BLUE PLANET

MARK

Venera arrived at the prairie of Eosphorus, a few meters from the dormitory building.

It's almost dark. There's no time to think about why he showed up here, instead of going back to the park. This has all been arranged by Queen Ishtar, and she must respond quickly.

Immediately Venera ran through the path leading to the gate of the dormitory, despite her very uncertain feelings.

"Hi, Vinn!" exclaimed Venera, painstakingly trying to make her facial expression look mediocre after everything she experienced today.

Vinn, who was ready with a big key in his hand, laughed as he shook his head to see Venera running in.

"Whoops! Until!" exclaimed Venera then stopped panting.

"You're here" said Vinn, pushing the gate shut and locking it.

"Ahaha.pardon me, Vin," said Venera.

"What's wrong, Venera," Vinn shook his head then turned around, then embraced Venera's shoulder. They walked together entering the main door of the dormitory. "Just be honest. Although I feel annoyed every afternoon should wait for you to come home until the last seconds, but actually I enjoy this activity. Looks like there'll be less if you never do it again, Venera." Vinn laughed a little.

Venera. Vinn's words sounded strange.

How could Vinn possibly think that there was a chance he would 'never do it again'? All this time even if Venera never went out in the afternoon, it was only for a few days. The longest is three days, when he had a quarrel with a Marxist yesterday. Before that he was almost never absent, and it seems like all the Venusians know, adventuring in the afternoon was his favorite all along. And it's impossible until a venusian thinks he'll 'never do it again'.

"Venera? Why you?" vinn asked astonished to see Venera suddenly speechless.

"Eh. oh, it's okay, Vinn." Venera tried to keep looking cheerful. "I was just thirsty after running. Um... Did you see Vla?" ask Venera.

"As usual, he's waiting for you in the room" said Vinn.

"All right then. I go first, yeah!" said Venera. "Byeah, Vinn!" Venera.

"Byeah!" Vinn waved back and turned towards the stairs to the top floor, to store the key to the gate in the Board of Management dormitory.

The dinner went on as usual. Venera sat by Vla's side with a chaotic mind.

All the images he had seen, everything that Queen Ishtar had said to him, seemed to be re-spinning many times inside his claustrophobic brain. Awe, as well as disbelief, mingled, creating a series of great confusion that now struck his heart.

In the beginning, though very frightened, he felt an extraordinary feeling, when he was taken to the court of Queen Ishtar by the queen herself. And it turns out that he was not punished for his actions entering the mysterious garden, and also for Marxism. After that he was even allowed to look at the face of Queen Ishtar and then talked to. A very extraordinary thing and seemed impossible to experience by the venusian.

Then he could hardly believe it when he found out that they were all actually living on the surface of a large ball floating in space. And there are many more similar balls of various sizes and colors that spread in the vast darkness called the universe.

Then, he was pleased to see that there was a distant planet there, whose scenery was very beautiful, and even much more beautiful than the mysterious garden he had discovered with Marxists. The Blue Planet, whose surface is filled with all the things he likes.

Then, he was surprised to get the task to lead the Blue Planet with Marxists. A very unexpected thing. Because all this time he had never even thought of being chosen as one of the members of the Supervisory Board. Queen Ishtar ordered him to be the leader of a planet. The planet is a very big place, right?

He also did not expect that he, as well as all the venusians and martians, was from the body parts of Queen Ishtar and King Ares, a strange thing that he had never thought of. Once in his life, he never thought where he came from.

Then after that he was surprised by Queen Ishtar's explanation of the true love relationship between the core-cell couple on the Blue Planet who would not be like her and Marxists. The venusians and the martians in pairs of nuclei will find it difficult to meet each other, even very few will eventually meet, because it is covered by standards, pseudo-thought, and so on, and strange social rules that they make themselves later. The absurd thoughts that Venera didn't want to believe were coming from inside the brain of the same creature as her.

How unpleasant the conditions on the Blue Planet are. How sad to see everything that will happen. It felt like he wanted to shout protest and fight, but I don't know who. But he knew it was useless, because Queen Ishtar had said that all of that would happen. Although Venera still does not understand how the queen can know what will happen on the Blue Planet in the future.

Venera finished her food in a very lackluster manner. He must cover up his anxiety from Vla, because Queen Ishtar has ordered to keep everything from anyone.

~o0o~

"Venera, are you okay?" ask Vla from above her bed. He was still in a sitting position, not yet lying down, and looked at Venera worriedly.

"It's okay. It's just that you've been quiet since before dinner last night. Are you not feeling well anymore?" ask Vla.

"Ah, no. I'm healthy, Vla," Venera replied, calming Vla down.

"Hm. I can't believe it" said Vla. Then he got out of his bed and approached Venera's bed. Then it felt Venera's forehead with the back of her hand.

"A little warm" he said sure.

"really?" asked Venera doubtfully.

"You just touch your own forehead, Venera," said Vla.

Venera furrowed her brows as she placed the back of her hand on her own forehead. True also said Vla, his body feels a little warm. Maybe because I still feel surprised at Queen Ishtar's explanation and constantly worry about everything, Venera thought.

Seeing Venera not answering, Vla nodded her head. "Really, right?"

"Mmm. yes." replied Venera.

"Then I'll get you some medicine in the Health Room" Vla said without asking Venera's approval and headed straight for the door.

"Eh, it's okay, Vla!" prevent Venera. "I told you, I'm fine. Besides I don't want to bother you these nights."

"Hey, what are you talking about?" Vla stopped at the door and turned to look at Venera with a smile. "I've never felt bothered by you, Venera. You're my best friend, we should always help each other, right? Besides, it looks like my life will be less if you don't bother me anymore." Vla laughs and waves. "Wait a minute, I'll bring you some medicine and some hot drinks."

Venera did not reply, and was again stunned. Vla's words are strange. Just like Vinn at the gate. Why do they all say that?

It was as if they already knew that there was a possibility that he would not be here anymore. It was as if they had gotten a sign or warning out of nowhere, that Venera would leave them.

He himself still does not know if he can leave his friends on Venus and accept his heavy duty as a leader on the Blue Planet. But if he dared to reject her, Queen Ishtar would definitely give him a severe punishment.

And those two things will end the same. Separation with other venusians.

Suddenly Venera shivered. His body felt cold for no reason.

The separation? Separated out?

He's never thought about this before. Never imagined in his head, he was alone and wasted away from his friends.

If he accepts the Blue Planet assignment, he won't be able to interact with them again. If they could, they wouldn't be able to recognize it.

Whereas if he refused the task and received a severe punishment from Queen Ishtar, he must also serve the punishment in an isolated place, away from his friends. Can't talk, can't scream, can't ask for help.

Both feel terrible.

Suddenly he remembered Queen Venera's explanation of the life span on the Blue Planet, which was the limit for the period of use of the physical body of each creature. After the active period is over, the body will die. And he will not remember his previous life.

Is this how it feels...

The time is approaching for...

Die off?