Stargazers

Once again, night came much sooner than I had expected. I had just closed my eyes - for a moment only, of course—but when I blinked awake, the outside was dipped in dark blue ink, and above us, the stars glittered.

Even from inside the pod, I could see how cold it was outside. Maybe even wet. And yet...

"Lottie, stop," I said.

"Sure thing!" Lottie responded. "Should I prepare some tea?"

"Uh... sure?"

That sounded like some program left over from my parents. But this time, I didn't feel annoyed, but rather, there was a growing curiosity inside of me.

Going out would suck. But maybe, just maybe, it would also be an experience I wouldn't forget, as my parents liked to call it. A true memory.

"We have stopped?" Emelyse asked.

As always, there was this questioning, curios note in her voice.

"I want to look at the stars. Do you want to come with me?"

She nodded. "I would love to learn more."

"It will be cold."

"I understand."

"And wet, probably."

"I understand."

"I don't know which tea Lottie is making."

"I understand."

"I don't even know if I like tea."

She nodded, still with that smile on her face. She was listening to me, sure, but something told me that there were a thousand other things running through her head, as well. I shrugged.

"Well, I've warned you."

I changed into the "outerwear type - rainy cold" type on my suit, and soon enough, the light outline of a puffy jacket enveloped me. I would stay warm, at least. Emelyse, on the other hand, hadn't changed her suit. I looked at her, but it didn't seem like she was going to change a thing.

"Well, let's go, then."

I grabbed the two hover pads with one hand and tea mugs with the other, careful not to spill it. I sniffed the tea. What did it remind me of? It was hard to say, but it did conjure up moments with my parents, evening and mornings, back when I was little. So this is what they drank, huh? When did they stop? And why?

I shook my head, and went outside. A cold gust of wind hit my face, and when I exhaled, my breath fogged up into the night sky. Lottie behind me was the only light source around us, illuminating the wet grass and a few of the trees closest to the power lines. In the shadows, I could see movement - whether it was animals or robots, I didn't know. But right now, I wanted to look somewhere else.

I let the hover pads go, and sat down on one of them. Next to me, Emelyse followed suit. I gave her the other mug, and wrapped my hands around mine, the warm traveling up my arms.

"Lottie, turn down the lights," I said.

Not a moment later, it was dark around us. Only faintly, I could see the steam of my tea or my foggy breath. Instead, I leaned my head back and looked up at the sky.

It was breathtaking. Without any lights around, the stars above us glittered and danced in a way I had never seen before. Just like with the wild hogs, it was different seeing it in person than experiencing it in holo. There, I could dance among the stars, get as close as I liked to be - but it wasn't like this. This moment, right here, was magic. I couldn't find another way to say it. I was staring at the stars for so long my neck started to hurt, and my eyes watered from the cold. Still, I couldn't tear my gaze away. I wanted to keep this moment in my heart forever, burn it into my brain and replay it, again and again.

Would the reproduction from my lenses be the same as this? Would the memory be closer to the truth? I didn't know, but I was excited to find out. Not that I would tell anyone about this.

I blinked, and snapped my head back. Right. Emelyse was staring right at me, unblinking. I looked back at her.

"Aren't you interested in the stars?"

"We have journeyed through them many times," she replied.

I tilted my head. "Really? What's that like?"

"Fast. And dark."

"Huh." I took a sip from my drink. "That doesn't sound all that great, if I'm honest."

"It's a means to an end."

"And that end is...?"

"Being here."

I glanced at her. At least she wasn't taking notes right now.

"And you're studying me. Studying humans."

"Correct."

Another sip. The tea was pleasant, with notes of lavender and strawberry.

"So? What have you found out?"

I was curious, but at the same time, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to hear her answer. It did feel like I was being watched all the time, not maliciously, but still. Like she was trying to understand me in a way no one else had before.

"Humans are irrational," she said. "You are irrational. I don't understand your reasonings. You want to go as fast as you can, but now, we are here, outside."

"Right."

"You complained about going outside before you did it."

"I did, yeah."

"Why?"

"Well, I can change my mind, can't I?"

"So, have you changed your mind? From what to what?"

"Hmm."

It took a moment for me to sort out my thoughts. I took another sip.

"Well, it is cold and wet. And it stays like this. That sucks, there is no denying it. But seeing the stars like this... it makes it worth it, kinda?"

I shook my head.

"No, actually... I think, without the cold and the wetness and everything else, it would be a different experience altogether. Without my suit, without the tea, without the hover pads... it would suck, really. I don't think I could appreciate the stars like that. But the way I'm sitting here, right now, feeling the cold isn't too bad if you have a nice, warm drink in your hand. The suit warms most of my body. And the stars... it's so different from the simulations. I want to keep this memory forever."

"I understand." Emelyse nodded. "You're... strange, still."

"I could say the same about you," I laughed back. "Why are you out here, with me? Your suit is not even on."

"I don't need the suit." She smiled back at me. "It's just to keep you Terrans more at ease around us."

"Huh." I blinked. "I don't get it, but that's okay. I did wonder why you never put on an outer layer. Your suit probably doesn't have that function, huh?"

"It does not."

"I see..."

In the dark, it was difficult to see Emelyse. I could only make out vague shapes, but even then, my mind filled them with what I knew. Her long, soft hair. The reflection of her round glasses. Her smile, too light and too wide, and yet, familiar by now. Her slender figure and her slender hands, grabbing the mug similar to how I did.

Still, I smiled at her, and when I did, I could see a reaction from her, how she shifted on her pad. She could probably see better in the dark than I did with my lenses turned off.

"Similar but different, huh?" I mumbled.

I looked up at the stars again.

"But how do you feel about this?" I asked her.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm happy that I went out," I said. "Even if it's cold and wet and I'm going to take a hot shower after this. I'm still glad I did this."

And maybe, just maybe, I could acknowledge that maaaaybe my parents had been right. This could be fun. In some moments.

"Oh. Well, I am happy as well. It's nice to spend the time with you," she said.

"That's great."

By now, the cold was creeping closer, through my eyes and nose and cheeks, and I couldn't help but shiver, even if the rest of my body was pleasantly warm. I glanced at the stars above us once more, welcoming their dazzling light. I smiled, and waved. It was a silly thing to do, but who could judge me out here?

Next to me, I heard a small sound coming from Emelyse, and quickly took my hand down.

"Lottie, lights on. Prepare for continuation," I said.

"Understood, Toma! Enjoy sleeping!"

"I didn't sleep," I grumbled.

But now, with the orange glow from Lottie, I really looked forward to the cramped, little bed. With an empty cup in one hand and the hover pad in the other, I went back inside. Emelyse followed me, her cups still half full. Behind us, Lottie closed the door, and rumbled as she slowly went along the power lines.

"You can dim the light," I said.

"Of course!"

Soon, it felt similar to the darkness outside, just a lot more cozy. I fell down into the bed, as warm and comforting as the tea.