Devil in Black
by GreenMachine
Chapter 1 : An Unmatched Soldier
Josef hurriedly ducked back behind the low wall as shots pinged off of the rough cement. Pockmarks were left in the bullet-chopped masonry as chunks of rock whizzed past his ears. He checked his gun as his opponent ducked to await return fire and check his own. He stood, fired a few warning shots and dashed for the next bit of cover he could find, diving down just as another hail of lead death flew dangerously close to him. Panting heavily with sweat dripping from his chin onto the barrel of his firearm, he dropped the magazine out of the handle of the weapon and stuffed in his last replacement. Keeping low, Josef raised his head just barely over the edge of the chunk of rock and took a furtive glance over to where his enemy was entrenched. About twenty feet. He could make it. Maybe.
His head swept down again as another group of shots spewed forth, his opponent realizing that he had raised his head. He heard a sharp curse as a series of clicks issued forth from the enemy's assault rifle, and then the sound of the clip clattering to the floor. Now was his chance. It was here or never. He put his pistol back into its holster. Drawing a long knife from his boot, Josef leapt up, vaulting the cement block and dashing forward as his assailant finished reloading his rifle. Josef grabbed the barrel of the gun just as the trigger was pulled and the shots fired wildly to his side. Spinning his body around he kicked his heel into the man's jaw with menacing force. The gun fell out of his hands and Josef swiftly kicked it away. His opponent staggered up just as Josef brought his fist smashing into the man's nose and simultaneously kicked his legs out from under him. Before he had another chance to react, Josef grabbed him by his hair, brought his knife to his neck and slit his throat. He gazed expressionless into the distance as blood spattered onto his face and his enemy's thrashing climaxed and ceased. He stood, wiped the blood from his knife, and thrust it back into his boot. He walked over to where the assault rifle lay, and picked it up. After pocketing his opponent's extra rounds, he shouldered the gun and jogged onwards.
Doctor Armitage looked over the large display, gazing with intense concentration as he idly played with a rubber band, watching Number 184 migrate through the virtual space station that was injected into his brain. This one, Josef Wood, was different. He hadn't seen such skill in a long while. He pressed a few keys on the board in front of him, and the scene changed. Josef was removed from the space hulk and set into a 13th century Buddhist temple, surrounded by enemies wielding various dangerous weapons. As usual, Josef's opponents were defeated quickly and flawlessly. Armitage scratched some notes on a pad that he carried around with him. Number 184, Josef Wood. Long-and close-range firearm skills are well above average. Without equal at unarmed combat. Abilities rival those of Number 36. Very high price. He placed the pad back into the front pocket of his jacket before returning his eyes to the display.
"His skills before the treatment were already considerable." said Ziang. "After, he progressed to almost unprecedented levels. Rarely have we seen one of such technique."
"You don't seem to understand," said the buyer. "I've heard all of these things before. You say them to me every time I come in to purchase. I want to see a demonstration. The last two so-called excellent products you gave me didn't last through their first five missions. I am demanding to see proof of the skill which you say this one has. You are not the only production facility. There are others who also claim such skill in their products."
"I assure you," said the sales manager, combing back his oily hair with a practiced gesture of confidence, "this one will excel in any demonstration you name."
"Very well."
Doctor Armitage scowled as he slowly paced around Josef. "Well, apparantly Mr. Ziang didn't do the best of jobs selling you. Or the buyer was simply more shrewd this time. In any case, you are required to take a form of test in order to convince the customer of your worth. No matter. Your orders are to simply perform whatever task you are demanded of."
"Yes sir." Josef stood straight in Armitage's office, his eyes focussing on an imaginary point in the distance, not making contact with the doctor's roving pair. He was confident of his abilities. The challenges that he had faced since he had first tested to be trained at Czarevna Military Production, Soldier Department, had surprised him with how easy they were. And though they successively grew harder, he in return became better. Skilled not only with defeating opponents in combat, but also at espionage, negotiation, squad warfare, and leadership, he was at the top of his game, and ready to accept any test put before him.
"Of course. Dismissed." The doctor returned the salute that Josef gave and sat back at his desk, steepling his fingers under his chin as he returned to his most comfortable state of mind - deep thought.
Author's Notes
Well, I have finally started on my first attempt to really write an ambitious piece. I hope that you enjoy it, because there will be more, hopefully much more, coming out soon. I am planning on uploading another chapter by the end of this coming week. In case you haven't noticed, this so far has only faint connections to Final Fantasy 7. These will get more clear as Josef gets more involved with Shinra (in its earlier history). Anyway, it started out as an original fic, and I may change it later on to original once again. The advantage to having it be FF7 is that certain things like the Shinra company and SOLDIER, the Turks, etc. people already know about. Plus, I can steal ideas without being accused of it :-D.
So, if you liked it, or even if you didn't, please give me a review so that I will know what to change or keep for my next piece. Another thing: If you liked this it would be awesome if you could refer the work to somebody else. I really write so that people can read my work, so the more people that see this, the better.
P.S. This chapter was very short, I know, but since this is an ongoing piece, it will get longer.
Chao! --Green