Deep beneath the reactor, something stirred. Nothing had moved in this place for over ten years, the pipes rusting in their disuse. The place had been fully abandoned, and only not taken down for scrap because of its treacherous position in the high, jagged mountains. Only wolves called the surrounding area their home. No one had climbed the stairs up into the reactor in recent times, not even for routine checks. They had been fine knowing it was abandoned and out of use, as well as emptied of all the horrors that had been there before. There was nothing there but pipes, tubes and abandoned chambers that stretched deep underground. If one could have stood on the bridge leading to the main chamber, and looked over the side, they would have seen a faint greenish blue glow deep, deep down.
The peace though was being interrupted by that stirring. It came from deep down, where the glow was stronger, more radiant, and the air smelled less of rusting metal and more of something else, something more intangible. If you were to look all the way down, to the bottom of the reactor, you would have seen what looked like a greenish-blue pool, into which some of the pipes ran down. Of course, it was more than a pool, and it stretched further than anyone unknowing about the planet would be able to guess. However, it was from this pool, with its strange iridescence, that the stirring was coming from. The liquid…well, I say liquid because that is the easiest way to describe it…was stirring ever so slightly, like there was something beneath it, waiting to come up.
Then, everything was still for a few moments, as the surface of the pool seemed to calm. Then, suddenly, a black gloved hand shot out from the pool, grabbing the nearest pipe.
A mild mannered restaurateur was making the long walk between Saucer Town and Corel. The walk took him down a long, stretched valley, surrounded by mountains on either side. In front of him, the mountains curved round into a longer range, forming what was basically a dead end except for Saucer Town. Behind him lay the much larger mining town of Corel, which was situated at the mouth of the valley. On either side, trees had sprung up at the feet of the mountains, creating a pleasant place to walk, even if it was a good day or two's trek. There was no danger from any errant wildlife, the unique geography of the valley and its settlements not allowing anything dangerous in, and anything that had been there before had been dealt with. However, there was always danger from the errant bandit who was often more foolhardy than vicious in these peaceful times.
The restaurateur himself looked to be in his mid-30s, although looking good for that age. He was not particularly tall, though looked to be in good shape. He had short, light brown hair that might have been blonde once upon a time. Black, reasonably expensive sunglasses hid his eyes, and he wore fairly non-descript clothing, long black shorts and a white top, with short black boots, to match the warm summer sun that filled the sky. He had a pack slung over his shoulder. He looked the very definition of ordinary.
It was around about midday, and he had been walking now for several hours. He was less tired than you'd expect for a man his age after walking that far, especially with what looked like a heavy pack slung haphazardly over his right shoulder. He actually was thinking about stopping and having some lunch underneath the shade of the trees, until the snapping of a twig caused him to jerk his head to his left.
From his left, from out of the trees, came three men, one in front of the other two. They too were casually dressed, all three in long black trousers, the back two men in blue tops and the front man in red. They all wore what looked like black combat boots. The two men in blue were both bald, one light skinned, one dark, and the front man wore a red rag around his head which held up long, poorly dyed blue hair. All three men wore huge grins as they glared at the restaurateur, and in their hands they all carried crude short swords.
"We can do this the easy way…or the hard way," said the lead man, in what the restaurateur supposed was a threatening voice, "and believe me man, I don't care which one you choose. Your money and valuables. Now." The two bald men chuckled idiotically, raising their swords slightly.
The restaurateur seemed unperturbed for a moment, but then swung his pack around and onto the ground.
"Just let me get the stuff out then," he replied, in an almost bored tone. The lead bandit appeared to pick up on this, and scowled.
"You think this is a joke, eh?" He laughed, a high pitched cackle, "at least you're making the smart decision!"
"Yes. Yes I am." The restaurateur gave a hint of a smile, as he suddenly withdrew a short sword of his own from the pack. He stood up casually, and held the sword in front of him with his right arm, almost lazily. He sighed audibly. "Come on then. Do your worst."
The bandits stood silent for a moment, seemingly stunned by their targets insolence. Then, the leader spluttered in rage, "…take him apart!" The two men behind him charged, swords held high. Their potential victim allowed himself a small smile at their 'technique'. They had obviously not learned with these swords, he thought, as he easily blocked the first bandit's overhead swipe, then whirled his own sword around so the flat of the blade struck the man in the side, sending him crumpling to the ground. Obviously they had been scavenged, he then thought, as the second, darker bald man was on him, swinging his sword with an almighty force. The restaurateur merely ducked the blow, then jumped up with speed to land an uppercut on the man's unprotected chin, sending him up and away at least ten feet, before he landed on the ground unconscious.
The lead bandit merely stood still, as his target stared a hole in him. Wisely, thought the man, the bandit dropped his sword and fled, almost comically, back into the trees and towards Corel. The bald man who he had given the lightest of touches (for him) on the side, was grimacing whilst trying to drag his unconscious companion down the road. Soon after, they had disappeared from sight into the undergrowth as well. Soon, the restaurateur was left alone again in the shadow of the valley, the three abandoned swords on the ground the only evidence there had ever been a scuffle.
"…heh…" the noise made the restaurateur swivel round in surprise. He soon relaxed though as he saw who had made it. Perched in one of the trees in front of him was what looked like a man. A normal person couldn't be sure though. The figure was all in black, except for a read cloak fastened around him, which fluttered slightly behind him in the breeze. He was pale, had long, black hair and ruby red eyes, but the most staggering thing about him was the clawed, golden gauntlet on his left arm. Any other man may have been intimidated by the man's appearance, but not the restaurateur, who merely smiled as he looked up.
"Vincent. Long time no see." The figure jumped down nimbly from his position in the tree, landing almost on his toes in front of the man.
"…Cloud. Likewise. You look…different." The pale man gave a small smile, which was rather rare for him, though less rare than it used to be. Cloud just laughed.
"Oh don't be so non-committal Vincent!" he exclaimed, chuckling. "I know what you mean. You mean older, right?"
"I never said that…" Vincent smirked. "Though…yes. The sunglasses are a nice touch too." Cloud really laughed at that.
"Well, not everyone ages as slowly as you do, so be kind. And don't say that to Cid or Barrett. Now they will take it worse." Cloud removed his sunglasses, squinting slightly in the sunlight. Glowing blue eyes lay underneath. "You know as well why I wear these. People know the signs. They're less likely to welcome an ex-member of SOLDIER with no prejudice. Just makes business a little bit easier." Cloud ran a hand through his now shorter hair, and smiled. "..and this, before you ask, is a combination of notoriety and age."
"…I do wonder what Cid calls you now he can't call you Spiky."
"When did you get so funny?" Cloud grinned, "and he calls me many things. Just that his was his most kid-friendly one." Vincent gave another soft smile, and looked up the road, towards Saucer Town.
"What brings you out here then? Business?"
"Yeah," Cloud followed Vincent's gaze, "looking to set up a new bar and diner in Saucer Town. It's a great location, what with all the traffic to the Gold Saucer…"
"…and to think, you could be hunting monsters and bandits for the WRO…"
"I'm fine thanks," Cloud grinned, "Tifa's fine with me being away as long as I'm just talking business!"
They stood there in the sun for a moment in silence, before turning back to each other.
"Well, I guess I'd better let you get on. I have to get after those bandits after all, make sure they're taken into custody." Vincent swept his cloak around him, and began to walk down the trail back towards Corel.
"Hey!" Cloud shouted, causing Vincent to pause momentarily. "We're probably going to have a reunion soon, we'll give you a call. Would be good to properly catch up!"
Vincent didn't respond for a moment, keeping his back to Cloud, before he replied:
"…I'd have thought you'd be sick of 'reunions'."
"HEY!" Cloud laughed again, as the other man began walking away again, raising a hand in the air in farewell. Cloud stood still for a moment, chuckling softly, before returning his sword to his pack and hoisting it back over his shoulder. He had to admit he was jealous. Vincent barely look different, even after fifteen years of knowing him. With that, he started back again towards Saucer Town, his mind once again full of his business pitch.
The gloved hand around the pipe rested there for a mere second. Then, it moved again, as it grasped the pipe even tighter, and began to pull. The mako around the arm that emerged began to bubble and shift, until a man emerged, gasping for air, from the liquid. He had long silver hair, and glowing green eyes. He was wearing all black, except for two silver shoulder pads. The man kept a hold on the pipe, and pulled himself further out of the liquid, till almost his whole body was free. In doing that, he grasped onto another pipe, thankfully not hot due to disuse, and repeated the process, grabbing onto different pipes, making his way to a platform on the other side of the room. It was exhausting work, and in the heat of the room caused by the liquid's presence, the man was sweating profusely and struggling to move his muscles. Through sheer force of will though, he kept going, till he swung from one final pipe and landed sprawled onto the platform.
He lay there for what seemed like hours, breathing softly, almost nothing running through his mind. When it did, it was only fragments, memories that he couldn't piece together. He didn't seem to be able to remember them, no matter how hard he tried as he lay there…
He opened his eyes as he heard a small sound. Turning his head slightly, he noticed a rope hung next to him, where there hadn't been one before. Then there were two more ropes. Then a figure was sliding down the first rope. A man, clad in black like him, but with long, blonde hair, and glowing blue eyes. It triggered something in the man's mind, but he couldn't figure out what.
The other man reached the end of the rope, and touched down softly. Two masked men, both in white jumpsuits and black gasmasks, slid down on the ropes behind him. The man smiled as he looked down at the being who had just pulled himself from the mako.
"Well…it's about time." A fist was raised, then came crashing down.
The silver haired man saw only inky blackness as his consciousness slipped away.