Crisis Core: The Novel

Chapter 6 - Genesis

The B1 Alpha Transport Chopper dropped them off in a far green countryside, cumulonimbus clouds billowing overhead like grazing sheep. Before them loomed a veranda of bowed white trees like the ribcage of a great beast buried halfway in the ground. Zack and Tseng walked through the overhang of violet-blue apples hanging from drooping boughs like bells.

"Weird looking trees," remarked Zack.

"These are Banora White trees...aka dumbapples."

"Wait, that means we're in Angeal's hometown?"

"Correct. Genesis and Angeal have known each other for a long time."

They continued on through an arcing trellis of apple blossoms, lulled by the sweet scent of sucrose, when Zack heard running footfalls behind them. In a flash, he leapt around drawing his sword, slicing two oncoming troops with his draw alone. They fell to the ground at Tseng's feet...no expression crossed the Turk's face.

Tseng kicked them over to reveal more look-alikes.

"These guys!" exclaimed Zack. "I saw them in Wutai too!"

"So they are here. We haven't seen any of the townspeople. They may have taken control of the entire town." Tseng mulled over this revelation, then turned to Zack. "When Genesis deserted, he took a large arsenal of weapons with him. The President's orders are to retrieve or destroy these weapons immediately upon discovery."

"Leave it to me." Zack lazy-saluted and took off.

He ran ahead through the floral tunnel, he didn't need help from a Turk anyway. At the end of the path he came to a huge red-brick estate, complete with a steel gate and paved reception. Someone was rolling in dough.

Then from a side gate, two more troops rushed him in dual-scimitar free-flurry, diving for him in cross-downs. Zack bat the blade of the first one up, roundhouse kicked him away, then X-slashed through both troops in fluid wisps of flare-crosses. The copies made it a few more steps with their momentum, then fell dead as Zack stood with sword flayed skyward.

But the fight wasn't over yet. A massive ARMA Spider-tank crawled from the gateway in spindly strides. Its geosync honed in on a young SOLDIER standing strong in navy fatigues and boots, but all its targeting instrument saw was a target. It locked onto Zack, launching a homing rocket straight for him. Zack stood like a samurai timing the shot, then flayed his sword overhead to slice the rocket in two pieces that exploded on either side of him. The dynamite rush of air whipped his dark hair off his face as he looked up with that familiar mean smile of the hunter at play.

"The President won't be disappointed!"

He flicked his nose, set his sword, and lunged in.

The Mech-Spider leered back to draw a bead, just the kind of break Zack needed.

The stone wall was cemented in sections resembling steps. Zack ran up them and kicked onto the Spider's back. The Mech flailed and whirled about with its sharp steel legs slashing and careening for the stowaway on its back, but he held tight with his feet hooked into gear sockets. A red-eyelet encased in velochasmic glass served as the contraption's targeting mechanism. Zack's sword snapped in relentlessly, cracking into its armor plating in a desperate search for an opening.

The ARMA Spider stumbled back, unable to get a proper lock-on, or keep up with its opponent's blinding, stinging movements. But Zack got thrown around like a blind cowboy in a china-shop rodeo. Somehow, he had to slow this crustacean contraption down, and he had an idea.

He slid off the Mech's back, rolling to his side, then sliced through a rear support leg. Black lubricant sprayed like a shot engine valve as the Mech toppled to its side. Then Zack leapt onto the exposed metal underbelly and slashed with abandon. He shattered the velo-glass, stabbed his sword straight through the eyelet, and the Spider's legs curled under like a shriveling corpse.