Author's Note: Firstly, I want to thank Ordinn Beaucephalis for bringing a few things to my attention and waking me up out of my complacency. Unfortunately, I have reached that difficult period of writing a story when the initial passion has faded and the words don't come as easily as they used to. However, I i want to see this fic through to the end because it is one a sincerely have a vested interest in unlike other plot bunnies that hopped in and hopped away.
I hope a lot of unanswered questions will be answered in this chapter. I tried to add more details to bring clarification. I hope the scientific explanation in Viktor's scene isn't too boring. I must confess it was hell to write trying to somehow lend actual scientific credence to a very fictional concept so please bear with me on the entire thing.
I also tried to account for several other variables related to other characters and pretenses in the Fire Force world. if I missed anything or strayed away from canon too much (but let's be honest, it's too late for this one) or forgot this character or that one, I apologize. I did my best to include it all.
Reviews are important people. Good reviews provide a writer with inspiration. Ordinn proved even negative criticism can be delivered in a way that isn't offensive or hurtful to the author and is actually helpful. However, if you want to complain about this is so far out of canon or a certain character would not react this way or that way, please spare us both. I've said many times before I do not adhere to canon, but I do try to include as much as possible. Also, you don't know what the original author was thinking and, dare I say it, your interpretation may be different than mine because we all have different filters that we see and interpret the world through.
So...I did my best on editing. On with the story and please enjoy.
Viktor studied the results of Phoenix's latest blood test in the privacy of his basement lab. He rifled through papers to find the results of her other blood tests. The changes had been subtle, only tenths of a decimal in most of her hormone and chemical levels. There were also some substances present in her last test he had not yet identified.
The most shocking modifications were made to her DNA. Some strands had been reconstructed converting her into something entirely different from a 'normal' human. She had been transforming on a basic cellular level the whole time. After each overheating incident, her DNA had been altered, added to or reorganized.
He recognized some of these chains and structures from something else he had seen. Closing one eye, he bent to peek into the eyepiece of the microscope again. Her blood cells continued to divide at a faster than normal rate, many exploding and disintegrating, but not before there were two more to take its place. The cells were replicating at an accelerated to avoid being destroyed completely.
Then he remembered where he had seen those extra DNA strands, the unusual chemical components before. In the lab at Haijima he had ran experiments on Infernals, testing their ashes after incineration. He recalled comparing his findings to her mother's research.
"Holy, Sol!" Viktor gasped, jumping up from his chair to go to the locked filing cabinet where he kept her mother's research notebooks.
Phoenix's mother had discovered the Infernal Bugs carried genetic information to modify the DNA of their victims. Rather than changing the chromosomes, the new material got added to them which would made the body unstable and self-destruct.
The flames were akin to an overreaction of the immune system; the body trying to protect itself from a foreign invader like when a person runs a fever to get rid of a virus. A few unusual individuals tolerated the genetic changes, assimilating them into their DNA, while most did not and became Infernals.
Her mother had been experimenting with the Bugs, recreating them in the lab for the White Clads while acting as a researcher to unlock their secrets for Haijima Industries. She had began an experiment of her own with her personal objectives in mind. She knew the Knights of the Ashen Flame believed she carried their mythical Avenging Angel inside of her.
Could the change in Phoenix be some new type of Infernalization? Had her mother found a catalyst, a way to stabilize these components to keep the body from attacking and terminating itself in response to the foreign genetic code?
With the desire to protect her daughter in mind, she decided she would give them their angel because it was the best chance of saving her child's life. She thought if the Knights accepted Phoenix as their angel, they would not try to kill her - at first anyway.
The Knights of the Ashen Flame would sacrifice her eventually but at least not until she was strong enough to protect herself. Then her true power could be released, and their Avenging Angel would be a weapon who could be used against them in league with the Fire Soldiers to bring about the destruction of the Knights rather than the Second Cataclysm.
Viktor studied the notes and data of her last experiment, the incident in the lab that took her mother's life. The scientist he admired had indeed allowed that Infernal Bug to bite her. She had specially altered the bug to burrow into her, seeking out her child.
The scars on Phoenix's back were from the Infernal Bug scratching her to enter her body as she had believed. What she did not know was the Bug had actually gotten into her. Once inside of her, the bug went dormant waiting for the proper time to 'hatch' and release the new DNA.
Her bouts of overheating had allowed the genetic code to be released a little at the time, allowing her body to assimilate it without the side effect of spontaneous combustion. Her abilities further prevented her from being consumed by the flames or developing Tephrosis.
Her mother had been taking a huge chance, playing a dreadful and deadly game with her daughter's life. So many things could have gone wrong. The bug could have killed Phoenix instantly. At any point in time in her life, the bug could have 'awakened' early, destroying her.
The worst case scenario and the most tragic possibility would have been if her DNA had not been modified and assimilated the bug for her transformation when the time came. She most likely would have become a Demon Infernal considering her mother had access to The Evangelist and most likely used genetic material from her to create this single unique Infernal Bug.
Without getting up from his chair, Viktor rolled over to his computer and started feverishly typing in notes. He hypothesized the overheating episodes functioned like a fever, attempting to burn out the presumed infection which was the dormant Infernal Bug. Her body was attempting to release the core of the Infernal implanted inside of her. This theory was the easiest way for him to wrap his mind around what possibly happened to her.
To understand the concept of what occurred in the final step, when Shō stabbed her, Viktor theorized the sword pierced the bug. Destroying the outer shell of the bug relased the core, setting free the power of the Infernal DNA that had been inside of her the whole time.
"Holy Sol," he muttered, running his fingers through his hair and grasping handfuls. He pulled as if he meant rip the hair right out of his skull. "Phoenix you were never a failure. You were a stunning success. You were a specifically bioengineered Infernal, a hybrid who can shift between the states of being human or an Infernal, without being doomed to burn forever. Your mother was right. You were her greatest experiment ever."
All these years Phoenix blamed herself for her mother's death which could not be further from the truth. Her mother willingly sacrificed herself to save her child the only way she knew how. Using her scientific knowledge, her mother took a huge gamble to turn her daughter into a weapon who would not only be able to protect herself but sabotage the carefully laid plans centuries in the making of the Knights of the Ashen Flame who had corrupted the minds of thousands with their persuasive lies.
Phoenix had always been like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Several times her body had attempted to light the fuse to release her power. All it took was a stab from Shō Kusakabe's sword.
So what had been the final catalyst that kept her stable, the chemical component that prevented her from becoming a run of the mill Infernal? Then he remembered - the sword had Shinra's blood on it.
"That's it!" he exclaimed, jumping up from his chair.
He did a victory lap around the lab, whooping and hollering like a madman. Grabbing a stack of papers filled with his notes, he threw them into the air like confetti as he danced around.
"Woohoo! That's it! Shinra's blood acted as the stabilizing compound that kept her from transforming into a Demon Infernal! Love really does conquer all!"
Viktor ceased his victory dance. She most likely remembered everything - including his betrayal. Her attachments to Shinra should allow her to retain her memories, to prevent her mind from transfigured like her body - or worse yet, wiped clean.
He knew some Infernals remained not only sentient after being consumed by the flames but their minds remained intact as well. Phoenix and Shinra already shared a strong emotional and physical bond based on love, but they also connected through the Adolla Burst which had to be the most compelling evidence. Based on these factors, Viktor concluded her mind nor her memories had not been altered at all.
"Oh, shit," he mumbled, plopping down heavily into his chair.
Viktor rubbed his throat and gulped. Only yesterday, several days after her attempting to choke the life out of him, had he regained the ability to swallow properly and without discomfort. He had no doubt she would make good on the threat she had issued to him in the Nether. Not only had he heard her words loud and clear, her anger and intention were unmistakable.
"You son of a bitch!" her furiously screamed words resounded in his head. "Viktor Licht, I'm going to kill you!"
~\'/~
"Phoenix? Phoenix!" Shō hissed at her vehemently.
"Huh?" she mumbled, groggy and confused from her deep sleep. Exhaustion had gotten the best of her. When she finally fell asleep, she slept like a dead woman.
"They're coming. Listen to me carefully," he whispered, bending over her when she did not sit up. "I need you to pretend like you have lost your memories. It's important you act like you can't remember a thing, including who you are. I know it will be difficult for you but keep your mouth shut."
"What?" she snapped, popping up to a sitting position so fast she almost head butted him.
"For both our sake's, shut up and don't say a word. Act like you still can't talk," Shō ordered her. "I'll have to pretend like I haven't regained some of my memories. Look at me."
Phoenix set her bleary gaze on his face, her eyes attempting to focus on his. She gasped and flinched when he grabbed her chin, almost coming nose to nose with her to look into her eyes.
"It's imperative you trust me. No matter what I say or do, go with it. Don't get angry and for god's sake don't open that mouth of yours. Pretend like you know nothing and remember nothing. Got it?" he demanded for clarification.
"Aye, aye, Captain," she returned, saluting him.
"Ugh," he groaned, rolling his eyes and letting her go chin go to stand up straight. "That's exactly what I'm talking about."
Hopefully Haumea would not come around them. They would both be screwed if she did because she could read their thoughts and true intentions. Most often the woman chose to stay by herself to prevent the intrusive noise invading her head from the minds of others from being so loud.
Phoenix stayed still on the bed as Shō moved away to the other side of the open cell. Her eyes fixed onto the odd looking White Clad approaching. He had white hair in a bob style, overly large almond shaped eyes with extraordinarily weird triangular shaped gold irises, and a stiff narrow face with an excessively pointed chin and nose.
"Commander," the bizarre man greeted Shō. "Are you feeling all right? Have you come back to your senses? Haumea did give you quite a shock, didn't she? I was afraid she had done permanent damage to you."
The bizarre man chuckled as if he had told a joke that only amused himself.
"Of course I have come back to my senses, you idiot," Shō sniffed in his characteristic haughty manner. "Did you bring the woman some clothes? Her present state is obscene."
Phoenix did not take her eyes away from the weirdo as he slowly stalked toward her like a predator. She jumped and pressed her back into the wall when he reached inside his cloak. A coldness seeped through to her spine that she could not sure if was fear or the frigid water trickling down the stone wall penetrating the cloak.
Her eyes switched from his mask like face to his hands where he held a neatly folded pile of white cloth. Reluctant to reach for it, she gradually extended her shaking hands. Placing one hand on top and the other on bottom, she snatched the clothing from him. His lips separated and turned up at the corners to form a creepy smile made even more scary by the absence of emotion of any kind in his gleaming yellow eyes.
Glancing around, Phoenix searched for a suitable place to hide and change. There was no where. It was a wide open room with only the little beds in it. Her eyes eventually moved back to Yona's who continued to openly ogle her.
"Move away from the woman and turn around, Yona," Shō commanded him.
"She's so beautiful. A veritable work of art. I would like to see everything," he said, his eyes gliding over her as she stubbornly sat on the cot rolled into a little ball under the cloak. "I could resculpt any imperfections."
Phoenix wrenched away from him when his frigid fingers brushed across her cheek. His fingertips were so cold. It was like being touched by a dead man. Keeping her eyes downcast, she avoided making eye contact so he would not see the fury in her eyes. She would love to beat the hell out of him for being a pervert, but she decided she should act afraid.
"Yona," the little commander said with a warning tone in his voice as he raised his sword to the man's neck. "Let her be and turn around." He poked the tip of his katana into Yona's throat. "Now."
"Awww," he whined, stepping back several paces and turning his back to her.
Shō stood behind Yona to watch him.
Phoenix stood up and walked to a far corner of the cave like room. The stones under her feet were like misshapen pieces of ice with sharp uneven edges. She would have expected it to be hot down here. While the rest of the world was burning up and perishing in flames, it was freezing cold down here. How ironic.
She slowly removed the cloak, keeping her eyes on Yona in case he decided to turn around to sneak a peek. Despite his interest being more aesthetic than sexual, she still found him to be exceedingly freaky and downright scary.
Phoenix unfolded the clothing he had brought to her. It looked like nothing more than four strips of cloth held together with one in in the middle. The halter dress tied around her neck and plunged to her waist while leaving her back completely exposed. Two wide lengths of the flimsy white fabric attached to the band of fabric at the waist of the dress, one in front and one in back. When she walked, an entire bare leg showed with each step.
Well, isn't this just the typical outfit for a woman being held captive, she thought, grabbing the cloak and wrapping it back around her body. Oddly enough, she almost felt more exposed wearing this stupid dress than when she had been completely naked.
Staying in character as mute and hopelessly confused, Phoenix tapped Shō on the shoulder. She shrugged, lifting her hands, and shaking her head as if asking him, "What comes next?"
"We should go," Yona announced without turning to look at her.
Phoenix exhaled an audible sigh of relief. Looking at that man's face unnerved her in a way that made her physically uncomfortable. She felt Shō's fingers around her wrist before he tugged on her arm.
"The Evangelist is waiting to see you," Shō informed her.
Her mouth dropped open, and he shook his head. She quickly closed it again, snapping her teeth together. He let go of her wrist and took her by the hand instead, squeezing gently as if to reassure her everything would okay - somehow.
Yona led them down a tunnel. Shō walked in front of her placing himself between her and the creepy man. Further down the corridor, a female White Clad joined them. Phoenix recognized her as the one who was shooting arrows of fire at Shinra in Asakusa.
"Commander," the woman greeted him with a bow of her head.
"Arrow," Shō returned formally.
Well, her name made total sense.
A light appeared at the end of the tunnel but rather than giving Phoenix a sense of hope, it filled her with a sense of impending doom. As the light grew brighter, penetrating the darkness of the hallway, the more difficult it became for her to breathe. By the time they reached the exit that opened into a bigger room, she found herself wheezing for air.
This room was like the one where Shō and Shinra had battled each other. Black and white tiles in irregular patterns covered the floor. The floor to ceiling columns here were not as wide, a little more slender and delicate with fancy scrolls at the top.
Shō let go of her hand as they approached the raised platform that looked like a massive square of pure marble. Backing away, all the way to where they entered, he left her alone to stand by herself. Yona and Arrow stood on either side of him, all three of them blocking the one way in or out of the room.
Stained glass windows surrounded the area depicting lovely pastoral scenes of blue skies, green grass, and animals galore - most of which had gone extinct due to the Great Cataclysm.
The windows reminded Phoenix of the ones at the Company One Fire Cathedral. She wondered what her Father must be thinking and feeling right now. This is the very reason he sent her away - so the Knights of the Ashen Flame would never have possession of her. All of her mother's sacrifices, and his, had been for nothing because she was a rebellious little brat.
I miss home, Phoenix thought. She did not mean her Aunt and Uncle's farm or the Company One Fire Cathedral. She had finally made a real home for herself at Company Eight. Although the building was a little old and broken down, it was her home and all the members of the company had become her family.
Captain Ōbi was like an older brother - goofy, joking around and playing practical jokes, but he could stern and parental when she got out of line. Lieutenant Hinawa was like the quiet older brother who was there to listen or give advice, especially when it came to cooking.
Maki is like one of the ganache filled dark chocolates she loves so much - tough and hard shell on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside. A hopeless romantic, Maki is a real sucker for the mushy stuff. Iris, empathetic and thoughtful, she could sometimes understand what a person if feeling before they did. She was always there with a smile and a cup of tea, or a hug if needed. Even Tamaki, the irritating lucky lecher, had grown on her - like a moss, but she had grown on her.
She did not have the chance to form a close bond, only a tentative friendship, with Vulcan. He did know he is a genius inventor, creating some amazing gadgets to strengthen the already formidable skills of the members of Company Eight. Like her, he had a quick wit and sharp tongue sometimes stepping over the line to be just plain potty mouthed. He had a big heart because he loved Lisa sincerely and without wavering even after her betrayal.
Phoenix could not be so forgiving with Viktor. Although his plans for her to be taken to Haijima Labs had been hijacked by the White Clads, she could not overlook his deceit. Strangely enough, she would have been afforded a degree of safety being a lab rat for him at Haijima Industries. Despite all of that, she still intended to throttle the life out of the traitor with her bare hands.
Phoenix knew Shinra would have the same kind of faith in her Vulcan had in Lisa. He would continue to love her despite their separation and no matter what transpires here in the Nether. She still had no idea what was going to happen here or what she would become capable of now that she had fallen into the hands of the people she feared most - the people she blamed for her mother's death. It was never her fault.
Tears burned that backs of her eyeballs so she blinked rapidly to hold them back while swallowing convulsively to rid herself of the wad of sorrow and remorse in her throat.
"Come forward, my child. Let me see you."
The resonating yet soft and eerily ethereal voice of The Evangelist startled her out of her wistful reverie. When she did not move, Yona and the woman named, appropriately enough, Arrow, seized her by the arms and pushed her forward to be closer to the platform. Once she was placed a few feet in front of the being, they swiftly retreated, their eyes on the floor the entire time.
The Evangelist, all nine or ten feet of her, stood in the middle of the pompous little stage. A large ring representing the sun with a three pronged star of gold bars akin to it's rays floated behind her imposing figure. Her white robes covered her from head to toe, only revealing her nose, mouth, and chin on her face.
There were two protrusions under the hood, one on each side at the top of her head, distinctly resembling horns. A slow smile stretched her mouth as she looked at her Avenging Angel. The sun symbol behind her began to grow brighter, emitting a dazzling radiance.
Casting a backwards glimpse over her shoulder, Phoenix saw the other three had dropped to one knee, their heads bowed in what could be viewed as a show of reverence but also served to keep their eyes hidden and protected from the visage of their god.
A terrible fear clamped down on Phoenix, holding her in it's relentless maw. The terror freezing her blood slowed her heart inside of her chest as if it had grown too scared to beat any longer.
Although her legs were already shaky and unstable, a pressure like a giant invisible hand pushed down her to force her down to her knees. To further her pretense of being a loyal servant, she placed her palms flat on the floor and leaned forward to place her forehead on her hands to kowtow, showing complete subservience to The Evangelist.
"Welcome home, my Angel."
NO! This isn't my home!, her brain screamed but her mouth could not form the words. Phoenix no longer had to pretend to be incapable of speech.
"Your mother served me well," the mysterious woman said. "Too bad her downfall was that man. She was meant to be something better. She should have been something truly wonderful...like you."
Phoenix's belly somersaulted making her feel queasy. She felt sick hearing this creature speaking about her mother -and her father for that matter - with such a derisive and bitter tone.
"She created a miracle. The bridge between humans and Infernals. The one who will be the spark of the inferno that will cleanse this world once again."
Phoenix smiled. The dreadful terror inside of her began to melt away. Everything she feared had come to pass with one important exception. She had not lost her memories or her soul or anything that made her essentially who she is.
The transfiguration only changed her physical appearance without turning her into a brainless puppet, subject to The Evangelist's orders, and powerless to defy her will. She was not bent on bringing about the Second Cataclysm like The Evangelist and her followers. Neither had her mother.
As Shinra had said, Phoenix was definitely still herself on the inside. She would start a fire alright but a metaphorical fire that would bring about the destruction of the Knights of the Ashen Flame, and eventually their god, The Evangelist. All she needed was a lot of help from her family and friends and all of the Fire Soldiers to fan those flames and burn them all to the ground..
First, she needed to get the hell out of here.
"Commander," The Evangelist called. "Come forward."
"Yes, ma'am," Shō replied with dullness of a thoughtless servant.
Phoenix never heard him move behind her, but suddenly she could feel him standing beside her. Turning her head slightly without lifting her forehead from her hands, she could see his boots. His knee brushed her shoulder as he knelt down on one knee to assume his position of veritable worship. Tilting her chin downward and up, craning her neck to see his face, she saw that his head was bowed but his eyes were open looking at her.
"I am putting her in your capable hands. It is your duty to take care of her until the appointed time has come," she orded him.
Appointed time? Appointed time for what?, Phoenix wanted to ask, but pressed her lips into a thin line to hold her tongue.
"Yes, ma'am," he dutifully responded, shifting his eyes away from Phoenix's as if he could read the question in them.
Relief flooded her, actually causing her to feel a little dizzy. At least she would be able to stay close to Shō. She feared she would be tied up again in those torturous ropes that inflicted so much agonizing pain.
"Yona, Arrow, restrain her," The Evangelist ordered them. She spoke next to Phoenix, "This is for your protection...and ours. I apologize, my dear, but it is a necessity since you do not yet understand what you are capable of yet."
Phoenix believed The Evangelist to be giving her way too much credit. She heard the clinking of chains as they approached from behind her. Shit! Escape was looking pretty much impossible at this point. Of course, she was only fooling herself to think she ever had much hope of leaving here on her own anyway.
~\'/~
Arthur stood at the entrance of the kitchen. His eyes moved slowly around the entire room, lingering on the stove before resting on the coffee pot. He walked over to the plain and simple machine that had been her favorite thing in the world. Although empty, he reached for the coffee pot wrapping his fingers securely around the handle.
His Queen had never been hard to please. It did not take a lot to make her happy. She loved coffee and yoga and sunsets - and Shinra.
"I'm so sorry, my Queen. I failed you," he murmured, letting go of the glass pot before he smashed it on the floor in frustration. "I miss you."
"I miss her too," Maki said from the doorway, making him flinch and whirl around to face her. She gave him a commiserating smile of sadness.
Athur glimpsed back at the coffee pot over his shoulder.
"I keep expecting her to be here every morning...to be standing right here like nothing happened...waiting for the coffee to brew. And she's just...not."
"I know." Maki sympathizes. "I keep wanting to go to her room to ask her if she wants to go to our favorite bakery. She always loved the creme horns there."
"Yeah." Arthur returns.
"Hey, why don't we go together? We can eat a creme horn for her, Arthur," Maki suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea to me. Let's get Iris and Tamaki. We should all go."
~\'/~
Karim Flam raised his fist to knock on his Captain's office door. He wanted to know why the man was not doing something to save Phoenix. How can he just sit idly by while his daughter is in the hands of the White Clads?
Burns should at least send a search party into the Nether if he did not want to return there himself. As a Lieutenant, Karim would happily head up a group to go in and take on the White Clads in order to get her back.
Before he could knock, the door opened. Captain Burns gave him a withering glance with his single flashing green eye. Although the man had done nothing in an effort to recover his daughter, he still looked mad as hell.
"What do you want, Flam?" Burns demanded gruffly.
Emboldened by his own desire to save Phoenix, or perhaps made stupid and desperate by his fear of what might be happening to her in the Nether, Karim blurted, "Sir, why aren't you doing something to rescue your daughter?"
For only the second time in his service to Captain Burns did he see the unflappable man's stony façade crack. Both times had been when his daughter Phoenix found herself in a world of trouble he could not save her from. Just like when she went ballistic and almost went Infernal on the training grounds, parental panic kicked in turning the typically unphased Captain into an emotional father in a dire quandary.
Of course Leonard Burns wanted to save his daughter! What the hell is this man thinking!? He wanted to run headlong into the Nether and burn the damn place and everyone in it to a crisp. But Flam had no idea what the Nether is like; it is an entire world within a world and full of explainable things he has never seen before.
The Evangelist, nor her devout followers, are to be taken lightly and should definitely not be underestimated. Those things could get a person killed.
He sighed sadly, remembering his lost love, Phoenix's mother. She had underestimated their determination to see their goals through at any cost until it was too late. In her frantic desire to free herself and their child from the Knights, tempered with a little of her arrogance as a scientist as well, she thought she could go against them and beat them. In the end, she had to commit one last desperate act to save their daughter.
The face of the anxious father hardened back into an unemotional brick wall. A flinty green eye sharpened by anger fixed itself onto the brash Lieutenant's face. Before he spoke, Leonard Burns cleared his throat to rid himself of the last remnants of the strong emotions that had been gagging him.
"I'm going to the hospital to speak to Shinra Kusakabe," he stated flatly before walking away.
"But Sir!" Karim exclaimed, running after the big man moving at an incredible rate of speed.
"Flam," the man muttered, whirling around to face him.
Karim skidded to a stop before he bumped into his massive Captain.
"Stand down or I will be forced to reprimand you for insubordination. In case you have forgotten, I am the Captain here."
"No, Sir, I haven't. I mean no disrespect, but - "
Burns lifted his finger to make him cease speaking. He wagged that finger accusingly in Karim's face as if scolding an impertinent child.
"That right there is another blatant show of insubordination. I suggest you cease and desist at once," he warned his subordinate in a threatening tone.
"I apologize, Sir," Karim said, saluting him. "I honestly meant no disrespect. She's your daughter, and I can't imagine how you feel. But Phoenix is my friend and - "
Karim flinched when the man's big hand came down heavily onto his shoulder. He relaxed a little when he gave it a reassuring pat then lifted away.
"I know. We both want to rush in and save her but that would be incredibly stupid. You have to think like a Fire Soldier and not as her friend to save her. If we get hurt or killed, what good would that do her? Besides, they won't kill her because she is an icon to them who represents the beginning of the Second Cataclysm."
They won't kill her yet anyway, Burns thought without speaking the words.
"Now, I should be going." He rotated on his heel away from his Lieutenant. "There is a very important conversation I need to have with Shinra Kusakabe," he said without offering further explanation.
"Because he's her boyfriend? He's in no shape for a rescue mission, Sir!" Karim brazenly ventured his opinion based on wrong assumptions.
Oh, Karim, you just don't understand, Leonard Burns thought, slamming the door behind him. The glass shivered and clinked but did not break. Sometimes by confronting our past, learning from it, embracing our mistakes...forgiving ourselves and others for their failures - for being human...only then can we move on to our future and save the ones we love.