24 Alistair Companion Mission Part 2 (1/2)

My body started to fall apart from the blast of magic as well as my own actions. I was feeding to much into the biotic shielding to protect those behind me. As the output of magic started to build up for another wave, something in me broke free. Power hungry voices far away were calling out to me. They were all my own, the voices demanded and screamed for me to kill him. To take his power for my own.

”His life means nothing. Killing him will make your power grow a hundredfold!”

'What the hell is this? Who the hell are you to demand me to kill my friend and subordinate! I don't care who you are. I can't believe you are me, any of you.' I reached out to them. Even if it is my own voice I am not just gonna listen to it. 'Galtea what is this.'

Galtea:

'Answer me?!' I could still feel her present from the link but nothing else.

Galtea:

(Don't be foolish we are you. We have done what you cannot. What you have not done yet actually, you have it in you. Just need a nudge in the right direction. Kill him and take his power it is easy in his state. We all killed someone close to ourselves and gained immense pyscho power. He is just a stepping stone.) The voices all said after one another egging me on.

System: Willpower Check 26 Intelligence Check 27

I pulled out the Eldar sword. Galtea be damn if I was gonna let this continue. This felt like warp trickery. My guess with the Persona power technically being somewhat mental and demonic in nature as well as the Warhammer 40k abilities I had in me triggered this reaction. This had to be a trick if not I don't know what will happen.

Rasing the sword to contend against the magic. As I focus more into it, the sword gathered more of my biotic, as well as the elemental water, and pyscho/soul energy onto the biotic shield. The rate of breakdown continued as I Drained myself dry.

'I .. I re..fuse. Even if I regret this on my deathbed I can't kill this man. I promise to help him and I will. I don't just screw over my people for my own benefit. If you are truly me you would understand.' If Alistair doesn't get ahold of himself we are gonna die.

(You have failed us and yourself. Death is all that will await you on this path.) The voices said as they dimmed out.

(Clap, Clap, Clap. Good job boy. You are doing better. Continue your current path and we might make something of you. Here is your reward. Best of luck with living with yourself.) The Trickster's voice echoed into my head.

System: Discovery of Oneself Quest Completed

Reward: All personal Soul fragments of the Streetfighter Universe. Contains all the remnant powers of yourselves as a Pyscho power User.

Failure: Would have been the Emperor of mankind losing faith in you. Death of Alistair. Reputation of Galtea and all crew, companion, and pets loyalty drop. The Trickster would have sent you to a worse world for training and conditioning.

As Alistair calmed down. The scenery started to turn back to normal.

Galtea: Auxillary field shutting down. You have used up a lot of its power User.

'What the hell happened? What did the field project? Well least I can hear her voice now.' I looked around we were further up and most of the group that was down with Alistair were saved so that is something at least.

Galtea: It was part of a quest for yourself as well as part of Alistar quest. Helping helps his people it would seem. If you would have killed him I believe you would have failed his companion quest as well. The field project you engaging them with your sub-mind talking to them convincing them to follow you to Alistair's village for they can receive medical attention. All of them were saved so congrats on finishing the mission and receiving bonus experience for saving the other members that are in training. I spoke to you but The System blocked my words to your ears. If you were a higher level we could have talked mentally. The Pyscho power will be available upon you taking a short rest.

Galtea: Save the three and change history.

Rewards: White mage Agria will join your party, Knight Tamariel will join your party. Argath can join your party. All those who have survived the ordeal in a new way. Their fate is tied to your own.

Bonus rewards: The squires and chemist of there group will join you.

'What the hell are you talking about all of them? This.. ah fuck it I don't have time for this.' I came here for Alistair companion mission now this is happening.

Galtea: User when you have time talk to them. They are unique characters. All the squires and chemist from there group will work harder than the run of the mill mercenaries you would usually get later. You should be thankful.

'Damn it understood... and thanks.' I looked to Alistair, ”let's continue on our way.”

After an hour of trecking through the woods, we came across a broken fortress. It has definitely seen better days. We traveled another five minutes and came across a village. Alistair took point up ahead and went to talk to some guards I am assuming. He came back after a heated discussion.

”Boss these are my fellow villagers, please help them,” Alistair said as he gestured outward to his people.

Before me were a little over 70 people or so. Almost all were in motion working on something fixing on something. Children were moving rubble to a small area. At the location older children smashed it with hammers made of denser rocks.

Off to the side, the elderly were pulling weeds up from some type of vegetable. Looked close to a potato but it was yellow. By the looks of it, anyone between eleven and sixty was doing a type of hard labor.

”I don't even know where to begin,” I mumbled. Before stopping once I looked to one who had rags for clothes, I could see the individual's ribcage. Stomach was flat but muscular. The skin seemed tough, but there were scratches all over.

Tia came up to me on my left. Her face looked heartbroken.

”My lord from what I can tell the major problem for them all would be they are malnourished. The adults are eating Chocobo food. For the young ones it is not as bad but for the elderly, it will keep them alive but… it is poisoning the body,” Tia said.

I could see the clocks turning in her head as well as the rest of my squad. Alistair squad seemed unfazed except some of the squires they had looks of pity. I turned to look at Alistair.

”Alistair, what the fuck is this? I have seen poor, but this is fucking destitute. These conditions are monstrous. Are they mixing dirt in that broth by the fire? How did this happen?!” I was becoming unnerved. Biotic strands that fed into from these people kept me baffled. None of them would give up. They believed a brighter future lay ahead of them. The strand that came from Alistair gave me pause though, he was filled full of guilt for some reason.

”Boss follow me. The rest cannot follow.” Alistair said grimly as he turned and made a path to a hut. Stopping a child on his way he mumbled something off.

The child took off and came back with some other children that left to go help the critically injured within our party.

”Nonmelee see what you can do about treating some of the people here. Melee unit's search the area for wildlife. Kill them and bring back the remains. If there is any vegetation that you think is safe mark its location and head back. This is an order that is non-negotiable,” I said as I turn back to continue on my way to Alistair. I was stopped by a voice from behind.

”You can't be serious,” Argath said plainly. He looked at me defiantly when I looked at him over my shoulder. ”I say again you can't be serious about this. We need to return to Eagrose castle and report. Saving the count is more important than these peasants!”

”Argath you simple minded fool.” I approached him and grabbed him by the collar. Letting my biotic flare outward, but channeling it slowly onto him specifically. ”If you don't like how I do things than leave. I am not begging you to stay. I am trying my hardest not to kill you boy. But you are really pushing it. You are only still alive because you have a chance at redemption. The moment that stops I will rip you apart with these hands of mine. Do you understand me?” after a cold hard stare I dropped him headed to catch up with Alistair.

Argath looked at me fearfully I could feel his eyes on me.

”Tch fine,” As he got up and fixed himself. ”You heard him fan out, the sooner this is done the better.”

Catching up with Alistair we entered a hut. He started to tell me what all happened here as we traveled down a staircase that lit up as we walked downward.

”Boss the reason I need your help is.. Codis Beoulve III killed my people and used them to awaken a Zodiac stone. This was in the original timeline. My entire village was destroyed. I never tould Ramza but I did tell Alma. This village here is the last remnants of the tribe that first forged the Zodiac pieces.”

Alistair paused and looked back at me. For one to see if I was looking and two he stopped at a hole in the wall.