Disclaimer: I no own, you no sue!

I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to update. I had computer problems and no money to fix said problems. Regardless, with no transportation (meaning couldn't work on this somewhere else) and no way to even get on a working computer makes it near impossible to work on fics! Luckily since I know I am electronically challenged, I save everything on a usb drive, so if computer crashes, I don't lose my works! (You see I had a fic that I was working on once and my comp crashed and I lost everything! So, I learned from that mistake long ago!)

Chapter 4: The Mission

After leaving the Seventh Heaven, Reno felt a shiver of dread down his spine. He shrugged it off and looked over to Tseng.

"So, what does the boss want?"

"There's a new mission. We'll be briefed on it in an hour." Tseng replied.

"Finally, I'm tired of boring paper work, yo!" Reno exclaimed excitedly. "Anything but more paper work."

He was answered with silence.

They reached the Shinra building shortly after.

When they walked into the meeting room, Tseng headed to the front of the room. All eyes shifted to meet Tseng's gaze.

"As you know, we have been investigating labs recently due to the uprising of ex-scientists from Shinra." Many nods of confirmation were made. Tseng took this as incentive to continue. "Well, we've managed to catch and persuade one of the scientists. He's told us that one man has been hiring the ex-shinra scientists to conduct experiments using mako and people to use as test subjects." Reno, and many others, didn't like where this was heading. "This man's name is Homer Jones." Reno blinked. Homer Jones? Who the hell was that! Tseng continued. "We are to find out where this man is and stop him. Homer Jones is likely just his alias name to throw anyone after him off of his trail."

Many of the Turks started to murmur about this new nut-job. Reno was just thinking on the name. Why did that name give him shivers? He was sure he'd never heard of that name before, so why did it send warning signals to his brain? While he was pondering silently to himself, Tseng was devising a course of action to effectively locate this man.

"…and remember to keep a low profile. I can't stress this enough but-" Tseng was cut off when he heard Reno cursing. Tseng massaged his head. He could already feel that migraine coming. "If you disagree with the pairings, that's too bad, Reno."

"That's not the problem, yo. The man that we're tracking…Homer Jones-"

"Yes, what about him?" Tseng inquired impatiently.

"Take the first two letters from his first and last name." Reno shot back.

Tseng paused for a moment. Ho…jo?

"That may be a possibility, but it could also be someone else, Reno." Tseng knew how jumpy Reno was on topics concerning Hojo and mad scientists at the moment. Hell, he could just be seeing signs that weren't really there. Or he could be right. "Either way, it would be best to be prepared." He concluded out loud. "The partners will be…Cissnei and Rod, and finally Rude and Elena."

"Hey what about me?" Reno shouted indignantly.

"You will be researching all of the possible locations in Midgar that our target could be hiding."

Reno squawked. Paperwork? Reno growled. "You can't be serious yo! I need to go on this mission."

"You are. Finding all possible locations and hideouts is a serious part of this mission." Tseng voiced pointedly.

" Don't give me that bull! I-"

"You'll do as you're told or you're off this mission and any further missions for the next month."

Reno clamped his mouth shut, glaring at the leader of the Turks. He fumed silently.

Tseng took Reno's silence as an opportunity to cast his gaze across the room. "Are there any other problems with my regrouping?"

Nobody responded.

"Good. Now get to work."

With those final words, everyone bolted from their seats to get ready for the mission.

Reno was the last to rise from his seat. He strode to his desk and sat down in it. When the he was sure no one else was nearby, he opened his window and climbed out. After all, the best way to discover hideouts is by going around looking for them. Perfect excuse! Reno knew that if he was caught he'd be in huge trouble, but he just had to get out.

A couple hours later, Reno found himself wandering around the 5th Sector. He was doing his job! Honest! He even had a pen and paper to write down all the possible areas with old factories, abandoned buildings, and other possible hideouts. Sure he could have just looked at a map and pinpointed out these same buildings, but that was too boring.

What time was it? Three hours had passed since the mission briefing. When did Tseng say that they'd meet back at the base to go over the gathered information? He tried to remember. They had to regroup at 4 pm. It was 3. Good he'd have a little bit more time. He decided to send Cloud's clothes to a dry cleaning service and arrange to pick it up later. With that in mind, he decided to head over to Sector Five.

Reno had to squint to write down yet another possible location. When did it get so dark? Reno glanced down at his watch. 3 pm. Wait…3? "Shit!" Reno cursed. His watch was broken. What time was it? Reno knew he was in deep shit when he got back. He just hoped Tseng wasn't going to be too harsh…Reno winced as he imagined what would happen. He dashed quickly back to Sector 5. He could cut through the Church to get to base faster. No sooner did he enter the 5th Sector area then he collided with a solid mass and stumbled backwards.

"Watch where ya goin" Reno groused out before glancing upward. He was met with glowing mako-enhanced eyes. He blinked. "Cloud? What're ya doing here?"

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "I was in Aerith's Church. I was paying my respects when I got a call from Tseng asking me to look for you. He didn't sound too happy either."

Reno paled. "Tseng's gonna have my ass" Reno groaned in despair.

"You can call him with my phone" Cloud offered.

Reno nodded and took the phone. "Hey boss…yea yea, I'm on my way now." Reno hung up before Tseng's screams could break his ear drums. He then turned to Cloud. "Thanks. I'm heading back now." He handed Cloud his phone back and turned to leave when Cloud grabbed his left arm. Reno stared at him questionably.

"I'll go with you. I need to talk to Tseng anyway." Cloud lied. In truth, Cloud was worried for the redhead, though he'd never admit it aloud.

Reno just shrugged. Maybe Cloud would distract Tseng long enough for him to get off the hook.

They trekked in companionable silence back to the Shinra building. As they neared, Tseng's presence loomed up ahead.

Reno began to sweat. 'I'm in deep shit.'

As they approached Tseng, he glanced at Cloud coolly. "Thank you, Cloud."

Cloud nodded back. "Tseng I need to talk to you about the growing numbers of revolts from ex-Shinra scientists."

Tseng's expression turned serious. "I'm assuming Reeve filled you in about the other missing people."

Cloud nodded. "Yes. It is very suspicious. Vincent is searching for the possible whereabouts of the ex-Shinra scientists and Ho-…their leader."

Tseng kept his eyes locked on Cloud's. "Understood. Am I to also assume that Avalanche will be aiding Neo-Shinra in this problem? Afterall, it may well be a serious threat to the PLANET."

Cloud simply replied. "Yes. You have Avalanche's support in this." With that said, Cloud decided to leave before things got ugly. Now that he reported what needed to be said, Tseng would probably give Reno the lecture of the century. He didn't need to be dragged into a fight.

Reno looked at Cloud's retreating back in despair. He turned to face Tseng, apprehension clear on his face.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Tseng exploded. "You completely disregarded protocol, and nearly had this mission suspended! Explain. NOW."

"Well, you see boss…" beads of nervous sweat fell down Reno's face. "…You said that I needed to map out possible locations…and I did…I went…to…the Sectors to find them." Reno finished in a whisper.

"You know perfectly well that you were to stay IN the building and use the maps we have HERE to find those locations" Tseng seethed. "Dammit Reno!" Tseng seemed to have lost the ability to form words, he was so pissed.

"What did you expect? You said that we'd have a mission, meaning no paperwork, then you go and dump it on me. You expect me to just take it? I've been doing nothing but paperwork since I got back!" Reno's own temper flared up. He was sick and tired of being babysat. He was sick and tired of being treated as if he were made of glass. He was a Turk dammit! He didn't need body guards, he was one!

Tseng rubbed his temples furiously. "YES! When I give an order, I expect it to be followed PROPERLY." Tseng sighed and said in a gentler tone, "I know that you're frustrated Reno, but we don't want that sick bastard to get you again. You, Rude, Elena and Rufus are like family to me, and I'm sure that you feel the same way. If it were one of us, you'd want our safety too."

Reno was still furious, but he couldn't argue with Tseng's reasoning. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't be angry about it.

"I know." He ground out. He was irritated but he knew when to give up. He couldn't win this argument. Reno felt a little guilty for throwing off the mission too. "…What's the status on the mission?"

"It's still in phase one. We've had to put it in stasis, but now that you've been located, we can continue."

Reno nodded. "Oh, I've got the possible locations that you asked for." Reno laid out his notes.

Tseng took the papers that Reno had written all the possible locations. Tseng squint his eyes trying to discern Reno's messy scrawling. He raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "I know you can write better than this…" He continued to decipher the letters.

Reno rubbed his head in embarrassment. " Sorry 'bout that, yo…was in a hurry an' all."

Tseng nodded and turned his eyes back towards Reno. "I'll further split up our Turks to

check on these locations. You're dismissed." After he was done, his face softened up a bit. "Please don't drink the bars out of all their alcohol. In fact, you should just go home and have a nice quiet evening."

Reno shook his head. "I'll head out to the Seventh Heaven. I have to return his clothes anyway."

"I guess I can't dissuade you from drinking yourself into your grave then" Tseng sighed.

"Nope!" Reno smirked for a second before his expression turned serious. "Besides, I'm gonna die anyway, might as well do it on my terms."

Reno paused for a moment as an awkward silence descended on them. He turned and sort of briskly walked out the door. He wasn't running! Riiight.

A/N: I know I'm ending kind of short, sorry!

Please R/R!