-Chapter 1-

Sol Garde sat up in his bed and turned off his alarm clock. Grumbling to himself about how six o'clock in the morning was way too early to be getting up he donned his usual out fit. Black, white, and gray camo pants hung low on his waist with a sliver studded leather belt for looks. A slightly short navy form fitting knit T-shirt covered his torso, and a black leather trench coat made up the rest of his outfit along with a pair of combat boots and his only accessory, a pair of dog tags belonging to an old, unknown friend. Buckling on his katana and shoving his newly owned SMG into it's holster he headed out to catch the train up to the Shinra building for some speech by President Shinra. Sol mumbled to himself, "He'll probably say some motivational piece of shit, dish out some cash, then hop in his limo and go home to take the day off while the new SOLDIER members meet pain in the ass commanding officers and take orders all day." This day would not be fun. He didn't know how right he would be. So he continued to grumble as the train rumbled up the tracks.

"We are about to enter a new age! And you, the new members of SOLDIER, will be the harbingers of that age!"
The old man had been rambling for what seemed like hours on end. "I got up at six for this?" Sol thought to himself, "he had better hurry it up." Sol yawned quietly and waited fifteen more minuets before the company president finished his speech.
"Now he jumps in his limo and takes the day off. I always hated that fat old man." A voice behind Sol muttered. Sol looked behind to see a man of about twenty-four years.
"Ya, I was just thinking the same thing." Sol extended his hand, "The name's Sol Garde, nice to meet you."
The man shook Sol's hand firmly, "Isaac Alabaster, just call me Rook though."
"Isaac Alabaster…" Sol looked down at a card he pulled from his pocket, "Lets see… Time to find my commanding officer… Hmm… Lieutenant Isaac Alabaster… Wait…"
"Oh yes that's right, Lieutenant Isaac Alabaster. I'm one of your new commanding officers."
Rook Alabaster didn't look like your typical military officer, then again, uniforms aren't normally required in SOLDIER. His auburn hair was short and somewhat spiked; however, his bangs were always hanging down on his forehead. His lower half was covered by a slightly baggy pair of black slacks, and a white sleeveless T-shirt and leather jacket covered his torso. His hands were adorned with a pair of chain mail gloves, and his outfit was completed by a pair of steel toed hiking boots along with an ax hooked to his belt and a shield strapped to his back.
"Sorry sir, I didn't know you were the lieutenant."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not like most of the other officers. Just speak to me like you would to anybody else."
"Thanks, to be honest, I thought you were going to be…"
"A pain in the ass right? I remember, my first commanding officer was a pain in the ass. Who is your other officer?"
"A sargent… Everett, I think."
"Wait, you've got her? I feel sorry for you."
"What, is she really tough?"
"No, its not that, its just…"
"Aaaalabaasterd!" Rook twitched and glared in the direction of the voice.
"Where is she?!"
"Who?"
"ME!" A young woman of about twenty-two was clinging to Rook's back.
"This is sargent… Everett?"
"Good guess! I'm gonna be your new commanding officer so don't forget to show me some respect!"
"Desiree, I know that you never listen to me but… Please don't torture this one too much."
"Torture?…" Sol took a few steps back.
"I have no idea what you mean Alabasterd…"
Rook glared at her again, "How many times have I told you not to call me that!? And get off me you brat!"
Desiree chuckled a bit, "Oh, come on. You know you like it!"
"Umm… Well it was nice to meet you both…"
" No way! The day has just begun! You have to treat us to lunch! SEAFOOD!! But lets stop by my apartment first, I need to slip into something more comfortable."

"You can look around as much as you want. Just don't go through my wardrobe!" She said in a sing song tone.
While Desiree changed, Sol and Rook sat down to talk.
"So," Rook began, "what kind of expierience do you have?"
"Not much, I've never been in a hostile situation before."
"Any heros?"
"Like who?"
"Sephiroth? Zack? Somebody else?"
"No, I don't want to be on par with them."
"Not the type to set your goals too high?"
"Wrong, I just want to be better than them."
"Never mind then…"
"What is it?"
"Well Sol, There are a lot of rumors about…"
"About what?"
"Rumors about you. It's buzzing around the upper ranks."
Rook's Mako blue eyes looked grave.

Sol ran his fingers through his damp hair.

"Ya, I've heard the stories. They say I'm a monster, a man made demon." He smirked, "But don't worry, I promise I won't eat you."

Desiree popped out of her bedroom, she hopped over in her knee high leather boots, jean shorts, and black tank top. All of this plus a leather chocker went well with her dark red hair and blue grey eyes.

"I'm ready to go!… Say, what did you guys talk about while I was changing? Having fantasies?"

Sol and Rook both blushed considerably, "NO WAY!"

"Whatever," Desiree put on a cheerful smile and gazed at Sol, "Sol Garde!", She said with a athorative tone.

Rook's shoulders slumped, "It begins…"

"EH?"

"Sol, as your commanding officer you must remember to follow my every order without complaint… Go get me my coat!"

As he moved toward Desiree's room Sol whispered in Rook's ear, "I can't garentee that I won't eat her though.."

"I suggest grilling with a good maranade"

Rook got smaked in the back of the head for that one.

"Come on you two are so slow!"