymore. Too bad for you," said Zack, glaring down at the President.
President Shinra looked down and inspected his jacket for dust, seemingly unaffected by Zack's insubordination.
"I'm sure you have your own questions," cooed the President, returning his gaze to Zack, "Questions about your old friend Angeal perhaps. I may be willing to reveal some useful information in return for yours."
Zack's felt his heart contract at the use of Angeal's name. He'd been like a father to Zack. Thinking about him was painful, but he would have given anything to learn all he could about his mentor. "Alright. I'll answer your questions. But I have a few conditions," said Zack.
"You are in no position to bargain, Mr. Fair," boomed the President, becoming irritated.
Zack cracked his knuckles loudly. "Just because you've got guards hanging around outside, doesn't mean anything. I could kill you three times before they could even get through those doors."
"Preposterous! You are unequipped with a broken arm," snorted the President.
Zack cocked his head to the side and smirked. "Details. You forget. I'm First Class. Trained by Angeal himself. It would be unwise to underestimate me."
President Shinra opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself abruptly. His eyes blazed with anger and his plump cheeks grew red. Gotcha, thought Zack.
"We shall see what your worth is soon enough, Mr. Fair. But since you will not be swayed and my time is very precious, let me hear these conditions of yours so we can get on with it."
"I want my contract with Shinra terminated. Let's call it early retirement. And I want to be left alone. No Turks lurking in the dark or following me around. Got that?"
President Shinra stroked one of his chins in thought. "Alright, Mr. Fair. That seems reasonable considering the ordeals you have overcome."
"Damn right!" said Zack.
"Very well. It shall be done. Now on to my--,"
"One more thing!" blurted Zack, cutting off the President, "I want…I want the Turks to stop harassing Aerith."
The President looked over at Zack quizzically. "Harassing?" he asked.
"Yeah. They keep watching her at the church. I keep trying to figure out why. She's not a fugitive. She's not a resistance member. So why keep her under surveillance? The only thing I can think of is that Tseng's just a big pervert." Zack couldn't keep himself from smiling. He hoped Tseng heard him.
President Shinra looked pained. "Oh no, no. Aerith is a very important girl. She is the last of her kind."
"Her kind? What's that supposed to mean?" questioned Zack.
"It means she is of special blood, Mr. Fair. But I'll get into that a little later. As for your condition, you have my word that no harm will come to her, for as long as I am President of this Company."
"And the Turks?"
"I will reprimand Tseng for his lack of…tact. They will not bother her again."
"Good. Then we have a deal. Ask me anything you like," smirked Zack. President Shinra took a moment to compose himself, smoothing the front of his coat with his stubby hands.
"What happened to Sephiroth?" he asked.
Whatever composure Zack had managed to muster was gone now, shattered like a pane of glass. Every painful memory from Nibelheim that he'd hidden deep in his mind now came rushing back in full force. He sank back down to his knees, wishing himself back into Aerith's embrace.
"Did you forget our agreement already?" said the President.
Zack shook his head. "No…It's just…wait, don't you know? Didn't Hojo tell you?"
"I want to hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak."
"He's dead. Sephiroth is dead."
"You are sure?"
"Yes. I saw him fall into the mako reactor myself."
"I want to know exactly what happened. Every single detail."
Zack took a deep breath and launched into the tale. He told the President of the original order to inspect the failure of the mako reactor. How when Sephiroth had seen the monsters that were being brewed inside and his mother's name draped across the wall, he'd become berserk. He'd locked himself away in the Shinra mansion, pouring over report after report, trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding his birth. Sephiroth finally emerged from the mansions basement, but his mind had been warped by whatever information he'd found down there. He laid wasted to the tiny town of Nibelheim and set off for the reactor. Zack had followed after him, as well as Tifa, their guide, and Cloud who was devastated over the destruction of his hometown. Sephiroth was unremorseful as he tore threw them with his masamune and ripped open the door to the room that housed Jenova.
"So he was after Jenova…" grumbled the President.
"Yes. He managed to cut her free. But before he could finish the job, Cloud somehow managed to stop him. Sephiroth fell from the landing into the mako below."
The President cut Zack a sideways glance. "If that is indeed the case Mr. Fair, would you kindly explain to me why we have received several reports of Sephiroth being seen in Midgar recently?"
Zack's mouth felt dry. "That's impossible. Even the Great Sephiroth wouldn't have been able to survive a fall from that height much less the mako poisoning his body would have received," he choked.
"I beg to differ. Sephiroth is a legend. He is the closing thing this earth has to a living god. I find it hard to believe that a simple infantry man brought about his demise. Sephiroth is still alive. And I intend to seek him out."
"Why?!" exclaimed Zack, becoming exasperated, "Even if he somehow managed to survive, Sephiroth is mad! He'd kill you before you even saw it coming."
"Your concern is unwarranted Mr. Fair. Sephiroth and I are after the same thing. The Promised Land."
"What are you talking about? What's the Promised Land?"
The President lifted his arms above him. His eyes grew misty and distant, like he was recalling some beautiful memory. "A land of pure, untainted and infinite mako energy. A place where we'll never again have to worry about running out of mako ever again. The place where my new shining city will be built. Neo-Midgar."
Zack stared at him in disbelief. "Are you crazy? You're willing to find a murderous psychopath because of some stupid made up fairytale? What makes you think he'll even help you?"
"Ye of little faith. Professor Hojo has taken the liberty of bringing the Jenova specimen back with him from Nibelheim. If that's what you say is true and Sephiroth was truly after Jenova, our plan is already in effect. And if he wants her back, he'll have to cooperate."
"What!" cried Zack, jumping to his feet, "You brought that thing here!?" Alarmed, President Shinra snapped his fingers. But Zack moved quickly. He raised his good arm and brought his closed fist across the President's fat cheek. Blood and spit flew from his mouth, as he dropped down heavily to the floor.
The double doors behind Zack busted open and Tseng quickly made his way over, followed by two soldiers. Tseng dashed in front of Zack, creating a barrier between him and the fallen President while the other soldiers gripped both of Zack's arms and forced them behind his back. Zack groaned, the pain from his broken arm was unbearable and made black spots dance in front of his eyes.
"I told you to behave," spat Tseng. He curled his fist and punched Zack right in the gut. "And that's for calling me a pervert." Zack couldn't even respond with his charming wit. Tseng had knocked the breath out of him.
President Shinra was finally back on his feet. He leaned in close to Zack's face. "You'll pay handsomely for that. But you shall see that I'm right, Mr. Fair. Sephiroth and your friend from the church will lead us to the Promised Land. Whether they want to or not. They will grant us the gift of eternal energy. For they, the last descendants of the Ancients, are the only ones who can."
"Go…to hell," gasped Zack. He tried to break free from his restraints but the pain in his arm was blinding. He felt unconsciousness creeping over him.
The President looked over at Tseng. "Take him away and lock him up. Professor Hojo may do what he pleases with him. He is of no use to me anymore."
"Sir," said Tseng. Zack felt two more pairs of hands latch on to him and drag him back towards the exit. Just as he was pushed through the door, Zack heard the President speak once more.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Fair. Enjoy your early retirement…in our lovely prison cells." And the heavy doors swung shut, cutting Zack off from the President and any hope he had left for freedom.