Author's Notes: Dedicated to St. Mayhew. This is because he/she, I'm really sorry I can't tell and I'm trying not to offend either way, is the newest reviewer and when I read the review given me by St. Mayhew again when trying to decide which story to write the next chapter for, I just couldn't resist.
This chapter introduces another new character, and will involve some third person perspective because we are diving into the dream world, which if you care to remember is the in-game world, for the first time and seeing it through the mind of Reno, though it sure ain't his POV. The new character for the chapter, like Jessie, has been pulled out of their original in-game role and given a new one. If you can figure out who it is before I outright say it in the chapter, give yourself a pat on the back and a real cookie.
Italics show the dream, which is a given by this point, right?
Chapter 7: The Doctor
He watched from the helicopter as Tseng directed the SOLDIERs riding with them to shoot at the group ascending the stairs of the pillar. A smirk touched Reno's face as he watched the bullets sink into the flesh of the leg of one of the rebels, the one responsible for the bombs according to their informant. Wasn't her name Jessie or something? Oh well, not like it mattered now. That was one down and three to go. The one with a gun-arm was obviously annoying Tseng because the Wutain took a machine gun off of one of the SOLDIERs and shot at him. Normally the marksman Turk would never miss such a shot, even with the shaking of the helicopter, but a man jumped in the way. The guy wore a bright red head band and an ugly greenish vest. Not that Reno had the right to judge what fashion was ugly under the plates because he'd once had clothes like that.
"Ready Reno?" his boss asked. The young Turk shrugged.
"You've still got that roly-poly to go, and the brute. I think I'll chill until then," Reno replied.
"Better make it quick. Word came from the Don. Cloud was just there to visit him. I doubt a kid like that wouldn't survive his little pet. Might show up soon," Tseng continued, finally shooting the large, yellow clad AVALANCHE member.
"Tough break with that one," Reno said, watching the large lard bucket fall over the railing and down, down, down to the ground so far below that he was just a yellow smear on the ground. "I mean, we save his ass back in Nibelheim after Sephiroth went crazy. Then him and the SOLDIER have to go and bust out and give us all that trouble. But like, he got away, so he deserved it, right? Who would have thought that the twerp responsible for the great Sephiroth's death would cause us trouble even now!"
"Reno," Tseng hissed, "Just get out there and punch in the destruction code."
"Right-o boss. Hey, look, the boy showed up and with his bimbo. Looks like there will be lots of fun now."
The red-haired Turk rose and moved past Tseng to the open door of the 'copter. He was so far up in the sky, even though he was really still lower than he was up on the plates. The winds, well, not winds really but just air whipped around by the propeller blades, jerked at his wrinkled, untucked and otherwise disheveled suit. Without a moment of hesitation he dropped down from the airborne vehicle, down five, ten, fifteen feet to the steel grating of the top platform of the main support of the Sector 7 plate. With a smirk always in place he ignored the three resistance members staring at him and rushed to the control panel, his EMR resting against his shoulder as he punched in the code, 62366. When the trio rushed forward he prepared for a fight. If it took just long enough he could make sure that they were close to the initial blast zone with no hope of escape when he fled via the helicopter waiting for him. Then again… Where had it gone now? Oh well, maybe Tseng had gone off to get that Ancient. Either way Reno knew he'd make it through this while these three, and the three they'd gunned down, wouldn't have a chance…
"Sir," a voice said, shocking Reno from his terrifying dream.
The young executive jerked awake in the uncomfortable chair of the waiting room. As sleep cleared away from his mind and eyes an even greater shock descended upon him. Before him stood one of the men from his terrible dream, alive and well. Half of him was relieved to find that he had not truly brought harm to this stranger, but the other half, a half he'd not known existed before, questioned what it would take to kill him again. Not that he'd killed him in the first place. And what about Jessie? He had hurt her in that dream too, which wasn't good. If that pain, that death was his fault, could this one be his fault too?
"Sir, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," the male said, looking worriedly upon the executive. This man had been in his waiting room all day, hoping for news of the state of the subject named Jessie. Too bad he'd have to heard about the bad news brought to the Turk's medical staff, which he was head of, by way of Tseng and Reeve. Even now the young woman, the former Turk, was under constant surveillance by members of the Turks.
The doctor watched as the young red-haired executive shook his head and forced a smile upon his face. "I'm fine."
"You were waiting for news regarding Miss Jessie?" the doctor asked.
"You have information?" Reno responded with his own question as he rose and stretched a little bit.
"Yes. I'm her doctor, have been for quite a while now. Come with me. I'll save myself some time and tell you and Reeve at the same time."
The young executive nodded his head and followed the dark haired and lean doctor out of the waiting room and down a long hall. He was shocked to see that when they were outside of Jessie's room there was an armed SOLDIER standing there, protecting the door. Then again, it made a bit of sense to Reno because of his belief that Jessie had been attacked. The doctor knew otherwise, and accepted the sad news.
Upon entering the room Reno moved to where Reeve sat, the executive still looking a little pale. Yet neither the Turk nor doctor were willing to comment on the state of the executive. Besides, he was so naïve and sheltered it was probably just a little bit of shock that he was experiencing.
"You said you had news Biggs?" Reeve asked, yet to rise from his seat.
"Of course I do Reeve. I always do," Biggs responded. "Mister Tarshil, Mister Tuesti, would you please sit?"
Reno, unlike this Turk friend, took the order, sitting beside Jessie's bed and holding her hand in his own.
"It seems things did happen as Tseng has said. The only external source of injury was from the sharp chop to the back of the neck he dealt her. At the moment, her body responds to stimulus in the feet and legs, so there will be no permanent damage to her. Unfortunately the data collected at the scene by your Turks does imply that Jessie has been trading in Shin-Ra's secrets for some time. Tseng stopped her in time hopefully to stop her from further dealings."
Reno jumped to his feet. He could not believe that the woman he had just recently met would betray a company she had so obviously loved. "No, you're wrong. Jessie wouldn't do that!"
Doctor Biggs let out a sigh, "Forgive me sir, but you've known her less than five hours. Are you really a fitting judge to speak against the evidence."
Reeve let out a sigh, "I must agree with him in this case. Jessie would not do something like this. We'll have to look into it further. Hopefully Tseng was wrong this time."
"Of course sir," Biggs said, slightly nervous. He didn't report to any executive, so he was free from that pressure, but Reeve was his boss, so he'd have to agree.
"Watch over her Biggs, very carefully. There is something else going on here, and I intend to figure out what it is. When she wakes, call me."
The doctor nodded.
"You are dismissed," Reeve said, intending to speak alone with Reno.
Biggs bowed and slipped out of the room. Halfway down the hall he let out a relieved sigh. Sure, Tseng and Palmer would not be happy with this news, but as long as took the blunt of Reeve's wrath if he found out, and as long as he kept his money then there would be no problems for him.
Author's back! Well, were you guys expecting Biggs? Yes, well good boys and girls. Bet you didn't expect that he'd be in on it with Palmer and Tseng. How sad. Cheating Jessie like that? And now we know that the Dreamer is Reno, and he doesn't like what he dreams. Next chapter will give us Scarlet's entrance! She's so nice compared to everyone else!
Stay tuned for the next installment of the Dreamer- Chapter 8: The Fiancée.