Here's the update! I know I'm not really one for notes. But thanks to all the readers silent or otherwise!
General Yurg, as stern as she would have certain little quirks that made her more friendly then she seemed. Such as the bowl of candy that sat on the edge of her desk that Noel noticed with a twitch at the corner of his lips. He was very tempted to comment about it, but he knew that the response probably wouldn't have been nice. Instead he focused more on the General.
Now that he was able to really focus on her face, she was plain faced but her eyes were unusual, wide and purple. Her dark, dark curly hair had shocks of white in it, even though he could see that she wasn't all that old. She gestured the hunter and the director to their chairs. No one else was present for this meeting and while Nabaat would have been all right, Noel found himself glad that there was no one else here.
"Thank you for coming to this meeting even thought it was a little later then I thought you would be." Yurg murmured with a thin little smile. She shuffled the folders on her desk and pulled out a particular one and slid it across the desk. "This is the group that is taking credit for the attack. We've had encounters with them before as they have tried to attack your gravity well."
Hope nodded grimly as he flipped open the folder a copy was handed to Noel and she waited grim faced while they took in the details. The group, which had a very simplistic name: Fal'cie Followers, were definitely a religious cult and it made Hope sick to his stomach. Their goal was to restore Fal'cie rule to humanity in the form of a Fal'cie that it seems they think they could control.
Hope knew for a fact that no one could control Fal'cie... Not even their original makers should one chose to challenge their fate. They had access to part of his research, parts they shouldn't have had access to. It was rather disturbing. It was obvious that they knew they couldn't build one themselves. And even more awkward was the realization that they had tired to gain favor with Pulse Fal'cie who thankfully had no interest in human affairs.
It seemed that killing Hope was more of a side project for them. As if getting rid of him will allow them to persuade the government to go ahead with their plans. The mage swallowed hard and sat down the folder.
"This is very troubling." He stated quietly. "I don't know exactly how much you know about what I'm doing General Yurg... but I'll be very frank with you. These people... are probably more dangerous then you think. They have access to information from a paradox...Another timeline that shouldn't exist anymore. Which means there is no way of knowing what exactly it is they have or will do."
"I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean by that." She replied as she folded heavily callused hands together. "Do you think they have access to this other 'timeline' you speak of in which to get other...things?"
"What I'm saying is... is that I think someone or someones within this group came through a paradox to this group. They were probably already disgruntled with Academia... So to get someone that missed Fal'cie rule. Or more importantly worked in a place called Augusta Tower... They have dangerous information."
"This mysterious Fal'cie project that you alluded to." She continued.
Noel took over for his partner at that point. "The reason we know about this timeline is because I went there. A manmade Fal'cie and A.I. that will eventually take over the Academy and kill all of the higher ups and isolate all matters to Augusta Tower and permit no entrance to civilians. Through that... it will rule in the way the Cocoonian Fal'cie did." Noel commented.
"And the pitfalls of that is?" She asked with curiosity.
"It means that we will become slaves to such an entity that humans shouldn't be allowed to create. Furthermore, if done correctly, it will be able to do the things in which other Fal'cie can... Including making cieth." Hope stared down at the folder quietly. "And l'cie... A super powered army of extraordinary soldiers and monsters that it would use to dominate humanity. And when it has no use for us anymore... eradicate us."
General Yurg swallowed hard and sat back at that explanation. She turned and looked out the window towards Cocoon for a few moments and then looked back at Hope with curiosity before she asked a question that took Hope by surprised.
"You lived in that paradise... don't you miss it?"
"Miss it?" The bitter laugh he released startled her and caused Noel to reach for his hand, appearances be damned. "I miss what it was before I learned... Before my memories were tainted. The Cocoonian Fal'cie ordered an entire city of people... Men, women, children even visitors killed because of Pulse Fal'cie that they themselves had brought into Cocoon."
Yurg moved to speak but Hope silenced her and then continued on. "The Purge I'm sure your history books have told you about. All that for one l'cie and one inactive Fal'cie. And then... The 6 of us were chosen. And I learned that we were nothing but pets. That the very power foundation of Cocoon... Orphan was waiting for us to reach a certain population density so that it could drop Cocoon and kill us all."
"I know that that was the goal of the Fal'cie but-"
"They wanted to bring back their maker... Lindzei. All of the Fal'cie have a focus. To find the gate to the unseen realm. Gran Pulse Fal'cie simply search for the gate as ordered by Pulse... In the ground. In the rivers and oceans. In the sky. Through tests of courage. Fal'cie... seek the end of the world. That is their objective and we can not let those that would attempt to force that ending to gain power." Hope stated firmly as he looked up at the General.
"Then what should we do?" General Yurg asked as she looked at him with concern.
"Crush them." Noel interjected. "If they really have been influenced by a paradox-"
"No." Hope interrupted before Yurg could comment. "He means that you arrest them. Killing them will make their supporters more anxious and fanatical. What we need is to stop those that would do this and also find whatever research they may have and confiscate it."
"That's rather kind for the people who want to kill you." She commented quietly.
"A long time ago... I learned what was important." Hope stood up and nodded stiffly. He felt worn and wanted to rest. He nodded to the general as Noel stood up as well. "We'll talk again later."
"So what will we do about the Fal'cie Followers?" Noel asked as they sat with their dinner hours later. He watched as the silver haired man shook his head. "You're just going to leave it to the army?"
"Yes." Hope sighed tiredly and put down his fork. "Our focus is on the new cocoon... I was going to propose it earlier but now that this has happened, I'm going to talk to Director Nabaat about commissioning a team to go explore the 13th Ark... you and I will go with them."
"Is that wise? Throwing ourselves into danger so soon?" The hunter asked quietly as he tilted his head to the side.
"If we go... I can focus on my work but more so... We won't have to deal with this... And that cult," A sour look crossed the mage's face, "won't have access to me."
Noel nodded in understanding even if he felt nervous about the thought of going aboard an Ark. He knew about them from the 'education' that Caius had given him, filled with Pulse weaponry, they had been made for a war. Who's war, no one quite knew, but one nonetheless. He shifted his body slowly and then looked up.
"What are you hoping to find?" He finally asked.
"Something. Many of the mysteries that I've dealt with in my considerably odd life have involved the number 13 and I figure it must be no coincidence that the Ark that has appeared in this time is called the 13th. I'm hoping that it has something to connect all the pieces together."
"That's an interesting idea."
"Aren't you the least bit interested?" Hope picked up his fork again.
"I'm not exactly interested but I do want to know more."
"Neither of us was made to sit back Noel. I need to explore this as best I can."
"Sounds like a plan." The hunter shrugged as he turned his attention back this food.
"So why the 13th Ark?" Nabaat asked as he looked over the file in front of him. "It seems that it's already outlived it's usefulness by providing us with the ability to lift the new cocoon."
Hope sighed and looked down at the paperwork in front of him. At any moment he would also have to confront Ulman so that he could explain his proposal to her and try to secure the funding that he would need for such a project. Part of him was tempted to run it out of his own funds, he had enough money considering his 'clocked time' working for the Academy but to secure military aid he would need the approval of the government.
He found he terribly missed the old days when it was a matter of making a proposal and then securing a few believers on his team and heading off. This political maelstrom was honestly enough to make him want to tear his hair out and he was the one on the fast track. He pressed his head against his knuckles wishing that Noel was back in the room but he sighed and looked up.
"As I have always been honest with you Nabaat... I want to investigate the 13th Ark because it seems like the right thing to do. Although we have the information about the cores... and even have them now thanks to the efforts of Noel and Serah for my research there is only more questions."
"More questions?" The fatherly man lifted his eyes from his paper to examine him.
"You see... When I was 24 years old... I met Noel for the first time a man from the future. A future still not yet reached to be honest and one we have not yet changed. Cocoon will fall and the lands of Gran Pulse will be destroyed." The silver haired mage paused as he thought of the future that his lover had spoken of to him. "In 700AF the world will be near it's end. Nothing but sand and death in that time. Water sources nearly dried up... Noel as far as he could tell was the last person to exist. The end of humanity."
Nabaat took a deep breath. Hope knew that dual thoughts were waring with the older man's mind. The knowledge that the last human ever walked among them and the desire to study him but also the horror that in 200 years the end of humanity would be here. He was tempted to say something but stopped that thought wanting to wait and see what the director would say and how he would react, but Nabaat also knew that the director was a man who thought out what he would say.
"Was this man your inspiration to build this new cocoon?" He completely though Hope off guard by not asking the question he was prepared for. The other paused as he thought.
"In a way yes." He tilted his head back and stared at the sky. "The fall of cocoon will destroy the world. And I had thought it couldn't fall. The crystal pillar was created by the sacrifice of my friends... two brave women who are sitting in their now... dreaming."
"The two l'cie that made Ragnarok." He nodded. "And the pillar will fall?"
"In 100 years the pillar will break." Hope's tone took a somber tone. "The goal of my research is to secure a new home for humanity... but also to remove their crystals from the pillar if possible. They are still alive."
"You can't be serious." Nabaat looked up at him with wide eyes. "If the history books are correct they've been there alive for 400 years."
"Longer actually." Hope wiped at his eyes for tears that surprisingly weren't there. "Before that year... I don't even remember how long it took anymore... They had been in crystal since the War of Transgression. 500 or was it 700 years previously."
"That's such a long time." Nabaat's eyes turned to the window, the pillar in the distance. "What are you hoping to find on the Ark?"
"While the fall of the crystal pillar is a fixed point in time... There is a person who has interest in basically continuing the Fal'cie schemes." He crossed his arms. "He has plans to ensure that even with the new cocoon... that most of humanity dies for his own purposes."
"And what would those be?" Nabaat asked but Hope shook his head and sighed deeply.
"It's not that I don't trust you... but this person... He is beyond time. What his goals are we aren't sure. But we know that he wants to cause this catastrophic event. While we aren't sure of what his goal is. If the Cocoonian Fal'cie had been right about their goal...Such a massive amount of death will open the gate and bring back The Maker, but who knows really."
"Sorry I'm late." The door breezed open and shut behind Ulman as she walked in and sat down across from Hope. Her teacher like demeanor was always something that was rather comforting despite the obvious schemes that were brewing in her mind. As they prepared for the long meeting Hope found himself wishing that he hadn't sent Noel off to talk to General Yurg about the trip they wished to make.
Noel was glad to finally be done with his meeting with General Yurg. While he enjoyed spending time with the woman he was still insanely worried about Hope and how he was dealing after the attempted assassination attempt and all the other stuff that he had to deal with on top of it. He tapped the door and let it slide open, seeing the former director lying tiredly on his couch. He let the door slide shut and pressed the locking mechanism as the other had explained it to him.
The silver haired man rolled over and looked at him. He looked tired for lack of anything else to say. A deep kind of tiredness that Noel had recognized from members of his tribe back at the end of days. He approached the other and knelt down beside him and took his hand.
"Hey." The hunter whispered quietly and stroked his cheek. "How are you?"
"Tired." The older man replied as he leaned into the touch. "What did Yurg have to say?"
Noel groaned, not wanting to go there just yet. But the other was waiting expectantly and he gave in. "She thinks it's a good idea. Gets you out of the way, allows time for investigation and also, she said she was interested in their defense system as a way to make an outer defense for the cocoon project if things end up as bad as they think."
"Well that sounds all good." Hope remarked as he closed his eyes. "How many troops are we cleared to take?"
"She and I discussed it for a while and positioning considering the information you gave us about the 5th Ark and decided on 20 to make a base camp and then excursions can be made from there."
"That's a bad idea. And I distinctly remember about asking for only 6 Guardian Corps."
"If we really plan to be there for a long time then we need to be able to combat anything that we find. This isn't 6 l'cie anymore. We need to do things as if we are regular old humans." Noel pointed out quietly.
"You and I aren't normal. I am a powerful mage and you are chosen by Etro. We don't need that many men, let alone a base camp!" Hope sat up and glared at him. "I will go and talk to Yurg myself."
"No you won't." Noel put his hand out. "Yes, we are stronger then them by virtue of fate and the blessings of Etro but what is the point of making this harder then we need it to be. We aren't going there to train and fight our way through. We are going there to study. So take the 20 damn men and maybe a scientist or two."
"You don't get it!" Hope blasted as he shoved Noel's arm aside and headed to the door.
"Then explain it to me. I'm not telling you to lug 20 men through the Ark on your back!" Heatedly angry now, Noel had started to talk with his hands as well, struggling to make a point that his partner was clearly ignoring. "They are just going to make a base camp so that we have a protected place to return to. Is that so wrong?"
"6 men can do that just fine!" Hope shouted as he turned around, a high flush to his own cheeks in anger.
"Not if these monsters are as strong as you think they will be Hope. Talk to me. What's wrong?" Noel bit down on his anger, knowing that it could explode at any minute and tried to impress upon Hope that he just wanted to understand.
"...I just... Please don't make me kill anymore people!" Hope's face contorted in pain as he covered his eyes. "That many people increases the chance of the Fal'cie Followers infiltrating the group. I can't-I don't want to kill another person ever again."
"Hope." Noel approached him carefully and enfolded him into his arms. He didn't know what to say at first. Though it was a distinction that he didn't often make, Noel didn't have a lot of blood on his hands. Well human blood when he thought about it. Trained to be a hunter that was what he did. And even though most of his travels with Serah the closest he'd gotten to people were mostly cieth and well... Caius though he'd never kill the other man if he had any say in it.
In fact as he thought about it he was pretty sure that he'd never killed another person. But if what he'd sort of learned from history was correct. For Hope that was very, very different. He had taken a journey, an impossible quest that had pitted him mostly against people. And while there were monsters to kill in the end...
There had been soldiers and scared citizens. People with families. People with names and homes and somewhere, someplace a person wasn't returning home. Just like Hope's own mother. He hadn't taken the time to think about such things. Although... Alyssa's parting words must have wounded him so much as well. To Hope it probably felt like he had killed her twice.
"I know that you don't want others to get hurt." The dark haired man stated quietly as he pulled back and took Hope's hands. Those hands were soft and pale mostly because the scientist had worn gloves for most of the hard work that he'd done. Especially when his primary weapons were magic and a boomerang. "A person like you... I don't know what to say."
The mage's eyes were red from unshed tears, a face that Noel had unfortunately become a bit familiar with. Wanting to hid and cry, but more determined to do what needed to be done. A look that had probably been learned during his time as a l'cie. Hope looked down at their intertwined hands. Pale and tan mixed together. In many ways he was much softer then Noel... really then many of the people that he considered friends and family.
"I thought... that if we took six we could leave them on deck. The monsters... Pulse Automata for the most part... might be too strong or falling apart." He swallowed hard as he looked away from the other.
"I'm here with you." Noel leaned forward and kissed his temple. "I won't leave you. I..."
Hope cut him off with a shake of the head. He pressed a quick kiss to Noel's mouth and smiled thinly. The silence that slowly fell down between them was comfortable if not sad. Noel pulled Hope close and tucked his head under his chin. How do you console someone about something that wasn't going to change? As long as the Fal'cie Followers were determined to kill Hope, more people would die.
Noel set his hands on Hope's shoulders and massaged gently as he looked into his partner's eyes. All the preparation that had been going into getting ready for their excursion trip to the 13th Ark had made both of them jittery and nervous. They had fought over the size of the team and if other scientists should even go. Hell, they had fought about Hope's ability to fight. But Noel didn't want the other to think about that anymore.
He smiled thinly and softly whispered an apology. Hope shook his head and reached his hand up to cup the other's face and pressed their lips together. This soft quiet moment alone was something they both sorely needed. The soft kiss turned passionate as Hope slid his tongue against Noel's lips to gain entrance. The hunter took the hint and pulled him forward to curl close and kiss deeper.
"Bed." Hope stated in his best stern voice, the hunter laughed and Hope dug his fingers into the taller man's shoulders. "Hey, who's the leader here?" He asked teasingly.
"Exactly." Noel replied as he pushed Hope backwards to fall onto the bed. "You should know by now, that as your protector... I only follow the orders I deem necessary."
"I don't think that's how it works." Hope stated as he lifted himself up onto his elbows and smiled gently. The mage spread his legs and encouraged Noel down on top of him. "It's been a long time... I'm not I'm not sure I want to."
"Whatever you want to do." Noel stated as he took off his shirt before kneeling between his legs. "Boss." He added sarcastically.
Green eyes brightened considerably and he smacked the taller man's hip roughly. Noel whined lightly, Hope hit far harder then he thought. He started to pull back but the mage sat up and pulled him back. "You told me you didn't have any experience... Have you changed that?"
"Ew Hope... By the time I was old enough for such things there was only Caius and Yuel." He shook his head as his soon to be lover smiled mischievously.
"I don't know... The way you talk about Yuel-"
"That's my little sister and if you keep this up..." Noel trailed off mock threateningly.
Hope laughed and pulled Noel as he laid back down, causing the younger man to lay down on top of him. Noel stared down at Hope in wonder, it felt like they fit together like this and he stared into chrysoprase eyes as the other smiled encouragingly. He moved his hands up to bury fingers into silver hair as he lowered to press their mouths together.
As the soft kiss started hands pressed on his hips, pushing him down into the cradle of the older man's body. With their hips aligned, Noel couldn't suppress the gasp when their hips fit together. Hope rocked up against him and he groaned into his mouth, the answering pant against his lips sent tremors through him that echoed through the other man. Having never experienced such a level of intimacy Noel wasn't really sure that he knew what to do.
The hunter slowly pulled back from the kiss and stared down at the older man. He found that his lover looked all too content at being tangled up with him and felt a smile tugging at his own lips. He leaned down at pressed a soft kiss against the corner of his lips. Hope laughed softly and slid his hands up to press on Noel's shoulder blades.
"I love you." The soft words sent a trill of happiness through him and he leaned down to kiss the other harshly. Hope gasped into the kiss and clutched at Noel tighter. It was obvious they wouldn't do much more tonight and the mage found that this was enough as he closed his eyes and sunk into bliss.