[Location: Apokolips, Royal Palace of Yuga Khan and Queen Heggra I.]

“The words that I could tell them may never come. Would it matter in the end?”

Stellar drifted away from the epicenter of supreme Apokoliptian power. Empty corridors from before were now replenished. The Palace had been caught nowhere in time and finally caught up to the present. It was bursting with radiant life. Now, this wasn’t true. There was always activity in the halls. Stellar was just enmeshed in her own mind. But she was released from the painful oblivion that had been her anxiety. Queen Heggra wanted to be anywhere else than listening to a scientific presentation: even one that could help destroy New Genesis. That had been evident from her sidelong glances towards Wunda. After listening carefully, the King and his attendants gave their perfunctory approval before sending Stellar on her way. The mental relief had drained from Stellar in a surge of static. Yet she was left with questions of her own.

When she came to the main exit, damp air greeted all her senses. Stellar enjoyed this kind of weather because it felt good against her skin and hid unsightly blemishes on the cityscape. Or rather, it was a cocoon that helped shield her when she felt mentally unwell. Stellar’s nerves were calmed, but she received a grander mission. She looked skywards, past columns that cast distorted stains through the misty air. Stellar had never been offworld. She didn’t even really know what New Genesis looked like. But she had been chosen; an astronomer normally looking for distant worlds was now officially enlisted to observe Apokolips’ twin planet. A world with a star…

“In all these years… Why did I never train my telescope towards our twin?”

Stellar knew that other scientists had studied New Genesis. Royals also knew a great deal about the planet from past attempts at treaties. But access to this knowledge was limited. And Stellar’s specific role was to seek out exoplanets. The exhaustion she felt from her delicate, precise work barricaded any true curiosity towards the radiant world.

“I wonder… How many innocent people there are on New Genesis.”

The expression on Tilde’s face when Stellar had spoken those words refracted through her memory; an echo of an echo.

Stellar didn’t know or care much about the planet’s ecosystem. But that didn’t mean the innocent civilians had escaped her mind’s wandering eye. Presently, Apokolips and New Genesis were in a stalemate. With no agreement on peace, Apokolips conserved their plans for planetary expansion in secret. Likewise, hardly any news came from New Genesis. Stellar’s hands fluttered to the sash of her bag. She thought of the ‘Victory of Apokolips’. Mechanical wings arching triumphantly forward… It was a curious statue that she had acquired. It was one of many dotted across Apokolips.

With a cursory glance, the figure looked almost like a Parademon. But upon further inspection, one would find it was an Apokoliptian woman with insectoid attributes. Stellar didn’t know who she was. There were rumors the statues depicted a deceased warrior. The official story was that she was a metaphor for Apokolips’ righteous galactic expansion. Typical.

Tilde’s note was in that marbled emblem.

“Please find the instructions, Tilde. Please.”

Umbra was waiting along with her supervisor, Lashina. Stellar had to be situated and at attention on the Abysm when she was called. None of her feelings on this matter would be considered. She knew that.

∞

Suli allowed the rush of fluids to surround her in a vibrational roar. Rough concrete beneath her bare feet trembled. She was standing in a cluster of pipes and ducts. Because Suli’s subterranean abode was situated under a factory, she was used to the innards of buildings not being concealed. It didn’t bother her. If anything, she liked standing amongst the assemblage of steel guts. The low hums felt good twirling around her body. It scrubbed away her worries.

Uxas had contacted her again. He wanted to see her. Badly. Suli’s protests went purposely unheard; Uxas would ‘make sure’ his mother didn’t interfere. The Queen’s quaking malice was the least of her concerns. Suli’s mere presence at the Royal Palace would cause a scandal, likely shredding what familial bonds were left among the royals. And yet, it wasn’t just that. When Uxas spoke with Suli about her life and ambitions, he seemed to glow with contentment. She knew he loved her. When speaking of the Queen? Or the King? Or even any of his other relatives? Well, he changed. There was something… Not in his words, but the lurid tone of his voice that yawned open to fathomless depths. An unknown concept bubbled just below the surface of his psyche. Suli could feel it.

But she loved him back.

She wanted to see him too. She was giving in. Uxas had arranged for someone to safely escort Suli. He hadn’t told her if the destination was the Palace. Maybe it wasn’t. Suli hoped it wasn’t.

Almost on cue, her front door rattled with three loud knocks.

∞

“So, you’re Stellar… Interesting.”

Stellar met with Lashina near a towering scaffold that encased the silhouette of destruction. Stellar gazed behind her supervisor at the Abysm. It certainly was a solid piece of war technology… Upon returning attention to Lashina, she found the Fury looking up and down with amusement. Stellar felt as though her body was being scanned for something. She didn’t like it. Stellar crossed her arms and looked directly into Lashina’s eyes.

“Yes, I am Stellar. And I know you’re Lashina. Can you begin the boarding protocols, Lashina?”

Lashina stopped engaging with whatever strange thoughts were floating around in that helmet of hers.

“Affirmative. You are always to follow me . Do not touch anything yet. Listen to everything I say. Memorize it. And follow orders or face the consequences. Got that, little astronomer?”

“Yes.”

∞

A crystal cube glimmered brilliantly among the lights of the bridge. Steppenwolf had been staring at it with disdain for some time now. He walked over, snatching it off the control board for engines Epsilon and Zeta. Steppenwolf brought the cube to his face. Everything around him was reflected inside with smug iridescence.

“Goodness. Is this thing supposed to resemble a Mother Box?”

Goodness turned from the flight plan she was helping a pilot finalize. Her expression remained flat.

“I don’t know and I don’t care. Throw it away if you want. Steppenwolf, stop getting distracted by useless things. And another thing… Excuse me for one moment, Drea.”

Goodness strode up beside Steppenwolf. She leaned in so close that her fleecy hair brushed against his face.

“…You need to start addressing me with a bit more respect or we’re going to have a serious problem. I know you’re the Queen’s brother. But you’ve had this position for… not even a month. You have a lot to learn. Do you understand me?” She whispered coldly.

Steppenwolf turned his head to answer Goodness. But words didn’t come because he knew she was correct. Even if it made him furious. Steppenwolf looked at the cube again. Did someone think they were being cute by making this decoration? Suddenly a memory surfaced of Stellar and Tilde huddled around a small sheet of paper. Stellar had once attempted to draw Apokolips with a pen. She had been so proud that she hung it in her room next to a window.

Maybe someone was just trying to brighten the place up.

Steppenwolf sat the cube back down where he found it.

“What can I do that will genuinely help further along liftoff?”

“Good. Come take a look at something Lashina suggested a few days ago.”

Judging by the time, Stellar was probably being shown around the Abysm. Lashina would drop the scientist off in her quarters. And Steppenwolf now knew exactly where that was. He just wanted to make sure she didn’t panic.

Or that’s what he told himself, anyways.

To be continued…