Chapter 1.) The Beginning: Midgar

It sped along the rails like a bullet, although a bullet surely moved with more elegance than this. It seemed the train was ready to jump off the tracks whenever it approached a corner. Everything was rustic and run down. The outside of the carts, the insides too, the rails, the wheels, even the Shinra cart for HQ employees had seen better days. Mind you, he was in the cargo carriage, and it wasn't exactly designed for comfortable hospitality. He found it difficult to keep still, almost like a fidgeting child, and he couldn't get comfortable against the wooden boxes no matter how many positions he tried. At least he wasn't suffering alone.

Cloud sat observing the others, not really interested in their names or their past. He had only joined the group the day before, and he wasn't keen on staying long either. He had huge blonde spiky hair that literally defied gravity and was wearing a dark purple sleeveless uniform with slightly baggy trousers. Black gloves covered his hands, his left wrist bore several metallic bangles and his boots were a murky brown. They nearly blended in with the floor of the carriage. His sword (called a Buster Sword) was probably 5 to 5½ feet in length and a thick giant blade it was too. It was the width of the hobble, roughly 1½ feet, with two small holes running up the sword vertically, not too far from the hobble itself. It was presently leaning against some cargo, with several worn out bandages wrapped around the dark red handle. A very faint green glow came from his eyes. Apparently it helped with the ladies, and probably explained why the one called Jessie occasionally glanced at him with an embarrassed smile on her face.

There were four others beside him. The first three sat on his left side. Biggs was leaning against the carriage door with his arms folded and stared impatiently at the floor. He wore a red bandana that kept his short black hair unkempt, and was wearing a murky green vest and black combat trousers. He was easily the most athletic of the three, although still on the skinny side.

Wedge lay on the floor and looked at the ceiling in a thoughtful manner. He wore a dirty yellow shirt, navy blue combat trousers and a thick brown belt with a giant silver buckle. Little tufts of black hair emerged from his bright red cap that he wore backwards. He was a lot larger than Biggs, but he wasn't exactly overweight, just a little podgy round the edges.

Then there was Jessie, who sat with her legs crossed on a wooden box and when she wasn't staring into Clouds eyes, nervously looked at the walls. She wore murky green combats that were below knee length, a tight blue top and a lighter blue shirt over it that she left unbuttoned. Her light brown hair was tied in a ponytail and she was similarly built to Biggs. All three of them, like Cloud, were wearing brown boots. All three of them also asked him questions now and again. What family he had, where he came from, etc. But he only gave one-word answers, or sometimes answers with no words in them at all.

The last member, Barret, was on his right and sat on a box contemplating something to himself. He was a black man, though his skin tone suggested that he was partially half-caste. He had very short black hair, and wore a dirty beige shirt. The sleeves appeared to have been ripped off purposely, leaving rough torn edges around the armholes. He had dark green trousers and giant brown boots. His face had a very serious look to it, and carried a thin moustache and beard too. Nobody dared disturb him. This was partially because he's the leader of the crew, but Cloud suspected it had something to do with his size. And not only was he an extremely tall heavily built man, his right fore arm had a machine gun grafted in its place. The barrel resembled a mini-gun and metal components would often clink and clank when he re-adjusted himself against the uncomfortable wooden boxes. Cloud sometimes stared at him with a look of intrigue and fear on his face. Barret just ignored him, just like he ignored everyone else that he didn't trust.

The leader suddenly stood up from his deep in thought position, towering over the others. He gave Cloud an untrustworthy stare and then gave the signal to move out onto the top of the carriage. He reached up for a dirty leather handle and pulled it towards him. The rusty latch slid open with only a little hesitation, mainly because of Barret's strength. Cloud only realised exactly how loud the train was once the latch was open. Barret jumped up and grabbed the edge of the opening. He looked below at Cloud, again with an untrustworthy expression, before pulling himself up onto the roof of the carriage. Biggs and Jessie followed suit, although when it came to Wedge he struggled slightly. Biggs and Jessie each grabbed one of Wedge's hands, helping him up; if it were just Barret on the roof, he probably would have told Wedge to lose some weight, or at least give him a look insinuating it. Cloud jumped and clinged onto the edge with one only hand, as his Buster Sword was in the other. He raised it through the hole and placed it on the roof. Cloud was about to pull himself up, when Biggs' hand lowered down towards him, obviously offering him an aid. Cloud accepted it. They grabbed each other's wrists, allowing Biggs to pull Cloud up. Cloud's only sign of a 'thank you' to Biggs was via a hesitant nod. Biggs just smiled back.

The speed of the train was more evident on the outside of the carriage than it was inside. The sheer rush made everyone's hair and clothing flap around, though Cloud's blonde spiky hair managed to keep its gravity defying style. He watched as the dark, metallic surroundings zoomed past in a blurred frenzy. Cloud grabbed his Buster Sword from the cold metallic roof and with the hand that he wasn't using to desperately cling onto the carriage, placed it into the sheath on his back. He waited silently, as did the others, knowing that in any moment, the train would approach the station. Any moment now, their most important mission to date would finally begin.

Suddenly, the brakes were applied to the wheels, violently jolting the train. Their blurred surroundings were becoming clearer and clearer by the second, though it was still too dark to make them out properly. The platform was in sight. The waiting for Cloud was almost over. Eventually, the train screeched to a halt along the rustic rails and arrived at the station where it greeted two extremely confused guards. They waited to see who exactly was riding the train that shouldn't even be there. Biggs stood up from his crouched position and leaped off the train first, landing directly in front one of the guards. Before the guard could react, Biggs grabbed him by his uniform with his left hand, clenched his right fist and knocked the guard out with a single punch. The impact broke his nose, causing blood to stream down his face as he feel to the ground. Biggs was unaware that the second guard was approaching him from behind, ready to strike him with the baton that he wielded. Jessie, however, was aware. She immediately leaped off the train towards the threat and performed a flying kick, striking the second guard fiercely in the chest. He fell to the ground and was knocked out cold when his head collided with the concrete.

Once the guards no longer posed a threat, Wedge jumped onto the platform, as did Barret. As Biggs, Wedge and Jessie ran off towards a flight of stairs, Barret looked back up towards the roof of the carriage and watched as Cloud casually backfliped onto the platform. He landed in a crouched position, looking up towards Barret, before calmly standing up, awaiting a response from the leader.

"C'mon newcomer." said Barret. "Follow me."

He ran off to join the others, while Cloud quickly searched the unconscious guards for any useful items. He frantically searched every crevice of their dark red uniforms. Luckily he pocketed two potions, but unluckily two Shinra soldiers wearing blue uniforms had arrived on the scene. They wore blue helmets over their heads with giant black visors; both were wielding much larger batons than the guards were. Cloud only noticed them when he stood up, so he wasn't aware of where they came from. But he did know that the only way to get to the North Mako Reactor was through both of them. Cloud slowly withdrew his Buster Sword and allowed them both to approach him. The soldiers' pace increased to a sprint. Holding his Buster Sword with both hands, he held it below his waist to the left of him, waiting until they were close enough. He waited and waited, until the time was just right.

When both the guards were close enough, he performed a diagonal spinning jump, allowing the soldiers strikes to miss Cloud completely. Before he landed behind them, his quick spin allowed his Buster Sword to strike them both fiercely from behind. The sword sliced through their backs like a knife through butter, accompanied by the agonising screams of both men before falling to the ground in a pool of their own blood. He left the bloody uniformed soldiers on the dirty concrete floor and made his way towards the North Mako Reactor main gate. Biggs, Wedge and Jessie had already arrived, although Barret wasn't with them. The others didn't seem bothered about it, so Cloud decided not to bring it up. As Jessie began to unlock the gigantic metallic gate via a keypad, Biggs suddenly spoke to Cloud.

"Wow! You used to be in SOLDIER, huh?...Not everyday you find one in a
group like AVALANCHE."

"SOLDIER? Aren't they the enemy?" Jessie exclaimed, turning around
sharply to look at Cloud. "What's he doing with us in AVALANCHE?!"

"Relax, Jessie." he said calmly, re-adjusting his red bandana. "He WAS
in SOLDIER. But he quit and is with us now. I didn't catch your name
by the way..."

"...Cloud." he replied hesitantly.

Biggs' eyebrows rose slightly, "Cloud, eh? Kinda cool. I'm..."

"I don't care what your names are." he said, shaking his head. "Once
this job is over, I am outta here."

Nobody replied with anything. Several uncomfortable silences passed while Jessie grew more and more frustrated with the lock. Finally, the rustic gate began to open.

"Yes, it's opening!" she exclaimed.

Barret finally arrived on the scene looking very pissed off.

"What the hell you all doin'!?" he shouted.

"We were opening the gate!" Jessie replied. "You asked..."

He interrupted Jessie, "I thought I told you never to move in a
group!!"

They all stood silently for several moments while Barret calmed
himself down.

"Right. Our target is the North Mako Reactor, so we'll meet on the
walkway in front of it. Let's move out!"

Once the gigantic door finished opening, Biggs, Wedge and Jessie entered while Barret and Cloud ran after them. Barret suddenly stopped. Cloud stopped running too and had a questionable look on his face. Barret looked over his shoulder, staring at Cloud with that untrustworthy look yet again. He eventually said something.

"Ex-SOLDIER, huh? I don't trust ya!"

He ran off ahead, while Cloud smirked to himself and eventually followed him, entering the North Mako Reactor.