The first glimpse of Jarilo-VI through the Express's observation windows was a study in contrasts that made Alex's chest tighten with something between wonder and dread. The planet hung in space like a marble carved from ice and shadow, its surface divided between regions of pristine white and others shrouded in unnatural darkness that seemed to swallow light rather than merely reflect it.
"Beautiful from a distance," Dan Heng observed, joining Alex at the viewport with a steaming mug of tea. "Less so up close."
"The Fragmentum corruption?" Alex asked, though they already knew the answer from the game's storyline. Knowing what was coming didn't make the reality any less sobering.
"Seven hundred years of unchecked spread," Dan Heng confirmed. "What you're seeing as dark patches are entire regions where the corruption has transformed the landscape into something hostile to normal life. The people of Belobog have been fighting a losing battle against it for generations."
Alex studied the planet's surface more carefully, noting how the corruption seemed to follow organic patterns—spreading like some vast infection across continents, leaving islands of normal matter that grew smaller with each passing year. In the game, Jarilo-VI's situation had been a compelling backdrop for adventure. Seeing it as a real world facing genuine extinction made their stomach twist with sympathetic horror.
"How many people live there?" Alex asked.
"Difficult to say precisely. The last census was conducted over a century ago, but estimates suggest somewhere between two and five million survivors, most concentrated in the city of Belobog itself." Dan Heng sipped his tea thoughtfully. "Though those numbers have likely declined significantly since then."
"And we're going down there to help?"
"We're going down there to investigate a Stellaron signature detected in the planet's core," Dan Heng corrected gently. "Helping the people is... a secondary consideration, though no less important for being secondary."
The distinction bothered Alex more than they cared to admit. In the game, the Express crew had arrived on Jarilo-VI specifically to help with the planet's crisis, driven by heroic motivations and clear moral imperatives. Learning that their primary mission was Stellaron investigation while humanitarian concerns took a back seat felt uncomfortably pragmatic.
"That sounds cold," Alex said.
"It sounds practical," Dan Heng replied. "A single Stellaron can threaten entire star systems if left unchecked. Containing or neutralizing it protects not just Jarilo-VI's survivors, but countless other worlds in this region of space." He paused, studying Alex's expression. "Though I suspect you'll find that our crew has difficulty maintaining such clinical detachment once we're actually on the ground."
As if summoned by their conversation, March bounded into the observation deck with her camera in hand and her usual enthusiasm barely contained by what Alex was learning to recognize as pre-mission nerves.
"First frozen wasteland planet!" she announced, raising her camera to capture the view. "I've never photographed ice formations created by cosmic corruption before. The artistic possibilities are endless!"
"The tactical challenges are also significant," Dan Heng said dryly. "Fragmentum creatures adapted to arctic conditions, limited visibility due to frequent storms, and terrain that can shift without warning as corruption spreads or retreats."
"You're being negative again," March accused, though her tone was affectionate rather than critical. "This is going to be an adventure! We'll help the locals, solve the Stellaron crisis, maybe make some new friends." She turned to Alex with sparkling eyes. "Have you ever seen snow before? Real snow, not just pictures?"
Alex thought back to winters in Illinois, to trudging across campus in weather that felt brutal but was probably mild compared to what awaited them on Jarilo-VI's surface. "A little. Nothing like what we're going to encounter down there."
"It's going to be amazing," March said with the confidence of someone who had never let harsh realities diminish her capacity for wonder. "Cold, dangerous, potentially life-threatening, but amazing."
Himeko's voice echoed through the Express's communication system, calling all crew members to the briefing room for mission planning. As they made their way through the train's corridors, Alex found themselves thinking about the weight of what they were approaching. Jarilo-VI wasn't just another stop on their journey—it was a world in crisis, home to millions of people whose lives hung in the balance of cosmic forces beyond their control.
The briefing room contained detailed holographic displays showing Belobog's layout, tactical assessments of Fragmentum corruption patterns, and what little intelligence the Express had gathered about the planet's current political situation. Himeko stood at the center of it all, projecting her usual calm competence while outlining the challenges they were likely to face.
"The planet's government appears to be structured around military necessity," she was explaining. "The Silvermane Guards serve as both defense force and administrative authority, under the leadership of someone called the Supreme Guardian. Communications have been sporadic, but they seem willing to cooperate with outside assistance."
"What about the underground settlements?" Alex asked, remembering Seele and the Wildfire organization from the game.
Himeko looked surprised. "How did you know about those?"
Alex felt heat rise in their cheeks as they realized they'd revealed knowledge they shouldn't possess. "I... it seems logical that people would establish shelters underground to escape surface corruption?"
"A reasonable assumption," Dan Heng said, though his expression suggested he'd noted the slip. "And you're correct—our preliminary scans detected significant subsurface activity. It appears that Belobog's population has been forced to expand downward as surface territory becomes uninhabitable."
"Creating potential political tensions between surface and underground factions," Himeko added. "Something we'll need to navigate carefully. Our mission is to deal with the Stellaron, not to take sides in local disputes."
Alex nodded along with the briefing while internally wrestling with the ethical complexities of their situation. They knew how events on Jarilo-VI would unfold—knew about Cocolia's desperation and Stellaron influence, about the tensions between the Overworld and Underworld, about the tragic choices that would define the planet's fate. But how much of that knowledge could they act on without revealing its source?
"Landing operations will commence in approximately four hours," Himeko continued. "Standard cold weather gear, full communication equipment, and emergency supplies for extended surface operations. Questions?"
"What about local customs?" March asked. "Cultural protocols, social expectations, that sort of thing?"
"Limited information available," Himeko admitted. "Seven centuries of isolation have likely produced significant cultural evolution. We'll need to observe and adapt as we go."
"Diplomatic first contact protocols," Dan Heng added. "Be respectful, be helpful, and try not to make assumptions about how their society functions."
As the briefing concluded and the crew dispersed to prepare for planetary operations, Alex remained in the briefing room, staring at the holographic display of Belobog. The city looked like a fortress carved from ice and determination, its walls and towers speaking to generations of desperate defense against forces that sought to unmake everything human civilization had built.
"Second thoughts?" Himeko asked, having noticed Alex's lingering presence.
"More like... overwhelming thoughts," Alex replied. "This is real, isn't it? We're about to land on a world where millions of people are fighting for survival against cosmic forces they don't understand."
"Yes," Himeko said simply. "Does that frighten you?"
"Terrifies me," Alex admitted. "But also... I want to help. These people have been struggling alone for centuries. If we can make a difference..."
"Then we will," Himeko said with quiet confidence. "That's what the Express does, Alex. We find places where hope is running thin, and we do our best to tip the scales back toward survival."
As Alex made their way to their quarters to prepare for landing, they found themselves thinking about the weight of responsibility that came with knowledge. They knew things about Jarilo-VI's situation that could potentially save lives or prevent tragedies. But they also knew that acting on that knowledge too directly could create new problems or reveal their unusual origins.
The balance between helping and interfering would be delicate, and the consequences of getting it wrong could affect not just their own future, but the lives of everyone on a planet slowly dying from cosmic corruption.
Through their porthole, Jarilo-VI continued its slow rotation, ice and shadow shifting across its surface like a planet-sized clock counting down toward some ultimate reckoning. Soon, they would walk on that frozen surface and meet the people who called it home.
Alex hoped they would prove worthy of the trust those people were about to place in them.