Zack App

[weallfalldown]

PLAYER
Name: Sava
Age: 22
Personal Journal: N/a
E-mail: Savayork@gmail.com
AIM/MSN/etc: Chrisxkitten

CHARACTER
Name: Zack Fair
Canon: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Age: 23
Timeline: Before his death and the last battle.
If playing another character from the same canon, how will you deal with this?: N/A

Personality: When Zack was younger, he had more of an excitable personality. His mentor Angeal once wrote home about him, describing him as a man with a short attention span, and too much energy. Much like a puppy. And while the core of his personality is very much that, as things change around him and people die, by his hand or against his control, Zack realizes that the world won't wait for him to grow up. He has to do that himself. Angeal left him with a few key guiding points before he died. That he should have dreams, ones that inspire hope and vigilance, and to protect his honor, in keeping his integrity as well as following orders. And with those two keystones, Zack finds his way though his life in SOLDIER, making decisions and fighting with them in mind.

Zack's spirit is well practiced in long suffering, having joined the ShinRa army at a very young age. There are many occasions where he should have broke, or given up, but he continues to fight for the people he has lost, and isn't the kind of man to let them down. Despite that, he does gives into despair at certain points in his life, and he doesn't hold back when his feelings are too strong. He lets himself cry, even in the presence of his girlfriend, and knows how to receive comfort as well as give it. It is said that Zack inherited not only Angeal's ideals, but that he replaced him as the heart and soul of SOLDIER after being promoted to his first class rank. Where Angeal once stood, giving hope to new third class recruits and infantrymen, Zack stands, and passes on the words of his mentor with buster sword in hand.

Its around this time that Zack begins to grow in himself, finding his focus and not letting his head get too filled with ideas. But he still has the ability to be playful when ever the situation calls for it, or he feels like it. And if you asked him at any point in time, his dream would still be "to be a hero." On that note, Zack's playfulness and charm has him labeled as a ladies man, flirting even with Turks, like Cissnei despite knowing their organizations shady job description. He doesn't discriminate at all when it comes to who his friends are, or who he flirts with, and that also helps his popularity, enough so that he gets his own fanclub, as well as lower ranking officers who look up to him as their hero. It also helps him snag his pretty girlfriend from the slums, Aerith, and from there we can see what kind of man Zack really is, outside of a combat situation.

Even though Aerith is afraid of the sky, and finds SOLDIER operatives scary, Zack is able to show her that maybe they really aren't that scary. He gives her a new view on the unknown, and explains to her that maybe it is scary, but the sky also looks so liberating. After meeting with her, Zack kind of comes more into his role of a strong pillar and protector, with a gentle smile and light commentary, and she is his outlet, away from the world of ShinRa and something precious to him.

Though, while Zack can be gentle, when it comes to constant annoyances, he does get frustrated from time to time. Especially when his moral code is pushed to its limits when he gets missions that he knows will mean facing his mentor and Genesis. At times, he even yells at Sephiroth and Lazard in frustration, and when he doesn't agree with how something is being done, he will most definitely let you know. Zack can also be a little slow on the pick up because of frustration and SOLDIER protocol, assuming at times that everyone is only thinking of the mission rather than the faces of the people it involves. A quick reminder that his superiors and friends aren't heartless monsters are all he needs to get right back on track though, and he'll be right as rain.

Finally, while Zack isn't patient, or the smartest of his rank, he learns how to focus, and to put everything he has into an idea, or an action. With one simple breath, and a thought or a whisper of his mantra, he can take on the world, even if he knows he might lose, that isn't what is important. What is important, is protecting the world, becoming a hero, and destroying all that creates suffering.

Background: Born in Gongaga, Zack leaves home to join SOLDIER at thirteen, and three years later, he finds himself part of SOLDIER as a second-class ranking operative. Interrupting a training session, Zack gets called into SOLDIER director Lazard’s office and finds Angeal, his mentor inside the room. Zack is then informed that First-class SOLDIER Genesis Rhapsodos is currently missing in action as well as a large amount of third and second-class operatives while dealing with a mission regarding the Wutai war. Here, Angeal tells Zack that he has recommended him for first, and Lazard gives the marching orders to take over Genesis’ mission, and destroy a wutai base that will help solve the conflict.

Upon arriving in Wutai, Angeal tells Zack a story about the Banora white trees, bearing fruit commonly known as “dumb apples”. He tells him that as a poor child in Banora, he would occasionally steal apples so that he could eat, but even so, he kept his honor by not stealing from the biggest tree in Banora, because the owners son was his friend. Not quite sure what it has to do with him, Zack follows after Angeal, sure that he was being made fun of, and they start the mission soon after, clearing out the Wutai base. Before Zack delivers the final blow to the monster in the base, it stuns him with a strong blow, Angeal stepping in to save him.

After a moment of thanks, the two leave and the director shows up, Zack having to take the many to safety when they get ambushed by more troops. Though, when Zack returns, all that is left are the bodies of the fallen soldiers, and no Angeal, but a summons appears instead. Sephiroth shows up soon after, helping defeat it and comments that the soldiers are not Wutai troops but Genesis copies. He also goes on to mention that Angeal must have defected as well, provoking a rise out of Zack as he defends his mentors honor. Shortly after, Sephiroth and Zack return to Midgar, and a month later, no news still from Angeal or Genesis.

Zack recieves a call from an unknown turk, telling him to go to Lazard’s office, and he does, finding the voice on the phone belongs to Tseng of the turks. Lazard gives the order for the both of them to go to Genesis’ home town, Banora to investigate, being informed that the mission was one that Sephiroth refused. Upon arrival, they notice strange trees that Tseng identifies as Banora whites, and Zack puts the pieces together and realizes that Genesis and Angeal have been friends since childhood and that is why people suspect them to be in league with each other. Visiting Genesis’ house, they find fresh graves and while Tseng investigates whose graves they are, Zack goes to visit Angeal’s mothers house.

Gillian Hewley is at home, and tells Zack that Angeal and Genesis had been there, saying that Genesis had killed most of the town, while Angeal left his buster sword in her care. She then goes on to explain that the buster sword is a symbol of their family’s honor. Confident that Genesis won’t hurt her, Zack leaves and gets a call from Tseng saying that he has found the base Genesis made, and to come over as quickly as possible. As usual, Zack storms the base while Tseng looks for information, and shortly after, genesis appears, Tseng questions him only to get thrown back by a fire spell.

Before Zack can engage Genesis, Angeal appears and stops the conflict, Genesis leaves and Angeal does soon after, Zack giving pursuit. With the knowledge that the village will soon be blown up by ShrinRa, Zack and Tseng return to Gillian’s house only to find her dead with Angeal and Genesis right outside. Zack mistakes the situation as murder rather than the actual suicide that takes place and both defectors state that they are monsters. Angeal leaves, but Genesis summons Bahamut again, forcing Zack to fight it while Angeal gets away. Defeating the summon, Genesis restates that they are monsters, and leaves. The town of Banora gets wiped out soon after.

A few months later, the war in Wutai is over and Zack is still mulling over Angeal and Genesis. He gets a surprise phone call from Sephiroth, and is told to come to Lazards office. Upon entering, he is greeted with the news that he has made first-class, and Zack tries and fails to find the enthusiasm that he once had for the position. He then is given a mission with Sephiroth, to assassinate both Angeal and Genesis, though they are told the army will handle it instead, they are there for back up, but before they can go anywhere, the ShinRa company alarms go off, notifying them of intruders.

They soon find out that Genesis and Hollander are the ones attacking, and Zack goes out to sector eight to secure the area, only to be stopped by the turks Reno and Rude and learning that surprisingly, the cute girl he had been going to rescue is also a Turk named Cissnei. Tseng informs him that they have the situation under control, after Zack tries to flirt a little, and they continue fighting. Afterwards, Zack gets a call from Sephiroth to come to the Sector five Mako reactor where there have been Angeal sightings. After a misunderstanding, Sephiroth reassures Zack that he will fail to kill the target if sighted and Zack continues to make his way to sector five. When he arrives, they fight a monster who they find out has Angeal’s face on it, learning that Angeal can copy himself as well.

Sephiroth decides that now is a good time to tell Zack more about his relationship with the other firsts, and explains that Genesis had gotten a small cut in a fight, Sephiroth recieving a lecture from Angeal shortly after, but for some reason Genesis’ cut didn’t heal. They find a room full of Hollander’s research and find out that Genesis was a failureof project G, and that he is deteriorating. Hollander enters the room, surprised to see the both of them, and genesis enters as well, Zack running after Hollander when he tries to escape. He chases him to a dead end, and just as he’s about to catch him, Angeal stands in his way, making ill-humored jokes about being a monster.

Zack tells him that his wings are those of an angel and that he should come back. Instead, Angeal sends him tumbling down under the plate into the slums with a spell, not wanting to have to fight his friend.

A woman calls to Zack while he’s unconscious, urging him to wake up. When he opens his eyes, he’s greeted by a beautiful named Aerith, Zack asking her on a date in exchange for ‘saving’ him. While she declines and says she’ll take up back to the entrance to the upper plate, they go shopping instead, and end up going on a date, Zack buying her a pink ribbon for her hair. After giving her the idea for a flower wagon so she can sell her flowers, they head to the park for a date, and have a conversation about SOLDIER and the sky. Reassuring Aerith that both aren’t quite so scary, he gets a call from Sephiroth and has to return to work, but not before giving Aerith his phone number.

On his way back, Angeal and Zack come to an understanding and agree that their enemy is all that creates suffering. Angeal gives him a lift back to headquarters and drops him off to fight a summon after a short talk with Hojo and Genesis. After the battle, no one is around and Zack receives a call from Aerith to come down to the slums. En route, he sees Angeal, who tells him he needs to meet up with Lazard and that Genesis and Hollander are on their way to Modeohiem. Continuing on to the church, Zack is stopped by Tseng and from there they head to Modeohiem.

On the way there their Chopper gets attacked and ends up crashing, causing Zack, Tseng and two infantrymen to walk the rest of the way. While walking, Zack has a friendly conversation with one of the recruits who identifies himself as Cloud Strife. Their walk takes them to a digging facility and after sneaking in, Zack finds Genesis with a sword to Hollander’s neck, threatening him. Hollander runs away with Cloud in pursuit while Zack engages Genesis, who falls to his death after the fight. Looking for his comrades, Zack tracks them to the nearby village and finds Tseng and Cloud have been attacked by Angeal. Upon looking, he finds him on the top floor of the building.

Angeal states that he is a perfect monster due to Jenova cells, and tells Zack to fight him. He proves his power of absorption and creation by absorbing monsters and turning into a giant monster himself. Knowing that they have to fight, Zack succeeds in bringing him down, and after the battle Angeal turns back to himself, giving Zack the buster sword in his final moments.

Months later, Zack is in charge of a new group of third-class SOLDIERs as well as a group of infantrymen. Taking on Angeal’s old mantra, he gives a speech to them and encourages them to believe in their dreams and protect their honor, and that will help them go far and survive. Shortly after, Zack is sent on a mandatory vacation that gets cut short with the arrival of more Genesis clones. Fighting them off with a giant umbrella, Zack gets sent off to Junon after hearing about Genesis clone sightings and the revelation that Genesis might not really be dead. Upon arrival, Zack is sent to go protect Hollander due to his knowledge of ShinRa company secrets. After fighting a batch of Genesis clones, Zack finds Hollander and pursues him only to lose him after he jumps off the building and is flown away by a pair of Genesis clones.

Sephiroth shows up, telling him that he has failed his mission, but gives him permission to return to Midgar to see Aerith. After a short, awkward, but friendly conversation, he returns. When he visits Aerith though, an Angeal copy appears, protecting Aerith from a rogue robot and then perching on the rafters of the church. Aerith and Zack make a flower wagon, and Aerith gives Zack a piece of paper after telling him that she has twenty-three small wishes, but on the paper, they’ve been combined into one. Getting a call from Sephiroth he has to bow out and tells her that he will most definitely see her later.

Sephiroth informs him of a new mission that involves Lazards disappearance, and after getting Tseng to promise to look after Aerith, the two first-class SOLDIER and Cloud head out to Nibelheim.

After arriving, the group is introduced to Tifa, and they head up to the reactor. Once inside, Sephiroth identifies the malfunction in the reactor while Zack notices that a section inside has Sephiroth’s mothers name on it. Soon after, they investigate what is inside the pods in the reactor and find them to be monsters, born of Mako. After some questions, and Sephiroth looking a little frazzled, Genesis shows up and informs Sephiroth that he is a monster, created from Mako and Jenova cells, which is the body of an abomination that fell the surface two thousand years before. He asks Sephiroth’s help, that Jenova cells can save him, but Sephiroth informs him none too kindly that he can go rot.

After leaving, Zack escorts Tifa and Cloud back to the village, Sephiroth’s whereabouts unknown, and they stay in the inn and have a very serious talk. For a while, Zack warns Cloud against joining SOLDIER, but with a few words, he is reminded of his dreams, and of honor and reminds himself that SOLDIER doesn’t mean monster. The next morning, Sephiroth has been found in the library of the ShinRa mansion in town. He stays there for seven days, reading all he can, until at last he emerges from the mansion and sets the entire town ablaze. Zack, shocked, follows Sephiroth up to the reactor where he finds a fallen Tifa, and Sephiroth with Jenova’s head. Crazed and irrational, Sephiroth beats Zack down, but Cloud manages to defeat him, Sephiroth falling into the depths of the reactor.

From there, Hojo appears on the scene and both Cloud and Zack are taken to a secret research facility where Hojo proceeds to experiment on the both of them for four years.

Having visions and dreams of Angeal, Zack manages to escape the pod he had been stored in and takes a comatose Cloud with him, finding a first-class SOLDIER uniform for Cloud to wear and remember the piece of paper Aerith gave him in his pocket, he finally reads it. On the paper Aerith’s wish is, “I want to spend more time with you” and from there, Zack decides he has to go back to Midgar.

Zack ends up meeting with Cissnei twice, the first time warning her, and the second, her calling Tseng to inform him that she had lost the target. She gives him a motorcycle, and while driving, with Zack in the sidecar, Genesis appears, ambushing Zack to steal his hair, claiming that he has the S-cells that he needs to stop the deterioration. Genesis leaves, his clone staying behind, and after Zack defeats him, he continues on, stopping in Gongaga to see his parents. Cissnei stops him, telling him he shouldn’t be so predictable, and more careful due to Angeal sitings in the area.

Catching site of Angeal, Zack follows, but is ambushed and Hollander appears, having started to deteriorate himself. Both he and Genesis tell him that his cells are useless due to the Mako in his system, but there is one other person who has pure S-cells. And that is Cloud. Zack warns them not to touch him, and goes back to find Cloud. Hollander is about to attack Cloud, but an Angeal clone swoops in and saves him. Zack quickly disposes of Hollander, but wonders why Angeal couldn’t have taken him on himself. It is then revealed that this isn’t Angeal, but actually Lazard, who was forced into becoming an Angeal clone.

After some talking, Lazard and Zack figure out that Genesis will be hiding in Banora, waiting for them, and so Zack, Lazard and Cloud make their way to Banora. Upon arrival, they see the life stream seemingly leaking out of the earth. Jumping down, he gathers seven orbs and enters the room that Genesis was hiding in, his hair completely white. Genesis quotes from the book of Loveless and then absorbs part of the life stream, turning himself into a monster. Zack fights and defeats him, Genesis turning back to his regular self with auburn hair again, and he comes at Zack one last time and Zack defeats him.

He carries Genesis back up to the surface and finds Lazard laying there with another Angeal clone, stating that they had gotten attacked and the clone had protected them. Soon after, both Lazard and the Angeal clone pass away, and Zack leaves Genesis there, dumb apple in hand, after finding Aerith’s 89th letter where the Angeal clone’s body had been. It is here that he finds out that it has been four years, and so he continues his journey back to Midgar with Cloud. Hitching a ride in a truck, Zack and Cloud make their way to Midgar, only to be stopped so close to the city. Zack hides Cloud behind an outcropping of rocks, and walks forward to see that ShinRa has dispatched a giant force made of hundreds of infantrymen, and so, with his buster sword in hand, he closes his eyes, and prepares for battle.

Abilities: Zack, being a first class SOLDIER, is infused with raw Mako energy, making his strength and abilities far beyond a normal human. He has also been infused with S-cells, which are Sephiroth’s enhanced cells with Jenova infusions. And while he can’t pass these enhancements to anyone else, they have improved his abilities all that much further. Examples of this power show up in his fights against summons like Bahamut, fought alone, and in the last stand that he is taken just before, against hundreds of infantrymen armed with guns, rocket launchers and grenades. While he doesn’t survive the assault, he manages to take out a very large portion of the force sent to exterminate him.

Other skills include mastery of swordsmanship, his key weapons being a ShinRa standard issue broadsword as well as the buster sword, inherited from Angeal. Due to his canon point he will only be coming in with the buster sword and not his usual Broadsword.

Zack can also use Materia, small orbs containing knowledge of the planet that allow people to cast, and will be coming in with Curaga, Firaga and Esuna.

First Person: [Zack, who still had his PHS after so long, was still getting used to his watch. He had already gone to grab it instead of the little thing more times than he could count, though used it sparingly to preserve the battery. When it finally died he might have some issues trying to use his Bolt materia to try and give it a little juice, seeing as it was so small. Memories like that, a little piece of home? He wasn't ready to blow it up with materia experimentation just yet.

Opening said watch though, he managed a smile into it before starting up conversation with the object, addressing the city as a whole.] So, I was thinking about starting up a morning routine, but just running through the city isn't so much fun. All that flat road...Anyone have any suggestions for a more scenic route? I figured the park would be good, or head out to that beach, though that's a little more dense wood than I'd really like for just a warm-up. Anyways, holler if you've got any routes you like to take and I'll test them out, see which one suits me best.

Thanks bunches! [And with a wink, he'll shut the watch and settle back, waiting for some ideas to start rolling in.]

Third Person: Nothing can prepare you for being stolen into a new world the first time, or at least Zack likes to think so. But that just means learning your surroundings, and trying to make smart decisions, which he’s not horrible at, but not super great at either. The outdoorsy stuff he can handle though, and maybe all the figuring out and different worlds he can learn about later. But regardless, he’ll just be settling himself down for a nap, free of worrying about getting sniped, or having a cute Turk dressed in black coming to tell him she’ll have to take him in.

Or at least he thought he was before a soft sound in front of him alerts him to something in his immediate area. “Oh come on, can’t a guy get a little shut eye around here?”

What responds isn’t the sound of a human voice, but a soft cooing “Kweh?” of a Chocobo, the bird regarding him with interest. Zack smiles in return, taking in the yellow plumage and fluffy feathers.

“You know, you remind me of someone I know.” The animal gives a Wark in response before settling down a few feet away from him. “I hear you buddy, nap time.” and then he’ll be settling down for that nap again, arms folded under his head, sword at his side and his new chocobo buddy settled down and ready for a nap himself.