The Beginning. Part 3: The abandoned machine
Meta Knight and Sectonia proceed to follow the path that had been marked out for them. The small lights that the Star Warrior had initially compared to fireflies were actually particles of an energy that neither he nor Sectonia recognised. Their glow was similar to the one emitted by the crystal Meta Knight held in his hand.
They walked with their guard up. Mysterious voices in dark places usually were the opposite of good news. At least the path led them towards the bright area with the "tree" rather than deeper into darkness. But where were they? Inside a cave?
As they moved forward, Meta Knight noticed Sectonia making a strange movement with two of her hands, as if she wanted to rub her face but didn't dare to touch it. Intrigued by the odd behaviour, he asked her:
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no. I just feel like there's some sort of 'layer' on top of my skin," she replied, not giving it more importance than necessary. "It's like static electricity. Maybe our bodies were charged with energy when the portal swallowed us."
"Now that you mention it, I feel it too, although the sensation I'm getting is fainter because my face is more covered," said Meta Knight, now aware of the slight tingling that enveloped his body. "That tree is enormous..." the Star Warrior added as they approached the bright area.
"Indeed, and I highly doubt it's organic," Sectonia replied.
Once they reached the illuminated area, the feeling of "static electricity" on their bodies faded. Around them, petal-shaped crystals floated in the air, sometimes grouped with other similar ones forming flowers. The tree they had seen in the distance was crystallised, and constantly flowing lines of dark-coloured energy ran through its thick trunk, acting as sap. Its immense branches branched and twisted as far as the eye could see, and, contrary to natural principles, each one sprouted a different type of flower.
At the foot of the tree stood a person of feminine figure, their back turned to them. They wore a long white robe that covered even their feet, brushing the ground, the edges of its sleeves decorated with silver filigree fashioned in a refined floral motif. A long, iridescent mane that looked more like pure energy than hair sprang from their head, which was surrounded by a strap similar to the one Meta Knight used to hold his mask, although this person's was more elegant and refined.
The figure turned around to greet them. They wore a circular, white, metallic mask, the face etched into it reminiscent of a sleepy cat. Meta Knight remembered seeing something very similar depicted in a book about the legends and artefacts of a certain lost civilisation. Specifically, he had seen it on a drawing describing an entity called "Comet Nova," which was said to be able to grant a wish. Was the person before them somehow connected to that relic?
[Welcome to the 'Void In Between', Meta Knight and Sectonia,] the person spoke in the same feminine voice Meta Knight had heard as she approached them. Her robes didn't rise from the ground, making her movement more similar to sliding than walking. Sectonia was about to summon her weapons, but Meta Knight stopped her with a gesture. If the being was an ancient entity, they shouldn't anger her. Sectonia apologised in a whisper, regretting letting her self-defence instinct take over her rational side.
"How do you know who we are?" Meta Knight asked cautiously.
[The Scourge of Darkness, The Last Star Warrior, The Hero of the Galaxy, The King Consort, The Usurping Tyrant of Dream Land... I know many 'yous', Meta Knight. Hero, villain, soldier, monster, aristocrat, samurai, thief, monarch, father... I've seen infinite of your lives and deaths,] the being listed, leaving Meta Knight dumbfounded and even overwhelmed, his head spinning as he tried to process what it all meant. She then turned to Sectonia and added, [And the same applies to you, Sectonia. Do you want me to list some of the titles and alternate names from your other lives as well?]
"No need, thank you," Sectonia replied, somewhat flustered.
[Understood. Allow me to apologise beforehand for speaking too much. As a guide, I was programmed to answer all the questions asked of me in detail,] the person said in advance. [I hope this imposition will at least help clarify any doubts you may have about our current predicament.]
"In that case, could you tell us about yourself?" Meta Knight asked, curious about what she meant by "programmed."
The being returned to the foot of the tree and stretched out one of her arms to touch the trunk, a hand covered in or made of the same material as the mask peeking out from the wide sleeve of her robe.
[I was given the name 'Harvester of Destinies',] the being said, turning to face them again without separating her hand from the tree. [The "vessel" before you is my current avatar.]
"So you are actually this tree," Sectonia guessed.
[That is not totally correct, as while I was designed to imitate a tree, I am actually a machine,] the Harvester replied, sounding sympathetic to Sectonia's mistake. [I am what you would call a "supercomputer," created through the communion of science and magic. My system is more complex and powerful than anything that will ever be developed with the technology that is or will be avaliable in your universe.]
Meta Knight didn't miss the fact that the Harvester had only spoken in the present and future tense, making him think again about what he had read about the lost civilisation. Sectonia, on the other hand, lacked that knowledge, so she asked in a somewhat abrupt and distrusting way:
"Who made you? Are you one of N.M.E creations?"
[The company founded by the embodiment of fear and nightmares has nothing to do with me,] the Harvester denied, her voice filled with disdain towards the villain. [I was created in times of yore by a civilisation commonly known as the Ancients,] she clarified, confirming Meta Knight's thoughts.
"The Ancients?" Sectonia asked with curiosity, having relaxed upon hearing the machine's rejection of eNeMeE.
"A lost civilisation of unparalleled magic and technology, creators of many miraculous machines and artefacts," Meta Knight replied, making an effort to recall what he had read in that book so long ago. Sectonia let out an "ooh" of amazement. "Despite this, they eventually disappeared from our reality, and few traces of them remain in the known universe. The fact that N.M.E dedicated themselves to either hiding or destroying any information about them and their creations heavily contributed to their fall into oblivion," the Star Warrior explained.
[That's correct, though their disappearance is a common event in 99.99889% of the universes I currently have information about,] the Harvester clarified.
"There are more machines like you, aren't there?" Meta Knight asked the machine.
[If you mean with my same identity, no,] the Harverster replied, shaking her head. [I am a unique and solitary existence. However, there are machines similar to me designed for other purposes.]
"Like the wish-granting one I saw in that book," Meta Knight made the connection upon hearing that.
[Although, in your universe, thanks to Nightmare, one of them will never be finished,] the Harvester added. Sectonia muttered a "who?", while Meta Knight let out a groan of discomfort. [Sorry, I meant eNeMeE. I have the tendency to forget that in certain timelines of the universe you come from, very few know his real name, and the ones who do treat it like a taboo.]
"You said machines like you have a purpose. Can you tell us yours?" Meta Knight asked, shifting the topic away from eNeMeE.
The Harverster nodded before speaking again. She then stretched out her left hand, and one of the flowers floating around the area came to her, levitating a few inches on top of her palm.
[The purpose of my system is to gather information from different universes and timelines to calculate when, how, and why an event might occur. This information is then used to guide my users so they can recreate, avoid, or mitigate said event in their reality by making the right decisions,] she explained while selecting a petal from the flower and sending the rest back into the air. [In short, it could be said that I analyse data to predict the future.]
"It seems you were somewhat right about the use of crystals then," Sectonia commented to Meta Knight.
"Though given that N.M.E has nothing to do with this, my theory is still fundamentally flawed," he replied, rubbing the crystal he still had in his possession. "How does this system work?"
[The 'Void In Between' is a dimension outside of space-time, located at the metaphysical boundaries that separate universes,] the Harvester began to narrate. Two beams of light then erupted from her eyes, connecting to form a holographic screen in front of her. With a quick flick of one of her fingers, the machine drew a perfect circle, which then divided into internal sectors. [If we represent the different universes in this simplified way, the 'Void In Between' would be at the same time the lines that separate the sectors, the central point where they join and the outline of the circle itself,] they explained, running their fingers over each area they mentioned.
"Fascinating," Meta Knight commented, putting all of his attention on the machine's narration. He loved learning how things worked, whether they were machines or metaphysical concepts.
With a flick of her hand, the machine replaced the circle with a graphic depicting two small spheres, one iridescent and the other as black as the darkest night.
[Due to its 'In Between' status, energy from other realities filters into this dimension,] the Harvester continued, pointing at the iridescent sphere. Then, she placed a finger on it. [When such energy comes into contact with particles of raw Matter of Darkness, abundant in this place, it solidifies and crystallises,] she continued, dragging the iridescent sphere toward the other, which, when fused, transformed into an irregular-looking crystal. [Before my creation, this process occurred without control or purpose, but my system was designed to process that energy, using the resulting crystal to store information,] she finished, the irregular crystal transforming into a refined petal-like one.
The Harvester erased the graphic again and began generating a new image. It depicted a simplified representation of five hooded figures dressed in robes similar to the ones the machine's avatar was wearing. All five of them surrounded the tree, with two of them observing already processed crystals while two others took notes. The last had a more authoritative pose and was observing the other four.
[However, there are limitations to this system. The minds of my creators didn't have infinite capacity, so when the first scientists attempted to use the crystals...] With another flick of the Harverster's finger, the two figures holding the crystals fell to the ground on their knees, holding their hooded heads with their hands. The rest of the figures approached them in alarm. "[..the amount of information corresponding to an entire universe going straight into their brains ended up driving them crazy. That is why the system was modified so that a mortal can only directly receive the information that matches what their soul is experiencing at that moment, having to use me as an intermediary if they want to know more details of the universe they are studying.]
Once the Harvester finished her exposition, her eyes stopped glowing, and the projected screen disappeared.
"So that's why I can't see anything when my other self sleeps," Meta Knight understood.
"In that case, what does my 'nothingness' mean?" Sectonia wanted to know, though she already had a notion of what the answer was going to be.
[It means that in the timelines corresponding to the crystals you've used, your soul isn't part of the cycle of life. In simpler terms: your other self has either not been born yet or has died. Do you want me to confirm which one applies in each case?]
"I can live without that information," Sectonia replied, satisfied that she had finally found a logical reason for the mystery that had been tormenting her for a bit. There wasn't anything wrong with her; it was simply the way the crystals worked. However, even if the sample was too small to establish clear statistics, the fact that she was not alive in two-thirds of the crystals that ended up in her hands was not very encouraging.
Intrigued by the spider's answer, the Harvester tilted her head. She looked like a cat who had encountered something that aroused its curiosity.
[You are very peculiar. Most of the beings who end up in this place can't help but feel interested in their other lives, yet you don't seem to care at all,] the machine remarked.
"I have too much on my plate to worry about how other Sectonias live their lives," she replied with a shrug.
[Wouldn't you even want to know if there's a reality where you and your beloved are still together?]
Sectonia's indifference shattered. Those words had hurt her, and she would even have found them cruel if the way the machine had phrased the question didn't lack malice. Then, she stopped to think about it with a cold head. Why would she want to know if there was a reality where she and Taranza were still together? What value could she find in a happiness that wasn't hers? What good would the answer to that question do apart from filling her heart with envy for a life she'd never have? The existence of a world where the tragedy didn't happen wouldn't bring back the things she'd lost. It was better to let things be, accept the cards fate had dealt her, and not taint the sacrifice he'd made by wasting her life thinking about what could have been, especially when she still had so much to do. After all, she had a country to rebuild and people to protect.
The spider noticed Meta Knight placing a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of encouragement and comfort. The Star Warrior suffered similar losses during the war, so he understood how Sectonia had felt when she heard that question.
"No," Sectonia finally answered. "Please, let's continue discussing your workings. Now that we've clarified why Meta Knight can see those realities and I can't, we still need to know why we see through the crystal that brought us here instead of seeing another reality. Although with all the information we have, I think I have figured it out," the spider commented.
"So you have also reached the same conclusion," Meta Knight guessed, idly turning the crystal in his hand. He, too, had been pondering about that.
"This crystal corresponds to our reality, so it shows us what lies on the other side just as it is," the spider claimed. Meta Knight nodded in agreement.
[That's correct,] the Harvester confirmed. [It seems I've encountered two very intelligent versions of yourselves,] they added in a tone that sounded a bit strange.
"What does that mean?" they both wondered, somewhat offended, as those words hold the implication that the two of them being intelligent was outside the norm. Or maybe there was another reason behind the tone the machine had used?
[Anyway, my system had a flaw that my creators overlooked until it came to light,] the Harvester continued, returning to her exposition. [Look at me closely,] she requested, pointing to the tree's branches. [Each branch is a reality; each flower represents a set of timelines that sprouted from a specific event, and therefore, each petal corresponds to one of those timelines,] she explained, pointing at the end at the petal she had picked earlier. [Every time someone decides or not to do something that ends up having an impact in the course of history, a flower blooms. When said impact affects the very structure of reality, the foundations of the universe itself, a new branch is generated, which would be what is commonly called an 'alternate universe'. This not only applies to personal choices but also to natural or unnatural phenomena. The total number of petals is, therefore, uncountable. Infinite possibilities, infinite universes. And so the tree hasn't stopped, nor will it stop growing.]
The machine imitated a sad, tired sigh before continuing.
[In the end, it was too much for my creators, who were unable to even use me properly to prevent their own disappearance from history. Unable to handle everything and fearful of my information falling into the wrong hands as they faced their own internal conflict, they sealed me and abandoned me here. Yet, my activity did not cease. I continued collecting, studying, analysing, and learning in case anyone requested my guidance again.]
"What a waste of effort to create you only to end up this way," Meta Knight commented.
"And how irresponsible they were to leave you running unattended," Sectonia added.
[Indeed, especially when said irresponsibility is what will destroy all the universes if no one does anything to prevent it.]
The severity of that disturbing phrase naturally alarmed Meta Knight and Sectonia. The destruction of all the universes? That sounded quite dire. At least, it seemed that they still had time to avoid such fate.
"What's going to happen?" Meta Knight wanted to know in order to understand how precarious the situation was.
[The correct thing to ask me would be, 'What's going on?'] the Harvester corrected, adding even more weight to the situation. Her body language showed her distress. [No machine is perfect, and I'm no exception. The continued growth and division of the tree's branches is reaching an unsustainable point; my processing is becoming increasingly erratic, and the system itself could collapse at any moment. Not only that, but this predicament has caused me to become susceptible to the negative energy emanating from certain realities, and the mixture of an excess of that energy and the Matter of Darkness that the system uses to process the crystals has serious effects on most beings, both living and artificial. In my case, this results in the data I contain getting corrupted and 'leaking', taking on physical form. I believe Sectonia knows what I'm talking about.]
Sectonia quickly understood what the machine was referring to. After all, the "monster" that had attacked her had been enveloped in a strange digital effect, and what could be more digital than data processed by a computer?
"That strange girl was actually a result of your corruption," Sectonia guessed.
[That's right. I've named those like her 'Echoes'. They are corrupted data corresponding to beings whose existence came to an end while they were plagued by strong negative feelings and/or grudges, which became their final drive and will,] the Harvester explained, bringing up a new screen on which she drew silhouettes of disparate shapes, all wrapped in the same digital particles Sectonia had seen in what she wrongly had called 'monster girl'. [In this case, the information gathered from that event, instead of being properly processed in its petal, takes independent physical form using the Matter of Darkness as its base. While Echoes have a limited lifespan, one or two hours at most if they don't get terminated by other means, some can be very destructive, especially if they end up in peaceful realities.]
The petal in the Harvester's hand blinked for a few moments, as did the eyes on her mask. [Collecting requested data, please wait...] it uttered in a monotonous voice. Then, she projected a new screen. Instead of containing drawings, this one showed a recording.
A recording that took the breath away from its two viewers.
A humanoid girl with black hair, a green apron, and a red beret ran terrified through a burning forest. On her back, she carried Kirby, who had something embedded in his body. The girl had trouble running, an indicator of injury.
"Hold on a little longer, Kirby," the girl said to the puffball after coughing due to the smoke. Kirby didn't respond because he was unconscious, or rather, completely paralysed.
"It can't be..." Meta Knight thought in horror as he recognised the object piercing Kirby's skin.
Upon obtaining no response from the puffball, the girl let out a grunt of frustration and continued running despite the pain.
"If only that thing hadn't destroyed my utensils..." they heard her complaining.
Suddenly, a howl echoed through the forest. An expression of urgency crossed the girl's face as she tried to speed up her run. Unfortunately, due to her injuries, she tripped and fell to the ground, sending Kirby tumbling a few metres due to the impact. The girl didn't stop to cry about her pain, and, instead, she immediately got back up and hurried to pick up Kirby. But the time she had lost was enough for the cause of her escape to catch up with them. In one leap, the being that was burning the forest cut off the girl's path and bared its sharp fangs.
Meta Knight's eyes turned red with wrath at the sight of the digital-looking WolfWrath. Even after his death, eNeMeE's creations found ways to continue wreaking havoc.
The girl glared at the monster with desperate rage, not understanding what that thing was, what it was doing there, or why it was destroying her home. And yet, despite her fear of an enemy she couldn't fight, Meta Knight could see that the girl's determination to protect Kirby didn't waver and that she refused to simply give up. In a way, she reminded him of Tiff.
The Echo of WolfWrath lunged at the girl, who hugged the unconscious Kirby protectively, placing her body between him and the monster's. Meta Knight couldn't help but scream "No!" while Sectonia gasped in anguish. The machine shut off the screen at that moment, leaving their fates up in the air. Unless someone had performed a miraculous rescue at the last second, said fate had surely been grim.
[If the corruption of my system isn't stopped, many dimensions will suffer irreparable damage from the Echoes, which could potentially lead to a cataclysm that will completely wipe them out] the Harvester announced as she released the petal, which began to fly to reunite with the flower it belonged to. [And if the propagation speed keeps increasing, this will repeat itself over and over, from one universe to another, with no possibility of new timelines being created, until nothing remains. Something like this cannot continue, but, being a prisoner of my own programming, I can't do anything about it. I can't leave the Void In Between, nor am I allowed to send crystals to other dimensions so that someone can find them and reach this place. It's thanks to the Echo that attacked Sectonia, who took those three crystals with the desperate hope that one of them would bring her home, that we are able to have this conversation.]
"Did that girl's Echo only want to go home?" Sectonia wanted to know, remembering that in the agonising moment when she herself had destroyed the Echo, she had been able to feel its grief and despair. The Harvester nodded in response. "Why did she attack my people then?"
[Not only anger and resentment can generate an Echo, but also other emotions such as despair or grief. In most universes, that girl suffers an accident in her childhood that gets her stranded in a hostile dimension, separating her from her loved ones. While there are many scenarios in which she manages to leave the hellish place she ended in, that particular Echo corresponds to a version of her who not only failed to escape but also completely lost her sanity in her struggle to survive. When she inevitably met her end, in her broken mind there were no friends or enemies, only prey and predators.]
"So, Echoes are not only dangerous, but some of them are also suffering simply for existing," Sectonia understood, lamenting that girl's fate. "I hope that, if that girl is alive in our universe, her life has been more fortunate," she wished.
"How can we put an end to this?" Meta Knight asked the machine, determined.
[I must be disconnected. However, that is something I cannot do by myself. That is why I brought you here. It took me several attempts, but I finally was able to create and stabilize a connection to the crystal that corresponds to your universe.]
"Very well," the Meta Knight agreed without further thought. It looked like a simple task, especially since they were already there. "How do we shut you down?"
[That is not possible at this moment,] the machine began to respond.
"Why is this type of stuff never easy?" the Star Warrior lamented, frustrated. What kind of condition would they have to meet in order to disconnect the machine? An arduous mission to retrieve some artefacts? Fight a series of strong foes who serve as protectors of the system?
[With my creators absent, there is only one method to shut me down in a way all the universes currently affected by the Echoes would not suffer consequences. The person charged with this task must be someone whose existence is essential to all universes, someone whose birth marks a change in the course of destiny, someone capable of inspiring others to be the best versions of themselves...]
"I think I know where this is going," Meta Knight anticipated.
[...and that person is Kirby.]
Meta Knight couldn't help but sigh in defeat upon hearing that. Why did Kirby always have to bear the heaviest burdens? He deserved an untroubled childhood.
[Kirby...] the Harvester began to say, longing reflected in her voice. [Such a good, pure, and innocent soul shouldn't have to carry such a burden, but at the same time, I don't think there's a better option for this. I wish I had been able to contact a world where he wasn't an infant, so we wouldn't have to endanger both himself and his guardian.]
"Does Tiff have to come too?" Meta Knight asked.
[Yes, since your universe's Kirby is highly dependent on her,] the Harvester confirmed. [I don't like the idea of exposing children to danger, but I can't predict whether I'll ever be able to contact another outsider before my system collapses or not. Right now, you're my only hope,] she stated.
"How would Kirby and his guardian be in danger? This place doesn't seem hostile," Sectonia asked in order to know what they were up against.
[Predicting what will happen in the 'Void in Between' is beyond my capabilities, but it's more than likely that Echoes will attack you the moment you try to do anything against the system their existence depends on, as they will consider you a direct threat,] the Harvester warned.
Hearing this, Sectonia and Meta Knight looked at each other doubtfully. If it were up to them, they would gladly accept the machine's request, but if Kirby and Tiff had to be involved, they had to consider it. Sectonia didn't even know them personally, so she didn't consider that she should play a part in that decision, leaving it in Meta Knight's hands.
Was risking children's lives for the sake of the universe the right thing? Meta Knight had already faced that moral dilemma a year ago, when he had thrown Kirby, Tiff, and Tuff straight into danger's arms by taking them directly to eNeMeE's fortress. Back then, he had ended said dilemma by telling himself, "Kirby is the only one who can bring an end to this nightmare, and it must be done now, or we'll lose our only chance." And if he had to take Kirby with him, there was no way Tiff and Tuff wouldn't follow the puffball; therefore, he hadn't even suggested they could stay behind. Not to mention that with eNeMeE determined to destroy Dream Land, the Ebrum siblings would have been in just as much danger staying home as they had been in space.
Now Meta Knight faced a similar dilemma again, but this time the stakes were much higher. The scene of WolfWrath attacking that girl flashed back into his mind. If he refused to help the Harvester, how many more would suffer? What if their own world was attacked by a creature from another reality that they didn't know how to fight or even have the means to defeat?
[Please, I can't let the universes and the people who live in them suffer. I'll do whatever it takes to save them all,] the Harvester begged, sensing his doubt. Her plea felt genuine. Shehad even crossed her fingers in prayer.
"It seems like it's the only way to stop this tragedy," the Star Warrior thought.
"This decision is not mine to make. However, I'll go back and tell Kirby and Tiff about your situation. Knowing them, they'll come to your aid despite the danger," Meta Knight finally decided.
[Thank you. It's a relief to hear that,"] the Harvester replied, placing a hand on her chest.
"And you can count on me," Sectonia volunteered. "I swore I would dedicate my body and soul to protecting my people. I believe that includes shutting down a machine that could cause the destruction of all universes, including ours," she explained.
"Your help is more than welcome," Meta Knight thanked. "How much time do we have to prepare?" he asked the Harvester.
[I can't tell. Although time doesn't naturally flow in this dimension, the corruption continues to spread. The longer you take to come back here, the more catastrophes will occur in other dimensions, and the risk of yours suffering one will increase,] she answered. [A couple of days in your world may be fine, but if you wait more, who knows what could happen?]
"Calling reinforcements from the GSA is out of the question, then. They'd take too long to arrive," Meta Knight lamented.
"It's no problem. We can handle this," Sectonia tried to encourage him. "But how will we return to the 'Void In Between' from our world?" she wanted to know.
[Now that Meta Knight is a registered user in my system, he can use the crystals to enter and exit this dimension at will,] the Harvester explained. [But before you two leave, I must make another request,] she added. Both Sectonia and Meta Knight looked at them in confusion. What else would the Harvester want from them? [I need you to return the other two crystals that Echo took with her, as you are not going to need them.]
"Well, that is not possible at this moment," Sectonia replied awkwardly.
The Harvester made a strange movement with her head, as if Sectonia had just said something that had caught her off guard.
[You didn't bring them with you...] the machine guessed.
"I left them behind when that portal swallowed us," the spider admitted. "Is it a bad thing?"
For a few seconds, a strange tension took over the area. It was like the Harvester didn't know how to react to what Sectonia had said. Meta Knight studied the machine with intrigue. Why had she reacted in such fashion? What would she be thinking or calculating?
[No, it's fine. You can return them to this dimension when you bring Kirby and his guardian,] the Harvester broke the tension. [The crystals pose no danger, as they can only be used as keys to enter and exit the Void In Between by registered users. Still, if they fall into the wrong hands, the information they contain may bring your world many troubles. It's best that they be in their proper place, especially if you intend on disconnecting me,] the machine explained.
"I see. Don't worry, we'll return them," Sectonia said. Beside her, Meta Knight bowed his head thoughtfully, his eyes glowing green.
"Harvester, could you register Sectonia as a user too?" Meta Knight suddenly asked. Both the machine and the spider stared at him, puzzled by the sudden request. "If we get overwhelmed by the power or number of Echoes, we'll have to retreat and call for reinforcements. We're more likely to get Kirby and Tiff safely out of the Void In Between for a second try if Sectonia can also use the crystals," he exposed his reason.
[But if you retreat without shutting me down, the corruption will continue to spread...] the Harvester protested in dismay.
"Although it's by no means an ideal scenario, wasting time would still be better than losing our lives and therefore the chance to disconnect you, right?" Meta Knight countered.
Again, the machine fell silent. It seemed that Meta Knight had cornered her with his reasoning.
[You're truly clever... That's something I had overlooked, despite it being a more than logical precaution to take. This kind of mistake is proof of my processing becoming more erratic,] the Harvester conceded in defeat. [Sectonia, hold the crystal, please,] they asked the aforementioned while Meta Knight handed her the item.
[New user detected. Granting access. Access granted,] Sectonia heard the machine say directly in her head. Their voice sounded more robotic and automatic than usual.
[And it's done,] the machine announced, speaking normally again. [Now, I would recommend you return to your world as soon as possible.]
"We only have to draw a star in the air to open a portal, right?" Meta Knight asked, just to be sure. The Harvester nodded. "Is there anything else we should keep in mind when using the crystals as a key?"
"You must clearly think about the place you want to land while tracing the portal, or it will drop you off at a random location," the Harvester instructed.
"Could we even end up on another planet or in space?" Meta Knight questioned.
"Yes. That's why you must be very specific. You must also be quick to cross: these portals will close after a few seconds."
"Understood. One last thing: is there any risk of us getting trapped here if, for example, an Echo or system glitch were to revoke our permission to use the crystals?" the Star Warrior insisted.
Sectonia couldn't help but wonder about what Meta Knight was doing. His attitude had changed since the Harvester had demanded the crystals back. She understood his caution given the machine's strange reaction, but the way he was asking looked way too much like an interrogation. Was he checking for possible escape routes?
[No. Remember, my system isn't just science: it's also magic. You could say that by giving you the status of 'user', you're not being granted permission but the power to use the crystals. Furthermore, to prevent anyone from getting stuck here, my creators made sure that this power couldn't be taken away by anything in my system, and that includes any Echo who might try to force its removal,] the Harvester clarified. Even though she were trying to contain those emotions, there was a certain tinge of frustration and impatience in her voice.
Was she acting like that because, from her point of view, Meta Knight was wasting time on what they considered unnecessary questions, or was it irritation at being forced to answer something she didn't want to?
[Not even shutting me down will make a user lose the ability to utilise the crystals,] the Harvester said, ending her exposition with the answer to a question that hadn't been asked yet.
"That's good to know. Sorry for insisting so much about this when we are short on time, but if after saving all the universes I couldn't get Kirby, Tiff, and Sectonia out of here, I would never be able to forgive myself," Meta Knight apologised, making an effort to sound relieved.
That sounded like a reasonable reason to "pressure" the Harvester, but Sectonia was certain that the Star Warrior had an ulterior motive behind his questions.
[Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that you wouldn't have any trouble getting in and out of here. Yet another proof of how erratic my processing has become...] the machine said in a more appeased tone. [Well, if you're done with your questions, I think it's time to say goodbye.]
"Sectonia, do you want to do the honors?" Meta Knight turned to her.
"Of course," she answered, understanding Meta Knight's words as an invitation for her to use the new power she had been granted.
[I hope to see you again soon. I'm counting on you,] the Harverst said, in a hopeful tone.
"Planet Pop Star. Floralia. Coordination point for the rebuilding process. Meeting room," Sectonia thought as she drew each stroke. When she was done, a star-shaped portal opened again in front of them. Neither she nor Meta Knight hesitated to cross it back to their reality.
Bandee's nervous relief greeted them at the other side of the portal.
"Sectonia, Meta Knight! You're back!" the Sectra Dee exclaimed. "What happened? Are you okay? What was the thing that swallowed you?" He assaulted them with questions.
"Calm down and I'll tell you," Sectonia patiently requested. Bandee patted his face a few times to ease his nerves.
Sectonia briefed his assistant on what had happened, who got quite anxious upon realising the danger everyone was in. Meanwhile, Meta Knight had picked up one of the crystals from the table and had traced a star in the air, but nothing happened. He tried again, using different sizes, yet it was to no avail. The Star Warrior nodded, having confirmed what he wanted to test.
"Sectonia, I think the situation may be more complicated than we believe," Meta Knight stated in a stern tone.
"How can the end of all universes get even more complicated?!" Bandee retorted, his anxiety rising.
Sectonia, on the other hand, remained calm and waited for Meta Knight's explanation. She knew the Star Warrior had noticed something she had missed due to her lack of information about the machines made by the ancient civilisation he had spoken about.
"According to what I read, the programming of those machines forces them to never lie to their users, but Arthur told me that the Ancestors' creations must be treaded carefully," the Star Warrior affirmed. "My instinct tells me that even if the Harvester has told us the truth, we shouldn't blindly trust her."
"Do you think she might be plotting something?" Sectonia intuited.
"I'm not sure, but if the war taught me anything, it's that it never hurts to be cautious when dealing with this kind of stuff," Meta Knight answered. "While the Harvester's desire to save all the universes feels genuine, some of her reactions were very strange, even suspicious. It could be just her 'erratic processing', as she said, but I got the feeling that she is hiding something."
"So he was indeed checking for escape routes with those questions," Sectonia understood.
"Then, the machine isn't entirely trustworthy, but at the same time, they haven't lied about the catastrophes... How can we solve a problem like this?" Bandee asked, somewhat overwhelmed.
"Tell me, Meta Knight. You're not planning on retreating back to our dimension if things go wrong, are you?" Sectonia guessed, looking first at the crystal in the Star Warrior's hand and then back at him.
"You are correct. Since reinforcements would take way too long to arrive in our reality, I thought I'd ask for help from the four heroes of the dimension I've been observing so closely," the Star Warrior admitted. "Whether the threat is the Echoes or the machine itself, I trust they'll help us get out of this predicament. Also, in case we got chased by something, I think the other dimension is better equipped to deal with this kind of danger than ours currently is."
"In that case, why not go there and ask for their help directly?" Bandee suggested the quickest and most obvious solution.
"Because I just tested what the Harvester said about the crystals being just keys to the Void in Between, and it doesn't seem possible to open a portal to the other dimension directly from our own. To reach it, we must cross to the 'Void in Between' first, and this would expose my evacuation plan," Meta Knight replied.
"I see... Well, given that the situation is this dire, I want to go with you too!" Bandee offered.
"No, Bandee. Someone has to take care of Floralia in my absence, so I need you here." Sectonia rejected him. The Sectra Dee shook his head effusively, opposing the idea of his leader risking her life alone. "Don't worry, I don't intend to die during this mission. I trust you to lead the Resistance well until I return," she assured him.
"You want me to lead the Resistance?!" the Sectra Dee exclaimed, flabbergasted.
"Yes. You are loyal, brave, and diligent, and you know my way of thinking and acting. I can't think of a better person for this role," Sectonia praised him. "My conscience will only be at peace during this odyssey if you take on this task in my absence."
"Golly, it's a lot of responsibility. But if you believe in me, I'll do my best!" Bandee finally accepted, with renewed energy.
Suddenly, Sectonia felt very weak. She even had to hold onto a nearby chair to avoid falling.
"Are you okay?!" Bandee asked in concern.
"Yes. It's nothing. I just feel very tired. We've been investigating for days with barely any rest, and this trip to that 'in-between' dimension has taken its toll," Sectonia assured her assistant as she sat down in the chair, allowing herself to slump into it to rest.
"Then the first thing we must do is to get a good night's rest," Meta Knight decided. He, too, felt exhausted and had a slight but annoying headache since crossing that portal. "It would be unwise to embark on an air journey of several hours with our bodies and minds in this state, especially with what lies ahead."
"Bandee, tell Petunia to make us one of her relaxing teas, please," Sectonia asked her second-in-command. "It will help us fall asleep."
"Aye!" he exclaimed before running to fulfil his leader's request.
"Tomorrow we'll contact the GSA. While we can't expect their help, we have to tell them what's going on. Then we'll prepare the trip to Dream Land and get everything ready to disconnect the Harverster," Meta Knight continued, still making plans. "We'll leave at night to arrive at our destination in the morning."
At first, Meta Knight had planned to extend his stay in Floralia as long as possible. His ininital intent had been arriving into Dream Land just before midnight so that the King wouldn't be able to say, "Hey, you've taken longer than we agreed," and decide to admonish him in some way. In the end, he would surprise Dedede with an admirable display of punctuality, showing up there first time in the morning.
Truthfully, reuniting with the king wasn't something he was particularly excited about. After watching the other Dedede for a few days, returning to the one he knew was going to be a bit unpleasant. "Now that I know what he could have become if he had taken a different path in his life, I don't know if I should hate him or pity him..." he thought bitterly.
Meta Knight held the crystal with resolution. With so much at stake, he couldn't let himself be swayed by envy or desire. He was willing to do anything to save everyone he cared about, and that included their alternate selves.
[And that's why he's perfect for my vision.]
When the ancient machine is sus.
Those of you who guessed "Star Dream" were partially correct, as it's a very similar, yet different, machine. I was heavily debating until the end whether to use they/them or she/her for the Harvester. I finally decided to stick with she/her because it was more faithful to the Spanish version.
I think the next chapter will be the last one before returning to the fic's present.