When the group reached the central passage of the master control zone, they were greeted by Himeko and Asta, who were flanked by Cole's clones, both of which had sustained various injuries.
Arlan immediately went to Asta, who then discussed the situation with her on the spot.
"Thank goodness you're all safe. Even with Cole relaying information, I still can't help but worry for your safety," Said Himeko.
"With Cole around, the Legion doesn't stand a chance!" March proudly proclaimed. "Isn't that right, Cole?"
Cole, however, didn't share her enthusiasm. "Ugh... Feels like my head's gonna explode..." He rubbed his head as the adrenaline wore off, as he felt the full force of all the pain and exhaustion he and his clone had endured the entire time.
Cole examined his clone, finding the first one had his left arm completely torn off, along with a massive gaping wound on his face, while the second one had one of his elytra missing, presumably also torn off.
'I'm going to feel phantom pains for a while, aren't I?' Cole thought to himself as he absorbed his clones back to himself, grateful that it wasn't him who got the injuries.
His stomach then grumbled, adding to his misery. "And I haven't eaten anything too..." He looked to March and Dan Heng. "Did you get my food?"
March looked at Cole rather awkwardly. "We did, but ummm... We might have left them in a hurry when the Legion attacked..."
Cole rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Whatever... It's not like I'm starving or anything... I'm gonna go lie down somewhere."
"Wait, Cole!" The voice of Asta called out.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you! Thank you for saving them all. I realized too late that the station was ill-prepared for emergencies... If you weren't here, some of the researchers could have..." Cole silenced the rest of her sentences with a claw to her mouth.
"Don't mention it. As the Nameless of the Astral Express, it would be wrong of me not to help those in need." Proclaimed Cole. "Now then, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking a quick nap on that bench over there."
Picking the closest bench on the right side of the central passage, Cole carefully maneuvered his body and lay on his side to avoid further damaging his elytra.
The moment his head hit the bench, an almost silent snoring could be heard as Cole was fast asleep.
.....
"Aaaand there he goes. I swear he always falls asleep before his head even drops." Said an amused March as she observed the sleeping Cole.
Dan Heng only shakes his head. "Best not interrupt his nap, he's done a lot today.
"Agreed, Dan Heng. Now then..." Himeko then observed Stelle. "This must be the one Cole mentioned. Nice to meet you, I'm Himeko, navigator of the Astral Express."
"In other words, she's in charge of where the Express goes," March explained further.
"I would have asked if March gave you any trouble, but Cole had already told me all about it." Said Himeko.
"Oh? What did he say?" Asked March. "Surely only good things, right?"
Himeko smiled and chuckled in response, her reaction doing little to reassure March.
"Hey... When Cole wakes up..." Seethed March under her breath. "What about you, Stelle? Think about the answer carefully."
"She's the most lively girl I've ever met." Answered Stelle.
That cheered March up. "Well, what can I say? We always take every step with energy." Exclaimed March. "She's an observant one, isn't she, Dan Heng?"
"I have the right to remain silent." Said Dan Heng.
After their little banter, the crew immediately went to Asta, who had just finished talking with Arlan.
"Asta, how's the current situation?" Asked Dan Heng.
"The situation is under control for now. The security system is still holding up after a minor damage by an intruder. Thankfully, the data altered was small and easy to fix."
"Intruder?" Questioned March.
Arlan answered for Asta. "Yes. Before the Legion attacked, the security system unexpectedly failed. We still don't know if they're connected to the attack or just a mere coincidence."
"Let's leave that for now; the most pressing issue is the researchers on the station." Interjected Asta. "Although they've survived, the scars on their minds are far worse than on their body."
"In that case, we'll have a talk with the researchers to calm them down. Have you tried contacting Madam Herta?" Questioned Himeko.
Asta solemly shakes her head no. "You know her, Miss Himeko. The moment she loses interest, it'll take other things that interest her to get even a word."
"No need to worry about it, I'll send a letter to Madam Herta and tell her that we've brought Cole and the item she seeks."
"That would be a great help, Miss Himeko."
And so, after Stelle had a conversation Asta and Himeko for information, the crew explored the area, engaging with and supporting the researchers that are in need of help.
.....
After assisting the personnel around the station, Stelle went to check on Cole.
When she approached the bench where he was currently sleeping, her expression shifted to one of concern as she noticed him tossing and turning restlessly in his sleep, mumbling incoherently. The only word she could discern was "alone." As she looked at his face, she saw streaks of tears marking his cheeks.
"Cole?" she called out as she grabbed his arms. The moment her arms touched his, his nightmare seemingly ended, and his face turned calm.
"Stelle, there you are." The voice of March called out. Stelle looked toward the voice, finding March and Dan Heng walking towards her, "Oh no..." March handed the bag to Dan Heng, who also had a look of concern.
She approached Cole and examined him, sighing in relief. She gently caressed his head, making sure to sweep away strands of hair from his eyes and wipe away the tears.
"Does this happen often?" Stelle asked.
"Yeah, ever since he was hatched, he has had some separation anxiety and frequent nightmares whenever he falls asleep," March answered. "It has gotten better, but the crew always takes turns sleeping with him just in case."
Before Stelle could ask any more questions, alarms blared loudly as they saw a giant winged beast on the screen in front of Asta.
"A Doomsday Beast..." Dan Heng muttered quietly.
Himeko then came to them. "March, Dan Heng, Stelle, please wake up Cole. A Doomsday Beast is attacking the station. We have to hurry..."
"But..." A hand on March's shoulder, courtesy of Dan Heng, silenced her. "Okay..."
.....
After a bit of effort, the group managed to rouse Cole from his slumber before making their way to the supply zone.
"You... hurry..." The communication from Asta abruptly cuts off as the group looks at one another.
"... We lost communication." Said Himeko.
"Should we go back?" Suggested March.
"We can't do much while in there. The Doomsday Beast can tear through the station's shield like tissue paper." Explained Dan Heng. "Moreover, Madam Herta's not here. As it stands, the station's defenses are too weak to stand against the beast, let alone if a Lord Ravager shows up."
"That's why we have to take Stelle with us." Said Himeko.
Stelle points at herself in confusion. "Me?"
"Stelle?" Dan Heng also asked in confusion.
"She's the one who can turn the tide. Of course, I may be wrong in which case..." Himeko looked to Cole, who picked up what she was suggesting.
"I think I can create one more clone," He said, uncertain.
Dan Heng sighed and agreed. "I understand. So, what should we do next?"
Himeko then led the way to the supply base zone, straight to the platform, dispatching the remnant forces of the Legion along the way, where Welt is hopefully waiting for them.
.....
"Aww yeah, finally the platform!" Said March as they neared where the Express should be parked. "But, where's the Express? I'll go take a closer look."
"March!" Himeko and Dan Heng called out as the Doomsday Beast flew overhead.
"It's here." Said Cole as they all readied their weapons.
The Doomsday Beast then circled in front of the for a moment before landing on the edge of the platform and roaring loudly while unfurling its wings.
"Everyone, duck!" Dan Heng yelled out as the beast's right claw swung at them.
When they were all recovering, it lifted one of its arms up to try to squish Stelle. Thankfully, March managed to push her away from it.
"Everyone, disperse! Try to keep your distance from it." Cole instructed. "Make sure to focus its arms and central core!"
The group quickly took action. March and Stelle focused their attacks on the right arm, while Dan Heng and Himeko targeted the left arm. At the same time, Cole aimed for the creature's core.
"Check this out!" Yelled out March as she fired a torrent of Pom-Pom-shaped ice at its arm, temporarily freezing it in its place before a clean strike from Dan Heng fully immobilized it.
"You won't get away!" Himeko then threw her drones at its other arms, sawing and burning it. Still, it desperately tried to swing its arm at her.
"Rules are made to be broken!" It didn't get the chance as a charged-up swing from Stelle's baseball bat redirected it away.
Seeing the opportunity, Cole charged up his attack. "How do you like this?" He spews out a torrent of acid that melted away at its core as the Doomsday Beast's body fell onto the platform.
"Everyone! Now's our chance!" Himeko yelled out.
The group simultaneously attacks the monster's head with everything they've got. They slash, freeze, burn, smash, and tear at it until it stops moving.
Just when it seemed the fight was finally over, the beast slumped back and fired a beam from its head, aimed straight at March.
"March!" Cole and Stelle hurried before the attack reached, trying to hopefully block the attack, no matter how futile it might seem.
"Eugh!" Stelle exclaimed as a golden energy erupted from her body, forming a barrier against the attack.
It was then, for a moment, that Cole and Stelle found themselves floating in an unknown space surrounded by a golden glow.
"What happened?" Stelle seemed to be talking to someone as she opened her eyes before coming face to face with THEM.
"Who is that?" Stelle asked again before a golden light emanated from her body.
"AGHH!" She screams as THEY open THEIR eyes to gaze at her, before disappearing shortly after.
When Stelle disappeared, Cole finally opened his eyes, his gaze immediately drawn by the massive figure in the distance.
Nanook. Aeon of the Path of Destruction. THEY were gazin... No, this is not mere gazes anymore, but a full-on stare, THEIR expression indecipherable.
Yet, for some reason, Cole only stared back, not out of fear of a god giving THEIR full attention to him, but out of curiosity.
Anger? Indifference? Deep in his gut, he could almost guess the Aeon's emotion.
The staring contest between a mortal and Aeon was stopped, however, when golden flame encroached upon him. He tried to get away from it, but no matter how much he flapped his wings, Cole could do nothing as the flame touched his body.
A searing pain momentarily shot through Cole's body as his consciousness was abruptly thrust back into reality. He turned his head to the side and saw Stelle floating in the air, golden lights radiating from her body, while the Doomsday Beast was nowhere to be found.
He immediately identifies the energy for what it is. The Cancer of All Worlds or a Stellaron.
Quickly thinking back, he recalls what Welt taught him about how to contain a Stellaron. Gathering energy into his claws, he pushed through to Stelle even as the energy continuously pushed him back.
When he reached her body, he placed his claws on her back. It seemed to work as the energy subsided slightly, but it was not enough.
'Thunk.' Just as all seemed lost, the sound of a cane tapping against flesh echoed as the energy fully retreated back into Stelle's body, thanks to Welt's timely arrival.
Cole catches her unconscious body as it falls onto the floor, setting her down gently as March rushes over to them.
"Mr. Yang is she..."
"She's okay now. Take her somewhere safe. Let's talk about it later." With that, Welt walked back as the Express was seen parking back into the platform.
"I think... I can go for... a nap... too," Cole tiredly said as exhaustion overtook him, causing him to slump with Stelle falling on top of him.