Chapter Eight
"Yes sir. We have the subject. Inform the President. Yes sir." Rude said, as he looked at Aeris. She was unconscious from the medicine he had given her. She was alright physically, but was now in the hands of ShinRa, once again.
"Is she naked under there!" Reno looked back from the cockpit of the chopper.
Rude peaked underneath the cloak. "Yup, she sure is!"
"And!" Reno asked, excitedly.
"Magnificent!"
"Ugh, will you two please stop it." Said Elena.
"Aw come on, we're just having a little fun!" Rebutted Reno.
"Have some respect! Besides, you both know how Tseng felt for the Ancient. Just stop it, or I'll tell him." Elena replied.
"Hmph, whatever." Uttered Rude.
"What do you think the President wants with her anyway? Remember how much trouble she caused us before? And how the hell is she back anyways? Didn't Sephiroth kill the damn girl?" Asked Reno.
"Who knows? Do not question the President's motives. He has gotten us this far. Our orders were to retrieve the subject, and bring her back unharmed. Good thing Tseng anticipated her current state, otherwise, she might not have made it." Elena said.
"What about lover boy?" Reno questioned.
"Cloud? Ha! We can deal with him. He's no match for the Turks!" Proclaimed Rude.
The chopper was approaching Junon. They landed on the private helipad located on the upper section. Elena, Reno, and Rude were received by Rufus and Tseng. A doctor was on hand also, but Tseng assured Rufus that Aeris would be fine. Tseng knew what Rufus wanted to do, and he wanted no part of it. Reno and Elena got out, followed by Rude, who was carrying Aeris.
"I don't believe it." Said Rufus. "Finally, ShinRa will be able to rule the world once more! This time, that freak Sephiroth will not be in our way! Nobody can stop us now! Hurry, get her into the infirmary. Wait for my instructions." The Turk's followed Rufus' orders and proceeded to bring Aeris into the clinic. Tseng stayed behind. He approached Rufus.
"Even if you do succeed, what about Cloud and the others?" Tseng asked.
"I will succeed. Don't worry about Cloud. If that ship even comes close to this landing area, I will have it shot down."
"Do you really think he will be so brash this time?"
"No, I don't. I already have troops standing by."
"How many?"
"Enough." Said Rufus.
"That's not enough."
"Tseng, lets be optimistic here. Don't worry about Cloud, worry about yourself."
"Hasn't she been through enough? What are we going to accomplish in doing this?"
"Since when did you become so sentimental? Do you care for this girl, Tseng? The ruthless leader of the Turks! Reduced to this? If you like that thing so much, than why don't you do the honors?"
"I was just --"
"You were just nothing. Now, I have a task to prepare for. Get her ready."
"Yes sir." Tseng said unenthusiastically. He followed Rufus into the new ShinRa office building. It was nothing like the one in Midgar once was. Reeve and Scarlett had been scouting for a location for Neo-Midgar, while the Turk's were reduced to mere bodyguards for Rufus. Tseng always followed orders though, but he began to question his superior's motives recently. Tseng was especially pissed about his last assignment, to excavate the northern crater and bring back the remains of Jenova. That mission almost cost him and Elena their lives. Tseng was particularly grateful to Vincent. He saved them after Kadaj and his gang almost killed them both. Tseng entered the infirmary. A doctor in a white lab coat was tending to the flower girl. She was in a lab bed. Still unclothed underneath the blanket; Tseng approached her. So beautiful. So innocent. Does she deserve this? Fuck Rufus. We shoulda let him die out there. I should be the President of ShinRa! Tseng took out his cell phone. "Excuse me, I need you to leave." Tseng said to the lab tech. He nodded and left the room. "Shut that door." Tseng dialed Cloud's number. It was picked up after one ring.
"What's going on Tseng? She better be alright." Cloud sternly said.
"Just relax. Now listen to me, I'm calling the shots now."
"Tseng. If Aeris is harmed in any way, I'm talking to an empty telephone, because the person at the other end of this line is dead. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Cloud, why the need for so much hostility? I'm trying to help you."
"You are a piece of shit Tseng! You hear me? Do ya, you sick --"
"Cloud, why are you getting so mad?" Denzel asked.
"Not now." Cloud said.
"Oh? Is that one of the slum rats? Are there more with you? I would advise you to stay away from Junon. You might survive the blast, but some of those children might not. Unless…unless you think you can…save them. Do you think you can, Cloud? You've never been good at any of that. Zack. Aeris, the first time at least. Is she worth all of their lives? Can you live with all that guilt?" Tseng said while smiling. He knew he had Cloud on a string.
"Damn! Barret, don't go any closer!"
"Da hell do ya mean! We aint even there yet!"
"Just land it here! If we get any closer, this things goin down!"
"Cloud, I'm scared." Said Denzel.
"It's alright Denzel." Cloud said.
"Are you there?" Asked Tseng.
"Yes. Now, what is it you want from me?"
"I want the same thing you want."
"I doubt that."
"Really? I want my heart's desire. I want this god damn company. You want your heart's desire. You want her. Any why wouldn't you? She truly is breathtaking. I'm standing over her right now."
"Please. Please Tseng."
"Don't worry Cloud. I didn't want our conversation to get like this, but you were the one who was being so emotional. She's fine. Now, Rufus isn't taking you lightly. There is no way you can just barge in here. You won't even be able to make it to the upper city. Not without me you won't."
"What does he plan to do with Aeris?"
"You don't want to know. Now listen to me! If you don't want anything to happen to her, then listen. There isn't much time. How far are you from Junon?"
"Maybe…twenty, twenty-five miles."
"Ok. Good. Disembark the ship and get it away from Junon. Do you have some type of transportation?"
Cloud smiled. "Yeah."
"Good. I will meet you on the outskirts in thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes! No way. When I get off this airship, I'm coming to get her!"
"I know what I am doing. This is business."
"Not for me. This is my life. I'm not taking anything for granted this time. Nothing."
"Don't let your feelings get the best of you. You always do. I will be there in a half and hour. Trust me, she will be perfectly fine. She won't be fine though, if you do not do as I tell you. If Rufus knows you're here I…I don't know what he'll do to Aeris."
"Ok." Cloud replied. "I'll wait. If you're a minute late, I'm coming up there. I don't care what you say."
Aeris began stirring. Her eyes opened. "Tseng?"
"Aeris!" Cried Cloud.
"I have to go Cloud. Wait for me." Tseng said as he closed his phone.
"No! Aeris!" Screamed Cloud. Cloud's insides felt like they were on fire. How can I just stand here? How can I do nothing! Aeris…it…has to be you. It was you. "I heard her voice." Cloud said, crying.
Marlene approached him. She hugged the lower half of him. Cloud bent down so she could really hug him. "Don't worry Cloud. I know you will get her. I can't wait to see her! Don't cry. She wouldn't want you to cry."
Cloud wiped away his tears. "You're right. I can't wait to see her too. I have to go now Marlene. I have to go get Aeris. You stay with your dad. He'll make sure you're alright. And when Aeris and I come back, we can all have fun together."
Vincent was checking his gun. He loaded and cocked it before holstering it. "You ready?"
"I am! Let's get this party started!" Yelled Cid.
"Let's go." Said Cloud.
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Back in the infirmary, Aeris was fully awake now. "Tseng? Where am I? What's going on?"
Tseng went to hold her hand, but she denied him. "I deserve that. You are in Junon. This is Rufus' primary headquarters. After you came back, Rufus got a call from Loz. Once he found out you were at the City of the Ancients; he ordered us to get you."
"What does he want from me?"
"The same thing his father wanted."
"Why?"
"Because he's an idiot Aeris. I tried to persuade him, but he reopened your file from Hojo. He is going to impregnate you."
"No! Oh god no." She began crying. "I want Cloud!"
"Aeris, I'm not going to let him. Now, I am going to get Cloud up here to get you outta here. He's waiting for me as we speak."
"Then go get him! Please Tseng. I'm asking for you're help. I'm scared."
"I know you are. He won't do that to you, ok? I have everything under control. I've been waiting for this moment a long time. Now, I have to go get him. Can you be strong for me?"
"Yes. You promise that you're getting Cloud?" She said while staring directly into his eyes.
"I promise. It won't be long now. Whatever happens, be strong."
"I will." Aeris muttered.
"It's time for me to go." Tseng said as he took one last look into Aeris' frightened and frozen eyes. He made his way out of the infirmary to the lower section of Junon. He took out his phone.
"Yes boss." Elena answered.
"Elena, who do you take orders from?"
"You sir."
"Good, now listen to me very carefully…"
Author's Notes: I know it's been a few days since I last updated but I needed to get in my mind where I wanted to take the story next. It is going to get even better with the next chapter, which should be up sometime later today. Anyway, I need some more feedback on the story. If someone thinks it's confusing at some point or too scattered, let me know. I had another good time with this chapter. The next one will be even better!
Please R & R! Thanks,
NazMan.
