I do not own Final Fantasy VII or it's characters. All I own is Kaja, Nina, and the weird town names I make up. :P

Chapter 4: Awake

My eyes open slowly. Everything is bathed in a white glow as if I had been asleep for a long time. It takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust but when they do my surroundings are quite clear. It looks like a hospital with everything white or gray. I see a wilting plant next to me, did I have visitors? What happened to me?

I decide that I have had enough rest and prop myself up. It is a small little room that contains only one other bed though that one does not have a occupant. I touch my bare feet to the floor and test my weight. Immediately I crumple and fall on my hands and knees, my legs were not working properly. How long was I asleep?

Crawling on my hands and knees I make it to the sink in the room, pull myself up and look in the mirror. A pale girl looks pack with pale freckles dotting her face. Her eyes olive green in tone look like they have a soft yellowish glow to them. Copper locks frame her face coming to her shoulder in a soft wave. It takes me a few minutes to realize that it is me in the mirror. Not much had changed from my previous image I think, it felt like it had been so long since I had seen my reflection that I was unsure to what I looked like.

Then what was that place? A dream? It had to have been. The details of the place were already starting to blur as it was unnecessary information to the brain. But what really happened? Who am I? What am I doing? All questions I needed answered. I felt empty, like something was missing. But at the same time it felt as if there was something there that was not there before. Almost as if something else was inside of me.

Feeling the strength slowly returning to my legs I stumble out into the hallway to look for someone. I needed to know what was going on. No one was in the hallway either so I ventured forth. Every hallway I turned down was empty like no one was there. The next hallway I found was a dead end except for a large metal door. I walked up to it and it opened automatically for me. The sight was completely different from the other places.

This place was jammed pack with people running around. They were all at different stations with all sorts of scientific looking equipment. One of the men with blond hair in a lab coat stopped and looked me over.

"What do you want? Don't you know we are busy?" he crossed his arms.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know where I am. I just woke up in some sort of hospital room. Please, I don't even know my name!" I pleaded with him. He grabbed my left hand and scrutinized it. I was unsure to what he was doing until I noticed a tattoo of the number zero on it.

He looks at it for a moment longer and then tells me to follow him. I follow him into an elevator to the back of the room and watch him press the button that says up. It is a short ride, only one floor. We are brought to another lab, but this one has even fancier equipment and only a few people are around. The man pulls me along and brings me to one person who is working diligently at a computer. His hair is greasy as if he cares more for his work than himself.

"Professor," the man next to me addresses the one at the computer.

"Yes, what is it that you want?" His voice is nasally and a constant wheeze comes out of his lungs. He doesn't turn around though.

"I have brought the girl as you asked." The man pushes me forward to face the professor alone.

The man in front of me sighs irritated but his eyes never leave the screen. "I asked for no girl to be brought to me. Take her away and stop wasting my time. I have enough work to do without all of your constant interruptions."

I fiddle with my fingers nervously, this is a person I don't think I would like.

"But sir," the man behind me was getting nervous too. "She has the mark on her hand."

He sighs again, a watery wheeze and turns around. His mouth is upturn in a sneer and his eyes are a calculating muddy brown through thick round glasses. His face is slightly aged with a firm chin and a forward brow. Something seemed familiar about him but I was unsure. Perhaps I knew him before? Though something about him made me dislike him.

With out warning and with an unexpected strength from the skinny man my hand was grabbed gruffly. He squeezed it tightly and turned it over looking at the back. He let out a quiet hmph and stood up. He didn't let go but instead dragged me over to a table.

"Hurry up and lay down, I don't have all day girl." I obliged grudgingly and stretched myself out on the cold metal table. He takes my blood pressure, looks at my eyes, squeezes and prods my muscles with bony fingers. Lastly he ties a elastic cord around my arm extremely tight and takes my blood. He leaves me lying on the table to go to another part of the lab; most likely to look at the blood.

I hear the screech of the elevator and I look over. A boy no older than me walks out. He wears a navy blue turtle neck, baggy navy blue pants and shoulder guards connected to leather over-all looking straps. He strode forward with soft steps. He stopped when he was next to me and I noticed the most stunning thing about him.

His pale skin was framed by even paler hair. It looked like pure mercury tied into a high ponytail reaching down just past his shoulders. He looks over with luminescent green blue eyes with little emotion. But just past it I can see him questioning why I am here.

The professor comes back a few minutes after the boy's arrival and sneers at him. "You are late, boy. Take your shirt off and get on the table, do not waste my time." He rustles around in some papers and then shoves them in my face. "Here, go to the SOLDIER Directors office and give this to him. Ask one of my assistants to give you clothing. Now leave so I can do my work."

I feel the boy's eyes on me but I do not return his gaze. No matter how beautiful they are there is a chilly aspect glossing over them. I take the squeaky elevator back down to the first floor of the lab and find the assistant that had brought me up first. I relay the professor's message and he grunts and shoves a pile of clothing in my face. Seeing nowhere to change I return back to the hallway, I was sure I had passed a bathroom on my way there.

Sure enough I found a bathroom and quickly changed into the sweats I was given. Unsure what to do with my hospital garb I return to the area I first woke up in and place them on my previous bed. Now to find the director of SOLDIER.

I wander senselessly through the building again. I was pretty sure I was lost though I found an elevator none the less. Though it did not help my predicament since I had no idea which floor this director person had his office one. Frustrated I scroll through the list on the touch sensitive pad and push the icon for the ground floor hoping there would be a lobby and a place to ask for directions. I watch the number go down from 67 to 1. The long ride is ended with a ding and opens up to a lavish lobby.

Business people mill about around a large desk. I descend down the large staircase and make my way around the people to the desk itself. "Excuse me, but could you tell me which floor the director of SOLDIER is on? I was told to report there but I am not sure where to go." The woman behind the desk gives me a skeptical look and thrusts out her hand.

"Can I see paperwork to verify this information?"

"Oh, yes miss, let's see here…" I look at the papers for the first time. I see one of them is addressed specifically to the director so I do not show her that one. I pick one out that looks like an official document that says I have a meeting with Lazard Deusericus, Director of SOLDIER. I hand it over and she scrutinizes it.

"Very well," she hands the paper back. "Her is a card that will let you on to that floor, number 51. It will only work once so make sure you get off at the correct stop." She hands over a flimsy paper card and gives me a big smile. "Have a nice day!"

I thank her quietly and return to the elevator. I see a place where you insert a card so I slide it in and out quickly. On the screen it displays the accessible floors. I choose floor 51 and feel the elevator lurch a little bit. Before I get to my desired floor the elevator stops and admits another person on there.

A dark skinned lady with shortly cropped hair steps in with a similar uniform as the boy I saw before, even the same color. She passes by me and I see her toned muscles as she reaches for the touch screen. She sees my destination and looks over at me.

"You going to Lazard's office?" I nod at her. "Well, at least I know I will not be the only woman in SOLDIER anymore." She lets the door slide shut and extends an arm to me. I look at it a little confused for a moment trying to think when I signed up for the army but I extend my arm out to her all the same. "It is nice to meet you. My name is Nina, I am SOLDIER 2nd Class."

"It's a pleasure," I embrace her firm grip with my hand. "I would tell you mine, but I do not remember mine." I look away.

"Did you just come from the lab?" I nod again. "Ah, you see sometimes the treatment you get for SOLDIER does that to you. But don't worry, you will remember shortly. Unless Hojo told you?" SOLDIER treatment eh, I muse to myself.

I look up at her confused. "Who is Hojo?"

She laughs at me. "Oh typical Hojo. Not only did he not tell you your name, but he didn't tell you his own!" She calms down and wipes her eyes. "Hojo is one of the head professors at the lab. He always has that sneer on his face, long black hair, kind of has a hunch back? Ringing any bells for ya?"

"Oh, I know now. He took a blood sample from me today. He didn't seem very nice."

She gives me a wry look and points to the papers in my hand. "Are those from Hojo? Look through them. Mayhap he wrote down who you are."

I do as I am told and look through the papers. At some time the elevator chimes and Nina brings me out into the hallway to finish looking at the papers. I find one tucked away that looks like my health card and other information.

"It says here my name is Kaja Hayes, I am 16 year old and was born in Northcrest. Northcrest? Where is that?"

"Well Kaja, I have only heard of it a few times. But As the names states, it is up north surrounded by a beautiful pine forest. I think there is a small reactor there too but I don't hear much of it. What else does it say?"

"Well, it says my family is deceased, and then some medical information. At least I know who I am."

She smiles at me. "Well Kaja, shall we meet with the director?" I nod and she guides me to a large room with another large desk and a huge screen in back of it. "Remember to salute." She murmurs in my ear as we walk forward.

I follow her lead and make a sloppy salute to the blond man. He waves his hand and smiles. "And who do we have here today?"

"Sir, I am reporting here from… Professor Hojo; he told me to deliver these papers to you." I hand the packet to him and he flips through them reading each of them carefully.

"So, you are enrolling in SOLDIER?"

"I guess so sir. I don't remember anything from when I woke up in the hospital today. I am not sure of how long I actually slept either."

"It is written that you where asleep for three days. But that is only natural after the SOLDIER treatment. So here is your paperwork to sign. If you just put your name, signature and date here we can officially accept you as SOLDIER 3rd Class, Rank 1." I nod and sign my unfamiliar name. "You will report for training at 0800 hours to floor 49 every morning except for Sunday. You will spend the first half of the morning in classes working on theories and book knowledge and the second half will be actual combat training. There will be a monthly assessment on how your progress is doing and a test will be administered both on paper and in the field. As a SOLDIER 3rd class you will not be permitted to leave Midgar unless on a mission that deems so. You may wander around the city freely itself but stay in it. While wandering around I suggest you leave your weapons here or at your apartment so not to alarm the citizens.

"You will be assigned an apartment in the complex just down the street, there are many other SOLDIERs that live there too. A standard uniform will be issued to you for you to wear. On your off time you can wear your normal clothing. But during your training the uniform will be on. You will also be issued a company phone so that you may keep in touch with your colleges and with your boss, me. I know it is a lot of information to take in all at once but after a few days you will get the hang of things." He signs off on a paper and hands it too me. "Take this over to the office of Public Safety on floor 23. They will give you your company ID card and apartment key. I will phone over and get someone to drop off your uniform to your apartment. Your company card will also work as your credit card. Your earnings will be transferred directly into an account and can be used with the card. For joining we give you an added bonus of 500 gil just to start.

"Nina, why don't you go with Miss Hayes here and help her find her way around. I wish you the best of luck and have a good day." He gave us a genuine smile. He sure had a lot to say but that must have been the normal speech that is given to new recruits.

"Thank you, Sir." I give him another salute and follow Nina back out.

"All right," she drawls in her country accent. "Let's get going."

Nina sure had a lot to say. From life in Midgar to life as a SOLDIER. She said that other SOLDIERs think that the women sleep their way up in ranks but it is obviously not true. Though none have made it to 1st class yet.

At the Public Safety office they took my picture and printed off a small white card that had the company logo and my picture on it. They said that the money from me joining SOLDIER was already on there so I could use it immediately if so desired. They handed me my apartment key and let me be on my way.

Nina led me out of the building through the lavish lobby and down the street. The sky was dark and gloomy even though it was early evening. Cold winds whipped around me and through my thin clothing. Nina said it was always dark because of the smog that blanketed the city. She was not joking about the blanket part, every breath I took felt thick and dirty.

The building she led me too looked like it had about 30 floors in it. She said that I would be staying on the 18th floor and actually would be staying down the hall from her. The room I found was quite small. Just big enough to fit a bed, a bureau, a desk and the TV. There was a small closet and a tiny bathroom.

"Here is your uniform, oh and your account information and your training schedule." She motions over to the bed. "Would you like me to help you unpack your things?"

I stop and look up at her. "I don't have anything except what I am wearing."

She scowls and crosses her arms. "What do you mean you have nothing? Didn't you bring anything from home?"

"If I did then I don't remember." My shoulders slump. "It feels like there is this wall in my head and every time I try to pass it, the wall extends and I can't get past."

I hear her sigh and a her strong hand is placed on my shoulder. "No worries. Why don't I take you shopping for some clothing and some other necessities? Plus I could show you the city some more."

I nod to her suggestion still feeling sad. I put my new phone and ID card into my pants pockets and followed her back out. The air was cold and bitter as we hurried to a store. She had led me into a clothing store. We started out with getting a coat and boots. She then suggested a pair of running shoes and street shoes. After that she helped me pick out several tops and some jeans. She also said that I should get some spandex shorts and some tank tops for under the uniform. We then got some under garments with Nina telling me that comfort is key.

By the time we had left the store I had several bags of clothing and more than half of my gil depleted. "Don't worry about spending all of the money in this one time. You will not need a lot of clothing for a while now so you can save it for food and such."

We stopped by at a drug store and we picked up some soap, a towel and a pack of hair ties. "If you are going to keep your hair long," Nina lectures me. "Then you will need something to put it up with for training."

Nina helped we lug all of my new things back to my apartment and said that she had gotten a message to report back to Lazard. "If you need anything else, you know how to find me. Good luck, SOLDIER." She smiles and leaves me alone.

I slowly go through each garment and remove tags putting them in draws as I go. I don't feel the need to change so I leave my current clothing on that I was given by the science department.

My stomach growls angrily and for the first time today I feel hungry. I look at the sheet of paper that tells me what is on which floor and find the cafeteria on the 6th floor for the Shin-Ra building. I don my new coat and boots and make my way down the slushy streets.

I gladly welcomed the warmth of the Shin-Ra building noting that the lobby was emptier than before. People must have gone home for the day. I find the elevator and ride it to the 6th floor find the cafeteria fairly busy.

I present my ID card and I am told I am on a meal plan from the SOLDIER department itself where I can get 3 meals a day. I nod and then fill my tray so it is overflowing thinking of my poor empty stomach. I find a seat a nearly empty table that has a man sitting on the other side.

His dark eyes flit up for a moment but then return to his document that he scans while drinking a mug of steaming liquid. I examine him through lashes as I eat my tray of food; dark hair pulled back in a tight pony tail, dark eyes, slightly tanned skin, a tilak in the middle of his forehead. He wears a dark suit with an equally dark tie and a stark white shirt. I can tell that he examines me too through his downcast eyes trying to find out who I was.

His phone beeps and he answers it with a quick "This is Tseng." He stays quiet for a moment and then looks at me and then back to his papers. "I understand." He says and hangs up the phone quickly. He gathers his papers putting them into a folder and stands. "If you will excuse me," he gathers the rest of his things and leaves the hall.

I stare at the spot he was only moments before for a little while longer and then shake my head; most likely just a regular businessman. I quickly finish the rest of the food on my tray and return to my new apartment. I change into a new tank top and a pair of loose short. I read over my training assignments once more and then decide to retire early. For some reason, I felt tired even though I had woken up so late in the day. I set the alarm on my phone and then let sleep take me. The first day at this un-known company, not so bad for not knowing anything.

Oh boy, a wild Tseng has appeared! And the mysterious boy, we all know who that is! :3

So what do you think so far? I think this reconstruction is going well. Next time: Classes, training and rivals oh my!