The already hazy dream gave way to a headache, which woke Vincent from his slumber. Something gave a very uneasy feeling, more so than what he usually felt. He grunted and sat up in the dark room. One of the abandoned Shinra factories served his needs just fine, away from towns he didn't feel like he quite belonged in anymore. Dying once does change things. That and his mission wasn't yet complete and he didn't want to put more people in danger.

Cold gold metal of Cerberus gun glistened as it caught the faint light from the window. It was always nearby, and was one of the few comforting items left in his life. It had a solid weight to it, reminding he was still real as it rested in his palm. A bit ironic since a similar weapon brought curtain down on him before with a searing pain.

Chaos did not use words to speak, perhaps it didn't know how to as it was not human. Instead images of things that were happening elsewhere or will happen flashed in his mind and feelings not quite his own would wash through.

This time it was a battle scene, and the headache he felt was from many lives being lost on the fronts. Army held their own against some of the attackers clad in dark blue with lights that were brighter than they actually were. However they were taking heavier losses from flying creatures and their leader Nero. His eyes were not focused on the battle but on the mountains in the distance. A loud hiss quickly got even louder, as a rocket from a helicopter zoomed towards Nero. He flew down and tossed an energy bolt at the rocket, which exploded as the image faded.

With his ears still ringing a strong feeling of immediate danger caused him to jump off the bed and grab Cerberus, as the fabric of his cape partially stayed up rather than falling how normal fabric would, forming a shield.

Another brief image flashed, this time of the window of the factory as seen from outside as a shadow passed overhead and a sound of boots on the metal roof could be heard.

Roof…and no sound of helicopters…

'Stay your attack…I did not come to fight' spoke a figure clad in red once it jumped down through the opening. A long black wing closed slowly after softening the fall. A few stray feathers floated down.

Vincent kept Cerberus in ready mode but lowered it for now.

'Why then did you come?...Genesis…" it was Genesis, although he changed quite a bit from last time he saw him as a Turk. Granted Vincent wasn't the same as he was back then.

'Your memories are then intact...I was…curious. You are aware of the creature you harbor, correct?'

Vincent's expression of distrust stayed but since no attack was coming he moved his finger from the trigger and nodded. 'What of it?'

'While its power to resist death is apparent…Its role in the bigger picture might elude you. A large group is after you exactly because of it. With Sephiroth…alive…at the helm.'

Rumors of Sephiroth's existence spread far after his attack on the headquarters. But hearing it from Genesis added validity to those claims.

'Luckily for you his goals do not currently involve you. But if you were to perish, the Planet is likely to go too. I ask that you do not let that happen before your role plays out.'

Vincent scoffed, it was hard to tell whose side Genesis was on.

'Dying wasn't exactly in my plans. How did you find me?'

'I used this factory in the past, one of my clones was nearby and spotted you. Odd how fast one can get used to things that shouldn't be commonplace. Monsters, angels….heroes. Even those who fly are never truly free. Bound by the earth, their past and their dreams.'

Even though he was talking it seemed like it was no longer a two way conversation, but more of a monologue that he was getting lost more and more in it with every word. A tinge of regret was in his words, even though he never spoke about the cause of it outloud.

'…We seek it thus and take to the sky…'

As those words faded Genesis was already high above, and with another flap of the wing he was gone.

Vincent sighed, as thoughts lingered. Ever since Lucrecia perished he never felt free, and every step in the 'real' world was as if in a thick haze. She did give him another chance at life, a chance he could not afford to waste.

At least the headache subsided for now.

...

Sephiroth brushed aside bullets as if they were insects. His current body was not impervious to them, but the skills he honed in the past made deflecting such attacks a pure instinct.

The attack ended abruptly as Nero took out the soldier.

'Shinra withdrew their forces, I assume they couldn't shoulder any more losses. I do not think that is all they have,' Nero did notice Deepground forces being stronger now with Sephiroth at the lead, even though it was clear he only saw them as tools.

'It is not,' Sephiroth said calmly. The door which was recessed into the mountain held his attention. The security on it did not allow for a brute force method. It was one of the vaults that would self-destruct its contents if it wasn't entered properly.

'We would have to find a way around. Hojo…he should be of use'

'Your father?' asked Nero, puzzled. Sephiroth didn't strike him as someone who had family of any kind but those were the rumors.

'Correct. We are not close,' he said with what could have been a chuckle.