A cadet with bright red hair wondered down the halls of the Shinra building. Reno had been a SOLDIER cadet just over four mouths now. He got three square meals a day, a warm bed, a small amount of hot water and no longer had to steal and worry where his next meal was going to come from yes life was good!
His peers did not speak to him as they were all too frightened to talk to a slum rat in case he bit them, and Reno loved it.
He could cut in line, copy off homework and thanks to his past of being a slum dweller he could win a spar without lifting a finger.
Live was good.
But it could be better. In the world he grew up in he found that knowledge was power. Reno knew that there was no way he was getting into SOLDIER by himself. If he gained the right blackmail for the right people he would fly through the ranks of SOLDIER and never have to work a day for the rest of his life.
But first he needed that information. He had to get into the Shinra database; there was no way that Shinra would keep all of its dirty secrets on hard copies that was just common sense.
Then his eyes caught a flash of bright yellow in the corner. He turned to get a better look.
What?
He had to rub his eyes. Little lonely Cadet Strife was being pulled by his arm to a practice room by no other then the second class SOLIDER Zack Fair.
Jackpot.
Screw computers he was going to use a chocobo instead.
He turned on his heels, he had a new room to move into.
Zack pushed the little cadet into a practice room and locked the door behind them, he placed his hands on his hips and looked at the cadet who was about five feet away, Strife had his arms folded and was looking at the floor.
Zack stood there looking at Strife. How did someone of his size survive mako treatments?
"So you got a name?"
The boy still looked at the ground when he relayed "Cloud Z-sir"
"Okay Cloud first thing call me Zack"
The cadet smiled as he looked up and nodded. Yep that's mako alright! Zack let his hands fall to his sides the cadet then filched and looked back at the floor. He was hiding it too but not doing a very good job, Zack shook his head and smiled.
"Second I just want to ask you one question"
"...sure " Cloud stilled his eyes were locked on his boots and Zack was pretty sure he stopped breathing.
"What's up with your eyes Cloud? Are you like an undercover SOLIDER? Do you have extra speed and strength? Are you some kind of a test Angeal is putting me through to get to first? How much mako did Dr creepy give you? I bet that wasn't fun"
Cloud let a breath out that he did not know that he was holding. From what he remembered Zack was one of the most gullible people he had ever met. Why was he so worried, Zack was not going to sell him out.
"I have a high level of mako in my blood stream which in turn makes my eyes glow, no I am not an undercover SOLDIER, Yes I do have the same benefits as a SOLDIER, No I am not a test set by your mentor and Hojo has come no were near me and will stay as far from me as possible. Lastly I fell in a mako spring a few years ago."
"And your still alive spiky man you must be a tuff cookie! And don't worry this can be our little secret so don't lose any sleep about the science department like I am going to sell out my new friend!" Zack put his arm around Clouds neck.
Cloud smiled.
"Now just because you're a mini SOLDIER does not mean you're going to fly in the ranks I suggest you hold back your strength in lessons and start wearing that cadet helmet. Now let's begin with your training..."
"Hey Zack"
"Yes Spiky?"
"Thank you" Zack smiled
"No problem go get a practice sword and I can start to teach you"
And that was the moment Cloud made his choice to stay and train for SOLDIER.
His training session with Zack had made him miss a full day of lessons winch was a good thing because he lacked the knowledge of where he had to be. He decided that he would have to hack into a computer so he could memorize his timetable. He had the skill thanks to an ex-Turk who happens to be a very good teacher in Cloud opinion.
Cloud was surprised how good of an actor he was. He found it easy to downplay his knowledge on swordplay and with his body lacking muscle it turned into his benefit for once. A few mistakes he was making were not all on purpose.
"Right that's it of today Cloud" Zack smiled as he put the wooden practice swords back.
Cloud was out of breath he was tried, hunger and caked in sweat but could not be happier. All he could manage was a weak smile and a nod.
Zack laughed and patted Cloud on the back.
"You see Spick us SOLDIERS don't get off scot free with mako when it comes to training. If you don't put the effort in then you may as well have none of that green stuff in you"
I know Zack. Cloud through to himself but better stick to his storey.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, not many people know that SOLDIERS have to work as hard or even harder to get strength and the mako in our blood will only work if we put a hell of a lot of effort into it!"
Addles you don't have to do it twice.
"Understand Spick?"
More than you will ever know.
"Yes" Cloud whispered
"Great!" Zack turn his attention to the small digital clock on the wall. "Looks like you got half an hour before dinner so you have time to grab a shower.
Unaware to both Cloud and Zack, a figure had just entered the room behind the one way mirror for the training room.
"Thanks" Cloud smiled and when to the door, but was stopped by a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Here" Zack handed Cloud a cadet helmet. Cloud looked down at the big lump of metal that was supposed to be a part of the cadet uniform.
"You not going to keep that secret for long if you walk around showing your head off to every person you pass, the glow might be dim but it is noticeable when people look you in the eyes. There always keep a spear in here you may as well take it is not like people are going to miss it"
Cloud sighed and reached for his helmet and placed it on his head.
"There how do I look?" Cloud asked
"Like just another faceless cadet" Zack replied
Cloud smiled and left the room and sending a wave Zack's way before he left.
"You're going to go far Cloud Strife, I just know it!" Zack said as he left the room aswell, five minutes after Cloud.
Behind the glass a man in a black suit became interested.
Cloud had no intention of going to his room, as he had no idea where it was. So he took a detour heading to the office falls. He entered the elevator and chooses one of the lower floors. It would be unlikely to need a large amount of clearance to get a cadet's timetable right?
But before he could get to his goal the elevator began to slow down on the next floor down. Cloud quickly pushed a button to one of the Cadet's floors and stepped to the other side of the small space. Looks like he was going to miss dinner at the mess hall great!
The doors open to reveal no other then a black suit.
Just my luck, huh? Cloud thought to himself. As the man was no other then Tseng. Avoiding eye contact Cloud stood to attention.
"SIR!"
"At ease cadet" Tseng's eyes scanned Cloud and he found he was a bit disappointed the cadet looked like nothing out of the ordinary yet again don't all Turks look like that?
The door closed and Tseng pushed the button to go to the Turk's floor only to see two buttons already pressed, one a cadet floor and the other the Human recourses office?
Tseng was growing tired of SOLDIER getting first pick of the recruits and if Tseng's theory as true that Cloud did have mako. Then having a Turk with those abilities could come to a huge advantage. Also if a second class was impressed by this one then he would have to do some research as to why that was right? And if he happens to like what he saw in the kid then why not have him join? Also how did he get mako in the first place without joining SOLIDER?
"Tell me cadet why are you here and not at the cafeteria? If my memory services me right it is time for cadets to consume there evening meal it's it?"
The cadet did not move or give any signs of discomfit as he spoke his lie.
"I am just coming back from posting a letter home sir"
Behind his emotionless face alarm bells were going off around Cloud's brain no Turk made small talk without a goal in mind! Cosmos why do you hate me! But alias he could hid his face there was no way Tseng could find out who he was without a name and a face right?
"What's your name cadet?"
Damn it!
"Swift Sir Karl Swift." Cloud quickly replied there was no way he was going to have a Turk on his back the first day! And why was the elevator taking so long?
The Cadet was not a good lair. But why lie? Any other Cadet would be bragging about a training session with a SOLDIER. Before Tseng could continue that through the elevator came to a stop and he walked out. But just before the doors closed he stopped them with his arm. Strife was not getting away that easily.
"Sent my regards to SOLDIER Fair Cadet Cloud Strife" and with that his arm fell to his side and he walked down the corridor with a small smile on his lips.
Cloud on the other had been trying his best not to punch a hole in the wall out of frustration.
Golden fingers slipped out from under a thick coffin lid. And with little effort Vincent pushed opened his resting place and sat up. The red eyed man took in his surrounding it was dark and damp cleanly not one of the best places he had ever lived in.
The Ex-Turk was confused. Why did he feel the need to wake from his slumber? Didn't he belong in darkness? For all the wrong he had done, what right did he have to walk among the people of Gaia? Maybe it would be best for him to return to his slumber. He pushed his human hand to his chest. He found nothing. He was dead no heartbeat no pulse no nothing. Feeling could never affect his body he was a true monster.
-If you are a monster Vincent then I wonder what I am- Chaos's deep voice chuckled in his mind.
Vincent did not respond, he got up and reached for the coffin lid that lay on the floor.
-So I guess you do not want to know the purpose of your awakening then? You would let your friend go through hell alone? At the hands of that madman, I guess Hojo was right you truly are a failure Vincent-
"What are you saying demon?"
Chaos laughed echoed in his mind
-You do not remember him? If you forgot Vincent then there is no hope for the others-
"Don't play with me Chaos speak you words or remain silence!"
-If you want to do the right thing Vincent then go to Midgar, find him help him he needs a friend now more than anything.-
"If a friend of mine needs my aide then why would you tell me? You have spoken only insults to me sine we met so why should I trust your word demon?"
-Because I know the pain of being without your equal. I know what it is like to lose everything you care for, after the war with her I have come to see that harmony is worth the struggle and is needed to balance out discord-
Vincent was shocked never in his life did he think that Chaos would feel anything but bloodlust and what Chaos had said to him was a confession had this demon really felt the same pain? Does he understand?
-Enough of that human! I believe we have a long journey ahead of use stop wasting time-
Vincent's face gave a small hint of a smile he liked being called human but he would never admitted it. He stepped out of the room where he had spent so much wasted time. He knew not to question Chaos as too many could lead to a tantrum that could make a five year old jealous.
-I can still hear you Vincent-
"Be quiet."
Leather creaked as Sephiroth clenched his fists. It had not been a satisfying meeting with his two friends that morning, it was decided that Genesis would lead the war in Wutai. Angeal was to remain in Midgar and would be called to Wutai if needed. He was to stay here, he was so tired of sitting at his desk he had not been in battle in over a week.
His weekly meeting with Genesis and Angeal in the training room have become infrequent, with only himself and Angeal showing for the past four meetings. He had noticed that Genesis has been wincing in pain with his left shoulder lately, could that miner wound form there last spar not of healed? He would have stopped Genesis from going to Wutai if not for the relief that he had found on his old friend's face, but why was Genesis so set on Wutai? What was he up to?
"Sephiroth" Lazard's voice tore his attention away from the window; he'd been watching the city of Midgar for the past half an hour for no reason, lost in thought.
"What is it you need director?" He greeted smoothly, avoiding acknowledging his distraction. Truthfully, he had no recollection of the blonde man arriving.
Sephiroth returned to his desk chair and continued his paperwork while awaiting Lazard to answer him, studying the paper in frown of him intently.
"You look frustrated." Came Lazard's response.
"You're worried about me director? I assure you I am indifferent," Sephiroth assured him for what felt like the hundredth time. It very well may have been. "You should take your concern to Genesis he is the one that has not been himself as of late."
"He's not my only SOLDIER Sephiroth. Anyway his problem will come in to the light sooner or later and a few months away from Shinra will do him the world of good he will never admit it but he is still a country boy at heart."
Sephiroth still did not look up from his paperwork.
"Moving on I may have a task to take you away from your desk a few hours a week what do you say Sephiroth?"
"I say to never walk into something blind" Sephiroth answered.
"Of course" came Lazard's reply. "You see Sephiroth as most of the SOLDIERS are to join Genesis in the war, I have found that we are a little under staffed, I have a request that you take on a few cadet classes"
Sephiroth locked his eyes with Lazard's his expression remained the same as he responded "Not interested."
"Why is that General" Lazard looked Sephiroth right in the eye refusing to back down. Sephiroth may be the General of SOLDIER and the strongest man on the planet, but this did not faze him as if Shinra's poster boy liked it or not he was not going down without a fight. He needed Sephiroth to be busy if himself and Doctor Holland were going to stand a chance in their plans, it was very likely Sephiroth would catch wind of his devices if he kept looking over the paperwork, and a large amount of funding missing would be a big clue.
"Why would I waste my time teaching those that stand no chance of becoming SOLDIER? I have looked at this years set of recruits and I will tell you now Director that none of them will even last a year and there will all end up apart of the Security dependent"
Any response Lazard was going to use was cut off by a knock on the General's door.
"Enter" came Sephiroth cold voice
"Gentlemen I do not hope I am interrupting something important" Lazard snorted a Turk? What would a Shinra's lap dog want with the General?
"Tseng, what business to you have here" Staying quit Lazard watched as Sephiroth's eyes narrowed; observing in amusement the long conflict between a SOLDIER and a Turk was always good entrainment.
"I have come to inform you I have discovered a future Turk among the SOLDIER cadets, I require you to sign him over."
"Is that so" Sephiroth learnt back on his chair. "And do tell me Tseng why would I do such a thing?"
Lazard smiled, sometimes things just fell into place. There was no way that Sephiroth would give up any cadets to the Turks willing and if one was good enough for Tseng to want him then the general will make damn such he became a SOLIDIER just to spite the Turks.
"You have already expressed you opinion that none will make it to SOLDIER, General what does it matter if I recruit one of the failures?"
Leather creaked as Sephiroth clenched his fists standing from his chair and fighting back a snarl that was making it way on his face he said "Understand this Tseng you will receive nothing from SOLDIER neither its aide nor its recruits."
"Do we really have to go through this again Sephiroth? You know as well as everyone in Shinra that the Turks always archive there goals so why fight it?"
"Turks always archive there goals…huh? Have you forgotten SOLDIER's victory when we claimed Kunsel as one of our own" the general was now smirking at the Turk.
"Be that as it may General the Department of Administrative Research will not lose every battle, SOLDIER is not flawless" with that the Turk left the room.
Lazard watched him go and turned to the General with a smug smile on his face "As I was saying Sephiroth th-"
"I accept" Lazard's smile only widened.