Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or settings. If I did, I would have the money to deal with being sued. As Square Enix owns them, I'm apparently broke.
Notes: Minor Before Crisis (Episode 5) spoilers/ references.
I've managed to tear myself away from Kingdom Hearts II.
The Secretary
Episode 25: Bad news
Jessie read the file's contents again. "This makes no sense," she mumbled. Not that it matters what I think. "Stupid Reno… Stupid, worthless Turks…" She shook her head in dismay.
She pushed open the door to Sephiroth's office. "Sir? We've got major problems."
Sephiroth seemed more annoyed at the intrusion. His new glass table seemed out of place with the wood bookshelf behind him. Jessie walked slowly forward, hugging the report tightly.
Pausing before her boss's desk, she presented the Turk's report. Sephiroth reached out his gloved hand a clasped the manila folder. Jessie watched as he scanned the papers, his eyes becoming wide the more he read.
The piercing green eyes looked up into amber. Pleading, again? "… The security device would protect the data, right?"
Jessie dug her fingernails into her palm to prevent herself from rolling her eyes. "Sadly, any moron with some tape and a little powder can break a finger-scan lock."
Sephiroth pushed himself back into his chair and sighed. "So, those terrorists have classified SOLDIER data?"
Jessie stared out the window. "'Fraid so…" Stupid Prof. Raleigh. "I'm going to Kalm. Later." The secretary waved as she left. She could hear Sephiroth groan as the door slammed.
The chocobo-head was more pathetic than the SOLDIER recalled. The boy kept shaking. Sephiroth made sure Masamune was out of sight. Last thing I need is for this kid to freak over Masamune. Lots of people were scared of the blade. Considering it was longer than Sephiroth was tall, that was understandable.
Zack leaned against a wall. Does he ever worry? RSL busied himself serving tea.
"I-I-I'm re-really sorry, Mis-Mister Sephi-roth." The army recruit had been like this for forty-five minutes. We're not getting anywhere.
Zack raised himself from his daze and moved behind the young teen. He slapped the boy on the back, causing the pathetic chocobo-head to land on the carpet face first. "Kid, if you want to be in SOLDIER, you need more confidence!"
Squatting on the floor, Strife stared up at the porcupine head. "… Jerk..."
Sephiroth kneeled down in front of the teenager. The boy immediately dropped his gaze to the floor. "What did Zack just say about confidence?" Strife did not respond, so Sephiroth took the boy's chin and lifted it until he could see into those sapphire eyes. "Now, what happened?"
Jessie gave the chocobo a dirty look. You again! "… Isn't there something else I could use?" That chocobo's evil.
The middle-aged Shinra employee rubbed his chin. "The only thing left is a Hardy-Daytona, but it—"
"—I'll take it!" Jessie leapt in the direction the mechanic had indicated with his head. She was tearing through Midgar before he realized she had spoken.
"—is a rough ride…?"
Zack listened as his friend relayed the details of the attack against Professor Raleigh. "'Death magic,' 'Raven squad,' 'SOLDIER data'! Man. I can't take this!"
Sephiroth glared at him, but Zack was use to that look. Zack knew Sephiroth thought he was an idiot. But it's not like he has any idea what we gotta do.
It had taken all day, but Jessie finally returned to the office. She clutched a collection of notebooks. She kicked the door to Sephiroth's office open. The door broke from its hinges and hit a chocobo in the head.
The chocobo amazingly had a grasp of 'human talk.' And by that, one should specify cussing like a sailor. "MUTHA-#$&! THAT &(# HURT!" The chocobo continued on for several minutes.
"… I imagine you taught him that, Zack." Sephiroth was sitting on the floor, his back pressed against a wall.
Zack rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know what you mean."
Jessie dropped the pile of notebooks onto the desk. "Here's a hardcopy of File S-046X. Enjoy." Both SOLDIERs exchanged a confused look.
Jessie sighed. "It's what was on the disk that was stolen… It has official stats on you guys, along with common tactics, usual equipment, your limit breaks…."
Zack and RSL had become very pale. The secretary imagined her boss would do the same if he was not so pale.
Zack spoke up first. "So… What's it say?" Big enough ego?
Jessie pulled the bottom notebook out. "'Zack—SOLDIER Class First' blah, blah, blah… 'uses Buster Sword' yada-yada-yada… Not very interesting." She tossed the book to the brunet SOLDIER.
"… What about mine?" RSL seemed worried.
"Let's see……………….. 'Random Shinra Lackey (a.k.a. RSL)—SOLDIER Class Third… Dumbass'." Weird entry.
Like it? Believe I need medication? No opinion? Please review and thank you for taking time for this bit of fluff.
Bunny points to The Ringbearer Galadriel, Akiraine of Gia, SilverKitsune013, Selunchen123, Stars of Shadow, and Thunderstorm101 for reviewing.