Liberating Edge.
Vincent's POV
Me and Vicky had joined Reeve in the shadowfox, making out way to Edge. I look over to her, she was sat playing with her blade. She looked like she was in full concentration. I turn to Reeve "who were those men?" he sighs "deep ground soldiers" i look at him in confusion "deep ground?" he nods "yes, the shadow of old Shinra. Constructed by the former president and hidden from the world" i notice Vicky look up towards him. "what do you mean constructed?" she was now fully concentrating on Reeve. I also turn to him and watch him sigh "he wanted to create an army of super human warriors. Not letting morality get in the way. The man from earlier, Azul. He is a member of deep ground, but he belongs to an elite group called the Tsviets. The whole organisation was kept a secret, that's why there is so little information about them." i look at him puzzled "not even a man of your position was informed?" he sighs again "no. Other than the president himself, the only others that likely knew were, Heidegger, Scarlet and the head of biochemical research, Hojo" i notice Vicky shiver at the mention of Hojo's name. 'What has she got to do with him?' i look back to Reeve as he continues to talk "after the presidents death, transfer of power to Rufus was so fast, i doubt even he knew. As for me, i was told it was a need to know basis. And as i was head of urban development, i guess i didn't need to know. All info we currently have on deep ground is only due to the fact that we found some of Scarlet's old files." i watch as he sighs again "Vincent, have you heard of the mass disappearance that occured in junon?" i shrug "yeah, it was 20 to 30 people" Reeve sighs once more "that's what the report would want you to think. It was more like 1200. it was believed that if the truth got out, we wouldn't be able to contain the inevitable panic. The WRO put together an investigation, but we came up empty handed. Since the incident, people in Edge have been on edge. People say night after night they can hear the screaming of a thousand souls coming from Midgar. Could it be the wind? Let me ask you, does the wind sound like a thousand wailing souls?" i watch Vicky as she begins to shudder. Hearing all of this had obviously stirred something up in her. There was more to her than meets the eye, i wanted to find out. "listen, can you hear them?" i turn back to Reeve once more before one of the troops shouts "commissioner, we're picking up a radio transmission.
We all turn to the screen. "at last the time has come to cleanse this world! The pure will be spared for the cause, while the tainted will be hunted down and exterminated! They will be slashed, strangled and slaughtered. Beaten, stabbed and crushed. Garroted and empaled, shot and executed with no mercy! The time has come to cleanse this world! The man begins laughing and then it cuts out. I begin to feel uneasy and look towards Vicky. She was sat there clutching her sword, anger evident on her face. I turn back to Reeve as he speaks "where could that have?" just then, we feel the truck shunt and i look to Vicky "what the?" i watch as Reeve opens the back up and a beast jumps towards him. Vicky quickly shoots it, dead. I have to admire her skill and reflex's.
Vicky's POV
I shot the beast down in one fatal blow. I turned to Reeve as he pointed "guard hounds!" i turn my gaze to Vincent and he nods "I'll take care of your pet problem. Vix, cover me!" i nod and aim my gun. I couldn't concentrate properly. He had just called me Vix, no one calls me Vix. I shake my head clear as the beasts charge at the truck. Vincent jumps onto the roof of the shadowfox as Reeve walks towards me. He reveals a machine gun and smiles "use this!" i nod and take to the weapon, shooting all the hounds Vincent missed. The shadowfox loses control and we go crashing into the side of a mountain. My head was pounding and my body ached. I noticed Vincent walk over to me and kneel down "are you all right?" i smile and nod "Reeve?" he stands up and i watch as he makes his way to Reeve "Reeve, are you ok?" i gather myself to my feet and clutch my arm. I knew i would be ok, my wounds were not serious. I made my way over to Reeve and Vincent. I watch as Reeve nods "I'll be all right, but that's more than i can say for the engine. Vincent, i want you and Vicky to press on to Edge. That transmission we saw troubles me. Once i have repaired the shadowfox, I'll need to head to headquarters. There has been a troop of WRO troops dispatched to Edge. Join them and liberate the city!" i look to Vincent. I could tell he didn't really want to be here doing this. He nods and sighs "i guess i have no choice!"
We make our way to Edge. Encountering several guard hounds and deep ground soldiers on hover bikes. Between us we took them down, no sweat. As we walked, i coud tell something was troubling Vincent. I turn to him "what's wrong?" he shakes his head "is everything ok with you? You seemed a little shaken up in the shadowfox" i pause hearing his words. 'did Vincent Valentine just ask if i was ok? That's not like him at all' i shake my thoughts away and sigh "I'm fine, it just bothers me that deep ground are causing problems." his eyes frown. I could tell he wasn't satisfied with my response, but i didn't really want to go into my problems right now. As we arrive in Edge, the town looks dull and empty. It had began raining too, which made it all the more worse. We wandered through the streets, scouting the town for survivors. As we were walking, we hear footsteps behind us. We turn around both pointing our guns, to be faced by a woman also pointing a gun at us. She had one good eye, a robotic arm along with a normal arm, and she was wearing a lab coat. I notice Vincent check out her ID and he lowers his gun "you're WRO?" the woman snarls "who's asking?" i also lower my gun and watch as Vincent steps forward. "Vincent Valentine, Vicky Dixon. Reeve sent us" the girl puts her gun away and sighs "my appologies, Shalua Rui of the WRO. The commissioner has told me a lot about the two of you!" i look on at her in surprise 'just what has he said about me?' my thoughts were cut short by Vincent speaking "what happened here?" Shalua sighs "that's what I'd like to know! I'm here on other business though, but something's not right. I've seen no trace of dep ground or the squad that was sent in to fight them. Also, where are the 500 or so people that live here? Well, like i said. I have business to attend to. I'll see you both around" she begins to walk away but Vincent speaks up "business?" i watch as she turns back around and sighs "the commissioner keeps telling me I'm wasting my time.." i look at her confused before speaking "waisting your time on what?" she sighs again "my reason to live!" she walks away leaving me and Vincent stood there in silence.
We stand there for a few minutes before he turns to me "we should get going" i nod in response and follow him deeper into Edge. We scout the town for a while before falling upon a single WRO troop. He was almost dead! I lean down to him "what happened here?" he could barely speak, his voice was gritty and broken "ambushed...by...soldier...in...red...squad wiped out...warehouse...on the edge...of town...gathering...civilians..." i look to the soldier in horror and then stand up, facing Vincent. "this is bad!" he sighs and we press on. We come to an area covered with deep ground snipers. They were no match for us. My enhanced hearing helped us take them down, one by one. As we press on, we come across a lone child. He looked scared and confused. I watch as Vincent kneels down in front of him. The child smiles "thanks for taking out those snipers." i also kneel down and smile "do you know how to get to the warehouse?" he nods "i know where it is. Do you have the key?" i watch Vincent shake his head and the kid smiles "don't worry, i know someone who has it. This way!" he runs off. I turn to Vincent "we should follow him" he nods and follows me as i run after the child. We eventually find the key and the child turns to me and Vincent "avenge my parents, please" i watch as Vincent kneels down in front of him again and nods. The child smiles "thank you!" as Vincent stand up i place a hand on the kids shoulder "get out of here, somewhere safe" he nods and runs off. We press on to the warehouse, but on our way we are greeted by a heavily armoured soldier and several deep ground soldiers. I turn to Vincent and smirk "leave this one to me!" he nods reluctantly and watches as i run toward them.
Vincent's POV
I didn't want to let her fight alone, but i honored her wish. I watched as she shot several rounds of bullets into the soldiers. Once they were dead, she drew her sword and lunged at the heavily amoured guard. She swung at him furiously. He could barely get a hit in, but when he did, she went flying. I was just about to jump in, when i see a bright purple light. A huge demon emerges from where she was knocked. It had large purple wings and long black hair down past her waist. Her body was very curvy, just like Vicky's and her hands had deadly claws in place of her nails. I watched as the demon tore through the guard with ease. As he fell to the floor, i ran towards the female demon. She turns to look at me before turning back into Vicky. I look on at her, eyes wide. "i didn't know..." she throws me a smirk "hardly anyone does. Impressed?" i was stood there in complete shock and amazement. She was more like me than i thought. I manage to gather my thoughts together to respond "a little" she laughs and shakes her head "you're impressed more than a little. Let's carry on!" i follow her, still in complete shock and awe.
Vicky's POV
The look on Vincent's face when i transformed into Lillith was priceless. I could tell he was impressed, but he tried so hard not to let on. We made our way to a clearing, where we were confronted by a woman in red. She was standing there motionless, looking to the sky. "you know, this is the first time i've felt the rain on my skin. But then again, i hadn't seen the sky until a few days ago" i turn to Vincent, he had his cerberus by his side as he watched her. Her gaze fell on him and she smiled "Vincent Valentine, so you're the keeper of the protomateria" i watch as Vincent looks on in confusion. He shakes his head "protomateria?" she smiles "yes, the key to controlling Omega! Hand it over and I'll kill you both quickly" i watch as Vincent just stares at her, unamused. She begins to laugh "not one to bargain? Then I'll make sure you both suffer!" in a flash she was behind us "time to die!" she knocks me flying and lunges towards Vincent. I was on the floor in a heap as i watched Vincent dodge her attacks. She had a huge double ended sword with a gun in the middle. He dodged all her attacks swiftly until she managed to get close to him. She sent him flying into a wall. My heart began to beat fast as i watched in horror "Vincent!" he was kneeling on one knee, looking to the floor. I notice a red glow eminating around him. He bursts through the wall again, this time he has wings, several horn like features sticking out of his head, greyish skin, and glowing yellow eyes. The creature screaches and emits a red shield around itself, knocking the woman in red flying. She see's the creature and panics, flying away herself. The creature lands on the floor and the glow becomes evident again. I walk over in time to see Vincent reappear and fall to the ground. I waist no time running over to him and kneeling by his side "Vincent!"
Vincent's POV
I was in her cave again. Hearing her faint whispers around me. "Lucrecia..." i hear a faint reply "...sorry..." i shake my head and look around "why?" i hear faint whispers again "...awake..." i was becoming confused "awake?" then i hear her loud and clear "I'm so sorry!" the scene around me changes, i am faced by Hojo. He was weilding a gun and we were in the Shinra manor. "talk! Why did you let this happen?" he scowls at me "silence!" my eyes narrow and a snarl "you!" i notice Hojo become irritated "silence!" i watch as he points the gun at me and opens fire. I crash to the ground, looking to his feet as he begins to talk "why can't you people just be quiet?!" i begin to lose conciousness, only hearing parts of his conversation with himself. "i can...body...experiment...a genius...i am...success...failures..." the scene around me fades to black again. My vision is blurred as i study the room around me. I look down to see i have changed and let out a loud scream. Darkness again, this time i wake to see Lucrecia. I'm in some sort of tube surrounded in a green liquid. I see her looking at me, then darkness takes me again.
My eyes begin to flutter open, i am back in the tube again. But this time, Shalua is looking at me. She smiles and walks forward "well, look who's awake! Hold on, I'll release you" once i am released, i step out and study my surroundings. I notice Vicky with her head down sat at a table. I shake my head "where am i?" Shalua smiles at me "in the WRO headquarters, safe. Me and Vicky carried you back here from Edge. You fainted after your fight with deep ground. It seems the beast inside you went a little wild. This happen often?" i pause at her words and bring my hand up to my head "went wild? Chaos?" i watch as Shalua gasps "Chaos? You harbor the Chaos gene?" i watch on as she begins to walk around. "so that explains your relationship with Dr Lucrecia Crescent! Were you one of her experiments?" my heart breaks hearing her words and i look down "Lucrecia's...experiments?" i hadn't noticed Vicky wake up. She had heard our conversation and walked over to me. Her touch on my shoulder almost scares me and i stiffen. Shalua shakes her head "I'm sorry, that wasn't what i meant" i couldn't believe what i was hearing. Lucrecia, experimented on me? "wait, Lucrecia was researching Chaos?" Shalua turns to face me, eyes wide "don't tell me you didn't know?!" she begins walking over to her computer and begins typing. I walk over behind her shortly followed by Vicky "Shinra, Crescent class a scientist speciallising in biotechnology. In her reasearch thesis 'the planets pulse' she refers to Chaos as one of the sentiet xenoforms residing among us. I begin to zone out as Shalua talks. I can hear her voice again "I'm so sorry...awaken..." Vicky breaks me from my thoughts "are you ok Vincent?" i look on at her blankly and then to Shalua "can i see that thesis?" she sighs and shakes her head at me "unfortunately no. On top of it being obscure, it was never submitted to the Shinra database. All i know is what i saw going through the archives" just then, i notice Reeve walk in and he smiles at me "Vincent! Have you recovered already?" i sigh and begin to fill him in on everything.