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open log » ❝ mission oo1 debriefing ❞

Date & Time: 04.17.3312
Location: The Initiative Hold training gymnasium.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: Taking place during the aftermath and after; Major-General Silas Sterngate gives a debriefing of the success of the mission and the changes that have taken place.
Warnings: None.

[ Taking place during and after this Aftermath post right here. Feel free to tag in there as well as tag in here! As always, mission tags are still up for tagging until the end o' time! ]

Once everyone is gathered into the Initiative gymnasium, it takes only a few minutes before Major-General Silas Sterngate is ascending the stairs to the small stage. He strides up to the microphone and taps it only once before he begins to speak. "I see that everyone has made it back alive. Safe. I am glad for that," he begins. The Major-General takes a moment to scan the large room, overwhelmed with bodies -- ragged, worn, exhausted. He smiles then, and shares a curt nod. "It goes without saying that our mission was a great success. A great one. The Masked have become noticeably weaker. Some of their technology -- it's missing, as though it were never there before. The value of the United Earth's dollar has shifted, dropped. It is likely that they will not notice these changes. No, but we will."

Raising his arms up with great pleasure, the Major-General is grinning. He's scanning the room and he's meeting the eyes of everyone willing to meet his own. "It is all thanks to you. To your efforts. We have dealt a blow to the United Earth, and we can see it. Not only that, but we've brought life back into this world where there once was none. There are vines -- there are flowers, foliage that blooms within the Cities of Exsilium that was not there before. This mission was truly one of great promise, and with it came great reward.

Thank you. Thank you for your involvement, for your work on this mission. There are many more ahead of us. They will become both easier, and more difficult. Your continued cooperation will be... well-rewarded. Both with information and with gain."

There's a loud sound as the doors hoist open to the training gymnasium. The Initiative attendants are available at each of them, though only for the willing; the wounded. Major-General Silas Sterngate's voice lifts above the room one final time: "You are free to return to your homes. Be safe, and may the fruits of your labour be truly evident and in your favour. Thank you."

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[ his eyes go back up to Fayt, and then down at his arm. Riku's face slips into something that could be seen as troubled and concerned and confused... unsure of how to say something that's on the tip of his tongue, and unsure if he should say it, as well. after a minute, he just exhales. ]

I can't feel it.

What?

[ Shock is evident on Fayt's face when he hears that before his eyes dart to the arm that Riku had been favoring. It melts away to the concern as he thinks of all the possibilities as to why the other can't feel it. And before he realizes it, he's rambling. ]

Did you sustain nerve damage during the battle? Or is it just dislocated? Can you move your fingers at all?

[ It's one of those moments where he sorely wishes they were on the technological advanced Diplo instead of here, where healing would be much easier, much more efficient than the medical care they're getting right now.

However, he does know that his symbology works here, albeit making him more tired than it usually does. But would it even work on this kind of injury? He could always try, granted if the other would allow him, but would Riku even do that considering they'd only just met each other despite fighting on the same battlefield just hours ago? And there's a small chance that if it isn't treated now, then the other wouldn't be able to feel it at all, permanently. ]

I could try healing it, if you want.

[ ... wait--

what? oh, wait, did he think-- ]

No!

Stop. [ he hisses softly, putting a hand up to Fayt's face. ]

I couldn't feel it before. I haven't been able to feel it for a few months. I meant that I can't really feel it, so I can't tell if it's really bothering me.

It sounds like serious nerve damage then.

[ And that makes him even more concerned than before since he knows that it isn't easy healing nerve damage the correct way. One wrong move and the ends could become inflamed for the rest of his life, resulting in more pain than feeling nothing at all. He's no medical expert in this field but he did have to learn a thing or two considering his major at the university.

Still, it must be disconcerting in not being able to feel anything from that hand. To lose a sense, especially if one had it before, it can only imagine how it is.

Fayt holds out his own hand. ]

Would you mind if I take a look though? I could still try..

[ Riku looks from Fayt's hand to his face, turning his body away a little, protectively. ]

There's no point. It's dead. You can't heal something that's dead.

[ ... his stomach churns at the thought of his arm actually being able to move for once. if only.

maybe part of him doesn't even want it healed. after all, maybe he deserves not being able to use this hand properly for what he did. ]

Edited 2012-05-10 06:45 (UTC)

[ His hand drops a little at those words, hearing that defensive tone in his voice, or maybe it's more like defeat. And a part of him can't help but wonder what it is that has happened to Riku for him to have that kind of tone, especially when he seems so young to have it. There are always a whole bunch of possibilities, but in the end, Fayt can't determine anything. Not when there isn't much he knows about the other, considering this is the first time they've spoken to each other. ]

Do you really believe that?

[ Voice on the softer side, he wants to know, to understand just what it is that keeps the other on this thought process.

Riku faintly reminds him of Albel, though not to the exact degree of the swordsman as the other is much more polite than his traveling companion and friend. And if that's really the case, then Riku's holding on to demons that he doesn't want anyone else to know about, that he doesn't really want anyone to help him with. Because it's something he has to atone for himself, by himself, if at all. If that's really the case, then there's no way Fayt can let him continue on thinking that he has to be alone for whatever it is that's haunting him. ]

Or maybe it's something else that you believe and leaving your hand like that is a reminder for you.

[ his eyes narrow when Fayt says that, his lips thinning.

how is he seeing straight through him? this is unnatural. he's not used to being known so easily by a stranger and this is just unnerving him, his shoulders shifting up. his shirt moves along with him, the collar hiding some of his face as he does so. ]

I really believe that.

[ he looks away sharply, but shifts his arm. ]

Try to heal it if you want. It won't work.

[ he holds out his arm for Fayt to take, eyes reflecting... some semblance of fear and also--

hope.

what if Fayt could heal him? was that a sign that he should start moving forward? ]

[ There's a certain amount of conviction in those words, a sort of resolve that says nothing can be done about it and any attempts are pointless. A belief in that any effort is a wasted effort. And there's something else as well, something he's recognized before.

But Fayt has his own conviction as well in that anything can be changed, as long as you believe it can. He's learned that not everything has to be logical, that there's a certain way of doing things, that the book is always right. Believing has it's own kind of strength and with belief there's resolution that something will get done or will happen the way you want it to, not according to something.

So it's with determined eyes that he takes hold of the other's hand with both of his, left underneath and right resting on top. ]

Alright then.

[ Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he focuses on the symbological powers he hasn't really used up until this moment. Reasons for that are his own but at least he knows that they work in this world, none of it being siphoned of. His very genes hums at the usage of it, making runes glow across the skin on his arms and a faint circle on his forehead. If his eyes had been opened, they would be giving off a certain glow as well- all of this a signifier of him using his abilities.

True manifestation of his powers would more destroy than heal, but this time he has to make a concentrated effort to focus on renewing rather than obliterating. The light surrounding his hands intensifies, a warmth coming from them and transferring over to the one in between. There should be a tingle, a foreign feeling at the use of a different kind of magic that Riku isn't very familiar with, but not unpleasant. This continues on for what seems like hours when really it's only a couple of minutes and it isn't long after that the light begins to fade and the runes start disappearing.

Fayt takes another deep breath before slowly opening his eyes, the slight glow still present there before flickering out, leaving their natural green.

It takes him a few seconds to orient himself again, blinking a few times before his mind comes back into focus. Slowly letting go of Riku's hand, he looks to the other while gesturing to it. ]

So? How does it feel?

[ there's a quiet noise from the depth of his throat; surprise.

he's never seen this kind of magic before. it's like... light, and healing--it's intense and he shudders quietly at how it just seems to consume every nerve in his arm. his eyes shut tight and all his body tenses as the magic works, intensive and concentrated. there are things changing.

he knows this much.

a short gasp echoes from his lips as the light dies down. he looks to Fayt first, watching his face.

then he looks to his hand. and he breathes in slowly before he flexes it--while he he'd only been able to move two fingers of his hands, all four except his thumb move, and his eyebrows arch in surprise, though his mouth stays in one firm line.

...

he... could move some of it at least... ]

[ Watching Riku move his fingers, he can tell a little that there's some improvement but not as much as he would have initially liked to see. Although, it's better than there being no improvement at all and considering symbology itself isn't his strongest suit, he can be a little happy about this. If he were like Sophia or Nel, who could use symbology a lot better than he could, the other's hand would have been healed all the way. And the thought that if he could improve his own abilities in order to help in this way, or any way really, makes him determined to better himself. He'd have to find a way somehow, but he would.

Fayt offers a small smile, a hint of tiredness there after using the spell along with the general exhaustion from the mission itself sinking in. ]

Looks like there's some improvement there. Not as much as I'd hoped for though.

[ A part of him waits for the inevitable questions that are bound to come up, as he knows that the runes had appeared on his person while trying to heal Riku's hand. Ever since that attack on Elicoor II with the Vendeeni and his destroying their spaceship, ever since the manifestation of his powers, it's been like that and he hadn't realized until someone else mentioned it to him. It'd been easy to figure out why after learning the truth about himself, which is why he tries not to use symbology as much.

At least it'd been like that at first. Now he can't have those sorts of reservations, despite the initial instinct is to not use it. He's willing to do smaller spells now but using the very core of Destruction is something he won't do unless he really has to. ]

But. Do you still believe that you can't be healed, Riku?

[ That question seems to hold more than one question and honestly, Fayt intended it to be that way. ]

[ he pulls his hand away very slowly, brushing this thumb against his palm. it's incredible--he can feel his own calloused fingers, and scraping a nail across it makes him flinch slightly like it used to. he can move most of his hand. not all of it, but... most. he can feel some of the muscles in his arm move...

this is... he looks back up to Fayt as he speaks, swallowing thickly.

he doesn't know how to thank him.

and furthermore, he doesn't know how to answer that question, attention quickly going back away from him. ]

... [ silence for a good while before he lets himself look at Fayt, really look. ]

Thanks for what you did.

Maybe it's not healed all the way... [ ... he exhales, closes his eyes, lets his hair fall against his face. ] ... but this is still something.

[ his words carry a bit more meaning than they need to, as well. before Fayt can start speaking, he's quick to ask: ]

What did you do?

[ Quietly watching Riku take in the fact that he can move his hand again, that he can actually feel his fingers to some degree, it makes Fayt inwardly happy that he's able to do it despite the limitations that he has on his own powers. Not because he can't control it, but just that his abilities aren't exactly meant for healing. Over the course of the journey he had to learn so that he didn't have to depend on his other friends all the time and so they didn't waste supplies while traveling. It'd taken him a while, but he's managed this much at least.

Though now he'll have to get even better. Probably not to the level of Sophia or Nel, but better than this.

And when Riku finally speaks, expressing his gratitude for what he's done, a protest is on the tip of his tongue. An instinct at not need to receive thanks for doing something as simple as this. But he also understands that people will always express their appreciation, no matter how many times he would insist that it isn't needed. Slowly he's come to accept them, very slowly.

Before he could say anything, the question throws him off a little, but he can see the desire to change the subject and so concedes to it this time. ]

It's called symbology in my world. I guess the closest explanation to it is magic.

[ Though in a way it is considering it's not something everyone could do well enough. It can be done to certain levels but very few can be masters. However... ]

I'm a little different than most, though.

Magic...

[ his healing magic couldn't heal his arm, but somehow, Fayt's was able to. maybe it just showed how different their worlds were.

he had to wonder what else was different, when they were so alike. ]

How are you different?

[ It's not exactly a story that Fayt had intended to repeat to anyone that isn't in the know about the whole ordeal in the first place. All the fighting, the reasons for the fighting and the results of the fighting- he's in the middle of it all, carrying the faults until he can make it all right again. Or at least try to.

For a second, he thought about not telling Riku about it, about what he is but so far he'd been nothing but truthful to the other. Even if it would delve into his past, one that he hadn't even known about until just months ago, he couldn't be entirely dishonest. That didn't make admitting the truth any easier though. ]

My genes were.. embedded with symbology runes when I was a baby.

[ He turns his gaze downward, not able to look at Riku now. ]

You saw it, right? The light that came off my arms.

[ he faltered for a minute, now unsure, now... hesitant, himself. this is obviously just as important and damaging to Fayt as what he's felt guilt to say, too. he didn't mean to bring it up, but now that he's started--he doesn't... feel right to retract it. it might just leave lingering feelings of shame, and he doesn't want the other to go through that. ]

Yeah... I saw it.

[ his words are careful, his voice quiet. ]

It sounds painful.

[ Looking at his arms, Fayt wonders just what kind of sight he makes for someone who doesn't know anything about symbology and the truth about himself. Even he had be startled at finding out about the runes that would glow all over his body whenever he used the power of Destruction. The most surprising thing coming from his back, the markings there only known to him because someone else mentioning it to him during his travels. ]

It's not as painful as learning the truth and the reason why it was done on me.

[ He's never really spoken about it, the pain of the knowledge that his own parents would this to him. And not only him but to two others as well, one being his childhood friend. All for the sake of the universe. ]

I can understand reason but it still doesn't make it any less painful.

Is symbology... bad?

[ the way Fayt's talking about it--Riku had some distinct deja vu. it's almost like he's talking into a mirror about the darkness, about how painful it was when it sunk into his chest, his skin, his hair. the truth to why Ansem chose him, which he still didn't know, but he knew it wasn't on an innocent whim. Riku cants his head to look at Fayt clearly.

is it so painful that he's ashamed? yet... what he did was healing--why would he be ashamed of being able to heal? ]

[ A second's surprise before he shakes his head. Maybe he should have been a little clearer. ]

Symbology itself isn't bad. It's actually a fascinating subject to study and two of my friends are very good at it.

[ Fayt himself has been doing his best to learn the ways so that he could better harness the powers deep inside of him but he just doesn't have that inherent focus that's required to master the ability. His concentration can only go so far before it begins to wane, and without concentration, the power slips. At the very least he makes do with what he can.

But it's the branches that have began to form that's more on the painful side and knowing that his father had been at the core of it all makes him proud and sad at the same time. ]

Recently there have been studies of fusing genetics and symbology together in order to help humans fight off various types of diseases and the like. But not a lot of people agree with that sort of thing so there's a lot of controversy surrounding it.

[ He pauses for a second. ] My father was the top researcher in the field.

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