The next day arrived all too quickly for Cloud and his unit.
"Alright soldiers! Look alive! We've got the last twenty minutes to spar a little. Who wants to go first?" Zack beamed.
Zack was met with several tired groans.
"Not used to the daily grind yet?"
"It's been one day." A soldier up front muttered.
"Yeah, but you all got an entire afternoon of free time yesterday. And I know for a fact you all slept. I could hear the snores several floors above."
He was met with more groans.
He smirked. "Fine then. If you don't want to fight me, you don't have to."
"Thank the Gods." "I knew he was a nice one." "Imma gonna go sleep."
"You can fight someone else."
The door opened, admitting two well-dressed men: a skinny, youthful man with catlike eyes that glimmered mischievously with an untamed red ponytail down his back, and an intimidating tall man with little friendliness and even less hair. He was almost terrifyingly inaccessible, eyes hidden behind dark frames.
Zack grinned. "So, who's up first?"
He was met with whimpers.
….
Cloud found himself doing surprisingly well against the wily-haired Turk who (as he found out during his fight) called himself Reno.
The break yesterday really helped; though he was unsure of how he went from cold helicopter bench to (relatively) comfortable barrack bed, he was thankful that whoever had let him sleep.
Though Reno was a tough fighter (and faster than Cloud had ever encountered in a foe), his experience with the serpent made their match manageable.
Just as Reno launched himself at Cloud, the loudspeaker chimed.
"Cadet Cloud Strife to Office 3B."
Cloud, in hearing his name, turned to the loudspeaker.
Reno, who had anticipated Cloud knocking him off of him, found himself falling into Cloud, sending them both tumbling to the floor.
"Oof!" Cloud grunted.
Reno grimaced, then got his bearings, realizing the…compromising position he was in.
"Sorry cadet. That was not intentional. Believe me, I'm already taken several times over." Reno slid off and nimbly got to his feet. He extended a hand to Cloud, who was blushing profusely.
Cloud took it and got up.
"You did good, Cadet. I can see what they see in you." Reno encouraged, grinning. "Keep your wits about you, keep working on your skills, and you'll be First Class in no time."
They? "Thanks, but I think I'm in it for the long haul."
Reno scoffed. "With your talent? I doubt it. Don't hold yourself back with doubt. I mean, if SOLDIER is so blind to your talent, you could always join the Turks." He raised an eyebrow, green eyes glimmering hopefully.
Cloud shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I'll stick to SOLDIER. I should, uh, get going." He started to the door.
"Nice to meet you, Cloud! When you need backup once you're a high-ranking SOLDIER, never hesitate to call the Turks!" Reno called after him, then turned to the next cadet, who blushed and looked away.
Zack rushed over, soundly smacking Cloud's back endearingly.
"Great job cadet! That was amazing! Now, do you need a navigator to get there?" Zack beamed
"I think…I think I remember how to get there myself. Thanks for the offer, Zack. I'll see you soon!" Cloud gave a nervous smile.
"O-kay! I'll be there when you're done." Zack's smile wavered slightly.
Before exiting the room, Cloud looked over his shoulder. Zack was staring into space, the same fake smile on his face.
"Zack? You alright?" Cloud yelled.
Zack snapped out of whatever daze he was in. The slight sadness was gone from his smile as he grinned at Cloud.
"Yeah! Now go off and do great things."
Cloud wasn't convinced that Zack was in as happy of a headspace as his face portrayed, but he decided not to push the matter. Taking a shaky breath, he headed out the door.
….
"Welcome, Cadet Strife. Beginning sim 1Fr1t…." A familiar metallic voice warbled.
I can do this. Whatever they throw at me…I'll be ready. With the additional training, and Zack and Sephiroth cheering me on. I won't disappoint them! Cloud thought as he shielded his eyes from the flash of the sim.
Cloud opened his eyes, gaze meeting dark intricate tiles that made up the floor. They reflected an eerie sterile light, interrupted by a fiery glow from in front of him.
Cloud looked up to assess the space. It was cavernous, dark save for the fluorescent lights. But its depths were needed; a large behemoth towered menacingly in front of him, glowing with plasma-like power.
It met his gaze unseeingly, not yet triggered into action. Yet its eyes were still capable of sensing his presence, glaring back at him with inhumanly crimson eyes that beamed white-hot out of its gruesome face. Horns sliced the air above it, barely containing a mass of rugged silver hair. When it opened its mouth, a set of sword-sharp teeth caught the light and peaked out threateningly from its dark lips. Its body was covered in scars that spoke to an experience far deadlier than its physical attributes, godly white-red light beaming like fiery plasma out of each scar. Armored wristlets, a loincloth and leather boots gave the creature an illusion of civility- covering its scars and providing it protection. Yet the loincloth was ragged, the armor's surface dulled, as though the creature merely donned the articles of clothing as an afterthought
Cloud gasped, momentarily jumping back out of fear. Am I really equipped to fight a monster of this size? A mere cadet?
The motion triggered the monster into action. Its once vacant gaze snapped to him, and it bellowed, lunging at him with surprising agility.
No time to doubt, only to act!
Fire blazed to life from the creature's fingertips. Air sizzled with heat around the monster, casting a godlike aura around it as it neared the cadet.
Cloud lept away, trying to assess any weaknesses. Heat forced him to duck left, skewing his viewpoint of the creature.
Too hot…
Despite maneuvering around the stream of fire, Cloud still felt the blaze of heat from the blow. His periphery shimmered with tendrils of flame, distorting his vision with waves of heat and bright stars of shock.
Thrust into a hazy state between darkness and reality, Cloud felt his mind fail. Yet a memory found its way through the heat and confusion.
"Getting in tune with all of your senses- especially touch, allows your mind to re-focus, calm down, and think rationally." Sephiroth's cool voice cut in, flowing through the haze of heated panic racing in Cloud's mind.
Right! Cloud's head snapped up. No giving up. I can only improve if I keep challenging myself!
He turned, not trusting his obscured vision. Rather, he closed his eyes and let his other senses take over.
Rumbling footsteps…heat from behind….and labored breathing…
He jumped and rolled to the side just as the monster's claw pierced the air.
It growled and stumbled, not anticipating the sudden absence of its foe.
Cloud smirked and jumped up, driving his sword into its outstretched hand as it braced for impact with the floor. So, it did have a weakness after all.
A loud shriek pierced the chamber. Cloud quickly pulled his sword out of its flesh and rolled off to the side, narrowly avoiding a heat-charged arm.
Though the monster was powerful, its attacks were predictable-Cloud needed only to dodge a few fire attacks before preparing for the monster's powerful (and repetitious) claw attacks. Despite the radiant, red-white blood seeping from its wound, it still swung full force with both arms.
After delivering yet another gash to the monster's arm, Cloud jumped back with less sureness. His landing wobbled, but he tried to keep his sword up. The heat was dizzyingly powerful now, taking up the entire chamber and making the air distort in translucent waves.
How much more of this can I endure? Cloud dodged yet another fire attack, but barely. He could feel the heat scald the back of his body.
A large boom emanated through the chamber, making Cloud jump and shield his body with his sword reflexively. Fire singed the entire chamber, forcing Cloud back. His arms strained with the weight of the sword; its metal surface glowing white-hot with the heat it endured. Cloud still held it, prepared for the demon's next charging attack.
Each neuron screamed with a different sensation of pain- his arm with the strain, his body with the heat, his muscles with the exhaustion, his mind with doubts that screamed he was a fool to even be optimistic.
If I can detect the demon's footsteps, I can land one more attack. Cloud vaguely noted. He blocked until the growing boom of footsteps was upon him. Cloud jumped up, then fell forward, pointing the heated edge of the sword downward.
Hopefully these pierces…something. It's so hard to see- and sense what's going on. Cloud hazily observed. He put the rest of his strength into landing the edge of the blade, which found it's mark in the middle of the demon's skull. It screamed in pain, ferociously throwing Cloud and the Buster sword off to the side.
After landing hard, Cloud's arms went slack, no longer enduring the strain. The sword loosened in his grip and threatened to scald his flesh with its blazing metal.
Then…
Darkness.
"Simulation End."
Cloud opened his eyes tentatively.
The sword was clutched tightly in his hands, shielding his body.
He dropped it with abandon, surveying the scene.
The same sterile fluorescent lights greeted him, causing him to squint. Blinking, he surveyed the chamber.
Did I…survive?
His eyes came to rest on a large dark figure splayed out in the middle of the floor, slowly disintegrating into pixels. His sword quickly followed suit.
That's…
He ran up to the figure, tentatively giving it a large birth.
The creature stared back at him with cold eyes, lack of light casting its body in gruesome shadow.
Cloud felt a slight grin spread across his face as the last of the creature disintegrated into pixels.
With the enemy disposed of, Cloud sat down heavily, panting. He had somehow…got past this challenge. Despite his miniscule size and might, he outmaneuvered the giant. But training with Reno, in addition to the sim had taken its toll. Cloud was spent. When the metal doors squealed open, Cloud barely mustered enough energy to look up at his visitor.
"Hiya, Cloudy. I've come to take you away!" Zack glowered. After several seconds of silence, Zack walked over to Cloud and sat next to him.
"Cloud? You okay?"
"Y-yeah. I'm just tired out."
"Understandable. But man, look at you! You beat the sim, and you're still awake!"
"Hardly." Cloud snorted.
"Cloud, can I check something?" Zack asked.
"Go for it."
Zack gingerly cupped Cloud's chin in his gloved hand and gently turned Cloud's face toward his vantage point. Cloud let out a slight yet surprised gasp.
"What is it? Is there something on my face?" Cloud flushed. He met Zack's eyes to find a forlorn expression on the 3rd class SOLDIER's face.
How has it taken me this long to see how unwell he is? Zack lamented.
Cloud had dark bags under his eyes, and his skin was much paler than usual, almost like porcelain. Several bruises cluttered his limbs, and his lip appeared to be bleeding.
How did he get this injured in the sim?
"Cloud, your lip is bleeding, and you're pretty banged up. Do you want to call it quits for today?"
"Don't worry about me, Zack. I want to train like I usually do after sims, and I'll take a break later." Cloud's otherwise energetic demeanor was reduced with exhaustion.
"Fine. I'll patch you up and we can go. But I'll hold you accountable so that you actually take a break. Deal?" Zack sighed.
"Deal. Where to?" Cloud smiled and stood up, wobbling slightly before sitting back down.
"I'll tell you if you get on my back. C'mon. It'll help me train!" Zack grinned.
Cloud, too tired to argue, mounted Zack's back.
"Team chocobo, go!" Zack laughed before running out of the room. Cloud hung on for dear life as Zack sprinted through the corridors and hallways, leaving confused cadets and upper ranks in his wake.
"Team chocobo?"
"Yeah! Have you ever heard of chocobo racing?"
"Maybe?"
"Well, I don't know when you or I will ever get to try it. So today, we're crossing off the objective on your bucket list!"
"I didn't know it we even on my bucket list!" Cloud snorted.
"You'll thank me later. If we're gonna win this race, I need encouragement!" Zack grinned.
"Go team chocobo, go!" Cloud cheered, laughing harder.
Eventually, the racing duo made it to Sephiroth's apartment.
"I need…just a…second." Zack wheezed.
"Take your time! You were quite the star chocobo." Cloud smiled, patting Zack gently on the head, teasingly. Zack blushed and turned away, fishing a keycard out of his pocket. He passed it to Cloud.
"You can let us in." Zack panted. Cloud, concerned, pressed his hand on Zack's back, leading him in after the apartment door was unlocked. Cloud attempted to lead Zack to the couch, but his mentor waved dismissively.
"Let me take care of you first. I'll go get the medical supplies." Zack asserted.
"Zack, how do you have the keys to the top General's apartment? That's crazy cool!" Cloud gushed.
"He and I go way back, as you know. But I know that he enjoys my presence, even if he doesn't act like it sometimes. It's nice to let off steam with another SOLDIER you're acquainted with, ya know?" Zack explained from the hallway. He came back with a first-aid kit in hand.
"Let me fix you up, Cadet! You're pretty banged up from the sim."
"Well, I did fight a demon, so that makes sense."
"Was he a fire demon?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"I fought Ifrit a ton in my Cadet days. You really have to be quick on your feet to beat him." Zack smiled as he applied ointment to Cloud's lip.
"Yeah, it was…a lot. And scorching."
"The sims have been getting a little too realistic these days. Are you alright?" Zack inquired, gently cleaning some of the minor cuts on Cloud's face.
"Yeah. It was kind of overwhelming, but it's part of SOLDIER training, right?"
Zack's lip trembled slightly as he made eye contact with Cloud, then proceeded to wrap Cloud in a bear hug.
"Maybe, but… just let me know if you need someone to talk to, or if the sim needs fixed or something." Zack murmured. Realizing the potential consequences of his action, Zack started to pull away.
"Don't…stop." Cloud whispered, leaning forward.
Zack moved back to hugging Cloud, reddening slightly.
"I'll let you know, Zack. And I'll take a break if you'll take time out with me. Deal?" Cloud murmured.
"Sure." Zack sighed.
A buzzing from Zack's comm device suddenly disrupted the peace.
"Chocobo feathers. Looks like I gotta dash." Zack gave Cloud one last squeeze before standing up, taking the first aid kit with him.
Cloud frowned at the absence of human contact. He hadn't realized how much it comforted him until the heat from Zack's body was gone and the pain from his injuries worsened. After placing the first aid kit in its original space, Zack tossed Cloud a small parcel.
"What's this?"
"Pain meds. Take 'em now, they should last for two hours. Your teacher will be here in a bit. Just sit tight, alright! I…uh…have to go to a meeting, so I'll see you later!" Zack gave a feeble smile and softly closed the door.
Damn ShinRa seminars taking me away from Cloud. I'll have to rant to Sephiroth later. Zack bemoaned, jogging to the elevators.