Scarlet stared out of the massive window of her Junon headquarters, not really seeing the incredible ocean view that was laid out before her. She was too preoccupied for that; there was so much to be done! Heidegger should have been here ten minutes ago, and that fact was not improving her already sour mood. She turned from the window and looked with distaste at the men and women working frantically at computer consoles in the large control room. She hated all of them, they were like sheep - always willing to follow, and they were all spineless worms!
She was a beautiful woman, a fact she was well aware of and often used to get what she wanted. She was tall for a woman, with long blonde hair. The dress she wore was red - it was the only colour she would wear - and covered here shapely form perfectly. Her deep blue eyes would have been striking except for the cruelty and coldness that never left them. She rarely smiled.
Her high heels clicked on the floor as she made her way towards the door, intent on finding Heidegger herself. She snorted in irritation. The fat fool was probably drunk in a seedy bar somewhere again.
It turned out she was wrong, for the door opened and he casually walked in, a couple of guards trailing behind him. He was a short chubby man with a bristling black beard that covered half his face. He reminded her of a barrel with hair. She hid her repugnance as always though. She still needed this guy, much as she hated to admit it. He had connections, and controlled the majority of their troops. That would change soon enough.
"About time!" Scarlet snapped. "Where the hell have you been?"
As usual Heidegger ignored her fury. He shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
"Prisoners rebelled again. These Junon bastards are stubborn. They won't give up, we almost had another riot on our hands."
Junon survivors had been forced to keep on working at their duties in the city: only now it was for Scarlet. She didn't believe in keeping wasteful prisoners, and the most mundane tasks had been forced on them, while her own men took over the military positions. Obviously, the Junon people didn't think much of this arrangement. This was the third rebellion this week.
"Fine, if that's how they want it. Pick ten of them at random and execute them. Firing squad. Make sure it's done in front of the others." That should keep them in check she thought.
Heidegger nodded and dispatched two guards for this task. They didn't look very happy, but left none the less. Scarlet ignored them.
"Are the repairs complete?"
"Yep. Cannons are all functional. Machine guns have been set up for the perimeter." Heiddeger looked quite pleased with himself about that.
Junon was the most fortified city in the world, which was exactly why she had wanted it as a base for her thrust for power. Unfortunately, this also made it difficult to take. Luckily for them most of the Junon military were easily swayed as the chaos Sephiroth and Meteor had created slowly died, and it hadn't been hard to convince most of them to join her cause. In her experience, soldiers didn't care who they worked for, as long as they got paid and got the spoils of victory. Some however hadn't seen her way and a few skirmishes had broken out. Still, it didn't take long to claim the city as hers. Not that the citizens thought much of that, but there was nothing they could do. The military ran this place.
"Good. We're well established here now. Soon we can focus on Wutai."
Heidegger laughed again. He did that a lot, and it irritated her a bit more every single time.
"Wutai will be no problem. They are helpless under that idiot Godo. With our troops we'll crush them into the dirt."
"You would be wise not to underestimate them. Godo is weak, but his daughter leads their troops. She has managed to revitalize that place and it's not a pushover anymore. The whole reason they claimed independence is because she pushed for it."
"You truly think she can beat us Scarlet? You're getting too soft, this will be as easy as taking Junon was." Heidegger clenched his meaty hand. "I'll look forward to capturing that girl… and then personally putting a bullet in her head!"
Not until I've interrogated her you won't, Scarlet thought. That pesky girl must know what happened to the huge materia. I must have that first. Then I can act. Perhaps there is a way I can avoid this battle, and the risk of some idiot killing her.
"Perhaps we should try reasoning first. I want you to set up a meeting with Godo."
Heidegger obviously hadn't expected that, he looked up in surprise at the taller woman. "What? Why? Let's just kill them Scarlet! With Wutai under our control, we can take the world!" He almost yelled the last word.
That was all Heidegger wanted: to be able to rule over the common people. Her ambitions were much bigger then mere power - she already had that. He wasn't aware of her hidden agenda, and that was the way she liked it. He was a pitiful excuse for a human being, but she couldn't afford to take any unnecessary risks. Better to keep him on side for now.
"Don't question me." She kept her voice calm. "All will become clear soon. I promised you power, and I will deliver it. But we do things my way! Do you have a problem with that?" She glared at him.
He backed down just as she knew he would. "Of course not Scarlet. I'll contact Godo immediately."
"Do that. Anything else to report?"
Heidegger nodded. "Something strange. The last couple of days some of the men have reported seeing someone nosing around their guard stations."
She sighed. Could no one think for themselves? "So a local is curious about the increase in soldiers. Big deal. Get rid of him"
"You don't get it Scarlet. He's bald and supposedly always wears a dark blue suit and sunglasses. Even at night." Heidegger looked troubled.
She realized what he was talking about; there was only one man that could be. Rude! Impossible, they were all dead! The Turks were killed in Midgar… weren't they? If they had survived, what were they doing here? She had always despised the Turks, and for Rude to be here now… She had to find out what his plans were and find out just how much he knew.
"I want him found Heidegger. I don't care how long it takes. Offer a reward, 20,000 gil to the person or persons who can bring him to me alive! If Rude's here we have to assume Reno and Elena are out there as well." She didn't like the way her voice had lost confidence. Even she was careful about the Turks.
Heidegger nodded, his smile had also vanished. He turned and left the room without a word.
She didn't even bother to watch him go, but turned back to the window. This time she appreciated the seemingly endless ocean. It reminded her of herself - powerful, able to take lives or save them. She knew which one she enjoyed more. As soon as she had the huge materia… no one would stand in her way. Not the Turks, not Strife and his friends - no one.
"Looks like we missed the party Elena." Reno said. He leaned casually against the wall as they surveyed the near empty lab.
The blonde woman by his shoulder walked past him into the middle of the room. Her eyes quickly scanned the bare walls, open empty cupboards and the open safe on the far side. She knew Rufus wasn't going to be happy with this.
He had sent them to investigate the old lab, apparently believing Hojo may have left something valuable there. Elena didn't question how he knew this, and from the looks of it he had been right. Only they had been too late to find it. The lack of guards had indicated that as soon as they arrived.
Reno took off his shades and slipped them into his coat pocket. His red hair seemed to glow in the mixture of artificial and natural light from outside as he sauntered over to her. He carried a solid steel rod over one shoulder - he never seemed to be without it. Elena had a pistol hidden under her coat, for they had expected resistance. Now they had nothing.
She noted that many of the benches were still covered with dust. The small table seemed to be the only thing clean. She could still make out faint footprints in the dust that covered the floor. Whoever had been here, hadn't been gone long
"They haven't left too long ago. Maybe only a couple of days. Whoever it was, they got what they came for obviously."
Reno smirked. "Very observant of you Elena. Rufus ain't gonna like this news."
She ignored his sarcasm, and it was then she spotted it - a small crumpled ball of paper lay in the far corner. She crossed the room and retrieved it. As she read it, Reno saw her face change from disappointment to horror.
"Reno, we've got problems." She handed him the paper. As he scanned it, he saw what she meant. He swore loudly.
"Damn, Rufus really ain't gonna like this news!"
The moon shone brightly over the old weathered shack that stood alone in the grasslands near Gongaga, a single mark man had pressed onto nature. It was in good shape considering its age, and made a comfortable living area for him.
Cloud Strife hadn't gone to this place for comfort though, only isolation. How long had he been here? A month, two or three? He wasn't sure. Out here time seemed to flow and melt together until night and day seemed the same. The former Shinra soldier sat fully clothed on his narrow bunk, gazing aimlessly over what had become his home. Another sleepless night.
His possessions were few and they were scattered over the floor with no thought to neatness or organization. The place was small: comprising of only a kitchen, bathroom and living room which doubled as his bedroom. A large fireplace dominated one wall, a fire burning cheerfully inside. A stack of wood was piled close by. Apart from his bunk and a solid oak table with two chairs, the rest of the room was void of furniture. A mirror was the only decoration on one wall. He didn't need much to get by.
He stood and caught his reflection in the mirror. He was shocked that he hardly recognized himself. Several days worth of beard adorned his chin and his spiky yellow hair was greasy and dry. A far cry from the strong, handsome leader he had been only months ago.
Feels like years ago now. At least no one can see me so weak out here.
So much had changed in such a short time that sometimes it didn't feel like it was real. In a way he wished this was all a dream and he would just wake up and things would be as they once were. Deep down he knew he was fooling himself. Something had changed in him during the Meteor crisis. He had lost something very special with the death of Aeris. He had thought he could reclaim that when he killed Sephiroth by his own hand. Instead it felt like he had lost a part of himself again.
Aeris isn't coming back. She's a part of the Lifestream now. I couldn't save her. Sephiroth's dead as well, but I don't feel any better. Am I going to end up like him?
He remembered the moment after he had finally vanquished Sephiroth, his former Commander and a man who had been a friend. He had expected to feel some sense of satisfaction for revenging Aeris, but he hadn't felt anything. Just emptiness inside that never seemed to leave.
Tifa had been the one to stay with him for long hours, her presence a simple comfort. His feelings were mixed about her. She was his oldest friend, but was it more then that? He wasn't sure what he felt anymore. He hadn't seen her for a long time now, shunning all company to be alone with his grief. He wanted to be with her, but there was a part of him that couldn't handle being with anyone anymore. He was certain she would have moved here with him if he had asked… but he hadn't.
I can't ask her to do that, because I can't protect her anymore. Can't protect any of them, not even myself
Cloud knew he wasn't going to wield a sword again. He had killed Sephiroth, run him through dozens of times with that blade, and it hadn't taken away any of his anger, pain, or hate. Killing never did anything for anyone. He had left his sword with Tifa, because he knew he wouldn't use it again. He had grown to hate combat, and everything it represented.
He had no idea where all his old comrades were anymore. Scattered across the world, each returning to what they had fought for he supposed. He was jealous of their simple lives. He wondered if they ever thought of him.
Cloud turned out the light and tried to find sleep in amongst the nightmares that continued to torment him.
