Act 2, Chapter 5 - The Past Made Present (Part 3)
Our heroes reached their waypoint, where a large door is sealed off in front of them. Unfortunately, there aren't any door controls they could use to gain access into the Observatory.
"Well, this isn't good." Articho mutters.
"Something wrong?" Maaya asks.
"This door's designed specifically for anyone that can use the Force." He breaks the bad news. "Problem is, we're not Force-sensitive. However, the Force isn't the only power that has telekinetic and spiritual aspects. Like our ki."
"So what's stopping you?" She asks further.
"It feels like I'm about to cheat." He admits with concerned expression. "Because we don't have midichlorians to wield the Force. If Kai or Cassus saw us or became aware of exploiting this tiny flaw, I'm damn as hell they'll see it as mockery and an embarrassment to ways of the Force."
"That's bullshit." Kinuho scoffs, not believing what she's hearing from him. "We're Saiyans, literally the most powerful mortal species in the known universe. We don't need to have midichlorians to wield it. Besides, ki can do a whole lot more than what the Force has ever done so far."
"It's called respecting the Jedi's centuries-long teachings and practices, especially from the Sith or any other Force-related culture in all of Star Wars." The Pathfinder deadpans. "And from an ethical standpoint, there are some lines that I do not and will not cross."
"How arrogant... for you to believe that kind of logic." The light chestnut haired girl calls out to her husband's ego.
"Meh." Articho shrugs. "I'm just stating the facts."
"Meh?!" She angrily exclaims.
The Pathfinder took amusement in seeing his light chestnut haired wife's reaction. However, Kinuho isn't done with him yet. Luckily, Maaya steps in and shoved them aside.
"Enough, both of you!" The indigo haired shinobi princess stops the beginnings of their argument before it could become one. "You're acting like children."
"She's acting like one." Articho points fingers at the light chestnut haired girl, who then gives him a deathly glare.
"I don't give a fuck!" Maaya raises her voice slightly. "This isn't the time to discuss ethics! Kai and Cassus can suck it up for all I care because I'm not going to put up with your morals first - from either of you - before a critical mission we're on!"
Proving her point, Maaya uses her ki to telekinetically lifts the stone door upwards where another door stands in their way.
"..." Articho and Kinuho blankly stared at how completely out of character she's being righ now.
Unsurprising, to be honest.
"You going to stand there all night, or are you going to help me reach the central chamber?" The indigo haired girl questions, still holding the door over her head.
Minutes later...
After what felt like forever, the final door is telekinetically lifted by Articho with Kinuho and Maaya holding the door behind them due to a coordinated pattern in taking turns opening each of them one at a time. He then gestures his head for the girls to drop the other door and move past the last one over his head, in which they did and entered the central chamber. The Pathfinder slowly moves back from the door and inside the chamber with his wives before releasing his grip, allowing the door to drop down and slam shut with a 'thud!' sound echoing in the room.
"Man, I thought that would never end." Kinuho heavily sighs.
"How are you even tired?" Articho questions in disbelief. "Our ki enhances our stamina, speed, and strength."
"Oh yeah, I forgot." She realizes her mistake.
"Whatever." He rolls his eyes beneath his helmet. "But what we just did today, guys... today never happened."
"Relax." Maaya shakes her head. "We know how to keep our mouths shut. Not like we need to tell our friends everything we're doing beneath a dormant volcano that's not even a volcano at all."
"We'll see." He dryly says before looking around the empty chamber. "You sure this the right room, Doppelganger? Looks more like a Jedi Temple than an Observatory."
"The schematics don't lie, Pathfinder." The Doppelganger confirms. "This is indeed the Observatory."
"Well done, whoever you are." A voice catches them off-guard as they trained their weapons on the source. "You've passed the test I left behind, and have gained access to the Observatory."
To their relief, it's a blue hologram of what appears to be a figure in a white and gold Jedi tunic with a hooded cloak of matching colors. The figure also has a familiar lightsaber hilt holstered on his/her belt.
"Hey, it's that High Republic Jedi we found earlier from his/her remains." The light chestnut haired girl points out. "That lightsaber you recovered does look familiar."
"Apparently so." The Pathfinder agrees, lowering and holstering his firearm before signalling his wives to lower theirs. "Looks to be a pre-recorded message."
"Yeah." The indigo haired girl also agrees. "Question is, for whom?"
"I am Master Ainu." The late Jedi Master in the recording formally greets. "I may not know your name, but I know who you are and what your purpose is, Pathfinder."
The trio perked up when he said 'Pathfinder'. Not to mention that he calls himself 'Ainu'.
"This message's for me." Articho's eyes widened, as he and his wives' helmets retracted - showing their faces.
"How's that even possible?" Kinuho questions to herself.
"Could the Ainu be named in his honor?" Maaya wonders aloud.
"Shh!" He silences her with his hand aimed at her while his eyes remained glued to the holographic recording.
"I see you have many questions." Ainu continues. "Allow me to explain. Many generations ago before my time, the Galactic Republic was currently in a golden era of expansion from a galaxy I've heard only in holobooks. Until one day, an Ark was sent beyond the Outer Rim to establish the Republic and the Jedi Order's presence in another galaxy on this one-way voyage. Another galaxy, yes. But unknown to us at the time, we arrived in a completely different universe."
"Guess we got an answer as to how they got into our reality." Kinuho comments.
"Shh!" He silences her.
"Having arrived in a star cluster, surrounded by a nebula we later learned that it eats anything that dare passes through, the Republic and the Jedi began establishing its foothold on several star systems we explored and settled on." The Jedi Master further explains. "Then a few decades ago, the now-named High Republic initated an expedition beyond the nebula for further expansion. Many colony ships were never heard from again, convincing enough for the project to be a failure. However, I stepped up to the challenge, despite the High Republic and the Jedi Council's wishes. Eventually, we charted a safe passage through the nebula and reached a planet that you're standing on now."
"Earth." The Pathfinder says.
"It wasn't long before the colonists and I soon began establishing a settlement inside the mountain, slowly growing into a prosperous city." Ainu continues. "Through meditation, however, I was granted a premonition through the Force: a vision of doom. Not onto just the High Republic and this galaxy, but the entire universe. On the other hand, I saw you, wielding power unlike anything I've seen in my lifetime's journey. Perhaps you may be the key to what's to come in your time, Pathfinder."
"I knew he had a vision of you, Articho." Kinuho whispers, making sure she doesn't interrupt her husband listening to the recording very carefully.
"Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that our settlement has failed." Ainu adds with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I only wish that you would warn the High Republic and the Order I served. In this Observatory, I've preserved a map of the cluster - we originated from - inside a compass. In this compass also holds the navigation data that will bring you safe passage through the nebula that stands in your way. I can only trust this knowledge to someone who has followed my path and understands that there is more to this universe than just the Force alone."
"Like us." Maaya realizes. "Like our friends, our children. Articho, I think this is what the Accelerons have been hinting you about."
"Seek out the High Republic and the Order." Ainu requests. "Convince them to help you face this coming evil, and you will succeed. Good luck and farewell, Pathfinder. And may the Force be with you."
With a farewell bow, the recording of Ainu ends as the hologram of the Jedi Master himself shuts off. Then, a small circular device descends from the ceiling and hovers before the trio. This must the compass that Ainu is talking about. Without hesitation, Articho takes the compass and activates a holographic map of the star cluster.
"Doppelganger, bring up the Milky Way and Starscream's charts." Articho requests, in which the AI has done.
Cross referencing the space bridges that are scattered across the Milky Way galaxy and the navigation data within the compass, the search for Tellus is narrowed down and has been triangulated to a rough location.
"Oh my Kami..." Kinuho's sky blue eyes widened in shock. "That's the Kvi Cluster."
"You know about it?" Her husband questions.
"Yeah, it's supposed to be unknown space that the Cybertronians weren't able to reach during their own golden era of expansion and prosperity." She explains. "Wheeljack brought it up during one of our visits at their base in the U.S. last year."
"I remember now." He nods. "Cybertron's Golden Age. Ironic how a less advanced galactic power were able to accomplish what a more advanced civilization couldn't."
"We did it, Articho." Maaya hugs him with Kinuho joining in as well. "There's still hope after all."
"As long as we continue to fight." Articho returns the hug and let both girls go. "I think those are the words that Eno Cordova said."
His beautiful wives giggled at how much of a dork he can be at times. One of the reasons how and why they fell in love with him in the first place.
"Alright, I think we overstayed our welcome." He points out. "Doppelganger, contact Ryouko about what we've just discovered. Send the data from the compass, too."
"I'm unable to reach Doctor Kuriba." The Doppelganger reports. "We seemed to be too deep for any comm signal to pass through bedrock."
"I'll have to use Instant Transmission and bring us back to her then." He concludes, preparing to teleport himself and his wives out of Mount Fuji.
"Before you do that, there's one other matter that also requires your investigation." She interrupts. "I'm detecting multiple heat signatures beyond the door in front of you."
"I can sense their presence." Maaya adds.
"Me too." Kinuho agrees. "Hostiles, maybe?"
"I don't think that's the case." The Pathfinder says otherwise. "Their energy's too faint to emit negative emotions. Actually, they're not emitting any emotions at all."
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Kinuho says.
"Really, Kinuho?" Articho deadpans.
"Hey, you've been quoting Mass Effect lines nonstop." The light chestnut haired girl remarks. "At least let me say it."
The trio put their retractable helmets back on and approached the door with caution.
"This one appears to have a control panel similar to the Observatory's main entrance." The Doppelganger spoke. "Try to not shoot it this time, or you'll remain locked from the outside."
"How come I'm doing all the heavy lifting?" Articho questions in annoyance.
"If we opened all the doors, what'll be left for you?" Maaya shot back with her hands beside her hips.
"Um, nothing?" He shrugs.
"Suuure." The girls smugly grinned beneath their helmets.
"I hate you." Their husband growls as he attempts to hotwire the door controls properly.
The door successfully slides open and the trio pull out their firearms. Articho takes point once more as they venture deep inside a room, where the boy accidentally runs into something. Or rather someone, as the the Pathfinder himself looks up and flashed his armor's chest lights to reveal a teenage girl with short coral orange hair and pink eyes. The boy recoils, completely caught off guard by her sudden appearance and aims his Lancer assault rifle at her. However, she strangely didn't react to his presence. Curious, he puts his weapon away and waves a hand in front of her face to get her attention, but it ends up doing nothing like she isn't there at all.
"What the hell?" He mutters aloud and notices nine other girls, all of which - like her - are completely frozen in different standing positions while looking at their surroundings or at each other. "Just what have we got ourselves into now?"