In the dark vastness of space, planets spun between shadowy fingers like marbles in a child's hand. The curvature of space folded and unfolded with the cadence of an endless joke, while party decorations tumbled without order or purpose, piling up in the deep void.
A white cat walked calmly beside him. A balloon floated tied to its tail, swaying with every step. The animal purred, indifferent to the chaos, just as thousands of opera masks began plummeting from above, cutting through the darkness like a meteor shower.
Billions of laughs echoed in unison, layering over each other from every direction.
"Can you hear me, little Aleph?"
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Aleph spun sharply, throwing a punch in the direction he felt the touch; a burst of confetti exploded in front of his face. Aleph growled in annoyance, using his outstretched arm to shield himself.
The laughter grew louder, accompanied by applause.
"Relax." Said Aha mockingly. "Always so stiff. Aren't you afraid you'll break a hand if you move?"
Aleph lowered his arm, glaring into the emptiness, unable to see him.
"What the hell do you want, Aha?"
Aha murmured thoughtfully as thousands of shadowy hands emerged from the surroundings, stretching toward Aleph. They touched him, examined him, running over his body like he was some newly acquired curiosity.
Aleph frowned at the sound of a tongue clicking.
"You know." Aha said, with a hint of disappointment. "I liked you better when your hair was gray. And those golden eyes… they had more character."
"And I'd like to see some Aeon kick your ass until it's broken."
Aleph swatted the repulsive hands away, feeling sickened by Aha's touch.
"What the hell do you mean by my appearance?" He snapped.
Aha hummed again, lost in thought.
"Huh? Well, you shared those traits with a very dear friend who left long ago."
He let out an exaggerated sigh.
"You know, Aleph… I've been feeling a little lonely lately." He added in a sing-song tone. "More and more Aeons are watching your direction. I can get a little jealous if they stare too much at something that belongs to me, you know?"
The space around them began to compress as two hands intertwined.
"I might have to rough you up a bit to get some of those stares off you..."
Millions of images flashed through Aleph's mind at an impossible speed. Cats riding horses, King Arthur fighting a rabbit and losing, a horse breakdancing; a knight attempting to seduce a dragon with erotic poetry, Welt, Kevin, and Su dressed as idols giving a surprisingly good performance. The sensations hit his mind like a jolt, forcing him to grit his teeth as he struggled to maintain his balance.
A man in a flawless white suit appeared before his eyes; a wide-brimmed hat obscured his face, hiding his features.
"Still." Aha said lightly. "I like how things have changed since I decided to introduce you as a variable in the equation."
He raised a hand, as if pointing to an invisible stage.
"You've brought me quite a show."
Black and white cats began walking around him.
"But it's not enough." He continued. "Not for all the plans that involve you."
Aleph frowned, realizing he didn't understand a single word the Aeon was saying.
"I don't follow you." He admitted.
Aha laughed.
"You don't have to." He replied casually.
He snapped his fingers.
"I've already played my cards. I've prepared a fun little moment for you. You must be experiencing some unparalleled euphoria right now!"
A strange sensation swept through Aleph's body.
"It's time for you to return." Aha said.
Clarity began to seep into his mind.
"Don't draw on Aleph's face!"
"It's his fault for not waking up! Don't try to stop me, March, no one can stop art!"
He could hear March and Stelle's voices.
Laughter filled everything again, drowning out any notion of silence. A coin spun in the air, glittering as it rose and fell without ever touching the ground.
"My wildcard is already on the table." Aha declared. "Does it really matter if the game was chess and not cards? I don't care at all."
The cats meowed, alarms blared, and fireworks exploded all around.
"Burning golden blood will mark the omen of ruin. Amid the twilight of dusk, gods and their followers will raise their weapons to tear each other's throats. Why not speed things up and get a good look at what lies at the end of the path, while a great laugh travels across every corner of the vast Cosmos, until it loses its breath and the screams of horror plunge the poor, bored jester into the joy of a perfect joke?"
Confetti and beach balls rained down in abundance.
"Tell me, little Aleph..."
The coin landed.
"Aren't you tired of clinging to the role the Cosmos' narrative and Nous' calculations forced on you, just to keep this long, boring process going?"
Aha leaned in.
"Don't worry. Daddy Aha will show you the real path. The way has already opened for you to divert every possibility. Though there was a small, insignificant price to pay for all this."
All other sounds faded, leaving only Aha's laughter.
"I assume you won't have any trouble if any of the losers under the crying baby's command get in your way."
The jester's presence began to dissipate.
"You can face them." He concluded. "Right?"
....
Aleph slowly opened his eyes.
The light from the ceiling hit him full on, making him grunt as he raised a hand to shield his face. As he sat up, he noticed the IV connected to his arm and, without thinking too much, clumsily pulled it out.
"Seriously, I don't understand how anyone can eat this." March complained from somewhere nearby. "Everything tastes like soggy cardboard!"
"Get over it, March." Stelle said boredly. "Tch. When that idiot Aleph wakes up… we're going to have a very serious talk about how many more times he thinks he's going to try killing himself. I could save him the trouble and do it myself if he keeps this up."
Dan Heng sighed.
"You're in a hospital." He reminded them. "Keep your voices down. There are other patients who need rest."
A little farther off, he noticed Welt and Himeko talking with the Intelitron in charge of the medical facilities.
"So… is his condition stable?" Himeko asked.
"Stable isn't the word I'd use." The Intelitron replied after a brief processing pause. "Medical evaluation: the patient suffered two consecutive heart attacks during treatment. Systemic damage is severe."
Welt frowned.
"Two…?" he muttered. "How is he still alive?"
"Observation: the patient's survival is not due to conventional biological parameters. Anomalous energy spikes were detected, preventing total collapse of the organic system."
Himeko pressed her lips together.
"How severe is the damage?"
"Preliminary diagnosis: extensive muscle tears, internal microfractures, and extreme overload of energy channels. The body was subjected to stress levels incompatible with a guaranteed full recovery."
Welt looked at the Intelitron seriously.
"Will there be aftereffects?"
"High probability." It answered without hesitation. "Physical capacity significantly reduced. There is a chance of permanent damage."
Himeko closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.
"Why hasn't he woken up?"
"Current state." The Intelitron explained. "Deep coma induced by neurological and energy exhaustion. Awakening cannot be guaranteed in the short term."
"How long are we talking?" Welt asked.
"Variable estimate: from several months up to a standard year. Recovery will depend on external factors that cannot be quantified at this time."
Himeko let out a sigh.
"That means…"
"Confirmation." Added the Intelitron. "The patient was lucky to survive. A minor error margin would have resulted in total failure."
"Thanks for your honesty." Welt said.
"You're welcome." The Intelitron replied. "I consider withholding relevant information to be inefficient and unethical in this context."
Aleph ran a hand through the back of his neck, feeling exhaustion weighing down to his bones.
[Loading…]
[System online.]
[Good to see you again, Master.]
"Glad to see you," he murmured. "I've heard a lot about my physical state, but I think an internal evaluation would do me good as well. Can you do that?"
[Analyzing…]
[…]
[What the hell did you do while I was out? I detect that you are completely drained of magical energy. At present, due to your physical condition, you can at most exert the physical strength of an average teenager your age.]
The door slammed open.
"It's my turn!" March announced, entering with a children's book in hand. "They say reading to them helps them wake up."
"…'Larry the Beetle-Eater'?" Aleph's face darkened at the title of the book in Marzo's arms.
That's when the three of them saw it.
Marzo nearly dropped the book. Dan Heng approached, frowning.
"You took out your IV?" He asked disapprovingly.
Stelle had already turned toward the door.
"I'm going to call Welt and Himeko." She said before leaving.
Aleph sighed, leaning back again, too tired to argue.
....
Aleph stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, breathing slowly, until the uncomfortable sensation in his arm reminded him of the IV. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, took it between his fingers, and after hesitating for just a moment, carefully put it back in place.
"This is still humiliating." He murmured, shaking his head.
"It would be worse if you collapsed again." Dan Heng replied without looking up. "Just stay still."
"By the way, what happened while I was unconscious?"
March, sitting on the edge of the bed with the children's book still in her hands, looked at him with a triumphant smile.
"See! That's what happens when you try to act tough." She said, pointing at the IV bag. "Now stay still or Dan Heng's going to tie you to the bed."
"You asked what happened while you were unconscious, right?" Dan Heng said.
"Yes." Aleph nodded.
March leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.
"We won, and this time it was for real!" She said, raising a fist in the air. "Sunday fell, and finally, all that mess is over!"
"After everything that happened, he was placed under arrest by the Corporation." Dan Heng explained. "For now, the official information available to the public is limited. The names of those who caused the disaster haven't been released because it could seriously affect Penacony's economy. On top of that, the Family and the Corporation have opened a negotiation table."
"Negotiations?" Aleph repeated.
"Yeah." March nodded enthusiastically. "And we've been invited as mediators. Because, you know, we weren't just victims of the chaos—we even played a significant active role in Sunday's subjugation plan."
Her eyes sparkled.
"That means compensation." She added, raising a finger. "Big compensation!"
Dan Heng rubbed his forehead.
"March…"
"It's realistic!" She defended herself. "Think about everything they could give us, credits, trips to a spa, maybe even—"
Aleph couldn't help but smile, shaking his head.
"It's starting to sound pretty tempting."
"See, Aleph gets it!"
March smiled back at him, while Dan Heng sighed in resignation.
The door opened again.
Stelle walked in, followed by Welt, Himeko, and the Intelitron.
"Wow." She said, adjusting her glasses. "So you decided to come back. How are you feeling, Aleph?"
Himeko smiled.
"We're glad to see you awake." She said, stepping a little closer. "You gave us quite a scare."
The Intelitron, on the other hand, stayed still before moving directly to the machine next to the bed.
"Processing updated data." It said while checking the monitor screen. "Inconsistency detected."
Aleph blinked.
"Inconsistency?"
"Confirmed." It replied without looking up. "Observation: Current records do not match previous projections. The recovery level exceeds expected parameters for this time frame by a significant margin."
Welt frowned.
"Are you saying that…?"
"Observation: Even the previously detected partial brain damage shows signs of reversal." The Intelitron continued. "This result cannot be explained through conventional medical processes."
Aleph frowned, recalling that strange conversation he'd had before fainting and the flow of vital energy.
Stelle stretched and yawned, looking at Aleph.
"In any case, you're awake now." She said, crossing her arms. "So, do you want to go to the party or not?"
Aleph looked up at her.
"Party?"
"Yes. It's something not said aloud, but apparently it's meant to show that Penacony and its leaders haven't been shaken or something like that. Robin organized it with the leader of the Alfalfa Family on some weird ship—I already forgot the name—it was… Radiant-something?"
Dan Heng nodded.
"Besides the celebration, the Alfalfa Family leader made it clear that he wants to have a talk with all the Astral Express crew members. You could say you woke up at a good time."
Aleph forced a smile, thinking about how annoying it all would be.
Welt looked at Aleph.
"Before you answer, I'd like to remind you that your physical condition is far from optimal. You need at least light rehabilitation before thinking about that kind of thing."
Aleph smiled.
"I'm fine."
Before anyone could react, he ripped out the IV and stood up.
But the moment he tried to take a step, a wave of weakness completely crushed his feeble attempt to walk, and he collapsed to the floor.
His stomach growled, and a craving to eat something surged through him.
Dan Heng reacted immediately, catching him before he fell.
"Aleph…" He muttered through gritted teeth as he held him. "Does that seem okay to you?"
Aleph forced a laugh, trying to ignore the annoying numbness crawling through his body.
"I guess… it's going to take me some time to get used to this." He murmured quietly.
Welt and Himeko each rubbed a hand over their foreheads.
The Intelitron let out a sound of irritation.
"Comment: I am always assigned to extraordinarily problematic patients or outright idiots. Proposal: Request an extended vacation to preserve operational stability."
March and Dan Heng helped him sit back up on the bed.
"Thanks." Aleph said.
March snapped her fingers suddenly.
"Oh, right!" She pulled out her phone and started typing at lightning speed.
Aleph shot her a sidelong glance.
"What are you doing?"
"Black Swan and Acheron asked me to let them know when you woke up." She said without looking up from her phone.
Aleph closed his eyes as he felt what could only be the beginnings of a headache.
"Great." He murmured. "One problem ends, and another begins."
Stelle turned to the others.
"Could you give us a moment alone?" She asked, looking at Welt, Himeko, March, Dan Heng, and the Intelitron. "There's something I want to discuss with him."
Welt nodded.
"Fine."
One by one, they began to leave the room. The Intelitron made sure to give Aleph a disapproving glance before exiting. Once they were alone, Stelle ran a hand over her forehead, as if she had a headache.
"In the name of Akivili and Pom-Pom's furry ears, what the hell were you thinking?" She spat, taking a few steps forward as she grabbed him by the collar of his hospital gown. "I spoke with Silver Wolf, and she told me that Elio had already foreseen you making some catastrophic stupidity. Four endings were predicted, and none of them were exactly pretty."
Aleph blinked and let out a laugh, gesturing for her to calm down.
"Nah. Don't worry about that stuff—you should already know scripts have never been flawless. Who knows, maybe I just dodged all those endings, opening a path Elio didn't anticipate!"
"…Or maybe that's exactly what Elio meant?" Aleph thought, recalling his last encounter with Aha. While he didn't understand who the "losers" or that "crybaby" were, he could sense they were definitely bad news.
"Get serious for once, you idiot!" Stelle exclaimed, slamming a nearby nightstand to pieces.
"Brain damage, Aleph! Two damn heart attacks!" Aleph blinked, dumbfounded at how genuinely angry she looked. "Why the hell do you shrug everything off and act like nothing happened?!"
Aleph's eyebrows twitched as he did his best to maintain a calm expression.
He let out a dry laugh.
"Isn't it funny that you're the one saying that, Stelle?" He replied, frowning at her. "I thought you were the expert at doing exactly that."
Stelle frowned.
"Hmph. What are you talking about? I never do that!"
The sound of something breaking echoed in Aleph's mind as he stared at Stelle with boiling anger.
"So you're going to pretend to be oblivious until the end? I'd say I'm surprised, but honestly, I'd be lying." He commented, crossing his arms. "Let me refresh your memory a bit, oh sweet little Stelle. Are the words Ruan Mei, sweets, and experimentation familiar to you?"
Stelle blinked in disbelief before laughing.
"Seriously, that's what bothers you? Be a man and get over it!" She snapped. "Aren't you exaggerating over what was probably just some routine checkup?"
Aleph repeated her words quietly, then laughed.
"Exaggerating? Sure, hahaha. I should've expected you to say something like that." He said, narrowing his eyes and looking at her sharply. "If you really don't know anything, it'd be best if you just stayed quiet."
Stelle huffed and crossed her arms.
"Hmph. You're acting like a real drama queen." She said. "Also, don't you have any guts? You abandoned March, Himeko, and me to our luck while we faced Sunday. Where were you when we needed you? Did you run off with some woman doing another stupid thing?"
Aleph looked at her as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. He brought a hand to his forehead.
"You… really think… I'm that kind of person?" Aleph muttered, looking at her with trembling eyes.
Stelle hesitated slightly at how genuinely hurt Aleph looked before letting out a sigh and turning her back, beginning to leave the room.
"…If you weren't, you'd have been there with us, fighting."
****************
Aleph moved through the side corridors of the ship, deliberately keeping away from the center of the celebration. The music still reached his ears, muffled and mixed with laughter and the occasional clinking of glasses.
"—When is Robin going to take the stage? I only came to see her—"
"—Don't get so impatient, hahaha. A musician needs the stage to be perfect before going on to avoid accidents and mistakes. So if there's a delay, it's fine, don't you think?—"
"—I hadn't thought of it that way, I guess you're right. Besides, as long as there's free drink, they can take their time—"
He continued forward until a waiter stopped in front of him, holding a silver tray.
"Would you like something to drink, sir?"
Aleph glanced at the row of glasses for a second before nodding.
"Pomegranate juice, please."
He took the glass and continued on. Upon reaching the elevator, he pressed the button for the lower level and waited in silence until the doors closed, isolating him almost completely from the noise.
The lower deck was fairly quiet due to the small—if not practically nonexistent—number of people there. He walked slowly to one of the folding chairs by the window and sat down carefully, setting the glass on the nearby table.
As his mind wandered, his gaze drifted toward the sky.
Could someone like him really consider himself good?
"Probably not."
He looked back at the sky in silence, while the distant glow of the stars remained unmoving before him.
"I made that promise… I said I would truly live my life moving forward, not clinging to them or to what they left me."
A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"…Even if they aren't really my habits, I guess it's easier said than done when the moment comes to leave them behind."
His mind returned to the hospital room, frowning in annoyance as he remembered his conversation with Stelle.
He had forced his dying body to remain conscious after crashing to the ground. He had ignored the pain, the fatigue, even his own mortality, just to command what was left of his swarm alongside Belcebú to support the others during the battle against Sunday.
"And yet… she belittled my effort so much, and on top of that made me relive the memory of that bitch Ruan Mei."
The glass creaked softly between his fingers. Small cracks spread across it, held back only by the lack of strength in his body. At any other time, it would have shattered, spilling the juice across the floor.
Aleph set the glass down on the table. He opened and closed his hand several times, as if trying to get used to that persistent weakness. At least he could move normally. Burroughs had been clear about the interval during which he would have to continue going through this; he would have to wait at least a week to a month for a full recovery.
A small price, considering how close he had been to the brink of true death.
"At least this is better than not waking up at all."
He clicked his tongue in annoyance as another memory lit up in his mind.
Firefly.
He looked away from the sky and exhaled slowly.
"I just… hope it's useful to her."
That what he had managed to obtain would be enough to approach a "cure" for the entropy syndrome.
He picked up the glass and drank the rest in one gulp. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"What's the project's progress level?"
The answer came quickly.
"5%. Apologies for the slowness. There are unforeseen technical difficulties, though I don't think you need to worry. With the assistance of the AI in your possession, we'll be able to obtain results faster and more efficiently."
Aleph set the phone down on the table.
"No problem. As long as we get the results, time doesn't matter."
A few seconds later, the screen lit up again.
"Completion is likely, according to estimates, by the time you finish your recovery. That is, somewhere between a week and a month, assuming no further setbacks occur."
A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Good news."
He put the phone in his pocket… and it vibrated immediately.
[Firefly: "Aleph… I, uh, can we talk? I snuck aboard."]
Aleph typed as he stood up.
[Aleph: "I'm on my way."]
He hadn't taken more than two steps when alarms began to blare throughout the ship, cutting off the calm before Robin's performance completely.
....
Stelle let her gaze drop to the table as another stranger approached, asking her to dance. One look from her was enough to make the man awkwardly back off.
Her fingers drummed against the surface as she frowned in annoyance.
"…Maybe I was a little too harsh on Aleph."
But realizing that didn't make her any less irritated with him.
"Is it really that hard for him to stop acting like a drama queen, even just once? That idiot needed to be put in his place—at least once."
She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
"If he already knew the truth about the dream, if he knew defeating that fake Sunday wouldn't change a thing… was it really that hard to warn us? Say something, anything, or even leave a damn clue instead of just walking off alone like always?"
Her mind inevitably went back to Silver Wolf's words.
"There are four possible outcomes. The first is that he's reborn as a Lord Ravager. The second, that he becomes the new King of the Swarm. The third… that he dies. And the last… Elio didn't give details. He just said it's worse."
Stelle's frown deepened as the first hints of a headache began, while more questions—none of which she had any answers for—flooded her mind.
What could drive Aleph to get lost in the Path of Destruction? What could push him toward the Swarm? And what the hell was that fourth possibility?
Inevitably, her thoughts drifted once more to what had happened at the hospital.
Doubt, worry, and anger mixed until they were indistinguishable, finally boiling over.
Seeing him ignore the damage he was doing once again, she couldn't help but explode, even knowing he wasn't in his best condition.
Stelle slumped forward onto the table with a tired sigh.
Apologizing had never been her strong suit. Much less doing it sincerely.
"Such a pain in the ass…"
Maybe that was why Aleph liked animals so much—they were far simpler, far easier to deal with than people and their stupid feelings.
Then the alarm began to sound throughout the ship, abruptly cutting off the festive atmosphere and silencing conversations one by one.
The secretary of the Alfalfa Family's leader stepped onto the stage; Robin kindly handed her the microphone so she could be heard over the speakers.
"Please remain calm. A threat has been detected on board."
Stelle immediately lifted her head, hoping it was something she could hit; hitting and breaking things was good for clearing the mind. Plus, it was fun.
"Three hundred bombs have been placed on the ship by a member of the Masked Jesters. According to the message left, the timer is set to detonate everything in one hour if we fail to locate and disarm the real bombs hidden among the decoys."
Stelle, like many others present, froze with a rather dumbfounded expression.
"Shit."
This was not the kind of violence she wanted!
...
Aleph brought a hand to his forehead as a sharp pang shot through his temple. If he'd been in better condition, he would've summoned his demons without a second thought. Not even an hour—five minutes would've been enough to track every single bomb and end the problem.
Right now, thinking he could do it was little more than a bad joke.
He pulled out his phone with a flick and typed a quick message.
[Aleph: "We might need to meet later. This got complicated."]
He sent the message to Firefly and set the device down just as a new notification vibrated on the screen.
It was a group chat freshly created by March, apparently including everyone he knew who was still at the party.
Stelle was the first to write, attaching a screenshot.
[Stelle: "Sparkle sent me this."]
[Sparkle: "Bombs? What an ugly word, gray hair. I prefer to call them surprises 💖… slightly explosive."]
[Sparkle: "If you're looking for something that explodes, start where water doesn't touch and the reflection lies like a used-car salesman. One laughs where everyone looks up, another sleeps where no one wants to sit—and no, I'm not talking about Aventurino's legs. The third listens to music even though she has no ears. Horrible taste, by the way."]
[Sparkle: "The others? Oh, dear gray hair, don't get impatient. The stage changes when the curtain has to move. So be patient, or you'll get a spanking to behave!"]
[Sparkle: "Extra hint because I felt a little sorry for your dumb, lost expression: if you see useless luxury or performative heroism, you're on the right track. Run! The climax is more fun when someone is late."]
[March: "..."]
[Dan Heng: "..."]
[Welt Yang: "..."]
[Himeko: "... That was… quite something."]
[Black Swan: "I propose we split into pairs and cover specific areas. The sooner we locate the explosives, the better."]
[Argenti: "Dear companions, I hope you each find your targets first. As for me, I've decided to team up with Boothill."]
[Boothill: "Heh. A pleasure."]
March announced she'd go with Himeko, and Welt confirmed he would accompany Dan Heng. Stelle decided to stay with Black Swan.
Aleph studied the screen a little longer before locking it and glanced around.
He was alone in that section of the ship. Almost no one was around; the distant murmur from other areas and the constant hum of the ventilation system were barely perceptible.
[There's a fairly high chance there are bombs here. Should we search using the new camera functions, Master?]
"Naturally. That's what they're for, right?"
He activated the camera and began calmly scanning the area, checking tables, corners, and hard-to-see spots. Minutes passed before something finally caught his attention.
Under a side table, he found a…
"What the hell?"
It was a chibi Sparkle doll.
Then a second appeared, hidden behind a decorative column. The third was inside a poorly closed service box.
"Definitely, whoever made these had terrible taste…" He muttered as he placed all three on a nearby table.
"I'm Adorable Sparkle, she's More Adorable Sparkle, and the other one is the Superior Hierarchical Sparkle."
Once together, they started singing.
"Elation is the best, joy, laughter, and splendor!"
The light in Aleph's eyes dimmed as he picked them up without expression, preparing to toss them overboard.
"You're going to throw us? How rude. You didn't even ask our names."
"Wait, wait, wait!" They all shouted almost in unison. "We can help you!"
"We know where the others are." Another added hurriedly. "We've got clues, lots of clues!"
"Where are the bombs?" he asked, looking at them.
"Bombs? No, no, no. That's so last century. We're explosive concepts."
"Clues? Sure. But only if you smile."
"Relax, long face. If we were going to explode, we would have already. Probably."
Aleph tilted his head with a faint smile.
"More. More. Oh, no, not like that. Is that your best smile? You definitely have a talent for scaring people."
"Go under the egg Robin is hatching!"
"Beat Sonic, then Eggman will show up."
When they finished, he nodded, memorizing all the hints.
"So…" One of them said nervously. "Now that you know none of us are the bombs, will you leave us alone here on the deck?"
Aleph raised an eyebrow and looked at them as if they'd just said something ridiculous.
"Did I ever promise you that?"
"Wait! Wait! Wait! That's not in the rules!"
"You can't do that! We're cooperative informants! Even those bastards from the Tokyo Millennium slums don't do that!"
"We'll report this to the Intergalactic Association of Abused Dolls!"
The three screamed indignantly as Aleph tossed them overboard into the void. He grabbed a nearby tablecloth and carefully wiped his hands, as if he'd touched something dirty.
Burroughs was taken aback by his actions.
[Why did you do that, Master?]
"Well, I have no idea where those things have been." Aleph replied with total nonchalance. "What if they had germs? I'm not risking catching some Pepeshian virus."
A furious squeal rang out from the nearby pool.
"None of us are Pepeshian! And we're ladies, for that matter!"
Aleph turned and spotted another chibi Sparkle floating in the water, pointing at him indignantly. He grabbed her without a word and repeated the same procedure, tossing her overboard.
"Little tricks like this seem to work pretty well. I may have overestimated the intelligence of these dolls." He remarked, wiping his hands again. "They don't seem very bright."
[… You can be irritatingly Machiavellian.]
Aleph responded with his best imitation of a villainous laugh, cracking his knuckles.
He began humming while continuing to search for more dolls, repeating the process every time he found a new one.
...
Stelle ran a hand across her forehead in annoyance.
Black Swan glanced at her.
"Something wrong?"
"No." Stelle replied, shaking her head. "After chibi Sparkle number eighty-seven, their personalities get more and more irritating… I think they're going to make me lose it."
Her hand trembled as she pulled another doll out from under a table and placed it in front of her.
"Speak, spawn of evil." She growled. "Or just tell me you're fake already."
The chibi Sparkle grinned cheekily.
"Oh, how scary. Look at that face. Did someone tell you you're 'special,' or was that an accident?"
Stelle's eyebrows twitched as she grabbed her bat.
"Want a hint, gray hair? Sure. It's right where you failed last time. See? Easy."
Black Swan had to hold Stelle back to stop her from smashing the doll immediately.
"Does my voice bother you? Too bad. I love yours when you're angry. Hit me if you want—it'd be very on-brand for you."
Stelle finally snapped.
"Do you know what's funniest? That even when you win, you still look like a defeated loser. That's why he worries more about other women than you! Hahaha."
She tossed the doll into the air and got into position.
"Stelle, wait!" Black Swan shouted, raising a hand. "If she's the bomb—"
Stelle didn't give her a single glance. She swung the bat and landed a clean hit, sending the chibi Sparkle flying overboard like a perfect home run.
She smiled instantly, as if some of the tension had melted away.
"That was so satisfying…" She murmured.
Black Swan sighed, bringing a hand to her forehead.
"I should have picked a more normal teammate."
...
After taking an elevator to the mid-deck, the two ran into Argenti, who was laughing awkwardly. In front of him, Boothill and a chibi Sparkle dressed as a cowgirl were trading words nonstop.
"Yeehaw, rusty can. Are those your babies or compensation for something you've lost in your pants?" The doll asked.
"Tch. Creature, you're looking for a new hole." Boothill replied, clicking his tongue.
The chibi Sparkle burst into laughter.
"Too much metal, poor aim. Very pathetic. Is that why you're just a 'Boothill'?"
Boothill gritted his teeth.
"One more word and I'll blow you to pieces."
"Go ahead and shoot, outlaw. You'll just prove you're all noise and no courage. What a chicken." The doll shot back. "You've got as much man in you as a masked jester has sanity."
"You've accomplished something few people dare to do, doll. Go to hell knowing you achieved that."
Boothill stared at her like he wanted to turn her into a colander.
"I've seen cacti with more testosterone than you. Did that hurt? Imagine how your revolvers feel when you use them, poor things."
Boothill finally snapped, grabbed her, and threw her overboard while firing several shots into the air.
Stelle approached with a grin.
"That was awesome."
"I've had a very good number of duels, little girl." Boothill replied, smiling. "And I've won most of them."
Black Swan and Argenti exchanged a look and sighed at the same time, fully aware they'd picked a troublesome teammate.
...
From the upper section of the ship, in a secluded and nearly deserted area, Silver Wolf walked with absolute calm, snacking from a crumpled bag of chips. She laughed without restraint as she watched Firefly move a few meters ahead, unleashing indiscriminate violence on every chibi Sparkle that appeared in her line of sight.
"Wow, look at that… the girl who shows up in episode three thinking she has a chance. Pretty hair, sad eyes, tragic past… checklist complete."
"Shut up already!" Firefly yelled, stomping down on one.
"Do you also bring the scene in the rain where you confess your feelings and they say, 'You mean so much to me'? You're that character fans defend, saying 'she deserved more'… and then the protagonist leaves with someone else haha."
"Could you stop looking at me like that?!"
"Relax." Silver Wolf said, chewing calmly. "This is better than any stream."
The dolls weren't helping at all.
"Did you get that outfit in a 'generic protagonist' pack or did it come with a warranty? Let me guess. You sacrifice yourself, it doesn't matter. The hero learns something, and poof—you vanish from the opening. You're so cliché that when you get hurt, piano music plays."
"Arggggh."
Silver Wolf laughed as she watched Firefly getting increasingly furious.
"Which one are you? The childhood friend who loses? The good girl they never choose? Or the one who dies to motivate the protagonist? Smile, loser, that's how those who never win anyone's heart look."
A vein throbbed in Firefly's temple as she clenched her fists tightly.
"Shut up."
Another doll appeared behind a railing.
"Did you know you're the type of character who loses even when you win? Don't worry, you're not irrelevant. You're just character development… for someone else."
SAM's legs partially materialized. The chibi Sparkle was flattened without ceremony, reduced to harmless scraps rolling across the floor.
Silver Wolf pulled out her phone.
"Kill number seventy-three." She hummed distractedly.
They continued like that, Sparkle after Sparkle, until the counter reached one hundred twenty.
This time, the doll, to both of their surprise, didn't even bother looking at Firefly. Her eyes were fixed on Silver Wolf.
"Ah, and you must be the flat decoration."
Silver Wolf froze, her expression turning impassive.
"That chest isn't small, it's conceptual… non-existent mind. It represents everything that will never grow." The doll commented as she watched both of them stay still. "Your style is fascinating too, almost like a stray dog that snuck in and now thinks it belongs. Also, loli? How original. Do you also talk about yourself in third person?"
Silver Wolf dropped the bag of chips.
"Are you loli for aesthetics or for lack of evolution?" The chibi Sparkle kept talking as neither of them responded.
"I love how you act mysterious. It's adorable when someone so basic thinks they're special. Relax, don't take it personally. It's the only thing you've got."
She formed a data sword in her hand.
"Perfect."
Firefly spun around just in time to see Silver Wolf advancing with a huge, twisted, dangerously joyful smile.
"When this is over." She said with unnatural sweetness, "I'm going to hack absolutely every one of your accounts. Past, present, and future—I'll expose every embarrassing thing you did and everything you didn't do too."
The doll looked shocked at Silver Wolf's reaction.
"Would you like to be at the center of piles of fake scandals, edited truths, and impossible-to-deny rumors? I'll make you so infamous that even the Stellaron Hunters will look like civic heroes compared to you."
The sword descended, cutting the stunned doll into pieces.
Firefly shuddered, reminding herself that she should never anger Silver Wolf.
Her cheeks flushed with frustration as she remembered the cat-eared maid outfit Kafka tricked her into wearing, and the certainty that Silver Wolf knew every detail, every humiliation, every dark story of hers made her clench her fists even tighter.
...
After nearly forty-seven minutes of relentless searching, they managed to find most of the dolls.
[Aventurine: "Thanks to everyone for cooperating. With your help and that of everyone else aboard, we've located 294 bomb dolls."]
[Robin: "With the one I just found, that's 295."]
[March: "Almost there, almost there!"]
[Dr. Ratio: "I've found two more."]
[Aventurine: "Only one spot remains unchecked. It's best if we all meet there to continue the search. Time is running short."]
[Old Oti: "Don't miss a single detail. Eliminating each of these rude dolls is important."]
[Gustav Waller: "Understood."]
[Erick Kowalski: "We'll check every corner, sir."]
The hall quickly filled. Tornillum, Old Oti, and the Alfalfa Family assistants joined the search without delay.
Ten minutes later, two more dolls were found and thrown overboard.
[Screwllum: "Report: two more located and expelled. Where's the last one?"]
...
After wandering around and having separated from Silver Wolf, Firefly met up with Aleph on the ship's hull, at the farthest point of the deck.
She would have liked to say it was a pleasant meeting, but the presence of a third party completely ruined any atmosphere she might have tried to create.
"Oh no! I've been cornered by a fool and Generic Girlfriend #2!" Sparkle shouted, standing at the edge, grinning mischievously while waving the last doll in one hand and holding an absurdly large red button in the other. "What will become of the gorgeous Sparkle now?"
Firefly stepped forward to face her.
Sparkle smiled at her.
"Ahhh, look at you. The ultimate secondary heroine. You know exactly who you are, right? The one who never wins. You're a collection of sad tropes. So carefully written to lose that it almost makes you endearing. You know what's the best part? You're not even the wrong choice… you're the option that's never even considered."
A vein throbbed in Firefly's temple.
"Give it back."
"This one?" Sparkle shook the doll. "Oh, but she's the star of the show—why would I give her to you?"
Firefly growled threateningly, like a fearsome beast warning a tiny intruding animal.
Though… from Aleph's perspective, it looked more like an adorable puppy scolding a mischievous kitten.
"How cute. Tell me, did your relationship ever progress, or did you stay stuck in the friend zone?"
"…What the hell are you talking about?!"
As the two of them bantered, Aleph furrowed his brow.
"Fifty-six… no, maybe fifty-seven minutes. Even if Sparkle doesn't use the detonator, the bomb will go off once the hour passes."
He had to grab both the doll and the detonator and toss them over the deck just to be safe.
He lunged at Sparkle as fast as he could, momentarily forgetting his current condition and that his body barely resembled that of an average teenager.
Sparkle instinctively dodged; Aleph's eyes widened in surprise as he nearly went overboard. Luckily, Sparkle grabbed him by the waist, preventing the fall, and pushed him back onto the deck.
"Careful there, little prince." She smiled. "Your grand finale isn't ready yet."
An alarm blared throughout the ship, and Sparkle couldn't help but grin as she glanced at the time on her wristwatch.
"Happy hour's over. Time for a big show before everyone has to leave!"
The hour was finally up.
Before Firefly and Aleph could react, Sparkle tossed the bomb doll into the air and pressed the detonator. Fireworks exploded in every direction, lighting up the night sky with a burst of colors.
"What the hell?"
She laughed at Aleph and Firefly's stunned expressions.
"Look at them!" She pointed at both of them while wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "They fell perfectly, like a Corporation member smelling credits. Since Robin wouldn't let me blow up Penacony, I thought I'd pull a little revenge at her party. As expected from me, an absolute genius! You know what they say—the show must go on."
Firefly and Aleph frowned, while Sparkle, completely focused on her success, didn't notice their increasingly dark expressions.
Both, unable to tolerate it any longer, grabbed her by the arms, trying to toss her overboard.
"W-wait! We can talk about this! I wasn't serious!" She squealed, struggling to free herself from their grip. "It was just a joke! Don't you have any sense of humor?!"
...
Parts of the hull still radiated heat, blackened from recent explosions.
There, alone, was Aleph. He wore a somewhat vacant expression, as if he hadn't fully processed what had happened, rubbing his left cheek where a slap had left a mark.
Stelle felt a flicker of curiosity seeing him like that. She genuinely wanted to ask what the hell had just happened, why he had that mark now, and who had dared…
Stelle pouted. She wouldn't start the conversation herself—not unless Aleph apologized first.
She leaned toward March and whispered in her ear.
"Could you ask him what happened?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
"Ughh…" Stelle frowned in irritation, then gave March her best puppy-dog eyes. "…Seriously… you can't?"
March blinked in confusion before nodding.
Stelle smiled victoriously as she watched March move toward Aleph.
"Aleph… hey, what happened to your face?"
Aleph flinched, as if only in that moment realizing the presence of so many people gathered there.
He blinked slowly, confused, like a disoriented owl.
"Uh…" Aleph touched his cheek.
"I guess… did I deserve it?" He said with a faintly ironic smile.
March frowned.
"Eh? How do you mean you deserved it? What did you—?"
"Well, you could say I pressed the wrong buttons for someone… I'm not exactly sure what I said that made her angry, but she hit me and ran off while covering her face."
March froze, puffing her cheeks slightly.
"And why don't you say who it was?"
"Young Aleph, forgive my indiscretion, but your expression reflects a battle we didn't witness. What happened here?" Argenti asked.
Aleph sighed and ran a hand through the back of his neck, grinning cheekily.
"Well, when I arrived, Sparkle was here." He vaguely pointed toward the edge of the deck. "She had the last bomb doll in one hand and the detonator in the other."
"Where's Sparkle now?" Dan Heng asked, scanning the area.
Aleph tilted his head, as if he deeply regretted what he was about to say.
"Ahh… it's a shame. Poor Sparkle was standing there, calmly telling me her plans, when a meteor came down from space and hit her square on, sending her overboard along with the bomb." He placed a hand over his chest. "Isn't it sad how misfortune can strike when you least expect it?"
Several people gave him incomprehensible looks, as if they couldn't believe someone could lie so brazenly right in front of them.
"What a tragedy." Aleph lamented.
March lowered her shoulders in disappointment.
"How unfair… I wish I could have seen the meteor."
Stelle clicked her tongue while looking at the slightly scorched and battered area.
"What a shame. A meteor that size could have sold for a fortune."
Dan Heng brought a hand to his forehead.
Welt sighed wearily.
"When we return to the Astral Express, I'll get extra school supplies for the two of you."
Himeko shook her head, wearing an amused expression as she laughed quietly.
At that moment, a muffled sound came from somewhere on the outer hull. A faint murmur, and a soft metallic thump was heard.
Black Swan tilted her head, looking toward the others.
"Did you hear that?"
Aleph gave her a bright smile, which made her recoil.
"…It was just a draft of wind."
Taped to the outside of the ship, Sparkle writhed helplessly, trying to make noise to get attention.
Once they confirmed there was nothing to worry about, the tension began to dissipate.
Robin called the rest to resume the presentation, and gradually most people began to leave, commenting on the incident with relief and nervous laughter.
Screwllum approached the group.
"Observation: It is a pleasure to meet you all again, dear friends. I require a few moments of your attention."
Welt looked at him attentively.
"Is something going on, Screwllum?"
The screw-shaped being clasped its hands in front of itself.
"Clarification: There is a matter I consider pertinent to discuss with you. You will better understand its nature once we reach the large room just before the captain's quarters."
...
The anteroom to the captain's bridge retained an air of refined elegance, designed to impress even before reaching the heart of the ship. Soft lighting fell over the polished panels, and the expansive windows offered a calm view of the stellar void beyond.
Old Oti smiled affably, folding his hands as he observed the people before him.
"Curious." He said calmly. "Every so often, the Corporation comes back to sit in front of me, convinced they've discovered a way to subdue me. Have you come armed with strategy, young ones?"
Topaz smiled, holding a stack of papers against her chest.
"Mr. Oti, given the recent administrative collapse, we believe Penacony faces immediate risks regarding capital allocation and liquidity management. The Corporation proposes implementing a dynamic oversight system that optimizes asset flow while ensuring compliance with financial stability indicators." She said. "Penacony has endured for ages thanks to exceptionally careful economic architecture. But even the strongest systems erode when the environment changes. Today, the pressure doesn't come from wars or internal collapse, but from the intersystemic market."
Old Oti tilted his head.
"That's nothing new." He replied. "I've lived long enough to see how capital learns to masquerade as salvation through people's mouths. Penacony did not remain isolated out of ignorance, but by choice."
"Exactly." Topaz continued, maintaining her expression. "The problem isn't the isolation itself, but its increasing cost. Trade routes have grown more expensive. Access to external investment is conditional—not due to inefficiency, but by design."
Aventurine smiled, leaning on his knees, ignoring the reproachful glance Topaz shot him.
"Additionally, we could implement hedging mechanisms on local derivatives, adjusting market risk and stabilizing the planet's expected returns. Of course, all subject to external audits and your review to ensure transparency."
Jade crossed her arms.
"If we consider recent solvency ratios and credit fluctuations, it would be prudent to structure a phased plan of controlled liquidity, where the participation of neutral investors ensures risk dispersion. Any action would be subject to the Family's authorization and verified by independent agents."
"Your proposal aims to minimize risk, but Penacony is not a mere investment portfolio. Its solvency depends on historical governance and internal balances, not temporary external schemes. If anyone thinks they can override this balance with risk controls, I will gladly show them the errors of their ways." Old Oti said.
Topaz frowned, crossing her legs.
"Our intent is not to replace the Family's authority. We merely offer protocols, metrics, and verification processes to ensure any extraordinary capital decision aligns with Penacony's objectives and shareholder commitments."
Aventurine spun a token in his hand.
"And, of course, the stress scenarios we've modeled account for unexpected contingencies. The hedging instruments, asset diversification, and neutral oversight by the Astral Express members will ensure any potential loss remains contained without compromising local autonomy."
Jade nodded.
"A planned cash flow, along with traceability in every transaction and third-party oversight, allows any capital redistribution to be verifiable and reversible, should the metrics fail to meet the parameters agreed upon by the Family."
Old Oti raised an eyebrow with interest.
"Interesting. I see you propose measures that simulate control and protection, but… do you think I'm so easily swayed as to accept instructions disguised as technical suggestions?"
Topaz leaned over the negotiation table.
"We are not here to instruct, Mr. Oti. Our only goal is to ensure Penacony does not become vulnerable to market imbalances while implementing your strategic decisions."
Aventurine's eyes narrowed as his smile deepened.
"Yes. And any step we take will be verified through stock exchange records and the participation of neutral auditors, including the Astral Express members. They will act as impartial referees."
"Everything while keeping the Family's authority intact and preserving Penacony's autonomy. Assets circulate, but rights and responsibilities remain firmly under your supervision." Jade said.
Old Oti's attendants placed a cup of tea in front of him.
"Your enthusiasm is… notable, but your intent is clear to anyone with experience. Isn't this a deliberate attempt to steer me toward the path you consider most convenient?"
Topaz pressed her lips together, choosing her words carefully.
"It is not our intention to pressure you, Mr. Oti. We only wish to… present all possible technical measures to ensure continuity and profitability."
"Naturally, our interest is for Penacony to operate without interruption. Ensuring stable returns is merely a byproduct of our collaboration. And let it be noted, Mr. Oti, that any change in administration or capital allocation will be audited, reversible, and subject to third-party oversight. All under your authority."
Old Oti sipped his tea calmly, showing no particular reaction to their words.
"I appreciate precision and detail, but I don't need demonstrations of goodwill or promises. Actions are what matter."
"That's why we propose verifiable mechanisms and continuous audit protocols. All without affecting the independence of management." Topaz added, placing the papers on the table.
"…Very well. To make absolutely clear, Penacony has been listed on the exchange since yesterday. The Family retains oversight, the Astral Express members act as neutral observers, and any action violating the agreements will be sanctioned by the major shareholders. No additional approval is required. I consider the planet now balanced and protected."
Aventurine smiled with interest.
"Oh… I didn't expect you to have anticipated this, Mr. Oti."
"Child, I was already counting the profits from my projects before you even existed." He said calmly. "In Penacony, there are millions of eyes and ears. If I want to know something, hardly anyone could stop me."
Jade stood as the sound of numerous footsteps approached.
"In that case, Mr. Oti, we are pleased to know the transition to the market has been implemented smoothly and under your direct supervision. The Corporation will cooperate while respecting the limits you've established."
"Good. Execute everything as agreed, and ensure the oversight mechanisms of the Astral Express members function correctly. I don't need promises; I need verifiable results." Old Oti nodded, giving them a curious glance. "Who would have thought you'd manage to gain the cooperation of the Anónimos? Knowing their reputation for keeping agreements and their own moral code, at least I know that if I can't trust the Corporation, I can trust that they'll be put in their place if limits are exceeded."
Soon, one of the adjacent doors opened.
"You've arrived earlier than expected." Topaz said.
Next to her, Aventurine leaned casually against the table, spinning a metal token between his fingers as if the meeting were nothing more than a leisurely pastime.
"Always so dramatic." He remarked flippantly. "I would have bet they'd arrive just when the conversation got interesting."
Topaz shot him a sidelong glance before letting out a tired sigh.
"This isn't a game, Aventurine. Could you at least stop with the frivolities during work hours?"
"You take the fun out of life." He replied, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Jade." She introduced herself. "A pleasure to finally meet you."
Her gaze swept over the group calmly, pausing just long enough on each face as if measuring some value only she could see.
"The Nameless of the Astral Express. I admit, seeing you in person is far more interesting than the reports."
"A word so ugly for something so exciting." Aventurine interjected, giving a light clap. "New risks and new opportunities. Personally, I don't see how it could go wrong."
Topaz brought a hand to her forehead.
"…That's exactly why I worry every time I have to work with you on something important."
Aventurine pressed a hand to his chest as if offended.
"After everything we've been through together, I expected a little more trust. Couldn't you be as close as I am with my friends on the Astral Express?"
Aleph frowned in annoyance and stepped away from Aventurine, avoiding his attempt to drape an arm over his shoulder.
"I don't recall ever agreeing to be your friend."
"Come on, don't be like that, Aleph." Aventurine replied lightly. "Shared battles create bonds. You know what they say—there are no eternal enemies."
Stelle gave him a strange look.
"…Sorry, I don't like being around weirdos who aren't my friends."
Aventurine laughed.
"That stings, but I'll accept it as part of the deal. After all, aren't real friends the ones who insult each other calmly without really affecting their bond?"
Topaz shook her head, clearly tired.
"With your permission." She said, addressing the group. "I apologize for his behavior. He has a habit of barging in, making a mess, and leaving as if nothing happened."
"That's called style." He replied as he moved toward the door.
Topaz followed a few seconds later.
"Can't you take anything seriously?"
"Of course I can. I take winning seriously."
"…Damn gambler."
"Pff, you say that like it isn't part of my charm."
As their voices faded down the hall, Jade approached.
Her attention settled on Aleph. Without asking, she raised her hand and gently ran it over his still-swollen cheek.
Aleph's eyes widened in surprise as he watched his cheek return to normal.
"A small gift." She said, smiling, and placed a card between her fingers.
"Consider it a gesture of good faith. I hope we can collaborate in the future, Scion of Elation." She continued. "With the right courage, there's no limit to what can be achieved."
Before leaving, she leaned close enough that only he could hear her.
"Think on it carefully. The most fruitful relationships always start this way."
Jade walked away calmly, disappearing down the same corridor the other two had taken.
Aleph frowned as a bead of sweat slid down his neck, trailing over his collarbone.
"…That woman." He couldn't help but clutch the business card tightly in his hand.
Like a snake coiling around its prey, ready to sink its fangs in.
"She's dangerous."