Once More, With Feeling... – Chapter 54: Not the Turks You're Looking For

Summary: Vincent has joined the gang, and Tseng learns something new.

Author: Illusor Meaneld

Rated T: for Descriptive violence and injuries, No Adult Situations, No Cussing.

Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Final Fantasy 7. They are owned by Square-Enix, and I am simply borrowing them for my own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.

Vincent couldn't remember ever riding a chocobo before, he also had not expected to leave his nightmare ridden slumber until either he or the world expired. So the challenge of staying on the back of an oddly green colored bird racing over mountain tops, which he hadn't known they could even do, was a bit surreal. Admittedly he seemed to be managing alright following Cloud's detailed instructions, and that was another factor that made him wonder if this wasn't just another dream. The slender blond child who barely came up to the gunman's chest was a fascinating puzzle. He spoke like an adult, and his clear blue eyes bore the unmistakable burden of experience. It was a difficult dichotomy to reconcile in his mind. Time-travel? Such a strange concept, and he'd never been fond of fiction stories like others he'd known. Yet it was difficult to dispute. He recoiled at the idea of destroying Sephiroth, the son of the woman he'd loved, the last living proof of her bright brilliance. He had not had the chance to meet her son, but had heard of him from Lucrecia, her visions of what he might be. Part of what made this believable for the ex-Turk were the existence of the nightmares, which is all he'd thought they were, of Lucrecia's child wrecking havoc on the planet and eventually being killed. The other part… well, the way the young blond child gazed at him, with undisguised fondness, despite his uncanny knowledge of Vincent's ailments. It chased away the darkness in a way he'd not thought possible. He kept his gaze on the slender figure in the lead of their misfit group as they raced through the night like a strange dream.

The sky was slowly lightening with the approach of dawn when the four riders slid into the forested valley that surrounded the Corel Reactor. Vincent found himself surprised to realize they were in the Corel region already. He would not have believed a trip that far could be done in a night without air transport. The small blond youth, Cloud? led them into a clearing surrounded by dense foliage. The gunman heard a soft amused snort behind him and turning slightly saw a broad smirk on the strange Auburn-haired enhanced, Rhapsodos? He thought that was how he'd been introduced, when he turned back to the small blond, Cloud, he saw him rolling his eyes and groaning softly in exasperation. Such an unusual interplay, it apparently stemmed from some inside joke. Quickly turning his gaze to the hyperactive black-haired teen, Zack? he thought. He noted whatever humor the older boy, the Lieutenant Rhapsodos held, this younger child was not in on it. Vincent nimbly dismounted his bird watching the others do the same, and carefully observed Cloud's experienced hands removing the odd harnesses from the green feathered animals, he then removed a parcel of some kind of food and spread it out on the ground for the steads. After which, the small blond walked away, gesturing for the rest of them to follow, leaving the contentedly eating birds behind. Where they wild? Vincent glanced back at them, and though they looked a little scruffy to his eyes, he had no idea how to tell if they were domesticated or not. The others were striding behind the so-called time-traveler, so the gunman silently trailed them. The image of three tall, strong warriors obediently adhering to the guidance of a child made him smile behind the cover of his cowl. Neither his dreams nor nightmares were ever this amusing.

The four of them wandered through the trees for several silent minutes before opening back out onto a subtle game trail. One of the trees had some dimly glowing scratches on it, which brought a frown to the ex-turk's face until the black haired boy, Zack turned to pass his satchel and sword to the tiny blond, Cloud.

"I'm supposed to meet up with Angeal now," Zack said quickly, yawning a little. "I'll see you again when I get back. Right, Cloud?"

The blond yawned in return, then nodded with a fond smile, "Yeah, I'll see you later Zack." The taller boy saluted back, offering an optimistic grin.

"Weirdest mission ever!" Zack said as he began trotting off into the trees, "I had fun though, stay safe, Cloud!"

Vincent noted that though the small blond waved their companion off, the auburn-haired Lieutenant Rhapsodos, and was that his first name? Or his last name? Stood with his arms folded, rolling his eyes.

The gunman quietly observed as the diminutive leader of their group began wrapping up the blade and harnesses in muffling cloth. Once he'd placed these back into a bag he turned to the taller youth.

"Hey Genesis, I'll need your sword now." The Lieutenant obligingly handed over his weapon, and Vincent glanced at his own pistol tucked away in its holster. Before he had to ask, the blond seemed to answer his concern, "I know you can be absolutely silent if you need to Vincent. Just don't make any noise when we sneak aboard our transport." So this was an undercover mission. The gunman affirmed his suspicions. He gazed up at the other two and noted the disgruntled expression on the young SOLDIER First. Genesis Rhapsodos? Or was it Rhapsodos Genesis? The ex-Turk took silent notes, mentally cataloguing his new companions, a habit he'd been well trained in before... well, before. Cloud, the time-traveler, passed out some food and then spent a few moments sorting their packs and soundproofing their supplies. If Vincent were to guess, he'd say the satchels had been significantly fuller earlier in the night. They hung a little sparse and lumpy now with what remained of their supplies. In short order, the bags were redispersed, somehow only two of them now, and the two youths settled down against the strangely marked tree to wait, glancing time and again at the slowly brightening sky, the smaller of them, closing and scrubbing his eyes as though they burned.

The gunman had positioned himself standing against a different tree nearby, observing the others patiently. As he'd expected, the small blond turned, after a moment, and smiled up at him.

"Alright Vincent, we have some time before we need to get moving, let me explain…" But whatever he was going to say was cut off by the sudden shimmer of green lights dancing over the child's body. His eyes fluttered shut and his body sagged mid-word, but the grey-garbed Lieutenant caught him deftly. Pulling the slender, now unconscious form into his arms. Vincent stiffened, eyes narrowing, but he watched and waited when no harm was forthcoming from the enhanced SOLDIER.

"What did you do?" He rumbled behind his crimson covering,

"Sleep spell." The Auburn-haired youth explained with a cocky smile. "Cloud has been awake over twenty-four hours now. In the future he was gifted with supernatural endurance not unlike yours and mine." the gunman thought he might have used a different word than 'gifted' to describe his own enhancements, "but he now inhabits a young, fragile body. A boy his age going thirty-six hours without sleep is going to let something slip." Vincent watched as the Liuetenant tucked the sleeping child into one arm casually, then pulled out two more Green Materia from a pocket. When he looked up to see the ex-Turk watching, he snorted. "Heal and Cure." He explained, "To minimize the muscle soreness." And the dancing lights lit over the slumbering form twice more. The gunman watched, and Cloud did seem to be sleeping easier. "We don't need his help just to sneak onto a helicopter." Genesis explained wryly. "Unless you're somehow less competent than he described?" Now his glowing eyes moved to stare at Vincent's own, one eyebrow raised in derisive challenge.

"It won't be a problem." Vincent returned simply.

"I thought not." Rhapsodos said smugly, "I am infinitely certain that our esteemed confederate had designs to brief you on various important incitements." The gunman had been expecting the same, though probably with blunter wording. "If your plight mirrors my collegues and mine, I would surmise he possesses some near mystical solution to some or all of your particular ailments." Did he always speak this way? Vincent wondered, he hadn't noted this particular verbiage earlier, with exception of the strange poetical quotes. He darted his gaze over the other man's form, pin-pointing different affectations of body language. His relaxed posture, and smirking eyes spoke of mischief, and perhaps challenge? He was likely trying to provoke a response. The ex-Turk mentally downgraded his estimate of Genesis' age. "I was advised that a particular affliction I was predetermined to acquire, would be curable due to the gifts of the ancients." Here the SOLDIER paused intently, waiting for input. The gunman could think of several issues that might be 'magically' cured, but he intended to wait and speak to Cloud before worrying one way or another … or hoping. When the crimson-garbed man failed to respond, the SOLDIER First frowned, then finally shrugged after several moments of suspenseful silence. "No matter, I'm sure all will be explained eventually." He said dismissively.

Vincent tilted his head in unspoken acknowledgement, then turned his gaze to the sky. It was starting to pink on the edges now, though the lighting in the dense forest was still dim, that would not last much longer. His enhanced eyesight caught the movement of Genesis outstretching a hand, and he looked down to see him offering a small box of earplugs. Vincent accepted them with a brief pause, noting that at some point Genesis had equipped the slumbering Cloud with a pair. Suddenly he heard a far-off crash, like a tree falling in the distance. The Lieutenant abruptly stood, smoothly gathering his sleeping charge in his arms. His hands glowed with green light twice more that Vincent observed, and when Genesis noticed the gunman's wary gaze he chuckled, "Silence." He explained, "He won't be heard over the sound of the helicopter once we board. But I don't want to take chances on the way over, it will wear off soon enough."

"And the second spell?" Vincent inquired insistently,

"Renewing sleep, I want him to rest as much as possible." The SOLDIER said with another shrug. He was trying to appear impassive, but Vincent could see the sentiment. He nodded, and the SOLDIER turned with a dexterous swivel, that had he been wearing a long coat, or a cape like the gunman's own, would have swirled it out impressively. The ex-Turk followed behind both quickly and silently, as the sleeping blond had been confident he was proficient at. Rhapsodos glanced back once, with a raised eyebrow, looking reluctantly impressed when he saw the gunman behind him despite the lack of noise, and they continued a little faster towards their next destination.

Vincent next found himself standing in the cover of foliage, watching a fenced off helipad, there were several people working to load various crates into the cargo space, one of which was the young man, Zack, they'd parted ways with earlier. Another was a similarly dressed man, bulging with muscle and taller by far than anyone else the ex-Turk had ever met. He had an impressively massive sword equipped across his back, and was loading a particularly large crate with one hand.

"That's Angeal Hewley, SOLDIER First Class." Genesis explained unprompted. Apparently noticing the direction of Vincent's gaze. First Class was apparently something of a distinctive title the way the Lieutenant said it. "He and I are General Sephiroth's Lieutenants. And the best of SOLDIER."

"And SOLDIER is?" the gunman prompted quietly.

"Shinra's Elite." Was the reply.

They paused briefly, before Vincent turned to gaze more intently at the First Class, "Tell me about Lucrecia's child."

"Sephiroth?" Genesis prompted, and his face twisted wryly for a moment. "He is an extremely capable Swordsman, I have not yet bested him, though that is only a matter of time." His gaze was suddenly burning with competitive ambition. "He's a strategist, very focused, smart." He snorted a little shaking his head, "His arrogance is going to cause him trouble someday."

They might have said more except all the people wandering the area disappeared into the storage shed with Angeal at the tail. Suddenly Rhapsodos raced forward, leaping over the fence as light as a cat, sprinting with impossible speed for the aircraft. With only a split second delay, Vincent swept swiftly after him. They were both inside and tucked in the shadow of the crates bare moments later. This day was turning out to be the strangest one the gunman could remember, and it was unlikely to change soon with the hour long trip ahead of him.

Due to Cloud's unconscious status, Vincent hadn't been sure what the plan was when they drew closer to Midgar, apparently it was fairly simple, in that the three of them slid into the particularly large crate he'd seen Angeal Hewley place into the aircraft at Corel. It was a tight, uncomfortable fit, so he was grateful they'd waited until the last moment to so compress themselves. Though admittedly, he'd sat in far more uncomfortable places when he was staking out a target back when he was still a Turk. Once they had hidden themselves, the flicker of green magic briefly lit the box, and this time Vincent thought he recognized the 'feel' of the Sleep and Silence spells, a brief muffling oppressiveness before it faded over its target. After a time, the gunman felt the helicopter land, and the engine turn off, then a short while later a rattle and judder as the box they were hiding in was moved. Did they have more people like Angeal Hewley? He wondered, but quickly realized there must be machinery involved based on the sway.

When they had stopped moving, they sat in the silent darkness, it was strange to have company under these conditions for the ex-Turk. He was still contemplating that change when a distinctive repetitious pattern of taps echoed from the side of their crate. Genesis repeated the pattern from the inside, and then with a creak, light flooded their hiding place. Vincent caught a glimpse of a memorable suit, dark hair and for a moment he thought he was staring at his old partner. His gun came up, instinctively aiming at a potential threat. But his eyesight adapted quickly, and the man before him was too young to be Veld, his hair and eyes too dark, skin not quite dark enough. The man before him was frozen, his hands still holding the lid of their crate.

"This is Tseng." Genesis introduced in low tones, utterly unperturbed by the crimson garbed man's reaction. "He's second in command of the Turks, and one of our little friend's accomplices."

Without moving more than his mouth, and that only slightly, Tseng returned the greeting. "You must be Vincent Valentine, I have heard a lot about you. I am not sure Veld ever recovered from your death, or the false reports thereof."

"Tseng." Vincent dipped his head slightly, then slowly lowered his pistol, standing smoothly to his full height. He gazed down at the Turk before him, cleaner cut than he remembered of Veld. Very… professional, which made his own hunters instincts twinge uncomfortably. He scanned the other man carefully, but no aggressive moves were made. Instead Tseng's gaze turned to Genesis, and the impassive face twisted in a frown.

"Lieutenant … what is Cloud's status?"

Genesis snorted, removing himself and his sleeping charge smoothly from their confinement. "He is unharmed, I took the liberty to ensure he would be well rested for the day's tribulations." Tseng's eyes closed briefly, his mouth tightening, exasperation. Vincent recognized, and finally began to relax.

"Improvisation can make missions … riskier." Tseng tried to explain reasonably, but the SOLDIER rolled his eyes.

"The mission was successful." Genesis explained bluntly, unrepentant. "Shall we conclude the aftermost details?" This time the Turk sighed audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose between forefingers, but he turned and strode towards the doors of a service elevator.

"The cameras will be on loop for another twenty minutes, we won't have scheduled deliveries for another hour. Can you keep out of sight returning Cloud to his apartment Lieutenant Rhapsodos?"

"Ye of little faith." The Auburn-haired First Class murmured, "No one ever looks up." And with that ominous phrasing, the SOLDIER tensed and sprang, leaping nimbly from crates and steel rafters to disappear out the large nearly ceiling height windows. Tseng still looked vaguely pained, but he gestured for Vincent to follow him into the lift.

"How much was Cloud able to brief you on before Genesis … disrupted the plans?"

"The goal is to eliminate Hojo and his work." There was a pause, and when the ex-Turk offered nothing more, Tseng sighed again.

"The plan was that I would discretely escort you to a hiding place in the slums, where Cloud can meet with you later to discuss things more privately." Tseng picked up a small briefcase that had been leaning against the elevator wall. He opened the case and turned to show its contents to the red-caped gunman. Inside was a neatly pressed Turk suit. Crimson eyes narrowed.

"I have no intention of rejoining the Turks."

"I would not expect you to." Tseng soothed quickly, "This is merely a disguise. What cameras can be found outside the Shinra building proper will have poor resolution, they will only see two Turks walking together."

Vincent slowly, and reluctantly nodded. He gingerly took the case, balancing it on one hand as he gazed at the outfit inside with dread. He could definitely sympathize with Tseng's exasperation at Genesis, he himself would very much have appreciated discussing this plan ahead of time. He stifled a sigh of his own. He had committed, at least to hearing the full details, he would put up with much, in Lucrecia's memory. Also included in the case was a small sachet of dried food a bottle of water, and another container of some sort of juice. His gaze returned to the Turk.

"I don't know when you've last eaten, I thought you might appreciate some sustenance." Tseng answered the unspoken question. "Cloud plans to provide you with more equipment later, but if there's anything you need of me. Please feel free to ask."

Vincent dipped his head in acknowledgement. He opted to save the rest for later, but removed the juice. He had no idea what kind it was, but the moment the sweet nectar hit his tongue he groaned. He hadn't tasted anything in over twenty years, (If Cloud's estimate was accurate) and this was all but ambrosia to his dry mouth. He finished it quickly and hummed in pleasure. Tseng said nothing. Vincent could appreciate the polite discretion offered by this Turk. He found himself warming to the companionship despite himself. Next he had to don the costume, and though Tseng politely turned away, it was not much privacy, the rest of the elevator ride was uncomfortable, to say the least. When the elevator doors opened, to the outside of the Shinra building, two unremarkable Turk's stepped out, one carrying a briefcase. No one noticed or would have cared if they had.

They walked side by side down to the train station, many of the pedestrians walking around astutely avoided eye contact. This was not unfamiliar to Vincent, but it seemed to have become more ingrained in the populace during his slumber. Once they had boarded their train, they stood in silence, Vincent's nerves were on high alert, it couldn't be this easy… yet they simply stepped off at the Sector Six station, walked down the streets as though they belonged there, and ended up at a small dilapidated church.

When they stepped inside, the ex-Turk was abruptly slammed with the impression he must still be dreaming. There were… flowers? The smell was pleasant, the air bizarrely clean inside the building, an odd little pond sat in the corner of the garden. The whole place had such a calming aura, he thought he might actually like to sleep again, surely no bad dreams could intrude here. Glancing at his temporary companion, Vincent saw he was gazing at the pond in surprise. Perhaps it was new then? Before he could think of a question to ask, a young girl in a bright flowery dress and equally cheerful jacket stepped into the room from a side door. She looked at Tseng and smiled, then her gaze reached Vincent's and she beamed.

"Vincent!" She greeted him with so much bizarre familiarity he took a half step back. She giggled softly, but approached slowly. "I've been waiting for you." Her gaze turned back to the Turk standing uneasily beside him. "Thank you so much for the help, Tseng."

The Turk bowed, but Vincent noticed his cheeks pink slightly, "You're welcome, Miss Gainsborough."

"It's Aeris," she corrected, stepping up to put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll take it from here. Don't get yourself in trouble." She smiled gently, and the older man bowed again, before taking his leave almost self-consciously. Her grass green eyes turned to meet Crimson ones, and the gunman almost wanted to follow the Turk out the door. "Don't be shy." She soothed, reaching out to gently take his hand. He found himself following her without conscious thought. "Cloud didn't have to tell me about you. I'm Aeris Gainsborough, the last Ancient. I have a message for you." She lifted a small stack of folded papers from one of the pews. "This is from your future self from Cloud's world. It should explain the important things." She stepped away with a wink, and one finger conspiratorially pressed to her mouth to indicate secrecy.

Vincent blinked at the pages several times before opening the top one. It read

"Vincent.

If you are reading this, then Cloud has rescued you from your sleep of nightmares.

He will find it difficult to explain the facts you truly need to know.

He is a good friend, and shies away from hurting those he cares about.

But I know myself, and so I know you, these are for your eyes only, excepting only Aeris who transcribed them between times, but she is infinitely trustworthy.

First…"

((Author's Note:

Well... new chapter? ^^;

Giving you guys some Vincent POV finally. I had a bit of disconnect with the laptop all this writing is on, and the one I've been using more often of late. Hoping I can do a bit better going forward with that, but anyways, enjoy!

-Jianre M. A.K.A … Illusor Meaneld.))