Samuel Exodus

Sephiroth, the hero of the world, a man renowned for his calm and collected attitude as well as his power, ran through the Shinra HQ building at such speeds, no one could keep track of his passing image. His destination, the Shinra HQ recovery ward. 

News of the incident at Kalm spread through Shinra quickly.

He was almost there, and just as he rounded the corner to the hall, Sephiroth could see both Angeal and Genesis coming out of the ward.

He stopped.

" Angeal, Genesis." He spoke.

Angeal raised a hand to Sephiroth and gently shook his head. 

Angeal and Genesis walked past Sephiroth both giving the man a pat on his shoulder. Sephiroth quickly stumbled into the ward, only to see Exodus lying down quietly on a mattress. Machines hooked up to him. 

[ The Price of Freedom]

" Brother." Sephiroth heard a weak gasp come from his brother, oh so weak he could barely hear it. Never before had Sephiroth seen him so weak.

" Brother." Sephiroth responded by placing a hand on Sam's chest. 

" All those people, brother. Is this what we fight for now?" Sam asked. " Is this what it means to be a part of Shinra? A company of lies and deceit. A place of torture." There was a single tear falling from Sam's uninjured eye. " Tell me brother, what is right about this? Where is the justice?"

Sephiroth clenched his hand on Sam's chest. 

Sephiroth didn't know what to say. So, he simply held Sam until the man returned to his slumber.

Sephiroth stayed there for hours, watching over who he believed to be his last living relative, until once again he was called away by Shinra to handle something for him. As he exited the ward, Sephiroth in an unusual act of aggression punched the wall beside him so hard, it cracked the wall.

The nurses and doctors watching over the area were alarmed by the size of the crack in their wall. They watched as Sephiroth quietly stalked away.

.....................

It took some time for Samuel to fully recover before he was allowed to leave the medical ward. After some tests and experiments were done to ensure that he wasn't going to degrade as Soldiers would, he was released back into full duty. 

Exodus sat in his room, staring at the wall, a feeling disgust filled his very being. 

* Knock knock knock!

Exodus heard a knock at the door but ignored it. He didn't feel like being bothered. However the knocking persisted.

" Who is it?" He finally asked.

The door to his room slid open and there revealed Genesis.

" Well hello, my friend. To what sorrows your mind today?" Genesis asked.

" I'm not in the mood for your poetry Genesis. Leave me."

" No can do, Sam." Angeal stated. His form appeared behind Genesis and rested firmly against the door post. 

" Angeal? You too?" 

" Sorry, but we just can't stand you sitting here mopping around so much. Really brings down the whole mood, don't ya think?" Angeal said to the man.

" So, come on out, or we'll drag you out." Sephiroth told his brother.

Sam looked up at the three men, all of whom smiled at him.

" Sephiroth?"

Exodus gave pause for a moment before shaking his head. 

" I'm fine."

Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth all took a glance at one another before marching into the room.

" Hey- what are you? Get me off me. Hey let me go! What are? I said let me go God Damnit!" 

The sound of kicking and things being knocked over filled the room. And when the three of them were done, they had tied Exodus up by his hands and feet and carried him out of the room. 

" Hmmmmmmnrahamahmmmmm!" Sam cursed the three men out as he thrashed around on Sephiroth's shoulders. His arms and legs bound by rope and a rag in his mouth. 

" Heh, you should have come peacefully." Genesis muttered.

" Now we gotta drag you out." Angeal joked.

Angeal tapped Exodus on his head and started walking with Sephiroth towards the VR room. Once there Sephiroth dropped Exodus onto the floor and cut the bindings off of him.

" Blegh!" Exodus coughed as he removed the rag from his mouth. " What the hell guys?! You can't just kidnap me?"

*Shing!

Sephiroth placed his sword down in front of Exodus' face, making him quiet.

When Exodus looked up, he saw Angeal and Gensis both holding their blades as well. 

" What is this?"

Sephiroth reached back and threw Muramasa down in front of Exodus. 

" Come on, Sam. Let's have some fun." Sephiroth spoke. 

Angeal entered something into the console in the room and slowly the environment around them changed. 

It was now Junon, more specifically the top of Junon's cannon. 

" Now come on. Get up, we don't have all day, you know?" Genesis said to the man.

" Huh? You bastards... The lot of you. Bastards." Exodus grabbed his sword and raised it at the three men.

Once he was to his feet, a semblance of a smile appeared on his face.

" Really? All of this just to get me out of the room?"

" Well, you wouldn't leave otherwise. Now, let's go!" 

Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth rushed Exodus and once, pushing him backwards, as he braced with his blade.

" Haaagh!" Exodus swung his blade at Sephiroth but was parried away with ease. Exodus spun off of Sephiroth's blade and slashed at Angeal and Genesis, both of whom also blocked his attack. 

All four of the men laughed as their swords clashed with one another. For once everything seemed alright. It was as if the four Soldiers were at peace, even if only for the moment being. The artificial wind blowing on their faces, the warmth of the sun, and the sound of metal hitting metal was a soothing feeling for these warriors four. 

By the time they were all finished, they were all lying on their backs looking up at the artificial sky above them.

[ The price of Freedom]

" The sky is beautiful. Even here in this fake world. It is splendid. Have any of you ever wondered what lies beyond that beautiful veil so high up in the sky?" Exodus asked. 

" Yes." Genesis spoke. " Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess." He said as he raised his hands towards the sky. " We seek it thus and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul knows no rest." 

" Heh! Loveless- Act 1" Exodus spoke.

" You remembered?" Genesis asked.

" Of course, hahahaha! How could I forget?" Exodus explained. " Guys..." Exodus spoke somberly.

Angeal, Genesis, and Sephiroth all turned their eyes towards Exodus.

" Have any of you ever wondered about what we're going to do after this war is over?" He asked. " I don't know about you all, but I'm getting tired of all the fighting. One day, I hope to be able to do something else for a change. Instead of fighting and destroying, I want to try building something." Exodus explained.

" Like what?" Sephiroth asked.

" I don't know yet." He said. He then smiled. " But whatever it is, I want all of you there with me. The four of us together can accomplish anything. And I know as long as you guys have my back and I have yours, there's nothing that can stop us. So, let's hurry up and put an end to this war with Wutai. Too many young men are being sent off to die. Let's end it, so that the next generation doesn't have to. And then, let's go build something new, together. What do ya say?" 

" Hm, that's awful lot of conviction from a man who was staring at a wall for a week." Angeal joked. " I like it. What about you, Genesis?"

" Hm Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul. Pride is lost, wings stripped away. The end is nigh. There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the goddess. Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds." Genesis spoke. " It sounds like a fine dream."

" I agree." Sephiroth muttered. 

" Heh! Then it's settled. Let's do our best so that we can spread our wings and fly. And the first step to that..." He said. He raised his blade up to the sky and sheathed it. " I'm going to need a new sword."