Disclaimers: FFVII and DNAngel are legal properties to the owners and companies, so I'm filching off them.

000

Chapter Two:

If there was one thing more annoying than thinking about how long it would take to walk down a couple of flights of stairs; then their nightmares had become reality, as Daisuke looked down to where they would have to walk approximately three flights of stairs… each with about one-hundred steps for the separate flight. Ooh yeah, he wasn't looking forward to this particular exercise.

Argentine seemed to be thinking along this same wavelength, as he looked down the railing, which revealed to them a bone-shattering drop, and then turned back to the mercenary redhead. Somewhere down there Jessie was a mere dot, sprinting away like there was no tomorrow.

"The people who built these reactors were insane," he stated flatly, shaking his head just once before moving towards the steps. The sound of his boots hitting the metal surface echoed eerily over the hiss of released smoke and gas, and, after a moment's hesitation, Daisuke followed.

It wasn't that he was scared or afraid of what might happen, nor did he care if he was caught out with the rest of AVALANCHE; he had long since gone past caring about such trivial matters. Yet there was something else hovering around his senses and it was making him paranoid. He couldn't pinpoint it and it was annoying the hell out of him to no end.

Then again, it might have just been Dark saying some random comment once more; he did that quite a lot when they were working for some group for money.

But what was Dark, exactly?

There was no real explanation for his existence; at least, Daisuke didn't know anything about his 'other half' of 'alter ego', as so claimed. His mother, Emiko, had made it bluntly obvious that Dark was a 'part' of him, and always would be, blah blah blah… Yes, Daisuke's mind had wandered off somewhere there, and believed that anything else said after that wasn't worth his time listening to.

But Dark was more of an art thief, or, at least, that was what the redhead heard. But there was no art to steal; not anymore. They had all been destroyed and banished to someplace or another, but no one would expand on the explanation.

Dark had been part of Daisuke's existence since the redhead was fourteen.

He was now nineteen.

Oh joy; about five years arguing with one's other side – their shadow, if you will – and yet, at the same time, they had become something along the lines of actually understanding one another and all that other junk that people believed in. it was a matter of trust; as well as who controlled who at what time agreement. It was a trying process at times.

Clattering down the many flights of stairs, when they eventually did reach the bottom floor, both Daisuke and Argentine would have to agree – although not out loud – that they had had enough exercise for a good few years of their life. Not to mention the fact that they were going to have to run UP them as well… ah yes, life is incredibly cruel at times.

Wheezing, the brunette was the first to try and stumble towards the door, "We don't have all day… and I thought that you were used to such strenuous work."

Indeed, Daisuke was in a slightly better physical condition, but it hadn't helped as he and Dark had been arguing about the meaning behind a word all the way down, and mental arguing did take up a lot of energy. "I have my reasons behind it."

"Whatever," turning on the heel of his boot, Argentine – having recovered sufficiently – marched onwards, but the door didn't slide open on it's will and he kicked it; hard. "Dammit!"

((Wow… he's such a calm and composed leader,)) sniggered Dark.

(I'll say,) agreed his host, and they watched as the door finally slid open – with a new dent, might I add – and they passed through behind a fuming Argentine. Oh yeah, he was not happy at all. Jessie, who had been waiting for them, frowned due to the fact that she believed that they had taken too long, and then ran on ahead once more. Argentine grumbled something under his breath before following her direct pathway and slid down a ladder quickly.

Daisuke, being himself, couldn't help but truly believe that the people who had made this place had some sort of metal-pipes-ladders-staircases fetish of some sort, and that was sort of creepy. True, reactors were made of metal and whatever, but the builders had really overdone it this time with the ladders etc, etc… not a pretty thought at all.

Sliding down and landing on a metal grating with a dull thud, he caught sight of Jessie keeping an eye out by a large pipe-like structure while Argentine was still ahead, climbing down another ladder and onto some larger pipes that looked sort of dangerous. They were the sort that people could walk on, but it might end up too slippery and then they would fall to their doom.

But as it was, that was the only way they could go and, after having Dark singing in his ear for some reason, the redhead moved after his 'employer-paying-something-or-other' dude and when they reached the final landing where the reactor was located, he had a nagging voice in his head; telling him that never, ever again would he want to see another one of these reactors.

Smoke billowed out far above their heads and the head was really beginning to get to him, but what were they to do? Moving steadily, they approached the large thing whatsit, but Argentine suddenly stopped, stooped, and then threw something in Daisuke's direction. He caught it, nonplussed, but the brunette didn't say anything and walked towards the reactor once more.

Perplexed, the redhead looked at the spherical green-rock-thing and could identify it for what it was instantly: materia. A magical substance that could be used in battle and the like, but why had Argentine handed it over to him? He shrugged the question off, deciding that it was just was safekeeping until the deed was done. The Buster Sword strapped across his back had slots in the blade, with already two of these gems jammed into them. He slipped this new one into his pocket and moved forwards as well.

"Well, there you have it," the brunette muttered, waving a hand towards the giant contraption that was billowing out white smoke-gas-stuff as well. "Go and plant the bomb, will you?"

Daisuke raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you the leader? Shouldn't you be the one to set the bomb?"

"Just do it!" came the barked reply.

((I suppose we don't have much of a choice then, do we?)) Dark didn't seem all that happy with the decision, but, like the redhead, couldn't really see anyway around it. And they were being paid for it in the end… hey…

(Do you think it's because he can't do it himself?) Daisuke suggested innocently, and his alter ego sniggered.

((More than likely. Well, let's just get this show on the road.))

"Fine," he said out loud, and took a step forward.

But as he did so, the world seemed to tip right under him and everything slid out of focus. Not knowing whether to panic or not, a rising sound hit the redhead and he clutched his head, grimacing.

"Don't do it…"

A voice he couldn't recognise bounced through his head as everything around him flittered across his vision, not giving him anytime to comprehend what was going on. Sure, he had Dark and all, making him stuck with a voice constantly, but that was now more of a comfort than… this; something wasn't right about it and sent shivers down his spine. Bad vibes.

"… it's a trap! There's an alarm attached to it."

Okay, sure, he was being given a warning, but that didn't change anything. He was paid to do this, and there was no stopping him. But before he could send this back through his mind, the noise stopped like it had never began. Argentine was standing by the reactor, waiting impatiently, like nothing had happened at all.

(Dark?)

((Yeah?))

(Did you… hear that… just then…?)

((Hear what?))

Damn, he hadn't heard it?

(No, it's nothing.) Heading towards the reactor, Daisuke shot Argentine a passing glance before focusing all his attention on the piece of machinery before him. As they were just placing a time bomb on it, it wasn't all that hard to adjust as such, but as soon as he had finished doing so and got up, there was a loud roaring sound of an alarm going off.

"Crap, I should have known," Argentine snapped distastefully, holding up his gun arm. The sound of something large and mechanical heading in their direction was very hard to ignore, that was for sure. "Guards."

((No kidding; he actually managed to work that out?)) Dark asked sarcastically.

(Let's not start another insult match with him; he doesn't even know you exist,) Daisuke reminded him calmly, (Although sometimes I can be glad of it, considering what your first impression was…)

((But it was true! All of it!))

(Yeah, I know.)

As Dark continued to mutter in the back of his mind, the redhead pulled out his really, really large Buster Sword and watched as the giant machine-contraption approached them. It was an odd thing in itself; shaped like a scorpion as such, and thriving with more energy than what one would have expected. Definitely dangerous, but something they could handle.

"What the hell…" muttered the brunette next to him.

"Guard Scorpion," Daisuke explained, as the machine made its way down the thin pathway and blocked all thoughts of escape, "A mechanism used to, obviously, guard the reactor. Once the place of breached, well, you see."

"Of course I see. So let's just turn it into scrap metal." There was a sharp click and the gun attached to his arm whirled.

"Be careful, though," warned the redhead, bracing himself for a jump, "it's dangerous."

"Like I couldn't work that out myself?" came the snapped reply.

((Wow, touchy. If he dies, we can say 'I told you so', right?))

(I suppose.)

Whatever else that was being said was clearly forgotten as the machine suddenly shot a dark yellow beam at them. The following, mechanical voice, intone something about scanning, and Daisuke's eyes narrowed. The fact that it had been aimed at Argentine said a lot about its attacking patterns now, but at least it would give them a better chance in attacking it and destroying it before it actually did some semblance of damage.

Focusing his attention on the small green material slotted into his weapon, the redhead cast a sharp 'bolt' spell which careened the machine off center. Like ever other machine-type-creature, it was completely vulnerable to lightning spells.

"Out of the way!" bellowed Argentine and the redhead dodged to the side as a rain of bullets flew by overhead.

((Hey, that was uncalled for!))

(Well, you do know that we're fighting the same thing.)

((And lucky you have reflexes at all; he could have killed you.))

(Don't I know it?)

He rolled out of the way as a line of bullets came flying from the monster's direction and there was the sharp sound of Argentine's growl, which could either indicate that he was hit or that it had barely missed. The redhead could almost see Dark crossing his fingers in hope of the brunette being hit.

(You're a sadist.)

((No. I just don't like him.))

With a sigh, Daisuke cast another spell, keeping an eye out in case the Scorpion decided to change it's mind and attack him instead, which Argentine did all the physical attacking, although he didn't look all that happy. Must have something to do with being the target, but who actually cared at the moment?

Another laser beam shot out and hit the steel floor, shaking the entire foundation. Fighting to keep up, Daisuke grabbed at the railing before him and glanced at Argentine, who, as expected, didn't look all that happy at all. Not that he was really expecting all that much else; when did he ever seem happy during their few hours of trying to work together and doing something? Not like they were going to get all that far.

"Processing information…" a mechanical voice beeped. "Access granted. Filter one, open."

"What the hell?" the brunette gaped soundlessly as the scorpion tail attached to it rose over its head. "What's it doing?"

The redhead stared at it, thinking back on his training and trying to dig up a memory on monsters and the sort of machines they used to guard the actual reactors in each sector. Eventually it came to him, and luckily for the both of them, this particular action would have them safe… unless… well…

"It's a sort of safety mechanism," he explained, "The thing is you don't attack, otherwise it will counter attack with a laser-beam. Other than that, it's just going to sit there."

"I see…"

They both watched the machine cautiously, as if it was about to pounce of them, but it merely stayed there like an inanimate object until it began to shake and the tale curled back. Taking this as a cue to continue attacking, Argentine went with a will as Daisuke started another spell.

((How does that guy shove bullets into that thing, anyway?)) Dark couldn't help but ask, ((Does he eat bullets or something?))

(You know Dark, this isn't exactly the best time to be asking such a question,) Daisuke said as he was forced to jump out of the way once more before casting another spell. (I was hoping this thing would just short-circuit already; it's getting on my nerves.)

((Then let me deal with it!))

That was just his excuse to get out and run amok again. The redhead shuddered at one of his many memories where Dark had decided to make a fool of himself. It wasn't all that fun, being the victim.

(It's okay. I've got it.) Just as these words left his mind to hit other, the scorpion gave a rather loud blast like a wire blowing up and the whole thing collapsed into a heap of steel. Right in their way, but at least it had finally been dealt with. And while Daisuke had been arguing with the voice in his head, he had failed to come to terms that he had been shooting spells at the monster itself. And again, Argentine did not look happy.

Grabbing something from the rubble, he climbed over it and jumped down to the other end before bellowing, "What are you, stupid! This place is set to go down in ten minutes! Move it!"

"I think I know that already," mumbled the redhead, as he climbed deftly over the pile and followed the brunette back up the way they had come from, "I was the one who set it."

((It's just his way of saying 'let's not get fried'.))

(Uh-huh… right.) The sword was still in his hand as he knew that the machine monsters would now be in definite chaos but, pushing that aside, he wondered why he even cared. Dark might have been able to provide the answer, but he wasn't about to ask that question. What was the point? Swinging right back into reality, he followed after Argentine.

000

Comments, thoughts and constructive criticism is welcome.

neko-nya: Pretty font and going on about it to your friends XD Yeah, the rest of the AVALANCHE team are short lived characters :O I haven't exactly played it recently either… XD