Final Fantasy 7: The Hojo Clone
By Co V Schuler
Part 2: The Second Cetra
Chapter 19 (Continued a few minutes after the end of Chapter 18)
Vincent Valentine slowly walked down the steps, thinking about the bitch named Hatch he had to convince. She was the enemy, a very healthy enemy…her blood would last a while.
Vincent shook his head. No more vampires, he told himself. You went to Nibelhiem to cure yourself…and you did. NO MORE.
He was playing a mind game with himself; Yuffie didn't like him because he was…used to be a bloodsucker. Now, that's gone; I only need blood once every two months and Yuffie doesn't have to know about it.
The infirmary was just down the hallway; Vincent could see Ms. Hatch through the glass windows, injecting something into Red XIII. She talked to him for a moment and then he nodded slightly. She smiled and Vincent made a disgusted look through his mask. Only his eyes could be seen but she wouldn't see the look when he entered.
She suddenly turned away from Nanaki and exited the room, rubbing her eyes and talking softly to herself. "Hey," Vincent called, and she whirled and around to find him leaning against a wall.
"Uh, hi," she said. "Would you like to talk," Vincent asked, knowing that she was caught off guard.
"Oh, uh, yeah, what about?"
Vincent shrugged and said, "Something about money and jobs…maybe we could talk in your room?" She blinked her eyes, and smiled. "Sure." She sounded unsure of what he meant. They went back into the infirmary and led Vincent into a room behind it. A nice, cozy looking bed was there, accompanied by a dresser, couch, and a nice leather chair in a corner.
"Nice room," Vincent muttered and she giggled. What's she thinking, Vincent asked himself. She gestured at the leather chair and asked, "Sit down?"
Vincent nodded and sat down while she closed the door and sat on the couch. "So," she started, "Whatcha want to talk about?"
"I know something about you that could get you killed by Barret and make enemies out of the rest of Avalanche." She paled at the mention of the word Barret and even more when he mentioned Avalanche. "What do you-," she started but Vincent laughed softly.
"Does the word 'Jenova' mean anything to you? I would bet a lot of Gil that it does…and even more that you are…a spy." She jumped and asked in a shaky voice, "Wha-a-at do yo-u-u want?"
"I want money, and to be on your side. This pathetic group of renegades don't know a thing about the planet that they are trying to save and…" He slowly got up and sat next to her on the sofa. "I…sort of like…you."
He raised his hand and cupped her chin up to where he could've kissed her. "I-I-I didn't know you were the lovable type, Vincent. I…I've really like you too." She raised her hand to pull down his mask so she could kiss him but he stopped her hand. "Let me work for you, Ms. Hatch. And then maybe we can work together and you will be…Mrs. Valentine."
Her eyes lit with excitement and she said, "Okay, but let talk to my boss, Hojo. And then he will decide; it's not my decision." Vincent showed no expression.
"Good," he said gently. He then covered his eyes with one hand, pulled down his mask, and kissed her for a long time. Then he pulled his mask back up and took his hand away from her eyes. She looked dazed, as if she was just kissed by the best man she had ever met.
"Okay," she whispered softly.
Vincent got up and left the room, leaving her to think. When he was gone and the door was shut, she smiled and jumped up. She felt like announcing that she and Vincent were in love to the whole world! And he likes me too, she thought with excitement. Maybe after all this is over, Vincent and I can get married and have children and live a regular life…
After this is over. Sharon walked over to her bed and laid down in it, remembering that she had been awake the past day-and-a-half. She suddenly remembered that Hojo wanted her to call him as soon as she was alone.
Griping, she sat up and pulled out the PHS, dialing the number for him. It rang a few times and then someone picked it up and said, "Mako suppliers, how may I help you?" It was a soft, obviously young voice. "Aeris, its me, Sharon Hatch. I need 84."
The line was silent for a minute and then it clicked. "Sharon, what do you have for me?"
*
Vincent felt utterly sick. He had just kissed someone; he had actually touched someone. For the first time in his life, Vincent had touched someone with his skin. It was a new sensation, definitely better than living your whole life without feeling someone else's skin. Not to mention, no one but Lucrecia saw his face…and she's dead.
Not even Hojo. Vincent wanted to vomit; he hated that girl, he always knew something wasn't right when she just popped out of the snow. They had picked her up a few miles from the crater, four days after the fight with Sephiroth.
She fit in too perfect for Vincent to call it coincidence. They saved her life from the cold and she wanted to repay it. She just happened to have medical experience, just when Tifa, Barret, and Cloud were going to die. She had them healed two days later; healed enough to where they could walk without much pain.
How'd she do it? Vincent shrugged; he didn't know or care.
Just in case he was being watched, Vincent went to his quarters and went in. He had to sleep in his coffin; he had to get away from that bitch Hatch.
*
Two Days Later…
Yuffie slowly looked around; making sure that no one saw her. The hallways were empty, and everyone was outside looking across a valley at a range of mountains. That range of mountains had a Mako reactor in it, one that no one but Shinra knew about until the atmosphere modification announcement was made.
That Mako reactor was being modified to suck out the ozone layer and other gases to make energy; it was supposed to help the Planet, but Bugenhagen said it was worse than Old Midgar when that city was still going.
Avalanche had to destroy it, before it's completed or the Planet may die quicker than ever. So now Avalanche was about twenty miles away from Cosmo Canyon, in the hills of mountains that were all around.
And for some reason that Yuffie wasn't out there was because she had a more important mission. Well, more important to Barret anyway. He told Yuffie to go sneak into Ms. Hatch's room and look for anything out of the ordinary.
Yuffie didn't know why, she just did as she was told. Ms. Hatch was nice; she saved most of us from fatal injuries that magic couldn't help. But Yuffie didn't complain; she liked digging into other people's stuff. It was fun.
She entered the infirmary where Marlene was asleep on her bed. She was almost dead. The bombardment that they had survived had seriously hurt Marlene and Nanaki. And it killed Cloud…. But Red XIII was recovering much better than Marlene. Nanaki could walk without help, and
Yuffie realized Red XIII was outside, probably observing the enemy reactor through binoculars.
Yuffie shook her head and went into Ms. Hatch's room. A bed, dresser, couch, and leather chair. A bed, dresser, couch, and leather chair. Yuffie walked over to the dresser and opened the top one.
Blue jeans, dresses, and on the other half, two nurse uniforms. Yuffie made a face of disappointment and then closed that drawer and opened the middle one. "Hmmm," Yuffie hummed a tune by her favorite band.
The middle drawer contained panties, lingerie and a very nice dress. Yuffie picked up the dress and held it up. "What the…" She raised an eyebrow and realized that if someone wore the dress, other people could see right through it and see you…
Yuffie shivered. "What kind of strange person would wear this," she asked herself. She closed that drawer and leaned down to look under the bed; nope, nothing hiding under that. Yuffie shrugged.
Mission accomplished. Yuffie started to leave the room when a thought occurred to her. What would Vincent think if he saw me in that dress? Would he like me even more?
A devious grin spread up on her face. Should I get the dress or should I leave it and make sure that no one would have a clue that I was here? Yuffie pondered the question for a second and then thought she had better not.
Yuffie left the room and looked at Marlene as she left. Better get outside to make sure no one suspects nuttin'.
*
Outside, Barret was eyeing Vincent. When they all came outside, Vincent wandered off by himself as usual but this time, the traitor Hatch went to sit next to him. Barret wondered what Vincent had said to her.
Vincent Valentine grimaced when Ms. Hatch wasn't looking. The girl was not on Avalanche's side and Vincent absolutely had to keep her thinking he was in love with her. As long as that lasted, Vincent could find out the real enemies.
"So what do you think Vincent? They look like high security." Vincent blinked and then snapped out of his thinking trance. "Oh, uh…I think its going to be very hard but…," he smiled at her soft, beautiful face. "It will be worth it for you. What did your boss say about me?"
"He said that he will think about it and I have to call him at midnight tonight for an answer."
Vincent nodded. "Good. Sharon, all I want is to be by your side, to have your children and work with you. We can make it work, even if your boss says no. Okay?"
Her eyes lit up and then she saddened and said, "But how? He seems to know everything I do and…"
Vincent held her hands in his and replied with what sounded like pure confidence. "I will help you anyway, and when this is over, you can tell him that I helped out. And then he will say its okay! We can do it, Sharon."
Her face lightened and Vincent could tell he had won her trust. "Alright Vincent, I love you and I believe you." Then, before Vincent could stop her, she kissed his hand even though he had a glove on. Then she got up and walked away.
Damn you Sharon. I hope that Yuffie didn't just see that.
Vincent picked up his binoculars and looked across the valley at the mountains on the other side. The first Mako reactor that was being modified was over there. Vincent knew that he was going to fight over there.
The binoculars revealed hundreds of soldiers and lots of helicopters flying around the reactor. It looked like any other reactor, except for a funnel that was mounted on top and some antennas emerging from the middle of the funnel.
He was suddenly aware of Tifa walking up to him. He lowered the binoculars and looked at her; his usually self was back. Mysterious, not talkative…
"So, uh, I won't tell Yuffie okay?" He looked at the ground and she said, "Hey, look at the sky," she pointed upwards with her hand. Vincent followed her gaze and saw something very beautiful…but not a good sign.
Clouds were very slowly coming toward the reactor. Fluffy clouds, from all directions. Vincent watched as the Clouds that gathered started spinning, the setting sun casting an orange-yellowish glow to them. It was like a cloud rainbow.
Tifa marveled at the sight but Vincent just got to his feet and said, "They haven't activated it but, they are definitely going to soon. Those antennas on top of the funnel are what are attracting the clouds.
"I fear the worst, very soon. I believe Tanner's speech was a lie; he's going to activate it a lot sooner that what he said." Tifa looked at him and gasped.
"Are you serious? That would make sense but-," Vincent cut her off. "I'm serious," he replied. "Those clouds are going to get sucked up so that there are clear skies by tomorrow morning or after noon. Then, the reactor can probably suck all the gases and ozone they want."
Tifa gasped again and then ran down to tell Barret.
Vincent walked back to the Highwind and went the room he and Yuffie shared. He told his head to wake him up at 11:30 p.m. And then he went to sleep.
*
"WHAT," Barret yelled. "If they are doing that, then we gots to get them soon. SOON!"
"Barret shut up. Valleys do echo you know?"
Barret gave Red XIII a sharp look and Nanaki got quiet. "Red is right, Barret. You might've just told Shinra we are over here."
Barret mumbled and then his face lit up. "Hey, hey. I gotta plan! What if we let them think we are over here, while someone else goes through the back door! Great idea…right?"
Yuffie spoke up; "I don't think so. They might expect that since they are on full guard."
Barret shook his head. "They think we are dead at…Kalm. They know we aren't dead, don't they? Damn!"
"Because Cloud destroyed the Proud Clod 2…," Tifa said quietly, "Its no doubt that Scarlet has alerted this reactor that some of us are still alive."
"I have an idea," Nanaki said. They all turned to him. "Maybe we should go head-to-head with them, while two people go another way. Vincent and someone else…Yuffie? They are both good at spy games. Meanwhile, the rest of us will go fight their forces screaming 'revenge for killing us. Revenge'!"
They all nodded. "Alright, we do that," said Barret. "But we need something better than revenge for killing some of us. That sounds to obvious." They agreed.
"So lets put our heads together and we can do this tomorrow just before dawn. Deal?"
"Right," they all said, and went back into the Highwind to sleep early. Tomorrow would be a big day, and they would need all the rest they could get.