The Black Lion - Pandora (Patreon)

Susan Storm, the Pathfinder – Pandora.

“I see you’ve all been busy,” Susan said with amusement as she read the report Emma had sent her regarding the political situation back home.

The White Queen nodded with her characteristic elegance, gently taking a sip from her glass before replying.

“That’s the understatement of the century, darling. Veridian is thriving, and so is Earth. Economic stability and security have had… interesting results, to say the least. Hermione has compiled the data from the Evans Healing Centers. Apparently, the number of pregnancies has quadrupled in less than a year. All of humanity is going through a baby boom the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” Emma said elegantly from her brand-new office in the Citadel.

Susan nodded distractedly, still focused on the interesting report while Emma continued her explanation.

“Evans Technologies and Cold International have officially become the first interplanetary human corporations. Potter Tech is quite close, but apparently James Potter will be focusing his efforts on the design and assembly of operational drones. They have many interesting designs, to be honest,” Emma said calmly, just like Susan, working from her own terminal.

The blonde scientist and leader of the exploration mission to the Alpha Centauri system.

“Potter technology is excellent. The Snitch and Bludger drones have been extremely useful for collecting samples throughout this solar system. We conducted several surveys in potential areas for deploying a space station to study the system. HERBIE has begun printing the station’s chassis, and we plan to deploy the first section in a month,” Susan said, sharing her report through the quantum communications link.

“More than enough time for the research on Pandora. You haven’t visited the moon yet, have you?” Emma asked distractedly.

Susan merely nodded and replied.

“No. We focused on the rest of the celestial bodies, leaving Pandora for last. We’ve detected large deposits of rare minerals. I’ve sent some sentinels to secure two deposits of Palladium and Iridium from nearby asteroids, but although these deposits are extremely valuable, they pale in comparison to this,” Susan said with a smile as she transmitted the data regarding her small discovery.

The blonde watched with amusement as the White Queen silently read the report, her eyebrows rising higher and higher while Emma opened and closed her mouth without uttering a single word.

“Reed is still incredulous and excited about the discovery, completely ecstatic. He named it Ubh-310, a room-temperature semiconductor with practically limitless capabilities. We’ve already theorized applications in superluminal communication hubs. It isn’t as important or efficient as Harrium, but it is certainly a material worth considering. However, we haven’t found any large deposits, only scattered samples throughout Alpha Centauri. According to the scanners, though, the greatest concentration is on Pandora,” Susan said completely naturally, making Emma slowly nod.

“I understand. That would certainly complicate things. So… will you begin the exploration of Pandora?” the White Queen asked curiously, making Susan gently nod.

“Yes. We’ve deployed probes to scan the nearby systems. We’ve detected an interesting planet fairly close to Alpha Centauri. Its size is similar to Earth, it has a twenty-seven-hour orbit, and apparently colossal deposits of Titanium. We’ve named it Reach,” Susan said with a smile, transmitting the data to the Citadel terminal.

Emma watched what was happening while gently nodding.

“Perfect, darling. I think that’s enough for now. I’ll classify Reach as a priority for colonization. The potential appears to be enormous,” the White Queen said, making Susan nod.

“Understood. We’ll begin the incursion into Pandora. I’ll keep you informed. Susan out,” the blonde scientist said, cutting the communication with Emma and once again focusing on the holographic interfaces displaying the projection of the fascinating moon in question.

The moment had apparently arrived.

“HERBIE, darling, open a communications channel across all frequencies. Transmit the code Harrison gave us for Ei’wa in Prothean and let’s wait for a response,” Susan said calmly as she took her seat in the command chair, which began levitating at the center of the bridge.

“Beginning contact, Mother. Uncle Reed has been informed and replied that he is on his way to the bridge with the rest of the team. E.T.A. seventy-four seconds and counting,” said the shrill, mechanical voice of the Pathfinder’s A.I., while its holographic projection appeared on the armrest of the throne, as usual, with its classic 1970s robot avatar, much to Susan’s amusement.

“Perfect sweetheart. Now… all we can do is wait,” the scientist said as she watched the interface with interest and anticipation, holding her breath while waiting for a response from the Prothean A.I.

Susan remained occupied rereading the preliminary reports while the Pathfinder moved into geosynchronous orbit, choosing a location near the Ubh-310 deposits on the planet.

The place was… simply beautiful, at least in the images collected by the Snitch drones. A beautiful, practically untouched ocean, fairly close to an immense and dense forest, with floating mountains that visibly thrilled the blonde.

She could barely contain her excitement, to be honest, genuinely longing to send an expedition to the moon’s surface.

Alas, Harrison’s orders had been clear: establish contact with Ei’wa before descending to the planet. This was the home of the Na’vi, and the Empire would respect it as such.

They were… sister races after all, Susan thought excitedly, remembering the wonderful and disturbing report concerning the last Prothean secrets, but that could wait.

Ei’wa had responded.

“Verification code received. Initiating first contact with Terran vessel. Welcome. Requesting designation of Terran vessel,” came the unmistakably feminine voice of Ei’wa.

“We receive you loud and clear, Ei’wa. We are aboard the exploration and research vessel designated Pathfinder, stationed in orbit around Pandora. We request the coordinates of your data center to begin the first-contact and hardware-recovery process. Awaiting response,” Susan said completely naturally.

Susan expected an immediate response, but to her surprise, that did not happen. Ei’wa seemed… hesitant when answering the blonde woman’s questions for some strange reason.

“What is the nature of your expedition to my home?” were the words the Prothean A.I. responded with, confusing Susan and the rest of the team, who had arrived on the bridge.

Susan looked confused, but simply shook her head and replied.

“The Pathfinder is a research and exploration vessel serving Harrison Evans. Our team explores the stars, eager for knowledge and adventure,” Susan said passionately, while the rest of the team gathered around their captain.

“Everything all right, Sue?” Reed asked curiously, frowning at the A.I.’s strange response.

However, before the blonde could answer, Ei’wa responded.

“You are a Terran, daughter of my creators, inheritors to everything they left behind… both the good and the bad. The Protheans were great scientists, privileged minds with impressive psionic abilities, creators of technological wonders, but they were also… violent, tyrannical conquerors who subjugated every species they considered inferior to themselves. This moon, the one you call… Pandora, has always been, is, and always will be Eywa'eveng, home not only to the Na’vi, but also to the Tulkun, as well as hundreds of thousands of native species of fauna and flora. All my children, MINE!” the A.I. roared as it displayed images of the impressive Na’vi in their natural habitat, all possessing an imposing physique, but… evidently primitive, at least technologically speaking.

However, the images changed, leaving behind the humanoid Na’vi, strange, yes, but slightly familiar after all, before focusing on another fascinating sapient species.

“They’re… beautiful,” Johnny whispered in absolute surprise, observing the hundreds of species inhabiting Pandora.

Eywa’eveng, Susan corrected herself, now having a vague idea of what was happening.

“We are not conquerors, Ei’wa. We did not come here to enslave and dominate the Na’vi or exploit this planet. We are simply explorers and scientists,” Sue said with determination, while Reed and the rest nodded behind her.

The A.I. remained silent for a long time before responding.

“The Black Lion claimed the Citadel. My programming orders me to submit before the Prothean Throne, before the will of Harrison Evans. The protocol was quite clear: the species that reached the Citadel first would dominate the rest of the galaxy. Thus was decreed by my creators thousands of years ago… do the Terrans not seek to expand their influence throughout the galaxy?” Ei’wa asked, her voice filled with doubt.

Sue immediately responded without hesitation.

“Of course we are expanding, but we are not subjugating the other races of the galaxy. There are billions of stars in the galaxy, more than enough space for everyone. We came here to satisfy our scientific curiosity, not to dominate the Na’vi or exploit your home,” the blonde said with determination.

At that, Ei’wa fell silent again, for much longer than before, causing the entire group to fall silent and hold their breath, anxiously awaiting the Prothean A.I.’s response.

“Sharing installation coordinates. Reactivating power to Outpost O-43. Awaiting Imperial personnel,” Ei’wa responded in a quiet and resigned voice, while the signal from the Prothean installation in question appeared… located right in…

“In the middle of the ocean? The Protheans built Ei’wa’s central hub on the moon’s seabed?” Ben asked incredulously.

Reed beside him nodded rapidly, murmuring to himself.

“It’s a logical position. The depth of the seabed guarantees a cold environment, necessary for such a massive data center as a planetary A.I. to function. It’s truly impressive, and look at that… our scanners are detecting hundreds of thousands of life signs near the installation. They’re large… the size of an Earth whale, all surrounding the installation in synchronization… evidently coordinated, sapient signals. Truly fascinating!” Reed murmured to himself excitedly, drawing the A.I.’s attention.

“Whale? What is a whale?” Ei’wa asked curiously, making the humans look at one another before sharing an image of a blue whale from Earth, a species that, thanks to the efforts of Harry and King Namor, was no longer endangered.

Something that, to Susan’s delight, was becoming increasingly common. The strict ecological conservation laws Harrison and the rest of the Council had implemented were merciless, and the punishments were exceedingly severe.

Susan still remembered the case of an old, stubborn American businessman who clung to his decadent power and fortune with everything he had, so desperate that he carried out illegal drilling operations in the Atlantic Ocean, causing a terrible oil spill.

Harrison and King Namor were able to contain the damage to a relatively small area, but the punishment was… capital.

Public execution, to the obvious satisfaction of both the Atlanteans and humans. Since that incident, ecological laws had been followed to the letter, and the results had begun to become truly noticeable.

But that was another story, because Sue’s attention returned to Ei’wa, who exclaimed with obvious excitement in her mechanical yet maternal voice.

“They resemble my beloved Tulkun!” Ei’wa said proudly, but before she could continue the conversation, another alarm sounded on the Command Bridge.

It was a transmission originating from the planet’s surface, near the magnificent floating mountains from before, but what was truly surprising was the… nature of the transmission.

It was coming through a quantum link, technology related to the Mass Effect.

“Doctor Storm! Unknown incoming transmission from the planet’s surface. A cyclic signal, matching a known parameter associated with the Nexus Council,” the communications officer said, making Susan frown.

And as if that were not enough…

“Oh… they’re still here? I thought they had died a long time ago,” Ei’wa said, the irritation in her voice more than evident to everyone involved, making Susan and the rest of the team stare at her in disbelief while Reed moved his fingers rapidly across his omni-tool.

“I’m isolating the signal and linking it to the data package Harrison sent us. The message says the same thing, but in various languages: Asari, Turian, Salarian, Quarian… an endless cycle. They all say the same thing, a distress signal. Give me a second,” Reed said, completely focused as he attempted to isolate the signal.

“Isolating the signal,” Reed said as he linked his omni-tool to the Pathfinder, displaying the words of the distress signal to everyone present.

“Mayday, mayday. This is Captain Aelana Vakarian requesting assistance. Our ship has been shot down. Mayday, mayday.”

“It’s a distress signal, Turian apparently, originating from a dense forest east of the ocean,” Reed said, transmitting the signal and making Ei’wa respond.

“I know where it is. The Forest of the Moon, near the Mother Tree. Those filthy invaders have been causing trouble for my children, the Omatikaya clan. They cut down my trees and hunt my children like beasts,” Ei’wa spat, furious at the mere notion that something was harming her children.

Susan quickly intervened.

“That… won’t be necessary. We’ll take care of rescuing them and removing them from your planet. We’ll leave your children in peace, but in exchange, I would like you to allow us to study your planet. It is… fascinating, so different from Earth. We could learn a great deal from one another,” the blonde said with a smile.

Unlike last time, Ei’wa responded immediately.

“Remove those filthy invaders and keep them away from my children, and you will have unrestricted access to study the planet. I await your visit at my installation,” Ei’wa said before cutting communications with the Pathfinder.

Leaving a group of concerned scientists on the command bridge.

“Your orders, Chief?” Ben asked as he and the rest of the team looked at her expectantly.

Susan sighed, inhaled deeply, and prepared to respond.

“Jake, take a squad of your Spartans and escort Johnny and Gwen to the location of the Council survivors. Initiate first contact and prepare a rescue and extraction mission,” Susan ordered before looking toward Ben and Reed.

“Meanwhile, we’ll descend to the Prothean installation. I want to speak with Ei’wa face-to-face and find out what other secrets the Protheans left hidden for us,” Susan ordered naturally, displaying her innate leadership.

Everyone present nodded and hurried to obey, leaving Susan alone at the center of the command bridge.

There was much to do, and the adventure on Pandora…

Had only just begun.

Johnaton Blaze, Houston – Earth.

“Remember what I’m telling you, brother. This is going to be the best of all your stunts! Crossing an entire football field!” Mack said with a huge smile before making an uncomfortable grimace.

“Sure, the pay won’t be… very good. Robot fights have cornered the entire sports market, but… it’s a great opportunity!”

Johnny smiled with amusement before shaking his head and preparing to respond.

When… it happened.

That damned voice, the one he had not heard since his youth, made itself heard once again. But unlike in the past, when Johnny had heard it with confidence and a hint of amusement…

This time, it sounded… frightened.

“RIDER! PRESENT YOURSELF BEFORE ME AND SERVE ME!! PROTECT YOUR MASTER!”

There was urgency and even fear, or at least that was what the stuntman perceived. But he did not have enough time to process what had happened, because at that very moment, an infernal portal manifested beneath his feet, demonic hands beginning to drag him down into the depths.

“No… no… NO… NO… NOOO!” the man screamed as his vision of the human world disappeared.

Next stop…

Hell.

Literally.