Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Unknown Ally ❯ Chapter 8: The Mystery Deepens ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8: The Mystery Deepens

 

Vincent waited for the scientist to fall asleep, which gave him plenty of time to puzzle out Isolda's strange words that day.

 

Why would Hellfire want to change her name? Was ShinRa targeting her? But the question that was at the forefront of his thoughts was what was Dr. Charis hiding that she had to speak in riddles? The disguised gunman growled in frustration and he ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't answer any of the questions burning in his mind, and that was causing a hell of a headache that he didn't need. He closed his eyes and tried to remember the meditation technique Yuffie used to take her mind off her motion sickness. It seemed to help for he felt himself being taken away from his worries….

 

He opened his eyes and found he was in a peaceful grove, like the one he and Isolda were in that day. He frowned as he looked around and he ran his hand through his hair. He was shocked to feel the soft sash he wore around his head and looked down to see he was no longer in Turk uniform. What was going on?

 

`You're asleep, Vincent,' said a voice that caused his heart to skip. Vincent whirled around to see Hellfire standing there, clad in a soft green dress and her hair was adorned with flowers. She smiled softly, her beautiful face radiant in the sunlight.

 

`Which is a good thing,' she said. `I can never manifest if you're awake.'

 

`I wish you could,' said Vincent. Her smile became sad.

 

`Unfortunately, in spite of all the power I possess, that is the one thing I cannot do,' she said. `But it seems your powers of perception are waning.'

 

`What are you talking about?' asked Vincent. Hellfire's expression became one of frustration.

 

`Dr. Isolda Charis,' she said. `She is not who you think she is, Vincent.'

 

`What do you mean?' The gunslinger frowned in confusion. Hellfire sighed and shook her head.

 

`You will have to find it out yourself,' she said. `But I fear you will not see it until disaster strikes.'

 

`Now you're starting with the riddles,' growled Vincent, wondering when this game would end. Hellfire's expression became one of hurt and frustration.

 

`That wasn't a riddle, Vincent.'

~*~

Vincent opened his eyes and sat upright. It was dark, almost black as pitch and he ran his hand through his short hair.

 

`It was a dream,' he muttered. He frowned. `What did she mean? Is there something she's not telling me? That she can't tell me?' He shook his head. `I can't think about that now. There are other things to worry about.' He listened carefully. It was silent in the lab. It appeared that Isolda had retired for the night.

 

`Time to see if ShinRa's got something we need,' he muttered to himself. He rose from the bed and retraced his steps back to the archives room. It was so dark that a normal person would be running into walls right now. But no thanks to whatever Hojo had done to him, his senses had been honed to preternatural levels and he could see clearly in the dark.

 

He quietly slipped into the archives room and took down the UNKNOWN SOURCES file. He set it down on the table and switched on the small lamp so he could read better. He paged through the file, reading carefully so he didn't miss anything, but it seemed that there was nothing much that could be of use to AVALANCHE and the WRO.

 

He was halfway through the document was about to shut the file in frustration when he came across a passage. Frowning slightly, he read:

 

We have not uncovered any new information regarding Deep Ground's newest and strangest defence. What we have gathered so far is that the weapon is biological in nature, about the size of a behemoth, and that it's already attacked several communities. It is also known to have a weakness to fire. And the crisis is only intensifying, for an unknown ally of the rebel alliance has gotten hold of classified information and is transmitting it to AVALANCHE and the WRO. We have carried out an investigation in the wake of this discovery, but have turned up nothing as of yet. All the company do in the present time is keep a closer watch on the classified records and ensure that there are no spies within the corporation.

 

Vincent heard a sound in the corridor. Someone was coming. He took the page out of the document and shut the file, stowing it back in its place. Shutting off the light, he made his way to the door, but found that the person was coming towards the room. Not wasting any time, he leaped onto one of the tallest bookcases and crouched low so he wouldn't be seen. The door opened and a light streamed through the door as a person walked in carrying a small but powerful flashlight. Vincent's eyes narrowed as he took in the person's long silver hair and spiked heels. He watched as Isolda walked through the room towards the MISCELLANEOUS section and stood before the shelf. She ran her finger across one of the higher shelves, reading the titles carefully by the light of her torch.

 

`Found you,' she muttered. She took out a file and cradled the folder under her arm. Checking to see if she was the only person there, she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

 

After a few moments, Vincent dropped back to the floor, landing silently in a crouch. He rose to his feet, pocketing the page he'd taken and narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

 

What is she up to?

~*~

 

As soon as Vincent got back into his room, he sat down and called Reeve. The WRO commissioner picked up on the first ring.

 

`Vincent?'

 

`Reeve, I hope this isn't too late.'

 

`No, not at all. I actually just woke up.'

 

Vincent frowned. `At four o'clock in the morning?'

 

`I run on seventeen hour days,' explained Reeve. `You either get used to it or have a psychotic episode.'

 

Vincent smirked. `Right.'

 

Reeve laughed and then his voice became grave. `So, what is it? Did you find anything on the ally?'

 

`Not much,' admitted Vincent. `But I did find something that may be of use to us.' He read out the passage to Reeve, keeping his voice low so as to not wake up Dr. Charis. When he finished, the other end of the phone was silent. He frowned, wondering if his connection had been cut. But his worries were unfounded for Reeve broke his silence.

 

`A biological weapon?' repeated the commissioner. `Are you sure?'

 

`I'm sure,' said Vincent. `This is the actual page from the file. I managed to grab it before I was interrupted.'

 

`Interrupted by who?' Reeve sounded confused. The disguised gunslinger told him about Isolda's late night excursion. Reeve sounded grave when he answered.

 

`Did you see what file she took out?'

 

Vincent shook his head, and then remembered Reeve couldn't see him. `No. But she looked very pleased to find it. What confuses me is why she had to sneak in there in the dead of night, when she can walk freely through the building without questions being raised.'

 

`Whatever she's up to, it can't be good,' said Reeve. `Keep an eye on her, Vincent. And watch what you say to her. She could be funnelling information to the president. Or….' He trailed off. Vincent didn't like the sound of that.

 

`Or what?' asked the gunman. Reeve sighed over the receiver and spoke in an unusually grave tone.

 

`Or there is a possibility that she is from Deep Ground and she's transmitting information to them.'

 

Vincent stared at the phone in shock. That was something he never expected. `A Deep Ground spy? That sounds a little farfetched, Reeve.'

 

`Farfetched, yes. But it's not an impossibility,' said the commissioner. `Since Halanitum's destruction, they will be on the lookout for anything that could help them bring the WRO down, and destroy AVALANCHE. They could also be hunting you again. Hellfire as well.'

 

Vincent frowned. `Why?'

 

`It was you and Hellfire who were ultimately responsible for Halanitum's demise.'

 

Vincent flashed back to that night. He remembered the familiar power of Chaos flowing through him and the winged goddess of death that had come to his side. He pushed the memory aside and nodded to himself. `That makes sense.'

 

`So, Vincent, I want you to be doubly on your guard while you're stationed there,' said Reeve. `Isolda may do anything to find out more about you, so be prepared to cover your bases.'

 

`No problem there,' muttered Vincent, remembering the riddle game the scientist had played on him before.

 

`What?'

 

`Nothing.' Vincent shook his head. `Is there anything else?'

 

an unknown file. Find it and send the information to me.'

 

`Right.'

 

`And remember, Vincent. Stay on your toes. Expect anything.'

 

`Always do.' Vincent ended the connection and set the phone on the table, his mind reeling. A Deep Ground spy? Here? It wasn't as impossible as it sounded, but AVALANCHE had a reputation for expecting the unexpected when it came to the enemy. But he still wondered what the scientist was truly up to.

 

Guess I'll have to wait and see.