KH: Here's my first multi-chapter story on FanFiction. I hope you enjoy it.

Kratos: Why are people so fascinated with my story?

KH: 'Cause your just awesome like that. Can you say the disclaimer for me while your here? Please? -puppy pout-

Kratos: Alright, just stop that. Kharlan Hero does not own Tales of Symphonia.

KH: Thanks. Let the story begin!

BEEP!

What is it now?! I check my communicator, it says Yggdrasil, oh joy. Maybe if I ignore it, it'll go away.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Of course not...

"Yes, my lord?"

"Don't ignore me Kratos!"

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Hmph, just get to the throne room now!"

My communicator clicks off and I begin making my way from my room in Welgaia to the throne room. I walk at a leisurely pace rather then teleporting, not finding any reason to hurry to see him.

"It's about time you got here, Kratos!"

"What do you require of me, my lord?"

"You don't have to call me that when only the Seraphim are around."

"I don't want to get into a habit of disrespect, I apologize, Yggdrasil."

He frowns at my use of his last name, he meant for me to call him by his first name and we both know it. I pretend it is simply a show of respect, and he falls for it. Truthfully, I refuse to call him by his first name, in my point of view, Mithos died with Martel.

"Kratos!"

The sound of my name being screeched pierces my ears and I realize he must have called my name multiple times, judging by the look on his face.

"Yes, Yggdrasil?"

"My reason for calling you is that I have a new task for you."

"What?"

"Pronyma informs me that Kvar has been bragging about an 'Angelus Project'. I want you to find out what it is."

"I will head for the Asgard Ranch immediately."

"Good."

I perform a slight bow and take my leave. I go to my room to prepare, it doesn't take much, I simply change into my mercenary outfit and I'm ready. Packing is a lot simpler when you don't have to eat or sleep. Rather that walk to the transporter, I teleport directly from my room to a location a few minutes walk from the Asgard Ranch. It's a few moments before I can start walking, I've never gotten the hang of teleporting. As I approach my destination, my headache from teleporting still hasn't gone away, but I can bear it if it means getting away from that lifeless city, though the Ranch is not exactly the choice vacation spot.

~O~

When I arrive at the Ranch, Desians immediately move to surround me, after all, as far as they know I am just some human who somehow walked into their Ranch. Kvar makes his appearance shortly after and immediately orders his soldiers to get back to their duties.

"Hello, Kvar."

"Greetings, Lord Seraph. It's a pleasure to see you again. What brings you to my Ranch?"

" Lord Yggdrasil sent me to investigate you 'Angelus Project'."

"I see."

"Care to tell me just what you intend with this secret project of yours?"

"Come into my office and I will answer any questions you have."

As I follow Kvar to his office, I glance around at some of the prisoners. Most of them keep their eyes on their tasks, but one young brunette woman is standing there, glaring at me. A Desian yells at her to get back to work, and she goes back to her rather pointless task of pushing large stone blocks from one side of the Ranch to the other. We arrive in Kvar's office and he sits at his desk.

"So, what do you wish to know, Lord Seraph?"

"What exactly this project of yours is."

"I am creating an cruxis crystal from an exsphere using one of the host bodies. I intended to present it to Lord Yggdrasil as soon as it was complete."

"I would like to see the host body and any files on the Angelus Project."

"Of course."

He sends for 'A102'.

~O~

He brings up the files for the Angelus Project on his computer and I begin reading through them. It's not very interesting. Just some progress reports that basically say 'everything's fine' and the research behind the project. I'll have to send these to Yuan, I never really cared much for how expheres were made, and as such don't understand everything in the files at first glance. I am interrupted in my reading when the door opens and two Desians drag in who is presumably A012.

"I assume this is A102 from the Angelus Project." I look up then and to my surprise see the girl from earlier, the one who had glared at me. Despite having just been almost literally dragged in by Desians, she's standing their defiantly, glaring death at Kvar.

"Yes, she has a bit of an attitude problem, but she is the best experimental subject yet," Kvar answers smugly.

"I wish to question her, I trust you have no objections to her missing her remaining work." Not a question, merely a statement. No Desian, even a Grand Cardinal, could oppose one of the Four Seraphim and hope to live.

"You may do what you wish, my lord," he replies with what is supposed to be a submissive look. He turns to address his lackeys. "Set up a room where he may question A012."

With that the Desians grab the prisoner once more and lead me to an empty room where they take up posts at the door.

"You may leave."

"Sir, we must make sure that A012 doesn't attempt to escape."

"I think I am more than capable of handling a mere human, or do you wish to oppose me?" They give me a frightened look before hurriedly saying "At once, my lord," and scurrying out.

I turn back to the woman standing in the middle of the room. "What is your name?"

"Give me your name and I'll give you mine!" she answers defiantly.

"My name is not important at the moment. Now I would suggest you give me your name, unless you want me to continue calling you host body A102."

"Anna. My name is Anna. But why would a Desian like you care?"

"I am not a Desian."

"But I distinctly heard Kvar call you lord. What else could you be?"

"I do have authority over Kvar, but I am not a Desian."

"What?"

"It is not important. Now tell me anything you know about the Angelus Project, Anna."

She looks startled that I used her name but quickly recovers, at least enough to speak. "I don't know much. Just that this stone they put on my hand is different somehow than the others'. Kvar personally checks on mine once a week, at least, and I've been here longer than anyone else ever is."

"Are you treated any differently than the other prisoners?"

"Other than the weekly checkups, not really."

"Come with me." I started walking out of the room. I led her back to the cell block that she was in and handed her over to some of the Desians there before heading to the quarters I had been assigned. My communicator beeped.

Answering it I said, "Yes?"

"Hello, Kratos. Lord Yggdrasil told me to check up on you." Yuan replied.

"Why? Normally he would just wait for my report when I get back."

"There is no 'normal' with Lord Yggdrasil anymore. Anyway, he's rather interested in some 'Angelus Project'. But, he's busy with something or other, so I got ordered to do it. What is the Angelus Project anyway?"

"Kvar's trying to make a cruxis crystal out of an exsphere. I'll send the files to you."

It's quiet for a few minutes, he's no doubt looking over the files I just sent him. Finally, "Interesting..."

"Do you think it could actually work?"

"Possibly."

"Possibly? Is that all you can say?"

"It depends on a lot of little things. If he can find a suitable host body for it, then yes, it could work. I need to report this to Lord Yggdrasil now."

"Alright." And with that, Yuan terminated the connection.

~O~

The next day, I went back to the cell block where Anna was being held. I heard voices long before I actually saw what was going on.

"You actually thought you could escape?" Kvar's voice. I can practically hear his sneer.

"I will get away from here someday!" Anna.

A crack split the air. "Hold your tongue, inferior being!"

Silence. A tense silence finally broken by Kvar. "Get them to work."

"Yes, sir."

I chose that moment to make my presence known. "Kvar, I want to examine A012's exphere, she's coming with me."

"They all have work to do, including her."

I look at him, but don't say anything. A few moments later, he seems to realize the error of his ways. "But, in this case I can make an exception."

He goes to order a couple of his guards to take her. "The guards won't be necessary. Is the room I used yesterday still free?"

"Yes, you may use it."

I lead Anna away. It puzzles me how she can stand up to the Desians like that. A typical human would have given way to the inevitable by now. We have arrived at the room and I begin examining the exsphere on her hand. "I hear you tried to escape last night."

"What of it?"

"Why? There's no way a human like you could beat the Desians, especially weakened by an exsphere like you are."

"Is that a fact?"

"Technically, no."

"I will get out of here eventually."

I look up from the exsphere, "Why do you say that? There is no way you could beat the Desians. Your only hope would be for the Chosen to complete her journey, and I doubt this one will even begin hers."

"It is not impossible."

"Yes it is. No one can stop the Desians." There's no way to stop Yggdrasil's mad scheme, whatever this human says. He doesn't listen to reason, anyone who so much as suggests that he shouldn't be doing this is almost certain to die within ten seconds.

"I will get out." She said it with finality. This conversation was over, and she hadn't changed her opinion a bit.

"I am finished with you for now." I lead her back to her cell. She walked beside me with her head held high. Despite what I would expect, she didn't object when I directed her into the cell and locked the door behind her. She just stood there with a look that said, 'I'm right and you know it'. As I walk away towards my quarters, I keep thinking about our conversation. I can't understand how she can say that she'll get out with such certainty. There's something different about her.

KH: For all of you who read it to the end, thank you very much.

Kratos: As always, reviews would be appreciated.

KH: I hope to get the next chapter up in a few days, but I can't guarantee anything. Also, I'm not good with titles, so any suggestions of a better title for this story would be welcomed.