The command center that was once filled with numerous green workers was empty and dimly lit as a projection of the larger primary holo-monitor flickered. Kaito stood frozen at its center, the faint blue glow washing over his face as the footage played again from a drone's distant perspective as nebula-like essence flared around his body shifting colors. His mouth opened, but the words came out broken.
"S–So you're saying …that right there… is a celestial guardian inside me?" He stammered, barely able to process what he was seeing.
Astra sat a few steps behind him at her large chair, her four eyes watching his reaction.
"Yes." She replied dryly.
Finn didn't say anything. Heck, he couldn't. His eyes were locked on the screen, watching something inside effortlessly absorb the guardian they'd nearly died fighting. Kaeline's surprise showed only briefly. Almost immediately, her gaze sharpened, tracking every frame as if she were dissecting the footage piece by piece. Elysia, on the other hand, clasped her hands together, eyes wide with barely contained excitement.
The footage continued as the being spoke, its female voice layered with Kaito's mentioning Lyra, Sylas's brother, And a man who sought to destroy her universe. Next played the scene when Sylas was restrained midair by the same crystal abilities the guardian used moments before Astra's clones swarmed in with their metallic rope-like arms lashing out to contain him until one arm broke free. A massive blast of purple essence shot from the same hand. The screen shook violently as the blast tore through the sky right before the drone feed cut to static.
The holo-monitor flickered then fizzled out. The command center lights flicked on. Astra lifted one arm and gestured toward the massive viewport lining the far wall.
"Observe."
Kaito turned slowly to see what remained of the moon beyond the glass.
"…That was the result of that final blast." She said calmly.
Kaito's breath hitched. His knees felt weak.
"I did that…?" He thought to himself in a sweat.
His throat tightened. No matter how hard he tried to swallow the anxiety away, it wouldn't go down.
"I… I don't remember any of this." He muttered out, voice trembling.
"I know." Astra replied.
She paused.
"I am required to submit your status as a yoki to the higher ranks of the rangers."
Kaito stiffened.
"But…" She continued, her tone shifting just slightly.
"Doing so may place you in greater danger than silence."
Finn finally spoke.
"Danger? Danger from who? I thought the rangers were trustworthy."
Astra's four crimson eyes drifted to the viewport glass.
"That was the case before. But the rangers have changed over the cycles. The influence of the Accord has begun to seep into their core as well. The same ones who seek to find you."
Her long porcelain fingers curled subtly.
"That was not what he intended when he created them."
Kaito snapped his head toward her.
"…He created…?"
Astra met his gaze.
"Yes. The same man whose shadow still looms over the stars. The founder of the rangers. The first King of the Stars …Orion Stormrider."
Kaito's eyes widened and a chill ran down each of his limbs as he repeated the name under his breath.
"Orion… Stormrider…"
The weight of the name still hung in the air and just for a moment—just a moment—a child-like excitement flickered in his chest. The same feeling he felt when Farro spoke of the tales when he was a kid. The first King of the Stars. The founder of the rangers. And now there's a name.
It's real. He's real.
That excitement didn't last though...
"There's something else I forgot to mention." Astra said calmly.
Kaito turned toward her.
"I did not allow Elara to view the footage you just saw nor any recordings of you throughout the examinations as per request of Elysia before the exams began."
Kaito blinked.
"…What?"
"Despite that, she'll likely be informed by Sylas and Nara as they speak so take that how you may."
His head snapped to the side at Elysia.
"Why didn't you allow her to see? She's a part of the crew too, you know?"
Elysia met his confused gaze. Her green eyes were soft and gentle, like they always are for him. But behind that screen was a coldness that could hardly be controlled.
"That's because Elara is not our ally Kaito dear" She replied evenly.
"She may be our captain right now, but that cannot remain the case if we're going to achieve our goals. And if we intend to save Aqua, then she is our enemy. One does not share valuable information with an enemy."
She giggled softly.
"Especially one we already know we'll have to face."
Kaito's chest tightened. He wanted to argue with her and tell her that she's wrong, but she wasn't. The logic behind it all made sense. His gaze dropped to the floor, thoughts colliding and spiraling in his brain like bumper cars. He tried to speak, tried to form a simple sentence, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. His breaths came in shallow and uneven. His vision began to blacken at the edges, seemingly pulsating with his rising heart rate.
But then two warm pink hands pressed gently against his cheeks. He flinched slightly as Elysia lifted his head, forcing him to meet her eyes.
"It's okay." She said, smiling softly.
"You're okay. We're okay Kaito dear."
Her voice wrapped around him like a blanket.
"We'll defeat the captain together. We'll save Aqua. And then we'll uncover the truth about the guardian inside you."
Her thumbs brushed lightly along his jaw.
"I'm the shield to your sword… remember?" She whispered.
"No matter what happens, I won't let anything hurt you."
The tension in his chest eased enough for him to speak clearer.
"…I… I remember. Okay… okay. Thank you Elysia." He aired out.
Behind them, Kaeline spoke up
"I would like the footage of everything involving Kaito and Finn throughout the exams."
Astra paused.
"I will release Finn's recordings immediately, though Kaito's will require his consent."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…It's fine."
Astra nodded.
"I will transmit them directly to your license through an encrypted message."
Kaeline bowed slightly.
"Thank you."
Astra acknowledged the gesture with a faint nod.
"I have also received new information." She added.
Kaito looked up.
"…About what?"
Her eyes flicked toward him.
"It appears Sylas has requested to join Elara's crew and she has accepted."
The words blindsided him.
"…What?" He whispered.
Finn stiffened beside him, shock flashing across his face, until something clicked. Elysia chuckled softly echoing what he thought.
"My, my, it seems our great captain is already trying to replace you." She said softly.
Kaito's fists clenched.
"She's wasting no time. It won't be long before she starts searching for a new doctor and cook next. She'll likely once we arrive in Starfall City."
As if summoned by the words—
Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed from the far door of the command center.
Astra turned.
"Enter."
The door hissed open. Ari'Va stepped inside, followed closely by Elara, Nara, and Sylas.
"I've brought the individuals you requested ma'am." Ari'Va said.
"Thank you." Astra replied.
She turned back to Kaito.
"I will be in contact with you after your battle. I would like to speak to you about a few things."
Kaito nodded.
"Same…I'd like to speak again too. And… thank you. For everything." He said quietly.
Astra nodded her head slightly. He turned and walked toward the exit with Finn, Elysia, and Kaeline. The two groups passed each other in silence.
No words.
No glances.
Not even the slightest bit of acknowledgment of their existences.
The door hissed shut behind them as they exited the room.
A little while later in the same elevator he, Finn, and Nara arrived at the station in, Kaito stood alone near the glass staring out at the rust-colored planet with green waters scattered across its surface below. His gaze shifted to just beyond it where the remaining chunks of the shattered moon hung.
The moon he destroyed… or whatever is inside him.
Questions rattled endlessly in his head. Too many of them to even dwell on one for even a few moments.
The elevator stopped and the doors hissed open. As it did, every single thought stopped in its tracks.
Standing just beyond the door were two clones of Kaeline and right in front them… was her.
"Aqua…?"