The file you are reading is not meant for your eyes; put it down and walk away or I Tseng Director of the Turks, or my successor, will find you and silently and effectively remove you from society, to then slowly starve and torture you to your breaking point. It is as this point that we will bring you do the absolute middle of nowhere where you will be given your freedom of choosing how you would like to die. Should you ever make it back to society the Turks will take this is as you rejecting our kindness of letting you choose your own death, and will be subject to a death at either my, or my successor's, discretion. This is the record of six of my most extraordinary Turks. They came from another world, a world where Final Fantasy 7 is owned by Square Enix but this is their story and theirs alone. For the sake of the future I left a record of their adventures locked deep in the Turk Archives but only if the fate of the world is threatened should this file be opened. You have been warned. Read at your own risk. -Tseng Akira, Director of the General Affairs Department, Shinra Electric Power Company
Chapter 12: Gongaga
Tseng sat across from Takashi Watanara, the assassin from Wutai that Ryu had brought back with her. He'd listened to the conversation during the fight and examined images of the collar. The man's story seemed legit. But Tseng wasn't sure he was really fit to be a Turk. Had he only spared Ryu in hopes of freedom, or had he felt bad for the girls? How heartless was the man, and how loyal would he be? These were the questions Tseng had to ponder.
He studied the Wutainese man. He looked like any other young Wutainese man. He was probably close to Tseng's age. Meaning he didn't have too many more years as an agile assassin before his body started breaking down. Tseng didn't want to admit it, but his own body was becoming less flexible already.
Matti shifted slightly behind Tseng. Tseng turned his head to look at him. The young man had a twist of mind that Tseng could appreciate. He definitely understood how politics worked, and he'd proved competent in fighting and intelligence gathering. An idea came to Tseng. He turned to face the assassin.
"I have an offer for you. I need information and I need to get a spy into Wutai. Help me with both and I'll make you a probationary Turk." He said. The man nodded his head.
"It is a fair deal." He said clearly in common.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
"What?!" Matti gasped staring at Tseng horrified.
"You're the only person capable of going." Tseng told him from behind his desk. Matti swallowed and nodded his head as the look of horror faded from his face. It wasn't exactly the truth, but it was all he really needed to hear.
"I guess I can understand that." He said finally. Tseng nodded his head.
"It won't be too soon. You will recieve special training for the mission and you will need to learn Wutainese, quickly." Tseng paused, "I will help you with that." He added. Matti pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to stress too much. The last thing he wanted to spend his free time doing was studying with Tseng.
"However, you will be gone for several months." Tseng continued, watching to see if that fact alone would cause more issues. Matti shrugged. There wasn't anything he could do about that.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
Morgan looked overwhelmed, Matti had his head on the table, and Ryu was biting, actually lightly biting her tongue.
"I hate learning new languages." Morgan groaned. All three were being required to learn Wutainese from Tseng. Matti had made an offhand comment to Tseng about the others knowing how to speak the language, and here they were.
"I have enough trouble speaking common." Ryu muttered. She was well known for not only being directionally dyslexic but also verbally. It wasn't uncommon for her to swap sounds or completely mispronounce a word.
"You took how many years of French?" Morgan asked her.
"Seven, and I remember exactly how much?"
"Not a lot?" Matti guessed his head still on the table.
"Correct."Ryu said. Tseng frowned at the group. Their theatrics, while amusing, weren't helping them learn. He cleared his throat.
"We know, we know." Ryu muttered, "Get back to work." She said for him.
"This is going to take years." Morgan pointed out. Ryu blew a raspberry, as Matti sighed.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
Morgan looked up as Reno entered Rude's office. He was confused because Rude wasn't there, he was sparing against another Turk to train.
"Can I help you?" Morgan asked. Reno shrugged.
"I dunno if you can or not. But I have a couple questions." he said as he pulled over Rude's chair to sit across from Morgan. Morgan shrugged.
"What do you want to know?" He asked slightly uneasily.
"You are dating Ryu aren't you?" Morgan gave a faint grin.
"Yeah, we've been dating for three years now." Morgan acknowledged. Reno nodded his head.
"That's what I thought. I just wanted to be sure."
"Any other questions?" Morgan asked, slowly. Reno nodded.
"Yup, one's like her birthday, favorite color, hobbies etc." Reno admitted cheerfully. Morgan laughed.
"Her birthday is coming up, I think the girls have something planned, you might want to make sure you have a gift on hand." Morgan told him, still grinning. Reno scowled.
"I was afraid of that. What about the others birthdays?"
"Mary's is a week after Ryu, then there's a couple of months until Piper's, then Alanna's is two days after her. And then it's another month or so until mine, and then Matti's is a week after mine." Reno whistled.
"Spurts of two. How'd you plan that?" He asked. Morgan laughed.
"We didn't. It just happened that way." Reno nodded his head looking thoughtful.
"So what about my other questions?" Reno asked. Morgan grinned.
"Find out for yourself." He said. Reno narrowed his eyes looking thoughtful.
"Is that a challenge?" Morgan grinned and shrugged.
"Maybe it is, or maybe I just want to know how observant you really are." Morgan admitted. Reno snorted in laughter.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
"There's a small monster in Gongaga that needs taking care of."Genesis told Alanna after he'd come back from her meeting with Tseng that morning. He had been hoping she might help the others learn Wutainese, since she already understood a little. Alanna nodded her head.
"So you'll be gone for a day or two. I can work with Cloud on Materia or work on the massive pile of Turk paperwork." She said. Genesis smiled amused by her assumptions.
"No, you're going to Gongaga to deal with the monster." He told her. Alanna stared at him shocked.
"What?" She squeaked. He pushed her toward her room.
"Go pack." he ordered.
"You'll need this" Tseng said, trying not to laugh, as he passed her. He handed her a package. Alanna looked at it curiously.
"All of you, when you act as SOLDIERs, must look like SOLDIERs." Tseng told her simply.
Alanna opened it when she got to her room. It was a corset-like device. Once she'd squeezed into it she divined its purpose. It flattened a girl's chest so it looked minimal or even better not there.
"Oh this will be a fun mission." She muttered to herself, already having trouble breathing.
Alanna climbed into the small chopper and settled into her seat.
"Welcome aboard," A cheerful voice said over the intercom, "Please keep all hands, arms, legs, feet, and heads inside at all times. Exits are here, there or just jump out of the helicopter anyway you can and enjoy your flight on Shin-Ra Air."
"Ryu?" Alanna asked, startled. She went up to the cockpit.
"Hiddely hey." Ryu said grinning from the pilot's seat. Reno was sleeping in the co-pilot's seat. He woke up as Alanna came into the cockpit.
"Go home." Alanna muttered.
"Diddely do." Ryu said.
"What the hell?" Reno muttered giving them an odd look. Ryu and Alanna laughed.
"Never mind us Reno." Ryu said. To Alanna she added, "Pull up a pillow, I am sure my friendly butt pillow is still somewhere in here." She said. Alanna looked around until she spotted the pillow tucked behind Reno's seat. She grabbed it and plopped down between the two of them. Having a whole chopper was rather pointless when they were all crammed up front.
"Ready for takeoff?" Reno asked. Ryu nodded her head and put her hand on the joystick that controlled the chopper. With her other hand she flipped a few switches, starting the blades and the engine. After a few minutes pause Reno nodded for Ryu to take the chopper up.
"You're doing fine." Reno assured Ryu after a few minutes flight. Ryu smiled faintly. She slowly relaxed her grip on the joystick.
"You aren't certified are you?" Alanna asked, nervous.
"She's logged a hundred hours of simulation in the VR room practice, now she needs to get a hundred hours of real flight time." Reno said unfazed. Alanna glanced at Ryu's hand on the joystick.
"You're pretty stable there." She noted, easily hiding her unease. Ryu grinned wanly.
"I've had some practice." She noted drily.
"Yeah but I watched you play Twilight Princess, you couldn't steer Epona straight to save your life."
"This joystick isn't quite so shaking sensitive." Ryu said primly before laughing.
"You have no idea how much that used to piss me off. My thumb would twitch slightly and all of a sudden, boom, I've hit a wall or a fence." Ryu complained.
"You haven't crashed a chopper yet, not even in the storm training." Reno pointed out.
"Thank Gaia." Alanna muttered.
"Unfortunately there is a first for everything." Ryu said.
"Oh that's reassuring" Alanna grumbled at her, rolling her eyes. Reno laughed.
"She has a point, yo." He agreed.
"Not helping, Firecrackers. I am… mildly uncomfortable with large heights." Alanna said. Ryu grinned and patted Alanna's arm with her free hand.
"Don't worry Dumbapples. I won't drop or bruise you." Ryu reassured her.
"You'd better not." Reno chuckled,
"Even if she does, I'll catch us. That's what I am here for, yo." Alanna poked him in the arm.
"Not reassured, Firecracker."Reno grinned at her.
"You should be. I'd never drop a chopper, yo. Not even to scare you."
"Not funny Reno." Alanna said, snapping his goggles.
"Ow." he whined, pinching her arm.
"Don't make me turn this chopper around." Ryu threatened. Alanna laughed and curled up, leaning against Ryu's seat.
"Yes mommy." She said. Ryu flicked the top of her head.
"Behave yourself and let me concentrate." Ryu told her.
"Then I think its nap time." Alanna said. Reno shook his head as Alanna pillowed her head against the seat and closed her eyes.
Alanna opened her eyes when Ryu nudged the top of her head with her elbow.
"We're about to land; you might want to be awake enough to deal with the townspeople." Ryu said. Alanna grumbled and pulled herself up into an upright position.
"I hate people." She muttered. Reno laughed.
"You'd have made a good Turk then." He said as Ryu set the chopper down and turned the engine off. The blades slowly spun to a halt.
"We're here." Ryu said as she unbuckled herself and stood up. Alanna got up quickly and left the cockpit. Ryu let her get out first as the town elder was there. As he approached Alanna, Ryu stepped out of the cockpit, Reno half a step behind them. The crowd that had gathered took a half step backwards at the Turks appearance.
"You're the SOLDIER sent to kill the monster aren't you?" The village elder asked her. Alanna nodded her head.
"Just point out its lair, Alan will do the rest." Reno said, saving "Alan" from having to speak. The elder raised his hand and pointed to the base of a cliff nearby. All three could just make out the small cave at its base. Alanna turned to look at them. Reno made a shooing motion with his hand.
"We'll be here. Don't worry." He said. Alanna nodded her head as Ryu gave her a thumbs up. She smiled wanly at Ryu before turning to head to the monster's lair.
Ryu followed Reno as he headed to a coffee shop. Once he'd ordered she stepped up to make her order.
"SOLDIERs I don't mind but Turks..." The owner muttered after he took her order. Ryu shrugged.
"It takes all kinds of people to make the world, sir." She said politely. He snorted and handed her order.
"Have a good day sir." She called over her shoulder before heading to watch Alanna fight the monster she figured she'd have just lured it out.
Ryu made her way through the watching crowd, people in Gongaga really didn't have much to do it seemed, until she was up front. The monster had just emerged from its lair.
"A grand horn." Her A.I. said into her earpiece.
"What's it like?" Ryu asked as she eyed the green and brown, spiky, long limbed, large clawed monster.
"Its attacks are purely physical, and it has no immunities. She should be able to handle it."
Ryu turned her head and watched Reno approach a couple and talk to them. They were Mr. and Mr. Fair, Zack's parents, she knew, but why was Reno talking to them? She saw him take out an envelope and hand it to Mrs. Fair she clutched it tightly in her hand.
A letter from Zack. She realized, He must have asked Reno to deliver it when he knew we were coming out here. Getting mail here must be slow. Reno turned his head and saw her watching him, he glowered at her for seeing him do something so nice. She smiled and stuck her tongue out at him. Reno shook his head and headed back to the chopper. Ryu turned back to watch Alanna fight.
Alanna was using her speed boost to its maximum. She dashed around the grand horn slicing at it before it could swing at her. One punch from its oversized fist did catch her and send her flying backwards to make a small furrow in the ground. Ryu grimaced in pain. It looked like she'd have some curing to do after this fight.
Alanna picked herself up glared at the grand horn. She pulled her fira materia from her pocket. As the grand horn approached, she fired a barrage of small fire balls at it. As soon as the fire left her hands, she was on the move again, avoiding any more hits from the much larger beast.
"Why did they send a 3rd class we need at least a 2nd for this." Someone muttered behind Ryu. Ryu turned slightly to look at the man.
"Alan is all that is needed for this fight. He's almost made 2nd and after this fight will probably be promoted. Now do hush I am enjoying this fight." She said softly. The murmurs of discontent quieted. Ryu turned back a small smile on her lips as she took a sip of her coffee.
I do like being able to silence crowds now. She thought. She narrowed her eyes as Alanna was slammed back into the cliff face before she fired yet another barrage of fire balls at the monster.
The grand horn was definitely looking battered, Alanna had put several cuts into its hide and it had several deep burns.
"Take an arm off." Ryu muttered under her breath. If she got an arm off it would be off balanced and unable to fight as well.
As if she'd heard her, Alanna spun her blades around in a sweep that cut deep into its left arm. She pulled her blades free and blocked its punch with her small barrier before coming back around and cutting completely through the arm. Even with the barrier, the hit had pushed her back almost ten feet.
The grand horn stumbled back with a roar of pain. In its weakened state it flailed wildly about with its one remaining arm and slammed Alanna back against the cliff again. Alanna let loose another barrage of fireballs at it.
Howling in pain the grand horn stumbled away from her and turned to green lifestream energy as it collapsed to the ground, dead.
Ryu smiled slightly as Alanna made her way back toward the crowd, a faint green glow surrounding her as she healed herself a little. She caught sight of Ryu's bright red hair in the crowd and headed towards her, even as the town elder came forward. Ryu silently handed the second cup of coffee she held in her hand over. Alanna took it and took a large sip of it.
"You defeated it, praise Gaia!" The elder said. Ryu and Alanna traded a wry half grin.
"Just doing my job." She said gruffly, trying to mask her feminine voice.
"Come on let's go." Ryu said as the elder clearly began to wind himself up for a big speech. She took Alanna's arm and steered her toward the chopper.
"But we haven't given our thanks yet." The elder called.
"Send them to Shinra, we're just employees." Ryu called over her shoulder as she got Alanna onto the chopper.
"Thank you." Alanna whispered. Ryu nodded her head.
"Cure." She whispered, her materia in her hand as she focused on the deep wounds that were still rather serious.
"I'll cure, you fly." Reno said as he came out of the cockpit. Ryu gave him a startled look."You aren't going to drop the chopper and they are looking ready to storm the chopper." He said. Ryu nodded her head and headed to the cockpit. She started the engine and the blades and took the chopper back into the sky.
"Don't bother. There is nothing life threatening. I'll be fine." Alanna waved them both off before leaning back with her coffee.
Reno shrugged and climbed into the copilot seat.
"Nice work with the grand horn." Ryu said.
"So that's what it was called. I was wondering, and thanks for the coffee." Alanna said taking another sip. Ryu grinned.
"If I needed a cup I knew you'd need a cup." She said offhand. As dusk set over the continent both Ryu and Reno pulled their goggles down over their eyes.
"Now that seems silly." Alanna said.
"Not if you considered the lenses have night vision built in." Reno said.
"Well that does make things different." Alanna said impressed.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
Ryu successfully landed the helicopter on the helipad and shut it down. She yawned and rolled her neck before she nudged Alanna who was sleeping next to her.
"Wake up sleepy we're home." Alanna pulled her eyes open and looked out the window they were in fact on top of the Shinra building. She yawned and stood to make her way out of the cockpit, wincing as her tight muscles protested the movement.
Alanna and Ryu entered the apartment yawning. Reno had already headed down to start putting in his report..
"So how did it go?" Genesis asked from where he sat holding a glass of wine in his hand, sitting on the couch. Alanna held up one finger.
"Can someone get me out of this thing?" She asked slightly out of breath, trying to reach the clasps without reopening anything.
"Sure." Ryu said around a yawn. She reached under Alanna's shirt and undid the fastenings on the corset.
Alanna heaved a huge sigh of relief as she took her first true deep breath.
"That thing is hell." She said.
"Glad I don't have to wear one unless I am pretending to be Niisan." Ryu called over her shoulder as she headed to the kitchen.
"That was your idea of a little monster?" Alanna asked slightly outraged, "And you'd better be grabbing me food Ryu." She called. Ryu laughed from the kitchen as she came out with a fistful of cookies. She handed them to Alanna, and then she headed back to the kitchen. She came back out a few seconds later with a glass and handed that to her as well. Alanna took the offered glass, and took a large sip.
"Did you?" She asked a grin on her face. Ryu had a glass also with the same liquid and a handful of cookies.
"He can spare one we both need it if we are going to make it to the showers let alone report." Ryu said before she chugged the drink, shuddering making an awful face.
"I hate that they taste so nasty." She said before she shoved a cookie into her mouth and left the apartment. Alanna chuckled, but followed suit.
"Was that one of Seph's energy drinks?" Genesis asked. Alanna nodded a cookie in her mouth. Gen sighed.
"Go clean up you can report to me in the morning." He said. Alanna nodded her head and turned to leave.
"Alanna." He called. Alanna turned back, confused. Genesis was standing wine glass in one hand and materia in his other.
"Curaga" Alanna sighed in relief as all of her remaining injuries healed.
"I won't do that every time you come back from a mission, but you did well on this one." He said before he turned and walked away.
"Reno's already reported for the both of you." Tseng told Ryuko as she sat down in his office. Ryu nodded her head. She was sitting across from him as he sat behind his desk.
"He also says your flying skills are going to be close to his own." Ryu blushed slightly.
"He's exaggerating." She said. Tseng shook his head.
"Reno never exaggerates a person's skills." He said, "With that in mind I have another mission for you tomorrow." Ryu sat up straighter as he slid a file folder across to her. She took it and read it over.
"You want me to do this alone?" She asked surprised, "I'm not certified." Tseng pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Reno and Rude are flying Cloud and Piper to the Chocobo farm tomorrow, if he's to take advantage of this opportunity I need someone to fly him in and once again all my other Turks are busy." Ryu nodded her head.
"There's a second part to this mission." Tseng said sliding another folder across the desk. Ryu picked it up.
"You will be helping on this mission. I trust personal relations will not get in the way." He said. Ryu shook her head.
"No they won't sir." She said, all business.
"All right, report to the helipad at 0500 hours tomorrow." He said. Ryu stood and nodded.
"One last thing." Tseng said as he pressed a button. Ryu sat back down as Reno entered the office and sat next to her.
"Hojo is digging deeper to get at all of you. Even with Rufus and Lazard's backing, if he finds out that up until a few months ago you didn't exist here in this world, he will get you underhandedly." Tseng said. Ryu nodded her head.
"We've discussed it sir, all of us are trying to not be alone where we can get snatched." She said. Tseng nodded his head.
"It's not enough. I've started to create deep backgrounds for all of you." He paused and looked at Reno, "The problem is actually you, you look the most like Reno and several employees having seen the two of you assumed that you are siblings." He began. Ryu looked confused.
"Sir?" She asked confused.
"But that's an easy fix." Reno broke in he turned to face Ryu, "If you ARE my sister who's also a Turk then it's no problem." He said.
"Uuuhh... but I'm not." She pointed out. Tseng pinched the bridge of his nose.
"We're talking about changing paperwork, Ryu, so that Reno's mother had a daughter before he was born, that daughter would be you." Tseng explained.
"Oh." Ryu said softly.
"So we would have grown up together, possibly become Turks together. But Tseng pulled you aside for special training that had you out of Shinra all this time." Reno continued. Ryu nodded her head, slightly numbed.
"Whatdya say?" Reno asked, bouncing slightly in his seat. It was making him look a lot like a red-headed Zack. Tseng saw the look on her face.
"I'll give you some time." Tseng said as he walked out of the office.
"Time?" Reno asked confused looking back after Tseng before turning to look at Ryu, who had her head buried in her hands.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Do you know how much of a responsibility you are?" She asked him, almost whining. Reno looked surprised.
"Uhh no?" He said confused. Ryu laughed softly.
"Family is a big deal to me Reno, if Tseng makes it so that I am your big sister, then I will be your big sister. But..." She trailed off.
"But?" She turned to look at him.
"Do you want me to be your sister or is that all for convenience sake?" Reno leaped over the chair to land on the arm of hers. He sprawled out next to her.
"Well duh." He said as he reached over and flipped a few strands of hair from her face.
"I wouldn't have suggested it to Tseng otherwise. It's nice having family again after mom died."
"All right. I'll do it." Ryu said.
"WAH WHOOO!" Reno exclaimed as he picked her up and swung her around the office.
"I'll take that as a yes." Tseng commented softly from the doorway. Ryu nodded as Reno grinned.
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
FF7-CC-AC-BC-DoC
A/N: Sorry this chapter is a little shorter. For anyone who is very amused by the characters in this story, we have started a RP on Twitter. Current characters you can follow are RyukoSverd LannaCrystal Mary_Hewley BossmanMatti CreepyGoggles We always love hearing from you all, and enjoy entertaining! Enjoy.