Ch. 2 - Tainted Honor
The three men stood silently as the panoramic elevator slowly took them up the massive skyscraper that was the ShinRa building. Tseng glanced briefly at his watch whilst Vincent leant against the glass, observing the city down below. Midgar. A city he'd grown to know so well in so little time. But this was how he saw it the most.. from above. A shinra employee felt superior to midgar by nature. How then should the Turks not feel so, watching from their high offices. He frowned. When did he get this philosphical and serious, he thought. That scientist sucked the humour right out of his day.
65th floor. The elevator stopped and a man walked in. Burgundy suit, short, gold rings on his fingers and graying hair despite his thirty- something years.
"President Shinra" noted Tseng, politely.
"Tseng. Valentine." he nodded curtly to each of them "And you must be.. Professor Hojo. An honor to have you with us." he said warmly, shaking hands with the scientist.
Vincent was very aware of the lump in his throat. Say something, say something. Something witty and Turkish.
"Er.. nice tie, president." he froze. The president frowned. They all stared at him. A morbid silence descended until the elevator announced the arrival at the 68th floor.
The trio was about to disembark when the Vincent felt the President's arm on his shoulder.
"Not you, Valentine. There some.. pressing matter about which I wish to see you. Accompany me to the 70th floor, will you..?" he said simply. Tseng took the hint and left with Hojo down the hallway.
The lump in Vincent's throat turned into a boulder. The 70th floor. He had been there once when he was made a Turk, but never again. Most shinra employees died without ever seeing anything above the 30th. Indeed very few people came and went to the 70th floor at will. Tseng was one, Rail another.
The doors reopened. The place was wide and immense. large marble and stone pillars were here and there, and the floor itself was an array of stone patterns. At the far end of the room, close to the windows which oversaw the whole of Midgar was the President's desk. It was one of the few items of furniture in the room, and the result was of a profound aristocratic emptiness.
The president made his way to his desk but did not sit. He offered a large leather lined chair to Vincent, who refused. More out of nervousness than politeness really.
"Valentine, Valentine.. The newest Turk. Contrary to what you might be thinking, I did _not_ call you here to admonish or warn you." he began. Vincent felt his cramped muscles relax slowly. "No, much to the contrary. I have summoned you because I want your advice."
The Turk's eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"My... advice..?" he muttered
"Indeed. You see, the matter at hand is delicate. Do you know what the Cetra are?"
"No sir. I don't."
"They were once a proud race who inhabited this planet. The term 'Ancient' is more commonly used nowadays. In any case, they were beings of immense wisdom and power. All usage of materia comes from them, as does Mako."
"I'm.. not sure I understand." said the Turk scratching his hand.
"You will. The Cetra believed that when they died, they 'returned to the planet'. To the lifestream. That is where we get our Mako from. It is the energy, the memories - the lifeforce of the Cetra. You have seen the reactors. However, useful as Mako may be consider the following, Vincent: A being with the power of an ancient. A normal human, but joined with Mako."
"Isn't that what is done with SOLDIER..?" asked the Turk.
"In a way, yes. But we are talking here of extraordinary levels. A human so infused with Mako that he is essentially an Ancient. Think of it, Vincent. A warrior with the might of the gods. Think of the great deeds we could accomplish with such a being by our side."
Vincent frowned.
"Forgive me for saying this, president, but.. I still don't see how this concerns me or the Turks." he said.
The president paused. Then spoke again.
"Tseng has been coming to me with certain requests. He says the Turks aren't used to their full potential, that scouting for SOLDIER candidates and serving as my bodyguards isn't enough. Would you agree with this view, Valentine..?"
Vincent's eyes darted here and there. Of course he wanted to see more action! Wanted to be out there, doing something, feeling the adrenaline!
"I.. yes. I do agree with Tseng." he stated finally.
"Ah." the president smiled. "Then you are in luck. You may have hard of Tseng's special assignment. I, too, think the Turks could be better employed. That is why I have decided to do this. However, there are certain.. complications. Rail, your current leader is against Tseng in these matters. He believes the Turks should file reports and run after SOLDIER. He is not, of course, absolutely wrong. He also disapproves of the current plan I have devised - the Nibel Mission, saying it is not 'Turk business'. In that, too, is he partly in the right. The Turks cannot officialy execute a mission such as the one Tseng and I have planned."
Vincent's heart fell. All his high hopes of seeing action and becoming known were about to be flushed. The President turned his back to Vincent, looking out to Midgar.
"That is why.." he began. Slowly. Meditatively. "we shall do it extra-officially. The mission shall not exist. The Turk leader Rail shall be sent off to some faraway place under some pretext. Tseng shall take yourself, Rude and Professor Hojo to Nibel, where he shall explain to you what is to be done. All very secretively. No word of this to anyone. You are now working under my direct orders. Not as a Turk, but as the President's special envoy." he finished, adding extra emphasis on 'special'.
Vincent felt the rush of excitement rush through him. Secret mission, huh? Heh, if his friends could see him now. Vincent Valentine, one of the finest Turks around - scouting for SOLDIER members by day, fulfilling secret missions by night. He smiled broadly.
"President.. I'm in! Glad to be working for you."
"Excellent" said ShinRa, turning to face him once again and extending his hand. "I knew the Turks had made a good choice when they picked you." he concluded with the flash of a smile.
They shook hands and Vincent was dismissed.
The president slowly made his way back to his desk then hit the intercom switch to the 68th floor.
"Tseng? I've dealt with him, the rookie will be on your side, you have your sniper."
The three men stood silently as the panoramic elevator slowly took them up the massive skyscraper that was the ShinRa building. Tseng glanced briefly at his watch whilst Vincent leant against the glass, observing the city down below. Midgar. A city he'd grown to know so well in so little time. But this was how he saw it the most.. from above. A shinra employee felt superior to midgar by nature. How then should the Turks not feel so, watching from their high offices. He frowned. When did he get this philosphical and serious, he thought. That scientist sucked the humour right out of his day.
65th floor. The elevator stopped and a man walked in. Burgundy suit, short, gold rings on his fingers and graying hair despite his thirty- something years.
"President Shinra" noted Tseng, politely.
"Tseng. Valentine." he nodded curtly to each of them "And you must be.. Professor Hojo. An honor to have you with us." he said warmly, shaking hands with the scientist.
Vincent was very aware of the lump in his throat. Say something, say something. Something witty and Turkish.
"Er.. nice tie, president." he froze. The president frowned. They all stared at him. A morbid silence descended until the elevator announced the arrival at the 68th floor.
The trio was about to disembark when the Vincent felt the President's arm on his shoulder.
"Not you, Valentine. There some.. pressing matter about which I wish to see you. Accompany me to the 70th floor, will you..?" he said simply. Tseng took the hint and left with Hojo down the hallway.
The lump in Vincent's throat turned into a boulder. The 70th floor. He had been there once when he was made a Turk, but never again. Most shinra employees died without ever seeing anything above the 30th. Indeed very few people came and went to the 70th floor at will. Tseng was one, Rail another.
The doors reopened. The place was wide and immense. large marble and stone pillars were here and there, and the floor itself was an array of stone patterns. At the far end of the room, close to the windows which oversaw the whole of Midgar was the President's desk. It was one of the few items of furniture in the room, and the result was of a profound aristocratic emptiness.
The president made his way to his desk but did not sit. He offered a large leather lined chair to Vincent, who refused. More out of nervousness than politeness really.
"Valentine, Valentine.. The newest Turk. Contrary to what you might be thinking, I did _not_ call you here to admonish or warn you." he began. Vincent felt his cramped muscles relax slowly. "No, much to the contrary. I have summoned you because I want your advice."
The Turk's eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"My... advice..?" he muttered
"Indeed. You see, the matter at hand is delicate. Do you know what the Cetra are?"
"No sir. I don't."
"They were once a proud race who inhabited this planet. The term 'Ancient' is more commonly used nowadays. In any case, they were beings of immense wisdom and power. All usage of materia comes from them, as does Mako."
"I'm.. not sure I understand." said the Turk scratching his hand.
"You will. The Cetra believed that when they died, they 'returned to the planet'. To the lifestream. That is where we get our Mako from. It is the energy, the memories - the lifeforce of the Cetra. You have seen the reactors. However, useful as Mako may be consider the following, Vincent: A being with the power of an ancient. A normal human, but joined with Mako."
"Isn't that what is done with SOLDIER..?" asked the Turk.
"In a way, yes. But we are talking here of extraordinary levels. A human so infused with Mako that he is essentially an Ancient. Think of it, Vincent. A warrior with the might of the gods. Think of the great deeds we could accomplish with such a being by our side."
Vincent frowned.
"Forgive me for saying this, president, but.. I still don't see how this concerns me or the Turks." he said.
The president paused. Then spoke again.
"Tseng has been coming to me with certain requests. He says the Turks aren't used to their full potential, that scouting for SOLDIER candidates and serving as my bodyguards isn't enough. Would you agree with this view, Valentine..?"
Vincent's eyes darted here and there. Of course he wanted to see more action! Wanted to be out there, doing something, feeling the adrenaline!
"I.. yes. I do agree with Tseng." he stated finally.
"Ah." the president smiled. "Then you are in luck. You may have hard of Tseng's special assignment. I, too, think the Turks could be better employed. That is why I have decided to do this. However, there are certain.. complications. Rail, your current leader is against Tseng in these matters. He believes the Turks should file reports and run after SOLDIER. He is not, of course, absolutely wrong. He also disapproves of the current plan I have devised - the Nibel Mission, saying it is not 'Turk business'. In that, too, is he partly in the right. The Turks cannot officialy execute a mission such as the one Tseng and I have planned."
Vincent's heart fell. All his high hopes of seeing action and becoming known were about to be flushed. The President turned his back to Vincent, looking out to Midgar.
"That is why.." he began. Slowly. Meditatively. "we shall do it extra-officially. The mission shall not exist. The Turk leader Rail shall be sent off to some faraway place under some pretext. Tseng shall take yourself, Rude and Professor Hojo to Nibel, where he shall explain to you what is to be done. All very secretively. No word of this to anyone. You are now working under my direct orders. Not as a Turk, but as the President's special envoy." he finished, adding extra emphasis on 'special'.
Vincent felt the rush of excitement rush through him. Secret mission, huh? Heh, if his friends could see him now. Vincent Valentine, one of the finest Turks around - scouting for SOLDIER members by day, fulfilling secret missions by night. He smiled broadly.
"President.. I'm in! Glad to be working for you."
"Excellent" said ShinRa, turning to face him once again and extending his hand. "I knew the Turks had made a good choice when they picked you." he concluded with the flash of a smile.
They shook hands and Vincent was dismissed.
The president slowly made his way back to his desk then hit the intercom switch to the 68th floor.
"Tseng? I've dealt with him, the rookie will be on your side, you have your sniper."