Hurting Hope

The Device

Lelie

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Lelie crept down the hallway. Weeks of pranking with Demyx helped Lelie learn how to sneak around the castle without making a sound. She darted into a large room. Closing the door, she walked up to a large computer in the center of the room. 

Earlier that day, Lelie had found an letter in her room telling her to meet Saix in that room that night. Desperate for an activity to do, Lelie snuck out of her room and found her way around the castle. 

Looking around, Lelie realized that Saix wasn't there yet. She walked into a small, dark corner and curled up, trying to become invisible in case someone else entered the room. It was a good thing she did, for when the door opened, Saix wasn't the only one that entered. 

"And you are sure this plan of yours will work?" Xemnas asked, striding into the room. Lelie slunk further into the corner and pulled up her hood. 

"I'm positive, sir," Saix said. "And after everything else, I believe it's our only option."

Xemnas grunted in agreement. "Fine, but if it goes wrong..." He didn't finish the sentence, leaving the punishment up to imagination, though it was painfully clear.

Despite the threat, Saix maintained his expressionless face. "I understand, sir."

Xemnas crossed his arms and made a gesture as if to say, 'Go on.' Saix turned directly to where Lelie was hiding. Lelie tensed.

"I now you're there, Lelie," Saix said. "Come out. We have something to tell you."

Lelie hesitated, then slowly stood up and walked over to the glowering males. She crossed her arms over her chest and trust up her chin, a look of defiance.

"You told me to do this, so what do you want?" she growled, giving the Nobodies an equally smoldering glare. Xemnas gave Saix a warning look. Saix sighed.

"Lelie, what is the first thing you can remember?" he asked. 

Lelie's glare faltered. That wasn't what she was expecting. "Excuse me?"

"What is the first thing you can remember?" Saix repeated. 

Lelie thought for a moment. "Well, the first memory I have is waking up in Twilight Town, y'know, with Axel and Roxas. Anything before that is just the name 'Riku.' Why are you wondering?"

Saix sucked in a breath. "You told me that you wanted to remember everything from your past. Some things will come in time. Others will be impossible to remember, no matter how hard you try. Even if that is painfully weak."

"Thanks dude, I'm getting real positive vibes right now," Lelie said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. 

"If you let me finish," Saix told her. Lelie closed her mouth and gave him a look. "We found something that might help you learn about a few of those 'impossible' memories."

Lelie's eyes widened. "Wait--what?" 

"When we sent you and Axel to Castle Oblivion all those months ago, we told you it was a research project, correct?" Xemnas asked, cutting into the conversation. Lelie nodded. "Well, that was a bit of a lie."

"What?!" Lelie shouted, outraged. 

"It was a half-lie," Saix said quickly. "You were there to research. Axel was there for a different reason."

"What was he there for?" Lelie asked.

"If you stopped cutting in, you might get a answer," Saix growled. Lelie snapped her mouth shut again. "As I was saying, Axel found you in Castle Oblivion, memories somewhat intact. You lost many of your memories and were still losing some quickly. They were extracted by this--" He held up his hand. Laying in his palm was a small device, no bigger than a quarter, covered in old, dried blood. 

"Eww," Lelie said, crinkling her nose.

"It had been implanted into your skin and added with the properties of Castle Oblivion, started extracting your memories," Xemnas explained. "Most of the older, useless memories have already been deleted even from here, but there might be some that are still intact that might be interesting to you." Saix dropped the small device into Lelie's palm. "We ordered Axel search for it along with a few other tasks. And he found it."

"Who implanted it?" Lelie asked. 

"A scientist that used to work for the Organization," Saix said. 

"Do you guys order him to do it?" Lelie queered, raising her eyebrow.

Xemnas shook his head. "No. After Axel found you at Castle Oblivion in that state, we had the scientist eliminated."

"Oh," Lelie murmured, looking at the small piece of metal in her palm. That small thing was someone's death wish.

"I have to go check on something. Lelie, you just have to insert the device into the computer and view the memories inside," Xemnas said. "I hope you are pleased by the results." He walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. 

Lelie looked at Saix. "What do you hope to gain from this?" 

Saix shrugged. "Nothing, really. I just know that you're quiet a bit more reasonable when you are in a good mood."

"Oh, am I now?" Lelie grinned and poked his arm.

Saix grunted. "Past or present, you're obnoxious." 

"I thought Lea was obnoxious."

"You both are."

Lelie, for the first time in a while, laughed loudly. "There's the Isa I know!"

A ghost of a smiled flew across and fled from Saix's face. "Just hurry and watch. You're mission will be happening soon." He started to walk out of the room.

Lelie puffed out her check in annoyance. "Party pooper." The door shut behind the blue-haired Nobody.

Lelie sighed and walked to the computer. Cleaning off the dry blood, she inserted the device into the large computer. The screen flashed on. She clicked a few buttons, their sound echoing in the empty room. A small series of memories appeared on the screen as files. Lelie clicked on one. She gasped.

"Violet? Rue?"