Chapter Four: Scratch the Night
"Ninjas in Midgar," said the president, "I thought we were looking ahead to a brighter future."
"It will be. Just give us the chance to kill them. I have all sorts of new weapons. You're going to love it."
The meeting had been going on for hours. Everyone who spoke offered some contradiction. Palmer had believed in Lentz. And President Shinra's eyes still brightened when Palmer repeated how it made no sense for Wutai to agree to peace and then send ninja assassins into Midgar. No, not just Midgar, but outside the Shinra General office. Even Vice President Rufus had been surprised. Tseng just nodded. Scarlett seemed delighted.
Reno remained silent. His report along with Frost's had been delivered. Harris was still alive and in custody. He hadn't spoken, and they wouldn't begin pushing till later. Reno wondered if it really mattered anymore. The presence of ninjas spoke volumes. For Wutai to interfere in the investigation of Reactor 2 sealed their fate. Number 2 had been underperforming, or so they thought. The engineers had worked overtime and promised it would deliver more than any reactor. It didn't, but it wasn't the engineers' fault. Someone had tapped into the lines. Tseng himself had discovered this. Power was being diverted to several places at once. It was theft. A very complicated sort of theft.
AVALACNHE had been considered a suspect for a time. Despite their political assertion that they were against the use of Mako, nefarious operations like theirs would require power and supplies. Some of the power divergence branches lead into the Slums, but others went to some of the finer areas of Midgar. That had been a major hurdle of the meeting. It was hard enough to imagine that Wutai could get ninjas into the city, but that an operation, run by them, could be sending illegal power to certain wealthy citizens was just unsound.
"Tseng," said the president, sweat running down his jowls, "I want you to find out everything there is to know, and even things they don't know about themselves. Find these thieves and trace them back to their source. Once we have a list of targets you will cross them off."
"Of course, Mr. President." Tseng was always very pleasant when Reno saw him dealing with the higher-ups. He supposed it was a practice that a leader had to maintain. "We have a larger staff now. We'll put them to good use."
The "staff" would soon be including Elena. She was still off active duty despite being reaccepted. Her rough treatment had been a shock to Reno, considering that Elena was Turk royalty. Her sister, code-named "Gun", had been of the major players in the outfit until the end of the last "crisis". There were plenty of rumors about why she was gone. People didn't like to talk about it. Elena had been brought in by her sister at a young age, and she did show some talent. Her sister's departure had caused friction. When Elena herself had first vanished Reno thought Tseng had killed her.
Though Reno had come onboard while Verdot, the former leader was still in charge, he'd been placed directly under Tseng's authority. Tseng had brought Gun into the group due to her skills and her father's position as a teacher as the Shinra Academy. With so much changing and elevation of staff constantly, it could get confusing as to who was even in the Turks and who was in charge of whom. Gun had been the kind of operative to want more than Tseng would allow though. It was more and more his group as she came up the ladder. Reno was too green to even consider those things back then. Besides, he'd been distracted, for he had formed a physical relationship with Gun's younger sister Elena. It was improper to have seen her as more than just another black suit, but that's how it was. When he thought Tseng had killed her…
She didn't die though. Elena turned up in Nibelheim. She was living as a drunk and killed two Shinra troopers. This would normally warrant a death sentence. Not that Turks didn't occasionally killer soldiers, but running away and the losing of self-control were not qualities of the Turks. However, Gun had been admired by Scarlett, who in turn became Elena's benefactor. Elena had supposedly been set up with a residence by the R&D Executive. There were few other details. Now she was back with the Turks, but Tseng had taken steps to ensure his continued dominance. The tattoos, the beatings, the psychological torment—all of that was to make it clear to Elena she was in fact just another dark suit.
Reno's part had been painful. He'd believed his relationship with Elena had been secret, but it hadn't been. Tseng found out. Elena probably confessed to it. And then, to show them both that he still controlled everything, Tseng ordered Reno to do what he did. Reno wasn't sure if it had been a mercy. Not for him. Then again, if could've been Waingro. I got used to the idea of you being gone, Elena. I even learned to spit at your name when it was mentioned. But for you to come back, and for us to "reconnect" like this… He remembered wiping her blood off his body when it was over.
Reno stood off to the side. Behind Tseng. He only spoke when spoken to. He knew the rules. The customs. A lot of the routine he'd picked up from Rude, but Tseng was always there with his fingers dancing on invisible strings. That won't last forever, even the strongest strings decay and break.
XXX
Tifa's feet were so cold. Her place of business, which doubled as her home, was actually kept rather temperate. Despite being in the Slums she had money from her business and also from Zangan. He'd been the one to set her up in Midgar. She'd offered him a place to stay, but the old master had no desire to become sedentary. She knew he maintained a few small huts out of the way of civilization. She'd stayed in them while training. For a time she had considered following his example, but Zangan told her that she needed other people. This was his concern that her rage and hatred would consume her without the possibility of friendship or love. But love was so hard to find. He was so hard to find. She couldn't even find a grave or some record of his death or life. She doubted his existence sometimes, but that couldn't be true.
Her feet were so cold. The bar had heat. It was a place of relative comfort compared to many places in the same neighborhood. It used Mako of course, though Jesse had devised special batteries for some things. Their operations for AVALANCHE relied on planning more than materials. Materia also played an important role. Their most recent bombs were not just plastic explosive or refined gunpowder, but depleted materia. Jesse said that the magic-giving stone could be used in munitions. A large gun was even possible if the material was large and of sufficient quality. Their own was crude, but even it had immense power. The right kind of bomb on a reactor could devastate Midgar. Barrett liked the idea, but there was something to be concerned about. When the collateral damage exceeded the damage done to your enemy, how long would you still be freedom fighters saving the planet and not terrorists bent on killing everyone?
She found a pair of old wool socks and put them on. It was a strange thing being a criminal. If the Turks or whoever busted down the door one day, she would be arrested with all the others and put on trial. Then she would be subsequently executed. Barrett said he'd never be taken alive. But she had doubts. If the Turks were as resourceful as people said, they would find Marlene.
They would yoke Barrett's strength. That was why she prayed their views would gain steam. What sustained Shinra was the complacency of the people under its rule. If they could only just see…see what? The charred bodies of the people you'll kill? What about the Mako poisoning unleashed on the people? Will they be so fast to see things your way?
Tifa put on some vanilla tea. As it brewed she thought about him. If he was alive, what was he doing right then? Did he even remember her? It was probably foolish to think about it. Zangan wouldn't approve. Or would he?
The tea was done. She sipped it, and sat in her favorite chair: a small recliner that Jesse had salvaged and restored from the trash. That was how much of her life was: salvaged. The Slums had an odd way of providing for those strong enough. She wondered what would happen if Shinra did vanish. Would it be the better world that Barrett spoke of? Her teachings from Zangan told her that humanity preyed upon itself. If it wasn't Shinra it would be someone else. It doesn't have to be, she told herself, we can do it right.
She was locked in this inner-debate when Marlene ran into the room screaming with tears in her eyes.
XXX
A call came in from one of their informants in Sector 7. It seemed as though some young men with Wutainese accents had secured an old trailer. The typical fear of outsiders, which Shinra cultivated, would've normally informed them earlier, but these foreigners brought money. And if someone tossed enough Gil around they got special treatment. Reno suspected that someone was getting more Gil than the others. So it was only natural that someone else decided to ruin the whole thing.
His arm hadn't been damaged that badly. Stitches and some nice painkillers could work wonders. Frost was toughing it out too, but Reno was disappointed that the older Turk wouldn't be going directly in with him. Instead, Tseng had grouped Reno with Rude and Waingro for the express purpose of bringing a hammer down on the ninjas. Frost, Ross, Elena, and a number of Shinra troopers were going to be the anvil.
SOLDIER had been mentioned, but was being kept in reserve. Tseng hadn't been exactly sure as to what they would find, so there was no point in getting everyone in Midgar excited.
They had time to get ready, so Reno decided to shave. He wasn't sure why. He did so with a cheap safety razor and hand soap. That was all he could find in the locker he kept at HQ. It was a rough shave. Several knicks later, Reno was washing the blood off his face. He splashed neon blue aftershave on. It burned of course, but afterwards there was a wonderful cool feeling on his face. He loved that. There was no need to think about harmful microbes from the Slums infecting his freshly razored face. Who thought about that anyway?
Afterwards he checked his gear. The cattle prod was fully charged and secured in his coat. His pistol had been cleaned and reloaded. He also secreted a knife in his belt. You never know, he thought.
Reno took one last look in the mirror. His red hair was already in disarray as it dried, despite tying it back. He was still young with a lifetime in front of him. Too bad the world the world is the way it is. It could've all been so much better. He spat a large glob of phlegm on his own reflection, and walked out to join the others. There was a job to do, and he would do it well.
XXX
Tifa's steel toed boot slammed into the man's chest with a satisfying crunch from his sternum. He fell the ground, and wouldn't be getting up soon. She stomped on his right ankle and left knee just to be sure. He would live. The pain would be severe, but that had been something the man risked from the moment he drew the cheap-looking gun on her.
She didn't take the gun. Instead, she removed the bullets. The folding joint that allowed the cylinder to be loaded looked weak enough. Tifa broke it with a strike against a concrete wall of the building. It wasn't that loud of a noise, which was good. The more advantages she could stack on her side the better. The people who had taken Jesse were going to be dangerous. She wished Barrett could be there, but he was plotting their next mission with the others. His gun-arm would be sorely missed.
The lookout she'd taken down had nothing useful on him sadly. He'd been a cheap piece of muscle to guard the criminal's den. Once she got inside, the situation was bound to get much worse. She reconsidered her destruction of the gun. It would've been useful despite how cheap it was. No, she thought, Zangan wouldn't approve of such dependence.
She opened a metal box she'd dropped when first approaching the guard. Gingerly, she strapped the metal claws across the tops of her hands. These particular claws were not her best ones. Usually, she preferred one well-made claw. Her freehand, still with an armored glove could be useful for grappling. The claws she brought here were the easiest ones to find. Jesse had actually been sharpening them earlier, so there was a certain symmetry in using them.
This part of the Slums was on the fringe border between Sector 7 and Sector 6. The low-level concrete buildings were more like bunkers, and some suspected that they had been a life time ago. People in the area livid in a hodgepodge of trailer parks, while the rats tended to make their dens in the bunkers. The perfect place.
Her worry was that she'd be too late to spare Jesse from what the men would do. The fact that Marlene had escaped was a relief, but Tifa feared greatly for the young woman. Slum life was a terrible thing, especially when you were a female. Tifa knew from firsthand experience.
Please hold on, Jesse. Fight them. Don't just check out of your body and let them have you. Once you let them do that, you'll never be able to shake that feeling. He fists tightened. The claws shaking in rage. I'm coming to get you, Jesse.
XXX
The Slums below the main Shinra platforms represented a complex world apart from the one that still saw the sun. Denizens of the Slums ranged from all over. In the past, wars all over the world had obliterated other major cities. Midgar had once been a modest city that barely survived. The Shinra Corporation changed everything. It had the organization skills and the technical know-how. With Mako as its energized blood, the company could do anything.
It wasn't long before refugees from all over the world poured in. Naturally, the people who were in Midgar first didn't want to depreciate their way of life, but still needed workers or future soldiers. So, housing projects were built that cordoned the new arrivals off from the "better" areas. Eventually, they went one step further and built the upper levels. The lowest levels were abandoned by the wealthy elite and their middle class servants. Those who lived "up above" worked for Shinra or one of its subsidiaries or the city-GOV, which was controlled by Shinra anyway. If a person lived "below" they could do whatever they wanted as long as it didn't contradict Shinra.
Over the years some middle ground had formed. Nothing too substantial though. The city of Midgar was a bottle of conflicting energy. If a bottle is placed atop a hot surface, and heat is slowly applied, the pressures inside the bottle will reach a boiling point. Shinra did everything it could to prevent this, but it did happen over the years. It was the frequent goal of Shinra's enemies, especially Wutai, to apply the heat. One opportunity often opened up several more for others. There was no shortage of people waiting for them.
XXX
Rude kicked in the door. Reno had seen it a dozen times. There was a technique to doing it. Rude told him that it was all in the placement. Once the door was open, Rude stepped aside, and Waingro sprayed the inside of the trailer with bullets. The machine gun given to them by Scarlett didn't have powerful rounds, but it was designed to hold more, and to fire them faster. The rounds also tumbled.
Reno could hear the bullets bouncing all over the inside of the trailer. It wouldn't be pleasant for the ninjas inside. Any who survived would take multiple hits. Tumbling rounds hit in the messiest ways, and were called by soldiers "maiming bullets."
Once the clip was dry, Waingro put the machine gun away. The silence was worse than the rattling screech of the gun. Reno's ears rung. They could've silenced it, but they wanted to scare away any curious scavengers or gang members. Slum gangs were some of the worst.
Reno took out the cattle prod. The baton-like weapon had been tuned-up by Scarlett's people. They were dealing with ninja's after all. Waingo opted for the machete, and Rude still had no weapons. That was his way.
Reno decided to go in first. He had to. Not only as a practical matter (he was the fastest and smallest of their trio), but he had to square his position in front of Rude and Waingro. With Waingro it was about establishing that he had the drive to get dirty. Killers like Waingro only respected such things. With Rude it was more complicated. Reno wanted to be there for his friend. He also knew that Tseng would be asking about his performance. Tseng wanted to cultivate a top-level cadre of people. As the up-and-comer Reno had a lot to prove.
He remembered being on the top platform a few nights before. He'd been staring up at the night sky. It had rained for a few days. Dark clouds covered sky still. But, there had been a distant light. In time, he could see the moon peeking through slashes in the clouds. Reno liked to think that some giant monster had clawed the sky to see the moon beyond the darkness of the clouds. It was a nice moment to draw on before he charged in.
Once in side, the sight that greeted Reno was enough to make him stop cold. In that moment, Reno wished that he was looking at the sky again.