Woven Ties

Woven Ties


//

The Shera landed outside of Nibelheim, kicking up dirt and dust as she set down on the wild grasslands. Animals scattered into the bush as it settled, and a few seconds later Cid and Yuffie descended from the ship. They walked in silence through the town until they reached the mansion. It stood, unwelcoming as always.

“Shinra Manor?” Yuffie questioned, looking at the blonde man beside her. Their destination had been unknown to her until now.

“I wanna have one last look,” Cid replied, glaring at the huge building. It seemed to glare back.

The pair entered the musty, old mansion and wasted no time hovering about the dark, damp rooms and corridors. They climbed down the hidden staircase into the basement, shivering at the drop in temperature and ignoring the loud creaking of the wooden structure. No creatures came out to test their strength. Nothing stirred, as though everything that haunted the building was aware of the grim situation and was respectfully – or fearfully – avoiding conflict.

“Maybe, just maybe we overlooked somethin’,” Cid muttered to himself. He knew he was relying on false hope. Vincent himself had been here to search and had found no more than the WRO.

Yuffie wrapped her arms around her slim form as they entered the main archive room. The shelves held more dust than the last visit, and as they both looked around they could tell their search would bring no results. But it did not stop Cid. He continued to look, he upturned everything that could move, and if it couldn’t he tried to pry off or away. Finally, after an hour of searching the basement, and a further two hours looking through the mansion, Cid and Yuffie returned to the cellar, glad now of the cool air. Cid kicked open the door to the room that had held his lover prisoner for thirty years, and sat down on a chunk of stone by the center coffin. He wiped his brow on the back of his hand and then rested it on his palm. What am I doing? He thought. I’m wasting time in a pointless search for shit that isn’t here…this isn’t helping me find Vincent… He rubbed his face as Yuffie squatted before him, watching him in concern.

“Vincent’s really special to you…isn’t he?”

Cid nodded, bringing his palm over his mouth and chin. He felt lost. He had thrown away a whole day to search dead ends, and now the fear was returning. “Yeah,” Cid found the strength to respond. “He is.”

“He’s special to us all,” Yuffie continued, a little more quietly. “But I could tell you two were a lot closer.”

Cid blinked away the tiredness in his eyes. “I didn’t make a show to hide it, so I ain’t surprised.”

Yuffie watched him for a second, tilting her head slightly in a quizzical way. “So you weren’t afraid that the rest of us would find out?”

Cid let a quiet huff of laughter escape. “Nah…”

“Was Vincent?”

Cid raised his blue eyes to her large brown ones. Her questions would have otherwise irritated him. But right now he could sense her curiosity and her attempts to coax some conversation to ease the sense of failure they both felt. “I don’t think he was…” Cid said, genuinely considering the question. “Vincent isn’t afraid of much.”

Yuffie wrapped her arms around her legs, rested her chin on her knees and smiled. “Does he smile when he was with you? Does he laugh and act more human?”

Cid smiled, finding her curiosity about Vincent’s ‘other’ life almost pleasant. “…In his own way. He has a beautiful smile, though.” Images of the gunman’s face swam into his mind, and he realized only he would be blessed with those scenes.

“Wow,” Yuffie said quietly, rocking a little on her backside. “He’s always so unemotional… You must really make him happy, Cid.”

The pilot looked at her, meeting her brown eyes and for a second he was surprised by the unusual display of purity and innocence emanating from the young ninja. She had voiced a realization that he hadn’t really ever put into words. He had made Vincent happy. He had brought happiness to the man’s dark life. He had given Vincent a reason to live, and Vincent had given Cid a cause to fight for.

“I guess I did,” he answered distantly, draping his arm inside the coffin. He brushed his fingers over the silken lining, surprised by how smooth the material was after all the years of neglect. He could picture Vincent’s motionless body sleeping there for years and years, never knowing the time that was passing him by. It made Cid sad to think that Vincent’s life was ripped from him, that it was allowed to continue by as he remained frozen. Yet, if he hadn’t been forced to sleep Cid would never had known him. He couldn’t and never had dwelt on the ifs and maybes.

He frowned a little as his fingers caught the edge of the coffin’s base. He looked over the coffin side and dug his fingers into the base. It lifted. Curiously, Cid rose to his knees and grabbed the soft material lining. He pulled and lifted out the base of the coffin, propping it up.

Underneath laid several sheets of aging paper. Some single, some stapled to a few others. Cid picked one up as Yuffie awed over the end of the coffin and looked at the notes scribbled on the yellowing paper. They were documents. Cid grabbed another and flipped the front page over. An image of the crystals from Lucrcia’s grave was clipped to it. Beside it were many notes, calculations and symbols. Cid’s eyes dashed over the loopy scrawl next to the image.

<sup>‘ – Crystals are indigenous only to the cave inside the Nibelheim crater. The very cave, according to Dr Crescent’s thesis, from which Chaos – “the legendary beast of fabled past” – is destined to awake. In my research of these crystals I was unable to synthesize any useful products, let alone an effective suppressant. But I am convinced these crystals are the sole ingredient to any controlling agent. My knowledge is unfortunately lacking in the matter of rock and mineral study, therefore I will required help...’

‘ – acquired assistance from a reliable source in the Core Science Center. Their expertise was more than adequate and I am pleased with the results.’

‘ – 12.57p.m. Sedative administered and successful. Finally, I can continue with my experiments...’</sup>

Cid swallowed, dampening his dry throat as his eyes scanned more pages, more notes and more symbols.

Yuffie had a document in hand as she raised her gaze from the writing. “Cid, these are…”

Cid barely heard her. One name stood out among the writing. Core Science Center. The CSC. He said the name aloud and Yuffie frowned at him questioningly. He brandished the documents in his hand. “In Hojo’s note here he said he got the help of the CSC to make a drug from those crystals. A drug to suppress Chaos.”

Yuffie frowned further. “What’s the CSC?”

Cid began looking through other documents. “They’re a huge, powerful science center. They know everythin’ about everythin’ scientific. Remember when Cloud, Tifa and me went after the Huge Materia in the space rocket? The CSC sought me out after the whole Sephiroth ordeal and asked for all information our escape pod had registered on outta space. I gave ‘em all the readin’s I had, and even told them about my visual recollection. They wanna know everythin’ – includin’ what’s up there.”

“So they helped Hojo with Vincent?” Yuffie pressed, rising to a crouch.

Cid brought the document containing Hojo’s crystal notes to his focus. “According to this they did. Bastards…” He barely noticed when Yuffie took the papers from his hand and read through them herself. Cid was busy seething, and as he replaced the bottom of the coffin he almost broke it in anger. All that time Vincent had been sleeping over the notes of the only thing that could bring him down. Hojo had a sick, twisted sense of humor.

“Wait a minute,” Yuffie frowned, reading from the document. “Why did Hojo need this drug for Vincent? He has that Protomateria – that’s what suppresses Chaos, right?” She glanced at Cid.

Cid looked at her in silence for a second. “Chaos breaks free when Vincent’s life’s in danger…” He swallowed and so did she as a shared realization passed between them. “…Whatever experiments Hojo had been doin’ …Chaos had been forced out to try and save him…”

Yuffie covered her mouth with a troubled expression. Their friend had been through so much it was impossible to try and imagine.

Cid suddenly spurred into motion, grabbing up the documents and rising to his feet. Yuffie jumped up after, following as he left the room and began making his way towards the spiral staircase. “Where are we going?” She asked.

“Cosmo Canyon,” he replied shortly.

//

The day was turning dark as they rose into the sky aboard Cid’s ship and set a course for Cosmo Canyon. It took an hour to reach their destination, during which time Cid made a few important phone calls. He explained to Cloud what they had found and where they were now heading. The young blond was surprised to hear that such documents had been hidden inside Vincent’s coffin.

“Why Cosmo Canyon?” Cloud had asked.

“That’s where I met with the Astrology people,” the pilot explained, one hand gripping the wheel. “They invited me there to tell them about space when we went up in Shinra 26. If they’re still there I wanna know about their involvement with Hojo…”

“Do you think it will provide any answers? Any clues?”

“I don’t know. But this is the only lead we’ve got…and if Hojo’s alive…”

Cloud had agreed. He wished Cid luck and their conversation ended. Barely fifteen minutes after that the Shera landed on the outskirts of the rocky town of Cosmo Canyon. Cid and Yuffie left the airship and climbed the long, stone carved stairs up to the entrance.

“Do you remember where this guy’s lab was?” Yuffie asked, referring to the man Cid had done his dealings with. They passed the lower levels, passed the stores, and climbed further into the canyon.

“Yeah. I remember.” Had it been under different circumstances Cid would have berated her for possibly making a crack about old age and memory.

They walked on for ten minutes before Cid turned left and began ascending a flight of stone steps that led into the canyon. Yuffie followed behind, casting looks into the many rooms they passed as they traveled deeper and higher into the rock. Finally the Captain stepped over the threshold of an archway and they found themselves inside an impressive chamber. Contraptions and models of the planet hung from the ceiling and cluttered the built in shelves. Papers, books and all manner of things made the entire room seem smaller than it was. On the adjacent wall to the door sat several sophisticated machines, blinking little lights with numerous keypads, buttons and screens.

The lone man that was sat at one machine with strange gauges turned around when they entered. He blinked. “Who are y – wait… I know you,” he said, correcting himself. He stood. “Cid Highwind, isn’t it?”

“I wanna know where to find the CSC,” Cid demanded, getting straight to the point.

His aggressive approach had the man backing up, hands out in front of him. “Whoa, whoa…” He paused, sensing Cid waiting for an answer. “Can I be of any help?

“Yeah, you can tell me where to find the CSC,” Cid snapped. Yuffie watched from his side.

“Mr. Highwind, no one visits the CSC. It’s strictly prohibited for any outside persons to enter,” the man explained. “That is why our departments choose a place to visit outside of the center.”

Cid frowned hostilely. “Why?”

The man lowered his hands a little. “Because we have expensive, state of the art equipment and valuable data. Our research and findings are both important and dangerous. We can’t risk anything falling into the wrong hands. We are a cautious company, Mr. Highwind. We always have been.” He paused, sensing the threatening air falling down a notch. “The CSC have information on many things, there are people out there who would find some deplorable way in which to benefit from our findings and we took the most precautionary measures to prevent that.” With that explained, he looked back at Cid curiously. “Now why do you want to find the CSC?”

Cid ignored the question. “Tell me which department worked with Professor Hojo.” Beside him Yuffie firmed her expression and nodded to the question.

The man frowned. “I wouldn’t know, I’m part of the Astrology department. The branches don’t communicate their dealings with the rest of us.”

The Captain deflated a little, glancing at Yuffie for a second. They exchanged a look before the pilot lifted his gaze. “What department deals with crystals and rocks?”

The man gave him a cautious look, as though unsure of his intentions. “That would probably be the Geology department.”

“Geology,” Cid repeated to himself. “Should have guessed. I wanna see whoever the hell’s in charge of that section. You’re part of the CSC, so get in touch with them.”

His snappish demand was met with a hesitant pause as the man eyed the pilot and his female companion. He had met with the pilot a few years ago, and he remembered being on a completely different side of the man. If given the choice he would preferably be on that side again. He nodded.

“I’ll contact the head of the Geology department,” he told Cid, sitting back down in his chair, feeling a little more relaxed. “But I can’t promise anything. Stay in Cosmo Canyon for the night, and tomorrow I will have an answer.”

//

Cid and Yuffie returned to the main town of the canyon, seeking the warmth of the center fire. It sat on the stone dais, radiating warmth and light, casting the surrounding area in a comfortable glow. It was dark, night time had fallen over the rocky town and as Cid and Yuffie climbed the few stone steps to the fire the stars twinkled brightly. Cid looked up at them, remembering the night he had stretched out on the grassy hills and had watched the night skies with Vincent. He would give up his dreams of exploring space just to have Vincent back again.

A few minutes later their fiery red-furred friend found them. When they had descended the canyon they had put word out to Nanaki. It hadn’t taken him long to find them. He moved gracefully to their positions by the fire.

“What brings you back?” Nanaki asked curiously once they were aware of his presence. He sat on his hindquarters and felt the heat of the fire warm him.

“There somewhere we can eat and talk in private?” Cid asked.

A few minutes later they were seated in a small tavern at a red-cushioned booth. Cid and Yuffie were starving. They hadn’t eaten in a long time. As they tucked into their food Nanaki waited patiently, watching politely as they polished off their meals. After they had devoured their food they gulped down their drinks, not realizing how hungry and thirty they had been.

Nanaki tilted his head. Cid looked pale compared to his usual healthy tan, and there was a distinct lack of energy around the man. Vincent’s abduction had hit them all, but it had hit Cid the hardest. Nanaki knew deep down that if anyone could find him it was Avalanche.

When he had finished his drink, Cid informed Nanaki why he and Yuffie were in Cosmo Canyon. He explained about the CSC’s involvement in Hojo’s work, and how he was now waiting on a meeting between himself and the head of the Geology department. Nanaki was surprised to hear this news. After a short conversation on the subject the red feline explained how the top men at Cosmo Canyon were amazed by how alien the crystals were. He mentions that perhaps the CSC Geology department might be able to take a look at them, but Cid denies giving them the credit. If Cosmo Canyon – the rock experts – couldn’t understand them then no one could.

The night had barely reached its highest hour when Cid and Yuffie retired for the night. Nanaki referred them to an inn, of which the keeper issued them free rooms for their involvement in saving the world. It was sometimes worth all that fighting and fear. Avalanche were respected in some places, but frowned upon in others.

Cid collapsed into his bed, feeling completely exhausted, mentally and physically. He felt his weight sink into the mattress and allowed himself to sigh in comfort as the strain lifted from his limps. All he needed now was another body to wrap around, another presence to fall asleep with. The months in which Vincent would leave him were never as lonely as tonight. He had known Vincent would return one day, and he never found himself pining or wishing he would come back the next day. Cid wasn’t like that, he would get on with his life and probably only think of Vincent when he needed to relieve some ‘tension’. But right now he wished he wasn’t alone. He wished he wasn’t going to wake up on his own.

He grabbed the corner of the bed sheets and wrapped it around him as he rolled onto his side. He hadn’t expected to fall asleep despite being so tired, but only a minute later he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep; all worries temporarily forgotten.

//

The man they had rudely interrogated last night found them early in the morning. Cid was still asleep, so Nanaki and Yuffie received his news.

“I have scheduled a meeting today with the head of Geology,” the man said. He introduced himself as Professor Tegeist. “You may use my office at midday. You’ll be meeting with a man named Professor Gray.”

‘Tay-guyst’ as Yuffie had tried to pronounce, left shortly after delivering the news. It seemed he didn’t want to be around when Cid woke up. The two Avalanche team members waited patiently for the pilot to join them, voicing their concerns for the blonde’s neglected wellbeing.

Fifteen minutes later Cid joined them, looking drowsy but refreshed. He shoveled down a quick breakfast as they told him about the meeting at noon. Cid’s response was a simple grunt and a mumble about scientists being pompous pricks.

Professor Gray turned out to be a tall, aging man with one of those white laboratory coats, despite being outside of his workshop. He wore thin-framed glasses and his graying hair was lank about his temples and ears. He was seated in one of the three chairs that had been placed in the small office. Professor Tegeist’s office was located through his laboratory, and was in much neater condition. When they entered Professor Gray offered a hand, which was completely ignored. Instead he offered his guests a chair. Nanaki sat beside Yuffie.

Cid got straight to the point. He retrieved the document from Vincent’s coffin out of his pocket and handed it to the man. “This look familiar?”

Professor Gray took the document and read through it for a few long, silent seconds. His eyebrows rose very slightly in recognition. “Yes, I remember this…” He paused, recalling the crystal work. “It was a long time ago. I had only just risen to the head of my department.”

“So you worked with Hojo to create some drug?” Cid demanded, feeling eager to get some answers.

Professor Gray frowned. “Drug...? Yes, yes I suppose it was.”

It was Cid’s turn to frown. “You suppose?”

“Yes. We didn’t ask questions. Back then it was an honor to work alongside a scientist such as Hojo. We didn’t know for what reason he would be using this agent.” Professor Gray looked questioningly at Cid. “Where did you come by this document?”

“That ain’t important,” Cid brushed the question aside. “Yer saying yer don’t know what Hojo wanted this drug for? Yer didn’t even ask why he wanted some crystals made into this?” He indicated the document still in the professor’s hand.

The man looked at him for a long second, trying to determine why Cid Highwind was asking these questions. “We asked only about the crystals themselves. They are unique to the Nibelheim area, and quite a find. Hojo could not unlock the secrets within them, so we simply took the crystals and discovered what they could do, to put it simply.”

“You didn’t work with him on any…experiments, then?” Cid questioned.

The professor tilted his head. “No. All he wanted was for our department to analyze the crystals. From there we created what Hojo instructed us to. This.” He jerked the paper in his hand. “We didn’t ask or hear about any of his other experiments.”

Cid stared at him for a long, scrutinizing minute, wondering if this man was telling him the entire truth. Cid was a good judge of character, and he couldn’t detect any deceit in Professor. Gray’s answers. The pilot sat back in his chair, almost disappointed. He thought he had been onto a good lead with the CSC, but it turned out to be nothing more than an irrelevant detail. He glanced at Yuffie. She seemed to reflect his feelings.

“Didn’t you ever wonder what he used it for?” Yuffie spoke up, directing the professor.

“I suppose at one point we did,” Professor Gray pondered. “But you must understand, he was an incredibly well-known scientist. Very respected in our profession. We didn’t want to ask questions and lose a good working relationship.” They were all silent for a long time, all questions having been asked. The professor looked at each of them before turning his attention to Cid. “You mentioned that Hojo’s work was a drug. Why do you say that? This agent is highly lethal to any person. I doubt even Professor Hojo would have concocted it for use as a drug.”

Cid scoffed. “You obviously didn’t know the man.”

“But it’s just not the right material for that sort of use,” the professor argued. It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. “Why go to all the trouble of seeking our help to create a drug he himself could have created from the materials he’s experienced with?”

Cid raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You do know Hojo created monsters and experimented on people?”

Professor Gray blinked, looking almost guilty. “Yes. I am aware. But still, it would be pointless to use this agent as a drug. It would kill a patient – even a monster – straight away. I don’t see the reason.”

Cid got to his feet. “Hojo was a madman. He didn’t need reason.” Beside him Yuffie rose as well. The professor sensed their meeting had come to an end and stood up, too. “Well…thanks for the answers. They didn’t give me shit, anyway. But thanks.” He wasn’t thankful. He turned to leave but stopped. Yuffie almost walked into him. “Hey…Has Hojo been in contact with you guys in the past couple of years?”

Professor Gray frowned. “To my knowledge he was killed by your team during the Meteor incident.”

“Is that a no?”

“No, he hasn’t,” the professor answered.

Cid pressed his lips together and glared at the floor. Was he going to get any lucky breaks? Was he ever going to find Vincent? A thought entered his mind and he looked back at the man. “Are there any other scientist groups like you guys?”

Professor Gray looked puzzled for a second before he frowned in remembrance. “Well, when Shinra went down they had to let go all of their scientists. They’ve reformed into a small, independent company in Edge. I doubt any of them have the pure genius of Hojo, but they are an impressive team.”

Cid nodded. “Right. Well, thanks.” He and Yuffie left, disappearing through to Professor Tegeist’s lab. He wasn’t there, so they continued out and didn’t stop until they had found and met back up with Nanaki.

“Did you discover anything?” The red feline asked, hopeful in tone.

“Yeah. The CSC knew fuck all,” Cid huffed, folding his arms.

“But we did find out that Shinra’s scientists are gathered in Edge,” Yuffie said, sounding much more optimistic than Cid. “They might know something.”

Nanaki looked to Cid. “Will you be following up on this lead?”

“Yeah. Right now it’s the only thing we’ve got.” Cid sighed. “I don’t know what else to do…”

//