"Security, of course." Rufus sighed softly, shifting Keiko in his lap so he could be more comfortable. "For the first time in my life, Tseng, I don't what tomorrow might bring. Until three years ago, I was going to rule the world. And then I was going to rebuild it...and then I was going to die." Tseng was the only one Rufus would ever openly admit that to, the only one who was outright told by Rufus himself that he knew he was going to die and had accepted it. "Today? I've spoken to two Zack Fairs, one of whom isn't even from this Planet and seems to have adopted a former experiment. I saw a giant monkey walking around the fair today. People unlike any we've ever seen--or ever made--are washing up in Mideel every day."

He paused to let everything settle and to let him phrase this next part properly. "I have every faith that you and the others can protect me at whatever cost. But what if it comes down to exactly that? Where will I be then?" The president shook his head. "I cannot allow that to happen, Tseng. I will not."