Chapter 3 – A Change in Plans
Reeve made his way through the city to his appointment. Midgar had made a lot of progress over the past few years, rebuilding from the devastation left in the wake of Meteor. Most of the plates had been repaired and the former slums had been cleaned out. One slum, however, had been left untouched. He walked through it now. All around him he watched as the children affected by Geostigma played with the sewer rats and picked through garbage cans, their bodies stained by the marks of their shame and their pain. He steeled himself against the pangs of guilt and revulsion he always felt when walking through this area and picked up his pace. He was late.
As he approached the meeting place he could see the man that had brought him to this part of town sitting in the shadows of an alleyway, drumming his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair. Reeve could tell his boss was impatient. He walked past him further into the shadows. He turned and faced Rufus, waiting for him to approach.
"How goes her training?" Rufus asked.
"She's doing well, better than I would have expected given that she still doesn't use all her abilities," Reeve answered. He really didn't understand why Rufus insisted in these weekly reports. There was never much to report from week to week and he always asked the same questions.
"Have you seen any new students at the school?"
Reeve knew what he was getting at. "No, he hasn't appeared, at least not that I've seen, but I can't be with her every minute of the day."
Rufus sat in thought for a few moments. He had expected that the girl would have started to use at least some of the special abilities given to her by Jenova by now. Perhaps she was holding them back due to her father's influence.
"And the mother?"
"Tifa doesn't do much sparring or teaching any more. She spends most of her time at the bar and taking care of the children," he replied.
"It's obvious that both women are suppressing their abilities, probably because of his influence. Reeve you have to get the girl to stretch herself. She must be as prepared as she can be for what's coming," said Rufus quietly.
Reeve looked up at the shrouded man sitting in the wheelchair before him. This presented a problem because he knew that Kako would resist.
"That will take some time. I have to be careful not to draw attention to myself. It's taken me five years to gain his trust and he is very much on his guard where Tifa and the girl are concerned," said Reeve.
"I think we still may have some time. Accelerate her training. Make sure she's ready." With that Rufus turned and left the alley, leaving Reeve alone with his thoughts.