For Honor or Glory

Long-Held Truth

Chapter 87 

There were several beats of eerie silence after that statement. However, that was broken when Angeal looked at her with concern. "I don't want to sound like I don't trust your memory, but perhaps you were injured while in the caves and were so out of it that you forgot how you got out? A head injury would certainly explain the strange thoughts as well."

Alex took a deep breath since she didn't blame her brother. It wasn't as though she hadn't denied the whole truth many times over, even if she had followed the path laid out for her. Instead of trying to beg him to reconsider, she gave him a haunted look as she said, "Geal, I wish that were the case. However, that was how I found out about the things done to us. Mom confirmed everything when I confronted her. This is why I took so long to try and find the proof I needed. I already knew the truth, but without any evidence, would you have believed me?"

Angeal sat back stiffly. She watched as several things flitted across his face. It hurt her to see how unsettled this whole thing was making her brother. Finally, he paused and gave her an uncertain look. "I still cannot wrap my head around everything, but what we saw downstairs was not normal. If I do believe you, that raises so many questions."

She leaned back and rubbed one of her temples as she closed her eyes. She didn't bother opening them as she said, "You have every reason to be upset that I didn't say anything as soon as I got to Midgar, but I didn't want to take any chances that things would blow up in my face and we would get nowhere. I'm sorry."

There were several more seconds of silence before her eyes snapped open when Angeal put his hand on her arm. "I can't—well, I don't know what to think. What exactly happened? What did you see?"

Alex could tell her brother was still unsure, and when she dared to take a look at Sephiroth, his eyes held just as much uncertainty. Still, if she was going to tell them, it would need to be all of it. She sighed as she looked at her hands in her lap and said, "When I woke up that day, I had so much in my head that hardly any of it made sense. Not only did Minerva show me things that were, but those things that might have been. I don't know why I was chosen and not one of you before you left."

She paused and looked over at her twin—the man that had been her rock and conscience from the first memories she had. She hated seeing the look of doubt in his eyes, but there was little she could do. She dashed away a tear of frustration and tried to hold his gaze as she said, "I have pushed this down so long that I barely remember more than bits and pieces of it all. There are times that it feels like it might have been a dream. However, I can't pretend it isn't the truth. Every time I see something important, I am given a painful reminder—like downstairs. Though that was something new. I think—"

She cut off and finally looked to where Vincent was standing. He was watching them all with hooded eyes. With most of his face covered, she couldn't tell what he was thinking, but at least he hadn't moved yet. She sighed when she turned back to her brother and said, "Believe me or not, it doesn't matter. The fact that we already know that we need to find a way to mitigate what we could become has already been established. It will not change just because you found out where I first got my information. Especially since I have found proof, and you have all seen for yourselves the conundrum we are in."

Angeal sighed and ran a hand down his face, but Vincent stood and spoke before her brother could find the words. "While your explanation does partially explain why I get the sensation Chaos knows you, it does not explain why you think I should have anything to do with this."

Sephiroth stood before the man was even finished speaking. His brow was drawn, but his voice was even as he said, "What exactly is Chaos?"

Alex stood to join them. She glanced at both men before she said, "I believe I can answer you both at once."

That seemed to have gotten their attention—especially Sephiroth. He took her hand gently and looked down with that furrow between his brows as he tried to articulate what he was thinking. "I do not fully grasp what is happening, and I will admit that it bothers me. However, I have told you before that I trust your guidance. That will not change because of this."

It looked like he wanted to say more but wasn't sure what to say. Alex squeezed his fingers as she said, "I can't tell you how much that means to me, and I promise we will still talk later. For now, why don't I try to answer your questions."

At his nod, Alex held his gaze and said, "First, it is important to know that you and I are not the only ones here that have been subjected to Hojo's sick whims."

That single statement made Vincent step forward. From what she could see, he was frowning. However, she continued before he could say anything. "Vincent Valentine was the Turk in charge of security here at the mansion during the Jenova Project S days. However, there was a confrontation, and Hojo shot him. After that, he—well, I'm sure none of us need to hear the rest, but the only reason he still lives is due to your mother's actions. Professor Crescent saved his life. Chaos is one of the things that came from all of that. It is one of the weapons created by the planet eons ago, but somehow, she was able to ingrain it into his body so he wouldn't die."

Sephiroth looked as though her explanation made more questions instead of answers. While he was trying to figure out what he wanted to say, Alex glanced over at Vincent. She was sure he would not be exactly happy about having all of that brought up. However, she was shocked when he looked at Sephiroth at said, "You are Lucrecia's son?"

Sephiroth's head snapped up, and his brow was furrowed as he stared at the other man. "So I have recently found. You knew her?"

Vincent looked away with a similar expression as he said, "Yes. We were—friends."

Alex could tell that not even Sephiroth bought that answer. However, before anything could be said, Genesis walked in. "I thought I heard voices in here. What is going on?" He then paused mid-step and looked at Vincent with narrowed eyes. "Who are you?"

Vincent immediately retreated into his shell as he stepped back and refused to answer. However, Genesis was not giving up. "You look incredibly familiar. Why are you here? Are you one of the townspeople?"

Sephiroth stepped forward to try and explain, but Alex barely heard what was being said. She was too focused on Vincent's face. Now that it had been mentioned, she couldn't help but notice how much the gunman looked nearly identical to Sephiroth when his hair had been black. The possibilities were already whirring in her mind.

However, her thoughts on what that might mean, especially given the visions she had recently seen, were all pushed back when Vincent finally focused on her with a frown and said, "I am unsure how you know all of that about me, but that aside, you still have not given any reason why I should listen further."

Alex saw both Sephiroth and Genesis frown at the gunman and felt her brother come up on her other side. However, she ignored them and squared her shoulders before she responded, "I had thought when I said our situation stems from Hojo and his machinations that you might have understood. Yes, our first priority is to find a solution to what has been done to us, but that is only the first step in a long road."

Vincent frowned at her response and did not answer right away. His delay allowed Angeal to step between them all. Ever the diplomat, he looked around at them all with a conciliatory gesture as he said, "I think this has been a long day for all of us, and we all have a lot to think about. Instead of trying to force the issue tonight, why don't we all get a little rest and pick this back up in the morning after we have had time to think it over."

Alex was glad for the suggestion because her brain felt like it was about to implode. However, she didn't think Vincent would go for it. They were still strangers, and she doubted he would walk away without answers.

Given that, she was shocked when he said, "I will agree for now. I will be back tomorrow, but I expect answers." He didn't wait for a response before he turned and walked out of the mansion.