Crisis Core-3

An entire month goes by, with not a whisper or word from Angeal or Genesis. During that time period, Exodus had Kunsel listening for any kind of news that spread around the company. However, nothing ever turned up. For whatever reason, Genesis was doing his best to keep things quiet and Angeal was going right along with him. 

However, the day finally came, where a clue came to light.

Exodus was sitting in his room, when the door suddenly flew open and Kunsel came running in.

" Hey, boss! Boss! I got some news!" Kunsel yelled to the man.

Exodus jumped out of his seat, as Kunsel had startled him. " Jesus Christ! What's with the yelling?!"

Kunsel rubbed the back of his head and laughed nervously. " Oops, sorry boss. Hehe!"

" Nevermind, hurry up and come in, and close the door behind you." 

" RIght." Kunsel stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He then took a seat at Exodus' table and jumped right in. " Okay, so listen. You remember how you wanted me to keep an ear out on things that might be going down in Banora, right?"

" Yeah."

" Well, news just came in today, that Genesis might have been sighted in the old town. Shinra questioned his parents, and they told them that they hadn't seen him. However, a group of Shinra Infantrymen went there and haven't been heard back from."

" Okay. What does that have to do with Genesis?" Exodus asked the man. 

" Well, we got reports back from those men saying that Genesis wasn't there. And then they disappear. Haven't heard from since. Doesn't that sound weird?" Kunsel asked. " I mean, Shinra soldiers go to see Genesis' parents, asking if they've seen him. They get an answer. But then just as soon as they report that he hasn't been seen, those same men go missing?" 

Exodus was catching on to what Kunsel was saying.

" Good job, Kunsel." Exodus said to the man. He quickly stood up and went to his closet to grab his gear. 

" Are we going to Banora?" Kunsel asked.

" I am. I need you here listening to things, keeping an eye out on Shinra's movements." Exodus explained as he got dressed.

" Oh man. Why am I getting left out of the action?" Kunsel asked in disappointment. 

" Because I trust you to keep things under control while I'm gone." Exodus explained. He grabbed his gun and holstered it, and then threw his sword over his back. He then started making his way to his door, while Kunsel followed him. " And one more thing, Kunsel, Go talk to Sephiroth, tell him everything you told me and our suspicions, I don't want anyone else knowing about this." Exodus muttered.

" Well, there's one more thing." Kunsel muttered.

" What?"

" Lazard's sending Zack to Banora, with a Turk. Tseng, I believe. I saw them leaving earlier." Kunsel explained.

" Damn! Turks getting involved makes this complicated." Exodus complained. " Alright, I'll make sure to keep an eye out for things. Go tell Sephiroth, I'll call him when I figure things out." 

" You got it, Boss." Kunsel stopped and watched as Exodus entered the elevator to the lower levels. " Damn, Zack. At least you're gonna have some help now. Try not to mess it up." Kunsel muttered to himself. He switched gears and started making his way to Sephiroth's room to relay the message Exodus left him with.

Meanwhile, Exodus broke into the Shinra military transport station, and stole a jet.

" Exodus, what do you think you're doing with one of my jets?!" Heidegger yelled over the radio. " Bring my jet back."

" I'll bring it back when I'm done with it." Exodus told the man.

" No! Bring it back, now!"

" Come and get it. If you can." Exodus cut the channel and took off out of Midgar's airspace. He'd be paying for this for sure. No way, Shinra wouldn't chew him out for this. 

" Fuck it." He said aloud. 

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

Hours later.

Zack Fair and Tseng of the Turks were the first to arrive in Banora, landing right in front of the Banora Orchards. They were there on a simple mission. To Retrieve or Destroy.

Zack ran through the Banora Orchards, straight for the town. The Orchards were quiet, and yet an uneasy feeling crept up Zack's spine. The town of Banora was supposed to be a readily active town, and yet not one person had graced his eyes as of yet. 

That was strange.

Zack gripped his sword tight and as he crossed the Orchards into the town of Banora, he discovered why things were so quiet.

A host of Assassins. and a giant mech, which opened fire on him on sight. 

Zack bounced back, dodging the gun fire and drew his sword. 

" All right then, fellas. Let's party." Zack told the men.

The two assassins rushed Zack together. 

One of them leaped into the air, above Zack's head and slashed down at him with one of his knives.

Zack raised his blade and blocked the attack; he then kicked the assassin in his chest and knocked him down. He then raised his sword again and cut the next one clean in two. The next assassin returned, and Zack sliced him in half across the stomach, dropping them both in quick succession. 

" Whew, looks like it's just you and me now, big guy." Zack said to the giant mech.

The mech buzzed to life and raised one of its cannons at Zack. It then fired a rocket right at the young SOLDIER.

Zack saw the rocket coming right towards him, and readily cut the rocket clean in half with his sword. The result was an explosion that went off right behind him.

" Heh!" Zack stood up and prepared himself as the mech stomped forward. " The Presidents orders will be met." He muttered. 

The mech opened fire, forcing Zack to dodge. Zack jumped to the side of the machine over and over again as it fired consecutive bullets at him, and then when he had a clear shot, he rushed it, and cut one of the Mechs barrel's off, 

" Hiyaaaaah!" Zack jumped on top of the Mech and jabbed his sword straight through its circuitry, disabling the machine for good. Or at least until someone comes along to repair it. 

" Well done, Zack." Tseng said to the man.

" Well, look who decided to catch up." Zack joked. " Didn't feel like helping out?"

" You're the SOLDIER. That means you're the muscle." Tseng told the man bluntly.

" Tch, yeah, yeah."

" Come along, Zack. We still have work to do." Tseng told the young man.

" Right."

With the current situation handled, Zack and Tseng continued on their search for the missing SOLDIERS. The two men ventured past the town square, further into the village, until finally they came to a two-story wooden house. 

This lovely home belonged to none other than Genesis and his parents.

" This is Genesis' home." Tseng told Zack. " His parents are wealthy landowners."

Zack looked up at the Banora tree above, and quietly remembered the story Angeal had once told him.

" I never stole from that tree. Because the wealthy man's son, was my friend." Angeal had said.

Zack remained quiet while thinking about those words. That is until Tseng stepped forward to pull him out of his thoughts.

" They weren't just mere acquaintances." Tseng spoke. " They grew up together and were best friends."

" So Genesis deserts and gets his best friend Angeal to join him... Is that it?" Zack asked the man.

" That's what Sephiroth believes. Exodus on the other hand, denies it." Tseng told the man.

" Exodus?"

" A fellow First-Class, and biological brother to Sephiroth." Tseng explained.

" I know who he is... But outside of Kunsel, I never really heard much about the guy." Zack explained.

" The company has been trying to bury the image that Exodus exudes to the public. He's constantly gone against Shinra orders and is even responsible for allowing a highly wanted eco-terrorist to escape, among other things."

" Wow. I never knew that. I mean I heard the guy was strong, but to go against the company... I don't see the point. Why work here at all?" Zack wondered.

" There are things, even you are not ready to learn, Zack. For now, let's stay focused on the mission." Tseng told the man. 

" Alright, what's next then?" Zack asked.

Tseng took a look around the area, and then took notice of something interesting. " There." He said.

And Zack turned to see what he was looking at.

" A gravestone." Tseng muttered. " And still very new." Tseng stated. " Zack, go find Angeal's house. I'll check the grave."

" Uhh, that sounds like rough work. Do you guys always do jobs like that?" Zack asked as Tseng walked towards the grave.

" Someone has to do it." Tseng replied.

" Must be rough." Zack muttered.

" Don't worry. We're paid much better than you are." Tseng joked.

Zack jumped in surprise. " What?! No way!"

" Hurry up and go look for Angeal's house. It should be just beyond this point." Tseng told the man. " Be careful. It's likely already in enemy hands." 

" Right." Zack nodded at Tseng, and ran beyond the Tseng, and made his way down the dusty dirt road, towards the other houses, to look for Angeal's home. However, Zack found himself with quite the problem. They all looked the same. " Which one is Angeal's house?" Zack asked. " All right..." Zack groaned. " We'll just have to check each one."

Zack walked towards the first house on his right and knocked. " Hey, anybody home?!" Zack asked as he knocked.

The door suddenly swung open and two chimera like creatures sprang out and attacked him. 

" Whoa!" Zack raised his sword and deflected the two beasts, throwing them both off with great force. " Hiyaaaa!" Zack drug his sword across one of the beast's stomach, spilling it's guts out, before quickly dropped the sharpest edge of his blade down on the next Chimera's head. Panting, he backed up and sheathed his sword. " Alright... Crazy dog monsters. Got it." Zack muttered. " On to the next house, I guess."

Zack knocked on the nearest house to him, and received no answer. 

" Sounds like no one's home." He muttered. He continued on, and on knocking on each door, until he came to the last house. " Okay, this has to be it." Zack muttered. He said a silent prayer and then opened the door. And sure enough, sitting there in front of an empty glass, was a woman with short-grayish hair. 

" Can I help you?" She asked as Zack stepped inside the home.

" Uh, greetings ma'am. Are you Angeal's mother?" Zack asked the woman. When she didn't respond Zack rubbed his head. " Um, my name's Zack."

Hearing his name drew a smile to the woman's face. " Are you.... Zack the puppy?" She asked.

" Excuse me?!"

The woman laughed. " My son wrote to me once about you. Said you had zero attention span and were as restless as a little puppy." 

" Oh, thanks Angeal." Zack complained.

" You're not here with Genesis, are you?" She asked.

" No, I'm not. Don't worry." Zack told the woman.

" What is happening with my son?"

" I'm not really sure." Zack stated.

" Genesis came back here... A month ago, with an army of cohorts. He proceeded to take the lives of many of the townspeople." She explained. " Genesis... He used to be such a good boy..."

" Is Angeal..."

" He came here." She said. " But he left his sword. and went somewhere." She explained.

She gestured to Angeal's famed Buster Sword sitting quietly in the back of the room. " That sword represents our family's honor. When Angeal decided to join Shinra, his father had that sword made for him, and told him to fight with honor. He borrowed a lot of money, and then he worked so hard to return the debt he eventually died of Fatigue. " She explained.

" I see... No wonder." Zack muttered. " He never uses this sword.... Really. Ever." Zack told the woman. He then turned around and crouched down next to her. " I'll take care of Angeal. You should go and hide somewhere." 

" Don't be concerned." She told Zack. " Genesis cannot harm me."

Zack nodded one more time and stood up, taking one last look at Angeal's buster sword, before leaving Gilian Hewley's home. Zacl stood outside the home, deep in thought. His mind chased after the thoughts of his mentor and friend. " Angeal, where did you go?" Zack wondered. 

Zack's phone rang and drug him back to reality. He answered the phone when he realized it was Tseng.

" Go ahead."

" I just saw a Genesis copy go into a factory near the clifftop." Tseng stated.

" You think it's their HQ?"

" I do. Get over to the clifftop fast."

" Right... I'm on the way." Zack told the man. 

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

It took Zack sometime to climb the cliffside, even while running, but he did eventually get there. Tseng met him at the very edge of the cliff, which happened to be placed right above the factory.

" Tseng. What did you find?" Zack asked as he crouched down next to the man.

" Genesis' parents were in that grave." Tseng muttered bitterly.

Zack's eyes shot open out of shock. " Wait, you mean he killed his own family?"

" We can't expect reason from him." Tseng explained. " What about Angeal?"

" He wasn't at the house." Zack told the man. " But please, give me time. If I find Angeal, I can talk to him. If I can convince Angeal, maybe Genesis will come back too." Zack pleaded.

" I understand now, why Sephiroth chose you." Tseng muttered. " Genesis and Angeal... Those two were Sephiroth's only friends. He didn't want to fight them. That's why he refused the mission." Tseng explained. 

" Well, Angeal is my friend too."

" He's counting on you, to bring them both back." Tseng further explained. Tseng then stood up. " Time is short. Let's go." 

Zack nodded and followed after Tseng as the man jumped to the roof of the factory. Together they both crashed through the glass ceiling and landed square in the middle of the factory. 

" Made it, no problem." Zack spoke.

Almost immediately, a squad of assassins began charging the two men.

" Go on ahead, I'll watch your back!" Zack told the man.

Tseng took off running down the top of the factory's walkway, straight towards the bottom level.

Meanwhile Zack drew his sword and jumped straight in between the three assassins. " Alright, boys, bringing out the big guns!" Zack yelled. He swung his sword in eight different directions, in a way similar to Sephiroth's own Octaslash attack. 

Zack's attack pushed right past the three assassins' guards and cut them down to the bone. 

"Sorry, but I don't have time to sit around playing games." Zack muttered.

" Zack, down here! Hurry!" Tseng yelled to the man.

" Right!" Zack yelled back and started running to meet Tseng on the lower level. However, as he came to the first floor, three men copies attacked him from the shadows.

Zack spun on his heels with his blade drawn and parried the attacks. " haaaaa! Thundara!" Zack fired multiple bolts of lightning from his hand, striking down the copies. He then turned back and continued chasing after Tseng. 

He eventually came to a door that led lower into the factory, and Zack followed it straight to the bottom, where it opened into an even bigger underground lab. 

Zack reached the bottom floor, and spotted Tseng typing away on a computer.

" Tseng!"

" Careful, Zack." Tseng spoke. " This is where they're creating the clones." Tseng told the man. " You should go upstairs. Genesis may be there." 

" Right!" Zack ran through the giant metal door, further into the facility. The factory opened up further, and Zack found himself in a room with multiple glowing green pods. Within them were more copies of Genesis.

But more importantly, sitting on the ground, right in front of a large window, was the man himself.

" Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus and take to the sky. Ripples form on the water's surface. The wandering soul, knows no rest." Genesis read from his book as Zack entered the room, much to Zack's dismay. Genesis chuckled and closed his book. " Settle down, Zack the puppy." Genesis joked.

Tseng joined Zack in confronting Genesis. 

" The grave at the house. We found the remains of our people there as well." Tseng spoke.

" It didn't take much to convince them to send false reports. Just mild threats." Genesis told the man.

" They would have done that anyway!" Zack shouted in anger. " At least your parents anyway."

Genesis stood up; his attitude had changed completely. No longer did he have a whimsical smile on his face. No, Zack could tell from his frown, he was pissed.

" My parents betrayed me. They had betrayed me from the very beginning." Genesis stated. " What do you know, SHINRA LAPDOGS?!" With a wave of his hand Genesis slammed Tseng with a fire spell, knocking him into one of the green vats.

Zack quickly drew his sword to confront Genesis, however, before Genesis could make a move on Zack, Angeal appeared and snatched Zack's sword out of his hands and pointed it at Genesis. He stood between Zack, and Genesis, protecting the young man from his friend.

" I see... You finally made your decision. I will respect your decision old friend." Genesis spoke. He then walked up to Angeal and whispered to him. " However, can you really live on that side?" He asked.

Angeal didn't say a word, he simply waited for Genesis to leave. It wasn't until the man was gone that Angeal moved from his spot.

" Wait, Angeal!" Zack called out to the man, and even tried to stop him.

However, Angeal turned around aggressively and pointed Zack's blade at him. And then without saying another word, he planted Zack's sword into the ground and walked away, much to Zack's dismay.

Zack grabbed his blade and ran after Angeal, however, when he exited the exit to the factory, Angeal was already gone. 

" Angeal! GAHHHHGH! Where did he go?!" Zack shouted.

" Zack!" Tseng yelled. He ran up to Zack with his gun drawn. " We're suspending the search. We need to leave now!" Tseng told the man.

" What?! We're just giving up?"

" The mission has been suspended. We need to destroy the evidence. An airstrike has been called on the village." Tseng explained. 

" Oh, no! Angeal's house!" Zack yelled.

" Is there someone there?" Tseng asked. Seeing the look on Zack's face, Tseng nodded his head. " Hurry up and go!" 

" Right!" Zack yelled.

Zack took off running full sprint back down the cliff, towards the village. Things had officially been kicked into high gear, not only was an airstrike coming to completely level the town, but someone, most assumedly Genesis, had begun dropping shells on the town. 

Explosions kicked up around Zack, hitting him with shards of dirt. 

" Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!" Zack yelled in frustration. 

The town was burning, and smoke filled the air. The constant bombardment of shells was devastating to the land in its entirety. 

" Damnit! Angeal! I've got to get there!" Zack muttered. He could see the houses closing in on the distance. 

Two Genesis copies jumped into the road, to stop him. However, in a fit of anger Zack cut them down.

" OUT OF MY WAY!" Zack swung his sword in one straight line and cut clean through the copies and continued on running. " Damnit! Almost there!" Zack yelled. He continued rushing as fast as he could towards Angeal's house, and when he was there, he slammed his shoulder into the door and exploded right into the living room.

However, upon entering, there were only two things in sight. Much to Zack's shock and horror, Angeal's mother laid dead on the ground, and standing behind her, right next to the door, was Angeal himself wielding his buster sword.

" Angeal? What the hell did you do?!" Zack grabbed Angeal and punched him in the face, sending him crashing to the ground outside. " Is that your idea of honor?"

" My mother... Could not continue to live... And neither could her son." Angeal told the young man.

" What the hell are you talking about?"

" I told you... You cannot continue to live on that side." Genesis appeared next to Angeal's front door, blocking Zack from the man who had seemingly murdered his mom. 

Angeal stood up and placed his Buster Sword right on his back. He then turned and walked away without saying another word.

Not keen to just let him leave, Zack ran out of the door, only to be tripped by Genesis.

" My friend... Do you fly away now? To a world that Abhors you and I?" Genesis muttered as Angeal walked away.

" Shut up!" Zack yelled.

Genesis ignored Zack's screaming and continued reciting his poem. " All that awaits you, is a somber morrow. No matter where the winds may blow. I don't see Sephiroth today... But are you game?" Genesis asked. He then pulled out an orb of Summoning Materia and activated it, sending Zack inside the orb.

Then just as things seemed to grow quiet, Genesis turned his head to the sky. " I was talking to you... After all?"

Four bullets landed right in front of Genesis.

" Genesis... What have you done?" Exodus asked the man.

" Isn't already obvious, Samuel? I've done exactly as I've said. I've destroying this world as it is."

" Tell me something, Genesis. Why? Why would do this to your home? Your parents? To us?" Exodus asked. " How could you?"

" Easily." Genesis replied. His face turned wide with a grin. " You must understand, Samuel... You and I... And even Sephiroth. We were never friends. But at least Sephiroth had his place. Angeal, Sephiroth, and I are quite like the heroes from Loveless. Deciding who we are... Now that has been the tricky part. But you... You were always just another obstacle."

 The words hurt Exodus far worse than any blade or needle ever had. 

" You two were a goal I wanted to surpass. And now, I no longer have that goal. I simply wish to bring about the goddess wish to the world. "

" Genesis... Do you truly believe all of that?" Exodus wondered.

" Have I ever lied to you, before my friend?" Genesis asked. " You can feel it too."

" The sad thing is Genesis... You are right. We weren't friends..." Exodus told the man somberly. " We were brothers."

Genesis hid his face behind his hair and sighed. " Such sentimentality.... Is something I didn't expect from you." Genesis muttered softly. 

" I would have helped you; you know? If you had talked to me before all this... I would have helped you. If Shinra was such an awful place, you could have talked to us, Genesis. We could have traveled a better road, together. But all you've done is put friends against friends. Family against family. And now, all of this.... I have to know Genesis, what is the end game? What is the big change you're expecting?"

" I-"

Genesis'' mouth opened partially, before a bright light emanated behind him and Zack reappeared, having beaten the summon that Genesis used on him.

" Summons aren't supposed to be used like this. What happened to dreams and honor?" Zack shouted. His gaze had been so set on Genesis, that he had failed to notice the other SOLDIER standing in front of the man.

" We are... Monsters." Genesis muttered. He threw out his right hand and a giant black wing emerged from his back shocking both Zack and Exodus to a great extent. " We have no dreams or honor." Genesis stated before taking to the sky.

" GENESIS! WAIT!" Exodus aimed his gun at the man as he flew away but hesitated to pull the trigger. 

With Genesis gone, Zack's gaze diverted towards Exodus, who had his gun drawn. " Wait a minute? SOLDIER First-Class, Exodus. What are you doing here?" Zack asked the man.

" I came to find them. to question Angeal on his goal. But it seems, he's made his choice." Exodus muttered sadly as he holstered his weapon. " Come, Zack. We're going back before the village is destroyed. You and I have some things to talk about." Exodus started walking away and Zack followed closely behind.

Once they were far away enough, the two watched as Banora was destroyed. Shinra dropped multiple bombs on the village turning it into a burning crater.

" Angeal." Zack muttered Angeal's name quietly, sadly as the village drifted away into ash.

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