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Chapter 14- The Palamecia

(A/N: Suggest listening to the track Shepard Dream the first bit into the chapter. Yes, it's mass effect... But anywho, here's Chapter 14!)

"Faith, what's wrong?"

What?

"I'm sorry, honey. But dad's gonna be working till late tonight… How about you go play with Hope?"

Who…what is this? Mom?

"Mamma, I don't wanna play with him…" She looked down at the little girl with both eyebrows raised, placing her hands on her hips.

Is that… me? Those voices… What's happening?

"Faith, what did you do?" She asked me, kneeling in front of a crying boy that resembled the little girl, who I assumed was me.

"I didn't do anything mamma! He started it…"

A memory?

…

"I don't need this…I don't need anybody!"

I don't….need anyone.

"Faith, please-"

"Stop! I'm fine, mom! Just…why don't you just check up on Hope? He surely needs you more than I do…"

Did I really…said that?

…

Darkness ensued, but was quickly replaced by other images. They were flashing so fast. Voices were talking at the same time; whispers, some louder than others. All echoing inside my head.

"So we really are l'Cie."

Why me?

"Save Cocoon."

What does it matter anyway?

"Mom is… dead." He said quietly, his voice cracking at the end. I froze. I could only stare at him with wide eyes, my mind completely blank. My heart felt like it had stopped, my chest involuntarily tightening.

Why did this happen?

"I-I tried to stop her, but she – She said it would be okay. I-…"

Suddenly the images got all fuzzy, and I found myself…back in the Vestige. The place where you can say it all started.

Why am I here?

Screams reached my ears, explosions everywhere. My breathing was ragged, a dull pain ached in my head, and through all the screaming and destruction, a voice I recognized as clear as day was calling out to me.

Don't.

I snapped my head towards it, my eyes darting in every direction in search of the person.

"Faith!"

"Mom?"

No…

"Faith…"

"Mom!" I screamed when my eyes landed on the angelic face of my mother, who despite the mess around her, was smiling kindly. I ran towards her, tears starting to well up in my eyes.

Don't cry.

I saw her hand reach out towards me. Just a few more steps and I-

The ground began to shake, and the bridge we were on began to fall apart.

Stop.

"Mom!"

I don't want to see anymore.

"Mom!"

Make it stop!

"Take care of him."

I ran towards my mother, who didn't move a single inch from her position. She would fall any second now… I reached out my hand, just as the ground she was on gave out. I was able to take a hold of her wrist though, and instantly began to pull. However, I had no strength.

Weak.

"Mom, please!"

Pathetic.

"Take care."

"Mom…"

Get stronger.

"I love you…"

…

The voices were getting louder, the images going too fast for me to tell one from the other.

"Did I really took mom away from you?"

No…

Yes.

"Faith, if I really did take mom away from you… You should know it was never my intention."

I know.

"Ge- ugh…" I groaned. "Ge- get away from him…"

Why does it matter?

"I knew it all along." Hope began. "I knew it but- I had to blame someone. I had to. I needed a reason to keep on fighting."

Why?

"Faith! C'mon! You need to get up!"

Why do I care?

"I… I can't." I said, shaking my head with pursed lips. "This is too much…"

I want this to end.

"I understand that this is a lot for a kid, but you have to fight this."

Just give up.

"We're finished anyway!"

I don't want to do this anymore…

"You can't just leave your family."

Hope.

"This is part of my story… and it'll go the way I want it."

My story.

"Or I'll end it here…"

End it…

"We do this together."

But…

'Everything will be fine… Just need to have a little faith.'

I woke up with a start, my hazel eyes darting everywhere to identify the place I was in. My mouth felt dry, and my body sore. I pressed a cool hand to my forehead, taking deep breaths to calm my beating heart. I was still in Rygdea's ship, much to my liking. Apparently I fell asleep in a corner, my head leaning against my shoulder… I was tired, and every chance of rest I'd have, I'd take. The dreams or nightmares weren't very pleasing though, or welcomed for that matter.

A sigh reached my ears, making me jump slightly and turn towards it. Lightning was leaning on the wall, looking over at me with her head tilted to the side, an unreadable expression on her face. I wondered for a moment if I was talking in my sleep and she heard something. I stood up slowly, though shrunk a little into myself when the woman strode over to stand before me.

"You refused to let a medic see you…"

Straight to the point as always… I looked up at the soldier briefly and fiddled with the hem of my shirt.

"Didn't think I needed it…"

Lightning scoffed and crossed her arms across her chest, looking down at me with subtle irritation on her features. She clicked her tongue and took a step towards me.

"Let me see…" The former soldier said, taking a hold of my head and turning it to an angle were she could see the injuries.

She took off the bandages, and softly touched the bump on my head. I hissed at the touch, my face grimacing instantly. The woman took a hold of my chin and lifted it up to see the 'scratches' on my face. I saw her eyebrows twitch slightly, her eyes narrowing for a brief second before she went back to her usual stoic expression.

"You were crying." The pink haired woman pointed out after a few minutes of her silently using her magic to treat my injuries. I instantly lifted a hand to brush my fingertips on my cheek to find out that in fact, I had the remains of tears on them. I brushed the salty water away with the back of my hand, ignoring the piercing blue orbs. I glanced up at her, though looked down out of embarrassment. How pathetic…

"I…" I trailed off. I really wasn't sure what I was going to tell her anyways. Even if I've spent a significant amount of time with this people, and carried the same burden as well, I didn't know them. How could I just pour out my worries, feelings, or thoughts to a stranger?

As if reading my thoughts, the pink haired woman sighed and tilted her head somewhat.

"You should talk to Hope."

I furrowed my eyebrows at her words. I really didn't feel like I needed to talk about this. Shouldn't it be something I should deal with on my own?

"You have your sibling here with you." The woman continued looking down at me, her eyes softening slightly as she lowered her hand back to her side after making sure most of my injuries were healed. "Don't take it for granted…" She nodded at me once before swiftly making her way to the console the others were surrounding, leaving me staring after her.

She was right, of course. And I was being selfish. She had lost her sister, and I, who still had my brother right here with me, wasn't talking to him just because I was afraid of what could slip out of my mouth.

"Umm, Hope?" I called out, having made up my mind. Hope turned his head towards me, a somewhat concerned look crossing his features. I lifted a hand to awkwardly wave him over, swallowing back my nerves. He looked back at the screen for a brief moment, then walked towards me, a slight look of nervousness behind his hazel orbs.

"Yes?"

And this is how awkwardness ensues. How was I supposed to start a supposedly 'deep' conversation to begin with? It was a touchy subject after all. And the fact that I rarely spoke to the boy before me, or actually opened up to anyone when feelings were involved, wasn't helping me at all.

"I-I… do you…" I sighed, subtle irritation molding over my features. It's really annoying when you can't make out your thoughts from what you want to say. I took a hold of his wrist and lead him a bit away from the others. "Come on."

Once I was sure it was just me and him, I let go of his wrist, folding my arms across my chest. I leaned back against the wall, glancing momentarily at the hazel orbs looking over at me before looking back at my boots.

"Hope…" I cleared my throat, tapping my foot against the floor out of a nervous habit. "Have you been having nightmares…lately?"

I saw the silver haired boy look at me confused from the corner of my eye. Seriously, I don't blame him. What kind of person starts a conversation with that? Well, me…

"I-…yeah…" I heard him say after a few minutes of silence. "It's been happening a lot lately. They… They're mostly about mom…"

I looked up at him, my eyebrows knitted together as he continued to speak.

"And all that's been happening too."

"I get them as well…" I told him, biting my lip as his eyes met mine.

"You do?" He asked me, slightly surprised to which I nodded.

"Look." I sighed, running a hand through my silver hair. "I'm sorry… About, well, everything… I- What I said before…about you taking mom away from me… I do feel a little like that." I admitted, biting the inside of my cheek. I stared at his face for a moment, waiting for some kind of reaction, but all Hope did was nod for me to continue. "To tell you the truth, I always did kind of envy the relationship you had with mom. I was angry, because I couldn't have it."

"You could've…"

I sighed at his words, flexing my jaw muscles as I felt my bottom lip tremble. I could feel my hands shaking as I let my arms fall limp by my sides.

"I know that now." My words were coming out slightly shaky. The prickly sensation of tears made me shut my eyes tightly. "Do you have any idea of how much that thought haunts me now? It's all making me even angrier, because try as I might to stop it, that anger is mostly directed at you. I know it's my fault, but… I-I can't help it."

A single sob had been able to come out my lips as I finished talking. My hand immediately shot up to cover mouth to prevent the others from following. I couldn't go crying again. I'm supposed to be the older one here… But what kind of sister holds this much anger towards their own sibling? I thought I had drained myself of tears back when I was talking to dad, but it obviously doesn't work that way. I still had so many feelings bottled up inside of me, but being the person I am, I couldn't tell what kind they were. And if I were to let them loose, I was afraid I might do something I'd regret later. But really, when I truly think about it… the feeling that is right next to anger inside of me, is guilt. How would've things changed if I had reached out to my mother and brother back when we were growing up? Maybe, I would've been able to be with them back when the Purge started. And maybe, just maybe, I might have been able to stop her from going with Snow and save her.

I gasped and widened my eyes as I felt a pair of arms circle around my waist. I immediately looked down to see Hope's hazel eyes, the same shade as my own, looking up at me before the sight was changed to messy silver locks as he buried his face on my shoulder.

"I know what you're feeling right now." He told me softly. "It's the same way I felt about Snow. And like he said to me… 'Take it out on me. And keep yourself alive until you do.'"

A shaky breath came out of my lips at his words. He never had the support a sibling could provide…yet, he was a much better sibling than I could ever be. I slowly and shakily wrapped my arms around his smaller form, resting my chin on his shoulder as the tears silently fell from my eyes.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, swallowing back a sob. "I am so, so sorry."

I felt the silver haired boy nod against my shoulder, his hold tightening the slightest bit. "I know… I'm sorry too."

"I'll…I'll try to fix things…" I told him softly after a few minutes of silence, slowly pulling away to wipe my tears away with the back of my hand before resting both hands on his shoulders firmly. I looked at him directly in the eye, my brows coiling with determination. "I-I may not have been the best sister, but don't lose all hope just yet... Have a little faith in me."

As silence fell between us, I felt a sudden wave of nervousness brew in the pit of my stomach. Though it was washed away the minute Hope's lips twitched into the tiniest of smiles and nodded slightly.

"Oka-"

"There she is. The Palamecia, pride of the Sanctum Skyfleet!" A voice echoed around the ship, making me look away from Hope to try to find the source. "This mighty flagship currently serves as a prison for the l'Cie apprehended in Nautilus."

"Oh, for the love of-… Seriously?" I asked out loud, shocked to having been interrupted when I had finally found words to say. "We'll continue this later…"

I made my way towards the others, looking up at screen with furrowed eyebrows. I turned my head slightly to look at Hope from the corner of my eye as he stood beside me. A similar expression was on his face as he looked up at the screen.

"Is that where-" I started in a small voice, but cut myself off when the news reporter spoke again.

"The l'Cie will face official sentencing upon the convoy's arrival in the capital."

"So what's with the freak show?" Snow asked, his eyes glaring at the screen.

"So the Primarch can stand in judgment of the villainous l'Cie…" Spoke up Cid calmly. "With their execution as the climax."

"Execution?" I asked, my eyes widening slightly. The raven haired man turned his amber eyes towards me and gave a curt nod before continuing.

"The people will cheer their demise, and fal'Cie dominion will be undisputed."

"All part of the plan." Lightning said, her arms crossed across her chest as her eyes narrowed.

"Yes." Cid answered, glancing at the pink haired woman momentarily before bringing his attention back onto the screen. "But it also presents an opportunity."

"In a display of unwavering dedication to duty, the Primarch himself has boarded the Palamecia and focused his personal attention on resolving the Pulse crisis."

"They're baiting us." Spoke up Fang, nodding her head towards the screen. "Trying to draw us out."

"Bait, huh?" Snow asked and turned his head to look at the Pulsian, though looked back at Lightning when the woman moved from her position.

"Yeah, that's right: 'Here are your friends. Come and get 'em.'"

"Well, if they're daring us to mount a rescue… I'll take that action." The blonde said, punching his fists together. "All in."

"That's coming from the guy who couldn't handle an Ushumgal…" I muttered under my breath, earning a slight chuckle from Hope. I blinked owlishly when the others turned to look at us, hoping I didn't look as sheepish as I felt. Though, they're attention was pulled away from us when Rygdea spoke up.

"Alrighty, bets are on the table. We leave when you're ready. I'll be standing by."

I turned back to Hope as the others went to take care of their own affairs. I smiled at him slightly and nodded before going over to the weapons' locker. I already had my own, but having another one wouldn't hurt. Perhaps one that I could use at long distance. And with that thought in mind, I picked up a small riffle and went to get a holster and wrapped it around my right leg. I quickly holstered the gun before jogging out of the room and over to where the others were gathered around Rygdea.

"This baby right here's a PSICOM vessel. It'll deliver you to the Palamecia."

"Oh, so we're cargo now?" Snow asked after hearing Rygdea's words.

"A parting gift to our rotten government. Take those PSICOM guys apart." Rygdea said, punching a fist into his hand.

"And we're supposed to take on all of them?" Lightning asked. "I think the whole division's on board."

"I don't care how many lackey's they've got. Bring 'em on! Vanille's in there."

"I'm sure she's fine." Hope reassured the Pulsian. "Vanille's tougher than I could ever be."

"Hope, are you scared?" Lightning asked, turning around to look down at the boy.

"Yeah. I'm terrified." Hope said with a small chuckle. "But I'll be okay. Because I have you, and this guy." He nodded towards Snow, then turned to look at the only Pulsian in the room. "And Fang." He then turned his head towards me, and nodded. "And Faith. We're all in this mess. We've got to stick together."

"Right, enough with the bonding. It's go time." Rygdea said, nodding towards the Vessel as he turned around, and all of us soon followed his lead.

I heaved a sigh as we got on the ship, biting down on my lip as I buckled the seatbelt. I began to tap my foot anxiously as the others sat and Rygdea took the pilot seat. We were soon out of Lindblum and making our way to the Palamecia. I had to say, the sight was amazing. And by the looks of it, Lightning was probably right when she said the whole division could be on board. That thing was the size of half of Cocoon.

"What's the hold up?" I heard Rygdea ask as we waited to board the ship.

"Stand by. Verifying Identification code."

I turned my head to look at Hope, who sat beside me, as Rygdea talked his way into boarding the Palamecia.

"You ready?" I asked him as we got access to docking.

"All clear. Welcome aboard."

"As I'll ever be." Hope said, nodding towards me.

"Get ready." Rygdea told us as we unbuckled the seatbelts and made our way out of the Vessel.

"So, how are we gonna find Vanille and Sazh in here?" I asked as we got inside the Sactum Skyfleet. "This thing's huge…"

Fang turned her head towards me and opened her mouth to speak, though was soon silenced by a voice echoing around the room.

"Code red! Repeat: Code red!" I immediately froze, my hand quickly moving to the handle of my chained blade. "Attention all crew: this is not a drill! Code red!"

"Oh, great…" I muttered as PSICOM troops surrounded us.

"All right! Let's tear 'em up!" Snow smirked, clenching his hands into fists.

"We're here for Vanille and Sazh." Lightning spoke as she unsheathed her gunblade from its holster and turned into its sword form with one swift movement. "Stay focused."

"Right." I said, detaching my weapon from my belt.

'Gotta stay focused. This is just the beginning here… I doubt this are their toughest. Got a long way to go…'

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Meant to post this yesterday as Valentines gift (Yeah cause I'm a weirdo like that...), but was fed too much candy and passed out once my head hit the pillow xD lol but yeah, I hope you guys liked the chapter. School's being getting me really busy lately, and this being my senior year, it's even more stressing because of the grades and all that geez... and I might've also been to engrossed with playing Lightning Returns... Though I found time to finish this. Chocolate gets me in a writing mood apparently xD

Thank you so much for the support guys! The follows, favorites and reviews are HIGHLY appreciated! lol really, thank you! I apologize for last chapter being so short, but I wanted to leave the feels for this one. I hope you guys liked it, and next chapter shall be full of those freaking colorful codes that annoyed me to no end...lol XD

(Guys, see the cover pic? I made it myself! lol It's just rough sketch of Faith in photoshop XD)