I do not own Arknights or Type Moon.

In the fading light of a dying day, Theresa, the founder and leader of Babel, stood on the edge of a battlefield. Her people were scattered, weary, and burdened by the weight of survival in a world teetering on the brink. The relentless spread of Oripathy, a curse as much as it was a disease, had taken its toll on the infected, ostracizing them and dooming them to a fate of suffering.

Theresa's silver hair swayed gently in the wind as she gazed down at the battlefield. Amid the ash and blood, a small patch of white flowers bloomed defiantly, their fragile beauty standing as a silent reminder of hope. These flowers had always held a special place in her heart, a symbol of peace in a world that seemed to forget it.

As she knelt to touch one of the petals, a presence emerged behind her. It was neither hostile nor comforting, but its power was undeniable. Theresa rose to her feet and turned to face the figure—a luminous, ethereal entity that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly presence.

"You are Theresa of Babel," the being said, its voice resonating like a symphony of countless souls. "You dream of a world where your people can live without fear. You long for hope—a future without the shadow of Oripathy."

Theresa narrowed her eyes, wary but unafraid. "And you are?"

"I am Alaya," the being said. "The manifestation of humanity's desire to survive. I have come to offer you what you seek."

Theresa's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her composure. "An offer?"

Alaya's form seemed to ripple as it spoke. "I can give you the knowledge to transform Oripathy. The disease that consumes your people can be reversed, reshaped. It can become a source of beauty, like the flowers you cherish. No longer a curse, but a gift."

Theresa's eyes widened. "You can cure Oripathy?" she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"Not cure," Alaya corrected. "Transform. The infection will still exist, but it will no longer bring death. Instead, it will bring life. But such a gift comes at a cost."

Theresa's expression hardened. "What cost?"

Alaya's gaze was unwavering. "In exchange, you must agree to serve me as a Counter Guardian in the afterlife. When your mortal life ends, your soul will become a part of me, a tool to protect humanity when it faces extinction."

Theresa clenched her fists. She had spent her life protecting her people, fighting for their future. To give up her rest, to become a weapon even in death—it was a heavy price. But the promise of saving her people, of giving them a future without suffering, was nearly irresistible.

"I need proof," Theresa said, her voice firm. "Show me that it's possible."

Ripples from Alaya can be seen, and the battlefield before them shifted. The corpses of the infected began to glow softly, their broken forms transforming. Where there had been pain and death, vibrant blooms of white flowers now grew, their petals glistening with an otherworldly light. The sight was breathtaking, a vision of what could be.

Theresa's breath caught. She knelt again, her hand brushing against one of the blossoms. It felt warm, alive—a symbol of hope made real.

Alaya spoke again, its voice gentle but resolute. "This is what I offer, Theresa. A chance to turn pain into beauty, despair into hope. But the decision is yours."

Theresa closed her eyes, her mind racing. She thought of her people, of the countless lives lost to Oripathy, of the dream she had carried for so long. Finally, she opened her eyes, determination shining within them.

"I accept," she said, her voice steady. "If it means a future for my people, I will pay your price."

Alaya inclined its head. "Then the contract is sealed."

In that moment, Theresa's fate was decided. She would walk the path Alaya had laid before her, trading her afterlife for the hope of a brighter future for those she loved. As she stood among the white flowers, a sense of peace washed over her. For the first time in a long while, she felt that her dream might finally become reality.

Author's Note: Hello everyone. Thank you so much for reading this. I've been stuck juggling school and work so I'm glad I've managed to squeeze this idea out. I've been racking my brain around this ever since I've finished the ending of the Babel event. Babel is probably my favorite event plot-wise and the soundtrack they've used has actually broke my top listening on Youtube Music's recap. Silent Tales is my favorite track from Arknights so far. Weird I know, but that's what it is lol. I love Theresa as a character and I hate that there's no chance for her to get a happy ending in her life. She deserves it in my opinion but I understand her role in all of this.
Anyway, this was made thanks to the help of ChatGPT. I've struggled with how to format this idea since I've been to focused with other things and dealing with writer's block. It's so useful in many ways and I'd recommend it to anyone. I mainly used it as a way to bounce ideas and get my brain working. I have more that I'm reluctant to share because of the uncertainty of how well this would be received as it deviates from the canon and involves usage of ChatGPT. If you want more then let me know in the reviews.
Thanks again for reading and I hope you enjoyed!