Chapter 9: Sector 5 - Slums

The train bustled along the tracks down to the slums. The hum of the wind flying past the windows and rumble of the train cars brought out the exhaustion in me. Thankfully, I had a train car to myself, so I didn't think twice about propping my sword against the seat and laying back. I tucked my arm behind my head to give myself some form of comfort, and closed my eyes. Falling asleep wasn't on the agenda, seeing as I was still on the clock, I just wanted a couple moments to relax. This morning's training worked me hard. Sephiroth wasted no time getting me back to my regular training routine. "Being weak has no place in SOLDIER." he said when I walked through the door that morning. I've never seen such a look of determination on his face before.

My mind wandered back to the night before, that's been happening on and off throughout the day, and it's always the same memory. Cloud's eyes, and his smile. That's the image that stuck in my brain. I didn't want to complain about it or shake my head to remove the thoughts because I liked the feeling it gave me. A feeling of peace, warmth, safety. I let it embrace me like a soft blanket, willing it to drift me into a comfortable space where I had no troubles or worries.

I was starting to feel content when a series of flashing red lights and an alarm sounded throughout the train car, forcing me out of my serenity.

"Well that was nice while it lasted." I sighed with annoyance and sat up, stretching my back with an audible groan.

That damn security check was such a nuisance. I missed the days when the Security Department just came around to check your ID, it was quiet and easy. Unfortunately, that tactic allowed too many criminals and smugglers through the checkpoints, so Shinra scrapped the practice, reduced the number of infantrymen, and made a digital check that would scan your ID card instantly, while the Security Department was just there for extra muscle. It was efficient, but did it have to be so loud? The train rode through the wall of red light and in an instant, the alarm stopped and the train went back to it's normal quiet sounds. It was too close to the slums for me to lay down and get comfortable again, so instead I grabbed my sword and waited for the train to come to a halt.

After training today, a mass message was sent out to the 2nd and 3rd class SOLDIER operatives. Once every month or so Shinra will send one or two members of SOLDIER down to the slums to clear out the fiends that find their way here. They say it's to protect the civilians down there, but we all knew it was Shinra spying below the plate. Looking for smugglers and criminals that don't dare wander topside. I was one of the only 2nds to volunteer. A 3rd volunteered as well, but I wasn't sure where he disappeared to. There was no set time we had to be down here, but I welcomed the opportunity to get out of the city for a while. The air down here was by no means fresh, but some spots had plants and greenery growing around. On the plate there were little to no real plants. The Shinra building had fake plastic trees and shrubs to add texture, but I missed the smell of grass and tree leaves. The earthy smell of soil and dirt. Just real nature in general I missed. The slums were the closest I could get to a homey feeling.

The train jerked as it started to slow down. The metal wheels squealing against the rails rang through the air and sparks reflected off the tunnel walls. I waited by the door, holding firmly to one of the hanging hand rails, as the synthetic light from the slums replaced the darkness of the tunnel. Chain link fencing passed by the windows in a blur, the barbed wire circling the tops were worn and rusted. Beyond the fence was the slums. Makeshift houses, shops, and tents crowded into the living space provided. People lined up on the loading platform. Some dressed nicely, most likely well off business owners coming down to make a deal with the smaller shops, or Shinra employees heading to work. Some wore tattered clothes, others just looked like normal people going about their day. Some infantrymen guarded the platform, their faces stone serious under their helmets, and they kept a ready finger near the trigger of their guns. What a pathetic intimidation tactic, I'm glad that not all of them were like this. I stepped off the train, returning my sword to the latches on my back, and maneuvered my way through the crowd.

I got an assortment of looks from the people I passed by. A majority of them glared at me, their hatred for Shinra running that deep into their bones. Not that I blamed them, I'd be upset if I always had a gun pointed my way too. I ignored the glares, keeping my expression neutral and void of emotion. The populace believes that SOLDIER is made up of brutes that will bite on command. No better than dogs or machines. As much as I wanted to prove them wrong and show them that we're just normal people like them with thoughts, emotions, and morals, they would never give me the chance. Their beliefs were set. There's nothing I could say to change their mind about Shinra, or SOLDIER, so I opted to just ignore them and focus on the task at hand. There was just one problem.

I had no idea where I was going.

Asking one of the many citizens that stared me down would be useless. Plus I'd be giving them another reason to mock members of SOLDIER. What use was I if I couldn't even find my way through the slums? I continued to walk blindly through the crowd until I was far enough away from the train station. There were far less people, which gave me a better opportunity to ask for directions. Nearby was a group of women laughing and chatting amongst themselves. They all wore dresses that had seen some rough days, the material was thin and faded, but the patterns still held strong. A piece of me felt bad for them, but they seemed happy enough with themselves. That was all that mattered, right? I approached them, lifting the emotionless expression I had at the train station.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

Their smiles turned to uncomfortable frowns when they saw me. Some of them carried wicker baskets full of herbs and vegetables. They held them close, as if I might steal them or they would work as proper protection. As I stepped closer, they crowded into each other. I didn't approach any further. One of them stepped forward, an older woman who looked to be around my mother's age. Grey hairs peeked out through the brown locks tied back in a bun, and crows feet on the corner of her eyes was enough to tell her age. She stood tall and strong. A hurricane couldn't blow this woman down no matter how hard it tried. I admired her courage, even if she didn't need it at this moment.

"Can we help you?" She asked tautly.

"I'm a little lost. Could you point me in the direction of Sector 5?" I asked kindly, but not too kind like I would on top of the plate. This woman didn't trust me, I didn't want to come off as being fake or trying too hard to win her affection.

The women whispered amongst each other, none of them taking their eyes off of me. Like I was a wild animal about to pounce. Sheesh all I wanted was directions.

"What business do you have there?" The older woman asked with the same tone. I hated when civilians played the 20 questions game.

"I'm just here to clear out some of the fiends in that area." I answered, "So… could you help me get there?"

She surveyed me head to toe, a scowl forming on her face. Something told me I wouldn't be getting directions from these ladies. She proved me wrong though as she pointed to a dirt road.

"It's that way. Just follow that road and you'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thank you." I slightly bowed my head, and started walking to the road.

"Shinra dog." The woman mumbled in disdain once my back was to her.

I stopped in my tracks, keeping my gaze forward. The women started whispering amongst each other again, frantically, like they thought I was going to slaughter them in the street right then and there. The older woman though, I could feel her glare piercing into the back of my head, daring me to turn around and challenge her. Millions of words surged through my mind to say to this woman. I could hand her my sword and tell her to go take care of their fiend problem on her own, but that would solve nothing and make me out to be an ass. No. She wasn't worth my time. None of them were. Taking a calming breath, I kept my head high, and started walking to the road again.

As unpleasant as she was, the woman gave me the right directions at least. Just like she said, twenty minutes walking that road and I was in Sector 5. Less crowded than where I just came from, and more kids running around. Some of them stopped and smiled at me while nudging their friends.

"Look! It's SOLDIER!" One kid said excitedly, making more of them stop and look at me. It was a little unsettling, but their excitement at my presence was a welcomed change of pace.

Some kids approached me, smiles lighting up their faces and stars twinkling in their eyes.

"Are you really a member of SOLDIER?" One of them asked.

I smiled and crouched to their level.

"Sure am." I said, "See my eyes? Mako infused."

Around me the kids all hummed excited words and inched closer to get a better look.

"Wow, they're so blue!"

"Do they glow in the dark?"

"Can you see better at night?"

"Do they shoot lasers when you're angry?"

I laughed at their onslaught of questions. Kids were great. No biases or deep rooted hatred for anything. Just learning and having fun every day. I envied their ignorance to the world. There was so much going on that they didn't know about, and I hoped that they would never have to experience the evil that hides in this world.

"Are you gonna make the monsters go away?" A little boy asked, shuffling his feet.

"Sure am." I said confidently, "Once I'm through with them, they won't want to bother you ever again."

His face lit up at my words, erasing the traces of fear that lingered in his eyes.

"Well, off to work." I stood up and waved goodbye to the kids. They said their goodbyes and ran off to continue their game. I watched them go, laughing and taunting one another. Some of the boys picked up sticks and loudly claimed that they were gonna play SOLDIER. What I would give to be a kid again. My phone started going off in my pocket.

"Senna here."

"Hey, I'm starving. What do you say we get some sandwiches from that place on LOVELESS Ave?" Zack said immediately.

"Like right now?" I asked.

There was a pause on the other end of the call. It was a dumb question considering he told me he was starving.

"No, in four hours from now." He said with heavy sarcasm. I could almost picture the deadpan look on his face as he answered me. "Yeah right now!"

I lightly tapped the edge of my phone against my forehead and put it back to my ear.

"I kinda can't right now. I volunteered for the Slum clean up today. Could it be four hours from now? I doubt you're starving to death, and I could really go for a BLT when I'm done here."

"Wha-! You want me to wait four hours to eat when I'm hungry now?" Zack said in shock.

"Yeah, starve until I get there." It was my turn to use the deadpan expression and sarcasm, "Jeez, Zack if you're hungry then eat something. But don't you dare go to that sandwich place without me!"

Zack groaned into the phone, "But I really want a turkey and swiss!"

"There will be hell to pay if you go there without me, big brother!"

"Well I'm going anyway."

"Zack!"

"I'm kidding!" He laughed, "I'll grab a donut or something from the cafe. Call me when you're top side again."

"You got it. See ya soon."

"Later."

I pocketed my phone and started walking to the edge of town. My stomach growled at the thought of a BLT. Whoops, I forgot to eat breakfast today. Just coffee does not serve as a nutritional breakfast. I patted my stomach as it growled with sudden hunger. The sooner I get done with this, the sooner I can eat. Seeing as the fiends usually stick to the edge of town to avoid the noise and lights, that would be my first stop.

Wererats. So many wererats. Like two wererat parents had three hundred babies and those three hundred babies had three hundred babies of their own. A highly over exaggerated number, but after two hours of taking out one after the other, it sure felt like thousands. Not a scratch on me though. The little bastards sure did try, but like Sephiroth says, monsters don't have a plan of attack. They just go for it. Plus they were also half my size, so that made it a little easier as well.

"Phew! Well that was fun." I wiped the sweat from my brow and sheathed my sword when no more rats came at me from the shadows. Hedgehog Pies were known to be down this way as well, but I have yet to see one. Strange.

Checking the time on my phone, if I left now I could meet with Zack in about an hour. Which would make me half an hour early and I could taunt him for being late and keeping me waiting. Perfect. Movement caught my eye ahead as I started heading back to the train station. I was too far away to tell exactly, but it looked like a girl walked into an old church. I cocked my head slightly and stared, confused, at the old building. Civilians don't usually come down this way. I wonder what she's doing in there. Before I could take a step, a sharp pain pierced through my neck, leaving a warm sensation behind it. I slapped the thing that stung me. It was no bug though. A small dart hit me, short red feathers on the end of it. A tranq dart!

"What the…-"

My vision started to blur and fade to black as my eyelids got heavier. I drunkenly shook my head to try and stay awake, but lost my balance and fell over like a sack on the dirt and pebbles. The last thing I remember seeing was a pair of black shoes stepping in front of me, then everything faded to black.

"This is the vessel? Interesting. Bring her t-"

Flashing lights from behind my eyelids. I couldn't move. The surface beneath me shook like I was on a table being wheeled across a cracked floor. Muffled voices around me. I tried to speak, but no logical words came out.

"She's waking up!" A panicked voice. A quick pinch on my neck and that warming sensation again. I faded back out.

What happened? Where was I? Why is someone shaking me?

"...na! Hey! Senna wake up!"

The shaking of my shoulders continued until I had the strength to open my eyes. The world around me was a blur. Just blotches of random colors and distorted shapes. With a few rapid blinks, everything started to clear up. It was dark. Streetlights surrounded the area in front of tall stone buildings. A familiar pair of blue eyes looked at me full of worry and concern.

"..Cloud?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"Are you ok? What happened?" He backed off a little, keeping a wary hand on my shoulder.

"Ugh...what happened?" I repeated his question, but I was asking myself like I knew the answer. "Where am I?"

"Sector 7."

"Sector 7..?" I whispered, "Sector 7… Sector 7."

With a painful groan, I sat up and rubbed a sore spot on my neck. Cloud put his hand on my back to keep me stable.

"Senna?" Cloud asked, "What happened?"

"Cloud…" I said as I started to tremble. I looked at him, tears welling in my eyes, "I don't remember anything."