Chapter Text
If you had told Caelus he would be running around the Underground on a wild goose chase in search of a barefoot child for the better half of 3 hours…
Yeah, he would believe you.
(He has his eyes peeled out for trash cans so why would chasing after a barefoot child be weird at all?)
(Before you all come for the narrator [and also for legal reasons], THIS IS A JOKE.)
Eventually, the party of seven is able to track down Clara, who has run off one story below the robot settlement. She darts into an alcove. The group stays close on her tail but they pull back as they reach the nook and watch the girl struggling to fix a generator – most likely the one she had mentioned earlier. She grumbles to herself while toiling away, “Why…? I can’t…”
Dan Heng steps forward first, which alerts Clara. She turns around at the sound of footsteps. “Oh… you came with me after all?”
“We couldn’t give up that easily,” Caelus answers.
“Are you repairing this installation, Clara?” Dan Heng asks. “Hit a snag?”
“I…”
“I can assist you.”
He kneels down in front of the girl, presumably to take the new parts from her so he can replace the old ones. Clara offers the parts to the tall man, but Dan Heng shakes his head instead.
“The part of the installation that needs the replacements is a little too tall for me to reach as well,” he explains. “But I have an idea. Do you trust me?”
Curiously, Clara nods and takes the outstretched hand offered to her. “Hold on tight,” is the only warning she receives as Dan Heng then sweeps the girl off her feet so she can sit on his shoulders. “Can you reach?”
Clara nods, words failing her right now as child-like awe washes over her for a brief moment. She looks forward and places the new gears into place. The installation’s inner gears illuminate a muted orange. “It lit up!”
“That’s good to hear. I’m placing you back down now.”
He slowly bends down and supports the child by her waist, guiding her so that she reaches the ground safely.
“Thank you,” she says.
The corners of Dan Heng’s lips lift slightly. “No need.”
“I’m just curious, Clara,” March says. “Why doesn’t Svarog help you?”
“I don’t want to disturb him,” she answers. “The installation was… accidentally damaged by two of the vagrants. If Mr. Svarog finds out, they’ll get in big trouble.”
“That’s really nice of you,” Caelus comments. “You give a lot of thought to others.”
“But if you’re too kind,” Stelle warns, “people can take advantage of you.”
“Yes, but not everyone will,” Dan Heng says. “Like right now – we were able to help you with the settlement’s energy supply, meaning the problem is solved for the time being, right?”
“Yep,” Clara replies, nodding cheerfully. “The people on the outskirts don’t need to worry about heat or light now.”
Her face falls a second after, and the little girl looks down towards one of her hands balled into a loose fist. “Umm…”
“… We aren’t trying to win you over,” Caelus explains.
“I understand. You helped a lot of injured people in the mine, and Mr. Caelus even risked going into the town for supplies. You’re good people.” (Cue said man looking away from his sister’s alarmed gaze.) “If there’s any other way I can help you, I’ll do my best! But… this…”
Clara lowers her eyes to her hands and twiddles her thumbs. March looks at her companions, her eyebrows furrowed before kneeling down to the child’s height. “Hey Clara, you’re observant, right? My friends and I – do we look like Underworlders to you?”
“Well, uhh… You do look very different from other people.”
“That sounds a bit more insulting than it should have come out” is what Caelus would have said had March not cut him off with a rapid nod of her head.
“Right! That’s because we’re not from here. We’ve never been a factor in Svarog’s calculations. And if those calculations are based solely on ‘the strength of the Underworlders,’ then the results don’t apply to the present situation.”
“When did Svarog start doing his calculations, Clara?” Dan Heng asks.
“It was… a long time ago. The same time the Underworld was sealed off, I think…”
“But… the present circumstances are different,” Stelle points out. “A Silvermane Guard is down here. Not to mention, we’re not even from this planet. Svarog’s calculations from back then most likely didn't take into account that external variables, like us, could appear in the future.”
“Not… from this planet?” Clara parrots. She brows knit together and she shakes her head, “Don’t treat me like a child! Those are just made-up stories that grown-ups like to tell, I don’t…”
“They’re not made up, ” Caelus insists.
The previously mentioned Silvermane Guard chimes in with a gentle voice, “They aren’t lying, Clara. I believe them.”
“Bronya, do you really…?”
“I know how you feel – you want new hope for the Underground, but you don’t want anyone to get hurt in the process, right? I have my doubts too.
“But thanks to March, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Stelle… they renewed a sense of hope within me that I didn’t know I had lost a long time ago. Maybe they’re the ones that I… that our world has been waiting for.
“Let them meet Svarog, and let’s see if his calculation result is any different. For you, for him… there’s no harm in trying, right?”
At this point, Clara’s eyes are now glued to the snow beneath her feet. She lets out a small noise of hesitation, almost as if she wants to keep her stance firm. But…
“We’ll bring a change to this world,” Caelus promises. “Or we die trying.”
“Dramatic much?” Stelle teases.
Her brother jostles her playfully. “Drastic times call for a drastic resolve, right?”
“Let’s not raise any death flags this early, please…” Luka suggests.
“… Okay,” Clara finally relents. “I’ll take you to see Mr. Svarog.”
“Really? Awesome!” March cheers.
The girl nods. “I think I understand now. Trying to change Mr. Svarog’s mind on my own would take forever. Even if I kept trying until I was all grown up. I don’t think I could do it. And all the while, people would be getting sick, losing their homes, and fighting… just like in the mine. I-I don’t want that to happen. If you guys really believe that you can convince Mr. Svarog… then I need to be brave too.
“Everyone, follow me.”
__________
The spider automaton who had shooed the group away earlier grants them access once Clara gives her approval. Before they cross the gate’s threshold, Clara hesitantly requests, “Uhh… if you can, please try not to upset Mr. Svarog…”
“It’s okay, Clara,” March reassures. “We’re here to reason with him.”
Stelle unlocks the gate now that the control pad isn’t restricted. Clara approaches the robot first, her guests following close behind. “I’m back, Mr. Svarog.”
“I see that the energy supply system is back online,” he states. “Thank you, Clara. But… why have you brought them?”
“Mr. Svarog… they want to talk to you about going to the surface.”
The cyclopean sensor hones in on the Express crew. “Calculating… Analysis result: Target does not belong to Wildfire. Background: Unknown. Classification: Unknown. These guests have arrived on Clara’s recommendation, therefore, I will give you an opportunity to speak.”
“Things are going okay so far,” March whispers. “Time to smooth-talk him!”
Caelus steps forward, a hand placed on his heart (if he had one instead of a ticking time bomb) . “We’re here to talk about the future of the Underground.”
“Topic of conversation is vague. Evaluating options…You seek peace?” The trailblazer gives an affirmative nod to Svarog’s question that comes out more like a statement. “Nevertheless, your statement is unilateral. My position will be determined after assessing the result of our negotiation. Proceed with your central point. Do not waste this world’s valuable time.”
Stelle jumps in. “Do you know what a Stellaron is?”
If Svarog was human, the female Stellaron host is sure his pupils would be dilated from surprise. Suppose the lone cyclonic sensor zooming in on her would be the automaton version of that.
“Stellaron…” Svarog repeats. “Searching database… Access denied. Discussing ‘Stellaron’ with unauthorized target: Prohibited. You are broaching a secret that lies at the heart of this world. A secret that should remain unknown to humanity. Reassessing target – threat index raised. I demand that you reveal your true intention.”
Dan Heng clicks his tongue. “As expected, he knows of the Stellaron but it’s a restricted topic…”
Caelus’s body shifts forward but he is met with his sister’s extended arm. “Svarog… if you’re trying to see if we have any underlying motives, we don’t,” she says. “Our goal from the beginning was always to leave this planet after we were finished trailblazing its lands. And in order to do that, we need to bring this world’s disasters to a close.”
“Historical records state that humanity has already made multiple efforts to engage with the Stellaron,” the robot counters. “Without exception, these efforts have been motivated by human greed – attempts to secure the article for a selfish end.
“As instructed by the Architects: Any attempt to engage with the Stellaron will result in grave consequences. Reassessing – Target threat index: Critical.”
The female Stellaron host grinds her teeth as her patience now runs thin. Caelus pushes his twin behind him and interjects before Stelle can lose her temper, “Regardless of the Overworld or Underworld, we’re not from Belobog! My sister already told you that we don’t have any malicious intent – we just want to leave this planet, but we can’t do that if we don’t address the Stellaron!”
Svarog remains rooted in his stance. “As stated previously: Historical records cite human greed as the primary cause for this planet’s current state. Any attempt to engage with the Stellaron will result in grave consequences that may prove even more disastrous than the present situation.”
“Well unlike your historical records, we aren’t like the people who caused this shitshow.”
“Stelle!”
“I am not going to stand here and get disrespected by a hunk of scrap metal who won’t even try to listen to what we have to say, Caelus!”
“Target hostility significantly exceeds base index. Calculation result remains unchanged. Peacekeeping protocol temporarily disengaged. Requesting extermination protocol launch.”
“Extermination?!” March echoes. “In the literal sense?!”
“For fuck’s sake – This is your fault!” Caelus shouts.
“Oh sure, because you should blame me for the sentient robot’s hostile programming that I had no control over!” Stelle barks back.
“We wouldn’t be in this situation if you kept your mouth shut!”
“Enough! Quarreling amongst yourselves won’t solve anything!” Dan Heng reprimands them. He brandishes his spear, gripping the weapon tightly. “Peace talks are over. Everyone, prepare for combat.”
“Mr. Svarog! Please don’t–” Clara begs.
“Clara, it’s too dangerous to stay here,” Luka urges. He ignores the girl’s protests and whisks her to the gate, placing distance away from Dan Heng's opening dive. The Express guard deftly strikes his spear at his foe as metal grates against the weapon’s tip and Svarog recoils. However, the robot is back on his feet, nearly unscathed.
Svarog glides through the snow and rounds a punch in the shape of a crescent moon. Seele whisks Bronya out of the area of effect, while Dan Heng jumps away from the attack and March sets up a shield for herself that barely holds up from the impact. Stelle, who is the closest target to Svarog’s fists, is able to evade the robot’s assault, though that’s only because Caelus pushed his sister out of harm’s way.
Stelle screams when the punch sends her brother flying into the stone wall surrounding Svarog’s base. Caelus doesn’t even hear his sister’s cries. His nerve endings push his body into overdrive as the pain courses through him and he slides down, falling limp on a bed of snow. March creates a shield for him and hollers to the female Stellaron host, “Stelle! I know you're worried, but you have to focus on the fight right now!”
How can I when my brother could be dying? is the first thing she wants to scream out. Nevertheless, Stelle heeds March’s warning and forces herself to materialize her bo staff to charge at the robot. Seele follows behind her, taking advantage of Bronya sniping behind Svarog to delay his next attack. The female Stellaron host raises her staff above her head and strikes the automaton down on the head. Seele follows up with multiple slashes of her scythe. The girls make a break for it before the leader of the automatons can counter.
March grabs Stelle by her shoulder before she can run to her brother’s side. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Before she can agree or protest, Svarog’s joints(?) whir angrily and begin to emit sparks. The robot raises his hand and launches a beam at his offenders, the bright light delaying everyone's action. Bronya snipes at Svarog in response to delay his action, even by just a millisecond. Seele slices at Svarog with her scythe with Dan Heng following up right after. The pair volley off of each other’s attacks like a pair of hunters surrounding a hefty game.
Unamused, Svarog summons two Automaton Hounds and two Automaton spiders to split up the group. Stelle materializes her staff and strikes at the enemies with a harsh swing. The Hounds take serious damage and start to wobble after suffering from major dents. March and Bronya fire arrows and bullets at the Spiders, though they are annoyingly nimble for having legs made of second-rate scrap metal.
She should have finished the job, but Bronya misses her shot and one of the Spiders scurries towards Caelus’s ragdoll body. It skirts past Stelle, who has her staff raised above her head to rough up the Hounds to its end.
And boy, is that Spider sparkling like an anxious firecracker about to blow.
“Stelle, stay away!”
March’s second warning falls on deaf ears as the female Stellaron host sprints after the incoming explosion. Sure, there’s a shield protecting her brother, but how strong is it now? Will the shield break after it detonates? If it does, will Caelus sustain fatal damage? Is Stelle fast enough right now to push the Spider away from her brother? Or would it be better to throw her staff at it? What if she misses and she destroys March’s shield and she had just signed her brother’s life away–
She doesn’t know, and she won’t know.
The Spider sacrifices abruptly. Caelus’s shield breaks, and Stelle is caught in the crossfire of the explosion. A circle of black and shrapnel lies in between the twins. Both bodies lie there on their stomachs.
__________
When Sampo makes an unannounced reappearance with Dr. Natasha in tow during the heat of the battle, it should have been a relief. Instead, the shady businessman rolls down his equally sketchy bombs. The other Trailblazers and their allies make a run for it before it detonates, causing the explosion to bring Svarog down on one knee in defeat. The electric crackling from Svarog’s model is louder now, and Natasha pulls out a grenade launcher from a duffel bag. She charges the weapon up to finish the job–
“Wait, wait!” comes a desperate cry. “Please don’t hurt Mr. Svarog!”
Clara extends her arms into a T to shield the automaton leader with her small body. She looks up at the adults, her face red with determination and her eyes glistening with tears.
Natasha lowers her weapon in disbelief. “C-Clara? … You…”
“Mr. Svarog can’t fight anymore! Please… please don’t hurt him!”
A lump settles in Dan Heng’s throat. Clara’s pleas become harder to listen to. He turns on his heel and carries Caelus’s unconscious body in his arms. Luka follows behind and scoops Stelle up, following the stoic Trailblazer.
“Dr. Natasha, would you please…”
Dread colors the medic’s face. “Of course.”
Dan Heng and Luka set the twins down. The sound of a doctor treating her patient fills what uncomfortable silence there is. Natasha does what she can to dress their wounds with the equipment on her. After what felt like ages, she delivers her diagnosis:
“They’re going to need a lot of rest in my clinic, but they’ll be okay.”
March covers her mouth and releases a choked sob she didn’t know she was holding. The tension in Dan Heng’s body melts away, but he is immediately back on guard when Svarog speaks again.
“Cla… ra…”
“Mr. Svarog… Don’t push yourself any further. Can you tell them what you know?”
“…”
“Mr. Svarog, you said you were willing to make all my wishes come true, right? My biggest wish right now is for everyone to work together. Like… like family.
“Recently, I learned something new. Calculation results can’t always bring people happiness. Even if the world outside the cage isn’t beautiful… people still want to know what it’s like.”
Her plea is met with a soft whirring noise.
“… Assessment system reset… successful.” Svarog reports. “Processing variables… Variable 1: Clara’s request… Variable 2: Outsiders’s intentions.
“Updated assessment result: Transference of decision-making authority to outsiders. Outsiders are granted access to Stellaron intelligence.”