Once More, With Feeling... – Chapter 20: A Rude Awakening

Summary: Suspicions are high, and so are the stakes…

Author: Illusor Meaneld

Rated T: for Descriptive violence and injuries, No Adult Situations, No Cussing.

Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Final Fantasy 7, They are owned by Square-Enix, and I am simply borrowing them for my own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.

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The clack of expensive shoes echoed through the hallway, the regular staccato Tseng was used to disturbed by a second, slightly off-tempo tapping. Rude was trying not to yawn, his posture stiff from his attempts to appear awake. While it was not unheard of to be summoned in the early morning hours, it was unusual. Tseng himself had gotten a scant hour of sleep due to his own night-owlish tendencies. But a hasty cup of tea and an even quicker shower gave him a much more natural appearance of alertness than his unfortunate subordinate.

Veld, the leader of the Turks, had requested Tseng's presence and had asked him to bring the highest rank Turk he could find aside from himself. With Cissnei currently out, that meant Rude. The two of them strode through the Shinra building in relative silence. Veld would update them as he saw fit when they reached the conference room. As the doors slid open, and the two Turks stepped inside, Tseng couldn't help but feel a slight unease, it wasn't just Veld in the room. But also Lazard, Sephiroth, and a few younger scientists Tseng recognized as Forensics specialists. Without allowing himself more than a bare glance around the room, Tseng strode up to Veld, Rude followed with equal decorum.

"Sir, you requested us?" Tseng evenly intoned,

Veld looked at both of the younger Turks and nodded, "Yes," His glance flicked to Rude, "Rude, I need you to take over as the President's bodyguard." The stoic Turk nodded, and at the subtle gesture from his superior walked just as calmly out of the room as he had entered. Veld returned his gaze to Tseng, "I require your insight, Tseng … please join us."

As Veld gestured to an empty seat at the conference table, Tseng paused only long enough for a short bow, moving to the indicated seat without a word. I require your insight, … That was Veld's way of saying listen carefully and watch what you say. Something big was amiss.

Once Tseng was seated, Veld stood up and cleared his throat, "Now that we are all here, … let me fill everyone in. at 03:57 this morning, one of the high-security maintenance staff in charge of cleaning the classified sections of the science department laboratories reported a missing specimen. Details as to what exactly this specimen is have not been disclosed. Upon reviewing the security tapes from around and before that time it has been noted that at 01:32 this morning, an unknown male with brown hair wearing a janitorial outfit passed through the halls."

At this point Veld paused, passing out black and white copies from the stills of the tape. Tseng glanced at his, the messy dark hair obscured the face and the hunched form was rather non-descript.

"The janitor disappeared into an alcove, and shortly thereafter a female scientist entered the science department."

More photos were passed around. Tseng blinked at the image of a young woman, the over-head camera angle complete with the glare from her glasses made her face almost as difficult to make out.

"This individual remained inside the laboratories for approximately 40 minutes, after which time she reemerged with a large box. The female scientist disappeared into the same alcove the janitor had, and moments later the Janitor left the building. There is no sign of either individual at this time."

Tseng stared at the images for several moments and then slowly glanced around the table. Everyone had gone quiet, Veld waited, but when no one spoke he continued.

"At 02:46 this morning, we received a call concerning a burning trash can in Sector 8. The fire department was dispatched and the fire put out. After the notification of the missing specimen came in, we sent out our forensics team to investigate, they are currently sifting through the remains found there."

When Veld fell silent again, Lazard spoke up, "What other evidence do we have? Has the forensics team done a fingerprint check yet?"

Veld glanced over at Lazard and stared for the barest of seconds, "The culprit was wearing gloves at all times, he or she used untraceable codes, there were no witnesses, no finger-prints, no identifiable features. What I have shown you, is what we have."

"Sounds like a remarkably flawless job." Sephiroth said with one eyebrow raised sardonically,

"So flawless, that I suspect it may well be an inside job." Veld continued,

"That, … would be high treason." Lazard finished, twining his fingers before his face.

"Treason during war-time…" Sephiroth muttered, shaking his head. "Punishable by death."

Veld nodded at both men, "Due to the high security breach, we cannot afford to let this information get out. But we need all of you alert for further clues. I will personally keep you updated on the findings of our teams. President Shinra himself asked me to pass on this information. No one but himself, Professor Hojo, and one high-security maintenance staff even knew of the location of this specimen. The nature of the specimen itself is just as classified."

Again Veld paused, Sephiroth took up the floor. "Hojo's labs are one of the highest clearance areas aside from the President's personal suite. That anyone was able to get in and out without a verifiable trace is a security disaster. I will do everything in my power to assist in the investigation." The silver-haired General bowed soberly,

"That is all we can ask at the moment." Veld finished, "Unless anyone has any other information they would like to share… we can consider this meeting adjourned." The others looked around slowly, but when no one spoke they rose as a whole and turned to leave. Tseng stayed next to Veld, who waited until the room was otherwise empty before turning to his subordinate.

"Tseng, the forensics team actually arrived just a few minutes before the meeting. But I wanted to run the information past you first." Tseng blinked twice but nodded, from one of the side desk drawers Veld removed two plastic bags. He placed the first in front of Tseng. "This was recovered from the burning dumpster."

Tseng eyed the small scrap, it looked like it had once been white, the shape was distorted from heat and the edges blackened, "It looks like a scrap of leather … perhaps synthetic…" He muttered,

"It's a piece of a shoe." Veld explained, "It could match the shoes worn by the first male suspect from the security cameras,…"

Tseng shook his head, "There's not enough here,"

Veld nodded, "The trash was too contaminated for any accurate material or DNA samples."

Tseng sighed, "I doubt you could even figure out what size it was." He eyed the 2 inch scrap dubiously.

Veld silently agreed, then he placed the second bag before Tseng, opening it to remove the item. Tseng took it when offered and carefully examined it. It was a very small, blackened piece of metal, light weight, and strangely twisted. After turning it several times under the light the Turk blinked in startlement.

"It's a handcuff key." Tseng said in surprise, Veld stared, glancing between the twisted metal and Tseng,

"What makes you say that?"

The younger Turk held the piece of evidence out for Veld to see, "The way it's curled on itself, and the particular notches, … it's a handcuff key!" Tseng eyed it for a few more moments, running his finger over the charred piece. "A handcuff key made from a tin can." He said in astonishment, noting a half-charred partial logo on the metal.

"A tin can?" Veld repeated, raising one eyebrow.

Tseng gestured to the logo, "A popular drink, … but you can find it anywhere in Midgar, and in several places that we export to." He gazed at the shoe, and at the hand-made key. "The materials were so cheap, are you certain it was an inside job? This might have been hastily made."

Veld chuckled, "It was too flawless to be anything else."

Tseng shook his head and frowned, "Why would the culprit need a key? Or a lockpick or anything? …all Shinra locks are electronic."

Veld turned to the table, shifting through the stacks of information there. "The specimen that was reported missing had been restrained … The descriptions of the restraints are very similar to custom handcuffs."

Tseng hesitated, "So, whoever did this, not only knew exactly how to get in and out unnoticed, but knew exactly what kind of key they would need and where."

"Exactly."

"… I'll do a check of all unaccounted for personnel in the building last night."

"Thank you." Veld returned with a smile, "I trust you will be thorough." Tseng nodded, turning to go. "Tseng…" Veld halted him at the door.

"Sir?" Tseng half-turned,

"If it is one of ours… let me know first." His superior said quietly. For the first time that morning, Tseng smiled wryly, "Of course Sir." With a deep and respectful bow he left the room.

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Cloud groaned as he rolled over in the mess he'd made, chunks of chips crackling under his shoulder and head. On the one hand, he was absolutely miserable, … on the other he wouldn't have to feign being groggy and bleary-eyed when he got up in the morning. The floor positively stank. It made real sleep near impossible. Between the smell and Reno's loud snoring he shifted constantly.

But it was thanks to his unusual wakefulness that he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the apartment door. It couldn't be later than 5:30 in the morning, so Cloud had to resist the urge to frown at the noise. A key inserted into the lock, and the blonde methodically relaxed his body until it was completely limp. He heard when the door slid open, it was still night, but the outside light filtered into the room. The loud clacking of expensive shoes gave Cloud mental pause, Tseng? … The Turk stepped into the room, but when his foot crunched loudly on a cracker he hesitated. Cloud could almost see Tseng's face. The Older Turk was almost obsessively neat, and he had to forcibly contain his amusement at the pure disgust he had no doubt was written all over Tseng's face. The pause only lasted a moment before Tseng was moving around the room once more, aiming in what seemed to be Reno's direction. Cloud could only imagine what the loud, precise noise of Tseng's shoes was doing for the red-head's inevitable hang-over, … as if on cue Reno groaned,

"Turn down the shoes yo!" the red-head hissed, curling into a tighter ball against the light.

Cloud took his cue and grumbled unintelligibly, rolling over until his face was pressed against the filthy carpet. Croaking out an "uggnnn… light…hnn."

"Reno," Tseng murmered, ignoring the younger Turk's unhappy moan, "There was a break-in last night."

Only years of learning never to appear surprised saved Cloud from stiffening, He hadn't expected anyone to be on his tail this early! Why had Tseng come here?

"tha' sucks" Reno muttered unconvincingly, "was' i' go' ta do with me?"

"Was Cloud with you all night?" Tseng inquired quickly, Cloud could feel the older man's gaze flitting to him,

having heard his name Cloud shifted carefully and belatedly mumbled a "hnnnn?"

"Ya, he was here." Reno returned, Cloud could hear the red-head shifting in place, "Why'd ya e'en ask?"

"I was checking on all unaccounted for Shinra personnel" Tseng explained, "Cloud was not in his bunk last night."

"We had a slum'er party yo." Reno managed to sound slightly enthusiastic. " 'sto'lly awesome."

Tseng was silent again for several moments before he added, "What did you two do last night?"

"Play'd games, … y'know.. cards n's'uff. An'… uh… we had food."

"You drank alchohol?" Tseng made it a question,

"Naw, a' course not." Reno responded without missing a beat. "We're un'er age yo! … jus' play'd games, uh… hung out, … uh… soda… y'know, guy s'uff."

Tseng grunted noncommittally, Cloud fervently pretended to be asleep. The stench of alcohol filling the room, the empty bottles all over the floor, and the obviously hung-over teenagers, … he could just imagine the look on Tseng's face. But the Turk didn't call Reno on it, and instead wished both boys an enjoyable morning before turning and leaving the apartment.

Reno quietly spat a curse, "din' think he 'as gonna buy it…" the red-head mumbled, Cloud was no longer able to restrain himself, but managed to hastily turn it into a cough. "go 'asleep yo." The Red-head muttered irritatedly before rolling over and promptly snoring. Cloud muffled his chuckles before following the red-head's example. He was going to have to make certain he helped Reno clean the house thoroughly, he owed the youth more than he could ever let him know.

As he was 'drifting' Cloud thought about the earlier encounter, Even if they had discovered his theft right away, Tseng was over here very quickly… even with the excuse the older Turk had claimed, Cloud shouldn't have been a very high priority… he was only a Cadet! … A chill ran up his spine at the thought, had he goofed somewhere? Were they suspicious? … I'm a Turk Intern… Cloud reminded himself, … that might move him higher on the list, perhaps that was it. Slowly relaxing at the realization, Cloud nevertheless promised to keep a close eye out. He'd been a suspect… even slightly… he'd have to watch his steps more closely, it wouldn't do to arouse suspicion!

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