Chapter 11: Second Exodus

Willy rushed through her report of the incident at Mindy’s Café. She didn’t want her superiors to suspect anything, but in the same she also didn’t want to spend too much time away from Gavin. The General was at first impatient with the failure of his Turks to complete the assignment; when Raile’s remains were discovered, his temper quickly switched targets. He ordered a city-wide search by all members of SOLDIER to look for Gavin Frekes. Willy had her shoulder and wrist examined, and then asked to be put on leave. General Sines reluctantly granted her request.

When she returned to her apartment Tyser was still out, and Gavin was laid on the couch with Korben watching over him. The SOLDIER’s eyes were still open. "Is he okay?" was her first question.

Korben glanced up. "Doing better. But he’s a bit dizzy, so I had him stay down."

"Dizzy? But how…?" She was going to question his reason for thinking so of an unconscious man, when she saw that Gavin was watching her. Their eyes met and mingled for some time, too afraid to move or speak. His face reflected a look of pain deeper than any she could remember. "Gavin," she whispered, gulping loudly, "I…are you okay now?"

"Willy…." Gavin bit his lip, unable to say the words. Finally looked away out of shame. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice raw and somewhat choked. "Oh God, Willy, I…." He shook his head, as if any apology he were to say would not be enough. "I’m so sorry. I can’t begin…."

Willy took a deep breath, calling upon her bravery to guide her closer. She knelt beside the low couch. "I know, Gavin. I know that wasn’t really you."

He closed his eyes remorsefully. "The most frightening thing was, some part of it was me." His words cause her heart to skip a beat. "I could see what was happening…I knew what I was doing, but…I couldn’t…." His breath emptied out in a long, frustrated and weary sigh. "I can’t apologize. It’s not good enough, after what I did to you, and…." He trailed off.

"Gavin, stop. She touched his face, recalling the last time she’d been with him a year ago. His skin was clammy beneath her fingers. "It’s over now, so—"

"It’s not over," Korben interrupted at last. "Not if I’m right. Gavin, tell her what you told me."

The SOLDIER licked his lips. "When I was in Junon with Kem, we met someone from the science department. Apparently Professor Gast is about to make a breakthrough, and his competition is panicking." He hesitated guiltily. "Kem and I wouldn’t have made it to First Class. We weren’t good enough. But Dr. Alkens—the scientist—offered to treat us experimentally. To make us stronger."

Willy sighed. "You didn’t have to do that."

"I know. But…." Gavin growled at himself in disgust. "I was an ass. I wanted to be stronger, but I guess I wasn’t strong enough. God, the things I did…."

She caressed his cheek in comfort as Korben took over the explanation. "The scientist claimed he’d inject them with Cetra material, but he didn’t. I don’t know if he lied or was simply mistaken. I finally realized what Chaos means: it’s from a Cetra legend."

"A legend?" Willy repeated curiously.

He nodded. "Centuries ago the Cetra were nearly wiped out by a powerful psychic being. When I tried to help Gavin, I understood." He frowned as he considered the best way to explain. "It’s kind of like one mind that’s its own entity. The cells of its body are able to become dormant, then reawaken whenever they contact something living. And the mind enters the body of its host."

"I’m lost," she confessed.

"It’s mind—rather, its soul—is immortal. If its DNA enters an animal, part of the soul enters that animal."

"But…." She looked to Gavin, and he nodded grimly. "This ‘being’s’ soul is in him?"

Korben’s expression was similar to Gavin’s. "I was able to seal it, but it’s still there, and it won’t stay caged. I don’t think I can get rid of it by myself," he added quietly.

"Korben, can I talk to Gavin alone for a while?"

"Sure."

Gavin tried not to look at Willy once they were alone. His face was full of shame and self-directed disgust, so much so that he couldn’t bare to see her. They stayed together, silently letting the minutes slip away, nether knowing where to begin. Neither knowing where their redemption could come from. At last he broke the silence.

"I meant part of what I said before," he told her. His words were tentative, each carefully planned in his mind. "I…I loved you, Willow. Since the beginning. I wanted you to…." He sighed, and closed his eyes. "I wanted to ask you to come with me, but I knew you’d think it was a joke. Everything I do is a joke to you—to all of you. You’re the only reason I ever got into SOLDIER. You’ve never let me forget that.

"At first I thought that you acted like that towards me because that was how you were. I could have accepted that." He licked his lips. "But when you’re with them, you’re serious. You treat them better than family, better than me. You’ve never been serious with me."

Willy bit her lips together, mimicking the feeling in her gut. "I’m sorry," she managed to weakly reply. How could she say more? She realized now how cruel she must have been, treating his most precious feelings as part of her flirtatious games. That had always been her way: "Don’t let them too close or you get hurt" was the lesson she’d learned too may times before. She trusted Vincent with her insecurities because he understood, and the others with her life because they were her friends. But with Gavin things were different.  Because she loved Gavin.

"Gavin, I forgive you," Willy said, and his gaze met hers with trepidation. She rewarded his courage with a soft, serious smile. "I’m so sorry about everything, but we’re going to take care of you, so that this doesn’t happen again. I don’t blame you at all."

"Willy, you don’t want me anymore."

"I think that’s up for me to decide." Usually she chose humor for this kind of situation—now she left it out. "Besides, you need us. Now, is there anything you can tell me that will help this make more sense?"

Gavin sighed deeply, searching his memory. "It’s been going on for so long, it’s hard to think."

"How long?" she asked.

"Well…we were treated in March."

Willy frowned, as if this fact held some significance. March…what had Vincent been doing then? Five months ago…Lucretia had been in her third month. But what did that have to do with anything? She was about to scold herself for wasteful thinking when she realized the significance.

She quickly ran to the phone.

"Mr. Valentine, there’s a call for you."

Vincent sighed and retrieved the phone from the young lab assistant. He already knew it was Willy—she was the only person who ever called him. It would be good to hear her voice again. He lifted the receiver to his ear. "Hello, Willy."

"Vincent, are you alone?" came Willy’s nearly frantic voice. "We need to talk."

He frowned at her anxiety. Rarely did he hear Willy without a note of humor. "What’s wrong?"

"Please, just…can you call me back on your own phone? It’s important and it needs to be private."

"Alright. I’ll call back." He hung up and thanked the technician, then left to go to his room on the second floor. Though he had no idea what his friend had in mind, he clearly recognized her distress. He took a seat on his bed and dialed her number. "It’s me."

"Something’s happened," Willy began immediately. "Something awful, Vincent, and I need to know: when did Gast begin his experiment?"

"What? You know I’m not—"

"Please, just tell me."

Vincent’s ill ease increased—he didn’t like the way their conversation had begun. They hadn’t spoken in weeks—she didn’t even have time for "hello"? She always greeted him at length before getting to the point. For the sake of her impatience, however, he didn’t question and thought back. Lucretia was now eight months pregnant, and had been in her third month when the treatments began. He frowned deeply with the memory. "Five months ago," he replied. "In March."

"Shit. Thought so."

"Why does it matter? Willy—"

"They injected the kid with that stuff, didn’t they?" she persisted, her speech speeding up as it did when she was nervous. "The stuff you said was Cetra—the being, Chaos, whatever Korben said it was. They put it in the kid to give him power, you said. In March."

Vincent struggled to keep up with her rapid, broken sentences. "What’s going on? You’re right, but…."

"Something happened. Do you know a Dr. Alkens?"

He wanted to insist that she slow down and explain everything, but then decided to go along. She’d end up telling him; he could be patient, though he did have an unpleasant feeling. "Only by name. He’s a scientist."

Willy sighed on the other end. "Gavin came back a while ago." Her tone had sobered considerably. "He and Kem were given what they were told was Cetra—an injection to give them power. But it’s not Cetra—it’s something evil. It’s an awful, terrible being, and I think they put it in Lucretia’s kid."

The background Vincent could hear Korben saying, "Ask what they call the material they used."

"It’s called Jenova," the Senior Turk replied.

"Did you hear that, Korben?" Willy asked, her voice softer, as she was turned away from the phone. "It’s called Jenova. What’s the matter? Do you know it?"

Vincent climbed to his feet, beginning to grow annoyed. "Will you please explain what’s going on? Someone?"

There was a pause. "Jenova isn’t a Cetra," Willy said at last. "Don’t ask how I know—that’s not important now. All you need to know is that Jenova is evil—you and Lucretia could be in danger, right now."

"Evil?" What is going on? She’s being foolish—it’s not like her. "Willy, the child isn’t even born yet. How dangerous can it be?"

"Raile is dead." Her sudden declaration returned Vincent to his seat on the bed. "Gavin killed him—Oh God, it was awful. The power of Jenova…it’s terrible. You have to believe me."

But Vincent could barely hear her now. His mind was in shock at the unexpected news, and he only heard himself ask, "How did he die?"

This question proved to be more difficult than he’d anticipated. "He was destroyed. There’s no other way to describe it. It only took a moment, but there was blood everywhere. And Kem…he was shot in the head—it was a good shot—and he was still alive and moving. His skull was trashed and he still looked up at me." She stopped again, allowing the startling news to penetrate her friend’s disbelief. "So, do you see? Jenova is evil—it’s the Chaos card, remember? And you pulled it, too. You’re in danger."

He didn’t question her sudden belief in Korben’s fortunes. He tried to imagine what she meant by destroyed—the vision came to him clearly, and thinking of his leader’s fate was too painful to continue. Instead his mind leapt to a more potent concern: Lucretia.

"Willy." Vincent’s voice dropped, as if paranoid of being overheard. "I’ve planned to take Lucretia out of Shinra as soon as the baby is born. She’s not well, and I can’t allow her child—whatever they’ve done to it—to become a mere experimental subject. I’m taking them away."

"Take me with you," Willy responded immediately. "Gavin can’t stay here anymore—they’ve already got SOLDIER out looking for him. They’ll kill him, and I can’t let that happen." Her words were followed by distant objections. "But we can’t wait. We have to leave now. Let’s go together."

"But…are you willing to give it up? Being a Turk…."

"Shinra did this to Gavin, and Shinra ordered his death because of it. I can’t stay with them anymore. If they find Gavin here, I’ll be killed anyway, so I’m not losing anything."

Vincent nodded thoughtfully, then realized that she couldn’t see him. "Alright. We’ll go away together. But taking Lucretia out of here won’t be easy; you’ll have to come pick us up, and we’ll go south. How soon?"

She took an authoritative tone as a plan began to form. "I can schedule a flight as soon as possible, but it’ll take at a day to get there. Shinra won’t suspect; I’m due for vacation, and the Turks are on leave since…Raile’s death."

"Yes." He allowed a moment of respectful silence, wondering about the man’s family whom he’d been so devoted to. "I’ll be waiting."

"We’ll be there as soon as we can. Hold tight."

"Willy. Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" he asked, one more time.

Willy’s answer was confident and sure. "Yes. I can’t stay here, now knowing if you’re okay, or if SOLDIER is going to break my door down. I need to know that Gavin will be safe."

"Alright." Vincent took a deep breath, in that simple action confirming his determination. "I’ll see you tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow evening." And she hung up.

Tyser returned later that day, having spent much of the morning with Raile’s wife and two young sons. No consolation of his was enough. Even though Lila knew Raile was a Turk, knowing all the risks, her despair had left her paralyzed for hours. But then, the most difficult task had been explaining why she could not see view her husband’s remains.

Willy had already packed most of her things, and had turned the apartment upside-down gathering all the money she had; she kept most of it at home, as she didn’t trust the Shinra banks. Unfortunately Gavin’s savings had gone to Shinra as soon as he was announced a company traitor, and they lost a considerable amount of money.

Tyser argued with them as they prepared, perhaps more seriously than even in his seven year Turk experience, but Willy would not be swayed. He was even more stunned when Korben announced that he was going, too.

"I have to," Korben reasoned calmly. "I may not be the planet’s most dedicated protector, but this creature has been driving me crazy ever since it woke up five months ago. I can’t ignore the baby—I have to find a way to seal it."

"So you’re abandoning the Turks?" Tyser asked incredulously. "Your home, your job, your friends?"

"I guess so." He shrugged, as if it didn’t really matter. "I never liked Midgar, and Shinra’s not much to miss."

The older man stared at him; there was no real anger in his face—only exasperation. "So you’re bailing on me?" He looked to Willy for help. "Both of you? I can’t keep up the Turks on my own!"

"So they’ll hire you a newbie."

Tyser began to speak, then stopped himself before a word could come out. He turned his full gaze on their woman member. "Queenie, you can’t be serious."

Willy bit her lip. In the beginning she’d been able to base her decision on rationality, but as she and Korben readied for departure she couldn’t help the feeling that she was leaving her life behind. Midgar hadn't always been the most pleasant or easy place to live, but she’d been there her entire life. She knew the slums as well as she knew the apartment they shared, and the thought of journeying into something unknown truthfully frightened her. But more than that was the terrible apprehension she had for Gavin and Vincent.

"Tyser, I’m sorry," she told her quietly, and he refused to look at her throughout her explanation. "The Turks are everything to me, but….I love Gavin. I really do, and when I think about what might happen to him…I can’t stand it." She sighed, wishing he’d understand how hard this was for her. "And Vincent’s probably the greatest friend I’ve ever had—how can I not try to help him and the woman he loves? Besides, Shinra did this to Gavin. I can’t stay here knowing that."

"Yeah, I got it." Tyser still wouldn’t look at her, a fact that was in itself heart-shattering for her. "Do what you got to do, Will. Take care." He shook her hand, offering a half smile as a farewell. "See ya later Duce, Ace." He waved, and without another word disappeared into his room.

Willy sighed, disappointed with the way they were leaving things. "He hasn’t called me ‘Will’ in years," she murmured as Gavin came up behind her. "Like suddenly he doesn’t know me anymore."

"Don’t worry about Tyser," he replied, laying a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. "He’ll be okay."

"I know, but…." She shook herself. "I’ll write to him. We’re…still friends." She smiled a bit at Gavin. "I want to do this. It’s important."

Slipping out of the city was more nerve-wracking than dangerous; after all, the Turks outranked SOLDIER members, and were well-versed in every form of tracking and sneaking known to any military officer. The trio made their way quickly and unnoticed to a small charter service in Sector Three, and within five hours of the incident at Mindy’s Café were in the air. The plane would take them to Costa del Sol, where they’d have to connect with another service to take them to Nibelheim. It wasn’t until the dark, twisted view of Midgar had begun to disappear beneath the horizon, however, that Willy allowed herself some calm.

In the seat across from her, Korben was already hard at work. He was bent over his tray table, his face inches from the black marks of his pencils. "Wha’cha doing?" she asked curiously.

"Making a new Gaea card," he responded, not taking his focus from his work. "Since my last one’s stained. I’m going to make a few, just in case."

Willy nodded absently, watching the swift, jagged movements of his hand. "Do you think it’ll work on Lucretia’s baby?" she asked softly.

"I don’t know. But you can pray." Korben’s movements became more fluid as he drew the length of the woman’s arm. He switched pencils, continuing to work deep into the night.

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