Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction of the Darkness ❯ Chapter 6: The Kalm Assignment ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: The Kalm Assignment

 

Hellfire wiped her brow of the perspiration as she set down a heavy crate. It had been a long and hard couple of weeks, but it had been imperative to do the repairs. The damage to The Shera had been minimal, but there was still quite a lot of work to be done. She glanced at Cloud who was taking a break from carrying the crate all the way from storage, his handsome face written with exhaustion. She looked around at the alliance as they worked. Tifa was sitting by the launching ramp, bent over the panel that activated the airboard clamps. Barret held a steel panel over the hole in the side of the bay while Cid soldered it with a welding torch. Yuffi was by the repaired hatch, trying to figure out why the opening mechanisms weren't working. The shorthaired woman giggled as Cait Sith struggled with a large toolbox that he was trying to bring over to Barret by the wall, with very little success. Red rolled his eyes and picked up the box in his mouth, carrying it to the burly man with Cait still clinging to the handle. It was a comical sight, but despite the light heartedness, the hard labour was taking its toll on everyone. Well, almost everyone, thought Hellfire as she glanced at the hatch, letting her gaze travel upward.

 

Vincent was perched on the steel beam above the doors, fixing the still malfunctioning mechanism. The others had been against the former Turk doing anything physical until his shoulder had healed, but Vincent would hear none of it. She admired his tenacity and wilfulness, but she still worried about his injured shoulder. He must have sensed her gaze on him for he glanced up from his work and fixed his eyes on her. She smiled brightly and waved at him. He only nodded, but from the glint in his eyes and slight softening of his stern expression, she could tell it was a friendly gesture. Cid's jovial voice diverted her attention.

 

`Hey, Reeve! Long time!' cried the captain. Hellfire turned and saw a tall man with short dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard walk in. He was dressed in a long blue coat and had dark, soulful eyes. He had an air of authority about him, and she discerned that he knew AVALANCHE very well.

 

`Good to see you again,' said Cid. He clapped a hand on the tall man's shoulder as he turned to Hellfire. Reeve smiled as Yuffi ran forward and hugged him. Cloud put his on Reeve's shoulder in a friendly gesture as Barret gently slapped the man on the back of his head. Cait Sith and Red cried out their greetings as Vincent nodded towards him from his high perch. Hellfire glanced at the gunman as he dropped from the beam and landed lightly on his feet. A slight snarl escaped him as pain flashed across his face. She frowned slightly in concern, silently asking about his shoulder. Vincent shook his head slightly as he registered her concern and approached Reeve. Reeve was glad to see everyone: it showed on his face.

 

`It's been too long,' he said. His eyes fixed on Hellfire standing in the centre of the group. He frowned slightly. `Although I don't think I've seen you before.' Cid glanced at her and grinned.

 

`Reeve, allow me to introduce Hellfire.' He gestured to the young woman. `She's the newest addition to the force. And word of advice, you don't want to get on her bad side: she's a hell of a fighter. She single-handedly killed ten Deep Ground soldiers when my bird was attacked.'

 

`Really?' said Reeve, apparently impressed. `Well, it's a pleasure to have someone of such skill with us.'

 

`Thank you,' Hellfire said, nodding to him.

 

`Reeve's a buddy of ours from the World Regenesis Organization. He's the reason we had reinforcements when we were hit.' Cid grinned at the tall man. `Don't know what we would have done without the guy in the first place. And in times like these, I'm grateful to have him with us.'

 

`You're going to embarrass me in front of the young lady,' said Reeve, grinning back at his old friend. They bantered for a bit while everyone for reacquainted. The reunion was short-lived however for the WRO member needed to talk to Cid in private.

 

`All right, guys,' shouted Cid. `Party's over. We need to get this bay fixed up before our next assault.'

 

After they returned to their individual tasks and Hellfire had been called to help Yuffi, Reeve turned to Cid, his expression serious. He spoke quietly to the captain, who looked at him askance. `Why not take Cloud?' Cid asked. Reeve answered his question quietly. Cid listened to the reply and weighed his options before he nodded reluctantly. He turned to the bay.

 

`Vincent, a word?' he called to the gunman. Vincent nodded and walked over to the pair. Hellfire glanced at Yuffi, who shrugged in answer to her silent inquiry. After a brief conversation with both Cid and Reeve, the former Turk went back to his station by the bay door. Hellfire looked at him.

 

`Something the matter?'

 

Vincent shook his head. `I can't divulge the information.' With that, he leaped up onto his former perch and resumed his duties. He acted like nothing had transpired, or would have seemed that way were it not for the dark look in his eyes. She frowned as she glanced up at him, wondering what could have been said to anger him so much.

 

The low humming shattered her reverie and the clicking of the mechanisms filled the bay as the hatch slowly opened. Yuffi cheered while the gunslinger nodded with satisfaction as he dropped to the floor again.

 

`Well, that's the hatch working,' said Yuffi, turning to Hellfire. `Let's go and help Tifa.' Hellfire nodded and turned to Vincent to ask if he wanted to join them. But the crimson-clad man was already disappearing from view into the ship proper. She wondered again what had upset him.

~*~

Vincent was in his quarters, stretched out on his bed with his head lowered in deep thought. Reeve had explained the situation involving Deep Ground and had told him that the soldiers were planning to attack Kalm in the next week or so. Considering his involvement with ShinRa in the past, the WRO member had singled him out as the one he wanted on this mission. Vincent had agreed, but Reeve had also insisted he take someone with him so Deep Ground's focus was thrown off. `Someone they'd least expect' was what Reeve'd said. But who? He thought about this, wondering who would fit the bill. He came to a decision when he saw Cloud it the corner of his eye passing his room. He lifted his head and looked to the door.

 

`Cloud,' he said. The young athletic SOLDIER had heard him for he stepped into the doorway.

 

`What is it, Vincent?' he asked. The gunman rose to his feet and looked at his friend.

 

`I need you to send a message to Hellfire,' he said. Cloud searched his friend's eyes for a moment before he nodded, giving Vincent his full attention.

 

`What's the message?'

~*~

Hellfire was walking through the corridor to Yuffi's quarters when Cloud intercepted her. She looked at him with a slight frown.

 

`Cloud, what's wrong?'

 

`Vincent wants you to meet him in Bay 6,' he said. `He'll explain everything when you get there.'

 

Cloud left and Hellfire stood there for a moment, wondering what Vincent would want. She made a quick stop at her room to change into her black war attire and pick up her sword before heading straight for the bay.

 

It was quiet in the bay, with no one in sight. Hellfire was cautious as she walked through the vast space, searching for a familiar crimson cloak. She turned a corner and almost ran straight into the gunman. She stepped back, looking him in the eyes.

 

`Cloud told me you wanted to see me,' she said, not wasting time with preliminaries. Vincent admired that in her: whenever she was faced with a dire situation, she didn't screw around.

 

`I'm leaving for Kalm tonight,' he said. `Deep Ground has targeted the city for their next attack and I need to be there to meet it. Reeve has informed me that they will most likely attack during the All Hallow's Eve Festival, where everyone will be in the streets.' He looked at her. `I need you to find whatever you can about the next attack, but keeping a low profile during the operation.'

 

`Why do you need me?' she asked.

 

`Deep Ground knows us all too well,' explained Vincent. `You're new to AVALANCHE, and therefore will not be suspected. But keep on your guard at all times: don't trust anyone. They will have spies stationed all through the city.' He looked at her. `Hellfire, it's imperative that we find out all we can about their next attack. We're counting on you.'

 

`So, no pressure,' replied the woman, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Then her tone became grave. `Vincent, are you sure you're up to this? You're still hurt.'

 

`I'm not the one you should be concerned about,' said the gunman stoically. He raised his head and saw the bay doors open. `Time to go.' He turned and led the woman to the waiting transport, pushing her into the vehicle before climbing in. The door shut and the transport was off, sending them on their mission.

~*~

Hellfire gazed around at the city in awed curiosity. Kalm was unlike anything she'd ever seen before, something straight out of books of folklore. Old fashioned brick buildings with wooden roofs lined the cobblestone streets that were illuminated by brass lampposts on every corner. High turrets overlooked the fortified walls that surrounded the city. People glanced at the pair as they passed by, a look of wariness in their eyes. Some approached them to welcome them to the city, while others immediately gave them a wide berth. Hellfire suspected it was because their weapons were in plain view and quickly covered the revolver sitting on her hip with the travelling cloak. Vincent's eyes roved the streets, checking for any signs of danger before he led the young woman to the rooms they were staying in. They walked through the crowds until they came to a building with one of the turrets integrated into the structure. The owners nodded in understanding as the crimson-clad gunman explained his reasons for coming to Kalm. They let the pair through and they descended the spiral staircase to the tower where their rooms were.

 

The doors were practically facing each other, which Hellfire saw as an advantage. This way they could conduct mission briefings without fear of being discovered or under suspicion. The young woman entered the room on the left, setting her weapons and bag on the bed. She turned to shut the door. Her scream of shock at how close Vincent was to her was stifled as the gunman lunged forth and instinctively pushed her against the door, covering her mouth with his gloved hand. After a few moments, Vincent removed his hand and stepped back. Hellfire sighed and glared at him in irritation.

 

`Jesus, Vincent, do you make a habit of sneaking up on people?' she said, her voice filled with agitation. The gunman looked at her before breaking his silence.

 

`I was going to ask you to start your mission as soon as you're settled,' he said, his raspy voice stern due to habit. `It's best you go undercover. No weapons except your revolver if you can hide it. Understand?'

 

`I understood it when you briefed me in the transport,' growled Hellfire. She sighed and her expression softened. `I'm sorry; I'm just a little on edge. I don't want to let you down.'

 

Vincent laid a hand on her face, speaking in a tone so gentle that she stared in surprise.

 

`You've never failed me, Hellfire,' he said. `I'm sorry I was so harsh before.'

 

The young woman shrugged it off and smiled. `It's nothing. I get it all the time. I think they call it caring.' She shot him a look. `Now can you please leave me alone so I can get dressed? These boots are killing me.'

 

Amusement glinted in his crimson eyes as he nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him so she had total privacy.