Chapter 72: Last Resort
How long he sat out in the rain, Asch didn't know. He just sat there; letting the rain soak him, chill him to his very core until the numbness consumed his mind, and he no longer had to think. His crimson hair clung to the back of his neck and his jacket weighed heavily on his shoulders, but its weight was nothing like the weight on his chest.
He'd failed.
He'd sworn he would always protect Luke and he'd failed. All these years, all this time, he'd found meaning in that one simple goal. To have that one other person that would never confuse or replace him. To have someone who needed him and only him. Luke had grown so much lately, their battle had been a harsh reminder of that. He wasn't the helpless little replica he had once been; he'd become completely independent and self-sufficient. Luke didn't need him... not anymore.
No, that wasn't true! There were still some things Luke turned to him for... things his little brother would come to talk to him about... Asch had to believe that. When everything had been ripped away those eight years ago and he had nothing else, it was on Luke's existence that he'd rebuilt his shattered identity. If nothing else in his life stayed constant, he could manage, because he knew he had his little brother. Now...
No, he wasn't going to give up yet. There had to be something he could do. As long as Luke was still here, as long as he hadn't disappeared there was still hope. There was still time to fight! Asch didn't care what it took, what he would have to do, he would find another path. He'd die before he watched Luke disappear in front of his eyes... and he meant those words with all their implications.
Gathering his sword from the ground where it had lain since Luke defeated him, Asch slipped inside, trailing a small stream behind him. The water that hadn't registered to him before now sent a chill down his spine as it ran off his hair. His once numb limbs began to prickle and his head throbbed in protest. He grumbled, but gave the sensations no more consideration than that. He had far more important concerns.
Asch took a step forward but a wave of weakness buckled his knee and the throbbing in his head increased exponentially. What? What was going on? The pain of hitting the floor was completely overshadowed by the searing headache that had consumed him. Lorelei...? No, not quite. It was more familiar than that. It couldn't be...
The light of the sacred flame shall approach the Kimlascan city of fon machines, seeking a way to purify the taint. There, salvation shall be found through the use of a forbidden power.
Luke?
There was no mistaking his sibling's voice that had just resonated throughout his mind. Yet it was clear the words weren't his. What was it then? 'The light of the sacred flame'? Asch winced, the pain making it hard to think clearly. That sounded like the Score. But Luke couldn't have possibly... even if he could, why would he?
'Luke!' Asch tried; amazed at the amount of concentration something so simple suddenly took. He didn't get an answer. Asch tried again but, not surprisingly, he didn't have any more success, not that he had expected to. He knew this feeling, he'd only felt it once but he would never forget it. Between him and Luke was a massive golden wall, impassable as it had once been, but not as solid as he remembered. If he could have concentrated through the agony, he might have been able to break though, but that was impossible right now. Still, it left him with the culprit.
Lorelei.
The hows and whys of what Lorelei was doing here and now of all times flew through Asch's mind as he raced back to their room, ignoring the wave of needles that jabbed into his legs with each step; his muscles protesting the sudden return of blood flow. The pain was welcome, it detracted from the throbbing in his head, and soon both sensations began to fade. By the time he'd rounded the final corner, both had vanished entirely.
Throwing the door open, Asch was surprised at the lack of golden glow, the missing ambiance. Where was he? Asch knew he was in the right place, and if Lorelei was possessing Luke again, then he must of had some purpose for doing so. Why would he just take off before speaking to anyone? The lack of his presence was confirmed by the newly re-opened connection to Luke but all manner of prodding still failed to produce any sort of response.
"Luke?" Asch asked aloud, wondering if he was hidden away in the shadows but there was no reply. The room looked completely undisturbed, save one bed whose pillow had been removed and now sat tussled in the corner.
"Luke!" Asch turned the corner to find his brother unconscious on the floor beside the bed. A quick look put most of his fears to rest; Luke was breathing regularly and didn't seem to be hurt anywhere, just unconscious. What in all of Auldrant had happened here? Gently shaking his brother's shoulder didn't produce any response; Luke was out cold.
Picking Luke up, Asch heard something fall to the ground with a hard thunk. What the-? Setting his sibling down on his bed, the young monarch searched the floor until he'd located the source, a small green fonstone. Luke had this? Well that made his initial guess a hell of a lot more plausible, but it was still hard to really grasp. Luke had read the Score? But how? Asch didn't remember hearing anything about anyone teaching him how. Sure, he'd spent more effort ignoring than listening to the others lately, but he still doubted something so odd would have escaped his notice. The question that was better yet though, was where had Luke gotten the fonstone in the first place?
"I'm telling you Jade, there has to be-" Guy's voice entered the room, the opening door pulling Asch from his thoughts. The Colonel wasn't far behind the former attendant and they seemed engaged in conversation. The topic wasn't hard to guess. The blond looked up and fell silent when he saw Asch. His eyes traced from the older to the younger sibling and he sighed. "Asleep already?"
"No, he's unconscious," Asch replied.
"What? Why? What happened?" Guy rushed over, Jade in tow.
"I don't know, I just got here and found him on the floor."
"You do realize you're both soaked to the bone, when there is no need to go out in the rain to get here I might add," Jade pointed out. "You can't really expect us to believe you've no idea what happened?" Jade eyed him sceptically. What was with that look? What did they think he did? Asch scowled. Okay maybe their suspicions weren't that far off of what he'd planned, but still!
"Jade's right," Guy stated accusingly. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. Yes we ran into each other outside and we didn't exactly see eye to eye but he came back ahead of me. I just got here; I came because I knew something was wrong."
"I thought I'd taught you better than that," Jade commented, adjusting his glasses. Asch let out an exasperated sigh; it was obvious they thought he was lying.
"He had this in his hand when I found him," Asch held up the fonstone. He could tell from the look in Jade's eye that he'd won the Colonel over as soon as the man saw it.
"Is that?" Guy began to ask.
"A fonstone," Asch finished. "I can't figure out where he got it though."
"Well this is Daath," Guy added.
"All the more reason pieces of the Score shouldn't be lying around for him to pick up," Asch retorted.
"So you suspect Luke attempted to read the Score on this fonstone?" Jade inquired, still scrupulously analyzing the stone he'd since taken from Asch.
"I know he did. I don't know how he knew how... but I know he did, I heard it."
"What did it say?" The blond inquired.
"The light of the sacred flame shall approach the Kimlascan city of fon machines, seeking a way to purifythe taint. There, salvation shall be found through the use of a forbidden power," Asch repeated. "I'm wondering if 'the taint' that it talks about isn't the miasma... maybe there's a solution to the miasma to be found in the city of fon machines."
"But if it's talking about things as they are now, then that would have to be the Planet Score," Guy pointed out. "I mean the Sixth Fonstone Score ends right after the war, right?"
"It would explain why he's unconscious," Jade stipulated. "Even with no training, simply reading a regular Score wouldn't have the ability to knock him unconscious. Luke has enough training in terms of handling fonons to be certain of that. Rather I'm more sceptical of the feasibility of this Score. There are several inconsistencies."
"Like what?" Guy asked.
"First off, according to the Score, 'the light of the sacred flame' perished in Akzeriuth. It makes it seem unlikely that this event Luke has read occurs after Akzeriuth."
"No, that's wrong," Asch intervened.
"What do you mean?" Guy asked.
"The Score said I would 'destroy myself and the city'. You don't have to die to destroy yourself. I mean in a way it came true, we all know what Luke was like after Akzeriuth."
"He destroyed himself..." Guy mulled. "I still don't get it; it was supposed to be Asch all along wasn't it?"
"It's like Van said," Asch continued. "The leaves may change but the essence of the Score doesn't. As he put it, 'a deviation like Luke's existence is nothing before Yulia's Score'. Even though the details vary a bit, it may still be relevant information."
Jade adjusted his glasses, interested at the translation Asch had put forth. It was a valid interpretation that he recalled considering but had pushed to the back of his mind as it'd little relevance at the time. Though shadowed by the recent problems with the miasma, the issue of the Score remained unsolved, and Jade was beginning to think that perhaps they'd not made as much progress as they'd been led to believe.
"Regardless," the Colonel continued, leaving that as food for thought for a later time. "The 'forbidden power' it speaks of sounds a good deal like your hyperresonance," Jade added, directing his comments at Asch and the undeniable light of hope in his eyes. "The solution it offers may not be an alternative, but rather a confirmation of the plan already in place."
"I don't care," Asch shook his head. "Let's head for Belkend in the morning. There's still a chance that something may be there."
Asch heard Jade's arguments and they were completely sound and reasonable, but there was one factor the Malkuth Colonel wasn't considering... and that was Lorelei. Lorelei had undoubtedly been here and if he hadn't stuck around to talk to someone, then he must have wanted to talk to Luke. Lorelei had contacted Luke for a reason and Asch fervently hoped that the being had offered his sibling some sort of solution, because no matter what else he may think of the being, he knew Lorelei couldn't afford to lose them.
"Weren't you the one who kept saying we had no time to waste?" Jade inquired.
"If there's a chance," Asch answered with unwavering strength. "If there is even one small hope that we can get through this without anyone having to die, then I don't care what we have to do! We owe it to Luke to at least try! To at least try to save him!"
"You're right," Guy agreed. Jade only sighed.
No matter how small.
"To Belkend it is then."
Luke had woken the next morning and tried to play dumb for about ten minutes until Asch showed him the fonstone. Asch had purposely planned ahead; filling everyone else in on what had happened the night before, with the exception of the bit about Lorelei, and with six against one there was no way Luke could keep it under wraps. He'd finally confessed, admitting to using their prior encounter with Mohs and the former Grand Maestro's rather erratic attempts as a template to figure out how to read the Score. To Asch's dismay Luke still wouldn't say where the fonstone had come from, but the more they prodded him about it, the more Asch had a sneaking suspicion it was a gift from the late Fon Master. It was the only topic about which Luke was so adamantly silent.
Tear had confirmed the Score Asch had heard and that the fonstone was part of the Planet Score, another reason why the redhead was convinced it must have come from Ion; not just anyone had access to that. In fact a very few select individuals even knew it could be read from Daath, something Asch had discovered by chance when he'd investigated Mt. Zaleho in search of the Jewel of Lorelei. Asch was sure there was something here in Belkend that could save Luke, regardless of what else had to be done. Luke was not leaving this city to go die, not while Asch was still breathing.
The city of fon machines was unusually busy, much more so than Asch remembered it being, and while it didn't even begin to compare to what Daath had been, for the small research centre, it was quite startling. The unusual bustle made conversation difficult, but Asch didn't mind, it was probably for the better anyways. Not that he didn't want to talk, far from it; he had more than a few questions for his sibling who was contently walking beside him and the fewer interruptions the better.
'Say Luke?'
'What's up?' Luke asked curiously. He was surprisingly... normal, so much so that Asch was mildly bothered. Their fight, all the encounters with the others, it was like that whole night had never happened. Anise suggested that maybe he hit his head when he went unconscious and didn't remember the details; plausible, but Luke's silence said otherwise. He was hiding something, keeping it buried within his depths.
'What happened that night?'
'I told you already, I tried to read the Score and I got a really bad headache and passed out,' the younger sibling explained. 'I don't even really remember the Score I read that well...'
'So Lorelei had nothing to do with it?'
Luke's eyes widened, Asch's grew darker. 'How did you-?'
'Do you really not trust me anymore?' Asch asked. 'Is that why you never tell me the truth, why you don't talk to me unless I badger you about it? Why you keep everything to yourself?'
'No, it's not like that at all!'
'Then tell me!' Asch snapped. 'Tell me why you're always lying to me!'
'I'm not lying! I'm just...'
'Just not telling the whole truth. It's the same damn thing!'
'I'm sorry...' Luke sounded so meek and pitiful that Asch's anger fizzled out in an instant. 'I guess...' he began hesitantly, 'I just guess that with all the fighting we've done lately, I've gotten used to not talking to you about stuff.' Asch felt his words like a punch to the gut.
'Yeah, you're right,' Luke continued, either missing or ignoring the shock, immersed in a sudden wave of regret that crashed over his sibling. 'I saw Lorelei; I think he came because I was reading the Score.'
'Well it is the Score Lorelei personally gave to Yulia,' Asch said, ignoring the feelings that had surfaced. They were no more than what he deserved for how he'd acted. The consequences of his choices, choices he'd willingly made, knowing this was how things would end up between them. But a part of him, deep down, didn't want to believe it would actually happen; didn't think it was possible to create such a painfully large distance between the two who had once been so close. 'I don't think he came because you were reading the Score though, it's more like reading the Score is what let him find you.'
'I think you might be right...' Luke trailed off.
'What happened, and please don't play the "I don't remember" card, it's not going to work with me. If we're going to figure this all out, then we need to know all the details.'
'I saw it...' Luke said meekly.
'Saw what?'
'I saw the Score, okay?' Luke snapped. 'I stood there and watched Kimlasca slaughter Malkuth, I watched them massacre St. Binah and Engeve before murdering Peony! I watched the miasma spread until Baticul was nothing but rust and ruins! I saw the end of the world, Asch!'
As Luke spoke, flashes of images, memories passed through Asch's mind and the small glimpse revolted him. He caught a whisper of the emotions Luke had felt, and it made Asch feel sorry for asking, for digging up what Luke had tried to bury away. He didn't realize Luke wasn't talking about because it was painful, he had just immediately assumed it was because Luke didn't trust him. Asch almost shook his head at himself. How selfish he'd become...
'I'm sorry, I didn't think.'
Luke just shook his head. Part of him was angry at Asch for just not letting things be, but he also knew it wasn't any good to let them just sit there and fester. Asch was just trying to help...
'That's when Lorelei showed up,' Luke explained. 'He told me the Score that was on that fonstone. He tried to hide it... but he was tired and really worn out, I don't know how much longer he can stand up to Master Van. Asch you've really got to hurry and free him!' Asch bit his lip as Luke referred to a future in which only Asch existed.
'Did he say how, or where to find him?'
'No, he just...'
'He just what, Luke?'
'I asked him about the Jewel. He said he sent it to me and beyond that he couldn't tell where it was. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for screwing up, for not getting the Jewel! Now because of me he's suffering, and Master Van is using him to do all these terrible things. If I'd gotten the Jewel we could have freed Lorelei a long time ago, the core wouldn't be shaking, and the miasma wouldn't be here... that's why... that's why I have to do this. I have to clean up my own mess... at least, as much as I'm able.'
'Luke, how many times am I going to have to tell you? It's not your fault. Lorelei sent us the keys in a hurry, Van was trying to capture him; it could have as easily been his mistake as it was yours. Stop blaming yourself for it!'
Luke turned to him and smiled weakly; Asch realized at that point it didn't matter what he said, Luke was resolved to take whatever guilt he'd self-imposed with him to the grave. That thought alone made Asch sick. Luke was barely eight years old, he shouldn't have to think like that! He shouldn't even be able to think like that. But this world was not so kind a place, to Luke or to any of the people that lived within it.
"Do you guys have any idea where we're even going?" Anise asked, unintentionally butting into their conversation. "Belkend is a pretty big place; that Score didn't happen to be more specific did it?"
"No, it only said 'the city of fon machines'," Asch replied. "But if there's anything here, the labs would have at least heard of it."
"If you're heading to the labs, why not try asking Spinoza?" Noelle suggested.
"Dr. Spinoza is here?" Asch inquired.
"Yeah, he just moved back here recently. Belkend is much better equipped than Sheridan for researching and he's been trying to find a solution to the miasma almost non-stop."
"That's as good a place to start as any," Tear pointed out.
"Yeah," Anise agreed. "And we know where to find him. Beats wandering any day!"
"I was not lost," Asch grumbled.
"Were so," Anise shot under her breath.
"Do you think that he's back in his old lab?" Guy asked.
"Hard to say," Noelle pondered. "I know Class I was talking to him about working together on some future projects so he may have moved into their lab. I didn't really hear the details."
"Well we should at least start by checking his old lab," Tear stated. "We can worry about where to find him if he isn't there."
"Works for me," Guy agreed. "What do you think Luke? You've been pretty quiet lately."
"Not really," the redhead shrugged. "I just don't have anything to add, that's all."
"If you say so," the blond replied with a raised eyebrow. He didn't buy it; neither did anyone else as they wandered through the labs. No one had missed the sudden change in his demeanour since his decision in Daath. It wasn't like he was withdrawing or ignoring them; he was just quiet, staying on the sidelines and seldom offered his input. Detached... that was the right word. Luke had detached himself, like his influence and existence was no longer relevant. He acted like he was already gone.
Tear stole a glance at her companion, but was quick to look away when he noticed her attention. She had barely said a word to him since leaving Daath. It wasn't that she was angry with him; she just didn't know what to say. All the trivial conversations she'd once loved having with him, now seemed so irrelevant. What did one say to someone they were about to lose? How did one say goodbye to someone as special as Luke was? The thought of it alone dragged her back to the dark and hollow feeling that had consumed her after their encounter in the library. Every word they'd spoken that night replayed over and over in her mind until she couldn't bear it anymore.
You made the exact same choice.
Why? Why couldn't she get his words, his face out of her head? Why did it feel like someone had torn her chest open, ripped out her heart and set whatever shards might have remained on fire? Why did the thought of losing Luke make her want to die too? It wasn't the same... and maybe Luke was right, maybe it was because the tables were turned, but it still wasn't the same. When she had been told she was going to die, she remembered being scared, she remembered hurting, but it was nothing compared to this. To die and be at rest seemed like a reward compared to having to deal with losing everything she loved.
Was that what this was? Tear almost froze on the spot, her temporary halt nearly had Anise colliding into her, but the protest of the younger girl went completely unheard. Was that what everything was about... did she... love Luke? His smile, his laugh, the way he always tried his hardest, always knew what to say to lessen the weight on her heart? His face, his voice, his ridiculously naive but bright view of life, the way he could light up her world just by walking into it? Everything about him made her smile, even his frustrating stubbornness, his annoying sense of pride... she treasured all of it. He wasn't like all the others; they were all friends but Luke was...
What did it matter anyway? What was the point? What was the point of realizing this when she was about to lose him? A world without Luke... a world without his smile, his light, it was more awful than she could bear.
"Tear, are you okay?" The melodist snapped out of her daze to see Guy staring at her, his head cocked to one side.
"I- I'm fine..." She barely protested.
"If you say so," he said with a shrug. "Careful not to fall behind, we don't want to lose you and let's face it, you'll never hear the end of it from Anise if you do."
"Don't worry, I won't..." Tear trailed off; already returning to whatever world Guy had startled her out of. The blond rolled his eyes but let her return to those thoughts as she followed behind him. Luke wasn't the only one who had been quiet lately, and it worried him. Tear wasn't like the other girls. Sure Natalia and Anise could put on an amazing front, but when they were hurting it was usually obvious, and that front would eventually crumble. Tear never faltered. She never cried, she never snapped, she didn't get pointlessly angry at irrelevant details... everything stayed bottled inside and if it didn't get out, Guy didn't doubt it would destroy her someday.
The lab's activity seemed promising; Guy wondered if the seemingly frantic atmosphere was really a sign for hope or not. He didn't look forward to dealing with Asch if this venture didn't turn out how he was hoping it would. Guy didn't really want to think of the consequences of it either, but he wasn't as hopeful as his former charge. The chances that something world changing had come up in the week since they'd been in Baticul and had heard from Ingobert were incredibly slim. Guy wasn't going to give up the hope, but he didn't dare expect more than that.
Spinoza's lab looked significantly tidier then the last time they'd been here and the researcher had been on the run. All the books that had been scattered on the floor were returned to their shelves, the papers were properly filed away and all the equipment seemed in order. Several different fon machines were running, processing a variety of calculations that only Jade stood a chance of understanding. The other thing the blond noticed was a giant map, graded in various shades of purple indicating the density of the miasma around the world. The darkness of the colours in some areas was alarming.
"Dr. Spinoza!" Asch called out when they'd spotted the researcher, tucked away in front of a monitor as neatly as one of his books.
"Asch, everyone, what are you all doing here?"
"The miasma," Asch provided.
"Ah, I see."
"That doesn't sound so good," Anise said bluntly.
"I wish I could say otherwise," Spinoza answered with a sigh. "But your little friend is exactly right, things are not looking hopeful. There aren't even any feasible theories; much less anything we could consider implementing to counter the effects of the miasma. Time is running thin for us all."
"We've got a theory," Luke spoke up, his voice sounding almost foreign.
"You do?" Spinoza asked, his curiosity peaked.
With a pleading look in Jade's direction, the Colonel began to give Spinoza a technical rundown of their plan. Asch bit his lip, wanting nothing more than to smote the researcher for the light in his eyes that grew with every word out of Jade's mouth. There had to be another way, there just had to be!
"That's brilliant," Spinoza mused once Jade had finished. "A hyperresonance breaks down all matter into the fonons that compose it." The researcher hit several keys on his fon machine and the screen pulled up a picture full of complex symbols. The symbols shifted, changing into three separate groups of slightly different symbols. Anise scowled, it just looked like someone's messed up idea of connect the dots, except instead of dots there were letters.
"And for those of us who haven't devoted our lives to research?" Natalia asked.
"Essentially the miasma will turn into different components that are naturally present in the air. It will be completely neutralized and reduced to several harmless compounds," Jade explained.
"Precisely!" Spinoza continued with renewed fervour. "And not only would it be highly effective, but the time it would take to orchestrate is incredibly short. It's the best alternative I've seen since this mess began." The researcher continued to pound away at the keys, even more complex calculations appearing on the screen.
"However..." he said, his face beginning to darken. "A hyperresonance on the scale you're talking, the toll it would take on you would be... well, fatal."
"But it will work, right?" Luke inquired.
"Surely you don't-" Spinoza was cut off when he saw the look in Luke's eyes. He'd known that feeling once, that resignation, that acceptance of one's fate. "Yes," he finally replied in a flat voice. "It would work."
"Thank you," Luke said. Asch shot Spinoza the scariest look the researcher had ever seen.
"I'm sorry..." Spinoza continued. "I wish I didn't have to tell you that, but it truly is the most likely solution at the moment, and I would wager it very well could be our only solution, if I'll be forgiven for saying so."
"No, it's okay," Luke said gently. "We already knew it was probably the only solution, we just wanted to hope."
"No it's not okay!" Asch burst out. "It's not-"
"Come on guys," Luke cut Asch off. "Let's go. We have to get to the Tower of Rem before it's too late."
"Damn it!" Asch cursed as everyone left the room, leaving him alone with the researcher.
"I really am sorry," Spinoza said. "I can't imagine how difficult this must be. I wish this could be done without so great a sacrifice."
"You really mean that?" Asch asked.
"I do."
"Good. Then I have a favour to ask of you."
"What was the hold up?" Anise asked, full of exasperation by the time Asch finally came out of the lab. It was putting it lightly to say everyone was on edge. It was finally time; they were finally going to the Tower of Rem...and they were going to lose one of their friends. There weren't words for how that felt. The shock of Ion dying was one thing, but this interminable build up, knowing that it was coming just made every living moment agonizing.
"Sorry, but there's one last thing I want to do while we're here," Asch said, not looking any of them in the eye.
"And what's that?" Guy asked sceptically. It was one thing to have hope, but couldn't Asch see that there wasn't an answer to be found here? His delaying the inevitable was only making this harder on both of them.
"This way," Asch said solemnly. He walked through a door to the north and at first none followed. They watched him, hoping he'd notice and turn back. None of them wanted this to happen either but...
Luke was the first to follow Asch and Guy shook his head. He should have known Luke would concede. Not likely for himself, but because Luke felt guilty for what he was doing, for putting them all through this and he was far too willing to indulge his sibling's irrationalities. He would do whatever he could to make this easier, because Luke knew he was being selfish.
Asch led them back to an old wing of the research lab, one with few researchers about. Many of the labs were run down and no longer had functioning facilities. It seemed to be more of a storage area than anything else. Finally he stopped in front of a small door, tucked away in a corner that seemed like no one had frequented in ages. Guy scowled as his surroundings. What the hell did Asch want in a place like this?
"Luke," Asch said, his voice much quieter than usual as he opened the door. "I need to talk to you alone."
"And you had to come all the way back here for that?" Anise demanded.
"I need to talk to you where no one is going to interrupt us," Asch added with a bit more force to silence the former Fon Master Guardian.
"Alright," Luke agreed and followed his brother inside. Luke looked around, the lights flickering for a moment before turning on completely. It was an old lab, even more run down than the others that they'd passed on the way here. No one had used this lab for well over a year or two, and stray fon machine parts still littered the floor. The thud of Asch closing the door behind them drew his attention back to his sibling.
"Spinoza says this room is pretty well insulated, they shouldn't be able to hear us in here."
"What's this about?" Luke asked. Something was up, if Asch just wanted to talk in secret, they had their connection. Why the elaborate set up?
"Enough is enough," Asch said. "I want you to stop this."
"Stop what?"
"You know perfectly damn well what I mean." Asch threw back. "I mean stop all of this. The Tower of Rem, the whole delusions of throwing your life way, all of it!"
"Asch, you know we don't have a choice anymore. I've seen what the world will become if the miasma lingers and I won't let that happen. Letting everyone die is not an option, and neither is losing you!"
"This whole plan was mine, my idea, my decision. I'm not letting you take responsibility for the choice that I made," Asch argued.
"I made a choice too, just like you did. I made a choice to follow this path knowing the consequences. It's my responsibility too. Remember you told me once that I didn't have to carry everything alone, that I had you and everyone else supporting me? Well the same thing goes for you. You don't have to bear everything yourself."
"I have to bear this. This is my burden to carry."
"Damn it Asch!" Luke's calm front finally began to crack. He just couldn't take it anymore. It was always Asch, Asch, Asch. Why did he have to do everything himself? "Why? Why does it always have to be you? Why am I never good enough to do things, why do you always have to do it yourself?"
"Because I'm you big brother!" Asch snapped. "It's my job to protect you! I will never just stand by and watch you disappear! I can't just let you die!"
Luke was struck silent. All the pettiness and bitterness about Asch's firm resistance fell to pieces around him as he caught a glimpse into his sibling's world. How could he have been so blind? That Asch was angry, that he wasn't good enough... those were Luke's own excuses. He knew his sibling better than that. Behind everything Asch did there were always the same feelings, the same motivation driving his incomprehensible logic. Asch just wanted to protect: his family, his friends... those that he loved. No matter how awful the things he did had seemed, it had always been that one reason behind it all. But with everything that had happened, Luke had forgotten that, and in doing so, Luke honestly felt like he'd betrayed him.
Luke looked up and met his siblings gaze, smiling sadly he replied, "Yes, I am your little brother... and that's why no matter what happens, I can't change my mind. I won't go back on what I decided."
For once, I'll protect you too.
"Damn it! Don't you get it?" Asch exploded, his whole body shaking in frustration. "You're the only one anyone cares about! Everyone would be devastated if you were to die! If I die instead, then it won't hurt everyone as much!"
"You don't honestly believe that?" Luke demanded in outrage.
"Are you blind? Did you see the fuss everyone put up when you said you would take my place? They were ready to attack Jade for even suggesting it! What about when I said I would do it in the first place? Did even one person other than you put up a fuss?"
"Thats..."
"No! They were angry about the replicas, not once did anyone say anything! Not one person said they wanted me to live until you did that night! I'm not stupid; they've always been your friends, not mine. They would follow you to the ends of the world, they respect and care for you! You would be missed if you were to disappear! The world would keep going if it were me to leave."
"Thats a lie! You're wrong! They care about you too!"
"No Luke," Asch answered simply.
"It still doesn't matter!" Luke argued, fighting the knot in his throat. "I still won't let you do this. I'm not going back on what I decided."
Asch sighed. "I was hoping it wasn't going to come to this."
"What are you talking about?" Luke demanded but was startled when Asch flew towards him and landed a solid punch across his face. Luke stumbled back a step and caught his foot on a stray wire, crashing onto the hard tile floor.
Sitting up, Luke was about to demand what the hell that had been for when he noticed Asch leaving the room. The door closed, and Luke heard the sounds of a deadbolt sliding into place.
Asch hesitated for a moment but pulled the key from the door. No sooner had it left the lock did the inevitable pounding come as Luke fought against the barrier.
"Asch..." Natalia inquired hesitantly. "What are you doing?" She had asked, but she feared they all knew the answer.
'What are you doing! Don't do this Asch!' Luke's screams came across their connection when it was clear his voice wouldn't carry through the door. 'Let me out of here! This is my job! My responsibility! You have no right-!' Asch cut Luke off, closing his side of the connection off with a painful finality.
Asch turned around and walked up to Guy, dropping a key into the blond's hands. "Is this-?"
"The only key to that room," Asch answered. "Once all this is over, come back and let him out of there."
Guy clutched the key tightly in his hand, the sharp ridges digging into his skin as Luke's frantic pounding on the door echoed in the background. Guy now realized why Asch had come all the way back here. The doors weren't hollow and didn't reverberate; Luke's pounding wouldn't carry far. Without any regular traffic, it wasn't likely anyone would stumble across him in the 2 days this venture would take.
Guy also realized that Asch had just given him a straight up choice. He could just as easily turn around and unlock the door. Asch was telling him to choose who lived. Asch or Luke. How? How could he make that kind of choice?
"Ummm," Anise began. "Aren't you giving that key to the wrong person?"
Asch caught her eyes but didn't offer an answer. Instead he turned around and began making his way back. "Come on Noelle," he called. "We need to get to the Tower of Rem before it's too late."
"I don't get it!" Anise stated. "Why Guy? Guy's the most likely to let him out!"
"You're thinking about it backwards," Jade provided. "In Asch's eyes, Guy is the one who most wants Luke to live." Everyone's eyes turned to the blond.
"Asch is right," Guy finally spoke up, "we should get going."
"Are you sure about this?" Natalia asked.
Guy didn't answer, he simply kept walking. Adjusting his glasses, Jade followed suit and one by one so did the remainder of Luke's friends. With a glance behind him Asch confirmed for himself the words he'd said to Luke.
They all chose him.
It was a bittersweet realization. But as long as Luke was safe, it didn't matter.
With one final look over his shoulder, Guy choked back the bile that crept into his throat as the sound of Luke's pounding faded away behind him.
Asch wasn't sure what to expect when returning to the Tower of Rem, but whatever it was, he didn't find it. To be precise, he didn't find anything. The place that had once been packed with replicas was completely devoid of any life save the monsters that crept about the shadows. Added to the miasma that had seeped in the massive structure, the entire tower had a haunted look to it that put everyone on edge. The feeling of impending death hung heavily in the air, silencing the few whispers that had been exchanged among them.
The young monarch was impressed and had thanked Noelle for getting them there so promptly. Looking up at the Tower, Asch felt a faint flutter in stomach but he wasn't going to back down. He didn't want to die, but letting Luke die wasn't an option either. If it weren't for his little brother, as far as he was concerned his life as he knew it would have ended 8 years ago. The time he had now, it was given to him by Luke, and he would return that time to his little brother, so that the world could be a brighter place. He believed that with all his heart.
"Oh boy," Anise muttered under her breath looking up at the Tower's heights. "I'd forgotten just how tall this place is."
"Do you think Luke will be alright?" Natalia asked, trying to detract from the subject at the forefront of her thoughts. "I mean, locked alone in that room for days..."
"Don't worry," Asch said simply, his voice somewhat cold. "The sink in there should still work so he'll have water. He'll go hungry, but he'll live." No one said another word on the issue.
"Where are all the replicas?" Anise asked. "You don't think they decided they wouldn't help and took off do you?"
"No," Jade mused. "A number that large would make quite an impact on whatever city they attempted to settle in, and I doubt they would manage to go unnoticed by the militaries. I'm certain we'd have heard something if they'd started moving."
"It's possible they split up," Tear suggested.
"No, their leader doesn't seem the type to make them all go their separate ways," Guy said.
"True," Natalia agreed. "Perhaps all the replicas that were due to come to the Tower have arrived at the top then."
"We won't know until we get there," Asch said, moving towards the control panel to the elevator. He observed the small fon machine and attempted several combinations of buttons before giving the machine a frustrated look. "Hey, old man."
"Don't you dare tell me you broke it!" Anise puffed up, but deflated when Asch's usual snarkiness didn't come flying back at her.
"No, but someone did," Jade answered. "Or rather than break it, it's locked down. By more than one password, I'm afraid even I wouldn't be able to access the controls, at least not before our friend back in Belkend starves to death."
"Great, just great!" Asch cursed. "I guess it's the stairs then."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Anise blurted out. "Going down them almost killed me last time, I am not going up."
"You can stay here then," Asch replied quietly.
"Wait-"
"The same goes for everyone," he added. "There's no reason for you guys to have to come all the way to the top. If you start heading back to Belkend you could get Luke sooner, just make sure the miasma is gone before you let him out."
"No," Jade stepped in. "You've decided to walk this path; then I at the very least, will see you through to the end of it."
"Jade..."
"Yeah!" Anise agreed. "The Colonel's right! We're not just going to leave to go... to go..." she couldn't bring herself to say it. "We're not gonna let you do this alone."
"I'd rather..." Natalia barely whispered. "I'd rather die then watch you vanish, then watch you disappear from my life. No matter what I said, I wouldn't have had the power to change your mind, would I?" Asch looked at her to see tears streaming down the princess' cheeks.
"Natalia-"
"Don't!" Natalia cut Asch off. "No matter how many times you say the decision was inevitable, it doesn't change the fact that you've leaving! It doesn't change that you're going to die!" Natalia's words echoed in the empty Tower.
"Maybe you should stay here then," Asch said solemnly.
"No! Asch don't you get it? It's because of everything we've shared... it's because I love you, that I have to come! I have to stay by your side until the end... because we swore that was where we'd remain!"
"For as long as we lived," Asch finished.
"We should be going," Jade commented. "Is anyone remaining here with Noelle?" The Colonel inquired, but met with four solemnly shaking heads. He sighed and adjusted his glasses. There would be many a piece to pick up when this was finally over.
It was one thing to talk about climbing the stairs, but a completely different one to actually do it. They'd been forced to stop and rest twice already and looking down, they didn't seem nearly high enough to merit the effort they'd exerted. Only Jade seemed completely unaffected, as he was with just about anything and Asch couldn't help but wonder where his stamina came from, or if there was anything in the world that could truly test its bounds. But stair after stair didn't so much as displace a hair on his head. More so than his stamina however, Asch couldn't get Jade's words out of his head.
I at the very least, will see you through to the end of it.
It was a statement that seemed so unlike the Jade he knew, or at least, it was unlike the Jade he'd met on the Tartarus outside the Cheagle Woods. Then again, Jade had changed too, hadn't he? He wasn't the cold, detached, calculating person he had once been. He had warmed up somewhat, if one could ever call Jade warm; he seemed more protective, and though he didn't overtly show it, Asch knew he cared for and would fiercely defend his friends. Looking around at everyone climbing behind him... they'd all changed. Everyone in their group had grown, become stronger, better people... he alone was still the same. Trapped in time as the insecure 10-year old, scrambling for an identity he no longer truly possessed, living for the only thing he had to define himself. He hadn't moved or grown at all. This was where his path led him; this is where all his paths were destined to lead him. The only choice that was his to make, was whether his life would be used to protect or to destroy... and that wasn't a choice at all. Van's plans could go burn in hell.
"Finally..." Anise managed through laboured breaths. "We're almost-"
"Halfway," Guy cut in and finished.
"Whaa-" Anise's outraged cry was cut short when Asch threw his hand over her mouth and practically threw her against the wall. The aura of urgency silenced any protests and with everyone else ducking against the wall, the sound of footsteps became audible.
"God-General," Asch cursed under his breath.
"Legretta from the looks of it," Guy replied. Standing closest to the corner, he had the best chance of catching a glimpse of the intruder.
"Is she alone?" Natalia asked.
"I don't see anyone else, but that may not mean much."
"What is Major Legretta doing here?" Tear whispered.
"I have no idea, but I doubt it's anything good," Asch answered.
"What are the chances we're going to get through this without a fight?" Guy asked.
"Not good," Asch answered, "especially since I doubt she's here to appreciate the history. Whatever she's here to do, it may be in our best interest to stop her."
"Asch is right," Tear agreed. She always hated the thought of challenging her former teacher, but they couldn't afford to let her brother's plans advance. With a confirmatory nod from everyone, they all burst around the corner.
"Well, well, well," Legretta fired a defensive shot that reflected off Guy's blade and into the wall. The blonde God-General had drawn one of her signature weapons but in her other hand, she held what looked to be a white envelope. The strange item caught everyone's attention. What was in there, and better yet, what was she doing with it here of all places? "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you all here. It appears I waited too long after all."
"What are you doing here Legretta?" Natalia demanded.
The God-General pointed her gun at Asch and fired a shot he easily blocked. The attack hadn't been a serious one. "We can't just let you eliminate all the miasma, now can we?" A light went on in her opponent.
"You're planning to massacre the replicas!" Asch shouted.
"You aren't as thick as you seem," Legretta commented.
"Why are you doing this Major?" Tear demanded. "Is what you're trying to achieve really worth the blood that's being shed. Don't you have any attachment to this world and the people in it? Is there really nothing worth saving?"
"You already know the answer to that," Legretta tucked the envelope into her uniform's pocket. "There is no sacrifice too small to make for the future!"
Jade launched himself at the God-General but her hand was faster and the second gun fired a shot that the Colonel just barely dodged. Three more cleverly placed shots put him on the defensive and Asch was quick to draw Legretta's fire. Stupid Jade, Asch blocked her shots but she was disguising their trajectory making defending challenging at best. Still, he had a better time of it with his sword than Jade did with that spear of his. It may lend him more mobility but the low surface area made it much harder to block any kind of projectile.
Guy jumped into the fight right behind Asch and Anise was quick to try and cut Legretta off but the God-General was far too quick and she slipped through them. Tear's barrier deflected her counterattack sending another round of metal bullets to the ground. Natalia struck with a barrage of arrows and forced Legretta on the defensive.
Recovering from Legretta's slip, Asch took the God-General on in close quarters, closing the distance between them. She easily matched his strikes, but while she was occupied in defending, she couldn't use those same guns to shoot, and left 5 others to do as they pleased.
"What's this? Eager to throw your life away?" Legretta inquired. "You've wasted so much potential. You could have put that life of yours to use. You still can, it's not too late to help the Commandant."
"How many god-damn times are you going to ask me that?" Asch spat in frustration, his anger giving Legretta the chance to throw his attack back. "I've already told you, you can take that lunatic's half baked plans and let them burn in hell. For being the supposedly logical one, you've sure got issues staying grounded."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Legretta demanded.
"You can't honestly tell me you think this crazy plan of his is going to work!" Asch replied.
"Of course it will!" Legretta swung around Jade's art and landed a shot that grazed Asch's arm. The pain was superficial but enough to distract him and Asch nearly took two clean hits before Guy stepped in and Natalia tended the injury.
"Really?" The blond questioned. "And what do you think your place is in this so-called world of Van's? Where's your place in his future? Cause the way I see it, you have none!"
"You know nothing of the Commandant's plans!" Legretta's three shots missed their target.
"I think you're the one who can't see," Jade taunted. "You're too close to the matter to view it objectively. Otherwise you'd realize that you've no place in the world Van intends to create. You've been blinded."
"Lies! Don't think you can poison me with those words of yours, Necromancer! I have not been blinded."
"Then what is the point of replacing everyone with replicas?" Tear asked.
"The replicas will replace their originals and eliminate all ties to the Score in the new world. It will be a world pure and free of Yulia's poison, one with an infinite number of futures; a world that has the potential to end in happiness."
"So then what about you and my brother?" Tear asked. "If no one in this world can escape the Score as you say, then what about the two of you? Are you to be killed and replaced in this new world as well?"
"O-Of course not! We will oversee the new world order until our time comes to pass." Legretta ducked down tripping Guy and sending him crashing towards Jade's arte. The blond narrowly avoided the impact. Damn she was good. She may only be one person but with six on one, they were getting in each other's way, and she used every bit of it to her advantage.
"Then according to what you're saying, this new world of Van's in doomed anyway. As long as all of you are there," Asch began, seeing where Jade had been going when he began this argument. All the God-General's preaching about Van's plans contradicted itself. But what then were the Commandant's true intentions, he wondered. "So even if any of us came with you, we're all just going to die anyway. If I have to pick a way to go, it's going to be for what I believe in, and it's going to be with some self respect!"
"This world is dying, and nothing can be done to stop it!" Legretta argued back, her voice no longer the strong confident one it had been before. "You may delay it today but you only buy yourself time; months, maybe a year or two if you're lucky. There is no escaping the Score, the planet's memory that is set on destruction; it will follow that path no matter how often you attempt to set it astray. The only hope for salvation is in Van's world!"
"Is that what you believe Major? Or are those my brother's words?" Legretta hesitated for a moment. In a split second she blocked Asch's strike and returned to the fight, but it wasn't a gesture Tear missed.
"I believe in Van's ideals. I believe in his dreams for the world!" But her voice didn't sound quite as certain as it had before. "I will do everything in my power to see those dreams realized! To see him achieve his goals!"
"But what about you Major, what are your views of the world? What are your goals? Or are you nothing more than my brother's puppet?" Tear accused, earning her a harsh yet somehow hurt look from her former instructor.
"His goals are mine so long as I serve him," Legretta answered with a shot at her pupil. "If you will stand in our way, it hurts me to say this, but I will eliminate you as well."
"Then start with me!" Guy's attack came from Legretta's blind spot and the God-General barely got out of the way but not before losing her balance and crashing to the stone floor. A white envelope flew from her uniform and Guy snatched it from the air. Rolling out of her fall Legretta came back at him.
"Give that back!" Legretta launched.
"Don't forget about me!" Asch shouted. Slipping under the God-General, his elbow came straight up into her chest with a sickening crunch. Asch spun around with his blade but she managed to escape the path of the attack. Suddenly breathing heavily, Legretta clutched her chest. Judging by how much pain she looked to be in, and adding the fact that she was apt as Tear at masking said pain, he'd gotten at least three or four ribs.
Her free hand still pointing a gun at them all she said, "You may have won today but don't think this is over. You will never save this world. Whether you succeed in stopping us or not, this world still ends."
"No, this world will not end, it will be protected by the hopes of its people," Tear countered.
"I never thought you to be so naive, Tear," Legretta stated solemnly. "I'm disappointed."
Stepping behind some debris, the God-General vanished down some sort of ventilation or maintenance shaft. "Damn," Asch cursed still looking down after her. "It would have been nice to get her out of the way once and for all. Oh-" Asch suddenly realized the implications of his words. "Sorry... Tear."
Tear looked up at him with a smile.
"What?"
"I think that's the first time you've ever apologized to me."
"Well I'm not Luke, I don't do stupid things I need to apologize for left, right and center," he shot back, suddenly embarrassed.
"Hey Guy!" Anise called, placing Tokunaga back on her back. "What did you get off of Legretta?"
"I don't know but..." Guy said hesitantly, holding up the envelope. It was completely blank except for a name in small cursive script on the front.
Mary
"That doesn't look like Major Legretta's handwriting," Tear said examining the envelope closer. "It reminds me more of Major Cantabile's."
"Cantabile wrote this?"
"I can't be sure," Tear replied, her eyes suddenly on the ground. "Just that it looked similar."
"That's impossible," Guy said opening the envelope.
"Guy!" Natalia protested.
"What is the matter Princess?" Jade stepped in.
"Forgive me but I feel this is a bit unfair. It isn't our place to be reading such things."
"There is a chance it could contain information on our enemies and their goals or strategies," Jade said simply. "This is hardly the situation to be concerned about overstepping personal boundaries."
"Well Guy," Anise asked eagerly. "What does it say? What does it say?"
But the blonde's face had gone white and the arms holding the letter weren't very steady anymore. "I take it Cantabile really did write that letter then," Asch stated.
"I'd say that's a fair assumption," Jade agreed.
"Can you read it out loud or do you want me to?" Asch asked.
Guy shook his head, trying to snap out of what ever had come over him. "I-I'm fine, I can read it." So taking a deep breath to settle the pit in his stomach, he did.
I don't know why I'm writing this letter. I know that replicas don't have the memories of their originals, but I think that deep down somewhere, both you and your original share the same essence. You wouldn't be the replicas' leader otherwise. You share that same charisma and strength that Mary once had, so just this once, I ask you for your indulgence. If you're reading this letter then I'm probably having a nice long chat with your original. I'm not usually the type to be melodramatic like this, but if nothing else, I want to leave these feelings behind. I had always admired Mary, even when I was young, she always stood up for what she believed in, she never gave up and she would stop at nothing to make sure a wrong was made right again. I'm so sorry that I never succeeded in reviving Hod like I'd meant to. I know the decision that you're trying to make, that the redheaded brat offered you; follow your heart, I'm sure that same strength that always guided Mary will find its way to you too. So who knows, maybe I'll see you soon, then the three of us will have to harass that little brother of your original's until it's his turn. Until then-
PS. If you can, tell Gailardia I'm sorry. I'm not as strong as he is, and I can't forgive everything that's been done. I can't help but wonder if he isn't right after all, but I don't know anymore. I guess I'll just leave it up to this Planet's Memory to decide, and whatever will be, will be.
"Guy..." Natalia motioned to put a hand on his shoulder, but retracted it. The blond took another deep breath.
"We need to save this world," Guy said. "For her sake too."
"For everyone who's died so we can make it this far," Asch agreed.
"Yeah," Anise agreed. "For Ion... and for Gloomietta too."
"Then let's go," Asch motioned towards the stairs.
"Let's go," Guy agreed. Carefully he folded the letter, and placed it in his pocket. For everyone's sake, they couldn't falter now. Not when they'd come so far. Luke... Guy's eyes followed Asch up the stairs.
I'm sorry.
The final set of stairs felt much longer than Asch could have imagined. Between the fight with Legretta and Cantabile's letter, no one was in the mood to talk. Everything that was about to happen weighed down on Asch in ways he didn't think were possible. Every step brought him closer to his end, every step closer to losing absolutely everything.
No sacrifice is too great for the sake of the future!
Legretta's words rang true and Asch hated the truth in it. Natalia had said it once too, that if Asch went through with this, he was no better than Van. He couldn't deny those words... but he would accept that hatred, all their feelings and the consequences of those feelings... because he desired a future more than anything else. A future for those he cared about, a place where they could all be happy. He was beginning to see just how Van had gotten to the extremes he'd reached.
No! No he wasn't like Van! He would never be like that Score-crazed lunatic! Van was willing to destroy the entire world so he could replace it! He was sacrificing innocent people! Like you're sacrificing innocent replicas. No! Van had set these motions into place himself! He had triggered the occurrence of these terrible events. Asch was different! He was doing this so he could protect! So he could protect the people he cared about... Natalia... Luke.
A faint light came from ahead of them, they were almost at the top. Asch stared at the approaching exit, his heart accelerating with each step, but he forced his panic under control. He had decided, this was what he would do. There were no other choices, and he was not going to spend his last moments consumed by terror. The young monarch took a deep breath, and then another, taking his racing heart by the reins. No, he was going to do this so his little brother could be happy, and so that he would have a world through which to spread his light and his smile.
And maybe, just maybe, someday Luke would forgive him.
The top level of the Tower was completely silent. Thousand of replicas were standing soundlessly in the breeze that swept through the space. The miasma danced around following the wind but never truly dissipating. The silence was haunting. Every replica here, stood with a look of death in their eyes, a complete acceptance of their fate. Asking them for their answer was pointless; it showed in every whisper of their demeanour. That wasn't what had Asch's heart in his throat; it wasn't what had awakened every terror the redhead had ever known.
Asch's heart came to a grinding halt, because standing before them, with that same look of acceptance in his eyes... was Luke.