A/N: The soundtrack for the last half of this chapter is 'Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi

Chapter 45

The sun was already up, and technically Sephiroth's turn at watch was over. However, before the whole team sat down to the lengthy discussion that was likely to happen, he decided to walk once more around the perimeter. Not that he expected anything.

When he was satisfied that all was clear, he headed back into the mansion. He paused when he saw Genesis walking up the stairs but did not call out. Given all that Alex had said the night before, he knew it would be best for them all to speak soon, but that could wait until after the current issues were handled. He pushed back the discomfort caused by the idea of hurting a man that he had once considered a friend and instead turned to the room they had used the day before to see if the rest were there waiting.

When he entered, it only took him a moment to realize Alex was not there. Angeal and Bugenhagen were chatting on the other side of the room with Nanaki at their feet. They paused when he called out. "Has Alex been down?"

Angeal gave him a warm smile that he opted to ignore. He had already heard the man's response to seeing Alex in his bed. Not that Angeal had been angry, but he did issue a stern warning. At least he seemed to be in a better mood this morning. The man waved toward the door as he said, "You just missed her. She said she wanted to go get some fresh air about twenty minutes ago. She should be back soon."

He barely caught a frown at that news and instead nodded before he went to make himself comfortable while they waited. Although, he didn't make it to the dusty settee before the man they had found in the basement walked in. Sephiroth was going to try being polite, but any question he might have asked froze when the gunman held up a scrap of paper that was very clearly covered with fresh blood.

Somehow, Vincent was able to gather all eyes to himself without saying a word. Once the rest of the room faced him, he held out the paper to Angeal. "I believe this may be for you. I found it on the trail a short way past the mansion."

Angeal frowned but took the paper without a word. However, Sephiroth was shocked when a curse was the next thing out of Angeal's mouth. The commander further shocked everyone in the room when he grabbed the man in the red cloak and practically yelled in his face. "Did you see anyone? Are you sure this is about Alex?"

By that point, Sephiroth had already picked up the paper that Angeal had dropped. Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't this. His blood ran cold, and he felt his heart beating erratically as he read the words once more.

The little bird has come to roost, and our family is nearly complete. All that is missing is you. We will be waiting with Mother.

Sephiroth looked up with wide eyes and tried to keep his voice calm. "Who could have done this? This does not seem like the work of the Turks or any other Shinra personnel. Why take Alex?"

Vincent had ignored Angeal, but he frowned at Sephiroth's question. However, he wasn't given a chance to respond. Genesis had just walked in and was already glaring. "What was that about Alex?"

By that point, Angeal had calmed. At least enough to be coherent when he said, "Vincent found a letter on the path outside the mansion. It doesn't specify, but given the location, it would seem that someone took Alex. The note is cryptic, but I believe whoever it is might be talking about that alien. I can't think of another place besides the reactor that might be considered a roost."

Genesis snatched the letter from Sephiroth. As soon as he read it, he glared at the gunman. "And how do we know this isn't your doing?"

It was a valid question since they did not know the man, but something in the way Alex had treated him made Sephiroth believe that wasn't the case. He was about to say as much, but Angeal beat him to it. "Now isn't the time Genesis. There is no point in placing blame. Instead, we need to find her. She left less than half an hour ago, so they can't have gotten far."

Genesis looked like he was about to explode, but he shocked them all when he took a deep breath and said, "Fine. We are already familiar with the path and should not need a guide. It would be best if we left post-haste, even if it might be dangerous for us to head to that cursed place."

That statement worked as a catalyst. All three Soldiers headed for the door. Despite worry about what could befall them if they got too close, none of them were willing to delay the search for Alex. However, they were shocked when both Vincent and Nanaki stepped forward. The former spoke first. "I am familiar with the area and have patrolled here many times. Allow me to accompany you. Especially if you are correct. That alien is more than what she seems."

His words caused a shiver to go down Sephiroth's spine since he was familiar with how much more she was than a rotting body. However, he didn't voice that. Not that he would have been able to. Nanaki was quick to add his own concern. "I offer my assistance as well. I am familiar with Professor Hewley's scent. If we rush, I may be able to track them if they leave the trail."

Sephiroth was glad when Angeal nodded. He would accept all the help they could get if it meant they could find Alex quickly. None of them had yet mentioned the blood that was still drying on the paper, and each of them hoped that it didn't mean what they feared.

Bugenhagen wished them luck as the group of five left in a hurry. Unfortunately, it did them little good. Vincent showed them where he had found the note, and Nanaki was able to verify Alex's scent in the area. However, the trail only led a short distance past the scarce brush and to a small clearing. It was there that it disappeared. However, Vincent found traces in the dirt of a recent helicopter landing, and Nanaki was able to verify the metallic scent that lingered.

No one in the group was happy with that news, but it did verify that Alex was taken, and they hoped that Angeal was correct. If she had been taken back to Midgar instead, their options would be limited.

After that discovery, Vincent was able to show them a shortcut to the reactor. The path was nearly nonexistent and would have been impossible for an average human to traverse. However, no one in their group was normal. They managed to make it to the reactor in less than two hours. When they arrived, they found two empty helicopters surrounded by nearly a dozen dead men. The uniforms were black and unfamiliar, but it was still an unsettling sight.

However, the sight confirmed that Alex was likely inside the reactor. They didn't have time to waste and decided to investigate later. When they moved to enter, another note was waiting for them on the steps.

We are glad to see you wish to join us. Follow the path, and you will find the heart of the matter.

Sephiroth was the last to read it, but as soon as he was done, he balled it up and crushed it in his fist. At least this one had been devoid of blood. When he looked up, it was to see Genesis was already up the steps, and Angeal was not far behind. The fiery commander pointed to the door as he said, "The heart of the matter. Given the cryptic nature of the note, I would say we head to the center of the reactor. I believe that was where Alex said the alien was anyway, correct?" Both Angeal and Sephiroth nodded. Nothing else was needed as they made their way in.

It was a relatively short amount of time before they made it to their destination. The whole group stopped at the sight of a plethora of pods that lined the room on each level. Nanaki growled at the nearest one, and Sephiroth was inclined to agree with him. They reminded him of some of the things he had seen in depths of Hojo's lowest labs and had no desire to see if they held similar 'subjects.'

Genesis and Angeal had both spread out, and each of them looked away with disgust as they saw what was in the cells. However, everyone's attention was drawn when they caught the sound of feminine laughter. Sephiroth felt his heart skip a beat. That had sounded like Alex, but it couldn't have been. However, Angeal shared a dire look with both him and Genesis and he could tell they had heard the same thing. No words needed to be spoken between them before they made their way up the stairs and to the open door at the top.

As soon as all five of them were in the door, they froze. None of them expected to see what was waiting for them. A tank dominated the far side of the room, with many tubes coming from it. A being with tattered wings and discolored flesh floated in the mako within. None of them needed the plaque upon the thing's brow to know they were looking at Jenova.

However, that was not what had them staring in disgust and discomfort. The main tube descended from the bottom of the tank like a pathway. On it sat Alex with one person on each side of her. She was not hurt, which relieved Sephiroth. Still, he felt his disquiet grow as he watched her stroke the hair of the red-headed girl to her left while the boy with raven hair on her right looked up with open adoration.

He was even more disturbed when he caught the eyes of the familiar silver-haired youth standing at the base of the tube. The boy smirked at them all when he said, "Mother said you would come, but I had not believed her."

They all took a step forward at his taunting tone, but they froze when Alex stood. Sephiroth could not force his feet to move when she looked up and smirked at them all. Her slit-eyed gaze flitted across them, and he instinctually realized that was not the Alex he knew. It was only confirmed when she said, "Now, now, I have told you I do not wish for you to fight. They are the only family we have left. We should embrace them."

Instead of looking like he had just been reprimanded, the youth smirked again. He didn't say another word. Not that he needed to. Sephiroth's gaze was drawn to Alex as she stepped back a few feet before she jumped off the giant tube and over the silver-haired boy. She flipped in the air gracefully before landing in front of him.

As soon as Alex was on her feet, the silver-haired Tsviet put an arm around her waist and propped his chin on her shoulder. There was no indication if it bothered her or not. She was too focused on the three Soldiers. "I am glad you came. Now that you are here, our family can be complete."

She then held out one hand as she said, "Come with me. Let us take this planet for ourselves and use it to rule the cosmos."

Sephiroth did not realize that his feet had propelled him forward until Angeal reached out and grabbed his arm to keep him from going further. Both Commanders already had their blades out, but Sephiroth ignored that and instead turned back to Alex and said, "Give her back."

The thing that lurked under Alex's skin smirked wider. The arm around her waist did not let her go far, but the single step put her close enough that she could reach out her hand and touch Sephiroth. He flinched at the cold fingers as they laid on his chest but did not move back as the thing said, "I know you want this body. I can be whatever you need; just come to me. We can rule for eternity together. With you by my side and our family with us, nothing could stand in our way."

Sephiroth nearly snarled as he took a sharp step back. The thing that wore the face of the only woman he had ever cared for was nearly enough to make him shiver in disgust. When he moved, Angeal called out. "Alex, I know you are stronger than this. Fight this. Let us help."

There was laughter from all three of the teens at his cry. The two that had been standing next to Alex when they came in jumped to the top of the tubes next to the tank and stood there smirking. The silver-haired boy pulled Alex back a few steps, but she didn't reprimand him. Instead, she patted his arm on her waist before she opened her mouth to speak again.

However, instead of more taunting, a scream came out. One hand flew to her head, and she might have fallen if Weiss had not been holding her. When she finally looked up again, her eyes were back to their usual blue, and she was grimacing as she gave her brother a desperate look. "Geal, h—help me. You have to—to destroy her."

She grunted in pain when Weiss's grip on her waist tightened, and he sneered at her. "Quit it. Mother will take care of us all. There is no point in fighting."

Both Angeal and Sephiroth took a step forward, but Genesis pushed in front of them with a snarl. "Let her go!"

However, they were all ignored. Alex stood straight, and Sephiroth nearly cursed when he saw her pupils were slit once more, and the smirk was firmly back in place as she said, "Come now. We all know you would not be able to destroy me anyway. You are all flesh of my flesh. We belong together; do not fight this."

For a brief moment, Sephiroth wondered why it was Alex this time and not one of them. He almost wished it had been him instead, as seeing her like this made the pain in his chest twist. However, before anything else could be said, Alex slumped once again.

There was pain in her clear blue eyes as she looked up. This time, she was looking straight at Sephiroth. She took a few gasping breaths as she tried to stand straight and pushed against the arm holding her. Not that it did any good. When that got her nowhere, she gritted her teeth and said, "S—sephiroth, you remember how we loved playing chess?"

The question threw him off balance for a moment, but he quickly recovered and nodded. The shadow of a smile flitted across her lips, but it was gone in an instant as she continued, "You know, you always did hate that gambit."

She grunted and grabbed her head. It was easy to see she was fighting the influence of the monster that held her, but she was somehow able to retain her own mind for the moment. She looked back up at Sephiroth with pleading eyes as she said, "You—you should learn to take it. Sometimes it's the only way."

Sephiroth's brow furrowed. He was unsure why she was bringing up chess in a moment like this. However, the meaning behind her words suddenly hit him, and he nearly stumbled. His eyes widened, and he made a sharp negating gesture with his left hand. "No! Absolutely not!"

Alex grimaced as a tear trickled down her cheek. He hated seeing her like this and felt useless in the face of her pain. It was not helped when she reached a shaking hand out toward him and said, "Please. Don't—I don't want this."

Sephiroth felt like his heart was shattering at the look she gave him. He knew what she was begging for, and the pain nearly took his breath away. She gave him one last pleading look before she slumped over. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she pushed herself upright, and he could see the being that held her was back in control.

His jaw clenched as she said. "I do not know what is going on in your head, but give up hope of things going back to how they were. This body is mine now. Join me or be destroyed. I do not wish for that to happen, but I will not allow you to walk away."

Sephiroth wanted nothing more than to jump across the room and tear that thing from the mako it slept in before he destroyed everything in sight. However, he had no doubt that if he tried, that thing would find a way to hurt them, with Alex being the first target. Instead, he squared his shoulders and stepped back to the doorway.

Angeal was giving him a worried look, and Genesis was glaring. At least Vincent and Nanaki seemed to understand something important was going on. They fell back around him, and the other two Soldiers quickly followed.

He went halfway down the steps and could still hear the taunting voice of the alien; he refused to think of it as Alex's. He ignored it as the others pulled close. Angeal gave him a look that bordered on a glare, but Sephiroth only shook his head and said, "Trust that I want what is best for her."

Angeal's brow furrowed, but he finally nodded. Genesis did not look convinced but thankfully held his tongue as Vincent said, "You have a plan."

It was not a question, but Sephiroth nodded anyway. "Yes, but I believe we will only have a window of a few seconds. Two of you must focus on keeping the girl and boy by the tank busy while the other two focus on destroying that thing in the mako. I will handle the one we met in Midgar."

The instructions were simple enough, even if carrying them out would not be. Still, Vincent and Nanaki both nodded in understanding and headed back up the stairs. Genesis gave him one last glare before he, too, left. Angeal grabbed his arm and said, "Sephiroth, please promise nothing will happen to her."

Sephiroth pulled his arm back and looked away. That was not a promise he could make. Instead, he said, "I will give you my word to carry out her wishes. All I want is her happiness."

Angeal clenched his jaw but finally nodded. Sephiroth knew the man was not convinced, but that did not change what needed to happen. He would gladly face the consequences when it was all over.

He paused for only a moment before he ascended the steps and walked back into the room. When he looked around, he saw the rest were positioned so that they could jump into place at the signal. His attention was drawn back to the center of the room when he heard a dark chuckle. Alex was smirking at him as she said, "You know it will never work. No matter what you have planned, there is no escape."

Sephiroth clenched his fist by his side before he allowed the Masamune to appear. His knuckles under his glove were white from the grip he had on the hilt. He ignored it all as he shouted, "Now!"

He didn't wait to see if the others had jumped; he trusted that they would do their part. Instead, he lunged forward and ignored the screams as his blade passed through Alex's chest and into the boy behind her. He yanked it out as quickly as it had gone in.

Time seemed to slow as the boy dropped to the ground as though he was a puppet with cut strings. Alex fell forward, and he caught her before she could hit the ground. She was screaming in anguish as she looked at him with hatred. Her slit pupils widened as she tried to grasp for his throat.

There was an explosion above them, but he ignored it as he pulled her closer. The thing still seemed to be fighting as one of her hands went to the wound in her chest to try and staunch the blood while the other clawed at any exposed skin. He paid no heed to the stinging as he watched her struggling slow.

The seconds stretched into eternity as he watched her eyes widen before they finally turned back to the familiar blue he was used to seeing. Tears filled her eyes as she stopped trying to harm him and instead reached for his face. He ignored the blood that was smeared all over as she grasped him and tried to speak. "Thank you."

Sephiroth felt as though he had been the one stabbed at those words. He could not manage to speak and instead nodded. Alex tried to smile, but it fell away as her breathing became labored. She was still holding on tightly as she called out. "Don't let me go."

Sephiroth somehow managed to speak through gritted teeth. "Never."

He could tell that she was attempting to smile—to put him at ease—but a storm was raging inside. He kept it locked in as she tried speaking once more. "I—I lo—"

Nothing else came. Her eyes widened, and fear filled them as her mouth opened to issue a cry that never came. Her body tensed before it fell limp in his grasp. Her hands slipped from his face, and he ignored the clang of metal as his sword fell from his grip. He caught her right hand before it fell and grasped it tightly. He watched for a moment longer, and when he knew she would not be able to answer again, he buried his face in the crook of her neck and fell to his knees. Even as the sounds of battle slowed, he refused to let go.

A/N: Please don't kill me. I know that was probably the worst cliffhanger I have ever made, but I do have a plan. This is a major turning point in the story and the part I have been aiming for since the beginning. We aren't finished yet, but this is the beginning of the end. I hope you are all with me as we go into the unknown that is coming. Thank you all so much for reading, and please let me know what you think about this, good or bad. Cheers until next time.