Chapter Text
In the vacuum of space, no one could hear you scream — It was a common saying, the true meaning lost to time. Yet, that did not stop the people in Herta Space Station from screaming loudly as the Antimatter Legion attacked them. The lift shuddered to a stop as the space station trembled at another explosion, making Kafka sigh as music in the lift was silenced.
“Seems I came at a bad time,” she said, knowing that her colleague was watching her progress over the camera.
“No no — I think you couldn't have timed it better,” Silver Wolf said as she opened the lift doors.
Kafka stepped out and continued to make her way towards her destination even as the space station groaned ominously. Did Elio mention something about Herta Space Station breaking apart into two? She could not recall anything of sorts but then again, a space station breaking into pieces beneath her feet did seem like a detail he would gross over.
The space station rumbled again, prompting Kafka to ask if it was part of the script.
“The pulses from the explosion cause a massive breakdown from the master control system,” Silver Wolf answered with a bored tone.
“You did that?”
“No, the Antimatter Legion did it. They completely invaded the space station two system hours ago. But the last explosion was pretty big… Hmm… Well, Elio didn't say anything about it, so it doesn't matter.”
Ominous but she was right. If Elio did not say anything then it was not in the script. In that case, what does it matter?
“Got it. So from now on, I'll be in charge of this operation,” Kafka said as she strode down the corridor that led deeper into the space station.
“Copy. Can you let me have some fun this time? Our last few operations turned out to be pretty dull.”
Kafka let out a laugh. Why not? As long as they followed the script, everything else outside of that did not matter.
“If you wanna go look for some fun yourself, I won't stop you. I mean, after all Elio didn't put it in the script, why would it matter?”
The rest of the journey was mostly uneventful with the only interesting thing being a lone Voidranger whom Silver Wolf sent away. The place was like a maze, made worse with the creeping Fragmentum and falling debris sealing off pathways. Kafka decided to make haste. If the Fragmentum is starting to show then it would mean that the Stellaron stored in the space station was either awakening or becoming unstable, neither things she wanted to deal with right now.
After dispersing the illusion and finding the hidden room, the prize was in Kafka’s reach. She grabbed the Stellaron encased in the gravity field, the light from it almost blinding and the energy it emitted almost burning. The first part of the mission was done and now for the second one. She needed a vessel to hold the Stellaron, one that was strong enough to contain it without falling to it.
Fortunately, she knew the perfect one.
Two receptacles lay in front of her, yet she could only choose one. Her eyes fell onto the male even when she already knew what her decision would be. What would happen to him? Would he one day ever open his eyes? Alas, not even Elio would know what fate awaited for the unchosen. She reached out to the female, her other hand holding on to the Stellaron she would place into the vessel.
“Stelle,” Kafka said with a smile.
The Stellaron was shoved into the chest of the vessel, and at the same time, the entire space station lurched to the side as another explosion went off. The female receptacle fell on top of the male one, together with the Stellaron still embedded in her chest. A blinding light went off, forcing everyone to close their eyes. When the light finally faded away, the Stellaron was gone and the two receptacles were laying on the ground.
Kafka knelt down to check their condition. Though their pulses were weak, they were both alive and she could feel the power of the Stellaron in them.
“Did Elio say anything about this?” she asked.
“No. Seems strange for him to not say anything about it.”
“Either it’s something he thinks is not important to the script or it’s not inside it. If it’s not in the script then it doesn’t matter. One or two would not change it.”
The female receptacle stirred, drawing Kafka’s attention to her.
“Who… are you?” Stelle struggled to ask, her eyes half-focused.
“I thought you'd remember me,” Kafka said, unable to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “Listen. You are in a daze right now. You don't know who you are, why you're here, or what you're going to do next. You think I look familiar, but you're not sure if you should trust me — None of that matters. All you need to know is that I'm leaving. From now on you needn't think about your past or doubt yourself. In the near future, you will encounter all kinds of perils and hardships, but you will also have many wonderful experiences. You'll meet companions who treat you like family, and embark on surreal adventures with them… At the end of your journey, all that perplexes you and troubles you will resolve. This is your future that Elio has foreseen. Do you like it?”
Stelle stared blankly at her with half-lidded eyes and Kafka wondered if any of her words stuck at all.
“No… I don't want it…” she managed to say, the words slurred and barely audible but Kafka heard it.
“This is also a lovely answer,” Kafka said with a smile. “Elio can foresee the future, but he can't make decisions for you. Use that will of yours to reach the end of your story. That's the you I like.”
“How long do you think you need?” Silver Wolf interrupted, even as her hands moved across the screens in front of her. “According to the script, the Astral Express crew is arriving soon. We should avoid being seen by them.”
“I know, Silver Wolf. Just give me another minute.” Kafka turned back to Stelle whose eyes were beginning to close. “I must leave now. Someone will come and find you very soon, just go with them. You won't remember a thing except me.”
“No…” she mumbled out even as her eyes unwillingly shut on their own and her breathing evened out as sleep claimed her.
“When you have a chance to make a choice, make one that you know you won't regret… And don’t forget about your brother. He’s your other half after all.”
Did Stelle hear the rest of her words? Well, it was too late to ask her now. Kafka stood up, only sparing a quick glance at the male receptacle lying unconscious on the ground. The entire time she was talking to Stelle, he never woke up at all.
“Caelus,” she said when she realised she never gave him a name. “I wonder what the future holds for you. Will you share the same story as your sister or will you walk down a different road?”
She turned around and walked away with Silver Wolf, trusting the Astral Express crew to reach here at the designated time as Elio foretold. Unbeknownst to her, Caelus had opened his eyes when she turned around and he watched as the one who brought him into the world walked away from him.