(Untitled)

[pure_lineage]

Who: Sephiroth, Zack, and Reno later on
Status: Closed (might become open later on, but we'll have to see how showy the dear General decides to be.)
When: 9:30 AM.
Where: Sector 4
What: Sephiroth returns to Edge.

Comments

[pure_lineage]

“Such harsh words you speak.” Sephiroth uttered, but there was an underlying tone of satisfaction in his voice. They were both more than well aware of the fact that Zack couldn’t stand up to him, and it left the General with the decision of whether to impart this knowledge again. He had been rather bored since his rebirth, and despite the entertainment he partook in at Junon, he really hadn’t properly stretched his muscles.

“Why I wouldn’t have thought that the time you spent in the Lifestream would have lowered your intelligence so much Zack.” He said in an almost casual gesture. His movements were as graceful as they had always been, and every step was taken with precise precision before he stopped a few feet from where Zack stood. “It hardly seems against the law to be standing quietly in an alleyway.”

Sephiroth knew exactly what Zack’s words intended, but he out-rightly ignored that fact as he asked instead. “Hmm reason leaves me believing that if you’ve returned - then so has that little flower girl has she not?” Whether Zack answered or not didn’t matter to him in all honesty since he already was aware of the answer, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t have a little fun.

Not to mention the fact that it might be best to rid the living surface of that pesky woman before she attempts to interfere again.

[still_lookingup]

Zack wasn't half as concerned with keeping a calm exterior in the face of danger; once the initial shock had worn off, in fact, there was nothing left but anger in his expression. For only the second time in his life, he was well and truly outraged--and for the second time, it was Sephiroth's fault.

"Stay away from her," he barked, not the sort of order one usually gave to a man like this (completely insane) but the first words out of his mouth, all the same. He really was beyond idle chatter, anyway. He'd been beyond it since the man he'd looked up to, even considered a friend, had fought him and left him for dead.

"If what you really wanted was to be all lawful and good, you wouldn't have asked a question like that. And anyway," Zack went on, ugly grimace twisting into a smirk as he took a step back, falling into a tougher stance, "You're wrong if you still think you can just do whatever you want. Or hasn't your big evil plan worked out for you the last couple of times?

"Seems to me like your whole shtick is just getting kind of pointless and repetitive."

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth chuckled softly at the harsh words regarding that flower girl - at least it seemed as though his assumption had been correct in that sense. Regardless of whatever the traitor said he would end up doing as he pleased. He said nothing in return though, but his expression silently spoke volumes of exactly what he was thinking. Zack was always far too easy to taunt, and there was little doubt in his mind that this particular topic wouldn’t start that.

“And what would you have me do hmm?” He asked with a smooth voice that carried through the alleyway. Of course he wouldn’t be swayed from his thoughts, but it was always so entertaining to see others attempting to ‘sway him back into the light.’ It was a useless gesture, but an amusing one.

“Protect the lives of the innocent? Innocence is in the eye of the beholder, and you traitors have always held a rather hypercritical version of what is good and what is not.” Sephiroth murmured as he noticed the movements Zack took. The other was hardly a threat to him, and he knew the previous failed attempt was only due to one reason, and that was due to no others fault than his - a miscalculation on his part if you will. “Or would you rather I revert to giving my services back to Shin-Ra?”

He could just imagine the look on that foolish President’s face if that was presented to him. It would be almost amusing enough to consider.

[still_lookingup]

"No," Zack replied, resolute and severe and not at all like himself. He'd made it up through the ranks in a matter of few years, all those ages ago, somehow, though. He wasn't quite the kid most people took him for, and he definitely had at least a chance against someone like Sephiroth (no matter what he thought). He could hold his own in a fight. He wasn't a kid.

And he wasn't going to let the sonofabitch in front of him treat him like that.

"If it were up to me, I'd just have you drop dead permanently. Seems like a waste of time to sit around and play games with you, anyway. You were never any good, you just did what they told you." Regardless of what Sephiroth seemed to think, Zack had no intention of trying to bring him back around. He'd given up on that hope before it had ever really begun to flourish. About the same time he had realized that the psychopath he was fighting wasn't his General, anymore.

"Hey, in a way, you're still doing what they told you. Some big rebel you were. 'Go out and conquer the world,' they tell you, and you waste, what? Three lives, failing at it.

"You must really love kowtowing to those bastards."

[pure_lineage]

“So much hostility towards me Zack.” Sephiroth murmured with a slight chuckle. It would be too easy if he killed this one right now, but they could hopefully provide some small amount of entertainment before he continued on with his investigation. What the other was speaking of was such trivial matters, and despite the fact that he was out and attempting to ‘conquer’ this planet, it wasn’t nearly being done so under the guise of such a pathetic reasoning.

He had reached new heights through his efforts regardless of the small setbacks his slaying had caused, but overall his power continued to grow stronger with each new rebirth. Initially he’d been weak before the Nibelheim incident, but all that had changed after he’d come into contact with Jenova. While his desires were similar to that of Shin-Ra - his desires would never be for the benefit of the filthy human race.

Tendrils of green extended their way out from Sephiroth’s left hand before the Masamune formed within his grasp. Sephiroth was off within the next instant. Leaping forth, his Masamune snaked out to his left and towards Zack’s right shoulder. He knew there was no chance of the traitor defending themself, but he wouldn’t aim to kill Zack just yet - just ignite his flames of anger and hatred further towards him.

[still_lookingup]

"Don't delude yourself! It's just a little late to be expecting us to trot out the Welcome Wagon because you're back." As he spoke, Zack was doing a fairly good job of masking the fact that he was unarmed and in some kind of desperate need for a weapon of his own. Even before he saw the Masamune, he knew he was outclassed (not admitting it didn't make it go away, sometimes). How long had it been since he'd last had to fight? The outlook here wasn't starting to look good.

"So why don't you just give up now and save everybody a lot of wasted time?" the soldier suggested, never faltering when that improbable blade burst into existence. It would have taken a great deal more dedication to the confident facade not to twist backward immediately as the tip of Sephiroth's sword grazed him, though, and he didn't really have the patience to keep from avoiding injury like that. As foolish as he must've looked, it didn't matter, either way--when getting out of here was the only smart solution, he couldn't seem to stop running at the mouth.

Clutching his shoulder (it wasn't bad, but it hurt where he'd been nicked), Zack stumbled off to the side to put a better bit of distance between them. Still, in this alleyway it was going to require nothing short of some miraculous footwork to keep avoiding that sword. "Is that the best you can do?"

[pure_lineage]

Sephiroth didn’t stop his assault even when rewarded with the ribbon of red crimson as his sword nicked the traitors shoulder. Following Zack’s every move, Sephiroth lurched himself and the Masamune forward as he directed the blade’s tip towards just above his opponents left hip bone. His movements faltered slightly, veering off course just one hairs breath, before Sephiroth changed his swing moments before it would have come into contact with Zack’s body.

The sound of metal slicing through metal was heard as the Masamune’s edge effortlessly sliced through a drainpipe.

Something was near.

He couldn’t quite place what it was he was sensing, but even Sephiroth knew that to continue this little play would be a waste of his time. With his left hand clutching the hilt of the Masamune tightly, he pulled the long blade from the metal pipe before leaping a distance away from Zack. “Until next time SOLDIER.” Amused smirk pulling at his lips, Sephiroth took one last glance over towards Zack before he leapt up onto the rooftop and took off in search of what he sensed.

[still_lookingup]

Zack could only move so fast, and when he saw that he still wasn't quite quick enough, he could only grimace and brace for impact. Though they were moving, in that brief clash, with speed and agility high above that of any ordinary person's standards, there was still that slight discrepancy. And Zack was on the wrong end of it, prepared for another gash--this one a lot deeper--when he missed a step.

Because he'd braced, though, it was that much more of a shock when nothing happened. No hot, bright flash of pain came over him; instead, the sound of the severed drainpipe clattering to the ground was the next he heard. Lowering his arms and looking up in confusion, Zack tried to find a reason, some obstruction. What had kept Sephiroth from making contact, that time, too?

It didn't look as though he was going to explain, however. He was up and off in an instant, and it took the soldier only as long to decide to give chase. There was no way he could jump that far--not in this condition. So Zack took the next best route: the fire escape. That'd take him up most of the way, at least, and then maybe he could still figure out which way Sephiroth was headed...

Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, Zack began to make his way up toward the rooftop without a second thought.

[streaks_of_red]

The possibilities were so wide, it was ridiculous. It left both Reno and Elena scouting out pretty much everywhere, including the alleyways, for just someone who might know something. A quick circle around Sector 4 hadn't done much good, so they'd gone back for another look, slower this time. Much slower. The company-owned vehicle had been butted from behind once for crawling at such a snail pace, but after Reno threw the car into reverse and rammed back hard, most people were now settling for honking and cursing before moving into the next lane.

He opened his mouth, about to ask Elena whether she wanted to do the honours of flipping a coin to see whether they should turn left or right at the next intersection, when the question died on his tongue.

It was dark in the alley, but he'd recognize that silhouette anywhere. The wildly unique hair made sure of that.

He could tell from the way Zack was moving that he was injured. Considering he was fairly certain that a) the Lifestream had spat both Zack and Aerith out in tip-top condition, and b) there were very, very few people who could--or would even bother--injuring Zack, it set off an alarm or two. Coupled with his suspicions of the remnants' return, it was enough for him to pull the car over without even thinking.

Something said he'd want to know about this.

Reno stepped out of the car, gun in hand and keeping behind the metal door just in case -- although it didn't seem like whoever had attacked was still here. Their resident zombie SOLDIER hadn't once glanced behind him as he headed for the rooftop, which probably meant he wasn't being chased, but going after someone.

"Zack!"

[rookienomore]

Elena hadn't been a Turk when Zack Fair was a SOLDIER, but she might as well have been. After the events of the several days, she had become so familiar with the contents of his file that she could recite whole paragraphs verbatim.

Lukewarm coffee sloshed into her lap as Reno pulled over, but she was too busy assembling the sniper rifle that she'd wisely stashed in the back seat to notice. Always be prepared, right?

"Reno, I'll stay here and cover you," she said quickly. "Make sure he's okay, and then get the hell out of there." Preferably with Fair in tow. "I don't want whatever did that to him coming after us."

[still_lookingup]

At the sound of his name, Zack faltered in his headlong run up the next narrow set of stairs. The rattling of the metal frame quieted as he slowed just enough to turn back (though that grating noise never really stopped, the construct hadn't exactly been built for combat situations). He nearly tripped over his own feet anyway, however, when he got a glimpse of the source of the interruption--another unwelcome sight.

The SOLDIER didn't have anything against the Turks, personally, but he couldn't say he'd ever been a big fan of the way they operated. And if that wasn't sufficient reason for the whole organization to leave a bad taste in his mouth, well, they had been the ones who'd hunted him down and killed him in the first place.

He had to keep going or he'd lose track of Sephiroth completely, though (while that tiny, realistic portion of his mind reassured him that he already had).

"Hey! Let's save the tearful reunion for later, okay?" Zack shouted back down, even as he resumed his slightly labored climb to the rooftop. "I'm kinda busy, at the moment!"

[streaks_of_red]

With an easy cock of an eyebrow, Reno slid back inside the car. He was a little doubtful as to how far Zack could actually get, but the guy looked lucid enough to think for himself. If Zack said stay out, then Reno had no inclination to intervene. Hardly his job.

"Boy looks fine to me," he said, shutting the door, but not pulling out onto the road quite yet.

He was still interested in what the hell was going on. This was Sector 4, which was dangerously close to Shin-Ra. Hell, who knew? This might even have something to do with Rod's disappearance.

"I wanna know what he's going after." He nodded at the sniper rifle Elena was assembling. Having his chopper right now would be nice, but the next best option was beside him. "Where's your best perch to track him with that thing?"

[rookienomore]

Elena smirked and snapped the long-range scope into place. If Reno didn't want to run after Zack, that was perfectly fine with her.

"All right, then," she said, but she made no move to put away the gun in her lap. Reno probably had something else planned. He always did.

Turned out she was right.

Turning around in her seat, she scanned the rooftops. "Hmm...there." She pointed to an apartment complex about a half a block away. It wasn't the tallest building around, but the rusting fire escapes meant that it had the most easily accessible roof. Plus, there was a small wall going around the top--probably a deck area up there. Crouched behind that, she'd be able to see what was going on without necessarily being seen. It looked like the wisest choice.

"I'm gonna need a boost to get to the fire escape, though." Even in heels, she wasn't tall enough to reach the ladder on her own. Stupid genetics.

[still_lookingup]

Zack was pleasantly surprised when no effort was made to stop him--not that he'd expected much could be done, from all the way down there in the alley. He doubted the heat was off just yet, but it didn't look like any serious interference was coming his way. And that left him to his chase, already a hopeless cause (but he was helpless to give up or stand down).

The fire escape stopped short of the actual roof, but it was an easy climb up over the last ledge, even injured as he was. He stumbled and nearly fell flat on his face when he put too much weight on the arm under his wounded shoulder, righting himself only when he saw that no one was up on the roof with him. No sign of Sephiroth here. He stood, took a hasty survey of the surrounding buildings, the streets he could glimpse below--no sign of Sephiroth there, either.

"Damn it," Zack muttered, still searching even when he hadn't had a hope since starting up that rusty ladder. If there was no trail, then he couldn't follow. And if he was the one being followed, now... Well, then he'd have to take care of this more pressing matter, first.

Turning back, the undead ex-SOLDIER took a look back down into the alleyway. He wasn't really looking forward to this conversation, either.

"Hey! So, uh, whadda you guys want?" he shouted to where he thought they had been, not managing to make it sound as carefree as he would have liked.

[streaks_of_red]

Reno had been all set to swing the car over to the direction Elena had pointed when Fair yelled down at them. The vehicle lurched as he braked abruptly.

He let out an annoyed breath at the third change of plans in less than five minutes. "Friggin' make up your mind, Christ," he muttered, shoving open the door again.

Granted, this did make things easier so he couldn't bitch too much.

"Just a question," he called back, standing at the foot of the fire escape and knowing full well Elena had him covered where she was. "You gonna hop down or we gonna yell for the whole planet to hear?"

He might've felt bad about making Zack climb back down with an injured arm, but considering the guy was going to have to get off the roof sooner or later, he figured it didn't matter either way in this case.