Chapter 9: WRO

Karina looked anxiously between Reeve and Vincent as they stood locked in what could only be described as a heated staring match. Tseng stood at her side, idly tapping his foot as he waited for whatever was passing between the older men to end. Finally Reeve shook his head, and gave a sigh before looking at Karina.

"So, you are aware of the details of this?"

"I am aware of what Director Tseng has told me." the girl crossed her arms, leaning against the commander's desk. "If there's more to it I'd rather know now."

"Well, considering what Vincent has told me, it seems you should be fairly informed, at least well enough to make a decision. Any other details you can't have until you're on our payroll, for obvious reasons."

"Don't want to repeat those leaks ShinRa used to have, right?" Vincent seemed to be copying his daughter, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "She's already familiar with the way ShinRa operated, and I think you of all people should realize I would have sent her on by now if she wasn't trustworthy."

"Yes, the "Valentine" beside her name makes that point fairly eloquently." Tseng seemed more approving than before. "Commander Reeve, under the current circumstances I think calling in the President to meet her and help us explain further wouldn't be a bad idea."

"I agree, but under those same circumstances I would still rather have an answer." he motioned to the girl's father. "So that Vincent can feel at ease once President ShinRa does arrive."

A confused look made the former director walk over to his desk, and he sat in his chair as Karina moved to stand with her caretaker. Reeve was quick to explain what he was trying to do, or stall, unsure about pulling in the child of a close friend when the mess the proposed army was supposed to fix was such a problem. He understood that she would be an asset, and that her skills would undoubtedly translate into the very thing Karina had shown concern over after Tseng's visit to the apartment. If she was so skilled, other higher ups in the WRO, and especially the ones in charge of the army, would call for Vincent to be brought in and train the troops as he had the girl - something Reeve was showing clear discomfort about.

"Not that I doubt your capabilities, but in a training situation like this anything can happen. I'd hate for any… let's say accidents to occur. Miss Karina I'm not concerned about as a target for anything other than quick promotion, but if you were to be called in to train the rest, and I'm sure that is a call that will be waiting in the wings almost from the moment she signs, she could become a target of many different things, and you as well, since you would undoubtedly attempt to protect her or her image. As your daughter, whether she is your blood child or not, I'm sure you're not the only one concerned about her."

She wasn't sure about the meaning hiding in the man's words, but they made her father's face darken considerably in both anger and concern. "Are you saying you don't think I could keep it under wraps?"

"I'm saying I don't think they would let you. I've seen what happens when you hit a breaking point Vincent. The main problem is long gone since the Omega incident, but the other three are still something I wouldn't want forcing their way out because of the idiots she'll be surrounded by."

"What are you two talking about? Who would force what?" all three mean were looking at the girl now, and she was clearly not happy about her obvious confusion.

"She doesn't know?"

"There hasn't been a reason to tell her." Vincent gave her a look she knew well, then looked at the two directors after her expression softened. "Call ShinRa."

With another look the man was leading her out of the office, and down the hall to an empty room that appeared to be for meetings. He pulled her in and secured the door.

"Dad?"

"Karina, as observative as you are I'm sure you've noticed that there are things that don't quite add up."

"About you? Oh yeah, from day one." his crimson gaze held a darkness to it she had never seen before, but for some reason she wasn't scared. "There's no way I could miss it."

He seemed to smirk for a split second before turning to really face her. "Karina, what I'm about to tell you is something very few people outside of AVALANCHE and the Turks know about me."

The girl took that as a cue to sit down at the table, and waited for him to do the same before prompting him to begin the story. He didn't hesitate, launching right in to tell her of his past with the Turks, and his assignment in Nibelheim. Though she was clearly shocked to hear about Sephiroth's origins and Hojo's experiments, it wasn't until he mentioned what the experiments on him had done that she took on any real expressions. With saucer eyes and a gaping mouth, the girl listened to his story of the first transformation, then how it had developed as he traveled with AVALANCHE to stop Sephiroth, and ending with the real events surrounding Deep Ground and their defeat.

Karina stood, turning on her heel to walk over to the window and look out over the barren landscape surrounding the WRO's headquarters. "Is that why you stayed alone for so long? Why Cloud seemed to always be stopping by, and the others giving you calls?"

"They didn't say anything directly, but I believe it's safe to assume so."

She didn't speak for a few moments, but her reflection on the window conveyed clearly the emotions running through her as he watched it. He was waiting for her to leave, and he was ready to let her walk out.

"Alright." so simple a word, but the way she said it made him tense up for some reason. As his daughter turned around to face him again, she had a hard look on her face. "Thank you."

"Karina?"

"Come on Dad, it's going to take a bit more than that to make me give up what I've got with you." her look softened into a smile."There's a helicopter a few miles out. We should probably go rejoin Commander Reeves and Director Tseng."