Hello again. I'm happy that I was able to get this chapter finished as quickly as I did. Most of my time has been spent holiday shopping and dealing with real life issues. The holidays are upon us and it hit me like a freight train. So much is going on that I don't get much time to write these days. I am happy to say that some stories are getting updates, like this one and so is another which should see an update soon.
There was a reviewer that requested a summary for this title so I'll try to sum it up without taking up too much space.
Previously on Nightmare Undone:
Sephiroth was pulled into the future and confronted a blonde warrior who wasted no time in attacking. Words were exchanged and instead of killing the silverette for a forth time Cloud sensed a changed and together with his friends and the general, formed a plan to change the past. Once back in his own time Sephiroth didn't waste a moment in changing his destiny and that of those around him. Together with the young Cloud Strife, his Second in command, Zack and the early awakened ex-Turk Vincent the group of four left Nibelheim with a plan to prevent the disaster that was meteor from ever happening. Once back in Midgar the First Class warriors set up a plan to get Cloud back into SOLDIER while Vincent pulls some sneaky tactics behind the curtain. What could he be planning?
ENJOY!
Voices. That's all his dreams were. There were many of them all calling for him. Some, like Tifa's sounded familiar, but others he couldn't make out. A few were cheerful but most were fearful, as if they were calling for his help. The only visual he had came towards the last part. He was in a forest at night with children surrounding him. He was on the ground. He looked up to see a sword merely inches away from his throat and as his eyes traveled along the blade he glared at the weapon's owner. A teenager, like himself, but with one startling difference. He had short silver hair and eyes that matched the general's. He smirked down evilly at Cloud and taunted him. "Well if it isn't our Big Brother." He went to strike when a little girl's voice shouted his name and he reacted.
He reached his arm over and woke with a start as he hit the floor. Cloud sat up and rubbed his forehead before looking around. He was in the cadet barracks and it was early, still too early for the morning wake up call, judging by the 3:56 that was showing on the clock. He got off the floor before sitting back on his bunk. Thankfully it had been the bottom one. He let out a small yawn before he focused on that strange dream. It wasn't like anything he'd ever experienced before. Dreams were supposed to be about things that were bothering you or old memories, right? Well he was pretty certain he'd never been in a situation like that. Cloud chose to ignore it for the time being. Dwelling over a dream wouldn't get things done. It was still too early to head out, but that didn't mean he had to go back to sleep. He had thirty minutes which was plenty of time for some early morning exorcise.
By the time the alarm sounded and the other cadets dragged themselves out of bed Cloud had already showered and suited up. The newer cadets shot him glares for making them look bad, but Cloud discovered he could care less about what they thought, even though before he remembered being so self conscious. He wasn't sure where this new wave of confidence was coming from, but he liked it. It helped him carry his head just a little bit higher than before.
Breakfast went by uneventfully and so did the first few classes. It wasn't until weapons class that he felt like he was being watched. He tried to ignore it, but it wasn't easy when it felt like tiny needles pricking into the back of his neck.
. . .
The general had grown tired of paperwork and needed to stretch his legs that morning. Deciding to take a stroll around the compound he eventually made it to the training gym where a group of cadets were having their weapons class. Sephiroth made to continue on when he noticed a cadet with blonde hair aiming a rifle. He recognized Cloud immediately. After his time in the future it was strange to see him wielding a firearm instead of a sword, especially when he knew which weapon suited him best, but he didn't let it bother him. He knew that skill would be mastered in time, especially if Zack's request order was granted.
He went to turn and leave when he noticed the blonde freeze up. The general watched him and he would deny how it surprised him when Cloud turned in his direction and stared right at him. Like a deer noticing the wolf before it could strike. Sephiroth had seen that look before. It was identical from the look the older Cloud had given him, but this time it wasn't laced with hatred. And instead of rushing at him with his weapon the boy stood straight and threw him a salute.
A memory came to Sephiroth then, from when he had asked Cloud's group where they'd be had things not gone so wrong and Cloud's response echoed in his mind:
"What about you? Where would you be?"
"I'd be under your command in the infantry. I was deployed with you and Zack to Nibelheim. Most likely I'd still be in the infantry to this day if things hadn't gone wrong."
Sephiroth nodded his greeting to the cadet as he walked out of the doorway before the other cadets could spot him. His presence always made them nervous and so he was always careful to avoid them, especially when training with loaded guns. His enhanced hearing did pick up their voices as he headed away.
"Was that the general?"
"Probably, why else would the new guy salute like that?"
"Shut up! He might still be watching somewhere! Hurry and start shooting. Maybe we'll get some extra points if he approves."
The general smirked slightly with amusement. He never accepted the praise for all he had done to earn his many titles, however merely 'blessing them with his presence' was enough to make everyone try harder to perform at their best was a nice perk, even if some were too nervous to aim properly.
He had found a side window where the cadets wouldn't notice him and watched for a moment longer. Most were average with a firearm, though a few were struggling and one cadet didn't brace himself for the kickback. Cloud however handled it like a pro. It only made sense, seeing as how he was previously in the infantry. He had wanted to stay and see how he handled a sword, but his time was limited and he needed to get back to his office soon. Besides, he would always find out later from Zack.
Later came sooner than he expected.
It was just after one in the afternoon when Zack burst through his office door. Sephiroth didn't even react aside from looking up. It was extremely hard to surprise him. Zack's expression however was a close attempt. Instead of that cheerful grin his face was white as a sheet. "Seph, we've got a problem."
"What is it?"
"It's the Turks. They want him!"
Sephiroth was quickly losing his patience. "Zack, calm yourself and start from the beginning."
Zack took a deep breath and complied. "I overheard Rude talking with another Turk about a new potential recruit. Naturally being the curious guy that I am I listened in from around the corner. They were talking about a guy from the infantry who had taken down a target by tracking him and then executing the arrest with precise efficiency."
"Go on," Sephiroth urged.
Zack ran a hand through his hair before continuing. "The person he was talking to seemed interested and asked for a name and Rude said 'Strife'. They headed off down the hall, still talking, but I was too nervous to follow. I had to find out for myself if that was true and I dug into the mission reports and sure enough Cloud did take down a guy as Rude said."
Unable to control his nervous energy he started pacing back and forth. "This is really bad. Cloud can't be a Turk! You've got to make him a SOLDIER now before they get him!"
Sephiroth just sat there watching his lieutenant slowly descend into madness. "Calm yourself Zackary. I can't just make him a Third without raising suspicion. He just started his first day as a cadet. That would certainly catch their attention. Right now they're only interested in his skill."
"But Seph, you told us what his skill can be. Strong enough to beat you? Do you know what would happen if they tapped into that power?"
"You make it seem like he's a wild animal incapable of thinking for himself," the general replied. "He's not stupid. He probably just wanted to have a good mark on his record to explain why he'd be accepted back into SOLDIER."
"Yeah, well he overdid it." Zack was trying to calm himself, but he was having a difficult time of it. Then he realized something. "Maybe Vincent had something to do with it."
"He hasn't been seen since we left Nibelheim," Sephiroth replied.
"Cloud told me Vincent took him out of the city the other night," the ravenette blurted out.
"Oh," inquired the general.
"But it was weird. He couldn't remember much of the encounter. He only told me that Vincent had taken him out of the city and the next thing he knew he was outside of a bar with Reno dragging him back here."
"It sounds like Vincent has some explaining to do," Sephiroth replied.
"Want me to search for him," asked Zack.
"No, you're job is to keep Strife close. I've already written up a student transfer request so you can mentor him. That should keep the Turks off his trail for a while, but you have to prove he's pure SOLDIER material and not a perfect candidate for the Turks. You know which skills separate us from them. I expect you know what to do."
Zack saluted him. "Yes sir, but what about Vincent?"
"I'll handle him and the Turks."
"You sure you can handle all that," asked Zack.
Sephiroth gave him a cold stare which made Zack give a nervous chuckle. "Right, I forgot who I was talking to."
. . .
After classes had ended for the day the cadets milled about the locker rooms, cleaning up and chatting with their peers. Cloud had just opened his locker when another cadet clapped a hand on his bare shoulder. "Nice sword skills out there new guy, I'll bet our teacher didn't expect anyone to have good reflexes with a sword this early."
Cloud returned the compliment with a small smirk and a shrug on his shoulders. "I was in the infantry before this and I had my fair share of battles against a sword."
"Well keep it up man and you'll have a good shot for SOLDIER this time around." He waved a farewell before leaving the locker room. Cloud threw on a clean cadet uniform shirt and did the same.
He barely got two steps outside the door when he heard a commotion coming from further down the hall.
"But why would someone like you hang around cadets like us," asked a cadet.
"Yeah, doesn't someone of your rank have more important things to do," asked another.
The voice that answered made Cloud shake his head with a grin.
"Oh come on, all SOLDIERs were cadets once, even Sephiroth. Don't let rank scare you. Heck I'm only a few years older than you guys. Just because I'm a First doesn't mean I can't hang out with guys my own age. Besides, Seph's in his mid twenties. That's like ancient."
"You really think that's an old age," asked one cadet.
"Sure," Zack replied. "Why else would he have a head full of gray hair?"
The cadets couldn't help but laugh as Cloud approached. "You better not let him catch you saying that."
"What, are you gonna rat on me," asked Zack.
"No," he replied simply. "I'm also not going to lie for you."
The other cadets looked at Cloud in surprise. "Wait, you know this SOLDIER?"
Zack smiled as he answered for the cadet. "Sure he does. He's a good pal of mine. Ain't that right Spiky?"
"Someone's got to watch your back when you're not looking," Cloud replied.
The other cadets just stared at him and Zack noticed it was making the blonde uncomfortable.
"Come on guys, it's not like he's a total noob. He was in the infantry before. Naturally that means he took the cadet course before. If I were you guys I'd ask him to be my study partner for the written finals. He's even had real field experience so he'll be a shoe-in for SOLDIER."
Cloud knew what he was doing and by the looks of the cadets Zack's plan worked. He wouldn't be getting bullied this time around. "But you guys can fight over him later, I need a word with him about a previous mission."
With that he wrapped an arm around Cloud's shoulder and walked off, leaving the cadets to gossip to their heart's content.
"Thanks for that, but I don't really let bullies bother me anymore. Besides, it hasn't happened this time around," Cloud told him once they were out of earshot.
"I know, but I was just making sure," the SOLDIER replied before getting serious. "Hey, remember the last mission you had as an infantryman?"
"The Nibelheim one," asked Cloud.
"No, the one where you tracked down that guy and tackled him," Zack told him. "Don't do anything like that again."
"Why?"
"Because you ended up on the Turk's radar. They're interested in recruiting you."
Cloud's eyes widened at that. "But, I don't want to be a Turk."
"I hate to say it, but you won't have a choice if they get their way. They're an elite group and it's not exactly something you can refuse once offered."
The blonde stopped walking and looked down. "I can't be a Turk."
Zack gently squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. We're working on a plan to make sure they never get their claws on you. With any luck I'll become your mentor and they can't touch you then."
"My mentor," asked Cloud.
Zack nodded with a bright smile. "Yep. I'm gonna train you to be the best SOLDIER you can be. I'll teach you everything I know and then some! Before long this company will have three First Class SOLDIERs again."
"First? Zack, isn't that a bit of a stretch? I'm not exactly First Class material."
Zack shook his head. "And you think I was? I worked hard to get my rank, and you will too. Unless you'd rather wear a blue suit and shiny shoes?"
Cloud shook his head and Zack couldn't help but laugh. "Then it's settled. You aim for First and never give up on that dream no matter what."
"Alright, fine. I'll try for First," Cloud relented which earned a big smile from Zack.
"That's my chocobo. Come on, I'm starving. What do you say we grab a bite to eat? My treat."
