A/N: Be prepared – the plot thickens. Thanks for the reviews. To RenoS – one guess was right, the other one wasn't. And, to Windwalker – there is a conclusion to this book on the horizon, but not the story as a whole. But, fear not, some answers are on the way in this chapter and the next few as well.
A/N2: Just to make things less confusing, when Yuffie is eavesdropping later on in the chapter, the words in italics are what she's hearing, not any sort of flashback or inner thoughts.
Chapter 17: Discoveries
"What the hell?!?" The anger fueling Tifa's question didn't phase Vincent. Far too much had happened today for him to care about her bar. The bullet that his skin had begun to grow over didn't do anything to sweeten his mood.
No matter how bad a day Valentine had, Tifa was positive hers had been worse. She asked a question and she wanted an answer. She was in no mood for the silent game. "Don't just sit there like an idiot! I'm talking to you, Vincent Valentine! What the hell did you do to my bar!?"
Cloud's hand found its way to her shoulder with hopes of easing her rage. "Calm down, Tifa…"
"Cloud Strife, don't you tell me to calm down! I've been getting beaten up all day and I come home to find my home trashed! And he doesn't even have the decency to acknowledge my existence? He can just sit there!?"
"We were attacked." The simple, barely audible utterance from Vincent was enough to catch everyone off guard and silence Tifa. "Those things that attacked us in Midgar came here and broke in. I apologize."
Vincent and Tifa both seemed to remember their manners at the same time. The red tint of shame played on Tifa's cheeks. "Oh…"
Before Tifa could dig herself into an even deeper hole, Cloud spoke up, worry in his voice. "Is everything all right? What about Yuffie? Is Yuffie Ok?"
Vincent didn't speak. He only set his sights on Yuffie's closed door. Everyone else got the message.
"Umm, I'll go check on her…" Tifa was anxious to leave the awkwardness that hung in the air between her and Vincent. Checking on Yuffie would be there perfect excuse.
"Cloud, my I have a word with you?"
A strange feeling crawled up Cloud's spine. Vincent wanted to speak to him? Vincent never wanted to speak with anyone. He took it as a bad omen as he walked solemnly over to the remains of the bar, where Vincent sat. "What is it?"
"Those.. things that attacked us are the same that the Turks and I encountered in Midgar. These are a farther along version. They can only be killed by strikes to a vital organs… Someone has infused them with Mako."
"But, you and I both had make and Jenova injections. We're still 'normal.'"
Vincent sighed. He hated giving these little speeches. Why could people just understand? "These are much farther along than us. It seems they were given something to quicken the development of the Mako. It has begun to crystalize…" Vincent's voice began to trail off as his human hand began to rub something between its index finger and thumb. It was thick, black, and sticky. It was something akin to tar. It was the blood that ran through the creatures in question.
Cloud's eyes grew with the realization. "You mean that's… their blood?!"
Vincent nodded and remained in contemplative silence for a few moments. Yes, this was their blood. The thought was even almost too gruesome for Vincent Valentine, the human-demon, to fathom. This strange sticky substance between his finger tips had once been the red blood cells of a human being.
He brought himself out of his thoughts to finish his explanation. "It is nearly impossible for them to bleed to death. The only blow that will kill them is one to either their brain or their heart." If they still have hearts…
The soft, white sheets covered the small girl's body protectively. Her breathing was slow and even, the signs of sleep. Tifa let out a satisfied sigh. Sure, she wouldn't be able to ask her what happened, but at least she knew she was all right.
She had been so focused on examining Yuffie for the past few minutes that Tifa hadn't even noticed Cait's hopping figure on the other side of the room. "Cait?"
"Hiya, Tifa!" Cait didn't care about keeping its voice down. It had been in here alone with Yuffie's sleeping body that it was ecstatic about any human contact.
Tifa quickly laid a finger across her closed lips hoping to lower her feline friend's voice. Her eyes examined the poor girl further until she noticed the wide streak of dried up tears on her cheek and a large wet spot on her pillow. "What happened to Yuffie?"
The question quickly prompted Cait to put its hands on its hips in mock anger. "That meanie Vincent Valentine yelled at her!"
"Vincent Valentine! Can I have a word with you?"
Cloud shifted uncomfortably next to his childhood friend. From the tone in her voice, a seat next to Vincent might be a dangerous place to be. That's his cue to depart. "Umm, I'll be sitting… over there now…"
No one heard Cloud's comment. Everyone's attentions and eyes belonged to Tifa Lockheart. Well, almost everyone. Vincent remained as aloof and indifferent as ever. His eyes stayed on the broken window he had been eyeing from across the room as his fingers still played absent mindedly with his victims' blood.
"Don't just sit there. What did you do to her!?"
Another bout of silence greeted her. Not just any silence, his silence. That cold, unresponsive, uncaring, arrogant silence that ate away at Tifa's already fragile patience and egged her to burst. Who was she to refuse?
"Goddamn it, Vincent! If you hurt her I'll kill you myself!" Although anger ruled her vocal chords, Tifa's eyes were taken over by sadness. Tears began to from in her almond eyes.
Yuffie was like a little sister to her. During the Meteor Crisis they would stay up to all hours of the night talking about all the things girls should talk about. Yuffie was the female childhood friend that Tifa never had. And, to a point, the young, careless, often clumsy ninja was like the daughter Tifa wished she had – always needing to be taken care of.
And Vincent. He was supposed to be the trust worthy one. Tifa always thought of him as the one who would never betray them and never hurt any of them. What the hell did that bastard do?!
Vincent took a moment, but eventually responded. His eyes, as cold and unemotional as ever, fell upon Tifa's. He seemed so unflustered, as if Tifa hadn't even raised her voice. "I reprimanded her for her actions."
"You reprimanded her for her actions?? What the hell could she have done that caused you to make her cry her eyes out like she's been doing?"
"She nearly got herself and Cait killed."
"No! She nearly got you killed, you selfish bastard!"
This comment enraged Vincent quite a bit. He never took kindly to those who made assumptions about his actions – especially incorrect assumptions. But, nonetheless, his exterior remained calm and devoid of all emotion. He slowly stood and head for what was left of the door.
Tifa was probably yelling something at him, but he wasn't listening It wasn't until he reached the door that Reno's voice cut into his mind. There was no anger, no concern, only neutral curiosity. "Where ya goin'?"
Where am I going? The thought hadn't really crossed his mind. It doesn't matter. I haven't known where I was going for over 30 years… No, the question did not prompt some great revelation in Vincent's mind, but it did inspire him to leave with some depart words.
He didn't even bother to turn, but he knew those who cared to listen would hear. "Yes, I reprimanded Yuffie. Perhaps I was wrong, but for the past two years the rest of you have been calling her a brat and a pest. I got angry for her putting two lives other than her own at risk, and I am at fault. You get angry for her taking your materia, and you are justified."
"That was a real shitty thing you said, back there."
Two sets of eyes went wide with fear as they stared at the speaking man. The fourth figure in the small space didn't respond to the statement. She could care less what he though.
Soon, the electronic humming of the rising elevator took control of the air surrounding them again. Figures… bitch.
He didn't honestly expect a response. He usually didn't get one when he talked to her, unless they were planning some sort of operation together, which was a rarity. But the silence was eating away at him. The annoying drone of the elevator combined with the subject at hand ate away at his reserve. No, he wouldn't just let this go, not when she brought a good friend into it.
"I said, that was a really shitty thing you said back there. Don't talk about Valentine like that."
"Joe, shut the fuck up already!" Joe's comment stirred Ash, who had remained silent throughout their returning trip. It didn't matter to Joe. He never thought too highly of the young fighter anyway.
"And what do you presume to know about Vincent?" The smooth voice was devoid of agitation. It was steady and calm, like it always was. But Joe got satisfaction from it nonetheless. Her voice didn't say it, but he knew he had gotten under her skin. He must've gotten to her if he even managed to get her to speak.
"I know a fuck of a lot more about him than you. I worked alongside that man for 4 years of my life. He was like a brother to me. There's very little I don't know about him."
"I'm sure there is quite a bit about Vincent's past you are unaware of."
"Like what!? You think I don't know about that shit that - -"
"Joe." A soft, pleasant voice touched his ears at the same moment the tender skin of a hand touched his arm. "Let it go."
A quiet sigh escaped Joe's lips. "Fine." I'll let it go. For you, Judith, I'll let it go…
"Yuffie, whatcha doin'?"
"Shhhh."
"Whatcha doin'??"
"Shut up, Cait!"
"You're gonna get in trouble again."
"I won't if you keep your voice down!"
"You're the one that's yelling!"
I give up. Usually Yuffie found Cait's antics to be rather amusing, but right now she was on a mission. Needless to say, the yelling Tifa had done earlier in the bar had woken the girl from her slumber. Now, with an ear pressed against the door, she was determined to find out what was going on.
"Just who the hell does he think he is, accusing us like that?"
"Ya know, he did have a point. I always hear you punks callin' her that."
"Stay outta this, Reno!"
"Reno's right… we do say some unkind things to her."
"But we don' go off on 'er like dat!"
"Barret's correct. Yuffie is a strong girl. He must've said some pretty hurtful things to make her cry like you said she was."
"Yea, but that old bastard's a scary fuck. I might've cried if he raise his fuckin' voice ta me. Jus' lookin' in them eyes'll scare the shit outta ya!"
"If dat freak put a finger on da pest, so help me I'ma stick my gunarm where da sun don' shine an' pull da trigga!"
Yuffie solemnly walked back to her bed. Her aura oozed a mixture of sorrow and regret. Cait was quick to pick up on his usually up-beat companion's mood. He had a hunch it wasn't just a side effect of her illness..
"What's wrong, Yuffie-kins?" Cait knew the power of shallow comedy, especially with Yuffie. She would always go into a fit of giggles when he used "silly" words. This time, he was lucky enough to get the half-hearted smile that played on her lips.
"I think I got Vinnie in trouble, Cait. Barret's talking about killing him, and not in a very pleasant way!" Yuffie's voice managed to turn into a joking whine by the end of her statement. How could she stay upset when she just knew Cait was sitting behind her making faces?
The half-hearted smiled turned genuine for a few moments. I strange feeling crept up within her that told her this would be one of the few times for smiling she would have. She didn't quite understand the feeling, but didn't pursue an answer. She figured she wouldn't understand it anyway. Probably just the lifestream talking to me, or some other touchy crap like that…
"What do you mean you didn't kill them!?!?"
"It was a 7 on 3 battle! Plus Joe was in chains for the whole thing! How the hell did you expect us to off them?"
"Was Valentine there?"
"No, he obviously wasn't. We all came back alive, didn't we?"
"Now, Joe. I would expect more optimism from one of the legendary, original Turks."
"Valentine's an original Turk. I'm just a Chocobo Jockey."
"Either way, do they know where we are?"
"No, sir. They still think we're based in Junon."
"And do they know about - -"
"Of course they don't, you fool! They fought. No matter how skilled they may be, they cannot fight and interrogate at the same time."
"Look, everyone calm down. I know we've all had a rough day, but that's not an excuse to start describing how we will bring about an end to our own teammates!" Cloud had remained relatively silent throughout AVALANCHE's discussion about Vincent. He only spoke up every so often to serve as the local voice of reason. Now it was time to play leader again.
"It's obviously not safe here. When whoever sent those things after us realizes that their pawns didn't get the job done, I'm sure they'll send more. With the bar in this condition, Yuffie still recovering, and Reno, Cid and I all tending to wounds, another attack might not be fended off so easily."
Reno, after putting the finishing touches on the bandage he had made for himself, was quick to throw his two cents in. "Don't even think about heading to Midgar. I'm sure Rude and 'Lena have their hands full with Reeve missing and me gone. There's no way in hell I'm gonna draw the fire of some madman towards them."
"Shit goes fo' Corel too." Barret stood up to walk up to the bar. He couldn't stand sitting still when so much was going on. "Dat town still ain't offa its feet yet. I had ta make at least ten speeches b'fo' dey lemme leave ta come 'n' help you all."
Tifa was next to put in her ideas. After all, they were looking for a replacement for her home, shouldn't she have a say? "Plus Corel's on the western continent. It's too far from Junon to be stationed at. Anything across the ocean is out of the question for right now."
A silence stretched over them. With only places in this continent available, there weren't many options. Kalm, obviously, was a definite no. Midgar, as deemed by Reno (and not unreasonably), was a no. Junon was a big no, being what seemed to be the heart of the enemy.
Suddenly, Tifa's eyes lit up. "I know! We'll go to the Chocobo Ranch!"
Weary glances were exchanged around the room. The Chocobo Ranch? The Chocobo Ranch was supposed to be the new AVALANCHE Headquarters? Tifa's facial features took a downward turn when she realized no one seemed to share her excitement. That was, until Reno spoke up again.
"Come to think of it, the girl's got a point. After Shinra went belly up, most of the people 'round here lost their jobs. No money means no one owning any of those bird-brains. The poor guy had to move off and find work if he wanted to feed those two kids. No one wanted a run down Chocobo Ranch, so the place has just been kinda abandoned for the past year or so."
Cloud paced about, weighing their options. It didn't take long for him to come to a decision, because it seemed like they really only had one to pick from. "Then it's settled. We're leaving tonight. Everyone get your stuff ready. The Highwind needs to be on the ground and stored away before morning. I don't want to run the risk of anyone seeing us on the move."
It still amazed Cloud how after all this time, they still took orders from him so obediently. He sighed with satisfaction. It felt so good to be in action again – to be in action again with all his old comrades. Even Reno seemed to be coming along rather well
Most had went their separate ways to pack up the little they had brought with them, save Cloud, Tifa and Cid. They all still sat in deep contemplation. A good while passed by silently, each lost within their owns thoughts, until Tifa disturbed the air. "I'll go make sure Yuffie's all right and help her pack. Someone really should stay behind just in case Vincent decides to come back."
"I'll wait for Vince." Cid jumped at the opportunity to stay behind a bit too quickly. Cloud shot him a questioning glance.
"You mean you'll stay behind while we take the Highwind? There's no way all of us will make it to the Ranch by morning if we walk."
Cid let out a hearty laugh. "With my crew, I'd even trust a klutz like you with my baby. I trained those boys myself. You couldn't even scratch that thing, let alone crash it, with them on board!"
"Still get air sick?"
"I guess some things never change, huh?" The corners of Yuffie's mouth turned up into a small smile as she looked into Tifa's big, warm, burgundy eyes. They had barely taken off and her stomach was already in her feet.
A smile played on the older woman's lips as well. Sometimes, I thank the gods that some things ever change. Like Cloud, Tifa also found it somewhat comforting to be on the move again with their old friends, especially Yuffie. The two had grown so close over the year of the Meteor Crisis that it hurt to think about how little they had talked over the past year.
"You know, they say talking is good for you in situations like these. Takes your mind off the discomfort."
Yuffie's eyes wandered to the night sky. Although the fast moving, nauseating scene of the world moving by at such a rapid pace was hard to avoid out there on the upper deck of Cid's pride and joy, the wind did much to calm Yuffie's nerves.
Talking is good, huh? Then where do I begin… The young ninja had so much to tell the barmaid that she looked up to so much. She could go on for hours about how much Wutai has changed since she was dropped off there a year ago. She could talk about her father's illness. Or how she had gone "legit" by quitting her thieving ways and becoming a bounty hunter of sorts (only she hunted items, not people). Or, she could delve into more pressing and recent matters.
"Don't be mad at Vincent."
The our-of-the-blue statement might've knocked Tifa off of her feet if she wasn't already seated on the hardwood of the Highwind's deck. Had Yuffie heard her yelling? "Why would I be mad at Vincent?" Tifa's voice faltered. She knew Yuffie would be able to see through her if the girl had heard some of the words she had thrown at the ex-Turk.
"The bar, but that wasn't his fault. Those creepy zombie guys had machine guns and completely tore the place apart. Vincent barely even got a chance to fire back." Yuffie's voice trailed off as she worked up the courage to speak of more personal matters. From what she heard, Tifa wasn't mad at Vincent because of the Tranquility.
"And don't be mad at him for me. He didn't hurt me or anything. He saved my life. And I was a brat to him. There's a bullet in his back to show for it."
"What??" Tifa almost stood up just for the affect of being knocked down by Yuffie's words. Though she knew the still somewhat immature child wouldn't quite have enough of a grasp on language to say something like a "bullet in his back" in a poetic sense, Tifa still hoped.
"He got shot protecting me. I think he got shot a few more times before that, but the bullets came out. I'm pretty sure that one stayed in him, though. Otherwise it would've hit me too."
And, of course, Yuffie had to dash out her poor hopes. "You mean the bullet's still in there?" Vincent's walking around god-knows where without the aid of a friend, all while there's a bullet lodged in his back!?!?
Tifa was wise to keep her exclamations to herself. Yuffie felt bad enough about the whole deal, she didn't need to think that she's the reason Vincent is out and in danger. "Tifa, do you think he's mad at me?"
A strangled howl crashed through the surrounding air. The sound, born out of the pits of hell, seemed to come from the darkness itself - not from the darkness of night, but from something much darker. The outline of wings and flailing limbs couldn't be seen, but more sense by anyone around it. No eyes could perceive the blackness that covered the beast, but it could be felt.
Then, the deep, beastly growling was replaced by the soft, muffled panting of a human. The man's white skin almost glowed in an eerie contrast to the darkness that embodied the beast that once stood there. Thin, pale eyelids concealed their red, glowing secret from the prying eyes of an overly curious world.
A sigh of relief escaped Vincent Valentine. Changing from Chaos was always painful, but it was a welcomed pain. The physical anguish was almost pleasurable when compared with the inner turmoil he had when he lost control of his body to the demon.
He had barely made it out of Kalm before the transformation took place. His battle with the genetically altered soldiers had taxed him both physically and mentally. He was not prepared to cope with Tifa's verbal assault. He didn't know if he had killed as the demon, but over the past two years, he had come to accept the fact that he would never know what he did while Chaos was let loose.
When he regained his senses, Vincent realized just how close he was to what was left of Tifa's Tranquility. It seemed like it took less than a minute for his foot to fall on the first step leading to the front door. Quickly and quietly, he made his entrance to find the building devoid of nearly all of its former occupants. Now, only Cid remained.
As the pilot's eyes locked with Vincent's, Cid sensed something he didn't want to know about. Maybe if he ignored it, it would go away. "Hey, Vince. Cloud an' the others thought it'd be for the best if we headed outta here and went ta - - "
Vincent's metal talons quickly and nimbly wrapped around Cid's neck. The power behind the ebony-hared man's thrust nearly put the pilot through the remains of the closest wall.
While Cid's lungs gasped for air and his hands rubbed his reddening throat, Vincent wasted no time in formalities. Like always, he cut to the chase. "Why are you feeding them information?"
It was a while before Cid managed to muster up enough oxygen to reply. "What.. are you.. talk…ing a… bout…?"
"You're telling them every move we make. Why?"
Cid caught that glimmer in Vincent's eyes again. He could ignore it this time. He managed to keep his life after making that mistake once, he doubted he'd be that lucky again, especially since he noticed Vincent had drawn his Quicksilver. "Lissen… I got reasons. If you'd jus' lissen ta me, I'll tell you…"
A heavy silence stretched between the two as Vincent took his time before acting. Not much trust existed in him for the man lying on the floor in front of him. He hoped he wouldn't regret what he was doing.
A gloved, human hand came down within Cid's reach. It was a strange gesture of kindness from the man who had just almost killed him. Strange indeed, but a gesture Cid wasn't about to pass up.
Once seated again on the only still usable barstool, Cid wasted no time in spilling his guts. "I didn't want to, Vince, you gotta believe. They got my balls in a vice, ya know? I ain't even sure who the hell they are. Ya see, this tough lookin' guy 'n' some girl with a crazy look in 'er eye paid me 'n' Shera a lil' visit not to long ago. They didn't tell me much, and they still don', but they took Shera. They took Shera, Vince! She's gonna have a baby soon. If I wanted 'er 'n' our kid ta live, I hadta do what they told me!"
"You're shouting."
"Oh, sorry. Anyway, I had it all planned out. I's jus' gonna give 'em enough to keep their filthy mits offa Shera, then I was gonna take what I knew 'n' give it ta Cloud. I swear, Vince. But then that Spikey-headed jerk had to go off 'n' capture Joe. That little punk woulda told them everything if I ratted them out. C'mon, Vince, You believe me, right?"
Another stiff silence fell, mostly due to Vincent's reluctance to speak. This was not a matter for him. He was the executioner, but never the judge or the jury. "Tell it to Cloud."
A/N: Another chapter that I have to cut off due to length. The next one should be short. Just gonna explain a few more things. Then, if all goes according to plan, a few interludes for the hell of it, 2 or 3 more chapters (with heavy action in them) and that should wrap up part one of my little series. Please review. I got lots for the last chapter, let's keep up the trend! Oh, and if anyone has any ideas for what I should title the series, please feel free to throw them in with your reviews. Times of Separation is just this portion's name, not the name of the whole thing (and it's also the name of a great ZAO song – you should check it out).