Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Chapter 16: The Search

The phone rang. And rang. And rang. And finally dumped him into the voicemail system again. Reno scowled at his PHS, and had to forcibly stop himself from flinging it across the room in frustration. He knew it was futile… the others would have been trying to reach Rude, too, and obviously they’d had just as much luck as he’d had. But given that it was about the only damn thing he could do at the moment, he persisted in calling ever couple of minutes, anyway.

Tseng had broken the news to him not even half an hour ago… and then had rushed back to Midgar to help look for the missing Turk. And as much as Reno had wanted him to stay, he wanted his friend found more. Besides… the Doc was taking him back to Midgar, soon, too, anyway. He’d just have to be patient.

He fucking hated being patient. Especially when he was a patient. It was a double dose of two of the things he hated most in life.

Reno was pretty sure there wasn’t anything he loathed more than being in the hospital and knowing that someone he cared about was in trouble. It had happened a couple of times before today… the worst example of which being his bout of appendicitis while Tseng had been off dealing with the fallout from his sister’s death. It left him feeling helpless and useless… and scared and alone.

And how in the hell could Rude just… vanish? The guy was huge. Well… compared the redhead, anyway. He could kick ass like nobody’s business… and yet somehow he just walks down an alley and disappears?

It had to have been planned. It just had to be. Rude was a fucking Turk, for Shiva’s sake. He wouldn’t get taken down by some random lowlife slum rat in Wall Market. He knew how to watch his back. He knew how to tell when someone was following him. Whoever had taken him had to have done it completely out of the blue. An ambush… or maybe some kinda ruse.

He sighed and wished that there was something – anything – he could do. Reno eyed his phone, thinking for a moment. Maybe there was…

The redhead dialed again… but a different number this time. It was the middle of the day, so she was probably busy, but hopefully she’d check her voicemail on her next break. He was, therefore, a little surprised when the call was answered on the very first ring, and a familiar voice greeted him.

“Hey, you…” Lira giggled, and he could literally hear the wide grin in her voice, “You miss me or somethin’? ‘Cause I’m off a little early tonight…”

“Heh… Normally, I’d take ya up on that offer. But that’s not why I’m callin’,” said Reno. “I need a favor…”

“Like I said… I’m off a little early tonight,” the woman teased, and had the situation not been so dire, he would have laughed.

“I’m serious, Lira. I need a big favor. Rude’s missin’. He disappeared this mornin’ down in the Market.”

His friend was silent for a moment. “What is it you want me to do?” she asked, a little nervously.

“Nothin’ that’s gonna getcha in trouble… Just… ya know, ask around. Quietly. See if any of the girls down there mighta seen what happened to him, or overheard someone talkin’ about takin’ down a Turk.”

“O-okay, Reno. Sure. I can do that. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.”

“Thanks, Lira… I owe ya big for this.”

“Damn right, you do… and I intend to collect,” she replied, somewhat teasingly, before turning serious, “Don’t worry. I know all biggest gossips around here. If anyone knows anything, I’ll find out.”

The redhead smiled in spite of himself. “You’re the best, Lira.”

“And don’t you forget it!”

He briefly considered letting her know what had happened to him,as well… but ultimately said his goodbyes and hung up before he could regale her with that nightmare of a story. He didn’t want her worrying about him. He was fine. Rude was the one who needed help.

Once he’d ended the call, he laid there for a few minutes, just staring at the device in silence. It took a great deal of effort to resist dialing Rude’s number again. He sighed in defeat, and hoped that he would hear from Lira or Tseng or… anyone… soon. Preferably good news. The door to his room opened and Dr. Ward entered, accompanied by a handful of additional personnel.

“Alright, yeh little troublemaker,” she began, striding purposefully across the room, and pausing at his bedside, “No giving the medical staff a hard time. We don’t have the time fer jokes. I had ta call in a favor or two ta get yeh onta the next transport ta Midgar and we’ve got exactly six and a half minutes ta get yeh packaged up and ready ta go because they’re not going ta wait fer us…”

Reno blinked in surprise.

“We’re leavin’ now?” he queried, decidedly pleased by the news. He’d thought he’d be stuck waiting half the damn day.

“Not if we don’t make that flight. Now, yeh behave ‘n let these lovely medics do their jobs. I’ll have none ‘o yer usual gripes.”

For once, the redhead was only too happy to comply with the doctor’s instructions.

---

“But… why can’t I help?” Liam asked, as he trailed Sato down the hallway. Both Sykes and Petra had already been sent off join the search, and now Sato was leaving, as well… but Liam was being left behind. The senior Turk shook his head and sighed, but didn’t slow his pace.

“Because yer not ready ta be in the field yet,” he responded, before finally stepping into his office and collecting an empty bag… which he then proceeded to fill with any number of what the youngest of the rookies could only surmise were improvised explosives. The rookie raised an eyebrow.

“… What are you going to do with all that?”

“I dunnae know yet, now, do I?” Sato replied, pausing a moment, to apparently consider the benefits of the – obviously modified – grenade in his hand before shrugging and tucking it into the bag as well, “Yeh never know what sort o’ things yeh might need ’til yeh need ’em.” The senior Turk finished up and turned to him. “I know it’s a right pain in the arse, bein’ stuck here at headquarters… but Wall Market’s no place fer a wee rookie who’s only been on the job a few weeks.”

“That may be the most sensible thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth, Sato…” a voice interrupted, before Liam could comment further. The rookie jumped with a squeak of surprise, turning to find Tseng standing directly behind him. “Is Veld still with the Board?”

“Aye… Checked in a wee bit ago. There’s apparently goin’ ta be some big ta do happenin’ in Wutai with the opening of the new reactor next month and they need Veld ta give ’em options on security right bloody now fer some Titan-forsaken reason…”

“The others have already left for the Slums, then, I take it?”

Sato nodded. “Sent the rookies off ta meet up with Remy ‘n Cissnei right after I called yeh. Just got the okay from Veld ta join ’em myself ‘n leave the newbie in charge ‘o the office.”

“Sir… Isn’t there anything I can do to help?” Liam interjected. He understood why he wasn’t being tapped to assist in the search down below… but surely there was something he could do instead of sitting around being useless. Tseng started to voice a denial, and then seemed to reconsider.

“… Actually… I do havea job for you,” he replied. “Reno is still in Junon, but will be returning to Midgar in due course. I’d like you to meet him at Midgar General and… keep him in line and out of trouble if at all possible.” The Wutaiian Turk smirked slightly. “If he complains, you may inform him that I’ve ordered you to babysit and that you have my express permission to use whatever means necessary to insure that he behaves himself. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to check in on Kai and update her on the current situation, as well.”

Liam blinked, slightly confused. “Babysit, sir?”

“Reno is… not typically most pleasant of patients,” Tseng replied, and Sato cackled in response.

“If that’un ain’t the understatement of the century…” he snickered.

“He occasionally needs a reminder to be civil. Just try and keep him from irritating the medical staff too much, please. Dr. Ward is attending him, but I doubt she can be present in the room every second.”

“Er… yes, sir…” Liam said, somewhat dubiously. He wasn’t entirely convinced that this “assignment” wasn’t just meant to keep him from going stir crazy – after all, why would a senior Turk need a babysitter? – but at least it was something to do.

Besides… he’d been worried about his fellow Turk since they’d heard he’d been injured. And he had intended to visit Kai tonight, anyway…

---

The distant voices he’d been hearing off and on for the last little while were moving now. Towards him, he was almost certain… though they certainly didn’t seem to be in any hurry. Rude strained to pick out the actual words, but it was difficult. They were still muffled. He did, however, distinctly hear a loud laugh.

The Turk frowned, and warily eyed to door to his little prison. He’d managed, over the last half hour or so, to work one wrist free of the shackles that kept him restrained… though his partial freedom had come at a rather painful price. He was pretty sure it had resulted in a broken, or at least badly sprained, thumb – how Tseng managed that little trick without causing himself permanent damage was a mystery to him… – and he hadn’t dared attempt it with the other hand.

Still… one free hand was better than nothing. He had hoped, initially, that having a better angle on it would let him pull the chain from the loop anchoring it to the wall… or perhaps, more accurately, pull the loop itself loose… but it had proven surprisingly solid.

He sighed and shook his head. There had to be another way. The voices outside drew closer until he could finally make out what they were saying.

“Think the fucker’s awake yet?” one man asked.

“Tch… hard as you walloped him? Fuckin’ bastard’s probably dead by now. Which is okay by me… Saves me the trouble of doin’ it myself later.”

Rude’s eye narrowed. He knew that voice. He’d only spoken to him a few times, and it had always been on the phone, but he recognized it nonetheless. It was the son of a bitch he was supposed to have been meeting this morning. So… it had all been a setup.

A key turned in the lock and Rude hurried to hide his handiwork as best he could and laid down on the floor, feigning unconsciousness. The door creaked on its hinges as it swung inward and someone stepped inside.

“Heh… See? Told ya that ya scrambled the fucker’s brains.”

His partner in crime laughed. “Man… when the boss said he wanted us to take out a goddamn Turk, I thought this job was gonna be hard. You think this plan of his is actually gonna work?”

“It’s workin’ so far, ain’t it?” the first assailant replied. He kicked sharply at Rude’s side, and the Turk had to force himself to remain still and unresponsive in spite of the suddenly pain. “Tch… Good thing we don’t need a live one.”

His footsteps retreated and the door shut behind him. Rude heard the click of the lock, but still waited several seconds before finally sitting up. He winced as his recently abused ribs protested.

What the hell was Corneo playing at, sending his men to kidnap… and apparently kill… a Turk? Rude just couldn’t see the logic in it. He had to know that Veld would never let something like this just slide, now matter how much power the Don wielded down here.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and got to his feet. Right now, the why didn’t matter. If he didn’t find a way out of here soon, he was a dead man. His captors had made that much, at least, perfectly clear.

---

Liam peered into the room, not entirely certain if he should knock first, or simply walk in. The door was open, after all. Mostly. He’d just decided that, if nothing else, the polite thing would be to knock… when Kai turned towards him, scowling at first, before recognition dawned and her face split into a wide grin.

“Finally! One of my baby Turklings came to visit!” she said, enthusiastically. Liam smiled slightly himself and slipped into the room.

“Yes, ma’am…” he replied and Kai rolled her eyes.

“Would you quit it with that yes, ma’am crap already?” the injured Turk groused, groping for the little remote by her side and pressing the button that raised her up a bit in bed. “Ugh… Thank Holy they finally let me out of that Shiva-be-damned contraption earlier. Do you have any idea how boring staring up at the ceiling all day is?”

“No, ma’am…” Liam said, automatically, and then flushed bright pink, as he realized she’d literally just asked him not to do that not ten seconds ago. “Er… I mean… No. I don’t. But it sounds prettyboring.”

“So…” Kai said, looking at him intently, “You’re not here just to get out of gauntlet training, are you? Because I distinctly remember telling Veld to make sure someone put you rookies through your paces while I’m out.”

“Er… n-no. Actually, I’m here because Tseng sent me to check on Reno. But he’s not here just yet.”

The senior Turk blinked. “Reno?” Her eyes suddenly narrowed, suspiciously. “What happened to Reno?”

“To be honest, I’m not really sure. We kept asking, but no one would tell us much, and then the whole thing with Rude… and all I really know is that he was injured on a mission in Junon… and then Veld got called up to meet with the executive board and everyone else went to Wall Market!” he proclaimed as some of the building frustration from that morning finally boiled over. He was vaguely aware that he was rambling and likely not making a lot of sense, but he couldn’t quite stop himself. Kai blinked again and motioned for him to come closer.

“Poor baby Turkling… What in Hades’ name did I miss?” she asked, a slightly mystified expression on her face. Liam finally took a breath and started from the beginning.

“Okay… so… Reno and Tseng and a former Turk named Ashland went off to Junon for a mission this morning and Reno got hurt, but Tseng said he’s doing okay, and that he’s on his way here, now. But Rude went missing down in Wall Market, so everyone basically dropped what they were doing to go look for him,” he explained… and then added, with no small amount of annoyance, “Except me, because apparently I’m ‘not ready to be in the field yet’… So Tseng sent me here to babysit Reno and check in on you.”

“Ugh… I told Veld that sending Reno on that dive was going to bite us in the ass. He hasn’t had nearly enough training for that sort of work!” the senior Turk ground out, angrily. “And now Rude’s missing?”

Liam nodded in confirmation and Kai sighed.

“I just knew my day was shaping up to be much too pleasant…” she muttered, before forcing herself further upright and wincing as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

“And just where d’yeh think yer going?” a somewhat familiar lilt demanded from the doorway, and Liam turned away from the senior Turk just in time to see one of Shinra’s medical staff striding quickly into the room. She was the older doctor from the Medical Suite on the ninth floor. Warren or Ward or something along those lines. He hadn’t personally been a patient of hers as of yet. All he really knew about her was that… she was a little scary.

“To make a phone call,” Kai replied, stubbornly, “In case you haven’t heard, your favorite patient got hurt on the job today.”

The doctor folded her arms over her chest.

“Of course I’ve heard. Where do yeh think I’ve been all afternoon?” she said and then motioned to someone in the hallway. “By the way… yer getting a roommate.”

Liam had to shift off to one side as a gurney bearing a particularly annoyed-looking redhead was wheeled in… though his expression softened a bit when he spotted the two Turks in the room. He was a bit of a mess, the rookie noted, with angry red marks that covered the lower half of his face, and his hands, as well… almost like burns, though not blistered like he would have expected burns to be. He was quickly transferred to the empty bed on the other side of the room, and the orderlies that had brought him took their leave.

“What in the Nine Hells happened to you?” Kai asked, asked when they were gone, “I thought this was a diving accident!”

“Tch… if by ‘diving accident’ you mean gettin’ attacked by some kinda poisonous jelly monster… then, yeah, I guess you could call it a diving accident. Remind me again why we keep Hojo ‘n his goddamn experiments around?”

Kai shook her head in disgust. “Ugh… you, too, huh? That son of a bitch is going to single-handedly take out half the team by this time next week at this rate.”

“Alright, enough…” the doctor cut in. “Kai… back in bed, this instant. Yer not meant ta be up and about yet. Reno… lay back and relax. And… just who are yeh?”

She eyed the young rookie somewhat suspiciously, and Liam shrank slightly under her gaze. Kai snickered as she obeyed the doctor’s order and climbed back into bed.

“Oh… that’s Liam,” the senior Turk replied, grinning, “He’s the fresh meat.”

“Ah… right, yer newest rookie,” she nodded, clucking her tongue, in what Liam strongly suspected was disapproval as she shook her head, “Younger ‘n younger…”

Reno rolled his eyes. “Come on, Doc… Kid’s like two years older than I was when I got recruited…”

“Hmph! And yeh were hardly more than a wee babe yerself, back then,” the doctor shot back, and turned to Liam, “Well… In any case, I’m Dr. Ward. It’s nice ta finally meet yeh properly. Just here ta say hello ta this pain in my backside then?” She nodded towards Kai.

“Er… Actually… Tseng sent me to check on Reno and… um… babysit?” he replied, and couldn’t help back feel a little silly repeating the Turk lieutenant’s choice of words. The redhead scowled and rolled his eyes a second time… and Kai broke out into nearly uncontrollable laughter.

“And Veld keeps trying to tell me that you’re not my little baby Turkling anymore…” she teased, and Liam cringed slightly as the redhead’s irritation noticeably deepened. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that last bit…

“Kai, I fuckin’ swear, you keep callin’ me that and I’ll –” Reno growled, only to have his threat drowned out as the laughter continued… leaving the redhead to glare sulkily at her until she quieted down a few moments later. “You finished yet?”

Kai sniggered softly, but didn’t otherwise reply.

“Tch… good,” Reno muttered, before turning on Liam, “There any word on Rude yet?”

“Er… no, sir. Not really. Remy and Cissnei found evidence that he may have been ambushed, but that’s the latest I’ve heard. Everyone’s down below, looking for him.”

The older Turk deflated slightly at the news, but only sighed.

“Right… both of yeh, lay down and get some rest,” Ward said during the lull in conversation that followed, “Reno, yer due fer another dose of the anti-toxin soon. I’m going ta go and see if it’s arrived yet. And… Liam was it?” The rookie nodded and she smirked slightly. “Keep an eye on him fer me. Nothing but trouble, that one…”

“Remind me to fuckin’ murder Tseng later. Tch… babysitter…” the redhead muttered to no one in particular as he finally settled back against the pillows.

---

Lira tapped softly on the heavy wooden door that led to Rose’s office in one of the Honeybee’s side corridors. A moment later, a voice from within called out, telling her to enter.

“Rose? Er… Could I ask a favor?” she queried, slipping inside and shutting the door firmly behind her. She’d talked to all of the girls, but none of them had seen or heard anything about a Turk disappearing in Wall Market.

“‘Course, darlin’… One of the regulars causin’ trouble for ya again?” the matron of the brothel answered, smiling at her. Lira couldn’t help by smile back. Rose always looked out for. She looked out for all the girls. The woman didn’t tolerate trouble under her roof, and dealt with anyone, customer or employee, who violated her house rules swiftly and harshly.

“No… It’s not a customer. A friend of mine… well… a friend of his went missing this morning somewhere in the sector.”

Rose raised an eyebrow. “Honey, let’s not beat around the bush. I know all about your friends. This has somethin’ to do with that Turk of yours, don’t it? The little redhead that brought ya here?”

“Yes, ma’am…”

“And I suppose the one that’s come up missing is workin’ for Shinra, as well…”

Lira nodded. “Yeah. He’s a Turk, too.”

“Lira, honey… you know how I feel ’bout gettin’ involved with Shinra… ‘specially the Turks. I don’t say anything against you hangin’ around with one of ’em on your own time, ’cause I know you two are close… but we work for Don Corneo, and the Don don’t like those bastards sniffin’ around down here.”

“I know. But Reno’s – he’s not officially askin’ for help on behalf of Shinra or the Turks. He’s just askin’ a friend for a favor,” she said, hurriedly, and sighed, “But… no one seems ta know anything. I just thought that maybe you’d heard somethin’.”

Rose shook her head. “‘Fraid not, darlin’. And even if I had… I have to admit, I’d be a little hesitant to share. Don’t sound like there’s any good in it for us.”

Lira’s shoulders drooped in defeat. She’d kind of expected that reaction. Rose didn’t do anything that might cause her or the Honeybee’s girls problems… unless the benefits significantly outweighed the risks. She wasn’t above passing on information to Shinra’s Turks on the rare occasion they came calling, but only when there was a clear gain in it. There didn’t seem to be any gain at all in helping them now.

“Hmm…” Rose hummed softly, and Lira glanced up at her, “A Turk goin’ missin’ in our own backyard, though… That ain’t good for business, either. Sounds like somethin’ maybe the Don oughta be made aware of… assumin’ he ain’t already aware of it for one reason or another. I’ll pass it along… just in case he ain’t.” She paused momentarily, before adding, “‘Course… if your missin’ Turk’s gone ‘n got himself on the Don’s bad side, there’s nothing you or I can do ’bout that.”

“Thanks, Rose,” Lira replied with a relieved smile. The woman was right of course… If Rude’s disappearance had been orchestrated by Corneo, he was likely already dead, and digging any deeper than she already had might put her in the same state if she wasn’t careful. But if Corneo wasn’t behind it… well, he probably wouldn’t be too happy with the responsible party when he found out who it was.

“Tell your Turk friend you ain’t heard nothin’ for now. It’s true enough, anyway. I learn anything I think’s safe to pass on, I’ll let ya know.”

Lira nodded, and taking that as her dismissal, made her way back out to the Honeybee’s foyer.

“Ugh… About time!”

Lira turned and saw her friend Meika storming towards her, the antennae of her bee costume waving wildly above her head.

“Seriously, Lira! Where have you been? We’ve had clients waiting in the Group Room for like five minutes now, and you know they don’t tip as well if we keep ’em waitin’ too long! Come on, already!”

“Sorry, sorry… I’m comin’…” she groaned, and hurried after her.

~end chapter 16~