Operation Start!

Saturn, Plutonia, and Mihiro sat in Saturn's room, engrossed in a fierce gaming session on the Plansanturian home console 'Playnet.' Three days had passed since Lumi's departure, with only a few messages to assure everyone that she was doing well. Questions about Lumi's whereabouts lingered, but the trio remained confident in her strength and reliability as a friend.

The intensity of the gaming tournament escalated, with the clicking of controllers resembling the sounds of sticks colliding with brute force. Each breath grew heavier and more focused as the competition unfolded.

"Yes! C'mon!" yelled Saturn.

"Please slow down; I can't keep up, Saturn!" pleaded Plutonia.

"If we don't move fast, they'll take the flag and win," replied Mihiro.

"I got the flag!" shouted Saturn, leaping out of her seat and leaning closely over the TV screen.

KNOCK KNOCK.

"Huh?" Plutonia turned around, distracted by the knocking on the door.

"HEY, PLUTONIA! I DROPPED THE FLAG!" Saturn screamed at the TV after a perfect headshot landed on her. Mihiro quickly collected the flag, but both met their fate in the game. The results rested in Plutonia's hands, who struggled to grasp what was happening before losing the round.

"Nooo, we were so close," Mihiro and Saturn said simultaneously, giving Plutonia disappointed side-eyes. She simply looked down and got up to open the door.

She reached out and opened the door with disappointment.

"Lady Plutonia, you look upset today." To her surprise, Nori had returned home, holding a box of chocolates. Plutonia wasted no time in opening it wide for her, welcoming her in for everyone to greet. Saturn immediately pounced on her like a wild cat, wrapping her arms around Nori's neck tightly. All that could be heard from Nori was a single exhale and a small sound of gargling.

"Saturn, I think you're choking her," Plutonia pointed out as Saturn let go and started smacking Nori's back like an overenthusiastic friend.

"She'll be fine, hihi. Anyway, where did you go, Nori?"

"I thought I told you? I was away in Polnapon to see my family."

"Wait, you're from Polnapon!? No wonder you're so pretty, hihi." Saturn responded with a wide smile. The nation of Polnapon was once an independent state, but after Venusia's passing, the faith in their processor dwindled, and the people began praying to the beings of Plansanturia. To remain stable, the processor handed over his key, and so the nation became a sub-state of Plansanturia.

Nori handed her box of chocolates to Saturn and bowed respectfully as she accepted them with a huge smile.

"Heh, I told you not to be so formal, girl!" commanded Saturn. Nori clumsily raised her head back up and lightly blushed, remembering that formalities with Saturn were almost nonexistent.

Suddenly, screeching sounds came out from speakers all throughout the building. An announcement was incoming from the Motherboard herself. Only her microphone was so bad it put other 'bad microphones' to shame.

"Important announcement specifically for the Processor herself. I demand the immediate presence of Saturn of Plansanturia within the conference room. I say instant appearance." The announcement ended with one final screech that busted everyone's eardrums in an instant.

"I guess Lady Histoikie hasn't fixed that yet?" pointed Nori.

"What!?" Saturn replied, shoving her face up close like an elderly person trying to hear what was said.

"I guess you should go, Saturn," Plutonia suggested while attempting to unclog her ears through different breathing methods. Saturn stumbled out through the door and headed to the elevator to reach the highest point in the Dae Turris—an area not even marked as a floor but simply a red button on the other side of the elevator up on the wall.

The highest point of the Dae Turris was completely made out of glass and dimly lit orange and purple lights. It was a long hall that led simply from point A to point B with no other branches. From elevator to conference room. Saturn slowly took one step at a time as she approached the doors. Her palms slightly sweaty she constantly dried them off on the back of her skirt. She reached out ahead of her and the moment she pushed the door open an immediate breeze of cold air rushed out. Feeling that came like she had just opened the doors to a freezer.

"Yahallo folks!" She announced her presence and hopped into the room. Her joyful entrance was met by immediate waves of seriousness. In the room sat Histoikie on one end of the head of the table and on the other a young man. His hair as white as snow and eyes as cold as ice.

"M'lady please sit beside me for this meeting." Histoikie's tone cut through the air, leaving no room for lightheartedness. The room exuded a tension unfamiliar to Saturn. As she took her seat, she felt like a child lost in the solemnity of adults.

"Lady Saturn." The man spoke. His voice as cold as his appearance. "My name is Starlesimia, Motherboard of the nation of Lklandkeeling." He continued.

"Oh so Lumi's place. Hows she-" Saturn's sentence was abruptly halted by a gentle gut punch from Histoikie, more akin to a cat's paw than a forceful blow.

"Our dear Lady Lumi Ilandice the Processor of my dear nation has been gone without a word for over forty-eight hours. As out protocols say if a processor of our nation is gone without notice for over forty-eight hours we are to wait for another twenty-four before declaring their death and assigning a new capable leader."

"Last time I saw Lumi she said she was off to deal with something in her nation and she'd be back. Maybe she is just taking her time?" Saturn replied. Trying to find a reasonable reason to avoid just protocols from taking place in worry of her dear friend.

"Our nations are very close Lady Saturn but it just seems that our leader just disappeared and we cannot afford to wait and simply hope for her to come back. Without her the people become stressed and who will protect us if someone attacks? I doubt the little one will fight off anyone by drawing a picture." Starlesimia leaned back in his chair and looked right at Saturn with a light grin on his face. His hand laid relaxed on the table in front and lightly tapped using his index finger. His eyes completely unreadable and emotionless. "The reason I am here telling you this is simply out of respect for such long terms allies to our nation."

"What will happen once you replace Lumi?"

"What happens with every processor that becomes ex. They loose all privileges and simply become a human and live out the rest of their years like a regular mortal. And without a real replacement the motherboard becomes the replacement." The room descended into silence, the stark contrast between Starlesimia's nonchalant demeanor and the palpable worry emanating from Histoikie and Saturn hanging heavily in the air.

"Well, I guess that's all I wanted to say." Starlessimia swiftly rose, adjusting his suit cuffs. "Also, before I leave. Thanks for taking care of Mihiro. Works better for us that way." His smile seemed insincere, a veneer to maintain a presentable facade. He exited the room, letting the door close behind him with a nonchalant stroll, vanishing the moment it slammed shut.

Histoikie and Saturn both released a sigh of relief, turning to face each other.

"You have to find Lumi," Histoikie demanded.

"But how?" Saturn inquired, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"I don't know how, but you've got to find her. Starlessimia hasn't changed a bit since the Birth Generation. He still clearly wants to dispose of the Processor and take power himself."

"But why would he?"

"Power, Saturn. Power. He's still sulking over how he picked one of the worst planets to start a nation. He wants war to steal and being in deep connection with us stops that. He wants to stop reliance on other nations for many things. Normally, once a processor is gone, a candidate goes through a week-long process of adapting and assuming power. But he will do whatever he can to stop the process and discredit poor little Mihiro. I hate to agree with him and even quote him, but Mihiro isn't going to fight or win anything by drawing," Histoikie explained, outlining the possible outcomes of Starlessimia coming to power and the instability it would bring.

Saturn's mind raced through possible plans, searching for the best course of action. The only idea that came to mind was returning to the Garden of Spirits. Lazuli's eagerness to explore the outside world would aid in speedy searches, and she was the only one trustworthy outside of Plansanturia at this moment.

Rising from her seat, hands on her hips and adopting a wide stance, Saturn declared with pride, "Histoikie, I will find dear little Wumi and beat that Starless man to a plum."

"Please don't start a war, Saturn," Histoikie pleaded with a mixture of feelings towards the declaration. Undeterred, Saturn embarked on her journey, rushing off to the elevator. Back in her room, she burst in and shouted with determination at everyone inside, "Miho, sis, and Nori. We begin operation Save the Wum!" Silence immediately fell onto the room as they stared in fear.

"Save?" Plutonia asked. In response, Saturn nodded and sat down with everyone in a circle, carefully explaining the entire situation. They listened to Saturn with an unprecedented level of attention. Once the final statement arrived detailing the plan, they all jumped up and rushed off to the 'Jellyfish' without a second thought or fear.

Saturn waited for everyone to board the ship before quickly hopping off and approaching a golden bell near the ship's ramp. The bell was connected to multiple bells all across the Defense Force's barracks and hangars. Ringing the bell signaled an alert of the highest level, and Saturn gripped the string, tugging it back and forth, ringing it uncontrollably. Soon after, an emergency siren followed, blasting all throughout the Dae Turris.

Putting on her Captain's hat, she waited patiently for the whole crew to board her ship and prepare for immediate takeoff. In seconds, swarms of men rushed all around. Ships from all around the planet and nation began launching off, filling up the skies like a swarm of bees.

"Captain S, the ship's ready for takeoff," one of the pilots announced to her, and she swiftly hopped up the ramp, assuming her position behind her trusty and non-functioning wooden wheel. She asked for a radio that connected to all the ships and armies.

"Men and women of Plansanturia. From now until I return, this entire nation is to be guarded from one edge of its space to the other. If I fail to come back in twenty-four hours, we may have a problem on our hands. So be ready, mateys. Arrr Captain S out!" She launched the radio across the room to the man she received it from and yanked the launching stick forward. The engines of the 'Jellyfish' roared like a proud lion, echoing its power throughout the planet.