-Fate-





	"Do you believe in fate?"

	The question was simple enough, and yet Reno 

was taken completely aback by it. A chance to converse 

directly with the President's son was rare indeed, 

especially at a time such as this. There were rumors 

running about that within days Rufus was to be appointed 

as head of some strategic mission off in a foreign land. 

	Rufus Shinra stood motionless before the expansive 

glass window, watching impassively as Midgar's nightly happenings 

unfolded far below. His father was currently attending a late 

meeting with the department heads, which meant a few moments 

to make good use of his private office. 

	"I dunno... Sure." Reno had merely been 

passing by the large room, intending to head down to the 

bar and share a meal with his fellow Turk, Rude. Just 

his luck that Rufus was in a talkative mood.

	"Good." the blond man signaled for Reno to take a 

seat, "Have a drink, won't you?" 

	"I'll pass." The plush armchair was normally meant 

for those who had appointments to meet with the President 

himself. It was, of course, the first time Reno had been offered... 

more like ordered, to actually use it. He'd stood behind it 

on numerous occasions before, half-listening as the 

President assigned the Turks to some new task. It was Tseng's duty 

to understand the subtle aspects of each job, not his.

	Rufus turned and strode over to sit down in the President's 

black leather chair, leaning back slightly to meet Reno's gaze, 

"Fate is a funny thing, you know. It creates life only to destroy 

it just as swiftly."

	"I guess so." 

	"Where were you headed just now, Reno?"

	"I was going to meet Rude down on the 46th floor."

	"A pressing matter?"

	"Just grabbing some food, then maybe heading out to 

visit a club or something." 

	"I won't keep you long, then."

	"Okay."

	"Tell me, do you enjoy your work? Or would you prefer 

a higher position, something where you had a bit more power?"

	"Extra pay'd be nice..."

	"So you might be interested?"

	"No offense, sir, but it's not really your place to give 

out promotions."

	"It will be someday; when that day comes I want you to 

be there." 

	"What do you mean?" Reno shifted slightly in his 

seat. Just where was this conversation going?

	"My father won't be in charge forever. When his time ends 

as Shinra's leader, I will be his heir to this chair. *I* will be 

the one who delivers every single order. And I want you to be a part 

of that Reno. I see a certain quality in you, something I like."

	"Do you see yourself attaining these goals within the near 

future?"

	"Perhaps. One can never be too sure what sort of fatal 

ailment might descend upon my dear father." Rufus smiled and ran 

a hand through his hair.

	"I think I see what you mean, sir." 

	"Do you?"

	"Yeah, I see it all crystal clear."

	"Good, very good. You're free to go."

	"Thanks." Reno stood and nodded. With one quick motion, 

he swiveled on his feet and stepped towards the door. This was a 

very interesting development indeed, one that could very well 

mean a much heftier check in the Turk's hand at the end of each month. 

But did Rufus really have the guts to have his own father 

murdered? After a moments thought, Reno decided the answer to that 

question. He knew the President's son well enough.

	"Oh, and Reno?" 

	"Yeah?"

	"Have a nice time."

	"I will, sir."

	With that the Turk strode out of the office, leaving Rufus 

alone with his thoughts. After staring quietly at the marble surface 

of his father's custom-built desk, he rose and walked back over to the 

window.

	His eyes followed the subtle movement in the streets below, 

cars and people looked as if they were tiny ants swirling about in 

an endless expanse of steel and iron. One day, all this would be his, 

held firmly in the palm of his hand. Money wasn't the key to power, 

fear was. Rufus knew this, as he always had. If fate was on his side, 

the coheir to Shinra Inc. would have enough time before he was sent 

off to lace his father's morning wine with venom. 

	The day when Rufus himself would hold Midgar under his fist 

seemed close at hand...

				

				  *   *   *



Author's Note- I meant for this insanely short fanfic to better clarify 

and convey Rufus' hunger for power. FFVII did an excellent job of 

portraying how he handled his inevitable rise to the position as 

Shinra's President, yet I felt that it might be nice to explore 

how he felt beforehand. We all should know that what was planned here 

never came to pass, of course, as President Shinra doesn't expire 

until much later when Sephiroth slides the Masamune through his back. 

I figure that Rufus either was sent away earlier then expected or 

decided on a different course of action. Hope you enjoyed it!

	

	-Michael McGill 

	bladeforce@geocities.com