Chapter One:

Angelicus et Daemonium

….

….

Running and hiding was not typically what Chaos was used to when facing off any enemy, even many enemies. Running meant weakness. Weakness meant death. Of course, he couldn't truly die by the feeble hands of these particular enemies, but the thought of being caught and caged and prodded in a variety of violating ways was enough to push his demon-pride to the back of his mind and run away.

And that is exactly what he was doing. Well, crawling away. Standing up in the small ducts was not an option. The loud *bang* of one of the duct openings behind him reverberated through the metal walls, and the demon paused to listen.

'I don't see anything. You sure you saw something, Doc?'

The female voice that responded made his chest rumble with a low growl. The white-coat.

'Yes! Of course I'm sure! It was right there!'

'Well, there ain't nothin' here, and I don't-' the guard stopped short, the faint rumbling of Chaos' growl reaching his ears. 'Wait… I think I hear… no, it's just the fans running.'

'What was it? Whad'je hear?' an eager voice asked. Chaos recognized it as Meal One. 'Y'heard that growlin', dinn'ja?'

'No, I heard the motors from the fans running.' Meal Two snapped. 'Honestly, you two are jumpin' at shadows.'

'Here. Let me-Wait! My scanner! It's going haywire again. But it's…'

Chaos heard some muttered swears, then the soft scraping of nails on the duct walls. The female white-coat's voice came clearer now. Closer.

'It's coming from inside the duct.'

Chaos couldn't help himself. He let out a warning growl, feeling a little more confident at its magnified sound. The white-coat shrieked again and there came a clatter. She had fallen off the ladder.

'It's in the ducts! We need to go after it!'

'What? Hell no, woman!' Meal Two squawked in fear. 'That thing sounds mighty big, and I ain't climbin' through no ducts to get eaten by that thing!'

'We could flush it.' Meal One said. 'Smoke it out. It'll be easy pickin's if it's half-blinded. We could gun it down easy.'

'No! We can't kill it yet. It might be the one we're looking for.' The female white-coat snapped. Chaos shuddered and turned. He had heard enough. He needed to get out of the ducts. Quickly, he crawled on his way. Where was a good place to hide? His host's memories were no longer available to him, and he didn't know much about the ship, as when he had been awake while on board, his host had only been to three rooms. And all three had been quite occupied. He paused suddenly, recalling the unused room he had found some time ago on his way back from his impromptu food-hunt. It was dark, unused, and perfect for hiding.

The demon's lips curled in a smile. Yes, it would be perfect. The humans would be hunting him in the small ducts, and he would be hunting them in the open halls of their ship. He turned down another duct that branched off. This would be fun. As he carefully maneuvered over one of the hatches, a loud squeal caused him to reach up and cover his sensitive ears. A mistake. He lost his balance and fell through the hatch, catching his injured wing on a sharp corner and tearing a new hole in it. Yowling in pain, he hit the floor in heap quite unlike his normal graceful landings.

'I want ever damned member of AVALANCHE on the Command Deck in two minutes. And if I don't see yer happy ass here by that time, then I will personally hunt yer soon-to-be sore ass to the LifeStream and back!'

The ghostly voice crackled and went out. The smelly human had finally reached the main part of the ship. Chaos couldn't stop the bemused smile that curled his lip and revealed his fangs at the memory of the chase. He had, admittedly, failed to catch his meal, but the chase had been the most thrilling he had ever experienced. He should do more running.

'Hello, Mr. Monster.'

Chaos froze. He had thought himself alone, but the small voice convinced him otherwise. Slowly, still lying on his back, he tilted his head. A small human child smiled at him.

'Are you okay, Mr. Monster?'

Why, when the rest of the human population on the ship were running in terror from the mere sound of him, was this little bug-like human smiling at him?

'Do you need help up, Mr. Monster?'

The little girl moved closer, hands outstretched. It was all the invitation the demon needed. He twisted and rolled to his feet, crouching low and fanning his wings out, hissing warningly. The girl stopped, a flicker of fear passing over her face. Then, much to Chaos' surprise, she planted her feet and held her arms out in imitation of his wings.

'Raaawwwrrrrgg!'

She let out a high, furious roar. Chaos stared at her, confused. What was the little bug doing? It was slightly amusing, watching it stand so bravely before the likes of him. When she settled, he hissed again, but less audible. The girl took another deep breath and roared again.

'Raaawwwrrrgggg!'

For the second time, Chaos only crouched there in bemused confusion. Then, slowly, he lowered his wings. Clearly, the little bug wasn't afraid of him. But afraid or not, he was larger than her, and she would be a tasty snack. Feeling his stomach twist in hunger, the demon took a tentative step forward. When the girl didn't make a sound, he moved closer and closer until he stood just above her. Then he picked her up. The girl giggled, clearly delighted. Chaos opened his mouth, already salivating at the thought of her crunching bones, and brought his meal closer.

….

….

Yuffie let out a huff of annoyance, scowling as she quickly yanked on her boots. Of all the times Cid could call, it had to be in the middle of her bath.

'Stupid cancer-breathing, tea-drinking old man!' she muttered under her breath. She grabbed her Shuriken and hurried to the door. Her laces clacked lightly against the floor as she took the hall at a run. Ahead of her, Cloud was jogging beside Barrett, who took two great strides to every four steps of Cloud's. Honestly, how do people get that big? Yuffie wondered.

'Hey guys!' she called, hurrying up to them. 'What's Cid want us for?'

'Your guess is as good as mine.' Barrett said with a shrug.

Cloud only shook his head.

'Well, last one there takes the blame!' Yuffie said, grinning and dashed forward.

'We ain't playin' your game!' Barrett shouted after her.

'Then you forfeit and lose anyway!' Yuffie yelled back, then yelped as her shoelace caught on the track to one of the doors and she hit the floor face-first.

'Ooowwwwwww!'

She sat up, holding her nose just as Barrett and Cloud caught up to her. Barrett was laughing so hard, he had given himself stitches.

'Is it bleeding?' she asked them, moving her hands.

'That was some funny shit.' he told her. 'Yeah, it's bleedin' pretty bad.'

'You'll be fine.' Cloud said, barely looking at the Ninja. 'Come on. Cid sounded pretty upset.'

Yuffie scowled at the Swordsman as he stepped over her.

'Heartless, unfeeling son of a b-'

'Nah, he's right.' Barrett cut her off, still grinning. 'Cid sounded pretty mad.'

He stepped over her and strode off down the hall.

'By the way!' he turned, walking backwards. 'You lost.'

Yuffie groaned and picked herself up.

'Stupid automatic doors!' she muttered, yanking her shoelace from the crevice. She picked up her fallen Shuriken and hurried after the two men. 'Hey! Guys! Wait up!'