The sounds of shuffling paper almost seemed to echo in the quiet room. After their return from Kalm, Vianca had split off from her comrades to dig through old files down in the labs of Deepground. She sighed upon finding nothing but useless reports on things that didn't pertain to her. Sitting on her knees in front of a desk drawer, she looked over at the platform littered with crystal shards. It was the spot where she'd slept. When she first awoke, she didn't know how much time had passed or how old she even was at that point. Oddly enough, she hadn't physically aged at all, which only added to the amount of questions she had.

"How can all that information just...disappear?"

"It didn't." Vianca turned her head, a bit surprised to see Shelke strolling in. "There aren't many physical papers on the experiments that went on down here. Most of it is all on disks or stored in these old computers' files. But you don't even know how to work them, do you?"

The pale girl shook her head in defeat. "No. I don't think I was ever taught. I wish I had been so that I could find at least a few answers."

Shelke looked away briefly before sighing. "What is it you're looking for? I might keep an eye out the next time I perform an SND."

Vianca gasped, her expression brightening even though her tone remained rather calm. "Oh, would you, Shelke? I would greatly appreciate it." She smiled a little in gratitude, putting away the files before standing. "Well, I'm interested in piecing together my fragments of memories. So, if you could find anything at all about me, that would be enough. Anything about my childhood, or my experimentation, or even the scientists that I was in the care of. Honestly, I'd even be happy just to have an estimate of my current age."

Shelke nodded in understanding. "I'll see what I can do. Just don't get your hopes up, Vianca."

Despite that, Vianca was indeed growing hopeful. She wanted answers --- any answers. Just something to help her understand why she was there and what purpose she served. And maybe why she could still hear those three words echoing in her head. I love you... If anyone could find information, it was Shelke.

~~~~~

Vincent found himself jostled around in the bed of a large, armored vehicle. It was the preferred mode of transportation by the WRO. Working alongside the World Regensis Organizaion, he'd gotten things settled down in Kalm. But Reeve had requested his continued assistance, for Edge was now under attack. That's where they were heading next.

"Reeve. Who were those men?" Vincent's deep voice broke the silence, his crimson gaze on the man sitting across from him.

"Deepground soldiers," Reeve answered.

"Deepground?" Vincent had never heard of it before.

"Yes. The shadow of the Shinra Company, constructed by the former president and completely hidden from the rest of the world."

"Constructed?" the red-cloaked male echoed.

"His goal was to create an army of superhuman warriors --- not once letting morality interfere. The man you met earlier, Azul, is also a member of Deepground. But he belongs to an elite unit known as the Tsviets. The whole organization was kept a secret. That's why there's so little information on them. However, it's nothing like I expected."

Vincent leaned slightly forward with interest. "Not even a person in your position was informed?"

"No," Reeve replied. "Other than the president himself, the only people who knew of Deepground's existence was most likely Heidegger, Scarlet, and the head of Biochemical Research, Hojo." That name certainly caused Vincent to perk up a little. "After the president's death, the transfer of power to his son was carried out so quickly I doubt Rufus was ever briefed on the project. As for me, I was told the information was a need-to-know basis, and as an official in charge of Urban Development, I guess I wasn't on their 'list'. All the current intel we have on Deepground was only discovered recently. We came across some of Scarlet's old files." There was a brief pause before he changed the subject. "Vincent...have you heard of the mass disappearance that occurred recently in Junon?"

Vincent thought back on it, humming in response. "Hmm. I remember the report saying that twenty or thirty people suddenly vanished."

"That's what the report would like you to believe. It was determined internally that if the truth was leaked, they wouldn't be able to contain the inevitable panic. The actual number of people that went missing that day...was twelve hundred."

"What?" Vincent almost couldn't believe his ears.

"Twelve hundred people simply vanished that day without a single trace. The WRO conducted a private investigation, but we came up empty-handed...except for the rumors. Since the Junon disappearances, people of Edge have been...on edge. They say, night after night, you can hear screams coming from the direction of Midgar."

An eerie silence fell over them, and Vincent began thinking on his own. If the rumors are true, Deepground must be behind the Junon disappearances. They were gathering up people in Kalm too. But why? The image of those three that confronted him crossed his mind. And those Tsviets...they were searching for something called 'protomateria'. But what exactly is that?

"Commissioner!" a man cried through the intercom. "A rogue transmission is being broadcasted on all wavelengths!"

Reeve jumped to his feet, his eyes suddenly glued to the monitor behind him, as was Vincent's. The screen was static for a few seconds before an image of a man appeared. He was shirtless with white, wild hair. The strange man was seated on a throne, as if he were some almighty king.

"At last..." the man spoke, "the time has come to cleanse this world. The pure will be spared for the cause, while the tainted will be hunted down and exterminated. Slashed, strangled and slaughtered. Beaten, stabbed and crushed. Garroted and impaled, shot and executed without mercy. The time has come to cleanse this world."

Vincent and Reeve looked on with horror and disgust as the man burst into a fit of maniacal laughter. With that, the transmission ended and the screen went blank. They couldn't be certain, but the pieces were falling into place. If that man was with Deepground, then that would explain why they were gathering up people and slaughtering others back in Kalm. Even for Vincent, such a vile act sent a chill down his spine.

~~~~~

Vianca was in a state of complete shock. She had watched the transmission on one of the many monitors in the lab. Every word that Weiss spouted made her more and more uneasy. She'd been blindly following orders the whole time. She had aided Deepground in the mass kidnapping of innocent people, she'd watched countless others murdered, and she never lifted a finger to stop any of it.

"No... He can't be serious...right? And all those people stored down below...what's going to happen to them?"

She clutched her head, a terrible feeling washing over her like waves. She closed her eyes, words and images flashing through her mind. There was a face --- a blurry one --- and a gentle yet masculine voice. It was an accident... You are destined for greatness... Failures and mistakes... I'll teach you... Show you the world... I love you... When she opened her eyes, Vianca stared down at the crystal pendant around her neck. She slowly lifted the crystal into her palm, unable to tear her eyes away.

"This feeling... I've never felt like this before. Is it what they call 'guilt'?" She sighed, her panicked face reverting back to its neutral one. "I wish I could remember who you were. It might help me figure out what I'm supposed to be doing." She clutched the pendant. "But first of all, I need answers. I need to see what's really going on."

She started walking at a brisk pace, making her way through the underground city. Both Rosso and Nero were out at Edge, so that's where she was going too. Nero was next in command under his brother Weiss, so if there was anyone she could ask about Deepground's intentions, it was him. Creating crystalline wings that were light but durable, Vianca soared out to Edge, trying her best to dismiss the pleasant sensation of the cool rain on her skin. It was yet another thing she'd never experienced before, and such a simple thing at that.

When she arrived in Edge, she landed among the buildings and shattered her wings. She looked around, but there wasn't a soul in sight. It was dead quiet too, the rain pattering on the concrete being the only sound she could hear. There was supposed to be a battle going on. Deepground, WRO soldiers, normal residents --- there should've been someone. There were only two people that could silence an entire city. Rosso and Nero. They had to be somewhere.

She started walking, her skin and hair drenched by the rain. Her uniform clung to her body even more than usual. But it didn't bother her. She was determined to find answers, no matter where they may come from. She suddenly heard a few gunshots in the distance. Jerking her head in the direction of the noise, she started sprinting, moving quickly through the empty streets. She came to a square where the source of the gunshots was made obvious.

Over by one of the buildings, a small group of Deepground soldiers were gathered. There were corpses at their feet, fresh ones judging by the growing pool of blood under them. A man and a woman. Both dead. No life left in their eyes. Their faces permanently contorted to show the fear and agony they felt in their dying moments. The soldiers standing over them had their guns pointed at a sole survivor. A young boy was hunched over, covering his head as he cried.

A female soldier turned her head, spotting the Tsviet. "Vianca, ma'am, we didn't know you'd be coming to aid us." A few others turned their heads as well.

Vianca stared, her pale violet eyes moving between them and the child. Ever so slowly, her brows scrunched together and the corners of her lips turned down. A sudden pang in her chest forced her to clutch at her heart. The sounds of gunfire and screams of terror reverberated in her head. The images of blood dripping down her clear crystals flashed through her mind. The sight of innocent lives being stolen without mercy. The recent memories of her killing or watching others killing. It all triggered something in her.

"We're gathering up the last of the pure ones now," the woman continued, oblivious to the crystals forming around their feet. "We'll scour every building in the area for any survivors. Hail Wei-"

The soldier was cut off by the crystals, long and thin like spears, shooting up from the ground. Her body, and each of the others' too, were skewered like kebabs. Their guns clattered to the pavement, and Vianca looked up at them with pure disdain. She hadn't even meant to attack them, but she was thinking it. She never argued with her superiors, never went against orders, but she was growing sick of the endless cycle of death Deepground imposed on others.

Blood mixed with rain cascaded down the crystals into puddles. A couple of soldiers died instantly, while a few others still had life in them. They tried to move, struggling weakly and in vain. Vianca calmly began walking over to the young boy.

"Why...?" The girl paused, shifting her gaze to the lone man speaking. Her normally calm, kind, and submissive eyes were full of scorn. "Via...nca...why...?" The soldier was choking on his own blood, barely able to get the words out.

"Why?" the Diamond repeated. "Weiss said that only the pure will be spared. I see only tainted and twisted souls in you." She gave a sweet smile that conflicted with the hostility in her words. "Soldiers of Deepground, you're so eager to pull the trigger on others. Don't you think it's your turn to embrace death?"

With only a few gurgles in response, the man went completely limp. Vianca set her gaze on the child, carefully approaching him. Her smile never left, but her eyes softened as she crouched in front of him.

"Please...don't hurt me... Please..." the boy cried.

"I won't hurt you, I promise."

The child slowly uncovered his head, looking at her with watery eyes. His tears mixed with the droplets of rain sliding down his face. "Thanks..." He sniffled, suddenly wrapping her in a hug.

Vianca froze up at the sudden contact. She'd never been hugged before, at least not from what she could remember. The touch was warm and comforting. It felt very pleasant. With a smile, she wrapped her arms around him in return, squeezing him lightly. She didn't want to let go. She couldn't comprehend how a gesture could say so much more than words. But it did.

The boy pulled away, his lip quivering. "Mom and Dad... I couldn't...save them... I couldn't move... I was too scared..."

Vianca gently grabbed his shoulders. "It's okay. They just returned to the planet. You'll see them again one day. Don't cry." She held her hand out to him. "I'll get you somewhere safe, alright? Trust me."

The boy stared into her eyes, sniffling softly. The young woman before him --- her tender gaze gave him a sense of security. Her pretty smile was that of a person who was kind and compassionate, he could tell. Without hesitation, he reached out, placing his hand in hers.