legionmissions | THE NINTH GATE

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THE NINTH GATE - [modplot]

Who| Anyone who signed up
What| "The Ninth Gate" plot
Where| It starts on Rimbor, moves to Earth
When| The same time as "Gone-Away World" and "Total Eclipso the Heart"
Warnings/Notes| Lots of really fucked up suicide cult stuff.

It's not that difficult to get a lead on where the Catastrophists are recruiting, but so far the survival rate of undercover Scicops is...bad. As in, none of the undercover cops that have been sent in have come back. So with the rise in Catastrophist activity and losing several of their top undercover officers, the Science Police has actually asked for the Legion's help for once. A few tips from their contacts have made it clear that something big is coming, a terrorist attack of sometime, and time is running out. They need to get someone on the inside that actually survives, and they're hoping the Legion can do what they couldn't.

Fortunately, there's an easy in to at least start the undercover op.

The Science Police has long since determined that the Universal Brotherhood is just a front for the Catastrophists, largely due to the references to Apokolips and Darkseid they keep dropping. Science Police specialists and Legion intelligence officers handle the initial contacts, creating fake personas that they chat out as getting duped into embracing the Catastrophists' cause. They even donate enough credits to make it seem like the personas are emptying out their modest bank accounts to support the cause.

The next step is a very thorough briefing given to the Legionnaires going undercover on this mission, so they know every possible detail about their fake personas, and have access to all the chats they need to pretend to remember having.

Then, they're armed with very advanced technology to use to infiltrate the group. Super advanced subdermal hard-light hologram generators, sensor emulators that give off biosigns that fit their personas, advanced psi-blockers that even allow them to project surface thoughts that fit their cover. They have all the knowledge they need to infiltrate the group - now they just have to survive initiation.

They're sent in three pairs to sign up for recruitment in a shady bar on Rimbor, at separate times so them showing up together doesn't seem suspicious. Rimbor is an urban world that's just layers and layers of city on top of older cities. They're all led underground, to abandoned under-levels that used to be on the top levels of the cities only a few hundred years before, but are now that are deemed uninhabitable even by the lowest dregs of Rimborian society.

Once they're in, there are only two ways out: through surviving initiation or in body bags dropped in Rimbor's massive trash incinerators.

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To explain why they come in together, their fake backstory is that they're a teenage couple that escaped to the UP from the slave pits of non-UP planet, Rizak 7. They were forced to murder their own siblings to do so, but hoped that in escaping they'd be able to get help for their planet from the galaxy outside...

Only to find that no one cares. other civilizations in the galaxy are doing nothing to halt their planet's exploitation because the commodities they create aren't worth anything. Their siblings' deaths were for nothing.

Being hit in the face by such an uncaring galaxy has convinced them the only answer is the end of existence - and they've been promised that Chronoblivion has the power to reunite them with their siblings in the afterlife.

They're handed brown robes because apparently this cult wants to be a giant stereotype and are led through the dimly lit hallways to a cultist with purple skin, a shaved head, and a glowing eye on his forehead.

The cultist gestures for them to sit in front of him. Armed cultists with blasters stand to the left of the Legionnaires. The wall opposing them, on the right, is blackened with blaster fire and rutted with holes, making it clear that the price of failing this test is high.

"You'll have to speak to Brother Maynard first. He's an empath. We've found telepathic screening isn't the most reliable, due to the Scipos sending undercover officers that are stronger telepaths than the ones we had working for us. But empaths can sense emotions, they can check to make sure our initiates aren't lying about what they feel, that they feel the misery and nihilistic emptiness that that we know is the ultimate truth."

They're urged to sit.

"You must open your hearts to me," says Brother Maynard. "Tell me why you've come to us. Let yourself feel why you've come to us."

Falling into the persona of someone disillusioned, abused, and desperate was admittedly a far easier task than when he'd forced himself to spend time impersonating his genetic original. He already had traits that worked for this role and required no embellishment; an innate distrust, wariness of anyone who got too close, and his general cold demeanor, all lent themselves to someone who'd been through everything he supposedly had. He barely needed to act at all beyond keeping his story straight.

It was to a point that he wondered if that was at least somewhat intentional. He didn't know much about Pidge, or if their shared background matched her at all, but in particular, the bit of their story that involved being forced to kill their own siblings felt as if it hit a little too close to home to just be coincidental. But intentional or not, the closer the deception was to the truth the easier it was to hold up the act, and when they were asked to explain their reason for coming here, it was an easy emotional well to draw from to bring up what the empath would be looking for.

"We managed to escaped from Rizak 7, but-..." He paused, both a little unsure of how to word what needed to be said and honestly wanting to avoid it. After a pause, he decides to press past it for now, even if it only gave him a few extra secants. He keeps his voice soft and measured, his expression unaffected as he spoke up again. "We were supposed to get help from the UP. Get them to listen to us about what was happening there. That was the whole point, the only reason I went through with it. But when they did listen they refused to do anything. Some of the people I spoke with acted as if I should just be grateful we were out, as if the rest of our planet shouldn't matter to me anymore." There's another pause and this time there's no more getting around it. Dredging up thoughts of his attempt on Bart's life hardly took any conscious effort. The moment was still too fresh in his mind, the psychological wounds from it raw, untreated and easily reopened, and when he speaks up again, his voice is more distant, despite himself.

"When it had come to choosing him or the mission, there was a point when I didn't think I could do it, but when it came down to the moment, it was easier than it probably should have been." Despite the easy connection between Bart and this fictitious brother, oddly enough it wasn't Bart who'd come to mind but Max. He'd never had misgivings about killing his original, but Max...Max had been a struggle. He'd wanted to stay with him more than anything, but when it had come down to it, he'd still nearly killed him. If it hadn't been for Bart, he probably would have. Just thinking about the man made him feel sick with guilt and self-loathing.

"I told myself that even if he didn't deserve it, it would be for a greater good. That in the end, it would undo a wrong greater than the one I was committing." Bart's words from their actual fight still rang in his head though, and they stung just as hard now as they had then. The moment he realized he'd been deceived had left an empty bitter pit in him that still ached no matter how much he ignored it or tried to fill it. He'd thought that confronting his creator, the man behind his mission, would ease that somehow. That it would give him answers, satisfaction, revenge, something, but finding out he was nothing more than a self-serving, corrupt, egomaniac who saw him as a tool, had only made him more bitter, and thinking back to that brought a slice of that sharp bitterness into his voice and expression.

"But it was all for nothing. Apparently, our people aren't worth the price of saving them. If this group can really bring about the end of the universe through, then they can at least have some chance for peace, which is all I care about. And as far as the rest of this universe is concerned, if they're really so self-serving that they can turn their backs to them, then they deserve to share their fate."

On one hand, Pidge's persona was barely different from herself. She can think of Matt, and the Galaxy Garrison, and the Galra, and their subjugation of the universe. All those emotions can swirl around in her head and her heart and they're exactly what she needs to bluff her way through this. The Legion probably based their personas around their own real-life backgrounds, though she can't know that for sure about her assigned partner. It certainly would have been the smart thing to do.

On the other hand, Pidge has never been known for her ability to keep her emotions in check. These guys want nihilism, which is absolutely at odds with Pidge's default state of fiery hopeful determination. There's no denying to herself that keeping control over her emotions and not lashing out in rage at the cult will be a trial. So while she lets Thad talk, she tries to focus on the Galra empire, the sheer overwhelming size of their fleet, the number of races who have been brought to heel or joined just to avoid the worse fate, and the secret fear of the Paladins, floated in private moments, that the Galra are just too big for five of them to ever stop before they subjugate the universe.

Much more reliable than trying to picture herself killing her brother.

"We tried. We both tried as hard as we could to make people listen to our plight but it seemed like nothing was enough. Even trying to make them see how easily it could have been them...They just wanted to sweep it all under the rug. And if they see our suffering as not worth anything then...then no suffering is worth everything."

"Yes, I feel it. So...cold. But there's also...regret. For who you hurt."

He looks to Pidge.

"And you...so passionate. And outraged. Both have their place in our organization. We need those who understand the nature of hopelessness and those willing to dedicate their passion to our cause."

Brother Maynard stands.

"We need to speak to our superiors. We'll be back shortly."

And with that, he and their guide leave them in the room - with the armed guards. They're going to leave them to sweat it out a bit. Fortunately, they have the ability to communicate with each other silently with their telepathic earplugs.

Afer watching the two leave, he gives the guards a glance before looking blankly down at the floor. His hands fidget unconsciously for a bit before catches himself and he clasps them neatly together over his knees to keep the habit from being mistaken for nervousness.

Glancing over to Pidge, he debated whether or not it would be appropriate to communicate while they were made to wait it out. He still wasn't really used to working with other people, let alone relying on them.

So far so good, I suppose. He thought at her as casually as could manage, because that's what you do with teammates, right? The words end up coming across more timid then he intended them too, but the next thought manages to better match his usual cadence. Have you had to do work in infiltration before?

Pidge planned to use her time alone to take in the room, see if she could find weaknesses, flaws, potential advantages, but then her eyes settled on the wall with all the holes and-

Well, that ends that. Not that she could find much from this vantage anyway.

Well, if you count being stranded on a ship that had been taken over by enemy forces, then yes. But they knew I was there. Putting up a cover like this, though? Never. I was almost afraid they wouldn't buy it.

She can't start rambling, even in her own head, because then it might make her emotions start rambling.

What about you?

He doesn't mind the rambling, it just gives him more to go off of, but the possibility of it being due to nerves is somewhat concerning.

It seemed like you did fine. They don't appear the type for lead ons if they find people out. He replied in what he felt was a reassuring way, but probably sounded more flat and blunt, as he also noted the holes in the wall.

I've done something like this, but not in order to gain access to a group. Unless fooling Young Justice counted, but they weren't the type for trials (they barely even bothered with vetting new members), let alone killing. I just took over a pre-integrated persona. Depending on how things go, your experience might be more useful to us then mine.

My job one the ship was more not being seen. And then not getting killed when I was seen. I don't know how useful it'll end up being, unless we have to take out the guards.

She's trying to keep things light, but she's also trying to plan out how badly this could south, and what to do if and when it does.

Anyway, I'm not letting my guard down for a second until we're back on Legion World. They're probably going to make us jump through more hoops. A lot of hoops.

The guide and Brother Maynard return.

"Come," says the guide. "You're ready to move onto the next phase."

He gestures for them to follow and leads them into a room that has two hooded cultists.

"The next step is an offering of pain. To serve us and to serve the one true way of the universe you must be willing to give up everything, and that may mean giving up your lives. It may entail untold suffering. But this price is one that will bring us all closer to the oblivion we rightly deserve."

He gestures to each cultist. Both of them are wearing alarming black masks.

"Sister Ellora is a Rezmutan. She has the ability to call forth your most painful memories and bring you to the absolute heights of emotional pain and despair. Brother Rellick is a Triilk, capable of using his powers to tap into the pain centers of the brain of most sentients."

Each of the cultists nod in greeting.

"You may each choose the nature of the pain you're willing to endure, physical or mental, but you still must choose. Those who can't endure aren't fit to join our ranks."

Could be useful if we get through this initiation and need to find out their plans on our own, or definitely if worst comes to worst and we have to fight the guards.

Thad's mind was also trying to run through every scenario, but unlike Pidge he'd dropped any attempt to try to keep things light. He was about to agree with her other assessments, when their guide came back to move them forward, and almost immediately after they were moved to the next room her point was proven.

Lovely He thought shooting a slightly concerned look at Pidge, before looking to 'Sister Ellora'. She'd already guessed at them having many hoops for them to jump through, and had gotten the same briefing as he had on just how dangerous these initiations had been for the Scicops that had gone before them, so she's probably had some idea that something like this might happen. But still, it was one heck of a sprocking hoop to jump. Just how many of the Scicops had gotten to this point before they'd been caught?

"Psychological." He answered, "I'll relive my worst days if that's what's required."

Jokes on them, I have an eidetic memory and already relive my worst days everytime I don't have something else to occupy my mind. Nows the time for levity, right? The thought was meant as more a quiet joke for himself but the telepathic earplugs don't really get that memo.

Uh...You don't have to, you know.

Pidge is still not sure how to handle it when people say things like that. Sometimes it feels like everyone in Legion has some kind of deep psychological trauma, so maybe she should be. Right now though, she has to be practical. The last thing she wants is for him to be unable to go on and leave her alone here.

They really want us in their cult, they'll avoid crippling or killing us. It's not too late to change your mind about the challenge.

But she can't delay too long without causing suspicion, and she also suspects that her worse day emotionally won't be as painful as they need for her to pass this test. They need to get this right the first time. She can do this.

"I'll endure the physical pain. I need to know just how bad it can be."

"You will go one at a time," says the guide. "You may comfort one another during the ritual, if you choose. Our paths to the end of days are not something we'll all face alone. We'll all walk together hand in hand to the peace of oblivion. "

He gestures for Thad to lay down on a soft mat in front of Sister Ellora.

That was-...it was supposed to be funny.

The meek thought was weak, rushed, and mixed with the underlying thought that he hadn't meant for her to hear that. Gallows humor was a trait he'd picked up from his AI, but tossing it at a near stranger in this kind of situation, intentionally or otherwise, was probably not his best and brightest idea.

Sorry. I'll be fine. Even if they aren't setting out to kill us with this, memories will still be easier to deal with than physical pain.

His subjective sense of time might not be as slow as it was when he had all of his powers, but it was still slower than an average persons, and he had no desire to subject himself to what might end up feeling like an hours worth of physical torcher. As far as he was concerned, he lived through the memories once and he could do it again. It wouldn't be pleasant, but he could do it.

Nodding at their guide, he looked to Pidge, for a moment getting the inkling he should make some show of affection to hold up their cover of being a couple, but not knowing what would be appropriate he let the idea drop, instead just doing as instructed and calming moving to lay on the mat.

I'll take your word for it, but the tone of the thought suggests that she doesn't actually believe him.

Pidge takes her place on the other side of the mat, unsure what to do. It would look strange if she didn't offer some kind of comfort, wouldn't it? They're supposed to be a couple, and they have to act like it.

...What would she want Dipper to do here?

Trying to make it look as natural as she can, she puts one of her hands over his. This should make it more convincing.

Sister Ellora starts and her power doesn't just draw the memories to the surface of his mind. She makes him experience them all over again, and the feelings he felt while they happened - and any negative feelings he felt after, in reflection - all pile up on each other, heightened, worse even than what he originally felt at the time.

Her powers allow her to make people experience their worst memories but also to feel their pain and life's regrets that came later, the pain of the past and present all rolled up into one.

Your level of confidence in me is staggering. He retorted as he looked up at her from the mat, unable to help himself after noting the doubt in her tone. His own tone was playful but his expression unchanging; controlling his outward reaction and being careful of what he said out loud was a task he was used to, controlling his immediate thoughts was not.

As Pidge lays her hand over his, he can't help flinching slightly, not enough to be seen, but likely enough to be felt. Touch was always something of a shock, but he was at least used to it enough by now to not instinctively recoil or react beyond that initial flinch. He was about to turn his hand over to play along with the act, when Sister Ellora plunges him in to the past and he instead grips the mat.

The crack about his eidetic memory and penchant for obsessing over the past had been exaggerated but wasn't too far from the truth. Slipping into thoughts of that past still happened often, but eidetic memories weren't as perfect as they were claimed to be. He might have been capable of keeping specific information strait better than most, but memories were still like old tapes, where the more you played them over, the more susceptible they become to twisting and warping. And this was nothing like simply remembering the past. It really was like reliving it with every emotion sharply amplified.

Once again he was back in the confines of Craydl, spending literal centuries studying his families history, training, comparing himself to his original and struggling to be better; now with the full knowledge that the entire mission, and most of the stories he had been told about his family, were false.

He was masquerading as his genetic original, watching as Max's health deteriorated and he grew closer to the death he'd helped draw him to the brink of. Every day become a little more painful as he grew closer to the man and continued to watch him struggle. There was a growing regret now that he didn't have the capacity to feel at the time, having been too focused on his plan and the unshakable self-assurance that he would be capable of saving him and reversing everything he'd done. That he would be able to prove that he was better than Bart, heal Max and keep this life all in one fell swoop.

And then it all fell apart, everything that happened in the speedforce replayed with excruciating detail. Max admitting he loved him like a son only to call him Bart, over and over and over until he finally snapped. He watched himself nearly kill him again, all because he felt slighted. Max stopped him, tried to talk him down, offered understanding, a chance to redeem himself and be a part of their family. And the old man's expression when he simply threw it back in his face stuck painfully in his mind.

Bart's words after he'd managed to storm in and almost save the day, stung as hard as they ever did. They were the one memory Sister Ellora didn't need to exaggerate. Those words had become a constant unpleasant companion, that he feared would follow him for the rest of his existence.

And finally, he was standing in front of his creator, the one who'd condemned him to this empty singleminded existence. After months of planning, of digging up the truth for himself, of lashing out and undermining him from the shadows, he finally stood in front of the man for the first time in his life. And with the exchange of only a few scathing sentences, he could feel himself already crumble under his words and presence. Feeling every bit the traitorous petulant child his progenitor accused him of being, even as a steady underlying anger still boiled over into his own responses.

Throughout this, while he said nothing aloud, Thad's projected thoughts become an incoherent jumble, an onslaught of ramblings and reactions spat out at superspeed as he got lost in the memories.

Oh.

Yeah.

It probably would have been a good idea to deactivate the coms. Really, just an extremely great idea. She probably could have even made it look like she was just...nervously fidgeting with her ear. Instead, now she has to ride it out, just listening to him scream in her brain.

She can't even make out most of it. It's like watching the last action movie before the late night marathon ends: just a lot of bad noise and jumbled scenes and she can't follow what he's thinking at all. Harsh emotions about people she has never heard of before bringing him to mistakes she can't really understand because it's going too fast and she has no context for any of this.

This probably just looks like worry over her lover to the cultists, but she can only hold on until he calms down.

"Yes, you understand," says the guide. "It was all so very pointless, wasn't it? The suffering you caused to escape and the suffering you escaped from. Understanding the senselessness is what our organization is all about. There's only one way to end it."

As Sister Ellora helps Thad up, Brother Rellick gestures to Pidge to take his place. The guide hands her a bite guard.

"You may want to put this in your mouth so you don't bite off your own tongue."

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THE NINTH GATE - [modplot]

Pidge and Inertia

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