Inspired by Stephen King's Dark Tower series
o o o
Cloud hurried down the tunnel, Cait Sith on his left, Tifa on his right. The three were tense and silent, knowing only that Sister Ray was ahead, half expecting nearly anything to attack from the tunnel shadows.
"Why, hello, Strife."
Except that. Dear Ramuh, anything but that.
Cloud whipped around. Three figures were materializing from the gloomy shadows. One tall and smooth-headed, one thin and lanky, one small and curved. Turks. Cloud's mako-azure eyes narrowed. "What do you three want?" He asked shortly. Beside him, he heard Cait Sith give a little moan of dispair.
Reno shrugged easily, twirling his 'stick by it's leather loop. "Just to settle old debts, I guess." He said, catching the 'stick in his palm. Cloud tensed, noted Tifa do the same, and readied himself for the first attack.
"Stop."
Everyone involved blinked at the sound of that voice, low and firm, as the owner walked up, standing between Cloud and Tifa. Vincent, his cloak folded over his arm, his headband gone, his hair tied back except for a few bangs that drifted across his eyes. He tossed his cloak aside, stepping forward a bit, clad in only black and sleek gold, his gun remaining holstered at his hip. His eyes took in each blue-suited figure individually. "Turks." He said softly. "Navy blue death in a suit." He took another step, spreading his mismatched hands to either side. "Do you know who I am, Turks?" He asked.
The three looked at each other, their faces unsure. "Yeah," Reno said finally. "We know."
"Who am I?"
"Valentine." Elena said promptly, then bit her lip. "Vin...Vincent Valentine."
Vincent's lip quirked slightly. "What am I, Turks?" He continued.
"A dead man." Rude said flatly. The other two winced in expectation of a gunshot.
"You...you were the first Turk," Reno said quickly. "You, hell, you wrote all the rules."
"Rules for what?" Vincent prompted.
"For our effin' lives, man!" Reno blurted. "The rules we live by, every day!"
"The way of life for those that wear the blue suit." Elena said in a half whisper, her eyes never leaving Vincent's face. "The Turks scripture."
Vincent's lip twitched again. "The Turks scripture?" He asked, faint amusement coloring his voice.
"That's what Tseng called it." Rude said, nodding once.
"Tseng bloody worshipped you, man." Reno added almost reverently.
And made them worship him, too. Cloud thought, a chill running down his spine as he watched the ensuing scene. He had known that Vincent was once a Turk, but the first Turk? The one who had made the rules every Turk would follow? The three were looking at Vincent as if Odin himself were speaking to them. Or the way I used to look at Sephiroth, Cloud thought grimly.
"The Turks scripture." Vincent said, musingly, then shook his head slowly. "You know me." He said, his eyes pinning each of them, marking them, knowing them. "You know who I am, what I am. Now, I ask you; do you accept me for what I am?"
The three looked at each other again, for a long moment. "Yeah," Reno said again. "We accept you."
"For what?"
They all stood a bit straighter, a bit prouder. "For our leader, sir." Rude said firmly. "The leader of the Turks."
There was a moment of silence, counterpointed by the faint sound of dripping water, then Vincent chuckled softly, closing his eyes. He looked up at them, his eyes fierce and proud. "Rude, Reno, Elena." He said, his voice commanding and firm. "For the time being, I will be unable to lead directly, but until the time when I can join you again, you will treat a Mr. Reeve Brannon's orders as if they were my own, understand?" The Turks nodded even as Cait Sith jumped, shocked. Vincent turned towards the stuffed cat, one brow raised. "I assume that your......other half, is being kept somewhere, locked up?"
Cait nodded, his ears lying back. "Up in the cellblock near, near the labs." He said uneasily.
Vincent looked back at the Turks. "I believe you three know where this is." They nodded again. "Go there, release Reeve, and follow his orders until our business with Sephiroth is finished. Afterwards, I will find you again and take up the position of leader. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!" The Turks chorused smartly, saluting. A moment later they had disappeared off into the shadows again.
