Assault (Red vs Blue)

18: Key To The World

18: Key To The World

Present Day: Jungle Temple (Unsettled territory; the planet Chorus)

After ending the radio transmission with the assault team, Carolina and the rest of the freelancers rejoined Tucker, Caboose and Dr. Grey in the center of the temple. The three of them had been examing and questioning the alien A.I. — which Caboose had named Santa — non-stop for the last fifteen minutes. Maine had been standing by the trio seeming more unamused than Carolina had ever seen him. Even Sigma, who had appeared next to his host's head, looked a bit annoyed. She didn't even think it was possible for an artificial intelligence program to get annoyed; yet it was happening right in front of her.

However, as soon as the freelancers rejoined the group, Tucker stopped focusing on the A.I. and looked at him. "So what's the word from the attack team?"

"Kimball decided to move ahead with the assault. Judging by where they were when we ended the transmission, they should be reaching Crash Site Alpha any minute now," Carolina answered.

"Then it sounds like we gotta hurry," Tucker concluded. "If they're already almost to Alpha, we gotta move."

"Are you all sure there is no end to your current questions?" Santa asked. "I am here to answer any inquiries you might have."

Grey seemed to be almost vibrating with excitement. "You have no idea — there's still so much I wanna ask!"

Church crossed his arms and looked at her. "Okay, calm down, doc. Let's not start foaming at the mouth or anything. We'll have plenty of time to ask the alien A.I. questions later."

The doctor put her hands defiantly on her hips as she looked back at him. "Excuse me, but I can foam wherever and whenever I want, thank you very much. You have no idea how exciting this is!"

"No, I have a pretty good idea of how important and kinda exciting this is. But we don't have time to go nuts over this right now."

"But there's so much we could learn! There's still so many questions to ask! There's so much to learn! And I wanna know everything! This could change how we understand alien history!"

The A.I. cleared his throat. "If I may, I'll explain the history of my creators very briefly. The legacy my creators left behind isn't only confined to our current planetary location. All of their history and technology was left behind and scattered all throughout the galaxy for future generations to find. This planet, the one you call Chorus, was one of great importance to my creators. It is here that they stored many of their most valued treasures."

"Whoa, hold up. What kind of treasures are we talking about here?" Tucker asked curiously. "Are we talking like some Indiana Jones Golden Island-type treasures?" He paused for a moment, then almost as if he made some sort of realization, he groaned. "Wait, is it really some metaphorical stuff like 'The real treasure was the power of friendship all along'? Because if that's what it is, than I'm out."

"That is hardly the case," Santa informed the aqua clad soldier; though his words were also directed at the other members of the group. "Before they departed the planet, my creators bequeathed many gifts to the members of your species. You'll find each one locked away safely within a temple. Captain Lavernius Tucker, you have triggered what's known as the Temple of Arms. With unlocking its power, you have reactivated combat vehicles, various pieces of weaponry, and a myriad of other technological models from a time that's long since past. The gifts found in this temple are merely a small fraction of those left behind by my creators."

"How fascinating!" Grey exclaimed. "That information is absolutely amazing!"

"Wait, I have a question," Tucker said. "If these gifts were left behind for us to find and use, than why were they ever turned off?"