~21~

Two weeks had passed since Rude arrived at Lost and Found. He'd been able to refine his 'Al' persona a little more by cultivating a full (though thin) beard and getting better 2nd hand clothes. He also was able to get a 'part-time job' with the WRO as a demolitionist (the only thing that was real about that job was getting to play with the explosives) which allowed him to both be off more than he worked, (to keep an eye on Fox) as well as pass on money to Maggie and Frank.

Reeve Tuesti was known to call meetings every few days of project formans to assay the progress of said projects. It made it really easy to bring Rude in with the demolitions group so he could type up his reports to be sent in. The first two reports he sent in were via normal means of a special TURK courier. It was after he typed up the third report that he got a small surprise in the form of Vincent Valentine waiting in place of the normal courier.

"Valentine?"

"Rude." Vincent turned to look at Rude, an eyebrow rose in question.

The sound of a throat clearing caused both men to turn and look at Reeve. "Vincent, I'd like you to meet 'Al', he's a recent addition to the team."

"Ah," Vincent replied tilting his head to the side. "I see."

Rude frowned, shifting his weight as he tucked his hands into the pockets of the WRO jacket he was wearing. "Updates?"

"A great few," the gunman replied.

Reeve picked up a ruler off his work table and eyed the project plans. "Gentlemen, do I need to step out?" he asked. "Wait," he set the ruler down and started for the door, "don't bother answering. There is a few things I need to look into before the meeting. See you in twenty." And with that, he gone.

"Hnn.. asshole," the ex-TURK muttered at the closed door. "Background? Basics? Anything I need to know special?" With Reeve gone, Vincent was all business.

"Name's Al, ex Shin-Ra, got out before the shit hit the fan, lost some friends but still have a few about. Only just getting back on my feet thanks to the WRO projects. Currently living at a shelter called 'Lost and Found'. I pull kitchen duty, cooking mostly, on the days I'm not blowing up shit here." The Bald TURK let the corner of his mouth quirk up. "I make a mean ass casserole on Saturdays."

Crimson hued eyes narrowed in thought. "Good, I'll have to stop by this weekend to catch up seeing it's been years since I last time I saw 'Al'." He nodded slightly to himself, then crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the desk. "Found the Silver Talon base. No survivors except for some chocobos and a cuahl. Also found an open mako well. Took samples, striped the place of everything then blew the well as well as the base. It's buried under half a hill. Everything was transferred to Shin-Ra custody." He took a deep breath then let it out in a huff. "Tuesti made me liaison between WRO and Shin-Ra. Tseng requested I take this assignment due to some previous experience dealing with the Silver Talons. After due consideration I agreed."

Rude let out a low whistle. "That bad huh?" Outside assistance was highly unusual, but the fact that Valentine was ex-TURK, it made it even more so.

"Yes," Vincent shrugged then uncrossed his arms. "You'll be passing your reports onto me and I'll see that Tseng gets them." The sound of metal claws drumming on the desk was a soft counterpoint to the slight hissing whirr of the environmental systems. "Anything else?"

The large TURK pulled a hand out of his pocket as he scratched his chin in thought. "Currently living at the shelter is roughly eighteen people. Maggie and Frank, owner-operators, a young couple, both left a local gang and are trying to make a new life. Jamie, a special needs child. The foundlings, eight teens to pre-teens also under Maggie and Frank's care. A couple of elders with their live-in caregiver, myself and finally the target, Fox." Sweet Shiva did he want to shave so damned badly! "Not sure what would be best, you drop by early or last minute."

Vincent looked at the clock a moment. "Why?"

Rude followed the black haired man's look, also noting the time. "If you show early it may give Fox time to find an excuse not to be at dinner. If you come late, might not be anything left on the table. Shall we head to the meeting?"

Vincent nodded as he pushed away from the desk, a smirk crossing his lips.

Rude just shook his head.

Scratched into the surface of Reeve's rather expensive desk was the word "Asshole".

~~(break line)~~

When Rude and Vincent entered the conference room, the Demolition foreman waved Al over to their group. The bald TURK nodded then turned to Vincent, "Been great seeing ya again, gotta stop by where I'm staying to catch up on old times. It's called Lost and Found, a shelter over on the west side of the city." He patted Vincent's shoulder once before turning away to join his group.

Vincent moved up towards the front to lean against the wall where he had a clear view of the room.

A few moments passed before Reeve entered with an aide. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen," he said as he stopped in the front of the room right next to a podium. "Well today is the day people... Sara? If you would please."

The lights dimmed as a projector came to life showing an aerial view of Edge with the old ruins of Midgar off to the side. Each of the slides showed a progression of expansion in Edge and a slow but sure decrease in the outer ring of ruins of Midgar. All that was left was the main center where the Mako Reactors and Shin-Ra Tower once stood. "As of today we are entering the final phases of Regenesis. It has taken us just over six years but we have made a difference." He waited till the murmurs quieted again before continuing. The designer turned towards the images, a laser pointer in hand as conceptual sketches came up on the screen. "In these final phases, we will be tackling the most daunting projects to date. The complete dismantling of all the old reactors as well as bringing down and clearing away the Tower. Once the Tower is down and all materials have been either reused, or recycled as much as possible, the land will then go through a cycle of further testing. While at this time there is no definitive projects in mind for the use of the land, several ideas have been tossed about, including but not limited to farm and ranch lands, self-sufficient mini-towns or just letting the planet do as it wants with the land." In each of the sketches lower right corner was a Shin-Ra logo, tiny enough that only Reeve saw it due to how close he was. Once the presentation was over with he signaled for the smartboard to be activated as he accepted the control tablet from the aide, Sara.

Standing with his group, Rude's eyebrows had gone up several inches. He'd been aware of the Regenesis projects but this was the first he'd heard about what future the land faced. They were all, to his notion, quite ambitious and had some great possibilities. But first, the land had to be cleared.

Over against the wall the immortal ex-TURK wondered if anyone other than himself, would ever see any of the possible outcomes. He shook his head to rid himself of such morose thoughts. Knowing Reeve, they would.

"At this time, I'm going to take down questions, ideas or thoughts about what we may face," the head of the WRO said as he started a list.

There were plenty of talk amongst the foremans and their assistants or groups.

"Funding?" was the first question asked and noted down.

"Taken care of for the next few years at least," Reeve answered.

"Workers?"

"Each area will have specialists involved, from there the work will flow downward so that even the untrained can assist. Even if it is to just perform manual day labor."

The questions and answers went on for several more minutes before someone brought up the issue of possible mutated monsters living in the ruins. Reeve passed that question onto Vincent.

He moved away from the wall before he spoke. "I will be heading a special unit to deal with the monster population. We will be first in to each new area, clearing the way and making it safe for the workers to do their jobs. This unit will consist of a mix of Guild licensed Monster Hunters, WRO and trained TURKs. I highly discourage anyone from getting the idea that just anyone can go hunting the creatures living in the ruins. Even the best can run afoul of even the lesser monsters." He eyed each and every one of the men and women in the room. His eyes shifted from crimson, to an amber-red then back again. "Even I have had a few run ins with deceptively weak monsters." Most looked away with a shudder, not wanting to be reminded of just what this ageless man was capable of.

Reeve cleared his throat, "Yes.. thank you Vincent..Anymore questions or concerns? No? Good, we'll meet again at the beginning of the week. Have a good day ladies and gentlemen," he said with a smile nodding to his aide as he passed her the tablet and left.

As Rude left he nodded once more, waving goodbye as he vanished out the door. Nothing else was due to be done today so he could head back. Already ideas of how to draw out the target running through his mind that he could discuss with Vincent at a later date.

Once everyone was gone and the room was empty, Vincent pulled a phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. Pressing speed dial, he waited for the other end to be picked up. After the third ring, it was answered. "I have the report, waiting for pick up." He looked out the window at the traffic flowing below.

"Front in five minutes."

"Hnn." He hung up not waiting for a reply as he turned away and left the room. The ride down in the elevator was uneventful, not even one stop to the ground floor. With purposeful strides, he crossed the foyer, exited the front doors to cross the short distance to the curb. Not even slowing, he slid into the open door of the waiting limo. It was only after the vehicle was moving and the signal given that all was secure did he speak. "Tseng."

"Valentine."

"Information exchanged. Here's the report," he reached into his coat and pulled it out to hand over to the Director of the TURKS. "It seems I have an invitation from an old friend to join him for dinner on Saturday.."

Tseng didn't bother reading the report, just tucked it away. "I see. I hope you have a good time and enjoy the meal."