Chapter 2: A Shoulder For the Past.
The universe was one giant ball of oddities and chances haphazardly thrown together into a projection of reality as it was known by thinking beings throughout the galaxy. Possibilities, or one might call coincidences, were the drives of life that allowed one to exist in the cosmos.
What was the chance for the Express to be on the space station at the exact same moment it was under attack? More importantly, what was the chance for its crew to make contact with her in that one time, on that one place and precisely that one circumstance?
Space and time were the fundamental bases of reality, for them to align to her favor was too much of a coincidence to be just that.
It was almost like her life was a plot of something beyond her humble understanding, as if a wall was erected to keep her away from the slightest of comprehension. Maybe it was a work of a higher being that her fate brought her here but she couldn't be sure. For all she knew, she didn't exist in said being's plane of existence.
Stelle. A young woman of a technical age of 5 hours, began to contemplate existence the moment the clamors quieted down around her. The Express was a welcomed change of scenery, one she expected from such unique bunch of people.
Herta Space Station, the place she was born in, held little 'happy' memories as one would associate with their birthplace. The people were nice but she had to fight a bunch of murderous space anarchists the moment she comprehended breathing, which was not a good start for normal people's list of 'happy' memory lane. Here things were quiet and reserved with the occasional murmured conversations between the crew and the slow albeit solemn melody playing from the music box on one corner was a nice addition to the atmosphere.
Here she could breathe. Here she could think and that brought her thoughts to places. Like Peppy. She missed Peppy already.
The Parlor Carriage was huge. It was, after all, one entire car used to house a gathering for the crew. The rest of the carriages were used for the crew's personal quarters with only the first car being used as March 7th had so graciously explained to her. Stelle would be the first person to use the second car, a little bit lonely but nothing too bothersome.
The four crew... Well, five if she included a certain fluff ball, were that; interesting. She had never met such rag-tag group of people but then again, she only just lived for 5 hours and those hours provided her little to no perspectives on outside world.
Himeko was the Navigator of Astral Express, the space train technically belonged to her although she had no claim on it besides that she took of its operations and technicals. The redhead was the the only mature woman around, and if Stelle discerned right then she must be in her early 30's or so. Himeko was kind and caring even to strangers, and she smelled a lot like homebrew coffee which was rather pleasant. All in all, she didn't look like a bad person and her kindness appear to be genuine.
Welt... Wasn't a bad person either. At times, he appeared to have something hiding under his eyes but it seemed to be the case of 'knowing more than others' rather than malice. His appearance suggested he was in his 50's but the wisdom and care he had didn't fit the age projection. He acted like your average warm-hearted grandpa at times especially around March but his power...
It had Stelle shuddering on the semi circular sofa she was at.
It... felt strange, when he used it on her. When that cane of his touched her forehead it almost like a ripple ran down her very soul, weaving and ebbing her consciousness to force a foreign serenity down her heart. It wasn't a pleasant experience but it didn't cause any harm on her except mild fatigue, which she supposed was better than to have the Stellaron inside her went thermonuclear.
Welt was kind, too. From what little conversations she had with him, he always had a small smile on his face. Nothing big because it didn't fit the aloof visage he exhibited but it was there. Stelle could understand, though, because apparently he was not from this galaxy and that he was lost looking for a way home. She genuinely hoped he succeeded one day but until then he would stay with them as a family.
March 7th was March 7th. Eccentric and cheerful, a textbook definition of energy tank. Lost in space and amnesiac, she stayed on the Express in hope to recover her memories and the knowledge of her origin. The pinkette was the second female around, one around her physical age, so they kind of get along from the get go. Stelle found her company enjoyable, though it would be better if the girl turned down her excitement a little so she could keep up. Oftentimes it felt like March would drag her to one place to another without proper explanation, which often would land them into troubles.
Dan Heng was... Well, she couldn't say much about him except that he mostly kept to himself. Stoic to the boot, the young man was the coldest coal in the burner. He seemed to have his own circumstances, too, but Stelle wasn't sure what. Asking sounded rude so she never, knowing he was a good person was enough for the most part.
Last was Pom-Pom. The Express' conductor. Pom-Pom was a mysterious creature that suddenly appeared onboard the Express. Not even Himeko was sure what Pom-Pom was but Pom-Pom took care of the Express as much as Himeko did because they claimed to be the Express itself. Well, ghost stories and stuff but whatever.
So that was her family now. A group of individuals that couldn't be any less distinctive.
And then there was her; Stelle. A Stellaron vessel-turned hero who caught a pure energy blast to the chest in her attempt to save her friend and nearly caused a nuclear chain reaction that would've killed the people she tried to save had it gone off. It sounded like a good idea then but now she realized it was actually very dumb.
But hey, things turned out fine. March was still alive, the people in the Space Station were still alive and she hadn't gone supernova. So yeah, everything was good.
... maybe she would give Welt something later as a thank you, after all. He did save her ass.
A familiar smell of coffee wafted in the air first before she heard Himeko spoke, voice sweet with a certain wisdom in it. "How are you doing, hun?"
She glanced to the woman approaching her, a mug of dark liquid in one hand and what appeared to be a lighter variant of it in another. Himeko gave the latter to her and she accepted with a quiet thanks. "I'm fine" Stelle said, taking a sip and smiling at the taste. Not too strong, not too sweet either. Just perfect. "This is good"
"You younglings like it that way" The redhead said with a chuckle, taking a sip of her own coffee. "Us old people meanwhile prefer it a bit more pronounced. Well, sometimes anyway"
Stelle nodded in understanding. People and preferences. "Thank you for accepting me aboard, by the way"
"Oh, cut it with the formality. I invited you, remember?"
That was probably the first big decision she made in her short life and she was not regretting it. The stake was this, or becoming Herta's guinea pig until she was bored and tossed her away so this option was better by large margin. Of course she could just walk away but this journey gave her purposes and companions so she would rather be here than nowhere in her lonesome.
Stelle offered the woman a seat beside her and the redhead took it with a nod. After that, they talked a bit about pretty much anything that came to mind. From the Express, its occupants, and the journey ahead of them.
In the meanwhile, the Express was slowly moving off the Space Station and entering hard vacuum outside. It didn't take long until Herta Space Station to be nothing but a small twinkling speck, lost amidst the sea of stars in the background.
March joined them at some point, fresh from shower and comfortably dressed in a plain white shirt and short pants. When Stelle asked her why bother changing when she could use the universal hygiene machine to cleanse her clothes in an instant, the pinkette replied with a self assured smile that she enjoyed the feelings of her casual clothes on her skin from time to time. March seemed like the type of person who would do what she wanted as long as it was nice and comfortable.
When Pom-Pom called for the rest of the crew to gather in the Parlor Car for Warp preparations, she couldn't help but to stare at Welt's cane when the man descended down the stairs on the other side that led to the Express' locomotive. He gave them a nod and sat down on the opposite half circle sofa, one foot folded over another and cane resting horizontally across his thighs.
"Where's Dan Heng?" He asked them, eyeing the three females with that calculating gaze of his. There never seemed to be a shortage of thoughts behind those orbs and Stelle wondered if the man actually ever stopped thinking and just drifted like people would.
"Oh, he's busy" March chirped. "Updating the databank and all that. I tried to get him out of his room but you know how he is"
Dan Heng was rather reserved and quiet, opting to stand back and watch. The fact he and March, an opposite of another in personality, could become friends was nothing sort of miracle. But then again, March seemed to be capable of befriending anyone or anything. If given time she would probably befriend an Antimatter Legion soldier, a notion that wasn't so farfetched if Stelle was honest.
Welt hummed. "I see"
Himeko turned towards her, a small smile on her lips. "This your first Warp, right?" Stelle nodded and the smile grew a tad bit larger. "The first time is the most memorable time. After we enter the stream, you are free to walk and enjoy the scenery. It's beautiful, trust me. In the meantime, though, you'll have to sit tight lest you want to slip and lose your balance"
Himeko gave March a meaningful look that had the girl huffing in fake annoyance. "Come on, let what's in the past stay in the past" She whined.
Welt chuckled while Himeko giggled. Stelle wondered if there something deeper in what Himeko told her but decided to not ask for now. Besides, a chance to pester on March was an Ace she could use later on so for now she would hold her cards close.
"Testing, testing! Attention to all passengers! The Express is about to enter Warp, Navigator please go to the control cabin!" Pom-Pom's voice suddenly rung from the intercom, catching their attention. Himeko patted her on the shoulder before she stood up and walked towards the locomotive, Welt following close behind. As the Navigator, she was responsible for the train's course and plotting and Welt there to help in case she needed it. She understood, so after giving them a nod of goodbye she allowed herself to relax a little, knowing her life was in good hands.
As soon as both adults disappeared, March jumped to her feet and began bouncing on her heels. Stelle watched warily as the pinkette stretched her muscles.
"What are you doing?"
"Preparing myself!" She replied excitedly and Stelle couldn't help but to narrow her eyes in suspicion. "This is my eleventh Warp, until I can stand on my own two feet during the transition to hyperspace I will not quit trying"
"You're going to hurt yourself" Stelle warned but March waved her off.
"Oh, don't worry. I did this plenty, what could go wrong?"
There was, in fact, a lot that could go wrong. Or, if one were to be more precise, everything could go wrong. Asking the what in an ultimate possibility scenario was a recipe for disaster.
She was tempted to point these out but March wouldn't be swayed once she made up her mind so she didn't bother to try. She hoped the Express had surveillance cameras aboard so she wouldn't have to explain March's injury later on to the rest of the gang.
Himeko didn't take long to plot the next course because the next time Pom-Pom spoke through the intercom they already had a destination. A planet called Jarilo-VI a few lightyears away which approximately would take them an hour of Warp or so.
Not to long, not too fast either. Enough for Stelle to enjoy herself in the meanwhile.
Taking her empty mug of coffee, she put it on nearby table right beside Himeko's own. She just sat back down when Pom-Pom began the Warp countdown.
Each number increased the beating of her heart as excitement and anticipation flooded her system until all she heard was the rapid thumping, the blood vessels in her ears accommodating the sudden rush of her life giving fluid. When Pom-Pom hit the last 10 seconds, for a moment Stelle thought she was going to get a stroke, which would be funny because she survived getting blasted by a pure energy beam before.
"... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Initiating jump!"
Two things happened and one didn't at that moment. When the Express entered Warp, it broke space in its initial transition. A literal wall of energy separating reality and subspace was pierced, going through the front all the way to the rearmost carriage. Stelle had the first hand experience of watching the blue curtain washed over everything in slow motion as space bent and wrapped to create a passageway.
Another thing that happened was March succeeding in her endeavor. The lurch of the jump caused her to sway and almost fall to her bottom but the pinkette stood firm. March looked surprised for a moment, at least until she realized she had won her little game.
"You see that?! I did it!" She cheered but her voice sounded muddled at the beginning. Just for a second because it returned to its normal volume later on.
The thing that didn't happen was her getting a stroke, so Stelle clapped for March and her inspiring resilience. "Good job"
March threw herself back onto the sofa, feet kicking back and forth as she continued to jitter from the excitement. "Ah! Finally! I don't know how but I did it! Maybe I just needed a spectator, after all"
"I aim to please" Stelle replied with a smile. March's cheerful attitude was infectious, to put it mildly. "Dan Heng never accompanied you here?"
"Nope. He always returned to his room whenever we're back after a mission. Not to say he doesn't socialize because he will join the rest afterward but this time around he's busy"
"I see"
The smile on March's face grew and the girl was suddenly in Stelle's personal bubble, filling her vision entirely. "Which is why we're BFF now"
"Um, okay?"
"Yep, okay!"
Stelle blinked, perplexed, and March retreated back to hear side of sofa.
"Look, that's what Himeko meant"
Still a little confused, she followed at where March was pointing, gasping in awe at the sparks and seams of colors flowing outside the Express. Beautiful did not quite justify the sight, majestic sounded better because it was just so wonderfully expansive. Even from her seat, Stelle could make out the various stars ebbing in the background, their lights massively distorted to create an illusion of countless webbings that seemed to chase after the Express itself.
The hyperdrive also added to the sight. A multitude of shades leaving trails after trails that didn't seem to end. Vaguely she wondered; was this how comets looked to the far-watchers? A ball of light and tail travelling in space, leaving in their wakes countless wonder stricken spectators? If so, then the beauty was truly out of the world.
March grinned at her reaction and the girl proceeded to grab her hand to pull her up to her feet. Stelle let herself being dragged, for once sharing the excitement the pinkette so readily provided. After all, it was a sight deserving to be watched closely.
It was the plan, at least until it no longer was.
They only managed to take a total two steps before they realized something was wrong.
A tremor ran across the carriage, shaking the tables and chairs scattered about it. Then the feeling of free fall took over, churning their stomachs and seeding panics.
It took Stelle half a second to realize she was flying forward to the front of the train, feet no longer connected to the carpeted floor. Her eyes widened as her hands flailed besides her, sweeping until she found warm flesh and held it close.
Her first instinct was to reach for March and held her protectively in her embrace because unlike her she was one step ahead and in direct collision course with a now flying table. There was a tiny gasp of surprise and a grunt from her when March's head accidentally hit her in the chin, causing Stelle's teeth to smash closed on her lower lip. She tasted blood, but it was the least of her worry.
Another half a second passed with her lamenting her fate and exactly two seconds later she felt her back hitting a wall with the speed of a running Peppy.
And damn, little guy could actually run.
They landed in a heap of limbs and bodies. Stelle, having her breath knocked out of her chest by the impact point on her back and weight on her front, could only gasp for air. March, meanwhile, moaned in pain as she tried to push herself off Stelle.
"Wh-what the...?" She muttered, finally successful in freeing herself only to fall back first onto the floor. She laid there for a second until she forced herself off to check on her. "Are you okay?"
Stelle nodded but the motion caused her to reel back when a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. Shaking her head, she put a hand behind her head and hissed in pain when her fingers made contact with a patch of wetness.
"Oh my God you're bleeding!" March shrieked in panic, eyes wide as she stared at Stelle's hand and the crimson liquid sticking on it. "Stay here, I'm going to get a first aid kit"
"Wait!" Stelle called out, gritting her teeth and swallowing. A coppery taste trailed down her throat but she dismissed it. "Check on Dan Heng when you're at it"
March nodded. "Okay" She hurriedly dashed towards the passenger carriage, leaving Stelle.
Not two minutes later she returned, this time with Dan Heng. Their eyes met and Stelle could see a hint of concern in his eyes, meanwhile all she could think about was how kempt he appeared still. Not even a strand of hair was out of place.
She gave him a wave. "Good to see you alright"
His eyes narrowed, a tiniest of sigh leaving his lips. Wordlessly, he scooped her up and moved her to the sofa with March sticking close.
"This is going to sting" March announced quietly and it was all the warning Stelle got before an alcohol soaked fabric was pressed onto the back of her head. Stelle grunted in pain but kept her mouth shut. "Thank you for saving me earlier, by the way"
"It's fine" She replied casually. "I'm fine"
"Your right foot is bruised" Dan Heng stated matter-of-factly and Stelle looked down to see what he meant. True enough, there was a purple patch on her skin just slightly off her shinbone. "March, hand me the med-bot"
March took a cylindrical device from the first aid box and gave it to Dan Heng, after a little bit of button pressings the device hummed to life with its smooth surfaces emitting a green glow. He proceeded to hover it over her bruised flesh after getting a verbal permission from Stelle, dutifully running it up and down.
It hurt at first but the pain subsided rather quickly. Himeko, Welt and Pom-Pom returned after a while, thankfully uninjured.
Himeko casted her a worried look while Welt frowned. Not having the energy to say anything, Stelle simply waved at them.
"You okay, hun?"
It was an identical question, just differently phrased than the one she asked her earlier. But this time her words were thick with concern.
"Dan Heng is a good doctor" She dismissed the worry. "What about you?"
"Welt used his power to dispense the momentum so we are mostly okay if not a little shaken"
Once again her eyes drifted to Welt and his cane but Stelle quickly recovered.
"What happened anyway?" March addressed the elephant in the room, finishing up in her treatment. The pinkette rubbed some sort of gel onto her injury and it sent a cool relief throughout her throbbing head.
"Pom-Pom?"
Pom-Pom perked up at the mention of their name, looking at Himeko with a scowl that wasn't quite directed at the Navigator. "Sudden influx of unknown energy in the Star Rail network caused the Express to forcefully exit the hyperspace. You are lucky Pom-Pom detected the build up and managed to hit the emergency brake, otherwise we would have gone adrift and lost in the subspace dimension"
"Good job" Himeko complimented the little conductor who only huffed in response. "The damage?"
"Properties onboard most likely, but the hyperdrive has also suffered from the sudden deceleration. Initial examinations showed we need to fix it before we can enter hyperspace and travel in normal speed"
"What about our position?" Welt asked Himeko but the redhead shook her head.
"Literal nowhere. Herta Space Station is at least three light-years away behind us and I'm not fond of the idea of coming back because that means we'll have to go through whatever it was that we hit in the first place. Jarilo-VI, meanwhile, is at least fifteen lightyears ahead of us" She replied, crossing her arms with a hand under her chin, thinking. "Is it still possible for us to move in hyperspace?"
Pom-Pom nodded. "It is, but slowly. With the new speed, it will take us a full day to arrive at the very least"
"We're ahead of schedule so we have time to spare. Pom-Pom, prepare to move again and make sure we don't overstress the hyperdrive. When we arrive, we will begin repair immediately" When nobody objected, Himeko continued. "Alright, then everyone buckle up! The transition will be ro—"
Himeko's words were drown in a shrill scream. All eyes darted to its source where March was standing behind the carriage's exit with a horrified expression on her face. Hands over her mouth, her frantic gaze shifted towards the others. "There's someone out there!" She shrieked, pointing at the door.
Welt moved before anyone could, one hand tightly wrapped around the handle of his cane while his other one pushed March behind him protectively. Cautiously moving towards the door, he peered through the small viewport and looked outside.
"What do you mean? A spaced body in the middle of nowhere?" Himeko urgently asked the pinkette.
Was it another March? Stelle couldn't help but wonder. The crew told her about March's backstory, about how she was found floating in space encased in ice blocks. It seemed the girl knew what they were thinking because she quickly shook her head.
"N-no! It—she—wasn't frozen in ice like I was! I didn't see much besides the white hair but I see her blinking, I swear! And she wasn't wearing EVA suit either!"
A live person in hard vacuum? That was enough to raise some alarms. Not to mention Welt was oddly quiet for quite a long time now.
"Welt? What do you see?"
Welt turned around, his lips slightly parted. It was the first time Stelle saw him looked so surprised, but it didn't compare to her own surprise when Welt silently pressed the open button.
A golden energy barrier sprung in the doorway the moment the door slid open, preventing neither air or pressure to slip through. White, superheated 'smoke' billowed outside, some mixtures of residual chemical reactions courtesy of Express breaking reality and stopping so suddenly. They couldn't see through the thick mist, but something was definitely there.
Moving.
Reaching.
A hand gripped the doorframe, passing through the barrier as intended for biological creature alike, and then a foot followed by another stepping into the Express.
A terrified March shuffled back to hide behind Dan Heng, Stelle couldn't blame her due to how ominous it actually was. But that fear and anticipation quickly turned to surprise when the rest of the body emerged from the smoke.
It was a woman, a rather well endowed one at that, dressed in an intricate set of blue and white armor. Her hair was tied into a single ponytail with streaks of blue behind her head and her eyes... Silver with accent of pink in the irises.
Those eyes shifted about everything and for a moment Stelle was reminded with the way Welt would look at his surroundings. Silent and calculating, a quality this woman shared. She also didn't miss the way they stopped at her for a noticeable second before they moved towards Welt.
"Mister Welt" The woman greeted and her voice was flat it almost sounded bored. They blinked, puzzled, and only then they noticed she actually carried another person in her arms.
It was another woman, dressed in some sort of elegant white dress. Her hair was a lighter shade of purple in the inside while the outside was darker. She was unconscious so there wasn't much they could discern aside from her outward appearance.
The mystery woman didn't mind Welt's speechlessness and silently enter the Express, causing the occupants to part like a group of fish against a predator. When she stepped near Himeko, however, the woman stopped and her eyes widened slightly.
Her mouth moved as if to say something while Himeko stared at her with open intrigue. After a moment of silent staring, she gained her bearing back and continued on her step, leaving a confused Himeko. She laid the woman in her arms onto one of the sofas, gently setting her body so she was comfortable, before moving back to the door.
"Bronya, how are you here?"
The woman, Bronya as Welt called her, looked at him and smiled.
"We've got your message"
She was out of the door before Welt could say anything more, casually breaking the physical law of the universe by surviving in space. Almost immediately, Welt was bombarded with questions by the others but it was clear Stelle's question was the ultimate one.
"Do you know her?"
Welt took a moment to reply, nodding. "She is my successor"
"Wait, you mean she's from your world?!" March asked, earning another nod.
"She's a Herrscher of Reason" He explained, eyes meeting Himeko's from behind his glasses. The redhead looked surprised before she also nodded, seeming to understand. "The strongest one in fact. She broke the barrier of Truth and became the first Herrscher of Truth"
"What about her?" Himeko pointed at the woman laying on the sofa, a hint of concern in her golden eyes.
"Raiden Mei, Herrscher of Origin and Herrscher of Thunder. She is a Schicksal's Squad Leader and still serving, same as Bronya" Welt paused and looked at the door again, a frown on his face. "If they're here then that means..."
Bronya returned, carrying with her another unconscious woman in a one-sided haul. This one had white hair but unlike Bronya's, hers had purple streaks on it. She was dressed in another white dress similar to Mei's, a resemblance between the two existed but the most glaring one was the pants.
Or lack, thereof.
"Why isn't she wearing pants?" Stelle blurted out and March gave her a dirty look in response.
"You sure you're one to talk?"
Bronya dropped the woman and she fell like a sack of potatoes on the floor, completely different to her gentle and caring action towards Mei. "Don't worry, she has precious little in her head for that to be harmful" She said when she received a few dumbstruck stares.
"... March, Stelle, please take Miss Mei to one of our spare rooms. Dan Heng, go with them and help prepare the room. Himeko, if you would? I have something to discuss with Bronya" Welt ordered, gesturing towards the woman on the floor for Himeko to carry.
The Navigator nodded and picked her up into her arms. A flicker of something swam in Bronya's eyes at the scene and she stepped in front of Himeko before the redhead could move.
"Her name is Kiana Kaslana" She began almost somberly, holding Himeko in place with her stare. "Please look after her and Mei. Don't bother to put them in two different rooms, they're married to each other. And I think it's better for them to stick together right now"
Himeko nodded slowly and Bronya appeared to be satisfied, stepping back while her expression returning to her neutral one. Dan Heng led the way with March and Stelle holding Mei up, one on each of her sides keeping her upright and practically dragging her feet. All the while Himeko quietly followed the teenagers with the white haired woman cradled close to her chest.
When they were gone, only Bronya, Welt and Pom-Pom remained in the Parlor Car. Pom-Pom had already busied themself in tidying the place, pushing overturned tables, chairs and plants back to their original positions so they wouldn't bother them. Reaching for her pocket, Bronya produced a white envelope and handed it to Welt.
"From Doctor Tesla" She said simply, letting Welt took it. "I'm glad to know you are doing well"
Welt's gaze found the writing on the envelope, expression softening at the familiar handwriting. "Thank you, Bronya"
"Go ahead and read it. I will check on Kiana and Mei"
Welt nodded, carefully opening the envelope to read its content. He only managed to read the first line when Bronya called out to him again, voice echoing in the empty carriage.
"Mister Welt... That woman, she's really Himeko?"
Welt glanced up to see Bronya looking back at him, a hint of pain and worry in her expression. But the latter he knew wasn't directed at herself, rather someone else she held dear.
"Yes"
"I see... Does she know?"
The fate that befell our beloved teacher and her relation with Kiana.
The words were there but they left unsaid, Welt understood so he simply nodded. "She does" He admitted.
Bronya left without a word.
Himeko departed not long after putting Kiana down on the bed, bringing with her Dan Heng because she needed a hand in repairing some of the more superficial damage. Dan Heng accepted without complaint, finding it more preferable than to lurk around doing nothing.
So that left Stelle, March and two unconscious adults in the room.
The room was bare of any personal belongings or decorations. Except from the basic necessities, there really was nothing but what the Express had as default. It kind of like Stelle's own room, still yet to be filled with her own things. A prospect harder to realize because she never had something before.
March promised her to help adding some personal items, a notion she found appealing seeing the state of March's room. The girl had a lot of additions and it actually felt homey enough and recognizable as just March.
The door opened and out of it entered Bronya. Both Stelle and March stiffened up at their respective seats as the woman silently went in. After a moment, however, an unmistakable fond smile appeared on her face as she addressed them two.
"Hello"
March and Stelle shared a glance before the former replied. "Um, hi?"
"I'm Bronya, Bronya Zaychik" She introduced herself, extending a hand for them to take. March hesitantly returned the gesture.
"March 7th"
Bronya blinked and hummed. "Forgive me if this comes out rude but that's quite the peculiar name. March is the third month of our calendar system"
"I know. It's actually the day I was found adrift in space"
"Oh?"
Finding her float, March relaxed a bit. "Yep. I have no memory of my past so I agreed to use the date I was found as my name"
Bronya nodded sympathetically. "I see" But she didn't offer her any comforting words. March was thankful for it because although it was suck she was neither sad nor sorry for her predicament. She was happy as sunshine, living her days at their fullest here in the Express and not once she regretted it.
Bronya let go of her hand, turning to Stelle. Again, her gaze seemed to harden for a second as she regarded the younger girl, staring at somewhere deep in her chest. "And you are?"
"... Stelle"
"Nice to meet you" Bronya said simply, extending a hand. Blinking her thoughts away, Stelle grabbed and shook it.
"Likewise"
She expected it to be the end, but as soon as Bronya let her hand go she began anew.
"I've been wondering... Do you have something inside you?"
March grimaced and Stelle could feel her looking even with her eyes still focused on Bronya.
"I'm a vessel for a Stellaron"
"But don't worry, Miss! She's completely harmless!" March quickly jumped in her defense, stepping closer to Stelle with a nervous smile on her face.
Bronya eyed them warily before she shrugged. "I don't know what a Stellaron is but I'm detecting a massive energy signature in you it's almost like you've swallowed a nuclear reactor with how intense it is. It's not my place to judge because obviously you are here first thus know things better but please understand my concern"
"Stellarons are the seeds of destruction sown by the Aeon of Destruction Nanook across the universe" March explained softly. "Stelle's body is special it somehow successful in containing it without risking it erupt"
"You don't know why?"
"No, but Mister Welt said she's okay"
Bronya's expression shifted at the mention of Welt. "So he knows?" She asked and March nodded. "I see, as expected. Well, if he deemed it safe then she's safe. His judgment is rarely wrong"
"What's your relation with him?" Stelle found herself asking out of pure curiosity. Bronya seemed to hold Welt in high regard, something a lot of people seemed to do for various reasons.
"He is my mentor and predecessor. Do you know what a Herrscher is?"
"Her what?"
"Herrscher. God-like being capable of bending physical laws. He was, and still is I must add, the Herrscher of Reason"
"So, you're a Herrscher too?" March queried, mind replaying the scene of Bronya casually walking out into the vacuum. Suddenly the nonsense of breaking physical law made sense, somewhat.
"Yes. I was the third Herrscher of Reason. I won't indulge on Welt's story because it's something you have to ask him yourself, but I managed to finish his trials when I was 16 and became the Herrscher of Reason. Things happened and now" Bronya gestured towards herself, pointing at the armor she wore. "I am the Herrscher of Truth"
"What's the difference?" Stelle asked just when March dragged a chair for Bronya. She gave her a thanks and sat down, along with both Stelle and March to their own seats knowing this conversation would drag on.
"The Herrscher of Reason rules over the collective consciousness of 300.000 souls. The knowledge of men and women in the past allowed for near limitless access of information. A Herrscher of Reason can create anything if they understand the how's. Weapons, vehicles, even a working body. But Reason cannot see beyond human's knowledge, its power is limited to the past. Truth, meanwhile, represents everything humanity strives for. The dreams and wishes, the ideas and visions for the future. The only absolute Truth of Mankind, is that Mankind's Truth will always change following the aspirations of future generations"
"By understanding this fundamental you have the Herrscher of Truth, one that rules over absolute truth itself"
"I don't get it" March admitted sheepishly, scratching her head in confusion. "So you are saying you can make nothing?"
"Essentially. If that something is not within human's understanding then it is nothing. We have no name for things we don't know exist. But just because we don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist because in the principle it was only a matter of knowing"
"So by doing—" Stelle snapped her fingers, the sound echoing in the room. "—that you can summon a goo of oblivion that will consume anything because it exists somewhere?"
"Yes, that's the gist of it"
"That is one hell of a power"
Bronya chuckled, eyes twinkling with amusement. "You need it to keep up with those two"
Just then Mei stirred awake, blinking blearily as her eyes tried to adjust to the blinding brightness of the overhead lamps. Her muddled thought tried to recall what befell them only to pause when she noticed the three pairs of eyes looking at her.
"Bronya...?" She confusedly muttered, trying her limbs and body that somehow felt so heavy. Mei could feel the soft bed and pillow and figure she was in a bedroom, only that she couldn't remember how.
Her hand brushed a warm flesh beside her and Mei shifted to look at it. What she saw caused her heart to skip a beat as a sudden rush of adrenaline filled her veins. Mei jolted up, swaying slightly from the dizziness courtesy of her action, and grabbed Kiana's head with clear urgency laced with worry.
"Kiana?! Bronya, what happened to Kiana?!"
Mei didn't notice Bronya approaching her until her hand rested on her back. "She is fine, just unconscious. She will wake up soon"
Mei's tense shoulders shook before they relaxed, exhaling a relieved air and glancing back at Bronya. "What happened? I remember we were traversing the Imaginary Space but that was all"
"We've got run over by the Express" Stelle and March shared a baffled glance at that but neither Mei or Bronya saw it. "The Idiotka jumped to your rescue and took the brunt of it"
"I see" Mei mumbled softly, hand reaching out to brush a strand of white hair out of Kiana's face tenderly. She leant down and pressed a quick peck onto her lips, a disapproving frown on her own pair. "Why are you always like this...?"
"I managed to erect a barrier to protect us both, which would've been sufficient to protect us all in the first place. But Kiana being Kiana, she did a Kiana thing"
Mei chuckled, even when her worry was still prevalent. Shaking her head, she turned towards the two teenagers watching them silently, raising inquisitive eyebrows. "So, who are they?"
"I'm March 7th"
"Stelle"
They introduced themselves, March smiling while Stelle waved a friendly gesture. Mei gave them a smile of her own. "I'm Raiden Mei, it's a pleasure"
"Nice meeting you, Miss Mei"
"Oh, just call me Mei" Mei assured them with a grin, climbing down the bed to properly shake their hands. Her hand was rough, a testament of her hard works, yet as she gripped theirs her grip was gentle. They could see the protectiveness in her amethyst orbs as she stared them down with gentle eyes.
"You're so tall..." March mumbled mostly to herself but they heard her, blushing from the attention she coughed awkwardly. "I mean, Stelle is tall but you're a proper grown up and, um..."
Mei chuckled, causing the already crimson faced March to turn even redder. If she was Elysia, she would've teased her more but Mei wasn't as sly as her late friend so she mercifully moved on. "Thank you, March. I'm curious, though, if you don't mind me asking? Is March 7th really your name?"
"Oh, yeah" March nodded and began to explain her circumstance. Just like Bronya, Mei also offered her a sympathetic look, just like Bronya she didn't offer any comforting words and instead took the information solidly.
"Do I have to explain myself, too?" Stelle piped in, glancing at Bronya and then Mei. The former shrugged impassively while the latter shook her head, clearly knew what Stelle meant.
"No. Everyone has their own circumstances. It would be unfair for me to judge"
So basically just like Bronya, perceptive but less intrusive. Unbeknownst to the two girls, however, Mei was talking with Bronya via their Herrscher Cores.
"The thing inside her is not dangerous, right?"
"The definition of 'dangerous' is relative to the person and what harm it may inflict to its surroundings, Mei. Even if it's to explode, we would be fine but I doubt the same could be said to everyone else. However, it seems stable at the moment and Welt also has deemed it so"
"Well, if Mister Welt thinks so then it must be okay"
Mei paused and blinked at the mention of Welt. "So, where's everyone? Welt?"
"Are you a friend of Welt, too?" March asked and Mei nodded.
"He was a hero in our world and has helped us personally" Mei explained. "So yes, he's a dear friend"
"Grandpa is a war veteran" Stelle muttered to nobody in particular and Mei laughed.
"Yes, he is"
"He's that old?"
"He's in his 80's, I believe"
"You can't be serious" March exclaimed, eyes wide in shock. "Welt is actually that old?!"
"I thought he was in his 50's..."
"Now, kids, I don't think it's polite to talk about someone's else age behind them. How about you girls tell me where the rest of the crew at?"
Still stunned, March could only numbly nodded. "Okay, well, let's go then" She muttered something under her breath that oddly sounded like 'Should I start referring to him as grandpa? He does act like one sometimes' on her way out with Stelle behind her and Mei couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mei, a second?" Bronya fell a step beside her and Mei nodded, glancing towards her. There was a hint of worry in her silver eyes, mixed with melancholy.
Seeing the conflict in Bronya's gaze, Mei gingerly nodded. "Of course"
Bronya had always been a straightforward, no-nonsense person. So when she delivered the news, she did it without preambles or tactful words.
"Himeko is here"
Mei stopped dead on her track, eyes wide and mouth parted. The girls ahead of them were too deep in their own conversation to notice both women had stopped in the hallway.
"What do you mean?" Mei whispered.
"Himeko is here" Bronya repeated. "I saw her. She is a part of the crew"
"But she is..."
Dead.
Bronya grimaced, sensing the unspoken word. Shaking her head, she explained. "It's not her, not our Himeko. I thought she was but she doesn't recognize me. She is someone with her complexion and name but different entirely as a person"
The worry in Mei's chest grew and her eyes involuntarily drifted towards a certain room. Bronya sensed her concern and sighed.
"You should stay with her" Bronya urged gently, putting a hand on Mei's shoulder. "I don't want to see her hurt again"
Biting her lower lip, Mei nodded. Swallowing the lump in her throat and wiping the tears welling on her eyes. Kiana wasn't the brightest of a person but her kindness was unmatched. Mei loved her for it, but sometimes that caring attitude pushed her too much over the edge she would fall and spiral out of control, out of reach. Mei swore to herself she would be there for Kiana even in her darkest time, no longer would she allow her to feel alone or unloved. That one confession of Kiana almost ending it all when she was drown in her own despair over the death of their teacher pained Mei more than anything she knew.
Mei was no stranger to physical and mental pain, despair was one of the latter she knew the most. To think the girl who saved her almost did the very thing she nearly did, alone without someone to show compassion like she did to Mei, was heartbreaking. Unfair. Mei remember holding Kiana for an entire night after that talk, hot streams of tears running down her bloodshot eyes, all the while Kiana tried to comfort her with whispers of it was okays.
It was okay.
Truth was, it wasn't okay. Mei made sure to thank Fu Hua after that, for being there for Kiana. Saving her from her demon and showing her the beauty of the world when Mei couldn't, saving her and Mei's dearest from fate that had taken so many. Fu Hua being Fu Hua simply smiled.
"She's a friend in need. I did what everyone would do to someone in that situation. Besides, Kiana has saved us plenty and will have again and again. To help her is a honor in itself"
So she made a vow then, to help Kiana and never leave her again in the face of uncaring world. Kiana had grown since then, all of them had, and they had faced their own demons. They had made their peace, made their goodbyes to their teacher, and carried on her legacy as her kindlings, ready to spark a new fire in future generations.
Yet this was too much, even for Mei. To see her again, her radiant smile and comforting words, were too much. The ache in her heart grew bigger, like forest fire being stoked by a gale, and at that moment a voice echoed in her head.
"I want to stay with her"
It was cold and demanding without a room for argument, not like Mei would argue with it.
Because Thunder was right to Mei's deepest desire.
"I will stay. Kiana, she..." Not ready? That wasn't it. Kiana was ready to let go, she did already. But to introduce herself to someone wearing the skin of her dead teacher was a different matter entirely.
Bronya understood. Being the most perceptive of the three she needed no further words. Nodding in empathy, she gave another gentle squeeze to Mei's shoulder before proceeding ahead, catching up with the two teenagers.
Mei stood there numbly, hands tight in a grip by her sides. Clenching her jaw, she sighed and turned on her feet, silently making her way back to where Kiana was. All the while Thunder was being restless in her head.
"She can't do it"
"She can" Mei assured quietly. "She must"
Mei hoped the silence that followed her statement was Thunder agreeing with her.
TBC
I did not expect this story to be received so eagerly lol but it's nice to know everyone is interested.
Anyway, things will slow down a bit from here on with the progression and all. It's a slow burn so expect it to be long.
Please leave a review on your way out, thank you so much.