Hope Alanzi had been an orphan. She could not recall her biological father, mother, or if she shad any siblings. When it really came down to it, she never knew her actual family or why she had been alone and left to be raised by her father .

In retrospect that might have been what brought them together. She was never devotedly religious like her father was (he had never imposed it on her), but she had carried his values with her and in turn she believed. Sometimes things just happened because there was a reason for it. Not because it was coincidence, but because there must have been something out there that made certain things happen.

She remembers the days leading to Earths demise quite well. She remembers the mim selection process, remember being told that they can change their appearance to whatever they wish. She sees several different parties, the ones that want to stay the same, the ones that make a few edits to make themselves look 'better', and he ones that go for a whole new look because they do not believe there is anything likable about them. It is possibly one of the saddest things about it all. How could they not realize their beauty?

For her part, she found herself sticking with the first group. She likes the way she looks and her father had always told her she was more than good. Try as she might to remain modest, the compliments always brought a smile to her face.

When she awoke in her mim, the world felt no different or rather it didn't feel that much different compared to her original body. There is an issue through. She didn't notice it until she saw her reflection. Apparently the circuitry for the mim had been a bit faulty. And they could not find the parts to replicate a second brown eye at the time, leaving her with a mismatched pair. Brown and violet. An odd combination.

She almost made the switch. Consistency would have been better, she reasoned. For some strange reason they had a spare pair of violet eyes and she's the first in line for them before deciding not to. Someone might need those, and she already had a pair of functional eyes. Was there really anything to complain about?

Her father had passed away. A great man, but that did not change the fact that he was gone. Sadness had came naturally, but she remembered thinking it over for some time and realized the gap left in his wake was not going to fill on its own.

She set out to do what he had done for others. It was not easy to say the least. She remembered watching him when she was still a child and when the church was still there. She remembered how he was able to listen to it all and bear the burden of not only raising her, and holding her problems, but just about everyone that has came to confession.

For the most all she can really do is listen. Humanity lost the only place that was called home and to everyone's knowledge, only a few ships had even made it into space during the war. Some individuals had been separated from their families, some condemned to stay on Earth while others boarded different ships, which were either destroyed or lost. There was a lot of grief and very little to do. She could only embrace them as they cried (and she cried with them) or nod her hands and offer her condolences and provide the tissues that were needed.

She remembers a particular day very clearly. They were still drifting aimlessly through space. She was watching two brothers argue. One of which was clearly a soldier. He was tall and broad shouldered. He was clearly much more confrontational than his sibling. The other was a lot thinner, much more pale, and his hair was a disheveled mess. He was the more passive of the two and had barely said a word or she could not hear him. She tried stepping in, but stopped when a hand fell on her shoulder gently.

"Let them duke it out," a woman's voice said from behind. It was quite deep. She turned around, spotting a woman that looked to be of African descent, dressed in professional attire.

"But they should not be fighting," Hope begins, but the woman just laughs.

"It's a sibling thing, Hope," the woman said with a shake of her head, "I guess being an only child doesn't help you in understanding that stuff much."

"How do you know my name?" Hope asks with a frown.

"People have been saying how great of a person you are," the woman shrugs, "Plus, I've worked with your father for a while now. He talks about you a lot."

"Oh," she says. She hadn't been sure about what to say really.

"I'm Ornella," the woman continues with a shake of her head. A small smile was on her face. She thinks it is more out of amusement than anything really.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Hope remembers smiling because it really is a small blessing that she isn't alone. It had never occurred to her, but now that she knows there's someone that knows her it's good. So good that it doesn't even cross her mind to think over the next words, "Would you like to help me?"

"I was about to tell you they're thinking about setting up a mediator division," Ornella says before pulling out a PDA device that everyone was issued. "It's perfect for you, I think."

"Are you..."

"I'm one too," Ornella nods. Hope's smile widens and for a moment she feels something in her chest that always came when she was with her father. Earth's destruction is still a tragedy but it matters maybe just a little less after meeting Ornella.

Mira isn't so bad either. Being a mediator might have been the closest thing to a perfect fit for her as well. Despair is still present and there's the fact that sometimes there's only so much she can do, but most of the time she can get people to smile, or embrace her before saying thank you or there's at least some form of improvement.

Ornella is always there with her to. She's almost like a mother to her, looking after their finances, making sure she doesn't over work and is just  there for her. Telling the clients when it's time for the day to end.

Everything is routine. One day she hears from the director that ten survivors were found nearby. Like the rest she can't help but feel a rush of joy. Perhaps they were family of other people aboard. That or perhaps they would be nice people. There was no way to ever meet them though. Their personal information isn't  released and it isn't like they could just be sought out. She looks at the sky, wondering what they were like.

She gets her answer a couple of days later. She was standing in front of the church before a group pulls up in front of her. She counts three, that's almost a full team. There's a brown haired man with messy asymmetrical hair. She vaguely remembers his name is Gwin. The second member is another man, though of what she guessed to be South American descent. His black hair is long, touching his shoulders, his eyes are gold and he had this released look on him. Like he was finding an excuse to smile.

The two of them were talking to each other, seemingly stuck on something interesting. That means the last member was left out. Hope looks over seeing the sole female of the group, who doesn't look like she's very thrilled to be with her company.

The woman is not necessarily graceful, nor is she radiant, but there is some sort of beautiful quality that Hope cannot help but notice like something waiting to bloom she finds herself thinking.

It's strange because the woman's hair is short, her green eyes seem fierce and while her expression is neutral, her mouth looks like it is made for scowling. That doesn't stop  some of the other passing men (those that didn't scatter) to spare a quick glance at her. The men pull to a stop in front of the church and she can overhear that they're looking for a pearls.

Hope looks down, recalling the moment her father had passed what was around her neck down to her. It doesn't take long for her to figure out what she wants to, no needs to do. She unclasps it and walks past her clients.

"Excuse me," she calls.  They look up at her and are confused. She nods to herself, slipping the necklace into her pocket as she pulls to a stop, "i am sorry for intruding, but I heard that you three were looking for pearls."

"Yeah, the genuine kind," Gwin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck while looking like someone that had just recently lost an important game, "they don't want anything that's made from Mira. They want real Earth pearls."

Perfect. Hope finds herself smiling and nods before showing them the necklace, "Would this suffice for them?"

"Yeah, that'll last like as real as any pearl from back home," Gwin said with a wide grin. He looks at his companion who nods.

"Thanks," he says offering his hand out, "my name is Layfon by the way."

"I'm Gwin," Gwin says offering his hand out.

The woman, Hope notices, is just watching. Her expression doesn't change but her green eyes seem to narrow just a bit. Once Hope is done shaking hands she looks at the third member,  "How much?"

"I think I missed that," Hope says uncertainly. She's not sure if she heard it right. It might have been how straight forward she was being.

"The pearl necklace," the woman says. She's Asian. Hope notes her features make her out to be Japanese.

"Oh I-"

"Yeah, we can't just take this," Layfon says cutting in with a wave of his hand. He gives his teammate a reproachful look, who seems to just scowl.

"No, it's completely free of charge," Hope insists with a smile. She cannot help but feel a small knot in her chest at the doubt that was being shown at her. They are not being mean per day, but the woman is still sort of glaring at her.

"Don't mind Ana," Layfon says leaning in to whisper, "she's a little rough around the edges."

"I'm not hard of hearing," Ana says. Her expression irritated. Layfon grins at Hope and it is so friendly that Hope has to reciprocate whether she wants to or not.

"Hope, we have a client that-" Ornella stops, her eyes widening at the necklace in Hope's hand, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," Hope nods.

"Your father left that for you as a memento," Ornella replies, not exactly reprimanding her but it is a firm reminder and it is fair but her mind is already made.

"I know, but he would have wanted someone else to have it if he knew it would bring two people together."

"He's using it to win her over," Ana chimes in. Her voice was strange. Harsh but not in a way where it's loud and cruel like some of the drill sergeants.

"Maybe so," Hope replies and she sees Ana scowl deepen. "But the necklace is not that important."

"Sounds like your family isn't that important either," Ana replies.

Hope almost cringes. But she understands. In the face of kindness a response like this could be expected. Mira will never be as peaceful or beautiful as Earth. Layfon and Gwin are staring at Ana and then back at her. Their expressions a blend of horror and concern.

"Ana you shouldn't," Layfon begins to admonish but Hope speaks up because she knows when an argument break out when she sees it. Similar scenarios I've played out plenty of times.

"It is alright. I can understand why you disagree, but in the end it is my choice,"  Hope says. She smiles at Ana who looks away. The woman crosses her arms over her chest and falls silent.

An awkward silence settles. Layfon and Gwin exchange looks for a moment and she sees each of them open their mouths about to say something before they just close it.

They're rescue comes in the form of a wailing, pink nopon as it dashes to them. It took a while to calm her down then another for her to phrase out her thoughts.

The nopon looks at Hope and the others with its pleading eyes and Hope just feels her heart ache. The decision is already made for her, she nods to herself. Going to Cauldros is going to take a while and it is the most dangerous one of the five continents.

"We're going," Ana says out of the blue. She's staring at the nopon who shrivels under the woman's glare. Layfon and Gwin turn to her, their expressions are surprised.

"We are?"

"You want to lose the best mediator because we let her stupidly wander there on her own? Be my guest," Ana says rolling her eyes. She looks at Hope, her green eyes aren't ablaze but they're not entirely cold either. "You know how to fight don't you?"

"Yes of course," Hope says with a quick nod. She checks for her knife before sheathing it again.

"A psychorupter, huh," Ana notes, "Figures."

"Is that bad?" Hope asks unsure of what to take from the woman. Ana is already walking to the gates of the city. Carrying her assault rifle, she can see a sword in its scabbard strapped to her back.

"We don't need to make any real adjustments," Ana tells her, nodding to Layfon and Gwin, "everyone here does the front line fighting, a support would be good."

"I see," Hope says. The men are trailing behind. For a moment she thinks about joining them, but just falling behind Ana would be rude. So she walks beside her in silence.

An aircraft drops them off on the continent before drifting a little away, no doubt not wanting to lose a precious mode of transportation. The prone are strong and Hope is glad that she stays with mediator duty.

Ana is in the front of Gwin drawing most of the fire (and intercepting several attacks for Gwin. Perhaps she is more mindful than she appears to be). Layfon ghosts them, snaking in when their focus slips from him. His role is set up relatively well. Whenever he inflicts a large amount of damage, Ana and Gwin (mostly Ana) draws the hostile's attention back to them. It looks well rehearsed.

For her part, Hope remains a safe distance away, monitoring the damages on the mims. She rarely needs the psycho launchers and the knife is used only to protect Ana when things get a bit too much for her.

Eventually there's only one prone left. Ana is fighting it while Layfon backs her up. Gwin remains beside Hope in case the Xeno decides to change tactics.

It doesn't and Ana manages to sink her sword straight into the Prones skull. The body hits the floor.

"Busted baby!" Layfon cheers before offering a fist to Ana.

Hope watches as the man beams at his comrade. For her part, Ana spares a sidelong glance then attempts to feign ignorance. When Layfon doesn't retract his fist after a while, Ana reluctantly  raps her knuckles against his. She doesn't even look at him.

It doesn't seem to matter to Layfon who grins. Hope watches as he lets out another whoop before jogging over to Gwin and herself. "You were pretty badass, Hope."

"I only did my part the best I could," Hope says, but the compliment is enough to bring a smile to her face.

They head to the caravan soon after. The nopon that had sought them out is waiting for them. "Friends! Thank you for helping Lulu and caravan from smelly Prone."

"It was no trouble," Hope says kneeling down so they can maintain better eye contact. The nopon is bouncing with joy and the usual pleasurable sensation that courses through her when she witnesses happiness returns. "Your caravan should be free of danger now."

"Will nice lady come back if smelly prone return?" Lulu asks.

"Of course," Hope beams, "I won't to hesitate to lend you a hand whenever you are in need."

"Meh! Lulu will always come back and find  you," the nopon bounces a bit more vigorously as it continues, "after all, other BLADE members always charge for help."

"Well I will-"

"No, she won't," Ana says. Both turn to look at her. The Asian woman is scowling again, her glare focused on the nopon. "And you should be giving us your payment right about now."

"Lulu and nice lady business is between them not lackeys!" The nopon started. Ana snorted before pulling the sword out of the carcass of the Prone.

"These 'lackeys' are part of her team. It's our business." Hope can't help but notice how Gwin is almost hiding behind Layfon as if he's some sort of barrier that will shield him from her wrath.

"Lulu is helpless. Nopon cannot fight."

"You're right. NLA has no reason to offeryou asylum."

"Humans are supposed to be kind."

"Kindness does not mean profit," Ana says stepping in so she is next to Hope. The sword rests, point first into the ground giving the nopon a view of the bodily fluids that had stained it.

"Is mean woman threatening, Lulu?"

"Just stating the facts," Ana says as she glares down at the small Xeno, "if you and the others don't pay for her or other BLADE members they won't have the means to support themselves."

"Lulu refuse payment. Payment was not discussed nor was Lulu planning on asking you for help." The nopon sputters angrily.

"If you haven't noticed, she can't fight on the front lines. If she wasn't accompanied by is, she'd be dead and then prone would have wiped out you and your caravan for seeking out help."

"Lulu calls you out on bluff!"

Ana smirks, "I was on the team that found Tatsu, which is the same team that pushed for you guys to move in. I can always put in a negative assessment."

"Meh!"

"She has a point. I'm on the same team," Layfon says stepping beside the nopon, "i get that you guys are all about making money, so try to think about it this way. Pay off the scary woman now or take a bigger hit."

"Lulu is sure this is good cop and bad cop routine, Lulu hear so much about. Lulu knows budging an inch will lead to losing more money."

"BLADE has ethnics, a guideline that every member follows," Layfon said gently, "the ones that break the rules usually wind up in jail."

"Or dead. Like you'd have been," Ana said turning the blade so the sunlight could give more light to the stains as a way of emphasizing her point.

Lulu looks between the two of them. Hope could only watch. At some point she opens her mouth to interject but a sharp glare from Ana is more than enough to get her to stop.

The four of them receive payment later. As they waved goodbye to her and set off for home, Ana stays behind for a few moments. Hope isn't quite sure what to say and is thankful when Ana speaks first "You need to take care of yourself better."

"Thank you for your concern, but I am quite fine."

"For now maybe," Ana replies and her expression is dark and she looks irritated and Hope does not fully understand why the woman is the way she is, but there does not seem to be any malicious intent. Hope watches Ana nod before walking off. Hope looks down at her PDA and sees that the amount of credits she has is a little more than it should be. There's a payment from an Anastasia. She doesn't really know what to think but she's smiling.


Ana comes by more often than not. It starts with her walking by without her teammates. Sometimes there's a little girl with her, whose walking chatting enthusiastically. Sometimes Layfon is there too. But she's mostly alone when she walks by. She also makes a point to look at her, it's veiled for the most part but Hope catches Ana doing it once and she puts two and two together.

"Would you like to talk?" It's strangely empty one day and Ana happens to walk by again. Her expression is blank but her eyes narrow as if assessing how dangerous the invitation is. She nods slowly before stepping closer. "Thank you for the extra payment by the way. You did not have to go out of your way for a stranger like me."

"You gave us the pearls," Ana replies as if she doesn't care. Her eyes were still on Hope's "it's only fair you got some sort of compensation."

"It was more of a gift, not an obligation."

"Hrm," Ana grunts as she leans against a nearby tree while fixing her gaze on Hope. It's not challenging, but more like questioning. "Do you really like doing this?"

"Doing what?" She asks with a title of her head.

"All of this. Listening to people, fixing their problems for them."

"There is nothing wrong with aiding those in need."

"Kindness is something that's hard to come by," Ana's eyes narrow like she's waiting for Hope to lash out or do something contradictory at any given second."

"Is that what you've come here to tell me about?" Hope asks. Ana certainly has a very roundabout way of telling people things, Hope thinks.

"I'm telling you to take care of yourself," Ana says as she rolls her eyes. She's shaking her head as she pushes herself off from the tree and begins to walk away, "People are going to take you for granted and at some point, people won't think twice about using you to get what they want."

"I do not believe that's going to happen," Hope calls. Ana pulls to a stop and turns back around.

"Ever since coming here, it seems that everyone can post whatever the hell they want on the bulletin board and and any BLADE member that wants to will do the job if they're paid," Ana says flatly, "but what's the point in paying someone when they can just ask you to do it for free."

"Well that is part of my job description," Hope smiles.

"A mediator is supposed to help work problems between two parties, they're not supposed to slant to one side and see that client gets whatever they want."

"But everyone's role in BLADE is to make New Los Angeles a better place."

"Maybe so, but you can't-"

"Thank God you're here," a male voice cries out pf nowhere. Their conversation ceases when they see a ragged looking BLADE member panting as he pulls to a stop. He looks between the two of them, urgency is all over his face.

"What happened?" Ana asks her expression serious.

"There's a team that needs immediate aid and I've been looking for people that can-"

"I'll go," Ana nods. She checks her assault rifle before slinging it on her shoulder.

"As will I," Hope chimes in.

"Really?" The man asks, staring at Hope doubtfully.

"Yes," she nods.

"Well it's just you're not..."

"You need all the help you can get," Ana cuts in, "let's move."

Hope and Ana exchange a glance. She gives the latter an appreciative smile, but Ana just nods like its nothing to be grateful and they're suddenly on their way to saving the team that needs saving.


Hope finds Ana coming by every week. Though instead of just walking by, she stands by the trees where she has been during their first conversation.

Most of the time she doesn't say anything, instead choosing to watch as Hope works through her clients. The clients often look in Ana's direction who stares at them right back. Her gaze unflinching and then the clients seem to look away in fear.

Her prescience hasn't gone unnoticed. Ornella makes a comment about it at some point asking why Ana is there. For her part Ana just stares back at Ornella cooly before shaking the woman's hand.

It isn't clear at the start but it suddenly starts to make sense one day when Ana actually steps in to part some knowledge to one of the clients. The man looks a bit unsure at first as to why the Asian woman standing off to the side is suddenly showing him how to work his way through some technical difficulties.

Ana is tough. She doesn't really belittle people with insults every step of the way when she's instructing them, but it's very clear when she's not happy with their work. And for the most part she's quiet and when she does speak it's either to tell them they need to do better or some variation of it. She rarely ever hands out compliments, opting to only nod and maybe smile (if you count her lips twitching up for a moment for a split second as a smile. Hope does).

She also responds poorly to what Hope assumes to be what Ana perceives to be as stupidity or incompetence and aggression. Definitely aggression. She watches as Ana more or less slams another BLADE member on to the floor, with her hands over mouth. The particular member might have gotten a little impatient and Hope herself might have been temped to shed a tear. Ana wipes the imaginary dirt off of her hands before looking down at the stunned soldier, "You were saying?"

"I'm sorry," he mutters before scrambling away.

Ana looks at Hope, her green eyes more or less saying, "See?"

She's not just there to help, Hope realizes because this was the example Ana had been trying to show all those weeks ago. Hope shakes her head, smiling as Ornella eyes Ana for a moment before she brings the crowd under control, most of which are both in awe and fear of what had transpired. They all seem a little subdued and more orderly after.

When Hope helps a woman named Ada with love troubles, Ada practically throws herself onto Hope before going out of her way to buy Hope lunch and dropping by every other day with her partner.

Hope looks at Ana pointedly while the latter more or less grimaces and focuses on the crowd ahead, nodding to them. There was more work to be done. It was also a begrudging recognition of defeat.


Layfon  comes by every once in a while as well. Layfon is everything that Ana isn't. He's funny, loud, full of smiles, and constantly tries his best to make the people around him laugh. It's good  for her clients, Hope notes as she watches some of them laugh. She can't help but admire how he's tenacious enough to keep trying to win over people.

It becomes interesting to watch the two of them when they're in the same vicinity. Layfon does his best, cracking jokes, bringing food from a "Lin" and offering to go somewhere just to invoke some sort of response from Ana. Ana for her part just regards him with the same blank expression she does with everyone before shortly denying his efforts, which causes him to redouble them.

Sometimes they get into arguments (there's no real winner, each had their own interpretation of the situation). Layfon tells Hope a little about Ana and himself. They're both amnesiacs, she learns. They're both part of Elma's team and they're struggling to find their place. Ana is also really bad with guns, which explains why Hope always sees her with the sword instead.

Ana begins to talk to Hope more. Most of it is about how Hope shouldn't be coddling the clients or how certain problems are trivial and can be settled on their own. Hope figures out that it's Ana's way of voicing her concern when Hope finds herself working over time. Ana doesn't leave and when the day is done, Ana abruptly mentions that they're going to get dinner because she's hungry. Hope smiles believing it's a milestone in their dynamic. Friends eat meals together, she winds up protesting when she finds out Ana foots the entire bill, but deep down she can feel a surge of joy before throwing her arms around Ana.  Ana sourly tells her to take better care of herself. Most of it falls in deaf ears, it's not a comment that's meant to belittle her, it's how Ana shows she cares, she's like that with Layfon as well. It's how Hope knows.

Ana begins to share a bit of herself in between their friendly debates. There's talk of the "Lin" person. Both of them are Outfitters, Ana complains about how Lin forces her to do personal projects with the latter, but even then, Ana is smiling fondly as she mentions the girl.

Ana does share she doesn't remember who she is. It doesn't seem bother her. Outwardly anyway. But Hope can't help but feel a wave of familiarity. Ana doesn't know her own family too. And she feels a little sad but a little glad she's not the only person on NLA that doesn't recognize what they have lost.

It's because of these days and the time spent with her that Ana is the first one she turns to when someone claims her clients have been disappearing and that she's their only connection. Ana is the one that is indignant when one of the investigators suggest it. Her hands curl into fists as she unflinchingly challenges the authorities, providing herself as a witness. She almost instigates a fight when they get a bit more aggressive, luckily Hope is able to break it up herself.

Ana doesn't waste a moment in taking charge, stating they need to form an investigation team to get to the bottom of the case. Layfon joins them and then Gwen, reassembling the team that had helped Hope in the Cauldros mission. Hope can't stop shaking when she thinks of all the people that are potentially lost because of her. Ana grips her hand gently before murmuring they'll find the person responsible. They'll start by asking all her remaining, regular clients if any appointments were made. Hope nods because it makes sense and Ana gives her a small smile they start combing the city.

They strike gold when they meet up with Ada. Ana frowns while Layfon nods, "Where did you say you'd meet her?"

Ada looks at Hope confused, "You told me to meet you at the Primordea beaches at night since you needed help."

"When?" Ana asks, her body beginning to tense.

Ada looks almost offended by Ana's question, "Hey that's none of your business."

"Ada," Hope finds herself saying softly, "it's important I know. When did I visit again?"

"Like around 3 in the afternoon? You were with Ornella and everything," Ada says growing more and more confused as the time goes on.

"That's not right," Hope murmurs. She had been with Ana around that time, helping one of her clients which meant...

"We need to be there," Ana says to Layfon.

"Right, we'll spring a trap and all that jazz," Layfon nods before discussing plans with Gwin. It takes a moment for Hope to realize they're going over the prospect of a fourth member in the team.

"I am going," she says. All three of them look surprised for some reason. Ana is the first one to shake off the surprise.

"No, you're not," she says flatly. Which is both astonishing and hurtful to Hope.

"Why?"

"Because it's better off that  you're not part of this,"  she remarks. Her expression is dark. It's something that Ana hasn't shown in a while.

"Ornella could be in danger," Hope says hands clasping together. She can fill the panic rising within her, "For all she knows that person she's with is me."

"What if she already..." Ana stops with a shake of her head.

"What if what?" Hope asks fearful of what is to come to next. Ana opens her mouth about to respond but the closes it and looks at Layfon. For his part Layfon only shrugs helplessly. "Ana, Ornella is family to me if you think something bad has happened to her we must act quickly."

"If we're super impatient things can get worse," Layfon attempts to soothe. Ana isn't looking at Hope anymore and somehow that causes more dread and fear than anything else. Layfon waves at Ada, "Can you take us to the meeting place?"

“Huh? Sure, but if she sees all of you, I doubt we’ll ever find out what’s really going on,” Ada says uncertainly, lost in her own thoughts. She pauses before snapping her fingers, “I got it. I’ll use myself as bait.”

Hearing that was almost just as bad as Ana’s sudden interest in the area around them, Hope feels her skin crawling as the words run by her, “No! You can’t do something like that, I won’t allow it.”

“Hope, someone’s framing you. The only way we’re going to catch that sucker is to get them in the act,” Ada shrugs. Hope doesn’t know whether she wants to cry or not. Her chest feels tight. The way Ada says it so matter-of-factly like it’s an any day sort of thing makes her feel horrible. Ada’s eyes softens as does her voice, “Besides, you helped me with getting together with the guy I like, I gotta pay you back somehow.”

“That’s hardly the same value,” Hope begins.

“She’ll be okay,” Layfon says placing a hand on Hope’s shoulder, “We’ll be nearby once she gives us a signal.”

“Exactly,” Ada says while giving Hope a thumbs up. Hope can only let out a shaky laugh. “We’re all going to be there. Even you’re grumpy bodyguard. Ana was it?”

Ana doesn’t respond, her gaze is a bit distant. One of her fingers is idly scratching one resting on her other hand. Layfon waves a hand in front of her face, summoning a familiar scowl. Her expression is far grimmer than Hope has ever seen it, “I’ll be there.”

They rendezvous a couple of hours later. Ada is out in the open, waiting for the meeting to take place. Hope finds herself and the others waiting in the cover of the trees that are nearby. She feels herself along with everyone tense in surprise when she sees Ornella arrive with someone that looks exactly like Hope Alanzi.

“No way, that’s impossible,” Gwin breathes out. He clamps a hand over his mouth when Ana shoots a glare in his direction.

Ada and whoever is posing as Hope are engaging in conversation, something about a meeting. It doesn’t take a long for the pleasantries to end, Ada gives them the signal. Hope steps out with the others, doing her best to keep going even though her legs are shaking as she faces her doppelgänger.

Her reflection smirks for a moment before shifting into a Xeno that she hasn't seen anymore. The sound of footsteps are heard and soon there's more than one of them. The others don't hesitate to draw their weapons and for a moment it's like Cauldros again and maybe she's a little thankful for it because she's not sure she can really move.

Ana finishes off one of them on her before moving to the one that's been posing as Hope, whose beginning to overpower Gwin. Hope sees Ana's expression twisting into a snarl as she forced the hostile back. Layfon joins Ana a second later and the two engage the enemy before finally bringing it down. That leaves one person left.

"Man," Ornella sighs out. Her voice is irritated, a smile without humor is on her face. She shakes her head at the five of them, "Life sure can be a bitch."

Ana raises her gun before sliding in front of Hope and Hope realizes that Ornella herself is armed as well. Hope finds her voice quavering with fear as she speaks, "Ornella is that really you?"

"Who else would it be?" Ornella sneers causing Hope to flinch.

"What were you going to do with Ada?" Layfon calls out.

"The same thing I did with all of the regulars. Tear her apart before selling the mimeosome tech to the the Ganglion."

"That's horrible," Hope says, hands over her mouth. She sees Ana's mouth twitch before settling into a grimace, Layfon is shifting his weight from one foot to another as if it'll lessen the impact somehow, and Gwin is shaking.

"Yeah and I would have kept going if you hadn't decided to stick your nose in business where it doesn't belong," Ornella says, her tone rises in anger with each word.

"You're not coming back with us," Ana says quietly. Her tone is much harsher than it's ever been.

"That's it? You're not going to ask me why I did it?" Ornella asks, she's disturbingly amused by Ana's actions than anything.

"It won't bring them back," Ana says lifting her chin. Hope spots what Ana's about to do and through some miracle she's able to react to it before anyone else.

"No!" She cries as she pushes Ana's assault rifle towards the ground. Ana is too surprised to react fast enough. The gun hits the floor, giving enough time for Hope to slide between her friends and her family. "We can't just kill her."

"You can't, but that doesn't mean I can't either," it's probably the most callous Hope has ever heard Ana be.

"Let me just talk to her," Hope pleads. Her head is starting to hurt but it's a really small thing compared to the world around her right now. She can feel her eyes welling with tears, "Please."

"Hope," Layfon says softly to her right, his guns are pointed at Ornella as are Gwin's. It begins to dawn on her that it doesn't matter if she stops Ana or not because there are three of them and one of her, "You heard what Ornella said. We already have the evidence."

"No," Hope insists frantically. The pounding in her head is worsening. She has to act now before the others take the only person she has ever known as a mother from her.

She spins on her heel so she's facing Ornella, "Please come back to New Los Angeles with us."

That brings out a laugh that is far uglier than what Hope has ever remembered Ornella's laugh to be. "Really? You really think I'd go with you? I'll be locked up and left to rot in a cell."

"N-no I can vouch for you. They'll understand," Hope says while she closes the distance between her and Ornella. She can hear the shouts of Ana and the others but it doesn't register. She spreads her arms out, "it's not too late."

Ornella shakes her head a scowl on her face, "You really are an idiot."

"I..." Hope flinches at the comment. Ornella suddenly lashes out, there's a sharp sensation of pain and the next thing Hope notices is that she can barely breathe as her body is held in place.

"If you try anything funny, I will shoot her," she hears Ornella call out. Hope can see Ana and the others pull to a stop.

"What do you want?" Layfon asks cautiously like he's treading through a minefield.

"Drop your guns," Ornella says flatly. Gwin and Layfon do so without hesitating. Ana remains where she is for a moment, mouth pressed into a thin line. Her eyes locked onto to Ornella's. Hope suddenly feels something hard and cold press against her temple, "I mean it. Unless you really don't care about her."

Theres a sound of something hitting the grass after an a agonizing few seconds and Hope sees that Ana's hands are empty, instead her hands ball into fists. Ana's green eyes are ablaze, Hope weakly tears her gaze away from them and looks up at Ornella. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why? That's a good one. You should have known we've been in the red since day one. We've always barely managed to scrape by."

"It's not about wealth. I thought you knew that."

"Oh I know /you/ didn't care, just like how you never cared about how popular you were."

"Why would something like that matter?"

"It's a business opportunity," Ornella says, tightening her hold on Hope in the meantime. "But you never took advantage of it. Ever. You let it go the other way around. You know that Ana girl was right all along."

"Wha-"

"People like you? You're nothing more than stepping stones for the smarter ones. You're all just so stupid. Look at you now, you tried helping me and you set yourself up to be a hostage. So much for being nice, huh?"

"It's what my father taught me," Hope can feel her voice quavering. A tear slides down her cheek, "I thought you knew."

"Yeah well, you know where it got him?" Ornella sneers down at her. Each word seems barbed as they slip into Hope's ears and find their way to her heart before cutting it to ribbons, "it got him killed. Lynched. Humiliated. Left with nothing and all he could do was beg for them to leave you alone as he bled out slowly."

"No...Ornella. Please stop." She almost wishes Ornella would pull the trigger just so she wouldn't hear anymore.

"You know," Ornella begins slowly. Hope can tell she's smiling but it's void of the motherly warmth that she was so used to. "I'm just as bad as the people that killed your father. I deserve to rot in hell for what I did. I deserve to die."

"Second chances are for everyone," Hope stammers. She wants to embrace the woman but she can't. She can see the others vaguely but most of her vision is blurred out by her tears. "I'll vouch for you, explain everything. Things can go back to the way they are."

"You're disgustingly sweet, no wonder you were his favorite," Ornella sighs, "but you wanna know something I just figured out?"

"W-what?"

"I'm actually far worse," Ornella says her voice completely void of emotion. Hope can hear the others shout indistinctly as the wind seems to rush through her ears. There's a distinct bang as Hope shuts her eyes waiting for the world around her to cease.

It never did.

The arm around her goes slack and she hears a thud. The first thing she notices is that she can breathe, the second thing is that she can hear voices calling to her despite the ringing in her ears.

"Hope!" A pair of hands seize her by the shoulders. She opens her eyes and she can see Ana's eyes. The woman's expression is concerned. Ana almost crushes her, but when the Asian woman notices that Hope is indeed well to some extent she loosens her grip.

"What happened?" Hope asks somewhat dazed. Ana swallows for a moment and her eyes break away. She's trying her best not to show it but Hope can see that Ana is trying to sneak a glance to her left.

"I...we...No, don't look," Ana begins but it's too late. Hope already follows where Ana's eyes have wandered and she's greeted with a body on the ground. It's all too familiar. She pulls away from Ana who does her best to futilely maintain physical contact, "Hope. There's-"

Ornella is her mother. She came to her when her father died and when she was alone on the White Whale. Ornella had taught her how to save money better, Hope remembers the older woman scolding her in a friendly way. She remembers the way Ornella taught her to cook all the delicious meals they shared. She remembers how Ornella hugs her while sharing stories about her father.

NLA wasn't perfect and neither is Mira but it was supposed to be her happy ending. She found family, but now she's staring at the body of another lost member. She's alone again.

Hope sinks to her knees. Ana is beside her. She feels it more than anything else. Layfon and Gwin are calling in for reports and Ada is in front of Hope, blocking the grotesque sight and speaking to her, but Hope can't even hear the words.

Hope doesn't remember much. Everything seems to be a void. Time doesn't exist and everything blurs while somehow taking forever. The next thing she knows, she's in her house, sitting in a chair while her hands are wrapped around a hot cup of tea.

Ana is sitting across from her. Just staring at her intently. When the silence goes on for however long Ana thinks it should be, Ana speaks, "How are you holding up?"

The words don't make sense. Hope stares at Ana and every few seconds or so she can see Ornella instead of her friend. That's where Ornella used to sit after all. It only made sense that she’d be there. Except she wouldn’t ever again. Not anymore. Ornella’s body was still in the fields of Primordia, or maybe wherever BLADE had decided to take them.

When Hope doesn’t respond, Ana attempts to reach for her, but she inadvertently pulls her hand back out of pure instinct. She looks at Ana and maybe it’s the lights, but things become a bit more clear and vivid. She can only stare at Ana in horror as realization begins to seep in, “Ornella is dead.”

“Yes,” Ana replies slowly. Her tone is cautious as if she’s afraid of something bad happening if she makes a mistake.

“Y-You tried to kill her,” Hope says, she feels sicker when the words leave her mouth. But she can’t move and she’s somehow unable to regurgitate whatever’s causing her stomach to churn. The images become clearer and clearer at how willing Ana was in taking someone else’s life. “You would not have stopped if I hadn’t stepped in would you?”

“I…” Ana pauses, her expression going slack for a moment in surprise. Her eyes soften as she reaches for Hope, “Hope you need to understand…”

“Don’t touch me,” Hope says leaning back against her chair. She feels like a helpless animal cornered before being taken to the slaughterhouse. Ana flinches, but she complies. Her hands rest on the table, and she purses her lip. Hope points an accusatory finger at the person sitting across from her, “Please answer the question.”

“Does it matter?” Ana says flatly. She’s looking at her own hands now and somehow that makes everything worse.

“It does,” Hope says.

“She was going to kill you,” Ana answers after a moment. She heaves out a sigh, something very uncharacteristic.

“You don’t know that,” Hope says. Her voice rises with her as she stands. The chair clatters to the floor, but neither of them pay it any mind. They’re too busy glaring at each other. “You do not know who Ornella is. You do not know what kind of person she is, you cannot tell me what she was going to do.”

“She laid out what she thought of you very clearly,” Ana says, her voice is not loud, but there’s the quality in it that lets someone know she’s warning them about how close they are to stepping out of bounds. “Unless you weren’t listening to her when she had you gunpoint.”

“I…I could have convinced her to stop,” Hope falters for a moment before she shakes her head. Ana is the one that is wrong. Ana does not believe in second chances and Ana is the one who pointed the guns first.

“You’re being stupid,” Ana says. There’s pity in her voice. Something Hope has never heard from Ana either. “You shouldn’t have gone with us.”

Everything clicks into place after, Hope’s eyes narrow, “You knew didn’t you?”

“Knew what?”

“That Ornella was involved. You didn’t want me to go so no one could stop you from killing her. That’s why you were being so strange when we first went to question Ada.”

“I didn’t want you to go because-“

“I do not wish to hear excuses, /Anastasia/. Please leave, I do not wish to be near those that lie, you are just as bad as the people you have described all those days ago.”

Ana freezes for a moment and then there’s a grimace that usually surfaces after she sustains a blow. She nods slowly, “Fine.”

Hope turns her back to Ana and focuses on cleaning a set of dirty dishes in the sink hoping the faucet will drown out the sounds of Ana’s footsteps and the sound of the door as it slams shut. She counts to five, hums to herself, and scrubs a bowl, but her hands start shaking as time passes and the bowl hits the floor before shattering into a million pieces.

Hope stares at the mess before her for a moment. Then she finds herself on her knees sniffling. It doesn’t take long for her to realize she is completely alone now. It takes her even less time to begin sobbing as she begins to mourn for her own loss.