4.

"That went well…"

Reno peeled himself up from the floor, staggered unsteadily, and glowered at his partner. "Well? I need stitches, and you think that went well?"

Rude shrugged as he finished unhooking the mangled sunglasses from his earrings. "All things considered…"

The beblanketed form in the wheelchair let out a windy sigh. "He's right, Reno. That could have been a whole lot worse. Good thing he got bored with Twister."

"Now what, boss?" Rude asked, pulling another pair of shades from his pocket. They sat askew on his face, as they, too, had been mangled in the course of the little remnant's game.

"Now, we –"

::He's not coming back.::

"What?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

Rufus and his two remaining Turks looked from one to the other to the next and back again. "Did you say something?" Rufus asked, not specifically addressing either one.

"Nope."

"No…"

::The small one. He's not coming back for me.::

Rufus felt the cold claws of fear slide down his spine like a chalkboard. He glanced down at his lap. "Are you talking to me?"

"Whoa, boss!" Reno backed toward the door. "I'll, uh, I'll just wait outside, yo! C'mon, Rude, man needs a little private time!"

Realizing belatedly what Reno must have thought, Rufus reminded himself to smack the redhead soundly about the ears as soon as he could get out of the damned wheelchair.

::Stop thinking about such petty tripe! I have issues, dammit! My vessel has abandoned me!::

"Um, Jenova? Miss? What makes you think –?"

::The effeminate one has learned the truth, and refuses to make the sacrifice. No matter. If he wants to keep the boy for his own dark designs, I grant him his wish. There will be time later for – but I'm rambling.::

Rufus didn't want to think about what might be coming down the pike, as things were plenty creepy enough already. Rather than ask or invite knowledge he'd really rather not be privy to, Rufus tried another tack. "So, will you be taking a holiday, then?"

::Of course not, foolish human! I must simply find a new host, one not given to childish games and bondage gear.::

Overcome by an alien impulse, and unable to stand up to pace, Rufus began rolling his chair back and forth across the room as Jenova pondered her options.

::Maybe we could go with someone taller, yes, I think that would be nice. Kadaj is such a pretty boy, but damn he's short. Strong bodied, weak willed – maybe an addict of some kind? A violent temper would be handy, that way he wouldn't get squeamish about the whole 'destroying the world' thing, at least not until it was a done deal.::

An image flared in Rufus' mind. He struggled to hide it from Jenova, but her chuckle told him he'd failed miserably.

::Yessss…a yearning for space travel…::