The Valentines

Vincent pushed through the rusty old gate. The house creaked and groaned in the night. By all appearances it should collapse, but underneath its skin was a sturdy structure. A good foundation and steel bones held it together. It could weather a really bad storm with little loss, perhaps a few shingles from the roof, a windowsill or two, but it would still be standing, looming over the small town it resided in.

His steps caused the peeling wood to creak as he stepped up the stairs. He pushed the front door open with little resistance to his strength. He walked through the front hall and up the unsteady looking staircase. He made a right at the top and walked into Hojo's old bedroom where a fake wall stood. He pushed through and began the spiral descent on a staircase that more than once lost boards while there was someone walking on them.

Vincent walked lightly, contrary to the way his steps always sounded loud and heavy. As a Turk he had learned to better control his body's weight and energy, keeping it high and off his feet, similar to people who could walk across suspended paper without it tearing. This gave him super human like abilities. He could soar through the air as though he possessed wings when in actuality he could only glide in long jumps. When Hojo cursed him with the demons, his abilities only became enhanced.

The stairs ended and he walked into the hallway and followed it until he went into a room once locked for thirty years. Inside this room were arranged thirteen coffins. Some lay flat while others leaned against the wall. One coffin laid dead center. In this one Vincent had spent years with nightmares and grief. In this one he lay down again. As always a sort of cold darkness crept around him as the lid closed. He crossed his arms over his chest. A little red light blinked in front of him. He reached up and pressed in the wood to the right of it.

Soundlessly his bed began to descend. The bottom of the coffin closed after he passed through. The descent would go down only a couple of floors. One of those he had gathered into his flock was the wizard of tech, Teiche. He configured the system that would bring the Valentines to the obvious but secure hideout. The rooms that they used now used to be a part of the labs and such that the Shinra scientists used. Teiche configured the system so that each coffin would bring only one Valentine down into their lair through a bio-signature system. The rooms were sealed off from their original entry points by first being boarded in and then having new walls built. That was taken care of by Bredal who, along with being an expert of the battle-axe, was an expert of explosives and general construction/deconstruction.

With the barest of hisses, Vincent's platform descended from the ceiling and came to rest waist high. He sat up and swung his feet over the edge. A toned female with short purple hair came over to Vincent. He stood up, "Where is the rat from the last night?"

"He was bailed out of jail like you said he would be." She followed him as they left the entry room and into the hall that connected the various labs and other rooms. She continued with what they had discovered, "The man who put up the money was one Edward Scott, also known as Eddie. He was the first cousin of the White Giant also known as Gregory Marcus. The two are related through the woman Debra Marcus, the mother of Gregory and the sister of Red Scott father to Edward Scott." Vincent nodded his head. They entered another room that served as Vincent's office, a dark room with a desk, filing cabinet, and bookshelf. "The Giant was a common dealer in arms and drugs, but nothing else until a few months ago when he started getting involved in bigger things, human trafficking, nuclear weapons, you name it. Someone else was pulling the strings. We don't know who yet though."

Vincent sighed. "I had hoped that Marcus' benefactors would have bailed Greasy out." The woman sat down opposite Vincent. He stared at the striking woman intently, worry in his eyes. "Val, there is another problem." She leaned forward. "Eddie is upset about his cousin, he sent me a little message. Earlier this night while we were extracting the second group, Eddie sent a few of his men to Seventh Heaven. Tifa and Cloud were gone. Perhaps if they'd been there…" He shook his head, "Cid was watching the children. He was beaten mercilessly and the children abducted. I saw Cid at the hospital. He claims one of the men mentioned Eddie wanted to send us a message."

Val leaned back in her seat, "Hmm…"

"I don't want anyone to go out alone."

"We can take care of ourselves."

He nodded, "Yes. Somehow, though, I don't think Eddie cares. He will try to attack and perhaps infiltrate our base. Tell everyone to keep an eye out." She nodded then stood to leave. "Wait. Tell Irwin and Sel to go out and find that little rat. Bring him to the interrogation room." She nodded again and left.

Vincent leaned forward against his desk. He'd have to think up a plan. No one was allowed to hurt his friends and get away with it. First he need Greasy. Then he would extract what information he could. If Greasy didn't know who was behind the Gant then perhaps his cousin did. He would have to be careful though. Something bigger was going on. And Shera…he would have to make sure she was safe. He leaned back again and fell into deep thought.

-VV-

Okay, I know that was long and probably boring, but I'm trying to catch up on the writing time I missed. Please review.