Rufus: Where is Reeve?
Reno: He went on strike. Something about a thankless job and the mog suit being the last straw.
Rufus: That fool! Now who will say the opening disclaimer?
Reno: Heh, I don't know. I think it's kind of funny that the writer doesn't have someone to say that he doesn't own FF7.
Tyramir: Sucker!
Reno: Wha?
Rufus: You just said it, you dolt.
Reno: D'oh!
Reeve: Who's the tool now?!
Chapter Sixteen
Empire of Traitors
Rufus stepped out of the back of the car, and dusted off his suit. It wasn't one of the former hundreds of white ones he used to own, but was actually a Turk suit he had been forced to borrow from Reno. Unlike the Turk, though, Rufus had insisted on the suit being pressed and cleaned, and adjusted more to regulation wear.
The car ride hadn't been unpleasant, but it was definitely something he was unaccustomed to. Reeve had driven, and wisely chosen to put Reno in the front passenger seat beside him, leaving Rufus in the back, sitting with Elena. She had stayed silent the entire trip, always looking as if she wanted to say something, but respected his desire for quiet. The trial ahead would be the greatest.
The quaint lower town of Junon was like a spring. They were coiled, ready to strike. Rufus made a mental note of it. These people were being mistreated, and were on the verge of revolt. They would soon need to be suppressed.
The guard at the gate didn't recognize him, but that wasn't all that surprising. He seemed doubtful about Reno's credentials, but after some gil swapped hands, they were allowed access to the elevator. Rufus' eyes narrowed at that, but he said nothing. This sort of behaviour would be dealt with in good time, but nothing could be done about it for now.
"Is everything ready?" Rufus asked once the elevator doors shut behind them.
"Palmer knows we're here and is getting everything ready," Reeve said as he adjusted the small earpiece that was all but invisible to the casual observerer.
Reno pulled out his staff and extended it, then leaned it against one of his shoulders. Elena was already pulling out various orbs of Materia and casting shield spells on them all. Rufus' own contribution was the pistol he had in his breast pocket.
The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. "Are you certain you'll be able to hold up your end of this?"
Reeve nodded. "It'll be difficult, though. I've never tried so many before."
The four walked out into the Upper City of Junon, and found exactly what they expected. The streets had been cleared of civillians. In there place were Shinra soldiers. There were about one hundred of them, all armed with sub-machine guns. Rufus surveyed their ranks. No bazookas, tank units, or robotic cavalry. Palmer was a bigger fool than he thought.
"Hey hey!" came Palmer's voice.
Rufus stared down the street and saw the fat fool behind the ranks of Shinra soldiers.
"It's good to see you, Rufus!" Palmer said. "I wanted to see your face when you found out that I had taken your Empire from you!"
Rufus' bland expression took on an evil grin. Palmer had sincerely thought he had taken control of Shinra? Shinra was much like handling a Tonberry. If you were quick and knew what you were doing, you could dance around it, and keep control of the battle against it. If you were cocky, though, and didn't watch out, its knife would plunge into your ribs.
"What's so funny, Ruf? Why're you smiling? I'm in control now!"
Rufus clenched his left fist. That was the signal. From the corner of his eye, he saw Reeve nod and close his eyes.
From buildings and alleyways on both sides of the street they erupted. A score of white and pink shapes, all carrying a black and white figure on their backs. Cait Sith units three through twenty five, their entire line, charged from every crevice they could fit through, all directly through the Shinra ranks. The soldiers all turned around to face the new threat, opening fire. The Cait Siths absorbed the damage and seemed not to notice at all.
Reno and Elena took full advantage of the front rank's confusion. Caught between the indecision of assisting their flanks and center, and opening fire on their former leader, the two Turks devestated them with a combination of powerful Materia attacks combined with fire from Reno's staff. The two, most notably Reno, handled themselves remarkably well when in actual combat. Rufus made a mental note not to kill Reno when this was all finished.
The Cait Sith units plowed through their enemies, knocking them about and shoving them out of the way, mostly wounding and disarming, trampling where they had to, but refraining from killing until it was necessary.
The route was over in under a minute. Shinra's soldiers lay beaten senseless, their spirit and bodies broken, but easily repaired under the right guidance.
Rufus strode forth, flanked by Elena and Reno on one side, and Reeve on the other. As he walked by them, the Cait Sith units fell into step behind him.
Palmer was on his knees, gibbering in terror, actually weeping. Rufus also noted in disgust that his pants were damp.
"This is my Empire, you fat fool." Rufus pulled the gun out of his pocket and aimed it at Palmer's head. He noted that Reeve looked away as he pulled the trigger. Blood splattered across his face.
Rufus turned to face the defeated army. "I am Rufus Shinra! I am in control here! Let all who challenge me suffer the same fate as this man. Let his name be forgotten, and his fate only be whispered when asked what happens to those who challenge my authority. I alone control Shinra."
Pulling a cloth from his pocket, Rufus wiped the gun in his hand off of all blood, then handed the weapon to Reeve.
"This is a token of trust I give you, Reeve. You alone have aided me without betrayal or requirement of payment. You will be my second, above all others but me. Take this, and remember this day. This is the day that Shinra was reborn."
Reeve nodded. Sweat poured down his face, and his clothes were damp with it. He grasped the gun and placed it in his breast holster. "Thank you, sir. I'm glad that I've earned your--"
He cut off abruptly as he began to convulse. Blood poured from his ears and nose. All around him the Cait Sith units also began to shake, until Reeve fell over. The robots also slumped, drained of any life.
"Reeve!" Rufus cried. "Someone get me a medic!"
Author's Note:
Woo I have fun writing about the rise of Shinra. Next up should be Cloud. I think I've actually managed to turn this fic into a character rotation now, switching between three stories.
Reno: He went on strike. Something about a thankless job and the mog suit being the last straw.
Rufus: That fool! Now who will say the opening disclaimer?
Reno: Heh, I don't know. I think it's kind of funny that the writer doesn't have someone to say that he doesn't own FF7.
Tyramir: Sucker!
Reno: Wha?
Rufus: You just said it, you dolt.
Reno: D'oh!
Reeve: Who's the tool now?!
Chapter Sixteen
Empire of Traitors
Rufus stepped out of the back of the car, and dusted off his suit. It wasn't one of the former hundreds of white ones he used to own, but was actually a Turk suit he had been forced to borrow from Reno. Unlike the Turk, though, Rufus had insisted on the suit being pressed and cleaned, and adjusted more to regulation wear.
The car ride hadn't been unpleasant, but it was definitely something he was unaccustomed to. Reeve had driven, and wisely chosen to put Reno in the front passenger seat beside him, leaving Rufus in the back, sitting with Elena. She had stayed silent the entire trip, always looking as if she wanted to say something, but respected his desire for quiet. The trial ahead would be the greatest.
The quaint lower town of Junon was like a spring. They were coiled, ready to strike. Rufus made a mental note of it. These people were being mistreated, and were on the verge of revolt. They would soon need to be suppressed.
The guard at the gate didn't recognize him, but that wasn't all that surprising. He seemed doubtful about Reno's credentials, but after some gil swapped hands, they were allowed access to the elevator. Rufus' eyes narrowed at that, but he said nothing. This sort of behaviour would be dealt with in good time, but nothing could be done about it for now.
"Is everything ready?" Rufus asked once the elevator doors shut behind them.
"Palmer knows we're here and is getting everything ready," Reeve said as he adjusted the small earpiece that was all but invisible to the casual observerer.
Reno pulled out his staff and extended it, then leaned it against one of his shoulders. Elena was already pulling out various orbs of Materia and casting shield spells on them all. Rufus' own contribution was the pistol he had in his breast pocket.
The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. "Are you certain you'll be able to hold up your end of this?"
Reeve nodded. "It'll be difficult, though. I've never tried so many before."
The four walked out into the Upper City of Junon, and found exactly what they expected. The streets had been cleared of civillians. In there place were Shinra soldiers. There were about one hundred of them, all armed with sub-machine guns. Rufus surveyed their ranks. No bazookas, tank units, or robotic cavalry. Palmer was a bigger fool than he thought.
"Hey hey!" came Palmer's voice.
Rufus stared down the street and saw the fat fool behind the ranks of Shinra soldiers.
"It's good to see you, Rufus!" Palmer said. "I wanted to see your face when you found out that I had taken your Empire from you!"
Rufus' bland expression took on an evil grin. Palmer had sincerely thought he had taken control of Shinra? Shinra was much like handling a Tonberry. If you were quick and knew what you were doing, you could dance around it, and keep control of the battle against it. If you were cocky, though, and didn't watch out, its knife would plunge into your ribs.
"What's so funny, Ruf? Why're you smiling? I'm in control now!"
Rufus clenched his left fist. That was the signal. From the corner of his eye, he saw Reeve nod and close his eyes.
From buildings and alleyways on both sides of the street they erupted. A score of white and pink shapes, all carrying a black and white figure on their backs. Cait Sith units three through twenty five, their entire line, charged from every crevice they could fit through, all directly through the Shinra ranks. The soldiers all turned around to face the new threat, opening fire. The Cait Siths absorbed the damage and seemed not to notice at all.
Reno and Elena took full advantage of the front rank's confusion. Caught between the indecision of assisting their flanks and center, and opening fire on their former leader, the two Turks devestated them with a combination of powerful Materia attacks combined with fire from Reno's staff. The two, most notably Reno, handled themselves remarkably well when in actual combat. Rufus made a mental note not to kill Reno when this was all finished.
The Cait Sith units plowed through their enemies, knocking them about and shoving them out of the way, mostly wounding and disarming, trampling where they had to, but refraining from killing until it was necessary.
The route was over in under a minute. Shinra's soldiers lay beaten senseless, their spirit and bodies broken, but easily repaired under the right guidance.
Rufus strode forth, flanked by Elena and Reno on one side, and Reeve on the other. As he walked by them, the Cait Sith units fell into step behind him.
Palmer was on his knees, gibbering in terror, actually weeping. Rufus also noted in disgust that his pants were damp.
"This is my Empire, you fat fool." Rufus pulled the gun out of his pocket and aimed it at Palmer's head. He noted that Reeve looked away as he pulled the trigger. Blood splattered across his face.
Rufus turned to face the defeated army. "I am Rufus Shinra! I am in control here! Let all who challenge me suffer the same fate as this man. Let his name be forgotten, and his fate only be whispered when asked what happens to those who challenge my authority. I alone control Shinra."
Pulling a cloth from his pocket, Rufus wiped the gun in his hand off of all blood, then handed the weapon to Reeve.
"This is a token of trust I give you, Reeve. You alone have aided me without betrayal or requirement of payment. You will be my second, above all others but me. Take this, and remember this day. This is the day that Shinra was reborn."
Reeve nodded. Sweat poured down his face, and his clothes were damp with it. He grasped the gun and placed it in his breast holster. "Thank you, sir. I'm glad that I've earned your--"
He cut off abruptly as he began to convulse. Blood poured from his ears and nose. All around him the Cait Sith units also began to shake, until Reeve fell over. The robots also slumped, drained of any life.
"Reeve!" Rufus cried. "Someone get me a medic!"
Author's Note:
Woo I have fun writing about the rise of Shinra. Next up should be Cloud. I think I've actually managed to turn this fic into a character rotation now, switching between three stories.