"So I don't know about bores. Maybe you shouldn't feel too sorry if you see some swell girl getting married to them. They don't hurt anybody, most of them, and maybe they're secretly all terrific whistlers or something. Who the hell knows? Not me."
-The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
The Imperial Headquarters were barren, just the way Rufus liked them. When the offices were full, people always seemed to be barging in on him, waving something in front of his face to sign. Plus the quiet gave him time to think.
He hadn't heard from Alli in some days and was beginning to wonder if she hadn't been present at one of the battle zones. Or if maybe Avalanche had gotten to her somehow...
As the thoughts of his cousin swarmed his mind, a deep rumbling drew his attention away just as a blistering wave of heat washed over him...
***
The wind was screaming past the windows on Strife's apartment, and Tifa couldn't help but shudder. The general hadn't said anything to her in the last few minutes, and she was still dazed at thought of being taken back to Midgar with him. She looked over at him, tempted to ask him another question about the situation, but was interrupted by two things.
First was a very loud explosion somewhere near the building they were in. The second was the ringing of a PHS some moments later. Strife was upon the screaming device at once, while Tifa rushed to a window to attempt to see what the explosion had been.
"What in the world was that?" She asked to no one in particular as she pressed her face against the cold glass of the windowpane, seeing nothing past the rain.
"What?" Strife was inquiring through the PHS. He was silent for several moments. "How many are predicted dead?" Another pause. "Could have been worse...yeah...I heard you. I still say it could have been worse." Pause. "How soon? Alright." Emotionlessly, he hung up the PHS.
"What's going on?" He didn't answer her. "Cl- General Strife?"
"Stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can," he told her, briskly heading to the door, pausing only to slip on a coat before he left.
"Er...ok!"
***
"Hey James?" Alli glanced over at the Cetra, who had sprawled out on the sofa.
"Yeah?" He slowly pried one eye open.
"What were they bombing today?"
"Er..." he sat up. "I don't know. Shion and Vincent didn't tell us anything...maybe Jessie or Reno knows." Standing, he offered the teenage girl a hand up and they both left the sitting room, joining the others in the main hall, as they had come to call it.
"Hey, Reno? Jessie?" Alli came around to sit in an arm chair. "Do you guys know what their target was?"
Reno nodded offhandedly, scooting down on the couch a bit so James could also sit. "I'm pretty sure Vinnie-boy said something about the Imperial Headquarters."
"The...the Imperial Headquarters?!" The strawberry blonde leapt out of her seat. "As in Ru...as in the Emperor!?"
"Yes," the former Turk, rolled his eyes in annoyance. "As in the fucking Emperor!" His head sank into his hands. "Ah...geez...I'm sorry Alli, it's just been a very, very, bad day."
The girl, who for a second looked as though she might blockade herself in the sleeping quarters again, nodded and sat down in the chair once more.
"Gah! I can't take it anymore!" Caleb, surprising them all greatly, suddenly stood, slightly off balance, and began walking around the furniture. "My legs are killing me!" Jessie laughed as Reno and James both looked up in shock at the outburst of the "prisoner."
"You are really tall, you know that?" Reno asked him offhandedly.
***
Aeris and Reeve watched from the center of Corel as rebel troops came and left town in shifts. The battle had be going on nonstop for countless hours, it seemed to them both. The half-Cetra had been helping tend to the wounded as they came in, and now that everything was under control, she wanted to get out of the scene.
"Let's go back," she said uncertainly to Reeve, glancing down at the blood that stained her dress.
"Yeah, ok," he nodded in understanding. He led her by the elbow out of the building that served as a makeshift hospital. "You should get some rest," he told her as they stepped out into the chilly night. The entire winter had been much too warm.
Aeris smiled bemusedly at his comment. "You should too, you look like you're about to fall over."
"Nah," he gave a boyish grin, very uncharacteristic of him. "That's how I always look!"
She laughed heartily, more at how cute he looked when he smiled like that rather than his comment. "You're really funny, you know that?" She laughed harder as he visibly blushed in the darkness.
"Mmmmno. I'm just a bit out of it lately. I'm really...quite a boring person."
Reeve's opened slightly wider as the half-Cetra gave him a soft cuff in the chin. "Sometimes boring people are the most interesting deep down."
***
It didn't take long for Yuffie's mood to change. In a mere matter of minutes she was humming a chipper tune and marching along beside Biggs and Wedge.
"Good to have the old Yuffie back," Biggs told her offhandedly as they rounded yet another curve.
"Why Biggs, whatever do you mean?" the teenager grinned up at the former SOLDIER, practically skipping her way along the tunnel.
"Well, you haven't been your usual carefree Yuffie self since shortly before we left Rocket Town."
"Er..." she slid to halt in her tracks, turning positively red. "I have no idea what you are talking about! Um...I'm going to go ask Shion and Vinnie up there if we're almost back!" With renewed vigor, she rushed to catch up with the two men.
"Uhhh...that was interesting." Wedge turned to face his friend. "Why do we hang around so many weird people?"
***
"Well it's obvious who should be the next Emperor...or shall I say Empress?" Scarlett's huffy voice was saying as General Strife entered the conference room.
"You? Empress? Ha! I'll eat my own hand before the day you become Empress!" Heidegger was barking, not paying any mind to the young general as he took a seat opposite him at the table.
"Oh?" The blonde woman hissed. "And who do you suggest? You can't even keep tabs on one silly team of four assassins!" She was bristling. "How long have your little Turks been missing now?"
"Now, now, no need to throw a hissy fit, Miss Scarlett," Strife always loved these little meetings. "Really, though, this isn't a meeting for shameless self-glorification. We're here to elect a new, if temporary, leader of the Empire." He propped his feet up on the table. "Any suggestions?" Everyone opened their mouths. "Other than yourself." Expressions of horror and disgust met him...except for Professor Hojo who seemed to have a most amused look about him.
Everyone was quiet for some minutes before Palmer, of all people, spoke up. "What about General Briggs, he-"
"No," Hojo interrupted. "First of all we can't get hold of him, and second of all, we've already seen what a bigheaded emperor leads too. Although, Palmer, you train of thought is for once in the somewhat correct path. General Briggs...an obvious suggestion. Powerful, swift minded, willing to spare lives in need arise, but too cocky and narcissistic. General Strife, however," all eyes landed on the blonde man, "is the perfect choice."
"Er..." for once, Strife was at a loss for words. "I don't think-"
"Excellent!" Palmer was nodding enthusiastically.
"Hmm...I suppose Strife might work." Scarlett's eyes were still narrowed.
"Him? Emperor? We'll see how long that last." Heidegger. Constructive as always.
"Wonderful!" It was odd, hearing such a positive phrase coming from such an...evil man. "It looks as though we've found ourselves a new Emperor."
"Wait now, I never-"
"Congratulations, Emperor Strife."
***
Tifa had managed to find a small radio to check for any breaking news. Albeit it was in Cloud's bedroom...
"...we now return with the grave news that at least fifty people were killed in an explosion at the Imperial Headquarters. Among the dead was the young Rufus Shinra, Emperor of the Shinra Empire. A meeting is already underway discussing the future of the Empire..."
So that's what he went to rush off about...She switched the radio off and headed back to her room, gathering some clothes into her arms. It felt like it was about time to take a shower.
***
Caleb had just taken his seat once more when the "attack squad," as Biggs and Wedge had called them, returned. Shion and Vincent immediately began filling the others in on the situation, while Yuffie, Biggs, and Wedge took their seats with the others.
"So...uh...have fun?" James raised an eyebrow at Yuffie once the briefing was over.
"I...guess you could say that." She gave him a heavy look. "You alright, Jamsie? You're lookin' kind of...weird."
His green eyes seemed to narrow as he glanced her over. "Talk to her," was all he said to Yuffie, who turned away in response.
"I have nothing to say to her," she told him a low voice.
"Just hear her out for pete's sake!" He was bent over her, hissing in her ear. The others were staring at them, trying to grasp the situation.
She twisted her neck around so she was facing him. "No." Stretching out her nimble arms, she shoved him away and headed off for the sitting room.
Alli peered over at James's surprised form on the floor. "I told you to let me talk to her."
***
It was a very dazed General Strife that stumbled into the apartment, shaking excess water from his icy blonde spikes. He really wasn't much of a drinker, but at the moment, he felt he needed something good and strong. That was how Tifa, hair still dripping from her shower, found him. Hunched over a bottle with his head in his hands.
"Er...General Strife?" She took a hesitant step towards the table.
"Please," came a rather slurred reply. "Call me Cloud."
"Umm...alright, Cloud?" She sat down across from him. "Are you alright?"
He snorted. "Of course I'm alright! I'm the goddamned Emperor!"
"What?!"
"Oh, Tifa dear, haven't you heard?" He laid his head on the table surface with a yawn. "They've made Little Cloud the new Emperor. Didn't even get a say in it, I didn't." Despite his words, Tifa found herself holding back a laugh. He was reminding her exactly of the little boy she used to know in Nibelheim.
"So...you're Emperor Strife now?" He groaned in response. "That's uh...interesting."
***
"Turn on the television!!" Shera and Cid, both covered in dirt and blood, came rushing in through the doors of the house were Aeris and Reeve were staying.
"Why? What's going on?" Aeris was looking at the two of them as though they had sprouted an extra head each as she stood and switched on the small television.
"...the young Emperor was in his Vector office when a bomb, assumedly planted by the terrorist group Avalanche, exploded, killing nearly everyone inside including Mr. Shinra. And we have just received word that a new leader had been decided and it is none other than General Cloud Strife..."
Silence ensued through the room as Aeris switched the TV back off.
"So...is that good or bad?"
Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Cid was the first to speak up.
"Well, I suppose it's a good thing that we don't have to deal with the little runt anymore...but bad that Strife's got more power."
"I dunno..." Reeve began. "I've met General Strife plenty of times and I doubt this was his idea. He never had a hunger for power like Rufus, he just did his job."
"If it wasn't his idea," Shera asked, "who's idea was it? I can't think of anyone who want him in power rather than themselves."
"Probably Hojo," Reeve spat out. "He figures he's got Strife in his pocket." Aeris paled as he said this.
"Does he?" She was on the verge of shaking, it was obvious. Not that anyone could blame her...an Empire practically run by Hojo...it was enough to give anyone nightmares.
"No," Reeve shook his head. "Hojo's head is just overly large. Strife hate's him more than anyone else I've ever met."
"So...what happens now?"
***
"You know," Tifa said to a very drunk Cloud after awhile, "I think it's about time we got Little Cloud into to bed."
Slurred grumble. "Maybe Little Cloud doesn't want to go to bed."
"Yes he does, c'mon now," she slid an arm under his and pulled him to his feet, he wasn't altogether unwilling, and was surprisingly light for his size. Together, they stumbled down the hall until they reached his room. After pushing the door open, Tifa led him over to the bed, giggling again as he gracelessly flopped down on top of the covers.
If I have to go to Midgar with him...I'll just get him drunk every night! He's rather pleasant in this condition.
She decided to try and make him somewhat more comfortable and ended up unlacing and removing his boots. After this, she hesitated. His clothes were sopping wet; he'd more than likely catch a cold in his current state.
That is, if he can catch a cold. I don't know what the Mako's done to him. Alright, just his shirt! It means nothing, you're acting motherly! He's the Emperor of the most nefarious Empire in history! Besides, you've got Reno!
Sighing with resolution, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, delicately pulling it off and laying across the back of a chair next to the bed before pulling the comforter up to his neck. She turned off the light as she made her way out of the room and into her own. do
"Goodnight, Little Cloud."
***
"I can't believe we made HIM the new Emperor!! Do we ALL have a death wish!?"
"Calm down, Scarlett!" Heidegger motioned for blonde woman to sit. The two of them were currently discussing the latest turn of events in his apartment. "The decision's been made, unfortunate as it may be. What we have to decide now is what our next plan of action will be."
The Weapon's Developer narrowed her eyes in her seat. "I say we do him in."
"Such class, Scarlett."
"Oh, you're really one to talk about class."
"Tut tut, we aren't to bicker."
Scarlett sighed disgustedly and slouched down in her seat. "I know, I know."
"You're idea, though," the man took a swift drink from the glass in his hand. "Intrigues me. Killing him, easier said than done. And who's to say Hojo won't just take over when he's gone?"
"I really can't see the...good doctor in power for long. No one would stand for it. He knows it, that's why he put that miserable Strife in power! Besides, Hojo doesn't want to be ruler of the world. He just wants a constant flow of gil to keep up his sick experiments."
"True...very true." Heidegger paused, taking another drink. "So we kill Strife. How do you propose we do so? He is the feared man in quite some time you know. Quite powerful, not mention strong."
Scarlett waved his pessimism aside like an annoying housefly. "Matter of opinion. Strife's human-"
"-depends on how you look at it."
"-and thus has human weaknesses." She smirked. "Come on, Heidegger, where's your sense of adventure gone to? This could be our chance."
He looked at her for some time before speaking. "You know...even if we somehow managed to get the General out of the picture, then we'd just be back to battling each other for power."
Scarlett's smirk widened into a satisfied grin. "And that, my friend, is where the true fun begins."
***
Alli was alone in the sitting room; well, other than her grief, she was alone. It seemed to be becoming a daily occurrence for her, locking herself away in room. Of course...the sitting wasn't locked...but that was beside the point.
He's dead...and I as good as helped. I as good as killed my own cousin...he's gone. He won't ever be back. Why did I have to be so horrible to him?!
She'd refrained from crying until then, when the sobs refused to be held in any longer. Burying her face into the arm of the sofa, hoping to muffle to sound so audible to her own ears, she heaved in mournful tears. So caught up in these was she, that she didn't notice when the door opened and closed behind the entering.
"Alli?" the voice was strained and concerned. "Alli...what's wrong?"
"Nothing," her smothered voice allowed her to say. "Nothing at all. Leave me alone."
"No. Something's the matter...and...I want you tell me what!" Biggs moved to sit down next to her. "I'm...just worried about you Alli."
Her sobs having ceased since he entered the room, she sat up, wiping away the excess tears on her cheeks before turning to face him. "I know..."
"Then..." his face contorted with frustration. "Why won't you talk to me? Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"
"Because..." she shook her head. "I've already lost one friend by telling them, I don't think I could bear to lose another one...I don't think I could bear to lose you too."
"That's...silly, Alli-cat," he resorted to using the nickname Reeve have coined for her shortly after she joined them. "Whatever happened between you and Yuffie, I'm sure it's repairable and...I couldn't ever be that angry with you!"
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do!"
Alli caught his eye with hers for several seconds before turning away.
"Maybe later Biggs. Maybe Later."
He nodded, accepting the offer rather than nothing. "I'll leave, if you want me to."
"No...stay."
"Ok."
Author's Notes: Sorry its much shorter than usual, but there's really not much plot happening, other than Emperor Cloud *giggles* So all I really had to was character development and interaction. I rather like this chapter though. Plus, I got to write Scarlett and Heidegger! Those two kill me, they really do (boy, you can really tell I've been reading J.D. Salinger). Aaaannnd, I had drunk Cloud! Weeeeeeeeeee!! That was a hoot to write. Oh, and, uh, I may have lied when I said Aeris wouldn't get in a relationship *looks sheepish*. Sorry but, I really kinda set her up...and it's all Frank Verderosa's Internet Series fault! (you should read that! Its awesome!!) Until next time!
