CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: SAVING VANYA

---

The Handler was in her office as a tailor was fixing her dress.

"Careful. I want that hem straight enough to cut throats" The Handler said as she was looking herself in the mirror to see her silver dress.

The door then opened and Lila entered "Nice frock" she said and The Handler chuckled "Is this a swearing in or a...a coronation?" Lila asked "How's your new hire working out? I heard he lasted all of then minutes in orientation before he started running amok" The Handler said "Oh, you know boys. He's probably around here somewhere eating a...a very large sandwich" Lila said as she walked around the room.

"Mm-hmm. Herb!" The Handler said and Herb entered the room.

"Tell Lila what you told me" The Handler said "I, uh, didn't actually offer it up" Herb said as his breath was trembling "You put a knife to my throat" he said "Go on" The Handler said "Diego commandeered the Infinite Switchboard, then hijacked a briefcase...and left The Commission" Herb said "Told you" The Handler said "He also held a knife to my throat" Herb said "I knew he was a grifting little gonad. So, what are you gonna do about him?" The Handler asked and Lila looked at her "Me?" she asked and The Handler turned to her "Your puppy, your responsibility. Or are you forgetting our little agreement?" The Handler asked.

"You only let him stay hoping I'd have to kill him" Lila said "Hmm" The Handler said "Was this all a test?" Lila asked "Everything is a test, darling. The question is...why are you falling it?" The Handler asked.

Then Herb heard AJ clinking on the glass softly and he slowly moved over to the fishbowl.

"I'm not failing. Let me handle it my way" Lila said "Does your way include decapitation? Quartering, boiling, thumbscrews, burning at the stake, or Chinese water toture?" The Handler asked.

Herb looked down at the button of the fishbowl to see that AJ have made a number out of the yellow stones.

743.

"I wanna let him go" Lila said "Peons...out" The Handler said and the people walked out leaving The Handler and Lila.

The Handler walked closer to Lila "Darling, blood is thicker than water, but...you can drown in either, Lila" she said as she stroke her hands down Lila's cheeks before she removed them.

"I am officially about to become the most powerful woman in time and you will be my right hand" The Handler said as she stroke her right hand down Lila's left cheeks.

"But I need to know..." she said as she put her hand on Lila's throat, squeezing her face a little causing her to let out a softly grunt.

"...That I can trust you...at all times...in all ways" The Handler said as she tighten her grip.

"You can" Lila said softly.

---

Andy and Mitch managed to get to the door before they enter.

High-pitched tone resonating and energy thrumming as you entered the room where Vanya was.

Vanya was tied to a chair with something around her forehead that was giving her electricity chock while her feet was in a tray with water.

Her skin was pale and her eyes was white "VANYA" Mitch and Andy shouted but she didn't react.

"What do we do?" Mitch asked "We can't take those things off, if we get closer to her, we will get thrown backwards" Andy said.

"I will do it" a voice said and the twins looked to the left to see a guy standing next to them "Who are you?" they asked "I'm Ben" he replied "Ben Hargreeves. The one that died at 16?" Andy asked "A member of the Umbrella, the other's brother?" Mitch asked and Ben nodded "That's me" he said "But how can we see you. Aren't you dead?" Mitch asked "I am. I'm a ghost" Ben said "So you were the voice we heard" Andy said and Ben nodded again.

"Nice to meet you Ben" Mitch said "Nice to meet you two too" Ben said "Just so you know, you were my favorite member" Mitch said and Ben smiled.

"Listen I really want to talk but we don't have time. We need to save Vanya" Ben said "How?" Andy asked "I have an idea. I have to go in" he said "Are you sure?" Mitch asked "I am, it's time for me to be the hero" Ben said before he grabbed Vanya's hand and he felt the electricity. 

He grunted as he grabbed her other hand while electricity was crackling "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Mitch asked "There might be consequences" Andy said "I'm ready to take those consequences. Rather me than you two or the others. I'm a ghost so I got nothing to lose" he said before he looked back at Vanya.

Ben know that he have to save his sister now, so he grabbed her other hand before he sat down, going inside her.

---

Herb had found the file with the number 743 on and he was now walking up the stairs but then he stopped when he saw Lila standing above the stairs.

"Uh..." Herb said as she walk down towards him before she grabbed him by the collar and he let out a grunt as she press him against the wall.

"All right, sweaty gerbil man. Tell me where Diego went or I'll stab your colon to your nose and let you die on your own farts" she said.

"That's...so..vivid" Herb said and she press him more against the wall "Wait, wait, wait, wait! No, no, no! I'm on your side. No, I helped him escape. If you..." Herb said and she let go of him "Escape?" she asked as she took a step back "Well, he was supposed to stay here with me. Where did he go?" she asked "Back to help his family" he said and she turned her head a bit.

"Are you really going to kill him?" he asked and she looked at him "Of course not. I love him" she said "Oh, that--" he said but she cut him off when she grabbed his collar again, pressing him against the wall "Say a word and I'll crush you" she said "I won't. I swear, I won't" he said and she let go of him again.

She then turned around "Uh, wait" he said and she turned to him "I hate to rain on your parade, but there's something I have to show you. Something big" he said before put his hands by his pants.

"Ugh!" she said "Wait, no. It's..." he said as he pulled out a file "It's this" he said as he stretched it to her and she grabbed it before she opened it, to read it.

Her eyes widened and she let out a gasp "Oh, my God" she said as she sat down before her breath trembles, shocked over what she read.

She put her hands to her mouth as she gasp softly, trying not cry.

---

"This is my favorite part" older Five said as he preparing and assembling his sniper gun as the radio beside him was playing "The calm before the storm" he said.

Teen Five, Luther and Lara was standing next to each other looking at older Five.

Teen Five was breathing heavily as he was sweating and was looking more aggressive. Lara noticed how he was sweating more and more. He looked like a mad man and sounded like one too.

"Look. The briefcase" teen Five said as his eyes was focused on the briefcase that was just beside past Five "No, don't. You won't be able to get there in time" Luther said "I will get there in time. This is our only chance. Beside I think it's best you stay out of this" teen Five said as he looked at Lara "Okay, if you want to do it the hard way, then I wouldn't stop you" she said.

 "Hey, uh, just remind me...what was the final stage of paradox psychosis again?" Luther asked "Homicidal rage" Five answered "Right. That's great" Luther said with a smile but that smile disappeared as fast as it appeared.

"Five, listen to me...I" Luther said but Five ignored his brother as he began creeping towards past Five "No. No!" Luther whispered before he looked at Lara "Aren't you gonna stop him?" he asked "Actually no, beside that is your job" she said "So you don't care who dies here?" Luther asked "I don't care if one of them gets hurt" Lara said "What the hell have Five done to you since you have become like this towards him?" Luther asked.

But what teen Five didn't know, was that older Five was watching him through the scope of the rifle.

And just as teen Five blinked, older Five also blinked before he appeared behind teen Five.

"Oh...shit" Luther said "Bad idea, shit-heel" older Five said and aimed the rifle at teen Five.

Luther let out a sigh before he walked over to older Five, ripping the rifle out of his hands "Stop it! All right? The both of you" he said as teen Five walked over to them while he itched the back of his head.

"Pull it together. Now, Kennedy is gonna be coming around that corner any minute. Okay? So, everyone, let's just take a deep breath..." Luther said to them before he inhale deeply and exhale.

Older Five inhaled a shaky breath as he itched his neck and teen Five did the same while he glanced at his brother.

"Now, we're all family here, okay? So can we all just try to get alone for a few more minutes?" Luther said.

Teen Five then turned to older Five "You want it?" he asked "Go ahead" older Five said with a hint of happiness in his voice.

"What's that?" Luther asked as he looked at teen Five but he kicked him right in his groin causing Luther to groan in pain as he bent over "Shit" he said.

"That gotta hurt" Lara said as she chuckled "Lara, you stay out of this" teen Five said "That's the plan" she said as teen Five fixed his blazer as he looked at his older self "Now..." older Five said "Where were we?" teen Five asked before they started fighting.

Luther was groaning in pain while the two Fives was fighting.

Teen Five had a grip around older Five's throat. But then teen Five teleported causing older Five to teleported as well.

They both appeared again and teen Five threw a punch at older Five while he swung a kick.

But they both blinked before they could hit each other.

Then they appeared again and older Five throw a punch at teen Five, hitting him in the face.

Then they both blinked again before they appeared again and teen Five threw a punch at older Five, hitting him the face before he swung a kick at him.

Then both Five appeared on each side of Luther "Would you please--"Luther said but got cut off when they both kicked him again causing him to groan in pain again before they both blinked again.

"Hey! I'm getting really sick of this!" Luther said out loud.

---

In Vanya's head.

Ben walked down some stairs and noticed that he was at the Academy but it was like was under water.

"Vanya?" he called out as he looked around trying to find his sister.

He walked into the living room and spotted a white violin laying on the dinner table.

He looked at the violin and saw that Vanya was inside of it.

Vanya was laying leaning against a pillar when Ben approach her "Vanya?" he asked and she turned to the side. Her breath was trembling as she looked up to see Ben standing in front of her, looking down at her.

"Do you remember me?" he asked as he kneeled down in front of her.

Vanya's breaths was trembling increase as she sat up, her back leaned against the pillar.

"I remember everything" she said before she started whimpered "And I'm doing it again, aren't I?" she asked with tears in her eyes and he looked down in sadness "What's wrong with me?" she asked as she started sobbing "Why can't I control myself like the rest of you guys?" she asked as Ben sat down on the floor, his leg on cross.

"It's not too late. You can go back. There's still time" he said "I don't deserve to live. I killed Pogo. I almost killed Allison. I hurt Mitch and Andy" she said as she let out gasping breaths "I destroyed the world. I'm a monster" she said while sobbing as she looked down.

Ben then moved closer to her "Dad treated you like a bomb before you ever were one" he said as she looked at him "He was...so scared of your power, he never let you use it. Drugged you up, kept you numb for years" he said and grabbed her hand "That's messed up, Vanya" he said and the sound of soft energy pulse was heard as Vanya wrapped her fingers around his fingers.

"No wonder you couldn't control it. Dad couldn't handle your anger. That doesn't mean you can't. And maybe you have a right to be pissed off and sad and messed up, but...it's a shitty world full of shitty people sometimes. You aren't a monster. You're my sister. And right now, our siblings are risking everything out there trying to save you. Even Mitch and Andy are trying to save you and they barely know you. You aren't alone at the table anymore, Vanya. You can do this" he said and she nodded with a smile.

The sound of gentle whooshing and soft ethereal tinkling was heard as blue light started appearing on Ben and he slowly started turning into small blue light.

Vanya was still holding Ben's hand as she got up but Ben knew what was about to happen, so he just sat still. "Ben, what's happening to you" she asked as she noticed that it look like he was turning into blue light.

Ben let out a sigh as he got up "I can't go back with you" he said "What do you mean?" she asked but he didn't answer as he continued turning to small blue light.

"I'm hurting you, aren't I?" she asked "It's not your fault. I've been holding on as long as I can in here, but..." he said with a sigh as the ethereal tinkling continued.

"You shouldn't have come for me" she said "Vanya...I died 17 years ago. All the rest of this...these years with Klaus..." he said before he looked up with smile.

"It's all been gravy. At least this time I get to say goodbye" he said and she nodded sadly.

"Can I ask you a weird favor?" he asked "Anything" she said "Can you hug me as I go? It's been a long time since--" but he got cut off by her wrapping her arms around him, hugging while crying.

Ben closed his eyes as he lower his head while his arms was wrapped around his sister.

Tears ran down from Vanya's eyes as she was hugging her beloved brother Ben.

"Tell Klaus something for me, will you?" he said and she pulled away to look at him.

They both let out a smile before they hugged again and he whispered something to her while she kept crying as he disappeared, turning into the blue lights that flew up before disappearing.

---

The Handler was in her office, practice her speech "...'Take this institution to the heights it reached--'" but got cut off when Lila entered the office "My parents didn't die in a robbery" she said as she closed the door.

"They were executed. Kill order 743" Lila said and The Handler turned around to look at her "And I know who did it" Lila said as she stepped closer to The Handler and she held the kill order up so The Handler could see it and The Handler remember the day she signed the kill order.

Lila lowered the paper before taking another step closer to The Handler who took her hand behind her, grabbing a small knife that was laying on the desk.

Lila then leaned her head closer to The Handler "Five killed my family and AJ Carmichael gave the order" she said before she turned around and put the paper on the desk before she sat down on her chair while The Handler let out a sigh as she let go of the knife.

Lila put her feet on the chair as she looked at The Handler with tears in her eyes.

"It was him who made me an orphan" Lila said, her voice trembles "Darling" The Handler said as she walked over to her "Little one...your family is right here" she said as she put her hands on Lila's knees "Yeah" The Handler whispered as Lila did a small nod.

The Handler let out a sigh as she took a step back while Lila let out a sob "I wonder...if that's what Diego was sneaking around here looking for" The Handler said as she was looking out the window before she turned around to look at Lila "Trying to bury the evidence so you'd never find out" she said "What...What're you talking about. Diego doesn't know what Five did" Lila said "Darling, I'm gonna need you to be a titch more clever about this" The Handler said before she took a step towards her "That clown school that Five calls 'Umbrella Academy' it may be full of assholes, but it's not full of fools" she said as she grabbed the paper on the desk before looking at it "They're family. What one knows, they all know" she said "No, no, no, no. I...I was playing Diego, he wasn't playing me" Lila said and The Handler looked at her "Is that why you're crying in my office while he's out roaming free, laughing at you?" she said before she let out a softly scoffs.

"I didn't think he was smart enough to pull this off" Lila said "He isn't...but Five is" The Handler said and Lila looked up at her before The Handler put her finger under Lila's chin "And Diego listens to him and trusts him" she said before she walked around the chair, stopping behind it.

"Five...has been playing puppet master all this time" The Handler said and you see that Lila's face changed into anger "I'd say it's time that we solved this problem..." The Handler said before she put her right hand on Lila's right shoulder and Lila turned around to look at her "Once and for all" The Handler said and Lila nodded.

Lila then got up before she walked over to The Handler, kissing her on the cheek "And don't worry mom, we will get those twins on our side. I'm gonna kill Lara in front of Five and take his kids away so he know how it feels when someone take everything away from you. I want to see the pain in his eyes when we take the one he love the most away from him. He shall pay for what he did" Lila said before walking out of the door.

---

The two Fives appeared in front of each other while panting and sweating.

"Getting tired yet?" older Five asked "I can do this all day" teen Five said as he rolled his shoulders.

"Guys, this has to stop" Luther said "Eat shit, Ape Man" the two Fives said.

The two Fives blinked towards each other, but then a bright blue light appeared in between them, knocking them off their feet.

It was like they were push back by each other's powers causing them to fell back on the ground.

"STOP IT. BOTH OF YOU. I'M TIRED OF YOUR BEHAVIOR" Lara shouted "Woman, do it now. Kill him" older Five said "What?" Lara asked.

"No. Lara, kill him" teen Five argued as he pointed to his past self.

"Kill him!" older Five yelled "No, kill him!" teen Five yelled.

Lara watched as the two went back and forth telling her to kill the other.

She rolled her eyes before she turned to older Five "Kill...ugh" he cried out as she gave him a knee right in the groin causing him to grunt in pain as he bent down.

"Shut it" Lara yelled out.

"That's my girl" teen Five said with a smile and Lara then walked over to him before giving him a slap across the cheek causing him to let out a grunt.

"For the first, I'm not your girl and second that was for acting like a crazy person" Lara said.

Luther then grabbed the rifle "Hey! Assholes!" he said to them "I'm done listening to you both. I'm in charge now" he said as he pointed the rifle from one Five to another.

"Now, Luther! Shoot him!" older Five shouted "No! Luther, shoot him!" teen Five shouted as they both got up.

"Shoot him!" older Five said "No, Luther, shoot him!" teen Five said "Luther, shoot him!" older Five said "Luther, shoot him!" teen Five said "Now, Luther!" older Five said.

Luther went from one to the other, unsure of which Five to point the rifle at.

"Lara who do I shoot?" Luther asked as he looked at Lara "Why are you asking me, don't bring me into this" she said.

"Lara, please" teen Five begged her with his eyes and hands.

"Enough, you two are acting like fucking children and time is running out. So shut up the both of you" Lara shouted at them.

Then Luther aimed the rifle at teen Five who started panting as his eyes widened.

"Luther..." teen Five said as his eyes widened "I'm sorry, buddy" Luther said.

But then Lara punched older Five across the face, knocking him out.

"What the..." Luther and teen Five "Now! Five! Open the portal or I will knock you out too" Lara said "Right" Five said as Luther grabbed the black briefcase while Five turned around before he closed his eyes and he clenched his fist as blue light appeared around them.

The sound of energy churning was heard and a blue portal opened while it was making a crackling noise.

Five was panting heavily as he opened the portal more.

---

The twins smiled as they saw Vanya opened her eyes and the force stopped causing all the things to fell to the floor making the twins power down too.

"Vanny" they said before they rushed over to her and help her loose "Are you okay?" Mitch asked "I'm fine, are you two?" Vanya asked "Yeah" they said "Ben is gone, he give his life for me" Vanya said "That's what I call a hero" Andy said.

Mitch, Andy and Vanya then walked out of the room and over to Allison, Klaus and Diego that was laying on the floor as they had come to consciousness.

"Are you okay?" Vanya asked them "Vanya" Allison said "Physically or emotionally?" Klaus asked "Did we save the world or what?" Klaus asked "Thank God you're alive" Diego said as he looked at you who smiled.

"Building's still here" Diego said before he looked at his watch "Kennedy's few minutes away" he said as he got up "I can still save him" he said as he started walking away "No, Diego, wait!" Allison said as she ran after him.

Diego open the blinds on the window so he could look down on the grassy knoll "I still time to stop Dad before Kennedy make his final turn" he said before he started walking away but Allison grabbed his arm "No, no, where are you going?" she asked and Diego turned to her "Look, I saw the explosion. I saw the tapes, Allison. The explosion causes doomsday. You're safe now" he said before he inhaled sharply "He doesn't have to die" he said before he turned around "No, no, Diego--" Allison shouted as he left.

"We have to go" Mitch said  "Where are you two going?" Allison asked "We need to see if mom is okay" Mitch said "And we need to see if Five have gotten that briefcase" Andy said before the two turned around and left.

---

Five started panting as he opened the portal more causing it to make a surging noise while the energy started making a crackling noise.

He grunted and cried out as the portal opened more.

But then older Five regained back his consciousness and he look at the portal that got bigger while teen Five let out a grunt.

"Luther" Lara said and Luther pointed his gun at older Five "Don't even think about it" he said "Into the vortex you go, asshole" teen Five said "Fine!" older Five said as he got up "But give me the math. So I don't end up looking like Tiger Beat over here" he said.

"You stand next to the vortex and I'll tell ya" teen Five said and older Five glanced at the vortex.

"Go!" teen Five shouted and older Five walked over to the vortex "Closer" teen Five said "This is close enough! Now give it to me" older Five said.

"It was a typo" teen Five said "Typo?" older Five asked "We put the decimal in the wrong spot in our proof of the existence of a bound for the number of limit cycles of planar polynomial vector fields of fixed degree. We wrote down five-point-seven. It should be..."

"...Zero-point-five-seven" the two Fives said "Son of a bitch. I knew that didn't look right" older Five said before he looked back at the vortex "All right...I guess this is it" older Five said "This is it. Go" teen Five said

But suddenly a fire extinguisher was throwing through the portal and it hit Luther in the head causing him to fell to the ground while he dropped the rifle.

Older Five looked at the briefcase before running towards it "No" teen Five said as he ran towards the briefcase.

The two Fives both grabbed the briefcase and started pulling it each way while they both grunting.

"FIVE!" Luther shouted and teen Five looked at him "It's shrinking!" Luther said as he pointed at the portal that was getting smaller and smaller.

Teen Five tried to pull the briefcase out of past Five's hands but he wouldn't let go.

Lara rolled her eyes before  grabbing the briefcase, helping teen Five with pulling it.

"No, I need it. I need it to fix something" older Five groaned as he pulled the briefcase towards him "I know what it is. And trust me, I want it too. But you have to let her go" teen Five said "No" older Five said.

Then Luther got up and kicked older Five causing teen Five to let go of the briefcase and older Five began to fell backwards, into the portal but Lara held on to the briefcase which cause her to stumble forward towards the portal.

But teen Five's arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back, scared that the momentum would cause her to stumble too far forward and into the portal,

Both Lara and teen Five fell backwards, hitting the ground.

Older Five let out a shout as he felled into the portal right before it closed while the briefcase felled to the ground.

"Lara?" Five asked as he looked at her "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked as the two was laying on the ground next to each other "I'm fine. Now get off" Lara said as she push Five away before they got got up.

"We did it" Luther said proudly as the sound of electricity crackling was heard and Five looked down at the briefcase to see it laying on the ground, sliced in half "The briefcase, you idiot" he said as he rolled his eyes "What?" Luther asked as Five let out a sigh.

"Hey, you know what? A thank-you for preserving your existence would be nice" Luther said as he turned to Five "'A thank-you'" Five said.

But then they heard over the radio that the president's car was coming.

"Luther, Lara! Here he comes!" Five said and he took the brown briefcase that was the gun case, before he dragged it across the grass to the corner of the fence and stepped on it, so he could look over the fence while Luther walked over to the fence and Lara walked over to the fence.

Five grabbed Lara's hand before he pulled her up to stand next to him.

The briefcase was so small that the they had to stand really close, so close that their shoulder was touching each other causing their hearts to beat faster and their bodies became warm, happy and calm as they could feel the other's touch.

Lara, Luther and Five looked over the fence as they saw the president's car came driving.

Allison, Klaus and Vanya was looking out of the window as they saw the president's car came driving "Kennedy's turning" Allison said.

"Look, there's Dad" Luther said and pointed on a man in a black suit, holding a black umbrella.

"What do we do?" Luther asked "Uh-oh" Five said as he spotted Diego running across the field.

"Oh, shit" Luther said as he also spotted him. "Diego" Five said, "It's happening again" Allison said "Oh, Jackie" Klaus said.

Diego was running towards the man with the black umbrella.

He then tackled the man to the ground but only to see that it was not Reginald "What?" he said and the man chuckled.

Then the sound of gunshots ring out was heard causing the crowd to scream while they started panik as they ran away.

"KLIF bulletin, from Dallas, three shots reportedly were fired at the motorcade of President Kennedy today, near the downtown section" the man over the radio said.

Diego then grabbed the man's collar "What the hell is he?" he asked and the man handed Diego a piece of paper.

Diego unfolded the paper to read what it said.

'I TOLD YOU SO'

---

"Mom" a voice said and Lara turned around to see Mitch and Andy rushed over to them before hugging their mom "Are you kids okay?" Lara asked and the twins nodded "We thought for a moment that something bad have happen" Mitch said.

Five smiled as he watch the twins hugging their mom. But that sight also got him to think about Lizzy and the lost of their unborn child and he wish that she was alive and he was hugging her and their child right now.

"Did you guys get it?" Mitch asked as they pulled away "No" Lara said as she shook her head "Why not?" Andy asked "Five and Luther was being idiots" Lara said.

That made Five furrowed his eyebrow. Why didn't Lara help him when he was fighting himself, she could have taken the briefcase.

"You know you could have taken the briefcase while I was busy fighting myself" Five said "You could also just not have being an idiot" Lara said "Why are you acting that like, you wanted to help, but didn't" Five said "You are the smart one, you figure that out for yourself big boy" Lara said before she turned around and walked away "Come on boys" she said and the twins let out a sigh before they follow after their mom.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Five called out "BACK TO ELLIOTT'S APARTMENT. YOU FIGURE OUT A PLAN TO GET US OUT OF HERE" Lara shouted back before flipping him off as she walked away.

"Okay, Five. What the hell have you done to her?" Luther asked "Nothing. I don't know why she is acting like that" Five said "You must have done something, otherwise she wouldn't have behave like that towards you" Luther said.

Five didn't know why Lara have acted like that. She have acted like that since they left the bar. Why was she behaving like this. Was it something Five had said or done while he was having paradox psychosis. He wanted answers.

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