Chapter 40: Midgar Assult
July 9, 0011
Vincent and Lucrecia came to rather haunted spot where there were trains as far as the eye could see.
"Where are we?" Lucrecia inquired.
"The Train Graveyard," Vincent replied. "AVALANCHE's old headquarters used to be around here.
"So this is Sector Seven," Lucrecia observed. "How did it survive the fall of the plate?"
"God only knows," Vincent answered.
Just then, two Deepground soldiers appeared and opened fire.
Lucrecia quickly shot both of them dead.
Two more Deepground soldiers were spotted near a lamppost; Vincent and Lucrecia dispatched one each.
A few yards later, they saw four WRO members, seemingly unaware of what to do next.
"Mr. Valentine!" greeted one of them. "Dr. Crescent!"
"We missed our landing point," another informed them.
"This looks like the old Sector Seven slums," a third one observed. "The Train Graveyard."
"That's exactly where we are," Lucrecia observed.
"Sir, I've received a radio transmission reporting the remaining air squads have reached the upper level plates and joined the ground forces," another WRO member informed him.
"Fine," Vincent said as he began to leave.
"Sir," began the soldier, prompting Vincent to turn around, "requesting permission to accompany you until we have reached the complex!"
"Do as you wish," Vincent permitted.
"Sir! Thank you, sir!" exclaimed the solider.
Vincent and Lucrecia thus led them down the street, where they dispatched several now-outnumbered Deepground soldiers.
At the end of the street, Lucrecia spotted a WRO member hiding behind a crate.
"Deserting?" she asked.
"I was just taking a breather," he replied sheepishly.
Lucrecia sighed and turned the other way.
"Wait!" pleaded the coward. "Let me join you!"
"Just don't get in our way," Vincent commanded.
The coward nodded and joined them.
The party continued down the next street until they arrived at an open garage. They made their way through the house, encountering four Deepground soldiers in the dining-room. After dispatching them, they found themselves in the street once more. There, they took out several more Deepground soldiers, with Vincent even killing on firing from a rooftop.
Around the corner, Vincent spotted a female WRO member with short black hair, crouched down, with her finger on the trigger.
"You know, I was born in Midgar," the brave woman began, seeming to recognize Vincent. "My brother and I used to play here all the time. My mom didn't approve, though. After she died, my brother joined a Shinra resistance group, but was killed when the plate fell and...I can't believe this place is still here."
Just then, another WRO member ran up to them.
"Lieutenant! Soldiers!" he announced.
"Come with us," Lucrecia commanded. "It will be safer."
The woman nodded.
"Aren't you Lieutenant DiStefano?" Lucrecia asked.
"That's me," she acknowledged.
"I heard about you," Lucrecia began.
Almost at that very moment, Deepground soldiers opened fire on them, killing the cowardly WRO member instantly.
Lucrecia charged up a set of four steps and shot the Deepground soldier between the eyes.
Further down the street, the group was greeted by several pesky robot walkers, but they were each destroyed in one shot.
They then found themselves indoors again. They rounded every corner, taking out every Deepground soldier they could find.
Suddenly, they noticed that a WRO soldier was stepping back.
As soon as the soldier saw Vincent, he lowered his gun and assumed a more relaxed position.
"Commander!" greeted two of the WRO members who had been with Vincent.
The commander then turned to Vincent.
"Vincent Valentine!" he greeted. "Thank you for your assistance!"
"To reach the central complex, you must proceed through this maze of decommissioned train cars," a WRO member informed him. "However, I have received reports that beyond the graveyard are some of the enemy's most powerful defenses."
"Alright," Vincent agreed. "I'll see what I can do."
"Wait!" the WRO member protested. "I can't let you go without backup!"
"No," Vincent dismissed. "You heard what Cid said. Your job is to live. If you come with me, chances are you'll all die."
"Understood," the WRO member complied. "I'll remain here until the current situation has improved. Good luck, sir."
Vincent led the group outside, and down another street before arriving at a large square with several abandoned trains. There, gunfire came from the sky, killing another WRO member.
Everyone quickly ran for cover in an opening in the brick wall. Inside, there were several train cars that were in terrible disrepair.
Inside one of those cars, Lucrecia found an injured WRO member.
The member pulled out his firearm.
"Easy," Lucrecia assured him. "We're on the same team."
"Dr. Crescent," he greeted as he lowered his weapon.
"In the flesh," she greeted.
"Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't recognize you at first.
"No worries," she assured him. "I'm glad we found you. We're looking for the exit."
"We need to get out of here," DiStefano added.
"Good luck with that," said the injured man.
"There's no exit?" Lucrecia asked.
"None," he replied. "I looked all over, but I found nothing. It looks like we're both stuck in here."
"Hold on," Vincent commanded.
He then pulled out his cell and made a call.
"Shelke," he greeted.
"Vincent Valentine?" she greeted back.
"We have a problem," he began. "We're stuck in the Train Graveyard."
"A lot of people get stuck there," Shelke said. "And some never come out."
"That's very uplifting," Vincent said sarcastically.
"The only way out of the graveyard is through a nearby underground passage," she informed him.
"Where?" Vincent asked.
"I'm uploading the location now," Shelke replied. "Also, up ahead, Deepground has established a heavy line of defense. You probably won't even break a sweat, but I thought I would let you know."
"Thanks," Vincent said, and needed the call.
Moments later, a signal appeared on the GPS.
Vincent led the group through an opening, putting them outside again.
Two armored Deepground soldiers were nearby
Vincent then led the group through another tunnel. They soon found themselves in what appeared to be some kind of bunker, with brick walls and ceilings.
Two Deepground Soldiers stood at other end of the room with their backs turned; DiStefano shot them both dead.
Vincent then continued to lead the group through the turns until they ascended a flight of stairs, reaching the great outdoors once more.
His phone then rang again, so he answered it.
"Vincent Valentine," Shelke greeted once more. "You've reached the central complex. Proceed up to reach the plate surface."
Suddenly, Vincent heard a gasp on the other side.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"The approaching Deepground squa-no, it's nothing. I'll contact you agai–"
Suddenly, Deepground soldiers with jet packs appeared over them.
"Aerial troopers," Shelke continued. "Good luck, Vincent."
There were six of them, hovering over them and arming their weapons.
"Shit," muttered DiStefano. "Shrikes."
One WRO member fell dead; the injured one, to be exact.
Gunfire was exchanged.
An aerial trooper fell. Then an WRO member. Then another aerial trooper.
A minute later, there was one last aerial trooper. Only Vincent, Lucrecia, and DiStefano remained standing.
"That was one hell of a shot!" DiStefano complimented.
"Thanks," Lucrecia said.
"But I know we're far from out of the woods yet," DiStefano added.
MEANWHILE…
Cid came down the stairs in the cell room to find Shera crying, sitting upright in the fetal position and wrapping her arms around her knees.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I'm scared!" Shera sobbed. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die!"
Cid sat down next to her and took her in his arms.
"It's okay," he assured her. "The attacks have stopped for now. This will be over before we know it. And then, we have our wedding to look forward to."
Shera dried her tears and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Who's flying the Highwind?" she asked.
"It's on auto," Cid replied.
He then stood up, lifted his fiancée to her feet, picked her up, and kissed her.
Shera giggled, reminding herself that Cid was capable of being chivalrous when he wanted to be.
"I can't wait to be stepping on that beach, walking down the aisle to you," she said with a smile.
"Neither can I," Cid replied. "But you think we should get to the bridge? This place is literally a prison."
Shera grabbed his arm.
"Can I hold onto you if I need to?" she asked.
"Don't pull me off the wheel," he answered.
Shera giggled again and allowed her fiancé to lead her up toward the bridge.
Before that, they had to pass the cell, with the prisoner still inside.
"U menya takoye chuvstvo, chto ya dolzhen gde-to byt," Rosso muttered.
"What did she say?" Shera asked.
"She has the strangest feeling she's supposed to be somewhere," Cid replied.
"A premonition?" Shera asked.
Cid shrugged.
"God only knows."