Chapter 1: Backstabber

It was dark that night, or at least , darker than usual. It was cool, crisp, quiet and the only light seemed to come from the dying embers of a cigarette on the ground. From the smell it was emanating, it wasn't your average cigarette. Or maybe that was just the how Reno remembered it.

Reno, he was the owner of the cigarette. He was also 27 years old, had given up smoking regular cigarettes year ago and one of the greatest Turks of his generation.

Turks, officially the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department. They didn't have a good reputation, they were assassins forever doing ShinRa's dirty work. They were a small group, something. they hadn't always been. Now they only consisted of a few new recruits (though Reno didn't count them) , Tseng, their leader, Reno who was second in charge, Rude Reno's partner and Elena.

Elena, she was one of Reno's closest friends, 25 and the owner of the house Reno was standing outside. Reno gathered that he stood outside her house for about 2 hours that night, most people would have been bored but for Reno, it was something he was used to a part of his job. During those two hours he received a phone call, then 15 minutes later he entered the house.

The inside of her house was dark too, but that was to be expected as it was well past midnight by then. Reno liked that it was dark. It made it seem like someone else's house. Hell, he didn't even know why he was here, but it wasn't his place to question orders, so here he was. Anyway, he had a pretty good idea of why here was here.

Reno knew where Elena would be, in her study asleep over her paperwork, the reading lamp still on. It shocked him a little that he knew that much about her, they had only become close after the last few months.

She was indeed in her study, but she was asleep over one of those soppy romance novels she loved so much. He smiled at the sight and a wave of affection rolled through him. In the whiteness of the lamps light she looked even sweeter than usual and her content smile made her look like a child.

Reno walked over to her examining the room as he did. It was the same as ever, covered in books, the floor and desk littered with coffee cups and papers that Reno expected were important. Then he took his knife out.

The Turks didn't usually use knives, and Reno much preferred his EMR, but Tseng had clearly instructed that this was to be as quick and clean as possible, that they owed her that. Reno didn't think they owed her anything, but he was only here to follow orders not to question them.

He quickly glanced down at Elena again, just for one more look, but instead he caught sight of a picture, one of all the Turks , along with Rufus at a bar in Wutai, Reno remembered that night well, it had been one of the best in his life. They had just pulled a mission of perfectly, a hard one too. He quickly grabbed the picture and took a few steps towards the door.

No, he thought, if I don't do this, it'll be us both.

He walked back towards her and shook her shoulder roughly waking her up instantly. She looked back at him and her eyes filled with fear. It was a reaction Reno often got, one he had been expecting. He smiled back then he leant down so he was at her level. He brought her face towards his, like he was about to kiss her, instead he brushed his lips against her ear and brought his arms around her in a hug, holding her quivering body steady. Then he whispered something in her ear and her eyes widened.

"Didn't they tell you Leany, the only way you leave the Turks is in a body-bag! Jeez, guess this is it them, I'll see you in hell then, yo?"

5 minutes later Reno left Elena's house, wiping the blood from his hands.

"Good God," he muttered, "I need some booze."

(insert random line of choice :) )

For many years of his life, a request visit president ShinRa would have brought out two emotions in Cloud; excitement to prove himself mixed with nervousness. Now it just bought out mild annoyance. Upon arriving at Healin lodge, this annoyance was just assured; there were many places Cloud would have liked to be, and Healin lodge was not one of them. The building's nice...I guess, though not exactly my style. Too futuristic looking... well it does suit Rufus, Cloud mused as he walked up the stairs leading to the door, hand ready to grip his sword at an sign of a threat. He opened the door easily, like before it was unlocked. It was all to much like before for Cloud to be comfortable, he knew a meeting with the president could lead to nothing but disaster. The interior of Healin was as harsh as the outside, everything sharp and sterile. Not suited for Cloud at all. Before he could properly examine the room for any threats he was met by an all to familiar voice.

"Yo, Cloud," Cloud spun around instantly, raising his sword as he did. He lowered it slowly when he saw that Reno was, for once, without his EMR. The redhead smiled cockily and stepped forward bringing an unwelcome smell of drugs, alcohol and too much aftershave with him. Cloud just nodded.

Reno started to walk past the blonde, and towards a set of stairs in the corner. Cloud didn't budge. The Turk around, one eyebrow raised a feline like smile plastered one his face, "Aren't ya coming, well this'll be a shame, and we were all so lookin' forward to this visit yo."

"What I this about Reno, I don't have time for your games."

"Not my position to tell ya, even if I did know," Reno replied, eyebrow raised, that annoying smirk still plastered on his face. Cloud scowled and turned to leave, though his path to the door was blocked by no other than Rufus ShinRa himself.

"That's right," The newcomer said referring to the Turks comment, "I thought that, you Cloud, should be the first to know."

"Look, I'm going," Cloud said making his way past Rufus.

"Don't you want to know what this is all about," this came from the redhead, walking back down the stairs to his presidents side.

"No."

"Ya ever gonna warm up to us Cloud? I mean we did help you with the remnants and everthin' yo." Cloud turned around sharply, his expression stormy; the man who had dropped the plate on sector 7 thought that Cloud owed him?

"You don't deserve it. I if come an d see what this is all about, will you leave me alone?" Cloud could see that the only way he was going to get out was if he went and saw whatever they wanted him to.

"Maybe."

Rufus glared at the Turk. "Yes" he corrected.

"Fine, I'll come." Cloud was silently wishing he was anywhere else, but he wouldn't let it show.

"Come with us then," then the blonde walked back up the stairs Reno had just a few minuted earlier, the other two following closely.

(yet another random break of choice can be put here)

it didn't take long for Cloud to discover that Healin lodge was a lot bigger than it looked, he soon discovered that it had a medical centre, a lounge, a dining hall, two labs, an office for the Turks (though Cloud wasn't allowed there), and a set of apartments and another office for Rufus which was there destination. "So, you live here?" Cloud asked, he usually didn't mind silences but in this place, the quiet felt different, he didn't like it.

"Who? Me? Yes." Rufus said, though he didn't try and continue the conversation, which was unusual as most of the time he couldn't shut up.

"I do to, well sometimes, I also have an apartment in the city..but it ain't as nice as this one." Reno said butting in, though Clouds question had obviously been directed at his boss.

"Reno, shut up," Rufus sighed, Cloud thought this rather hypocritical, as he hardly ever did himself.

"Yeah, yeah." Reno muttered, not quite under his breath.

"So, what is it?" Cloud asked when they arrived at the presidents office, looking around the room; it looked as unwelcoming as the rest of the building.

"Reno, leave us now." said Rufus, ignoring the question.

"But..." Reno said, looking anxiously between the other two he obviously didn't want his boss alone with what he considered to be a dangerous maniac.

"I wait outside the door, I'll tell you later." Rufus snapped, he obviously wasn't in a good mood Cloud couldn't recall the last time he had heard the man raise his voice. Reno snorted and walked out.

"What is this about?" Cloud was sorely tempted to follow the Turk, he hated the man in front of him with a passion.

"You are the first person, apart from our scientists and my self of course to know this."

"I'm going." Cloud turned around sharply and stormed across the room, he had had enough of Rufus ShinRa.

"It's about Zack."

(hehehe, cliffhanger)

A/N: Sorry this isn't the longest (or best written chapter) ever! I'll be away for 6 weeks, so there wont be any updates for a while, but I'll be thinking of new ideas! Please review, I'll give you Reno, cause you know I totally own him...Square Enix didn't create him, pfft what ya talking about?

Love, Sparkly