The very same Turks arrived back in Rufus' office some time later, both in a state of confusion and irritation – and in Reno's case, a bit of panic.
It turned out that not only had Cloud and Rena disappeared, Tifa, Red XIII and all the other AVALANCHE members had gone too.
'Sir!' They saluted again on entering the threshold of the office. Rufus once more waved his hand, this time eagerly, as he awaited news.
'Tseng, what is your report?' asked Rufus.
'I went to Cosmo Canyon to find out the whereabouts of Rena Strife and was informed by the leader of the town that she had returned sometime earlier in the day but had departed again with the AVALANCHE member Red XIII, also known as Nanaki, who is the town's protector.
'Elena reported back to me that Tifa Lockhart was also not in residence in her home, and that the orphan she looks after, Denzel, was in care of the deceased Aeris Gainsborough's adoptive mother, Elmyra Gainsborough. When questioned, the woman confirmed Tifa's absence, but claimed she did not know the whereabouts.
'Under the influence of a Manipulate materia, this claim was identified as truth. Elena and myself proceeded to track down the remaining AVALANCHE members, only to find that each had disappeared. Former Head of Urban Development Reeve Tuesti, also identified as controller of the AVALANCHE puppet Cait Sith, now founder of the World Regenesis Organization project was also tracked, but had disappeared as well.'
Rufus frowned. He then shifted his gaze to Reno. 'And your report?' he inquired, noticeably less eager.
'Rude and I searched the larger part of Edge and Midgar, all the way to the outskirts, amongst towns Kalm, Gongaga, Chocobo Farm and Mythril Mines to no conclusion. We do, however, know of another place, on the coastal edge of Midgar. It's somewhat like an underground cave, but it would be the perfect place to hide a spacecraft. It's a longshot, but it's the best we can do.'
The President of Shinra nodded. 'Search that cave will all due haste, Reno. Tseng, you stay here. You are dismissed,' he ordered, looking back to his paperwork. The two men left the office and went their separate ways.
As Reno walked downstairs, he pondered the situation. All the AVALANCHE members were gone? That means that they went after Cloud and Rena – but that didn't necessarily mean the pair were in trouble? Perhaps they had escaped and called together AVALANCHE? It was so confusing… and there was so much guesswork.
Reno sighed. He still couldn't really believe that Rena was SOLDIER… he winced when he realized that she had had to be put through all the experiments and tests that Hojo had given to each SOLDIER… and that she had had to endure the pain of Jenova's cells when called for Reunion or whatever it was that had happened in the Northern Crater.
He shuddered. He would much rather have painful hands for the rest of his life than go through those procedures. On exiting the building he called Rude, who was waiting at the site of the cave. 'We got permission. I'll be there soon,' he spoke into it.