PROLOGUE

Midgar's Evacuation

The reddened crust of Meteor's leering surface hung in the dark sky above the vast city of Midgar, slowly advancing with each passing second, its image fading as black storm clouds gathered rapidly overhead. The pulses of energy that the Diamond WEAPON had shot towards the city in its final moments had caused much devastation across the sectors, obliterating everything in its path from the upper-most levels of the Shinra Building, to the internal structures of the Plate. The attack had left Midgar in a serious crisis, but the events of that night seemed nothing more than a softened prelude for what was to follow.

Yuffie flinched as a fork of lightning struck the Sector3 Mako Reactor a number of miles to the south, the night sky illuminated in a momentary flash of blue and white. She dropped the sheet of rigid steel to the ground, brushing the sweat from her brow with the back of her arm. She had been leading the Shinra rescue teams in their hunt for survivors across Sector2 for almost three hours, scavenging the streets and buildings for those who had refused to flee to the Slums as Meteor approached the city. The sound of fluttering filled her ears and, as she glanced up from the rubble, she saw another emergency helicopter touch down fifty feet from where she stood.

'I've found the last one!' called one of the rescue crew, stumbling from the doorway of the bank, an elderly man in his arms. 'He's critical.'

'Come on…hurry!' yelled Yuffie, waving him towards the aircraft. 'And try not to drop anyone this time. People with injuries are more important.'

She watched the crew member as he hurried down the street, striding purposefully against the weight his fireproof outfit and helmet. She turned, pulling her goggles down over her eyes as a strong gust blew dust and grime across her, and motioned for another of the crew to meet her. Taking a final scan of the building he had searched, the man jogged towards her, the searchlight of a rising helicopter washing smoothly over his uniform.

'What's our situation?' Yuffie asked as he stopped before her.

'Excavation is complete.' replied the man, panting heavily as he fought to catch his breath. 'All the survivors have been taken to safety.'

'Good work.' said Yuffie. 'Tell your team to pull out, but stay on high alert until we know the helicopters have reached a safe distance from the storm.'

'Roger.'

Saluting her, the man darted along the road, the distant rumble of thunder echoing across the heavens. Yuffie frowned, desperate to evacuate the rescue crew as soon as possible. Many of the men and women were now boarding some of the aircraft that lined the road of the downtown plaza, ascending into the night and disappearing over what was left of the city's skyline in the direction of the nearby town of Kalm. Pulling the radio from her pocket, Yuffie flicked the switch to transmit.

'All teams pull out.' she shouted over the growing howl of wind. 'I repeat; all teams pull out. Sector2 is clear. Vincent, what's your status?'

'Sector8 is finished.' came Vincent's crackling voice over the radio. 'But…Yuffie, turn your life sensor towards the Mako Cannon.'

'What? Why?'

'Just do it.'

'But that place has been blocked off.' she argued, reluctantly moving the handheld device in the direction of the Shinra Building. 'Reeve said nobody has been anywhere near the Cannon since us. Especially on…huh…what the…?'

As the sensor swooped over the sight of the enormous barrel of the Mako Cannon that reached out towards the city limits, reproducing its three-dimensional image upon the blue digital display, the screen blinked and became red. She gasped, focusing on the control terminal of the Cannon a short way from Headquarters. The device indicated a single life form remained on the platform, unmoving from its position at the computer panels.

'Yuffie, what is it?' said Vincent, his tone becoming tense.

'It…it's strange.' she stammered. 'The signal has detected a single life…'

'Just as I thought.'

'This is crazy. There's no way anyone could be up there…'

'Yuffie, rendezvous with Cloud and the others.'

'What?' she cried. 'No, Vincent, wa…wait…something's not right…I have a bad feeling about this!'

'It appears that I have some unfinished business.'

* * *

Vincent switched the radio off, stuffing it into his belt as he sprinted down the alleyway. Turning left at the end of the passage, he caught sight of one of the destroyed limbs of the Proud Clod lying burned and broken across the cobbled pavement, and knew that his destination was close. It had been little over ten hours since the party had defeated Heidegger and Scarlet's abominable creation as they sought access to the Mako Cannon, leaving it to rot along with its masters. Now, casting the memories from his mind of a night when the Shinra Empire had fallen, he spotted the temporary stairwell beyond the abandoned blockades at the end of the road.

Climbing the steps of the steel staircase two at a time, he came to the metal walkway atop the last of the fifteen flights. All was dark around him, the lamps on the tower bent and twisted as they stretched along the height of the Cannon. With a roar of thunder and a crack of lightning, the gale began to increase in speed, thrusting debris into the air with each ferocious blast of wind. Vincent pulled the collar of his red cloak across his face to shield his eyes as he started cautiously along the creaking structure, the ragged ends of the cape flapping wildly behind. In the shadows before him, he saw the platform for the control terminal, another streak of forked lightning somewhere close to the tower momentarily blinding him from his surroundings.

His eyes coming to focus, Vincent growled, at last spotting the limp form of Hojo. As expected, the body of the scientist was slumped against the computer screens from the seated position in which they had left him. The very sight of the man sent an anger pulsating through his veins. He thought of his battle with Hojo; the cells of Jenova against the particles of Chaos. He remembered the intense fury in his heart as his body had transformed; watching in horror as the viral cells of Jenova mutated the scientist; and recalled the moment when the bullet of the Death Penalty had pierced the brain of the madman.

He took everything from me, but it was I who dealt the final blow. I should at least feel I have atoned for one of my sins, but… something's wrong. Why is there still a life signature coming from this place? Could it be that the Jenova cells in his body are preventing him from fully passing into the Lifestream?

Not once taking his gaze from him, Vincent drew his rifle, Cerberus, slowly from its holster on his leg, and aimed it at Hojo. The weapon was a soothing presence amidst the chaotic setting, its three silver barrels valiant and strong before him. The body seemed unaffected by the threat, unmoving but for the constant waver of the professor's stained laboratory coat. Vincent's expression grew taught and, as his finger wrapped around Cerberus' trigger, lightning struck the platform.

The explosion sent a shockwave pulsating across the walkway, tearing strips of metal from the tower. The sound of grinding steel rang out around him, followed by a great scream as the girders buckled at the foundations. Feeling the structure sway sharply beneath him, Vincent grabbed the barrier, glancing up as he tried to regain his balance. He frowned as he saw what remained of the control panel, the destroyed section of the shredded computer system ablaze with a fire spreading rapidly across it. Hojo was gone, his only trace a flashing monitor bearing the word 'Balestorg', replaced a few seconds later by a small notice: 'starting fragment program'.

From the east, a searchlight passed over him, swathing his body in white light, drawing his attention from the screen. One of the rescue helicopters was nearing the Cannon, its flight unstable as it forced its way through the storm. Coming to a stationary point a short distance above him, he saw the side door of the craft slide open to reveal Yuffie, her arms flailing as she frantically beckoned him. With a swift movement, he leapt onto the barrier and sprang towards her, soaring gracefully through the air like a dart. Landing hard at her side, he felt the helicopter rise immediately and, pulling his cloak around him as he turned, he saw the tower crumble from the Mako Cannon.