"He was found like this an hour ago," said the messenger. "No signs of struggle or of Relic malfunction, and everything seems to be all right with the lab. We think he might have just collapsed."

Leon crouched by Vexen's body, resisting the urge to growl under his breath. Vexen was still wearing his lab coat, which was entirely appropriate – they were in his laboratory, by the entrance to the cold store. Vexen lay on his stomach, head turned to the side so that his face was visible. His eyes were wide open, lips pulled back in a grimace of fear, or at the very least profound surprise.

"Let me guess," Leon said. "The surveillance system had a hiccup."

"Uh, yes, that's correct."

"Damn it!" Leon slammed his fist into the ground by Vexen's head. This was so far from good he felt like laughing. A researcher dead, another dose of Relic wasted, and it was Leon's fault, in a way. Had he taken the time to investigate the glitch in the surveillance system and to question Vexen about it instead of prioritising the evacuation, this might not have happened.

"Sir," said the messenger. He was really one of Cid's technicians, either on probation or in the middle of punishment. There were no superfluous staff on the premises. "Are we to carry out an investigation? Now?"

It was a good question. With the evacuation in progress, everyone had their hands full. But this one death could be the first sign of something very dangerous going on.

"Yes. Let the research team know, and ask Xemnas politely not to assign Vexen's partner to morgue duty. No, wait." Leon stood and put a hand over his eyes, thinking fast. "No, I'll talk to Xaldin myself. You make sure that the body is being watched at all times and that the surveillance works properly. But first bring Xemnas up to date. You'll have to do it in person – he never answers calls."

"Yes, sir." The messenger looked like Leon had just ordered him to eat something disgusting. He went without a word of complaint, though.

Leon left the body with two medics he trusted and went to search for Xaldin. It didn't take long – they ran into each other in the corridor outside Vexen's lab.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Xaldin said, dancing to the side to avoid barrelling into Leon. He was surprisingly graceful for a man his size. "Have you been to Vexen's lab?" He held up a file. "I have to give this to him and-"

"He's dead," Leon said, watching Xaldin's reaction carefully.

Xaldin blinked. It took him a moment to find his voice. "What do you mean, dead?"

"I mean he has ceased to live. We've found him an hour ago."

The arm with the file swung down and Xalding pressed his back to the nearest wall. "Dead," he repeated. "It's... It's a terrible shame. Vexen was a brilliant scientist, and another dose of Relic..."

Leon crossed his arms and catalogued every twitch of Xaldin's facial muscles, every shift of his hulking frame. "I expect you'll be assigned a new partner." The researchers ruled themselves and preferred to keep their partnerships within the larger team. Now they were back to an even number.

"Yes," Xaldin said distractedly. "I'll have to... see Xemnas, talk to Demyx..."

"Mm."

A blink, and Xaldin turned wide, expressionless eyes to Leon. "Can I see the body?"

"No," Leon said immediately. "Not yet. We'll inform Xemnas and ask him to send someone qualified, but I'd prefer it be anyone other than you. I don't want personal involvement in the investigation."

Xaldin leaned closer to Leon at that. "Investigation? You don't know what killed him?"

Leon nodded, wondering whether Xaldin was pretending to be so slow on the uptake, or whether he was just shocked. "It's an unexpected mystery. You'll know as soon as we find anything."

"Thank you. I..." Xaldin paused, staring at the ground. "I think I need time to – for it sink in."

Leon shrugged. "It's general procedure. Speaking of, I expect you to talk to a psychologist." He hesitated, then patted Xaldin's shoulder. "Sorry for your loss."

"Yeah."

Leon left Xaldin slumped against the wall and headed for Xemnas' lab. He couldn't make heads or tails of the situation. Unless Vexen's death was a strike from the forces above – and Leon had become somewhat less sceptical than he used to be of the existence of a malicious higher power since the apocalypse started – it made no sense. Worst of all, Leon worried he would have to put the investigation on hold until the end of the evacuation. That could ruin his chances of ever finding the answers.

Xemnas was engrossed in a quiet conversation with Saix when Leon marched in. The messenger, who seemed to be attempting to blend into a corner of the room, looked at him with a mix of relief and resentment.

"Ah, Leon," Xemnas said pleasantly. He nodded at Saix, who nodded back and headed for the door. "How can I help you?"

Leon blocked Saix's way. "I want to be directly involved in this matter, Xemnas. I assume you're sending Saix to look at the body?"

"Correct," Saix said. He didn't seem at all perturbed by Leon's frankness. "If you wish to accompany me, you're welcome to do so."

Leon didn't take his eyes off Xemnas'. "And you will oversee the evacuation?"

"Of course. I'll find a way to distribute your duties-"

"I won't be away for that long." Leon did not like the idea of letting Xemnas do as he pleased. The man was certainly capable, but he had his own ideas about what was humanitarian and what wasn't – and they tended to be somewhat distinct from Leon's and Ansem's.

"There's no problem, then." Xemnas folded his hands together and assumed a serious expression. "This is a terrible loss, as I'm sure you understand. I would be very grateful for any help you decide to give us with the investigation."

Leon nodded. He intended to do just that. "I will need to talk with every member of your team at some point. Probably once the mess is over."

"Yes." Xemnas frowned. "What worries me the most is how much a potential culprit could get away with in the current circumstances."

"We'll just have to watch our every step." Leon moved aside and motioned Saix to the door. "Lead the way."

On their way back to Vexen's lab, Leon replayed the events from two days ago. He had spent some time observing Vexen once the surveillance was back up. And yet, he had seen nothing out of the ordinary. But maybe someone else had. Leon supposed that Sora was the last person who had seen Vexen alive. They would have to have a chat.

Riku snorted water out of his nose and shook his head hard enough to dislodge his hood. He pulled it back up immediately, shuddering as rivulets of rainwater slid down his back. He hugged himself with one arm, using the other one to keep himself steady on the branch. He was rather high up in a tree, the tallest one he could find at the edge of the woods, and would prefer to stay there for the time being.

Sora's world was being very melodramatic, Riku thought. His own had died in dignified silence – Riku remembered the calm blue sky and the gentle splash of the waves very well. It had been as if his world had accepted the end and was determined to leave those who would abandon it the best memories possible in the circumstances. Sora's world, on the other hand, had decided it was okay to rain on its people's saviours.

It gave the proceedings an appropriately melancholy atmosphere, Riku had to admit, and dealt with the majority of the fires, and the corrosive liquid from the Dark Ones' pods. It was still miserable weather for being outdoors.

Yuffie appeared on the branch below Riku's. Moving silently like a ninja was her default mode of operation during excursions to different dimensions. "See anything yet?"

Riku shrugged, though he knew she wasn't looking at him. Both their eyes were glued to the horizon, where the rising sun illuminated dark shapes that moved with no apparent intent of coming closer. "Same as before. Are they hesitating, do you think? They've never shown any kind of concern for their own well-being, as far as I know."

"It's super weird," Yuffie agreed. "I haven't been able to get very close – Luxord keeps ordering me back, damn him – but from what I've seen they have at least six armoured types, and the rest are mostly knights."

"That's not good."

"Yeah, but they're not using their advantage."

Riku leaned against the trunk of the tree, frowning. He hated the fact that the Dark Ones could be so unpredictable. One moment they might follow a brilliant strategy, and the next they'd launch a haphazard attack while tripping over each other. "What are they waiting for?"

"Hell if I know." Yuffie pulled herself up to sit on Riku's branch. "Orders are to keep watching. Luxord says we've evacuated about twenty percent of the people."

"Hmm." Riku thunked his head against the tree. He worried he might fall asleep if made to stand still for much longer. "I wonder how they're holding up at home."

"Probably better than we are."

Leon entered Sora's room without knocking and found the boy asleep. That was when he realised that it was night time, and that he hadn't slept in quite a while. He had spent a couple of hours going over Vexen's lab with Saix and relating everything he remembered. Then Saix had turned his attention to the body. Leon had only stayed for the initial tests. He was too jittery to be still for longer than a few minutes.

Leon kicked Sora's bed, and the boy jerked awake.

"Wuh-wha?" Sora's voice was thick with sleep. He looked right past Leon for a while, before he forced his eyes to focus. "Leon?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Uh, okay? Lemme just..." Sora started to struggle with the covers, probably in an attempt to get up.

"It's fine if you stay there. It won't be a long talk."

"Oh. Okay."

Leon looked around the room for a place to sit. He leaned against the wardrobe. "Vexen is dead."

"Huh?"

"Vexen. The man who gave you directions when you were lost."

"I know who Vexen is," Sora said indignantly. He seemed easy to annoy when half-asleep. "I meant, what do you mean, he's dead?"

Leon should have waited until morning with this. "I mean what I said. He was found dead some hours ago. We're not yet sure what killed him."

"Oh." Sora stared at his hands where they gripped the covers. "I... Oh."

"Did he say anything to you? Was he acting strange?" It was unfair to ask, Leon knew. He might care on another day, when they weren't having a crisis.

"I don't think so? I mean – I wouldn't have known if he was acting strange. And he – oh."

"Oh?"

"I remember seeing a person – it was dark, and they were a ways away – leaving Vexen's lab. Before I got there. Um, they had weird hair. Blond, I think? But kind of pinkish. It looked pink in the dark, at least."

"Is that so." Leon rubbed two fingers over his mouth. Was Marluxia involved in this? Leon didn't like the idea – Marluxia was out there fighting beside the other Combatant teams. If he was a traitor, he could murder anyone and claim it had been the Dark Ones. The only way to mitigate that risk would be to warn the other teams and the Observers, but that meant introducing distrust and fear to an already tense situation. Leon really didn't like his options.

"Uh, Leon?"

Sora's voice snapped him out of his musings. "Sorry. If you remember anything else, tell me. If not, go back to sleep."

"I... don't really..." Sora rubbed at his eyes. He was obviously sleepy and confused.

Leon nodded and took the one whole step from wardrobe to bed to squeeze Sora's shoulder. "Sleep, then. Maybe you'll remember something in the morning."

Sora nodded. "Okay. And in the morning, do you want me to – keep stacking the bottles, or...?"

It was a good question. "I'll tell Cid to find work for you. Just stay with him and you'll be fine."

Sora nodded his assent, and Leon left, somewhat satisfied. This was hardly progress, but another item on Leon's to-do list had been checked. Only one to go, and then he would be due for at least a few hours of sleep.

Demyx ran straight into him as he was leaving the housing section and heading back for the labs for a last update.

"Leon! Help!"

Leon grabbed his shoulders and struggled to keep both of them on their feet. Then he pushed Demyx away. "What."

Demyx' eyes were wide and scared. "I don't want to be Xaldin's partner! What if he's the one who killed Vexen? Because he didn't like working with him?"

"Don't be ridiculous. He would not have wasted Relic for such a petty reason."

"But..."

"Your team is not under my jurisdiction, Demyx. I can't actually do anything to help you, even if I wanted to."

"But I don't want to bond with anyone." Demyx squirmed, looking down at his feet. "I don't want to go out there and fight."

Leon took a moment to consider Demyx, his performance records and his usual patterns of behaviour. He shrugged. "You'll probably stay on the defence force. And you'll do fine."

Demyx looked up with wide, surprised eyes. "What? You really think so?"

"I do. You might need additional training, but you're far from hopeless."

Demyx seemed a little awed. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted.

"Leon," said a calm, quiet voice, that somehow carried through the corridors filled with the refugees' constant murmuring. Zexion rounded a corner a moment later.

"Yeah?" Leon asked. He watched as Demyx expression morphed to panic for a brief moment before settling on careful disinterest.

"I want the body," Zexion said.

A/N:

My winter holidays are a bit busier than I expected, but I've promised myself I would post this chapter on Wednesday, so here it is. I'll try to do the same for the next two.

I dread the chapters ahead, because some of them will need heavy editing. This story is pulling me in every direction at once, and although I have the main events mapped out, I still surprise myself during writing. It's the best way for me to write a story – I have to be interested in what might happen next to stay motivated – but it's probably not the best method for serial fiction. Oh well. I'm still hoping to avoid a major rewrite.