Chapter 3

An Understanding

As soon as we started moving, I looked at Reeve.

"Reeve, who were those soldiers?" I asked.

It was Eve who answered.

"Deep Ground." she said.

"Deep Ground?" I asked.

She nodded.

"The shadow of the Shinra company, constructed by the former president. And completely hidden from the rest of the world." she whispered.

She seemed to be in pain when she spoke of these things.

"Constructed?" I asked.

"His goal was to create an army of superhuman warriors. Not once letting morality interfere. Those who were not constructed were recruited by force, experimented on, and forced into training." she said.

I started to think this happened to her.

"The man you met earlier, Azul is also a member of Deep Ground, but he belongs to an elite unit known as the Sphietes. The whole organization was kept a secret. That's why there's so little information on them, which is why Eve is a blessing. And it is nothing like I expected."

I tore my eyes away from Eve and looked to Reeve.

"Not even a person in your position was informed?"

"No. Other than the president himself, the only people who knew of Deep Ground's existence were most likely Hydiga, Scarlet, and the head of Bio Chemical Research….."

"Hojo."

I immediately looked at Eve.

"How do you know him!?" I asked.

She remained calm and didn't look at me.

"I told you, I have a past." she answered.

"After the president's death, the transfer of power to his son was carried out so quickly I doubt Rufus was ever briefed on the project. As for me I was told the information was on a need to know bases. And as an official in charge of urban development I guess I wasn't on their list."

"It's better you weren't involved. Trust me." Eve said.

"All the info we currently have on Deep Ground is only because of Eve and what we discovered recently. When we came across some of Scarlet's old files."

I sighed and shook my head. The conspiracy of Shinra, would never cease.

"Vincent, have you heard of the vast disappearance that occurred recently in Junar?"

"Hm. I remember the report saying that 20 or 30 people suddenly vanished."

Eve shifted.

"That's what they want you to believe." she said.

"It was determined internally that if the truth was leaked they wouldn't be able to contain the inevitable panic. The actual number of people that went missing that day….was 1200."

I looked up. I was a little shocked they were able to keep that hidden.

"Twelve hundred people simply vanished without a single trace. The W.R.O conducted a private investigation, but we came up empty handed. Except for the rumors. Since the Junar disappearances people in Edge have been on edge. They say that night after night they can hear screams coming from the direction of Midgar. Could it be the wind? Let me ask you, does the wind sound like a thousand wailing souls? Listen. Can you hear them?"

I didn't want to hear them.

"Commissioner! A rouge transmission is being broadcast on all wavelengths!"

Eve stood up and walked over to the monitor. She typed something in and a man came onto the screen.

"At last, the time has come to cleanse this world. The pure will be spared for the cause. While the tainted will be hunted down and exterminated. They shall be slashed, strangled and slaughtered! Beaten, stabbed and crushed. Garroted and impaled! Shot and executed without mercy! The time has come to cleanse this world!"

The man proceeded to laugh a truly terrible laugh. Eve banged her fist on the side of the vehicle.

"Where could that signal have…."

He was cut off when the vehicle shook. Eve lost her balance and fell on my lap. I swore she blushed. She stood up and Reeve opened the door. I shot the guard hound before it could kill him.

"Impressive." Eve muttered.

I smirked to myself.

"Guard hounds!"

There was an entire pack coming. Eve and I continued to shoot at them, but more came.

"We'll take care of your pet problem. Just keep driving." I said.

"Vincent use this!" Reeve said.

I turned and saw a larger gun come up. I sat down and looked at Eve.

"Any that I miss, kill."

She nodded. She turned her sharp grey eyes onto the pack. We took them out one by one.

"Vincent! Eve!"

Eve's POV

Vincent ran and climbed on top of the truck. I wanted to go after him but I held myself back.

"Hold onto something." I said.

Reeve nodded and I felt the truck fly through the air. When we landed and stopped I walked outside.

"Vincent?!"

He got down from the top of the truck and I sighed in relief.

"Concerned?" he asked.

I scowled and put on a front.

"Like hell. I just don't want my assignment compromised." I said.

Even as I spoke the words I knew I was lying not only to him, but to myself as well. Reeve came out and Vincent looked at him.

"Are you alright?" he asked him.

"Yes, but that's more than I can say for the engine. Vincent, Eve, if possible I want the two of you to continue on to Edge. That transmission we saw troubles me."

"No really?" I asked sarcastically.

He ignored me, like he usually did when I made those comments.

"Once I've repaired the Shadowfox, I'll need to return to headquarters. A W.R.O squad has already been dispatched to Edge. Join them and help liberate the city. And Eve try not to cause too much damage."

"I guess I have no choice." Vincent said.

He walked off and I followed him. We weren't very far from Edge, but I didn't like being alone with one person.

"How do you know so much about Deep Ground?" he asked suddenly.

I sighed.

"I'd rather not….go into that if you don't mind." I said.

He stopped and I looked at him. He was looking at the ground.

"At least tell me how you know Hojo." he said.

He sounded desperate and I gave in.

"You and I are more alike than you know. That's all I'll say about it." I said.

He looked up and there was understanding in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." he said.

I looked down.

"Yeah, me too. I suppose you and I understand each other in that way. We both have a past we wish we could erase." I said.

"Hm."

He walked a bit closer to me.

"Are you human?" he asked.

I almost wanted to laugh at the question.

"I used to be. I still am a little. But after what Hojo did to me, you could say I'm more than human." I said.

Vincent's POV

It felt like she understood me. I knew I understood her in a way. She turned away and sighed.

"We should keep going. The squad will need out help." she said.

She walked off and I followed. We kept going until we came across Guard Hound pack leader. It growled and howled and more Guard Hounds came. Eve took out most before they came within 10 feet of us. I took out the pack leader and we kept going. When she suddenly threw me out of the way the pack leader jumped on her.

"Eve!"

I shot it and she pushed it off. She had a bad bit on her arm. I walked over and grabbed her arm.

"You already know I'll be fine." she growled.

"Humor me." I snapped.

I tore a piece of my cloak and wrapped it around her arm.

"I don't care what you are, anyone can die from blood loss. Even people like you and I." I said.

She scowled but nodded.