Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. It belongs to Square Enix. I do own my original characters and plots, though.

Author's Note: Ah, what the heck. Another thank-you to my readers and reviewers. I'm sorry this chapter came in a bit late! I've been very busy. I have a lot more of the story written down, but I'm revising, typing, and posting the chapters at my own pace. I don't want to make any big mistakes. Anyway, I hope you will like this chapter, everyone. Enjoy!

Chapter 8: New Recruit

The colossal tower loomed ahead and above. The brilliant golden lights of its seventy floors beamed down at her like the thousand eyes of a metal beast. She had to tilt her head back almost 180 degrees to scale the monster of a tower with her eyes.

Why, it was even larger in person… She had never seen a building so grand…

"Pretty damn big, huh?"

His voice roused her from her thoughts, and she gazed at the Turk with wide eyes. "It's one thing to see it on TV, but it's another to see it with my own eyes.""

He smirked, flipping his bangs. "C'mon, let's go inside."

She nodded, her bouncing curls tickling her face. "Okay."

They faced forward, and Aphrodite followed Reno up the wide staircase. The sliding glass doors opened before them, welcoming her to a new world of elites, and they strode into the lobby of the Shin-Ra building.

-

"Hold still, Miss Sorrows! I cannot draw blood with you fidgeting like that," scolded the nurse who conducted blood work on the 67th floor of Shin-Ra headquarters.

Aphrodite chewed on her lower lip, wincing as the nurse tried to insert the "butterfly" needle into the crook of her elbow. She hadn't gone through this agonizing process since her childhood, and not only that, but needles terrified the young woman. She clenched and unclenched her fists as the nurse finally found the vein.

"There we go…" mumbled the nurse. Her nose was rather large, Aphrodite observed. She watched the glass tube fill with crimson blood, a sinking feeling in her stomach. The nurse filled a second tube.

"Nurse," began Aphrodite, "why must I go through with this? All I want to do is join the Turks…"

"For safety purposes, Miss Sorrows, the employer needs recent medical records if you are to work for the company. Since you have none," explained the nurse, removing the needle and taking the two tubes of blood to a counter, "we must create your records. That is why we are conducting your lab work. Let's see… Now you just need a urinalysis…"

Aphrodite stared. "Urinalysis?"

The big-nosed nurse handed the slum-girl a small plastic cup, peering at her over thick spectacles. "Just urinate into the cup. The restroom is down the hall."

She blanched, gingerly taking the cup. "Right…" She screwed up her face, dragging her feet across the white-tiled floor.

Aphrodite had great difficulty aiming into the clumsy little cup. The restroom was a tiny space that smelled of rubber, and she almost painted the cramped lavatory a brilliant shade of yellow.

She passed the waiting room on her way to the analysis chamber. Reno, who had accompanied Aphrodite to the 67th floor, looked up as she passed. He looked restless from waiting.

"Want some lemonade?" offered the young woman, holding the cup of urine out to the redhead.

Reno almost took the little cup before he suddenly withdrew his hand, his blue-green eyes wide. He gave her a filthy look, furrowing his brow. His left eye twitched. "'Dite!"

She grinned like the Cheshire cat, bursting into giggles as she rushed away.

-

Reno held the cold compress to his forehead. "Ow…"

Aphrodite's breathing came out in sputtered gasps as she struggled to stand straight. She healed his wounds as well as her own with a Cure spell. Tseng, the Turk leader, and Heidegger, head of the Peace Preservation department (and boss of the Turks) stared at the slum-girl, mild impression scribbled on their faces.

"Stronger than she looks," Tseng muttered thoughtfully, his hands folded behind his back.

Aphrodite gazed back and forth from Tseng to Heidegger in anxiety. Did she make it? She glanced briefly at Reno, who looked indifferent. No, not indifferent… He was analyzing Heidegger's condescending expression as the fat man ran a hand through his long, shaggy black beard. What were these men thinking…?

A long silence boomed in Aphrodite's ears. Sweat beads tickled her forehead as they trickled down her face.

After a few seconds that lagged like hours, Heidegger broke the silence.

"We'll call you."

She felt her head nod repeatedly, an action of its own. We'll call you… Those were words employers of the past had always told her. Words Aphrodite never liked. "O-Okay…I mean, yes, sir."

Tseng was smirking at her, and Reno was unusually quiet. Heidegger nodded, signifying that the physical portion of the interview was over. "If we decide to let you in, Sorrows, we'll call you in up to three days. You can go now," he boomed, patting his potbelly.

-

"Aphrodite."

She looked up and stared at him blankly, fidgeting on his couch. She sat by the phone, twiddling her thumbs. "What?"

"You've been sittin' there since we got back! Aren't ya gonna eat?"

She shook her head at him. "I can't, Reno! What if they call and I'm off doing something else?"

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Your loss…" he mumbled, shrugging and stalking off to the kitchen. Aphrodite watched him produce a can of beer from the refrigerator as she chewed her lower lip. Were they ever going to call…?

"Reno, do you think they'll call?"

He shrugged at her, taking a swig from his beer can. "They should. I mean, after putting you through training this week, they've gotta call. You gave a pretty good interview, too, 'sides the whole fight-test part."

She shrugged as well and glanced at the Shin-Ra clock, amazed at the hour. Ten PM? A little late… She was getting awfully tired. Her head started to slump, and she struggled to sit straight and keep her eyes open.

"Hey, 'Dite. Catch!"

Her eyes flickered open when something wrapped in plastic hit her in the face. Blinking, she stared down at herself.

A stick of string cheese was sitting in her lap.

"Aw…" she mumbled, unwrapping the cheese stick with a smile. She lifted her head and beamed over at the redhead. "Thanks, Reno. I love these! How did you know?"

He shrugged, taking a long gulp of his beer. He wiped his mouth then, flipping his bangs. "I didn't know you liked them…"

"Oh. Well, thanks anyway!" Aphrodite indulged in her snack, peeling the strings of cheese and slowly lowering them into her mouth. She reclined on the couch and kicked off her shoes. But much to their misfortune, her right shoe soared across the living room, knocking over a bottle of wine that Reno had casually misplaced.

…A bottle of wine made of glass.

The bottle shattered as it hit the off-white carpet. The dark red liquor spilled out of the wine bottle, staining the carpet a dull shade of crimson.

"Shit!" Reno's eyes grew to about the size of wine bottle corks, and he ground his teeth. He crushed his can of beer in his hand, tossing it into the wastebasket. "'Dite, you idiot! Look what you did!"

Aphrodite stared at the incident she caused in horror, chewing her lower lip. She dropped her cheese stick. "…Oops…" she squeaked, rising from the couch. Oh, dear…Reno would hate her for this. Why did she always have to make stupid mistakes like this?

Reno mumbled a string of incoherent swear words, stomping over to the scene of the crime. "Can't you aim when you kick your shoes off, 'Dite!" he yelled at her, cracking his knuckles. "I was savin' that bottle for…" he paused, blinking. Then he shook his head, furrowing his brow at Aphrodite. "…Nevermind. Help me clean this up."

She, at first, felt horrible and guilty. But now she was confused. What was he saving that bottle for? Aphrodite shook her head; she'd ask him later. One thing surprised her, however, and that was his anger. She had never seen him look so furious. How odd of him…just another strange side to the Turk.

The two tried their best to clean up the stinky alcoholic mess on the carpet, and they did so in complete silence. A long, awkward silence.

Regretful tears began to sting her eyes. Oh, great…crying wouldn't solve the problem; she knew that! She couldn't let Reno see the tears welling up. He'd think her too soft…too soft to be a Turk…

This short period of lamentation was interrupted by the telephone. The ringing drowned all thought, and Aphrodite's brain screamed at her, "Get the phone! Get the phone!"

And that was just what she did. The slum-girl dashed and dove onto the couch, yanking the phone receiver from its cradle and punching the "Talk" button. She ignored Reno's surprised expression, gasping a breathless "Hello?" into the phone.

"Hello, is this Miss Aphrodite Sorrows?" said a cool, female voice.

She nodded, but then realized that her gesture could not be sent through a telephone line. "Yes, this is she. May I ask who's calling?" She inquired, glancing over at Reno's still, stunned figure.

"This is Henrietta Strasbourg, Mr. Heidegger's secretary. I am calling to let you know that you have been accepted for the available Turk position."

Aphrodite froze. "I…I…I…t-thank…you…"

She made it! Yes! Yes! She was going to be a Turk now! Yes! She made it! She—

"You can come by tomorrow to receive your materials and do a little training," Ms. Strasbourg's voice interrupted her silent rejoicing. "You'll learn the details from Heidegger and Tseng. Thank you for your time, Miss Sorrows."

"Y-yes…thank you as well…" she trailed off, but the secretary had already hung up. Aphrodite dropped the receiver, gaping at Reno with teary eyes.

"What, 'Dite?" he finally asked, standing up. He seemed to forget the dried wine on the carpet, staring expectantly at her.

"I…made…it…" She whispered, letting the pending tears flow freely down her cheeks. "I made it!"

"You mean…"

"YES! Yes, Reno! I made it! I MADE IT!" She shrieked with glee, catching him off guard. "All thanks to you! Oh, Reno, I could sing!"

"Don't," he advised, smirking nonchalantly. He flipped his bangs, looking unfazed. Wasn't he happy for her? Aphrodite didn't want to think otherwise.

"Thank you so much, Reno! I'd serenade you with opera if I could!" Aphrodite beamed, hopping off the couch and scurrying to him.

"Oh, no…here comes Taurus the bull…" he mumbled as the slum-girl tackled him to the floor, smothering his face with purely thankful kisses.

-

"Welcome to the Turks, Miss Sorrows," said Tseng, the leader of the Turks.

Aphrodite and the black-haired Wutain man strode into the Turks' storage room. Tseng rummaged through an organized stack of boxes, labeled with either an "S," "M," "L," or "XL." She tilted her head.

"Um, what are you doing, Mr. Tseng?"

"Ugh, don't call me that. And don't question me," he snapped, and looked her up and down. "What size are you?"

Aphrodite blinked. "I-I'm sorry, sir," she apologized, lowering her eyes briefly. "Size…?"

"Clothes size. Is that not obvious?"

"O-Oh," She mumbled, flushing. She glanced down at herself. "A…'Medium.'"

Tseng's dark eyes sized her up disbelievingly, and he arched an eyebrow. He took a box labeled "M." "Medium? But you're awfully thin."

Aphrodite looked up and placed her hands on her hips. "Very thin, yes, because of food shortage in the slums," she said, placing extra emphasis on the last word. She was getting a tad defensive. "I ask for a 'Medium' because I have Taurean curves, even though they're not very visible in these clothes."

Tseng scowled at the new Turk recruit, and shoved the white box into her arms. "You needn't explain. Well, in the box is your Turk uniform, including the dark glasses. And here is your gun. We'll teach you all the know-how of Turk life." He tossed her the pistol.

She clumsily caught the weapon with her left hand and blinked down at the white box. Her very own suit and gun! Now she was officially a Turk. Unable to hold it back, she felt a wide, toothy grin spread on her lips. She made it. What triumph!

The young woman looked up, beaming at Tseng. "Thank you! When do I start?"

He held up his large hands, shaking his head. "Not yet. You need training first, and then you'll be a fully-fledged Turk. Come along, Miss Sorrows." The man began to leave out the door, beckoning her.

She nodded, obediently following after Tseng. She was on her way to a new life. The life of a Turk.

-

Aphrodite grasped her new pistol with her left hand, focusing on the target before her. It was a human dummy several feet away. Focus, focus… She felt their eyes on her: a Shin-Ra employee, Tseng, and Heidegger. She couldn't screw up here…

"C'mon, shoot," she mumbled to herself, narrowing an eye to gather her concentration. Aphrodite focused on the seven bulls-eye targets located on the dummy. She had to shoot each of those targets to test her use of a gun.

She took a deep breath…

And she pulled the trigger, shooting seven bullets…

"Hmm…"

"Gyahaha!"

Aphrodite's eyes widened as she heard Tseng's thoughtful comment preceding Heidegger's stupid horse laugh.

Damn…she missed both arms and a leg. She bit her lower lip at this. But the others…definitely bulls-eye.

"Not bad, newbie! Gyahaha!" Heidegger threw his head back, slapping his enormous belly. Aphrodite watched him out of the corner of her eye scornfully.

"Four out of seven. Nice hand-eye coordination. Pretty good for a new recruit," said Tseng, tapping his chin. The Shin-Ra employee sat at his computer, typing away. His fingers flew over the keys, almost a blur. He was probably entering data for a report. Tseng cleared his throat. "Alright, Miss Sorrows, can you use magic?"

"Call me Aphrodite, please," she said, swiveling around and nodding at them. "Yes. Magic happens to be my strongpoint…"

Heidegger raked his chubby fingers through his beard. "We need more magically-potent Turks," boomed his annoying voice. "What materia have you got?"

Aphrodite looked down at the materia slots in her watch and gun that she had filled. "Let's see…Restore-All, Earth, Poison, Destruct, Barrier, and Cerberus."

Their eyebrows shot up.

"Nice. And Cerberus is…?" questioned Tseng.

"A summon," replied the young woman automatically. "I have the only Cerberus materia."

Aphrodite could tell that Tseng was wondering how she had come across the one-of-a-kind summon materia, but he didn't ask. Neither did she explain. "Would you like me to demonstrate my magic?"

"Nah," chimed Heidegger. "I can tell yer good enough! But one thing, Abigail—"

"—Aphrodite."

"Don't interrupt me!" snapped the green teddy bear at Aphrodite. "Alright, newbie. You can be all happy about your new job with us, but remember one thing. Being a Turk ain't happy-go-lucky utopia. Yer gonna kill people, and yer gonna steal and kidnap. You don't let your ethics, beliefs, or emotions get in the way. You're one of us now, Sorrows. Got that?"

Aphrodite recognized Heidegger's point. Reno had said something very similar back at his apartment, and she was glad that he had told her beforehand what it would be like. She wasn't completely ignorant. She silently thanked him in her mind.

The slum-girl nodded; stood stick-straight, and performed the Turk salute Reno had taught her sometime ago. "Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

Heidegger nodded, patting his belly. "You start the day after tomorrow, Monday. You get yer paycheck Friday. Those first few days, you probably won't get any big missions, so don't expect a lot this week. Mostly training missions are what yer gettin'."

Aphrodite nodded again. "I understand, sir."

"Good, then! Again, welcome to Shin-Ra, Sorrows! Gyahaha!"

She twitched as Heidegger left, his head thrown back and that terrible horse laugh echoing off the training facility walls. Tseng stepped forward.

"All right, then, Aphrodite," he began. "Tomorrow night at seven, the Turks will celebrate your arrival with dinner at Guayaberas, an upscale restaurant a few streets from the building. Wear your full uniform. You might want to get a haircut, too," he said, eyeing her elbow-length curls. "Turks are recommended to keep their hair shorter than chest-length."

Aphrodite nodded once more. Nodding seemed to be her talent at the moment. A haircut? Oh, boy…all that hair… She remained silent, anticipating more words from Tseng.

"We'll see you tomorrow night. As I said before, welcome to the Turks, Aphrodite Sorrows." He ended his announcement with a noble Wutain bow, and gave leave.

-

(A/N: Eep, I think this chapter came out a little longer than I wanted it to be. I needed to flesh it out a little more, heh. Oh, as a note. There is good reason behind Aphrodite becoming a Turk. It's not some spontaneous thing I came up with for no good reason. You'll all just find out later on as the story progresses. Well, I hope you all enjoyed Chapter 8!

Ducky)