Woven Ties

Woven Ties


//

The sound of the cold, metal door unlocking seemed to multiply in volume in the quiet recesses of his cell. Reeve raised his head to find Drumbol watching him from the other side of the open door. A guard was stood offside.

“Let’s take a walk, commissioner.”

The CSC was vast. The surface buildings were only a quarter of what there was. Reeve masked his awe and interest as they walked through large corridors, past amazing circular rooms and chambers, around a large courtyard in which people were conducting experiments with what looked like the sun’s light. The commissioner had been to the CSC only once, during which he had only seen the inside of the lobby and an office. He regretted not seeing more. But now was not the time to speculate the amazing architecture. There was a much more serious matter at hand, one that had been worrying Reeve’s brain since Drumbol’s confession an hour ago.

“Was it necessary to lock up my men and me?” He asked in a strong tone. His eyes were forward as they walked, displaying great control to refrain from wandering around the large, wide corridor they were walking down. Floor to ceiling glass panels made up the left side of the wall, looking out into a yard.

“Yes,” Drumbol answered. He glanced at Reeve. “Your men have been returned to the airship. I apologize. It was a precaution we took, in light of the mayhem Avalanche caused.”

“Hm.” Reeve suspected his answer wasn’t entirely true, but he didn’t press the matter. “I suppose you and I are now at the start of negotiation? There is little else left to do at this point.”

Drumbol glanced at him. “I want you to know that we don’t intend Mr. Valentine any harm. I understand what he has been through…We will not be conducting any experiments that do not relate to our finding a cure for the Chaos gene.”

A beam of sunlight filtering in though the window threw them both into light as they passed it and entered another, closed off corridor. “I understand. But you must understand that Vincent has loyal friends. They won’t abandon him.” Reeve looked Drumbol in the eye. “They’ll fight for him.”

The professor sighed as he looked forward. He stopped at the threshold of a double door and gestured in Reeve. It was a large cafeteria of some sort. Rows and rows of roomy seats and tables were lined neatly in the huge room. Reeve doubted it ever filled up. The far wall looked out into the forest. It was at one of these tables the two men took a seat opposite each other.

“I know, they’re good friends,” Drumbol answered as he placed his hands on the table and interlaced his fingers. “I’m not prepared to keep them in the detention cells forever…”

“Yet you’re prepared to keep Vincent locked away,” Reeve returned sharply.

Drumbol shot him a look. “Chaos is simply too dangerous, and therefore so is your friend. It weighs on my conscious, but when I consider the whole planet is now safe from that risk, I can bare it.”

Reeve watched him, slowly leaning his own arms on the table. “Chaos is dangerous…” he began. “But Vincent is strong. He is not so easily overcome. It’s unfortunate about the Mideel incident, but take into consideration the amount of time Vincent had been walking this world with that demon, and the number of incidents he had caused. Just one. Vincent possesses the strength to hold back Chaos. Hojo made sure of it.”

“Just the one that we know about. Who knows how many smaller or near-incidents has occurred? I can’t take the risk, you must understand that…” Drumbol let his gaze drift out to the forest. “Hojo may have given your friend an indestructible body, but his mind is still that of a human. The mind determines how strong the body can be…and Mr. Valentine has been though some terrible things. They may eventually take their toll on him.”

For this, Reeve could not respond. He wanted to defend Vincent, but he couldn’t promise that such a thing would never happen. How could he know that? It was a miracle Vincent had not already broken down – any sane man would surely have done so under such vicious experiments. Reeve had witnessed insane and traumatized people once before during a previous case. They had cracked under incidents less severe than Vincent’s. Terrible, nonetheless, but still…It was a testament to Vincent’s strength.

“Tell me, Mr. Tuesti,” Drumbol gained his attention again. “What would you do if something dangerous and powerful threatened the very existence of this planet? Something that was impossible to kill, but you had the means to keep it docile and harmless?”

The commissioner couldn’t answer, yet again. He felt useless – he was doing a pathetic job of defending Vincent…but Drumbol was raising some seriously considerable points. Yet somehow, Reeve knew that Vincent didn’t deserve this. He didn’t belong in captivity, he deserved a chance for life – a life that had been stolen from him once already. Reeve couldn’t afford to fail in dissuading Drumbol of his cruel, but understandable, plan.

“I’m truly sorry for Vincent, but the sacrifice of one justifies the sacrifice of many. Vincent has the ability to live for a very long time…perhaps when he’s cured of his curse he can start a new life…”

Reeve raised his brown eyes and glared hatefully at the man. “You can’t possibly expect him to do that,” He seethed with anger, with a sudden bitter resentment for the professor at the stupid and thoughtless suggestion. “By that time his friends and lover will have all died, and he’d be left with nothing. To condemn a man to such a fate is beyond cruel… It would be kinder to simply end his life.”

Drumbol watched him in silence for a second. “We will not kill,” he only said. Was he stating that he would do such a terrible thing to Vincent if the worst came to the worst – just so his hands would not be soiled? Could Vincent be killed? Drumbol hutched his elbows further onto the table. “Commissioner Tuesti, I released you so we could discuss this situation and hopefully resolve this matter. You’re a good man, not to mention an important working college. I would be very disappointed if we can’t continue that relationship.”

His topic change was not appreciated. Reeve ignored it. “Is there any way we can negotiate the release of Vincent?” He asked bluntly and rudely.

To this, the professor frowned in what looked like mild anger. “We have not captured Mr. Valentine for personal gain, commissioner. This is the safety of the planet we are arguing about.”

Reeve fixed him with a steely gaze. “The planet is always in danger. From asteroid collisions to a common man picking up a gun and causing terrorism. The man you have locked away is one of those rare and valuable people who can protect this world and its inhabitants. Yes, Chaos is dangerous, but don’t you think that a being capable of holding back that power all of this time is worthy of some trust? There was one slip up. A mistake. Have you ever made a mistake, Professor? We tend not to repeat them, or others like. Vincent is painfully aware what could happen should he lose control, and that is the very reason he secludes himself from society. He’s proven his strength many times.”

“Chaos cannot be underestimated,” Drumbol stressed, almost cutting Reeve off. “Your friend is strong, but Chaos is stronger. The destruction it caused in Mideel is only a fraction of it’s capability.”

“Vincent regained his control before anything serious could happen,” Reeve argued right back. “He was quick to act in light of his condition – in which he still fought back Chaos. If that doesn’t speak power to you, Professor, you’re more ignorant than I had thought.”

Drumbol pressed his lips together in a thin, irritated line. But he restrained his remarks. “It might not always take Vincent so little time in future. Eventually Chaos will discover the weaknesses in his barriers and take advantage of them.”

Reeve shook his head. “Chaos only breaks free when Vincent’s life is in danger – ”

“Exactly. As long as there is danger to the host the threat will always be there.”

Reeve knew he wasn’t getting anywhere. Drumbol simply had all the responses in his favor. His answers were, admittedly, true to an extent. But Reeve knew he had to convince the professor that Chaos would never be given the opportunity to run amok again, or Vincent would suffer a fate worse than his current stasis. Wherever he was…

He sighed dejectedly. He wasn’t finished, he would fight for Vincent until he had no breath left in his body. But right now he had no more arguments. He did have a request, though. Glancing back at Drumbol, he said almost softly, “Let me see him.”

Drumbol was silent for a long, scrutinizing second. His small, dark eyes regarded Reeve, assessing the outcome of granting such a request. But Reeve was not violent, and he was a sensible man with a logical head on his shoulders. After everything the man had been through during the past few months he deserved some respect in face of his current situation.

“Very well.” And that is all he responded with as he rose to his feet.

They left the cafeteria and turned away from the direction they had originally come from. The CSC appeared even larger on the inside than it did on the outside. Reeve failed to dampen the amazement as they passed impressed archways and structures through the path which they were taking. The buildings seemed too extravagant for a simple science base, but Reeve understood it that private conductions and events were held at the CSC occasionally. The majority of the laboratories were on different levels.

Reeve was taken along a route that seemed to pass through the main complex, and then took a different direction down underground. Escalators, stairs, inclines and an elevator took them further down. The walk seemed long in the unbroken silence between the two men, but Reeve didn’t notice as he made mental notes, mapping the route they took.

Eventually they entered what Reeve could only guess as a highly strict area. The architecture down there was completely different, no longer unique. It was cold and secretive, forbidding and confining. They stepped out of another elevator and entered a featureless corridor, down which at the far end was a steel, heavy-looking door with a passkey pad mounted on the wall. On the other side stood a guard. Reeve got the sense that he wasn’t usually stationed there.

They walked down to the door. Drumbol entered a passkey and swiped an identity card. A panel on the wall beside slid open and more proof was asked for. Reeve watched silently. This was a high-level area.

Once the door was open they stepped through and into another, similar corridor. Only this one was shorter and darker. There were two doors on each side, and as they reached the end they turned off into another corridor. Another locked door. Another corridor – only slightly different, again. They passed down more lengths, through what looked like a room, and eventually into a different sector once again. It seemed even darker. The last door they came to had a window, through which an ominous light filtered through. It illuminated them as they reached it, and Drumbol swiped his card once again. The door opened, and Reeve knew they had finally arrived.

The huge space they had entered could not rightly be called a ‘room’. The door closed behind Reeve as Drumbol stepped past him into his distracted field of vision. It was a corridor…or a walkway…or an observation deck that stretched before him. Reeve wasn’t fussed on a correct name. His brown eyes guided themselves around, realizing that to his left sat what looked like a mini observation station. Inset into it were computers, and at each one sat a man or a woman, keeping their focus on the readings emitting from the many screens in front of them. Reeve’s eyes strayed along past the last of them, where the station ended and a glass wall began. Light radiated from behind it, and Reeve realized they were on a walkway looking into another room. His stunned eyes caught one of the monitors closest and his brow furrowed as he approached. It looked like an infrared reading, but the shape was what caught the commissioner’s eye. It was the shape of a man lying down. Reeve knew who it was. He looked up, eyes wide and serious as he sought out Drumbol. The man was waiting expectantly for him in front of the glass wall. He was glowing from the light.

As Reeve approached him he watched patiently. The commissioner entered the wash of light and looked down into a vast, bright room. It was empty, save for the single object in the very center. It looked like a horizontal stasis tube. Through the small panel of glass on the lid, Reeve could make out the motionless form of a man…

Vincent.

Reeve swallowed. Wires, tubes and drips looped from the base and disappeared into the sides of the oblong pod, monitoring Vincent’s body, delivering him the necessary fluids to ensure he remained comatose. Reeve touched the glass with his fingertips absentmindedly, and abruptly lifted them back.

“It’s cold…” he observed softly, frowning. On the observation deck the air was warm.

Drumbol nodded. “The temperature inside is kept low,” he said, gesturing the chamber in which Vincent lay. “For the stasis environment.” The professor then nodded to the computers. “We can work from here to find a cure. Thankfully we need not go to great lengths, this time, to acquire a blood sample.” He meant it as a light joke, but Reeve couldn’t find the humor inside him to smile. Drumbol placed a hand on Reeve’s shoulder. “Your friend is not aware, commissioner. He is not suffering.”

“That’s some relief,” Reeve managed to say. “But I have not yet given up my fight for him.”

“I see…you are a friend to Mr. Valentine just like the rest of Avalanche. Your level-head and logic are at war with your loyal nature…but you’re smart, Mr. Tuesti. I think you will understand and accept our reasons…”

Reeve watched him, troubled by his words. He was right. The logical part of him knew that Drumbol was right. But his heart was fighting against his mind. The commissioner sighed, conflictingly. He looked back into the bright room, at the pod. If Vincent were to wake, would he be scared? To be locked inside such a cramped space was frightening...

A new thought occurred to him. “You said the Protomateria was enforced to subdue Chaos…can’t that be used while Vincent is conscious?”

Drumbol lowered his eyes to the room. “The pure power of the Protomateria unfortunately causes a similar effect on Mr. Valentine. We considered this at the start, but tests came back disappointing. Mr. Valentine would be reduced to a state similar to sedation. He would be awake, but he would not be able to do anything. The strength needed to subdue Chaos is so strong your friend would suffer from it.” He paused, glancing back at Reeve’s frowning face. “We weren’t about to imprison someone in their own body. That would be far too cruel on a man who has already suffered such a torment.”

Reeve’s heart fell. That had been his last idea, his last hope to use against Drumbol. He had nothing left, but nevertheless he opened his mouth to try again, in the hopes something might fall out that would help. But before any words can escape him he is stopped by a shrill, blaring alarm.

Drumbol looked up sharply. A red light flashed warningly in time with the loud alarm.

One of the observation staff snapped on a headset, and a few seconds later he turned to Drumbol. “Sir! Avalanche has broken free from the detention block!”

Drumbol’s eyes widen in surprise and anger. He looked at Reeve.

“They won’t stop until they find Vincent,” Reeve told him. Drumbol ‘tsk’ed irritably. “It’s best if we settle this all now,” Reeve said in a much stronger voice, knowing that things had escalated into something that Drumbol couldn’t contain. “Or there’ll be war…”

The professor shook his head. “I’m not willing to let them down here to free Chaos,” he grunted. He took hold of Reeve’s arm and guided him firmly to the door. “I’ll guide security to cut them off…they won’t be able to get in, anyway.” He sounded uncertain though.

Reeve said nothing as he was dragged away from the observation deck, away from Vincent. Somehow he knew that it was all going to end very soon…

//

“Rrrrrghh!”

Two unfortunate members of security are thrown forcefully into a wall, grunting in pain. They slumped to the floor and attempted to crawl after, but their breaths had been knocked from their bodies, so they collapsed into unconsciousness.

“Which way?” Barret shouted to the blonde leading the pack.

Cid didn’t even glance at the felled security as he looked down the corridor to the right. They had managed to escape after Barret had craftily revealed secret magazines for his gun arm. The CSC had obviously failed to find them on his person. He had blown the lock on his cell door and had freed the others. They had made it to the center of the main complex before they had been discovered.

“I don’t fuckin’ know!” Cid griped. “Where’s a fuckin’ map when yer need one?” He gritted his teeth, lost for direction when he paused, jaw slack. Something passed through him. He didn’t know what it was. He glanced around and saw a computer stood neatly on a desk in a small room. It seemed to look back at him…it was still logged on…

“Hey, where you goin’?” Barret called after him as Cid dashed to the room, threw open the door and attacked the computer keyboard. Barret and Cloud followed him in as the remaining three stayed outside, glancing about nervously.

“Maybe there’s a map on this server,” Cid explained hurriedly. He clicked and typed, flashing through files and directories. Something caught his eye and his heart leapt. A map zoomed onto the flat-screen. A clear, detailed, complex map. Cid looked about. There was no printer. “Shit. Memorize this map!” He called at the other two men, who were watching his actions. Cid pressed a finger to the monitor and singled their current location. “Looks like we’re here,” he said, aware any minute now they could be discovered. His finger trailed along a path, leading down to a gray-colored area. The basement. “We go there.”

“How do you know?” Cloud asked as Cid took one last look at their route and hurried from the room.

Cid looked at him. “The basement is where yer lock all the monsters away,” he said bitterly.

The team took off, leaving no evidence save for the map on the computer screen that they had been there. Cid led the team – this was his mission, his call. They collided with another security force, but they were quickly dispatched. Cloud noted with some worry that they had been carrying tranquilizer guns. If they were caught with one it would be over. They wouldn’t get this second chance.

Thankfully the CSC was so large that the security teams had opted to split into several groups in better hopes of catching the escaped Avalanche. This left their force weakened, however their guns made up for their lack of numbers. Still, Avalanche made their way down the levels rapidly, coming into contact with only two force units. They avoided the darts and took out the threat, but they knew the next time their luck might run badly.

Elevator doors opened and the six team members burst from the confined space. They were panting from the running they had done, the fighting they had engaged in…but they were strong. Adrenaline rushed through their veins, providing them with the strength and stamina they needed.

“This looks right,” Yuffie said hopefully as she jogged along the corridor with the others. The walls around them were darker, the style different to the fancy designs on the levels above. They rounded the L-shaped corridor and almost collided with another person. Their defenses went up immediately, but they paused.

“You,” Tifa accused, narrowing her eyes.

Dr. Shnesh backed himself against the door he had come from, fumbling to find the handle. His hands were grabbed and he cried out in surprise and fear. “You can’t free him!” The doctor exclaimed desperately. “You’ll put the whole world in danger!”

“Yeah? Well that’s our choice, ain’t it?” Cid growled, and punched him in the jaw. His fist was grabbed by Cloud, who pushed forward.

“Where is he?” He demanded, glaring at the recovering doctor.

“You can’t get to him,” the man tried, a little calmer. His glasses were askew and a red mark was forming on his cheek. “There’s too much security around him…you’ll never make it. Please, just reconsid –”

Cid grabbed his lapel from Barret’s grip and hauled him against the wall. “Where is he?” He rumbled threateningly.

Dr. Snesh faltered under the intense glare. He opened his mouth as if to say something and then closed it.

Cid growled angrily and jerked the man away from the door he had come from, still gripping his coat. Shnesh cried out, but as the door was flung open he was thrust back through it with the team in tow. “If yer not gonna talk we’ll drag yer ass with us.”

He was very glad he had opted to bring the man. An elevator ride down delivered them to a door which required a code and identity. The doctor was of some use, at least. After passing through corridor after corridor, they eventually came to a hall with several doors…none of which were marked.

“Where to, Doc?” Cid jerked the man by the back of his white coat.

The man was resigned as he thinned his lips and nodded to a door. They took it, pushing him through first and following more hallways and corridors, through a room, passing more locks and doors. They met no other resistance, and they knew…they were close.

As they rounded a corner a light caught their eyes as a muffled alarm met their ears. Cid felt something pass through him, and he released his grip from Dr. Shnesh absently, who fell back into Barret’s hands. Cid could feel something, and he knew what…


Dr. Shnesh’s I.D. card, passkey and retina scans were used one last time. The heavy door opened slowly, and Avalanche barged in.

The alarm was louder inside, shrill and warning. The people who were sat at their observation station swung around and back in fright and caution, glancing nervously from the doctor to the team members. Cloud and Tifa swept searching eyes around, casting about for any security, anything to hinder their search. There was nothing to threaten them. Nanaki, Yuffie and Barret advanced on the scientists, some of whom had risen from their chairs in alarm.

“What the…?” Cloud breathed as he moved towards one of the monitors. A strange image blared back at him in all colors…its shape was familiar. He turned around to find the source of the signal, and noticed Cid. He was approaching a glass wall, stepping into a wash of bright light. Avalanche followed, drawn to the window. They realized they were looking into a huge, empty room. Empty, save for the single stasis tube.

“Vincent! ”

A tremendous clatter of breaking glass split their hearing as Cid dived through the window, shattering the smooth pane into a hundred pieces, large and small. He landed loudly but nimbly in the room some four meters down, and raced his way to the pod.

“Wait! You can’t –” Dr. Shnesh tried, reaching out. Barret grabbed him about the chest and pushed him back. The man looked desperately indignant, but said nothing more as he looked from the group of threatening men and women, to the blond man running to the center in the room below.

Cid stabbed the release button on the touch screen pad of a monitor, which sat on a multi-jointed pole bracket at the end of the pod. His breath steamed before him in the cold temperature, but he barely noticed as the pod lid hissed with released pressure. He hauled it open.

“Vince,” he called, his voice croaky in the dry, cold air. He swallowed and reached out for the man lying almost peacefully inside, naked and still. Lifeless. Cid slid his arm under Vincent’s shoulders and brushed his hair from his face. Vincent’s head lolled limply. His skin was freezing to the touch. The only piece of clothing he wore was his headband, and his gauntlet was still attached to his left arm. Something glowed from his chest, radiating a magical light from under the skin. Just above his heart. Cid swirled a gentle hand over it. It was warm and it tingled. Those bastards…

An IV drip was attached to Vincent’s hand. Cid tore it off, too angry to contain his strength as he pulled at the sensory pads placed on the man’s pale skin. A small, vivid bead of blood welled on the back of Vincent’s hand, but it went unnoticed as Cid wrenched away the wires, tossing them away as mini alarms beeped in warning from the monitor. He pulled his other arm free and shrugged off his jacket, draping it over the gunman’s exposed body.

“I’ll get yer outta here, babe,” he whispered, trying to control the painfully rolling emotions tearing at him. He was so relieved – so relieved – that he had found Vincent, but the sight of his limp frame, stripped bare and vulnerable, hurt him like nothing else had. He had never wanted to see Vincent like this.

Cid lifted the man’s body from the tube – and an alarm went off. A long, warning sound unlike the blaring shrill tone of the first. Lights turned red save for a few in the bright, cold room, and he knew that the whole of the CSC was now alerted.

Avalanche glanced about. The men and women at the monitoring station rose to their feet. They backed away, looking fearfully at a single monitor displaying the two men inside the cold room. They were scared of Chaos.

The sound of the door snapping open broke through the eerie mixture of fear and apprehension. It flung back. Drumbol rushed in, small dark eyes now wide. Reeve was right behind him.

“No!” Drumbol cried, rushing towards the station. His hand reached toward a button – but a large, dark hand grabbed his wrist and jerked it away. His frantic eyes looked up into Barret’s cold, threatening ones.

A wave of security personnel crashed through the closing door right then, flooding into the walkway, jostling Reeve from the entrance. They raced to engage Avalanche as Drumbol wrenched free from Barret’s grip. All hell intended to break loose. Several unengaged guards turned their weapons – guns and tranquilizers alike – on the two occupants in the cold room.

“No – stop!” Reeve called to Drumbol. “If they hit Vincent in his state they risk awakening Chaos!”

Drumbol turned sharply to the men. The commissioner was intelligent. Chaos may have been subdued by the Protomateria, but if Vincent was no longer receiving the sedative, it effectively gave the demon an open opportunity to break from his drug-educed haze, if only a little. Like a laser gate prison; the power had to keep the bars up to contain the occupant. Vincent’s freedom was Chaos’ opening.

“Cease fire!” He bellowed above the noise of the alarms. His men broke off their aim and pulled back. Some of the fighters disengaged and retreated, blocking the exit. CSC and Avalanche exchanged glares. Drumbol pushed his way to the front line. He kept safely in reaching distance of the security. “This ends now,” he shouted angrily. “Cease this foolish attempt – you’re endangering the planet by letting that creature free!” His black eyes switched rapidly from Avalanche to Cid. “Mr. Highwind – please, understand what you are doing!”

“I understand,” Cid bellowed back. His voice echoed in the huge, empty room. Vincent’s weight was dead in his arms, and he became all the angrier. “It’s you who don’t know shit!”

Drumbol stiffened in anger. It was useless trying to persuade this man. He was blinded by friendship…no, love. It was the worst of all emotions. It would never listen to reason. “You’re willing to put the entire planet in danger for your partner?” He snapped, brow furrowed. The alarms ceased, but despite their high, loud volume no one noticed.

“The planet won’t be in danger,” the pilot shouted. He wished with all his might he could make Drumbol see – make him understand. But Cid lost his ability to explain coolly when he was emotionally gripped. He could think of little or no words to enlighten Drumbol without insulting the man. He had never felt so sure of his decision, yet so lost on how to explain it. Perhaps it simply boiled down to blind devotion; maybe he really was ignorant in love. But how could he tell this fool that his gut was telling him he was right, and Drumbol was wrong? Never had Cid found himself unable to use words to this extent without repeating himself. He was always quick in mind, always so decisive and smart with answers. In his life he’d had to be. But now….

“Release him, please, Mr. Highwind.” The professor sounded pleading, almost desperate. He, too, wanted this to be over. But he, too, knew he was right. “No harm will come to him. We can find a way to release him of the Chaos gene. He’ll be looked after – we won’t hurt him.”

“Fuck off!” Cid said, reduced to angry abuse. “Looked after? He’ll be a fucking guinea pig in your so-called ‘care’. Yer just like ever other scientist – only after personal gain – only out to inflict pain on anyone available so yer can call it science!” He gripped his lover, but leaned forward into the argument, as though that little bit closer would be louder. “The only one lookin’ after him will be me!”

Drumbol’s brow twitched in barely controlled anger. He was getting nowhere. Cid could not understand. He wasn’t capable. The pilot was a highly respected, proven-intelligent man. But in the face of love he was dumb. He refused to see anything other than his own selfish loyalty. However, at Cid’s words Drumbol’s anger faltered.

“Mr. Valentine will probably outlive you all,” he told him, almost softly. Despite their distance, Cid heard him clearly. “Who will carry on the burden of looking after him when you’re gone?”

Cid stared. Then gritted his teeth. A twisted, humorless smirk tugs at the corners of his lips. His manner changed completely. “For a scientist yer don’t know shit...”

Confused by his leveled tone, Drumbol frowned.

“You can only see the beast,” Cid began, his cold, blue eyes fixed on Drumbol’s dark ones. “Not the man.”

“I cannot put my feelings in the wa –”

“I don’t mean feelin’s. I mean the human mind.” He paused, watching the man’s frown increase. Suddenly, the words were back. His anger was controlled, soothed by the more important need to make Drumbol understand. To understand Vincent. “Vince might damn well harbor a dangerous Weapon, but he’s human enough to understand the danger he contains. He can’t forget that! He lives with it day after fuckin’ day…And if the time ever comes, if Chaos overcomes Vincent…he’ll know. And he’ll fuckin’ do somethin’ about it.” He could see Avalanche watching him, respectively silent as he defended his partner. They knew Vincent; they knew what Drumbol didn’t. “Vincent would never let somethin’ like that just happen. He’s too strong, too stubborn. Yer don’t know Vincent. Yer only know the Weapon. That’s why yer don’t understand – We know Vince can control it, but you don’t know shit about his strength.” Vincent was slipping in his grasp. Cid knelt to the floor, one knee raised to support the naked gunman. He looked so beautiful, so pure in this clash of verbal war. Cid raised his head back up. “Do yer think with a burden that heavy to carry he can forget it so goddamn easily? He has to be strong every day!”

Having remained silent and still, Drumbol blinked wearily. It was touching, the support and loyalty, but it was tiring. It was pointless. “His fighting will wear him down,” Drumbol stated solemnly. “His body may be strong, but his mind is not.”

“How the fuck would yer know that?! Yer don’t have a clue – yer don’t know Vincent. Yer blowing this way too far on one fuckin’ incident that you witnessed – no one was even fuckin’ killed!”

“How do you know he won’t kill anyone in the future?” Drumbol demanded. These arguments were getting repetitive. He glanced at Reeve.

“I won’t let him,” Cid growled, low and dangerously.

Professor Drumbol threw up his arms angrily. “This is a waste of time! I cannot reason with you! If you won’t return that monster to his stasis I will have to take drastic action…” He eyed a nearby guard, and then guided his attention to the nearest Avalanche member. Cloud.

The guard understood. He raised his gun…His bullet-loaded gun.

“Don’t sink that low, Drumbol,” Reeve warned hurriedly in a low tone. He stepped forward cautiously. “You’re not a killer…”

“To protect this planet, I may have to be.”

“You kill him… and Avalanche will rip your fuckin’ ass to shreds,” Barret promised in a level of control that was frightening.

Cloud fixed his vivid blue eyes on the professor, challenging him. He knew he was not looking at a cold-blooded killer…

At that next moment, a harsh, animalistic growl snapped away their attentions. They looked – as one – into the cold, bright room.

In Cid’s arms, Vincent was transforming.

“No!” Drumbol gasps. “Tranquillizers – now!” The fear in his voice was infectious.

The men and women who were equipped with the only effective sedative fumbled to load the darts frantically into their weapons.

They weren’t quick enough.

Wings erupted mightily, throwing magical mist about the room. Cid was knocked back. Chaos reared his head and roared, sprawled lamely – somnolently – on the floor. A painfully bright ball of light began to grow around him –

“Shit - !” Barret – along with Avalanche – scampered out the way.

Chaos hurtled the glowing ball. It was pure energy. It crackled in its trajectory for a split second before it exploded into the side of the observation station. Glass, metal, masonry, bodies – everything erupted in a devastating blast. Men and women cried out as shrapnel cut their skin and clothing, as fire singed and burnt those unlucky enough to be closest. Electrical wires buzzed, frayed.

Chaos growled weakly, his glowing, golden eyes narrowed in untamed rage. With great difficulty he summoned his energy and curled his fist around another magical attack.

“Goddamnit!” Cid scrambled to his feet, having been thrown back by the force of the blast. He hurtled himself at Chaos’ hand as it was brought back and grabbed it. “Stop!”

Chaos turned on him, snarling, throwing him back once again before a semblance of familiarity flickered across his demonic features. His aggressive posture lowered slightly as Cid regained his footing and stared at him, panting. He realized no one had ever interacted with Chaos…

“Calm down,” Cid started, gesturing soothingly with his hands. The crackling of fire and falling metal was lost into background noise as he inched forward carefully. The groans of men and women went unheard. Cid paused a couple of feet from Chaos. “It’s okay, I won’t let them hurt you…” He felt silly saying such a thing to the one being on the planet that could blow up the whole building and leave unscathed. But he felt compelled to utter something comforting. Maybe Chaos would understand the tone in his words.

The demon growled throatily and looked back at the smoking ruined mess of the observation deck, rumbling dangerously. Moans wavered from the rubble.

“Whoa, hey – ” Cid reached forward, afraid Chaos would attack again, and placed a hand around his arm. He didn’t think.

Chaos spun back to face him in response to the touch. He uttered a low growl, something that seemed more questioning than threatening, and directed his strange, glowing eyes down to Cid’s hand around his bicep. He raised them to the pilot’s blue ones. Something odd flashed behind Chaos’.

Something told Cid not to look away, not to break the eye contact. He had seen animal behaviors, had seen how they established dominance. He was vaguely aware something similar was happening. Wasn’t Chaos more animal than human?

A long second later Chaos blinked, breaking the gaze. Something akin to surprise passed through Cid. He felt the uncertainty and caution lift from his chest. Chaos recognized him. Which meant he was obviously aware of Cid’s relationship with Vincent. Did Chaos see through Vincent’s eyes from the back of his mind? Does he experience what Vincent does…?

Cid knew he couldn’t stand there and let thoughts run amok in his mind. He glanced up at the observation platform and found his vision nearly blocked. Chaos’ huge wings had encircled them. He was protecting Cid…

“Chaos…” he said. “Can you…bring Vincent back?”

His speech seemed foreign to Chaos, who looked back in mild confusion. He looked tired and drowsy. Cid had never seen such a sight.

“Vincent…” Cid tried again, unsure if Chaos understood him. Surely he knew his own host…?

He flinched as a sudden flare of red light surrounded the winged beast. A strange sound, like compressed air, met his ears as the form before him shrank. The wings around them disappeared, and a second later the red magic faded away. Vincent slumped into Cid’s arms.

On the destroyed platform, Drumbol watched in fascination and confusion. His slacked jaw bobbed as he tried to form words, eventually stringing together a sentence in the mess of his thoughts. “I don’t understand…”

Reeve stumbled over a large pile of rubble. His uniform was smeared and singed, his left cheek blackened. He feared this attack was going to give Drumbol more arguments against them, more evidence that Chaos was as dangerous and wild as he had said. The commissioner glanced at the scattered, dirt-covered Avalanche team and exchanged a worried frown with Cloud.

“Chaos changed back,” Yuffie said in wonder, looking down at the two men.

“No one’s ever talked to him before…” Tifa realized softly. She looked over at the other members of them team. No one had known how Chaos would react to anyone. The scene they had just witnessed both surprised them and didn’t surprise them. It seemed Chaos was very much in tune with Vincent’s perceptions.

“Cid can control him,” Cloud stated as it dawned on him, addressing no one and everyone. He looked over meaningfully at Reeve, who then looked across at Drumbol.

“It doesn’t seem plausible,” the CSC scientist frowned.

“You just saw it,” Reeve told him.

Drumbol shook his head in disbelief but said nothing.

Below them, Cid gathered Vincent into his arms and began to make his way to the platform. He wasn’t going to put his partner down until they had left this cursed place and gotten him home to Rocket Town, where he belonged.

“Wait,” Drumbol called loudly, halting Cid where he stood. “Just because you have control over that monster now doesn’t make him any less dangerous.”

“Give it a fuckin’ rest –” Cid started, feeling angry and tired. But Drumbol interrupted him.

“Don’t disillusion yourself – you think it’ll listen to you every time?” It seemed the professor had found his arguments again.

“Yeah,” Cid replied bluntly.

“Chaos won’t be as weak next time it breaks free. Do you think you can stop it at full power?”

Cid’s mouth twisted. He bent his knees and leapt onto the platform, landing unsteadily on the rubble. Yuffie was there to support him. Cid directed his eyes to Drumbol, who had stepped back. “Get out the way.”

The professor’s expression wavered, but he stood his ground. Those of his security who were on their feet stepped forward protectively. “I can’t let you walk out of here…”

Reeve shifted. “Professor, the fight for Vincent is over. Let him go. Your reasoning was creditable, but you’re fighting for face, now… don’t make things worse.”

“Commissioner,” Drumbol admonished. “After everything we did to lock that beast up – ”

“I think if you keep talking I’m gonna break my fist in your face,” Barret threatened. He cracked his fist. “Now, we’re walkin’ outta here. If you try to stop us, it’ll be the last time you ever try and do somethin’ for the planet again.”

It seemed like the queue to move. Before Avalanche had taken more than two steps the conscious guards moved to block the only exit. Avalanche tightened their fists threateningly, challenging the injured security force. The CSC glanced uncertainly to Drumbol, who seemed at a lost.

“We can leave peacefully, or we can cause more damage,” Cid growled, leveling his fighting blue eyes at the professor. “But either way, we’re leaving with Vincent.”

Drumbol opened his mouth, still looking for some argument, some foothold. But he had none.

“It’s over, Drumbol,” Reeve said, stepping forward. “…But rest assured, we’ll take every precaution to prevent any more destruction from Chaos. As friends, it’s our job, too.”

“You don’t –”

“Ah, shove it,” Cid snapped tiredly. He started forward, and the standing guards hesitated before parting. Barret, Tifa, Cloud, Yuffie and Nanaki flanked and escorted the pilot, positioned protectively.

Reeve watched them leave before turning to Drumbol again. “I admire your passion for the planet. For the people. And in some respects…you were right. But as friends of someone so dangerous, it’s our job to protect the world from him, and to protect him from the world…” With that, Reeve began to leave. Before he exited the walkway entirely, he called, “I trust there will be no more resistance.”

However, Drumbol responded, halting Reeve in the doorway. “Commissioner…if Chaos kills even a single person, I’m bringing it back. And you or Avalanche won’t be able to stop me, because I’ll make sure the whole world knows about Chaos…”

Reeve looked back at him and nodded. “I don’t doubt that you will. But don’t expect Avalanche to sit back.”

Drumbol acknowledged this. “The CSC will continue to look for a way to remove the Chaos gene…It will take time, though.”

The commissioner blinked. “Thank you.” He started to turn back, but a sudden thought occurred to him. He glanced over his shoulder. “How long will it take for the Protomateria to return to its original power?”

“…Several days. Possibly weeks…”

Reeve paused, and then offered a final nod before he disappeared, leaving the ruined condition of the walkway still smoldering…

//