Janitor no more?

After the final exams ended, as Cloud expected, he failed SOLDIER Exams, but that was OK with him.

He has a steady-paying job.

But he was quickly approached by Tseng.

'Hey Tseng, what's up?' Cloud asked, fresh from the showers.

'We have seen your performance in your exams.' said Tseng. 'We could use your talents elsewhere.'

Cloud blinked at him owlishly, tilting his head to the side and Tseng thought, "Cute."

Reno told him Cloud was not above using his looks to get SOLDIER to get moving because he was going to clean a spot. Cloud's aware he's cute, but being a country hick boy, still naive as to how he affects men into batting for the home team if only because of him. As far as Cloud knows, everyone is a sucker for cute faces. That's it. His mental and emotional cogwheels haven't hit puberty yet because he was solely focused on money, and getting his mom out of Nibelheim. He had no time for typical teenage interests and most of his salary goes to building a new house in Cosmo Canyon with Reno's help in phoning the right people as he has no idea WHO to call, but when Reno called, Cloud did the talking while deepening his voice to sound adult.

With his salary, it's little at a time and by this year, the first floor was done. Paint job included. Including kitchen's gas pipes, water pipes for both kitchen and bathroom, and electricity for first floor by parallel circuits so incase one room is out, everything else works. Smart kid. As for land purchase? Cloud frequented Lotteries until he won big enough to purchase land. He spent that 30 million gil to purchase a land big enough for a house to have a front garden, and a back yard for hanging laundry, as well as building a fence and gate to keep out robbers with the remaining money going to his mother's expenses in Nibelheim. Then his salary builds the house little by little.

Well if you live in a close-minded prejudiced town, you'd want to vamoose, quoteth Reno.

'We and even you know you failed the ultimate test, but that doesn't mean your talents are wasted.' Tseng smirked. 'Should I welcome you to the Turks?'

'...wow, now I owe Reno a thousand bucks.'

'...did you guys bet on this?'

'I told him there's no guarantee I'd wear a suit since I have no idea how you guys hire and he said I'm a shoo-in and we bet on it...' said Cloud awkwardly. 'It's because I could use materia beyond what everyone knows...I mean, come on, anyone with an adventurous head can do what I can if you're motivated by money!'

Indeed, Cloud has mastered materia at home he could not bring to Shinra. NATURAL materia. And to cut back costs, he used materia than spend money on a town that hates him for an incident not his fault as a kid! As a result, he was more than a Materia Expert than Genesis Rhapsodos. He was Sorcerer-Class. But he wouldn't DARE show his talents to any scientist in Shinra, calling them 'monsters wearing human skin', justifiably terrified of them when he had no ability to defend himself from their whims.

Tseng did an armfold with an amused smile.

'He won the bet then. Now come this way...we'll have to test your abilities. I had someone take your materia collection from home and we have materia bracers on hand for your use.'

'Uhm, with Shinra at war with Wutai and all...you guys won't mind if I know Wutai Martial Arts...?'

'We don't. We don't have prejudice in anyone's skills.' Veld told him. 'We care more for talent and usefulness because as Turks, in our line of work, anything goes for the company's interests, even if it's jobs we don't like so the more skills and tricks, the better. At least we get paid more than SOLDIERs do.'

xxx

Cloud turned out to be more than just a 'materia sorcerer'. He was knowledgeable about Wutainese Martial Arts, at least, in the hand-to-hand and knife skills. He's also very nimble, acrobatic and flexible with agility to match he'd make an effective fighter with Wutainese Martial Arts and the swordsmanship taught in Shinra when fighting against Rod.

As for his Materia Stunts using his Mastereds? Well, that's another thing entirely...he's a powerful magic user attributed to training since childhood he has a large pool of spiritual energy for spellcasting, and has a large number of tricks. He owns many types, all of which, natural when studied in secret because he frequented Mako Springs in hopes one shows up somehow.

The crystallization was different from that of artificial produced ones by Shinra and marketed for sale, and he has unused natural baby spawns! And he has an Odin. Lucky bastard.

'Mm. Just needs more work in subjects he clearly has trouble in with good reason and he's good to go.' said Rude as Cloud healed himself. 'Skill test done, what about the next exams?'

Next were a series of mental tests, that showed Cloud has a strong sense of morals and ethics and not willing to do jobs that goes against his morals. That's a bit problematic...considering the lengths they go for company secrets.

The Turks act similarly to an intelligence agency or investigative bureau, engaging in reconnaissance and espionage, or even black ops, including kidnappings and assassinations, on behalf of the corporation. They are consummate professionals, adhering to the mission no matter what. Due to the nature of their job, members are privy to numerous company secrets, and as such, become security risks should they resign.

Sooo yeah...they have to be real picky on what to send him on otherwise he's a risk. He has skills, but was sheltered by a backwards hick of a country, financial-tunnel-vision, and was innocent and naive on how cruel the world can be.

Solution?

Ease him little by little.

xxx

Cloud, now in a Black Suit, reported for duty after a few more months of training. That one day, February 2 2001...

'You called for me sir?' in the Mission Control Room where there's a supercomputer that tracks everyone's locations, stood Veld.

How was that possible? Their Turk-Standard Phones. GPS Location anywhere.

'We'll start you out with something easy as a Rookie. Even your friend Reno did this standard rookie work.' said Veld. 'We'll have you patrol Sector 8 until daybreak. We're hearing rumors of a terrorist attack going around lately, one can't be too careful.' he said. 'Take down anyone causing trouble and determine their nature and cause.'

'Yes sir.' and Cloud ran off to do his job.

He was given a PHS, his weapon of choice being a Sword and modified braces with glass covers so his materia under his sleeves don't fall off.

Sure, the night started off simple...but it's when it's past midnight things got interesting.

2:15...

A number of men gathered in the sewers in Sector 8.

They were gathered before a man dressed like a typical rebel. Bandana, a shirt and shorts with boots.

'This is the beginning of our fight to bring down the Shinra Company.' he has a rough way of talking. 'Down with the Shinra!' he roared, punching an invisible enemy before him, a gesture copied by the men.

'Down with the Shinra!' the men roared as one.

'Move out!'

They climbed up above the manhole back into the streets.

'Come, we're going to secure the Main Route for the team,' said one of the men.

Sure enough, Cloud came onto them.

'Don't mess this up now, we've come this far.' he overheard someone say, 'Down with the Shinra!'

'Down with the Shinra!'

Cloud was aware of Eco-Terrorists against the company. But he never dreamed he'd encounter some so soon! He took out his phone and went to recorder. The Recorder Appp sends his periodic reports in order to get calls for instructions.

'2:45 am, overheard some eco-terrorists talking. Be stalking them for more details to determine size of group. They seem to plan to execute an attack this morning and there's activity in Loveless Avenue. Slogan is 'down with the Shinra'.'

xxx

'Wow, first night and he already has his first incident.' Tseng commented as they played the report as soon as they got it. 'Down with the Shinra...who are they?'

'I'm not comfortable with letting a rookie handle something like this just yet.' said Veld anxiously. 'Send someone over as backup to be safe, as long as they don't coddle Cloud too much. Experience is a must. Only interfere if he's way beyond his level.'

'Yes, sir.' Tseng phoned Cloud. 'Cloud, tell us the details.'

/Yes sir. From what I overheard, they must have gotten enough intel to get to something or someplace in Sector 8 due to how urgent they sounded, having come this far. The only place worth something in Sector 8 would be the Mako Reactor for Eco-Terrorists. I don't think they're here for Loveless./

'What?!' the two bosses yelped. 'Cloud, carefully head to the reactor and take down all terrorists you see.' Tseng said urgently. 'If they blow up the Mako Rector, the degree of the explosion will take the entire sector with it! You have to stop it!'

/Holy hell! That wasn't in classes in the Academy!/ Cloud yelped in alarm. /Yes sir! Anything goes without saying, right?!/

'Anything goes Cloud, just don't damage the Reactor. I'll tell your back-up to head to the reactor.'

xxx

'Man oh man. I guess Turky job is more hair-raising than SOLDIER job...' Cloud shuddered as he snuck around, tracking down the terrorists but...

'Hey, who're you?!'

'That uniform...a Turk?!'

'You won't get away now, Shinra scum!' Cloud twitched. He was scum simply for wearing the suit? He was utterly indignant.

'Gee, I'm just doing my job...ah well.' Cloud charged his Lightning materia under his sleeves. 'Eat some plasma!' he released a multi-directional sharp lightning attack that pierced four men in the chest.

'Gwaaaa!'

'Hmph! Quantity means nothing if you lack intel on your enemy's ability!' Cloud huffed as he headed for the reactor. He met more and more mooks... '3:45, I'm getting closer and closer yet more and more encounters. I was right on my guess but PLEASE send a bomb expert over to be sure as I have my hands full with a large group ahead. Be dealing with them after this report.' he reported in his phone as he headed for the reactor. Cloud was not going there just yet, looking at a bomb still gives him the heebie-jeebies. So far he disarmed textbook bombs in exams but what of Terrorist Customized bombs?

Upon arriving at the Reactor Entrance, it was indeed, bombed!

And he's surrounded.

'It's a Turk!'

'Kill him!'

'...this is getting old.' Cloud sighed as he cast lightning again to mass-fry the terrorists. Upon death, they all turned into mako wisps of light, fading away.

That is why there is no such thing as a cemetery in the world.

'You know, your odd tricks can be good limit breaks, yo.' said Reno, showing up by jumping down a roof. 'Some first day ya got eh?'

'I just lucked out.' said Cloud sarcastically before downing an energy drink. 'Let's boot it. The bombs are yours, idiots are mine.'

'Yeah yeah, let's move!' and they went inside the reactor.

Inside is a veritable maze.

'...our employers unwittingly made life difficult for us too.' Cloud choked as he had no idea where to go in such an urgent situation. 'This is a maze!'

'Don't sweat it, go on ahead.' said Reno with a snort. 'Tseng will guide you. I'll clean up the trash. I know how to get around here, they don't.' he grinned, taser rod over his shoulder cockily and he ran off.

'Catch up OK? I'm no bomb expert I barely passed those exams!' and Cloud ran off speaking to his recorder. '3:59, met up with Reno. Awaiting Reactor Navigation at the entrance. Reno's cleaning up in the maze and went ahead.'

A few seconds later, Tseng guided him until he got to the main passage where two more terrorists were.

'Pause in navigation sir, by the main passage, I'll engage two more!'

/Proceed./ and Cloud used his sword simply because it's a narrow walkway and only two guys anyway.

'Phew...main passage is in one piece. They didn't get the chance to go in...right? People can hack these days.'

/There's no breaching attempts, no need to worry. Good work. Rendezvous with Reno and return to Headquarters./

'Yes, sir.' but outside, Reno was beaten up!

'Hmph, all talk.' the man sneered as Cloud took advantage of the darkness to get a video recording. A man approached Reno's assailant.

'Shears, sir! Fuhito says we are to gather at Junon as soon as possible.' said the man.

'Take care of this pathetic Turk. He's about finished anyway.' said Shears with a derisive sneer and ran off.

'...I'll finish this guy and head for Junon too.' said the man as he got close to Reno only to get knifed at the head. 'Urk!'

'...Jeez, you were there all along?' Reno groaned whiningly. 'I thought it's game over for me!'

'Sorry man, I'm sending a video feed home.' said Cloud, coming out to heal him after sending the video feed. 'Guess we know where we're going next...'

'Yeah, Junon.' Reno staggered up after being fully-healed, but still weak from the beating.

'What can be important in Junon that's not in Academy Classes?' Cloud asked him. Reno thought about it before stiffening.

'Ehhh boss president is in Junon for business, military inspection...not good.' Reno choked. 'We'll send reports while we gather in Headquarters for resupplying. Never go out without some goods.'

BREEEEP!

'Yo.' Reno answered his phone.

/The two of you are to go to Junon immediately./ said Veld. /The President's life may be in danger./

'Roger. We'll leave right away.' Reno then sighed. 'We shop elsewhere now, we gotta go to Junon ASAP.'