[SO2] Harbinger (Lantis + Gabriel, SFW, Spoilers)

[wallwalker]

Attempting to fill some old sidequest prompts, since reading some of vieralynn's posts and commentary reminded me of it.

Title: Harbinger
Fandom: Star Ocean 2
Characters: Dr. Lantis, Gabriel
Summary: Gabriel is his messenger.
Notes: Huge Secret File spoilers. It won't make much sense if you haven't read them, seriously. This was possibly going to be part of a larger story about Dr. Lantis way back in the day, but I never got anywhere with it.
Prompt: Dr. Lantis/Gabriel: Defining a Purpose - "You are the embodiment of ruthless power, indomitable will and furious vengeance."

----

You can’t stop shaking.

They lied to you all along. Filia’s been dead for weeks - no, perhaps for months! - and they told you that everything was all right. She was the only reason that you tolerated this dreadful place; the thought that you would see her again someday has kept you from snapping, from doing whatever you could to get out of the facility. And now she’s gone. She’s gone and you’re alone, and you have nothing to lose anymore.

Your hands quake as you enter the parameters for the final weapon; you bite your lip as you try to steady yourself. Too much emotion and too many chemicals... who knew what your food had been impregnated with, or what sorts of drugs they’ve slipped into your strong morning coffee to make you less difficult and more cooperative?

They lied to you about Filia, and she was the most important person you had left in the world. What else had they lied to you about?

You finish the parameters for his physical appearance, and reach into your pocket, taking out the data disk that you’d made a moment before. It was a quick personality build, not the most efficiently made, but it would do. It would be enough to make the rest of the Nedian Empire pay for your daughter’s death.

You slip the disk into the system and wait, staring at the red lights that flash at you. How long can you wait for this to finish? If you don’t hurry -

The phone rings.

You nearly jump into the air, staring down at it with terror in your eyes. You can’t possibly have been found out - you planned this so carefully. You would’ve known if the Commander had slipped a surveillance program onto the mainframe, wouldn’t you?

Slowly, you pick up the phone. “Yes,” you say, as calmly as you can manage, biting down the anger and the fear. “This is Doctor Lantis. How can I help you?”

“Lantis?” The young man on the line sounded puzzled. “Oh, um, sorry! I must’ve gotten the extension wrong. I didn’t mean to bother you!”

“That’s all right,” you say. “It’s no bother. Take care.”

You hang up slowly, not listening to hear if he says anything else. You don’t know who he was. All you know is that soon, everyone in this facility is going to be dead.

The minutes tick by slowly; you know that this is a massive operation, programming a sentient being’s brain from the inside out, but you can’t be blamed for being impatient. The other disk is heavy in your pocket, and you won’t have much time once the inner facility is sealed.

Finally the light flashes green, and you hear the machine beep at you. “Personality transfer complete,” the voice says. “Do you want to finish building unit ID Gabriel?”

“Yes,” you say, swallowing hard. “Rush build, please.”

“Identification needed,” the machine dutifully replies.

You nod - as if it could answer you - and reach for your ID card and chip, sliding it through the card reader. It beeps, satisfied, and begins to work.

You busy yourself with entering the override and lockdown codes, and soon you hear the doors slip shut. If by some miracle they hadn’t noticed the power drain from the rush build of the final Sage, they’ll definitely notice this. They’ll probably be evacuating the facility right now, you think, and somehow your mind is clear and calm; you’re in a strange place, past anger and grief. You want this finished.
Finally the sealed pod opens, and you see a man step out. He is tall and statuesque, his skin far paler and smoother than yours, his hair the same fiery red. His eyes are clear and bright and see right through you. He is perfect - everything you have ever wished you could be, free of all of your flaws and weaknesses. He sees you, looks at you very calmly through the glass.

You clear your throat as you reach for the microphone. “This is Doctor Lantis,” you say. “I have a few questions for you.”

He nods. “Ask,” he says, the speakers in the room failing to do justice to the harmonics of his voice. It would drive men mad just to hear it... or it should, if your data disk has done its job properly.

You nod. A simple one first, you think. “What is your name?”

“My name is Gabriel?”

“Very good. Two more.” You take a deep breath. “What am I?”

“You are my creator,” he said, “the being who has inspired my very purpose. I will be your messenger, bearing witness to the cosmos.”

“Yes.” You speak the last very softly. “And what is your purpose, Gabriel?”

“My purpose,” he says, smiling at you, “is to bring about the total destruction of the universe, and of all those who live within it.”

You put the microphone down, and feel the smile spreading across your face. “Perfect,” you whisper, as you reach for the console. Your fingers move with practiced speed, typing the override codes to awaken the other Wise Men and release them from their hold. You can faintly hear alarms now; the facility is already surrounded, you’d wager. Let them surround you; you have far greater weapons at your disposal than they ever could.

This is the only way, you tell yourself as the pods open. This Empire... no, this entire universe deserved to be destroyed, after what they had done to you. This much pain and suffering... no one should have to bear it. No one should have to be made into a pawn and told horrible lies to keep them.

No one should have to suffer like you have. And no one ever will again - no one on this planet, first of all. The Nedian Empire has pushed you too far, and Gabriel and the others will show them the error of their ways. He is your messenger.

Everything goes eerily quiet as you finish sealing every inch of the building. There’s one last thing you have to do. Then you can rest, and be with your Filia again while your mind lives on in its glorious new form.

You pull the second disk from your pocket, unmarked and unassuming. It’s the only thing you have left of your daughter, the personality you’ve painstakingly pieced together from conversations and memories. It’s only fitting, you think. Your days with your daughter were the happiest of your life. You must not allow yourself to live on without her.

You work quickly. One last task, you tell yourself over and over. Then you can finally be free of this place, once and for all.