Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or any characters, items, or events that take place within it.

Chapter Two: Ascension

Colette happily bounced down the corridor, cheerily greeting all of the Host Bodies that passed. Shaking her head, Marble followed along. "So energetic, so full of youth…," the old woman mumbled. "Learn to appreciate it while you still can, child."

In no time at all, the two had made it to the Podium, where they were to receive instruction about how to carry out their day. For living Hosts like Marble and Colette, no order was needed, but the large masses of Lifeless Beings had no minds of their own, and thus needed instruction. As the unlikely duo approached the Command Nexus, they noticed an unusually large number of Lifeless Hosts staring at the lone Desian Taskmaster with glazed eyes, sending an involuntary shiver down their spines. Something big must be going on, they reasoned.

"Listen up, you scum!" snarled the half-elf, who still needs a name. (How about 'Smith'? Bob Smith, or 'B.S.' to be short).

"My name is George O' Riley," snapped the Desian, who will not do a single thing I ask him to.

Frustrated by my authorly antics, the Taskmaster took a deep breath before continuing. "As all of you know, today is indeed a very special day for Host Body–91401. Today is her day of Ascension, and, well, the higher-ups were adamant about letting you all view such a magical thing. Now, where is the lucky girl?"

As if directed by a single mind, the mindless shells all turned and pointed to Marble, who began to slowly hobble forward to the Nexus. They smiled as she passed by.

"Lucky girl," stated one in a monotone.

"Lucky," the others chorused.

"You walk towards your Ascension," continued another.

"Ascension," the others agreed.

"Good luck, Marble!" squealed Colette. Marble turned, gave a wistful little smile, and was gone.

Colette giggled as she wiped sweat off her brow. After a hard day's work, a good six hours of rest was all that she needed. It had been quite a day.

The blonde beamed inwardly as she thought about Marble's Ascension. After working so hard for so many years, a good reward was just what the old woman needed. The younger girl couldn't wait for Marble to come back and tell her just how wonderful it was! Then they would have a nice girlie chat and spend the rest of the night sharing stories and eating sammiches and drinking tea.

Smiling happily, Colette brushed her platinum tresses out of her face and slowly drifted off to sleep.

THUMP!

Colette awoke with a start, throwing her covers off to either side of her. "Is it morning already?" she squealed.

THUMP!

"Who's there?" she squeaked.

"Shhh! Shut up, human!" came the unexpected response. Frozen in sheer terror, Colette was helpless to disobey as the trespasser continued push bricks from the cell's outer wall.

THUMP!

THUMP!

THU—

"Hmm…" came the mystery man's voice. "Damn, looks like they put a bit more mortar in this one, I can't push it open. Gimme a hand, will you?"

Still confused, Colette obliged, and began to pull on the other side of the stubborn brick. After a few minutes of pushing and pulling, the brick began to give way.

"…man! This is taking way too long. Out of the way!" demanded the newcomer.

STILL confused, Colette slowly walked to the opposite side of the cell.

"You ready?" the trespasser shouted. "Take this! FIREBALL!"

A brilliant blast of burning red shot straight through the brick walk, illuminating Colette in a magnificent eldritch glow. Shards of glass and pieces of rubble were aplenty in the air as the transgressor stepped through the wreckage. She turned to appraise this magic—wielding mystery man.

"…waaaaaaaaait a second, you're nothing but a kid!" the girl exclaimed.

"I am NOT a kid!" whined the child as he brushed his adorable silver locks out of his face. "For YOUR information, I'm Genis Sage, the Second Captain of sector A of Iselia Ranch, and that makes ME better then YOU."

"Aww, you're pretty cute," giggled the girl as she sat back down on her bed. "Genis, huh? My name's Colette Brunel, or Host Body A—903—"

"…28," finished the young half—elf. "Yeah, yeah, I know! Marble's told me all about you. Wait, where is she, anyway?"

"Marble? Oh, you know her too?" inquired the blonde.

"Know her? Of course! Genis the Genius, that's me! My sister's her group officer out in the fields. Marble's the first human I ever met. The higher—ups told me the back off from you human guys, but you really aren't that bad. Colette, huh? It's good to meet you in person!" Genis laughed childishly. "I started to bring Marble some food out in the fields after I saw some stupid Taskmaster named Bob Smith out in the fields whipping her."

(And that, my friends, is another reason why you really shouldn't like Bob. He's mean and he won't listen to me).

"From there, she started telling me about all the nasty things the rest of the Desians were doing to you guys, and I couldn't just stand still. I complained to my big sis, and she said she'd look into it, but she really hasn't done anything yet. She's been brainwashed by her co-workers, I guess. Those Lifeless Beings are scary."

Genis paused before eyeing Colette for a second. "So, wait. Where is Marble?"

"Marble?" replied Colette nonchalantly. "I dunno, but the lucky dog was sent for her Ascension earlier today. She hasn't come back since, so I'd guess that she's really having a good time." Colette smiled, oblivious to the look of perfect horror that was frozen on Genis's face.

"ASCENSION?" exclaimed the young half—elf. "Are you crazy? She's gonna die! C'mon, we've gotta get to Raine and stop this before it's too late!"

"What?" questioned Colette, quite befuddled at Genis's sudden outburst. "I thought that Ascension was a good thing! You know, a final reward! A chance to be Chosen, to help the Masters and do good!"

Genis slapped a hand to his head. "Oy ve…I'll explain it to you on the way there. Come on already!"

Pain.

Such pain as Marble had never known spread throughout her body. She was burning. She was dying. She was lying flat on the floor, her limps splayed this way and that. She twitched to and fro, raising up a feeble old hand to her Desian Masters as if to beg for forgiveness. She was given three lashes for her troubles.

"Come now," said a Host Body.

"Come now," repeated the others.

"This does not hurt you," continued the soulless vessel.

"Hurt you," replied the others maliciously.

"You are Ascending," the Taskmaster laughed.

"Ascending," the slaves replied.

And suddenly, all the pain was over.

She was one of them now.

She was Chosen.

She was Selected.

Slowly but surely, she rose from the floor.

She turned to the Desian.

"Ascending," she agreed.

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