- chapter three -
I'm talking about the highs
I'm talking about the lows
I'm sticking by your side
It's a strange thing for Cid Highwind to be feeling lucky.
Even on a good day, he's a glass half empty guy. After Shinra torpedoed his dreams and his career, well, that didn't exactly make him any less prone to pessimism. Yet in this second life of his, Cid's managing to feel hopeful. Despite the many challenges ahead and all the things he's had to leave behind, the weight of it rests easy on his shoulders. Sitting on the sled with the kids, zooming down the mountain back to Nibelheim, Cid feels... good. It's a rare feeling.
The future's looking brighter, mostly on accident for his part. Shera's inventing new energy, and Barret showed up right in time to hear about it. It's like fate really is on his side! Now, Jenova's temporarily secured, and the reactor is safe. All he needs to do is burn some books to make Nibelheim just another little country town in the rural mountains.
Things are looking up.
So of course that's when the ground explodes beneath them, and all three sent flying as the sled upturns, the snow rocketing skyward with a bestial roar.
"Shit!" Instinct has him grabbing at both kids, trying to roll to keep them atop him, but Cloud's already flown free. Tifa manages to grab his arm, just to slip free, rolling away through the snow. Scrambling to stand, Cid blinks snow from his eyes and looks for them – relieved to see both are safe, if ruffled and clearly of whatever's rising out of the snowbanks behind him.
Fuck.
Cid didn't climb this mountain with the gang last time. They'd been coming over it to Rocket Town to find him, so he has no idea if they fought anything before meeting him. What kinda freak did they fight up here? Is it Jenova? He stumbles to his feet and runs for the upturned sled, grabbing his spear.
The monster is massive, something old and strong, likely drawn to the mountain by Jenova's previous presence here. How they managed to avoid it the first time, he's not sure, but now they've awoken a four legged, tentacled monstrosity, like a dog by way of Lovecraft.
"Kids, get the sled up! Quick!" He breaks into a run, barreling into the snow and away from the teens and the upturned vehicle. "Cloud, hop in the driver's seat! You know what the pedals do?"
It's not a complicated vehicle, and he's seen a Cloud who could drive some incredible things. Hopefully, that instinct is gonna appear early this time. The boy looks shocked, but he nods, as Tifa slams the vehicle upright on the ground.
"What about you?"
"Gotta distract this thing!" Cid glares it down, as the monster stomps its feet and shakes its rump. It's awake and disturbed, but not quite aware yet, the tendrils flailing about the air above its back. "Get to town and warn 'em!"
"We can't leave you!" Tifa shouts, fists raised, looking ready to jump over the sled and join him.
"Don't you dare!" Cid turns his glare on them. "This thing's outta your league!"
Tough kids they might be, but they're just that: kids. Maybe they could take this thing down, but he's not gonna risk their lives on a bet. Cid's not gonna demand children fight battles better left to grown ups. They might've been the saviors of the world in one lifetime, but he's not gonna let the fates shove them back into those roles before he's got to.
"Go on! Git!" He shouts. "Captain's orders!"
Tifa looks ready to keep arguing, only for the monster to roar and stomp its feet, having fully turned to face the little creatures disturbing its slumber. Cloud grabs her arm and tugs, and the two of them hop onto the sled. It's the last Cid can see of them before he's forced to face the enemy barreling down on him.
"Alright big guy," He grins, shifting his grip on his spear. "Let's see what you've got."
He kneels, legs spread, weight balanced in his center, and kicks off the ground; soars like a bird, wind whistling in his ears, the rush of it flooding his head for those few moments he's airborne, and hovering. Then gravity hits, he spins his spear and descends on the creature's head, stabby-end down.
The strike hits, hard, because the beast, only just awakened, hasn't recognized its been attacked yet. It roars in rage, hurt and agitated, as Cid thrusts his spear nearly right between the eyes. It won't kill it, but it damn well hurts.
"Got ya!" He laughs, pulling the spear out and leaping back to the ground, behind the monster this time. He's trying to pull it away from town, best he can.
Damn, that was thrilling. He hasn't been able to perform a Jump that high in decades.
"This," he says, thumbing his chin, "Is gonna be fun!"
Unfortunately, the fun does not last long, because this beast refuses to stay down. It heals from every single hit he can get it with. Every heavy strike and blast of magic he's got on him, which isn't much, but should've been plenty by now. Cid's beginning to think this is, unfortunately, some Jenova mutated monstrosity, because it is just not dying.
Fighting Jenova isn't the same as fighting other monsters. Monsters, despite their appearance, are basically animals. A little fiercer and nastier, but they have to eat, breathe, and shit like anything else. If you stab 'em too many times, they fall down dead, and stay that way.
Jenova is nothing like that. Any damage done can heal with time, and even near death the creatures can recover if they aren't fully destroyed. Fighting a Jenova beast requires a team of heavy hitters, delivering so much damage from different sides, all at once, overwhelming the creature until it's unable to heal all of it. Cid is capable of kicking a lot of ass, but he can't move fast enough or hit hard enough to hurt this thing permanently.
Gasping for breath, he turns and runs into the wilds, moving further around the mountain. He's not entirely sure where he is, and he hopes he's moving from the town, not toward it. He's not relying on help arriving, given the town's strongest fighters were the two kids he sent away, but he does have a plan: find a cliff and trick the stupid thing into jumping off it.
"Come on, come on," He barrels through the woods, soaked in sweat and exhausted, his head starting to pound as fear overcomes the rush of battle he'd felt before. This is no longer a fight; it's a struggle to survive.
Think! Cid frowns furiously, turning to block a swipe of a tentacle by smashing it with the side of his spear. They trade blows, he dodge rolls out of the way of a massive foot, and turns into another run. He's trying to picture the paths he's taken on this mountain and where he might be, trying to remember where the cliff's edges were but it's just not coming to him.
This can't fuckin' be it. He thinks desperately. The world is starting to swim, and his lungs are not keeping up with his legs. All this to die on a mountain from some random ass monster? Not after all this…
The next swipe of a monster's limb catches his leg, and he yells out in surprise as much as pain. He hadn't felt that one coming. Knocked hard on his back, the world flashes in bright lights and swirling colors, until it clears enough to see the thing hovering over him, sharpened limbs about to come careening down toward him.
This… this is it? This can't be it… didn't change a damned thing… didn't even get to see Vince again…
The thought is a desperate, last minute hope, that he can't help but cling to. The one person nearby who could possibly stand up to this creature. Is he close to the mansion? Could he get there quickly enough? Cid's eyes widen at the thought but there's no time, the monster is right on him, he opens his mouth and screams -
"VINCENT!"
He braces, eyes shut tight, and raises his spear in a desperate attempt to block what's coming. Suddenly a mighty roar echoes over the mountain. The monster above him freezes, then it's thrown sideways as a tremendous force flies into its side, smashing it into the rocky crags of the mountain. Cid gasps for breath, not having realized he'd held it, rushing to sit up and stand. The world spins as he leans on his weapon, waiting for his eyesight to clear before he gives a laugh and a cheerful, victorious shout.
"Hot damn!" The man beams, running towards the winged creature who'd arrived just on time.
Said creature spins, teeth barred, torn wings flaring as its clawed arms are thrown wide, prepared to attack. Cid drops his spear at the other's feet, and without thought, without consideration of any consequence, Cid throws himself at the figure and wraps his arms around the man's neck, tight.
"God, it's good to see you!" He laughs, leaning away with his hands still on the man's shoulders, unable to help the little bit of water welling in his eyes. The creature stays frozen in his grip, bright red eyes wide and shining. "Thought I was a goner for sure!"
Another roar shakes the mountain; the monster, struggling to its feet, turns angry eyes towards them both. Cid steps away and leans down to get his spear. He turns to the creature, whose expression is wide eyed with shock, if a demon embodiment of the end of the world can be said to experience such a thing. "Whadya say we kick this thing's ass right off the mountain?"
In a matter of minutes, the monster is very dead. That's one problem solved, and one very much still present, hovering over the pilot, red cape flaring in the wind.
Cid gasps for breath, collapsing onto the snowy ground with no concern for the cold sinking into his damp clothes. His spear falls to his side, soaked in greenish gunk, as he watches the remnants of the creature melt away into particles. He'd barely had to do anything. Glancing sideways, he stares in awe at the creature and the man responsible: Vincent Valentine.
Far as Cid knows, Vincent hadn't been able to awaken Chaos when he first left Nibelheim. It took ages for all his demons or whatever to be under his control (and boy did Cid feel silly when he learned that Vincent's "demons" were not actually a metaphor for his hangups). It wasn't until after the Deepground incident he fully mastered them, when Chaos was actively fighting him and some materia stopped him, or something. Cid's not sure what all that shit was about.
Now, staring at the familiar damaged wings and golden armor, he can't help but wonder what changed. Was Chaos somehow immune to whatever the lifestream did? Is Cid looking at "Past" Vincent and "Future" Chaos? That might explain why the duo saved his life, but it wouldn't explain the surprise on Chaos face or the lack of conversation. In his later years, after Deepground and the 'coming together' the two had, Chaos had been a pretty chatty fella.
"Thanks for the assist," He manages, leaning his arms on his knees. Man, for a young guy he sure as hell is tired. Won't stopping smoking supposed to help that shit? How long could his lungs possibly need to recover from a life long addiction? Fuckin' bitches.
The claws and horns melt away into the wind, and the man that remains is all too familiar, painfully so. The black hair, fluttering in the cold breeze, the long limbs encased in black leather. That red cowl covering a handsome, angular face, pale as death. Those glowing beams of red radiating from under the heavy brow. The red bandanna tying back unkempt hair left to grow unchecked for years.
Even standing, the man always towered over him. Sitting on the snowy ground gasping for breath, Cid feels like the man dominates the heavens, overwhelming the sky behind him.
"Damn," he mutters, unable to stop a tired smile.
He thought he'd been prepared to see his old friends in a new life. After all, he'd had to say farewell before, in a far more permanent way. It has been bittersweet, seeing far younger, innocent kids in the place of his former adult friends; but mostly it's been nice, to be able to be close to them. Barret is full grown but so much softer than he'd been in that other life, still attached to his roots, with no idea how terrible things might become, and there's something bittersweet about that, too.
But Vincent Valentine is the exact same. Not a thing has changed about him, not his appearance, his clothes, his mood. Over the years Vincent had certainly opened up to his friends, he'd learned to let go, to smile and talk or at the very least, listen while others did so. But there was always something ethereal about him, an otherworldly element in his very being that set him apart from everyone else.
Looking at him, at an exact copy of the man he knew who isn't that man… fuck. That's a goddamn punch to the dick. Vincent stays hovering, silent, bright eyes glaring downward. Cid takes the hint and helps himself to his feet, only stumbling a little. The spear keeps him upright as he brushes snow off his legs.
"Whew," He tries to laugh but it comes out strained. "Well, that was fun." The exertion is wearing him down, and his heartbeat is finally evening out until he lifts his gaze, and that heart stops in his very chest.
God… Vincent.
Meeting those eyes again, standing side by side, oh it hurts. Fuck, he didn't think it would hurt so bad. He can't say anything! This isn't his Vincent! This isn't a man who fought by his side for years, who shared drinks and long hours of conversation, the man who was one of the few constants in his shitty, miserable little life -
- that man is gone.
"Are you crying?"
Cid gasps, pretending the sound is from being out of breath and not the sudden wave of emotion overtaking him. "Got somethin' in my eye," He manages, voice dry. He wipes at his face roughly and forces a smile.
The other man has an inquisitive look on his severe face. "… you awoke me. Called my name."
"Uh," Turning his head away, Cid shrugs, runs a finger under his eye. "I was shoutin' a lot of shit. Real close call there, you know? Had the whole 'life flashin' in front of my eyes' and everythin'," He's talking frantically and gesturing with his hands, spear held in the curve of his arm. "Not that I ain't grateful, I mean, I am, really. I'm … incredibly grateful." A softness comes to his face, and his tone, and Cid turns to beam at the man. "I mean it. Thank you." The words are far too sincere and heartfelt for two strangers first meeting in a field of snow.
Vincent squints, turns his head, and asks incredulously. "Is something wrong with you?"
Cid's eyes widen, and he bursts into laughter. If fresh tears escape him, well, they quickly slip away. "Is there – with me?" Chuckling and holding his chest, the man wheezes. "You're askin' me that! God what a fuckin' day!" More laughter, more tears. Vincent, standing frozen, looks more and more certain he's listening to a mental patient.
Finally Cid calms himself down, wipes his face one more time, and lets out a fond sigh. Then he holds out a hand. Outta least try to be normal. "Cid Highwind," he says, waiting for a handshake he's sure ain't gonna happen. "From Rocket Town. Been helpin' the locals in Nibelheim with their monster problems." A simplified explanation, but not exactly wrong.
He doesn't get a handshake, but he does get a reply. "Vincent Valentine." The man tilts his head, a little tic he has whenever he's really confused or considering something that always reminded Cid of an owl. "I was transformed when I came here, turned into that… abomination." Narrow eyes focus in on the pilot. "You saw my other form, you – hugged it." The incredulity could rise no higher.
"So?" Cid shrugs. "I'd hug anybody who saved my damn life outta the blue, I don't care what they look like. Hell I'd kiss Satan himself if he bothered to get his ass up this mountain and gimme a hand, I could use the help." He chuckles at the widened eyes and softening line of Vincent's mouth, the small tells of his surprise and confusion. "Anyway, I better git, I told the kids to run ahead, I gotta let 'em know its all fine." With one last smile and wave, he turns to leave. "Real nice meetin' you!"
Heart in his throat, Cid forces himself to turn away, to look anywhere else, even as he aches to stay behind. He can barely hear anything over the pounding of his heart in his ears; but then he does hear something. Footsteps, following behind him. Surprised eyes spot the glint of gold in the corner of his vision, and Cid's head snaps up.
"Uh, you headin' this way?" Vincent says nothing at Cid's question, and the man decides he's better off not wondering. Maybe Vincent's just heading back to the mansion? He can't possibly want anything else from Cid.
Now that the initial rush and shock of emotion is over, Cid feels giddy. One of his favorite people in the world is back in his life, even if it's just for a moment, even if it can't be what it was before. Somethin' is better than nothin', that was Cid's view on life. One of the few things that kept him sane over the many long years. He may not get to be Vincent's teammate again, but hell, they got to fight together, he got to see him again. Maybe he'll be around the mansion sometimes?
They keep walking, passing the path to the mansion and heading towards the village, when Cid halts a little past the intersection. Confused, he looks back at Vincent, who halts just behind Cid. "You, uh," Nodding towards the building, he asks, "You ain't headin' back?"
The man smirks a little, the expression more dangerous than it is amused. "So, in addition to knowing my name, you knew where I was."
Dang it! He should've known. Flushing, Cid faces forward and keeps walking, deciding not to care if Vincent follows him around or not, it's the man's business. How easily he let himself forget. Vincent Valentine is many things, and one of them is a crafty son of a bitch, and this Vincent isn't on Cid's side at the moment. He doesn't think they're enemies, exactly. But its doubtful the man trusts him a lick.
The town is in a fuss when Cid and Vincent enter it; men and women running around like mad, gathering the young and the old and moving them further down the mountain. The handful of people the town calls "guards" are arming up to go to war, which amounts to a bunch of thirty year old mountain folk grabbing their grandfather's rifles and shotguns and heading for the streets.
No wonder Sephiroth made a mess of this place, Cid thinks with a chagrined wince.
The fussin' only gets worse once word spreads that he's returned alive. Walking into the center of town, where a water tower rises up as the tallest building in town, Cid hears a shout. He spins, to see Tifa as she barrels out of the mayor's house, rushing down the steps, and running at him. Cid's nearly bowled over, taken by surprise when the teen's body latches onto his waist.
"You're okay!" The girl's voice sounds wet from crying. An ache rises in Cid's chest as he nervously puts a hand on her shoulder. When she keeps shaking, he gives in and wraps both arms around her.
"Hey, hey, I'm alright." He murmurs gently. "Think just any ole monster can take the Captain down?" Tifa leans away, eyes wet, and Cid reaches into his pocket for a somewhat clean hanky to dab her face with. "No way." She takes the hanky, and blows her nose in it, a loud honk followed by a sniffle.
Cloud comes running in from the road out of town. At the sight of Cid, he slows to a halt just out of reach, almost slipping in the snow. He doesn't reach out to touch, but stays just in reach, nearly vibrating with energy. "Everything's okay?" Wide, worried eyes meet Cid's as the man takes his dirty hanky back.
"Yup. It's all okay. Monster's dead." Cid tries to smile reassuringly despite the exhaustion sinking into his bones, and Cloud smiles back, just a little. Then his eyes dart over Cid's shoulder and his expression turns to confusion.
Cid follows Cloud's eyes, remembering suddenly that Vincent Valentine – his absolute favorite weirdo, but an intimidating and odd man to strangers – is looming just a foot behind him. He turns back to look at the kids, then beyond them to the townsfolk. The makeshift militia has been informed the danger is over, but that hasn't dispersed anyone yet. A bunch of nervous, backwoods country folk with guns are gathered in the town square, all looking at Vincent as if he might be the monster they were gathered to get.
Shit, this ain't the best introduction, bringin' him in outta nowhere in the middle of a dangerous situation. Gotta play this right.
"This is a good friend of mine, Mr. Vincent Valentine," Cid steps back and claps a hand on his shoulder, and is somewhat surprised when the man doesn't shoot his arm off. "Happened to be huntin' on the mountain when he saw my trouble, and we put the beast down together. Couldn't have done it without him." Hand lowered, he very discretely positions himself between Vince and the mob.
"Sounds like I have both of you to thank for my girl gettin' home safe."
The crowd parts, letting Brian Lockhart through, eyes watching closely as the man approaches Cid with a warm, friendly demeanor, reaching out to shake his hand. "Mister Mayor," Cid takes his hand, leaning on his spear with the other arm. It's still covered in monster mess, a good reminder of the nice turn the two of them just did for Nibelheim.
"Mr. Highwind," Then he turns to Vincent, and to his credit, barely reacts before giving a polite nod. "Mr. Valentine."
The moment the mayor entered the square, the atmosphere had cooled; now that he's welcomed both strangers, it's softened completely. People are heading home, gathering their loved ones back together, tucking their weapons away and dispersing. The threat is over.
Once the attention on them has lessened a little, Brian smiles and pulls his daughter into a sideways hug. "Thank you for keepin' your word," He nods to Cid. "Nibelheim owes you twice over, and your friend, too,"
"Aw, hell, don't worry none," Cid waves. "Though, if ya don't mind given us free use of that mansion? I've still got a thing or two to do around here. Be nice to have a place to settle when we're working in the mountains."
"Course, the least we could do." the Mayor agrees easily, because it's an offer he can make without losing the town anything of value. "And keep me abreast of anything that might need relocated, I'll be happy to pay you for the service."
"A place to sleep's payment enough. And speakin' of, I'm gonna go crash for the night. Been a hell of a day!" Cid turns his gaze to the two kids. "Ya did well, cadets. Won't be long 'fore yer givin' me a run for my money,"
"Yeah, we will!" Tifa cheers, punching the air. Her eyes are red from crying, but that's the only sign she was dismayed just minutes ago. "I'll be the best martial artist in the world! Cloud will join SOLDIER, and we'll leave you way in the dust old man!"
Old man!? Technically she's right but still. "Aw, Cloud could do better than those Shinra hacks," Cid huffs, crossing his arms as he turns to the kid. "Hell, I'll teach ya a thing or two! You could learn to be a dragoon, no aliens required."
"You know about that, too?"
Cid hears Vincent's quiet words and represses a wince. He has got to stop talking around this man!
"Alright, well, I'm headin' out, gotta hit the hay!" With that loud announcement, Cid begins to back away, waving at the kids with what he hopes is a reassuring smile, before spinning on his heel and all but running away from Vincent fuckin' Valentine.
Bullshit is not going to work on Valentine.
The man sniffs out bullshit from miles away. All his hemmin' and hawin', talkin' round the truth is not gonna work with Vincent. The man was a Turk, and a paranoid bastard when Cid knew him. This Vincent just woke up after a thirty year deep sleep. He's not learned to trust anybody, and he sure as hell has no reason to trust anyone who is or was 1) Shinra, 2) a scientist, or 3) A Shinra scientist.
There's no way in hell he's gonna be able to lie to Vincent. So, he's gotta tell the truth. ... Sort've. Just, talk around the lies. Say the true things, imply a few other things, let Vincent fill in the gaps and hope he doesn't try to poke those holes too much.
With that cheery thought, Cid walks back into the mansion. It's as decrepit and gray as he left it; his bike still leaning against the wall near the door. Cid heaves a heavy sigh as he turns and shuts the door behind him, wiping sweat from his brow. Gods, he could use a shower. Is there a working bathtub in this place?
Then, he turns round, and nearly squawks at the man standing two feet in front of him. For there he stands, the man of the hour, the glowering figure in red and black and gold.
"You owe me answers." Vincent demands, tone uncompromising and, as always, impossibly deep.
"Gods almighty, can you give me a break!" It's been a long day and he's not sure his heart can take too many more surprises. "It's been one thing after another for weeks, I ain't had a smoke in bout as long, and all I want is to go to sleep on the floor for a good twelve hours." Cid throws up his arms with a sigh. "Can it wait til morning?"
Vincent quietly stares him down.
"... at least fuckin' sit down with me, I don't wanna stand anymore and I can't talk to a man loomin' over me like some schoolteacher or something, damn."
Cid slowly slides himself down the wall to the floor, wincing as he comes to a stop. Everything hurts. This is the most exercise he's had in some time, and while he's younger, and healthier for having quit smoking, he's hardly an athlete. If Vincent hadn't come around, that would've been it. He's gonna have to think about doin' some trainin' or something, gettin' back into the swing of things, cause it's only gonna get tougher from here.
"Well?"
Cid jumps a little. He's tired, and a little out of it, and Vincent's presence doesn't register as a stranger or a threat to him. He feels safe, and his body has decided that means its sleepy time. Groaning, the man forces his eyes open and sits crossed legged, turning to face the man who is now kneeling on the ground in front of him.
"Still fuckin' loomin'... damn crazy long legs." Even on his knees, Vincent's half a foot taller than Cid sitting down. "No fair."
"Answers." Vincent seethes. Those red eyes flash. "Now."
The act would be intimating to most people. Hell, when Cloud and company first met Vincent, they'd all been pretty taken aback, even afraid of him, given the way he looks and the creepy places he hangs out in. But Cid has known Vincent, known his best and worst, seen his highs and lows, and this little display is hardly intimidating at all.
He snorts. "Alright, hold your horses," Cid waves him off, slumping onto his elbows. "Let's see... well, yeah, I knew your name, knew you were here, yadda yadda." Removing his bag from his shoulders, Cid digs into it for a water bottle, before looking up. "Want any?" he holds out a bottle.
The man manages to mutter, "... No," through gritted teeth.
Vincent looks at him, eyes tight and hard, near the end of his patience, yet no closer to acting out violently. That's the secret Cid knows; this man ain't gonna hurt him less he's an actual threat to somebody. Vincent won't kill a guy for being a secretive dick or a smart ass. So he can fumble and fool around as much as he wants, and all Vincent can do about it is twitch.
Damn! And Cid thought Vincent hated him in his last life! He almost laughs, but he's not sure Vincent's control on his demons will last with that much taunting.
"Used to work for Shinra. Til they screwed me over." He unscrews the bottle cap and takes a long hard swing, ending with a satisfying sigh. "Nearly killed my best friend. Fucked me up for a while, but after I managed to pick myself up, I thought, hell, this town can't be the only one Shinra's tried to screw over. Started lookin' into it. Found this place," He gestures round. "And some other trails here and there. Read about you in the basement, which by the way I'm gonna be burnin' all that shit come tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Cause it's fucked, is what it is!" Cid fumes. "I'm a scientist, not like Gast or Hojo or whatever, but I know research and the scientific process and all that. Fuckers didn't follow the rules one bit, and everything they wrote down is stupid and dangerous. In the wrong hands... hell, it's already in the wrong hands. But better to keep anybody else from finding out about Jenova, ever."
"Where is she?"
"Right, we moved her," He takes one more sip, then caps the bottle. "She's in Rocket Town, north of here. Figure I'll blast her somewhere, or just go and blow 'er up, if that'll work. Not sure yet."
Vincent's sharp eyes dart up and down Cid's face, taking in his look, his expressions, probably reading him down to his cells. "How much do you know about the project?"
Cid tries hard, very hard, to mention things he remembers reading in those journals, and just that. Nothing extra, nothing Vincent told him or they found out from somebody else later. Just the general details: Gast finding a creature, doing his experiments, Hojo and Lucretia deciding to use a baby to further that research, a fucking great idea, and the way that all played out.
"Journals end with you 'vanishing' in one guy's account, the lady though, she mentioned what really happened and how she saved you. Nothing after that."
That part he bullshits. Gods he hopes Lucretia wrote about it! Or, maybe if he's lucky Vincent's forgotten how to read.
"Hm." The man frowns, brows narrowing. "You mentioned an alien. The creature? Gast believed it to be a Cetra but Hojo differed."
"Yeah, that's no Cetra," Cid scoffs. "Does give people super powers, though. Slowly drives 'em nuts too, or just kills 'em. Track records a little iffy on that, but I wouldn't volunteer for it."
"Then that program the boy wants to join," Vincent nods his head towards the door. "It uses this research. Lucretia's work."
"Mostly Hojo's now." Cid admits. "But yeah, it started here. Sephiroth was the first 'SOLDIER' they made."
"The child is alive?" The man's eyes widen, the only sign of surprise on his face.
"Yeah," Cid sighs, before jumping into explaining what he knows of Sephiroth's life to date.
At this point, he may as well accept it; he's not sleeping anytime soon. It's gonna be a long night.