Darkening Abyss Ch 11
Another round of thank yous goes out to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, alerted etc. I can't even begin to express the happiness I get when I read your reviews saying that you're enjoying this fic. I honestly didn't think that it was going to turn out so well but obviously I'm doing something right. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with me starting with the beginning and to those of you who are just now following this story. Your reviews are most appreciated as they keep me on track with this fic so keep em coming! ^__^
And now we have Chaos making an appearance... finally.
Vincent rolled over on his side and groped the space next to him, trying to find his sleeping partner but only succeeding in prodding the sheets. Bleary, but alert, crimson eyes opened and searched the room, trying to find Cloud. What made Vincent actually sit up was the fact that he didn't hear anything bustling about in the apartment. If Cloud was here then he'd at least be making some kind of racket like he usually did in the mornings. After what had happened last night, the dark warrior was rather worried.
'My host your senses have dwindled. It is quite pathetic.'
'Chaos why are you bothering me now?'
'I have kept quiet for far to long by your orders but now you will hear me my host. My silence is no more. The boy we cherish is going up against powerful forces and you will need me.'
'I don't need you to take care of Cloud. He doesn't belong to you. He's mine.'
'What is yours is mine as well dark one. Or has your memory shriveled up so much that you have forgotten that we share your body?'
'Your powers will not be needed Chaos. Nor will any of the others that reside within me.'
'Hm... brave words foolish immortal. But make no mistake of this: though I have lain dormant for some time and did not privy myself with your humanistic tendencies, I have grown quite a fondness for the savior of Gaia. His strength is something that entices me and I will not let that go to waste. Hojo's foolish woman locked me in your body so I too have a score to settle with that abomination.'
'I will protect him.'
'We shall see.'
It had been quite some time since Vincent had heard from his most awake demon residing within him and Chaos's words angered him. Did Chaos really think that Vincent was loosing his touch? Vincent wouldn't let Chaos or any of his other demons waking and taking control of his body. Arising from the bed, Vincent padded across the hallway and found Cloud sitting on the love seat by the window staring outside. The man seemed to be lost in deep thought since he obviously didn't hear or sense Vincent standing nearby. "Cloud?"
Blue eyes glanced towards Vincent. "Hey. Sorry if I woke you."
Vincent shook his head. "Not at all. I was just wondering where you went off to."
"I just needed some time to think." Cloud pulled his legs towards his chest, allowing Vincent to take a seat next to him.
"Care to enlighten me on your thoughts?" Vincent was rather curious as to what the blonde was conjuring up.
"Well, Jenova for one and Hojo. Hojo seems to be controlling her and oh man is she pissed about that. I still have some of her cells in me and she keeps calling me to come free her so we can rule the planet together. It's the same thing as what Sephiroth went through. But now, since Hojo found a way to use her, it's like I have to deal with both of them now. It's annoying as hell Vincent."
"Do they... speak to you often?" He was rather worried that both Jenova and Hojo seemed to be plaguing Cloud's mind when he himself didn't know what to do to stop them. Gaia's chosen hero was being targeted by the two who could bring the Goddess down and destroy everything.
"Not that often. Hojo's words actually frightened me a little. He controlled me once... I can't allow that to ever happen again." Cloud's blue eyes hardened in fierce determination. He had to be strong to protect those he cared about. There was no way that he could let Hojo, or Jenova, destroy that what was most precious to him.
"Though I do not know as of now how to defeat Hojo or stop Jenova from pestering you, I swear to you Cloud that I will not let Hojo have you." Crimson orbs locked with tired blue. Though Cloud never showed it, he was tired of all the fighting that he had to do to protect Gaia from her enemies.
"Vincent..." Cloud sighed and ran a hand through his blonde spikes. Vincent beckoned for Cloud to come closer by opening his arms and legs for the other man to come between. Cloud placed his head on Vincent's chest and tugged at a long strand of silky black hair that cascaded down his shoulders. "I'm happy that you're here."
A small up turn of the gunner's lips and arms tightening around the body pressed up against him gave Cloud reassurance that Vincent was happy that he was there too. Vincent didn't speak much but sometimes actions are much louder than words. Vincent was a master of that logic.
"Have you heard anything from Rufus yet?" Cloud turned his head around and glanced up.
Vincent shook his head. "No. He said that he would call us when the time was right. Rufus does go through with his promises."
Cloud had to agree with that. Sure they were once semi-enemies before but after the remnants issue things had indeed changed for the better. It was funny how events such as those brought people from different corners of the world together; all gathered to defeat a common enemy and preserve their lives here on the planet. "Zack called earlier. He said that Tseng was doing alright. I was shocked that he called so early."
"That's good to know. Tseng is a very loyal, duty bound man and it would be a shame to loose one such as he." Vincent let out a small snort as he recalled the Turk leader's confession.
"What?"
"Just something I remembered dealing with a pained Turk and memories from his past."
If there was one thing Cloud decided that he really didn't have patience for-- which he had a lot of-- was Vincent's cryptic words. "Meaning...?"
"Just Tseng and someone he has a fondness for."
"Who?" Why was it so hard getting straight answers out of Vincent sometimes?
"I'm not telling. It is not my place to gossip about another's potential love interest." Vincent set his head down on the spiky mass of blonde hair as Cloud continued to toy with his own raven colored locks. The elder's mind went back to his earlier conversation with Chaos, thinking of the demon's words and how they had affected him so. Vincent would not, absolutely not let them out. But... If what Chaos's words were true, then the demon himself has taken a liking to Cloud. And that worried him.
"Hmph... I feel like there's something else you're not telling me. That's not all you are thinking about Vincent."
Vincent pursed his lips, wondering if he should tell Cloud about his encounter with his most powerful demon. How should he word it to make sure that the blonde doesn't worry? Cloud knew Vincent's demons, especially Chaos, but... "I... Chaos spoke to me this morning about what is now happening and about you."
"What did he have to say?" Cloud never paused in threading his hands through the ends of Vincent's black strands of hair.
"He said that we would be going up against powerful foes, probably Hojo and Jenova, and that I needed him in order to help you bring them down." Vincent gave Cloud a small snippet of what the entire conversation encompassed and the blonde seemed to know this.
"He only said just that? It seems rather unlikely that Chaos would just state his worries."
'Hmm... Gaia's Hero is quite perceptive. He can read you like an open book.' Chaos let out a demonic chuckle.
'Shut up.' This only made the demon's mirth grow as Vincent gave a snappy reply before answering Cloud. "Well... He seems to..."
"He seems to what?"
"Chaos seems to like you." There he said it. Vincent just admitted to his new lover that a demon took interest in him. Well wasn't this a wonderful morning discussion.
Cloud laughed and relaxed against Vincent's chest, dropping the man's long hair from his grasp. "Well that is certainly some interesting news. Does he play nice?"
Chaos barked with laughter as he sensed his hosts growing blush. 'Oh how this boy amuses me so! Come Vincent let me show him how I play nice.'
Vincent had no idea how to respond to such a question made by Cloud as he tightened his hold on the buster sword wielder sitting between his legs. "Cloud..."
"Calm down there Vincent. There's only you my heart belongs to. And if I accept you, I accept all of you." Cloud placed his hands on the ones wrapping around his midsection.
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Zack entered the hospital room that held the Turks infamous leader carrying a bag of food he brought from the cafeteria upstairs. "Hey there! Brought you some semi-healthy munchies."
Tseng, who was sitting upright on the bed with two white pillows propped up against his back, set his book down and gave a small smile at the other man's entrance. "Hello yet again Zachary. Have you come to pester me even more than this morning?"
"Well there's nothing else better to do since Rufus locked himself in his office, Reno's bitching, Vincent and Cloud are back at their place and the penthouse upstairs that the President let me use is boring without anyone else there. And besides your stuck here till the docs give you a green light so I might as well pop in and give you some company!"
Tseng shook his head at Zack's cheerfulness. "I appreciate that Zack."
"Not a problem there buddy. Now what do ya wanna eat? I got a turkey club with lettuce and tomato... eewww they put on pickles..."
"I'm shocked that you dislike them. I would have assumed that the empty pit of your stomach knew no bounds." Tseng laughed quietly.
"Fine you take the nasty sandwich and I'll eat the ham and swiss cheese. Can't go wrong with a-- what the hell? They put pickles on this one too!"
Tseng couldn't contain the laughter that erupted from deep within his gut. "Fear not the pickles Zack, I'll eat them."
"Oh my hero!" Ever the comedic relief, Zack clasped both hands together and placed them by his cheek as if he were a damsel in distress, completely over acting. Tseng's response was an eye roll as he grabbed the other's sandwich and plucked the green food from it.
Thirty minutes passed by with the two eating their boxed lunches the SOILDER brought and finally, with Zack discarding the food into the trashcan, Tseng thought that he'd get some sleep seeing as to how the other showed up around eight am. Zack was punctual--most of the time mind you. When the Turk shifted back under the covers, he thought that Zack would leave but to his surprise, the other man just sat there next to his bed watching Tseng. It made the elder man quite uncomfortable. "What is it Zack?"
"Mn... nothing. Am I bothering you?" Violet orbs gave off a hint of uncertainty with Tseng's question.
"No not at all." Tseng hastily replied to his visitor's response, wanting to reassure that Zack knew he was always welcomed there. "I was just thinking of taking a nap and I wasn't sure if you wanted to just sit there while I sleep is all."
"I don't mind watching you sleep." Zack brightened up quickly.
"Oh. Well... If you want to watch TV to keep yourself occupied then go a head."
"Don't be stupid, I know you won't be able to fall asleep with that. You're a Turk after all, Tseng."
Zack did have a point there. "I guess."
"Don't mind me Tseng. Just worry about yourself getting some rest. We will need ya in tip top shape when Rufus summons us." Zack smiled.
Tseng sighed, shaking his head at Zack's persistence and deciding to play along with the other's order. "Yes, Sir." The Wutai Turk closed his eyes and quickly found himself slipping away into sleeps embrace.
Zack continued sitting there for the next forty-five minutes, eyes moving about the sleeping man's form laid out on the ever so white sheets, before he too found himself dozing off with his head on the thin mattress that lined the metal bed skeleton. Just briefly did he recall something toying with his hair before heading back off into sleep world.
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Three days quickly passed and the group found themselves gathered in Rufus's office, awaiting instructions and information from the President whom they know spent countless hours analyzing the information he received and developed a strategy. Cloud, Vincent, Tseng, Zack and Reno all stood before him, eagerly ready to begin.
Rufus started the discussion with a small preamble as to why they all were gathered. "Well, hello everyone. As I'm sure you all know, according to the data collected, our Dr. Mikami is indeed Hojo's successful experiment. How this experimentation escaped is what we will soon find out as well as any other information it knows of about the Professor and his plans."
"Sir, how are we to do this?" Tseng's inquisition spoke for the other members.
Rufus smiled and as if on cue, a knock was heard at the door. It opened revealing a man with black hair, and striking blue eyes. "Dr. Mikami, thank you for joining us."
'That's him? I could use his bones to pick my teeth.'
'Silence Chaos.'
Said doctor was completely shocked when he entered the room full other people. Rufus never said that there were going to be others at their meeting. The smaller doctor was zeroed in on with five sets of intense inquisitive gazes, making him feel terribly uncomfortable under such scrutiny. "President Rufus, Sir?"
Rufus's smile never faltered. "Tell us what you know, experiment No. 128-X."
"I-I don't understand what you're talking about Sir."
"The fuck you don't understand Mikami! You thought you could continue working here without us not finding out who you really are?" Reno was steaming with furry. He wanted to get this over with stat. He knew that guy was a tad bit odd from the get go but he'd never thought of him to be Hojo's experiment-- to be still working for the bastard no less!
Vincent cocked his gun, aiming Cerberus's triple barrels at the obviously frightened Shinra doctor. "If you will not help us, I will kill you." His voice mimicked the freezing nature of ice as he tried to scare the smaller male into breaking down and giving them information. This doctor had been treating both Cloud and Zack, Vincent trying to piece more of the puzzle together as he watched the man before him shift uneasily before halting in his nervous fit. This made Vincent's crimson eyes narrow slightly at the quick bipolarity of the man's nature. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw the others visually tense.
"Do you really think you can? Vincent Valentine of the Turks." Dr. Mikami's once skittish demeanor gave way to one of a predator as he smiled sinisterly, straightening out his body. The man held his chin high in a haughty stance, clearly trying to be little the others there.
'Something doesn't feel right my host... this aura i'm sensing...' Chaos stirred within Vincent.
Vincent's eyes widened, blazing with hell fire, and shot the doctor right between the eyes making the others in the room gasp in complete shock. What the hell just happened?
"Vincent! What the fucking fuck did you just do?!" Reno roared as the fallen doctors blood began pooling around his head and trickling across the floor. They had finally cornered the damn sneak and the vampire decided to go on a shooting spree now?!
"It's not him." Vincent didn't let Cerberus drop, keeping it trained expertly on the dead man.
'Damn right it's not him! Let me free! I'll rip his fucking head off!' Vincent could feel Chaos wanting control of his body. The demon trying to scratch his way out from it's confinements made Vincent's control waver slightly but not fully.
"What do you mean it's not him?!" Zack yelled as he gripped the handle of his buster sword, swinging it from behind him.
A snicker came from the supposed dead body as it gave small twitches. "Ohhh that really hurt for a second." Mikami's body came to an upright position as the bullet hole in between his eyes was sealing itself, pushing Vincent's bullet out of it's bone prison.
"What the… fuck?" Reno pulled out his EMR as the others readied their weapons. What in the name of Gaia was happening?
Rufus stood from his desk, angry that he had walked right into a trap. He knew that disgruntled laughter. "So was this your plan all along, Hojo?"
"What?!" Everyone in the room had the same exasperated look save for Vincent who's deadly gaze was locked on target with the Professor's.
"What a smart person you are Rufus Shinra. I guess I can slightly forgive you for calling me second rate scientist all those years ago. But yes, you stupid peons, it is I, the great Hojo." Hojo did a bow and sneered.
"Save it you piece of shit." Zack snarled.
"Why Zachary Fair, back form the lifestream I see." The doctors' voice sounded extremely odd coming from such a young looking face.
"Thanks to you, you obnoxious fuck!" Zack's anger rivaled that of a berserked Red Dragon.
"I-I don't understand… how are you here?!" Cloud yelled, enraged that the enemy got right under their noses without any of them figuring it out.
"Imbeciles! You all are so stupid it's disgusting. Did you really think that I would die? HA! Failures… Everything you did, everything that has happened, is all part of my plan. You are merely pawns for the grand finale! Tseng, what you saw in the cavern was not me. It was a mere replica to trick you into thinking that I was there. It kept all your attention trained on the information you found there, not what was happening right here in Shinra! Oh the wonderful data I collected! Cloud Strife your blood now runs through my veins! I AM YOU!" Hojo flung his hands up to the heavens as he spouted his insanity.
"That can't be possible!" Cloud felt like he was going to be sick. Hojo used the guise of Dr. Mikami to get close to him. And now... now that monster had Cloud's blood in him?!
"Oh quite possible my stupid boy. You are the only one who defeated Sephiroth and stopped Jenova from puppeteering you. How wonderful that a failed experiment like you became my ultimate creation!"
'Cloud is not yours he is ours! FREE ME VALENTINE!'
"How the hell did you survive this long Hojo?" Vincent growled out as he felt Chaos roar within him.
"Poor, poor fools. There was no experiment 128-X. All that crap you read was made up by me! I knew my downfall was coming the moment you, Rufus, took control of Shinra. I used one of the doctors that worked under me as a substitute for my ingenious mind when my body was no longer suitable. Such a pretty thing he is. The lifestream proved to be a wonderful transfer utility though it did have some drawbacks I suppose. Zachary Fair you were a failed experiment from the get go. You provided no useful data what so ever! After your escape everything came crashing down; my plans put on hold but not for any longer. My control is ultimate now that I have a way to transfer from body to body using the lifestream as a medium. Jenova will forever be under my control as long as I have your blood coursing through my veins Cloud. Quite ironic how a mere mountain boy such as yourself has become the once savior of Gaia to my pawn." Hojo cackled madly. If the Professor was in his original body, they would all see his greasy hair sticking out in odd directions, further emphasizing his genius insanity.
"That can't be true!" Cloud cried out at this revealing. All that they had worked for, had sacrificed for, was it all for nothing?!
"Everything you found and thought that you had concluded, is false. Cloud, that argument was quite endearing no? Jenova is still raging on about that you see. Sorry about the hideous vocals, it's what happens when you're trying to control someone else's body while looking like this." Hojo unbuttoned the dress shirt to reveal the partially mechanized body that was interlaced with small green tubes filled with the awful tinge of mako.
"No…" Cloud gasped. He had fused a human body with machines, the embodiment of yet another unholy creation.
"Oh yes my dear Cloud. It is exactly what you think it is! Can you hear her cries?"
He could. Jenova was yelling at him, demanding that she be released from this confined area. Screeching promises of everlasting love, adoration and power echoed loudly in the boy's mind if Cloud freed her from that mad man's control. Cloud gripped the side of his head as her voice continued piercing through his mental shields that he had built up over the years. That's why she was calling to him. She wanted to be freed from Hojo. 'He is not the one who I need to destroy this planet! FREE ME CLOUD!' "STOP IT!"
"Cloud!" Zack gripped Cloud's shoulders as the blonde's body shook.
"GET AWAY!" Cloud shoved his best friend aside as her voice continued breaking down his iron clad walls. It was so powerful now. "MAKE IT STOP!" Cloud lunged at Hojo with his sword as the Professor grinned insanely.
"Cloud no!" Vincent tried to stop the boy's strike but failed, watching Cloud's sword's disappear into Hojo. Vincent may be fast but the blonde was an unstoppable force when he was enraged.
As Cloud's buster sword pierced through Hojo, some of the liquid from the mako containing the 'J' cells spurted against Cloud's face. He furiously began wiping it away as it began sinking into his skin. Cloud let out a cry as he felt Jenova working her way through his system. Hojo grinned maniacally as he brought his right hand to Cloud's face, making the blonde's pained, fearful blue eyes widen as a bright flash emitted from Hojo's open palm. Suddenly, the boy fell to the ground near Hojo as the others charged at him. It all happened so fast, no one was prepared for anything that just occurred.
'Vincent destroy him!' Chaos's voice boomed in Vincent's mind, the demon's furious shock waves of power fueling the dark gunner's anger as he shot round after round towards the man who just took down Cloud. Vincent had promised to protect him and he was already failing.
"It has finally been done! THE WORLD WILL FINALLY BE MINE AND ALL CREATION ALONG WITH IT!" The mad scientist was cackling insanely as he pulled the sword out of his midsection, the lifestream in his system knitting the deadly wound together seamlessly.
As Zack was about to bring his sword down on Hojo, Cloud arose swiftly and blocked the attack with his own blade that Hojo let clamor to the floor. "Cloud?!"
"The world will be mine." The blonde's eyes that were once blue now had morphed into catlike green, his pupils narrowed dangerously into black slits.
Cloud twisted and kicked Zack in the stomach sending him flying back, hitting Reno hard in the process, and the two smashed forcefully into and through the wall behind them. Both lay there in a crumpled heap unconscious as a huge hole in the wall was made. Tseng immediately began firing off his weapon at Hojo, all of which the bullets were blocked by the blonde.
"Cloud what are you doing?!" Vincent tried to get in closer but the boy slashed his sword menacingly, firmly stating that the gunner needed to keep his distance otherwise he'd be cleaved in two by First Tsurugi.
"Careful there Vincent, I wouldn't do anything too rash now. Cloud is under my control." Hojo stood closely to the boy, keeping his gaze locked on the others in the room as he clasped a hand firmly on Cloud's left shoulder. He knew they wouldn't risk Cloud's life. It was all going according to plan. "I control Jenova and the lifestream you idiots. Your bullets can not kill me! I am invincible!"
'Invincible my ass. Dark one release me so I can save that which is ours! He has no right to claim him! CLOUD IS OURS!' Vincent struggled with his control as Chaos continued battling with him on the inside. He couldn't release Chaos in fear of the beast destroying all that surrounded them, people included.
That being said Hojo raised his arm towards Tseng and made a gripping motion. The Turk immediately fell to the ground, grabbing his stomach as the wounds from days prior reopened and began bleeding out green liquid. "Feel the pain? That was my creation that attacked you. It was fused with Jenova cells from my body. Sure it might not be as strong as from what was shot into Cloud but it will due. The control I have mastered is foolproof. Nothing you can do shall stop my ascent to becoming the ultimate God of this world!"
Tseng could feel the wound rip open as a worming sensation was going through his body. He felt his right arm go limp as Hojo commanded him to take up his fallen gun. The Wutai Turk's heart pumped faster as his own weapon was turned against him with his own hand. It was all going to end. Everything he had striven for...
"Now, be good and listen worms." Hojo spoke evilly. "Let us go, and Tseng will survive."
"No, don't listen to him!" Tseng yelled out to the others. His life didn't matter compared to saving the entire planet and he wanted the others to know that. Suddenly a shot went off, making everyone's stomachs do double flips to the Turk that was writhing on the floor in pain once more. A bullet wound marring the white dress shirt near the left shoulder as Tseng gritted his teeth in pain and anger. Hojo was fucking using him as an escape plan. Tseng could not allow that to happen. He would not be remembered as the reason why Hojo had escaped! "Ngh... Rufus no!"
"Fine." Rufus took command. He utterly despised this situation but it had to be done. They were in no position to fight against him and Cloud and he couldn't loose Tseng. The Turk was going to be furious but there was no way Rufus would allow Tseng to die just because the world needed saving. They would find another way to bring down Hojo as a team. That was one thing the Shinra President had learned from the blonde hero: they all were together in this.
Hojo sneered happily as his left arm began glowing a vibrant bluish hue. "Good." A roar was heard off in the distance making the party turn their gazes to the sky as a large beast flew at full speed towards the Shinra building. It's body greatly resembled that of the summon Bahamut but it wasn't. The beast's lizard like body shot through the sky towards their location. Two large wings beat fluidly as its body soared swiftly towards them. It's entire mass was riddled with sleek black and dark blue scales, whilst two curved horns adorned its head. The horns seemed to be a signature of Hojo's most current creations seeing as to how the wolves bore the same mark. "The end of the world, the start of my rule, shall begin with Gaia's hero becoming my puppet. I bid you all adieu."
Rufus ran from his spot by the windows as a large clawed hand swooped in, demolishing that section of the Shinra building, sending glass shards shooting every which direction. Everyone hit the deck as the glass and other debris was sent their way by the ginormous beast. Vincent looked up to see Cloud and Hojo gone.
'VINCENT HE HAS BEEN TAKEN!' A sliver of Chaos's power was finally let loose as Vincent scrambled to the great opening and roared out in anguish. The raw furry Chaos held was unimaginable and Vincent could do little as Chaos raged out his anger. It was like Chaos was sounding out Vincent's own cries as well mixed with his own.
He had failed Cloud.
TBC
Thanks for reading.
*wipes sweat away* holy tomatoes that was wicked... Chaos is really mad now isn't he?
Reviews are really nice!
~ChaosGarden