Things are about to get a little dark for the next few chapters, especially when a certain sick and evil character makes his intro, but don't worry, with our next new character things will be a little bit easier for Sephiroth to handle this time around.
Enjoy!
Chapter Eight
The younger warriors didn't know what to expect, but a room filled with coffins was certainly not on their list of possibilities. When Sephiroth mentioned someone was on the other side to help them they expected someone to be either trapped down here or someone actually living here, not this.
"Uh, who are you looking for Seph? There's nothing here. This place is a tomb," informed Zack.
Sephiroth looked to the side of the middle coffin and saw the lock. So, it was true, the key in the safe would unlock it, but Sephiroth rarely needed keys. Taking Masamune he aimed his strike carefully and broke the lock, unsealing the coffin.
Zack and Cloud watched in stunned silence as Sephiroth lifted the lid and let it hit the floor with a heavy thud and looked inside.
"What are you doing?" Zack nearly shouted. "You didn't bring us all the way down here to rob a grave did you?"
"We're not here to steal, Zackary. We're here to prevent a tragedy. I'm just saving someone else in the process," the General replied. "Cloud, come here."
The infantryman gulped before slowly making his way over to the coffin. "Help me get him out of here."
Cloud looked down into the coffin, expecting to see a dead corpse, but instead he was surprised to see the body completely intact. It hadn't decayed in the slightest, and what was more surprising was that he didn't look dead. He looked more like he was sleeping.
Sephiroth grabbed one arm while Cloud grabbed the other. The moment Cloud touched him, the man's eyes opened. Rising out of the coffin like some legendary vampire, the man looked at the three. "Who dares disturb me?" he asked in a quiet, raspy voice. It was clear he hadn't used it in a while.
Zack waved his hands in front of him nervously, "Our bad, it was an accident. You can go back to sleep now."
"We are not your enemies," Sephiroth addressed him. "This is Zack Fair, my second in command," he implied while motioning towards Zack. "This is Private Cloud Strife," he added while pointing towards the blonde, "and I am General Sephiroth."
The man blinked hearing the last name. "If you're Sephiroth then that means…how long have I been down here?"
"I do not know," Sephiroth replied. "However I've come seeking your help. I know there is another room further down, but I don't trust myself to seek the knowledge it holds without someone who was there and knows the truth of my birth and my destiny."
Zack looked over at his commander now, completely taken aback by what he meant. "Whoa, hold up. Sorry coffin-vampire dude, but I need to have a word with my commanding officer for a minute."
He pulled said general out the door with him and into the hall while the man watched them leave and then looked over at Cloud who lifted a hand, "uh, hi?"
Out in the hall Zack glared at his leader. "Look, I know I'm crossing a line here, and you can pound me for it later, but I deserve some answers. First you want us to blow a reactor, and I'll get to what me'n Cloud found there in a minute, but then you want us to go down into some freaky mansion and wake up a guy who's been sleeping here for years and knows you? Then you start spouting about your destiny? You gotta throw me a bone here because I'm starting to lose it!"
Sephiroth was glaring at Zack while he waited for a chance to speak. "Are you finished yet Fair? I told you I would explain my actions soon. Now is not the time."
"So, you've already destroyed Jenova then?" asked the man as he exited the room with Cloud following behind.
Sephiroth nodded and Zack moved out of the way allowing the stranger to pass. He headed for the room Sephiroth had mentioned. He stopped and turned towards the group then. "My name is Vincent Valentine. I was a Turk who worked for Shinra. My job was to protect the scientists working here and to assist them. Despite my appearance I am no longer human. I have been turned into a weapon. The one responsible for that crime is Professor Hojo."
"A weapon?" repeated Cloud who just now noticed the golden claw that covered the man's left hand.
Vincent nodded, "Yes. But my story can wait for another time. For now we have to focus on Sephiroth." He turned towards the general and looked him in the eye. Glowing red met green as he stated his warning. "Just a reminder from what we told you before. You do need to discover your origin, however the information you will find in these books are only half truths, if they contain any truth at all. Hojo is devious and cunning and I'm sure he planted some false answers for you. Being a weapon, I am in tune with the planet, and it's currently holding its breath. You do not sense it, but there is much suspense and the air is thick with it. Just know that whatever you find beyond this door you must not give into despair. You asked for my help and I shall give it to you. Just remember one thing. You are not alone this time."
"This time?" asked Zack. He turned to Cloud who just shrugged.
Vincent smirked at them before looking over at Sephiroth who was hit with a realization. "You know about what happened to me. Are you saying you remember what happened in the future?"
Vincent slowly nodded. "Yes, and I remember your promise. It's time to see if you'll keep it."
With that he opened the door and flipped a switch activating the lights. Zack was surprised this place still had power. The room was filled with books, notebooks and papers along with a few mako tanks. Zack walked by two of them and shuddered. "Ugh, this place gives me the creeps."
Vincent nodded in understanding. "As it should. In another time you two were kept down here as experiments."
Cloud and Zack both looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" the blonde asked.
"It may happen again if the general gives into his fears. However, since you said you killed Jenova the threat level shouldn't be as high." He replied.
Sephiroth went to pick up a book before Vincent stopped him. "Before you start, there are some things you need to know. First, Jenova was not your mother. She was not an almighty being and no matter what truths you discover about your creation that has nothing to do with who you are now. You are stronger than what Hojo made you to be. You have all the makings of a great man and can become the hero of your story instead of the tragic victim of insanity. No one here would betray you and you have our support to see that the real monsters are dealt with. Do you understand?"
Sephiroth took a moment to look at each of them. Vincent, who remembered everything from the future, Zack whom he didn't want to see killed this time and Cloud who didn't look like a threat now, but he could easily see the ghost of the skilled swordsman standing next to him, meeting his gaze with equal determination. The message the specter sent was clear; "I'll always be there to stop you."
He looked back to Vincent and nodded. "I understand. The lies hidden within these notes will not get the better of me this time."
Vincent backed off and Sephiroth took a slow, calming breath before opening the book and began reading.
