Crisis Core: The Novel

Chapter 32 - Hustle and Flow

With the clone insurgency rebooted in full swing, Midgar was under increasing threat, the infrastructural backbone of the city a high-priority target. The industrial districts of Sector 6 came under constant attack. Zack ran out there alone to find the Security Branch rolling up on his zone.

Oh hell no. They were trying to scalp his mission! Slim pickings at Shinra lately, not if Zack had anything to say about it!

"What's up guys? The Fountain District get a little too hairy for you?"

Security guys threw their hands up at Zack insinuating they couldn't even patrol a safe area. They started railing on SOLDIER, getting riled up, Zack took smug satisfaction in getting a rise out of them.

"You wanna bet on it?" the Security Commander called out to Zack.

"Okay," Zack smirked. "I'll bet you that I can take an entire Sector faster than all of the Security Branch combined! I'll even take one of your guys with me as a handicap. C'mon Commander. You game?"

"Handicap, huh?"

"Yeah, handicap."

At that, the Commander leered, putting a hand on a smug chin.

"STRIFE! FRONT AND CENTER!"

Then their smallest, youngest guy hurried to push through the ranks, stumbling to stand at attention before the Commander and Zack. All flushed and discombobulated, Private Cloud Strife flashed a winded salute.

"You still game, SOLDIER?" the Commander taunted.

Zack walked around the kid, inspecting, debating. He bit the inside of his cheek in uncertain thought.

"...Ehrrnn...I dunno..."

"What's the matter SOLDIER? Scared?"

"No way!"

"Then it's double-or-nothing!"

"You're on!"

They shook hands as hard as they could, knuckles cracking and glares flaring, then Zack stormed off toward his Sector.

"Let's go small fry! You better not mess me up!"

Cloud trotted after the SOLDIER tripping over his own feet, stumbling once on a street curb as Security laughed and waved. As soon as they rounded the corner, Cloud and Zack dropped the act, fell in step with each other and swaggered into combat-mode.

They headed for an industrial rail yard where satellite coms pinned down clones amassing. Zack ran into the courtyard while Cloud scampered up a service ladder onto an elevated catwalk outside a factory building, giving him a clear view of the overhead lay. Zack grabbed to draw his sword, but then stopped.

"Hmm. I want to try something..." And he took his hand off the hilt, leaving the sword sheathed over his back.

Then they came, the first wave of clones sprinted in small scattered groups flooding into the industrial yard. Zack crossed his arms up at Cloud, letting him know to catch them in the crossfire, then ran into the fray to start trouble.

First up—a tri-formal assault team. They all three came flying high at him. He diverolled under them as they flew right into Cloud's bullet spray. Three more ran in from the steps, a spinning roundhouse kick sent all three flying. Zack felt a sick rush invade him as boot sole connected with broken face.

So this is why Angeal did it!

With an evil smile and a lost light returning to his eyes, he cracked his knuckles raring to find another fight. He'd forgotten how much fun hunting was, and now he'd flipped the play-mode up a notch!