Gulool Ja Ja's Legacy: A FFXIV DT Rewrite + Expansion Concepts [Fanfiction]

Ch9 Searching for Answers

They proceeded to inform Outrunner Cahciua of the events that had befallen Tulliyollal, and their experiences through Heritage Found. The Warrior of Light was hopeful that this supposed past companion of Gulool Ja Ja, might be able to provide them proper answers and valuable information.

"Queen Sphene..." Outrunner Cahciua sighed. "She truly cares for her people. However, she is ultimately a recorded memory injected into Alexandrian automatons. Judging by her personality, she truly would not wish war upon others or her own people. However, she is not truly free."

"The flickering," Y'shtola noted.

"Yes. The Preservation." Outrunner Cahciua bobbed her head. "They created Solution Nine. They created the electrope technology necessary for separating memories and soul from the lifestream. They are the true controllers of Alexandria. The Sphene you encounter-- whenever her thoughts strays towards going against the Preservation's commands, she gets, you could say, reset in a way."

"There may even be multiple versions of Queen Sphene with adjusted temperaments," she added. "Alexandrian history has it that she was originally lost in the war, but The Preservation somehow gathered her memories. It is even possible that some of those memories may have been meddled with."

Sphene is Sphene but not Sphene.

"Yet you don't seem affected," Alphinaud pointed out.

"Many thanks to Gulool Ja Ja and Galuf. Though it may not have been their intention, the Sharlayan mammets they sent in but weren't able to retrieve... Well, one of them was found by me when I was enveloped in the dome many years ago. The foreign components of the Sharlayan mammet allowed me to create the Outrunner, capable of functioning outside of the Preservations' purview."

The Warrior of Light took a quick glance at the other resistance members-- none wore any regulators.

As for the 'number of years', the party had already determined that around thirty years had passed, based on their conversations with the inhabitants they had encountered along the way.

"Then Sphene..." Wuk Lamat muttered in sorrow. "Can she be said to be truly alive?"

Cahciua paused, unsure as to how to answer this question. The others, too, had this question lingering in their minds.

"I suppose... for one to truly be alive, they need to be more than a collection of memories," Cahciua delicately expressed her viewpoint. "They need to not only be capable of thought but to reflect on experiences and learn, such that their perspective may change overtime. To grow as an individual."

"Yet their identity must still remain theirs," Zero interjected. She had mostly remained silent throughout the journey, meticulously examining any Alexandrian tech related to the souls along the way.

"Indeed," Outrunner Cahciua displayed a big joyous smile on its monitor.

"I come from the void. The thirteenth," Zero herself desired solutions. "A world where the cycle of the lifestream was broken. I came here, hoping to gain a better understanding of soul and memories. My world may yet be saved."

"So this dystopian existence of a society may still be of benefit to another..." Outrunner Cahciua turned to the other resistance members. "Provide her with all of our current understanding. It is unfortunate, but some critical details remain out of reach."

"Mother," Erenville's patience wore thin. "How have you been all these years? I..."

"Shush, my dear," Outrunner Cahciua placed a floating finger to its monitor. "We may meet in due time. Look at you, all grown up, having made so many lovely companions. Your mission alongside them is far more important, and demands your complete attention and focus. I am but a distraction-- I am safe, and will remain so, that I can assure you."