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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

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【VAF】Chapter║: 30 ─ Returning to the Beginning

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Two hours later Naole is awake and his Crystal Armour is fully repaired after making direct contact with the Spirit Stone

Naole stands before the Crystalorb Council of Elders to give his final report as Governor of the Crystalorb Moon and Guardian of the Crystalorb Engineering Division.

Naole : " I've often wondered if longevity is a blessing or a curse; Perhaps it's both! My spirit is tired of these endless wars. I hunger for peace. I hunger for simple pleasures. The Spirit Stone senses this in me. The Spirit Stone believes that on some level I want to die, to join those who've already crossed over. The Spirit Stone wants me to leave because even though I feel like I'm no longer needed; the Crystal Source feels that my function as Envoy of the Forbidden is still necessary. I am an Envoy of the Forbidden. I now understand that my life may not be my own. A part of me died 261 years ago, and when I was reborn I brought with me the energy of the Forbidden. The Spirit Stone believes that when I return, I will have an opportunity to begin again." brief pause "The Spirit Stone has recognized the danger posed by the debris of thousands of destroyed ships in a decaying orbit around Earth, and the Crystal Source has instructed me to call upon its power to solve this problem. In a moment Cobalt will pick me up, together we will call upon the power of the Crystal Source, and use it to prevent this impending disaster." pause "When I leave Crystalorb, I will not return for at least 500 years. Only the Spirit Stone knows where I'm going, and the Crystal Source will not reveal my location unless it's of critical importance. We don't have advanced stasis technology that could prevent me from experiencing 500 years of sleep, but I will use one of our Containment capsules that is not connected to the Crystalorb Network. I've also built a modified version of the Casara Class Cruiser called AFS Cada A2286C. This particular ship will serve as my transport, but the variant will serve as a long range scouting ship. The variant is designed to be able to operate with a minimal crew, and I will be the only passenger of the Cada." pause "Please, don't try to look for me! However if something goes wrong and you need to find me; I'm returning to the Beginning!"

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Moments later Naole and Cobalt went into orbit around Earth with a Fragment of the Spirit Stone.

Cobalt : " I take it you have a plan?"

Naole : " I do! Bring us close to Indigo's debris"

Cobalt : " Will do Sir!" the ship accelerates towards Indigo's debris "His brain was taken, and his soul has along with others been joined to the Spirit Stone. What do you want with his body?"

Naole : " Indigo was not born, but made. Indigo's Crystal is my Crystal! It came from me, and it remains connected to me. Therefore the Crystal remains alive as long as I'm alive."

Cobalt : " I get it! We're here sir!"

Naole : " Good! Let's begin" Naole then uses his Chest Crystal to connect to Cobalt's systems "I call upon the power of Guardian past! The power of the Crystal Source! Mighty Spirits hear my call!"

Cobalt : " I feel something!"

Naole : " Heart of Crystalorb! Heart of the people! I call upon your sacred power! I call upon your divine light!"

Guardian Naole begins to channel the power of the Spirit Stone, increasing Cobalt's energy output exponentially

Cobalt : " The Spirit Stone is doing this?"

Electrical energy begins to emerge from Cobalt's Energy Weapons Crystals connecting to the fragments of Crystals from Indigo, and the energy brings the Crystals back to life forming millions of spherical Crystals of various sizes. Then Naole used the Blue spherical Crystals to absorb all the debris around them, and this caused the spherical Crystals to grow larger. As the spherical Crystals grew in size they began to absorb the wrecks of larger ships, and that cleared all debris threatening earth.

With the Fragment of the Spirit Stone in had Naole's energy output increases making the electrical energy connected to the spherical Crystals rise, and the spherical Crystals begin to divide into smaller spherical Crystals until there were billions of 0.2 m spherical Crystals. The spherical Crystals then begin to collide with Cobalt's skin, and the collisions cause the spherical Crystals to be absorbed by Cobalt's skin. This was causing Cobalt to change and grow.

When the process was complete Cobalt had been transformed into:

1〙 55km in length, 2〙 7.3km maximum height, 3〙 9km maximum width, 4〙 Enhanced weapon systems, 5〙 3 layer 800m thick Refractive-Reflective Skin/Hull; the first 2 layers were 240m thick, and the third 320m thick.

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Naole returns control back to Cobalt, and Cobalt comes to terms with the changes that have occurred.

Naole : " It will take a while before all the new systems are fully integrated, but the advanced metals from Migon BattleSphere Armour will give you unique capabilities. You will watch over them now."

Cobalt : " But I feel so heavy!"

Naole : " Indigo's Crystal is denser than yours, but you'll get used to it. All of Indigo's power has been preserved in you. You will now wield my power in my name. Find someone in my bloodline who's compatible enough to be your partner. It doesn't have to be a perfect fit like with me; it just has to be close enough to work."

Cobalt : " I understand!"

Naole : " Goodbye my young friend; I will return for you."

Cobalt : " I will be waiting!"

Naole : " Until then!"

Naole leaves Cobalt for the AFS Cada A2286C.

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Onboard the O'con Federation command ship Ambassador Timal and Ambassador Cuvil of the Andronian Federation were observing Naole's activities.

Amb-Cuvil : " So this is the true power of their Crystal Source?"

Amb-Timal : " Yes!"

Amb-Cuvil : " The speed with which the Crystals absorbs other materials is astounding."

Amb-Timal : " When they come of age they will be a power like no other."

Amb-Cuvil : " If they survive! Protecting them will be incredibly difficult!"

Amb-Timal : " Yes! We will do all we can to keep them alive long enough for them to become what they're meant to be!"

They receive a communications channel from Naole.

Naole : " The time for my departure has arrived. Could I trouble your Excellency for an escort?"

Amb-Timal : " I'll despatch a BattleGroup immediately."

Naole : " Thank you Excellency."

Amb-Cuvil : " Do you really have to go?"

Naole : " I have to your Excellency. If I stay, I will die! And that will not serve the needs of my people because I would have failed in my mission as their Envoy of the Forbidden. The true power of the Spirit Stone is the combined knowledge of the Crystalan dead! I'm the only thing outside the Spirit Stone that can link directly to the Crystalan dead. I'm a living manifestation of the Crystal Source! I finally understand that. My power was born as a result of an instability in the Chest Crystal, an instability that no longer exists. The current generations of Chest Crystals are balanced. I must therefore be preserved as insurance; I understand that now. When I return, I will have an opportunity to begin again."

Amb-Cuvil : " Having seen the power of your Crystal Source I understand why Crystalans have such faith in it; I hope that Crystalans survive long enough to be who you are meant to be. Have a good rest. We will be here when you return."

Amb-Timal : " Until the next time my friend."

Naole : " Until then your Excellency."

The AFS Cada A2286C and the O'con Federation BattleGroup disappear into hyperspace taking Naole with them.

At the designated location the AFS Cada A2286C separates from the O'con Federation BattleGroup and takes a route known only by Naole and the Spirit Stone.

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