Chapter Seven
And Into the Fire
"You wanted to see me?" Said a young man after he was granted permission to enter inside.
"Yes. You'll be gaining some new competition. Two new students have passed and graduated to SOLDIER class 2. Another one has just arrived and has high promise. Once we conduct some testing, we'll see if he's worthy of being your rival. I know you've been here much longer and they really won't pose a challenge. But think of it as keeping you sharp and ready for the next assignment, Sephiroth."
"Of course."
"Should the new blood pass, it'll be your duty to show him around. You know this building better than some of the older staff. Plus this will be much quicker way to be acquainted with each other." Looking at his watch, "In fact he should be here soon. Could you wait at the training room in the SOLDIER floor?"
"Certainly. I am curious as to how this mysterious person bypassed specific channels to allow him here. Angeal and Genesis are joining us as well?"
The director lightly chuckled at that. "I should have speculated you would have known the new seconds. Of course they are welcome to come as long as they are free to do so."
"Very well. I will inform them myself and meet at the training room." The director waved Sephiroth out.
Sephiroth walked out of the office and down the hall. Coming upon the elevator, he pressed the down button. No sooner had the button been pushed inside that the doors opened. A dark red head stepped out and acknowledged Sephiroth's presence. Walking past, Sephiroth wondered why he looked vaguely familiar. He would figure that mystery later.
Going down to the SOLDIER dorm floor, it didn't take Sephiroth long to follow the noise of items being shuffled around. Angeal and Genesis were moving the last few things into their new dorm room. It was almost comical to see two opposites bunk together. Yes, Sephiroth knew that these two grew up together and joined together.
Sephiroth approached them as they came back out for the last time. Genesis noticed his presence as he was picking up a box. Angeal wasn't paying attention and bumped into Genesis. Genesis dropped the box on Angeal's foot. Angeal scoffed when the box made contact on his foot. If Sephiroth wasn't emotionless, he would have been laughing.
Genesis mock bowed and noticed Angeal was trying not to take a swing at him. "To what do we owe this honor of the high and mighty first? Are you ready to take a swing on something other than simulation?"
"Not today, Genesis. Thought you would like to take a swing at someone new for a change."
"Why should I unleash my fury upon a nobody?"
"The higher ups believe that this person has some talent. He didn't go through the normal channels, more of what you two did." Sephiroth explained.
"Knowing someone on the inside?" Angeal inquired.
"Could be, but we will have to find out. The fastest way would be testing your strengths against this new comer. That is if you both are willing."
"I could never back down from a challenge. Of course I'll have a test of will. Angeal could do a test of strength. And I take it you'll be standing on the side lines." Genesis said, goading Sephiroth.
"I would do more if I was not also assessing him."
Before Genesis could make a rebuttal, Angeal replied, "We will accompany you and help in any way that we can."
"Very well. This way." Sephiroth said and walked back to the elevators.
They followed inside and managed to squeeze. Angeal was more bulk than lean and he took up more space. Sephiroth and Genesis stood in the front of the elevator. More like they were pressed against the doors. Sephiroth pressed the 49th floor button and down they went.
When the doors opened Genesis stumbled out. Sephiroth gracefully exited and Angeal shrugged when Genesis gave Sephiroth a menacing glare. Sephiroth pretended not to notice, so he wouldn't flare Genesis' raging ego. But he needed to learn that ignoring Genesis didn't work that way.
"Be glad it's not you today, Sephiroth. You may remain unbeaten in every battle, but everyone must fall." Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at Genesis' direction, but voiced nothing.
Angeal placed a hand on Genesis' shoulder and said, "You must find honor in everything that you do. For without honor what is the purpose to walk this path we have chosen." Genesis huffed a reply but stayed in an unpleasant mood.
Sephiroth took this moment and began walking to the training room. Genesis sharply followed after and Angeal was not too far behind. The trio entered the room to find the director was already there with the recruit in the training facility. The recruit wasn't tall and had dark red hair. It was the boy from earlier that Sephiroth had passed in the hall.
The director motioned for them to join him in observing how the recruit handled himself in battle. He seemed to wander around the room looking for something to spring out in front. Forgoing to check his six, one caught the recruit's blindside. But the recruit just went onward and into a tiny group of creatures. Now he was completely surrounded by four winged creatures.
Needless to say that the battle was over in a blink of an eye. Just one spin attack was all it took to finish them off when they were in reach of his blade. Genesis scoffed either from rage or excitement from how quickly it was over, Sephiroth decided. So the director entered a new monster into the fray. And the recruit ran face to face with it.
Behemoth growled at him and raised a giant paw, which was huge enough to give someone's neck a clean shave. The recruit rolled to the left, narrowly missing the connection. Thrusting his sword into the beast he only needed to hit it twice. The recruit looked like he was enjoying this and was hardly out of breath.
Genesis' patience ran out, "It's my turn." He put a hand on Angeal's shoulder and drug him along before the director could say anything.
The director chuckled lightly, "I'm surprised Genesis lasted as long as he did. I thought he was going to jump in there when the Behemoth entered."
"The recruit shows potential just as was suspected. I would like to see his folder." So the director passed it over to Sephiroth.
Flipping the folder open, Sephiroth glanced at the words on the page. He bypassed the picture of the boy in the simulation and went to his name, Rory. He looked fourteen or fifteen but the file reported that he was seventeen. About 5'9" in height, one hundred and twenty pounds of basic skin and bones. Rory was not a powerhouse like Angeal, but more agile like Genesis. Though some flaws were found about his past. No real hometown or any clear documented reports, such as insurance or even a birth certificate of any sort. It was as if this 'Rory' didn't exist. So Sephiroth looked at the doctor who signed off on this file. The culprit was none other than Professor Hojo.
This only brought questions to Sephiroth's mind that he was going to get answers to. Hojo wasn't a regular doctor and he only ever did this one other time. When he signed off Sephiroth's medical report, but then he had a reason to. What is he hiding now, Sephiroth thought. Now I know who the person is that wanted Rory in here, but why? But his eyes glanced at a notice or a warning of sorts at the very bottom of the page. It was a small list of weaknesses or items Rory was allergic to. An electrical discharge startled him and Sephiroth looked back into the simulation room.
Genesis entered the room with Angeal in tow. Even with the fire in Genesis' eyes, Angeal just succumbed to his friend's frenzy. It was better to be behind the fury than in the midst of it, like the recruit would be facing in a moment. He began to evaluate the recruit before Genesis launched into attack phase. The kid seems to hold himself quite well besides the disadvantage of height and strength, Angeal noted. The recruit was almost as crazed as Genesis was with blood lust pumping in his veins.
"When the war of the beasts bring about the world's end..." Genesis spoke.
"The goddess descends from the sky. There's no sky over us and her protection is fruitless. A nice try on LOVELESS." The recruit mockingly said.
"How dare you?! Your memory will only last as long as your blood stains my sword!" Genesis was already too mad to realize he was being toyed with.
Angeal started to stop his friend from doing anything rash. "Let him go." The recruit said, "It's part of the test, is it not?" Angeal nodded his head. "Then you might as well have him come at me."
"What's your name, boy? That way we can put it on your grave stone." Genesis sneered.
The recruit laughed. "To you my name is Rory. Now are we going to dance or talk like old ninnies?"
With that Genesis could be contained no longer. He lunged at Rory and deftly moved to Rory's left side. Genesis was trying to throw the recruit off but it was seemingly ineffective. His attack was blocked and thrown back. Genesis stumbled just slightly and it was enough to bring him on the defensive.
Rory swiftly went to Genesis' side and retaliated. Swinging his sword to Genesis' arm, his blade was barely blocked. Pulling back and swinging again, Rory was testing the faults in Genesis' fighting style. Or he was at least trying to. And backed off a bit to give Genesis the advantage.
Genesis was starting to enjoy this and said, "Angeal why not join this? I've been noticing that you're watching his fighting style. I hope I gave you enough time to use this to our advantage?"
"Yes it has. But Genesis, Rory has been watching me too. He has been accessing both of us this whole time."
"Good, we better give him something that he will never forget!"
"Hopefully not the infirmary again." Angeal mumbled quietly. And he took a training sword off the wall and joined into the fray.
As Angeal stepped in, he noticed Rory smiled. "This is what I've been waiting for. More of a challenge than Behemoth could ever be. Come at me!" And they obliged his challenge.
They side swiped, parried, attacked from opposite sides and each one was either blocked or dodged. Neither one were getting anywhere in this stalemate. Genesis gave Angeal a signal to attack the front and he would take the flank. But little did either of them know what would happen when Genesis whipped out a seemingly harmless materia.
After the electrical discharge left his hand, the lightning bolt descended on Rory. Angeal performed his distraction well enough that the boy had no time to react to the aerial attack. Once the bolt hit its designated target, an ear piercing screech emanated in the small room.
The lights wavered and Rory disappeared right in front of Angeal. Only to have Rory then stand behind Genesis and hilt smash him. Then the lights flickered back off before Genesis had a chance to counter. Rory had vanished again. It was the worst strobe light fight either of the boys had encountered.
When the lights finally stopped flickering, Rory stood in front of both weakened boys. Blood was pouring out Rory's nose, but that didn't stop him from saying one last thing, "Now for the grand finale." The doors opened up to the simulated training room, and all the lights darkened.
A/N: Comments, flames, or whatever you need to say is more than welcome. It is appreciated! Anyone wish to guess as to what will happen? Or who this mysterious person is? They will help me write the coming chapters much more quickly.
Thank you for those who do not wish to review and for all that follow, favorite and review! See you on the flip side.
