For Honor or Glory

Aftermath

Chapter 103

Despite the lull created by the fleeing helicopter and the panic that seeing Hojo and Fuhito working together caused, the situation was still unresolved. The craft had barely disappeared behind a building before the remaining Ravens reconverged on Genesis and Angeal. Thankfully, Sephiroth was quick to jump down to assist. He paused for a half-second but continued at Alex's worried look.

Between the dwindling number of Ravens and Sephiroth's assistance, it was only a matter of a few minutes before the battle ended, and an eerie silence took its place. However, Alex quickly broke it as she jumped from where Sephiroth had left her. The action earned her a frown from both her brother and her boyfriend, but she was too focused on Angeal to care.

As soon as she reached her twin's side, she grabbed him into a quick hug before she stepped back and said, "Are you hurt?"

Worry was still evident in Angeal's eyes, but he gave her a wry smile as he answered, "That was supposed to be my question."

Alex chuckled weakly as her brother gently turned her head so he could see the side of her jaw. Between the frown growing on his face and the lancing pains his touch caused, Alex was sure she wasn't completely healed, but she was quick to reassure him. "It's probably not as bad as it looks. Sephiroth already healed me."

Unfortunately, her words seemed to have the opposite effect. Angeal looked like he had more to ask, but a new voice called out before the words left his mouth. Alex felt a twinge of guilt as they all turned to see Zack racing toward them. In all the fuss, she had forgotten that Zack and Tseng were with them. At least the young Soldier looked unhurt. Although his words came out so fast, they nearly ran together. "Tseng is with the people we evacuated. None of the civilians were injured. What about here? Are all the enemies dealt with?"

Zack's question had been aimed at Angeal, but Genesis was the one to step forward. His glare wasn't aimed at the Puppy, but it caused Zack to take a step back as Genesis said, "What you see here is the last of the forces sent against us. Though I doubt this will be the last we see of them—whatever they are."

Alex let out a troubled sigh as she supplied the answer to Genesis's questioning statement. "Ravens. They are called Ravens, and they are Fuhito's attempt to make Soldiers—or the equivalent of anyway."

Her statement earned her several questioning looks, more from Zack than the others, but even those that knew of her connection with the planet were caught off guard. Still, none of them were given a chance to ask anything before Vincent joined them. His frown was enough to make Alex's heart plummet before he even opened his mouth to say, "The boy managed to escape before I could finish him. When I returned to retrieve the girl, she was also gone."

Sephiroth's frown was pronounced as he added, "Yes, we saw him in the helicopter that left. While their escape is worrisome, it pales when compared to the fact that they fled with Hojo and that man from Cosmo Canyon—Fuhito."

By that point, the adrenaline had finally begun to fade from Alex's system. She hadn't even realized that she had started trembling with the aftereffects until her brother put his arm around her shoulder. All eyes turned to the two of them as he said, "Don't worry about them. We may not have expected this attack, but you have my word they won't get a chance like this again."

Alex loathed how useless she felt, but that didn't keep her from saying, "Geal, I know you will do what you can, and don't think I believe any of you would fail, but there is no telling what those two men might be capable of. They have both tried to kidnap me in the past, and one of them succeeded. The worst part is that I am pretty sure Hojo's end goal has something to do with all of us. None of us are safe—especially when those two madmen are working together."