On a small hill overlooking the ruins, a single figure stood, surveying the damage. A tall man, he stood motionless seemingly unaware of the rain. His long white coat flapped in the breeze as he stared over what had been his home. He wasn't sure why he had returned to this place, but seeing it again made the memories flood back.
It seemed like only yesterday that he had pulled from the rubble, half dead from dehydration and hunger. For two days he had been trapped in a tomb of metal and concrete, the remnants of his own empire. His left leg had been half crushed, and it had only been in the last week that he had been able to walk unaided. He would always have a limp though. A reminder of what had happened.
I knew I wouldn't die though. I can't until I finish my work
It had been Elena who had found him. Of all the Turks, she was the one who would always follow orders no matter what. She had found him, freed him and helped his speedy recovery. Why? Because she was Turk. They all had obligations to him. Even now when Shinra was nothing more then a shadow. Tseng was still missing, probably dead. Reno was dangerous - too much ambition, and far too smart for his own good. Rude was capable, but Reno easily influenced him. No he thought, Elena is the one I can depend on the most.
He hadn't wasted the recovery time he needed by doing nothing. He had milked the Turks for every single piece of information he could, and made plans accordingly. Sephiroth was dead, and Meteor gone. Hard to believe that the ragged, amateur crew he had met in the Shinra Tower long ago had managed such a feat.
I can't afford to underestimate them this time. I need more power before I can face them again and erase their miserable lives for good.
Of course the destruction of Midgar had been Weapon's doing, not theirs. However his defeat at their hands still bit deeply into his pride. His excellent spy network was back in operation, and he knew exactly where every single one of them were, and what they were doing. In time they would all pay.
However there were more important matters at hand now. In the short time since the Meteor crisis, the world had changed. New governments had arisen, and alliances had been formed. Newcomers had taken up the reigns of power in the various cities of the world. It was going to take time to insert himself back into this arena. But he had plenty of time. Time to once more rise to the top where he was meant to be.
Already, events had been set in motion. Lying low, he had gathered the remaining troops that were loyal to him. Not many had survived the chaos, but in time their numbers would grow.
Out of all the information the Turks had given him, one was the most interesting. It seemed he wasn't the only survivor of Midgar, for Scarlet and Heidegger, his former lackeys were alive. As he was believed dead, most of the old Shinra army had followed them and as a result they had taken Junon by force. They were using this as a base of operations for who knew what. There were already rumors of war beginning.
He laughed softly. Those two had always been greedy for power. People bowed to them out of fear, for they had no adversaries left. Well they would soon enough. It was going to be most interesting to pay them a visit and put them both down for good.
However, at the moment they had all the advantages, except one. Surprise. In his weakened state, he would need something to match them. Something they would not expect. Something better then military power.
Perhaps Dr Gast's old lab in the north can give me that. Hojo truly believed I didn't know he was going there, week after week, working on his own schemes. Whatever he was working on, it must be powerful indeed. Otherwise he wouldn't have been so secretive. This could be just what I need.
Rufus smiled and looked up to the sky, the rain running down his face. It was cool and fresh on his skin. He turned and slowly made his way down the hill away from the abandoned city, never looking back.