Chapter 29: It's Who You Know

Summary: It's a day of celebration in Junon! Cloud's hoping to avoid all of it. He doesn't have that kind of luck.

Cloud made sure to hide some gil in Londa's "secret" stash before they left. She'd find it when times were especially hard, and she'd be angry with him for a bit, but she'd fed them all (twice) and that wasn't a small thing.

As soon as they stepped outside, he could hear the noise from the Junon base – what Shinra called "Upper Junon" as if it was somehow connected to the original village. As if it made it okay to have ruined "lower" Junon just because it was, you know, on the ground.

Shinra had done the same thing when they'd built Midgar; called above and below the plate upper and lower Midgar, completely ignoring all the villages that had been there before. It probably related to Roman Shinra's god-complex that he always wanted to be so much higher than everyone else. Tifa would probably have an opinion.

Cloud didn't ask her.

The guards at the elevator reminded him that today was the celebration of Rufus Shinra's ascension to the presidency.

Cloud snorted internally. Mythic heroes "ascended" to the Promised Land as almost-gods and Rufus Shinra wasn't that.

"You mean, 'Today Shinra is celebrating Junior taking over from his horrible father, because it means the largest company in the world – and the world's largest employer – won't fall apart due to internal bickering and backstabbing'."

Thanks to Genesis' caustic comment, it took Zack and Aerith twice as long as it should've to convince the two troopers that they weren't terrorists or planning to kill Rufus Shinra. The guards weren't entirely reassured ("Didn't Genesis Rhapsodos go crazy and try to kill everyone?" one whispered loudly, and Zack was a terrible liar. Genesis, on the other hand, was a very good liar.)

Thankfully, the sergeant came down with the shift change and Cloud knew him from many delivery runs. A quick exchange of gil got them access to the elevator and a warning to put their weapons in a locker before going to the parade.

Cloud agreed because they had no intention of watching the parade. They had no intention of going anywhere near all of the Rufus related fuss. If they could investigate the sightings of a robed man and get into the reactor without a glimpse of red Shinra bunting, Cloud would be very happy.

What met them at the elevator's exit platform at the top of the cliff wasn't empty space or a packed crowd (either of which Cloud had expected) but the short, red-headed Turk, Cissnei.

"Bad news," he said over his shoulder to the rest of the group. He didn't take his eyes off the Turk.

"Cloud. Nice to see you again." Her voice said she was as unconcerned as the rain during a flood. Cloud stepped around her to get off the elevator. She stayed where she was until Zack stepped off then she fell into step with him. Blinking only slightly at the bright, bright pink colours in the shirt Zack wore over the tie-dye T-shirt Cloud had bought him all those weeks ago.

Thankfully, nobody else in their group dressed like Zack or Cloud would've worried about developing blindness, like snow fields could cause in the winter except with colours.

Genesis came closest with his dramatic reddish-brown trench coat with black accents he called "frogging". (It made Zack snicker every time.) Aerith wore a light green dress and her favourite red jacket. Tifa had her usual layered tank tops and skorts.

Cloud had chosen the black canvas pants of a construction worker with all the pockets and loops. He also wore the purple shirt of a SOLDIER Second – because it was warm, comfortable, and easy to move in. (He'd taken three – one for each class.)

He'd made everyone wear their belly guards just in case.

Aerith had painted flowers on hers.

"Rufus has repeated his invitation to join him on the parade's grandstand. However," Cissnei continued before anyone could get beyond eyerolling. "If you prefer not to be seen publicly with him, a private meeting can be arranged."

That made Cloud frown.

"Isn't he busy with preparations?" Aerith asked.

"Indeed," Genesis added. "He must present the correct image when he steps in front of the public. Clothes, hair, make-up… weapons. All must be perfect."

Cissnei flicked the SOLDIER a look. "Rufus isn't as concerned with external appearances as you might think."

Both Genesis and Zack snorted at her statement, and since they'd both maybe met Rufus Shinra, Cloud would trust their judgement.

Cloud hadn't stopped walking towards the exit, and everybody ambled after him. Of course, there was only one way out of the platform so there was only one way for all of them to go anyways, but it meant Cissnei had to walk or get left behind.

The elevator platform led to another larger platform that lots of access points fed into. Walkways, staircases, and even a road from the outside met at this junction which opened onto the main promenade of Upper Junon. But "main" didn't mean much in a city that was built in steps into the side of the cliff. Each step had its own "main" road along the front of it. This one was just the widest one because it had to allow trucks and transport to move quickly from the base to the airstrip.

Cloud was very familiar with this junction. He'd passed through it on his way to Midgar to enlist, only to be sent back down to Junon after training.

Everyone thought Midgar was the centre of Shinra's military operations. It wasn't. Junon was where the bulk of the security forces were stationed. It was central to the two continents Shinra controlled so it could provide troops or naval and air support quickly. The cliff was riddled with training rooms, barracks, and armouries.

His first assignment had been here. In fact, his first year in Shinra's Security Forces had all been here. He'd patrolled the promenades and the back corridors. He'd stood guard at the gates and the elevators, and nothing had changed in the six years since.

Well, they'd painted yellow and black diagonal stripes around the doors….

As usual with Junon, there were lots of troopers everywhere. However, all of them looked buffed and shined and hardly like they were on duty at all. They stood with their dark, shiny gun watching the crowds of civilians make their way through the security checkpoints and down the promenade to the airstrip, where (Cloud assumed) the grandstand would be set up.

Among the hordes of ordinary people, there were clustered groups of 'the great and good' who would actually be sitting in the grandstand with the new president. They tried to keep their distance from the rest of the people, but it was too closely packed, and it looked like cars weren't being allowed.

Usually, people like the old lady in the diamond tiara would be driven from wherever to their destination, but not today. Today, the only person who allowed to show off their power was Rufus Shinra.

And the Turks, apparently, because when they came to a security checkpoint, Cissnei took them to the front of the line and brought them all through without being searched despite their obvious weapons.

Among the voices that complained, there were a couple that said that "Isn't that…?" and "It sure looked like him," towards both Genesis and Zack. Cloud even heard a couple discreet clicks from cameras that were built in to the latest PHSs.

He stepped back to walk beside the red-headed SOLDIER. "Been spotted," he said quietly. "Recognized."

Genesis shrugged. "What? How – "

"Photos," he said. Then had to remind Genesis about the advances in PHS technology.

"Well, that's inconvenient."

Cloud snorted in amusement. "Stay secret? Or announce your survival by getting on the grandstand?"

Genesis narrowed his eyes. "You're asking me for strategy advice and not your dear friend?" He tipped his chin towards Zack.

"Turk's got a crush," Cloud replied quietly. "Won't be able to budge 'er."

Genesis raised an eyebrow in surprise. They looked at Cissnei as she walked easily next to Zack and Aerith. Even when the rhythm of their steps matched, the tiny Turk swayed close to the tall First before straightening moments later.

Genesis hummed. "Well. Isn't that interesting."

"She won't risk herself," Cloud said. "But she's always aware of 'im."

"Very well. My opinion then." Surprisingly, the redhead took a moment to think about it, lifting a hand to rub his chin. He also slowed down a little. Cloud matched Genesis, and Tifa matched him. Aerith gave them a quick looked and pulled Zack into a slower pace. Suddenly, people on the walkway were passing them with impatient huffs.

Finally, Genesis gave a dramatic sigh. "As much as I'd relish the awkward questions that might result from the revelation of my undead state, I can't see any tactical advantage. It won't make us any safer if they do try to 'disappear' us again."

"Need to decide now," Cloud said because they were coming up to the intersection.

"Stop!" Genesis yelled, and everyone – everyone – on the promenade stopped to look at him.

"Hardly a low profile," Cloud said, but it was kind of funny.

Genesis looked at the Turk. "We need a moment to discuss Rufus' generous offer. Some privacy please." Then he smiled, brilliantly.

Cissnei didn't seem blinded, but she did back away, crossing her arms over her chest and looking half like a lost teenager, and half like a criminal gang's lookout as they gathered in a store's doorway.

"What is it?" Tifa asked.

Genesis lifted a shoulder. "If we keep following our deadly sprite of an escort, we'll end up at Rufus whether we planned to or not."

"And do we wanna do that?" Cloud summed up.

"Is he really as awful as his father?" Aerith asked in a loud whisper. "I thought Roman Shinra had disowned him because they didn't believe the same things."

"I heard he was sleeping with the 'wrong' people," Tifa said with air quotes.

"I'm sure the Turks vetted anyone who even started to get their clothes off with the president's son and heir. Wouldn't want an unexpected baby to hurry up the marriage arrangements."

Zack snorted. "Considering how many baseborn kids the old man had – "

Genesis waved him to silence. "Double standards abound, puppy, you know that."

Zack grimaced. "You can't actually call me that anymore, you know? I'm twenty-six."

Genesis sniffed. "I'm still older than you."

"Alright, Granddad, what do you think we should do."

"We should go," Cloud said while Genesis was busy glaring at Zack. "Need access to the reactor. That's the base and the service tunnels. The base? Can probably manage. The secured tunnels?" He shook his head.

"I don't want to be seen with a Shinra," Tifa spat.

"I don't want to see his parade," Genesis said with a sniff. "I've seen enough troops marching…."

"I've been those troops," Cloud said.

Genesis leaned in. "How could I have missed you? Out of the hundreds in formation…." He pressed his hand over his heart, dropping his head in sadness. It made Cloud laugh. Soldiers weren't supposed to stand out, and both he and Genesis knew it.

Aerith brought their focus back. "So, we meet with Shinra, privately; we get into the base and down – out? – to the reactor. Then what?"

"Tseng said there was a robed man. Maybe we should hunt him out first," Zack suggested.

"The Turks would know where to look," Genesis said.

"And they won't tell us unless we talk to Shinra," Tifa growled.

"I can maybe find that out," Cloud said quietly. They all looked at him anyway. He shrugged. "Was stationed here for a year and I make deliveries here. Know a lot of people."

"Maaybe, he just wants to know that we are actually looking for his father's killer and not just taking the company for everything we can." Aerith voice, though playful, was also firm. "Maybe he just wants reassurance? He's what, twenty-one?"

"Twenty-seven," they all corrected her.

Aerith lifted a hand to her mouth, blushing at her error. "Oh, well. In that case – "

Tifa put up her chin. "Valid point, though. He's just lost his father. No matter how bad we think the relationship was, it can still be hard." She blinked rapidly a few times. Cloud contented himself with a shoulder bump of support, but Zack pulled her into a hug.

"Okay, yeah," he said. "In case this is Rufus being human, we go see what he wants. But we agree to nothing until we've had a chance to think about it and discuss it, right?"

It was an easy yes. Cloud hadn't wanted to agree to this job, and it was paying them 10 million gil.

Cissnei didn't waste time taking them to Rufus's rooms once they told her. There was no more flirtation, no coyness left. She used paths Cloud had never seen and wielded her status as a Turk like a laser to get them past every check post, every guard.

Cloud was impressed.

He was less impressed when they were shown into a huge living room, with windows two stories tall and enough gilded furniture to do the Honeybee Inn proud. In the middle of the room, where the sun pooled on the marble floor, stood a slender man in white: Rufus Shinra.

His back was to the entrance, and he held his arms out as aides circled him, doing last minute alterations on his outfit. His blond hair glowed in the sunlight, and Cloud had no doubt he'd chosen his position for that reason.

A large canine, similar to the guard fangs used by the security forces, sat at Rufus Shinra's feet, but it wasn't resting. Its body was erect, and its ears swiveled towards them, tracking the new arrivals, guarding his master's back.

Cloud also recognized Director Palmer flitting around Shinra's new centre of power.

The director's official photos always tried to make him seem taller, but Cloud had seen him at the Honeybee Inn – had let him out the backdoor on many occasions. Would Palmer remember Cloud?

Cloud snorted. Not a chance.

Genesis leaned forward. "Junior's not concerned with his outward appearance, hm?" he said softly. Probably only Cloud and Zack could hear him.

"Give him a break," Zack whispered back. "It's a big day for him."

Cloud said nothing, just noted the positions of the other Turks in the room (Tseng and Rude), and a couple spit-shined elite troops.

"He doesn't look like he's grieving," Tifa said. Her whisper wasn't as quiet as Genesis' had been and Cissnei shot them a scolding look before stepping away from them.

"I've brought them," she said unnecessarily.

"Everybody out," Rufus said. The tailors scurried out right away, as did the troopers, but Palmer stuttered a protest. Rufus Shinra looked down at him. "Out." He smiled. It wasn't friendly "Go have some of that disgusting tea you like."

Once he was alone in the spotlight (the Turks and the fang obviously didn't count) Rufus Shinra spun dramatically. His long coat flared, and Cloud saw multitudes of straps and buckles. The trousers under the coat had wide flaring legs that flowed almost like a skirt. Very like those common in Wutai.

Could be a big FU to his old man, Cloud thought. After all, Roman Shinra's attitude towards Wutai had been 'blame them for everything" followed by "kill them all".

"This is the team that's going after Sephiroth?" Rufus asked Tseng. He didn't take his eyes off them.

Surprisingly (because it wasn't Genesis being snarky), Aerith bounced on her feet and chirped, "That's us! Thanks for hiring us!" It made Rufus blink.

"Which one of you is the former SOLDIER?"

"There's actually two of us," Zack said. "I'm Zack Fair, and that's Genesis Rhapsodos. Yes, that Genesis – he's not dead either." He put his hands on his hips. "Neither of us are feeling exactly friendly towards the company. No offense."

"Will the two of you be enough to bring down Sephiroth?" Rufus asked, sounding doubtful. "He was – is? – the world's greatest warrior."

Genesis huffed, and Cloud's brain supplied a disgusted eye-roll to go with it.

Zack stayed diplomatic. "Good thing we're not alone, then." He pointed at Tifa. "Tifa's one of the best unarmed fighters I've ever encountered. Aerith's combat buffs and healing abilities are awesome! And Cloud…" Zack trailed off. Probably because Cloud was frowning at him.

"Yes," Rufus said, voice silky. "Tell me about … Cloud, is it?"

Cloud switched his frown to Rufus. Did he think they wouldn't know the Turks had briefed him completely?

"Y'already know who we are," he said.

Rufus's eyes narrowed. Then he smiled the same fake smile that Genesis put on with such ease. He shifted his weight to one foot and raised an elegant hand to rest on his chin. "I do, indeed, know who you are – Corporal Cloud Strife. You were invalided out of our security forces. Brittle bones and fainting spells, I believe the report said?" His voice ended on a rise as if to call Cloud a liar.

"Got better," Cloud responded shortly, not interested in the posturing. "Why're we here?"

Rufus' eyebrows went up. "Isn't it enough I wanted to meet you."

Genesis laughed outright. "You're a political creature," he said. "You have to be to have survived everything. So, you want something." The redhead walked over to one of the loveseats and arranged himself in it. His red hair and cognac-coloured trench coat, paired with the black SOLDIER First uniform, made a dramatic splash against the white upholstery. He steepled his hands under his chin. "We're listening."

Rufus kept his indulgent smile even as his posture tightened. He stayed silent a moment more, considering, before he went to the couch opposite and sat in the middle. He spread his arms out along the back of the couch, taking up the whole thing. Tseng positioned himself behind his boss and folded his hands neatly in front of him. Rude and Cissnei took up positions behind Tseng. Even the guard fang arranged itself carefully at Rufus' feet.

The tableau was more monochrome than Genesis', but certainly as dramatic.

"Is this a pissing contest," Aerith asked brightly. "Is that the correct phrase?" She looked up at Zack.

"Yup," he answered, smiling at her. Both Genesis and Rufus looked pained.

"Aren't you going to offer us some food?" Tifa asked. Her smile showed a lot of teeth. "Since you're hosting, and all."

Rufus looked at her. Tifa stared back. Cloud saw her fist clench and knew she wanted to punch something.

"Coffee'd be nice," he said, bringing Rufus's attention to him. He crossed his arms and waited.

It really would be nice. He loved Londa's cooking, he did, but the woman only had a chicory mix for breakfast.

It took a bit, but Rufus finally lifted his head and gave Tseng a tiny nod. Tseng nodded back and raised his right hand. Rude broke formation and went to a side room.

Cloud wondered if they practiced.

Rufus turned his attention back to the redheaded First. "So do you speak for the group?"

"We speak for ourselves," Tifa answered.

Genesis waved some fingers at her. "Yes, exactly," he said. "I merely sat because I find standing for extended periods of time taxing." He gave Rufus a perfectly calculated moue of embarrassment. "I haven't quite healed from my last delightful sojourn in Shinra's basement."

It was a beautiful performance. Worthy of one of the theatres on Loveless Avenue.

Rufus didn't seem impressed.

"You're afraid Sephiroth will come after you," Aerith said abruptly.

Rufus stopped looking unimpressed and instead looked angry. Rude came back from wherever he'd gone. Cloud saw him assess the room and decide to stay where he was – to the side, and out of immediate reach.

"Logical," Genesis said with a soft nod. "He did kill your father, after all."

"Killing my father, I can understand," Rufus almost growled. "But I had nothing to do with Hojo's ridiculous experiments, so why would he come after me?"

"Seriously?" Tifa asked. "Shinra plays games with people's lives. You give your Science Department leave to do whatever they want, no matter how evil, and you wonder why Shinra's greatest experiment might be angry with you."

"I am not my father,"

Genesis waved his hand at the overblown luxury of the room. " Seeds of the soul's corruption fester in both hovel and grand hall. Loveless, Act II."

Cloud wanted to sigh. Obviously, he was going to end up learning all of Loveless whether he wanted to or not.

"Are you going to stop using mako?" Tifa demanded. "Are you going to stop killing the planet?" Rufus' eyeroll was subtle, but clear.

Genesis recrossed his legs. "As the head of Shinra, which has the largest army on the planet, you will definitely be a target," Genesis said.

"And yet Tseng informed me that you think he will go after the reactor first. Why?" Rufus asked.

"Without mako, Shinra has no power," Tifa said. "Nobody will care what you say. Or want. You'll be just like the rest of us." Her fists were clenched again, and she was leaning forward on her feet, getting ready to charge. Behind Tseng, Cissnei's hands dropped, and her weight shifted in preparation.

"Is that why you wanted to blow up the Midgar reactors?" Tseng asked her in his mild voice.

"Yes." Tifa glared, chin up.

"There's no proof that mako refinement is harming the planet," Rufus stated.

Genesis laughed mockingly. "Really? When was the last time you visited Midgar?"

Zack's voice cut through the standoff even though his tone was quiet. "You're right, we don't know if Sephiroth will target you or the reactor. The last time I talked with him, he'd stopped believing that he was human. The crap in Hojo's library made him believe he'd been designed to bring back the Cetra."

Zack was staring at the floor, so he didn't see Rufus's quick glance up at Tseng or how the Turk shook his head in response. Cloud saw it though.

"He believed –" Zack continued. "– that our ancestors had sacrificed the Cetra, had sacrificed his 'mother', to save themselves from a calamity –" Tifa shifted and bumped into Aerith, disrupting whatever she'd opened her mouth to say.

"He said that we had betrayed them – betrayed his mother, Jenova." Zack took a deep breath. "He told me that as the last Cetra it was his destiny to rule the planet, and he would kill anyone who got in his way. He started with Nibelheim."

Tifa turned around, hiding her expression and hugging herself. Cloud shifted his weight, hoping she'd feel his warmth.

Zack looked up at Rufus Shinra. His eyes shimmered, but not with mako. "You're right. I couldn't stop him then. If it hadn't been for Trooper Gidson…. "

Aerith leaned her forehead against his arm. He bent his head to hers. All Cloud could do was stand strong for them, guarding his friends while they were vulnerable.

It was at that moment an aide opened the door with a cart full of food and beverages. He stopped two steps in as if sensing the tension.

Cloud dropped his arms and marched over. "Coffee."

His need for a decent cup of coffee broke everyone out of their posturing like he figured it would. Now maybe they could get to the point of this meeting.

Coffee in hand, Cloud went up to Tseng as he stood guard over his master. (The aide had brought Rufus's refreshments over. They were untouched on the low table between couches.)

"You said there was a robed figure here," he asked the Turk. From the corner of his eye, Cloud saw Rufus lift his head to them.

"That's significant?"

Cloud shot Tseng a look: hadn't he told his boss what they fought in the tower? Tseng looked back.

With an internal sigh, Cloud turned to the new president. "Thing we fought in the tower turned into one after we killed it. Human male. Tattoo. No visible mutations."

Rufus waited for more. Cloud didn't provide it. The connection was obvious.

Tseng broke the stalemate. "Several of these robed men were sighted around lower Midgar in the months before the attack on your father and the Shinra building."

"Were any of them large, silver-haired men with 1-metre swords?" Rufus' voice was sarcastic.

Tseng dipped his head. Either accepting the rebuke or dodging it, Cloud thought. Or both.

"Extremely high amounts of mako and other substances were detected in the body before it dissolved."

"When'd you do that," Cloud asked. They'd burned the one in the tower before Rude could take samples.

Tseng lifted his head. "As I said, several of these robed men were sighted."

Cloud wondered if the robed men were still alive. If they were alive, were they still wandering around Midgar or were they locked up in some Science Department cage?

"Was their blood like Sephiroth's?" he asked. He had an idea, but he didn't know if it was true. He hoped not. "Science department had to have taken samples.

Tseng looked at him. There was nothing in his gaze or stance to indicate anything, but Cloud still knew it wasn't going to be good news. "There are similarities."

"Hojo injected Sephiroth's blood into people?" Rufus looked like disgusted. Impossible to know if it was at the idea of being injected with someone else's blood or the waste of resources. "Why?"

"Try'n make another Sephiroth," Cloud answered. "Since the original got fucked."

Tseng gave the smallest of winces. Rufus narrowed his eyes at Cloud. Obviously, the new boss didn't like people swearing in front of him.

Too fucking bad.

"Was Sephiroth…." Cloud tried to think of the words in Common. "Was he strong-minded? That is, could he speak mind-to-mind, or read minds? Could he hear the planet?" He flicked his eyes very briefly towards Aerith so Tseng would know exactly what he meant.

The narrowed eyes and slight frown showed the Turk had understood.

"Was he psychic?" Rufus sneered.

"Cetras supposedly were," Cloud explained with a shrug. "If Hojo was trying to make Sephiroth into a Cetra by injecting something weird…." He shrugged again.

"Nothing of that nature was ever mentioned or recorded by any of the Firsts –" This time Tseng flicked his eyes at Zack. "– or the scientists involved with the SOLDIER program."

Cloud had stilled when Tseng's eyes had moved toward Zack. The implications….

He was about to ask Tseng for more information, for confirmation or reassurance, or to just say it wasn't true.

Rufus cleared his throat. "This is irrelevant," he said. "Can you defeat Sephiroth – whether he appears as another tentacled, bizarro monster or as himself?" He glared at Cloud. "I paid a great deal of money for the answer to be 'yes', so I should warn you, if I was lied to, if your group is nothing but flea-ridden grifters, I will make you pay." He smiled his not-very-nice smile. "Or rather, the people you care about will pay, because of course, you'll already be dead, won't you."

Cloud looked at the young president. Not a fool, not soft, but his exposure to the world had been both privileged and limited. Vindictive, he thought, prickly pride easily hurt and nastier for it. The threat was a real one.

"The thing we fought was hard, but not invincible," Cloud answered. "Midgar zoloms are harder," he added. He'd thought about it a lot, trying to place it in the rankings he kept in his head. "Small sample size though. Next one might be different. Problem isn't the monster version. Problem is how the man – black robe or Sephiroth-shaped – got through every security point in Shinra Tower and below without tripping alarms."

"Are you saying you can't do it?" Rufus practically snarled the words, part question-part accusation. Cloud didn't let it bother him. The man was scared and had a right to be.

There was a demanding knock on the door. Followed by an imperious entry "Rufus! What's keeping you?!"

Cloud had only seen pictures of General Heidegger. Unlike Palmer, he lived up to the promotional material. In fact, the man's size would've been intimidating if Cloud didn't know Barrett.

Shinra's top military man was about as tall as Zack, but much, much thicker: thicker face, thicker chest – and thicker waist. The sharp-cut green coat had a high collar, wide epaulettes, and the lapels flared wide and red. Everything was designed to make sure nobody could overlook him.

That included his voice.

"What is this!? Who are you!?" he demanded of Cloud.

Cloud didn't have a chance to respond because Genesis stalked forward, away from where he'd been trying to flirt information out of Rude. "Well, well, well…."

"YOU!"

"Indeed, 'tis I. Again." Genesis smiled. It looked a lot like the smile Rufus had just given him: predator to prey.

The former-First shot a glance at Rufus. "You know, if revenge is the aim, Heidegger is the perfect test subject. I say we stake him out on the airfield and see if Sephiroth shows up."

"I had nothing to do with Sephiroth!" Heidegger protested. "The SOLDIER projects started well before I took over Shinra's security."

"Doesn't mean Sephiroth didn't hate you."

The general's hands clenched into fists. "The feeling was mutual!"

Zack walked over from the food table, Aerith by his side. "You never liked SOLDIER, did you?"

"Fair!"

"Yeah, I'm not dead either." Zack rolled his eyes. "You took over after Lazard left –"

"Another traitor!"

Zack ignored it. "We were Shinra's highest profile force, and yet you barely learned any of our names. Why?"

"I don't answer to you!"

"Because SOLDIER wasn't his," Genesis answered for him. "Not like Deepground."

"I don't know wh –"

"Puh-lease!" Genesis waved a dismissive hand. "I may have been in a tube, but you like to be heard. And your laugh is very distinctive."

"And it had his stamp all over it. And Scarlet's" Zack said. "Hi-tech weapons that don't work in the hands of soldiers who are barely trained in how to use them."

Heidegger took a threatening step forward. Both Zack and Genesis shifted their stances, preparing to fight. Behind them, Tifa and Rude took a few steps closer. Cloud, standing too close to the president-elect, drank the last of his coffee.

"What did you want, Heidegger?" Rufus asked. "You didn't come in just to harass my hirelings, so –"

"Hirelings!?" Heidegger shifted so that all his threat was aimed at Rufus.

Rufus – privileged rich kid, he might've been – didn't flinch. "Yes, General. I've hired them."

"What did you hire them for!?"

Rufus didn't answer fast enough, so the general turned to Cloud and tried to loom over him. "Tell me what you're doing for him?"

Cloud looked at him. Then he put down his empty coffee cup. "No." The general's face turned red. "I don't discuss my client's business without their permission."

It took everything Cloud had to turn his back on Heidegger. He reminded himself that he trusted Zack and Aerith and the others to have his back.

Behind him, Heidegger growled.

Cloud kept his shoulders down by willpower alone.

"I'll report back to you through the usual channels." He gave Tseng a quick look so Shinra would know what he meant. It also let the president-elect know that he knew the Turks would be spying on them.

Rufus nodded. Hopefully he'd understood both messages. He lifted a hand. "Tseng."

"Cissnei will see you out." The head Turk gave his own signal and the little red-headed Turk shifted position.

Cloud nodded. "Thanks," he said to Rufus. "Was good coffee." Then he walked around the head of Shinra's security. Most everyone else followed his example. Only Genesis had a parting shot.

"My soul, corrupted by vengeance, hath endured torment to find the end of the journey in my own salvation," he quoted. "And your eternal slumber."

"Is that a threat?!" the general growled.

Cloud looked back in time to see Genesis give his former commander a cheery salute before sweeping away. Heidegger turned to Rufus. "Are you going to let him get away with that?!"

"Loveless, Act IV," Tseng replied calmly. "Very dramatic."

As the door shut behind them, Cloud heard Rufus instruct the general to "ignore them." He hoped Heidegger would follow the instruction. It would probably be bad to punch Shinra's top general in the face.

AN: Sincerest and deepest apologies for being so late. There are many reasons for the delay, but I assure you - no matter how slow I update, I am continuing the story. I have the ending half written already. I think it's a good one. I hope you will too.

~Trigger warning for death of children, institutional racism, and cultural genocide~

I am Canadian. I have been proud (and yes, smug) of the benefits that gives me.

For all of my life, I have been presented with the idea that everyone here can be proud of their culture and ethnic identity. You can practice your faith, speak your language - we can celebrate our difference. (Not every Canadian welcomes immigrants, of course, but I have known many people who have benefited from it and love Canada as fiercely as I ever have.)

As official government policy, it was something to be proud of.

Indian Residential Schools were also government policy, and their purpose was to separate Indigenous children between 2 and 16 years of age from their families, cultures, and identities so they would become "more white" – more acceptable to the European Christian colonizers.

These institutions were opened even before Canada became a country in 1867. The last of them (in a different form) closed in 1996.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission calculated that around 5,000 Indigenous children died while in government "care". Their number is based on the official reports received by the government. The government relied on the churches to accurately record and report all deaths.

Of course they didn't.

The official records of the Kamloops Indian Residential School listed only around 50 deaths over it's 100-year history. Geophysical surveys of the grounds found the remains of 215 children – four times the official record.

The names of the dead children weren't recorded.

It is the definition of being disappeared.

Only 7 of the 139 locations have been surveyed because the government was and still is fighting efforts by Indigenous groups to obtain funding to search all of them.

I am ashamed of my country.

~etrix