Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction of the Darkness ❯ Chapter 13: Blood is Spilled ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter 13: Blood Is Spilled

 

`This is it!' cried Barret as Deep Ground soldiers streamed out the main doors and onto the plains outside the base. The Shera was supposed to fire a shot into the air to grab the attention of the soldiers inside, but it seemed that Deep Ground had already spotted the ship and launched their own attack. They were coming out in full force. Mechanical warriors, infantry and choppers were pouring out of every possible entrance and swarming the battlefield, brandishing guns of all sizes and suited to every kind of ammo they had at their disposal. Cloud readied himself, pulling out one of the lesser swords from his trusted weapon and holding the blades in both hands. Tifa pulled on her gloves while Barret's arm automatically shifted into a formidable minigun. They were ready for the final assault, and they prayed that the trio inside made it to the containment lab in time.

~*~

The floor shook beneath them as a thunderous blast hit the side of the base. Yuffi fell to her knees while Hellfire fell against Vincent, inadvertently throwing the gunman to the floor. Another blast from the outside told them that all out war had been declared on the plains surrounding the base.

 

`What's happening?' cried Yuffi.

 

`It would appear that Cloud and the others started the diversion a little early,' answered Hellfire. She pushed herself off Vincent and climbed to her feet while the crimson-clad warrior rose from the floor. She picked up her sword which still glowed with that white light.

 

`Come on, we've got to get to the containment lab.' Vincent ran down the vent with Yuffi and Hellfire sprinting in his wake. They reached the central vent and saw a green glow emanating from one of the grates. They peered down through the grate and saw only a few guards manning the four entrances into the lab. Vincent kicked out the grate and dropped into the chamber, firing at the guard near the essence containers. The guard fell dead and the ones at the entrances rushed to help their fallen comrade. Hellfire whirled around and a mystical bolt of energy shot from her fingertips. Two fell dead while Yuffi's shuriken blade did the rest. Vincent glanced at Yuffi and Hellfire.

 

`You go and shut down the valves,' he ordered. `I'll cover the containment chamber.'

 

`You got it,' said Yuffi, taking off down the southern corridor. Hellfire turned to go down the eastern corridor when the gunman grabbed her arm and she spun towards him.

 

`Hellfire, you know what's at stake here,' he said. `Don't let your guard down, not even for a second.' He gently brushed her hair away from her face. `Don't make me grieve for you.'

 

Hellfire looked at him, her eyes filled with nothing but love for the gunslinger. `I won't fail,' she said softly. Vincent pulled her against him, pressing his lips fiercely into her mouth in a passionate kiss. She surrendered to him, running her hands through his hair and cradling his face. He caught his breath and drew away, releasing her from his grasp.

 

`Go,' he whispered. Hellfire turned and ran down the eastern corridor without a backward glance. She'd never been good at saying goodbye, and she didn't want to think that this would be the last time they would see each other. Vincent watched her fly down the corridor and turned to see a soldier with a shock of blue hair standing there with a duel-bladed sword in his hand.

 

`I was hoping I'd find you here,' the blue-haired man sneered. `I may not be able to kill that upstart Cloud, but I can certainly kill you.'

 

Vincent narrowed his eyes and drew Cerberus from his holster. `You can try, Aaron the Azure. Let's finish what he started.'

 

`A battle to the death long overdue!' cried Aaron the Azure as he charged the gunslinger, his sword raised.

~*~

Hellfire ran down the corridor and skidded to a stop in the eastern valve room. She saw a series of valves set into the wall, each with a coloured stone set into the wheel. She glanced at a control panel and saw the buttons and switches were the same colour as the stones. She immediately saw that she had to shut the valves down in the right order or she would most likely power up the containers. She reached out and flipped a green switch, turned the corresponding valve before hitting the corresponding button.

 

`Eastern essence containment capsule field shut down. Please turn purple-stone valve and hit corresponding switches and buttons to access the containment capsule.'

 

She privately congratulated herself before moving onto the next valve. After seven valves were shut off, she heard the computerised voice echo through the chamber.

 

`Eastern essence containment capsule system shut down.'

 

`That's one down,' she murmured to herself. `Now for the northern valves.' She turned to leave the lab when she was stopped by a group of soldiers blocking the entrance to the valve room. The leader of the group, a thin man with green hair, smiled evilly.

 

`I don't think you'll be going anywhere, my dear,' he said. `See, we are supposed to be waking Halanitum today, but we're missing a vital ingredient.' He narrowed his eyes. `You.'

 

Hellfire drew her sword and glared at him. `In order to wake him, you will have to kill me. So, take your best shot.'

 

`Very well, have it your way.' The green-haired man turned to his cronies with an evil smile.

 

`Kill her.'

 

The guards charged the woman who leaped into the air and sprang off the wall, streaking towards them at ungodly speed. Two fell dead by her sword and she swung her foot in a vicious arc that collided with a third soldier's face, snapping his head to the side with a sickening crack. He fell against his comrades, nearly bowling them over as she landed lightly on her feet. The leader looked at her.

 

`I see that sword's not just for show,' he said. `But don't think that will save you, girl.'

 

The others rushed her all at once and she leaped into the air, flipping over them and landing behind one of the troopers. She swiped at his throat with her taloned gauntlet and he fell dead with blood pouring from the gash in his neck. She whirled round and glared at the shrinking group, her talons and sword dripping with blood.

 

`Blood will be spilled today, but it will not be mine,' she said, her quiet voice filled with ice. The soldiers charged her again and she whipped her sword over her head, bringing it down on the skull of her latest victim and splitting it in two. She thrust her blade into the trooper behind her, impaling him with ease. Then she turned to see the leader charging her now, his sword raised.

 

`Now you will pay for interfering with this awakening.'

 

~*~

 

Vincent swiped at Aaron the Azure with his fearsome claw but the soldier danced out of reach. He smiled wickedly as he shot towards the gunslinger, twirling his sword in a deadly tornado. Vincent sidestepped his attack and viciously backhanded the arrogant soldier, sending him flying into the wall. Aaron glared at the young gunman with hatred in his eyes.

 

`You're out of line, boy!' he snarled. `You fight against the ocean and don't even realise it. Halanitum will be awakened and that woman's beautiful body will be fed to the worms.'

`Not on my watch,' growled Vincent and he fired at the impudent soldier. Aaron danced out of the way and the wayward shot shattered one of the essence containers. Strands of green light flowed from it as he turned to fire again. Aaron screamed in agony as he was struck in the arm and fell to his knees. Vincent stood over him, aiming the gun at his face. He pulled the trigger and Aaron fell dead to the floor.

===

 

Hellfire whirled around to block the green-haired man's blow and whipped her sword over her head. The remaining soldier drew a knife and grinned maliciously.

 

`Let Halanitum be awakened!' he roared.

 

He slashed Hellfire across the back as she turned away from his last attack. She snarled in pain as her blood dripped to the floor.

===

 

The floor shook beneath them and Vincent suddenly looked up to see the other containment capsules fall over and shatter one by one. This couldn't be good.

 

`Vincent!'

 

Vincent turned to see Yuffi running to him. She stopped just a few feet away, breathless and filled with urgency.

 

`The whole place is coming down,' she said. `We have to get out of here!'

 

`Where's Hellfire?' he demanded, immediately noticing the young woman's absence.

 

`I haven't seen her,' said Yuffi. `She probably got out before this started happening. Come on, we've got to get out of here.'

 

Before they could make a move, a river of green light surged towards them. Vincent hurled Yuffi out of the way, but was engulfed by the stream of souls before he could get out himself.

 

`Vincent!' screamed Yuffi. But it was too late. The stream of light consumed him and the ground shook harder. She turned and bolted, hoping that Hellfire got out in time.