CHAPTER SEVENTY: VISIT REGINALD

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Five stopped the car by Reginald's mansion "This is it" Five said as you all got out.

"Well, let's go" Diego said as the four of you walked up to the front door and opened it.

"Hey!" a guard said but the four of you ignored him as you enter the living room.

As soon as you saw Reginald, you could fee the fear in you since the last time you saw him he killed you.

It was like Five could feel a part of you were scared so he grab your hand "Don't worry, I wouldn't let him hurt you or our child" he said and you nodded.

"Listen, we need to talk about Ben" Diego hold up a file "Why?" Allison asked and Diego started telling them what he found.

"In Moldovan. From Moldova. And it's mostly redacted" he gave the file to Allison "Great. So we can't read it or see it" Allison looked down at the file "From what I can tell, this document is from our original timeline" Five pointed at the file "It explain how Ben died. It refers to it as the 'Jennifer incident'" he said "We already know how Ben died" Luther said "Okay, then. Tell us" Five said "Well, it was a tragic accident. Ben, our Ben died because we failed as team and..." Luther stopped himself.

"Nobody was responsible, and..." Luther stopped himself again and Five raise a brow as he tilted his head "And what?" he asked and Luther looked confused like he couldn't remember.

"Allison, how did Ben really died?" Five looked at Allison "It was a tragic accident. Ben died because we failed as a team" her and Luther said the last part at the same time which made them look at each other.

"Nobody was responsible, yet we were all responsible" Luther, Diego and Allison said at the same time.

"Ben Hargreeves represented the best of us" Diego, Luther and Allison said at the same time which glancing at each other.

"Ben was The Umbrella Academy" the three said like robots.

"Okay that is weird" you said. 

These was words that none of the siblings would usually use, but it was like they were engraved in their heads.

There was silence filled with shock, until Lila interrupted.

"What kind of sick party trick is this?" Lila looked at Reginald.

"Okay, can any one of you remember how Ben actually died?" Five asked as he glanced at them "Anything?" he asked.

"I...I wasn't there" Viktor said "Well, neither was I, but the rest of you were. You think you'd remember all the details about the death of your beloved brother, but you don't" Five said "What the hell is going on here?" Luther asked "Isn't it obvious?" Five glanced at Reginald.

"Someone's been playing putty with your hippocampus" he said "Messing with our memories" Diego glanced at Reginald and everyone glanced at Reginald "So you messed with their minds?" you asked and Five nodded "He did" he said.

"As fascinating as this may be, I assure you I haven't the foggiest notion of what this is about" Reginald said "You know something, old man" Diego approached Reginald.

"You are speculating about the actions of a completely different version of myself from a completely different timeline. That said, it does sound like something I might do" Reginald said "Oh, here we go" Allison said.

"There may or may not have been a certain clandestine project with a certain clandestine intelligence agency" Reginald said "So human experiments on the mind?" you asked and Reginald nodded. "I should have know" Five said "Psychological warfare was all the rage in the '60s, but it was only a brief contract. Immensely lucrative" Reginald "So you can erase memories?" Luther asked "With the human mind, anything is possible, young mand" Reginald said.

"If you can erase them, you can restore them?" you looked at Reginald "With the proper technology" Reginald replied "Which you have?" Lila asked and Reginald looked at her.

"Naturally. I'm sure it is in this building somewhere" he said "All right, old man, you're gonna put 'em back, each and every memory to do with Ben's death because if you erased the Jennifer incident, that means there was something important enough that you'd take the time to get rid of it" Five said.

"I will do no such thing! Right now we need to track down the girl before it's too late" Reginald said "Reggie, please" Abigail reach out her hand for Reginald to take it which he did "Darling, this is messy work. It could take hours, days" he said "Whatever chain of events has been set in motion is ultimately your handiwork. Whatever timeline it happened in, help them. Please" she said and Reginald glanced at Five and the others.

Reginald lead Five and the others to room that was glowing where some machines was.

"Allison, Luther and Diego" Reginald said and the three nodded before they walked over and lay down in each of them.

"Just lean back and relax, Luther" Reginald said to Luther as he was getting coupling him to the machine "Yeah, right" Luther said.

"Do we all have to do this? Can't you just do it to one of us?" Allison asked "Fragment of your original memories are still locked away in your minds. They are all integrals pieces of a bigger puzzle" Reginald said before putting something on the side of Allison's head.

"I wanna be connected too" Viktor said "But you weren't on the mission" Luther said "I wasn't on the team then, but I am now, and I wanna know the truth as much as you do" Viktor said "Excellent. Please take a seat" Reginald pointed on one of the machine that was empty and Viktor nodded before he walked over to the machine.

"How about you?" Reginald looked at Lila "Yeah, I think I'm going to spectate" Lila relied "And since I have nothing to do with all of this, I'm going to pass" you said "Ditto. No offense, but I'm not letting you near my gray matter" Five said

"Very well. Perhaps you could help" Reginald said and Lila walked over to Diego to buckled him to the machine.

Abigail looked at you "Congratulations" you and Five looked at her "How far along are you?" she asked which caused your and Five's eyes to widened "Two months, also how did you know?" you asked "You're glowing" Abigail smiled before she looked at Five "This must be the fiancé and the father" she said and you both nodded "I also noticed the ring" she smiled at you "Congratulations to the both of you and I hope you two have an amazing life together and I wish you all the best" she said with a smile "Thanks" you said and Abigail smiled before walking over to her spot again.

"Can't believe that she is the old man's wife" Five said. 

"Any last words before Dad liquifies my brain?" Diego asked Lila as she buckled him to the machine. "I'm sorry I lied about book club" she said "Good" he said as she buckled something on the side of his head.

"You know, a husband and wife shouldn't have any secrets, Lila. That's a rule" he said "You're right. No more secrets" she said and Diego smiled.

"I think that we need a break from each other. Time to reusseres our marriage" she quickly said before putting something in his mouth "What?" he muffled and she walked back to her spot. Indignant, muffled yelling was coming from him as Lila walked over and stood next to you.

"Did you just divorce Diego?" you asked "No, I said we needed a break" Lila said.

Reginald pressed a button and the sound of powers hums was heard before the room started glowing red as the sound of system klaxons blaring was heard.

Reginald pressed some other buttons "Wait! Is this gonna hurt?" Luther asked "Indubitably" Reginald responded before pulling a handle and the machines started.

Luther and the others started seeing images "It was a tragic accident. Ben died because we failed as a team. Nobody was responsible, yet we were all responsible. Ben Hargreeves represented the best of us. Ben was the Umbrella Academy"

Muffled screaming and straining came from Luther and the others.

Flashback start...

October 14, 2006

The alarm at the Academy was on "Step lively, children. We have a mission to do" Reginald said as Luther walked out of the bedroom "Number One, round up the children" Reginald said and Luther clapped his hands "Let's go. Get your asses in gear" Luther said and Diego walked out of his room "My man, Diego" Luther patted Diego on the shoulder "My ass is always in gear" Diego said "Come on, guys. Come on" Luther walked over to the bathroom to see Allison trying to get a drunk Klaus up from the bathtub.

"Are you kidding me, Klaus? You just got back from rehab!" Allison said as she tried to lift Klaus up.

"I'm California Sober, Allison" Klaus slurring.

"Come on, guys. Just hurry up. Dad's waiting!" Luther turned around before going towards Ben's room.

Ben was sitting in his bed reading a book while Vanya was trying Ben's mask as she was standing in front of the mirror.

"Ben!" the door to Ben's room opened and Luther step in "Why aren't you dressed?" Luther asked his brother "I'm not going" Ben said "But we'll be one man down" Luther said "Relax. Vanya can take my place" Ben said "I wanna help you guys" Vanya said.

"Dad?" Luther called out "Narc" Ben mumbled and Reginald entered the room "Number Six. What aren't you dressed?" Reginald asked "He say he's not going" Luther said and Reginald looked at Luther before looking back at Ben.

Ben let out a sigh before he closed the book and got up and Reginald looked at Vanya "And what do you think you're doing?" he asked "I just...I thought I could help on this mission" Vanya said "Take that off immediately. You look ridiculous" Reginald turned around before leaving the room and Vanya took off the mask.

Klaus, Ben, Diego, Allison and Luther was sitting on the couch in the living room while their dad was explaining the mission as Vanya was standing behind the couch.

"A Moldovan arms dealer has acquired a deadly new weapon. It's being held in a shipping container, awaiting a buyer. Your mission is to locate and destroy the weapon before the deal can be made" Reginald explain before he looked at Luther "Number One will take point" he gave Luther an remote.

"What about me? What should I do?" Diego asked "Stop asking questions" Reginald snapped at Diego "Now, children, whatever you do, it is imperative that you keep the weapon contained. Do not, under any circumstances, open the container. Is that understood?" Reginald asked and they nodded.

"Very well. It's time, children" he said before they got up and went into the jet where Pogo was the pilot.

The room to the Academy open "Buckle up, children. Prepare for departure" Pogo said before the jet took off.

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Ben, Klaus, Allison and Diego was following after Luther as they were sneaking inside a huge warehouse.

The sound of fain, indistinct chatter in distance was heard as Luther signal the others to sto which they did.

"Tango, three o'clock" Luther told them as he peek around a huge box to see the guys as the sound of indistinct chatter continues before the guys walked away.

"Go" Luther said and the five followed after Luther as they walked over to the container.

"Yeah, this is the one. Let's go" Luther said and Ben put down a small box before opened it to revealed some small golden bombs of some kind before him and Diego got them ready.

But then they heard guards yelling in the distance "Guys!" Luther said "Go, I got this!" Ben said "Ben are you sure?" Luther asked "I got this!" Ben said "Okay. Diego, Allison, Klaus, you're on me. Let's go" Luther said and the four left.

Ben got up before he walked over to the container and put the device on it causing it to said a whirs hum noise.

But then a muffled thumping sound was heard and it was coming from the inside of the container.

Ben leaned his head towards it "Is someone in there?" he asked and someone bang again.

Ben then started crawling up on the top of the container.

Ben opened the container on to before he opened it to see a young girl, the same age as the siblings. "It's okay. I'm here to help. What's your name?" he asked "Jennifer" the girl said and Ben took off his mask "My name is Ben. I'm gonna get you out of here, okay? Can you trust me?" he asked before he reach his hand down the container.

"Take my hand" Ben told Jennifer.

Then Luther and the others arrive "Ben! What the hell are you doing?" Luther asked "There's someone in here. We have to get her out" Ben said "That wasn't part of the plan" Luther said "So what? You're gonna blow up an innocent girl?" Ben asked.

"But dad said---" "I don't give a fuck what dad said!" Ben cut Luther off "We need to help her" Ben turned back to the container.

"Ben, wait!" Luther said but Ben didn't listen "Shit!" Luther said as the sound of clamoring in the distance was heard.

Luther lifted his right hand up to his right ear "Dad, we got a bit of a problem" he said but he could only hear static crackles. "Dad?" Luther asked again but nothing.

Ben reach out his hand for Jennifer and the sound of energy sparking crackling was heard as Jennifer hand grab Ben's. And as their hands connected some orange light glow around their hands.

The siblings watch as Ben and the girl Jennifer came down from the container.

Jennifer and Ben looked at each other with a smile "Okay, let's go. Ben" Luther said.

But suddenly the sound of gunshot was heard as Jennifer got shot right in the forehead before Ben also got shot in the forehead.

The siblings let out a gasp before they looked up to see their dad standing behind Ben and Jennifer as their bodies fell to the floor.

"I told you not to open the container" Reginald said and Klaus covered his mouth while the siblings was in shock. "Dad?" Luther asked in shock.

Flashback ends...

Luther and the others let out a gasp before spitting the stuff out of their mouth "Oh my God" Luther said and they were all struggling, still in shock over what really happen while, you, Five and Lila looked confused at each other.

"You murdered our brother!" Allison hissed as she stared angry at Reginald "And Jennifer" Viktor said "Son of a bitch" Diego said.

"Children! Whatever anger you may feel towards me is misdirected. May I remind you that it was the other Sir Reginald Hargreeves who committed this horrible act?" Reginald said.

"What are you going on about?" Lila asked confused "When we were kids, the 'other' Hargreeves killed Ben and Jennifer" Luther said "And he had a perfectly valid reason for doing so" Reginald said "They were two innocent kids!" Viktor said "Who would have set off a cataclysmic chain of events, leading to the extinction of all humanity" Reginald said.

"You are not different than the other Hargreeves" Luther said "You're both fucking psychopath!" Diego snapped.

"It's not his fault" Abigail step forward "Reg is not responsible for what happed to your brother and that poor girl. I am" you looked at her.

"Years ago, I synthesized a new element. The very essence of the universe" she said "The particle we know as marigold" Reginald said "And at the same moment, unbeknownst to me, a second particle was created. Durango. When marigold and Durango interact, they cause....a reaction, a physical reaction. Unstoppable, irrevocable. The extinction of everything we know" Abigail said "The Cleanse" Five said and Abigail nodded.

"By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late for our world" she said "You couldn't have know, darling" Reginald told his wife.

"I...don't mean to be a dick and all, but what the fuck does any of this have to do with us?" Lila asked "The other particle, it is inside of Jennifer. That's why it's impetrative that none of you can come into contact with her" Reginald said "What happens if we do?" Lila asked "We end the world" Five said.

"What is this Durango?" you asked "Think of it as Anti-Marigold. The Durango is a particle that was synthesized concurrently with its opposing counterpart, the Marigold. It's an exceptionally potent energy source that has embedded itself within Jennifer, with a portion of it subsequently transferring to all of you. The inherent issue lies in the fundamental incompatibility between Marigold and Durango. These two forces cannot coexist within the same entity without dire consequences. The longer the Durango remains within Ben's and Jennife's bodies, the more unstable it will become" Reginald explain "Unstable? What does that mean?" you asked.

"If let uninitiated, the convergence of Marigold and Durango would have precipitated an event known as the Cleanse. This is no mere disturbance, it is a cataclysmic phenomenon that would have heralded the end of the world" Reginald said. 

"Uh...Guys?" everyone looked at Luther "We...may have a problem" he said "What do you mean?" Five asked.

"I think I did something stupid" Luther said "That is nothing new" Five said and Luther glanced annoying at him "What did you do?" Diego asked and Luther started to explain.

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