Guilt’s Cost: Part LXXXII

Jaras’s Inclusion

Tseng found Reno in the cafeteria sitting with Jaras. He came over to them and sat at the end of their table. His eyes betrayed his exhaustion, giving away the fact that he had spent every waking moment thinking about Zale, Vincent, and Tifa. Despite the protests of Dr. Arlin and the fact that he was still recovering from his bypass surgery, he had been pouring every ounce of his energy into the rescue plan. Something that he couldn’t explain told him that it still wasn’t too late and he could save his brother and Tifa.

Reno had spent most of the last forty-eight hours in combat training. He discovered his skills in this area were pathetically weak from neglect over all these years. Reno was nearly as spent as Tseng was and he wasn’t even recovering from major surgery. Angel was off with the tactics team planning the final details of the mission leaving Reno with no one to spend the afternoon with except Jaras.

Jaras sat picking at his plate, unable to eat. Knowing that Tifa was danger was killing him and he felt useless as everyone in the base ran around him in furious activity. He wanted to help, but just didn’t know how. When Reno had asked him to have lunch with him he had readily agreed. Not because he was hungry in the least, but rather because he no longer could bear being alone.

Tseng examined the two depressed men for a moment. He knew they were in just as much pain over this as he was. "Reno, I think we have a plan. The helicopter is going to leave tomorrow afternoon."

Reno perked up to hear this. Things were finally getting ready to happen and he would get the chance to vindicate himself. "What’s the plan, boss?"

"You, Ericson, and Morris will fly into Midgar. Once it’s dark, you will enter the building and go up to the lab. Go in, grab Vincent and Tifa and get the Hell out. You’ll be leaving from the roof. It’s got to be quick." Tseng slapped his hand down onto the table to make the point.

Reno smiled. This was the simple kind of plan he preferred. "You left out the part where we kick that mother fucking Hojo’s ass."

"There won’t be any time for that." Tseng shook his head. "That will have to come at a later time. All I want is my brother and Tifa out of that lab."

"Fair enough, but when the ass kicking mission is slated, I’m going." Reno gave his old friend a wink.

"That’s fine." Tseng couldn’t help but smile at Reno’s enthusiasm.

Reno leaned closer to Tseng. "So how we getting in? I noticed you didn’t give too much detail there."

Tseng cocked an eyebrow. "Why, we’re going in the one way we never have. They won’t see it coming."

Reno smirked and pointed a finger at Tseng. "Don’t tell me we’re busting in through the front doors!"

Tseng grinned. "You bet your sweet ass we are."

"Hey, you got that line from me." Reno smiled back. "And how are we getting past security?"

"You were once a Turk, and you get to pretend you are again." Tseng crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh, the old ‘pretend to be someone no one would dare fuck with’ routine? I like it!" Reno nodded in excitement.

Jaras broke his silence for the first time in several hours. "I wish to go as well."

Tseng turned his eyes to Jaras. "This is going to be a dangerous mission. It will take highly trained agents to pull this one off."

"You just said you were going to walk through the door dressed as Turks, go to the lab, grab Tifa and Vincent and leave. I don’t see what is so complicated about that." Jaras narrowed his eyes, his resolve clear.

Tseng was silent for a moment. When Hojo caught sight of Sephiroth being with the rescue team the shock it would cause might buy them precious time. Hojo would have no way of knowing that Jaras was now mortal. "On second thought, you might prove to be an asset. But it will be dangerous."

"If I lose my life while saving Tifa, then so be it." Jaras wore no expression.

Reno scoffed. "That’s one Hell of a crush you got on her. I thought we talked about that."

Jaras turned his cold stare to Reno and said nothing.

Reno recoiled from the gaze. "Jesus, there you go again! Just like your fucking daddy."

"Do you wish for my men to provide you with a gun?" Tseng asked, disregarding Reno’s idiocy.

Jaras almost smiled. "No, thank you. I already have what I need."