Rain fell in drizzle at Malang City, and fog hung in the air, blanketing everything in cold whiteness. In the distance, Tika couldn’t see the mountain which usually decorated the horizon beyond the treeline. 

She took a deep breath, allowing the biting chilly air fill her lungs, before exhaling audibly. She sipped the scorching hot tea that filled the mug in her hands, and sighed once again.

“I have no idea how you can handle sitting outside in this cold weather”, Varka said, before sitting on the rattan chair next to her. They wore a thick jacket, a scarf, and a pair of gloves. The tip of their nose was purple from the cold air, and they yawned as they settled comfortably on the chair.

“Compared to the Antarctic, this is nothing”, Tika returned. She remembered the last time she went to Houston, Texas, for her training. True, the winter in Texas was nothing compared to, say, Alaska. But still, it was way colder than the rainy season in Malang City.

“I still don’t understand how humans actually chose to live in extreme condition. It sounds like such a waste of energy”, Varka grumbled. “But I suppose, that ability to adapt made the humanity somewhat unique.”

“You speak as if you’re not half-human yourself”, Tika returned. “And you think we’re unique?”

“Not a lot of beings can adapt to life in extreme condition”, Varka replied. “With adequate equipment, humans can live relatively comfortably in the temperature ranging from minus forty degree Celcius to forty degree Celcius. That’s remarkable, I suppose.”

“How about the Anur Arta?” Tika asked, curious. “As cold-blooded people by nature, shouldn’t you guys be able to adapt better than us humans?”

“Hmm… our metabolism went down drastically in the cold, so yes… we can’t stay where it’s cold”, Varka answered, before yawning once again. “Sorry. This cold air is making me sleepy all the time.”

“God”, Tika said, fondly. She shook her head and gave the jacket she wore to Varka. They wrapped it around themself like a blanket.

Varka let out a comfortable sigh at the additional layer of warmth, and they glanced at the mug in Tika’s hand. “Is that tea? Can I have some?”

Tika handed the mug over to Varka, who sipped it slowly. A comfortable silence hung over them like a warm blanket, and for a moment, Tika thought Varka had fallen asleep. But when she glanced at them, she saw that they were staring into the distance. She couldn’t help but be curious about what they were thinking, but she didn’t want to break the silence between them.

Once everything was done with the UESA, Tika and Varka took a vacation for a month. They took a plane to Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport, and grabbed an e-taxi to Tika’s home at Malang City. Tika’s parents were surprised to find their only daughter was dating an extraterrestrial being, but they quickly adjusted to the whole thing. They even allowed Varka to stay in their small house. Tika was grateful that her parents accepted Varka so readily.

And she was grateful to see her parents again. Four years had passed since she last saw them. She couldn’t go home at all while preparing herself for the Eris Mission, and she was away on the outer space for months after that. Still, she was grateful that she still had her parents — unlike Varka, who had lost their mother and had a complicated relationship with their father.

Tika still couldn’t forget their last meeting with Emperor Velandar, who admittedly was an imposing figure. The Emperor said he no longer wanted to take over the Earth, but she didn’t know if he was being honest. And if she wanted to be honest, she still had her nightmares about it— 

“Kartika”, Varka said all of the sudden, breaking the silence.

“Hmmm?” Tika hummed.

“I’ve been thinking… if possible, I want to join Velrakis-Aran again”, Varka said. Their thumb rubbed circles to the back of Tika’s palm gently.

“You’re leaving?” Tika straightened up and looked at Varka in the eye.

“That’s what I want to discuss with you”, Varka answered. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“Oh.” Tika didn’t know what to say. She felt bad, kind of, for making Varka doubt their choice to leave her. Yet, at the same time, she also didn’t want to lose Varka.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to leave Earth. I… I like it here”, Varka said as they stared to the foggy view of the mountain in the distance. “I… I am confused. I have a duty as Velrakis-Aran, but…”

Varka let out a sigh. Tika couldn’t stand seeing Varka being sad like this, but she also didn’t know what to do.

No, that was not true. Tika knew what she had to do. There was a way for them to stay together, but fear gripped her heart tightly like an invisible hand — fear of the dangerous outer space. Tika had never felt like this before, and if she was being honest, it scared her.

She knew now that the universe was filled with life, and some of them were not friendly. Not all extraterrestrial beings wanted to live in peace with the humanity, and for so long, it had never been a problem. They couldn’t even leave their own solar system, so their chance to meet those kind of extraterrestrial beings was rather slim.

However, she knew that sooner or later, things would change. Tika knew that Indah and her colleagues at the UESA’s astromechanical department was trying their best to reverse engineer Varka’s ship, to recreate a spaceship faster than anything they had ever have before. 

Sooner or later, the humanity would cross the stars and meet with other beings. What if they would get involved in some kind of interstellar war or something? What if the Earth would get destroyed as a result? Then they would end up like the citizens of Mothership Velrakis.

“Kartika?” Varka’s voice pulled her out of her downward spiral into anxiety.

“I won’t stand in your way if that’s what you want, Varka”, Tika said, forcing a smile. “I just want you to be happy.”

“Actually, I was thinking to take you with me”, Varka returned. “That way, we don’t have to part ways.”

“It’s just…” Tika sighed. “Travelling through the stars, I don’t think it’s for me.”

And it felt good to say it. It was really hard for her to admit it, but she felt good. Like spitting a poison that she had been keeping inside her for so long.

“You fear the universe”, Varka said, worried. Tika shook slightly. “Hey, it’s alright. Is this fear born from the incident at Velrakis?”

Tika nodded, but she didn’t say anything still. She didn’t know what to say.

“Hey, it’s okay”, Varka’ voice was soft, and they held her hand in theirs gently. “If you don’t want to come with me, it’s fine. I won’t leave you. But think about it clearly. Are you going to let that fear overcome your dream to explore this vast universe?”

“I don’t know…” Tika answered honestly, and she could feel tears brimming in her eyes, clouding her vision.

“One trip”, Varka said. “Allow me to take you for one trip. Nothing too far, only a few star systems away from Earth. Allow me to show you that not everything in this universe is bad. There are good things hiding in the stars and planets out there. Things that you will never forget.”

Tika didn’t want to believe it, no matter how bad she wanted to.

“Do you trust me?” Varka asked eventually, and Tika remembered they said it too when she took Tika out of the Velrakis Royal Palace at night. She remembered it was the moment they became closer.

“I trust you”, Tika replied. “Do you really want me to go with you?”

“Of course”, Varka said. “If you end up hating it… well, I guess we can live on Earth and take care of your father’s coffee field.”

Tika laughed at Varka’s words, before realizing that they were absolutely serious. They would leave their duties as a Velrakis-Aran member, if that was what she wanted.

And she really wanted to trust Varka. She did trust them. And they were right too — perhaps she didn’t have to fear what was out there. Perhaps she would see things even more magnificent than a gargantuan spaceship. Perhaps she would eventually see what was out there, outside her solar system.

And perhaps, perhaps things would be alright.

“Alright then”, Tika said. “Let’s go.”

“You won’t regret it”, Varka returned with a smile.

Yes, everything would be alright.

The sun was setting and Maghrib Adhan could be heard faintly from the nearest mosque. Tika and Varka arrived at the living unit where Professor Arga and his family lived. It was understandably bigger than Tika’s living quarter, and had a few rooms to accommodate the small family.

“Come on in”, Professor Ratri said as she opened the door. Tika and Varka followed her in, and immediately be greeted by Kumis, Indah’s cat. He sniffed at Tika and Varka’s socked feet, before standing on his hind leg and meowing. 

“He’s being clingy today”, Professor Ratri said, leaving Tika and Varka to the kitchen.

“Oh, really? Who’s a clingy baby? Are you a clingy baby?” Tika lifted Kumis off the floor and made smooching noises at him. “Are you baby? Yes, yes you are baby.”

“I don’t know if I’m being jealous or not, but stars, he is adorable”, Varka said, making Tika laugh. Varka scritched the top of Kumis’ head, making him squint his eyes and purr loudly.

“Professor Arga and Indah aren’t home yet, Auntie?” Tika asked.

“Not yet. In a bit, maybe”, Professor Ratri said from the kitchen. Delicious smell of food hung thickly in the air.

Bayu trudged out of his room. He was wearing a shirt with the UESA logo on it and a pair of short shorts. His hair was a mess, as if he just woke up from sleep. He gave Tika and Varka a long stare before groaning, rubbing his face.

“I get it, you’re dating”, he said. “You don’t have to wear matching clothes too, you know?”

In that moment, Tika realized that both her and Varka were wearing white clothes — Tika in a white dress with white flower emboss, while Varka in white button up shirt and black pants.

“A happy accident”, Varka returned calmly, before sauntering off to the kitchen. Tika could hear them asking Professor Ratri if there was something they could help.

Tika couldn’t hear Professor Ratri’s answer — her voice was being swallowed by the noise of cooking. But she could see Varka helping Professor Ratri cutting some vegetables. For Varka who was raised with replicator technology that could make food with a press of button, cooking with their hand had to be quite an experience. Tika couldn’t help but admire them as they worked with their hands.

“I wonder what smell this is”, Bayu said all of a sudden. Tika opened her mouth to answer, but he beat her to it and laughed. “Oh, right. The smell of someone falling in love. Ew, no wonder it smells awful.”

Tika rolled his eyes. “I get it, you aromantic dweeb. Love is overrated for you.”

“Heck yeah it is!” Bayu laughed and flopped onto the couch. “And besides, nothing, or no one, in this universe understands me like maths.”

“Remind me again that one time you tried to argue one of Velrakis’ finest mathematicians about one of our most advanced theories”, Varka said as they walked out of the kitchen. In their hand was a bowl full of stir-fried spinach with oyster sauce and it smelled absolutely heavenly.

“He was being a smug prick about it! I had to argue him on principle!” Bayu shot back.

“Of course, and it had nothing to do with your wounded pride”, Varka said calmly. Tika giggled.

“Oh so that’s how it is. Two against one, huh?” Bayu was ready to throw down, and Tika was only partially worried for his wellbeing. “If only Indah is here.”

“If Indah is here, it’s going to be three against one”, Tika reminded him, standing up to assist Varka and Professor Ratri carrying food from the kitchen and onto the dining table.

Bayu flopped back against the couch, grumbling incomprehensibly. That was when the front door opened, and Professor Arga entered the living unit, followed by Indah and Emperor Velandar.

The sound of a plate crashing onto the floor made Tika turn around. Varka dropped the plate they were holding, and its contents — fried tofu and tempeh — rolled all over the floor. Their face was filled with absolute fear and their body was beginning to shook, something that Tika had never seen before.

Tika put herself between Varka and the Emperor.

“May I talk with my progeny?” the Emperor asked calmly. “Privately.”

Tika opened her mouth to argue. Varka was so terrified that they were shaking just for seeing him! How could he ask such a thing?! But Varka beat her to it.

“Father…”

“Come, ni’amhe”, the Emperor urged.

“No”, Varka said.

The Emperor blinked, confused. 

“Whatever you will say, I will tell Kartika”, Varka continued. They came up to her and held her hand, their fingers intertwining together. “She’s my ah’va. She deserves to know everything.”

The Emperor took a deep sigh, but it was clear that Varka would not budge. Whatever ah’va meant, it sounded like something important in Anur Arta culture. The Emperor then turned to Professor Arga and his family, who were still watching them with wide eyes.

“May I borrow a room where I can speak with my progeny and his… ah’va, in private?” the Emperor asked.

“O-oh, of course”, Professor Arga stuttered. “Here, in my study.”

They entered the Professor’s study, where bookshelves lined one side of the wall. They sat on the comfortable sofa — the Emperor slightly awkwardly, as he folded his long limbs to fit into the human-sized sofa.

“Human housing is very… small”, the Emperor commented.

“We don’t normally receive guests taller than two meters”, Tika answered snappishly. She took a seat next to Varka. The Emperor was silent, and he looked particularly intrigued when Tika took Varka’s hand in hers once again.

“You caused Mother’s death”, Varka accused.

“Something that I deeply regret until today”, Emperor Velandar said, his face was filled with deep sorrows.

“Regret only is not enough”, Varka hissed. “How could you want to take over the planet that she missed terribly? How could you even think that it was a good idea?!”

“Ni’amhe…” the Emperor said softly. “I thought it was the only way for our people to live side by side with the humans. I thought, the humans are so primitive. Our people’s presence can bring them to the age of prosperity—”

“I’m sorry, primitive?!” Tika interrupted, no longer able to hold her irritation. “Just because our people can’t travel the stars like yours do, doesn’t mean that our people are worthless! We are a civilized people, with a very diverse culture, and we are proud of it!”

“Is this how you persuaded less than advanced people like the Jotnar and the Ndalu to join the Intergalactic Coalition?” Varka accused. “By offering them technologies beyond their imagination? By being their savior, so that they depend on us completely? And for what? So that our people look grander in comparison, is that true?”

Emperor Velandar was silent, but his eyes were wide.

“You are truly your mother’s progeny…” he said softly. “Have you ever thought that our people actually have nothing?”

“After a month living on Earth? Yes, I have thought about it”, Varka returned sharply. “Our people are stagnating. The people of Larkis was right, utopia without any regards of other beings’ lives are not real utopia. The Mothership had even never have non-Anur Arta as our leader!”

Tika suddenly remembered Varka’s conversation with the people fo Larkis, over than a month ago, the one that she couldn’t understand. Was that what the people of Larkis said? A chance for welfare and dignity? Tika felt bad for hurting them, before she remembered that they did try to hurt her and Varka.

“I know I am wrong”, Emperor Velandar said. “I know there is racial disparity between the Anur Arta and other beings. I also know the system is broken. That’s why I came here, to apologize to the humanity. To fix everything.”

Tika stared at the Emperor in disbelief. Would it possible for someone to change so drastically and in such short time? Only a month passed since she left Mothership Velrakis. Next to her, Varka looked like they couldn’t trust him either.

“The Velrakis-Aran has been ordered to find planets we can live on”, Emperor Velandar told Varka. “You are a Velrakis-Aran. Would you… like to help?”

This time, Varka was quiet.

“ … Varka?” Tika asked. Would Varka leave with the Emperor? Did that mean she would never see Varka again?

“This is too sudden”, Varka replied. “I… enjoy life on Earth.”

Emperor Velandar sighed. “I understand”, he said, standing up from his seat. Like this, he looked old and weary. “I have predicted your decision, so I… took the liberty to pack your things up from your room at Velrakis, and take it with me here.”

“Oh”, Varka hummed. Their eyes were wet. For a moment, Tika thought they were going to cry.

“Here”, the Emperor handed something to Varka. “Long distance communicator. I want to hear about your life on Earth. And… I also brought a small ship for you. If you decide to change your mind.”

“I will take it to the UESA to be studied”, Varka said sharply. “They deserve to study about our technology, after everything that you put them through.”

Emperor Velandar smiled, as if he had predicted it too.

“I am happy to see you happy, ni’amhe. Life on Earth suits you”, he said, proud, before walking out of the room. Varka fell back to the couch next to Tika and covered their face with their hand.

“That went well”, Tika said. “At least there’s no shouting match.”

“Oh, no. We Anur Arta are too civilized for that”, Varka hissed. “I used to be proud being an Anur Arta. I used to believe that everything I did was for our people, and for other beings who live on the Mothership. But now… I don’t know…”

“It takes years to unlearn everything bad that has been taught to us”, Tika said. “But it’s not too late, Varka. I believe in you. You’re getting there.”

“Thank you, Tika”, Varka returned, smiling.

Tika returned their smile.