Heyyy, sorry about this, but as I was playing the FF7: Remake I realized how awful my views of Midgar were. With that realization, I decided I wanted to rewrite this fic. I started this story almost 10 years ago and I NEED to fix all my mistakes in this. There might be some chapters missing, details changed, but I'm going to try and keep to Crisis Core Midgar while adding details from FF7: Remake Midgar. I'm not far in the game yet so idk how the inside of the Shinra building is, but I got a better view of the outside of it to help me out more.
Chapter 1: The Trouble Maker
As the elevator doors opened to the SOLDIER floor of the Shinra building, I carefully walked out the doors and slid along the wall. Every noise around me was a possible death sentence. The chuckles of the 3rd classes from the lounge area and the scientists coming in and out of the Materia Room told me where I could and couldn't go. Right now, nobody could see me, not until I made it to-
"Hey, Sen."
My heart leaped as I turned behind me.
"Kunsel!" I harshly whispered, "You scared the hell out of me!"
Turning away from him, I peered around a corner, making sure the coast was clear. Kunsel carefully looked over my shoulder.
"What are we looking for?" He whispered.
I slapped him away from my back as I watched the door to the Briefing Room. He leaned against the wall and chuckled.
"I get it now." He quietly laughed.
I turned back to him and huffed.
"And what would that be?" I asked.
"You're avoiding someone." He said as he poked my forehead.
"Nooo.." I said with heavy sarcasm, "I'm not avoiding anybody."
"Mmhmm.." He crossed his arms over his chest and half smiled at me. I scoffed and lightly pushed him away from me.
"Don't you have more important things to do right now? You just got promoted to 2nd right? Go.. I don't know, train or something. Help an old lady cross the street."
I peered back around the corner as he chuckled again.
"You say that like you're not a 2nd class yourself."
I turned back to him, my black hair laying over my shoulder with the fast movement. "Not for long! Any day now they're gonna promote me to 1st! I can feel it."
Yes, I am a SOLDIER 2nd class. One of few women who are lucky enough to make it into the program. Most of my starting group didn't survive the mako infusion, but those of us who did count ourselves lucky every day. Just because we survived, though, doesn't mean we're treated any better. SOLDIER is made up of mostly men, big headed men who think that the world should bow at their feet. Some of those men don't like the fact that women were allowed to join now, and most loathe that some of us were promoted to 2nd class. For the years I've been here, I've worked harder so that I could make it to 1st class. There's only been one woman who has achieved the honor of being promoted to 1st class, and I strive everyday to make it to her level. While most dream of being the best of the best like Sephiroth, I dream of one day fighting alongside Petra Rogue.
Kunsel clapped my shoulder, a wide smile on his face, "Whatever you say, Senna. I gotta go, but good luck avoiding whoever you're avoiding."
"Have fun helping the elderly cross the street."
He laughed and waved as he walked down the hallway where I had come from. I decided that the coast was clear enough, and carefully made my way to the Briefing Room. All I had to do was log my latest mission as complete and be on my way. Stupid simple, so long as I could avoid him. With a short exhale, I pushed the button to open the door.
"Ah!" I yelled as I fell on my butt from shock.
"Avoiding me, were you?"
My brother, Zack Fair, stood in front of me. Arms crossed across his chest, he looked down at me with disapproval across his face. I stood up and immediately started stumbling over my words as I tried to blurt out an excuse to him.
"No excuses, Sen." He scolded, "Do you have any idea how worried I've been? You were only supposed to be gone for a day or two, remember?"
"Yeah well.. I ran into some trouble." I squeezed past him into the room where I logged my number into the computer. He was right behind me the entire time, going on about how I should have called him.
"It was totally reckless what you did."
"Calm down, bro. I made it back in one piece and I totally owned my mission." I said as I returned my borrowed materia to the lockers.
"Totally owning your mission isn't pissing off the locals by leading a pack of angry hounds into their streets." He replied bluntly.
"It was a minor issue! And I killed them all anyway with no casualties to the villagers."
I folded my hands in front of me and worked up some crocodile tears to complete the full effect of my puppy eyes.
"Forgive me please." I sniffed.
Zack's face tightened as he fought the urge to give in to my best move. Being the youngest gives me the advantage of forever having control over my older brother with my signature puppy dog eyes. I've always gotten my way with these shining baby blues, and Zack could never resist being angry with me for too long. After a moment of silence, he let out a long sigh and relaxed his shoulders.
"Fine.. I forgive you."
I laughed in triumph and tackled him in a hug, making him laugh along with me.
"Y'know, Sen. One of these days those puppy eyes aren't going to work on me. You're getting too old to use them anyway."
I scoffed, "Oh please. You're never too old for puppy eyes. I'll use them on you until the day you die."
He tensed in surprise, "Until the day I die?! What makes you think I'm gonna go before you?"
I skipped my way to the door and winked back at him before I walked out, "Because you're the ancient one here, big brother."
Before he could say anything else, I shut the door on him and continued skipping down the hallway, humming happily to myself. I'm not sure what I was so worried about before, everything seemed to be going well for me. At least that's what I thought until the door to the Training Room opened, as I was confronted by a stone faced silver haired man. All my anxiety came rushing back as Sephiroth stood in front of me, arms crossed, and green eyes staring blankly at me. Zack I could handle any day of the week, but Sephiroth…
"Welcome back, Senna." He said calmly, too calmly. I knew that tone.
"I'm in trouble.. Aren't I?" I said as I avoided his stare.
He only nodded and gestured to the Training Room. Slumping my shoulders, I walked into the room like a school kid getting detention.
You see, the 1st Class SOLDIER's are allowed to take on students if they choose to. Not all of them do, but some are gracious enough to choose one or more 2nd Class recruits to train with the hopes that they'll make it to 1st Class. Another reason why most of the guys in SOLDIER aren't a big fan of mine is that Sephiroth chose me, and only me, to train with him. I asked him once why it was just me who got to go under his wing, but all he told me was he wasn't a fan of crowds.
He followed behind me into the Training Room to log my punishment into the computer simulator. I grabbed a headset from the wall and walked into the simulator. Sephiroth's normal training was enough to exhaust me for days, but punishment training was worse. Always so much worse. He stood outside the glass, that stern look still on his face. I took a deep breath before putting on the headset and getting thrown into whatever fresh hell he had set up for me.
Going into a simulation is disorienting at first. It's a mess of flashing lights and then you're in the virtual setting. Your brain just needs a second to rationalize what just happened. I find that closing your eyes while the program starts makes the situation easier.
The virtual settings always seemed too real. Before I opened my eyes, I could smell damp air, feel the cool chill on my skin, and hear the drip drops of moisture hitting rocks. My simulation was in a cave. I hate caves. I rubbed my arms to try and keep myself warm as I wandered around the dimly lit caverns. If Sephiroth put me in a cave, that means I was in for a world of hurt from whatever monster, or monsters, he put in here with me.
"Please don't be a Tonberry.. Please don't be a Tonberry."
I encountered a few Allemagne here and there while I traveled the maze. He was making this purposefully easy for me.
"How about a hint, Sephiroth." My voice echoed through the cave, "It's the least you could do."
Silence from his end. I sighed, and kept moving forward. Sliding between wet rocks and ducking under limestone formations. The ground beneath me rumbled, dust from the rocks above fell over me.
"Better run." I heard in my ear. The only warning Sephiroth would give me.
Then I heard it. The shifting and cracking of the walls around me as they started to cave in. My heart pounded as I started running, searching for an opening to get to. I jumped over large ravines as everything came down around me. Large rocks crashed to the ground, making me almost lose my balance as they rumbled the ground. My lungs burned as I struggled to breathe in the dust filled air.
Where is it?! I mentally screamed.
A quick flash of light caught my attention. To my left was a hole in the wall, big enough for me to fit through. I let out a quick huff of excitement as I sprinted to it and jumped through. I hit the ground hard. There would definitely be some bruises from this venture for sure. Sweat dripped off my nose as I looked behind me to the hole. It was sealed shut by the cave in. With a deep breath, I sprawled out on the ground. I needed a second to recuperate. The ground shook beneath me again, and a low growl filled the area. Slowly, I opened my eyes and strained my neck backwards to look at the approaching enemy. Out of the shadows came a Behemoth. It's white eyes glowing in the dim light, horns almost luminescent. I only stared at it as it stalked towards me. Another growl caught my attention as, not one, but two Behemoths krept out of the shadows after the other one. Still, I didn't move. Using only my eyes, I surveyed the area around me. Mostly shadow due to the lack of light from a small hole above, but it seemed big enough for a showdown.
The first Behemoth lunged at me, sharp claws glinting in the light. Moving fast, I jumped to my feet and flipped over the three monsters, landing behind them. They turned to me and roared in unison. Drawing my sword from my back, I pointed the blade at them.
"Let's dance." I smiled.
As the last Behemoth fell to the ground with a fading roar, I stabbed my sword into the ground and leaned on it to keep myself from falling over as well. My limbs shook as they struggled to keep me up. The cave around me faded and in an instant, I was back in the simulation room. A green banner appeared in front of me as the headset screen read Mission Complete. I groaned and allowed myself to fall backwards onto the hard metal floor of the Training Room. My chest heaved up and down as I struggled to catch my breath. I was covered in sweat and budding bruises. Any scratches or dirt marks I got in the cave faded away with the simulation. I took off the headset and threw it away from me, not caring if it got broken at all when it hit the ground. Shinra could take it out of my paycheck.
The door opened and Sephiroth stood in front of me. He looked down at my exhausted form, his face always that blank expression. I weakly held up my arm and gave him a thumbs up.
"Not bad." I huffed, "Coulda done without the goring though. Felt like it broke some ribs."
"Hm." Sephiroth huffed as his own kind of chuckle, "Here, drink this."
He handed me a container full of pale blue liquid. I scowled at the drink.
"You know I hate this stuff.." I moaned.
He shrugged and turned to the door, "Then stay on the ground and have Hojo use you as his new test dummy. He's scheduled to be in here soon."
Without hesitation, I screwed open the cap and chucked down the potion. It was thick and chalky, with a taste almost like rotten spinach. I choked down every swallow as the potion warmed my body and healed my strained muscles. I got to my feet and handed Sephiroth the empty bottle.
"I much prefer Hi-Potions. They taste better." I said.
"If you want one of those, I can restart the simulation and you can stay here all night fighting Behemoths."
"Or ya know.. I could not and we can go on our merry way and talk about it tomorrow."
Sephiroth smirked and walked out the door. He wasn't much of a joker, always so serious and to the point. But he's helped me a lot and if it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have made it much longer in SOLDIER. I shook off the physical strain in my neck and shoulders. Walking out of the Training Room, I took a sharp left to the bathroom. Shinra likes to keep a tight circle as far as SOLDIER goes. Most of the men choose to keep their uniform on at all times, but us female recruits were required to not leave the building in our uniform. They tell us it's for safety reasons, but I'm 90% sure that is a bold faced lie. Our eyes were almost always a dead give away to who we were. Also, if they were so worried about us leaving in our uniforms, the least management could do is give us a locker room or something. Changing out of this uniform and into regular street clothes in a bathroom stall is more than annoying to say the least.
After stripping off the many belts and buckles that keep my sword in place on my back, I used them to strap the rest of my uniform together, which I would then store in a shoulder pack that I kept in one of my item pouches. I couldn't wait until I made 1st so that I wouldn't be forced to wear this god awful attire anymore. My street clothes were much more comfortable, and a few months ago I had put together an outfit that would be suitable as a 1st Class SOLDIER uniform, while also being discrete enough to use as regular street clothes. Until then though, I would just have to live with changing in the bathroom into my usual maroon cropped halter top and black knee length cargo shorts.
"Ahh..much better." I sighed in relief as I finger brushed some loose knots in my shoulder length black hair.
"Clocking out for the day too?"
Looking towards the door, I smiled at the girl who walked in. Myrna started in the same group as me when we all signed up for SOLDIER. She was still a 3rd Class, but we still stayed friends even though I got promoted before she did.
"You know it." I replied as she walked into a stall to change, "I thought you were gonna be on guard duty with the Infantrymen tonight?"
I leaned against the sink while she dropped the buckles of her uniform to the ground.
"Change in plan. I'm being shipped out on a mission tomorrow afternoon." She said with a fair amount of excitement in her voice. Being sent out of Midgar for a mission while still being 3rd Class was a big deal, and a possible sign of a promotion coming soon.
"What a lucky dog you are." I laughed, "Where they sending you? Recon in Wutai?"
She scoffed and pushed open the stall door, her uniform wrapped in a messy bundle in her arms.
"I couldn't be that lucky. No, they're sending me to a reactor to play bodyguard for some scientists studying the materia there. Hardly a job worthy of my skills, but whatever gets me out of Midgar for a day or two."
She dropped her heap on the countertop and fixed some stray red hairs coming loose from her ponytail. Myrna was a beautiful girl. Why she wanted to join SOLDIER was always a mystery to me. She could have easily made her fame and fortune on Loveless Avenue in Sector 8. The men around here always top and take a second look at her, whether their other SOLDIER members or office staff.
"I heard you stirred up some trouble on your latest mission. Weren't you supposed to just trap some of the hounds and bring them back for the Security Department to train?"
"I brought one back." I shrugged, "Besides, they already have like.. Fifty hounds down there. I doubt losing six would make a difference. If they wanted more, they should have to go catch them themselves."
Myrna laughed and stuffed her bundled uniform into a backpack. "That would mean that they'd have to put some actual work in besides waltzing around carrying their guns all day. But whatever. I'm heading home to get some grub and prepare for my outing tomorrow. Catch ya later Senna."
"Later Myrna. Good luck on guard duty."
She left the bathroom with a quick peace sign. I washed my face off with some hot water before I left to retreat back to the elevator. Soon as the door closed behind me, my phone started buzzing.
"Senna here." I answered.
"It's almost midnight. Where are you?"
"I think we need to have a conversation about boundaries, Zack. You're smothering me."
"Sorry, Sen, but also not sorry. I promised mom and pop that I'd look after you and that's what I'm doing."
I pushed the button for the elevator and listened to the dings it made as it came down from the upper floors.
"And you're doing a great job, big brother, but I'm a 2nd class just like you are. I can take care of myself you know. I'm not a kid anymore."
"You're always gonna be my kid sister. Now get home please."
I smiled and rolled my eyes, "You got it bro. Be home soon."
I hung up and slipped my phone into my pocket as the elevator doors opened. Hands behind his back and the usual scowl on his face, Professor Hojo stood between me and the open elevator.
"SOLDIER 2nd Class, Senna Fair. Hmm." He mumbled to himself. "How was your mission?"
"Uh..f-fine. Excuse me."
I walked around him and into the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby floor. Before the doors could close, Hojo put his hand on the side, keeping them open.
"Before you go," He said, "I might ask that you volunteer for a simulation that I'm working on. Having a female SOLDIER test might be useful for my research data."
"...Yeah. I'll um.. I'll think about it."
He let go of the door and stood there as they closed. A shiver went up my spine when he was no longer in front of me. He always gave me the creeps. We never saw much of him on the SOLDIER floor, only when he wanted to use our Training Room. You'd think that with the budget Shinra gave him that he would have at least three of his own simulators to test his experiments with. The rumor is that he's looking for SOLDIER members to test on and use as experiments. I hoped that it was just a rumor, but with his appearance down here and knowing my name.. I'm starting to think that the rumors might be true.
"Creep.."