Chapter Nine
"I don't wanna do this…I don't wanna do this." Reno was pacing outside of the infirmary.
Rude was standing alongside Elena. He was like a gargoyle, and as usual, expressionless. "Calm down." He said.
"But, the President?"
"Don't question Tseng." Elena said.
"That's what you said about Rufus on the damn chopper!" Reno yelled.
"SHH! Do you want him to hear us?"
"Oh man…oh man…Rude! What do you think about all of this?"
Rude said nothing. He cracked his knuckles.
"Come on!"
"I'm a Turk. You're a Turk. I'll follow Boss' orders." Rude said.
"Oh shit man! Damn it! Fuck! What the hell! How can we do this?" Reno asked.
"Are you going against Tseng's orders?" Elena asked.
"I…I…I..."
"Are you going to follow orders or not?"
Reno sighed, "Fine."
"Then get it done! I have my own orders to follow. You two better not screw this up!" Elena firmly said while leaving the two.
Rude shrugged. "Well?"
"Damn it. Wait here. I'll take care of this." Reno said. Rude smiled.
In the infirmary, Rufus was approaching Aeris. He had the doctor physically incapacitate her with a shot. She was awake, but her movement was restricted. He stood over her, staring into her eyes. He got closer. They were face to face. Aeris was squirming from side to side, trying not look at him. Rufus tried to force his lips onto hers, but she resisted. He slapped her for this.
"Why make this harder on yourself? I'm going to find the Promised Land. This is the only way."
Tears were constantly rolling down her face. "I hate you." She cried. "When Cloud gets here, he's --"
"He's gonna what? He's gonna be killed. That punk has gotten on my nerves from the start. Don't get you're hopes up. Now, where were we?" Rufus coldly said while devilishly smiling.
"No. No." Aeris muttered.
Rufus began to remove his custom tailored suit. He started to force himself onto Aeris. She couldn't stop him. He heard the door open. Without stopping or looking to see who it was, he spoke: "What is it! Can't you see that I'm busy?"
"It's Reno, sir."
"What the hell do you think you're doing interrupting me like this?"
"I'm following orders, sir."
"Huh?" Rufus quizzically asked while turning his head. Before he could realize what was going on, Reno stunned him into submission with his electric staff. "You bastard!" Rufus cried as he slipped into an unconscious state.
As Rufus fell to the floor, Reno laid his eyes onto the petrified flower girl. He felt something he hadn't felt in a long time when he saw Aeris like this. He felt compassion. "Are you ok?" He asked.
"I just want Cloud." Aeris cried.
Rude came in. "Well?"
"Well? I did it! It felt good too."
"Hmph."
"So…what do we do now?" Reno asked.
"Are you guys going to hurt me?" Inquired Aeris.
"No." They both replied, in sync.
"Call Tseng." Ordered Rude.
Reno took out his phone. Tseng answered. "Yes, what is it?"
"Phase one is complete sir. Uh…what do we do now?"
"Good. Stay where you're at. I should be back soon."
"What about the President?"
"I'M THE PRESIDENT NOW!" Tseng screamed. "If Rufus wakes up, just zap his ass again. Got it?"
"Yes sir. We will await further instructions." Reno said as Tseng hung up on him.
"Well?" Rude asked.
"We stay here, and wait til he gets back."
Aeris composed herself. "Excuse me? Is there anyway you could give me something to wear?"
Rude smiled. "I'll take care of this. You look about her size." He said, while leaving.
"Why don't you just walk around like that?" Reno asked, in a playful voice.
"Wrapped up in a blanket!"
"No…"
"I don't think so. Besides, I can barely move anyway. Rufus had the doctor inject me with something."
"I'll go get the technician."
"Wait! You can't just leave me alone with him!"
"Relax, he's out cold. I'll be back in less than a minute."
Three minutes later, Reno returned with the physician. Aeris looked away while the doctor pricked her with another shot. "You should feel better soon."
"Ok. I think you've done enough Doc." Reno stated as he took out his staff and shocked the doctor. "This is getting fun!"
"Why did you do that?"
"Because."
Rude returned. He had one of Elena's suits folded over his left arm, and sleek black shoes in his hand. "Here."
"You've got to be kidding me." Aeris said.
"Then you can just walk around nake --"
"I already tried it." Said Reno.
"Ok. Give it here." Aeris said while taking the suit from Rude. She was surprised when the two of them just stood there, watching her. "Um…can I have a little privacy?"
The two Turk's turned their backs to her.
"Um…a little more privacy?"
They walked farther away from her.
"Get out!" Yelled Aeris. They walked out of the room and shut the door. They waited in silence, and then Reno broke the ice.
"Geez, what's her problem?" Reno asked.
"You grossed her out."
"Me!" Reno said as the door suddenly opened. Aeris was decked out from head to toe in one of Elena's signature Turk suits. The shoes even fit her perfectly. Elena was a just a hint thinner than Aeris, which made the suit hug every curve of her lean and fit body.
"Well? What do you two think?" Aeris said while brushing her hair back.
"Uh…" Reno uttered before his jaw dropped to the ground. Rude just smiled.
"Hmph, you two are no fun!"
They both shrugged.
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Now in lower Junon, Cloud and the others made sure to stay out of sight from the ShinRa soilders Rufus had stationed in the town. Cloud was getting restless. "How can I just sit by when Aeris is in danger?"
"It's been fifteen minutes Cloud! That fuck said he'd be here!" Cid assured, the only way he could.
"There he is now." Vincent said.
All three of them marched to meet Tseng. "You're early. Oh well, no trouble. Everything is going according to plan."
"Where's Aeris!" Cloud sternly asked.
"I told you, she's fine."
"You didn't answer my question, Turk."
"If you must know, she is in the infirmary. Rude and Reno are with her."
"Is that supposed to be reassuring?"
"Jesus, Cloud! I told you, she is fine. Now, if you gentlemen wouldn't mind, I have a company to take over. Follow me." Cloud, Cid, and Vincent followed Tseng's lead. He led them to a secret service elevator that Rufus had installed for his own private use. Rufus and the Turk's were the only ones who knew about it. With every inch the elevator moved, Cloud could feel her. The hero of this planet was now closer than he had ever been to receiving his true redemption.
Author's Notes: Another day, another chapter. Hope you all liked this one. I love working with the Turk's. They are some of my favorite characters and I hope you all enjoyed them. Sorry all you Rufus fans! I really do like him but he has always been ruthless and conniving. I sort of made him out to be a sleaze ball here, but I needed some type of villain. Sorry for the inconsistencies with Aeris. What I mean by that is how she went from being weak to getting her strength back just from some medicine. Come on, this is Final Fantasy and I was tired of making her out to be so weak and useless in the story. It's time she got what she deserves! Anyway, the story is just entering the final stretch. There will be maybe 3…4…maybe 5 more chapters. It depends on where I want to take it. Hope you all liked this one; I really had a good time writing it. Anyway, as always, review please. Thanks,
NazMan.
