"You were left behind?"

Aria turned to the left to see Cloud approaching, eyeing the Deepground guards gathering at the entrance to the town.

"Seems that way," she replied, sheathing the blade.

"Yuffie passed me on the way out. She didn't say what happened, but she did not much care for your performance, apparently."

"Where is she taking him?" Cloud averted her gaze. She turned to face him head on. "Cloud. Where are they going?"

"Did you watch Rosso attack him?"

She straightened her spine, recognizing the accusation in the question. "There was something else in there. I couldn't move."

"She said you were standing upstairs, just watching."

She fired back quickly. "She doesn't know what she's talking about. Where are they going?"

"Aria…"

She started walking toward the valley, retracing her entrance for a safe escape, though not sure exactly where to go once outside the town.

"It sounds like you need to pick a side," he said after her. She froze in her tracks, then turned slowly to face him again. He stiffened under the glare.

"I chose my side a long time ago. That's why I'm here, Cloud. I'm looking for answers, not hiding from them. I chose to do what I can for my friends, my loved ones, the planet. That I didn't drop everything and join the WRO after Meteorfall doesn't make me a traitor. Yuffie didn't join, either. Nor Tifa. Nor you. But we're all here now, and we're either taking steps to fix this, or we're not. Remind me what you said back in Edge about your 'getting involved.'" She saw the words hit like embers, burning away at his resolve.

"They're going to Edge. To the WRO HQ."

"That's where we just…" she sighed, frustrated.

"Sounds like Reeve wants to assemble the WRO forces and...go to Midgar. That's all she said."

"That's where Deepground has taken their victims. He's launching an attack." Her eyes flitted from one imaginary scene to the next. "We have to get there. Deepground has the protomateria. Rosso…"

"What does that mean?"

"Omega...whatever it is, it's in their hands. I have to get back to the western continent."

"The ferry leaves every half hour, but you'll have to get to Costa del Sol."

She smirked as a revelation overcame her. Pulling out her phone, she responded, "You know, I might have a faster option," while dialing a number. Through the speaker, a familiar voice answered.

"Yeah?"

"Cid Highwind, you old scoundrel, it's Aria Marx. I need a favor."

Lucrecia stepped up to the glass, her hand briefly extending toward him before distant footsteps caused her to turn away. And then the memory faded.

The darkness that enveloped Vincent felt warm and welcoming, as though being in it lifted a burden away from him. He felt free to move, to rest, to cry, to express his grief and anger and frustration in bellowing howls, and though he opted for silence and stillness, he felt relief in the face of all that such darkness would not judge him for. He felt accepted and content, embraced the inability to place himself, to remember his mission, to remember the last face he saw. He leaned into the nothingness, happy to feel so hollow.

The dull roar of an engine broke through the black fog, tugging at his consciousness. Vincent pulled away from it, holding fast to the world of nothingness. A jolt of his body made him aware of his back lying against cool metal. Again, the engine tested his sleep. It brought with it sounds of computerized blips and beeps, an occasional sigh, and distant wheels on gravel. Before he knew to reach for it, the comforting blackness was gone, replaced by cold, if foggy awareness. His eyes cracked open, finding a small, hooded figure on a bench across from him.

"Morning!" it chirped to him.

He spoke slowly, his throat dry. "Where...Who are you?"

The figure rose, her youthful, arrogant body language revealing her identity before she even spoke. "Well, I'm glad you asked. I am the champion of the earth and the sky. I am the conqueror of evil, the single white rose of Wutai. Yuffie Kisaragi!" She leapt onto the bench. "Feast your eyes on…" she began, immediately losing her balance and falling backward onto the console behind her. "Ow!"

She rubbed her head as he sighed. "So, where are we?"

Indignant, she shot back, "Come on, aren't you at least a little concerned?"

He felt a flicker of longing for unconsciousness. "Oh. Yuffie. It's been a while. How's your head?" he asked dryly.

"Could you at least pretend to be sympathetic?"

At this, he tired of the conversation and began to sit up. The movement sent an overpowering ache through his torso, pulling a groan from him. Yuffie rushed to his side, carefully easing him back down.

"Hey, take it easy! That was a big hole you had in your chest!"

He curled upward a bit, fighting through the pain. "A hole in my chest?"

"I seriously thought you were a goner, but then the wound healed itself right up. You were always different, but I guess that's why you're still breathing!"

"Yuffie, what are you doing here?"

"Me? I'm just helping out Reeve and his gang. I was poking around Nibelheim and I found you looking all corpse-like in Shinra Manor, so I saved you! Imagine that, me saving the great Vincent Valentine!" She spun in a circle, adding drama to his name. "Do I get any thanks?" she prodded, smiling down at him.

She had brought him back from the brink of death, returned him to a world in which he could not hide, could not rest until those who threatened it had been dispatched. He did not know what had become of Aria. In this world, he was constantly pulled in a thousand directions. But Yuffie would never understand, so he simply nodded.

"Thanks, Yuffie."

Something in his face must have given away his thoughts. She shuddered.

"No, no, no! I didn't mean for you to take me so seriously! Uh...anyway, Reeve wanted us to contact him as soon as you woke up."

She moved to the largest console, typing in a number to connect to the WRO headquarters. A black screen flickered on, its picture snowy while the connection was processed.

He inhaled deeply and sat up against the pain. It faded a bit with each subsequent breath. "Did you see…"

Yuffie did not turn from the screen. "Oh, I saw her. She was upstairs."

"Did you see...anyone else?"

"Other than Rosso, the Tsviet from whom I saved you from? She really was ready to kill you, you know. That's why we had to get out so quick. Not that Aria seemed all that interested in joining us."

"No?"

"She just watched, Vincent, hiding in the shadows. She didn't come down. Even when you were…"

"Do you suppose Rosso saw her?"

Yuffie sighed. "I doubt it. She was pretty intent on following you. I saw her walking toward her convoy as we pulled away, so I don't think there was much time for… Oh, here's Reeve."

The screen cleared a bit, a fuzzy image of Reeve coming through. He looked more grave than usual. "I have some good news. Using you-know-who, I was able to infiltrate Midgar. What I saw wasn't the prettiest of pictures. Omega...I should have known. We cannot let them sacrifice the lives of any more people. Once we've gathered our forces, we'll launch a full offensive. Of course, we'll require the help of you two as well. Please meet back at headquarters. Oh, I'm analyzing the data files you sent earlier. I should have results soon. Tuesti out."

Yuffie shut off the screen and turned back to him.

"There you have it. I don't know what's going down, but it sounds big! I've been waiting a long time to get my hands on those Deepground punks…"

She continued on a boastful tangent while he pulled his knee into his chest. His mind wandered back to Shinra Manor, where images of Rosso, Aria, and Sephiroth blended into a confusing mix of fear, anger, and sorrow. He allowed himself to sit with the uncomfortable emotions until they reached Edge.

Just outside of the city limits, the driver's voice sounded through the speakers, pulling Yuffie from her meditation and Vincent from his memories.

"We'll be arriving shortly." The truck braked quickly, jolting its passengers forward. "What the hell?!" the driver shouted. A quick turn and a forceful brake sent Yuffie flying from her seat, tumbling to the back door, where her head connected with metal, knocking her unconscious. Adrenaline pumping, Vincent rushed to her, calling her name to no avail. The sound of gunfire outside the truck caused him to carefully move her to the front of the compartment, hiding her safely behind metal benches. He checked his guns, drew Cerberus, and kicked open the back door.

Two robotic turrets awaited him in the grass outside of Edge. They each fired only once, missing Vincent by inches, before his bullets deactivated them. In the distance, lit by a warm sunset, stood the WRO headquarters, visibly crawling with a new wave of Deepground. He looked back at Yuffie and sighed. Convincing himself that she would find him, he set off for the HQ.

"Looks like they're attacking the WRO again. In greater numbers."

Rufus rubbed his face. "I thought we'd have more time, more soldiers."

Reno shrugged, pocketing his phone. He dropped onto the opposite end of the white sofa where Rufus sat. "I mean, it's a sizable army. We may stand a chance."

"They keep pouring out of Midgar. We have no concept of how many there are. But...why there? Why the WRO? I thought they were after Valentine."

Reno could feel the frustration emanating from Rufus. He hated the lack of control, the lack of intel. As a man used to moving the pawns, it troubled him deeply to be unable to even see the pieces.

"Not really," the redhead finally said. "They were after the protomateria."

"So, what? This is another part of the plan?"

"Azul is in the WRO. So is the little one."

Rufus's lips curled into a half smile. "They're giving them such a hard time, the Tsviets had to call in their reinforcements to get the protomateria?"

Reno nodded at the possibility before his expression darkened. "Or they already got it. And this is the next phase."

Rufus exhaled heavily. "Where is she?"

Reno pulled out his phone again, tapping the screen until a map appeared with a single red blip. He handed it to Rufus, who only furrowed his brow. "Rocket Town?"

"That's what it says."

Rufus handed the phone back, then shifted his weight, dropping his head onto Reno's lap. A smile tugged at the redhead's lips at the gesture, a plea for comfort he had not received in over a year. He ran his fingers through the light blond hair, taking the opportunity to muss it as much as possible as he rubbed Rufus's head.

After a moment of quiet tension, the door clicked open. Tseng stepped in, pausing at the sight of Rufus's posture. He exhaled, then found the leather chair across from the sofa and sat.

"The vehicle transporting Valentine and Kisaragi was attacked outside of Edge. The girl was found unconscious, but came to, and predicted that Valentine would have gone on to the WRO HQ. Deepground has penetrated the building, but is not sending any more troops, as far as we can tell. The number is somewhere in the low one hundreds, with two Tsviets."

"There was definitely an attack at the Manor?" Rufus asked. Tseng nodded in confirmation. "That's where they split up then. And the protomateria?"

A beat passed before Tseng answered. "Kisaragi confirmed that the other female Tsviet, Rosso, has taken possession of it. She...tore it from his chest."

Reno raised his eyebrows in surprise. "And he lived? Good god…"

Rufus rubbed his eyes. "Alright. We can't worry about protecting Valentine anymore, then. Whatever is happening in Midgar, we have to shut it down. Reeve should be organizing an offensive plan. We need to get as much force behind that attack as possible."

Reno nodded, adding, "Reeve has more connections than just the WRO, you know. And with Valentine and Kisaragi already involved…"

Rufus picked up the thought. "And Highwind. Marx is already in Rocket Town, no doubt soliciting more than just a flight back to the western continent. Who does that leave?"

"Tifa, Barrett. The cat. And…"

Rufus smirked. "The young and fearless leader."

"I'm not sure it's pertinent that we bring them all to Midgar…" Tseng said lowly, trying to diffuse the energy behind the proposed reunion of Avalanche.

"They took down Sephiroth. They eliminated Bahamut Sin. Outside of our own men, they're the best fighters I can think of. And to stop Deepground from killing thousands more people, you don't think calling them in seems pertinent?" He sat up, and Reno grinned as each golden hair fell exactly where it belonged. Rufus's gaze narrowed on Tseng. "I know you don't like them. But whether directly or indirectly, they've saved the life of everyone in this room, and everyone who wears that uniform. The dust has settled, Tseng, and we're on the same side. No, you don't have to like it. But, like the rest of us, you must adjust to it."