A/N: Hey, so this is a work I had re written several times, and which I finally feel comfortable with thanks to some rightful kicks in the butt from Violet's Veil and Someone's Charm. I thank you girls with all my heart and I deserved it to get me to improve my writing! Anyways, I'll let you guys read on and leave a review! I love them. Plus they help those little radioactive bunnies multiply. So do it! :) Love ya!
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII. I only own the plot for this story and some concepts used therein.
Chapter I: Mako Reactor Zero
"Reno, have you found an entrance yet?" My commander's voice cuts through the heavy silence that has fallen between my companion and I since take off. His distraction gives me a chance to search the ground of the Sector Six slums for an unmistakable opening in the cement. A stream of bleak sunlight breaks through a thick curtain of clouds in the sky, only to be blocked by the central pillar when our chopper pulls a sharp turn to avoid the light.
"No, Commander. Elena's taking her sweet time." I shoot a glare at him from the corner of my eye, increasing my concentration even more on the distorted rubble covered ground. My depth perception is really being thrown off by the repetitive pattern of destruction dotting areas of the Slums from the top plate. I still struggle to search for an opening in the different shades of gray, but I see nothing.
"Try in the southeast direction, near Sector Four," I offer, receiving an instant tug to my left while Reno makes the sharp turn. Bright golden sun and pink sky flash painfully in our eyes, before being blocked for a while by what's left of the Shin-Ra Building.
Hopefully this investigation goes smoother than what is natural for us. However, I wouldn't be surprised if we somehow run into trouble while making this excursion below Midgar. That or anything involving Shin-Ra's brutal past. Some skeletons can never be cleaned from the closet. As it were, we Turks find it difficult to sit easy now that we are aware of our superior's father's inhumane legacy. He got what he wanted in creating an army far superior to SOLDIER, yet never considered that his successor would be left to pick up the pieces.
Rufus has made it crystal clear to us that our attention need be directed on the functioning of the reactors, including Zero. So Reno and I are making this round, just a few weeks after the end of what has been hell on earth. We're checking that everything is offline, as it should be on the upper plate since each reactor there has a connection with the one below Midgar. Our boss also made Reactor Zero one of high importance, lest there be a malfunction which would result in meltdown and thus putting all of Edge in danger of Mako poisoning. It's bad enough that the people still believe us responsible for the Geostigma. If Zero were to go into meltdown, that would only give them further reason to distrust the company. I personally find it a bit hurtful since we're now trying to help restore the planet and redeem ourselves for what has happened in the past. We, too have loved ones who have suffered the same fate from our actions.
A cloud that decides to hang low on the horizon, blocking the sun helps in keeping me from going blind while I search the Sector Four slums area.
"There!" I point at a large black chasm running along the ground used as a possible opening during the Deep Ground war, leading forces to the surface. It's partially hidden at this angle by a building, but appears wide enough for us to make the descent without much difficulty.
"You got it," Reno responds with a laid back air, leading our chopper into a full on nose dive into what feels could possibly be oblivion.
XxXxX
"Hurry with that search light, Laney!"
"I'm trying! Give me a second!" My fingers run across the control panel littered with buttons and switches of all kinds in the blackness that has immediately consumed us with a hellish obscurity. So far, I'm having absolutely no luck at all and Reno's pestering isn't improving our chances.
"What's wrong?" Tseng's tone has a slight edge to it when his voice fills our headsets. Considering how this mission isn't one of our safer ones I'd be worried, too. However, I refuse an answer to my partner's question, still trying to find that damn switch. It's gotta be around here somewhere! I'm instantly blinded in a different way by a white light glaring in my eyes from my superior's flashlight, letting out a squeal of surprise along with a few curses.
"Reno! You are such an ass-"
"Relax, Canary, above you." He cuts off what was going to be an endless string of all derogatory terms I can think of by directing the beam of light over my head to several more switches. I give him a confused expression illuminated by the dim light, still unable to make out much due to multicolored dots dancing in my vision.
"What?" I ask, making my confusion evident to both my fellow Turk and my partner who now feels a world away.
"The searchlight switch is above your head, Elena," Tseng clarifies with a touch of amusement. I'm glad someone finds my misfortunes amusing. To add with how stupid I already feel, I can just slightly make out a smirk that Reno next to me is wearing. I should have known that's what he's referring to. I also want to give him a piece of my mind by beating him with his own flashlight, but would rather my partner not hear all I have to say and be subject to filing a report of misconduct against me. Instead, I settle at glaring at my superior next to me. Goddam Reno and his knowing what makes me tick.
Smug asshole, I growl inwardly while opting to remain silent, and reach over my head to flip the searchlight switch, instantly blinding Reno by glaring off of a wall of granite that's closer than expected. I swallow hard thinking of how badly that could have ended. He lets out a groan, where it's my turn to revel in his pain, wearing a smirk that lasts only a few seconds while he shakes his head.
"Alright! Now we're set. Let's go see if Deep Ground really is the force to be reckoned with that Vincent Valentine and Reeve claim."
We already know that to be true, a voice says in the back of my mind.
My stomach feels as if it's decided to check out of my body, leaving a dropping feeling while our helicopter makes the steady yet slow descent through endlessness. I almost can't stand the claustrophobic illusion after what makes me think that it has been hours on an elevator. I check my watch just to make sure it hasn't really been hours; just a very long ten minutes. Too long for an elevator ride I would ever care to be on. I'm about ready to voice my complaint in my companion's direction. A glint of red catches from the corner of my eye. It expands as we continue our controlled drop, eventually opening up over what I can only make out to be thousands of tiny black rooftops dotting a large tree like structure in the center. Its limbs reach up through the ceiling only to disappear, in which I can make out the enormously typed print marking it as Reactor Zero. My throat tightens even more at the sight of something none of us would ever expect.
"What the hell…" Reno allows the chopper to hoover over the ruins of Deep Ground, circling around the reactor once to get a good grasp of how expansive this place is.
"It must be the size of Midgar's Upper Plate," I choke out. My eyes scan over the deserted city, hanging on to many waterways and bridges that dot the area separating the city into sections.
"No kidding…" Reno agrees, readying the helicopter for landing while we still hang close to the top. A ceiling… how peculiar to say that when we have the freedom of seeing the sky outside. So many people have been taken from their homes for this project, forced from their sky into the prison masked as a city. A hell in and of itself that none of us above could ever imagine would exist. It's life changing. I instantly feel the need to leave this place; to let sleeping dogs lie. Something about Deep Ground makes me feel like a snitch for having to report what we find. I'm not so sure I want to anymore.
"What's down there?" Tseng's voice brings me out of my thoughts with his sudden question that makes me practically jump out of my seat.
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, Sir," I manage through my own disbelief of what I'm seeing.
"This project must have been under construction since Shin-Ra was first built in Midgar. It's the only way to explain it, boss," Reno follows. I glance at him away from the window and the false sunlight, receiving a nod as an okay to make our landing.
Leaving the safety of the ceiling in search of a proper clearing, our radios give out to dead air and we lose the signal while we close in on a spot in the inner city. I switch over a few channels in attempt to recover the signal, though it proves to be no good and I drop my headset in my lap. A grimace forms at the thought of Reno and I being alone down here with no assistance. Reno, on the other hand, tears off his headset, tossing it behind him with not a care in the world of where it may land. The crash it makes against the floor in the back makes me flinch. This feels worse than being on the surface alone. At least there we have the sky and a solid signal where we can contact help.
"So much for the radios. We'll have to test the other equipment, lest it decides not to work either," my fellow Turk comments shutting down the engine and slipping out. An acrid stench of recycled air abuses my senses upon opening the door; it takes a few minutes for me to accept the difference before I open my own door, stepping onto the dusty cobblestone. I check the rounds in my gun, while Reno brings out a scanner, holding it at eye level with Reactor Zero in the background. In a few strides, I meet him at the nose of the chopper, where he leans nonchalantly against the black iron. He smacks his hand against the side of the screen, chasing away fuzzy lines of a struggling signal.
"C'mon…" his voice trails off, giving the side a few more good smacks, finally getting a stable reading.
"There." A smile of triumph spreads across his face for that feat. Sometimes abusing technology works.
"Well Mako levels are normal, if that's any consolation."
"What about the reactor? Hasn't it been shut down?" I ask not understanding why we still have light.
"Cool down doesn't have a set time. It doesn't just shut off like you would expect it to. That's why boss man has us monitoring it. There's only so much we can do from headquarters; that we have to come down here and shut it off manually. However, this type of 'turning off' could take months if not years to be done properly. Also, there's meltdown to keep in consideration." His voice trails off squinting against the screen. A look of sheer displeasure replaces what remains of the easy grin at whatever shows up between the fuzzy lines of static.
"Something's there…"
"Let me see." I take the device from his hands, leaning up against the choppers nose and tapping the screen to zoom in on a specific location marked by a red blinking dot inside the reactor. There shouldn't be anything, let alone anyone besides us down here.
"But that's…" I start, glancing up to my fellow Turk who appears more and more concerned with every second that passes.
"We might as well check it out. There could be nothing, there could be something. Who knows. Either way, we still have a report to file where I'd much rather it be the former over the latter. So, what do you say, Canary? You up for a little adventure," he asks me with an easy tone, pushing off from the black steel and gaining distance within a few strides. I frown at the nickname he intentionally gave me on my first day, saying that it suits me best before catching up to him.
After a few minutes of walking through the ruins in silence, it feels a bit odd that neither of us can come up with anything to talk about. Normally, Reno would find something to bug me concerning Tseng, or whatever comes to his sporadic imagination. Mine alone is bad enough without influence from him, but this is just weird. Then again, what we both saw on the screen not too long ago is a little unsettling.
"Hey, what do you say we have a drink after this?" he asks glancing in my direction for an answer. His EMR taps against his shoulder in a steady rhythm. I scoff knowing where he plans to take this conversation.
"Reno, I'm not going to let you get me drunk again. Not after what happened last time."
"I didn't say 'get drunk', Laney. I said 'have a drink'. There is a difference. Not that you would know." He saunters off to the side out of reach from where my fist is ready to meet his face.
"So violent, Elena. Is that what Tseng likes in bed?" His comment makes the heat rise in embarrassment from what I have been told about my drunk self's escapades, courtesy of Reno. I rather not revisit those memories.
"You are such an ass," I comment under my breath, spotting a devious grin spread across his face.
"Does that mean yes?" he asks determined for an answer. I roll my eyes giving a heavy sigh.
"We'll see." I'm surprised at my own words, watching the devil in Reno expose itself even more. Oh, gods…
"I'll hold you to that, Elena. Now, let's get some work done."
We're now standing not far from the entrance to Reactor Zero, where my senses kick into overdrive against the stench of Mako and chemicals determined to make me gag. I cover my nose and mouth with the sleeve of my suit in an attempt to fight it. My jaw clenches at the monstrosity which the reactors on the top plate appear stunted in comparison. I bring the scanner up to eye level, a smaller version of Zero showing up on the screen.
"That's odd…" my voice comes out muffled by my sleeve. I'm utterly confused now. There's nothing on the screen. No reading of any life form inside the reactor. Reno stops in his tracks to glance back at me, brow furrowed.
"What is?" he asks, an air of confusion affecting him as well. I glance up to the reactor, then back at the screen in hand.
"Remember how we saw something on the screen not too long ago?"
"Your point?" my fellow Turk breathes out.
"It's just… Nothing's there now."
"Probably for the better. It could have misread something, though I would hate to think that's the case." His tone gives me the impression that he's wary of how safe we really are down here. There could be some remaining soldiers in hiding somewhere. However, it should be deserted. This is why we brought the scanner with us, to make sure we are alone and not have to worry about all different kinds of danger than we need to.
We come up to a steel door at the base. Rust encrusts the edges with a discolored and green tinged from containing Mako for so long without being monitored. I'm half expecting radioactive rabbits to burst through the door when we open it. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. My nerves find the time appropriate to lose their cool while Reno types in the override code on an encrusted keypad, wiping his fingers on his pant leg afterwards. The door slides open on grinding gears with the speed that could almost match a snail. He turns to me with a mock bow.
"After you, m'lady."
Hand still covering my nose and mouth, I take a few awkward steps forward, stepping over a raised threshold and into what can be determined as a grease monkey's best friend. Green and rust have no problem making their home here on the walls, the grating under my feet, and the railing. Underneath us lies a cocktail I have no desire of falling into. The door slams behind us with enough force to reverberate everything inside. Funny how a door that takes so long to open can close like a Adamantaimai's jaw. That does it. My nerves are finished and my courage has officially signed out. I attempt at taking a few deep breaths, sleeves covering my hands which now have a death grip upon each rail. The subconscious half of me has finally realized that there is little separating me from the toxic soup below. In my mind I desperately hope that if I slip, or the grating gives way, that Reno will catch me should I fall.
Oh, gods. Oh, gods. Oh, gods. This has to be the most terrifying thing next to being forced across a rope bridge over a lake of lava.
Don't look down, I encourage myself, my redheaded companion still trailing behind me despite the very slow pace.
"We need to get to the control room. That's where we can properly monitor this thing by downloading all the data."
I nod at his instructions, continuing my deep breathing exercise in between the terror of heights that are determined to keep me glued to one spot. My hands force a tighter grip upon each railing, knuckles turning a blinding white to match the Mako below. Oh, gods I can't do this. The reactors in Midgar on the Upper Plate aren't like this. Unlike Zero, they have a solid flooring that cannot be seen through.
"Don't look down, Elena. It is better not to. Just walk forward; follow the railings." Reno's voice tries to convince me with a calm tone. An echo of his EMR being set down causes me to jump and keep my grip firm. I hate this. With every fiber of my being I decide that I officially hate reactors and always will. I feel his fingers wrap around mine, coaxing them away from each bar to thin air.
"C'mon. You got this. Now walk." My teeth grind against the thought of even moving.
"Y-you won't let me fall?" I ask with an unsure tone.
"I won't let you fall," he confirms solidly.
But he's going to give me crap about it later. My stomach does a flip, eyes drifting down to the grating.
"No! Ahead. Look ahead." He presses his hands against both sides of my face, directing my eyes to concentrate on the door a few feet away while I take a few unwilling steps.
With the few next sections being like the first, my fear of falling into Mako soup is confronted with each challenge. Nothing says getting over a phobia like taking it head on. I'm not as afraid as I was when we first entered, soon being able to walk the passageways without Reno's assistance. Despite him now taking up the lead, he decides to hang back and wait for me before moving on in case I decide to freak out. When we make it to the control room, he instantly runs over to one of the computers, logging into the Shin-Ra database and pulls out a flash drive for the files. I watch in silence as he works, plugging said drive into the side of the computer, typing at a pace that can't be matched by anyone I know. Multiple windows pop up before he gives the side of the screen a good smack. As if that would make it work properly like a magic button. A string of curses follow under his breath before going back to work. In the meantime, I bring up the scanner once again, tapping the screen lightly to home in on our location within the reactor. Our previous concern shows up, not too far in comparison to where we are. It wasn't a mistake after all. I swallow hard realizing that whatever is there a few chambers away is aware of where Reno and I are and is advancing fast.
"Uh, Reno…" I warn, my voice betraying me in an attempt to remain steady.
"Yeah." His response is curt, concentration still focused on his screen. I bite my bottom lip watching the little blinking red dot as it passes through chambers, getting closer to ours. There's no mistake about it being a life form. I really don't care to find out what kind it may be.
"We've got company!" I drop the tablet, my hand instinctively reaching for my gun, pulling it out in a fluid motion directed at the door. I doubt normal bullets will do much against a Mako induced beast, let alone a Mako induced human. However, I don't receive the honor in finding out which will come through door number one. An explosion rings out, sounding as if it has come from the chamber in which our company was previously. The steady lake tremors beneath our feet, knocking down a few flecks of rust to land near my feet. Both Reno and I glare up to the piping. His hand grips his EMR that has been lying within reach. Another explosion follows suit, not long after the first. This time, closer. He tears the flash drive from the computer, shoving it in his pocket then grabbing my wrist.
"Run!" There's no hint of hesitation in his voice when giving that easy order. We tear down corridors which are still open before the wailing of sirens changes everything. Doors begin to slam shut in an emergency lock down to contain what can only be interpreted as a meltdown by Zero's safety system. Not but a few seconds later, lights shut off, switching themselves to a red hue from their normal dim yellow. This is definitely not my day! I can't hear myself think against flashing lights, blaring sirens and an automated voice warning us of the meltdown. Reno on the other hand, wastes no time in overriding the security, allowing us through doors that have already closed. Once the one in front of us opens, I race to the next key pad.
"What's the code," I call above the commotion to my superior. At a time like this, I'm glad to have Reno at my side since he can practically spew ten thousand codes as easily as he can recite the ABC's. I haven't had the privilege of learning emergency inputs to all the reactors since after Meteorfall they proved unnecessary.
"7, 2, 6, 1!" he calls back, rushing through then having the door bolt heavily behind him. My fingers punch against the sticky number pad that hasn't been used in years. We don't waste any time in stepping through and repeating the process for the last few chambers before reaching our destination at the front door.
Once out in the open, my superior takes a firm grasp of my wrist again, dragging me behind him as he runs as far away from the danger as physically possible. I have the disadvantage of tripping over pieces of downed buildings a few times, yet not falling while my fellow Turk searches with desperation for our chopper. Reactor Zero's combustion catches us off guard, sending us flying like toys from the shock wave. I hit the ground a few feet away from Reno, feeling bones crack under my weight on impact. Gods, my chest hurts! A scream catches in my throat as I roll over to avoid collision with implements which induce more pain. Reno forces himself up, spitting blood on the ground as he does so, a wince of agony forcing him down again with a shudder. In the same condition, I struggle to my feet, being a bit more successful but not before him. He helps me up with an expression of annoyance. Not at me, but at what just happened. There is no way that could be an accident, leaving me to wonder how in the world we are going to explain this to Rufus. A third explosion catches my attention in the eerie silence of our surroundings. An acrid scent of smoke and fuel burns every sensory perception I own, which I can only recognize as coming from our helicopter. I fight myself to not panic. This isn't the end. There must be another way out somewhere.
"What… now?" I ask between difficult breaths growing shallower from cracked and broken ribs. It doesn't help that Reno has us running again. Blue eyes meet mine when he faces me for a second.
"We come up with another way out. Find the Dragonfly's or something. But we sure as hell aren't staying down here for any more surprises."
I scan the area for those very distinctive helicopters used by Deep Ground, spotting one in near perfect condition and tugging on my companion's sleeve to follow me. His slight smile makes it obvious that I'm doing something right since this mission has started. He races ahead of me to the door, extending and tapping his EMR against another control pad, then forcing the door wide enough to slip through. I'm behind him shortly, crashing into him blinded by the sudden darkness and mutter an apology. When the door closes behind me, I take the time to look around; a dim blue illuminates the cockpit thus making for easier maneuvering.
It's definitely more spacious than our own helicopter, seeing as both of us are able to walk around freely without worry of collision. I feel that it be necessary to acquaint myself with any controls I may find, not wanting to make that mistake again of not knowing where anything is. If we're going to fly the Dragonfly out, Reno and I might as well know what works for what. Interestingly enough, there aren't as many switches or buttons as in our helicopter. This chopper has been upgraded with more advanced technology than our own on the surface. Now this really is an example of Shin-Ra technology at its finest. Though there isn't a control stick in sight. Instead, a solitary headset hangs from the roof over a single chair facing three blackened screens. I can only recognize this from being described by Reeve, when he was explaining to a group of WRO soldiers about the uses of Net Dives. Reno shoves it aside carelessly in search for the one thing that doesn't exist here. I swallow hard while he curses in frustration.
"Where are the controls," he asks making a full turn around still searching for what is invisible.
"You're looking at them." I point in the direction of the swaying headset. Reno turns to face me, his eyes tracing an unseen line back to the headset, his skin paling under bruises at the thought of using it.
"I have no idea how to use that," he counters, hands up in surrender and taking a step away from the headset as if looking at it is repulsive. In a way his actions make a good point. Encountering Deep Ground on the surface was indeed pretty scary. Encountering them in their own territory would be terrifying. I'm glad there aren't any soldiers left. One of us has to pilot the Dragonfly. If Reno isn't willing to, then that leaves me. However, from what Reeve was saying, it takes one who is compatible enough with Net Dive technology to control it. The only way to do that is to run tests for years and years. At the moment, we don't have time to run tests and I have no idea whether I'm compatible at all. Nor, do I know what it will do to me in return for using it. There's always a price to pay. No exceptions.
"I'll do it," I decide with a sigh, striding over and dropping into the padded chair. My body retaliates against the impact despite a cushioning land and I stifle a wince.
"You don't know how to pilot it, either!" My superior pushes the headset out of my reach. I grimace in the dim light.
"I have to try. Isn't that enough? At least I've heard about it from Reeve briefly. That's better than nothing. At the very least, I've been able to grasp what the main concept is."
"Yeah. And they're dangerous, Canary. We still don't know how they'll affect people who haven't experienced it. I can't let you do it. Tseng will have my head!"
"You said yourself that we're not staying down here for any more surprises," I argue reaching towards him. My fellow Turk holds his ground, hard expression intact, hands clenching the headset with an iron grip just shy of my reach. The problem is that I'm just as stubborn, so our arguments go nowhere fast.
"I'm telling you. The Commander will murder me if I allow you to do this, Elena."
"What about you?" I counter, brow furrowing. "You don't think I'd be in trouble if I let you do it?"
Reno gives a dry laugh. "I'm expendable. Tseng cares more about you."
"I'm his partner, though I don't see how that makes a difference," I state batting my hand in the direction of the headset. We don't have time for this bullshit! He pulls away just as I make a grab for it. It's like he's teasing me even though I know he's not.
"The way he looks at you, Laney. Obviously he thinks of you as more than just his partner. He trusts you with his life. That's saying something."
"Surely he thinks the same of you." I feel my throat grow dry with what the red head is telling me. I'm not sure whether he's bullshitting me, or being honest. He sounds honest enough, though it is Reno. Besides, why is putting this on me? Does he want me to feel guilty for my decision? To think about Tseng even though I've convinced myself over the years that he just doesn't have an interest in me, never did? What I had was an infatuation with my boss. It led to nothing despite the one date and something really stupid my drunk self has done. It's not worth thinking about. I don't even really know it to be true.
"The Commander doesn't work with us as often. Not since you came to the company."
"What does that matter? We still need to get out of here," I point out, standing from the seat and snatching the headset away. We have to leave now. No more arguing over stupid shit. I place the headset over my eyes, being cast into darkness before Reno gains a chance in stealing it back. This had better work.
"Call Tseng when we get to the surface. Tell him what to expect." That's the last thing we need; us being killed on site by Rufus because we have a Dragonfly. A jolt runs through my nervous system like electricity, though just as painful, pinning me against the chair. My eye piece sputters to life showing me outside the Dragonfly on screen. I can hear Reno expel a small gasp of disbelief at what may be on the larger screens. I take a moment to adjust, moving my head in directions where I'm free to look around at my surroundings. Everything feels so real, as if I'm not looking through a window at all. Green letters drag slowly across the screen with further instructions. Net Dive Ready…
Here goes nothing. My hands grip the armrests with anticipation while I take a deep breath. This is it. This is what gets us out of Deep Ground.
"Commencing Net Dive in four, three, two, one…" I read across, not fully prepared for a second jolt stronger than the first that has me clenching my teeth in order to control an agonizing shot. I can practically feel my consciousness merging with the Dragonfly. A series of dials and gauges for fuel and whatnot making themselves known despite not showing up for me to see. I know they're there and how much fuel will last us, just as I know my car has gas and Christmas comes every year. It's not a fact that has to be shown, still making a strong imprint on my subconscious. My surroundings becoming even clearer, eyes focusing better now that the merge is successful. I can see farther with help from the Dragonfly, pinpoint specific locations with more ease than I ever could in the chopper. Even lock on multiple targets. A hand squeezes my shoulder reminding me of the other Turk's presence. The trick now is getting the bird to fly. Maybe he is right.
"All right, Canary. Fly us home." His voice is low against my ear and I can't help but give a slight smile. Propellers turn at my will, lifting the Dragonfly into the air at eye level with the Shin-Ra logo on the face of Reactor Zero, now consumed by flames from the inside licking its surface.
His chosen nickname seems to suit me after all.
XxXxX
I throw back a pain pill, chasing it down with a few swallows of water before returning to what's on my computer screen. It only feels like a few days have passed since Reno and I made it out of Deep Ground. I don't remember much past making it to the surface, vaguely recalling Reno talking with Tseng over the phone, the rough landing atop our office building, some faraway banging sound, as if against a metal door, and being lifted by someone. Other than that I can't remember anything else. According to Rude, I've been in the hospital for nearly two weeks until being discharged yesterday. It bothers me how there's a gap in my life missing. Two weeks that can't be replaced. It's almost as if the events are locked away for a reason. Something my mind doesn't want to remember from it being too traumatizing. It also bothers me that no one is sharing, not even Reno. If I go and try to ask Rude again, or Reno; they won't tell me. Have they been ordered not to say anything? This is very frustrating. I want some answers! I frown at the document, not liking how there's holes in explanations where there shouldn't be. My memory has never been faulty. Why should it start now? A sigh escapes me as I decide to turn in the incomplete piece, directing my mouse to click 'print' from the file menu. I can't help if my report has no ending because I can't remember details.
"You ready?" Reno's voice drifts from the doorway, a subtle knock accompanying him just as my last page is printing. At least Rufus gave enough thought to wait until I was out of the hospital to have this meeting. I wouldn't know what to do without Reno to fill the gaps for me.
"Yes… No," I say under my breath with a hint of agitation. My eyes wander over to my fellow Turk, who appears slightly troubled by my response. "My report's incomplete," I conclude.
"Only what you can't remember. I doubt the Commander and boss man will reprimand you for it. I've filled in the blanks, so don't sweat it."
"That's just it, Reno! I can't remember! I should be able to by now, but I can't and I have no idea why!" I grab the loose papers from where they lay cooling, stapling them together and meet him at the doorway. We head for the elevator down the nearly blinding white marble hall from our offices on the Turk floor. My door is the only one of the many cherry wood doors which remains open. Ever since coming back from Deep Ground, I prefer to leave it that way, giving the illusion that my office space is larger than it really is. There's just something about small dark spaces that doesn't sit well with me anymore. I press the up call button to our floor, standing in silence with my superior for a few seconds before not saying anything becomes awkward.
"You think the Dragonfly's responsible," he asks stepping into what I think now as a cage of confinement, his finger hitting the button which leads to our superior's office. My grip tightens, crunching the edges. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it. Then again, if that's the price I have to pay for performing a Net Dive, I guess I should consider myself lucky, right? We both know it could have been worse."
"It almost was…" Reno mutters, drawing my closer attention.
"What?"
"Nothing, Canary." He brushes it off easily enough, fingers running through layered hair and down through his ponytail. What is he not telling me?! I glare at him, trying to will him into saying what I've been missing out on, but it doesn't work. He sighs when the elevator bell rings. "Let's get this over with."
Naturally, he strides ahead, pushing open Rufus' dark wood office door and leaving me to close it when I enter. I roll my eyes at his laziness. Some things never change. Tseng turns in his seat upon our entry, wearing a slightly concerned expression. I try not to look at his charcoal eyes, instead directing my focus on the other male in the room with deep sapphire blue eyes that feel even more foreboding than my Commander's. They had stopped their previous conversation when Reno opens the door. All attention now focusing on me since Reno has already taken a seat next to Tseng in one of four white leather chairs placed in front of Rufus' desk. I hate the feeling of being put on the spot. This always happens, especially when meeting with our superior. He's so intimidating. I still have a hard time getting used to working for him. I feel as if I'm somewhere I shouldn't be. My partner's voice breaks the awkward silence hanging in the room.
"You've returned."
"I was discharged yesterday afternoon. I came in early to work on my report," I answer placing my stack of papers in Tseng's outstretched hand. I bite my bottom lip waiting for the disappointment that I know is coming because it's incomplete. Rufus is watching me while I shift on my feet, fingers twisting themselves into knots, not sure of what else to do.
"You don't have to remain standing, Elena," Rufus states with mild amusement. A small smirk plays on his face while he leans back against his chair, a pen raised to his lips and eyes still focusing on me. I really wish he would stop making me feel as if I'm calling attention to myself. I take the seat to Tseng's right, only becoming aware that I've just locked myself in a prison where I'm facing our president directly. I swallow hard, watching from the corner of my eye as my partner flips through pages, skipping bits here and there to the last page where it ends abruptly. He frowns at my half page, turning over the paper to glance at the back, then again to the last paragraph.
"Your report is inconclusive," he comments with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"I know…" My tone drops with the shame I feel for not being able to perform with high results this time around. Rufus leans forward across his desk, taking my report from my Commander for closer inspection. Reno also sets his copy at the edge of the glass table top for our superior to read. I hate how much I have missed. It makes me sound like a rookie all over again.
"Elena, this is unlike you. Is there a reason for your vagueness determining this mission? To be frank, I'm slightly disappointed." I swallow hard knowing that is one of the worst things Rufus Shin-Ra could say. Slightly disappointed means I better have an explanation in the next five seconds. I have no idea where to begin, all three men are watching me and waiting for an answer.
"There is, Sir." Reno breaks the silence, saving me from further scrutiny and catching both Rufus and Tseng off guard. Our superior wears a slightly interested expression, whereas Tseng has one that shows his concern.
"Is that so? By all means, please elaborate. I would like to hear Elena's explanation as well."
"All the details are in my report, Sir. Elena is unable to describe them due to certain circumstances," he explains, his light blue eyes still concentrated on me as if saying "See. I told you I wouldn't let you fall."
"You say 'unable' as if determining a handicap," my partner states with a stern expression. Rufus slides Reno's report closer in search of those missing details.
"Your report states that Elena performed a Net Dive, despite strong opposition. From my understanding, we know very little about Net Dives. Reeve has taken to researching their functions and how they affect the human body. So far, his results remain inconclusive seeing at it takes years upon years of training. So why risk it, Elena?"
My jaw clenches, breathing becoming more difficult from pain that is starting to ebb through the magic of medication. Again, I'm unsure of where to start even though I have the answer.
"Reno and I got into an argument about it. Zero was in meltdown, our helicopter, compromised. We've had no communication with Tseng since we landed. We were left with two choices; get out of Deep Ground and risk our lives in the process, or die with the reactor. I've listened to Reeve explain Net Dives to a few WRO soldiers in the past, so I was aware of the danger but I was still willing to take the chance at getting us out alive. Reno was doing his job in demanding that I not perform the Dive, but everything came down to choosing the lesser of two evils. A Net Dive with unknown consequences versus dying of Mako poisoning." The room is dead silent when I finish speaking, all three sets of eyes still concentrated on me. Reno attempts to hide his expression of triumph that it had actually worked. Tseng looks even more displeased that I had even done it, and Rufus appearing intrigued that I'm still here despite what danger I placed myself in. He nods, understanding that the situation was dire, accepting my explanation even though he's not pleased with it.
"Tseng mentioned losing contact with you. I suppose in that situation it would have been better for you to escape with your lives and make rash decisions in doing so, despite what the consequences are. However, that doesn't explain your report."
"Actually… it might," I hesitate, glancing at both Tseng and Reno. They know more than I do about what happened during my memory's vacation.
"I called the Commander, just as Elena suggested, ensuring that we wouldn't be attacked when landing the Dragonfly. You know the rest. You were there," he directs at my partner who gives a grave nod. I take it what happened then is something he rather not remembers.
"Anyway, the Commander and I had to remain cautious in moving Elena since her consciousness was still connected to the Dragonfly, and overriding the system your old man designed proved to be more challenging. We couldn't just remove her from the cockpit. The slightest mistake would have killed her, so Tseng and I were forced to aid her while Elena remained in the pilot's seat. It didn't want to let her go, so I inserted a virus to the helicopter's mainframe. It did its job but left our favourite female Turk in a delicate condition. From what Elena has told me this morning, we have reason to believe that the Dragonfly, in exchange for using the Net Dive, has either erased or locked away memories. It explains why her report isn't complete."
"I… can remember most of my life and a majority of the mission, but everything that Reno has just said I can't remember happening. Let alone how long I was in the hospital." Tseng watches me carefully as if wanting to comfort me about the lost memories and chew me out for doing the Net Dive. I'll take all he throws at me later. Rufus waits another few seconds for any response before speaking.
"We'll investigate further into the cause of Zero's meltdown, and what it may mean for the company. Also, Elena I will let you off with a warning for disobeying direct orders from a superior, considering your circumstances in Deep Ground. However, that doesn't let you off the hook completely. Try to recall every detail you can about the mission over the next few weeks and report to me. The move you made in Deep Ground determining your escape despite limitations forced in your path, I find rather impressive. That was not an easy choice to make and I doubt most people would have dared an attempt to control something that stands as a testament of fear in the eyes of so many. You were right in contacting Tseng to warn him that your original vehicle was not to be expected. For all we know, I may have ordered an attack on the areal with no notion that you two would be inside, had you not made that call."
I allow the words of praise mixed with those reprimanding me sink in while Tseng places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. When he pulls away, I too, stand and begin following them through the door, then stop. There's something still bothering me that Reno hasn't mentioned. I decide to hang back, closing the door quietly and taking a few steps up to Rufus' desk. I don't want my imagination to be getting the better of me and risk jumping to conclusions. I'm in enough trouble as it is. The Shin-Ra president reads through both reports, though I know he's aware that I'm still in the room. He doesn't miss anything that goes on around him.
It's just a concern, I assure myself. Or, try to. My superior makes it obvious he knows I'm still there.
"Yes, Elena?" His tone is cool, sapphire eyes looking up from his work to meet mine across the room. I hesitate for a second. Why does he make me so nervous? And yet, why do I want to be around him despite his seemingly careless attitude? I can't seem to understand anything anymore. Nothing makes sense! I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, the movement causing a brief shot of agony through my body.
"Does Reno mention what was on the scanner while we were inside the reactor," I ask, forcing my eyes to look anywhere except at Rufus, who gives me a slightly quizzical expression, flipping through various pages, eyes settling on a paragraph.
"He mentions the reading before entry, writing it off as a malfunction. There's no further information concerning the scanner. Is there something that isn't here?"
I take a deep breath, daring myself to lock eyes with him. Why would Reno not put this important piece of information in his report? Was he not paying attention?
"I did another scan through the reactor to make sure we were truly alone and that the past readings were malfunctions just as Reno had suggested they were. But I detected something while he was transferring files. He might not have heard me when I warned him that something was on to us. They didn't attack us directly. However, bombs that are placed inside a reactor don't detonate themselves without being disturbed. We hadn't seen any on our way in to raise alarm, nor did we set them off. It would have been impossible for us since the detonation began a few chambers away from our location. the security system was only able to distinguish it as a meltdown. I'm not entirely sure that Reno had been correct about the malfunction because the reading of another life form remained solid for more than a few seconds." Rufus remains silent, leaning against laced fingers, elbows resting on the glass surface in concentration. He's thinking about something that has to do with this. That I am sure of.
"It was a concern," I point out, receiving a slight nod of the head, his eyes looking elsewhere. He obviously has other things on his mind as well.
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind when Tseng decides on further investigation. You are excused," he says finally, allowing me to relax a bit now that I've said what I needed to. Rufus goes back to reading while I let myself out silently, door closing behind me as I head toward the elevator with a new destination in mind other than my office. Reno's explanation for what happened to me while landing the Dragonfly makes sense, but I have to see what happened for myself, in order to believe it. An answer from someone else about what happened doesn't help if I can't remember anything. I press the up button on the panel, waiting for elevator doors to open, then hit a button at the very top marked with an 'R'.