Ok I have decided to divide this topic into 3 parts instead of the 2 i was originally planning. I forgot to explain more about the characters and their roles in Chain of Memories. So, forth with I shall begin with Vexen and so on then in the next part discuss what we have discovered, what we have learnt and how this effects Kingdom Hearts 2.
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Vexen; Well Vexen definitely plays an important role in CoM. He is a scientest for the Organisation and is the highest ranking member of the Organisation at Castle Oblivion. During Sora's part of the story he appears to work for Marluxia and eventually gets 'erased' by Axel because he was a traitor. I'm not sure but Vexen brings Sora to Twilight Town by giving his the card to do so. HE then reveals to Sora about the 'other side of his heart' which we see in this dialogue.
Sora: Who are you?!
Vexen: That's no way to greet a stranger, Sora. I am Vexen. I've come to
collect your debt.
Goofy: Do you owe him something?
Sora: Of course not!
Vexen: Oh, but you do. You owe me for reuniting you with your former friend.
Sora: You don't mean —
Vexen: Yes. I am the one who brought Riku to you.
Sora: So...you're the one... You're the one who's been controlling him! What
have you done with him?
Vexen: I see no need to tell you. Why trouble in your final moments?
You battle Vexen.
Vexen: Splendid! As expected, you don't die so easily.
Sora: As if I'd ever lose to you!
Vexen: You'll yet have your chance. As we fought, I delved deep into your
memory...and look what I found. This is a card crafted from memories
locked in the other side of your heart. If you want to fight me for
real, then step into the world within this card!
Vexen throws you a world card and vanishes.
Sora: Come back! (looking at card) Other side? What's he talking about?
Larxene: Is it just me, or has Vexen finally lost it? Now he's done something
REALLY rash...What now, Axel? The show's over if Sora finds out about
the other side.
Axel: If he just passes through without catching on, we can patch things up
later. But if not...
Marluxia: Let Naminé handle this. In the meantime, Axel, you know what to do.
Axel: No, I don't. Maybe you could spell it out for me.
Marluxia: Rid us of our traitor.
Axel: Done. There's no taking that order back later.
Axel leaves.
then just before Vexen is 'erased' by Axel Vexen and Sora talk more
Goofy: What's the matter?
Sora: I feel kind of funny. I'm sure I don't know this place, but it's starting
to feel real familiar...
Donald: Then you must've been here before.
Sora: That's just it. I never have.
Goofy: Maybe it's like with Naminé. You forgot other stuff, so now you remember
this place.
Sora: No...it's different. With Naminé, the memories of us together sort of
came drifting back piece by piece. But here, there are no memories.
Everything feels familiar, that's all.
Vexen: Does it, now? (appearing) A question, then, Sora... Which is more real
to you: your memories of Naminé, or the familiarity you feel here?
Sora: Naminé, of course! Whatever I feel here is just some trick of yours!
Vexen: Ha ha ha... The memory's wiles are cruel. In its silence, we forget. And
in its perversion, it binds our hearts firmly.
Sora: I don't have time for your riddles!
Vexen: Then recall that this place was made from another side of your memory.
Yes, the other side of your heart knows this place. The other side
remembers.
Sora: You're wrong! I don't know this place!
Vexen: If you remain bound by the chains of memory, and refuse to believe your
heart...then you may as well throw your heart away. You're no Keyblade
master, no master of anything — just a slave to twisted memories. Just
like my Riku. You're not fit to exist.
Sora: YOUR Riku? (readying to fight) You're so full of it! YOU'RE the one who
changed Riku, aren't you? Every word you've said is a lie! I'd never
throw away my heart! I'm gonna take you down and save Riku and Naminé.
THAT's what's in my heart!
You battle Vexen and get experience and the Vexen card by winning.
Vexen: Urrgh... Such strength, even at the mercy of your memory... You ARE
dangerous! You must be exterminated!
Sora: Fine, whatever! Just put Riku back the way he was!
Vexen: Put him back? Fool of a boy! Even now you understand nothing. The Riku
you speak of has but one fate — to sink into the emptiness of darkness.
And you will share that fate, Sora! If you continue to seek the girl
Naminé, the shackles will tighten... You'll lose your heart and become
Marluxia's pawn!
Sora: Marluxia? Who's that, and what do they have to do with Nami—
Axel's weapon strikes Vexen from behind.
Vexen: Gaah?!
Vexen falls to knees and Axel appears.
Sora: Axel!
Axel: Hey, Sora. Sorry to cut in right when he was getting to the juicy bits.
Vexen: Unnngh... Axel, wh...why...?
Axel: You sure love to talk. It's about time you shut up — forever.
Vexen: No... Don't do it...!
Axel: We're nobodies, Vexen. We've got no one to be — but we still "are." So
look on the bright side. You're off the hook. Now you can be nothing
instead of just being nobody.
Vexen: M-Mercy, Axel! I don't want to...go yet...
Axel: NOW you can tell me I don't respect my elders.
Axel slashes Vexen; Vexen dies and disappears.
Sora: What the... What ARE you people?
Axel: Wish I knew the answer to that myself.
Axel disappears, you are sent to the exit room, and you exit Twilight Town.
Anyway froms this we learn there is 'another side of the heart' which is very confusing so I'll talk about this later. Anyway when we play through Reverse Rebirth (aptly named because Riku is going through every world he visited up to this moment in order to rid himself of his darkness and become reborn) we see that Vexen was originally working with Lexaeus and Zexion. It seems they are planning to stop Marluxia from taking over the Organisation by harnessing Riku and his dark powers. That is how the Copy Riku is born. Vexen battles Riku and gathers data on him to create a copy but Vexen is sent by Zexion, more or less, to stop Marluxia or as Zexion puts it 'clean up the mess'.
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Lexaeus; he isn't seen at all in Sora's story but he is working against Marluxia while working with Zexion and Vexen. The only significant event with Lexaeus is he unleashes Riku's darkness when Riku defets him.
Riku sees Lexaeus upon entering the hallway.
Riku: That scent... You're another "nobody."
Lexaeus: You've done well to make it this far, Riku. Your reputation is well
deserved. But to be scared of the darkness... What a waste.
Riku: I'm...I'm not scared.
Lexaeus: I can see that you are. You have the potential to control it. Cast
away the fear that weakens you. Unbind your heart, and take hold of
the darkness within.
Riku: And if I say no?
Lexaeus: Then you end here — light, darkness, and all!
Lexaeus uses a dark energy blast.
Riku: Urgh!
Lexaeus: See the power of darkness! I, Lexaeus, will not yield to a
frail-hearted craven! Now, end your resistance, and let the darkness
in!
You battle Lexaeus and get experience and the Lexaeus enemy card by winning.
Lexaeus: Such... Such power!
Riku: Huff...huff... What's wrong...Lexaeus... Is that all...darkness can do?
Lexaeus: Well...It seems...I am beaten... But the Organization shall triumph! I
may perish, but all the darkness within me will billow forth and
devour you!
Lexaeus disappears with a dark energy blast leaving Riku engulfed in darkness.
Riku: What the — (lying in the darkness) What...what happened? Where am I...
?????: I can see... I can see clearly!
Riku: Lexaeus?!
?????: Riku... I can see your heart...
Riku: No, it can't be... Darkness this foul could only belong to one person...
?????: That's it, remember me... Let me drift into your heart...
Riku: Ansem!
?????: Mwa ha ha... You called my name, Riku... You're thinking about me...
You're afraid of the darkness I command. Good... The more you think of
me, the closer my return draws. And when I awaken...
Ansem: (appearing) Your heart will be mine!
??????: Riku, fight! Don't let Ansem take you!
The glowing energy ball appears.
Riku: That voice...
Mickey appears between Riku and Ansem.
Riku: Your Majesty!
Ansem: Meddlesome king!
Riku appears back in Castle Oblivion alone.
Riku: Unnh... The king... protected me? Your Majesty, where are you? Please
answer! You're with me...aren't you...
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Zexion; He appears to lead the second group in Castle Oblivion. From what I was thinking this guy was powerful but only demonstrates one ability. He creates the illusion that he is Sora when he faces off against Riku and loses. Zexion is attempting to stop Marluxia but does barely anything to do so but give orders to higher rank Organisation members. One thing I must note is when Zexion first catches Riku's 'scent'.
??????: Don't I even get a hello, Lexaeus?
Vexen appears.
Vexen: What's going on, Zexion? I demand an explanation.
Zexion: Nice to see you too, Vexen. You know, it's deplorable... The
Organization used to be the rope that binds us. And now it's full of
kinks.
Vexen: How dare you!
Lexaeus: Let it go, Vexen. Zexion, tell us. What did you detect?
Zexion: Visitors. I picked up two scents in the castle's lowest basement. One
of them was Maleficent, but —
Vexen: Absurd. The witch is gone. She cannot return from the realm of darkness
of her own volition.
Zexion: If you'd let me finish... The scent belonged to a very convincing
double. But I can't say much beyond that, since the would-be Maleficent
is no more. Our other visitor saw to that.
Lexaeus: Who is it?
Zexion: I don't know... But the scent was very similar to the Superior's.
Exactly similar, if I may say.
Vexen: Rubbish!
Zexion: Fact, Vexen. Now, what shall we do?
Lexaeus: Let us bide our time and see what develops.
then
Zexion: I've identified the scent. It's Riku.
Vexen: Riku? But Riku is gone! He and that king were lost when they ventured
beyond the door to darkness. How could he have escaped?
Zexion: Riku once shouldered the darkness. Perhaps that made him half-dark.
Vexen: And that's why you mistook him for the Superior. Fascinating... The dark
power given to Riku facilitated his escape from the realm of darkness.
One with ties to both the Keyblade and the powers of darkness... This
merits further research.
Zexion: What I want to know is why Riku appeared here in Castle Oblivion.
Vexen: Ha! That's simple. His existence resonates with that of another hero.
Sora came, so Riku followed.
Zexion: Sora's in the castle?
Vexen: Yes, he and his companions arrived earlier. By now that dog Marluxia is
already using Naminé to meddle with Sora's heart.
Zexion: Interesting. I had no idea.
Vexen: I don't think Marluxia plans to hand Sora over, but...he can play his
little game. If he gets Sora, then we need only acquire Riku. If he
truly is like the Superior, then we will be untouchable!
I will discuss the whole relation to the Superior later. Zexion is defeated after Sora's story. Axel brings the Copy Riku with him and after Zexion's defeat to Riku the Copy Riku absorbs himself into Zexion for added power so he can defeat the real Riku but I believe Axel was using this opportunity to finish off the refuse from the entire Castle Oblivion fiasco since Axel is sure that Riku would defeat his copy.
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Ok well thats the other Organisation members so I will be next post dicuss in relation to KH2 and talk about the Superior and my opinion on him.
I would like to thank you all for reading my post and for your replies and interest into this topic. I will try my best to present you with accurate details and make then as close to the truth as possible at this stage. Naturally you can argue a point but give reason. I shall also be answering any questions on the weekend on this thread regarding Chain of Memories for anything else for that matter from 3:00pm to 5:00pm (AUSTRALIAN EST Sydney, Melbourne, etc time).
Talk to you guys soon