The Turk Called Cloudia

AN: /blah/ = thoughts/inner monologue

*blah* = PHS conversation

Two – Age 15 – 16

Cloudia Strife sighed as she stood on the dock staring out at the sprawling town of Junon. /How the hell am I supposed to find the way to the recruitment centre in this mess?/ She shouldered her belongings and headed into the mess.

She groaned when she finally found the correct building after almost three hours of searching. She had been propositioned ten times and had had to defend herself multiple times. She opened the door and walked into controlled chaos.

Angeal Hewley groaned as he watched his student, Zack Fair, bounce around his office. He glared at the pile of papers that had been abandoned on his desk while he had been away retrieving Genesis.

"Zack can you please sit still... or better yet, leave so I can finish my work in peace." Angeal finally snapped as Zack paused wide eyed. "Go bother someone else, I don't have any time for you today."

Zack nodded as he scrambled out of the office. /Maybe I'll go and see when the new recruits are arriving./ He grinned and rushed downstairs to bother Lazard Deusericus.

Cloudia managed to sign up alright but she was a little pissed that she had to train to be a SOLDIER before she could become a Turk. And the fact that the only transport to Midgar was by truck. Her motion sickness had returned with a vengeance.

Reno Sinclair sighed as he rubbed the blonde's back yet again. /Damn, poor kid. But am I ever glad I don't have motion sickness.../ He looked up and grinned as they passed through the gates to Midgar. "Hey blondie, we're nearly there. Just hold on a bit longer yo."

The blonde glanced up at him. "I am Cloud... and do not patronize me..." Cloud retched as the truck lurched to a sudden stop. "Fuck me!"

Reno just grinned as he pulled the blonde to his feet. "Never mind, yo. We're here.'

Zack grinned as he watched the new victims... err, recruits ran under the watchful eye of Captain Dugery. This time it was swordplay and he had his eye on the kid with brilliant yellow spikes. /The way he swings his sword is very familiar... and odd as if he is used to a bigger weapon.../

"First Class Fair, what are you doing here?"

Zack jumped as he heard Dugery address him. "I was just watching to see if there was anyone with extraordinary skills, Captain. Spiky over there caught my eye."

Dugery turned to watch 'Spiky'. "I see what you mean. He is extraordinarily pathetic with a blade." Dugery sighed. "I don't know what to do with him..."

Zack watched the blonde a little longer before nodding to himself. "I'll train him. I'm stuck here at the moment anyway so why not."

"Whatever Fair. Good luck."

Cloudia groaned as she collapsed into her bunk. Reno smirked at her before climbing into his bed. "You are evil, Reno. I cannot believe you talked me into trying that crazy shit you do."

"It ain't crazy, yo." Reno grinned at the ceiling. "It's called 'Parkour' and its good for keeping you in shape yo."

"It is still evil... but I can see where it would help me..." Cloudia sighed, shutting her eyes. "Why did you sign up Reno? This does not seem like your ideal job."

"Need the money, yo." Reno said softly. "I gotta send it back home for my family. What about you, yo?"

Cloudia frowned as she considered her words. "I did not want this. I want to be a Turk. But I had to sign up for this first."

Reno waited for more and grinned when Cloudia remained silent. She had fallen asleep.

Angeal was sitting with Genesis Rhapsodos and Sephiroth when Zack had walked back into the office. Zack's expression worried the three of them as it seemed his smile was fake.

"Zack..." Angeal started to apologize but Zack just held up a hand.

"Don't worry about me bothering you. I just needed to inform you that I'll be busy for some time." Zack said calmly. "I have been given an assignment and won't have much spare time anymore."

"What about sparring?" Angeal said softly.

"I won't have time for it in the near future. I'll call you when I have some more free time." Zack said as he glanced at his watch. "I need to go. I'll see you around Angeal."

Angeal stared in shock as a subdued Zack left the room only to pause at the door.

"Did you terrify another secretary?" Zack asked as he stared the new girl sitting at the front desk. "Whatever I'm late as it is..."

Genesis and Sephiroth exchanged looks of worried confusion.

"Angeal are you alright?" Genesis asked softly. "I'm sure Zack will be back soon and be equally annoying."

Sephiroth just nodded in agreement.

Three weeks after meeting her new trainer, Cloudia was ready to kill him. He insisted that she woke at odd hours and trained incessantly until he got bored. But she had gotten her own back by challenging him to a race so she could spend some time with her friends. She had won using her skills in parkour.

"I still think you cheated, Spiky. But you can go and play with your friends if you want." Zack said as he watched Cloudia bristle. "See you later, I'll probably be with Kunzel."

Cloudia nodded as she had already given up on stopping Zack from calling her 'Spiky'.

Reno grinned as he saw the blonde spiked cadet heading towards him. "Yo, over here, Spiky!" He called out, knowing it would set his friend off.

"Reno! You know I hate that name. It is bad enough that Zack calls me it." Cloudia snapped as she glared at the redhead. "Can you just use my fucking name?"

Reno caught a glimpse of pain flash on the face of one of the SOLDIERS in the dining area with them. /That was odd. Why would he be upset at the mention of Cloud's mentor?/ He shrugged as he stood ready to leave with Cloudia. "Coming Cloud. We still need to catch up with the others yo."

Cloudia nodded as she followed Reno from the room.

Angeal slumped slightly as he watched the two cadets leave the room. He sighed which caught the attention of Veld Leonhart and Tseng Yue.

"Commander Hewley, you seem troubled." Veld said as they sat across from him. "Is it because of First Class Fair's current behavior?"

Angeal nodded sadly. "Yeah, I actually can't believe he hasn't been bothering me or the others."

"Would it help you know that his new student is getting rather annoyed with him?" Tseng asked softly. "I believe the cadet actually beat him in a challenge yesterday."

Angeal blinked in confusion. "Zack is a mentor?" He glanced at the two Turks. "Why didn't he tell me?"

"I think he wanted to impress you, Angeal. He is truly trying to be responsible." Veld said with a wry grin. "Even if he insists on calling the poor cadet 'Spiky'."

Angeal sat, lost in thought for a few moments. "How is he mentoring this cadet and you said Zack lost a challenge? What sort of challenge was it?"

"He lost a foot race to a fifteen year old cadet." Veld laughed. "It was some kind of obstacle course. And the cadet won by almost a minute."

"He was concerned about the boy's sword skills. So he approached Director Lazard and was given mentorship of the boy." Tseng said softly.

Cloudia sighed as she woke on her birthday. /Note to self: avoid letting Zack or Reno know what today is./ She sat up and groaned as she stretched.

"Hey Spiky, time to get up!" Zack called as he burst into the room. "What? Why are you still sitting there? Today is important!"

"Go away, Zack. I need to get dressed." Cloudia yelled at her mentor before pointing at the door. "Why do I have to remind you every day?"

Zack frowned but left the room anyway. /He is weird. Why does he insist on privacy?/ He jumped when the door opened to reveal a now dressed Cloudia. "Ready to go?"

"What is so blasted important about today, Zack? " Cloudia asked as she was lead into the main building. "And why are we here?"

Zack just grinned at her. "It's evaluation day!"

Cloudia sighed and claimed the seat nearest the door. "So what does an 'evaluation day' consist of Zack?"

"Tests, mostly. The higher ups come and evaluate what you've learnt and you either pass the course or have to start basic training again."

Cloudia jumped as a tall man in a red leather coat answered her question. "Hey, you are the drunk I met in Costa del Sol."

"I'm not a drunk!" He snapped at her. "My name is Genesis Rhapsodos."

Cloudia shrugged before smirking at him. "You were drunk when you first met me and you cannot deny that." She nodded to herself before leaning back against the wall. "Why red? If you are a SOLDIER, would wearing red not give away your position? I know it would where I am from."

"I like red." Genesis frowned. "Did you end up selling the last of your materials?"

"No, but I made some things out of them."

Zack watched as Genesis and Cloudia spoke about their time in Costa del Sol and what had happened since then. As they spoke, the rest of the cadets arrived and so did the evaluators.

"Spiky it's time to stop talking now. It's evaluation time."

AN: There is a poll on my profile page. The results of said poll will determine which way my fic is going to go. Please vote to ensure that it a fair representation of readers. (^_~)