[Location: Apokolips, Ignis: Steppenwolf’s abode]

“Because I trust you.”

Stellar moved through the murmuring glow until she was in a crescent of shadows. A hot breeze filtered through the area whipping Stellar’s hair and dress into a hallucinatory spiral. Beneath her, terrain groaned mechanically. She reached out and grabbed a nearby pole when the planet’s surface shuddered momentarily. Due to the geo-active nature of Apokolips’ internal structure, such disruptions were commonplace.

“What a… foolish concept.” Steppenwolf whispered.

How could someone so intelligent belie the societal norms that were expected of all Apokoliptians?

Steppenwolf muttered something when Stellar gave no response.

“Can you stop that…?”

Stellar seemed to short-circuit, staring ahead blankly. Then she gingerly lifted a hand to her stained face. She smeared both hands across, wiping away all her emotional planes. Stellar’s arms fell limp and she looked up silently. Steppenwolf returned the gaze.

Icy colors in Steppenwolf’s words morphed into a direct question.

“…My point in saying that you will find… the girl was a reminder of who you are. If you want to find her, it needs to be done… now. You are supposed to be reporting to the Royal Palace soon. Do you want to throw your position away over this?”

“Will you help me find her?”

Steppenwolf’s reply was immediate.

“No.”

“But-“

“Stellar. You know I can’t do that…”

Orange light softened the edges of Stellar’s form. She seemed to duplicate in Steppenwolf’s vision. A tesseract of stained glass he could never break through. He needed rest. Stellar needed to go back to her home. She had to be ready for the presentation no matter what path was chosen.

Stellar was well aware that Steppenwolf hadn’t reported Tilde’s semi-residency in her home. They both would be risking issues if he accompanied Stellar on her quest to find the solemn girl. That was a fact. There was a strict set of rules applied to all employees of the Crown. And even tighter for enlisted military personnel. While Tilde was related to a Female Fury, she had chosen to remain a simple civilian and was registered as such. Anyone outside the elite circle wasn’t allowed into Ignis, let alone Vorago. If Stellar was caught lying about Tilde…

Steppenwolf felt as though an elevator of concrete formed around him and plunged several stories. He felt…

“Ah, you’re right… No. You’re right. I will find her. Before my presentation…”

Stellar reached down to lace her boots.

“I always react before I think. She’s just never done this before…”

Heggra’s distant words flashed in Steppenwolf’s mind.

“Stellar, you must learn to curb your emotions for the sake of your duty.” Steppenwolf blurted instantly, parroting the Queen.

“How does it feel to express such an array of emotions?”

Stellar lept up robotically, straightening her form at those strict words. She then repeated the chant of government employees.

“The expansion of Apokolips comes before anything else. Escapades of desire and delusion corrupt the mind. Report corruption you hear or see.”

Report corruption you hear or see.

But Tilde remained undetected. Air fizzled in salty foam with more tears undrained and sentences that couldn’t be completed. Stellar left soundlessly even though ghosts of the unsaid clawed at Steppenwolf’s voice. When the engine of her hovercraft faded, Steppenwolf realized he had been clutching his arms. Heat bloomed when his brain registered this fact. Removing a layer of draped cloth revealed glistening blood Steppenwolf had drawn from himself subconsciously.

Report corruption you hear or see.

∞

Skies in Ignis that night were a bowl of warm embers. There wasn’t any weather activity. Missing cloud cover in the dense Apokoliptian atmosphere was unusual but not unwelcome. Business towers arched distantly in perfect crescents; architectural flames illuminating a central hub for wealthy visitors. Stellar blazed past a triangular structure jutting directionally towards the Royal Palace. An omega flashed brilliantly causing light to ripple off everything inside Stellar’s ship.

“I hate that building…” She snapped, accelerating her vehicle.

Air traffic was limited to elite Apokoliptians because of cost. Among other reasons… If commoners from slum sectors got ahold of hovercrafts, it was possible they might attempt domestic terrorism upon the Crown. That is what Stellar had been told. Air traffic also flowed a specific way, marked by rusted signs located on buildings and communication towers. Uneducated Apokoliptians couldn’t possibly learn the air rules. A rare smile from Tilde winked from Stellar’s cavernous memory.

“I bet she could…”

Stellar had yet to find her precious friend. But time was receding into the ether. She reluctantly let priorities bubble over all worries. If Stellar failed to report before the Crown and was disciplined, that wouldn’t help anyone. A note would be left inside a winged statue near the observatory’s entrance. Tilde knew it had a chunk of marble that could be removed from behind. The two had joked before about “the broken Victory of Apokolips”. Tilde was intelligent and self-aware, shattering conceptions that the elite lorded over civilians. As for getting into Ignis again… Stellar didn’t know she would manage to do that by herself. Usually Stellar was able to get authorization by claiming that Tilde was her employee. And Tilde’s connection to Mad Harriet made this easier. If Tilde wouldn’t join the military, working as a government employee was acceptable. The gatekeepers trusted Stellar and thus, never bothered to check Tilde’s registration. A top scientist wouldn’t fib.

The spiraling cityscape began to give away into a flat grid of metal encrusted concrete. Stellar let her craft descend upon seeing a familiar dome simmer within plumes of steam. Her observatory was sanctioned off from other structures because it was built near an area of subterranean planetary maintenance. Most didn’t want their homes near industrial machinery and igneous fumes. However, Stellar didn’t mind as it made numerous things easier for her.

She held onto the master controls after parking, plugging another emotional dam before a sign of doom cracked her composure.

Stellar had to believe Tilde would disengage herself from danger.

To be continued…