The Ranger

It turns out, nearly a full twenty-four hours is how long it would take to reach the City of Junon. I spent the entire morning after breakfast exercising, at lunch then started to run around the upper deck, then after dinner went back to sleep. I've had more enjoyment from watching paint dry, but at least we're back on dry land. Sephiroth woke me, file in hand, the next morning and said, "We're here."

I nearly jumped for joy when we left the boat and went to the small dock. Sephiroth marched through the streets, passing people in complete awe, shops that sold various things from Potions to Materia, and even military housing. I got a vibe that this was another company town, and wondered why ShinRa had so much sway over everything. My thoughts were squished when we reached an airfield, which was massive, and my attention was immediately thrown onto a man with a cigarette in his mouth screaming about his Airship. I shook my head as the man was being dragged away from the field entirely. I turned back and noticed the enormous zeppelin, feeling my mouth drop pretty far down at the size of the damn thing.

"You coming?" Seph asked gazing back at me from a few feet ahead.

I snapped out of it and continued with him to another chopper. He got in with no problems, but I hesitated. I did not like these death traps, seeing as the last one I'd had the misfortune of being on was shot down. I pushed my fears down before I board the chopper. I put the headset on and sat down across from Sephiroth.

Sephiroth was sitting with his long blade sitting across his lap, taking up his entire side of the chopper. He looked out the window and said, "It's going to be a short flight to Midgar."

"That so? What's up with the long sword?" I asked.

"It was one of many weapons that I was asked to use. I choose this over all the others because I thought it would be a psychological tool against the enemy," he answered. "What about you? What weapons do you use?" He asked, seeing as we're on the topic of weapons.

"I've used mostly Semi-Automatic rifles, but have used Automatic rifles before," I answered.

"No swords?" He asked amused by the novelty.

"No, why?" I retorted back, feeling like I couldn't hold a candle compared to just about everyone's swordsmanship.

"Most people tend to use swords in soldier because they want to be like Angeal, Genesis, and I. Maybe Soldier could use someone with some skill with firearms," He answered. Before either of us could ask the other a question, he pointed out the window and said, "Midgar is coming into frame now."

I looked out the window at the complete Marvel. It was a humongous city that was built in the sky, but what made me do a double take was the fact that it almost looked like it was built in an old, weathered crater in the middle of a vast, dead wasteland. I ogled at the towers that spit greenish blue out from the tops as well as the great big tower that rested at the center of this massive structure.

"So tell me about your time in the military," Sephiroth said, settling back in the seat.

"I joined the army at 18, immediately volunteered for the Rangers. Spent a good bit of time eating a big shit sandwich, but came out the other side combat ready. I was deployed all over the world, but loved every minute of it. I reupped my contract and near the end of it I was deployed to Korea, a foreign country to my own, and then ended up here somehow. Almost ten years of combat experience is sitting right in front of you," I answered.

Seph nodded and agreed, "That's a long time."

At that, we landed outside of the big building, and immediately disembarked the chopper. I followed Seph right into the building, and we both made a B line to the elevators right next to the entrance. It took a few minutes for the elevator to arrive, which was time I spent observing the architecture and the stairs leading up. When it did arrive, we got on and he pressed one of the floors and slid a keycard.

"How big is this building?" I asked.

"It contains 59 floors," came a short, quick reply.

"Bullshit," I sneezed out.

He actually smiled at that before saying, "Perceptive of you, it actually contains 70 floors, but the top 10 are inaccessible unless you have a keycard and use the elevator starting at floor 59. Anyway, we are going to floor 29 to get you a physical. Then we head to floor 26 to register you with the director."

As the elevator came to a halt, the doors slid open to reveal a waiting room with a nurse at her station. She looked up and said, "Welcome back, Sephiroth. Who's that with you?"

"This is Abraham Revelation. He's looking to become a Soldier, and needs a physical before we go off to see Lazard," Sephiroth answered.

The nurse nodded and buzzed us through the door with no further questions. As we passed, she called for one of the doctors. We occupied an exam room and Sephiroth slid the application out. The thing had a physical involved with it, so I guess I was doing this today. We waited for a minute, before the door slid open to reveal a tall dark man in a white lab coat. He had a bright smile under his mustache, and said, "Physical for the Soldier program."

He did very routine tests as far as most physicals go, even mentioned that I'm in great shape. Everything was completely in order and so I was passed with no issues. Sephiroth was completely confident in this, as far as I could tell, but he seemed nervous about what was going to happen next. We took the stairs down towards the desired floor, and the whole way Seph didn't say a word. When we got to the door he paused, "No turning back now."

We entered and walked through the hall as many people were dressed in similar fatigues to what Angeal wore. Each walked a different direction, talking on cell phones or shuffling with a stack of papers. One such man was leaned against a guard rail talking to another man wearing a tactical helmet. I paid him little mind, as we walked down a hall with plenty of offices until we reached one office that said 'Director Lazard' in white letters on the door. Seph knocked, and the voice from inside bellowed and enter.

I don't know quite what I'd expected. Perhaps an older man, wearing the same fatigues and a colonels bird sitting behind a desk complaining about how he's not a Brigadier General yet or something, but I hadn't expected a man in a suit, slicked back hair, and glasses.

"Sephiroth, welcome back. How went the mission?" The man asked, his voice a bit deep, but still quite young.

"We took the Fort, should be easy enough to hold it given enough support," Sephiroth stated.

"Who's this then? Some country bumpkin you picked up along the way back?" Lazard asked.

Sephiroth held the application out to Lazard, who took it and flipped it open. He read it through and tossed it straight into his trashcan a few moments later. "Sorry kid, but we don't accept people with ZERO combat training," Lazard stated.

"He took out three Wutainese Rebels with a revolver; three without missing a shot," Seph said.

Lazard looked up and said, "Still, I can't just… Who's sponsoring him?" He asked pulling the file out of the can. He flipped the file open and read the name. "YOU!?" Lazard bellowed once more. If people outside the office didn't know before, they certainly would now.

"I vouch for him, after all, he was poised to become a Turk, before he traded for Soldier," Seph added. He damn near sang my praises, which seemed a bit odd considering how little he knew of me.

"A Turk, huh? How about this then, I promised them an operative to aid in a mission of upmost importance. If he completes the mission and remains alive doing it, then I'll gladly give him to one of the second class's," Lazard suggested.

Before Seph could answer on my behalf, I nodded and said, "I'm eager to begin my assignment, sir!"

Lazard raised his eyebrows a bit before saying under his breath, "Good lord, not another Hewley," he paused and then continued, "You will be sent to Costa del Sol to find a black-market weapons dealer. They are selling stolen designs from us, and must be taken out. You will be support for the Turks if something goes wrong. I want you plain clothes for this assignment, you are to report to the armory, and also you are to be assigned to room…" he stopped and started typing on his computer.

"Here we are, room 259. Floor 25 room 9, here's your key card for the room. Your room mate will also be your Second-Class trainer, should you finish the assignment successfully. You ship out from the helipad tomorrow at 0500, now you are dismissed," He said.

I gave a salute and left the room, with no Sephiroth in tow. I walked down the hallway a little before finding myself in a conundrum, I had no idea where the hell I was. I made it down the hall feeling stupid for not asking when a dude walked up and asked, "You lost?"

I gave a sheepish grin and said, "Kinda, yeah. I'm looking for the armory."

The dudes face light up and said, "You're in Soldier?!"

I guess I wasn't in fatigues, so he wouldn't have guessed. I eyed the dude, who I noticed leaning against the glass from earlier, and took note of his longer, spikey black hair. He wore a purple variation from Angeal's outfit, and was about two inches taller than me. I nodded and said, "Just joined on today!"

"Welcome then, I'm Zack Fair, Soldier Second Class!" He said enthusiastically, extending out a hand.

I shook it and said, "Abraham Revelation, Cadet." As I shook his hand, I felt the strength of his grip. When he let go, I had a feeling that he might be pretending to be friendly.

"Well, Abe, let me give ya the tour," He said, then gestured to the whole room. "This is the Soldier floor. It's the office center of the whole operation. If any missions come our way, they come from this room," He said. He motioned for me to follow, as he walked to the stair well. We walked up a floor and he said, "This floor is the Armory. The quartermaster is an okay dude, but he can be a bit of a dick sometimes, so watch out."

I nodded and entered through the door, Zack behind me. The quartermaster looked up and said, "Tell me you didn't break another one!"

Zack leaned forward and said, "See what I mean."

I examined the older man, and noticed he's the most out of shape between the three of us. Not only that, but he's starting to grey a little. I stepped up to his counter, while Zack wandered around to look at the goodies, and said, "I was sent by Director Lazard for my kit."

The dude eyed me up and then walked back through the area behind the counter. When he returned, he had a set of red fatigues, a sword, and some blue vial potions. I nodded towards the sword and said, "I'd rather a gun, if you don't mind."

"BLASPHAMY!" Zack shouted, looking at some of the blades in the corner.

The quartermaster smiled a bit and said, "You're in the wrong branch then, the Turks supply is about 8 floors down from here."

I laughed and said, "Nothing at all?"

He sighed, then said, "I may have something back…" Then he paused mid-sentence, realization washing over him. He looked at me and said, "I'll be right back!" He was gone for a few minutes, before he returned with an odd-looking sword and about 50 15mm balls. "A gun blade! I never thought I'd see the day that somebody would buy the thing!" He exclaimed.

I took the handle in my hand, which was more a revolver handle than a sword handle, and admired the design. At close range, one could use the weapon as a sword, but there was indeed a barrel running down the center. I noticed a small round ball in the back of the handle where the hammer would have been and touched it.

"DON'T DO THAT!" the quartermaster screamed.

I nearly jumped out of my skin before asking, "Why?" I felt like a kid being told I couldn't have another cookie.

"This is actually a Gauss Rifle! When you full the trigger, a coil in the blade activates and then forces the ball through using magnetism," He stated.

I stared in awe, but then asked, "What's powering it?"

He smirked and said, "See the orb in the blade guard. That is a Thunder Materia, which powers the whole device. Unfortunately, you can't use it to summon actual thunder, but still a good use for a magnet. This baby launches these fast enough to be lethal, but it won't pierce heavy armor. Anyway, the safety is actually on right now, to turn it off, you remove the Materia and place it on the bottom slot that's on the same side as the handle curve."

"Okay, so switch sides, point and shoot?" I asked.

With a nod, the QM said, "If you have any ideas how to improve on it, I'm open to suggestions, but until then scoot."

I went to leave, but then the man said, "Oh, make sure it's not loaded before you place that on your back. The magnet will force it to fire, and never leave it in the working position."

I put on the red fatigues, belt and suspenders, slipped the potions in the left pouch, placed 51 balls of ammo into the other, then slapped the blade on my back. As we left, Zack kept eyeing my weapon before finally saying, "Lucky! He never gives away the good stuff!"

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"It's the same steel that my mentors' blade is made from, so it wont bend or warp like my flimsy sword does," He replied. Then he brightened up and asked, "What room you in? You might wanna pay them a visit?"

I sighed and pulled out a key card, "Room 259." My answer seemed to brighten his day up even more, and before I knew it, he screamed to the heavens.

"ROOOOOOMIE!" I'm glad he didn't pull me into a hug, but I could tell he wanted to.

"So before we go to the housing, how about we test out that blade?" He said with his smile.

It was then and there, I knew this man was hardwire to not only be nice, but also would be the death of me.

End of chapter

Okay so one of my biggest petpeves with the original had to be everybody else's as well… WHAT THE HELL DID HIS BLADE LOOK LIKE! I decided to model it after a pistol version I found on google, but it's about four feet long and ready to tear a hole through somebody elses head. Also, and I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, I'm sorry I didn't write these as descriptive as I could have the first time. I'm still enjoying this as well. Nothing fills me with more pride than finishing yet another chapter super late at night. It's screwing up my sleep schedule, but I don't care!

Also, just as long as the original, but I'd say it does a much better job.