Tartarus

Arqa Block: Floor ?

When The Dark Hour began, Makoto has become separated from Junpei and Akihiko after losing consciousness. In attempts to get this operation back on track, Makoto continued to climb Tartarus by a few floors, waiting to get back in touch with them.

During his temporary solo expedition, he started to follow a girl's voice as he continued to trek upwards.

Suspecting it to possibly be the lost Fuuka Yamagishi that himself & S.E.E.S. pledged to find, he continued upwards.

With Shadows in the way, he dispatched what he could, though it admittedly proved a challenge alone. As Shadows around every corner continued to surround him, Makoto turned to hear a man's voice echo off the walls.

"Hold on! Imma comin'!"

Makoto and the Shadows alike turned.

The excess energy and excitement emitting from down the hall became apparent as a man with darker hair holding a large sword sprinted in their direction.

Makoto could have sworn that he just blinked and the Shadows all around him were immediately nothing but vapor after a quick succession of slashes that he heard.

Makoto's eye browed, watching the man clip his large sword on his back.

"Hey…Mitsuru told me that there were some friends in trouble. You…wouldn't happen to be one of 'em, would you?" The man asked, smiling.

"…yeah." Makoto cautioned.

"Well…call me Zack!" He exclaimed, hand on one hip and thumb pointed back to his face.

"Zack…?" Makoto pondered.

Makoto wondered just where this energetic man came from and how long he'd been here. However, judging by the dirt smeared on Zack's uniform, he'd have guessed he gotten here some time prior to the operation.

He looked like a kind of soldier and yet Makoto couldn't pinpoint what faction or military that this man belonged to, or if he even belonged to anyone at all.

"How long have you been in here?" Makoto questioned.

"Uh…little hard to say, honestly? Hours? Days? I dunno, man, my internal clock's kinda busted right now." Zack replied, rubbing the back of his head. "But now that I found you, maybe we look for your other teammates together?"

"Sure." Makoto nodded.

"Okay! Sounds like a plan eh…" Zack paused for a moment, not knowing what to call him. "What's your name?"

"Makoto Yuki." He replied.

"Nice to meet you, Makoto!" Zack smiled.

Junpei and Akihiko were thankfully able to find each other once more. Currently unaware of the whereabouts of their leader, they momentarily discussed if they'd try to go forward and continue, trek back and search for him that way, or simply just wait for him to come find the two of them.

Luckily for the two of them, however, the third option seemed to be the most viable as they saw their leader approaching them in the distance.

For a moment, they could feel relief wash over them in this dark, morbid hallway, but that relief was soon drowned out with concern and questioning, seeing Makoto side by side with another man.

"You must be Junpei and Akihiko, is that right?" He asked.

"Uh…yeah!" Junpei answered.

"Who's the heck is this guy?" Akihiko inquired with a glare, taking a step forward.

"Zack." Makoto replied, stepping in front of him. "He came to help."

"Oh, I uh…" Akihiko retracted his glare, taking a step back as he crossed his arms. "Sorry 'bout this. Just a little on edge about this whole method we entered Tartarus with."

"Tartarus…" Zack pondered, placing his hands on his hips as he looked up at the ceiling. "So THAT'S what this place is called. I swear, this place is just as tall, if not WAY taller than Shinra HQ."

"Huh?" Junpei puzzled. "Shin-who now?"

Makoto, now at the side of Junpei and Akihiko, shared the same look of confusion of the mention that Zack. In fairness, Zack's look appeared to share their confusion being in Tartarus alone.

"Shinra." Zack repeated. "Shinra Corporation? Shinra Electric Power Company? The very entity at the center of Midgar? Does any of that ring a bell?"

"I can't say that it does. Sorry." Akihiko frowned.

"Huh." Zack huffed. "Well, the important thing for right now is, everyone's safe. What are you all doing here anyway?"

"We came here on a rescue mission, but I didn't think we'd be the ones that needed rescuing." Akihiko remarked.

"Speaking of which," Junpei cut in. "Anyone hear a voice on the way here?"

"You mean Mitsuru's?" Zack asked.

"Nah, not her…" Junpei shook his head.

"Who's there…? Are you…human?"

"WAIT!" Junpei yelped. "That's it! That's the voice!"

"It came from right behind us…" Akihiko turned, looking towards a pillar right beside a wall.

Attempting to charge of the situation, Zack peered over the other S.E.E.S. members as he shuffled over to the side in view right beside Akihiko. From his newfound angle, he could see the outlines of a young girl's and her light teal hair.

"It's okay…you can come out." Zack assured, extending his hand. "There's no need to be afraid. We're here to rescue you."

Convinced of his soothing words, the girl came out from her concealment, dropping to her knees and cupping her hands.

"Oh, thank goodness!" She cried.

"Are you okay?" Zack asked, kneeling down on one knee, Makoto following suit.

"Yes…I'm fine." She sighed. "I'm just so relieved, that's all."

"Are you Fuuka Yamagishi?" Makoto asked.

"Y-Yes!" She exclaimed.

"Looks like we made the right call then…" Akihiko resounded. "I'll see if I can contact Mitsuru."

"What is this place…?" Fuuka questioned, still feeling shaken. "One second I was in the school and then suddenly…"

"Wait…" Zack's puzzled look reformed once more as he looked back up to the others. "This place is…a school?"

"Uh…it's kind of a long story?" Junpei shrugged. "We can explain after we get outta here."

"I guess we'll both have a 'long story' to exchange once we do." Zack remarked, standing up. "For now though, let's just focus on heading to the exit." He stated, reaching out to both Makoto and Fuuka, to which the two accepted the gesture in return as they were pulled back up on their feet.

"You're not hurt, are you? You've probably seen the monsters wandering around, right?" Junpei questioned.

"No, I'm fine…but I know there is something dangerous in here, but I've gotten by without them finding me so far…" Fuuka admitted.

"Wait, you've been avoiding them this entire time?!" Akihiko gasped. "How is that possible?"

"I…can't exactly explain." Fuuka faltered. "I guess I can sort of 'tell' where they are."

"Wait…she has the same power as Mitsuru! Though her Persona was admittedly more focus on combat to begin with." Akihiko realized.

"'Persona'?" Fuuka pondered.

"And there's another question to add onto my ever-growing list of questions…" Zack remarked quietly.

"Speaking of which…" Akihiko approached Fuuka, handing her an Evoker. "Here, hold onto this."

"Wait…is this a gun?!" Fuuka yelped.

"Think of it as a lucky charm. Don't worry, it doesn't actually fire any bullets." Akihiko reassured, staring off to his side. "Mitsuru, come in. Can you hear me?" Akihiko transmitted, only to hear incoming static from the other end.

"No good?" Zack asked.

"Nothing." Akihiko frowned.

"Guess we better get going." Zack proposed.

The dark, purple hallways remained barren in their slow retreat. Ensuring to keep an eye out for any threats, Zack kept his fingers loose, ensuring that he was ready with his sword at any time.

As the group walked past an exposed open window at the side of the wall, a large green moon shone brightly, peering its heavy green & yellow light into the room.

"Never seen a full moon glow that close before…" Zack commented.

"Some research indicates that Shadows are affected by the phases of the moon." Akihiko explained. "Then again, the same can be said for humans."

"That would explain Yukari's mood swings." Junpei remarked. "Say…wasn't it a full moon the night we went to the monorail?"

"Hm? It was?" Akihiko mused.

"What's up?" Zack wondered. "Something wrong?"

Akihiko, with his arms crossed, addressing Makoto directly.

"Hey, did you see the moon on the night the dorm was attacked back in April?"

"It was full." Makoto confirmed.

"Today is June 8th…" Akihiko continued, absorbing that information. "The monorail incident was May 9th. Plus, the assault on the dorm was on April 9th! They were all on a full moon!"

"Hold on…just what are you talking about? What's going on here?" Zack inquired.

"Mitsuru, come in!" Akihiko screeched, ignoring the SOLDIER currently in the dark.

"Aki—iko? Shadows are-"

"Hey, can you hear me? Mitsuru, come in!"

"Be-c-rful."

"Misturu? Mitsuru!"

"So, where is she exactly?" Zack questioned.

"She's downstairs with our other teammate at the tower's entrance." Akihiko answered.

"Then we should hurry!" Zack bellowed.

"WAIT…!" Fuuka gulped. "I can sense something. It's much bigger than the others…And it's attacking someone!"

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Zack psyched himself up, pressing his first against the palm of his left hand. "What's the quickest way down!"

"If we can JUST find a teleporter back down to the lobby, we MIGHT be able to make it in time!" Akihiko boomed.

Tartarus

Lobby

For a moment, Zack felt a little 'oh, I get it now!' triumphant feeling when stepping into the teleporter for the first time.

On his way up, he saw all of these giant devices sitting around but he never bothered to see what it did since he was too busy rushing up the tower hoping to find his answer.

But now that he knew, he'd absolutely take note of it should he need to climb the tower again.

As his vision came to focus once more, he was back at the very same giant staircase he remembered after falling out of the door he'd entered.

Standing before him, and the other four members of S.E.E.S., were two very different, and very ginormous looking Shadows.

Zack could easily identify the same type of mask the two Shadows wore, just like the dozens of smaller Shadows he cut through on his way up the tower.

On the right was a male shaped Shadow, wearing an outfit resembling that of a noble emperor of sorts. Its torso was as long as its arms, it had a giant red cross painted from the top and bottom of its chest armor, and it had a giant sword.

The other Shadow, meanwhile, was much different, dawning a more feminine royal-like appearance.

Its stomach was round, its arms were short as it held a scepter in one, and it wore what appeared to be a giant cloak streaming down to the heels of its feet.

"There's two of them?!" Akihiko cried out. "Mitsuru! Takeba!"

"We gotta do something!" Zack hollered, reaching for his Buster Sword and pointing it towards the Shadows. "I'll draw them away. Get everyone to safety…!"

"Wait…!" Makoto gestured, looking towards Tartarus' front gate, seeing a familiar face walking through the door.

"Moriyama?!" Fuuka gasped, running towards her.

"Ah…Fuuka…I'm…sorry." The entranced student slurred.

"Please, get out of here! It's not safe!" Fuuka pleaded.

"I…I had to tell you…I'm sorry…" Natsuki cried, falling to her knees.

With the two left vulnerable from the Shadows line of sight, Zack switched tactics, choosing to instead run over towards Fuuka's direction and hold his ground.

"You guys go! I'll take care of these two clowns!" Zack proclaimed.

"NO!" Fuuka hollered, looking down at the Evoker that she was given, pointing it to the side of her head. "I have to protect her!"

"Wait…!" Zack panicked, turning around, noticing the gun-like object that she was pressing against her head, attempting to run towards her to reach out for the gun-shaped object in her hand. "STOP!"

"Persona…" Fuuka chanted, pulling the trigger, a gushing tornado formulating at her center, sending Zack and the two Shadows flying backwards.

Dazed, yet confused after recovering from his sudden outburst, Zack looked up to see that Fuuka was fine and the sudden fears that erupted in his mind were immediately quelled, soon replaced by a mix of confusion and resolution as he saw Fuuka sealed within an orb, a feminine-like figure in a red dress spreading its arms out as it stared into the heavens.

"Persona…?" Zack murmured to himself. "A summon?"

"Are you okay in there?!" Zack sputtered. "What just happened?! I'm…so lost! Is this how summons have always worked?"

"I…I can see the monsters' weaknesses…" Fuuka firmly stated.

"Alright…!" Zack snapped himself back into focus. "I'm trusting you here! Point me in the right direction!"

"Hey, leave some for the rest of us, will ya?" Akihiko snarked, taking position beside Zack, his fists raised up.

"More the merrier!" Zack mused.

"I'll begin searching for the monsters' weaknesses!" Fuuka announced. "Please give me some time!"

"Here it comes!" Junpei shouted.

The first to jump forward was Zack, raising his sword upwards, narrowly blocking the sword from clamping down on Junpei's head.

With all his strength, Zack, put more force on his Buster Sword as he pushed upwards, knocking the male Shadow backwards, if only for a moment.

"Orpheus…" Makoto called out, the crackling sound of the Evoker erupting, as a stream of Fire was shot out towards the two Shadows, with no effect.

"Will this work…?" Akihiko quickly reacted, pointing his own Evoker up to his forehead. "Polydeuces!" He cried out, pulling the trigger as currents of large Electricity bolts were shot out.

Amazingly, the tall shadow with the sword jolted back, taking a hard fall backwards as it remained stunned on the ground, struggling to get back up.

"Hell yeah!" Junpei cried out, not paying attention to the smaller shadow. "Oh shit…"

Gusts of wind were shot out of the creature's stomach directed at Junpei, but for a second time, Zack was able to react quickly and cover him, taking the full blow of the wind stream, affecting him minimally as he stood his ground.

With time given, the other Shadow managed to recover by the time the wind stream had died down.

Focusing on the creature that had now stood back on its feet, Zack observed a miniature spiral of colors emanating on the front of both before disappearing.

"Huh?" Zack looked on, puzzled.

"Thanks, dude! That was a close one…" Junpei sighed.

"It's done! I can start the analysis at any time!" Fuuka confirmed.

"Copy that!" Zack exclaimed, getting himself back in it once more. "Alright…start out with that guy right there!" He ordered, pointing to the tall Shadow.

"Use Ice to hits its weak point!" Fuuka instructed.

"Roger that!" Zack proclaimed, summoning a hard-hitting ice attack with his Materia. "Anyone else wanna chime in?"

"Jack Frost." Makoto uttered as a blistering swirl of ice came froze the Shadow in place, knocking it over.

"Okay uh…what about that one?" Zack yelled out, pointing to the round Shadow.

"QUICK! Use your sword!" Fuuka replied.

"HERMES!" Junpei yelped, his Persona's jagged edges ripping into the sides of the Shadow, knocking it down.

"Warm up's over!" Zack proclaimed, as he took a giant leap in the air, Makoto and Akihiko covering for him as they fended off the taller Shadow.

"Alright, let's go, go, go!" Zack cheered as he lay into the downed Shadow with a Chain Slash. "ARGH!" He grunted, finishing his move as the Shadow dissipated.

"Woah…" Junpei gasped.

"Stay back, everyone! I'll finish the rest!" Zack boomed, jumping in place as he loosened himself up, readying his fists as he strapped the Buster Sword on his back, feeling the need to break his limits with a Rush Assault.

"Hm…I wonder what he's up to." Akihiko squinted.

"On my honor as a SOLDIER!" Zack cried out, thrusting himself forward towards the tall Shadow. "We're not done here!"

Looking on, the rest of S.E.E.S. were in awe at the effective brute force on display with Zack's precise use of hand to hand against the Shadow typically immune to physical strikes. The swift succession of punches, from the effortless acrobatics Zack demonstrated with a barrage of tornado kicks, one final uppercut kick, and lastly, one last thrust with both of his fists, leaving an explosive trail behind him.

"Bye now!" Zack gloated, finishing his attack as the Shadow dissipated. "Phew…that felt good." He sighed, leaning on his knees as he took small breaths to recollect himself as the battlefield reduced back to faint growls of stillness muffling the faint air of Tartarus.

"Are you alright…?" A familiar voice behind him asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine…" Zack insisted, turning to face the young girl with red hair. "You're…Mitsuru?"

"Correct." She replied. "Thank you sincerely for helping out my comrades. We owe you one."

"Nah, don't sweat it. I'm just glad everyone's okay!" Zack smiled.

"FUUKA!"

Attracting Zack's attention, he gestured to head back to the larger group, seeing a collapsed Fuuka on the ground as everyone hovered over her while Natsuki was on her knees, tears pouring down.

"I'm sorry, Fuuka…I'M SORRY!" She sniffled.

"I think she'll be okay…" Zack assured the sobbing Natsuki, placing his hand on her shoulder. "She's just out due to exhaustion…she'll pull through, I promise."