Chapter Four - Recognition.

Cloud had never enjoyed wearing his dress uniform. The formality of it all never sat well with him, it felt so cold and unfriendly. Even the colours felt cold to him, the black suit with gold trim just didn't feel quite right. Thankfully Shinra rarely called on such things. Even on parades most grunts still wore standard uniform. The claim was that it was to ease the tensions of the troops for such events, but many suspected that the truth was simply that the company was too cheap to give them to everyone.

Zack was waiting for him in the elevator, also in dress uniform, although clearly the members of Soldier had their uniforms tailored as it fit him much better. He looked over at Cloud and stifled a chuckle over his constant squirming and fidgeting.

"Take it you've never been introduced to the big cheese before, huh."

Cloud looked over at him, his nerves close to breaking point already. "That obvious, is it? Only ever seen him twice, both times on parades so naturally he couldn't tell me apart from the hundreds of other faceless grunts there. What about you? I guess a Soldier First Class is like the president's right hand. You must have met him plenty of times."

Zack shook his head and laughed. "Not so much. Our orders were always related through director Lazard, before he disappeared. The president only ever troubled himself with Sephiroth, Angeal once or twice. Never me. I'm just as nervous as you."

Cloud paused for a moment. He hadn't quite expected Zack to admit being nervous, he never had before. Then in dawned on him that it was all a fabrication to make him feel better. In fact he vaguely recalled Zack taljing to him about a meeting with the president some months ago. "You're lying to make me feel better, aren't you? You're not nervous at all."

Zack smiled and laughed a little more. "That obvious, is it?"

***

The top floors were certainly luxurious as Cloud had expected. Gleaming marble floors and elegant crimson drapes throughout left little room for doubt that this was a place for the top brass. Zack led the way up the winding staircase to the president's desk where he sat waiting, the typical man in power in terms of appearance. Overweight, balding, a life of luxury that had been a little too good to him. Sat at his desk which seemed suspiciously short of the paperwork usually associated with men of his stature, he smiled and gestured for them to approach. They saluted and stood to attention in front of the desk, but he insisted that they stand at ease.

"Please relax, gentlemen. I understand your nerves given the nature of this problem. Rest assured, you're not here to be punished."

Cloud breathed an audible sigh of relief, only to realise his mistake and apologise. Zack shook his head in exasperation but the president dismissed the incident. "No need to stand on ceremony today. You're welcomed back as heroes, not on trial. I'm sure you'll both be pleased to know that you are to be promoted for your actions in this incident. Zack Fair, for your bravery and outstanding ability, you are to become director of the Soldier task force. We need your expertise to rebuild our devastated elites back to full strength. With that in mind, your good friend Cloud is to be promoted to Soldier First Class with immediate effect."

As Cloud beamed with pride, Zack could only look confused. "With all due respect to both Cloud and yourself sir, I'm confused. Cloud has yet to pass any of the training necessary to become First Class, and with the facilities in such disarray there is nobody to train him."

"There's you. I understand your concerns, but this is where Cloud needs to be. It will be up to you to get him up to speed."

Zack continued to look perplexed. "Again, with all due respect, is this title honourary for the sake of public relations or in recognition of potential, sir?"

The president nodded sagely. Clearly the Soldier training paid off in every area. "A little of both. While it is true that granting Cloud the rank of First Class is something of a political move, his contributions to this company and inate talents cannot be ignored. Defeating Sephiroth was no easy task, one which will be kept secret if you wish by the way, Cloud. Your talents must be recognised. While I recognise your training will be arduous, I believe that you have what it takes. You both do. As a team you would be unstoppable."

Cloud nodded slowly as it all began to sink in, glad that his promotion was more than a publicity stunt. Now he could take Tifa home having fulfilled his promise to her, and his childhood dream. Wherever home would be for them now, that is. A frown crept across his features as he began to realise how much had been lost.

"I see the look on your face, Cloud. Worried for your lady friend in the medical wing. Don't be. We're arranging permenant accomodation for the three of you, here in Midgar while we look into rebuilding Nibelhiem. Go to her. Tell her the good news. I have a few things to discuss with Zack in private. Congratulations, Soldier First Class Strife."

With that Cloud turned to leave, only for Zack to playfully punch him in the arm. "Hey, I'm your boss now. Don't take it personal if I'm a little hard on you." he said with a cheeky grin.

***

A few floors down, scientists busied themselves with their latest works, peering into microscopes and monitors as they continued their search for whatever truths they sought. The entire floor was lit by the eerie glow of the energy field covering the central elevator, usually reserved for the more volatile creatures used in the less ethical tests. The central control room above teemed with an endless mass of white coats, tending to the various dials and levers.

The peace was shattered as professor Hojo returned from his meeting, shoving aside his co-workers and kicking random storage units as he fumed to himself. His normally cold and emotionless face was twisted with an uncontollable rage and those who had served under him for months knew to stay out of his way. Evidently his request for new specimins had been denied. As he stormed into the control room, the senior staff acknowledged his arrvial with curt nods, staying out of harm's way.

"It would seem we will not be recieving any new specimins this time. Not just yet, at least. Jenova's containment cell is to be moved here, we will begin researching exactly what went wrong with Sephiroth. Iron out the flaws in the project for his sucessor."

***

The Soldier floor seemed eerily silent considering just a few minutes ago it had been a sea of chaotic thought. The dull thrum of the power generators fuelling the holographic training rooms and the muffled chatter eminating from various research rooms investigating new technologies was a welcome reminder that the floor wasn't entirely deserted, but he couldn't help but feel a little stunned at the sudden change.

Or perhaps he was shocked at realising that he wasn't here as a messenger or a security guard any more. He was here as an equal. Perhaps not proven yet, but he had been given his chance at last. This was his time to show what he was truly capable of. It would be a long and painful process, but he'd come too far to give into fear now. A young man in a light blue uniform called him over and pointed to the supply room, to a bank of lockers and tubes jutting from the walls. He saluted and left Cloud to his thoughts.

It was a curious sensation, being saluted by the people he had been saluting only a few days before. A part of him wanted to laugh out loud then spend a month or two grinning. But the voice in his head kept telling him he hadn't earned that salute. That this was all a lie, a publicity stunt and nothing more. He wasn't a real Soldier. At least not yet. But he knew if he worked hard and gave this his all, one day he would earn that salute. He would be a Soldier in everyone's eyes, both earned and proved.

Examining the row of material transfer tubes on the wall, he found a package waiting for him, sent hurtling through the network of tubes running through whole building from the storage facilities in the basement. Inside the box lay his new uniform, the dark blue of a Soldier First Class. A note from the store rooms explained that this was just a temporary uniform until his personally tailored replacement was available as it could take days to create. His new dog tags lay under the note, including a new silver chain to keep them around his neck. The black emblem of Soldier stood out on the silver of the tags, his name and rank engraved beneath. Another note lay at the bottom of the package, requesting that he report to the armoury with Zack as soon as they were both free, and from there to the materia storage room.

As he slipped into his uniform and hung his new tags around his neck, his doubts dissipated into nothingness. Whether it was a stunt or not, it was official now. He was a Soldier. He'd done what he set out to do. He'd even kept his promise to Tifa along the way. Where he went from here, who could tell? But he was a Soldier now. The sky was the limit. He would endevour to be the best he could be. Someone Tifa would be proud of. Someone his mother would have been proud of. To honour her memory and those of the people of Nibelhiem, he would be a hero.

***

Zack was once again waiting for him the the elevator, smirking as Cloud fidgetted in his new uniform. Despite his obvious nervousness, Cloud actually looked much better in the Soldier uniform than he ever had in his old guard outfit. He somehow looked natural in it, he belonged in that uniform.

"Comfortable?" he muttered as Cloud continued to adjust his collar.

"This is everything I ever wanted. I would've preferred to earn this uniform. But I'm not gonna give up now. I'll just have to earn this uniform while I'm in it."

Zack smiled, pleased to see his friend maintaining such optimism. "A great way to look at it. Gives you something to work towards, keep you focussed. If there's one thing a First needs, it's deterimation. Looks like you're well on your way already."

As the elevator sped towards the medical wing, Cloud thought on what the president had said about his potential as a Soldier. Maybe he really did have what it took. He had applied to Soldier before but had been deemed lacking due to a lack of confidence. By killing Sephiroth he had shown his true colours, his inner strength and determination. Maybe the president was telling the truth, that his potential had finally been recognised. And if not, he would make it recognised.

"You looking forward to seeing her again? You'll be walking through that door as her hero, Cloud. She's a great girl, clearly cares about you a lot."

"I used to think I didn't deserve her. That's why I joined Shinra. I thought if I could be a hero like Sephiroth, I could win her heart. Funny how things work out."

"Seems to me you had her heart all along. I wasn't actually gonna tell you this, but she was asking for you when we arrived in Nibelhiem. Wanted to know if her hero had come home. Like you said, funny how things work out. Might not be exactly how you saw it happening, but any way you look at it, you're a hero now. And not just to Tifa. If Sephiroth had escaped, he'd have killed hundreds more, including me. Your actions saved Tifa, me, everyone. You're more of a hero than you realise."

The elevator arrived at the medical wing and the thick metal doors parted. As the two stepped out, Zack grabbed his friend's shoulder, holding him back for one last moment.

"Remember what I told you, Cloud. Embrace your dreams. You're a hero, a Soldier, and an honourable man. You've dreamed of this moment since you were a kid. You've earned every second of it. Now embrace another of your dreams. The girl of your dreams."

***