The Broke Legacy: Gen 4.3 (Part 2)

[simgaroop]

Previous update: Gen 4.2.





Timmy grew up into a healthy and happy little boy.
But he wasn't the only one who celebrated his birthday that day.




Calvin and Hobbes, Andrew's twin aliens, also turned five that day.
So, we threw a very special party for the kids.




And of course, it was the perfect moment (and season) to inaugurate our new swimming pool.







The kids had a lot of fun that day.




But they weren't the only ones!
Sure, I was now a thirty-something mother of three, but that didn't mean I wasn't allowed to have fun.
I was still a master at video gaming and dreamed of becoming a designer soon! It'd be a blast!




Now that the kids were older, I finally had time to re-open my stylist business.




Not a moment too soon, though!
Honey, please forget about getting another perm!




Puck was also still young at heart.
He was a bit more serious than I, though.




He took his role as a father quite seriously.
He often had long talks with the kids and encouraged them to be good people.




A week after Timmy's birthday, we threw a surprise party for our parents.
It'd been 50 years since the day they first met, after all.




Everyone important for my parents were there.
My siblings and me, of course.
Tamara was so happy that night, because Demetrius had asked her to marry him just before he returned to Veronaville.
Puck and I found it hilarious that our little siblings were now together, and actually following our original plan.
Yup, Tamara and Demetrius would continue the Summerdream legacy back at Veronaville.
Natalia still had a quite strange relationship with someone named Candem. Mom was seriously worried about her, but Natalia often said that things were just fine and that she knew what she was doing.

Natalia was an odd one, indeed.




Other guests included Aunt Molly.




Who was still feeling a little down since the death of Uncle Andromeda.




And Uncle Icaro.




Who was still happily married to Aunt Kendra.

Uncle Henry died a couple months earlier.
It was a huge blow for my father, of course.
And also to me, because I admired him deeply.




Right in the middle of the party, Dad suddenly raised his glass and proposed a toast to my mother.
"For the best 50 years of my life. For showing me the importance of family and because I wouldn't be the man I am today without her.
I still remember the very first time we were together..."

_______________________________




"Are... are you really a human?"- I asked as I inspected her. It'd been so long since I'd seen a human, that for an instant I thought I was dreaming.
"I think I am one... most of the time I just feel like a rag doll..."
"Yes..."- I said, suddenly feeling stupid- "Of course you are. Only humans can cry... is something wrong? What are you doing here?"




"I really don't know... It's... it's been so long since I first arrived here. Sometimes I feel like just a ghost, trapped inside this room where nothing ever changes. But I know I left a life at my planet... and I'm terrified because I can't remember what it was. Perhaps my loved ones also forgot about me...."
"I'm so sorry. Do you remember your name?"
"My name is Bella Goth..."
"I'm Cosmo Broke, and I'm also from Earth. My father is a human, so I grew up there..."
"Did the aliens abduct you too?"
"No, I came here on my own will almost two years ago. But I sure miss my home planet..."




Bella asked me about Earth, and how things were now over there.
From what she barely remembered from her early years, it seemed like Bella was born around the same time as my Grandmother!
We spent a couple hours just talking and remembering.
For the first time in a long time, my human blood felt alive.
And Bella smiled for the first time in years and years.




88 was extremely upset when I finally came out from Bella's room.
"Are you out of your mind, 4367! What if the Captain had caught you?! Do you really want to ruin your future?!"




"Of course I don't want to ruin my future, that's why you'll help me, 88!"
"What?!"
"That poor woman is all alone inside that room... and it seems she's been like that for a really long time. What she needs the most is a friend, so I promised I'd visit her again."
"Forget it! I won't help you with that non-sense!"




"Perhaps you want to ruin your future, but I've worked so hard to reach the spot I'm in right now! You have no idea how difficult it is to be chosen to be on a mission like this one. Being a P.T. is the biggest honor in our culture. We are the ones in charge of saving our race, after all!"




"And if you want to be a great P.T., you need to learn a lot about the human race. And if you help me and promise to keep my friendship with Bella as a secret, I'll teach you everything I know about Earth!"




The offer was too tempting for 88. I knew that deep inside, she was as curious as me.
She accepted.




For the next year, I taught her everything I knew about the human traditions. From the education system to our alimentation, 88 soon became an expert.
The P.T.'s were impressed, they thought that she'd been studying the human books non-stop.




88 fulfilled her promise too.
When the P.T.'s locked themselves inside their offices, she opened the white door for me.
She was deeply scared about being caught, but I was way too careful for that.
I only visited Bella once or twice a month, and our reunions were always special.
She lend me the human books that the Graslaxian had bought for her during their visits to Earth.
I almost... felt normal by her side. Her small, pink room smelled like home.
"Bella?"- I said once- "I'm afraid I'll eventually forget about my life as a human... I... I can't remember my father's voice anymore and..."




"What? Of course you won't Cosmo! No matter what the people inside this ship say, you'll always be Cosmo Broke. Don't let them turn you into just another number in their society. I... I won't allow it!"




"Anytime you feel like losing your former identity, just visit me. I'll be happy to remind you of how sweet you are.
It's been so long since I last felt anything for anyone and... thanks to you... I don't feel like a mere doll anymore..."




"I... thanks Bella..."
Bella helped me so much during my years inside the Graslaxian space ship.
She was a like a fresh breath of air among the artificial environment I was living in.
I was able to keep my human side and my memories intact...




"And for that, I'll always be grateful to you, my sweet Bella..."

___________________________________




Time went by.
The videogame company offered me a spot as a real time strategist, but first I had to study some computer programming terms.
Awww.... those books were SO boring!






I spent several nights with my nose between those books, so Puck was the one in charge of tucking the kids in their beds.
Not that he minded, of course.
Helena was so active, that she constantly had sleeping disorders.




Puck stood by her side every night, until she fell asleep.




One night, she found an old, green doll in Helena's room.
"Do you know what this is?"




"Of course! My mother, Lilith, made it for Molly and Icaro when they were toddlers... so they wouldn't forget about me..."




"You mean during your time at the space ship? The kids love your stories... Too bad I barely remember what happened when I was abducted."
"I think it's a good thing that you don't remember anymore, Puck. I wasn't allowed to be part of those procedures, but from the screams that I still remember, it's not pleasant at all..."
"Anyway, I'm so glad you are almost finished with your memoirs, Mr. Broke. I'm sure the kids will love reading about your adventures..."




Dad's memories, "A Green Point of View", were published the following month.
It became a hit among the kids at Strangetown.




As soon as they learned to read, the girls read the book to Timmy.
My kids felt so lucky to have the author right at home, for they constantly asked questions to poor Dad.




"So tell me, Grandpa! How was Graslax?"




"Well, Timmy... Graslax is an impressive planet... at least from the space ship..."

______________________________




"What do you mean?"
"Well... I never made it to the Graslaxian surface..."

Three years after I left Earth, I could barely believe what I had in front of me.




It was Graslax, my home right at the other side of the Galaxy.
A bright red planet, where the last few members of our race still resided.
The planet was dying, though. Constant toxic wars had polluted our air, making it almost un-breathable.
There was few oxygen in the atmosphere, so only a few Graslaxians were allowed in the surface at a time.
But the Council knew that the reserves were almost gone, and that's why the Elite Forces were looking for new planets to inhabitate and reproduce at.
"As soon as the Council allows us to land, I'll take you to our Queen, 4367. She's gonna be impressed by your intelligence, I'm sure of that!"




88 helped me get ready for that special meeting. When I saw my reflection after she was done, I could barely see the human in me.
If it weren't for Bella's teachings and friendship, I'd have already forgotten how it was to laugh and cry.




"Very impressive. 88 did a great job hiding your genetic imperfections. I'm sure you'll adapt just fine to the Graslaxian Academy."
"Graslaxian Academy?"
"The most important school for Pollination Technicians of course. 88 studied there, and so did the rest of us. You'll get an excellent training before you are allowed to be part of a Pollinating mission."




"Uh... how long?"
"Not too long, just a couple hundred lunar months. No big deal..."
"But then... I'll be allowed to return to your spaceship, right?"
"Oh please! Of course you won't! But you won't miss this place, I guarantee that!"




I tried so hard to hide my terror and disappointment as I listened to 56 words.
Did that mean that I wouldn't see Bella ever again? My best friend... my mentor... gone forever.
Along with the very last piece of my human soul.
I didn't want to become a cold P.T.! I wanted to be human! To laugh with Bella! To hug her! To... love her..."




"Are you listening, 4367?
"I'm sorry, Captain."
"It's normal. I'm sure you are excited about your future, right? Anyway, as I said, we expect to be authorized to land in a couple weeks so, why don't you train a little under 101's advice?"






101 let me use the Surgical Training Station and tried to guide me through my first simulated pollination procedure.
But I was so distracted with my imminent separation from Bella that I just... blown it.
"I see that something's in your mind, Cosmo"- she said, surprising me as she used my human name- "Whatever it is... just... follow what your heart says."
"Isn't that a strange bit of advice, coming from a P.T?"
"Perhaps... but I'm not regular P.T., Cosmo. Just like you aren't a regular Graslaxian. I'm sure you'll make our race proud, but not as a P.T. I wish you the best of luck..."
"Thank you, 101."
"Just call me Lola..."




Once the P.T.'s were back in their offices, I went to Bella's room.
"Bella, they want to send me to Graslax to become a P.T.... I... I don't want to get separated from you..."




"Please! Come with me!"- I said as I hugged her tightly- "There has to be something we can do to escape!"
But Bella wasn't able to respond anything else, for in that moment, P.T. 56 entered our room.




And for someone usually inexpressive, he was really angry.

_______________________________________




- "Oh, Grandpa... Did that 56 guy really got angry at you?"




- "Angry? He was beyond furious! I was afraid he'd kill us both right then and there!"
- "And what happened?"
- "Well, I was expelled from the mission. 56 said that he wouldn't allow me to bring more dishonor to his genes. He said that I was a huge mistake when he practiced Dad's pollination as a cadet, and that he hoped I'd be able to redeem his errors. I never made it to the Graslaxian surface and the Council. The following day I was placed on a delivery ship and sent back to Earth..."
- "And what about you, Grandma?"
- "We can talk about that after you return from school, kids. You are going to be late!"




That morning, the kids left for school.
Puck and I went to our respective jobs and Dad went to the studio to talk to his publisher.




And Mom... she had her second and final encounter with the Grim Reaper.




"Are you ready to go, Bella Bachelor? This time, your husband won't be able to bring you back from the Great Beyond..."
"He won't even try it. He knows that I've already done everything I was meant to do on Earth. I got my second chance now and I know my family will be happy for now on. Let's go..."




"I'll miss you Cosmo... take good care of youself. I'll be waiting for you... just like I did so many years ago..."




When Dad left the studio, he looked for Mom everywhere.
"Bella?"




"Bella? Where are... Oh my Goodness! No! Bella! No!"





And the only thing he found in the hall, were my Mother's remains.
Along with his broken heart.

_________________________




We buried Mom that night.













Her death was so sudden, that we only had time to call Andrew.
Natalia and Tamara were now living far from Strangetown, so they couldn't make it on time.
We were all crushed by her death...
And Dad looked older than ever.




Dad was barely able to talk during her funeral.
It was as if... he'd lost part of his soul.
But life went on and pretty soon we went back to the house to try to continue with our lives...

____________________________




- "Oh Bella..."




"Hey Bella! 56 is sending me back to Earth tomorrow! 88 said she can help you escape with me! There's an internal duct that we can use and..."
"Cosmo..."




"Come with me, Bella! We can start a new life together! It doesn't matter if it's on Earth or not! Come with me!"




"No, Cosmo. I don't want you to be in danger... and I don't want 88 to get in more trouble or to ruin her future... it's already bad enough that she was expelled from her P.T. training..."




"But Bella... if you don't come with me right now... we won't see each other again! I don't want to lose you!"




"And you'll never will. As long as we remember each other, I'll always live inside your heart..."




"No matter what happens, no matter the distance or time... we'll always be together. We'll see each other again, Cosmo, I promise..."




- "You were so right, Bella. Now I know that we'll see each other again..."




- "I love you, Bella. Please wait for me..."




________________________________________
Notes:

- First, here are the stats from the Gen 4 kids:













- Another GIGA update. Which is surprising considering that nothing happened in this update. It was just a series of birthdays that I had to spice with something, because I was seriously bored when I wrote this entry. Thanks to the lovely suggestions from the people at legacy_writers, I got the idea to finally include Cosmo's memories in the story.

- The ship was easier to do than I expected. It's just a huge octagonal room, with a small room attached (as Bella's room). Of course, I cloned Lola, Cosmo and Bella from SimPe and used the P.T.'s from the lovely Multiple Pollination Technicians Mod by fwiffo. The space ship is located at Riverblossom Hills (aka the hood where I dump all my weird photoshoots).

Here's the link for the P.T. Mod:

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=71852

- Most of the machinery of the Spaceship are both career rewards (which I got from the unlockcareerrewards cheat) and the awesome objects from Xanathon (at MTS2). Not only do his/her objects look good in pictures, they are also animated and look great in the game.

http://forums.modthesims2.com/member/download.php?f=385&page=2&u=9069&showType=2&showAll=1

- You'll see this ship again! :)

- I guess that this chapter finally closes Cosmo's storyline. He's currently a few days away from dead... perhaps I'll keep him alive a bit longer with the Elixir, because I'd like him to be present for the following plot points I have already planned for this Generation. It's time to focus on Gen 4, after all!

- Thank you so much for reading!

- See you next time!

Edit because I fail: I'd like to thank simrenity for her help with my Photoshop issues. My pictures now have borders! :)

Also, I made a small Halloween photoshoot with the Gen 4 kids in. Check it out over here!

http://simgaroop.livejournal.com/11669.html#cutid1

Comments

[yep-i-am-dennis.livejournal.com]

Aww! The ending had me all choked up.

[hidden-kitten.livejournal.com]

I love that pic of Helena for her stats, it's adorable.
Great stuff, I wish I could do this type of story, but I'm an unimaginative troll...:/

[(Anonymous)]

You are SO my favorite poster! Thanks!

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

All the generation four kids are adorable.

My heart sunk when Bella died. Bella and Cosmo were so adorable, she also made the cutest kids EVER.

I KNEW Natalia was with Camden! That is just amazing, are you going to incorporate him and Natalia in the story? It would be hilarious to explain Camden's whore-ish ways.

I love Cosmo's Memoir. I missed seeing Cosmo as a teen. Lola Singles is P.T. 101, right?

[senzastelle.livejournal.com]

This (http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc154/brokelegacy/Broke/Gen43/127.jpg) photo made me laugh for a bit. She looks really hilarious in the air. haha!

AW! Cosmo and Bella are so adorable.

Lola Singles? Cool!

Oh Bella. I'm listening to an emotional song right now and Bella's death is even sadder. Poor Cosmo! I actually feel like crying right now! That photo of Bella's ghost waving at Cosmo... =(

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

And they make the best faces when going down the slide! It's hilarious! :D

Thank you for the default eyes :). Most of the pics were old, so you can't really see them in action most of the update.

But, starting from the "breakfast scene" near the end, those are already your eyes at work. And you can see them clearly in Timmy's stats pics. They look awesome, and I really appreciate your help.

[miaomiaochan.livejournal.com]

Cosmo's memory sequence fit perfectly...and made the ending that much more poignant :(. Poor Cosmo...

[sweetblasfemy.livejournal.com]

you are such a great writer! i enjoyed reading your story. please continue, i can't wait.

[spud14.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Bella and Cosmo. This legacy is completely awesome.

AND I AM ENVIOUS OF WANDA'S HAIR LIKE ALL THE TIME OH MY GOD.

*kisses you*

[sharonq.livejournal.com]

I loved reading this latest update and can't wait for the next part.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Oh, Bella's death made me sad. I got choked up too. But I love the memoir storyline interspersed with the goings on. Now if only the comic For Better or For Worse did better flashback scenes...

Poor Cosmo. Thanks. This was a nice addition to my Saturday.

[fireflowersims.livejournal.com]

*bawls* Oh, Cosmo! I was so sad when Bella died- I really wasn't expecting it at all. Getting to see more of the flashbacks, and finding out why he came back to Earth, was really interesting. I love the ship's sets, too. I definitely need to get ahold of those objects... I can't wait for the next update!

[washable.livejournal.com]

Awwww! I feel so bad for Cosmo.

What is going to happen with the cousin that Puck had a one-night stand with? Is she going to cause some trouble?

[28balloons.livejournal.com]

Poor Cosmo! He is seriously one of my favourite legacy characters of all time. I'm really happy you included his memories!

Great job -- I can't wait for more!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Hey, I came over to check out your journal after you left me a comment on my story post, and I'm glad I did. This is really interesting! I don't usually read legacies, but yours has much more to offer. It's a real story format, which I like. And it has alien babies! *grin* The cuteness, it is too much...

Cosmo is so cute. I just love his eye makeup. Now I'll have to backtrack, so I can understand the whole story.

Would you mind if I added you as a friend? I'd like to keep up with the story.

[tori-santa.livejournal.com]

D: I have never cried while reading a legacy before. But I just went from "never cried" to "BAWLED when Bella died".

What can I say, I'm a softy.

[aryssabrooke.livejournal.com]

Awww. Great update. One question? Why did the Grim refer to Bella as Bella Bachelor?

[simgaroop.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's because her single name is Bella Bachelor. I wasn't sure if it was correct for the Grim to call her Bella Goth or Bella Broke, so I went with her single lastname.

She's Michael Bachelor's sister, after all ^^.

[aryssabrooke.livejournal.com]

You know. You learn something new every day. I had no idea that was her maiden name, or that she was Michael Bachelor's brother.

[blackrosesredxo.livejournal.com]

Because I was this sad when Bella died- when Cosmo goes.......Best legacy sim I have ever come across!

So let me guess- Timmy is heir isnt he? The icon is a give away =D

[oke-cokey.livejournal.com]

I'm not gonna be able to stand it when Cosmo dies. Not after how awful I feel now over Bella. This legacy is just so awesome it's addictive.

[amethyststeam.livejournal.com]

Aww, the kids were so sweet during this update, and though it may have been a lot of birthdays and deaths, it was really lovely. :)

You're a master at storytelling and I definitely really enjoyed this update as I have done all of the others. ^^

And the end to Cosmo's memories and the way you connected them with the present story was just so incredibly sweet. :3

Beautiful update, and I'm waiting eagerly for more. =)

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Wow. I actually teared up at the end. The switches and parallels between young and old Cosmo and Bella was like something out of a movie! Absolutely beautiful. I'm always stunned by how amazing this legacy is!

[simmster.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor Cosmo! My heart broke for him at the end there. Awesome update!

[(Anonymous)]

Hi remember me? the one who asked you did all this stuff happen in your game? well.... I'am back I wanted to ask you two questions you do know that the Bella Goth Cosmo married was the Strangetown Bella right? because I saw her in Strangetown myself, but the real on is still in Pleasantview It's just that, you know that hot air balloon in Pleasantview? yep... If you look closely you'll see the real Bella. And this was a great update and that I have always wanted to know where you got the Green Plushie Toy from?

[ladydragonair.livejournal.com]

A friend pointed me here so I am reading your stuff. Great flashbacks and I was sad to see Bella pass away.

[(Anonymous)]

I cried.