There was an electric feeling in the air, a literal buzzing that felt like it should have been audible.
And there was a low rumble that was.
It took a moment for Kunsel to realize it wasn't Zack making that noise, as hyper focused as he'd gone on his soulmate and the furious look he was giving the Restrictor. No, the bassy growling was coming from behind them.
He chanced a glance back and froze.
It was all too easy to draw a parallel between red mako eyes and hellfire but really, Kunsel hadn't ever felt the need. Until he was presented with red eyes backlit by gold, that looked like actual embers in his irises.
The growl began to rise in pitch, with a sort of inhuman dual tone that a single set of vocal cords shouldn't have been capable of.
"Vincent?" Veld said softly. "I'm going to need you to focus."
He didn't get so much as a glance, not even a flicker of recognition in the fiery gaze.
Right. Not Vincent then.
"Chaos," Veld said, tone far firmer. "Look at me."
The red was still there, but it was more a tinge than a dominant tone; Vincent was losing his grip on control, and from the increasing static in the air it was clear Chaos was going to take full advantage. To what ends, Veld didn't know, but he couldn't risk a rogue agent. Not now.
He reached over and put a firm hand on the back of Vincent's neck, feeling him roll his shoulders but not, notably, trying to shake him off.
Across from them, the Restrictor had ceased his approach, undoubtedly sensing some sort of threat. Both Zack and Kunsel were watching out of the corners of their eyes, tense and ready to move. He couldn't help but notice they'd stepped aside, so they were side by side and had one flank each to protect. Wary of Chaos, but also wary of the Restrictor, and oh this was not how he'd wanted this to go.
"Bide your time, Chaos," Veld murmured, daringly stepping right up into his personal space. They hadn't talked much, they didn't have any sort of bond to promise him safety. But as always, Veld would do what he had to do to complete his mission, or die trying. He just had to trust ultimately it wouldn't come to that; Vincent was still in there, and had more willpower than most people he knew. "Let him continue. Get information first. There's always time to act later."
Finally, that heavy gaze shifted to him, the weight of those blazing eyes burning into him. But he held it, not looking away, fearless even in the face of an entity that made his kill count look small. "…you don't fear me."
"Been a long time since I was afraid of dying," Veld said dryly.
He smiled, and even though it was Vincent's face it was most definitely not Vincent's smile. This one made the hairs on the back of Veld's neck stand up, recognizing the danger even if he wasn't afraid. Not truly. Not, at least, the way Chaos expected or for the same reasons.
It was a hell of a thing, to say he'd stared a WEAPON of the Planet down, but Veld did, unflinching. After entirely too long, Chaos inclined his head, and abruptly the static feeling faded from the air, pressure bursting like a bubble as his eyes returned to red.
Vincent blinked blearily, as if coming out of a dream. "…sorry."
"Try to warn me next time," Veld said softly, squeezing his shoulder. "We good?"
"We're good," he agreed.
"SOLDIERs?" Might as well take inventory.
"Peachy," Kunsel said, forced lightness at odds with his grim expression. Veld couldn't blame him.
"…what was that?" Heidegger hissed.
"Leftover present from Hojo." This time the unnerving, predatory smile was all Vincent. "Pray you never need to know more."
Heidegger paled, swallowing hard. Circumstances what they were, Veld had no doubt he had a better idea than most what Hojo was capable of. "…right."
"Shall we continue?" Scarlet said carefully. She feigned being unbothered well, but gave both Vincent and the SOLDIERs wide berth as she walked past.
Brave, but foolish.
Veld didn't comment; let her make her statement, it didn't matter to him. What mattered was figuring out what the hell they were dealing with that had set Zack and Chaos off. What was under that mask? The Jenova specimen was still in Nibelheim as far as he knew, but he'd distinctly heard Zack reference it as if he was looking right at it.
If that was the case, it would explain Chaos' hostility.
As far as he'd been aware, while enhanced, the Restrictors were still human. Or at least had certainly started out that way. Which meant that - to have such a powerful knee jerk response from not only Chaos but Zack - something was going on. The question was, were they missing some files on it, had they not read something carefully enough… or had the program and subjects evolved without Hojo knowing it? Given his hyper focus on Sephiroth, it could be any of the above and he didn't like those odds. He wished there was a free moment to conference with the two, but with the rest of the board there they couldn't afford it.
A quick glance from Kunsel said he had similar thoughts, even if he hadn't actually looked him in the eye. Handy thing, that visor, he'd say that much. People were so used to seeing SOLDIERs and troopers in helmets that they didn't think twice about the social implications; he'd eat his tie if Kunsel hadn't thought long and hard and deliberately chosen to wear it today, though.
But that only hid Kunsel. Zack was a relatively open book, wide eyes, dilated pupils and all. He couldn't be more obvious if he'd actually drawn his sword.
Again that feeling - something was up, something he might not be prepared to handle. Damn, but he was sick of that feeling. He just had to hope, collectively, they'd be able to handle it.
In the meantime, he had to take point, never mind Reeve being the president, because nothing less would soothe Vincent and Zack - that was even a stretch, but it was the best he could do. That, and possibly leaving Heidegger as the most 'responsible' for all this, with Hojo and Rupert gone; it wasn't entirely fair, but if they needed somewhere to lay blame, some target, he was prepared to make that sacrifice.
"So. You're the Restrictor," Veld said evenly, as if Vincent wasn't looming behind him and he wasn't painfully aware that the SOLDIERs were still achingly tense off to the side, hyper alert and ready to move as the situation called for it. He wasn't sure if he was grateful for that or not yet.
"I am." The voice was male, softer than expected but somehow distorted - likely from the heavy mask. It wasn't at all what he was expecting, but that seemed to be the theme of the day.
"You've been instructed to show us around the facilities," Veld said. "I assume you've also been informed who you're dealing with."
"I am aware, Director," Restrictor said. "Come with me. You will see the facilities, and meet the colored Tsviets."
"How's the ranking system of combatants work down here?" Zack asked. He was clearly trying to wind down, or at least refocus himself on the moment and Veld appreciated the effort; the kid tended to fixate on things, so for him to try and step back was definitely a sign of growth. He was really trying to step it up, now that he'd been made a general. It might be a better fit than anyone had expected.
"The Restrictors are at the very top, both as combatants and as administration," Restrictor said. "Below us are the colored Tsviets, who function as officers as well as operatives, and then the untitled Tsviets who are powerful but not as skilled as the colored Tsviets. There are other officers within the troops, and other troops below the Tsviets but they are split by specialty and not by specific strength."
"What kind of specialties?" Kunsel asked.
"Swordsmen, snipers, paratroopers - we cover all bases," he said. "Deepground is to be the ultimate military force of ShinRa, and that is what we have prepared for. There is no terrain we will be unable to handle; we have learned from SOLDIER, their victories and their failures, and have moved beyond them."
It was stated as simple fact, as if he wasn't talking to two of ShinRa's finest SOLDIERs. They didn't balk at it, but Zack raised a brow in surprise. Most people wouldn't make such bold claims, and it was a very real possibility that the general was thinking he'd like to test that.
"I understand there were very different sorts of enhancements given in Deepground, particularly to the Tsviets," Rayleigh said, drawing attention away from that with perhaps an equally important question, if one harder for most of them to follow.
The Restrictor nodded, silent a moment as they headed inside the nearest building. Metal flooring clanked under his boots, no attempt at subtlety made as he led them presumably to the Tsviets.
"That is a matter best taken up with the scientists, but I will tell you what I can," he eventually decided. "There was early work done by a ShinRa scientist on dark mako. It was shown to be potently powerful, if not as easy to work with as regular mako. I believe his name was Grimoire Valentine."
Veld heard the tiny, telling catch of breath from Vincent, knew if he'd looked he'd see widened eyes and a stricken look. He asked the question he knew Vincent couldn't bring himself to. "Was the Professor involved?"
"Mm? No, Professor Valentine was not involved, merely his research," Restrictor said. "The Deepground Project and all subprojects were handled exclusively by Professor Hojo."
Small mercies, though he knew it was still a blow to Vincent. Something they'd have to address another time, if he was even willing; his relationship with his father had been rocky at best, and then Grimoire had died and discussing anything related to him was a risky venture.
Oblivious to the turmoil stirred by his words, the Restrictor continued, "Each colored Tsviet has undergone a different process, and has had a different end result. They are each unique, and capable of phenomenal abilities. Had things turned out differently, they would have stood side by side with your greatest SOLDIERs."
"How many colored Tsviets are there?" Zack asked, and from his expression Veld didn't think it was idle curiosity; this was a man making an assessment. Zack Fair never wanted to make an enemy, he was friendly as they came. But it was clear he was ready to handle things, whatever that meant.
Veld wasn't sure that was a comforting thought.
All at once, Restrictor stopped at a landing, and made an expansive sweeping gesture. "See for yourselves."