A full scale attack
Vincent's POV
After dragging Yuffie from the rubble, i turn to one of the WRO guards "take her to headquarters! I'll clear the enemy out and meet you there" he nods in response and i run into the wilderness. I come across several deep ground soldiers and attack hounds, but none of them were difficult to take down. As i near the headquarters entrance i see WRO troops with machine gun turrets. They were trying to take down several deep ground aircrafts and soldiers. I waist no time running over to them. When i reach them, i am greeted by a very familiar face. She smiles at me as i approach her "Vincent Valentine. I hear you've been through hell and back! Well, I'm here now. Let's kick some deep ground ass!" i smile at her. She was always very energetic and bubbly. That's why i liked her. Vix took one turret and i took the other. It was a tough fight, but we done it, together! Once the entrance was cleared, we made our way inside. The place was crawling with deep ground soldiers and machinery. We took down all enemy units in our way, until we came to a huge room. We paused and turned around to see a black widow unit. We had fought one of these before, it was a very powerful piece of kit. We began firing at it, but more deep ground soldiers arrived. I turned to Vix and signalled towards the soldiers "you take care of them, leave this one to me" she nods in reply and takes out her sword, slashing through the deep ground soldiers. I eventually took out the black widow as Vix took out the soldiers. She walked back over to me, panting and smiling "that was easy! Next please" i let out a small laugh and her eyes go wide "Vincent Valentine! Did you just...laugh?" i quickly regained my composure and shook my head "you're hearing things Miss Dixon." she also shakes her head and rolls her eyes "yeah yeah. Come on"
We pressed on into headquarters. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was in ruin. The walls were falling down and parts of the ceiling had collapsed. Vix sighs and shakes her head "bastards! They'll pay for this!" she runs off in anger and i follow her. We reach a corridor and hear a loud rumbling. We run forward and enter a room. Some WRO troops were firing at something, beast like. I stop and stare, eyes wide "what the hell?" "Azul" hearing the voice, we both quickly turn around. We were greeted by Shelke and Shalua. I shake my head and turn back to face Azul, firing several rounds into him. My bullets barely did any damage. I watched as Vix fired her gun and Shalua ran towards him, launching an attack on him. He knocks her flying and i shout "Shalua!" the next thing i know, Azul had knocked me flying too. I raise my head as Vix kneels down to me. I turn to face Azul and notice Shelke standing in front of him. She looks to her fallen sister and then back to Azul, who knocks her down. She stands back up and he attempts to do it again, this time she avoids it. She pulls out a materia and stops him in his tracks. I watch on as she stares him down. He turns back into his human form and snarls "Shelke, why do you get in my way?" she sighs "you were trying to kill me. I had to protect myself" i notice him smirk at her "then the time is now" he takes another swing at her and she dodges it again, stepping back. He smirks a second time "you are no longer required" she looks on to him in horror "no longer..." he snarls "you are just like the others! Your weak body is nothing without mako. Your only skill is to collect data from inside a virtual reality. It makes me sick to even think of you as part of the Tsviets! Weiss has ordered your termination" her face drops "Weiss...?" Azul snarls again "your mission was to locate the keeper of the protomateria. That is why we had the Doctors data uploaded into your neural network. But now, we no longer need it. And we can't let it fall into the hands of the WRO! Your fate has been decided, it is time to return to the planet!" i watch on as Shelke takes out her materia again, stopping him once more. I watch as Shalua takes her by the hand and turns to me and Vicky "Vincent, Vicky, Shelke, let's get out of here!" i quickly gather myself and take Vicky's hand as i begin to run.
I was the first one through the door, followed by Vicky. I pause as i see Shelke fight against her sister "let go of me!" Shalua shakes her head "i don't think so! We have ten years to catch up on" i notice the door begin to close and rush forward, followed by Vicky. We desperately try to keep it open. I shout to warn them "Shalua!" she runs over and jams her robotic arm in the door, forcing it to stay open. I watch as Shelke looks to her sister in confusion "why are you doing this?" Shalua looks at her, pain evident in her eyes "you can still get through, go!" i watch as she grabs her sisters arm and throws her through the door to me and Vicky. "Shelke, I'm sorry i wasn't a better sister" the door begins closing on her arm and i look on in horror "Vicky, Vincent, look after her for me!" with that, the door closes. I watch on in horror as we hear a loud bang, shortly followed by blood seeping under the door. I turn to Shelke, who was staring blankly "why did she?...why?" i notice Vicky grab her hand and signal for us to move. As she runs off, i follow. We end up in a ruined room. As i scout around, i notice Reeve. He was sitting slumped over in the corner. I walk over to him and kneel down. He sighs and shakes his head "I'm so ashamed! I was a hero of the Jenova war, but look at me!" i also sigh "don't take all the blame. You're not thinking of giving up are you? I used to be nothing but a stone in the river of time, but three years ago, it was you and the others that taught me i had to move ahead." i shake my head and sigh once more. "Vincent..." i don't look at him. Instead, i just walk away and join Vicky.
I had gone back once deep ground had retreated, to retrieve Shalua's body. It was now in a life preserver in a sealed room. Vicky was sat slouched over in a chair, while Yuffie was sat watching Shalua. I walked over to Yuffie's side. She looked pained by what had happened. She shakes her head "they say she won't wake up. She suffered too much trauma to the head. Unless there's some kind of miracle, she wont..." she turns to me "Vincent, you were there. Why couldn't you save her?!" i look to the floor and sigh "I'm sorry" I notice Yuffie shaking her head "no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." just then, Shelke walks in and over to where we were standing. She looks to her sister "she was a fool!" i notice the anger in Yuffie rise as she turns to face her. She walks over to her and slaps her "you have no right to call her that! You don't know what..." i walk over and take Yuffie's arm, pulling her back. Shelke shakes her head "why would she do something so...?" Yuffie begins to cry and storms out the room. I notice Vicky watching as she left. She looks over to me and i shake my head before turning to Shelke. "before, when i asked Shalua what she was searching for. She answered, her reason to live. It was you Shelke, you were her reason to live" Shelke looks at me confused "so? I don't understand how someone could give their own life, for that of another. Do you understand Vincent Valentine?" i sigh and look to Vix before looking back to Shelke. Thoughts of Lucrecia flashing in my mind. "i can't answer for your sister, but..." she looks at me puzzled "but?" i sigh again "when a person has someone they care about that much, giving their life is the least they can do. And maybe, that's what makes us human." i notice Vicky begin to smile as i glance over at her. My gaze falls back on Shelke as she talks "someone they care about..." i smile slightly "although, it seems there are people around me that don't need and excuse to risk their lives for that of another" Shelke looks to me again "and are you..." she falls down, limp. I catch her in my arms before she could hit the ground. Her eyes catch mine.
Everything turns white and i can hear her "...ent...vincent...vincent..." i was lying on top of a hill, under a tree. "fall asleep here, and you might catch a cold" my eyes set on her and i jump. I wasn't expecting to see her here. "why are you so surprised? Is my face that hideous?" i shake my head "no, i didn't...I'm sorry" she gives me a small smile "and how are you supposed to be my bodyguard if you're up here sleeping?" i look around and then back to her "the warm breeze, i was only going to rest my eyes for a minute" she laughs a little "well i have to admit, the breeze is quite comfortable. However, i think you're in my seat" i look at her in confusion "huh?" she smiles and pulls out a picnic basket. "care to join me?" the scene fades around me. I find myself back in the real world, my hands on Shelke's shoulders. Our eyes were connected. She shakes her head and backs away "I'm sorry. Why are her data fragments responding?" just then Reeve walks in and Vicky stands up. He walks over to me "you're right, now isn't the time to give up! But i need to know something. Those data files you retrieved from Shinra manor, are you sure there were no more?" i sigh and nod "i'm sure" i watch as he lowers his head "i see" i shrug "what's wrong?" he looks to me "well, the Omega report. The files were incomplete! To make any sense of it, we're going to need the other half. If possible, i wanted to know more about our foe before we launched the attack on Midgar" just then, i notice Shelke turn around and look to Reeve "are you talking of Dr Crescent's findings?" me and Reeve gasp and look to her. Our eyes wide as Reeve talks "yes. But how did you?..." she looks to him emotionless "a large quantity of her data fragments have been uploaded into my neural network. It was my prime directive to locate and retrieve the protomateria. However, not only was the data incomplete. But her conciousness began to interfer with my own thought process. It was believed the missin data was the reason for this. I can attempt to upload the WRO's files on the Omega report. By combining it with my data, we may obtain a clearer picture of what we're up against. And perhaps, i might regain control of my mind again." just then, i notice Yuffie run into the room "Vincent, Vicky, Reeve. You might want to see this!" waisting no time, we all follow her outside.
A shorter chapter this time. I hope you all like my take on Dirge of Cerberus. Feelings will begin to show in Vincent in the next chapter, but will they be mutual?