Turning
"...the Turks would probably be able to help us."
Vincent looked up, surprised. He had been lost in thought, but his attention had been caught by the last phrase.
"Prob'ly," agreed Yuffie. "But how the heck are we supposed to find 'em?"
That stopped everyone short. "Well," said Tifa, "we will, I'm sure of it. Where there's a will, there's a way, right?" But no one missed the note of despair in her voice.
"I...may be able to help," Vincent said slowly. "I know about Turks."
Cloud blinked surprisedly. "That's right. You were a Turk, weren't you?"
Vincent inclined his head slightly.
"Well, it cannot hurt to try, can it?" Cloud said. "What're they gonna do, shoot us on sight?"
That left a slightly uneasy silence, in which Vincent got up, trepidation gnawing at his very core.
Are you there? Vincent asked in the code of whistles he had helped to develop. Are you there? I need help.
He shook his head slowly, sadly. He had been at it for over an hour. He turned around, when a voice called from behind him, "Wait."
He wheeled back around, his cape billowing out behind him. "Elena," he greeted. He held his hand out entreatingly. "I need your help. Marlene, Barret's foster daughter, has been taken. We need to find her. You are the only people we know who could help with that."
"I knew her. She was a sweet girl. What's in it for us?"
"Five hundred thousand gil."
Elena managed to keep her features calm. "I've heard you bought your villa in Costa del Sol for less than that."
"You've heard correctly."
"How much up front?"
"One-fifth. One hundred thousand gil."
She gave a short laugh. "Most of the jobs we take don't pay that much in the end."
He shrugged. "Do you want it?"
"I'll go get the others."
She disappeared into the shadows. Several minutes she returned with Reno and Rude. Reno eyed him appraisingly. "That's a lot of money. You must really want this kid back."
"We do."
"Hunh. Six hundred thousand."
"Five hundred fifty."
"Five hundred seventy-five."
"Five hundred, plus a newly-born Knights of the Round summon if no one dies."
"Knights of the Round, huh? That one stings." He looked upward at the sky. "Very well."
Vincent nodded. "Follow me."
Cait Sith had joined the group when Vincent had returned. The little cat nodded to him.
"So you really have that much money, huh?" Reno had stepped forward. "Well I want a few things clear. One, you came to us. So no looking down upon us, or treating us like your personal servants. We are professionals. Second, no bitching about 'You killed my brother' or whatever. We may have, but we were under Shinra, and it was his orders, and therefore his responsibility. Third, if one of us gets injured or otherwise incapacitated, all three of us will stay behind. We will not leave any of us behind. Okay?"
Cloud nodded stiffly. "Fine."
"When are we leaving?" came the voice of Elena.
"We'll be taking a helicopter to Rocket Town. We'll pick up Cid and get on the Highwind."
Reno swallowed. "Isn't that that big airship?"
"Yeah," Yuffie said. "Why?"
"N...nothing," Reno faltered.
Yuffie's eyes lit up with glee. "You get airsick! Welcome to the club," she hooted.
"I'd say thanks if it weren't so damned annoying."
"Heh. Well, I'm glad to have someone to share my suffering."
"Yeah, whatever. Helicopters are bad, too."
Yuffie grinned. "There's room for two near the door."
"Ugh. I think I'll pass."
"Airsickness is Reno's only weakness," said Elena. "Well, that and booze. And any woman who's decent looking. And any spicy food - he gets heartburn. And-"
"Enough!" snapped Reno. "Aside from those few faults, I am perfect."
"Have you forgotten the deal with the dog?"
Reno growled. "Don't remind me."
Cait Sith stepped forward, and Reeve said, "Hello, Rude, Reno, Elena. How are you all?"
Elena squinted. "You're Reeve, right? It's sorta hard to tell when you're a cat on a Mog."
The toy grinned. "Yep, I'd think it would be. And I never really knew any of you all that well."
Cloud sighed. "Although getting to know each other is nice, we really need to go. A moment lost is a moment when Marlene could be hurt."
Everyone nodded and filed out the door.
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