REPROGRAM

Chapter 2

Hope Estheim was a brilliant youth and the head of one of the world's most influential groups of scientists; the Academy. He was now seated in the comfortable privacy of his airship, grateful for the gloves that always adorned his fingers. They were the only barrier keeping him from chewing his nails.

Lightning Farron Estheim, his wife, had left for Bodhum for the week without giving him prior notice. Knowing that her decision was based on Hope's lack of attention to her set him in instant motion.

Of course it's easy to act without thinking about what you're going to do. Snow is living proof of that. Hope grimaced. It had been quite awhile since he visited Snow or Serah. After the honeymoon he had never looked back. Instead he became enthralled with his own world and tried desperately to sweep Lightning up with him.

His airship was a dark cozy place filled with maroons and deep browns. Hope chose the colors because his job was filled with light and it often strained his eyes. He already had to wear glasses if he ever wanted to read anything (a problem that he was certain he didn't have before).

His pilot was a very shy man that spoke very little- which suited the Director just fine. Often when he flew he had no desire to speak, his mind constantly working on a problem or recent disaster.

His wife enjoyed flying her own airship. There wasn't an ounce of shadow or comfort in that machine. She often stood when she flew and the large windows allowed left nothing to the imagination. Hope smiled, remembering those nights they went flying together in her airship. He always ended up dizzy and rather sick afterwards.

But Lightning? She was vibrant; her eyes ablaze as she pushed the large airship further and further into the clouds. Those times were the few times she actually laughed freely. Hope remembered how he felt watching her… how his heart swelled and he knew he wanted to always be there. He would vow to always be there.

But now he felt as if his words and actions never lined up, the two hadn't been flying together since there marriage. He leaned back onto the lushly cushioned black chair. He spotted his shy pilot glance back at him before quickly turning away. Hope averted his green eyes even the pilot knows something's up.

"Er…Director s-sir. D-destination arrival in five."

Hope said a small thank you, and closed his eyes. Whatever was going to happen would happen in five minutes.

New Bodhum was one the most developed settlements on Pulse. The people thrived, and not a second went by when laughter could not be heard. The instant that he stepped on the sand he felt immediately over-dressed.

It was incredibly hot! Hope was used to Cocoon and the absence of sun. His attire mirrored that. His close fitting jeans, jacket, and suit tie suddenly felt like a death sentence. Hope groaned immediately removing his thick black gloves.

"Director…permission to return to Cocoon?" His pilot had already lifted the airship into the sky allowing the engine to idle. Hope replied by waving him on towards the direction of Cocoon. As his ship became smaller and smaller in the distance Hope took out his com device.

"Alyssa I've arrived safely I don't expect to return until early tomorrow…" He paused a small smile growing on his lips "…and my pilot seems a little high-strung. Arrange for another to retrieve me tomorrow morning and give Rae a day off."

There was some static before an annoyed reply came through "Director I am a brilliant scientist! Not some lap dog! I will inform Clarissa our clerk of your requests!"

Hope smiled before shaking his head and brought the communication device to his lips. "I apologize. You are correct Alyssa, thank you for informing Clarissa."

"You're damn right I'm correct A…"

Hope quickly turned of his device before Alyssa said something reckless. He grimaced at how difficult it was to maneuver in the sand in his shoes. However, this was not about his comfort. This was about Lightning.

"Hope! Do my eyes deceive me?" Hope couldn't hide the grin that came to his lips when Snow opened the door to the single-floor beach home. The big man looked even bigger with the absence of his black bandana. His hair was wildly spiked and seemed to be desperately trying to touch the door frame.

He wore a quarter sleeve red shirt that looked as if he ripped it to make the v-neck plunge lower. His black pants were the same and he still sported huge black boots that Hope couldn't even fathom walking through sand in.

"It's good to see you Snow may I come in?"

Snow laughed heartily his blue eyes sparkling. "Of course Hope! You don't have to use that "Director" charm on me." Snow moved out of the door way and motioned the smaller man in. The interior was all rich woods light pinks, reds and creams. Overall it seemed more like a base of operations rather than a home for two married people.

Hope frowned at the surroundings, feeling a twinge of anger and outrage on Serah's behalf. The pictures of the two were always accompanied with the NORA gang. There were weapons and guns littering the kitchen table, and the home held no smell of a meal ever being cooked.

"Serah is at work but Lightning should be in the back room."

Hope nodded his attention immediately going to the back room where a soft pink glow was emanating. "Did she tell you why she was visiting?" Hope asked, feeling a bit of dread in the pit of his stomach.

Snow shrugged "Serah's pregnant I guess the two wanted to spend some time together." The big man laughed a rippling laugh. "You've been keeping sis pretty busy. They haven't really gotten a chance to see each other."

Hope frowned processing the information as quickly as he could. Yes I heard Serah was pregnant. Light told me about a month ago; which makes me even more annoyed at how many tenants are in this house. Just what is Snow implying by keeping Lightning busy? Well yes I've kept her busy, but certainly not in such a way all the time. Hope blushed running his hand down his face. Why did he even care about Snows teasing anyway?

He suddenly felt guilty. I haven't seen him in so long I forgot the way he jokes. He could feel Snows gaze on him and he instantly looked up.

"Its good to see you Hope." The big man clasped his shoulder. "Started to think for a while you forgot about us."

I am insufferable. Hope smiled weakly. "I would never forget my family, Snow." this earned a smile from the big man. Hope smiled back, a slight weight lifting from his chest. "I want to talk more, but I need to speak with Light for a moment."

Snow nodded, heading for the door. "That's fine. I've got to meet the rest of NORA in Lebreau's bar we are hunting tonight. Lightning wants to come… you should too!"

Hope smirked. Judging by Snow's expression, his wife had not merely asked, she demanded to go hunting with NORA. "No I'm exhausted actually" Hope said softly. He looked up to see Snow's stricken face. The man obviously did not want to go hunting with the perfectionist Lightning Farron. Hope could actually hear Light criticizing every move Snow made and embarrassing him in front of his fellow NORA members.

He held his hand up stopping Snows protest, a laugh threatening to escape his lips "But I will ask Light to stay with me tonight. I've missed her after all."

Snows eyes brightened. He silently thanked Hope before speaking carefully, knowing Lightning to be only two rooms away. "Whatever you want Hope, but we will miss her expertise." With that, Snow waved and closed the door. Hope stood quietly in the kitchen looking at the front door. A tingle of nervousness ran up from his fingers all the way to his head.

His feet felt like lead as he made his way to the softly lit back room. He heard nothing; no sound of breath or even a rustle of sheets. He opted against knocking and instead quietly pushed opened the slightly ajar door. His hands shook on the knob and it was then that he realized again how sweltering it was in New Bodhum.

He cursed under his breath. His tie felt tighter than usual. Lightning sat at a small vanity nestled in the corner of the rather large room. She was staring blankly at herself a brush in her hand running through the slightly longer pink tresses gathered on her left shoulder.

She hadn't immediately noticed him enter the room, and he took the moment to admire her. She was probably the only woman in the world who kept a gunblade on her vanity with the few cosmetics she used to ready herself for the day.

What surprised him the most was her attire. She wore a light teal colored sundress. The dress was provocatively backless, showing off her smooth shoulder blades and curved spine. Hope frowned; a little annoyed that she would where something like that when he was unaware she even owned it.

The front split into a rather deep v-neck that brought warmth to his cheeks and also increased his annoyance. Lightning shifted a little in her chair her icy blue eyes turning upwards in the mirror as she noticed his frozen form standing behind her. She regarded him coldly before speaking.

"Serah should not have called you." She grabbed various buckles and belts and began strapping them on her upper thighs and arms.

Hope, noticing that the offensive dress was also short, held back the urge to stomp his foot and demand that she changed into her normal clothes. He averted his eyes "So you didn't want me to come?"

Lightning sighed. Having finished placing her various straps, she opened the drawer of the vanity and grabbed a large black pouch. She unzipped it and spread it flat on the vanity table. Various daggers all glistened dangerously in the sunlight that illuminated the room. Lightning calmly took out each dagger and began placing them in the leather sheaths connected to her thigh straps.

"You've been working hard, Hope. I didn't want to disturb you."

He could feel the danger in her voice. He took a few steps closer to her vanity. Lightning continued silently arming herself, her barefoot on top of the chair. Her back bent over as her hair spilled down her left side.

"Light…" He wanted to say something, but he didn't exactly know how to word it. He scratched his head, and then blushed realizing the childish motion. "I'm sorry."

Immediately Lightning stopped; her back straightening as she turned to face him. The hardness around her eyes softened slightly, her mouth parted and then closed. She reached out to run her hands down his shoulders to his fingers. She leaned her forehead to his before speaking. "It's not something you should apologize for… It's just something I need to learn how to deal with." Pulling back slowly, she gave him a hard look. "I will never be the one to hold you back, Hope."

It took Hope a few seconds to get over the shock of her truly believing that he ignoring her was something she should nobly deal with every day. Hope shook his head, his brows furrowing. "I never wanted you to think that this was something you were to become used to, Light. I asked you to marry me because I wanted to put you first. Not my work as Director…"

Lightning stiffened. "That's what you say, Hope. But the people need you. Your job will get no less demanding; no matter how much you wish for it."

"I am well aware of that." Does she really think I need a reminder? "But this project that I have been developing is not only to make the academy more efficient, but it will allow me to have some semblance of a normal life with you."

Lightning's eyes grew wary. "What are you talking about Hope?"

Hope took her hands and led her over to the large bed sitting them both down. "I'm talking about A.I. technology. A part-organic and part-mechanical being that can think for itself, but not just that, Light." His eyes were bright with excitement. "I've generated very delicate software that will allow me to express in this duplicate my own feelings and thought patterns. It will allow him to make decisions exactly the way that I would make them myself. He is the perfect assistant, file keeper, and objective thinker, that Cocoon or Pulse will have to offer."

Lightning frowned; the man sitting across from her would never cease to amaze her. Her brows furrowed, her mind trying to wrap itself around this concept. "So you have created another you?" Light asked, slightly uncomfortable with having another man around that looked, thought, and acted exactly like her husband.

Hope pursed his lips seeing her discomfort. "Well…more or less. But Light, it will be very easy for you tell the difference! Epo-H is simply a being created for work purposes. His feelings will only extend to work-related problems."

Lightning looked at her husband shaking her head before smiling she raked her fingers through his soft white hair. "I can't help but love your scientist babble," she said wryly. Hope grinned, a blush staining his cheeks when she lifted her chin silently asking for his kiss. He obliged, capturing her lips within in his own. His hands traced the curve of her jaw and down the line of her neck. He felt her smile against his lips.

He reluctantly pulled away. "Am I forgiven?"

Lightning said nothing for a moment. "Can you be sure that this duplicate of yours won't be dangerous?"

Hope gently trailed a hand over her lips "I give you my word."

She shook her head. "Then I suppose I should be worried."

Hope chuckled softly. "Trust me Light." His green eyes roved over her face down to the dress she wore. Amazingly, his annoyance returned. "I had no idea you even owned something like this. Perhaps you want to tell me where and when this purchase was made?"