Author's note: I've got good news and bad news regarding this story. The bad news is that my interest in this particular story is waning. The good news is that this doesn't mean discontinuation is inevitable, it just means updating of this will be less frequent than updating of my other stories. I still haven't manage to find a solution to my little dilemma of how to portray the other l'Cie correctly in their current situation. To that end, I'm issuing possible OOC warnings for each of them.
Chapter 4: During the Tragedy part 3: Exposure of Hope
Hope found himself rather ecstatic, continuously saying "It's so good to be home!" while his companions were just trying to adjust to 'home'. Snow and Lightning were continuously asking "Is this really a Pulse ship?" with the third companion repeatedly telling them that Gran Pulse didn't have the technology to build something like this, and if they did build the ship, there would be a little bit more color inside instead of "this strange metallic grey interior". This particular companion couldn't believe that Hope's 'home' was so tasteless. Not tasteless… lifeless. She had seen places devoid of life, but they looked more like life was extinguished, and less like there was no life there to begin with… of any kind.
Hope's three companions were now in one room of the geth ship with Bartholomew, while he was with Legion in the ship's control room. Despite its reassurances, and the lack of hostile action against him so far, Hope still felt that his companions, being from an extremely xenophobic society in the beginning, wouldn't continue being this lenient. Legion was hacking into the Sanctum database again upon Hope's request, trying to locate two specific individuals, both of whom the latter decided he might as well let in on his little secret, considering that practically everyone knew by now.
"What will happen after the rescue of these individuals Hope?" Legion eventually inquired.
"Easy," Hope stated, "We will probably take temporary leave from the Terminus Systems. I could personally use quite a bit of time on Virmire. Either that, or Therum, depending on the mood after we get Sazh and Vanille."
"Kindly explain your choice. We have already visited Therum and Virmire, neither of which contained possible clues as to the location of Shepard-Commander."
"Virmire, the scenery will help to relieve some of my emotional stress, enabling me to think a little bit clearer. As for Therum, if I am in a bit too sad a mood, the heat should help me 'let it out' so to speak."
"There is one moderate to significant factor that you possibly aren't taking into account. Since you have received that brand upon your left wrist, is there not some primary directive you and your companions have to follow?"
"Oh right, my Focus. As far as I know, the only thing we were able to make out of the damned vision we got was that it somehow pertains to something called Ragnarok. I got a glimpse of what it looked like, and, well, let's just say: remember Nazara?"
"Yes."
"It looks a lot like that. I heard that this Ragnarok is supposed to destroy Cocoon, but I just hope it isn't what I think it is…"
"Construction of an Old Machine would likely require a lot more time, resources and manpower that what you have been allocated by the fal'Cie creature that branded you."
It was then that they could hear footsteps. Legion readied a Geth Pulse Rifle in case Hope's suspicions about his companions turning on him were true. In came Lightning, then Snow, then the unidentified companion. Hope was ready to fight, and he thought things were definitely going to get ugly judging by the shocked expressions on everyone's face. But then the unidentified companion spoke: "Relax kid, we ain't here to fight…"
"…but we do want answers Hope," Lightning continued. "For instance, what exactly is this? Who exactly are you?"
"You know who I am Light." Hope stated. "You know my name and my history…"
"…both of which could have very likely been falsified. I felt as if I knew the person I'm trying to protect, and then all of a sudden we find you had been keeping a strange sort of ship in your backyard and utilizing equally mysterious weapons! Now I'm not sure I even remotely know you at all!"
"Believe me Light, there were times when I really wanted to tell you. But just because, for example, Snow wants to call you his sister doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea."
"What exactly do you-" Lightning began, but then remembered all the times Snow suffered the consequences of calling her 'Sis'.
"Yes, Light. Only things would have gotten a lot uglier than a mere punch had I disclosed any information on who I really was."
"Makes sense," the unidentified companion interjected. "I can see where he's going with this: when you're surrounded by people ya don't know, better to be on the safe side in case things get nasty. What I want to know is where exactly you're from, kid. Also, what is all this fancy tech you got here?"
"For what reason do you require that specific data, Cerberus Operative?" Legion inquired.
"Look, you... you… what are you?"
"Geth."
"…Geth. I am NOT with this bloody Cerberus you keep yammering on about. My name is Oerba Yun Fang –"
"Appearance of Oerba Yun Fang very similar to appearance of Miranda Lawson, known Cerberus Operative. There is a 67.529% probability that Lawson-Operative is masquerading as 'Oerba Yun Fang'."
"Will you give the Cerberus thing a rest? I'm from Gran Pulse and have recently awoken from a five-hundred year slumber –"
"A human lifespan cannot extend over 500 years unless assisted by some sort of cryogenic stasis, and the odds of the required machinery staying active for that length of time range from low to negligible. The only known success of keeping living beings asleep and alive for long periods of time was the Prothean Ilos research facility-"
"Just answer my first question! And you, you annoying little bucket of bolts had best shut the fuck up!"
Hope, sensing the situation was getting out of control, began to explain himself, only going, however, into his origins on the faraway world of Eden Prime and his time on Cocoon. When he was asked how he and Legion met, he told them that could wait until another time. He wanted to save the majority of the explanations for when they had Sazh and Vanille. Then, and only then, would the l'Cie know of the rest of Hope's story… maybe while relaxing near the shore somewhere on Virmire.
"We need confirmation or denial of rumors," Legion suddenly began. "Does l'Cie Brand 'grow'?"
"Yes," Fang answered
"What is the rate of growth of said brand?"
"Depends. If you get a nasty shock it can speed up the process."
"We require scans of all Brands," Legion stated, after which it took Hope's left arm and placed its omni-tool above it. It proceeded to do the same with Snow's arm and Fang's shoulder, but it couldn't locate the area needed to be scanned on Lightning. "Where is your Brand, Farron-Sergeant?" it asked, but she didn't respond. She did, however, blush.
"Where is Farron-Sergeant's Brand?" Legion questioned the others.
"On the chest, look on the left breast," Fang spoke up.
"Fang!" Lightning shouted, embarrassed.
"We just require scans of the Brand Farron-Sergeant," Legion spoke, after which it scanned her chest.
"Well, what did you find out Legion?" Hope asked
"Scans of Farron-Sergeant, Hope and Villiers, Snow show unidentified energy present in Brand locations, with growth occurring at a slow rate. Aforementioned energy shown to have mutagenic properties. Hypothesis: a buildup of enough energy will trigger a genetic mutation in the host. Scans of Oerba Yun, however, show energy that has stopped building up inside and has somehow been rendered inert."
"Any way to bring about that effect in the other Brands, or slow down the buildup of energy?"
"Possibility of such scenario exists, but we will need what humans call 'guinea pig' to test possible remedies. Consensus achieved: test subject is Villiers, Snow."
"Wait a sec, why me? Wouldn't Light, Fang or Hope make better test subjects? Hope's probably gonna be the most willing to do it, so why me?" Snow burst out.
"Where possible, we do not want to subject Hope to physical harm, and the two other l'Cie are still capable of fighting back, whereas Villiers, Snow is almost incapacitated. Brand of Villiers, Snow is also located away from internal vital organs unlike Farron-Sergeant, making it more suitable for required tests as there will be a reduced risk of major organ damage, and also the Brand of Villiers, Snow still has active energy growth unlike brand of Oerba Yun Fang, which has been rendered inert."
Snow was then taken to another area of the ship by Legion. Both of them stayed there for a while, but then they returned to the ship's control room. "Man, that stuff is a bloody miracle worker!" Snow was saying. He was now walking without much trouble.
So, what happened?" Hope asked.
"Skin sample collection successful. Brand markings in skin samples confirmed to have energy and growth. Skin samples undergoing tests. Research results shall be ready in an estimated time of 6.25 hours from now." Legion stated.
"Did you have to extract the skin samples by force?"
"Yes."
"In that case, did you soundproof the room you used? I couldn't hear a thing."
"Yes, although there was no internal and little external damage during the process."
"Also, this little guy healed me everywhere after that. I don't know what with, but it beats the fuck out of potions," Snow stated.
"Let me guess, Medi-gel?" Hope questioned, quickly making that connection.
"Correct. We still have enough units of Medi-gel to treat 43.25 battle wounds such as the ones on Villiers, Snow in addition to repairing damage caused by skin sample collection," Legion stated.
"I guess, but we cannot squander it. I don't know how we can resupply our Medi-gel stocks if we ever run low."
"That is a matter for another time Hope. Signs of fatigue detected in all of you. Rest is highly recommended."
Later, in compliance with Legion's recommendation, everyone was getting some much needed rest, although it was quite difficult as they were all cramped up. The geth ship was in the beginning only carrying one human, so there was only need for one small resting area inside. Legion, meanwhile, was monitoring the Sanctum's records, broadcasts and operations to try and locate the remaining two l'Cie, while the geth ship's computer was studying the skin samples collected from Snow's l'Cie brand. It wasn't until the next morning on Cocoon that it finally found something: there was a transmission to Primarch Dysley informing him of two captured l'Cie aboard the ship Palamecia. Legion recorded the transmission and then went to wake up Hope, Lightning, Snow and Fang. The time had come to bring those two remaining l'Cie into the fold.
