Tales from the Former Universe

53. Departure!

It was going to be difficult, for both of them to tell Dimaggiore, who had waited to hear their evacuation plans for so long.

They arrived one not-so-bright morning who had lost all its sunlights.

"Mother, father," Dimaggiore hugged, and even showed a cough because of the air. "You are both back."

"We... are," Haumecea saddened.

"So," he coughed, "C-can we leave?" Dimaggiore asked.

Martinner revealed the bad news, "No... son, we can't."

"O... oh," Dimaggiore listened. "Well, I can wait for you..."

"No," Haumecea said. "Dimaggiore... your safety, your future, is more important than anything," she said. "To stay behind, we still need in duty, and we can't delay you no longer."

"I... don't understand?" Dimaggiore confused.

"Dimaggiore, you..." Martinner explained further of the bad news, "you are going to have to go first... without us."

Dimaggiore slowly captured the picture, and fumbled with panic and repearing coughs, "W-w-what?"

"Dimaggiore, please..." Haumecea cried, covering her fragile emotions.

"W-what do you mean?! Alone, I am going to be?" Dimaggiore scared.

"Dimaggiore, listen to us," Martinner held. "Unbreathable, lightless, this earth will be soon. You are still a child, the longer you wait here, die, you could," he said. "A universe, we have found, prepared for you where you can survive alone in the meantime. Please, son, leave soon, without us, you must... for all of us."

"You are all going to die..." Dimaggiore scared.

"Dimaggiore," Haumecea hugged. "Someday," she said as Martinner hugged. "We will reunite in that universe again, alive, with peace, with love, just like this... you just need to be patient and have faith."

Dimaggiore asked the most important question of all, "How... how long?"

"We do not know," Martinner said. "Arbitrary, time is, in the PAE travel, and the connection between this universe and that."

"No," Dimaggiore cried. "I am scared... I can't..."

"Yes, you can," Haumecea held. "You can, Dimaggiore. Look at yourself," she said. "So resilient, so responsible, you are. Find a way, I know you can," she said. "So proud, I am, of how I raised you so far... and I know you will follow our wisdom, and take it with your gentle heart."

"But... how will I know you will come back?" Dimaggiore questioned.

"We will, Dimaggiore," Martinner promised. "We will reunite again, in life, in soul," he said. "We already promised you a great life... promise us, you will take care, and preserve that life until we come," he said. "We are not Anti-Earth"

Dimaggiore was already mature and very feeling accepted after hearing what his parents had to do in duty. He worked hard to ensure a steadfast responsibility being handed to him. "We are not Anti-Earth."

Meanwhile, back in Shinta Island in the sunset, a volunteer was already ready to take an inactive Budiman for FLO. Lobertari saw the last of her very genuine metal companion as he flew away into the sky.

She took one final, appreciative glance around her home, her Indonesia, her world, finding a moment of serene reflection despite all the missteps she had made as she moved on forward without an eye on others.

She worked hard maintaining an eye down to the ground, as people from Shinta watched over her, slowly followed her, approached her, and surrounded her as she gasped and panicked her way to the driver that is going to take her to the exclusive shuttle for key officials who have contributed to the nation. The Shinta People did not hesitate to give what Lobertari deserved