A Change, as Good as a Rest?

[ShuyinFair]

"Its fine, I think I can manage thanks..." He had already hoisted the figure onto his shoulder as Rand spoke, though now the rain had made it cold and the dead weight felt more like a corpse than it had ever done. Of course, he didn't have much time to dwell on that fact, as a distant rumble signalled the arrival of the train. He made his way over to the platform, as Siara asked about the sleeping arrangements. He smiled, at her surpassing a laugh. Now wasn't the time for jokes.
"Sure, i think the Shin-Ra building has delegated areas for dormatries... sort of like army barracks. I reckon we'll all be together anyway. I hear they tend to keep groups of freinds together... saftey in numbers and all that." Actually, Zack was pretty pleased that they might be all together, it would give them time to reflect on their mission, and while 'safety in numbers' wasn't entirely necessary, spending time with friends was always a bonus.

The carriage was silent, bar the hammer of the rain outside. As Zack had boarded the train without his hooded jumper on, he gave it Siara and instructed her to stay warm. He then sat between Rand and Siara, with his back to the window, which allowed a breeze of freezing air to drift into the car and tickle his neck with icy fingers. He stared over at Rand, and then looked down at the creature that now lay sprawled on his lap. "You know..." He began, but paused, deciding to avoid the topic. No-one knew what the Shin-Ra did with high ranking SOLDIERS, but one thing was certain, whatever it was, Sephiroth seemed to the product of such research. And this... thing? Was that a failure? "...You should take it easy. We're all here for you. Theres nothing stronger than friendship." He smiled at Siara and then brought his stare to meet with Rand's eyes, gleaming with Mako. "Just stay happy." He finished and let his head rest back against the cold window.
The train shuddered, and began to move.

[Rand]

Arcing his eyebrow he grinned, "I wasn't just talking about my Mako enhancement, they genetically changed the pigments in my eyes to react faster to changes in light. The darker it is, the brighter my eyes get, and vice versa. It's a bit disconcerting... It takes some time for people to get used to. It's why I always wear my sunglasses." Ignoring his left off sentence sensing his need to keep his thoughts to himself he stood grabbing the top railing for support staring out at the windows as the train started moving. "Let's hope we at least get rooms close by, be kinda akward to share a room with Siara here, she'd keep kicking us out for privacy." Grinning he looked down at them. ~I've gotta get a sample of this to the labs, see if what I think it is matches, it would explain a lot, and my bosses would have a lot to explain.... Not like I expect them to tell me much...~ Frowning he turned his gaze back to the window watching the lights go by faster waiting for their stop back at the main building.

[ShuyinFair]

Zack shot a confused stare at Siara and let his head hang back against the cols window once more. All of this was very well but...
"So the Shin-Ra intend on producing an... army of super humans too..?" He didn't know. Of course, the Shin-Ra were so powerful that no nation would dare opose them. And those that dared, such as the ninja-folk in Wutai, were crushed almost instantly. Something, though, had prevent this from being the case in the Wutai war. It had been almost seven months now since they declared open war on Midgar but even SOLDIER were unable to put down the up-risers. Or so he thought.

Inside the Shin-Ra building, a darkened figure stood with his back to the window, huddled over a desk that held nothing but a single body, twisted and deformed by the fusion of Mako. The figure giggled to itself and adjusted its steel rimmed glasses that had begun to slip down his over large nose. The room itself was embodied with secrets, for no lights dared pierce the darkness. The figure moved, making its way over to the doors, a red emergancy light flickered on above, throwing the words 'FLOOR 47: RL' into a sharp releif. There the figure stood, placing his hand into a pocket that seemd to be attached to a white lab coat. Whatever he pulled out, no-one would see for he held it tightly in his hand as though he were protecting his life-force. He grinned. And spoke.
"Sephiroth..."

Meanwhile, the Shin-Ra express shuddered into the station outside the main building, its lights going off one by one as the doors slammed open and the passengers began to make their way from the platform to wherever they were destined. Zack stood a little from the other two, the corpse still hung over his shoulder. The rain had eased now, and only a gentle mist hung over the station. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was ready.

((Sorry i went again Chibi, i wanted to get back to the Shin-Ra building so the story could proceed.))

[Chibi_Ichigo_Chan]

As Zack handed her the hooded jacket she did as she was told and put it on, taking comfort in the warmth the fibers were giving her. "Thankyou Zack!" she said looking at him with her emerald eyes. As Zack began to spoke she knew the things he would want to ask, but it was a tricky subject to bring up. "Your right...nothing is stronger than friendship..." she said as her eyes widened and her body froze for a minute. Droplets of water ran down her face from her wet hair as she stood glued to the spot "nothing...."she snapped out of it. "Lets get on the train im freezing!" she said smilling.
She turned to Rand and smiled cheekily "Can you blame a girl for wanting her privacy! besides you two pre maddonas would take up the bathroom all the time!" she said jokily as she sat down, folding her knees to her shin and covering it with the jacket since there was alot of room left over from her small frame. "It's kind of funky your eyes do that Rand...like those rings that change colour when your mood does" she said meaning no harm by it, she just wasn't too good at descriptions.
She looked out of the trains window at the some how habitable midgar and all of it's metalic glory and sighed. ~Friendship is strong huh?...~ she thought resting her head on her knees as she tried to enjoy the rest of the train ride.
As it stopped she was quick to get off. Stretching her arms and legs she looked up to the Shinra building which still amazed her at the sheer height of it. "Lets go put that thing somewhere...that isn't...well with us really....."

[Rand]

Grinning he nodded, "Yea, like a mood ring, nice way to put it. Good thing it doesn't change with my moods though. That would make me predictable. And Zack, I think she just called us pre-maddonas." Grinning slightly he nodded at the check-in man at the station flashing his id card getting a wave to go in. "I'll meet you guys upstairs, got to make sure these are taken care of." He said pointing at his blades walking off towards the armory. Sticking his hand in his pocket he fiddled with the vial that contained the sample that he had taken. ~I wonder what this means....~ Dropping his weapons off he took his keycard to get them back before heading to the elevator. ~That didn't take long... They usually make a fuss about weapons and all that stuff...~ Shrugging it off he swipped his card to get into the elevator tapping his foot as he waited for one.

[ShuyinFair]

"A premadonna hm?" He laughed, and for the first time all evening, he meant it. Running his fingers through his dampend hair he continued, "judging by the state i'm in right now, i'm less madonna then club dancer." He tugged at his soaking wet tee, and grinned. "Though it has been said that i don't scrub up too badly..."

They left Rand at the enterance, and Zack followed Siara towards the staircase, still lugging the body over his shoulder, until they arrived at the 3rd floor. There they were greeted by an official looking guard, who took one look at the specimen and ordered them to wait. Zack slung the body to the floor, and leant cooly against the wall, watching the highlighted numbers on the lifts opposite flash as the guard made his way to the... 47th floor?
"What do you think will happen to it?" He asked Siara, gesturing his head to the floor. "Poor thing... it isn't it's fault. It never asked to be born." He pulled Siara's green materia from his arm bracer and stared at it. "If you don't mind, i'm going to synthesis this when we get into our rooms? Its got pleanty of battle experience, and should become something quite special. His eyes flashed aquamarine as the orb spread its light upon his face, and he forced it back into its slot. Just then, the lift signalled its arrival, and out stepped the guard, now accompanied by two other men, each dressed in 1st Class SOLDIER uniforms. Zack stared at them as they made their way over and saluted both him and Siara. It was strange, they showed no love for the guard but greeted the two strangers with respect so Zack returned the gesture and offered them a smile.
"Recruits Zack Fair and Siara..?" The SOLDIER paused and smiled at her. "No need for formailty i suppose. You, Zack and your friend Rand are to find your dormatory's on the 38th floor and then report to the training academy tomorrow morning just before 8.30. There you will be informed of your mission." He leant over the corpse and lifted it gently into his arms, and stared down at it sadly. "We'll take this to the labs... you should probably try and forget what you've seen..." He looked at Zack sympathetically, as though realising what must've happened down in the slums. "It was near death anyway." He placed a hand on Zack's shoulder as the second SOLIDER checked his watch and spoke for the first time.
"Sephiroth will be waiting, Vigil."
Vigil nodded to him and sighed. "Good luck tomorrow you two."
And the three men clammered back into the lift and left.

[Rand]

The elevator openned with a swish letting a quick breeze flow out. Stepping onto the 38th floor he stopped at a help desk when an aide gestured for him. "Rand right?" She asked. Nodding he frowned at her as she handed him a card. "This is the key to your room, you'll be sharing it with one of the other candidates, he should probably be there now." "Thanks." He said quietly gesturing once with the card walking down a hall. ~Room 3818 eh?~ He thought to himself stopping in front of it sliding his card through the slot stepping in. ~Guess he's not here yet~ Stepping in grabbing his travel bag from the floor where they had left it when he had gone to his room. ~Next thing they're going to give us room service...~ Laughing to himself it was a five room apartment, two bedrooms, living room, kitchen and an office, and of course a bathroom with a shower, sink, and mirror. ~Fully stocked us eh?~ Walking over to the fridge he grabbed a cold bottled water before heading into the right room claiming it as his. Dropping his bag on the bed he unzipped it. Reaching into his pocket he grabbed the sample vial and placed it on a drawer across from his bed. Turning back around he grabbed his bag and reached in grabbing a case inside of his bag. Setting it on the drawer he openned it revealing a sleek silver steel laptop. Openning it he turned on the power entering his password quickly, and connected to Midgar's net. Openning his mail he sent out a stream message, "Phase 1 complete." After sending it he closed the mail system and openned up a media player starting up some rock music. That started he settled on the bed and idled for the time being.

(Character post updated, changed the arm thats covered in a sleeve.)

[ShuyinFair]

((I'm going again, Sadie hasn't been on for a while?))

The lift shuddered to a halt on the 38th floor, and a cool air broke into the steely cage as a shaft of light drew across Zack's face. He stepped out onto the landing, allowing Siara to take the lead as they made their way over to the reception area. Zack smiled as he recognised the woman that was stood at the computer as the woman that had accepted his appilication a few months before.
"You're the other two members of Squad A?" Zack shrugged, they hadn't been given a group number but he assumed this meant the three of them were to be a team from now on. He nodded his answer and peered over the desk at the plasma computer monitor that the receptionist was typing at. The key code seemed to match and an inventory and pictured list of Zack, Siara and Rand appeared on screen. "You're to spend the night in your dormatories and then regroup in time for the 8.30 am meeting. And... Zack?" She smiled while handing both he and Siara seperate room codes. Zack noticed the numbers were one away from each other, meaning that Rand had been correct in assuming Siara would be sleeping in the room next to them. "Take care." She buried her glowing face in her hands, surpassing a smile and continued about her work. Zack shrugged again, and shot Siara a cheeky smile.

Loud music was emitting from the room stipulated on Zack's key code, he grinned and pushed the doors open, allowing Siara to take a peek at the interior.
"Why don't you go look around you own dorm and then come back over in a few minutes?" He smiled at her and let himself into the room.
"Its pretty nice... hey, Rand?!" He shouted above the music, I'm back, how'd you get on in the armoury?" He headed over to the left room, and pulled the wet tee finally from his chest, and then pulling a clean black towel from his carry-all and drapped it across his shoulders. He had decided to wait for Siara before he told Rand about the SOLDIERs that had taken the body, and instead, knocked on his door before letting himself in.

[Chibi_Ichigo_Chan]

Siara couldn;t help looking around whereever she went though her eyes were fixed on Vigil as they handed over the body "Like we can forget it.." she said under her breath as she turned away. "Not a good thing to say really considering what we had to do to the poor thing..." she said sighing. "oh well...i guess we should just go and relax" she said to Zack as they made their way towards the dorm.
She felt slightly nervous in the lift alone with Zack for some reason, even if he was going to be on her team she couldn't help but hide some blushing in her cheeks. He was rather Dashing. As the elevator halted she scurried forward to the woman on the desk and smiled "Good day" she smiled as the woman then began to listen as she spoke to Zack. "So we are on the same team! im so happy!" she said giving a little jump and waving her arms up "To think im actually ona team with people i know WOOHOO!". She was rather hyped all of a sudden. "Come on lets go check out the dorm!!" she turned and saw his cheeky smile and smiled back.

When arriving at the form she peeked her head around the door frame and looked around "Ohhhh I hope mines nice!...I don't think i will be sharing since i havn't seen another woman eyt..." she said standing up again "See you in a little while!" she said hastily runnign to hers and swiping her key card in the door watching it open, vanishing inside.
Looking round it was the same as the guys "yayy! so much space!" she said running up to her bed and doing a jump onto it. "I guess i better have a shower and get changed..." she said as she moved swiftly towards the shower.
She was showered and changed into her clothing for pajamas which consisted a basic tank top that finished above the navel and short like bottoms that showed a glimpse of a dragon tattoo going up her right thigh. She dried her hair roughly letting it curl as the water began to control it as she left her room nocking on Zacks. not caring how scruffy she looked in he jamas and slippers "It's Siara!" she said smilling.

[Rand]

Standing he toogled the music so that it became background noise. "It was fine. Kinda surprised the gaurds didn't give me a fuss like they did last time." Shrugging he glanced around the room. "Nice place we got here, eh? Nice to be in Soldier... Just imagine what the first class rooms are like, they said these are only the dormitories so..." Grinning slightly at that he turned his head when he heard the door knock following siara asking to come in. "I got it." He said to Zack walk across the room. Grabbing the door he slid it open letting her in. "You look nice and clean" He commented with a grin stepping aside to let her inside. "Ready for bed or something already?" He asked teasingly taking a quick step back to avoid a potential punch.

[ShuyinFair]

"Well it IS nearly half ten," Zack defended Siara. He was tired too, but there was so much to talk about that he didn't want to go to sleep just yet. Instead he threw himself onto the low slung coutch that lay across the living room and rested his head on his arms, enjoying the comfort that spread through his aching body.
"What do you think our mission will be tomorrow? Maybe something to do with the Wutai war? I hear they're sending backup from Junon and Corel so i guess we'd get sent to Junon Harbour first..." He shrugged and pulled the ice materia from his bracelet and began to stare deeply into the swirling green orb, a smile on his face.
"Siara, watch this." He held the materia upto the light, and pulled a small bag of powder from his pocket. "This is a potion, in its undiluted form. I picked up it up from the armoury before i registered in the foyer this morning." He dipped the materia into the power, and then forced it back into his armour. The orb glowed brighter, and then the green began to change colour, fading slightly until it looked a pale shade of apple, more white than anything else.
"This mateira had enough experience for me to begin combining it with other items. Because i used a healing material, it should have gained the power to restore... or damage the undead, we will have to wait until i'm in the field to see its true effects." He smiled at her, and gave her the half empty bag of potion powder, telling her to keep it incase she needed it.
"Hey Rand, did you hear anything about that specimen while you were down in the lockers?" Zack had completely forgotten about the body, in the excitment of the new room, and the fact he was absolutely knackered.

[ShuyinFair]

Outside, in the corridors, a shadow lurked- the same shadow that had hunched unto himself down in the research labs- the same shadow that had whispered that name oh so clearly to the nobody that could hear. It staggered to an untimely halt, just outside of the dormatory that had been assigned to Siara, and fiddled agitatedly with something that was hidden from sight in the pocket of his oily laboratory coat. Nothing happened for a while, and then, the sound of something rumbling further down the corridor broke the eeire silence that had descended upon the Shin-Ra building. Eventually, the rumbling grew to a greater pitch and the thing that had been making the noise drew into the corridor.
It was a machine, made in the image of a human, though its clumsy make up resembled more than a hover craft than a man. Thick white markings on the side told whoever was to lay eyes upon this robot that it was named 'airbuster' and this was obviously the beta model. Airbuster stopped at its master side, and the rumbling stayed to a steady mutter from its engine. The shadowy figure whispered something, and pointed an oily finger towards the door leading into Siara's room.


A sudden crash from somewhere outside would signal an unfortunate end to Zack, Rand and Siara's evening.

[Rand]

Watching him dip the Materia into the potion gave him an idea he thought to use later on. "That's pretty cool." He commented walking to the fridge openning it to grab a cool drink. "The men in the armory didn't say anything to me really, they just took my weapons and dismissed me." Shrugging he grabbed a bottled water from the fridge cracking it open and taking a long drink from it.
Sighing walked back over to his room and changed the music to something more upbeat pump-up music. Grinning at Zack he nodded his head in time to the beat. "What do you think they're going to do with the body?" He asked heading over to the couch settling himself on it.
Turning his head slightly he frowned. ~Coulda sworn I just heard something...~ Shrugging it off he let the frown slide off his face. Taking another cool drink from the water bottle he sighed out again getting comfortable on the couch. "They really give us the perks here for this place don't they? It's a really nice place compared to what they could've given us." Stretching out on the couch he half closed his eyes and started dozing off.

[ShuyinFair]

Zack, too, had heard something outside. He merely nodded in reply to Rand as he made his way over to the door and held his ear to the wood, straining to hear any commotion that might arise from the corridor. He signalled for Rand to join him, and a huge crash rang out from behind the closed door.
"Something's up... Siara run into the back, i think theres training weapons in the bedroom. Rand... turn the music up." He grinned, though he didn't truely feel happy about the commotion. Surely fighting in the corridors was banned, but if someone was trying to break into Siara's room... well, they'd obviously gotten the wrong dormatory.

Outside, the Air Buster Beta returned to the door leading back onto the corridor to find that the shadowy figure that had summoned it, had left. The machine seemed to be confused, as though it had not been programmed any further than returning to its master. It suddered and looked across the corridor to Zack and Rand's room....

[Rand]

A grin springing to his face he jumped up from the couch. "Seems like we're gonna have some fun after all..." Walking to his laptop he toggled the music louder than before they had entered. Shifting his weight from foot to foot he got into the beat of the music. "This is what I'm talking about! Why can't this happen all the time when we fight?" He yelled out a childish grin now on his face.
Stepping over to the door he openned it poking his head out. Looking down the hall he saw the machine. ~Oh shit!~ He thought pulling his head back. "We've got some kind of hover machine, I don't know what it's target is, but Siara's room is completly trashed." Mako started shining in his eyes as he qued himself up for some heavy fighting.
"Theres not much room to fight in that corridor, and from what I saw of Siara's room we're gonna need plenty of space to get outta it's way! Is there a place we could take it to fight it?" He said to Zack looking behind him standing a few feet away from the door his back to the wall.