(NOTE: Due to the many responses on this sight and elsewhere, I have decided to continue this story. I hope you all continue to enjoy! And sorry if it sent you multiple emails...my compy is a witch.)

Like so much worthless baggage, the Turks were dragged out of the 7th Heaven and marched down the block towards a row of trucks in the distance. Cloud, Yuffie, and Tifa crowded in the doorway, looking after them. Denzel had taken Marlene and barricaded the both of them under a table inside. Tifa took a step forward, furious, but Cloud caught her arm.
"Don't."

"What?"

"Just wait. Later."
The soldiers hadn't wasted any time. Elena fought with all of her might to free herself from her brutish captor, her heart racing, her eyes locked on the slumped form of Director Tseng in front of her. All it had taken was a sudden shift in position to take his consciousness from him, and now he hung like a rag between two guards, his hair loose and askew. He looked absolutely horrible and helpless. Elena hated it.

"Get OFF OF ME!" she screamed, throwing elbows...or at least trying to. With the big goon holding her arms to her sides it was more like shrugging her shoulders. Riker the Galoot didn't seem to even notice. She growled, refusing to resign herself to the fact that she would shortly be carted into a vehicle and taken off to the headquarters of the World Regenesis Organization. What did they want anyway? Shin-Ra had made sure to have nothing to do with the WRO. Shin-Ra had kept low and done whatever they could to find their own quiet way to bring the planet back up to par while researching energy replacements: without getting involved in the affairs of their counterpart. The WRO on the other hand had gradually gained power and public favor, and had on many occasions offered to buy off the small, recovering Shin-Ra Co. Their research facilities were top notch, their position, respected.

Rufus had despised them.

Behind the comatose Tseng and fuming Elena, Rude was helping Reno 'stay on his feet' along with one of Campbell's cronies. He wasn't having much luck. The redhead had maintained consciousness but that was about it. His whole body heaved with trembling and whatever color he had regained–vanished. Rude's jaw tightened. He didn't look at his partner; he knew if he did things would get ugly fast. And besides, he didn't need to look to know just how hard this was on the skinny Turk. Reno was wheezing terribly, fighting a coughing fit, Rude knew. Despite his best efforts, he seemed to be having a difficult time placing his feet properly. Desperation and frustration laced his breathing, although he tried his best to hide it. Rude stopped short and shifted, attempting to make Reno more comfortable.

"Keep moving," the soldier barked. Rude tensed, forcing himself to do nothing. This was unheard of: commonplace soldiers herding one of the most advanced and lethal units the world had to offer around like a flock of sheep. Also, a military unit with any sense should have known that it was ridiculous to ask two nearly spent people to get up and walk to the place they were being 'escorted' to. It was totally below the WRO, and that was saying something.

A wet cough escaped Reno, and the back of his trembling hand covered his mouth to try and keep the noise down. Rude frowned, his ire rising. An impatient guard behind him jabbed the butt of his gun into the red's back. Blood sprayed the arm of Rude's coat as Reno lurched forward, coughing up crimson.

That did it.

Rude turned towards the man, seemingly calm. The soldier readied himself to bark another order but he never got the chance. The big Turk punched the unsuspecting guard full in the face, but it didn't stop there. Reno dropped from his grip as Rude grabbed the man, slamming him up against the wall of the closest building. His expression didn't change. He never said a word. But with one fist the man was silenced as his jaw snapped. He didn't hear the other soldiers or Elena shouting at him to run. A shot was fired into the air, but even that didn't register in his subconscious. The victim of his anger dropped to the ground. Suddenly four guards were on top of Rude, attempting to restrain him, but he wasn't about let that happen. This one was for the President...he threw one man to the ground. That one was for Tseng...another one met his knee and then the concrete. This one was for Elena: a guard went spinning. And THAT one was for–

"RUDE!" He froze. His knuckles throbbed. Reno. In an instant, a small mass of soldiers descended on Rude, forcing his hands behind his back and securing them. One kicked him to his knees while another whipped out a retractable rod and raised it to strike.

"ENOUGH!" Sargent Campbell trotted forward, shoving his men back. He hauled Rude to his feet and stared down his men. "Our orders were to bring them in alive and unharmed. Was that not clear?"

One soldier stepped forward. "But sir, he–"

"Never mind what he did! Was that an order or wasn't it?"

"It was, Sargent."

"Then I suggest you FOLLOW it!"

"Yes sir!" The men snapped to attention.

"You, see to Private Sorr. Get him into the truck. And you, get that redhead up: we're wasting time." The men scattered to obey. Rude stiffened in Campbell's grip as three soldiers picked Reno up off the pavement. The ailing Turk didn't have the gusto to argue, but before they took him and made off towards the trucks he had just enough time to make eye contact with Rude. He was paying for the shout he had managed and couldn't speak at this point, but his eyes griped for him.

Give it a rest. I'm fine, you idiot.

They hauled him away. Rude frowned and stood, several sturdy guards at his back.

"Well, that wasn't very wise," Sargent Campbell said stiffly. "Are you alright?"

Rude tried to get a feel for what Campbell was getting at. The Sargent seemed to read this.

"It's hard to stand by and helplessly watch a friend suffer. I've seen it time and again."

Silence.

"Come on. We're on a schedule and we need to keep moving. I'll make certain that your hands are freed once you're inside the truck so that you can see to your companion...that is if you can restrain yourself around my men." Rude grunted. "Do I have your word?" Silence prevailed for a moment. But Rude finally nodded. "I'll hold you to that, Rude."

~88888888~

Rude was the last of the Turks to be loaded into the secured van waiting for them. As the door shut, Elena rushed at him, frantic.

"It's Tseng: he's burning up again. I can't get him to come to. He needs water or something but there's nothing in here to cool him down with. We don't have Ice materia and if I can't get control of his fever quick there's a good chance he'll–"

"Stop," Rude said. Elena's frenzied mind paused. "We'll help him."

"But how, Rude. How?" Panic edged her voice. "Just look at him! And Reno's a mess…what makes you think that we'll all make it out of this just fine and dandy?"

"We're Turks."Elena's mouth shut tight.

I swear, Rude. Why do you always have to pull that one out when I least want to hear it.

The engine roared to life and the convoy started swore beneath her breath and moved to the far back wall where the Director lay. His dark hair dripped with sweat and rolled off the tip of his nose and chin. Tseng panted miserably, the heat in his body overwhelming his breathing. The female Turk couldn't take another thought, Elena eased the Director from the awkward position the guards had left him in. His head now rested in her lap. Quickly she unbuttoned his shirt and began fanning him. It was all she could do.

"Here." Rude fished the rag he had used on Reno the night before out of his jacket. It was stained with dried blood, but it would have to do. "Thanks," she replied. Hastily she dabbed the sweat from his brow, then his neck. There is some good in the fact that Tseng's out right now, Elena thought to herself, blushing. If he knew he was lying shirtless in my lap I think he might just die here and now. She laughed as she pictured what his face would look like if he found out. And then tears welled up once more. She couldn't believe just how much she wanted to hear one of his lectures on crying on the job. Or hear him shout at Reno for not getting his paperwork done on time. Speaking of which...

Rude's attention was once again turned to Reno, who was propped up against the rear doors, wheezing and shaking in a bad way. The redhead fought hard to keep himself from coughing. Rude sat by, not knowing how to help.

"Took too long," he said to himself.

"Wha...?" Reno managed.

"The Pheonix Down. Cloud found one. But it took too long."

"...it...t-took...though."

"But you're still messed up."

"Y-you're...messed up."

Rude smirked.

Reno nearly coughed, but caught himself just in time. Absently he rubbed shakily at the blood on his chin, but this only served to smear it further. He sighed: both in exhaustion and mock defeat. His shaded comrade frowned.

"Rude...?" It was Elena, fear lacing her voice. Rude paused but Reno gave him the 'I'm ok' nod. The big Turk couldn't fully stand in such tight quarters, so he shuffled towards the back as best as he could. The blonde Turk was holding their Director gently in her lap, shaking her head unhappily."It's bad Rude," she kept repeating. "It's bad." Rude followed her gaze and grimaced. Dark black and blue bruises had spread like an infection over Tseng's chest and stomach. The shaded Turk touched the wounded skin and grimaced at the intensity of the fever. Rude's jaw tightened, and for a rare second he seemed genuinely worried to Elena. Whatever minor internal injuries Tseng had incurred were now life-threatening. If he didn't get help, it would be losing a Turk all over again. And even as the thought entered his head, the Director's breathing lost proper rhythm. Elena swore through bitten lips.

All of a sudden she turned, pounding with both fists on the wall separating herself from the cab of the van. Over and over again, she slammed the metal with her bare hands until both were red and raw. In unrestrained anger, Elena screamed at her captors, willing them to hear her.

"Hey! HEY! LISTEN TO ME! THESE MEN ARE DYING BACK HERE! STOP THE TRUCK! PLEASE JUST STOP THE DAMN TRUCK! SOMEBODY HELP OR…..SOMETHING! DO ANYTHING! PLEASE!"

Rude watched in silence.

"I NEED SOME WATER OR A MEDIC! A POTION! PLEASE, BY EVERYTHING DECENT, JUST HELP!"

Elena paused, straining her ears for some sign of a slowing engine or a voice…..Nothing. Spent, she slumped back against the far corner, the Director still in her arms, and wept.

Rude found himself silenced. Elena's angry sobs, Tseng's strained panting, Reno's wet breaths…it was an awful grouping of sounds.

And all the while the van's engines whined and the tires continued to rumble into the unknown.

~888888~

Two men occupied a large, clean room in a state-of-the-art complex: headquarters of the World Regenesis Organization. One sat at a long conference table; the other was placed at a massive window, looking down at the city. His face nearly touched the glass as he stared at the sprawling array of buildings below. The silence was tangible.

"Quite the view, is it not?" The man at the table asked, folding his hands in his lap and leaning back a bit in his chair.

"It is." The one at the window did not turn.

"Amazing to me," the first continued. "How quick humanity is to rebuild something that was lost to them. Two years ago this place was a shambles and now? Well on its way to being back to a state of normalcy. We are admirable creatures, if I do say so myself." He laughed jovially.

The second said nothing.

The first man's laughter died away. "So." He stood and began making his slow way around the table. "The first stage of your plan is underway. You never did tell me all the details, but am I to understand that the building is-"

"Wiped from the face of the planet."

"You know, this is all really something else. You come to me and make a deal, practically ensuring the company's grave, and yet you ask for nothing monetary in return. In fact, promise your cooperation and support instead. This offer: to completely remove any and all Shin-Ra presence from the city…. A bit out of character if you ask me." He stopped at the end of the table and looked at the back of the man before him. "If I may be frank, sir…why?"

The one at the window turned, standing firmly despite the cane he leaned upon. Full of cunning and confidence, this man had watched lives ruined, homes destroyed, cultures leveled. He had done the unthinkable before. Perhaps this would be his last time. Or perhaps not. "Why, Reeve?" he said, his steady gaze locked on his counterpart's questioning eyes. "Why would I destroy my own company?" He took a step forward, chuckling a little. "You should know by now: I always have my reasons."