2,000 Gil to Becoming a Hero
Written by Kazushige Nojima
Translated by @woolenneedles and @Pekorin_ct
Edited by @Extravaguer
Finalized by @ff7funfacts
The place they called the “Exchange Station” seemed to be in a confined pasture. In the darkness before dawn, only the campfire and its surroundings were tinted orange here and there. There were no special facilities. Tall weeds swayed in the lukewarm breeze. And Cloud Strife lay buried in those weeds, gulping air to escape the pain in his chest.
He was bent out of sorts from being rocked in the back of the truck for two hours. It was motion sickness. Barely fifteen minutes after departure, he started to feel queasy and nauseous. Maybe he’d feel better if he threw up. But, no, couldn’t do that. The eyes of his fellow travellers were on him. Leon Leonard and Joel Rodin were talking to him about something that he couldn’t quite focus on.
Leon was supposedly fifteen while Joel was the same age as Cloud. Everyone in the cargo truck headed towards Midgar were volunteers for the Shinra Army. It was Leon who noticed how sick Cloud looked and pointed out that he was suffering from motion sickness. No way he would admit to that. He couldn’t show weakness to these two guys. They would be enlisting in the same year as him.
"Just didn’t sleep well," Cloud countered.
Then he pretended to doze the rest of the night and ignored them both. He’d rather been seen as
some kid who couldn’t get enough rest due to excitement for the upcoming trip to Midgar. That was a way better impression than being a guy too motion sick to even make conversation.
Gazing up at the stars in the night sky made him feel slightly better. He cautiously raised his
upper body to observe the Exchange Station. The truck that transported him was visible in the light of the campfire. The very same covered vehicle from Shinra Company that he would catch sight of in Nibelheim, which drove around carrying daily supplies, personnel in charge of inspecting and maintaining important facilities such as the Mako Reactor and pipes, and occasional passengers such as Cloud. They would meet up with the helicopter at this Exchange Station and reload passengers and luggage.
The driver was a middle-aged soldier named Milo Bennet. The helmet and goggles he wore only
revealed the lower half of his face, so what stood out to Cloud most was his pointed chin. When Cloud was leaving the village, he saw his mother handing over a small paper bag to Milo who was in the driver’s seat. Was there a pie wrapped inside? Cloud was carrying one of those paper bags too, but it was probably crushed inside of his knapsack.
He noticed Leon and Joel were talking amongst themselves close to the truck, glancing repeatedly at another campfire situated in the opposite direction of the truck, and whispering in hushed tones. They were looking at a little, old man who had set up a small table on which various goods were spread out. He seemed to be doing some sort of business there. Nearby, a chocobo was relaxing. Cloud guessed that it might belong to the old codger.
Cloud distinctly remembered that this old guy had been talking to a young woman when he got out of the truck. So, where did she go? A quick scan of the premises revealed her talking to another man, who was camped out at a distance away from the old man. The two of them were on the other side of the road, across from Cloud. The woman was half-cloaked in darkness. Was she avoiding the campfires?
The man who she was speaking with also had a chocobo with him. His back rested on the sleeping creature. Its legs were folded. He looked up at her as they spoke. He was wearing a black suit that looked out of place there in the grasslands. On top of that, the hair that sprung out from underneath his black hat, was pure white.
The woman turned to face Cloud and smiled. Cloud hurriedly looked way. He pulled out his knapsack which he had been using as a pillow and pretended to inspect its contents. He sensed the woman approaching him.
“Good evening,” she said.
Cloud glanced up. Her face was hovering over his, with freckles that spread side to side along the base of her nose. How old was she? Clearly, she was older than he was, but he couldn't tell by how much apart from being dotted with freckles and the fact that she was wearing an open collared shirt that exposed the mounds of her chest. Feeling awkward, Cloud turned away.
“I’m Emma. Emma Mosberry. What about you?”
“I’m Cloud Strife.”
“Hmm, let me see... Since you came with that truck, then you must be from Nibelheim or around those parts?”
“Yeah, I am,” Cloud answered.
Emma nodding knowingly. “You look pale as a ghost. You get motion sickness?”
“No... Not at all,” he lied.
Page 1
Ignoring his response, “So, you’re sick? I know that you’re one of Shinra Army’s new recruits, so I’d suggest you get better real fast. If you fail the enlistment exam, you won’t be able to apply for another six months.”
“What?” That was the first time he'd heard that.
“I mean, if it’s only motion sickness, then you’ll be fine,” she said.
“The truth is, riding in the truck made me sick...” he reluctantly confessed.
“Knew it! I’ve met a lot of people here, so I could tell. Here, drink this.” Emma offered him a bottle of crystal-clear liquid. “Delicious northern water!”
“No, I don’t need it.”
“I bet you’re on an empty stomach, aren’t you? At least drink some water to rehydrate, and then lie down until the helicopter arrives.”
“No, I’m already better,” he protested.
Emma let out a small sigh. “Are you hopelessly stubborn or what? What good will it do you putting up a front with me? You’re feeling sick, right? They won’t let you get on the helicopter looking like that.”
“Well, I have permission to board.”
“Oh, I bet you do. But whether or not you get to ride is up to the pilot. And if any transport appears to be sick, they will be left behind to catch the next helicopter that has space available. But it’ll cost you. And even then, it’s that pilot’s decision to take unscheduled loads. Do you have the gil for that?”
“How much is it?”
“I don't know. Depends on how thin the pilot’s wallet is...”
“Not that. How much for the water?”
It was agonizing talking with Emma. The woman kept bringing up concern after concern after CONCERN! At this point, he wanted to just buy the water and rid himself of her.
“Think of it as a housewarming present from me,” Emma said. Her eyes darted over to the old man. “But keep it a secret from him, okay?”
“No, I’ll pay for it,” Cloud replied, thrusting a hand into his rucksack and rummaging around for his wallet.
“Alright. Then let’s determine a price. How about 150 gil?”
His hand froze. “That’s expensive.”
“See? So why don’t you just take it? I mean, the cost is almost nothing really.”
“But there’s no reason for me to take it. We just met.”
“Has anybody ever been kind to you ever?” she sassed as she thrust the bottle at Cloud and then swiftly got up to her feet. “Thank you for your business!”
After a final wave to Cloud, Emma dashed off in Leon’s direction.
As though he had been waiting for the woman to leave, a trooper slowly approached Cloud. It was their driver, Milo.
“How’re you feeling? Any better?” he asked.
“Not sure. I don’t really feel any differently. So, you also knew I was sick from riding in the truck?”
“Also knew? Oh, is that what the lady just said to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure, I could tell. As you know, I happen to be pretty good at my job.”
“Are you with the logistics unit?”
“That's exactly what I do in this business. But, I’m not a trooper anymore. I’m contracted by the Shinra Company to drive people here and there in the area. The combat uniform gives me credibility. There’s even a weapon in the driver's seat. You see, every once in a while, we get hijacked by hoodlums. This stuff helps prevent that.” Milo removed his helmet. “Real equipment, real trucks. But it’s an imposter on the inside.”
The face under the helmet was surprisingly young, with an old scar on his cheek that looked like a burn mark.
“Yeah, I used to be a trooper,” Milo continued, “but who cares about me? If you have any questions about the military, Midgar, or anything... I’ll tell you what I know.”
Page 2
Cloud was confused. He wondered what the man’s reason for this was. When Milo realized what the boy was thinking and explained: “Your mother gave me a pie and a gratuity. Please take care of him. If you have time, please show him the ropes.”
So, not only did she give him pie, but his mom had also given the guy money.
Cloud felt ashamed that he hadn’t realized. “I didn’t know,” he admitted.
“Motherly love is so sweet.”
“I guess...”
“By the way, is there anything you need? Do you have any gil?”
Following Emma, Milo was the second person to ask about money. Attempting to be somewhat evasive, Cloud answered, “A little.”
“Gil is important. It makes military life is quite flexible. With enough cash, you won’t have nothing to worry about and you’ll never lose.”
“What are you talking about? Let us in on it too,” said a male voice.
Before Cloud knew it, Leon was approaching with Joel and Emma on his heels.
“All about life in the military. I’m your senior, after all,” Milo answered.
“I want to hear about life in Midgar,” Emma requested.
To this, Milo began to recount, “Your head will hurt from the stimulation and temptation. The city smells like iron and the flowers don't bloom. I grew up in the countryside. So, it’s a tough place to be.”
“Hmm. Too bad. But I'd still like to go,” answered Emma.
“Well, I don’t know a whole lot about Midgar either. I was always on active duty at the campsite,” Milo admitted.
“Hey, Cloud,” Leon interjected, “what did he teach you? Only sharing with you is cheating.”
“Cheating?” Cloud’s voice became agitated.
“Cheating, huh?” Milo snorted. “Cloud’s mother ASKED me to help him out. This is a legitimate service.”
“So... she paid you? It seems like both parent and child are cheaters,” Leon said, feigning complaint.
Cloud bolted upright and glared at Leon.
“Now, now,” Emma intervened, patting Cloud on the shoulders to comfort him.
“Cloud, sit down,” Milo ordered. “It must be difficult at your age, but getting angry won’t work now. That…” Milo looked at Leon and continued, “… That’s right. You too. Stop saying things that will cause trouble or you’re going to get beaten up by the guys. In the military, you should smile and say hello. Read the room and keep your temper. Behave. That’s all. Those who stand out as making trouble get pushed to the front lines and used as meat shields against the monsters.” Milo scratched the wound on his cheek with his fingertips.
“I don't want to listen to this,” Leon pouted. "I believe the Shinra Army is passionate and a good place.”
“You young men will be broken in soon enough,” Milo retorted.
“I'm not going to be a normal infantryman.” Joel, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. “I’m going to be a SOLDIER.”
Cloud looked at Joel in shock. He was also aiming to be in SOLDIER. But, he had no intention of declaring so, especially here. The young man felt a sense of defeat overflowing in his chest.
“Isn't that amazing?” Emma's eyes widened in surprise.
“SOLDIER,” Milo said unamused. “Ah, I see, like Sephiroth, the great war hero and the type of man most kids admire. But those same kids are often the one’s who make trouble for the military. But do you guys even know what a SOLDIER is? They’re special soldiers with combat abilities beyond that of ordinary people; independent from the military. They’re assigned to a specific department and dispatched to resolve various crises. So, do you know then? How to become a SOLDIER?”
Page 3
Cloud, of course, didn’t know. He looked sideways at Joel who was biting his lower lip. It looked like he didn’t either. Not only that, but Joel too seemed to hate losing. They were similar and felt shame.
“Tell me. How can I become a SOLDIER?” Cloud asked, trying to overcome his feelings of insecurity.
“Huh? You want to be a SOLDIER too?” Milo was surprised.
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll tell you the process. First, you’ll have to take the physical exam to become a regular soldier. There is an investigation: health status, athletic ability, eyesight, hearing, etc. There is also a written test, but that one’s easy. Once you become an armyman, for at least three months you will spend your days in basic training for new recruits. After that, you will need to gain experience at your assigned location for one year, exercises, actual battles, all sorts of things. If you overcome that, you’ll finally become a SOLDIER.”
“Is there an aptitude test?” Joel asked, glancing sideways at Cloud.
“Of course. SOLDIERS are required to be above average in every aspect, combat ability, mental health, etc. Health conditions such as disabilities and chronic illnesses make it impossible for SOLDIERS to fight.”
Milo looked at Cloud. “Motion sickness could be a problem.”
“Huh.”
“Think about it. There’s no need to have someone who can't move with 100% strength from the moment they step on the scene, right?”
Joel patted Cloud on the back comfortingly.
“Sorry, I said too much,” Milo said, sounding genuinely sympathetic. “For SOLDIERS, travelling by land, sea and air is inevitable. You'll get used to it eventually. Just do your best.”
“I have heard that…” Emma lowered her voice. “Is it true that you have to undergo special surgery to become a SOLDIER?”
Milo looked at Emma before eventually nodding “It’s been rumored.”
Cloud felt his heart beat rapidly. He hadn’t heard the mention of a surgery.
“What kind of surgery?” Cloud couldn't help but ask.
“We talked about a lot of things, but to be honest, I don’t know much about human modification surgery. There are various rumors about being implanted with a mysterious monster's cell or being injected with the department’s special medicine.”
Cloud was both excited about learning the SOLDIER’s secret and afraid of the surgery.
“Anyway, if you undergo that surgery, will you be able to become a SOLDIER?” Emma asked before the others could.
“Yeah. Everyone becomes a SOLDIER once the surgery is completed. But whether or not you are being promoted within SOLDIER is another story. There are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes. 1st is just a few elite people. If you can make it to the 2nd class, you’ll be happy. Most people end up in 3rd class. Besides that, there is a high probability…” Milo stopped mid-sentence. “Well, do your best. Even in 3rd class, you get a pretty high salary and are considered to be an elite.” Milo patted Cloud on the shoulder and then put his helmet back on. “The helicopter is scheduled to arrive in 30 minutes. Make sure you get some rest.”
“Yes,” Leon and Joel said in unison.
Milo nodded with satisfaction and started walking towards the truck.
“Hey,” Emma said, looking at Milo’s back.
Page 4
“Do you know about Turks?”
“Turks?” of course, Cloud did not know.
So, she explained, "They scout for future SOLDIER candidates."
“What do you mean by scout?”
“They find people who seem to have the talent and make them become a SOLDIER. If a person has natural skills, they’ll kidnap them and force them to turn into a SOLDIER against their will.”
“What do you mean by against their will? Isn’t that a crime?” Leon asked, frowning.
“But they’ll skip the tests and training that Milo mentioned.” Emma offered, glossing over Leon's concern. “Isn’t that great for people who want to become SOLDIERS at once?”
Joel then lowered his voice, "Hey, Emma, how do you know that?”
“I know because,” Emma replied, matching Joel's volume. “I heard it from him.”
She moved her gaze and turned her attention to the man in the black suit. The man was strange. He was resting his back against a chocobo, yet seemed completely unconcerned with surrounding events, looking heartless even.
“That old man in black is actually a Turk.”
“WHAT?!”
At this point, Emma's voice got even quieter, barely a whisper, “Even now, I hear they travel all over the place, looking for SOLDIER candidates. Of course…”
“Why are you whispering?” asked Joel.
“Because it’s scary. He might kidnap you,” she replied.
“But I want to listen to his story.” Joel looked at Cloud, “Right?”
He then invited Cloud to come along. Cloud silently started walking towards the man, passing Joel.
“Wait,” Joel called as he chased after him.
Emma and Leon followed, but Cloud was a fast walker. In the end it was like a race between him and Joel, until they arrived in front of the man. The man brushed aside his bangs that were spilling out of his hat and looked up at Cloud and the others.
He had strange eyes. The color was neither blue nor green, and a strange, unnatural shape formed within each eye.
“I’m not interested in you brats.” the man stated bluntly.
“We haven’t said anything yet,” Joel retorted defiantly.
“You heard about my work somewhere, right? Yes, it’s true that I'm a Turk and we are looking for SOLDIER candidates. But I’m looking for the best. You guys...” The man snorted and laughed “…are just brats not much greener than the grass around here.”
“But Sephiroth became a hero when he was a kid. Didn’t he?” Joel countered.
“Sephiroth’s the pinnacle of SOLDIER, a whole different class,” the man responded as he stood up and towered over them. He was a big guy. “But I like your spirit. I respect your dreams and aspirations. Those are the most important things in order to become a victor. I want to support you. If you boys are serious, accommodations can be made for you.”
Standing next to Cloud, Joel immediately asked “What do you mean by ‘accommodations’?” He took a step forward. “Please. I'll do anything.”
Emma lightly pushed Cloud's back, making him panic. “Me too!” he said quickly.
The man nodded and grabbed Cloud's chin with his large hand. Examining his structure: right, left, up and down. “Not bad. It’s suitable for heroes.” Then he looked at Joel... “You should rise to the top with your own abilities.”
“It’s what I want,” responded Joel with clear conviction.
“What about you guys in the back?” The man looked at Leon and Emma.
Leon shook his head from side to side, and Emma waved her hands, muttering “That’s too crazy for me.”
Page 5
Suddenly, Leon asked, “To become a SOLDIER, you’ll have to perform dangerous operations, right?”
“But you will need to pass the training and aptitude test as a trooper, as well as the preoperative exam. That’s the situation,” the old man explained.
Cloud was upset that a new condition had been added. Why were there so many hurdles?
“Preoperative exam? What does that involve?” Joel asked.
“Reagents are injected into the body to test whether or not you can withstand a foreign substance being inside of you. And if you have a negative reaction to the stuff will lead to death.”
“Scary,” Emma muttered.
“What do you mean, a foreign substance?” Joel further inquired.
“It’s...” The man paused and put his index finger to his lips. “It’s a secret.” Suddenly, the man clapped his hands. “But, hey! SOLDIERS are in a different world from you guys. There’s nothing wrong with being regular soldiers. You’ll have enough to eat and send money home. Isn’t that enough? Now go back and wait for the helicopter.”
At that, Emma began to probe, “Um... I'm just asking out of curiosity, but what were you talking about before? You know, about making arrangements.”
“I’ll introduce you to the General. General Lazard used to be a former top brass in the military. If you have those connections, you’ll get priority consideration for pre-surgery testing. You won’t have to spend months idling around as an infantryman. You still have to pass the test, but it’s better than waiting and worrying every day.”
Both nodding. Emma and Leon seemed to understand.
“However,” the man looked at Cloud, then at Joel. “There’s a fee. 2,000 gil per person. Several adults, including me, are involved. This is the actual cost required to make the arrangements. Let’s say that it also proves your determination to become a SOLDIER if you’re willing to pay that much.”
“2,000 Gi… That's a lot of money. It’s just not possible,” Emma pouted, then turned to Cloud and Joel. In a cheerful voice, she added, “You’d be glad to just give up.”
“Hmph,” the man snorted. “Well, that’s the end of the story. So, go on.”
With that said, the man in the black suit sat back down on the grass, his back leaning against the chocobo again. The chocobo opened its eyes for a moment, then closed them.
‘I left my backpack unattended,’ Cloud realized.
“Is it really 2,000 gil?” asked Leon.
“Sounds like,” Emma confirmed.
“He’s seriously expecting us to pay that?”
Cloud was listening to the conversation between the two of them from behind, and getting anxious. He realized that he had left his rucksack unattended and his belonging were now not at the spot where he left it. He looked and saw Emma going to the store. Joel and Leon were walking towards the truck.
It should have been there.
Cloud closed his eyes and thought about the moment when Emma gave him some water.
He mentally retraced his steps, ‘Where did you see the truck? How close was it to the bonfire? Where was the old man’s chocobo and the man in the black suit? Open your eyes and check your position’. It was just as he remembered. It would be strange if his luggage wasn't here. But he couldn’t find it.
Where was it? Did someone take it? If it was stolen, then it must have happened while talking to that turk. Cloud was suspicious… Was it Milo the truck driver or the old man from the store?
But he heard his mother’s voice in his head, telling him ‘It's not good to be suspicious of others right away.’
Page 6
Cloud took a deep breath and let it out.
‘I just want to talk to him,’ he thought to himself.
Excusing himself to no one, he started walking towards the old man, then stopped. “Huh.”
After taking three paces, he noticed his backpack. Sitting down, Cloud searched through its contents, a crushed pie wrapper, two days’ worth of clothes, and his wallet. The wallet was in fact just a rugged leather bag, but supposedly it had been used by his late father. Inside it was 2,000 gil.
“Take this with you.” His mother held out a leather bag
and said, “You have 2,000 gil. Use it wisely.”
“Mom. The military takes care of all your travel expenses,
meals, and clothes once you arrive. It said so on the
invitation. You read it too.”
“I did, but that’s one thing and this is another.”
Cloud pushed back the leather bag, “I don’t need it.”
“Your father used to say,” she explained with a softened
voice, “that with 2,000 gil, you can go to most places
and overcome most difficulties.”
She briefly thought about how Cloud’s father saying those words to her was the reason why they would sometimes save 2,000 gil and then she would secretly spend it afterwards.
“It’s true that your dad has been gone for a long time. And yet, it seems like since then the time has gone by so fast...” For a moment, her face grimaced. “So, take this with you. It’s all I can do.”
--------------------------------------------------
Dawn was about to come. The silhouettes of the mountains surrounding the Exchange Station were surprisingly close together.
Near Cloud, a bonfire was burning in the grassland, where there was no brightness at night or in the morning.
He was sitting with his backpack clutched to his chest, resounding the crushed pie.
‘Don't waste this money, keep it forever.’
Cloud remembered the promise he made to himself when he left the village. However, his determination wavered after only a few hours. Maybe with this 2,000 gil, he could become a SOLDIER.
Page 7
He could turn his dreams into reality in an instant.
In this meadow, the road to becoming a SOLDIER was more winding than Cloud imagined. Even if you successfully join the military, you will undergo basic training for new recruits for three months. Following that was one year of training and actual combat after assignment. That seemed like an eternity to Cloud. What's more, there was an aptitude test, and even pre-operative tests you’d have to wait for. If you can't pass all the tests, you can't become a SOLDIER.
‘What will I do if I can't pass?’
Maybe it was not a bad idea to give up on his dreams and spend his time as an infantryman. Once he’d get used to the lukewarm life that Milo was talking about, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
‘Maybe...’
However, Cloud was too young to imagine life that far ahead.
‘I don't know about anything for certain, but I know that don't want to end up like Milo. ...Yeah. No, I don't want that. I still want to be a SOLDIER. But surgery is scary though. And I wonder what kind of surgery it is.’ To Cloud's understanding, surgery was used to stitch up wounds, cut out internal organs, and heal injuries and illnesses.
It was not having something implanted inside your body. ‘What the hell?’
He felt sick. He imagined a scalpel cut open his stomach and a monster the size of his thumb being forced into his organs.
“Plans have changed,” Milo’s voice echoed across the meadow as the sun finally rose. “The helicopter will be arriving in five minutes. Prepare for departure and gather in front of the truck.”
Something moved in front of Cloud. It was Joel, who was heading towards the man in the black suit. Cloud stood up in panic and narrowed his eyes. He watched as Joel crouched down in front of the man and flashed some gil. The man took off the hat he was wearing and held it upside down to Joel. He said something that Cloud couldn’t make out. A smile spread across Joel's face before he put the money in the hat. The man said something again, while Joel nodded frequently. At the end of the exchange, the two shook hands.
Joel gave Cloud a thumbs up as he headed towards his truck. At that moment, a rhythmic, thunderous sound could be heard from a distance. The helicopter had arrived.
"Cloud…" It was Emma,"… Don't make a choice that you’ll regret! Think about it carefully!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Cloud started walking toward the man in a black suit. He didn’t want it to seem like he was only doing this because Joel beat him to it or because of Emma’s encouragement. This was something he wanted to do of his own free will.
He would do whatever it took to become a SOLDIER. If there was a path, he would try to walk down it. If there was a door, he would try to open it. Because didn't he promise Tifa? Of his own free will, he had decided to become an exceptional man. To become a SOLDIER, a hero, and a special existence to Tifa.
Standing in front of the man who was looking at him with his strange eyes, Cloud lowered his backpack and took out his wallet.
“It's 2,000 gil, right?” Cloud asked before giving out his money.
The man said something, but it was drowned out by the sound of the descending helicopter.
“Huh?”
The man snatched the 2,000 gil and put his mouth to Cloud's ear.
“Once you join the army, wait half a month. General Lazard will call you personally. He will ask you how prepared you are to become a SOLDIER. The rest is up to you to decide. And with that, I’m talking about this.”
The wind and roar of the landing helicopter dominated the exchange.
Page 8
Within Midgar, Cloud resided in military quarters. In his room, he sewed up the tears in his uniform, places where the threads had been frayed since the time it was issued. As teenage recruits grew older, their BDUs quickly became too tight. As a result, most of the gear provided were reused items. If he gave some gil to the person in charge, he could get a new articles of clothing, but Cloud didn't have the money. What Milo had said was true. In the military, money could have a big impact on your quality of life.
Nearly a month had passed since he arrived to Midgar. His first pay day was near. However, there was no sign of the call from General Lazard, which Cloud was looking forward to more than his pay.
Joel was training in Junon. Cloud hadn't heard of him becoming a SOLDIER. Leon failed the aptitude test and couldn't become an infantryman. Apparently, he was in the slums now.
Cloud swore as the needle stuck into his fingertip. Until a month ago, he had never used a needle and thread. He thought of his mother sewing late at night. All he sent back to his hometown was a postcard informing her that he had become a member of the Shinra Army.
There was a knock. When he opened the door, a woman in a black suit was standing there. It was a Turk. Was this the long awaited call from General Lazard?
“Cloud Strife?”
“Yes,” his voice unintentionally bounced in excitement.
“I would like your cooperation with investigating an incident.”
Apparently, it wasn't the call. An incident? Cloud was confused. “Yes.”
“Do you know a guy named Ross Leafdale?”
“Ross Leafdale? Never heard the name. No,” he denied.
“About a month ago. The shop at the Exchange Station. Does it ring a bell?”
Cloud thought back to the Exchange Station. Was there a shop there... or something?
Page 9
“Ahhh, you mean that old man?”
“Bingo. Mr. Ross Leafdale was the manager of that exchange. He cut the grass and lit the bonfire at night. The shop earned some extra pocket money. However, running it was actually against the rules.”
“Is that so?"
“You see, you appeared in Mr. Leafdale’s testimony.”
Cloud sighed. He couldn’t see where the conversation was going and it was starting to make him nervous.
So the female Turk took out a photo from the clip board in her hand and showed it to Cloud. A woman’s slightly dirty face was visible in the photo. It was an uncomfortable image. Perhaps that was because the woman in the picture had her eyes closed.
“You know the corpse, right? Can you tell me her name?”
A corpse?! Cloud forced himself to look at it again, more closely this time. As a fairly new recruit, an infantryman, he hadn’t yet seen a dead body. It made him uneasy, but he couldn’t afford to risk showing any weakness if he was going to acheive his dreams.
Eventually, he noticed the freckles across the base of the woman’s nose.
“Yeah, I remember, Emma. Emma... what was her last name?” He couldn't take his eyes off the photo. “She was... a person from the stand.”
The woman nodded with satisfaction.
“According to Mr. Leafdale, this woman arrived three days before you passed through. She just showed up and asked to help him out with his work. You see, Mr. Leafdale is old, and his job was getting tough. So, he accepted the help even though he thought it was suspicious.”
“That's also what I was told,” said Cloud.
“What about this?” The woman held out another photo. This time it was a man’s face. His eyes were also closed, another corpse.
Cloud recognized him too. He remembered the pure white hair that was messed up on the guy’s forehead.
“He was also at the exchange. I didn’t ask his name, but he said that he was a Turk.”
“You didn’t ask for his name?!” The Turk scanned Cloud's face.
"I didn’t."
“And you gave him the money?” she asked sounding a little incredulous.
“… Yes.”
“Did he say he'll make you a SOLDIER?” she enquired.
“Not that he would make me a SOLDIER exactly. But more or less, yeah,” he tried to explain.
The woman nodded frequently at his answers.
Finally, feeling curious, Cloud asked, “How did they both die? Or rather, what was the incident?”
“Well, they’re dead because I killed them.”
Cloud stared at the woman, stunned.
“Look at this,” the Turk instructed as she held out a new photo.
Cloud braced himself, thinking it was another dead body. However, this image was different.
It showed a man and a woman in what looked like the slums of Midgar. They sat across from eachother, eating in a dining room. The woman in the picture was Emma. She was smiling at the man. It was that Turk with white hair and the black suit.
"They were father and daughter. His name is Pepper Rhodes and the daughter's name is Mint Rhodes. Emma was a fake name. They would pose as Turks, exploiting the wealthy and naive with promises of becoming SOLDIER and meeting the president. They were a family of scammers trying to con others for gil.''
Cloud had been deceived. Though, he had realized it the moment he saw a picture of a dead Emma or... Mint.
‘I will definitely never get that call from General Lazard.’
His 2,000 gil was probably also gone forever.
“You see, the thing is, when I caught up to them, they ran. So, I shot them both. I didn’t mean to kill them, but that’s what happened in the end. And also why I don't have a confession and there’s always the possibility of a false accusation. That perhaps they weren’t really con artists, but in fact real Turks. The company probably doesn’t care. But after what happened, I got nervous. I was just looking for someone who could help testify that they weren’t real Turks, to confirm they were frauds by stating that they had been conned by those two. Thanks to you, now I don’t have to have to worry.”
Page 10
The woman nodded in satisfaction and relief before turning her back to Cloud. Before she began to walk away, she asked, “How much did you pay?”
“2,000 gil,” he answered.
“Wow,” the woman faced Cloud again and lightly pressed her fist against his chest, “Idiot.”
--------------------------------------------------
Cloud was waiting for the elevator on the first floor of the Shinra Company headquarters building, to take a course on Mako energy. Recruits of the same generation stood in a group near him.
"General Lazard," one of them whispered. When Cloud looked, he saw that the supervisor had crossed the lobby and was heading towards the main entrance. General Lazard had two bodyguards with him, a man and a woman in black suits: the Turks!
He recognized the woman as the one who had come to visit his dorm.
“General Lazard-” one of the new recruits called.
The supervisor stopped.
Then, the recruit raised his hand and shouted: "I'm aiming to become a SOLDIER. Thank you!"
The floor was filled with tension due to the recruit's rude behavior. But...
"Good luck. I'll be waiting," Lazard responded with a smile.
Cloud made eye contact with the Turks who were standing behind the supervisor. The woman had a strange expression on her face.
Leaving any worry behind, Cloud followed Lazard as he started walking.
When the elevator arrived, his colleagues boarded the device one by one. Cloud trailed General Lazard's group with his eyes.
‘Have you forgotten about me?’ Cloud thought, wanting to say those words to the general himself. A part of him still wanted to believe that it hadn’t all been a lie.
After a moment, someone prompted, "Hurry up and get on.”
"Ok," Cloud answered, staring at the elevator.
It was packed with infantrymen wearing identical uniforms and helmets. Cloud’s heart filled with anxiety.
‘Will I become an exceptional man?’
"What are you doing? Hurry up and get on."
There was no other way. Cloud stepped into the crowded elevator filled with the other innocent recruits.
