The Song of Eternity
Canto 6 : Galactus
Verse 9
A Last Gift
The destroyers have fallen,
The man and demon are two once again,
A gift from Starmore gives them hope and changes everything.
Vincent and Chaos stared into each other's faces on the battlefield. "The blast?" Vincent asked.
"When Starmore killed him," Chaos finished Vincent's thought. They both stared silently at each other for a second that seemed like eternity before acting. Chaos growled and clawed at Vincent's chest while Vincent pulled out the Agememnon and fired at Chaos. They had been of one mind for so long, they knew each other's moves by heart. They were too close to each other to completely dodge each other's attacks though, Chaos took a flesh wound to the shoulder and Vincent came away with his shirt ripped open and several small gashes.
They both stood there, puzzled as they looked over each other and themselves. "Very interesting," Chaos said as he grimaced in pain.
"Yeah, great," Vincent added as he felt his own shoulder. He had felt the pain of being shot when he himself shot Chaos, but there was no visible wound. "Damn it. After all this time, I'm finally free of you, but can't kill you," he swore.
"The feeling is mutual Valentine," Chaos growled. "But the important question is, do either of us hate each other enough to kill the other, probably killing himself in the process?" Chaos mused. "I wish to live Valentine. I want to soar the skies free of you."
"And I want to get a good night's sleep," Vincent added. "Let's stick around here, then figure this out later," Vincent said as he extended his had and shook Chaos's own hand.
"Another curiosity," Chaos laughed. "Your claw is gone," he pointed out as Vincent looked at his own pale left arm, whole once again.
They left New York City the next day and returned to the mansion with Xavier, Logan, and the others. The Avengers and Fantastic Four said they could handle the cleanup and that the X-Men and Brotherhood should leave to preserve their secret identities. It was an uneasy ride back, with Vincent and Chaos keeping to themselves most of the time. A few minutes after they got the mansion, a courier arrived with a package for Vincent.
After the courier had left, Chaos came out of hiding and went to see what Vincent had received. The kids were inside getting some food, leaving Vincent, Chaos, Ororo, Xavier, and Logan outside. "Only one guy knew you were even here Valentine. And he's dead now," Chaos pointed out as Vincent opened a large manila envelope and pulled out a letter, leaving the rest of the contents inside.
Vincent,
If you are reading this, it means that you survived the battle with Galactus. It
Probably also means that I am dead, otherwise I'd be here to deliver this
personally. I hope you are well. I've spent my time on this world preparing a
gift of some kind for you.
Enclosed in this envelope are several bank cards and bank account numbers. I
have amassed a bit of wealth here and now impart it to you. Also enclosed are
documents establishing the existence and past of a Vincent Valentine on this
world. I have also included a list of contacts who will aid you, should you need
assistance of any kind, you just have to tell them your name and they will help.
There is a safe-house in the town here, keys and address are in the white envelope. You should be able to stay there for a bit while figuring out what to do.
The house is stocked with food and whatever gear you may need. There is a map
there as well. I have pinpointed the last survivor of your time period on it. She
was diagnosed with a terminal illness that may be curable now. You can go get
her if you wish.
In closing, I hope I found peace in death, and that you may find peace in life.
Travis Starmore
Chaos pulled several documents from the envelope and examined them. "Incredible, the fool took care of every possible contingency," he noted.
"What will you do Vincent?" Xavier asked him.
"I thank you all for my time with you. I am going to check this out, live a little, find the survivor," Vincent stated. "I am eternally grateful for your help, but I am not comfortable here with the children. If you would be kind enough to spare Chaos an image inducer, we will take our leave of you," Vincent requested.
Xavier nodded and wheeled into the mansion to retrieve the device. Logan lit up a cigarette after Xavier went inside. "So you going with him?" Logan asked Chaos.
"I suppose. For a bit," Chaos mused. "We have a past together, we think alike. I am curious as to who the survivor is as well," Chaos explained.
"You're a demon right? You gonna start killing people?" Logan asked seriously.
"I do not need to kill people," Chaos laughed. "I do not think I will either. This world has an abundance of people who would take offense to it and have the power to back it up," Chaos explained.
Xavier wheeled himself back out of the mansion and handed Vincent a watch-like device. "It is programmed with a dozen or so forms, as well as having the ability to take pictures and splice them to form a new image. I'm sure the two of you can figure it out," he explained.
Vincent handed the device to Chaos who put it on and pressed a button, suddenly turning into a normal looking man. "Humans," Chaos muttered as he frowned in disgust at his new image.
"Well, I thank you for all your help over the last few days," Vincent said as he shook hands with the adults. "I'll contact you later, once I set up my new life," Vincent explained. "Let's go Chaos," he ordered as the demon growled and picked Vincent up with his clawed feet and flew away, still looking as a normal man.
"That's an unsettling sight," Logan joked before putting out his cigarette and heading into the mansion.
Vincent and Chaos landed in the backyard of a normal looking two story house on the other side of Bayville. They walked around to the front door and checked the mailbox, confirming that it was the right house. Vincent used the key to open the door and walked into the house. The furniture was covered in sheets and dust, but furnished with all forms of furniture.
Chaos pushed a button as his human image disappeared and he closed the door. Vincent looked around and moved to the kitchen and opened a cupboard finding all sorts of nonperishable food. He returned to the living room to find Chaos sitting on a couch, looking over what looked like a blueprint for the house. "Another gift from Starmore," the demon explained. "I will take residence in the attic," he said before getting up and heading upstairs.
Vincent looked over the blueprint, realizing what Starmore had done. The ground and first floors were normal, kitchens, bathrooms, four bedrooms, a normal house. The basement was the special part of the house. There was a firing range, a computer setup, weapons, all sorts of things. He smiled and headed downstairs to check out his supplies and figure out what to do next.
A month later, Vincent and Chaos (in a new form that looked a lot like Vincent), stood up in a jeep and looking at maps and compasses. Vincent shielded his eyes as he motioned for the line of jeeps behind them to stop. "This looks like the place, what does the underground sensor say?"
"Hard to tell, something that isn't rock is down there though. Looks like the right depth too," Chaos responded as he stared at a green screen. "Any idea how to get down there, I don't feel like digging here Valentine," he threatened.
"Of course. The Agememnon has a few tricks left," he revealed as he leapt from the jeep. "Drive back with the others, give me a couple hundred feet. Once I stop, fly down and get her. Keep her in whatever chamber she may be in, we need to take care of the disease," Vincent ordered as Chaos grumbled and drove away.
Vincent pulled out the gun and concentrated on the power in the gun. He felt around for the elemental power of wind and the magic for the barrier spell. "Here goes nothing," he whispered as he raised his arms and let the magic flow. He stared into the swirling sand as the wind picked up and started blowing it all over. He pulled up a barrier around himself as he forced the wind to blow a hole down into the sand and used a barrier to funnel the sand and wind, making a cylinder straight down in the ground. He kept it up for a few minutes, until sweating profusely he sensed something in the bottom. He stopped the winds immediately and Chaos dove down the invisibly supported hole in the ground. He emerged a minute later, straining as he carried a suspended animation chamber, much like Vincent's old one. Vincent let the hole collapse as Chaos landed next to him with the chamber.
"Interesting tactics Valentine," the demon commented. Chaos raised a hand and motioned for the other jeeps to come over. He then looked at the chamber noting the old Shinra logo. "Shinra made," he pointed out.
Vincent found a small window frosted over, but could not make out the face inside. "Can't tell who it is," he muttered. "Let's get home, it's time to move on," he said as he stretched and the men they hired loaded the chamber into a truck. "All right people, let's get to the medical compound and take care of this," he shouted as they al climbed back into their vehicles and left the desert.