Disclaimer: I don’t own anything related to or affiliated with FFVII. Square Enix is sitting on that goldmine. XD I am but a mere Bleach fanfiction author dabbling in new ventures. The italics here are a little flashback.

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It’s common logic that those who wish to live peaceful existences do not interfere in the affairs of the Shinra Electric Company. Specifically, they do not wish to deal with their so-called Department of Administrative Research, their convenient assassins, the elite task group known as the Turks. It’s always been that way that I know of and I thought it would always continue… until I received my briefing this morning

&3&

“Elena.” My head snapped up at the mere mention of my name. Mentally chastising myself, I forced a neutral expression and stared plainly at my new boss.

“Sir?” I raised my eyebrows as he approached my desk with a thick blue folder tucked under one arm. The cuffs of his impeccably pressed white shirt were rolled up to his elbows and a bit a sweat had formed on his brow. The man that I had came to know in my two weeks of employment as our locality’s Chief of Operations, hastily sat on the edge of my desk.

“I have an assignment for you.” He tilted his head, gesturing toward the folder that he lay on my desk.

Blinking, I stared up at him with sudden curiosity. Why was he acting so strangely? I had only met him a few weeks prior. Actually, he approached me with a job offer roughly two hours after I graduated the academy.

Like so many bitter individuals in this hole of a planet, he represented a deep resentment for Shinra. In fact, he was involved in an underground resistance movement that was rapidly growing in numbers. The oppressing electric company was currently in midst of rebuilding its reputation after all the damage sustained in the wake of Sephiroth. Needless to say… this resistance, the Society of Covert Operations for Revolution Now, had sought me out with a job offer. I guess everyone calls it SCORN…which makes no sense because they are actually biding their time and not acting now. I suppose the double-meaning was catchy.

Apparently, my high marks preceded me. I had been hesitant at first, but I couldn’t afford to say no. My father, who taught at the academy, had insisted that I leave his house immediately following graduation. He hates me. I represent everything he has lost and there is no way to reverse it. It is of no matter now. I digress.

SCORN has seemingly been working on their recon for quite a while, waiting until Shinra is at its weakest. Frankly, I don’t care one way or the other anymore. The details are insignificant as long as I can afford to keep a roof over my head and my skills don’t grow dull.

They hired me to work intricately with their computer system. I’m somewhat of a specialist, having adopted that as my field of a study. Yet, I haven’t had a whole lot of experience… I’m only twenty. They haven’t asked and I haven’t volunteered that information. So I was able to advance a year or so… that doesn’t make me any less qualified. In fact---

“…you listening, Elena?” I snapped out of my stupor and locked eyes with the chief. Feeling heat rise to my face, I coughed lightly and rubbed my temples in an attempt to clear my mind.

“I’m s-sorry, sir… I… don’t know what came over me.” I managed, looking down at my hands folded in my lap.

“It’s alright.” He sighed leaning heavily on my desk. “A lot to take in, isn’t it? Look, if it helps… it wasn’t my decision. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t just throw some rookie kid out to the wolves like that… but you’re the only one we can risk with such a task.”

My heart stopped… or so it felt like it. I really had chosen the worst possible time to zone out. I knew that in a place like that, feelings were supposed to be suppressed for the greater purpose and what not, but I felt like I was going to have a panic attack.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I met his even gaze again. “Now, what exactly will I be doing again?”

His eyes softened somewhat. “We have a contact down at the local hiring agency that had an inquiry about a housekeeper for someone they recognized as being one of Shinra’s Turks. So far, we haven’t been able to pull much information about them at all. As you know, we’ve never had the opportunity. Those bloody Turks are the puppets for the president’s wishes. If we can infiltrate… Elena, you don’t know what that will mean for SCORN.”

Already, I was working it out in my mind. How did it happen? I thought I was hired to work behind the scenes… on the computer for crying outloud! I couldn't---

“You will report to the hiring agency at 8:00 A.M. sharp tomorrow to receive the address. Of course, that means we will advance your pay and make the appropriate accommodations. We will keep in touch, but from now on… you will be an undercover operative. You know nothing of this organization; do you understand?”

I nodded numbly, pulling at the hem of my jacket. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to run home to my new apartment, kick my heels off, dive into bed, and cry. I knew that I would be involved, but I never thought I’d actually… I mean… I wasn't ready!

“You learned a great deal about tactics and, if need be, combat at the academy, correct?” He stood up, leaving the folder behind for me to read through.

“Yes, sir. I’m quite familiar.” I added, hoping that my voice didn’t betray my current conflicting emotions.

“Good. As soon as you’ve finished reading that, come by my office. I’m sure you’ll have a few questions and then you can go home to prepare, alright?” He looked around the dim warehouse. There were others around, but they paid no attention. To them I was still the new girl. My affairs didn’t concern them. They had their own jobs to do.

“Look, you’ll be fine.” He added, almost as an afterthought before turning on his heel and walking away. I must have looked terrified.

With slightly shaking hands, I opened the folder.

&3&

I glance at the clock with distain. Only eleven hours, twenty-one minutes, and fifty-four seconds until I have to be at the hiring agency. My heart begins to speed up again at the thought of it.

It’s not like I’m untrained. I went to an esteemed military academy. I just… didn’t really expect to take on something like this. Clutching the handle of a steaming mug of coffee, I cross the room to look out the window. It was dusk, but then again… when was it ever sunny?

“I hate this city.” I mutter to no one in particular. It’s not like I had any friends or family to celebrate my last night of freedom with.

A feeling of gloom threatens to pull at my heart, but resolve quickly rises to meet the challenge. “No.” The single word echoes around the apartment. “I’m going to do this. I’ll show everyone exactly how capable I am… especially the chief. “

The reflection of a girl, determined hazelnut eyes, short ash blonde hair that frames one side of the face, stares back at me. Outside, the street lights come on. My mind is set.

&3&

((A/N: Let’s get a few things out of the way… XD

This is an AU story. That is, an alternate universe. While some portions of the FFVII story exist, it has been altered to make a unique story. So, things like there being Turks remain, while things like Elena being one do not. I made up SCORN, obviously. Also, Elena is an only child in this fic… just to clear that up.

I actually tried to leave things a bit vague this time around, while I normally like to script out every last detail. Let your imaginations roam about freely.

Comments, reviews, criticisms, greetings, questions, and concerns are all welcome. Have a great week! ))