_No Such Thing as a Free Ride_


Sephiroth had a hunch he'd be regretting Zack's offer for 'a ride to the airstrip' the instant he caught Major Pavan's slow blink of surprise. It seemed such a mundane thing for his aide to do, provide vehicular transport to and from a known location for his superiors; he hadn't expected any fuss.

"Is there something I should be aware of, Soldier?" He sub-vocalized to the most senior officer of his command. Riding in the elevator shoulder to shoulder, Pavan was one of very few men in Shinra able to give him a sideways look that didn't involve craning his neck.

"Were you aware sir, that Zack recently found a new private vehicle?" The obliquely phrased question opened up an entirely new perspective on the matter.

Sephiroth raised his eyebrows. "Using a private vehicle on company time is hardly regulation."

"Yes sir." The huge soldier from Corel agreed blandly. "But it's a very nice car. He's been looking for excuses to show it off to everyone including my sister ever since he acquired it."

"Do I dare ask how it was acquired?" Sephiroth replied in the same tone.

"Road rally last Saturday night in Sector3, is what I heard. The winner takes loser's car." Pavan's too-calm tone bespoke of suppressed laughter, or perhaps incredulity.

Shaking his head, the general could only sigh. "Remind me to not ask him whose car he was driving on Saturday. I'm certain I don't want to know."

"Using a company car for private errands is against regulation." Pavan agreed. "But in this case, I think you would be best not mentioning the price of replacing a vehicle's suspension to Palmer for a while."

"What in god's name would he have done if he _lost_." Suddenly horrified, Sephiroth closed his eyes and resolved to discipline his subordinate for something, anything, even if he couldn't formally acknowledge the actual offense without getting Zack into a shitload of legal trouble. There was an element to the man's risk taking that was just ridiculously stupid at times. The car they were riding in chimed to alert them that they had reached their floor.

"Knowing him. He'd probably just let Palmer report the thing missing and leave the other guy holding the bag." The black man also shook his head, mourning his friend's random criminal tendencies.

"Ten demerits isn't enough, he'll just laugh them off." Sephiroth muttered. "Maybe an overnight in detention? No, still not good enough. The man needs a leash."

"House arrest?" Pavan suggested with understated amusement, in step with him as they exited the lobby. "How about one of those tracking collars for bears?"

"Don't tempt me." Sephiroth replied with grim humor, shouldering open the door and stepping into the murky sunlight.


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