Chapter 2

Back on the other side of the portal, Rufus Shinra stood with his own troop of body guards surrounding him. He watched as one of the guards he had sent through the doorway flew back through, landing hard on the ground. Not even waiting for the guard to report, Rufus made a rash decision, something he was known for.

"Secure the doorway, shoot anything else that comes through." Rufus ordered. "Also, get a detachment from SOLDIER up here to guard the portal at all times until we can mount an offensive."

"Sir, is it wise that we should venture forth? I mean, we still don't know what's going on through the portal." Hojo's assistant reasoned."

"I thought you'd be happier, considering your promotion." Rufus said, leaving the science area, and heading the in the direction of the elevators. It was obvious to him by the return of only a single guard, and the way he had come flying through the portal, that there was in fact an enemy on the other side of the portal. He smiled to himself as he entered the elevator, and pressed the key for the the next floor up. Upon reaching the next floor, he climbed out of it. Walking through the security floor, he reached the room that he was looking for. Entering inside of it, he found a single man sitting at a desk. Upon seeing Rufus, the man stood up.

"President Shinra, I wasn't expecting you." Tseng said, sincerely surprised.

"Gather the rest of the Turks, I need you to gather some information."

"Yes sir, where is the mission?" Tseng asked.

"All in good time, send out two of your men to gather all SOLDIERS away from Midgar, and then meet me in my office with the other one. I will brief you there." Rufus said, exiting the room.

Tseng stared blankly as the door shut, it was rare for the president himself to involve himself in the matters of the Turks. Flipping his cellphone open, he sent his preprogrammed message telling the Turks to hurry to the Shinra building. In a matter of minutes, the three stood in front of him.

"We have two new missions. Reno, Rude, you're to go out in the chopper and gather all SOLDIERS that abroad the planet. Bring back every single one, this is a direct order from the president." Tseng said, and sent them away.

"What about me sir?" Elena asked.

"You and I have orders to report to the president." Tseng said. "There we will get briefing for what I'm guessing will be a highly classified mission." Upon finishing, Tseng and Elena started for the president's office.

==##==

Back on the other side, Laguna sat at his desk, his bandaged shoulder ached from the gunshot it has sustained. Standing in front of him, his two most trusted assistants and long time friends Kiros and Ward stood awaiting him to speak.

"We have a new problem guys. Kiros, I need you to go to Balamb Garden and hire SeeD. Tell them we need every spare man they have. Try to get Squall Leonheart to come himself. Ward, you need to gather all available troops and add to the security already at Dr Odine's lab. Then I want you to have the prisoner escorted here so I may talk to him directly." Laguna said, watching as the two men sprung into action, heading out to carry out their tasks. Standing up from his chair, he walked over to the window. He stared out at Esthar. It was the most advanced city in the world, it had the best military out there, and yet he felt if something terrible was about to happen. He had no idea what kind of military the people from the other realm had, but he was definitely find that out from the professor that had come through earlier. The autopsy from the man that they had killed earlier in the other sides first breach had made a distressing discovery. On the man's body, they found items and weapons not unlike those that they had themselves, but what had worried Laguna was a small orb found on the man. Odine had investigated it himself, and sent him his findings. It gave the unlimited use of magic, an ability that Laguna's men did not have. As far as he knew, even SeeD did not have such technology as of yet. Trying not to let his mind wander too far, he returned to his desk and sat down. He would simply need to wait until he could act to make his decision on what to do about the situation.