Whilst waiting for a chance to retrieve its missing body part, The Asterite came across a device belonging to alien race The Vortex. The Asterite waited until the machine attracted Ecco the Dolphin and protected the fellow alien from Ecco's sonar blast. The two quickly argued, with The Asterite threatening to destroy both races to end all talk of battle and emnity. After being subjected to an Ecco attack, The Asterite decided that Ecco was the one who was capable of retrieving the Black Pearl and promised to gift him with the ability to understand Vortex langauge should he succeed. Ecco did manage to brave the deep water, but was subjected to poisonous radiation in the process. Thankful for his sacrifice, The Asterite absorbed Ecco's near-fatal contamination once it was complete again (now