Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 25

Scene Notes: Tseng is one of the few people who occasionally gets to see the softer side of Rufus. This is what he was doing in Junon for those few days after Lira had been rescued.

From Chapter 40: Lira:

Rude shook his head. “He’s out. Took Elena with him, too.”

“Out where? We get an assignment while I was gone?”

“Junon… Rufus sent for him. Told him to bring a copilot, so I’m guessing Tseng will be sending Elena back without him.”

The redhead went still, looking up at Rude in no small amount of horror. “She’s flyin’ solo again?”

Rude shrugged. “Best guess. Not like she hasn’t done it before…”

“Once!” Reno nearly shouted, looking decidedly nervous all of a sudden, “She’s done it once! Why the fuck didn’t he take you with him if he knew he was stayin’ behind?”

The bald Turk couldn’t help but snicker quietly before answering. “Probably because she’s only done it once. Needs to log more solo hours to qualify for her certification.”

---

Tseng stared out across the narrow band of mountains that separated Junon from Midgar. He’d been like that for much of the trip.

“Sir?”

Most of the last half hour had been spent wondering what Rufus wanted him for. He’d been… insistent… when they’d spoken earlier. In fact, had the Turk leader not acquiesced relatively quickly, he was fairly certain the younger man would have simply ordered him to drop whatever he was doing and report to Junon. Such urgency, though not unheard of, was rare for the vice president.

“Sir… ?”

He pulled himself from this thoughts, and turned his gaze on the rookie. “I’m sorry, Elena… I’m afraid I wasn’t paying attention.”

“I was just asking if you could tell me what we’re doing yet, sir…”

Tseng sighed, frowning. “If I knew, Elena, I would be more than happy to inform you. Rufus didn’t tell me,either… which, frankly, is why I’ve been so distracted. I’m not certain if this is just another way to amuse himself, or an actual emergency. Though I suppose I should just be glad that he’s where he is supposed to be for once…”

The executive’s unannounced excursions had quite abruptly ceased after the recent attempt on his life… a respite Tseng was immeasurably grateful for. But at the same time, he was certain his young charge was more than capable of finding something that would ultimately become a headache for the Turks right there in Junon. He wasn’t entirely looking forward to finding out what that might be, and given how eventful this week had been already, he hoped that it wouldn’t be today.

The helicopter ascended to clear a ridge, and the military base came into view. Whatever Rufus was plotting now, they’d find out soon enough.

Elena had lapsed into silence. Apparently his mood was contagious… either that, or the rookie simply didn’t feel it was her place to intrude any further. Tseng smiled slightly to himself. Had he brought Rude with him, the conversation would likely have been just as non-existent. The man was truly gifted when it came to silence, and the rookie, in spite of her mentor, seemed to have picked up some of Rude’s habits. Reno, of course, would likely have been talking since take-off… though, he mused, perhaps not today. The redhead had other things on his mind at the moment.

The Turk leader sat up as he spotted Junon’s airstrip, and near the far end, the line of empty helipads. He was only vaguely aware of Elena’s request for landing clearance, focused far more intently on the white-clad figure that awaited them below. Tseng’s frown deepened. Rufus had never bothered to meet him on the airstrip before. What was going on?

When the helicopter finally landed, he was out of his seat and sliding the door open before the engines even had the chance to fully wind down.

“Sir,” he said, with a slight nod of his head.

“Your pilot needs to work on her airspeed. I expected you here five minutes ago,” the executive replied as Elena joined him. Tseng relaxed slightly. If Rufus had time to criticize the young woman, whatever it was he’d been summoned to deal with couldn’t be especially pressing.

“Yes, sir… I’ll make a note of that.”

Elena shot him a slightly indignant look, but said nothing… which seemed to disappoint Rufus a bit. Tseng mentally chuckled. Apparently, Reno had shared with his rookie his own personal method of dealing with the man and Elena was putting it to good use.

“At least she managed to keep the aircraft in one piece,” Rufus sighed, “Come with me. I haven’t got all day.”

The vice president turned sharply on his heel leading them, not towards the administrative complex, as Tseng had expected him to, but rather towards one of the large hangers where Shinra’s aircraft were built and maintained.

“I expect you can keep your mouth shut…” he continued, this time directing his comments exclusively at the rookie.

“Yes, sir,” Elena automatically responded, and Tseng was a little surprised to see a somewhat amused expression cross her face for a moment.

“Good. I don’t want either of your cohorts back in Midgar finding out about this just yet… nor do I want anyone else hearing about it, ever.”

The two Turks followed him through one of the massive hanger doors. The interior was brightly lit by huge lamps that hung from the ceiling. Several small planes and helicopters were scattered about in varying states of repair, but much of the space was occupied by what looked to be a new airship under construction. For a moment, Tseng assumed that was what Rufus had planned on showing them… though he had no idea why. Construction was hardly any concern of the Turks, unless something went missing. But the executive continued past the structure, heading for a back corner that had been blocked off by long curtains.

“I had intended to simply have it delivered to Midgar… but I realized that a few items should probably have some additional input before they’re finalized,” Rufus said, pushing aside the curtain and vanishing behind it.

Elena glanced over at him curiously and he shrugged. He still had no idea what Rufus was up to. But there was really only one way to find out. Tseng brushed past the curtain, stepping into the enclosed space.

When did so, he came to such an abrupt halt that Elena very nearly walked straight into him.

“Sir?” he queried, somewhat shocked by what he was looking at.

“In spite of my father’s orders that I be kept in the dark about current happenings in Midgar, the new girl let it slip to me about the attempted attack on Shinra Headquarters. As I understand it, your recent injuries were a direct result of preventing it from happening. As was the loss of my little gift to you.”

Tseng glanced back at the rookie, who only then seemed to have realized that she’d unintentionally violated a direct standing order from the president… Elena’s face had gone red, and she looked vaguely horrified. Rufus, meanwhile, appeared to be decidedly pleased by her sudden discomfort.

“I think that you, Reno, and I will be having a little discussion about protocol when we return to headquarters,” he chastised her, though he couldn’t help but feel a bit hypocritical saying it. He made it a point to keep the young executive in the loop as much as possible… though his own methods of doing so were significantly more subtle.

“Yes, sir,” the rookie squeaked and Tseng had to fight the urge to laugh. He shook his head and turned back to the vice president.

“You didn’t have to do this.”

Rufus snorted softly. “Of course I didn’t have to. I merely felt like it. It provided me with a desperately needed distraction from the monotony of exile.”

Tseng smirked slightly to himself. Trust Rufus to make an extravagant gift all about him rather than the recipient. His hand glided carefully over the flawless black paint and along the sleek curve of the car’s hood. Though still recognizable, there were a number of subtle visual differences from the original… and probably more, he mused, that he couldn’t see.

“You may go now. Tseng will be remaining in Junon to see to the final details,” Rufus said, dismissing the rookie. “This is not to be discussed until it has arrived in Midgar. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Elena replied. She looked briefly to Tseng, who nodded his own dismissal, and left the hanger, heading back to the helicopter.

“There are a still a number of decisions to be made. I suggest we discuss them over lunch.”

“Of course, sir,” Tseng replied, smiling faintly. He followed the younger man back in the direction they’d come. “This was very kind of you.”

Rufus paused for a moment. “You are perhaps the only person on the planet who would describe me as ‘kind’…” he said with a feigned sneer. “But I did want to be certain that you knew your efforts were… appreciated.”

“Thank you, sir.” Where Rufus was concerned, that had never been in question. Though, Tseng had to admit, it was nice to actually hear him say so.

The vice president turned and resumed his stroll towards the administrative complex. “Just… try not to blow this one up.”

~fin~