It had been a year since she joined SOLDIER as a Third class, ranking top three in her recruitment team. One year, two months, three weeks and fourteen hours since she joined, to be exact. Over a year of her time dedicated to extraneous physical training both virtually and realistically, grueling mental exercises for up to ten hours at a time, exhausting 4a.m patrols of alleys belonging to brothels and drug houses and, who could forget, the never-ending war on sexism with her own co-workers (never mind the public).

Sathe, though she wasn't the only female in SOLDIER, knew she was the toughest woman she had ever known with the exception of her own mother (may she rest peacefully). Cocky wasn't an attitude she normally portrayed, however, and most discovered it for themselves sooner or later without her needing to self acknowledge the fact. This - amongst all her scores from all her exercises, all her report sheets from every patrol both as training and solo, all her battles with the other Third's and Second's (not all of them entirely for the purpose of 'training') and of course the fact she was the only Third within that period to best that years most promising recruit to Second, Zack Fair - is why Sathe was one of only five third classes to be tested for promotion into Second for the up-coming year (though as far as Sathe was concerned, a year already in motion). What no one else but her knew, however, were her true reasons for being in the program to begin with.

Sephiroth would not be attending such a recruitment, though perhaps Angeal would. Sephiroth, had not even bothered to be briefed on the five chosen for advancement. The silver haired First only concerned himself with the other First's and the most promising of Second's. Still, if Angeal did attend he would likely hear an account of events and, it would be beneficial to know how many of the five passed. Less and less seemed to be showing the promise SOLDIER required and more seemed to be slipping out of the ranks completely. It was not yet a problem, as hundreds still applied monthly, but it could certainly become one.

Currently, the General poured over reports concerning a mako reactor in Mideel. This particular reactor has been causing ShinRa more than it's fair share of trouble and Sephiroth was at the point of simply shutting the whole project down (well, if he had that authority he would have been). The reactor has broken down twice, had it's main generator replaced at a cost of half the machine itself and been the victim of four separate attempts at destructive vandalism. He had gone himself, Genesis to accompany him, with the last attack and found the issue particularly irritating; for all intensive purposes, Sephirorh considered the town to have a hive mind since the entire population seemed to despise ShinRa.

With a sigh, he closed the folders and organized them into a neat stack to the side of his desk and opened a drawer, taking out a small bottle. The glass of this bottle was solid black and fit snuggly into the palm of his long hand, a diamond shaped stopper adorning its mouth. Running his thumb over the smooth glass he clenched his eyes closed before returning the bottle to its spot. Just as he decided to head to the training rooms to run some simulations three knocks came from his office door. Angeal. He knew it instantly.

"Come in!" He called, subconsciously running his hand over the drawer with the bottle, making sure it was closed.

Angeal entered and quickly closed the door behind him. He seemed in jovial spirits, Sephiroth noticed, a hardly contained smile and excitement in the eyes. Sitting across from his friend and colleague Angeal didn't make Sephiroth wait for an explanation.

"Four out of five made it through." He smiled wider, bringing up his foot to rest against his knee.

Sephiroth was impressed. "I'm glad to hear it." He said honestly.

"One of them." Angeal paused, glancing to the beige carpet "One of them seems quite talented."

"Oh? Thinking of mentoring another one?"

"No. That puppy of mine is enough for now. I was thinking maybe Genesis… or even you." Angeal knew how much of a long shot suggesting something like that was, but he was convinced Sephiroth would be the best choice for this particular SOLDIER. Though, like he expected, Sephiroth shook his head.

"Not going to happen. Too much on my plate to spend my free time training some ego-filled pile of testosterone."

"Well, I can guarantee you that wont be a problem. Then again, she was better then the men."

That caught the Generals attention. "She?"

"Yes. I've told you about her. She beat Zack four months ago in an advanced simulation."

Sephiroth remembered, though not well. He had thought at the time that Zack must have been over-worked; he had only been promoted two months prior and the regiments he undertook were taxing.

"She's good, Seph. Real good."

"Hmm."

"You don't believe me? Because she's female?"

"It helps raise my doubts, but no. It's not that I think a female wouldn't be able to make it this far - although, again, it would be much harder - but more so your perception, to be honest."

Angeal was quiet for a second. He didn't seem offended, just contemplative. "You're referring to my concerns for losing so many recruits."

Sephiroth was. It bothered any of the higher-ups within the program but it seemed to eat at Angeal like an infection; he was beginning to see talent where there was only promise.

"I see your point." Angeal said to his unspoken agreement. "But I'm telling you, this one is different. Sathe Rain. That's her name. Look her up." He went to stand.

"Leaving already?"

"Only wanted to update you, I'm taking Fair to the slums for some recon training. Genesis still in Rocket Town?"

"Yes, for the next two days, at least."

"Hmm. Ok, we'll talk about Mideel when I'm back tonight." He gestured to the folders on the desk. Sephiroth nodded and Angeal made it to the door, turning back once he opened it. "Sathe Rain." He said again with a smirk.