Crisis Core: The Female SOLDIER

1

 Shinra Virtual Reality System

Operation failed. Life forfeited.

Restart simulation?

Yes                                       No

The 'yes' button was highlighted and blinking when the text appeared. A moment of contemplated silence issued before a sigh was heard and the highlighted shifted to 'no' before it was entered. When it was done, the text disappeared and the blackness stuttered and glitched as it broke down into pixelated rain, ending the simulation, leaving behind the typical grey walls of the blank training room in their wake.

Standing up from her slumped position by the wall, Sera took off the electrical visor from her head, showing behind them the iconic pair of Mako blue eyes on her face beneath deep blue tresses as she shook her hair from her eyes. Looking down at the metal visor in her gloved hand, she let out another deep sigh.

'Another failure, huh?' she thought. She's not that surprised though, since it was Sephiroth she was fighting against, even if it was just a simulation of him. 'They really got him down to the smallest detail. Even his personality and clothing are exact.'

'I wonder how long I lasted this time?' With that thought in mind, she went to pick up her sword, strapping it to her back once more before walking towards the monitor at the corner of the training room, lightly punching in a few keys and she took a look at the stats when her record popped up. She let out a hum of appraisal when she saw them.

"Hmm... a little longer than the last time I did it. Not sure if it means I've gotten better though," Sera muttered to herself. Just then, a ringing tone was heard and she pulled out a flip phone from her pocket, a compulsory item for all Shinra employees. At the name of the caller on the screen, she flipped it open and brought it to her ear.

"What is it, Angeal?"

"You've got an assignment. Head over to Director Lazard to report. We'll give you the details when you arrive."

"Alright. I'm on my way,"

The call ended shortly after and she pocketed her phone. Looking back at the monitor before her she typed in a few more keywords, deleting her training record and she headed out the training room, the glass door sliding shut behind her.

She could hear the whispers as she walked along the hallway. One cannot avoid attention for long when under the mentoring of Sephiroth.

"Look, it's the female SOLDIER."

"Seriously? She's a SOLDIER? I thought it was only for the male recruits?"

"I heard she was personally chosen and mentored by Sephiroth himself."

"She was chosen by Shinra's hero? Damn, she must be highly skilled for him to choose her as his student."

"Heh, skilled in combat or in bed? She doesn't even look much in both."

"Quiet! If she hears you she'll skin you alive. I heard she almost killed a couple of 2nd class when they tried to corner her."

"Shit, she's that strong?"

"Wait, guns? Is she just a support then?"

"No, she does offense as well. Didn't you see the sword on her back?"

"'The hero's legacy' is it? We can expect great things from her."

She could hear more and more whispers as she walked past, some out of admiration, and some out of disbelief that she was part of the SOLDIER program, as well as some hostile comments that she did not even bother remembering. She just ignored them all, having grown used to it over the years, walking calmly in the direction of the Director's office. The whispers faded the further she walked inside and she let out an inaudible sigh, her tense form slowly subsiding.