Sorry for being so damn late with the update. Real life happened. So... on that note... There will be an update today and Wednesday... And if I get it edited in time Friday! Either way, Wednesday will definitely happen. ANYWAYS: let's move on to why you are really here:
Serah hated the sound of the ominous rattling the building made as it slowly shuffled through the sky like a dying bird. She had to admit, she didn't know anything of the building's mechanics but this just sounded so deadly. The former hostages were all sitting quietly around the lounge, huddled on couches together for assurance and warmth. They weren't really safe after all. And among the large group that they all made they only had five fighters.
It was probably earth shattering to a lot of them. The Academy HQ was supposed to be safe. Probably one of the safest places in all of Pulse. And now that they were headed to the Archylte Steppe, probably one of the most dangerous places. It had been nearly an hour and they should be setting down soon. But who knew when the army would get there and what the terrorists were planning. After all, they could somewhat access chaos magic although she doubted that that could help them that much.
"Are you all right?" Snow asked as he slid down the wall beside her. She nodded blankly and reached a hand out to feather through bright blond strands. "You seem ta be thinkin' rather hard."
"I am... I mean-" She took a deep breath and started again. "There has to be some way to stop Alyssa."
"There is." Snow replied frankly. "We have to destroy her paradox. When we get out of this mess. Hope will go straight into the gravity well and we will go through the gate. Stop her paradox, and meet up with the kid in 500AF to complete the Shatter Point and stop Caius." The large man stated with certainty.
"And after that?" She asked quietly. "The price that we pay?"
"Well... I don't know anything about that." He took her hand and kissed it, staring at her still seemingly delicate hand even though he knew first hand the kind of destruction she could deal out. "But we'll be together. With Sis and the rest. That's gotta count for something right?"
She shook her head miserably. Count for something huh? She was tired of the death and destruction. She wanted to live the life that she had chosen back before the Purge. She wanted to marry this man and start the family he'd never had. She wanted to be meanie Miss Farron and watch her sister open up to people again like she had after her journey.
"You're off in your own head again." Snow commented and she laughed softly.
"Not much else to do. ETA is in like half an hour according to Arcane."
He nodded numbly and leaned against her. "We'll start that family one day. And have that wedding you dreamed of. Light will give you away. I'll bully Hope into being the best man and that Moggle of yours can be the ring bearer."
She laughed softly at the image that put into her head and started stroking his hair again. "It's a nice dream isn't it? You were always good a making my dreams come true in your own way."
"ETA is in fifteen minutes!" Arcane suddenly shouted, standing up and looking all business. "We are going to crash so I need everyone to brace themselves. Make sure you're intended protection is nailed down."
As everyone around them rushed to follow orders, Serah just watched. It wasn't until Snow pulled on her arm that she got moving. Her mind stretched into many places at once. And yet as speed was picked up by the building and she was gripping onto Snow and the table they were using for protection, she couldn't help but notice that Hope and Noel were still inside the side room.
She could only hope that they would be okay too.
The peacefulness of the Archylte Steppe was broken as a large square structure slammed into the ground head first. It sent dirt and water flying as it crumbled partially into the ground creating a small canyon as it slid through the ground. When it came to a stop, the silence was deafening. All animal life had fled as fast as it could.
Inside, Hope was clinging to Noel, the hunter cursing as his arm ached painfully. They support they were using had ripped up from the floor and slammed into his arm so hard he was sure the bone had snapped. On the other hand, Hope who hadn't fully recovered from his injuries didn't look to much worse for wear. They could hear groaning from the lounge and otherwise hoped that everything was okay.
"Let me see your arm." Hope spoke when he was able to calm down enough to peel himself away from the comfort of Noel's body. The hunter hissed as his arm was examined but then magic rolled over him, cool and gently. He moaned softly as the bone knitted itself back together. But without real rest the risk of it breaking again was rather high. "That should last until we get out of here."
"How's your head?" The brunette asked quietly and Hope smiled weakly.
"It hurts again but I don't feel disoriented. If everyone else is fine I'll have Serah cast another healing spell on me."
Noel shook his head. "If it's not so bad let me try." Hope nodded in agreement and relaxed as Noel's surprisingly warm magic passed over him, clearing out the pain and nausea that had been lurking around the edges of his consciousness. Afterwards the two stood up and open the door to the oncoming chaos.
In the lounge there were few extra injuries thankfully but there was a worrisome noise that was echoing through the building that caused a question about stability. It was too far away for the Moggle to go investigate by himself and there was still the worrisome matter of the terrorists.
"Going out onto the Archylte Steppe is suicide with so few combatants." Nomura murmured as he looked over the group from where he stood with Arcane.
"We won't have much of a choice is the building is too unstable. I'm going to send out a team. This place is defensible for as long as the building isn't going to fall apart."
"Then I should be on that team." Snow replied smacking his fists together.
"Impatient." Arcane rolled her eyes fondly and turned to the open door that let out Noel and Hope. "I want you to take Noel with you. Right now, Serah and Hope's healing abilities will be invaluable."
" You think the kid's well enough to do healing right now?" Snow asked with a skeptical look. "Wait... I mean I know he is. I just don't want to stress him out too much. The head injury will come back."
"Not much of a choice otherwise." Arcane replied. "This isn't a military outfit. This is a bunch of book worms in a dangerous situation."
"Still. I'll see about finding some weapons. You may not believe it but with their lives on the line, I'm sure some of them could become serviceable fighters." But even as he said those supposedly encouraging words his face darkened in memories of a woman taking up a gun to protect her boy. And how he had almost failed her a number of times after her untimely death.
"Well there's a face I've never seen from you."
"Hey Kriess! You're with me." Snow ignored her and motioned the guardian over. "Let's check out the building."
Arcane sighed softly as she watched them leave. She was about to say something more when Hope was at her side with a sad look on his face as he tugged her towards on of the still nailed down tables as Serah and Nomura began examining the others for injuries.
"Snow is just probably remembering things from the past."
"Oh?" She asked, surprise that Hope could figure out what was on her mind. He shrugged idly.
"All of us... who were apart of the Purge have a lot of painful memories." He replied and she knew that he wasn't going to say anymore. The Purge was a topic not up for discussion with the Mage, not even on the academic side of talking about history. It had galled many of the professors at the Academy, but Arcane knew the pain was still too close.
The silence stretched on between the two of them with the noise of the background seeming to not penetrate their bubble. Finally Arcane turned away from him and looked over at where Serah was hard at work. "I guess we all need to be doing our part."
Noel walked beside Snow with a nervous twitch. He wanted to go back and be with Hope, it sounded clingy, even in his own mind. But they were in a dangerous place and if some of the bigger monsters came to investigate they would have a serious problem on their hands. He begrudgingly had to give Snow credit though, he was being more then enough of an ally right now. Practically a leader and while Noel was no follower it was hard to see beyond the current problems for his mental state right now.
And the dizzy spelled that followed didn't surprise him at all.
"You all right kid?" Snow asked as he turned to watch Noel kind of list to the side and then lean against the wall. He watched the younger man slide down the wall and stare at the ground. Snow could never have been prepared for Noel to lose his shit. The hunter didn't move as he started hyperventilating. Snow was about to snap at him when he remembered about Lightning's warning about the kid. "Of all the fucking times." He groaned as he grabbed the younger man's arm and hauled him up.
Noel moaned painfully as his memories cycled through his head in surprisingly painful motions. Snow shoved him into a room and his feet refused to work and the hunter ended up in a heap. Snow crossed his arms impatiently and looked outside. In a hostile environment and now that shit has to flashed through him.
When the episode was over and if that was the first in a line of many, Noel wasn't sure of how much he could take. He didn't know what was gone with in his mind. Nothing seemed different yet and he didn't know what to make of it. Snow pulled him up to his feet.
"You all right kid?" The blond asked as he gestured back towards the door. "We do have work to do."
"Hey, you called me." Noel snarked back and pushed his way past the other, only to rear back out of pulse gun fire. "And that would be the welcome wagon."
"It doesn't sound like enough guns to be a problem other then as a surprise." Snow replied slamming his fists together. "We need to get to the hub and check things out and then get back to the lounge. On three?"
Noel grumbled but he knew that he couldn't deter the larger man. He unsheathed his swords and prepared himself.
"THREE!" Snow shouted as he went storming out into the fray. Noel followed him quickly, his broader sword out as a shield.
It was only six assailants and the two of them made quick work of those grunts. Once finished Snow pointed down the next hallway. Because this had been the base floor of the research center, most of the rooms were large and the hallways long to accommodate them. It was turning into a headache. When they reached the large double doors that led into the research hub Noel grabbed Snow's shoulder roughly.
"Fuck this hurts."
"Did you get hurt?" Snow asked with concern but he shook his head and slumped a bit.
"It's my mind. Do you have a painkiller?" He rasped. "I just need something to stop the pain."
Snow nodded blankly and searched his pockets, the other swallowed the pain killer quickly. When Noel came back to himself. Snow felt guilty, he wanted to take Noel back to the others but it was too late now. Everyone had to pull their own weight right now. Noel shook his head slowly and then stood up firmly.
"I doubt we'll find any weapons but at the very least maybe we can waylay Alyssa?"
Snow shrugged and pushed the doors open. There was no gun fire. Which was surprisingly. But Alyssa was here. She was standing at the mainframe frantically typing. It seemed like she was hitting dead ends. At the slamming of the doors she spun around.
"How did you get here?!" She shouted furiously.
"Well... It's not like you had very good henchmen." Snow shrugged lightly.
"Or maybe your paradox is breaking down?" Noel added and she glared at him firmly.
"No way." She hissed and she turned back around. "Dammnit... I need the access codes."
"Alyssa." Snow's voice was soft, almost introspective as he cautiously entered the room. "You do realize that this isn't going to help you. You've been dead for over 400 years now."
"I CAN CHANGE THINGS." She roared turning to face him. "It's not like Hope's a good person either. He wants to go back and save his mom!"
Snow breathed in sharply at that which caused Noel to raise an eyebrow. There was a long quiet moment as Alyssa held Snow's stare in challenge. After a few moments Alyssa deflated.
"Whatever Hope wants to do... He knows better then to hurt other people for something that won't work. Regardless of whatever his dream is." Snow stated. "He has sacrificed so much and the fact that you would through a private wish out as if it would justify your selfish, dangerous actions."
Alyssa sobbed lightly and then closed her eyes to take a deep breath. "Even if you stop me now, I am a paradox. I have plenty of time to work to stop you."
Snow shrugged lightly and lifted his fists. "Its your choice you can leave now and try to find another way. Or you can stay here and fight against people you care about."
Alyssa turned with a wild eyed glare and charged at them magic flying out of his hand. Instead, of the hit landing as both Noel and Snow braced for the magical attack. Instead, the magic fluttered and disappeared. As they straightened up, they watched as Alyssa stared to slowly fade.
"You... you were buying time!" She growled and Snow shrugged lightly.
"Whatever you think, Hope cared for you... and I didn't want to hurt a friend."
Snow and Noel returned without extra weapons but neither of them seemed particularly worried. Snow explained in a very quick explanation that Alyssa's paradox had either been solved or had been stalled. Either way, she wasn't a problem anymore... or atleast for now. But remnants of the terrorist cell still existed and that was still a big problem for the Academy going forward.
Hope figured him leaving would help. Alyssa's paradox was following him. The Academy could focus on more important things if he wasn't around. Furthermore he was sure that if they all started their travels again, even if her paradox wasn't solved yet it would be. He snapped back to the present at the feel of Noel tapping against his forehead.
"Hey now... We are still in danger." The guardian murmured before he dropped down next to the tired mage. "Arcane says the army has an ETA of about an hour."
"Sounds about right." Hope replied as he leaned into the taller man who wrapped his arms around him. Serah came and sat across from them with a thin smile. As they sat and waited Snow soon came over and slumped down as well. The silence stretched on, brittle and worrisome. Finally Hope spoke without prompt. "As soon as we get back... you three need to leave."
"Wait what?" Snow asked as he sat up, gently disturbing Serah where she leaned against him. "I don't know if you knocked your head harder then we thought but you are in danger Hope. We can't just leave you."
You left before, Hope thought bitterly but stated much more positively. "We can't keep stalling here forever. Noel and Serah and you need to move on."
"Not until you go into the gravity well with Arcane." Noel stated as he squeezed the other's hand.
"That is just a frivolous time waster. You all need to get on track and I will meet you in 500AF like we planned before."
"Not until you go in the capsule." Noel repeated firmly and Serah nodded.
"I think we have a few more days before it's time to go." The pink haired girl murmured as she leaned back and stared up. "Lightning said that we had to stay put until the new moon."
"The new moon is when the next gate will open." Moggle replied as he floated above Serah's head. "A gate to take us to the next step."
Snow had a troubled look on his face. Lightning had warned him about only one assassination attempt and in reality there had been two, three maybe? Every time he looked at Hope he couldn't help but see a fourteen year old boy and the promise that he had made Nora. He knew that if he dwelled on it too much he would feel a lot of guilt involving him. He sighed deeply and dragged a hand over his face.
"I'm inclined to agree with them. We'll leave after you go into the capsule. After all, you were mostly just making the preparations at this point right? Just enjoy your time with Noel and get ready. Us leaving earlier then we should isn't going to help anyone." Snow pointed out and Hope groaned softly. If Snow was attempting to be logical, he knew he wasn't going to win.
"All right... But then what do we-"
The loud crash against a wall wasn't unexpected. It was on the other side of the building. Probably a large monster. Snow groaned miserably and Serah gasped loudly. Hope looked to Arcane and she nodded faintly.
"We will barricade this room. The army should be close at hand, so we won't worry about the wildlife." Arcane replied quietly.
A daunting silence settled over everyone as they waited for the army to come. It was nerve wracking to know that soon animals would probably be attacking the building. With only a few able fighters it was a terribly daunting task. Especially since here were obviously terrorists still somewhere within the building even though Arcane had dismissed them as a threat.