For Honor or Glory

Questions

Chapter 66 

The following morning, Alex led the three Soldiers to the ladder where they would need to ascend. Genesis was not the only one to frown at her when she said she had climbed up the day before. Angeal was the one to say something. "That was dangerous. Don't tell me you are planning to climb this every day. There is no way that can be good for you."

Alex gave her brother a chagrinned look. "I know, don't worry. Bugenhagen told me they would have a lift installed sometime today."

As if right on cue, a voice cut in from above them, "Ho, ho, ho, it looks as though you are early."

Bugenhagen floated down to join them as he gestured to two men that were still at the top of the ladder working on something. "They are almost complete. It is a simple solution, but it will be effective."

All four newcomers looked up to see the men running a rope through a pulley system. They then pressed a button, and the rope went up and then back down. Once they were assured it would work, they installed a small platform in the ropes and lowered it before they climbed down.

The taller of the two nodded at the elder as he said, "We should probably weight test it, but otherwise, it looks like it will work."

Before anything else could be said, Sephiroth stepped forward. "I believe if it would hold my weight, then it should be safe. Allow me."

Both men looked a little intimidated, but the one that had spoken gestured to the platform and said, "Go ahead. There are handholds, and the buttons are next to the right one."

The general stepped onto the platform. He was up and back down in less than a minute. When he stepped off, he gave the two men a satisfied nod. After that was concluded, Bugenhagen gestured for them all to follow him back up. "Don't worry, gentlemen, your part in this will not take long."

Thankfully, he was not wrong. With Alex's help, they gathered all the needed samples in less than an hour. Once that was done, Alex shooed the three men out and told them she would see them later. Her brother was the only one to stop. He pulled her to the side before he said, "Don't overdo it and don't worry about the rest of us. We'll figure out how to stay busy. Don't stress about this either. I have faith that you'll figure it out."

Alex took a deep breath before she smiled. "Thanks. I'll try to remember all that."

Angeal grinned at the sarcasm she tried to hide, but he was satisfied that she still meant it. He turned to follow the others out but paused once more. "Also, don't worry about Peter. I know he wants to help, but if it makes you feel better, we'll find him something else to do."

Alex couldn't hide her relief as she said, "Thanks, Geal. I know he helped us, but—"

Her brother put a hand on her arm in reassurance. Neither of them needed to say anything, so he squeezed gently before he waved, and the three Soldiers disappeared down the ladder.

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Over the next two weeks, Alex spent most of each day in the observatory. She refused to talk about any of it when she would come down at night. That made Angeal nervous since he was worried about how she was handling everything. However, the one time he did take her aside and ask, she told him she needed to try and push it aside at night, or she would never be able to sleep. He didn't like it, but he accepted it.

The Soldiers liked the situation even less when the villagers allowed her to take a room of her own so she would not have to share with four men. They had done it the whole time they traveled, but Alex wasn't going to complain. Not that she minded their company, but with everything, she was glad for the space.