Above and Beyond/Plot

Plot

"Above and Beyond" is the fifth and final episode of Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two.

Plot[]

Chapter 1[]

"I know it seems hopeless, but we can't give up now. There are people up there counting on us, and we are not going to let them down. Hear me?"

—Jesse motivating their friends as they approach Beacontown. ^src

Jesse and the group, joined by either Radar or Binta and Fred's citizens (depending on who went through the portal with Jesse in "Below the Bedrock"), attempt to sneak into Beacontown through an underground cave beneath the town. Hopelessness settles over the group as they talk about the fates of those left in the Underneath. Jesse reassures them that they can defeat Romeo, motivating them to press forward.

Chapter 2[]

"It's just so easy for something bad to happen to a town. Like Champion City, for example..."

—Romeo disguised as Jesse, after opening the gate to Beacontown. ^src

Upon arriving in Beacontown, the group, especially Jesse, is horrified by the town's transformation. Posters of Jesse's face are plastered across buildings, and the streets are patrolled by massive, red prison golems. Jesse notices a floating structure high above the city, which they assume to be the "primary terminal" mentioned in Fred's journal. Preparing to fight Romeo, the group heads to Jack & Nurm's Adventure Emporium to gather supplies. However, their path is blocked by Romeo himself, accompanied by Stella and, to everyone's shock, Axel and Olivia.

Axel and Olivia, unaware that "Jesse" is actually Romeo in disguise, bombard him with questions. Romeo responds harshly, leaving Axel and Olivia visibly uneasy. Romeo then opens Beacontown's gates, revealing Champion City. He announces his intention to destroy it, leading to two possible outcomes depending on Xara's status.

If Jesse gave Xara her bed in the Underneath, Romeo claps his hands, instantly decimating Champion City to ruins. Stella, devastated by the destruction, is coldly ordered by Romeo to prepare fireworks for the next spectacle.
If Jesse did not give Xara her bed, Xara appears before Romeo can act, firing arrows and charging at him. Despite her efforts, Romeo lifts her into the air and strangles her to death using his powers. He then berates his guards for failing to stop her from entering.

While Romeo is distracted, the real Jesse pulls Axel and Olivia aside, reuniting them with the rest of the group. Relieved to see the real Jesse, Axel and Olivia quickly learn the truth about Romeo. The group then searches Jack & Nurm's shop for useful items. Jesse pulls a lever that reveals a hidden cache containing Elytra wings.

As they prepare to leave, an unusual sound catches the group's attention. Following it, they find Lluna/Nurm (whoever was left behind in the Sunshine Institute) hiding behind a bookshelf. Moments later, Ivor appears as well, explaining that he freed Lluna/Nurm from Xara's cell. Jack is starstruck upon meeting Ivor, a member of the original Order of the Stone. Jesse has the option to advise Jack to play it cool or be himself; either choice results in an amusingly awkward start to their relationship.

Ivor reveals that Romeo fell for the decoy story Jesse or Radar came up with, thus buying them time. He also confirms that the floating tower above Beacontown is indeed the Primary Terminal, as overheard during Romeo's conversations.

With the Elytra in hand, Jesse devises a plan to infiltrate the tower. He/she plans to take advantage of one of Romeo's grand shows scheduled for that evening, during which Stella would be backstage organizing the fireworks display and managing other preparations. Jesse, Petra, and Jack will set out to sneak into the backstage area, trailing Stella to locate and acquire Fireworks Guild uniforms. These uniforms, complete with backstage passes, will allow them to move around undetected.

Once disguised and equipped with passes, the trio will find the fireworks stash and hand them to Jesse. Meanwhile, Radar/Binta (whoever is present) will find a bucket of water, which they will also give to Jesse as part of the plan. Axel and Olivia—scheduled to participate in Romeo's show—agree to create a distraction and keep Romeo preoccupied. Jesse will then don the Elytra and use firework rockets to launch himself/herself toward the top of the floating tower. Once there, they will pour water down to create a cascading stream, allowing the rest of the group to swim up and join him/her. Before proceeding with the plan, Jesse changes into a new outfit to avoid drawing suspicion, as the citizens of Beacontown are unaware of the group's presence, and Romeo's disguise as Jesse could confuse the situation further.

Chapter 3[]

"What the--? There's no fireworks. Just...stuff."

—Petra discovering there's no fireworks backstage. ^src

As Jesse proceeds with the plan, they navigate through the chaotic streets of Beacontown, encountering a variety of sights along the way:

Jesse notices several black posters featuring an ocelot face scattered around the town. Curious about their purpose, Jesse hears footsteps running out of sight.
Jesse spots additional banners with his/her face or red beacons.
Jesse stumbles upon a pressure plate, triggering a piston that punches him/her in the face.
Jesse comes across Wink, now fully grown. Surprised by Wink's growth, Jesse can calm the wolf by offering him some rotten flesh he/she picked up earlier in "Jailhouse Block." If he/she doesn't have the rotten flesh, Wink will be zapped away to the Primary Terminal as a prisoner.
Jesse spots someone resembling Stella. Upon closer inspection, the person is revealed to be Lawrence, who suggests Stella may be at the Order Hall.
Jesse encounters a guard leading a group of citizens dressed for the show, calling it "JesseCon." Jesse can either tell the volunteers to focus on their duties or let them rest. However, as soon as Jesse walks away, "Jesse" (Romeo) appears, forcing everyone to hide. He checks on the guards before leaving.
Jesse runs into Nell, who has just uncovered a new statue at her house. Jesse can tell her to remove it, which would result in Romeo arriving and zapping her away as a prisoner. If Jesse doesn't intervene, Nell remains unharmed.
Jesse stumbles upon a pig stand, where the showrunner from Founding Day is preparing cooked porkchops. Jesse can either stop him from cooking or take a bite of one themselves. If Jesse says nothing at first, the citizen will be zapped away as a prisoner.

After these encounters, Jesse reaches a stage set up for JesseCon, located near the Order Hall. Stella is present, and just as Jesse attempts to grab the Fireworks Guild uniforms, "Jesse" appears, ridiculing Stella for her duties. After a brief interaction, "Jesse" leaves, and Stella, left alone, tries to confront the real Jesse, but Jesse manages to grab the uniforms before Stella leaves. Jesse then heads backstage with Petra, Jack, and Radar/Binta. While Radar/Binta searches for a bucket of water, the other three look for firework rockets. However, to their dismay, the chests contain nothing but random materials. Determined, Jesse instead crafts the rockets. Just as they finish, a guard spots them and is about to blow their cover. In a split second, Radar/Binta knocks the guard out, and they stash the guard away, splitting off once again.

With the guard taken care of, Jesse climbs on top of the building and prepares to take flight toward the Primary Terminal.

Chapter 4[]

"Looks like the tables have finally turned, huh Jesse? We can't let you keep doing what you're doing."

—Lukas confronting Jesse, Petra, and Jack. ^src

Jesse reaches the top of the Primary Terminal and executes the remainder of the plan while simultaneously fighting a patrol. After Petra and Jack swim up the stream, the three enter the terminal to a dimly lit hallway. Suddenly, someone enters the room, wearing a leather jacket. Stepping into the light, it is revealed to be Nell or, if the Admin’s statue wasn’t destroyed, a man in suspenders. The person calls out to others who have been hiding in the shadows. Slowly, more familiar faces emerge, including Stampy Cat, Stacy Plays, and Lukas, wearing the same jackets.

Lukas steps forward and explains noticing the brutal and uncharacteristic actions of "Jesse." He freed "Jesse's" prisoners and reformed his old group, The Ocelots, with the sole purpose of rebelling against "Jesse's" dictatorial rule.

To calm the Ocelots and ease the rising tension, Jesse explains he/she is the real Jesse, and that "Jesse" is Romeo in disguise. The situation settles and, realizing they share a common goal, Lukas agrees to join forces with Jesse and his/her group to take down Romeo. Before they proceed, Jesse, Petra, and Jack gear up in armor.

Chapter 5[]

"Why...hello there. Wasn't expecting you."

"Oh crud."

"What's the move here, Jesse?"

—Jesse's group and the new Ocelots confronting "Jesse." ^src

As the group rushes into the Primary Terminal's office, they are surprised to find Romeo already waiting inside. Jesse faces a choice: either order everyone to charge at Romeo or try to reason with him. No matter the choice, Romeo uses his power to teleport the entire group back into the hallways, leaving only him and Jesse alone.

Eventually, after a tense exchange, Romeo transforms back into his true form. He admits that when he first began impersonating Jesse, he reveled in showing off his powers to Beacontown's citizens, using their admiration to fuel his ego. But as time went on and resources dwindled, the citizens started begging him for more. This emotional weight made him yearn to be himself again, leading to his drastic plan to "bedrock" the Overworld and create a new one centered around a place called "Terminal Space." Before Jesse can stop him, Romeo disappears, heading toward the Terminal Space to begin his destructive work.

Petra, Lukas, and Jack re-enter the office just as Romeo’s "bedrocking" of the Overworld begins, sending Beacontown into a panic. Jesse explains that they must reach the Terminal Space to stop Romeo. Lukas informs them that the portal to Terminal Space is located on the roof. The group races to the portal, but just as they reach it, bedrock closes up behind them, knocking Lukas back and trapping him below. With Lukas left behind, the remaining trio rushes through the portal.

Inside the Terminal Space, the group finds an item frame next to a three-column grid. Nearby, a jukebox hovers above an empty chest. When the jukebox asks for a "password," Jack deduces that the password is #potato451, based on the information Fred’s journal provided. With the code entered, Jesse fills the grid with blocks—four, five, and one block in each column.

To Jesse’s surprise, two potatoes—one normal and one poisoned—appear. If Jesse places the normal potato into the jukebox, the "Parrot Protocol" is activated, triggering a lively parrot party. However, using the poisoned potato activates a hologram of Fred, delivering an old recording. In the message, Fred directs the trio to wear his gauntlet and punch Romeo a few times to strip him of his powers. Fred also summons a small structure and places the golden gauntlet inside.

Before Jesse can put Fred's gauntlet on, Romeo arrives, summoning four prismarine colossi to block his/her path. Jesse successfully reaches and puts on the gauntlet, which instantly neutralizes the colossi. Romeo, stunned by Jesse’s newfound strength, watches in disbelief as Jesse, Petra, and Jack charge at him for a final confrontation.

Chapter 6[]

"Why'd you have to go and make everything so... difficult? Everyone likes you... and you're nothing!"

—Romeo after being defeated by Jesse. ^src

Jesse lands the first punch on Romeo. The impact drains a portion of Romeo's powers, leaving him visibly shaken and unable to control the prismarine colossi. Enraged, he teleports Jesse through many locations from their shared past:

The Sea Temple from "Hero in Residence," where Jesse fights Romeo in the form of an enlarged Vos.
The Icy Palace of Despair from "Giant Consequences," where Jesse fights Romeo in his snowball-throwing snowman form.
The Sunshine Institute from "Jailhouse Block," where Jesse fights Romeo in Petra/Jack's form (whoever his champion was).
Fred's cabin in Romeoburg from "Below the Bedrock," where Jesse fights Romeo in the form of a glitching Fred.

Jesse and Romeo teleport back to Terminal Space. Romeo, now glitching uncontrollably between his many disguises, struggles to maintain his form. Jesse seizes the advantage to land several more punches, with each hit chipping away at Romeo's power. However, in the chaos, Jesse drops the gauntlet. Romeo lunges for it, but Jack restrains him momentarily. Romeo breaks free, only to be outpaced by Jesse, who retrieves the gauntlet first.

With one final blow, Jesse causes the gauntlet to explode, sending Romeo hurtling through the air. When he lands atop the stairs, he finds that all his powers have been permanently stripped away. Defeated and powerless, Romeo succumbs to regret, expressing remorse for his actions and the chaos he caused. The Terminal Space begins to crumble, and Jesse faces a moral choice:

Rescue Romeo: Jesse extends a hand to help him escape.
Leave Romeo Behind: Jesse decides to leave Romeo to face the consequences of his actions, prioritizing the safety of the group.

Regardless of the choice, before the group can flee, a glitching prismarine colossi emerges to block their exit.

If Radar was brought to the surface:

Romeo sacrifices himself by luring the glitchy prismarine colossus away from Jesse’s group. Romeo states that this is his penance. As Jesse enters the portal, he/she catches a glimpse of Romeo battling the colossus. When Lukas arrives on the surface, he questions Romeo’s fate, and Jesse repeats Romeo's words of penance.

If Fred’s citizens were brought to the surface:

Radar returns, pursued by the giant enderman, who was summoned by Xara to aid in the escape. The giant enderman tears apart the prismarine colossus, allowing everyone to flee. If Romeo was left behind, Lukas questions the morality of Jesse's decision; Jesse recalls his past actions and justifies leaving him. If Romeo was brought along, he thanks Jesse for saving him and pledges to rebuild The Underneath as penance. Lukas initially reacts with distrust but relents when Jesse explains Romeo's intent to help The Underneath's people. Romeo either mourns or reunites with Xara, depending on whether she is alive.

As Beacontown returns back to normal, Ivor departs to reconnect with his fellow Old Order members. Radar begins a new project involving the Primary Terminal. Lukas returns to writing, and Axel and Olivia plan to resume their lives in their respective towns. Petra, reignited with her passion for adventure, plans her next journey.

Jesse meets Stella and Lluna, their conversation unfolding differently depending on their relationship. If friendly, Stella and Jesse reconcile fully. Stella also ends their "rivalry." She tells Jesse that she plans to stay in Beacontown to help Radar with his project and build a home for Lluna, before asking him/her if he/she will care for Lluna. Jesse can choose to accept or decline, either way ending on a positive note as Stella thanks Jesse for seeing through her worst. If still hostile, Stella continues to antagonize Jesse and scolds Lluna for leading them to him/her. Depending on whether Jesse kept Lluna or left her in Xara's cell, Lluna either stays loyal to Jesse or leaves with Stella. Stella then leaves, announcing her plan to better reform Champion City.

Petra invites Jesse to join her on her next adventure. Before leaving, she shares an emotional group hug with Jesse and their friends. They discuss when they might next reunite; Jesse reassures everyone that they will cross paths again someday, even if they don't know when. Jesse can then choose to leave with Petra or stay behind to lead Beacontown, resulting in two different outcomes:

If Jesse chooses to leave with Petra, Radar panics about the leadership void in Beacontown, prompting Jesse to either appoint Radar as the town's new leader or encourage him to earn the community's trust over time. After bidding farewell to Beacontown, Jesse and Petra challenge each other to a race, marking the start of their new adventure. If Lluna is with Jesse, she also accompanies them.
If Jesse decides to stay in Beacontown, he/she bids Petra goodbye as she sets off on her adventure alone. Lukas remarks that Radar hasn't been promoted yet, giving Jesse the option to officially appoint him as Beacontown's leader. Radar later informs Jesse of two letters he/she received. The first is from Aiden, last seen in Sky City, expressing a desire for redemption. The second is a cryptic warning from someone identified only as "WP," threatening harm with the ominous words, "Watch out."

Impacts[]

There are certain choices in this episode that can be affected by previous choices.

Either Radar or Binta will accompany Jesse and their group, depending on who Jesse brought to the surface.
Some of the player's creations from previous episodes will be present here.
- The statue the player built for Nell for Founding Day will be under the statue Romeo built.
- Reuben's Memorial that the player had rebuilt will be left untouched.
Romeo can avenge Xara's death or reconcile with her, depending on her status.
Stella and Lluna's relationships with Jesse will vary considerably.

Choices[]

What advice did you tell Jack when he met Ivor?
Did you destroy the Admin's statue near Nell's house?
How did you confront the Admin in the Primary Terminal?
Did you leave Romeo behind in the Terminal Space or take him with you?
Did you remain in Beacontown or leave with Petra?

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