Jordan: What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Kaitlin: You can't clap with one hand.

Jordan: Pessimist.

No. V

Skysplitter

Zexion stood still, deep in concentration. He had sensed something, he knew it. But he had to be sure…

Suddenly, and without warning, Lexaeus materialized right next to him. Zexion waited for him to extend a greeting, or say SOMETHING at least. There was only silence. After a few seconds, Zexion sighed, exasperated. "Don't I even warrant a hello, Lexaeus?"

As if on cue, Vexen warped into the room at that moment, looking like the very definition of irritated. "What is going on here, Zexion?" he demanded angerly, stomping forward. "I demand an explanation!"

Zexion raised an eyebrow. "Nice to see you too, Vexen," he said sarcastically. "It's such a shame…the Organization used to be the rope that bound us together…"
Vexen bristled with outrage. "You're only No. VI! How dare you—"

"Let it go, Vexen," Lexaeus said curtly. Vexen grimaced, but fell silent. Satisfied, Lexaeus turned to Zexion. "Zexion, tell us…what did you detect?"

"Visitors…I picked up two scents, in the castle's lowest basement. One of them was Maleficent—"

Vexen interrupted. "Don't be absurd. The witch is gone. She cannot return from the Realm of Darkness of her own volition!"
Zexion closed his eyes in annoyance. "If you'd let me finish…the scent belonged not to the real Maleficent, but to a very convincing double." He shook his head, saying, "But I truly cannot say much beyond that since the double is no more. Our other visitor saw to that."

Lexaeus, who had been otherwise silent until now, spoke up. "And who is it?"

"I do not know for sure," Zexion said slowly, "but the scent was very similar to that of the Superior."

"And yet, not exactly the same, was it?" Vexen said snidely. He placed a hand on his chin. "This truly peaks my curiosity…"

Zexion regarded him for a moment, then turned to Lexaeus. "Now…what to do?"

There was an awkward silence as Lexaeus thought of an answer, then, "We wait… see what develops."

"Pressing Zexion for answers would be a waste of time. I know that, but this dearth of information is hard to accept. What's happening on the upper levels? What ought we be doing down here? They hug their truths close and leave the rest of us to speculate. Zexion talks of the bond we share as an Organization, but how could such a thing exist? Still, he remains the only one I can trust."

As he finished reading the report, Kavma placed it on a stack of paper to his left. "Always the suspicious one, weren't you, Aeleus?"