I have been looking forward to this chapter for a while now. I absolutely love the tension of it. That and it preludes some Vinny & Veld goodness down the road. I wished they fleshed out more of their story.

It's been a crazy month IRL and writing kind of fell to the wayside. Next chapter will take a bit longer to get out, but hand tight it'll be there! Thanks for all the luv and support. Enjoy!


Chapter 9 – Zugzwang

Ryo stared at Captain Ferguson with a frown. He returned the expression before irritably waving her off and returning to the Thirds training room. She was left standing in the hall staring at the door in wary confusion.

She had been dismissed from training today, but he gave her no reason why she had been dismissed. Ryo shifted in place as she tried to puzzle it out, had she screwed something up? She shrugged; it was too early in the morning for her to give a shit about it. Better to just go home and catch up on some sleep.

She didn't even make it to the elevators before her PHS rang sharply. She barely even recognized that the tone was coming from her, most people just texted. She scrambled to answer the thing, nearly dropping it as she flipped it open. The number didn't have a name attached to it and it wasn't one she recognized.

"H-Hello? Ryo speaking," She answered hesitantly.

"Hello Miss Kesh, my name is Tseng I'm with the Department of Administrative Research." His voice was neutral and controlled, but Ryo felt her blood freeze in her veins all the same.

It took her longer then she would have like to compose herself enough to respond, "H-How can I help you Mr. Tseng sir."

"We have a few questions regarding you file, and would like to meet with you in person to discuss them." Ryo dug her nails into the palm of her fist letting the pain keep her in focus, "Of course sir, whatever time is convenient for you."

What calm she had gathered drained away with the blood in her face when he responded, "Actually we will have someone escort you here, please meet him on the Soldier floor." She didn't even get to muster a response before the call ended.

She stood there frozen in a state of absolute terror. Fight or flight responses screamed in her head as her mind tried to scramble for a plan. Oooh fuck… She was shaking and was sure that if there had been anyone else around they would have thought she had shoved a fork in an outlet. She fought to push down the panic and keep herself from hyperventilating. Okay… It's okay…No it's fucking NOT okay! She bit down on the knuckles of her fist, the pain giving her enough focus to stabilize herself as she paced frantically. Calm down… Panic would do nothing but ruin her, especially in regards to the Turks.

With a deep breath she composed herself and not a moment too soon. The elevator door gave a faint ding as the familiar form of Rude stepped out. She was suddenly glad to be wearing her helmet. She doubted she could hide the panic from her eyes. You have seen him before act friendly.

She smiled at him and feigned a surprised expression, "You're Rude right? I remember you from the bar. Are you the one Mr. Tseng sent?"

His impassive frown never wavered when he nodded. He gestured and held the elevator door open for her. She could feel his eyes watch her through the dark shades as she went to pass him, "T-thanks…" The elevator jerked into motion after Rude tapped a button for one of the upper floors. Her mind was racing but she was doing fairly well at keeping it from her face.

"How is Reno? He seemed a little disappointed when I didn't stay for that second drink," She managed to put a bit of playfulness into the question.

He was silent for a while and Ryo figured she wasn't going to get anything from the bald Turk, so it surprised her when she did. His voice was deep but strangely monotone, "We hit the bar Friday nights." Ryo looked at him blankly for a moment before a grin slowly spread across her face.

"Well… I'll just have to keep my schedule open then," She said with a slight laugh.

She wasn't sure why, but getting something out of Rude relieved far more of the tense panic from her then it probably should have. The elevator came to a stop and opened up to a long hall filled with office doors. Rude nodded and left her to other Turk. Tseng stood waiting in front of a windowless door that looked very solid. The tightness was returning to her throat but she was better prepared to fight it down.

"Pleasure to see you again Miss Kesh," She steeled herself and removed her helmet. She tucked it under an arm before shaking the man's hand and gave him a smile, "Mr. Tseng."

"If you would come inside we can get down to business," He said as he opened the door for Ryo to enter.

She took maybe two steps before she froze. She had to lock her jaw to suppress the flair of panic. It was like every cop show you'd ever seen. That interrogation room with the two way mirror, long metal table bolted to the floor, cold nondescript walls, and two lonely chairs facing each other on each end. Ryo's mind began a repetitive mantra of 'Oh Fuck.' Tseng gestured to the chair opposite him as he sat, laying a manila folder down on the table in front of him. She followed dumbly and sat. Tseng was very formal and polite when he spoke, which was to be expected. He was a professional after all.

"Now Miss Kesh, I would like to ask you a few questions about your background. We have had trouble filling some things in and wanted your input, just for our files of course." Ryo nodded but was otherwise quiet.

Tseng flipped open the folder and scanned it briefly, "According to your file you are from Bone Village, but no address was put down, for family or otherwise."

Ryo nodded keeping her poker face well in check; she had been preparing off and on for the inevitable questions. She just hadn't expected to need to answer them so soon. "Bone Village was the main stopping point in my family's hunting cycle, we are nomadic but mail was easiest to pick up there. Most mail going up there is labeled by name; there aren't enough houses to bother with addresses."

Tseng watched her silently before nodding and jotting down some notes. His kept his expressions completely neutral as he when down the list of questions. To Ryo's relief all the questions had been fairly easy to answer.

As she grew more at ease however, her thoughts began to wander. The problem didn't lie with tricking the Turks now; it was when they went out to verify her claims. And if they were going to the trouble of interrogating Ryo, and she had no illusions about what this little talk was, then there was no doubt in her mind they would go to Bone Village and start asking questions.

She had no way of fixing that problem. When they returned empty handed they would want to have another talk, and they wouldn't be happy about it. Even the time spent on their wild goose chase wouldn't buy enough time to save her ass. Not to mention I would go from no trust to negative. At this point I'm suspicious but probably fairly neutral.

Tseng closed the file after finishing some notes on the last series of questions. He gave Ryo a respectful nod before coming to stand, "Miss Kesh, I thank you for your time. We will contact you if there is anything further."

She nodded and stood as well. You will…

On the outside she was polite and pleasant, but internally a debate had begun. The two stepped out of the interrogation room. Tseng stood file in hand and was turning to leave. Ryo took a few steps before stopping. She had come to a decision, one that went against every survival instinct she had. One so stupid it was suicide. She turned back around and cleared her throat in an attempt to clear the tense knot making its home there.

"Actually Mr. Tseng, sir. I was wondering if I could speak to you about another matter." The man in question stopped and turned to look at her, for a split second she thought she saw a flicker of emotion. What emotion she had no idea, for it was gone as quickly as it came.

He nodded slightly as a sign for her to continue. She gave up the farce and a frightened but determined look fell over her. She hesitated for a moment before looking at him pointedly. She tapped her ear and made a half circle gesture around her head then cocked her head to the side with a questioning expression. Are there others listening? He stared at her blankly for a moment, but appeared to understand the oddly signed question after a moment. He nodded slowly before pressing a finger to the earpiece he wore. He seemed to listen to someone before his focus returned to Ryo once more.

A door to an adjacent room opened and a stern brown haired man stepped out. He was middle aged and had an intense hardened look on his scared face. They stared at each other. One regarding the other silently as the other practically gaped at him wide eyed. I didn't think I had attracted enough attention to warrant Velds involvement!

Veld gave her a respectful tilt of his head but his face belayed nothing, "Would you like to join us in my office… or do you need to speak with Tseng privately?" Ryo came out of her stunned state. This might actually be better I think.

Ryo smiled softly at him and shook her head, "Not at all, it might be best to have a…second opinion, if it is no trouble to you Sir."

Veld watched her for a moment, taking note that she seemed to understand who he was and it's implication. He stepped forward gesturing for her to follow him. She did so obediently and Tseng brought up the rear, strategically boxing her in. They lead her to a large wooden office door. The Director held the door open for her and she stepped inside nervously.

The office was dark not just in lighting, but in décor. Dark hardwood furniture, bookshelves stuffed with books and odds and ends, professional but comfortable. Veld took his seat at the large desk and looked at her pointedly. Tseng didn't bother to sit, and took a spot leaning against the wall next to the door. Ryo glanced at him before sitting in the chair across from the Turk Director. She swallowed hard, toughly intimidated by his piercing gaze. After a moment of silence Veld leaned back into his chair and cleared his throat, "Now Miss Kesh, what did you want to discuss?"

Ryo sat silently fidgeting as he watched her. The way he took in every detail and scrutinized every twitch left her feeling like she was being dissected. Better a mental dissection then a physical one... She stared intently at the wood grain on his desk as she tried to organize her thoughts. Veld said nothing, just watched patiently. She composed herself and looked him strait in the eyes.

"Everything on that file before approximately a week prior to my recruitment is false." Veld raised a brow, but otherwise his strong features were still. He was quiet for a moment then asked, "Why did you feel the need to fabricate your background Miss Kesh, is there something you feel the need to keep from the Company?"

"Yes sir," She said. Ryo forced herself forward, if she stopped her words now she would likely crumble and break. "I want to be frank with you sir. I know how this will go; your men will investigate my background and find nothing. I doubt you appreciate your time being wasted."

Veld shot Tseng a quick glance, "Go on…"

Ryo didn't take her eyes of the man in front of her, "The honest truth is… prior to the reactor situation, I did not exist. You could ask every person on this planet and they would not know me." Ryo paused watching Veld, but he betrayed nothing.

Taking courage in this she continued, "I woke up in the planet sometime ago; I don't know how long I drifted in the lifestream before I was sucked into the Sector 3 Reactor. I lived fairly undetected in the reactors main chamber for approximately a week before the infestation. Workers there can verify that there was 'unusual activity' going on. They believed the reactor haunted."

She hesitated a moment before she continued with a shrug, "The Mako makes my appearance rather…ah, Unnatural. Genesis' report should pretty accurately cover what occurred from there."

She went silent after the explanation and warily awaited her judgment. Veld had made no motion throughout her rambling explanation. His emotionless stare was unnerving to say the least. After it became apparent that Ryo had no more to add he straitened.

He cleared his throat after a moment then spoke, "Well this is a… difficult story to swallow."

Ryo nodded gravely, "Which is why I felt the need for a more digestible one. I don't have the resources to create a proper identity from scratch, not that it would hold up under Turk scrutiny anyway." She gave a forced wiry grin to the desk in front of her before returning to the Director, "I would rather lay myself before you now with honesty. I don't want to make an enemy of the Turks." She spoke the last part deadly serious.

Veld gave an amused hum and studied her carefully. Everything had been genuine thus far. Absolutely absurd but genuine, "Wise… though your methods are definitely unconventional. Most people would not willingly put themselves under our knife. Why should we keep this information off the record?"

"Because I would much rather be under your knife then Hojos. I know what the Turks are capable of and I know exactly what Hojo is capable of." There was no humor in her tone just a wary resignation, "Unfortunately I already have his attention, and I can't keep a bead on him and his scheming while attempting to evade the Turks as well."

Ryo frowned deeply and rubbed her brow. The stress of this, of everything, was becoming too much, "After weighing my options… the Turks are by far the most immediate danger, but also the only of the two I believed to have any chance of reasoning with."

She looked back up at the senior Turk. He was leaned forward elbow sitting on the desk with his chin lightly resting on his hands. He watched her skeptically, but allowed her to continue. She had heard nothing from the Turk by the door and would have forgotten he was there if not for the feel of his watchful eyes.

"There's more to it…I...Know things, things that have occurred, things that will occur, things that should be impossible for me to know. The years to come are going to be rough, for Soldier, the Turks, ShinRa… this whole planet."

"And what is the cause of these… troubles?" His tone held no judgment and it encouraged Ryo to go on.

"It's a vast series of factors that have accumulated to a volatile melting pot. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more just yet." Ryo raised her hands slightly in surrender at the slight frown her words had produced, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just…I'm stuck in limbo at the moment. I changed something very important. A catalyst that starts the most explosive chain reaction this world has ever seen and until I know the outcome of that change, I won't know how to plan for what's to come."

"You say you have changed something critical. What?" His calculating eyes took note of the slight pause and accurately guessed the cause of her hesitation.

"Tell us what you feel you can," He said with a soft nod.

Ryo swallowed hard trying to find a way to best word things, "From what I can figure, it can go one of two ways. Either the event won't occur and we will be stronger for the next challenges ahead, or it will with even more devastating effects. Unfortunately it is no longer in my hands, all I can do is wait."

The man frowned deeply, "It sounds like you're playing a very risky game, one that affects us all."

Ryo nods gravely, "And it's not something I want to do alone. What I can tell you is that the war in Wutai will be ending soon, possibly in the next month or so." She paused and stared distantly at a far wall for a moment in an attempt to recall, "Not long after whenever Fort Tamblin is taken. I don't have any hard dates, just events."

She nodded assured with her own information. Ryo was sort of distant and lost in her own thoughts and calculations, "From there we can figure out what moves to take. I want to meet with you and a select few about what is to come once the war is over."

"Awaiting Commander Genesis' return?" Ryo looked back to Veld in slight surprise then nodded, "Yes, and General Sephiroth. They are critical players in what's to come."

There was a strange unreadable expression on the Turk Directors face, and she wasn't sure if it was good or bad. Ignoring it for now she returned to voicing her thoughts in an attempt to reassure, "This is what I intend, I want to prevent a disaster that will destroy Shinra and save this world. I am no enemy of the company, and I will do whatever you feel is necessary to prove it. I come to you with honesty and will rest my fate in your hands."

Veld tapped his hands against his chin thoughtfully, never once breaking his gaze from the pale Third. He watched her carefully, "I do not doubt you sincerity… your sanity perhaps, but not your sincerity." He leaned back and looked at her curiously, "Is there anything you can give us to prove your claims?"

Ryo sat deep in thought. She struggled to come up with a piece of information to give that wouldn't potentially screw things up. I can't tell him about his daughter yet… that's too much of a bombshell to drop. Her expression of deep thought eased suddenly as the answer stuck her. Vincent! Those two were partners or something right? She grinned slightly as she thought about it. Vince is still so emo he would likely just tell Veld to shove off, but it would be proof. It's beyond confidential information and I don't think anyone but Hojo knows about him. Ryo smiled, yes it was perfect.

"You remember your old partner Vincent Valentine? What did they say happened to him?"

Veld straitened suddenly and eyed her suspiciously, "He was killed in action."

"Not quite. Your friend is alive, if not well," She chuckled at her own dark humor. Veld looked far less amused. Her grin vanished immediately and she cleared her throat awkwardly.

She looked away and continued, "R-right well… he was 'killed in action' by Hojo. Then Hojo… doing as Hojo does, decided not to let him go to waste and used him as a guinea pig for some of his less…ah…humane experiments." At this point Velds mouth had become a tight line but his serious demeanor didn't faultier.

"After he was through with him, Vincent was stuck in a sort of comatose state and Hojo figured he was pretty much dead. He locked him in a coffin in the cellar of the Shinra Mansion in Niebelhiem." Ryo frowned deeply as she remembered how you had to find him in game. "The sicko locked the key in a safe on the second story then scattered the safe combination around the house like some kind of sick scavenger hunt" She gave an annoyed look at a far wall, "Trapped it with a monster too, that thing was a pain…you'd have better luck just picking or busting the doors lock really." She was pretty much just rambling at this point.

She shook her head and brought herself back to reality with a scowl, "He's still down there too. I hope you can see my unwillingness to have anything to do with the good Doctor Hojo."

Once she was finished with her story she glanced back up at the Turk. The look on his face was controlled but the tension was apparent. He looked pissed, whether or not it was at Ryo or Hojo she couldn't tell, but it was frightening all the same.

"You won't be able to convince him to return with you. He's not in a good spot mentally. He will probably just be all gloomy and creepy and tell you to leave him to his atonement." She scratched the back of her head awkwardly. It was hard to meet Velds eyes. "I kinda hope you can though… I always liked Vince."

Veld cleared his throat and sat back. Any sign of his anger had vanished and he looked at her thoughtfully. He stayed in silent contemplation for a while, just staring through her without really seeing her. When he focused back on Ryo he looked calm and collected, "it may take time to verify the information you have given Miss Kesh."

Ryo gave him a genuinely surprised look, "I-I will do whatever you want me to. Whatever it takes to be comfortable with the situation, bug me…surveillance, whatever you need."

He nodded slowly before cocking his head slightly to the side. "You are putting a lot of trust in us Miss Kesh. While I appreciate your willingness to comply, I still can't wrap my head around this." He couldn't quite cover the slightly bewildered tone, "People who know about the Turks and what we do would not willingly put themselves in our hands."

"Like I said I know a lot about you, the Turks, what they have done… what they will do." She looked down at her hands as they fidgeted in her lap, "It may seem strange of me to say, but I respect the Turks. The job is dirty, but necessary. Every civilization and government in history has had its equivalent… It's not what you do that I respect, it's how you do it."

She paused and looked off at nothing thoughtfully, "Many intelligence agencies are a conniving pot of rogues backstabbing their way to the top of their hierarchy. There only loyalty, debatably, being their employer." She scowled for a moment before it fell away to a neutral expression.

"Not the Turks… Turks take care of their own," She looked him in the eye as she said this, knowing it would have more meaning to him than any.

He returned the stare coldly, "I assure you Miss Kesh our priority is the Company alone."

"Actions speak louder than words Director. You're loyal to each other, above even the company." Ryo tilted her head to glance slightly in the direction of the nearly forgotten Tseng. What he was making of all this was a mystery, "You both will prove this in the future… but hopefully you won't have to. I want to protect the Turks from what is to come as much as Soldier."

Veld glanced over to Tseng. There was some silent communication going on in that short glance. Veld nodded faintly as he came to a decision.

"You will not leave the headquarters without an escort, and we will give you a tracking device that will serve to monitor your activity." His stare was intense and his tone threatening, "If I see even a hint of something out of line, you will be silenced. This is your only warning."

Ryo looked at him wide eyed, and then smiled brightly. "Yes Sir, thank you Sir. Once the war is over I will tell you everything I know." She pauses as the complication with Genesis came to mind. "If the 'event' looks like it's going south, I will come to you sooner. I hope we won't have to try and work damage control."

He still looked at her with odd skepticism but nodded regardless, "You will wait with Tseng for another of our men to bring the tracking equipment. I will speak with you again soon Miss Kesh."

Ryo stood at his dismissal and she turned to Tseng. They could have been talking about the weather for the past hour; the look of detached boredom gave Ryo no clue of his opinion on what had occurred. He escorted her out and Ryo stood beside him quietly. She could feel his eyes on her but neither of them spoke; it made the wait rather tense. A little while passed and a Turk with wavy red hair rounded the corner. Cissnei…or Shuriken…whatever. She was carrying a little box and looked at the two curiously as she came to a stop in front of them.

"Here's the equipment you asked for Sir," She handed it over and Tseng pulled out what looked like a slim but solid cuff. He gestured for Ryo's arm and she obliged. It locked around her wrist with a click.

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to try and remove this," Tseng commented blandly.

Ryo gave a sharp snort and chuckled, "I'm not Zack." She was surprised when that actually earned a slight twitch of a grin.

He turned to Cissnei, "Miss Kesh will be under surveillance until otherwise stated." Tseng nodded in Ryo's direction and the young redhead looked at her perplexed. I doubt it's everyday that their surveillance is uh…willing? Ryo nodded and smiled shyly at the younger Turk.

"I wish you well Miss Kesh," With a nod Tseng left the two alone in the hall.

Cissnei eyed her warily before reaching out for a handshake, "Names Cissnei, should I even ask what this is about?"

Ryo chuckled and accepted it, "Probably not, that up to them I guess, name's Ryo Kesh."

"I know… I'll escort you back to your dorm." Ryo nodded at that and followed her lead. She wasn't very talkative on the trip down, but Ryo wasn't much in the mood for small talk anyway. After a few minutes in the elevator the tension and adrenaline faded leaving Ryo completely exhausted. She was alive… and really, at this point, that's all she could ask for.


Veld sat silently as he stared at a photo he had pulled from his desk. He didn't respond at all when Tseng reentered his office. The raven haired Turk stood silently in front of his desk, awaiting the Directors acknowledgement.

"I have to look into this…" The Director spoke quietly, more to himself then the man before him. "I had my suspicions, but this…" Veld looked up at the Turk before him with a determined expression. "This is insane." Tseng said nothing as his superior spoke. Veld rubbed his brow as a worn look passed over him. Suddenly he looked and felt his age. He leaned back in his chair and watched the other carefully.

"What do you think?"

Tseng shifted and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm not really sure Sir. It's possible that she is merely unstable." Veld nodded softly and looked away in deep thought. "She was honest, of that I'm certain. There was no madness in her eyes…we will just have to wait and see."

Tseng nodded, accepting his superiors' conclusion.

"Will you need time to prepare for this trip, or should I ready a helicopter now?" Veld waved his metal hand dismissively, "I will need to make preparations. I'll leave soon though. It would be best not to put this off."

If she is right, then Vincent had been waiting far too long already… He tucked away the small photo of a much younger Veld standing beside a tall dark haired young man. A smile slightly tweaking at the corner of the man's stern face…