"Attention! Attention! The path ahead has been obstructed by something! The Astral Express will be stopping for an indefinite amount of time!" Pompom burst into the room in a flurry of waddles, stubby arms flailing as if trying to flag down a departing starship.
The crew's conversation tapered off. Their eyes landed on the frantic conductor one by one.
An unspoken agreement passed through the group as they exchanged glances and gathered around the central table in their own ways.
Welt rested both hands atop his cane with grave composure.
Himeko flipped open her suitcase and revealed a satellite projection of Jarilo-VI.
March fidgeted with restless anticipation.
Stelle leaned forward with quiet curiosity.
And Simon reclined inside Lagann's cockpit, arms folded, partner ready as always.
As for Dan Heng, naturally, he was nowhere in sight.
"The star rail is too unstable to move forward, Pom." Pompom explained, voice trembling with urgency. "Whatever anomaly is causing that, it's coming from this planet itself. The conductor will leave it to guys to clear the path!"
"There's no question about it," Welt murmured, fingers steepled in thought.
"It's a Stellaron. " Himeko chimed in, finishing his line with almost theatrical delight. "Ah, but don't be fooled by our supposed disregard. Encountering a Stellaron is rare and dangerous. It just so happens that we are quite... familiar with the process."
Her eyes drifted toward the newest members of the express, and she sent them a playful wink before lifting her cup of coffee for a leisurely sip.
"I knew it!" March pumped her fist triumphantly, only to wilt moments later. "Although… I'd swear they're on every world we visit. With how many we've sealed, it sure feels like we're more of a clean up crew than anything..."
Welt coughed politely. "Well, we might be luckier—or unluckier—than most. But as trailblazers, we are always at the forefront, so it is to be expected."
March didn't seem convinced.
"Welt is right!" Pompom hopped in place with sudden nostalgia. "Even back then, Akivili and others were always caught up in some kind of nefarious plot! And don't even get me started on that fellow, Aha! THEY were the primary suspect in the majority of those cases! It's just a shame that...Akivili and the rest disappeared, pom..."
The conductor's ears ears drooped in grief.
Simon bent down to pet the conductor, and Pompom surprisingly allowed it. "There, there. We're only growing bigger as a team. And we'll find Akivili too. You'll definitely reunite before any of us even consider parting ways, right?"
He nudged Stelle lightly.
If anyone could give the conductor hope, it was the person rumored to be tied to Akivili themselves.
"I promise." Stelle said softly. Even a small smile formed on her usually neutral face.
Everyone else nodded in support.
"That's right! Maybe Akivili is just waiting at our next destination. We won't know unless we look!" March reached out to grab Pompom in a supportive hug, only for her hand to be slapped away with surprising force. "Wha—?"
Pompom glared at her contemptuously. "Hmph! You guys....are right, of course. Don't mind this sentimental conductor. I'll be happy simply watching you shine as trailblazers."
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." A familiar voice called from the stairs. Dan Heng descended with a portable projector in hand. "The scan I ran on Jarilo-VI shows only one inhabitable region left. That makes things easier, but it also means our identities will be harder to hide depending on their outlook on off-worlders."
"Sup, Danny." Simon greeted him with a lazy salute.
"Ah, Dan Heng?" March craned her neck to look at him, gasping dramatically. "You actually took the initiative to participate this time? Incredible. Next thing you know, pigs will start flying!"
"Don't worry, March, you're not sprouting wings any time soon..." Someone murmured at the table.
March spun around, eyes wide, only to see Stelle staring back at her.
Simon did a double take, his expression lighting up with pleasant surprise. "Nice one, Stelle!"
Pride flickered across her usually unreadable expression.
"H-huh? Are you calling me a pig?!" March sputtered, mouth agape.
"Well..." Stelle rubbed her cheek, suddenly awkward with all eyes on her. "You do share the color pink."
"I agree. The resemblance is uncanny." Dan Heng added quietly with serene cruelty, masking his amusement behind a neutral expression.
March froze, her soul visibly leaving her body. Tears welled up as she clutched her chest and turned to Himeko for sanctuary. "W-waaaah, not Stelle too! I thought she was an angel. Himeko, they're bullying me!"
Himeko did her best to smother a smile behind her cup. "It just shows how close you are."
"What kind of friend compares you to a pig?" March whispered, utterly betrayed.
Welt sighed at the escalating chaos and took charge again. "For this trip, Himeko and I have decided to let you four go ahead alone. It will be good experience."
The four exchanged glances, none particularly surprised.
"Are you really not coming? Don't tell me it's because of the frigid weather?" March asked suspiciously.
"...No, of course not." Himeko looked away and took a long sip of coffee.
It was, in fact, one of the reasons she hesitated.
"It's because the area affected by the Stellaron this time around appears to be relatively safe." Welt sighed again, continuing, "The planet has been isolated for centuries, so there are likely no rival factions to complicate things."
"And we have two Stellaron specialists now." Himeko smiled at Stelle and Simon. "One containing a stellaron, and one having the power to absorb the energy of a stellaron. Overall, the stellaron is truly the least of our worries...but in case something unexpected happens, I will be monitoring things with an orbital strike ready."
"I guess I can't argue with that..." March scratched her temple dumbly, unable to come up with a retort to their reasoning.
Dan Heng folded his arms, eyes drifting closed in concentration.. "So our objective is to assess the locals and their view on the disaster."
"Correct." Welt nodded. "If they see the Stellaron as a blessing, they may try to stop you. In which case, discretion is necessary."
"Roger that." Simon replied. He stared at Welt, voicing his thought openly. "But are you absolutely sure you don't wanna come with us, Mr. Yang? Because...let's just say I have a surprise for you..."
His words made it clear to Welt that he was referring to something related to Lagan.
Welt's ears practically twitched. His glasses hid the gleam in his eyes as he wondered what else the little mech had in store after its brilliant display so far.
"That's...really thoughtful of you, thank you for your consideration, but..." He replied reluctantly, forehead creased as if it physically pained him to say this. "...I will stay back to protect the train from a possible ambush by the anti-matter legion. You can never be too safe after Nanook's manifestation."
"That's where I come in, I'll take the best pictures ever!" March declared proudly.
"Alright, you do that. " Simon chuckled, turning to look at the one and only navigator of the astral express. "What about you, Himeko?"
"Me?" Himeko blinked.
He nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "Think about it, wouldn't it be nice to drink a freshly brewed, warm cup of coffee while watching the snow fall slowly from inside of a cozy house?"
"...You make a compelling case." She pondered seriously, but as she glanced down and spotted the conductor standing about forlornly, she chuckled and shook her head. "Unfortunately, Pompom would be too lonely if I left too."
"What a shame, I was looking forward to a romantic outing with our lovely navigator. But alas..." He sighed disappointedly.
Himeko giggled. "Stop it, you flirt~"
March stared at them like she'd been force-fed lemons.
"Stop right there!" She weaved in, blocking their sight of each other with both of her hands. "Aren't you two getting a little too cozy?!"
"Haaaa...well, if you guys are done deciding, then Pompom will go prepare the landing pods, I suppose..." Pompom muttered, already shuffling away in exhaustion.
These were the trailblazers it just poured its heart out to...
March shrank. "Was... that my fault?"
"Yes." Dan Heng didn't hesitate.
"Alright, alright, let's not keep the conductor waiting..." Himeko mediated before March exploded again. "And remember: explore, understand, connect, and establish."
Welt only shook his head, smiling at their antics.
...
Stelle sat quietly near the pods, watching her companions.
Dan Heng checked their pods to make sure all the emergency and safety features were functioning properly.
March sat to her side, flipping through her camera gallery and occasionally snapping new shots.
And Simon sat cross-legged atop Lagann's head, staring out the window in deep thought.
He was absolutely plotting something, Stelle mused.
She didn't know why or how she could read him so well, maybe because he was straightforward.
Or maybe because something in her chest responded to him in ways she couldn't explain...
This wasn't just about the odd rhythm her heart seemed to follow in his presence, but it went deeper.
Deeper than the Stellaron buried in her chest.
As if a fundamental part of her existence itself was attracted to him, as if they were two parts of the same whole.
Could his bold claim about being her husband… actually hold truth? Was that what the emotion she'd been feeling meant?
That...would also explain his unusual fondness for her.
Her pulse fluttered. The idea felt impossibly natural.
She pressed a hand lightly to her chest, as if she could coax her heart into confessing its secrets, but It only beat harder.
"By the way…" Simon spoke, snapping her out of her thoughts.
He shifted on Lagann's head, glancing back at the group with the sly calm of a man whose half-formed scheme had finally ripened.
Stelle looked up. She already knew. She didn't know how she knew, but she did.
Something in the way his shoulders straightened told her he was about to say something troublesome and glorious at the same time.
"I am going to jump from orbit," he finished, almost cheerfully.
March choked on her own breath so violently she nearly dropped her camera. "What?! You are what?!"
Dan Heng paused mid-step, lowering the last pod latch with a heavy silence.
"What?" Simon continued innocently, "I've never done it before. This seems like the perfect opportunity."
Stelle wasn't surprised at all. Of course this was his plan. Of course he thought this was logical. You could always count on him to go against the norm.
She nodded with quiet resolve. "I will go with you."
"Stelle?" Marc's jaw fell open. "You… you're agreeing to this? You two are insane!"
"The raccoon is going with me. Anyone else joining in?" Simon beamed.
March squinted, going silent. Stelle could see her actually contemplating it despite her violent protest.
She honestly didn't understand why March would hesitate this much. Simon already proved that he wouldn't ever let them be harmed.
And so, she decided to nudge her friend in the right direction.
She walked up to her and whispered in her ear like a tiny gray devil on her shoulder, "Think about the pictures you could take...imagine all the followers you'll gain after posting them online...and wouldn't it be nice to sit next to Simon again?"
"...!" March's jerked back and covered her ear, cheeks flaring red.
She glared at Stelle, but the grey haired girl could tell she wasn't focused as much on her as on her own internal struggle.
With a final push in the form of puppy eyes from her, March's face scrunched up and she crumbled.
"I might die… but the photos I can take… those will be worth it…" She hopped onto Lagann in utter despair. "If I perish, remember me as a hero."
On the other hand, Dan Heng folded his arms, utterly unconvinced by her technique.
"I will take the pod."
"Aww, man…" Simon deflated instantly, staring at him with a wounded heart. "Bro, I've been saving my lap for you…"
March scoffed from the side, shooting the latter a disgusted glare. "Danny, don't let him tempt you. He is corrupted."
Dan Heng's tone didn't budge. "No, thank you."
"Reserved only for you," Simon added shamelessly, as if that would convince him.
Dan Heng's final word was delivered with the resigned patience of someone used to this sort of disrespect from the universe. "No."
"Whatever then! Really gotta watch who you call your homie..." Simon huffed, raising his voice proudly anyway. "Open the hatch, Sergeant Pompom!"
Pompom's image flickered on the screen, puffing out its chest and saluting before it even realized what it was doing. "Yes sir, opening the hatch immedia— wait. We're not in the military! If you guys are ready, then I'll begin the launch countdown now!"
The alarms chimed.
"Three…"
Lagann crouched.
"Two…"
Simon gripped the controls.
"One…!"
Lagann launched out of the Express like a bullet fired from a slingshot.
Pompom's tiny voice crackled after them. "Wait… that wasn't a pod!"
But they were already gone.
The hatch sealed behind them, and the vacuum of space swallowed everything.
The moment they dropped through the planetary atmosphere, a trail of spiraling flame roared to life around them.
The world turned into a tunnel of falling snow and fire.
March screamed loud enough to be heard by the aeons.
Stelle sat pressed against Simon's side, watching the burning descent with wide, fascinated eyes.
Her body leaned closer to Simon on instinct, fear never even reaching her.
Wherever he was, she felt safe. The sensation was confusing but warm.
"What the fuck!" March trashed against her seat. "This was not a good idea! Why are we falling like a burning meteor?!"
Simon's laughter boomed joyfully. "Because it's awesome!"
Stelle held onto her harness, eyes shining. "The view is nice."
"Nice? NICE?!" March shrieked. "We are going to fucking die!"
Yet, Stelle admired the way her camera shutter still didn't stop going off.
The wind howled. Flames streaked behind Lagann's descent, cutting through the clouds at breackneck speed and leaving a giant hole in the white sky.
A strange shape appeared below, becoming clearer as they dropped lower.
A snowman stood alone in the wasteland, wearing a mask on its face.
"That snowman looks suspicious…" Simon mused.
Marc's wail drowned out his words. "We are going to hit it!"
Too late.
Lagann slammed into the frozen plains so hard the ground exploded upward in a blast of vaporized snow. The impact carved out a circular crater, steam curling around the mecha like a rising fog.
Something small tumbled through the air.
Lagann's hatch opened, letting the cold air rush in. Simon reached out and caught the falling object with practiced ease.
It was half a mask.
March peered over his shoulder, panting as she tried to calm her racing heart. "Ugh...is that from the snowman?"
"It was on it," Simon replied, brushing frost from the carved surface. "I probably ruined some kid's hard work. But who would be out here in a wasteland like this…"
He murmured something too quiet for Stelle to hear. "Is it Lynx…? I will return it to her later."
Stelle tilted her head. Lynx? The name sparked nothing in her memory, but Simon's tone held a faint recognition that puzzled her.
Had he visited this planet before?
He tucked the mask away, leaving her unasked question unanswered.
Lagann rose, snow cracking beneath its weight.
"Let's move," Simon said.
She nodded.
They surged forward.
...
Snow whipped past the visor as Lagann tore across Jarilo-VI's dead plains.
The Stellaron's interference pulsed faintly in the air, creating static ripples across the radar's edges.
It would have thrown any ordinary machine off completely.
Lucky for him, Lagann was no ordinary machine.
His spiral enhanced radar read it easily. And the Stellaron's energy signature was easy to follow, especially because Lagann already had a reference point.
That being Stelle.
The energy in her chest resonated with the one enveloping the planet, forming a bridge only he and Lagann could detect due to their direct encounter.
March leaned forward. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see." Simon grinned.
He didn't miss the way Stelle observed him, her gaze trusting, but evidently filled with confusion.
Rightfully so, given that he seemed to be awfully familiar with what should be a new environment to all of them.
But he had no real intention of explaining himself, preferring to let this actions do the talking.
The snow thinned out eventually, giving way to warped steel beams and rusted cranes. It looked like an abandoned construction site, frozen in time.
The architects' pillars of creation.
Beyond it rose a colossal silhouette half-buried in ice.
The Engine of Creation.
Simon felt a chill of awe crawl down his spine, having awaited for this moment. He had imagined it from the second he learned about this world and discovered his power.
March's voice shrank to a whisper. "What is that…?"
"A giant ass robot," Simon breathed heavily.
He felt Lagann's circuits hum to life like a heartbeat syncing with his own, begging to jump into action.
"How did you know it would be here?" Stelle looked at him curiously.
"Well," Simon answered smoothly, opting to borrow Gurren Lagann's story like it was his own past, "in my world, giant robots like this run wild. Lagann can detect them from far away. That's what I've been tracking since we landed."
"But..." March frowned. "Shouldn't we regroup with Dan Heng? Why come here first?"
Simon stared at her silently, wondering when March—of all people—became the voice of reason.
Still, he wasn't about to let her get one over him, summoning the saddest expression he could muster.
"Because...I thought that if Lagann could detect something so similar...then it might contain clues about my world..." He murmured, staring off into space despondently to sell the act.
"O-oh..." March wilted with guilt.
Stelle, though, nodded thoughtfully, accepting the explanation without hesitation.
Simon cracked his knuckles. "More importantly, look around. This whole project looks dead as hell. Probably abandoned for so long it was forgotten. Don't you think piloting this thing will make our story as outworlders even more believable?"
March nodded, though her eyes narrowed at how quickly he recovered. "I mean… yeah… but what if we scare the locals? They might think we're invading…"
"It's better to be feared than loved. As outsiders, it's unlikely we can command their respect quickly anyway." Simon explained plainly. "Besides, how many worlds have tried to arrest you on sight?"
"Ugh, too many to count..." March groaned.
Simon snorted. It was just a shot in the dark on his part, but it hit right on the money.
He had no interest in playing fugitives with Cocolia, so he'd force her into a position of submission right from the start. Starting with this...
"How are you even gonna pilot that thing anyway?" The pink haired girl pointed out, her bright eyes settling on him curiously.
Simon smirked. "Get ready. I'm going to show you something totally awesome."
Lagann crouched low and sprinted forward with rapid hops, landing atop the Engine of Creation's head.
Stelle's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Wait… are you going to…?"
"That's right," Simon said, his voice rich with mischief. "I'm going to combine."
He raised his hand slowly, savoring the moment.
Lagann glowed brighter than it ever had.
Spiral energy curled around the cockpit like a swirling storm, coiling into the air in neon green threads.
The top hatch closed. The lower half of Lagann rotated, shifting until the legs compressed, folded, and began twisting into a drill.
A giant whirling spiral of blazing emerald energy roared to life.
"Pierce through!" Simon shouted.
The drill thrust downward.
Ice shattered like glass, metal tore apart, and the Engine of Creation's outer shell split wide open.
The ancient machine trembled as though waking from a dreamless sleep.
Lagann sank into the cavity, locking into place.
Everything went still, until light surged.
Metal plates shifted, forcing centuries-old systems to reboot in response.
The dormant titan inhaled a breath of life as spiral energy seeped through every gear, every joint, and every bolt.
Massive limbs formed from incomplete frames, the machine growing new legs as if they were always meant to exist. Steel beams folded inward, becoming thighs and shins. Frozen pipes reshaped themselves into skeletal supports.
The Engine of Creation took on a more humanoid form, aligned with Simon's aesthetics, and the form most suited to conducting spiral energy.
March whispered in awe, "That is… ridiculous…"
Stelle placed a hand over her heart, eyes shining. Ambient spiral energy danced faintly around her fingertips like fireflies.
Simon felt his soul roar with triumph, his spiral reserves growing even stronger with all of it being concentrated and amplified by a much bigger vessel.
"Awaken! LAGANN ENGINE!" he shouted.
The titan's eyes ignited, green light replacing it's original, yellow tinted veins.
The Engine of Creation stood for the first time in centuries, towering above the frozen world like a god reborn.
The approximately 50 meters tall colossus took one earth-shaking step, the frozen land trembling beneath its weight.
Simon grinned proudly as the reborn mech strode forward with newfound purpose, it's massive hand reaching out over a mountain of ice to seize what lay beyond it...