Zoey thought back as one of the newbie's caught the full force of Sephiroth's Super Nova attack. She realized that she should spend her free time in the data room. Having free time today Zoey mentally kicked herself for not asking where the data room was. She didn't even have a general idea where to start her research once she knew. Science within this world was different then the science in her world. She would have to combine her knowledge. Something in the back of her subconscious laughed at the idea.
Zoey was brought back to attention as the newbie's were split up between Genesis and Angeal. Only the less-than screw-ups went to Genesis. The group moved up to Lazard's office. Sephiroth and Reno were already there. Whatever they had been talking about stopped as soon as the newbie's entered. Zoey tried her best not to make eye contact and simply focus upon Lazard.
"After I read your name, floor and dorm number please go to the fiftieth floor for your physical." Zoey's heart sunk. It was only game over if she couldn't sweet talk Hojo out of it. She thought out various phrases. Sooner then she realized she was the last of the group left.
"Nate Xander. You're the first to show up joining Shin-Ra Soldier with a weapon and exceptional ability to fight. You are already fairly disciplined, so tell me. What do you hope to gain by joining Soldier?" Lazard asked leaning upon his desk. Zoey didn't think that one out. She wished she would have picked up a pamphlet from the front desk, they always had all the answers.
"Knowledge of the world, Sir" Zoey said without breaking eye contact. She hoped she had a good poker face. Reno started laughing.
"Reno." Both Sephiroth and Lazard said at the same time. Zoey felt her face heat up from embarrassment. Had she given the wrong answer? Lazard leaned back in his chair and held up a piece of paper.
"Floor 17, dorm ten. Best of luck to you."
"Sir." Zoey quickly turned and walked out of the room. Reno walked after her and stood beside her in the elevator.
"Your file says you've lived in Midgar all your life. I got your file, why not make it easy on both of us and tell me what part." Reno said knowing he'd get what he wanted.
"Slums." Zoey stated looking up at the floor numbers.
"Oh wow…" Reno said a little off tone. "Sorry to hear that." The elevator stopped on the 50th floor. Reno didn't follow Zoey into the room. The elevator closed and she observed Hojo at work. He seemed rather agitated as he was going from paper to paper. He paid no mind to her. Several minutes passed by, or so it seemed.
"Professor Hojo Sir…" that caught his attention. "You seem really busy, do you want to say you did my physical and not actually do it?" She asked with only a small spark of hope.
"Yes that would be best." He said returning full attention to the papers in front of him. "It's 'Doctor' Hojo now if you please. No one has called me professor in years."
"Yes sir, sorry sir." Zoey quickly made her way into the down empty elevator. Zoey had to resist all her urges to start doing happy dances as she reached the 17th floor. She made her way down the hall to the door with the number ten upon it. There was a bed on either side of the white walled room. Small dressers stand beside both beds. Zoey placed her old clothes in the empty top drawl and placed her shoes under her bed. She laid down upon her readymade bed covers and all. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. What a relief. No Mako Transfusions yet and she had finally gotten into soldier. No more worries about basic needs, Zoey could finally focus on getting home, killing chase, and joining the real military so her mother wouldn't be homeless and on the streets. Zoey only prayed her mother wouldn't notice her gone, or at least if she did…she wouldn't worry. Her staff was really uncomfortable to lay on. The sound of her door opening forced Zoey to sit up and open her eyes. It was one of the other newbie's.
"Angeal said that after we visit Hojo for our physical we can do as we please. The other guys already left but do you want to go out and do stuff?" He asked while leaning against the door way. Zoey really just wanted to lie down and sleep, but it pays to have friends. He was one of the bad fighters, but chances were he waited there for her. Zoey slid off the bed.
"Sure." She failed at sounding enthused.
"I'm Eclipse."
"Call me Xander." Eclipse chuckled at this.
"Don't like the name Nate?" Zoey shrugged at this.
"It's okay." She stated while walking past him into the empty hallway. Eclipse's hair reminded Zoey of a longer version of Roxas's only it was bright flaming red. His eyes were a deep blue like Zack's had been. Zoey remembered Zack and Aerith's corny moment at the slum park. She looked up and noticed the camera pointed at them.
"I was thinking of going to my parents house and telling them I made it into Soldier. Afterwards we can go to your parents-"
"Let's not." Zoey said pressing the elevator button.
"Huh?" It appeared Eclipse was thrown off guard.
"We can go to your parents but I'd rather not go to mine."
"Oh…Okay. Then we can play it by ear." Eclipse said happily. As the elevator stopped on their current floor Zoey looked over at him. His smile gave her the creeps. None-the-less she tried her best to return the smile. The two got off at the lobby and left the building together. Zoey placed a hand on her hip as Eclipse led the way. To avoid silence Eclipse chose to tell her his life story. Zoey wasn't sure if she even had to reply in any way.
"So we ended up moving here in Midgar and I felt I needed to do something good with my life. I ended up talking it out and decided Soldier was the way to go. And here I am." He ended his story as they reached the steps of a midsized house. He didn't bother knocking and entered the home. Zoey looked down the street before walking in after him. Zoey closed the door behind er.
"Mom I made it in." His mother came running into the room and hugged her baby boy.
"Oh dear! I knew you had it in you! I'm so proud." His mother nearly shouted with gusto. Zoey smiled and relaxed while standing just inside the entryway. Soldier didn't really require a lot out of their men at all. At least with her world, they had boot camp and basic training they had to do.
"Thanks mom. This is my friend Nate, he just joined too." She left him go and bounded her way over to Zoey. Zoey was surprised when the woman bear hugged her.
"It's so good of you to befriend my son. I'm sure your parents are proud." The woman said before letting Zoey go.
"Where's dad?" Xander asked. His mother turned toward him.
"Oh you know your father, work, work, work. I'll let him know the good news later.
"Brother." A small red headed girl ran and hugged Eclipse. "You won't forget about me while you're a Soldier will you?" He laughed at this as he held her in his arms.
"No of course not silly. Nate here wouldn't possibly let me do that." Zoey's smile widened a little as she took a step toward the two.
"Nope, I'll remind him of you even in his darkest hour." Zoey said. They stayed, sat around, and chatted there for the next two hours. It had been more then long engouh for Zoey to envy his happy life at home. She almost wished to lecture him about wasting his life at Shin-Ra but thought better of it. There was probably a lot more under the surface.
"Well mom, take care, my emtor put a curfew on us. So we have to get back to the base." Eclipse stood up and Zoey's mind was brought back to alertness. Eclipse's mother gave them both a hug goodbye and the two left. It wasn't until they turned off onto another street that Eclipse spoke up again.
"Thanks for not saying anything to her about not having a curfew. I just had to get out of there before my dad came home." He said rubbing the back of his head.
"It's cool. I understand." Zoey gave him a reassuring smile. He returned back with an almost sad smile. Zoey looked up to the night sky. She couldn't see a single star. The silence between the two grew. "Want to talk about it?" She asked looking back at him.
"Not today. Say do you want to train together? We have to put hours in this week and… It'd be cool with an experienced fighter." Something in the back of Zoey's mind went 'I knew it.' instantly.
"Sure why not." Zoey said turning her attention back to the road.
"That's great! Thanks!" Eclipse hugged her for a moment before laughing and slightly jogging down the street. Zoey's eyes showed her surprise and she stood there confused. "Race you back to the Shin-Ra building!" He called out. Zoey stood there unimpressed as Eclipse ran away.
"Crap." Zoey realized she didn't memorize the way her and quickly ran after him. It was only a matter of time until she lost him completely. She looked around the streets for any sign of life. It was only after Zoey had given up that she found an old man unloading crates from his old truck. At least he was trying to. Zoey took the crate from him as he nearly fell over the sidewalk curb.
"Where do you need them?" she asked nicely giving him a smile. He eyed her Soldier clothes before pointing over to the store behind Zoey.
"Just put them all behind the counter." The old man stated. After Zoey was done he wasted no time. "What do you want?" Zoey looked at him confused, for a moment. Thinking it over she worked up her nerve.
"Do you know how to get to the Shin-Ra building from here?" She asked.
"Take a right at the next street." The old man said before laughing and poking fun at her. Zoey didn't bother bidding goodbye as she left. Sure enough as she turned at the next street, she was on Loveless Avenue, which lead to the front of the Shin-Ra building. She paused for a second as she saw the three first class soldiers in front of the theater. This must have been how Link felt as the redead shrieks stopped him in his tracks. The three had been looking her way before, during, and after she noticed them. Zoey had turned her attention away as soon as she made eye contact. Zoey ended up stopping in her tracks directly after that as Eclipse nearly gave her a heart attack.
Man your slow, were you even trying to race or were you using it as a way to get rid of me." He said after bounding in front of her.
"Neither, I was letting you win." Zoey said before brushing past him.
"Right" Eclipse purred as he followed behind her. "So what do you want to do now? He asked boredly.
"I don't know about you but I've had a long day."
"So you want to grab some grub before dozing off." He stated as if he knew how hungry Zoey was. "Time to try out the soldier cafeteria!" He said happily before running ahead to the Shin-Ra building. Not wanting to take the risk of running into the three first class soldiers face-to-face, Zoey sprinted after him. She could only imagine the converstation the three had together. As she ran up the Shin-Ra lobby steps behind him, Zoey had a feeling overcome her. It was as if she was wasting time. Eclipse was winded as he pressed the elevator button.
"Man Nate, why aren't you winded like me? Zoey chucked a little still focus on the subject of time.
"I've had more training then you. So I can run faster and longer then you."
"Oh yeah? Then why don't you." He asked, catching his breath, while stepping into the elevator. Zoey shrugged in response.
"Habit I suppose." She stated. He laughed at this.
"You torture your prey by making them thinking they'll get away don't you." He asked pressing the button to the fourth floor. Zoey grinned.
"I don't know what your talking about. Thoughts erupted in her mind as she went on auto pilot. Depending on how much time she loses here, she might do more then kill Chase right off the bat. Torture sounded nice for the little traitor. If that was truly what he was. What If there was more to this entire situation then what met the eye? Zoey found herself sitting in the middle of the Shin-Ra cafeteria.
"Hey thought I lost you there. So like I was saying there I was in the wasteland fields when this behnomoth comes roaring at me out of nowhere-" Zoey looked down at the plate of food in front of her before eating and paying attention to Eclipse. "Now I was only ten at the time so when I saw that thing, I hit the road so hard it hit back." Zoey laughed with him.
"Nice." She stated as he carried on to another story.
"I know right? There was this time when I was twelve-" Zoey continued to smilke at him but her stare was far off. She wondered about the rules of reality and if Chase's machine did more then more particles. She stated to get a headache.
"Well hey, thanks for hanging out with me today. I should let you grab some Zs" Eclipse said before taking Zoey's empty tray for her and dumping it in the trash.
"It was fun." Zoey said before they road the elevator up to floor 17 together. They parted their ways as Eclipse stopped at room seven. After Zoey entered room ten. She didn't bother to change clothes or remove her staff. She simply laid onto the bed, covers and call, upon her side. A few minutes pasted by and she was out.
An hour and fifteen minutes later Zoey was unhappily awakened. She rubbed her red eyes and stared into the dark until she realized what had woken her up. There was a ruckus going on outside in the hallway. Glaring Zoey recognized one of the yelling voices. Angeal and Genesis were holding back two separate people. One of them being Eclipse. Zoey didn't care to hear what they were yelling at each other about.
"SHUT. UP. Stop Your Fighting Right Now!!" She shouted darkly and everyone in the hallway stopped and looked at her.
"He started it!" Eclipse said quickly.
"He just wouldn't shut up! He doesn't stop talking." The man behind held by Genesis said right afterwards. Zoey assumed it was his roommate.
"Grab your shit Eclipse. I am not going to be woken up by you and your roommate bickering every night." Zoey commanded, as Angeal let Eclipse go. His roommate looked smug. Zoey gave him the death glare. "As for you, you are supposed to be a Soldier. Start Acting like it! You do not fight your peers but give them the respect they deserve." She said and followed Eclipse into her room. She almost felt happy to wipe that smug smile off his face. Zoey felt like a force to be reckoned with, as she closed the door behind her.
"Get back to your rooms." She faintly heard Genesis say. Eclipse looked glum as he sat on the left bed. She sat upon the right.
"I'm sorry-
"Don't be." Zoey said calmly. "Nothing's wrong. It's okay." She stated but he still didn't look up at her. Zoey opened up her top drawl and took out her old clothes. It was time for a bath. Luckily for her there was a bathroom attached to each dorm room. By the time Zoey had gotten out Eclipse had fallen asleep and Zoey managed to get back to sleep two hours after rolling around in bed. Her dreams had been haunted. She had been talking to a black cat. It raised questions like: if she exists in this world, does that mean she's imaginary in her own? Zoey ended up awaking with a headache