Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice ❯ Hidden Truths ( Chapter 34 )

(This) is Galian Beast speaking

THIS is Chaos speaking.

I have deemed the other two unimportant because I didn't want you to get confused.

 

Chapter 34: Hidden Truths

 

He found Cloud standing in the bridge of the airship looking out solemnly at the scenery passing by below him. He briefly wondered where the swordsman was going to go like all the others but then pushed the thoughts aside as none of his business. Their friendship had been rocky at best, and Vincent didn't feel it was his place to ask. He stood behind Cloud silently, observing the uncharacteristic behavior of their leader for a moment.

 

When he didn't acknowledge him, the ex-Turk took it upon himself and cleared his throat. Cloud turned around slowly, an eyebrow raised.

 

“Yes?”

 

“I was hoping that you would allow me to borrow Racer,” Vincent asked politely. Cloud was very proud of his prize golden chocobo, having raised it diligently himself. However, Vincent knew that he would need to go several places and required the chocobo's abilities.

 

“Are you coming back?” Cloud questioned suspiciously.

 

Vincent sighed. “Even if I don't, Racer will be returned.”

 

The leader nodded slowly. “Fine. But I'd better get him back.”

 

“Don't worry, Strife; I am well aware of the meaning of responsibility.” Vincent turned and headed for the exit, on his way to the chocobo paddock on the Highwind. Yet, before he could get a chance to leave all the way, Cloud's voice stopped him.

 

“Vincent, don't forget what will be waiting, while you're gone either.”

 

The gunman glared at him, then turned and headed out of the bridge and straight for the chocobo paddocks. He knew that in ten minutes or so they would be landing at Nibelheim, so he saddled the chocobo and prepared it for the landing. He had some research he had to take care of and the ShinRa mansion was the place to be doing it.

 

Before he could make a decision on anything, he had to know. What exactly Hojo had done to him; what exactly had happened in moments when he wasn't unconscious, whether or not any of it was reversible. He wanted to know the reasons behind the experiments, and why he had the claw. He wanted his questions answered before he could even consider allowing Cid to tell him what he knew the pilot had wanted to say. Truthfully, it was what Vincent had wanted to say as well. However, he refused to allow himself to hope for a future without understanding whether or not he could even have one.

 

* * *

 

A dark-haired man paced the floor of the hidden lab in the basement of the ShinRa mansion. He was murmuring soundlessly as he read over documents and books, quickly scanning over words and committing them to memory. He had found many case files on himself written by Hojo. It was his second day in the basement searching for information. The previous night had been spent tossing and turning on a dusty, old mattress in one of the upstairs rooms.

 

The mad scientist had a habit of writing down everything he did in detail, sometimes with an air of sadistic glee. It seemed he was proud of everything he had done to Vincent. The ex-Turk had learned about it all. From the many mako injections and Jenova applications, to the testing of his healing in terms of the surgery done on his arm, to the demons that had been put into his body.

 

So far, however, he had not found any indication that the experiments could be reversed. The mako accounted for his super strength, the Jenova his quick healing; he could only assume that the demons accounted for his night vision, longevity, and healing as well. He knew from examples, such as the new Turks and SOLDIERs, that the mako would forever remain in his body… Jenova he wasn't too sure about and neither was Hojo. The length of the effects of the Jenova cells was undetermined at the time of the research. Unless he could find a way to remove the demons from his body, he would have them forever, too.

 

He continued to search through the paperwork, hoping to find more information on the four demons of the Apocalypse. It was then that he found it. His eyes scanned over the page quickly, taking in each and every word. He could hardly believe it.

 

Vincent breathed heavily, hand shaking unintentionally as he looked over the document yet again. `Test Subject Recommendation' was the title of it and it was signed by Lucrecia… he would recognize that handwriting anywhere. He skimmed the details, eyes moving rapidly over the water-stained and old piece of paper, remarkably preserved in the dusty old basement.

 

~Test Subject Recommendation~

 

After careful consideration of both the residents of Nibelheim and those given to us by President ShinRa, I have deemed that there are few worthy of taking part in our attempt to better understand the Jenova cells and the use of mako.

 

In particular, Raven and Vincent of the Turks, as well as the son of the innkeeper, Caleb, are the only three fit for surviving such an endeavor.

 

I would recommend either Turk, however, knowing that it would be harder to cover up the death of the child. Additionally…

 

Vincent crushed the piece of paper in his hand, crimson eyes burning with an inner anger. Lucrecia… she… she had TOLD Hojo to experiment on him… that was what he gathered from the form. His mind spun from the discovery. He couldn't understand why she would do such a thing.

 

How much… how much of what she had said to him had been a lie? How much of what Hojo had claimed was truth? Everything he had ever believed… none of it could be confirmed as truth or falsehood. He could literally feel his world spin around him as the source of his guilt and pain and love all seemed to center on one person… one that he hadn't yet killed.

 

(He he, didn't know that little tidbit, did you?) Galian Beast sneered.

 

WE TRIED TO WARN YOU. Chaos shrugged. WE TOLD YOU HOJO MIGHT BE LYING TO YOU… BUT NO, YOU'RE THE BIG TURK. YOU DON'T NEED OUR INFORMATION.

 

“How the hell did you know?” Vincent growled out angrily.

 

Galian shrugged, as well as Vincent could see it in his mind. (Anyone without a heart filled with love could have seen it. Don't you even wonder what happened to your partner?)

 

“Raven…” Vincent blanched visibly. It was true… even thirty years ago most Turks didn't go anywhere without their assigned partner. Why hadn't he even worried about Raven?

 

Vincent began to vigorously dig through the documents again, looking for anything referring to his partner. He hoped that somehow the dark-eyed man had found enough sense to get away from ShinRa mansion when all the chaos started.

 

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO LOOK? Chaos laughed. YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.

 

“Shut up!” Vincent growled. The two demons continued to snicker but didn't speak anymore. They were counting on the fact that the ex-Turk would be horrified by what they found.

 

There, buried among lab notes on both his experiments and that of Cloud and Zack, Vincent found the information he was seeking. It filled him with a cold anger.

 

Raven… the partner that he had forgotten about. That was how the Turks worked… always in pairs. The dark-eyed man with brown hair, who was an expert in sharp shooting, Raven had been his partner ever since the dark-haired man joined the Turks. It seemed that the Turk hadn't believed Hojo's explanations of Vincent's disappearance, and so the scientist had taken matters into his own hands. Raven quickly became yet another experiment subject. Hojo had nicknamed this particular project “Lost Number” because he considered it failed and unworthy of anything.

 

He crunched the paper angrily in his grasp as his mind again recalled the paper that had Lucrecia's signature on it.

 

`How much,' he growled yet again to no one in particular. `How much of my past is a lie?'

 

(Most likely all of it.) Galian shrugged with an air of nonchalance.

 

YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND THE ANSWERS, DON'T YOU? NOW THAT HOJO IS DEAD?

 

Vincent's eyes burned with a crimson fire. “Lucrecia…” He thought of her hiding place, that in the cave behind a waterfall. She still lived… and he could confront her about the document… about everything that he had discovered.

 

* * *

 

After spending the night in the ShinRa mansion, finding himself too weary to ride a chocobo across two continents and an ocean, Vincent mounted Racer and made his way to the cave behind the waterfall.

 

The entire journey, he couldn't help the cold rage that was beginning to build within him. He may not know the entire truth just yet, but he did know that somehow he had been deceived. He had been put through unspeakable tortures, nightmares for three decades, and he deserved some answers.

 

Finally, around mid-afternoon he found himself at the entrance to the cave. He tied up Racer and holstered his Supershot ST - Yuffie had given it to him when she found it in the Ancient Forest. He steeled himself for the confrontation that he knew was coming and entered the cool, darkness of the cave.

 

After a minute of walking through the blinding darkness in which even he with his night vision could hardly deduce a thing, he came out into the cave. As his eyes adjusted to the luminescent light, he realized with only a slight bit of anger that it was as empty as he had left it before. He cursed aloud and turned to leave when something caught his attention.

 

There on the platform where Lucrecia once stood were two items. One was a three-barreled shotgun that looked even more powerful than his current weapon and the other was a small chain with an interesting looking pendant on it. Shaped like Cerberus, the three-headed dog, it was made of silver and glinted as if it had just been polished. It seemed to be an attachment for the weapon.

 

Looking the hilt of the gun as he inspected it, he noticed the name of the weapon inscribed on the hilt in a flowery script. `Death Penalty,' and judging by the weight and strength of it, the shotgun was the most powerful weapon he had found or bought so far. Had Lucrecia left the two items knowing that he would return at some time?

 

He holstered his new weapon, the Death Penalty and flipped the small attachment that was next to it in his hand. He wondered exactly what it was. Vincent turned to leave, still angry that he hadn't got to speak to Lucrecia.

 

He moved towards the exit when a sound stopped him in his tracks.

 

“You came after all…” It was her.

 

He whirled around, finding her standing in the same spot he had seen her the time before.

 

“Lucia…” he breathed. He shook his head violently remembering why he had come. “You used me!” he declared loudly, storming up to her.

 

She winced visibly. “I realize my mistake. Hojo was using me…”

 

“Sound familiar?” the raven-haired man questioned, interrupting whatever it was she was about to say. He held up the crumpled piece of paper that he had found the day earlier. “Test subject recommendation?”

 

Lucrecia sighed. “Yes, in the beginning, that is all you were to me. Even after we shared all those moments… there was a reason behind it all.”

 

The gunman's eyes narrowed in anger though inside he was feeling as if someone had torn his heart out. It was like seeing her die all over again.

 

“But you don't understand,” Lucrecia wailed. “I loved Hojo; I would have done anything for him. We needed someone of Turk strength to test on for military applications. You and Raven were perfect, and the President-”

 

“What about the President?”

 

“He gave you to us, said all the other Turks refused to kill you because you were their favorite… their commander. [1] Somehow you had gotten on his bad side, I won't even ask why.”

 

Vincent felt cold all over. So… ShinRa was to blame for his pain as well. Not just one manipulative brown-haired woman… not just one crazed scientist, but the whole damn company.

 

Lucrecia began to cry. “I began to love you, Vincent. When I found out I was pregnant, there was this small part of me that hoped it would be yours. But I fought that down because I was convinced… I was convinced the Jenova cells and mako could help out everyone. What was one sacrifice for the lives of many? And Hojo knew you wouldn't submit to the testing… so it was my job to… weaken you…”

 

“What about Raven? You fuck him, too?” Vincent questioned.

 

“No!” Lucrecia shook her head violently. “We weren't even going to use him at first, but then he started getting nosy when you disappeared. He became another one of Hojo's toys.”

 

“I know, I found the research,” the dark-haired man responded quietly. He turned to leave, he had heard enough. She wouldn't lie to him about something that would make him despise her. He deemed her words the truth; after all, they coincided with the research.

 

He felt a hand on his arm. It was Lucrecia.

 

“Please, stay here with me,” she pleaded. “I can't stand to be alone. I began to realize my mistakes when I heard the tortured cries of Sephiroth… my child that I never got to hold. But I couldn't help him… I couldn't do anything to save him… not anymore or you for that matter. I tried to end it… but the damn Jenova in me… so I ran.”

 

“Leaving your child in the arms of a mad man, how incredibly brave of you.”

 

“It may not have been courageous of me but I knew of nothing else to do. That is why I brought you the Death Penalty and the Cerberus chain. They will help you; I gathered that from the research. The chain is supposed to counteract the demons or something…” she shook her head as if trying to recall. She pleaded at him with her eyes. “Please, just stay.”

 

“I will not.”

 

He shook off her arm and started to move towards the door.

 

“Please,” she agonized. “I love you!”

 

He turned once to glance at her, eyes looking over at the woman he once loved. A woman he had wanted to save… who didn't even need his sacrifice in the first place. “I don't believe you even know the meaning of the word. Goodbye, Lucrecia.”

 

Without another word, Vincent left the cave of his one-time beloved and never looked back. Her sobs followed him but he had already sealed his heart to her cries. He walked out of the cave to where his chocobo was waiting patiently. Cloud had trained the golden bird very well. He climbed into the saddle and just sat there, realizing he had no idea where he was going to go.

 

Vincent was a turmoil of emotions. There was still that part of him that wanted to go back in the cave and hold her, whisper words of love again and make her happy. He couldn't help the tender feelings that he still held. Yet, he knew… he knew that they would be forever tainted by what she had done. Neither of them could ever be happy together again.

 

It was then that his thoughts centered on who he was… before AVALANCHE, before Hojo, before the Turks… when he was still Vincent Uesugi. He wondered if those he had always known as his parents were even still alive, if he had siblings. He felt a sudden urge to find out and knew where he had to go… back to Junon, to see if the Uesugi's still lived there.

 

After all, he was only 57 years old, technically. By all accounts they couldn't have died of old age by now, perhaps other reasons, but his mother she would be around 77 and his father 80. In a world where people could live to be nearly 120 - Bugenhagen is a different case altogether - surely they would still be alive.

 

His mind made up, Vincent grabbed the reins of the chocobo and headed for the military town of Junon. After they had moved out of their home in Wutai all those years ago, his parents had settled down in Junon. Racial discrimination wasn't as big an issue there as it was in the pure-blooded views of the Wutaians at the time. Then again, he really couldn't blame them. There was a war going on.

 

It was just nearing sunset when Vincent made it to Junon. The gunman realized that he had a little over twenty-four hours to return to the airship, if indeed he was going to do so. He took Racer to one of the stables on the edge of town and then headed for the residential section of the military city. He remembered that his parents lived on one of the lower levels, just above those that led to the Junon Harbor. There was a small community of houses similar to that of the suburbs of Wutai where they resided.

 

Walking along the near deserted streets of the neighborhood, he couldn't help but peek into the windows of the houses. He saw many families sitting together, whether in family rooms or in dining rooms, all that mattered was that they were together. He felt a pang of longing in his chest and realized that he missed his family very much. He had been close to his parents for most of his life, and even though they didn't agree with his decision to join ShinRa, he knew that they loved him.

 

Finally, he found himself standing outside the two-story home that used to be his. It was quaint and small, much like many of the others but they hadn't really needed anything bigger. They could afford more, but his father had preferred the ease of having a comfortable home rather than one large and overtly extravagant.

 

Vincent frowned at the overgrown nature of the yard and the general unkemptness associated with the front of the house. Wrapping his cloak around him more firmly, covering his gauntlet, he walked up to the front door and knocked loudly.

 

There was no immediate answer so he tried knocking again, listening intently at the same moment. He could hear nothing from the inside. He moved over to peek into the windows. It was completely dark and he could see nothing. Maybe they had moved out?

 

“Are you looking for the Uesugi's?” a kind and older female voice came from behind him. Vincent whirled around to find a grey-haired lady smoking a pipe standing on the porch of the house directly next door.

 

The ex-Turk nodded slowly. “Yes. Do you know where they have gone?”

 

The older woman sighed. “The lady passed nearly seven years ago with the husband following her about three years later. He didn't want to live without her it seemed.”

 

Instantly, Vincent's composure fell. So it seemed they had died and without ever knowing what truly happened to their son as well. He was sure that they had heard the rumors of his disappearance thirty years ago.

 

The older woman peered at Vincent closely. “Why don't you come inside, and I will tell you more about it?”

 

Vincent was surprised at the woman's friendliness. After all, he didn't exactly look inviting. However, he nodded in response. “How very kind of you.”

The older man waved him off as he waited for Vincent to come over before opening the door to his house. “The Uesugi's were very kind to me. I am Pinako.”

 

“I am… uh… eh… Tseng,” he answered, realizing he couldn't very well use his own name.

 

Pinako raised an eyebrow. “For a minute there I didn't think you knew who you were.”

 

Vincent couldn't help the slight blush that broke out over his face. “Sometimes even I wonder.”

 

The grey-haired lady smirked as she puffed on her pipe and led him to the family room. She gestured that he sit on the couch as she went into the kitchen. Within moments she emerged with two cups of steaming coffee. She sat in a chair and regarded him thoughtfully.

 

“Why does no one live there now?” Vincent questioned, barging right into the conversation.

 

“When Mr. Uesugi died, the house was left to his son Vincent, but no one ever found out what happened to him. Rumor was that he had died.” She shrugged. “No one knew for sure.”

 

“They never had any other children?” asked Vincent surprised.

 

Pinako sighed sadly. “No. They tried but Mrs. Uesugi found out that she was unable to not long after Vincent left.”

 

“How unfortunate,” the gunman commented quietly, sipping at his coffee.

 

The grey-haired woman stared at him for a moment. “You could almost be his son,” she said softly.

 

“Mr. Uesugi's?”

 

She shook her head. “No, Vincent's. You look an awful lot like him. But your eyes, they are a most peculiar scarlet color. I could never forget that ebony hair that everyone in the Uesugi family sported… even Mrs. Uesugi who wasn't completely Wutaian.”

 

“You were good friends with them, then?”

 

“Yes. And you, how did you know the Uesugi's?”

 

Vincent reeled and tried to rack his brain. “I… my father was Vincent's partner as a Turk.”

 

She looked at him shrewdly as if not believing what he said, before shrugging her shoulders. “It was nice of you to come and see them.”

 

“I thank you for your time,” said Vincent, rising to his feet. “I appreciate your help and the coffee as well.” He set the cup down on the table.

 

She smiled up at him. “Anytime youngling.” She stood up from the chair and escorted him to the door. “It's so rare that I get a visitor.”

 

“Thanks again for your time.” He smiled at her than stepped off the porch with the intention of heading out of town and picking up Racer along the way. He waved a goodbye to her.

 

“Come back and see me again, Mr. Uesugi!” she called out in return.

 

He froze in his place for a moment, then shook his head and continued on his path. Perhaps she was sharper than he thought.

 

* * *

 

When darkness fell, Vincent found himself outside, camped under the stars. For some reason, being in the city and in an inn didn't appeal to him at the moment. He was feeling restless and knew that to be within the walls of a hotel room would make him feel trapped. So he opted to camp outside the city in the wilderness in a tent with only Racer to keep him company. There was much he had on his mind and he chuckled more to himself than to anyone else when he found he was musing aloud to the chocobo.

 

Racer was more than happy to respond.

 

After all, he had to return to the airship tomorrow, if indeed that was what he was going to do. He had researched on his past as he had intended and discovered most of the truth. According to Hojo, there was no way to reverse the effects of what he had done. Which meant, did Vincent want to remain in his state?

 

“You know,” he commented aloud, speaking rhetorically, but the golden bird was rather vocal. “I don't feel guilty anymore. Lucrecia… she brought it on herself. I don't feel like her circumstance is my fault. She was delusional even before I had met her, and she was using me. If anything I should hate her, though I can't bring myself to do it. Unfortunately, I still care for her, just enough that I cannot despise her.”

 

“Wark!” Racer agreed. Vincent rolled his eyes and kept talking.

 

“I suppose in consideration, I really can't blame the whole thing on myself any longer. After all, what could I have done, as strung along as I was? Then again, I was a Turk; I should have noticed what was going on… I should have not allowed myself to become blinded by love and abided by the Turks rules that had done me right so far. I suppose in some way my condition is partly my own fault.”

 

DAMN! YOU STILL TRYING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT MADMAN'S WORK? questioned Chaos.

 

“Be quiet,” the ex-Turk muttered aloud. “I'm working things out for myself right now and I don't need your comments.”

 

“Warrk! Wark!” Racer grumbled.

 

“I completely agree.” Vincent nodded.

 

Galian Beast snickered. (But you'll listen to that dumb beast? Chaos, I think our body has officially gone off his rocker.) The two demons shared in a bout of laughter as they mocked their host.

 

The gunman rolled his eyes and ignored them. He was actually beginning to feel… different… unlike he had in a long time. The huge burden of his guilt was slowly lifting… but not completely. There was still something that irked at him.

 

Sephiroth… with all the research that he conducted, he could not produce any results as to whom the General's true parents were. Lucrecia, he knew for certain… but as for the male donor? Hojo could have been lying… Lucia wouldn't have been able to tell, and Sephiroth looked more like her than anything.

 

That was it. There was his guilt. Sephiroth might not be his son… but much of what had happened was not the poor boy's fault. He had been neglected, experimented on, ignored, probably beaten as well… his entire life. It was no wonder the silver-haired man had turned into a raving lunatic. Vincent had nearly succumbed to the madness himself.

 

Lucrecia… she didn't even try to protect someone she knew as her son; instead leaving him in Hojo's hands as she ran and hid. Could the ex-Turk do the same… leave Sephiroth to his fate? Or would he take a hand in the end of the world and fight for the boy as he should have done all those years ago? That was his guilt. The child, no matter if he belonged to Hojo… the child was innocent.

 

AND STILL HE TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE HUMANS… ALL THAT DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, Chaos slavered. He grinned broadly at the memories of Sephiroth's exploits.

 

“Unfortunately you are right,” Vincent remarked sadly. “Perhaps if someone had saved him all those years ago, none of the events of today would even have happened. Sephiroth might have grown up to be a normal boy… might have learned to feel love.”

 

Galian Beast snorted. (Trading one guilt for another… I will never understand humans.)

 

The dark-haired gunman sighed. “But this is a guilt I can live with. I don't need to hide from this pain or this feeling. I can confront it and perhaps provide peace to him. He deserves that bit of kindness I think.”

 

“Warrrk! Wark-Wark!” Racer garbled.

 

OH, SHUT UP!! Chaos exclaimed irritably, though he knew the chocobo couldn't hear him. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU'D THINK YOU'D COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING TO MUSE ABOUT. BUT NOOO YOU JUST CONTINUE ON IN YOUR STUPID HUMAN WAY. THINGS GOT INTERESTING FOR A WHILE WITH THAT CID HUMAN… BUT NOW… DAMN! I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!

 

(I couldn't agree more.)

 

Cid… now that was a name that brought both a happy and sad smile to the gunman's lips. Highwind was a man that Vincent thought he could find himself happy with. There was something about the arrogant, uncouth yet occasionally sweet and sensitive pilot that made the ex-Turk warm deep down inside and made him finally feel at peace. He felt with Cid he could be himself and that in the pilot's blue gaze there was something to hope for…

 

Now that everyone he had ever loved from his past was either dead or gone… Lucrecia, his parents, Raven… he might be able to move on into the future.

 

IF YOU EVEN HAVE A FUTURE, Chaos snorted.

 

Vincent sat up from where he had reclined against the grass angrily. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

 

Galian Beast shrugged, responding for the more powerful Apocalypse demon. (Sephiroth is strong… he could kill you.)

 

AND I BECOME STRONGER EVERY DAY… I MIGHT KILL YOU, Chaos grumbled.

 

It was the gunman's turn to snort. “I will never use you in battle.”

 

YOU WON'T NEED TO. I WILL COME ON MY OWN, WELL ENOUGH, the oldest demon taunted.

 

“You could try.”

 

AND WHEN I DO, THE FIRST THING I SHALL ACCOMPLISH WILL BE LOPPING OFF THE HEAD OF THAT HUMAN LOVER OF YOURS. JUST TO SEE THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE AFTERWARDS WHEN YOU SEE HIS BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.

 

Vincent's face went livid. He ultimately wished that he had something in front of him to shoot that even resembled the fanged demon. “I will not let you lay a hand on him.”

 

(Not that there's anything you could do about it.) Galian smirked.

 

“Silence!” the gunman ordered. “I won't hear anything more out of you tonight.” For a moment, the two shut up and he hoped to believe that they had actually listened to him.

 

He wasn't interested in hearing the demon's boasts especially when he knew he would rather die than depend on Chaos. Of the four, that particular demon was the most sadistic and power-hungry. The bonding of his body with that of the demon's was nearly complete, and Vincent knew that. He had felt it when Galian beast was bonded to him fully, as well as Hellmasker and Death Gigas. Indeed, Chaos' time was fast approaching.

 

Yet, none of that mattered at the current moment. He had to make a decision. Was he going to return to the airship and participate in the fight of tomorrow, or would he lay aside and wait for the world to end?

 

(You already know the answers; you're just too stubborn to admit them.)

 

“Maybe so, but I don't need you to tell me that.”

 

“Wark! Wa~rk! Warkkk!” Racer cooed to the sky.

 

That chocobo was really beginning to grate on his nerves.

 

Who was he kidding? No one but himself, and even his damn demons knew it. He was going to fight, and he had his reasons… perhaps Cloud had been smart in his decision.

 

If anyone was going to finish off Sephiroth it was going to be him. He owed the one-time General that much, at least… that final courtesy… to be killed by someone who actually cared.

 

And he was going to be there as well… to protect Cid. He didn't want to see another person he loved die because of his stupidity or inability to protect them. He would defend the pilot with his life, if he had to… that was a promise to himself.

 

“You hear that?” he said aloud, for the benefit of himself and the demons that were silently seething. “I will let nothing harm Cid Highwind!”

 

“Wark!”

 

Oh, shut up.

 

* * *

 

[1] I found out that there was a man who was commander before Tseng by another name. But whether or not he was commander at the same time of Vincent is up in smoke. Veld, I think his name was, would have had to be very young. So I am going with fan belief that in his time, Vincent was commander of the Turks because well, I like him like that. Complaints can be addressed in the review box, they really don't bother me.