As the gate opened a few men inside came rushing at the door to see what was going on, only to be stopped dead in their tracks as Tseng and Vincent's bullets took them down.
"Alright guys," came Elena's voice through the ear pieces. "There's two more doors after this, the next door is a closed section, the door after goes into the section leading to the main building. There's also an upper ramp above which can be entered a few feet further and on either sides of where you are now. Vincent and Tseng take those, the ramps go around the whole perimeter, even over the steel doors, so you'll get a head start to pick the soldiers off, or get rid of any of their snipers."
"Thanks Elena," stated Tseng as he and Vincent each took and side and made their way up on to the ramp. Reno Karia and Rude started to make their way to the next door on the ground.
"Next door opens in three seconds guys," came Elena's voice through the ear piece again.
Vincent and Tseng went ahead and started to pick off the soldiers who were inside the next compartment.
The door opened and more of the soldiers rushed at the trio on the ground.
"Let's get this party started boys," grinned Karia as she ran forward slicing soldiers as she went. Reno and Rude went off in different directions. Rude attacking hand to hand and Reno attacking with the electro rod.
"They're just a little tougher than the shinra blues," stated Reno matter of factly through the microphone attached to his ear piece, identical to the ones the others had. Casting a Turk light he moved on to the next victim.
"Yeah but that isn't saying much.." said Rude and he delivered a bone splitting punch to a solder who rushed at him. "The blues worked as a force, SOLDIER and we the Turks were the real forces."
"Get close together you three," ordered Tseng out of the blue.
The trio followed the order right away, still fighting off the soldiers who came at them. Reno attacked with electromagnetic rod, downing a couple soldiers who fell to the ground, body's twitching from electrical shock. Karia attacked all those who came close, her last blow adding a poison status effect and the solider who fell down in pain bleeding as his skin started to melt off from the poison quickly making it's way through his system. Rude stayed on defense covering any incoming attacks. He slipped Karia an odd look as she was seemingly amused from the squirming soldier who suffered and finally lay motionless.
"Barrier.." chanted Vincent as the green glow emitted from his finger tips and surrounded him. With quadra magic attached the spell went from him then to the three fighters below.
The three continued to hack away at soldiers as Vincent and Tseng sniped off what they could.
Just as the soldiers seemed to pretty much be down, two smaller metal doors on the sides of the battlefield opened up. Several black beasts made their way out, snarling and growling at the unwanted company.
"Tentacles.." mumbled Reno.
"They're the same as Rufus' old pet Dark Nation.." added Tseng.
"But these ones seem a lot nastier than Dark Nation was..." commented Rude as he watched the animals near closer over the fallen bodies of the soldiers.
"The creatures are generally good natured if they're taken care of, if they're tortured however they become quite vicious and vengeful. Same as the ones in the wild, they become defensive," explained Tseng as he started to shoot at the black beasts. Hitting one it's size reduced to half. "Take them down!" he ordered.
The ground trio charged forward taking the beasts head on while the two snipers did their job above. With the teams luck up they were hitting with more status effects, yet the beasts weren't going down easily.
"I don't remember them ever being this strong," stated Vincent.
"They're usually not, they must've been genetically altered" explained Reno as he locked one of the creatures in a pyramid which started to deplete life force.
"They're probably using barrier," came Elena's voice. "I remember Dark Nation using such, if they're stronger the barrier is as well I bet."
"Thanks for the info Elena," replied Reno, "was wondering why you were so quiet, you alright?"
"Yea I'm fine, just had a small problem with uh.. things. Any who, I'm coming in now, in 20 minutes the whole system will unlock so get ready, I'll be there in a couple minutes, over."
Vincent had been casting debarrier while the others had be talking and already cut down the defense of a couple beasts. The others moved in their attack as Vincent continued to cast the spell.
"I think it's working Vinny!" exclaimed Karia ecstatically as she took down one of the beasts that generally stood to a height of between her chest and waist. Looking at the creature she watched the tentacle twitch on its own and she scrunched her nose in a disturbed manner, "does it have to do that.. talk about uncalled for.."
"Hey guys, uhh.. some help here maybe!" yelled Reno as three of the creatures surrounded him and started to attack, he struck back with neo turk light which blinded the creatures momentarily as well as added damage, but he still didn't escape the large clawed paw which cut its way down his back.
The attack caused him to counter and trap another one of the creatures in a pyramid. Karia came to his aid and took down the other two creatures with back to back deathblow attacks. "You alright turkey?" she asked with concern.
"Yes I'm fine!" he snapped back, "don't waste your time, keep attacking, we need to kill these fucking things off before the rest of the compound is unlocked."
Deciding not to reply Karia ran ahead to where Rude was battling what was left of the creatures.
Reno decided to stay in the back lines and used mime to mimic Vincent's debarrier spell.
"Phew I'm finally here guys!" called Elena as she ran up.
"Good, use a cure spell on Reno," commanded Tseng.
"I'm fine alright, don't bo--" started Reno only to be interrupted.
"Shut the hell up Reno, "stated Tseng with a tone or order, "Elena heal him, we can't have him slacking behind, it won't heal him to full health or stop the pain but at least it'll make it easier for him to maneuver."
Without any verbal reply Elena cast restore on Reno and quickly followed with haste to everyone. "Time to speed things up, we have three minutes before everything opens up. By the way, there's stairs off the ramp in the next compartment."
Rude and Karia finished off the last of the beasts as Rude took the final blow and broke the creatures neck.
"You just love the sound of brutality don't you Rude?" asked Karia with a cringe.
He just nodded and walked over to Elena and whispered something, which she smiled and nodded to in response.
"Alright, " started Tseng with another order. "Reno and Elena take the back, Karia and Rude you two will lead through with the attack, Vincent and I will take out as many people as we can from above, then we'll move as a force into the main building. I wouldn't be surprised however if Rufus and Tifa start their way out as soon as the doors are unlocked though."
"Ten seconds guys..," alerted Elena, "get ready.. eight.. seven.. six.. five.. four.. three.. two.. one.."
"Whoa.. did you just hear that?" questioned the brunette to the blonde who was holding her.
"Sounded like the doors unlocking.." he replied, "I knew there must've been something going on, too much confusion lately. I bet.."
"That they're here to get us," concluded Tifa as she rose from the sofa followed by the blonde.
"Well let's go then!" he beamed and made his way to the door and pulled it open then looked out into the corridor. "It's clear."
Tifa grabbed Riane and followed Rufus out into the corridor.
"Well they didn't take our weapons far," stated Tifa as she grabbed he glove and materia off a nearby desk and slipped it onto her right hand, still holding the kitten in her left.
Rufus grabbed his shotgun and materia off the table as well and started for the exit.
"Hey.. wait a second.." expressed Tifa, "why don't we take a look around the rest of the place, to see what else we can find. Might be something useful."
Rufus pondered for a second, then nodded in agreement, "good idea, shall we start in the basement?"
"Sounds good to me," voiced Tifa and started her way down to the next level. Rufus looked around a second more to make sure there wasn't anyone then followed the martial artist wanting to watch over her.
They walked down a few flights and finally came to a door.
"Sure is odd that there's no soldiers in here.." commented Tifa as she looked up to Rufus who was walking down the stairs towards her.
"True.. most likely they're handing our 'visitors' outside though, I mean they would be quite the bunch to deal with," he grinned. "So, let's push open this door.. never know what's inside."
Opening the door Rufus walked in, followed by Tifa who still held Riane. Various lab technology was laying around, green could be seen glowing and they assumed it must be mako.
"..this creeps me out.." whispered Rufus.
"... Oh my gods..." said Tifa as she stopped in her tracks.
Rufus looked behind to look at her, then followed her gaze to a lab table, which hosted what Rufus believed to be a figure. The two walked over to the table, Rufus noticed a folder with "specimen #0618" written on it and he slid it inside his jacket. Why is my birth date on the folder..
He was brought out of his thought as Tifa gasped.
"Oh my gods.."
"Hey isn't she..." started Rufus.
"...Yuffie.." mumbled Tifa.
Many of the soldiers had gone down easily, Elena and Reno had moved up to the front lines to help Karia and Rude, a few more of the black beasts had been released.
"This seems almost never-ending.." voiced Elena, "I didn't think there'd be this many troops still here.."
"Well at least they're not difficult to kill.." expressed Rude as he took down another soldier who came close to Elena.
"You're more protective of Elena than usual Rude.." stated Reno.
"You're more observative that usual," he replied as Elena smiled.
"What.... the hell... is that..." questioned Karia suddenly as she looked through the soldiers to see an out of place man coming their way.
"Your worst nightmare honey.." he smirked a lopsided grin.
Karia watched on as he came closer. He had silver hair, much like the legendary Sephiroth, yet it was cut short. Rather young, he carried a dagger in one hand and a lashknife in the other. As he neared she could make out two glowing violet eyes.
"...He's mine.." stated Karia as she walked forward.
"Hey wait a second 'Ria.." stated Reno as he looked on dumbfounded. The soldiers had halted their attack for the time being.
"The name's Diego," stated the silver hair man, he wore a white beater and black cargo pants, "sorry to say I'll have to drop you though honey" and with that he charged at her, "ATTACK!!!" he yelled.
The soldiers acted on cue and all the rest of the party could do was deal with them.
"Hurry up!" stated Elena, "we need to help Karia out with that Diego freak!"
Karia dodged the lashknife blade as it flew by, then countered twice only to be blocked. She'd already been grazed earlier by the flying blade but still couldn't get any shots on Diego.
"Who the hell are you any way?" sneered Karia.
"Your deathblow," he grinned and jumped back from Karia's attack.
"You wish.. why you working for The Wolves?"
"Because I hate Shinra and AVALANCHE, why else?" he replied and swung the lashknife again, grazing her thigh. "Besides, I don't work FOR anyone."
She cringed but counter attacked only be to blocked. "What they do to you?"
"Turned me into the freak I am now, you don't know the half of it," he stated and ran at her but she dodged.
"Don't underestimate me.." she explained and finally connected a blow which cut across his chest.
"You'll have to do better than that, and I believe it's you who's underestimating."
"So why the hate for Shinra and AVALANCHE?" asked Karia and she attacked again but to no prevail.
"Hojo did this to me, Shinra supported him. Then AVALANCHE killed him and Sephiroth, my only hope to finding out what in hell I am. I'm rather pissed off over the fact and being vengeful seems entertaining for the time being," he smirked. "but now I'll have to kill you, pity."
Karia growled and charged him again, connecting with his arm, yet receiving something more vital. She stopped in shock and looked into his face, he just smiled back.
"I told you not to underestimate me.." he laughed and pushed her so she stumbled back, but didn't fall.
Karia looked down and saw his dagger imbedded into her side, her blood was everywhere. She blinked in disbelief then looked back up at him. He pulled the dagger out of her side and watched her slump to the ground.
"Karia's down!!" stated Elena as she finished off another soldier.
"WHAT!? NO!!" exclaimed Reno as he turned quickly to see Karia further up the compartment in a heap. "Fuck!" he cursed and started on a dead run for her.
Diego was already starting towards Rude and Elena, he ignored the red head who was rushing towards the fallen female. "Who's next?" he boasted.
"Shit, we can't take him on alone," groaned Elena.
Then a screech was heard above and everyone looked up to find Vincent on his knees.
"What the hell...?" questioned Diego.
The figured jumped off the ramp, airborne.
"Chaos...." mumbled Tseng.