Before Crisis

An entire month had passed since the incident occurred, and despite that fact, Genesis had yet to make a recovery from his injury. In fact, it was quite the opposite. In the passing days, Genesis' injury had grown worse and worse. So much so, that his body began a process only known to SOLDIERs. The Degradation process was its name.

" What's wrong with him? Why hasn't Genesis healed yet?" Exodus asked Hollander. He was one of the doctors that was assigned to help treat the SOLDIERs injuries. 

" Genesis' wound was worse than I initially thought. Mako must have seeped into the wound and as such has begun the cellular breakdown of his genealogy." Hollander explained.

" Is it treatable?" Angeal asked the man.

" He'll need a transfusion." Hollander answered.

" Then take my blood." Sephiroth told the man. He stepped forward and offered his arm, but Angeal stopped him.

It was then Hollander turned to him. " I'm sorry, but neither you or Exodus are suitable donors." He said. 

" I'll do it." Angeal muttered. 

" Right this way." Hollander told the man. He opened the door to Genesis' room and stepped inside, leaving Exodus and Sephiroth waiting outside, wondering why out of the three only Angeal could help. 

" Why couldn't I do it?" Sephiroth asked sadly. 

Sephiroth was a quiet man, and usually kept to himself. This was due to the fact that he was always told how special he was, and how far above everyone else he'd always been. However, with the others around him Sephiroth felt as though he could be normal for once.

They were the only ones who could match him, even if only for a moment. In all the world they were the only one who could understand what it meant to be him.

To help them was he wanted. And to be told that he was not capable, hurt Sephiroth deeply. It cut him deeper than any blade ever has.

Exodus placed a hand softly on Sephiroth's shoulder. 

" Cheer up, brother. I'm sure Hollander meant nothing by it. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that our blood is different." Exodus told the man. " Come on, let's just wait for Genesis to come out."

The moments passed by, with Exodus and Sephiroth waiting in silence. Not a word being shared between the two. Not until Angeal returned that is.

The door slid open, and Angeal stepped out of the room, visibly pale. 

" Angeal!" Sephiroth exclaimed.

" Are you okay?" Exodus asked the man.

Angeal raised a hand to the two brothers, stopping them.

" I'm fine. Hollander, needed more blood than I believed." He said. 

" How's Genesis?" Sephiroth asked.

" He'll be fine. He's resting now. Hollander's taking care of him. If you'll excuse me... I need to go." Angeal muttered softly. He stood up carefully, and slowly stalked away.

Exodus looked to Sephiroth and nodded.

" Come on. Let's go."

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

Sometime would pass, and between Missions, the first-class soldiers would seemingly begin drifting apart. 

And in an unforeseen turn of events, Genesis would disappear during a mission in Wutai.

" What are you talking about? What do you mean, Genesis is missing?!" Exodus asked Lazard.

Lazard was the man in charge of SOLDIER and their operations. 

" I don't know any other way to explain it. His communications went dark hours ago. I haven't been able to get in touch with him since he left." Lazard explained.

" Damn it! Send me his last location!" Exodus yelled over the phone. 

" Stop, Exodus, Sephiroth's already on the-"

*Click!

Exodus rushed through the forests in Wutai, reloading his gun along the way. What was supposed to be a standard search and destroy mission had all of a sudden turned into a nightmare scenario. 

Suddenly two ninjas emerged from the dark.

" OUT OF MY WAY!"

Exodus drew his blade and cleaved right through the two ninjas, one after the other. Blood sprayed across Exodus' face. 

" Damn it, I knew it was too soon for Genesis to come back. Why did they allow him to come." Exodus asked frantically.

He pulled out his phone and called Genesis' number, only to be met with the deafening sound of silence. When no one answered, he tried again.

" This is bad! This is really, really bad!" Exodus exclaimed. Exodus ran as fast as his legs could carry him, the surrounding forest becoming a blur. 

The smell of gunpowder and burning trees began filling his nose. The thick fog of smoke burned his eyes. The devastation laid before him was tragic. A field of bodies, human and monster surrounded by a thick burning fire was all that remained. 

" These are... Soldiers? Second and Third class... And Wutai? And fiends? What the hell happened here?!" Exodus exclaimed. " What is going on?!" 

Exodus continued searching the wreckage, looking for Genesis' body while also calling his phone, hoping to get a lead. To find something. Anything. But no matter how hard he looked; nothing ever came. 

" Genesis... Where are you?" 

The sky darkened from the thick fog; rain clouds formed from the heat. And slowly tears from the heavens began drowning out that which burned below. Quelling the burning that threatened to take the forest. The fires of war died away, leaving only that which remained. A quiet so loud. Death. Decay. Destruction. And a broken heart. 

Sephiroth arrived on the battlefield, and there he saw him standing alone as the rain washed away the dirt and blood from his body.

" Sam?" He called out.

Exodus turned upon hearing his name, revealing his face devastated and consumed with sadness.

" I couldn't find him. He's gone, Sephiroth." Exodus explained. He hung his head down, hanging it in disappointment and sadness. And for the first time, since the war had begun so many years ago, the feeling of defeat had become all too real for the first-class SOLDIERs.

My friend, do you fly away now? To a world that Abhors you and I? All that awaits you is a somber morrow. No matter where the winds may blow- Loveless Act III