3rd POV:
There was no mention of Hollander and Nox was not about to wait around and diddle his thumbs...nor was he about to go out and look for a needle in the haystack.
So...if he wants a second opinion aside from Reeve Tuesti in regards to the Fusion Reactor Deigns he either needs to snoop around to scout people or invest in people.
Sure, it may take a while till people finish their education, but even if they can't make any input to the Fusion Reactor Designs they can be put to work on other projects. And there needed a lot to be done if humanity wanted to become sustainable.
Then again it really didn't matter what they wanted, Nox will force them if they refused.
So, Nox cracked his fingers, time to get to work.
He may make it look effortless in dancing around the Turks and making Shinra and them dance to Nox' tune instead, but it takes a lot of 'rounds' to get the desirable outcome.
Credit where credit was due, they were good.
But he was better.
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''Cissnei, you're the one that can be the most inconspicuous and inviting because of your friendly appearance. I want you to go to Sector 8 and pretend to be one of the slum dwellers,'' Tseng began the minute they entered his office.
''Got it. What will I be looking for?,'' Cissnei asked him. They were already informed of what their official duties were, to look for the whistleblower and that woman in the ad, but Tseng could not shake his gut instinct that someone was playing an elaborate game.
And even without it, he would be remiss not to pay attention to Sector 8 after what happened.
''Nothing explicit. But keep your eyes and ears sharp for anything that you deem suspicious. I will leave the matter to your discretion considering you will be working alone, at least until we solve this mess. Considering that, do not take any unnecessary risks, since it is not an official assignment,'' Tseng explained.
''Understood,'' Cissnei nodded.
''Good. Reno, Rude, come with me then,'' Tseng ordered them walking out of his office again, Cissnei being left alone to go to her own assignment.
---
She was here for around a week trying to make herself seem small.
There was this...oppressive tense atmosphere in the Sector 8 slums and she felt like there were eyes watching her everywhere she walked. Or maybe that was just her, considering the rest looked pretty motivated.
She avoided interacting with anyone immediately and just focused on making her home, so that she could be seen like someone who was busy. If she just appeared and started asking questions then the jig would be up immediately.
...
There was movement in the Slums. A lot of it. Far more then would usually be the case.
And the most particular observation she made was that the Construction Company, that the Gainsboroughs had a small stake in, started building in certain areas. It started small at first, but now she was really noticing it.
Someone... someone was investing a lot of money in this area and she wondered if it was the same in Sector 4.
Well, now she had at least one lead. Follow the trail of money and they may have their guy or group.
Clean up was underway too and everyone took part in it. Transporting what little garbage they could as a group and letting machinery do the rest. All of the garbage went into trucks to be disposed or stored somewhere. Question was only where.
Cissnei frowned. There was a lot of activity here and she needed to be careful what she asked first and what she shouldn't ask at all. At least not until the people know her more properly and are willing to answer her questions.
Revealing that she didn't know something may sabotage her, considering the people had their orders...somehow. They didn't look confused, that is.
And if she is particularly lucky, she may pick up a henchmen or thug that she can follow back to whoever was running the show now.
Because as things stand, aside form the investments, whoever was running the show went radio silent. Which begged the question, how they gave the aforementioned orders to every Sector 8 slum dweller.
Cissnei moved to stand in line to a small street vendor.
''Hello! I would like one hot dog please,'' Cissnei cheerfully requested.
The vendor looked past her and ignored her.
''How many hot dogs do you two want?,'' asked the vendor.
''Well, I don't know. What do you say, buddy?,'' asked the father who was carrying his son on his shoulder.
''Hmm. I want... TWO!,'' the boy called out, showing two fingers making his father chuckle.
''I guess you are a growing boy. Then we would like three hot dogs, please,'' the father told the vendor who nodded and got to work.
''Uhm, excuse me? I was before you in the line,'' Cissnei addressed the man.
He ignored her.
''Daddy, why are we ignoring her?,'' asked the child.
''Because she is new here and what did I tell you about strangers?,'' the father replied.
''Not to talk to them!,'' the boy repeated seriously.
''Indeed, I'm proud of you, buddy. Thank you,'' the father said and handed the vendor the money.
''Next!,'' the vendor.
''I would like one hot dog, please,'' Cissnei tried again.
''We would like 4 hot dogs please,'' came the voice behind her. Cissnei looked behind herself to see a man and a woman.
''Coming right up,'' the vendor replied making Cissnei scowl. She walked away from the situation.
Could it be... No, no way. No one could inform every single dweller of something without making a mistake or someone slipping up and revealing something.
And besides she was careful. There was no way her disguise already blew up.
So... could it be that the new one(s) in power spread some sort of doctrine of behavior.
Those you don't know well, you shall not talk too? That kind of thing.
Maybe, if she tried her luck a few more times and somewhere else?
...
By now, she was already two weeks down here.
They treated her like she was non-existent.
The worst offense was a day ago, when someone was cleaning something and throwing metal down on the ground and she got too close. It nearly crushed her and the man yelled neither a warning out, nor did he apologize.
And those close nearby during that situation didn't react at all to her nearly getting crushed to death.
Unless...it was an assassination attempt.
Cissnei scowled. They totally knew, somehow, that she was a Turk or at least someone here to investigate. And the way things slowly are turning out, this mission is becoming hazardous for her.
Well, she wouldn't return completely empty handed at least.
---
Tseng frowned.
The 'whistleblower' was a high ranking scientist in the Weapons Development Department.
'Whistleblower' because while he had the means and the motive, things just...didn't add up, despite the, admittedly, small incriminating evidence pointing at him.
The scientist was reported by other scientist to be displeased with Scarlet and was, at least outside her hearing range, vocal about her 'ineptitude' and 'incompetence'. He was also high enough and competent enough of a scientist that he oversaw some projects and yet he took none of the credit, since his achievements were attributed to Scarlet.
He HAD the motive, yet he vehemently proclaimed his innocence while he was dragged away and investigating Recording Studios all around Midgar showed that none of them knew such a woman as in the video. Or that their equipment was used to make that video. Unless, whoever was responsible, broke in and used the equipment without authorization, but there was not evidence to support that.
High enough that he wasn't TOO important, but not high enough that he wouldn't be missed if he disappeared. The man was a good scientist. Was it... an attempt to sabotage them from within? Divide and conquer? That kind of thing.
If that was the case, then they may very well be dealing with a new enemy. That is not the kind of behavior that fit AVALANCHES Modus operandi. But ... there was no evidence to support that, so he kept his suspicions only to himself and didn't share them with anyone, not even the President.
And the less said about the brief server shutdown the better. That area had cameras everywhere and tight security and yet NOTHING was recorded and nor was there an alarm trigger or video recording cuts to suggest someone tampered with the tapes.
Weeks spent on this case and he had nothing to show for it. Shinra was... somewhat pleased that they caught the culprit, through Tseng wondered if he settled for just wanting someone to blame in all this. But Shinra did expect to find the one responsible for the server shutdown.
As far as Tseng was concerned, this case was not closed, at least not the once concerning the 'whistleblower'. Something just stank.
''Enter,'' Tseng called out from his seat when someone knocked at his office door.
''Ah, Cissnei. Did you find out anything that you came so quickly back from your task?,'' Tseng asked her politely.
''Can you call Reno and Rude? You want to hear this,'' she asked him.
Tsenf frowned, but got out his PHS and began writing a message.
...
''They probably knew I was there to snoop around from the very beginning. NO ONE paid attention to me, they acted as if I was a ghost or dead,'' Cissnei reported with frustration.
Tseng did not mind her lashing out during the reporting. If what she was saying was true, then she was isolated in a way that was mentally damaging.
''Then why let you buy and build your home at all?,'' Rude asked.
''Money well spent?,'' Reno suggested.
''No, I didn't speak with anyone or buy anything. I just found an abandoned home and spent some time setting up base. THEN I tried interacting with the people,'' Cissnei elaborated.
''Alright. Then what have you found out?,'' Tseng asked.
''Not much. Someone is investing in the Slums. Huts and decrepit buildings are being torn down, new buildings are being constructed, the trash down there is being cleaned and being transported, probably to the Sector 2 Slums or better yet trash disposal sector, considering no one lives there and only the workers go there to sort and process the trash.
I tried overhearing the people, but they don't talk about who the new mob boss or gang is at all. Nor about the investments and the construction. I... I have never seen someone hold control over an area like this before. The only ones I may have tricked into revealing something were the children, but their parents were never far away and soon enough they too learned to ignore me,'' Cissnei explained with frustration.
''That... is impossible. No one can make such a large group keep a secret so well,'' Reno disagreed.
''Well, go down there then and see for yourself,'' Cissnei snapped making Reno hold up his hands in a pacifying natrue.
''At ease, there is no need to go at each others throats,'' Tseng placated them. Cissnei took a calming breath.
''And Sector 4?,'' Rude asked.
''I didn't check, but probably the same,'' Cissneir replied.
''It is not a complete loss. Considering we have no cameras or other kind of infrastructure there, I can believe it is hard to get evidence, but we DO have something.
Reno, you will go and speak with Reeve Tuesti or another technician and engineer, though preferably Tuesti. And you will investigate where the money comes from-''
''Gotcha, boss,'' Reno saluted.
''-Rude, you will make yourself inconspicuous and sneak into the Construction Companies Office to look for the designs so that we know what they plan on building there,'' Tseng finished.
''Any plan of sabotaging the construction?,'' Rude asked and adjusted his gloves.
''No. President Shinra was furious during the meeting and Hojo drew his ire. The slums have become low priority considering Shinra now no longer has an interest in supplying Hojo with subjects.
They are to be left to fend for themselves, but I can not shake off the feeling that whatever is going on down there has the potential to harm Shinra's interest. I want to find out as much as possible and if something happens, be ready to strike at a moments notice,'' Tseng told them.
Reno whistled impressed. Shinra must have been truly furious if he chose that course of action after all the trouble and resources the Turks went through to ensure that The Sharks can take over the human trafficking ring and meet their (or Hojo's) demands.
''Any other questions?,'' Tseng waited a moment,''Alright, then see to your tasks.''
---
''So? Where is the money coming from?,'' Reno asked impatiently.
''I can't just snap my fingers and have the answers your seek. The process takes at least a few minutes,'' Reeve explained to him typing away in his computer to look into the accounts of the Companies.
Reno groaned but said nothing more.
''...Aaand, done. Mmm, it seems that the transaction was done in cash. The money was simply put into their accounts afterwards,'' Reeve explained.
''...In cash? I doubt that it must have been cheap to hire this construction company. How much Gil are we talking about? I doubt they just carried it around,'' Reno reasoned.
''Not that much as you may think. These are the slums we are talking about. Usually that means cheaper housing and construction costs, because of lack of regulatory compliance costs, lower end materials and use of informal labor. BUT... it seems that whoever hired the construction didn't skim on high quality work or materials. Even so it is still not as much money as you may be expecting,'' Reeve explained to him.
''Yeah, yeah, I get it. Give me the number of the money and if you can the name too, under which the transaction occurred,'' Reno waved his hand.
''Around 20 million Gil and the transaction was written off under the name, Nanuf Yor Byznus...,'' Reeve trailed off and pursed his lips now that he spoke the name out loud.
Reno rubbed his eyes in frustration.
''Is this the lack of regulatory compliance you talked about in the slums? That is so obviously... Did they not ask for an ID or something?,'' Reno asked with incredulity.
''I mean... they did pay, so... the most important part was ticked off. And I doubt they cared about more then that, especially if they realized they came from the slums. Businesses do deals differently with the slums,'' Reeve shrugged his shoulder apologetically.
Reno dropped his head and sighed.
Yeaaaaaah, he knew that. He just wanted to complain, because his job was made harder.
---
''So?,'' Tseng began,''What did you find?''
''I found the designs. It is not all of Sector 8 that will see construction done. Just a large part of it. The most important part, as the mob or gang seems to think. It is the area from the train station till the middle of Sector 8,'' Rude began.
''Well, now the low 20 million makes sense. If it was the entire Sector then it would have been more expensive,'' Reno added his own two cents,''Our guy is Nanuf Yor Byznus and the transaction was done in cash.''
''20 million? For the slums that is a lot of money,'' Cissnei pointed out. For Shinra that was a pittance, was left unsaid.
''Was this money stolen from someone? Did anyone report stolen money?,'' Reno asked Tseng, who was usually more informed then them.
''No. Which means that the money was earned... and I suspect some of the money must also have been taken from the victims, the two previous gangs that died, even if it only makes out a small percentage of the total 20 million,'' Tseng muttered. He remembered how much money Shinra invested in The Sharks.
(For a moment Tseng wondered if President Shinra would one day order them to get that money back. But it really was a pittance and considering the person or group casually sneaks around and slaughters dozens of people in one night, President Shinra may be a little spooked so he wrote the money off. Even if he would never admit it to anyone. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.)
There were a few ways one could earn money that seemingly sprang out of nowhere.
The most likely one was monster slaying. But even the most dangerous monster dropped only a few thousand Gil at a time.
One needed to fight monsters for literally years to get to this amount of money and Tseng doubted anyone was strong or insane enough to do that. And they would have noticed something anyway.
There were dangers involved in monster slaying and not just anyone could do that and less dangerous monsters didn't drop enough to be worthwhile.
In other words they had no suspect and they were back to square one. They had SOMETHING, but for now they could not put the puzzle pieces they had together to form a proper conclusion.
''So they plan on revitalizing the slums. Create businesses that attract cash and then reinvest it into the slums to build it out more and more. What sort of buildings, businesses, do they plan on constructing? Can we expect another Wall Market, only in Sector 8 this time,'' Tseng asked Rude.
''No. Nothing of the sort, although the buildings are part of the entertainment industry. They plan on building bars, pharmacies, a recording studio and the pride and joy, the biggest building, the theatre. Either they plan on musicals or acting out plays, or whatever, but clearly they hope to attract people from the Upper Plate so that they can spend their money down there,'' Rude finished his report.
''So? Should we go and sabotage their efforts?,'' Reno asked Tseng.
''No. Like I said, President has no more interest in the Slums and it would be pointless to antagonize this new gang without knowing more about them. Especially if, from what Cissnei reported, whoever runs the show has an iron tight grip on the Sector 8 and 4 slums and can spread his word without us tracking the source down,'' Tseng shook his head.
''Let them build. Maybe they succeed, maybe not. And if they do...,'' Tseng let the sentence hang.
''Then we follow the cash back to the source, the one who invested it in the first place,'' Reno finished,'' Wait, how long do we need to wait till constructions are done?''
(A good plan, except for one tiny problem. For Nox it was never about the money and he already foresaw this issue, so unlike with the pharmacy he won't see any monetary return of his investment.
That is fine. The money spent was for something else anyway. And it was hard to care about money, when he only saw it as a tool and not a source of power. He also was rich, not filthy rich granted, but he could just throw out a few million after all the years spent monster slaying.)
''A few months till all construction is finished. This 'Nanuf Yor Byznus' guy of ours hired a good reliable and trustworthy Construction Company after all,'' Tseng replied.
''Soooo, what will we do till then?,'' Reno asked him.
''We wait and then continue to investigate the matter quietly, without it letting it interfere with our actual duties,'' Tseng replied.
''Gotcha, boss,'' Reno lazily waved his hand. Rude shook his head and adjusted his glove.
''I really wonder how this new mob spreads their word,'' Cissnei wondered.
''I doubt we will find that out anytime soon,'' Tseng replied. She was right, it was a matter of concern, but for now they were in a stalemate.
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A failed playwright down on his luck was drinking his alcohol in a bar.
'Damn them, damn them all!,' the man cursed in his mind.
'Not good enough'; 'Risk taker'; 'Interest lies elsewhere.'
Pah! The man wanted to spit on the Theatre Company he tried to sign up with, but that would probably get him thrown out of the bar. Damn them and damn Shinra for sponsoring them. May they all rost in piss!
He new his talents and his limits, but he was just one man and needed resources. So...he probably won't be showing them up any time soon.
Damn it!
And damn LOVELESS too and the peoples obsession with it! LOVELESS wasn't everything.
How many variations could there even be of the same play? As far as he was concerned the playwright who wrote LOVELESS was overrated. Only a REAL playwright would finish his work.
And damn Genesis as well and his damn fan club for spreading this... this LOVELESS mania. Even now, 4 years after his death, the effects of his acts could be felt.
Damn them all!
''My, my, my, what sorry excuse for a sight your state makes on mine eyes,'' someone sat near him at the table. The failed playwright inspected the stranger who looked pretty unremarkable with his brown eyes and brown eyes and forgettable face.
''Yes, considering I have something to gripe about. So fuck off and let me gripe in silence,'' the playwright muttered and took another gulp of his drink.
''Unrealized potential going unutilized. A timeless tragedy that never grows old,'' the stranger nodded somberly and gestured to the waiter to bring them more drinks.
The failed playwright frowned, but he took the next drink in thanks.
''You know of my situation?,'' he asked cautiously.
''I know of your struggle,'' the stranger leisurely drank his own drink,''Graduated with top marks and already wrote a few plays and tried his look with the most prestigious Theatre Company and a few others. Unfortunately you didn't make it in, because you didn't have the right connections.
Nepotism.
While not a tragedy, it is a timeless practice that also never grows old.''
The failed playwright squirmed a bit. The stranger really has done his homework.
''Are you leading somewhere with this? Usually I'm not averse to waxing metaphors and talking in riddles, but I'm too drunk this time. Just speak your peace or leave me be,'' the playwright grumbled.
The stranger put a business card down on the table and then slowly, theatrically dramatic the playwright added, pushed it over to him.
The playwright inspected it. He wasn't aware that there was a theatre in the Setor 8 Slums.
''There isn't,'' the stranger told him as if reading his mind,''But there will be. In 3 months.''
Including many other businesses.
(And wasn't that a surprise to Nox when he came disguised to the Construction Company and made a deal. One thing he will give the people here, they build FAST. Far faster then in his old world and it was good quality work too, considering they were involved in doing some of the constructions when Midgar was being built initially.
Mako somehow was somehow to blame, Nox was sure.)
''You see my boss is exceptionally good at scouting out talent.
How would you like to be made the proprietor of that theatre. Sure you may lack experience and so will those who will sign up to work as actors, but I'm sure you will get them quickly in shape and then have them act out plays in no time at all. Anything finance related will be taken care off by the budget manager,'' the stranger explained to him.
That sounded too good to be true.
''...And in return?,'' the playwright asked anyway.
''Ensure that the theatre booms as a business. Maybe team up with the recording studio nearby to record something. A song for example.
Revitalize the slums. That kind of thing. Don't worry, you will play one part in all of this. There are others who will run other businesses.
You will not own money to my boss, but you will have to pay taxes to Shinra,'' the stranger told him.
''Why?,'' the playwright immediately asked.
''Shinra doesn't care for the ...slum dwellers. If they did they would have done something about this sorry lot long ago, they own the world so nothing stops them expect their own vices.
But once they see the Slums booming? They will want a piece of the pie and if we don't play ball they will get... pushy. It is the path of least resistance,'' the stranger explained. For now.
It is the same with Wall Market after all. And in his old world the IRS did not care about the mafia, unless they didn't pay their taxes. But if they did? Everything was sunshine and rainbows.
Isn't politics fun?
''This...is too good to be true,'' the playwright voiced his doubts.
''How sad. It is the same thing abused victims say. They have been mistreated for so long that any kind gesture is anathema to them.
If it helps. For my boss, it is not about the money, it is about sending a message. And you, just by becoming the proprietor will carry that message and all those others like you will do the same,'' the stranger told him.
''And what is the message?,'' the playwright leaned in captivated and whispered.
Instead of immediately answering, the stranger opened his jacket and pulled out a book. He put in on the table and pushed it over. 'Les Misérables' ('The Wretched') could be read on the title.
Then he let the pause hang starring the playwright deep in the eyes, before pulling out two new books.
'Macbeth'
'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
(They were just good summaries. Nox did not posses eidetic or photographic memory to recall every word. It paid off, to be able to move fast.)
''Those are initial drafts. Read them, especially the first one, but that one keep for yourself. If you find the other two interesting feel free to adapt them and expand or improve upon them as you see fit. You are the playwright, you are the professional... and the proprietor of the theatre. A gesture of good faith from my boss,'' the stranger told him.
The failed playwright took the books in his hands. For some reason, it felt as if he was holding ...more in his hands.
The fate of the world, perhaps?
Heh. No.
Now who was being theatrically dramatic?
No, he just may hold the most important choices of his life in his hands.
''So? Will you accept being named proprietor of that theare?,'' the stranger asked him.
''...I accept,'' the playwright stated. He didn't like that he had to pay taxes to Shinra as the proprietor. He'd rather pay them to this illusive boss of this man, even if he was a crime lord. But he wasn't about to look a gift's horse in the mouth.
''Very good. Like I said, read them, do whatever you want with them. You have three months till you need to start training your actors. Don't worry. Others are already looking for your workers. But do keep this one for yourself. Yes,'' the stranger tapped 'Les Misérables' and smiled politely while repeating himself.
''Have a nice evening. I doubt we will meet again, you and I,'' the stranger departed. The playwright stared after him and then looked at the business card again, the adress of the theatre staring back at him.
---
Heh.
Young people have always made out the biggest part in revolutions.
Nox would know.
In any case, the playwright would do nicely. And one day he will order him to release a play about revolution to the public.
Soon enough he will have to start work on Sector 4 too. He wanted to begin work on both of them, but he already had trouble managing and establishing an order and structure of command in one Sector. So he will have to focus on only one.
Once he was mostly finished here, he will start working on Sector 4. For that one, he will build factories to produce things. Cover several bases, that kind of stuff.
But now, he had another important person to talk to.
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Shalua Rui sighed, feeling tired, while fiddling to open her door with her keys. Another hard day at the university.
Finally she entered her apartment and closed the door, finding herself briefly in complete darkness. Until she turned on the light that is.
Then she began removing her jacket and her shoes. As exhausted as she may feel, she was not done for today. If she wanted to be a brilliant scientist and get hired by Shinra she needed to be more then just a good and competent scientist. She needed to EXCEL.
In the grand scheme of things, it was a small sacrifice for her goal. No price would be too steep to pay for that goal.
She grabbed her bag, ready to make her way to her room, choosing to forego eating this time and begin studying for her subjects and exams.
Shalua stilled when she saw the black suited man sitting at her desk.
''I would hardly be a gentleman if I wouldn't apologize for my intrusion in your fine abode. Please, as a gesture of my sincerity, I have ordered some food for you,'' Zero pointed at the table opposite from him, where a plate with food was sitting.
A lie. He cooked that food, so there was no risk of someone tracking him down with it.
Shalua looked to the door briefly with uncertainty.
''By all means, I'm not here to harm you. Really,'' Zero put his hand on his chest and stood up to give her a polite dip of the head,''If you wish, you may leave right now or demand that I leave too.''
''Then leave. I've done nothing wrong,'' Shalua bit out.
Zero tilted his head.
''An odd thing to say. You don't even know why I'm here,'' he commented, putting her on the spot and making her tense more.
''But like I said, I'm a gentleman and if the lady wishes, then I shall do just so,'' Zero moved around the table, beginning to make his way towards her. She sidestepped, pressing herself against the wall with her back, when he walked past her and grabbed the handle to her door.
But he didn't open it yet.
''I wish you good luck with your endeavors in finding your sister Shelke,'' Zero turned his head briefly to her and said, then he turned around intent to walk out.
Shalua widened her eyes and hastily moved to slam her hand on her door to keep it from opening.
''How do you...?,'' Shalua demanded incredulously, trailing off. She told NO ONE.
(It took a little snooping around and several 'rounds' to try out a few different things.)
Zero tilted his head and looked at her, inspecting her. At least she thought so.
''You're not asking the right questions. How I know, is less important then what I intend to do with the knowledge I have,'' Zero pointed out.
''So? You know I'm looking for my sister Shelke. Big deal. There is nothing wrong or prohibited about that,'' Shalua backtracked a bit, but still kept her hands on the door.
''There isn't, you are right...unless one finds out what game you are playing. Intending to play two factions like this and use their resources for your own goals?
You are playing with fire and sooner or later you will see yourself getting burned for that. These two factions don't take kindly to being lead around by the nose.
By day, you are the dutiful hardworking aspiring student who one day hopes to work as a scientist at Shinra... and somehow always manages to pay her tuition fees. I wonder what Shinra will say when they find out you are an investment by Fuhito, the leader of AVALANCHE, with the goal to one day become a spy for them?
But who would know, that you intend to work as a double spy and play the factions against each other while you make free use of their resources. Like I said, you are playing with fire,'' Zero talked her ear off while Shalua felt a stone settle in her stomach.
''How...?,'' she whispered.
It was over. It was all over. Shelke... Shalua felt like crying.
She stumbled faintly on her feet, landing with her back in the corner between her door and the wall of her small hallway.
''I remember telling you moments ago that it doesn't matter how I know. Only what I intend to do with the knowledge... But if you must know, I followed the trail of money. AVALANCHE proved exactly as competent as I expected them to be. But you are in luck.
For recent events diverted Shinra's eyes elsewhere and they don't know, but I wonder how long that will be the case? Maybe it will be in a year or a decade, but this duplicity will come to light one day,'' Zero wondered rubbing the chin of his mask.
Shalua looked at him for a moment.
''What do you intend to do with the information, then?,'' Shalua asked him.
''Why, use it as a bargaining chip of course. Like the people of old have done before money was even a concept. You have something I want and I have something to offer. I have something you want and you have something to offer. So?,'' Zero pulled out some rolled papers from his jacket and held them out to her.
She took them and began reading them. After a while she frowned.
''Is this... an attempt to make a new kind of reactor?,'' Shalua asked after several minutes.
''A Fusion Reactor,'' Zero clarified.
''A Fusion Reactor,'' Shalua muttered,'' I'm familiar with some of the calculations, though some are only theoretical and the rest are new, I can't make heads or tails of the new ones just by snapping my fingers. I'd need more time for that.
Do you expect me to finish your work in return for my silence?,'' she asked him.
''No. You are set to graduate in a few months, no? All things considered you look to be set to graduate as a valedictorian. And then to quickly become a Shinra scientist. You will live the good life and in secret you may use their resources to look for Shelke. Gods willing you will have your happy ending.
But of course, you know this is not that kind of story. Shinra will find out you are an AVALANCHE spy, AVALANCHE will find out your betrayed them, both will come for your head and your brilliant mind and sister are both wasted,'' Zero answered her.
He leaned forward putting his hand near his mouth and conspiratorially whispered.
''I've just given you information you can use. How you got it, doesn't matter, only what you intend to use it for,'' Zero whispered.
Shalua narrowed her eyes at him and looked from the papers to this black dressed man.
''You are not with AVALANCHE or with Shinra or else you would have had my head already... but you want my head... or at least, what is inside it and what it can offer. You want me to come work for you as your scientist, for your own faction. I presume on this fusion reactor of yours? What even is it meant to do?,'' Shalua asked him.
''Produce completely green renewable and sustainable energy, without causing nuclear waste or sucking the lifeblood of the planet dry,'' Zero answered.
''So you are just another idiot who wants to save the planet,'' Shalua spat in contempt.
''Ah, I see you are not impressed with AVALANCHE, like me. What precisely is it that turned you away from them,'' Zero asked her.
''For all their resources, they are poorly organized. And for all their talk about saving the planet one has to wonder, what their definition of saving is when they set the world on fire and bomb places and civilians indiscriminately,'' Shalua explained.
''Then we are of the same mind. Which is why I made my faction in the first place. Obviously any change is always accompanied by pain, but not like AVALANCHE is doing.
So, here is what I offer you. Finish your education, become a full fledged scientist and I will keep mum about your own personal schemes. I will even ensure Shinra will never find out about your duplicity by hiding the money trail. Even after you have done this one task for me.
Finishing those Fusion Reactor Designs.
Afterwards we will pass ways.
Or, swear yourself to my cause,you will still finish your education, but you will become my scientist and work on the Fusion Reactor Designs and many other projects. A lot needs to be done if humanity wants to live in a sustainable world and not poison it for future generations.
But I can't do that alone. I need good men and women for that. The world needs good men and women for that. One's who do their own part and stand as an example for others.
I will hide you. I will give you funds. Though not immediately, because of some circumstances.
And I will find you your sister,'' Zero finished.
''Do you know where she is?,'' Shalua asked him, latching onto that offer.
''Not yet. But I'm good at knowing things I shouldn't,'' Zero huffed as if that statement was somehow supposed to be some sort of joke.
Shalua didn't care about that. She had her mind preoccupied by something else.
''...I will not agree to the first one, because I don't believe you mean to uphold your end of the deal once I'm done and give you the fusion reactor designs.
But find me my sister and I SWEAR I will serve you with everything that you want,'' Shalua spoke with near fervor at the end. She looked him deep in the eyes, or at least where she thought his eyes where, and tried to convey her sincerity and the depth of her oath.
''Your commitment to my cause will do. Very well, in that case. I shall set forth with my task. As for you, my lady, you make sure to enjoy your meal. Rest assured, I never had any intention of harming you, especially not now. So, Bon Appetit,'' Zero gave her a polite dip of his head while taking the papers back from her and stuffing them under his suit.
''Wait. What is your name?,'' Shalua asked him.
''Zero. My name is Zero. And when next we see each other, my lady, you shall be reunited with your sister,'' Zero promised and walked out the door.
She looked down the floor quickly trying to follow after him, only to find an empty hallway.
Zero...
Shelke...
Shelke, her dear sister.
Of course, she wouldn't rely her hopes on only one man, but if he delivered...
She will serve him as promised.
(A.N.: 6535 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)