Percentage of New Content:10

Chapter Six

Michael Androssy was, indeed, working late that night. He had returned to his office to discover a stack of paperwork nearly as tall as his desktop computer's tower hard drive. The company had been neglected by him over the weekend, when he had journeyed to meet with the Brotherhood.

The anti-Shinra organization had been plotting this secret attack for some time. They would stage a hostage situation in one of Shinra's buildings, and when the SOLDIERs arrived to deal with it, it would be seen to that at least one of them ended up poisoned. And even if the Brotherhood members were defeated, it mattered little, as long as they would be starting to take Shinra down with them.

It was only an extreme burst of luck that had sent them SOLDIERs' favored warriors, and though Androssy would have preferred to see Sephiroth poisoned, Zack Fair was just as good of a victim. Incidents such as this would start happening with more frequency, and as more of Shinra's SOLDIERs were killed, they would begin to fall apart from their depleting forces. Then the Brotherhood would launch their attack.

Androssy would see to it that he became the new leader of Shinra, though of course he would need to make the other members of the Brotherhood believe that they still had a certain amount of control as well. They would be little more than figureheads, and they would soon be disposed of, once their usefulness had been spent.

That was how he handled all such situations, stamping out the weak links. It was how he had risen to his high position in this business. And it was how Shinra would fall.

Across the room, the door opened, but the busy man barely glanced up. "Millicent, I already told you that you could go home. . . ." Honestly, that secretary was so diligent. He would have to keep her on once he took over Shinra. She would be useful then as well.

"Millicent went home."

The cold, male voice was not what was expected at all. He started, looking up at the powerful man coming towards him. The steely green eyes and silver hair were instantly recognizable from the train, and judging from the flicker in the orbs, the businessman had just been placed as well. So Sephiroth had figured it out? Well, that was only what was expected of Shinra's finest. Androssy had not thought to fool the other.

"You're dropping by awfully late," Androssy said, a half-smirk gracing his sharp features. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Why were you watching me on the train?" The deep voice was clipped and icy, sending a warning that he was not someone with whom to be trifled. That was, of course, something that many had learned the hard way in the past. But that was not a reason to be afraid now.

"Train?" Androssy said in a vague tone. "Oh, the Midgar train? There were lots of people to watch on the train. But undoubtedly one's attention will be drawn to those who are having problems. And you and your friend certainly weren't having an ordinary trip."

Sephiroth was not impressed. "What's the Brotherhood?" he demanded. It was obvious that this man knew exactly what was going on. His amused smirk said it all. And it only enraged the frantic SOLDIER.

"Brotherhood?" Androssy leaned back in his chair. "There's lots of 'brotherhoods' in Midgar, Sephiroth. You'll have to be more specific . . ."

He trailed off, his eyes widening as the tip of the Masamune was suddenly extended and aimed right at his throat. Sephiroth glowered at him, the hatred raging on his features.

"Is this specific enough?" The gloved hand tightly gripped at the hilt of the magnificent blade. "You knew that Commander Fair was going to be poisoned." Any doubts had fled his mind as soon as he had entered the office. This was not a wild goose chase. This man most likely had both the poison and the antidote, if not here, then somewhere else. Probably everyone in the Brotherhood possessed them.

"You won't kill me, Sephiroth," Androssy smiled, the name rolling off his tongue in a mocking manner. "You'll never save Commander Fair that way. Or maybe you know that you can't save him at all." He glanced to the clock. "He should be dying now, if he isn't a corpse already."

The eyes flamed, but the hand only continued to tightly grip the weapon. He would not give in. The monster was deliberately taunting him, and it would not be allowed. It would never be allowed!

"Give me the antidote, and I might let you live," he growled.

"I'd much rather be dead than to be spared by a SOLDIER," Androssy smiled. "Go ahead and stick the blade into my throat. I'm sure it will make you feel good. Though you might have a hard time explaining your outburst later on. That would be wonderful. Then my death would mean something."

He paused. "So will Commander Fair's. He always wanted to sacrifice himself for a good cause, didn't he?"

With his right hand, he began to reach for the handle on his desk drawer. The action did not go unnoticed.

Immediately the blade came down, aiming to slice into the extended hand. Androssy hissed in pain, feeling the blood start to spurt as the drawer fell open to reveal a gun. He jerked the container out all the way, and as it clattered to the floor, he ducked down and away from the sting of the katana. Grabbing up his own weapon, he reached up over the edge of the desk and fired.

Sephiroth dodged, bringing his sword up to block any future attacks. This was going to be difficult. He needed to keep the creature alive for now, in order to find the location of the antidote. But Androssy was not liable to talk. This had now become a time to fight. And he had been forced to go on the defensive.

Bullets flew around the room as the SOLDIER weaved and bobbed to avoid being struck. Several times the shots were deflected off his blade, and he saw them plunge into the floor, the desk, and even the plate glass window. It shattered, the pieces sprinkling out into the night.

One shard clipped him on the cheek. The blood was starting to drip from the slice, but it was hardly a matter of concern. Right now there was a momentary pause in the raining bullets while Androssy was reloading. And that was the time to strike.

He turned with stealth, going around the desk from the other direction. Then the sharp edge of the Masamune was brought directly against the treacherous neck. Androssy froze against it. And though his expression was unseen, it was most likely filled with either arrogant pleasure or a spark of apprehension.

"Are you keeping it in another desk drawer?" Sephiroth asked, his voice dark.

"Why don't you look for yourself and see?" Androssy returned. "Even if you find it, it won't do you any good. It has to be given when the victim has more than an hour to live. It takes a while to undo the damage the poison caused."

Was that true? Was Androssy just trying to get another rise out of him, or to make him wrongly believe the situation was hopeless? That was what he wanted to think was the explanation.

But it could be true. Maybe that was why Androssy was so smug. Maybe he knew that Zack would perish even if the life-saving substance was administered now.

It did not matter. Sephiroth would not believe that the antidote would not work, until he had tried it on Zack and witnessed its failure!

With care he shifted the sword to his right hand, enabling him to use the left to open the drawers beside him. It was a good thing he had been training himself to use his blade with his other hand, if need be. He was still not very good at it, but at least he could hold it steady without it feeling awkward to him.

The vials were in the middle compartment. They were the same size and shape, and the substances inside were the same color, but the printed labels told of the different contents. He grabbed them both, shoving them into his pocket. He would let the doctors determine which was the correct one. Right now he did not have the time to figure it out.

The sword was transferred to his left hand again before he drew it away. "I should kill you right now," he said, his voice dangerous. "I know your kind. Even if I take you captive, you won't say anything and your incarceration will be a waste. And you'll probably kill yourself." He took a step back. "I don't have time to deal with you right now." It was unprofessional. It was unbecoming of a SOLDIER. But he did not care. If he took the time to subdue this man and drag him back to the base, Zack would almost certainly die. And that was the only thing that mattered to him right now.

"You won't have time to deal with anything!" Androssy retorted. Sephiroth would not get away so easily! Without warning he brought up his gun again, pulling the deadly trigger.

There was no time to dodge. The Masamune was brought up immediately, catching the bullet and sending it right back at the shooter. It caught him between the eyes.

For a moment, Androssy froze again, in shock. Then a sick smirk graced his features as he slumped back to the floor, dead.

It had all happened in a matter of seconds. Slowly the blade was lowered. That was what happened to people like that—their plans would backfire on them. It was not a surprise. And Sephiroth was not certain what he felt about it. Even after only knowing Androssy for a matter of moments, Sephiroth hated him. Obviously he had played a part in what had happened to Zack. It was outrageous.

He turned, his hair flying out around him. It was time to go back to the base and see if Zack's life could still be saved.

In his heart, he prayed that it could be.

Fighting for his life had long ago become an endless struggle. Somewhere in his subconscious, he knew that he was dying, just as Angeal had told him. His body was giving out on him. But come on! He had to hang in there! He had promised Seph. . . . And he did not want to die. He wanted to live. He had to keep at it.

The poison was a vicious foreigner in his body. He attacked it, and it attacked back, and though they were weakening each other down, it was largely a case of who would succeed first. He was so tired by now. . . . But it was tired too. He could never let up. He had to keep assaulting it while he could.

Every now and then he could hear voices echoing from somewhere around him. Sometimes it was Angeal. "You can do this, Zack," he said. "Sephiroth's coming with the antidote. You have to hang in there, for him, for yourself, for everyone who cares about you. It's not your time to die."

And he was sure doing his best! Having Angeal there to encourage him was really helping to buoy him up, too.

Once or twice he heard Seph, demanding for the doctors to do something."Zack's doing all that he can. You have to help him to live! Letting him die is not an option!"

Zack smiled slightly to himself. Seph could be very commanding, when he wanted. And that was a good portion of the time.

He also heard the doctors' replies. "We're doing everything we can, as well, General. The rest is up to Commander Fair." And there was an uncomfortable pause. "The antidote might not be enough to stop the poison by now."

Antidote . . . ? Was that what this other overwhelming force was that had plowed into his form? It felt like it all at once might take out the poison, and himself along with it. Or was he feeling the poison fighting back? He was caught right in the midst of the combat. They were battling over him, and over which one of them would take control. And he wanted to join in as well.

Off in the distance there was beeping, frantic and speedy and always the same frequency. He should know its source . . . he had known it, but now it was escaping him. What was that? Now the voices had come back as well, calling to each other with concern.

"We're losing him!"

"Get the crash cart!"

"Keep fighting, Zack!"

Angeal again. . . . Seph was not allowed in the room while this was going on. And that must be making it all the more distressing for him. Poor Seph.

. . . But how come Angeal could be there? Oh yeah . . . it was just in his head, right? It seemed so real. . . .

A gasp of pain left his lips. The poison and the antidote, in their vicious battle, were both becoming all the more insistent.

Now there was one long, endless beep.

"You have to hold on, sir! Please, just a little longer!"

"Clear!"

"Go back, Zack! You have to go back!"

Were they talking to him? He was still holding on! Did they think he was . . . Hey, ow!

The electricity coursed through his body once, twice. . . . Each time, the pain was acute. But he was not dead! They did not need to do this. If he could just force his eyes open and let them know . . . !

The beeping started again, slow, methodical, and boring.

Right then, his eyes flew open, almost involuntarily. Everything looked so fuzzy and blurry. . . .

"Commander Fair?"

"Can you hear us, sir?"

Yeah, but he could barely see them. And words did not want to come out of his mouth. He was too worn out.

"He's giving a weak smile! He hears us!"

"His heart rate is starting to go back to normal as well."

"He'll be alright!"

"Just rest now, sir. You need it."

Boy, did he ever. His eyes fell shut again as he slumped back into the bed. Maybe now he could get some real sleep and let the antidote clear out whatever was left of the poison. And Seph would probably be there when Zack woke up again.

Would Angeal be gone then? He was still here now. His voice was echoing all around Zack, the last thing he heard before consciousness left him.

"You did good, Zack. I'm proud of you."