Old friends (Only SOLDIER invited to join)

[kempff]

((OOC: Recommended Zack and Cloud do not join though. Cloud isn't SOLDIER, pansy-a$$. Zero is welcome.))

This world was reminiscent of their old one. Same gritty atmosphere, same oppressive architecture, same defeating nature. Just no people, no helpless populace that needed desperately heroes to save them at every moment.

Looking about this vast world, something struck Sephiroth. Was this place not lacking a vital component besides a populace? Or maybe it was the perfect setting for a new beginning. He mused to himself and listened; this world was hollow with a bitter wind. It ate all who came yes...but in time all things change.

Sephiroth was certain his ex fellow SOLDIER would come. It was a message from the great leader himself, and he knew very well they all idolized him in some way. Yes, he did turn against Shinra, but bygones were bygones. Greater plans demanded a greater sacrifice.

For the time being Sephiroth stayed out of view. Perhaps someone would feel his presence, but his exact location was somewhere high above, the sky, a room in a building, or in the shadows looking down. They would all appear before the skyscraper as he'd ask, or at least as his presence indicated.

OOC: Not looking for a fight by the way, more interested in meeting.

[angeal]

Angeal flew by Sephiroth, not noticing him at that exact moment. The world was so dark, it wasn't like he would've noticed him that fast if he'd been searching. Angeal landed, and noted that this world was seemingly devoid of life.

"Not sure I like this place, it's too quiet. Like the calm before the storm."

Angeal dug into his pocket, and pulled out a letter signed by Sephiroth. It had said to come here, so he did. He wondered what had happened to his old friend in the time he'd been gone.

"Sephiroth! Where are you?"

[Shinn]

Down below, at the foot of the black skyscraper Genesis stood near the large buildings doorway leaning next to a wall as he read from his LOVELESS book, as always. It had been sometime since since Sephiroth and him had met. What exactly did he want with him and the other former members of SOLDIER? He felt that it wasn't a reunion that's' for sure.

Genesis looked up in the sky and spotted a very familiar face. A ghost from the past had come to this realm of hollow existence. Genesis gave a smirk upon seeing Angeal, that man just didn't know when to die it seemed. But some part of Genesis heart was glad to see his old friend here and alive. With him here, Genesis wondered who else would be showing up to this get together.

Genesis waited for Sephiroth to show himself. It would be a waste to look for him anyways, he knew he would show himself in a matter of time. Genesis had all the time in the world.

[kempff]

OOC: Feel free to come in whenever Zero if you're still interested.

"How wonderful of my old friends to come see me." Echoed an all too familiar voice. Sephiroth looked down from the skyscraper, his wing over his shoulder. "Come friends, the ground isn't where we belong. We don't need the ants listening."

Sephiroth returned to the middle of the rooftop. He waited quietly, eyes closed with his back to where Angeal and Genesis would appear. If they wished to strike him down he was showing his back now, though doing so would destroy any and all honor of their SOLDIER days, and now.

[Shinn]

Genesis heard Sephiroths all to familiar voice echo all around the dark empty city. He looked up and saw his former comrade at the top of Memories Skyscraper, still the same as he remembered. He took a few steps forward placing his book back inside the pocket of his coat.

A black wing popped out from Genesis crimson trench coat, and in one flap of the large wing, the monster was rocketed up to the top of the building. Once he reached the top of the skyscraper Genesis slowly made his way downwards landing gently on the end of the building. Sephiroth was standing in the center of the rooftop turned away from Genesis. If Genesis was an enemy of Sephiroth, he could have used this as the perfect time to use his strongest attack to destroy him. But what good would killing an old friend do? Genesis walked over in the direction Sephiroth was at, Angeal would eventually make his way here soon.

[angeal]

Genesis had arrived. Then Sephiroth decided to show himself, but instead of talking on the ground, he wanted to go up high. One thing puzzled him though. Sephiroth referred to ants, but there was no one around. Or were they just all in hiding? Angeal's wings sprouted as they always did, and like Genesis, he flew upward at a fast rate. He landed on the building, facing Sephiroth.

"And just why did we have to talk up here Sephiroth? You got something to say that people aren't going to like?" Angeal chuckled. It was funny to him because again, he didn't think anyone else was around.

[kempff]

"Is it so unusual? Back in the days of SOLDIER in Shinra. We did look down on Midgar from Shinra Building, from our very own level. Isn't this the same experience?" Sephiroth mused more than answer, he'd brought them here for a reason. Not just to remind of the past, but revive it.

"Though, I will be honest. There are those I do not want knowing of this meeting, or at least know what is being said. In other words, vigilantes seeking justice." It all seemed like Sephiroth was moving through the same strokes in life, and to talk about old things wasted time.

"First, it's been forever Angeal, Genesis. That you came is pleasing." Sephiroth stopped, all this talking from him between these two wasn't how things had been; not to say that Sephiroth was the person he was then. "To the point though. These worlds, you've been to them? Seen the Heartless, the Nobodies? How light and darkness are so important here? This is a rather chaotic place isn't it?"

[Shinn]

The mere mention of SOLDIER reminded Genesis of times long forgotten by time. The small few who knew of its existence probably considered it an old legend rather than what it really was. Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth were the last remnants of Shinras cursed army.

But the time for looking back would have to wait, Sephiroth brought them here for something important. He spoke of the Heartless, the Nobodies, and the worlds. To Genesis these things weren't very important to him. The Heartless were inferior beings who acted only on pure instinct instead of thinking. They were best compared to wild animals that needed to be tamed. The Nobodies, although they had the ability to think like any human could due to the fact they once were, are sorrowful creatures whose only desire was to regain their lost hearts. It was a pitiful existence to live, or at least this is what Genesis believed.

But what did these things as well as the worlds and light and darkness have to do with anything? What was Sephiroth thinking? Genesis looked over, at the view of the dark city. "It has been for a very long time now. But may I ask, what are you getting at Sephiroth?"

[angeal]

Angeal listened as Sephiroth spoke. Then Genesis would take his turn.

"Indeed it has been a while Sephiroth. As for the Heartless, they seem to be nothing more than creatures of instinct, creatures of habit. I've come across enough of them to know that much. But as for these Nobodies, I've yet to discover them. And this world seems deserted, so who would there be to listen in on our conversation? And as Genesis said, what is the purpose of this meeting? Are you trying to make a world for only monsters, such as ourselves, or are you after something else?" Angeal, with a serious look on his face turned to Genesis.

"It is good to see you're in good health Genesis."

[Darren]

The blurry vision had slowly run it's course and was slightly back to normal he had no idea where he was, by the looks of it he was in some kind of building. His SOLDIER uniform still intact, clean but the mako was still imbued with it; making it look as if a greeny steam was emnating from the fabric.

Running his hand along the wall for support he suddenly fell through an open door, hitting his proteched head on the first step on a flight of stairs, repositioning the helmet he slowly began to crawl up them, "uh....wha.." he managed to cough out as he wheezed for air, he must of been crawling for about five minutes when he saw something dart up the stairs in front of him, his pupils tensed slightly as if to try and get a better view of what it was, but alas it was too late, whatever it was had slipped off into the darkness that seemed to be everywhere in this world.

After what seemed to be forever of crawling up stairs he finally managed to force himself up on his own two feet once again, althought still trailing his hand along the railings for support, once again he saw that strange thing watching him; its yellow eyes looking into his with a deep hatred or hunger within. He edged his right hand towards his sword, upon seeing this the creature darted away once again " What.. is that.." he muttered to himself quitely.

After a few more minutes of climbing he was at the top of the stairs looking at a secure metal door, he sighed to himself he didnt think he had the strength to brush his teeth yet alone open up a door, he mused to himself about that thought for a couple of seconds before he heard; a scraping sound coming from behind, turning around his sword drawn into a defensive position across his chest, he saw it; that black creature with yellow eyes from before lunging its clawed hand at him, hitting his sword it sent him through the metal door and onto the roof of the building.

His vision going blurry once again, the beast poked his head through door and upon seeing what was on the other side it quickly retreated, he then looked around before blacking out again; three figures where before him.. "S...ShinRa...SOL-" he managed to mutter before he momentarilly passed out.

[kempff]

Ever perceptive his old friends were. He couldn't underestimate them, though he remembered their old weaknesses just as well.

"When SOLDIER was at it's heyday, things were controllable. Even if it was only Midgar. The problem was Shinra, they continued to limit us, and behind our backs engineered everything while controlling everything we did. I'm saying why don't the monsters of man take what is theirs?" Sephiroth held his hands out wide. "This setting is perfect to begin, this world, it's as if Midgar has been reborn. My friends, let's rebuild SOLDIER, but this time we are the leaders. You will have questions, and I hav-" Before Sephiroth could finish he turned his head. A moment later a body flew out of door leading to the roof.

Finally. I thought you'd died.
Sephiroth walked over to the body and upon looking at it closer found himself pleased. The SOLDIER uniform, a third class, but it was certainly was a piece to begin with. "Angeal, Genesis...may I present to you someone I brought along as well. We are lucky, he somehow made it to this time, a Third Class. Unfortunately...he's one of few with Mako, and that means we can't simply will them here. Is this all becoming clear?"

[angeal]

"You want to recreate our world here? Why not just go back to Midgar, and take control ourselves? Why start over? And just what do you mean by willing them here?" Angeal's picture of Sephiroth was starting to change. In Angeal's time away, it appeared that Sephiroth had become, well slightly insane. Or had taken on a new view of the way things should be. And Angeal wasn't so sure he was liking what he was seeing and hearing. Recreate SOLDIER? What was the point? To do that, in Angeal's eyes was to bring about more monsters, more madness. And Angeal expressed this belief.

"Wouldn't bringing back SOLDIER only lead to more misery? Back in Midgar it was the cause of much pain and suffering, and I've resolved to fight all that creates it. What makes you think I won't fight this version?" He paused and then spoke again. "Unless you have figured out a way to avoid said pain. An old friend of mine, a student, a little puppy, if you will, had a dream of becoming a hero. Heck, he made it all the way to first class." He looked at Sephiroth, and then Genesis. "You both know who I'm talking about. Zack. He used his job as a means to protect those he loved, whcih in a sense, was everyone. Let us make SOLDIER a means to an end. Let us protect, not destroy. Or all we'll ever be are monsters."

[kempff]

"Angeal..." Sephiroth's voice was soft, what Angeal had said surprised him. "Surely Angeal, you know that Midgar disappeared a while ago? There is no way back for any of us. As of now Midgar is but a legend." This was the truth. Long before Sephiroth had his run in with Sora and Cloud, Midgar had disappeared. "But of course though Angeal, why re-create what happened to us? I also acted against Shinra's perverse sense of order. We all have, in time every one of us turned against our perverse controller. I no more want monsters from the past than either of you do, but look at these worlds Angeal, Genesis. Do you see how easily these worlds can be turned to either light or darkness? These beings are not able to defend themselves, far too long have they been at the mercy of chaos here. Can we stand by idly and wait for another Shinra to appear, another reign of honor less monsters? Organization XIII certainly posed that question."

"Look at this empty world. It lacks everything. This world is the epitome of the current state of this universe, there is no hope for enduring order. SOLDIER could offer everything here and beyond. The raw light and darkness could be tamed and steered from brutality, to the honor we all strive for. Or all three of us can continue on as we are, with no goal or reason, relics of a myth." Sephiroth felt his point was clear now. He knew to trim down his elitist attitude, as difficult as it was. "Look at our young friend. Did and does he not still believe in what SOLDIER stood for? When I found him, how could I merely walk away? The three of us continue to be those ideals for those who believe in what SOLDIER stood for, not Shinra."

OOC: you can go now Shinn, just wanted to respond to Angeal quickly. Then Warren and whichever.

[Shinn]

Genesis gave a small nod and a smirk at Angeal as if to say, "It is good to see you as well."

It was alot to ingest, the idea of turning this world into a new home for a whole new order of SOLDIER, that which would be led by the three of them was something very hard to resist. But was this something that Genesis desired? Bringing back forth something that he himself had abandoned long ago seemed almost ironic. As he continued to ponder at this an unknown intruder busted out of nowhere wearing the uniform of a 3rd Class SOLDIER. It seemed as though Sephiroth had brought this young man to show them that the ideals and beliefs of SOLDIER continued to live on through others.

Genesis feelings towards the worlds were not the same as Sephiroth had described. It was all very true, but this could not be stopped. Humans would forever be like this, it seemed almost an impossible dream to achieve. But SOLDIER was something that could make the impossible, possible. Why couldn't they do this?

But soon Genesis was reminded of his state as nothing more than a monster. A monster does not restore balance and order, it tries to destroy it, to inflict chaos and destruction. Genesis felt as though he would not be someone who could help realize Sephiroths dream. But perhaps the monster could somehow undo his cursed existence. Genesis knew of only one way. But it would take some time to do this. For now, he would just have to go along with Sephiroth and his plans.

Genesis looked back at the scenery of the dark city and then back at the unconscious SOLDIER. "I can see you have put much thought into this, Sephiroth. However, what good would it do to try and bring order to an orderless universe?"

[Darren]

In the darkness of his mind all he could was certain words of the conservation between the three men he last saw standing around him, " ShinRa.. SOLDIER... MAKO....Recreation..." the words hummed around in his head, and unknowignly said them out as he thought them. Eventually light came to his eyes and he could see the three men again. He was about to open his mouth to speak when he felt something rush up from his stomach, to his throat and out of his mouth, leaning to one side he threw up a strange bluey green liquid from his stomach; had he digested some of the mako during the fusion incident?

Turning around wiping his mouth, he looked at them through his visor and spoke quitely his throat dry since throwing up " W-where are we..? W-who are you? SOLDIERS, I assume.." His voice was weak and he had trouble even supporting his own weight sitting down.