I kinda forgot to put a disclaimer on the first chapter so I'm doing it now. Better late than never huh?

Disclaimer: Everything FF7 belongs to Squaresoft. I don't own Reno, Rude, Elena, ShinRa ect...unfortunately. I do own any original characters so if you wanna use em ask me first! So don't sue me unless you want a paperclip, some pocket lint, and 3 cents!!


Chapter 2


Reeve didn't like the sound of what the Turks told him. Sounded human? Who could possibly be living in or beneath the basement? Well, one thing was certain. He definitely didn't want anyone else to go down there without it being checked out first. They had to find out what the source was or he'd probably die from the suspense.

"Well, I'm going to confiscate everyone's basement key cards until we figure this out." After listening to Reno and Rude's anecdote Reeve was wide awake. He'd expected them to come back reporting a noisy pipe or machinery that may have scared Ms. Dean. The grave look on Reno's face made him expect otherwise.

He typed furiously at his computer sending out a notice to all staff. He demanded that all who were assigned a basement key card have them on his desk within the hour.

"So what do think?" Reno asked the president. He honestly didn't know what to make of what they heard.

"I'm not really sure. You all know this building was built on the foundation of the old headquarters. But the basement was already there. Who knows what that sound was."

"Is there any way to go beneath the building?" Rude spoke up from his place in an armchair to Reeve's right.

"Not that I know of..." He thought for a moment then he had an idea. "In the file storage we have some maps of the building. They might help..."

He hit a white button on the intercom on his desk. "Eleanor?"

"Yes sir?"

"Get me the maps for the third floor down and some blueprints if you can find them."

"No problem sir."

"I don't see what the big deal is guys." Elena stood up from the sofa by the door. "It was probably just some pipes. The basement is pretty old. I don't see how a little creaking is reason enough for us to go all code red all of a sudden."

"We aren't going "code red". I'm just taking a few precautions. You know, I think I should give Cloud a call."

"STRIFE!?"

"His name is Cloud, Reno."

"I don't care what his name is...we don't mix. Besides, we don't need that bumbling idiot just to check out a little basement."

"Relax Reno. I'm just going to let him know what's going on just in case we need his help."

"Fine but if he shows up trying to play leader with the Turks he's got another thing coming."



Tifa maneuvered expertly around the tables in her bar Heaven's Diamond. She carried two dishes of cheese fries on one arm and a plate of mozzarella sticks in the other. After setting them on a table in front of some customers she headed back behind the bar.

There was just something about running a bar that made her happy. The sparkle of the cleaned shot glasses all lined up on the shelf under the bar. The foggy reflections of the tables and chairs on the polished hardwood floor. Sure there was the occasional tough customer who didn't know when to leave. But with her years of martial arts training to back her up they weren't that much trouble. When things got busy Cloud was there to help out.

After Midgar was repaired and the planet settled down, Tifa and Cloud decided to open an inn in Sector 6. But it was too boring for either of them to handle. So it was back to the bar. They found decent space for rent in Sector 5 and with the gil the earned from the inn they opened the Heaven's Diamond bar.

Today, mostly regulars were occupying the bar. At a far corner, about five men and women were occupied with a casual game of poker over half full glasses of beer. Others were either engaged in quiet conversation or sulking over life's many problems at the bar.

There wasn't really anything to worry about when Tifa went to answer the telephone in the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Tifa? This is Reeve."

"Hey! How's it going up at headquarters?"

"Could be better..."

"What's wrong? Is everything ok?" Her voice immediately took on a note of concern.

"We're not sure yet...we think something might be wrong but it could be nothing. Is Cloud around?"

"He left to get some things from the shop for me. He should be back any minute. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I sent Reno and Rude in the basement to check out some noises. They said it sounded human."

"Human? That sounds creepy."

"I know...Just in case we need some help; will you be able to come down here today?"

"Probably. After Cloud gets back I can close up early today if you need us."

"Thanks...I'll call back later and let you know."

"Ok...take care."

"You too."

When he hung up Tifa went back up front to finish drying glasses. She hoped everything was ok but deep down she yearned for a little excitement. It was just too damn quiet nowadays.

Ten minutes after she'd hung up Cloud came in through the backdoor carrying grocery bags and supplies. She gave him a warm smile while helping him with the load. "Reeve called..."



"Sir, I have the blueprints you wanted."

"Bring them in."

"Yes sir."

The Turks gathered around Reeve's desk as he spread out the large diagrams. They all studied them for themselves but there didn't seem to be a way past the basement level.

"I don't see anything helpful."

"Me neither, " Elena agreed with Reno.

The other two kept examining the diagrams for something helpful. All of the elevator shafts seem to end at the basement. They traced pipelines and cables but they all ended abruptly at the basement as well.

Then something caught Rude's attention. Underneath the boiler room, plotted in dotted lines, was what looked like a tunnel or shaft.

"Hey...check this out, "Rude pointed to what caught his attention. They all strained to see. It was very faint and the aged texture of the map didn't help things much.

He traced it with a finger but it ended suddenly where the border of the diagram began. "Maybe the sound traveled up that, " Elena suggested.

"Maybe...But it definitely gives us a place to start looking. I could send Cait Sith down with you guys if your ready for another round."

Rude and Elena looked to Reno for an answer. He wasn't too anxious to go creeping around under the basement but he did want to know the source of that noise. He had the feeling it was going to be more than they expected but they weren't going to find out hanging around in Reeve's office.

"We'll do it."

He activated Cait Sith and pulled out his PHS. "You guys head on down. I'm going to call Cloud and Tifa back and ask them to come. I'll control Cait when you get down there."

With that, the Turks left his office for the second time that day headed towards the basement.



They stopped at the basement entrance to ready their materia. Once inside they headed straight for the boiler room. There was a light bulb hanging in the center of the room and Elena was glad to shed some light on their dark surroundings. The room was a bit crowded with the four of them searching. But it didn't take them very long to find something promising.

Reno discovered a floor panel beneath one of the boilers that looked different from the others. It was black compared to the others which were grey. He couldn't be sure judging from the blueprints but he guessed this was where the shaft was drawn. The tank was bolted to the panel so they weren't sure how to open it. They didn't bring anything to unbolt it with.

They argued about whether or not moving it would upset the pipes and blow them to kingdom come. But the end Reno got fed up with the whole situation and demanded that Cait Sith just "lift the damn thing".

Expecting the sound of resisting metal and bolts, they were all surprised when it came up quite easily. It appeared to be bolted deep into the floor but after Cait picked it up and the panel came up with it they realized it wasn't secured like the others. The hole beneath the panel was about one and a half square feet.

"Well it looks like there was more to this room after all. So who goes in first?"

After Reno's inquiry they all peered into the tunnel. There was a ladder against one side of the tunnel leading into an inky blackness. The tunnel didn't look very inviting and Elena sure wasn't itching to go in. "I'm not. You found it Reno...I think you should go."

"Your such a wuss Elly."

"Well I certainly can't fit, "spoke Cait Sith/Reeve.

"Rude...?" They all looked at him expectantly. He simply shrugged and began to climb down the ladder. Reno followed, then Elena.

Before the darkness enveloped them Cait called into the tunnel, "When Cloud and Tifa get here I'll send them in after you."

They climbed down the tunnel for what seemed like forever. The only light came from Reno's nightstick which kept clanking against the metal sides of the tunnel. They all had flashlights but they couldn't hold them and climb safely down the ladder. So the electromag rod hanging from Reno's waist would have to suffice, although the noise was driving Elena bonkers.

As they continued down the ladder a faint light made its way into the tunnel.

"Well it's about time...my arms ache!"

"Quit your yappin' Elly. You've got to be the weakest-"

"Quiet! Both of you...listen." After Rude got them quiet they listened.

The wailing...

It was what Reno and Rude heard earlier that morning only louder. They were definitely much closer to the source. Now that they were closer they were certain it was human. Come to think of it, it even sounded...female?

"That's what you guys heard!? What the hell are we getting into?"

"It looks like we're all about to find out, " began Rude, "there's the end of the tunnel."



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Author's notes: (hehehe...I've always wanted to write that!)

Sorry about the cliffhanger...I know that was cruel of me. But don't worry, I've already started the third chapter and it'll probably be up in a day or two. Thanks to all who are reviewing for me. I'm pretty new to fanficing. I've read ton's but I never actually wrote one before. Your reviews are really encouraging and I'll try to update frequently. I'm on spring break now so things might slow down when I go back to school. But I vow not to leave the story unfinished like some authors out there! Hang in there for me!!!

p.s: I'm thinking about naming the chapters. If you have any ideas for the first two so far aim them at drunkpoodle@yahoo.com and I'll try to pick one!!

Drunkpoodle