02/Lazard - Reflection
Pilled upon his desk were SOLDIER reports that came in from the weekend. Lazard Deusericus sipped his coffee trying to go over every detail before he attended Shinra's usual Monday morning executive board meeting. Unrevealed stress had circled around the executives of Shinra, mainly because the President would be choosing his Vice President to the company in a few months. Unimaginable workload and expectations to live up to, Lazard had been promoted as director of SOLDIER and was a candidate to be Vice President. Although he entered Shinra Headquarters in his youth, Lazard never imagined having the responsibility he did now, and only craved more.
Growing up Lazard lived in the slums with his mother attending exclusive schooling through the Shinra Youth Program. He always wondered why as a poor boy of the slums, Lazard was lucky to be educated among the elite. He was sixteen when he relocated permanently to the Shinra HQ building for its Elite Program. Simultaneously, Lazard's mother became ill with cancer, unable to care for him and herself. In a dejected view, timing could not have possibly fit more coherently. Lazard was soon smothered with responsibilities and project opportunities related to Shinra that his mind buried away thoughts or concerns of her sickness.
Upon entering the Shinra Headquarters, Lazard discovered there existed a dark secret lurking within the walls that was rarely spoken about. Well kept, nevertheless a skeleton emerged from the closet haunting the President and the company. Although forbidden to speak of it, Lazard knew what it was. A hidden file was buried deep within all of Shinra's documentation. No data was ever destroyed in Shinra, and if reports claimed that it was, they were false. One late work night, in gathering files for the SOLDIER program together, Lazard stumbled upon a file that caught the corner of his eye. Half blood. Everything was kept silent by the President in fear of jeopardizing the company. Half Shinra. Despite efforts rumors surfaced, especially of the uncanny resemblance of Lazard to Rufus Shinra. Almost identical. It was striking, and immediately recognizable; a danger, if exposed, in the Shinra Building. President Shinra formally admitted to Lazard he was his father when Lazard was appointed to Director of SOLIDER. Although, Lazard sensed something suspicious from the beginning of his stay at Shinra HQ, only to have his confirmation.
Rufus Shinra, the pretentious, egotistical, pubescence prince of Shinra's empire. Lazard had grown up with Rufus after living within the same walls for eight years. They interacted with a distant fondness in their adolescent years. Opposite in many ways, yet both were still focused on one goal: the growth of the company. Lazard had always been reserved, strategic, and respectful. Often the old man would try to discipline Rufus by using Lazard as an example. At the same time, the old man would also use Rufus as a tool of competition against him. From afar, it probably looked ludicrous that the old man would take a nearly seventeen year old boy as motivation for a twenty-five year old man to keep on his toes. Yet, Rufus was confident, motivated, and dangerously rebellious. Glancing out his large corporate window, Lazard wondered if the old man even told his real son the truth. Rufus didn't seem to have an inkling to the notation that they were half brothers. Although he was sharp, the secret was well kept, and they only looked strikingly similar.
"You're going to be late for this meeting boy, if you keep daydreaming," a deep voice muffled from behind him.
"Good Morning Mr. President," Lazard greeted his...superior.
"How are the SOLDIER reports?" As always the man just wanted to know business.
"Right on target."
The President hissed, "Not everyone is in support of the recent activity in the SOLDIER project." Lazard did not argue. There was a huge split between the Shinra executive board members of whether or not SOLDIER should continue with the Mako infusion experiments performed by Professor Hojo and Hollandar.
Nodding in acceptance, Lazard watched the man as he walked off. Of course, he hadn't bothered to ask how his mother was feeling. They both knew she was terminally ill, despite the care that had been provided to her. It wasn't enough. The virus ate at her, leaving her famished of immunity. Lazard tried to block his mother's condition and focus on his presentation at the meeting. He would visit her later that day, something he had been putting off.
As he greeted co-workers on his way to the 37th floor, Lazard noticed the anguish Shinra members were feeling by facial expressions. The resistance group AVALANCHE had been sabotaging numerous Mako energy reactors, thus causing many financial problems for the company. Furthermore, as the President had mentioned, many Shinra members were wary of continuing experimentation of heavy Mako infusions to SOLDIER.
"Good Morning Lazard," perched a voice from behind him.
Lazard tilted his head to the side to have Rufus come into his view. "Rufus, how are you today?" Lazard held the elevator door open for him.
"Bombarded with this pointless meeting my father seems to think is fit."
Lazard smirked in acknowledgment of his answer but did not comment. As much as he would love to exacerbate further, it was futile. It wasn't Lazard's place, especially if he wanted to win vice presidency.
"The elections are approaching."
"Yes they are," Rufus replied not looking away from checking emails on his phone. "The old man wants to have an extravagant party in celebration of whoever is selected, I could do without it."
"Come now, it's something to look forward to," Lazard said as he starred at the numbers lighting as each floor passed on the elevator.
"I look forward to when my father is out of office," Rufus snipped back.
Since his arrival into Shinra, the animosity between father and son existed. Rufus was only nine at the time, but the arguments were fierce even then.
"I'm going to make a call," Rufus said to Lazard before heading into the meeting.
Lazard arched his brow curiously "But they are about to start."
"My father can wait," Rufus waved abruptly and walked off into the hallway.
Lazard observed this becoming a regular routine before any major meeting, Rufus would make a call right before and immediately right after. It was odd and unusual behavior. Lazard didn't understand why he would be so sneaky especially with the suspicions of a rat within Shinra.
"A peculiar one isn't he?" the President muffled behind Lazard. "I will never understand him."
"Like father, like son," Lazard sneered under his breath and walked away.
-xx-
A/N: Just a note to explain the chapter format. ## (chapter number) / (character peresective you are reading) - chapter name.
Edited with changes: 4/29/09...Special thanks to Strange and Intoxicating -rsa- (Sai) for the help!
