~ Watch Me ~

A Brief Briefing

Rose approached the director's office with light apprehension. Lazard had seemed nice enough when they'd met before, but that had been with her dutiful brother at her side. What if he wanted to ask her questions she couldn't answer, what then? These powers of hers, or whatever they were, they were just as strange and incomprehensible to Rose, as they were to anyone else. She wouldn't even know where to begin. What if he asked about where they had come from, when she couldn't even remember what happened in those mines?

The door of Lazard's office appeared larger now, more daunting. Her fist hung nervously in the air, completely prepared to knock, but the idea suddenly seemed silly. Angeal had just walked in, after all.

Rose pressed her card to the scanner and it opened.

"Ahh! Rose!" Lazard's smile spread wide, glancing up from his desk. Nodding, he motioned her forward. "Please, come in. Thank you for coming so promptly."

He watched her awkward steps with encouragement, closing a brown file he'd previously had open on the marble top in front of him .

Rose swallowed nervously. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes. But first let me say congratulations. Your trainer informs me, you performed far beyond his expectations today."

Rose blinked. "He did?"

Lazard laughed, leaning back casually in his chair. "Don't look so surprised. You should be proud, Rose. It is a wonderful achievement."

"It's not that." Rose rallied softly, still privately shocked. "It's just that... well... it nearly killed me, if I'm honest, sir."

"And well it might." Lazard chuckled. "Remember you have yet to have your mako infusion. Of course, that will come after you pass your assignment, but we'll get to that later. First – "

Lazard stood up from his chair. Grabbing the small file he made his way 'round the desk to where she stood.

"What's this?" Rose asked, tentatively taking the folder as he handed it to her.

She opened the first page to find a black and white picture of a large Shinra warehouse. Beneath it were details of where it was situated, the items it contained, and the level of clearance needed to get in. At the bottom of the page, a small profile of her face stared blankly up at her, and underneath someone had boldly stamped the word 'Support'.

She looked up at Lazard. "A warehouse?"

"Your assignment." He added lightly, moving to sit back leisurely against his desk. "It has come to our attention, that there will be an attempt to steal stores of materia from that warehouse. It will happen tomorrow night. It is your job to ensure that this does not become the case. Please, don't look so worried." He added kindly, gesturing lightly to the file. "This isn't your mission, it's Zack's. You and a handful of Troops will merely be supporting him on his endeavour."

Rose nodded absently, scanning the file again and again for anything that could be cause for concern. "Whose stealing it?" She wondered, scanning her finger over the warehouse contents. There was some pretty hefty materia in there. She looked up at Lazard. "Wutai?"

Lazard inclined his head. "That is one route of speculation."

"And the other?"

"Does not necessitate discussion." He said pointedly, peering over his spectacles, like some kind of scolding grandfather.

Rose fought not to roll her eyes. "Yes, sir. Will I need anything?"

"Only your Third class uniform. But you can retrieve that from the briefing room once we're done here."

Rose nodded. "I gather Zack already knows about this?"

"I sent him the information just before you arrived." Lazard replied, removing his glasses to clean away some apparent speck. "Unfortunately your computer access hasn't cleared yet, which is why I had to go so old school with the file there. All in good time though." He smiled.

"Like the mako?"

"Like the mako."

Lazard moved back behind his desk, his fingers dancing briefly across his computer's keys, bringing up something of interest on the screen in front of him.

"All going well, Rose, we could probably have your infusion booked in for the weekend." He said, lightly stroking his chin. "Have you been told much about the experience?"

Rose shook her head. The only real details she knew was that it made you 'stronger', but other than that, she had no idea about what the process would be. From growing up in a village of ex-Shinra employees, she was aware of mako poisoning. Rose had come to her own conclusion, that some amount of risk would likely be involved. She tried not to look too unnerved by it.

"I won't lie to you." Lazard began, clearly about to confirm her suspicions. "It isn't going to be the most comfortable of experiences. A lot of SOLDIER members become ill at first, their bodies don't immediately stabilise to the mako in their system. It can be a challenging time for some."

"I see." Rose nodded, unable to stop a slow wry smile from turning her features. "So there's a chance I could die?

Lazard sighed, looking grim. "There is always a chance with these things. When SOLDIER was first introduced, ninety percent of applicant's died within the first three days of their infusion. Now, it is only five."

"Only five." Rose repeated dryly, nervously swinging her arms at her side. "At least the odds are in my favour, huh?"

Lazard smiled. "There is that. Of course, if you don't want to take the risk, there is always the army, Rose? New recruits are always welcome. Or the Investigation Sector in General Affairs? I could put in a good word for you?"

Rose shook her head. She knew what she wanted, even if she didn't know why. She needed to be in SOLDIER, and to be in SOLDIER there were always going to be risks. All the guys in training have had it done, and they're all fine, she told herself. It was a feeble attempt at calming her nerves, but she'd be damned if she'd show it.

"I know what I want, sir." She said, happy to hear that her voice didn't shake. "I can do this."

"I'm certain you can." Lazard remarked confidently. "You are your Brother's Sister, after all." He leant forward thoughtfully. "There is one more thing before you go."

"Yes, sir?"

He hesitated for a moment. "Can you show me?"

"Sir?" Rose didn't really need to question, she knew what Lazard meant, she just didn't like feeling like some performance act.

"I do apologise." He said, as if reading her thoughts. "It can't be nice feeling like you're being probed. But I admit, I am just so very curious to see it in person. I'm certain the recording didn't do you justice."

Rose regarded him quietly for a moment, a small part of her hoping he would change his mind. When he didn't, she nodded defeatedly, shifting from one end of the room and back again. She was happy to note that the usual nausea wasn't as strong.

"Thank you." Lazard said off handedly, clearly deep in thought. He observed her thoughtfully over steepled fingers. "Rose, forgive me, but can you do anything else? Does this energy have any other route?"

Certain he would know if she was lying, she nodded. Angeal and everyone else seems to trust him. "Sometimes energy sources can become a little... off around me. Not often though!" She added quickly, worried about the frown that suddenly creased his brow. "It tends to be if I get... we'll say emotional." She finished lightly, hoping an offhanded shrug would help to ease the information.

Lazard nodded slowly, not looking too concerned. "Is it dangerous?"

She quickly shook her head.

"Give me an example."

"Erm..." She bit her lip, deciding that revealing she could destabilise Materia, wouldn't be the best fact to lead with. Not when you considered her recent assignment. She lead with something easier. "Back at home, I had an argument with this guy in our Bar. The T.V stopped working, along with everyone's cell phones. It was fine though once I left."

He said nothing and she waited, Lazard seemed to take in this information very carefully. "I see. Have you tried to work with this...power you have? Control it?"

"Not really." She confessed with a shrug. "Only shifting, and moving the sword."

"Ha! Ah yes, the sword." Lazard laughed lightly, getting to his feet. "I had the strangest, most intense conversation with our Head of Science, over that sword this morning. Demanding that I order you to relinquish it to him, for the good of the company."

Rose's face fell. Hojo.

"But you can relax." Lazard added kindly, noting her expression. "I told him it wasn't my job instil good PR between departments. If he wants it so much, he should try being nicer, and perhaps you might do it as a favour."

Rose scoffed. Hell would freeze over first.

Lazard laughed. "I can tell that neither options are overly likely, but hopefully that will keep him off your back for a while." He regarded her a moment more, but Rose didn't find it unsettling, she got the sense their meeting was coming to an end, and instead held her breath hopefully.

A few seconds later Lazard dismissed her with a resigned sigh.

"Good luck with your mission, Rose. But I don't think you're going to need it."

"Thank you, sir."

She spun on her heel before he could ask her anything more.

~AN~

Thanks again for reading guys, and to everyone that favoured and followed this story. When I know a story is being enjoyed, it inspires me to write. I hope you are all keeping safe during these uncertain times!

If you can, I'd really appreciate it if you could drop a review?

See you soon! Hopefully the next chapter should be up by the weekend at latest.