A/N yep time has moved forward again, and things are going wrong. They are now in augusta tower briefly
Chapter 6 The projects and what's to come
Alyssa was researching late again when she found out. she still didn't know what to do or think. She knew she should not tell Hope her discovery, or anyone else for that matter, they would all study her and try to solve the thing causing her. She thought dimly what would Hope do? Would he still continue on his mad quest to restore the true time line, probably. There were tears dropping on her desk as she cried her pain numb and for the first time she was thankful she was alone. Soon they would be moving she thought starting to build and renovate Augusta tower. They needed her and Hope there for the project they were about to start. The project was Alyssa's idea indirectly she had come up with it after she had started to have dreams of a man, in a purple suit with luscious purple hair. She had seen him in the Oracle Drive and knew him to be Caius Ballad, and though she barley remembered dreams he visited her in she couldn't shake the feeling that this project was his. She also had a vague feeling it was going to go bad but it didn't stop her proposing it.
"I'm not sure Alyssa" replied Hope "didn't we try to get away from the Fal'cie?"
"but Hope, it would be built and control by us we could keep it in check"
"im not sure I will need to collaborate with the others Alyssa and ask their opinion" Hope said and walked off. He was still pushing her away, spending more and more time with the Oracle Drive.
In the end Alyssa won her case, the other voted in favour of the Fal'cie project but only if Hope built it so it was decided.
Alyssa pulled on her jeans for warmth. It was winter now, the days were cold, not as cold as Hope though she thought. He had been pushing her away since his dads sudden death last month and she didn't know how to reach him. Hope had lost all those he loved the most.
They had just arrived at Augusta Tower and the floor was steely and oddly enough it was warm here still
"wow" breathed Alyssa "its so big and beautiful"
"yeah I guess so" Hope sounded bored
"Director what is wrong?" she asked it in a personal tone
Alyssa I love you but my work is too important now to have a distraction, even distractions as lovely as you" he smiled
"your breaking up with me" Alyssa was crying "for your job?"
"Alyssa" Hope went to grabbed her hand "I'm sorry but its not fair to you. I can't spend too much time with you, im trying to build a Fal'cie for makers sake"
"then don't build it" Alyssa cried "stay with me instead build a future with me please" she knew she sounded selfish but she didn't care "please Hope"
" im sorry Alyssa I cant" Hope let go of her hand and turned his back to her tears.
Hope was tired, he had built the arms to the Fal'cie in record time but they needed tweaking. They were based on the data he had gathered on Anima,the first pulse Fal'cie he had seen. The one that brought his friends fates together, Him and Lightning together. No thought Hope sleepily don't think of Lightning, but without Alyssa a distraction he was thinking more and more of his first love. His hand was working of its own accord as he played with himself flying solo on memories of better days. Lightning On the floor of Gran Pulse screaming his name, blacking out with pleasure, Hope Increased the rubbing speed. Lightning nibbling his ear as she worked down to where his hand was now. Hope groaned his release and grabbed the tissues he always kept in his draw, he felt relaxed, but it wasn't enough he thought he needed more, getting greedy he went to work on himself again.
Alyssa was outside his room, she could hear him moaning Lightnings name, some how she doubted he was talking in his sleep. Not wanting to see this she walked by and looked over the balcony sighing. She knew Hope was regretting his decision but he still would not have her back, the sad thing was Alyssa thought she would take him back in an instant. "lost in thoughts my dear" came a voice. Alyssa gasped then relaxed "Caius" she said "I see your back, what if someone sees you?"
"I'm just projection of your mind" he smiled his arrogant smile "how is the project fairing?"
"Its progressing nicely it should be built in our lifetime"
"good" Caius smiled and lifted the girls chin "keep out of the directors way if you want to stay alive" and with that he was gone, Alyssa felt Hollow
"We are pulling the project" Hope said at the morning meeting, those shadows under his eyes are getting darker Alyssa thought "why" she Exclaimed along with the other researchers
"because" Hope said calmly "of this" he pulled out the Oracle Drive, "do you carry that everywhere" Alyssa groaned she was fed up of the Drive by now
Hope ignored her "it show images of the tower being over run by AI and our impending death" Hope said "There is also a recording of Sarah saying this is not the right path for us to take, that it will destroy lives" Hope didn't add the part where Sarah had yelled at him "we need a new path"
"does it show anything else" Inquired a Researcher called Lloyd
"yes it shows us an Ark that is being held up with unknown technology. I believe we should travel forward in time to find out what kind of technology"
"How?" Lloyd posed the question
"We build a sort of capsule and elect one or two people to enter Cryo sleep for a few hundred years"
"that could work" they all mused "who would go forward?"
"obviously Hope will have to be one of them, he is the brightest among us"
"oh that's not true" Hope started to deny
"I second the motion"
"everyone who thinks Hope should travel forward raise your hand"
Hope looked around flustered every hand was raised "then its unanimous Hope will travel forward. We know your mind will save the future Director"
"thanks" Hope said blushing "but I want Alyssa to come with me" No one rejected his terms.
"why me Director?" Alyssa asked perplexed, they had barley spoke since their break up
"because your the only one I would want to go with me" he flashed her a smile "its a simple as that"
"Director" all at once she was kissing him, and he returned her kiss "I miss you she breathed"
"I know Alyssa I miss you too"
"but we cant be together can we?"
"no" Hope said plainly. As he walked away, something about Alyssa was different that he was sure of it. He started to keep a closer eye on her, watching her she seemed to mumble to herself a lot. Things like 'its not my fault the cancelled it' and 'leave me alone'
Hope was working hard on his time capsule with Alyssa and one night he couldn't resist "Alyssa who are you talking to?"
She looked startled, then composed herself "im muttering equations to keep my mind off grabbing you and kissing you actually" she replied. So she was going to play it that way was she "what if I want you to do that?" Hope answered "what if I want you to take me now?"
Alyssa was stuck, she knew he was bluffing but still she grabbed him pressing her lips to his teasingly. Hope was playing a fools game he knew as he pulled Alyssa closer. She broke away "you cant mess with me like that" she wailed, her heart was beating fast
"you kissed me" Hope reminded her
"at your invitation" she looked angry. Hope kissed her again, making her unfocussed and he knew it, he asked softly
"so who were you talking to?"
"screw you Hope" Alyssa said angrily
"you wish"
"i already have I don't want a repeat of your disastrous bed skill thanks"
"I don't seem to remember you complaining as you came again and again"
"that was low Hope very low"
"so was insulting my bed skills" they stared daggers at each other and all at once they were kissing again "Hope" sighed Alyssa as he pulled her close and held her "I love you"
"I love you too Alyssa" he said as he held her and the night closed around them.
It wasn't enough it was never enough Hope thought. Him and Alyssa didn't have sex but just holding Light used to be enough why wasn't it enough with Lissa? Why?
It was the day of their impending Cryo sleep "remember to leave note in case the machine breaks, and we wake up to early or not at all" Hope said
"Director you built it im sure you will be fine" stared Lloyd
"well I guess this is good bye then" Hope said sadly as he stepped into his 400year sleep.