CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: THE MAJESTIC TWELVE

"Imagining something is the first step towards doing it"

---

"You want me to protect Five?" Lila asked as her and The Handler was eating pancakes.

"It's not that complicated, honey" The Handler said "If anyone deserves to die, it's him" Lila said "That's true, but--" "The most wanted man in the Commission" Lila said, cutting The Handler off.

"Yes" The Handler said "Now you want me to protect him" Lila said "That's correct" The Handler said "After everything he's done to you? He's the reason you got demoted" Lila said "Be that as it may...he's worth more to me alive" The Handler said before she poured herself some wine in her glass.

"If you want to kill somebody why don't you kill Diego?" she asked and Lila shook her head "No" she said "You sure? I think it'll make you feel better" The Handler said "Nah" Lila said before taking a bite of her pancake.

"Suit yourself. Pass me more syrup, will you?" The Handler asked and Lila grabbed the syrup before she poured some syrup on The Handler's pancakes.

"By the way Natalie is still alive" Lila said and The Handler froze "What?" she asked and Lila nodded "Are you sure?" The Handler asked "I saw her alive and breathing" Lila said "I thought you told me that she was dead" The Handler said "Well, she was. But somehow she is alive" Lila said "Does Five know?" The Handler asked and Lila nodded "Shit" The Handler said.

"But she don't remember anything" Lila said and The Handler looked back at her "What?" she asked "She don't remember Five or anything until four months ago. She remember nothing, not even her own name, she think her name is Emily" Lila said "Well, that can help me" The Handler said "In what way?" Lila asked "In getting her over to our side" The Handler said "I don't think we can do that. Since she saw Five, they have spend a lot of time together and I think it wouldn't be long until she gets her memories back" Lila said.

"Shit. If I knew that she was alive. She would have being your mission instead of Diego" The Handler said "Why?" Lila asked "If I knew about this four months ago or just a month go. I would have sent you to be friends with her, get into her head, convince her that you knew her. Manipulative her into thinking that we were her family and Five was the enemy" The Handler said "Do you think that it would have work?" Lila asked and The Handler nodded "It will. But lucky I have a backup plan" she said.

"Which is?" Lila asked "Well, if my plan with Five doesn't work then I will try to get that little witch to kill him" The Handler said "Do you think that will work?" Lila asked "I just need to find something to get her to lose control. I know that Five would never hurt his little Nat. But Natalie will as long as she don't remember him, she will if she lose control" The Handler said.

"By the way, I ran into some trouble at the asylum, during the escape" Lila said as The Handler poured some more syrup on her pancakes "These three blond guys. Total cowboys" Lila said and The Handler froze for a second before looking at Lila "They're here already?" she asked "Wait, you know those freaks?" Lila asked "Commission muscle. Triplets. Like Huey, Dewey, and Louie, only a little more meshugahs" The Handler said "You sent them?" Lila asked.

"Of course I did" The Handler answered "Why? They nearly killed me" Lila said "Well, they have to make it look good. Right? Otherwise, people might suspect that we're working together" The Handler said "So they know I'm on the job?" Lila asked "It's all a performance. Look, if they wanted you dead, you would've been long gone by now, little one" The Handler said "You need to stop calling me that" Lila said "Aww" The Handler said before getting up "Listen to me" she said as she walked over to Lila "No one is trying to kill you" she said as she stroke Lila down the cheek "We're all working towards the same goal" she said "Which is?" Lila asked "Well, that's the thing about the Commission, isn't it? Some things just don't make sense... until they do" The Handler said before she brushed Lila's bangs "I like the fringe" she said before she patted Lila on the head.

"Protect Number Five at all costs and if you can, see if you can kill Natalie or at least damaged her brain" The Handler said "And if I can't do that?" Lila asked "See if you can kill her little friend. Amy I think her name is" The Handler said "Why?" Lila asked "Not important" The Handler said.

---

Luther was laying in his bed as he grunt softly "Luther?" Vanya asked as she was holding a towel "Allison?" Luther asked weakly and she began opening his eyes to see Vanya.

"Sorry to disappoint" Vanya said with a smile "Here. For your face" she said as she handed him a towel.

"Do you need a pillow or...an...an aspirin?" she asked "Wait, uh...why are you here, Vanya?" he asked "You're my brother. I mean, apparently" she said and chuckled "Five found you" he said "Yeah. He's downstairs waiting with the car. Said you're be better off alone" she said while he was groaning softly as he sat up.

"We told him that we would come up here" a voice suddenly said and Luther turned to see you standing with your back leaned against a wall "Hey, I'm Emily and alive. You must be Luther, the monkey brother" you said with a small wave.

"Emily?" he asked confused.

"Use your brain for once. Show us that you actually have one. Vanya need help, our help" 

"You're just like Reginald"

"But for some reason Five was not happy letting me near you" you said "You're alive?" Luther asked in disbelief.

He was in shock, his sister who he thought was dead was alive and breathing.

"Yeah, I'm alive. And sorry about Five" you said "He's an asshole" Luther said "Such an asshole" Vanya said and sat down next to him "Right?" he said "Right" she said and they both chuckled.

Luther felt awkward seeing his two sisters, who he hurt back in 2019.

"I'm so sorry Natalie" Luther said "Listen, I don't remember anything or any of you guys. I have the same situation with Vanya, and Five only told me a little bit, and also my name is Emily, not Natalie" you said "Listen, even if you don't remember, I just want to say that I'm sorry. I might be the reason you don't remember anything. And I'm so sorry. I've did some terrible things to both you and Vanya. I regret what I have done to you. Both of you" Luther said and you could see on his face that he was sorry.

"Funny how you say that, 'cause I'm also dangerous, I mean I'm a waking time bomb, I'm like a grenade, just waiting to go off, I did it before and killed everything and everyone around me"

"Five told me what you did to me" you said and Luther's eyes widened "But maybe you did it because you thought it was the only way and you were scared. When we are scared we make some mistakes. But thank you for the apologized" you said and Luther nodded before he looked at Vanya.

"Um...How much did Five tell you both?" he asked "Um, well, he filled in some gaps. Uh, seven children" Vanya said "He told me that I wasn't part of your group, but I was drop of at The Academy everyday from five to 13, where I trained and hang out with you. So I kinda became part of the family" you said.

"He mention a talking chimpanzee...a very warm and cuddly father. An apocalypse" she said "He told you about that, huh?" he asked "Well, not all of it. Because I think there's something he left out. About me" she said "Huh" he said "What caused the apocalypse?" she asked "You did" he answered and she looked down "But not alone. You were a part of it when you tried to stop her" Luther said as he looked at you "You tried using your powers in stopping Vanya but since your brain and head was already injured, you passed out and we all thought you died 'cause you took your last breath in Five's arm" he said "So maybe that is the reason I don't remember anything" you said and he nodded before he looked back at Vanya.

"I was part of it. I mean, we all were" he said "How?" she asked "Uh, you got angry, lost control, and you...blew up the moon. It slammed into Earth, wiping out everything" he said.

You looked at Vanya, you do remember Five telling you how you and the rest of his siblings ended here.

"Why would I do that?" Vanya asked, her voice trembles a bit "It's complicated. Look...you had kind of a bad childhood" he said.

Then the door slammed opened and Jack Ruby rushed in "Why the hell did you throw that fight?" he asked angry "Jack" Luther said, getting up.

"Answer me!" Jack shouted "Sorry...I had a bad night" Luther answered "Bad night, you son of a bitch? You could take that chump's head off in your sleep!" Jack shouted before he grabbed Luther's shirt, pressing him against the wall "I owe a lot of money right now. Luther, to people that can make things very hard on me!" he shouted "Leave him alone!" Vanya said "Shut up and mind your business!" Jack shouted at her.

"Jack, look...I'm sorry. All right? I'm gonna make it up to you, I promise. Okay?" Luther said "I treated you...like a son" Jack said "Jack, come on" Luther said "No. You and me...we're done" Jack said and let go of him "Jack, please" Luther said but Jack just turned around before leaving.

"Luther?" Vanya asked "Would you, uh...just get out, please?" he asked "Well, I don't mind staying, and I have some more questions" Vanya said.

But Luther let out a shout before he punched the brick wall, making a hole.

Luther looked outside to see Five, with his back leaning against the car with his arms crossed over his chest. Five leaned forward a bit as he narrowed his eyes to look at the hole that Luther had made. He shook his head with a smile while letting out a softly chuckled.

Vanya nodded before you and her left.

---

"Well, that clearly went well" Five said sarcastic as he walked over to you and Vanya who walked past him a little fast "You ready to go?" Five asked with his hands in his pockets as he followed Vanya who was walking towards the car.

"I'm going back to the farm" Vanya said "Hey" Five said, as he started running to catch up with her "Hey. Unacceptable, Vanya" he said as he caught up to her "Remember, we need to stick together" he said and Vanya turned to the Five "Oh, why, so I don't end the world again?" she asked causing Five to let out a scoffed before he looked back at the wall "Stupid" he muttered as Vanya grabbed the handle.

"Were you even gonna tell me?" she asked as she turned to Five and he turned to her "You know what? In my defense, no. All right?" Five said as he leaned towards Vanya, putting his hands in his pockets "And can you blame me? When you...you get angry, shit blows up. Just like Em does. When her emotions are high, bad things happen around her" he said which caused you to look at him.

He didn't mention that or did he mention what happen before you woke up.

"Great" Vanya said before she opened the door "Are there any other family secrets you failed to mention?" she asked as she turned to Five again "I wonder if I'm the only one you're keeping secrets from. Emily doesn't know but if she did know anything about me than my name, she would run away" Vanya said "She's not like that. Don't talk about her like that" Five said as he defended you "She have amnesia" he said and you looked at him.

There was a lot that you were kept from, you know that, especially Five kept something from you, you had a feeling that he wasn't telling you the whole truth.

What if he lied? Why was he keeping secrets if it could only help him or help you unlock your memories? What is he keeping from you?

You actually started doubting him now.

Was he really your friend? 'Cause friends don't lie or keeping things from each other.

"So is there other family secrets you failed to mention?" she asked before she got into the car and closed the door "A boatload, Vanya, which I don't have the luxury of sharing them with the--" Five said and he let out a sigh before he knocked on the window as Vanya put the key in the car.

Five sighed as Vanya rolled down the window "The clock is ticking on doomsday. Just tell me that when I need you, you'll be ready" he said "I can't help you Five. I don't even know who I am" Vanya said before her eyes landed on you who was standing behind Five "Emily is the same way. She can't help you if she doesn't know who she is. And you know that. So why do you want my help?" she asked "Because you're both family, okay? And I know you. You're our sister" Five said as Vanya started the engine "And a member of the Umbrella Academy. Like it or not, that's who you are" Five said "Look, that's who I was, okay? New timeline, new me" Vanya said as she pressed on the gas "No, that's not how it work--!" Five shouted after her as she drove away.

Five then looked at you and you looked down, avoiding his glaze.

"Are you mad at me too? What did he tell you?" he asked "Nothing. It's just. He...." you said before you looked back up at Five "He told me that I was part of saving the world and why I passed out" you answered and Five tilted his head.

"But I just heard that our sister is a ticking time bomb and you just blurted out that when my emotions are high, bad things happen around me. Shit blow up" you said "Em I can explain" he said "Okay, explain, what happen to me?" you asked "I will tell you everything later, just not now" he said and you let out a scoff.

"Vanya's right. I can't help you and I don't even know if I can trust you anymore" you said "Vanya's just confused" Five said "No. It's not just Vanya. I have a feeling that you are keeping things from me. Not what I am to you. Nothing. You left me with more questions than answers. You are talking about timelines and doomsday which I don't even know what means. All those secrets, it's too much for me. I want answers and I'm not going anywhere with you unless I get them" you said "Em, please" he said "I'm not a little puppy that will follow you around because you say so, if you think I am that, then you really don't know me" you said "We don't have time for this. The world is going to end in a few days and we don't have time" he said and you looked down.

"I promise you, I will tell you everything" he said "I'm tired of empty promises Five. I know you told me the good stuff, but didn't you think that it was a good idea to mention that I'm just as dangerous as Vanya" you said before you turned around but then Five grabbed your hand.

"Let go of me" you said "No. Listen" he said before he put your face in his hands "I'm so sorry for not telling you. I wanted to take it slowly 'cause I was scared that you would freak out and hurt your brain even more" he said "Why didn't you tell me?" you asked "I was gonna tell you. I will tell you everything, okay? I promise" he said "I'm tired of broken promises, Five" you said before you stepped back, turning around and walked away.

Five could see that you denies him, just like everyone else, just like his father and his siblings and his colleagues. He want to brush it off. Want to scream that he don't need you, that he want to be alone, that he can survive without you. He want to ignore that part of him that loves your spine, loves your smile, your laugh, your personality, your wildness, loves your conviction, that wishes you would turn them out for him. In his defense, for his purposes. But he couldn't 'cause he is nothing without you.

It was just, your scent, your voice, your smile, your body. You had a hold on him that no one else does. In his eyes, you were a goddess. You were perfect.

Five let out a sigh in sadness as he watch you walk away. 

He was also a bit confused, were you angry at him or not?

He needs you and he hate it, he cannot bring himself to beg you to stay, to save the world by your side. Instead, he will demand. He want you to tell him to breathe, to sleep. He wanted to eat the peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches, you and him always made together, and you made for him everytime he was sad or angry. Then you always made him those sandwiches and always left them outside his bedroom when he didn't want to opened the door.

He want to used your secret whistle, you always used. He want it all back, he want you back.

Five then turned to the building, looking up at the hole to see Luther looking at them through the hole and he put his middle finger up and Five moved his head to the side as he glaring at Luther.

He then put his hands in pockets and turned around "Wonder if it's too late to be un-adopted" he said as he walked away.

---

"So, what, you just let her go?" Diego asked as he was sitting on the couch while Lila was sitting next to him, changing the bandage on his stab wound.

"Well, Vanya had a lot to process" Five said as he walked behind the couch Diego and Lila was sitting on before stopping by a table.

"She'll come around. I know she will" Five said with a sigh as he stopped at the table.

"What about the guys that went after her?" Diego asked "The Swedes?" Five said "Yeah, I mean, how do you know they won't go after her again?" Diego asked as Elliott came into the living room and handed Lila a mug of coffee before he put another mug of coffee on the table for Five.

"We don't" Five said "Mm, any idea who sent them?" Lila asked "Oh, I have my suspicions" Five said and sent Lila a trademark smirks as he picked up his mug from the table.

Lila's eyes then landed on you who was standing by the doorway that lead to the kitchen, holding a mug with coffee with Amy standing next to you.

"But right now, our priority is finding Dad and getting answers, 'cause everything else depends on it" Five said before he sat down on a chair.

You then put down your mug before you walked into your bedroom and lay down on the bed.

"Which, for the record. I found him already" Diego said "And then let him go before we could have a meaningful conversation" Five said as he crossed his right leg over his left "Yeah, he stabbed me" Diego said "I'm surprised he waited this long, Diego. We've all had the urge" Five said causing Elliott and Amy to let out a chuckled while Lila let out a laugh.

"Good one" Lila said, putting her hand out so Five could high five her making him looked at Lila weirdly as he leaned forward.

The highfive wasn't invented till 1977, during a baseball game which is why already there Lila blow her cover.

Five knew that the high five wasn't invented till 1977 which caused him to get more suspicious of her.

Five then looked at Diego "Good thing I know where Dad's gonna be tonight" he said before he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and he leaned more forward, giving it to Diego.

Then Five glanced at you to see that you were laying on your back, looking up at the ceiling.

"Where'd you get this?" Diego asked "Found it at his office while he was busy stabbing you" Five said and Diego let out sarcastically chuckled.

"'Hoyt Hillenkoetter and the Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas cordially invite you to a gala'" Diego read out "Whoa, wait. Hoyt Hillenkoetter?" Elliott asked and the four looked at him "Are you serious?" he asked "You know him?" Five asked "We should go. Says there's gonna be a seafood tower" Lila said.

"No. Hillenkoetter is...is one of the Majestic Twelve" Elliott explained as he pointed at the invitation in Diego's hand.

"The hell is the Majestic Twelve?" Diego asked "What? It's a...a secret committee" Elliott said as he put down his mug before he walked over to a desk in the corner of the room. 

"Uh, scientists, military, uh, deep state. No one know what they really do" he said as he went through the desk, searching through all the papers on the desk.

"Wait, so they're government?" Diego asked "Shadow government" Elliott said before he walked over to another desk "Yeah, Kennedy was the first president to try to push them into the light, but these guys are not to be trifled with" he said "Need help Elliott?" Amy asked as she could see that Elliott was looking for something but he didn't answer her.

"Oh..." Elliott said before he pulled out a picture from a pile of papers "Oh, here we go. Ah, right here" he said and walked over to the others before he put the picture on the table and the others leaned forward to see the picture better "This, uh...Oh, right here" he said, pointing at the picture "That's Hoyt right there" he said "Huh" Five said as Diego let out a grunt and sigh as he sat up slowly.

"I only count 11" Lila said as she looked at the picture.

"Well, that's because they've only identified 11 so far" Elliott answered "Who's the twelfth?" Diego asked and Five looked at Diego with a raised eyebrow.

"NO!" you suddenly screamed before you sat up with a gasp.

As soon as you screamed Five and Amy immediately turned in your direction and Five immediately stood up while Amy rushed to to your room before she quickly sat beside you, rubbing your back. 

"It's okay, it was just a nightmare, you are safe" Amy said as Five blinked to the doorway.

"It's everything about?" Elliott asked as he also stood in the doorway.

"It just happen again" Amy said "What happening again?" Five asked confused.

"She sometimes have nightmares about her killing people. It had happen every since the first night here" Amy said as she kept rubbing your back.

You looked at Five and you could on his face that he knew something "Five, please tell me the truth. Have I killed people? Are my nightmares real?" you asked and Five looked down before he looked back at you.

He took a deep breath before he walked over to you and sat down on the bed next to you.

"If you are ready, I will tell you" he said "I'm ready" you said "We were young. Reginald trained us to save the world. He trained us and took us on missions, saving people from kidnapping, bank robberies, stop robberies. Everything" he started before taking a deep breath.

"You mom wouldn't allow you to go on any missions with us. But one day when we were 13, Reginald went behind your mom's back and he took on a mission. We were in a mall, stopping a huge group of robbers, I took down a man, it turned out he had an explosion vest on, but before he could hit me, you stopped it with your powers. You tried your best, but more men arrived and they started shooting at you but you used your powers to stop the bullets. Then more men arrived, so to protect me and the others, you put us inside a force energy shield. You tried your best holding back the explosion and the other group back. But the more you used your powers, the more it hurt. You were then shot and you lost control. A huge energy wave came out of you, sending the men fly backwards, killing them all. You let go of the man with the vest and he exploded, you were hit by the wave" Five explain and you could see the tears in his eyes.

"You passed out and to save your life, Reginald put something in you, making your powers stronger and you survive because of that. But the serum he put in you, also made your powers more dangerous and your eyes will glow dark red if you let that darkness take over" he said before he took a deep breath.

You clenched your fist as you continued to listen.

"Then Reginald put you on another mission. But you lost control and killed two guys" he said "So I have killed people" you said "Em, you lost control, if it wasn't for you, me and my siblings would all be dead" he said.

"I still killed them Five. Why would I do that?" you asked "We were young. Emotions can be quite uncontrollable when you are a kid. It still does when you are an adult. You can't blame yourself" he said before put his hand on top of your hand as you looked down.

"I heard a rumor...."

"Did I kill more people?" you asked "Yeah but that was after the whole forgetting about us things, so we weren't there" Five said "What happen?" you asked "I don't know" Five lied.

He knew that he couldn't tell you, he was scared that you would freak out and lose control.

"You okay?" Amy asked you as Five was rubbing his thumb up and down on your hand "Yeah, I'm fine" you said "Listen, Diego, Lila and I are gonna go to that gala to see if we can find Reginald, I want you to stay here" Five said and you looked back at him "No, I wanna come with you" you said "Em, it might be dangerous" he said "I don't care I'm coming with you, like it or not" you said before you got up and walked out of the room.

"Don't worry" Amy said and Five looked at her "I will come with you. Just so there are more eyes on her. So you can look for that guy while I look after her" she said "You don't have to" Five said "I know, but I have never being to a gala before. So it will be fun" she said.

---

After have picking up a dress and changed, you walked out of the bed room.

Five stared at you, his eyes going wide as you walked out of the room.

"So how do I look?" you asked as your hair was sat up by Amy's help and you were wearing a dark blue dress.

As Five's eyes met yours, you felt a rush of warmth. Though he was still in his uniform, there was something different about him. Maybe it was the soft smile he was giving you or the way his usual stern demeanor seemed to soften. You felt your cheeks flush, but you couldn't help smiling back. His smile was genuine and surprisingly comforting. 

"You look....I mean that dress....It look...." Five stuttered as he didn't know what to say "I hope the ending to those sentences are good" you smiled.

"So do I look okay?" you asked "I think I understand the different between pretty and beautiful" Five said as he staring at you with a smile and you smiled back.

"Can that boy make it more obviously?" Lila whispered to Amy who just glanced at her.

"Pick your jaw up off the floor, brother, and try not to made it that obviously" Diego whispered to Five and he cleared his throat.

"So do I look okay?" you asked "You look---That dress look---" Five said, not having the words to finished the sentence.

"I hope the ending to those sentences are good" you said "I think I understand the different between pretty and beautiful" Five said as he staring at you with a smile and you smiled back.

"You look nice" Five said "Thank you...you look the same" you replied.

"Would you mind zipping me up?" you turned your back so it face Five "Uh...no" he walked over to stand behind you.

You looked down for a second and then looked at the small mirror hanging on the wall, watching as Five's hands grabbed the zip and slowly started to pull it up. You could feel his soft fingers caressing your spine as they went and it made you shiver. He looked over your shoulder at you in the mirror, his frame only being slightly taller than your own.

You smoothed out your dress. It was dark blue.

"You look beautiful" he was finally able to say as he whispered it in your ear and slowly stroked his hand down your shoulder and to your hand then bringing it up to make you twirl around.

"I know there is work do to tonight...but I do hope you'll save me a dance" you nodded at him then froze as his face came closer and closer to yours. You could feel his breath on your skin and shivers returned throughout your entire body. 

"Of course Darling" he then kissed your cheek softly which caused your eyes to widened.

"Let's go" he said and you scanned him up and down "Are you gong to change?" you asked as you noticed that he was still wearing his old school uniform "What is wrong with my clothes?" he asked "We're going to a ball not your first school day, you look like a little kid that is looking for his mom" you said "Shut up" he said with a smile. 

"When you feel pain, listen to what it is trying to tell you"

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