Darkening Abyss Ch 13

You guys are awesome with the reviews! Thanks a ton ~_^

"Say that again?"

Vincent rolled his eyes. He really didn't have time for the red head's slow mentality. "Reno please pay attention. The lifestream is telling us where to find Cloud."

"I'm not stupid yo. It's just weird knowing that the all powerful lifestream is telling ya where to find chocobo head." Reno played with his red hair that was tied on the back of his head. He had finally recovered from his massive dizzy spell that hadn't seemed to back off for about three hours. Rufus and he were watching over the reconstruction of the President's room when Vincent and Zack came barging into the open room. Zack animatedly began talking about how they were going to get Cloud back; the guy's mouth seemed to be running on fast forward and barely anything was registered in Reno's mind. Thank the gods that Vincent was there to make sense of Zack's exited outburst.

"Alright… it's nearly dark. We sho-" Rufus's comment was cut off.

"We leave now." Vincent interrupted Rufus's statement with fierce determination. He knew that Rufus was going to tell them that they should leave tomorrow, but under the cover of darkness, they had a better shot at getting in quick and easy. Wherever there was that is. For all he knew, Cloud and Hojo could be on the other side of the planet by now. They didn't have time to simply waste sitting around 'discussing' and 'formulating' a plan. It might be reckless, yes, but the situation demanded it of them. The longer they halted in their search to find Cloud, the better chance Hojo had at completing his plan.

"We cannot simply take leave now. Do you even know where Cloud is Vincent? For all we know Hojo might be using the lifestream to point us in the wrong direction. I refuse to allow my men to wander after some feeling you and Zack received. The illogicality of your statement is proof enough of my answer." Rufus narrowed his eyes, meeting Vincent's own glaring orbs. The blonde leader did not like being ordered around, especially when his company was on the line.

"I… agree with Vincent, Sir." Tseng met Rufus's surprised gaze. Tseng had never been one to question Rufus's judgment... but the Turk had always known what the best course of action would be.

"Same yo. The sooner we take down the psycho the sooner we can get back here and... settle our little issue, Rufus." Reno spoke slyly, grinning like a fox. One could practically see the ears and tail as he licked his lips towards Rufus. Oh yes, he hadn't forgotten. Still, it was exceptionally hard trying to get Rufus to agree regardless of Reno's little play.

Rufus's lips thinned. "Don't try that with me Reno. How are you sure that the lifestream is indeed pure?" Rufus turned his gaze back to the caped gunslinger.

Before Vincent could respond, Zack spoke up. "Right here." He pointed towards his chest. "I feel it right here Rufus. And Aerith doesn't lie."

"The flower girl spoke to you?" Rufus asked skeptically.

"More like she utilized her Ancient lineage powers to communicate with the lifestream to get to us." Vincent provided whilst crossing his arms over his chest, leaning against the back wall. "If the lifestream itself is getting involved with this disaster then we need to act fast before it escalates, Rufus, and much more than your wall will be lost."

Rufus considered Vincent's words and then straightened himself up. "Fine. Let us be off then. Gather what necessary equipment and items you require. We will leave in one hour. Be at the helicopter dock by then."

"Rufus you serious?!" Reno was suprised by his President's conclusion. He would've thought that it'd be far much tougher to badger the head strong leader into agreeing with their plan. It was true that they needed to act swiftly but Rufus's concern was duly noted. Who knew what to expect when they arrived at... wherever?

"As you stated earlier, the sooner we get this little matter over with the sooner we can continue with other important issues. Hojo has been a thorn in my side since the days that the man was running around under my father's regime. I've always had a disliking for him. We will need to travel quickly if we wish to arrive under the cover of darkness still. That means no time for pit stops at Icicle Inn or any other area." Rufus turned his back towards the gatherers, gazing out through the gaping opening at the wide expanse of the city."Tseng."

"Sir?"

"Will you be prepared for this?"

"I will not be a hindrance for you sir."

"Not a problem Rufus! I'll watch his ass! You can count on that." Zack gave a cheeky grin and a thumbs up making Tseng's right eye twitch some and Rufus raise a sleek blonde eyebrow in question.

-------

One hour passed by swiftly as they collected all that they required for the final assault. Hojo was going down. The man had toyed to much with the lives of the living and the dead. There was no way that he would become a necromancer and disturb the dead souls. It went against all the laws of nature. Then again, Hojo never did abide by any laws but his own. 'Can we leave now? I tire of waiting.' Chaos echoed his thoughts.

Vincent continued staring at Cerberus, imagining one of the lethal bullets buried firmly in Hojo once they began tearing apart his metal body. 'No. Rufus is being generous and allowing us to use his helicopter to make the journey. It would be in our best interests to wait for the others.'

'Hmph... are you implying that I would not have the power to defeat that bastard? Pathetic host how dare you-' Chaos was tired and bored of just sitting around waiting for the others to hurry. He wanted to end this stupid farce quickly so that they may tend to other things... mainly Cloud.

'Will you be quiet just this once? It is not only you who is itching to get Cloud back.' Vincent was getting rather annoyed that Chaos kept implying that he was the one who was worried about Cloud the most. Hell they all were; and it wasn't just for the blonde hero, no, but the rest of the world depended on their victory.

'I see that you have indeed grown a backbone. I wonder if it is the fact that he has changed you.'

'I have not changed.'

'Right and I dislike pleasure. You have yet to learn- and I can't believe I'm saying this- to accept what your heart tells you.'

'And you have yet to learn when to keep your thoughts to yourself.'

'What a stubborn fool you still are Valentine. It's a miracle that the boy fancy's you.'

'Or relationship has nothing to do with you Chaos. You or any of the others.'

'I beg to differ. It was Cloud who accepted us far more quicker than you. And I must say, the little blonde has spunk. Can I play with him just a li-'

'No.'

'I promise I won't hurt him.' Chaos let out a low chuckle at the thought of seducing Cloud his way. He would have the boy writhing underneath his touches... crying out his name as he-

'No.'

'Stop hogging all the fun to yourself.' The beast was sort of put off with Vincent's reluctance to share their mate. He really wasn't going to do anything harmful to Cloud... After all, what would come of Chaos hurting him? The boy would probably leave and that wouldn't be too satisfactory. Oh well, at least he gets a front row seat for when the action starts up. But he really, really, wanted to play. Vincent was rather protective... hmm... he'd have to think of something...

'Since when have you become so childish? Whining over that which will never truly be yours.' Vincent huffed at Chaos's demeanor. The mighty demon truly was acting like a spoiled child; whining since he wasn't allowed his candy... mmmm.... Cloud candy... 'Chaos stop it!"

Chaos let out a hardy roar of laughter. Vincent was too much fun to mess with. Honestly if Vincent wanted Chaos to stop- which he never will mind you- he'd have to block out his own thoughts and desires. 'Oh but I simply couldn't resist my host! You know the blonde would be absolutely delicious... And don't think that my whining is just due to me not claiming him personally, it is because he is mine: he is ours. And we protect that which is ours.'

'Hn.' Vincent couldn't help but agree with what his most powerful demon was saying. It was true though. They all did care for Cloud- every single one of the demons residing within him- and nothing was going to stop them from seeking revenge on that damn scientist that should've died years ago.

'Bah the damn lifestream keeps pulling... it is rather annoying Vincent." Indeed Chaos spoke truthfully; the lifestream was still calling to Vincent, urging him to hurry and locate the disturbance in the natural order. Vincent could still feel the slight tug on his body by the lifestream. But… how are they to save Cloud? If the hero had fallen under Hojo's control, how were they to break the bod that they shared? If they defeated Hojo, would that bring Cloud back or would... No. It wouldn't happen like that. Vincent was going to save Cloud and that's that. He was not going to loose another one due to the madman's crazed intentions. Hojo's ghastly presumptions of controlling the entire planet was going to come to an end with the man's head rolling across the ground in a glorified spew of red. Chaos grinned at the thought of all the carnage. It was beautiful.

Vincent's grip on his gun tightened as he remembered promising Cloud that everything would be alright. He had failed in protecting Cloud and allowed Hojo to get his slimy hands on the one he loved. Cloud was going to come back. He needed to get Cloud back. Maybe it was to prove to himself that he could protect someone and not watch them die as he viewed from afar. The gunman was strong, no doubt about that, but his heart was quite fragile. There was no way that this time it would shatter due to Hojo's influences. Cloud had become a vital part of Vincent's life and he'd be damned if he'd let the younger one remain with Hojo. Vincent steeled his eyes, flipped his gun back into its leg holster, and began walking towards the helicopter pad. The others should be arriving any minute now and they needed to hurry.

-------

Zack stood by the broad window expanse in the main lobby, with the buster sword in its rightful place strapped to his back. Glancing outwards into the distance where people milled around, Zack thought of his time prior to the present. Everything had been going smoothly until the stupid mission to Nibelheim. That and the fact that he himself had to cut down his mentor, Angeal. Wishing with all his heart that it was just a terribly bad dream, Zack shoved back all his emotional attachment to the man he grew up admiring and delivered the final blow. The degeneration process was in full bloom and nothing could stop it. Just look at what became of Genesis. And why? For some god forsaken research? Some sick curiosity for claiming ultimate power of the unknown using human specimens? Zack shook his head. Hojo and Hollander had done an insufferable amount of damage.

Dr. Hollander, a genetic researcher, had used both Genesis and Angeal as part of Project G; an early attempt in fusing SOILDERS with Jenova cells. And just look what happened.

Yet now, out of said damage, Zack was given a second chance due to Hojo. Should he be happy or saddened? Such a terrible ironic twist of fate. Zack unstrapped his buster sword and set in on the side of the window frame before he began doing squats. Doing them helped him think and sort out his thoughts; and the provided a way for him to release pent up energy.

Coming back to life had its ups and downs. The black haired warrior thought that everything was still relatively the same when he came back to life, yet he realized that he was wrong, but not in a bad way. When he last left Cloud, the boy was suffering heavily from mako poisoning and now, now the kid had grown up and made fantastic life for himself with Vincent. Zack couldn't be more proud of his little chocobo finally leaving the nest. When Cloud was younger, he was quite shy and well... pretty weak, but it was expected since he was grunt. However with each and every training session, the blonde grew quickly into a fine swordsman. Sure he was still given the issued firearm as a weapon (which completely sucked according to Zack) but when Zack gave Cloud a practice sword, the boy swung it around like he'd been practicing for years. Ok so maybe not years but hell, he definitely knew how to land a heavy blow.

Zack's mind trailed back to the time spent in the labs. He remembered Cloud being pulled out of the mako tube and thrown onto the metallic table where Hojo conducted a multitude of intensive research; whether it be injecting large amounts of unknown liquids into Clouds body or breaking bones and recording how fast they mended back together. Each and every cry Cloud gave out fulled Zack's resolve in getting him out of there. Cloud wasn't trained for this. Hell neither was he. Hojo seemed to take a fierce liking to Cloud for some reason. Maybe it was because the blonde was accepting the cells better than Zack was. Who really knew what was going through the Professor's mind anyways?

Hojo was not going to screw that up for him again. Zack was going to tear that man apart limb from limb. It was about damn time that he'd get some type of revenge for what Hojo had done. That bastard had messed with them enough and Zack would be damned if he allowed the mad scientist another shot at ruining people's lives. They were going to get Cloud back. They had to. The final assault was drawing near and he had to be ready for whatever happened. Cloud would probably be sent out to stall them while Hojo did the work behind the scenes, safe in his hideout. Just like a rat he was... And hell he even used Tseng as a get out of jail free card. If Tseng hadn't been injured by the puncture wound, Hojo would've been dead long before now. Zack could only imagine the pain that Tseng was going through right now; not just physically but mentally. Hojo had used the head Turk as his bargaining chip. No one messes with Tseng like that!

Yes the taste of revenge was all too sweet and Zack wanted a taste.

Zack turned away from the window and headed to the elevator that would lead him to the roof of Shinra.

-------

Tseng sat in his office, reading over any last bits of information that might prove to be of some use as he nursed his injured arm. Hojo said that he had been playing them all along, that none of his supposed research on experiment 128-X were true… maybe, just maybe, something was that even the professor didn't know. The man held himself on too high of a pedestal and he needed to be cut down to size. Preferably sizes that would resemble dust particles. Tseng was still a raging storm of furry on the inside due to Hojo using him as an escape. Rufus should have just ended it then and there. Hojo needed to be stopped but Rufus... damn him... Tseng remembered when Rufus said that he considered Tseng one of the only friends he'd ever had and trusted the Turk leader with his life. Though the dark haired fighter didn't show it, he was beaming on the inside. Rufus had been such a cold child that Tseng thought that he would've grown up a mirror image of his father. He was wrong though.

Grabbing a set of three papers nearest to him after he finished glancing at his current report, Tseng held the file up to read. At least this one didn't discuss the uses of serum AV4- a nasty combination of avian attributes and human genetics. Hojo was trying to create an angel it would seem. Yet another failure. It was disgusting what went on behind those closed doors but Tseng couldn't deny it that the man was a genius who knew no bounds. The man's scientific mind seemed to out do his rational thought. Tseng wondered what exactly Zack went through while he was encased in the mako filled tubes. Then again, he never really got the chance to ask the younger about it for Zack's life had an abrupt end.

Tseng grimaced some remembering the reports coming in that Zack had been taken care of. The Turk wished that he wasn't the one who had to read through all the reports but... he had to do it. He had to see for himself that Zack, that Angeal's puppy was...

Fuck it all. Hojo had gone too far in destroying a life of a hero that was loved by all. Zack didn't deserve anything that had happened to him and neither had Cloud. They both were just following orders but when Sephiroth went crazy under Jenova's melodic hymns, it was only a matter of time before the friends sought after their once beloved leader. Zack and Cloud had tried to bring the Silver General back from the brink of insanity but had failed. Well, the first round they had failed. Cloud had seen to his idol's demise when Meteor was nearing.

If Hojo hadn't been in the equation then nothing like that would've happened. Tseng couldn't believe he was thinking this but, maybe it actually was a good thing Hojo was there: the man had brought up Sephiroth and created an ultimate fighter who aided in the war with Wutai... still, enough was enough and Hojo didn't seem to stop his experiments anytime soon. Sephiroth was still brought down for treatments and, Tseng was sure of this, other experiments that Shinra didn't sign off on were being conducted.

Flipping the page he was looking at over, Tseng's eyes scanned the computer printed words. If the tubes that connected his body to the machines which pumped Jenova essences throughout his form, by effectively corrupting the steady flow would that mean that he would cease to exist? Hojo was thriving on the mixture of the tainted lifestream and Jenova. Using the former as a transportation system for his mind, jumping from one body to another. If they separate the two would that mean that Hojo wouldn't have enough lifestream essence to properly jump to another body?

It was just food for thought that Tseng put in the back of his mind for later. If Vincent and Zack were being told by the lifestream where to find Cloud, then it was quite possibly that the lifestream itself had its own plan for ridding the world of the annoying existence deemed Professor Hojo. Maybe the lifestream would save Cloud…Tseng set the files down, shut his laptop and grabbed his gun from the top of his desk. Giving it a once over, he left the room and walked towards the elevator. Pressing the elevator button, Tseng waited patiently for the assured ding that came mere moments later. Metallic doors opened revealing Zack who stepped to the side and allowed the Turk leader to enter.

"Going up?" Zack snickered at his little joke.

"So it would seem." Tseng couldn't help but give a small quirk of his lips. He'd get to see Zack in action again... wonder if the boy still had all his techniques from before?

"Just don't slow us down skinny." Crossing his arms and leaning against the back of the elevator, Zack grinned.

"Hn. I'll be sure to send out the cannon fodder first."

"Low blow man. You wouldn't do that to lil ol me!" Zack winked and nudged Tseng's arm, forgetting that it was his wounded one.

Tseng straightened himself out and blocked out the pain that raced up and down his arm. Zack obviously saw past the mask though for the guy's eyebrows quickly knitted together in concern. He reached out and tenderly grasped the wounded arm. "Shit I forgot about that. I'm sorry! Are you ok Tseng?"

"A mere scratch nothing serious. Don't concern yourself over a small wound."

"Tch. Like hell I'm not gonna worry about you being hurt... Stupid Tseng."

-------

Rufus and Reno sat in the President's destroyed room as workers were diligently piecing back together the Shinra leader's office. After he had cleaned himself up, Rufus enlightened him on the fact that he was going to be accompanying them on the mission. It was quite a shock seeing Rufus adorned in a black suit as opposed to his normal whites but... whatever. The large hole still remained but the glass shards and metal beams were cleaned up. Citizens were calmly reassured that everything was alright and that Shinra had the matter taken care of after they saw Bahamut's retreating form. Reno toyed with his EMR as Rufus sat at one of the tables pondering about the past events. The red head felt absolutely terrible for not being able to help out during the scuffle earlier. Being knocked out like that so easily… Rufus could've been hurt and all Reno did was lay there in the pile of wall rubble with a heavy Zack on top of him; both of which were knocked out. Watching Cloud loose control of himself like that and lash out was quite terrifying, he must admit. Hojo had taken control of the boy's body and forced him to attack those he cared for. What a way to torture someone eh?

He wanted to get spiky back, he needed to get spiky back. Cloud didn't deserve any of this for what he's done for the world.

The green eyed Turk glanced over towards Rufus and knew just by the look in his leader's eyes that the man was most definitely not in a good mood.

Rufus was furious. Absolutely furious. Sure he didn't let his furry show, but inside he was a raging inferno that needed a place to vent. Hojo seemed to have that effect on people. So there were still things in Shinra that Rufus wasn't even aware of… that had to be amended. He had to know everything that went on. Nothing was going to be going on within his company that he wasn't aware of. That last bit with Hojo actually that formed right under his nose was the last straw. Just how the fuck did Hojo mask himself so fully that non of his Turks or any of the others recognize him or his actions? The man must have gotten a far lot craftier and sneaky than before. But Rufus had to admit, Hojo was indeed proving to be quite the tactitian. Thinking out all his plans, formulating around them accordingly... Everything seemed to be falling into its rightful place as Hojo pulled the strings just so. But there was one thing that Hojo was not going to manipulate: Rufus was not going to let that man take control of the world.

"Don'tcha worry Rufus, we'll set things straight. After all, that's what you pay us for." Reno gave a cocky grin, trying to lighten the mood some.

"You better. Otherwise I'd eliminate you for being a pain in the ass." Rufus barely moved, still focusing intently on the scene before him.

"Mmm... Someone's in need of a little happy time..." The red head toyed with the blonde hairs adorning Rufus's nape, earning a small shudder in return.

"Watch where you place your hand Reno." Rufus couldn't let the other room occupants witness Reno's affectionate touches. It wasn't proper that they show their attachments to one another at work. But still, Rufus couldn't help but wonder what they were going to do after they came back from their mission. If they came back that was. Who knew what was going to happen.

"Y'know I've never been one to follow orders. They're not my thing." Reno moved his hand up higher into the blonde mess adorning Rufus's head. The sly Turk just couldn't get enough of the other man.

"I do hope that you will be serious when we make the final assault. It'd be rather troublesome if you hindered us out there."

Reno grinned, knowing that Rufus was merely stating his worries for him. "Just come out and say it. You're worried about me."

Rufus sighed and stood, effectively removing Reno's hand from his hair. It felt really good too but... "It is my company I fear for."

At Reno's obvious frown, the blonde President rolled his eyes and walked out of the reconstructing room. He didn't just worry for his company, oh no, Reno was definitely high on the list right next to Tseng. They had no idea what to expect when they reached wherever Hojo was. Manipulating Cloud into attacking his friends and loved ones was something Rufus wouldn't stand for. Sure he was a cold hearted bastard sometimes but that didn't mean that he still knew what it was like to worry for someone. When Tseng, Reno and Elena ran into the remnants... Rufus pushed that thought aside.

Hojo would not use Cloud, or any of the others for that matter, for anything. Besides, Rufus owed the other blonde for saving Edge when the remnants attacked as well as for Meteor Fall. Cloud had saved the world yet again and this is what he received as payment; a front row seat in the next world domination plan. The Shinra leader scoffed at the thought of the scrawny Professor ruling an entire planet. He was such a pathetic creature that hid behind his serums and glass tubes.

Looking to hid right side, Rufus's blue eyes connected with Reno's own pools of bright green. They were going to be going up against Professor Hojo pretty soon and they needed to make sure the man stayed dead this time. There was going to be no loop holes that the slippery snake could slide into and hide away. No, everything about Professor Hojo would be annihilated. This time, there would be nothing left of the man who was part of the unhinging of Gaia.

As they walked down the hallway towards the elevator, Rufus turned his red headed lover around and kissed him on the lips. "You'd do best not to fall out there."

"Tch, the only falling that's gonna happen is you falling over gazing at my sexy ass."

-------

The door to the roof opened, revealing Tseng and Zack who walked towards Vincent standing near the helicopter; the man's red cape blowing dramatically in the wind.

"Looks like someone's ready to kill." Zack snickered as he felt the deathly aura that surrounded Vincent's form. Hell he was itching for a fight too. Hojo had taken Cloud and that certainly didn't sit well with him at all.

"Not kill, completely annihilate it seems." Tseng crossed his arms and quirked his lips. Vincent was one hell of an angry son of a bitch when provoked. The gunslinger's demons were probably trying to claw their way to the surface, wanting to be released to get a piece of the action.

'Hojo will rue the day he came into existence when I get through with him!' Chaos bellowed within Vincent's mind.

"Yeah I kinda miss the other side of Mr. Doom and Gloom… what was it again?" Zack seemed to be deep in thought, holding his hand under his chin.

"The one which used foul language and possessed a sense of dry humor?" Tseng added in his own two cents making the SOILDER grin and snap his fingers together.

"That's the one!"

The ex Turk's lip quirked up. "Remember what we talked about earlier Zachary Fair. I wouldn't want your… infatuation about someone to become well known."

Zack's laughing mouth snapped shut, knowing exactly what Vincent was referring to. He crossed his arms and mumbled out, "Oh that's below the belt Valentine…"

"What's he talking about?" Tseng, hating to be out of the loop, tried to inquisition the younger.

"I'll tell you when you're older."

The Wutai Turk frowned, clearly annoyed that he was not receiving answers. "I'm older than you Zack."

"Yo!" Reno's voice boomed from the doorway.

"Reno you're like a freaking loud speaker. We don't need to go deaf." Zack smiled at the others' obnoxious voice. Well at least it was good that he wasn't the only loud mouth around here.

"Ah, shut the hell up." Reno shoved Zack to the side.

"Rufus, Sir." Tseng acknowledge the Shinra President who stood a few feet behind the red head.

Nodding in acknowledgment, the blonde corporate leader walked towards the helicopter. "I assume you all are ready for whatever happens next?"

"Yes. We will put an end to this once and for all." Vincent pulled open the large metal door, allowing Rufus entrance.

Zack followed suit and clambered up into the machine, situating himself in one of the seats and pulling on the harness.

"Vincent, please take a seat in back with Rufus and Zack." Tseng opened the pilots door and got into his seat, attaching the head set. "Sorry, but I don't trust you driving one of these things."

Shaking his head, the gunslinger held up his hands in surrender. "I never intend on ever piloting one again."

Reno slammed the door on his side in the co-pilots seat and put on his head set. His voice crackled through the passenger's headsets as Tseng started up the metal machine. "Ya'll ready to go and kick some ass?"

TBC

Thanks for reading!

On another note, if you're curious about the status of the next chapter, check out my profile. I think I'm gonna start doing that now :3

*twiddles fingers* Review??

~ChaosGarden