Chapter 2: ☆ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴏ ☆

★彡[ᴛʜᴇ ᴋʀᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴍᴀʀᴇ]彡★

☾☉☉☉☽

The Kraken Mare makes Saturn feel like a god.

It’s a mecha that towers over everyone like a deity. It’s perfect; hundreds of ship-prototypes led up to this finalized version that is impossibly tall and impossibly fast and impossibly strong. With this kind of power, if Saturn so willed it, he could split the Earth in two. That’s the horror of the Kraken Mare—but Saturn isn’t scared. He wanted this ship so bad and now that he has it, he won’t let it intimidate him. No matter how terrifyingly divine the Kraken Mare is, it’s his now, and he would never give it up.

“I can’t believe it was that easy!”

Saturn is laughing to himself. What a joke! Cosmos Administration used to brag about how smart they were with their progress and technology, yet they left a ship as deadly as the Kraken Mare unguarded? Idiots! He didn’t even try to be sneaky, and he still got away with hijacking their greatest creation!

He really can’t believe it.

Saturn shuts his eyes and smiles. “I missed this.” He missed flying—he’d been raised to be Cosmos Administration’s Ace Pilot, and he adored it more than anything. Space was his home. There was nothing for him anywhere else. A child of space was best suited to live among the stars; he could never leave for long.

Pandora and Titan will never understand that.

He’s pissed that they thought they could bench him indefinitely. He’s pissed that they agreed to the disbandment of Cosmos Administration. How dare they try to force him back to Earth, saying ‘you’re not allowed in space’? Screw that! He’s not going down without a fight!

And what a great fight it’ll be!

He can’t wait for the fleets to show up! He wanted the challenge; even for him, the effortlessly perfect prodigy, the Kraken Mare was a bit hard to control. He didn’t expect it to be so swift—he’d launched, and moments later, he was passing the moon—and he’d have to scale back its power so as not to kill anyone. But he’s getting used to it. These kinds of things come naturally to him; flying something that no one else should, something that no one else can. 

He was an Ace Pilot for a reason.

He hopes Pandora regrets giving him that role—and based off the flood of messages he sees flashing on a screen to his left, she does. Good. Let her be angry. He hopes she hates him just as much as he hates her.

A loud, obnoxious ringing echoes throughout the ship. He scowls and picks up the call.

“Saturn, I’m going to kill you.” Pandora’s voice booms over the intercom. She’s frightening, in the way a furious mother is—scary and suffocating—but Saturn has nothing to fear.

“I’d love to see you try,” Saturn retorts.

“Saturn,” Pandora repeats, her words dripping with intense disapproval and annoyance. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you steal a ship? What are you thinking?”

Saturn chuckles—he’s reminded of all the other times he’d gotten in trouble with Pandora. All the other times she’d scolded and berated him for breaking the rules and messing up on purpose. “I’m not staying on Earth.” He can’t. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. I know you’ll miss me.”

Pandora sighs. “I must have let you off the hook too many times—now you think it’s okay to do anything.” Saturn bites his tongue. “All I wanted was to help you excel, you know. And look at you now… What a waste.”

Saturn rolls his eyes. “Is that all you had to say?”

“Come back to Earth peacefully. Make this easier on both of us.” It isn’t a request or a plead. It’s a demand. A threat.

“Are you trying to tell me what to do? You should know better.” Defiance seeps into his voice, flows in his veins. It’s the same attitude he took when he last ignored her orders, and the time before that, and the time before that.

“I should’ve kicked you out of Cosmos Administration ages ago.”

“Probably.”

She starts to say something else, but Saturn isn’t willing to listen. He hangs up.

Saturn leans back in his chair, exhaling, running his fingers through his hair. He’s glad she isn’t happy, but also, she’s exhausting to deal with. He remembers when he was younger and how she’d observe and critique every action he made. She rushed him down a path he didn’t get to choose, and she never gave him a second to breathe—she’s tiring.

He groans when another ring blares in his ears, and then he’s blinking in surprise—he thought it’d be Pandora again, but it wasn’t her. He doesn’t answer right away, letting it ring as he racks his brain trying to think who it could be, before accepting the call.

“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t answer,” Cupid says.

Saturn tilts his head. “Why are you calling me? Did you change your mind?”

“No, of course not. I meant what I told you before: you can have the Kraken Mare,” Cupid replies, resting his chin on the palm of his hand—not that Saturn could see. “I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into that ship. If Sao won’t take it, then I suppose you can. I just want it to be used before its scrapped.” 

“It won’t be scrapped,” Saturn says. “It’s mine now. Nothing will touch me—touch it.”

“Is that so?” Cupid asks. “Well… Pandora and Titan won’t be happy about that, and… I figured I could help you.”

“Help how?”

“I’ve locked myself in a Communications room and there’s some useful information on the panels in front of me, like how close ships are to your location… So hypothetically… I can make sure no one sneaks up on you when they try to force you back.”

“You’d really do that for me? You’re so sweet!” Saturn coos. He means it.

“Don’t rely on me too heavily,” Cupid warns. “I can’t be your spy forever. Someone will find me here eventually.”

“That’s fine. I can handle whatever Pandora throws at me.”

“Are you implying that you don’t need me? I’m hurt!”

Saturn doesn’t need anyone’s help—not when he’s in total control of the most powerful thing in the universe. Everyone and everything is infinitesimal in comparison to the larger-than-life creation, the Kraken Mare, and its larger-than-life pilot, Saturn. He doesn’t need Cupid to be his spy—but if Cupid is offering, why not? Saturn might as well enjoy the company!

Also? Cupid is too sickeningly saccharine to turn away!

(It’s kind of frustrating! How can someone be so good?)

“Don’t be hurt! I really appreciate you, I promise,” Saturn tells him.

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"How flattering,” Cupid replies.

Saturn is a lot of things, but he isn’t a liar. He really does appreciate Cupid—for this, and for so much more. For playing the role of an angel, for keeping secrets, for making the Kraken Mare in the first place, for giving Saturn permission to steal it. Cupid deserved a heartfelt ‘thank you’.

And Saturn did not want to be the one to say it.

“Saturn,” Cupid speaks up, oblivious (or maybe not oblivious, because he’s a lot smarter than he looks and Saturn doesn’t want to discredit him). “They’re on their way.”

✦✧✩✧✦

The mechas of Cosmos Administration, the ships of the future, were built with three intentions.

One: for travel. To traverse space as quickly as we can. We wanted to reach the speed of light.

Two: for carrying cargo. They can carry all the materials needed to colonize the Milky Way.

Three: for battle. There’s no war in space, and there aren’t any extraterrestrial threats, but we’re not taking any chances. It’s best to be prepared.

And Saturn is very prepared.

He views the fleet creeping closer and closer. Cupid told him which ships were coming: the Corona Australis, the Piscis Austrinus, the Canes Venatici, and more. They’re superweapons that look vaguely humanoid; most would be afraid. They won’t hold back. They’ll destroy the Kraken Mare if that’s what it takes to get him to surrender.

Or rather, they’ll try.

They won’t succeed if they can’t touch him!

The Canes Venatici unsheathes its mechanical claws, raising its arm and swiping down. Saturn waits until the Canes Venatici is just about to shred into the Kraken Mare’s side before he darts back, evading the attack. Aw, they missed! That’s too bad! Better try again! Once more, the Kraken Mare stills with the exception of its elongated, horse-like face, which whips back and forth, keeping a careful eye on the other ships, waiting for them to swing.

“Taunting them is mean,” Cupid comments.

“Maybe, but it’s fun!” Saturn beams.

They aren’t anywhere near the same level as Saturn—they haven’t landed a single hit! He was the winner before they even showed up! The game is rigged in Saturn’s favor and it’s SO amusing that way!

The Kraken Mare is a blur of color—a deep, rich blue accented by a shining gold—and its untouchable. They’re doomed to fail. Saturn will give credit where credit is due: it’s impressive that they’re still trying. But he thinks this has gone on long enough. It’s time for him to wrap things up!

Saturn switches gears. Let’s stop playing tag. Let’s playfight instead!

The Kraken Mare is too fast to see coming and too fast to counter. Saturn slips in and rips off one of the Piscis Austrinus’ hands; it’s as easy as tearing paper! Next, the Corona Australis’ legs, and last, the Canes Venatici’s tail. Saturn didn’t imagine the Kraken Mare to be this lethal. He really does feel like a god!

Then, everything is frozen.

If the fleet wanted to, they could keep going. A few missing limbs wouldn’t put them out of commission. But they don’t want to take the risk: it’s clear that Saturn could shatter their ships like glass and leave them stranded in the void of space to die—Saturn wouldn’t do that but what if?

That question alone is enough.

The fleet’s done.

Saturn watches them leave. The bright metal of their ships stands out against a backdrop of infinite darkness but eventually, they fade into the distance, fade into irrelevance. The fight wasn’t even a struggle; the Kraken Mare remained in perfect shape. Whoever is sent after Saturn next should be more entertaining!  

“They’re retreating, so you must’ve won, huh?” Cupid deduces. “Good boy!”

Saturn crinkles his nose in disgust. “Did you think I’d lose?”

“No. I have full confidence in you.” Cupid’s faith is genuine and pure. Mostly. “You’re the best of the best. If you ever lost, it’d be intentional.”

“Aw! You must really love me!”

“I don’t! I have a rule against falling in love with boys who won’t love me back.”

Cupid isn’t dumb; Saturn has a reputation for flirting and breaking hearts. Loneliness is painful and cheap connections that last for only a moment are the simple solution: seeking out meaningless make-outs or one-night stands. Saturn won’t love; a legitimate romance isn’t realistic.

The two of them together was never a possibility.

They would never be that close.

“Cupid,” Saturn says. “I don’t love you either. Do you know what I’m doing?”

“Of course,” Cupid responds. Cupid isn’t dumb; Saturn has a reputation for being reckless and noncompliant. The answer is obvious: “You want to stay in space.” Cupid doesn’t blame him for that silly dream. “But you don’t have a plan, do you?”

Saturn grins. “Nope! Wanna join me?”

“You’re incredibly convincing,” Cupid says, sarcastic, “but I’ll have to pass.” He hums in thought. “Even if you did have a plan… I don’t think I’d want to go. I can see why you’re doing it, but I want to give Earth a chance to redeem itself.”

“You’ll be disappointed.”

“There’s a possibility I will and there’s a possibility I won’t. That’s fine.”

“Your optimism is adorable.”

“Does that mean you’ll miss me?”

Saturn doesn’t want to think about it. “You wish.”

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