A/N: Wow, sorry for the incredibly long time it took me to update this. But I even had to quit my part-time job because my school schedule was so tight, so that gives you an idea of how much time there is for me to write.
I have chapter 6 drafted and mostly edited, so (hopefully) I'll be able to post it fairly soon after this one.
Enough talk - on to the story!
September 28 - October 1
Kunsel didn't know what to do, or even what to think. Was Cissnei just begging to be turned in? He leveled a long stare at her, one he'd perfected from years behind a helmet, and tried to determine if she was crazy. He held the opinion that the majority of Shinra employees - Turks more than most - had to be at least slightly crazy to work there...but she certainly looked no more so than most.
So she must be serious.
He wasn't sure if he should laugh at her, or turn her in, or simply follow along and see where this went. She was going to take down AVALANCHE. All by herself. No, wait, she wanted him in with her. Boy, did this top everything!
She was watching him out of the corner of her eye as she stirred her coffee and sipped at it. She had no idea what kind of reaction her proposition would induce from him, but she certainly wasn't expecting his low chuckle as he leaned back in the desk chair, crossing his arms behind his head.
"I'm quite serious about this."
"So'm I. I just... It's a worthy cause, but I don't think Shinra will see eye-to-eye with you. AVALANCHE may be the company's top target, but I'm sure Veld isn't far behind. Taking them down could result in all attention being turned to Veld. And if you do succeed in this suicide mission, guess what - you'll be next on the blacklist. I'm not going to just stand by and let you run off and get killed."
"Shinra's feared the Turks almost since their inception. They allowed a monster to be created in their midst, and they've tried to keep us occupied with more and more dangerous missions. This was coming sooner or later, and I for one want to be a step ahead."
"Sound policy."
"So it's all 'worthy cause', 'sound policy,' and 'I'm watching you, Cissnei,' but where's the action? Where's the SOLDIER energy and drive?"
"Noticeably lacking," Kunsel said, resisting the urge to put his feet up on her clean white table.
Cissnei shut her mouth rather quickly and stared at him. "You are a SOLDIER, right? I'm beginning to have more misgivings about that helmet..."
Kunsel sat up, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked her in the face. "You wanna take down AVALANCHE; I'm with you all the way, being your bodyguard and all. I just think we ought to be careful. We're already somewhat under their radar, and being caught now - well, that's obviously a bad thing. But such a big operation will be hard to keep quiet."
The Turk was silent for a minute, gathering her thoughts. Treason was punished harshly, and what she was thinking of could get them both killed if they were found. But then, what was there that they did where one wrong move couldn't get them killed? I wish I knew his motives! He's so...hard to predict. "I seldom operate through the usual channels. There's plenty of outside help we could get, such as Veld, who wouldn't care if the blame was pinned on them. We can be completely anonymous about it all."
"And then what? When AVALANCHE is gone and Shinra turns its attention back on the Turks?"
"We can handle ourselves. Don't worry about us in the future - I need an answer now. Which is it: turn me in, or go raise some hell for our enemies?"
He smiled again. "What's the alternative?"
"I'd slug you, take your gil, and run for it. Up to you. What do you say?"
"Who ever knew a SOLDIER to run away from trouble?"
Things are building to a head. Hopefully Veld knows that, and knows what he's doing. Tseng is clearly keeping close tabs on his every location, as seen from the reports, but I don't think even he knows where Veld is now. It's worrisome. But it's probably for the best, as right now Shinra is a hornets' nest and if he gets captured, we're all going down. Because I'll stand by his side till the end, and the company won't treat him any more mercifully than they did Zack.
And AVALANCHE...they've been silent, too. I intercepted a vague report that Raven troops were seen heading off into the Corel Desert a few days ago, but there's nothing conclusive. It's incredibly aggravating when your enemy obviously knows more about what's going on than you do yourself!
Because, to tell the truth, I have no idea what I'm doing. I thought all I needed was moral support, the word of someone that they believed in me, and - what was I expecting? My cause is just, therefore I'd have the strength of a thousand men? What was I thinking?
She dropped her head into her hands, trying to force away the doubts. What was she supposed to do?
"Is it morning already?" Kunsel groaned from the couch, shielding his face from the light with a forearm.
"It was morning two hours ago," Cissnei replied, standing up from her desk and switching off the lamp, although the drawn curtains let the sun brightly into the room. Still with her back to him - some habits died hard - she quietly opened the drawer and filed the newly-written papers away with the rest of her diary.
"Muffins are in the oven, and there's ham and milk in the fridge."
"Really?" He was on his feet in an instant. Then he paused, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "You shouldn't've."
"If you really want to go into that again, I can take away all the chairs. Otherwise - " she turned toward him and got suddenly distracted by the fact that his hair was falling in his eyes and he seemed to be missing a shirt. "Get dressed."
She was already in her usual black suit, neat and tidy and ready for the day, if one didn't look too closely and notice her tired eyes. The SOLDIER, on the other hand, looked better rested than he'd been in days - Cissnei kept easy hours, and the pain of Zack's death was deadened somewhat by the surrounding commotion in Shinra. At the moment, though, the mention of food was enough to get him in uniform and in the kitchen without more conversation, and Cissnei was glad for the respite.
Had it really only been three days since she'd met this jaunty, devil-may-care warrior? That was hard to believe; they'd already settled into so much of a routine that she thought she'd feel a bit lost without him. His company was nice...his friendship was better. And he'd adapted himself so easily to her life, following her around the Tower without complaint, joking with her over every meal they shared, even, apparently, feeling secure enough around her to sleep half-dressed on her couch. It was nice having someone she could - mostly - trust and talk to about almost anything. She wondered if he felt the same.
Kunsel came back in carrying half a muffin; apparently as a side-effect of his chronic oversleeping, he'd developed the talent of eating quickly, to make up for lost time.
"Anything on the agenda for today?" he asked. "And if you say paperwork, I'm gonna have to kill something."
"Same here. Actually, Tseng called earlier and told me to take the day off. Said I should take a walk around town...as if that's something I'd do on my day off. So actually, I was just going to do nothing. Read a book, maybe. Or talk." Talking, what she'd once regarded as an art long lost to her, had never seemed easier than around Kunsel. She ought to watch herself or she'd say something she'd regret.
"Sure." He sat down, abruptly aware of her sharp glance at the food in his hand. "Actually, I have my own agenda for today." He disposed of the potential crumby mess by finishing the muffin in one bite. "I was wondering if your security-conscious Turk mind would let me borrow your computer for a while. There are some...files...I'd like to look at."
"The ones you gathered up in the office?" He stopped chewing for a moment. She continued, "Sure. Just, when you're done, if you wouldn't mind letting me see them...?"
He nodded. "Of course."
Cissnei stepped over to the desk and picked up her laptop, handing it to him and then retreating to the kitchen, ostensibly to wash the dishes. She didn't know what his way of coping was, but she didn't want to intrude. Zack... She shut off that part of her mind. He's so much like you... She slapped the sponge down into the sink, spraying herself with water in the process.
"Um, hey."
She turned, dabbing at her front with a towel, to see the orange-haired SOLDIER in the doorway.
"I think you've got mail."
Tseng? She went over to him, took the computer and set it on the counter. Sure enough, one of the icons on-screen was flashing, and it was with a feeling of excitement that she clicked on it. Finally, a mission! Or not...
Kunsel leaned over her shoulder, as if coming closer to the screen could make the words read differently. Cissnei herself blinked, reading the header twice before it really sunk in.
"General Message to Shinra Personnel Regarding the Turks:
Due to a change in company policy, the Turks branch of the Department of General Affairs has become unnecessary and obsolete. All former Turks are required to turn themselves in to the proper authorities on the 49th Floor of the Shinra Building at the earliest possible date. Noncompliance will be considered treason; anyone seen assisting or associating with a free Turk will be considered to be violating a direct order and will be dealt with as such.
- President Shinra"
Her mind refused to function for a split second. Her world was spinning, falling apart. All her training, her reflexes that could react instantly to any threat, failed her as the unthinkable dawned on her. With their power gone, there were enough wolves out there that would be all too glad to give the Turks a taste of their own medicine - some people in Shinra most of all. There was fear in her eyes, her stance was rigid, but her mind was anything but frozen.
She backed up a step, then two, stopping when her lower back hit the stove. Kunsel turned toward her, an expression in his eyes - was it sympathy? He followed her, one hand held out helplessly, meaningless words on his lips, wanting to comfort her.
"Cissnei -"
He stopped an arm's-length from her, his bright gaze locked onto hers...and then he glanced back to the screen for a second.
In that instant, her hand closed on the handle of the heavy copper skillet on the stove, and, using all of her strength, she swung it around at his head. Kunsel was turned halfway toward her when he noticed and tried to block the blow, but his arms came up a moment too late to shield himself. The skillet crashed into the side of his head, and even enhancements couldn't soften the blow. He reeled, stumbled for a pace, then fell headlong to Cissnei's kitchen floor and blacked out.
Ashes. That was what it was, in his mouth. Tasted for all the world like ashes. But...in a kitchen?
Kunsel sat up, his head splitting, and staggered to his feet, clutching at the counter for support. One hand gingerly touched the side of his head, located the swelling behind his right ear. He shook his head slightly, then decided that was a very bad idea as his vision darkened at the edges and his heart pounded in his ears.
He looked around. Cissnei was gone, along with her computer and, he'd bet, any other useful items. He gritted his teeth and stepped around the bar table and back into the apartment's main room, even though he wasn't sure what he was going to do from there. Report in, he guessed, tell them he'd lost the target, and hope Scarlet didn't hear about it. He had no idea if her threats had anything behind them but wind, and he didn't want to find out.
The pounding was getting worse, rather than better, and he realized that it was the sound of the door being beaten down. All of a sudden there was a splintering crash and the noise ceased, replaced by loud voices. The SOLDIER turned to see the front door on the floor, and infantrymen accompanied by several Thirds were slipping into the apartment, taking up positions at every doorway.
"The target?" A voice near him made him turn and he found himself staring at a purple uniform and a blank visor. But the voice gave away its owner, and Kunsel smiled wryly at his friend, Luxiere.
"Knocked me out and ran for it."
Even through the helmet, he could sense surprise. "A Turk knocked you out?"
The orange-haired man shrugged. "My mistake. I'd begun to trust her. Stupidest thing I ever did." He sighed. "What now?"
"If she's gone, I'll call off the search. You probably need to report your status, and from there, who knows. Seems like most of the Turks pulled what yours did - although I must say, you got lucky. A couple of Thirds got killed, and at least one blacksuit went down, too. Tseng and Reno stayed, but I don't know about any others."
"Okay. I'll see ya in the briefing room," Kunsel said, trying to keep his steps straight as he started past the other Second. "By the way, any idea what set this off?"
Luxiere reached out, a hand on his arm, and leaned close. "No one's supposed to know, but the Turks have had Rufus Shinra in custody for a long time now, maybe years. He finally got out, and they lost their influence with the President. Now Shinra's out for blood."
Kunsel's eyes widened. "The Turks have the power to do that?" he whispered back.
"Had the power. I have a bad feeling for the survivors." He straightened up. "See ya, Kunsel," he said, giving a casual salute and heading off to round up the troops, leaving the other SOLDIER feeling no happier about the whole mess.
Shaking his head, Kunsel made it to the elevator, resignedly pushing the button for the 49th floor. Heidegger wasn't known for assigning the most exciting missions, but right now he'd like a nice, quiet peacekeeping stint. Anything other than this hell the president had thrown him into.
He turned around suddenly, blinked twice, and with a groan punched the button for the Turk floor again. He was not leaving his helmet for just any SOLDIER to find.
Luxiere and his crew had cleared out by the time Kunsel returned to the apartment. The door was standing ajar, and the rooms beyond were a wreck; the bookshelves had been ransacked, cabinets opened and their contents dumped on the floor, and the little desk had been all but turned upside-down. Cissnei would have been furious at the current state of her quarters...but Kunsel didn't care about her anymore. So he told himself.
His eyes fell on his sword propped up in the corner behind the couch, and he practically dove for it, leaping over the overturned table in his haste. There was his helmet, safe and untouched, resting on its crown on the floor. Scooping it up, he immediately ran his fingers around the inside until he touched the pocket hidden in the lining and felt the hard rectangle of the data drive. He could breathe now.
Tucking his headgear under his arm, he reached for his sword, swinging it lightly to his back and turning toward the door. He stopped suddenly, right hand still on the hilt, and pulled his sword in front of him just as quickly. A slender metal chain was securely wrapped several times around the leather handle, with a small pendant hanging like a keychain from the pommel. It took him a moment to disentangle it without risking damage to the fragile chain. Holding it up to eye-level, he stared in utter puzzlement.
It was a small necklace, the pendant piece a smooth deep-green stone figurine of a crouching guardhound. Its tiny ruby eyes flashed as it swung from his hand, and Kunsel realized that there was no way this could be Cissnei's - or at least, this wasn't jewelry she could wear - as he doubted the delicate chain would even fit around his wrist, much less someone's neck.
So the Turk had a child's jewelry lying around, and just decided to tie it to his sword hilt? It stank of a peace offering. Whatever. He wasn't in a position to judge. Shrugging, he returned to the elevator, slipping the pendant into his pocket. The next time he saw Cissnei, he could return it. If he saw her again. Maybe.
Right now, he needed to refocus on what was going on around him, and mysteries certainly weren't helping matters any. There might be time for them later...although he was coming to realize that "later" had become a very uncertain proposition lately.
A/N: Here's where the official timeline starts breaking down, although it's nothing really noticeable, just a slight rearranging of events, such as Shinra disbanding the Turks and Rufus escaping the Turk floor. For a good while longer I'm planning on keeping the plot as canon as possible, although later on there'll be plenty of room for an AU.