Tseng XII: Mole

Content warning: eating disorder

Tseng had just got on the helicopter to take him back to Shinra Headquarters when his phone rang. He looked at it in confusion. Rufus' name was displayed on the screen. He had never even once called Tseng on his mobile phone or when he was not in his office, although he had clearance to do so. But they had established the rule that his line was to be kept free when he was out because in case he needed to be contacted by other Turks, unless Rufus had very urgent concerns. Seeing as they had talked not long ago, how urgent could it be?

He picked up and said "Yes?" into the phone as if nothing was wrong. In reality, he was deeply troubled by the realization that Rufus was further intruding into his life. He needed to address this before it got too far out of hand. He was all the more surprised when Rufus' soft voice at the end of the line simply reminded him: "I told you to eat some food. That was an order. I am awaiting your report." Before Tseng could say anything, Rufus hung up.

Tseng had no idea why Rufus insisted on giving him such nonsensical orders. He hardly ever ate lunch and he was not particularly hungry. Was Rufus just playing power moves? Tseng selected Rufus' number from his contacts. He could play that game, too. He folded his legs as he held the phone to his ear while the Shinra Building was already coming in sight. He had to make it quick.

Rufus picked up almost immediately. "That was quick. What did you eat?", he asked. Tseng sighed and responded: "I have no idea what kind of order that is, but it's not the time to eat for me right now. I'll eat tonight." After a short pause, he added: "Also, please don't call me unless it's an emergency or if I'm in the office." He waited patiently for a response from Rufus, and when it finally came, it was a question: "Have you looked into a mirror recently?"

The helicopter landed and Tseng, saying "hang on" into the phone, slid the door open and got off, the phone still on his ear. He walked a few steps away from the vehicle and finally gave Rufus an answer: "I have no idea what you're getting at, but if you're trying to somehow ease me into saying yes to whatever you say, I will not play this game with you". It was a common manipulation strategy to get a person to agree to initially apparently inconsequential things and then continue to set the bar higher and higher until one could make them do something they would never do otherwise. Using and recognizing such tactics was part of the Turks' training.

Rufus sighed on the other end of the line. "Maybe you didn't notice it, but you've lost weight recently. I think you don't eat enough." Tseng turned his face upward to look at the cloudy sky above. A few drops of water fell with small pit pats on the asphalt underfoot. "I know you're very busy. I just wanted to remind you to take a break and eat some food." Tseng lowered his gaze down at the ground. "Sorry for intruding", Rufus closed and hung up. Tseng lowered his hand with the phone. He did not feel like eating most of the time. There was nothing else going on, or so he tried to make everyone believe. Not that he believed it himself; he knew very well that his eating habits were far from normal or healthy, but he had not been aware that this was so apparent on the outside. I was never close with Tseng and I could not tell if it really was as obvious as Rufus Shinra claimed. Or perhaps Rufus simply looked more closely at the man he was attracted to than most other people. Did anyone else notice, I wonder.

Suddenly, the phone that was still in his hand, started ringing again. Tseng picked up Zack's call immediately and started moving again to enter the Shinra HQ. "How is it going?", he asked as he picked up the phone. Zack's voice on the phone sounded calm, but concerned as he reported: "Hojo gave Sephiroth a high dose of Mako and he's unconscious. He needs to rest and get the mako poisoning out of his system, but I can't move him easily and I don't think we should stay here." Tseng furrowed his eyebrows. "Can't he stay for a while in the Research Department to rest?" Zack sounded embarrassed: "Ummm, I kinda chased Hojo out of the room after threatening to hurt him." Tseng looked at the ceiling for a moment. He was dying to know what could have brought this on, but if he found out about it, he would have to report it, perhaps at the cost of Sephiroth's integrity. He did not want for anything else to negatively impact Sephiroth's mental state beyond what had transpired the days and weeks before, so he decided not to ask for more information, at least not at this time. The exceptional respect and kindness Tseng showed toward Sephiroth during these trying times may be cause to commend the Vice Chief of the Turks, but perhaps he should have been aware that anything he did in his position of power could have dire consequences down the line. Although his hesitance to act in Sephiroth's disfavor would cost many people their lives, I must admit that I will be forever grateful to him for at least trying to give him the happiness he deserved. In this regard, he did more than most other people in his life.

Tseng moved on toward one of the elevators, his phone still in his hand. "I have no authority in the research department", he finally said. As he passed by a vending machine, he stopped for a moment. "I don't know much about mako intoxication, but doesn't he need medical attention?", he inquired rationally. "Do you have any idea how long it might take for him to get back on his feet?" Zack paused for a moment and then guessed: "Could be anything from an hour to days… I guess it depends on how much a person can handle. I think Sephiroth may be better off than most people. But still, I have no idea, really." Tseng reached into his pocket to find his keycard. "That's a pretty wild guess. I think you'd better stay there until he can walk out by himself, but I might be able to get you some help from the inside. Just a minute."

He hung up and, still standing in front of the vending machine with his phone in his hand, retrieved another name from his contact list and called. The phone tooted a few times before a young woman's voice said: "Yes?", to which Tseng responded: "Research assistant Enora Raan? I have a delivery for you." After a short pause where only hasty steps could be heard over the phone, her hushed voice checked back: "Which delivery is this about?", she asked and Tseng gave the final part of the code phrase: "Six phoenix feathers. Are you alone?" He heard more hasty footsteps and then the sound of a door closing. "You're not supposed to call me like this in the middle of the day." As he was about to reply, a middle-aged man in a suit who had been standing behind him for some time, raised his voice: "Excuse me, are you going to buy something?"

Upon realizing that he was still standing in front of the vending machine, he stepped aside with a muttered "sorry" and started to move on walked on toward the elevator. He had had half a mind to buy some food, even if it was just to please the Vice President, but he could not quite appreciate the appeal of the "food" offered there, and there were more important matters to attend to.

"It's an emergency", he explained to Enora Raan. "A 1st class SOLDIER with mako poisoning is located somewhere within the research department. He needs medical assistance. I need you to-" – "No way!", she interrupted him resolutely. "Sephiroth is Hojo's pet. I would be his next sample if I was to interfere." Tseng had not even mentioned Sephiroth, but her reaction confirmed that whatever Hojo was doing, the rest of the research department knew about it and was covering it up for him. "Hojo isn't there", he tried to appease her. "Another SOLDIER is with him. He'll fill you in on the details. Just try not to be seen. I'll see to it that no information will be leaked." He waited for a moment, but she did not respond. "You know what's at stake", he finally closed and hung up.

He reached the elevator and pressed the button to call it. Enora Raan was one the moles the Turks had at their disposal. She was not "participating" voluntarily, and her loyalty was questionable. But she was one of those people who just had enough dirt on her to make her easy to blackmail, and she would do what she was asked. Not discussing the matter and leaving her with a threat was the way to get her moving. She was not a professional spy, naturally, so her services could only be requested if the circumstances were dire enough required it, and she had to be reminded of her situation before she would act. And there was no doubt that this would put her at risk as well, just as she had said.

When the elevator arrived with a "ping", Tseng stepped in and pressed the button for floor 67. He did not like the thought of Zack and Sephiroth being trapped inside the research department any more than Zack did. Although he trusted that Zack could hold his own, he had no idea what Hojo possibly had up his sleeve. And he could not bear the thought of Sephiroth being left there by himself in case Zack had to make a quick escape. Neither could I, but I could do nothing about it.