"Embrace your dreams."
Those words flood throughout Cloud's brain like a river. He's not sure where he's heard them. Part of him theorizes they're from a past life, but that would mean reincarnation is a thing and the young swordsman has never been known to believe in any thing of the spiritual sort.
Cloud Strife doesn't have time to dwell on this, however, as the 11:30 train pulls into the station. The station that'll directly lead to Sector 1's Mako Reactor. The swordsman, who is prowling in wait on the roof of the train, lightly shakes his head, to get all the dizziness out of his system. Just then, smoke fills the area, filling Cloud's nostrils with the smell of Mako, indicating that the train has come to a complete stop.
Reaching behind him, Cloud unclasps the large sword clinging to his back by a magnet. Setting it in front of him, the merc gazes at the blade, not knowing where he got it from, but yet feels an unbreakable attachment to it. From tip to handle, it is approximately five to six feet long, with a single-edged large blade approximately one foot wide. The blade is a lighter color on the bladed edge, while the rest of the blade is dark gray, and the handguard appears to be bolted or riveted into place. There are two holes near the handguard that are for the little magic orbs known as Materia, his go-to for magic, or where Cloud clips the sword onto his back.
Breaking him out of his gaze, Cloud hears a gruff voice call out to him from the station below. "Hey, new guy," the voice says with a hint of anger. The merc stands up and clasps the sword to his back, feeling invigorated knowing that it's there.
Finally, Cloud jumps off the train, landing on the station below, right in front of Barret Wallace.
Barret is a large man in his early to mid 30's who always looks combat ready. Not because of the black jacket he wears or the bullet proof vest he has on. Not because of the fierce expression he always wears on his dark complexion. Not even because of the sunglasses he wears, which Cloud can't figure out how that works because it's night time. It's because, instead of a right hand, Barret has a machine gun in it's place.
"Follow me," Barret says roughly before running off towards the steps at the end of the station. Cloud moves to follow him but, before he can get far, two Shinra infantrymen run out and spot the swordsman.
"You there! Halt!" One of them says, before they run towards the young man, their guns aimed at him, ready to fire in case Cloud makes any sudden movements.
Cloud looks from man to man, noting that, though it's impossible to see their expressions through their visors, it's easy to tell that they're scared. Their hands are shaking, so Cloud knows that their aim won't be steady.
Smirking, Cloud reaches back and unclasps the sword on his back and holds it in front of him, combat ready. Through his piercing blue eyes, the soldiers are fearful of the confident and fierce expression on the ex-SOLDIER'S face.
"Come and get it," Cloud says before charging at them.