Chapter 1 - Bureaucrats and Bagels
This story is inspired by and very closely based on a dream I had recently that I felt would make an amusing fanfic. I made a few modifications to the actual dream's story (for instance, the dream was more of a FF7 FMA crossover, but I hate crossovers...), so if it seems a bit crazy that is probably why. : P
Music recommendation: Julie Brown - 'Cause I'm a Blonde, Skee Lo - I Wish
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"Our team in Sector 4 hasn't reported anything back yet, Ma'am. All reports so far have indicated no traces of the Himi faction."
"I see." I pause in contemplation, tapping my chin with my index finger. "Call them back."
"But Ma'am!" I smile shrewdly at Dal, the young brunette operative only recently promoted to command headquarters. He stopped, realizing the insubordination he had just shown, "It's just that we've been in Sector 4 for weeks already. If we pull out now, Himi and his men will get away."
"This isn't the first Sector we've infiltrated, Dal. Obviously there's something in our method of approach that is tipping Himi's men off, allowing them to stay one step ahead of us. If not, we would have caught them by now. Our best option is to regroup, and try another plan of attack, rather than wasting the manpower on a wild goose chase." I said quite simply, waving away this outburst.
"You should listen to the Lieutenant," a voice from behind was a bit of a startle. I turned to see Lasarus just entering communications, smiling handsomely as usual, in a way that made him look like he was up to something.
"Do you mean to say that maybe there's," I looked back to Dal, who had a disturbed expression, nearly breaking into a sweat, "a double agent?"
"Don't be such an alarmist," Lasarus now also waving away Dal's outburst. "Charging into a Sector asking questions isn't always the most tactful approach. There's a good possibility they were just aware of our presence there long before we could catch their trail. Not everyone in the upper plate is fond of our organization." He said very coolly, looking very suave in his dark gray uniform as he leaned against the wall lighting a cigarette.
"And what news do you bring me?" I turned to him crossing my arms over my chest, never at a shortage of disappointment for the casual way he tended to cavort into the presence of his superior officer. In response, he only gestured to the hallway meaning for me to follow him out.
It was always difficult for me to act as a superior officer to Lasarus, because aside form being much taller than me, he was just a bit too laid-back to ever feel like he was taking anything seriously. Not that I am a strict commanding officer, but had he have been under anyone else's command, he wouldn't have been under anyone's command for very long. That being said, he was one of the finest operatives an anti-terrorist organization could want to have.
"There's definitely a leak somewhere in the ranks," his voice lowering to a deep mutter, somewhat mimicking the notion he had just coolly waved away when Dal had suggested it "but that phony infiltration of Sector 4 served its purpose. I've been able to gather more information in the last couple of weeks on the Himi faction than turning the whole upper plate upside down would have gotten us." He continued to puff on his cigarette, his short blonde hair combed neatly away from his face.
"So what do we know?" I looked up at him, still taken aback by how handsome he is, but always conscious of the fact I must keep it professional. As much as possible, anyway.
"Well," he squinted in a puff of smoke, looking like someone who was very wise and about to impart some invaluable knowledge on to me. Mostly because he was, "there's not just going to be a single attack. There's gonna be several. Apparently, this Himi guy is an admirer of that AVALANCHE group that attacked all of the major Mako reactors recently."
"So he's planning to attack the Mako reactors?" I puzzled.
"I'm afraid our pal Himi doesn't have so 'noble' a cause. This guy's ruthless, all about his personal agenda, ya know? As far as I can tell, his targets are gonna be large, highly populated places. This could be a single shopping center, or it could be an entire city. Now, whether this is a vendetta he has, or whether he's looking to exploit money out of the Shin-ra corporation, I don't know. But personally, I don't see how far a guy like that would get if he planned to make off with Shin-ra money. He's not that stupid, he knows Shin-ra is world-wide, and there'd be nowhere for him to hide. So as a personal opinion, I'd say that his objective isn't money."
"Hm," I said trying to keep in stride with his much longer strides, making me break just short of a run, and making my lieutenant's cape flutter and flare behind me, which in turn made me look a little more dramatic than I wanted to. "If it's not money, do you have any reason to believe it's a vendetta? Will there be any way to bargain with him if we can't shut down his organization before the final pieces of the attack are put into place?"
"I wouldn't worry about that, Lieutenant," He said looking over and down at me with a scheming grin on his face. I was dumbfounded.
"Wh-w....W-ah?" I sputtered blinking, still keeping a light jog next to his casual walk. "It's my job to worry. We were put here for the specific reason of worrying about things like this in lieu of the President's special investigative forces. They can't be here right now, so it's our duty to keep what's left of Midgar from blowing up." There was a short silence when I reevaluated the look on Lasarus' face, "why shouldn't I worry?" I looked at him suspiciously.
"Because," his tone never changed, even through the mild heart attack I had. Though not an uptight commander, I don't like the idea of being blown to bits. "I have a meeting with one of Himi's top guys." I was beginning to think me being dumb-founded was just the way of this conversation.
"But, how did you," I raised my hands in front of me, looking as if to say 'a clue? someone, please?'
"I have my ways," returning his gaze ahead, looking very sure of himself. Gah, what an attractive profile! There was another short silence, giving me time to observe this, expecting to hear more details on how he had finagled an arrangement with one of an elusive terrorist organization's top guys, and then play it off like it was a brunch date.
"Just like that," I was gesturing with my face like that would somehow get him to continue his story.
"Yup, just like that," he shrugged, dropping the remains of his cigarette to the floor for a squishing.
"I've gotta say, Las, you're pretty good," laughing to myself while simultaneously trying to catch my breath as he finally drew to a halt in front of the elevator doors.
"Well, it's what you pay me for," he smiled that same mischievous smile, turning to face me and pulling out yet another cigarette.
"You know, those things will kill you," a nonchalant gesture at his cigarette, the elevator ringing open.
"Only you can kill me, Lieutenant," I cocked an eyebrow at him, bemused and a little horrified as he bowed dramatically into the elevator with a sweeping grace, "because my heart stops every time you are near." Hands folded onto his chest in something that mimicked an actor's performance when the elevator doors finally closed on him, ending his performance. I shook my head, scoffing, and turning back towards the hallway we had just passed down.
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"Weeell, Lieutenant Oren," a prompt salute to my commanding officer when I entered command central, "it seems like this Himi investigation of yours has attracted some special attention from the higher ups." The commander a very broad and hard-eyed, gray-haired man, the medals on the chest of his officer's jacket looking like an array of colors spewed up on him while he was wearing it.
"Sir?" Naturally, interference from some of the President's bureaucrats is the first thing I need. Second of course being a bagel. Catching Himi is third, but at least still in the top five. The other two are on a need-to-know basis... Don't judge me.
"Yes, I just received word this morning that the President himself is sending a few of his top people to help with the investigation. Apparently he wants this thing squashed as quickly as possible. And it's understandable, what with the recent AVALANCE attacks, the murder of the former president. This is a dangerous time for Midgar right now, we cannot afford to allow the turmoil to get out of control or to appear weak to our citizens."
"Yes sir," I looked around for a second, rolling my eyes from side to side, "when can we expect their arrival, sir?" Please say weeks. I need time to solve this before they get here..
"Within the next few days, I believe," dang it, Lasarus better hurry up with that meeting.
"Yes sir," another prompt salute. I hate how physically demanding talking to a superior officer is.
Never a dull moment, I discovered, when I stepped out into the hallway to see Dal rushing down the corridor waving a piece of paper frantically in the air, nearly hitting his red-headed companion in the face while she rushed behind him. "Lieutenant Oren!" I made a mockery of his panic by running a few steps with arms flailing wildly at my sides. I hate how physically demanding making fun of people is.
"What is it Dal?" He only responded by waving this rambunctious piece of paper in my face whilst trying to catch his breath. I scanned over it to see it was a report from the sector 3 hospital. One of our officers had been hospitalized in an apparent attack on the Sector 4 team. "What's this all about?"
"It just arrived, apparently there was an attack on Lieutenant Ed's company in sector 4." Oi.. "All evidence so far indicates this is a retaliation by the Himi faction."
"You! Prepare me a transport to sector 3! I need reinforcements there on the double!" I was abruptly pointing at the red-head. "And you!" I pointed in much the same erratic way at Dal, who was still doubled over in with what was most likely chest cramps, "report this to the Colonel!"
"But Lieutenant, it's too dangerous to travel to sector 3 right now," the red-head now speaking for Dal, who was engaged in some sort of battle against his ribs.
"I'm not above any danger. This is my investigation, so this situation is my fault. I made them a target, so I'll handle this myself." I again pointed to the red-head in a most furious manner, "and see to it that there's a bagel waiting for me in the transport... So help you if there's no bagel in the transport!" And with that I flew off in the direction of the elevator, cape aflutter, having moved catching Himi above bureaucrats and bagels on the list of things I need most.
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"No! No I don't.... I don't... I said.... No!... So help you if you put me on hold!" If an infuriated face could break phones, mine would have. Unfortunately they don't, so the task of breaking my phone in a fit of anger was left to my incredible throwing skills. They accomplished the task, albeit sloppily, and accidentally hitting my driver in the back of the head with a bit of shrapnel.
"Is everything alright, Ma'am?" The SOLDIER said, rubbing the back of his head.
"No, it's not. No one seems to know anything. Either that, or I'm pretty sure the hospital only allows the deaf to answer the phones!" I grumbled cramming half a stale bagel in my mouth. "And my bagel is stale," I guess I should have been more specific when I told the red-head to get me a bagel. I didn't mean one from last month. I'd call someone and complain, but that wouldn't make the bagel here in my mouth any fresher. Plus my phone has been decommissioned.
"We're here, Ma'am." The car suddenly came to a halt, finding my head banged against the seat I was sitting behind.
"Thank you soldier," I said rubbing the red spot on my forehead, "And sorry about the phone. We need to avoid casualties as much as possible on this case." Of course I was talking about the phone, I just said it in a way that would have made that jerk think I was apologizing to him.
I stumbled out of the transport to see the rest of the SOLDIERS from the convoy filing out, "This hospital is on lockdown!" I pointed very firmly at the unmistakably tall building so they were sure that it was this hospital, "I don't want anybody getting in!" I charged off towards the entrance... I paused to turn back to the SOLDIERS, "except sick people!" barked back at them. "And Shin-ra officers...!" I turned towards to hospital doors, but almost immediately turned back around, "and doctors!..." I paused, "basically just don't let any terrorists in!" And with that I once more charged back to the hospital doors with a puzzle to solve, and a score to settle with whoever answered the phones when I called earlier.
"Lieutenant Oren!" I was greeted at the doors by the Sector 4 Team's second in command.
"What's the situation," I questioned, being gestured towards the elevators, a pair of SOLDIER guards following behind.
"We were pulling out of sector 4 as we were ordered, when Lieutenant Ed's transport was attacked," the elevator doors rung open, "it's almost like they knew where he'd be. They fired from the surrounding buildings, but so far no one seems to have 'seen' a thing. Right now he's in surgery, I guess his condition doesn't look very promising."
"I see," I tapped on my face for a second, "you're in charge of security here at the hospital. Make sure there are no further attacks here while Ed is recovering, I've brought reinforcements for extra measure." The elevator rang at Ed's floor.
"Ma'am," a salute before the elevator doors closed on him, leaving his two SOLDIER guards on this floor. I'll bet he hates how physically demanding it is to talk to a superior officer, too. It kind of discourages one from wanting to talk to their bosses, really.
"Nurse," I called to a nurse, "what can you tell me about the Lieutenant's condition?"
"I'm sorry, but he's still in surgery. It's a bit too soon to tell anything," her voice sounding suspiciously like someone I had had an unpleasant conversation on the phone with. But if all I can do is wait now, surely nothing will be lost if I accost those overtly suspicious vending machines.
Ah, a 'vending-machine-fresh' bagel. That level of freshness somewhere between 'something a respectable bakery wouldn't sell' and 'I found it under the seat'. But before the tears from the pain in my teeth in having to gnaw at my bagel like an animal could soggy up the infernal bread, the elevator rang up behind me. Which was odd since people weren't supposed to be allowed up here. Except sick people. And maybe doctors. But when I turned to look, the two men stepping off the elevator looked to be neither sick, nor doctors. They wore dark blue suits, the bald one with a menacing pair of sunglasses, and the redhead with a menacing... face. Intruders!
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I have no idea how this story will go over with you readers, so be sure to leave comments ^^