The Sun Incinerator is seen cruising an asteroid field as Lars begins recording his logs, "Captain's Log: I think it's Friday. I've ordered Rhodonite to do a spectral scan of the system. Hopefully one of these asteroids has the flotanium deposits we need to get our warp engines back online." he groans in despair when a letter flies out of his hair, "What now, Steven?!" he catches the letter, "Isabella?" he opens the letter and begins to read it.
"Dear Lars, how's space? Since you're away from home, I thought I'd fill you in on what's been going on in Beach City. Everyone misses you soooo much. Since Sadie's been busy with the band, no one's around to open up the Big Donut."
...
Steven peeks through the glass door of the Big Donut, sighing in dismay.
Isabella sighs as well, "I miss the old days."
"I know."
Ronaldo walks in, "Oh come on! Are they STILL not open?!" he groans, "I know Sadie quit a while ago, but why the heck isn't Lars here to pick up the slack?!"
Isabella rubs her arms, "Ronaldo, Lars is in space."
Ronaldo bursts out into laughter, "Good one, Isabella! I needed that!" he then ceased his laughing as the teen girl stared at him in silence, "YOU'RE SERIOUS?!?!"
"Don't you remember when everyone in town was abducted by Gems? Mayor Dewey had to give all those speeches about it?" Steven reminds him.
"Do you believe everything the government tells you?" Ronaldo asks.
"We're the ones who told the government." Isabella told him.
"Wait, what? So that means..."
"Mmm hmm."
"So Lars is really in space?"
"Mmm hmm."
Ronaldo begins crying, "Is he in danger? Surrounded by aliens?"
"All of the above." Isabella and Steven say.
"This is a nightmare. I'M THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE IN SPACE! WHY DOES LARS GET TO BE WHISKED AWAY INTO THE INFINITE COSMOS ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME? IT'S SO IRONIC IT HURTS MY SOUL!" he lays down on the ground, sobbing loudly.
"There, there..." Steven sighs, patting his head.
"Don't worry, Ronaldo. Lars will be coming back. Maybe if you ask nicely, he'll take you around the cosmos." Isabella tried to lighten the mood.
Bill Dewey walks in, "Morning Universes."
"Oh, good morning." the two siblings say.
"Still not open huh? I guess me and the Big Donut have a lot in common now, we're both empty inside."
"As far as local politics, Mayor Dewey isn't mayor anymore. There was an election and Nanefua won with her platform of working together."
At Fish Stew Pizza, Nanefua was holding a town council inside the pizzeria while her bodyguards stood guard outside, "So, we are all in agreement, yes? In the event of a Gem-related emergency, everyone should go to the newly designated shelters."
