Life Long Forgotten - The Price of freedom

Not knowing what was driving him, Zack pushed forward, fingers wrapping around handle of Angeal's beloved Buster sword, pulling the massive blade from the man's back. His strides long and confidant, the sword which should have been a challenge for him held easily in his hand.

Ignoring Angeal's and Genesis shouts, the young Third Class moved to stand between Sephiroth and Cloud. Eyes - much older than they had been only a few minutes ago- regarded the panicked blond in front of him.

"Spike.." The voice that spoke was older sounding, calmer, nothing like the normal hyperactive teenager.

Angeal made to go after his student but found his way barred by an arm, growling slightly he looked over to his friend, the growl dying in his chest seeing the look on his face. Genesis was watching the two, his eyes sweeping back and forth between the two rapidly. Something seemed to click in Genesis' brain.

While in the Village, everyone had noticed the similarities between Zack and Cloud, the young blond having many of the quirks and nervous habits the puppy had. When asked, Cloud would clam up and become an Emo chocobo about the issue, but seeing them directly across from one another...

They were identical, from their stance to the way they held their swords, even the slight tilt of their heads. The realization slammed into Genesis like a runaway Shinra express, Cloud was Zack!

Reno had told him one night when Genesis had inquired shortly after the blonds arrival, that when they saw Cloud again four years after his and Zack's escape he claimed to be a SOLDIER 1st.

Reno had found it strange, especially when he talked about being in the reactor with Sephiroth when he went nuts, but had brushed it off to the Mako Poisoning he suffered through. Now though everything was falling into place.

Sephiroth's mutations were virtually unknown compared to his and Angeal's, who says that through the Jenova cells Zack didn't imprint himself onto Cloud... which meant...

Genesis turned pale blue eyes back on the scene in front of him. Zack was talking Cloud down in a low enough tone he couldn't make out what he was saying. Sephiroth was standing back, his eyes showing his shock, whatever he had been expecting... a cadet with the Mako levels of a First Class had not been it.

Cloud slowly lowered First Tsurugi, blue eyes darting between Sephiroth and Zack. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the initial panic back, managing to calm himself down so that he was thinking rationally. Feeling the weight in his right hand he looked down and cursed quite colorfully, pulling on many of the words he had heard Tseng uttering over the years.

He had done the one thing he told himself he wasn't going to...

Well at least he knew he still had First Tsurugi and could summon her, problem was he summoned it in front of Angeal and Sephiroth... and Zack. Remembering that Rude's glasses had flown off Cloud cursed even more turning his eyes to Genesis.

Seeing those eyes turning to him, Genesis sighed dramatically and put a hand over his eyes. "This is why I was trying to keep this under wraps." He lowered his hands glaring at Sephiroth.

Feeling those eyes on him, Sephiroth looked over and flinched seeing the dark glare. Genesis' words from this morning running through his head 'that little blond cadet is someone we need to keep from Hojo at all cost.'Now it was starting to make sense, more than likely Cloud had been one of his subjects and had gotten away somehow. Sighing deeply he put Masamune away. "Genesis, you could have just told me he was one of Hojo's projects."

"Wait, what?" Both Cloud and Genesis said at the same time, each with equal dumbfounded looks.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes moving over to his lover and flicked his nose. "You could have saved yourself a lot of headache by just telling me, I'm not going to ship him back off to that monster." He was still confused about exactly what had happened to his lover, Tseng, and now Zack, the blond he could completely understand. Though he would be grilling Genesis about exactly how he had come across the little blond, and he would be investigating that sword. Now that he wasn't looking down the point, it was a beautiful blade.

Laughing Zack moved to Cloud's side and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

The minute he did it was like he was being electrocuted, pain flared across his body, a scream ripping from his throat as black overtook his vision once more.

Hearing the scream, the three SOLDIER officers whirled around, watching in shocked horror as both Zack and Cloud collapsed, respective swords clattering to the ground.

Rushing over Angeal dropped to his knees, hands instantly moving to Zack's throat feeling for a pulse. "Zack?" Looking the boy over he noticed the sweat beading his skin, his skin was feverish and his eyes were rolling in his head. 'This is the exact same as Genesis...'

Pulling his student up slightly, Angeal looked over to Genesis who was checking over his own charge, pale blue eyes wide as he met his.

Just what the hell was going on!

"Summons aren't meant to be used like this! What happened to dreams and honor."

"We...are monsters... we have neither dreams nor honor."

"Soldier, doesn't mean monster..."

" You want to make SOLDIER? Hang in there.."

"Embrace your dreams, and whatever happens, protect your SOLDIER honor."

"SOLDIER is like a den of monsters, don't go inside..."

"What happened?"

"I don't know man... I thought I knew but..."

"Hey Zack..I don't think I have seen you use that."

"This... Is a symbol of my dreams and honor...No, it's more... I had almost forgotten, thank you Cloud."

"Huh?"

"Sephiroth! why did you kill the townspeople? Why did you hurt Tifa? Answer me.. Sephiroth!

"Sephiroth! have you completely lost your mind?"

"Hey Cloud, I have to go to Midgar...Do you want to come with me?"

"Are you here, to take us back? Just walk away! I thought we could outrun the army, but the Turks are a different story."

"You were part of Hojo's new experiment, a modified version of Jenova runs through you."

"What? Seriously..."

"Your cells will be my gift of the Goddess, the degradation will cease."

"You're twisted..."

"The monster has been harvested and can be discarded."

"You're the monster."

"We, will all join the life stream... You are no exception"

"The planet has become my guardian"

"Oh man... The price of freedom is steep."

"You... will be... my living legacy."

Hearing a battle cry and thundering feet, Veld shook his head before returning to his paperwork. It wasn't very well known around Shinra as it would ruin their reputation, but the Turk office was a giant adults playground.

Hearing squeals and battle cries was an everyday thing, hell, it was a battle to get from his office to the break room for coffee, as nearly every time he left his office he was dodging nerf darts, water balloons, and the occasional paintball. He swore that his men just lay in wait for him to leave his office.

Hearing the office go completely silent was enough to pull his attention from the report in front of him.

Explosions, yelling, gun fire, cursing, laughter... were all normal and told him everything was alright. Complete silence, well, that was enough to put him on guard instantly. Pushing himself up from his chair he instinctually grabbed his gun, moving cautiously up to the door, cracking it just enough to look out.

Turks stood in various states around the main office area, several were holding water balloons, while a few others had super soakers. All of them though were facing towards the front of the office.

A frown pulled at Veld's lips, noting the looks on most of their faces. It was a mixture of shock and wonder, well that ruled out the fat ass walking into the room, or any of the other executives. Honestly, it would have shocked him if any of them got the balls to actually walk into the office, most of those fat cats were too damn afraid to come in, Reeve being the only one brave enough.

Now intrigued on what exactly had gotten this group to freeze in place, he stepped out of his office, only to freeze himself, his eyes going wide as they locked with brilliant glowing crimson.

"Vincent..."

A small smile crawled across Vincent's lips, he honesty hadn't believed Chaos at first when he woke up in his coffin once more. So he really was in the past... Veld was still Director of the Turks, his son was still alive, and sane.

"Verdot..."

Moving over Veld gripped Vincent's shoulders, eyes wide as he took his old partner and dear friend in. His hair was considerably longer and he was dressed completely in leather, but he looked exactly like he had the last time he saw him, well... aside from the bright glowing crimson eyes.

"My friend, how?" Even after all these years, hoping and praying that Hojo had been lying, that Vincent was alive, he didn't know what to say. Vincent took pity on his old friend gripping his shoulder in return, mindful of the sharp gauntlet. "It's a long story, one I do not wish every Turk to hear."

Getting the hint, Veld turned to his men and sent them all a glare before leading him back into the overly familiar office. How many hours had the two of them spent in here bullshitting and lazing about? Turning back, he regarded Vincent, for the first time since his disappearance his department felt whole once more.

AN: Well what do you know people.. my plot General has returned.. at least for this story lol.

Hmm who saw Sephiroth being understanding? I mean come on the man grew up with Hojo, this shit aint going to phase him. to think Genesis could have saved himself a lot of strife (bad pun i know) if he had been honest. And what is happening with the puppy! Also daddy Valentine is in the house!

haha yeah don't mind me.. Review people! you know i love them! they make me all warm and fuzzy and it makes Sephiroth all warm and fuzzy and not stab people.