Sephiroth and Alex were too busy enjoying their brief interlude and mutual revelation to think about any of the other things that still needed to be dealt with, but that changed quickly when the door opened again a few minutes after Genesis left. Angeal's voice was tired but relieved when he said, "Alex! I so glad to see—"
Alex looked over as soon as she heard her brother's voice, but it wasn't until she caught sight of his widened eyes that she realized how uncomfortable it had to be for him to walk in and see her snuggling on Sephiroth's lap. For a split second, she thought about teasing him, but something in the depths of his eyes stopped her. Instead, she managed to stand and walked around the bed to give him a hug.
His arms around her were tight, and his voice was husky with emotion as he whispered, "Don't ever do something like that again. I thought I lost you."
The raw quality of his words had Alex near tears as she said, "I'm sorry. It was all I could think of. I didn't want any of you to have to deal with that too."
Angeal didn't speak right away. It was several seconds before he finally loosened his grasp enough to push her back. His frown was deep, but Alex could see the concern behind it as he said, "I would rather become a puppet myself than ever see you hurt like that again. Aren't we supposed to be in this together?"
Alex did feel a few tears escape then, but she managed a nod as she wiped them away. Angeal sighed as he pulled her into another hug and said, "At least it's over, and you are alive." He then pushed back and finally addressed Sephiroth for the first time. "I can't honestly say that I don't still harbor resentment for what you did, but I do understand it. If Alex can still get that close to you, then I won't try and stop her, but don't expect me to be happy about this."
Sephiroth was already standing, so he gave Angeal a curt nod as he said, "I do not blame you. All I can offer is my vow that Alex's life is my top priority no matter what happens. I will always do everything in my power to ensure that she survives."
Alex had to repress a shiver at the reminder of how close she had come to dying, but she managed to shake it off and looked at both men before she said, "I think it is time that we change this subject. We may have dealt with one problem, but we have plenty more."
Angeal sighed again as said, "Yes. Everyone else is downstairs if you feel up to it now. However, we can afford one more day if you need to rest."
Alex gave him a tight smile, but it didn't last long before she said, "There is no point in putting it off. Especially since the Tsviets are here. We are running out of time."
Both men frowned at her reminder but didn't argue. Instead, Angeal gestured toward a bag at the end of the bed. "Why don't you get changed, and you can meet us downstairs. We will be waiting in the same room we used the other day."
Everyone's expression had turned a bit grim, but Alex still managed a smile when Sephiroth brushed his fingers across the back of her hand as he passed. She saw a muted echo of the joy she still felt in his eyes before they left and shut the door behind them. Once they were gone, Alex sighed again before she turned to get dressed so they could figure out what needed to be done next.
It was not long before she joined the others in the sitting room downstairs. She wasn't sure if she was shocked or not to see Vincent waiting with the rest of them. The only indication that he noticed her was a slight incline of his head, but she wasn't given long to wonder about it before Nanaki and Bugenhagen were there to see how she was.
Thankfully, they all calmed soon enough. Once everyone was back in their seats, Genesis was the first to speak. "Due to Alexandra's great sacrifice, we have managed to eliminate one of the threats looming over our heads, but if the elder is to be believed, that does not mitigate the threat to our futures. We still have much to accomplish and little time. If those children could find us, then it is likely that others will not be far behind."
Alex frowned at his reminder of the Tsviets, but not all of it was because of the threat of Shinra finding them. "Have you spoken to them since the reactor? I am assuming you captured them, right?"
Sephiroth frowned, and Angeal looked away. Their reactions made a chill go down Alex's spine, but Bugenhagen still answered, "Yes, we have the boy and the girl downstairs. Though neither of them has said anything. They seem to not be quite there."
Alex frowned as she asked, "Two? I don't remember much after they got me to the reactor, but there were three in the group that took me. Did one escape?"
Once again, the three Soldiers looked uncomfortable, but Alex was shocked when Vincent was the one to answer, "There were three, but when Sephiroth killed the leader, the other boy somehow managed to merge with him. Only one body remains. I have never seen the like."
Alex grimaced as that explanation brought a distant memory to the surface. Though she was quick to shake it off. That was something that could wait as long as none of them had escaped. "I understand. What about the others? I vaguely remember another helicopter, so I assume there were more?"
Once again, it was Vincent that stepped forward. "Yes. When I stayed to investigate, I found more than a dozen men in Shinra uniforms, though they did not look familiar. All were killed."
Alex nodded once as she said, "They must have been Restrictors. I don't know how the Tsviets managed to kill their guards without the neurotransmitters killing them, but I have a feeling it has something to do with Jenova."
There was an almost imperceptible shift in the room when that name was said aloud. Even so, Alex did not miss it—not that she blamed any of them. She was sure she would have nightmares about that time for years to come, added to those she still had of Hojo and his psychopathic self. She had to repress another shiver before she could say, "At least that thing is gone. I don't feel her influence at all anymore."
She then caught Sephiroth's eye as she said, "I'm sure you've noticed it too."
Sephiroth inclined his head slightly as he said, "Yes. There is a silence now that I am unaccustomed to. The thought that she has been there my whole life is disturbing, but—"
Alex shook her head as she said, "Don't think about it too hard. All that line of thinking will do is cause you to focus on the darkness instead of looking for the light."
His lips tilted in the slightest of smiles, but Genesis was quick to step in. "We have all noticed a difference, as subtle as it may be, but that does not negate the rest."
Alex took a deep breath as she said, "No, it does not. As it stands, we hold the majority of the last of Jenova's cells. I doubt it is enough for that parasite to try anything like coming back, but it still means that we could be vulnerable to mutation. At least now we know that any experiments we do going forward will not be influenced by whatever hold she had on us."
Bugenhagen was quick to add, "Ho, ho, ho, this is true. We should be able to prove your hypothesis now."
Angeal did not look happy when he interrupted, "I doubt we have time to worry about that. Vincent destroyed one of the helicopters and disabled the tracking in the other, but I doubt that will give us much time to get away before someone comes looking."
Alex hated hearing it aloud, but they all knew her brother was right. No one objected. Instead, Vincent stood as he said, "What will you do now?"
Several people in the room looked away as none of them had an answer. Not that Alex had one either. Still, they had to figure out something. She had just opened her mouth to say as much when everyone's attention was drawn to a yell outside. None of them needed to ask to know what it was. All three of the Soldiers were immediately on their feet and headed toward the door. Angeal only paused long enough to give Nanaki and Vincent a look as he said, "Please keep her safe."
Alex jumped up to follow, but Vincent put an arm out to stop her as he said, "Let them handle this. We should get you away while we can."
Angeal knew it was only a matter of time until Shinra caught up to them, but that did not make it easier for him to deal with when he walked out of the mansion and faced the last person he wanted to see. Tseng was standing nearby along with two units of infantry. However, Angeal's eyes had not left Zack.
The young man that had once been his protégé was staring at him with hurt in his eyes as the boy yelled out. "Why, Geal? Why would you do something like this?"
Instead of answering, Angeal's grip grew tighter on the hilt of his sword as he held it up. Before he could find the words to try and answer, Tseng stepped forward and said, "I have been authorized to offer Commander Hewley, Commander Rhapsodos, and General Sephiroth amnesty from prosecution if they agree to return the subject they stole from Shinra and return. There will be an evaluation as to your positions once you are back, of course."
Angeal grimaced as his grip tightened. It hurt him more than he thought it would to see the way Zack was looking at him. He still had not found the words to answer when Sephiroth stepped forward with a glare that had most of the infantry backing up nervously. They looked like they were about to bolt when the general said, "Hojo will get Alex back only after I have drawn my last breath. I promised that she would never be subjected to his sick experiments again. If you want her, you will go through me."
His words caused an instant commotion, and more than one infantryman lowered his weapon. Zack's mouth opened and closed several times before he looked at Angeal with pleading eyes and said, "Alex is the specimen? That's not true, right?"
Before Angeal could find the words to answer, Tseng stepped forward again and said, "It doesn't matter. The fact remains that they have taken Shinra property. They will return, or we will be forced to take drastic measures."
Zack looked back and forth between Angeal and Tseng with wide eyes. It was easy to see how disturbed he was by the whole situation, but Genesis joined Sephiroth with his blade up and a sneer as he said, "You brought far too few if you expect to take us back by force. And for the record, even if you granted us amnesty, there is no one that could convince me to go back to that den of vipers."
Zack looked stricken at how things were turning out, but everyone else had their weapons raised to fight. Most of the infantrymen looked terrified, and their guns were shaking, but at a look from Tseng, they kept them lifted.
Several tense seconds passed before Sephiroth finally let the tip of his sword drop as he stepped in front of the others and said, "If I agree to return, would you be willing to let the others flee? I am sure that man is just as eager to have me as he would be to have Alex."
Tseng raised a brow as he said, "I am not authorized to make that exchange."
Sephiroth's brow drew further down, but he did not get a chance to answer before Alex pushed her way between him and Angeal as she said, "No! Even if he did agree, I would not allow you to sacrifice yourself for me. None of us are going back to that lab, even if—even if that means I have to do something I never wanted to do. I refuse to let him use you again! Next time it might be more than mixed boosters or another—no! You can't!"
Sephiroth frowned at her, and his voice dropped into a whisper so low that the enhanced people were the only ones to hear him as he said, "You have sacrificed enough. Never again will I stand idly by and allow it to happen. Not if there is something I can do."
Alex felt tears of impotent rage and frustration welling up. She shook her head, but she could already see his determination in his eyes. Instead of arguing, she grabbed the lapels of his duster as she pulled him closer. "Please. We can figure out another way. Even if they managed to get that monster to agree to this trade, you and I both know he wouldn't give up. He's the worst kind of liar."
Sephiroth wrapped his free arm around her as he looked silently into her eyes. It was several seconds before he leaned in and kissed her forehead. The actions caused her welling tears to finally slip down her cheeks as she shook her head. However, neither of them got to say anything before Vincent shocked them all by stepping into the middle of the group with no weapon as he said, "I believe we may be able to come to an understanding. Why don't we drop the weapons for now? Then we can talk."
Tseng gave him a blank look, but before he could say anything, Vincent pinned him with a cold stare and said, "It has been a long time since Veld and I worked together. I think that should change."
For a split second, confusion ran through Tseng's eyes, but Alex had already turned to the gunman as she asked, "Vincent, does this mean you are willing to help us? What changed your mind?"
Vincent looked away uncomfortably, but he still answered, "You have been unconscious for several days while you recovered. I have had the opportunity to do a little digging."
He cut off after that, but it was enough. Alex could well guess the rest and didn't want to push her luck. Finally, Zack unfroze and took a few shaky steps toward Angeal as he said, "I can't believe any of this is true. I don't understand, but I can't—I refuse to fight you."
Alex was glad to see her brother's shoulders relax the tiniest bit as he gave the younger man a strained smile. Things were clearly not all right between them all, but it was a good sign. As soon as Zack grinned and closed the distance to give Angeal a bear-hug, Sephiroth turned back to Tseng and said, "Will you agree to come in and speak with us? We will not hide anything. If you still feel you are obligated to take us in afterward, then we will deal with what comes."
No one moved for several seconds while Tseng seemed to deliberate. Finally, he turned to the infantrymen and barked out his orders. "Men, set up a guard around the perimeter and make sure no one leaves. Two of you scout up the mountain trail, and another two go through the village. Do not bother the locals unless there is resistance."
Alex frowned at the measures, but she didn't say anything. All of them knew his efforts would be pointless against the Soldiers anyway. Especially if Zack wasn't going to stand against the runaways. Instead, she allowed her brother and Sephiroth to block her from view again while Tseng and Zack followed them back into the mansion.
Once they were inside, Tseng stopped and looked around the foyer before he turned to Vincent and asked, "Are you Vincent Valentine?"
The older gunman paused for a moment before he finally gave Tseng a curt nod. However, he did not provide a verbal response before he walked back into the sitting room they had abandoned earlier. Both Nanaki and Bugenhagen were still there. The former was crouched protectively in front of his grandfather and did not move.
Vincent was the only one not to go farther than the doorway. When the rest of them noticed, they all turned to him with curiosity, but his eyes were still on Tseng as he said, "Before we begin—I have secured an untraceable line into Midgar. All I need is a number."
Apparently, the younger Turk immediately picked up on what Vincent was asking for as he said, "You expect me to put you in touch with the director?"
Vincent responded by taking a step back and gesturing toward the stairs. "The computers are this way."
For a moment, Alex was afraid Tseng would refuse, and the tense situation would spiral out of control again. It wouldn't shock her if it did since things had been tenuous since Tseng and the others had shown up. Thankfully, all he did was frown before he followed the gunman out.
Alex was not surprised when Angeal tried to keep her from following them, but she lowered her voice as she said, "We haven't had a lot of time to go over everything, but I know things they don't. None of you do. I have to be there when they talk."
Angeal frowned at her as he looked at Zack. She shook her head before he could argue. "It would be too much to take everyone. Stay here and catch Zack up with the important stuff. I know you missed him."
Her brother's frown deepened, and he took on his lecture look, so Alex was doubly grateful when Sephiroth stepped to her side and said, "Allow me to guard her. You have my word that no harm will touch her while I am by her side."
Alex was surprised that her brother looked so untrusting for several seconds, but he finally sighed before he frowned at the general. "If you aren't back up here in an hour, we are all coming down there whether there is room or not."
Instead of making lite of the possibility, Sephiroth gave her brother a curt nod before he took her arm gently and led her down into the basement. She sighed when she realized the scene with Jenova may have opened up a whole new set of problems that they simply didn't have time to deal with yet. At least he was willing to let her make her own choices.
All her worries were scattered when they walked into the lab, and Sephiroth took her to one of the back rooms filled with computers. The sight of the way they had all been rigged together and running several pieces of data at once would have been enough to catch her attention. However, it was Vincent's voice that had her eyes glued to the largest monitor and the face it revealed. She didn't recognize the man, but she didn't need to. Her fragmented memories provided her with a name even before Vincent said, "Hello, Veld. It's been a while."
A/N: Hello all! I know it's been some time for any updates, but especially this one. Don't worry, it isn't forgotten about. As you can see, there is very little time for them to relax before things are about to get hectic again. Although, things are just about to landslide, so I hope you are ready! Thanks for reading and cheers!