Now I'm about to really make someone mad I know no one likes character death but this will be the turning point of the back and forth hiding problem for the avalanche team. Time to make things happen.

Months have passed now since the attack on edge and the team has been working hard to build up from the devastating blow. Denzel has enlisted the help of Koty to train him and cloud is feeling a stirring of strange powers as he tries to control the situation.

What will they do to end this catastrophic scene? Read and all shall be told.

Redemption:

They had suffered through the heartache. They had turned their inhibitions of sorrow into unyielding strength. For the days that had turned into months each of the members of AVALANCHE had grown stronger, training and preparing for the moment that their fearless leader would lead them to end the threat that was lithium.

They knew that the enemy was strong and massive. However with the troops of the WRO behind them they believed failure was improbable. None however were prepared for the true enemy that lay beyond the smoke that was once edge.

For all of their training they could still feel the ever-present sadness that came from their beloved sister at the loss of her home and the anger that surged through their leader at her tears.

Something was going to happen and whatever it was would not end without one of them, most likely cloud, loosing something precious. This was too large a battle to simply walk away from without a scratch.

Cloud stood upon the roof of the main building in the WRO HQ. The sun was shining but it was not as beautiful as it would have once been. It was only a constant reminder of all the lives that had been lost. He hated the light. Its brightness was always sought by the fearful and ignorant. But he knew its truth. It showed the rust that had grown over the once brilliant superstructure of life. It illuminated the ironic and horrific truth.

"Hey buddy…. What ya doin up here? Why the long face spike." Zack walked up behind him "what's up?"

"I think I'm losing my sense of humor." He responded coldly.

"Come again?"

"God."

"What about him?"

"If he's up there he's laughing his ass off at me. I don't find it so funny. If this is a joke, I'm not laughing."

"Stop talkin like that. Its gona turn out okay man. Reeve and Koty are workin on finding lithium. Tifa she's pretty messed up over this but she's trying to make things work. Why not you? You seem so stuck on this man….. I can tell this is bumming you out but man you gotta relax. Maybe we'll get a lead on'em soon and then we can kick some merc ass."

"Wish I could be so optimistic."

"Why not. You're alive and kicking. You gota bombshell of a wife and a heluva kid. That Denzel is something else. And hell thanks to Koty you got most of your bike back. And we're all alive."

"But……."

"What is it spiky?"

"Just when things seem to be going good something terrible happens. Like when I finally managed to make soldier you died and sephiroth went nuts and killed all of nibelheim. When that ended sephiroth decided to destroy the world. Stopped him. And just when I thought maybe life would go well I get geostigma. And after that I thought maybe if I just leave I could die in peace but no. kadaj screwed that up. got rid of the geostigma and damit if sephiroth didn't find a way back from the dead. Killed that sorry bastard again thought things would go back to normal. Nope. Deepground. Had to get my sword dirty on them too. Then that ended and now this."

"that's a lot to cover. I feel for ya man. But legends aren't made by those who get hit hard. They're made by those who get up just one more time then they get knocked down."

"I don't care anymore. I just wana live in peace……. I don't want to fight all the time……"

"I know how you feel."

"really. Coming from the one man who generally looks for a fight."

"nothing wrong with a scuffle of course but I get that the whole end of the world crisis thing is getting old."

"you aint kiddin."

"now spikes. Come on its not all bad. You're alive and that's what matters. And if this hadn't happened would you have proposed to Tifa?"

"yes! In due time" he retorted.

"yeah right. When we first met you didn't even have the balls to talk to her. If things hadn't been rushed you'd never even tried I know you. You don't work properly unless you're under pressure. In this case this has just been one giant push towards your inevitable ball and chain contract."

"that's not the point zack people died. Because of Koty and my weakness."

"this is fate dude. That wasn't yours or Koty's fault. You didn't know this would happen and neither did he! That's just life for ya. It sucks. It has to or nothing would ever go right."

He stood silent and contemplated Zack's words. "I guess you're right. But it doesn't bring them back."

"yeah funny thing about being dead as much as everyone cries here it's not all that bad on the other side. Lotsa sleep time. And all you can eat too."

"didn't change you at all obviously."

"nope. As I said before it's not that bad. And no bastards to experiment on your ass either. No fuckin hojo. No shinra and no damn monsters either."

"sounds so nice. Remind me to die more often." The sarcasm in clouds words was followed by him crossing his arms.

"man don't even joke about that."

Inside Tifa and Aerith were catching up on several years of absence. They had hoped that their first time together in years wouldn't be spent with one of the two unconscious every few hours. But now that the string of unfortunate events were apparently lightening up they made up for lost time.

"so when are you actually going to marry him?" the flower girl laughed as she sipped on a cup of some strange beverage.

"don't know we haven't had a chance to talk about it since the proposal. What with all the mess that's been going on. And the training that cloud has put himself through. He really needs to relax but whenever he's not beating the crap out of Koty he's nowhere to be found." She responded with an irritated sigh.

"I think Koty enjoys the beating honestly. He doesn't seem to affected by cloud."

"true but I still feel like clouds just fighting him because of bad blood. And the fact that neither seem to speak unless in a fight."

"not entirely true big sister" Koty made himself known as he spoke. She had no idea how long he had been there but he was sitting on a window seal and hung one leg to the outside.

"you know I wish you wouldn't do that."

"apologies."

"no not that. I mean…… Koty that window is like six stories high. If you fall there won't be enough of you to fight lithium."

"are you afraid of heights Tifa?"

"no its just I don't think dangling from a window is a good idea."

"perhaps." He seemed to block her out and drift into thought.

"ahhhh….. I swear I hate this silence bid you and cloud have. Hello! Koty! I think I'm just gona push him out the window just to hear him scream." Her joke though unamusing to her made Aerith laugh.

"I think he just needs some time to think." The flower girl added as she stood. "come on Tifa let's see if we can find your hubby."

"good luck I've tried everywhere but the men's room and if I know cloud he doesn't wana stay in one spot for too long."

"maybe he's with the kids."

"already tried that. Not there."

"Barret might know."

"he's with the kids."

"Shera."

"with cid and there's a do not disturb sign on the door."

"oh my."

"yup."

"I'm pretty sure Vincent doesn't……. ahhh."

"what? What is it?" Tifa spun on her heals to find that Koty was gone. "did he fall?"

"he jumped."

They ran to the window to find that Koty was on the ground below them. 'shit if he's alive I'm gona kill him.'

"is he alright" Aerith sounded genuinely worried as she covered her mouth with her hands.

"I don't know let's find out."

They hurried down two the ground level to find several WRO officers huddled around the man who oddly towered over them by a few inches. 'wait Koty's not that tall. What's going on?'

"hey move all of you…… Koty what the hell do you think……..you're…….doing……" she looked to find a large animal pinned beneath him.

The animal seemed almost canine in nature but it was plated like a machine and its head looked a lot like a camera used for surveillance.

"this is not from my world. But It is not natural either. Perhaps it is best if we study this." He stated as he moved away from the creature.

"first off if you ever pull a stunt like that again you won't have to worry about lithium because I'll be the one trying to kill you……. Are you alright."

"why wouldn't I be?"

"you just jumped from a six story window. You should be dead."

"really? I don't think it could have done that much damage."

"how did you survive that."

"your people are softer than mine. our bones and muscle structure far exceed yours. Observe feel your skin and then mine." He held out a hand.

'god he's like a piece of marble.' She felt the back of his hand. Smooth but hard as stone. He was right he was definitely built better than any normal person.

"however" he added "I also exceed most physicality of my people as well. But for your benefit I will refrain from frightening you again big sister."

"please stop calling me that."

"why?"

"uhhhh…… just don't….." she left with a stomp and Aerith was left to ponder the situation.

"did I do something wrong?"

"no" Aerith patted his shoulder "Tifa's just under a lot of stress. The last few months have really been a handful and well….. no offense I think she just finds the whole big sister thing a bit…….. unnerving…….."

"oh….. I see." He dropped his head.

"no it's not that bad it's just try not to awkward her out as much as you can."

"understood."

"have you seen cloud or zack…..?"

"they are having a chat. Zack requested that I make sure you and Tifa were okay."

"and that's why you were at the window."

"yes."

"well when you see cloud tell him…. Ummm……… oh. Tell him Tifa's 'lonely'"

"Lonely?"

"yeah…. He'll get the hint…… well I'm going back inside I'll see you later…… oh and if it's all the same I think you and Shelke make a cute couple."

"excuse me?"

"you are aren't you"

"no." he answered sternly as his face portrayed a pinkish tint.

"do you want to be."

"ummm"

"be honest."

The roof had become a place of realization and was turning into clouds personal favorite spot. However even if it wasn't to escape people he found the quiet nice. This was of course when zack wasn't making his best attempt at lightening the situation.

"you know if I didn't know better I'd say you were gay."

"what?"

"the way you manage to know exactly what Tifa's thinking makes it seem more like you've checked yourself out in a mirror. Are you hiding something from me spike"

"knock it off zack" 'this is pointless. Why is he being a clown.'

"just sayin man. I mean you did wear a dress. And yeah I saw that. It was friggin hilarious. But hey you look good as a woman."

"now who's gay."

"not on your life you spiky haired cross dresser. I don't cheat on my woman. You know the rules. An Aerith a day keeps Zack's head where it stays."

"that's a pretty jacked up set of rules."

"still it's the game plan. Besides have you seen Aerith she's hot!"

"can't say as I argue I've seen her naked though."

"you evil bastard."

"well I think had you been conscious you may not have missed out."

"so pass out and miss out. Damn my luck."

"pay a little more attention."

"so is her hair actually that color?"

"what!? Zack!"

"hey I was nappin you gota peep show."

"I wasn't lookin at that."

"why not you think she's not good enough to look at."

"no….. I just…."

"ill tell'er that you think she's ugly."

An explosion broke the friendly banter and cloud looked out into the open to see a small platoon of soldiers walking toward the base behind them a large metallic creature with four legs and a cannon on its back.

The creature looked almost like a giant metal beetle. It walked as though it were a machine and this made it resemble the tanks used against them in the deepground incident. However in comparison this particular object seemed far larger and well armored.

"what the fuck is that." Cloud narrowed his eyes at it unleashed a powerful blast from the cannon atop its back.

"damn we're under attack." Zack rushed to the stairwell and slammed the door against the wall before turning to usher cloud forward. "come on spikes! Cloud? Cloud!!"

A voice was whispering in clouds ear. 'the horde wants blood. Because they have none. The hand of despair is at your disposal. With its power you cannot be defeated. Your only opponent now is fear…… conquer your fear. And rush headlong into the cataclysm. To stop disaster you must embrace your own catastrophe.' Without even blinking he stepped off of the roof and plummeted to the ground below.

"shit! Cloud!" zack was terrified as he rushed down the stairs to meet cloud on the ground. "don't you dare land before I get there"

He ran down the stairs. He pushed his body to its limits. Pulling every ounce of his enhanced powers he rushed to the ground level and out to the spot he was sure cloud had landed.

"cloud…….! CLOUD!!!!!" he had apparently ran faster that he had previously anticipated because seconds after his call cloud slammed into the concrete to his right. "damit! Cloud buddy speak to me. Are you okay."

Cloud rose unharmed and unflinching. He hadn't even been scratched. However as in the months past zack noticed his eyes had taken a dark ebony shade.

"cloud….. hey man what's with the eyes?"

Cloud continued in silence but his body language told zack that he was about to annihilate the opposition.

"forgot who I was talkin to. A man of few words. Well I guess that means it's time for a fight. Huh? Okay….. I'll take that as a yes."

And the war was on. Cloud charged through hordes of enemies slashing and hacking everything in his path. They fell before him like dominos. One on top of the other the bodies piled. However the WRO did not fare so well. The bullets that flew through the air seemed to cut through both enemies and allies alike. In all of the confusion no one noticed Koty charging the tank like creature.

"everyone fall back . the enemy is advancing to quickly we need to retreat to the base." One of the WRO operatives shouted over the gunfire just before falling victim to the lead himself.

"damit everyone return to point we'll hold the fort as long as we can." Reeve's voice echoed over the intercom.

Seconds later a large explosion silenced the battlefield.

The mechanized tank like creature was apparently the source of the explosion. It fell and a bright almost Technicolor light consumed it. Both sides stopped and stared and from the dust of the fallen behemoth Koty emerged. However his appearance was altered. He bore a single demonic wing on his left side and his eyes glowed an intense violent red.

"the dreadnaught is slain. Your leader would be displeased. But none of you will survive to report back you are mine" his voice called like an imminent demise "now parish."

The opposite side charged him and another explosion destroyed the frontlines. With this half of them split from the original group and charged Koty while the other half resumed their assault.

"cloud!" Tifa called to him as he struck another down. "cloud! Where are you?"

It took him around a second to find her position and eliminate all of the opposition in his path to her. "are you okay?"

"I'm fine look out" she dove at him and landed a straight bone shattering punch to the face of one of the opposition. "where have you been?"

"we don't have time to discuss this now." He eyes went black again and a demonic tone overshadowed his voice. "Tifa get inside protect Denzel."

"cloud………… okay."

The battle was far from over but Tifa surmised that the rest could easily be handled.

Cloud turned with precision and downed slew the remnants of those following Tifa before charging the front gate. They weren't like most enemies. They had no fear. No emotion and no leader that could easily be seen. 'these soldiers. They're not normal. Shit.' Cloud dodged a large knife that flew past him and into a WRO operative behind him.

The soldier he traced the knife back to seemed to be the commander as he stood silently challenging the leader of avalanche.

"Koty!" zack shouted as he threw his buster towards the juggernaut that was in his eyes their best weapon against lithium "givem hell man!"

With the buster now in hand Koty obliterated enemy after enemy with swift and terrible retribution.

"zack these enemies are biotech. You can't defeat them with normal trauma. You must make a fatal strike to disable them." He responded by cutting down several of the enemies with ease. "zack." He returned the buster sword to its owner. "save as many as you can cloud and I can handle these curs."

Cloud could feel the rage of battle flowing through him as he downed all of the enemies that the supposed leader could throw at him. He felt nigh invincible until he reached his destination.

"alright. Now you're goin down." His darkened voice reverberated with fury as he swung his massive sword at the enemy.

The rest of the assailants stood down and watched as cloud and their leader commenced a battle of skill and strength. Only the combatants facing Koty and zack were absent minded of the battle.

"what's happening." Vincent spoke as he lowered Cerberus from its former alarmed stance. "why aren't they moving anymore"

"they are watching. Perhaps their orders are to eliminate cloud." Red lowered his eyes to the scene as he barred his teeth "I do not think this bodes well. Cloud has gotten stronger but these enemies are not flesh. They are machines. Amazing as it is it still reeks of disaster."

The battle commenced and cloud swung his sword only to meet air. 'damn he's fast.' Again he swung to find nothing and only by a fraction of a second did he manage to evade a swift and agile knife being thrust at him. 'what the hell that's not possible. That movement is almost too fast to see.'

Several thrusts and a slash later cloud found himself at a disadvantage. He was wielding a weapon too large to block a knife properly and from the way his opponent stood calmly told cloud that he knew that. 'gota kill this guy quickly' he dodged and unfortunately in the wrong direction and found the knife buried deep into his side.

"CLOUD!!!! NO!" Tifa screamed as she tried vainly against Barret to rush to clouds side. "LET ME GO…….. HE'S HURT!"

"I know baby girl but if you go out there you'll get him killed." Barret struggled to hold the fighter back. "calm down."

Cloud lifted himself to find the cold visor of his adversary and then realized that this enemy wasn't trying to kill him. 'he's…… studying me….. what the fuck.' He gripped his side and felt the handle of the weapon 'shit….. this is gona leave a mark.'

"go on…… do it….." cloud taunted the man.

The enemy lifted his hands to his head and removed his helmet. Underneath was a sight that made clouds head spin.

He looked exactly like him 'this is bull shit…… no way.' He didn't seem to notice the man's advance until he gripped the knife. 'grrr……. This is it…….. Tifa I love you baby…… I tried.' The man pulled the blade from clouds side and watched with analytical interest as he fell to the ground.

"you……. You're not…….. you're not him." He said a mechanical tone echoing in curiosity fell from his lips.

"who…….. what do you want. Who are you" cloud coughed as he looked up.

"we are the horde………. Coffin born. We come for the reclaimer. The redeemer……. You are not him…… but your soul reeks of his sadness."

"what's your name…….?"

"Name?"

"yeah what your subordinates call you?" cloud spat angrily "it's a custom to know your opponents name."

"we are horde."

"I know what you are you fuckin psycho….. I asked who you are."

"j………"

"Jonah!" Koty's roar echoed over the corpses and still inactive soldiers.

"Jonah?" the man was confused.

"what have they done to you."

"reclaimer…….. redeemer…… the grim one. We seek your command."

"Jonah…… it's me…….. please………. I know you can hear me."

"there is no Jonah we are horde……. Legion……. We are the coffin born."

"no……….." Koty fell to his knees in defeat and cloud felt a sudden weakness at this. "Jonah….. they will pay."

"why do you seek him….?" Cloud stood sword ready for another round.

"we are coffin born. We hold no orders without the commandment of the reclaimer."

"so your zombies. Great."

"no we are horde."

"I've had it with this. You're goin down." Cloud charged him again only to meet with a swift kick to the side. "damit."

"your face is so familiar……"

Tifa finally managed to break free of Barret and rushed to make it to cloud clocking as many of the soldiers as she could on her route to her beloved.

"cloud….. cloud hold on……. We'll get you fixed up soon. Please just don't leave" she cooed him as she held his head up.

"you….. we remember you……. Human……. Water 80% mineral compounds and various components 20%......" he started giving statistics. "name Elizabeth……… no…….." he stalled and his strange robotic eyes closed and reopened revealing an all too human strain of sadness. "Tifa……. You…….. you were with us that night………"

"Jonah!" Koty stood and from the look in his eye cloud clearly made out that he wasn't going to allow any further harm even from this man.

"silence." He retorted "you came to the night club…….. and Liz……. Then Koty………. Then……… oh………." He lowered his head and looked at the plates that adorned his body. "lithium………. Did this……… Liz……… that means she's……….. oh no…………." he dropped to his knees. "this is wrong……… I shouldn't be here…….. I should be."

"are you really there……." Tifa gasped.

"I shouldn't…. I'm supposed to be…….. dead…….. why"

"lithium did this to you……….. I'm so sorry if I hadn't."

"no…….. cant…….. I can hear them……. They're angry with lithium……. They keep saying…….. for the horde………… blood for the horde…….. damit make it stop."

"how……"

"don't……..know."

"I swear sometimes you have to just do things for yourself. These pathetic mechs can't be trusted. Sad." Burdock walked forward and made himself known. "I knew they would be able to find you private. Now if you're ready we can leave and there would be no more need to shed any more blood."

"you" the man on the ground launched himself at burdock. "you did this to them……. To me………. It's your blood they want…….. not Koty's you degenerate bastard. I'll kill you for what you did to Liz……… you're gona die………."

"I think not…….." burdock caught the man by the throat and held him aloft. "though you may have a ghost in the machine they don't. men attack."

The soldiers raised their guns but before shots could be fired Koty stepped forward his eyes glowing an intense white. "hold your fire."

"so it's a battle of power you want. Very well let's see how long you hold out. Men execute this traitor." Burdock's eyes copied Koty's and he tossed the man they assumed was Jonah aside.

"cease fire." Koty was showing a sign of strain and it was evident that he couldn't hold the pressure much longer

"lets get him out of here. Tifa…….. I've got cloud." Zack voiced as he lifted the strange man. "wait which one is cloud"

"doesn't matter let's just get inside. Koty can deal with them" she responded "be careful little brother."

"go now." He commanded the four inside "now men issued order 735 over ride. Free for all."

The men then opened fire in every direction apparently not trying to distinguish friend from foe as they gunned each other down.

Amongst the chaos Koty and burdock commenced a form of warfare that was so unreal it seemed to tear the very fabric of time around them. Both of them wielded similar powers though where Koty after a small amount of time seemed to tire burdock held fast in his strength. They destroyed any that stood between them. Tearing apart those that impeded their progress they brought a form of hell unheard of to the battle field.

When all of the gunshots silenced there were still the two fighting juggernauts. Both equal yet very different.

Koty at this point seemed too tired to continue. Burdock on the other hand simply brushed aside the fatigue and walked toward his opponent with unhidden malice.

"now that we've seen what you can do I think my prototype weapon was a great success. You see where your inferior premodle requires blood and spirit essence mine simply never runs out of power. Though I will admit kid you had me concerned I think if you return now though that we may can work out the kinks in that little weapon of yours. Whadaya say….. wont you return to us. We can make sure you never have to go through this again." Burdock seemed to smile as he extended his hand.

"I spit at your request…. You despicable snake." He spat blood at his enemy's feet.

"I don't think you see the light yet. That's fine. I'll just beat it into you." He delivered a punch to the side of Koty's face with enough force to send him flying into the steel wall to the far side of the field.

"this has to stop. I'm going out there" Vincent stepped forward Cerberus drawn , but before he could leave Yuffie grabbed him.

"no viney don't. it's too dangerous."

"Yuffie?"

"please Vince don't …I…….. I don't want you to die……. I know it's not right but maybe he needs to die……. You don't."

"what are you saying Yuffie. No one deserves to die." Tifa seemed hesitant as she looked at the young ninja.

"if we go out there its suicide. Koty he……… he's done some really terrible things…… we can't kill ourselves over him. Please Vincent no."

"I won't watch this and do nothing. You all have instilled that honor in me……. But Yuffie…….. why are you so worried…… we have faced far worse……." Vincent turned to see the tears in her eyes.

Outside Koty was trying vainly to defend himself.

"hurts don't it. You see there's a nasty side affect to your particular model. After a while when there's no power it starts to turn. Like a hungry dog turning on its master it starts to eat at its host." Burdock taunted.

"you lie…… I have been weaker and it never devoured me before." He retorted.

"but you haven't notice something. The enemies you fought before had blood. The mechs that you've been fighting have been completely bioformed. They don't have any essence to drain. Even trace amounts have been eradicated. Short of course that one particular model. He couldn't be helped I guess. Here there is no way for your reaper to keep its sustenance soon you'll lose control and every living soul here will become nothing but fodder. I can help you though. We can fix this."

"you can die." Koty unleashed a massive explosion that seemed to rattle the very earth itself only to find that burdock was unfazed by its intensity.

"well I see this won't end peacefully."

Inside the group was eagerly awaiting Yuffie's response to Vincent's question before a strong shockwave coming from Koty shook the building.

"damit I have to go now. He won't survive much more. Yuffie please release me." Vincent demanded her removal but to no avail.

"Vincent please…….I …….." she stuttered.

"we don't have time for this let go" he wrenched himself from her and hastily made a break for the door.

"Vincent I love you!"

He apparently didn't hear as she collapsed to the ground and he exited the building 'as much as I blame you Koty. If you die here there will be no end to this nightmare. Yuffie I know what you feel and that's why I cannot allow this to continue.' He raced onto the almost silent battle field and witnessed a strange site. Koty was on his knees and trying to crawl away from his enemy 'that isn't good if Koty is afraid of him then that means he must be incredibly powerful. Wait what is he saying.'

"you see kid. If you come with me it'll all go away. We can bring back the girl. We can even rebuild your friends for you. But we need you. Your ability to restore your physical body and your ability to wage war are unmatched….. by anyone but me of course. But history cannot be written by a king alone. I would need a commander of my army and I could think of no finer an individual." Burdock seemed to be bribing him.

"no……. you made me kill them….. you destroyed all that was ever beautiful. You are not a king you are a true demon. A monster…. We are the epitome of sin and if it's the last thing I do you will die." Koty retorted with shallow breath.

"oh please save the hero crap for the movies. You and I both know that you don't have enough power left to defend yourself much less destroy this."

"no but I do." Vincent transformed and attacked burdock.

"ahh a beast fit for a pet. I think I've got a nice name for you. Oh yes dead!" he slapped Vincent aside and he slammed into the wall behind Koty.

'damit…… how………..is he…… so strong……' Vincent returned to his human form unexpectedly and raised Cerberus.

"I won't let you hurt him anymore." Vincent fired several rounds.

"Vincent……. No ……… get out of here…….." Koty gasped for air as he stood.

The bullets simply bounced off of their target as if hitting a steel surface. 'damit…….. this is not good.'

"do you really think you can stop me." Burdock quickly and almost instantly closed the distance between them and struck Vincent with a punishing blow. "you've cost me a lot of money and time in the past. Too bad that you won't live to make another fabulous transformation. I might have enjoyed having a nice dog to play with my kids." He walked to Vincent's side as he tried to stand and landed a devastating kick to his ribs sending him flying into the wall again.

'ahhhh…… I can't……. Move…………' Vincent struggled to move only to find that he couldn't stand. Despite the situation Koty was beside him instantly and attempting to defend him.

"get away burdock." Koty removed the familiar black pouch from his pocket and inserted one of the glowing needles into himself. "now let's see your advantage." He emptied the vial and the power surge in him could be felt even by the members of avalanche from the inside.

He delivered a shockingly powerful blow and embedded burdock in the wall to the opposite side of the battle area. 'even with mako I doubt Koty can beat him. There is only one thing to do.'

"Koty……" Vincent looked up at him as if requesting something.

"Vincent…… hold on……… we'll fix this……." He lifted the man's head.

"no you won't………… Koty……… you can't beat him with just mako………. The mako cant be taken in massive amounts…………….. it won't last long either………… you need to get out of here………. Or kill him one……….."

"I can't do that…….. there are too many lives at steak………."

"Koty……… I need you to do something."

Inside Yuffie was busy flooding the floor with her tears as she watched Koty lift Vincent's head .

"we have to do something." She cried loudly as everyone flinched. "what you're just going to let him die."

"no Yuffie……. If we go out there we'll be in the way. What we need to do is protect those inside." Cloud tried to rationalize.

"what fucking rationality is that……. Vincent is going to die…… and your gona let him………. Cowards I'm going out there."

"Yuffie!" Tifa stepped in front of her. "I'm sorry but good night." She delivered a swift punch to her before lowering her to the ground. "alright we need to get out of here."

"what about Vincent……..?" cloud glanced outside.

"damit I don't know………"

Vincent was being calm given the circumstances. 'I'm sorry Yuffie…… but I see no other options…….. I will wait for you.'

"Koty…… you have to use my blood." He coughed as he grabbed the man's shirt. "I can't move my legs…….. I think I'm paralyzed. But ……… if you use my blood you may be able to defeat him. Or…. At the very least buy the others some time to escape."

"Vincent………. No…….." Koty shook his head in defiance as the mako began to drain from him.

"you don't have a choice……… I………. I trust you……….. don't ……. Don't let me die in vain…….. consider it a last request…….."

"Vincent no………. I can't do this not again………"

"I'm a dead man anyway……… if you die then we all die…….. if you kill him though then at least I can say I helped……….. please………. I'm asking you……. As a friend………… take me……………. Take my blood…………"

"Vincent……… what about cloud………. And the others…….."

" they'll understand……… but tell Yuffie………. I love her……….."

"I will" a tear formed in Koty's eyes as he grasped the hand of his new found friend.

"now do it………. Hurry…….. he's coming back." To his left Vincent could see the man walking towards them.

"may you find……. That which I could not give you in life……." Koty raised his left hand its vibrant aura now extinguished. "rest in peace…….. my friend." With a swift blow Koty ran his hand deep into Vincent's body and a bright light over took him.

'thank you Koty………… now I can finally rest………. Good bye…….. Yuffie………. I love you………' and so it was that the fate of a hero was sealed. With the light dying Koty place Vincent's body on the ground and stood. Before moving however he acquired Cerberus.

"this will help me to remediate the sin I have brought on you all." With this said Koty erected himself and stood Cerberus in hand like death on the battlefield. "let us end this." His eyes took their unusual dark red tone before the sky darkened.

"too bad…… I was hoping there would be more to defeating the legendary Turk Vincent valentine." Burdock mocked Koty as he laughed "guess status isn't everything."

"you're right about one thing. But about Vincent………. You couldn't be more wrong."

The battle recommenced and Koty quickly found himself overpowering his opponent. He delivered a swift strike at burdock and capitalized by firing a shot from Cerberus.

"you will die here you merciless tyrant. You and your horde" Koty launched himself at the man.

"no I don't think that's how history will remember it. Besides you won't have all of that power for long."

"I won't need it that long. I'll kill you swiftly but I want to first carve their names into your soul." He swung his claw at his enemy catching him off guard and slamming him against the ground.

"ha-ha…. You fool you cannot destroy me. I am death…….. I am eternal………." Burdock retaliated by swinging his claw and catching Koty by the shoulder. "but by all means this is entertaining keep it up."

Koty wasted no time recovering as he delivered a massive kick to the man's chest and charged him again "this is it. You die here!"

"as if kid. You couldn't even kill my horde without your power"

"But it's not mine you have to worry about." He spoke as his left hand contacted with burdocks right.

The power was immense. Like the strength of a nuclear explosion. The shockwave rattled the base. Within the light that was emitted the group inside could not see clearly the victor.

"come on Koty push just a little farther." Zack urged the man from the room he was in.

"you can do It little brother." Tifa shouted

"this is it." Cloud whispered barely audible.

The light brightened and at the peak of the power surge Koty's reaper became victorious and burdocks false arm shattered and dissipated.

"no this isn't possible. I am the god of war." Burdock stupefied stumbled back as Koty landed in front of him.

"you still don't get it……. When you woke the infernal you tore a whole not only in the time space fabric but in my soul……… you are not a god………. I am not a soldier………" Koty's voice haunted the man.

"son now we can work things out."

"I'm working it out. General." He cocked the hammer on Cerberus. "you made me work it out a thousand times."

"you know killing me won't make a difference they're still gone."

"true but I think I can live with myself if I kill you……. They would want it that way…… you killed them……….. Vincent, Jonah, Liz, and Kara………. Remember their names for in hell even the devil can't save you…….. and you are going there burdock. Trust me."

"no wait."

"I've waited. Lifetimes upon lifetimes. This ends here and now."

"you can't do this. I am god…… I am the general. General burdock."

"you were!" with that he pulled the trigger and Cerberus let out a deafening bark that not only tore the silence but tore into the flesh of the general.

"he did it……….." cloud let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding.

"it's over……… its really over…………" Tifa sank to the ground and began to sob.

"sunovabitch" Barret shook his head as he pulled Shelke toward him.

Shelke allowed a hug to be delivered to the huge man. "he finally did it………. But……."

The rest of the group looked out to see the body of the former hero of AVALANCHE. The destroyer of deepground and the mighty harbinger of anarchy lay silent. A testament to the horror that followed Koty.

They watched with sadness as Koty walked to the man and fell to his knees.

"I am so sorry……… I never meant this………………….. I never wanted this……………. It should have been me…………. Now you will never sing your song…….. I do not regret meeting you……….. I wish however that we could have met under different circumstances………… goodnight……….. Vincent………" a tear fell from is face as he closed the man's eyes.

He took the metallic gauntlet and crimson raiment that had been his fallen friends. He looked at them lovingly before dawning the awkward armaments. "this is my redemption……… I am your living legacy………………. I hope that we meet again………… on the other side….. Vincent valentine."