The crew goes to do their own stuff. Zarya left to do some karaoke by herself, and stare at the skyscrapers. Mailen went to visit Vega and Asten to have a friendly chat. Aeternum joined a local chess tournament. Rain stayed home.
Rain called Xita over from the Thread.
"It has really been a journey, hasn't it?", says Rain.
Xita's screen lights up with three dots. "We've spent nearly three months on this planet. I would say this was long."
Rain decides to call her mother, Jala. However, nobody picks up.
"I haven't talked to her in 3 months. That would be….", says Rain before Xita cuts her off with "That would be 23 days on Earth. Not even a month."
"What's the current date on Earth, Xita?", asks Rain.
"Converting everything, it would be Month of Feasting, Day 14, 5012 First Space Era.", says Xita.
"I am such a bad daughter, jeez.", says Rain.
"Not really. Many children tend to call their parents at least once a year.", says Xita.
"That reassured me. Thanks, Xita. I love you.", says Rain, kissing Xita on its metal head.
Xita does not fully understand the concept of love but says "I love you" back.
Rain's phone buzzes, it's her mom.
"Mom! Hello!", says Rain excitedly on the phone. "I've missed you dearly!"
"Hey, dear! I missed your voice… How has it been? Where are you now?", says Jala on the phone.
"It's going well! We just destroyed some memetic virus on Almatia.", says Rain.
"Ooh, Almatia~ I love that planet. Mind if I join y'all?", asks Jala on the phone.
Rain, chuckling, thinks she's joking. "You're kidding, right? We plan to go to Hoshinara next, just to have a mental break. Three months is a long time for a mission."
Jala does not say anything. "Then, I'll see you at Hoshinara, or wherever you are!"
Rain chuckles again, not taking her mother seriously.
Jala sends Rain an app so that they know where each other are. "Trust me, this will be important in the future."
Rain downloads it, not thinking much about it, and connects with Jala.
"Anyways, what's been going on Earth?", asks Rain.
"Everybody is mourning your 'death'. Everybody was trying to comfort me at work, but to no avail. You know how I am, pretty much emotionless around others except my family.", says Jala. "Also, the Xita guy. That famous chef from Titan? Didn't know he joined the Thread."
Xita hears this and says: "I manipulated the Scientists to join. They wanted to use me as a propaganda machine, but they never knew my secret. I just take care of the Thread when they're on missions and cook delicious meals when they are in the Thread."
Jala laughs, and thanks Xita. "You're wonderful. I hope I meet you face-to-face eventually. Anyways, I got to rush. I'm doing something big."
Rain says her goodbyes. "I love you, mother."
"I love you too, Rain.", says Jala before hanging up.
Zarya comes back from her karaoke session. "That was some intense singing."
Later, Zarya, Rain and Xita leave to get Mailen. They're all about to go watch Aeternum's finale round in the chess tournament.
"This old man is so good at chess.", says Zarya. "But he isn't good at throwing hands~"
Rain chuckles, while Mailen just rolls his eyes.
They meet up with Vega and Asten too and enter the Large Theatre.
"Kärn Vennur of the Astral Thread VERSUS Lupia Preleya of Thetis Prime! Who will take the Maikitan Chess Cup? Watch and find out!"
Several hours later, Aeternum sweeps Lupia with a checkmate.
"A ladder checkmate! Kärn's ELO has increased to 4,387! Lupia's ELO has decreased to 4,298!"
A few minutes later, they meet up with Aeternum. Zarya's hands are filled with snacks from the venue, but she just puts it all in her purse to shake Aeternum's hand.
"Congrats, old man!", says Zarya.
Aeternum just laughs and pats Zarya's head. "Thank you, young one."
Zarya pouts for being called young. "I'm an adult! I'm turning 18 in a month!!!"
Rain crosses her arms and side eyes Zarya, making her flush. "Gosh darn it, Rain."
After a few hours and drinks with everyone – Leo, Vega, Asten and the crew decide to split up.
"You're always free to visit us, as much as the Kepharian leaders. Use our waypoints. We'll miss you.", says Rain.
Vega starts to tear up, and hugs everyone. Vega also turns whimsy and gives Zarya something.
"I stole this from you day one. Nobody ever noticed.", says Vega. It's one of Zarya's many plushies, and she has been looking for it in her private time.
Nobody knew Zarya likes plushies, so that made Zarya really red. She got embarrassed, took the plushie and quickly hid it in her purse.
Rain quickly chuckles: "How cute~"
They split up after that and go inside the Thread. Zarya goes to her room, and Mailen and Aeternum decide to do 'male work' as they say, which basically means they will go and play videogames in Mailen's room, but without the girls' knowledge.
"It's not like I don't know they play videogames.", says Rain. She and Xita go to the control room and say through the comms:
"Next stop, Hoshinara! We will leave in 1 day. Let's enjoy some time in our rooms and around the Thread. Let's have a party in-between."
Everyone reacts to the message with a thumbs up emoji. An ancient way of responding, but still very useful today.
"Almatia was so great. But it's time for a break.", says Xita.
"Agreed. See you later, Xita.", says Rain as she goes into her own room.
"See ya.", says Xita.
To be continued.