Story Reader / Interlude / Valkyrie / Story
File: Iron Maiden
Ugh... Cough...
A total wipeout, huh.
Your turn, Captain?
Nope. No, thanks. We're just temporary acquaintances.
I don't care!
The dark subway station is paved with bodies. Standing in front of a Corrupted, as if mocking it, is a redheaded girl.
The Corrupted charges towards Vera. The spikes on the ground shoot out like bullets, forcing Vera to back up into a run-down wall.
I could simply end you here... but I know a better way to torture you.
Gray Raven... You'll be perfect for this. Heh.
I'll set you down here.
That ravenling sure is birdbrained, saying that I can have the body right after they're done with their investigation.
Is it out of naivety? Or something ulterior? Well, interesting either way.
Vera unloads the preservation pod holding the Corrupted Tifa in a corridor. Without a thought to any repercussions, she connects Tifa to power.
With her brain damaged, the only place she can show her bewilderment is through the screen on top of the pod. Tifa's battered form is now no more than a coffin imprisoning her consciousness.
On the screen, Tifa exhibits panic and regret. Through the connection established by Gray Raven, she is forced to remember all that happened between her and her Commandant.
And understand what she did wrong.
Vera strokes Tifa's cheek, as if comforting her.
I... I... Just what—
I know you're crying, Tifa. Now that you've regained your humanity, you can feel pain.
Commandant... Why... Why do they have a Commandant while my... my Commandant...
Those who don't feel pain are not actually alive. Without pain, you can't prove that you exist.
My mission is to kill Tifa. And Tifa, you exist right here, right now.
Vera places a gentle hand on Tifa's cheek comfortingly.
And that's why I'll give you a way out. Leave all your pain to me—just like how everyone else did.
That's all I can do for you, Tifa.
—And then Vera raises her hand. She punches straight through Tifa's brain and the pod, crushing it all.
