"What's one thing in the world you have always wanted?"
"Why are you asking questions again?"
"Because this is such a dull mission, and I am bored out of my mind."
"Sure you are Riffter. So you need to torment me?"
"Of course. And its Rif, Blade."
"…Ask the question again."
"What's one thing in the world you always wanted?"
"You to shut up."
"Your not funny."
"I wasn't being funny. I was being serious."
"Your mean."
"You're a pain in the ass, but I don't complain much."
"Your holding us here because you want out help?!"
"Yes. It was the only way I could make you see things my way."
"we're mercenaries! We will see things anyone's way for cash!"
Da'ath shook his head, sinking into a black, velvety appearing, couch. "You would not do this mission for cash, I assure you. One of you would figure it out, and convince the other it's something you wouldn't do if your life depended on it. Sadly, now your lives do depend on following my orders."
He held Blade, much to the woman's distaste, as he glared at this man. She was weak, tired, and worse for wear. Having been so brutally tossed to the floor, as if trash, Rif had to be restrained from attacking someone. Sedek had soon let him go, and he quickly went to his fallen friend.
Da'ath wasn't impressed with the behavior of his "followers". They had quickly been sent away, told something horrid about what may become of them. Apparently it wasn't below Da'ath to play with peoples heads, but far below him to torture and beat the already weak.
"Then what is it?" Blade asked, blinking rapidly. The world seemed to be spinning to her, for she swayed a little in Rif's arms.
"Hm…Apparently Emily over did it. Sit, please. I would not want to cause more trouble for you."
When neither Blade or Rif moved, Da'ath sighed and looked at Sedek.
"Neither I nor Sedek is going to hurt you. Please sit. I would not want to force a request upon you."
Rif shook his head, but knowing the larger man to be behind him he moved Blade towards one of the sofas. Once she was seated he let her go and sat himself.
"Now," Da'ath picked a mug of something from the glass table in front of him. "I need you and your companion to collect and item for me."
Rif wrinkled his nose. Blade didn't seem to impressed either. She, having folded her arms and rested her head upon them, looked up now with weary eyes.
"An item?"
"Yes." Da'ath sipped his drink, glancing over at the blond haired Emily who was entering the room. "A box, actually."
"It better be a gold box inlaid with diamonds." Blade whispered, closing her eyes at the sight of Emily. Rif stared at the girl, observing her movements and her way of dress. Tight. That was what she went for. Tight black pants, leather maybe, and a tight matching top. Rif wondered how her body could breath in that outfit.
"Its contents are worth more then anything in this house hold, including all of us." Da'ath told her, setting down his glass and folding his hands on his legs. "The object inside the box I speak washed onto the shore of this continent a few years ago. The appearance of it was kept secret. Not public knowledge it exists still, actually."
"What's in the box?" Blade asked dully.
"You have no need to know that."
"Fine."
"May I finish now- Ah, Blade, Iris? Which do you prefer now?"
Rif's eyes shot at Da'ath. 'Now?'
"Blade." She said, never looking up at him or even opening her eyes.
"Alright. Blade, the contents of the box remained secret until you return. The box will not open without a key, which there are merely two of. I managed to get a hold of one. The other is at the lab."
"Continue with your story, I don't care about the keys."
Da'ath shook his head. "Tart woman, aren't you?" But he gave her no time to reply and pushed on, " The item was to be given to Shinra, and specifically its new president Reno, for Hope didn't exist at that time. Shinra came to collect its box, caring little for precaution and safety. Three guards went to Kalm, collected a crate in which the item was placed in, and left. All went well. The people who found the object were brought with the guards."
He collected his drink, glancing over at Sedek and Emily by the door. After sipping on the mystery liquid, he went on as before. "Someone else had plans for this item, though. Some thieves or thugs or perhaps mercenaries like yourselves. No one really knows. These people caught the truck on its return to Midgar. The people in it were robbed, and slaughtered. Their bodies scattered across the landscape and anything left of their truck was set on fire."
"So these people have the item now?" Rif asked, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. Da'ath shook his head.
"No. They no longer have the item. You see, they either gave it up to the person they were hired by, or sold it. All we know is it went into a bar in Costa Del Sol, and never came out in their hands. We were trying to find it, but it remained lost to us. until recently, we thought it to have been gone for good, but we never stopped looking for it. This object belongs to us, you see. In a sense."
"In a s-"
"But, last year we again found traces of the box's where a bouts. An acquaintance of mine had been traveling through the world when he wrote back to me and described a place in Icicle Inn, in the mountains. He claimed he stumbled upon it by pure accident. You see, it was the old residence of professor Gast. The doors were un-locked and he has mistaken it for the inn. After going inside and finding no one, he went down into the basement area. He didn't get far before he saw a lab like place. He left immediately. Knowing how found I was of science and that I studied under a very bright man, he sent me the letter. After further investigating, I came to find he had the item I desired. It is locked away in his lab."
"Why didn't you hire a mercenary then? Why us?"
"Ah, Blade, I have been looking for you pair for ages. I have heard of your work, and wanted to seek out the help of you two alone." He was looking straight at Rif as he spoke. "You see, I trust you two."
Rif swallowed.
Note: Go read Riene-Strife 's work. Amazing FF VII fan fiction (and his Zelda ones getting very good too)