The Best Laid Plans
Disclaimer: We don't own the rights to the Professor Layton series.
Author's Note: This was co-written by me(SyberiaWinx, writer of the Disclaimer and Author's Note) and various others. I was originally working on this with cutiepie343. Then she just disappeared for months, before finally telling me she was ditching the story, with no real explanation. Her overall contribution to the story was about three paragraphs, which were largely edited by me. The whole overall story was my idea alone. Then Gatita101 stepped in to take her place, only to pull the same stunt. Given that cutepie343 has essentially purged her account, along with various other clues during the time I've worked with both of them, I suspect the two of them are one person who played me. After that, there were a few others who agreed to work with me on the story and then did the same thing soon after, including JadeVera. I have no respect for people who do such cruel things. Anthea Triton started writing with me after that.
I'm always on the lookout for more co-authors, though, and there is planned to be a lot more of this story. Please remember to review! This story took a LONG time to write, and as you can see, it was NOT an easy road. Taking a bit of your time to give your thoughts and state your favorite part means a lot.
Also, please be warned that this does contain some SPOILERS for Mask of Miracle. I should also note that while we do know some spoilers, none of us have actually played it. So, don't complain if something differs from the game.
If Lando Ascad were asked to describe how he felt being led down the extravagant hallway of Descole's lair in three words or less, he would have said "out of place".
The thirty-five-year-old ran a hand through his wild red hair, almost feeling a little self-conscious. He was a tall man, tan and more muscular than his thin frame would suggest after eighteen years spent toiling away on a farm. His clothes were as simple as his life used to be, consisting of a long-sleeved black shirt, off-white slacks, and black boots. He had a light blue blazer that he usually wore tucked into his bag, and he suddenly wished he had it on now, so he could look at least a little more suited to such a formal setting.
Not that one article of clothing would have bridged the much more noticeable gap between himself and his guide-the scientist Jean Descole.
The man who walked a few feet ahead of him either had not noticed or simply did not care that the other was lagging behind. He continued onward briskly, his cloak flowing behind him. Almost everything he wore was some shade of brown-his cloak, his fancy suit, his unusual hat. His weird shirt with the ruffles at the cuff was white, and his tie was black…and he had on dark green and white saddle shoes. He also wore a white mask, which completely hid his eyes and made him look like some kind of theater performer.
Lando had thought the other man was a bit weird even before he actually met him in person. He'd been an amnesiac for eighteen years, after being found unconscious and badly injured in some ruins by the man whose farm he spent those years working on. He had apparently fallen from a pretty great height, and it took him a long time to recover. Even without his memories, he'd led a pretty happy, carefree life.
Then, one day, a strange letter came for him. It told him about who he used to be and those he had left behind. He learned that one of his closest friends had betrayed him, claiming the treasure that he had nearly died trying to reach the day of his accident. To make matters worse, that "friend" had then married the girl he had once loved enough to want to marry himself. She had forgotten about him and moved on with someone who had stolen what was rightfully his-she had betrayed him too.
The letter had filled him with rage, and it's sender-Jean Descole-seemed to have predicted that reaction. Though he wouldn't tell Lando how he knew so much about him, he had proposed that the man come to the town where his former friends now lived-to get revenge. Despite the strange circumstances, he had impulsively agreed to meet who he imagined to be a very strange person.
Meeting him had only confirmed those thoughts.
Lando didn't know why he felt so inadequate next to this man, strange as he was. They were about the same height and build, though the other was fairer skinned. Why should fancy clothes make that much of a difference?
But it wasn't just clothes, Lando realized. It was the way Descole walked too. He had a proud stride, powerful and regal. Unlike himself, the other man strode confidently forward. Lando's own pace was slow and unsure. The difference between them was even noticeable in the way each man spoke. Descole was so much more sure of himself, while Lando mostly stayed quiet and always sounded nervous when he did speak. He wasn't normally like that back home, but the other man intimidated him…and maybe impressed him, just a little.
They finally reached the end of the hall. Descole flung the doors open with an elaborate gesture that made Lando want to roll his eyes. He got the feeling this guy was incapable of entering a room normally.
Descole led Lando into a large room, filled mostly by some strange machine. Lando didn't really know how to describe it. It was a gigantic, gold-colored thing, with so many buttons, dials, gauges, levers, and colorful wires of various sizes that he really had no idea what it was even supposed to be. The only thing he could safely identify was a chair of the same color and material as the rest of the machine. It reminded him of the kind you might expect to see in a dentist's office, but given the weird blue headset and all the wires leading from it to the machine, he had a feeling it was very different. The other man had told him he was a scientist, but he hadn't really believed it until now. But what the heck kind of "scientist" was he?
For the first time since leading him into this place, Descole turned to face Lando. He almost seemed excited as he showed off the machine with a wave of his hand. "This…" He paused dramatically. "…is the Detragon Mark II."
Lando blinked, not having a clue what kind of reaction the other man expected from him. However, it was clear he did expect one, so he smiled awkwardly. "Uh…It's nice?"
"Hmph." Descole looked a bit irritated, so that was clearly not the response he had been hoping for. He turned around and stalked over to the machine.
Sighing, Lando followed him. This guy made him nervous. He still really had no idea what the other was planning, and he was beginning to fear he had been tricked into being part of some bizarre experiment.
Descole suddenly turned to face Lando again, causing him to stop suddenly in his tracks, a little startled. "Obviously you won't understand the specifics," Lando's eyes narrowed at this statement, realizing the other man probably thought of him as nothing more than a dumb country bumpkin. "But this machine allows me to copy a person's memories."
Lando couldn't hide his surprise. Was such a thing really possible? He wanted to ask how it worked, but decided against it. While he didn't consider himself anywhere near as stupid as Descole seemingly thought he was, he was pretty sure the explanation would go way over his head. He wasn't that much of a mechanical person, and he knew from their conversation when he had first arrived that the other liked showing off his extensive vocabulary, even if it meant confusing the heck out of whomever he was talking to.
"So, what do you do with the memories once you've, uh, copied them?" Lando asked.
Descole smirked. "I enter them, of course."
"Wha…?" Lando couldn't even finish, staring at the other man in shock.
This reaction seemed to amuse the scientist, for he chuckled. "That's right." He gestured to a chamber off to the side of the machine. "Once the memories have been copied, I can use this to project myself into them. It's like I'm actually there, experiencing the people and places the subject knows, but, of course, none of it is really real. And since it's just a copy, the memories of the subject remain unaltered."
"That's…amazing."
"Naturally."
Ignoring the other's lack of humility, Lando looked around. They were the only ones in the room. "So…where is the subject? Have you actually tried this before?"
Descole's knowing smile disturbed him. "Oh, I've tried it before, but never on anyone truly…interesting."
Lando swallowed nervously. Even though Descole's eyes were hidden by his mask, he felt uneasy under his gaze. "Why exactly did you bring me here?" he asked, trying to hide his discomfort.
The other man smirked. "Because I want to see your memories."
Even though he had seen that twist coming, Lando still took a step back, fear racing through him. He felt like he had sprung some kind of trap and was now going to be the lab rat for this well-dressed mad scientist. "W-what?" he squeaked, for once not caring how lame he sounded.
His fear only seemed to amuse the other man. "Relax, Ascad. It's not dangerous. You just sit in this chair," Descole placed his hand on the one Lando had seen earlier. "And put on this helmet. Once I activate the machine, you'll fall into a peaceful sleep, and a copy of your memories will be stored inside the Detragon."
"…And then what?" Descole's explanation had done little to ease Lando's doubts. He was still suspicious of the other's intentions. "How exactly does this tie into the 'plan' you were talking about in your letter?"
"It doesn't… Directly, anyway. My knowledge of your memories is incomplete, and I think it might be more beneficial for both of us if I rectify that now. You do want this plan to succeed, don't you?"
"Yeah, but…" Lando eyed the helmet uncertainly. He thought he remembered pretty much everything. Was this really necessary?
Descole sighed at his continued hesitance. "You really are making too much of this. As I already said, it will take but a few moments, and you'll sleep through the whole thing. And weren't you tired from your trip anyway?" Lando fidgeted in discomfort, and the other man smirked again. "Or are you perhaps afraid I might find a certain memory?"
Lando's face turned as red as his hair. "W-what are you talking about?!" He honestly had no idea what the man was insinuating, but he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"I'm not interested in anything frivolous you might have experienced as a teen. I am more interested in the circumstances that led up to your tragic accident. Let's not waste any more time. Will you cooperate?"
Though Lando wanted to know why he couldn't just tell the other what had happened before he fell, he held his tongue. He was sure Descole would just give him another lengthy explanation that really didn't answer anything at all. With a sigh, he gave in. "Fine. I'll do it."
Descole grinned a little too eagerly. "Excellent." He took the helmet into his hands, freeing the seat up for use.
Lando set his bag on the floor and slowly climbed into the seat. He eyed the weird-looking helmet with a frown. "Do I really have to put that thing on? It's going to mess up my hair!" Even he wasn't sure if he was joking or not.
Descole frowned and looked like he wanted to say something, but he ultimately remained silent. Instead, he leaned forward and slid the helmet over the other's wild red locks. He turned away without so much as a second glance, walking quickly over to a control panel.
Lando watched nervously as the man produced a key from an unseen pocket with a flourish, inserting it into the lone keyhole on the large contraption. He turned it and started messing around with the various switches and dials, causing the machine to hum to life. Lando gripped the armrests of the chair nervously.
Descole walked back over to where he was seated, but his gaze was fixated on a small monitor beside him. There was a large lever beside it, and Lando's heart skipped a beat when Descole rested his hand on it.
The other man finally looked at him again, but the smile on his face was hardly as comforting as Lando had hoped it would be. There was something devious in that grin, and he couldn't help wondering just what he had gotten himself into.
He didn't have time to think about it, though, as Descole slowly moved the lever down.
The machine whirred to life, far more quietly than Lando would have expected. He saw the monitor light up, green text rapidly appearing on the screen. As he struggled to read what it said, he felt his eyelids growing heavy. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness, was Descole and that unsettling, way-too-pleased smirk of his.
Descole watched the machine carefully, until he was certain Lando's memories had been successfully copied. He grinned, pleased, and pressed the button that opened the door to the chamber that would project him inside the memories he had just obtained. Without a moment's hesitation-he had done this many times before, after all,-he stepped inside.
The doors closed with a whoosh! behind the scientist, leaving him standing inside the narrow tube. He lowered the switch on his right, causing new sounds to spew from his machine. The chamber started to vibrate, and his vision blurred. The rest of his senses seemed to go numb as well, and he felt as if he had been suddenly plunged underwater. His limbs were so heavy, and he could feel his own consciousness starting to slip away as he slumped against the wall.
But although he most certainly had been put under by his machine, Descole did not seem to experience this. Just like all the previous times, the weight he'd been feeling slowly lifted, and his senses started to come back to him. His vision cleared, and he found himself someplace he did not recognize.
The hard metal floor beneath him had been replaced by lush green grass. No longer was he in the tight confines of the chamber. Instead, he was out in the open, surrounded by trees and flowers. The only bright light beating down on him came from the sun, which hung in a beautiful, clear blue sky. And even though he was not truly outside, he could still feel the gentle breeze that danced around him.
It was a peaceful place, so unlike what he was used to. He rarely went outside, unless it was to investigate some ruins or put into effect a plan that would lead to him investigating new ruins. And though he was loathe to admit it, he was almost tempted to linger for a moment and enjoy it.
Almost.
There were more important things to do right now. Descole was hardly pressed for time-he had found that he could spend hours in these simulations if he wanted,-but that didn't mean he needed to waste that time. And he wanted to get back before Lando woke up. He was finally confident enough that his machine would work that he hadn't bothered to have Raymond stand watch in case something went wrong. He'd been far too eager to get his hands on Lando's memories. If his guest woke up, there was always a chance he might mess with the controls and cause problems for him.
Descole felt well enough to get moving-it always took a few moments for the effects of entering the simulation to wear off,-only to realize he had no idea where to go. He wasn't even sure were exactly he was. He'd set the Detragon to take him to the time in Lando's life just before the accident, and his target had to be somewhere nearby.
"Ha ha ha!" A girl's laughter interrupted his thoughts. Going still, he listened intently and deduced that she was quickly approaching his current location. He leapt into a nearby tree, watching as three teens came into view.
The girl he had heard was a pretty blonde of about seventeen. Descole noted that she looked vaguely familiar, though he could not immediately place where he had seen her before. His gaze shifted to her companions, both boys of the same age.
One had a ridiculous-looking afro of brown hair, and it took all of his effort not to snort at the mere sight of it. To avoid blowing his cover, he quickly looked over at the other boy, a smirking redhead who wore glasses. His eyes widened slightly, as he focused on the teen's face. Was that…
"You're so funny, Lando!" The girl's sudden exclamation confirmed his suspicions. That young man with the red hair was a teenage Lando Ascad-the very person whose memories he was currently in.
"F-funny?!" the boy with the afro stuttered, his voice putting Descole on edge for some reason. "He's insane!"
Lando puffed his chest out in pride. "Don't you mean 'amazing'?" His voice just oozed confidence. It was hard to believe he was the same awkward man Descole had met only a few minutes earlier. How time could change a person…
"No, I'm pretty sure I meant 'insane'." the other boy replied in a mutter, rolling his eyes.
The girl laughed again. "Oh, Hershel!"
That name made Descole twitch. Of course. How could he have been so stupid? That voice and that face… The other young man was-or would one day be-his nemesis, Professor Hershel Layton. He had almost forgotten that Lando and Layton had been friends in their high school days, before that accident left everyone believing Lando was dead. That connection was one of the reasons he had been so eager to get his hands on these memories in the first place. As for the other…
"No one gets away with thinking they can best me in fencing!" Lando said with a grin, before changing the subject. "Anyway, I've got to get going. If I don't hurry, I won't make it there and back by nightfall. See you guys later!" With nothing more than a wave, he started to run off.
Descole looked after him, then back at the people he had just left, wondering which he should stick with. Lando would likely have more information about his goal, but Layton probably would as well. And it might be a good idea to learn more about the troublesome professor. It was still not an easy decision, though, and he was running out of time to make it.
"Lando, wait!" Thankfully, the girl made it for him. Or, at least, bought him some time. She ran after Lando and grabbed his wrist, though he had already stopped the moment she'd called out to him.
"What's wrong, Sharon?"
The name clicked in Descole's mind. Of course. Sharon was the name of the girl Lando had liked back then. She was someone Descole had been studying for quite some time in the present, as he'd hoped to use her to manipulate Lando sometime in the future.
"You're going to those dangerous ruins again, aren't you?"
Ruins? Now that was what Descole wanted to hear. The ruins of this time greatly interested him, even more so than typical ruins. They were connected in some way to the ruins he was after in the present, he was sure of that. And Lando Ascad was the key to unlocking the mysteries of both. That was why he'd tried so hard to find him, certain he was still alive. After all, his body had never been found, nor was a certain item he'd had on his person-an item Descole desperately needed.
Though Sharon was clearly upset, Lando just flashed her a confident grin. "Don't worry. There's nothing out there I can't handle!"
Descole scoffed, knowing just how false that statement really was.
Layton immediately looked up. "Did you guys hear something?"
The other two immediately looked up, and Descole cursed inwardly. That had been reckless of him. Thankfully, none of them seemed to spot him.
"I didn't hear anything…" Sharon frowned, returning her gaze to her friend.
Lando snickered. "I think Hershie is hearing things." he teased.
Layton's face reddened. "I-I was sure I…" He didn't finish. The other two laughed.
Descole felt his heart ache a little. They seemed so close. He'd never known friendship like that, and the only real company he ever had was his loyal butler, Raymond. But no sooner had he thought that, than he shook his head. No, such things were worthless, only useful for manipulating those who held them so dear. And he knew this friendship would not truly last. Lando would get in an accident that would leave everyone thinking he was dead, and Sharon would be devastated. After graduation, it would be eighteen years before Layton and Sharon even spoke again. Looking at how happy they all were now, it almost made him feel sad. But that was another useless emotion. He needed to focus on the plan he had spent so long forming.
"Well, I really need to get going." Lando said again. Seeing Sharon's worried expression return, he did his best to give her a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, and tomorrow, I'll tell you all about it."
Sharon's fears did not seem to be eased by this, so Layton chimed in. "I'll stop by his house later tonight and make sure he's home safe." His smile seemed to be much more comforting to her than Lando's self-confident one.
"Alright…" It was clear that Sharon was still not happy about him going, but knew she was never going to convince him not to.
Lando's smile became surprisingly soft. "It'll all be fine, Sharon. I promise." His confident grin returned. "Later!" He turned and ran off, moving faster than before.
Not wanting to lose him, Descole leapt from his hiding place, making sure only that the other two would not immediately see him as he landed. They no doubt heard the sound he'd made, but there had been no time to wait for them to leave.
The scientist wasn't going to wait for them to spot him either. He took off after Lando, taking care stay out of sight.
