Since the beginning of time, the origin of life on Earth had been a huge topic of discussion among every nation on the planet. It was a very important event, to be fair. So all of humanity wondered about it. Each and every one of them had their own theories on what had happened. 

    “It was created by our god,” Many swore, arguing with others who said that it was not a god, but actually several of them.

    “I’m telling you, aliens started it!” A few claimed convinced that Earth wasn’t really the beginning of their story at all.

    “It was just evolution. It just started by a very unlikely chance. Simple as that. Nothing spiritual or religious at all,” Was a rather new argument, considering all of Earth’s history, but a popular theory nonetheless.

    Though, in a way, every single one of those ideas are correct. Not in the exact way each of those humans claimed, but instead they became correct when you combine them all as one...

    In theory, almost every Planet in existence had the ability to create life (though not all of them; This is mostly due to the fact that humanity does not have a word for the specific thing that each living Planet was. Sure, they pretended they knew what the concept of a planet was. But really it was much more. There was a big difference between planets and the Planets).

They are life themselves. If life arises on their home, it did not come from nowhere; Rather, they simply used their own life and and gave it to the new creatures. 

    This is why the life that human’s refer to is so rare. In order for it to appear, a Planet has to give their own life force up. In order for those Planets to come into existence, a sun has to give their life to them. And so on and so forth, up to the very universe itself. It is so rare in fact, that Earth is one of the only planets to hold humanity’s definition of life. That is only because one day, billions and billions of years ago, their Mother was kind enough to give up her own life in order for them to thrive and come into existence.

    It caused her death when she gifted them life. And this is why, by some, her children are looked down upon as murderers.

***

    “They’re getting farther away.”

    “Oh?”

    Jupiter grimaced, “They’re nowhere near any others - we don’t have to worry about that for at least a couple of their years - but they’re still far out.” He shook his head, frowning. “We never should have allowed them to leave the solar system boundaries. We should’ve stopped them right there.”

    “Why didn’t we?” Uranus asked curiously, turning away from the ship and looking towards Jupiter, who didn’t reply for several moments. Just as Uranus was just about to speak again, Jupiter swiftly turned around. His expression gave away the reason why not before a single word left his mouth.

    “Saturn. He managed to hide them until they were gone, and by the time we saw they’re were already a long ways off. That’s why we had to do what we did.” Jupiter scoffed, “But of course, it definitely mattered either way. It isn’t like Saturn went and ruined our plan to stop them from spreading their disease. I’m so glad he betrayed us and saved their lives.” His words practically dripped with venom. 

    Uranus laughed, “He’s ridiculous! Why does he even care? He knows what monsters they are.” His eyes went wide and he held his hand up to his mouth in a mock gasp, “Is he gonna desert us? Like Neptune?” He asked, though it was difficult to tell if he was joking or actually asking a genuine question.

    “I’m not worried about him disappearing like Neptune or Pluto did. I’m more concerned about him telling them.”

    “Yeah that’s fair.” Uranus grinned suddenly, “and I have a solution!”

    “We are not killing the others.”

    “I no longer have a solution!” 

    “Well that’s fine, because I do.” Jupiter smiled, “I don’t care what Saturn wants or whether he tells them or not. We’re going to stop the humans’ journey. However,” Jupiter sighed, “Because I am oh so kind, we will attempt to just…. Stress them out a little first, make them turn around on their own.” He sighed, “As much as I hate to admit it, I’d prefer Saturn didn’t desert us and leave us outnumbered. Two to four aren’t very good odds… So for his sake, we won’t kill them.”

    “Yet?” Uranus asked hopefully,

    Jupiter laughed, “Yet.” He promised, before he turned and began walking off. He looked over his shoulder, and called one last order.

    “You go update Saturn, let him know the plan.” With those words, he disappeared into the stars.

***

    Though the two Jovian planets were absolutely convinced Saturn had or was going to leak their plans, it wasn’t true. Saturn had never told a soul. He preferred to deal with things on his own. If he was going to intervene, he would do it himself unless he had no other option.

    That didn’t mean that the other Planets didn’t know of the Jovians’ plan. There had been a leak of information, but it wasn’t on Saturn’s part.

    “Guys!!”  Appearing out of seemingly nowhere, the red Planet that was

Mars shouted, appearing besides the two other Planets in the blink of an eye. Roman’s eyes were wide and he was out of breath, “I have news!! Important news!”

    “Well, go on.” Logan, otherwise known as Mercury, said plainly, “What is it?”

    “You know that exploration ship that just left? Made headlines everywhere down on Earth? That one?”

    “Yeah!” Patton, the Planet Venus, nodded enthusiastically, while Logan figured that that ecstatic confirmation was more than enough for both of them. 

    “Well,” Roman narrowed his eyes, “I overheard Uranus earlier, I watched him talk with Saturn. They’re trying to get them to turn back.”

    “I don’t see what exactly the problem with that is. They made history, there’s not much harm in the long run in having them turn and go home. Someone else will pick up where they left off in several years." Logan replied.

    Roman gasped dramatically, “What’s wrong with that?? Well first off, it’s the end of their adventure!!! They want to keep going, who are they to stop their passion??? And secondly,” He paused for even more dramatic effect, “If they don’t turn back, they are prepared to murder them!” 

    “Again, someone will pick up where they left off in a few years. It’s not the end of humanity’s ‘adventure’, as you put it.”

    Patton gasped in horror, “I thought they were over killing explorers!!”

    “Evidently not,” Roman frowned, and sighed. He looked like he was about to say more, but Logan beat him to it.

    “All three of them said that?” He asked, “What about Saturn?”

    “Not this again…” Roman mumbled, before throwing his arms up in an exaggerated fashion, “Of course he agreed! He’s one of them!”

    “He did stop their last extinction event.”

    “Oh yes, thank you Saturn soooo much for not turning the Earth into a snowball for the third time. We’re so grateful and you are so kind and merciful and good!!!”

    “Good, I’m glad you see the importance of that as well.”

    “I WAS BEING SARCASTIC AND YOU KNOW IT!”

    “Can we please get back to the problem at hand?” Patton interrupted suddenly, “We can’t just let them kill them. They’re just curious as to what’s out there, and She would be ashamed of us if we let them kill her.”

    The two planets grew quiet at this, and for several moments not a sound was heard. Finally, Logan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before he spoke.

    “Well, we really only have two options. One, we can encourage them to turn back. They’ve already had a great journey, and even without the Jovians they’re still at risk of general space exploration dangers. Turning back now would give them wonderful stories to tell and the opportunities to make great lives back on their home planet.” Before Roman had the chance to speak, Logan continued. “Or… we can try to guard them, and protect them from their attacks so they can continue their journey.”

    Patton and Roman glanced at each other, before they turned back to Logan and grinned. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, already knowing the answer to his question. 

“I’m guessing you two want to go with option 2…” 

    “Yes, option 2 it is!!” Roman shouted, jumping up and down in his excitement. He raised his hand in the air, pointing to the sky in a dramatic pose, “We will be their courageous guardians on this magnificent adventure, while these brave soldiers go and travel onwards into the stars!!”