Interior – Steven's Cabin, ALKEN ship.

Kimberly sat stiffly on the chair, fingers tangled in her lap. Steven stood by the counter, arms crossed, bowl of popcorn in hand.

"So you came in," Steven said flatly. "What changed?"

Kimberly hesitated. "I just... wanted to talk to you."

He raised an eyebrow.

"There's been a shift in how you behave," she said. "You're... different. It's time you at least let me in. Let someone in."

Steven blinked. For a brief second, an image of Gestronio exploding flashed in his mind, planet torn apart, rivers of raphesh evaporating into the void.

He clenched his fist behind his back.

"Okay," he said, voice calm but sharp. "Let's settle this now. I've just been under a little pressure, alright? That's all. No need to press me. Are we clear, Kimberly?"

She stood up, eyes narrowing.

"No. That's a weak excuse. You're not under pressure, Steven. You're not even you. You're someone else."

Steven stared at her for a moment. Then smiled.

"Popcorn?"

Kimberly stepped back. "No. I need to get back to the helm. Sorry."

She turned quickly and left. Steven didn't chase.

He stared at the door. Then muttered:

"Fuck."

He shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Interior – Leonardo's Apartment, London. Night.

Leonardo lay awake in bed, arms behind his head, eyes locked on the ceiling.

"Caitlyn... I hope you're alright. These ignored calls are driving me insane. I don't even know why I care this much... No. I do. But I shouldn't."

Morning. ALKEN ship. 12 days until Pluto.

Over the intercom: 

Londo: "Refueling break on Titan, orbiting Saturn. We'll be grounded for a few hours before moving on."

Interior – Docking Bay.

Everyone suited up in pressure suits, helmets under arms. Taze walked past Steven without even looking.

Steven didn't flinch.

Lasso spun around. "Damn. Who knew spacesuits could look so damn fine? Let's make some trouble on Titan, yeah?"

Kiara grinned. "Hell yeah, baby! Right, Anna?"

Anna's eyes were puffy. "Whatever..."

Lana approached Lasso, speaking low. "Tonight. I'm ready to try. Yesterday I wasn't. Ten minutes. Got it?"

Kiara snorted. "Awwww, we got ourselves a couple!"

Lana's hand snapped to her laser pistol. "Careful, Kiara K."

Kiara raised her hands, amused. "Okay, Lana-saurus, chill."

Lasso gently lowered Lana's arm. "Got it. Ten minutes. I'm in."

Then, in a louder voice:

"Alright team! Quick notes. Titan stinks, but it's good for landing. There's a food station we built out there. Stay sharp, keep it clean, and get your asses off this rusty tin can!"

Interior – Cockpit. Kimberly and Londo.

Londo: "Kimberly. Your mother's condition has worsened. Doctors report decline."

Kimberly's eyes widened. "Is she okay?!"

Londo: "For now. They're monitoring her 24/7. I'd send you to her, but it'd take two days back and we were ordered to keep you on helm. You understand?"

Kimberly's voice trembled. "Isn't there anything we can do?"

Londo: "I'll try to activate the mini-shuttle, but it needs fuel. Ask Steven. He knows the setup."

Kimberly hesitated. "Colonel... I think something happened to him. He's not the same. He's colder. Unstable."

Londo, dry: "Something happened in his brain, maybe. Not his home. Just tell him. He'll deal. Let's go."

Exterior – London. Morning.

Caitlyn strutted in a purple dress, tight and unapologetically revealing. Laura walked beside her in a flowing white gown with an equally audacious neckline.

They entered the perfume commercial building. Inside, producer Chuma bounced toward them, flamboyant and ecstatic.

"Caitlyn, darling, you're a million dollars wrapped in woman!"

They hugged briefly.

"And this must be our model! Laura, right? Gorgeous. Give me five and we'll get some shots. Jin's arriving any minute."

Caitlyn winked. "Big pleasure, hun."

Exterior – Titan Surface.

The crew disembarked, trudging across Titan's dim orange terrain. Masks filtered the methane-laced air.

Steven lagged behind, breathing heavier.

He stopped.

"What... what's happening to me...?"

His hand flickered green. His arm pulsed. His body began trembling.

"Losing... control... again...?"

Before anyone turned, he collapsed—his body melting into thick green raphesh.

The slime pulsed, clinging to Titan's frozen soil, twitching uncontrollably.

Steven's mind (internally): "What's with this planet? Why does it hurt?"

Suddenly—

A massive shadow soared from Saturn's direction.

TIMORA, a towering beast of bone, slime, and jagged wings, crash-landed on Titan with a seismic roar.

The entire station shook. Everyone inside the food base fell silent.

Kiara: "What the actual hell is that?!"

The monster shrieked: "I... will devour... this planet...!"

It stomped down—right on Steven's slime form.

The raphesh convulsed.

Steven (internally): "You picked the wrong foot to step on... Time to blow off some steam."

To be continued