It was a well-known fact in certain departments in Shinra, that if you wanted to get something productive done, you went to Rufus. Not the President himself, but his son. The managers of Weapon Development, Space, and Public Safety didn't realize this, because they had never approached Rufus Shinra with something productive.
You arrived with your idea laid out concisely, a cost-effective budget planned, and several good arguments he could assign to certain individuals. The days leading up to Rufus' business meeting with his father would consist of various influential people dropping comments in the President's ear. Then at the meeting, Rufus would explain his newest plan; how productive it would be, and the long-term benefits that existed besides the gil, of which there would great returns.
If you had only a rough idea, Rufus would at least listen, if he was in the mood, and he found you interesting. If you lacked ways to get people on board, he would sometimes help you brain-storm. If you didn't have a cost-effective budget plan, he had you dismissed from his office. Any attempts to contact him would end in failure for weeks, sometimes months. If you tried to approach him in person, a Turk would suddenly appear and escort you away. No one kept trying after that. Gossip had it, some underling (a Dr. W. Cabe) that Hojo sent to bother Rufus, disappeared entirely after trying once more, but that was only a rumor. No one could even prove a "W. Cabe" had ever worked at Shinra.
After briefly conferring with others in their departments, Lazard the Director of SOLDIER and Veld the Director of the Turks, accompanied by Genesis and Tseng, came to discuss an extremely concerning issue with Rufus Shinra.
"It is morning, gentlemen. What brings you must be important, or you would have called beforehand." Rufus Shinra said pointedly, only looking up from his papers long enough to identify who had walked in. He was sitting at what would be better classified a table than a standard desk. It was long, narrow, and covered entirely with papers; maps, letters, contracts, and many, many graphs.
Lazard spoke first, "We need to postpone the war with Wutai."
"Tell me something I don't already know." Rufus replied quietly, through gritted teeth.
"There is a possibility we'll be slaughtered, and were hoping you could find a way to convince the President of this." Genesis said bluntly.
Rufus paused his work to pinch the bridge of his nose, but didn't look up. "Veld?"
"The Turks and SOLDIER are in agreement about Wutai, sir." Veld responded firmly.
Tseng added, "We have clips of yesterday's security footage, and some disturbing conclusions, sir."
Rufus waved his hand toward a screen attached to the wall near his desk. Three clips were played; a little blond waif applying for SOLDIER and wiping the floor with a SOLDIER 3rd, turning Sephiroth into a frog and nearly killing it/him, and " I'm Cloud Strife" being questioned.
"Sephiroth's condition?" Rufus inquired of Lazard.
"He turned back into himself about thirty minutes after the initial transformation. After treatment, he's now officially uninjured."
"And unofficially?"
"His migraine was so intense, that our discussion about the situation was quiet enough Lazard could hardly hear us, and took place in complete darkness." Genesis filled in.
Rufus leaned back in his chair, "The pertinent facts and conclusions?"
"Our verifiable information about Wutai is the same as ever; they fight with materia and simple weapons, and folk tales claim their warriors of old used trained monsters. Up until now, the Science and Weapon departments have been insistent that one SOLDIER could take on at least a dozen people on their own, but..." Veld trailed off at the end, and Lazard picked up where the Turk left off.
"That's just statistics and data on paper. A SOLDIER being several times faster than the unenhanced may guarantee them winning a footrace, but as you saw, without superior training, they can still lose a fight.
"Cloud Strife said he learned from a 'kid'. So either someone his age or younger, you'd think. It didn't even sound like she payed much attention to her instructor, and we'd be fighting fully trained adults. Wutai only uses simple, hand-made weapons? Maybe they don't need something more developed if their hand-to-hand is that good."
After a moment for everyone to absorb that thought, Genesis said, "I examined his materia. They were mostly healing-oriented: Restore, Heal, Revive. The only others were Sense, and Time. I've never owned a Time, because I tested one out once; I thought it was redundant after my mako treatments. I've never seen someone stretch the abilities of haste that far. It certainly took Luxiere by surprise."
"That's because the rest of the world isn't as obsessed by materia as you, Genesis," Lazard said dryly, "No one else in SOLDIER or the Turks had heard of a Time. Materia use is difficult for the rest of us mere mortals, and most people don't bother with the obscure."
"Which means Shinra isn't fully aware of all the types that may be out there, and that is something Wutai is said to specialize in." Tseng added quietly.
"Lazard and I observed from the other side of the mirror, Rhapsodos kept a sense going, and we're all certain Strife was telling the truth as he believed or knew it. That's part of the problem, we simply don't have enough information. Maybe the girl he learned it from wasn't from Wutai, but we've never seen the like before." Veld's frustration was becoming visible; he took a deep breath, then continued.
"We asked Tuesti's people if any of them had heard of or seen a 'Touch-Me' when they were building the reactor in Gongaga. They said that the locals warned them off going to the swamps, saying they'd be 'transformed'. The workers wrote this off as a superstition, but didn't go there anyway; it was a swamp."
"The material point being, if SOLDIERs can be taken down by a partially trained child, using only a Time and a Touch-Me-On-A-Stick, we're in serious trouble." Genesis started calmly, but his voice started to rise towards the end. "Send in SOLDIERs to lead the way, and fight the rest with Heideggar's army? Pah! If we can be taken down so easily, then his glorified road workers will be cut through like butter! Melted butter! Paper! Cheap paper that-"
"Genesis." Lazard interrupted firmly.
They all waited a moment; the SOLDIER did stop waving his hands around and ranting, so Lazard said tiredly, "He has a point about Public Safety's 'army', Rufus; it's going to be so much cannon fodder. It's taken five years to make and train thirty SOLDIERs, and even if Science quickly churns out more, without time to train them, we'd be no better off than Heideggar.
"When I joined, SOLDIER wasn't supposed to be about killing people." Genesis said bitterly.
"Rhapsodos!" Lazard barked in warning, looking worriedly at Rufus Shinra and the Turks in turn.
"Don't trouble yourself, Lazard." Rufus finally spoke. "It's the truth, though I wouldn't recommend speaking it so freely outside this meeting." He said with a warning glance at Genesis.
"Now for my pertinent facts and conclusions. SOLDIER was made to keep the monsters at bay around civilized areas, along with anything else too dangerous for your average citizen. Public Safety was made to maintain the roads the SOLDIERs were going to keep safe. They are not trained or prepared for full-scale warfare. My best efforts have failed to convince the upper echelons in the company of this. So unless we can turn your dire predictions into something incredibly compelling, the war-mongers will be unmoved.
"So I repeat, tell me something I don't already know." Rufus said, looking expectantly at them.
"We all agree that stopping the war entirely is unlikely, sir." Tseng said. "But we think, carefully presented, we could turn this into something that would convince the President to hold off for a little while."
"The Turks would double their efforts to gather information, and encourage Heideggar to prepare his people better." Veld promised.
"SOLDIER would have time to improve their skill sets. Up til now, most have used only swords, and relied on their enhancements to fill in the gaps. Also, we don't have the same type of influence the Turks do in persuading people," Here Lazard gave a sideways look at Veld, "But if we happen to train against Scarlet's inventions, and she has to improve them when they fail or break, well..."
"It still won't be enough, of course, sir. But we may be able to prevent complete failure this way." Tseng concluded.
Rufus sighed, and nodded. "Indeed. We have a vague outline, I suppose; shall we get to work?"
Five men gathered around a very cluttered desk, and began to plot.
ooOOOoo
Cloud was done plotting for now. He'd come up with several possible variations of a central theme, based on being allowed to stick around Shinra. Not much point in looking too far ahead, as a plan never survived first contact with the enemy, and he'd already made first contact. It was also a good idea to prepare for possible escape attempts, but coming up with those was harder; life was so unpredictable. After all, he hadn't expected the circumstances he was in now.
"-so I said to him, if it wasn't what stole your sandwich, why are we hunting something so cute, and he said-"
This Turk was the chattiest one he had ever met. More than Elena, even; although this woman hadn't let slip any interestinginformation. Cloud hadn't exactly asked many questions; he wasn't sure he could get a word in edgewise.
"May I go back to my cell now?" Cloud interrupted wearily.
"Oh, kid, it's not a cell. Well, I guess it is, you know, if you tilt your head sideways, but it's only temporary! Besides, you haven't finished your dinner." She smiled cheerfully at him.
"I'm full." Cloud didn't think Turks were supposed to smile at detainees. He also was pretty sure he was supposed to stay in his cell at all times, and they were supposed to bring him his food. And then Leave. Him. Alone. To contemplate his misdeeds, if nothing else.
The first meal had been breakfast food, and Cloud had been informed that it was morning, and that he'd slept through evening and night of the previous day. Lunch had been delivered with similar, brief dialogue, and the same watchfulness while Cloud used poisona.
Dinnertime came, and a different Turk arrived. So now they were sitting in a nearly empty break room of sorts. He would have called it a cafeteria, but it was the kind you brought your own meal to. There had been various employees in it awhile ago, when they had first come in. Now it was just Cloud, the Turk, and a SOLDIER who was standing near the door.
"You eat like a bird, kid. You feel sick or something?" She peered at him.
"No, I'm just not used to eating this often." Cloud replied, pushing his plate farther away.
"Hmm. What, so three meals a day isn't something your folks do?"
Cloud shrugged. He didn't remember, and that wasn't really what she was asking. Still, she had a point. Cloud ate as often as he could fit it in, or he had opportunity. But that was a little difficult in the wilderness or when you were so motion sick you couldn't keep anything down. Costa Del Sol had been amazing. He was starting to think he'd slept longer between those heavenly meals than he originally assumed, though.
"So you haven't told us who to contact so they won't be worrying about you..." She trailed off, her face the picture of concern.
Cloud was having a hard time not admiring these Turks. If he was as young as they thought, all this would have probably worked by now; the quiet, lonely day, the sympathetic and friendly female taking him out of the cell for dinner. There was that question again; how old was Cloud? Something to think about when he had some solitude. It would probably be all right to answer some of her questions, though. He'd just be careful about it.
"No one is worried about me." Cloud reassured her.
"Because they aren't the worrying kind, or there isn't someone to worry?" She asked, refilling their water glasses.
Cloud looked at his glass, then at her, and waited.
She sighed and handed him a Heal materia. "So, what are you looking for in the water, exactly?" She asked wryly.
Cloud wasn't sure. They hadn't drugged his food, and he didn't know why they would at this point. He still felt a compulsive need to check what he drank. Especially water. "Oh." Cloud said, in realization. He felt a poke in his shoulder, and he startled slightly and looked at the Turk.
"Oh, what, Cloud?"
"Well, I had to check the water I drank on the way here, so it wouldn't make me sick. I think it's become a habit." He replied contemplatively, looking down at Heal.
"Yeah? Must have traveled some back roads then." She said, taking away the materia.
Cloud sighed. This was going to be a long evening. Aside from whatever information the Turks were trying to obtain, he suspected this one was chosen because she liked to talk.
ooOOOoo
Luxiere, on the other hand, was a fount of information Cloud probably wasn't supposed to be told. The SOLDIER arrived early the next morning to escort Cloud to his new quarters. They stopped to eat breakfast first on floor sixty-three, where the SOLDIER's cafeteria was. They had their own, as well as apartments on this floor. Among other things, Cloud also learned:
Barracks elsewhere in Midgar had been planned until the Science department had insisted SOLDIER stay close by. Not surprising, Science was a bunch of creepy control-freaks.
Lazard was theirs, but very busy, so if there was a problem, SOLDIERs usually went to one of the Firsts; they'd decide if it was worth bothering the Director over. Angeal Hewley was good for solving things amongst themselves; if you knew Lazard would have to get involved, you went to Genesis Rhapsodos. They only bothered Sephiroth with...on second thought, Cloud should probably stick to the first two, for now. No kidding.
SOLDIER was splitting up into three sections. One would stay behind here in Midgar, and train with each other, and the other two would be going out to patrol around the country. Learn about new monsters and materia, observe and practice other forms of combat, and clear out monster infestations; basically a training/earning their keep sort of deployment. Then they'd come back to rest and compare notes and experiences, and a different section would stay behind. Finally something useful.
"So, what happens when all three have been out, do you start all over again?" Cloud asked curiously.
"Oh, er, we're actually hoping to squeeze in all three before we get sent to Wutai. It's not a sure thing yet. Enough time, I mean, Wutai is..." Luxiere trailed off.
"How are the sections going to be chosen?" Cloud prompted.
"The Firsts are each leading one; I'm with Rhapsodos, who's staying behind first. I think Hewley is next after us." Luxiere replied.
Which made Sephiroth last, if there was enough "time", whatever that meant. Cloud needed to understand what exactly Shinra thought he would be doing, and how closely he was being watched. They were on the way to his new quarters now.
"So, if my room is here on SOLDIER's floor, does that mean I got into the program?"
Luxiere laughed; not mockingly, just in good humor. "Ah, kid. You're way too young for the mako treatments. Taking out two of us was so impressive, that you get to stick around for awhile, though." He ended with a smile.
"So, I get to go out and kill monsters when you do?" Cloud inquired.
Luxiere looked flummoxed. "Um...we, er, that is..."
"What Luxiere is trying to say, is that your exact role in SOLDIER is not yet decided." Genesis Rhapsodos smoothly interjected.
"Sir! What are you doing here?" Luxiere asked, surprised.
"You're supposed to tack 'sir' onto the end of the question, Luxiere." Genesis replied.
Cloud thought maybe you weren't supposed to ask questions in that tone, either, but the SOLDIER 1st hadn't seemed to take issue with that.
"Hello, Cloud Strife. Which of your names do you prefer to go by?" Genesis turned to him and asked.
Cloud ducked his head and tried not to laugh. Which of his names. Well, Cloud had only gone by his own, even when he thought he was someone else, so, "Cloud."
"You may call me by either of mine; we have been introduced, but in case you have forgotten, I am Genesis Rhapsodos."
Cloud nodded, but made no other reply. After a moment Genesis waved towards the door they were all standing nearest to.
"This is your new accommodation; for the foreseeable future, you are expected to inform someone if you intend to leave the building. The SOLDIER cafeteria serves three meals a day, and floor nineteen, office seven should be able to requisition any personal effects you may need."
"What am I going to be doing, if I can't go kill monsters yet?" Cloud asked, honestly curious.
"We were hoping you could teach us those cool martial arts moves you used!"
Genesis sent Luxiere a withering glance. "Since being..." Genesis paused and looked down at Cloud. "Underage prevents you from receiving standard SOLDIER training, we thought you could show us what you know already, and we could help you fill in the gaps."
Clever, but it wouldn't have fooled Cloud even if Luxiere hadn't said anything. "I'll be able to use swords as soon as I hit my growth spurt. It should be any day now."
Luxiere had a coughing fit, and Genesis smirked. "Until then, would you mind training in hand-to-hand with us? SOLDIER is branching out, you know. Swords are still a specialty, of course, but we intend to be accomplished at more than that."
Cloud wasn't sure how to answer. "I'll think about it."
"We'll leave you to it, then." Genesis replied smoothly, handed Cloud a keycard for the room, and started to walk away. He paused, then turned and raised an eyebrow. "Luxiere."
"Yeah?"
"If you wouldn't mind accompanying me." It was less request, and more exasperated command.
"Oh! Right, Genesis."
"That's sir to you, Luxiere."
They walked down the hall, around a corner, and out of sight. Cloud stood there a moment, looking at his keycard. So they weren't going to keep a visible guard on him at all times; that was good. There were ways to get around electronic surveillance.