I don't own Final Fantasy. Squaresoft does. Squaresoft also owns my free
will until the FF series is finished. Then I'll be able to choose a
different game to buy.
Chapter Three From the Ruins
Rufus leaned back, weakly clutching his ribs, trying not to tear open the wounds inflicted by Diamond Weapon again. Weapon. It was amazing how an international company, a company that prided itself on its ability to create machines and soldiers capable of immense destruction, a company created in a war between two competing countries, a company that was considered the world power, was in fact destroyed by a living Weapon. A grin appeared on his face, and he was forced to let it go as soon as it appeared. The small gash that was bandaged up on his cheek had not yet healed. Smiling of any kind was off limits. The irony still made him chuckle inside, however.
Memories of Diamond's attack flooded Rufus's memories. Everyone had been panicked, not sure what to do. Afraid, no, terrified of what was to come. But Rufus had proven before that Weapon could be beaten. This one would be no different than the last.
The Diamond Flash had proven otherwise.
Now Rufus Shinra, President of Shinra Incorporated, unofficial leader of the Midgar-Junon Alliance, was reduced to sleeping in a pile of ratty blankets in a building that didn't even have a complete roof. He couldn't even properly see his surroundings enough to complain about them. Half his face was swathed in bandages, the other half was too puffed from bruises to be able to make out much at all.
His former staff of thousands was now reduced to one man and his contacts. Not even Scarlet or Heidegger were alive to help him on the long trek that would be his corporate resurrection.
"Reeve, where are you?" he groaned, meaning the question to be just to himself.
"I'm back, President Rufus," came the reply. Hearing that title felt like he was being patronized. Rufus' mouth twisted into a scowl, which turned back into a bland expression. Even the scowl was painful.
"Did you... bring..." the words were painful to say. Everything was painful. How he hated being weak like this.
"Right here, sir!" came a second voice from behind where Reeve must have been standing.
So, the tubby fool had managed to survive where Heidegger, Scarlet and Hojo had died. Palmer's continued existence truly proved that whatever god there may be favored the stupid.
He managed to turn towards the doorway and looked over to where his two former employees stood. Reeve was in the foreground, looking oddly hesitant and awkward, while Palmer hung behind, bubbling with excitement.
"Palmer..." Rufus croaked. He hated doing this. He hated Palmer, but the fat fool and Reeve were all he had for now. "...I have a mission for you."
"Yes, sir?" Despite his outward enthusiasm, Palmer seemed reluctant to step beside or even in front of Reeve.
"Get the... get the Turks. If they... live. I have a job... for them."
"Aye aye, sir!"
Oh how that overweight buffoon annoyed Rufus. "You may go now... bring the Turks. I will... remake my empire anew."
"Yes, sir!" came the overly-cheery response as Palmer darted away. The overweight executive seemed just as happy to leave as he did to have the opportunity to serve.
"Reeve?"
"Yes, Mr. President?"
"You have proven... loyal. I was afraid you had..."
"Never, sir." The blue-suited man moved close enough for Rufus to see him. Reeve squatted down, nearly sitting beside where Rufus lay. "After Diamond attacked, no one was certain what happened to you, but I got the feeling that Heidegger or Scarlet would try to use it to their advantage, maybe even kill you if Weapon hadn't."
"Of course they would... wouldn't be Shinra if..."
"I know, sir. I'm afraid I have something to confess to you. I'll always be loyal to you. I owed your father my life. He took me in when he had no reason to, trained me so that I would never live in obscurity. Made me powerful, made me what I am. That's why I went looking for you, to see if you had died like everyone thought."
"But?" The former President knew what was coming next.
"I feel torn. After fighting alongside Cloud and the others on your orders, I saw the world in a different way. They don't do what they do for money, or power, or even respect. They do it because it's right."
"You want to... join them? Leave me?"
"No, sir. I wouldn't do that. It's just... I... want to be with them. When the Highwind crashed, I lost contact with the Cait Sith unit. I want to send a third one to them to check on their status--"
"Forget them, Reeve. They aren't... important. They will help in the rebuilding... in their own way. But afterwards I will rule. I need you here, with me... I need you to help me." The words felt bitter on his tongue, but Rufus realized that he meant every word of them.
There was a moment's hesitation. Rufus noted it, and felt slightly disappointed. If only Palmer's unwavering loyalty had been a trait of Reeve's. "How can I help, sir?"
"We'll need to set up a... power base. Junon, I think. Any who oppose... Turks will deal with. But that will be later. Now... you must find allies within survivors of Midgar and... kill any opposition. Are you with me?"
"Yes, sir."
Author: Alright, now I'm finally getting somewhere. I think the Rufus/Reeve side plot will work nicely. I'm kind of shocked that I was able to humanize Cait Sith somewhat. I normally hate that guy.
I'm on a roll here. I'm normally too lazy to do this kind of stuff.
Next part, the fate of Cid!
Chapter Three From the Ruins
Rufus leaned back, weakly clutching his ribs, trying not to tear open the wounds inflicted by Diamond Weapon again. Weapon. It was amazing how an international company, a company that prided itself on its ability to create machines and soldiers capable of immense destruction, a company created in a war between two competing countries, a company that was considered the world power, was in fact destroyed by a living Weapon. A grin appeared on his face, and he was forced to let it go as soon as it appeared. The small gash that was bandaged up on his cheek had not yet healed. Smiling of any kind was off limits. The irony still made him chuckle inside, however.
Memories of Diamond's attack flooded Rufus's memories. Everyone had been panicked, not sure what to do. Afraid, no, terrified of what was to come. But Rufus had proven before that Weapon could be beaten. This one would be no different than the last.
The Diamond Flash had proven otherwise.
Now Rufus Shinra, President of Shinra Incorporated, unofficial leader of the Midgar-Junon Alliance, was reduced to sleeping in a pile of ratty blankets in a building that didn't even have a complete roof. He couldn't even properly see his surroundings enough to complain about them. Half his face was swathed in bandages, the other half was too puffed from bruises to be able to make out much at all.
His former staff of thousands was now reduced to one man and his contacts. Not even Scarlet or Heidegger were alive to help him on the long trek that would be his corporate resurrection.
"Reeve, where are you?" he groaned, meaning the question to be just to himself.
"I'm back, President Rufus," came the reply. Hearing that title felt like he was being patronized. Rufus' mouth twisted into a scowl, which turned back into a bland expression. Even the scowl was painful.
"Did you... bring..." the words were painful to say. Everything was painful. How he hated being weak like this.
"Right here, sir!" came a second voice from behind where Reeve must have been standing.
So, the tubby fool had managed to survive where Heidegger, Scarlet and Hojo had died. Palmer's continued existence truly proved that whatever god there may be favored the stupid.
He managed to turn towards the doorway and looked over to where his two former employees stood. Reeve was in the foreground, looking oddly hesitant and awkward, while Palmer hung behind, bubbling with excitement.
"Palmer..." Rufus croaked. He hated doing this. He hated Palmer, but the fat fool and Reeve were all he had for now. "...I have a mission for you."
"Yes, sir?" Despite his outward enthusiasm, Palmer seemed reluctant to step beside or even in front of Reeve.
"Get the... get the Turks. If they... live. I have a job... for them."
"Aye aye, sir!"
Oh how that overweight buffoon annoyed Rufus. "You may go now... bring the Turks. I will... remake my empire anew."
"Yes, sir!" came the overly-cheery response as Palmer darted away. The overweight executive seemed just as happy to leave as he did to have the opportunity to serve.
"Reeve?"
"Yes, Mr. President?"
"You have proven... loyal. I was afraid you had..."
"Never, sir." The blue-suited man moved close enough for Rufus to see him. Reeve squatted down, nearly sitting beside where Rufus lay. "After Diamond attacked, no one was certain what happened to you, but I got the feeling that Heidegger or Scarlet would try to use it to their advantage, maybe even kill you if Weapon hadn't."
"Of course they would... wouldn't be Shinra if..."
"I know, sir. I'm afraid I have something to confess to you. I'll always be loyal to you. I owed your father my life. He took me in when he had no reason to, trained me so that I would never live in obscurity. Made me powerful, made me what I am. That's why I went looking for you, to see if you had died like everyone thought."
"But?" The former President knew what was coming next.
"I feel torn. After fighting alongside Cloud and the others on your orders, I saw the world in a different way. They don't do what they do for money, or power, or even respect. They do it because it's right."
"You want to... join them? Leave me?"
"No, sir. I wouldn't do that. It's just... I... want to be with them. When the Highwind crashed, I lost contact with the Cait Sith unit. I want to send a third one to them to check on their status--"
"Forget them, Reeve. They aren't... important. They will help in the rebuilding... in their own way. But afterwards I will rule. I need you here, with me... I need you to help me." The words felt bitter on his tongue, but Rufus realized that he meant every word of them.
There was a moment's hesitation. Rufus noted it, and felt slightly disappointed. If only Palmer's unwavering loyalty had been a trait of Reeve's. "How can I help, sir?"
"We'll need to set up a... power base. Junon, I think. Any who oppose... Turks will deal with. But that will be later. Now... you must find allies within survivors of Midgar and... kill any opposition. Are you with me?"
"Yes, sir."
Author: Alright, now I'm finally getting somewhere. I think the Rufus/Reeve side plot will work nicely. I'm kind of shocked that I was able to humanize Cait Sith somewhat. I normally hate that guy.
I'm on a roll here. I'm normally too lazy to do this kind of stuff.
Next part, the fate of Cid!