Vagaries of Fate

Meeting With Godo

Chapter 22 

It took them another week to reach the Imperial City of Wutai. They had stopped a short distance away from the city the night before so they would be able to arrive in the morning. Both Rufus and Tseng stayed with their helicopters while Genesis and Clarissa continued with the negotiators. When they approached the city, they were immediately given an escort to the palace. It was a beautiful place with bright colors and calming gardens throughout. It reminded Clarissa that they had surrendered before the city came under siege, but only barely.

At the palace gates, to everyone's surprise, the negotiation team was asked to wait. They were escorted to a sizeable lounge-like area while the rest of the guards led Clarissa and Genesis to meet with the Emperor. None of them were certain what this unexpected turn of events meant, but there was no getting around them without causing an uproar.

The two of them were taken to a much smaller room. It was still large enough that it could have accommodated them all, but the large desk near the window gave the impression that it was for much smaller meetings. They were both bid to take seats while they waited for Godo to arrive. They complied, although neither of them really relaxed. Two of the guards stayed with them near the door while the other presumably went to let Godo know they had arrived.

They didn't have to wait long. When the Emperor of Wutai entered, it was with all the regality one would expect from a monarch that had never been defeated. Both Clarissa and Genesis stood and gave him a slight bow in deference to his position and as a gesture to show that they were there as representatives of a governing body that viewed him on equal footing, and not as someone conquered.

When they stood, Godo was wearing a slight smile, but there was a glint in his eyes that was impossible to miss. When he got to his desk, he gave them the same bow. That action alone helped them dispel the notion that they would be put on trial for war crimes. The Emperor would not have greeted them as equals had that been the case.

He gestured for them to retake their seats as he spoke. "Commander Rhapsodos, Lieutenant-Commander Williamson, please relax. This will not be a formal affair. I simply have some questions for you."

Clarissa took her seat, but Genesis was still standing. At least his voice was neutral when he spoke. "That would be Lieutenant-Commander Rhapsodos, not Williamson."

At Genesis' proclamation, Godo looked between the two of them before he laughed. Clarissa could feel her face heat as she remembered what the Emperor had told her the last time they talked. She still kept her voice even and spoke up before he was finished laughing. "Let it not be said that your observational skills have ever been lacking. I believe you knew this before we did." Genesis gave her a curious look at that. She had never told him about that conversation. She ignored it, though.

They could still hear a chuckle in Godo's voice when he responded. "I am glad to see that I was not incorrect. For now, please take a seat. There are a few things I would like to discuss with the two of you before we can get into the topic of renegotiations."

Genesis finally sat at that point, but the look he shot Clarissa told her that they would be having another talk later. She barely managed to keep back her grin. It wasn't like her husband needed anything else to preen his ego. She turned back to the task at hand when Godo started speaking again.

"I will not lie and try to convince you I have not had spies in Midgar. After the surrender, I kept them there to monitor and see if there ever could be an opportunity to change the circumstances, especially after meeting you. It didn't come as a surprise when I heard that the company that tried to rule the world was suddenly changing from the inside. Very few of the reasons why trickled to me, but the rumors were enough to warrant further questions."