The Sundown Hotel was the cheapest he had been able to find, and it reminded Reno of bad times. All those times in his life when he'd been forced to wander, with nothing to his name, no fixed address, no family. This was by no means the worst accommodation he'd stayed in, but the memories it brought back were bad enough. And when he did manage to drag his mind out of the past, the possibilities for the immediate future weren't much better. News about him would be out all over Kielestis territory before long. He couldn't stay here. He'd wait until tonight, then leave. Get to Wutai, that was probably the safest place to be. That was the heart of Akurei territory, and Kielestis had no influence there. Reno smiled to himself. Always have a backup plan, even if it was "run for it".
And yet, something kept nagging at the last remains specks of Reno's morality. He couldn't just keep what he'd found to himself. For a start, he'd probably go mad. That was why he'd taken the risk of getting what proof he could out of Kielestis, after all. He just hoped it would be enough. Why should anyone listen to him, anyway? They'd probably think he'd been drinking too much.
At that thought Reno groaned. He shouldn't be cooped up in here. This was Costa del Sol, after all. He should be outside enjoying the sun, drinking expensive cocktails and trying to get laid. Life, he mused, lighting up a cigarette and slumping down onto the bed, was a bitch. And then...
Reno rarely wondered where he'd gone wrong in his life, for the simple reason that he couldn't remember a time when things had been wholly right. He did sometimes wonder what it said about him that his time in the Turks had probably been the best of his life, though. And he always came to the same conclusion - it said that he'd had a really shitty life and he'd lost his most of his morals somewhere along the way. But that was irrelevant. The past didn't matter. It was just extra baggage, and Reno liked to travel light. But if the past didn't matter, why did he always find himself thinking about it at times like this?
Because it's all you've got, you stupid shit.
But if you wanted a future, you couldn't afford to have a past. Reno had learnt that a long time ago. If you needed to make a new start, you let go. And not just the bad parts. Everything. However much you might miss it, it all had to go. It was the only way.
Reno took a long drag on his cigarette and exhaled indulgently. He'd needed that. To be completely honest with himself he knew that his last year in the Turks, having to report endless failures to his increasing irate and mildly psychotic superiors, had shredded his nerves. Then again, he'd already acquired a healthy degree of paranoia over the years. As far as he was concerned the world may not be out to get him, but it was quite willing to take the occasional pot shot.
Just as that thought hit him, Reno heard footsteps outside in the hallway. Not once taking his eyes off the door, he ground out the remains of his cigarette in the ashtray on the bedside table and slid one hand behind him under the pillow. It connected reassuringly with cold, hard metal. That was something else he'd learnt. Never, at any time, have less than two weapons within arm's reach.
The footsteps stopped right outside the door. Reno took a deep breath. OK, two possibilities. And it had better be the first.
The door opened.
"You."
Reno smirked.
"Long time, no see, Cloud."
Cloud took a step into the room, his posture threatening.
"What the hell do you want?"
"We need to talk," Reno said, getting up. Cloud snorted.
"Whatever it is, Reno, I'm not interested. Pack your bags, and get the hell out of my life."
Reno met Cloud's harsh glare easily, and shrugged.
"Look, I know we were never exactly on the best of terms, but I promise you, your really going to want to know this."
"I doubt it. Unless you and Rude have finally decided to tie the knot."
"&@!# you. Just read this, will ya? Just do me a favor and don't ask how I got it."
Reno retrieved a slightly crumpled wad of paper from a battered satchel at the foot of the bed and handed it to Cloud, who snatched it irritably and skimmed his eyes over the first page. It seemed to be some kind of official document, from Kielestis Inc. judging by the bold logo on the paper heading, and full of obtuse and uninteresting corporate-speak. Cloud was about to throw it aside and demand to know what Reno thought he was playing at, when a word caught his eye.
He blinked, and read it again.
Jenova
"What the...?"
He read the relevant paragraph, his blue eyes widening.
| Judging from present financial reports and forecasts, it would appear that Kielestis Inc. is now in a secure enough position to re-open project GH-JV-1 (Jenova Project). As such, requisition of the original samples, specimens and research records is now top priority. Three stages are planned: | |
| Midgar Expedition 1 | Ascertain structural damage to and safety of Shin-ra HQ. Should building be classed stable, retrieval of Jenova Project files to be attempted. |
| Midgar Expedition 2 | Retrieval of any usable samples and specimens remaining in the Shin-ra HQ, in particular high priority s/s: JV-0-00 through 71, JV-101-1-4 through 7, JV-101-2, JV-103-72, JV-112-26. |
| Should Midgar Expedition 1 conclude the Shin-ra building structurally unstable or otherwise potentially dangerous, research files shall also be retrieved during this time. | |
| Northern Crater Expedition | Long-term expedition, initially to determine status of original specimen JV-0 (Jenova). |
| Investigation will also be carried out into the whereabouts of possible escaped/loosed specimens, and action taken as necessary. | |
| Employees should not need to be reminded that project GH-JV-1 and everything associated with it is top secret. | |
"Holy shit... they... they can't be serious!"
"Looks pretty serious to me."
Cloud looked at Reno, who was wearing a smug expression with just a slight note of relief.
"How did you find out about this?"
"Long story," Reno replied shortly. Cloud narrowed his eyes.
"I've got time."
"I haven't. I'm outta here."
Unfortunately for Reno, Cloud was still blocking the exit.
"You're not going anywhere."
"You don't get it. I need to get out of here before Kielestis catches up with me. So, just let me go, okay?"
"That's it?" Cloud hissed, grabbing Reno by the collar with his free hand, "You tell me this, you turn my life upside down, and then you think you can just walk away?"
"Hey, calm down..."
"You're a coward, Reno. But you're not getting away from this one. Do something decent for once in your life, and see this through."
"Hey, if I had somewhere safe to stay, I'd stick around," Reno protested, squirming out of Cloud's grip, "but I want to stop the Jenova Project, not wind up part of it."
"What's in this for you?" Cloud said suddenly.
"What?"
"I know this much about you - you don't even make an effort, let alone take risks like this, if you don't think you'll get something out of it. What's in this for you?"
Reno gave a small smile.
"You really don't trust me, do you? Can't say I blame you. You want a reason - call it enlightened self interest. I can't say I know the details, but when Shinra started messing around with stuff like this they nearly caused the apocalypse. I don't want to have to live through that again..."
A female voice suddenly cut through Reno's speech.
"Cloud...!?"
Tifa skidded to a halt in behind her husband.
"Reno? Cloud, what's going on?"
Cloud just wordlessly handed her the document, indicating the paragraph on the Jenova Project. Tifa gasped as she read it.
"But...this...isn't Jenova dead? We...we killed her!"
"We can hope so," muttered Cloud, "but still...."
"We should contact the others...Cloud?"
But Cloud was gazing at the ceiling, apparently deep in thought.
"No," he said eventually, "Not yet, anyway. I think we should investigate Kielestis ourselves before dragging everyone else into this."
"But there's just the two of us..."
"Three." Cloud corrected firmly. Reno shot him a dark look.
"Like I say," he muttered sarcastically, "I'd love to come, but..."
"You can stay at our place," Cloud said, and immediately wanted to kick himself. "If you don't have any objections, Tifa?"
"Of course not."
Reno thought about this.
"Yeah, it makes sense. I doubt Kielestis will go as far as rooting around in private property, and they'll probably won't think I'd try to hide out so close to their HQ. Don't look at me like that," he added, noticing Cloud's expression, "I am house trained, you know."
"Well, come on then," Cloud said wearily, and turned to go.
"What, now?"
"Yes."
"Wouldn't it be better to wait until nightfall?" Reno suggested. "After all, you don't want your neighbors to know you're harboring a felon, do you?"
"He's right, Cloud. It probably would be safer," Tifa said.
"I thought you didn't want to hang around in one place for too long, Reno? This had better not be some scam to worm your way out of this."
"Come on, would I do that?"
"Alright, alright. But if I find out you've skipped town between now and tonight, you're going to regret it."
"Anyway, Reno, you have to come along," Tifa added, "We're going to need your expertise."
"Yeah, right," muttered Cloud.
"I'm serious, Cloud! Reno, you got this document out of the Kielestis building, yes?"
"Sure did."
"So you know your way around there?"
"Yup."
"You see, Cloud?"
Cloud just snorted.
"Alright. Tonight. I just hope I'm not making a big mistake."
Interesting, no? That chapter took a lot less time than I expected, despite my going off and writing another short fic in the middle of it. (The other fic, "Just Don't Ask..." is up at Fanfiction.net if you're interested.) Anyway, now I make a plea to all the arty types reading this - I need pictures! I'd love to see some art based on my work, as I can't draw to save my life (there's the Kielestis inc. logo up with this chapter at the FFVII Citadel, but that's as far as my artwork goes). And as always, please send feedback on how the story is going - Anguipes Seraph