"All right everyone. We've got a new mission," Wallace told Avalanche. Three days. It had been three days since Strife had joined the group of outlaws, but it felt like he had been with them all his life. It felt like he truly belonged with them, like he finally had a purpose in life. "Strife!!" Wallace yelled, popping his imaginary think bubble. "Now listen up! I can't have ya' driftin' off like that in the heat of battle, or we'll all be as good as biglows in a slaughterhouse!" From somewhere in the room, Lockheart giggled.
"I'm surrounded by imbeciles" Vincent plainly said. He rarely talked, and when he did, it was a short and often bitter comment. In response to Vincent's remark, Kisaragi stuck out all three of her tounges simoultaneousley.
"Stop playing around you three!" Wallace commanded. It seemed as if he only had one volume: loud. "Now the hydras are mining a powder even more destructive than raw materia energy. If they incorporate it into their weapons, it could mean the end of thousands of innocent lives! We need to go and close down the mine. The mine is a safe distance from any homes, so all we have to do is plant a bomb in the deepest part of the mine and get out of there before it ignites the powder and blows the place to hell. Now suit up and move out!
On the way to the mine, Lockheart questioned Strife.
"So this is your first mission with the team, right?
"Yeah, but I was in the army before I joined Avalanche, so this shouldn't be too much trouble," he replied.
"Oh, a military man!" She said, smiling.
Y'know, she looks kind of cute up close, he thought. Strife shook his head and quickly dissmissed the idea. Though annoying, Wallace was right. He couldn't just go drifting off during the mission, or they were toast.
"All right everyone, we're here!" Wallace declared. Without realizing it, Strife had flown a huge distance in what felt like a miniscule amount of time. In front of them was a towering mountain with the mine entrance dug into the base of it. "Uh oh, looks like the main entrance is surrounded by guards. Kisaragi, you know this place, right?"
"Like the back of my claw! Don't worry, there's a cave near the mine that I used to play in when I was little. If we're lucky, it should lead right into the mine," she responded.
"Then what are we doin' flappin our wings around like a bunch of girls? let's go!" Wallace ordered.
"HEY!!" Lockheart and Kisaragi protested in unison.
"Oops! Sorry girls, didn't mean ta' insult ya'," he replied.
"Can we just get going already?" said Vincent, obviously annoyed.