Chapter 7: Shinra Invasion

Sephiroth and Haruka sat in the Sector 5 slums playground together, talking about their lives. The silver haired general found out that Haruka and her sister was adopted by Elmyra Gainsborough when they were very young. Haruka dreamily stated that she remembered just a little bit of her mother that she was very beautiful but very sad and she used to sing them a beautiful song in a made up language that sounded slightly familiar but barely definable. Sephiroth pitied the girl because she remembered so much of her mother that it was like she knew her. He wished he could reverse time and help that mother and her babies.

"Well, enough about me," said Haruka, smiling brightly, resembling an angel. "What about you? What are your parents like?"

Sephiroth nearly laughed out loud at her innocent question. "I never knew my parents," he said quietly. "I was raised inside Shinra for as long as I can remember. All I know is that my mother's name is Jenova and she died when I was born. I know nothing of my father, though."

Her brown eyes were full of pity and sadness for the silver haired general. "I'm sorry," she said gently, holding his hand in hers. "It must have been awful not knowing your parents."

"Oh, no," objected Sephiroth with a shake of his head, "it would only bring emotional baggage, if you ask me. I do wish I knew my mother, though. She sounded like a wonderful person." His feline eyes looked far away like he was dreaming of a place in the past.

"You know what," said Haruka, quirking an eyebrow, "forgive me but Jenova sounds like a rather strange name. According to my knowledge, her name means 'new god' because Jehovah means God and Nova means new. If you mesh the names together, you get Jenova."

"Really," said Sephiroth, slightly surprised. "How do you know so much?" His tone sounded affectionate like he was proud of his girl knowing so much.

"Um, it's Latin," she said, shrugging sheepishly. "On planet Earth, there's a language that's called Latin; it's a mix between Spanish and English. Jehovah was a religious group called their god which is equivalent to the God I worship but just a different name like Allah or Zeus, I suppose. Nova means new in Latin so when I heard your mother's name I just put the definition together in my head."

"You are very smart," said Sephiroth tenderly, stroking her soft hair. "What religion are you?"

"Why?" she asked in a pseudo-suspicious tone, playfully arching her eyebrow.

"I'm just curious," replied Sephiroth, "and you said Jehovah was an equivalent to your God."

"I'm a Christian girl," said Haruka with a smile. "My mom used to read the Bible to me and Aerith at night to get us to sleep and since then I became a Christian girl. Aerith and I stay in the church in the slums because it feels like we're closer to God. What about you, Seph? Do you have a religion?"

It took a while for him to answer because he didn't remember being taught religion while he grew up at Shinra. They never really discussed it only that it was a belief thing. "No," he answered sheepishly. "Shinra never stressed religion as I grew up but I do know there's a greater power out there because I've experienced some things that are unforgettable."

"Like what?" she prodded gently, staring into his eyes.

"Well," said Sephiroth, "one time on a mission, one of my troops were injured and none of our methods to cure him worked so we prayed very hard and by dawn the bleeding stopped and he was conscious. Another time was when Zack, Angeal's student, got lost in a forest near Modeoheim and we spent all night searching for him but we couldn't find him. Angeal, being an honorable man who was raised with religion in his life, told me and Genesis to pray so we could find Zack and by the time we reached the snowy area Zack was sitting on the ground clutching his cell phone. I do believe there is a greater power out there but I don't know which to believe."

Haruka, who remained silent until then, said, "Well, I'm not going to tell you which one to believe in. You believe in whichever you want to believe in."

Sephiroth was about to respond but the loud ring of his cell phone ruined that. He pulled out his phone and answered it. "Sephiroth here," he said in a business like tone.

"It's Director Lazard," said the man on the other end. "I have a mission I need to discuss with you. Please come back to the building ASAP."

"Okay, I'll be there," replied Sephiroth, hanging up swiftly and stashing his phone in his pocket.

"Work stuff?" questioned Haruka accurately, giving him a knowing smile.

"Yes," answered Sephiroth somewhat contritely. "I'm sorry I have to run off like this. I wanted to spend more time with you but I guess I'm needed back at the building. When I'm done, I'll come back and visit you. See you."

The couple shared a tender kiss before Sephiroth ran off to get to the building.

…

"What is so important, Lazard?" asked Sephiroth as soon as he reached the director's office. "Did you locate Angeal and Genesis?"

Lazard stood from his desk and paced for a little bit before answering, "Since the mission to Banora was a failure, I want you and Zack to track them down and eliminate them." Lazard's gray eyes looked contrite like he felt sorry for Sephiroth but he didn't need it.

"With all due respect, Lazard," said Sephiroth softly, "but do you think Zack would be an appropriate delegate for this mission? He shares close ties to the two as much as I do. Sending him on this mission would probably scar him for life."

Lazard looked slightly bemused by Sephiroth's choice of words but nodded. "Instead of sending the two of you to eliminate the two missing soldiers," he proposed, "I'll place the army to take of it. Could you call Zack and tell him I would like to speak with him?"

Sephiroth gave a brief nod, pulled out his phone, and dialed Zack's number. He waited for the dial tone to pass by and the boy answered.

"Zack here," was his greeting. He sounded a little down like he missed someone, most likely Angeal.

"It's been a long time, Zack," he greeted in return.

"Sephiroth!" Zack's voice raised an octave in surprise.

"Come to Director Lazard's office," he ordered lightly. "We'd like to talk."

"Okay," replied Zack before hanging up.

Sephiroth followed suit and put his cell phone in his pocket. What we have to tell Zack will be like a double edged sword. He will become a first class but he will also learn of the assassination of Angeal and Genesis.

…

Zack entered the office quietly and Sephiroth gave him a pitying look before closing his eyes sadly. Despite the sad look directed at the boy, Zack stood in front of Lazard's desk in a careless manner which suggested he wasn't in the mood for surprises. Lazard spun his chair to look at Zack and gave the boy a small smile.

"Congratulations," said Lazard kindly, "as of this moment, you're promoted to soldier first class."

Both the director and Sephiroth waited for Zack's reaction but it wasn't the most favorable one.

"Huh," said Zack, clenching his fists, "I thought I would be happier…"

"Understandable," replied Lazard, looking off to a corner in his office. "Too much happened too fast." He gave the boy a look that resembled an uncle giving his favorite nephew a pitying look. "Zack, I'm afraid I need your assistance again."

"Are you pushing another mission on me?" Zack asked Sephiroth tonelessly.

"My apologies," murmured Sephiroth quietly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Whatever," replied Zack, looking to the director.

"First," said Lazard, "I want you to go to your locker room and get changed then we'll talk about the mission."

Without argument, Zack turned on his heel and walked out of the office.

…

As soon as the boy came back, Lazard stood from his chair and said, "The company has decided to eliminate Genesis and his cohorts. This includes Angeal as well."

Zack's reaction was expected: shocked and afraid. He didn't want to be the one to kill the two missing men, noticed Sephiroth.

"And you want me to do it?" he asked with a deep sadness in his voice.

"No," replied Lazard, folding his hands behind his back, "the Shinra Army will do it."

"But what about me?" asked Zack, placing both hands on Lazard's desk desperately.

Lazard gave the boy another pitying look before answering, "The company thinks your emotions will hamper your judgment."

"Well of course," replied Zack in a frustrated way, closing his eyes as if to squeeze back tears.

Sephiroth finally spoke to relieve Zack of some of his sadness. "That's why I'm going as well," he said quietly yet confidently.

"To kill them?" demanded Zack, giving Sephiroth a tight glare.

The silver haired general let a slight smile grace his lips as if telling Zack he had other plans on mind. Of course he did; he planned to save Angeal and Genesis and persuade them to come back to Shinra but he couldn't tell Lazard that. Before anyone could say a word, the warning siren echoed throughout the room and the office went on security lockdown. It seemed to have roused both Zack and Lazard from silence because they looked around as if they expected a missile to drop.

"An intruder," gasped Lazard, looking to his computer monitor to scan the area.

"Where?" asked Zack, pulling out his sword.

"There," answered Lazard, showing both the boy and the general the monitor. "Sephiroth, the president; Zack, the entrance."

Both men nodded and quickly rushed out of the office to pursue their targets. There was a major lockdown going down and it affected the entire building. All Sephiroth could think about was that he had to reach the president before it was too late.

Please, he prayed internally, keep Haruka safe.

A/N: The end of another glorious chapter! Well, I'm not the judge; it's all up to you! Please leave nice reviews! Till next update, darlings