After Meteor: Rise from the Ashes
Rufus paced around his new office on the 39th floor. It was recently finished, as the scent of new linoleum tinted the air.
"Dammit! Now that my father's alive, I am just a second rate employee. Being an heir is no fun unless you get what's coming to you. In my case, the entire ShinRa incorporation! There's got to be some way…"
Rufus stopped pacing for a moment, then sat down in his desk chair and rubbed his chin.
"Yes! I see…I could kill him. I've been trained as a Turk, it would be as if the Lifestream had never resurrected him. But wait! What about Device? Yes, Device. I'll wait until Hojo finds it, then I'll kill him…" Rufus smiled to himself, then broke into maniacal laughter. "Watch out ol' man, Rufus is gonna get 'cha! Hahahaha!"
Hojo picked around his destroyed lab. Broken test tubes littered the floor, their contents spilled on the floor. In all, it wasn't as bad as Hojo had thought. He continued to prod around until he came to an armored safe. Hojo put in the combination and opened the safe and took out what was inside.
"Yes, Device. You have survived a catastrophe greater than no planet has ever seen. I'm so proud of you." Hojo hugged his controller. "I must report back to the President. He will be pleased."
Hojo took Device up to the 39th floor to President ShinRa's office, right next door to Rufus' office. He knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Hojo walked in the door. "Sorry to bother you sir, but, I found Device."
"Great! How close is it to completion?" asked the President with great excitement.
Rufus overheard the conversation through the air duct. He went over to the opening on the ceiling and stood on his chair to get a better listen.
"About 80%, I've still got to make a few adjustments. Don't worry sir, it will be done soon enough."
"Great! I've ordered an office for you. It isn't a lab, but you can do small mechanics in there. It is on the 40th floor. Here's the key." President ShinRa tossed a key in Hojo's direction.
"Thank you sir. I won't let you down." Hojo caught the key, bowed and left.