Chapter Text
Stelle pressed her lips together before knocking on the compartment door. Her curiosity was peaked, but also something else. What did the archivist know that could help her sort things? His personality was of a critical nature, but she actually didn’t mind that.
A welcoming reply on the other side brought her from her thoughts. The familiar smell that seemed to linger on Dan Heng made sense after the door opened. Books, older ones, lay on the different empty spaces around computer consoles. Old parchment and ink. How did she not know?
“Ah, Stelle. Were you looking to use the Database?” Dan Heng questioned without looking up.
She took a couple of steps inside and smiled. “Well, yes. Maybe you can help me since you’re here?”
His eyes left his work, and he nodded. “Of course. What did you have in mind? Aeons and Stellerons?”
Stelle shifted her lips from side to side as she walked over to him. “That and maybe more? I feel so overwhelmed… but in a good way!” She rushed out and ran her hand over her hair.
“How about we start from a simpler approach? The Astral Express’s mission is to navigate the universe and curb the Stelleron effect,” Dan Heng expressed as he pulled up the information.
“The universe,” Stelle nodded. “I get all of that.”
Dan Heng tilted his head. “Do you understand why?”
Stelle thinned her lips and exhaled. “No.”
“It’s alright to confess to lacking knowledge, Stelle. It would be ignorant to assume that you know everything. The fact that you came searching for it means more than having the knowledge,” He replied and gestured to the screen.
“Wait,” Stelle sighed.
“Yes?” Dan Heng asked.
Stelle shifted and rubbed her cheek. “What do you love about this mission?”
“This mission on Jarillo-VI?”
She shook her head and glanced around. “All of it.”
“Of the Astral Express?” He replied.
Stelle nodded and pressed her fingers to the console. “You must know more than most because you are the archivist.”
He sighed and reached for a book, setting it down before her. “This is a book from a previous mission. I have been inputting the history of the people on a planet. The world was marshes and bogs, but the people had learned to live in stilted homes and use gliders. It was an experience, and the data will eventually assist in the future of another world struggling.”
Stelle laughed and caressed the book. “Wow, that’s something.”
Dan Heng reached over for another book and set it down. “This is a volume on using solar energy on a planet filled with dunes and sand. The importance of data is valuable, and knowledge is sought, not just given.”
“How exciting. To experience so much and take pieces of it with you,” Stelle smiled and nodded. “The universe has truly endless possibilities. We write the stories of so many worlds blended together.”
He shifted and frowned. “Stelle, the path of the Trailblazer is one of unknown choices and experiences. We are the Nameless for that purpose.”
She blinked and gestured to him. “Well, what do you feel you get from it? I feel like this is everything new, and it’s exciting, but by your scowl, you think differently.”
“No, it’s just—” He paused and looked away from her. “I hope you don’t change that outlook. Ever.”
Stelle stepped to catch his vision. “Dan Heng, what do you like to experience most about these missions?”
His eyes rested on her face, and he smiled. It felt like it was a rarity to see. Something like an eclipse or a comet that travels across the universe with a bright glow before it leaves. “The chance to gather information on previously undocumented circumstances.”
“So, you enjoy what? The food? I bet you’ve had some amazing dishes,” Stelle grinned.
Dan Heng laughed and shook his head. She wasn’t trying to be funny, but he laughed. Stelle couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed. She shifted and continued to retain her smile as he settled.
“It isn’t just about the food, Stelle.”
“Then what? The different clothing and weird celebrations?” She asked, leaning closer to him.
“Culture is an excellent topic to gather on,” He agreed.
“I wonder what we’ll be exposed to on the planet,” Stelle said, rolling her lips together.
Dan Heng pressed his hand to her shoulder. “Nothing that we can’t handle. Himeko trusts us.”
Trust. Stelle exhaled and traced his hand on her shoulder. She trusted Dan Heng. She also trusted the rest of the Astral Express crew. Was this what it was like to feel close to someone? Her eyes met his gaze again.
The compartment door opened, and March 7th walked in, waving her hand. “There you are, Stelle! What are you doing in the archives?”
Stelle broke their eye contact and smiled as she glanced at March. “Well, I was researching things before we headed to Jarillo-VI.”
March approached and leaned over the console. “Well, that’s pretty smart.”
“You could take a page from her book, March,” Dan Heng grumbled.
March waved her free hand at him. “You’re coming, so we already have one expert!”
“We need to prepare ourselves for anything. Due to the freeze over the planet, we may encounter the unknown,” Dan Heng nodded as he straightened his form.
“Okay, so I think we should all make a pact and trade secrets about each other! So, if we run into trouble, we will know each other even if we are replicated,” March declared as she jerked her fist in a pump of her arm.
“Replicated?” Stelle gasped.
“She’s joking,” Dan Heng sighed. “I hope no one replicates you, March.”
“Well, my secret is I always wanted a cat. The closest thing I’ve ever come to owning one is patting Pom-Pom’s ears,” March sighed, ignoring Dan Heng’s poke.
“I already dislike this mission,” He grumbled.
“Hey, stop being so mean!” March shouted. “Why are you extra insulting right now? Did I interrupt you sharing secrets with Stelle?”
“I prefer books and data to people,” Dan Heng confessed, and he crossed his arms. “There.”
“That isn’t a secret. You’re basically a walking talking book,” March sighed.
He shook his head.
March tilted her head and turned to Stelle. “Do you have a secret? I don’t even know if you remember any of them. It’s okay if you don’t.”
Stelle frowned and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. You know about as much as I do,” she laughed and shook her head.
“Hm,” March frowned and pressed her fist to her chin. “We should make it a goal for you to experience more on this first mission. I did the same while trying to gather what I liked!”
“We are not going as tourists,” Dan Heng reminded them.
Stelle shifted and nodded. “It should be easy enough while we find the Stelleron. We should get going soon.”
March hummed and then agreed. “Yes, let’s go. Who knows, maybe we’ll learn more about you on this mission too. Well, let me grab my things. You both should hurry too!” She finished and moved toward the door.
Stelle frowned as March departed and gazed at Dan Heng. “Does it matter what I like that much?”
“Do you know? What do you like?” He inquired.
Stelle squirmed and puffed. “I just told you I don’t know.”
“No, I meant as of currently. What do you like right now at this moment,” Dan Heng pressed.
“Well, I like you, March, and everyone on the Express. I like not being alone. I don’t know why, but it feels like forever since I felt that. I like this, and even feeling uncomfortable with this question because I know you have a point,” Stelle struggled and puffed. “It’s a deficit, isn’t it? I don’t know what exactly I like beyond that.”
“I believe you are struggling with concern where it is unneeded. How does one discern what they like and do not? It is a feeling, not a lack of knowledge,” Dan Heng mused before gesturing to her. “You are free to experience what it is to be Nameless— the discovery of the unknown and what draws you to captivation.”
“So, not a deficit but an opportunity?” She responded while tilting her head. “That’s good, I guess.”
“It is excellent. It means you want to be here and seek more than just a sky full of stars. That drive is what captivation and unique desire are built from. History aside, we only have moments and knowledge to build from,” He smiled. Two in one conversation? Stelle felt her doubts subside at his brief glow of warmth.
Stelle beamed and breathed. “You just made my day, Dan Heng. Thank you.”
He dropped his hand. “Stelle, when you discover it, would you share it with me? It is interesting to see someone building a life around the unknown.”
“Share it?” Stelle blinked as her cheeks tinted. “Will you share your captivations with me then?”
He cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes.”
“Let’s go see this planet then,” She beamed and nearly skipped away from the terminal before turning back. Dan Heng furrowed his brow as he stared toward the console. “Are you coming?”
“Yes, just a moment. I must finish this entry,” He declared and began pressing buttons on the computer.
“Okay, we’ll be waiting,” Stelle declared, leaving the archives.
March just left her room as she skipped over. “Ready to go! Where’s Dan Heng?”
“He’s finishing some work,” Stelle nodded.
March rolled her eyes and tugged Stelle toward the main compartment. “Well, he always is doing that. I swear he needs to find more of what he likes too! All I get is complaints and silence.”
“He did give me plenty to think about for our mission. March, what do you like?” Stelle questioned as they stopped in the center.
“Like? Well, I like adventure! Also, good food and helping people,” March nodded.
“What are you two talking about before your departure?” Himeko asked as she paced over.
March sighed and waved her hand. “Likes and interests. It just occurred to me that Stelle doesn’t really have any yet! I remember feeling like that.”
Himeko shifted and smiled. “Well, if you are on the path of self-discovery, you should also consider who you like. What makes them interesting to you and why? That does help with figuring out what you like when you see what you like in others as well.”
“We don’t want her to leave because she fell in love, Himeko,” March pouted.
That was a scary unknown she certainly wouldn’t touch on! “L-love? No, definitely not,” Stelle waved her hand.
Himeko laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t mean love, March. I meant seeing attributes in others that inspire you. That always tends to help to set you on a path of true conviction. You can’t find that in a kiss.”
“I certainly didn’t!” March huffed.
Stelle blinked and felt her cheeks nearly boil. “You kissed someone before?”
“Oh, yeah,” March laughed and rubbed the back of her head. “Well, that’s a story for another day. You’ll have plenty of stories yourself if you keep traveling with us.”
“I’d hardly be interesting or pretty to anyone. Not like you, March. It works out better that way,” Stelle laughed awkwardly and waved her hand. “It’s fine, really. I don’t need those types of stories.”
March frowned and crossed her arms. “That’s not really a good thing, Stelle! We need to fix this.”
Oh. No. Stelle felt like she could shrink to the size of a fingertip. March looked determined, and that seemed to be a frightening thing, indeed.
“I believe we were heading out?” Dan Heng questioned.
March and Stelle turned to see him standing there, and March gasped. “Why do you always sneak up like that!”
Pom-Pom and Welt wandered over from across the compartment. “Well, are our young Trailblazers ready?” Welt smiled.
Stelle sighed and nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”
“Pom-Pom packed lunch for each of you! Don’t forget to eat,” Pom-Pom nodded and offered Stelle the bag.
“Don’t look too sad, Welt. We’ll have plenty to do without them,” Himeko laughed.
“Just remember, it’s important to be open to all possibilities. There is uncertainty but also true exploration within that,” Welt nodded.
“We will, Mr. Yang! Come on, let’s go,” March beamed.
Stelle felt her heart stutter in her chest as they prepared to leave. Dan Heng stood to her left and seemed to be deep in thought. What was he going over in his head? Was he worried or unamused with their mission? There was more than just data and books on his mind. He only met her gaze when Stelle frowned.
“What is it?” He asked.
Stelle glanced forward in a rush. “Nothing!”
“Time to go!” March beamed and curled her arm around Stelle. “Off for adventure on Jarillo-VI!”
It, indeed, was going to be an adventure. Stelle felt almost fearful of it but also excited. Blank pages in a book she would be able to fill in herself. Whether it be about their journey, or herself, maybe even both. Time will tell.