Final Fantasy VII Web Novels

Darkness—

After being hit directly by the Weapon's attack, Rufus Shinra laughed as he began to slip away in the darkness.

 

The Weapon was a monster that lay dormant within the Planet. After its attack hit close towards the President's office, the blast had knocked Rufus to the floor. An explosion followed within the Shinra Building afterwards and the metal materials that formed the ceiling fell crashing through the floor next to him. He rolled his body underneath a desk to avoid all the falling debris. He was prepared for death the moment he saw the Weapon's fire heading directly towards him. However, the moment the impact knocked him to the floor, anger welled inside him. He was angry at himself for accepting death. What does it mean? Why didn't he want to die? His anger calmed him down. The Weapon might attack again. He had to escape quickly.

As Rufus looked for some means of escape, his eye caught sight of a small switch engraved with the letter, 'L'.

 

It was located underneath the desk so that it was hidden away from view. It must be for some emergency use if it's placed here. Perhaps it will be of use in this situation. Rufus pressed it without hesitation. The part of the floor he was lying back on disappeared with a "Gatan" and he found himself falling about one metre downwards. He lands on a hard sloping floor and began sliding down it. In the end, I still think I'm going to die. And not only that, it looks like I'm going to die inside an air duct that runs around the building's walls and floors. It's ridiculous. What would everyone think once they found my corpse? Right in the middle of a battle in which the Planet's life was at stake, the President of the very Shinra Company that had the power to fight with the enemy dies. Inside an air duct. Ha. Such a jest. It's a pity I can't see myself now. But what is it with this air duct? There's no reason why it should be built at such an abrupt angle. And that L switch— Rufus suddenly remembered a conversation he had with his father twenty years ago. He finally raised his voice and laughed.

It was when he was only five years old. Young Rufus had woken up in the middle of the night and noticed his father was back home - which was rare. Knowing he might get scolded and be made to go back to bed he went out but to his surprise, his father seemed to be in a very good mood and showed him a blueprint. It was a blueprint of the the President's Office at the top floor and how it was to be modified.

"What do you think? This is the room where I give out orders to the world."

"Amazing."

Rufus pretended to show his interest while he did his best to read something from the plans. He had to make his father praise how clever he was. But he couldn't read anything and only said what was on his mind.

"Father, where's the escape route?"

His father couldn't understand what Rufus was thinking.

"Escape route? What?"

"If the enemy attacked, you need someway to escape."

"Ah—"

Realizing what his son meant, the father continued, "Shinra Company has no enemies. Even if there were, the President's Office is on the seventeenth floor. No one would be able to attack there."

"Mr. Palmer said the enemy can attack from space."

"Palmer said that?"

The father's eyebrows frowned deeply. It was a sign he was angry. Palmer, who lead the Space Development Division, could be in for some trouble later. But Palmer told him that being scolded was part of his job so all will be fine. As long as as I haven't made him angry at me, I don't care. But it looks like I have.

"Father, I'm sorry. I'm kind of sleepy."

"Listen, Rufus. It's as you say—" continued President Shinra, ignoring his son. "I will have an escape route built in case the enemy attacks. But let me make this clear, Rufus. I won't use it. It will be for you once you become president. Of course, there's no guarantee you will take my place."

"Father—"