Hello everyone^^ Sorry this chapter comes so late, I had computer trouble (and waited a bit longer to see if more reviews would come in XDD You spoiled us ;))

Anyways, many thanks to our lovely friend psychosteph for the wonderful betaing and enjoy!

Chapter 25

Tseng rounded the corner of the doorway, noting how Rude's steady hand dropped fractionally. So it was Reno. Tseng's gun was trained and level.

"Anyone else in here Reno?" he asked, his tone masked by the practice of too many years. A tinge of jealousy shot through his stomach when he eyed Yazoo. But it was his job to bring him back to Rufus...despite what that may mean for him. His eyes quickly surveyed the small room, knowing even before Reno told him that there was no one else around.

"No one else´s here," Reno replied tightly, drawing an arm protectively around Yazoo who had come closer. "You can drop the guns, yo." His eyes were cold as they watched his former superior. Damn it! Didn't they said that there was more than enough time to get out of here before Shinra´s army would arrive?

Gritting his teeth, eyes narrowed, Reno finally asked, even though he already knew the answer "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Tseng repeated; he hadn't dropped his gun. "That's an awfully bold statement coming from someone in your position Reno. Almost enough to make me think that you haven't been held here against your will. Did you want to try that again?"

"Not really, no. We were captured without being asked, but after spending some time here we came to realize a few things." Reno thought that it wasn´t really his place to tell those things since this was about Yazoo, not him. But the young man was still quiet. Squeezing Yazoo´s side gently, Reno looked down at him, saying encouragingly, "Tell them, sweetheart."

Tseng frowned. This was dangerous. He'd warned Reno before...he didn't want to have to deal with him for Rufus.

Yazoo stepped out from behind Reno, and Tseng noticed a change in him. A look in his eyes that told him more than he needed to know about what had gone on down here. He held up a hand, stopping any explanations that Yazoo may give.

"You can choose to come back to the surface with us, or you can choose to defy President Shinra's wishes for you to be safely returned. Either way," Tseng intoned meaningfully, "You're coming back to the surface with us."

Reno might have thrown a fit now, screaming that they had absolutely no right, and that it was not legal or fair, but he knew the unit far too long. This wasn´t about being legal or whatever; this was about what Rufus fucking Shinra wanted and the man always got what he desired. Even if it meant that people had to get hurt or killed.

"We will go with you," he therefore said, lowly. "Under one condition." They weren´t in any position to ask for anything, but he hoped that Tseng wanted to avoid trouble and get this over with sooner rather than later. "You will not harm any of the people down here."

"It's not in my objective at the moment to deal with the people who abducted you." As much as he seemed a ruthless killing machine, Tseng did have a conscience, and he'd really rather find out about the organization (as they were, clearly organized. This had not been the work of radical amateurs) before dealing with them one way or another. "So if you will come with me, then we'll go now." He paused, finally dropping his gun, "And no one down here will be hurt."

Reno´s eyes narrowed, throwing Tseng a taxing look. He didn´t think that the man was lying, but still... Looking back at Yazoo, who simply nodded, Reno replied "Let´s go then." He still held Yazoo close, not daring to let go, to let him slip from his grip now that he had him.

Rude followed,emotionless, flanking them from behind and throwing just one look back into the long, dark tunnel.

Someone else would take care of the rest of Avalanche eventually.

The access tunnel route was long and winding. It was never meant to be a direct route to the habitat, as it had merely been a boiler hall for a long forgotten factory of some sort. Clearly, Tseng had studied the underground labyrinth well enough as he led them steadily upwards and closer to the city. It became louder, more automated machinery lined the passageways, and an access route to the water reclamation and filtering plant promised a ride up to the surface plant, and then they would be back on their way to the tower plaza. Yazoo was silent the entire time, his hand gripping Reno's, squeezing firmer every once and a while, almost as if he were reassuring the redhead that everything would be alright.

Eventually they made it to their Egg, the bright light from above blinding them. They had gotten used to it, to the constant darkness below. They were escorted into the black vehicle with the Shinra logo, giving them permission to use the air space whatever way they liked. Shinra had privileges wherever he went. They sat down in one corner, Reno pulling Yazoo closer and stroking over his back, probably to comfort him, even though he might be in a greater danger himself. Rufus most likely would get rid of him.

The hovering object went up into the air and straight to Rufus' apartment.

Even though Yazoo was silent, he was watchful. Tseng's small team, he, Rude and Elena (who'd been the rear guard through the tunnels) were just as quiet, and stony-faced. Yazoo caught Tseng's eye though, once in the air between the ground and Rufus' suite. It was a strange expression-one he was sure Tseng did not mean to show him. Yazoo knew that look though, but didn't know why Tseng of all people should be apprehensive of him returning to Shinra. He squeezed Reno's hand subtly-knew that Tseng caught it, and for some reason thought he saw the Wutanese guard smile. Just a little. Then the Egg docked by the balcony.

Tseng stood. "Elena and Rude, go to the conference room, the Chairman robot has arrived I've heard. I'd like you two to oversee its security-while in the final stages, to see if we can recover the real one. Reno...Yazoo. You can both follow me please." It was hardly a request. He stepped out onto the balcony, waiting for them.

Reno watched the other two vanish to do as they were told and briefly contemplated if he´d be able to overwhelm Tseng, now that the man was only by himself. But Reno had no weapon. Had he been alone he might have tried, but with Yazoo in the line of fire it was not worth the risk of getting him hurt.

They stepped onto the balcony and followed Tseng to the living room of the suit that seemed so unreal in its decadence now that they had lived underground for so long. The moment they entered Rufus came towards them, clearly agitated under his mask of perfect lack of emotion. He was just as unreal and tidy as his apartment, his whole life, Reno thought. The redhead could almost hear the plastic wrapping having been removed from his boss just a minute ago, that shiny, new and impeccable he looked.

"You found them," Rufus observed, coming to stand before the two. His eyes very briefly flickered over their ruined, dirty clothes, causing Rufus´nose to wrinkle marginally, and their intertwined hands, but nothing on his smooth face betrayed any emotion. Or maybe Reno had just forgotten how to read it, due to the fact that he´d been in contact with real humans.

"Report," the blond ordered into Tseng´s direction without taking his eyes from his doll and the redhead.

"They came willingly. No sign of their abductors. It appears they may have left when they heard that we were looking for them." Tseng shot Reno a glance-it seemed to say 'let's leave it at that'. "It may have simply been a test Sir, to see what the underground network could get away with. They seem to be unhurt, though we have not completed medical diagnostics yet." He paused. "I'm sure you probably have questions for them though. Would you like me to complete a full report after, Sir?"

"Certainly," Rufus retorted, still coolly eying his returned good. "I want a full report from you as well Reno. Get a shower, you stink. I will take care of my doll myself now."

The redhead almost growled, but the warning look from Tseng made him grit his teeth and bow slightly "Yes sir." Yazoo would have to do this on his own; there was really nothing Reno could do anyway. If someone was to change Shinra´s mind it certainly wasn´t the redhead. But Yazoo just had a way of getting to people... If all failed they would have to flee again, or die trying. But that was better than being forced back into that life of serving and functioning, wasn´t it? They´d been dead before already.

Yazoo turned his head, watching Reno go. The redhead shot him a last look over his shoulder, and he smiled reassuringly. He focused back on Rufus. Tseng was still nearby, but he faded into the background of the room-just like a good bodyguard did.

"Hello Rufus." Yazoo said quietly, breaking the silence between them. He knew that the President had many questions-some he wouldn't have the answers to, and he needed to say some things first. Just the fact that he didn't call him 'master' caused Rufus to have a bewildered expression.

With a brow arched, the president started to slowly circle his doll, inspecting it thoroughly. "I suppose you aren´t functioning properly again. Well, it is no wonder with all that moist environment down there. Your programming must be infected with a virus, but we shall take care of that later." Inwardly he was at a loss of what to do; he´d been worried and looking forward to receive Yazoo back. But things had happened and now Yazoo was...

Superfluous.

"No, I don't think so. True, something happened down there, but it has absolutely nothing to do with programming. Rather the lack of," Yazoo explained cryptically. "Can we sit down Rufus, it may be better."

Rufus wordlessly pointed towards the couch and sat down on a chair to keep his distance, though he didn´t do so deliberately. Yazoo was being strange and he didn´t act like before at all. Rufus frowned, briefly searching eye contact with Tseng, before averting them and settling them back on Yazoo. He wasn´t overly worried; Yazoo was clearly malfunctioning and they would simply have to repair him. This was what happened to dolls sometimes and Yazoo seemed to have a special affinity to being broken.

"I've enjoyed the time we spent together." Yazoo started off, which was a very strange thing for a doll to say, Rufus thought, "You were never cruel to me, and I would like to think that you did care for me-in a way. I've been very confused though, and I hope that you won't hold it against me when I ask that you release me from your service." Yazoo said this very sincerely, his hands folded on his lap, face neutral.

"...I see," the blond simply said, leaning back in his seat and folding his hands. Just as he had thought; it was a virus. Yazoo had been infected by the kidnappers, but for what reason? They needed to find out what these people were really after. "And what would you be doing after I released you, hm?"

"I suppose I would try to figure out what kind of life I could make for myself. Rufus, did you not once think it was strange to have an organic doll? One that could be mistaken so much for a human that perhaps...it could be one?" Yazoo diverted the subject a little. "I know that there are plenty of human slaves out there-bought and sold for a fraction of the price I imagine you paid for me. I met some of them at the functions you took me to. Vapid, distant little creatures, brainwashed and controlled by mind numbing drugs and years of servitude. They speak of status, if you can afford 'good' ones, so why didn't you just get one of them?"

"I don´t like humans," Rufus replied automatically and blank-faced. Then his eyes narrowed. "You are not a human. Hojo explained it to me. You have been infected, Yazoo. You are made to think that you are human so you can override the three laws. Someone is trying to use you to kill me." It was the only plausible explanation; why else would someone try to kidnap his doll and put such a virus into him?

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have Rufus." Yazoo saw Tseng move closer to the President. "I'm genetically enhanced, remember? A bodyguard, even one of Tseng's caliber wouldn't stop me. And if I wasn't human, I wouldn't be able to say that I didn't want to kill you. Machines, no matter how sophisticated, aren't supposed to want anything. That's what the laws are in place for. To govern thoughts and actions because a machine cannot want specifically for themselves." He paused. "What makes me a machine Rufus?"

Now Rufus was clearly confused and he licked his lips, searching Tseng´s gaze for some help here. But what was his bodyguard to say? Maybe he should let Hojo handle this problem, because Rufus knew next to nothing about how Yazoo functioned.

"Hojo said that you have no free will," he replied, foggily remembering that night when he had first met Yazoo in the back of a messy science laboratory. How at first he had been repelled when Hojo had enlightened him that Yazoo had a biological body. How Rufus had asked if that meant that Yazoo was human and how Hojo had corrected him. How the man had explained to him that Yazoo was nowhere close to being a human, that he was mindless, meant to serve and unable to survive on his own. It was plausible, wasn´t it? A machine with a human body? Or was it a human body with the mind of a machine? Rufus´ head started to hurt. It had sounded very plausible then, but now he wasn´t so sure anymore. Yazoo didn´t sound mindless.

"I... I've read the project files on the research that Hojo recorded when he patented the process of introducing coding to a genetic structure. Yes, it is far more sophisticated than mind controlling drugs, but you would have saved quite a lot of credits had you simply bought a slave. I was conditioned...for years...to believe that I was mechanical. To the point where a simple command could be used to make me sleep, where I was governed by Asimov's laws. But Hojo didn't create me. He changed me. You must have even suspected that Rufus...just didn't want to admit that maybe I wasn't a doll." He paused again, "Please believe me..."

Rufus remained silent for a very long time, simply staring at Yazoo, the wheels in his head turning. Then he shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Why was everything so blurry all of a sudden? Where were the good old times when machines had been machines and humans had been humans?

Finally he looked back at Yazoo and slowly said, "It does not matter whether you are human or not. Whatever you are, first and foremost you are my property. I bought you, I have a contract and Fondoll gave the ownership to me." He had to sort his thoughts for himself, and while he did his voice became stronger and more confident. "If it is true you just degraded yourself from a high-tech innovation to a mere, ordinary slave."

Yazoo let his gaze fall. He'd been afraid Rufus would say that. "Perhaps I should go for a while Rufus. You look like you need to be alone...and well, I probably need to clean up too. I won't leave you-not until you release me, but may I return to my designated quarters for now please?"

The other simply waved a hand, dismissing Yazoo. He suspected that he had been too blunt and ruthless again; Tseng had mentioned that he tended to be brutally un-emphatic and asocial. Had he hurt Yazoo? Rufus didn´t know, but he hadn´t intended that. He had just merely stated facts, hadn´t he?

His doll/slave stood and with a quiet bow he left the room. Rufus watched him, frowning and then slumped a bit when he was alone with Tseng again.

"I would guess this was not how you imagined this going, Sir." Tseng voiced, still just behind Rufus. But in a way, he was relieved. A bit selfish, but this put Yazoo further out of contention with him. "Are you alright?"

"I am not sure," the blond admitted. "I wasn´t sure what to expect to begin with," he then muttered, narrowing his eyes. There had been mixed feelings; on the one hand he was glad that Yazoo was unharmed and that he had him back, because Rufus still valued him. On the other hand he didn´t know what to do with Yazoo, as he didn´t need the doll for sex anymore. Tseng took care of that. And now that Yazoo had said all those confusing things Rufus was even less certain of what he was supposed to do.

"I guess I have been tricked into buying an overpriced slave." Even as he said it Rufus knew that this wasn´t the point.

"So you believe him?" Tseng questioned, rounding the corner of the sofa and sitting down next to Rufus. "Doesn't that mean you have business with Hojo then?" Tseng couldn't hold back the small smile. He, like Reno, had never liked the Doctor. He'd seemed off. Mousey, and greasy. But Rufus had always bought from Fondoll, and because he was a rich and important customer, the Doctor deemed it necessary to be the one to deal with him.

"I suppose so." Rufus´ features darkened. He despised Hojo and being tricked by that bastard made him feel like crushing the whole empire of doll-makers. And why not? He could do it, and he wouldn´t need any more dolls anyways. Yes, watching Fondoll´s downfall was exactly what Rufus Shinra felt like doing right now.

"Would you get me the precise definitions of human rights and the consequences of violations against them? And set up a video conference." Rufus wanted to see the man when he´d break his back.

Tseng nodded, inwardly very pleased. It seemed that he'd had a rather positive effect on Rufus Shinra in the past week... "Of course Sir. Right away." He stood, crossing to the door. "Can I get you anything else before I leave Sir?

"Only one thing," Rufus replied, looking Tseng square in the eye. "Reno and Yazoo - you think there is something going on?" The question was asked in an extremely neutral tone, created to suffocate any shred of emotion that might have swung within.

Tseng chose his words carefully. "I believe that Reno neither caused the sudden change in Yazoo's outlook nor prevented it. To have chose him as Yazoo's caretaker may have been the best for Yazoo's welfare-if what he claims is true about Fondoll, but the worst for your investment." He paused. "And if there is anything between them, it would have not been done to spite you. Reno is rather opposed to all things mechanical, and is very brash at times and doesn't think through the consequences of his actions. But part of that is why he is a very good employee, because he is very observant and gets things done quickly. I would not like to dismiss nor kill him."

Tseng paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Is that all Sir?"

"That is all."

Rufus watched Tseng leave and then connected to the camera in Yazoo´s room until Tseng had taken care of his wishes. His first in command had been brilliantly vague and placating in his assessment, but that didn´t change anything about the fact that Rufus wanted clear answers. If Tseng wasn´t willing to give them Rufus would get them himself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yazoo just closed the door behind him quietly. He could hear the shower still running in the bathroom; Reno was still here. He sat down on the corner of the bed, running over the conversation with Rufus in his head. He'd given the President a lot to think about-and he could understand why he might be angry, and possessive still. He just hoped that he'd decide to let him go...he didn't want to think about having to stay and serve Rufus Shinra. Not now that he knew what it was like to be wanted and loved...not now that he thought that he was falling in love.

The shower stopped, and the lack of ambient noise brought Yazoo out of his thoughts.

Reno emerged from the bath room a moment later, a towel wrapped around his wet hip, red hair hanging into his face. He seemed surprised to find Yazoo on the bed and went to him, crouching down. "How´d it go, yo?" he asked, slipping a hand up Yazoo´s cheek. Reno tried to keep the worry out of his voice as much as he could, but Yazoo´s expression and slumped shoulders weren´t exactly encouraging.

"Relatively well, considering. But I don't think it's over yet." Yazoo's finger found Reno's and he held his hand to his cheek, feeling the simple gesture calm him. "It's a shock, I should know. But he wasn't angry. Which I suppose is a good thing." He smiled, and lifted his gaze from the floor. "I think he's a bit scared..."

Reno gave a disbelieving snort at that. Rufus Shinra, scared? That would imply that the man had emotions and that in itself was an impossibility. Then he sighed and pulled Yazoo from the bed into his naked arms, leaning his face against Yazoo´s soft hair. "Did he say what will happen now?" Reno made a mental note to call Tseng later, to make sure that the others, Sephiroth and Cloud, were safe.

"Not to me, no." Yazoo shifted in Reno's arms, his own settling softly around Reno's waist. "But I think he understands that I'm not a doll...I guess we just have to hope that he comes to the conclusion that he doesn't want a slave now." He backed up enough to see Reno's face; his clear blue eyes. He smiled. "I don't know what good I'd be to him as a human anyway. I think Tseng may help convince him of that."

"I hope so," the redhead muttered, stealing another quick kiss from soft lips and then lifting Yazoo up. "I guess there´s nothing we can do now but wait... and get you a bath. Don´t take that the wrong way sweetheart, but you really need it." And off to the bathroom they went.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

There was no need for Rufus to see anymore and he logged out of the system, leaning back in his seat, head resting against his knuckles. It was obvious that there were emotions of the romantic kind involved between the two. Surprisingly Rufus felt only marginally betrayed and angry. If anything it proved to him that Yazoo was not a doll. Activating his implant, the blond connected to Tseng. "Is the conference set up yet?"*

"Yes Sir, the Doctor himself is on the line waiting for you. I was at first directed to one of his associates, Lucretia Crescent, I believe. I told her in no kind terms that you had requested Hojo directly. He's been waiting for a few minutes Sir, probably beginning to squirm by now. Would you like me to connect him to your screen generator in your suite?" *

"Yes." Rufus leaned back, shoving all thoughts about what he had seen just minutes ago away. He had a bone to pick with Hojo and needed all the concentration he could muster. Promptly, before his eyes a translucent, digital screen appeared, showing the good doctor. The corner´s of Rufus' lips twitched only marginally in distaste and he remained quiet. It was a certified tactic to distress the other.

Unseen to Hojo, Tseng had also provided highlighted passages from the bill of human rights and the criminal code enforcing them, lined neatly in the column beside the broadcast. Rufus smiled, and it seemed Hojo took that as a good sign. "Ah, President Shinra, how nice to hear from you again. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, I'm working on developing the next model of-"

"Save your breath," Rufus interrupted, his voice calm but sharp. "I am not interested in any of your new models. I am still having trouble getting used to the last one. Which brings me to the reason for my calling."

Hojo tried to look pleasantly interested, but the man smiled like a hyena on the best of days. He appeared to be worried. "Trouble? What could be wrong with the doll? The last time you came in there was a full overhaul of its programming, there shouldn't be anything..." He paused, "Unless the media coverage of the abduction is correct? The doll has been out of your hands for some time?"

"It has been, indeed," Rufus smiled thinly, as if he was letting the man in on a big secret. Then he leaned a bit forward, resting his chin in his intertwined fingers as remarked in an almost bored manner, "And now imagine my confusion and surprise at the fact that a doll was stolen from me but what I got back was a human."

The blood drained from Hojo's features, but Rufus had to give him something for not betraying his reaction to that statement in any other way. "Human? I don't follow, President."

"Why, aren´t you a genius? I think I made myself pretty clear." Rufus' voice had dropped to a low, impatient and utterly unamused growl now as he stared at Hojo with piercing blue eyes. "You sold me no doll but a mere human!"

"That's not possible President Shinra, I assure you." Behind his back, Hojo's fingers twined nervously together, but he didn't show a measure of anxiety to the man on the screen. "When your doll was stolen, there must have been some tampering with it. I admit, my projects and research here at Fondoll are not undisputed. There are groups of radicals that would try to effect your opinion of them, with you being in such a high position of power and all. But there can be no confusing my work here with being human!" Hojo let out a sharp laugh, "And if you are concerned about your model, I can either fix it, or replace him with another superior model, programmed specifically for you-as I had offered before. The one you purchased was the first, after all." Hojo smiled again, it was a bit sickening. Rufus' attention was drawn for a moment by another slew of files appearing on his screen. Tseng was apparently looking into the older project files as well...and Hojo's last statement of Yazoo being the first model appeared to be a lie also, as highlighted passages from "project S" lined the screen.

"Really," Rufus said coldly, scanning the files quickly and with practiced ease. "What about Project S then? As I see it here he was your first model and you failed to install the three laws in him." The blond lifted a brow. "Apparently he went... crazy. And he killed a lot of men."*

Hojo paused again. The first tick showed. Just underneath his left eye. "That was over seven years ago President Shinra, and I believe that if you have read through the investigation files thoroughly, you'll come to see that project S was in fact using a human base, where as subsequent projects were not permitted to. Due to the volatile nature of the coding. So, Yazoo is truly the first of his kind...any attempt to convince otherwise would be able to be overturned in his programming, you'll see if you were to just bring him in again."

"And what would you do to him then? Because he was quite convincing to me, you see. It makes me wonder if you just didn´t mess with his head a bit and in fact sold me an overpriced slave instead of a doll. You said that he had no mind and no will and that this qualified him as a doll. But the last time we spoke he was quite willful and stubborn."

It was as if Hojo suddenly realized the point of Rufus' call. It was not to have his doll repaired, but rather to try to undo his work-all of it. His jowls wobbled as he spoke. "No, no no...President Shinra, I assure you, I would not-Fondoll would not sell a product under false pretenses...the doll is simply malfunctioning. Broken. There is no free will, he must only be following a script." *

"So, if he´s 'broken', what will you do to 'repair' him? I am curious. Of course I could never understand the complicated procedures" at that Rufus rolled his eyes sardonically, "but I am sure you can explain it in a way even I understand."*

"Coding has been broken down into electronic pulses-which has been adopted as the preferred method to reprogram because of the organic exterior, so most work can be done externally, though if it is a deep routed virus, then a replacement may be found. " Hojo managed as simply as he could. Talking about his procedures calmed him somewhat. There was still a chance that Shinra would understand.

"I see... So you deep fry his brain with electro shocks from the outside and if that doesn´t work you cut him open. Did I get that correctly?" Rufus started to get tired of this. Hojo was clearly uncomfortable, indicating that he was aware of how borderline his experiments were. Frustrated Rufus let his fingers drum on the desktop. To have been used as a guinea pig by that man... Whatever Hojo said was utterly bloated words but the essence of it was: they had been messing with humans there. And this was a clear violation of the law.

Hojo's nostrils flared. It seemed he wasn't accustomed to being talked to like this. "What, may I ask, has convinced you so completely that he's human, hm?" He snapped, his anger showing finally. "Years of scientific research and development mean nothing? Or are you likely to believe anything that comes out of its pretty mouth?"

"What convinced me is my own human, common sense doctor." Rufus replied coolly. "It seems that you may have spent too much time down in your labs. You have lost your sense for reality. But don´t worry, reality will get you eventually. I will press charges against you for fraud, but more importantly for violation of human rights." The last one would be Fondoll´s downfall. It was true that in their day and age slaves were a common thing to those who could afford them, but it didn´t mean that they had no rights at all. Slaves had to be kept healthy, clean, well fed and were not to be tortured, harmed, used for scientific tests or sexually assaulted without their consent (drugs sometimes helped with the latter matter, though). Clearly Yazoo had been tortured in the labs, been used and abused and not only he.

Hojo went silent for a moment, his beady eyes darting, clearly searching for an explanation that would sway Shinra. "Everything in this lab is reported, Shinra. Documented and approved. Good luck getting around my lawyers." The triumphant smile that Hojo saw just before Shinra disconnected chilled him to the bone. Rufus Shinra would be able to get around his lawyers. No one had a better team than the President. Not even Hojo. The Doctor stood staring at his screen, his fists tight by his sides for minutes after it went blank. He wouldn't lose his company. His life's work. His livelihood, his reputation. It was all flashing before his eyes, and he wouldn't have a second to spare. With a roar, he turned, heading out of the small room and nearly sprinting to the archives. He had to salvage what he could while there was still time.

Exhausted, Rufus fell back into his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he had called Hojo a part of him had hoped that the man´d be able to come up with a plausible explanation for Yazoo´s condition, that maybe Rufus had been fooled by a virus indeed. But the longer he spoke with Hojo the clearer it became. Rufus had been caught in this mess and his own reputation was at stake as well. But he had Hojo as his scapegoat and Yazoo would be a valuable witness.

Tseng's extension buzzed in his ear. He answered it without a hesitation. "I probably don't need to ask how the call went Sir. What can I do for you?"

"We will press charges. I want my lawyers at 8 am sharp tomorrow morning. Make sure that Yazoo and Reno are there as well." He briefly contemplated if he should send for Reno now.

Tseng smiled, and Rufus could hear it in his voice. "I'll have some more of the files prepared. I'm sure Hojo will attempt to shut down access to the archives, which is why I've already requested copies from the public archive. They are currently downloading, and I doubt Doctor Hojo even has the clearance to cease a download in progress to you Sir. Is there anything else I can do for you before the meeting tomorrow?" It was getting later in the day, and Tseng had finished most of his tasks with his ruthless efficiency, and Rufus suspected that the suggestive tone in his voice now was not accidental.

"... Call Reno. I have a bone to pick with him as well." As tempting as Tseng´s subtle offering sounded, Rufus had to finish some stuff beforehand. He had just decided that, despite the
fact that he didn´t really want to see Reno, it´d be helpful to know what had happened down there; to hear the man´s opinion on things. If he was to be a prime witness then Rufus should be informed about anything, lest there be unpleasant surprises.

"Of course Sir." Tseng didn't sound disappointed. Perhaps he knew that he would most likely be asked to join Rufus after Reno had met with him. "I'll send him to your suite right away." Tseng disconnected, leaving Rufus a moment to ponder all that had happened. There was really too much going on.

A few moments later Reno heard his cell buzzing somewhere in his pants that were still lying on the bed room floor. He was busy washing Yazoo´s hair right now and didn´t want to be bothered, but then again they were at the mercy of Shinra, and he better not anger the man further. "I´ll be right back, sweetheart."

After a bit of fumbling he found the device and flipped it open, listening to his new orders. Not enthused at all he just cut the line, quickly dressed and then poked his head back into the bath room. "Sorry, boss is calling me. I gotta go, but I´ll be back soon enough. You have fun and if you get hungry just call for something."

"He wants to talk to you?" Yazoo asked, bringing his hands up to his hair to finish washing it. "That's a good sign though, isn't it? If he was going to kill you, he probably would have done it already..." He smiled when Reno shot him a look. "I'm teasing."

"You have some strange sense of humor, yo," the redhead frowned, but then he just shrugged, blew Yazoo a kiss and headed to his dreaded boss. He still wasn´t so sure that he wasn´t going to be killed, but hopefully Yazoo was right.

Yazoo watched Reno leave, and caught himself smiling. It had only been a day since he'd realized that he wasn't a machine, but it felt like he'd known how to feel forever, and was only experiencing the enormity of that now. He slipped under the bathwater to rinse his hair and after another moment of enjoying the hot water, stepped out of the bath to dry himself off. Reno had been right, he had needed a bath. He toweled himself off and heard the door to the suite open behind him.

"That was fast. Did you forget something?"

He laughed, and emerged from underneath the towel, hair tousled. It wasn't Reno, rather, it was one of the little silver machines that usually brought them their food. In its extended arm, there was a small folded piece of paper. Yazoo frowned, puzzled, but took it from the metal prongs and opened it. "To be delivered to Rufus Shinra c/o Tseng or Reno..." This doesn't have my name on it..." He laughed trying to give it back to the machine, but it didn't take it back. Yazoo couldn't help but catch the next line down "...reclamation of product model Y44-Z#-0..." The little robot spun at the arrival of two large metal droids, with Fondoll security stamped across their breastplates. Yazoo's stomach felt like it dropped through the floor. He dropped the piece of paper. "Get it to the addresses." He instructed the little robot, "as soon as you can."

The droids marched forward, their metal fingers clasping around his upper arms on either side. Even enhanced, it would be foolish to resist, and that was exactly why they'd been sent out for him. Yazoo recognized this as the desperate measure that it was, and hoped that Reno would find out-and that Rufus would be infuriated by the breach enough to stop this quickly.

Tbc

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