Infernal Devices | Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy VII)

Chapter V | Keeper of the Protomateria

You'd been at the WRO base for almost a week when Reeve summoned you to your first meeting.

You had settled in rather well by then, attending regular practice sessions in the shooting ranges and extending your knowledge of Gaia through various maps and documents the WRO had salvaged from old ShinRa bases. The soldiers treated you well enough, but there was always that sense of unease, of distrust, when they got too close to you. They knew who you were, what you could do, and they were having a hard time giving you their complete trust when there was the chance you could turn on them in a matter of seconds. You understood their apprehension, but it only fuelled your bitterness towards the organisation that had changed your body into something to be feared.

"We've recently received reports on high fluctuations of Deepground activity around and within the city of Edge," Reeve explained, gesturing to the map that was spread out on the desk before him. "We need to first scout the area and determine their intentions. Then we will plan ans execute an offensive operation. This is an intel mission only, you understand?"

The soldiers in the room nodded, you included.

"Right, you're dismissed to prepare. A tannoy will announce when we're ready to depart."

As the soldiers began to file out of the room, Reeve gestured you over to talk. "[Y/N], the reason I'm also sending you out into the field is because we've also had reports of a figure in red, sighted in the same area. It might be Mr. Valentine, it might not, but your priority is to investigate that lead, and leave the rest to the others. Assist when and where you see fit. You're in complete control of your movements, understood?"

"Understood," you echoed with a nod, feeling your stomach flutter with nervous apprehension. Over the last few days, you'd been badgering Reeve and the others for any news on the ex-Turk, but this was the first time something had come up. If it was him, you were hoping to finally get some answers about your past.

"Good. I'll send someone to find you soon."

"Thank you, sir."

The bearded-man chuckled. "I've told you. Just Reeve is fine."

***

Edge was not how it had been the last time you were there.

The sky was dark, iron grey, clotted with thick whorls of fog, and not a person was in sight. The entire quarter of the city was deserted as you trundled through in the back of a pick-up truck with half a dozen other soldiers, the rubble-covered flagstones making for a bumpy and uncomfortable ride. It was difficult not to notice the distance the other soldiers gave you, the way they averted their eyes when you looked at them, pretended you weren't there.

You had wished Lucien was there, or Reeve, just for a familiar face.

As you disembarked from the vehicle, your newly-supplied gun an unfamiliar weight around your waist, you were struck by the state of Edge. It had been fairly quiet and empty before, but now it was completely deserted. There was a certain eeriness about the way the curtains fluttered loosely through broken windows, and dog-eared teddy bears lay ripped to pieces in the gutters. It was the picture of ruin, of fallen splendour.

"You," the squad leader said, stabbing a finger towards you, "have your own orders from Director Reeve. If you need back-up, communicate through the radio." You lifted a finger up to your ear, making sure the tiny earpiece was still there, and nodded. "The rest, with me. Stay close and look out for one another."

You watched the small platoon of red-beret soldiers leave, before running in the other direction in search of somewhere to plan your route. Finding a short back-alley, unseen from the main street, you grabbed the map Reeve had given you from your backpack and unrolled it across your thigh. You were currently in the central district of the city, flanked by warehouses and high-rise buildings. Vincent had apparently been sighed there only that morning, and you simply hoped he hadn't moved on since then.