Vincent stopped in his tracks, spotting a wounded soldier. He was the first WRO soldier he'd found other than that woman, Shalua. Edge had been mostly quiet, but Vincent did occasionally run into Deepground troops that he had to take care of. He quietly approached the soldier on the ground resting against the brick wall. There was a large tear in his shirt with a gaping wound across his abdomen that his hand tried to cover. His clothes were coated in blood despite the rain.

"Am...bushed...by...soldiers..." the man choked out, trying to give the red-cloaked comrade a warning. "Squad...wiped out... Warehouse... They...were...gathering...civilians..."

The soldier fell silent and limp, the life gone from his eyes. Vincent gazed down at him sadly, wishing he could've arrived sooner to perhaps save even a few lives. He kneeled and gently placed his fingers on the man's eyelids, closing them. It was the only way he could give his poor soul a peaceful rest. Standing once more, Vincent turned away from the scene. He pressed on, deciding to seek out the warehouse the soldier spoke of in his dying moments. The rain soaked him, but he wasn't bothered by it in the least. When he had such an important job to do, he didn't stop until he completed it.

He soon arrived in a square where the heavy silence still hung over Edge. But a shimmer caught his eye and he turned his head. His eyes widened slightly at what he saw. There were corpses on the pavement, and others hanging like ragdolls from crystal spear-like structures. But beyond that, he saw a familiar ivory-skinned girl on her knees in front of a child. He recognized her. She was one of the Tsviets that he'd confronted.

Now that he knew who she was, he was wary. He needed to save that little boy. He cautiously began to move closer, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun, Cerberus, strapped to his thigh. As for Vianca, she noticed the boy's eyes shift to something past her, and his grip on her hand tightened. Her smile faded when she heard the footsteps, assuming it was yet another Deepground nuisance. Slowly rising to her feet, Vianca prepared herself, lightly tugging the child close to her.

In an instant, the Diamond twisted around and threw her hand out. Her crystal spears moved and grew through the bodies of the soldiers, shooting toward Vincent in an attempt to stab him. The male was quick though, jumping out of the way. Vianca suddenly recognized the stranger, but Vincent already pulled the trigger before she had a chance to speak. Fortunately, the girl had brought up a wall in front of her to shield herself from the shot. The bullets clinked against the crystal barrier, which she kept in place for protection. Vincent charged in, surprised when he found himself perched atop the crystal with the barrel of his gun aimed at the female's head. He had expected more of a fight from a Tsviet.

"Vincent Valentine," the girl addressed him in a calm voice. She didn't seem the least bit concerned by the weapon inches away from her head. "You really should not have come here."

Vincent glared at her, slowly climbing down from the crystal to stand before her, keeping his aim on her, just in case. "Release the kid," he demanded.

Silently, Vianca let go of the boy, but he only clung to her side out of fear. "I'm not holding him captive if that's what you're thinking." Sure enough, the child held onto her, refusing to let go. "But if it's me you want, then go ahead and pull the trigger. I wouldn't blame you for killing me, not after the horrible things I've done."

Vincent raised a brow skeptically, lowering his gun. "If it's so horrible, then why do them?"

Vianca looked at him with a soft smile. "Because it's the only thing I know."

Vincent was stunned by her smile. It was genuine and kind. Putting his gun in its holster, he watched her free hand calmly ruffling the boy's wet hair. Humming softly, the female seemed to relish in the silence as she tilted her head up to bask in the rain on her skin. She was quite...strange. Pretty, but strange. Vincent wasn't usually a talker, but for once he found his curiosity getting the best of him. Besides, any answers he could get out of her were better than nothing.

"Who are you?"

The white-haired girl looked at him with that calm, friendly gaze. "Vianca the Diamond. The newest member of the Tsviets, or so they tell me. I've only been one of them for about a month. And just a few days ago, I was able to go outside. I saw the sky for the first time." She breathed in the cool air and gazed up at the cloudy sky. "And this is my first experience with rain. It's so cold and refreshing. I like it." She paused, setting her gaze on him again. "I seem to be getting carried away. Forgive me."

Vincent thought back over her words. "You've only been with them for about a month? How did they manage to recruit you?"

Vianca looked at him again. "Not recruit. Awaken. I was asleep for a long time." She looked down at her hand, then subconsciously clutched her pendant. "I don't even know...who I am...or what I'm supposed to be..." She exhaled and shook her head. "Maybe one day, I'll find answers." She set her gaze on the child again, crouching down to his level. "Hey, don't be afraid. This man is not an enemy."

The little boy looked over at Vincent, then back at Vianca. "Are you...sure?"

The female nodded. "I'm certain. Trust me." She stood and looked at Vincent again. "Get him to safety, would you? I must leave. There's someone I'm looking for, or rather, waiting for him to find me." Her smile finally faded to be replaced with a serious look. "You should leave Edge as soon as you can. The other Tsviet here won't be quite so merciful." She pointed her palm toward her crystal structures, shattering them when she created a fist.

She started walking, passing the red-cloaked male. Vincent watched her go, but all the questions and concerns in his head made him call out to her before he even realized it. "Vianca."

The girl halted, turning her head to look back at him. "Yes?"

Vincent averted his gaze, looking as stoic as ever. "The WRO, they have information and resources that could probably help you."

Vianca smiled, a slight giggle rising up in her throat. "I doubt that. I'm a lost cause." She started walking again. "Good luck, Vincent Valentine."

Creating crystal wings, she took off and flew away. She didn't get far before she saw a familiar dark portal on a rooftop. She swooped down and landed, bowing her head apologetically as soon as she saw the dark-haired man appear from the darkness.

"Wondering off again, lass?" Nero questioned.

"I'm sorry," the girl swiftly apologized. "I was curious... I wanted to see Edge..."

"You are forgiven, Vianca. I sought you out because my brother has some...interesting things to speak with you about. Come, let us go."

Vianca shattered her wings, locking eyes with him briefly. Another dark portal appeared beside him, and he stretched out one of his mechanical wings to her in an inviting manner. Saying nothing else, she stepped into the portal. Nero went in behind her, and then the void closed up, as if it had never been there in the first place.

~~~~~

Vincent sighed, walking away from the fallen Deepground soldiers. He'd helped the young boy to safety, and he'd even found the warehouse he'd been looking for. Yet one person remained on his mind. Vianca the Diamond. Something about her intrigued him, though he didn't know why. Was it her strange nature? Her pretty smile? Her unique power? Or maybe the fact that she'd turned on her own allies? Whatever it was, she wasn't at all like the other Tsviets he'd met. She seemed to not even know who she was or why she followed Deepground.

Exiting the warehouse, Vincent's thoughts were interrupted by a red-haired woman standing in the rain. She stared up at the sky, the droplets of water falling onto her. Another Tsviet? The one Vianca warned me of, perhaps?

"You know, this is the first time I've ever felt the rain on my skin. But then again, I hadn't even seen the sky until a few days ago."

Sounds like a Tsviet alright, Vincent thought.

Rosso set her gaze on the man. "So, you're Vincent Valentine. Keeper of the Protomateria."

There was that word again. "Proto...materia?"

"Yes," Rosso replied. "The key to controlling Omega. We know you have it. Hand it over now, and I'll kill you...quickly." There was silence as Vincent stared at her without a hint of emotion on his face. The woman laughed. "Not one to argue, are you. Then I'll make sure you suffer. Time to die!"

She pulled out her bladed weapon and lunged at Vincent. He ducked and dodged her slashes, rolling away from her. She then aimed at him, her weapon also equipped with a gun. She shot at him, but he ran and jumped away from her. Though he underestimated her speed. Rosso caught up to him, hitting him in the stomach and sending him crashing into a wall. The rough impact awakened something in Vincent. There was a flash of red before something stepped out from the clouds of dust. The sight of the winged, humanoid being made the Crimson stare in horror.

Chaos was the entity that lived within Vincent. Like a demon, he came out whenever things grew dire to unleash his wrath. With an enraged roar, the creature created a burst of energy that sent Rosso flying with a panicked scream. After that outburst, Vincent reverted back to himself, feeling drained of energy. He fell back onto the ground, exhaustion overtaking him. He saw a pair of heels approaching him where he lay, though his darkening vision made it difficult to tell who they belonged to. After a few seconds, he lost consciousness completely.

~~~~~

"Vianca..."

The Diamond stood meekly before Weiss the Immaculate, seated upon his throne like a king. Nero stood by as always, showing complete loyalty and obedience to his brother. Weiss wore a broad grin, chuckling at the girl.

"Do not fear. We have something to discuss, you and I."

Vianca slowly nodded. "Yes, sir. You know I've been seeking answers...about my past. I want to discover who I am. I want to piece together my memories so I can understand."

"I know," Weiss answered. "There is a definitive way for you to do just that." Vianca gasped softly in surprise. "The Protomateria. Retrieve it for me. It's the key to both Omega and you, Vianca. I swear to you, there will be answers waiting for you if you do as ordered."

Vianca thought on it for a moment, mulling it over. If the Protomateria really was the key to her past, then there was no questioning it. The one thing she desired in her life was to know the truth about herself. It was her reason to follow orders.

She nodded. "Very well. The Protomateria will be yours soon." She turned and left without another word.

Nero looked to his big brother. "Playing on her wishes and desires to keep her in line. Clever as always."

Weiss chuckled. "She doesn't realize just how important she is. If we can't keep her obedient, she'll have to be terminated, and I still have uses for her." He leaned forward with great interest. "Once she comes into contact with the Protomateria, everything should fall into place. Then Aegis will awaken."