With history in disarray and the Human Order under threat, Mashu Kyrielight begins her journey. FGO AU.
Humanity's Last Shield
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Prologue - first steps of the stargazer
Macros
omnisciently vague councilman
- Location
- Dirac Sea
Prologue
AD.2011, Organization for the Preservation of the Human Order, Finis Chaldea
First steps of the stargazer
Humans can forge their own destinies. You read so in a book.
That always made you question your own condition. If human beings were defined by their abilities to create their own path, what did it say about someone like you, whose fate had been decided at birth? Could you call yourself a human, when you hadn't made a single choice for the entirety of the eleven years of your life? You certainly looked human at the very least, you mused while looking at the mirror of the white room you spent your days in. Lilac hair that barely reached your neck, lavender eyes and pale skin untouched by the sun, there was nothing to distinguish you from a perfectly ordinary human girl. But your birth had been different, and maybe that was enough to make everything else different too.
For a long time, you had considered this question dispassionately, as a simple way to pass time between medical tests. It was an interesting conundrum to ponder, but for the one designated as 'Designer Baby n°13', and later as 'Summon Experiment n°2', it came with no particular emotion at first. And yet that had all changed recently.
At first you had thought the catalyst for this change was your meeting with Romani Archaman. The peculiar doctor had entered your life like a hurricane, breaking in a matter of minutes all the boundaries that Chaldea surrounded you with. Doctor Roman, as he insisted you call him, was unlike any of the researchers you ever got to see. He met you face to face, when others simply spoke to you through the communication systems. His conversation was often utterly frivolous and meaningless, while Chaldea's staff members remained focused and to the point. And he gave you a name. As inexperienced a human as you might be, you knew that was important, though you'd have been hard-pressed to explain why. But becoming Mashu Kyrielight, even if only for one person, felt like a revolution in your young existence.
Still, thinking about it, you realized now that you began to change before that. In a way, this wasn't too surprising – humans changed from the moment they were born until the time of their deaths. But for you, Chaldea's attempt at summoning a Heroic Spirit by using your body as a conduit had been a turning point.
You survived the experiment, which was more than the other designer babies who went through the same process could say. Nonetheless, you were told the attempt had been a failure. And indeed, there had been no spectacular change within you, no transformation that would have been expected from hosting the spirit of a hero of old. Your body and your mind were still yours. Still, you could tell there was more to it than a simple unsuccessful attempt.
Truth be told, you didn't remember well the summon experiment. The memories of the year-old event were like that of a dream. But for a moment, you had shared your mind with someone who was no longer human, but had once been one. And with that came emotions that you could barely comprehend, that you never experienced for yourself. By now, those feelings were nothing but a faint echo, but while most of it had vanished, there was one sensation that the heroic spirit felt so strongly that the memory remained vivid within you.
[] Their rage
[] Their sorrow
[] Their surprise
[] Their regret
A year later, the inner voice that you only half-remembered was silent once more. But for you, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Everything began to feel different, as if your world had suddenly gained colors that you didn't even know existed. And with that came new thoughts, new feelings and new questions, even before meeting doctor Roman. It was... hard to sort through them, with your limited set of experiences. But you felt like this was something you had to do – no, that you wanted to do.
Where it would lead you, though, you had no idea.
Your musings were interrupted when you heard the door of the ICU slide open, letting in the familiar figure of Romani Archaman, clad in his usual medical uniform.
"Good morning Mashu", he greeted you with his usual easy smile. "How are you doing today?"
"I am feeling fine, doctor Archaman," you automatically answered. Your health always had been a source of concern, and doubly so after the summon experiment a year ago left you bedridden for several weeks, yet your condition had greatly improved since then, even compared to before. Whether or not this was an after-effect of the experience, or the result of Romani Archaman's care, you could not say.
"Sheesh, so formal. I told you before, just call me Roman!" he half-whined while fiddling with his medical instruments. "Okay, let's make sure everything's in order."
The next minutes were dedicated to your routine physical check-up, the doctor filling up the silence with iddle chatter. Not really knowing how to answer, you simply listened, with your physician apparently all too happy to carry up the conversation for the two of you. This human proximity was another recent change in your life. For your first ten years at Chaldea, you had remained in almost complete isolation, being cared for at a distance via machinery, with the rare glimpses of the various researchers or other designer babies usually coming from behind glass. Romani Archaman had been the first, and so far only person to regularly meet you face-to-face, awkwardly laughing that it would be easier for him to do his job that way. Whatever his reasons, you didn't dislike it.
Finally, the doctor finished his examination, a satisfied look on his face. "Well, you look right as rain. That means I can deliver you the good news!"
You blinked. Good news? "I talked it over with director Animusphere," the red-headed physician explained, "and we agreed it would be better for you if you were to take a more... active part inside Chaldea. Now that your health's good enough, you can leave the medical ward without any issue! Meaning you've been given free access through most of the base from now on." he beamed at you, before his face became more somber. "Though leaving Chaldea is still probably impossible. Sorry."
It was hard for you to analyse your feelings at that moment. Seeing the outside world was a wish you held within your heart ever since Romani Archaman brought you that book describing some of the faraway places outside Chaldea. Dreaming of the sky was perhaps the only dream allowed to Mashu Kyrielight, and one that would probably remain a distant hope, as the doctor just admitted. Still, the prospect of stepping out of the ICU at your own volition... part of it was scary, yet the idea also brought... excitement? Your world was about to change once again.
Feeling unable to comment on those emotions, you chose to focus on a more practical matter. "What should I do then?"
Romani Archaman scratched his head. "Well, I was thinking of letting you decide? You've already read quite a lot about the inner workings of Chaldea, so if there's something that grabbed your interest, why not giving it a try? You don't have to decide right now!" he quickly amended, seeing the look of uncertainty on your face, "and we can discuss your options together if you want. But I think it's better if you're the one to make that choice. Don't worry about making a mistake, there's no need for it to be permanent if you don't feel comfortable."
Humans can forge their own destinies. You read so in a book. And for the first time, the option was given to you, no matter how small a choice. There was still so many things you didn't understand, about yourself and about the world around you. But maybe the time had come to take a first step forward.
Which department do you wish to join?
[] The Research Department. Chaldea is a repository of human knowledge, and something you've been curious about ever since Romani Archaman offered you your first book. No doubt the researchers operated on a whole other level compared to what you were used to, but this could be your chance to expend your horizon in a way you couldn't have hoped for.
[] The Medical Unit. There is safety into sticking to what you know. A lifetime spent in the medical ward certainly made you familiar with most of its procedure, and sticking to Romani Archaman would be reassuring. And perhaps... perhaps you would be able to help preventing more deaths in the future. You already saw enough.
[] The Observation Station. The doctor once told you that Chaldeans were once famous for their astrologers, watching the stars to observe the future. Stargazing was unfortunately something you'll probably never have the chance to do, but observing the past and the future of this planet through SHEBA certainly has its own appeal.
[] The Engineering Team. In many respects, Chaldea is one of the most advanced places in the world, a place where magic and technology merged together. However, keeping the base running is a tireless work, and one you admit being curious about. Getting used to the inner workings of your home would no doubt give you a new perspective on your environment.
[] Write-in (subject to approval)
Humanity Foundation Value: ???
AD.2011, Organization for the Preservation of the Human Order, Finis Chaldea
First steps of the stargazer
Humans can forge their own destinies. You read so in a book.
That always made you question your own condition. If human beings were defined by their abilities to create their own path, what did it say about someone like you, whose fate had been decided at birth? Could you call yourself a human, when you hadn't made a single choice for the entirety of the eleven years of your life? You certainly looked human at the very least, you mused while looking at the mirror of the white room you spent your days in. Lilac hair that barely reached your neck, lavender eyes and pale skin untouched by the sun, there was nothing to distinguish you from a perfectly ordinary human girl. But your birth had been different, and maybe that was enough to make everything else different too.
For a long time, you had considered this question dispassionately, as a simple way to pass time between medical tests. It was an interesting conundrum to ponder, but for the one designated as 'Designer Baby n°13', and later as 'Summon Experiment n°2', it came with no particular emotion at first. And yet that had all changed recently.
At first you had thought the catalyst for this change was your meeting with Romani Archaman. The peculiar doctor had entered your life like a hurricane, breaking in a matter of minutes all the boundaries that Chaldea surrounded you with. Doctor Roman, as he insisted you call him, was unlike any of the researchers you ever got to see. He met you face to face, when others simply spoke to you through the communication systems. His conversation was often utterly frivolous and meaningless, while Chaldea's staff members remained focused and to the point. And he gave you a name. As inexperienced a human as you might be, you knew that was important, though you'd have been hard-pressed to explain why. But becoming Mashu Kyrielight, even if only for one person, felt like a revolution in your young existence.
Still, thinking about it, you realized now that you began to change before that. In a way, this wasn't too surprising – humans changed from the moment they were born until the time of their deaths. But for you, Chaldea's attempt at summoning a Heroic Spirit by using your body as a conduit had been a turning point.
You survived the experiment, which was more than the other designer babies who went through the same process could say. Nonetheless, you were told the attempt had been a failure. And indeed, there had been no spectacular change within you, no transformation that would have been expected from hosting the spirit of a hero of old. Your body and your mind were still yours. Still, you could tell there was more to it than a simple unsuccessful attempt.
Truth be told, you didn't remember well the summon experiment. The memories of the year-old event were like that of a dream. But for a moment, you had shared your mind with someone who was no longer human, but had once been one. And with that came emotions that you could barely comprehend, that you never experienced for yourself. By now, those feelings were nothing but a faint echo, but while most of it had vanished, there was one sensation that the heroic spirit felt so strongly that the memory remained vivid within you.
[] Their rage
[] Their sorrow
[] Their surprise
[] Their regret
A year later, the inner voice that you only half-remembered was silent once more. But for you, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Everything began to feel different, as if your world had suddenly gained colors that you didn't even know existed. And with that came new thoughts, new feelings and new questions, even before meeting doctor Roman. It was... hard to sort through them, with your limited set of experiences. But you felt like this was something you had to do – no, that you wanted to do.
Where it would lead you, though, you had no idea.
Your musings were interrupted when you heard the door of the ICU slide open, letting in the familiar figure of Romani Archaman, clad in his usual medical uniform.
"Good morning Mashu", he greeted you with his usual easy smile. "How are you doing today?"
"I am feeling fine, doctor Archaman," you automatically answered. Your health always had been a source of concern, and doubly so after the summon experiment a year ago left you bedridden for several weeks, yet your condition had greatly improved since then, even compared to before. Whether or not this was an after-effect of the experience, or the result of Romani Archaman's care, you could not say.
"Sheesh, so formal. I told you before, just call me Roman!" he half-whined while fiddling with his medical instruments. "Okay, let's make sure everything's in order."
The next minutes were dedicated to your routine physical check-up, the doctor filling up the silence with iddle chatter. Not really knowing how to answer, you simply listened, with your physician apparently all too happy to carry up the conversation for the two of you. This human proximity was another recent change in your life. For your first ten years at Chaldea, you had remained in almost complete isolation, being cared for at a distance via machinery, with the rare glimpses of the various researchers or other designer babies usually coming from behind glass. Romani Archaman had been the first, and so far only person to regularly meet you face-to-face, awkwardly laughing that it would be easier for him to do his job that way. Whatever his reasons, you didn't dislike it.
Finally, the doctor finished his examination, a satisfied look on his face. "Well, you look right as rain. That means I can deliver you the good news!"
You blinked. Good news? "I talked it over with director Animusphere," the red-headed physician explained, "and we agreed it would be better for you if you were to take a more... active part inside Chaldea. Now that your health's good enough, you can leave the medical ward without any issue! Meaning you've been given free access through most of the base from now on." he beamed at you, before his face became more somber. "Though leaving Chaldea is still probably impossible. Sorry."
It was hard for you to analyse your feelings at that moment. Seeing the outside world was a wish you held within your heart ever since Romani Archaman brought you that book describing some of the faraway places outside Chaldea. Dreaming of the sky was perhaps the only dream allowed to Mashu Kyrielight, and one that would probably remain a distant hope, as the doctor just admitted. Still, the prospect of stepping out of the ICU at your own volition... part of it was scary, yet the idea also brought... excitement? Your world was about to change once again.
Feeling unable to comment on those emotions, you chose to focus on a more practical matter. "What should I do then?"
Romani Archaman scratched his head. "Well, I was thinking of letting you decide? You've already read quite a lot about the inner workings of Chaldea, so if there's something that grabbed your interest, why not giving it a try? You don't have to decide right now!" he quickly amended, seeing the look of uncertainty on your face, "and we can discuss your options together if you want. But I think it's better if you're the one to make that choice. Don't worry about making a mistake, there's no need for it to be permanent if you don't feel comfortable."
Humans can forge their own destinies. You read so in a book. And for the first time, the option was given to you, no matter how small a choice. There was still so many things you didn't understand, about yourself and about the world around you. But maybe the time had come to take a first step forward.
Which department do you wish to join?
[] The Research Department. Chaldea is a repository of human knowledge, and something you've been curious about ever since Romani Archaman offered you your first book. No doubt the researchers operated on a whole other level compared to what you were used to, but this could be your chance to expend your horizon in a way you couldn't have hoped for.
[] The Medical Unit. There is safety into sticking to what you know. A lifetime spent in the medical ward certainly made you familiar with most of its procedure, and sticking to Romani Archaman would be reassuring. And perhaps... perhaps you would be able to help preventing more deaths in the future. You already saw enough.
[] The Observation Station. The doctor once told you that Chaldeans were once famous for their astrologers, watching the stars to observe the future. Stargazing was unfortunately something you'll probably never have the chance to do, but observing the past and the future of this planet through SHEBA certainly has its own appeal.
[] The Engineering Team. In many respects, Chaldea is one of the most advanced places in the world, a place where magic and technology merged together. However, keeping the base running is a tireless work, and one you admit being curious about. Getting used to the inner workings of your home would no doubt give you a new perspective on your environment.
[] Write-in (subject to approval)
Welcome to my new project, a quest where you're playing as a young Mashu Kyrielight who's about to embark on her own FGO playthrough... with a few twists. I hope you'll have as much fun as me with this project! Fair warning, while I do have a decent Type Moon knowledge, I am by no mean an expert. I dived into the wiki for the purpose of this quest, but that hardly means my understanding of the franchise will be flawless. I will no doubt change things here and there, sometime on purpose, but also sometime simply because I don't know better. Every comment on that will be welcome, even though I might stick to my initial take if I feel it makes for a better story. Hopefully that won't make the experience too arbitrary for anyone's taste.
Also, English isn't my first language, so feel free to correct me on that too. And if you have questions, don't hesitate!
Also, English isn't my first language, so feel free to correct me on that too. And if you have questions, don't hesitate!
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Prologue 2 - Welcome to Chaldea
Macros
omnisciently vague councilman
- Location
- Dirac Sea
[X] Their regret
[X] Their surprise
[X] The observation station
[X] Their surprise
[X] The observation station
In the end, you decided yourself toward the Observation department. You might not be able to get out of Chaldea, but working there might be the next best thing when it came to discovering the world. Truth be told, while you tended to struggle with most emotions, curiosity might be the one you were becoming the most acquainted with. Your decision made, you informed doctor Archaman of your choice.
The assigned date for your transfer in that section was a day of many firsts. Leaving the medical ward on your own two feet was one, for instance. Your caretaker might have claimed that the white corridors of Chaldea held little interest, but it was still a novel experience to enjoy. So was you wearing Chaldea's uniform in lieu of your usual medical gown. And Romani Archaman had seemed extremely agitated, insisting for the two of you to share a goodbye morning meal. You reminded him that due to your condition, you would still spend quite a lot of time in the ICU, but the doctor simply sighed that it wasn't the same. Still, his pessimistic words didn't match his smile. What a confusing person.
He also insisted on leading you to the Observation deck, which made sense considering you had no direct experience with Chaldea's interior. As it turned out, the doctor's own knowledge appeared to be equally lacking, the two of you losing your way more than once until finally being rescued by an engineer who pointed you in the right direction. Irritation was not a feeling you were familiar with, but you were reasonably certain the stiffness in your steps and the somewhat curter answers you gave to your physician afterward were symptoms. He certainly thought so, spending the rest of the walk apologizing. Not knowing how to answer, you simply nodded. Eventually, the two of you arrived on the main room twelve minutes behind schedule.
The heart of Chaldea was a completely different environment compared to what you were used to. Instead of the quiet and solitude from the medbay, the place was crowded by dozens of researchers and technicians manning their stations, their ambient chatter almost overwhelmingly loud to your ears. In the center of the room, a replica of the planet was glowing blue; CHALDEAS, the Global Environment Model, and key component for Chaldea's efforts to preserve the Human Order. In conjunction with the station's other pieces of experimental technology, this was the tool able to observe the past and predict the future, the raison d'être of this place - and thus of your birth. And the man responsible for it all was waiting for you.
Marisbury Animusphere, founder and director of Chaldea Security Organization, had a way of standing out even amidst a crowd. Clad in a white uniform, he was supervising the apparent chaos around him with an almost serene indifference. Despite having his back on you and the noise of the room covering your approach, he greeted your arrival without even turning.
"Romani. Late as usual, I see. What a poor example to set for Summon Experiment n°2's first day."
His tone was light, but somehow his words made your guts churn. As if sensing your discomfort, doctor Roman put a hand on your shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. His face seemed more solemn than usual though, making it hard for you to decypher his feelings. "Ah, don't worry, I'm sure Mashu Kyrielight-" he seemed to put an emphasis on the name, "-is way more responsible than I am. I mean, what kind of person asks for work when they have the chance to take it easy?"
Chaldea's director hummed in approval. "Ah, that's right. I suppose using her old moniker could make things confusing with the team." He finally turned around to face the two of you, his pale grey eyes glossing over your figure before settling on your physician. "Kyrielight it is, then."
You observed the white-haired man in front of you. As the creator of Chaldea, he was the one who ordered the creation of the Designer Babies, leading up to your birth. According to some of the books you had the chance to read, that would probably mean he was the closest figure who could be called a 'father' to you. Yet somehow the word felt wrong to you. Director Animusphere was many things, but giving him the function of a parental figure -
You looked at your hand, feeling a sudden pressure. Why had you clenched your fist?
"-see each other later, then," Chaldea's director continued his conversation with doctor Roman, apparently unaware of your strange reaction. "There's something I want to talk about with you."
"Ah. Er, right." Doctor Roman looked at you, seemingly hesitating. "Well, I guess it's goodbye for now, Mashu. See you later?" He hesitated, as if wanting to add something, before finally settling for a "Good luck!" and turning back. He seemed reluctant though, glancing several times beyond his shoulder - whether at you or at the director, you couldn't say - before the control door closed behind him, leaving you alone with Marisbury Animusphere.
"Your work station has been prepared. I'll have someone show you SHEBA's algorithms for now, I'm sure you will be able to catch up soon enough." A simple glance was enough for a technician to come running, the woman leading you to what would become your working place for the foreseeable future, while the director returned his attention to the room.
He hadn't looked directly at you once.
***
Your other co-workers proved to be more approachable, if still as efficient and purpose-driven as what you were used with Chaldea's personnel. You supposed that in that respect, Romani Archaman really was the exception. It took several weeks for your crash course on how to operate Chaldea's technological wonders to be considered satisfactory, but by the end of it you were deemed proficient enough to at least collect and analyse non-essential data without supervision. For now, your daily job was to confirm that the minute observations made by LAPLACE correctly matched SHEBA's predictions. While it was a rather impersonal way to look at humanity - and in fact, the task seemed to be one most of your colleagues found dreadfully boring - watching the future of the planet become apparent through pages of data was an oddly entrancing experience to you. As far as Chaldea was concerned, the near-future was predicted to be utterly 'normal', but for someone like you who had no reference on what normalcy was supposed to be, it was like being given access to a treasure trove.
Despite your new busy schedule, Romani Archaman remained an important presence in your life. That was to be expected - leaving the ICU didn't mean the end of your regular check-ups - but the doctor also sought you out during lunchbreak, or took some time to bring you a reading he believed you'd find interesting. Ever since he brought you your first book, you had become an avid reader, poring over every text he ever gave you, though it wasn't long before you manifested a preference toward-
[] History
[] Fiction
[] Philosophy
[] Write-in
After a few weeks, he also become worried about what he called 'your workaholic tendencies', and insisted you find yourself some hobbies. The activities available inside Chaldea were limited though, and his attempt at introducing you to 'the wonders of an internet idol' left you unconvinced. Inexperienced as you might be, you weren't sure following life advices from a virtual woman (?)'s diary was the best course of action for you, despite doctor Roman's assurance that there would be no-one better suited to lead you through the tumultuous perils of adolescence. He remained vague on the nature of those perils. Nonetheless, having something to do beside your usual work routine had merits.
Pick three activities
[] Exploring Chaldea. The agency was a huge place, and by now, you only knew a small portion of it. Since you had access to most of it, you figured spending some time to explore what would be your home for the rest of your life could prove useful.
[] Physical training. While your health had taken a turn for the better, your muscles were still in dire need of exercise after years of inactivity. As things stood, even a light jog was enough to make you feel light-headed, which could prove problematic in the long run.
[] Socializing. Truth be told, you didn't understand people. Even doctor Roman, the person who you were the closest from, often remained a mystery to you. Making extra efforts to talk to others seemed like a truly daunting task, but you hoped it would help you relate to others better. Maybe.
[] Meditation. You read that many considered this activity as the key to understanding oneself, or to end one's inner turmoil. Truth be told, you were sceptical whether or not this kind of activity would help, but you couldn't deny the emotions left behind after the Summon Experiment were often confusing. At the very least, you supposed there were no harm in trying.
[] Learning magecraft theory. By working with so many magi, it didn't take long for you to become curious about magecraft. You knew the library of the Research section held many books on that very topic, and nothing prevented you from take a peek, though how much you'd be able to understand on your own remained to be seen.
[] Write-in (subject to approval)
All in all, you had little trouble settling into a routine. However, even in a place as remote as Chaldea, life could always find ways to surprise you. During the next six months...
[X] A researcher is found dead in his room.
Pick two more.
[] LAPLACE detects an anomaly in the past
[] You find a strange animal
[] The director's daughter arrives at Chaldea
[] An experiment is held
[] You stumble upon one of Chaldea's secret
[] You remember a strange dream (only available if Meditation was picked as an activity)
[] You get lost inside the station (only available if Exploring Chaldea was picked as an activity)
[] You attempt to cast a spell (only available if Learning magecraft theory was picked as an activity)
[] Write-in (subject to approval)
Due to the various options, I'll ask you to vote by plan this time around.
Took me longer than expected. Who would have thought that writing from the point of view of someone who doesn't quite understand her own emotions yet, let alone those of others, would be difficult?
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