Vagaries of Fate

Unexpected Revelation

A/N: So, this chapter reveals something that I have worked out. It is totally just my headcanon, but it makes sense. Please feel free to leave your input as well. I would love to know what you all think. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 10 

Chaos erupted once again, but Reeve was quickly able to bring it back under control. "Enough! We won't get anywhere this way." He turned to Clarissa with a slight frown. "I am glad that you are willing, but we cannot allow you to go right now. As much as I hate the idea of sending the message that we might be vulnerable currently, we need to let them know that you will both be unavailable for several weeks. That doesn't mean you will not go. If we are agreed that you will be going, then I will go ahead and send a reply stating that you will head to Wutai in three weeks. That should give Commander Rhapsodos ample time to finish his investigation, at least well enough to leave it in one of the Second's hands. The same would apply to the other Firsts as well, so at least one of them should be able to return before you have to leave."

Lazard still wore a grim look. "While that is a good plan, we are not all agreed that they should be sent."

Clarissa shook her head at his tone. "Thank you, Director, for sticking up for us both, but this will be best. I cannot claim to know Godo's motives, but I doubt he is asking to make examples of us. Despite the years of war, he is still an honorable warrior. There is something else behind this request, and I truly believe it will benefit us if we comply."

Rufus looked as if he had something else to add as well, but he was cut off by Reeve. "Great. I will put the message together and get it sent back to Wutai tomorrow. If there is nothing else, this meeting is adjourned."

Clarissa gave him a quick nod and moved to head back to her office. She was intercepted by Veld and Rufus. Veld was the one to speak first. "I hope you know what you're doing. I don't doubt your observations, but remember that it isn't just about you anymore."

She stopped him before he could say anything else. "I will not put any of us at risk unnecessarily. I doubt you plan on not having one of your men involved anyway, right?"

He laughed at her assumption. "Well, if there is an advantage to be had, why would I not go after it. Just try to come back in one piece." She smiled and gave him a nod before turning and leaving. She didn't provide Rufus a chance to corner her. She had enough to worry about now that she didn't want to add his condescension to her list. Despite being worried about what she would be facing in a few weeks, it didn't take her long to get swept up in her current duties once she was back in her office.

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Genesis and his team had already worked to clear out all the monsters in the facility he had been assigned to. That had taken several days, but he almost wished for more. He had gotten the news about his next assignment to Wutai, and while he was not happy about it, to say the least, that was currently not at the top of his list of things to be pissed about. They were systematically going through the data that was left behind and either retrieving it for further study back in Midgar or destroying it. Nothing would be left behind by the time they were through.

What had his emotions roiling was one of the things they had found. One of the Soldiers had contacted him with a bit of trepidation earlier in the day, as they had found something that involved him. He immediately went to the lab where they were and ordered the rest of the team out. If it was information that Hojo had, there was no telling what could be involved. Once he started digging, he was glad he was the only one in the room.

He read through every part of the data that was on the computers, and it made him want to be sick, but he finally had more answers than he expected, especially as not even Clarissa had been able to shed any light on who his birth parents might have been. The data looked to have originally been part of the experiments that were conducted before Gast left, so it was likely that Hollander had copies of most of it already, at least what was in this room. That thought only served to make him angrier. It took several moments before he could calm enough not to blow the whole room up.