"....." He nodded quietly.

"...Lots of folk from ShinRa moved on too," he then announced, "All upped and left Midgar. Some of them have gone into the oil industry... Others to solidify the Planet's new power sources.

... Didn't see much of the old faces... Guess they all kept their heads down."

Rude soon entered the place after greeting Nider.

"...So," he began, "Give me the lowdown... What exactly are we dealing with?"

Straight to business as always. Rude didn't mess around.

"...Speaking of which," Rude began to enquire as he adjusted his shades, "...Have you seen anyone from the old days?"

No problem.

He'll be right there.

- know... Things are peaceful... For now.

...But something tells me you've still yet to find your peace. But you came back... I reckon you'll find it soon enough... Whatever that is."

"True," Rude agreed.

"...Things have changed a little," he then decided to fill Nick in, "Since Meteorfall happened, most denizens relocated out to Kalm. We helped to rebuild society. Some people stayed in Midgar to rebuild there...

The city of Edge was also built, outside of Midgar as you may -

Give him the time and the place, and Rude will be there, ready and waiting.

"Doing what a Turk does best," He nodded, shaking Nick's hand back before releasing it.

"...Gotta say though; you ruffled quite a few feathers on your sudden departure. Not my place to enquire of course. I'm sure you had your reasons."

Say the word and he's there.

Count him in.

He's cracking his knuckles as you speak.

Something... raw.

Risky even. He doesn't mind.

- not far behind, and the man opened the case with a flick of a finger, whilst using his free hand to tap at the girl's cheek.

"Hey," he called out "Hey! Come on now! Keep those eyes open! Don't you dare quit on us now!"

- "RENO!" Rude hollered at the top of his voice, "The stairs to the Mezzanine!"

The Turk bolted up the stairs like a demon possessed and once at the top, he soon slumped to a crouch.

The woman that he and his partner sought was in terrible shape. Rude rolled her into her back, hearing his -

- were working were dim to none.

He began to navigate the rows of crates, following his partner's voice with aluminium case in one hand by it's handle.

And then at the end of one of the rows, Rude saw a rusted old staircase, metal lit in the moonlight. And a hand draping over the top step.

-

- and screeched to a halt outside of the destination.

Swiftly leaving the car, and clutching what looked like an aluminium case, he sprinted towards the warehouse when he heard the scream and his partner calling out.

Entering the eerily dark scene, Rude looked around frantically. Any lights that -

Driving like a mad man on speed towards the warehouse, Rude put pedal to the metal in what was an extreme time-bound mission.

Screeching across the highways and weaving between the twilight traffic, with Barnes wailing and screaming in the trunk of his ride, the shaded Turk soon applied the brake -

Back at the club, a bloodied and bruised Rude sent a quick message to @shinrareno.bsky.social:

📳 [I got Barnes. And the antidote. Figured you might want the last blow after we tidy shit up. He can't see anymore. Ripped out his eyeballs and said it was a greeting from you. Where you at?] 📨

ADVISORY:

🌐// Writer has Fibromyalgia - I will do my utmost to be as active as I can, but some days I might not be up to it and will need self-care for my condition. My spelling / grammar might also be terrible at times.

Please be patient with me - I will try to reply to everyone in time. TY. ♥️👍