Her usually strong exterior was now delicate. A vulnerable side of Lightning Serah had only seen once when their parents died was now resurfacing. Hope had never seen this side of her. She was always certain of her goals and would do anything to achieve them. He wondered if there was something she wasn't telling them. Something that went beyond what she had already told them.
"Claire, if you need my help, you know I'll be there," Hope told her sincerely.
"I'm here for you too sis. You know I always will," Serah spoke up. Lightning sighed but nodded.
"Yes, and that is what scares me. I don't want you two to get hurt. I'm upset that I have no choice but to drag you into this Hope, but I can't afford to lose you too Serah," she confessed. Serah tried to argue but Lightning cut her off.
"Don't try and change my mind. You are to stay in Oerba when the time comes. I won't listen to anything you have to say against my decision so don't even try," she said sternly, slowly returning to the in control Lightning they all knew. Serah's eyes watered at the news but she nodded sadly. She wasn't happy with the decision but she strived to keep her sister happy.
"So, we fix these paradoxes and then hunt down Caius for good?" Hope questioned.
"That's what I had planned but with me stuck here I don't know what could happen," she responded, worry leaking into her tone.
"Let's focus on the task at hand before tackling something bigger. All I know is, if Caius shows his face again I want you to let me help you. Maybe if we over power him we can break through whatever he did to you," Hope implored her.
"Ok, I'm willing to accept that," she agreed. He was slightly surprised by her quick acceptance. He was ready for her to push him away again but she didn't. She had finally had closure on the subject and knew what she had to do.
"Let's return to Yaschas Massif and continue on to Augusta Tower 200. The Proto Fal'Cie Adam is behind the disaster at Academia 400. It was created by the Academy because they thought they needed a Fal'Cie but it has taken all control like any other Fal'Cie, fake or not," Lightning told them.
"It's a man made Fal'Cie? How was that accomplished? You know what, never mind, how did it gain control?" he asked.
"It killed its creators," she replied. Hope and Serah looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"That's why we're going further back in time to destroy it so that it can't take control," she said.
"So it's here now?" Serah questioned, looking around, expecting an attack at any moment.
"Yes, it tried stopping me when I obtained the key. Now that we have it, we can access the higher floors in the past and fight it," Lightning said. She offered her hand to Hope who took it so that she could help him down.
"Are you feeling ok to move around again?" Lightning asked him in concern.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," he answered. They left Augusta Tower 300 and traveled back to Yaschas Massif where they entered another gate using a wild artifact and finally came out in Augusta Tower 200.
"The elevator is in the middle of the room," Lightning said, gesturing them to stay close. A lone greater behemoth assaulted them on their way to the elevator but Lightning redirected its path off the platform. She didn't have time to deal with trivial fights at the moment. They boarded the elevator and started it up. Every floor they reached contained monsters waiting to ambush them on the way. They suffered no severe damage but the constant battles began to be a little disconcerting. The elevator finally came to a stop at the top floor. A wild artifact hovered on the far right and Mog flew over to retrieve it and bring it back. Hope pocketed it and thanked the little moogle.
"The Proto Fal'Cie Adam is up those stairs. We will restore Academia 400 when we get rid of him," Lightning said. They cautiously ascended the stairs and stopped in the middle of the wide room they stepped into. The atmosphere felt ominous and Lightning's senses where trying to pick up on any hint of danger. A shimmer of light caught all their attention. In seconds, the Proto Fal'Cie floated in front of them. The Fal'Cie spun its right and left manipulator in their direction. Mog quickly transformed while Hope and Lightning each deflected the attack.
"We need to get these out of the way first," Hope observed. Lightning nodded. The trio first focused on one manipulator before they could start in on the other. Hope cast thunder and blizzard before throwing his Airwing. Serah swiped twice and then jumped back when the other Manipulator lifted and then slammed down. It missed all of them. She commanded Mog into a bow, took aim, and let go.
The arrow flew and struck, causing the now rising manipulator to hesitate. Lightning leaped and took it out. Now that there was only one manipulator, it shifted to spin in front of the Fal'Cie. It heated up with power, slowly opening to spin in a wide circle. When it gathered enough it shot into the air and release the energy. The three scattered to avoid getting hit. It slammed back to the ground, making them hurry for cover again. When they were sure it was done, they ran forward to take out that manipulator too.
"He's powerless now! Let's go!" Hope shouted.
"Wait, he still has-" Serah tried to say. Hope ran at the Fal'Cie only to be smacked out of the way by a claw like limb hanging by its side. He hit the floor and rolled, catching himself on his knees. He pushed off the floor and was ready again in no time.
"Are you ok? I tried to tell you," Serah said with worry. He shrugged off her concern.
"I'm ok, let's just destroy this thing," he replied. They each took a different route to confuse the Fal'Cie. It struck at Serah who dodged it, then it turned to swipe at Hope but it missed again. As one, they attacked the now helpless Fal'Cie. It fell after sustaining too much damage.
"You think it's gone?" Serah wondered. A shimmer blinded them and Hope groaned.
"Does that answer your question?" he told her. The Fal'Cie was back.
"Who was stupid enough to make this thing anyway? This machine is going to get them killed!" Serah screamed desperately.
"No time for that now Serah, it's going to attack," Lightning spoke up. The Manipulators began circling them while sparking with electricity. They shot forward and Lightning met them halfway. Her blade clashed on the metal and the stream of electricity shot through her blade and over her body. She gritted her teeth and bared the pain until the Fal'Cie suddenly shuddered. The manipulators collapsed and Lightning's view was cleared in time to see that Hope got a hold of Mog and was shooting arrows non-stop into the chest of the Fal'Cie. His last shot sent a big arc of electricity that knocked the Fal'Cie off the platform and spread over the room. The manipulators disappeared, Lightning sheathed her gunblade, Serah ran to check on her, and Hope relaxed. His grip on Mog loosened so that the bow slipped out of his grip. Before falling, Mog transformed back. Blue electric currents ran through his body and his bobble was bent at a strange angle.
"Kupo…" the moogle groaned.
"Sorry Mog," Hope apologized. The little moogle flew over to Serah and he followed.
"I'm alright Serah. Let's go," she told her sister, quick to brush off any dotting. They left Augusta Tower 200 and came out in a sunny, peaceful, version of the Academia they had visited before.
"Wow, what a change in environment," Serah commented happily. There were people everywhere who chatted with each other.
"Yeah, nothing is trying to kill us for once," Hope pointed out.
"So, where do you think we should go?" Serah questioned them.
"Hmmm, what's that big building in the distance?" Hope wondered.
"That's the Research Facility. The Academy has been hard at work since the last time we saw them," Lightning explained.
"Ok then, let's go see what their up to now," Hope replied, leading the girls in the direction of the Facility. Once inside, they made their way to the back. A door slid open to reveal Lt. Amador having a discussion with some Academy members. When he saw them, his face brightened and he motioned them over. The group dispersed so they did as they were asked. Lightning held a somewhat nervous expression that Hope chased away with a quick squeeze of her hand. She glanced at him gratefully before pulling away and straightening to her full height.
"Man, am I glad to see you guys again. I have lots to explain, like why I'm here for example, but first…" he said, turning to look at Lightning with pride and respect. She returned his feelings with equal intensity.
"Sergeant Farron, it's an honor to see you're alive and well," he told her with an amiable smile.
"It's beyond words to see you again Lieutenant. I'm sorry for going AWOL with your troops. I was only trying to do what I thought was right," Lightning replied.
"I understand Farron. It's not everyday something like The Purge happens. Your sister was in danger and you wanted to help her. I'm happy enough that you told me you were going and you didn't just take off without me knowing at all," he said.
"I hardly see a note left on your desk as a proper explanation," she responded honestly. Hope gave her a slightly amused crooked smile and a raised eyebrow. Serah giggled behind her hands.
"I'm glad to see you Sir but what are you doing here?" she questioned. He sighed and took a few steps forward.
"It's a long story," he said.
"We have some time to spare," Lightning assured him. He smiled and shrugged. Hope, Serah, and Lightning prepared for his explanation.