Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Unknown Ally ❯ Chapter 7: Files and A Riddle Game ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Files and A Riddle Game

 

`That sounds very odd, Vincent,' said Reeve, his voice distorted from the reception. `Were you able to find out why the bot attacked Dr. Charis?'

 

`I asked ShinRa about it,' said the disguised gunman. `But he told me it was most likely a glitch. It's happened before apparently, but he seemed to know more than he said.'

 

`Keep an eye on it,' said the WRO commissioner. `Have you uncovered any information regarding our anonymous ally?'

 

`None as of yet,' admitted Vincent. `But I have the day off so I'll go and check it out.'

 

`Be on your guard,' warned Reeve. `Especially around Dr. Charis. She may be friendly, but she is still a ShinRa scientist. They'll stop at nothing to prevent you from getting to their records.'

 

`Nothing new there,' muttered Vincent. Reeve couldn't help but chuckle.

 

`I have to go. I'm expected to give a briefing on our situation. Take care, Vincent. And good luck.'

 

The connection ended and the reborn Turk rose to his feet, pocketing his phone as he headed for the archives room. He glanced around constantly, his hand not straying far from his weapon. He hadn't forgotten what ShinRa had done to him in the past, even if it was under a different president. He wasn't going to let history repeat itself, no matter the cost.

 

He arrived at the archives room and looked around to see if anyone was there. The corridor was silent. He opened the door and slipped inside, shutting it behind him. The lights automatically went on and he looked around, his eyes narrowed as he searched the room.

 

`Now where do they keep their records?' he murmured to himself. He walked the aisles, reading the section titles one by one. It seemed the company kept records on almost everything. He stopped in his tracks when he came across an archives shelf with a huge sign that read REBEL ALLIANCES. Curiosity getting the better of him, Vincent reached up and pulled out a file simply labelled with the letter A. He opened it and was surprised at what he found there.

 

It was an archive on AVALANCHE. It covered their past brushes with ShinRa and even had separate files for each of its members. He paged through them and found that the company had been tracking them for some time. There was even a file on him, but it was only a page or two long.

 

`Guess they couldn't find much on me, after all,' he muttered with a small smirk. He shut the file and put it back in its place before he focused on his attention on a tier of shelves labelled MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. Thinking he might find something there, he walked over and looked through the shelves one by one, skimming the files in search of the information they needed.

 

Found you, he thought as he came across a file that read UNKNOWN SOURCES. He figured that considering this ally was funnelling information to the WRO, this would be a good place to start. He opened the file and went through the enormous report, reading the names and skimming the details for anything that could be of use.

 

He was only a third of the way through when a voice sounded in his ear.

 

`I never thought you were much of a bookworm, Hunter.'

 

He dropped the file and whirled around, his hand flying to his gun. He froze as he stared into the silver eyes on Isolda Charis. She was smiling at him, but there was curiosity in her eyes.

 

`Isolda, you shouldn't sneak up on me like that,' said Vincent, trying to get his heart to slow down. `I almost shot you.'

 

`Sorry,' she said sheepishly. `I was trying to find you.'

 

`What is it?' He frowned. Isolda looked incredibly sheepish.

 

`Well, it's such a nice day for us to locked up with dusty contraptions and seedy janitors,' she said. `So, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a sunny picnic lunch.' She looked at him. `Unless you have things to do.'

 

Vincent glanced down at the pile of files he'd dropped and stooped to pick it up. He gathered the files back into its folder and rose to his feet. He saw Isolda glance at the folder and subtly shifted his hand to cover the label. She narrowed her eyes slightly but when she looked up at him, her expression was warm and friendly.

 

`So? How about it?'

 

Vincent set the file in its place on the shelf and nodded. `I suppose it couldn't hurt,' he allowed. I'll come back tonight when she's asleep, he thought. Draw less attention to myself.

 

Isolda beamed. `I'll get the lunch. You go and get a good spot.' She dashed off and Vincent stared after her, shaking his head.

 

`She's a very unusual woman,' he murmured. `And yet I can't shake off this feeling she's familiar….' He shook off the thought. It was ridiculous. He`d never seen her before in his life. It was just his mind working overtime as usual.

 

He walked through out the exit to her private sector and found himself in a beautiful grove of trees. The air was clean and fresh and he thought he could detect the faint fragrance of blossoms scenting it. He sat beneath a shady tree and leaned against the trunk. It had been years since he'd been in a place so beautiful and he thought back to the time he and Lucrecia picnicked in the fields outside ShinRa Manor. Then he remembered the night Hellfire had come to him, asking if they could get to know each other a little better. He smiled as he remembered her playfulness when he'd inquired about the tattoo on her back and the way she apologised for being so tawdry. Isolda was in some ways the same, but the playful scientist was nothing like the fierce warrior.

 

`Hellfire….' He bowed his head in deep thought, wondering where she was now.

 

`Hunter, you all right?'

 

He looked up and saw a deep look of concern on Isolda's face.

 

`I'm fine,' he said, not wishing to discuss the inner workings of his mind with a complete stranger. Isolda smiled and nodded.

 

`I see you found my favourite spot,' she said. Vincent frowned.

 

`Excuse me?'

 

`This tree…..' Isolda gestured to it. `I come here for my lunch, and to sometimes be alone with my thoughts.' She sat down beside him, setting the basket between them. `I never thought this would be the first place you'd go.'

 

Vincent finally understood what she meant and nodded. `It was the peacefulness that attracted me,' he admitted. Isolda laughed slightly and pulled out the food she'd prepared for them.

 

`It's a nice change to eat with a friend for once,' she remarked. `I get lonely down here.'

 

Vincent caught onto what she said and stared at her. `A….friend?'

 

`Yes, silly!' She playfully shoved him. `You're the only person here with me. So, that makes you my friend, even if it doesn't make me yours.'

 

Vincent chuckled at her logic, accepting the meal she handed to him. They ate quietly in silence for a while, until Isolda frowned slightly and looked at him.

 

`Who's Hellfire?'

 

Vincent nearly choked on the bite he'd just taken and looked at her. `What?'

 

`Hellfire. Who is he?'

 

Vincent thought about that for a moment and looked at her. `Oh. Did I say that aloud?'

 

Isolda frowned at him in consternation. `Well, yes. I heard you speak.'

 

Vincent chuckled softly. Isolda smiled.

 

`So, are you going to tell me about him? Or do I have to poke it out of you?'

 

Vincent held up his hands to ward her off, laughing slightly. `I'll talk.' He looked down at his hands. `She was a friend of mine. I met her while I was in Midgar.'

 

Isolda seemed surprised that the person he'd mention was actually female. `Midgar? Why?'

 

`I heard rumours about a base there so I went to check it out,' he said. `She ran into me and I…I knew that this was no ordinary girl. She was different.'

 

`Different, how?'

 

Vincent remembered how he'd really met Hellfire and sighed, giving the scientist the partially true version. `She was a warrior. She carried a sword. I'd never seen anything like her before. She was very friendly towards me. We talked and became friends very quickly.'

 

`And where is she now?' Isolda looked curious. Vincent glanced at her.

 

`I don't know,' he said. `I haven't seen her in four years.'

 

`Four years?!' whispered Isolda. `Do you miss you her a lot?'

 

He looked at her. `Yes I do.' He turned away from her. `Very much.' Isolda fell silent for a bit, chewing her lower lip as she frowned in thought.

 

`This woman, Hellfire, what if she wanted to change her name?'

 

The disguised gunman whirled around to stare at her, utterly bewildered by this random question. `What?'

 

`I'm just saying,' said Isolda. `Say she was tired of being called Hellfire, what if she wanted to keep a name she chose for herself….you know, like she was undercover for instance?'

 

Vincent frowned. What was with the riddles? `It would depend on whether she liked it or not.'

 

A sly smile appeared on the young scientist's face. It was like she was playing a game he had no knowledge of. `Well, if she is undercover, I think the name Isolda would fit her perfectly. It's such a pretty name. And it sounds less threatening.'

 

Vincent laughed. `If she likes it, she can have it. I don't mind.'

 

The disguised scientist beamed. `Then if you see her, tell she can have the name.'

 

Vincent smiled. `I'll do that.'

 

`You make sure you do.'

 

`Anyone ever tell you how strange you are?'

 

`I get it a lot from Reno and Rude. I think that's what they love about me.'

 

`That I don't doubt,' Vincent said with a laugh. Isolda shook her head and placed the empty plates back into the basket before rising to her feet.

 

`Well, I better get back to work.' She started to walk away, but stopped and turned to him. `You coming or what?'

 

Vincent shook his head and rose to his feet, following his charge back to the lab, his mind still buzzing from the riddle game he'd just been subject to.