For Honor or Glory

Application

Chapter 14 

The next morning, Alex was up and out of the apartment early. The previous night Angeal had mentioned that Genesis wanted to take them both to breakfast before the day got started, so she wanted to make sure she missed him. It wasn't that she wouldn't have enjoyed the meal, but she had plenty of things to do that morning. She needed to be focused when she went to the Science Department, and the last thing she needed was to be distracted by thoughts of her complicated relationship.

She knew Genesis was likely to be pissed, but she also knew she could make it up to him later. He did still have a soft spot for the sugar bombs he called lattes, and she had made sure to ask where she could get one before she ran out the door. Her brother had given her a knowing frown but hadn't tried to stop her. Thankfully.

Alex was aware that it was too early to go to the office to turn in her resume, but that wasn't an issue. She headed to the employee lounge upstairs to take a little time to make sure everything was in order, especially all the information on her thesis. She had put it together before she ever left Banora. She might have been hesitant to leave before the 'accident,' but that didn't mean she was clueless. Midgar and Shinra were the only places she would be able to finish her thesis. She doubted she would get an interview the same day she submitted her paperwork, but it was better to be safe.

That thought left a bitter taste in her mouth now, but ironically enough, it would be the one thing to help her figure everything out. If she had any chance of finding the records around their birth and exactly what was done, then the hell-hole of Shinra would be the place to do it.

She was pulled from her contemplation of what she might be facing when an exuberant voice called her name. She looked up and around with a frown until her eyes landed on three men in dark suits headed her way. They all looked familiar, but she couldn't place where she might have seen them before.

Thankfully, her confusion cleared when the one in front spoke as soon as they reached her table. "Look who it is. The famous Alexandra Hewley."

Alex stood to greet them, but she couldn't entirely erase her frown as she answered. "Maur, right? It's a pleasure to see you again, but don't you think famous is a little bit of an exaggeration?"

The man chuckled when he shook her hand. He then winked at her with a grin. "Not at all. I was there when you came in after all. Have you seen the news all over about you? The beautiful Amazon that is related to one Commander Angeal Hewley."

Alex groaned as she covered her face. She hadn't even considered the consequences of that yet. Unfortunately, she wasn't given long to worry about it as the red-head next to Maur butted in.

"Since it seems that Martial Arts here ain't gonna do it, lemme introduce the rest of us. The name's Reno, and this here's my partner, Rude, yo."

A shaft of pain punched through Alex's head as she recognized those names. Thankfully she was able to keep it to a wince. It was no wonder she recognized these other two as well. She shook Reno's hand absently as she looked at all three. The fact that they were all together meant that Maur must be a Turk as well. Even though she didn't recognize him. Not that it mattered other than she would have to be wary around them all.

She was pulled from her internal musings when Reno continued. "Ya know, I didn't believe ya could live up to what everyone's sayin', but I see I was wrong."

It took her a second to realize what he meant. When she did, she chuckled and shook her head. "Thanks for the flattery, but I need to get going. I believe the offices should be open now, so I can submit my resume."

Maur helped her gather her papers without being asked as he spoke again. "You're coming to work for Shinra?"

Alex's hand darted out to take the papers from him since it had taken some time to organize them. Still, she hoped her apologetic smile was enough to keep the gesture from being rude as she answered. "That is my hope. I'm not sure if I will be able to see anyone in the Science Department today, but we'll see."