Mission 1 : [Accidental Video]

[argentimperator]

[It's obvious the pcd hasn't been activated on purpose; the video is just darkness initially, and the audio of the deep voice is faintly muffled.]

-unfamiliar terrain. Zack? Strife? Marshall?* Damn.

[Some rustling, and now the video has something to see, apparently the pcd was in his pocket and is now in a gloved hand, the landscape blurring by

Comments

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

[That is a face Zack had hoped never to see again. And now that he has, it sends a chill down his spine, memories of Nibelheim still fresh in his mind, despite all the years in the Shinra mansion basement, despite the countless experiments.

Sane or not, whether or not he can even tell, Zack feels bitterness still, and can't keep some of it out of his voice. Why the hell is he even talking to this murderer again?]

...You're not on the Planet, anymore.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

[He recognizes Zack's voice with no trouble and all, and while he's confused by that hint of bitterness, he also can't quite help the bit of relief that colors his tone. Hearing from Zack is much more reassuring than hearing about him.]

Zack. I... have gathered that much, though I'm not certain what to think about it. What's your status? [In Sephiroth terms, what that question really means is 'Are you alright?']

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

[Status? Zack can answer that in so many ways, and he is tempted to snark about how dying sends you to this hell-hole, but he stops himself in time. Sephiroth sounds stable, not like when he was going crazy about Jenova being his mother or some such nonsense, and if that's the case...

Then Zack can't blurt out anything about Nibelheim or the shit that went down there.]

Stuck here, same as you.

[Yeah, he get short answers. This isn't the puppy you once knew, Sephiroth.]

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

[Sephiroth is noticing the difference and would like to know wtf is going on here.]

There has to be a way out.

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

There isn't. Someone would've found it by now.

[In younger days, he would've been gung-ho about it, too, but spending time with his best friend while he still can takes some precedence. Especially since time stands still back home. He'll cheat death a little bit.]

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

I don't accept that, and I don't understand why you do. What happened, Zack? [That is worry but it's very well disguised.]

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

...I can't tell you, Sephiroth.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

That isn't helpful. [Unhappy Sephiroth is unhappy.] ...A man named Horst Cabal claimed time has little meaning here. In that case, even though we were together very recently from my own perspective, I feel I must ask how long you have been here.

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

In a few months...I'll have been here a year.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

[Congratulations, Zack, you've finally managed to render Sephiroth speechless, as opposed to just not bothering to say anything.]

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

Others have been here even longer.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

Others have less impact. You, however, were with me ten minutes ago. I believe I now have a much better understanding of just how little meaning time has here.

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

Yeah. They say time stops back home while we're stuck, whether we're gone an hour or a year.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

Hmph. These Animus must be extremely powerful. [And that hint of interest in Sephiroth's voice means he's contemplating the possibility of a worthwhile fight.]

[Voice]

[fairesthero]

Somethin' like that.

[Voice]

[argentimperator]

It will be interesting to find out just how much. [This would be a sigh if it were coming from anyone other than Sephiroth, but Sephiroth does not sigh so it isn't.] I won't bother asking where you are. [He can take a hint if he's bludgeoned around the head with it a few times.] I assume you know how to contact me through this device should you wish to get in touch.