The morning light warms Vincent's face. The warmth snaps Vincent awake. The events of last night hit him like a load of bricks. Deep Ground had poisoned him, he had almost kissed Valayris everything was vivid in his mind. What if Deep Ground had gotten Valayris when he resting? His eyes dart around yet there was no sign of Valayris.

"Valayris," Vincent calls.

No answer.

"Valayris," Vincent calls a little louder.

No answer.

"Valayris!" Vincent calls much louder this time.

"Yes?" Valayris asks calmly peaking out from behind a tree.

"Do not worry me so," Vincent tells her.

"Sorry...I was preparing for today's rituals,"

"I think this is a rouse. We're walking into a trap,"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because of last night's festivities,"

"Well that fact that I'm still here is proof they're not after me," Valayris says.

"Because I sort of fell asleep last night too," Valayris replies sheepishly.

"What?" Vincent replies, "You mean you let your guard down when I wasn't able to protect you."

"Yes," Valayris recoils.

"Then we are lucky no Deep Ground came and got you,"

"My point exactly! They probably were late about hearing about the downfall of their headquarters," Valayris states.

"I still don't like it,"

"I don't think if Deep Ground was truly after us they would have pasted up the chance to take advantage of our defenseless state last night."

"Maybe..."

"You are trying to will this to be a trap,"

"No its just reeks of one,"

"Well I trust Cloud," Valayris says turning her back to Vincent.

"I do too but..." Vincent says reaching out for her

"I have faith in the events of last night. They tell me it's safe to return and help the innocents of Midgar," Valayris says walking toward the exit.

"I'm going with you,"

"Until the border of Midgar,"

"The whole way,"

"No!"

"No?"

"We're going to follow Cloud's orders.

"Valayris,"

"I'm a big girl,"

"Valayris, Look what happened the last time you said that. Deep Ground raided the city,"

"I wasn't injured or kill when they did now was I? I think I did a stand up job of handling them,"

"Till exhaustion got a hold of you,"

"I won't be doing any fighting just healing,"

"Valayris," Vincent says grabbing her shoulders and whirls her around to face him.

"Vincent," Valayris says looking at him a shocked expression crosses her face.

"Don't take this so lightly. What are we going to do if it's a trap?"

"You'll come rescue me," Valayris says nonchalantly, "Like you've done before."

"What if I can't?"

"Then I'll pick up your slack," Valayris jokes.

"This isn't a joke Valayris,"

"I know that Vincent," Valayris says breaking free of Vincent's grip.

"Neither are the people who are going to lose: brothers, mothers, fathers, lovers, daughters, son, and grandparents to this disease if I don't do something now," Valayris says her tone turns serious, "I've been running long enough. The time to act is now!"

"Please understand this Vincent," Valayris says turning away from him and wrapping her arms around herself.

"I do, but I just don't know what I would do without..." Vincent starts.

"Please don't finish that sentence. Lets not even think like that. If we each do are part no one's going to die. No more death,"

Vincent sighs; every time he was going to tell her he cared about her she shut him down. It was beginning to frustrate him.

"We can talk after this is all over," Valayris says.

"Fine," Vincent sighs.

"Lets get moving shall we,"

The two reach the border of Midgar.

Valayris turns to look at Vincent who has been silent the entire trip.

"Here is where I leave you," Valayris says.

Vincent reaching out and grabs a hold of her arm.

"Be careful Valayris," Vincent states.

Valayris looks at him, "I will."

"Vincent," Valayris says stepping closer to him.

Vincent grip loosens around her arm.

"I promise I won't die here,"

Vincent looks into her eyes, filled with sincerity.

"Cloud and I will come get you as soon as we finish,"

"For Deep Ground's sake, I hope so or there will be much blood shed to atone for their sins,"

"Always my protector," Valayris laughs.

"Till the end of my days,"

"Then I am truly lucky," Valayris smiles, "Good bye for now Vincent."

Valayris turns and walks off disappearing into the brush.

Minutes pass and then Vincent comes to a decision.

"I'm your protector Valayris, you can not expect me to stay behind and let you go unguarded."

Vincent walks into the brush after Valayris.

Valayris reaches the outskirts of Midgar. As she exits the brush she sees Cloud standing there waiting for her.

"Cloud!" Valayris calls out waving at him.

Cloud reluctantly waves back then Valayris notices the wave turns into a shooing motion.

Finally Cloud's voice reaches her ears.

"Val run it's a trap!" Cloud yells.

Valayris turns to take off into the brush yet before she could 10 Deep Ground Soldier jump her.

"Let go of me you Scum," Valayris says trying to break their grip.

"Please, after all this work we finally have you. We're not letting you go for a long time."

"Damnit! Let me go," Valayris says charging up her magic.

"Ah...Ah...Ah," a soldier says shaking a finger at her.

"None of that," the soldier says plunging a needle into her flesh.

The soldier unloads a heavy dose of sedatives into her system.

"I'll get...you for..." Valayris struggles to say before passing out.

She is lifted over one of the soldier's shoulder and carried into the back of a truck.

"Val, I'm sorry," Cloud says.

"Thanks for your help Cloud," a soldier says shoving the butt of his gun into Cloud's back, "I'm sure your little girlfriend thanks you too."

"We're not welcome," Cloud winces, "One way or another I will kill you. I promise you that."

"I believe it when I see it," the soldier replies, "Now get into the truck."

Vincent arrives in time to watch the truck with Valayris and Cloud drive off.

"Damnit! I was right,"

The truck speeds off into the distance as Vincent fights to keep up with it. They travel many miles till they reach a barren mountain wall. As the truck pulls up to the mountain the mountain begins to quiver in anticipation of their arrival. A hidden door appears and opens up letting the truck in. The door then quickly shuts behind it. Vincent rushes to the door just to collide into the faux mountain wall.

"Damnit!" Vincent cries slamming his gauntleted hand against the mountainside.

"There has to be another way in," Vincent states his eyes darting around the terrain. Vincent mentally decides on a direction and darts off into the surrounding wilderness.

Hours pass by as Vincent meticulously comb the mountainside for another way into Deep Ground's base.

"If I don't hurry who knows what will happen to Valayris and Cloud in there," Vincent says the frustration building up in his tone.

"Damnit," Vincent exclaims pounding a nearby piece of rock.

Silence creeps over Vincent while his mind begins to wander thinking of what could be happening to them inside that rocky prison, along with attempting to think of a plan to get himself inside. Vincent is brought out of his unnaturally silent world by a female's scream.

"Valayris!" Vincent calls out jumping to his feet.

Rushing down the mountain Vincent heads toward the truck entrance. Reaching it, it remains sealed and shut. Vincent then lets out a beastly roar. Vincent can feel Chaos bubbling up inside him.

"No," Vincent says backing away from the door, "Not now."

Vincent takes a deep breath, "You no good to them in Chaos. Bursting in, in that form you'd have the entire headquarters on you."

"Patience Vincent," he tells himself, "I have to find a way in."

Vincent turns and head in the opposite direction from last time. More hours pass to no avail. As he combs the side of the mountain Vincent comes across a strange piece of paper with "S-I-R-Y-A-L-A-V" written on it.

"This may prove useful in the future," Vincent says sticking the paper in his small pack.

Vincent then continues the search.

"I'm coming Valayris," Vincent tells her, "I save you one way or another."

Vincent reaches finally reaches the back of the mountain. Combing over the place he finds a strange metal box hidden deep within some thorny bushes. Beating back the brush the metal box turns out of be an access point. Examining the box the screen reads "PASSWORD"

"Password," Vincent says, "What would their password be?"

Vincent mind swirls with all the possible choices that could Deep Ground's password could be.

"I wonder," Vincent says pulling out the piece of paper.

Vincent then copies the letters on the paper into the computer.

"Password accepted," the screen, flashes as the doors creak open.

Looking around to make sure no one was coming Vincent slides into the base. Upon entering he slides into a nearest crevice to remain hidden. The base is enormous. Lucky for Vincent there were many places for him to creep about the structure without drawing too much attention. Vincent ducks into the darkness hearing heavy boots heading his direction. Two soldiers voice's come into earshot.

"Did you hear we caught that white mage?" one of the soldiers asks.

"Really, so the message ploy worked? The other soldier replies.

"Yep, she was brought in a while ago. Took her right up to the boss."

"And?"

"I guess the boss has decided to keep her around. She was quite beautiful."

"Was?"

"Before the boss introduced her to his cane. Now she's a bit bloody."

Vincent's face stretches into a grimace. How could they hurt something so beautiful as Valayris?

"I don't know I think blood is kind of a turn on,"

Vincent's thumb clicks back Cerberus's hammer, "Come on say something stupid again I dare you."

"Well there is no way you'll get any part of you close enough to her. Boss has got her lock up in one of the restricted areas, you know one of those places only the Boss and a few other's can enter."

"Wow, she is apparently more important then they lead us to believe."

"Yep, kind of makes you wonder what's really going on?"

"Come on man, you're just being a conspiracy theorist again."

"It's too suspicious not to be a conspiracy I mean why would the Boss want to keep..."

The voices fade out of Vincent's range of hearing.

"I have to get to her quick before their boss changes his mind about keep her around or worst..."

Dark images enter his mind. Images he never what to come into fruition. Vincent begins to creep his way deeper into Deep Ground headquarters in hopes to discover more information about their little operation.