"She was there!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! She was with the scientist! Fuhito!"
Tseng was pacing on his office. Veld and Judet had progressed rapidly. After some more joint sessions of hypnosis, experimental drugs and –despite his doubts- tequila shots, she had finally filled all the gaps on her memory.
"And she willingly went with AVALANCHE?"
"Again. Yes, sir. She went on her own accord. I tried to make chief Veld come with me to regroup with Ruluf and Rufus, but he wouldn't come. Even after the scientist and the girl set that guy Shears and a bunch of his minions upon us."
Tseng looked out of the window for a moment in deep contemplation. Finally, he turned to Judet and announced:
"Say nothing to your partners for the moment. We have to pay Rufus a visit."
"Understood." Judet stood up and left the office.
Tseng turned yet again to his window and observed the city. Only now was he beginning to fathom how big of a shock the Corel event had been for Veld. So big in fact, that his very mind had snapped. Granted, the ensuing explosion, trauma and mako exposure had helped, but nevertheless, it had resulted in Tseng's prompt promotion to head of the Turks by none other than Rufus Shinra. It was all too obvious why he had done so once Ruluf was out of the IC unit. The first thing that his agent had told him was still etched in his memory: "Rufus's funding AVALANCHE. Has been doin' so fo' months now."
Not wanting to risk accusing without definitive proof, Tseng had shipped Ruluf to Junon to keep a close watch on the Vice-President. Gathering the evidence took an astounding three days. Rufus was being incredibly sloppy with his communications. Tseng had seen some new agents being careless with sensitive information, but Rufus was on a whole new level of amateurism -which begged the question of how this shenanigan had gone for that long under Veld. Worst of all, he was already losing control over the terrorist group he had helped create.
Before Tseng even assisted to his third committee meeting, he had requested an audience with the president and informed him of his son's hobbies.
To his surprise, the Vice-President was only ordered to stay in Junon for an indefinite amount of time, save for "special occasions" such as special galas, parades, PR stunts, vacations and whatever he came up with for inter-department materia contests, the latter to "promote inter-department cooperation". In short: a very, very lax house arrest.
That travesty of punishment even had taken a toll on the remaining agents: one had to be permanently assigned to supervise Rufus under the guise of "security". Just like that, one of the best agents ended up babysitting that brat. Veld would have never allowed something like that.
Tseng wondered, as he did every day, what would sane Veld do?
His mentor had worked hard to shape Tseng into a worthy successor, and he had taken in everything the boss could teach him. From information gathering to management, Tseng had done his best to live up to the expectations. Still, he couldn't help but notice how quickly things had gone downhill on his hands. To this day he wondered if he really was up to the task, or worse, if Veld had chosen right to begin with.
A loud bang could be heard in his subordinate's side of the office. Tseng remained unmoving, his face to the window.
"Rude! Again!?" Freyra yelled, and then began coughing.
The beeping of a fire alarm began, followed by sprinklers dousing everyone and their possessions.
"Ahg! Come on, yo!"
"The reports! The reports!" Dante yelled.
"Toss them under your desk!" Elena answered.
"NO! MY CAMERA!"
"Dude what t'hell! M'hair!"
"Maybe the ones Veld did not choose properly were all the other agents", Tseng wondered, water dripping over his face. He sighted and walked through the frosted glass door. "All right, what did you do now!?"
"So… Why am I always the little spoon?" Dante asked.
"Well. You are smaller," Erick said from behind his partner.
"Pfft. Not by much."
"Eleven centimeters."
"No way! It can't be more than 5!"
"Maybe when we met. Mako gives you a bit of a growth spurt, you know?" Erick chuckled.
"Not fair," Dante groaned.
"Besides, how can I be the small spoon when I have these!" Erick boasted as he flexed his muscular arm.
"Ok, I get it! All I'm saying is I'd like to try holding you for a change!"
"Alright, alright. One of these days."
Dante untangled himself and stepped out of the bed to brush his teeth.
"So, how did it go with the flooding?" Erick asked from the bed.
"It was not a flooding. Just… Indoor rain. Rude's failed bomb did more damage."
"Your office sounds way funnier that the SOLDIER floor."
"You say that because you have never dealt with angry Tseng. He revoked Rude's desk privileges."
"Desk privileges? Is that a thing?"
"It is now," Dante exited the bathroom and began pulling his uniform from the closet.
"So. How long will you be gone?" Erick asked from the bathroom.
"Two or three days. I'm not completely filled on all details."
"Darn. I hope you return on Sunday. Otherwise I won't be able to see you."
"Why not?"
"I have training exercises near the Crater. We'll be gone two weeks."
"That sucks." Ever since Erick had been promoted to 2nd Class, more frequent and longer-lasting missions had been reducing their time together. The night before had been the first they had spent together since the Mako infusions weeks ago. Additionally, since the Kalm fight club incident, Tseng had begun to push everyone to their limits. Even Dante, up to that point rarely sent out of the building, was regularly being sent to missions within Midgar. Although Dante was glad Tseng was trusting him with more that their coffee, it was still a bummer to lose the little time he already spent with Erick. After fixing the rest of their gear, Erick and Dante said their good-byes and left.
One hour later, Reno, Tseng, Ruluf, Emma, Judet and Dante were on a helicopter flying West.
"So… What dangerous mission requires five Turks and the chief himself?" Emma asked to nobody in particular through the helicopter's intercom.
"The usual. A short interrogation in Junon," Tseng answered dismissively.
"That is far from usual."
"Emma's right, chief. How do you expect us to do our jobs if we don't know why we are going, yo?"
"You will be filled eventually."
"That's what she said" Ruluf said.
"Ruluf! Fine! Since they are so eager, Judet will fill you all!" Tseng said.
"I dun' wanna be filled!" Ruluf said in a meek voice, "I'm saving myself fo'someone special!"
"So then… That time at the Honeybee Inn…" Reno began.
"I don't wanna know!" Judet yelled over the discussion.
"I do!" Emma said.
"Rufus is funding AVALANCHE!" Tseng yelled over the intercom.
Reno, Emma and Dante gasped.
"And they have brainwashed Felicia!" Tseng yelled again.
A second, louder gasp ensued.
"Wait… Who is Felicia?" Emma asked.
"Veld's supposedly dead daughter!" Tseng finished. The intercom served no purpose at that point.
A third, longer and louder gasp followed.
With the information from Ruluf, Tseng and Judet, the other three Turks managed to piece together a reasonable account of the facts.
"So let me get this straight. Rufus is funding a terrorist organization that opposes the family business... And this went on for months without anyone noticing!?" Emma asked.
"And they are somehow controlling a woman that you think it's Veld's daughter?" Dante asked.
"I don't think so. Veld knows so," Judet said.
"Chief Veld? Pfft!" Reno retorted from the pilot seat.
"We used state-of-the-art hypnotherapy to make sure the information was properly extracted from his broken mind," Judet said.
"Don't ya forget the tequila," Ruluf said.
"Yes, that too," Tseng conceded.
"It was m'idea," Ruluf said to Dante with a proud smile.
"So, if we know all of this. Why are we going halfway across the world to find Rufus?" Dante asked.
"He was not completely honest last time we talked. He did not deny the funding, but never mentioned the girl. This time, I'll make sure we extract ALL the information." Tseng said.
"We hope that seeing his daughter again, will help Veld return to normal," Judet concluded.
"Woa! Veld? Return!?" Emma exclaimed.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, yo."
"What do you mean by that?" Tseng asked.
"I mean… Do we really want to be under Veld again?" Emma asked.
"Why wouldn't we?" Judet retorted.
"I mean… It was just… So… Stressful, yo."
"Ya… Come ta think of it… Chief Tseng's way cooler."
"I'm going to stop you right there!" Tseng began.
"You can't deny that morale has never been higher," Emma interrupted.
"See chief! This is the problem!" Judet exclaimed. "They. Don't. Respect. You!" Every word was synchronized with her fist smashing the palm of her other hand.
"If ya are so annoyed with it, why don't ya say nothin' then?"
"'Say something'" Dante said.
"Whut?" Ruluf asked with a puzzled face.
"It's a double negative, so it would mean that-I'm going to shut up now…" Dante shrunk in his seat after Judet's trademarked bitch-slapping gaze fixed on the rookie.
"And that too!" Judet exclaimed. "Why are Elena and Dante Turks!? She was a barmaid and he was… I frankly have no idea what he was before, but the thing is-"
"No, not everyone is a former mercenary, assassin or gang member, Judet! As long as everyone fulfills their duty and follows their orders I could not care less about their background. And Veld didn't care, either." Tseng snapped. "This is why I need you, of all people, if not to trust me, to do as I command without questioning!"
"Sir." She said with a voice that had a bit of a razor's edge.
The rest of the trip was done in the heaviest of silences. Upon landing, the Turks began climbing through a series of elevators to the higher parts of the military base.
"Wha-stop it! What are you doing?" Dante began swatting at Reno and Ruluf's hands, who were holding folders above his head.
"Just protecting you from the sun, yo."
"We dun' want ya fainting ha'fway thru the mission!"
"Agh! Quit it already!"
"Fainting? My Turk senses tell me I am missing important info here," Emma said.
"It all began during Dante's blotched attempt at enlisting SOLDIER…" Reno began.
The walk to the highest level of Junon and into the gated security houses. After everyone but Tseng turned in their weapons and materia, the Turks walked through elegant houses and finally, arrived at the Shinra's house.
Not bothering with the doorbell, Tseng knocked at the door and waited. Finally, young man wearing glasses and a Turk suit opened the door.
"Ch-chief Tseng!"
"I know my name, Balto." Tseng entered, not short of pushing the other man aside.
"Yo, long time no see," Ruluf said as he entered with the rest of the agents.
"Hello twerp. I see you still carry that sex-toy-to-be around," Judet sneered as she passed him. Balto made a pained noise and instinctively reached for the sheathed katana on his back.
"How can I help you, Sir?" Balto asked.
"Just passing by. Where is Rufus?" Tseng asked somberly.
"Uhm. Chief… Rufus is not here."
"What!?"
"He departed to Costa del Sol earlier this morning."
"With who's authorization!? Emma! Leave that alone!" Tseng exploded. The blonde stopped short of petting something that looked like an overly large black cat sleeping on a coach.
"Heidegger needed him there for some public event. I received the letter from President Shinra!"
"And why are you not with him!?" Judet exclaimed, "you are his bodyguard!"
"Y-you ordered me to stay here, chief!" He said, pulling his PHS. "An infantrymen unit came to escort him-ohgoodGaiaNO!" Balto yelled, realizing that he had been hoodwinked.
"For Gaia's-!" Tseng sighted. "We are going to Costa del Sol. NOW. Reno, order to have the helicopter ready. And you are coming with us Balto!"
"Well, this was a short visit. I think-Oh shit-shit-shit! Let go of me!" Emma yelled as the Dark Nation mauled her hand.
"I'm boooored!" Elena said as she turned again in her chair.
"Why don't you fill another crossword puzzle?" Rude answered without raising his eyes from the magazine he was reading.
"I finished them all already!" The blonde sighted, "being in charge is a drag…" Elena turned her gaze down to her partner: he was sitting on the carpet, his legs crossed under the cardboard box that now served as his desk.
"Wanna throw darts?"
"Not really."
"Wanna set something loose on the labs?"
"No."
"Wanna go visit Cissnei?"
"Freyra is already taking care of her."
"She may need help."
"I think the flu is not that much of a burden."
"Well, being in charge is! Freyra is supposed to be doing… Whatever this is, but noooo! Cissnei had to get sick and Freyra just had to leave me here! Worst part is: this is your fault!"
"How is this my fault?" Rude averted his gaze from the magazine.
"If you hadn't used that bomb in here, the sprinklers woudn't have gone off, Cissnei would not be sick, Freyra would be here, and I would be at the magazine stand buying a new crossword puzzle!"
"Can't argue with that logic," Rude answered as he passed the page.
"I just want something to do!"
As if on cue, the office phone rang. Elena practically jumped over her desk to pick up the receiver.
"Department of Administrative Research, deputy chief Elena speaking… Yes… Yes! We are the Turks… No, chief Tseng left… Aha… Uh-hum… Don't they have cameras there?... Aha… All right, I'll have my best agents on the case! I'll report back to you!" Elena hanged the phone.
"Who was it?"
"Some guy saying that there is a vandal keying cars at the parking garage. The president's limousine was damaged and they want us taking care of him."
"I think that is a matter of the Security Department."
"No, no. They want us taking care of him," Elena said with raised eyebrows.
"A bit steep, don't you think?" Rude said as he stretched his body out of the uncomfortable position he had been in.
"Isn't it obvious? The guy is involved with someone big outside. Maybe even with someone inside, too! How is he bypassing security? Is he scouting for a terror attack?"
"I think you are overthinking this."
"Maybe. But just in case, let's capture our guy and get the truth out of him. By force, preferably."
Rude sighted. "All right chief. I hope that by the end of this I don't lose this desk too."
"By the end of this Tseng will be so impressed that he'll give you at least one that is waterproof!" Elena said as she pulled one of Freyra's shotguns from under her desk. Before leaving, she also took some materia, just to be on the safe side.
Unsurprisingly, Tseng's mood did not improve while rushing Emma all the way down through Junon to the military hospital; while waiting for the doctors to finish healing her; while waiting for the infantrymen to refuel the helicopter nor when they had to wait for hours as bad weather kept them from taking off. They took turns to harass the control tower operator as to be the first to leave when possible.
Some hours into it, Dante and some of his partners took a turn to eat something. It was at the mess hall that the rookie finally decided to ask: "Is she always like that?"
"Uh? Who?" Reno asked through a mouthful of sandwich.
"Judet."
"Ohh her… Well…" Ruluf started.
Dante was well aware that he was not as experienced or capable as all the other Turks, and that he had to develop some "black moral area", as Cissnei put it. But Judet's attitude towards him were in stark contrast to everyone else's.
"She is... Tough," Emma started.
"She used to be a mercenary. Had a number of men at her command, yo."
"So that justifies her being…"
"Bitchy…?" Emma said, noisily slurping her soda through the straw.
"Not the word I had in mind…"
"She just needs ta see things t'way Tseng did when hirin' ya."
"Most of us were brought in by Veld when he was…" Reno said.
"Not crazy?" slurt slurp.
"Incapacitated, yo!"
"T'thing is, she has tro'ble seein' us as nuthin' but co-workers."
"And until she sees you as capable as the rest, she will treat you…"
"Like her bitch." Sluuuuuurrrppp.
"Like-! Yeah… Pretty much," Reno conceded.
"So don' take't personal kid. It's a matter of time." Ruluf said.
"Either she comes to respect you or you challenge her to a fistfight!" Emma said.
"What!?"
"Yeah! That's the way Balto did it, yo! Well. Tried to…"
"That's how he got that savage-lookin' scar. He tried ta fight dirty, pulled his weapon on her, she disarmed him an' then slash!"
"Ehem… Guys…" Dante said
"Yeah, he was crying like a little girl when Veld dragged him out of the ring, yo."
"Guys…" Emma whispered.
"Remember what was she yelling, yo?"
"Try me again and they' be pullin' that sword out'af your-"
Balto's katana cut into the table right between the two men, his face a vivid red. Whether it was anger or embarrassment, was anyone's guess.
"We can fly in ten, Reno. Tseng is waiting." Balto sheathed his sword and walked away.
"Well… That was scary," slurp.
"Set course for Eagrose," Tseng said from the co-pilot's seat.
"The castle from that videogame?" Dante asked, prompting curious looks from his partners.
"From a videogame? Hmm. Go figure… Rufus named it. It is the Shinra's private villa in Costa del Sol." Judet said stoically.
After some more hours of travel, they finally arrived at Costa del Sol. They flew past the city and southward, until they reached the elegant houses of the rich and famous.
"What the…" Tseng said, leaning towards the windshield.
"Ohhh man! This mission is going to be awesome, yo!"
"What? What is it?" Emma asked.
"Oh boy. This does not look good…" Judet said.
"Sweet!" Ruluf exclaimed.
"I-I mean… Th-there is a chance Heidegger is there… Right?" Balto said in a meek voice.
Tseng sighted.
Dante peeked through the window and saw that the house they were about to land on was lit with strobes, lasers, searchlights and all sorts of colored illumination. Deafening electronic music blasted through the air and smoke machines filled with thick smog every room visible through the windows. As they walked to the house from the helipad (through lavishly kept gardens and tennis courts), the Turks finally accepted that definitely, this party was not a Shinra event. Beautiful girls in bikinis and shirtless muscular young men tossed in the pool and danced around it to the beat of the music, red cups and beer bottles cluttered every inch of the place and go-go dancers performed in elevated platforms above the crowd and next to the DJ.
"Ya can't deny that lil' Rufus can throw a party!" Ruluf yelled to Tseng.
"What?" Tseng yelled back through the music.
"That the cat ate the bonsai that was bought by Marty!" Emma misinterpreted back. Tseng looked back at the blonde with a puzzled face.
The chief pulled his PHS and composed a message. Seconds later, all of the agents received a copy in theirs:
Search villa for Rufus, be discreet. Report back when found. Re-Ru-Em-1F Da-Ba-2F Ju-I-grounds
The Turks nodded and split up to begin their search.
Tseng failed to notice that the first floor team were already holding half-empty red cups.
Ahh… Reno without supervision… The typical recipe for disaster!
And speaking of unsupervised, how will Elena handle being in charge?
And new Turk! Balto (Katana-Male) is supposedly one of the oldest members… I wonder how did Rufus outsmarted him.
Sorry to have been so long without an update, life has a way of throwing stuff at you when you least expect it!
Also, I've officially been writing this story for over a year! So, to those that leave a comment, PM me and to all those that only read this, thank you for your support!
Remember to leave your comments, suggestions and feedback!
See ya later!