Author's note: Sorry for the delay again. I still want to finish this, but it'll take a while. I know how this will go, it's filling in the gaps and ect., that'll take the longest. Well, at least On the Way to a Smile novellas will be released in English on the 30th/31st of October this year. Planning on getting that for christmas.
Anyway, let's continue on, though this time it's the first special episode of the senior Turks!
I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Type-0, Sailor Moon or Pokemon. I do own Arien, though.
Special Episode 1: Episode Tseng.
"There were risks of being a Turk. Hard decisions to make. Difficult choices to take. I knew that...even when I was a rookie. Everyone in the team makes mistakes. Some can be forgiven, others cannot.
We have regrets. But we can't turn back from the choice of becoming a Turk.
I've made my fair share of mistakes. But..."
"YOU and Rufus are the ones who were telling lies! I will have you all dead! I will NOT have you run this company! The world is mine!" The President ranted on.
Those were his final words, however...as Tseng pulled the trigger. The President slumped backwards with a clean hole in his forehead that was oozing with blood, with an expression of shock forever on his face.
The Wutaiian Turk's eyes widened as he saw what he had done. He killed him. Tseng had just killed the President of the ShinRa Company. He quickly schooled the expression to keep his normal features, but at the expression of St. Andrew's face at the corner of his eye, he felt like turning away himself. But he couldn't.
(~Missing You-KH2.5 HD ReMix~)
"Kiling the President of the Company I serve, even though he betrayed us and his own son, and to execute us...is my biggest regret in my entire life."
"Do you regret this?" Elfe inquired after a few moments, lowering her weapon.
"...Yes, but Rufus's safety and the safety of the people in Junon were far more important." Tseng replied after hesitating. He felt himself go cold. He had just killed the President of the ShinRa Company. He was a murderer.
But it had to be done.
"Blame the man who made him blind." Elfe advised, turning to walk out of the room, leaving the two stunned Turks behind. She paused in the doorway, saying for the final time, "You did the right thing." before walking out once more.
Tseng just continued to gaze at the dead body of the President, not saying anything more. He felt dizzy, overwhelmed, disgusted with himself. But as he said, Rufus's safety, the safety of the people in Junon, and for the future of the Company...were important.
"Elfe informed me to blame the man, the mysterious visitor who greeted President ShinRa two years prior, for blinding him. What I told her was the truth. It was all I could think about at that moment. Despite the orders from the Vice President at the time, I felt as though I am the traitor.
And with Militas Ultra still on the loose, it did not ease my mind. Especially how powerful the Organization's Second in Command was, being able to knock down two Turks and one leader of Highground.
For the next two weeks after the Company claimed Militas Ultra responsible for the assassination of the President and the coronation of Rufus becoming the new President, I could barely focus, let alone trust myself to return to duty.
I even felt that Commander Veld did not forgive me for what I had done."
(~End Missing You~)
2 Weeks and 4 Days Later...
April 4th [9:32 AM]-Year-1990.
Turks Headquarters-ShinRa Building-Edge.
In the passing of the events happened in Junon, things were rather glum in the ShinRa Company for the Turks. Especially for it's second in Command, Tseng. While things had been relatively quiet and once again Militas Ultra made themselves silent, it didn't ease anyone's mood. They tried to keep tabs on the enemy, but everyone noticed how self-absorbed Tseng was looking lately, as though he still hasn't come to terms for his actions.
He was in his office at that moment, in fact, going through the files, reports, debriefings, anything and everything to get him back into his game. Nothing worked, and Tseng sighed before putting another piece of paper aside and buried his face in his hands, feeling a migrain coming in.
"I thought I could distract myself with my work, to forget the raged-terror of the incident. But each time I succeeded for a moment, it came right back to me like a gunshot into my head."
A knock on the door made Tseng to lower his hands and utter a soft, "Come in." and regretted it instantly. He wasn't really in the mood to greet any of the other Turks just yet. He avoided their questions each time they confronted him.
The door opened and admitted the familiar figure of Veld who was carrying a ShinRa issued coffee cup, placing it onto his Second in Command's desk despite that Tseng lowered his gaze, unable to meet his superior's eyes.
"I thought you could use some coffee." said Veld. "You look like you haven't slept in weeks."
"Forgive me for being in a foul mood, sir, but unfortunately, it is because I haven't had much sleep in two weeks." The Wutaiian Turk sighed, taking a sip of the coffee and sighed. At least his mentor put in the right amounts of coffee beans, a bit of milk and only half a teaspoon of sugar. "Thank you for the coffee."
The director of Turks nodded, before sighing, "Any progress?"
Tseng shook his head, "None of the enemy's current whereabouts, I'm afraid. I've yet to decipher their Second in Command's name. There is no Idenifiction information on him or any of it's other members as of this point."
"I meant you." Veld corrected, deeply.
"I beg your pardon?" Tseng blinked, a bit surprised.
The older man sighed before taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his lieutenant. "Tseng, even though you have years of experience in the field and command to one day take over should anything happen to me, ever since the incident in Junon two weeks ago, you've been, shall we say, distracted. Everyone has noticed, as have I. You barely even made knowlage to Balto's report last week. I want to know if you made any progress of recovering from such an ordeal."
(~Sadness and Guilt*Aqua's Theme-KH:BBS*~)
Tseng tried not to look away as his superior as he said this. But the more Veld spoke of what was happening, the more his guilt attempted to surge and burst. By the time the older man was finished, the Wutaiian sighed.
"...Not much progress, I'm afraid." Tseng finally admitted. "Well I am fully aware of what the President's father attempted to do to him as well as all of us, I...never felt so ashamed to be responsible for his death. How can I move on as something as assassinating the leader of the Company?"
"I admit, even I had not fully expected him to simply do that, and to go as far as killing him is unforgivable." Veld nodded, but continued, "However, what I find more unforgiving is the fact that he was willing to disown his own son and execute him as well as those who have been loyal to the Company for years. Not only that, it had begun with a man whom hasn't been seen in two years, and now we have Militas Ultra on our heads. He has put many innocent lives into unnecessary dangers."
"It is similiar to what the Highground leader Elfe has told me on the day of the former President's death. However, no matter how many times I have told myself this, I cannot simply forgive myself for my actions. It makes me feel like a traitor to the Company." Tseng closed his eyes.
Veld frowned, but nodded. He understood what Tseng was talking about. Killing a traitor to the Company, whether he or she was an executive or an employee, SOLDIER or a Turk who would threaten the Company and the other executives was one thing or another. But to kill the President who had betrayed the Turks and willing to throw away Rufus and having made a deal with an enemy Organization who in the end still attempted to kill him was another. Still, the fact that many people would've died and the world be in turmoil should the most powerful Company in the world fade from existance and allow a group of terrorists take over was haunting. Rufus knew that, and he gave the order, because the young new President knew, his father was beyond words.
"No one blames you for you actions, Tseng." Veld finally spoke again. "Especially not me, if that's whom you're worried about angering the most. You did as you were ordered. As Rufus has said, his father was beyond saving."
(~End Sadness and Guilt*Aqua's Theme*~)
He then snorted in contempt, "Or are you still blaming yourself for me saving your life two years ago from those monsters controlled by the boy in the Mask?"
Tseng sighed in no small amount of frustration. "It was my recklessness that put you into risking your life in the first place, sir."
"Yet it was my decision to save you. While certain mistakes I will not tolorate, unfortunately no one in this team is perfect. Not even me. You know that as well as I do." Veld pointed out.
"The Director was right, of course. No one in the Turks was perfect. But as he said it, my mind was drawn back to that day, when those mysterious creatures appeared out of nowhere, the moment that boy in the mask appeared.
As did the other man."
2 Years Earlier...During the events of "Sailor Moon 0-Birth By Sleep...
May 12th [3:03 PM]-Year-1988.
Turks Headquarters-ShinRa Building-Edge.
(~The Mako City-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
Tseng moved in steady pace towards the door of Veld's office and knocked, before entering after being given permission to enter. It was rare these days to be called by his mentor for a mission unless it was really important. But given the rest of the team had their own assignments and Tseng had finished the recent reports, he was the only other Turk available.
"Ah, Tseng. I've been expecting you." Veld greeted, even though there was no smile upon this greeting. He held a serious expression on his face, which immediately told the 20 year old young man that his mentor wanted to get straight to business. "There's an assignment that you're best qualified for, as there is a certain, well, call it a concern that I don't want to get the rest of the team involved."
"Yes sir." Tseng nodded as he stood formally before the commander-in-chief. Whatever the assignment was, the young Wutaiian had a feeling that he was best suited for it that none of the other members of the team were ready for.
"There is supicious activity in within the Midgar Ruins. While it is a restricted area, one of our informats informed Balto earlier of monsters appearing mysteriously out of nowhere. Despite it being inhabited of local wildlife for almost 8,000 years, a strange horde of monsters unseen before have made their pressence." Veld explained.
"Yes, sir. Balto informed me as well. I was about to leave my office to inform you when you called me to come meet you of the issue." Tseng replied.
Veld smirked, "That man has a talent to let us both know when the occassion calls for it." before adding, "Then you know what you must do; I want you to investigate these creatures and should they be a threat to you, eliminate them. We cannot have them running around threatening the lives of the citizens of Edge or the Company. Some may be extremely dangerous, so watch yourself."
"Understood." Tseng nodded.
"I'm counting on you."
(~End The Mako City~)
Parking Lot-ShinRa Building-Edge.
(~Drops of Poison-KH:BBS~)
Less then ten minutes later, Tseng exited the elevator into the parking lot underneath the building towards his car when something very unusual caught his eye near the President's personal parking space nearby. As President ShinRa had been out today with two soldiers from the army, apparently he just returned from his shopping trip in Sector 4.
What he saw made the Turk suspicious and he frowned. Because standing in front of the President was an unfamiliar man, close in his eighties, lack of hair, small gray goatee, black goat with white gloves, and very unusual golden-yellow eyes, speaking to him. Apparently Tseng came in the tail end of the conversation or perhaps the mysterious man wasn't there at all, because as the Turk stood in attention when the President approached and walked past him with his two bodyguards, by the time Tseng turned his attention back to the older man, he wasn't there at all.
Not a trace of him. It was as though he simply disappeared into thin air.
'Was that my imagination? Who was that man? Where could he have gone?' Tseng thought to himself, his frown deepening. He then shook his head and again made towards his car. He didn't have time to ponder on whether he hallucinated or not. He had a mission to attend.
However, by the time Tseng drove off in his black sleek sportsman car out of the parking lot and into the streets of Edge to head over to the Midgar Ruins, he was unaware that the old man hidden himself behind the stone piller that supported the ceiling and smirked as he watched the Wutaiian Turk leave.
Just then, a corridor of Darkness opened up before a boy in a red and black suit with a helmet that looked more like a motorbiker's helmet emerged from it and the elder man turned to face him.
"I managed to force that king and that brat back to the Keyblade Graveyard, Master. They don't even have that old sorcerer's Star Shard with them anymore." The boy reported.
The old man, Master Xehanort, grinned. "Excellent. I suppose I should go and greet the king and the boy and test them. They have outlived their usualness and already know too much."
"You want me to go after Sailor Moon and Aqua next? Or get rid of that lizard Terra's with before I go and greet Ventus?" The boy, named Vanitas, inquired.
"No. I have another assignment for you. The Turks have spotted the Unversed and have sent one of the many who was reborn into this world, and yet like Ventus, their memories of their past have been lost. It would be best you slow them down before they become aware of their awakening." Xehanort responded.
"So you want me to get rid of a Turk?" Vanitas skeptically quired, as Xehanort's smirk only grew.
He gave his response as things were about to get a bit more interesting. (~End Drops of Poison~)
May 12th [3:35 PM]-Year-1988.
Midgar Ruins-Overgrowth Slums.
By the time Tseng pulled to a stop in front of the crack of the wall which led into the former Slums of Midgar Ruins, it was late afternoon as the sky glowed pink by the sunset. As he exited his car, the Wutaiian Turk gazed up at the once massive and successful city, now an anbandoned rubble, covered by years of growth of ferns, trees, flowers and wandering wildlife for inhabits that weren't human. After making a quick checklist to see that he had enough ammo on him, a back-up pistol, plus Materia of special kinds, the Turk edged his way into the ruins and began to carefully analyze his surroundings.
Despite that the greenary around him made it feel more like he entered a giant Green house, Tseng couldn't help but fathom that this place was very...familiar. The further he went while mindful of the tree roots and vines, and the wet patches on the ground, the more he began to reach nearly caved in parts of Sector 2, as there was an old billboard sign which strangely looked just like the ones the world has today.
"It was rare for anyone to be assigned to investigate Midgar Ruins as it's been abandoned for centuries, but like a few times I came here, whether alone or with another Turk, I always feel a sense of familiarty with this place.
Almost as though...this was once my home. I place where I once lived. But that's not possible. Yet why does it always feel like I did live here? Not just myself...but others I've known for a long time."
A sight was then spotted and Tseng silently hid behind an old growthed building, taking a peek to see what or who it was. His brows furrowed suspiciously as he caught sight of another unfamiliar figure simply standing there, his back to the Turk. What Tseng wasn't aware of was that the figure he saw was Vanitas.
'What's that young man in the mask doing here? Balto failed to mention of him.' Tseng thought to himself. Something was quite strange with the boy who, given the height, may be no older than one of the newer recruits, Reno.
Vanitas, apparently unaware of Tseng's pressence, simply walked around the corner, vanishing. Despite that his mission was to investigate the monsters, Tseng couldn't help but think that the boy should be questioned and, as this was a restricted area, take him with back to HQ for interrogation. The Turk stepped away from his hiding place and made to follow him.
(~Night of Tragedy-KH:BBS/0.2~)
Suddenly feeling bad vibes in his vains, Tseng felt pressence behind him and quickly turned around, just as a blue jittering...whatever it was shot out from the ground, and jittered around as if to find the right movement to attack him.
A monster. Very unusual, just as Balto and the Informat mentioned earlier. More then appeared and surrounded Tseng who stood on his guard. He then leaped out of the way as they made to attack one by one, before he responded by pulling out his pistol and fired a shot at one of the monsters' chest, kiling it instantly. But unlike his previous opponents, it didn't drop dead or even spill blood. They simply just...vanished into black and purple mists which faded into nothing, as though they were never there.
"I suppose this is an answer on whether they mean harm or not." Tseng said to himself and prepared to fight. He then fired another shot when another of the monsters leaped to attack and destroyed it before he somersaulted backwards to avoid several more. They were fast, but he was a Turk. He will not fail.
The Wutaiian fired three more shots before any of the three monsters could attack, but when one got up too close for him to fire again, he punched and kicked it which was strong enough to send it flying and he then switched for a Lightning Materia, summoning it's spell and electrocuting it into oblivion. Yet more appeared and now they came in different shapes and sizes, which was a bit of a problem. Still, Tseng refused to back down. So, careful with his Mana, the Turk conjoured another Lightning Spell which weakened five more before dodge-rolled out of the way from one of the bulker monsters who jumped to create an Earthquake.
Tseng was hit and he grunted in pain by this attack before responding of using a Comet Spell from another Materia, making a rain of small Meteorites appear. The attack of his own hit the bulker monster as well as finishing off the other five he attacked earlier and they vanished instantly. He sensed another pressence behind him and jumped to avoid a poison dart from a flower-like monster that looked more like an ugly weed which Tseng instantly burnt with a Fire Materia before it had a chance to attack again. He then heard a screech and noticed two strange bird-like monsters appear and zoom down towards him to attack.
Again he dodged and after reclipping his pistol once he saw that he ran out of the current ones, fired expert shots at the two monsters with perfect ease. They screeched in pain before falling and vanished before they hit the ground while Tseng punched a monster that attempted to attack him from behind without even turning as he did, and it collasped into the ground, unconscious. He calmly turned and shot it dead immediately afterwards.
(~End Night of Tragedy~)
Despite the slight exhaustion, Tseng refused to cure himself with a Healing Materia and instead allowed his Mana to flow to full by itself while carefully analyzing to make sure there weren't any more monsters to suddenly appear out of nowhere to attack him. Once the coast was clear, Tseng knew he had to report to Veld as well as inform him of the mysterious invidial he saw earlier.
So he pulled out his PHS and dialed the Director's number and waited patiently while still keeping an eye out for anymore monsters.
(~Night of a Dark Dream-KH:BBS/0.2~)
"You found anything?" Veld immediately quired, apparently having known Tseng would ring.
"Yes, sir. The monsters the informat and Balto reported have been confirmed true. They seemed to have appeared unexpectedly. It's difficult to describe how they can appear from thin air, however." Tseng reported.
"Hmmm...I see. This is troubling news. Report back for a debriefing." Veld replied.
"Before I do, sir, I think you should know something else. Before those things attacked me, I saw a boy in a mask alone heading deeper into the ruins. He seems close to possibly fifteen or sixteen years old."
That caught Veld by surprise as Tseng heard a soft gasp coming from the Director on the other end of the phone. As the brief silence went on, Tseng considered on requesting to follow the boy, but then thought better and instead waited for his mentor's reply and next order. Then the reply finally came.
"Find him, and question him on what he is doing. If he causes trouble, you are to bring him in for interrogation on why he was in the Ruins. Be on your guard. I will be there shortly." Veld ordered firmly.
"Understood." Tseng replied, before the two men hung up and he put his phone away, before heading into the direction where the masked boy vanished to despite that it would take him a while to find him, but Tseng was a patient man...when he kept his anger in check.
No mission was impossible for the Turks, after all. (~End Night of the Dark Dream~)
May 12th [4:28 PM]-Year-1988.
Midgar Ruins-Sector 5.
While Tseng had to fight his way a few occassions as he followed the footprints of the mysterious masked boy, he eventually found himself in another ruined sector which had caved in walls, broken plate pieces, more greenary growth and an abandoned Church that strangely looked almost untouched. Unlikes the rest of Midgar, this place has been around even longer than the ruined city itself. Tseng gazed at the old building that, even though had damages of it's own, was left untouched by the Calamity that destroyed the city.
"I wonder..." Tseng muttered to himself. He checked the soils and noted that the footprints seemed to have stopped at the steps of the Church itself. Was the boy in the mask hiding in there? Why would he come to a place like this?
Knowing that the only way to find out was to check, the Wutaiian Turk carefully crept up the stairs before crouch down hid by the side of the doorway as the doors had been lost ages ago as well. He peeked around the corner, but frowned in concern as the place seemed...empty. Nothing but broken seats, destroyed pillars, and a back door behind a small pool of crystal clear water. No sign of the mysterious masked boy.
Had he taken the back door to somewhere else? Or was he hiding there? Tseng didn't know. The Turk slowly stepped inside, checking his surroundings as the inside of this place too had greenery all around him, even the broken windows had long disintigrated after years of abandonment.
"This Church as many mysterious of it's own. More so than what triggered the War that seemingly split the world into many. Legend says that eons before Midgar was constructed, the world had many special kinds of people; people who could listen and feel the planet itself.
Could this be one of their original locations? Or perhaps simply like the Church in Kalm? There's something about this place that is strikingly familiar. It's almost like, I've been here many times."
Tseng paused halfway as he continued to look around, the emphasis feeling of familiarity somewhat surging again through his vains. But as Tseng was about to approach the back door after mentally critizing himself for linging too long, he suddenly felt a sudden sharp pain in his head which made him shut his eyes, almost as though a sudden headache came out of nowhere.
But then sudden images appeared in his mind, almost like...memories.
(~A Flower in the Slums-CRISIS CORE FINAL FANTASY VII~)
So many images ran into Tseng's mind. He couldn't understand what they mean or why it was happening. All he knew was that he was speaking to a woman, and a little girl with brown hair and emerald eyes inside a house. She shared no resemblence to the woman, and seemed to be angry with Tseng before running away.
Then, as though years went by, Tseng had watched the girl grow up into a beautiful young and gentle but strong-willed woman who would come to the Church and tend to the flower bed that was in place inside of the pond.
The images then showed Tseng of him approaching the Church again, this time approaching a younger man in a SOLDIER 1st Class Uniform with black spiky hair, looking no older than seventeen years old.
"Zack." He heard himself say, like he was actually experiencing it like a memory. "We are to leave for Modeohiem."
"I know." The young man, Zack, replied as he paused. "I just need a minute."
"Aerith's not there right now." Tseng told him, which made the young man turn around and his expression was that of suspicion, his blue eyes, glowing slightly, gazed at him.
"How do you know Aerith?" Zack asked.
Tseng felt himself become uncomfortable as he replied, "It's a complicated matter."
"Oh really?" Zack mocked. "She didn't mention anything about knowing you."
Somewhat relieved, Tseng then told him, "If that's the case, then I won't either." just as a ShinRa chopper landed behind him, ready to take passengers. The Turks then turned and headed inside the chopper.
He heard Zack sigh and then say, sarcastically, "Yeah, well, whatever I suppose."
(~End A Flower in the Slums~)
May 12th [7:45 AM]-Year-1988.
World-Earth: Location-Neo Tokyo, Japan.
A little six year old blonde-haired girl had just tripped and fell, and then she was helped by a nice seventeen year old girl with silver long hair in the same hair-style as the child, and the two looked at each other for the first time, their eyes widening slightly at the resemblence they shared.
As the Silver Crystal within the teenager's fuku pockets glowed slightly in light while her body was in another world.
May 12th [4:45 PM]-Year-1988.
World-Midgar: Location-Sector 5, Midgar Ruins.
As the pain sedated on it's own, Tseng found himself breathing hard, the lingering feeling of the agony in his mind still there. The Wutaiian blinked slowly as his vision returned to normal, and to his surprise and confusion, he found himself on his knees, his hands on his head. Once his head cleared, the Turk slowly stood up, breathing shallowly.
"What in Leviathan's name just happened?" Tseng asked himself. Nothing like that happened before, and he had certainly no idea what those images where or why there seemed like they were like...his memories. It didn't make sense at all. He couldn't have been in the times of when Midgar was still inhabitable.
Yet why did he feel like he was?
Tseng didn't have time to ponder on those thoughts, because suddenly a dark blast of blue fire appeared from the back door and hit the Turk right into the chest, sending him flying backwards and blown out of the Church where he hit the ground hard as he screamed. He landed on his back, gasping in pain as the burns from the apparent unusual fire spell faded from his body, but still left him breathless. As he grunted while struggling to push himself up, his target calmly walked out of the Church, approaching him.
(~The Key-KH:BBS~)
"You..." Tseng hissed, glaring at the boy who attacked him. "Where did you learn how to use a Fire Materia like that?" He demanded.
"Fire Materia? Don't make me laugh." Vanitas scoffed, pausing halfway from the Turk. "I don't have any Materia on me. Just the power stronger than marbles with magic to play with for losers like you."
"Then I take that you're not human if you are capable of that." Tseng stated, stumbling to his feet as he stood in defense, in case he had to fight this unusual teenager who no doubt was dangerous, and ignoring the fact that the masked boy called him a 'loser'.
The masked boy snorted, "If you're smart enough to point out that obvious understatement, then it's no wonder you're still around as it is. Too bad you and everyone else in this world won't be around any longer when the darkness takes over. Then again, you won't live to even see the end of everything or the beginning of a new era."
That was enough for Tseng to say that this boy was much more dangerous and like those mysterious monsters, he had to be stopped. The Wutaiian Turk pulled out his pistol and declared with authority, "I was ordered to take you into custody for questioning, and I hoped to ask of you to come quietly. But now you leave me with no choice."
(~End The Key~)
He stood in a fighting stance.
(~Enter the Void-KH:BBS~)
"Go ahead and try." Vanitas challenged coldly, holding out his hand. Out of the darkness and hints of electricity, a black and read gear like weapon appeared in his hand which made Tseng gasp in shock at the sudden appearence of the weapon, before the Wutaiian quickly growled and stood ready.
The Turk decided to see if he can at least knock the boy out rather than just kill him, still intend on obeying the orders. So he flared up a Fire Spell from his Fire Materia at the boy, but to his shock, instantly disappeared before reappearing behind him, taunting, "Too slow." before knocking Tseng forward.
He quickly recovered and casted Lightning which hit Vanitas by surprise and then raced forward before punching and kicking at him to lower his opponent's guard down. However, as Tseng made to land another hit, Vanitas teleported once again and made to slash his Keyblade down at the Turk who somersaulted out of the way, causing the weapon to smash the ground, sending dirt and small rocks flying in the air. This was the distraction Tseng needed as he Casted Ice and a hunk of it appeared over Vanitas's head, fell and hit him hard, but not enough to completely knock him out.
As Tseng then attempted to switch out from his normal standard ammo to Sleepel Ammo, Vanitas instantly vanished again before reappearing next to him and whacked the Turk to the side while Tseng yelled out before flipping in the air and landed in a crouched position on the ground and then rolled out of the way to avoid Vanitas' dark Fire spell. When Vanitas appeared next to Tseng again, the latter kicked him hard in the stomach, causing him to be flown back, but he flipped in the air and recovered.
"Pathetic!" The masked boy scoffed, brushing his stomach as though it hadn't hurt at all and then zoomed straight towards the Turk who quickly casted another Lightning Spell which forced Vanitas to stop before he counterattacked by casting his own Dark Lightning and the two bolts struck each other and caused a small explosion between, dust flying everyway and unfortunately made Tseng unable to see where his opponent was.
Which was why he failed to see Vanitas to his left as the latter whacked him hard with his Keyblade, sending Tseng flying out of the dust and crashing onto the ground once again and losing his pistol in the progress. The Turk panted and struggled to climb back up, as the masked boy stepped out calmly from the fading dust cloud. Fortunately, the Turk managed to cast Cure on himself to at least restore his health to 80% but now had to be careful as his Mana was running low and Vanitas was dangerously fast and strong.
Vanitas then casted another blast of energy at Tseng who, despite his mana, quickly held up his arm and casted a Barrier from the Barrier Materia, blocking the attack which exploded and caused another cloud of dust. This time the Turk leaped out of the way and out of the dust and just as he predicted, Vanitas appeared. This time he was ready and the Turk kicked low at the enemy's legs, knocking him down and Vanitas cried out in alarm as he fell face first on the ground. But before Tseng could use the sleepel to end the battle, Vanitas grabbed him by the ankle and with sudden ease pulled him down onto the ground with him where he hit hard while the boy himself teleported again and reappeared half way from the older man, standing.
"Not bad. For a Turk. But you're really weak in battle." Vanitas stated as he watched Tseng struggle to stand up. "Doesn't matter. As far as reality goes, you're finished." he continued as he held up his Keyblade as it gathered energy creating a blue orb.
"I don't think so!" A familiar voice only Tseng knew yelled, and before anyone knew it, while Vanitas was distracted, he was suddenly knocked to the side and flown into the pile of rubble next to the Church by a Firaga Materia. Then Tseng was healed by the familiar flow of Cure Materia, as the familiar voice asked, "Are you alright, Tseng?"
The Wutaiian Turk, fully healed, stood up and saw Veld approach him and helped the younger man up further. "Sir!" Tseng muttered, as relief washed over him. "I'm fine."
Neither one had the time to say anything further as Vanitas suddenly appeared half way across the two men and despite the helmet, both Turks could tell was livid now.
"Whether this battle ends with that boy dead or alive, we will not lose!" Veld informed his Lieutenant firmly, taking a fighting stance.
"Yes, sir. No mission is impossible for the Turks!" Tseng nodded in agreement as he once again took a stance for round 2.
Vanitas thrusted out multiple dark fires at the duo who jumped out of the way to avoid his attack before Veld responded by launching a huge gush of Watera from the Water Materia to wash over Vanitas who teleported to avoid in getting wet, which was why he'd failed to realise that Tseng casted another Lightning to electrocute him, shocking the masked by who screamed out. Both Turks then charged and punched, kick and whacked at the opponent, sending him flying back once more.
Though Vanitas recovered again and launched himself at the Turks who blocked him with their Barrier Materia before Veld punched him squarely at the helmet and Tseng jumped before kicking the masked boy in the head which knocked him back again. Before Vanitas could teleport, Tseng quickly fired despite using Sleepel, knocking the Keyblade out of the boy's grasp as it flew before landing tip deep into the ground. To the two men's shock, the Sleepel didn't have any effect at all, almost as though Vanitas was immune to it.
None the less, both Turks nodded and then charged, but were forced to stop when Vanitas teleported away again and reappeared next to his Keyblade, pulling it out from the ground. Still, the two Turks decided another idea and casted double Comet Spell, and Vanitas failed to teleport away while having made the mistake to try and summoned a dark Meteor spell of his own and was hit and rained on by the attack, screaming until a small explosion surrounded him. Vanitas was thrown back before crashing onto the ground on his back, seemingly defeated.
(~End Enter the Void~)
Tseng and Veld both panted before standing straight and shared a glance, the latter feeling and looking embarrassed and guilty for having been reckless and having had his mentor arrive to the rescue during a battle and failing to bring in the Masked boy for interrogation.
"Sir...I..." Tseng began.
"You can explain later, Tseng. Right now, I believe we can get on in taking this unusual mad teenager into custody and for questioning." Veld politedly cut him off.
"Yes, sir." The Wutaiian Turk nodded. However, as he sensed a pressence behind him, another Bulky monster appeared and made to attack him from behind which left Tseng no time to move out of the way. Fortunately, Veld noticed and gasped.
(~Face it-KH:RE-Chain of Memories~)
"Tseng, look out!" Veld exclaimed, shoving his Lieutenant out of the way to the ground but couldn't move on time himself as the monster punched him so hard that he flew five feet away and crashed hard onto the ground, much to Tseng's horror.
"SIR!" Tseng exclaimed, horrifed, before growling angrily at the monster and casted a Lightning Spell to weaken it before standing up and attacked it with his martial arts skills and finished it after changing back to his standard Ammo. The sound of Vanitas' laughter then caught his attention as the Wutaiian turned sharply to where Vanitas was defeated and his eyes widened in shock as the boy in the mask stood up. To further the shock, the darkness from the defeated monster flew straight into the body of Vanitas who grinned behind his mask.
"Those monsters...you control them at will?" Tseng asked, shocked beyond belief. That boy in the mask really isn't human.
"Yeah, I control them. I can send them out anywhere I want, and no matter how much anyone defeats them, most flow right back into me. Not that what I told you will help you much. As I said before, you and your gramps there are facing doom, along with everyone else. I'd say...in a day or two, things will change." Vanitas explained. "My work here is done. Consider yourself, the starting point."
With that, Vanitas summoned a Corridor of Darkness behind him and stepped backwards into it, vanishing from sight before Tseng had the chance to tell him to wait or stop. The boy in the mask was already gone. (~End Face it~)
Tseng stood there for a moment, pondering on what Vanitas was talking about, before shaking away those thoughts as more important and worrying matters came into mind. Gasping in rememberance, the Turks' Second in Command hurried over to Veld, crying out his name as he knew that he needed to call for help to get Veld treated for his injuries.
May 16th [10:11 AM]-Year-1988.
Edge General Hospital.
Four days had passed since the mission in Midgar Ruins, and despite what Vanitas had said, nothing seemed to change. There was no apocalypse or disaster happening to the world. No warnings or anything. Even Vanitas himself and the monsters he controlled seemed to have simply vanished without a trace. But Tseng knew that the Turks had to watch themselves should that masked boy and his horde returned.
Right now, though, he had another important thing to attend. The Wutaiian Turk entered the Patients recovery Ward and approached the thankfully still alive and healing Veld who sat up in the hospital bed and acknowlaged his entrance with a nod.
"Tseng." Veld greeted.
"Sir...it's good to see that you're recovering well." Tseng replied, standing next to the bed where his superior currently rested. He noticed newer scars that had stopped bleeding, but was permamently there.
Veld chuckled, "When have I never recovered?"
(~Understanding One Another*Roxas's Theme Coded Version-KH2.5 HD ReMix*~)
The Wutaiian nodded, before lowering his gaze, guilt pilling over the guilt of having been responsible for the injuries his superior had endured. "Sir...I'm so sorry. It's because me being reckless and not paying attention, and failing to move in time...you got hurt."
"Don't worry about it." Veld shook his head. "It was already my decision to save you even had you noticed on time. The timing did not matter."
"Even so...you saved me twice. I owe you more than that." Tseng replied. "Far worse, I failed to bring that boy for questioning."
The older man sighed, "I admit, he was...well, bloody hard to describe on how inhuman he was. Let's put it that way. Even if we had succeeded in taking him in, I doubt even the detention cells would have held him for long. Has there been any signs of him or those monsters?"
Tseng shook his head, "No, sir. Neither one has been seen. Even Balto and the informats had not heard anything of their whereabouts, and the world is still peaceful. Well, as peaceful as it can get."
"I see...Well, inform me if you hear anything further of their whereabouts. Otherwise, keep this incident between the two of us and act as you normally would for your work." Veld responded.
"Yes, sir."
"And Reno?"
"He has yet to learn of the incident. As far as we're concerned, all Reno knows is that you and I were both involved in a top secret and dangerous mission which resulted in your injuries." Tseng explained. "Same goes to Rude and the rest of the team."
"Good." Veld approved, before shuddering slightly, "That kid may be skilled and surprisingly fast, and I have a feeling he will become Third in Command one day, I'd hate to see him run in straight head into that masked kid's path."
Tseng shuddered slightly at that thought as well. "As do I, sir." He then asked, "Have you heard when they will release you from recovery, sir?"
"Another three days. Two if I'm lucky." Veld replied. "It's been a while since I last had some time off."
"I see." Tseng replied, before asking, "Sir...I know it has happened on occassions before I was promoted to Second in Command...why did you save me back there?"
Veld looked a bit embarrassed, before clearing his throat and answered, "As I said, it was my decision. More than that...I...failed to save my beloved daughter Felicia years ago as well as my wife. Even today, I still hate myself for it. That is why I vowed to never fail in saving anyone I care about again. That includes the Turks. I guess you could say I also acted recklessly."
He then chuckled and shrugged with one shoulder, "I suppose even I still make mistakes. I don't blame you, Tseng, and I never will. Not for something like this."
That made sense, Tseng thought. But more than anything, it made him feel a bit better, knowing that Veld has forgiven him, and the fact that the usually strict man really did have a heart put the Wutaiian's own heart at ease. "Sir...thank you."
"Those words Veld had told me, it put my mind at ease, as did to my heart. Which is why I vowed to lead the Turks the way he does one day."
"Make sure to rest properly. Everyone is looking forward to your return." Tseng told him gently after a comfortable moment of silence.
"I will make sure of it. At least there are no major assignments at the moment." Veld replied.
"Indeed, sir. Things had been slow for the last four days. I will let you know should anything happen again." Tseng informed him, "I have to admit...leading the team isn't easy."
That made Veld laugh. "Welcome to my world."
"I knew then, even by remembering my days as a rookie, I wanted to become the Turk that Veld was, because to me, he was the ideal Turk. I vowed to never make mistakes in hurting anyone I cared about either. Whether I had the regrets of doing something I can never forgive myself for...
Veld would always be there to support me, given the Orders I was told to do
For two years, that boy in the mask and his monsters never made their appearences again, which led everyone to believe that someone else has dealt with them. I also told Veld of the mysterious man I encountered before I left for Midgar, and like that boy, Veld ordered to watch out for him, and yet even he wasn't seen since them.
Perhaps he too has been defeated. But his curse on the President had already been casted."
(~End Understanding One Another*Roxas's Theme Coded Version*~)
April 4th [10:01 AM]-Year-1990.
Turks Headquarters-ShinRa Building-Edge.
"Tseng?"
Tseng blinked before looking up and realised that Veld was watching him patiently, waiting for to respond to an unheard query or comment. The former didn't realise he'd been drawn into his memories within his mind until now.
"I'm sorry, sir. My mind wandered for a moment."
"I understand." Veld nodded. "Tseng, you do remember what I told you, don't you?"
The Wutaiian thought about it, and more he did, the more he realised that yes, he did remember everything Veld told him two years ago. For some reason, he put him suddenly on ease, knowing that Veld did not blame him made him relieved.
(~Friends in My Heart-KH2~)
"Yes, sir. You're right." Tseng nodded, smiling softly for the first time in days. "While my sins for what I had done in Junon may never be forgiven, it was still an order by the family of ShinRa, whether it was Rufus or his father, and I took it, as a Turk. The only thing I can at least to is try and prevent it from happening again, and help in finding and defeating Militas Ultra."
Veld smiled at his Lieutenant's response. "Good. Because I think everyone else has been driving themselves mad from trying to figure out why you haven't been yourself lately. I think the fact that you have somewhat recovered would make them relieved."
Tseng chuckled, "I suppose I do owe them an apology for my behavior."
"And a break from all that paperwork will do you a world of good as well for a little while. Perhaps a little snack from the Cafeteria would help until the next meeting which will be held at 11:AM sharp." Veld suggested.
"I would gladly appreciate it, sir." Tseng replied, standing from his chair and followed his mentor out of the office, feeling somewhat back to his normal self again.
"It's strange to admit it, but remembering that memory has again put me at ease. While I have another regret in my life, it was still important, for the sake of the Company, and the world.
That is a memory I will always keep close in my mind, and as a Turk, I will continue to do my duty.
I promised that I would do everything I could for the sake of the Turks.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 4.
A/N: I've been driving myself nuts on how Episode Tseng would turn out in this story for quite sometime before I can move on to the fourth chapter of the main story. The next chapter we return to the main story, though how that will play out, I don't know yet. But this story will be finished, even if it kills me(probably won't be finished until after I get a new computer most likely).
Until then, see you all in the next chapter!