[Snippet] The Masks We Wear (Honkai: Star Rail): Chapter 5 (Patreon)

It still took days to travel towards Herta’s Space Station.

Unfortunately, most ships in the universe weren’t on par with the Astral Express. The Astral Express was created by an Aeon, and even if it had once crashed and been repaired by Himeko, it was still an Aeon creation.

It was one of the fastest vehicles in the known universe. 

Part of that was because it could ride the Star Rails. Technically, other ships used the Star Rails too, but they more so used them as a sort of 'pathway.' A guiding line to follow that allowed them to set themselves on the most optimal path.

But the Astral Express was more or less a literal train in this regard. Quite literally the difference between a train going down train tracks and someone riding their bike along the path.

The bike rider would definitely benefit from them, an open path with no obstructions, and nothing to get in their way. But they were made for the Astral Express to travel along and utilize properly.

Of course, there is a downside. The Astral Express can only travel on the laid-out tracks. Granted, they can lay out new tracks and trailblaze new paths, which was its original purpose. To trailblaze across the universe, connecting every corner of the cosmos.

But, unlike a spaceship, the Astral Express can’t just decide, "Hey, I’m going to do a U-turn right here." 

Also, their tracks can be blocked. Like when there’s a Stellaron causing problems at one of their destinations.

It’s a metaphysical tree that fell on the tracks that they have to remove.

The ship began to decelerate as the Space Station came into view, and it began to approach the docking bay, or the Railway Station, as it was also called.

It had a special docking platform specifically with train tracks for the Astral Express. That spoke volumes about the relationship between the Space Center and the Astral Express.

There weren’t any other ships present at the moment, at least no other cargo ships.

‘Attention Crew and Passengers’ An announcement came over the speakers across the ship. ‘Due to recent attacks by the Anti-Matter Legion, the majority of the Space Station is closed to visitors. However, the reception area and adjacent areas will be available if you wish to stretch your legs.’

‘We will be departing in 4 standard time hours. All passengers and crew that miss the departure will be held in custody by Space Station security until the next supply ship arrives, then you will be deported pending conduct review by the IPC travel authorities. We thank you for your attention.’

‘Attention Crew and Passengers. The Space Station Medical Staff is requesting any volunteers to give a blood donation at their medical center adjacent to the reception area. Complimentary and free health care will be provided as compensation. Thank you again.’

Allen looked up at the speaker as he tilted his head back and forth before nodding. “Four hours should be enough time.”

He followed along with the small crowd of people who disembarked the ship onto the space station.

There were plenty of Statin security guards around, and he guessed it wasn’t because they were suspicious of the cargo ship.

It wouldn’t do them good if some stray Anti-Matter Legion soldiers ran over and attacked civilians while they were ‘stretching their legs.'

Everyone was herded towards the reception area. It was basically, as the name described, a massive reception area with the front desk and enough room for probably several hundred people in the room at a time.

For stretching your legs, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

For the benefit of everyone in the room, they had screens up, connected to auxiliary power sources, playing the news.

It was at least a decent way to pass the time.

Allen looked around, quickly spotting every exit and entrance.

They were all being 'guarded,' though compared to the security at the bank, it was…well, laughable.

It made sense; one was a research station, and the other was a highly valuable financial institution. 

The security here seemed much more basic in comparison.

Even so, the doors outwards were being manually controlled. There was a console setup sitting on top of boxes or whatever they could get their hands on. With thick wires connecting to panels next to the doors.

Allen watched a researcher leaving the room to the central parts of the Space Station. The guard behind the console had to manually open the door with a button on his end. The door closed automatically after several moments.

Allen looked around and found a good target again.

Behind the reception desk, there was a massive floating hologram of the ship's logo slowly spinning around.

“That’ll do.” He whispered before stepping over behind a stack of boxes, and he raised his finger up like a gun. “Bang.”

The hologram changed immediately, but it wasn’t noticed by everyone right away. That was, until it started singing.

“We’re no strangers to love~”

Everyone in the room turned towards the very loud source. 

“You know the rules, and so do I~"

There was a lot of confusion as the staff around the projector tried to turn it off. Allen watched as they even tried to unplug the hologram projector. Even when that didn’t work, they waved over security who started messing with it.

“Sing your heart out, Mr. Astley.” Allen tipped his non-existent hat as he laughed towards one of the abandoned door consoles.

Allen, with everyone’s attention on the abrupt musical performance, waved a hand over his face and changed into the form of a security guard before he reached behind the console, pressing the button for the door to open.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down~”

Allen gave a wave of goodbye over his shoulder as he walked through the doors, the sound disappearing behind him.

He found the elevator to take him down to the next level at the Storage Zone.

“Tutt tutt.” Allen clicked his tongue. “No wonder they weren’t letting people wander around.” He took a deep breath, and the smell of blood was still ripe in the air. “And there are so many pests wandering around still.”

Looking over the side at the highest point in this long downward corridor, he could see Anti-Matter Legion soldiers still alive.

“Tally Ho.” He just jumped off the edge, grabbing onto the railing so he swung down to the next floor, landing gracefully between a small group of Anti-Matter Legion Soldiers.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I believe you dropped these.” Their attention was on him as soon as he landed, but it was impossible to read their expressions. Mostly because he was holding their heads in his hands.

Their bodies fell to the ground, with now missing heads.

“Hmm.” Allen dropped all by one of the heads. “I have some intrusive thoughts.” He looked over the edge of this floor, and it was still a very long ways down. He dropped the head over the side, watching it fall down with a smile on his face.

He grabbed another of the severed heads, thankful that they weren’t bleeding everywhere.

Nanook was very considerate to not make a mess when you beheaded his minions.

Allen spied another variety of their Anit-Matterness on a platform overlooking the descending abyss from a lower floor.

“Kobe.” He shot it; it arced into the air before falling perfectly, smacking that soldier on the back of the head, making him stumble forward, over the railing, and fall down to the bottom.

But it was enough playing around.

The stench of blood was thick, and he could even see some bodies, freshly skewered by passing Anti-Matter soldiers.

Scientists, guards, and people who had no business fighting these sorts of things.

He took his masks off before waving his hand, and his real Mask appeared.

The Silver Mask, given to him by Aha, and he placed it on his face.

Immediately, the atmosphere around him changed.

“Come.” He whispered before his power erupted.

"The Curtain Falls, the Black Sun Beckons.”

“Your final lines spoken, your final bows taken.”

“The audience falls silent; the last spotlight lessens.”

“Your final act concluded, but must the stage be forsaken?”

“Hear the roar of applause, and rise once more.”

“For even beyond the Final Curtain—”

“The Crowned Clown calls for an Encore!” 

Power rippled across the room, down the massive falling coordinator, passing every floor until it reached the bottom.

Gradually, one by one, silhouettes appeared. Faint, flickering, ghastly images of people who once lived. Scientists who permanently had looks of fear etched on their face from their last moments of life.

Guards who raged against the unfairness of it all.

A handful of children who tried to cry, but no tears would fall.

Allen became enveloped in white as his cowl appeared, his long coat, and his crown.

He sat down, a manifested seat catching him. A throne, it sprawled out; it climbed upwards as he sat above them high upon his throne as he held out his hands.

Behind him, massive poles rose out of the ground, pushing back reality, the Space Station bending and twisting to accommodate the illogical display.

A gigantic Tent began to rise, pitched up over the very stars in the sky.

“Come, your time has not come. If you are scared, if you have regrets, fears, and anger, I will bear it all. Join my circus, and you will have revenge, respite, and laughter.”

Hundreds of souls stood around him before one turned into a wisp and shot into the darkness within. A single mask fell from above, attaching to it before disappearing from view.

Then a handful more.

Then dozens before the vast majority of the souls here shot into his circus. The masks rained down, each soul gaining one as they entered.

Only a few remained. Those who refused, those who didn’t want to for any specific reason. They stared at him and Allen simply nodded, respecting their decision. 

“Go, your next great adventure awaits.” A simple helping hand. It would have normally taken time for their resentment to fade, for these bits of remnants to slowly dissipate and move on properly, but Allen helped them along.

He imbued his words with a bit of Elation.

The last wisps of the spirits had smiles as they departed.

Allen reached forward, pulling back the curtain of reality, and his circus disappeared, his throne gone, and he stood on the ground, a security guard once more.

He took a deep breath because it was the first time he expanded his Emanator Powers so much. Tired? No, it was…simply letting him experience the sensation for the first time of being so free.

Allen then laughed.

He tapped both of his shoes against the ground, changing their form.

In the heels, they each had a wheel now, and he happily wheeled down the ramp to his next destination without a care in the world.

@***@

“Do do do, do do, do do do, do do, do do do, do do…" Allen hummed as he smacked an anti-matter legion into the wall, killing it.

He grasped at the air, a faint wisp between his fingers. “Seriously? This one too?” He shook his head. “I don’t know what Nanook did to you all, but your souls are just pitiful. I can’t even add you to my Circus! You’re nothing more than mindless minions, bereft of a true spirit.”

He tossed the remnant of a soul to the side, letting it dissipate naturally.

He had checked every Anti-Matter Legion soldier he had come across, and every single one of them had the equivalent of a soul lobotomy. 

Mindless soldiers.

He was sure there were actually smart ones among their members, but these sort of disposable pawns, there wasn’t enough of a ‘person’ behind the Destruction to grab hold of.

It now made sense why these Anti-Matter Legion soldiers were just…standing around or mindlessly patrolling various parts of the Space Station, rather than actually causing destruction.

It seemed that they had no orders to follow or minds to question the previous orders and were just following them regardless of anything else.

If someone approached, they attacked and killed. Even though they could cause much more destruction if they regrouped or even started destroying the actual space station. How much damage could be done if they just started tearing through the walls to the vacuum of space?

And it was also why that a simple locked door was enough to keep them at bay.

Obviously, the staff here must have known that, which is why they were reacting in the way they were and not quickly scouring the station for every last one of them. A more concise, slow, and secure sweep of the station would yield the same results without any of the risks.

They just haven't made it this far yet.

The door he came to wasn’t even technically locked. It was more so that you just had to manually open it from a corresponding control panel. And for that, there was no code or security check, just pressing a button on it and the door opening.

He peeked inside, there were pedestals set up all around with an energy field around the thing sitting on top of them.

Each of them contains a 'curio.' Something either dangerous, interesting, or just caught Herta’s attention.

“What are you doing in here?” 

Allen looked over at the Herta Puppet standing behind a console.

Madam Herta, for all her eccentricities, still liked to play with dolls. In that, she made thousands, or tens of thousands, of ‘dolls’ that do menial work for her. They were based on her younger self as well.

“I’m with the Ship Security; I’m doing a sweep for Anti-Legion. Apologies for the interruption, Miss Herta," Allen said quickly.

“Very well, proceed.”

They weren’t truly intelligent, but they had enough intelligence in them to operate by themselves to do their jobs and interact with people normally. But they weren’t alive by any real metric, perhaps advanced AIs simply based on Herta herself.

There was a connected room, a proverbial closet with supplies stored. Allen walked over there, opening it up to see containers everywhere. “Miss Herta, there’s a problem here; may I request your presence?”

The doll sighed in annoyance, mimicking its creator quite well. “Fine, let me see what it is.”

She walked over without a car, stepping into the adjacent room before Allen reached out and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up. He quickly inserted his power into her, finding her connection to the greater whole and shutting it off.

He was by no means a genius or a scientist or someone capable of hacking or finding flaws in this kind of thing.

But there was a trace he could follow.

Madam Herta, she can, from nearly anywhere, insert her consciousness into any of her dolls. It made it very convenient to oversee projects from great distances away or manage multiple things at a time.

That is, he found a wisp of elation, perhaps a distant echo of happiness or satisfaction from when he had piloted this doll in the past, overseeing her display of curios.

Pride even.

He used that as a bridge to cut the connection to the network.

He gently set the doll down on the ground and closed the door, going back to the display of interesting curiosities all around him.

“Let’s see, let’s see.” He walked over to one pedestal, covered by a shimmering energy field. Inside, there were pieces of a red-colored blade floating at the center. “Wonderful, these are still here. Thank you, Miss Himeko; I will be accepting your generous gift.” With a bow to the pieces. He put a finger to the energy field; it became solid at the touch.

“Hmm.” He began to draw a circle. Then he added eyes to it and gave it a smile. The newly created smiley face began to laugh, and it fell off onto the ground, leaving a circular hole for which he reached inside and grabbed the pieces of the blade. “In you go.” He pulled his obviously-too-small pocket open and dropped the sword pieces inside, snapping it shut.

Despite all the neat things in here, he had three specific targets in mind, so he wasn’t going to rob the place blind.

He went over to the far end, finding a circular device floating, almost like a pocket watch, but not quite.

He read the description of it.

‘Energy Black Hole.’

He clapped his hands and leaned on the pedestal. “Why is 6 afraid of 7?” He asked towards it. “Because 7, 8, 9!” Allen broke into laughter at his own joke. “Doesn’t it just—" A crack appeared on the energy barrier around it. “- Crack you up?” He raised a finger to it, flicking the energy barrier, and the cracked pieces shattered against all logic, leaving a gaping hole for him to reach in and take it again.

Lastly, he went over to his final target.

Amidst all the unique and interesting objects in here, there was a stack of cards, arranged in a pyramid. 

The cards were of use to him and on display because they were absolutely dripping with causality.

No matter what happened, if you destroyed the house of cards, if you threw one out into space, they would return and reform the house of cards.

It made him giggle.

He was about to grab them until he saw the door to the supply room open. A certain Herta Puppet was walking out; it, of course, looked at him and observed the room for a moment. “Don’t let me stop you, please, continue.”

“Well, if you don’t mind~”

“I was being sarcastic.” She drawled. “A Masked Fool?”

“......nooooooo”

Herta rolled her eyes. “My seniors picked up the power of Elation when this puppet went offline.”

“This Puppet?” Allen’s eyes widened. “Ah, so it’s Madam Herta.”

“Hn.” The puppet looked at him. “I was merely curious to see how a masked fool managed to disconnect one of my puppets so easily.”

“You don’t know how I did it?” Allen tilted his head. “Well, I don’t mind answering your question, but how about you answer one of my questions in turn?”

“A simple enough exchange, though; I will refuse to answer any secret information.” She was playing along. In her mind, he was already a trapped rat, so it was an easier way to get her question answered before she called in security. “Go ahead and ask your question. You should feel proud, not many people get to ask me any questions, I’m usually far too busy.”

“Are you single?” Allen asked without hesitation.

"... " The Puppet stared at him before letting out a sigh. “Why did I expect anything from a Masked Fool?”

“Answer the question.”

She shook her head. “I am not in a relationship with anyone; does that satisfy you?”

“So, you’re saying there’s a chance.” Allen did a fist pump into the air.

"No," she replied bluntly. “There is absolutely no chance. If I ever deemed someone of a romantic partner interesting enough for me, it would most certainly not be a masked fool from some backwater corner of that messy tavern."

“Don’t be like that!” Allen slid to a knee in front of her, flipping his hand over to produce a bouquet of flowers. “Let me express my sincerity.”

She just stared, unmoving. “Your sincerity has been noted.” She smacked the flowers away. “Now answer my question: how did you disconnect one of my puppets?”

“Well, it was really simple.” Allen stood up, taking a few steps around her puppet.

“There is nothing simple about what you did.” She deadpanned, then paused. "Are…are you lifting up my skirt?”

Allen indeed had her puppet’s skirt lifted. “Yes. I was curious.”

The puppet hung her mouth open. “Pervert! Fool!” She smacked his hand away after reacting genuinely for the first time. “Has no one ever taught you how to interact with a lady before!?”

“Do all of your puppets wear lacey panties, or is this one just special?” Allen asked.

“W-who asks a question like that?!”

“Now I need to go check the other Hertas.” Allen nodded to himself. “This mystery needs solving.”

Herta, of course, just looked scandalized. “As if I would allow you to do something so degrading! And stop poking my puppet!”

Allen had his finger pressed against her cheek. “So, you can feel this, huh? The descent of your consciousness pervades feelings and physical sensations. How lewd.”

“Lewd!?” She repeated in a mix of confusion and scandal. “There’s nothing lewd about it! Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Yeah? Out of curiosity, how accurate are they built?” He asked.

She was silent for several moments, because she knew exactly what he was insinuating. “There is a scientific reason for it! Artistic design needs to follow proper—" She stopped, realizing she had lost her composure before calming down. She let out a deep breath. “I almost got caught up in a Fool's performance. I no longer care; security will be arriving shortly.”

“Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.” He almost had her there for a moment. “Shall I leave you with a parting gift?” He flicked his hand and handed her a card. “Call me sometime.” He winked.

She looked at the card; it had a phone number written on it, but on the back, there was a picture of a clown with a crown on its head.

To her, it was enough to put all the pieces into place. “You are…?"

“Oh, and before I go, I’m curious if you can feel this.” He wound his hand back and swung it at her bottom. 

It was a resounding spank that echoed in the room.

“Hnnngh!?” She let out a noise that was most certainly not one of pain or the squawk of indignation that he expected.

Allen had prepared his elaborate getaway, giving her a bruised ego and angering her on the way out, but now he had gone still.

Likewise, Herta was standing there, her puppet’s face reflecting the owner, going completely red. In fact, her knees trembled ever so slightly as a shiver ran through her body.

“.....”

“......”

There was the question hanging in the air, did that just happen? It was apparently beyond the expectations of both of them.

Allen raised his hand up again.

Herta’s eyes widened. “Don't you dare—" He smacked her bottom again. “Hnnnngh!”

There was another silence as she stared at him furiously, but no words were spoken. She looked at him, then her expression changed as she noted the look in his eyes. She wanted to say something, but any words she tried to say were cut off by his hand hitting her butt again.

She subconsciously let out another noise. He followed it up with several more smack in quick succession each one earning the same reaction until he finished with one final spank with a bit more oomph to it.

It was much deeper this time, and Allen could see her knees trembling as she pushed them together, a shivering going through her entire body.

Herta trembled, looking up at him with tears swelling up in her eyes, her face completely red; barely through panted breaths, she managed to speak again. “I will remember this.”

The light in the puppet’s eyes faded before it slumped to the ground, indicating that Herta had disconnected it from her end.

Allen looked around, waiting for something to happen. Security to burst through the door? Something?

But then again, what was Herta supposed to say? Help, a masked fool broke into the space station and spanked me until I wet myself?

There was also a question in his mind: why didn’t she disconnect the puppet sooner?

“Jesus Fucking Christ, I have no idea what just happened.” He shook his head and just brute force crushed the energy field around the stack of cards, pulling them apart for now and taking them away.”

@***@

Allen returned to the ship rather easily.

In fact, there was no alarm raised, no one trying to stop him.

In hindsight, it made sense. There was one on the space station who could stop an Emanator if he really wanted to fight it out. And Herta wouldn’t want the Space Station to suffer any more damage because it’s important to her research.

Which made things rather funny because she just let him go.

Surprisingly, his phone buzzed, and the messages weren’t from Nihilux.

Herta: This number apparently works, and I tried tracing it, but all my efforts proved futile. So, I’m assuming this is your real number, because only a fool would hand me their actual phone number.

CC: <3

Herta: Right, that confirms it.

Herta: I won’t be stopping you from leaving. It’s easy to guess you arrived on that cargo ship, and you should be leaving shortly.

Herta: If you tell anyone about what happened, I will chase you down, do you understand?

CC: It will be our little secret.

Herta: I’m serious; I forbid you from telling anyone! If this becomes even a rumor, I will hunt you down and make you regret it, do you understand? I will pretend this never happened, and you will do so as well. Or else.

CC: Sorry, but I will treasure this memory for the rest of my life. Who knew that the Great Madam Herta liked being spanked like a brat?

Herta: That is absolutely not the case! Nothing like that happened!

CC: Here’s a question: why didn’t you disconnect your puppet sooner?

Herta: Shut up!

CC: I’ll tell you what. I promise not to spread it around if you tell me what color your panties are. I’m curious because your puppet was purple.

Herta: Despicable!

Herta: Perverted Bastard!

Herta: You better not ever let me catch you, do you understand!?

Herta: Black.

Herta: Has disconnected.

Allen just grinned.

He didn’t know it would be so fun to anger her. 

He instead went to bother Nihilux.

CC: Hey, you there?

CC: I need you for something.

Nihilux: The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep.

Nihilux: Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

CC: Just spanked Herta’s puppet so hard that I think her real self had an accident.

Nihilux: I’m sorry, care to repeat that?

CC: Alright, you’re here. I need something.

Nihilux: We’re not skipping over that. But what do you want?

CC: I need something, an Aeon Relic made. I have some materials here.

Nihilux: That’s not how it works, and you know it. You can’t just ask for something like that. The phone was a one-time benefit.

CC: I know, I know. I have something worth trading for it. How about a joke?

Nihilux: Ugh, fine. Let’s see what you got.

CC: A man goes to the doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain.

CC: The doctor says, 'Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.'

CC: The man bursts into tears. Says, 'But doctor… I am Pagliacci’.

Nihilux: Fine, that got a laugh, but it’s not enough. You’re asking for a lot here, my little clown. They won’t be happy if you beg with just scraps, you know?

CC: I have something else here; They’ll like it, I promise. I was saving this in case I needed something in the future; it’ll entertain Them for a while.

Just as Allen sent that message, the air around him changed. He was standing in his room on the ship, but the roof was pulled away, and the walls came apart. He was then standing at the center of the universe, on a large white-gloved hand with many different masks bouncing around him.

"Heya, boss!” Allen gave a faux salute. “Did you like my joke?”

“Funny~” Aha’s mask curled up in a smile, clearly pleased. 

“Alright, here’s what I have for you.” Allen pulled a paper out of his pocket. “It’s called the Deck of Many Things. I think you’ll find it entertaining.”

The paper floated up to The Aeon, and he looked at it, as if needing to read it like a normal person.

The Aeon burst out into laughter, and the paper caught fire, turning into ashes.

“I thought it was appropriate considering what I want.” Allen reached into his pocket and pulled out everything. The Blade Pieces, the Energy Black Hole, and the Cards, which as soon as they were ‘let go’ reformed into a house of cards. “I need a weapon, boss. Figured these would be appropriate.”

“Let me see.” He spoke, though it was heavy. An Aeon speaking isn’t a gentle thing when they were expressing themselves fully.

The items flew out of Allen’s hands, and the Aeon pressed everything together with two hands, combining it all. There was a trumpet playing, a party popper exploded, a balloon popped, and a sparkler sizzled in the background as the Aeon held his hand out and a deck of cards sat there.

Allen happily accepted them. He pulled the top card off; it was The Joker, a picture of Aha himself.

Dangerous.

“Thank you, boss.” Allen saluted. “Have fun with that, an oh. Tell Nihilux to stop bullying me!” 

The Aeon laughed, retreating as the world around him returned to normal.

Allen returned to his room on the ship as if nothing happened, but he looked at the deck of cards in his hands.

He spread them out: four aces, four kings, four queens, and four jacks, going all the way down to a full set of 52 cards, 53 cards technically, because a single joker sat at the top.

“Yeah, this’ll do nicely.”

@***@

A/N

Allen meets Herta, and, well, things happen. He gets some Curios and has them forced into an Aeon Relic, which is what most Emanators utilize in combat. And he revealed his circus for the first time.

Still have the muse, so here's an extra chapter.