Epilogue

EPILOGUE

NO REST FOR THE WICKED

Reno stared at the blank white ceiling of the infirmary with frustration, numbed by boredom and the painkilling chemicals that coursed through his lean body. All was silent but for the light snoring of the ward's only other occupant, an overweight female manager who had apparently suffered heart palpitations while jogging on one of the gym's exercise machines. He groaned as he turned his head on the pillow, the long untied strands of his red locks falling into his eyes. Having spent the previous three evenings on his back, unable to move with his injured right leg suspended in a wire stirrup, he would have given anything to get back to work.

Even clerical jobs…

It had been a tough few weeks for the Department of General Affairs' Investigation Division. Only ten days had passed since the disciplinary hearing that President Shinra had put in place to decide the fate of the Turks. Tseng had explained that the original verdict was a unanimous vote from the committee of Director Heidegger, Director Scarlet and the President himself to disband the Turks on the grounds that they had not acted loyally to the Company throughout the AVALANCHE ordeal. It was Rufus Shinra who had saved them in the end, returning from his apparent exile to provide evidence to the contrary. The Turks owed the Vice President that much, even if it meant they were now under the rule of the Department of Public Safety Maintenance.

He's not the Vice President anymore, thought Reno with a sardonic smile as he recalled the short visit Tseng had paid him two days before, briefing him on the situation. Everything had happened so quickly; the Mako Reactor1 bombing only hours after the disciplinary hearing; the orders to take out Sector7 and destroy what remained of AVALANCHE; the murder of President Shinra by a man believed to have been dead for five years. The Company could be on the brink of crumbling into chaos, and it needed the Turks' help to regain order. Exhaling deeply, Reno closed his eyes in irritation. Chief Tseng will deal with it, with or without me...

A moaning creak from the swing door at the ward's entrance alerted him immediately to the presence of another. He pulled himself up slightly on the bed, brushing his spiked hair from his face, cursing that he had been instructed by the nurse to leave his goggles on the bedside table, preventing him from holding his haphazard fringe in place. Through the curtain that hung around his bed, Reno could make out the shadow of a tall man as he appeared in the doorway, his features hidden by the thin yellow partition. The man strode purposefully towards him, the soles of his shoes clicking on the polished linoleum floor. Reno knew the sound all too well, and was unable to prevent the grin widening across his weary face.

"Yo, partner," he welcomed the man, offering a mocking salute.

"How are you feeling?" Rude's low voice reverberated around them as he unclipped his legless sunglasses from his nose. Slipping the glasses into the pocket of his suit jacket, he folded his arms across his broad chest, patiently awaiting Reno's answer.

"Been better," snorted Reno, gesturing towards his leg. "And you?"

"Same," Rude frowned. "Heidegger has us working like slaves. We've been following up leads on Sephiroth. According to the reports from Kalm and Cliff Resort, he's already travelled south. AVALANCHE also made it out of Midgar. We're tracking them now."

"What about Corneo?" asked Reno, his lips narrowing as he pondered the information. "If it wasn't for that slimy weasel, AVALANCHE would've been where they were supposed to be. We tore down Sector7 for nothing, yo."

"Orders are orders," replied Rude, sullenly.

"Yeah…well you gotta wonder sometimes…" he muttered, glancing up at the window, the question once more surfacing in his mind about whether or not President Shinra's unprecedented commands were simply a test of the Turks' allegiance. A light rain had begun to patter against the glass, causing beads of water to trickle slowly down its face. He cast the thoughts aside. "So, any news on him?"

"SOLDIER is in pursuit. It's expected that he's headed to one of his holiday spots."

"He probably thinks he'll be safe there," Reno chuckled scornfully, his attention shifting as the ward door swung open again, and Violet and Corin entered.

Reno was still undecided on his impressions of the two after the amalgamation of the Junon and Midgar branches of the Turks. They had been with the Company only a few years, working with the Secondary Division from their Headquarters at the Junon Naval Base. Reno had only met them a handful of times prior to their arrival in Midgar a fortnight before, finding Violet to be a skilled fighter but extremely introverted while the younger Corin, although deadly with nunchaku, was considerably more passionate about his opportunities after a strict upbringing in the Bone region. Given that the Turks had been greatly reduced in numbers in wake of the Zirconiade incident, their presence was uncomfortable for Reno, but not unwanted.

"Hey, guys," he said as they approached, suddenly very conscious that the visit was unexpected, "what brings you here?"

"We…" Corin opened his mouth.

"I told them to," Rude interrupted, staring at Reno. He paused for a moment, evidently struggling to find his words. "We…we have something we need to tell you."

"Yeah…uh, what he said…" shrugged Corin, ruffling his wavy blonde locks awkwardly.

"What's goin' on, yo?" Reno questioned, his gaze darting between the trio of Turks. Violet turned away, her dark bobbed hair hiding her sharp face as she was unable to look at him, putting her hands on the petite waist of her blouse. Rude sighed, drawing Reno's focus from their subordinates. "Rude?"

"We didn't know how you would take it," he said quietly.

"Take what?" he asked desperately. "C'mon, man, speak to me."

"You're being replaced," he replied.

"Replaced?" Reno spluttered, sitting up. Searing pain ripped through his leg as he felt the stitches of the bullet wounds stretch, forcing him back down again. "You mean I'm done?"

"No, just until your injuries heal," said Rude.

"Gods!" gasped Reno, almost erupting with relieved giggles. "You really put the frighteners on me there, old pal."

"You mean you're not angry?" Rude scratched his goatee, perplexed.

"Angry?" laughed Reno. "I thought you were telling me I was no longer with the department. Why would I be angry if I was only being temporarily replaced?"

"I know what you're like when you miss out on the big assignments. I just thought…"

"You brought us up here for this?" Corin shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"Shut up, Slick," Reno commanded, reading the confused expression on Rude's face. "Rude was just doin' what he thought was best for me. I'll be back in action soon anyway."

"Not soon enough," Violet responded, her tone cold. "We need to be prepared. This is a Priority S."

"Geez, c'mon," Reno chuckled. "It'll take a few weeks in rehab, but I'll be back before you know it. Better than ever. So…who's the replacement?"

"Someone young," said Rude. "Top of her class in martial arts, and someone who has already proven herself against the Company's enemies. Her father is a firearms instructor at the Military Academy."

"You don't mean…?" Reno frowned, his jaw dropping.

"Yes, Elena," nodded Rude, acknowledging his partner's response. "Rosalind's sister. Tseng gave the go-ahead an hour ago."

"And Director Heidegger was okay with it?"

"What he doesn't know can't hurt him."

"Has she been told about…y'know…the others?" he asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"No," Rude shook his head. "Tseng requested that it remains that way for now."

"Well, at least they're keeping it in the family," Reno conceded. He closed his eyes, images of his former comrade flashing in his mind. Rosalind had always said she and Elena were very different, but spoke of her with a sense of pride. Let's just hope she can live up to her sister's standards.

"Reno?" came Corin's thick northern accent, cutting mercilessly through his thoughts.

"I'm still here," Reno answered, making no effort to reopen his eyes as the others waited by his bedside. He decided it was time to raise the question that had been plaguing him since his visit to the church in Sector5. "So, this guy Cloud…he is who I think he is, right?"

"That's correct," Rude replied with conviction.

"Man, this is gonna get interesting…"

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