"Oh, look someone new."

Elena, still dressed in casual clothing, had just entered her bunker, to find a cold, impersonal row of metal footlockers and bunk beds, the celling of the rounded building striped with harsh fluorescent lights that reflected on the ice-like cement floor, and despite it not being too chilly, a shiver ran up Elena's spine. The girls barely afforded her a second glance as she entered, and she looked around for a spare bunk.

"Hey, you. New girl, with the Rosalind hair."

Elena turned to face the speaker, a SOLDIER third class in a red uniform, face mask pushed back from her face. She quivered, slightly, but stood up straight and saluted. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Ha, ha. Who d'you think you are, Rosalind? You look like her, with that hair. Aren't her daughter or anythin', are you? That attitude isn't goin' to get you anywhere, here, anyway."

"O-oh... I'm sorry. N-no, I'm not." She stared at her feet. as much as I wouldn't mind... "C... Could you help me please? I don't know where I'm supposed to be."

The woman sniffed. "Only since you're new. Come along." She grabbed Elena's arm and tugged her along, to the end of the bunkhouse, where a bare bed with the sheets and blankets in a roll at its foot. "Change now," she commanded. "You can't wear that here except when you're off-base." At Elena's hesitation, she laughed. "Ah, obviously no slum girl. Fine, I'll have to help you." Before she could protest, the girl had tugged Elena out of her shirt and pulled the top of the Shin-ra uniform over her head before she managed to fight her off. "I can do it! I'm not a child!" Uncomfortable under the women's gaze, Elena nevertheless managed to change to the rest of the uniform.

"Very good. Now," she turned on her heel, "You can find your own way."

Elena's knees gave way at last and she sank down on the bunk.

"Hey... You."

Elena looked up. The girl on the top bunk was leaning over to look at her.

"Haha, you do look like Rosalind. Sucks to be you. So, your name?"

"... Elena."

"Weeeelll, Elena," the girl swung down from the bunk, to stand before her, and she realized she was wearing the green SOLDIER second class uniform. "Welcome to hell. You've managed pretty well so far, though. Last girl she showed the ropes to ended up with a bloody nose, ahah... So, you wanna be a SOLDIER, huh? Well, you're in tough luck, then, since you're not Rosalind's daughter or anything... god, you look like her, except for the eyes... It's gonna take a long time for you to get anywhere, so don't get upset. If ya want to become a SOLDIER classed, you're going to have to do something outstanding."

"What about a SOLDIER specialist? I've read all about that..."

The girl laughed, sitting down on the bunk parallel to Elena's. "Well, if you wanna have a chance at the Turks someday, I mean, where's the glory there! I'd be better to be a SOLDIER, everyone knowing your name, everything about you, where with the Turks, you're veiled in secrecy and all that shit. Seriously... It'd be better to be a SOLDIER unless you're brilliant but can't fight close range, and, hehe, no offense, but that's not you at all, as far as I can see."

"... I can fight." Elena was feeling slightly cold and slightly annoyed at this girl's prattling. "I think the Turks are more glorious. Serving the president... Being his right-hand men..."

"Ahhaaa, this is true, and well, it's the only place you're going to see a women who gets fair treatment. But you can't act so damn feminine, you know? Even Rosalind doesn't sit with her knees together like a lady, y'know?"

"She doesn't?"

"Aha... Tell the truth. You've joined up with SOLDIER because of her, haven't you? Want to chase your hero's dream? Forget it, that's shit. Never happens. So many here wanted to be the next Sephiroth, so many are still grunts."

Elena looked into her lap. "No. I want to be great, yeah, so do you, I'm sure. But I don't want to be anyone but..." She yawned then, and the girl smiled. "Well, I guess I can't finish with you tonight." She stood up and reached for her conical spear/sword. "If ya ever want someone ta talk to, just come by the trainin' grounds. I don't blabber, you know? See ya."

Elena, with great relief, unrolled the pillow and blankets, and for the first time in a few months, put her head down on a real, if slightly lumpy, pillow.

-;-

Note: About Rosalind and other Before Crisis Turks. Google Gunshot Romance, to find all the information you'll need.