Author's Note: I do not own Final Fantasy or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.
Ch.7 Banora
After Angeal disappeared nothing noteworthy happened around Shinra for a month. During that time Zack and I were forced to take on assignments without him. We were capable, but even I had starting seeing the 1st Class operative as a mentor. Having him and his stoic presence there helped to keep things calm. And when it came to Zack, being calm was happening less and less often these days. Speaking of which... I was sitting on a couch and going through my usual routine of cleaning and inspecting my weapons while Zack stood next to me. "Man, what is with Angeal? How long is he gonna slack off like this? It's been a month now! Sephiroth's got it all wrong, too! Lumping Angeal together with Genesis! Genesis is a deserter who took a bunch of 2nds and 3rds with him!
"He used his copies to attack us! Angeal would never condone something like that! He valued his SOLDIER honor more than anyone else! Ugh! Everything's so messed up these days! Angeal! Just come back, please!" he ranted. Once he was done did I finally look up, saying "Well, what do you plan to do about it?" He stopped, crossing his arms. "Well, to be honest, I don't know. I mean, I'd like to just go and look for him, but he could be anywhere, right?" he asked. I nodded, standing sheathing my sword. "Exactly. So until we've looked everywhere, there's no need to get upset," I said evenly. Zack blink in surprise and looked at me, unsure of what to say. He was spared by the ringing of both our phones, which we pulled out. On the other end a voice said "SOLDIER 2nd Class Zack, Turk agent Vallis?"
"That would be us. May I ask who's calling?" I said. Instead of answering, the voice said "Director Lazard wants to see you. Come to the briefing room." Then the call ended, and Zack said "Hey! Wait! Who was that?" I shrugged, putting my phone away. "I haven't the faintest idea. Maybe if we go to the briefing room we'll found out," I said, and I began walking. Zack followed me, and once we made it to the room we saw the Director sitting at the desk, and leaning against a side-table was Sephiroth, a phone in hand. Well, that answered that question. "Ah, good. You're both here," Lazard said. "Any word from Angeal?" Zack asked. The director shook his head. "He hasn't contacted his family, either," he said. I sighed and crossed my arms, saying "In that case, what did you want us here for?"
"A new assignment. I want you both to go to the hometown of our missing SOLDIER 1st Class, Genesis," Lazard said. I raised an eyebrow, and Zack said "Huh?" "According to his parents, they've had no contact with Genesis whatsoever. However, they can't be trusted," he informed us. "Why's that?" Zack asked. I had a good guess, and it was confirmed when Lazard said "Because they're his family." I grunted; it made sense. When Shinra had first learned I could cast magic without materia, the people of Nibelheim had tried to keep where I was at the time a secret. They had failed obviously, but that didn't stop them from trying because they cared about me. As much as I hated to admit it, that might be happening here as well.
"I've already dispatched some some staff, but we've lost contact with them. I want you to go and investigate. He will accompany you," Lazard said, looking towards the door. We turned as it slid open, and a very familiar person walked in. "Tseng, of the Turks," he announced. Tseng stood as tall as both Zack and me, with black eyes and shoulder length black hair. A tilak was in the center of his forehead. I smiled widely, and called "Tseng! It's been a long while!" Said Turk allowed himself the smallest smile, nodding. "Jace, I see you're doing well. Is this your partner?" he asked. I nodded, and said "This is Zack. Zack, this is Tseng." They shook hands, Zack somewhat reluctantly, and Lazard said "Just notify me whenever you're ready."
We nodded and spent a short time readying our gear and, in Zack's case, materia. Once that was done we reported that we were done, and boarded the helicopter for the village of Banora.
As we flew to the village I looked over at Tseng. "So this is a routine job, correct?" I asked. "I'm not sure. Originally Sephiroth was assigned this mission, meaning it would be a top-priority matter. We have to be cautious, or we'll fail," Tseng said. "And Sephiroth?" Zack asked. "Refusing to go, apparently," the Turk answered. Zack looked at him, surprised, and said "For real? They spoil him too much." At that both Tseng and I chuckled, and Tseng said "Perhaps you'd like to tell him that yourself." "Uh, no thanks!" Zack replied, waving his hands nervously. I laughed and Tseng chuckled, and the helicopter flew the rest of the way. The village of Banora was actually different from what I expected. The spot where we were dropped off was a small circular area surrounded by grass, and leading towards the village was a dirt path shadowed by trees.
"Weird trees," Zack commented. I nodded. The color of their bark was white, and rather than stand straight the trees curved so that while the base of the trunk was on one side of the road, the end of the branches were on the other. "These are Banora White trees. AKA dumbapples," Tseng told us. I gasped as the realization clicked, and Zack said what I was thinking. "Wait, dumbapples? This was Angeal's hometown as well?" Zack asked. "That is correct. Angeal and Genesis have known each other for a long time," Tseng said. I nodded. The picture was grim, but it was starting to have more substance. If Angeal and Genesis had been friends, and Genesis deserted Shinra... could he have convinced his longtime friend to do that same?
Before I could travel any farther on that train of thought I was interrupted, several gunshots ringing out. Immediately I crouched and drew my own guns, and from around the bend in the road appeared three figures in very familiar uniforms. The ones that had looked like Genesis. "These guys! They were in Wutai too!" Zack said. The trio opened forced on us and we each ducked behind a tree. Tseng pulled out his own gun and turned off the safety. "So they are here. None of the staff sent before saw any of the townspeople. They may have taken control of the entire town. When Genesis deserted, he took a large arsenal of weapons with him. The president's orders are to retrieve or destroy these weapons immediately upon discovery," he told us. I nodded, and said "We'll take care of it!"
Zack nodded and we both burst from behind the trees, Zack charging while I gave him cover fire. By the time the enemy troops began to shoot back it was too late. Zack cast Thunder and fried one inside his uniform, while he stabbed another in the stomach. The last one aimed at him but I fired, planting a bullet in the side of its neck. All three of them feel to the ground, and only then did Tseng also come out from the tree. "Impressive. The two actually working together seems to be a positive thing," he commented. I knelt down and pulled the helmet off of one, confirming my suspicion. "A Genesis copy," I said. "Where did you hear that?" Tseng asked. "Sephiroth said it," Zack said. "The technology was stolen from our scientists. Apparently, it allows Genesis's abilities and traits to be passed to SOLDIER members... and monsters," the Turk explained.
I looked at him in surprise. "I hadn't heard about that," I said. Tseng made a small smile. Perhaps ever since they've partnered you with a SOLDIER operative, they didn't feel the need to keep you in the loop," he hypothesized. My jaw unhinged and I gaped at him, outraged. What?! Just because Zack was my partner they decided to hold out information? Bullshit! Seeing my expression Tseng quickly said "After this mission, I'll be sure to let them know it was unwise." I took a deep breath and said "Thanks." Behind me Zack was looking at the Genesis copy. "SOLDIER and monsters... we're the same?" he muttered, low enough that neither of us could hear him. We resumed walking along the path to the village, this time more cautious in case more copies appeared.
We made, and the first thing I saw was a giant house on a hill overlooking the rest of them. "Who's house is this?" I asked. "This one belong to Genesis. His parents were wealthy landowners," Tseng said. I thought about for a second, before yet another piece clicked. I looked at the house, and Angeal's words resonated in my head. "But I never stole from that tree, because the wealthy man's son was my friend." As if he knew my thoughts, Tseng said "They weren't just mere acquaintances. They grew up together, and were best friends." "So Genesis deserts and gets his best friend Angeal to join him... is that it?" Zack asked, frowning. "Sephiroth believes that's the case," Tseng said. I nodded grimly. It did have an undeniable sense of logic.
I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, and turned to look at tree near the edge of the hill. "Is that what I think it is?" I asked. Zack and Tseng followed my line of sight to see the object sitting at the base of the tree. Tseng walked in front of it and dropped to one knee. "Yes, it's a gravestone," he said. I sighed; so I had been right. "Is it new?" I asked. "Relatively so. Zack, Jace, go find Angeal's house. I'll check the grave," Tseng said. Zack's lip curled, and he said "Ugh. So Turks always do this stuff?" "Well, someone has to," I said, looking at him. "Must be tough," he said. Tseng smiled. "Don't worry. We're paid much better than you are," he revealed. "What? No way!" Zack said, before looking at me. I nodded. "Much better," I repeated for emphasis.
Zack stared at me as I passed by, and after a second he followed. Once we arrived at the main part of the village was that there were several houses arranged in a circle, all looking exactly the same. Rather than try and figure out which house was Angeal's Zack decided to simply search every one of them. I rolled my eyes and did the same, until we both knocked on a house near the back. "Come in," we heard an elderly female voice say. We both looked at each other- that wasn't Angeal. That was the only other voice we had heard in the village though, and so we walked in. Sitting at a table was an old woman with dark hair, and the same eyes as Angeal. "Can I help you?" she asked. While Zack was fumbling over his words, I stepped forward. "Afternoon, ma'am. Are you by any chance Angeal's mother? Our names are Jace and Zack," I said.
The woman nodded to my question, and said "Are you Zack... the puppy?" I frowned, and Zack said "Excuse me?" She laughed. "My son wrote to me once about you. Zero attention span, restless as a little puppy," she said. Zack rolled his eyes, muttering "Oh, thanks, Angeal." "You're not here with Genesis... are you?" she asked. I shook my head. "No, ma'am. You don't need to worry," I assured her. "What is happening with my son?" she asked. "I'm not really sure," Zack said, crossing his arms. Angeal's mother hung her head sadly. "Genesis came back here, a month ago, with an army of cohorts. And they proceeded to take the lives of many townspeople. Genesis... he used to be such a good boy..." she said. "Is Angeal...?" I asked. She shook her head, and both Zack and I sighed with relief.
"He came here. But he left his sword and went somewhere," she said. She looked, and saw that lying behind the door was the Buster Sword Angeal always carried. "That sword represents our family's honor," she added. "I see. No wonder... Angeal never uses that sword, really ever," Zack said. I nodded, and looked at her. "We'll take care of Angeal, I promise. You should go and hide somewhere," I said. "Don't be concerned. Genesis... cannot harm me," Angeal's mother stated, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. I looked at her, confused. She seemed sure though, and we couldn't make her leave by force. "Okay," I said, and Zack and I left. Outside we received a call from Tseng, and so we both answered. "There is a factory on the outskirts of town. I saw a Genesis copy go inside," he said.
"You think it's their headquarters?" Zack asked. "Most likely. But there is also a group of them watching the roof, ensuring no access through there," the Turk said. "What do we do then?" I asked. "Simple enough. One of you must find a copy, take it out, and steal their uniform. Once that's done, you can sneak in and take out the guards on the roof," he said. I nodded, before I realized Zack was looking at me. My eyes widened, and I said "No way. I am not going in there in a disguise that could get blown as soon as I take off my helmet!" "Come on, Jace! You know I stink at acting calm and collected, and Tseng said that one of us has to do it!" Zack said, showing eyes as huge as if he actually were a puppy. I sighed; he was right.
"Fine. Tseng, I'll be the one wearing the disguise," I said. "Good. I'm on a cliff overlooking the factory. Once you are ready, meet with me there," he said, and hung up. Just then a pair of copies sprang from either side of the house, firing at us. I shouted and rolled forward while Zack ducked. He shot a Fire spell at the feet of one while I shot at the other, hitting it in the knee. Both of them feel to the ground, and I picked the one with the shot knee. I ripped off its helmet and said "Sweet dreams" before I slammed the butt of my gun against the side of his head. The copy's eyes rolled into his head and he went limp, unconscious. "Great. Now, help me carry this guy," I said, hooking by arms through the copy's. Zack grabbed his legs and we carried the body to one of the empty houses, dropping it in. I stripped the body of its uniform and went into the bathroom, putting it on over my suit.
Once I had finished lacing the boots I stepped out, putting the helmet one. Zack whistled. "Man, if I hadn't known it was you I'd have thought you were an exact copy," he said. I nodded and said "Thanks" while handing him my guns and sword. While I was loathe to part with them, I had any extra weapons on me I could be made. We cast a Sleep spell on the real copy so it wouldn't wake up and ruin everything, and left the house. "Okay, now let's go met up with Tseng," Zack said.
The mission in Banora has begun, and we all know who appears at the factory. Can Zack and Jace make it inside? Read the next chapter to find out!
Please review! If you flame me Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)