Tales from the Former Universe

3. Research and Intel

In PT Bantargara (also known as Badan Antariska Negara), a state-owned enterprise for aeronautics space research in Jayapatih, Indonesia, 22-year-old Lobertari makes her way to descend down the elevator, its gentle hum a counterpoint to the visions of her mind. With each floor passed, she felt the gravitational pull of the mundane world below tugging at her spirit, yet her thoughts soared unfettered, weaving through the cosmic tapestry of space. Images of distant stars birthing light high in the Milky Way danced before her, while the cataclysmic creation of black holes played out in her imagination like a cosmic ballet. Megastructures and the fallout of celestial events raced through her consciousness, each thought a pulsar of inspiration.

Meanwhile, her hands absently straightened her lab coat, its fabric a comforting shield against the banality of the museum floor awaiting her arrival.

"Nah, siswa-siswi, semua ketakjuban dan keilmuan, kalian sudah lihat di Bantargara (In Bahasa Indonesia: Now, student, every wonder of space and science you can already see in Bantargara)" said Lamia, one of the curators who was leading a study group of elementary children. "Begitu pula, ada nih, salah satu ilmuwati antariksa: Lobertari, dari Departmen Penilitian dan Pengembangan, yang akan jelaskan seperti apa ilmuwan antariksa itu (In Bahasa Indonesia: Nevertheless, one of our space scientists, we have here today: Lobertari from RnD, is here to describe what it is like to be a space scientist)" she introduced. "Lobertari, silahkan perkenalkan diri (In Bahasa Indonesia: Lobertari, please introduce yourself)"

"Lobertari, nama saya itu, Ilmuwan Antariska di Bantargara, saya merupakan (In Bahasa Indonesia: Lobertari, I am, a space scientist in Bantargara, I am)" she only said.

"Baik... untuk peneliti, riset, prospek kerja, apa sih sebenarnya untuk ilmuwati antariksa? (In Bahasa Indonesia: Well... the study, the research, the prospect, what is it like as a space scientist?)" Lamia encouraged more for her.

She thought long on deciding words: "Bisa saja dikatakan bahwasanya ada berbagai pembelajaran di dunia kosmos dengan secara umum. Bagaikan umat manusia yang telah mencapai mukjizat antariksa, hanya tetapi terpencil yang telah tercapai (In Bahasa Indonesia: Let's just say, there's a lot to the studies of the cosmos, space in general. Per se, mankind has achieved marvels of space, but little as big, have they done)"

"Baiklah... (In Bahasa Indonesia: Alright, well...)" Lamia did not expect such a response, "sekarang kalian sudah tahu... analisa antariksa dari salah satu ilmuwan kita. Nah, kalau kita lanjut... (In Bahasa Indonesia: you now see the true... analysis of space by one of our scientists. Now if we proceed....)"

"Harap tunggu, pertanyaan, saya punya untuk bu ilmuwati (In Bahasa Indonesia: Wait, a question, I have a question for the space scientist)" a child raised hands.

"Lobertari?" Lamia inquired.

"Silahkan? (In Bahasa Indonesia: Speak then?)" Lobertari allowed.

"Dari yang saya pelajari, antariksa itu sangan jejak, terbanyak yang telah ditemukan. Sebagai ilmuwan-ilmuwati, metode apa yang kalian punya untuk merenungkan dan menemukannya (In Bahasa Indonesia: With what I studied, space is so broad, many still undiscovered. As a scientist, what methods do you have to ponder and discover them)"

Lobertari was intrigued such a student had the mind to inquire such. "Baik, para sarjana muda (In Bahasa Indonesia: Well, young scholar)" she approached. "Saya bisa katakan... ambilah penemuan langkah demi langkah (In Bahasa Indonesia: I would say... take discoveries a step at a time)" she responded. "Umat manusia, kala memiliki bangunan atau sastra, memiliki langkah penemuan mereka yang mereka jejak: cara menghidupkan api, cara berjaja lebih laju dan kukuh melainkan kaki, penemuan bartering (In Bahasa Indonesia: Mankind, before they had buildings or literature, first made steps discovering the world they step foot on: how to set a fire, how to travel faster and with more ease than on foot, the discovery of bartering)" she explained. "Alam semesta, banyak yang kita belum ketahui (In Bahasa Indonesia: The universe, there's so much we don't know)" she looked close. "Itu adalah kita untuk jejak (In Bahasa Indonesia: It's for us to discover them)"