Phantom 1412 whistled as it came to a stop, echoing through the empty station. The front engine doors slid open, steam hissing out of the smokestack overhead. Kaito stepped out, stretching his arms and cracking his back. Hecate Station was dirty, dingy, and barely lit, but it still smelled fresh and sweet.

"Sir? What are we to do next?" Jii asked, stiffly climbing out of the train carriage.

"We'll work on repairs. Not much else to do but wait." Kaito turned to stare at his father's steam engine, eyes lingering over the black marks from Snake's attack. He climbed up the side and straddled the engine, leaning backwards to stare at the stars.

"Understood, sir," Jii said. He slipped back in the engine, likely headed to the only car they towed with their supplies, clothes, and cots. "I'll get KID repaired, as well."

Kaito sighed.

"What are you going to do next?" he asked, extending a hand overhead and letting the four brightest stars rest in the spaces between his fingers. Kirin's Horn, Blue Wonder, Lady Sky, and Jewel of Destiny. Four precious and rare gems that when brought together would show the way to Volley Comet and the gateway to Pandora.

A planet of immortality.

A sharp whistle sounded again, and Kaito watched as one of the dimly lit stars suddenly moved directly for them. The Station Rings brightened as the smaller engine started for their station. The yellow engine pulled to a halt on the adjacent tracks, sparks crackling around the wheels as it stilled.

"About time you got here," Kaito said, pushing himself upright as the doors silently opened. Hakuba gave him a bland look and rolled his eyes.

"Unlike you, we couldn't leave until Nakamouri finished taking our statements," Hakuba said.

"Did anything serious happen on your way out?" Aoko asked, wrapping her arm around herself against the chill of the abandoned station.

"No," Kaito admitted, rolling over the edge of the engine and landing on his feet in front of them. "Did anything happen on your end?"

"We couldn't catch him, if that's what you're asking." Hakuba shrugged and held out a hand. "Purple Nail?"

"Here." Kaito handed over the slippers he pulled out of his jacket. "Don't let Jirokichi get them back too soon."

"Honestly," Aoko muttered, taking the shoes from Hakuba and folding them into her coat. "Why do you flaunt yourself like that? You're an idiot, Kaito."

"Sorry, Ahoko," he shot back, flinching back at the threatening fist she made at him. "Where are the others?"

"Watson was ready first so we went on ahead," Hakuba explained, dropping an arm over Aoko's shoulders as the station rings dimmed again. "I didn't even know this place was out here."

"No one does," Kaito reassured, pulling at his cape and wrapping it over his own shoulders. Watson 999 gleamed with power, warm yellow lights from the cab and still sparking faintly at the wheels. In contrast, Phantom 1412 was as still and cold as a moon. Hecate Station was on reserve power, slowly fading into uselessness and obscurity, and the only light and warmth came from their trains.

"Are you sure now is the right time?" Aoko asked, studying his face.

"It's the only chance he has. I've got all of them but one." Kaito clenched his fists, turning away from her soft face and sad eyes.

"You'll die if you go after Kirin's Horn. You know that," Hakuba said, raising his chin when Kaito scowled at him.

"I can't let him die." Kaito took a deep breath. Another light was headed their way and he knew exactly who was on that one. "I can't."

The Station rings lit and a sleek silver train pulled into the last track. A bullet train capable of going speeds most only dreamed about and the most advanced engine to date. And the only train that could safely carry the only thing more important than Kaito's own life.

The doors slid open and Haibara came out first. She stalked across the platform until she could get right in Kaito's space, thrusting out a hand and snarling at him.

"If anything happens to him, I'm going to hunt you down and throw you out an air lock. Do you understand?"

"Yes. How is he?" Kaito asked, eyes darting between her and the train. No one had followed her out.

"Unconscious. He doesn't have long. Maybe another 400 Sols? I don't have the equipment for greater accuracy." Haibara looked back at the bullet train. "If you take him with you, it won't matter. Either he dies on the way or you save his life."

"If he dies on the way, everyone will know." Kaito crossed the platforms, ignoring how silent Aoko and Hakuba both were. He knew what they thought of this plan.

It didn't matter.

He entered the bullet train, pausing to nod to Agasa at the controls. He headed back for the passenger cars, the doors sliding open and closed as he passed through several empty cars. He stopped at the medical car, hands shaking as he entered. All of the other beds were bare, but the one on the far end had the curtains drawn around it.

"Shinichi?" Kaito whispered as he pulled the curtain aside.

Shinichi was too pale, flushed with fever but stark white under it. He wasn't his proper age or height, still trapped as a child, but Kaito knew Pandora could fix things. Pandora had saved his mother's life. Pandora saved his life. It could save Shinichi's.

"I know where they're hiding Kirin's Horn. One of Kichiemon's clockwork asteroids near Delta Vega. I've beaten Kichimon before, so I know I can get it." He dragged a chair closer to the bed and collapsed in it. He grabbed Shinichi's hand and cradled it, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Shinichi's clammy palm. "It's the only one left. Dad's journals leave clues about where to find Volley's Comet and I think I've solved it. But you're the one best at working apart puzzles. I need you, too, Shinichi."

Kaito breathed in, swallowing back the tears that wanted to well up.

"Kuroba. If we're going to do this, we need to move him now," Haibara said, but she was still far behind him, not intruding on him at this moment of weakness.

"Alright," Kaito agreed, leaning to press a kiss against Shinichi's forehead. "Show me how to move him safely."

-X-

A steam whistle screamed, making him wake with a start.

He recognized his surroundings instantly. KID sat next to him, eyes faintly glowing in the dim interior. As soon as Shinichi shifted, KID's head jerked upright. His monocle glowed as he scanned Shinichi, the hand resting in his monitoring his pulse.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" KID asked.

"Tired. Where's Kaito?"

"At the controls. Jii disembarked at Hecate Station. Haibara and Agasa are taking him home." KID's monocle dimmed. "You need fluids."

"Switch with Kaito. I want to see him." KID hesitated, obviously fighting his programming. KID was better than most of the androids, but the core of him would always be to do no harm. If he was concerned with leaving Shinichi alone, it wasn't only for sentimental reasons.

"Do not move," KID warned, and was out of the room changing places with Kaito near instantaneously. Kaito's own monocle glowed, the only sign that he'd been keeping half an eye on Shinichi despite manning the controls.

"Shinichi," Kaito breathed out, crossing the room and falling to his knees beside the bed. He grabbed one of Shinichi's hands and pressed a kiss to it. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," he murmured, eyes dropping to half mast. "Thirsty."

"Water. You need some water," Kaito said, pushing back up to his feet and moving to the fridge. He gabbed a bottle of water and sat on the edge of the bed. "Can you sit up?"

Shinichi pushed himself upright, relaxing against the mound of pillows stacked against the wall. Kaito opened the water bottle and handed it over, hands hovering and flexing as Shinichi took it and drank.

"We're on course to Redshift 7," Kaito said, taking back the water bottle. It wasn't even half empty. "At this rate, we'll be in orbit around Ouryu in 3 Sols."

"Ouryu?"

"Kichimon's clockwork asteroid. On it, you must face the four great beasts and to those who are successful, Kirin's Horn will be given."

"That's the last one. You die when you claim it,"Shinichi said, eye slipping closed as he repeated from memory the warning Vermouth gave him before she died. "Untainted hands alone can touch the horn."

"If my father could do it twice, I can do it at least once." Kaito pressed a hand to his chest, hesitating and then unbuttoning his shirt to expose his chest. Over his heart was the eight-pointed red star that his mother had as well, disregarded as an unusual birthmark. "See? Pandora touched. If anyone can do it, I can."

Shinichi reached out and touched the center of the star, and the skin lifted and parted to reveal the silver-red heart beating in Katio's chest.

"And a mechanical body can save my life?"

"I don't remember much about my journey there. Tou-san already had the four gems and only needed Volley Comet to open the way. He describes it in the journals better than I can remember it. Pandora was once open for anyone clever enough to find the way, but after the Crows came, Volley Comet was launched and the four keys created and hidden. But before them, Pandora was peaceful. Pandori would reach out to help us, offering medical advancements that make our lives so prosperous." Kaito closed his heart, but he pressed Shinichi's palm over the mark. "And if we can get to them, I know they would help us."

Shinichi was quiet, concentrating on how smoothly Kaito's heart pulsed. He could barely feel it, even with his hand right over it.

"If they could do all those things, why would they let the Crows close them off?" Shinichi asked.

Kaito was silent, working his jaw as his eyes drifted to the window.

"One of Tou-san's final entries about the Pandori was how age-less they seemed. The doctor that helped my mother was the same woman who helped me. He said she was only so willing because he had shown her a magic trick. He surprised her. And that made her interested enough to help him."

"Apathetic. Living that long made them indifferent."

"They'll outlast us. So our problems don't matter to them. But that woman will still be there. I know she'll help." Kaito tightened his grip on Shinichi's hand. He brought it up to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss on the inside of Shinichi's wrist. "I'll give you tou-san's journals and send KID back here."

"Not yet," Shinichi said, resting his fingers against Kaito's cheek. "Didn't you once say this train had a once in a lifetime view?"

Kaito smiled, nodding and leaning into Shinichi's touch briefly. "Yes, I did."

His monocle lit, and then the overhead ceiling panels slid back. It opened to the sky overhead, the stunning glow of the stars, the wisps of steam from Phantom 1412, the bright rings of the tracks to Redshift 7. And at the faintest edge ahead, steadily growing brighter and more vivid, was the swirling red glow of Redshift 7.

It was a mechanical marvel, considering how long ago this engine was built and how only recently things like Agasa's Bullet existed.

Shinichi watched the stars sparkle, shifting over to let Kaito stretch out next to him. Kaito was careful as he arranged himself at Shinichi's side, still so mindful of how weak he was.

"Does this live up to your expectations?" Kaito whispered.

The track dipped, Phantom 1412 moving downwards as they avoided collision dust and meteroids caught in the pull of a nearby planet. As it moved, the red galaxy became clearer, filling the entire viewscreen.

It was too beautiful.

"Yes."

Kaito moved closer, taking his monocle off and setting it aside. Phantom 1412 whistled.