Chapter 11: Lost Number

A man named Vincent suddenly appeared.

It seems he is a former member of the Turks who was caught up in Professor Hojo’s illegal experiments and had been confined within this manor for years. Knowing the Professor, it’s certainly the kind of atrocity he would commit, and if Lady Scarlett has verified the background, there is no room for doubt.

Even so, I can tell just by the way he carries himself that he is a formidable combatant. He seems to be a different breed of warrior compared to Zack or the specialists from Wutai. No one would believe he’s been shut away inside a coffin for several years.

While this man joining the Advanced Weaponry Division will surely benefit Lady Scarlett—and I have no complaints about increasing our combat-ready personnel—I find him personally grating. Above all, to take advantage of Lady Scarlett’s kindness by addressing her without any titles is unthinkable for a professional. If he truly is an ex-Turk, he should strictly respect the hierarchy and use proper honorifics.

Even considering his unique history, I don’t care how he treats me, but his attitude toward Lady Scarlett is intolerable. However, if she says it’s fine, it wouldn't be logical for me to interfere. Apparently, he behaves properly in the eyes of the public within the company, but that should be a given.

"I’m not well-versed in machinery, but this is impressive. I assume this is a defense program Hojo set up?"

"Of course. Lady Scarlett is a top-tier engineer. In the field of mechanical engineering, she is far more proficient than Professor Hojo."

I can understand him speaking of Hojo so casually; there’s no need to respect the man who used him as a test subject. But Lady Scarlett is the benefactor who gave a stagnant man like Vincent a second chance. It’s the same way she took me in after my dreams of joining SOLDIER were shattered.

Despite being in a similar position and being needed by her, his attitude simply rubs me the wrong way.

"Hmm. The specimen confined in the basement, Lost Number... shall we say it 'escaped'?"

"What’s the plan? I can handle it alone. For safety's sake, shouldn't Cloud continue acting as your bodyguard, Scarlett?"

Again! No honorifics!

True, considering Lady Scarlett’s safety, a guard is essential, and I’d prefer to stay by her side if possible. However, given that the threat of the Lost Number and Vincent’s true abilities are unknown, I should monitor and support him to ensure the mission's success. I’d feel more at ease if I could leave her protection to Tseng, who is operating separately, but...

"No. Any irregularities would be a problem, and I don’t want this taking more time than necessary. Besides, I need to stay here for a while to extract data from the terminals, so I won’t need a guard."

It’s true that this room doesn't seem to have any entry points for dangerous specimens, and since the areas are isolated, a guard might be redundant. If time is of the essence, the best move is for Vincent and me to dispose of the Lost Number as quickly as possible and regroup.

"Don’t you trust Cloud? He’s young, yes, but he has a proven track record. More importantly, he is my most trusted subordinate."

"No, I can tell just by looking at him that he is a reliable guard. If that’s the case, I’ll take his help."

Perhaps I’m overthinking it. No matter how talented this man is, it doesn't change the fact that I am Lady Scarlett’s confidant. I will fulfill my assigned duty perfectly.

"By the way, is that gun of yours the same equipment from back then?"

"Yes. An automatic pistol chosen for its ease of use. It’s called the—"

"The Quicksilver, isn't it? It’s still in active use today."

The Quicksilver is synonymous with affordable, user-friendly handguns. While standard Shinra infantry are issued assault rifles, many carry this as a sidearm. I’ve used various weapons as a tester, and it’s light and easy to aim. With no strange quirks and easy maintenance, it’s a model handgun widely available for self-defense.

"Even if it’s still in use, you’ve left it sitting for decades without combat. If a man working under me in the Advanced Weaponry Division used such a thing, it would reflect poorly on my dignity. Use this."

Lady Scarlett opened the briefcase she had been carrying, revealing a large, six-shot revolver.

"The Outsider, developed by my own hand. It boasts high attack power, excellent Magic stats, and perfect Materia affinity."

"Hmm. Despite its appearance, the center of gravity is well-balanced for handling. And the cylinder latch is on the left for my dominant hand."

Vincent examined the details of the Outsider. For some reason, the gun felt like a perfect match for him.

"A fine weapon. It looks bulky at first glance, but that was clearly designed with Materia sockets in mind, without sacrificing functionality. It seems the reputation of the 'Genius Weapon Inventor' girl from back then wasn't just talk."

"Stop bringing up the past. You're the first person to call me a 'girl.'"

"I’ve just spent far too much time on the inside."

He’s hard to pin down; his appearance and internal age feel mismatched. And while I wanted to be angry at him for treating Lady Scarlett like a young girl, she only offered a soft, slightly embarrassed dismissal. Mentioning or questioning a woman’s age is a high-risk move—certainly not something I could ever imitate.

"Cloud, why the long face?"

"N-no, it’s nothing! When did you prepare such a thing?"

"Remember when I was adjusting your gear and you were struggling to balance raw power with Materia growth? I applied the data from the Buster Sword modifications I did back then. This is a masterpiece born from that expertise."

"So the sword on his back is a custom job too? I can see it’s been meticulously maintained. A legendary blade, clearly."

Lady Scarlett then began to boast about my results as an elite tester, sounding as proud as if she were talking about herself. While the equipment development is her achievement, she repeatedly mentioned my name, insisting it was possible because of me.

"A weapons tester instead of a Turk... you must have put in immense effort to gain that much skill at your age."

"That’s right. To me, Cloud is something of a Hero."

A Hero. I couldn’t become a Hero of SOLDIER like Sephiroth, but perhaps a Hero of the Advanced Weaponry Division. And perhaps, a Hero to Lady Scarlett...

"Alright, the hack is complete. You should be able to reach the containment area where the Lost Number is without interference. I’ve set the stage, now go and dispose of that specimen!"

"I’ll do the work expected of me."

"Understood. We will eliminate Lost Number and return immediately!"

It doesn't matter who this man is. I will carry out what is required of me. I am the only true confidant of the Head of Advanced Weaponry, Lady Scarlett.

We entered combat with the specimen known as Lost Number in the underground isolation area. It’s a monster of truly poor taste. They said it was a creation of Hojo’s, likely abandoned as a failure.

It certainly possesses combat prowess, but an uncontrollable monster is useless, hence why it was branded a failure and locked away. I suppose I can’t criticize it for being an "aberration" or for being shut in here, considering my own circumstances...

However, I’m rustier than I thought. It’s likely because I haven't seen real combat since my body became... this. Still, the reason I can fight this well without resorting to my "trump card" is due to two factors.

First is the revolver Scarlett gave me, the Outsider. Honestly, its stopping power is incomparable to the mass-produced Quicksilver. To think a gun could produce this much output despite its weight... and it’s not some clunky tool focused solely on power; while it has its quirks, it's relatively easy to aim. It fits my hand as if it were custom-made for me from the start. Such equipment was never issued to the Turks in my day. Is this a symbol of how the times have changed?

The second factor is the man fighting beside me, Cloud. I heard he was a tester for the Advanced Weaponry Division, not a Turk. A man of this caliber shouldn't be just a tester; apparently, he now leads his own squad as a Captain.

"Now! Reload while I create an opening!"

He didn't seem friendly toward me before the fight, but once the battle began, he wielded that Buster Sword with practiced ease, dealing precise damage. Whenever I need to reload or reposition, he immediately draws the enemy's hate to himself. He looks and talks young, but he is a veteran of the battlefield. His situational awareness is superb; he perceives the necessary action and executes it instantly. I see—it’s no wonder Scarlett acknowledges him. With sword skills this sharp, he’d thrive in the upper echelons of the Turks... or perhaps that’s exactly why he is better suited as Scarlett’s "hidden blade" in Advanced Weaponry.

The way he glared at me every time I called Scarlett by name... if I view that as loyalty, it makes perfect sense. Yet, he doesn't bring petty jealousy onto the battlefield, keeping his emotions and actions strictly separate. A remarkable young man.

If I had possessed such talent or such self-control in the past, perhaps things would have turned out differently.

"I’m still getting the hang of this—match your strike with my next shot!"

We’ve only moved together for a short time, but I am certain he is a man worthy of trust. At the very least, the sight of someone striving so desperately to protect another is almost too bright for me. If we are to be colleagues, I must earn his trust in return.

I release the power I gained through Hojo’s modifications. Scarlett might know about this, yet she said nothing. In that case, disclosing it myself is a sign of trust. Or perhaps that woman intended for me to reach this conclusion about Cloud’s character all along.

I strike Lost Number with simple physical force. Ordinarily, a human blow would do nothing, but I am no longer merely human. My mass, having grown a size or two, is now comparable to the monster's. Using the powerful spring in my legs, I punch the creature square in the face. Struck by a force far beyond human limits, the monster staggers wildly, spraying fluid from its maw. I grab its leg with a transformed hand, digging my claws in, and slam it head-first into the ground.

"Leave the rest to me!"

A great warrior never misses a momentary opening. To him, what I am is likely a trivial point. He trusts me because Scarlett trusts me. If I had built such a relationship of trust back then, my fate might have been very different. No... I must stop repenting for the past.

Lost Number takes a barrage of slashes from Cloud. The monster, acting on instinct, senses its impending death and offers a final resistance. It leaps a great distance to reset its stance. While wary of the Buster Sword’s tip, it also keeps a watchful eye on the "monster" that just threw it. But if it loses sight of me just because I’ve reverted to human form, it is nothing more than a third-rate beast.

"Sorry, but I’m a man as much as I am a monster."

My bullet flies true, sinking into Lost Number. Guns are better, after all. I’m starting to get the feel for this one.

"Sorry for taking the finishing blow."

"No, if you hadn't finished it, it might have caused issues with the cover-up. Honestly, you saved me."

Does he realize he would have struggled more alone? Unlike my own twisted youth, he seems to be a sincere, kind-hearted boy at his core.

"I should be the one saying that, Captain Cloud."

"Wha—!?"

"I’ve been with Shinra longer, but I’m the newcomer in the Advanced Weaponry Division. I’ll be counting on you from now on."

When I bowed, Cloud looked surprised, but a smile quickly crossed his face. So he can smile like that? Without the uniform, he looks like any other pleasant young man. No wonder Scarlett expects so much from him.

"I look forward to working with you, Mr. Vincent."

"Just Vincent is fine."

"Then just Cloud is fine for me too. I’m not used to being called 'Captain' anyway."

It seems he’s gained some respect for me as well. We must build a good relationship.

"However... even if she says it’s okay, you should respect Lady Scarlett as much as possible. After all, both you and I were only saved because she picked us up..."

A bit too much of a loyal dog, perhaps... but I shall accept that as part of his personality.

Author's Note:

I’ve put together a quick explanation of some items used in this story. Since I wrote the afterword in a rush, please let me know if there are any errors or if things need more clarity! While I previously said I wouldn't do a glossary, these specific references might be a bit too obscure if you haven't played the games recently, so I’m providing some context here.

The Quicksilver

This is Vincent’s initial equipment in Final Fantasy VII.

Stats: Attack +38, Magic +10, Accuracy +110.

Slots: 4 Materia slots (1 linked pair).

While most of Vincent’s weapons are revolvers or rifles, this is actually his only automatic pistol. The visual model appears to be based on the Colt M1911A1, the former sidearm of the United States Armed Forces. While the name literally translates to "fast silver," the name is actually derived from a female spirit or "wraith" associated with poltergeist phenomena.

The Outsider

In the original game, this is a large six-shot revolver found inside the Sunken Gelnika (the downed Shinra transport plane).

Stats: Attack +80, Magic +48, Accuracy +120.

Slots: 8 Materia slots (2 linked pairs).

The model for this gun is likely the S&W M29C. Interestingly, in the FFVII Perfect Guide illustrations, it is depicted as a left-handed gun (the cylinder latch is on the right side). Since Vincent is right-handed, the latch should technically be on the left to be ergonomic.

In terms of gameplay, it is essentially his second-best weapon, just below his ultimate weapon, the Death Penalty. Its short, crisp attack animation makes it a fan favorite for efficiency and style.

What is a "Cylinder Latch"?

This is the component on a revolver you operate when you want to swing the cylinder out to reload. For example, if you've seen Daisuke Jigen (from Lupin III) reload, he slides a switch to let the round chamber swing out to the left. That switch is the cylinder latch. It’s a term mostly used by gun enthusiasts, but you can see it being operated accurately in many high-quality animations and films.

Lost Number

This is the boss confined within the safe in the Shinra Manor. In the original game, defeating it was optional to progress the story. In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, however, it isn't in a safe but is confined to a specific floor. It is a notorious "newbie killer"—if you try to fight it the moment you first arrive at the Manor, it is an incredibly difficult opponent. As mentioned in the comments, it remains a source of "trauma" for many players!