CHAPTER 5 After a big breakfast of beacon, eggs and pancakes, Reno leaned back in his chair and said very contently, "That was good. I haven't had a meal like that in a while. Does she cook like this every morning?" He asked turning toward Josh, who sat in his oversized T-shirt and boxers, still half asleep. Yawning a bit, he replied, "Yea, its an every day thing. I'm in charge of dinner." "Sweet deal.... Then I guess lunch is on me. What do ya say?" Reno said with a big smile on his face. "C'mon, my treat." Raising one eyebrow and giving a shrug Josh replied, "Sounds good to me. What about you Lisa?" Both men turned to the girl who had remained quiet all through breakfast. "Sure" she answered, "but only if you bring your friend, Rude from the bar. I'm sure he would like a decent lunch too." "It's settled then." Reno said with a smile on his face. "Witch ways the phone? Ill give him a call now." "In the living room, by the couch. You can't miss it." Lisa replied pointing down the hallway. "Thanks." he said getting up and walking down the suggested hallway. After a minute or so Reno's half of the conversation could be heard coming from the living room. "Hey man, good mornin'... yea well I was asked to help someone out with a problem and... It's complicated.... How bout I fill you in over lunch...I think the "Rooftop Cafe`" is a great idea...Okay, meet you there at 12 sharp.... Yea I'm payin'.... All right. See you there." a faint click of the phone was heard and Reno re-entered the kitchen. "So where is this "Rooftop Cafe`?" asked Lisa. "Like the name, its a little restaurant on the rooftop of a building in Sector 4. Has some real good food there, and the view is to die for, its 56 stories up." "It's not a crowded place is it?" Lisa asked. "Cause I think some people may be a little uneasy with....ya know." Pointing to Reno's new tail as it swayed back and forth behind him. "Nah, its a nice quiet spot. And I'm not that scary am I?" He said jokingly giving her a wink. Josh being half asleep up until his coffee kicked in, didn't notice Reno's tail till now. "Ummm... Did I miss something?" He said raising one eyebrow. "Reno has a tail, is 6 inches taller than he was last night not to mention the 20 lbs. of muscle he put on in the last 6 hours. Last night you could barely stand up, now you look like you could knock down a brick wall." Reno crossed his arms and answered him very seriously. "I presume you remember that sick puppy Hojo. Well he injected me with some JENOVA cells and it ...well." "But then why didn't anything happen to Lisa? He put the same stuff into her as he did into you, but she's fine." Josh commented. "Yea I realized that. I'm not sure why I was effected and she wasn't." Reno lied. "But why complain, if nothing happens to her, its a good thing. I'm just glad Hojo's dead and can't treat any more people like his personal guinea pigs. He's kind of had a habit of doing that." "By the way..." Josh interrupted, crossing his arms. "Just how DID you know where that lab was in the first place?" "You don't get to be a TURK for 5 years and not learn a few secrets here and there." Reno stated. "Hmm." Josh mumbled. "Okay, fine. You've proven yourself so far, but you DID work for Shin-ra. So I'm gonna keep my eye on you. I haven't had much luck with Shin-ra in the past." "Nobody has," Reno retorted. "Not even the President himself, because of his greed he's dead now, along with almost all my coworkers. Not including Hojo, Rude, myself and one other Turk survived the whole weapon attack 6 months ago." "That's horrible!" Lisa cried. "Heh, not really. The only real person I could ever really call a 'friend' is Rude. He's been like a brother to me since before I was even hired. He's the one who suggested me for the job." Reno said, recalling old memories. "It would be nice to meet him, again. I didn't get a good chance to talk to him last time we met." Lisa giggled when she remembered the look on Wallices face when Rude came flying out of nowhere and landed his elbow in his jawbone. "Well anyway.." Reno continued, "we leave for lunch around 11:30 or so, and if its okay with you two I'm gonna hop in the shower." "Fine with me." Josh granted. "Go right ahead, make yourself at home Reno." Lisa said kindly. "Thanks." said Reno already walking down the hallway. After he heard the sound of the door close and water running, Josh turned to Lisa and asked, "So where did you pick up this character anyway?" After putting the last dish in the sink, Lisa sat back down and filled him in on the whole story. ******************************* Later that day.around 11:55. Reno and the others were sitting down at a table at the Roof Top Café waiting for Rude to arrive. Since the place was practically empty, Reno laid his overcoat on the back of the chair and let his new tail get some oxygen. But he kept his glasses on so not to scare the wait staff when they ordered their meal. "Wow Reno! You weren't kidding about the view it's amazing!" Lisa said as she leaned over the edge of the rooftop to get a better view. Josh leaned back in his chair and jokingly said to Lisa, "Don't lean over to far, you'll fall. And it's a long way down to the pavement." After she didn't move, Joshes tone got a bit stern. "Seriously Lisa, get away from there. I mean it."



"Fine fine." Lisa said as she reluctantly backed away from the edge. "Hey Josh," Reno started, "why is it that you're so protective of Lisa? I mean, she's old enough to take care of herself. Why treat her like a kid?" "Because I made a promise to someone very close to me that I would protect her. It was his last request before." Reno suddenly jumped when he felt a hand land on his shoulder. There was only one person who could sneak up on him like that. "Goddamnit Rude! Don't do that!" Reno said a little startled. "You scared the shit outa` me." "Hello Rude." Lisa greeted politely as she strolled over to the table. "Nice to meet you again. I don't believe I've properly introduced myself. I'm Lisa and this is Josh." She said pointing in Joshes general direction. "Nice to meet you two." Rude said as he sat down. "So. you must be the ones who kidnapped Reno. Now your tired of him and you want to give him back. Am I right?" Rude said with a joking manner to his voice (which was very rare). Lisa giggled, "No not at all. In fact, both Josh and me owe our lives to Reno. He saved us last night." "From what?" Rude asked, a bit confused that Reno of all people actually saved someone without being paid for it. "Hojo." Lisa replied. Getting a slight chill at the mention of that monsters name. "You're kidding me." Rude replied a bit shocked. "AVALANCHE killed him just before the weapon attack." "Apparently they didn't" Josh retorted. "I overheard the Professor talking about how he injected himself with JENOVA cells so he could prolong his experiment. So I assume those 'cells' make him also tough to eliminate." Lisa got that chill again. "But that means he may still be alive. Even after what Reno did to him." "Your probably right." Reno said. Just then he noticed five men occupying the table over at the other end of the restaurant. They had been staring at the group for a few minutes now. When the sun hit them just right, the glimmer suggested that they all were carrying guns. Semi-automatic at that. "Rude." He said in a low voice, "Don't turn around, but I think you were followed." He eyed Josh and Lisa as to say 'act casual!' They both caught his hint and pretended to have a side conversation as best they could. "How many?" Rude asked not turning around. His TURK training skills were still as sharp as ever, same with Reno. "Five. They all have at least one semi automatic gun each. Class 'A' mercenaries I'd guess. They have been, and are still staring at us since you walked in." Reno turned to Josh and Lisa again, taking a pen and writing on the napkin, 'Josh, get her out of here. It may get dangerous. ACT CASUAL!' Josh nodded. "Come on Lisa, I'll get you something to drink." Josh played, standing up. "This place had a great cappuccino I hear." "Sounds good." Lisa said a bit unnerved and followed Josh close behind till they got to the bar. Now that they were out of site. Josh took her to the bartender. "My friend is feeling sick, where is the ladies room?" Josh asked a bit hastily. Lisa started to make herself look like she was ill. With a concerned look the bar tender pointed down the hall. "Thank you." Meanwhile, Reno and Rude were assessing the situation. The five mercenaries it seemed were talking amongst themselves, formulating a plan of their own. "I hope he got Lisa out of here. If they are after us, its gonna get messy. They all seem to have guns, and I assume you didn't bring one since you use your fists. I got my Electro rod but were still out numbered." Reno reached into his pocket and set the Electro-rod on high. The men stood up. "Here they come!" Reno said grasping his concealed weapon tightly. "Stay on your toes."