The Truth Behind Midgar
By Hatred's Legacy

Chapter Four

Nibori burst through the main entrance, and took the elevator all the way up to the 69th floor, running the rest of the way to his office. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Upon entering, he was greeted with the sight of Settan lounging casually in his chair.

"Settan, what's going on? I just heard that there have been widespread assassinations!"

"Calm down, Nibori. It is unbecoming of you to work yourself up so." Settan languidly stood from the chair and walked over to the window. He began to pace.

"Set--"

"Shut up! I've heard enough out of you! I'll do the talking from here on out."

Nibori stood dumbfounded as his friend changed before his eyes. What had gotten into Settan? He had never acted like this before. And then it dawned on him... Settan had always been this way. He had blindly closed his eyes and heart to it. They had been friends since childhood. He had not been willing to see the truth.

A memory suddenly came to him in such startling clarity that he forget for a few moments just where he was. It was back when they were both only five, and arguing over something petty and childish...

"Look, Settan! Grandma got me a lil' puppy! Do ya' wanna play with it?"

Settan sat sullenly on the ground, anger-filled eyes staring fixedly into Nibori's innocent and confused eyes. "Why'd she give you a puppy? Is it your birthday or somethin'?"

"No... She just said it was a present for me...? Why?" He tilted his head curiously, trying to figure out to the best of his abilities why Settan would be mad at him. Sometimes his friend was just so... weird. He shrugged it off though. Maybe his mommy or daddy had yelled at him...

Settan refocused his eyes onto the small, white puppy. Jealousy lazily swirled in his baby-blue eyes. Why did Nibori always get presents? It wasn't fair. Why didn't his grandparents ever buy him anything? After all, he was a good little boy. He even helped his mommy with dinner sometimes. Daddy was always too busy to notice him though. Always complaining about something called a 'Hangover'. Whatever it was, it made him really grumpy. He hoped when he got old he didn't start suffering from these Hangovers. His daddy also had the bad habit of making really, really long speeches and bossing other people around. Settan vowed to himself that he would never become like his dad.

"Settan, so, do ya'?"

"Do I what?" He glared at his friend.

Nibori laughed, squatting down and ruffling the now yapping little puppy. "I asked you if ya' wanted to play with Spots? Maybe we can teach him how to fetch!" Hope filled his voice.

"Spots?"

"Yeah, that's what I named him!"

"But he doesn't even have any spots on him."

"So? He's my puppy anyway! I'll name him whatever I want!"

Settan stood up and walked over to the puppy, gently petting its head. It nipped his fingers in response. "Hey! It bit me!"

"Aw, come on. I bet it didn't even hurt. He's jus' playin' with ya'." He giggled, resuming to play with his puppy once more.

"Niiiiiboriiii! Come help me with these groceries real quick, please."

"Aww. That's Momma." He stood up, looking over in the direction of his house. "Hey, Settan? Could you watch Spots for me? I'll be right back. Thanks!"

Before he even gave his friend a chance to reply, he ran off towards his mom and house, spending the next five minutes putting up groceries. When he returned Settan was sitting down in the same place as when he had first walked off, drawing circles in the dirt with a stick. Spots was lying off to the side, obviously taking a nap.

He wandered over to the puppy, a sense of dread steadily building in his stomach. He was lying so still. He couldn't even tell if he was breathing or not. When he finally reached the puppy, he turned to the side, retching uncontrollably.

"I told you, you shouldn't of named him Spots..."

"Do you not realize the gold mine we are sitting atop? Ha! Solar power!" Settan tilted his head back and laughed crazily. "What a joke. No, my dear, dear friend. Mako energy is where the money is. This very Planet is a ripe plum just waiting to be picked."

Nibori was snapped back into the present, a five-year-old's cruel and heartless statement resounding throughout his mind still. Settan was still talking, and he hadn't even caught most of it. Settan always did have a love for making long speeches.

"What are you talking about, Settan?" He was completely lost in this conversation.

"My good friend, I'm talking about making the citizens of Midgar pay us for the privilege to live here! No. The world! Mako Reactors is the Future. I'll be rich!"

"Settan, surely this is a joke. I created Midgar and developed solar power to free us of these troubles. The people will never agree to such ludicrous terms." Nibori shook his head sadly. "Settan, I can not allow you to do this."

Settan gave a sly smile and pulled a gun from behind his back, aiming it at Nibori's head. "That, my friend, is why I can not allow you to live."

Nibori looked past Settan and out the window, an overwhelming sorrow filling his entire being as he visualized the horrific future that would befall his Midgar. He only hoped his wife and son would be spared. Nibori closed his eyes and said a prayer, hoping that one day Midgar would be returned to its former glory.

The gunshot resounded throughout the entire building.