After a while, the shaking and rumbling had stopped meaning that their worries were probably over. Specifically their fish based worries were over but that didn't mean they were done with their journey just yet.
"Now that this is over, I think it would be best that you hurry up in getting us to our destination." Anakin stated as he begun to move himself towards the exit and entrance of the cave.
"Go down." Ahsoka said all of a sudden behind him.
"So it is down instead of going outwards?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, lets go down." Ahsoka answered and confirmed that their new direction would be going further into the crevice. It would seem that the ultima-pearls they are looking for are not here, but instead are down there instead.
'Lets just hope we dont come across anything more dangerous.' Ahsoka thought to herself as she kept herself in close proximity to Anakin.
On the outside of this crevice, the entirety of the depths was pitch black with something every now and then creating some sort of source of light. This is usually used as a means to attract prey, whether this method was used by other carnivorous fauna or even flora doesn't matter. What matters is that they would be out for blood, or meat depending on what they lack down in the deep depths.
"Wait, what is that?" Ahsoka spoke up as she could distinctly hear something within the depths. It shouldn't be possible for her and Anakin to be able to hear anything down hear, other than the currents of the ocean and the swishing sounds made by fish, but there it was.
Noises that didn't exactly sound like the swimming of the fish or the waves of the ocean.
"I dont know, but how's about we investigate." Anakin had a smirk on his face and she could see it due to the lights that currently illuminated their path downwards.
"You will be wiping that smirk off of your face when it is some type of dangerous creature just waiting to devour us."
"I dont know about that... I think we should just go down, what is the worst that could happen?" Anakin stated his question, posing it towards the open waters above and stating to the constricted spaces below.
"Right... What could possibly go wrong." Ahsoka had at this point been exposed to enough media to know that this is where something goes wrong, horribly.
The two would continue down heading towards the sounds coming from below, that strangely started to sound more and more like people conversing with one another.
Anakin didn't notice it until they were getting closer, but the creatures below were trying to telepathically enter his mind. He is unsure of what exactly it was trying to gather but from all of the creatures he knows of on this planet, he guesses it is the knowledge bank.
Also known as Pakoukou, was a sentient native to Mon Calamari that was aware of all events that happened on the ocean world. Consisting of a cluster of mollusks, the Knowledge Bank used telepathy to gain information on events all across the planet as well as from the minds of those who visited it.
It would then relay that information to those who could communicate with it, either telepathically or with the special ritual language other denizens of Mon Calamari used. The Bank was sacred to the native Mon Calamari and Quarren, and its existence was kept a closely guarded secret.
Unfortunately for the Mon Calamari and Quarren is that Anakin basically has an entire reserve of information within himself. A database of which contains information from his previous life, perfectly recalled and categorized and things he has learnt of in this new life he was so graciously given.
Why these creatures would be so far down however is another matter entirely and that is why he is doubting that it is actually them.
"Ani, whatever it is, it is trying to read my mind." Ahsoka spoke up.
"It isn't doing a very good job at trying for me. Are you ok to fend off whatever it is?" Anakin asked her, but she should be fine because her abilities had just gone through an increase of strength. The Dyad strengthened her immensely but she didn't notice this.
Just as she had gotten more powerful, so did Anakin as well and it was only natural at this point that he is starting to recognize this increase more and more. Not because he is unaware or unable to sense it but simply because his actual capabilities have reached such a state that it would probably take someone incredibly strong within the Force for him to sense a difference.
"No problem." Ahsoka answered as they started to see a strange light. "But, what is that? The attacks to my mind are becoming stronger and stronger the deeper we go..."
"I can feel it as well."
It was in fact those knowledge banks.
'Galactic visitors.' A voice was heard and it transmitted a thought to both Anakin and Ahsoka telepathically.
The Knowledge Bank was composed of a colony of sentient bivalve mollusks who inhabited the oceans of the planet Mon Calamari. The Bank had existed for millennia, though whether it was the same individuals or whether they had reproduced is unknown.
The Knowledge Bank was highly intelligent, though because the intelligence was so different from other sentient beings, some observers gained the impression that it was not intelligent at all, but rather a passive recorder and transmitter.
The shells of Knowledge Bank mollusks were about a meter wide and glowed faintly. The mollusks opened with a groaning noise. Their interiors were soft and fleshy and had the appearance of a large, pulsing brain. They shone with a strong golden light reminiscent of sunlight. Once open, the mollusks emitted a slow pulsing sound through the water.
"You are seeing this as well, right Ani?" Ahsoka asked Anakin.
"Yes, I am."
'Galactic visitors.' The voice was different this time but it said the same words.
"What are they?" Ahsoka asked Anakin.
"They are called knowledge banks, or otherwise known to the locals as Pakoukou."
"You knowledge about seemingly everything doesn't seem to have an end." Ahsoka was honestly impressed even though she should be used to it by now. It was like there was an entire database of knowledge stored within his mind and it had knowledge on things that even shouldn't have.
"Maybe you can become like me in the future and know everything..." Anakin replied before continuing. "Ok, maybe you wouldn't become like me as there is no way you are that smart."
"Hey!"
'Come, galactic visitors have.' Ahsoka's outrage was interrupted however as the alien sentient mollusks wanted to speak to them.
"Yes, we are here looking for some Ultima-pearls." Ahsoka decided that she would try and communicate with the species that seemingly didn't care about ones own mental privacy at all.
'Pearls, beautiful pearls.' A female voice was heard.
'Beautiful pearls, deep below one will find.' Next was another female, but the voice was deeper.
'Sir, deep below, we have discovered this pearl. It seems like it would sell on the market for thousands of credits.' This voice was distinctly that of some kind of man.
'Danger! Don't go down!' This one, a shrill cry was heard and then it was cut off abruptly.
Multiple voices were heard and directly transmitted to both Ahsoka and Anakin as the humming noise was also heard as the mollusks opened their mouths.
"Right, pearls." Ahsoka said to herself before turning towards Anakin. "Do you think we should heed its warning?"
"I dont know, this is your test remember. If you cant decide for yourself here even after everything you have heard, how are you going to do so in the future. I cant always have the answer, right?" Anakin responded.
Pouting, Ahsoka doesn't say anything but contemplates the situation some more herself as he was correct. He cant be always taking charge or the lead when it comes to her life, because it was her life after all.
No matter how much she might love Anakin, it still didn't change the fact that they are two different people. Both individuals that could learn to compromise with each other, but still in the end she would have to choose what is best for herself.
She had believed that it was best for her to leave the Order with Anakin and she had done so, even being forced to hand in her previous lightsabers she had only recently constructed herself.
"Ok, I have decided!" She exclaimed as she looked back towards the knowledge banks and their still relentless push in trying to get into her mind, and if she is correct, Anakin's mind as well. This slightly angered her, not only for herself but also for Anakin as well.
"You creepy clams will stop trying to get into our minds. If you do not do so, I will be forced to take some drastic measures." Ahsoka flaunted her telepathic might by violently crushing the probes trying to enter her mind.
'Stop! Stop!'
'It hurts! Master, please stop!'
Again, one has to remember that these voices are not the mollusks own but taken from the minds of others, their memories, thoughts and the emotions all recorded by them.
The Bank used telepathy to store information in its database and communicate it to those who sought their knowledge. A network of non-sentient fish scattered throughout the oceans of Mon Calamari collected information and relayed it to the Bank. The Bank mollusks themselves had incredible data storage abilities, allowing them to record the details of every event that had taken place in the waters of Mon Calamari.
However, the Bank only held information on events within the Mon Calamari ocean, as well as any information in the thoughts of those who had come near it. Furthermore, the information could become distorted over time.
"I wont until you leave my mind, and the mind of Anakin as well. You know, the large guy next to me." Ahsoka stated and the invasive mollusks relented.
They didn't want to feel what they did again as it would only harm them. As a collective they had to think of each other, because they relied on each other to continue to live and if one of them dies, or even the fish they used to gather information for them died, then they would all be impacted.
"That's good then." Ahsoka noticing this didn't let up, but instead forcefully pushed them out before turning towards Anakin.
"Your decision?" Anakin asked still awaiting whether or not they would be going further down beneath.
"We will go! Skyguy, you may be really powerful but it seems like I will be making the decisions today." Ahsoka exclaimed.
"Then I guess, I am all yours for the next few hours then." Anakin replied liking that Ahsoka was starting to decide things for herself and this would be seen in the future as well.
[]
The further down the two went, they discovered that the light the they could use to see things was becoming dim once again.
There was something calling out to the both of them that they both noticed but since this is Ahsoka's find and decision, it was left to Ahsoka to determine the location of this feeling. They had to keep going down and it was pitch black darkness, which was something she used to bring herself closer to Anakin.
He noticed but didn't do anything to stop her progress.
"I think that they are in this direction..." Ahsoka seemed to be getting lost as she was distracted with another task.
That task being that she is trying to molest Anakin, but he would continually move out of her reach which was both fun for him and a little annoying. She was too young and it would she wanted to emulate what he already had with the other girls.
"I think that you should keep your mind on the mission at hand." Anakin stated implying he knew of her thoughts and actions.
"What do you ever mean? Of course I am trying to get to you-I mean get to the Ultima-pearls." She had a little slip of the tongue at that last moment there.
"Of course you are." Anakin decided to just ignore her mistake as he was also helping her out, knowing that it is slightly his fault that she was trying to sneakily cop a feel. The pervert that she is, Anakin does continue to make sure she is kept on point.
They continue to swim and there is some back and forth between the two before they finally com across what they are looking for. In the dark of the ocean, the water swishes back and forth as Anakin keeps directing her in the right direction.
Waking up from her own plans and desires, she is caught off guard once they both come across just the right amount of ultima-pearls that they need. Two for her and one for him.
They gave off a silver, lustrous glow and it signaled to them both the prestige one would need to wield such a pearl. Either that or to pull off the luxurious look for having them would require some level of fashion.
It wasn't exactly the nicest thing to wear, because it looked heavy and it was as Ahsoka picked it up despite its size. For a pearl like this to exist in the depths of an ocean, with the entirety of its weight crushing down on it, one would assume that it had the capabilities to survive naturally by itself in that state.
"See, I told you we were going in the right direction." Ahsoka said as if everything went accordingly to her plan.
"Sure, sure." Anakin knew she wasn't but he wasn't going to spoil her parade.
Ahsoka took her own pearls and Anakin took his as well and now that their prize was gotten, it would seem that they weren't exactly alone.
"Wait, what is that?" Ahsoka could sense a tentacle coming towards the both of them.
"It would seem like the protector of these pearls has come out to stop us from leaving."
"No shit." Ahsoka had quite the potty mouth on her in this moment as the both accelerated upwards, the squid is slow enough for Anakin to not need to hold onto her. Which is relieving as he would have to deal with her trying to feel him up again.
"What could possibly go wrong... Well, it seems like this could possibly go wrong." Ahsoka continued as they made their way out.