FFVII AU
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Reno and Rude flew high above the Midgar Wastes in their Shinra Co. helicopter. It was an important mission. Not one handed down by the President, Heidegger, Scarlet, or even Rufus Shinra. It was a personal mission, one taken up by the four highest ranking officer of the Turks. Tseng was taking a huge risk in handing down the order, but then again, they all were. The mission directive itself was simple.
Capture Zack Fair and Cloud Strife.
Alive.
"Dammit! How are we supposed to find them? It's like looking for a needle in a goddamn desert!"
Carrying that mission out, however, was proving to be troublesome.
"Don't complain. Tseng has all those messages to send. Besides. We're the Turks-" Rude admonished.
"I know, I know. And the Turks never fail." Reno cut off his partner. "Seems to me that Tseng is going through an awful lot to correct a postage error though."
Rude was silent for a moment. "He's our friend."
Reno nodded. "And the Turks take care of their own." He grinned. "Even if he's technically not a Turk."
A crackle on their radio came before a feminine voice broke through. "Reno, Rude, I have reported shots fired in vector six, I repeat, shots fired. You guys are the closest!"
Reno banged his fist on the console. "Hurry the fuck up, Rude! Goddammit!"
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Zack Fair lowered his mako poisoned friend to the ground, having escaped the gun fire of the Shinra grunts for a short while. He sighed heavily and ruffled the hair of his blond companion. In another life, in another world, he would have walked away to save Cloud Strife. He wouldn't have seen his friend come to consciousness bare moments after he left. In another life, a hero would have laid down his life for the would be savior of the world.
As he began to step away, the roar of a helicopter blade abruptly exploded behind him, and he turned back in sharp surprise. For one moment, the black haired SOLDIER made eye contact with Reno and Rude. Reno gave a small wave, and the helicopter continued a short ways past them before landing.
Then Zack looked down. Cloud, wide eye'd, was reaching out to him.
"Za...ck."
Zacks eyes mimic'd the blond's wide ones. "Cloud?....CLOUD!!" He shouted with momentary glee. He picked his friend up in a bear hug, swinging him around. "I was afraid you wouldn't wake up! Are you ok?"
"...ouch." Cloud responded, quietly.
The sound of another helicopter reached Zacks ears, and quickly closing in, he saw it.
"The Turks have found us...I'm not sure if that's a good thing."
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The army of Shinra grunts marched on, trailing their prey. Former SOLDIER 1st Class Zack Fair and his companion, a top secret test subject: Cloud Strife. Orders were to neutralize with extreme prejudice. Those who returned successfully were to be rewarded handsomely. Shinra promised those who were reported to have preformed admirably would be entered into a special mako infusion treatment designed by Hojo himself.
The mission directive itself was simple.
"HALT!" A commander shouted out. As one, the diligent Shinra troops halted.
Above, a Shinra helicopter began its descent. As it lowered, some of the troops recognized the suits within.
"The Turks..." One of them muttered distastefully.
As the helicopter landed, Reno and Rude hopped out and began walking toward the platoon. A commander walked out to meet them.
He saluted. "Sirs! I didn't realize we would have Turk support on this mission!" Sneaking a glance to his troops to make sure they weren't eaves dropping, he lowered his voice. "But to tell the truth, I'm glad...We would've had a lot of casualties against Zack Fair..."
Ignoring the commander, Reno looked over to Rude. "Hey Rude. It's really cool, that materia Tseng lent us for this mission, yeah?"
Rude nodded, pulling his gloves tight and adjusting his tie. "Right. Mastered fire materia...linked to an All."
"Oooh! That'd be great for taking out a SOLDIER 1st Class wouldn't it!?" Reno asked in mock enthusiasm.
Rude nodded again. "Deadly."
Reno's smile vanished. "You know what else it would be good for? Making sure a platoon of soldiers don't report that the Turks interfered in their mission."
"Wait! What!?" The commander shouted in shock.
Reno closed his eyes, focusing on the materia.
"Troops, fi-!" The commander began
"Lemme say it. Firaga." Reno cut him off.
Carrying out that mission, for the Shinra grunts, however, would prove impossible.
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Zack held the Buster Sword warily as the second helicopter landed, standing in front of Cloud.
Tseng adjusted his tie and suit jacket as he walked out, a box held between his arm and body.
"Zack Fair...It's good to see you."
"You too, Tseng...Though I didn't figure you for the long hair type." Zack replied.
Tseng raised an eyebrow. "Nor you."
"Enough small talk...what do you want, Tseng?"
Seemingly ignoring the question, Tseng responded. "All Shinra combatants have standing orders to kill the both of you on sight, you know?"
Zack readied his massive blade. "So it's like that..."
"I, however, have countermanded that order to the Turks.The two of you are to be captured, alive. After perusing Professor Hojo's files, however, I do not find that option to be in our best interests, either."
"Tseng..."
"Tragically, Zack Fair and his companion, Cloud Strife, managed to dispatch an entire platoon of Shinra soldiers. However, this outcome is not completely unexpected. Zack Fair was a veteran and hero of the Wutai War, and responsible for dispatching 1st Class Soldier traitors Angeal Hewley and Genesis. Cloud Strife awoke to assist his companion, and after going through intensive SOLDIER grade mako treatments, proved to be an invaluable ally. The Turks arrived on the scene too late to save the Shinra soldiers, however, a well placed firagra from Reno, and Beta from Cissnei's Enemy Skill Materia dispatched the two worn out escapee's."
Zacks mouth was wide with surprise, it was Cloud, however, who expressed his thoughts.
"...Thanks..." He said, weakly.
Tseng smiled. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. I was just going over what I'd say in my report later." The leader of the Turks turned to Zack. "Zack...this box contains 88 letters, all written by Aeirth Gainsborough...You two. Do not dwell in Midgar for long. There is no way a SOLDIER 1st class can go unnoticed for long, and your partner isn't the most inconspicuous person either, with those mako eyes." Tseng handed the box of letters to Zack, and turned back toward the chopper.
"Tseng!" The Turk leader stopped. "Thank you...for everything. You're a good friend."
Tseng nodded. "That I am." And with that, he climbed back into his helicopter, starting it up.
Zack turned, covering Cloud from the flying debris.
"Zack...what do we call out mercenary company?"
"You were listening?"
Cloud grinned. "You wouldn't...shut up."
Zack laughed gleefully, tears whipped away from his face in the wind from the helicopter.
"Zack. You're getting me wet."
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Reno and Rude leaned against their helicopter, both taking deep drags on cigarettes.
"Turks. Mission complete. Targets Zack Fair and Cloud Strife have been neutralized." Came Tseng's voice over their head set.
Reno flicked his cigarette to the ground, while Rude stomped his out under his shoe.
Reno toggled his mic. "Where do you want to celebrate, Boss?"
Rude toggled his as well. "There's a good bar in Sector 7. 7th Heaven....Nice bar tender."
Tseng's voice crackled in. "7th Heaven it is."
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Zack and Cloud walked slowly toward Midgar, Cloud leaning on his comrade for support.
As they approached the edges of the city, Zack caught the sight of a key card in the dirt.
"Hey Cloud! Check it out. A key card to Sector 7. Lucky!"
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Tifa stomped toward the train station in Sector 7.
"I can't believe those Shinra jerks! The nerve they have to come to MY bar to celebrate their victory! They were Turks too...dammit! They're drinking my booze, and they're probably celebrating murdering a...a...baby or something!"
And then she saw two people she never thought she would ever see again.
Spikey blond hair. Bright glowing eyes. Long black hair. A humongous sword...All thoughts of baby murdering Turks fled her mind in an instant.
"Cloud, Zack!"
Cloud only had a moment to blink as blur of red eyes and long brown hair barreled into him.
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Zack smiled as he watched the two childhood friends talk to each other recounting their past.
"Cloud...when Sephiroth came...it was awful...be glad you weren't there."
Zack's smile faded. "What are you talking about, Tifa...Cloud WAS there...we all were."
Tifa's eyes widened dramatically as she whipped her head around toward the blond man. Suddenly, the pieces came together.
"That soldier...that was...that was you! Cloud...you kept your promise..."
Cloud ducked his head. "Not really...I was too late."
Zack clapped him on his back. "Don't say that, kiddo. Sephiroth would've finished us off, if it weren't for you."
Cloud turned his head up to Zack, bright mako eyes terribly pained. "Zack...have you ever thought...maybe that would've been better?"
"Don't say that, man. Don't ever even think it. What we went through...It was bad...it was torture...but don't ever forget that we're here now. We're free, and we'll never be caged like that again. I promise."
Tifa put a hand to her mouth. "Cloud...Zack...what happened?"
Cloud turned toward Tifa, and began their tragic story.
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Tifa shuffled her feet nervously. "So...you guys say your mercenaries now, right?"
The two nodded.
"I...well...I might have a job for you. How would you like to get back at Shinra.
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"I need to think about it. Cloud...Come on. There's someone I need to see in Sector 5."
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Aerith tended to her flowers carefully, making sure each one was subjected to just the right amount of light and water. She fidgeted slightly, momentarily taking out a letter. She sighed letting the letter float away in the wind. It was time to let go...time to move on. Maybe someone else would fall through her roof for her to fall in love with.
"Where did you go, Zack? What happened?"
Slowly, the door to the church opened. Aerith smiled, it was probably the neighborhood kids, or Tseng to make sure she was ok.
"Aerith! Are you here?" His voice echoed through the structure.
And then she saw him...framed by the light from outside. Looking around the church with curious, apprehensive eyes.
Tentatively, she called back. "Zack...is it really you?"
The last cetra didn't get a chance to blink before she was swept off her feet in a crushing hug.
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More to come....Tired of writing tonight, but I at least do have plans to continue this one.
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