Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing…

A Turk's Dilemma

The Spikey haired blonde sat back in his chair slowly sipping his drink. It was another slow day as a Turk. Resistance to Shinra Electric Co. had stagnated in the last couple weeks and Cloud was spending more and more of his time in bars around Midgar. He stared around the bar looking at the other occupants going about their daily lives. Drunken husband in the corner, drunken sports fan at the bar; oh yeah his life was nothing but thrills. Being leader of one of the most effective assassination groups known to man and Cloud thought there would be some perks. He wasn't complaining about the pay; he wasn't hurting for cash. The problem was the only time he was allowed to leave the city was on assignments and those were slowing to a halt. He closed his eyes just wishing for something to do.

"Cloud what's bugging you, man?" the man sitting across from Cloud asked.

Cloud looked up at Rude, his fellow Turk, the only person he felt he could consider a friend. The rest of the Turks were just arrogant bastards in Cloud's opinion: Tseng hated him due to the fact that President Shinra made Cloud Turk leader over himself, Reno the jackass of the lot who loved nothing more than pissing Cloud off, and finally the newest member the soft spoken Elena who had a major crush on Cloud.

"Nothing Rude, I'm just so damn bored," Cloud sighed back.

"Don't worry man something will come up," Rude assured him.

"You know you're right," Cloud began," then the President is gonna send some damn SOLDIER 3rd class to handle it and I'll still be here drinking my life away."

Rude chuckled a little," I'm telling you man you need to work on your patience."

Cloud just rolled his eyes and took another swig from his drink. He couldn't remember how many times he'd heard Rude tell him that. Cloud couldn't help but smile to himself.

"What do you find so damn funny, man?" Rude asked Cloud with a questioning look.

"Nothing Rude, it's just what you always tell me," Cloud answered.

Rude sat there as if lost in thought. Then he smiled a little," Heh, its better than nothing right?"

Cloud smiled as he finished his drink. After his little talk with Rude he felt slightly less pessimistic. The night didn't seem as bad now. That is until Reno sat down in the chair next to Cloud. Cloud rolled his eyes and raised his hand for another drink; he had a sinking feeling he was going to need it.

"Hey, Cloud, what you doing all the way over here buddy," Reno said with a smartass grin on his face.

"Well if you must know the truth Reno," Cloud said sipping his drink," I was enjoying an intelligent conversation with Rude. But now that you're here that's shot to hell."

"Buddy, damn that hurts me real deep," Reno smirked putting his hand to his heart.

"What do you want Reno I was really hoping to salvage this night?" Cloud asked in a harsh voice.

"Come on Cloud lighten up some," Reno said with a glint in his eye," I've been thinking of how to solve your memory issue."

Cloud glared at Reno his hands slowly curled into fist. He hated Reno with his entire bean. Cloud, on several occasions, had thought of ways to get rid of him. The only problem was Reno was good at his job. Cold-blooded murder with no feelings of emotion was a good trait for a Turk.

"Alright, Reno let's hear it," Cloud spat.

"So I was thinking," Reno began," that since you can't remember your little childhood friend and it seems to give you endless torment. So how about I go and find her because believe me once I'm done with her she won't remember you either if you know what I mean."

Cloud felt his jaw tighten. Reno had just crossed the line. Cloud's azure eyes stared death into Reno. Reno's smile disappeared as he saw the look and realized he may have had just a little too much to drink. Reno tried to jump out of his seat towards the door but he was too slow. Cloud had him by the shirt collar and all Reno could do was whimper. Cloud punched Reno in the face and Reno slammed into the ground hard. Reno lost consciousness when he hit the floor but Cloud wasn't done; he crouched over Reno and hit him in the face again. Rude quickly jumped in and pulled Cloud off the unconscious Reno before permanent damage was done.

"Cloud calm down, man," Rude said through gritting teeth trying to restrain Cloud.

After Cloud struggled with Rude for several minutes he finally calmed down. He grabbed his drink from the nearby table and downed it with one gulp. He ran his hand through his hair and looked up at Rude.

"Thanks Rude," Cloud sighed," it would have ended badly for me had I killed him.

With the first step out into the cool night air Cloud began to feel better. It smelled like garbage but he didn't care the air always smelled like a dump in the lower plate. However, Cloud preferred the lower plate. He hated the way the rich people of Midgar lived their lives. Being a Turk he could afford to live anywhere in the city but there was something about the lower plate he was infatuated with.

"The one time I get shit-faced with that bastard and I spill my guts to the guy," Cloud said to himself in disgust.

Cloud suffered from severe memory loss due to an accident when he was training to become part of SOLDIER. He remembers the day as if it happened yesterday. However, the only thing he can remember before the accident is that his childhood friend was a small girl who enjoyed wearing a blue dress.

"If only I had been stronger," Cloud thought reliving the day in his mind like he had thousands of times before.

(Flashback)

Two transport helicopters dropped off twenty of the finest SOLDIER cadets the unit had ever seen. Each and every one of them had proven their worth back in Midgar scoring with high marks. Now it was time for graduation. They had one assignment left. There was a cave system next to Shinra's Junon Harbor that had some recent monster activity. It was up to the cadets to clear it out.

The SOLDIER 3rd class in charge of the operation looked over a clipboard making sure everyone was present. He made some marks and looked up to see all the cadets in standing in formation.

"Alright ladies listen up because this is it," the SOLDIER yelled," if you wanna graduate then you need to clear out this tunnel system. Monsters have been harassing our operations at the harbor and they need to stop asap; you have till sundown. Strife and Fair your squad leaders for this operation; now let's get it done.

With that said he jumped back into the helicopter and took off. The cadets were on their own now. Not wanting to waste anytime Cloud gathered his squad and headed into the tunnels.

Cloud's squad finally finished their sector of the tunnels after twelve hours. As they headed back the met up with the other squad and began swapping stories. The light at the end of the tunnel had just come into view when a cadet in the back screamed. Everyone whipped around in time to see the cadet being dragged back into the tunnels.

"I thought you said your sector was clear," Cloud yelled at the other squad.

Without waiting for a response Cloud took off after the cadet. The only thing that kept Cloud on the trail was the continuing screams of the cadet. Cloud had no idea how long or far he'd run but then suddenly it went silent. He looked around slowly trying to see anything; he found it quite difficult since his eyes were not yet adjusted to this deep darkness.

Fwaaap! Something smacked the wall within inches of Cloud's head. Having no idea what was going on Cloud grabbed a flare from his gear, lit it and threw it deeper into the tunnel. The flare revealed a horrible situation. He was no longer in a tunnel but in a large opening. Standing in the center of the opening was a creature the likes of which Cloud had never seen. He wasn't even sure if it was one monster. Half of the beast was a shade of purple with a huge muscular arm while the other half was read with a giant tentacle. Cloud now realized it was the monster's tentacle that had hit the wall so close to him moments earlier.

Cloud drew his sword and did his best to keep his calm. He went back over his studies and training but couldn't remember anything that even resembled this beast. He was on his own, against an unknown adversary with no battle plan. Cloud was one of the best cadets ever to enter SOLDIER but even he was beginning to doubt himself.

The monster through the now unconscious cadet into the wall; roared a challenge at Cloud and charged. Cloud waited till the last possible moment then rolled out of the way. The beast crashed into the wall and roared in angry or pain Cloud wasn't quite sure but he wasn't going to stand there and find out. Cloud had no intention of fighting this beast. He sprinted for the cadet's body. Just as Cloud was about to pick him up he had to dive out of the way as a fireball crashed into the wall where he had been standing.

"You have got to be kidding me you piece of shit," Cloud screamed," fucking throwing fireballs at me too."

Before Cloud could do anything the flare in the center of the opening finally died. Thrown back in to bitch darkness he quickly fumbled for another one. The second flare sparked to life just in time for him to see the beast swing at him with his giant arm. Having no time to respond he took the hit and flew into the wall. Struggling to maintain consciousness he reached for his fallen weapon. His fingers brushed against the hilt of the weapon but before he could grasp it the monster grabbed with its tentacle and threw him. Cloud found himself in the center of the opening, weaponless, and the beast separating him from the cadet.

"Alright you son of a bitch let's do this!" Cloud screamed.

In response the beast roared and charged. Again at the last moment Cloud rolled out of the way. Not wasting a moment he landed on his feet and sprinted for the cadet again. He grabbed his weapon, grabbed both of the cadet's flares and threw his body over his shoulder. Cloud lit and threw the third flare and took off for the cave system. He was about to round a corner when his feet were knocked out from under him. The cadet's body sailed a couple yards before hitting the ground. Cloud tried to scramble to him but realized that the beast tentacle was wrapped tightly around his leg. Slowly Cloud was dragged back into the opening. The beast began growling and Cloud soon realized that it was laughing at him. Cloud raised his sword and swiped at the tentacle. The weapon bit deep into the monster's flesh but refused to loosen its grip. Cloud was now close enough that he could have reached out and touched the monster. Cloud slashed at the tentacle again; this time the beast cried in pain and its grip loosened slightly. However, before Cloud could take advantage of the wound the monster slammed his body into the ground once again.

"I found one of them!" Cloud heard someone yell. Finally the rest of the cadets had arrived but it was too late for Cloud.

Cloud knew he was about to die. However, he didn't intend to die alone. As his last action on Gaia he would kill the monstrosity. Cloud knew that he couldn't kill the beast his only hope was to cause a cave-in. He didn't have much time because the monster was raising him up in the air again. At full length the tentacle reached to the low hanging ceiling of the opening. Cloud saw a crevice that had formed and took his chance. He pulled the pin on his last frag grenade and shoved it into the crevice. The before the beast could smash him into the ground killing him he shoved his last flare into the face of the beast and lit it. The intense light blinded the beast causing it to drop Cloud. Cloud hit the ground hard knocking the wind out of him. He managed to get to his feet but it was too late. He heard the grenade go off above him and before he knew it he and the monster were covered in a mountain of rock.

Cloud slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed completely disoriented. Then he remembered the cave and quickly tried to sit up. The quick action caused a severe headache and feeling of nausea. Cloud fell back down into the bed and waited for the nausea to pass. Then he slowly looked around and checked his surroundings. He realized that he was in a SOLDIER infirmary. Cloud couldn't believe it; he had somehow survived the encounter with the monster.

"Cloud, I'm Doctor Hojo, I have a few questions I would like to ask you?"

Cloud looked up to see a scientist in a white lab coat staring at him. He felt a little weird around this Doctor. Cloud had no idea where he had appeared from and he kept staring at him with this odd glint in his eye.

"Okay doc, go ahead and shoot," Cloud replied a little dizzy.

"Alright Cloud, I want you to tell me what you can remember," Hojo asked.

"Well," Cloud began," It was...What day is it?

"You've been in a coma for about a week and a half," Hojo answered," now what do you remember?"

"I remember I was on my final assignment before graduation." Cloud began," We were all leaving when a monster from the second squad's sector dragged a cadet back into the tunnels."

"Good, good continue," Hojo said making some notes on his clipboard.

"I chased after the beast, we fought, I caused a cave-in," Cloud finished.

"And what do you remember before that day?" Hojo asked.

"Uhhh…," Cloud was at a loss for words," I can't remember anything."

"Just as I thought Cloud," Hojo began," It would seem that the injuries you sustained from the cave-in have caused you to loose part of your memory. And I'm afraid there's no way of telling if you will recover or not."

Cloud just sat there speechless. Doctor Hojo left leaving Cloud to his thoughts. Cloud tried again and again to recall anything. If his memory didn't recover then his whole life before SOLDIER could be gone. The only records that SOLDIER kept were medical records so they weren't going to be any help. Cloud sat there and thought about the implications of his memory loss. He didn't know how his parents were, he had no idea where he lived; hell he couldn't remember if he graduated from high school or not. Cloud tried once more to remember something of his past. Slowly the image of a small girl wearing a blue dress formed in his mind. He focused on this newly formed image and tried to further his memory. He formed a close up of her face and saw chocolate eyes. Then there was nothing; his mind fell into oblivion as he passed out.

(End Flashback)

Cloud looked up and noticed that he had walked the entire distance from the bar to his apartment building without noticing. He opened the front door and walked down the rickety old staircase to the basement floor. He walked over to number 7 and slid his key into the lock and stepped into his dingy apartment. He threw his keys onto the table next to the door and headed for his bedroom.

"Meow," a little gray kitten mewed from the sofa as he walked past.

"Hey, Kitty Tom," Cloud said to the little ball of fur," you hungry buddy?"

The little cat mewed again as it jumped off the sofa and headed for the kitchen.

With the cat fed Cloud collapsed on his bed. He didn't even bother taking his clothes off. He quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Cloud woke up several hours later with a ringing in his ears. At first he thought he was going deaf then realized his phone was vibrating. Without even checking to see who it was he flipped open the phone.

"Hello," Cloud said into the receiver.

"Get over here now, I have a job for you," the man on the other end said.

"Mr. President, it's about damn time!"