Days of Exile

Chapter 53 – Plans

23 January 0008

Meia was glad to see Reeve when he appeared at Rod's garage, looking for her. Since the destruction of Meteor, the PHSes were useless as telecommunication lines were down. Reeve brought Meia to a makeshift café relatively near Wall Market.

"Amazing how people are so willing to pick up their lives again after all that destruction," murmured Meia to herself as she looked around. Wall Market no longer looked like the sparkling neon commercial hub, but it did not lose the hustle and bustle that it always had.

Reeve smiled. "Thank you for joining forces with us to save the Planet. Veld and all of you did a wonderful job."

Turning her attention back to Reeve, Meia grinned. "I should thank you. If AVALANCHE did not defeat Sephiroth, we would not be sitting here. Yuffie and Mr Vincent Valentine also provided great help." She paused to drink from her tea. "So what happened after AVALANCHE defeated Sephiroth?"

Reeve explained how the Northern Crater crumbled and what AVALANCHE was doing when they witnessed the moment when Holy and the Lifestream came together to push back Meteor. Meia listened to everything with a soft smile on her face. "So how's everyone else?"

"Well… they should be travelling around the Planet now, visiting places here and there… only I had a job to return to Midgar as soon as possible…" Reeve answered awkwardly. He remembered that Meia knew Aerith. While Meia may not know that Aerith had left with them, he did not want to risk revealing anything. For some reason, something was holding him back from telling Meia about Aerith's death. Quicking changing the subject, Reeve asked how the former Turks were.

"Oh, they are fine. Everyone is so happy to be with each other again, but we won't stay this way for long." Meia sighed. "They have their plans to make and who am I to stop them?"

"What about you?"

"Well," Meia scratched her head. "I'll go to Icicle Inn first. I have two very good friends there whom I heard are getting married. I should pay them a visit."

"And after that? Will you be staying in Midgar or living in Icicle permanently?"

At that question, Meia paused. "I… I don't know. I have not made any permanent plans." She laughed sheepishly. "I really don't know." She quickly directed the question back at him. "What about your plans?"

"Plenty, I suppose." Reeve sighed. "I gotta find my family first. My mother is still in Midgar. I hope she is safe somewhere. Then, my wife and kids are in Junon."

Meia nodded in agreement. "Important to ensure safety of your family, of course."

"After that, my plans go onto a bigger scale." Reeve paused and glanced at Meia's reaction. She had none. "I suppose Veld has told you…"

"Yes. He has invited all of us to join his team of intelligence," I answered for him. "Him, Rufus Shinra and you are working in some kind of partnership."

"Yes, that seems to be the arrangement for now," said Reeve. "There's no knowing what the President might do. However, it is important to have him in our team." Meia gave him a puzzled look. "Ruthless as he can be, the President is a visionary. His presence and brain will propel all our visions forward, whether he is aware of it or not."

Reeve reached into his briefcase, but hesitated for a moment. Finally, from his briefcase, he pulled out one piece of paper, full of drawings. Meia breathed sharply when she saw that the piece of paper had drawings of buildings… Architectural blueprints. She recognized.

"I doubt I should show you everything, but…" Reeve's voice dropped lower. "We are planning to rebuild Midgar. A better Midgar." He paused to look at Meia's reaction. She pursed her lips, but her eyes were shining. "It was his idea."

Meia's voice matched Reeve's. "Is it feasible?" She asked.

Reeve shrugged and smiled. "I don't know, but we will find out. There is a patch of land just outside Midgar that is suitable for buildings and houses. With whatever resources and materials we have, we will do our best. But isn't it exciting? A brand new Midgar, lively and vibrant, but better… No one will need to live under a metal plate anymore." His voice even trembled with excitement. Meia grinned. It was exciting news, definitely. However, Reeve was not done with sharing his plans. "Also… I intend to start a new company."

"A new company?" Meia frowned. "Like Shinra?"

The former head of Urban Development did not answer her question. "Meia, do you remember when we first met?"

"You mean when you appeared in the Turks' lounge as Cait Sith while we were discussing about how to destroy Zirconiade?"

Reeve hesitated. "Not that one. The more… recent one."

"Oh," Meia said, giggling. "The one where you asked me what I was fighting for and I answered 'for love and peace'?" Reeve nodded. "And then you told me what you wanted and then…" She stopped mid-sentence and turned to Reeve with a more serious expression. "Wait… Where are we going with this?" She asked.

Reeve folded his fingers. "I have a job offer for you, if you have not decided on your plans."

"… Me?"

"Yes." Reeve smiled. "To work for me in my new company." The young woman stared at him, her expression was one of complete surprise. "It should not that much of a surprise to you, should it? I thought that it was really pleasant to work with you. Moreover, you are quite efficient in coordinating the evacuation in the Midgar slums."

"It's not just me..." said Meia shyly. Reeve chuckled.

Actually, I think I don't mind working with Reeve a little longer. Meia realized. He's not the only one who thought that it was pleasant to work together.

"I guess I'd love to help out in your company… but I'm gonna be real confused about what I need to do."

Reeve laughed. "Meia, who said that you are going to 'help out'?" Meia blinked at him on confusion. "I'm offering you a job to be the vice-commander."

Meia pushed herself back against the chair. "Vice-commander?" She asked. "I was not expecting such a position. Why would you choose me for such a position?"

The man frowned. "Why wouldn't I?"

"The bigger question is… Why me?" Meia spread her hands out at Reeve. "Of all the Turks that you could have worked with? What did you see in me just after one chance of working together? Without even an interview?"

"Wrong." Reeve shook his head. "You did go through an interview."

"When…" Then Meia remembered. It was when she was Matilda, meeting Reeve Tuesti for the first time. "It was when you told me that you wanted to build a world with your designs. Designs that will make people happy. Is that the kind of company that you want to build?"

"… Yes." The older man looked at Meia, his face kind but his eyes still sharp and clear in his vision. "Has your answer changed?" He asked.

She smiled. "No, it has not. I still desire to fight for the people whom I love." She looked at him. "Was that it? Was that really all you needed in your vice-commander? To see the good in others and help them?"

Reeve smiled in return. "In time to come you will see that all I need is somebody who shares the same burden with me for the Planet. Someone who desires to rebuild the Planet, but not for selfish reasons. I don't want to see people suffer because of another's greed. The world does not need a second Shinra."

Meia stared at the floor quietly. Many questions swarmed in her head. Would she be capable enough?

When she voiced it out, Reeve laughed. "When I asked Veld if I could have you in my team, he had no qualms about it. If you really were a problem, he would've advised otherwise." He paused. "Shinra were strict in their selection of Turks, weren't they? Wouldn't you trust even that?"

She was surprised by his answer. She had not expected Veld nor Reeve to trust her that much. An unexplainable zeal bubbled within her. Think of all the things that they could do! But what will happen if we face opposition? Meia wondered. What if the opposition came from within? She did not doubt Reeve nor Veld's intentions, but…

As if he had read her mind, Reeve answered. "Like I said, Rufus Shinra will push our vision towards actualisation, though he may or may not be aware of it." He crossed his fingers in thought. "Let's watch and see what his next move is."

"Reeve…" Meia looked at him apologetically. "I would love to take up the offer right now but… There are too many things that I would like to think about first."

"I suppose you, indeed, would require some time to consider my offer." Reeve turned to the waiter and paid for the bill. "So I shall ask you again… soon."


Veld never needed to wait long for responses to his invitation to his intelligence team. Within two days after his talk with the former Turks, everyone in the team had decided to support Veld in his plans. However, only Kido, Rod, Cassie, Alana and KK will be working with Veld and Elfe full-time.

For the rest of the Turks, they already have plans and ongoing projects waiting for them. Legend and Jasper are returning to their businesses in Wutai and Bone Village respectively. Leia and Haato will return to Icicle Inn first. Cissnei will be in Gongaga with Zack's parents and Mason will return to Costa del Sol as a detective. Meia was the only one who has not really decided on her future, although everyone has promised to work with Veld on top of their plans and jobs.

"Alrighty, everyone!" Cassie called out to the people in the room. "Gather round, gather round!"

"What's this about?" asked Cissnei, folding her arms.

Alana looked around her. Everyone was here for the 'emergency meeting', as coined by Cassie. Veld had left for Kalm yesterday, stating that he would contact them when needed. Till then, Alana would take charge. "We are here to talk about the intelligence team that Veld had mentioned a few days ago," she answered Cissnei. "I understand that all of us have decided to continue working with Veld. However, we still have to organize and coordinate among ourselves."

"We don't even have a name yet!" chipped in Cassie excitedly. She tossed pieces of paper on the table, excitedly egging others to read.

Leia picked up one of them. "Skrut Services?" She asked.

Cassie beamed with pride. "Yup! It stands for 'Super Knowledgeable and Reliable Undercover Team'!"

Beside her, Rod was grinning too. "You gotta hand it to her. She spent the whole night thinking of the name!"

"Really? The whole night on 'Skrut'?" Meia frowned. "Isn't that like, 'Turks' spelled backwards?"

Cassie gasped loudly. "How did you guess?" She asked. "I thought that Skrut was a very clever idea!"

"Skrut is a stupid name!" complained Jasper with a disgusted face.

"Watch it, Jasper!" warned Cassie with a joking glare. "Like you can come up with something better!"

Legend shook his head. "I ain't going to call myself a 'skrut'. It's not cool enough."

"I think we should call ourselves 'Moogletarts'," suggested Meia with a mischievous smile.

"Why are we wasting time with something as trivial as a name?" groaned Leia.

Kido shook his head. "Any name is fine."

It took another five minutes before they concluded that they would call themselves INTEL. Mason was going to start on what INTEL means but Meia quickly stopped him – Leia looked as if her patience was running out.

The plan was simple. They only need to gather information – as much as they can. Communication will be done through PHS. Basic telecommunication lines became operable quite recently, thanks to Legend, Mason and Rod who spent the entire afternoon getting basic needs of the citizens ready. Alana would be the main person overseeing the matters in INTEL after Veld. No one had any objections – Alana was the most dedicated and organized person who remained in Midgar.

KK took a deep breath. "So…"

"What?" Haato glanced at KK, prompting her to speak her mind.

"So… you guys are really leaving, huh?" She laughed humourlessly. "I was kinda hoping that you guys can hang around a little more."

Jasper sighed. "No can do. My family is expecting me back. Both my original family and my new one."

Meia nodded. "I'm leaving with Jasper, Leia and Haato. I need to get back to Randy and Heidi. Even if they are not willing to see me, at least I want some closure."

"Ain't gonna be easy though," commented Rod. "The last time I checked with my gang of biker buddies, they seemed pretty pissed off that I just walked out without a word."

Legend grinned. "Let me know if you need some bombs planted here and there," he offered. Meia rolled her eyes, though she knew that Legend was half-joking.

"Well," Haato remarked, lifting his legs onto the table. "I guess this is it."

"What do you mean?" asked Rod.

"This would probably be the last time we'll see each other."

"No way!" cried out Cassie. "Like that's going to happen!"

KK agreed enthusiastically. "We've barely begun to hang out with each other as free people!"

Kido nodded with Haato. "It won't be necessary for any of you to return," he said bluntly. "And we probably won't have chances to gather like this again, anymore."

"Still…" KK mumbled. "Don't say it that way!"

"I really don't want that." Meia tugged at her hair in worry. "We will meet if we want to… right?"

"KK and Meia's right. I don't want that either." Cissnei shook her pretty head. "We may have different lives, but we are still comrades… or am I the only one?"

Mason chuckled and scratched his head. "Of course we are comrades, regardless of where we are or what we are doing!"

Rod shook his head and whispered to Kido something along the lines of Mason being nice only to the ladies. Meia giggled when she heard him. How she missed those worry-free days, if being a Turk could ever be 'worry-free'.

"Veld will call us back when he needs us to." Alana nodded. "I am confident that we will see each other again." Others agreed positively. "Now, I know Leia, Haato, Jasper and Meia are leaving for the north tomorrow. Since the rest of you are still staying for a few more days, INTEL will need to start on our business."

"Really?" joked Mason. "We've barely decided on the name of our team and we are already getting jobs to do? What is it?"

Alana's face was not as amused. "Yesterday, the President was taken away from the house in Kalm."

Everyone immediately sobered up and listened to the details. Alana told them about what had happened, with Meia chipping in details that she had heard from Reno. Yesterday, while the Shinra Turks were out gathering information, Rufus was apparently kidnapped from his bed. No one should have known his whereabouts, even though there had been rumours that the President of Shinra was hiding in Kalm.

"So… you want us to go find out his whereabouts?" Cissnei asked. "You know how tightlipped some of these people can be."

"Ah, ah, ah," tutted Haato. "That does not sound like how a Turk should sound like."

"You know what they say," Rod folded his arms and pushed imaginary sunglasses to look like Rude. "There's no mission impossible for the Turks."

The redhead stared at the two Turks, ready to retort. Then, Cissnei laughed. "Perhaps I have not been practising enough as a Turk." She smiled.

"INTEL, you mean," corrected KK with a cheeky smile.

"All the best everyone," said Meia seriously. "I wish you all the best in finding the President."

Even though everyone continued to talk and say as much as they could to each other, Meia could not bring herself to do so. In her heart, she was constantly worried about how she should approach Randy and Heidi about her old well-kept secret.


Thank you everyone, for waiting two weeks after such a short chapter. Do read and review. I sincerely thank all who are still reading and showing support after such a long time. I promise, the story will come to an end eventually!