The Last of an Elite
Chapter Twenty: Loneliness
By InterfaceLeader
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Tseng left Scarlet's office with a sense of apprehension. Her words had reinforced the negativity he had been feeling since Sephiroth had returned and Avalanche had escaped. It wasn't often Shin-Ra failed, and the two events coming so close together had shaken him.
What if she does try to take over? Where would the Turks loyalty lie? With the new President, the man who carries the name of Shinra, or to the people who built Shin-Ra, who we've been serving for far longer?
He started thinking ahead, trying to work out who would end up on which side if it did come to a mutiny.
His thoughts were ended abruptly by a sudden scream that echoed along the corridor, ending with a long drawn out gurgle that signified death. He ran toward the sound, cursing under his breath when he realised it was coming from Hojo's lab – recently vacated by the scientist and under investigation by a team of guards.
"Shoot it! Shoot it!" The words came from one of the remaining guards, backed up against the wall of the lab with two others. All three were firing their machine guns across the room, towards a broken cage and a massive deformed bird with a two foot beak coated in blood. Three dead guards lay in crumpled heaps near the cage.
The bullets appeared to do little except enrage the bird, who opened its wings to their full, massive width and let out a choked screaming cry before ducking its head forward and racing towards the guards, the beak skewering one through the stomach. Throwing its head back the body sailed over the birds head and landed on top of the cage that had held the creature.
"Get out of here!" Tseng yelled at the two remaining guards. One complied instantly, fleeing the room. The other hesitated.
"But Sir...!"
"Now! I'll deal with it."
The guard hovered for a second and then ran for the door, leaving Tseng alone with the maddened monster.
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"Y-y-y-you JERK!" Joanna screamed at the dark suited figure with sunglasses sat at the bar. "You followed me! You followed me! Right across the country! After what you said!"
"Joanna..." Rude said helplessly, more than aware that everyone else in the bar was watching the scene with the interest reserved for other people's domestic problems.
"After pulling a gun on me you have the nerve to follow me to Junon! I was going to start a new life and you have to show up like a bad penny to ruin it before it's even started! I hate you! Why can't you leave me alone!"
Rude gritted his teeth, the unfair accusation making his blood boil. More than a few people tutted disapprovingly at him and he heard one man say in an undertone "possessive sort I guess... probably can't get another girl..."
"Piss off lady." Reno could guess what the other Turk was feeling, despite his lack of expression, and intervened automatically.
"Don't use that kind of language to me!" Joanna turned on the redhead, her own fury bubbling over. "What would you know about betrayal anyway!"
"That 9 times out of 10 it's the woman's fault for being an overbearing, demanding selfish harridan – like you for example." Reno responded coolly.
"Here, don't talk to the lady like that!" One of the nearby drinkers stood up and moved towards the group, scowling angrily.
"I'll talk to her any damn way I please." Reno shot back.
The man clenched his fists. He was large, muscular, and looked around thirty. Thick dark hair covered his arms and extended across his chest, though much of that was hidden by the green shirt he wore. He spent his days lifting large crates on the dock and considered himself more than a match for the slim man lounging at the bar with a shot glass in one hand.
"I won't let you talk to the lady like that." He spoke quietly, but with unmistakable menace.
Reno raised his eyes to the mans. For a second he held the gaze and tension hummed through the bar. Everyone waited, frozen. Joanna stood with her mouth open, her gaze alternating between the two men.
"Fuck off woman." Reno said to her, sounding more amused than defiant.
The green-shirted man roared with rage and pulled back one fist, Joanna sobbed and dived for cover, and Rude sighed and lifted his drink.
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Elena and Sandy stood at the top of Junon Harbour, looking down on the bustle of the city as it prepared for the Presidential visit. They laughed as they saw one guard hanging up a long gold and red streamer have a sudden gust of wind yank the bunting from his hands and spin it out across the ocean. They laughed even harder when the guard chased after it and fell into the water.
"When's Rufus coming anyway?" Elena asked.
"The President will be arriving tomorrow, sometime before noon." Sandy shrugged "They've arranged some parade and the TV crews are going to be here and everything. It's a pretty big event for Junon and the commanders are frantic that everything should turn out right."
Elena nodded "Good publicity I guess."
"Yep. Just hope the water serpent doesn't show."
"Water serpent?"
"There's this big water monster that comes up to Junon every now and then. Sometimes we get sent on a hunt, but it goes after the villagers more than us so nobody's too bothered."
"Ah...." Elena leant against the rail and followed the line of the gun with her eyes, trying to work out where it would hit. The sea stretched out beyond, the horizon shimmering and distracting her. The sun was setting, and rays of gold and bronze weaved through the sky, lighting up the clouds and spilling a rich amber hue over everything. Elena thought it was a much nicer view than the one from Midgar, and wished suddenly she lived in the harbour.
"I'm going to have to go now." Sandy said regretfully, picking up her helmet from where it rested against the rail. "Maybe I'll see you again sometime."
"Oh, I hope so." Elena smiled. Sandy nodded and started towards the main building, before pausing and looking back.
"You never did tell me what you did..."
Elena blinked. "Oh! I'm a Turk."
The golden light flickered round Sandy for a moment as she turned and stared at Elena, eyes wide. Then her face set and she spun round and marched away, her footsteps echoing sharply through the air.
Elena watched as she disappeared from sight, the happiness she had been feeling deserting her suddenly. She had seen the expression on Sandy's face, and she knew she would not be seeing the guard again. Behind her the sun slipped out of sight and a cold grey chill flooded the top layer of Junon, sucking out the colours that had shone before.
Elena shook her head, trying to rid herself of the chill. I guess I'll find the guys...
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Joanna ran down the road towards the harbour area. A boat was docked there, being loaded up by some Shinra guards. She hurried towards them.
"Excuse me! When does this boat leave?"
One of the guards looked at her. "Tomorrow, along with the President."
"Please, you've got to let me on it!"
"What, now?"
"Yes! I'll spend the night there! I just have to get away!"
The guard shrugged. "Well.... It does carry passengers normally but...."
"Please! I have money, I'll pay whatever it takes, but I have to be on that boat when it leaves tomorrow!"
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Elena reached the bar and entered, blinking as she saw the broken tables and chairs scattered around the dimly lit room. Rude and Reno were sat at the counter, being served by a frightened looking man. The rest of the bar was deserted.
Rude heard her come in but was too buried in his own thoughts to greet her. Reno studiously ignored her, waving to the bartender to refill his shot glass.
Elena walked over to them and picked up one of the stools that had not been broken. Setting it upright next to Rude's she sat down and looked down the counter at the two Turks.
"Reno... Rude..."
They turned their faces towards her, Rude's blank, eyes hidden, Reno's annoyed.
"Do.. Do you have any friends? Apart from each other?"
Reno frowned. "What kind of question is that? Of course we've got friends! Heck, I'm always getting invites for parties and weddings and crap."
"I mean real friends."
Reno rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Elena looked round the empty bar and listened to the silence. Rude and Reno were concentrating completely on their drinking. The bar was warm, but she was unable to shake the chill of the night outside.
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A/N: This chapter took a while to piece together. I have certain events planned out, I know where the story ends, and I know more or less how it's going to all tie together, but every now and then I get stuck. I don't know if this chapter is good or bad ^^;;
Next Up: Tseng and the Bird – And do you remember the shadow from a few chapters back? It is revealed to be....