Zarya returns back to the crew. She notices not everyone is back. She sees Xita in the kitchen, while Rain and Mailen are playing games, both exhausted. "A draw again.", says Rain, looking like she's about to pass out.
They finally decide they're equally good at videogames. Rain falls asleep and Mailen just sits back. "Oh, hi, Zarya. Haven't seen you."
Zarya chuckles and waves back. She goes on her bed, and goes on the internet.
"I met a weirdo today.", says Zarya.
"Oh? Did something happen??", says Mailen. "Are you good?"
"Yeah, yeah. Some girl came up to me and asked me about some private hotel.", says Zarya.
"Hm… isn't that where the Intelligents stay? What was her name?", says Mailen.
"Lambda, or something. Lambda Oni.", says Zarya. "She had some recording device on her back, though."
"Lambda Oni. Let me take a look.", says Mailen, opening the data bank.
"Lambda Oni, member #3,539 of the Intelligence Network. She's one of the newest members, working on UHC integration into the Network, to expand the Network's Milky Way business. She is a part of the Technological Institute of the Network.", says Mailen. "She seems to be one of the big guys from the UHC's IT department."
Xita comes from the kitchen, bringing coffee to Mailen.
"You are exhausted. Here's some local coffee.", says Xita.
"Thanks, little one.", says Mailen.
A day later, 5 days before the first meeting.
"Aeternum… I got a question for you..", asks Rain. Aeternum looks at Rain and says: "What is it, Rain?"
"I never seemed to have asked… What's the Intelligence Network about?"
Aeternum looks at Rain, and thinks. "There's no definition to explain it. Basically, every year, there's a meeting, just like this one. I joined during the meeting when Mayik got connected to the Universal system fifteen years ago. Futurum joined around 5 years earlier, also at the age of 17, just like me."
"How did you two meet?", asks Rain.
Aeternum smiles. "Sit down. This will be a long story."
"During the beginning 'Reenactment of Mayik', she was one of the members that visited Mayik personally. A Hoshinaran young lady. She was 20 years old."
"We met in Großglück, which is one of the five Mayikan nations. The 'Großglückliche Kaffee' café was the most interesting of them. There was a scene playing in the bar, and she was there. I was one of the players."
"The traveler that found Mayik 25 years ago called up the Network and has asked for the implementation of Mayik in the cosmos. As you may know, it's a rogue planet. No sun, so it's really hard to find it. Not even our current technology can find rogue planets that easily. It took 5 years for the traveler to explore Mayik and fix their ship to enact Mayik into 'reality'"
"Kira and I clicked instantly. She recognized my intellect and vouched for me to join the Network. Then, we started to go out together right when I joined the Network, and started dating. When Kira turned 24, so thirteen years ago, I proposed to her, and we got married in Proxima. There, we stayed for a while until you came. I left for Kephar, and she and Fae went to Hoshinara to relax from everything Proxima gave them, and in hopes the Thread lands there and meets me. And, the rest you know."
"Oh, wow… that's quite romantic..", says Rain, grabbing the back of her chair tightly, showing pure interest.
Aeternum quickly returns to the topic about the Network. "However, the Network can only be explained by like 3 words. Very Intelligent People. I think the lowest IQ in the Network is around 180?"
"Oh my.", says Rain.
Afterwards, the crew receives their first call from Renji. "Hey, guys! Threadia update: Everything has been set up. You can now use the waypoint to teleport ANYWHERE on the moon. Also, we are sending a walkable portal between the main government building and the Thread, if that's fine."
"Sure, that's fine. I'll place it. No worries.", says Mailen.
Zarya and Fae are in the living room, playing with toys.
"Big sis Zarya, what do you think of this character?", asks Fae, giving Zarya a doll of Sheni.
"That's my favorite singer!!", says Zarya. "She makes the best music ever."
Zarya gets the music player from her purse and plays a Sheni song. Fae starts bopping her head and enjoying the music
"I actually met her recently!!", says Zarya, starting to go feral inside from the pure excitement
"Oh my, big sis is so cool!", says Fae. She stands up and goes to Aeternum, who was with everyone else in the kitchen.
"Dad! Dad! Did you know Zarya met Sheni??! Like, the doll I have?", says Fae excitedly
"Yes! I was there, too! Dad met Sheni too.", says Aeternum.
Fae's eyes sparkle. She goes feral and starts jumping all around. "You are all so cool!"
While in town, Mailen tries to translate around. Even if they have real-time translation software, Zarya insists that Mailen translates and re-trains his native language.
Mailen has a hard time. He is suffering from having to resort every word.
"Zarya, please.", begs Mailen. "Just use your phone. Stop asking me."
"No~, keep going.", says Zarya, grinning at Mailen. Her chaotic side is fully on, and Mailen is her victim for the day.
A few minutes later, Zarya sees Lambda again. She is sitting and talking to somebody on the phone. She can't hear her well, but from understanding a bit of lip syncing, it seems to go over the lines of "Yes, I'm here. Huh? No, sweetie, I'll see you a month or so from now. Yes, I can't wait for our marriage when I'm back. Love you too."
She seems to be talking to her fiancé. Zarya smiles. "People are interesting, don't you think?"
Mailen looks and asks: "What do you mean?"
"We humans are capable of anything. We only live once. Yet, even with our limited time in the universe, we can talk to our lovers thousands of light years away like nothing. It's wonderful what humanity is achieving."
"All thanks to the Space Era…", says Mailen. "But, why are you saying this now?"
"I saw a girl talk to someone about her marriage with them. I can see they're not on the planet. It's kind of lovely.", says Zarya.
Mailen thinks that he never saw this caring side of Zarya. Her wonders and questions are slowly rising out.
"Humanity can do anything if they're able to persist through. Being lazy in your bed won't do much.", says Mailen. They reach an ice cream shop, and Mailen orders in Astorian.
"That's also fun. We as humans can understand each other, even if we all have different native languages.", says Zarya.
"Yeah. Universal is the best.", adds Mailen, giving Zarya her favorite flavor of ice cream – a hazelnut flavor.
They start walking home.
"I love teasing y'all", says Zarya.
"I know.", says Mailen.
"Hehe…", chuckles Zarya, grinning at Mailen again. "You know what to do~"
Mailen sighs and starts translating every Astorian sign they pass by.
"You're weird.", says Mailen.
"I know. I love being weird~", grins Zarya. "..and evil."
A day before the first meeting, everyone starts to prepare.
"You know what to say, right, Kärn?", asks Futurum.
"Just the basics on trying to break the Big Bang Theory. I think tomorrow is the day we find out the truth behind the universe. Good for the 2000th EXPO.", says Aeternum. "and you?"
Futurum thinks through: "Well, we are yet to figure out the cognitive abilities of a Leviathan. You know they eat everything in their sight. We have to evade that, in case one of them eats our galaxy. Tomorrow should be the breakthrough day. Even #1,092, Lumi Krei, will be there. I feel a bit nervous."
Aeternum headpats Futurum. "It'll be fine, dear. Just breathe."
Futurum smirks at Aeternum, like she doesn't know more than him on the human body.
Aeternum sweats a bit, seeming a bit goofed off. He chuckles.