Hope was initially sent by the Order of Radiance to Earth to search for the missing Archangel of Honor. Though many in Caelum suspected that Honor had been captured or killed by Cirogaan the Golden, the Order insisted on his return even if it was only his body.
Unfortunately for Hope, an affiliate of EXOSPHERE had detected his entry into the atmosphere and moved to capture him before he could begin his search. Hope was subjected to brutal, painful experiments in a secret laboratory connected to EXOSPHERE's weapons development research. Several of his limbs were replaced or mutilated with advanced cybernetic grafting; his body was altered almost beyond recognition. Before these installations and programming were complete, however, an unknown technological anomaly occurred in the lab which prematurely activated Hope, who now more closely resembled a robotic soldier than an angel. Hope was, of course, horrified by his new form and in his shock and agony killed everyone in the lab and by his now wildly unstable enhancements destroyed it.
After Hope fled the ruined facility, he collapsed on the nearby hillside as he was later found convulsing by a man who appeared to be hiking in the area, Hidetaka Shibuya. Hidetaka, who so pitied Hope in such a state, stayed with him until he was reasonably at ease and agreed to take him in. Hope was, at first, difficult to handle as he was prone to bouts of hysteria and rage. The operations that he had undergone had addled his brain; often he did not even recognize himself. Eventually, however, through Hidetaka's unyielding patience and compassion, Hope began to stabilize.
Hope had all but forgotten his purpose in coming to Earth in the first place.