"Are you ready?" The voice in the communication system says.
"Yes." Rain replied, with her hands on the console, trembling. "It's now or never."
"Preparing launch of the Seven Thousand Year Project. The Astral Thread.
Five.
Four…
Three…
Two…
One…
Launch."
Seventy-six billion people watched on Earth alone as the Thread was launching. Rain prepared her whole life to ride the Thread forever. Rain's face is filled with excitement, with Luvin's urn in her hands. Jala, in direct contact with her through the phone, is wishing her success and that they stay in contact as long as possible. The Thread can contact Earth from anywhere instantaneously and can support up to a million people inside, yet currently it's only Rain inside. It can survive nearly everything and can be upgraded anytime.
After a few hours, she was reaching the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud – the edge of the Solar System. She moved her hands by the window of the Driving Room. She passed Jupiter and had a small stop on the moon Titan of the planet Saturn.
As she stopped, she went on to buy important stuff and supplies so she can live on the Thread peacefully, such as things for her room – a bed, a computer and some small things such as toothpaste, a small shower, and everything she needs in her own personal room.
During her time on Titan, she met a robot named Xita. Xita heard of the Thread from the Scientists' announcement System-wide and wanted to work in it. He was good at cooking and bartending and taking care of the visitors across the cosmos:
"Hey there!", said Xita loudly.
"Oh my days! You scared the hell out of me!", scarily said Rain, nearly throwing her items off her hand.
"Sorry, sorry!", says Xita carefully, a little out of breath by running all along the mall earlier, probably due to his low battery.
"Sorry for not introducing myself properly. I am Xita. The Solar Scientists have told me about the Thread. They said it's the only exit from the Solar System! I want to be on it so badly!!!", says Xita, moving around his wheels.
"…Yeah. How did you know it was me? Also, aren't there more ways to exit the system, right?", asks Rain, with a confused expression on her face.
"We haven't had anyone leave or enter the Solar System in two thousand years! This is a chance for me, the representative of Titan – the bestbartender and caretaker of the system, to join the Thread in this impressive journey!", says Xita, excitedly.
"Wait... you're the famous Xita Rita??", exclaims Rain excitedly, putting her items on the ground due to their weight.
"Yup! That's me! And I'm here to ask if I have your permission to join you and your companions on your journey?", says Xita.
"…Uhm… Well… It's only me on the Thread now, and I'd love a companion to get me through this journey!", says Rain nervously. "You may join me."
"Even though I can't fight or do hiking or adventuring because I am a robot, I would gladly help in the Thread and help your future companions out inside! Like a caretaker!", says Xita.
"Future companions… I do really need a team, huh.", says Rain, cautiously nervous and worried about what awaits her, with her face showing a deep-thinking expression.
Rain is still confused about the "nobody left the solar system in 2,000 years" thing Xita mentioned, but she just brushes it off for now.
After shopping, Xita followed Rain aboard the Thread. Outside, the Titan crowd waved as they departed the Solar System. Seven thousand years of research, and intense work and losses for the Thread…
"Father. It's time to leave the System."
Suddenly, in the middle of the Oort Cloud, a weird shake happens. Something wrong has happened.
"What the hell is going on??!", shouts Rain, worried that they crashed. "Why is everything slowing down??!"
"Oh wait… I remember now. I have lived as a robot for three thousand years and have witnessed what happened to the System.", says Xita, with his "face screen" showing a bulb.
"Oh yeah?? What is it, then?", asks Rain, confused, grabbing herself by the chair in the main room to not fall down due to the shake.
"This is the dealing of the Solar Scientists.", says Xita.
"What do you mean, the Solar Scientists?", replies Rain, now panicking and extremely confused.
"The Scientists have bent time for us Solarians.", says Xita, with his screen now showing an exclamation mark.
"How, when and why?", asks Rain.
"Well..."
"Around two thousand years ago, the Solar Scientists wanted full control of the Universe yet failed. The Universal Holder Corporation, also known as the UHC, has banished the Scientists from the rest of the Universe to the Solar System after a war with Andromeda. This upset the Scientists and decided to slow down time on the entire System. This happened precisely on the Month of Flowers, Day 28, Year 3027 SE. The Earth and the System moved 3.6 times slower than the rest of the universe, causing a total delay of 7148 years.", explains Xita, with a lowered tone.
"This means…" -Rain
"...that we are in the year 10175 of the First Space Era. Or else known as the year 2175 of the Second Space Era.", says Xita, unprepared for Rain's response.
"What do you mean, Second Space Era?", asks Rain, still wondering with what is going on.
"Did you not learn this at the Space School?", says Xita, looking at Rain completely confused.
"I may have dozed off at that time… Sorry...?", says Rain while sitting down and trying to apologize to Xita for something that isn't really a big deal.
"Basically, every eight thousand years; or greatly major event, the Universal Calendar updates to a new Space Era. In the first era, there have been zero known major events in history.", says Xita, with an "info symbol" on his screen.
"But, how do you know that there hasn't been a major event even though the Solar System has been under time dilation?", asks Rain, wondering if what Xita said was true, her face filled with a normal expression. She calmed down – with the shake also stopping.
"Because even us Solarians must be notified of such things. The Universal News Program doesn't account for time dilation, except that the date is different to the Solar Calendar – the one used in the Solar System.", says Xita calmly.
"Soo..."
"…Does this mean I am not really 25 years old?", asks Rain worryingly.
"No. In this period, you were alive for ninety years. But don't fret, you're biologically still 25 years old.", says Xita calmly, making sure Rain doesn't go into panic.
"Does this have any connection about what you mentioned several hours ago? That nobody left the Solar System since the time slowing started?", asks Rain
"I can't say for sure, but it may be a possibility.", says Xita, not knowing what to say.
Have I really been alive for ninety years? Why did the Scientists hide all this information and slowed down time for us? Why have we been banished for two thousand years and why is the Thread the alleged "savior" of the Universe? What do the Scientists want? Why are they giving me this freedom? Why do I have to even go to Kephar as my first destination?
Suddenly, Xita told Rain: "I found this letter on your late father's urn. It says to open before you land on Kephar. Do you want to read it now?"
Several hours before Luvin's death – in the hospital, Jala has talked to the doctors about his condition. The doctors said:
"He is not in a good position, but he told us to forward this message to you. It is for your daughter."
It reads as follows:
"Rain. If you're reading this, you must already be near Kephar. Even though I am known as a major Solar Scientist, don't mix me up with the rest of the Scientists. They're all evil people, and all they want is universal control. Please, do not listen to them, and cut off contact on Kephar, and make them think you died. Save Earth and the System. I love you, and I hope I can see you sometime in the future.
Yours lovingly,
Luvin."
Rain's hands start shaking. "So… the Scientists are evil? They want control? Why? What is the reason? I don't know what any of this means!"
Xita stares at Rain and comforts her: "Don't worry, Rain. It seems that Kephar may answer some of our questions. Maybe that's why your father is sending you there."
"Probably. I should calm down. Everything will make sense over time.", says Rain, finally calmed but still gripping the letter hard.
"Well, I guess it's our time to head to your first destination, right?", asks Xita
"Yup… Ugh, I am really scared, my hands are literally trembling right now!", says Rain, worried of what awaits her on Kephar.
"Kephar… The planet of beauty. I heard the ancient Rus' and Germanic conquered the planet and live together with many different species coming from across the Universe.", says Xita.
As the Thread prepares for the wormhole creation, Rain decides to go to her room and finish the room setup before they arrive in Kephar.
"Only 17 light years away. That should take around half an hour of wormhole creation. I need to be quick"
As Rain finishes her room, Xita announces through the internal comms: "The Wormhole has been created. Initiating Movement. Please standby."
The thread shines with blue light as it warps through the wormhole to Kephar. They get around half an astronomical mile (approximately the distance between Earth and the Moon), and prepare for landing the "Dismantling Device".
"The planet of beauty, Kephar. We haven't heard of them in a while – are you sure that this is a safe first destination?", asks Xita.
"I- I don't know… my father said I will get my companions here and that I must do some work for the people of Kephar. Maybe I'll also figure out my true purpose with the Thread here too.", replies Rain
"Well then, if that's what you're currently supposed to do, then so be it. I will make sure to be of help in the Thread for all your companions and visitors!", says Xita. "I will study the Thread while you're gone."
"…also, have this. This item will give you the ability to teleport to the Thread or anywhere you set the waypoint in a one-light-hour radius.", says Xita, giving Rain a weird phone-looking object, but without a screen – only a few buttons that say "Set waypoint (1 day cooldown)", "Teleportation" and "Remove waypoint".
…
"Will I ever use this 'Remove waypoint' option?" -Rain, jokingly but serious at once.
"Who knows? Maybe in the toughest times you'll have to keep out of specific areas", says Xita seriously.
"Fair enough… so, I can basically teleport to nearby planets?" -Rain.
"Not really. You need to set the waypoint first." -Xita.
"…That sounds simple enough." -Rain, concerned about its' functionality.
"Are you ready to see the beauty of Kephar?", asks Xita with a happy face
"Yes, let's do this.", says Rain confidently, still with a little fear in her chest.
The Dismantling Device has now been finished preparing and Rain goes in it.
"Three. Two. One.", an automated voice says in the comms. The device detaches from the Thread and is directed to land in Kephar. In a city named Sanydra.
During her flight to Kephar, she calls Xita for one more chat.
"It's only been several minutes, and I already want to chat more. This device is quite uncomfortable. Is it going to be possible to revamp this device", asks Rain, whilst moving uncontrollably due to her uncomforting position.
"Maybe, we'll see once you're back from Kephar. Do not hesitate to call if you want to chat though, I'll surely feel lonely here!", reassures Xita, making Rain finally comfortable in the device.
As the device approaches Kephar, she can finally see the daylight shining on Sanydra.
"Hmm… So, is this city the capital of Kephar? It doesn't look more futuristic… What's that though?"
Rain notices several fires and burning in other cities from the sky. Something is wrong.
"Why are these cities burning? I'm getting nervous, what if Sanydra bursts into flames during my visit? Maybe this is my so-called 'first mission'."