We have a winner! As correctly guessed by Scripta Lexicona, the chapter titles are indeed taken from "Pet" by A Perfect Circle, which I think of as this story's theme song. 14 chapters from now, we'll do this game again for Part Two. (Oh, Gaia, what have I done?) Enjoy your ribbon, Scripta. But remember, it doesn't guard against status ailments, so don't go battling any Marlboros.

SquareEnix owns, basically. I merely pervert. :) Thank you all for the great reviews, they give me such a boost and energize me to write more.

BTW, from now on, exclusive fics will be available at my new LiveJournal account, if you're interested. See my profile for the address.

THE MADNESS OF ANGELS
Chapter 6 - Counting Bodies

I was kind of surprised to wake up on Sunday and find that the world hadn't changed. At breakfast Angeal behaved the same way he always did, even lectured me (again) about how I shouldn't drink coffee at my age, it might stunt my growth. He seemed surprised when I shrugged and accepted orange juice instead, so I stuck my tongue out at him. I, too, could pretend nothing happened.

Angeal had a meeting that morning with Lazard, SOLDIER's executive director. (As he explained it, Lazard dealt with ShinRa's president and department heads as much as possible so he and Sephiroth didn't have to.) While he was gone, I finished my weekend homework and copied over my Tactics notes for Malakh. I tried calling him to see how Kono was, but he didn't answer, which wasn't really surprising. A lot of cadets sleep late on Sundays. I would just have to hope Kono was okay and that he'd gotten my message.

When Angeal got back after lunch (Lt. Averman walked me there and back; no sign of Kono, though I heard that he'd been released by the med lab), I could tell by the sound of footsteps that he wasn't alone. I panicked for a second, but then he called me, and I figured he wouldn't do that if Genesis was with him.

It wasn't Genesis, thankfully, but another vaguely familiar face. The SOLDIER standing with Angeal was tall like him (the more SOLDIERs I met, the shorter I felt) with dark blond, messy hair and dark blue eyes that glistened with mako like deep ocean water. He laughed a little when I saluted and shook his head.

"No need, Cadet, we're all friends here. I hope we'll be, at least."

"Zack," Angeal said, "this is my new assistant, Lieutenant Moray, 1st Class."

"1st Class." Moray smiled. "That's still weird to hear. You'd think, after four months...oh, well. We haven't been introduced before, Cadet, but I've taken notice of your skill with the sword. I'm not surprised the mentor program snapped you up."

"Thank you, sir. You used to visit my Weapons Training class, didn't you, sir? You helped Cadet Highcliff with his shooting stance."

"Oh, you remember me?" Moray seemed pleased. "I like dropping in and helping out. Firearms are not favored SOLDIER weapons, as my own instructor once cautioned me, but maybe that'll change if enough cadets choose them. Your friend's coming along very well, you'll be pleased to know."

A talkative 1st Class! I couldn't help but grin. Angeal wasn't quite as thrilled; he seemed a little irked, in fact.

"Zack, I talked to Dr. Linzman from the medical lab. He said Cadet Yamura should be fine to return to his normal activities, though his training will be restricted for a while."

"Thank you, sir. Is Kono okay? What happened to him?"

"I don't know," Angeal said, frowning. "Patient confidentiality. If Kono wants you to know, he'll have to tell you himself. It's nearly two-thirty...do you still intend to meet him at the library?"

"Yes, sir."

Angeal looked at Lt. Moray, who nodded and stepped toward me. "I'll walk with you."

I shot Angeal an annoyed look, but he only stared back, obviously unwilling to budge. If this keeps up, I thought, the whole 1st Class will find out that Angeal doesn't trust me on my own, but there was nothing I could do. I folded the notes and maps and hid them in my Tactics textbook, and followed Moray to the door.

"Lieutenant Moray will return to walk you back here at four-thirty, Cadet," Angeal said from behind me. "Call my phone if you should need me before then."

I understood, and somehow kept from blushing. "Yes, sir." I probably wouldn't need to call; we always did the second time later than usual on Sundays, and I hadn't drunk much at lunch. I wondered if I could work up the nerve to use the '333' code at last. It wouldn't even be very dishonest, since I knew I'd get hard as soon as he touched me.

"Commander," Moray laughed, "are you trying to use your apprentice to get out of your next meeting? I'm scandalized."

He put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me along to the door. "C'mon, Cadet, before I annoy him into firing me."

I glanced back at Angeal just before the door closed. He wasn't smiling.

zfzfz

Lt. Moray, as I suspected, was quite unlike the other 1st Classes I'd met. Aside from the cheerful attitude and frequent laughter, there was also the fact that he didn't seem to be in any hurry. Even if he was the kind of SOLDIER who could handle office work as well as battle, it puzzled me that he was unfazed to have cadet-sitting added to his list of duties. On the contrary, he suggested we go through the Lesser and Main Courtyards on our way to the Middle Building (which contained the library), even though a more direct path connected it with the White Building.

"It's such a beautiful day," he explained, and he had a point, so I followed, walking more slowly than usual to stay with him.

The Lesser and Main Courtyards occupy the center of the rectangular ShinRa Compound, with fields and woods at the south end, and fields and vehicle and machinery storage at the north end. Flanking the courtyards to the west are the shooting range, the Cadet Building, Quad A, the Middle Building, the 1st Class Quad, and the White Building. East of the courtyards winds the road that meets the north and south gates and security checkpoints. Beyond the road, there's Storage and Maintenance, the Security Center, the Guard Building, Quad B, the Old Building (where the labs and the 3rd Classes reside), the Executive Quad, and the Kurasai Building, named for the famous architect who designed it. That's where the president, vice-president and Turks have their offices and living quarters. It was rumored Sephiroth did too, though no one below 1st Class was told exactly where Sephiroth lived. To protect his privacy maybe, though I couldn't imagine even the bravest admirer just knocking on his door.

"Can I call you Zack, Cadet?"

"Of course, sir."

"Are you enjoying working with Commander Hewley?"

"Yes, sir, very much."

"I kind of envy you," Moray said, smiling. "Any SOLDIER would've given anything to be mentored by Angeal. And he's so quiet, you probably already know him more intimately than the 1st Classes."

I knew he meant 'intimately' in the sense of 'better', not 'sexually', but my cheeks grew warm. Luckily, this went unnoticed, or at least unmentioned.

"The commander is very encouraging," I mumbled.

"That's good to hear. Commander Lefler said he'd be too overwhelming for a cadet and put too much pressure on you, but I guess he was wrong. Do me a favor and don't repeat that, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

Moray reminded me a little of Lt. Averman, though with Averman I think it was just my natural ability to make people comfortable enough to talk. Lt. Moray seemed willing on his own to tell me things, to be friendly. I had worried now and then that I wouldn't fit in as a SOLDIER with my optimism and energy, but now I saw that these traits were not unknown even in 1st Class. I liked Moray for showing me this, and the way he smiled and waved cheerfully as we walked, to SOLDIERs and cadets both. Only one person didn't acknowledge him, a dark bald man wearing a black suit and sunglasses, and Moray made a "Pffft" noise at him. Yeah, this was definitely the kind of 1st Class I wanted to be.

"I hope you don't mind me walking with you, Zack. I think Angeal is hoping we'll be friends."

I wasn't so sure about that, but I said, "I don't mind, sir."

"Are you worried about your friend? I'm sure Angeal would have told you if there was cause for alarm." I nodded vaguely at this, and Lt. Moray looked at me curiously. "Are you and Cadet Yamura close?"

"No, not really. We haven't known each other long."

"So, you're just friends?"

I got the impression that he knew the answer already and was using the question to ask me about myself. It didn't bother me. It's not like the number of gay guys in ShinRa was (and probably still is) small. Malakh once remarked that there were more like us than there were straight guys in SOLDIER, and though I don't know about that, it had to be half and half at the very least.

"Yes, sir. I think Kono's got a girl at home in Wutai, and he's not my type anyway."

Lt. Moray smiled as we passed into the cooler, sunless air of the Middle Building. "It's believed by many that SOLDIERs should not date within the program. Distraction, tangled loyalties, priorities not what they should be and so on."

"You sound like you don't agree, sir."

"I think we fight better when we have something to fight for." He smiled fondly as we headed up a flight of stairs to the second floor. "I always liked this building. I miss it, a little."

"Miss it?"

"I used to live here, the 2nd Class quarters are up on the higher levels. I guess I'm still adjusting to my new place in the White Building. It's on the seventeenth floor, though, same as it was when I lived here, so at least it's easy to remember."

"Sir, can I ask a question?"

"Always, and no need to get permission first."

I couldn't believe my luck, though of course it depended on how much Moray knew and how much he'd tell. "Do you know what's on the floor above you, the eighteenth?"

"Hmm." He halted at the library entrance and looked up in thought. "I would guess more apartments. But I don't know of anyone who lives there, except Commander Rhapsodos."

"Genesis?" Of course. No wonder Angeal declared the eighteenth floor off-limits. "Do you know him well?"

"Other than Angeal and the general, I don't think anyone does. Is that your friend?"

Sure enough, Kono was waving from one of the more secluded study tables, standing to get my attention. I waved back, relieved to see him.

"I'll be back for you in two hours, then. Here," Moray said, handing me a slip of paper. "My phone number. If you need to leave early, or you ever need anything, call it any time."

I hope I didn't look as surprised as I felt. But maybe I did, because he quickly added, "You could also think of it as a back-up way to contact Angeal, should you ever need one. Since I keep track of his schedule, I'll always know where he is."

"Thank you, sir."

"See you in a little while, Cadet."

Kono spoke before I could, as soon as I was close enough. "You sure have a lot of friends in 1st Class, Zack."

"Commander Hewley's big on learning by example. What happened yesterday? Are you all right?"

"Oh, yeah," he said casually, though he didn't sit down on his chair so much as he slumped into it. "The worst part was having to be in the med lab. I hate places like that."

"Better than the science labs, at least."

"Not by much," Kono said. "Dr. Linzman wasn't sure, so he called Dr. Hollander in for his opinion."

That seemed strange. Though medically trained as well, Hollander and Hojo were biologists. That Linzman or Harding, the physicians, should need help diagnosing an ailment from either of them didn't make sense to me.

"So...?"

"Hollander took a blood sample...I barely remember, I was so groggy. He saw I was having trouble staying awake, so he gave me something to make me sleep. When I woke up, he told me I have a blood defficiency."

"Whoa. Is it serious?"

"It's controllable," Kono said with a shrug. "He gave me medication to manage it. It won't keep me from being a SOLDIER, but I'm on a restricted training schedule until it's begun to work. And I have to remember to take the pills, one per day."

"What if you forget? What happens?"

"I could get really sick," he admitted. "Or die. Don't worry. I have an excellent memory. How else would I remember all the gossip I hear?"

Kono spoke lightly, apparently confident that he'd be okay, so I smiled and let the subject go. "Have you heard anything else?"

"Actually, yes. I asked around a little, and Cadet Stern told me something interesting. If it had come from anyone else I probably wouldn't believe it, but I know Stern, and he's honest."

"What is it?"

"Stern said one of the maintenance staff told him that, the night Lieutenant Selwin was mysteriously transferred, he saw a body being carried out of the woods in the south of the grounds."

"Which woods? The southwest or the southeast?"

"Southeast, I think, the larger. The maintenance building is just to the north of there."

My heart hurt. What was going on here? Bodies found around Angeal's building and in Angeal's woods. He had to know something. But why, then, wasn't he doing anything to stop it? I couldn't reconcile that indifference to the man who planted flowers in a place made for fighting, and insisted on creating life to balance the death he had to inflict. "Does anyone else know this path?" I'd asked him, and he'd said "Yes", no more. Had Lieutenant Selwin, if it had been Lieutenant Selwin, been killed in the clearing?

"Zack?"

"Did you bring the Midgar Herald articles?"

"Yeah, right here. They aren't gonna be much help, though. Only four deaths made the paper. The names are given, but not the location of the bodies, except for one. Here, I've made a list to simplify things."

Kono opened his notebook and tapped an almost blank page. This is what he had written.

Shuichi Aturo ---- February 3 of last year ---- ??? ---cleaning staff
Albert Nichols ---- April 25 of last year ---- west side of road at Compound's north entrance ---- delivery van driver
Stone Addison ---- October 11 of last year ---- ??? ----cleaning staff
Junsei Itekai ---- November 18 of last year ---- ??? ---- security guard

"You know, there haven't been any deaths at all this year," Kono said hopefully. "Maybe whatever or whoever did it is gone."

"We can't assume that until we know who or what it was."

"Well, we don't have much to go on."

"Hey, this is good. We can work with this." I took out one of my maps and wrote 'Nichols' at the norht entrance, to the left of the road. "We just need to think. What did these people have in common?"

"Aturo and Itekai were Wutaian," Kono said. "They may have known each other."

"And Aturo and Addison were both members of the cleaning staff, so it's reasonable to assume they'd probably met. But that leaves Nichols out."

"If it isn't random, if there is some sort of link or pattern," Kono said, "I doubt we'll be able to see it without at least all the names."

We talked for a long time about how we could possibly acquire more information. Rumor, we agreed, probably couldn't be trusted, and the cadets who could be seemed to know no more than we did. I suggest questioning the Compound's staff, particularly the maintenance workers and cleaning people, but Kono said Cadet Stern had tried that, and everyone had clammed up, either under orders from above or out of fear it could happen to them.

I half-jokingly suggested we hack into the ShinRa computer database and look for reports there, and had to spend fifteen minutes reassuring a panicked Kono that I wouldn't actually do that. I laughed and said we should hire a Turk to spy and snoop for us, and there was another fifteen minutes of Kono being his annoyingly moral self, going on and on about the awful things he had heard about the Turks. Mostly it was stuff I'd heard before - rumors of kidnapping, assassination, blackmail, theft. I'm sure some of it was true, maybe even a lot of it, but you have to remember that SOLDIERs and Turks always distrusted and scorned one another. When you don't like someone to begin with, it's too easy to believe unpleasant things about them.

"...and I heard Commander Tseng is the worst of them, that he has a boy no older than us living with him."

That caught my attention, maybe because it hit so close to home. "What? What do you mean?"

Kono had looked scanadalized; now he seemed embarassed, regretting having said anything. "You know."

"Maybe it's another Turk, one he's training."

"Tseng is head of the Turks, he wouldn't train a new one personally. Besides, why should he have a Turk living with him?" Kono shook his head. "You should stay away from Turks. Their only loyalty is to the president, and I wouldn't even trust that."

"Only because the president himself can't be trusted."

Kono looked appropriately shocked, but then he smiled. Kono made me swear on the name of Da Chao that I wouldn't get him involved with any Turks, and I did, though I had no idea at the time what Da Chao was. Now that I do know, I'm glad I kept my promise, even though I've never been a religious guy.

Kono then had the idea of doing some research on the information we did have. He grabbed every book he could find on different cultures and faiths to see if any of them ascribed a special significance to the dates on which the deaths occurred. I tried looking in the medical books for a fatal condition or method of death that left no trauma on the body and no change but pallor. Not surprisingly, neither of us came up with anything. After we put the books back on their shelves, we sat at the small table and stared dejectedly at the list of names. It seemed impossible to get anywhere with so little.

"Maybe it would be worth asking Commander Hewley. I mean, you wouldn't be accusing him of anything," Kono said, "just requesting information."

"He won't tell me anything. And if he found out I'm trying to solve this mystery, he'd order me to stop. I know he would."

"Do you really? Maybe he's tired of ShinRa forcing him to keep quiet. He must want the person responsible caught."

"I don't think it's ShinRa he's covering for," I said quietly, hoping Kono would take the hint in my voice and drop it.

"What do you think, Zack?"

"That we shouldn't let the commander know what we're doing."

"Hah, good plan, Fair. What can't you let the commander know, that you're cheating on him with Yamura here?"

I knew that voice and had never liked it; now I found myself hating it and its owner, a rare emotion for me. Cadet Briggs was standing opposite us on the other side of the table, smirking, with Saeni behind him, as always. The same cadets, you might remember, who had been betting I wouldn't survive the first day of my apprenticeship.

"Ooh, I struck a nerve, didn't I?" Briggs laughed. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Don't talk about Commander Hewley like that."

"Pretty defensive, Fair. He must fuck you really good."

I jumped up; Kono stood and grabbed my arm, holding tight though it must have been hard for him. "Calm down, Zack," he said quietly, then raised his voice to address Briggs. "You're sick. If an officer heard you say that - "

"Hey, we're all friends here, right?" Briggs said, as Saeni snickered behind him. "I just thought Fair should be warned. If the commander hasn't done it yet, he will. Why else would a man like him waste time on a cadet? Especially an annoying one like you."

"Do. Not. Talk. About. The commander." My fingers hurt from gripping the table-top so tightly. I wanted to wrap them around Briggs's neck and vent this rage until his eyes popped out.

"I'm just saying, Fair. You might want to keep yourself lubed up. You never know when you might be asked to assume a new position."

I slipped out of Kono's grip easily and vaulted over the table. Briggs moved back in surprise, but I was faster and running on anger-fueled adrenaline. He's lucky I only got to sock him in the stomach before a 1st Class whose name I didn't know was in between us, holding us apart like a referee. A library is a stupid place to fight, it's so quiet that any noise sticks out. 1st Classes have enhanced senses anyway, and the library was common to every branch and level of ShinRa.

"Both of you settle down. Now."

An order in that tone of voice, from a man strong enough to snap you like a twig, is not something that you argue or delay in obeying. I immediately went still and looked appropriately ashamed of myself, and Briggs did the same, though he glared at me first, gasping as he got his breath back.

"Names."

"Cadet Lewis Briggs, second-year, sir."

"Cadet Zack Fair, second-year, sir."

The 1st Class let go of our wrists and pushed us each a step back. He looked at me critically. "Fair? Commander Hewley's apprentice? I would have expected better from you."

Now I genuinely felt awful. There was no way Angeal wouldn't hear about this, and the thought of disappointing him hurt more than anything Briggs had said.

"How did this start?"

Neither of us said anything. The 1st Class shook his head and gestured to Kono to come closer, which he did, looking nervous.

"You. Name."

"Cadet Kono Yamura, second-year, sir."

"Talk. That's an order."

Even cadets who don't like each other, unless they're complete dicks, hate having to tattle to superiors. One thing SOLDIER teaches you is loyalty to your unit. But it's not as if Kono had a choice.

"Sir, Cadet Briggs provoked Cadet Fair with his comments. Cadet Fair told him to stop, but..."

"Comments about what?"

Kono looked absolutely tortured. He was such a nice guy, he didn't want to get anyone in trouble. "C-Commander Hewley, sir."

The 1st Class turned to me. "Is this true, Fair?"

Oh, Gaia, I thought, if he finds out what Briggs said, and if it gets back to Angeal...

"Sir," I heard myself say, "this was my fault. I should not have reacted to Briggs's taunting. I take full responsibility, sir."

Briggs looked at me with disbelief. The 1st Class had a simiar look on his face, but more thoughtful, like he was trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. To be honest, even I didn't know. I had no idea how severe the punishment I was asking for might be or whether or not it would go on my thus-far spotless record.

"You," he said to Briggs, "ten laps around the northeast fields. Consider this a warning. Slandering of a superior officer is not tolerated in SOLDIER."

"Yes, sir."

Briggs made a hasty retreat, with Saeni at his heels. I quaked in my boots a little as the 1st Class turned back to me, but I looked at him with all the humility and composure I could manage. Strangely, he shook his head and sighed, looking annoyed but reluctant.

"Fair, am I to understand that you would rather accept whatever punishment I give than repeat what was said about Commander Hewley?"

"Yes, sir." This was insubordination, I was pretty sure, but he didn't seem angry, more like torn.

"Damn it. If it was up to me, I would let you off for that, just this once. But your mentor is in charge of disciplining you, so he's got to be told." He must have seen the look on my face, because he added, "Believe me, I don't look forward to reporting this to the commander."

"Maybe I can help you there."

The three of us turned to the sound of that voice, and I was half-hopeful, half-nervous to see Lt. Moray approaching.

"What happened, Halloran? Did Fair do something?"

"I caught him fighting with another cadet. I took care of that one, but Commander Hewley's got to be notified so he can deal with Fair."

"I can handle that, if you don't mind. I'm seeing the commander later anyway."

"That's right, you're his assistant now." The 1st Class looked relieved. "Thanks. Fair, I better not catch you using your fists outside of training again."

"Yes, sir."

"As you were, then."

Moray smiled at me as Halloran walked away. "Ready, Cadet?"

"Yes, sir. See you later, Kono."

My stomach felt like a rope being tied into complicated knots as I followed Moray. He was walking very slowly again, maybe waiting for me to talk. After a minute, he spoke up.

"So what happened?"

I told him essentially what Kono had told Lt. Halloran, with little additional detail, not saying specifically what Briggs had said to provoke me. Lt. Moray nodded as we went through the courtyards, taking the long way as we had on the way to the library.

"Briggs must have said something pretty bad, if you were willing to take full blame rather than repeat it. That was very honorable of you, Cadet."

"I didn't want the commander to hear it," I mumbled.

"Well, whatever it was, I'm sure he'd be more concerned that you were involved in a fight. He was hoping this wouldn't hapen."

"Sir?"

Moray halted and so did I; he looked guilty, like he had been cornered into revealing more than he wanted to. "Cadet, I know Angeal isn't having me accompany you because he wants us to be friends. I know he doesn't let you go anywhere alone, and he told me why."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. Angeal had told Moray the truth about what had made him worry for me, and Moray was about to tell me? It seemed too good to be true, and of course it was.

"The commander might not like me telling you this, but he knew you'd have to deal with jealousy from the other cadets. He knows you don't like to fight and altercations like you had with Briggs wouldn't be your fault, but if they happened, and he didn't discipline you, you'd only be subject to more harassment by those who did get punished. Angeal doesn't want you set apart from your age group any more than you are, and if they found out he was being lenient..." Moray sighed and ran a hand over his hair. "So he was hoping to avoid the harassment all together by having someone with you as much as possible. You know what I mean?"

"Yes, sir."

It seemed logical, but I knew that wasn't the whole reason for Angeal's rule, if it was a reason at all. Angeal must have given Moray this explanation as a clever excuse for why I was not to go anywhere unaccompanied.

We began to walk again. Moray was frowning pensively, not greeting or waving to anyone this time. In spite of what he had said, I wondered if he was disappointed in me. That made me sad, though it was nothing compared to the thought of letting Angeal down.

When we reached the apartment door, Lt. Moray stopped and grabbed my hand as I reached out to insert the key card. "Cadet..."

"I thought you were gonna call me Zack, sir."

He smiled sadly, maybe pitying me for the anxiety I was trying to hide. "Please tell Angeal I'll have the papers he needs ready by tonight, and that I'll see him at the meeting."

"You're not coming in?"

"No, I don't think I need to."

"But...don't you have to tell the commander what I - "

"Briggs and Halloran will assume you've been properly reprimanded," he said softly. "That's all that matters, right?"

I gaped at him. "You mean...you're not..."

"Just try to stay out of trouble, okay? I think it would hurt Angeal to have to punish you. And...it would hurt me to see it."

Moray still hadn't let go of me. He closed his hand around mine and gently stroked it with his fingers, looking at me with a pained and probing expression. I felt his other hand on my cheek for a moment, then he snatched it away, looking embarassed.

"See you soon, Cadet," he murmured, and disappeared around the corner in the direction of the elevator.

I stared after him, open-mouthed. Only moments before, my greatest worry was having to face Angeal and explain why I had broken a rule and disgraced the honor of being chosen as his apprentice. Now that fear was resolved, for the moment at least, and I had a new problem. I couldn't guess what Angeal was thinking, Genesis's motives completely baffled me...but Moray I understood. I knew the look he had given me, one of hope and longing, and not completely devoid of simple lust.

Gaia, I remember thinking, what is with these 1st Classes? It's got to be the mako.

To be continued! Sooner than I currently intend, if I know myself. Myself being a review-whore.