Her eyes open one after the other, and she looks at her hands, stomach, and legs with a sigh. She then turns her attention to the woman continuing to walk forward to a six-seated space filled with red and blue orbiting chairs, with four already filled.

Raelle looks back at the blue-gelatin-skinned woman sitting between her and Loliel at the far side of the dinner stand. Miya then walks over and notices her ramen bowl at the last remaining seat at the table, glancing over to Loliel and Vivi then to the glass chamber with a confused look.

"It was taking you a while to return, so I asked Minmin to find and guide you back to our initial seating." Raelle performs a reassuring nod while taking a sip of her parfait.

"And I told her to be persistent since you're unbelievably stubborn," Loliel adds while taking a scoop of her parfait with a white metal spoon.

"Heh, whatever." Miya sits down and brings the floating disc of ramen to her chin level. "I knew exactly where I was going."

Although lacking any discernible facial features, Minmin's acerbic shake of the head seems to mock her prior confusion as she gazes at her.

"What did you decide to partake in Miya? It smells delightful!"

"It's called, um…." Miya distracts herself mid-sentence while searching the sides of the disc tray. "A ramen bowl… I saw pictures before and I always wanted to try one."

Miya clicks a compartment on the side of the tray, and a set of utensils slide out in a neat file, starting with a fork with five tines, then a pair of tiny black skewers.

Loliel looks down at the steaming broth with intrigue. "I never thought that they'd had meals from Earth. They do have a variety of food that is strange, but still looks good."

She then turns to the side, nudging Vivi on her arm while pointing her spoon at her mother's untouched liquid-metal parfait.

"You aren't hungry? It's super good I'm promise!"

"Ah… No, not right now dear…." Vivi offers her a smile that quickly fades as she tilts her head back down. "Thanks though."

Loliel's eyelids draw down with a sigh as she watches Vivi search the ground with a long stare. Miya glances over to Vivi, then back to her food as she slurps up a fork full of noodles.

"S-so anyways, how come everyone here speaks English? I thought it was a language only spoken on Earth." Loliel attempts to start conversation.

Kik looks up from his food, a bit of beef sliding down the side of his lip. "Whad dwo yuu mwean?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Raelle uncrosses then re-crosses her legs with a sidewards glance. Minmin also looks the other away while scratching her cheek.

Loliel looks at them with drawn-down eyebrows. "What? Did I say something weird?"

Miya chuckles but halfway chokes and starts to pound on her chest. She clicks on the left compartment of the tray, and a circular chamber slides out, revealing a cylinder glass that begins to fill itself with water.

Loliel turns her attention to Miya, gulping away at her glass and then setting it down.

"Why aren't they answering me, Miya?"

"Yeah, um… Your planet's origins weren't all that complicated. I'll put it that way."

"What…? What does that even mean?"

Raelle groans with a hand up to her head. "Fine! If I must be truthful, Ms. Loliel… Your planet, 4056-E… Your languages and cultures were sort of… How do I put this without being discourteous…."

"Fwabwicated…!" Kik shouts with a raised a finger and bulging cheeks full of food.

"Well, I certainly wouldn't have worded it that way."

Miya shakes her head. "The human race's early stages of growth were monitored and indoctrinated by a higher dominion, so to speak."

Loliel's pupils move to the corner of her eyes then back to Miya. "What…? I don't understand…."

Raelle takes the last sip of her parfait before it crumbles down into her floating disc. "Well darling, some planets show the possibility of life, perhaps even intelligent life, and they receive help from advanced societies for development of technical and vernacular patterns. Most possibly, yours was of many that was helped out by migrating tribes."

"So, our language was given to us? But that doesn't explain how English is spoken here?"

"Yes it does." Miya cuts in. "English was transcribed from Englysian, one of the oldest languages known to this quadrant, along with Saxonor and Frisinian."

"But… But when did this all take place…?" Loliel repeats with a perplexed look.

"Enough questions." Miya grins while wiping a speck of broth from her upper lip. "You can answer stuff like that when we get you registered into the Q."

Loliel leans back in her chair. "I see…"

Raelle laughs while rubbing down the sides of her ponytail. "W-well, don't take it to harshly my dear. There's lots of other civilizations that were given help to thrive. Some were on the brink of extinction, others survived harsh conditions and were to die off without the guidance of higher counsel."

"Yawsh… Evben mah plawnet, Mercahdwen whas assis-steed by dah Uwkawians…!"

"Yes, even Kik's home planet was assisted by the Urkanians." Raelle reiterates for better understanding.

Loliel looks over to Vivi with a nervous smile. "Ha… That's something right? Kind of weird knowing that your entire civilization has been sort of groomed. You know who would've loved to hear something like this-"

"Yes, your father…." Vivi murmurs with her head still pinned down.

Raelle tilts her head with a concerned gaze. "What is wrong Dr. Vivienne Schwerner? Was my choice of food not to your liking?"

Vivi nods her head, putting on a half smile. "N-no! It was very delicious as I tried a little… It's just, a lot of things have happened today, so…."

"Wah hah-pinned?"

Miya lifts up her bowl and slurps the broth with a small belch as she places it down. "Planet iced over from their dying star, then their atmosphere collapsed onto itself. I didn't see it, but I'll take their word."

"I assure you, I wouldn't make anything like that up Miya." Loliel responds.

"I-I'm so sorry dear, seeing your home planet and star fade away, lifeless, is something no one should have to endure."

Minmin leans over and rubs the side of Vivi's arm, showing her empathy as well.

Kik gobbles the last two of his patties and lips his lips. "Thas sawks…!"

"Yes, that does suck, Kik." Raelle repeats with a sigh. She then turns to Miya while folding her fingers around her upwards-tilted knee.

"But to change pace... I would like to hear more about your schemes on Tavaus III. I-If you don't mind sharing, that is."