Warnings, char death, implied nom-con.
This kinda, follows from last chapter.
I posted a beta'd version of chapter 7 last week, so if you read before then, read again, has new bits added, and errors fixed.
Zack was laying in the cage on his hard metal slab, Cloud was sitting across the cell on his own slab staring at the door. "Zack, think I could have made it?" Cloud suddenly asked.
"Made it?" Zack replied.
"Yeah, into SOLDIER. Think I could have made the cut?"
"Yeah, your test scores where good enough."
"I meant, physically. I was always the last to complete circuits, I always got low scores at rifle shooting."
"Thats true. However, know Lt. Jenkins?"
"Jenkins, your old squad commander, from when you were 3rd class? Wasn't he killed by that giant monster in Wutai?"
"Yeah, those monsters nearly got me too first time I encountered them, have to keep alert when facing them. I heard they were specially engineered monsters, bred to fight SOLDIERs. Jenkins, he once told me when I made 2nd, that as a infantryman he was nearly expelled from the infantry as his test scores were low much lower than yours, and his circuit times were lower too. As for rifles, well SOLDIERS we don't use them."
"I didn't know that, so I could have made it then?"
Yeah, afterall, you defeated Sephiroth, right?" Zack grinned at Cloud.
"Only after you battled him, and only as I caught him off gua..." the conversation was cut short when they heard a creeking noise from the outer doors followed by a hissing sound, then by a fine mist, shorly after they felt their eye lids drooping.
Zack woke, and found he was laying on top of a comfortable bed, he lifted his head up to look around, he discovered his ankles and left wrist were strapped down. His right hand was loose, the strap was hanging loose, he moved his arm and unfastened the straps. He got up as a person in a white coat walked in, Fearing they would sound an alarm Zack rushed over and punched the person knocking them out cold. he took the ID from around the doctors neck and walked out the door.
He guessed he was in a hospital or some sort of medical center. He could hear sounds from the doors, so he rushed down the corridor. He found a slightly ajar door marked 'Armoury' but figured he would be caught if he went for a weapon, so instead he moved on past it. At the end of the corridor was a door with the words 'emergency exit' on it. He reached out for the handle to open it, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Yo, wait, you're not in dange here."
"Reno?" Zack muttered, turning to face his old friend.
"You know any other smooth talking, hard working, handsome turks?" Reno smiled at Zack' "come on Tsengs gone awol, he kidnapped Aerith before disapearing we found his helicopter parked not too far from here,"
"Aerith? Lets go."
"We just need to stop somewhere first dude."
"No tricks, Reno."
"We're just getting you some clothes and a weapon. That is unless you want to wander round the ice fields during the winter wearing that assless gown unarmed."
Zack, looked down, and realised he was indeed in a gown. "you're right, lead the way." he followed Reno down the corridor back to the room he bypassed before. Reno stood by the door, "right in here, man". Zack nodded and opened the door, before walking in slowly.
Inside, a young blonde girl was sat in a chair, looking at him "Stop, where you going?" she said pointing a gun at Zack.
"Its ok 'lena" Reno said following Zack. "I won the bet, he went for the exit"
She lowered the gun, and pointed toward a locker, "the clothing I selected for you is in there,. I won't peek while you change, I promise. also, can you leave Dr. Bobbins ID here too?"
Zack handed the ID to the girl, before heading for the locker. Inside was a white pair of trousers, a black shirt, and a Lilac snow jacket. He quickly changed, finding they fit him perfectly. 'I have weird fitting body shape, howd they know my size!?' he wondered as he walked back to Reno and the girl.
"Thanks, how'd you know my size?" He asked them.
She blushed, "I took had the take your measurements while you slept, hope you don't mind."
"Enough, 'lena," Reno said handing Zack a SOLDIER training sword and a pair of boots. "We're going to bring Tseng in now"
"Ok, Rude said he's spotted them, in a cabin roughly mile north of here, he's awaiting backup. I'll tell him you're on the way " the girl informed them.
"Be back soon 'lena" Reno' left, Zack finished fastening his boots before following him.
They found the cabin, but no sign of Rude "Damn, this is where 'lena said he was"
Zack didn't respond, as he heard a womans scream from the cabin, he rushed towards it. Kicking the door down and and entering in a single movement. Inside he saw Aerith laying unconscious tied to a bed naked, Tseng had jumped up off the bed and was in a battle stance. "Zack? Thought you were in Nibleheim a prisioner in that lab"
Zack said nothing, he just rushed forward towards Tseng and punched him in the chest, sending flying through a side door. Zack looked at Aerith, hatred for Tseng rising, he heard a noise and turned to see Reno standing by the door tseng had gone through.
"Zack check on Aerith, I'll take care of Tseng" Zack turned towards Aerith who was just waking up.
"Zack? that you?" she said grogidly, looking up him.
"Yeah I'm here," he rushed over to free her, as he leaned down to release hrr ankles he saw blood on the sheets between her legs, "Aerith, did he..?"
"Yes, he forced himself onto me, he was so rough, I passed out from the pain" tears started to well in her eyes.
Zack finished freeing her and sat hesintly on the bed next to her, she reached for him, curled up around him, the tears now streaming down her face.
After a couple minutes Cissnei walked in placing some clothing on the bed, "you ok miss?" Cissnei asked.
Aerith grasped Zacks waist tighter and nodded at Cissnei.
"I'll leave yo..." she screamed as gun shots were heard,
Zack screamed in pain as a bullet entered his body. Aerith released him, as Cissnei fell down dead blood oozing from from mouth.
Tseng stood at the door pointing his gun at Zack, "Zack, move away from her and I may let you live."
Zack stood to face Tseng he reached for his sword, pulling it from the holster, Tseng fired the gun, and Zack fell over forward, he caughed as blood started trickling from his chest.
He woke with a shot, he was on the slab in his cell again, Clouds bunk was empty. He held his head in his hands and started to weep, was that just another dream?