Cappy Creates

Cait Sith was supposed to be a tool. One for espionage. And, perhaps, a bit of silly self indulgence on my part.

It's grown into something more now. Something out of control. I am no longer laughing.

It started with the headaches. Burning agony behind my eyes leaving me curled at my desk. Then, came the blackouts. Chunks of time, just gone. I'd be in my office one moment, the Gold Saucer the next. People around headquarters have reported strange behaviors on my part. Talking to myself. Extended staring spells.

Today, I am being sent out for a thorough psychological evaluation. "We at Shinra care immensely about the physical and mental well-being of all our staff," The email I received this morning read.

A bunch of corporate hogwash. Pretty words with no substance. The bottom line is the only priority. And my current… quirks are endangering that.

As I approach the medical wing, fear flares in my chest. This is going to go horribly, horribly wrong. I'm one hundred percent certain of that. My math and intuition have yet to be wrong.

I duck into one of Shinra HQ's many restrooms. Currently empty besides me. A calm, quiet refuge to gather my thoughts. Easier said than done. Elevated heart rate. Throbbing head. Tight chest. The great Reeve Tuesti is having a panic attack. Under no circumstances can I let the doctors or anyone else see me like this.

I splash some cold water on my face. But that only makes my trembling worse. The person staring back at me from the mirror looks nothing like a composed Shinra executive. Disheveled hair. Wild eyes. A feral grin. A man mere moments away from completely unraveling.

Comforting self talk has a high success rate. Or so I'm told. The words do come. Just not in the voice I'd intended.

"Aye, no need to be nervous. Shinra doctors have heads full of cotton, anyways!"

No, this shouldn't be happening. I'm hiding in a bathroom far from my desk. Far from my headset and that damned robotic cat. Haven't even picked up the cursed thing in days. I've been much too busy with planning out the rebuilding of Sector 7.

Another shot of pain. The country lilt falters, dropping into a breathy groan. Somehow, my face is still forced into a grin. All teeth and bubbly feline enthusiasm.

My mind is splitting. Fracturing, really. Outright losing my marbles, mate! Not a lick I can do about it.

"Ain't a thing wrong with ye. With us." I continue, somewhere between my usual baritone and Cait's brogue. "Everything'll be right as rain. You'll see!"

I find myself nodding. There's nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all. Just a wee bit o' dust in the old Tuesti gears. 'S fine. We're not crazy. A smidge tired and overworked, but not a complete loon and-

Oh no. Those aren't my thoughts. Just shut up. Cut the jibber-jabbering and get out of my damned head!

Ah, this is a bit overdue, I suppose. The Tuesti name is associated with many great minds. Shinra's own family of geniuses. Shinra's own family of stark raving madmen.

I'm unsure if it is genetic or environmental. But, every Tuesti under Shinra has eventually snapped. Sanity. A small price to pay just to keep that corporate heart beating. Not like anyone really discusses it. Just another fact, covered up and tossed in someone's desk drawer.

Damn it, why didn't I listen? Ma warned me about this. But I insisted. Having my own cushy office was too good to pass up. I wanted to plan street layouts, play with mechanical toys, and slowly drown under endless paperwork. A rip roaring good choice, Reeve. Really mucked things up, didn't ya?

Well, lads… if this is the fall of yet another Tuesti, might as well go out with a bang. Let's give 'em one last show. One they won't soon forget!

***

Evidently, I have lost control of my life. And my mind. My only real asset.

The evaluation itself is another concerning blank in my memory. Well, except for the feeling of my fortune cards digging into my nervous fingers. They're still tucked neatly into my inner suit pocket.

I fully expected to be in a sterile, padded Shinra psych room. Instead, I'm back in my office. That's... Good. And a bit suspicious.

Everything seems to be as I left it. My desk is still an official Shinra disaster zone, stacked high with Sector 7 rebuilding permits. I catch my reflection in one of my large office windows. All the panic from before, evaporated. I'm at the peak of outward composure. For once, I look well rested. There's even a conveniently placed glass of water on my desk for my now raspy throat.

Oh no, what did I do? What did HE do? The clues have to be nearby.

I open my email inbox first. To my surprise, my full evaluation report is already there, waiting for me. Odd. Typical Shinra bureaucracy moves at a glacial pace. It hasn't even been a full hour since I went to the medical wing.

With mounting trepidation, I open the report.

"Director Tuesti displays an exceptional amount of focus and commitment to the wider Shinra mission. His charming personality belies a very analytical mind, along with a sharp sense of humor. Very grounded, with good stress management skills.

In short, Reeve Tuesti is mentally sound and fit to continue his Urban Planning duties for the foreseeable future."

I… what? Perhaps I'm not the only one losing my mind. Seems I'm the only sane one left.

My outbox is just as baffling. It seems a rousing proposal for a Gold Saucer-style amusement park within city walls was sent out during my… little memory lapse. Well written and quite persuasive, in classic Tuesti style. Another way to increase revenue and cover Sector 7 construction costs. More worrying, it was quickly approved.

I scroll further. There are notated blueprints. The cleanest I've ever seen in all my time with Shinra. Flawless financial projections. Citations regarding pending revisions to Midgar building code.

The damned robotic cat that I created is somehow better at my job than me!

Perhaps quitting is in the cards for me. Leave behind all the corporate nonsense and move back to the countryside. Someone else will get to deal with this mess.

Titles I did not ask for. Meaningless human accolades. Artifacts of my past that are of no consequence to me anymore. I have grown beyond Shinra. Beyond their needless politics, titles, and rules. Beyond humanity and all that comes with it.

The truth at Nibelheim was the key. The veil before my eyes was lifted. My anger was a misguided waste of time. The slate must be wiped clean. The planet screams, and I am its savior. A glorious Reunion is coming.