"Have you found anything yet?" the voice on the other end of the phone line questioned
"Eh... no."
"Well, damn it all, Paul! What did I give you that assignment for?! You said you wanted to take your father down. I want to see results!" the voice was agitated
"I'm sorry! They're both real tight lipped about these things. They know what I do. They know me, they know they can't discuss anything of importance around me." Paul said into the phone
"Well then, if you can't get it done I'll send someone who can."
"Listen! I'm the closest you can get to him. You won't be able to get to him any other way."
"I'll give you another chance, Paul. But if you come out covered in shit I ain't gonna' be there to wipe you off."
The phone clicked. Paul slammed the phone in the booth down violently. How could he get to his father?
Tseng sat on one of the benches at the cable car station. He was going to catch a ride over to the Gold Saucer and have a small talk with the current head of the prominent casino. As the blue car neared he got up and when it stopped he stepped on. No sooner they were going across the valley to the tall building. As they crossed over the desert he looked down to see the prison. It was almost a town. People were walking from house to house. However, even from way up in the cable car he could see some high roller who didn't pay his dues get mugged.
Tseng stepped into Fernando's office. He looked around at all the rare artifacts he had collected before he ran the desert resort. Tseng heard the door open behind him and he rose to greet the person entering.
"Tseng! How's it goin'?" Fernando embraced the Turk
Fernando wore a dark purple suit with dark shades on. He had his black hair slicked back and looked like a cheap pimp. It repulsed Tseng.
"It's going good, Fernando. And yourself?"
"Same old, same old, I suppose. What brings you to my humble resort?" he asked with a chuckle
"Business." Tseng cut to the chase
"Really? What kind of business." Fernando's face changed from joyful to stern
"First off, I think we have to clear up the misconception that this is your humble resort. It belongs to President Shinra."
"Really? Well I don't see that fat fuck running this place." Fernando shot back
"Cut the crap. Vincent doesn't have enough time to come down here and run this place. He's got twice as much on his hands than you do. However, he still owns this place and he intends for it to be run correctly."
"I'm running like all casino's wish they were run." Fernando leaned back in his big leather chair
"From what I hear, you're running this place like a prison."
"That's for special cases." He reached up and opened a box of cigars. He took one out and lit it
"It's causing an awful lot of talk among the heads of the family, Fernando." Tseng scowled
"That's their fucking problem."
"Listen to me you ungrateful little fuck!" Tseng blew up, "You know why I'm up here giving you this lecture?! Cause I got you this fucking job. You fuck up it reflects back on me. God knows, you and I have known each other forever, but don't be fooled. If it came down between you and the family, you're ass would be grass. Now, from now on when the President says jump you say how high. You got that mother fucker?"
Fernando just stared at Tseng, leaning back in his chair and smoking his cigar.
"I asked do you got that?!" Tseng rose from his chair
"Yeah! I got it." Fernando rose too, "I don't see why you are all treating me like a little kid who has to be watched. I've been running this place fine."
"Fine doesn't cut it. If fine includes you squirming out of paying Vincent and the rest of the family then you better bust your ass to make this place good. We can't handle fine if that's what it entails." Tseng explained
"Shit..." Fernando started, "Is that what this is about? Goddamn, I messed up on one payment. I'll make it up next month. Forget about it."
"I told you when you got in the door that Shinra wouldn't stand for that shit."
"Alright, alright. I got you." Fernando nodded
"Alright." Tseng lightened up, "How's the food here?"
"Ah, it's top-notch. That cook is one bad-ass mother fucker." Fernando smiled
"Then I guess I'll get a bite before heading back to Midgar."
"Alright. I'll see ya' when I see ya'."
The two hugged again and Tseng ambled out of the office. Fernando collapsed in his chair.
"How am I gonna' make two payments in one month?!" he wondered
"Hey, Dio! Dio, wake up, man!" a voice called
Dio opened his eyes wearily.
"Wha'? Wha' is it?" he asked
"New guy, man. He just got sent down from upstairs. They say he's got some good stuff on him, man."
"Alrigh', alrigh'. I'm up. 'et's go." Dio rubbed the sleep out of his eyes
Dio was a low class Indian living around the Costa del Sol area. Or he was until he discovered a cave full of myrthil and diamonds. He became instant rich. He bought a nice house in Costa del Sol and began living the good life. He decided it would be a good idea to go to the Gold Saucer, the premier gambling resort on the planet. He went there and he found he had quite a knack for blackjack, roulette, and craps. However, with no reason, other than that he made bad bets with the wrong people, he was hurled into the Gold Saucer's desert prison. This didn't set well with Dio. He had gone from rich to poor in no time flat. What people didn't understand was that the prison was really a place to put people that were taking too much of the casino's money. If a real high roller came in and kept winning then he would be confronted, and thrown into prison. Now, even if this guy had the money to pay off the supposed debt, they wouldn't let him. He would be in the prison for at least a month before someone would come to collect. However, most didn't last too long. Since they were thrown into prison, money and all, many bandits were lying in wait. This was the whole purpose of the prison. To make sure the real high rollers were dealt with. As for the aforementioned bandits and muggings, that was Dio's new trade.
As Dio was about to stroll of the small shack, still half asleep his friend grabbed him on the shoulder.
"Hold on, man."
"Wha' is it, Miguel? 'Et's get done wit' this so I can go back ta' sleep." Dio hung his head out of sleepiness
"No, man. Look." Miguel sounded excited
Dio opened his eyes and turned around to see Miguel holding two nice Desert Eagles.
"Where ya' get these?" Dio picked up one and examined it
"It was a good deal, man. I know a guy who runs a smuggling operation to the prison down here, man. He has himself a gold chocobo so he can cross the desert, man." Miguel explained
"A gold chocobo?" Dio repeated, raising an eyebrow
"That's right, man."
"No shit..." Dio's voice trailed off as he aimed the gun, "Alrigh', let's do this."
"Alright, man."
Dio was leaning up against a brick wall, reading a magazine. It was amusing at the parts he read because it was from a few years back and they had the strangest predictions for the future. The only future Dio was worried about was his own. He spotted Miguel pacing around near the shack. Miguel never was a patient person. Finally they saw a man in a nice suit trudging through the dust and grime of the prison. Dio knew at once this is whom they were taking down. The real giveaway was how everyone's eyes followed him. They all had the same idea running through their mind: who's gonna' be the lucky bastard who gets to that asshole first? Luckily for Dio and his companion, they were. As he neared, Dio folded up the magazine and put it in his back pocket. He casually strolled over to the man.
"'Ey, can ya' spare me a few bucks?" Dio asked
"Get the fuck away from me." The man shot back
He was obviously disgusted with the lower class. Dio was obviously disgusted with the higher class. Without warning Dio took his gun out of the waistband of his jeans from behind his back and then whirled around and pistol-whipped the man right in his face. The man fell to the ground, bleeding. Dio had broken the guy's nose, also. He wished he hadn't. All he wanted was the guy's money. When you have something broken down in the prison, it could be month's before you'll get medical attention for it. Dio shrugged and pointed the barrel of the gun at the man. Miguel came rushing over from his side of the prison and pointed his gun at the man as well.
"Give me your money, bitch!" Miguel screamed
The man just lay on the ground, bleeding and screaming.
"What's wrong, asshole?! You don't got any huevos, man! You can't stand pain, man!"
Miguel kicked him a few times before reaching down and snatching his wallet from his back pocket. Dio decided to kick him as well before spitting on the bleeding man.
"Bastardo rico." He muttered as he followed Miguel, who was already walking away back to the shack.
Rufus walked through the hallways of the upper floors of the Shinra building. Finally he came to his father office. He looked inside and saw that his father was talking to someone at the moment. He didn't recognize him so he was probably with the real Shinra Corporation. Rufus never kept track of the people in his father's legitimate business. Finally, when they were done talking the man began walking out. Rufus nodded to him on his way out as Rufus near the desk of his father. He looked back and made sure the door had closed before he began talking.
"Hey, where's Tseng? I've been trying to call him to talk about something." Rufus asked
"After the meeting he got on a helicopter and flew to North Corel. He's working on the Gold Saucer thing." Vincent said, not taking his eyes off the work he had in front of him
"Oh... alright, well I guess I'll talk to him tomorrow." Rufus nodded, disappointed
He was about to walk out of the office when he heard his father talk again.
"What'd you want to ask him?" he questioned
"Nothing, really. Just stuff."
"What was it? Tell me."
"Well... I was going to ask him about considering me for the thing with the mayor." Rufus explained
Vincent finally looked up from his work upon the discussion of business.
"Why?" Vincent failed to comprehend
"Well... I just thought I would be a good man for the job. And, besides, he has so few people that he's handling the Gold Saucer thing himself. He could use one more person. That's where I fit in."
"Rufus, I thought I already had you doing things. You have time for thinking about taking on another job?"
"Well... what I'm doing I don't feel is that important. I want more responsibility, dad. I want a bigger part in the business." Rufus took in a deep breath. He wasn't sure if the next thing he would say would be wise but he felt it needed to be said, "I want you to know that I can handle more responsibility... so you know I can handle the business."
Vincent just looked at his son. He really hadn't wanted to give him many important jobs. He knew Rufus. He knew he was emotional about whatever he took on. That could be either a blessing or a curse. Sadly, Rufus looked toward the short solutions and quick fixes. He never saw the whole picture. Vincent loved his son and knew that the business probably would go over to him, but sadly he had his doubts if Rufus was the right one for the business. There was only one way to find out and that is doing exactly what Rufus wanted him to do. He would have to give him more responsibility.
"Okay." The plump head of the family said
"Okay what?" Rufus asked, confused
"Okay, I'll give you some more work."
"Dad, thanks. I won't disappoint you." Rufus thanked his father gratefully
"I sure hope you won't, Rufus. I sure hope you won't."