Crisis Core: The Female SOLDIER

8

The two 2nd Classes entered the briefing room and Zack rushed towards Lazard who was sitting at the table. "Any word on Angeal?" he asked, a hopeful grin on his face.

Lazard only shook his head and Zack's smile dropped. "He hasn't contacted his family, either." The director added and Zack sighed as his shoulders slumped. He turned to Lazard. "So what's this about?"

"A new assignment, for the both of you," Lazard answered and Sera moved in closer to listen. "I want you two to go to the hometown of our missing SOLDIER 1st Class, Genesis."

"You want us to see if he has made any contact with the townspeople there?" Sera said and Lazard nodded in confirmation.

"According to the parents, they've had no contact with Genesis whatsoever. But, they can't be trusted," Lazard elaborated as he shook his head, his elbows propped up on the table.

"Why?"

"Think about it," Sera spoke up and Zack turned to her. "As a parent, which would you value more? The company your son worked for? Or your own son? I gather it would be the latter."

"Right," Lazard nodded at Sera's explanation. "They're his family, after all," Lazard spoke as he looked over to Zack and Zack nodded, now understanding.

"I've already dispatched some staff, but we lost contact," Lazard told the two, his attention towards the screen where the profile and status of the staff were displayed. "I want the two of you to go in and investigate. He will go with you."

Lazard gestured behind him and both the SOLDIER 2nd class members turned to look just as another person entered the room. The entree was an Asian man with black hair tied to a small ponytail, a black dot on his forehead, possibly a beauty mark, and adorned in a monochrome business suit.

"Tseng, of the Turks." The Asian man identified himself to Lazard before turning to the remaining two and his eyes narrowed at Zack as though analyzing him.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment and Zack turned back to Lazard, his stare flat. "This mission is looking really gloomy."

"Only you would say something like that at first glance," Sera commented before looking back at Tseng. "It's been a while, Tseng." Tseng turned to Sera and his eyes softened slightly before nodding. "Yes, it has, Sera. I assumed you will be taking part in this operation as well?" Sera nodded.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Sera and Tseng to look at Zack and they both nodded. "I met Tseng and a few other Turks as well on my missions. They were the ones who often requested my assistance on missions." Sera explained to Zack

"Let me know when you're ready to go." Tseng stated and Zack nodded before rushing of to get his equipment while Sera remained, having already gotten what she needed. Tseng noticed Sera looking at Zack as he left and spoke up. "You've changed, Sera."

"Have I?" Sera raised an eyebrow at his proclamation and Tseng nodded in confirmation. "You're softer somehow, more at ease with yourself. Before you would not give any SOLDIER member any more than professional necessity and yet I can see that you considered him to be more than just a comrade. You see him as a friend."

'Do I?' Sera wondered as she looked through the frosted glass walls to see Zack collecting and putting on his equipment at the equipment bay and found herself agreeing. He has shown her nothing but genuine kindness and even extended a hand out in friendship towards her even though her attitude towards him remained mostly the same despite knowing each other for a mere month. Her eyes softened and a small smile graced her lips. "I guess I do," Sera answered.

"He would be good for you, Sera."

"I hope you're not implying that I get together with him, Tseng." Tseng chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not, I would never suggest such a thing."

The conversation ended at that and Zack soon re-entered the briefing room, now fully equipped and ready and Tseng looked at the both of them. "Ready to go?" Both Sera and Zack nodded in confirmation. "A routine job right? No sweat!" Zack commented confidently.

"I wonder..." Tseng stated. "Originally, Sephiroth was assigned to this mission." That got Sera's attention and both looked to Tseng in surprise. "That means, it's a top-priority matter. Be alert, or you'll fail." He directed the last part to Zack.

"And Sephiroth?" Sera questioned.

"Refusing to go, apparently."

"Oh, what is that? They spoil him too much," Zack commented and Tseng chuckled. "Why don't you say that to his face?"

Zack quickly clapped his hands together in fright, a pleading look on his face with a scared smile. "Uh, no thanks!"

"I'm not the one you should be begging to here," Zack quickly whipped around to look at Sera pleadingly and she pretended to think for a moment before an almost evil smirk appeared on her face. "I'll think about it," was she said before walking off with Tseng joining her, trying not to laugh as she could hear Zack wailed behind them as he tried to catch up.

"No, wait! Sera! Please, don't tell him! I thought we were friends!"