independent ● selective ● canon based ZACK FAIR from the FF7 series ● as written by KASA

❱❱ Personal Profile

SUBJECT: Zack Fair. | DIVISION: SOLDIER. | SHINRA EMPLOYEE ID: S04111984Z.

❱❱ Name ———
Zack Fair
❱❱ Gender ———
Male
❱❱ Height ———
6'1"; 185cm
❱❱ Weight ———
170lbs; 77kg
❱❱ Hometown ———
Gongaga; western continent
❱❱ Affiliation ———
ShinRa Electric Power Company;
Public Security
❱❱ Division / Rank ———
SOLDIER 1st Class

❱❱ Date of Birth ———
April 11 [ μ ] – εγλ 1984
❱❱ Enlistment ———
October [ μ ] – εγλ 1997
(into the ShinRa infantry)
March [ μ ] – εγλ 1998
(as SOLDIER)
❱❱ Date of Discharge ———
September [ ν ] – εγλ 0007
❱❱ Status ———
Killed in Action (FF7OG)
Ex-SOLDIER fugitive (FF7R/I)

❱❱ A story of dreams, honor, and the death of innocence ———
Zack had always dreamed of joining SOLDIER. The action, the adventure, the recognition, the status, the stories, the glory -- everything Zack had heard about Midgar’s most elite fighting force and the war heroes that’d been born from it was everything he’d ever hoped to achieve for himself and more. ‘Real heroes’; that’s what SOLDIER was. They were protectors of the peace, defenders of the innocent, guardians of an easier way of life, and the heroes of tomorrow.

And Zack ached to become a hero.

Which was why at only 13, he’d decided that abandoning his comfortable home life in Gongaga and leaving his parents behind was how he’d chase that dream! Traveling to Midgar, he enlisted in Shinra’s military, easily securing a spot within the city’s infantry before earning his rank as SOLDIER through his eagerness and determination shortly after. A quick promotion to SOLDIER 2nd Class would have Zack’s dreams soaring -- he really was on the fast track to becoming a real hero!

But unbeknownst to Zack, by the time he'd enlisted, Shinra didn’t have a place for heroes anymore.

Learning of the corruption and political head games that slept within SOLDIER too late for his own good, Zack was too far involved with the downward spiral of the division to ever reach what he’d set his sights on. SOLDIER didn’t mean ‘hero’; Shinra never intended to give him the right to his dreams. He'd been lied to, cheated out of his childhood, misguided, used—and now freedom from the company he'd ultimately sworn himself against, if he ever could clear himself of them, would come with a steep price-

His life.

❱❱ Physical Assessment

SUBJECT: Zack Fair. | DIVISION: SOLDIER. | SHINRA EMPLOYEE ID: S04111984Z.

❱❱ Eyes ———
Mako blue. Zack's eyes are a rich, almost unnatural blue reminiscent of the sky. Unique to SOLDIER, they bear the trademark sign of mako enhancement and have a slight, but unique, blueish green glow to them.

❱❱ Hair Style ———
Naturally messy, spiky and typically brushed back; Zack’s hair is a deep shade of raven black and is usually light, airy, and easy for him to manage...if he even bothers to manage it at all.

❱❱ Skin Tone ———
Light, but tans easily. Aside from various subtle scars (not including the noticeable one on his face), it's free from most blemishes with no noticeable freckles or birthmarks.

❱❱ Health ———
Zack rarely gets sick, and when he does, it's usually for no more than a few days at best before he's back to full strength. He tends to recover from physical wounds quick; a lot quicker than a normal person thanks to his status as SOLDIER, and typically bounces back from any ailment with remarkable speed. He's aware the amount of mako in his system is said to shorten his life span, but that's a background concern.

❱❱ Build ———
Sporting an athletic, but well defined physique, Zack is a fit, toned, and sturdy male of average height and weight for his age group. Being a member of SOLDIER, Zack’s body has fully adapted to its infusion of mako during his enlistment, giving him a noticeable boost in strength and overall fitness. Zack has a very confident and resilient air about him.

❱❱ Zack's weapon: Buster Sword ———
Classified as an oversized broadsword, Zack’s Buster Sword sports a single edged, two toned blade that measures roughly five and a half feet long with a long handguard that appears to be riveted into place. Though Zack only occasionally uses them post-his escape from Nibelheim, two hollow holes above the handguard can be used to equip materia to the blade, granting it extra abilities in battle depending on the type.

Zack’s very particular about how he uses the Buster Sword, a trait he’s picked up from the sword’s original owner and his late mentor, Angeal. Angeal only ever used the weapon when he absolutely needed to; citing that ‘wear, tear, and rust’ from use were a ‘waste’. In his honor, Zack’s adopted the same philosophy; only ever using the Buster Sword’s blade side to attack and kill if the situation absolutely calls for it. He's much more likely to swing the Buster Sword with its blunt side out, focusing on knocking enemies unconscious rather than aiming to kill.

Before inheriting the Buster Sword from Angeal, Zack’s typical weapon was a standard issued SOLDIER longsword. Company issued weapons, like Zack’s previous, are mass produced for the military and given to operatives as they're needed, so Zack’s been through (and broken) more than his fair share of them.

❱❱ Scars ———
Though most of his scars are faint and only really visible if specifically pointed out, Zack has two extremely noticeable scars that cut across the lower part of his left cheek. Forming a unique cross shape, these were given to him in a fight against his former mentor, Angeal, and never seemed to heal completely like most of his typical injuries do.

❱❱ Accessories ———
Zack isn't much for wearing accessories; sporting only a single small, silver colored stud earring that adorns his left ear.

❱❱ Typical Attire ———
Zack wears a typical SOLDIER uniform that changes in color depending on his rank. As a 2nd, he’s outfitted with a dark blue, sleeveless shirt and matching pants that he wears under his armor. As a 1st, his shirt and pants switch from dark blue to black to match his rank. He’s almost always seen wearing two black leather shoulder guards, dark brown gloves, a black SOLDIER belt, and dark brown boots.

❱❱ Mental Assessment

SUBJECT: Zack Fair. | DIVISION: SOLDIER. | SHINRA EMPLOYEE ID: S04111984Z.

❱❱ Personality type: ENFP
❱❱ Alignment: Chaotic Good

❱❱ Assets———
◈◈ Confident, brave, resilient and high spirited; a dreamer and natural leader.

◈◈ Highly motivated and driven to perform; accepts most tasks he's faced with.

◈◈ Works well with others, both one-on-one and with a team; a natural motivator. Friendly and outgoing to most.

◈◈ Unmatched loyalty and dedication, especially for friends and those who have earned his full trust and support.

◈◈ Sympathetic and compassionate; always gives others the benefit of the doubt.

❱❱ Risks———
◈◈ Highly driven by emotions; prone to poor decisions and a quick temper when agitated.

◈◈ Somewhat impulsive, unpredictable, and reckless. Tends to 'leap before he thinks'.

◈◈ Can be impatient and restless, especially when bored. Likes to be constantly occupied with something to do.

◈◈ Naïve; tends to trust others until given a reason not to. Innocent and kindhearted, almost to a fault.

❱❱ Zack the Puppy ———
‘A puppy’ -- it’s a nickname both loved and hated by Zack depending on who speaks it, but it’s a moniker that seems to fit his personality to a T. Highly driven and always curious, Zack has a level of ambition and confidence that very few can match; both in SOLDIER and outside of it. He’s always full of energy and always seems to be on the go, whether that’s with his nose stuck in training, spending time with friends, focusing on an assignment, or later, chasing down whatever kind of odd job he can find. He was a kid born with a dreamer’s heart and an adventurer’s spirit and he's never let that side of him fade, despite being well into his 20's now.

However, despite being playful and kindhearted like his namesake, Zack’s also inherited the attention span of one. He can be somewhat impatient and easily bored, especially when he hasn’t been given enough to occupy his time with in a day. Restlessness is usually how Zack copes with boredom, but even then, it’s not without his fair share of complaints, huffs, and gripes. Though Zack doesn’t usually sport a temper, he’s someone who lets his actions be ruled by his emotions, and when these run high, even he’s not above letting his heart get the better of him. Zack’s usually a patient person and his temper isn’t common, but it’s easy to tweak sometimes and vicious when he lets his irritation bite back.

Overall though, despite his flaws, Zack can be an extremely positive influence to anyone who gets to know him. He’s a natural leader, a confident role model, a resilient guardian, and an extremely loyal friend. He can be a bit of a flirt who enjoys meeting the ladies, but it’s never without good intentions and kind hearted compliments. After all, his only real goal in life right now is his trying to embrace his dreams, find his freedom, and earn his right to be called a true hero.

❱❱ Skills and Training

SUBJECT: Zack Fair. | DIVISION: SOLDIER. | SHINRA EMPLOYEE ID: S04111984Z.

❱❱ BASIC TRAINING ———
Before Zack was enlisted in SOLDIER, he served time in one of ShinRa’s infantry units and received basic training for his position as a cadet. While not as intensive or as harsh as what he’d go through later once he’d been selected as a candidate for SOLDIER, the infantry’s basic training gave him the foundation to build from and hone what he’d need to achieve success in the company’s militia. Including:

◈ Basic close combat: - Mostly centered on self defense and basic close combat martial arts. Infantrymen were equipped with a baton and taught how to strike to disarm opponents, but most of Zack’s on hand-to-hand combat would come later.
◈ Basic swordsmanship: - Very basic swordsmanship when compared to the training he’d go through later as SOLDIER. Swords weren’t common equipment for most infantryman, but Zack took up what they taught him quick and with high marks. Definitely his preferred weapon, even early on, which set him apart from most in his class.
◈ Ranged weaponry - Includes (and mostly limited to) the standard issued infantry rifle. Though Zack didn’t spend as much time training his shooting skills as compared to most infantrymen, he was taught how to fire a weapon. He wasn’t the best shot, however, and this didn’t include the use of ranged magic, which Zack would learn later.
◈ Paratrooping - As in, being trained to jump from an aircraft and straight into an assignment. Even before being recruited to SOLDIER, Zack spent plenty of time growing accustomed to travel by helicopter as a primary method of deployment and transport, both to and from missions.
❱❱ SOLDIER TRAINING ———
Once fully enlisted as a member of SOLDIER, the intensity of Zack’s training seemed to increased ten fold; though it wasn’t anything him and his new enhancements couldn’t handle! After he’d achieved the rank of SOLDIER 2nd Class, all of Zack’s training was taken over and lead by Angeal, who’d been appointed as his direct mentor. This included:

◈ Advanced close combat - As expected of a SOLDIER operative, Zack was taught more aggressive styles of both offensive and defensive martial arts starting shortly after his enlistment and was expected to be exceptionally skilled in both. The enhancements to his strength and dexterity from his mako infusion help speed up the process of training, but by the time he's promoted to 2nd Class, Zack's able to fight just as well in close quarters without a weapon as he can with a sword on open ground and has surprising strength and swiftness in his technique, too.
◈ Advanced swordsmanship - Still Zack’s preferred method of combat, Zack’s extremely skilled in the art of swordplay and can use a blade to both attack and defend himself when the situation calls for it. He’s spent most of his time in SOLDIER training with the division’s standard issued longswords, but has since grown used to using the Buster Sword as his primary weapon. Its size and weight are difficult for most people to manage, let alone fight with any kind of proficiency with it, but Zack’s long since mastered full control over the unique blade and its abilities.
◈ Materia and materia fusion - A tool that Zack was only given clearance to train with once he’d been recruited into SOLDIER, materia and magic are Zack’s new form of long ranged combat, replacing the opportunities where he'd previously use a rifle in the infantry. Proficient in most types and often given complete free range of which kinds he chooses to take on assignments with him, especially as a 1st Class, Zack's considered skilled in magic use, though he still prefers to use his physical abilities in most cases. He tends to favor Firaga and Thundaga materia most often for his offensive spells when given the choice.Also unique to SOLDIER, Zack is able to use the excess mako his body naturally attracts and collects to fuse materia into new and stronger magic with the aid of technology only available via ShinRa’s S&R department.
◈ Heightened physical statistics - A product of his required mako infusions during his enlistment into SOLDIER, Zack's body has been irreversibly altered on a genetic level by his exposure to the raw energy source; giving him a boost in his physical strength and stamina that's notable when compared to an average person. Aside from an obvious increase in physical power, Zack also sports an elevated level of stamina and endurance, a slightly increased sense of focus and perception during combat, and an heightened pain tolerance.His body, though still able to be injured and destroyed, also heals itself at an accelerated rate when compared to the average human, making him a naturally harder opponent to deter or to kill.
◈ Digital Mind Wave (DMW) - Vital to their survival in combat, all SOLDIER members are taught to call upon their past experiences in battle to heighten their strength and improve their skills.To Zack, his DMW is what most in his division refer to as his ‘limit break’; a skill he’s only able to tap into whenever certain conditions are met and whose strength and frequency highly revolve around his emotions. Triggering a DMW connection allows him to temporarily copy one of his allies’ skills to use as his own in a fight.

◈ ◈ ◈

❱❱ Fighting style ———
Though he's been trained to be comfortable using both materia and ranged weaponry, Zack prefer close combat. He's a melee fighter at heart and preforms best when his enemies are close enough for him to hit either with his blade or some part of his body. He's been trained to be efficient in his movements and to never leave his blindside open to a possible attack, though sometimes Zack gets too caught up in the situation to remember that much. He's an extremely skilled operative thanks to being a member of SOLDIER and is a formidable match for almost anyone on the battlefield.

Zack is a master of persistence and is quickly able to adapt to the ever changing conditions of an active battle by thinking fast on his feet. Though this sometimes lands him in more trouble than he’d started off in, it’s also been a saving grace of his more than once, too.

❱❱ "You know, I've never seen you use that-" ———
Though the Buster Sword looks like a formidable weapon, Zack rarely uses the blade like a typical sword should be. Copying one of the mantras his former mentor, Angeal, had, Zack prefers to use the blade like a dead weight weapon; typically using the blunt side of his sword to attack with instead of using it to inflict deadly damage. To him, the Buster Sword is his weapon, but it's also more of an heirloom left to him by Angeal to carry on his memory and honor with. Using the blade in a way that disgraced that much would feel like disgracing Angeal, so Zack cherishes the weaponas much as he can.

❱❱ SOLDIER

SUBJECT: Zack Fair. | STATUS: AWOL | HIGH RISK: Termination per military protocol authorized

❱❱ Enlistment ———
Identified as a young, eager, and motivated kid from the western continent who had traveled to Midgar alone, Zack was only 13 when he’d qualified to take the Shinra army’s enlistment exam. Consisting of several training exercises that pushed his overall strength, skill, and stamina nearly to their limits, Zack ultimately passed his initial assessment and earned his place as a fully enlisted Shinra infantryman not long after arriving in Midgar. As one of the youngest in his recruiting class, it wasn’t unusual to hear cadets and their captains writing off the ‘country boy from Gongaga’ in favor of an older male who seemed more capable on the battlefield.

But Zack never let that slow him down! Coming to Midgar just to chase his dream of ‘becoming a hero’, Zack only had one thing on his mind: proving himself strong enough to make it into SOLDIER.

But the most renowned and prestigious fighting force of Shinra didn’t just accept anyone. To even be considered for SOLDIER, Zack had to outshine everyone in his infantry ranks -- going above and beyond the call of a typical infantryman to attract the attention of those out recruiting for SOLDIER. Eventually, his hard work paid off and Zack’s overzealous and stubborn attitude had finally earned him a shot at his dream only a year after his acceptance into the infantry.

At 14, Zack was selected among a handful of others to try out for recruitment into SOLDIER as 3rd Class operators and he eagerly snapped at the chance! But accepting the invitation had been the easy part. Next, Zack would be put through a series of physical exams -- more specifically; a five round, high intensity melee match that put him against a handpicked assortment of Shinra’s finest automatic weaponry, scientifically altered monsters, and already well established 3rd Class SOLDIERs. The odds were stacked against him on purpose. If he wanted to be in SOLDIER, then he had to prove he was strong enough to survive and earn his place within the division. Shinra and SOLDIER didn’t coddle to kids; no matter how big their dreams and ambitions were.

Thankfully though, Zack survived. He might've emerged battered and bruised from the experience, but he’d still managed to escape with his life and with enough high marks from his recruiters to earn a place as SOLDIER -- or so Zack had thought. Passing the physical fighting exam was only step one of two to becoming a real SOLDIER member. The second was earning his enhanced strength and iconic sky blue eyes that made the division what they were through 'mako infusion' -- a powerful but dangerous scientific process unique only to SOLDIER that altered a candidate's genetic makeup at its core.

Zack was young and naïve, or else the department's temporarily transferring him to Shinra's Research and Development division might've alarmed him more than it did. Eagar to achieve his dream of joining the ranks of SOLDIER though, Zack agreed to his 'next test' and was all but thrown into a tank of pure mako as a result; an 'infusion' of sorts meant to bathe him in enough of the raw substance to achieve the company's desired effects.

Zack doesn't remember how long he spent submerged in the R&D department's mako chamber, but after being pulled from the liquid, he was transferred to an isolation area for his body to deal with the influx of mako as it would. Either he’d be mentally resilient enough to withstand the genetic alterations the near lethal levels of mako would cause in his body or he’d mentally collapse -- falling into a catatonic state and left to die as a SOLDIER recruit ‘reject’. It was probably no surprise to anyone within the Research department (except to Zack himself) when the next several weeks were anything but pleasant for the young SOLDIER recruit. Forced to deal with agonizing, painful fits; near debilitating headaches; nightmares; mental lapses; and days where his body nearly refused him the right to even breathe properly; it’d almost felt like a small miracle to the 14 year old when the symptoms of his mako poisoning began to fade and he slowly rebounded back to his old self again.

Once he was deemed ‘recovered’ from his mako exposure and examined for the expected 'physical augmentations typical of SOLDIER', one last test would secure Zack’s place as a formally recognized SOLDIER member -- a ‘re-examination’ of the same physical fighting assessment he’d taken when he’d first been selected as a SOLDIER recruit. Passing his second test without a scratch and in near record time, Zack was formally accepted into SOLDIER as a 3rd Class just shy of his 15th birthday.

❱❱ Promotion to 2nd Class and Apprenticeship———
Zack’s promotion to SOLDIER 2nd Class was a swift one. In a little over a year, he’d already proven himself more determined and driven than a majority of the others in his 3rd Class rank. Always eager to go out in the field, to be put through training exercises, or to be given any and all assignments; Zack was like a restless puppy just waiting for his next chance to learn—and that overzealous and outgoing attitude of his was what had caught the eye of Angeal Hewley, a SOLDIER 1st Class.

Placed under the watchful mentorship of Angeal as a newly promoted 2nd Class, Zack was expected to hone his already promising skills and natural tactics into a more refined version of a SOLDIER operative. Angeal took his knew job to heart, too, putting Zack through countless hours of training assessments; both physical training and mental assignments to help narrow in Zack’s perception and focus. Leaving him with other 1st Class members when Zack needed a rough time to get himself motivated again wasn’t something Angeal was above either.

Zack quickly grew to admire Angeal for his lessons and honest words of wisdom and the two of them formed a tight friendship.

❱❱ Succession to 1st Class ———
With Genesis and Angeal both gone and Sephiroth seemingly working on his own agenda, Zack was promoted to SOLDIER 1st Class out of necessity; not out of merit. Though he'd finally achieved the rank he'd set out to earn, the circumstances seemed to make the jump less of an accomplishment to Zack and more something he'd simply been thrown into because the division had needed him there. He still supported his new position with the same feelings of duty and honor that he always had, but wasn't finally making it to SOLDIER 1st Class supposed to make him feel more...happy?

Instead, Zack was just confused. It'd seemed like the more he'd tried to make sense of it all, the more tangled the facts intertwined. Just what was going on here? And did being a SOLDIER 1st Class even mean anything anymore when the division was literally falling apart at its seams?

❱❱ Ex-SOLDIER ———
Loyal to the end, even with the division in disarray; Zack remained a determined and devoted SOLDIER operative right up until an assignment to Nibelheim turned wrong and ended with him beaten, battered, and bruised. To add insult to injury, instead of being rescued by the company he’d fought to protect a thousand times over, Zack instead found himself captured—to be used as a test subject in an experiment conducted by Hojo, a Shinra scientist.

The experiment was ultimately a failure when it’d come to him, but in escaping the confines of the Shinra Manor, where he’d been held hostage for over four years, Zack’s trust in and loyalty to Shinra had all but been shattered. He’d decided to head back to Midgar for personal reasons this time; as a wanted Shinra fugitive and not as a member of SOLDIER.

And for the first time since leaving home as a kid over ten years before, Zack felt like he could truly taste the freedom he'd been chasing closer than ever before.

❱❱ Remake verse: From SOLDIER to Mercenary ———
“Well, what are you gonna do once you get to Midgar?”

Though it’d been a question Zack had asked Cloud, that’d still been something he’d yet to decide for himself, too. Knowing that he couldn’t go back to being SOLDIER after everything that’d happened, Zack had ultimately decided to break ties with Shinra and go off on his own—but where did he go from there? Reuniting with Aerith was only part of a his plan and he’d need something that’d earn him an income if he’d ever hoped to get by on his own.

So, being a mercenary it was! Zack decided he’d just do everything as long as he could make a little money at it. Being SOLDIER had given him a lot of skills that most other people didn’t have, and if he could make an honest living picking up odd jobs while helping other people out, then that’d be the life for him! Whatever he could do, both inside Midgar and out, he’d do it!

Of course, as someone who'd been marked for life by Shinra in his iconic sky blue eyes of an ex-SOLDIER, there was no way Zack's life could ever go back to being completely carefree. Reuniting with Aerith, if he even could, would only bring Zack so much peace.

Would Shinra still be searching for him, desperate to make another attempt on his life for their own cover? Or would Zack be forced to clash with Shinra again on his own terms as someone who was destined to make a stand against such a sick and twisted company? He could always choose to lay low or leave town again-

Only the freedom of his future would decide where he ended up next.