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 15: To Gongaga! And Wutai…and more training…

Matti knelt at his small table at the teashop and watched the villagers hustle about their daily lives. They had accepted his tale of being a writer, looking for facts about the daily lives of the Wutainese, to add authenticity to his novel. A novel that Ryu, Alanna, and Tseng had given him jillions of notes on, and talked him through the major plot points. He was glad he knew two enthusiastic readers and amateur story tellers. He doubted that he could have passed for a painter or other artistic type, nor would the Wutainese except a historian. A story teller, o the other hand, they'd welcome.

Maybe He mused It's because they want to be seen in a better light by the continents. In that case they should let a historian come and record their history for the others to read.

Ryu and Alanna would be having a field day being here, they're both such fans of Eastern culture. He paused and sipped his tea. He'd have to remember to bring some of the loose leaf tea back with him, and teach Alanna the tea ceremony. She'd all but ordered him to bring tea back.

His eyes tracked a young man, nondescript in appearance and garb, but something about him set Matti's nerves on edge. He noted where the young man went; he'd tell the more experienced Turks what he'd seen. Matti wasn't allowed to go after truly dangerous information or targets. He was to collect cultural information leaving the other two Turks free to track targets, some of whom Matti had already picked up on.

The explosion of the shrine had shaken the people up and had almost backfired on him. He'd almost been chased out of town. But, with his limited Wutainese, he'd managed to explain his sorrow at their loss and relay a desire to stop such things from being deemed necessary by the continents.

He smiled sadly. They believed he was there to work towards peace and understanding. When in actuality he was there to spy on them, to ferret out weaknesses in their culture to be exploited.

Did he feel a little bit bad? Maybe, was he going to stop? No. He had a job, and he knew ultimately it was best if he and the others were with Shinra. He knew Ryu and Alanna wanted to stop what was going to happen to Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal. He just wanted to keep the group together and strong. They needed Tseng, Sephiroth, Rufus Shinra, and Lazard to protect them; that meant being good at their jobs. He'd let the girls win the SOLDIERs over. Ryu already had Reno on their side. He'd do anything to protect her. Piper had Zack on their side. Cloud probably would as well. They needed firm allies if they were going to survive in this world. Best to get help from those at the top, even if you didn't like the methods used.

He checked the ancient, non-descript looking PHS he'd been given. It was actually a new model like his other one, but this one bore no signs of Shinra employees on it. It didn't even have Piper's PHS number or Tseng's. There was a message disguised as a message from a publisher from Rod, one of the other Turks in Wutai. Rod wanted to meet with him soon.

He quickly typed a response back and then closed it again. No need to display his differences to them all. He was even dressed like them and living like them, telling them he wanted to get a feel for their way of life so that he incorporated it correctly into his novel. He was even taking Wutainese lessons from the local priest, and listening and recording stories of their beliefs and past to "add" to his novel.

He sighed softly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He'd never tell the other five, well maybe Piper, but not the others, that he missed their crazy antics. He could only imagine the mischief the girls where causing. And Morgan was probably trying desperately to not be completely bored out of his mind. Matti hoped he wouldn't be away for too much longer. He wasn't too worried about Zack and Piper, after all Ryu and Alanna had reassured him on the sly about Aerith; but he felt better when the whole group was together, and were able to watch each other's backs.

Mary stared in awe at the blue uniform. She looked up at Angeal, grinning.

"You have no idea…" She began. Angeal smiled softly. Zack was hovering in the background bouncing lightly on his feet. Cloud was supposed to be training Mary and Piper in materia, while Angeal helped Zack in the VR room with a training mission.

"Go change and then meet Cloud and Piper on the training grounds. You've earned it." Angeal told her. Mary smiled and hugged him.

"Thanks 'Geal." She said before she turned away hiding her blush and leaving the room.

"Are you blushing?" Zack asked, surprised, noting the color on Angeal's face. Angeal scowled at him.

"Is it your job to know such things?" He asked quietly. Zack frowned and looked a little bit hurt.

"Well, I mean I live with both of you, if there's something going on it could affect all of us." He said. Angeal raised an eyebrow.

"Going on?" He asked. Zack shifted from foot to foot.

"Not like that Angeal, but if you like her, and she likes you why can't you go out? I mean once she makes 1st?" Angeal sighed.

"Honor is a tricky thing Zack." He said softly. Zack looked confused. Angeal turned and walked away toward the VR rooms.

"What does that mean?" Zack asked as he followed him.

"Someday Zack, you just might understand."

"Come on Angeal. Just tell me." Zack complained to his mentor.

Piper took a deep breath as Zack slowed down; he'd decided that they were going to run for the first part of their workout. They were just reaching the end of the first hour. He seemed to be deep in thought, his usual exuberance was calmed and he'd spoken softly and to the point, unusual for him.

"What's bugging you?" She asked as they slowed down to a walk. Zack sighed.
"Does Mary like Angeal?" He asked her. Piper gave him a slightly confused look.
"Why do you ask?" She asked not wanting to tell him without knowing his motivation.
"I think he likes her..." Zack said slowly.
"What makes you say that?"
"Whenever they're together he seems so on edge, like he's struggling to stay separated from her, but he seems drawn to her." Zack said slowly as if he was trying to puzzle out what clues had set him off in the first place. He suddenly snapped his fingers.

"He gets flustered around her too. And I saw him blush the other day." He said with finality. Piper smiled.
"Yes, she likes him but you can't let on that you know. We have to let them work it out in their own time." Piper said.
"This coming from the girl Matti all but had to get a bill board to even make you realize that he liked you, let alone get a chance to ask you out." Ryu said from the doorway. Piper blushed. She was holding a file folder in her hand. Piper and Zack turned to look at her after Zack gave her a confused look.
"Mission time." Ryu said handing the folder to Zack, "Tseng respectfully requests that you two handle this. Sephiroth has granted you permission." Zack took the folder and flipped through it.
"It seems simple enough, I'll let Piper puppy handle it and evaluate her skill." Zack decided.
"Are you flying us this time?" Piper asked wistfully. Ryu grinned and shook her head.
"Nah I have to report to Genesis to train with Alanna, Tseng asked me to drop the file off to you guys." She paused.
"You did see where it was, didn't you Zack? Seph said feel free to make it last an extra day." Zack opened the folder again.
"Yes!" He exclaimed.
"What?" Piper asked confused.
"Gongaga." Ryu said before she left.
"What's in Gongaga?" Piper said confused.
"My family." Zack said quietly.
"Oh" Zack continued to study the folder.

"If you handle this fine, I think I can promote you to 2nd. I've never mentored anyone so I don't know what to do." He admitted. Piper grinned.

"Maybe you should ask Angeal." She suggested. Zack frowned.

"I would, but Angeal said I have to figure this out on my own." He admitted. Piper frowned. Angeal was being awfully tough on Zack these past few months.

"Maybe Seph could help?" She offered. Zack shrugged.

"I have to clear it with Seph to get the uniform for you, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask for a second opinion." Zack muttered. He straightened.

"Well let's finish up this today, we can't leave until tomorrow anyways." he told her.

"I should pack a bag shouldn't I?" Piper asked him. Zack nodded.

"I hope you don't mind staying longer so I can visit my family?" Piper shook her head.

"I don't mind." She told him. She was a little bit nervous about meeting Zack's parents, but she remembered that Ryu had said they looked just like any pair of loving parents.

Ryu frowned as she watched Genesis fire fira after fira at Alanna, making her use her speed and agility. It seemed a rather harsh method to use. But it was Genesis, so she thought it seemed not so strange. Finally he gave her a breather and turned to look at Ryu.

"I find it unlikely that Reno taught you such." He said confidently. Ryu shrugged.
"Not with fira chasing me." She admitted.
"Haven't you been learning Parkour?"Alanna asked. Ryu nodded.
"With Cloud, yeah." She turned to face Genesis, "So what's the special training, yo?" She asked throwing in Reno's favorite phrase to irritate him. She couldn't help pushing his buttons every now and then. Genesis sighed knowing she was trying to annoy him. He was sorely tempted to make a Turk pancake out of her, but he resisted.
"Tseng wants you lot to learn to fight together in groups and pairs" He told them wondering how he got stuck with the two of them. Although he had to admit, secretly Ryu was sort of growing on him. She made no secret of the fact that she'd go through fire, or face down him, or Sephiroth, for her friends. He could respect that kind of loyalty even admire it. And Alanna was his responsibility, and he'd never tell her but it was his pleasure to teach her. She was a lot like him.
"So we're the first guinea pigs?" Alanna muttered. Ryu slung an arm around Alanna's shoulders.
"Makes sense, we make a good pair. Not as good as me and Morgan, but that's only because we've been best friends for years. And we're a lot alike, me and him." Alanna sighed and pushed Ryu's arm from her shoulders.

"He and I." Ryu glared at Alanna.

"You're both trouble is what you two are." Alanna muttered, ignoring the glare. Ryu grinned.

"Like we're any different?" She asked. Alanna laughed.

"I suppose not." She agreed.

Genesis eyed them. Even within the closely knit group of six these two were very close. Their personalities were similar and they shared the same hobbies, but more than that he sensed there was something a little deeper between the two of them, some secret they shared. He shook his head slightly to get focused.

"The first thing you will do is some drills together, then you'll run a simulated mission together." He told them. They both nodded their heads.

Piper looked up as helicopter landed. Zack grinned and bounced from his seat excited.

"Let's kill the monster and then relax." He exclaimed. Piper grinned faintly, she felt a little sick to her stomach at the thought of the fact that this was a test for her.

"Come on Piper Puppy!" Zack called as he jumped out of the chopper. She stood and slowly followed him, her stomach lurching. She wished she'd been able to talk to Matti. He always managed to calm her down.

Piper trailed behind Zack like one who was doomed as he dashed out towards the beach area where the monster had been reported. Rude unloaded their bags and gave them to someone waiting for them.

To her dismay the town began to gather, as the news of not only freedom from the newest monster, but that their own Zack Fair had come to deal with the problem. Zack looked over his shoulder. Piper was following him unenthused. She was dressed as a 3rd, and a boy. Her shortish hair had been styled in spikes similar to his but her hair was blond. He slowed down to walk next to her.

"What's wrong Piper Puppy?" He asked as he waved to someone he knew.

"Nerves." She whispered to him. Zack nodded his head.

"You'll do fine, I promise. It's just a little monster." Piper gave him an unconvinced look of pure misery.

"What exactly is it again?" She asked, not trusting her own memory.

"A Crown Lance" Zack told her. Piper nodded, trying to remember what that meant. Zack stopped on the edge of the beach. He bent down and took his shoes off so he could bury his toes in the sand. He pointed to the edge of the water.

"Well?" He asked her grinning. Piper sighed and like a doomed man trudged to the water's edge.

She jumped back as something resembling a jelly fish popped out of the water. Instinctively she dove to the side as it struck out with a tentacle. She came up in a crouch with her sword drawn. She eyed the thing.

"Don't forget to use your materia!" Zack called from where he stood with the spectators. Piper drew her paralysis materia and then had to dive to the side to avoid another tentacle, electricity snapping along it as it tried to sting her. Piper fired her materia and then rushed in, her blade hacking at its tentacles so she could get close to its body. She dashed back when it twitched, coming out of its temporary paralysis. Keeping out of the range of its remaining tentacles, she fired at it again, but this time it didn't work.

"Shit" She cursed under her breath and then gave a yelp as it stung her.

"Watch your back!" Zack called. She backed away from the Crown Lance and took a deep breath, well as much as the corset disguising her figure would allow. Piper looked down at her arm where it had stung her. It didn't seem too bad. She brought her sword back up and reengaged the monster firing another paralysis at it.

Finally her paralysis took effect again and she could dash in, her sword hacking its body apart. With that the monster dissolved into the life stream.

Piper backed away and then landed on her butt, breathing hard, her heart hammering. Zack dashed up to her side and pulled her to her feet.

"Good job!" He told her picking her up and hugging her exuberantly.

"Zack, right now I am pretending to be a boy, this looks weird" She protested in his ear. Zack let her go and then ruffled her hair.

"It's kinda scary having a protégé. You have to sit back and watch them fight when all you want to do is step in and help them." He said as the elders of the town approached them. Piper grinned.

"It probably doesn't help I am so little." She told him. Zack nodded.

"Come on; let's head over to my parent's." He said, grabbing his shoes and racing down a street before the elders could speak to him. Piper shrugged, winced as the sting on her shoulder pulled, and then raced after him hollering,

"Zack wait, up if I get lost I am so killing you!" The elders stared after them speechless.

Piper sat still as Zack's mother, Autumn, gently washed the stings from the Crown Lance.

"I'm sorry Piper Puppy, I didn't realize…" Zack trailed off under the stern eye of his mother.

"That's your problem, Zackary" His father, James, said, "You never think. When you ran away to become a SOLDIER…"

"Wait you ran away to be a SOLDIER?" Piper asked, shocked. Zack nodded his head sheepishly.

"They didn't want me to go. And I couldn't stand to be here anymore. I wanted to see everything. I wanted to fight monsters." He said. His mother sighed and gently applied ointment to Piper's wounds.

"Ouch" She muttered as it stung.

"We would have supported your choice if you'd proven you'd thought it through." His father told him. Zack flushed. Piper wanted to sink into the floor; she didn't want to be here for a lecture.

"I had thought it through." Zack countered being serious for once.

"No you hadn't and you still haven't. What happens if you get killed?" His mother asked. Zack sighed and stood to hug his mom.

"Mom, this is what I want to do. It's fun and I can help people." He told her.

"Statistically speaking any profession is dangerous and while some are safer than others there is no truly safe job or place." Piper interjected into the conversation. Zack sent her a grateful look. He nodded his head.

"This way I can help people in a big way. Killing monster is not only awesome but it keeps other people safe. I'm good at it. I can use all my energy to be good at it." He told her. Piper nodded.

"He's really good. I am really happy to have him as a mentor. He might be really energetic, but when he fights he channels it all to the fight. He's a lot like the puppy Commander Hewley named him; he'll chew the enemy's leg off if he has to, or run circles around them." She said. Zack laughed.

"And since when do they allow girls into Shinra's army?" His mother asked turning to Piper. She'd seen the corset. Piper flushed and looked to Zack unsure what to say. Zack sighed.

"She's not a SOLDIER, she's actually a Turk; she's my double…" He began,

"And your bodyguard." Piper interjected.

"Bodyguard?" His mother gasped worried. Zack scowled at Piper. She shrugged.

"Well his and Cloud's." She corrected. Since neither Zack nor Cloud's fan clubs were huge they didn't need serious protection, so on paper she was their assigned guard.

"It's just from the fangirls." Zack quickly explained, "So we can do our jobs without being mobbed by adoring fans." He made a face. His father smiled gently.

"I'm sure you're more than capable of protecting yourself Zack, if you were attacked." He concluded. Zack nodded.

"If you didn't first invite them to play with you." Piper grumbled. Zack frowned at her slightly hurt. Piper yawned.

"I'm tired, and sore. If you don't mind I am going to lie down for a bit." She said as she stood and left the room.

"You're not involved with her, are you Zack?" His mother asked, pursing her lips. Zack shook his head.

"Ew, no Mom! Piper is like my sister." He said grossed out, making a matching face.

"When are you going to grow up Zack?" His father asked amused. Zack stood and stared doing squats.

"Never." He declared.

"You never change Zack." His mother sighed, a loving smile on her face as she said it. Zack bounced over to her side and hugged her giving her a kiss on her cheek.

"I am going to go explore the town." Zack declared, dashing out of the house.

"That boy never tires." His father said sighing, but he too was smiling.

"I hope he never does." His mother whispered, James stood and embraced his wife. Neither said anything but both were worried sick about their son.

"Hey Fire Cracker!" Alanna said loudly to get Ryu's attention. Ryu, who was currently hanging by one hand and foot off the side of a building, turned her head to look at Alanna, who was braced against the same wall.

"What?" Ryu hissed softly.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ryu tilted her head to the side and scanned the area around them. They were trapped in an urban setting in the VR room, their mission was to get out of the city and to their exit point alive, and together.

"Bird's eye view, sorta." She answered.

"How many do you think we have to fight?" Alanna asked. Ryu shrugged slightly.

"We know Genesis and a couple of cadets and some sims of monsters plus whatever else they can throw at us."

"Oh goody." Alanna muttered. Ryu dropped back down and passed something to her. Alanna looked at it and then looked at Ryu confused.

"Uhhhhh?" Ryu sighed and tapped the long metal tubular earring attached to the outer curve of her left ear. Alanna mimicked the placement.

"So…" She muttered just before Ryu dove to the side and came up on her knees, her EMR slamming into the attacking Cadet's knees, sending him falling onto Alanna's drawn swords.

"Headset" Ryu told her. Alanna gave her a puzzled look. Ryu gently touched her ear. Alanna grinned.

"Nice" she whispered. Ryu nodded.

"It's ultrasensitive. So whisper only or you'll blow my ear off." Ryu said her lips moved but the barest whisper of a sound left her mouth, but Alanna heard her as she had spoken loudly into her ear.

"Sweet" Ryu nodded and then kneeled down and pulled a manhole cover off.

"Eww." Alanna protested the simulated smell, covering her nose. Ryu wrinkled her nose.

"In" She hissed, Alanna shook her head protesting.

"We know Gen is too vain to come into the sewers and the cadets are too scared to." Ryu said. Alanna eyed the hole.

"We could get lost." She protested. Ryu shrugged.

"No we won't, this isn't exactly my first sewer crawl in the VR rooms." Ryu told her as she reached up and appeared to fiddle with something on the side of her goggles, which were over her eyes. Alanna sighed and jumped through the hole. Ryu followed her, dragging the cover back over them closing them in darkness.

Alanna clamped a hand over her mouth and tried not to gag. Ryu made a few rustling sounds and then a light turned on. She had a small headlight on.

"Where'd you get that?" Alanna asked, the sound muffled by her hands that were still clamped firmly over her mouth. Ryu tapped the strap of her bag slung over her shoulder. It was the one shoulder slim pack that she carried on missions.

"Aren't you a good little girl scout?" Alanna muttered. Ryu grinned.

"Just a good Turk, come on we need to go this way." Ryu said, heading down one branch of the sewer. Alanna slogged after her muttering under her breath.

After a while Alanna asked, "Won't we get, I don't know, punished for avoiding the fights?" Ryu shook her head.

"No, our mission is to get out alive by any means; this simulation is like if we were carrying vital information and were in enemy territory."

"Oh, well that makes sense I suppose" Ryu slogged ahead, never pausing to orientate herself.

Ryu tried to breathe through her mouth only, it helped to cut down the fumes but it wasn't enough. Gagging she paused to bring the neck of her undershirt up over her nose.

"Pull the neck of your shirt up over your nose," she told Alanna.

"Way ahead of you." Alanna muttered, her shirt nearly covering her eyes as it had been for a while now. Ryu eyed the small map of the sewers displayed on the right lens of her goggles, while her left eye focused on what was actually before her.

"Only a little farther." Ryu told Alanna. Sometime during their slogging she had realized that Gen would simply wait near the exit point for them rather than search for them. Still they had avoided the cadets, and the majority of the monsters, she doubted the techs had thought to throw in any sewer or swamp monsters in here. They never thought of the sneaky ways out, they were very linear in their thinking, while Turks were anything but.

Finally she stopped and climbed the metal ladder in the side of the wall and paused before she opened it. Alanna was right behind her.

"Alanna go back down and stand right under the man hole when I open it, fire a low barrage of something, and then jump out and cover me while I get out. If I go first and there is a monster or cadet in the alley I'll get my head taken off." Ryu explained. Alanna nodded and did as she asked.

As Ryu eased the cover off, slowly and stealthly as possible, Alanna prepared her fira. Suddenly the cover was ripped from Ryu's hands, with a startled oath she let go of her hold on the ladder, and twisting landed on her feet as Alanna fired into the two gloating cadet's faces. They both fell into the sewer face first.

"Serves you right." Ryu muttered at them as she motioned for Alanna to leap through and clear the area while she climbed out. Ryu settled the cover back in place.

"They won't forget that any time soon." Alanna said wrinkling her nose. Ryu nodded her head.

"Since when does Midgar have snow surrounding it?" Alanna murmured indignant staring at the snow field stretched out before them as she rubbed her bare arms. They'd escaped the outer limits of the city to find this. A desolate wasteland of snow and chilling wind. Ryu shrugged, as she fished under her shirt pulling the tight fitting hood over her head. It was a medium gray color, neither truly light nor dark. She zipped up her jacket to hold her body heat in as she pulled on a pair of leather gloves.

"Thank you Rude." She murmured.

"Huh?" Alanna asked confused.

"My gloves, they're thin so I can climb and fight, but they are also temperature controlled, they trap body heat when it's cold and release it when it's warm. When I went to Wutai Rude gave them to me." Ryu explained. She turned a slow half circle studying the land in front of them.

"Our exit point is this way." She said starting across the snow. Alanna followed after her.

"Got any clothing to spare?" She muttered. Ryu pulled her bag around to her front and fished around in it as she walked. She tossed a pair of knit gloves over her shoulder at her. Alanna caught them and pulled them on. A gray scarf sailed over Ryu's shoulder next Alanna caught it and wrapped it around her shoulders and torso.

"I don't think this is what it was meant for, but it will work." She commented. Ryu laughed as she resettled her bag.

"That's the same scarf I wore in Wutai. It's kinda handy, I've worked out some cool ways to use it, including in fights."

"What do you throw it at them hoping to blind them?" Alanna muttered, her teeth clicking together. Ryu shook her head.

"No but I can use it as a rope or a zip line, or knot it and whack someone with it."

"Huh, you still don't pick up on rhetorical questions." Alanna muttered.

"Keep your hands warm or you won't be able to use your swords and then we're screwed." Ryu added.

"I know that fire cracker."

"Just trying to keep us alive, Dumbapple."

Genesis sighed in relief as Ryu and Alanna appeared in his sights. He was sitting near the helicopter reading LOVELESS, waiting for them to appear, but he hated snow and the cold. Much longer and he might have decided to go looking for them in the city.

Ryu groaned.

"I knew it." She muttered. Alanna drew her swords with a grin.

"What's the plan Fire Cracker? Do we go after him together or do you have something sneaky planned?" Ryu shook her head.

"I won't be able to help you much physically against him. I'll work on the sneaky." She stepped several steps back scanning the area.

Genesis stepped forward drawing Rapier.

"Ready to die, Alanna?" He asked, teasingly. Alanna shrugged.

"Maybe you'll die today." She said as she parried his first blow. She laughed as the swords collided, and mumbled just load enough for him to hear,"Maybe it's my turn to be the hero."

Ryu crouched down in the snow waiting for Genesis to become enthralled in dueling Alanna. She'd studied their fights, Gen never ended it quickly; he drew it out, testing her, tormenting her, and teasing her. Ryu had time to wait. She slowly raised her hand to her goggles and toggled another button.

"Voice activation mode on, filter placed on headset." The mechanical voice of her A.I. reported.

"Hack the chopper's controls." Ryu ordered, her face turned slightly away from the fight. She wasn't sure how good Gen's hearing was.

"Processing." Ryu winced as Gen used his Mako enhanced strength to fling 'Lanna backwards. She landed with a solid thump on her back, throwing up a cloud of fresh powder snow into the air as she slid. Ryu slipped her EMR from its holster, prepared to leap forward as a distraction if Alanna needed it. But Alanna easily flipped and jumped back to her feet mid slide, her blades flashing as she caught Rapier.

"Control of helicopter gained" Ryu's A.I. reported. Ryu glanced at Gen. He was too close to not hear her if she gave a verbal order. She quickly drew a circle and some lines in the snow.

"Understood" Ryu wiped the snow clean and stood, her EMR gripped tightly in her fist.

"There will be a five second warning." Ryu made sure her barrier materia was equipped.

"Now" Ryu threw herself forward, tackling Alanna.

"Barriera" Ryu hissed as she caught Alanna's wrist forcing her to keep her sword in a guard position so its barrier was activated. Two barriers flared into existence as they thumped into the ground, snow flying as the sounds of a very loud machine gun rang out.

"Ryu!" Alanna yelped.

"Stay down unless you want to die." Ryu muttered. The gun stopped after a few seconds. Ryu jumped to her feet, tugging Alanna up with her. She pushed her towards the chopper as she jogged forward.

Alanna cast a glance at Gen who was lying on the ground, Rapier having slid a few inches past his fingertips, bullet holes in his back letting blood seep into the snow.

Ryu climbed into the pilot's seat and started the lift off process as Alanna climbed into the co-pilot's seat.

A/N: Well that was fun. Hoping to have chapters up a little more often now that break is starting. Anyways, we would still love to hear from you all about Reno's future love life, or lack thereof. Hope you liked the chapter!