Author's note: Sorry that this is late again. As I said, this will be slow, but this will get done no matter what it takes. And I'm not sure if this could be true or not, but apparently Yen Press, the English Company behind the rights to translate english versions of mangas and/or Japanese novels that were never release internationally has gotten rights to all of the On the Way to a Smile novellas, meaning that, if they translate all of them(Case of Tifa, Case of Barret, Case of Nanaki, Case of Yuffie, Case of ShinRa, Case of Denzel and Case of the Lifestream/Black and White), they'll finally be released in english to own!
I so hope it's true, because, since it's been translated offically in both Japanese and French, it about time English fans could get their hands on it!
Anyway, let's continue on!
I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Type-0, Sailor Moon or Pokemon. I do own Arien, though.
Chapter 3: Betrayal in Junon.
2 Days Later...
March 17th[8:29 AM]-Year-1990.
Turks Headquarters-ShinRa Building-Edge.
This wasn't the kind of morning St. Andrew had been expecting here in the Turks Briefing Room. Then again, he had a feeling most of his fellow Rookie Turks had not been expecting the sudden meeting first thing in the morning either. Little was known about the mission in New Banora since Rosalind and Reno returned, with some nervous girl-Rem, was it?-who was taken to Edge General for treatments before Veld dispatched the other Turks to find and retrieve the other survivors for safe keeping.
The red-haired former Gang Leader sighed, too familiar with meetings as he once held them himself before becoming a Turk after he stupidly made the mistake to make the wrong turn when he tried to steal a high-classed motorcycle. The first real Turk he'd end up meeting and losing to was Reno before the older-ish redhead arrested him. Later, during interrogation, Reno, under permission of Veld who agreed with the boy's skills, told St. Andrew that he had potiental as a Turk and even admitted that he was impressed that St. Andrew had put a scratch on him, and that he wouldn't get anywhere if he just sticked with the gang who were, as Reno quoted, 'small fry'.
Something about what Reno had said that day strongly and strangely felt familiar, though. St. Andrew had no damn clue what it was, though. Still, as he had thought about it, he had decided there and then, one day, he would go all the way the top and be the best Turk in the world, so in the end, he ended up agreeing and lole and behold, here he was now.
The young man was brought out of his thoughts when the door opened and there admitted Rafe, followed by Freya. Veld was alright there as St. Andrew had actually been the second to arrive earlier. Soon, the other Turks arrives, which included Reno, Rosalind, Rude who is a taller man, 20 years of age with no hair, and even indoors he wore sunglasses. Behind him came a gentleman with smooth black hair in similiar fashion to Tseng's, spectacle-glasses, a large scar on the side of his left cheek, and he wielded a Katana, then came a young woman, possibly only sixteen but was already one of the higher-ranked Turks, her curlish brown hair with matching eyes, fingerless gloves and who wielded a Shuriken she nick-named Rekka, and finally, Tseng himself.
St. Andrew then straightened up a little from his slouched position in his chair.
"Is everyone assumed?" Veld looked around. When all of the Turks chorused, "Yes, sir." he nodded in approval, "Good. Then let's get started."
(~Sign-FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE~)
"72 hours ago, as most of you well know by now, hostile elements were detected in Edge. An anti-ShinRa Organization calling themselves Militas Ultra have made what is essentially a declaration of war against the company, and possibly against innocent civilians, having targeted New Banora as well after they attempted to destroy Water Reactor 8, and also capture a young woman whom Reno and Rosalind managed to rescue. Both attempts failed, but according to their report, Militas Ultra may now be gathering or had already gathered in Junon. I fear they may be attempting to assasinate the President." Veld explained, which caught most of the Turks who hadn't known off-guard.
"You serious, sir?" St. Andrew gapped, shocked. Well, that was unexpected.
"They're aiming to attack the President?" Rafe questioned, "Isn't that where the conference is about to be held?"
"Yes." Tseng answered this time. "We're trying to find out more as we speak, but we're short on men. That's where you come in."
'Ouch.' St. Andrew thought, resting his head against the back of his chair. "Wonder what those bastards would want with some kid and everybody else in a back-water place like Banora or why they're havin' a grudge against ShinRa?"
"Well, for one thing, they definitely have some weird grudge against us." Reno shrugged. "Callin' us 'Legendary' and sayin' something about us being among the 'Rebirth' or whatever the hell that eye-patched guy meant. All a bunch of nut-jobs, if ya' ask me."
"Rebirth and Legendary? Us? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." St. Andrew muttered, dumbfounded.
"Tell me 'bout it." The olderish redhead agreed. Reno thought back on what the other eye-patched guy in the black coat, along with the other two guys in the same coats mentioned, which made things more complicated and troubling.
"However," Veld spoke up, getting everyone's attentions once again, his expression grim. "Assassinating the President may not be Militas Ultra's priority."
"Sir?" Freya asked, confused.
"Tseng rechieved a transmission call from the Vice President early this morning, and he...has some concerns himself."
The other Turks all shared shocked glances when they heard this. By Vice President, all of them knew they were talking about the President's only son, Rufus ShinRa. He'd only been promoted as Vice President early last year and was next in line for President should anything happen to his father. Though most considered the man to be up-tight and a bit snooty, but at the same time, he was a clever and fit young man, and quite possibly very dangerous to have as an enemy, though he was admittedly fond of the Turks.
In fact, Rufus at some point trained along side them so that, should he be in danger and the Turks were not around to protect him, he can at least defend himself in a fight.
"It may be paranoia on his behalf, but Rufus has come to believe, given recent events, that his father...maybe be up to something he is not telling anyone, not even Rufus himself or me. He has formed a secret assignment during our next mission to Junon." Veld continued.
"Hold on." Reno quickly stood up in shock. "Are you sayin' that Vice Prez thinks that the President might have something to do with the situation and the whole thing was a set-up?" There was no way the Company would go against it's employees, especially the Turks. None of them had done anything wrong, and Militas Ultra acting as a secret force against them was just...unbelievable.
"I would like to rule that speculation out, at least. We won't know until we investigate further." Veld sighed, gazing at the Turks. "I want all of you gathered in Junon. Most of you will be kept at low key during this mission; do not draw any attention."
The Director of the Turks' gaze turned to St. Andrew, continuing, "St. Andrew, you and Reno will be joining the Vice President to meet with the President for a meeting before the Conference. Tseng and I will be joining him and meet you there. We leave in an hour. Be prepared."
"Yes, sir." All of the assembled Turks chorused with salutes, before leaving the Briefing Room, save for Veld and Tseng, who made to leave as well. (~End Sign~)
However, Veld paused and called Tseng back, "Tseng." causing the younger man to pause and turn to his superior who continued, "I do pray that Rufus's concerns and Reno's sudden theory are incorrect, but I'm afraid I have...well, call it a gut feeling that both of them spoke of the truth."
"Sir?" Tseng inquired, furrowing his brow in concern.
(~Scent of Silence-KH: Re-Chain of Memories~)
"As you well know, the President has been acting quite strangely since those blue creatures appeared in Edge two years ago, along with a boy in a mask who seemed to be controlling them, and then both simply vanish, never to be seen again after a while." Veld continued, approaching his lietuenant.
"I had thought it was my imagination when I overheard the President speak to someone unfamiliar before I could comfirm that he was alright. But now, with Militas Ultra having appeared as well as strange men in black coats as well, this is far too big to be a coincidence." He added.
Tseng tried not to let his concern show far too much on his expression, but at the same time, he couldn't deny his mentor's words either. Things had gone strange since two years ago, and none of them, not even the Turks, knew what was going on. Last year had returned to normal and everyone thought it would remain this way, but now this happened.
On top of that, as Veld, Reno and even Rufus had mentioned, the President has been acting quite strange lately, so the thought that the entire thing with Militas Ultra was nothing more than a set up against the people of the world made his concerns only increase. But then, how can that be? This never happened before.
"Should anything happen to me, I want you to lead the Turks, and keep both them and the Vice President safe. For safety measures, just in case something goes wrong, contact WRO as well." Veld continued sternly.
"Yes, sir. I will not allow anything happen to the Turks, or to Rufus. Their safety, as well as safety of innocent civilians are among my top priorities, as well as what's within ShinRa, despite what the President may be up to." Tseng replied.
He paused as he turned to leave, before admitting somberly, "I do hope the theory is incorrect as well. I do not want to believe that our own Company is against us." before leaving.
(~End Scent of Silence~)
"So do I, Tseng." Veld muttered grimly. "So do I."
March 17th[10:49 AM]-Year-1990.
Upper-Junon.
(~The Town where Sunlight Doesn't Reach-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
Within the next couple of hours, the Turks were all airbourne in different choppers. St. Andrew sat in the co-pilot's seat beside Reno, while their passenger sat in the passenger's seat behind them after informing him that they were taking him to meet with his father along with Veld and Tseng to find out what was going on.
"We're in sight of the city now," Reno announced. He flicked a glance at the otherTurk, asking, "Hey, never got to ask. You grew up in Junon?"
St. Andrew scoffed, "Nah, born and grew up in Edge. Moved to Junon since there wasn't much for me in the big city anymore."
"'Til you got your ass kicked by me, you mean?" Reno smirked.
"I'll just pretend I didn't hear that." St. Andrew grumbled. The redhead next to him still wasn't going to let that time go, was he? Why did Reno always have to bring that subject up everytime they have a conversation?
"And I will pretend I didn't hear you two having that conversation either." A smooth, male voice spoke through their headphones, and would've been echoed in the passenger seats behind them and the closed door had the repellers of the chopper not be so loud that without the headphones no one could hear people talking.
"Ah, don't worry, sir. Me and the rookie are having a Turk to Turk talk." Reno grinned at the back despite that their passenger couldn't see him do so.
'If me and Rufus are lucky, Reno might one day crash the Helicopter and burn to death on his own.' St. Andrew thought dryly in his mind, turning his attention back to Junon itself. The city was located to the southwest of Midgar Ruins and Edge across the Junon Bay. It was the second largest city in the world, another construct of the Shin-Ra Company. One once said that Junon was the only surviving original City that had survived the Calamity and War 8,000 years ago and despite it having damage over the years due to being a Military City, it was rebuilt and to this day, still remained as the same as it did many centuries ago.
It had been, however, once upon a time, a fishing village long before it was built into what it is even now. While it didn't have as much as Edge did, St. Andrew still enjoyed it more than he had in the City of his Origin. He then began to think about his old gang which he had abandoned for the sake of his freedom by joining the Turks. Chances were, if he's not careful, he could end up being seen by them or by the rival gang that were more trouble than his own.
"I trust that Veld has informed you of my concerns, hmm?" Rufus ShinRa inquired, ignoring Reno's comment.
"That's why me and St. Andrew are escorting you to meet with him, Tseng and the President, sir." Reno responded seriously, immediately putting on a professional mode, not even making an attempt to complain about the change of the subject.
"Good." The Vice President replied.
Once Reno parked the chopper on the helipad with ease, he led St. Andrew and their escort, Rufus ShinRa, who was a young man close to Reno's age with smooth blonde hair, sharp blue eyes, white trousers, black shirt and white long business coat-vest that matched the trousers, and black polished shoes, the way along the upper streets while mindful of any Militas Ultra soldiers. (~End The Town where Sunlight Doesn't Reach~)
But when the trio were halfway towards their destination, all of the sudden five familiar men leaped from the roof of one building which forced Reno, St. Andrew and Rufus to stop in their tracks and blocked off from going any further before trapping the three men in a circle.
(~Combat-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
"There's the Vice President and the Turks! Kill them!" One Militas Ultra Soldier shouted, taking out a taser, along with his four companions who brought out either tasers or rifles, aimed at the trio.
"Sir, stay as close as possible!" Reno instructed Rufus while he and St. Andrew both drew out their EMRs, flicking their wists to extend their own weapons. "'Drew, careful with these guys! Some of 'em are tough as all hell."
"I can take these losers on!" St. Andrew scoffed, and just as one Militas Ultra Solder lunged at him, the younger-ish redhead found the opening and smacked him right against the chest while turning the EMR's setting to medium, both fracturing the man's chest bones and electroducing him, causing him to collaspe onto the ground, either unconscious or dead.
Reno, being faster and remembering having to handle these guys twice in both Edge and in New Banora, used his speed and agility to take on three other Militas Ultra, cracking their skulls or breaking their legs with the combination with his martial arts and weapon, both Turks keeping Rufus protected as much as possible.
St. Andrew was caught by surprise when the one that had shouted the others had knocked his EMR out of his hands and attempted to fracture his skull. But the Turk skyupper-cutted him in the stomach before punching him squarely in the jaw where the Militas Ultra guy howled in pain. This allowed St. Andrew to retrieve his weapon and knocked the enemy right on the head, cracking his skull which sastified him. He and Reno then grunted as they and Rufus saw more Militas Ultra-at least another seven-running towards them from their left.
"*Tch* Damn it! How many of these guys are there!?" St. Andrew grunted.
"I have an idea! Rookie, stay with the Vice President and continue towards the suite! I'll catch up!" Reno ordered sharply while turning to face the opponents once more, glaring angrily at the men who were shouting with weapons and/or fists raised.
Not doubting or worried about Reno since he knew that the guy can take care of himself despite what Rosalind said earlier, St. Andrew nodded, "Got it!" before turning to Rufus and told him, "Follow me, sir!"
Rufus didn't argue and followed the Turk, leaving Reno to his own devices. The latter cackled while setting his EMR to flicker with electricity, spinning it around in an arc. This was a move he'd known since promoting from his own rookie statis years ago. The redhead waved his arm so fast that the Militas Ultra men didn't know until it was too late; Reno had unleashed a fantastic arc of Lightning that shot out from his weapon, capturing and engulfing the soldiers who screamed out in agony while being shocked-literally-by Reno's attack before slumping to the ground, unconscious or dead and paralyzed.
In the meantime, St. Andrew and Rufus ran as fast as they could towards their destination only to be held up by even more Militas Ultra soldiers, three this time and aiming their rifles at them. Man, these guys just don't know when to quit, do they? No wonder Reno and Rosalind had so much trouble weeks and days earlier.
"Fine, let's do this the hard way, Dick-Squad!" St. Andrew yelled at the operatives, twirling his EMR into an arc while surprisingly grinning wickedly. They all tried to attack at once and get passed the Turk to attack Rufus. But the Turk kicked one in the stomach, whacked another on the head at the same time and punched another on the side of the neck with his elbow before electrocuting them with a whoosh of his arm and EMR, knocking them down.
Though he noticed that one of them was a lot tougher than he thought because the guy was hissing in pain before glaring up at the Turk before painfully standing up to attack again. St. Andrew glared back and was about to attack again when a sudden something whizzing past his ear and the next thing he knew, his target had lost an eye which it's socket spilled with blood and the Militas Ultra soldier fell backwards, definitely dead this time. (~End Combat~)
"Huh?" St. Andrew gapped, surprised. Where the hell did that come from?
Turning to where it came from, St. Andrew's eyes widened, dumbfounded as Rufus was holding a handgun before sheathing back into his breast pocket of his shirt with a smirk.
"Consider this a bit a lesson to always never let your guard down and look around you." The Vice President snorted.
"Uh, y-yes sir." St. Andrew replied, trying not to show that he was more than a little embarrassed to not have thought of that. He was so focused on the three enemies that he almost completely forgot about Rufus. This wasn't going to go well in his report back at home. "Don't mean to ask you, sir, but, when did you, um...?"
"Learn how to use a gun?" Rufus finished, before snorting a laugh, "It was Tseng's idea to arm myself should you Turks not be there to protect me one day. I have practiced under him for a special training for a few years now, and it has come in handy."
"That explains the nice shot, sir." St. Andrew admitted. "I think you joined the 'Perfection Shooter Club' Tseng, Rosalind, Freya and Rafe're in."
"I will take that as a compliment." Rufus replied, just as Reno finally rejoined them.
"Everything okay, rookie?" Reno asked, exaggerated.
St. Andrew rolled his eyes, responding, "Besides the never-ending horde of Militas Losers attacking everywhere we go, yeah, we're cool. The Vice President even took out one with a nice shot."
"Guess all that trainin' finally payed off, huh, sir?" Reno commented with a grin, relieved as he turned to Rufus who snorted again.
"Don't expect me to protect myself all the time. It is your job for my safety as well of that of the Company." Rufus told him, firmly.
"Yes, sir." Reno replied, but still with a grin. He then noticed something as he looked up, and said, "Oh. We're here already."
Confused on what he was talking about, St. Andrew and Rufus looked to see that they had arrived at a four story building indistinguishable from its neighbours but for a revolving door and a discreet metal plaque that read 'The Excalibur'. To their concern, however, there was no one at the enterance as they were expecting.
"Where are the guards?" Rufus inquired, suspiciously.
"I thought Veld and Tseng said the guards were to expect us." Reno muttered, frowning in concern.
"Militas Ultra?" St. Andrew asked, quickly worried. It made more sense since, given the bad guys most likely killed them. But then that meant the inside of the building might be overrun already, and the President, Veld and Tseng might be having some trouble.
Rufus seemed to disagree, "Or perhaps my father may be behind all this."
"Like...the entire thing was a set-up?" Reno asked, uncertainly. He still didn't want to believe that the President was behind the Militas Ultra ambushes and missions for whatever reasons. He couldn't remember a time when the Turks suddenly got on the President's bad list.
"While I doubt my father is foolish enough to join forces with the enemy, it isn't far-fetched that he has been acting quite strange for the past two years." Rufus responded. "Let us be on our way, shall way?"
The Turks nodded with a "Yes, sir." and entered the building, with Reno taking out his PHS to punch a number to inform Veld or Tseng that they had arrived with the Vice President. He couldn't reach other of them and he felt his stomach drop slightly. Why weren't any of his superior's answering? Did that mean Rufus was right?
The higher the trio went up and saw no signs of the guards, the more tensed they felt. Even the reception area was empty. Not even the Receptionist was around. So the two Turks sticked close to the Vice President to keep him safe from any other surprise ambush attacks. They took the stairs up to the second floor and continued onward, though the lack of guards and the lack of dead bodies and blood didn't go well with the three men. They came to a set of grand double doors with heavy panelling and tastefully painted frescoes on the walls on either side.
(~Shaded Truths-KH: Birth By Sleep~)
That's when it came. Neither one saw it coming, but the doors suddenly opened and several ShinRa guards with their own rifles and swords came bursting out and surrounded the shocked trio, trapping them in a circle.
"Drop your weapons! Hands up! NOW!" One soldier barked threateningly.
"What's the meaning of this!?" Rufus demanded, "Lower your weapons. That's an order!" only to be roughly grabbed by two soldiers behind him.
"Sir!" Reno and St. Andrew exclaimed, only for rifles to be sharply poked on their backs, with the same soldier angrily ordering, "HANDS UP! I'M WARNING YOU!"
Gritting their teeth, Reno and St. Andrew had no choice but to drop their EMRs and back-up sidearms before raising their hands in surrender before a familiar old man stepped through the doors. He was a heavyset man in his middling years, with short blonde hair neatly combed back and a thick moustache that somehow seemed to add to his imposing girth. He wore a suit of a shade blue that looked more like an old Elephant's skin colour, and an expensive green tie and polished black shoes.
"Thank you for proving that you will never be ready to take my place of the Company and the Turks are of no use." The man spoke, smugly.
"Mr. President...?" Reno muttered, disbelievingly and shocked.
"*Tch* I should've known. A trap against one's son." Rufus sneered, disgusted.
"I was merely waiting for the right moment. I had known that you would go against me to try and take over my Company and have the Turks follow you, just as Legend once said 8,000 years ago." The President sneered back.
"Oh, please. Why would I have done that?" Rufus rolled his eyes.
"I was warned that you and the Turks would not only be useless, but you would also betray me. So, what better way to stop you all than to betray you first?" His father smirked.
"What the hell...!?" Reno gapped. "Who the hell told you that crap!?"
"Silence!" One Shinra Soldier snapped, whacking Reno in the stomach with his rifle, causing the Turk to crouch in pain before he and St. Andrew were quickly grabbed and forced to the ground with the Vice President.
"Get off me!" Reno yelled, before he was being tugged by his hair and he shouted, "Ow! Let go!"
The President shook his head, "If I told you or Veld, you all would have acted a lot sooner." while stepping aside as four more soldiers were forcing a captive Veld and captive Tseng towards them to join the trapped trio who were shocked and the two younger Turks horrified. "When Militas Ultra arrived, I had a fair idea to secretly have a set-up to lure you all to me, and once all of you are captured, I can then move on to destroy the organization."
"You are a senile and delusional fool, old man...!" Rufus hissed angrily. "Who's to say that Militas Ultra won't come and attack you first before you attack them?"
"I won't fall to your lies, spoiled brat!" His father snapped, equally angry. "As far as you and I are concerned, you are not my son!" before snapping his fingers and barked out his orders, "Take Rufus and the Turks to the detention cells and find the rest of the Turks! We well handle their execution once the threat of Militas Ultra is settled."
"Execution!?" St. Andrew exclaimed, shocked, angry and horrified. Before he could even hear the horrified and angry exclaimations from all of his superiors, the young Turk felt a sudden sharp pain in his head that was starting to make him sleepy. "Wha...what the hell...?"
He was faintly aware of Reno, Tseng and Veld calling out to him, but St. Andrew's world went black before he went limp. (~End Shaded Truths~)
March 17th[11:19 AM]-Year-1990.
Lower-Junon.
When news broke out that they saw Turks being captured and arrested by their own Company's Army, under orders by the President, Highground silently made their move as more and more Militas Ultra soldiers scouted the areas of both Upper Junon and Lower Junon. Elfe thrusted her sword at five Militas Ultra soldiers, killing them instantly with a single hit. She spun around when she sensed more movement and single handedly killed another three that tried to silently ambush her.
"Where are they even coming from?" Elfe grunted, glaring at the dead bodies of the men she killed. It seemed the more she and her men defeated, Militas Ultra soldiers keep coming, like a large Organization themselves.
Shears just reported that the soldiers made noises that Militas Ultra won't be seeing them or the President killing them instantly behind their backs to reveal their plot all all along, and while Elfe wouldn't mind seeing all of Militas Ultra dead, killing them by betraying the Turks and destroying Junon in the process? No, something's wrong.
"There has to be a way to solve this." Elfe hissed.
She then sensed more movement and spun around, demanding, "Who's there?" and there stood an unfamiliar man in a strange red cloak with black and a red sash that covers his face, as though he just appeared out of nowhere yet looked as though he'd been there the whole time. "Who are you?"
(~Quickening-Dissidia Final Fantasy~)
"DiZ, or so I am known." The man, DiZ, responded. "I have been watching you, and keep an eye on the Turks, one of them whom you share a strange resemblence."
"I don't have any one related to me from the Turks." Elfe scoffed, raising her sword at the stranger. "Are you with Militas Ultra, or are you someone else?"
"I do not ally myself with Militas Ultra, nor ShinRa." DiZ replied, unfazed at the fact that he had a sword pointed right at him. "I will not hold it against you whether you choose to believe me or not. It is your decision."
A slight pause.
"That's a first. Not often for people to say that." Elfe admitted about the decision part, lowering her sword a little, but still kept her guard up. "It still begs the question on who you are or what you're here for, though."
"I'm here to help and your men to at least solve the problem in this city. The Turks are the only ones who can one day destroy Militas Ultra, but they would inquire your aid, and you one way need them to protect you from what is yet to come." DiZ responded.
"Why is that?" Elfe asked, suspiciously.
"I do not know much of the enemies, but I do know that they are not ordinary Organization. The world depends on the Turks, but for them to save it, they must be saved themselves, along with the Vice President."
The woman's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "He's been captured too?"
"The President has been fooled and blinded. We must make haste." DiZ informed her.
Despite the suspicions, Elfe answered, "All right. Say that I believe you, what's in it for you, DiZ?"
"I only wish to keep this world safe from the growing Darkness, and I have enemies I want revenge on. None whom are here, but still dangerous. However, you must continue your fight against Militas Ultra, as they are not only your enemies, but the enemies of ShinRa." DiZ said.
"Nothing else?"
"Rewards are not neccessary to me."
Finally, Elfe smiled a little, "You sound a bit like me."
She decided to make her choice and gave her answer to DiZ. (~End Quickening~)
Next, she had to give a call to Shears.
March 17th[12:14 PM]-Year-1990.
Detention Cells-Junon.
A lot of images ran through St. Andrew's head and he had no clue what was happening and he couldn't for the life of him keep track either. He was fighting some weird guys in black, protecting an old scientist with the help of a kid, about only sixteen or seventeen years or somewhere along the lines, who was a ShinRa normal soldier who was shooting the bad guys down.
Once it was over, St. Andrew, as though from someone else's point of view but in his own voice, turned to the teenager and said, apparently grinning, "Nice one there, Cloud."
Cloud, the teenage soldier's name, glanced at him with a slightly startled look before he softly smiled, saying, "Thanks, St. Andrew."
"Cloud!" St. Andrew gasped as he woke up, jolting up-right from the very uncomfortable cold floor in a large steel like room that could fit at least fifty people. His mind was fuzzy, and he was disorintated. What the hell was that about? Who the heck was Cloud? And, as he looked around and noticed that all of this co-workers, Veld, Tseng and Rufus stood around or crouched next to him with startled or concerned expressions in a dark, empty but locked up room, where in Ifrit's name where they?
"Are you alright?" Tseng inquired witn geninue concern.
"Sir? Wh-what the heck just happened?" St. Andrew asked, panting.
"You collasped the moment the President informed of our future execution." Tseng grimly answered, "Do you remember that at least?"
Memories of what happened before returning to him, the younger Turk muttered, "Yeah, I remember that part. But I don't remember being knocked out."
"You weren't knocked out, rookie." Reno pointed out from St. Andrew's left, and, surprisingly to the latter, the other redhead looked really worried. "You just...well, passed out all of the sudden. Just like how Rosalind did back in Banora."
"Really? That's weird. Never did that before." St. Andrew muttered, even more confused. He began to remember at least one part of the weird dream he had, and for some reason...it felt so real...so...familiar. "All I know is that I had a weird dream of being on a mission...being with a soldier."
He then glanced up to Tseng, Veld and even Rufus, asking, "Hey, do we know anybody named Cloud or something?"
"Cloud?" Rafe asked, skeptically.
"Yeah, you know, like the floating white puffs in the sky?" St. Andrew added, dryly.
"Not me." Freya shook her head, turning to the other Turks, "Ring any bells?" only for everyone else to shake their heads negatively.
"There's no record of anyone with that name working for ShinRa." Veld responded to St. Andrew. "That is not important, now. Our new mission is to stop the President from destroying Junon just to destroy Militas Ultra."
"Yeah, that reminds me." Reno spoke up as he glanced at the Turk Leader and Turks' Second in Command. "What the hell happened? What's goin' on with the President's head?"
"It seems his mind has been clouded with paranoia due to a visitor that game to him secretly two years ago." Tseng spoke with distaste. "Veld and I met with the President only to be captured the same way you, St. Andrew and the Vice President were captured, before telling us of a warning the 'guest' had told him."
"Who?" Reno asked, skeptically and shocked.
(~Evil Lurking*Xehanort's Theme-KH:BBS*~)
"Unknown." Veld answered this time with a frown. "What we do know is that the man is described to be in his eighties with un-natural yellow eyes. From what the President has told us, the man's words were, 'The Turks are a dangerous and maniplutive fools who could stand in your way and follow Rufus to kill you and take over the Company. None should have existed...for a second time'. Which is very strange, indeed, as we all only exist once."
"A elder man with yellow eyes...telling the President lies about us and the Vice President?" Rosalind asked, very concerned. What could that mean?
"Second time? Sounds kinda like what Militas Ultra were tellin' us. The 'Reborn' crap." Reno realised after a thought or two, and the other Turks nodded in agreement with what he was saying.
"Either this man was attempting to tell my father not to do what did to us today, or, the more likely option, told that old man many lies to eliminate us out of fear." Rufus hissed angrily. How could it come to this?
"Whomever this man is, he is most likely very dangerous to convince the President that way, as though it was mind control." The scarred Turk muttered with a serious frown. "But he had not been seen since then."
"Hey, considerin' that guy's in his eighties', Balto, worst case scenario, he might've died after that happened." Reno pointed out.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. One can't predict the timing of death of age." Balto the scarred Turk stated.
"But our deaths are coming soon if we don't do something." Rude pointed out, eyes narrowing angrily behind his sunglasses.
Remembering their upcoming execution, the Turks shared glances as Rufus said, "Indeed. I will not allow this to happen. The priority is to stop my father as well as stopping Militas Ultra from causing any more damage. I won't have Junon destroyed just because that old fool wants to destroy it in the sake of destroying our enemies!"
(~End Evil Lurking*Xehanort's Theme*~)
"While I admire your position and authority, sir," Veld began, somewhat proudly at the younger man. "To do that, we need to find a way out of here and escape."
"Yeah and those damn soldiers took my lock-picks." Reno grumbled in frustration. A second later, the blares of the alarm going off alarmed everyone as they all wondered what was going on now.
"Militas Ultra!?" St. Andrew exclaimed as he stood up despite his co-workers trying to get him to settle as he was still recovering from his strange dizzy spell attack.
"Here too!?" Reno exclaimed, shocked.
But judging by the sounds of pained yelling coming from outside of their cell and the sound of a sword slashing and fists punching told them that it wasn't the case. Instead, they heard the sounds of the door being opened via Keycard and when it slid open, three people walked in, along with a couple of unfamilair soldiers that were not ShinRa or Militas Ultra. The Turks tensed, surrounding Rufus to protect him, glaring at the figures whom three were Elfe, Shears and DiZ.
(~Elfe's Theme*Arecia Al-Rashia's Theme-FINAL FANTASY TYPE 0*~)
"You must be the Vice President; Rufus ShinRa." Elfe spoke to Rufus calmly, folding her arms after putting away her sword to show she has no interest in harming him or the Turks, the latter which she informed, "And all of you are the Turks."
For some reason, pretty much all of the people whom she and Shears had never met before are somehow familiar, and, to her surprise, the oldest Turk, Veld, did spare a striking resemblence to her. Why was he the most familiar?
Rufus and the Turks felt the samiliar feeling, but still kept their guard up. Veld's eyes narrowed as he eyed the young woman at the opposite end of the room. She was strikingly familiar...as though she reminded him of his own. Did he know her?
"And you are?" Rufus inquired.
"I am Elfe, Leader of Highground." Elfe responded, before gesturing at Shears next to her, "He is my Second in Command; Shears."
St. Andrew's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Hey, I know you! You're that weird group that one of my boys saw while he snuck into the Midgar Ruins last year!" pointing accusingly at Elfe and her men.
"You know these guys?" Rafe asked, incredulously.
"They're some whacko group who take out guys who murder people without reason and never make themselves known in public until now." St. Andrew said, shrugging, eying Highground suspciously. "Rumor has it that they save the ShinRa Company's back once and a while but never actually ask for rewards or to join in."
"If that's the case, then why help us out and be public about it now?" Freya asked, suspiciously.
"An excellent question, Freya." Tseng agreed. He took a couple steps forward before inquiring, "What is your purpose for being here?"
"Simple; to help you and stop Militas Ultra." Shears responded, eying the group back suspiciously. He then jerked his head slightly while gesturing at DiZ, "This guy's the one who convinced us to help you out and make ourselves known this time."
"...And you are?" Veld inquired to the unfamiliar man.
"I am DiZ. Or so I am known. I could nobody or anybody, that is your choice to make that assemption." DiZ replied calmly.
"So, you're not with Highground or Militas Ultra? And you want us to decide whether you're with someone or not? That kinda sounds like you make a habit of pushing decisions on people, man." Reno said, skeptically.
"I will accept your decision whichever way you choose. Though, I could not simply allow all of you to die today or in the near future." DiZ replied.
"Why?" Rufus demanded, "What do you want of us?"
"You all have paths that are waiting for you. Letting Militas Ultra win is not one of them." DiZ responded.
"Is that supposed to be support, or an order?" Reno asked, suspiciously this time.
"That will be your decision as well." DiZ replied.
"We have no attention to cause all of you trouble, in case you're wondering." Elfe spoke again this time. "My priority is putting an end to Militas Ultra, but my goal is not to harm innocent civilians." before waving a hand to the soldiers with her, Shears and DiZ, commanding, "Return the items and weapons to the Vice President and the Turks. They'll be needing them against the fight outside."
"Yes, ma'am!" The couple of Highground Soldiers responded, before slowly returning all of the weapons taken from Rufus and the Turks that the ShinRa Soldiers had stripped them before locking them up in this large cell.
"You trust us with this?" Veld asked, raising an eye-brow.
"We're not enemies. You have my word." Elfe replied coolly.
"So, since we both got the same enemy, what's in it for you guys?" Reno asked as he was handed his EMR, PHS, wallet, ID, and his lock picks.
"Not to borther us after this and we won't borther you either. Simple as that." Shears replied with a slightly cold expression. (~End Elfe's Theme*Arecia Al-Rashia's Theme*~)
Rosalind didn't know what to say to that. As she gazed at Shears, her eyes widened slightly as she suddenly recongised him; he was the same man from her unusual dream back in Banora days ago.
"I'll make you regret in ever joining ShinRa."
Given that, the young woman was suddenly uncertain even further. Could Highground really be trusted? What if they were doing the same thing the President had done to Militas Ultra? She didn't feel like they were, as Shears's attitude towards her and everyone else was different compared to what she saw earlier...so why did the Shears in her dream say she'd regret in joining ShinRa?
"Sir?" Veld inquired to Rufus on his decision on whether to trust Highground and DiZ or not.
Despite the unusual familiarity and hesitation, Rufus knew that they didn't have much time with judgement. Finally, he nodded and responded to Highground, "Very well. Our priority is to save Junon and stop Militas Ultra...and to stop my father. We will join forces for the time being, and after that, we part our ways."
"Done." Elfe agreed, as she and Rufus shook hands in a firm agreement.
"So, what now Di...huh?" Shears trailed off as when he turned to face DiZ, the man suddenly wasn't there, and since no one else had noticed him even leaving, they looked around in major confusion.
"Where'd he go?" One of the Highground soldiers asked, confused.
"That's weird. I coulda sworn he was there a few minutes ago." Reno muttered, equally confused.
"We'll worry about DiZ later. Right now, we have to get moving." Tseng told him firmly.
Rufus turned to Tseng and ordered him firmly, "Tseng, you are to take St. Andrew with you to the Branch Office. No doubt that my father will be there to give out orders to strike Junon to attack Militas Ultra. If he is still beyond reason...take his life. It's the only way to end this madness."
Despite the hesitation of having to assassinate the President, knowing that the man has gone insane, there was little to no choice. They would have to announce his death with lies to the pubic to avoid in getting framed or hunted down.
"Yes, sir." Tseng nodded, grimly.
"I will be with the Vice President and take Cissnei with me." Veld said firmly, gazing at the young Urban-haired woman, identified as Cissnei who nodded. He then turned to the rest of the Turks, giving out sharp orders, "Reno, you're with Rosalind to the east side of Junon. Rude, you take Freya to the West. Balto, Rafe is yours to the South end of Junon."
"Then we'll take North." Elfe announced, referring to herself and her men, equally firm.
Despite the slight hesitation, the Turks knew they had no choice but to go through this agreement and awkward teamwork, and did as they were told, before rushing out of the detention cells to begin their mission, fighting their way through the ShinRa Soldiers that were in the building.
March 17th[12:56 PM]-Year-1990.
Upper-Junon.
(~Force Your Way-Dissidia 012~)
It wasn't along before everyone got into position and split up into several groups, taking out the ShinRa Soldiers that still sided with the President as well as lingering Militas Ultra soldiers that continued to attack through out the City. Thankfully, some of the ShinRa Soldiers who were hesitant with the President's orders were quickly told of the situation and decided to side themselves with Rufus and the Turks, which increased the chances of saving Junon and the civilians without casulties.
St. Andrew followed Tseng through the streets of Upper Junon as fast as they could towards the Branch Office, knowing that the President would be right there. Neither of them liked the idea of having to assassinate their own Company's President just to save many people as well as their jobs and keep Rufus safe, but there was very little choice in that matter. It was unbelievable and unfair.
'Whoever the hell that yellow-eyed old coot is, if he shows up again, I'm gonna kill him!' St. Andrew thought violently as he cracked the skull of another Militas Ultra soldier that appeared, taking him down easily as he grunted. He kicked violently at another before jabbing him in the stomach, electrocuting the man who screamed in agony before falling limp on the ground.
Tseng had was shooting Militas Ultra Operatives cleanly through the head or chest depending on where he found an opening from a short distance that were coming his way. When one or got up too close to his taste, he whacked them in the jaws with a backward punch that caused them to collaspe before shooting them dead to finish off the job. With another one, he kicked one so hard in the stomach that the Militas Ultra soldier was sent flying straight towards five more operatives that caused them to crash into the ground in a pile
The two Turks then continued on towards the Branch Office, only to be blocked off by six more Militas Ultra Soldiers who prepared to fight. Tseng immediately gunned three of them down and injured three others before St. Andrew had a chance to get even close to the enemies.
"Go to the President! And take him and any with him down!" Tseng ordered, not taking his eyes off the enemies.
Despite hesitating at the number of men, St. Andrew forced himself to remember that the man next to him was the Turks' Second in Command, one of his superiors who had been a Turk for years. The rookie was nowhere near his level yet, and like with Reno, he would be fine.
"Got it, sir!" The redhead responded before running and jumped between two of the Militas Ultra soldiers who were stunned by his reflexes as he then proceeded up the stairs as fast as he could, hearing the gunshots behind him as Tseng took them out before the Wutaiian was surrounded by more which he fought against.
St. Andrew took out more Militas Ultra soldiers as well as President ShinRa's soldiers that stood in his way and using the electricity of his EMR to distract them as much as possible. He was confident in his skills, but this was a life and death situation which also turned into an infiltration mission before finally making it to the Travel Presidental Office which the door was guarded by not ShinRa Soldiers but Militas Ultra soldiers.
"Outta the way, Dick-Squad!" St. Andrew shouted, cleanly smashing the two men's helmets and fracturing their skulls before he bursted right through the doors which was filled already, which he had expected. (~End Force Your Way~)
What he didn't expect was that the President had company and with the President cornered and held by two Militas Ultra operatives, it wasn't a good company at all.
The man looked more like an old-school Navy Officer plus pirate consider the guy's Eye-Patch. He was facing the President who was glaring at him with a mixture of panic and anger.
"How dare you do this to me!?" The President yelled loudly. "I disbanded my Turks! I disowned that useless brat! What more do you want!?"
"You haven't got rid of them." Qator Basher replied coldly, not fazed or even showing the slightest of emotion on his expression. "Your Turks once belonged to your son who had a father once already. As such, we cannot have ShinRa stand in our way."
"YOU WILL REGRET THIS!"
"Hmph." Was all Qator said, before hearing the door having slammed open which admitted St. Andrew who stood there, weapon ready. "The Turks managed to survive. I knew they would."
"What!?" President ShinRa gapped, shocked when he recongised St. Andrew, "What are you doing here!?" before shaking his head and deciding to worry about that later, "Nevermind! Turk, don't just stand there! Kill these men!"
St. Andrew hesitated, before standing in a fighting position. The assassination mission just got more complicated.
"Obeying orders from the man who disbanded you?" Qator inquired.
"After I'm done with you, he's next! Orders that I got are top secret!" St. Andrew responded, glaring at the men in front of him.
(~The Key of Darkness-KH:BBS~)
Qator wasn't surprised and just snorted, slowly turning to face the younger man, saying, "You have no idea what you had done all those years ago...and I will make sure you will not live to see the future."
Before St. Andrew knew what was happening, he was easily knocked down to the ground when Qator punched him right in the stomach, and the punched him on the back of his head, sending him to the floor with ease and speed that he didn't even see coming. Before the Turk could push himself up, Qator placed his foot onto St. Andrew's head, forcing him to stay down and preventing him from moving.
"Your rebirth has broken the laws of life and death. YOU and all Turks are the new cycle that will trap us all in a loop of time that will never stop, under the new law." Qator told him coldly.
"*Tch* Quit talking crap, man!" St. Andrew grunted, struggling to push himself up. "None of it's making any damn sense!"
"Of course it wouldn't. Your memories are supressed. If you live longer, you will only doom this world and all others." Qator scoffed, pushing the younger man down harder.
He then swifted out of the way from a gunshot which hit one of the Militas Ultra soldiers squarely in the head, causing him to collaspe, dead. The window behind the President and the remaining Militas Ultra soldier was smashed open as Elfe came crashing in from swinging and slashed the back of the man's neck, killing him instantly before rushing over to attack Qator who, seeing this coming, unsheathed his own sword and blocked the woman's attack, making the entire room shake briefly.
"Let St. Andrew go!" Tseng's welcoming voice ordered Qator. St. Andrew never felt so relieved in his entire life.
The Wutaiian Turk had his gun aimed cleanly at Qator's head but didn't fire immediately after the latter's last fast dodging which had admittedly shocked him, so he had to be careful in order to save the younger Turk.
"Tseng, Second in Command of the Turks. You have finally arrived. This is interesting." Qator smirked, "One Second in Command to another in the same room, especially since both had been reborn from one life to another."
'This guy's Second in Command of Militas Ultra!? No wonder he's tough!' St. Andrew thought frantically in his mind. Still, he had to figure out how to get out this situation without forcing Tseng to make the wrong choice. Struggling to hold his EMR upward despite the fact that he had Qator's booted foot on his head making it difficult, St. Andrew pushed the botton on his weapon, sending a surge of electricity, zapping the man which forced him to lift his foot from the Turk.
But to the Turks' and Elfe's shock, Qator grunted before kicking St. Andrew so hard in the face that he was sent flying right into Tseng who was pushed and thrown back along with the rookie nearly down the stairs. Qator then swipped Elfe's sword from her grip before grabbing her fist despite her kicking him in the stomach and face which, despite the struggling of punches and kicks and dodges, he successfully grabbed her by the wrist and flung her out of the room where she crashed on top of the two Turks.
"You do not belong in any world." Qator said, turning his attention to the President who stepped back in fear. The Militas Second in Command pulled out a handgun of his own, only for Tseng to rush in and slammed his body right into the eye-patched man's sending him through the hole in the wall. It should've been the end of it, but the sounds of a helicopter filled their ears as St. Andrew and Elfe joined the Wutaiian. The trio grunted as a rope was seen and Qator held on as he was lifted up into the air by the Militas Ultra chopper.
"Let's finish this properly another day, Tseng. I'll be waiting." Qator snickered as he was air-lifted to safety, leaving the Turks and Elfe unable to finish him off. (~End the Key of Darkness~)
After watching their enemies leave, despite the failure of finishing off Militas Ultra, the trio turned their attention to the President who glared at them, after realising how the Turks escaped.
"I don't care who you are, woman! I will have your head for this!" The President yelled angrily, only to be pointed at by Elfe's sword and Tseng's gun.
"Not if you die first." Elfe hissed coldly.
"Traitors!" The President hissed at the Turks this time.
"I believe that word hangs more on your shoulders, Sir." Tseng responded coldly and angrily. "Disbanding the Turks is one thing, but attempting to execute your own son out of lies is unforgivable."
"YOU and Rufus are the ones who were telling lies! I will have you all dead! I will NOT have you run this company! The world is mine!" The President ranted on.
Those were his final words, however...as Tseng pulled the trigger. The President slumped backwards with a clean hole in his forehead that was oozing with blood, with an expression of shock forever on his face. St. Andrew's stomach turned before he looked away to the side closing his eyes, unable to look. Nothing could've been done. The President had been beyond reason...
And it cost him his life.
"Do you regret this?" Elfe inquired after a few moments, lowering her weapon.
"...Yes, but Rufus's safety and the safety of the people in Junon were far more important." Tseng replied after hesitating. He felt himself go cold. He had just killed the President of the ShinRa Company. He was a murderer.
But it had to be done.
"Blame the man who made him blind." Elfe advised, turning to walk out of the room, leaving the two stunned Turks behind. She paused in the doorway, saying for the final time, "You did the right thing." before walking out once more.
'The right thing, huh?' St. Andrew thought, bitterly and sadly. Lives in Junon were saved, Rufus was saved, and they had at least driven out Militas Ultra...
But this had to be the most difficult part of the Turks' job in their entire lives.
Even though Militas Ultra had been driven out of Junon, the Turks and Rufus had made the difficult decision to end his father's life because of the curse of being delusional, for the future of the Company as well as their own.
After parting ways from Highground who had helped to protect the people, it was a few days later that they made the announcement of President ShinRa's death, but had blamed Militas Ultra for the assassination.
Afterwards, Rufus was named the new President of the ShinRa Company.
Thus, it fell to him to lead on the ongoing War against Militas Ultra, but questions of Qator Basher's words are still yet to be answered, and there had been no sign of DiZ or the mysterious Organization of black coats.
The fight continues on.
A/N: Again, I am deeply sorry for the delay of this chapter. It took me ages to figure out how this one would turn out. Ended up combining the previously planned two chapters into one to avoid in the latter to be short. Hopefully it won't take as long for me to update this again in the future.
See you real soon!