After long cosmic years, filled with the silence that had dominated the galaxy since that incident, Mars's voice suddenly broke through strange communication devices, carrying a weight no one was accustomed to. His voice trembled slightly, but it was clear:
"Everyone... are you here?"
Scattered voices responded, some eager, others confused, as if trying to comprehend what was happening. They were all covering their ears, as if trying to protect them from something, something they hadn't dared to face yet.
"Here."
"What is it?"
"Speak quickly."
Mars sighed deeply, as if gathering his courage before saying seriously:
"I'm waiting for all of you in Seromi."
A heavy silence lingered, but Uranus cut through it with a sharp voice, so sharp it seemed he was trying to hide his fear behind his anger:
"Why? What happened, Mars?"
Mars lowered his voice slightly, but it was laden with deep anxiety, as if every word cost him immense effort. Then he uttered a sentence that turned everything upside down:
"Don't be late... I found something... belonging to Pluto."
The atmosphere tensed, and everyone held their breath. Pluto's name alone was enough to ignite painful memories, memories filled with pain and sorrow.
Mercury's voice trembled as he whispered:
"P... Pluto?!"
Mars answered without giving them a chance to dwell in their shock, as if afraid to say more than necessary:
"No time to explain, all of you will be here now."
It wasn't long before the leaders arrived in the Martian city through their space gates, finding Mars waiting for them, his face bearing features they had never seen before. He clenched his fists tightly, as if trying to suppress something too heavy to be easily spoken.
Uranus stepped forward steadily, looking at Mars expectantly:
"What's the matter? You said you found something belonging to... Pluto."
Mars nodded, but didn't speak immediately. His jaw tightened, and a complex expression of anger and hesitation appeared on his face, looking as if he was fighting himself before finally speaking:
"I wasn't the one who found it... Phobos did."
Jupiter's eyes widened; the right one was light red, while the other was radiant gold. He asked in an apprehensive tone:
"And where is Phobos now?"
Mars averted his eyes, trying to choose his words carefully, then said slowly, as if fearing their impact on those present:
"He's undergoing 'Kastipas 210'."
Saturn held his breath, then whispered in disbelief, as if his body refused to believe what he heard:
"W... What? Why?"
Jupiter furrowed his brows with clear concern, took two steps forward, his voice lowered but carried greater danger:
"The Kastipas?! How I hate that place... Tell us the details."
Mars looked at all their faces, then said in a serious but warning tone:
"Alright, but I ask you not to tell Deimos what happened... You know how much he loves Phobos, and if he finds out..."
Everyone nodded in understanding; no further explanation was needed. Mars continued:
"When Phobos told me he was going to check the detected aura, I didn't stop him... I was confident in his strength. But, as usual, I was tracking him through his Politias. When he was late, I felt a concern I'd never felt before, especially towards him. I sensed his energy, but it was weak... barely twenty-five percent of its usual level. I didn't hesitate and set off immediately. And when I found him..."
He paused for a moment, a deep annoyance etched on his face; the memory alone pained him. Then he continued, his voice now tinged with annoyance and rejection:
"He was standing on his feet, barely panting... He told me in a broken voice: 'It's not enough that he's weak, he's also a coward... I didn't fall, therefore... I didn't lose.' Then he smiled at me... a strange smile I didn't understand."
Mars's voice alone filled the hall, until someone dared to ask, in an apprehensive tone:
"Who... who is this coward? Why?"
Mars, despite the clear signs of rejection on his face, slowly raised his hand... something dangled from it, pale in color, more familiar than it should be, revealing a bracelet of a faint, familiar color to everyone, dangling from his trembling palm.
Uranus whispered as he stared at the necklace Mars held:
"This... Does this belong to Pluto?"
Everyone looked at it, in mute shock, while Jupiter muttered hesitantly:
"W... What is this?!"
Mars narrowed his eyes and mumbled in a low voice:
"If Pluto was the one who did this, I would know as soon as his feet touched my planet, as everyone knows, but I didn't sense any Politias belonging to him.."
But Earth, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, suddenly turned pale, his eyes widened, and he said:
"What is this? W... It's blue, its thread looks a bit strange?"
Uranus nodded, took a step back, and said in a tense voice:
"It... It matches my necklace linked with Pluto."
Everyone stared at him in amazement.
Shocked glances passed between everyone, as if they had reached a discovery they weren't prepared for; Venus took out earrings, Jupiter held a ring, while Uranus and Neptune completed the accessories with a belt and a bracelet... all bearing the same gray color.
But Earth, Mars, and Neptune were the only ones who hadn't received any gifts from Pluto.
Suddenly, without warning, Earth shouted:
"Take off these bracelets... now!"
Everyone tensed. Mars furrowed his brow and asked sharply:
"What? What's wrong with you, Earth?!"
The latter was trembling, but he continued, in a voice closer to delirium:
"I have a bad feeling about them, but... I don't know why!"
Mars laughed sarcastically, then said:
"Hah, could it be you're jealous because he didn't give you a gift?"
Earth stammered:
"M... Maybe... Wait, he didn't give you one either!"
Mars smiled a cold smile, as if expecting this, and said with deep calm:
"That's because I didn't burden him with my worries... and my planet's worries."
A strange silence fell, until Venus spoke cautiously:
"What are you talking about?"
Mars raised his eyes to them, then whispered words that made everyone reconsider:
"Pluto told me what's happening with you all. Every time he came to talk to you, you caused problems and worries. Since when do we involve these naive obstacles in our relationship?"
He continued speaking, already lost in the sea of memories... The atmosphere held a strange mix of stillness and tension, as if the air itself watched every word spoken... The sky above them stretched in its deep purple hue, studded with thousands of stars pulsing with a faint glow, as if eavesdropping on the conversation.
Pluto looked at the master of this place expectantly, then asked in a quiet voice, yet charged with something hidden:
"Are things going well on your planet?"
He paused; the question seemed unexpected, but Mars answered confidently:
"Yes... But, why the sudden question?"
The other smiled a faint smile, as if holding something back, then said:
"I'm happy to hear that... The others are suffering, complaining, floundering in endless problems. But you... and Earth, you haven't done like them."
Mars didn't understand his friend's words... but he didn't ask, because he realized Pluto would clarify everything in his next speech. And indeed, Pluto continued his words after a strange sigh:
"I know Earth's situation and his problems with the Earthlings, and I know your situation, and your problems with... the Earthlings... hahaha!"
He laughed a short laugh, but not without mystery, then his features grew serious as he continued:
"But, really, I want to help them all... I just don't know how?"
A short silence fell, before the other suddenly asked him, an unusual question from the fourth planet's leader:
"Do you know what 'Cicero' said about this?"
Pluto gave him a puzzled look, furrowing his brows as he repeated:
"Cicero? Who's that?"
Mars replied with a sarcastic smirk:
"One of our brother's planet inhabitants."
Pluto let out a sarcastic laugh before commenting:
"Damn man, how strange their names are!"
He shook his head slowly, as if there were a thousand stories between him and these names, then said:
"Yes, that in itself is a cosmic agreement. But Earth himself relayed his words, and how happy he was when he recounted something simple about his planet's inhabitants..."
He paused slightly, as if remembering something, then whispered in a faint but deeply impactful voice:
"He used to say: [The cornerstone in building friendship is...]"
Pluto interrupted him with unexpected impulsiveness, as if the words escaped him before he realized them:
"A gift."
Mars, despite his apparent composure, stared at Pluto with eyes shining with curiosity mixed with hidden anxiety. His tone, though seemingly calm, carried a hint of caution as he posed his question:
"Loyal-... What?"
But Pluto wasn't listening; his eyes shone with that sparkle they were used to seeing when a great idea struck him. His voice filled with excitement as he repeated:
"I'll give them gifts! A gift brings happiness in the end, doesn't it?..."
Mars didn't give him a chance to continue, asking quickly:
"But... what is the gift?"
Pluto lowered his head for a moment, then raised it with a mysterious smile, "Hmm, it's a special gift... Don't worry, I'll bring you one too!"
Mars became flustered and raised his hand to object, "No, I don't..."
But his voice disappeared into the void, as Pluto was already leaving, his steps quickening, filled with unstoppable enthusiasm. The way he dashed out of the room was like a star leaping into the unknown without thinking. Mars stared at the spot where he disappeared, then sighed in annoyance, muttering, "Haaah, he's always in a hurry..."
As soon as Mars finished speaking, a heavy silence enveloped the entire place, but before anyone could open their mouth, a knock echoed on the door.
Everyone froze in place, and the leader of Ceromi clutched his head as if he knew who was outside the room, until a calm voice came, yet laden with something uncomfortable, "Master... It's me, Deimos."
An awkward silence wrapped the scene, as if words were choked before being spoken. Everyone's gaze froze, but Mars spoke cautiously, "H... Hello Deimos."
The voice hesitated behind the door, then rose in a steady tone, "May I come in?"
Mars looked at everyone, then swallowed and said, "S... Sorry, I'm in an urgent meeting with the leaders."
On the other side of the door, Deimos fell silent, before saying in a sharper tone, "Oh... The esteemed leaders are here? Sorry for intruding." Mars's breath quickened as his moon said, "So, may I ask a question?"
Mars replied hesitantly, praying his other moon wouldn't be mentioned, "S... Sure."
"Phobos... Have you seen him?"
So how will Mars handle this situation?
— End of Chapter —