Happy New Year Everyone!
I can't believe 2016 is gone and I say good riddance. There was plenty of good things that happened, but also plenty of bad and I'm glad its in the past. Time for a fresh start and so far its lookin' good! I don't want to toot my horn too early, but I think the dark cloud that's been plaguing me is moving off. Already I've solved some major issues with a story that had a giant hole in it. Things are looking very good for that title so I don't have to worry about it so much.
I'm enjoying FFXV a lot and have been playing it like crazy. I can't wait for all this extra DLC stuff to come out for it and from what I've seen in a video Noctis gets to fight the CEO of Square Enix? Wait whut? I hope we get to play that boss fight.
This year I have a good feeling about some of my older stories. I'm not setting any new year's goal for them, because...yeah that never works, but I promise I will try. Life only gets harder as you get older and it doesn't help when it constantly throws stuff at you, but I digress. Here's to a new year and a fresh start!
Enjoy!
With that business out of the way Tseng headed back to his own branch's headquarters to see how things had been taken care of while he was away. He hadn't been too keen on the idea of leaving Rude in charge, but nothing too serious needed their attention, so he assumed nothing too series would arise. Turns out he was right.
When he got there he noticed that a meeting had just wrapped up. Rude was taking some papers and knocking them on the desk to straighten them while Reno looked bored out of his mind and Cissnei was headed out of the room through a side door.
Tseng approached Rude and cleared his throat. "I trust everything's been kept in order during my absence?"
Rude turned and Reno looked up. "Yo! If it ain't our noble leader returned from the battlefield! How many heads did you roll?"
Tseng turned and started at him. "Your head will roll if you don't stop addressing me as an equal. I am your boss now. You can either deal with it or leave the Turks."
Reno huffed at that. "Pfft, we all know you can't leave the Turks, so nice try. I'll try to tone it down, though I can't make any promises."
Rude decided to help his partner out of yet another tight spot. "Sir, everything ran smoothly. The assigned target has been kept under watch on rotation. When we cannot watch her then Lieutenant Fair has been assigned to make sure she remains safe."
"Very well," Tseng replied. "And did you find any suitable possibilities to add to our numbers?"
Rude nodded, "Three sir."
Tseng motioned for the list and Rude handed it to him. Tseng looked up each file before making his final decision. "These two have potential, but they wouldn't pass the trial. This one on the other hand may stand a fair chance."
He handed Rude the file and the man couldn't help but smirk slightly. "I thought you'd pick him. However if you're going to recruit him you had best do it soon. I heard he had been reinstated from his position in the infantry to SOLDIER cadet. It seems the general also sees the potential in him."
Tseng shook his head before heading out. "Sephiroth always gets first pick. This time it's our turn." And with that he left.
. . .
In a single afternoon the First Class SOLDIER and cadet had gone from occasional friends to best pals. They had trained like dogs and by the end of the session not only could Cloud swing a sword, but he could pull off some decent combos too. Deflecting enemy strikes was his best attribute, which said a lot coming from someone wielding a buster sword like Galatine, and he wasn't too bad at aerial strikes either. Zack was pleased, but with himself just as equally as he was with Cloud's progress. Unbeknownst to the blonde, Zack had been slowly training any Turk potential out of him. It wasn't completely gone, but the Turks definitely wouldn't be as impressed the next time they watched him.
They had just gotten off the train station and were heading back to the compound when Tifa phoned them, inviting them over for dinner.
"Hey, looks like she's got the hots for ya Romeo," Zack teased.
"Lay off, she's just a friend," Cloud replied with a grunt.
Zack chuckled before slapping Cloud hard on the back, creating a big cloud of dust. "Yeah right, you say that but your face says 'oh wow she really likes me. I'm so happy'."
"Sh-shut up," the blonde replied turning his face away.
Zack's chuckle turned into full-fledged laughter. "Oh man! I bet if your face wasn't caked with dirt you'd be redder than a Gongagan Tomato!"
Cloud turned the corner and didn't bother to warn Zack who ran right into the newspaper stand and hit his shin. He uttered a swear word as he tried to catch up to his friend who was smiling.
"Serves you right."
"Aw c'mon, and after I taught you that little sword trick, that's how you're gonna thank me?"
Cloud shrugged his shoulders. "No. I'm going to thank you by not telling the general you were goofing off today instead of working."
Zack blinked in confusion. "Wait, when'd you set up a meeting with Sephiroth?"
"Earlier when you went off to fight some monsters because you were 'so hyped you just had to kill something'," he finished while making quotation marks with his hands.
Zack gave him a devious look and returned the gesture. "Oh, you mean when you needed to take a break because you were so out of breath you 'felt like you were going to pass out'?" He chuckled when Cloud rolled his eyes and shrugged, but didn't say anything in defense before Zack focused on their more serious conversation. "So solo, or does he want to see both of us?"
Again Cloud shrugged. "He didn't mention you, so I'm guessing solo."
Once they reached Shinra HQ they split up to head to their own quarters to get cleaned up before they reconvened a half hour later. Cloud was wearing some of the few civilian clothes he had brought from home which was a black T-shirt and some dark cargo pants while Zack sported a clean SOLIDER First uniform. Cloud gave him a look, but didn't question it as they headed towards Tifa's apartment.
. . .
Aerith was helping Tifa make a batch of cupcakes for when the boys arrived. Tifa had been out picking up a few groceries after her lunch with Aerith when she sent Cloud the dinner invite and the flower girl mentioned how much Zack like his sweets. "How's the stew coming along," asked Aerith as Tifa lifted the lid. "About another ten minutes."
"I'm sorry I'm not better help," Aerith replied.
"What are you talking about, you're helping plenty," Tifa replied as he pointed to the bag of potato peels that Aerith had cut.
"I mean with the actual cooking. I can grow flowers and peel potatoes, but I'm useless when it comes to actually cooking the food," she admitted.
Tifa shook her head. "It just takes practice. If you come over every once in a while I'll teach you if you'd like. Then you can surprise Zack with a nice meal when he's not expecting it," she added with a smile.
Aerith nodded her thanks before Tifa noticed the worried frown on her face. "What's wrong?"
The flower girl blinked and the expression vanished. "Nothing, I just felt something was off." When she was met with a confused look she rephrased her words, "Nothing with the food or anything. Just that…I'm not sure how to put it. When we were shopping for clothes earlier it felt like déjà vu. I know we've never met until today, but it felt so familiar like we've done something involving fancy clothes before."
"Maybe it was the dresses," Tifa suggested.
"Maybe, but I can't get the image of a blonde wearing purple out of my head."
Tifa only shrugged. "Well, I only know one blonde and he wouldn't be caught dead wearing purple. Maybe it was one of the display manikins?"
"Probably," she replied. "I'm just thinking too hard. It happens sometimes."
Tifa sensed there was more she wasn't saying, but she wasn't about to pressure her. "How are the cupcakes looking?"
Aerith looked through the oven's window as she turned on the light and remembered Tifa's instructions. "They look alright…not quite done yet."
There was a knock at the door and Tifa smiled as she turned the stove down a bit for the stew to simmer, "perfect timing."
Aerith headed over to the door and threw it open. "Zack!" She happily jumped into the strong arms that threw themselves open as Zack lifted her and spun in a circle.
"Talk about a sight for sore eyes," he replied as she planted a kiss on his forehead. He set her down gently as he looked over at his friend, but before he introduced him he was surprised by the stunned expression on Cloud's face.
As soon as he saw her Cloud felt this sudden wave of emotions that were too many to comprehend at once and the worst part was he couldn't figure out why. He felt sheer joy that was laced with regret and sorrow which was followed by happiness and warmth when he saw her interacting with Zack. It seemed so right to see them together, yet at the same time it was strange to see them like this as if it was weird that they were alive.
"Hey, you okay buddy," Zack asked as he waved his hand in front of his face. It seemed to work as Cloud snapped back to reality.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing, I'm just hungry," he lied.
"Well you in luck, because dinner's ready," came Tifa's voice as the men entered. Tifa suddenly turned and glared at Zack while pointing her cooking spoon at him. "Excuse me, take off those dirty boots and leave them by the door. I'm not going to have you mess up this nice apartment."
"Yes, ma'am," Zack replied before doing as she ordered. Cloud already knew better.
"Sorry we're late," he replied, noting the time on the wall and realizing they were thirty minutes late.
"Yeah, we would have been here on time, but it's impossible to get all of the grime from the slums off in just one wash," Zack added.
Tifa rolled her eyes at him before turning off the burner. "Well, in any case the food's ready. Come and grab a bowl. We're baking cupcakes in the oven for desert."
Zack perked up at the mention of that, but Tifa shot him a look, "after dinner."
Aerith had already set the table and was now pulling out cups. "What would you like to drink," she asked Cloud.
"Water's fine," he replied. He couldn't shake the feeling of regret whenever he looked at her and what bothered him was he couldn't understand why. She seemed to notice his feelings and gave him a sad look in return. "You don't look like you're feeling well. Would you rather do this another time?"
Cloud blinked and shook his head. "No, I'm not sick. I…I guess I'm just tired."
"Aw come on, I wasn't that hard on ya. Just wait until you get mako pumping through your veins. Things only get crazier from there," Zack called from the stove. He started to open the oven door when he thought no one was looking to snatch a cupcake when Tifa smacked his hand. "I said after!"
He whimpered as he sulked over to the table before Aerith poured him a drink and sat next to him and kissed his hand. "There there. I'll make sure you get two when they're ready."
Zack instantly brightened up at that. "You're the best!"
Dinner went by without any problems and the four had a good time. The troubling feelings left Cloud alone amid the friendly atmosphere and Zack made sure everyone was in high spirits. Taking two straws he managed to stick them up his nose while the other ends were in his mouth. "Bet you didn't think you invited a pig for dinner," he told the girls as he made grunts and snorts like a pig.
Tifa and Aerith couldn't stop laughing while Cloud pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head in embarrassment. Zack saw this and looked for the oven mitt which was yellow and was designed to look like chocobo feathers. "Who let the chocobo loose," Zack asked as he stuck the mitt over Cloud's head.
"Knock it off," the blonde replied as he fought Zack's attempts to snap a picture on his PHS. "Oh this is so going on my fanclub page!"
Aerith tried to be nice and not giggle, but Tifa was almost falling out of her chair she was laughing so hard. The fun ended in the form of a text message that Cloud received on his own PHS. It was from the general and Cloud felt panicked as he looked up at the clock and realized he was running late. "Oh man, I am so dead."
Zack patted his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry, he won't be too hard on you, just expect a lecture and maybe a few missions you'll hate. He won't try to kill you or anything."
Cloud apologized and said farewell to Tifa and Aerith before heading out. Zack stayed behind for a bit longer and promised he'd walk Aerith home before he headed back to the compound.
. . .
It was another twenty minutes before Cloud arrived on the correct floor. He followed the directions passed a few numbered doors which were bulletproof with thick clouded glass. As he came up to the correct number he approached it only to jump back as it swooshed open.
Cloud entered the training room and looked around but was confused when the room was empty. The general said to meet him there, so he had expected the silverette to already be there, unless he had made the general wait too long. He pulled out his PHS and was about to message the general when suddenly the door swooshed shut behind him and locked. Cloud turned and banged on the door. "Hey! What's going on? General?"
The lights flashed red as he heard machines whirring and humming to life. He knew this was a simulator room so he knew if he didn't put on the headphones the mission couldn't start. However a few security drones rose up from the floor which caught Cloud by surprise. He had come across these on his patrols back in the infantry, but he was a far cry away from the reactors where they were normally stationed. They aimed their lasers at him and Cloud's eyes widened as they lit up his chest.
He dodge-rolled out of the way in time as they fired their guns that left an indent in the door and the damage told him two things: One - he would need something strong to break down the door and escape and Two - the drones were firing real bullets.
They aimed at him again and it was all he could do to keep dodging. He had no weapon on him. The sword he had used earlier had been returned and since he wasn't an infantryman anymore he didn't have a rifle on him. He put his new training with Zack to work and kept dodging while trying to find the best spot to get out. Maybe if he could reach the vents? He was still small enough to crawl through old Shinra ducts.
Cloud saw his chance to run when he dodged again and landed right in front of a drone. Some would freeze up this close to the enemy, and Cloud might have if this had happened a few weeks back, but things were different now. Zack had been training him, the general told him he had a destiny and most of all there was this new drive he had which helped him out. He still couldn't explain the feeling, only that he would get these instincts and have this basic knowledge which everyone else played off as common sense.
He forced the drone to swipe low and he jumped up, landing on its flat head and used it as a spring board to jump onto another before launching himself towards the vent. Suddenly all of the drones turned and fired at the vent, cutting off Cloud's path and forcing him to fall back down.
He landed hard on his side and froze when the lights lit him up once more. The very instant they fired a voice screamed in his mind.
JUMP!
Cloud leapt into the air and avoided the shots. He rolled into a landing and glared at the enemy as his warrior spirit awakened. He grabbed a drone's arm which triggered it to fire and Cloud turned it on the other drones, destroying three of the ten. He then pulled the gun free and aimed it at the others.
Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching the scene play out in the control room. "That's right. Complete the mission the Turk way."
Cloud was about to pull the trigger when the voice in his head returned. Are you a Turk? Then drop the gun. Zack taught you better than that.
The blonde's eyes went wide as he realized what was happening. This was a Turk ploy. He didn't know how he knew, but he could just feel it deep within. A Turk was behind this. Possibly the one who wanted to recruit him and this was just a test to see if he had the right stuff. Well Cloud did have the right stuff, but not for their group.
He threw the weapon down and returned to dodging without fighting back. Eventually someone had to come looking for him. He just had to hold out until then.
From the control room Tseng glared at the actions the kid was taking. "You can't refuse this trail."
The drones became more aggressive and Cloud was having a more difficult time avoiding them. Finally his speed started to slow and he ended up getting hit; twice in the arm and once in the leg. He fell, holding his arm as the drones lit him up again. Tseng was about to push the command for them to fire when the door came crashing through striking one of the drones, destroying it.
A shadowed figure stood in the doorway, but it didn't remain there for very long. In a blur of motion general Sephiroth flew through the room swinging his blade, cutting each drone clean in half in one fell swoop before landing next to Cloud and glaring at the monitor. "It's over Tseng. This has gone far enough."
Tseng pushed a button allowing his voice to broadcast through the room. "This is a standard application test, nothing more. You had no business interfering."
Sephiroth glared at the monitor. "An application requires the subject to willingly apply. I'm aware that this cadet has done no such thing."
"When it comes to the Turks there is no choice. Candidates are selected based on skill and you've had your fair share general."
Sephiroth pointedly put himself between Cloud and the direction of the control room. "Unfortunately for you, Lieutenant Fair has already requested to mentor this cadet and the process was completed an hour ago. Cadet Cloud Strife is now Zack's Protégé."
Sephiroth then turned to look down at the cadet and noticed his injuries. He kneeled down and pulled out his own mastered cure materia and began healing his injuries. Cloud's first instinct was to flinch away from the general's touch, though he wasn't sure why. Then again most of his first instincts didn't make much sense to him these days.
"Why did you come here," asked the general.
"I got a text message from you telling me to meet you here," the blonde replied.
Sephiroth finished the spell and then stood to stare at the room. Cloud wondered if the person standing on the other side was pissing his pants because it was the most frightening he had ever seen the general. It would have easily killed a Nibel dragon with a glance, of that he was certain.
"The Turks get away with many things, but impersonating a high-ranking member of SOLDIER is not one of them. Nothing gave you the right."
"The Turks have far more right than any warrior. General, with all due respect, you may be the company's strongest warrior, but you do not possess the high skill set that the Turks do. We have been around longer than you have and we shall be around long after you are gone."
"What's that supposed to mean," asked Cloud who stood up, now that his wounds were healed.
There was a pause before Tseng replied with a single word: "Classified."
Sephiroth sent one last glare over his shoulder before motioning for Cloud to lead the way out. "This isn't over Tseng."
Tseng watched them go with a determined glare. "You're quite right general, it isn't."
