Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

8) No Longer Vice

"@-%+," I curse, knocking my head against the copilot's seat. "So let me get this straight. Sephiroth, the guy that used to sneak me blueberries after training, bought me new boots, and died forever ago killed the president?!" I liked that guy too... "And now Rufus is stepping up as president, Dark Nation just got killed by Cloud, and Avalanche is getting away?"

"Close enough," Tseng says back flatly, gently steering the chopper around the side of the Shinra building to the deck/patio thing the original President Shinra put in. This drops off the bottom of the helicopter, stuffing his shotgun away, and dusting off his sleeves as if he was more worried about dust than he was about a terrorist group on the loose along with a maniac with a long needle for a sword.

"This sucks," I grumble. "Weren't we supposed to protect the president?"

"Yes," Tseng sighs. "But... I wouldn't say that Rufus isn't relieved."

"Huh?"

"Forget I said anything," he shakes his head, lowering the helicopter onto the Shinra Helipad and pulling the headphones off his ears. I copy the motion and hop out of the vessel, my loose tie still hanging there oddly. We walk through the building to Rufus's open office and quietly step inside to see Rude and Elena there as well. Poor Re, having to miss out on this #-+%.

"We're all here Sir!" Elena chirps, making me want to clamp my hands down over my ears.

"Yes," Rufus says absent mindedly. "You are." Then his hard eyes stab into mine, a constant shift of something in them. Warmth maybe? No... Maybe he just feels like being nicer to me for some odd reason? But I really don't think that word is in his vocabulary. I don't get it...

"Kat, are you paying attention?" I blink away my thoughts instantly, nodding quickly at the new president's raised eyebrow.

"Sorry, Sir." He frowns deeply before looking at the rest of us.

"And you say that I must go to Junon?"

"That's the only reliable boat we have," Tseng nods, the two men closer than anyone else in this room. If Rufus had any good friends, the Turk was it. "The fuel for our aircraft doesn't come in until next week."

"And there is none here?"

"Hardly enough for a flight there."

"I see," Shinra sighs, looking at me wearily. "I shall Heidegger and some of the soldiers with me then. Can we arrange for a ride in three days, Elena?"

"I'll see what I can do!" She salutes, running from the room. Oh gods, I really don't like her.

"Rude, I would like for you to keep an eye on Avalanche's whereabouts. You are to make no offensive moves until I order them." Rude nods and adjusts his sunglasses habitually. "Tseng, I believe you should be the one to hire security and such. Kat, I would like for you to stay with Reno..."

"What?!" I groan. Rufus scowls at me bitterly.

"And you will not be on the field until you can prove to me that you do something other than complain." His head cocks to the side. "After all, your uncle wouldn't want you dead, would he? I'm sure he wouldn't mind, of course, considering what you did to his ni..." Temper lost and swiftly move toward him, fists clenching his collar and newfound strength crushing the taller man to the wall.