They carried Shinra military can openers, pocket knives, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, shit that masqueraded as rations, and canteens of water that had the red company logo emblazoned on it.
They carried each a tin containing nondescript pills that all the men eyed uneasily. A concentrated dose of mako for the deepest nights and longest operations. A single dose that might bring them to the brink.
After the shift in policy, they also started carrying a fire materia, issued to every man as part of the survival kit. The generosity of the weapons development department.
They carried tools for digging foxholes and olive-colored rainproof tarps. They traded their old helmets, with the visor that blocked harsh city spotlights and Shinra identification for uncovered lighter ones that provided better peripheral views and camouflage cover. But the security of a heavy helmet was traded too, as the Lieutenant would learn. He died from a bullet to the head. It ripped through one side, where it would have glanced off the old helmet, and ricocheted inside, tearing into soft tissue with bullet shards and shrapnel. His men wrapped his body up in his tarp and left him in the forest.
Excerpt,P. Baumar, Nothing New in Wutai, [ ν ] – εγλ 0007
V. Reignition
"I am going to the training room. Care to join?" Genesis asked. Sephiroth shook his head, then pinched his nose with his thumb and index as if in pain.
"No, I must look over documents sent by Lazard."
"Well, that's no fun," Genesis complained. Genesis needed to work off all his tension. With Angeal gone, his only sparring partner is Sephiroth. Sephiroth looked like he probably needed it too. Lately, it felt more and more like the man was trying to shoulder the entire weight of the Tower himself, and hadn't seemed fit to share any of his burdens with Genesis or Angeal.
"I have an army to run. Look for fun elsewhere," Sephiroth snapped uncharacteristically without looking up from his papers. Genesis left with a huff and a thunderous expression.
It wasn't that Genesis didn't understand. The whole department was tense. He was irritated that Sephiroth wouldn't share, hurt that the man continued to hold those he called friends at arm's length distance, at least. Hurt by the rebuff when what Genesis wanted was to help. And Genesis also knew when to back off so they could both cool their tempers, Sephiroth's more cold and concealed as it was.
He headed down to the Soldier Floor, prepared to wreak havoc on a simulation or two on his own but paused when he spotted a flash of blond in the hall.
"Hey you," he called.
The shorter blond was starkly out of place, hair tied back well past regulation length, and no uniform in sight. He wore a button-up shirt and dark trousers, more casually dressed than an office grunt. When he turned around, however, Genesis was hit by a spark of recognition. "Oh, it's you."
The boy Genesis encountered in Sector Eight turned around, peering up behind his awful glasses. He had the company badge on at least, which Genesis glanced at and ignored. That explained why he hadn't been stopped by security.
"Commander Rhapsodos, sir," the boy greeted, "Thank you again for the other day."
Genesis grunted, waving off the thanks. The cadet already paid him back, exact change owed sent via internal mail despite Genesis already telling him it was unnecessary.
Instead, Genesis raised a brow and asked "What are you doing out of uniform this time in the day?" The boy startled and blinked back at him quizzically.
"I'm off shift, sir…?" Genesis was confused. He thought he knew trooper schedules decently well, and it was a little late in the morning for a shift change. The boy didn't look like he had just spent the night on patrol either. Deciding it wasn't worth his time to find out, Genesis instead looked at what the boy was holding in his hands.
A case of materia.
"Where are you going with that," Genesis gestured. It was rare for Army units to be allotted any, let alone a full case of the things. The blond looked down too, as if to see what Genesis meant. He made a soft "oh" sound then looked back up.
"Restocking the materia room, sir." Genesis frowned. Usually troopers only worked when on duty, but well, he didn't care if they decided to do free labor off shift.
On the other hand…
It would work he supposed. There was potential, and the kid was skinny like Genesis was at his age. Precocious if he was already working with materia. And kids like him would never do well mixed in with the regular army grunts who can't seem to pull their heads out of their asses.
"Come with me," Genesis called. To his satisfaction, the boy followed him without much complaint, though his brows were still furrowed in confusion. They ended up where Genesis originally intended to go, albeit with rather different company than he initially intended.
"I doubt you are being taught properly in the regular army," Genesis said as he adjusted his bracer, materia already equipped. The boy - Cloud, Genesis suddenly recalled from the other night - opened his mouth as if to protest. Genesis continued without letting him interrupt. "We will put you through your paces. Might as well test out those new materia. Make sure there are no duds and all."
Sephiroth was the famed general, and Angeal for his swordwork, but Genesis was known as a red mage for more than his preferred uniform. And where he lacked brute force, he made up for in finesse and magic.
Angeal did always say that teaching Zack was rewarding and he gained as much being a mentor as his student did having a teacher. Cloud might not be a Soldier, but the kid didn't get on Genesis's nerves too much and that was already promising.
While Junon was a fisherman's paradise and seaside retreat before it grew into a naval installment, much of its surrounding terrain was rugged. Located between jagged mountains to the north and treacherous straits with steep seaside cliffs and shifting wind and currents to the south, it was one of the few viable spots to establish a harbor on this side of the continent. And strategic in both its reach and natural protection.
The mission started like normal, each squad split up from Junon, led by two other Thirds who introduced themselves as Essai and Ludbrok. Zack's team was to scour the rugged coasts north of Junon, dotted by high sea cliffs, while Essai led his team west and Ludbrok south, sweeping toward Fort Condor.
The start of their assignment was slow. The only excitement was the gusts that picked up along the animal trail that wound past Junon leading north, switching back and forth along the cliff against which the base was built.
Zack spent most of the hike with a hand held up to keep the wind from blowing dust or his own bangs into his eyes, blinding him. He regretted forgoing the Soldier headgear in that moment, as unused as he was to fighting with a limited field of view.
Past the cliffs, the path widened, leaving them on a stretch of beach in between more cliffs, protected somewhat from the gusts. The waves, however, furiously pounded both rock and sand, generating a dull background roar. It appeared to be low tide, the water pulling back to reveal dense tide pools protected by sharp ridges of rock. Further ashore, sand dunes terminated against an overgrown treeline, untouched by human activity. Yet even here, pieces of trash -likely blown in from Junon- dotted the beach where they were washed ashore and stranded, at least until the next high tide.
"Nothing sighted yet, Lieutenant Fair," the squad lead, Corporal Lee, reported. On reaching the beach, they had sent men ahead to scout. Zack nodded, and squeezed in a few squats as he wished for some action.
It wasn't long before he got his wish. With a cry, one of the privates dashed back from the tree line, then discharged his rifle into it. Zack's hand flew to the sword hilt on his back at the sound of an answering growl, dashing up the slope of the beach as he brandished his sword. Leaping out from the foliage, an entire pack of fiends.
"What the fuck is a drake doing here," one of the privates cursed as he aimed at the flying beast.
But that wasn't the only thing in this strange pack.
There was a mix of flying creatures, wolves, and even a levikron mixed together with beasts too misshapen for Zack to identify. Prey and predator together. It made no sense.
Zack cast fire at the nearest drake, hitting it dead on. It let out a pained squeal but stayed airborne. The rest of the monsters only became more agitated.
"Watch our flanks," Lee called out to the men. Zack hefted his sword higher and dashed forward.
Veld glanced up when there was a knock on his office door. He and the other three Turks exchanged a look and Gun, Reno, and Rod all stood up as they opened the traditional oak door Veld still used.
He never really trusted technology.
With good reason.
"General Sephiroth," Veld greeted with a tight smile, letting his subordinates out and the general in. "Right on time as always."
"Cut the pleasantries, Veld," Sephiroth responded, "You asked to meet." Veld gestured to the seat Reno just vacated, but Sephiroth ignored it, remaining standing in a stiff posture not dissimilar to a parade rest.
Two can play this game, Veld thought, and pointed sat back down in his chair, flipping open the folder he had on his desk.
"Unfortunately," Veld began gravely, "I have questions for you."
"Don't waste my time, Veld," Sephiroth remarked, "What is this about?" Veld held up the report in his hand and showed it to Sephiroth. Green slitted eyes glanced at the report, and Veld knew Sephiroth could read it perfectly well, even from where he stood.
"Ah yes, the report that turned up nothing about the information breach." Veld shook his head.
"Not nothing." At this, Sephiroth narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth pointed down in a slight frown.
"Don't waste my time, Veld," Sephiroth repeated but stepped closer to the desk, now looking down at Veld, "I have told you all I know."
"You have told me all I know, Sephiroth," Veld grumbled, leaning back both hands placed palms down on his desk, unflinching and glaring back at Sephiroth "But I now seriously doubt it is everything you know."
"What do you mean?" Veld glanced again meaningfully at the seat behind Sephiroth. The man huffed but dropped into it. The legs creaked against Veld's floor as Sephiroth shifted it forward, then leaned back, leather clad elbows propped on each arm rest.
In that moment, the man resembled a coeurl, even sprawled across the seat, and his relaxed posture belied his ability to maim Veld before he could blink. Never mind the fact the man hadn't brought Masamune to their meeting.
"Here are the files we have managed to recover from your computer after the perpetrator scrambled everything," Veld said, sliding the file forward, "We recovered detailed documents of Professor Hojo's projects. Ones that are considered top secret and had been located on a separate server by permission of President Shinra."
Sephiroth was silent for a while.
Veld examined the General's expression but like always, Sephiroth was aloof at the best of times and impassive even to Turk eyes, trained in detecting the slightest tells. The only time Veld ever saw emotion from him was around his own Soldiers.
"I didn't expect that I'd be the subject of your questioning and investigation, Veld. " Sephiroth began, "I admit that I do have certain files in my keeping. However, many of those files are highly personal in nature and I thank you for not divulging information that amounts to my medical records."
"You-" Veld exclaimed, shocked.
"Yes," Sephiroth interrupted calmly, "Hojo's machinations on the human body is one of Shinra's worst kept secrets. I am but one example. Much of my…father's research revolves around my conception. I think, then, I should be privy to at least some of that research when it involves me."
It was Veld's turn to be silent. Veld's thoughts went unwittingly to his own family and stopped himself before it went too far. Only darkness and pain lay there. It wasn't something he could dwell on now, on the job.
Not when he had a facade to keep.
"You have my word that I will not reveal this information easily, Sephiroth," Veld finally placated, "In fact, I left it out of the report until we could talk."
What the science department was up to had always been opaque to the Turks, beyond what promises Hojo made to President Shinra about the Promised Land.
The details of the treatments that produced Shinra's Soldiers and the elites of the likes of Sephiroth, Angeal, and Genesis were unknown. Precious little was shared with Soldier candidates before they signed their lives and bodies away to mako injections attenuated with proprietary chemicals.
Sephiroth shifted his weight forward on the chair, making the move to stand. "Are we done here?"
"No actually," Veld shifted gears. Wrong footed though he might be, he always looked for other openings, "Other than the sensitive information we had discovered from the science department, we recovered paper correspondence in your office from Godo that negotiated cease-fire up until a year ago."
"Yes," Sephiroth admitted again easily. "It was hardly a secret."
"The President never sanctioned such a thing."
"Hence why the correspondence fell apart- when Kisaragi realized that whatever agreement he might reach with me cannot be done in full confidence."
"And now?"
"President Shinra wants full unconditional surrender of Wutai. Unlikely with how the war is going," Sephiroth answered, "As you know. Perhaps now President Shinra would be more amenable to hearing an agreement, but not before many more lives are lost."
"What do you support?" Veld inquired. He was rarely so direct in his questioning, but Sephiroth was not someone he could easily manipulate anyway. Regardless, Sephiroth's gaze was acidic.
"What I think does not matter. I only command troops to win battles," Sephiroth answered disparagingly, "Now then, I do have to return to my office if this chat is done?"
Although Sephiroth phrased it as a question, Veld could hear the clear dismissal in Sephiroth's voice. He nodded.
"We are done here. Thank you for your cooperation, General."
Sephiroth nodded and rose from his chair. He paused at the door with one last parting shot.
"Good evening, director."
"Good evening, general."
The soft click of the door behind the faint swoosh of a leather trench coat left Veld alone. He threw the file into a tray and with barely a thought the papers caught fire until only ash remained. Another reason Veld preferred traditional to digital.
Fewer traces.
He swept the ashes into the waste bin and after wiping his hands, donned his leather gloves and set everything to order on his desk. Standing up, he grabbed his PHS and unlocked it, barely scrolling down to find the contact he wanted, and dialed as he stepped out of his office, the door locking automatically behind him.
"Veld," Tseng greeted. To his surprise, the response came from both the phone and around the corner.
"Where are you?" When Veld caught sight of his subordinate, he shut his phone. "Tseng."
Tseng changed his pace and direction to follow Veld, only half a step behind the director.
"Rufus has been… uncooperative." Veld snorted.
"Tell me something I don't know," Veld responded as they walked together toward the elevator. Tseng had just returned from checking on things below the plate when he ran into Rufus.
It was strange - Rufus had suddenly started taking a more active interest in the family business. President Shinra didn't say much but his actions showed how pleased the man was, inviting his son to all meetings. Shinra had at least two illegitimate children. The Turks kept track of both in Midgar. No one knew how many others he had, never remotely acknowledged. Of the many children, only Rufus was heir.
Rufus also took after his father most in both ruthlessness and acumen, little wonder that the President favored him. However, Rufus never saw eye to eye with his father regarding the direction of the company and had elected to stay away from the main energy business, finally ending the explosive arguments the two would get into in the boardroom. Rufus's recent change in tune left the President in a good mood, believing his son to have come around.
Tseng was less convinced.
When he voiced his concerns to Veld, however, Veld simply advised that it was better for his career to stay out of the family drama. Veld was not wrong, but Tseng was troubled by Rufus's change of heart. He thought of a certain family in Sector Five. Sometimes, better the devil you know. President Shinra's continued lack of interest in the slums continued to be a blessing in disguise.
"I briefed the Vice President but his stance remains unchanged. He is set on convincing his father to move to Junon," Tseng said instead.
They both stepped into the elevator. Above floor sixty, there were fewer occupants and the car was empty as they entered. Veld tapped the button to descend toward the detention area. As the elevator closed behind him, his phone rang again. Veld glanced at the screen as did Tseng. He could see Reno's name displayed briefly before Veld pressed the phone to his ear.
"Tseng is with me." Tseng leaned closer as Veld hit the speaker button.
"Our detainee has been acting crazier since last night," Reno's voice echoed in the elevator. Tseng grimaced.
"We are on our way."
On the other end of the line, they could hear an agitated voice demand, "You can't hold me here! I demand a lawyer, I have -!" It was slightly distorted but nonetheless came through discernably.
Reno raised his voice, speaking to someone else in the room, "Yo, get him under control!" The yelling faded a bit. Then, resuming the conversation, Reno explained, "He's been flailing around. MP says he was screaming half the night after being completely cooperative up 'til then."
Veld hummed. "I'd be interested in seeing who he calls."
Tseng could picture Reno's shrug.
"Sure, boss." The elevator arrived and both men stepped out. Veld ended the call as they made their way toward the detention area. Passing by the first set of doors, they could hear the exchange.
"Yo, here's the phone. Make it quick." Reno was loudly cursed at for his troubles.
Tseng could hear the familiar soft beeps of a dial and knew that Reno had given the man a company phone the Turks could easily trace. Seconds later, a muffled ring sounded in the room. Tseng tensed beside Veld. Both men looked at each other and sprinted down the hall.
"Is that-?"
"What the fuck? Why is that coming from my stomach?"
"Shit! Everyone get out!"
"Hey wait! Help me! HEL-"
"OUT-"
Tseng heard a loud pop of air, followed by a boom, then nothing. It felt like the entire building rocked under their feet.
For moments after, all Tseng could hear was a deafening ring in his ears.
Veld was knocked off his feet. The few windows shattered, shrapnel narrowly missing Veld's eye and grazing his temple. The sprinkler system released all at once, deluging the hallways. As Tseng slowly regained hearing, he could hear alarms ringing above his tinnitus.
Both Turks picked themselves up, suit soaks and hair plaster to their faces.
"Go look for Reno." Veld ordered sharply, yelling over the alarms, "I'll find Security." Tseng nodded as Veld turned toward the emergency stairwell. Just then a second explosion rocked the building. For a heart-stopping moment, Tseng thought it was the detention area again. Instead, he could hear alarms from above.
The klaxon for a science department breach in monster detainment blared in a series of pre-recorded messages.
"Fuck."
Genesis and Cloud felt the explosion when Cloud was mid-cast. The boy quickly finished off the wolf he faced, just before the entire simulation dissolved into voxels. Without a word, Genesis strode to the exit, Cloud not far behind, a practice sword in hand, materia still equipt.
The explosion caused the entire building to sway. While Genesis kept his footing, the blond stumbled a bit as they reached the end of the hall. Already, Soldiers had come out of various training and rest areas, making for the elevators to investigate. Genesis shook his head and changed course.
"They aren't going to get far that way," he motioned to Cloud, "We are going to need to climb." The emergency stairwell was rarely used but fared far better in situations like these. The boy followed without protest.
Suddenly, the entire building rocked again, and the monster containment alarm blared. Genesis looked at Cloud.
"Ready for your crash course?" Cloud pursed his lips, face serious, and nodded.
"Ja, let's mosey." Genesis laughed and both dashed for the stairwell, Genesis setting a casual gait for Cloud's unenhanced pace. When they entered, there were already a few people dashing both up and down. Water from the sprinkler system poured down the stairs, making them slick. Genesis scowled.
"Out of the way!"
A woman, hair falling out of her bun, ran past them, tripping and falling onto the landing below. Just as Cloud turned to help, a screech ripped out from above. Tumbling out from an open fire escape, a dark blue bird with a viciously sharp beak clumsily flapped its wings, the span barely fitting into the narrow space.
"Odin's hairy balls," Cloud exclaimed, "What's a Zu doing here?"
Genesis was saved from trying to think of anything particularly witty when the bird half fell, half flew at them, knocking a man over the rail. Cloud winced when he fell too long before they heard a crash, but the groans indicated the man lived. Genesis turned its attention instead to the Zu. Thankfully, others gave both the bird and the commander a wide berth. Genesis gauged the stairwell. Too narrow for his rapier to be effective, and the water made some materia impossible. On the other hand, the monster was grounded, greatly decreasing its threat.
The beast saw Genesis and screeched back in anger, puffing its feathers.
"Lightning is going to electrocute us all," Genesis said as he unsheathed his sword anyway. The bird hissed but crammed as it was, it couldn't use a wind attack.
"Ice," Cloud said, materia already glowing as the blond drew on it, preparing a cast. Genesis nodded.
"Aim for the wings if you can. They are already wet." Without another word, crystal blossomed across the floor, rapidly freezing one wing to the ground. Realizing what was happening, the zu snapped back, flailing its free wing as it tried in vain to take to the air. Cloud cast a second time, freezing a claw into the wet floor beneath.
It screeched angrily. In the instant the monster was distracted, Genesis pierced it through. Flickering dark blood off his blade, he nodded in approval at his protege.
"We need to keep moving."
They both sprinted past the dead zu into the hallway that opened behind it, a stenciled number denoting floor fifty-nine. The floor opened into an open atrium, typically available for Shinra's vetted visitors and polished to a gleam. Instead, one of the glass panes had cracked, evidence that a monster had crashed against it in an attempt to escape. There were claw marks on the wall.
Screaming could be heard along with the roar of another monster. Rapier still unsheathed, Genesis ran toward the sound.
At the bottom of the escalators leading up, a monster looked up from where it pinned a man to the wall, limp. When it heard Genesis and Cloud's footsteps it twisted its body. It was grotesque, an amalgamation of crab, tentacle, and fur, a mucous drool acidic as it dripped down onto marble floors, hissing as it made contact.
"What in hell is that?" Cloud gasped as he saw it. Genesis held up his sword, on guard.
"A gift from our friends in the science department no doubt," he replied as he sidestepped a wild swing of a claw, which broke the tiles where he previously stood. Cloud also backed up warily. Genesis ordered, "I will draw it out. You get that man out."
The boy grunted and Genesis could see out of his peripheral vision the boy flanking the monster as he edged closer to the (hopefully) unconscious employee.
A flash of lightning enraged the monster, jolting it. It lunged, surprisingly quick, at Genesis with a hoarse roar, one claw outstretched. Genesis was ready for it. With his rapier, he parried the claw, letting it swing wide. With his other hand, he cast again, letting out a much stronger electrical surge flaying its flesh. It recoiled with a pained shriek, injured but not down.
Behind it, Cloud had dragged the man out from where he had been wedged by one arm.. As if sensing the movement the monster turned. Seeing its attention focused on him, Cloud's eyes widened. He quickly dropped the man's arm, sword coming back up to guard. Seeing the flash of steel, the monster roared again and turned its attention fully away from the larger threat.
It would be the last mistake it would make as Genesis beheaded it in one strike.
The monster let out a dying cry, and Genesis's head jolted up when another answered from upstairs. Just then a group of bloodhounds circled around the lounge, growling lowly.
"Take those down. I'm going up." Genesis directed. At the answering nod, Genesis turned to the escalator. "'When the war of beasts finally brings about the world's end'…"
Kunsel is in the unenviable position of fighting back to back with General Sephiroth and being too occupied to even enjoy the concept let alone marvel at the man's skill. When the alarms started, a contingent of Soldiers made it up to the research Drum to evacuate as many as they could.
Kunsel honestly never understood the wisdom of placing some of the most volatile specimens on a floor right under the office of the President and senior company heads.
Just what were the building designers thinking?
He and a few other Seconds made quick work of the lab escapees on the central floor when the general's phone rang.
"Sephiroth," he said as he picked up. "Hm. Understood." On hanging up, Sephiroth turned to the Soldiers.
"They have evacuated the president. We are on cleanup operation here."
"Yes, sir," Kunsel answered. He thought of Zack. The poor guy will be so disappointed to find out he got sent out on patrol and missed all the action. Kunsel walked over to one of the tanks, cracked and empty. "What do you think was in this one?"
Suddenly, from outside, there was the sound of another pained cry followed by a wet squelch of steel through flesh that immediately caused everyone to tense. The door slid open and Commander Genesis walked in instead, swinging his rapier to clean it of dark purple blood, splashing it against one tank. Looking around, he sniffed.
"Do I need to do all the heavy lifting around here?" Sephiroth raised a brow and lightly smirked.
"Genesis. I trust the lower floors are taken care of?" Genesis inspected his rapier then sheathed it, stepping around to inspect the room as he walked around Sephiroth. "Of course. I left my student in charge."
Sephiroth's brow raised higher. "Student?" Genesis cocked his head.
"Angeal gets a puppy, I can have a chocobo chick," Genesis answered. Sephiroth shook his head but didn't ask further, and by some silent agreement, both men started for the lift, continuing to make their way up.
Following behind them, Kunsel made a note to message Zack when this was all over. There was so much to catch him up on.
"Hey, kid!" Reeve warned before emptying his bullets into the raging bloodhound about to maul the boy in front of him. Reeve thought his silhouette mildly familiar and when the boy spun around, Reeve realized why with a start. "Cloud!"
Cloud's eyes widened as well. "Mr. Tuesti, what are you doing here?"
"I work here." They both paused at that, the ridiculousness of the situation causing both to crack a smile. Behind Reeve, a few troopers also followed, rifles pointed as they fanned out. Reeve elaborated, "I just finished clearing Urban Development and was just about to evacuate as well."
"Clear," the leader called out. Reeve nodded to them as they continued down the hall. Cloud waved down one man in the back, a medic symbol worn on his arm.
"I found two injured and hid them in the back conference room," Cloud said, pointing down the hall. The trooper nodded and patted a companion on the back while radioing the rest of his squad. Both peeled off to search for the survivors. Reeve watched them go for a moment then turned to Cloud.
"Looks like they cleared the lower floors and the elevators are working again. They've ordered an evacuation of all nonessential personnel. If you don't have anywhere else to be, how about we get you cleaned up and get a hot meal into you," Reeve offered. Cloud smiled tiredly.
"That sounds swell."