-Waiting at Gongaga-

Reno and Rude of the Turks were waiting for Cloud and his gang to arrive at Gongaga Village. They had been waiting there for nearly an hour, and Rude was getting quite tired of listening to Reno talk about a girl he had met.

"…So I asked her out and guess who has a date?"

"You?" Rude was not particularly enthused. Reno always found ways to impress one woman or another.

"Hell, yes!" Reno punched the air and did a sort of jig. Rude looked at him in amusement. He could never imagine himself being like Reno. He was so meticulous in his work that he hardly thought about much else, let alone women. Actually, there was one woman who occasionally liked to burst into his thoughts and invade his dreams…He quickly shook his head and focused on the job at hand. The Turks had been ordered by President Rufus to protect the reactor at Gongaga, as AVALANCHE would soon be arriving there. Rude knew that there was a Shinra spy within AVALANCHE, but he did not know who it was, and he never asked lest he push his luck. Rude was not very fond of Rufus, but Rufus was the president of Shinra now, and had the power to fire him. Nor did Rude always agree with Rufus' orders. However, losing his job over arguing with Rufus and defying orders was not something Rude of the Turks would do.

"Hey, Rude, you listening?" Reno waved a hand in front of his face. Rude snapped out of his thoughts and focused on his job. Cloud could arrive at any minute, and they had to be alert.

Suddenly, Reno asked, "Hey Rude, who do you like?"

Rude turned his head away from Reno so fast his neck snapped. Rude didn't mind listening to Reno go on about his love life. When asked about his own women problems, however, Rude was not very thrilled to share.

"What are you getting embarrassed for? It's only a question."

Rubbing his neck, Rude turned back to Reno.A slight blush was apparent on his cheeks. "Tifa" he said after a while.

"Hmmm…that's a tough one but poor Elena…she and you…" Reno had a hint of amusement in his voice, which almost made Rude flinch. He did not like his secret exposed, and then taken so lightly.

"No, she likes Tseng."

"But he likes the ancient."

"…He…?" Rude was cut off mid speech as he heard another voice say, "What are they talking about?" He and Reno whipped around to hear Elena reply, "It's so stupid!They always talk about who they like or don't like. But Tseng is different..." She trailed off and looked back and forth between the two Turks and Cloud. Suddenly, the realization dawned on her, "Ah! Oh no! They're here! They're really here!". Elena ran up to Reno and Rude.

Reno shot Rude a strange glance before proceeding to attack the three AVALANCHE members. "Hmm… then it's time... Rude... Don't go easy on them even though they're girls."

Rude suppressed a grin and said, "Don't worry, I'll do my job"

"I'll report to Tseng!" Elena yelled as she ran off.

Rude looked at Tifa and almost halted his attack. Orders were orders, he reminded himself and Rude could not deliberately defy an order and lose his job, even if it meant never being able to have Tifa on his side.