The Last of an Elite

Chapter Fourteen: Shattered

By InterfaceLeader

-~-~-~-

The shadowy figure slipped across the lab and up the metal gangway into the dark control room. The room also contained many of the more confidential science documents. Filing cabinets sat under the desk, locked.

There was a faint clicking noise. One of the drawers slid open, revealing rows of neatly arranged files and folders. There was a lengthy pause as the shadow flicked through them, the gentle rustle of paper the only sound in the lab. Then it lifted one file out and shut the drawer. There was another click.

The figure slipped back across the room and out through the door, taking the file with it.

-~-~-~-

"Aiieee!"

Elena flew ungracefully across the room before crashing into the floor with force, her breath knocked out of her.

She shook her head dazedly, climbing unsteadily back to her feet and turning to face her opponent.

Rude flexed his fingers and circled the younger Turk. Elena turned with him, breathing hard. Suddenly Rude ran at her, about to bring his fist round in a sideways blow to the head. She moved to block, only to have her legs knocked out from beneath her by a swipe from Rude's left foot. She once again crashed to the floor with a yelp of suprise and pain.

".......a feint." Rude said, looking down at her. Elena nodded, without getting up. She could feel sweat trickling down her back and her breath was coming in short gasps. The gruelling training had lasted nearly two hours without a break. Rude seemed unaffected, but then he hadn't been the one flat on the floor every two minutes.

Rude waited patiently for her to get up. For a rookie she's pretty good. Pity normal training's been curtailed.

Elena took a deep breath and climbed back to her feet. Her legs felt like rubber, and her back had gone numb from repeated contact with the ground, but she faced Rude with increased determination. Rude felt a twinge of sympathy.

"We can skip the last ten minutes if you want....."

"No." Elena "I'm fine."

".....ok"

They circled again, Elena struggling to concentrate on Rude's movements.

She saw him come at her again, this time with open hands. Twisting away from him she attempted the same tripping technique he had used, but Rude side-stepped easily, grabbing her by the shoulder and throwing her across the room again. She rolled across the floor, managing to come back to her feet for once. Rude was already following his initial attack with a straightforward blow to the head. Elena squeaked and dived to one side, and as Rude followed through she somehow managed to curl one hand up and loose off a punch of her own.

Rude felt the fist connect with his shoulder – Elena being unable to reach any higher – and was amazed at the strength contained within. He was sent staggering a full five paces to the right, and Elena, realising he was off-guard, hastily followed the attack up with two more punches. Rude grunted and grabbed her by her wrists, lifting her up. Elena yelped as her feet left the ground and she struggled uselessly against his hold.

"Kick." The voice came from the side of the hall. Elena obeyed automatically, kicking out as hard as she could. Rude let go off her and doubled up as her foot connected with his stomach.

"Well done." Tseng left the wall he had been leaning against for the last few minutes, unnoticed by either Turk, and crossed the mat. Elena became suddenly aware of the sweat trickling down her, the way her hair had managed to somehow stick straight up in places and the many scrapes she had developed during the fight.

My God! What if he saw all those times I got thrown across the room? And I think I'm getting a black eye! And oh god my hair!

Rude straightened up, noticing Elena's sudden embarrassment.

"She hits harder than Reno does"

"I noticed" Tseng glanced at Elena "She nearly succeeded in knocking you over, which is a pretty rare event. Congratulations Elena."

"Th-thank you sir!" A warm glow of pride enveloped Elena and she was unable to stop the beaming smile that came to her face.

-~-~-~-

Some time later Elena stood outside the hospital ward, feeling nervous. Tseng had suggested she try visiting the disabled Turk, since she would have to work with him later. However Rude had informed her that Reno hadn't forgiven her for making him fall downstairs or for "usurping him".

She knocked twice and then entered, wondering what he would say.

-~-~-~-

Reno was playing with the morphine dispenser he had cajoled the doctor into giving him, cursing the Mako in him that neutralised the narcotic, when the knocks came. Looking up he saw the small blonde girl that had – whatever Rude might say – attacked him and tried to steal his job. He frowned and crossed his arms.

Elena twisted her hands together and tried a smile. The look on Reno's face wasn't very encouraging but she did her best anyway.

"Hi Reno. Remember me? I'm Elena, you're new... uh... partner."

"You're no partner of mine." Reno snapped "I'm your superior, not your co-worker."

Elena blushed. "S-sorry. I didn't realise- "

"What, you thought you could match my rank after being a Turk for five minutes?"

"No- no, I didn't realise there were ranks...."

"You didn't realise? What the hell did you think we were, a group of anarchists? Would you rather go join Avalanche than accept a few orders?" Reno knew he was being unfair, but his jealousy had festered whilst trapped in hospital and he wanted her to pay.

"No! I can take orders!"

"Oh goody for you." Reno sneered. "The rookie can take orders. I bet that's the only thing you can do."

Elena could feel tears threatening. She clenched her fists, anger and misery mingling together.

"That's unfair! You don't what I can and can't do!"

"I know your pathetic attempt to "invade" this building was a badly thought out disaster from beginning to end. I know if I was in charge I wouldn't have accepted you even if the only other choice was a blind one-armed retard! All I can hope is that Tseng will come to his senses and fire you before I get out of here and have to start fixing things after you screw up!"

Elena turned and ran from the room, afraid that she would lose control and burst into tears, or attack him, or both. Reno heard her footsteps disappearing quickly down the corridor and smirked.

Trust me sweetheart..... I'm going to make your life living hell....

-~-~-~-

Rufus stood in his Father's – no his – office, reading through the plans the late President had locked in his desk. Reeve, Scarlet, Heidegger and Tseng stood in front of the desk, waiting for the young man to finish.

Rufus flicked his hair back, dropping the plans on the desk. The four employees turned their attention to him, wondering what the verdict would be.

"My Father" Rufus began "Had a lot of stupid idea's. Dropping the plate was a ridiculous waste of money and resources."

"And lives" Reeve volunteered suddenly, feeling as though the point had to be made, regardless of whether anybody listened.

Rufus paused and looked at the man in charge of Urban Development.

"And lives." he nodded at Reeve. "However his plans for Neo-Midgar will remain unchanged, despite the setbacks that have occurred. Which we are going to deal with. Starting with Septhiroth.... So, what are your suggestions?"

"Gya-ha-hah! Septhiroth is near invincible!" Heidegger said. Rufus glared at him.

"And that's funny?"

"Gya-ha-" Heidegger trailed off, frowning.

Scarlet coughed, cutting off her own laugh. "He appears to be heading towards the Mithril Mines according to reports from Kalm."

"Why?"

Scarlet frowned as well. "Perhaps he wants to cross the country?"

"He may be returning to Nibelheim." Tseng spoke for the first time. Rufus noticed that the Wutaian was studying him thoughtfully.

"That's where he was last seen before his disappearance?"

"Yes."

"If that's so he'll need to pass through Junon." Rufus returned Tseng's gaze "You'll take your Turks and intercept him there, understood?"

"Sir." Tseng inclined his head slightly. Rufus thought he saw a faint look of disdain cross the Turks face, but he couldn't be sure so he let it slip. For now.

"I want him eliminated. Get going." Rufus dismissed him with a wave.

Tseng left the room. The look Rufus had read as disdain had been apprehension. Tseng knew exactly what kind of task it would be to "eliminate" Septhiroth...

-~-~-~-

Elena raced up the stairs towards the Turks office, intending to get her things and go home. Reno had hurt her, managing to release the full force of the insecurity she had started feeling when rejected for the Shinra Army. His comments had brought an entire nest of self-doubts into her head. Tseng's comments had been forgotten, washed away in the spite and insults Reno had delivered.

She stumbled into the room, the first muted sob breaking free at the same time. She became aware that Rude was in the office, looking at her expressionlessly and she was certain he despised her for being so weak. Turning her head away she walked towards where her coat was hung up.

-~-~-~-

Meanwhile Joanna stood outside the Shinra HQ, waiting patiently for Rude to emerge. She had a suprise planned for her ex-fiancé.

-~-~-~-

A/N: This chapter underwent some major re-writes before ending up like this. Whether that improved it or not though....

Is the shadow too obvious? Have you figured out who it is? Are you in suspense?