Escape

Fists. Feathers. Shards of glass. A breath, the first in five years. Gasps, slowing down

Zack Fair looked up.

The last Shinra soldier collapsed with a gurgle, the full weight of Buster Sword smashing ribs effortlessly. Wiping his sword in the dust, SOLDIER 1st Class Zack sank to one knee.

"What's...wrong with me today? How could I be having trouble against these guys?"

A rasping laugh from a downed soldier.

"Ever fought the Shinra army before, my boy? We're not just here to look pretty and die."

"Really."

"Don't worry, you'll find out. Soon."

Buster Sword crushed her skull. No need to prolong suffering.

"We'll need to return to the mansion to regroup."

The Major stood before the board of directors, meeting their stares evenly.

"I hear we've got another rogue 1st."

The President looked at him. "Be careful with your tone, Major."

"Sorry, sir."

The new Director of SOLDIER, a 1st by the name of Alexander, opened the file he carried.

"Zack Fair. One of Angeal's close confidants. He's escaped from a Shinra research facility−" behind his mask the Major flinched, "in Nibelheim. We'll take care of i−"

Tseng immediately cut in. "Pursuing fugitives is an Administrative Research prerogative. It's none of this soldier's concern."

The Executives saw the Major smile.

"Yes...and how has your success rate been lately?"

Tseng blinked. "The army takes heavy casualties at every encounter."

"We've just been standing still, we've never been given authorisation to go on the offensive before. The Turks and SOLDIER have, without success."

"Sending out a full army will not be subtle."

"Like Banora? Like Genesis' attacks on Junon? Sirs and Madam, we're still feeling repercussions from when Genesis went rogue, all of you suffered massive collateral damage on his account. We have to nip this in the bud, and I'm the best pursuit troop commander you've got."

The President met his stare. "Will you have Zack Fair's head on this table in thirty days?"

"No, sir. SOLDIERS dissolve when they die." He saw slight flinches from Executives. This man has seen SOLDIERS die before. "I'll have his dogtags." Murmurs.

"But...I have conditions. Whatever I ask for from any of you, I get, no arguments, no hedging. Choppers, artillery, files, Cid Highwind serving me pizza, whatever. And right now I want the security tapes from Nibelheim reactor, unedited as far as possible, and Gun Bull Heads flanking the road from Nibelheim to Cosmo Canyon. Let's make Zack nervous."

"Done. Thirty days, Major. I expect results."

"Of course, sir. And to ensure I am working professionally, I suggest representatives from both SOLDIER and the Turks to be attached to my staff in an observational capacity."

Ripples around the table. Inter departmental co-operation was a mythical monster in the Shinra terms of employment. It was hinted at here and there, but rarely seen, and never voluntarily sought out.

Heidegger stood. "A word in private, Major?"

The Major followed his direct superior into the corridor, noting the clenched fists.

"You want the Turks and SOLDIER on your mission?"

"Of course not, sir, but it's not like they'll leave me in peace anyway. This way, I'll know where they are. For the next thirty days, I'm going to be very powerful."

"Yes, and on Day thirty one you'll be torn to pieces."

"Such is life,sir."

"Impressive, Major. I'll do what I can to protect you, if you succeed. Gya ha ha!"

"...Thank you , sir."

The Major examined his Liaisons from the other departments. Both women, both probably deadly. The Turk had longish red hair and wore a Shuriken slung on the back of her infamous suit. The SOLDIER was bald, wore a scimitar, and seemed otherwise unremarkable apart from her glittery Mako Eyes.

"Well, welcome to my staff. Your names?"

"You can call me Shuriken." The Turk said, with a half smile.

"That's not a name, that's a label! I think I'll call you Red." They were going to behead him as soon as his presidential decree expired, so he might as well have some fun in the meantime.

"And you are...If you don't give me a name, I'll just call you Sparkles."

"Maggie."

"Is there a reason you shave your head?"

This time a real smile. "It was pointed out to me when I was a 2nd that no one made First Class without intriguing hair. Just letting it grow doesn't work for women, so I went the other way."

"Don't see many girls in SOLDIER."

"You have to have a certain muscle density to survive Mako infusions... There's...nine of us, I think."

"Out of how many?"

Narrowed eyes. "Why?" Careful, aren't you?

"Come on, the gender balance in SOLDIER is highly classified information? Just interest."

"Thirty three Firsts, Seventy Seconds, and A Hundred Twenty Thirds. Genesis' defection hit us hard."

"I see. Well, Red, you're just here to look pretty, but Sparkles, you'll be busy over the next few days."

"Doing what?"

"Teaching my soldiers how to kill SOLDIER 1sts."