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.8 Infiltration
After I had gotten into the uniform of a Genesis copy Zack and I had split up, him heading for the cliff where Tseng was and me heading for the factory itself. As I walked I could hear Tseng in the earpiece I had beneath my helmet that he had given me. "Genesis's parents were in that grave," he said. I started and almost lost my composure, but couldn't. I knew that by now I was in seeing range of the Genesis copies on the roof, and if they noticed anything odd my cover was blown. "Wait, he... his own family?" I could hear Zack ask. "We can't expect reason from him. What about Angeal?" Tseng asked. I whispered "He wasn't at his mother's house. Just give us time, though." "Yeah! If we can find Angeal, we can talk to him. If one of can convince him to come back, maybe Genesis will as well," Zack added.
I could hear Tseng chuckle, and he said "I can see why Sephiroth chose the two of you." "Really? And why's that?" I asked. "Genesis and Angeal. Those two were his best friends. He didn't want to fight them. That's why he refused the mission," the Turk explained. "Well, Angeal is my friend too!" Zack said. "Agreed," I said. Although I couldn't see it, Tseng nodded. "He wants you to bring them back. Jace, have you made it inside yet?" he asked. "Almost," I said, standing before the doors. I raised my hand and knocked three times, and with a groan they slid open. Another clone stood on the other side, and said "What are you doing? We ordered all troops to return to headquarters a while ago." Thinking fast, I said "I ran into a group of Shinra operatives, and had to dispose of them."
I hoped the other copy would but my lie, and to my relief he nodded. "Very well." I did my best not to sigh, and said "Is it possible I could be stationed on the roof, just in case any more show up?" The copy was silent, thinking, before he finally said "I suppose so. Hurry though." I nodded and walked for the stairs, stepping onto the catwalk that went around the edge of the factory. On one end was an elevator, and once I neared it I climbed onto the roof. Upon my arrival the three copies there looked, and one of them said "What are you doing? We've got enough people up here to keep watch." I shrugged. "Boss's orders," I lied. While that didn't make them smile, it did convince them enough that they turned away. With that done I reached done for my boot, pulling out a combat knife Tseng had given me. If I used a gun, it would make too much noise.
Carefully I walked behind a clone before suddenly reached around and cutting across his neck, pushing him off of the edge. The other two clones shouted, but I stopped one by casting Blizzard and creating a sheen of ice over its mouth while I threw the knife at the other, hitting it in the center of the chest. The clone gasped and I ran forward. The clone with the frozen mouth tried to aim at me but I kicked its gun out of its hands, quickly moving behind the copy and breaking its neck. The last copy was trying to pull the knife I had thrown out of its chest, but then I grabbed the hilt of the knife and twisted. The copy began screaming, but then I ripped its helmet off, but then I punched it in the throat and ribbed the knife out, stabbing it into the copy's jugular vein.
While it fell to the ground in a fit of twitching and slowly draining blood, I turned towards the cliff and waved my arms. I saw Tseng and Zack stand and run for the edge, leaping the gap between it and the roof. Both of them landed and rolled to avoid the shock, standing. "Okay, let's get this done!" Zack said, grinning. I rolled my eyes and took off the helmet. "Can I have my weapons back?" I asked. Tseng handed me my guns and the belt with Potentia, which I wrapped back around my waist. I placed one of the guns in my pocket before saying "Ready to go loud?" The two of them nodded, and I shot the glass pane we were all standing on. The glass shattered and we fell through, landing with our knees bent to absorb the impact.
We happened to land right in front of a copy on patrol, who shouted and fumbled with his gun. Before it could aim Zack ran up and actually sliced the weapon in half, punching the copy in the jaw hard enough to knock him out. "Infiltration successful!" Zack said, smiling. We ran for the steps but we heard a voice call "What was that noise?!" before three more copies ran up onto the catwalk. We each took one and I target the one of the left, and shot it in the calf. While it dropped its gun and held that leg, I slammed the butt of my gun into the back of its head and the copy fell forward, sprawled cross the ground. Zack stabbed his target in the abdomen and then hit it with a Thunder spell, while Tseng carefully aimed and planted a single bullet in his target's forehead.
"Time is short. Let's go," Tseng said. We nodded and ran down the steps, seeing four more copies on the lower floor. I drew my other gun and fired, hitting one clone in the lung and heart. Zack spun in a circle and cut two others in chest, while Tseng shot and killed the fourth one. The two Zack hit tried to aim, but he killed one of them with Fire while I used Blizzard and dropped a chunk of ice on the other's head, knocking it out. We saw a doorway near the back on the left, and ran through. Beyond was a smaller room with a desktop computer, some papers, another set of stairs, and a strange pod-like device. The pod was empty save for a strange light green liquid which filled it. Tseng walked towards the computer and promptly hacked in, looking through both it and the papers.
"It looks like the copies are being made here. Check the second floor. Genesis may be there," he said. Zack and I nodded and walked up the steps. On the second floor was a room empty save for some metal pillars, and another pod. We walked forward, but the suddenly we heard a voice. It said "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest." From behind one of the pillars the owner of that voice appeared, revealing himself to be the missing SOLDIER 1st Class, Genesis Rhapsodos. I frowned and put my guns away, drawing my sword while Zack did the same while Tseng emerged from below. Genesis smiled, and said "Settle down, Jace and Zack the puppy."
Tseng stared hard at Genesis. "The grave at the house... There were remains of our people there as well." "It didn't take much to have them send false reports. Just some mild threats," Genesis said. "They would have done it anyway. At least your parents would have," Zack said. Remembering that helped supply fuel for my anger at Genesis. I had woken up on the edge of Nibelheim with no memories, no family, and no parents. Killing one's parents was, in my eyes, unforgivable. Genesis frowned. "My 'parents' betrayed me. They have always betrayed me, from the very beginning. What do you know?" Genesis demanded. He held his arm back forward flinging his hand at Tseng, firing a fireball. It hit the Turk and he flew back into the pod and feel to the ground.
I gripped my sword tighter and prepared to attack, when suddenly another figure appeared- Angeal. "Welcome, partner," Genesis said. "Angeal! Where have you been?" I asked. He said nothing, and raised his Buster Sword to point at Genesis. "I see... So you've finally made your decision. I'll respects your wishes, old friend," the other 1st said. He began to walk past Angeal, but stopped when they next to each other. "However... can you really live on that side?" he asked, before walking away. "Angeal!" Zack said, running at his mentor. But when he came close Angeal shoved him back, his expression stoic. I watched in shock, and watched as Angeal left as well. It was then that I remembered about Tseng, and ran over to him. "Tseng! Here," I said, and cast Cure.
The Turk groaned and stood, seeing that they were gone. "We have to leave," he said. Zack and I nodded and we all ran for the steps, heading back to the ground floor. Genesis and Angeal were nowhere to be seen. "Damn! Where'd they go?" I said. Tseng hit a button the side of the wall and the main doors began sliding open. A pair of monsters were on the other side and began charging when Tseng shot them. "There's no time. We have to leave now," he said. "We're not gonna look for those two?" Zack said. "All evidence of misconduct must be erased. Company rules. An airstrike will neutralize this town. Are you sure nobody is at Angeal's house?" Tseng asked. I gasped, as did Zack, and Tseng said "Hurry!" We both nodded and ran out, heading for Angeal's mother.
Along the way though, we were stopped by a pair of cannon shells, and I pulled out my sword to slash one in two while Zack did the same. I looked up at the top of the hill to see a copy standing at the top of the hill with a rocket launcher. "Nice try!" Zack said, and charged. I did as well, and another copy joined in so that they could fire one after the other. Zack and I swung and cut through the cannon shells they fired, but one did get close enough to Zack that it exploded before he could destroy it, and Zack was sent flying. "Zack!" I called, but then I was forced to focus back on the copies as one nearly hit me. Zack stood back up and shook his head, indicating that he was fine. We both kept running, and the closer we got the faster the copies fired.
Eventually we reached top of and Zack stabbed one of copies in the forehead, while I kicked the other in the temple, forcing it to black out. Our phones rang and we quickly answered, Tseng saying "I explained the situation and had them briefly delay the airstrike. That will buy you some time." "Thanks, Tseng," I said. "Those cannon shells were Shinra-made as well. You'll both be rewarded for destroying evidence of the company's involvement in this matter," he said. We both nodded and hung up, running for Angeal's mother's house. I tried to open the door but found it locked, and so Zack slammed into the door and forced it open. We ran in and I said "Mrs. Hewley! We have to leave; an airstrike is about to-" I stopped with a gasp, as did Zack.
Lying on the floor, dead and unmoving, was Angeal's mother. Standing next to her was Angeal, and I tried to process it. Angeal, the one SOLDIER member I actually looked up to, had... No, it wasn't possible. While I stood there in a daze, Zack's expression became enraged, and he grabbed Angeal, shoving him against the wall. "What the hell did you do, Angeal?! Is that... Is that your idea of honor?" he demanded. "My mother... could not continue to live. And neither can the son," Angeal said, not looking at Zack. That snapped me out of it, and I said "Just what is that supposed to mean?" From the doorway Genesis appeared. "I told you. You can't live on that side anymore," he said. Angeal grunted and grabbed Zack, using his superior strength to pull him off before walking out the door. "Angeal!" Zack said, and he ran after him. But Genesis stuck out his foot and tripped Zack, so he landed in the dirt outside.
"Angeal!" I called, but he kept walking. "My friend, do you fly away now? To a world that abhor you and I? All that awaits you is a somber morrow. No matter where the winds may blow," Genesis said, walking out. I knelt next to to Zack, and glared up at him. "I'm giving you one chance. Shut. Up," I said. Rather than be intimidated, Genesis smirked and said "I don't see Sephiroth today but... are you two game?" He spread his right arm and it flashed with light, that light turning everything white. He was summoning. When the light faded we were on a floating rock of dark brown, with smaller ones surrounding it. The wind howled as it blew in every direction, and far away I could even see small twisters appear and vanish. Zack stood and we both heard a roar, looking up. From below dropped the summon Bahamut, who growled at us.
And... I left you all with a cliffhanger! But don't worry, the fight scene will come, and with it everything we know that happens in Banora afterwards, so stay tuned!
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