History
Preface
As we know, much of Vincent's past is a mystery. Here I have attempted to piece together what little we do know about his background. The dates and years provided are a mixture of fact and estimation. Any date in pink is official and those in light blue are my estimations. Please refer to the Things Clarified section for important source information and further explanation of methods used for estimations.
Timeline/Story
50 Years Ago - Era 1957 - October 13
Vincent Valentine is born to Grimoire Valentine, a Shin-Ra employee, and his wife.
Unknown Year
Vincent decides to work for the Shin-Ra Company under the Administrative Research branch (The Turks).
Unknown Year
Grimoire Valentine dies in a tragic lab accident.
25 ~ 30 Years Ago - Era 1977 ~ 1982
Vincent is assigned to protect the scientists working on the Jenova Project at the Shin-Ra Mansion in Nibelheim.
During this assignment, Vincent becomes good friends with one of the scientists working on the project, Lucrecia Crescent. At first, Lucrecia is hesitant to have Vincent as a bodyguard, as she was involved in the death of his father. Guilt ridden, she treats Vincent with kindness, while at the same time pushing him away. As time passes, however, the two grow to truly care for one another.
On one particular day, Vincent enters the lab to look for Lucrecia, but instead discovers his father's file on her computer screen. When Lucrecia enters, he confronts her, but she refuses to talk about it. Finally, he takes her hands in his and she tearfully explains that she is to blame for Grimoire's death, even though it was truly an accident. Lucrecia runs from Vincent before he can tell her that he doesn't blame her, that all he wants is to see her smiling face.
Afterwards, Lucrecia turns to Professor Hojo, one of the other scientists working on the Jenova Project. Lucrecia soon after marries Hojo and becomes pregnant with his child. Vincent tells himself that if Hojo makes her happy, that's all that matters. She agrees to let Hojo experiment on her baby for the project.
When Vincent discovers that Lucrecia and Hojo plan to experiment on her and the baby with Jenova's cells, he confronts Hojo and questions the morality of the procedure. Lucrecia enters and becomes angry with Vincent for interfering. This was her decision to make. Ashamed and hurt, Vincent agrees and doesn't bring up the subject again.
23 Years Ago - Era 1984
During the final stages of her pregnancy, Lucrecia experiences frequent fainting spells. Vincent becomes increasingly worried about her and finally, his anger becomes so great that he confronts Hojo again. The two of them quarrel until Hojo pulls out a gun and shoots Vincent, killing him. Hojo lays the deceased Vincent on his operating table, and reanimates him. The experimentation ceases Vincent's aging and gives him an uncontrollable monstrous form.
Vincent awakens and stumbles off the table, feeling dizzy and strange. He screams out in anguish as his body transforms into that of a beast. He falls to the floor and his body changes back to its human form as Hojo hovers above him, laughing maniacally. Shortly after, Lucrecia enters and is horrified at the scene.*
Lucrecia takes Vincent and places him inside a Mako tube, attempting to test her Chaos theory. Only this time, saving Vincent is her only concern. For weeks, she works in the lab until she succeeds. Vincent's tissue will no longer decay.
Unexpectedly, Chaos takes over Vincent's body. Terrified that she's lost Vincent for good, Lucrecia begins to panic. She soon remembers a materia that she found, the protomateria, that will help Vincent to control Chaos, and places it inside of him.
Soon after, Lucrecia gives birth to Sephiroth, but her son is immediately taken from her before she can either see or hold him. Frail and defeated, she records her mind and thoughts into a database in hopes that they may one day help Vincent. After this, Lucrecia disappears.
With Lucrecia out of the picture, Vincent is left at the mercy of Hojo. Hojo takes Vincent and locks him away in the Shin-Ra mansion crypt.
1 Year Ago - Era 0006 - December 19
Veld and another Turk accidentally discover Vincent in the Shin-Ra mansion while searching for materia in Nibelheim. Veld recognizes Vincent as an old colleague and they converse for a while until Vincent returns to his sleep.
0 Years Ago - Era 0007 - December 09
Vincent is awoken by Cloud and decides to join the party.
*In Dirge of Cerberus, it appears that Lucrecia found Vincent right after he was shot by Hojo, but it wouldn't have made sense for her to find Vincent and leave, only to return again later.
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