Stars that Fall to Earth

We Meet Again!

Spruce's POV...

All of this looks almost exactly like the interior of the Lor Starcutter... What's with it and Halcandrans and all this lack of variety? Although it really is most luxurious...

I don't even want to know, Meta Knight.
Let's check out Falspar. He's been quiet.

AAAAAAAAAAAA-

Aaaaaand we stop there.

How about Arthur? He's seems kinda calm...
I glance at him, but his eyes are twitching violently and his right foot is tapping the ground at least 15 times a second.

...On second thought maybe not.

I open my mind, letting everyone else's merge with it.
Spruce.
I look over to where Terry is.
I'm scared.
I mouth my words.
Don't be.
He furrows his brow, and stares at one of the doors.
I thought I saw a ghost.
I tilt my head in curiosity, but before Terry could explain, Augustine chimes in.

"Alright. I'm sorry if you're emotionally ruined, but that's the procedure that prepares you to enter the research facility." He beckons us to another door, and leads us into a vast hallway, elaborating the details.

"You see, the virus kinda... 'runs off of happiness.' It's a bit hard to explain, really. All we know about it is that the thing's kinda artificial, and it's being controlled by... something or someone. In addition to that, it's also made of Dark Matter from someone who has... 'experiences' with something Time Travel related. So it can do that too."

We all kinda stop for a moment to take it in.

"Time Traveling diseases. Just what this galaxy needed. What else? Giant flying snakes?" Falspar says.

"Don't jinx it." Arthur scolds, his eyes wide.
"No giant flying snakes so far. Although, some of the afflicted who's a bit more... strong than most have been experiencing greater pains than those who are weaker. It's like it's targeting specific-" Augustine is interrupted by Evangeline, who's just kinda... Randomly appeared somehow and is now whispering something to him, and rushing back to where she came from.

"Wait. Bring her here." Augustine quickly orders.
She nods, and rushes past the corner, not uttering a single word.

After a few seconds, she returns.

"Erm... where is sh-"

"I told you that wouldn't be the last time we'd meet, Augustine."

We all turn to see a rose-red Star Warrior with sky blue eyes.

"Oh hi, Rosie." Augustine says a bit casually.

Falspar quickly pulls out a plastic comb and swiftly brushes over his red mohawk.

What a weirdo.

Unfortunately, it's enough to catch the eye of Rosie, but luckily, not even close to charming her.

"Ok, all that aside now I need your help." She says briskly to shut Falspar out. "I was assigned to Dark Meta Knight, but I got a little notification that something's in the ventilation system, and it's headed towards the room now. But don't worry, I set up the laser grids in all the chambers, so yeah." She says, impatiently tapping her foot.

"How big is it?" Augustine asks, staring at the vent above his head.

"30 pounds. 13.6078 kilograms." She says in her weird accent. Now that I think of it, it sounds a lot like Meta Knight's... But spicier.

"Hmmm..." Augustine begins to stare at the mysterious masked knight for a while.

"That's approximately the weight of a Star Warrior wearing Armor." He quickly says, returning his gaze to Rosie.

"...How did you know?" Opala asks, a bit mind-blown.

"I'll probably explain later, but for now, we've got other problems. Right?" He turns to Rosie, who's actually paying attention.

"Mhm."

We visit a lot of the chambers where they treat the victims. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. Most of them are sleeping peacefully on a really nice and comfy looking bed. Others are playing checkers with the attendants. Some are even chatting with each other.

After a while of touring the place, Rosie breaks the silence. "How did you guys get here?"
"Meta Knight has a ship." Augustine says, his eyelids tiredly drooping. "And when was the last time you slept?" She asks with a raised brow.

"Don't know don't care. Do you have any coffee or tea?" He says, shaking his head. "Yeah. But you're not getting any." She says, flicking his face. "Aw. Oh well. But how did you get here?" He asks, eyeing a small sofa in another lounge.

"Well, I was assigned to Truvius a lil while ago, and the facility has been kinda using me as a spy. Only to record the happenings in Del and all that. So traveling's not a problem." Rosie says, her eyes scanning the hall.

"Oh. Cool. Um... Can I ask who your father is?" Augustine says, twitching his fingers.
"Lieutenant General Curry."
Augustine stops in his tracks with a thousand-mile-stare on his eyes.
"Did you know him personally?" She asks.
He doesn't respond, and he's still kinda frozen to the ground. We all stare at him, not really knowing how to feel.

"...Curry was one of my closest friends during the war. He went on a mission with me to Del." He brings his gaze to Rosie.
"Is he alive?"
"Well, yeah! Would you like to-"
"Yes, please." Augustine overlaps, breathing heavily.
"Oh. We'll actually have to see him later. Since we've got important problems at hand. That's ok, right?" She says, twiddling her thumbs.

"Yeah. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit unresponsive at the moment. This... This is a lot to take in for me..." He says, laughing a bit.

She nods, and continues down the hall. After more explaining of procedures and methods of treatment, we finally arrive at DMK's chamber.

He's rocking out on a piano with no mask or armor. Just gloves.

I kinda want to read his mind, but don't really care at the same time. How complicated.

He doesn't see us though.
"Why isn't he looking at us?" I ask Augustine.
"It's a one-way mirror. Only we can see him so he doesn't feel uncomfortable."

"Um... Augustine? Do you hear that?" Terry blurts.

He perks his head up to listen.

clang....
clang....
CLANG.

Meta Knight, Arthur and Falspar ready their blades.

But nothing really happens...

Except in Dark Meta Knight's room.

A magenta lance tip forcefully pokes through the ceiling, and carves an opening...