RING!
Is that my phone?
RING!
I guess so …who is calling?
RING!
President Shinra!
"Hello, Strife Delivery…"
"Ah Cloud, good evening! Sorry if I woke you up, but I need you're…assistance."
"I thought I already told you…I'm a delivery boy now. I'm not a SOLDIER."
"Yes Cloud you did and a delivery boy is what I need!"
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After being woken by a phone call from President Rufus Shinra late into the night the receiver, Cloud Strife, had found it hard to go back to sleep. He had been quite perplexed by the phone call that he was shaken awake by the wishes.
Now Cloud was quickly dressing into his day clothes and on his way over to where Rufus told him to meet him. Luckily Tifa had not awakened and he could sneak out without those questioning glances he got from her.
Out on a delivery
Don't know when I'll be back,
Cloud
All Cloud left was a note pinned to his pillow and off he rode to the address he wrote down
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Hours later the blonde ex-SOLDIER stood in front of the lot Rufus had told him to be. He didn't see a house there like he expected though, but a helicopter and 4 people. Three of them Cloud recognized as Rufus, Reno, and Rude, but the fourth person he didn't know.
It was a young female who looked only 15 years old. She was a head shorter then Cloud but seemed to make up for her height with confidence. Her light brown hair cascaded down into her face in ripples covering half her face in either air or shadows.
Changing his attention from the girl to the blonde man standing next to her, Cloud frowned. All Rufus had told him was he needed something delivered and where he was to pick it up. Why did they need so many people here to pass over whatever package needed delivering?
"Ok, so I'm here! What do you need me for?" Cloud shot that question at the President of Shinra Co as soon as he was a yard away. Now he waited for the explanation for this all. Why would Rufus call him so urgently at 1 in the morning just for him to rush down here for a package? It seemed fishy and he wanted to get at the bottoms of it all.
"I need you to deliver a pretty little package for me." After those cryptic words from Rufus, Cloud heard a little squeak come from the girl standing next to him. It seemed like those words had annoyed her greatly.
"May I ask you where this treasured package is that you woke me up in the middle of the night for? And also while your at it why don't you tell me why you don't have it delivered by some one else!" Cloud was starting to get cranky with Rufus and hoped he would just answer his questions quickly and in a manner that wasn't as cryptic as everything else he said this evening. Perhaps it was just that Cloud was tired, maybe that was why he wasn't getting it, but either way he was getting annoyed.
"I want you to because you are the only person I trust to get her to this destination." Rufus handed Cloud an envelope that seemed thick with papers. He didn't take the offered envelope quite yet though.
"Her?" Had the President spoken incorrectly, or had he been toying with him the whole time?
"Yes, her", with his empty hand the young President nudged the girl at his side a couple inches forwards.
"Meet Raye Shinra, your beloved package."
"Shinra?", Once again there was another twist to confuse him.
"Yes, exactly what you are thinking. This is my cousin Raye."
"Why can't you take her? What, is baby sitting her too hard?" Cloud couldn't believe Rufus wanted him to drag some kid around to god knows where. But instead of giving, up Rufus chuckled.
"Ya know, I would take you myself, but I have more pressing issues to attend to!" He paused to take a breath, and didn't even leave time for Cloud to respond.
"Now the location is in this envelope, along with a check for 1,000,000 gil. You will get your payment upon delivery."
Cloud couldn't help but feel awestricken, 1,000,000 gil? Just for driving some kid around? This sounded too good to be true. With skepticism in his eyes Cloud looked over towards the two Turks who seemed to be Rufus's constant body guards now. They nodded with grins showing that it was true about the money.
"What's the catch?" Cloud was still unsure.
"'Catch'? I assure you, there is no 'catch'"
"Then why is the pay so high?"
"Ah yes I forgot…You will be splitting it 5 ways."
"I knew it! So who are the guys I'll have to split it with?"
"Why do you care?" Rufus seemed like he was now trying to seem cool
"I wanna know who the 4 goons are I'll be splitting the money with so I know who'll be coming with us!" Cloud wasn't about to share one million gil with 4 people who do ditty squat!
"Oh, only people you know. There names are in this envelope and they should all be here shortly. But as for me, I can't wait around forever for your answer. Will you take the job, or won't you? 200,000 gil for you to take home to your 'family'…"
"So I have a choice do I? What else can I say…I'll take it!" With that Cloud took the envelope from President Shinra then shook his hand.
"Well now that this matter is affirmed, I must be off." Rufus then turned on his heels and walked away to the helicopter. Cloud hadn't even heard it start up minutes ago, but apparently it had because as soon as Rufus disappeared into it the thing was off.
Suddenly Cloud Strife realized the two Turks, Reno and Rude, were still there. Cringing with a realization Cloud hastily opened the envelope and pulled out the card with the names of people on it.
Sure enough the two were the first two names on it. But there were 2 names he hadn't expected…
Vincent Valentine
Cid Highwind
Why would they be asked to join?
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Well hello all! This is my first Final Fantasy Fanfiction and I think it's an ok piece. Constructive Criticisms is welcome, but please don't say it sucked because I already feel bad enough about my writing skills as it is…um you know I'm just kidding right Well please Read and Review all!
