Chapter 11: Trainer From Hell

As night fell and Rude and Reno returned to their room in good terms, a few of the other Turks were meeting in Alistair's office. "So, how've things been going with the kid?" the second in command asked the two sitting before him.

Tseng nodded. "He does indeed seem to be calming down ever since we placed him with your candidate," he told him. "He's even apologized for a few of his actions and created an interesting robot in the TK."

"That thing is a nuisance, and so is he," George grumbled. "We'd all be better off if we just dragged the info we wanted out of him through force. At least then we wouldn't have to deal with his idiocy."

"I do see your point on force being the easier route, but we do need him alive," Alistair pointed out. "If the Wutains are searching for him as well then we need him in one piece to find the reason."

"Speaking of which, Cissnei and I managed to track down the four Wutain's he described." George's face soured as he continued. "Unfortunately three escaped and the one we did manage to capture had a cyanide pill hidden on him."

"Took his own life, did he?" Alistair shook his head remorsefully. "I admire they're dedication, but I can't say I agree with their penchant for suicide. You did bring the body in for analysis, right?"

"Of course," George said as though it were obvious.

"Then we'll have the kid I.D. the body to confirm if he was attacked by them or not. In the meantime keep at it and see if you can find the others."

"Yes, sir."

When that matter of business was concluded Tseng decided to address a matter he'd been sitting on for days now. "Sir, if it isn't too much trouble, I was contemplating introducing the boy to Reeve Tuesti, since they both seem enjoy tinkering."

Alistair's eyebrows raised in piqued interest and he smiled. "I don't have any problem with it."

"I do," George exclaimed. "This kid is a criminal and you all are treating him like a guest. Giving him access to an area like the technological development who knows what havoc he'll wreak."

"I don't think he'll wreak any," Alistair stated easily. "Yes he does like to cause problems, but it seems that as far as technology goes, he's very careful with it."

"He seemed very open to the idea," Tseng pointed out. "I was able to make him promise to behave so he would have the opportunity."

"And has he?"

"Yes."

"No."

Alistair looked between the two and asked them to explain. "Just today he upset his babysitter and was chased through the halls until he instigated the distance gauge on the kid's earring."

"Wait, Rude actually chased him?" Alistair said with an amazed laugh. "I can't believe I missed that." He quickly became serious once more. "Alright, I'll ask Rude about it and see what he says. If he doesn't think we can trust him, then I won't go for it."

George seemed semi happy with this conclusion and asked to be excused. Once he was gone, Tseng sighed. "Sir, I honestly don't think…" he began.

"I know, Tseng," Alistair said with an understanding nod. "The kid may be a handful but I do think he has decent character. George may be a real tight ass, but that's only because he's committed to getting the job done as quickly as possible. Plus, I'm thinking he's starting to see the kid as a threat."

"If the Wutains want him, then he could very well be," Tseng acknowledged.

"Right, which is why I'm gonna give the kid some training, so he can defend himself if need be. Since you're our best shot there may come a point I'll have you show him the ropes with a gun, just as a heads up."

"You honestly want to train him?" Tseng asked. Alistair nodded and the younger Turk sighed. "Sir, I know you believe it will help in dealing with the Wutain threat. However, won't training him also make him more difficult to handle?"

"I've thought of that," Alistair acknowledged. "You're right, there is the chance he'll turn it around on us. However, I believe he won't at least until he learns the truth behind Shady Larry's death."

"I see...then I suppose I'll simply return to work and await the call," Tseng replied.

"Good man," he said with a nod. He got up from his chair and so did Tseng. Alistair approached Tseng, clapping a hand on the younger Turk's shoulder, and began steering him towards the door. "Now go have some down time with a bottle of scotch. I can tell you've been over working yourself again."

"I assure you, I'm doing quite well, sir," Tseng responded politely, moving himself out from under the large hand.

He didn't particularly enjoy the invasion of personal space he occasionally received from his superior. However, Alistair's candor towards his fellows was something he'd managed to come to terms with, and in some respects even admire, some time ago. The man just wasn't one for custom and formality when it came to collaboration.

For the longest time, those two things were all Tseng had ever known. Before he came to Shinra, that is.

"Just get some rest or I'll have you chained to your bed," Alistair told him as they reached the door. "And don't think for a second I won't follow up on that either."

"I wouldn't doubt for a second you would, sir."

"Get up."

It was early the next morning and for the first time since becoming roommates with the teen, Rude was forced to make him wake up. He spoke to him a couple times and shook his shoulder once or twice but he refused to budge. Then taking his superior's suggestion to heart, he situated himself at one end of the bed and flipped the mattress dumping the kid on the floor.

"Ouch! What the hell, man?" Reno demanded after landing full on the floor. "I only just managed to finally crash a few hours ago. You could have at least let me sleep for another hour or two."

"You have somewhere to go," Rude told him calmly. "Get dressed." Then just for good measure. "Karen's waiting."

At the sound of the strict looking female Turk, Reno's eyes shot up to Rude's covered ones. Seconds later he was on his feet fighting his way into his clothes before rushing his way into the bathroom to start brushing his teeth. He even attempted to slick his hair back, much to Rude's amusement, but it wouldn't do what he wanted and ended up looking more of a mess than when he started.

Once he was more or less satisfied with his appearance he strolled out of the bathroom, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright, let's get to it." Rude was more than tempted to roll his eyes at the teen, but this would just have been a waste of eye movement considering his sunglasses hid them. Rude led the way to the Department of Analysis where Karen was already there waiting for him.

"Good morning, Rude," she greeted properly with a nod. He silently answered with a nod in return. Karen then looked to Reno, who was standing a little behind Rude, a crooked smile on his face as he favored her with a small wave and a wink. Her lips tightening in a subtle grimace before she turned away from the pair. "If you would follow me, the body is in the evidence room."

"Wait… body?" Reno said curiously looking between her and Rude as he walked with them. "What body?"

"We managed to catch who we believe to be one of the four who attacked you," Karen answered tightly. "However, he killed himself before we were able to interrogate him. You are to ID his body, that's all."

"Honestly, I'd much rather inspect yours," Reno stated looking her up and down. It was clear from her pursed lips and clenched fists that she was trying very hard not to kick him where it really hurts.

"We're here," she stated after they walked in relative silence for awhile. Reno hadn't said much during the walk as he was enjoying his view far too much. "Make it fast," she ordered opening the door to the examination room.

Reno sighed, but went inside with Rude right behind him. The place wasn't very big and only really had a single table in the center of it with a covered body on top. There was the slightest scent of death in the air and it made his stomach churn.

Not wanting to let his reservations show, he went over to the body and pulled back the sheet, revealing the head and torso. It wasn't the first time he'd seen a corpse; death came often down in the slums, whether by hunger, poisoning, sickness, or getting stabbed for your clothes and wallet. It was the first time he actually examined one though. The eyes were closed and the lips parted slightly, as if the guy was sleeping, but the paleness of his skin and the lack of any sound or movement was absolute. Reno suppressed a shudder as he quickly examined the guy's features before covering him back up again.

"Yeah, he's definitely one of them," Reno muttered. "That's the guy whose arm I broke."

"Wutains are known to be highly trained warriors," Karen remarked dubiously. "So how, pray tell, did you manage such a feat?"

"I'd be happy to show you, in private," he said, getting his smirk back.

"Just explain," Rude muttered not wanting to see how Karen would punish him.

"Fine," Reno muttered putting his hands behind his head. "Honestly it was probably all luck. I doubt they really believed I could fight so they didn't have their guard up. This dude went and put his hand on my shoulder, so I grabbed it and shoved my hand into his elbow."

"And once you showed that, how were you able to fully escape?" Karen demanded sharply. "They wouldn't have gone easy on you then."

"No, they really didn't," Reno admitted reluctantly. "They actually had me pinned to the ground in almost no time. But luckily I got a hold of my lightning materia and let it rip. I think I managed to surprise them enough to where I could actually start running. No one can catch me once I start moving."

"Yes, you've made that quite clear," Karen said stiffly as she adjusted her glasses.

"Speaking of which, am I ever going to get those back?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He was more than a little perturbed they had taken those away from him considering they had both been given/passed onto him by two of the few people he'd ever come to respect in his whole life.

"Considering your current position, I wouldn't hold my breath," she replied. "Anyway, your business here is done. You both may go now."

"You sure you don't want me to stick around?" Reno asked her, all smiles. "I kind of enjoy the last beating you gave me."

"Rude…" Karen said in a low growl. Rude understood perfectly and began dragging Reno away by the collar.

"Hey, you can let me up now," Reno said after awhile. He couldn't even see Karen anymore so there was no point in Rude continuing to drag him away. "Seriously, I'm starting to lose the feeling in my legs." A few more feet of dragging and Rude finally let him up.

"Learn to keep your mouth shut," he stated calmly as he began walking off.

"Awe, but where's the fun in that?" Reno asked coming up to him. "I'd much rather just say whatever comes to mind."

Rude didn't reply but kept on walking and Reno obligingly followed. "So, is that all? Can I go back to sleep now?"

"No," Rude answered flatly. "Alistair said he wanted to see you."

"For what?"

"He didn't say."

"And of course you being the obedient golden boy didn't ask," Reno said with a roll of his eyes. "I wonder what new and fun ways he's planning on dicking me over today?"

Rude didn't admit it, but his thoughts were running along a similar line. Alistair seemed to have a rather twisted sense of humor. But the trainee Turk knew the man never did anything unless he found it absolutely crucial.

The two followed the hallway to a large door with the word "Stairs" painted across it. In front of the door stood Alistair. He smiled at the pair as they approached, increasing his sinister appearance.

"Glad you boys could make it," he greeted casually. "How'd the IDing process go?"

"Peachy," Reno grumbled. "Why'd you make me stare at a dead body?"

"I'm sure Karen explained all that so there's no reason for me to," Alistair answered with a shrug. "Anyway, my business right now is just with you kid, so Rude if you'd hand the device over."

Rude nodded and placed the small device into his superior's hand. "Thanks, now you probably have a lot of work to get done for that thing in a week. So go ahead, I'll return him to your room later." Rude nodded that he understood before turning and leaving.

"Alright, so let's get this over with," Reno said resignedly. "What are you having me do this time?"

"Well, kid, I've given this a lot of thought…"

"I'll bet that hurt."

Alistair smacked him over the head before continuing. "…and I've decided it would be best if you were properly trained in combat."

"You can't be serious," Reno muttered rubbing his head. "Don't you think training your captive to fight better is, oh I dunno, kind of fucking stupid?"

Alistair grinned. "Tseng thought the same thing, though of course he was more polite about it. Right now though, there are people after you who are very well trained in the art of combat. Worst case scenario, I want you to be able to hold your own if necessary."

Reno didn't buy it. They were keeping him under house arrest here specifically so that he wouldn't run into those bastards again. What's the point with the added training? "There's something else you're not telling me," Reno said shrewdly, crossing his arms over his chest. "What is it?"

"Look, kid, despite what you may think I don't enjoy keeping you locked up in here," the older man said seriously. "I'd rather you be able to go outside once in a while. But if and when that happens, I don't want me or my Turks to have to cover your ass and risk you getting captured."

"Wouldn't me being caught just mean that you wouldn't have to put up with me anymore?" Reno asked curiously.

"No, that'd be handing the enemy exactly what they want without knowing why it's wanted," Alistair answered calmly.

"Oh, I get it, then me leaving would simply be bait to drag them out," Reno answered. "Screw it, I'd rather stay in here than be used for something like that."

Alistair took a deep breath before grabbing a hold of Reno's collar and hauling him through the door onto the top landing to a very long staircase. "Alright, first things first. I want to see how good your stamina is," he stated once he let go. "You're going to run all the way down, and all the way back up these 60 flights of stairs."

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Reno exclaimed, glancing down the stairs. "Besides, won't that thing activate if I get too far from you?"

"I'm going to expand its range just enough so that you can make it down there. But if you're not back in 30 minutes I'll activate it, so don't think about wandering off anywhere." His lifted up his arm and pressed a button on his watch. "I'll keep track of your time, starting now." He pressed another button. When Rneo didn't move Alistair raised an eyebrow. "Get moving, kid. Unless you really don't think you can handle it."

Reno swore and muttered under his breath before turning towards the stairs and beginning his decent. He'd show that asshole what he could do. How hard could 60 flights be?

He raced down the steps taking them two at a time and in less than 10 minutes he was at the bottom. Taking a second to celebrate his good time, he turned and began climbing the stairs. He kept up his good pace for quite a few floors, but started to feel the immense difference when he reached the 30th floor. His muscles were beginning to tire, but he kept to his pace.

At floor 40 he began to slow just a bit but his stubbornness kept him pushing it. At floor 50 he was panting a bit as his muscles groaned at the strain. By the time he reached the top he was panting pretty hard and his legs shook a bit having never done anything quite like it.

"Nice job kid," Alistair congratulated. "You did better than I thought. You managed it all in 28 minutes."

"Ha...now what do you think of my speed?" Reno gloated trying to rub it in his face.

"Not bad...but you could still do better," he answered as he turned and started heading through the door. "It's onto the next thing, kid. Oh and the distance limit is activated again so don't fall behind."

The red head scowled a little but followed, his legs still a bit shaky from the strain they just endured. The next place Alistair led him to was some sort of weight training room. All around were several different machines to work out different parts of the body. Along the walls were weights, dumb bells, and stretching bands. There were also some balls and folded mats.

"Strength training, huh?" Reno guessed, not all that enthused.

"That's right. Now that you've put on some healthy weight, you can turn some of that into muscle and strengthen you up a bit," the Turk explained. "You may be fast, but your blows lack intensity. My grandmother could hit harder than you."

"Is she built like a tank too?" Reno asked. "Because that would actually be believable."

"Get over here smart ass," Alistair said, standing next to a bench with a metal bar suspended over it. "I wanna see how much you can bench."

The red head reluctantly went over and settled himself down on the bench. In the past, he'd occasionally visit the gym in Sector 6 Wall Market. It'd never really did anything for him though, he much preferred aerobic exercise to mundane weight lifting.

Alistair went over to the wall where the weights sat. "How much you think you can handle?"

"At least a hundred I think," Reno answered scratching his head. "I never really bothered with this shit before. I liked the cardio better."

"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what your limit is," Alistair stated as he popped an even amount of weights on both sides of the bar. "Alright, that's one hundred pounds. I want you to do three sets of ten of these and we'll see how well you do."

Reno grumbled something about the whole thing being stupid, as he sat down on the bench and slipped underneath the bar. "Just so we're clear, you are gonna be spottin' me right? I'd rather not have this thing crush me."

"Don't worry kid, we have a big enough need for you at the moment where letting you die would be a bad idea," Alistair told him trying to be reassuring.

"Thanks," Reno muttered. He reached up and put both hands onto the bar and pushed. The amount of weight on the bar wasn't too much so he was easily able to bring it down and move it back up for the first set without any issues.

"Alright, hold up there. It looks like that was too easy for you," Alistair suddenly ordered and Reno replaced the bar.

"Okay, and what's the problem with that?"

"You're not going to grow at all if you go the easy route." As he spoke, the large Turk added an extra ten pounds to each side. "Now do your next set."

By the time Reno was finished his arms were a little shaky but not too bad. The next thing Alistair did was see how many sit ups he could do. He managed about 167 before he had to stop for fear his gut would split open. Next was push-ups, which Reno started off at a good pace. He got to about 20 when he felt something being rested on his back and suddenly pushing up became more difficult.

He glared up at Alistair. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Just giving you a bit of an extra challenge," he told him. "Keep going."

Reno cursed but he did keep going, not want to break stride or give up so early. After another 20 he felt more added weight, and then again at the sixty mark.

Around 80 his arms were becoming very shaky and he was getting to the point where he had to pause between each push up to catch his breath and give his arms a small reprieve. He never made it to 100. His arms gave out at 91.

"Not bad for your first work out," Alistair congratulated, taking the weights off his back. "I think we can call it quits for today. We'll be doing this again same time tomorrow."

"Great," Reno muttered sarcastically, sitting up and rubbing his aching muscles. He was feeling sore all over and he didn't doubt it'd feel worse the next morning.

"Oh, one other thing…" The older man strode over to one of the supply closets and grabbed a few items before tossing them to Reno. "From now on you'll wear those, save for when you're showering or sleeping."

"Weights? I'm not wearing these," Reno declared dropping them to the ground.

"Yes you are," Alistair replied crossing his arms and smirking. "Unless you'd rather be judged as not behaving and are denied your visit with Reeve."

"You're a real ass," Reno grumbled, but he did slip the weights onto his ankles and wrists. "What's the point in wearing these anyway? They're just making it harder to mo... That's it isn't it?! You're just trying to make it even harder for me to do anything around here."

"Looks like you caught me kid," the older man laughed looking him over. "But whether you choose to go along with this or not keep this in mind. If I catch you roaming around without them on, you will be penalized."

The red head scowled at him, but said nothing. Instead he just looked forward to the day if Alistair decided to keep his promise about taking him out drinking. Reno swore when that day came, he was gonna drink this guy into bankruptcy.

It was late at night, and the streets of Shinra were practically dead. In a phone booth, a surreptitious call was once more being made.

"I certainly hope you have good news for me," the smooth, cold voice said over the phone. "I lost a fine warrior for your sake."

"I deeply apologize for that, my liege," the person on the phone murmured. "Tohru's death was regrettable but necessary."

"Do not tell me what is necessary," the voice warned dangerously.

"Of course, I apologize," the person murmured. "Things are becoming more difficult with the boy though. They are giving him more leeway than normal. The second in command has even taken to training him on his off time. If it continues it'll be even more difficult to apprehend him."

"Then I suggest you put an end to it and get him in a position where we can have access to him before that occurs," the cold voice replied.

"I think I may have exactly what you're looking for," the person chuckled lightly. "Tomorrow night he'll be leaving the building for the first time since arriving. The second in command is taking his candidate and the boy out for drinks. They'll be completely drunk and their guard should be dropped."

"Is that so?" There was a long, pensive pause before the voice spoke again. "Very well, I shall have a few more of my troops go to the city. When you discover the exact time, let them know so they may be prepared."

"Of course, sir."

"By the way, what is your progress on that other project?"

"It's still not finished yet, sir," was the reluctant reply. "This sort of development involves a great deal of trial and error, and I do not have the necessary access to certain materials. But I'm positive I will get it right. I just need more time."

"See to it that you do. I grow tired of this war, and I desire to see its end."

CM: Looks like things are stirring up in the shadows, and Reno's having not so much fun. But no worries, we see better and brighter things in his future. :D Stay tuned and please review!