I Want To Be A Turk!
Chapter 26 – Letter
17 March 0001
"And then when I woke up," ranted Meia furiously. "I was in my room, back in HQ!" She took a huge swig out of her chocolate milk.
"Relax, Meia." Kunsel said cheerfully, listening to her angry complaints of how her mission ended yesterday.
"How can I?" She frowned. "Brother Reno just knocked me unconscious so that he could send me home 'safely'!" Her fingers made inverted commas in the air, the carton of chocolate milk was dangerously held in her hand. She slammed the chocolate milk down onto the table lightly. "I swear if I see him along the corridors I'll "Aero" him till his hair naturally defies gravity!"
"Oh Meia…" Kunsel grinned. "You exaggerate so much, it's ridiculous. You'll forgive Reno. You always do."
Meia glared at him. "I won't! He shouldn't have hindered me like that! Even though the catching of the escaped SOLDIER candidates was not my official mission, whatever happened to thinking on one's feet?"
Kunsel shook his head. "You should be happy that someone out there is worried for your safety. Isn't it more important to know that you're that important to somebody?" He paused to watch her reaction, but she was too angry to notice. "Stop acting childish, Meia. Since when were you so easily angered?" He chided, though his face painted an amused expression.
Meia huffed. "They always say I'm feisty. That's besides the point, I'm pretty sure I won't forgive him."
"You'll forgive him." Was all Kunsel said in conclusion.
31 March 0001
She did forgive Reno eventually. In fact, she forgave him so quickly that the next time Kunsel found her in the cafeteria, she was playing with Reno's flaming red hair. Kunsel shook his head to himself, smiling. Like a child, Meia easily gets angry and she easily forgives and forgets.
There was another issue tugging at Kunsel's heart. For a while he suspected that Meia has started to grow romantic feelings for Reno the Turk, but he did not manage to confirm his suspicions till recently.
He frowned at how she often she talked about Reno, her reactions and behaviour relating to the Turk. She either must be really tight-lipped around Reno, or else he's really… thick in his head. Kunsel decided, for he hasn't seen Reno make any advances or even respond at all.
Kunsel thought it was pretty obvious. Meia is still a child I guess. He thought to himself. It seems pretty hard for a child to hold their own secrets somehow. He snorted at his pompous maturity. As if I'm very old. He grinned to himself. He was only 2 years older than Meia, a year younger than Zack Fair.
"Kunsel!" Meia shouted from across the cafeteria. "Over here!"
Puzzled, Kunsel walked over. He waved at Reno, who gave a slight nod in response. "What's up, Meia?" He smiled.
"You looked a little dazed so I thought you need some company."
Kunsel smiled. That's what he likes about her. She could be the most childish thing around, but when she shows care for someone, she will ensure that he will be welcome and not feel awkward at all.
"I was just er…" Kunsel tried to find an excuse for daydreaming in the middle of the cafeteria. "Thinking of some things."
Meia looked appeased by his reply, a likely reaction since she's guilty of it many times. "Want to join us for breakfast?" She waved to an empty chair next to her. "I was just telling Brother Reno that he should cut down on that maple syrup if he wants to be healthy." She turned to the redhead. "Aren't you diabetic?"
"Family history of diabetes!" Reno argued. "I'm not diabetic yet!"
"You will if you wolf down blueberry waffles at this alarming rate!" She shook a fork at Reno. "But anyway, Kunsel, join us for breakfast!" She tugged the side of his baggy SOLDIER pants, smiling.
Kunsel placed a hand on her head gently. "Another time, perhaps." Kunsel checked his PHS. "I've got a meeting in a few minutes. Just gonna grab a bite and go."
"Aww…" Meia pouted. "Well, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow or something." She waved goodbye at him.
Once he was out of earshot, she noticed Reno giving her a look. "What?" She asked defensively.
"Kunsel looks pretty sweet on you." Reno observed. "And you two seem to be together really often. You two…" Meia gave him a quizzical look. "You know… have something for each other?"
Meia laughed. "No! Of course not Brother Reno! I love Kunsel, but he'll always be just a brother to me!" She raised an eyebrow at him. "What's with your weird observation?"
The redheaded Turk shrugged. "Just thought it's pretty cute that you two might have something going on. You know… you are of age and all."
Oh. She thought with a slight nagging disappointment in her heart. For a moment, she had given herself even the slightest hope to dare think that Reno was…
Meia brushed her fringe to the back of her head but she felt resistance. "Ow." She cried. When Reno looked at her with a slight inclination of his head as if to say what was wrong, she grinned. "Hair tangles."
As she undid the knot gently, Reno shook his head. "I don't understand how hair tangles are possible. Girls…" He muttered. "What?" He now asked defensively as he noticed Meia observing his face.
"You know what, Brother Reno?" Said Meia with a cheeky smile. "You should leave your hair long." She teased. "Then you'll know the pain of tangles."
Reno looked offended and his hand flew to his red mass of hair. "No!" He protested.
Meia held out her fingers to frame his face. "It'll be fun! Tie it in a low, thin ponytail…" She beamed. "You'll be as beautiful as Sister Cassie."
Now Reno looked appalled. "No way! I don't want to look like Cassie!"
"Why not?" Came Cassie's menancing voice.
"Sister Cassie!" Meia beamed at the sight of her.
"Why wouldn't you want to be beautiful like me?" She bent forward at Reno's face, challenging him.
"No way!" Reno grinned.
"You're gonna regret this!" She exclaimed as she tried to grind her fists against his temples, but Reno was too quick for that. He gracefully slipped away and jumped out of the bench. "I have beautiful hair by the way, you little unappreciative worm!" She half-yelled, half-laughed as Reno stood a distance away, his fists putting up a mock fighting stance.
Meia laughed at their playful actions. "But Brother Reno, I'm serious!" She straightened her facial expressions to look as serious as possible. "I think you'll look nice with a long ponytail."
Reno grimaced. "I'm not going to take fashion and beauty advice from a kid."
"A kid?" Meia exclaimed. "Like you're any more credible! You have weird red tattoos on your cheeks!"
"Cheekbones! And they make you look badass!" Reno insisted, covering his scarlet stripes in defense. "Long hair doesn't make you look badass!"
Meia's reply won the argument hands down. "Sephiroth." She smirked as Reno fell silent on her words. "I'm glad we're clear." She smiled radiantly and stood up from the table. "I'm going to head back to my desk to get some paperwork done. Catch you guys later." She spun around but not before catching Reno mutter to Cassie something about wasting shampoo.
Another letter… Her heart stopped a beat as she saw the immaculately white envelope on the table. She debated about whether to surrender the letter to Tseng but something held her back. Meia slipped the letter into the pocket of her blazer and walked towards the restroom.
The toilet was lit with white lights and empty. She walked into one of the cubicles and locked the door. Her hands gingerly opened the envelope, revealing a letter inside.
The letter was written as follows:
Meia:
If you want to know the truth about the deaths of your friends Sunny, Tihan and Carmelle, meet us in the Kalm Inn at 3 p.m. on 1st April, 0001. Do not speak of this matter to anyone and we'll ensure your safe return back to Shinra.
The Luge
She frowned. AVALACHE is getting more audacious with their advances. She thought to herself.
Should I…
She read the letter again. "Do not speak of this matter to anyone and we'll ensure your safe return…" She murmured.
Oh Sunny… She pouted at the letter. You're always the clever one. What would you do if you were in my shoes?
Pacing in the cubicle for another 5 more minutes, she felt that she had to do the right thing.
Veld lifted the letter closer and inspected it. Meia stood at a distance, she was almost trembling at the silence that emanated from the leader of the Turks. Tseng stood closer to Veld's desk, his face emotionless at the events that has happened.
Veld set the letter down and peered at Meia. "Have you been in any contact with AVALANCHE before?"
Meia shook her head. "No sir, I've not."
"Why is it then, that the letter could come into your hands without tripping the security system?" Veld rubbed his temples.
Meia stared at Veld. "Sir… you… you aren't suspecting me of being a spy, are you?" She asked.
Veld stared back at her briefly. "It is very possible."
"But if I were to be a spy, why would I bring this letter to you?" Meia retorted back.
"Meia!" Tseng's disapproving voice was heard, but she ignored it.
Veld was unfazed by the sudden change in Meia's tone. "If you weren't a spy, you would've informed us of the letter at the very first opportunity, instead of coming here to ask for permission to meet them." Veld's voice was dangerous as he stood up and stared at the girl.
"I didn't ask for permission to meet them!" Meia was now feeling exasperated. "I wanted to ask for your advice to what to do!"
"Keep this rude attitude going and you'll know where you'll be heading." Veld's tone was final.
Meia glared at Veld. "I rather die than to be misunderstood!" She said. "I am loyal to the Turks, my lowly background has nothing to do with my character."
For a moment, she saw the cold, hard expression from Veld stumble a little at her words. Veld quickly recovered and paced around the room furiously. Tseng shook his head. Although Meia was generally a sweet-natured girl, if her feathers were ruffled she could be quite nasty. As a child she had already shown signs of such feistiness but no one felt that it was a problem. Recently, Meia has been becoming a little too quick-tempered, coupled by her childish behaviours. Tseng made a mental note to himself to train Meia's patience more. Meia's short temper wouldn't get her anywhere with Veld, nor anyone actually.
Finally, Veld spoke again. "Meia."
Meia looked up at her leader. Obviously she has been scolding herself for her insolence in her mind, because her eyes no longer showing the raw temper that she exhibited earlier on. "Yes, sir?" She said quietly.
"You are to meet AVALANCHE at 3 p.m. sharp on 1st April, in Kalm."
Meia's expression turned into surprise. "I… I didn't really think that you'll let me go." She murmured.
"I want you to see what they have to offer you, and report to me when you're back here. I'll send some Turks to cover you if necessary. If you haven't contacted us by 5 p.m., we'll send the Turks to Kalm."
Now realising that Veld trusted her intentions, Meia bowed low. "Thank you, Brother Veld, for believing in me." She said. "I'll not disappoint you."
"Make preparations, Meia." Veld continued, not acknowledging her gratitude at all. "It's a long walk Midgar to Kalm." He looked at her. "You aren't expecting us to provide transportation for this, are you?"
"No, sir." Meia shook her head. "I'll take my leave then and leave tomorrow morning."
When the door closed softly behind them, Tseng bowed to Veld. "I take my leave too."
"Tseng."
"Yes sir?" Tseng looked at him.
"Bring me the files of Joseph Etsky."
"You mean…"
Veld nodded.
"Yes sir. I'll bring them up in 15 minutes."
Tseng left the room. He knew of Joseph Etsky, but he didn't know why Veld wanted his files all of a sudden.
1 April 0001
It was 10 in the morning. Meia was dressed in shorts, a blue tank top and sneakers. She checked her bag one last time for her equipment, her Turk uniform and other provisions. She heard from Leia that it is almost a 4 hour walk to Kalm. There was no way she'll walk under the hot sun in her Turk uniform. She took a deep breath and headed out of her room.
"Meeting AVALANCHE, huh?" Haato greeted as she saw him along the corridor.
"Yeah." She grinned. She didn't understand why the management bothered to separate the Turks' residential rooms by gender, since they freely walk in between both levels.
"All the best, little girl." He ruffled her hair, a rare sign of affection from the katana user.
Meia beamed. "I'll do my best." She glanced around. "Where's Brother Reno and Brother Rude?" She asked.
Haato snorted. "They're called for work, early in the morning. Apparently some files from the Archives of the Science Department were lost during the mass desertion of SOLDIER. Both of them are finding the missing files and possible suspects as we speak now."
"Oh." Said Meia, bummed out by the fact that she couldn't say goodbye to them before she left. "Well, I'll be back by dinner, I guess."
"See ya." Meia nodded at Haato as the elevator doors closed.
On Floor 45, Reno was complaining about the task.
"We've been stuck in this stinkin' room for hours, yo. I wanna go beat up a flashy villain!"
Rude had been hearing his complaints for hours and gave him an annoyed look. "If you have time to complain, then work harder." He pointed flatly.
Reno made a noise of disgruntlement, but continued working hard at looking for the missing files nevertheless. Once forced to work, Reno proved to be hardworking and efficient. However, in the sea of both obselete and updated archives, even the capable duo was unable to find the discrepancy in the files.
Cissnei yawned as she finished up her cup of coffee. She frowned at the cup. Coffee isn't exactly the best thing for a seventeen year-old girl but she has already gone down the coffee addiction path of no-return.
She stood up from the table, gathered her weapon and her files and walked out of the cafeteria. As she did, she walked past a 2nd Class SOLDIER walking into the Turks cafeteria. He didn't notice her, but she immediately noticed his tall stature. Well-built… She thought with interest. SOLDIERS do train their recruits well. She shook her head in disappointment at the stark contrast with her male Turks. The doors closed behind her, but she remembered his dark hair styled in a youthful, spiked-up manner. Such a shame I didn't see how he looked like…
She suddenly caught herself still staring at the closed doors. Checking someone out? She mused to herself. I really must be growing up, or maybe Haato's words finally got to me. She thought back to the Christmas Party, when she was telling Haato about what she looked for in a boyfriend.
Thinking back on the SOLDIER that she saw earlier on, Cissnei smiled. Was it a sneaky coincidence that the SOLDIER might have fulfilled almost all the qualities that she was looking for? "No more of this… frivolity." She told herself as she walked away.
Cissnei was back in her room, reading a light novel and relaxing on her bed. No assignments today. She sighed in contentment and snorted at the thought of Reno and Rude slogging their hearts away in the Archives Room at Floor 45.
Her peace was interrupted when her ears pricked at a sudden crash down below. Soon after the lights flickered from the usual white light to red ones. Alarms. She thought to herself. What's happening?
Trying hard to tune out the pressing beeps the alarms made, she walked out of her room door… to face many Red Saucers scuttling around the place. Their electric rods on the top of their bodies didn't look friendly at all.
What's happening? Cissnei thought to herself as she flipped Rekka open.
Meanwhile… things weren't looking too good on Floor 45.
It was close to lunchtime when Reno closed his "n"th (A/N: Sorry, I had to include a mathematical reference here, kudos to those who see this "nth term" thing TOO many times in school! XDDDDD) file. He leant back against his chair and released a loud groan of frustration. "C'mon Rude, this is killing me, yo!" He turned to Rude, who has been almost silent the past few hours. "We're wasting our precious lives down here-we won't get this time back! This is why I wanna work as many flashy jobs as I can!"
Rude slowly looked up from the file that he just opened. "A job that isn't flashy is still our job." He said objectively.
"Hmm?" Reno frowned at Rude. Something felt different about Rude today. He was quiet, yes but then again he has always been so. Still, Reno couldn't point a finger to what the problem might be.
Rude spoke again. "I've felt, from the first time we met..." Whatever Rude really wanted to say, he decided against it. "...that I would never come to understand your fickle nature." He stood up from the unfinished file that he was tallying against and moved to a row of bookshelves on the opposite side of the room.
Reno decided against probing deeper. Unlike himself, Rude usually kept his inner thoughts and emotions to himself. The sunglasses that he always wore didn't help with his self-expression either. He thought to himself.
The alarms suddenly sounded, and both Turks almost jumped out of their skins in shock. Reno wondered aloud why the alarms have tripped. Before Rude could reply, two Red Saucers, little critters that provide basic security to the building, rushed in.
"Security robots?" Reno exclaimed.
Rude was surprised to see them too. "Why are they here?"
"Weren't they only activated when an intruder triggers the alarm?
"Does that mean…" Rude turned to Reno.
"There's an intruder in the midst." They concluded together.
Rude shook his head."The thief is back?" He hurriedly walked towards Reno.
Reno grinned as he whipped out his trusty EMR. "The thief would be stupid to come back isn't it… Heads up!" He cried as the Red Saucers turned towards them.
They both ducked and the lightning bolt made its target at the bookshelf behind the duo. The smell of burnt papers filled the room.
"Hoo boy…" Reno shook his head as he recovered from the attack. "Veld isn't going to be pleased to hear that we damaged the archives." He said casually.
The elevator doors opened at Floor 2, Cissnei rushed out, Rekka ready in her hands. Without warning, she began slashing the Red Saucers. The Chain Machine was a little tricky to tackle, but nothing too hard for the seasoned fighter.
"This level looks pretty cleared already…" She murmured to herself. "SOLDIERS have been activated?"
She walked towards the balcony overlooking the main lobby at Floor 1. To her surprise, she saw the same 2nd Class SOLDIER that she walked past earlier on in the morning. He was no longer wearing the purple 2nd Class SOLDIER uniform, but the black one.
"Promoted to 1st Class." She observed, folding her arms. "And this happens on your first day. What luck." She smiled.
The SOLDIER was facing a large group of enemies. Cissnei recognized them as the Shinra Sweepers and Genesis clones. After a two-hour long meeting of what Genesis clones were, it was hard not to recognize them. She stood at the balcony, watching how the SOLDIER moved. Shinra definitely found the right man for promotion. Not only did the SOLDIER fight efficiently, he did it fluidly, leaving no mess behind. Within minutes, the Sweepers and the Genesis clones fell onto the floor in a heap.
However, the enemies kept coming. Sweepers, Red Saucers, Genesis clones… It was endless. Cissnei had a small urge to help but she held back her intentions. Turks usually have no business with SOLDIER. Meia was probably the only exception in the Turk department who actually made friends with them. So Cissnei continued standing at the balcony, watching the SOLDIER fight the endless horde of enemies.
The SOLDIER made the battle look effortless. Like a robot that runs on endless supply of batteries. She remarked to herself. As the last of the enemies fell onto the floor, utterly defeated, the SOLDIER swung his sword round and round before placing it on his back, as if it was some signature battle victory pose.
Cissnei was amazed at the abilities of that SOLDIER. "Who is he…" She wondered aloud.
"That is Zack Fair, just promoted to First Class SOLDIER." Cissnei jumped a little upon hearing the unexpected voice of Haato.
"Haato!" She exclaimed.
Haato peered over the parapet at what Cissnei was staring at. "That's the SOLDIER that Meia first trained with when she was being tested by Professor Timothy. A rather good SOLDIER, no?"
"Yes." Cissnei agreed. "Nothing less expected from Shinra's SOLDIER." She murmured as she watched Sephiroth, Shinra's famous First Class SOLDIER, approach the new First Class SOLDIER.
Haato turned back to the elevator. "Well now, we can discuss about your boy-watching some other time, when things aren't as chaotic as they are now."
Cissnei flushed at his words. "I assure you, Haato, I was doing my job and not being distracted at all." Despite his slightly erratic attitude between being serious and being flippant, Haato was still her senior in the Turks. Cissnei knew better than to let her superiors misunderstand her 'misconduct'.
The voice of the katana specialist now lost its lively note. "Like I said, another time. Veld needs you back in his office. He wants a full report on the situation below."
Back on Floor 45, Reno and Rude successfully defeated most of the security robots that came their way, each getting harder to defeat than the previous.
Rude pushed his sunglasses against his nose lightly. "Better get rid of them ASAP." He analysed.
Reno tapped his EMR on his shoulder, smirking. "I can get rid of them in 10 minutes!"
Reno rushed out of the Archives room with Rude following behind. He shook his head. "Speed is not important." He pointed out flatly.
"What do you mean by that huh? What's with you today? First you were all moody about my complaints…" He made a face. "And now you hurt my pride and my name of being "the fastest of the Turks"!"
"…"
Annoyed by his quiet response, Reno retorted, "Alright, fine... Why not let's have a little wager. I'll bet my Steal Materia I'm fast enough to take this critters out. Whaddya say?" Rude tugged his gloves, still not choosing to answer Reno. "Oooh, nothing to say now, eh?" He taunted the dark man. "Then I say you'll bet your Barrier Materia if you think I can't beat all these guys. What do you have to say to THAT now?"
With his gloves even more secure on his hands, Rude sighed. " ...This is my job, too. I can't afford to lose to you." He stared straight ahead at the Red Saucers. "Deal."
"Alright then!" Reno's face was full of glee. He faced the incoming Red Saucers with a passionate drive to destroy. "Bring it on, yo!"
(A/N: August)
(a/n edited to look less naggy. Full details in my blog, aichioluv (dot) blogspot (dot) com!)
Yes, Kunsel has been pretty neglected. Managed to get him some airtime again!
'Before Crisis' and 'Crisis Core' do happen concurrently, despite many schools of thought saying they run one after another.
I couldn't find a good compromise between the translation and the extended summary, so I made do with what I had. Certain conversations are modified and removed to quicken the story pace. So whatever happens in Floor 45 is SLIGHTLY AU.
(A/N: Recent)
Orange: Sounds cool, do link me up when you do get your story published!
Thanks all for your reviews! I will not update till I get my chapter 2 of "Moves Like Jagger" out. A pretty good incentive to get me working on that story!
Disclaimer: (Full disclaimer in my blog)
Summary of Before Crisis: Special Episode of Reno taken from Lifestream(dot)net and kawree from LJ! Crisis Core scenes taken from the sorumian's walkthrough.
Please ensure that if you want to use the translations of the special episode of Reno from kawree, please contact her for permission!