----------
"I won't let you get in our way."-Rude of the Turks
----------
At age eighteen, Andrew Holzoff carried the weight of the family business on his shoulders. Not that it mattered to him if what he did took care of the Holzoffs, he just saw it as a way to meet visitors to Icicle Inn of the opposite gender.
Andrew wasn't a big man, but he wasn't small either. His short blond hair was combed back neatly, still a little damp from when he had shoveled part of the sidewalk. He wore a dark blue long-sleeved wool sweater and think black pants. His large black boots squeaked on the floor as he mixed some drinks. His face was built with angles, his chin slightly pointed, his cheekbones high, and his nose straight. His bright blue eyes were the only thing soft about his face, besides the smile he usually wore.
Andrew turned back to the man who had ordered a scotch, sliding it over to him. "There you are, sir," he said cheerfully. "Prepared wonderfully just for you with a touch of love, and a dash of happiness."
The bar was fairly empty, only a few of the regulars hung about by themselves nursing their drinks. It was a big night for most people, or at least anyone who cared about the mayor's daughter getting married to the mayor's best friend.
Andrew always had found it disgusting when young women married men that could be their fathers, especially when that man was known to be a little strange and go after many a young woman.
"Sure, whatever," the man replied dryly. "So, who is the mayor…or, whatever, here?"
Andrew arched an eyebrow. "Mayor?… Oh, yeah. You're talking about Mr. Brooks. He's actually at a wedding reception right now for his daughter…" Andrew chuckled. "Not that he does a very good job at being a mayor."
The man smiled. "Yeah. I know how that is."
"You need him or something?" Andrew asked.
The man nodded. "I have things that need to be discussed with him," he replied simply.
Andrew nodded slightly, frowning at the explanation. He found it…lacking, but he didn't pry into the other man's business. He looked the man up and down. He was wearing a dark blue business suit that was almost completely wrinkle-free. He had long black hair tied behind his head. His eyes were a dark green that seemed to show little of his personality…except for the fact it was dark.
"You from some sort of business?" Andrew asked.
The man smiled. "As a matter of fact, I am. The name's Ashton Drate. I'm from a section of Shin-ra called the Turks…"
"Andrew Holzoff. Nice to meet you," Andrew replied cheerfully. "But don't call me Andy, Anna, or anything else."
Ashton arched a dark eyebrow. "I see…" He looked like he was going to say something else but two others walked in.
"Ash, sir, we need to be going," the woman piped in. She had red curly hair that ended just above her shoulders. Like Ashton, she wore a dark blue suit.
The man that stood beside her looked as dumb as a post, but Andrew knew he most likely wasn't. His dark blue suit was disheveled and his light blond hair was un-brushed.
Ash frowned. "Yeah, I'm coming," he grumbled. He drained his drink with one big gulp, standing up from his stool. He nodded to Andrew, tossing a tip onto the counter. "Nice talking to you, Anna."
The three left the bar without a single word. Andrew watched after them, blinking a few times. Partially in irritation, partially in confusion.
"Hey, I's dinna know you's was Anna! If I 'ad known tha', I would've gotten yoo a drink!" one of the regulars shouted over, falling from his stool with a loud crash that woke up another regular.
"I think you've had enough," Andrew replied. He looked down at his watch, realizing it was past time to close. "Okay, everyone. Finish what you're drinking and haul your sorry butts out of here!"
A few groans emitted from around the room, but soon enough everyone did as they were told, some slower than the others. Andrew hurried through the closing routines and left the bar.
----------
Andrew groaned and dragged himself out of bed. He could hear someone pounding on the door. Over and over.
"Yeah, I hear you!" he grumbled, stumbling down the stairs. He headed towards the front door and flung it open. His mouth fell open at the sight of who it was.
"Stop staring, bozo," Jess hissed, her voice laced with irritation.
Andrew grinned, feeling a little silly in his flannel pajamas. "What is it, Jess?"
Jess was considered one of the prettiest young women in Icicle Inn. She had light brown hair and eyes, her face full and soft. She frowned deeply. "Come with me."
Andrew's eyebrows went up. "What? Planning on tying me up and having your way with me? Why I never!"
"Ugh! You little-"
"I'm game!" he cut in, his grin widening even further.
"Just shut up and get dressed," she grumbled, pulling her coat tighter around herself against the cold air.
Andrew nodded and quickly put different clothes on. He left his hair as it was, knowing she would only get more irritated with him if he took the time to brush it. And anyway, he had heard some girls go for the messy look.
He walked back to the front door, shoving some boots on his feet. He straightened himself and put a coat on, looking at Jess. "You should know, Jess, that I'll scream if you try something on me."
"Could you possibly shut up!?!" she demanded, eyes blazing.
Andrew closed his mouth, deciding not to say what was on the tip of his tongue. "Where are we going?" he asked.
"Town Hall," she replied simply.
"Umm…Why?" he asked, looking over at her.
"Some guys from…Shin-ra, I think. They want to talk to us about something called a reactor?" Jess shrugged. "Something like that."
Andrew remained silent, thinking to himself about what she had just told him. "Are they wearing blue suits?"
"Hey, yeah. How did you know that?"
"Saw them last night at the bar. Definitely were…different individuals."
"What? Were they the only ones who didn't put up with your garbage?" Jess retorted dryly. Her lips were pursed when he glanced over at her.
"Nah. One of them just looked a little stupid. The woman seemed a little too manly, and the other guy has an attitude problem."
Jess looked surprised. "Wow. You're actually commenting about attitude? Now that's something you don't see every day!"
Andrew chuckled. "Yeah. I'm beginning to frighten even myself… Maybe I need some help from an expert?"
They walked on in silence, neither looking at the other. Jess's cheeks were red and she kept her eyes uncomfortable ahead. Andrew took some delight in that fact, knowing something a little more about her.
"Hurry up! Just about the whole town is in there!" a pudgy man chided as they neared the Hall.
"Yeah, Doug, we're getting there," Andrew muttered. Every time he saw the man, he felt disgusted. He was the lucky husband of the mayor's daughter.
Doug ushered them in, sitting them down in the back of a large auditorium. The room was almost full of people, only a few places left empty. The sound of hundreds of voices thundered around them.
"I'll never get used to this racket. Even the bar never gets this full," Andrew grumbled, looking around at all of the others who were assembled. He could see his mother and younger brother sitting near the front. He supported them financially, but he lived alone in his own small house while they lived in a larger one.
Jess jabbed him hard with her elbow in his ribs. "They're getting ready to speak. Pay attention," she hissed.
Andrew held his hands up. "Sorry, sorry!"
"Shhh!" the lady next to Andrew hissed.
"Oh, man. I'm stuck between two felines," Andrew groaned. He stopped there as two sets of eyes glared him into silence.
Ash stepped up to the podium in the front of the room. He smiled widely, looking at his audience. "Hello, all. For those of you that are unawares, my name is Ashton Drate. My colleagues and I are from the Turks, representing Shin-ra." He nodded to the two others that had come into the bar the previous night. "Olym Rac," he said as the man stepped forward, "and Niell Packer." The woman stepped forward, smiling.
There was a pause in the speech for polite applause. Andrew clapped his hands a few times, arching an eyebrow in suspicion. "How can we trust them, I say…" he mumbled.
Ash continued. "I know the majority of you are wondering why we have come. We want to save you from the troubles that are circulating through the Planet. This is a time of poverty that we live in, but all that can be prevented from ever touching your town. You will benefit completely from our services." He paused, allowing some time for them to digest the information. "We propose to build what will save this town. Something that will aid you in survival." He waved his hands around as he spoke, emphasizing his words. "The pinnacle of Shin-ra technology! The Mako reactor!"
A huge round of applause followed his speech, a few people even standing up. The Turks all smiled at the reaction.
"Wow. This could seriously save us all!" Jess exclaimed.
Andrew frowned. "I'm not sure if I agree with this… Mako reactors, huh? I remember reading something about those. All they do is suck the Planet dry and try to kill it."
Jess turned to him. "Moron! Those are myths! You know perfectly well how truths are twisted into lies. Those weren't Mako reactors. They were just power plants!"
"Yeah. That' what you learn at school. That's what you're trained to say. What are you? Some kind of-" He stopped himself, sighing. "Oh, stop it. You believe what you want, I'll believe the truth!" He turned back to Ash.
"We ask that you have a town vote. All those in favor, say 'Aye'!"
The room filled with the voice of hundreds of different individuals. Only a few remained silent, but those few weren't enough to make a difference.
Ash smiled triumphantly. "It shall be built!" he said, stepping back from the podium.
Andrew turned away from it all, walking out of the building. He knew a few things most people didn't know. He realized that if he hadn't stumbled onto those texts at his family's home at the base of the mountain, that he would have been among the cattle being led off for the slaughter.
He went back to hi home and sat down at the small dining table, putting his head down on it. He thought of what he could possibly do to get out of the mess before he drifted off into sleep.
----------
Sunlight glittered on the white snow, causing the afternoon to seem brighter than it really was. Trees, let alone any plant life, were absent. Only rolling white hills surrounded the lone chocobo and rider. Mountains loomed in the distance on all sides, appearing dark against the white snow.
The only disturbance on the snowy surface was the footsteps of the chocobo, which cut only a few inches deep.
Andrew ushered the chocobo on as they made their way over the icy hills. Away from the only town he had ever known and the destruction it face. He headed blindly into the future, not noticing the heavy clouds that lined the sky ahead of him.