Sorry about how short it is, enjoy.
About two hours after his visit with Heidegger, Alex was woken roughly by a commotion on the deck, smacking his head as he sat up abruptly, only to find himself lying on the bottom bunk
of his and Jake's bunk bed.
He stuffed his cold feet into unlaced boots and ran up to the main deck, still wrapped in a rough wool blanket, joining a group of SOLDIERs who were watching as a large helicopter
prepared to land, its side embossed with the words SHINRA ELECTRIC. A couple of the SOLDIERs ran forward to help, one holding guiding batons, the other securing the legs of the
helicopter onto the onboard latches in case of high waves.
Alex went back to watch from the doorframe, knowing his commander would punish him if found not in uniform in the presence of President Shinra.
He watched as the man descended the steps of the helicopter, scanning the SOLDIERs with a rather disgusted expression and shaking Heidegger's hand as he approached to greet him.
Both flanked with Second Class SOLDIERs, his son, Vice President Rufus followed, moving the ash-blonde bangs from his eyes and following his father and Heidegger into the captain's
quarters, closing the doors behind them. The SOLDIERs were told to remain outside the door, guarding it from unwanted ears.
"ALRIGHT LADIES, STOP GAWKING, WE GOT TRAININ' TO DO!" Lieutenant Scott's voice rang out, and set the SOLDIERs in motion, scrambling about the deck and continuing with the daily
basic training.
Alex watched the closed door with unmoving eyes, knowing the President wasn't just here on business. Heidegger had alerted him of the fugitives, and Shinra aimed to find them.
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Alex took a quick look around, first left than right. There were only a couple of guards milling the deck, either taking their break or tending to the ship. Lt. Scott had gone down to the
on-board gym with two patrols, and most of the others were in their cabins or in the cafeteria.
He left his blanket by the door, shivering in his light grey t-shirt, thankful he'd had the sense to put pants over his boxers to the deck. He climbed unseen behind the bridge where a
number of message tubes waited, each beside an air vent. He slipped into the one beside Heidegger's message tube, climbing up and sliding along carefully until he reached the opening
above Heidegger's office, crouching quietly and listening as he looked down on three of the most powerful people on Gaia.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
"What was so urgent that you made us come all the way out here?" Shinra asked, sitting comfortably in Heidegger's chair while the captain stood beside him quietly.
Alex shifted uneasily from his perch in the vent.
"Isn't it obvious father? He thinks he's found the experiments."
Shinra gave his son a small glance, and turned to Heidegger expectantly.
"A grunt- Alex Guido- claims he saw Zack Fair on the Shiva sir, and I have no doubt Cloud Strife and possibly Flint Furrows are with him."
Alex paused. Experiments?
Shinra sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That idiot Hojo let them escape- I should've had him put under supervision."
He turned his piercing eyes towards Heidegger. "Am I correct presuming Zack also holds the Black Mako?"
Heidegger nodded, Shinra sighed.
"It's too late to catch up with Shiva now. Heidegger, you will deploy all troops within a ten mile radius of Midgar- about one or two hundred and hide along the main road. Prepare to
ambush on sight." He growled.
"Understand?" Heidegger nodded.
"Yessir."
He headed towards the door, pausing and turning back to Heidegger.
"You know, if Mr. Guido starts spreading that around, they'll want to know why Zack Fair and the Strife boy are running around labelled as wanted fugitives. Make sure he keeps his mouth
shut- blame it on his injury, bribe the doctors, I don't care, just get it done."
He turned towards the door, opening it slowly.
"And Heidegger, Hojo no longer needs Strife. He is beyond repair. If need be, he can be used as... persuasion- for Zack to come quietly."
Alex froze in shock- Experiments- Black Mako- Hojo? Zack- Cloud- What've I done?
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"There you go Spike, get some rest, I'm gonna get some food, I bet you're starving."
Zack said, his impatient stomach emitting a large growl.
"Mm. Nrrmm." Cloud muttered.
Zack smiled, ruffling the blonde's spikes. "Okay, okay, so we're both hungry." He licked his lips at the prospect of food.
"Flint?" The man looked up from sharpening his sword.
"Yeah, sure." He mumbled, turning back to the now gleaming blade.
"Kay. Be back soon bud, might take awhile, I gotta check on Cid too." He said, patting Cloud's shoulder and leaving the cabin.
"Seeya soon." Cloud watched him leave with distant blue eyes.
"Mmnn-Zz." He mumbled, his eyes flickering closed.
Zack smiled, patting Cloud's shoulder. "I'll be back in a bit Cloud. Take care of Flint for me okay?"
Flint snorted, a hint of a smile on his lips.
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Zack knocked gently on Cid's door, Shera answered.
"You owe him one." She said quietly, squeezing Zack's shoulder gently as she left the room.
Zack walked in to the now bright quarters, the curtains released from their binds to billow like sails in the wind.
Cid was in his chair, his face cleaned of all blood and his nose now straightened, his broken fingers wrapped in gauze, and the bruises healed the best they could've been with a low level
materia, now only a slight purple. A fresh pack of cigarettes had been opened on the side table, and Cid was smoking calmly, his eyes fixed on the skies. "Cid-" Zack said, announcing his
presence and flinching, preparing himself for the blast of curses that was sure to come his way.
"Sidown kid." He said, the cigarette hanging off his lip.
"Why are you on this ship, answer truthfully, you owe me that much." His gaze remained fixed on the sky.
" My name is Zack Fair." Zack began quietly. "The sick one is Cloud Strife, and my other friend is Flint."
Cid nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue.
"A man named Thomas Hojo injured Cloud and brought him to a lab to do experiments- Cloud was poisoned in the process. He wanted me too, but I got Cloud out with Flint's help and
managed to evade Hojo- for now. Turns out, this man, Hojo was working with Shinra all along. We've been labelled as fugitives, and now everyone's out to capture us because Hojo
wants to conduct his sick twisted experiments on me and Cloud because we've got a rare blood type."
He concluded, not wanting to get into the long and drawn out horrific details of their journey.
"Sounds like you have problems." Was all Cid said, taking a long drag of cigarette.
"Well, everyone has problems." Zack said evenly.
Cid watched him with a fiery gaze. "What in hellfire is wrong with you? Your entire world is about to fall to hell, and you're all fuckin' happy and cheerful. If I were you, I'd be cracked, if not
broken by now." Cid growled.
Zack frowned slightly. "Well, anger hasn't ever solved anything. That's what I was told. Use feelings to your advantage, if you're angry, take it out on the monsters, but try and be content
with what you have, if not, it's wasted anger that you could've put into fighting."
Cid looked at Zack with the faintest of smirks. "Yup. You're cracked." He sighed.
Zack smiled slightly, following Cid's gaze, out to the waves below as the ship plowed through them.
"Well, then I'll just have to glue myself back together."
Okay, sorry I took so long to update. I didn't quite like this chapter, but it was needed.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed, hopefully I'll have another chapter up soon.
Thanks for reading:)
Lucifer