Just a legend, cold words on a page

[thatsit]

So far things had been going as well as could be expected, if not a little better. The hotel staff, well used to discretion as they were, had been adept at keeping an eye on matters. There had been some tense moments in the restaurant, if the waitstaff were to be believed, but they'd resolved themselves peacefully.

It was a good sign. Ila were the only clan to have come from outside Khamja, and their history with Skite had been less than amicable. Their inclusion was probably the biggest risk Ignis had taken with his recruiting, but when it had come down to it they needed powerful healers, and if they came accompanied by tough fighters then so be it. That they could control themselves, and that members of Khamja didn't feel the need to break into violence around them, was only a bonus.

Everyone had stayed within the hotel's confines for the day. Ignis had been glad of that. One or two had been less than pleased with the request, and some had been less pleased again regarding the issue of tags, but he was reasonably sure he'd managed to placate most of them.

He read over the notes he had for their itinerary while he waited for everyone to assemble in the conference room. He'd been up late last night trying to get a somewhat friendly member of the Kingsglaive assigned to the survivalist training, to no avail, and he'd been up early again this morning ensuring everything was in order for the swift processing and manufacture of the tags they'd require so their esteemed guests didn't have to remain confined to the hotel for too much longer. His third can of Ebony of the day sat half drunk by his chair. After so long on the lowerworld and rationing his supply to make it last he'd consumed enough in his first two days back in Insomnia to give himself the jitters, but he'd become accustomed to the caffeine once more rather quickly.

The conference room was one of the hotel's largest. A huge, oval table occupied the centre of the room, and a projector hung from the ceiling, directed to a huge blank wall where it could be used for presentations and displays. Ignis had no intention of using that, but he did prefer the table set up of the room. It would be interesting to see who chose to sit next to whom, for one.

Ignis took a drink from his can and cast his eye over his papers again. Weaponry, clothing, chocobos, food, potions, ethers, camp supplies, water, medical supplies, communication; they weren't going to be heading to Pulse quickly with a shopping list this long and involved, but at the very least the time could be useful. They needed to ensure everyone was capable of surviving in the event they became stranded with nothing.

It was just a pity they'd refused to give him Nyx for that purpose.

Comments

[innatelunacy]

The first person Saix's eyes alighted on was Marluxia. He inhaled, his eyes falling to the white haired hanger-on that seemed super-glued to Marluxia's side, and then looked over the rest of the table.

Even and Nel, sat much as they had been the previous night. He wondered how Even knew her, and why she was by his side so much.

He flashed Apache a smile when he saw her. Yylfordt might be present, but Saix didn't care. He wasn't about to be impolite just because it would get that idiot's back up.

[jawmask]

Grimmjow looked around when Saix's group entered.

The gang was all there, at least. They'd managed to miss each other, both at the airport and at dinner, so it was sort of nice to see them, even if he knew it would cause issues if neither Yylfordt nor their own blue-haired leader could keep their macho stupidity to themselves. And that was coming from Grimmjow, lord and master of macho stupidity.

He noticed the smile directed at Apache and bit back a snort. Not even one minute.

[cierva]

Apache caught the smile from Saix and returned it with genuine warmth.

She wasn't feeling particularly pleased to be back on her home continent, even if it wasn't even her home city, or even region, but that cheered her up a bit, even if she hoped that Yylfordt missed it, because he was absolutely the sort of prick to take umbrage with something like a smile.

She glanced at the only empty seats and wondered what was keeping Ulquiorra and Ienzo.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi looked around at the assembled group, half surprised that there weren't more people there. He knew most of them from the palace, the exceptions being Marluxia's little cadre of new friends from yesterday, who evidently didn't like him or Even all that much. He didn't miss how Saix's eyes lingered on him either, so he looked back, not cowed by somebody who couldn't even manage to put an end to Grimmjow after multiple shots at him. He expected he'd pick an unnecessarily high rank for his tag all the same. He wasn't getting away with not having one, not with those pointed ears.

It was only Ienzo and Ulquiorra who had yet to arrive before the entire table was filled. Lumi half wondered if they would be bringing along some Lucian natives, other than Ignis and probably Gladio, since it was mostly their idea to go on the tip, even if his ship had given Ignis the impetus to ask about one. Perhaps they wanted strangers to avoid losing anybody important in an unknown, possibly hostile world. Maybe the mission was to be secret.

He sensed Ulquiorra before he saw him enter.

Most people unconsciously controlled their Chakra and reiatsu well enough that they were only a low-key presence in a room, able to be felt, but not able to be discerned clearly beyond that, unless they'd pushed it enough to temporarily scar their surroundings with their signature, or occupied a space often enough that their chakra, like a scent, became ground-in.

It took somebody very familiar with a person, or an expert, to feel out anything more in that state, including element, but Ulquiorra came easily to him. He concealed himself well, better than most, but ever since Lumi had taken the injured Ienzo from him, he didn't find him hard to pick out, much like he could with Marluxia. He lacked the closeness and cameraderie that he had with his partner, but he had certainly been exposed to more of his Chakra in that moment, if mostly drowned by that of his Hollow, than he had anybody else, for any reason, at any point. It was hard for Chakra to stain living flesh, it clung much more readily to stone, to books, to old, old places, but he would almost swear to being able to sense his Hollow's Chakra on him, even with the thing sealed within. It was ridiculous of course, like hearing a non-existent catch in a clean piece of music due to being used to a bad recording, but it didn't stop him thinking about that winged thing he'd been.

He looked up as the door opened.

[theschemer]

It wasn't that Ienzo had dragged his heels, it's just that he expected most people to be late. He knew Grimmjow's group was there, and he'd found out early on that Even was going, as well as Szayel, Nel, Lumi and Marluxia, so he hadn't endeavoured to get to the meeting early in case he'd had to spend too long in the company of people he'd rather not be stuck in a room with.

Lumi was largely inoffensive in spite of his reputation for vicious power and he liked Nel, he could take or leave Marluxia and Even, as much as they were his allies, and he liked to spend as little time with Szayel as he could manage. As such, he arrived late, knowing Szayel was an early riser and that he wouldn't want to miss any potential excitement. He walked in, spotting Grimmjow easily by his blue hair, thankfully there before him, and then faltered at the other, unexpected, flash of blue. And red.

Faltered, but didn't freeze. He quickly noted the free seats, mercifully close to the far head of the table, away from the rear, and walked towards them, skirting around the assembled people without comment. A brown-haired woman he didn't know, Saix, a black-haired woman he didn't know either, Szayel, Even, Nel...

He sat himself closest to Ignis, putting as much distance between him and them as he possibly could.

[tozasemurcielago]

Ulquiorra walked with his hands in his pockets, one step to the left and two steps behind Ienzo-san. He didn't keep that position consciously, he simply found himself there like a satellite in orbit.

He sensed who was in the room before he stepped through the door. Grimmjow and his party of reprobates, Neliel, the Ryoka, Ignis...

The girl, the berserker, and the fire elemental.

He'd fought the fire elemental one on one. He'd managed to cut Ulquiorra, his weapon scratching through Ulquiorra's hierro and drawing blood. Ulquiorra hadn't fought to the fullest of his ability, he never did, but the fire elemental had been more of a challenging opponent than Ulquiorra had originally anticipated.

He followed the fire elemental with his eyes, even as he followed Ienzo-san with his feet, until it became impossible for him to keep watching without turning his head.

The girl had used Great Gospel. Neliel had been certain of it. Ulquiorra had been too, because his fingers hadn't pierced the fire elemental's sternum when he'd struck but had hit like ordinary fingers against solid bone.

[palehornedprince]

Yylfordt, oblivious to the looks and assessments going on around him, scowled at the smile Saix directed at Apache, and scowled deeper when he caught sight of her giving one back.

He folded his arms, glowering at the berserker. They might be under the conditions of a truce, but as far as Yylfordt was concerned he still owed Saix a sock in the jaw. Maybe, with a little luck, he'd get chance to give him one on this trip.

[sipthehoneylikeabutterfly]

Szayel watched as the last pair came in. "You're late," he pointed out, in a sing-song as Ienzo and Ulquiorra settled into their seats. "Lose track of time?" he asked, with so much faux innocence brimming in his voice that it came right out the other side and sounded like he was insinuating something.

He rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers, resting his chin on them as he looked at the assembly. Weren't they a ragtag bunch? Half of them couldn't stand each other, and the other half couldn't be trusted.

[theschemer]

Ienzo didn't bother to look at Szayel as he responded to that snide comment.

He knew full well what he was insinuating and he didn't care for it, not when Saix and Axel were seated at the opposite end of a table he currently had to share, not only with them, but with Marluxia and Even as well. That was a surprising number of Nobodies at one table, especially considering he wanted nothing to do with Saix and Axel and he doubted very much that the other two did, either. He didn't trust Marluxia, and he doubted very much that Even did. Add Lumi into the mix and that was a disproportionate number of Ryoka in one room.

"I didn't want to spend any more time in your company than I felt strictly necessary, Szayel." He said, his fringe effectively blocking his view of half the table. For once, he wished it didn't. He'd prefer to have his eyes on his enemies.

[raindownhell]

Fang looked around at everybody, interested in the assembled group of strangers.

She'd not missed the almost unified tensing of muscles that had happened in Lea and Saix when the fringey kid and his weird grey little friend had walked in. Apparently, they knew each other. He certainly seemed to know the pink-haired man to her right, which meant he likely knew Nel, Vexen, Grimmjow's gang and the pink and white couple at the other end, too. She wondered if she was the only unknown quantity here.

The uncomfortable tension was as palpable as it had been when they'd seated themselves to dinner yesterday.

"This is nice," she said, her tone as bright and sarcastic as it had been when she'd made the same observation then.

[gotitmemorised]

Lea had felt awkward enough being seated at a table so close to Vexen, let alone Zexion.

He was feeling less and less comfortable with this exploration party the more they met the other participants. He half wondered if there were going to be any late comers and, if that was the case, if they were going to be Xigbar, Ba'Gamnan and his third year teacher who he'd accidentally called 'mom' one time when he'd mortally embarrassed himself in front of the whole class.

That said, he'd probably take Ienzo and Vexen over her. Some things never leave you.

[declaregamuza]

You could cut the air with a knife when Ienzo and Ulquiorra walked in. The tension didn't come entirely from them, either. You could see it in the line of the redhead's back, and the set of the berserker's shoulders. There were lots of old friends being reunited for this trip.

"Isn't it just?" she asked, in response to Fang's cheerful sarcasm. Hopefully people would relax a little now they weren't in a position to be trying to kill each other, but for now those first impressions were really lingering.

[innatelunacy]

Saix watched the dour faced mistant following on Zexion's heels like a well trained dog. A dog with teeth, however, and judging by the way the only real stranger of the group spoke, it sounded as if there was a.... thing... between them.

Saix pushed that thought immediately out of his head and refused to let it return. Zexion had always surrounded himself with others to do his dirty work, the physically capable that he could mentally dominate. If his current companion's previous performance was any indication, that habit hadn't changed.

Zexion had wasted no time in replacing Lexaeus.

He glanced at Lea. Saix doubted he was the only one having second thoughts.

[thatsit]

"Quite," Ignis said. There was an atmosphere. Obviously some people within the assembled group had more history with each other than he'd anticipated. He simply had to hope it was something they could get past. At the very least the fact that nobody had pointed at anyone else and declared their enmity out loud upon seeing each other, so that was encouraging.

"I am waiting for someone else," he declared, addressing the room, "but we can begin regardless. I wouldn't wish to detain any of you longer than necessary." Especially not since it might increase the risk of violence, he thought, but refrained from saying.

"Thank you, all, for coming," he began. "I'm sure by now most of you have met each other if you hadn't done before so we'll dispense with introductions. You've all met me, and as I'm sure some of you have gathered by now, I work for the Crown. This expedition to Pulse is a venture of the Lucian Crown and, at least for now, I am nominally in charge of it."

Ignis looked at the assembled faces, lingering on Lumi, Yylfordt, Aerith, and Even in their turn. "I have asked you along because we need your skills as pilots, healers, scientists, botanists, and yes, hunters. We can expect that Pulse is dangerous, and my intent is to ensure we all return alive. We could send our own, but quite frankly most of them aren't as strong as you, and those that are can't be spared from their current postings." He panned around the room again, seeing who was taking in the ego massage, and who was listening to what wasn't being said.

"Does anyone have any concerns or questions before I begin?"

[raindownhell]

"So what you're saying," Fang began, leaning back in her chair with her arms folded over her chest and one eyebrow cocked quite arrogantly. "Is that you're sending strangers because we're expendable, but probably strong enough that we won't die."

She looked at him, for an uncomfortable and lingering moment, and then shrugged.

"Sounds fair," she said, sounding like she meant it. "But what do you actually know about Pulse? Is this mission recon and exploration? Or do you have a rough idea of what's gone on there since the Mist happened and your people fled..? Do we think it's empty, or are we expecting cities that have been isolated for centuries?"

It could go either way, after all. The general expectation was that Gran Pulse had its population wiped out at some point in the past, after the exodus of the people who founded Lucis and after Fang completed her Focus. History told of the fal'Cie going mad on Mist and turning all and sundry into l'Cie with Focii that became less and less attainable the longer the Saturation went on. It was entirely plausible that they turned everybody into one and Pulse was populated by nothing but animals, monsters, crystal statues and Cie'th.

Of course, it could have gone another way. She remembered, close to when she'd completed her Focus, that they were planning a large-scale attack on one of the fal'Cie, to kill it and prevent it marking others for death, and worse, but she hadn't been around to see how that had played out. Mist had negatively affected technology worldwide, causing a backslide in the Lowerworld that had necessitated the re-invention and re-discovery of all kinds of machinery, so it was possible the same had happened on Pulse and that they just hadn't rediscovered airship travel yet or that they had some sort of new religious teachings warning against the evils of it, like they had on Ivalice for a while. Perhaps the big cities were thriving, but at an earlier stage of technological re-development than they expected.

In her heart, she knew it was more likely to be the former, but part of her hoped that the people there had managed to survive. That the fal'Cie had settled back into their passive roles as patron gods when the Mist had drawn back. It was doubtful, but it was a nice thought and one she held onto. It seemed a shame that the rich history and culture of such a diverse continent could have died out back then.

Pulse had always been massive and wild, with rolling hills, high mountains, deep, ancient forests and vast plains, its wildness metered only slightly by the cities that dotted the continent. Haerii, Paddra, Saint Denis, Izunia... and smaller settlements besides. The thought of it just being a savage wilderness both frightened her and made he wonder if that's how it should always have been, if things would have been easier on the people if they hadn't been so reliant on the cities and the technology they housed. She'd avoided them, herself. She'd lived a subsistence lifestyle out of a small town on the edge of the water, but she'd always known they were there, big and with vast populations all housed in tall buildings.

It was strange to imagine these places, now twisted to look like her view of Insomnia from her hotel window, empty and decaying.

Part of her thought that Pulse should be left alone but the rest was burning with curiosity to see what had become of her home.

"You at least got reference material from when your ancestors left there?"

[thatsit]

Ignis pursed his lips in an attempt to suppress his smile, but it failed. Fang was a straight talker, that much had been evident when he'd first met her, and she knew more of the old stories than he'd thought possible. That she'd presumed the reasoning for hiring outsiders to be a combination of their strength and expendability didn't surprise him. It also wasn't wholly inaccurate. If they sent a squadron of Glaives they'd likely never hear from them again, and that was frankly a waste of resources and manpower. At least if they didn't hear from the lowerworlders again the worst they'd lost was the supplies they'd been sent with.

And potentially Ignis and Gladio. Gladio would be harder to replace. Ignis intended to make damn sure that wasn't necessary.

"There has been no contact with any civilisation on Pulse since our ancestors left," he said. "As far as the hyur population goes that is all we can say with certainty. Given what was being fled, it's not unreasonable to believe that the civilisation there collapsed, and any survivors fell into a technological dark age." Ignis tilted his head in a slight nod. "From a personal point of view, I expect smaller, more mobile populations may have fared better than large cities, but that leaves the issue of limited breeding pools, and given the saturation, mist mutations in following generations would have been likely." He frowned, glanced down at the table, and then back up again at Fang. "Add in to that a growing number of Cie'th, the effects of Mist on animal populations, and whatever Daemons may have arisen, and I expect the remaining population dwindled into unsustainability."

Pulse was Hell. That was the line, and one they'd all known. It had spread around the whole of Spira, and if you studied the old stories, and looked at the historical records, you could see how that reputation had come about.

Ignis took a breath and looked at some of the others. "There may be l'Cie, suspended in their crystal slumber, and there may be Cie'th. Any Cie'th that has lasted this long is going to be singularly unpleasant." Which was putting it mildly. "There may even be fal'Cie which we would be wise to avoid if possible. There are also likely to be Daemons, and monsters. This is, unfortunately, not going to be a pleasure cruise."

He turned his attention to Lumi and afforded him a brief, knowing smile. "When it comes to reference materials, the Lucian archives can provide clues and little more. Lumi's ship, however, bears a map that is likely several centuries out of date but is at least a starting point." It was better than being completely blind, even if the major topography of Pulse had likely shifted since the map's development. "Exploration and reconnaissance are the primary goals for this expedition, updating what maps we have, and taking note of places worth more in depth exploration so they can be revisited."

[raindownhell]

Fang listened, and nodded.

So, Ignis had much the same thoughts as her on the matter. It was possible they had survived, but unlikely. Any survivors will be small groups, potentially Mistant, possibly inbred, depending on what happened at the end of the period, after records ceased making it across continents. Either way, they weren't likely to go in and find all the cities of old perfectly preserved with a nice little isolated population waiting to greet them suspiciously as either demons from the lowerworld or long-lost friends.

"A map will be useful," she said, and then added with an irreverent shrug: "Cie'th can be killed, so long as we have some Daemon hunters."

Cie'th were essentially Hollows whose bodies, instead of failing and separating from the soul, had become corrupted by the magic given to them by the fal'Cie. This magic was concentrated in their brand, beyond what an individual would normally have, and spread out, like a disease, until the brand was complete. Then it infiltrated their own Chakra system like a fast-acting virus, taking over it and turning it to hardened Reishi, similar to an all-over Hollow mask or an evolved, uncontrolled form of Hierro. The more powerful ones took on larger forms as the magic seeped out and crystallised beyond the normal form. The pain was said to be unimaginable. The regret at failing to complete their Focus was said to be their drive, a primal anguished rage that kept them going even as they mutated.

They were said to be frightening, particularly when they were immense, or winged, or had enlarged limbs with crystalline claws to rake at an opponent. Ones who had lasted longer tended to be, as Ignis said, singularly unpleasant, but crystal wore away eventually and they were still just another form of Hollow.

She doubted the full extent of the information on Cie'th had travelled with the Lucians. It was likely a pared down account, a three step method to going Cie'th, rather than the full story. Cursed > Failed > Cie'th. She knew it was more complicated than that, but the end result was the same.

[thesilentstorm]

Lumi wasn't entirely sure what a Cie'th was, short of it being a monster restricted to Pulse, for some reason, but if they could be killed by the same weapons as Hollows, he didn't see much reason to be concerned.

He slid a glance to Kadaj, though he knew that others at the table had their own Zanpakutos, even if they were the cannibal blades of the Arrancar. Between himself, Kadaj and the six Arrancar, they shouldn't have too much trouble with undead menaces, even if they were different to their usual type.

His map, at least, would be useful. Landmasses could change slightly, with rivers altering their courses and some large rock formations ending up weathered beyond recognition, but he doubted the differences would be that severe that his map would be entirely out of date. If nothing else, if they were correct about the cities being abandoned and the continent itself depopulated, at least there wouldn't be too many man-made changes to contend with.

[joinmyreunion]

Kadaj listened to Ignis, and Fang. It sounded like they knew what they were talking about, but Kadaj found himself feeling like they were half speaking another language. Daemon was the Lucian word for Hollow, he knew that bit at least.

"What's a Cie'th?" he asked, steeling himself to sound like the stupid one. He hadn't attended much school, most of his education had been at the hands of the clan members. He'd learned classic literature from Kuja, how to fight from Orochimaru, and how to survive from Gin. His education had been somewhat lacking in the department of Cie'th. Ignis made it sound like they were going to be going up against them, and according to Fang being a Hollow hunter would help, but they were obviously different to Hollows if Ignis wasn't just calling them Daemons.

Cie'th and Daemons, he'd said. So what were Cie'th, if not Hollows?

[hearstheplanet]

Aerith had clasped her hands beneath the table as she listened. Ignis was right when he said they weren't going on a pleasure cruise, but the thought that there might be people there, fiends, or Cie'th alike, only made her want to go all the more. It wouldn't be much, but they could bring people some peace, if they needed it.

She didn't doubt the same thing was on Fang's mind, too.

"It's a l'Cie that ran out of time," she said, softly. "A l'Cie is given a job to do, and the power to do it, and a time limit. If they complete their task, they're rewarded. If they don't then they become a monster. I suppose it's like becoming a Hollow without dying first." She looked to Ignis. "Death is the only mercy they can hope for."

[declaregamuza]

Nel frowned. Aerith was well informed, but that wasn't much of a surprise given what Gamuza had said about her.

Still, the idea was an unpleasant one. Becoming a Hollow without dying wasn't impossible, but you were more likely to have it take over.

During the Arrancar project, more than a few had been taken over by the Hollows they'd been paired with. Murcielago had taken a few before it had settled with Ulquiorra. She hadn't been Gamuza's first pair up either.

It was a horrible fate no matter how it came to you.

"Luckily, most of us are equipped to fight Hollows."

[innatelunacy]

Saix looked around at the assembled Arrancar. The fact that most of them were Hollows itched in the forefront of his mind, but he held that back. The Arrancar might be Hollows, but he was Ryoka, and the Arrancar knew that perfectly well too.

"Which we're going to do for the sake of historical curiosity," he muttered, loudly enough to be heard. Ignis had never given him a proper answer last time, when he'd asked what they were looking for. It was all about the society's origins, and historical significance, but the more information Saix heard about what they were likely to face, the less he believed that. You didn't pay this many people the sort of money they were getting paid to go unless you were going to profit at the end of it.

[thatsit]

Ignis listened to the rumblings going around the room. The depth of understanding Aerith and Fang displayed still had his curiosity, and he was hoping to get some time to speak to them both properly to go over the stories they knew. Fang's village sounded like it was part of the diaspora, and Aerith's mother must have been in contact with it too.

He nodded along with Aerith's explanation, and then sighed at Saix's interjection.

"Technology," he said, simply. "Among other things. We have very good reason to believe that some of the developments that existed on Pulse outstrip anything we have now." That very good reason was Noctua. Before that it had all been fables and stories, but seeing it, tactile and working and beautiful, had solidified it. "We have come a long way, but if we can really study our history, we may be able to improve our future."

[palehornedprince]

Yylfordt, who had been halfway to bored and wondering if he could bean Ulquiorra in the face with a bit of balled up tissue from his pocket and survive, perked up.

"Well now you're talking," he said, his eyes lighting up.

He was Al Bhed. Heading off to long abandoned and dangerous places to salvage ancient machina was his thing.

[theschemer]

It all made sense to Ienzo.

Pulse was an unknown, they hadn't even done a fly-by mission, though that was presumably because Jagd-proofed ships were so hard to come by. Even new-built ones needed old engines, because the power source that yet to be re-created. Salvage was required for further exploration, especially since there were whole areas of the world, Pulse among them, that had become Jagd in the space between the old dawn of air travel and now.

The idea of there being awful monsters there didn't bring him much joy, especially given what the last eldritch abomination he'd met had done to him, but there were, at least, plenty of Zanpakuto wielding warriors along for the ride. Not to mention enough of them who could conjure reishi weapons for a similar effect. Short of digging up a Quincy, they were pretty well set for a mission into the unknown.

"How long are we likely to be--" he began, trailing off when the door opened.