Chapter 2
It was only six in the morning when a loud horn sounded through the training barracks, waking all new recruits. The horn continued for almost ten minutes before being replaced by a voice on the intercom, exclaiming "Rise and shine! You have fifteen minutes to get ready and out to the front of the barracks for roll call!" Vincent groaned, getting up and dressed quickly, making his way to the meeting place.
A 2nd Class Commander was there, calling out names one by one. Vincent's was at the bottom of the list, since it went alphabetically. "A-M, all of you are running track this morning for warm ups and exercises. N-Z, all of you have warm ups and exercises on the machines. This will last until breakfast, and then the two groups will switch. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, Sir!" he said, saluting with the others.
His group was lead to the gym, a Commander waiting for them. "Ten of you start with sit ups and pushups, ten start with pull ups, and the last ten start on the weight benches." he ordered, counting them out as he explained the groups. Vincent was put into the middle group. Vincent sighed and started to do the pull ups, not having trouble, but not doing it as fast as the others. The Commander walked around, taking note on how all of them were doing. "Some of you should slow down, pace yourselves. We're going to be rotating on these machines and you don't want to get burned out." he warned. Vincent sighed softly, relaxing a bit. The commander let them go for fifteen minutes before blowing a whistle, ordering Vincent's group to move to the weights.
Vincent started, though he was obviously struggling.
"Try lowering the amount on the weights." his spotter suggested. "You can work up to a higher one later."
Vincent did so, ending up on the lowest weight possible. His spotter helped him as he used the weights before switching with him, adding a couple sets higher than Vincent for his own lifting. "Don't worry, you'll get to where you're higher on these eventually."
Vincent gave a small sigh. "I hope so. I've never been quite good at gaining muscle."
"Well, you only have to get up to five pounds to be considered fit for the program. You should be able to get up to that with some work."
He nodded. "The extra training may help with that too.." he said.
"Yes, it should help some." the other replied, setting his weights down when it was time to shift to the push-up/sit-up area. "My name is Marcus, by the way... yours is Vincent, correct?"
"Yes." he nodded.
"Nice to formally meet you. Do you want to do your set first or should I?"
"I don't mind going first. I'm at least good at these."
Marcus nodded, kneeling and holding Vincent's feet to anchor him. Vincent began, doing them easily. Marcus pulled back then, letting Vincent finish. After he was finished Marcus got into position to do his. Vincent moved to help hold him. The young man took little time to get in the required set he needed, looking over when the Commander ordered all of them to get to the mess hall and get breakfast. Vincent did so, getting his food and sitting down. He was alone at first, before Marcus and Jake came over to sit with him. "Hey." Marcus greeted boredly.
"Ah! H-Hi.." he said, surprised they sat with him.
"How'd you do with the exercises this morning?" Jake asked with a smile.
"I need a little more training on the weights, but other than that, pretty good."
"Sounds better than what we did outside. We're running laps." Jake mused.
Vincent chuckled. "No I'm good at that."
"Cool, then it'll be like a break for you, huh?" Jake asked.
"Yeah!" he smiled.
Marcus glanced up then. "Maybe you can use some of how you train for running to train for muscle?" he suggested.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Yes. If you're good at running then you must be doing something that makes it easier."
"Stretches." he shrugged.
"Push ups can help with your muscle, then." Marcus assured.
"I'll start doing those more then." he smiled.
The bell sounded, signaling the end of breakfast. All of the new recruits were expected to go to either the track or gym, everyone else going to their various meeting rooms for briefings on missions. Vincent headed for the tracks, feeling a bit more confidant. The commander took their times as they ran, wanting to know how fast each cadet could finish ten laps. Most of them started out fast, thinking they could get done faster only to burn out by the third lap. Vincent had started slowly and ended up being the first one to finish.
"Valentine!" the commander called as he ran past the tenth time. "Forty-four minutes, fifty seconds! Keep that endurance up."
Vincent smiled happily, taking the chance to drink some water. Marcus got a time of seventy minutes and five seconds, panting as he walked over to stand by Vincent and get some water for himself, looking out. "You weren't lying about being good."
Vincent smiled. "I ran every morning back home. I love doing it." he said softly.
"It's a good habit to get into."
He smiled. "It is."
"Do you train in martial arts?" Marcus asked, curious.
"I do." he smiled.
"Would it be correct to assume running helps you with that?"
"Yeah." he nodded.
"That does take a good deal of muscle. Training your upper body won't be much different."
Vincent smiled. "Okay."
"I can help you train if you need to."
"That would be great!" he smiled.
Marcus nodded. "A tip to start you out: wear small wrists weights while you do martial arts or simple arm exercises. It'll help you get used to the weights and over time it'll build your muscle so you can handle slightly harder weights. After that, start with small dumbbells, the one handed ones, and work your way up."
He smiled and nodded. "Alright. Thank you for the help"
Marcus nodded, noting that the majority of their fellow recruits were nearly done with the laps. "I wonder what they'll make us do next." he mused.
"Hopefully nothing with projectiles." he sighed.
"Are you not good with those?"
"You haven't heard?" he rose a brow. "I almost impaled the General with a flying sickle..."
"Oh, that was you?"
"Yeah. I'm sure he thinks me incompetent too... he gave me extra training..."
"Extra training isn't too bad. I've volunteered for extra training on the more high-tech weapons because I'm good with simple things, but... lasers and weird tracking devices I know nothing about."
"I'm good with guns. I even make my own sometimes. And I can hack things... though that's probably a TURK thing..."
"Oh, did you train with the TURKs?"
"Ah, no. I just meant that the skill itself probably belongs there rather than in SOLDIER." he said.
Marcus nodded. "Ah, that makes more sense. What made you choose SOLDIER over the TURKs then?"
"I'm not sure myself." he said.
Marcus nodded, glancing over at their fellow recruits. "I feel a lot of people are that way. You just grow up hearing how great it is and that it's one way to be patriotic and help make a difference. You don't really need to believe it will, but everyone still presses that it's what all children should try to aspire to become."
Vincent nodded. "I don't want to be a Hero... but I want to make a difference. Save people. Do the right thing."
Marcus nodded. Their commander started ordering them all to head inside then, the last of the runners finally finishing their laps. "I think that's something we all want." Marcus said gently, turning to start walking for the main building with the others. Vincent sighed as he followed, wondering what was next.
They were lead into a meeting room and told to each take a seat. "We're going to go over how missions are assigned and carried out." Vincent straightened, paying attention. The instructions on how missions were assigned was given through slide-show, going mostly over protocol. Vincent watched intently, amused as some had fallen asleep. Once the instruction one where to go for missions and the proper protocol for reporting missions was finished, the instructor pulled up a new slide-show explaining the job classifications for their rank. This caught Vincent's attention and he straightened, looking at it carefully. The job listings for his class were guards, ground patrol or foot soldiers, and snipers. He perked up at Snipers.
"The 2nd Class SOLDIERs get command roles for these jobs, as well as the additional jobs of spying, ambassadors, and covert missions." Vincent smiled a little, feeling happier. "Are there any questions about any of the material?" A couple of people asked some. Eventually Vincent decided to ask how to join a certain class. "Classes are assigned on proportion. It's a ranking system and the hire ups will promote you if they see leadership potential in you. As for jobs, you will be assigned jobs after an aptitude test at the end of training. The exam will include various weapon proficiency sections, including guns and bladed weapons. It will have a section for hand-to-hand combat and knowledge in various potions and how to make them." Vincent smiled, relieved.
"All of you will need to make a 300 minimum on this test to keep your classification as a SOLDIER. Anyone who does not reach this minimum will have to leave the program."
Vincent sighed. "I should be able to do that..." he said to himself.
The commander continued. "The maximum points able to be earned is 900, though the average people tend to earn is 350-500." he continued.
Vincent made a note to remember that. Everyone stood once the meeting was over, being told to take two hours of recreational time before lunch. Marcus stretched as they walked out, feeling tired from the meeting. "At least the last exam doesn't sound too hard." he mused.
"Yeah." Vincent smiled.
"Is there a job you're hoping to get? I want to get into patrol and then later, if I can, into covert operations."
"I'm hoping for sniper." he chuckled.
"It would be very fitting for you." Marcus mused, grinning.
"And I know I can do it well." he smiled.
"It's a very good job to get. It's specialized because so few recruits can use guns."
"Well guns and melee are the things im good at." he said.
"Then being a sniper does sound like the best bet for you."
He nodded. "Yup."
"Hard to believe we only have a few days left of training, then our test and after that we can become real 3rd Class SOLDIERs."
"I know!" he smiled.
"What are you planning to do now that we have a couple hours of free time?"
"Probably train actually..." he said.
Marcus nodded. "That sounds good. I'm going to study."
"Alright." he smiled.
"We'll be getting a bit more free time after dinner tonight. A few of us are planning to gather together and play cards. Do you want to join?"
"Uh... sure!" he said happy.
"Great! I look forward to it." the other man grinned, walking off.
Vincent smiled, and started walking to a training room. The weapons rooms were locked for the moment, but the combat and the work out rooms were open. Vincent decided to start practicing his martial arts, getting into workout pants and a muscle shirt. After only an hour into his work out someone came in to join him, choosing a punching back about three feet away to practice on. Vincent didn't look up, continuing his practice, getting all the hits right and even doing some ones he knew from Wutai. The other person caught notice, stopping his own practice to watch. Vincent kept going, slowly getting faster and more accurate as he went, incorporating a couple of flip moves and different spins. His audience shifted, raising an eyebrow and taking note. After a few more minuets he stopped to take a break, panting a little.
"You're quite talented in martial arts." the other man stated, voice calm and mildly dismissive.
Vincent jumped and turned to see who was there, gasping. "G-General!"
Sephiroth glanced at him. "Your name is Valentine, correct?"
"Y-Yes Sir." he said. "Have I don't something wrong?"
"You're not in trouble," Sephiroth assured, "but I'm interested in what I saw. I'd like you to take a special test at the end of the week to see if you qualify for a special job."
Vincent's eyes widened but he nodded. "Y-yes Sir..."
Sephiroth nodded, starting his own training routine. Vincent paused before going back to more basic moves in order to waste some time, though he was very aware of Sephiroth. Sephiroth was practicing defensive moves, having realized from his last spar that he was lacking in defenses and using offensive moves too much. Vincent paused, noticing before speaking up quietly. "U-Um, Sir... If I may make a few suggestions...?" he asked hesitantly. "Um... O-on the first three moves your stance is too wide and on the last ones you're just moving a little too fast."
The Commander glanced at him. He usually didn't like being corrected by those of a lower rank, but Vincent did seem to have a better handle of hand-to-hand combat than he did. He put his feet a bit closer together and slowed his movements just slightly. "Like this?"
Vincent nodded, starting to move towards him before pausing. "Um... May... may I use an offensive move to help? ... Sir?" he asked, very nervous.
Sephiroth paused, weighing his choices before backing up to face Vincent and giving a nod. "Go ahead."
Vincent went after him, moving slower than normal for him, but still faster than a normal person. Sephiroth quickly went to block, trying to use what he'd watched earlier of Vincent's training session against him. He was able to block the first couple of hits, but at the last ones Vincent managed to get through, gasping and blushing when he actually hit the man. "O-oh! I'm... I'm sorry, Sir!"
"It's... it's fine, this is what is expected in training." Sephiroth assured, holding where he'd gotten hit in the stomach and standing up slowly.
"Oh... Um... On the last block⦠try moving your leg a little to the left and using your shoulder to block instead of your arm..." he said, showing him the move.
Sephiroth repositioned himself and attempted the move. "Like this?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes! ... Sir." he said.
Sephiroth repeated the move before getting ready for Vincent to come at him. Vincent did so, Sephiroth able to black every attack now. The Commander made sure to repeat the move three times to get the feel of it before backing up. "Thank you, I'll have to try it on Genesis the next time we spar."
He smiled, blushing a little. "It's... It was nothing... Sir." he said. "I'm sorry I hit you... I held back a little..."
"Don't be sorry, the point of training is for the person being trained to learn. If you don't hit me when I don't block correctly, then I won't know I'm doing it wrong. It didn't hurt, just knocked the wind out of me a bit."
"The truth is I used to watch the WARRIORS train and picked it up from them. The rest is because I've trained in mixed martial arts since I was young."
"What made you join SOLDIER instead?"
"I'm... not pleased with the current ruler of Wutai. A lot of Wutainians aren't. Instead of just joining the rebellion, I came here." he said.
"I suppose that is one way of handling it. Are you hoping that Wutai loses the war so the ruler has to be removed from the throne?"
Vincent paused. "I'm not sure I would put it that way out loud... But I suppose I am... coming here certainly it seems that way." Vincent said.
Sephiroth nodded. "We do hope you stay with us. You show potential, I look forward to seeing how you do on the special exam."
"I hope I do well..." he said, suddenly nervous again, realizing he has been forgetting the 'Sir' and quickly adding it.
"If you're as talented as you seem to be, you will."
He gave a smile at that, happy that the General acknowledged him like that. Sephiroth nodded. He looked up at a clock and spoke up again. "It's time for lunch. We should both leave so we can get our meals."
Vincent nodded quickly. "Yes, Sir!"
The mess hall was overflowing with people talking and joking around. Sephiroth was at the head table with Angeal and Genesis like normal. Marcus, Jake, and Zack were at another table, leaving a spot open for Vincent to join them. Vincent got his food and sat with them. "How was training?" Jake asked, smiling.
"It's going good." he said, before telling them what just happened.
Everyone stared at him in shock. "The General said he wants you to take a specialized test?"
Vincent paused. "That's... not normal is it?"
"No. If he chose you for specialized training then he saw something remarkable in one area and thinks you'd do best in a special unit. It's extremely rare and can even lead to promotions at times."
Vincent's face heated up. "O-oh..."
"This is a good thing." Zack assured. "I told you the General didn't think you were useless."
Vincent smiled and nodded. "True..."
"I wonder what the special job will be!" Jake smiled. "It sounds amazing."
"It does!" he smiled.
"It could be spy work, potentially." Marcus mused.
"Spy work?" he rose a brow. "SOLIDER does that?"
"At times. It's closer to assassinations, though." Jake shrugged.
"Well... that's fun..." he said dryly.
"Don't be like that. There's other specialty jobs as well, like specialized bodyguard roles for people who need to be more undercover." Zack pointed out.
"I like that one better." he nodded. "I don't think I could be an assassin... I would doubt if my targets were innocent or not if they looked so. And I couldn't kill women or children..." he admitted.
"Odds are you'd be sent to kill enemy generals before a battle to pre-empt it. Troops can't fight without their Commanders." Zack added. "But undercover work is much more likely, given your martial arts skills. SOLDIER isn't big on assassins, they use their sniping division for kills similar to that."
Vincent chuckled. "Ironic that I was hoping for that division."
Zack grinned. "Irony seems to live in this building. Part of being in SOLDIER is doing things you never thought you would, that you never thought you were capable of doing, and making decisions you'll later regret."
Vincent smiled. "True..."
Soon lunch was over and everyone had to go back to their training or to missions and assignments. The new recruits had their training with the flying sickles again, then to gun practice. After that was dinner, and after that all of the recruits had free time. Except Vincent, who had two more hours of flying sickle training before getting his free period. Vincent sighed when he was finally done, going to his room drained and just going to bed in his clothes. He gave a sigh, knowing the next day would be the same. He smiled as he fell asleep, remembering the praise from the General.
