Chapter One
His steps echoed down the hall as he paced furiously back and forth in front of the presidents office. He was angry, no, furious right now. He had long silver hair and cat-like green eyes, and a pale complexion. He was dressed in black leather
pants, and a black leather trench coat that was open from the waist down giving it a cape like appearance. On either shoulder was a white steel gaurd. He was General Sephiroth of the Shin-ra. He was the best of the best of the best at what he did, which was fighting. He was a SOLDIER:First class, and a General, and a public hero. People told stories of his strength, saying that he could tear a bulls head off. Those who knew him would say he was more likely to rip the bull in half.
Other members of SOLDIER were strong yes, having abilities far beyond any normal human. They were faster, stronger, had better eyesight, hearing, reflexes, memory, regenerative abilties. Sephiroth went beyond that however. He was the ultimate SOLDIER. He was the only warrior on the planet who could use his sword with any level of skill. It was the Masamune, a seven foot long katana made of an unkown material. It had a mind of its own, feelings too. Sephiroth had
mastered this blade despite the fact it was nearly two-hundred pounds. That was another of those odd things about the metal in question, its weight.
Sephiroth himself could lift the blade and swing it with ease, but a normal member of SOLDIER would have a fair level of trouble holding the sword up, let alone swinging it. Sephiroth's strength was never questioned. Beasts that could kill a normal
SOLDIER were like childs play to him. He also had a sense of honor, he would never kill in cold blood if he could help it. He never struck a foe who had surrendered, and he always gave his enemies a chance to surrender if he could. It was this honor that had him so infuriated right now, the long war with Wutai was finally over, and not a single person who payed any attention to the world did not know Sephiroth's name. Despite this, a week ago a squad of Shin-ra troops had burned down
a Wutai villiage. A rule that Sephiroth followed was, never destroy the towns of a nation that has already lost.
The secretary who sat behind the nearby desk was adamantly refusing to look at Sephiroth while he was this angry, Sephiroth was not in cold blood right now, and could therefore kill whoever the hell he wanted without voilating his code of honor.
Just when Sephiroth thought his head might just blow up the secretary said "The President will see you now." Almost before she had finished speaking Sephiroth had shoved through the doors of the Presidents office and walked calmly fowards with an icy look on his face.
"Sephiroth my boy, how may i help you today?" President Shinra asked with an arrogant smirk on his face. There were a total of two people in the whole world who Sephiroth would gladly kill in cold blood. President Shinra, and Proffesor Hojo.
Sephiroth stood tall and angrily demanded "What is this i hear about attacking Wutai?! The war is over sir! So why is it that our men killed over a hundred people when the war has been over for almost a full month?!" Sephiroth did not try to conceal his anger, to do so would allow the President to beleive Sephiroth agreed with the decision. That simply was not the case, nor would it ever be as long as Sephiroth had a say in things.
Shinra frowned at Sephiroth in something like dissapointment. "I thought you of all people would understand, no matter what things may look like your enemies can always get back up. Therefore there is a need to create fear amongst them, the
public now beleives that a rebel faction was forming in that villiage. By destroying it we both put fear into the very hearts of our enemies, and increase public support and opinion of our operations. Surely the great General understands this hm?"
Shinra said with waves of his hand in all the best places. The President had always been good at giving speeches, and was a good speaker. Sephiroth did'nt give a rats flying ass, he was pissed off.
He kept himself calm and said "Suppose the truth of that villiage's destruction reaches public ears, what will their opinion of us be then. Where would our support come from?" Sephiroth too had a knack for speaking despite the fact he did'nt like talking.
Shinra's frown deepened as he impatiently asked "Do you dare question my judgement, you know how i hate people questioning me."
Sephiroth snarled to himself and looked at the floor to hide his abolute seething fury. "You need work to take your mind off of things, why do'nt you grab that leiutenent of your's, Zack was'nt it, and go check on things over at fort condor." It was not a suggestion, it was an order.
Sephiroth found himself wishing he had brought his sword with him. Normally if he got into an argument with someone he would just reach for Masamune and ask "Are you sure about that?" In most cases they would give up at that point. But he had not brought it so he decided continue arguing. "There are dozens of SOLDIERs who are qualified for a little check up. Besides, is'nt that type of work reserved for the Turks?" Sephiroth asked. The President's face hardened into a look of anger."
"YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS BOY!! NOW GO CARRY THEM OUT!!" Sephiroth ignored this outburst as it was not nearly as bad as Zack got when they talked about the middle finger, which Sephiroth was giving the President right now,
though he was careful to keep it hidden under his coat.
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Sephiroth quickly dropped by his quarters and retreived Masamune, and the Materia within it. Then he made his way to the barracks. Sin-ra HQ was made up of three large buildings. The research building being the smallest, and the turks main
building being the biggest. In between those was the Turk departement. As a Genral of Shin-ra's military Sephiroth had an apartement inside the main building. The rest of the troops and SOLDIERs had to live in the barracks off to the side of the research facility. Sephiroth approached the nearest person upon arriving, an MP who stared at Sephiroth in awe, and bluntly asked "Where is Zack?"
The MP suttered incoherently for a moment before managing "I'm not sure sir. He said he was gonna go for some fun but i do'nt know what that means as i'm new here." Sephiroth nodded, and headed for the local fun reserve, as Zack lovingly
called it. Sephiroth called it what it was, a strip club. How Zack had managed to keep both his girlfreind, and his weekly visits to the place was a complete mystery to Sephiroth, one that he hoped he never found the anwser to.
He walked to the place through the crowded streets ignoring people who pointed at him in awe, and asking for autographs. He was not a social person. He reached the place, which advertised its distinctly disturbing funtion in bright flashing neon lights this night. The door looked like something out of an old western movie, though those movies did'nt exist in that world. Sephiroth walked in and was careful to keep his eyes on the floor. A number of highly unmodest young girls ran forward to greet
him in what they probably thought was a seducing and sexy pose. Sephiroth thought it was quite rude and drew out the Masamune in a flourish. It never ceased to amaze Sephiroth how quickly people got out of his way when he unsheathed his sword. "Ah, that would be my old pal Sephiroth! How ya doin buddy?!" Came Zacks cheerful voice. Sephiroth found himself wishing he had a gun with which to blow his own brains out.
Zack was seated at a table drinking an alchoholic beverage that despite his incredible sense of smell, Sephiroth simply could not identify. Surrounding Zack were a number of giggling scantly clad women who all cast hungry looking eyes upon
Sephiroth's body. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes and calmly said "Anyone who would prefer to keep their bodies in one peice had best be at least nine feet from this table in the next five seconds." As he spoke he shifted the Masamune to indicate that he meant buisness." Needless to say the women all retreated quickly to the other side of the bar while shouting all kinds of hideously disconfigured names at him. Sephiroth sat down but kept his sword out and at the ready.
Zack had the most stunned look on his face, then wildly asked "Why the hell did you do that man?! I know your not into this stuff but i'm still allowed to hang out and do what i want on my free time are'nt i?!" He asked this with wild waves of his arms overhead.
Sephiroth looked at the drink in Zck's hand suspiciously and asked "What is that?" In a tone that suggested he might be slightly concerned for his safety. Zack smiled a relaxed smile as he leaned back, having forgotten the girls in place of
his drink.
"This my freind, is rum beer wine whiskey and jin mixed in apple cider milk and root beer." For several long seconds Sephiroth stared in absolute horror at the drink, which he silently dubbed the enemy of mankind. He then shifted his gaze
to Zack, who held his gaze for several moments with a completely serious looking face. Seeing a serious look on Zack's face told Sephiroth that something was not right. Sephiroth tightened his grip on the hilt of the Masamune and took a quick glance around in an attempt to find the source of this anamoly. Sephiroth turned back to Zack who had a relaxed smile on his face now, a very strained look coming over his face. Just as Sephiroth started to feel concern for his companion, Zack burst out in wild hysterical laughter, the suddeness of which in this odd situation made Sephiroth jump. "I'm kidding!! Its just a new type of alchohol called Tequila!!" Sephiroth raised Masamune to remind Zack that it was present. Zack quickly got the smile off his face and looked at the floor.
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