*Creeps out of hiding and quavers under angry glares.*
Heyya…
Writer's block is a bitch. That's my defense. Months of staring at the screen and wanting to kick the computer…well enough complaining. Hope you find the chapter worth the wait, this marks the final chapters and I hope I entertain throughout them. I've enjoyed your many wonderful comments as well, they've been the kick in the ass I needed, as always.
Oh, some sites I'd like to promote as well, where you can find more killer works of my friends and myself, as well as what helped me out of my slump. Roleplaying!
My site! Some of my older fics are here:
Catalina's site, a writer that kicks more ass than I do:
For Love of blood, a vampire RPG I help run and plot:
Gift of the planet, an FF7 RPG with even more twists than this story could dream of having:
And Finally Destiny Forward, another kick ass RPG
Enjoy! (I hope ^^;)
"I so love it when a plan comes together…that tingly feeling in my cells…."
Lucrecia's bloated mass actually shivered…tendrils playfully slapping the walls in rhythm to the screams and death cries echoing from within her…
The experiment was a whole hearted success. True, the Gi were more simple minded than her true target for this special batch of cells, but they were effective lab rats. If she could enhance this sorry pack into the efficient killers she watched storming Cosmo, then nothing could stop her….
A sudden high whine caught her attention…hissing at the severed connection between a number of Gi as a massive pillar of energy incinerated them from above. A tornado spell quickly followed, Lucrecia watching it's victims' fate through their eyes as the violent winds tore them apart.
"Come on you sons of bitches!"
Three familiar figures led the defensive, balancing the odds long enough for the civilians to get to safety. Not like she gave a shit if the Gi burned Cosmo Canyon to ashes or got wiped out…
But still…those three always were a pain in her delicate ass…
"My task is finished, Lucrecia…" Terminus spoke in her mind. "I'm taking my leave now."
"One last request, Terminus…" she simpered. "Are you familiar with the Highwind controls?"
There was a snort of disgust. "Get one of your freaks to do it. I'm on my time now…"
"Time that I can lessen if you be rude to me…"
The assassin actually laughed.
"We both know how empty that threat is." he sneered. "You need me 'alive' a little longer to do your dirty work…otherwise your son will…"
She cut him off with a certain thought…enjoying the flare of hate and agony that tore through him as the Jenova cells within him strengthened in response…restoring him…then ceased, slowly returning him to his undead like state.
"…Bitch…"
She chuckled. Men like Terminus were rare…fearing loss of honor and pride over death. For a moment she contemplated breaking her promise to release him to the death he craved…
"The best there is, baby…the best there is…"
Premium Spirit Productions Presents
In association with Square Pictures
OBSIDIAN
A Final Fantasy VII fanfiction by Sentora
Final Fantasy and its characters belong to Square. Just borrowing them for this crazy fic. The new ones belong to me, so ask nicely if ya wanna use 'em ok?
Chapter 6: Curiosity Kills.
The Gi looked up from it's victim as a howling red blur pounced…the last thing it ever saw.
"Fortify the right flank!" Red commanded. "Stand your ground and we can beat them!"
These weren't the Gi Red remembered from two years ago: The incorporeal, bloodthirsty ghouls had become slavering beasts of chaotic flesh…never remaining in one shape for long. They would even absorb their dead to increase size and strength. Their intelligence had seemed both dulled and sharpened as well, fighting in formation and picking their targets…but at the same time they would pause stupidly…as if awaiting orders…
"Musta found a way 'round yer old man…" The towering presence of Barret spoke louder than his Missing Score cannon. "…through da cliffs maybe?"
"That's possible…" Red somersaulted forward, slicing another Gi in two…quickly incinerated two more with a Fire 3. "But what concerns me is their smell…there's a faint trace of Jenova about it…"
"Could smell like Sephiroth's dead ass for all I care!" A particularly irate Cid twirled Venus Gospel above his head, skewering and slicing through the Gi like a fiend. "They've pissed me off!"
The Gi suddenly stood ramrod still a moment…shrieked as one…
…Dissolved into some foul substance that vanished into the ground without a trace.
"What the…"
Silence.
"Don't think dey running…"
Red ignored the comment…concentrating on their fading scent…
…When Cid practically stepped on him, waving Venus Gospel. "HEY THAT MY *&^%ING SHIP YOU ARSEHOLE!!"
The Highwind had been hovering just above the Observatory earlier…now it was starting to turn toward Nibelheim…
"Thinkin' what I'm thinkin, Red?"
"The puppeteer is obviously aboard…"
"Not fer *&^%in' long he aint!"
That was when the Gi chose to strike.
They rose as barbed tendrils, impaling those who didn't react in time…Red and Barret barely clearing the snaking tendrils…Cid slammed into the canyon wall by one as he blocked with Venus Gospel…then thrown high into the air…slamming hard into the Observatory roof.
The Tendrils began to twist together…a freakish mishmash of insect and reptile towering over them…it's form still bulging and twisting with change…
"Scatter!"
One Bulbous limb speared toward them…followed by twenty more that had Red and Barret madly scrabbling or blast/shredding the ones they couldn't…the creature switching tactics and diving underground again before springing airborne as it's mass increased…attempting to crush them every time it burrowed and emerged after missing…
Red managed to get atop the Gi Beast and attacked it savagely, managing to blind it as Barret and the other surviving warriors blasted or stabbed several holes into it's body…wearing it down…
Above, a foully swearing Cid staggered to his feet, glaring at the slowly turning Highwind above him…the *&^%er stealing it obviously unfamiliar with the controls…or baiting him…
"Well it works either way Arsehole!"
The telltale red flames of a limit break surged around him…Cid steeling his legs as he channeled it's strength into them for a Boost Jump…exploding off the roof with a thunder crack and rocketing toward his precious ship…
"Da tada da tada da tada da tada datada!"
…Falling short by a foot…
…and with an even fouler curse because of what he was about to do…stabbed Venus Gospel into the hull to save himself and climbed aboard…
Terminus raised an eyebrow at the panting old pilot in the doorway, patting his heart in attempt to slow it down.
"Just you *pant* wait ya bastard *pant* when I *pant* catch my breath…*Pant*"
"Be assured I don't intend to fight you, Cid Highwind." His arrogant tone obviously pissed Cid off enough to recover and raise his spear. "My contract is up and I'll be glad to let you have this flying piece of shit."
"I show you flying piece of shit you-" Cid blinked. "Contract? The hell-?"
"Not a willing one I assure you." Terminus grinned. "But no longer your concern…at least for the moment."
"Why you-!"
Terminus suddenly threw himself off the deck and into the night. A surprised Cid looked over the edge and saw nothing.
"Crazy bastard…something familiar bout him tho…"
He regained control of the Highwind, spying the hole more Gi were currently spilling out of and armed Highwind's missiles…
"He was pointing the ship in direction of the Gi's entrance all along…what the hell is going on here?"
He fired.
It was hard not to notice the Highwind unleashing a battery of missiles on part of the Canyon wall in the distance and cause a rockslide. Especially how it caused the Gi Beast to go berserk…it's shape wildly shifting with extra limbs and Jaws as it threw off Red and charged for Barret…Engulfed him whole…
…writhed and screamed as mini explosions ripped up and down the beast before it's head finally burst like overripe fruit…Red wrinkling his nose at the slime covered Barret dragging himself out the melting carcass.
"Bitch…" He kicked it and glared at Red. "Not a word."
Red snickered a moment before getting serious again.
"No mistake…These are not the Gi we fought two years ago…" He sniffed some of the multicolored goop. "They have been tainted by Jenova Cells…"
"'plains how smart dey were…and can see that blue assed bitch wanting ta wipe out Cosmo Canyon and all, but why use the Gi 'stead sumthin' stronger?" He growled threateningly. "'less this dis' sum kinda test?!"
"A test…"
Red looked toward the horizon, his expression grave.
"I pray you're incorrect, Barret…for all our sakes…"
##
Morning.
*KA WHUMP!*
Reno watched the large sandbag fly across the room.
It was scary as hell…but kinda cool.
The first sign was waking up without the granddaddy of hangovers, but feeling better than he had in weeks. Hell, he'd even felt like…exercising.
That was the scary part of course.
He picked up the eighty pound dumbbells. Started punching with them with ease.
Strength…reflexes…agility…all of them had increased.
Started punching faster.
But that wasn't all.
Faster.
He could feel the changes crawling through him like Termites at times. Under his skin, behind his eyes…it was irritating as *&^% and scratching did nothing to help.
Faster.
But afterwards he'd feel even stronger…less human.
He made one final lunge…noting the handles had crumpled in his grip. Dropped them and looked at his hands a moment.
"The front of me looks as good, Elle."
There was a squeak of surprise from behind the locker room doors.
"I know you've been there awhile. I can hear your heartbeat and your breathing from over here. Plus…" He turned and grinned. "You smell from your workout."
Somehow she cleared the distance between them in an instant, whacking him side the head. "I'M NOT SMELLY!"
Reno chuckled as he rubbed his head, enjoying the moment.
"You aren't kidding, are you?"
Reno chuckled, slid into a causal stance with a roguish grin.
"You're welcome to see for yourself, Elle."
A similar grin spread across her face as she raised her fists and took a boxer's stance.
It was like she was moving in slow motion when she lunged, Reno waiting till the last second to slap the punch away…and thump her on the nose.
Anger flared in those chocolate eyes and he laughed.
No point if it wasn't fun…
"Take me seriously!" she feinted with her right and kicked at his feet, Reno hopping back and catching her next punch…pulling them face to face.
"Of course." and kissed her.
"Arrrrrrggggghhhhhh!"
It quickly degraded after that, Reno having such much fun tormenting her he tripped over the sandbag…Elena pouncing and tickling him mercilessly. "I'll show you! Take that! And that!"
"I give I give!"
"I can't hear you!"
"Hussy!"
"Jerk!"
Both were laughing now, Elena stretching out beside him, leaning on her arm as she grinned at him.
"I win!"
He rolled over to his side with a mock glare. "You still fight dirty…."
"What other way is there to play?"
Suddenly rebellious, his fingers reached over and stroked a lock of hair from her eyes.
"What indeed?"
The simple, innocent motion turned into a caress…Elena leaning into his hand as she closed her eyes…
"mmmm…"
…Reno leaning close despite himself…her scent sending flames through his blood…
"…what indeed…" she repeated huskily…unconsciously brushing against him…
…Her quickened heartbeat painfully loud in his ears…her lips inviting and neck even more so…
….?!!!!
The itch exploded through him…Reno overwhelmed by sheer need to take her right there, bury himself in her as he drank the life from her…
Do it…she wants you to…you have every right…
That sinister voice in his head-his voice-was enough to galvanize him into action, abruptly turning away and grinding newly lengthened fangs in an effort not sink them in her neck.
"You…better go now…"
"But…"
"LEAVE!"
He felt her shock and hurt as keenly as a dagger, choking him but kept his back to her as she stood and ran. Only when the door slammed shut did he rise, red eyes blazing as he hurled a dumbbell like a toy into the wall and cracked it…buried claws into the carpet and panted until sanity returned and left him a panting wreck.
"The &^%$ing irony of it all…" he muttered before passing out.
##
Vincent was dying.
His stomach boiled, his intestines trying their best to crawl to safety, his eyes were on strike and every sound was a twenty foot gorilla pounding through what was left of his brains. The hell with the coffin, this was the punishment he truly deserved.
"Rise and shine!"
He hissed and shrank deeper under the covers as sunlight seared his eyes, annoyed at the irony of it.
Reeve smirked at the baleful red eyes glaring out from under the bundle of sheets. "Come on, Vincent, it's just a hangover. Be a man."
"Don't make me kill you Bannon."
"Ooze over here and try it."
The sheets muffled a quite colorful retort.
"Here Cage, Tifa made something to help."
Vincent drank from the glass Reeve offered and made a face.
"Tastes like shit."
"You look like shit…"
"Did you just come to torture me, Reeve?" Vincent said irritably, drinking more.
"Not really, though it's fun." another pointed glare. "Barret just contacted me from Cosmo Canyon…They were attacked last night by Jenova infected Gi…I've already sent Rude and Elena to investigate along with my scientists."
Hangover or not, Vincent was now all business. "Any causalities?"
"A few of Cosmo's finest and no more thankfully." Reeve stroke his chin thoughtfully. "Every time I think I've figured all this out she pulls something else. What could she possibly want with the Gi or Cosmo Canyon?"
Tifa's concoction was working, but it still hurt to think. "Unless it's another distraction…wait a minute. What's the nearest towns from Cosmo?"
"…Gongaga, Nibelihelm, Corel, Junon, Costa, Rocket Town…" Reeve paused. "Wait…didn't Hojo mention that Ruby was tunneling toward Nibelihelm before it's destruction?"
"…and Emerald was underwater near Junon…" Vincent added as he sat up with a groan. "…Unless it was heading in the same direction or…Damn!"
"What?"
"How could I have been so blind?" Vincent snarled. "No, stupid!"
"Well stupid's a bit harsh…Lovesick, jealous jackass maybe…"
Vincent let that one slide with an effort. "Jenova would want somewhere secluded and inaccessible from foot, yet allow quick access to her targets and cover her tracks…what place we've been to on our journey matches such a place?"
Reeve looked up sharply as it clicked.
"The waterfall…Lucrecia's Tomb…"
"Talk about hiding in plain sight…It fits everything I said, and she could swim to any part of the continent and back again!" The hangover was gone now, Vincent's hands clenching and unclenching in rage. "Inform Rude and Elena and tell them to stay with Red in case I'm wrong, and have Cid and Barret come pick us up."
"Cloud and Tifa should stay and help me hold the fort, Vincent. Cloud may be feeling better…but I'm not sure he's a hundred percent…as well as if we've diagnosed him properly." Reeve held up a hand to hold off Vincent's retort. "That came out wrong. I mean if what we found earlier was the truth or what Jenova wanted us to see, hell I haven't even found out if Reno is your son or not…"
"She may have done it to get us doubting ourselves too." Vincent smirked. "Surprised you're complaining, as much as you love puzzles. Or are you upset that a woman's outsmarting you?"
"At least I'm not whipped like someone I could mention."
"Jealous?"
Reeve left with a laugh, Vincent shrugging on his shirt and reaching for his cloak and guns…
…when Reno stormed in and grabbed him by the shirt.
In the mood he was in, Vincent would have broken his arm and was about to just do that when he noticed Reno's red eyes. Not to mention that Jenovan smell he reeked off.
*Sniff* "What smell?"
*Quiet.*
"I still don't like you, Redrum…" He snarled, eyes flickering between their original color and that baleful red. "And though I'd rather piss glass than be in your debt…I need your help with…this…"
His free hand suddenly flexed involuntarily, Vincent noticing the six inch claws snapping out and back in.
"How you control this shit…Tell me…or get Frankenstein out to tell me…"
Vincent's face suddenly became Hojo's, hooked nose and all.
"Well, since you asked so nicely…"
Reno let go in surprise, Hojo roughly grabbing his head and widening his eye with his fingers, leaning in close.
"A change in retina color and perception…"
Pried Reno's jaw open a bit with his claw to examine his now shrinking fangs.
"…Increased canine growth…"
The claw locked painfully around his arm, Reno punching him with enough force to nearly snap an ordinary's man's neck. Hojo merely turned and looked at him like it was nothing.
"…Increased strength…"
His fist suddenly slammed into Reno's ribs…Reno knocked a step back but returning with a punch of his own that Hojo caught with little effort.
"…Reflexes and Skeletal mass…"
"The *&^% you're-!"
"Proving that you are half Jenovan as I suspected years ago…and now that half is adapting to some kind of stimuli, Possibly viral."
"…Years ago?"
He sneered at Reno's expression. "That's right, you poor excuse of a sodding drunk. I've been observing you since you and your little girlfriend first started breaking into my lab till now. Even then you displayed the same transformations you are now, reacting flawlessly to whatever was thrown at you. This ability seemed to have lain dormant since your mother's death until now." He snorted. "*&^% knows if this means Vincent's your father or not."
"So the blackouts and this…I'm reacting to some kind of threat?"
"Or a summon perhaps…'Mother' may have plans for you, dumbshit." Hojo snorted. "Funny…Elena seemed to be special as well, though for the life of me I couldn't figure out how…"
"Leave her out of this…and tell me how to control this."
Hojo shrugged. "You'd have to let me install a program like myself…like my friend Valentine here did." A nasty chuckle. "Otherwise it's a matter of willpower, planet help us…"
"Whatever…last question…" Hojo gave him a *&^%-if-I-care kinda look. "Why you call Ramuh Ash?"
Hojo giggled. "Finally someone noticed! And shame on you, Half-breed…you of all people should know, Movie buff you claim to be…"
Hojo suddenly clutched his head…his hawkish nose and craggy features dissolving into Vincent's pain stricken own. Vincent staggered against the wall…gasping for breath as he visibly shook until regaining his senses.
Looked at Reno with…almost fatherly concern.
Reno hated it.
"Reno…"
"Don't you start, you walking foursome." He snapped. "I may be a freak like you but don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself." He then smirked, using his shades to cover his eyes. "Guess this increases my chances with Yuffie…with that Vampire fetish of hers…"
"Glad we understand each other…" Vincent mirrored his smirk. "Alucard."
"What you called me?"
Vincent and co. just snickered.
##
"Starting Autopsy of Gi mutant specimen 029. Double check the data as we scan, Elena."
"Yes sir."
The scientists passed their Hand scanners over the dissected, foul smelling husk, the information fed directly into her laptop as she translated, filed and confirmed the findings robotically.
*Stupid Stupid! stupid!*
"Elena."
*I should have walked out of there and told Reeve about his 'condition'! Instead of…!*
"Elena?"
*Maybe I should keep flirting with Vincent to piss him off! At least he's a gentleman!*
"Elena…"
*But…he wasn't faking…maybe I shouldn't be so hard on him…*
"ELENA!"
Elena jumped as Rude practically bellowed, pausing her rapid typing and looking up at him sheepishly.
"Ummm….sup?"
Rude scowled. Red and the scientists didn't even pause.
*Reno's done something stupid again…that's the only time she's a workaholic.*
Rude informed them of the new development, Elena surprisingly quiet about the stay here part. Rude watched her just sigh and go back to her little world, frowning to herself.
Wonderful.
"I don't like this…" Red growled. "We're too scattered and that makes us vulnerable…"
The roar of the Highwind over head made it moot. "We don't have much of a choice obviously." He looked at the mass of stinking flesh on the table. "Anything useful from this?"
"It appears that this strain of Jenova attacks and seizes control of the brain, stimulating and reconfiguring the pituitary gland to literally rebuild the victim from the ground up." Red answered like it was a question about the weather. "It infects the victim instantaneously, altering it's code every generation."
"Like a virus…" Rude murmured. "Vector?"
"Injection, Ingestion or physical contact. Too fragile to spread by airborne means." the scientist replied.
Rude pretended not to notice Elena's mood darken at that bit of information. "Will Reeve's serum work?"
"Unknown. The increased mutagenic properties of this strain may allow it survive. More tests are needed before we can be certain."
"Can I be excused for a moment, Red?" He nodded, Elena stepping outside. Rude waited a beat and followed, catching her looking thoughtfully at the sky.
"I'm alright Rude." She faked a smile. "Really."
"…."
"Must you be so nosey?! I don't hound you when you brood!"
"…."
"Fine! I'll tell you! It's Reno…as usual…" she kicked an unoffending rock. "this morning he was…different. Stronger than he should have been and now this happens…"
Elena suddenly grabbed Rude by the lapels of his suit, literally roaring as she shook him.
"HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM ABOUT ALL OF THIS! RENO COULD HAVE BEEN INFECTED ALL ALONG, TURNING INTO SOME KINDA MONSTER AND YOU JUST STAND THERE LIKE AN IDIOT! STUPID RUDE!"
Rude watched a suddenly Chibi Elena cry mini waterfalls, letting his teeth stop rattling enough to talk.
"Reno will be fine, Elena…even if he's infected Reeve's boys will figure something out. Relax."
"*Sniff* I know, I know…*Sniff*
"And I'll just kill him if we can't." Rude muttered.
"eh?"
"Nothing, Nothing…" Rude wiped his glasses. "How was he 'different' exactly?"
'Elena Falls' dried up rather quickly, the blonde twiddling her fingers shyly.
"Well ummm…when he came into the exercise room after my workout…"
Rude paused, staring at her incredulously.
"See what I mean now? No hangover, he punched a sandbag off the chain and bent some dumbbells, knew I was there cause he heard my heartbeat…then…foughtandflirtedalittleandalmostkissedhim"
Rude didn't catch the last, but the faint blush was rather vocal.
Reno you jackass…make up your mind already…
"Then…his eyes started glowing red and fangs started popping out…and I couldn't even move even if I wanted to for some reason…then he just went schizo, yelling at me to leave and tearing up shit…"
Her lip started quivering, Rude mentally sighing as she glomped him. Patted her back comfortingly.
Now wasn't the time to mention the identity of his opponent the night before…cause if he was right…Elena had more to worry about than Reno…
##
Blissfully unaware on the other side of the planet…
Yuffie pulled her pillow over her head to defend against the horrid beast attacking her, her screams muffled and her head about to burst as she was dragged from a rather delicious dream of Vincent and Reno…
"What the HELL is that noise?!"
Shera, who had spent all night on some odd looking device, finally looked up. "What noise?"
Obviously she was used to her ears tortured, Yuffie thought ruefully, the way Cid snored…
A equally rumpled Godo dragged himself by her door on way to the bathroom, mumbling "Get used to it…"
Yuffie managed on a Yukata and searched for whoever it was so she could kill them…
Which led her to the kitchen…where her radio was blaring, of all things, Red Hot Chili Peppers's Love Rollercoaster, Shiva singing and dancing along while making breakfast as Leviathan watched from the table…Each finished plate floated over and set on the table perfectly with a gentle breeze without even looking…
(Shiva)
YOU GIVE ME THAT FUNNY FEELING IN MY TUMMY....
ah shit, yeah, that's right huh! (Flips some eggs in to a plate as it passes by)
Rollercoaster of Love
say what (Cupped her ear toward Leviathan)
Rollercoaster yeah (oohh oohh oohh) (No look pass with some stir fry)
Oh baby you know what I'm talking about…(Winked at her husband)
After picking up her jaw, Yuffie ducked behind the door and watched the odd scene in amusement, especially Leviathan: His glacial demeanor seemed to have thawed somewhat, faint warmth in his eyes and half smirk playfully as he focused on Shiva sway to her 'singing'. Almost like Vincent when he would play…
She shook her head viscously. *Damn you for being so hot and perfect Vinnie!*
(Shiva)
Move over dad 'cause I'm a double dipple
Upside down on the big dip dipper
1,2,1,2,3 I've got a ticket come ride with me
Let me go down on the marry-go-round
All is fair 'n' a big fair ground
Let's go slow. let's go fast
Like a liquorice twist gonna whip your ass!
Shiva sashayed over and kissed her husband, winking at her as Yuffie squirmed. Nothing like seeing old people kissing, ergh…
"Aw hell…" Godo grumbled as he staggered in beside Yuffie. "Now I have to disinfect the kitchen of Cooties…"
That earned him a snowball to the face, Yuffie giggling as she sat down.
"Konichiwa, granddaughter, son in law." Leviathan greeted them, Shiva snuggling beside him.
"Sorry if I woke ya all'." Shiva giggled. "But I just love Wutainese food so, cookin' and eatin' both!"
"And with all that space in your head you don't have to worry about your weight…"
Shera had arrived as Godo got another snowball side the head. An ice one. She simply shrugged it off and went straight to the coffee. They all began digging in.
Yuffie leaned over to whisper to Leviathan. "Are they always like this?"
"Usually they're worse." he replied.
"Excuse me Leviathan-san," Shera said meekly. "Will Ramuh be returning soon? Vincent had a message for him…"
"I'm sorry, but Ramuh is unreachable at the moment…" The king Esper sighed. "He is in mourning, as he always is at this time of year."
Yuffie blinked. "Who does he mourn?"
"His sons…lost when Jenova destroyed Knowlespole."
Shiva sat down beside her husband, snuggling against him comfortingly.
"His eldest, Maduin, father of Terra Branford, it was he and his brothers that hired Angelus. I punished them by trapping their shards within physical bodies, and condemned them to a human's lifetime of imprisonment on the surface." Another sigh. "I thought I was lenient for Ramuh's sake…"
"You had no idea that Jenova would strike there." Godo said calmly, munching on a piece of bacon. "And although I sympathized with his hatred of Magitek, Maduin was too dangerous to let unpunished."
"I know old friend…"
*No wonder he's such a old sourpuss.* Yuffie thought silently. *I'd be pissed if I'd lost my family in one shot too…*
"What was the message, Shera?" She asked.
Shera told them of the attack on Cosmo Canyon and the discovery of Jenova's hideout. Yuffie almost hopped out of her seat with excitement, but stopped.
*Slow your roll, Yuffie. Didn't you come here to find out more about your 'powers' to better help them?*
She sighed.
*…Besides you'll just be in the way. With Vincent playing Prince *&^%ing Charming…*
That last little bit didn't help her mood any.
Godo looked at her in concern, but said nothing. Stirred his eggs.
"I swear, this gets crazier by the second." Shiva finished her fifth plate, idly playing with Leviathan's hair.
"She can't be trying to infect everyone like she did with the Cetra…"
"Well if you have any ideas I'm listening." Shera rested her chin on her fists. "We could use all the help we can get right now…"
"Grandfather," It came easily to her now, having fun with her new 'family'. "After breakfast, would you mind sparring with me and father?"
Godo laughed. "Just because you got lucky with me-"
"Doubt it was luck, old fart!"
"You have no room to call me old, nag!"
"What did you say?! Ooh! Husband he called me old!"
"Squeal, squeal!"
"That's it!"
Leviathan seemed happily oblivious to the resulting struggle, Shera sweatdropping while Yuffie cackled.
"Good eel." He murmured.
##
"Oh, sailor's life for me-ouch!"
"Don't. ever. Sing that."
Cait rubbed his head and made a face at Reno.
The submarine was as claustrophobia inducing as Cid remembered, give him open skies anytime. But no way his baby could land in those mountains safely. So he just shut up and drove.
Well, not shut up exactly.
"Don't &^%$ing pick on the cat, Turk. That's my job."
"That's right-hey!"
"I'll stop when you quit poisoning our air supply." Reno was as wired as he was for some reason, even more of a prick than usual. Cid blew a smoke ring at him and tipped the sub sharply so the Turk tripped into the wall when he lunged.
"Heh heh…"
The other two occupants had been silent the entire time, very unusual for the larger of the two. Barret would usually be loud enough for three, but this time he'd simply reloaded and cleaned Missing Score, scrutinizing the seemingly asleep Vincent across from him.
He knew what his friend was feeling now. He'd stared that ugly sonvabitch Hate in the face every day for years after Shinra took his home, his family and his hand. Maybe Vincent had suffered more but still…
"Yo, Vincent."
His eyes slowly open to regard him…and it was a while before it was actually Vincent staring out at him.
"Yes?"
All the speeches and such Barret had been composing blew away like ash. Oh well, might as well start from scratch…
" I 'now dis yer show and all…but I've been thinking' maybe ya shoulda sat this one out."
"…Be assured my personal feelings will not interfere with my performance."
"Dat's just it, man…dey all ready have." The glare he received in reply was lethal, but Barret faced it back the best he could. "Not dissin' yer plan, but just bustin' in and kickin' ass ain't yer usual style, even with yer back up-"
"Lu-Jenova's expecting that, changing tactics will throw her off-guard. If you doubt me so much then why did you bother to come?"
"Someone's gotta keep an eye on yer ass for Yuffie's sake."
The air dropped several degrees.
"…That was low, Wallace."
The big man crossed his arms.
"Jus' telling' it like I sees it, man."
Vincent's retort was cut off by Cid as the sub slowed.
"Strap yer asses in, guys. We're nearing the canyons..."
"Heh, I hope this gets more exciting when we get there…" Cait stretched and yawned. "…I didn't think we could just walk up and knock…"
He was too busy getting thrown to the floor with everybody else to finish.
"*&^%ing rust bucket just had to go *&^%ing run his *&^%ing mouth…"
The radar screen went crazy…multiple signatures gathering above them…clumping together into some distorted version of the Midgar Zolom…
"Hold the *&^% on!" Cid yelled as he powered the engines to full and gunned away…starting a frantic game of tag through the narrow canyons…The beast's jaws barely missing each time…
"This exciting enough for you?!!" Reno yelled at Cait.
"Nah, not enough explosions!" Without warning the robotic cat hopped over to the controls and repeatedly the fire button, unloading an insane amount of missiles from the rear toward the beast until it was completely swallowed in the explosions…"Why didn't you do that earlier!"
The entire canyon kept shaking long after the dying beast collapsed…it's death throes and the explosions creating landsides…
"THAT'S *&^%ING WHY!!!"
"…Oops."
They barely made to the surface, the sub looking like a kicked around soda can in the lake outside Lucrecia's Tomb.
Cid and Reno, probably the only time they would ever agree in this lifetime, both pounced and started stomping on Cait.
"I said sorry!!!"
Two years ago, when they'd first stumbled upon this place, it had radiated an indiscernible yet soothing aura. It had embraced Vincent like a child, and decades of pain had ceased to exist for a moment…
…Now it stank of Jenova…a scent that sent spirals of cold hatred through him like a maelstrom, his blood seeming to boil in his veins…
*…How dare she defile this sacred place…*
"The mistress dares much, Vinnie…"
"WhatwhatwhatwhatwhatCHAGONNADOBOUTIT!"
He didn't even hear Barret's swearing as he dashed in…unleashing his rage in a bellow that seemed to shake the foundations of the tomb.
"JENOOOOOOVAAAAAAAA!"
"He's pissed!" Cait squealed. "WOOHOO! Let's party!"
The tomb was empty.
"Why am I not surprised?" Reno was just as affected as Vincent, his skin threatening to crawl off his bones. "So where the *&^% is she, Nightwing?"
"Shut up Reno!" Vincent snarled. "She's here…she has to be…"
"Umm…boss…"
"There ain't shit here! Except you of course!"
Vincent actually stuck Death Penalty in the young Turk's face. "I said shut the *&^% up!"
"Yo, Vincent…"
Reno slapped it aside. "Get that excuse for your dick out my face!"
"Both of you calm the *&^% down already!" Cid snapped.
"VINCENT!"
All four whirled on Cait Sith "WHAT?!"
"…If this is just a tomb…why am I detecting Cetran Technology?"
The rage left Vincent as quickly as it came. "This…was made by the Cetra?"
"I'm scanning some hellafied shit here, even some viral corruption, but it's the same tech as the Weapons."
"Viral?" Cid snorted. "You mean like the frickin' flu? How could a machine get the &^%$ing flu?"
"I'm trying to figger that out myself, old man. I'm even reading some Jenovan DNA mixed in here…"
"Is it still working, Cat?" Barret asked in a sudden bout of dread.
A low, bone rattling rumble answered him.
"Aw shit…" Reno muttered.
The hidden door slammed shut, the mysterious light of the pool somehow heightening the dark rather than hold it at bay. Sliced along the walls and floor in strange circuitry-like patterns as the long dormant technology within the walls flared to life. Stumbled them all as the entire place shook with a deafening WHIRR-CLANK!
"We're sinking!" Cait yelled. "I'll try to override-"
"…Will do no good…"
The wall twisted into Lucrecia's face, smirking.
"The Cain protocols won't work here, little puppet."
"Here's yer puppet!" Cait and Moogle grabbed their crotches.
"That's telling' the bitch!" Cid crowed.
"Hmph, cute."
"Where is Lucrecia?" Vincent snapped.
Amused eyes turned to him. "You're trapped here and you're concerned about her?"
Vincent's voice was ice.
"I'm here to release her soul…and send you to hell where you belong, Jenova. Nothing more."
Barret, Cait and Cid couldn't help but grin at that.
"You sneaky bastard…" Cid chuckled ruefully.
"Don't forget I owe the bitch too." Reno stood up beside Vincent, Nightstick blazing.
This time Lucrecia did laugh.
"A final farewell to your past as you look to the future…How romantic."
She vanished into the wall with a knowing smirk.
"Fool…if you only knew…"
The lights dimmed…the 'Tomb' touching the ocean floor almost silently.
"This place…" Lucrecia's bodiless voice echoed. "Was once an escape pod from the Dreamer before I made some…adjustments. Sit back and enjoy the entertainment I've provided, since you won't be going anywhere for a long time…"
A massive hand reached out of the pool…the intimidating form of one of Northern Crater's worst inhabitants looming into the room as the lights returned. Scraped a length of metal that could barely be called a sword behind it, it's blue and gold armor crawling with Jenova corruption.
An Iron Giant.
"I thought you were trying to kill us, not bore us...." Reno remarked as the battle began…
##
The skies were turning ugly above Cosmo Canyon, promising a viscous storm.
Elena's mood had worsened with it, going from zero to bitch at warp seven. At first Rude sympathized, soon ignored, then so annoyed he wound up 'gently' suggesting for her to take a walk or something to calm her nerves. Well, as gently as being tossed over his shoulder like a sack of rice, carried outside and dropped on her butt in the dirt with a raincoat on her head could be.
She had patted herself off meekly and decided to take his advice.
Too bad it wasn't working so well.
She tried, really she did, but the BASTARD SNIPING AT HER WOULDN'T LET HER!
And it had started to rain.
"Stupid Reno…" She muttered.
She might as well have 'Welcome' stamped on her ass when it came to him. He'd walk all over her, bury her in mud and dogshit, and every time she'd get fed up he'd tenderly dust her off like she was a treasure. Over and over and over….
She had to stop and laugh at that one. Elena Seraphim, waxing poetic. She was losing her mind. But as off the wall it sounded, that was why she hadn't kicked his nuts into his throat and left way back-
Another nerve-wracking close shot chipped the boulder, reminding her of the here and now.
Note to self, bitch about Reno later.
He or she was a pro alright…had not for that almost sixth sense one adapted as a Turk…
A whisper of movement caught her attention, catching a blur of white as it streaked from one side of the Canyon to the other, landed on the cliff facing her.
Oh shit.
She scrambled away in time as the sniper smoothly turned, targeted and fired…a shot that would had pinned her shoulder had she been slower. Elena dashed forward and immediately bounced back, another near miss…
…aiming to wound me…
…Desperately reaching out with her talent as she rolled…subtly shifting the inner mechanics of the Sniper rifle…
…hearing the misfire and grunt of surprise as she kicked to her feet, glimpsing the sniper stagger as the rifle exploded…
…her eyes widening as he/she regained balance, seemingly unaffected.
Step off the cliff and to the ground with the ease one would a step.
shitshitshitshit-!
She stared at him as he stood up, making a 'ladies first' gesture complete with a bow, now recognizing him as the man who attacked them at Reeve's…
*Head start huh? Arrogant *&^%…*
She took it…taking off the raincoat and suit coat after she was out of sight…
Terminus slowly counted, his smirk twisted the painted skullmask further.
"1...2...3...4....oh what the hell. Ten."
Flickered from view as he sprinted…only reappearing when he glimpsed the rain coat and blue suit hiding behind another boulder…started firing wildly at him…
He danced around each shot and rocketed toward her…pulverizing the boulder with his first blow and reaching for the throat with the next…
Pulling back mud.
"Nani?"
The Elena shaped pile of mud, dressed in her suit and rain coat, lunged like a living thing and splattered itself against him…blinding and restricting him briefly…
Long enough for the real Elena to stab him in the throat and viscously rip the knife out sideways.
Holding his ravaged throat he stared at her in wonder. She'd stripped to her sports bra and boxers and buried herself in the mud, baiting him with her clothes…
He was further impressed when she realized he wasn't dying and attacked again…Snapping the knife on the rock as he dodged aside…Elena flipping it hilt first and stabbing it into his eye just as his fist slammed into her stomach…Elena's legs folding under her as she struggled to breathe…
"Learned your lessons well, Elena…"
She fought unconsciousness long enough for him to wipe the concealing face paint away, her eyes widening.
"Tse-"
He hefted her onto his shoulder and pulled out the ruined knife, blinking his eye as it healed. Picked up her PHS and pressed the hot dial labeled 'Rude'.
"Hello old friend…"
##
Reno got his wish.
The Iron Giant quickly proved it's evolution from it's Northern crater kin: The telltale electric arcs of it's adrenalize ability constant as it lunged faster than physics should have allowed, scattering them like ten pins with a sweep of it's arm…
Barret and Vincent quickly opened fire as they recovered…only managing to dent and unbalance the beast…it's chest armor unlocking to reveal some kind of weapon that unleashed a roiling wave of heat that melted the wall as they dashed clear…roaring as Cid leapt atop it's back and stabbed into it's 'neck'…and got swatted to the wall for the trouble…Raised it's foot…
…Cait and Moogle dashing forward strike the knee with a powerful punch of their own, unbalancing it but nearly cleaved in two by a viscous sweep of the sword…Reno loosing a few hair as he ducked under it and stabbed the nightstick into the sword as it buried itself in the wall…Reno realizing his mistake as the positive and negative energies met with a viscous thunderclap that blasted him across the room…the Iron giant suffering the worse of it…
…A well aimed burst from Barret and Vincent severing the damaged arm…a Bolt 3 spell from Cait mimicking the effect of Reno's nightstick…this time the Iron Giant screaming in pain as it was fried inside out…still functional enough to literally flatten Cait and the Moogle against the wall with a tremendous punch…
…wide open as Cid leapt atop it's back with an evil grin…lighting some dynamite with his cig and shoving it into the sparking stump of it's severed arm before leaping clear again…the blast taking the shoulder and part of it's skull with it…driving it to it's knees as it opened it's chest weapon…
"Aim for it!"
…Barret unleashing his Ungarmax limit before it could fire…so critically injuring the beast it's systems collapsed and the trapped energy blew it apart…Vincent's quick casting of Big guard on everyone protecting from the storm of shrapnel and plasma…
Merciful silence followed soon after.
For a moment.
"Heh heh!" Cait danced around. "What you think of that, freak show! Yer next!"
He immediately got nightsticked upside the head. "Shaddup…"
Cait looked at the semi fried Turk and burst out laughing, pointing at his electrified straight hair. "That's an improvement Rooster head!"
Reno clubbed him again. Harder.
About then, they realized they'd overdone it…the battle seemed to have damaged much of the circuitry in the walls, the lights fading and the air slowly turning thinner…
"She wanted me to find this place…" Vincent commented. "Keep me trapped here…"
"…Away from Yuffie or Reeve's?"
The itch suddenly flared twice as badly, Reno's every instinct screaming something was wrong…
Vincent growled at Barret's remark. "Of course…Seems I owe you an apology as well…"
"Don't sweat it…shoulda known yer too sweet on da brat to 'bandon her…"
Vincent glared in reply, Barret unfazed as he grinned back.
"Too little-TOO LATE-"
Lucrecia's voice was distorted, the face barely keeping it's form as it's shell died. The Pool foamed and blacked with each dying circuit, the corruption bleeding freely from the seared wounds.
"NO way out FOR YOU. WE're miles FROM SurFACE …WILL DROown…"
Her gloat faded as her prey's forms began to waver and fade…Vincent actually grinning ferally.
"Saragoya Suckaduck!" Cait yelled as they vanished completely…
…reappearing in the Highwind deck, docked above the now large crater/lake the entire time.
"Got's to give Reeve and the brat props for comin' up with that gadget." Barret removed the small transmitter from his ear, looking the Large materia powered 'Teleporter' from the other night. "We'd be pissing seawater without it…"
"One of the few things he built that wasn't a pain in the ass…" Cid said fiendishly.
"Hey! I resemble that remark!" Cait screeched.
"All that risk with no payoff…" Reno scratched, his nerves worsening and his injuries not helping. "No offense, Vampirella, but your plans suck more than you do."
"You're welcome to do better, Damien."
"…That shit's not funny, DAMNIT!"
"Heh heh…"
"Man…" Cait commented as Cid took control and steered them toward Junon. "Where's Ripley when you need her?"
Reno whirled on Cait. "What did you say?"
"Ummm…wish Ripley was here to kick Alien ass? You know, Sigourney Weaver, Aliens…"
Reno's eyes widened and he did a funny little stomping dance.
"*&&^%! *&^%$(*&^%$##$#%^&*!"
"Hey, don't stomp my (*&^ing ship!"
"I just realized what that limp dick Hojo meant! That…That arsehole!" Everyone stared at Reno like he'd lost it. "How could I have be such a numb nut!"
"What the hell you're bitching about?"
"There was this guy in the first movie called Ash…was a robot pretending to be human and betrayed the crew! Don't you get it?!"
Vincent paled. *Yuffie!*
Cid set course for Wutai, the engines powering to full…"*&^%ing Esper…Knew we couldn't trust 'em!"
Reno whipped out his PHS. "Rude, you and Elena get as many Turks as we can….What?"
Only Vincent noticed the change in Reno as he listened. His hands clenched until they bled, his breathing quickening as a fierce scowl crossed his face.
"What is it?"
"Elena was kidnapped…" He gripped the PHS until it cracked. "Brought to Nibelihelm Canyons…"
Damn…
"No need sayin' it's a trap…" Barret began.
"I don't care…Drop me off." His voice was ice. "Now, Old man."
"The *&% you talking to Turk-!
"This is what that freakazoid wants, Reno!" Cait yelled.
"I don't give a shit!" The itch flared even higher than his temper, Reno's eyes actually glowing. "Land this &^%$er now!"
"What about Yuffie, Reno? You'd abandon her when she needs you most?"
Reno glared at Vincent.
"You're in no condition to fight alone, Reno, no matter what you think. Help us now, like I hired you for, and we'll save Elena together. I promise."
Reno closed his eyes. Yuffie…he promised to protect her…
…but he promised Elena first.
Opened his eyes.
"Kiss my ass, Vincent…I'm done protecting your woman…"
Faster than anyone could react, Reno drew and smashed the Nightstick into a panel…temporarily crashing the Highwind's systems…Cid swearing as he kicked in manual and fought for control…Reno leaping onto the Deck's edge as the great ship neared the ocean…
"…Time I took care of mine!"
…And leapt off just as Cid pulled the Highwind airborne…Vincent watching Reno cast barrier to cushion the impact…the dark gunman smiling inwardly.
"Son or not…I'm proud you realized that…"
Below, Reno began to swim…feeling the itch intensify in his legs and arms until he was literally flying through the rough current…stronger than he'd ever felt before…stronger than anything!
*Hold on Elle…*
So focused he was on reaching her, he never noticed the flicker of dark energy around his form…nor how his skin briefly darkened for the barest of seconds or his eyes flare a sullen red…
*I'm not abandoning you again…*
##
Reeve felt like a colossal idiot.
The answer to the puzzle of Vincent and Reno's blood had been just that…a puzzle. Reeve had no idea how Jenova managed it, but somehow her cells were hiding anything that would answer his questions. But Reno's cells were hiding things that Vincent's wasn't and Vice versa. When the pretty, dark haired lab tech on duty had pointed that out, he thought of mixing the samples to confuse them…
What was found shocked the hell out of him.
He immediately contacted Rude…and was promptly informed of Elena's situation and his inability to contact Reno. Wutai was unreachable as well, some kind of interference blocking all PHS communication…
"Damnit!" Reeve barely restrained the urge to break his PHS on the wall.
If he was understanding the evidence correctly, the Jenova cells within their blood had far advanced their original state…and still evolving. Reeve realized this as each sample either literally self destructed by igniting it's mitochondria, rapidly aged and clotted itself to prevent a closer look, or even slithered away!
If the blood was adapting to prevent itself from being studied…what changes were their bodies suffering?!!
##
*Look at them…fools…*
That half-breed brat was now fanning herself on the Pagoda steps, worn out from sparring with her 'grandfather.' The nerd and that icy trollop of a Esper queen were chatting nearby as well on a blanket, enjoying the afternoon sun as they picnicked. And that old insufferable bastard of a lord was dozing in his bed, as usual.
*Perfect.*
He was inside the Pagoda in an instant…a slight breeze marking his passing…
Leviathan did not rise from his mediation as the dark form swept into the fourth floor like an ill wind, blowing out the lamps. Sighed and set down his tea cup.
"Welcome back…old friend."
"Old friend…" Electricity flickered, briefly revealing a form that was Ramuh yet not. Then all that could be seen of him was two flaming orbs of blue. "…Don't insult me."
"I intend no insult…nor to fight you, Ramuh." Leviathan sounded his considerable age. Weary. "Merely ask why…"
"He asks why…" a brittle laugh. "He asks me…WHY?!!"
The scent of Jenova nearly choked the Esper king, yet he did not react. "I suspect the answer…but wish to hear it from you."
"You damn well should suspect it…"
A gesture…Leviathan impaled to the wall by Ramuh's staff…arcs of dark energy crawling over him… He struggled, regretting it as they tightened and sent a paralyzing burst through his shard…
"…It was your order after all…condemning my sons to die because they defied you."
"It was an accident…"
"Now you insult my intelligence! Think I wouldn't know that they were exiled to Knowlespole, because you knew Jenova would strike where she detected an Esper signature?! You have the gall to feign ignorance?!!"
"I intended no such thing!"
"Shut your lying mouth!" Ramuh was practically frothing now, the energies increasing in strength, Leviathan actually screaming…
"Husband!"
Ramuh hadn't heard Shiva enter and staggered under a viscous burst of Gem Dust…returning with a volley of lighting the female Esper barely dodged…
…right into Ramuh's fist as it slammed into her ribs…crying out as he blasted her point blank and smashed her through the doors…
"Shivaaaa!"
"That's two, your majesty. Two in exchange for my sons…"
"…It was you who killed my granddaughter?!!"
"I didn't have the pleasure, just opened the door for Shinra…" His smile darkened. "Jenova's little newborn spawn did the rest. Too bad he didn't finish the brat as well, but that will be easily remedied."
Leviathan as the king of Espers sank to his knees as Ramuh stepped from the shadows.
"I'm almost disappointed how easily you fell to me, your majesty." He taunted. "We were right to fear the power of Jenova, see how it has advanced me beyond even you?!"
Leviathan couldn't help but gasp at the transformation: Ramuh was restored to his youthful prime, his beard neatly trimmed and the tattered robes revealing whipcord muscle…but his flesh was so infected with Jenova it seemed more like a separate creature grafted to him, dark and violently pulsating as dark energies crawled within and without and even exposed bone…
"…You hate me so much you've defiled yourself…" Leviathan clutched the staff, fighting the agony. "…You think your sons would be proud to see you become what They feared?"
"Heh, if you only knew…"
The Conformer sheared off his right shoulder and arm…the limb dissolving into ash in midair…Ramuh sneering at Yuffie and a injured but capable Shiva as they rushed him…the thunder crack of his teleport battering them as he reappeared behind them limb restored…the flesh slithered back from his hands to form skeletal, electrified claws…
…raising them to block Yuffie's swing with the Conformer…the shock throwing her across the room….engaging the ice sword wielding Shiva in a wicked dance of parrying thrusting and slicing beyond human limits…a singed Yuffie rejoining the fray with her fists and feet…forcing him back until…
"ENOUGH!!"
The crack of thunder that leveled the top floor of the Pagoda was heard as far as Junon…Yuffie, Leviathan and Shiva flung through the air…
…Leviathan crashing through the mansion roof…Ramuh's staff forced completely through and dangerously close to his shard by the impact…
…Shiva summoned the winds to slow her decent…only to be dropkicked by Ramuh into the Turtle bar…springing off her and dashing toward Yuffie claw first as she raised the conformer to block…
…Three blurs flying out of nowhere to ram into him…Godo himself snatching her out of the air and set her down…
"Are you alright?!"
…Shake and Gorky each grabbed a claw while Checkov hooked his arms around Ramuh's legs and planted his feet in the dark Esper's groin as they descended, Ramuh roaring as his back and limbs snapped on impact…
Yuffie blinked owlishly at her father, clad in a variation of the same armor she had fought him in years ago, blue in color and the strange multimask gone. Carried the Jade Destiny…her mother's sword…
"Umm…yeah…"
His retainers flew over head, blasted away by a burst of lighting…Godo dashing forward with a speed Yuffie had forgotten he possessed…catching Ramuh's next blast with the katana and slinging it away…the blade a green flicker as Godo shredded Ramuh's chest with a variation of Greased Lightning…ending with a thrust to the chest and ripping it out with a viscous twist…Yuffie glimpsing a glimmer of green in the gaping wound…
*His shard…if we destroy his shard…*
Godo rolled as Ramuh teleported and reappeared whole again to unleash another lighting bolt…this time grasping it and yanking it back like a whip to splash across his back…Godo seemingly unaffected as he deflected the next strike and slashed his shoulder as he somersaulted over him…Ramuh using two whips now to force him back as he deflected every strike…both ending the assault with a clash of sword to claw.
"Seems your old spirit has returned…"
"And I have you to thank!"
Godo kicked away to land by his daughter, grinning. Shiva, Gorky, Checkov, and Shake joined them, forming a half circle around Ramuh.
"Let's remind this bastard how Kisaragi's fight!"
"Damn straight!"
They charged…
##
*Why…* Elena thought miserably as she shivered. *Does it always rain when this shit happens?*
It was quite a set up, Elena mildly impressed at the effort: She dangled high over the steepest cliff by a crane and harness, where if she wasn't killed instantly from the fall the rocks would shred her into a bloody pulp. All that kept her from that pleasant trip was a complicated series of five wires and counterweights with timed explosives. Every time one would blow, she'd fall two feet and be stopped by the other weights. When all of them were released…splat.
"I apologize for the discomfort, but it is necessary."
'Terminus' sat cross-legged and eyes closed near the cliff's edge, deep in mediation…but totally aware of his surroundings. Proved it as Elena began swinging back and forth to test the wire's strength.
"That won't work, so stop it." Elena scowled at him. "And glaring at me won't either."
Hearing him speak like he used to, that sexy, whisper soft baritone that never failed to send shivers down her spine…the dam finally broke…
"Why?!!" she nearly screamed, her eyes shut tight against the escaping tears. "Why betray us to Jenova? I thought we would always be family!! WHY?!!"
She felt as if someone had stabbed her with a shard of ice, now crying freely.
"ANSWER ME…TSENG!"
Silence answered instead. Then…
"Tseng is dead Elena." He stood, his back to her. "He died in the Temple of Ancients, when Sephiroth ambushed him, cut him shoulder to groin. But Jenova wasn't finished with him just yet…"
Elena felt his mind touch hers briefly. Images of Sephiroth through a red haze of agony…sneering down…plunging the squirming mass of Jenova flesh in his hand into Tseng's body…the pain multiplied…
Elena blinked back to reality, her anger gone as quickly as it came.
"Tseng…"
He turned to face her…Elena not seeing the blue toned flesh, white hair and disturbing red eyes…but Tseng as she'd always remember him…
"And I do this not for that bitch…" His fists clenched. "But for him, for you, and for myself! Reno must continue to walk the path of the beast…"
"Path of the beast?!!"
"Unlike humans, beasts embrace their nature. His refusal to do the same, to remain human and weak, has been slowly destroying him." He faced her knowingly. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"
Elena could only look guilty, proving him right.
*Yes…that was the true cause of the blackouts…* She thought. *…He's being eaten alive from within…*
The laugh that escaped her bordered Hysteria, but she didn't care.
"You-you picked the w-wrong girl to bait Reno…He couldn't care less…"
She was interrupted by Tseng breaking out into soft laughter of his own, annoyed as hell and starting rocking in an effort to throttle him.
"I'll show you something funny when I get-!"
"You mean that Jackass never told you?"
She stopped in mid rant. "Oro?" was all she could think of saying.
Tseng had that look Elena had treasured the few times she'd glimpsed it: That amused, I'm-surrounded-by- idiots-and-love-it twinkle deep in his eyes, usually whenever talking to his 'superiors' or whenever Reno done something particular annoying.
"He didn't…" Tseng slipped into Wutainese, what little Elena did understand very unflattering. "…He no longer had an excuse with Shinra gone…"
*Don't you dare get your hopes up Elena!*
Another explosive curse, then he calmly looked her in the eye.
"Reno became a Turk to save your life."
Elena stared at him.
"He somehow learned that Shinra had almost tracked you two down. Raised hell at Shinra tower that night, challenging the Turks to come and get him. If he beat us, He would join and you would be pardoned."
"…You're lying…"
"Elena, there are two reasons a man will fight as demonic as he did, even when he knows he didn't have a chance in hell of winning: When he has nothing to lose or everything to gain for those he loves." He beamed with Fatherly pride. "He got every one of us before I personally stopped him, so impressed I agreed to his terms."
Had Elena been free and standing, she would have sank to her knees in disbelief.
She had remembered the day before he disappeared, that dark day of his mother's funeral. Seventeen and nineteen, their growing relationship had been taken to the next level as they sought comfort in each other's arms…only for her to wake up in his bed alone the next morning…
"He fought for you then…" Tseng said firmly as he cocked his guns. "…and he will do so again."
Elena's reply was lost in a shrieking whine from the north…glimpsing the streamer of a fire and forget missile before it slammed into Tseng's barrier and knocked him back. Two more from different directions followed…His barrier collapsing after the first struck and the second exploding before it even reached him…enveloping the area in thick, noxious smoke…
"Dirty pool, Reno…" Tseng chuckled. "Should've guessed you'd raid a Turk armory…"
"Any advantage, Papa Smurf!" Reno's voice seemed to come from everywhere. "Like you taught me!"
Tseng barely blocked the attack from the left…grunting from it's surprising strength…spinning to counter with a viscous roundhouse kick to Reno's chin…unable to dodge the water balloon Reno tossed at the same time…recognizing the thick liquid splashing him as he aimed and fired…
*Gasoline-!*
Elena could only hear the shot and whoosh of something igniting…screeching in surprise as Reno suddenly appeared below her, attempting to disarm the timers as he smirked.
"Looking good, Elle!"
"Shut up!"
She honestly didn't know if she wanted to kiss him or kill him….
Reno missed the trap Tseng had set into the Timer's cover, hissing as the dart stabbed into his wrist and plucking it out. Immediately got kicked off the railing to the mud…slinging some in Tseng's eyes and tackling him against it…the still smoldering former Turk hammering Reno in the back with both fists and snap kicking him into the air…catching him by the jaw and driving him headfirst into the ground…running with him while grinding him against the earth a few feet before flinging him through the air…
…Reno controlling his fall in midair and executing a handspring…reaching behind his back and throwing a round object at the charging Tseng…safely clear of the countless shards of white hot metal exploding from the device…Tseng whipped around as he was impaled a thousand times over but remained standing. Slid to a stop and glared into the blinding smoke with his undamaged eye.
Grinned ferally.
"Burning me…using a frag grenade…Injuries I can't regenerate properly with because of the scar tissue and shrapnel…"
He grasped the shard in his left eye and yanked it out…blinked it as it regenerated.
"That's my boy…"
*Reno fighting smart…Tseng turned into some kinda zombie…maybe when I hit the ground I'll wake up…*
The first timer going off quickly snapped Elena out of thinking like that, her ribs and back protesting from the sudden stop after two feet.
"I take it back I take it back!!!" she squealed.
"Heard that, Reno?" Tseng taunted, stalking through the fading smoke. "She's got four lives left…better hurry…"
He got three tear gas grenades in reply…firing and missing the blur that was Reno as it retreated into the thickest of it.
"Working on it." he called back.
Tseng's grin widened as he heard the strain in Reno's voice. "Starting to feel it, aren't you?"
Hiding on an outcropping, Reno clutched his chest in agony, breathing through clenched teeth. The constant itch seemed amplified, especially in his chest...
"Chest pain?" Tseng continued. "That's just the beginning of Mother's last little gift Renoyld. It'll get worse the more you fight it…"
"Now what are you babbling about?" Reno checked his remaining gear as he skulked around the approaching Tseng…
"Your Mother's decided it's time you finally got out of puberty, Reno." Tseng's sharper eyes picked up on him, immediately flanking him. "The first injection awakened your true self, and the second within that dart is completing the process as we speak. Hurts like a bitch, doesn't it?"
Reno's eyes widened as he realized when he received the first, just as a particularly viscous attack nearly drove him to his knees.
*That *&^%ing spider thing from the Cetra ship…when it bit me…*
Tseng suddenly roared…the blinding gases swept away by a rush of power…Catching Reno in midair and throwing him…charging as Reno landed on his feet and sprang back at him with the nightstick…fists, feet and weapons flying almost too fast to see…Reno obviously getting the worst of it but refusing to quit…
…Tseng staggering him with a kick to the throat…quickly shedding the remains of his coat and shirt and snapping them around Reno's wrists like whips…somersaulting over him and placing his foot in the small of Reno's back as he bent his student's arms behind him almost to the point of dislocation…
*He's crushing his lungs against his ribs!* Elena thought in horror.
"You can do better than that, Reno!"
"Traitor…*&^%ing traitor!" Elena screamed at him. "You're the closest thing Reno had to a father, damn you!"
"Exactly why this must be done!" Tseng snarled, forcing Reno to his knees.
Reno screamed…dislocating his left arm himself…balancing on his good arm as Tseng lost his footing and struck out with a tremendous kick to the man's chest…the crack of shattering ribs heard even by Elena…
Tseng flew several feet before gravity claimed his body again, hearing his neck snap under his weight as he landed headfirst…rolling to a stop in a heap.
Reno placed his injured arm against the ground, twisting it back into the socket with a grunt and standing up to observe the results of his desperate attack. Felt the torn muscle not only reknit, but bulge and strengthen, as if to prevent it from happening again. The same process quickly screamed through his body, hurting worse than the dislocation…
*&^%$ me this stings!*
Tseng climbed to his feet, gruesomely twisting his head around to it's proper position. Watched the changes rip through Reno's body…skin darkening briefly…eyes black then restored to normal…
"Tseng…" Reno hissed.
"That's it Reno…" Tseng taunted. "Give in…fight with everything you got like the last time…"
The second timer blew at that moment…Elena unable to scream this time as she felt her ribs crack from the sudden stop. Bit her lip against the agony…
"Oh, I forgot to mention that each timer is less that one before, and only three left." Tseng grinned ferally. "This time it's all or nothing! Kill me or watch her die!"
This time Elena could barely keep up with them as they brawled back and forth…only pausing when one landed a solid blow and then not even for long…
"Stop it…" Elena sobbed, eyes closed tightly. "Someone make them stop…"
##
Ramuh's staff burned her hands as she pulled, Shiva ignoring the pain as she countered it's power with her own…Leviathan gritting his teeth as it began to give…
"Hold on, husband…almost out…"
The battle had been a violent see saw back and forth…Ramuh surprisingly holding his own against them all. Shake, Checkov and Staniv were out for the count, Shiva trying to free Leviathan from the life draining staff before it killed him and even the odds…Yuffie and Godo giving all they had to stop him as the fight raged from the city to plains outside to lessen the causalities…
The staff suddenly increased it's efforts…Shiva actually screaming this time as it lashed out at her shard…managing to turn it into ice and shatter it…tending to the horrible wound as Leviathan passed out…
Outside Godo and Yuffie dodged for their lives…Ramuh cackling as he rained lighting on them from above…pausing as he noticed the approaching Highwind with a grin…
"Just in time to die!"
He concentrated on the skies as he raised his hand…a ridiculously sized bolt of lighting striking the Highwind and damaging the engines as it neared them…
…But instead of crashing in a ball of fire or pin wheeling into the city like he expected, the Highwind actually gained speed and fought crashing with every bit of power it had remaining until it could do no more…Cid literally running Ramuh down as the great airship slid roughly to a stop before destroying the city gates in a smoking heap…
"Oh he's good as dead now…" Yuffie remarked. "Hurting Cid's baby…"
An injured Ramuh reappeared above the cockpit…only to be rocked by several shot from Barret as he leaned out…An equally pissed Vincent changing into Chaos in midair and literally stomping him into the ground from above and managing several good blows before getting blasted back…immediately pounced on by a whooping Cait Sith and tossed into the air…right into Cid's spear as the old pilot met him in midair and kicked off him viscously…Barret blasting him for good measure…
"Don't let him recover!" Yuffie yelled.
With a nod to her father they blindsided Ramuh as he landed…slicing him as they dashed past him repeatedly until he staggered and attempted to escape by leaping…Chaos once again dropping from the sky with Chaos saber to strike him back down…Ramuh controlling his fall and blocking the frenzied slashes of him, Yuffie and Godo…wide open as Cait's Moogle sucker punched him in the back at the same time Barret kneecapped him…Ramuh unable to defend as Cid laid into him with his Big brawl limit break from the front while Chaos sliced into him from the rear…Ramuh jerking as he was being ripped apart until…
"ENOUGH!"
A shockwave of dark energy erupted from Ramuh as he threw his arms out and roared…Scattering them all to writhe in agony on the ground as the red black lightning chained back and forth between their bodies…paralying them as he laughed…repairing the terrible damage…
"I will not be stopped now while I'm so close…"
"RAMUH!!!"
Ramuh turned to the new voice in amusement, the speaker none other than…
"SHERA!!" Cid growled as he tried to rise. "Get the *&^% outta here!"
She shook her head, glaring at Ramuh as she walked forward, her right hand behind her back. The pissed look she work so out of place on her it was almost comical. "Room for one more, you-you-you Asskisser?!!"
Shera swearing like Cid…if Yuffie wasn't hurting so much she'd died laughing…
"Always…" He spread his arms wide. "Take your best shot, little girl."
"Okay."
She smoothly pulled her arm out from behind her back, revealing some odd contraption/glove strapped to it…an odd shrieking whine and flash produced one second…
…Ramuh's Jenova corrupted Shard flying through the air for a foot the next as it was blown from his chest…and shattered everywhere.
Ramuh staggered and stare in shock…His body beginning to scatter like so much dust as the energy storm faded…
Cid dropped the cigarette he'd managed to keep till that point. "&^%$ me…she got it to work."
Shera smiled at his remark.
"High frequency sound wave…to shatter an Esper's shard…Clever…" Ramuh was literally falling apart as he gathered the last of his energies into his hand and released it in one final attack…
…At Vincent.
Caught unaware, He managed to lock eyes with Yuffie before his body vanished in a burst of light…
With that, Ramuh slumped over to his knees and then pitched forward in an soundless explosion of ash and bone that briefly blinded them as it swept over them and vanished with his final words…
"You are avenged…My sons…"
When she could see, Yuffie stared at the smoking patch of ground where Vincent had been standing.
"VINCENT!!"
##
The fourth timer blew, Elena coughing blood from the sudden stop this time…her vision blurring…
"…stop…" she rasped…
Forcing herself to remain conscious, she watched the battle grow more and more intense with each passing second…even Tseng starting to get winded from the horrific beating they were giving each other…not bothering with dodging or strategy anymore…standing toe to toe trading punches and kicks…
…Reno suddenly grabbing Tseng's neck and punching him rapidly in the face while Tseng grabbed his shirt and returned the favor to his stomach as Reno pushed them toward the edge…His uppercut into a dropkick knocking Reno away just a foot from the edge at the same time the redhead caught him in a pyramid attack…Tseng seeing Reno's last grenade hooked to his pants just before it blew…trapping him as the incendiary engulfed him…
"Gotcha…" Reno said as he staggered to his feet and started toward the crane…
…Just as the Pyramid exploded…The burning Tseng on him with a flurry of punches before he could react…Reno screaming as his knee shattered under a viscous stomp…Tseng hooking his arms around Reno's in an half nelson and forcing his body weight against the ruined limb. Sneered through the charred remains of his face even as they healed…
"Told you not to hold back…now watch her die!"
The last timer blew.
Elena seemed to hang a moment in midair…her eyes locking with Reno's…
Then she fell.
Even Tseng could say for sure what happened next. Reno was in his arms one second…gone the next. All he was certain of was glimpsing Reno as he dived off the cliff after her…
…and red flames.
Tseng walked to the edge and stared over…his regeneration complete. His expression first annoyed…then saddened.
Turned away…
…paused as he felt it.
~TSENG!~
Tseng staggered…eyes widening and gasping for breath. The Jenova in him screaming in reaction to what he felt.
~I won't forgive you for this, Tseng!~
Something glinted in the darkness below. Then Tseng found himself flying…slamming into the crane's cab so hard it bent around him like tinfoil, nearly tumbling over the edge.
Reno landed back on the cliff in a couch that shook the cliff, an unconscious Elena cradled in his arms.
*…No…Not Reno…* Tseng thought as he freed himself and leapt out, staring at him. *Not the same Reno that dove over the cliff…*
He laid Elena down gently…stroked her hair a second then slowly stood and half turned. His tattered suit hanging from a frame suddenly twice it's original height and mass, all whipcord muscle. His features remained the same yet not…colder…ruthless and unforgiving with anger. His eyes were now a demonic red/ black and his skin a mesmerizing color between silver and bronze. His hair now flowed straight and somewhat hooded those terrible eyes. A reddish black aura rising off him like smoke and causing his form to blur when stared at…
The grin that crossed Tseng's face was as fatherly as it was feral.
"You've finally embraced your destiny, Reno…and I must do the same…" With a pained grunt his body rapidly changed…dead blue flesh restored to healthy pink flesh and his white locks darkening to black. Tseng standing as his former self once again, Alive and healthy.
"Grant me the warrior's death I was denied Reno, as my son in spirit if not in flesh!"
To say that Reno charged Tseng was a poor choice of words: The sudden movement was so violent it tore time and space around them…several feet of the cliff where Tseng had been standing before he'd barely leapt away in time powdered under the tremendous blow…the former Turk drawing his guns and firing rapidly in midair…
…the flesh of Reno's forearm suddenly metal…deflecting each shot with inhuman speed and ease…somehow just THERE behind Tseng and smashing him to the ground…once again appearing behind him as Tseng attempted to roll with the impact and ruthlessly kicking him upward before snatching and slamming him down again…
Elena moaned in pain as she regained consciousness…unable to remember what happened…
…and quickly forgot about her own problems as a deflected bullet shrieked past her ear…staring at the viscous war continuing between the two men she loved and the transformations they'd undergone…
*Is…that Reno's true self?!!*
Before it was a near even match. No longer. For all of Tseng's considerable skill, he had no chance against Reno's awakened power. His former comrade's aura and body transformed to flawlessly counter his every attack: Flesh becoming like steel to deflect his bullets. Changing shape like additional limbs. Increasing his speed to react quicker than him, or his mass and strength to overpower his fighting skills and punish every failed attack…and punish he did…not allowing Tseng a moment to recover…
STOP IT! Elena lashed out with her own talent, hoping to stop this madness before they killed each other…
…and stars exploded across her eyes as her efforts were violently fought off with little effort…Elena vomiting from the incredible pain roaring through her skull…
DON"T INTERFERE!! Tseng yelled mentally…still fighting Reno hopelessly with every thing he had…
Reeve…Reeve can…help you… She managed despite the pain. I…WE…don't want to lose you again!
Tseng ducked under a swing that would have decapitated him…firing his last shots in front Reno's eyes to blind him as he threw the guns down and drew a dagger from his boot and stabbed it deep in Reno's kidneys and tore it upwards…pulling it out and stabbing it into Reno's knee…
…But it cost him…Reno balancing on the ruined leg as it metalized to support him…and hammering both fists into Tseng's back with terrific force…one of his broken ribs stabbing his lungs…Reno's other knee snapping into his chin and knocking him upward into Reno's waiting claw…grabbed by the neck and punched once…twice…
Tseng pulling up his legs and swinging them upward in a kick to Reno's throat that was enough to cause Reno to let go and kick him away like a rag doll…Tseng rolling into to a stop inches from the edge in a heap…then climbed to his knees as Reno stared him down…
…No Elena… Tseng's mind was clear despite the agony of his body, continuing even as he hacked up blood. …better to die on my feet than live on my knees counting the days!
"Tseng…" She whimpered.
Tseng stood as he drew his other boot knife…a beaten wreck only standing out of sheer willpower. Smiling at them both…
…and Reno was suddenly above him…Tseng rising to meet his claws with the knife…
With no regrets!
…Lighting and thunder screamed at the moment of impact…blinding her…
…and when she could see, Reno was standing over Tseng. Staring eye to eye with him…even as the scars above his cheeks reopened and bled.
Tseng stared back…his grin widening as he lowered the knife…
Take…care of each other…Elena…
Elena watched him stagger back…a sudden geyser of blood as the fatal wound from neck to waist was revealed…arms spread as if to welcome death, to fly into it's arms as he toppled backwards over the edge.
"TSEENNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG!"
Reno unleashed a howl of abject misery…hands suddenly crackling with energy as he swung them toward the cliff…unleashing a hellish burst that collapsed the entire canyon before he was done…an awesome burial monument of sorts when he was done to the man, teacher and father he'd slain when it was over. Shoulders slumping and staring at the destruction he'd caused.
Then turned those frightening eyes upon her…Elena involuntarily backing away from him before curling into a ball of misery, sobbing uncontrollably.
*Why did it have to be this way…*
He reached for her…
##
Vincent floated in darkness…between unconsciousness and the waking world. Floating endlessly it seemed…
Voices assaulted his ears…so muddled and mixed it was hard to decipher what was said…but the speakers were recognizable…
Hojo…Chaos…himself…Lucrecia…
He opened his eyes…seeing nothing but vast darkness…and Hojo.
A Hojo in a black leather lab coat, white shirt and black pants…and pilot goggles. Floating/standing before him.
"……"
Hojo snorted. "You are no one to talk about fashion sense, Vinnie. Red bed sheets were never in…"
Vincent just half glared/half restrained himself from cracking up.
"Ramuh really *&^%ed you up with that teleport, rearranging my physical and mental security blocks…will take a while to sort the shit out so your bats don't run the belfry." Hojo turned his back on him. Making motions with his hands as if sorting and dialing on some kinda oversized system. "So go watch some reruns and stay out of my way."
Vincent had no chance to argue…suddenly finding himself back on that damned Table…Lucrecia standing there as Hojo attached that damned claw and sent white hot shards of agony through him…
"She always has wonderful timing, wouldn't you agree, Vincent?" Hojo seemingly ignored her, speaking to his nearly comatose victim. "Yes…many things would apply to our dear Lucrecia…"
She simply stood there, staring at them expressionlessly.
"Scheming lying bitch among them, Vinnie…Mind if I call you Vinnie?" Vincent's eyes twitched in his delirium, Hojo shrugging. "And a damn good one at that, fooling you into thinking she was a mere human…"
"Hojo…" Her voice was a hiss.
"Time to come clean, dear…not that he'll remember it anyway." Hojo smirked as he began soldering the claw to Vincent's bare flesh, Vincent's voice paralyzed. "He deserves to know why he's suffering…" A sinister grin"…Jenova."
Lucrecia made no move or sound.
"You see, Vinnie…I was promised immortality and power if I served her, and I served her well: Provided a perfect host while her body regenerated. Resurrecting Ramuh's sons to buy his allegiance to her, even gave my own flesh and blood to be the instrument of her vengeance…only to cast aside because a pretty boy TURK!"
Hojo punctuated the last by banging Vincent's head into the table as he turned to glare at Lucrecia…who had her fingers hooked around the throat before he could blink.
"And who are you to command me, little man? If I wished for a more suitable host for Chaos than you it was my-"
She suddenly convulsed and let go of him…Hojo smirking as she sank to her hands and knees, retching blood.
"Thought I'd be so arrogant I wouldn't take precautions?" Hojo retorted, ignoring her glare. "This host body will die without regular injections from your original body, condemning you to return to that decrepit corpse while it regenerates. Something that terrifies you…" he looked at the machines covering Vincent, rebuilding him and implanting what appeared to be black Materia shards…
…Materia?
"What are you doing?!" Lucrecia screeched. "Implanting all four at once…"
"…will drive him insane or kill him slowly." Hojo grinned. "Either's fun for me. Can't trust Chaos not to possess me at your command…"
Vincent's body spasmed as the machine's pumped dark lighting through him….his body shifting to the forms of Espers he recognized from Ramuh's tale.
Golem…Fenrir…Shoat…
And each time they twisted into another form Vincent was all to familiar with.
Gigas, Gaian, Hellmasker…
The final one revealed as Maduin…Terra's father.
Watched-and felt the Esper's form become that of Chaos.
And everything spun and faded to black…
… and he was back within the darkness with Hojo. A singing one at that.
(Hojo)
Sometimes I feel I've got to Run away
I've got to Get away
From the pain that you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
I've lost my lights I toss and turn
I can't sleep at night
Vincent could barely stand, not just from the remembered agonies but the chaos of his mind.
(Hojo)
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I give you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Tainted love
Tainted love…
Vincent was on him in an instant. His claw clenched as he smashed him repeatedly in the face.
"More of your tricks Hojo?" He snarled. "You would have me believe that Lucrecia was created here?! Another of your puppets?"
Hojo's knee slammed up and returned a haymaker of his own, forcing Vincent back. His bloody and gap toothed grin gruesome
"It's taken 32 years for you to finally realize that! Jenova owe me a twenty." Hojo glared at him scornfully. "You were the hotshot Turk, and yet you never wondered why you were unaware of her existence when it was your job to know important Shinra personnel? Can't believe you bought that fresh out of medical school bullshit…"
"…Liar…"
"Not this time." Hojo laughed hideously. "You think Jenova killed Lucrecia? Jenova WAS Lucrecia! Her walk, her talk, her personality, EVERYTHING! An Oscar worthy performance, not that she had to try hard at snaring you!"
"…Shut up…."
"What's wrong Vinnie?" Hojo continued with a sneer. "The irony starting to choke too much? You were used as much as I was to give her a host while she regenerated, to revive Ramuh's sons and seal his betrayal of the Espers, the very Espers who hired Angelus in the first place! How's it feel, knowing that you wasted all those years loving and hating the same bitch?! I'd laugh, if it wasn't so pathetic…"
Hojo wiped his mouth, and smirked. Vincent stared with every hate in his being.
"Oh hell, I'll laugh anyway…BAWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAH-GAH!!!"
Blood splattered Vincent's face…impassively watching Chaos rip Hellmasker's chainsaw from Hojo's back. The scientist collapsed, the fear/pain/shock surprisingly amusing.
"Oh, did I break your concentration?"
"How…"
"How we found the core of your programming?" Chaos sneered. "Father may have been a fool, but he knew enough to create a path to you with that teleport. Knew you'd be too busy gloating to notice."
The effect was immediate…Vincent's iron clad control starting to crack…feeling all four personas threatening to overwhelm him…
Chaos tossed the chainsaw at Vincent's feet. "Know you wanna, Vinnie…promised Lucrecia he'd pay…what makes you think he's telling the truth?"
Hojo grinned despite feeling his program malfunction…the microchip that contained him shorting out…
"…He's right Vinnie…You don't…" he coughed as he stood defiantly kicked the chainsaw over to Vincent. "Why don't you find out. Either way…"
Spread his arms. Vincent stared at the weapon.
"I win."
The chainsaw was in Vincent's hands no sooner than the words tasted air…Chaos and his brothers watching until very little of Hojo resembled human by the time the blood drenched Vincent tossed the Chainsaw away…his face twisted by a grin not unlike the 'man' he just slew…
"Heh, looks like you enjoyed that, Vinnie…"
Vincent regarded them all as they gathered around him…suddenly much larger than ever.
"Not as much as I will beating you all into submission…" Death Penalty appeared as if by magic in his hand. "This is my *&^%ing body and I'm tired of renting it out…"
"You say that like you can do something about it."
Vincent met them in midair…
In the real world, the island where Knights of Round was found, Vincent's body slowly rose to it's feet. Patted the sand away from the cape and pants as it looked in direction of Wutai.
The Chaos half of Vincent's face twisted with a grin.
Exploded off the island with such force it was destroyed…a red blur toward Wutai.
To be continued…