A/N:

This is a side story to my daily drabble project 'Delivery'. For those who have not read the story, this one will make no sense whatsoever. But, for those that have read the story, know that this one has NO EFFECT on the events of Delivery. This is an AU where 'Strife' makes deliveries to more than the Five. This is entirely based on reactions to Strife and the events of Delivery by other characters suggested by readers.

I may throw in one or two of my own on occasion.

So please enjoy~

Character Suggested by: AccessBlade

Rating: K+

Word Count: 993

Disclaimer: I own nothing but an overactive imagination

Delivery: An Unexpected Detour

By Catsitta

Shotgun

To be quite honest, her first day as a Turk did not go as expected. Apparently, once you were recruited, you were supposed to figure things out on the go. No training. No book of rules. Nothing. Her superior officer, Tseng, merely brought her a navy suit and a PHS, told her to gear up and sent her on her merry way with one order.

Leave the past behind.

No longer was she Alexandria Pryce, the fortunate daughter of 'old money' with a love of hunting for sport. She was Shotgun, a fresh-faced Turk recruit with plenty of ambition but little experience. As with any other Turk, she was expected to follow orders, regardless of her own personal values or sense of self-preservation.

But, Shotgun had a feeling that today was not a typical day…or month actually.

With three First Class SOLDIERs and a Second Class SOLDIER gone AWOL, a slew of thefts, attacks by AVALANCHE and rumors of treason within the company—it could be said that she had been recruited during perhaps ShinRa Electric Company's lowest point.

The President was visibly desperate to contain the media, regain control of his military and squash the boiling rebellion.

It begged the question: Would he ever be able to?

He was one man. A powerful individual, yes, with enough money to make her papa look like a pauper. But one man, no matter how strong, couldn't move a mountain. And this exactly what all of these problems were growing into, mountains.

Shotgun knew that soon, even with the aid of the Turks and the loyal SOLDIERs, the ShinRa Electric Company would teeter on the edge of collapse. She didn't want that to happen. So many lives depended on the President's control, and even if they didn't want to admit it, they needed him. If he lost power, then the lives of those within Midgar would become wrought with despair. AVALANCHE would reign supreme. Terror would rule!

She couldn't let it happen. Even if she was a nobody right now…she could change things. She had to.

Thus, later that same day, she gripped her gun tightly and ignored the stray strands of blonde that framed her face, when a strange man proceeded to walk her way, strangely uniformed in solid black. Her ponytail was a mess, and he moved much more lethally than the other terrorists she had taken on earlier, but it didn't matter. There were lives to save. Lives more important than her own. She had to let go of the past and remind herself that she was Shotgun…a Turk. No AVALANCHE scum would take her down. She would rise up and make her name known! Tseng would be proud of her once she called in and told him about how her first day went.

A whole slew of rebels were taken out by her hand after they jumped her.

Now all there was to do was take out a uniformed officer…

"Die," Shotgun muttered, pulling the trigger.

But the figure in black moved like lightning, drawing the sword on his back and deflecting the bullets with ease. She made to shoot again, but hesitated. Those eyes. Those were SOLDIER eyes. But how? Suddenly, her gun was ripped from her hands and thrown aside, and Shotgun watched with dread was the weapon skidded away.

Gaia…was she really going to die, here and now, on her first day of being a Turk?

Shotgun balled her fists and swung at the stranger, only to have her wrist caught and twisted behind her back at a painful angle. "B-bastard," she gritted between clenched teeth.

"I've been called worse," remarked the stranger in an amused sounding manner. "Now, will you stand still for more than five seconds? I'm not the enemy."

"Liar! You're with AVALANCHE."

He chuckled dryly,"Don't be silly, Shotgun."

The blonde Turk froze,"How do you know my name?"

"I'm a delivery boy." he informed her. "It's my job to know the name of my costumers."

"What kind of delivery boy has SOLDIER eyes, lugs about a giant sword and can disable a Turk a five seconds flat?"

"The kind who has very dangerous clients and must be capable of defending himself from said clients."

"Who are you?"

"A simple man," he told her, before releasing his iron hold. "Now, this is for you."

Shotgun found herself staring almost stupidly at the envelope in his outstretched hand. It was plain, white and had only her name scrawled across the front in black ink. No stamp. No address. No other name. It sent off alarms inside of her head. But, obediently, she took it. Her eyes meeting those mako blues with the same intensity they radiated.

"Good luck," the delivery boy said. Then he turned, sheathing the sword between his shoulders and walking away as Shotgun were a harmless girl he could disregard.

Then again, she did not have her gun. It was down the alleyway, sitting a few feet in front of the delivery boy. So she reluctantly remained where she stood and opened the letter, one eye focused on her gun. The stranger ignored it, not even sparing it a glance as he left the ally and turned the corner. But before she retrieved her weapon, Shotgun glanced at what was within the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph with a few words scrawled on the back.

It was a serious looking woman, with brown hair cropped into a tough-girl style and green eyes shaped in a familiar way. Confused, Shotgun read the back. Immediately she called Tseng.

This mystery delivery boy was obviously playing a dangerous game and Shotgun didn't even know the rules.

Her fingers trembled as she waited for Tseng to answer his PHS.

The words within in the note ringing inside of her head loud and clear.

Your death will be at this woman's hands should you be called to protect the President.

"Shotgun, report."

"Tseng, sir. We have a problem…"

.x.

A/N: ( Mix a little Before Crisis drama with the skewed events of Delivery…and add in a mystery delivery boy. And you have some scared Turks.

Thank you for reading. Please review and leave suggestions for delivery recipeints. Thank you! )