Chapter 5
The doorbell chimed through the quiet house and Vincent pulled his eyes out of the book he was reading. Standing he put it down on the chair and went to the door, creaking softly as it opened.
"Package for a Mr. Valentine" the delivery man said holding a small package on his hip and his electronic signature pad out to Vincent.
"That's me" he replied signing his name.
"Thanks" the delivery man said handing the box to Vincent.
Taking the box he stepped back into the house, closing the door. The label on the top of the box was from Commander Snow, Shinra Manufacturing Inc. Vincent got excited and climbed the stairs to his room two at a time. Entering his room he closed the door and turned on the over head light. Setting the box down on his bed he went to his desk and grabbed the scissors, returning to the package he ran them along the clear packing tape opening the box. Pulling the cardboard flaps back he saw its contents, a letter in a light blue envelope with his name on it and some clothing. Pulling out the letter he remembered the instructions Commander Snow mentioned, he opened the envelope and pulled out the crisp white paper and begun reading.
Dear Mr. Valentine
It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you to the Turks. Here is your first briefing in regards to the next couple of weeks. First of all in this package you will find your uniform and everything you will need for training minus your weapon that you will get upon your arrival to the training facility in Junon. I am to understand that the dress code for your graduation is suit and tie. You will be required to wear your Turk uniform, because as you are aware of you are now a Turk. Also, Rio and Sage will be attending your graduation as they are also your transportation to Junon. This will also put to rest the rumors that have been hovering around your school the last few weeks. Second, you are to remain hidden until your name is called, once you get your diploma you will accompany Rio and Sage at the rear of the auditorium until the ceremony is complete. You will be given a few moments with friends and family before you leave. Third, you will not need a vehicle after you graduate. Turks will provide your transportation or you will have use of a company car. Cell phones are permitted as long as they are Shinra assigned; please dispose of yours as you will find a replacement in this box. It is to stay on your person at all times, no exceptions. Your instructors have already been informed of this. There will be messages of importance sent to you on a daily basis from here on out, do not ignore them. Fourth, upon your arrival in Junon your training will begin immediately and you will be given your first protection order. You will have only one completed week of training under your belt before your mission, be advised. Lastly, as fore mentioned you are a Turk now and we expect you to act like one. You will be monitored up until you leave for Junon as well as anyone close to you. Your friends and teachers have shortened your name for their convenience, you are to be referred as Mr. Valentine or Vincent from now on and again your instructors have already been notified of this change.
We are pleased to have you aboard Mr. Valentine and I look forward to personally meeting you in a couple of weeks.
Signed
Commander Gerard Snow
Shinra Manufacturing Inc
Head of Turk training and Elites
Vincent folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, smiling. He was officially a Turk now, he liked the sound of that. Now came the hard part of correcting his friends every time they shortened his name. It bothered him at first, but then he got used to it. Standing he pulled the clothing from the box and laid it out on his bed. Here was his uniform, blue slacks and zip up dress coat, black socks, blue tie, white shirt, finger less leather gloves, black shoes and a black leather belt with the Shinra logo on the buckle. Smiling he looked into the box again and pulled the smaller box out and dumped its contents on the bed. There was the phone the instructions mentioned along with the charger and a belt clip. Picking up the charger he plugged it into the wall and the smaller end into his phone, setting it down on his nightstand. It was a flip phone, black and silver and looked very sleek. Returning to his bed he found two pins and right away he knew where to put them. The small silver bar held the tie in place and the second pin went on the right lapel of the jacket, it signified what rank you were and they stayed gold unless you were an Elite, then they went to silver. He attached it precisely where it was supposed to go. He knew their uniform inside and out as well as everything he could learn about them memorized. Remembering he was now being watched he walked over to his window to look for the Turk that was supposed to be watching him. He looked down at the street, looking for the blue van. Not seeing it he began scanning the rooftops, knowing he was being watched and they weren't on the street they would be up high. Sure enough he caught a glint of silver in the setting sun; hiding in the shadows a few houses down across the street was a Turk trying hard to be unseen. Vincent smiled know that the Turk taking surveillance didn't see him looking at him. His smile quickly faded when he heard the front door close and heavy footsteps traipsing through the empty house. Turning on his heels he checked his clock, 5:30p, his dad was home really early and he had a feeling he knew why. Vincent walked over to his bed and sat down, listening to the footfalls on the stairs then right outside his bedroom door. His dad was about to find out the dream Vincent kept secret all these years.
"Vincent" Grimoire called lightly knocking on the door.
"It's open" Vincent answered.
Grimoire turned the knob and walked in, his eyes scanning his sons' bed then landing on the crimson eyes staring at him. Vincent's father never wore a lab coat, instead he wore his beige combat boots, black pants, black shirt and his raven cloak draped over his shoulders with his leather gloves. He wore his hair at his shoulders and it was black as coal, just like his sons. Vincent on the other hand kept his short, except it was longer in the front and it was always in his eyes, it drove his dad crazy. Grimoire had dark red eyes, but no where near the intensity of his sons' bright red ones. Walking over to Vincent's desk he pulled the chair out taking a seat facing Vincent.
"Sunder told me that he heard one of the Turks saying there was a new member coming to them. He said his name was Valentine, since I am the only Valentine working for Shinra my assumption is that new Turk is you" Grimoire said softly.
Vincent dropped his vermillion eyes to the floor, his gut tied up in knots. He had never told his father what he wanted when he graduated and wasn't really ready for this talk, but there his father sat patiently waited his sons answer.
"Yes father" Vincent replied quietly.
Grimoire sighed then spoke.
"I thought so"
"Father, I wanted to tell you"
"Did you know I wanted to be a Turk as well?"
Vincent's eyes snapped up to stare at his father with disbelieving eyes.
"It's true. I wanted to be a Turk once, along time ago"
"What happened" Vincent asked.
"I met a pretty young lady working in the science department. I followed my heart, but I am not surprised at the path you have chosen son."
Vincent knew the woman his father was talking about was his mother, although he didn't have a lot of memories of her. She died when he was a young boy.
Standing Grimoire tucked the chair back under the desk and walked over to the bed admiring the Turk blues laid out before him, then seeing the phone on the nightstand. Vincent looked up at his father.
"Father, I am sorry I hadn't told you"
"Don't worry, I knew for sometime now. I was just waiting for them to see your skills" Grimoire replied.
"Skills?"
"You're an excellent shot son, as well as a great fighter. That was the same reason why I wanted to be a Turk, I am glad you are following your dreams." Grimoire answered with a smile on his face, one Vincent hadn't seen in a long time.
"I took sometime off work to come and see you, but I have to be getting back. Hang that up and turn that on" Grimoire said tossing his head to the suit on the bed. Taking the handle he turned and faced his son again.
"I see you have healed up nicely, goodnight son."
Nodding Vincent watched his door close and listened as this father walked down the stairs and out the front door, closing it quietly behind him.
Sighing loudly Vincent went to his closet and pulled out an empty hanger, putting his uniform on it he hung it over the closet door, smirking. Turning to the window again he saw the sky had darkened considerably but still had the fire orange hue of sunset on the horizon. Vincent leaned down on his window sill and watched the remainder of the sunset, his thoughts wondering. He was thinking of all the things he and his father had done when he was small. He knew how to shoot a gun as soon as he could walk, and as he got older they would play shooting games in the abandoned fields. The older he got the more deadly and intense they got. He was a natural, just like his father was. His mind then went to a memory he had long since forgotten, the last memory of his mother, her funeral. There he stood, in the setting sun, tears rolling freely down his cheek listening to the funeral dirge as the ebony casket was lowered slowly into the sodden ground, never to see the light of day again. Turks, scientists and few family members were in attendance. He looked up at this father who stood strong just like a marble pillar never to be swayed. When Grimoire looked down and saw his sons' tears he knelt down beside him and whispered in his ear:
"She went to the life stream, we will see her again"
Then stood up again, Vincent swore he would never forget those words that his father had said, but over the years he had.
Vincent watched as the little bit of remaining sun hid behind the mountains, nighttime was finally upon him. Peeling himself way from the window he walked over to his bed and sat down, grabbing his phone from the nightstand. Flipping it open he pushed the power button and the darkened screen came to life. The startup screen said "Hello Mr. Valentine" just like his fathers did. All the top scientists were given phones as well. Waiting patiently the background finally appeared. It was solid black with just his last name on it. He then pushed the down button on the keypad to access his phone book, he saw there were already numbers to the other Turks in it as he scrolled the list, he only recognized a few of the names, mainly Rio, Sage and Commander Snow. He then added a few of his own from memory, Valor's, Molly's and his fathers, they were the only ones he would be needing for now. Sitting back he continued scanning the menu on his phone, committing its features to memory when he got his first message, his phone beeping.
"Already" he said out load as he hit the read button.
Hey Valentine! So you're the new Turk
Wow, I know your father! Welcome aboard!
-Shaffer
Vincent shook his head, he knew him too, though only by name. His father spoke of him often, he was his body guard. Vincent pushed the read button again and it sent the message to the Turk folder that was already programmed into his phone. Closing it he set it down on his night stand and went to his desk to study for his finals the next day.