Characters aren't mine, but Tetsuya Nomura's.

I am really, truly sorry; this idea sprung upon me and wouldn't leave me. I have no idea how Reno will actually succeed when the video is already going to be broadcast, but I suspect he'll find a way.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Tseng oversaw the activity tearing apart his boss' drafty office with his usual enthusiasm. It had been two years since diamond weapon blew the place up, and it seemed a measure of the president's vanity that the first independent contractors invited in weren't carpenters, but a camera crew. "Permission to speak frankly, sir?"

"Denied," Shinra grumbled, "You've already 'registered your disapproval' twice already. I am quite aware of your thoughts on this, Tseng."

The hands of the leader of the Turks fluttered nervously, unfamiliar as he was being unheeded. "This idea was Reno's," the stoic man continued, unable to contain himself further.

"And Reeve agreed that this would be the best way to change my fearsome image in the public eye, thus allowing myself to rebuild Shinra anew," Rufus argued back.

"Reeve doesn't work for you anymore," Tseng pointed out.

This gave the strawberry-blond pause. "He doesn't?"

"No. He hated your father, and he hates you, sir."

The greedy former corporate executive did some quick thinking. "But... This will make me seem less fearsome, yet still pave my way to an underground take over of the world?"

The older man gave up. "Yes sir, I believe it will."

"Then stop complaining, I've had enough of your indecisive nattering." Finally, the amount of duct tape and wires being applied liberally to the wall and hammering seemed to diminish, and Rufus sensed perhaps that it was time. He walked up to an 'x' chalked out on his ruined floorboards. "Are we ready? Are we rolling?"

"Yes sir," Tseng answered tiredly, after ascertaining that the red light on the camera was on and the lens cap was off.

Rufus began to dance; that is, if dancing consisted of awkwardly swinging his arms and shuffling his feet while his trenchcoat flapped around. He also began to sing: "Never gonna give you up... Never gonna let you down... Never gonna run around and desert you..."

Reno and Rude poked their heads into the room, causing a shower of plaster. "Do you think he'll pay us now?" Rude inquired.

"God, I love blackmail," Reno snickered.