Stelle and Caelus didn't like the victorious look on Herta's face when her doll returned inside the room with a stack of papers.

"You two...are far more interesting than expected."

The doll turned to them with a pleased smile.

"I look forward to our future cooperation."

Well that was ominous.

Both Stellaron receptacles felt a shiver crawl up their spine.

"Now that the IPC are content with the data I forwarded to them, it's time we started on the real tests."

"Wait, those tests were not enough?" Stelle gulped.

"No, of course not. Those were just the standard procedures for the IPC. Nothing impressive."

Caelus was looking between Herta and the door. Was it possible for him to make a run for it? No, the entire station was under her control. He would just be making things harder for himself.

But...

"For the record...Stelle here was the one who created the Stellaron pulse."

Caelus threw Stelle under the bus. March 7th and Dan Heng would back him up when Herta asked them.

"I bet she could do it again."

Caelus doubled down.

Stelle's horrified face was all the revenge he needed. Not after being ditched to Asta yesterday.

Trying to bullshit your way out of that situation was near impossible. Caelus had been forced to avoid areas where the phantom Legionnaires roamed to avoid a fight.

Vengeance felt oh so delicious.

Caelus 1:1 Stelle

.

.

.

Caelus 0:1 Stelle

It turns out that Caelus didn't win. The both of them still became experimental test subjects despite his efforts.

Dan and March came to collect the two after the day ended, only to find both teens knocked out. Herta had moved the two detainees to guest rooms about the space station for the duration of their stay. It was there that Dan and March came across their prone bodies lying in the hallway.

It was like a hospital ward.

"Are you two alright?!" March nervously checked on the two unmoving bodies. She poked Caelus on the side and received a whimper in return.

"They look exhausted." Dan muttered. "Maybe we should bring them to their rooms? We should visit another day."

"That sounds like a good idea. Mind helping me carry them there?"

Dan gripped Caelus on the shoulder and pulled him up. For some reason a white soul floated outside his mouth. The two Astral crew members carried the boy to his room. Using Caelus' palm, Dan keyed him into his room and dropped the tired man on the bed. After fixing his position, they returned for Stelle and did the same.

"What do you think happened to these two?" March asked Dan while she pulled the blanket over the knocked out girl.

"I don't know."

.

.

.

When Caelus woke up, he was greeted by the scent of coffee.

He groggily blinked his eyes open to a mug of coffee sitting on the table. It was the only scent in the place since his room was void of anything. As far as Caelus knew, his clothes were the only belongings he had. It took him a quarter of an hour to rouse himself up and walk over to the table.

A small handwritten note accompanied the drink.

You guys were knocked out cold yesterday! Here's a little something from Miss Himeko to wake you up! Enjoy!!! – March 7th

Caelus looked at the nice little present from the leader of the Astral Express. It smelled nice, inviting him to bask in its magnificence.

He took one sip.

...and the world was at peace.

.

.

.

"Are we sure giving him Miss Himeko's coffee was the right idea?"

Dan Heng looked unsure of himself. Giving the two troublemakers coffee of all drinks seemed like a bad idea. Especially when the coffee was infamous to half the Astral Express crew.

Him, PomPom, and March, all avoided the drink like a plague after seeing Himeko and Welt partake in it like an addiction.

Something was not right with that thing.

"I'm sure nothing is wrong with it. It's about time we moved on from all this scary nonsense about one small drink. Besides, it's a small gift to our new crewmates!" March answered brightly.

"If you say so..."

"It's already late in the morning. Should we grab them some breakfast before they change the menu?"

"That sounds like a great idea."

.

.

.

"Maybe we shouldn't have given them the coffee."

March watched as Stelle took a sip of her drink blankly- almost as if she was in another world. The sheer absence of any reaction to March waving her hand in front of the girl was worrying.

"Uh...what do we do?" March turned towards Dan for help.

"Maybe we can nudge them out of it?"

Dan moved to poke the girl out of her reverie but once his hands neared her shoulders to shake her out of it, Stelle acted.

"Stelle...?" March asked nervously.

Stelle clutched the mug of coffee protectively to her chest while inching away from Dan Heng. She still carried the same vacant expression, but March couldn't help but feel something was very wrong.

"Dan, try to take the coffee away."

Stelle angled away from him once again.

"...what have we done?"

Dan was giving March the look.

"I told you it was dangerous."

"L-look, we can also check on Caelus right?"

They did in fact, check on Caelus.

March audibly gulped at seeing the second victim of the drink. Caelus looked like all the woes of being Herta's test subject were gone- driven away by Himeko's blend.

It was twenty minutes later when Caelus and Stelle recovered. Dan Heng, who had been keeping an eye on the boy, watched as Caelus snapped back to reality.

A soft relaxed sigh caught Dan's attention, making him look up at Caelus.

"Welcome back."

Dan Heng was very well aware of the drink's side effects, which was the individual's complete loss of sense to the outside world. He had seen the same from Himeko and Welt when they partook in the drink.

"I hope you've recovered."

"W-what happened?" Caelus looked around in confusion- his mind still grasping for the heavenly brew that was quickly disappearing from his palate.

"You spaced out. I knew giving you that drink was a bad idea."

"What drink?"

Dan Heng shook his head. He didn't want to talk about Himeko's coffee anymore than he had to.

Something was seriously wrong with that thing.

.

.

.

A few days later, the Astral Express was free to leave. The space station had recovered substantially and IPC supplies were coming in for repairs. The IPC fleet anchored their reserve fleet in the nearby planetary gravity well as protection detail while the main group returned to base.

Caelus and Stelle were standing on the space platform saying their goodbyes to Asta and Arlan while the Astral crew prepared for departure.

"Thanks a lot for your help around the station." Asta smiled.

The younger Astral Express crew- few as they were- still did what they could to help the station.

"It was no problem! We're just doing our job!" March flashed a peace sign at the manager of the research station.

"Make sure to come visit us again sometime, ok? Miss Herta won't stop bugging Asta if you don't come for visits." Arlan interjected. "And you know how much Asta values Miss Herta's...attention."

"Arlan!!!"

March giggled while watching Asta repeatedly bang her fists over Arlan's back.

"Give us a call and we'll come! I'm sure Miss Himeko won't mind a break from trailblazing once in a while." March gave a thumbs up.

"March, Mr. Yang's calling us." Dan notifies the group while watching said person wave at them from the Astral Express' doors.

"About time! I've been waiting to tour Caelus and Stelle on the train!" March grabbed the two by the hands and pulled them along. "Let's go!!!"

...

Once the final preparations were finished, the Astral Express slowly pulled out of the docking station and into outer space.

Caelus and Stelle watched the research station grow smaller behind them as the Astral Express moved itself to a safe distance for the jump.

"Looks beautiful out here doesn't it?" March asked the duo.

"Yeah..." Caelus couldn't help but watch the multitude of glowing lights in the dark expanse.

Stelle, on the other hand, found her attention captivated by a cute walking stuff toy.

"March, is that what I think it is?"

"The planet? That's where Herta came from."

"No, I mean the walking doll."

"I AM NOT A DOLL!!!"

March's cheeks puffed before she exploded into laughter at the red steaming face of PomPom.

"Grrr! These are our new crewmates?!"

"So cute."

"He is, isn't he?"

"HEY!"

PomPom's reaction was ignored.

"All jokes aside, this is actually our amazing conductor, PomPom. He maintains the Astral Express." March stopped giggling and introduced the small fluffy manager of the train.

"Hmph! If you think praise will brighten my mood then you've got another thing coming!" PomPom huffed while looking away from March.

"So cute."

Stelle was slowly creeping closer to PomPom with her hands stretched out.

"Uhh...March? What's she doing?" PomPom feels his hair stand on end.

"You'll be fine! Nothing harmful I'm sure." March grinned.

Sorry PomPom. I can understand Stelle here.

"March? Marchhh!!!"

PomPom found himself under attack.

.

.

.

"Hmm...that's odd."

"What is?"

Welt took a sip on his coffee. Across from him, Himeko was sipping hers while looking out the window into the galaxy.

"PomPom should be keeping track of our position. By now, he'd be slowing the train down and arranging the preparations for a jump."

"I'm sure it will be fine. Maybe PomPom's just distracted with our new members."

"Yeah, you might be right." Welt closed his eyes and took a sip of the wonderful liquid of perfection.

Ahh...bliss.

Nothing like drinking the world away in a blissful haze. Travelling on the Astral Express was an amazing adventure, one that Welt enjoyed. But sometimes, it still had its small inconveniences. Dan and March were good people, but ultimately children. A small escape away from the troubles of being a guardian over the two was just what he needed.

The two adults on the crew continued to sip on their coffee while waiting for PomPom's announcement.

...

"Did something go amiss?" Welt asked after he and Himeko popped into the Astral's parlor car. They had finished their drinks and wondered what was taking the preparations so long.

Dan Heng looked up from the book he was reading at the two arrivals.

"Stelle and March were hindering PomPom from working."

"Hehe...Stelle was very captivated by our conductor..." March scratched her head apprehensively.

"Was she? That makes sense. PomPom is quite adorable." Himeko smiled lightly. Who wouldn't find PomPom cute? Himeko had watched their conductor waddle around the Astral Express many times.

"He is now preparing for the jump to Jarilo-VI, right?" Welt asked March.

"Yep! He left for the driver's compartment a little while ago."

Just in time, the speakers all over the Astral Express buzzed to life.

"All passengers, return to your seats! The train is about to jump in one minute!"

"Stelle! Caelus! Come sit before the jump starts!" Himeko called out to the two teens standing over the CD player on the other end of the parlor car. Both of them glanced at her and moved towards one of the sofas. "Make sure to sit tightly until the jump is finished, alright?" Himeko cautioned. "It will be over soon."

Everyone made themselves comfortable on their seats.

Everyone except March.

"Umm..." Stelle glanced at the enthusiastic girl. "...I thought we're supposed to be sitting."

"Don't mind March. She likes to challenge herself by standing during each jump." Dan Heng calmly flipped over to the next page.

"Huh..."

Bzzt.

"Hold on everyone! In 5...4..." PomPom's voice came through the train comms.

March froze her feet to the floor in preparation for the jump.

This time...this time she was going to stay up!

"...1! Jumping...now!"

The train jerked forwards in a sense, throwing off Caelus and Stelle's balance despite their preparation.

"Ah-?"

"-?!"

Dan Heng blinked as two bodies gracely flew overhead in a parabolic arc. Caelus met his gaze with confused eyes as the other boy turned upside down from his point of view.

March opened her eyes to a face full of flying Stelle. The poor girl tried to catch the falling star but the combined force from the interstellar jump and her body was too much for the ice keeping her stable.

A third body joined the flying parade.

...

"...ouch."

Welt quickly hurried over after the jump. Stelle and March were in a crumpled heap at the end of the car with Caelus rubbing his head a few meters away from them. March's eyes were twirling along with Stelle's while they sprawled across the floor.

"Is everyone alright?" The senior member leaned over the trio and examined them for injuries. A quick scan showed they were fine.

"I can see flying stars..." March murmured quietly.

Welt helped March and Stelle to the closest sofa while Caelus helped himself to the window beside him.

"Woah..." His breath left him.

While Herta's Space Station overlooked a blue planet. The one they arrived at was covered in white. The planet looked like a shining crystal with how the surface constantly reflected light.

"It's so shiny..."

"Hmmm? That's weird..." Himeko mumbled while drawing up the Astral Express logs. "Jarilo-VI on records have been described as a lush and vibrant world. This doesn't look right."

"Perhaps something happened? The Astral Express hasn't visited this world in thousands of years." Welt reasoned.

"Attention to all passengers! There is a spatial anomaly within the Astral Express vicinity! Further travel is too dangerous!" The announcement system overhead blared PomPom's warning.

Himeko frowned while looking outside the window.

"A spatial anomaly...?"

Welt tapped into one of the train's radar systems and looked over the streams of information collected in real time.

"Scans show that there is a Stellaron in the area distorting the space around the planet. It is likely to be the cause behind the change of Jarilo-VI."

"Stellarons can cause this much damage?" Caelus suddenly didn't feel so safe with one Stellaron on the train.

"They are a mystery, but many records have identified them as the cause of many disasters." Himeko answered him. "But don't worry, Herta assures us that the Stellaron inside Stelle is inert. She has contained it for a long time before it moved into her."

"What do we need to do?" Dan Heng asked.

"There is only one way to solve this problem. We need to search for the Stellaron on Jarilo-VI and find a way to deal with it." Himeko's eyes moved between all the gathered parties. "For that, we have to send a team down."

Caelus noticed the way Himeko was looking at him.

"...but I'm new."

"All the better for the experience, no?" She smiled gently.

Surely they weren't just going to send in their newest members?

.

.

.

They were very sure.

Caelus sneezed as he hugged his jacket tighter around himself.

It was cold.

Very cold.

"Is this really the only habitable place on this planet?" He asked Dan Heng ahead of him. The other trailblazer was trudging in front of the group as the head.

"That's what Mr. Yang said. The rest of the planet is too cold to support life." Dan Heng navigated the terrain using a device. "We're getting readings. There is an energy source coming from this direction."

"Brrr! Can't wait to get inside somewhere warmer!" March shivered while walking.

Stelle listened to the conversation with half an ear, her attention drawn to the beautiful white landscape they were travelling in. It was new. Different. Jarilo-VI didn't feel anything like the Herta Space Station. The air in the space station was controlled. Stale. Here, there was a sense of sharp chilliness in the breeze buffeting her in the face.

It felt real.

Despite the cold and desolate beauty the world held, it was still fighting. Clinging on to survival, to a past it once had.

The world felt alive.

Not so much for the soft corpse hidden underneath the snow that she stepped on.

Stelle tried to ignore the uncomfortable sensation. But she didn't want to throw the entire group into a frenzy.

So, she stayed quiet.

'Huh, weird. It almost seemed as if the corpse just moved.'

Stelle's footing underneath her suddenly jerked forwards, causing her to fall back. The crash was heard by the group and they instantly turned around to see the commotion. A suspicious looking man appeared, wheezing and taking deep gulps of air.

"W-what were you trying to do? Suffocate me?!" He choked out.

Caelus, March, and Dan Heng narrowed their eyes at the stranger before glancing at Stelle lying in the snow behind him.

"...I thought you were a dead body."

"DEAD BODY?! I'M NOT DEAD!"

"Then why were you hiding under the snow?" Stelle's dead expression caught the man.

"A-ahem. As you can see, I was actually hiding."

"In the snow? In the middle of nowhere?" March asked incredulously.

"H-hey! Keep your voice down!" He shushed her. "There are people hunting me! I can't hide with you being loud!"

"People? There are people here?" March perked up.

"You didn't know?" The man rubbed a hand on his chin while looking at the group. "You're not from around here are you?"

"No. We are here to meet the locals." Dan Heng observed the man. His intuition warned him that the man felt weirdly off. "Could we ask you for directions to the closest settlement?"

"There's only one settlement left here, buddy. Our glorious Belobog! The last city against this dastardly Eternal Freeze!" The man proudly posed. "My name's Sampo- Sampo Koski! How about you, friend?" He reached out with his hand.

Dan Heng didn't receive the handshake. "Dan Heng. These are my companions. March, Caelus, and Stelle." He pointed at each of the trailblazers. "We're from the Astral Express."

"...Astral Express? You mean The Nameless?" The man- now named Sampo Koski- eyed them all individually. "Haven't heard of your people for a long ti-"

"Captain Gepard! We've found him!" Shouts erupted over the ridgeline above them.

"Ahhh!!!! They're here!!!" Sampo hid behind March. "Help me!!!"

"Under the order of the SIlvermane Guards! You are all under arrest!" A blonde in white and blue armor ran towards them. A contingent of soldiers followed behind him.

"W-wait! We're not with him! We're-" March turned around. "Huh?! Where did he go?!"

"Arrest them!!!"

"Don't let his accomplices escape!!!"

The guards ran headlong into the group of travellers.

"Not again..." March's eye twitched.

Getting arrested not once, but twice?!

.

.

.

Gepard kept an eye on the unusual group of suspects they escorted.

They kept insisting that they weren't connected to the criminal Sampo. They also kept calling themselves "The Nameless" for whatever it meant. Supposedly travellers that came from beyond the stars, which supported why they weren't prepared to tackle the Eternal Freeze.

His gaze slowly moved back to the group.

The four teens didn't resist the arrest,