Chapter 10

Once Eve was done with her breakfast/lunch, she headed back to Tseng's office. When she looked at the clock on the office wall, she smirked slightly. She still had more than a quarter hour. Her attention was drawn when she heard a drawling voice behind her. "Yo, cupcake, nice uniform."

She barely kept from cursing at the sound of Reno's voice, but she was wearing a smirk when she turned to him. She looked him up and down before she replied. "I wish I could say the same to you, flame face, but I'm afraid stretching the truth that much would break it."

She felt a tiny shiver run down her spine when his grin only widened. He walked until he was right in front of her and looking down before he said anything. "I think this is gonna be fun. I look forward to workin' with ya, doll."

He started to reach toward her, but before he could touch her face she stepped back and knocked his hand aside. She was no longer pretending to smile. "I'm not sure if fun is the word I would use, but I'm certain you won't like what happens if you try to touch me again."

He gave her a confused look but didn't get to say what he obviously wanted to when Tseng's voice rang out. "Evelyn, you're late."

She glared back at him before looking up to the clock. It was still ten minutes before the hour but when she looked back at his half smirk, she clamped her jaw shut on the retort she was itching to throw at him. She shrugged before she managed to find her voice again. "The lines in the cafeteria were long. I'll try to remember that for the next time."

Tseng's smirk tilted a little more, but her attention was drawn by a strangled noise behind her. She turned to see Reno giving her a strange look. She knew it was probably a bad idea to provoke the redhead, but she couldn't help herself. She gave him a smirk and a wink before she turned back to Tseng with a straight face. "You said you had an assignment for me? Are we ready to go?"

It took all her willpower not to grin when she heard Reno burst into laughter behind her. Tseng looked between them with a raised brow, but he didn't ask. Instead he pointed back to the door. "I will explain on the way." She followed him out while she resolutely continued to ignore the sound of laughter they were leaving behind.

Once they were on the elevator Tseng turned a curious gaze to her. "Care to tell me what that was about?"

She shrugged and shook her head, but she answered anyway. "It would seem that Reno enjoys being picked on."

Tseng's eyes narrowed slightly before he spoke. "I did warn you that it will get worse. You should not provoke him."

Eve lost her smile when she turned to face him fully. "You can put it on record that you warned me, so everyone knows. That doesn't mean I am afraid of any words he might fling at me. They are only words after all. Unless he decides to come after me with that electromag, then I think I'll be alright."

Tseng gave her a contemplative look. "Even words can hurt. No one is immune when they are the right words."

Her look lost all mirth when she answered. "I won't even bother asking if that means you too. Just know that despite what you may believe about me, I am quite well aware that there are far worse things than harsh words." She paused and made sure he was looking her in the eye before she continued. "There are even worse things than death, so a little verbal sparring isn't going to hurt."

Tseng's eyes widened slightly. He was reminded once again that he could not afford to take this woman lightly. Despite the smirk she often wore, he knew there was much more than met the eye. The thought that he didn't have enough data to make a full assessment of her irked him, but none of that showed. He didn't say anything else until they were out of the building.

He led her to the train station in silence. He was gratified to see that she didn't argue when he told her to take a seat and stay silent until he gave her the all clear. At least she wasn't stupid. He ignored the looks they received from some of the other passengers as he watched his newest subordinate out of the corner of his eye. He hoped several gaps would be filled in after their mission that afternoon, but somehow, he had the feeling that he was going to walk away with more questions than answers. The feeling didn't sit well with him either.

Once they got to the station they needed, he motioned her to disembark. When she saw the number, she gave him a curious look with a raised brow but didn't ask anything. There were still several others around. It was obvious she would have had something to say if that had not been the case. He resolutely ignored that fact as he motioned for her to follow.

By the time they made it to where there were fewer people around, they had already arrived at their destination. Eve was shaking her head when Tseng approached the old church and opened the doors slowly. She followed him as they walked into the building and stopped just a few steps inside. Even though she was sure it would irritate the Turk, she stepped around him and faced the girl that had frozen near the middle of the room. She was eyeing them both warily, but Eve took another step forward and called out to her. "Aerith, I'm really glad I have the chance to meet you."

Aerith's eyes widened but Eve's attention was drawn by Tseng's slight gasp. She turned to see his blank face, but she gave him a knowing smirk. She knew her recognition of the last Cetra on sight was something he wasn't expecting, although, she felt he should have. It only showed her that he still was not convinced about her yet. She mentally shrugged and took another couple of steps, although she still held her hands up to show the girl, she meant no harm.

She was stopped after a few steps by a gasp from Aerith. The girl looked her up and down before she spoke. "It's you. You're the one. But I wasn't expecting you to be with Shinra."

Eve gave her a self-depreciating smile. "I wasn't expecting it either, but this was Tseng's solution to keeping me close. If it makes you feel better, I am not an official Turk yet, I believe they said I have to finish a probationary period and since I just started yesterday, I doubt I'm close."

Much to her surprise the girl did relax a little. She still eyed Tseng warily, but she took a few steps toward Eve. "Why are you here? Is there something you think I can help with?"

Eve sighed slightly at that. "I'm not really sure. Tseng told me we had a mission this afternoon and then brought me here. I'm as clueless as you are." That wasn't exactly true, as she was pretty sure he wanted to watch them compare notes to see if he could find any holes in her story, but she didn't voice that. She didn't get a chance to say anything else either as Tseng spoke up. "Aerith, after we spoke yesterday, I was hoping we could talk with you and get a clearer picture of what we are facing."

Eve had to fight back her grimace at the confirmation of her fears, but she turned so she could see them both when Aerith answered. "I don't know what I can do, but if you think it can help, I'm okay with talking."

Eve's eyes narrowed slightly at the tremble in the girl's voice. They then widened when she realized that the planet must have shared more than she expected with the girl, especially as it was her prompting that had set Tseng to make her a Turk. She suddenly found herself moving to embrace the girl. Aerith stiffened at first, but relaxed and hugged her back tightly when she whispered to her. "You don't have to recount the details. I can tell him, and you can confirm it. Don't worry. I do not plan to ever allow that future to come to pass. It's why I'm here after all. Nothing will happen to you. I promise."

At her last words the girl finally started crying. Eve mentally cursed at the planet for showing the girl too much. From her reaction it wouldn't have surprised her if the girl had seen her own death. She was shocked slightly when Minerva sent her thoughts that confirmed it, but it only made her angrier. Minerva's voice was calming when she answered. 'It was unavoidable. She had to see everything to the end, and her part even after her death was not small.'

Eve's jaw clenched but she didn't speak out loud. She continued to hold the crying girl when she answered. 'I understand. That doesn't mean I like it.'

Minerva's voice took on a harsh tone. 'It is not for you to deem appropriate or not. Your duty is to prevent it from happening.'

Eve couldn't stop a growl. She barely managed to hold in a curse. It wasn't that she didn't understand, but the thought that the planet was using them both like tools as surely as Shinra did their people did not sit well with her. She managed to take a few calming breaths when Aerith pushed back at the sound she made. She gave her a confused look, before her eyes widened. "You can hear the planet too!?"

Eve grimaced, but quickly wiped it away at Aerith's shocked look. She shook her head before responding. "I guess you could call it that. I don't think it's the same way you do, but Minerva speaks to me."

Aerith grabbed her hands and Eve felt like kicking herself at the girl's hopeful look. "Does that mean I am not the last Cetra?"

Eve couldn't bring herself to dash the girl's hopes the way she had Tseng. She gave her another brief hug before she answered. "I really don't know. I never was as far as I was concerned, but Tseng seems to believe so as well. Maybe I am."

Aerith beamed at that and Eve had to force a smile. She really believed the only reason she could hear Minerva was because the Goddess wanted her to, and not because she was a planet herder, but she knew it would help lift the girl's spirits if she believed it and that was something that was sorely needed.

At that point Tseng interrupted finally. "I see I was right to bring you here. If you are both done, we have little time before we need to leave, so I would like to talk to you both together."

Eve shot him a glare, but Aerith grasped her hand and pulled her to one of the pews closest to Tseng. The girl didn't release her even after they were seated. Tseng didn't mention it when he joined them though. "I would like to hear the whole story. Explain to me the reason you need my help."

Eve could feel Aerith trembling next to her and gave Tseng another glare, but she spoke anyway. "You aren't going to like this, but I will promise this is the future that will come to play if nothing is changed." He raised a brow at her harsh tone, but only nodded for her to continue. She sighed before she looked at Aerith. "I apologize now. I know this won't be easy for you."

Aerith gave her another wide-eyed look, but she finally nodded. "I'll be alright. We can't let it happen and listening is the least I can do."

Eve wanted to sigh again, but she swallowed it and turned back to Tseng. "Fine, let me start by telling you that if for some reason you think that Shinra will be able to ride this out and rebuild then think again. If that future comes to pass the entire company will be at the bottom of the rubble with everyone else. No one will be unscathed."

His eyes narrowed slightly before he spoke. "I am uncertain if that is a threat or a warning, but know that I have no plans to let anything happen to the company, or any of its employees."

She only gave him a nod. She knew his irritation now was nothing to what he would be feeling once she was done. She steeled her resolve against it and started. "It all starts with Genesis."

His eyes finally widened at that. "Commander Rhapsodos defects? That is a harsh accusation for someone that continually strives to become the poster boy of Shinra."

She shook her head and ignored his questioning tone. "You're right, but it still happens. I suppose you could really say that it started before any of the Firsts were even born, as that was when Hojo and Hollander started experimenting on them all, but I can't change that now. I can only try to change the things that are yet to come."

Tseng's eyes widened before his look turned contemplative. "I had suspected that Hojo had been experimenting with Sephiroth since he was a child, but I did not know he was involved with the other two as well. How was that possible? They did not come to Shinra until they were old enough to enlist."

It was Eve's turn to raise a brow. "As a Turk I thought you would have better information. The entire town of Banora is made of Shinra employees, or ex-employees. They were all placed there to keep an eye on the two 'failed' experiments. Angeal was raised by his birth mother, Hollander's ex-assistant, but Genesis was adopted by the town's mayor."

Tseng stood at that point and paced several feet away. He stood there for several moments before he turned back to her with a frown. "Are you trying to tell me that your 'visions' were so detailed as to give you secrets that even Turks are not privy to?"

Eve nearly cursed again. She should have known better and made her retelling much vaguer. She still managed to look him in the eye when she answered. "It is up to you to believe it or not, I can only tell you as I know it."

Tseng turned to Aerith at that point and the girl shrank behind Eve. He still addressed her. "And you? Do you corroborate her story?"

Aerith looked to Eve, who gave her a slight nod, before she turned back to Tseng. "My visions were not that detailed, but I did see fighting around Commander Rhapsodos. Some of it didn't make sense as I saw many of him all together."

Eve grimaced at that, but she spoke before Tseng could. "You saw multiples of him, but it was because Hollander leaves with him. He and Genesis form a small army from a group of Seconds and Thirds that leave as well. Hollander turns them all into Genesis clones. He does the same for most of the townspeople in Banora."

They both gave her shocked looks at that. Aerith's with tinged with disgust and Eve could understand why. No one spoke for several moments before Tseng finally spoke up with a harsh tone. "Are you suggesting then that we assassinate the two top Shinra scientists along with Genesis?"

Eve's eyes widened before she glared at him. "I may find Commander Rhapsodos annoying, but he doesn't deserve to die. He had no control over what was done to him while he was still in the womb. All three of the Firsts need to find out the truth about what was done to them. Being fed lies and half-truths is the main cause of all them descending into the madness that causes them to go down the path of destruction."

Tseng froze at her words. "They all desert?"

Eve snorted. "I suppose you could say that. Genesis deserts and starts a revolution. Angeal follows him but doesn't join him. His biggest sin is how he dies. As for Sephiroth, he doesn't desert so much as descends into madness and starts a path of destruction that nearly destroys the world a couple of different times."

She wanted to laugh at Tseng's look of absolute shock, but she managed to hold it in as he finally managed to speak. "I can understand now why you did not want to tell the General any of this yet. I imagine he will not take well to being told he will leave Shinra and try to annihilate everyone."

Eve wanted to laugh at his sarcastic tone, but she felt Aerith trembling beside her again. She gave the girl a soft look. "He isn't that person yet, and it is my job to make sure he never will be. I already told you I won't let anything happen to you, so please don't let that nightmare bother you. Once we are done, that is all it will ever be, a scary dream that will eventually fade back into the nothingness dreams come from."

She hugged the girl again when she started to cry. Nothing else was said until Aerith managed to quit and sat back while she wiped her tears away. "I won't say that I'm not still scared, but if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."

Eve gave her a smile that she hoped would help bolster the girl's spirits. "If things work out the way I hope, then this won't be a battle in the traditional sense. We will have to work on disseminating the truth and exposing the lies. Your part will be to back me up when Tseng refuses to believe me."

The girl giggled finally at the way Eve was eyeing Tseng. She squeezed Eve's hand and gave her a smile. "You know, you never even told me your name."

Eve's eyes widened when she realized they had gone through all that and she had not introduced herself. She gave the girl a lopsided smile. "My apologies. I am Dr. Evelyn Marx."

Aerith's eyes widened slightly. "Doctor? Really?"

Eve's gaze softened. "I'm a medical doctor, not a scientist. You will never have anything to fear from me. If I have any say in it, you will never have anything to fear from the others either."

Aerith finally smiled and gave her a nod. "I trust you."

Eve's brow raised at that, but she gave the girl a smile. "I will not let that trust down."

At that Tseng spoke again. "It is time that we return. I have enough to look into for the moment and you have training to start."

Eve wanted to roll her eyes at his tone but instead she gave Aerith another smile. "I hope I get to return soon. I would like to talk about less stressful things next time." Aerith gave her a nod and stood. When they left, she waved to them from the door before she turned to go back to her flowers.

Once they were a short distance away, Tseng stopped and turned to her. "Will Sephiroth kill Aerith?"

Eve looked at him in shock. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised that he worked that out from their conversation, but she still was. Finally, she shook her head. "Yes and no. It will be his form that kills her, but not truly himself. He really does lose himself. Once his mind breaks, it is invaded and then used by the one he believes to be his mother, Jenova. After that happens, he is no longer himself, ever again, not even after his death. Stopping him after that happens will be too late. We need to prevent him from ever losing his mind in the first place."

Tseng raised a brow at her, and she gave him a shocked look before she glared at him. "That does not mean we should kill him! He is just as much a victim here as anyone else. He didn't ask to be experimented on and he certainly didn't ask to be lied to. They all deserve the truth. Anything else would make us monsters."

His brow was still raised when he finally responded. "If you know what a Turk is, then do you truly think we are not already?"

She clenched her jaw and had to keep it that way for several moments before she could respond without a string of curses. "I understand what you are saying, but there is no need to jump to that conclusion right off the bat. You should know that there are better alternatives. I'm sure even you don't jump to killing right away."

He shrugged slightly before he turned back to the train station. "I still haven't said that I believe you yet. I have no plans to jump to any conclusions." She glared at his back for several seconds before she finally moved to follow him. Their trip back to headquarters was a silent one.