A/N:
Oh my. This has been a long break. College seriously sucks. But luckily my reviewers don't :D thanks to
ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie, mom calling, Skyhanhunter, and vLuna.
I hope you all were patient :/
Disclaimer: FF= not mine.
"…a what?" Zack scratched his head in confusion, never hearing the term 'Ancient' before. Unless they want me to find a bunch of old people… "Are we doing some kind of charity work with the elderly?"
Lazard gave him a slight astonished expression before falling back into his chair. "No…and Ancient is a past race that became extinct many years ago."
"So…like some sort of furry animal or reptile thing?"
"No, Zack."
"Oh…then like a bird? You want me to check out the zoo…"
"Zack!" Lazard stood up from his leather office chair, looking incredibly annoyed. "Ancients are humanoids. They look exactly like every day people only they have special gifts."
"Oh?" Zack's blue eyes widened. "Like what exactly?"
Lazard handed him the file. "Report to Tseng and he will give you further instructions. I am not privileged to relay anything else to you. "
"Alright, Director. I'll make you proud!" Zack gave a slight salute and sped from the office, the file crumpling in his hand. He pushed through the newly crowded hallway, filled with rushing SOLDIERs and less elite Shinra troops. There was one SOLDIER in particular who Zack noticed straight away. "Hey, Angeal!"
The older, more experienced man looked at the young boy with uncertainty. "Yes, Zack?"
"…You're not too mad at me, right? For missing my earlier session?"
"Look, whatever you did last night, I don't want to hear about it. Just don't do it again." He stretched his arm to his back, his hand resting on the hilt of his giant sword. "You need to be more responsible, Zack. You almost made me regret putting in that recommendation."
Recommendation? "Angeal! You're the one who suggested I should be a First?"
Angeal nodded and continued down the hall. "Respect you honor, Zack. Don't forfeit it to partying."
Right, right. Now to find Tseng. Zack Fair hurried to the Turk's office, knocking softly on the door and straightening his back. Respectful. Be respectable, honorable. He opened the door, blue eyes not meeting the serious, black haired Turk. Instead, Cissnei was leaning on the front of the desk. "Zack?"
"Cissnei! Hey are you working on this mission too?" He had the urge to sweep back his bangs, but resisted. Focus, Zack. It's the key to making First. No distractions, only achievements. The young SOLDIER couldn't help but give a slight snicker. I'm beginning to sound like Angeal.
The girl simply nodded routinely. "And Director Lazard assigned you, Zack?" Her voice sounded a little surprised. "I mean, you are an excellent fighter but…" Cissnei held up her hands in guilt. "…oh nothing. I'm waiting for Tseng." Her face fell down in embarrassment
"No worries, Cissnei." He put an arm on her shoulder playfully. "And maybe once we finish the job today we can go have a celebratory."
She quickly shrugged him off, "Zack…"
"We won't be finishing in one night." There was a faint rush of stuffy air as the black suited Turk made his way into the room. Tseng held a thick folder in his hands, looking down at the muddle of papers in pure seriousness. "Cissnei, you are bring Zack to the location I have predetermined on where the Ancient can be spotted." He skillfully pulled out a piece of white paper and handed it to the girl.
"Yes, sir."
"Zack, you may want to change."
His eyes immediately furrowed at the Turk's statement. Zack glanced down. He was wearing the standard SOLDIER uniform; the only difference being the slight color change between him and other members. "…Into what exactly?"
"Something more civilian." Tseng flipped through the folder again and pulled out one paper. The SOLDIER immediately recognized the sheet. It was his mission briefing. Why is it so short? The professional looking document, equipped with Shinra logo and all, was only a mere paragraph. Zack was used to pages and pages of briefings, sentences filled with minor, discreet details and strategies.
But he took the paper gratefully. Such an important mission and all I have to do is…wait what? "…I need to become acquainted with the target?" Zack closed his eyes and opened them, thinking his late night…escapades may have distorted his vision. Nope…that's seriously what it says. "What do you mean?"
"Ancients are humanoids, with feelings, as far as we know, identical to our own. You are to gain the Ancient's trust and eventually find the location of the Promised Land."
Zack blinked, "Err sure."
"Just think of yourself like you're… undercover." Cissnei smiled lightly, "You'll do great. You're the most social person I know, and me and Tseng will be watching you."
Watching? Zack shrugged. "So when do we start?"
Tseng briefly glanced at his wrist watch and looked up, "Now."
He was a civilian now, simply a boy wandering through the street of Midgar, trying to meet new people. Tseng had already composed a cover story.
His name was still Zack; there was really no point in changing that detail. But he couldn't use the name Fair. Names could be traced back to the SOLDIER database. "Noct?"
Cissnei simply shrugged at his questioning stare. "Someone at Shinra Co. thought it'd be ironic." She handed him an ID and followed Tseng down the street.
They were in the slums, deep under the brazen metal plate of the town he was accustomed to. He was only really here once before and that was by sheer accident. But as they continued to walk deeper and deeper in the decrepit zone of Midgar, Zack found himself becoming more familiar with the surroundings. Hey, this is where…
Tseng stopped walking when they came to a larger section of the slums. Faint light was beaming out from the cracks of the plate above, making the area seem brighter than any of the other sections of the slums. The soft sunlight also magnified the monumental structure yards away from the three Shinra employees.
Aerith!
"Hey can I go really quick…"
"We're here, Zack."
The SOLDIER felt his body tense and freeze into place. No, no. He must mean one of the… But his thoughts stopped. There were no other houses around. Barely anyone ever came to this section of the slums, only her.
"Where's the…target?" He steadied his voice. Do they really think Aerith is…
The two Turks only pointed straight to the church. "Good luck, Zack. We'll just watch from a far and record her responses."
Great. His hands fell loosely in his dark washed jean pockets as his legs trudged his body forward to the building, conscious thought numbing his being. What are they going to do? Zack kept walking, picturing the girl in his head. She was so innocent, so happy in her simple disposition. Her white dress would brush the green and yellow edges of the flowers, unafraid of getting dirty and too vigilant to take notice of anyone else in the room. He remembered her soft hands touching his cheek, causing all of his physical pain from crashing through the roof to vanish in an instant.
He replayed the plan he originally had in his head. Hey, I'm Zack, and you are? But that wouldn't work here. He knew her, and she knew him. A part of him thought she knew him a little too well. No, Zack. This is your mission, and she's just a…
"Zack!"
The black haired SOLDIER's body flicked back, surprised that she noticed him right away. Her light body rushed up, and Aerith quickly grasped him in her arms. "Zack! How are you? What are you doing here?"
Zack hugged her back, feeling suddenly warm from her touch and losing all sense of the job at hand. He brought his arms up and caressed her shoulders. "I'm here…" His voice fell a little as he looked carefully in her stunning green eyes. "I'm here to see you."
A/N:
Okay...I'll just get started on the next part. Reviews are most welcome! They are really good motivation :D
~Mira