─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

SEASON 3 EPISODE 11

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

System: Cheyenne

Faction: Freestar Collective

Planet: Codos (one of the three moons of Akila)

Place: Scanner anomaly

A/N: I hope you enjoy! I have the next chapter written & edited, so it'll be out within a week... and it's my favorite chapter I've written for SF so far ;)

My semester ended, so I'm hoping to be able to complete s3 over my winter break. There's still a ways to go as this will be the longest season published thus far (for probably obvious reasons), but I hope to at least complete writing it over my break so I can have more consistent updates for you guys.

And thank you for how many comments I get. This book has over 17k comments. I can't even fathom that. Thank you so much for your support and comments. They keep me motivated to write the book!

☆☆☆

Jungkook

Jungkook wondered what it would be like to have powers.

In the dim light of Codos, he swished his real, fleshy hand around and imagined blue sparkles oozing off of him. The blue would contrast the darkness of the Codos night, but it matched the little beetles roaming around with their asses glowing cyan and their antennae shimmering with dust the same color.

Codos was one of Akila's moons. Akila had three, to be exact, and Codos had a breathable atmosphere and acted more like a planet with its own flora and fauna. Nothing dangerous. The worst foe they'd face would be the scoppers, which were dragon-like beasts on a tiny scale. They were no longer than a human leg and had slim eyes, scales, and claws that could tear through bones. But they didn't care about humans much. They preferred eating the beetles.

"How we looking?" Barrett asked from beside Jungkook, the bioluminescent grass sparkling a bright lime green as Barrett swayed back and forth on the heels of his combat boots.

The trees with weeping canopies lined the horizon, blocking out the starry sky. The trees were also bioluminescent, with their leaves shining brighter than any sun could. The bark was chestnut brown with little hums of brightness from the beetles crawling up them. Perfect place to put secrets, right?

"Well, we're not dead yet. Atmosphere looks peachy, and the anomaly is up ahead."

Barrett nodded as VASCO stomped over to join them. Behind VASCO waited Sam and Sarah. Sam chose to guard the ship with his classic rifle out and ready for firing. Sarah would spearhead most of the mission with her scientific knowledge and keen geography skills. But there was one person there Jungkook wanted to see above all else—even above Sarah, who had been like his idol for years.

Kim Taehyung.

Ever since joining the crew, Taehyung fell into the background and became more of a leech inspector than a crew member. Part of that was Jimin's fault. Okay, all of that was Jimin's fault. Jimin had recruited the man with no real plan for him in mind. That was why Jungkook tried to get Taehyung out more. And that led to their predicament with Taehyung's wide eyes taking in the sights before him.

"Holy shit," Taehyung mumbled, his hands making grabby motions as he went over to feel the trees. "This is a tree?"

Jungkook's lips twitched downwards. "Yeah. Welcome to the real galaxy. Most places have vegetation like this."

"Neon's the odd man out?"

"Yep," Jungkook said, popping the p for no reason other than he wanted to.

Jungkook took charge with Sarah, glancing around the landscape and noting that there weren't many spaces available for caves, so wherever the artifact was had to be tricky. Unless it wasn't underground. And, yes, Constellation were going after an artifact.

Without Jimin.

Jungkook was aware that once Jimin found out, it'd be a game of which Constellation member wants to get a burn mark on their shoulder today? Most days, Jungkook took it. That was why he changed his regular outfit from a standard flightsuit to UC gear. He had a metal shoulder pad where Jimin would burn, that way he took no damage. As for the rest, he opted for a no-skin policy. He enjoyed the gym and working out shirtless, but everywhere else? No skin showing. That meant gloves, long sleeves, long pants and socks, and black combat boots with no laces. His shirt was more like a turtleneck thanks to the sleeve around his neck, though it was thicker so it could protect against environmental dangers. With there being so many planets in the galaxy, he needed to be prepared for anything.

That mission, though, was special. He had no idea how artifact hunting would go without Jimin. They had told Jimin they needed a stretching break and asked him to take over their duties, to which he didn't mind. So he was on the ship, searching for leeches. A common occurrence. A daily one, really. Couldn't be too careful. Even though it'd take a long time for leeches to become Terrormorphs, that didn't change that they had to be safe.

Tuala had wanted to accompany them, but ever since the disappearance of Y/n, the man shut himself away and did research on Terrormorphs and Londinion 24/7. According to Yoongi, Tuala hadn't slept since it had happened. Jungkook found himself in the same boat. His constant phantom pain, Jimin's behavior, and Y/n's possible death all kept him up. If he had to choose to get rid of one of those factors, he wasn't sure which one he'd choose. Likely Y/n. Maybe Jimin would return to normal after that.

Or maybe he'd get worse.

All signs pointed to Y/n hating Jimin for using a mech. To be fair, Jungkook was on the verge of hatred, too, though he knew he could never hate Jimin. Not when Jimin was Jungkook's-

"This way," Sarah said, interrupting Jungkook's thoughts. He hadn't realized he fell so deep into them until Taehyung placed a hand on Kook's real shoulder to steer him away from a tree. "I believe we may have to dig."

"By we, they mean me," VASCO said in his signature robotic voice, holding up one of his lanky index fingers before falling into step beside Sarah, only his footsteps were far louder, even on the grass that didn't make much noise.

Right when they were about to commence their journey, Jimin came bumbling out of the ship with his mullet hair sticking to his neck, sweat covering his forehead, and dirt on his cheeks. The scar on his nose was visible even from Jungkook's far position, and he fixated on it as the captain stumbled his way over.

Jimin's navy blue jacket was off and tied around his waist, leaving him in his black undershirt with long sleeves. It was skin tight and compressed against his toned chest he had gained from his Vanguard training. Yes, Jimin still kept up with it. Not under Jungkook's supervision. If Jungkook attempted to get within breathing distance, it ended with a smack to the face.

"Hey, wait," Jimin said in a heave, stopping in front of the group and putting his hands on his knees. "I can feel something out here."

"Captain." VASCO held up his same index finger as if making a point. "It is outside. Of course you can feel more out here as opposed to the indoors."

"No, you idiot." Jimin rolled his eyes and straightened his posture, blowing a strand of his mop-like hair out of his eyes. "I mean artifact-related. I think there's one here."

"There are no mines around here," Sarah said, stepping forward so Jungkook wouldn't have to come up with an excuse on spot. That was something he was terrible at. He could talk fast, sure, but that didn't mean he had anything useful to say. "If there is one, it's probably up by the mountains, not the forest. Why don't you let us stretch our legs, and then we'll go look?"

Jimin glanced between the group before huffing. "Um, Sarah, are you not the Constellation chairwoman? Shouldn't you be busting a nut and moaning at the thought of an artifact?"

Well, at least some of Jimin's personality was still there.

"Oh my God." Sarah rubbed her temple and shook her head. "I haven't had my coffee today, so please let me relax for a minute before we spiral into the next adventure. We'll search for it soon. Please, check for leeches. We can't risk any onboard."

"Ugh, booo. Buzzkill. Whatever, I'll check, but we have to go find the artifact after that. Right after that. 'Kay?"

Jimin didn't wait for them to answer. He skipped back to the ship with his scarf flowing behind him. Yes, he had taken off his jacket but kept his scarf on. Jungkook didn't want to think about that logic.

"We don't have much time," Sarah said once Jimin was out of earshot. "Let's get moving. VASCO, keep your scanner online and let us know where we're going. Taehyung, watch our rear with Jungkook. Everyone else, don't screw up."

Barrett saluted—perhaps a bit too dramatically—before moving out, and the rest of the crew followed suit. Jungkook sunk to the back with Kim Taehyung, Jimin's 'best' friend from Neon. One Jungkook hadn't spoken to much.

Taehyung had more tattoos than Jungkook could count, though they weren't visible thanks to the man wearing a black flightsuit that covered most of his skin except his neck and face. A swan tattoo rested under the man's eye, and Jungkook stared at it for longer than he should.

"I didn't actually do it myself. My dad did, when I was younger," Taehyung said, and Jungkook stiffened and apologized for staring. Taehyung didn't care. "I'm from Neon. We have to be observant, especially about who's looking at us, so no worries. I'm used to it." Taehyung shrugged as they strolled through the thick trees and lumpy terrain. It wasn't as smooth as it initially looked, and Jungkook's combat boots felt heavier with each step he took. "But I did the rest of my tattoos."

"They're beautiful, but why did your dad only do one?"

"Again: I'm from Neon. Dad didn't last long enough to do the rest. Neither did mom."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Taehyung said with a tongue click, shooting Jungkook a boxy smile. "It's normal for Neon rats."

Why Taehyung was smiling about that left Jungkook confused, but he decided against pressing the matter and instead continued his trek through the woods. It didn't take long for VASCO to find where the anomaly was coming from, and Sarah went by the robot's side to investigate.

"These artifacts gave Jimin his powers?" Taehyung whispered while Sarah knelt and dug her fingers into the ground.

"Yes and no. We think they're connected, but the artifacts don't give him powers. Temples do."

"Temples?"

"Jimin calls them shiny alien dildos."

"Oh." Taehyung didn't add anything for a moment. "So when can I see one?"

"Why do you want to see one, Taehyung?"

Taehyung shrugged. "Inspiration for my next piece, that's all. What? Don't give me that look."

Jungkook wasn't giving Taehyung any look. In fact, Jungkook's eyes were on VASCO's back, so Jungkook didn't know what the heck Taehyung was talking about, but he chalked it down to him being an anti-social Neon rat with no social skills and moved on. Besides, Jungkook could relate. Social interaction scared him, too. That was why he talked like a rapper: to get interactions over with sooner.

"Alright," Sarah said, everyone's attention falling on her. "It looks like it isn't deep underground, so we won't need long. VASCO, start digging. Everyone else, stay on your toes and look for any signs of Jimin."

Jungkook agreed to Sarah's plan and watched as VASCO began using his lanky robot fingers to pry through the surface and throw dirt away. Yes, he aimed at Barrett, and Barrett flung him off and delayed the process with their bickering. It never ended with them, and Sarah had to put them in their place. They didn't have much time. No one knew when Jimin would get impatient and come searching for them.

"Y'know, I don't mind it," Taehyung said while the others focused on the digging. "Being away from Neon, I mean. I miss doing tattoos, but nothing else about that place matters."

"That was a bit random, don't you think?"

"Sure, sure, but we're watching a robot dig for a bit. What would you rather do? Talk about the weather?"

"Fair point." Jungkook snorted, and then, he paused and glanced over at Taehyung, observing his sharp jawline and chapped lips. "You can practice on me."

Taehyung swiveled his head to quirk a brow. "Huh?"

"Your tattoos. Practice on me."

Taehyung eyed the metal arm. "On that thing?"

"I have an entire body, dude."

"Oh. Right." Taehyung laughed, and it was deep and scratchy, yet harmonious at the same time. "Well, I-"

But Taehyung didn't get to finish his sentence.

The entire group stiffened when a loud whistle sounded out and pierced the sky. Jungkook whipped out his pistol and scanned where it had come from: behind them. At first, he thought it was Jimin. Jimin had a tendency to make dramatic entrances, after all. But after scouring the landscape, Jungkook's stare landed on a single figure leaning against one of the many trees in the vicinity. A man, Jungkook presumed. A man wearing an all-black suit with a cape on both sides, covering his chest and back.

"My, my," the figure said, his voice deep and garbled by the suit's filter. His face wasn't visible thanks to the helmet's dark visor. "You never cease to surprise me, Constellation."

Jungkook didn't know what to do. A stranger—who knew them, at that—stood there without any signs of backing down. At least he showed no signs of hostility, though Jungkook didn't know if that put him at ease or not. All it did was keep him frozen to the spot with both his clammy hand and metal hand clamped on his weapon.

"Who the hell are you?" Sarah said as she stomped forward and got in front of Constellation. "And how do you know us?"

"Miss Morgan, don't you have bigger concerns?" The man waved his gloved hand and pushed off the tree to circle them. "I simply came to check on my favorite group of explorers."

"Stay back!" Sarah snapped her fingers, and VASCO stepped up with his laser cannons lined up with the stranger's body.

"Hmm," he said in a hum, pulling his sniper rifle off his back and holding it in front of him, the muzzle pointed at the ground, not at them. "No need for alarm. It is not yet time for that. Please, worry not, I only wanted to see your progress, and I must say, you're slower than normal. I wonder what your dear captain would think..."

Sarah didn't so much as flinch. "How do you know us?"

"To stay informed is to stay alive." The stranger hoisted his weapon back over his shoulder and took a few paces back, chuckling in the process. It sounded distorted. "I apologize for interrupting. Please, get the artifact. Don't let me stop you."

"Artif-" Sarah stopped halfway through the word and widened her blue eyes. "How do you..."

"The universe is a giant mystery you wish you could unlock, Miss Morgan, but did you really think you and Constellation were the only explorers in an entire galaxy? Did you really think you were the only ones to discover such power?"

"Power?" Sarah stumbled and bumped into VASCO, who didn't budge and kept his lasers directed at the man.

The man chortled. "Be seeing you, Constellation."

Without another word, white sparkles erupted around the male figure, almost like Jimin's red ones. They rose and rose until they enveloped him, and he disappeared from existence. What remained were fizzling sparks that died out seconds later. No more man, no more information.

The group stood there, circled around the potential artifact without uttering a word. A million ideas ran rampant in Jungkook's mind, yet none of them took his primary focus. All he could think of was the artifact. With the visit from the stranger, he felt more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the universe's mystery.

It was strange, really. He hadn't felt much purpose outside of hunting pirates. Pirates deserved death and worse, and Jungkook wanted to be the avenging angel with a shotgun and a boost pack, ready to take them out. But that wasn't reality. Reality was there were artifacts in the soil, waiting to show themselves to the world, and Jungkook wanted to be first in line. For Jimin, for Yoongi, and maybe for himself, too.

"What the fuck?" Taehyung asked, rubbing his eyes. "Do you guys know him?"

"No," Sarah answered, the one word short and full of air. "But that's a good sign."

"Good?"

"Yeah," Barrett said, his voice higher as if he was catching on to Sarah's thought process. "We got a visitor while hunting for an artifact. That's never happened before, right?"

Jungkook cleared his throat. It didn't stop his voice from sounding parched. "Not that I know of, but I haven't gone artifact hunting with Jimin much."

"But more than any of us," Sarah said with a nod, stroking her chin. "As much as I don't like that someone's watching us, it at least means we must be getting close."

"Or maybe he wants our artifacts," Barrett replied with a chuckle, doing a looping motion with his finger. VASCO took the command and returned to digging. "But who cares about the reasoning? Did you see what he did? Superpowers. Jimin's not the only one."

"That makes it worse, doesn't it?" Jungkook didn't want to ask that, but he figured he had no choice. Someone had to say it. "If others like Jimin are out there, then they must be rare, otherwise it'd be all over SSNN." Well, maybe. To be fair, the galaxy had so much shit going on that superpowers could easily fly under the radar. That was why Jimin wasn't really famous anywhere except on New Atlantis. The rest of the galaxy didn't care. "So if they're rare, what do they want with Jimin? Did they choose him for their cult or something?"

"Heavens, I hope not." Sarah scrunched up her face. "But we can discuss that another day. I'll go to the Eye and talk to Vladimir about it, and maybe we can find another temple if we're lucky. For now, let's get that artifact and get out of here. Oh, and don't tell Jimin about this. He's unstable enough as is."

That much was true, but Jungkook tried not to focus on it and instead thought about the Eye, Constellation's space station, though it was more like a telescope that Vladimir isolated himself to. Most of their scans came from him.

Jungkook wanted to visit and see what all the buzz was about, seeing as Constellation worshipped the damn station. Maybe Jungkook couldn't blame them. When he had been on the Vigilance all that time ago, he had treated that ship like home. It was a better home than his real home, but he knew that was because Yoongi was there. God, Jungkook would do anything to return to Londinion and stay with Yoongi, scouring the depths of the tunnels to find Y/n. But with Jimin the way he was, Jungkook found it best to stay onboard with the other members of Constellation. One day, though, he'd go back and hug his commander again.

"I found it," VASCO said after two minutes of digging. A small hole was in the surface, the bioluminescence highlighting the jagged surface of the object of interest.

"Wow." Taehyung peeked over Jungkook's shoulder. "It looks kinda boring."

"You'd think the art nut would bust a... well, nut over it," Jungkook said, and Taehyung didn't disagree. Jungkook redirected his attention to Sarah. "So, who gets to touch it?"

"I was thinking Barrett or you. Whoever wants to."

"Woah, woah, slow your roll," Barrett said, getting between them. "I think lil ole moi should. It's been a while since my last one, Miss Morgan."

"Don't call me that." Sarah shoved Barrett away. "Jungkook, why don't you do the honors? And, not to rush you, but quickly, please. I don't want to wait around to see if that man will come back."

"I don't think anyone does," Jungkook said, hesitating before creeping forward and peeping down at the hole. The artifact was loose, and all Jungkook had to do was pry it free, though he waited.

Would Jimin hate him if he touched it? Would Jimin sense it? They didn't know the extent of his powers, so that was a possibility to consider. Plus, Jimin drooled for the artifacts. Would it hurt him to touch one without him around? Jungkook didn't want to find out, but with Constellation surrounding him, staring at him, he knelt and reached his hand out.

"You'll see lights and hear music," Barrett said, and Jungkook tried to keep those words in mind. "You may pass out, but we'll carry you back, don't worry."

"Thanks," Jungkook mumbled with an eye roll before placing his hand on the surface of the smooth, gray object. He winced and prepared to get skyrocketed through the universe, but nothing happened. No lights, no visions, no music. Just him and an artifact, peering at one another. "Uh... I thought you said this thing was magical."

"Huh?"

Barrett knelt next to him and touched it. Nothing. Sarah, too. Nothing. All of them exchanged glances before Sarah hoisted it out of the dirt and stored it inside VASCO's large chest cavity to hide it from Jimin during their inevitable walk back.

"The first person to touch it gets visions," Barrett said with furrowed, bushy brows, and then, Sarah sighed.

"The man. Do you think he planted it here? How else would he have found us all the way out here?"

"Well, Akila is a popular system, but I get your point," Barrett replied, returning her sigh. "Let's just get back to the ship and try to convince Jimin to go to New Atlantis later. We need to tell Noel about this."

Sarah agreed, and together, the group began their trek back while Jungkook held up the rear with Taehyung again. That time, Taehyung didn't speak. The issue was that if he did, Jungkook would have ignored him. His thoughts were too overwhelming, and he didn't know what to focus on anymore. All he knew was that the longer he stayed with Constellation, the more life got complicated, and the more Jimin began spiraling off the deep end.

Jungkook didn't want to know what would come next.

☆☆☆

Jungkook was exhausted.

After dealing with the artifact, Jungkook and the others returned to their home ship. Jimin insisted on looking for the artifact, claiming it felt closer than ever, but after searching for a while, nothing came up on the scanners, and Sarah managed to talk him out of a long search, convincing him that what he experienced could be normal or deprivation from not touching an artifact in so long. How Sarah was so good at coming up with lies on spot was beyond Jungkook. Then again, she was the most badass woman in UC history. No one would dare oppose her.

That led him to going to her quarters and knocking on her door, and it opened a beat later. Her bouncy blonde hair greeted him, followed by her sharp blue eyes and thin lips that parted to speak.

"Ah, Jungkook. How can I help you this evening?"

"Is it evening? I stopped keeping track a while ago." Jungkook chuckled and fiddled with his fingers before motioning to her room. "May I come in?"

"Of course. Please, sit."

Jungkook entered and saw Sarah's room was just as Sarah as ever. Empty Terrabrew cups in the trash bin, Terrabrew posters on the walls, and vintage UC posters to spruce the place up. Everything was in place with not a single desk drawer open. Even her bed was made despite it being evening, according to Sarah. Who kept their bed made that late? Jungkook spent half of his evenings cuddled up under his blankets listening to snowstorm recordings and thinking. The snowstorms reminded him of home, and he liked to imagine himself raiding the place and freeing it from pirates. Little Jungkook would have loved that.

"I'm sorry for bothering you after the mission, I just wanted to ask you if you've talked to Yoongi at all lately."

"Oh, Commander Min." Sarah laughed and hummed. Somehow, a Terrabrew coffee spawned in her hands. Not literally, of course—she had picked it up from her desk—but Jungkook hadn't noticed since she moved so fast it was like she had borrowed Jimin's time slow power. Sheesh. The things that woman would do for coffee. "No, I haven't. Why? Is everything okay?"

"Nothing's okay. It hasn't been in months." Jungkook shrugged and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his metal skin rubbing against his flesh. He wished sparkles flew off his hand. "But I was just wondering. I... miss him. It seems like all my closest friends are leaving nowadays."

"Not me." Sarah offered him a smile. "I know Constellation is new to you, but you always have a place with us, alright? We're your friends now."

Sarah Morgan just called Jungkook her friend.

Holy shit.

"Are you serious?" Jungkook asked, wishing he could jump around the room and scream his head off.

"Of course." Sarah laughed once again. "You're an admirable man, Jungkook. Not just anyone can go up against pirates and walk away to tell the tale."

Well, Jungkook hadn't done much of that. His job was more to gather information and plan strikes rather than participate in them himself. Although, if he had the choice, he'd see to it that every pirate got a bullet lodged between their eyes.

"Thank you. You have no idea how much that means coming from you." Jungkook fired out the words at the speed of light before clearing his throat and giving her a sheepish grin. "Sorry, I talk fast sometimes."

"Please, don't apologize. All I want is for you to be safe and happy, no matter how fast or slow you talk. I want that for all of Constellation, but I fear I haven't done that recently, have I?"

Jungkook burrowed his brows together. "What do you mean?"

"Well, look around." Sarah took a sip from her coffee and wiped the excess residue off her thin upper lip with her long, pale index finger. She stared at the brown liquid staining her for a long moment before continuing. "We've fallen apart, and all I've done is watch. I'm the chairwoman. Surely I can do more."

"To be fair, if you tried to do anything, Jimin might solar flare your ass." And Jungkook wasn't joking. "You're here. That's more than some people can say. You don't run from danger."

"I did," Sarah said without hesitation, squishing her thumb over the coffee stain on her finger. "In the Colony War. I led a losing battle, and I watched my ships get shot down to a planet I'll never return to. A planet I ran from." She paused to flicker her gaze up to him. "I watched my troops die, and instead of looking for them to give them a proper burial, I left. Everything. Even the navy."

Jungkook let the words sink into his ears, and yet, he didn't know if they were true. Sarah Morgan would never run. She was a legend for being one of the fiercest commanders in UC history, but there she was, telling a different tale. The coward's tale.

"Looks like I'm doing it again, over and over," Sarah said in a drawl. It wasn't Martian, like Jin's, but it was sharp and deeper than her normal mid-tone pitch.

Jungkook snatched the coffee from her and stole a sip. It tasted bitter, as expected. It didn't burn his throat the same way alcohol—which he consumed more and more of those days—did, but he pretended it was a shot.

"Me too. Every time something needs to be done, I go run and ask Yoongi, or Tuala, or Jimin. Never me. It can never be up to me. If it is, then I don't know what I'd do."

"Yeah," Sarah whispered, taking the cup back and drinking from it. Her sip was far longer than Jungkook's had been. "But maybe the artifacts can give us the answers, yeah? I... Maybe I need them to."

Sarah didn't say anything else, so Jungkook backed away and retreated to the door, not wanting to intrude. He had meant to ask about Yoongi and call it a day, but it seemed he had ruined that, too. He couldn't do anything right. Not with Sarah, and not with Jimin.

"I'll, uh... go check on Jimin. I don't think he's doing so well."

No shit, but he meant in the sense that Jimin had been bummed out when he learned there were no artifacts around. When VASCO gave the final scans showing nothing, Jimin hadn't said a word and instead went to his quarters. He hadn't come out since. It had been hours, and they were in space by that point, on course for nowhere in particular while Jimin figured his life out.

"Sure. Thanks, Jungkook."

Sarah went back to drinking her coffee, so Jungkook departed without another word. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants and strolled through the ship with his eyes down. He did as he said he would, though. Despite not wanting to poke the bear, Jungkook went toward Jimin's room, passing by a laughing Barrett who could sense what was happening and wished Jungkook luck before vacating the area. Yeah, most people did that whenever Jimin was around. But Jungkook didn't back down. He set his shoulders and took the final stretch to get to his superior's quarters.

Jungkook stared at the Captain's door and approached with slow steps. He pressed his ear up against it. Thin walls, right? Well, Jungkook took advantage of that and listened, shutting his eyes to do so. Nothing came. Jungkook didn't know why he was spying on his own captain, but he felt obliged to, and he tried to pick up on any signs of life from his superior.

He heard a tiny cough followed by a burning smell. Jungkook sniffed, and in that moment, he was grateful for his sensitive nose. But it also meant that back in his childhood, he had suffered more in the cold. His nose always turned bright red.

Without hesitation, Jungkook entered to ask about the burning smell and if Jimin was okay, closing the door behind him to prevent potential fire spreads. Fires on a spaceship were some of the most dangerous events that could occur. But there was no fire. When Jungkook stepped in, he saw the light focusing on Jimin, who had his scarf off in his lap and his jacket unzipped to show part of his chest. A solar flare glowed in his hand, and his eyes followed suit with a mix of different colors, swirling between red, blue, and purple, but finalizing on red when Jungkook stepped inside.

Jungkook stiffened, as did Jimin. Jungkook's gaze flicked over the patches of bruises and burns on Jimin's chest. That was when it clicked in Jungkook's mind. Yes, he had known about the self-harm, and Jimin himself had confessed to it, but walking in on it was different than hearing about it. And before Jungkook could react, Jimin went on the defensive.

"Get the fuck out of my room!"

Jimin tossed his scarf at Jungkook, who dodged in a heartbeat thanks to his Vanguard reflex training. As much as Jimin had superpowers, there was one thing Jungkook outmatched him on: strength. Even before the metal arm.

He threw Jimin back on the bed, more out of desperation than anything. Anything to stop the crime happening to Jimin's body. It worked. The solar flare fizzled out, but the red eyes remained, and in a flash, Jimin pushed Jungkook back and hopped to his feet. Yeah, no. Jungkook wouldn't allow it.

His metal arm came into contact with Jimin's chest. The captain ended up on the mattress again. Jimin clawed at Jungkook, but Jungkook wouldn't give up, not until his captain calmed his ass down and stopped glowing like Neon. But that didn't matter. All because Jimin lit up with a solar flare and grabbed Jungkook's metal arm.

"Stop! Please don't touch me!" Jimin yelled with a cry, squirming with one hand flying to his jacket's zipper to try and pull it up while the other remained secured on Jungkook's prosthetic. "Let me go, Jungkook! Last warning!"

"Not until you calm the fuck down and stop hurting yourself!" Jungkook shouted back, some saliva flying out and landing on Jimin's face.

Jimin thrashed and thrashed, but Jungkook had the superior strength. He didn't need both arms, only his metal one. But that changed when Jimin followed through with his threat. Jungkook hadn't anticipated Jimin would, yet there he was, his eyes wide as he watched Jimin clamp down on the arm.

And then melted it right off.

"Fuck!"

Jungkook fell off the bed and collapsed on the ground, panting and watching as the metal melted off and oozed onto the floor of the ship. It was too hot, though; he had to focus on stomping it out and kicking the bits of bright orange heat away so they wouldn't burn through the flooring and cause a hole in the hull that would lead to their deaths.

Jimin hurried back in the corner and tucked his knees against his chest, biting on his nails before he buried his hands in his hair and rocked back and forth while his body hiccupped and jumped. Jungkook couldn't focus on Jimin's posture, though. The next three minutes were spent with Jungkook—down to one arm—doing his best to ensure no catastrophic failures would come from the solar flare melting off his metal arm.

Eventually, all the hot metal remains ended up cooled. Spaceships were designed to protect against those events. That meant the metal surrounding him was stronger than the one on his arm, so the heat didn't break through and instead created little bumps and holes in the floor. Nothing they couldn't fix. Unlike Jimin.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Jungkook asked in a heave, whipping around to face his superior. Jimin didn't answer and kept convulsing. If Jungkook had better ears, he could make out the words Jimin mumbled to himself. But he didn't need good ears to hear the soft whimpers.

Jungkook sighed and approached, kneeling in front of Jimin and using his one hand to try and pry Jimin open. It didn't work. Jimin cried out and slapped Jungkook, which gave him the hint he needed to back off.

What Jungkook noticed most was how Jimin scrambled to keep his jacket zipped up. No skin or bruises entered Jungkook's line of sight, not that he wanted that. He hoped the next time he saw Jimin shirtless, nothing of note would jump out at him.

"Jimin," Jungkook said, running his only hand through his dark locks. "You can't keep doing this to yourself."

Jimin didn't reply to that and instead went off on his own tangent. "Did you see?"

"See? The burns? Yeah, Jimin, they're pretty obvi-"

"My chest. My skin."

Jimin hyperventilated and lowered his hands from his face. No tears stained his cheeks, but Jungkook would almost rather it. What replaced sobs and screams was a parted mouth with Jimin's chipped tooth showing, followed by bags sinking his hickory eyes and a crease on his forehead. His hands shook, and he brought his left one up to bite on the nails there. All his nails on his left hand were bent and chewed down to a point of no return.

"Jimin..." Jungkook scooted over and stayed next to the boy. Not close enough to touch, but close enough to lower his voice to a whisper and still be heard. "I wasn't looking at you like that, okay? I just saw the burns and got concerned, that's all. I prom-"

The sentence cut off when Jimin lunged forward and embraced Jungkook, and Jungkook stiffened at that. Jimin's body latched onto Jungkook's without remorse or mercy. Jungkook accepted every little convulsion of Jimin's figure and wrapped his final arm around him. He wished he had his metal arm, but Jimin had scorched it off. At least Jungkook didn't feel pain there anymore. Phantom pain, sure, but he had grown accustomed to that.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry," Jimin said in a whine, his voice cracking and convulsing as much as his body. "I didn't mean to. Please, I didn't mean to. Please believe me."

"I know. It's okay, Jimin. I know."

Jungkook didn't budge. Together, he sat with Jimin on the floor and held him without moving his hand an inch. Any additional physical touch could result in Jimin lashing out again, and that was the last thing Jungkook desired. All he saw as he stared down at his superior was his Mr. Unstoppable: Park Jimin. The man who would save Jungkook from pirates and free his home from danger.

"I want my mom," Jimin whispered, pulling on Jungkook's turtleneck. "I really want my mom."

"I know."

There was nothing else to say. What was Jungkook supposed to do? Comfort Jimin by lying and saying his mother would help him? No, she wouldn't. For his entire life, Jimin had been on his own. Dead father, dead mother. She might as well have been dead, too.

Ten minutes of silence later, Jimin broke the embrace and stood, pacing and continuing to nibble on his left hand's nails. Jungkook watched and waited for Jimin to say something. No words came. That had Jungkook standing, too. The rest of the ship was quiet enough that Jungkook could hear every soft footstep from Jimin's bare feet. In the distance, Jungkook heard laughter from Cora and Sam, but it was so far away that Jungkook couldn't pinpoint where it was. He was grateful no one heard the commotion from Jimin's quarters. If anyone did and rushed in, that'd make matters worse. Jungkook had a feeling Jimin couldn't handle more people in his state.

"You're not okay," Jungkook said. It was about as good a place to start as any. "You need help."

Jimin slowed to a stop and lowered his hand from his mouth. "I know, but I don't want it. Nothing can help. You're smart, Jungkook. You should know the only thing that can help is getting my wife back."

"And I wish I could give you that, but no one can. We need to work together as a crew, otherwise we have no crew at all. Look at Taehyung. He's been here for, what? Weeks? Yet you haven't had him doing anything. Please, let him help. Let us help. We're your family."

"No." Jimin tilted his head toward Jungkook, his eyes narrowed into a glare. "Hoseok and Del were my family. Trust me, Kook, you don't want to be my next family. Look what happened to the last two I had."

Mom, dad, Fleet. All gone. Bleak, sure, but Jungkook had faith. Jimin had an amazing heart in there somewhere, but it was muddied by the galaxy. Jungkook could find it, though. It would take Jungkook ignoring the fact that Jimin called the fucking pirate scum his family, but since Jimin had been through more than anyone could count, Jungkook did his best to push it down and remain supportive.

"I'm not scared. Whatever you need, I'm here."

Jimin snorted and began pacing again. "You're supposed to be the smart one."

"I am, and it's smart not to give up on you. You have something, Jimin. I'm not giving up on you."

Sparkles flew off Jimin's right hand. They were a mix of blue, purple, and red, and his eyes wavered between the colors, too. No hint of brown showed itself as soon as the wavering began.

"Stop... stop saying that."

"I know you don't want to hear it, but you're a hero. Please, remember that."

"I'm no hero," Jimin muttered, the speed of his pacing increasing while the sparkles became more aggressive. They went between purple and red before settling on the deep crimson. "Stop saying I am."

"Dammit, Jimin, please listen. You were a hero to me. You are a hero to me-"

"I'm not a fucking hero!" Jimin swiveled around at the speed of light, and a burst of energy fired off him like a wave. It slammed into Jungkook and sent him soaring into the wall. He was close enough to it that it didn't hurt much, but it had him stumbling nonetheless. An ache hit his head, but he was otherwise okay.

"Jimin," Jungkook said, unsure what else to add or how to talk the man down.

Jimin held up his sparkling hand, and strands of his hair lifted up. "This is what they did to me!"

"Okay, okay." Jungkook swallowed and steadied himself, meeting Jimin's dark red eyes. "That's okay, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know people admire you. I do. What you have is a gift, and we want to-"

"Gift?" Jimin scoffed and closed his hand into a fist. It didn't stop the sparkles. "You don't get it, Jungkook. You never will." The sparkles wrapped around Jimin's arm as he reopened his hand and gazed down at it. "I failed. I... I failed little Jimin."

Jungkook furrowed his brows but remained frozen against the wall. "What?"

"Little Jimin used to look at the stars and ask what if? What if he got up there and was able to do some good? What if he could find a place for his family out in the stars and away from Neon? Little Jimin had dreams. Now, all I do is look at the stars and wonder if my dad's one of them. If Hobi's one of them. If Delgado is. Austin. Larry. Everyone I've hurt or killed. I failed little me in every possible way. I promised him that, for once, I'd give him control. Control over his mind and body." More red sparkles pranced off his arm. More than ever before. "But big Jimin doesn't have that either, so what the hell am I doing?"

"Jimin..."

"I'm no hero. If I'm not a hero to younger me, then I can't be a hero to anyone else, so please, for the love of God, stop putting that title on me." Jimin stepped back, straightened his jacket, and cleared his throat. "Fuck this shit. I need a fucking drink."

Jimin stormed off, probably to go land the ship on Neon and find a bar to drown himself in. Jungkook didn't protest. He doubted Jimin would listen even if he did.

That left Jungkook standing there in Jimin's quarters, and he glanced around with slow eyes that faded in and out of focus. It was a minimalist bedroom, and that was being generous. Not a single decoration hung from the walls. The only thing of note in the room was Y/n's Vanguard jacket, slumped over Jimin's bed. It had more wrinkles than ever, and it began to smell like Jimin. By Jimin, Jungkook meant it smelled sweaty and like Neon's sewage. No amount of air fresheners had gotten rid of that stench. Jimin carried it with him everywhere he went.

Jungkook plopped down on the bed with his fleshy arm dangling by his side and his stump of a metal arm frolicking back and forth. More phantom pains came and nibbled on what was left of his shoulder. Having to explain to the others why he needed a new prosthetic would be a bitch. But it'd be fine. No one wanted to cross Jimin, though Jungkook had a feeling they had to at some point. Then again, the last time they had attempted to stage a divine intervention, it hadn't gone well. Jungkook was beginning to think Jimin was lost.

Mr. Unstoppable used to say that the more you struggle, the more you know you're doing it right. It sure as hell didn't feel that way, and Jungkook ended up with his chin pressed on his knees, which he tucked against his chest. For a moment, a fleeting moment, he felt like a kid again. A kid who had bundled up in blankets to try to stay warm in the harsh climate of his home. Mom used to sing him lullabies and reassure him that the bad guys would be gone soon. That they could reclaim their planet one day. But that day never came, even in the modern era.

The Crimson Fleet were gone, but remnants of them remained, and many pirate cells were stationed at the Red Mile and scattered across the entire planet. Yoongi had sent spies to investigate, though the pirates hid well. But Jungkook knew they were there, and what could he do to stop them? Nothing. He was a coward, as always. The same coward who hid behind his superiors and couldn't make a decision to save his life.

Well, there was one he had made...

Jungkook flicked his eyes to the metal stump that had blackness on the end of it due to it being melted through. It was jagged, the surface feeling like it had been thrown through lava.

The one and only decision he had made, aside from going after Jimin in the Archives all that time ago. Funny. Both decisions were for the same purpose, but helping Jimin in the Archives was more of an instinct than a choice. The arm, though? That was the only decision he had truly made for himself.

Constellation had asked him time and time again if he regretted it. No. Never. No matter how pissed Jungkook was at Jimin, and no matter how far Jimin fell, Jimin was his friend. Best friend. And that meant Jungkook would help him. Always.

But at what cost?

☆☆☆

A/N: Jungkook is just straight up having a terrible time this season lmao RIP

Bro lost his arm twice what are the odds of that.

Anywho, thanks for reading. The next chapter will be out on December 18th at 10:00 a.m. EST. Can't wait to see you there!