Author Note: Ah… who hasn't shown up yet so far in this story? Jecra… Garlude… they're here. :3
I hate to say, but Meta Knight kind of acts like a Mary Sue. Probably not the best inspiration for fan characters…
X—X—X
-Chapter XI: Unknown Warrior-
The Star Warrior council was silent. Representing, amongst the hundreds of the GSA's elite infantry, were warriors of all races. Some of the races were seated in an entire section of seats, others by only one or two members. They sat rigidly tall, arrogant chins raised, and sharp eyes gazing out in space. Their auras boiled, clashing with neighboring members, although neither would turn to look at the other or talk. Here, in this chamber at the GSA headquarters, was a roomful of the universe's greatest and legendry lone-wolf fighters stuck side-by-side waiting for the messenger to return and for the meeting to commence.
Lady Garlude was seated above the rest of the tiered members at the head table with the council's other administrators. She served as the council's head, being a royal member of her home planet and Free Galaxies Confederacy. Her crown's sapphire gleamed under the council room's spotlights. Despite occasional glances on her face from those seated below, her eyes did not shift from the main doors.
Finally, the messenger returned, only to hand a small disk to a waiting Star Warrior before exiting. The Star Warrior was of Garlude's race and he cleared his throat to speak.
"The news about Mekkai has reached just about every regiment at this point in time, and we've all been celebrating for the last few days. I don't believe that I'm telling anyone this for the first time that the NME base was overtaken. What you may not know is the finer details… that one of the soldiers that destroyed the delivery machine was a previously unidentified Star Warrior…"
He walked up to the room's central projector and inserted the disk. Eyes flickered to the large holographic image of a dark blue Popstarian wearing a V-slit mask. Garlude leaned in with a little more interest, trying to decide the expression in the mysterious Star Warrior's eyes. They didn't reveal.
"… there is absolutely no background information anywhere in the files under the Free Galaxies Confederacy. Witnesses at Mekkai saw him unleash a sword beam, which destroyed the delivery machine there and secured our victory."
"So? Invite him to the council." One of the other administrators at Garlude's table tiredly said. "What's the need to call an entire meeting for just one soldier?"
"A moment, please. I just want to state it now that I think it is important to us in this council as we try to make decisions based around us Star Warriors, that we have tabs on each and every one of us. I looked deeper into base reports and—"
"That's classified information. Even we do not have authority to read those." Another administrator called out.
"I believe that under special circumstances, yes, we have all the authority to read private logs, again when it concerns Star Warriors, this information should be brought to us."
"Carry on."
"This man, named Meta, no last name, has been training in the regular troops under Regiment Fifty-Four. Reports from the regiment leader, Kit Cosmos, state that he was misplaced in second year, but showed great aptitude to learn the basic combat moves, survival and fighting techniques, everything within a shorter period of time. That is not what I am concerned about. What I don't understand is how a Star Warrior wouldn't have known how to handle a sword. Each and every one of us has known how to use weaponry since birth. And it seems to me that he discovered Sword Beam on accident."
All the debate that had built up as he spoke fell to stunned silence.
"Preposterous! No Star Warrior just stumbles upon techniques. He must have gone undercover to fight in the regular regiments."
"Many of the details say otherwise," the speaker answered. "He used Sword Beam for the first time, and wasn't even able to control it well enough. I swear, I don't understand the new generation Star Warriors… now they no longer have our techniques in their blood…"
"He's not that young though. Look at him! He can't possibly be any younger than our newest members…"
"What about the sustainability of Star Warriors? If every Star Warrior was like this, the free universe would be instantly lost to NME! It is because we can fight from the day we are born to the day we die that the universe continues to have light!"
"I demand that we interrogate him! What if he's a spy? There's no way he can be a real Star Warrior."
"He is a Star Warrior." Said a single voice.
Garlude turned to the voice in surprise. It was the Duke. The other popstarian Star Warriors seated around him were just as shocked. Without having to raise his voice much or stand up, the Duke had everyone's attention. Garlude sat back, holding her hands together at her table.
"Duke Galacta? Have you met this warrior?" She asked.
"Yes, I have." Came the short reply.
"Can you confirm that he really is…"
"He's a Star Warrior. I have no doubts. I sensed his aura… it's just… different."
"Different?"
"Duke, you have a very strange aura, yourself." Someone else cut in before the popstarian could reply. "Do you mean like yours?"
"Let him finish." Garlude said, noting the Duke's suppressed annoyance.
"Instead of debating about him, why don't we just invite this Meta to our next invitational? See for yourselves what his aura feels like."
"Lady Garlude? Do you object to this?"
She took a long pause.
"No. Let us invite him. I agree with the Duke."
Toward the back of the room, one Star Warrior stood in the doorway with his arms crossed. Jecra combed back his gold hair out of his face. He was among the original members of the council alongside Garlude. He had seen the council become increasingly tighter and prone to long, wasteful arguments over the years. The Popstarian Star Warrior, without a past or identity, equally intrigued him. Only one thought bothered him.
Why are they trying to stop him from joining us if he doesn't know any of our techniques… odd as it is… can't we just… teach him?
Jecra's gaze followed the faces of those arguing before he returned it to Garlude. She was leaning over her table, slowly coiling a long strand of soft purple hair in thought as she studied the hologram. He knew her well. She did not idly play with her hair unless she was troubled.
Garlude… I know that you're thinking the same thing…
He left the council room, deciding that he was going to see this Star Warrior for himself and make his own opinions.
The shadows stirred. On the road, a lone figure strolled past the dark shacks, carrying a lantern and a bundle of scrolls tucked under his arm. Yamikage watched him. He had been following Yoshiro for quite some time.
Yoshiro patrolled the last stretch of road before entering the main pagoda. He took off his sandals and set them outside by a large pool of rainwater. They would never be worn again. He set the scrolls down in the library and settled down to study. For several hours, he sat cross-legged reading the manuscripts thoughtfully. At some point, he absentmindedly looked up, following a faint sound. He found nothing, however, and returned to the dusty writings.
The shadows were Yamikage's name and being.
Yoshiro was busy searching the remnants of their lost society's archives for anything he could transcribe. Uniting several clans of ninjas with long history as enemies, as well as the samurai, under a single force was still the main problem they faced, but necessary to fix. At this time, only the wise words of their ancestors might calm the storm between them, he reasoned.
Then a sound. He heard it.
Yoshiro leapt back, upsetting the inkwell and scrolls. A shruiken was lodged in the wall where he had just sat. The tips were stained with poison. Several more were thrown. He drew his staff and deflected each of them. As they clattered away, Yamikage appeared, holding a dagger.
"Yamikage!" He gasped. "What's the meaning of this?!"
He did not answer. Instead, Yamikage rushed toward him, dagger ready to kill. Yoshiro traced his movements and dodged the swipes of the blade. Just as he felt the wall at his back, Yoshiro grabbed Yamikage's arm and swung him against it, knocking the weapon out of his hand.
"Answer me!"
Yamikage kicked the older ninja off of him and distanced himself in a single leap away. He did not have any other weapons, and his dagger lay behind Yoshiro under the pile of scrolls.
"… I've been thinking a little more, after what you and Brother Takashi were talking about the other night… I see everything now…"
"No… no. Yamikage… don't tell me…"
"Sir Arthur let our people die… and now we stand begging before the GSA for their rations and supplies?"
"That's Takashi's wrongful thinking. Yamikage! Listen to me! The GSA has nothing to do with our people's fall. NME is the one who has killed our people. Nothing changes that!"
"Yes, NME was our one and only enemy… but letting us fight NME alone? Nothing changes that the only reason why our clan has been reduced to seventeen of us is because the GSA didn't CHOOSE to help us when they had every chance and reason to do so."
"Yamikage—"
"This is an embarrassment for our people to live like this! Shameful to our ancestors! The GSA did not give us this planet to help us rebuild. This is to degrade us! I couldn't describe how I felt about this place when I first came here to this dirty pit. I understand everything perfectly now. We can't join the GSA under the regular units because they believe us to be savages."
"Yamikage. You're blaming the ally for what the enemy has done to us."
"At least NME never discriminated who they conquered…"
Yamikage moved to retrieve the dagger to be stopped again as Yoshiro spun his staff, blocking him.
"Come to your senses, Yamikage. Forget this and rest. It's late."
Yamikage shook his head, laughing dryly.
"Ha ha ha… Brother Takashi sent me here to eliminate the only thing standing in the way of our people uniting against the GSA. He knew you wouldn't agree with us. We already have a large following. And with you out of the way, we can fight back. Talking peacefully gets nothing heard and nothing done…"
Yamikage prepared his stance. Yoshiro was ready to defend himself. The dagger… he had to get rid of it. He forced his gaze to focus on the younger ninja's movements as Yamikage began to approach, instead of the dagger lying under the scrolls. Neither blinked.
Yamikage made his move. He came flying directly toward Yoshiro. His strength was by far greater than the old master's and he slammed him against the wall. Yoshiro swept the dagger away with a sweep of his staff. The blade spiraled away. Yamikage ducked under as the staff sliced at the air above him. His eyes looked down at the table with the scrolls and he threw it toward Yoshiro. The older ninja blocked the barreling mass with his staff and watched Yamikage jump off the top of the table over head. The younger ninja kicked the blade up and snatched the dagger from the air.
Yamikage circled Yoshiro. Any second, any blink away; the dagger could be stabbed into his heart. Their muscles twitched, anticipating the second the other would move. Trying to talk them out of the fight wasn't going to distract Yamikage anymore…
Yoshiro fled, escaping out the window and into the rain. Standing on the rooftop, he scanned for a way down.
Yamikage melted into the shadows. Yoshiro's vision was poor. Without the light from inside, he barely could distinguish the flash of movement from the rain. Suddenly, Yamikage emerged and dove forward with the dagger in hand. He missed Yoshiro when the older ninja sidestepped. Yamikage growled and was moving to take another swipe when his footing slipped on the wet rooftop. He slid down, knocking the shingles off and took a leap off on to the balcony below.
Yoshiro ran with Yamikage close in pursuit, running down the hall below him. The rest of the base was asleep. No one would be able to hear an old man, already gasping for breath, shout.
Yamikage got to the end first and suddenly appeared over the edge. The dagger swung. Both of them fell, sliding off the roof and on to the path surrounding the pagoda. Yoshiro's arm shook as he held the dagger away from him. He couldn't hold out. Yamikage was stronger.
Then he felt a sharp pain in his chest and when Yamikage stepped away, he looked down to see the dagger's blade gleaming red. He couldn't stand. His legs collapsed under him. He couldn't find air. He gasped as he stared up at Yamikage.
"Ya… Yamikage… why? W… what are you doing… to your… p… people?"
"There is only one way for us to continue, and that is fighting back the GSA. They wish to destroy us. They can fight the war without us…"
Yoshiro coughed out the blood pooling in his lungs. His heart burned from the poison…
"No… no one w… will ever agree with… you… they will remember the reason that we continue to fight NME…"
"Brother Takashi already has convinced the samurai. It won't take much to get the rest of our people to see…"
Yoshiro could no longer reply.
"Goodbye. I have errands to run."
Meta wrote a letter home for the first time since arriving to the regiment camp. He had not meant to wait this long to let Kamira know he was still alive. He desperately wanted to know how she and Wolfwrath were doing.
"Careful what you write, though. All the letters have to be read and censored before they can be sent." Dragato had warned before.
That defeated Meta's entire purpose to write at all for months. All he wanted was some consolation. He opened his bag and found stationary and a pen. He tried to write but to no avail. If only he couldn't write about the thousands of questions he had… she would not have much answers either. How was she supposed to know why the Star Warriors couldn't sense him out for a demonbeast? He had thought that the Duke had seen right through him, but evidently not. No Star Warriors had stormed the camp to drag him out and shoot him.
He laid down on his bunk, taking his mask off to hold his temples and breathe out.
No more. God, I can't take it. First Star Warriors not seeing right through me, now I AM a Star Warrior?! I don't know what's going on, and I can't question it right now…
He put his mask on and since he was alone, he stretched his wings. If only he could cut them off, and hopefully not die of blood loss… half of his problem: getting spotted by the regular soldiers here in this camp, would be instantly gone. Right now, all the men in camp thought he was a Star Warrior. It wouldn't take much for them to see the truth.
He looked down at the page to find that he had started to write something. He crossed it out. He had to write something. Forcing himself, he only ended up with a generic-sounding letter. He was displeased with it, but sealed it anyway to take to the mail-carrier starship when it arrived.
"Hey, Meta. The other guys are out playing ball out on the field. Cosmos is pitching." Falspar called, opening the door to the barracks. "Can't stay here all day."
"I don't wish to play."
"You should at least watch."
"No thanks."
"Just this once? Jeez, how hard can it possibly be to get you outside? Beautiful day today, and you want to just sit here. Don't miss it when it's right in front of you. You might not get to see it again, especially if we have to go back to any of the snowy bases for a month or two…"
Meta sighed, and finally got up. He followed Falspar outside. It really was a pleasant day. He had not really bothered to think much about the weather day to day since his arrival to the base. While only half-listening to Falspar rant about some subject, he breathed in. He had survived the battles and the depths of Mekkai. He appreciated breathing in the clean air a little more than he had before.
They heard the shouts coming from the field. Kit Cosmos was standing on a small mound of dirt and he readied his stance, and then threw a curveball at the next batter. Everyone looked like they were having a good time. Meta leaned against the outer perimeter fence and looked at the golden star. It pulsed in his hand. He wanted someone to ask all these questions to. He had no answers.
Falspar was still talking. Meta had only just started listening when he felt a presence. It wasn't from any of the men on the field. He looked around. The aura alarmed him, making his blood run cold.
A Star Warrior…
Meta spotted the exact figure. The figure had been looking at two other soldiers who were standing off to the side of the road when he suddenly turned to look directly at Meta. His pace quickened.
"Who's that?" Falspar wondered aloud. "Is that someone from headquarters?"
The stranger stopped before them.
"Are you Meta?"
"… yes?"
Meta looked up at the face of the stranger. The Star Warrior was a tall figure with dark purple skin and golden spikes of hair. His aura was strong, making Meta cringe. His eyes were friendly though, and Meta found enough comfort it them to relax a little.
"I'm Jecra. Do you have a minute?" He said, holding out a hand.
"…Eh… yes." Meta said, accepting the handshake.
The Star Warrior led him away from the field on a short walk around the base. Meta gave one last glance back at the others on the field before he returned his attention to the stranger.
"I'm representing the Star Warrior Council. We'd like to invite you to our next social gathering next week to meet with you, and ask if you'd possibly join the council."
"… what… what for? I mean, I haven't really been in the GSA that long… I…"
"That doesn't matter. Are you interested?"
Meta didn't know how to answer.
An entire council of Star Warriors? I'm not going to put myself in a room full of Star Warriors…
"Do you know much about Star Warrior techniques?" Jecra asked suddenly.
"I…"
"Because if you don't," Jecra continued. "I can teach you."
Meta was not sure whether or not to take the offer. It caught his bewilderment.
"First thing tomorrow if you'd like. Sunrise, alright? I'll tell Cosmos that you'll be training under me for a bit."
His cape shifted in the wind and he left Meta in awe.
"Have a seat."
Meta looked out at the grassy fields and the currents of stalks in the wind. Jecra had brought him far away from the base where no roads ran or the military drill alarms blared. In the open space, the wind blew hard at their capes and Meta instinctively clutched his cape tighter around himself at the first brush of air on his wings. They sat down facing each other
"… How many techniques do you know? Besides Sword Beam, I mean. I think that's the best way to start this and see what you can do."
"I… I don't know what Sword Beam… is…"
Jecra's throat twitched a little. Meta saw it.
"The soldiers at Mekkai saw you use it."
"Oh."
"So, just Sword Beam?"
The questions were making Meta nervous. He didn't know what words would raise suspicion and which ones would get him closer to finding the single answer he wanted most. That was why he came here, he finally understood.
"Yes."
"Okay, then I guess it's still something to work with. Sword Beam is one of my best maneuvers too. It's a pretty common one too among us."
"Wait, not every Star Warrior…"
"We're all really similar, and then very, very different from each other, funny, right? Every Star Warrior has at least some main technique, sometimes a few others they can use pretty well. Then everything else, they will never be able to learn how to do them because it isn't in them."
"But then, I thought…"
"We both can use Sword Beam. It's almost impossible to teach anyone else how to use it if they're not capable of it. Kind of disheartening, I guess. There's so many techniques I wish I could do, but never will…"
"Then how many are there?"
"Many, from what we already know, but so many more that future Star Warriors will find."
He paused, then said,
"Let's start with something different… how well can you feel the universe around you? You know what I mean, right?"
"Yes… people, I guess. I can feel their presence room to room."
"What else about them?"
"… like if they're Star Warriors or not… their size…"
This was true. As a demonbeast, Meta could feel the presences of others, particularly Star Warriors. And from that, he could distinguish also who wasn't either demonbeast or Star Warrior.
"Hm… well, how about we try this: close your eyes and describe to me as much as you sense around you in as much detail as you can."
"I only sense you."
"Ignore me. Feel everything else around you."
"There's wind… and grass."
"Those are your other senses. Focus on your inner sense of the universe."
They did this each and every morning. What was difficult was that he was being asked to describe objects like rocks and leaves in great detail without sight. With Nightmare's blood, he already had a strong sense of the universe. He thought back to his childhood. It had been so long ago since he last bended the universe around him to pick up small objects and move them around. It was such a useless ability back then, and even if he could practice it again and strengthen it, it wouldn't have much value to him now.
Either way, he didn't dare use any of it in front of a Star Warrior.
Finally, one morning, Jecra gave him a new task. The most Meta had accomplished before then was naming a few objects. A rock. A lost coin. Some insects. It still never completely satisfied Jecra. He couldn't describe the looks of each object. How could he see with his eyes closed?
"Jecra? … I can't do it. I've tried so hard and I… I don't even know where to start."
"Not today. I put something out there in the grass. I want you to describe what it is. Maybe it will help to just focus on one object."
Meta strained. There were so many distractions all around him. Every sway of grass, the ants running along a rock behind them… he struggled to sort through it. Metal… the shape of the metal kept changing in his mind. He could not see it clearly. The grasshopper's wings fluttered in the wind as it held on. He traced the edge. It was round… and there was wood patterns in laid on its crest.
"It's a shie—"
His mind broke focus. His hand flew to his sword and he turned…
*SHING*
Meta stared at the locked swords, staring at his bewildered reflection in the blade of Jecra's sword. Both of them were standing up, when just seconds ago, they were seated in the grass at complete ease.
"Why did you— " Meta gasped.
Jecra released the pressure off of Meta's blade and let his sword drop to the grass. He was beaming.
"You did it! Meta! You found mushin!"
"What?"
"Mushin! You blocked me on complete instinct. I wasn't sure if you were going react fast enough. It's taken you a while to finally get into a completely focused state.
"What is this… mushin?"
"It's one of the most basic of Star Warrior techniques. When you reach mushin, you're able to fight thoughtlessly and rely on your focus with the universe. We'll have to get you a little faster at it, and then we'll see how well you can use it on the battlefield."
"On the battlefield? But… no way, how can you concentrate when there's bombs exploding and guns firing?"
"It will come to you naturally when we strengthen your focus."
Jecra went over to pick up both their swords and hand Meta's back.
"I've even heard of some Star Warriors who can find mushin in their sleep. That's rare though, I've never seen it myself. But now that you saw it for yourself, I guess we're done here. Just in time too. I'm leaving tomorrow to go to headquarters. It's still your choice whether or not you want to come and join us, although… the others would like to meet you."
Others?! I can't… there's no way I can… an entire Star Warrior regiment?
The thought severely frightened him. He wanted to go. What Jecra had just showed him astounded him.
"But… what about other techniques?"
"They're something you're born with. You'll eventually find them."
I was born with nothing but blood lust…
"Let's head back."
They returned to the camp for lunch and with Jecra beside him, a lot of the men looked up at them, and then turned away in resentment. Meta had come to the regiment at the bottom, near clueless and struggling for most of his time here, and was now shown to be their superiors. The jump didn't sit well with them, but no one would ever say anything.
Meta invited Jecra to sit with him, Falspar, Dragato, and Nonsurat. They introduced themselves nervously.
"Falspar? Oh, I've heard of you before."
"Really? From where? Who?" Falspar asked in surprise, then aside to Dragato, said, "See? On my way to fame already."
"The Duke."
"Maybe infamy?" Dragato corrected.
"Did you… really say that to him?" Jecra asked, laughing a little.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I did. Got in trouble."
He was about to say more when a soldier from Barrack Two came running into the mess hall.
"ASSASSIN! Someone… someone just… Sir Arthur…"
Men stood up and conversations died. They crowded around him as he collapsed at one of his friend's table. They gave him a glass to drink from, but he pushed it away. Kit Cosmos burst through the doors, dispersing the men to get to the soldier.
"What did headquarters just send?"
The soldier caught his breath.
"Someone tried to assassinate Sir Arthur just a few hours ago… they don't know who it was and they're not saying anything more."
"Is he alright?! Out with it, lad!"
"They say he's fine now. He's in the hospital wing at headquarters…"
"I have to go see him now… there's no way I can just stay here waiting for news to get out to the regiments…"
Meta watched as Jecra followed Kit Cosmos out of the mess hall, and decided to come too.
"Sir, I'm sure that he is fine now. The security will definitely tighten… whoever it was, we'll find him or her."
"How could the assassin have gotten so close? Could it have been a demonbeast?"
"… it couldn't have been. If it was, there were more than a hundred Star Warriors at headquarters that would have stopped it long before it got anywhere close to him."
Kit Cosmos let out his breath.
"Arty is one of my closest friends, and I've been worrying so much about him because he's isolated himself. As a friend, I have to go. I'll arrange for someone to watch over this regiment and drill the men in the mean time."
He turned to Meta.
"Well, you two are going to be leaving headquarters anyway, right? Might as well save the flight. Pack your bags, lad, and you two meet me in the starship hangar. We'll get your starship loaded in too, lad. We're leaving in an hour."
"Sir! I wasn't…"
"Wasn't what?"
"… planning to go…"
"Not going?! Lad! I can't train you anymore! All that wasted potential if you stayed here. You're a Star Warrior!"
I'm not!
"You're leaving this regiment, lad. Get your bags and say goodbye to anyone you need to. Sir Jecra here will get you all settled into the Star Warrior regiment."
Jecra did not comment, but he gave a small nod to him. Meta slowly walked back to his barrack alone.
I don't even have a choice now… but about what Jecra said… he'd notice if there was a demonbeast at headquarters? … He hasn't… found me out yet…
He took out his Warpstar and looked at it again.
Has this shielded my identity? Or… actually made me… into a Star Warrior?
He did not have much to pack anyway; most of it already was in his bag. He straightened his bed sheets a little more and looked around at the barrack. He had spent a little less than a year here. The rest of the men were approaching their third year, and he his second. Aside from Falspar, Dragato, and Nonsurat, he realized he had not bothered much to really know any of the other men. Even those three, he barely knew.
The two men who had slept in the front bunks had been killed at Mekkai. Maybe it was better to never have known much about them… seeing how short the time others lasted.
Falspar, Dragato, and Nonsurat were outside the barracks as Meta left it with his bag.
"Are you going?" Dragato asked.
"Yes… I guess…"
"Good luck." Falspar said, smiling.
Nonsurat nodded.
"Thanks," Meta finally replied, smiling a little appreciatively from under his mask.
Kit Cosmos left them at the starship dock when they landed. He was soon lost among the train of crate carts emptying the starships and the bustle of soldiers. Meta stared up at the starship port. This was the first time he had ever seen the GSA warships. They still didn't match up in size to the individual ones at NME, or have the same numbers as the opposing army. Walking here, they were only in one of the many rings revolving around the main structure of the headquarters.
"This way, Meta!" Jecra called. "Don't get lost!"
He followed him into a large room-sized lift just as several crate carts were loaded on as well. They were pressed to the back of the lift by the windows. As the floors passed, the lift emptied with each designated stop. Finally it was just the two.
"I hope moving you to a new regiment and home base isn't too uncomfortable for you. We'll find you a room first. Everyone else has probably arrived at the gathering."
"It's not a formal meeting, right?"
"No, just a small event we do every once and a while… to try and get us to meet with one another. Nothing big, really."
They finally arrived on a floor with doors lining the halls. They were pressed together tightly. They continued down the hall and came to a door with a blank number screen. Jecra tapped a few buttons and it lit up, opening the door for them.
"They're a little small, but hopefully better than the barracks?"
"Yes, very."
"There's a key card on the table. I need to head back to my room to drop off my things too. I'll be back."
As soon as Jecra left and closed the door, Meta let his awareness probe the room for any kind of security cameras. There were none. He opened his wings and collapsed on to his bed. Finally. He could sleep comfortably. His room also included cupboard and set of drawers built into the wall, a small desk and chair, and finally a compact bathroom with its own shower just off to side. He realized it was very cell-like, complete with bare walls, ceiling, and floor all within a confined space, but it was the best thing he had since coming to the GSA.
He put his bag away in the cupboard, took his keycard, and left the room feeling a little better about the new base. Jecra met up with him and they took the elevator back down.
"Actually, I should let you know. If you need anything ever, my room is down two floors, at the other end of the hall on the left. Three Fifty-One."
"Alright."
They left the elevator to hear the sounds of hundreds of voices. Meta felt his wings shiver. Then they finally entered.
Eyes followed Meta as he entered the room behind Jecra. His throat tightened. Was it just because he was a new face, or because of… no one had moved to stop or attack him.
Like a rat hiding amongst cats?
Jecra suddenly disappeared. Maybe he had gone to see others here? A woman with long, flowing purple hair approached him.
"Greetings. I'm glad that you could come, Meta. I'm Garlude." The woman introduced, warmly smiling.
Meta shook her hand, and then noticed her crown.
"Thank you… Your… Majesty?"
"Please. Just call me Garlude." She said. "But I just wanted to say… that was very impressive at Mekkai. The demonbeasts were caught by surprise that there would be a Star Warrior among the regular ranks. All of our forces were being held back at the frontlines."
"… But then why not put Star Warriors among the regular ranks?"
"It wasn't efficient in the past, and quite often easier to use a single regiment for more particular missions… and besides, we really needed every Star Warrior we had just to hold the frontlines. We're all very glad to be back."
"Oh, I was just wondering."
"Well, please, don't let me keep you here the entire time. The others here would like to speak with you too."
He had barely turned away when another voice spoke.
"Meta, is it?"
It was the Duke. Galacta Knight held in one hand a glass of wine, the other he offered in a handshake. Meta hesitated for moment, and then accepted. There was no dramatic wave of energy this time when their hands touched. The Duke seemed to be thinking about it too but said nothing. Aside from that, Meta was surprised to find the handshake friendly, not stiff.
"I apologize for the first time when we met. I'll have you know that I don't get usually upset like I was. It's Falspar. He gets on my nerves too often."
"… it's fine."
"I know who you are, but I'd like to formally introduce myself. I'm Duke Galacta. I come from Popstar… I heard that… you're actually from elsewhere?"
"Icronth."
"I've never heard of it. Where exactly…"
Meta saw from the corner of his eyes that there were many, many other Star Warriors listening to their conversation. He was distracted for a second before he forced himself back.
"It's… not well known. It's a small refugee site."
The Duke was also making side-glances at their listeners.
"Would you prefer to get away from all these people? Look at them. Absolutely zero decency. We're the subject for a lot of talk around here." He muttered.
"We… are?" Meta asked.
"I'll explain, somewhere else where people won't be staring at us like this…"
Meta was almost too glad to escape the watchful eyes. He followed the Duke out. Something about the knight's manner made Meta suspect there was more he wanted to talk about.
Outside of the tight room and bright lighting, the halls felt cool.
"We're very different than they are."
"In what way?"
"Our auras. They feel very odd to them."
Meta could tell that Galacta's aura was definitely different than that of other Star Warriors. In what way, he couldn't describe other than that it was stronger. Did his feel that way? Until now, he had never thought about how his aura could possibly feel to others, if no one could even sense that he was a demonbeast.
"And I see that your warpstar's a borrowed one as well. Maybe that's why they talk about us?"
Meta froze.
"Huh? How… how can you…"
"Of course I can tell. Your warpstar is a good fifty-thousand years older than you are."
The Duke wasn't trying to dig though. He laughed a little.
"I think you're the first one I've ever met that also has a borrowed warpstar.
"But then, how were we supposed to get our warpstars?"
"Warpstars aren't supposed to just switch Star Warriors. They come to Star Warriors when we're born and they die with us, they never… abandon one Star Warrior for another… I guess it'd be like someone's heart suddenly deciding to give up on its body and start beating for someone else..."
Meta could hardly remember the transfer of his own. It happened when they, he and the old Star Warrior… and someone else, who was it? They were escaping NME. The Star Warrior was shot… he picked up the warpstar. He just picked it up, and it suddenly became his? He had not intended to make it his own. He would never have touched it if he had known the warpstar would let the old Star Warrior die. Could he have lived? The warpstar had guided Meta so many times in his life. It saved him dying in the snow and led him to stand here, talking to the Duke. He felt like a thief.
Duke Galacta removed the warpstar off of his shoulder plate and held it.
"This is my grandfather's. He was still alive and well when it became mine, and he actually taught me a lot of techniques before he became ill. It infuriated my father that he never was a Star Warrior…"
He trailed off.
"I'm glad he wasn't. He's hateful enough."
"We're not… thieves, though…" Meta murmured.
"No, we're not. But that's what the others probably think. The warpstars obviously chose us, but why, I have no idea."
"I… I didn't even know the Star Warrior that mine belonged to."
"Did you even meet?"
"We did… briefly."
"Hm. Curious. But… I guess it doesn't have to do with the Star Warrior. Only the warpstar…"
They were silent for a while. They could still hear the noise from the party down the hall, and sense the hundreds of Star Warrior auras. All the other Star Warriors.
"The others don't believe that we're true Star Warriors. They won't." Duke Galacta finally said. "Anyway, I thought I'd let you know what you're in for from everyone else. I'm going back now."
He began walking off, but then paused to add one more thing.
"Don't let them ask too many questions. Neither of us understand it, and it certainly isn't any of their business."
"Meta. I want you to meet Kabu."
"Who?"
"Kabu. Have you ever heard of it?"
Meta shook his head. Again, he watched Jecra's throat twitch a little from his answer.
"It's a statue that aids us Star Warriors. Every planet has at least one, just some haven't been found. We go to Kabu for advice or for a safe place to rest."
Advice? God, I need that right now…
Gladly, Meta accompanied Jecra and they took an elevator up. As the floors passed, Meta looked outside at the rest of the GSA headquarters and the outer space beyond. Despite being at the base for a few days now, he had barely seen the entirety of the space station. From where they were, he could see the warship port and caught a glimpse of a battered warship returning to the base.
The elevator stopped and as the doors opened, Meta was surprised to see greenery. The entire floor was a large garden under a glass dome looking out into a pink nebula. The air was heavy with moisture and filled with scents of different flowers.
"Why a garden?"
"It's kind of nice, don't you think? I get sick looking at space and white walls all day."
"Isn't it expensive to maintain it?" He wondered aloud, noting the extensive watering system hanging above the plants from the ceiling.
"The Duke was the one who paid for it. I'm glad for it though. This is easily my favorite place."
They walked along the path toward the center of the greenhouse, past several exotic-looking flowers and trees with bright leaves and over a small stream. In the small clearing was a massive stone. Jecra led Meta around it to the front where he saw its face. For eyes, it had two large impressions in the rock for eyes and its mouth hung open. In the light of the small torches at its base, Kabu's face flickered.
"Kabu. I brought a new soldier. This is Meta." Jecra said, gazing up at the rock.
Meta watched the features. Nothing moved. Was it supposed to answer? Kabu's eyes stared straight up into the nebula. Jecra turned to Meta.
"I'll let you talk with Kabu alone. I'll be down at the training field."
Jecra was gone a minute after and silence filled the greenhouse. There was no one else and Meta nervously looked up at the statue.
"Uh… hi, my name is Meta…"
The statue stared out into the open space.
He felt foolish standing there, talking to a statue that would never respond. He could not sense anything particularly special about the rock. It was not magical; it did not breathe or do anything else out of the ordinary. Meta tried again.
"I just hope that… I'm supposed to be here… I'm… lost." He mumbled vaguely.
Finally, he turned away and left. Of course it would not speak to him. He was not a Star Warrior. Maybe Duke Galacta became a Star Warrior from a second-hand warpstar, but nothing replaced the fact that Meta was a demonbeast.
Kabu continued to stare out into space.
X—X—X
Author Note: One quick note about Kabu: the anime (somewhere toward the end) stated that there are multiple statues across the universe for protecting wounded Star Warriors and their warpstars. I'm making them all the same being, like the same Kabu for this story. The one that Meta just met is the "same" one on Popstar, and so some of the things that he's telling Kabu now may be repeated back to Kirby, Fumu, and Bun in the events of the anime. Kabu really isn't an all-knowing being. It apparently gets information from people telling it about whatever.
Another note: Jecra was testing Meta for mushin (From Ivyna's footnote from episode 3, it's a state of being able to act on instinct). I thought I'd mention it because I wasn't sure how many people still remember about that. Meta Knight was teaching it to Kirby, and Kirby was able to reach it in his sleep.
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