Chapter 2: Uncovering the Darkness
Rufus stood staring at the terminal in utter disbelief. How could this be possible? Punching the intercom:
"Reno, Rude, Get in here!" The two Turks had been lounging in their quarters but quickly jumped to do their employers bidding. Taking the set of stairs that joined their residence to the Presidential suite/office; they emerged into the room with, "Yes Boss?" Turning the terminal towards them Rufus asks. "Look at this! Tell me what you see? And what do you make of this?" The two looked at the terminal and then at each other in confusion but Rude calmly replies. "The obituary for your father!" Looking up at his two subordinates as if they where the daftest pair in the world, Rufus sighs with exasperation. "No, you idiots! The damn log-on access!" The two knew that Rufus was very agitated as he rarely resorted to insults. Now they knew exactly what their Boss wanted of them, they looked at the log-in code. Genesis_R_S1. Stunned they both replied in unison. "Shit! How? Who?" Running his hand through his hair in frustration Rufus replies. "I don't know!" Reno blurts out "Where was it accessed from?" looking up at the pair. Rufus takes a deep breath and replies. "Deep Ground!" The two just stood there quietly waiting for there orders.
"I want you both to go to SOLDIER headquarters and get Cloud. The three of you are to go and investigate the lab in question. Here is the Key Card you will need to be able to enter. And for God's sake, DON'T LOSE IT!" Rude takes the card and puts it into an inside pocket of his blazer. He then takes the envelope that Rufus hands to him with the official Shin-Ra stamp.
"Now go!"
"Yes, Boss!" And with that, the duo left to carry out their assignment.
On the elevator ride down to the lobby Reno states. "Sheesh, the Boss sure is on edge!' Looking at his partner Rude replies. "Ya!"
"I wonder why?"
"Something about this has got him spooked!"
"I wonder what?" Rude looks hard at his partner and best friend; They had been together for a long time. And as fond of him as he was, there were still times Rude wondered at how dense Reno could be. Shaking his head he simply states. "Dunno"
"Huh!" The two exit the Shin-Ra building and head over to the SOLDIER main office.
Cloud
Cloud was sitting in his office. He should have been going over the folders Reeve had just given him but he just stared at the materia in front of him.
He had gone to the now rebuilt Sector six park the other night. Now that ' the slums ' no longer existed; Cloud often came here when he felt the need to be alone to think. He had just left 'The Garden' in what had been sector 5; and even though it was late, Cloud still felt restless. So he had decided to walk off some of his energy. He had just stepped through the gate surrounding the playground when he hears a very deep authoritarian voice in his mind.
"I am still with you my friend!" Startled Cloud looks around but there was no one to be seen! He notices, by the fence, a red ball illuminated by the moonlight. A strange sense of De ja Vu comes over him as he kneels and picks it up. A warm feeling of recognition spreads through, Cloud. "Odin?"
"Yes, young Warrior! And I chose you!"
"But?"
"All will be explained in due course. For now, know that I am with you!" And with that Odin fell silent but Cloud could still feel the presence of this summon; familiar but different.
What this could mean? Cloud had no idea; but if the guardians of this planet were awakening, then there would be trouble not too far off! Sighing purely to himself, Cloud headed home to tell Tifa what had happened. They no longer kept secrets from each other, especially when lives could be in danger. And right now Cloud could 'feel' a storm threatening to crash over their heads.
A loud knock startled him out of his thoughts. Recognizing it as 'Rude'. He quickly picked up the materia and watched it merge into his right hand. Startled but with no time to contemplate this development he says "Enter!"
Reno, being the first to step into the room, acknowledges Cloud. "Hey, Cloud how's it been going?" He then proceeds to make himself comfortable in the only available chair. Cloud just stares at him, waiting. Rude steps forward with the envelope and hands it to Cloud. "Orders from the Boss! And a request for your assistance?"
Ever since the 'Remnant Battle" Rufus had only ever shown Cloud the utmost respect in his dealings with him. Even when he had privately discussed, with Cloud, his new vision for SOLDIER and his reasons why he wanted Cloud to be in charge.
Cloud knew Rufus wanted to put in 'safeguards' to protect the people from anything like Jenova, Sephiroth or Omega from ever happening again; And if it did; he (Rufus) wanted people like Cloud to be ready to protect them. Even though Cloud had wondered at this change of heart in Rufus, he was privately relieved at this.
This and the realization of what it truly meant, for Cloud, to be SOLDIER. It wasn't having the STRENGTH to protect the ones he loved! It was having the conviction and confidence in himself that the STRENGTH he had would be enough to protect them! That had been what made Cloud accept Rufus offer. It would also mean that Cloud could teach, train and pass on his knowledge to the next generation. Just as Angeal had for Zack; Zack for him and... And how Sephiroth had done for Emily!
Reading the letter, Cloud's eyes narrowed slightly but he says nothing else. Picking up his phone he calls home. "
"Hey Cloud, What's up?" Tifa answers.
"Tifa, I'm sorry but I'm going to be late. Something has come up and Rufus needs me to look into it. Don't hold supper. I'm not sure how long this will take."
"Oh Cloud? Can't you give it to someone else to do?"
"Sorry, Tifa. Not this time! No one else high enough security clearance but me."
"I see, Okay then. Just do me a favor and take care and come home safe! Okay?"
"I always do!" Smiling slightly, Clouds ends the conversation.
Reno smirks and somewhat mockingly states. "Little lady sure has you trained!" Cloud glares at him as he pushes Reno boots off his desk and Rude smacks him in the back "Ouch! Hey man, why did you do that for" Reno asks his partner? "Show respect!" Rude simply replies. As Cloud states.
"It's called consideration and yes respect! Something you could do with more of!" As Cloud turns his back to Reno, he smirks to himself.. Reno wasn't a bad person. Just insolent at the very wrong times.
Walking over to his weapons stand, Cloud picks up his sword and holsters it onto his back. Bowing to the door he states. "After you!" And the three-headed out of the building into the early night; and made their way to the entrance that leads to the 'Deep Ground' Facility.