Days of Exile

Chapter 42 – Zero Regrets

Previously on Days of Exile…

With Rufus Shinra being safely found and transported to a safe place, Reno and Rude can now work in peace… or could they? The recent events of AVALANCHE activities had them a little befuddled as to how their relationship with the terrorist group is like.

And now, Meia has successfully rescued Reeve Tuesti from his cells… all she asked in return was a good shower…

13 January 0008

Even though it was a quick shower and there was not enough time to wait till the water turned warm, Meia was extremely grateful for the granted ablutions. As she stepped out of the showering booth, she quickly dried her hair with a towel. Meia was relieved to be stepping into new garments, retrieved from her office en route to Reeve's office. Deciding that it was better that she remained in her disguise, she reapplied her makeup, taking extra care to draw her beauty mark properly.

Back in Reeve Tuesti's office, she dried her hair vigorously. Reeve was at his tablet again, talking to Cait Sith telepathically. Meia could not hear them without the earpiece. "Mr Tuesti…" She began, catching his attention. "Any idea why we aren't getting our hides chased down by Shinra?" She looked around the room. "It's really quiet in the building."

Amusement crossed the man's face. "That's because there aren't many people around. Whoever that is here, have better things to do than to check if small fries like us are being locked up properly." Meia knew she was a small fry, but she was not too sure about Reeve being one. She did not ask further.

Reeve looked up from his tablet again. "By the way, I've informed your team that I've gotten you out."

"You mean, Cassie and KK and everyone else?" Meia asked excitedly. "Thank goodness! They must be worried."

"Worried is an understatement." Reeve answered with a small smile. "Your whole team has come back to Midgar. And they were about to barge in to find you."

"Really?" Meia asked in surprise. "I… That's great…" She smiled happily to herself. "I… I didn't think that they would rescue me, not after… not after I told them that I could manage on my own." Somewhere inside, a sense of loneliness lifted. There was no need to ponder if Meia will be fine on her own. She was never alone to begin with. "I should get back to them to report my safety first."

The man cleared his throat. "Soon. But first, I have something to discuss with you."

There was a knock on the door, and with Reeve's consent, a young man walked in. Meia frowned. She did not recall seeing this man before, but there was an air of familiarity. It was as though he had always been walking past her in corridors, but she did not notice him. "Mr. Reeve, sir," the man greeted, but his eyes wandered to the additional figure in the room. His surprise was written on his face. "I see you've managed to release Miss Meia Etsky, congratulations."

It was Meia's turn to be surprised. "How do you know my name?"

Reeve Tuesti chuckled. "Kent, meet Meia Etsky. She would prefer to be called Matilda Ederfeld when she is in the building. Meia, this is my personal assistant and spy, Kent Bellum. Actually, Kent, it was Meia who came to rescue me from my cells."

"Pleasure to meet you, Meia Etsky." Kent walked towards Meia, straightening the long sleeves of his cream yellow shirt. He shook her hand politely. "Although we have met before."

"… We did?"

"Yeah, along the corridors and such. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't remember." Meia shook her head to herself. She was pretty sure that if she had met Kent before, she would recognize him. "You have certainly lived up to your former status as a Turk," Kent continued. "To be able to escape from the cells." Meia laughed and explained that she was lucky, to which Kent answered, "Lucky or not, you're here and free now, that's what really counts."

"So Kent, you're a spy, working for the company spy?" She glanced at Reeve.

"You can say so."

Reeve added, "You will be most interested to know that Kent has a super memory like yours too."

Meia turned back at Kent with new interest. "Really?" She asked excitedly. "I've never met anyone else like me before. Are you able to use Materia more efficiently than others?" Kent's confused look gave her the answer. "Oh Kent," Meia said excitedly. "You're gonna love what we can do with our Materia."

The young man laughed with an embarrassed air. "It's just um…" He admitted awkwardly. "It's just that I don't… fight."

"Aw," said Meia, looking crestfallen. "But I don't understand… I'm quite sure that if I had met you before, I would remember."

Kent laughed. "It's a trade secret of mine." He folded his arms. "But now that we have formally introduced ourselves, I won't think that you would forget my face again. Can't say the same to other people."

"I will need to interrupt you two children," coughed Reeve. "But didn't you say that you have something for me, Kent?"

"Yes sir," replied Kent. "It is confirmed. AVALANCHE is spotted in the underground tunnels below Sector Eight. The Turks, Reno, Rude and Elena, were fighting them."

Meia drew a sharp breath. "Are they okay? The Turks, I mean."

"Yes, they retreated from the battle," Kent affirmed. "Heidegger and Scarlet are currently tearing down the streets in Proud Clod, looking for AVALANCHE."

Reeve sighed. "They must've thought that AVALANCHE are coming back to finish Shinra at its weakest. What of Hojo?"

"He has not left the control tower ever since."

Reeve sighed in deeper frustration. "That fool… He failed to see the consequences… AVALANCHE is on their way to stop him, so we should trust them to do so," He said, nodding at Meia to indicate that she was included. "We have bigger things to do now." He paused again. "Any news on the President?"

"No, sir."

"Okay… thank you. I will inform you of your duties later. Do you have any questions?"

"Yes, sir… Should I talk to Mrs. Tuesti?"

Reeve hesitated a while, then nodded. "Perhaps Megan will appreciate that I keep her updated on my whereabouts, finally. Please contact her for me. You may go now."

"Yes, sir." To Meia, Kent smiled. "Maybe I'll see you around, and you can tell me about the Materia."

Meia curled her thumb and index finger – the sign of an 'okay'. As the door closed, Meia turned to Reeve Tuesti. "I… I didn't know you are married." She laughed. "I thought you married yourself to the company. Execs practically live here, don't they?"

"There are many people that you would not know about their personal lives," Reeve commented lightly. "Heidegger is married too."

Meia's eyes widened. "No way! To who? Who would…" She paused and decided against continuing. Once upon a time, she had a disagreement with him, while he was the temporary leader of the Turks. Since then, she had not met him, but her opinion of him never improved.

Reeve chuckled – that nice, sincere one that she liked when she first met him – and explained that Heidegger had been a faithful husband and father for more than a decade. "Gee…" She cringed, thinking of her horrible encounters with the head of Public Safety. "Who knew? … So… what of your family?"

"They are safely in Bone Village, away from all the mess here," answered Reeve. "I visit them twice a year during my annual leave."

"… You must be really lonely."

"Not really, once work gets into every minute of your schedule." Reeve shrugged. "Besides, I have a mother here in Midgar. Kent keeps a lookout for her once in a while, whenever I'm not free to visit her myself."

Meia beamed. "Kent seems like a really nice person! But I simply cannot understand why I did not remember him."

"That's not your fault. Kent has a wonderful talent about not attracting anyone's attention unless he wants to. Even eidetic memory cannot beat that. You will be amazed at his ability to eavesdrop in conversations." The older man glanced at her. "If you are wondering, Kent is going to be engaged with his girlfriend soon."

"That's wonderful!" Meia's cheerful response suddenly disappeared. She stared at him quizzically. "What are you implying? You don't suppose that I'm interested in Kent, do you?" Her face turned into one of horror when Reeve did not immediately deny her claim. "Gee, Mr. Tuesti," she placed her hands on her hips. "Seriously? Of all things to get serious about, you decide to lecture me about who I should go for?"

Once again, the man laughed, and apologized. "I was just pulling your leg. Of course I know who your lover is."

"Sure you do," groaned Meia. "Back then when all of us were still around, everyone knew. Every Turk… Veld… even the janitor joked about us." She sighed and smiled. "Good ol' days."

"Well, when we get this," Reeve pointed above him. "Out of the way, we will get our good days back. Hopefully."

Meia nodded in agreement. "Let's not make idle talk anymore, then." She gave her shoulders a good stretch. "Down to business."

Rodzen Daisa paused. He turned around and looked at the garage. His garage. After eight years of leaving his gang with the garage, it had remained almost untouched. The good ol' days when he was the leader of the gang. They were a gang, but they were not interested in hurting and harming people – they did not need to. Their passion was motorbikes and modifying those bikes. Yes, they stole a lot of parts and pieces from the Upper Sectors to upgrade their bikes. However, none of them thought of harming anyone physically to get what they wanted. Partly because Rod's gang were made up of young boys, mostly fourteen, fifteen year-olds who had bigger dreams of creating the best motorcycle rather than molesting or killing.

The redhead sighed. It was the least he could do to shelter those homeless and aimless boys. Now, at twenty-five years of age, Rod wondered if he had done those boys any good at all. He should have just advised them to go back and earn themselves a proper living being errand boys for the slum citizens. Bah, he thought to himself. Like that's giving them a better living. Slum citizens do not get good living as long as they are in the slums. Everyone knew that.

When he was picked up by Reno, all he could think about was the fact that he was given a one-way ticket out of the poverty… Rod felt a tug at his chest as he thought of what had happened next. He left the gang. Disbanded the entire group, sent the boys off, and left without a second word.

Rod gave a dry laugh at the memory of it. What a jerk I must have been. The boys... I wonder how they are now. Do they hate me for dropping them like that? He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. They would not be wrong to do so. Rod would probably do the same thing if that were to happen to him.

Until now, Rod can still remember them. Scrawny boys wearing camouflage pants and bandannas, jumping over as many things as they could try. Railings, counters, sofas… The garage was filled with the smell of grease and dirt. Motorcycles sprawled out over the garage front with random metal bits sticking out of the ground here and there. Rod would always scold the boys for not wearing proper footwear… and then kneeling down to bandage their bleeding feet. Thankfully, they had stayed out of the radar of the Turks for most of the time. There were a few exceptions, one being Cassie intercepting one of their raids in the Upper Sectors. Rod took all the blame for it, and Cassie left the younger boys off.

They should have used their talents to make themselves useful. Start a repair shop and earn their money like good citizens. Such was the difference of the mind of Rod now, compared to when he was seventeen. If only he had better sense. Then again, if he had better sense, he would not have left the gang so simply. The gang was his everything, and he was their everything. They were supportive of all that he did when he was in leadership. They fought for him and stood against all that was against him. One of them even acquired third degree burns on his arms because he tackled Rod out of the way during a motorcycle malfunction. The scars on the boy's arms never disappeared.

It was painful to think of it now. Rod wished he had done things differently. Yet, he did not regret his decision to join the Turks. He had been much more mature since and learned more than he could in the slums. Also…

"Rod!" Cassie called from within the garage. Seconds later, she poked her head out of the open door. Her face brightened when she saw Rod.

Rod smiled back at her. If he had not been a Turk, he would have never gotten the chance to be with Cassie. That raid when they had first met was definitely not perfect grounds for any consideration apart from whether they could walk away alive. Now, Rod glanced at Cassie, confident and glowing with a different quality unlike a slum citizen as himself. She may be one of the loudest and most annoying people he had ever met, but she is a Windell after all. If he looked carefully, she is actually pretty graceful and elega-

"You wouldn't believe it!" she grinned. "I just made the biggest poop ever!"

Rod's jaw dropped and threw his hands up at her. "What. The. Hell. Could you not announce these things so publicly?" He smacked his forehead. "You're a girl, show some class."

"Geez," Cassie scrunched her pretty nose at him. "You're not my mother, ease up on the manners!"

Rod rolled his eyes and walked away from the garage. He shall take back whatever he said about Cassandra Windell. She may be of a high social status, but once she is out of Mideel, Cassie is as crass as a Midgar slumkid. Cassie is a regular chameleon. She always knew the right words to say. Her eloquence and etiquette made her at home as a social escort-cum-bodyguard for Shinra's executives in gala dinners, her conversations with businessman were as crafty as a fox. But with Rod, she was Cassie. Everything that she can be, she is with him.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

"We've really got to rollback a little here," Meia said. She took the chair that Reeve offered her. "I was locked up for a week, but the commotion that has been going on since morning was something that I did not understand. What happened today?"

Reeve folded him arms and thought for a minute. "Midgar had brought the Mako Cannon from Junon into Midgar because they wanted to use it to destroy the energy barrier that Sephiroth had set up in the Northern Crater. Once the barrier is gone, we can send our forces to take down Sephiroth.

"Coincidentally, we came across a WEAPON on the further continent. So Rufus decided that the Sister Ray will attempt to take down both WEAPON and the energy barrier."

Meia nodded. It seemed like something Rufus Shinra would do – ambitious and risky. He was nothing like his father, Leon Shinra, who was meticulous about his position and did all he can to ensure he stayed in the throne. Rufus Shinra ensured he stayed in the throne… no matter what. "Did it work?"

Reeve nodded. "The Sister Ray used almost all of the Mako in Midgar. That's why we had a power outage just now." Meia nodded, linking her own experiences clearly now. "It worked well. WEAPON fell upon impact, and the energy barrier disappeared. However, we were not fast enough. WEAPON attacked us the same time. The top of the Shinra Building…"

"No way…" She gasped. "The President…"

"… is missing." Reeve said firmly. "We will not conclude his death until we see his body."

"The President…" Meia trailed off. "I admit. I never quite liked Rufus Shinra. He's too cocky for me, from the moment I first met him." She swiveled in her chair. "But if something really happened to him… then it's really the end of Shinra…"

"I believe the Turks are given orders to search for the President." Reeve answered. "But well, Reno and Rude would search for Rufus, even if they were not under orders anyway."

"What do you mean?" frowned Meia.

"Didn't Reno tell you?" Reeve folded his arms and frowned. "When the rest of you left Shinra, Reno, Rude and Tseng were faced with a trial. Mr. Leon Shinra had wanted to disband the Turks and kill the three survivors."

"What!?"

"If it wasn't for Rufus Shinra who spoke for them, they would have been dead, and the rest of you would have been hunted down by them anyway."

Meia gaped at Reeve. "I… I didn't know about that. Neither did the rest of us." Meia lapsed into a short silence, thinking about the consequences that never came. "Guess I should be hoping that Mr Rufus is alive so that I can thank him."

"Heidegger and Scarlet were more than happy to conclude that Rufus is dead and gone. The first thing, once they took matters into their own hands, was to cast me into prison. They had their suspicions for the longest time that I was secretly working with AVALANCHE."

"… And are you?"

For a moment, Reeve did not reply. Meia was about to apologise for asking such a personal question when he finally answered, "Yes, and no."

"Care to explain?"

"I am loyal to Shinra as a job. However, I must admit that our efforts in destroying Meteor have been abysmal. To be honest, I am rooting for AVALANCHE to save us from disaster. Thus, I provide them the support and information that they need. Both sides need to work together. This can be a win-win situation if we want. So I'm standing in both parties, hoping to convince someone somehow that working together will be useful."

"Doesn't look successful…" Meia blurted out, and quickly clamped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry, Mr Tuesti. I didn't mean to be so-"

"Honest?" Reeve smiled. "I could use some honesty here. You're right. AVALANCHE and Shinra will sooner face Sephiroth than to work together. That's why it's important for me to stand between them to bridge the gap."

Meia pouted. "Yet you are not appreciated. AVALANCHE interacts with you in suspicion, Shinra ignores you… No one knows what you're doing, and how you feel. But you know, somehow your efforts have paid off." Reeve glanced at her. "I mean, you have been providing information to AVALANCHE. They will come up with something to save all of us. If not for you, then they would be just as aimless too, right?"

"Only time will tell, Meia," said Reeve. "Whatever the outcome is, I have no regrets. For once," he said, clenching his fists. "I'm doing something that I feel is right. Something that I should do. Even if I were to fail, at least I knew that I've done something that I would be proud of."

Meia smiled at Reeve's words, her respect towards the middle-aged man grew. "It won't go to waste," she assured him, even though she was not sure of the future herself. "We won't let that decision go to waste."

Inwardly, Reeve was deeply encouraged by the little girl's words. Meia may be simple-minded with her beliefs, but she carried so much sincerity in her actions and words, Reeve could almost believe it to be true for himself. This girl does not know just how good she is at edifying and fortifying people's self-esteem. With just a simple assurance and affirmation, she dispelled all his doubts and worries about his plans and actions.

Yes, Reeve was moved by her words, but he did not want to tell her that now. Not until Meteor is defeated for good.

Hello all, thank you for another week of Days of Exile! My blog post is up for those who are interested in reading something more.

Kent! If you guys had forgotten him, he first appeared in Chapter 29, and I've been waiting for some time for a chance to use him again. He is definitely a character that has so much space to develop.

Chapter 42 already! I can't believe this story, which had been paralleling the FF7 storyline, is ending soon. Just another like… 10 chapters… I guess… or more…

Whatever the case is, let us enjoy all the time we have left!