Chapter 23: Heavy Artillery

Docked in Orange Ocean Harbor was an aircraft... of some sort. It could clearly be used as a ship as well, though the type of ship it was was a mystery to Kirby.

"What is it?" said Kirby.

It was painted black. Its center was marginally spherical in shape and its front was elongated into a long nose. It had wings like a bat's. Also, I've said in the previous chapter that it was filling the entire harbor. Orange Ocean Harbor was the biggest harbor in Dreamland, so the thing had to be huge. Not only that, it had cannons completely surrounding its outer edge and a giant one on top.

"It's called the Halberd," replied Gooey. "Sah-koor-eye warned me about this. He said that Meta Knight—"

"WHO IS META KNIGHT?!!"

"I have no clue. His past, and real name, are shrouded in mystery. All I know is that he's the leader of something called the Meta Clan, a group of metal warriors that will stop at nothing to gain power."

"Sounds like a weirdo to me."

"I imagine he is one. Anyway, he's going to use this thing to take over Dreamland in some way. Seems rather pointless to me, Dark Matter's got everything under control. At least, Dark Matter's soon to be controlling everything if you don't stop him. Your current job is to get onto that ship and destroy it. Oh, and there must be a shard on it somewhere."

"Say no more. Time's a-wastin'. They're taking off."

"Uh, Kirby, I have one more thing to say. Since the Halberd is such a huge electrical thing, I may be able to tap into its security system and communications system."

"Go ahead."

"Already did. I had gone ahead and done it while I was talking about Dark Matter. I was just asking to make sure it was okay with you. For a test, I'll let you hear what went over their communications just before and during the takeoff. Here ya go!"

Strange voices were coming out of the phone. Kirby listened...

"Reactor 1, output normal," said one voice.

"Adjust the balancer to ...0003!" said another.

"Let's raise the anchor," said yet another.

"Check anti-gravity plant. 1, 2, 3, OK!!" The voices were never the same and were not making sense.

"Release the sails, solar level, 288!" said a fifth voice.

Then suddenly, an icy cold voice spoke and Kirby shivered. This must be Meta Knight. "The time has come," said the cold voice. "The time to show our power! Dreamland's lazy lifestyle will end! I will rule!"

"I'll bet that last one was Meta Knight," said Gooey, after it was over.

"Duh," replied Kirby. "His voice was extremely evil and he said he was going to 'rule'. Who else could it have been?"

Kirby was flying toward the Halberd when Gooey said quickly, "I'm receiving another conversation. From now on, all will be heard immediately on your phone."

Before Kirby could respond, a voice cut in, "—heading towards us."

Kirby knew he was listening in on the Meta Clan and that they were referring to him as what was "heading towards them".

The voices continued, "Oh, my gosh! What are we gonna do?"

"He'll get in the way. Get rid of him!"

"Sir Meta Knight, what shall we do?" said a squawking voice that Kirby knew would finalize who was Meta Knight.

Sure enough, the cold voice replied, "Soldiers near the deck, assume combat mode!"

Kirby almost felt sorry that he was going to tear through Meta Knight's troops. They had gone through so much trouble...

That was when the Halberd started firing.