As soon as Tseng had stated his intentions and left the party, Veld looked to Legend and nodded, tilting his head slightly to the servants' exit. Legend seeing his boss's prompt, sighed but returned the nod indicating he understood. He was to have the dubious pleasure of finishing the detail with the two, in his opinion, rookies. Oh well, there was only the President, a couple of the Execs and a few couples from the highest echelons of society left. And judging by their slurred speech and exaggerated conversational volume. They wouldn't be staying too much longer. He began to patrol the room, making sure all was still secure.
Veld entered the service elevator and pushed the button for the forty-eighth floor. The level that housed the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department. He quickly but calmly entered his office and stepped into his 'filing' closet. Placing his palm on the reader and his eye to the retinal scanner, he waited for the system to recognize him. Once it did, the door behind him magnetically locked. The filing cabinets silently slid forward on well-oiled tracks. Then separated, revealing a bank of screens and computer terminals that highjacked into the primary system—giving the Turks senior members unlimited access to all security footage within and the surrounding areas of the Tower, allowing them to monitor and/or modify any surveillance footage privately. Sitting in the high back office chair. Vled was just in time to witness Tseng and Rufus exit their elevator car. Speed dialling Tsengs phone, he waits for him to answer. "Sir?"
Taking a deep breath and a remembered promise, Veld confides to his now second in command. "The stars align, and the Eagle will soon plummet from his mighty perch, but the Fledged is not allowed to fly and needs to be guarded at all costs!... And enjoy your day off as there will be no prying eyes!" He then hung up the phone. Even though the Turks were on their own secure channel, there was always the chance that someone could tap in and listen. Hence the coded messaging. Seeing the perplexed look on Tseng's face caused Veld to chuckle. But he had full confidence that Tseng understood and would see to the Vice-Presidents well being. And he hoped in more ways than one for both of their sakes.
Right before they entered the apartment, Veld inputted the codes needed to scramble and loop the video feed so that it appeared that Rufus had entered alone and used the footage from the afternoon, showing Rufus heading straight to his bedroom. Veld had managed to ensure that no recording devices had been placed in the bathrooms or bedroom, ensuring Rufus received a certain amount of privacy. But to do that, Veld had to scathingly shame Hediggar at one of the board meetings by insinuating that if they were going to monitor Rufus while he shit, showered and slept. Then they should also install security in all of the Execs and Presidential private areas. It had its' desired effect. All of the board members vetoed the extra surveillance in these private areas.
Veld leaned back into his chair and let himself doze, knowing the monitors would wake him when Tseng left the apartment. Even though Veld knew Tseng's preference was for men, it was not common knowledge. Even among the Turks, as Tseng was very meticulous in choosing his partners or, more aptly, his one night stands. And knowing Tseng as well as Veld did, Tseng would not breach the boundaries of professionalism.
There were three houses that Tseng frequented at varying intervals. And he never chose the same house or companion in a row. It had taken Veld more than a little discreet tailing to uncover this little fact about him, but as far as Tseng's co-workers knew. He was a cloistered virgin. And oftentimes snickered about it behind Tseng's back but never to his face. As newly initiated into the Turks' ranks, Reno had tried to tease Tsengs' lack of sexual interest humorously and found himself flat on his back, staring into the angry eyes of Tseng. And in a calm and deadly voice. Tseng had made it very clear that his personal life was not an open topic for discussion! Veld chuckled, remembering the look of fear and respect on Reno's face that day. As it was also the day Veld realized that Tseng was the perfect candidate to succeed him as the Turks leader, it was obvious that Tseng wasn't afraid to assert his authority and discipline unacceptable behaviour and that his peers respected him. So Veld had begun to groom him for that potion discreetly. But as Veld dozed, he reminisced over the events that had occurred seven years ago and were the catalyst for the events that were about to occur. The downfall of the current President!
Evelynn Mahy had been married to Reginald Shinra by proxy at the tender age of eighteen. She came from a minor nobility family and 'old' money that hailed from the Neiblehiem region. The fact that many people, even those who lived there, had forgotten. But this made her a suitable and acceptable match for the young entrepreneur. Reginald felt that being properly raised would make her submissive towards him and his ideals. And not so incidentally turn a blind eye to his chosen lifestyle while docilely raising their children as was proper for those who moved in the upper echelons of society's elite.
What Reginald hadn't realized about his new bride as she was anything but docile! She was born and raised in one of the world's harsher environments. And her family had earned their fortune as Lords of landholdings that predated the advancement of modern technology by at least a hundred years. Evelynn had been raised to run and rule the household and manage the estate's properties. She had a backbone of steel and a will that defied logic. But for all of that, she had a heart of gold and truly cared for the people under her stewardship. So after moving in with her husband and his family, Evelynn began the arduous task of managing her new home. By the time Reginald had conceived the notion of building his empire and furthering his fortunes through Mako energy. Evelynn had established a dependant and loyal group of servants and friends who followed her to the new residence on the upper plate of the flourishing city of Midgar. They kept her well informed of her husbands' philandering. As well as his not so legitimate means of acquiring his wealth.
For fourteen years, Evelynn had acted a dutiful wife and doting mother. She loved her son wholeheartedly but grew to despise her husband. Evelynn was adept at hiding her motivations; few people knew that their marriage was one of convenience and not of love. But the day came when Reginald pushed Evelynn too far! He had been berating and belittling her excursions to the Chocobo Farm. Making all sorts of false accusations about his wife's reasonings for going there. Evelynn snapped! She told her husband how she truly felt about him and that she would no longer stay under the same roof as him. That following morning Evelynn packed a small travel bag and walked away from her home, her life and her son knowing that had she tried to take Rufus, Reginald would have her killed on the spot.
Veld had been tasked with getting Evelynn to Kalm and relatives who lived there where she planned to make an undetermined visit; at least that was the public version. Sadly Veld was ordered to execute her as her knowledge of the company, and the President made her a liability. And not knowing the women well, Veld was confronted with the most unexpected situation. They were driving through a slightly wooded area when they came upon an over-turned Chocobo carriage that looked as if it had crashed violently into the trees. Evelynn quietly but pleadingly asks to stop the vehicle and see if they could help. Figuring this was as good of a place as any to carry out his orders, Veld pulled over and stepped out of the car. The carriage was a mess. Not only was it severely damaged. It looked as if the shaft the held the harness had snapped, and the whole carriage was also covered in blood. Veld assumed that the local wildlife and or monster population had disposed of the likely severely injured chocobos. He sighed and turned to face the woman. "It isn't likely there are any survivors, and sadly this too shall be your final resting place !" But before he had a chance to raise his pistol; Five people jumped out of the trees. All were armed to the teeth. And as one stepped forward with a high powered rifle aimed at his head, another disarmed him; Veld could have kicked himself for his stupidity. He had underestimated Evelynn.
Evelynn's next words took him by complete surprise, though. In a calm and gentle voice, "I am grateful that it was you that was assigned to this detail because if it had been any of the others, they would have stupidly tried to fight and ended up dead. Creating more work for me."
The next instant, Evelynn went and grabbed her bag from the car. She returned to the small group, took a shape knife from one of the assailants and cut her hair at shoulder length. Letting it fall to the ground. She then stripped to her underclothes and donned a non-descript pair of black leather pants, riding boots, and a tight shirt that flattened her chest. The next item was a leather vest, further disguising the fact that she was a woman. The last item was a wool cap that covered her head. All of it worn and frayed. If Veld hadn't witnessed the transformation, he wouldn't have known it was the same person.
But what happened next horrified the Turk and, weirdly, garnered a certain amount of respect for the women. She obviously had planned this event well in advance. Evelynn started to shred her dress strategically. She then took the knife and cut off her ring finger. And from the bleeding stump, she flicked generous portions of blood over the dress and at Veld. Once she was satisfied with her handy work, one of the party members came to her and cast Cure on her damaged finger. Ceasing the blood flow and letting the wound start to heal. She then looked at Veld in the eyes. Her own seem to appear cold and lifeless. She handed Veld the severed digit. "You do not yet know the depths of depravity my ex-husband is capable of, but I do! And I value my life more than he has given me credit for. More importantly, I value my son's life and his mental stability, and I will no longer have him, a witness to his father's and my turbulent relationship. I will let you walk away from here if you swear that you will tell Reginald that I am truly dead and that you will keep an eye on Rufus! Let no Bastard of Reginald's be allowed to usurp my son!" She arched her eyebrow questionably.
Veld knew he had no choice, but he couldn't allow her to leave if there were the chance she would set up a coup against her husband. "How can I be assured that you will indeed disappear?"
She nodded to the finger that Veld held in his hand. "That ring was magically bound to me! Should I come within a certain radius, the gemstone will appear clear. Once I am dead, it will grow murky. Being as the finger is no longer attached to my body, I have severed the link to the spell. Tricking it into believing I am dead. Seeing as I have no desire for the ring or that finger ever again, and I no longer wish to subject myself to further emotional and mental abuse. I can assure my disappearance will be assured. But I swear this to you. Should you or any of your own come after me or try and find me. They will meet a long and painful demise! That is a promise!" Anger and rage making her normally cornflower blue eyes turned almost crystal clear themselves. Her face a mask of righteous fury.
Veld nodded in understanding. Evelynn was voluntarily walking away from her entire life, and Veld actually admired her at that moment. But her words stirred unrest within him. What type of person was Reginald if he had managed to push Evelynn so far she was willing to walk away from her only child? And as Veld decided he would do some discreet investigation of his own on the man, he concluded he would be able to use this scene to his advantage in convincing The President and the rest of the world that his wife was dead. Having lost his daughter, though, made Veld's barricaded heart constrict with sympathy for Rufus. But he still was a Turk, and his job was to protect Shinra! So even with his emotions in turmoil, he put in his own conditions. "I will abide by this. But if I ever so much as get an inkling that you are returning from the land of the dead. I will move the Heavens and the Earth to ensure that you do indeed join the Lifestream. And that includes using any indirect means or methods to come against Shinra!" He stated firmly.
Evelynn nodded gravely and then turned away. Whistling loudly, a moment later, six Chocobos emerged from the woods, and the one who was holding the rifle to Velds' head commanded. "On your knees, Turk! And bow your head." Veld complied, knowing his life hung, still hung in the balance. After a brief flurry of activity and scuffling talons on the ground, all was silent. A few minutes passed, there was the return of the local wildlife's normal voices, and Veld looked up to see that he was alone. Getting up, he looked at the finger in his hand. It was now cold, and the gem was indeed turning to a murky colour. Putting it into his jacket pocket and dusting himself off, he returned to his vehicle and headed back to Midgar and delivered his report to the President.
Officially it was reported that after parting with Evelynn Shinra and her entourage, their carriage had been set upon by bandits. Unfortunately, the panicked chocobos crashed the carriage and, being nowhere near civilization, sadly, the injured party had succumbed to death. This included Mrs. Shinra! Privately though, a grim-faced Veld had set the severed finger on the President's desk and said, "The job is complete!" and walked away. But from that day forward, Veld had amassed a wealth of information on Reginald and vowed that Evelynn's sacrifice would not be in vain.
The monitors beeped loud enough to alert Veld that Tseng had exited Rufus's apartment. After adjusting some of the timestamps, he exited the security room and headed for his apartment and virtuous bed. Later on, he would call Tseng to him and confide in the reasons for making him his Second.