HQ16: Chapter two overhaul since completion. There are some serious issues with my earlier chapters, that don't connect with my later ones. Considering this was written over a span of more years than it should have taken, I'm back to revamp the chapters. Long story short, some of the earlier chapters that I wrote don'e make sense with the new ones. To fix the issue I'm redoing the chapters. I haven't figured out how many I need to do just yet, but I want this story to be cohesive to anyone new.

Words: 3,165

For the first time in months, I found myself with nothing to do. I was roaming the SOLDIER floor aimlessly, my phone in my hand with the hope of something to entertain me. Sephiroth had left earlier that day with important business to attend to, or something of that variety. There was Genesis; but... Genesis and I. Me and Genesis. No way. I had a serious dislike for his reading of that book. I like books just as much as the next person, but it's always the same book. It drives me up a wall, like a forty foot tall wall. I had checked my mission panel, and found that nothing was currently available.

It was odd in my opinion, considering I was a 1st and there was nothing for me to do. I hadn't seen Angeal since before my promotion. The first six of my months as a first I spent more of my time with the Tseng than anyone in SOLDIER. Time had really flown by since then, it seemed like just yesterday I was receiving my promotion and saying goodbye to the small dorm I had. I wasn't sure when was the last time I saw Zack, but it was at least six months ago. The puppy was no doubt with Angeal if with anyone. I smiled to myself at the thought of seeing him. Of seeing them both, I mean.

I hadn't meant to become so distant in the months, but there was only so much time to do things. Sephiroth dominated much of my time. We'd gotten deployed to Wutai together a few times and after nearly getting killed, he figured that just because I was a first doesn't mean I was good enough for his standards. When Sephiroth wasn't metaphorically breathing down my neck, there was Rufus. Rufus Shinra was required to have a babysitter. Apparently he was too young, tender and youthful to manage anything on his own. Not like the Turks could just as easily handle it, if not do a better job.

I snapped my phone shut, redirecting myself towards the training rooms, hoping that Zack was there more than anything. Even if it was just a quick chat, it would be better than the lack of communication I'd had with him for six months. I glanced inside seeing movement for a few moments before noticing Angeal. I moved away to stand beside the door, waiting patiently. It wasn't much longer than Angeal was walking out the room, giving his same speech. A small smile tugged at my lips, and my eyes rolled of their own accord. He walked passed me with a single nod, and my eyebrows raised in response.

Before Sephiroth, Angeal had been the one to keep an eye on me, something about being a girl in SOLDIER meant that I got special attention. By the time Sephiroth noticed what I could do, or something to that effect, Zack and I had been under Angeal for about a year. Angeal certainly wasn't acting like he knew me.

I watched Angeal walk off, my eyes lingering on the huge sword attached to his back. I pulled my gaze from the blade to poke my head around the corner and see Zack with an utterly confused expression on his face. If it was possible, he looked more adorable than I remembered. There was just something about that face of his. Everyone in SOLDIER was overall pretty good looking...

I shook my head a bit, turning to his confused expression once more as I walked fully into the doorway. He paused, not recognizing me, I assumed. "You look so cute when you're confused," I supplied. He still seemed confused and I walked toward him again, waiting as he sauntered forward in response. He eyed over me, and I smiled as recognition fell across his features.

"Evie?" my smile widened, I gave him a nod as he moved closer. "It's been a while, you look different. I haven't heard from you since you were promoted." A sheepish expression fell across my features, I had no way to explain myself, and I did feel terrible about it.

"Yeah, I didn't know that becoming a first meant that I would be so busy," Zack shook his head, not bothered by my words much.

"You've changed a bit," he started. I nodded, glancing to the sword in his hand.

"I see training went well," I said as I grabbed for his sword. I twirled it once in my hand with a grin, before turning back to his expression.

Zack snatched it back, "I had a bit of a run in with Sephiroth... the simulation." I bit my lips snorting in an effort to keep from laughing.

"Oh I feel you, I've never lost a sword to a simulation before," he said nothing, but an unreadable expression fell across his features, something of a pout coming to his lips.

"So does that mean you've got some free time now?" I shrugged a bit, looking around.

"Yeah, for the time being." A smile spread across his lips and he led me from the training room, mumbling about the broken sword in his hand. "It can be replaced Zack, very easily in fact. They make those in massive amounts last I checked."

Zack eyed the sword on my back, "Where's yours?"

"Firsts get to use their own equipment and aren't required to wear standard uniform. One of the perks," A playful pull at my ponytail made my elbow nudge his side.

"Whoa, ouch," he replied in surprise. "Since when do you do that?"

"Since I've been to Wutai one too many times," Zack smile faded some.

"Rough?"

"I wouldn't say all that. I've been taught well since my first trip out. I've learned to be a bit wary," suddenly Zack seemed to understand where I had been.

The war with Wutai had started with ShinRa wanting to put a reactor out there. The people refused and the army plus the generals were sent over. The generals of the army were the firsts of the SOLDIER program. Who better to lead an army than the ones leading the charges? This was how and when Sephiroth rose to fame, eventually dragging me with him.

He opened his mouth to say something when a phone rang out, we locked eyes wondering who the owner was when I realized it was coming from me. I removed the flip phone and pulled it to my ear in a single motion, "Evie here."

"You two come to the briefing room," Angeal's voice was on the other end.

"Oh, hello. Yeah, I've been doing great, I was wondering how you've been too. No, I didn't see you walk by at all. Yeah, I can understand that. Don't apologize for not calling, I was busy myself." I could hear his exasperation from my side of the phone, and I smiled politely my eyes scanning toward the briefing room.

"Just get here, both of you," before I could continue, he hung up and I turned to Zack with a smile.

"C'mon, looks like the fun is about to begin," Zack rose a curious eyebrow as I led the way to the briefing room. In the room was the familiar director of SOLDIER, Lazard and Angeal was with him. I smiled a bit at each and moved to take a seat with a long sigh.

"Zack, it's good to finally meet face to face." I glanced in their direction surprised they had never met before. I met Lazard before I was even a real SOLDIER. "Lazard, Director or SOLDIER," the blonde stuck his hand out for Zack to shake, who paused before returning the gesture.

"Heya," Lazard nodded and returned to business, claiming his seat.

"On to business, SOLDIER 1st Class Genesis. A month ago, he went missing during a mission in Wutai, you two know anything about this?"

Zack responded first, "Not a clue." Their eyes turned to me, and I sat up from my lounging position.

"Genesis and I... have never been able to get along for longer than a few minutes without a third party involved. In turn, I've strayed away from making more contact than necessary with him. To that effect, I know nothing of the issue." My eyes turned to Lazard who bobbed his head again before eyeing the screen once more.

"The mission is currently stuck in limbo. That's why we've decided to send you," said the director.

"Uh, to Wutai?" I leaned back in my seat, intertwining my fingers as I went.

"Yes. This war has gone on long enough," I nodded in my place; it was very true.

The moment of silence was broken by the sound of Angeal speaking, "I've recommended you for 1st." Zack's expression folded with surprise.

"Wha-..." he started to laugh joyously. "Angeal! Ah! I love you man! Angeal-"

Angeal pushed the 2nd away from him, a faint smile spreading on his lips, "Don;t make me regret this Zack."

"Sir!" Angeal liked Zack more than he let on, even to Zack. It was kind of cute.

"Once you two are packed, you'll be leaving," before Lazard could finish Zack was racing from the room.

"I don't think I've ever seen him move so fast, unless it was sloppy joes day in the cafeteria..." I stopped, my eyes turning to Lazard as I sat up suddenly. "Wait, did you just say 'you two'?"

"Yes, you'll be going with," My shoulders fell despairingly.

"What? Why? What for?"

"Sephiroth has requested it," I clicked my tongue in annoyance and sat back.

"You should probably get going, don't you want to grab something before we go?"

My eyes turned towards Lazard with a heavy gaze, "Not really. I don't want to go to be honest. I've been to Wutai more than enough."

Lazard sat back in his seat, "Sephiroth doesn't seem to think so." My mouth opened to retort, but no words came from my lips. I stopped then.

I stood from my seat muttering as I went, "Asshole."

"What was that SOLDIER?" Lazard turned in his chair to eye me as I moved.

"Nothing, I think I'm going to go get my hair cut now. I need one I think I have enough time," I nodded, pulling at the hairs at the end of my ponytail.

"Want me to come with, to make sure you don't get lost?" suggested Angeal.

One of my eyebrows rose curiosuly, "The backbone and tough guy of SOLDER?"

Instantly, I was given a shake of his head, "I was joking Evelia. You should get a move on. Sephiroth won't have you under-prepared for the visit."

I scoffed, crossing my arms stubbornly, "I'll be fine. I'm ready as soon as Zack gets back." It was barely a few minutes after I said these words that he came jogging back in. My eyes followed him as he walked to Lazard who began to speak again.

"I'll be joining you as well. I'm counting on you."

"Sir!" Zack saluted him.

"By the way, what is your dream? "To become a 1st" is it?"

"No. To become a hero," pride swelled in Zack voice, as he took up a stance.

"Ah, good! Unattainable dreams are the best kind." I snorted suddenly, moving to cover my face quickly afterwards.

"Uh, Thanks?" Zack didn;t seem to know if his words were a compliment or not and bit my lip, shuffling towards the exit as quietly as possible. Maybe, if I was lucky I wouldn't be sent back.

We were dispersed in small groups, Genesis being the cause for much of the reason and I found that I was to ride with Zack there. He smiled at the sight of me and I felt a small smirk pull at my lips as I sat down silently. Sephiroth wasn't with us, but he was surely on another craft. Zack opened his mouth to create conversation, but Angeal was quick to silence him.

The ride was mostly silent, there was some murmuring, but I kept to myself. It was focus time and as soon as we set down on the Wutai soil, I hopped from the craft and ran off. I had to run ahead and create a diversion on the far side of the fortress. The point was to pull eyes away from another division. There was a group there, waiting for me. The leader nodded as he saw me and I took command.

Having seen the horrors of war, made me realize that I needed to separate myself internally. Keep my head level during fights or I'd get cut down; I needed to separate which side of me took control when. The teen girl and the SOLDIER; emotions and hard steel. Sephiroth was somewhere here, but I wasn't sure where he could be. I only knew where I needed to be. When it came to some matters, it was best that pawns didn't know much, just in case we got captured.

The distraction seemed to work well, almost too well. Something didn't sit right, and I left the squad of men to search for answers. What I found surprised me. Towards the center of the fortress, many of the men had been taken down already. I followed the trail to find none other than Zack. He was joined by a little girl.

"Whap! Pow! Bam! Take that, bad guy!" My eyebrow rose with curiousity as I watched from the shadows. The girl was possibly nine. He was trying to punch him rapidly from a few feet away.

Zack paused for a moment before falling to the ground, kneeling good naturedly, "Arrrgh! No! You got me!"

"There, that'll teach you to mess with me. Once again, I've brought peace to Wutai." She ran off quickly, and I left the shadows as she disappeared.

"That was cute, you actually played along with that one," he seemed surprised to see me, and scratched the back of his head. I assumed from embarrassment at having been caught.

"I didn't want to hurt her," I nodded understandingly and walked off.

"Wait," I stopped turning to him, he had his hand reaching out towards me and I rose both my eyebrows.

"You're on the job Zack, focus. In the mean time I'll see you after the mission. Promise," he nodded, accepting this answer as my eyes fell to the earring in his ear. I smiled and moved to leave the center of the fortress. Confused and unsure of where I was going, I looked to wall on my right and gave a myself a running start. SOLDIERs had enchance senses and were more powerful than the average soldiers. Jumping the height of a wall should be easy enough.

I could feel the crunch of concrete beneath my feet as I pushed off. The earth was gone from below me, and for a moment it was like flying. A small smile fell across my lips just when I began to fall to the ground again. I tucked, absorbing the initial fall with my knees before rolling. Still no opposition. A breeze fluttered by, disturbing my hair, but what I was searching for was noise, sounds other than of my breathing.

I jumped at the sound of my phone ringing in my pocket, "Evie here."

"Infiltration a success, return to a pick up point."

"Coming right up Sephs," I snapped the phone shut, gazing over the area around me curiously before jogging off. Something still wasn't sitting right, I could feel it as I moved through brush and trail alike. Something moved in my peripheral and I made a run towards it.

I found Zack and Sephiroth with him, they were examining the two men lying on the floor before them. They glanced at me, but gave no word of acknowledgement, their interest on the men again.

"A Genesis copy," mumbled Sephiroth; my gaze narrowed in confusion. I moved around him to see what he was looking at with such fascination. On the ground was the bodies of two men, their uniform neither from SOLDIER or of Wutai. They wore mostly red, a trademark color of the other SOLDIER 1st class. The one missing.

"Copy? A human Copy?"

Ignoring Zack's question, Sephiroth asked, "Where is Angeal?"

The 2nd class looked around, as if he would be able to find him now, "I thought he was fighting around here."

"Huh, so he's gone too," my face steeled at the General's words and I moved to stand beside my mentor.

"What?" Zack was confused, "Wait, what does that mean?"

"It means Angeal has betrayed us as well."

"No way! I know what kind of guy Angeal is. And he would never do that," his gaze hardened at the older man's accusation, and I was silent to his shouting. "Angeal wouldn't betray us. Never!"

I interrupted him, his gaze snapping to me as I spoke up, "We don't know what happened for sure, Zack. He's not here and Genesis is gone as well it's the only thing we can assume."

"But, you know... you know he wouldn't do this; we were his students! You know him Evie." I nodded solemnly.

"I'm not accusing him of it, but where is he? We can't assume that he wouldn't just because we're friends with him," It seemed that a few hours ago he was making silly jokes, but now he was gone. What was going on? What haven't they been telling me?

Sephiroth spoke up, "We need to get moving." I followed his lead without so much as a noise, Zack lingered before doing the same. Lazard was there to greet us asking instantly, "Good work, all of you. Where's Angeal?" My eyes fell downcast, and a silence fell over the three of us.

"Nowhere to be found apparently. I'll explain but the situation grows more grave by the minute. We must be prepared." The silence prevailed as we boarded the chopper to return to Midgar, Angeal no longer in company meant that we would be joined by Sephiroth himself. I sat across from Zack and Sephiroth, glancing to the silver haired man with questioning eyes. He face gave away nothing and he spoke none. I could see his jaw at work from across the chopper. The news was bothering him more than he was letting on.

I locked eyes with Zack occasionally but still none of us spoke. The solemn news bothering us all in our own way.