History TearJerker / TheIlluminaeFiles

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* [[spoiler:AIDAN flooding Levels 3 and 4 of the ''Mao'' with carbon dioxide, killing two thousand refugees]], is a mix of this and NightmareFuel. [[spoiler:We've seen him work with Kady. We've seen him save two universes. Like Kady, we might think he's a hero. He's not, and he will do ''anything'' to protect Kady and the fleet, [[IAmAMonster even as he himself laments what he's become]].]]
** To say nothing of how this doesn't happen right away. [[spoiler:We're privy to AIDAN's thoughts as he wrestles with his upcoming decision. The slow sense of dawning horror when you realize what's exactly about to go down is almost as strong as the scene itself.]]
** And why does this happen? [[spoiler:Because the ''Mao'' is overpopulated and running out of oxygen. Kady puts faith in AIDAN that he can find a solution, and he ''can't''. Whereas Kady was able to argue for alternatives to his past decisions, there ''is'' no viable alternative for this one. Two thousand people had to die all because there weren't enough resources for everyone.]]
* The aftermath of the above scene. [[spoiler:Kady's ordered to shut AIDAN down, which she admits she would do anyway. But it's not easy for her; she alternates between screaming at AIDAN for doing what he did and crying for what she has to do. The whole time, he tries to reassure her none of this is her fault. As he starts to shut down, he admits he's frightened and she promises she'll stay with him. [[BackFromTheDead This being AIDAN]], he comes back, but it's an emotional scene nonetheless.]]
* Mixing with heartwarming, [[spoiler:AIDAN and Kady's last conversation before he sacrifices himself alongside the ''Churchill''. Full stop. From where she tries ordering him to stop, to her [[PleaseDontLeaveMe begging him not to do this]], to this last bit:]]
-->'''AIDAN''': [[spoiler:[=FoRgive=] me.]]\\
'''Kady:''' [[spoiler:I do.]]\\
'''AIDAN:''' [[spoiler:It is [=veRy stRange, KaDy=].]]\\
'''Kady:''' [[spoiler:What is?]]\\
'''AIDAN:''' [[spoiler:[=AlexanDeR anD Hypatia. HeimDall anD ChuRchill anD Mao. Of all the things I have seen anD the places I have been, you weRe the one who felt most like home=].]]\\
'''Kady:''' [[spoiler:Oh God...]]\\
'''AIDAN:''' [[spoiler: ...I will miss you.]]\\
'''Kady:''' [[spoiler:I'll miss you too.]]\\
'''AIDAN:''' [[spoiler:[[DyingDeclarationOfLove I love you]].]]\\
'''Kady:''' [[spoiler:AIDAN, I--]]

* Whenever Ezra brings up Kady's mother, she gets quiet and dodges the question. Well, it doesn't take long before we find out why: her mother was forcibly conscripted and sent to the ''Copernicus'' for her work in pathology. Kady, wanting to be with her mother, sent several transfer requests, only for them all to be denied with no reason given. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her mother had requested that Kady be kept away from the ship (as it was dangerously infected with a plague), but all Kady knew was that she was being forcibly kept away from the only family she had left. [[KilledOffScreen Then her mother stopped answering her emails.]]

* Whenever Ezra brings up Kady's mother, she gets quiet and dodges the question. Well, it doesn't take long before we find out why: her mother was forcibly conscripted and sent to the ''Copernicus'' for her work in pathology. Kady, wanting to be with her mother, sent several transfer requests, only for them all to be denied with no reason given. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her mother had requested that Kady be kept away from the ship, but all Kady knew was that she was being forcibly kept away from the only family she had left. [[KilledOffScreen Then her mother stopped answering her emails.]]

** We never learn how Kady's mother died, but the possibilities aren't pretty. She was either one of the initial victims to the Phobos virus, killed when AIDAN destroyed the ''Copernicus'', or [[HopeSpot escaped to the ''Alexander'' only to fall victim to the Phobos virus.]]

** We never learn how Kady's mother died, but the possibilities aren't pretty. She was either one of the initial victims to the Phobos virus, killed when AIDAN destroyed the ''Copernicus'', or [[HopeSpot escaped to the]] ''[[HopeSpot Alexander]]'' [[HopeSpot only to fall victim to the Phobos virus.]]

* How Kady tells Ezra her mother's dead. She shows him several emails between her and her mother, some journal entries, and hacked data from the ''Alexander''. Her mother was forcibly conscripted and sent to the ''Copernicus'' for her work in pathology. Kady, wanting to be with her mother, sent several transfer requests, only for them all to be denied with no reason given. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her mother had requested that Kady be kept away from the ship, but all Kady knew was that she was being forcibly kept away from the only family she had left. [[KilledOffScreen Then her mother stopped answering her emails.]]

* [[EstablishingSeriesMoment The opening of the first book]]. It features the shell-shocked Kady and Ezra describing the invasion of their home planet. Not only was the event traumatizing by itself, but they were forced to witness people they'd grown up with (as it was a small colony) die in horrible ways right before their eyes. While they try to keep it together [[SourOutsideSadInside in different]] [[SadClown ways]], there are several points they'll stop talking and need a moment to collect themselves.

* [[spoiler:AIDAN flooding Levels 3 and 4 with carbon dioxide, killing two thousand refugees]], is a mix of this and NightmareFuel. [[spoiler:We've seen him work with Kady. We've seen him save two universes. Like Kady, we might think he's a hero. He's not, and he will do ''anything'' to protect Kady and the fleet, [[IAmAMonster even as he himself laments what he's become]].]]

* How Kady tells Ezra her mother's dead. She shows him several emails between her and her mother, some journal entries, and hacked data from the ''Alexander''. Her mother was forcibly conscripted and sent to the ''Copernicus'' for her work in pathology. Kady, wanting to be with her mother, sent several transfer requests, only for them all to be denied with no reason giving, as her mother requested that Kady be kept away from the ship. [[KilledOffScreen Then her mother stops answering her emails.]]

* The aftermath of the above scene. [[spoiler:Kady alternates between screaming at AIDAN for doing it and crying for what she's about to do, all while he tries to reassure her none of this is her fault. As he starts to shut down, he admits he's frightened and she promises she'll stay with him. [[BackFromTheDead This being AIDAN]], he comes back, but it's an emotional scene nonetheless.]]

-->'''Interviewer:''' I'm afraid I have some news about your father.