Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Seven: Shadows of the Light ❯ Arc One: Rebirth of ShinRa ( Chapter 14 )

Arc I: Rebirth of ShinRa

Part XIV:

Silvara could feel Ferris's eyes on her as she followed Tseng into the hallway. The detachment that she wore around her heart and mind wavered as she saw the hatred in his eyes before he stepped over the dead guard. Steeling herself, she turned her emotionless gaze back towards Tseng as he slipped up on another guard with the small knife and caught the body before it hit the ground. 'He's like me...doesn't get personal, doesn't hesitate. He just does what has to be done.'

She gave a slight nod of approval. 'That's the way it should be.' In the next room, twin daggers flashed, both hitting their marks, and the two corpses slid to the floor. Silvara arched a brow as Ferris moved to claim his dagger before she stepped forward and retrieved her own. As she knelt by the body, she noticed something on the guard's uniform and quickly removed the small plastic card clipped to the corpse's clothing.

"Tseng," her voice was barely audible as she moved over to him and gestured towards the small device by the sliding door, "a com-key." He nodded as she passed the key into his hand. 'So far so good, that should take care of the locks.' She frowned and met his gaze. 'It shouldn't be this easy. I don't like this.' Ferris made an impatient gesture and her frown deepened. 'and with him along, I can't tell if I'm just nervous or if there's actually something to be worried about.'

Ferris quickly cleaned his dagger on the guard's uniform before darting after Tseng and Silvara. Normally he didn't kill unless it was necessary but there was more at stake here than his morals. Every moment they spent in the building brought the threat of discovery, the sooner Rufus made his announcement to the people of Junon, the better.

The group would be able to drop their guard and he would be free to attend to more personal matters. Hopefully, the com-key Silvara had lifted from the guard would allow them to access the electronically sealed doors; otherwise Tseng and Silvara would have to find some way to short the power running to the locks. He frowned as he watched Silvara, she seemed nervous for some reason. He grinned, 'nice to know that something can scare her...but is it me? Or is she sensing something?'

He watched her carefully the grin fading, she was suppose to be experienced with situations like these, and as flattering as the thought was to his ego, he doubted she was reacting that way because of his presence. 'Either way, something's going on,' the bounty hunter still wore the same neutral expression but he'd caught her absently touching the leather band encircling her slender throat.

****

"GOT IT!!" Riya couldn't contain the joyful shout as the last twitch of her lock pick was rewarded by a loud click. As she hastily swung the door open, she blinked at the sudden light and grinned back at Anaimone. "C'mon!" Together, they dashed out of the mansion, Kuku loping along beside them as they made their way to the now empty courtyard. Riya glanced towards the distant Junon and cursed softly. She'd been overconfident in her abilities as a locksmith, taking the better part of two hours to finally open the locked door.

It was a relief to finally be free of the stuffy room. She smiled at Anaimone, "Sorry I took so long, I haven't had much practice lately." She sobered and met the woman's calm gaze, "I've got to go after them." A slight frown turned her mouth and her voice lowered, "If I'm right, I may be up against Rufus, the Turks...and Ferris. It's not going to be easy and I don't want you or Kuku to get hurt from trying to help me. I'm not sure how this will turn out, but I don't think you should wait here...if you want you can return to my home in the city."

She glanced back towards the city and her eyes lit on the trail of crushed grass leading across the lawn towards the gate. There were no chocobo tracks. 'That means Siydi is still hanging around...unless he decided to run off after her himself. Still, he can find her much quicker than I can.' Pursing her lips she whistled the trilling call and laughed in delight as the chocobo came racing towards her from the darkness.

Reeve walked out of front doors of the mansion to see Riya and another woman out in the front lawn. "Hello? Were you the cause of that loud noise I just heard?"

Riya jumped into the air and whirled to face the man as she heard his voice. With all that had happened to her in the last few days, it was amazing she managed to keep her hand from flying to her sword as she spoke to him. "Yes." She was momentarily distracted by the chocobo as he trotted to her side; "Reno locked us in a room upstairs."

At his surprised glance she took a step towards him. "Look, I don't have time to deal with you right now. I saw you speaking with Silvara and hanging around the Turks earlier...you probably heard something about their plans." Suspicion came into his eyes and Riya couldn't keep the anger from her voice, "My friend's life is in danger, if she dies, I'm going to kill anyone who was involved." She swung up onto Siydi's bare back, "Do you have something to tell me?"

Reeve stepped back halfway into the doorway. "I wasn't included in their plans, but if you really need to find them head for the Junon ShinRa Building." He then raised his hand to stroke his goatee. "I take you there if you wish..." he offered stepping back outside towards Riya.

Anaimone quickly decided she'd stay in Riya's home in the city. "Good plan. Stay in city, with Kuku." She said briefly before her expression deepened in concern. "You be well Riya!" She then turned to Reeve. "You too!" She turned around and darted towards the buildings in the distance, and yelled over her shoulder, "I buy food too!"

****

Tseng looked back at Silvara, then over to Ferris. There was something in the way the man kept looking at her that Tseng didn't care for, shaking his head slightly, he told himself that it didn't concern him right now and then spoke to Silvara in a low whisper, "The room beyond this one is the one we need to get in, it has two locks you'll have to do the keyed lock first then we'll override the electrical one since this card isn't cleared for this area. Ready?"

Rufus watched as Silvara and Tseng worked on the door that led to the broadcasting area. He was close to retaking one of his cities. He would show Sierra who truly ruled Junon. He was the President of Junon and the eastern continent and he would remain so. While waiting for the door to be unlocked he let himself remember the day when he first became the president of ShinRa Inc.

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Esth-Tah Compound,

Island near Mideel: Less than One year ago

Rufus walked through the halls of the Compound with Dark Nation at his side. He was glad that he had stopped those men from hurting her, and she was his most loyal and only friend here on this island compound. She showed he gratitude by becoming his bodyguard and protector. He showed his own by letting her have her own revenge on the men that had been torturing her; the three men had not been missed. He then heard running up the hall, Nation growled showing her teeth. The man that had been running rounded the corner and came to a sudden stop as he saw Dark Nation and the Vice President standing in the middle of the hallway. The man snapped a sharp salute and stood at attention until Rufus said, "What was that about? Why were you running?"

"Mr. Vice President, Sir. I was told to find you and bring you to your main office. There's this woman..." Rufus narrowed his eyes at this and the man trailed off into silence. The man nervously looked at Nation then back up at the Vice President.

"Fine, whatever. Take me to her." He said to the man disdainfully while stroking Dark Nation's head. She stopped growling at the man but didn't take her gold amber eyes off him. The man turned around to lead them back the way he had came, but looking over his shoulder at the feline as if to make sure she wasn't going to attack him from behind.

Finally they reached his main office where the most of the paperwork was done. Rufus dismissed the man and went inside. Scarlet was seated on the edge of his desk. Glaring at her he asked, "Why the hell are you here?" Scarlet slid off the desk showing leg through the tight silk red dress that was silt up to her thigh. He ignored it and waited her answer with narrowed eyes. Nation snarled at her sensing the hostile emotions between the two. Walking forward to stand in front of Rufus but far away so that Nation couldn't reach her from where she was at Rufus's side.

Glaring at Dark Nation she then looked back up at Rufus. "You father was killed tonight...by Sephiroth. You're to come at once to Midgar and take his place as President of ShinRa Inc." She turned away then and walked towards the outer door of the office leaving him alone with Dark Nation.

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Rufus looked up to see that Silvara and Tseng had managed to unlock one of the locks on the door, now all that kept them out of the area was the electric lock. He looked over at Ferris quietly to see him watching Silvara. He frowned slightly then turned to walk over to him. "You need to keep your feelings in check, not displayed for everyone to see. Raven is Silvara's friend, as well you know. Don't try anything until this is over." He whispered low into Ferris's ear.

Raven smiled when one of the doors unlocked. She watched as Rufus spoke to Fenris and then thought of the day he became president. She was there the whole time, watching from a distance. She had been in the crowd watching him in his glory. She sighed but it was cut short when she spotted a dark figure dart into the shadows.

"Elena," Raven whispered. "We're not alone in here. Let's find out who that is before they can alert anyone of our presence." Elena nodded and they both disappeared into the shadows

****

"Damn it!" Siiro grumbled when they reached the intersection. In the darkness they had not seen where they had gone.

"We lost them." Marron sighed.

"That's okay." Siiro replied. "We'll go back to the mansion and wait for them there. They will return eventually. All we have to do is wait."

***

Ferris shook his head softly and lowered his voice to a gentle murmur, "I know." He frowned at Rufus, "I gave you my word...I would never do anything to endanger your chances of reclaiming Junon." An expressionless mask fell over his face, but his amber eyes glittered angrily for a moment before the emotion faded from them, "Silvara is quite safe for the moment...my word isn't given lightly." He turned back to watch Tseng and Silvara, but his mind was elsewhere, "It ends tonight." Amber eyes locked with ocean blue, "For you, a new future...for me, a chance to break from my past. I've gone this far, even if I wanted, I couldn't just walk away. Not now. I am sorry for any pain my actions will cause, to your Raven...but it ends tonight." He smiled wryly at the slight shift in Rufus's expression and fell silent.

***

Riya smiled as she watched Anaimone and Kuku run towards the city. They'd both be safe at her home, and if all went well, they'd meet again. If not... Turning, Riya stared at the man for a moment, doubt clearly etched on her face. Their eyes locked and Riya slowly nodded, there was something about the man that made her believe him. A guide would certainly be faster than depending on Siydi to pick up Silvara. "Fine." She shifted and reached out her hand to him, "Swing up behind me, Siydi can carry double faster than we could run." Her eyes narrowed as he clasped her hand. "You'll be the first to die if this is some sort of trick." She smiled coldly, "Riya Tsaleroth."

Reeve sat down behind her on the black chocobo. "I assure you Lady Riya Tsaleroth, this isn't a trick to harm you or yours. If you wish I will even give you the key to destroy me." He said in a low whisper as he sat behind her. "Let's just say Sierra would love dearly to get his hands on a man called Reeve Tamsaien, and unfortunately I happen to be him."

Riya eyes widened she cast an astonished glance back over her shoulder at the man behind her. She understood exactly what he'd just done by revealing himself to her and couldn't think of anything to say. The anger faded from her, and concern for Silvara replaced the hard edge of suspicion in her hazel eyes, "I'm honored, now hold on."

As Reeve wrapped his arms around he narrow waist, she gently squeezed Siydi with her knees. It was all the urging the chocobo needed and he leaped forward in a ground-eating sprint that quickly carried them from the ShinRa mansion. Fortunately, she had experience riding chocobos without the benefit of a saddle, otherwise they'd have been thrown to the ground the first time Siydi leaped over a small boulder hidden in the grass. Out of consideration for the man behind her, Riya quickly tucked her long auburn hair into the neckline of her armor so it wouldn't be blown into his face. "Which way!?"

"You see the large outcropping to the left? There is a tunnel under that, I'm sure that they would've went that way since it can lead all the way into the ShinRa Building." he said in an even voice. "Though I'm afraid we'll have to get off the chocobo when we reach the intersection of the tunnel, since it narrows it would be too small in height to ride though it."

****

Silvara knelt beside Tseng, working to override the electrical device sealing the door to the broadcasting room. She'd come across something very similar to this once before, but for some reason she couldn't quite reach the tiny wire inside the locking mechanism. She hissed out a soft and very crude curse as her tiny cutters slipped and touched one of the other wires twisting around the one she was trying to snip. The shock hadn't been very strong, but it added to her general annoyance, which was what had caused her to be so sloppy in the first place. Tseng seemed amused and she grimaced apologetically as she went back to work. After taking a calming breath, Silvara gently positioned the cutters and this time there was no mistake as they bit into the wire.

She was rewarded with a faint whirring noise and another shock as the doors began to move; they slid open exactly an inch before coming to a complete halt. Tseng locked his fingers into the crack, straining to pull them open only to shake his head when they wouldn't budge. Evidently she'd have to cut a few more wires. 'To hell with that!' she thought as she turned back to Tseng, "Back up a bit." As he took a step back, Silvara placed her hand on the small device and called a small fireball. The housing and wires melted under the heat, dripping globs of burning plastic to the floor, but it had the desired effect of cutting all the power running to the doors. 'Without getting me shocked every three seconds' she thought with a grin as she wedged her fingers into the opening to help Tseng with the doors. She smiled at him as they started to give, "Not very technical, but highly effective."

Tseng shook his head then he gave Silvara a brief smile as he heard her statement. "So I see.." he said with some amusement in his voice. When the doors were fully opened he turned back to look at Rufus. "Sir, were here." Then he watched as Reno and Rude entered the room to check it out. Once Reno gave the all clear, Rufus walked past them into the room. Tseng stayed by Silvara, turning to face her again he spoke. "You're very good at this type of thing it seems, do you do it often?" he smiled at her again briefly to show he was kidding with her. He had just realized it but he was coming to like this bounty hunter in way other than respect.

*

Rufus walked past into the broadcasting room. As he walked to the front of the room he saw that Reno and Rude were setting the cameras and other things up. Rufus waited silently until they were ready then looked past the camera at Reno. "This will go on everywhere in Junon?" he asked him. Reno nodded then said.

"Even the TV's that are off will turn on and show this." Rufus nodded a brief thanks then turned to face the camera. "Three, two, one. Your on."

Rufus began the small speech he had thought about. He told the people that were most likely watching this how he was still the President and anyone caught helping Sierra would be thrown out of Junon or imprisoned and executed when they had proof of the traitorous act. He then finished it by promising to remove Sierra's men from Junon and then Sierra himself from the eastern continent. Reno looked up at Rufus.

"We're off the air now." Rufus nodded then looked around the room for Raven.

*

Tseng's smile totally disarmed the small flash of anger his question had sparked within her and she found herself grinning back at him. The smile had done wonderful things for him, even if it had been just a brief flash quickly buried under his usual neutral expression. 'He'd be cute if he'd smile more.'

The thought brought a light wash of color to her cheeks and she laughed to cover her embarrassment. "Well you weren't so bad yourself." Her voice turned warm with laughter and her eyes sparkled with mischief, "Gotta admit, it was interesting working with the famous Tseng, maybe I should sign up to join the Turks?" She flashed him a saucy wink, "Bet Rufus would love that."

The teasing smile and playful mood disappeared as Ferris brushed past them into the room and she sighed wearily. "I guess it's time." Silvara turned to enter the room, listening to Rufus's terse speech promising to overthrow Sierra and warning the people that he was still their leader. It sounded a little arrogant to her but she supposed that just came naturally to people born into power.

She shrugged. 'Still, it was impressive...I bet Sierra's men are going completely...' She caught Rufus's questioning glance as he looked around the room, 'what's he looking for?' She took a quick glance around herself and realized Raven and the blonde Turk were nowhere to be seen. 'Not again! Are they lost somewhere or did we miss a guard along the way?!' She glanced over at Tseng, "Raven and Blondie aren't here, did you notice them leave?"

Tseng's eyes narrowed as he scanned the room for a sign of Elena or Raven. "No, I didn't." He then looked over at Fenris silently before looking back at Silvara. Speaking in a low whisper meant for her ears alone, he asked. "No offense, but if I leave the two.." He glanced over at Fenris. ".. of you alone here, will you be all right? I would like to speak with you later.. perhaps over dinner?"

Silvara understood his question about Ferris felt a flash of annoyance. Matching his soft voice she answered, "Well I do take.." his second question registered and her biting retort faded as she met his eyes. She blushed. Silvara was mortified by the wash of heat on her face and didn't know which was worse, that she was actually blushing or that she was suddenly ridiculously pleased by his concern.

To cover her flustered reaction, she idly brushed a lock of emerald hair from her eyes before she answered him in a soft voice. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I can take care of myself." She smiled softly, answering his second question, "I think I'd like that, Tseng." The blush returned and Silvara shook her head in annoyance, "Hurry up and go find them before I make a fool of myself." She hadn't realized that she'd spoken her thought aloud until he laughed and Silvara groaned as her blush deepened.