"Damn it," Zack growled as soon as the door to Callandra's small dwelling closed behind him. "Aerith. Oh Gaia." Both hands swept through spiky black hair. The SOLDIER strode to the dilapidated house next door and sent one fist slamming through the wood. Splinters rained down through the air like jagged confetti. "That bastard."
It's not forever, silly. We'll be together again.
Zack jumped. "Aerith?" No answer. The raven-haired youth started walking, his feet carrying him easily in the direction of the church. It wasn't far and a sigh left him as his eyes fell upon the beloved building. Reverently, Zack eased open the door somewhat surprised to find that it opened easily under his hand. Though, I guess I shouldn't be. Cloud still comes here sometimes. Stepping inside, the cerulean gaze swept over the pews and the small pond that stood in place of Aerith's flowerbed.
"It's the same," he breathed, "But it's not." No flower girl awaited him with a sweet smile and brilliant green eyes. Walking further into the building, Zack knelt next to the pond running his finger through it. This had been Aerith's gift to those stricken with Geostigma and to Cloud. Before everything had gone wrong, he'd spent countless hours here talking to Aerith about nothing and everything. After Angeal's death he'd come here to grieve and in that moment the only thing that had held him together was the feeling of the flower girl's slender arms around his shuddering shoulders and her soft voice whispering in his ear. "It's okay, Zack. Let it out. I'm here."
"I never get a break, do I?" Zack muttered standing. Self-pity was unlike him and he knew it but he couldn't help the bitterness he felt. "What do I do now?"
What you're good at, Zack. Live.
Gasping, Zack spun around, searching for any sign of that voice's owner but of course, there was nothing.
"Live," Zack muttered, "Not like I have much choice."
With there being little else to do, he walked slowly from the church and back to the house where Callandra waited for him.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Needing a distraction, Callandra began to gather what few items she owned. Lifting a photo from the table by her bed, sad green eyes looked wistfully upon a picture of Angeal, Genesis, Sephiroth, and herself taken before everything had gone wrong. In the picture, she was holding Genesis' Loveless book, and carefully evading the red-clad SOLDIER's attempts to regain his prize possession. Angeal stood to the side with Sephiroth. He was laughing and Sephiroth himself watched their antics with amused fondness. Hojo had tried to confiscate the picture but Callandra had stood up to the scientist.
"If anything happens to that picture, Dr. Hojo," she'd hissed, "I won't be responsible for what happens to your testicles." The picture had remained safe but her next mako injection had made her rather sick.
"Must have been a bad batch," Hojo had dismissed the incident but Callandra had understood the warning.
Tucking the frame carefully into her bag, she moved on to making sure they would have water and rations for the trip. The trip should take less than a day but Callandra's training wouldn't allow her to go less than prepared, especially with a group of psychopath's on their tail. Next, she packed her materia. Lastly, she tucked her throwing knives into their sheaths; one on each thigh, one in her right boot, and two more on either forearm. Armed to the teeth . . .oh yeah.
The redhead looked up when the door opened and Zack stepped inside. Jade eyes ran curiously over her companion. He looks really tense but I'd be too in his position. "Are you okay?" Callandra winced as soon as the words left her lips. It sounded so trite and of course, there was no way that he could be. Worst of all, it came from a part of her that she had done her best to smother.
Zack gave her a weak smile. "I'll be okay."
The First Class's head snapped up. A faint whistling noise was approaching their location. Callandra met his horrified gaze and then both of them were lunging for the door, Callandra's bag clutched tightly in her hands. The building exploded seconds after they cleared the door sending both bodies hurtling through the air. Callandra crashed through the wall of a nearby building while Zack's body skipped brutally across the ground for several yards.
Having seen the woman impact with the building, Zack forced himself to his knees. "Callandra!"
"I-I'm here!"
Zack let out a relieved breath as the redhead slowly crawled from beneath the rubble. If her eyes hadn't been enough to convince the brunette of her story her survival would have. The debris would have crushed a normal human. Sprinting over to the destroyed building, Zack took her arm, helping her to stand. Sky blue eyes performed a quick check for injuries. Blood seeped from a gash above her right eye and she no doubt had bruises but didn't seem to have any serious injuries.
"Are you okay?"
Callandra gave him a mildly amused look. "Peachy."
"That was your only warning."
The voice drew their eyes up to find a helicopter hovering silently above them. "H-how?" Zack demanded, "No helicopter is that quiet."
"Apparently this one is," Callandra growled, glaring at the remnants of her home. Jade eyes shifted to Koyoto who was standing smugly in the doorway of the helicopter. "You call that a fucking warning! You fucking blew up my house!" she yelled, gesturing wildly at the mess, "You're an asshole!"
"Resistance is futile," Koyoto continued calmly, using a speakerphone to make himself heard, "Surrender and you will not be harmed."
"I'm not going back to any lab," Zack yelled back, "So you can just forget it."
"Be reasonable," Koyoto's voice was smug, "You cannot outrun a helicopter. There is no escape. You will come with us whether you wish it or not."
Long, delicate fingers clenched hatefully at Callandra's side. "Maybe," she growled, "But that doesn't mean I have to listen to your shit in the meantime." Snatching a rock from the ground, she aimed carefully before throwing the rock into the air. Her aim was perfect, the rock collided with Koyoto's megaphone, sending the offending item spinning to the ground and most probably leaving the scientist with a bloody lip and quite hopefully a broken nose. Callandra waved as the blonde disappeared inside the 'copter clutching his face.
"Good one," Zack grinned before sobering as the helicopter spun in the air so that its guns were facing them. "We gotta get out of here."
"I know!" Callandra eyes swept the area, giving a cry of success when she found her motorcycle where she left it and most importantly in one piece. "C'mon!" As she ran, she fitted the straps of her bag over one shoulder. She would not lose that bag.
She was already revving the engine as Zack leapt into the seat behind her, strong hands clasping her narrow waist tightly. Callandra sent the bike into gear leaving a spray of dirt in their wake.
"Where are we going?" Zack yelled against the wind.
"Anywhere but here!" Callandra replied, glancing up at the helicopter as it began to pursue them.
The helicopter's guns were not silent as the pilot opened fire. "I guess Koyoto doesn't care about what condition we're in."
Callandra didn't reply, all her attention was on dodging the missiles and bullets, trying desperately to keep them alive. Ahead of them two more helicopters appeared, as silently as the first, forcing Callandra to take a hard left. There's no way we can make a stand here.
"They're herding us out of the city," Callandra called back to Zack.
"We'll be totally exposed!" Zack snapped.
"I know! But I can't go anywhere else with three of them on us." Callandra glanced back. This is going to be rough. "Hold on, Zack!"
Opening the throttle the whole way, the bike tore through the darkness weaving in an effort to lose the predatory spotlights. We've only got one chance. Callandra headed west, further into the wastelands.
"Where are you going?" Zack demanded, He cursed as bullets sprayed the dirt only yards away.
"About a mile ahead the terrain becomes really rocky," Callandra said tersely, "There are a lot of big boulders running along a cliff. If we can make it, we may be able to hide among the rocks."
"Let's go for it," Zack agreed.
Only mako-enhanced reflexes were allowing Callandra to guide the bike between the missiles and never ending hail of bullets. At last, they raced along the edge of the cliff, the rocks within sight. Then it happened. A fourth helicopter rose up over the cliff they bike well within their sights. Two missiles launched and Callandra was only just able to avoid a direct hit. The explosion sent the bike careening towards the edge of the cliff. The blast wave sent the fugitives flying off the bike and then they tumbled down the jagged face of the cliff into the impenetrable darkness of the valley below.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A low moan broke the silence of the valley. Everything hurt. Zack wanted to resist the tug towards consciousness but a sense of urgency had him struggling to open his eyes. At last, he managed to wedge his eyes open, to find himself lying on the canyon floor, gazing up at the night sky. The wasteland was silent and there was no sign of the pursuing lights and gunfire. Several yards away, the burning remnants of the bike sent firefly like sparks shooting haphazardly into the air.
"Bahamut's scaly ass," he gasped as he tried to move his arms and legs. It seemed that nothing was broken but his body was one giant bruise. Rolling to his side, sky blue eyes widened as his gaze rested on the crumpled form lying face down several yards away.
"Callandra!" Zack called but received no answer. Still too disoriented to stand, the brunette crawled to the woman's side. Sitting on his knees, the First Class checked quickly for broken bones and bleeding. Gently turning her over, he gasped. Her shirt had torn partially away leaving her mid-riff exposed and what skin he could see was covered in blood. Glancing up at her face, Zack saw that the cut on her forehead still bled and that blood covered the right side of her face.
Suddenly, her body stiffened and a soft cry was torn from her lips as confused mako-jade eyes snapped open. "Sonofabitch," she rasped, instinctively trying to curl around her injured stomach.
"Easy," Zack murmured soothingly, carefully making her lay flat. "Don't move until I see how serious it is."
"What about Koyoto?" she murmured groggily.
"I think he's gone for now."
Attracted by a flickering light, Callandra turned her head to survey the now smouldering remains of her motorcycle. "Oh, my bike," she moaned mournfully, "I'm taking it out of that bastard's hide."
Chuckling, Zack nodded, "I hope you get the chance to do that."
Zack started when trembling fingers reached to bush his bangs from his face. "You're bleeding," Callandra informed him.
Reaching up a hand, Zack was somewhat surprised when his glove came away covered in blood. "Huh," he grunted, "We'll worry about that later," he said, "We've gotta get that wound taken care of first."
Callandra's eyes widened. "Where's my bag?"
"I don't know," Zack said looking around, mako-infused eyes glittering in the dark. "Hey, wait, there it is." The bag had landed in the shadows only feet away.
"Th-there should be medical supplies inside," Callandra gritted her teeth as pain coursed through her side, "Shit, is there any shrapnel inside the wound?"
"I don't see any," Zack assured her, "It's pretty ragged though. I don't think this was caused by shrapnel. More likely you bounced off a sharp rock on the way down."
"I'm so relieved," she gasped dryly.
Ignoring her sarcasm, Zack reached for her bag dragging it into his lap. Opening it, he was pleased to find bandages as well as several bottles of water and rations. There were also several materia tucked inside and off to the side. "What's this?" Pulling the interesting object out of the bag, Zack found himself gazing at a picture of Callandra and the three SOLDIER Commanders.
"Is it broken?" Callandra demanded.
"No," Zack assured her softly, "It's fine." When she reached out for the frame, Zack handed it to her, his heart twisting slightly as she clasped it to her chest.
The brunette shook himself. I need to take care of our injuries first, he scolded silently, I can ask about the picture later. Angeal would have my head for loosing focus like that. That head wound must be worse than I thought. "Okay," Zack said, pulling out one of the water bottles and some bandages. As thoroughly as possible considering their limited supplies, Zack cleaned the wound before drying it and then wrapping a bandage tightly around her abdomen.
Callandra was silent during this process, a tensing of her muscles the only sign of pain she'd allow herself. Zack repeated the process with the cut above her forehead pleased to find that it wasn't as bad as it had first appeared. The mako would probably have it nearly closed by morning.
"There," Zack panted sitting back, "You'll be fine."
"You need to take care of that head wound," Callandra reminded him, struggling to sit up.
"It's nothing," Zack dismissed, though he was in fact a little dizzy. "Don't try to move yet. Do you have a Restore materia or even a Cure? I could speed your healing process up."
"I do," Callandra replied, "But neither of us is in a condition to use it. If you try to Cure me you'll fall flat on your face and I still probably won't be strong enough to do much of anything."
"You're right," Zack admitted reluctantly, "We'll rest and regain some of our strength and try then."
Nodding agreement, Callandra stubbornly resumed trying to sit up. Sighing in exasperation, Zack eased an arm behind her shoulders and propped her up.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, Callandra rode the worst of it out in silence. Panting a bit, Callandra once again started prodding carefully at the bloody bump on Zack's forehead. "This is quite a goose egg," she observed, "And you've got a rather large cut right down the middle of it." Through virtue of stubbornness alone, the redhead shifted to sit on her knees, taking the water bottle through Zack's suddenly loose grasp. With her mako-enhanced eyesight, Callandra could see the color slowly draining from his face.
"Zack? Hey, don't pass out on me," Callandra snapped, gripping a broad shoulder to steady him.
"I'm fine," Zack groaned, "Just got a little dizzy."
"Let's get you cleaned up and then we got to find a safe place to rest," Callandra said, "Neither of us is going anywhere tonight."
Gently, Callandra wiped the blood from his forehead and cheek and then wrapped another bandage around his head.
Zack grinned. "Hey, we match."
For a moment, Callandra stared at him as if wondering if he'd suffered brain damage. Then, slowly, an answering smile lifted the corners of her generous mouth. Finally, she chuckled. "This really isn't funny," she said, letting out a giggle.
"We've definitely had our brains rattled," Zack agreed.
"You know what the worst part is right?" Callandra sighed.
"Hmm?"
"Now we've got to stand up."
"Yeah."
Summoning up his reserves, Zack staggered unsteadily to his feet. "Shit," he murmured, holding his forehead until the ground steadied beneath his feet. "Okay," he sighed, "Careful now."
With Zack's help, Callandra stood, one hand clutching her wounded side. She staggered and Zack put a steadying arm around her. "Let me help."
Smirking, she nodded. "Maybe if we lean on each other we'll manage to stay upright."
"Any ideas?" Zack asked, eyes scanning the shadows. "We need to find somewhere protected from the sun."
Glowing jade eyes scanned their surroundings. "If we're where I think we are there should be a small recess in the cliff about two hundred yards that way."
"Let's go," Zack wrapped his arm around the redhead's waist, keeping her injured side nestled against him so that his hand wouldn't accidently brush over the wound. Callandra then allowed him to sling her arm around his neck.
"You know," Callandra said wistfully, "Angeal is probably somewhere watching this, laughing his ass off and shaking his head."
"Yeah," Zack sighed, "I can hear him now. 'In trouble again, pup'."
"I miss him," she whispered.
"Me too."
The pair stood silently for a moment before Zack shook away the sadness. "We'd better move."
Learning carefully against each other they started shuffling towards the area Callandra had recalled.
"Think they're looking for us?" Zack asked, several minutes later.
"It's possible that they think we're dead," Callandra mused, "But I doubt they'd give up so easily. Plus, those choppers mean that there's money backing them. They want you bad." She looked up, "There!" She pointed with her free hand. On their left, three giant rocks were propped together formal a small hole that would provide some protection from the heat. It was small but it would do.
Ducking inside, Zack eased Callandra down against one of the rock walls. She leaned her head back as Zack slid wearily down beside her.
Closing his eyes, Zack groaned. "I feel like I'd been run over by a chocobo."
"If only," Callandra snorted.
Opening his eyes, Zack turned to face his companion. "Are you sure you're okay, Callie? I could probably manage at least a Cure2 or something."
Starting at the nickname, she turned her head, and their eyes met. Slowly, her expression softened. "I'll be fine 'till morning," she smiled gently, "You look like you're about to fall over."
"Maybe," Zack grinned, "Guess we should get some rest, huh?"
"Yeah," Callandra shifted so that she lay prone on her uninjured side. Zack carefully did the same lying so that they were back-to-back and close enough that she could feel his body heat. "Night, Zack."
"Night. Hey, Callandra?"
"Hmmm?"
"I'm sorry."
Callandra sat up a bit looking over her shoulder. "Why?"
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this mess."
She thought this over as she eased back down. "Don't be. I'm not."
Author's Notes: And another chapter. This was got up pretty quick. My Zack muse is being a little jerk and poking me with ideas at the worst times. Hopefully he's happy now. (Zack: Not really. I got a few more ideas.) I'm gonna try and update Light in the Dark next but we'll see. Please, let me know what you think about this story. Am I on the mark or is Zack totally OOC? I really need your feedback and it only takes a few minutes to review. And now, my thanks to the wonderful, amazing people who did review. Cookies and Zacks for everyone.
Shade the Bat: Did you like it? I was kinda worried about making Zack and Callie get too close too soon but I also think that being in a situation like this would bond two people pretty fast. Let me know what you think!
Amberblood: Yeah, I just happened to be going through my mail when you updated and so I got to read it right away. There's been a brief delay in Cloud entry but it's coming in the next couple of chapters. Thanks for reviewing! (BTW I know I reviewed but the latest chapter of Full Circle was AMAZING.)