Chapter 8: Vortex

Dear Vince Jack Vince

Hey, it’s me. The guys are here HI and they’re being a pain in hey the ass. We got your letter. Which one did you save? I want a swirly snow globe. And not

Anyway, things here are really good. We’ve been busting the slum scum’s collective asses! Tyser’s having too much fun for his own good. Cause he’s on Pollen and Korben’s on something worse. He hasn’t scored in months.

Would you believe I love these guys? We miss you Vinnie You know we love you too, Jack.

Oh, and I cracked that code! Remember, the impossible one? It wasn’t so bad. Getting the guys behind it will be harder, but we’re working on it. We’ll save some for you, if you’re lucky. ©

Luv Willy, ©

God Duce K

Willy stared down, somewhat shocked, at the letter in her hand. Over the past year she’d listened to Vincent’s assumptions and concerns, not quite believing. She had put her faith in technology and guns, and the things men and women could do with them, but science was something else. She didn’t understand how a person could be "made" by humans, as if constructed like one of Korben’s puzzles. Reading over the letter, however, filled her with a mysterious kind of dread.

A year. It had felt like a long, nearly impossible length of time. Had so many things truly changed? Even hearing Vincent’s voice over the phone didn’t help to calm her much anymore, as he spoke only of his Lucretia. Though Tyser had remained the constant, casual friend for her, Korben had been drifting further away, and Raile was stricter than ever. But most of all she missed Gavin—it had been months since she’d received a letter or even spoken to him.

The apartment door was thrown open suddenly, and Willy’s head snapped up. Korben entered; she forced herself to relax. When she looked at him, however, her tensions returned.

Korben’s head was down. His suit was uncleaned, his hair a tangled mess, his eyes bloodshot and skin pale. Though Vincent’s absence had changed them all, she hadn’t expected Korben to be so drastically affected. The months of terrorist battles had weighed heavily in his mind, and she could almost see his personality reverting. He reminded her of a slum baby, the way they had found him.

"Hey, Korben," Willy called as he entered, heading deliberately across the main room. "You okay?"

"Fine," he snorted in reply, swift strides carrying him to the bathroom. His manner was brisk, almost nervous. "Gavin’s back."

"What?" She found that she was now standing, and she couldn’t help but turn in circles in investigation. She saw no one, and heard no one coming up the stairs to their apartment. Once the initial shock had worn off she bounded after her friend. "Did you say Gavin? He’s back?"

"I saw him." Korben was in the bathroom, rummaging through his pockets as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. "I was in Mordrina today. I saw him at Mindy’s."

"Mindy’s?" Willy frowned. Though the café wasn’t an unusual place for met to go, she didn’t expect someone like Gavin to go alone. "How come he hasn’t come over?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. Say’s he’s been in for a week." He finally located the object of his search: a small orange bottle that sported a blank label. He twisted the cap and emptied a small yellow pill into his hand. "He got bumped to First Class."

"Really? Damnit, why didn’t he…." She frowned, and though her heart was leaping for Gavin joyously she was upset at his not contacting her. He’d finally come back—shouldn’t he have called by now? It wasn’t like him to avoid her and keep secrets.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Korben’s sudden gasp, and the sound of the pill bottle hitting the floor. Willy was startled to see him bent over the sink, gripping the porcelain bowl as if his legs suddenly could not support him. "Korben?" She touched his shoulder; he was trembling, and his breath wheezed. He shook his head violently. "Hey, Korben—"

"I’m fine." Slowly the Turk straightened. His eyelids fluttered for a moment as if adjusting to the light, and he was still trembling somewhat, but he appeared stable. He shook his head again. "I’m fine, Will. Just…." His voice dropped in pitch and ceased as he moved with a stumbling stride toward the door. "…tired. I’m tired." With on hand on the wall for support he started for his room.

Willy stared at him, wondering at the swiftness in his change of behavior. When she began to follow her toe tapped something. She bent down, discovering the pill bottle. Several pea-sized yellow spheres had escaped its interior and were spread across the floor. Upon closer inspection she found that one had be cracked open; it bled a pale yellow powder.

For a moment she could only stare in shock at the substance, appalled and confused. She’d seen those pills before: the drug, "Pollen" as it was known, had circulated through Midgar’s dark alleys and slums for years. She’d never used it, as experience with those who had was enough to frighten her away from it as a child. The drug was a potent hallucinogen, and often times lethal.

"Korben?" Willy scooped up the pills and threw them into the toilet, enjoying a moment of angry satisfaction as they swirled around and then disappeared forever. But she knew replacing them wouldn’t take long. She quickly pursued her companion.

Korben was lying on his back on the floor of the room he and Tyser shared, no doubt lost in some illusion created by the drug. His eyes were wild but also clouded. If she demanded an explanation now, he most likely wouldn’t even comprehend.

Willy kicked him sharply in the side. He only flinched, turning his wide, anxious eyes on her. He laughed sharply and then ignored her.

"Korben, what the hell do you think you’re doing?" she asked, trying to restrain herself from shouting. "How long have you been doing this shit?"

To her mild surprise, Korben was able to give her a sensible answer. "March," he replied, his words quick, though marred by his numb lips. "Since March."

"Since March? But…how the hell…."

"Ya’ need…to look better." He waved his hand drunkenly, and a foolish grin spread across his thin lips. "In the bears."

It took Willy a moment to under stand what he’d said, but when she did, the realization felled her to her knees. My God, he’s been slipping it in those damned gummy bears! But…he only eats them before a mission…. "Korben, you could’ve been killed!" she shouted suddenly, her fear rising. "Isn’t it bad enough not being drugged up? What the hell were you thinking?" She cursed several times over at her own obliviousness. How could he have hid this for so long?

Korben reached clumsily into his Jacket spilling, his deck of fortune cards over his stomach. "Helps me see," he murmured, turning them with his fingers. "I see things. Chaos…Chaos is close."

"What are you talking about?" she nearly sobbed; injustice, frustration, anger, and fear raged within her, and she didn’t know what to do. "Korben, you…you idiot! Raile’s gonna kick your ass—you’ll be kicked out of the Turks!"

Willy rose to her feet once more and began to pace, her mind spinning. "Damnit, you shit. How could you? Why?" Her stomach began to twist in knots. "Stupid, stupid! What are you going to do? What if Raile figures it out, or the General? Then what will you do?"

"It doesn’t matter." His hand closed around the card of the red-eyed demon. "No, it doesn’t."

She was about to start shouting again when she heard the sound of the apartment door opening. "Shit. I hope that’s not…." She quickly left the room, hoping against hope that it wasn’t their superior. If the general found out that Korben was messing with drugs, he’d be killed—because of the Turks’ access to so much top-secret information, agents weren’t allowed to quit or go off on their own. And if Korben wasn’t living up to potential….

Willy stopped dead when she saw who was standing in the apartment, clad in the same uniform she remembered from nearly a year ago. Gavin was looking about, taking note of its state of disarray with a look of indifference. Slowly, he turned to face her. "Hey."

"Hey." All her earlier worries and fears fled at the sight of him, and with a joyous cheer she ran and threw her arms around him. "Oh Gavin, thank God you’re back!" she cried, laughing almost hysterically. "I missed you so much! How are you? Did you really make First Class? Was it hard? What about Kem?"

"Calm down," Gavin instructed. He eased her back. "No need for that."

Willy was too overcome by elation to note the strange tone on his voice. "God, you look good," she said, looking him over. "Looks like you bulked up a bit." She giggled, her gaze coming to rest on his eyes. They seemed to grow even brighter than before, with more depth than she remembered. The almost unnatural beauty they held was startling. "Your eyes are different," she remarked.

"Yeah, I got some treatment done," Gavin replied. His voice was also noticeably deeper, though his tone was cold. She noticed then that he didn’t appear pleased in the least at having met her again.

"Gavin, is something wrong?"

"No, not really." He was gazing past her, and she followed the direction of his eyes: Korben’s room. "Hey, what’s Korben up to?"

Willy sighed, and shook her head. She didn’t want to explain, but she could trust Gavin with this. She certainly couldn’t trust Tyser with a secret of any kind. "Korben’s having problems," she said. "He came in a minute ago, and…." She paused. "Wait—what did you call him?"

Gavin side-stepped her and started toward the room. His steps were silent as he walked, his movements smooth, like those of a practiced predator. Something was different about him—something wrong. Willy knew him intimately, which included the way he was supposed to act. He never called Korben by his first name.

"Gavin, wait," Willy called after him. "What—"

He threw open the door to Korben’s room with a loud thud. More surprising than this was the outcry accompanying the action. When Willy approached she found a peculiar scene; Korben was backed against the wall, on his face a look of pure terror that she’d never seen on him. His cards were strewn about him like blood from a wound, and his eyes streaked from them to Gavin wildly. Gavin didn’t appear the least bit affected by his odd behavior, nor the fear in his expression.

"Hello there, Korben Jay," Gavin drawled, a smirk turning up the ends of his mouth that caused Korben to tremble. "You didn’t have to run away before. I was just saying hello."

Korben didn’t even attempt to speak, concentrating too hard on simply taking each gasping breath. His hand slid across the ground, searching for something. The cards were turned and scattered by his groping reach.

"Oh, what’s this one?" Gavin plucked one of the cards off the floor, studying it casually. "Oh yeah, I remember." He turned the picture toward Korben. "What was its name again?"

"Ch-Chaos," Korben stuttered, his back attempting to defy the solidity of the apartment walls. "Damnation."

Gavin laughed sharply; it was a wicked sound, one that caused Willy’s flesh to crawl and Korben to yelp in fear. "Yeah, that was it. My supposed end, huh?" He laughed again, and crouched down in front of the Turk. "Who’s making the jokes now, Jay?" His voice had grown suddenly serious. "You laughed at me before. ‘Turks outrank SOLDIER’ was your motto. But look at me now." He snorted. "Now I’m in charge."

Korben stared blankly for a moment, suspended in movement and breath. His eyes rolled upward into his skull, and slowly, he inhaled deeply. Willy jumped as he began to scream; it was a long, pitiful wail of distress that echoed through the room. When his breath ran out he merely took another and began anew, crying like a madman.

Gavin chuckled and stood upright once more. He muttered something under his breath that Willy couldn’t hear above her comrade’s anguished voice. He exited the room without hesitation or discomfort.

At last Willy jarred to life, her thoughts beginning to fit into place now that the shock had worn off. Korben was still screaming but she chose to follow Gavin, as he was swiftly heading for the door. "Gavin!" She had to shout to be heard. "What the hell is going on? What did you do to Korben? Damnit, answer me!"

"We’re through, Willy," Gavin replied coldly. His deep eyes burned into her skin. This was not the same Gavin she knew. "The truth is, I really loved you. For a long time, I did, but to you I was just a pathetic toy. Your entertainment." He scowled in resentment.

Willy gasped, unable to take everything that was happening. "But Gavin, I—"

"When I was transferred, I even thought about asking you to come. The General said he wouldn’t transfer you for being my girlfriend, but he could transfer you as my wife."

Her heart skipped several beats, and she almost had to remind it to keep going. "Gavin," she whispered hoarsely, "why didn’t you tell me? I…I would have…."

Gavin laughed at her scornfully. "Sure you would have. That would’ve gotten me for sure. But it’s a good thing I didn’t ask. I’ve had time to think. You’re worthless, Willow." Each cruel word staggered her. "You’re a slut. I’m stronger now, and I don’t need you." He chuckled. "But if I ever need a quick f—k, I’ll let you know." He waved and continued out of the apartment. "See ya’ around."

Then he was gone, and the room fell silent.

Willy stood there for a long time, staring blindly at the door. "Come back…" she whispered. She felt as if she’d been shot. She was lying on her back in the slums, the sickening feel of her blood emptying out from her body blocking out her every conscious thought. The pain was so great that no single wound had been gored; she was riddled with the metal-torn holes, like one of the corpses in a Club’s mission. She’d seen bodies lying prone this way, their eyes dull as they searched a dark, twisted-iron heaven for redemption. Only now did she know their agony, waiting to either be saved or condemned.

The sound of an intermitted tone pulled Willy slowly from her devastation. It was her cellular. Her hand closed around it, fumbling to turn it on. After a bit of struggling she managed to raise the device to her ear. "Y-Yes?"

"Willy, it’s Raile," came the response. "The President has asked to see us with the General. Is Korben with you?"

Oh God, Korben…. "Raile, I…I can’t be there right now. Korben’s…he’s sick. It’s pretty bad."

"Tell him to gut it out," was her boss’s reply. "This is an important assignment, and he wants us all there."

"But…I don’t think…."

"That’s right—don’t think." He sounded unusually tense, and she wondered how important of an assignment it must be. "Get him down here, if he wants to keep his job."

She closed her eyes. "Alright. He’ll be there."

"Good. I’ll see you soon, then." And he hung up.

Willy ran her hand through her hair, dropping the phone. The fear of a displeased president and general forced her to collect herself despite Gavin’s cruel treatment. Later she would try to make sense of it all. She quickly changed into her Turk’s suit and went to find her comrade.

Korben was in the same position as when she’d left; sitting against the wall, head lolled back, eyes wide and vacant. She knelt beside him and lightly slapped his cheek. "Hey, Korben," she coaxed. Pollen was a fast-acting drug, and its dangerous effects usually wore off quickly. "Come on, it’s me: it’s Willy." After a moment she added, "Gavin’s gone. You’re okay now. Come on, Korben."

Korben’s eyes gradually focused on her face, and she wondered if he even recognized her. "Gone?" he echoed faintly.

"Yes, Korben, he’s gone. Are you okay?"

"Getting there." He blinked rapidly, allowing reality to flood back into his mind. The memory caused him to shudder. "God…I…." He expelled his breath in a low sigh and fell silent.

Willy mirrored this action, then recalled her recent assignment. "The President wants to see us. And General Sines. Can you make it? You’re still high."

Korben didn’t reply for a long time, his fingers twitching. "Get me some water," he murmured at last.

She did, and helped him to drink several glasses as he waited the drug out. Under the insistence that he would be all right she tidied his suit for him and they started for Shinra HQ. "I’ll…explain everything later," he said quietly. "When I understand."

"Yeah." She bit her lip, willing her emotions to settle before they reached the President’s office.

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*oh, and this information might be useful, in case you’re a little confused:

Turk talk (according to Tyser)

Clubs= a full charge mission. Run in and kick ass.

Diamonds= talk down and capture the target alive

Hearts= wait for the clear shot

Spades= sniper shot, usually from hiding.

Folded= the guy’s dead

Trump= take the shot/attack