lobsterbox | time stop

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time stop

Mithos kept his eyes forward as the Rheaird sped over Gaoracchia Forest. He was situated behind Genis, who was piloting the single craft, and somewhere behind them...was Lloyd, who had trailed them on their entire trip to the Fooji Mountains. Naturally, Mithos had sensed him. He wasn't certain if Genis had figured it out, but he supposed it had worked out in a way—he hadn't needed to use any of his own powers to help them ascend the mountain, and so they had obtained the Fandalia flowers without arousing any suspicion.

And Genis had agreed to stand by him, anyway. It was only natural. Lloyd may have accepted him for now, but he was still only human. He was still different.

Well, once his Age of Lifeless Beings was realized, they would all be the same. But for now...Mithos was already the same as Genis, and half-elves could only exist amongst each other.

"There's the house," he piped up over Genis' shoulder, his gentle voice betraying none of his sinister thoughts. Sure enough, they were almost directly upon the rock face where Altessa lived, and Genis brought the Rheaird into a quick descent, so that they soon landed in front of the dwarf's home. Surprisingly, all but Lloyd's Rheaird were now there—meaning the others had returned earlier than he expected. Mithos' angelic senses easily picked up words from inside the house, but...they caused him to narrow his eyes.

"Lloyd was supposed to be-"

"I can't believe this..."

"What are we going to tell the kid?"

Mithos held tight to the flowers they had gathered as they hopped off of the craft, and he gave Genis an encouraging smile tinged with worry. "Let's hurry in. Even if they found a doctor, they should still be able to use these flowers..."

He said that, but he was beginning to suspect that the doctor plan hadn't worked out in the least. Most likely, any high-profile doctor that the group thought of wouldn't waste their time treating a half-elf.

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"No, it still has to be in direct contact with the host," Mithos explained. "Otherwise, it won't be able to feed efficiently."

And feeding was what the Exsphere was likely to need most. Pondering aloud, he continued, "Unlike a regular Exsphere, though, a broken one like this is going to need extra nourishment. It's probably going to need more than one host."

As for how many, even he couldn't say yet. Half a dozen? A dozen? It could even be many more than that.

Genis blinked, staring at Mithos for a moment before turning the capsule in his hand, observing the way the shards gently swayed from the movement.

"Would it really be okay to split the shards between multiple people, though?"

That was the only thing he could think of. The thought of having several people, one after the other, feeding the Exsphere didn't quite occur to him. Still, the fact more than two people needed to be sacrificed for this phase alone as slowly starting to sink in, and- He needed to think of Raine and working as quickly as possible for an alternative. And he didn't want either of their Exspheres to be divided up; it was about equally disturbing as the thought of the shards themselves being planted in someone's flesh like shrapnel.

He quickly shook his head. "Oh, that definitely wouldn't be all right!" As much as it would make for an interesting experiment for curiosity's sake, he shelved that thought. "The fragments should be kept together as much as possible. Dividing them like that would only isolate the fragments of the soul inside even more, and they'd likely end up growing separately."

As they talked, he led them from the room again.

"So we have to place all the pieces on the same host at the same time. They'll be transferred to another host once the first is used up."

Genis followed along beside Mithos, not giving the choice a second thought. A soul growing separately at different rates... The thought did nothing to ease his dread, hypothetical as it was. When Marble's Exsphere was released and she transformed, she could barely control herself. He could only imagine what a more divided and fragmented soul would be like.

Thankfully, that wasn't something Mithos was advocating, at least. Instead...

"How long will that take?" he asked carefully, thinking of the boy Mithos had chosen. He wasn't too much older than him, but that didn't really mean he'd long time, either. And then there was still Raine's Exsphere...

He really wanted to tell Mithos to stop now, but the words didn't come.

As interesting as it would be to follow a separately-fed Exsphere experiment, now wasn't the time. They had more important projects--and there would be plenty of time later.

But as for how long it would take to feed from a single host... "I'm not really sure, to be honest," he admitted. "But I don't think it will be able to feed as fast as a regular Exsphere, so the process would probably be much slower."

He glanced back at Genis. "It might take years. Of course," he added brightly, "there's also the chance it could do exactly the opposite and drain the host in no time at all! But don't worry--we have plenty of hosts in that case, just like you saw." He smiled reassuringly and looked forward once again.

He led Genis right back to the elevator, which took them down again, but this time it didn't go as far. They had no need to return to the prison just yet.

He didn't feel reassured. Genis watched Mithos solemnly as he talked, and for everyone's sake, he hoped his first guess was the right one. The more time they had, the better it was for everyone. The prisoners could live longer, and hopefully he'd be able to save a few of them. He had time to think of some other way.

Even though he had been following Mithos like a lost puppy this entire time, he noticed the elevator seemed to stop early. He looked around them, wondering if something had broken, before turning to Mithos again. "What are we doing here?"

He had thought they were going to find another host for Raine's Exsphere, but- No, that didn't make sense. After he asked the question, he felt like he knew what they were doing between the lab and the prison like this. The "host" was probably somewhere on this level.

They stepped out of the elevator into a plain white corridor that opened up into a room further ahead. "They'll have brought the prisoner here," Mithos confirmed his guess as they started to walk and glanced over at the Exsphere. He idly wondered what the outcome of this trial would be, although it hardly mattered since they could simply adjust and repeat the experiment accordingly, no matter what happened.

They would find precisely the right conditions to revive Raine from the Exsphere.

Once they arrived to the room at the end of the corridor, they found some Desians managing some equipment as well as a surgical table, and strapped to it was the boy from earlier. He didn't react to their presence.

"Sedated," Mithos said to Genis. "So he won't cause any trouble."

This is horrible. Genis stared at the boy with pitying eyes, but the words at the tip of his tongue never made it further. He remembered the way he glared at them earlier, the entire time he was freeze, and now he looked almost lifeless, like a switch in him had been turned off.

He was lifeless, but he was much worse off than the angels on the floor above. Genis took a few tentative steps closer to him, looking down at his slack face. For a moment, he wondered if he could do anything for him. This was the kind of thing he was supposed to stop. But...

Biting the inside of his lips, he spun around to look at Mithos again.

"Will he feel anything? When we attach the Exsphere."

Though possibly in general. This entire setting, with the metal table and array of instruments, made his stomach knot. He doesn't want to know how they're going to do this—but he as to.

He could see that Genis still seemed worried, but as to what he was worried about--for the Exsphere, for his sister, for the host? He was still worried for the host?

Mithos let out a small sigh, but still patiently answered the question. "What he feels when he wakes up will depend on the Exsphere. Some may experience some pain or fatigue with a regular Exsphere, but those feelings aren't severe." Otherwise, the torture and hard labour to which the prisoners were subjected wouldn't be necessary to feed the Exsphere. What sensations the Exsphere generated alone just wasn't enough.

But who could say what would happen with the broken Exsphere?

He could feel Mithos growing tired, though he hadn't placed the reason just yet. After all, he was happy before to answer any of his questions before. He wanted him to do all of this with him. They were always doing everything together...

It bothered him a little that things felt different now.

But more importantly, it didn't sound like the process would be too bad. Just a little pain, a little fatigue. Genis nodded, lighting up slightly at the answer.

"I see." So it shouldn't be too bad, he thought, but he had the mind not to say so. It was Marble's Exsphere, too, so he didn't think it would be that painful. "Okay. Let's attach it soon before he starts to come to."

He held up the vial between them, unsure if Mithos would handle this or if he'd ask Genis to do it himself. He was still anxious...but things weren't as bad as he had guess. Not for the moment, at least.

Mithos nodded, his mood improved; if Genis was taking the initiative, then it was a good sign.

"Here, I'll show you how it's done, so just watch me, all right?" He smiled and took the capsule from Genis, leading the way so that they stood right next to the table.

He removed the lid, summoning magic to his hand to pull the shards from the mana. They hung suspended in the air for a few moments as he looked down to ensure that the host's hand was positioned properly--palm down, the back of the hand flat and exposed. Perfect.

Mithos placed the capsule down so that he could use both hands to carefully manipulate the suspended shards. "I can piece them together with my abilities," he explained, "and you should be able to once you can use your Cruxis Crystal. Without angelic senses and powers, a computer and magitech equipment would be necessary."

It was still delicate work, though, and he kept a strong focus as he carefully arranged the shards to his satisfaction. A minute or two passed before he nodded to himself, then proceeded to lower the assembly onto the host's hand.

As he worked, he explained the process to Genis. "Attach the base of the Exsphere to the skin with heat using magic. A normal Exsphere should recognize once it's in contact with someone and will keep itself attached in order to feed." He squinted in concentration, as if waiting for something.

A few moments passed. "It doesn't seem to be linking with the host yet," he concluded thoughtfully, and glanced over to Genis. Since it was in pieces, it was naturally having a harder time functioning as it normally should.

And Mithos smiling was a good sign for Genis, too. While he was explaining and not actually actively hurting anyone (or talking about hurting someone...), he could almost relax a little and think things were normal.

Besides, watching him use magic so easily, forming the shards back into a sphere, still filled him with awe. He was really skilled...even if a large part of it had to be his Cruxis Crystal enhancing his power and his senses. For the moment, he didn't think of what Mithos was sacrificing - what he'd sacrifice - for those abilities. It was just amazing. He had a delicate touch even when only using magic.

He probably shouldn't admire him so much. In the end, they were going to attach the Exsphere and drain that person of his life.

When the Exsphere didn't attach, Genis didn't know if he was relieved or not.

He took a few steps closer to examine the situation, but nothing looked at all amiss. Well, as far as he could tell.

"Do you think we should attach it with a key crest first? Maybe it just needs more time."

That was his best guess, at least. It was also the least painful option short of Mithos simply holding it there.

Even as he was concentrating on his work, Mithos was anything but oblivious to Genis watching him. Pride pulsed in his chest--watch and learn carefully, and you can also develop this level of power--though he didn't let it distract him from his task.

That pride remained as he nodded with the suggestion. "You're right, Genis--it's probably going to take longer for the pieces to generate a link like this."

He pondered for a brief moment and cemented the decision with another decisive nod. "We'll attach the key crest on top like originally planned. If everything goes well, an incubation period will stimulate the Exsphere with time."

He motioned wordlessly to one of the Desians, who bowed quickly and placed a key crest upon a small intrument table near Mithos--he didn't dare hand it to Lord Yggdrasill directly--and carefully backed away again. Mithos picked up the custom crest, which consisted of a glasslike lens-shaped covering encircled by the special carved metal made of inhibitor ore, briefly inspecting the work.

He held it out so that Genis could inpsect it for himself, too. "Here, take a look. This is the crest we'll be using."

What if things don't go well? The question rose in his mind, but things were moving too quickly for him to ask it. It was probably better not to bring up his worries now, anyway. There might not even be an answer to that question yet when this was all unexplored territory.

If it didn't attach, that would be more reason for them to find another method that didn't include any sacrifices.

Genis took the key crest in his hands, turning it over gently like it may break. Aside from the lens overtop, it looked like an ordinary key crest, not unlike the one Dirk made. The lens was only necessary to keep it from being tampered with, he figured. If there was anything else unusual about it, Genis's untrained eyes couldn't pick it up.

"Is there anything special about it?" he asked before offering it to Mithos again on his open palm. Something he could do so naturally without even thinking about it - because they were friends. He wasn't like the Desians in the room with them that hadn't said a word to him or questioned Mithos once this entire time. The Desians that hadn't even stood closer to him that necessary, even though they had probably known Mithos longer than he had. While he was in awe of Mithos's power, everyone else was probably scared of it.

...he wondered if Mithos liked it that way.

He watched Genis study the key crest until it was offered back to him, and he obligingly took it again. "Besides the cover, not really. This is really nothing more than a preliminary experiment so we can decide how to improve it."

He lowered the key crest down to the host's hand to position it properly over the assembled Exsphere and added, "We may develop ones with special features for future experiments, depending on our needs."

Satisfied with the crest's position, he nodded to himself and wordlessly signalled the Desians again, stepping out of the way to let them finish the work. He stood over next to Genis again and explained, "To prevent tampering, the key crest will be fastened in place. It's a simple process." Hence why he left it to the grunts.

Genis's eyes stayed on Mithos through his explanation until he found himself at his side. So he wasn't wrong that it was an ordinary key crest. He wondered what kind of work Mithos could do with they key crest to "improve" it. Maybe it just meant he'd make one that would make the Exspheres affix themselves more easily, or would help them keep the soul together.

It seemed reasonable enough. He nodded before turning his eyes back to the key crest again, but with so many people gathered together, it was hard to make out exactly what was happening.

And still, he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know. On the bright side, the boy was still unconscious and couldn't feel a thing.

"Do you think it'd be possible to do this without using people?" he started, looking over to his friend once again. "This all seems like a lot of work just to make sure it isn't tampered with..."

Genis probably didn't want to know--not about the combination of magic and metal pins being used to affix the crest--though for Mithos, it was nothing new.

"...There's nothing left for us to see here. Let's return, Genis." That was all Mithos responded for now, turning and leading the way back out of the room without another word.

There was no need for him to turn; he could easily listen to ensure that Genis followed him again.

"Ah..."

Genis started, frozen following Mithos with his eyes and he turned from the room.

It seemed too optimistic to think that he just didn't want to discuss the possibility around the Desians. But it made sense, right? This was a lot of extra work when there might be a more efficient way.

It didn't feel that way when Mithos began walking out without even waiting for him to follow.

Genis snapped out of it and rushed to follow at his side again, trying to get a read on his face.

"Mithos?"

He glanced to the side in acknowledgement, a hint of a humourless smile masking his thoughts, and remained silent until they were back in the elevator.

Once there, he finally looked Genis in the eye and quietly asked, "Are you still hesitating? Aren't you prepared to do what must be done for your sister?"

It wasn't the sort of conversation to have in front of mere Desians.

...Mithos read him completely. He was glad for the privacy, because the shame of having Mithos call him out at all was bad enough without an audience. Genis bowed his head, his entire face faltering. For your sister. When Mithos said it like that, it sounded like he had to choose between her life and so many others'.

Logically - and empathically - he knew what the right choice was, but he couldn't make it. He never could.

"No, it's not like that," he whispered, his eyes looking blankly at their feet. "I just... When Raine and I were traveling before, we hated seeing what the Desians did to people. We didn't want anyone else to suffer.

"She wouldn't want me to do this...but..." But he'd do anything for her. "I want to find another way, so she can be proud of me still."

Mithos was confident he could ease Genis' worries. It was a heart-to-heart between the two of them--between friends. The Desians back there weren't worthy of eavesdropping, much less being involved.

But...a sliver of doubt pricked his heart.

No! Martel would be proud of him. Raine would, too.

They would understand.

"That's not true, Genis," he tried to gently reassure. "When she returns, the world will be a much better place, and she'll no longer have to worry about humans betraying her or hurting her. And you'll have had a hand in it."

Genis glanced up at him again. There was something different in Mithos's eyes that wasn't there before - or maybe that was just him. Maybe he was just happy to hear Mithos reassure him that he wasn't going to do all of this just to have Raine tell him he was wrong all along.

And from the surface, from the scenario Mithos constructed for him, it really sounded like Raine would be proud of him. He'll have done something good in the end.

If he could forget about everything in between, things would be okay. He breathed a silent sigh.

"Will the world really be a better place? Where no-one has to suffer anymore?"

"It will!" His answer was confident, delivered with a firm nod. "I promise. I know you've suffered so much, but it ends here."

Genis and Raine would never, ever have to suffer again just because of their race.

So what if scores of humans suffered in their place? Everything was the humans' fault anyway.

...He really believed him. It was hard not to believe him. In the end, Mithos was his friend, and he knew he wasn't a bad person. He didn't really want people to suffer for no reason. He hadn't forgotten how he had wanted to get revenge. He hadn't forgotten how cold he was to others. But it was so easy to pretend when Mithos was offering him hope that no-one else was able to.

The corners of his lips turned up in a suppressed, hopeful smile.

"It'll just be until our sisters are back, right? Then we can stop all of this."

A long time ago, he had brought hope to many--and the Desians and Cruxis still held onto that hope, even if many were slipping. Mithos had stopped caring, though, since with Martel's revival imminent, they wouldn't matter anymore anyway.

Even Raine's revival wouldn't require as dedicated a system; there was no need for Chosens or religions or anything like that.

While whether or not the Desians still held out hope didn't matter to him, he was pleased to see Genis' spirits lift a little.

"It's all for our sisters. Never forget that, all right?"

Was is friendly advice? A warning? Perhaps a bit of both.

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