A convoy of personnel tucks line the main road running through the middle of the military sector. What looks like thousands of troops line up nervously as they wait for their turn to climb into the back of the trucks. It was easy to tell the seasoned infantrymen from the rookies because they stood in line in eerie silence with a vacant expression, as if they knew what was about to happen. I spot Cloud a few places in front of me talking to Chris. I felt bad for how our conversation ended, but he was a good person. The last thing I want is to see his die because of a dumb promise he made. I swear if I ever find out who this girl is that's unknowingly sentenced him to this I'll punch her.

Why are you so bothered by it anyway, farron?..

The line shrinks by twenty soldiers at a time, until Cloud is stood at the front of it, waiting for the next truck to stop. My whole body is trembling and my fingers are turning white I'm gripping my rifle so tightly. All I could think about was my sister and the thought of me leaving her behind. Cloud had promised her I'd be okay, but I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not. Part of me was glad she got some reassurance; even if it was a false one.

"Don't worry," I hear a voice say calmly from behind.

"You realise where we're going, right?" I say sarcastically as I turn to find Cissnei stood behind me.

"I know.. Just remember one thing and you're chances will double. Think smart, not brave," She says firmly.

"Believe me, I've no desire to be brave like some of these idiots," I reply coldly, earning a few frowns from passing soldiers.

"You shouldn't call them that," the red haired girl chastises.

"You just said think smart, not brave,"

"And you should. But it's the brave ones who make the difference in the field.. Be it either stupidity or courage, they run forward and inspire others to do the same. I want to make a difference in another way,"

"What way?" I question, hanging on her every word.

"I want to be a Turk. When you're already on the field, bravery is key. But intelligence can tip the balance in your favour so greatly that you can avoid the battle altogether. It's true that the Turks do some really dark stuff, but they have more impact on world events than whole battalions of infantry."

"And how can I join the Turks?" I question, liking the sound of the prospect already.

"You have to be noticed by them. You need to show cunning and the will to put the mission before all else. They're usually always driven, highly intelligent people. If you're seriously interested, stick with me," Cissnei says finally, holding out her hand to shake.

I grip her hand and shake it with a nod. It's strange to think I was so annoyed at her for beating me this morning and now I was interested in following her lead. The sound of tires skidding to a stop grabs my attention and I turn around to find Cloud climbing into the back of the truck. A few seconds later I climb up too, and take a seat on the opposite side of the bench seats. I catch his eye but he just looks down to the floor and says nothing. Darkness engulfs us as the rear doors are shut tightly and the truck jerks forward, no doubt heading to Junon.

An hour must have passed and I don't think me and Cloud had said a word to each other. Both of us too stubborn to say the first word. Part of me felt like I should apologise after everything he'd done for me, but I can't bring myself to say it. Claire might have apologised for her words, but Lightning doesn't. Besides.. putting him off being a hero is probably the safest thing for him. I feel eyes staring at me in the dimly lit vehicle and my own veer from the blonde to Chris, who's alternating between the pair of us.

"Lover's tiff?" Chris asks with a wicked grin.

"Don't make me shoot you, Garrett," I growl, but I feel my cheeks burn. Hopefully it was too dark for anyone to notice.

"Hey," Alex interrupts. "We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves. The situation is what it is. Let's not make any more enemies than the one's we're being sent to fight."

"Well said," Cissnei agreed.

"So what do you think our enemy is like?" Chris asks in an attempt to strike up a conversation.

"I hear they have very few guns. Just some swords and spears. They know the ground but we're gonna have the superior numbers and fire power," Alex explains.

"I wonder how many SOLDIER operatives area the area?" Chris says aloud, and I notice Cloud lift his head up slightly.

"It's hard to say. With the rise of Wutai cells attacking Shinra strongholds, most of the first class SOLDIER members are in the Shinra building in case it comes under attack. Junon will have a lot too," Cissnei explains.

"They have all the strongest fighters in Midgar when there's a war going on?" Cloud finally speaks.

"The tens of thousands of people living in Midgar don't see the war. Better a thousand unknown soldiers die in a land far away than a few innocent civilians in a supposedly safe metropolis. That'd be a PR nightmare for them," the red haired girl continues.

What Cissnei said was as annoying as it was true. People slept soundly without a care in the world while thousands of people died for their safety. In the likely event that I die on Wutai soil, would I be honoured for my sacrifice, or would I be just another number on a debriefing report? No.. I was going to live through this. I don't know how yet, but I'm not about to be brought back in a bag.

Cloud looked like he was turning green in the back of the truck when it eventually comes to a stop. Hopefully we weren't just stopped somewhere and had actually made it to Junon. It hadn't been long since I'd been to Junon. In fact, it was the first part of my journey to Midgar with Serah. The rear doors of the truck open and I'm met with a starry night sky. I frown at the sight of a red star in the sky, but I quickly realise it was a red safety light attached to the giant cannon that was almost invisible at night.

"Everyone out!" A grizzled looking soldier barks. "You're all to head to the docks immediately and board the first available ship! Your Captain's will be waiting with a mission brief."

Knowing my way from memory, I start marching down the dimly lit street. It was a strange place, Junon. To my left was the ocean and the salty smell that reminded me of home. It filled my nose with memories of a better time, but it was tainted with that metallic smell that leached off everything Shinra touched. To my right were rows of buildings on streets that were staggered on top of each other, cut into the mountain.

"Look at the cannon!" Alex gasps behind me, finally noticing its feint outline in the night sky.

The streets were empty of civilians, but in the distance two man walk towards us wearing dark suits. One was a tall man with a bald head and tanned skin. Even in this darkness he wore a pair of sunglasses. The other was a shorter, lean man with bright red hair. Although he wore the same style of suit, he was far more scruffy looking than the other man, with his white shirt untucked and unbuttoned at the neck.

"Turks?" I ask as the pair turn left and disappear down an ally before we get to them.

"Yep. I think there's a bar down there that they all like." Cissnei answers me.

"You know an awful lot about them, don't you?"

"I guess I'll make a good Turk then," she smiles.

Continuing towards the dock, I scan each building as I pass in an attempt to take in as much information as possible. Most of them were closed now, but the shop windows were still lit up, bathing their many wares in coloured lights. In the distance I see the ship coming into view and I wonder if I'll get a glimpse of my home town as we make our way to Wutai.

"This is cool! I've never been on a boat before," Alex shouts as he runs past me.

Cloud follows, marching past me without so much as a glance in my direction. He really hadn't taken my words well at all, but I shouldn't have to apologise for telling him I didn't want him to die. No.. that's what I meant, but it isn't what I said. I should have worded things better and I shouldn't be so stubborn that I'm going to ignore someone who's done so much for me. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of that frozen river he pulled me from as I head to the ship to find Cloud.

By the time I come to the conclusion, Cloud was walking up the large loading ramp at the rear of the ship. A second later he disappears into the vast hull of the ship so I run after him. I skid to a halt as I make it to the ramp where Captain MacMillan is waiting with three Shinra Navy crewmen wearing khaki uniforms.

"What's the rush, Farron?" The captain questions with a frown.

"No rush, Sir. Sorry," I reply sheepishly.

"Board the ship. You're free to roam around until an hour before arrival."

I simply nod and head into the ships belly that was filled with infantrymen and crates of supplies. I feel like I'd been waking around for hours without a single sight of the blonde. It didn't help that the hull was like a maze because of all the random clumps of crates and ammunition tins. A large whining noise turns everyone's attention to the rear as we watch the ramp closing, sealing us inside.

"Have you seen Strife?" I ask Alex, who I spot first.

"I've not, Farron. Maybe he's with Chris?"

"How come you're looking for him, anyway?" I hear Cissnei's voice behind me.

"I said some things that I need to apologise for," I tell her with a sigh.

"You've only known him a week. I wouldn't worry about it," Cissnei replies.

"I know, but he's really helped me out and I don't want to go to Wutai on bad terms.."

"Helped with what?"

I look at her for a moment but say nothing. I didn't really want to explain my situation to anyone else; especially not in the middle of a crowded ship. The red haired girl does her best to extract the information from my expression, but she gives in and simply smiles.

"You like him, don't you?" She asks.

"Yes."

The answer that left my mouth was as much a shock to me as it was to Cissnei, who giggled with amusement. Was it just because I felt like I owed him something or was there something more? I needed to find him to figure out before we landed in Wutai. For a few minutes I wander the ship before it dawns on me that he seemed to suffer from motion sickness. Maybe he was on the deck getting some fresh air. With no better ideas I filter through the mass of bodies towards the stairs.

The smell of the ocean hits me again as I get to the top step and look out onto the vast deck. By now it must have been the early morning, but the stars were still out in the night sky. Heading towards the bow of the ship, I look to the horizon in the hope I could see any sign of my home town in the distance but all I could see was darkness. The floor began to shake briefly and a deep rumble from below told me they'd fired up the ship's engine.

Turning towards the stern of the ship, I walk down the starboard side until I spot Cloud leaning over the railing, looking down at the dock that was slowly fading into the distance. With a deep breath I swallow my pride and head over to him. The clink of my boots on the metal floor must have alerted him to my presence, but he doesn't turn until I lean over the railing next to him.

"The view is much nicer at the front," I say, knowing he wasn't going to be the first to speak after what I'd said to him earlier.

"I'll take your word for it," he replies bluntly, returning his gaze back to Junon.

"Cloud… What I said before.. It came out all wrong. I just don't want you to die.."

I keep my eyes fixated on him as he looks out into the distance. I can see him mulling my words over in his head before he finally turns to me.

"You never had any faith in me.. No matter what I did; no matter how much effort I put in, you just don't see it," he replies angrily, but I see his eyes water even in the darkness.

"I-I know that.. You were there for me when I was all alone in the world. I was drowning in darkness long before you pulled me out of that river. I thought I could do all of this alone and I just couldn't."

"And I needed you to have faith in me. I'd done everything I could to help you and I asked for nothing in return," he replies with words that cut like a knife.

For a moment I don't know what to say. All I can do is watch him look out into the distance wearing the expression of a wounded animal. Part of me would rather he turned around and shouted at me, because I hated how in pain he looked. Another few seconds pass by in silence before I ask another question.

"Why did you make a promise to my sister?" I ask.

"She was worried about you. I didn't want her to spend every day wondering if her sister would be okay," he replies honestly.

"But you can't make that promise. Nobody can.. Not even Sephiroth," I add, trying to make sure he didn't think I was referring to his ability.

"I either will or I'll die trying. Either way, your sister can't be mad at me."

"I don't want you to risk your life. Certainly not for me," I tell him with a sigh. "Cloud? Are you happy?"

"…..No. Not really.."

"Why?"

"This just isn't how I pictured things would turn out," he says truthfully.

Cloud turns to me and lets out a big sigh. He looked physically and mentally exhausted from the whole day and I felt guilty for pressing him. I had no idea if I'd pushed him even further away or repaired some of the bridges I'd burned. There was only one way to find out..

"Friends?"

Another chapter done! Took a little longer than planned. I'm a bit of a night owl and I usually go to sleep around 3am, but now my job has me up and around the country at 4am and the adjustment is killing me lol.

The story will follow the ff7 plotline. The compilation in general but eventually the main ff7 game plot. For now we're on Before Crisis. Next episode our lovable bunch of noobs are about to experience the reality of war and it's probably ot going to go well…

Let me know what you all think and I'll make a start on the next chapter very soon!