Falling From The Sky

Falling From The Sky

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Falling From The Sky Joannes Rhino

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Copyright Š 2011 Joannes Rhino All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1463701446 ISBN-13: 978-1463701444

Chapter I

7

Chapter II

20

Chapter III

39

Chapter IV

60

Chapter V

80

Chapter VI

102

Chapter VII

120

Chapter VIII

138

Chapter IX

165

Chapter X

176

Chapter XI

194

Chapter XII

229

Chapter XIII

242

Chapter XIV

255

Chapter XV

264

Chapter XVI

282

Chapter XVII

300

Chapter XVIII

315

Chapter XIX

325

Chapter XX

345

Chapter XXI

355

Chapter XXII

370

Chapter XXIII

385

Chapter XXIV

401

DEDICATED TO Liz Parker

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author

Joannes Rhino

I Wednesday - May 19, 1982 Bantul, Indonesia 11.48 p.m.

The sky was in cloudless plain. Half of the full moon accompanied only by a handful of stars, dimly lit. The wind of night had stopped greets the trees, but the cold still made an impression as if it rotated in one scope only. Antonio pulled his jacket up to the neck, then lean his head to cushion lounge chair on the terrace of his house. He stared at the stars that seem to be countable.

Antonio Suprapto was a twenty-three year old who has athletic posture with high-achieving one point eight meters and weighs seventy pounds. He has round face, resembles his both eyes which crowned by a barely-haired head. For the last few days he had been enjoying his time off that will lasts in a week. He really needed this holiday, considering his activity the past few months was very draining, both in physically and mentally.

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This year was his third year at the police academy. In the past two years he lived in a dormitory outside town. Being a policeman was never been his childhood dream. He never imagined himself holding a real gun. Even as a child, he always played as a villain when he was playing bad guys-good guys with his friends. It was easier to be criminals than the good guys, which what he thought that time. Not to be bound by the rules, and certainly be free to do anything. Antonio had vowed to himself not to become a police officer or join in any type of military organization. However, the reality turned against him.

He came from a military background family. His father was

an

Adjunct

Commissioner

in

Jogjakarta

Police

Headquarter, while his grandfather this year has just ended his service as the administration in the Navy. Far way back, Antonio often heard his father recalled that his greatgrandfather’s a warrior. His father always told the story with pride. So, based on the fact, Antonio’s lifeline has already drawn before he even born.

Actually, he always dreamed to be an astronaut. He wanted to travel from one planet to another, browse the universe. Such imagination has been crystallized in his brain -9-

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since his grandfather took him to planetarium, thirteen years ago. And from then on he began to love watching the sky.

Sometimes he stared at the clouds in daytime or gazed a sprinkling of twinkling stars at night. He tried to imagine what is really up there. Are the planets and black hole he learned during the school had really existed, or was it all just theories developed by scientists to get a mere sensation? One time he argued that above the sky, beyond planet Earth, there was only darkness, or perhaps just a blinding light coming from the sun. There was nothing up in the sky. There was no universe whatsoever. There were no other planets. There was only one planet called Earth that rotates around the sun. If however there were other things up there, there won’t be important for him now. He surely will never set foot on another planet like in his childhood’s imagination. His world now is nothing but rules to be followed in the police academy.

No matter what future may bring, still won’t bring him fly through the universe.

Antonio folded his hands to his chest, and then lifted his shoulders to almost touching the neck when he felt strong exposure winds suddenly attacked him. He then observed the hedge trees swaying as if to fall, followed by the sound of roof houses flying. Some street lights then began to flicker like - 10 -

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there was someone who was playing the buttons. Several other lights shine more brightly, then soon extinguished instantly.

Antonio believed natural phenomenon that occurred was a bad omen. Perhaps heavy rains or hurricanes will come soon, or the early stage of tsunami or other natural far more worse disaster. He was unsure. So he immediately got up from the recliner. Then, still with hands fold across the chest, he walked toward the gate. Behind the iron door of his house, he looked up and saw some lights circling above his head. He gaped with full wrinkles in his forehead, not believe what he was seeing.

It was round, two times bigger than the full moon.

Looked like a slab layer disc from underneath. The color was bluish-white like an incandescent object in very low temperature. Its circumference edge flicker every five seconds or so. That mysterious object was circling above the sky, like being trapped in a transparent box and tried to get out. Five minutes later, it flied away to the north of horizon and left the row with pink color. Appeared from a distance it dropped one spot that resembles a glowing bright shooting star. Then the next few seconds, it moved to make letter ‘S’ - 11 -

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far way from north to south with an amazing speed, until eventually spread out into three small sections and vanished into the dark of night.

Antonio was still standing motionless in the same place, unable to react. But then the wind began to subside until no longer blows. Rustling leaves were back silently in unison. Street lights had already back to normal. Antonio stepped mute into his house, while his brain still trying to figure out what kind of logical explanation of what he just experienced.

The big arms Gunawan Hamzah was a native twenty-seven year old man from Jogjakarta. He worked at fire department as a clerk, located on the outcast of town. Three years ago he married Citra, who was two years younger than him. They met because someone introduced them. Gunawan put enormous respect on her because she an independent woman. On the other hand, Citra helped him with lots of things. Long story short, a year after, they decided to married.

It

was

now

their

third

year

of

marriage.

Unfortunately, they still didn’t have a child. They went to the - 12 -

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consultation pregnancy over and over again, but no results.

They even had their bodies checked just to make sure they didn’t have issue about it. “There’s no disease in your body.

Your sperm is in perfect condition, so does your egg.” That was the answer they always heard from the gynecologist. So they turned to the traditional medicine. A local whom people called “medicine man” told Gunawan to consume raw egg to get more powerful sperm, while Citra was asked to drink herbal medicine from a mixture of plants. As a result, until the following months waited, still has no progress whatsoever.

The neighbors advised them to consider adopting children. According to these people, the presence of a baby in the house may stimulate Citra to get pregnant. Obviously, it was just a myth, or worst even just a sick joke between one another. But for Gunawan, any attempt shall be done. Finally, by the end of May 1982 he made it happened. Starting from a casual chat during lunch breaks, he was told the name of a social worker who dealt with issues regarding parenting. Her name was Mrs. Dibyo.

Dibyo Wulandari was a fifty year old widow. She was the founder of a social organization called Tunas Karya. Since her husband passed twenty years ago, she had devoted her - 13 -

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entire life in the organization. There were six people who volunteered to help her taking care of the foster children. The number of foster children has reached fifty up to now, mostly were teenagers.

This social activity began back in thirty years when a man asked Mrs. Dibyo to look after two children who had been abandoned by their parents. Then, just because of feeling lonely at the time, she accepted them to stay. A year later, a woman came and desperately need her baby to be raised by Mrs. Dibyo because she was unable to raise a child.

And Mrs. Dibyo took it gracefully. She thought it was better that way than to let the child growing up improperly. And the following years similar incidents kept continue, with no clarity who recommended her place as a daycare.

Over the time, the capacity of the house began too crowded because of numbers of small children. So, Mrs. Dibyo decided to sell the house along with its most valuable assets and moved to a remote area in Bantul. She bought a large building with a spacious plot of land that cost pretty cheap.

And so the life of Mrs. Dibyo and her foster children continued.

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To meet daily needs she cannot just expect from the legacy of her late husband nor savings funds in the bank. She eventually became a private tutor English with a very low fee.

As time passed by, no more than two months living in the new place, Mrs. Dibyo owned respect by the locals. They respected her not just because she raised children with no strings attached; also because she never took any advantage from her private lessons.

Sometimes, some people came to the house to play with her foster children or to teach them something. And the next thing, a year later, some locals suggested to make the house official for daycare. As a result, less than a month, by the support from the locals, the plan was immediately implemented. Even the permit of the organization was approved in no time by the government.

Process development ensued. Mrs. Dibyo began to expand the scope of activities. She took children from all over the streets of Bantul until Jogjakarta. The children were gathered to be fostered, given a decent life, and over the time be taught skills that allow them to be able to live their life in the future. Mrs. Dibyo also opened opportunities for locals who want to adopt her children. But of course there was - 15 -

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selection process for those who want to become foster parents. By so, she could leave her foster children into proper family with the best treatment.

Mrs. Dibyo never even considered the merits before accept all her foster children. The kids were just like most children, except different fates or perhaps bad-treatment they received from others. For Mrs. Dibyo, the benefit by doing this social activity was to see all her foster children grew up and became ‘someone’ she had expected.

Finally on May 30, 1982, Gunawan with his wife were visiting the place. Because he didn’t notify his arrival, he had to wait for Mrs. Dibyo until eight o’clock at night.

“I’m sorry for keeping you wait,” said Mrs. Dibyo from kitchen, carrying cups of tea.

“Ah, we just arrived anyway,” Gunawan responded.

Mrs. Dibyo put the cups on the table and sat. “Please have a drink.”

“Thanks. You shouldn’t bother like this.” Gunawan Nodded and made eye contact with his wife.

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She smiled. “It’s just tea. I don’t mind.” She looked closely to the couple. “Your face doesn’t look familiar. Do you guys just moved here?”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name’s Gunawan. This is my wife, Citra.”

Mrs. Dibyo hand shakes with the couple. “So, do you just move to Bantul?”

“No, we live in Jogja.”

“So what brings you here?”

“Um….I knew this place from a friend. This is about adopting child. I hope you can help us.”

Mrs. Dibyo looked serious when respond, “I’m gonna make it clear for you. Adopting child has never got to do with money. I run this place not to get personal benefit. All of my children are not for sale! I give them proper life instead of let them live in the street and become criminals. I want them to have normal live like normal kids.”

“Frankly, we’re desperate.” Gunawan avoided eye contact with Mrs. Dibyo. “It’s been three years we married.

We’ve run several health tests, pregnancy consultations, and - 17 -

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even alternative treatments. But all dead end. That’s way you’re our last option.”

“I’m so sorry with your problem,” Mrs. Dibyo was fully understood. “And if I allow to be honest, you’re not the first couple who complaint about this. But, well I think I can help you. But like I said, this is takes time. There is process.”

“How long?” Gunawan insisted.

“As long as it takes.” Mrs. Dibyo looked at Citra, and said, “Please have a drink.”

“Thank you,” Citra nodded and took a sip of the tea.

Gunawan looked around, studied the place. “How long you’ve been running this?”

“More than thirty years. Actually, I used to live in Jogja a while back. But I had to move here to find a bigger place for my kids.”

“So where did you live in Jogja?” Citra suddenly asked.

“Babarsari Street.”

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“Really? That’s near our house,” Citra talked with her husband.

“So where’s your house?”

“It’s in Tambak Bayan, just few feet away from your place I guess,” Citra answered.

“I know the place. It’s been a while since the last time I went to Jogja. So let’s back to the topic. Do you prefer boys or girls?”

“It’s up to her,” Gunawan let his wife to make that decision.

And Citra responded, “I prefer boys. But it doesn’t matter, as long as they’re no more than a year. So we can be the real parent if you know what I mean.”

Gunawan and Mrs. Dibyo agreed with the opinion.

“I actually have one. A boy. Still a month I suppose.”

“Abandoned by his parents?” Citra looked surprise.

“I don’t know. The locals just handed to me two weeks ago. They found him in the forest nearby, naked, lying in the cold grass. So sad. Luckily, someone found him.”

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“That’s insane!” Gunawan shouted. “Who could leave a baby in middle of forest? They must be insane by doing so!”

“Well that’s life. Sometimes we just can’t appreciate what we have.”

“Could we see him?” Citra asked politely.

That little baby boy wrapped in a thick cloth layers that covered the whole body. His face was so red. His tiny lips looked like chewing something in it. His eyes suddenly opened and circled, trying to identify the three figures surrounding him.

“He’s so cute,” Citra whispered, hugging passionately her husband’s arm.

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II Monday - May 20, 2002 Jogjakarta, Indonesia 9.30 p.m.

That young girl sat back silently after cleaning up the mess at the table nearby. She leaned her arm on the side of table, tried to focus on her friend’s complaint. Obviously, she looked bored. Her name was Analisa Jatu, well known as Lisa. She has dark hair in oval face. She just turned nineteen this year.

As the only daughter of Sudjoko-Enny couple, she lived in a house which multi-function as café. Her father, a full-time elementary teacher, decided to run that business five years ago. He intended to start doing business before retired someday, although he knew it doesn’t make enough profit. And, of course, Lisa must take part of the business as well. She changed shift with her mother to run the café.

Lisa eventually evaporated, either because she was too sleepy or tired listening to Rika’s complaints about the same topic within the last two hours. She glanced at the clock and wished all the guests just go home. She knew café - 21 -

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operates until eleven o’clock everyday. But now, there were still at least eight people, including Rika, and seemed like none of them were about to leave anytime soon.

So she began to notice each of the guests. Sitting next to her, there was Rika. She was a big and tall with dark-brown skin and fine hair. Lisa met her on junior high, and the friendship between them increasingly growing since then. She liked Rika because she just never stopped talking. Rika always had something to be discussed. Personally, Lisa needed a figure like Rika, considering how lame she was in socializing.

On the other hand, Rika loved to spend time with Lisa because she thinks Lisa was a good listener and very reliable to keep secrets.

Lisa glanced at the next table. There were three young men in mid-twenty, discussing something that seems to be confidential. She saw one of them was showing something to his other friends. It wasn’t clear what the item was because covered by his whole body. So Lisa continued exploring the room. Opposite to her, there were two men chatting hot topics. Then, at another table next to them, there were two others men sat separately. The one, rather old, was

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enjoying his smoke. And the other guy looked familiar. He lived nearby. His name Setiadji Asmoro, usually called as Adji.

Not a day he missed visiting Lisa’s café. Sometimes he even came twice a day, ordered a glass of cold tea or noodles.

He has own reason by doing so. In physically, Adji looked like a fine gentlemen in his own way. Athletic body shape, neat and dark hair cut framed his round face, eyes sharp and decisive. However, he was very quiet. He barely spoke to anyone. No one knew what he was hiding. And in Lisa’s opinion, he was totally a freak.

Lisa nicknamed him a year ago, when seeing him for the very first time. They were in the same class at the time, first semester at the UPB University. Quiet was the initial impression on Adji because he barely talked. Then, within weeks, the ‘quiet man’ impression was immediately turned into a ‘strange man’ when Lisa found out Adji didn’t have any friend on campus. For whatever reason, he was always alone; anytime, anywhere. What was he hiding from? Why he never laughed or at least smile? What’s with all the weirdness? Such questions came to Lisa’s mind everytime seeing him alone.

Lisa frowned, trying to break through Adji’s mind. He was just sitting staring at an empty glass. What is he thinking?

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“So what should I do?” Rika asked desperately and shake Lisa’s left shoulder.

Lisa then tried to refocus on the topic. “Well….like I said, it’s totally fine doing the first approach if you really like him.”

“Make a first move? Give me a break.”

“How hard could it be, huh? If you like something, show it then. Take the risk.”

“You talking about yourself, aren’t you?” Rika giggled.

“What do you mean?”

“If you like something, show it. Take the risk,” Rika repeated Lisa’s words with funny tone. “Unlike your secret admire.” She looked at Adji. “Am I right?”

“I don’t understand what you are talking about.”

Lisa’s face turned to red.

“Ah, come on, Liz. Even a blind man can see he’s really in to you.”

“Keep your voice down, would you!”

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“Well that’s the fact. Why do you think he came here everyday?”

“Because my tea is very special.” Lisa laughed.

“What makes special is the person who serves it,” Rika kept mocking. “See, now he’s checking up on you. He’s obsessed. Why don’t you just open your eyes?”

Lisa whispered. “He’s so weird. Do you realize that?”

“Weird because he came here everyday and just ordered a tea? Well that’s not weird. That’s obsessed.”

“Yup, obsessed with my tea.” Lisa giggled.

“Yes, such a weird obsession.” They were laughing together.

“Did you ever notice him at campus? He’s always alone. Has no friend. And that’s totally weird. At least everyone needs to chat or socialize.”

“Wow! Look who’s talking. Are you getting obsessed too?”

“That’s not my point.”

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“Come on, Liz. Stop lying at me. Do I sense a crush?”

“I’m just curious okay.”

“Well there’s only one way to find out. Ask him.” Rika smiled and got up, walking to dishwasher.

Lisa froze with eyes straight to the wall in front. It crossed her mind to follow Rika’s advice. But then her conscience spoke up, what was the point of doing that. She doesn’t want to disturb him just because of her curiosity. She closed eyes for a minute while trying to hear the conversation at the next table.

“Keep your hands off, idiot!” A man whispered to his friend.

“Come on, man. I just wanna have a look,” the other man insisted.

“Is it loaded?” The third man wondered.

“What do you think? Get it here!”

“Just a sec, man!”

Bang!!!

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There was a booming voice shook the whole room.

Seconds later Lisa collapsed, face down on the floor with bloods on the left side of the waist. Adji spontaneously rose from the chair, and as fast as a flash of light he walked close to Lisa. The three men near Lisa spontaneously stood in unison, and then ran out of the room. One of them cursed at his friend. Not until five seconds, another two men responded and pursued those suspects who have escaped.

Adji knell down. He turned carefully Lisa’s body into a supine position. Bloods spread around the circumference of her left hip and began to expand. But he didn’t look panic at all. He was so calm, as if already used to this kind of situation.

He stared firmly at Lisa’s pale-looking face. Then, there were some kind of voices inside him commanded to move his hand to the center of the wound. His palm wide opened, and with great tenderness grabbed inside Lisa’s dress and pressed the wound until it stopped bleeding. That was when the sensation occurred. There was some kind of twinkle light appeared between the palms and the crush injuries. It was seconds before the light immediately disappeared and Lisa’s eyes slowly opened. Adji immediately pulled out his hands from her dress, and unable to comprehend what he had just done.

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Lisa looked dazed, but still remembered the pain around his left hip a while ago. She saw Adji kneeling on her left. He looked so confused. Lisa slowly rose while groping the left side of her body. She no longer felt any pain around the area.

Adji moved back, tremendous fear haunted him at the time. He was quite aware that he took part on Lisa’s recovery.

So, he immediately reached a bottle of chili sauce on the table nearby, and splashed the half of it into Lisa’s dress as he spoke softly, “You’re not hurt. You fell and spilled the sauce into your dress.” Then, he got up, and stepped stagger out of the room without looking back.

From inside the main building, Enny - Lisa’s mother, ran out. “What happened? What was that sound?”

Rika stood still near dishwasher, in shock. Her hands shook, pointed at Lisa.

Lisa’s mother looked at her daughter, and surprised to see red stain on her dress. “My God! What happened to you, Liz?” She screamed as she walked close to Lisa.

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Lisa saw Adji just vanished behind the wall. “I’m okay, Mom,” she said to calm her mother down. “I just fell and splashed that chili bottle on my dress.”

“Are you alright, kiddo?” An old man moved toward Lisa.

“I’m fine,” Lisa avoided eye contact and walked to Rika.

“I thought you hurt,” the old man continued his assumption.

“Why you think she’s hurt? Was something happen to her? What was exactly going on?” Enny got worried.

The old man replied, “It sounds like a gun shot. But I’m not sure.”

“A gun shot! Who did that?”

“They’re gone, Mom. Beside, no one got hurt,” Lisa said as she tried to calm Rika at dishwasher.

“I believe this is got to do with those kids who run away,” the old man kept make assumption.

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Sudjoko, Lisa’s father, stepped out of the main building. He looked sleepy. “What’s with the noise?”

“We must call the cops,” Enny talked to his husband.

“Come on, Mom. You don’t have to do that,” Lisa tried to persuade her mother not to bring the authorities because there would be interrogations and investigations.

And it would be very disturbing. Moreover, Lisa believed that they always take benefits of the services they do.

“This is a crime!” Enny got upset even more. “The security around here is no longer reliable.”

Meanwhile, not far from the café, Adji was still stepped staggered back to his house. For some reason, his condition was getting worse. All his energies drained. His vision began to blur. The light from street lamps and cars that pass beside him was sparkling and felt like the rays hovering flying towards him. He cannot take it anymore. His whole body quivered. What’s happening to me? He said as he wiped his neck that has been entwined unnatural sweat. Why I suddenly feel like this?

He paused near a utility pole and bent while his strong left hand gripped the shaft pillars. His breath was - 30 -

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panting amazingly. His eyes closed tightly. Hang in there! Just a little more! Adji commanded himself, and slowly his eyes opened again. Then, as he took a long breath, he moved his trembling knees.

He walked back swaying like a drunken man. Four young men who were relaxing on the porch of a house noticed. Adji could hear them laughing. Their laughter echoed loudly in his eardrums. “Finally arrived,” he whispered weakly when he saw a building at the end of the alley.

10.00 p.m.

Dozens of people seemed swarming at Sudjoko’s residence.

None of them had any idea what just happened. They all gathered just because of curiosity when they discovered a pick-up police car parked in their neighborhood.

An officer was standing behind police line. Two other officers were inside the building, interrogating eyewitnesses.

And another one was sitting on the pick-up with one of the suspects who managed to get caught.

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A black sedan was approaching to the crowd and parked. A sturdy man in police uniform got out of the car. It was Antonio, in his forty-three image. He has become an Inspector of Professional Accountability and Internal at the police department in Jogjakarta. Having father a middleranking officer in the department wasn’t a guarantee to his career. For nearly twenty years of service, Antonio was still having difficulty to get a promotion. His father had never helped him on that subject. The reason was simply because his father wanted him to work hard to own the position.

An officer picked up the yellow rope before him when Antonio entered the crime scene. “Good evening, Sir.” “Which one is the owner of the house?” Antonio asked with curt tone, ignoring the nonsense from the officer.

He still felt upset because he should be at home right now. He never thought his supervisor gave this assignment to him. And he got upset even more when realize the only reason he received this order just because his home near the scene.

The officer pointed inside the building, towards a woman who was interrogated by another officer. Before stepping inside, Antonio glanced at the pickup in front of the

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building. A man who was the prime suspect in the incident looked at him, but then quickly faced down. “.... I had never heard a gunshot before. But I’m sure it’s not just a firecracker,” Enny said to the officer who interrogated her.

“Good evening, Sir,” the officer greeted Antonio.

“Listen officer, the security lever around here is so terrible,” Enny said to Antonio. “If kids can have a gun these days, how can I rest at night?”

“What you have is just an assumption, Ma’am,” the officers tried to calm her emotion. “We’ll investigate further.

Besides, you didn’t see the actual gun, did you?”

“I know, but there’s a good chance what I heard was a gunshot,” Enny replied. “Things like this makes me scared. I don’t think I can live in this neighborhood anymore.”

Antonio kept silent, too tired to speak a word. He glanced at a note in the officer’s hand. It was written: Gunshots around nine-thirty. No casualties. Eight visitors at café. Three fled after the gunfire. Two men chased. One ran staggering. Antonio looked around the room, trying to picture - 33 -

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the events that occurred. He then lowered his head, looking at the floor. If it was true what the woman believed, there must be at least bullets or gunpowder. However, Antonio only found a splashing red stain on the floor nearby.

Antonio squatted, and touched the stain with his finger.

“That’s just sauce spilled,” Enny said, as if anyone asked.

Still squatting, Antonio brought his finger to his nose.

Not a speck of blood. He then back on his feet and gazed around, watched each person in the room. “Beside her, who wasn’t the visitor here?” He asked the officer beside him.

“The man over there,” the officer replied as he asserted his eyes toward Sudjoko at the door. “And ...” He pointed two girls who sat holding hands on one of the bench.

“Which is your daughter?” He asked Enny.

“That one, Lisa, the small one,” Enny answered.

Antonio once again examined the people in the room.

His worked his brain. In the room there were only the owners and their daughter, a friend of the daughter, an elderly man - 34 -

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and two young men. In total, excluding the owners, there were only four remaining visitors. Based on records written by the interrogator, there should be eight visitors in café.

“Are all witnesses here?” Antonio spoke to the officer beside him; at once he asserted his eyes to the records held by the officer.

“Um.....based on my interrogation, they caught one person,” said the officer, pointing to two young men who were having a conversation in the corner. Then he looked at the pick-up car outside the building. “Two of his companions managed to escape.”

“Has he been interrogated?”

“I thought we’re gonna interrogate him at the office.

But for your information, he didn’t bring any weapons.

Probably his friends took it.”

“Why it written one person ran stagger? Who informed it?”

The officer pointed to an old man who was also being interrogated by another officer. “That old man. He said there was a boy who ran stagger after approaching her daughter.”

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Enny suddenly surprised. “What! Who?” She then turned to her daughter. “Liz, did you talk with anyone besides Rika?” She asked frantically.

She remembered Adji was squatting beside her when she was on the floor. “No. Nobody,” Lisa hesitated.

“He said there was a boy near you and ran away. Who was that?” Enny urged as she stepped closer to her daughter.

Lisa frowned, pretending to remember. “Oh, maybe that’s Adji.”

“Who was that?” Asked the officers, starting to write on his note.

“He’s one of our customers who often come here. In fact, almost every day,” she told the officer. “But I can assure you he’s harmless. He certainly had nothing to do with this.”

“There’s always a possibility,” the officer replied as he wrote down the name on his notes.

Antonio moved closer to Lisa. “So he approached you after the gunshots?”

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Lisa frowned again. “Um ....I can’t remember clearly.

It happened so fast.”

“But it’s true that the boy near you at the time?” the officer snapped, still spry on his little note.

Although still vague, Lisa remembered clearly that Adji was nearby and poured the chili sauce on her dress. But for any reason, Lisa couldn’t tell the truth. “Um....As I remember he was about to take that sauce near me. And maybe because of the loud voice, he spilled the sauce to my dress. I also fell because of it.”

“Why he ran away if he’s only just spilling sauce?” insisted the officer with a funny tone, as if Adji was another suspects in the incident.

Lisa didn’t want to answer that. She lifted her shoulders, as the wrinkles on her forehead began to soften.

Antonio was looking at her dress. There was no a single stain. “So the sauces spilled on your dress, huh?”

“Oh, not this one, officer.” Lisa indeed changed her dress before the cops arrived.

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Antonio felt she was hiding something. “May I see the dress you wore?”

“Um....okay. But um....I just soak it in the laundry.

Um....but if you think it’s important, can I get it now.”

“Why we’re even discussing about this?” Enny snapped suddenly. “I can assure you he’s a good boy. I know his parents. Why don’t you ask that boy?” She pointed to a boy in the pick-up car. “He knows the truth.”

Antonio ignored her as he stared a girl who had been sitting silently next to Lisa. “Hey, you okay?” He said with friendly tone as he waved his hand in front of the girl.

“She’s still in shock. She can’t even talk to me,” Lisa took the respond. “If there’s nothing else you’d ask, I wanna take my friend home.”

“Oh, go ahead,” Antonio gave way to the girls.

Lisa quickly rose from the bench and then helped Rika walk, and as soon as possible escape from the uncomfortable situation.

Antonio watched them left the room. He sensed something was odd from the brief interrogation and - 38 -

Joannes Rhino

observation. Starting from the testimony about the gunshot which no bullets found nor gunpowder, then a young man who fled stagger after the incident, plus the dress that immediately washed as if trying to remove evidence. And the last one was the shock girl. All of these felt strange. And for some reason he was more interested in knowing the loss of Adji than two main suspects who managed to escape. “Do you know where Adji lived?� Antonio asked.

- 39 -

Falling From The Sky

III Tuesday - May 21, 2002 7.10 a.m.

“It’s a new day,” Lisa tried to spirit herself shortly after her eyes opened. She stretched the muscles of the shoulders on the bed before got up and walked over to the wardrobe. She pulled out a piece of plain shirt and skirt from the closet. She then threw the hangers on the bed as she walked into the bathroom. In the shower, she let the cold water creeping over her body. Her eyes closed, imagining cool-wild atmosphere. It was fresh, calm and peaceful. She was in dire need such an atmosphere.

She shuddered when starting to feel cold and came out after washing the body with a sheet of thick towels. With body wrapped in cloth towel, she sat in front of the mirror dressing table glass. She observed her pale-looking face, and then appeared a speck of acne on her left cheek. It wasn’t here, Lisa thought as she fingered the rash. Actually it was quite relief because it made her looks younger.

- 40 -

Joannes Rhino

She bent down, pulled out the scales under the dressing table and stepped on it. Gosh! She shocked while observing the needle below shows her weights go up a half kilo than yesterday. A wave of panic then invaded her. She lost balance, fell off but managed to hold her body on the outskirts of the dresser.

She sat back looking at the mirror. I’m still nineteen and already experienced such a crisis? She wondered, smiling to herself.

She stood up; reached out clothes on the bed, then took off the towel on his body. She glanced at the mirror to her left side, just to make sure she doesn’t look fat. But she shocked when realize someone’s handprint on her waist.

She looked down to make sure it was just an illusion.

Unfortunately, it was really someone’s palm imprinted on her left hip. A wave of panic rushed her, in a much larger capacity this time. Who did this! She shouted panic.

She tried to rubbing and scratching it. But it didn’t work. She finally gave up, and sat limply on the dressing chair, covering her face with both hands. “What’s happening to

- 41 -

Falling From The Sky

me?” Number of questions collected inside her head and leaded to a name. Adji.

“I must talk to him.”

10.47 a.m.

That super loud music suddenly blared with rough beating drumsticks and screeching guitar melody. And it was getting wild. Adji aware it was his radio alarm.

He moved his hand to the side, trying to find the radio remote next to his pillow. A button found and the room back in silence. But that beating drum was still echoing inside his eardrums for a minute before it stopped, as if there was a giant hand clogged his ears. Then, slowly his eyes opened. In the supine position, he was vaguely staring at the ceiling that becoming clear.

“What’s happening to me?” He could barely hear his own voice.

He sat on the edge of the bed. His energy was still out. He bent down and rubbed his forehead. Unpleasant smell

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Joannes Rhino

began to crawl in his nostrils. And he remembered had no time to change clothes last night.

“What’s wrong with me?” He moaned.

There were people talking outside the room, and he got curious who visited this early. He raised his head and stared at clock above the door. It was nearly eleven o’clock.

“Gosh! I overslept!”

He walked slowly to the door but stopped in front the mirror next to the door. He stared his own reflection long enough, observed the surface of his face. His skin looked pale.

His cheeks were sunken. The bottom of his eyes looked like an overloaded suitcase. But, I’m fine, he confidently told himself.

He then peered out through a crack of the door. Citra, his mother, spontaneously looked back. “Adji, could you come here for a minute?” she called her son.

“This is Mr. Antonio. He’s from the police department,” his mother introduced the man who sat there.

“He has something to ask you.”

Fears suddenly invaded Adji. How could not be? Why a cop came to his house and wanted to talk with him if it - 43 -

Falling From The Sky

wasn’t important? Adji believed the officer was here to follow up the last night incident. So he just stood beside his mother, uncomfortable to sit.

“Don’t be afraid. Relax,” Antonio persuaded him. “I just wanna ask you something.”

Adji felt his heartbeat increasingly volatile. Citra understand her son’s fear, so she pulled Adji to sit next to her.

“Were you at Lisa’s café last night?”

Adji nodded as he sat down. He was in confused and dazed expression.

“Were you still there when the gunshot incident happened?”

Adji frowned, and glanced at the officer. The man looked at him sharply. Then Adji slowly nodded, and his voice trembled as he said, “I heard a sound like gunfire. But I wasn’t sure.” He glanced at the officer again. The man continued to watch every movement of his body. “Was something happened?”

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Joannes Rhino

Antonio

leaned

back,

positioning

himself

as

comfortable as possible. “I’m doing further investigations on this subject. So any information will be very useful.”

“Um....but I don’t think I can help you, officer.”

Antonio loosened his shirt collar. “You don’t know that. Just tell me what you remember about last night.”

Adji pretended to think. “Um….well as I said, I did hear a blast. But I thought it was just a flat tire or something.”

Antonio focused on Adji’s eye to find a gap lies from the statement. He watched the boy’s gestures, watching his hands squeezed each other. “And?” He knew this kid was still keeping important information.

“I just rushed out.”

Antonio remembered a report note he read. Gunshots around nine-thirty. No casualties. Eight visitors at café. Three men fled after the gunfire. Two men chased. One man ran staggered. He directly compared the results with this kid’s statement while his brain reacted. Three men who fled were the suspects. One of them was caught, and will be interrogated in the office later on. Two men who pursued the - 45 -

Falling From The Sky

suspects have been questioned last night. And there were three remaining witnesses. The old man, the girl who was in shock, and....this kid is supposed to be the one who run away staggered. That was Antonio’s assumption.

“Who were you with when you left the place?”

Antonio asked.

Adji frowned, guessing where this conversation leads.

“No one, as I remember.”

Antonio nodded as if satisfied with the answer.

“Before you left, did you make any physical contact with someone in the café?”

“What’s your point, officer?” Citra snapped all the sudden. “Are you making my son as a suspect?”

“Not at all, Ma’am. We have arrested one of the suspects. I’m just looking for information, that’s all.”

“What kind of information needed if you had caught the suspect?”

“Look Ma’am. We need all versions of the story from witnesses so we can compare it one another.”

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Joannes Rhino

Citra understood as her emotion back to normal.

“Alright, I’m gonna change my question,” Antonio spoke to Adji. “Did you make any contact at the café last night?”

Adji’s forehead wrinkled. He got confused. He never thought having this kind of situation with the authority.

“What kinda’ contact you mean?”

“Any contact. You spoke with someone perhaps, or...well anything.”

“I went there alone, and no one looked familiar to me.”

Antonio remained calm, but starting suspicious. “Not familiar with anyone, huh? Not even the girl who owns the place?”

“Oh, you mean Lisa? I know her, but hardly ever talked to her.”

“So it means you didn’t make any contact at this Lisa girl?”

Adji looked anxiety. “Something happened to her?”

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Falling From The Sky

“She’s fine. No need to worry.” Antonio glanced back to the brief interrogation with Lisa last night. The girl said that Adji had spilled chili sauce on her dress, while now the boy said different things. Antonio smelled something suspicious.

He was quite sure one of them gave false testimony, and he must find out soon.

Adji glanced at the officer’s watch, and excused himself right away. “If nothing else you’d like to ask, I have to go to now.”

“I finished already,” Antonio replied as he leaned forward.

Adji got up as fast as he can, and so did the officer.

“Thanks for your time, Ma’am,” he said to Citra.

“Was it enough, officer? Any useful information from my son?” Citra replied as she got up.

“Definitely.”

“If you still need to ask him, don’t bother to come.”

“I will. Thanks for the offer. Good day.”

- 48 -

Joannes Rhino

1.17 p.m.

Panca Buana University was located at Tambak Bayan Street.

Not far from the highway, the campus consists of two main buildings in painted cream. The first building was used for economics faculty and a library, while the other used for industrial engineering faculty and a laboratory. In the southern part of the buildings there was a basketball court and football field. On the back there were several small buildings for student activities and a large space of land for parking lot. Three meters high wall surrounded all of those.

By midday, Adji entered the economics faculty. He stood in front of the elevator with numbers of people. A girl beside him looked and frowned before moved two steps away as she covered her nose with handkerchief. Adji spontaneously lost confident. So he turned around and decided to use stairs. But the elevator opened as he was about to leave. He saw the crowd simultaneously out of the elevator.

“I wanna talk to you.” Lisa was suddenly standing before of him.

Adji gasped, stepped back. “Excuse me?”

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Falling From The Sky

“Do you have time for me?”

Of course he always had time for her. He would give all the time in the world just to be with her. Lisa has made him stunned from the very first time he saw her a year ago, when Lisa was still a new student at that campus. Starting from that moment on, Adji began to observe her secretly. He noticed the way she spoke, the way she made jokes to her friends, the way she smiled happy and anything from A to Z. Adji knew it, and obsessed by it. Lisa was his greatest obsession. And as time passed by, he has fallen on her. He loved her both in physically and personality. But he kept it inside until now.

Lisa continued as Adji nodded, “We’d better talk in quiet place.”

They sat on the stairs of the building. Adji kept looking at Lisa, who looked worried. “What is it, Liz?” He tried to reduce her anxiety.

Lisa was wringing her fingers. “What happened last night?”

“You were there.”

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Joannes Rhino

“I know. But I’m not sure what was really happened.”

Even Adji himself didn’t exactly understand what happened last night, what he did to Lisa. “What do you mean?

Are you alright?”

“Why people keep asking me that?”

“I just wanna know, that’s all.”

“Well I’m fine. But um...”

“But what? Anything happened to you after the incident?”

“That’s what I’m about to ask. What was really happened?”

“What you remembered?”

Lisa looked down, flashing back in time. “I remembered

chatting

with

Rika.

After

that,

I

remembered....you were next to me when I was lying on the floor.”

“I spilled sauce to your dress, and I’m sorry for that.”

Adji remembered the conversation he had with the

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policeman. He should had give this alibi to avoid any suspicion.

“It’s okay. But...”

“What else? What’s the problem now?”

“I just confused why everyone said they heard gunshot because I didn’t hear anything.” Lisa lifted her head, glanced at Adji. “Did you?”

It was impossible for Adji to pretend didn’t hear any sound knowing all eyewitnesses claimed to hear it. “I heard a sound. But I thought it was just a flat tire.”

“So what was it exactly?”

Adji avoided eye contact. “What the cops said?”

“They only said they will investigate this case. But my mother said one of the suspects has caught.”

Adji remembered the policeman indeed mentioned that. “Did they find any evidence?”

“Not that I know of.”

- 52 -

Joannes Rhino

Adji felt relief. However, he still concerned because this case was only temporarily delayed until they finally found the evidence. There will be more intensive investigations, and he will be the target of the investigations. It was only a matter of time before it all unfolds. Meanwhile, until now he still has no clued what kind of magic he performed last night.

“I’m thinking, what if it was a gunshot,” Lisa said.

“Does it make any difference? The important thing is no one got hurt.”

“Yeah, Thank God no one got hurt. But the thing that confusing me is my mother said the cops didn’t find any evidence.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. There was no evidence of weapons, bullets or anything. So, it simply wasn’t gunfire.”

“I think you’re the only one who thinks like this.”

“Well I speak based on what I saw and heard. I didn’t see any weapons, and I’m not sure it was a gunshot. Plus, the cops didn’t find any evidence. Why we should even bother think about this? Let they do the thing.”

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Falling From The Sky

“You’re right. Besides, they have a suspect. This case will be solved in no time.”

“I hope so,” Adji replied, but of course didn’t mean it because he was the one who create this situation.

Lisa smiled. “Oh, poor Rika. She’s still in shock because of this.”

“Is she?”

“She can’t even talk until now so she skipped class today.”

“Did the cops question her?”

“She was in shock. Didn’t you hear me?”

Adji nodded, felt a bit relieve. “And what you said to them anyway?”

“They didn’t ask much because I had to take Rika home.”

“So what did you say to them?” Adji urged.

“I said you spilled the sauce to my dress. What do you think I said to them?”

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Joannes Rhino

“Did they notice your dress?”

“Does it matter?”

“I mean they could’ve assumed it was blood stains.”

“I switched it before they came.”

Good. One more evidence has disappeared, Adji said to himself.

“Why you left all the sudden?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry. I forgot to pay. How much I owed you?”

“On the house for now. But next time I want it double.”

Adji smiled on the joke.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Well I just wanted to know what the sound was. I thought the sound coming from outside.”

“So, what was it then?”

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Falling From The Sky

“Well it was nothing outside, so I went home. What time’s your next class, Liz?” he quickly switched to another topic.

“At two. You?” “Same.”

Lisa pondered, thinking. “Um….were you okay?”

Adji cocked his head, frowning. “What do you mean?”

“Um....I saw the way you walk when leaving my place.

I thought you were....”

Adji raised his eyebrows. “Shot?”

“Well it crossed my mind.”

“As you see, I’m fine.” Adji smiled loose.

Lisa looked at her left hip, stroking. “Good for you.”

Adji glanced at Lisa’s eyes. “How ‘bout you? Are you really okay?” He wanted to make sure the healing didn’t make any side effect on her.

Lisa wringed her fingers nervously. “Me? Oh, I’m okay. I told you, didn’t I?” - 56 -

Joannes Rhino

Adji noticed she was hiding something. And whatever it was, he should know it. Especially if it had to do with what happened last night. So, he clasped Lisa’s hands and stared deeply into her eyes. “Liz, tell me the truth.”

Physically, there was nothing wrong with her. No defects, no scars, no lack of anything whatsoever. There was only someone’s handprint on her left hip. Actually, she wanted to tell Rika. But Rika wasn’t in the perfect condition to chat with at the moment. Meanwhile Lisa needed to discuss this issue badly. It was impossible to tell her parents. They will drag her immediately to the authorities, in which she doesn’t have any answer for that. And she also won’t let her social life ruin just because of this issue. So, because of the considerations, the only available option laid before her. Adji; a man with no friends, quiet, passive and no social life whatsoever. Lisa believed he can keep secret.

Lisa let go Adji’s hand as she said, “Can you keep secret?”

Adji frowned and nodded.

She glanced at him. “You promise not to tell anyone?”

“What is it, Liz?” - 57 -

Falling From The Sky

“Promise?”

“I promise not to tell anyone.”

Lisa made sure no one around them before she lifted her skirt to show her left hip.

Adji looked surprise. “What’s that?”

Lisa lowered her shirt immediately before anyone noticed.

“Tattoo?” Adji wasn’t sure.

“Not too loud,” Lisa whispered.

“Let me see it again.”

Lisa moved away because there were two men who want to pass the stair.

“Liz, what’s that?” Adji now whispered.

Lisa looked around to make sure the men didn’t stop behind the wall and overheard their conversation. She moved her seat, climbed one rung. “Didn’t you see?”

“I didn’t see it clearly.”

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Joannes Rhino

“That’s....” She went silent.

“What? Tattoo? Birthmarks? Tell me, would you?”

She avoided eye contact when answered, “That’s a handprint.”

“A handprint? Are you saying someone….” Adji went speechless.

“I don’t know how to explain.”

“Can I see it again?”

Lisa dismissed Adji’s hands who want to approach her waist. “Not now. People are everywhere.”

“So you’d better explain to me.”

Lisa heaved a deep breath; didn’t know where to start the explanation. “Well....as I said, that’s someone’s hand.

Don’t ask how to get there or who owns it. I really don’t know the answer.”

Adji frowned, got confused. “A handprint?”

“This is really weird, and I’m so afraid.”

“Since when it was there?”

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Falling From The Sky

“I just noticed this morning. It wasn’t even there last night.”

Adji racked his brain. The mark on Lisa’s body located exactly on the wound he healed. He remembered touching that spot. Could it be mine?

“I haven’t talk to anyone about this.”

“Is it right hand or left hand?” Adji tried to make sure.

“What do you mean? Is there any difference?”

“I just wanna know. Please tell me.”

“Right hand.”

My God! What’ve I done? Adji tried to hide his fear and went silent all the sudden.

Lisa looked at him. “I need you to keep this thing from anyone.”

Adji nodded. No doubt he will keep this secret because after all, somehow, it was his that printed on Lisa’s body.

- 60 -

Joannes Rhino

IV 1.05 p.m.

Facing directly at the sunrise view, the building located at the three ways Reksobayan Street. The land was as large as soccer field, four levels high and always busy. It was Jogjakarta Police Headquarter, which also Antonio second home for the last twenty years.

He sat on his desk, kept busy doing the things to be done by the end of the day. He had to give report about the last night’s case to his boss, Mr. Budianto; a middle rank officer, because all incoming reports indeed must pass his authorization.

Personally,

Antonio

doesn’t

like

him

considering his method of working. But after all, the man was the key for his carrier in the department.

He glanced at the pile of paper in the corner of the table; the interrogation result and eyewitnesses’ profile. He then opened his personal note. It has written names of witnesses. Two names appeared to be checklist; Elias Yulianto and Ilham Donny Pribadi. Those witnesses had been interrogated last night. They claimed to hear gunfire before immediately chased the suspects without knowing who took - 61 -

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the shot. Based on the report, they had fought with one of them. But Antonio believed those men were not the key witness in this case. And for some reason, he was more interested with other names written in his note; Annalisa Jatu and Setiadji Asmoro. His hunch was telling him they were the main key in this case. A big question mark then he put on those names. There were two witnesses’ remains; Rika Octavia and Ahmad Salim. He hadn’t interrogated them personally. But it had to be done soon.

An officer came to his desk. “We’ve been interrogated the suspect, Sir.” Antonio closed his note and put it in the drawer. “And what he said?”

“He said he doesn’t know anything.”

Antonio walked away from his desk. “Let’s see about that.”

Inside the room there were a table and three chairs placing each other. A water dispenser placed beneath air

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conditioner at the corner. The room was surrounding with cement walls and no window. It was the interrogation room.

Antonio sat down and grabbed a document on the table. It was containing all information about the suspect, and he studied it. His name was Alexius Susanto, aged twentythree from Jakarta. He has no criminal record. Very clean. The document was directly sent from Jakarta Police Department, so the information should be reliable.

He observed the suspect’s face as he put back the document onto the table. He noticed the boy’s left eye was swollen with dried blood stains on both corners while the right eye opened but slightly narrowed, seemed to bear the pain. The lower lip broken with dried blood still attached. The left cheek was swollen covered with plaster and bandages.

Antonio believed this was definitely the handiwork of the men who caught him last night.

“Alexius Susanto,” Antonio talked. “Can I call you Alex?”

“Yes, Sir,” the boy replied, almost without moving his lips.

“Do you smoke?”

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A nod. Hesitated and very slow as if the bones loose shift in his entire head.

Antonio turned to the officer who was standing next to the entrance. “Do you have a cigarette?” He asked him.

“Yes, Sir.” The officer reached into his pocket.

Antonio took the pack of cigarette and a lighter from the officer. “I’ll give them back later,” he said to the officer as he sat back to his chair. “Please, have a smoke,” he said to the boy as he put them on the table.

Alex was really needed a smoke considering the current situation. But he hesitated because he heard stories from his former inmate friend that sometimes the torture in police stations is crueler than in prison. Prisoners are more vulnerable to abuse when they are in police custody than in prison. Sometimes the interrogator tortured with bare hands, rattan sticks, iron bars, even hammer. Worse case scenario, a shot in the legs from close range or stung by an electric current. So nasty and cruel. The goal is simply to get an admission of guilt from the suspect. So Alex changed his mind.

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Joannes Rhino

“Don’t be afraid. Relax,” Antonio said to make the boy sure that he will not be harm. He then pulled a cigarette out of the box and handed to the boy. Slowly Alex took it.

“Have you contact your family?”

That bruised face moved to the left and right, slowly, like a replay in slow motion.

Antonio was so damn good in interrogation. He usually asked simple questions at the beginning. Such questions like family, school, or routine activities must be answered honestly by the suspect. But questions related to the sophistication of crime needed lots of tricks.

“Are you staying here with family or in boarding house?”

“Boarding house, Sir. My family stayed in Jakarta.” He spoke with such a pain.

But Antonio already knew that. All information about the suspect was enclosed in the document. “Do you have any relatives here in this town?”

That bruised face once again moved to the left and right.

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Falling From The Sky

“What semester you are now?”

“Final semester, Sir. I’m working on my thesis.”

“You plan to work here or go back to Jakarta?”

“Well….it depends.”

Antonio smiled. “Of course, it depends on the luck.

But apparently, you’re not so lucky last night.”

Alex flicked the cigarette into an ashtray, but missed and scattered on the table. And Antonio noticed the boy’s fear. It won’t be difficult to gain the information he needed.

So he continued, “Having beaten for no reason is not very lucky you know.”

Alex kept silent, but his fingers shaken.

“Were you alone at the café?”

The boy avoided eye contact. “Yes, Sir.” “You sure? Please don’t waste my time. Do you know how many witnesses saw you talking with someone last night?”

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Joannes Rhino

No answered. Alex still remained calm, trying not to be intimidated. But sadly, the cigarette on his finger vibrated badly due to nervous.

“So who were with you last night?” Antonio asked with pressure tone this time.

But still no answered. Alex looked down to the edge of the table.

Antonio stood up suddenly, and Alex spontaneously moved his head back. Antonio smiled observing the boy’s reaction. He was absolutely no intention to make physical contact. Even during the last three years served as Police Inspector, he never made any physical contact to the suspect during interrogation.

He walked to the water dispenser, and shortly sat back holding two glasses of mineral water. “Have a drink.” He slide one cup to Alex. But Alex wasn’t thirsty at the time. He would better have another smoke to reduce tension.

Antonio read the boy’s mind, and pulled out another cigarette for himself before pushed the pack forward. “Have another one.”

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Falling From The Sky

So Alex slipped a cigarette to his mouth, but a bit difficult to lighted up because his fingers were still shaken.

“There’s a girl still in critical condition because of this incident. And apparently her parents want whoever did this in prison for life.” Antonio intimidated or just simply bluffed.

Still no answered. Alex looked down, watching his cigarette under the table.

“I’m sure you’re not guilty,” Antonio continued, pointing at the suspect. “But as an accomplice of a crime you could be in jail at least ten to fifteen years. Are you sure you wanna take that risk for something you didn’t do while your friends now are laughing at you somewhere out there?”

He finally reacted; saying no with his face.

Antonio smiled as he light up a cigarette. He wasn’t a smoker, but in almost every session of interrogation he was required to smoke so the suspect felt comfortable to talk.

“Go ahead, talk. Start by saying who was with you last night,” Antonio persuaded.

“The name’s Rahmat, Sir.” Alex hesitated to say it, but he has no choice. “The other one I just met him last night.”

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Joannes Rhino

Antonio coughed when the toxic smoke seemed to insulate his neck. “How do you know him?”

“We lived in the same boarding house.”

“How long you know him?”

“Since the first semester.”

“Do you know him well?”

“Not really.”

“You remember the other guy’s name?”

“No, Sir,” Alex answered, a little hesitant, whether it meant not remember or didn’t want to tell the officer.

“So he’s Rahmat’s friend then?”

A nod on the head, firmly, definitely meant yes.

“You ever saw him before last night?”

“No, Sir.” “Was he carrying a weapon?”

Alex kept his head down, nodded and looked tense.

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“Tell me what happened last night.” Antonio put his cigarette in the ashtray, and then took a sip of water. Bad mistake. His mouth felt increasingly bitter.

A long paused. Alex’s fingers still looked shaky under the table. He was still in tense, but the capacity begun to decrease.

“He was showing off this gun. And Rahmat was so curious and wanted to hold it. He knew the gun loaded.”

Another paused. Alex’s trembling fingers got more intense.

“Rahmat took the gun and he wanted back. And….” His words ended there.

“What happened next?” Antonio tried to picture the incident.

“Um....” He closed his eyes tightly, trying to remember. “I don’t know who did it, Sir. I honestly don’t know. Rahmat’s shoulder was blocking my view.”

“Who do you think fired the gun?”

“I can’t remember who held it at the time. I didn’t do anything, Sir. I swear God.” His voice got weaker, “I should’ve gone home last night.”

- 70 -

Joannes Rhino

A gun fired. So the eyewitnesses were saying the truth. Antonio believed he just found a bright spot in this case. But where’s the bullet?

“Do you remember to which direction the gun was fired?”

“I just ran out as fast as I can. I didn’t even know who took the shot.”

“So you’re saying that the gun was pointing into the room?”

“I’m not sure.”

Antonio stored this information. He wrote names, Alex’s version of incident, and other things until he ran out the important information to note. He still had lots of questions. But he believed this boy didn’t know much. He was only in the wrong place and wrong time, with wrong friends.

“Find out everything about this Rahmat guy. I want the report on my table early tomorrow.” Antonio said to the officer behind him as he rose from the chair.

“Yes, Sir,” the officer replied and opened the door at his side.

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Alex noticed the officer was about to leave the room.

“Um....excuse me, Sir. Does it mean I’m free now?”

Antonio turned around. “Not yet. You must stay in custody until the investigation ends. If you need to call someone, say to this officer. He’ll take care of it.”

Alex grimaced, feeling the words were more painful than the bruises on his face.

1.49 p.m.

“Idiot! You’re fucking idiot!! You understand how fucked up this is!” Toni snapped.

Rahmat kept his face down, mute, reluctant to say anything.

“Why the hell you came here you fucking idiot!”

Toni’s house was in the outskirts of the western city of Jogjakarta. Located far from downtown, the region stretched along two mile with tenements and a local market which only operates from midnight until dawn. Several years ago there were grocery stores there, but they survived no - 72 -

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more than six months due to the crimes in the area. People in Jogjakarta named the area as The Red Zone because it was the place where the criminals gathered.

Cokroaminoto Road was the original name of the area. Police were regularly conduct raids around the neighborhood, but never got any result because there were lots of bribed officers. Until now, not a single person had been caught in place with evidence of crimes.

Toni Lukman was one of many drug dealers in the area. He involved in drug business since twelve. He had been kicked out from many schools because of selling marijuana in the class. But still, there were schools who welcomed him without considering his crime. Initially, becoming a drug dealer wasn’t his desire. However, due to family economic issue, his business remained until today. The fact that supply of drugs weren’t difficult to acquire, as the result, this was now become his way to survive. Normally, he operated in campuses or schools. All users must be familiar with him. And Rahmat Muharim was one of his loyal patients. They met a year ago and their relation continued since then.

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Rahmat leaned against the wall. He was restless. He tried to act calm, but no avail. “Alex hasn’t returned since last night,” he informed.

“And?” “I thought you might wanna know that. Um....I’m afraid he got caught.”

“Idiot!!! He’s fucking idiot! You’re fucking idiot! I told you the gun was loaded.”

“I’m sorry. I...”

“Fuck this! He knows nothin’ ‘bout me. If he really got caught, he’ll only mention you.”

“But maybe he remembered your name.”

“I ain’t gonna think bout that. And I don’t want you mention my name if cops ask you.” Toni sat on the edge of the bed. “You say whatever you want. Make up stories. Just never mention my name.”

“What should I say? There’re witnesses, and they all probably heard the gunshot.”

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“Whatever.” Toni pulled out a cigarette. “You know what? I had to put away that gun to lose trail. And you don’t wanna know how much I sold it.” He shook his head remembering he exchanged the gun only with two kilograms of pure cannabis from a supplier. “This is bad luck. And I ain’t gonna get another coz you mention my name.”

“Alex’s phone is still not active,” Rahmat informed, as if Toni was willing to care.

Toni’s emotion began a bit controlled. In the age of twenty-eight, the wrinkles in his forehead made him look forties. “You saw who got the shot?”

Rahmat shook his head.

“I could go to jail coz of this shit.”

Toni backwards in time to the period when he was languishing in jail years ago due to selling drugs. Then he also spent three months in rehabilitation facility in downtown Yogyakarta. At the age of twenty, he languished in jail again for five months due to drunk in public place. And there were so many criminal records from stealing to identity fraud. But he never got cases for attempted murder or illegal weapons possession.

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Toni stood, and peered out of the window; make sure no policeman outside. “You’re fucking idiot! Why the hell you invited him?”

Toni was thinking to escape out of town. He had to disappear temporarily from Jogjakarta; a year or at least few months until the situation under control. He glanced at Rahmat who was still squatting on the floor.

“Better you get lost. I don’t wanna see you no more.

Don’t call me.” Toni affirmed every word of it. He then gave Rahmat two-rolled of marijuana. “I’ve been a good friend all this time. Now I’m only asking you one thing in return, don’t put me into this shit hole.”

Rahmat hesitated to respond. He wasn’t sure he was able to keep his mouth shut if the cops ask him. He just took the weeds, wondering how long it will last before he met Toni again.

11.10 p.m.

Lisa sat on the bed facing the mirror. She pressed a button on her mobile. “Hope Rika is alright now,” she murmured due to - 76 -

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Rika’s mobile was still inactive. She dropped by at Rika’s house and talked to her mother after class. The woman said that her daughter was still in shock and unable to see anyone at the moment.

She lay down to the bed. “I just need someone to talk,” she moaned as if she tangled in lots of problem.

She stared at the white plywood ceiling above, feeling lonely. She felt lonely this whole day. How can she not? She was always with Rika; at campus, at the café, even when she had a date. Everyone might think Rika was her nanny who always there anytime and anywhere, who always guarded her when she had appointment with someone, who always gave opinions about the men she liked. Although sometimes she talked too much, Lisa still needed her. Not hearing Rika’s voice in a day, felt like something was missing.

Suddenly, the picture of Adji crossed to her mind. She admitted she made wrong judgment about him. The conversation they had this afternoon made her believed that he wasn’t a freak after all. Maybe he speaks only when needed. He was always alone probably because he had nothing to be shared with. Maybe that was why he just disappeared from café last night. He had no answer of the - 77 -

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incident whatsoever. I hope he won’t let me down, Lisa said as she remembered sharing secret to him.

Her mother suddenly entered. Lisa rolled over and looked at the wet clothes in her mother’s hand.

“What is it, Mom? Something’s wrong with that dress?”

Enny stepped closer, frowned. She looked confuse when showing a piece of dress to her daughter. “Is this the one you wore last night?”

Lisa nodded and noticed the red stain on the dress had disappeared.

“Why there’s a hole here?” Enny showed the part of the dress she meant.

Lisa sat on the bed. She looked closely to the spot her mother pointed at. Indeed, there was a clean hole as large as a finger on the left side of the dress, and she didn’t remember how it got there. So, she shook her head as her mother took back the dress of her.

“You’re not smoking, were you?”

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“It could be anything, Mom. I don’t smoke, if that’s what you wanna know.”

“You’d better wish I’ll never catch you smoking.”

“So basically I’m allowed then?” Lisa responded with joke.

“Try me if you dare.” Enny turned around and shut the door.

Lisa sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about the hole she just saw. It was located on the left side of the dress; meanwhile the mysterious handprint was placed on her left hip as well. Was it just coincidence or she just made this up?

But it seemed related though.

She stood up and stared at the mirror beside, focus on her waist. Then she slowly lifted her dress. The handprint was still there, but a bit faded now. Lisa felt relieve as she believe it would be disappear within the next few days. But, of course, fears were still haunting her. She was afraid if it turned out to be a bad omen for her. It was just a stupid thought, and she knew it.

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She laid back on the bad. Her eyes closed as she tried to stop thinking of bad things. At time like this she really needed to talk with someone trustable. But since Rika wasn’t available at the moment, the only name she came up with was Adji. But she forgot to ask his number. So, she just kept silent with lots of question until finally exhausted and fell asleep.

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V 11.30 p.m.

Adji sat on his window frame, staring at the sky. The horizon was so clear and bright that night with stars shined everywhere. He was thinking about Lisa, always was. That was the only thing that matter for him; to love the girl until the end of time. So pathetic indeed, obsessed by the feeling of love without any effort to own it. But he was pretty much aware of the situation, and had no intention to step into the next level this time soon.

He smiled remembering his conversation with Lisa this afternoon. It was the first time he had a long conversation with the girl. For him, today was a gift. And to make it perfect, a love song accompanied him. When I look into your eyes, I can see how much I love you and it makes me realize. When I look into your eyes.....

The song must be familiar to anyone; at least for those who born in eighties to nineties. The title, When I Look Into Your Eyes, performed by Firehouse whose famous with their album ‘Category 5’ in the early nineties. Such a perfect timing the song in the radio with Adji’s current emotion. Like - 81 -

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the lyrics said, that was how he felt to Lisa. The more he seen the more he realized that his feeling keeps growing every day.

He leaned his head to the edge of the window when the Firehouse’s song just ended, and without a pause, another song followed. I can’t fight this feeling any longer.

And yet I'm still afraid to let it go. This started at the friendship has grown stronger. I only wish I have the strength to let it show.....

Same as the last one, the song by Reo Speedwagon was also fits with his emotion. He didn’t have the courage to express his feeling to Lisa. He was afraid of getting rejection and feeling awkward afterwards. Indeed, it was a very unusual thought for a guy who still has a lot of possibilities to meet other girls and feel other love. However, this was Adji.

This was his concept of love. Love is sincere and pure, but sometimes we can never own it.

His daydream shattered when he saw something odd in the sky. A bright light just passed from west to south of horizon. Occurred to his mind it was a shooting star. He even started to make a wish. But the light was soon moving to opposite direction, making a sweet letter ‘S’ to the north before moved closer to him.

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Clearly, he was amazed with such phenomena. But he noticed that the wind was suddenly blowing like a storm is about to come. Sprinkling of stars in the sky disappeared simultaneously behind huge dark clouds. And all the lights and electricity in the area went out. But the radio in the room was still on with static noises. The sky was now dark. There was only a single bright light closing down.

Adji looked alert. He knew something was wrong. The light kept getting closer until it seen a round object as large as a moon with twinkling white lights on the circumference of its parts. The room was suddenly shaken as if an earthquake occurred. Adji held tightly to the edge of the window.

The object was now very close to him. Floating about five hundred feet from the ground, it was now ten times bigger than before. From beneath, it looked like an inverted plate with a layer of glowing metal. Adji frowned; believed whatever hovered in the air wasn’t his imagination.

That magical object flashed a bluish-white light from the bottom, which then shot a long light line to the ground.

The phenomenon occurred no longer than half a minute.

Ended when the light line sucked back by the center beam in the bottom slab of the metal. Seconds later that mysterious - 83 -

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object flied upward with supersonic speed, and then disappeared behind the dark clouds.

The wind stopped blowing all the sudden. The lights were lit normally. But the radio was still in static wave. Adji still stunned by the moment everything was over. His hands still clutched at the edge of the window. There was only one explanation to describe what just happened. It was a flying saucer, or commonly known as UFO. But, do they really exist?

Adji asked his own skeptical mind.

Out of nowhere, a man stood three feet outside the fence of the house. And Adji wanted to ask the man about the sighting earlier. But before he asked, the man gave him a hand signal to close. So he jumped out of the window and walked approaching the fence.

The man was about three meters high, or even more.

The age ranged from forty to fifty. His Huge body fits the height. The face was oval with bluish-white eyeball, pretty much the same color with the light from the metal object earlier. The hair was blond, cut in short and neat. It was a genuine hair color. He wore a white and bright long dress with glittering trinkets on every side. And he was bare feet. He

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surly wasn’t a local. He might be just a lost tourist who wanted to ask direction.

“Shall we talk?” The man said with strange accent.

Adji stood behind the fence. He had to look up to see the man when replied, “Um.....can I help you, Sir?” “We talk outside.” The man looked so calm and absolutely without expression.

“Um....okay. Hang on.” For some reason, Adji felt this man wasn’t a threat. He even felt like already met this person somewhere. So he just left the house with no second thought.

But the man kept silent and walked. Adji quickly followed him. “Did you see the UFO a minute ago?”

“UFO? Humans call it UFO.” “Is there any other thing to name it? Flying saucers you mean?”

“We call it Lokhtah.”

Adji frowned as he tried to look at his interlocutor.

“What’s that? Is that a military type of aircraft? Are you from the Air Force?”

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“No. We are a transporter. And Lokhtah is the transportation we use.”

“Transporter? I’m not sure I’m following you.” Adji started to think he was accompanying a drunken tourist.

“Lokhtah was what you saw, our transportation.”

“That UFO you mean? So in that case, you’re aliens then?” Adji giggled.

“Humans can call us anything. But we came to planet Earth not to create chaos.”

“Just to pick up, am I right?” Adji tried hard not to laugh.

“I am feeling you do not believe me.”

Adji commanded himself to be polite, but smile remained on his lips. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.

Um....I just don’t believe in aliens or UFOs, or stuff like that.

Even if there’s really another life beyond this planet, I don’t believe they could come and go easily but we can’t. That’s just impossible.”

“We have different technology.”

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“Much more sophisticated you mean?”

“We are different with human in all aspects.”

“So it means in physically too?”

“Yes.” “Don’t you notice we look the same?”

“The level of human intelligence is low. Our communication with humans on the planet Earth must be done in a way that can only be understood by humans.”

Again, Adji tried hard not to laugh during this conversation. “So you’re telling me what I see now is not your real appearance? May I see the real you then?”

“You will, but not now. We came here for a mission, and that mission had nothing to do with your request.”

“You can’t expect me to believe what you said without any proof.”

The man paused. “We will show you. Do you see humans there?” His eyes directed to a local guardhouse ten feet ahead. There were two men sitting there. “They cannot see us.”

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“Those men? Should I ask them?”

“Ask them what you want. They can only see you, not us, because we have manipulated their minds.”

“If you insisted.” Adji stepped closer to the guardhouse. The man remained at his side. “Excuse me, guys.” Adji greeted to one of them.

The young man turned, facing him. “What’s up?”

He stepped forward. Then as he bent over, he whispered, “Listen, this tourist is a bit strange. He believed he has the ability to disappear. So please be polite by pretend not to see him.”

The young man looked around. “See who? What are you talking about?”

“He’s standing behind me.”

“There’s no one. What’s a matter with you? You okay, man?”

Adji turned around. The alien guy was still there, right behind him. “This one. Can’t you see?” Adji clarified by pointing to the back of his body.

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The other young man stared at Adji’s eyes. “Are you drunk or something?”

“Do I look like I’m drunk?”

“Do not waste your time. They cannot see us.” The man behind him spoke.

“He just talked. Don’t you guys see him?” Adji started to panic.

“Wow! You’re really wasted, man.”

“I’m not. I just…. Don’t you…..” Adji went speechless.

The man behind him spoke again. “Let us walk.”

There was only one thing in Adji’s mind at the time; he was walking with a ghost. That was more reasonable because ghosts are visible to certain people only, or they are shown themselves to people they desired to. But instead of ran away by having that kind of thought, Adji kept follow the man like a piece of metal pulled by magnet.

“We have the ability to manipulate human’s mind.

That is why those humans can only see you.”

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Adji kept silent, looking dazed, didn’t understand what just happened. He heard the young men in the guardhouse were laughing at him.

“Do you still need another proof?”

“Okay, if you really can control the mind, could you make me disappear in people’s eyes?”

The no-expression man now pointed to the small café five feet on the left side of the road. “Go there. Show yourself to those humans.”

Just like a soldier who just got orders from his commander, Adji stepped into the café. There were three men; two were the guest and the other one was the owner.

They seemed to be focus watching football on television.

Adji approached to one of the guests. He didn’t respond; still focused on the screen. “Excuse me. Can I talk to you?” There was no reaction. Adji even tried to block the man’s view with his palm. Still, had no result. He turned to the next guest and did the same. He gained the similar reaction, which was nothing. He then stepped closer to the owner of the café who just turned off the stove and sat. But no body seemed to be aware of his presence.

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Joannes Rhino

Adji screamed, jumped up and down, and covered the television with his hand. He even turned off the television.

But they kept staring at a blank screen as if the show was still there. He finally gave up. Before he left the place, he dropped someone’s cup of coffee in purpose. The glass was torn into pieces, but no reaction from anyone. Outside the café, he looked back to see those men acted like fools. They shouted at the blank screen, watching football game in their own mind. Adji really disappeared in their eyes.

“Is it enough?” The man asked. “Do we now allow explaining why we came?”

Adji nodded in slow motion. At the same time he heard the men at the café shouted each other. They seemed to fuss about who turned off the television and broke the glass.

“Let us walk.”

And, again, Adji kept follow the man.

“We came from planet Erra. Our arrival to planet Earth is to pick up our people.”

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Adji frowned as he turned and looked up. “What Planet?”

“Erra.”

“Planet Erra?”

“Human’s technology is still not able to detect the existence of our planet. Planet Erra located in the constellation Taurus and Pleiadaes.”

“I really don’t understand stuff like this.”

“You will understand, in time.”

“What’s that mean?”

“We came to pick you.”

Adji stopped walking, looked surprised. “Excuse me?

Are you saying you wanna abducted me?”

The man stopped, faced him. “Our races had never done any abducting.”

“Sure, you are. You just choose any of us for your own research and bring us back with lost memory. It’s called abduction you know.”

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The man raised his right arm, pointing to the sky.

“There are so many planets out there, so many civilizations.

We were not the only one who came to planet Earth.”

“Well whoever it was, obviously it’s one of you.”

“It was not our races. We came in peace, not to create chaos.” The man tried to emphasize, still with flat tone.

“All right, let’s just say I believe you’re a friendly kind of alien. But why you wanna pick me up, Sir?” “Our name is not Sir. Our name is Ptaah.” He finally introduced himself.

“Why you always using we? Does everyone from your planet have the same name?”

“Each individual of our people have own names. But we always speak as a collective, not individuals. And the reason we want to pick you up is because you are one of us.”

Adji moved a step back. “Wait a minute. I’m one of you? I’m an alien from planet I don’t know where, and I also can control people’s mind? It just really not makes any sense.

You must’ve picked the wrong guy. I was born here, on the

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planet called Earth, not on the planet that I even not sure really exists.”

“It makes no sense for humans, not for us.” He gave sign to walk. “You are one of many successful genetic experimental we do. Humans named it as Hybrid, a fusion of human genes with beings from another planet. So you are one of us.”

“That doesn’t explain why I born here, and why I have childhood photos.”

“You are not born on planet Earth. You just grew up here.”

“Still doesn’t explain the photographs.”

“Twenty years ago, based on years of planet Earth, we came here to save the Hybrid races from the crisis which was happening on planet Erra,” Ptaah began the story. “At the time our nation was threatened to extinct because of the invasion from planet Celaeno. But it has over now. Planet Erra is secure. And it is time for us to pick up the Hybrids that we hid in some planets back to planet Erra.”

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Adji didn’t respond. “We did our genetic experimental research not only with humans of planet Earth,” Ptaah continued. “We also did it with creatures from other planets.

We call this activity as scientific expedition across the galaxy, which has lasted since long ago. The initial goal of this expedition was to observe the technology in other planets, then trying to compensate. And as time passed by, we began to study the biological structure of the creatures on those planets. Then our scientists applied an idea to conduct a blend between our races with the creatures of the planets that we studied. And planet Earth is one of our researches.”

“So I was right then. You kidnap us to get samples of our bodies.”

“We never do the kidnapping against humans. It was not difficult for us to get samples of human biological structures in detail. As you already know, we have the ability to manipulate human’s mind. We just simply took what we needed without any necessary to create chaos or violence.

After that, our scientists continued to study the human breed, then combined with the genes of our races.”

Adji shook his head. He had no intention to smile anymore. “This makes no sense. It is totally nonsense.”

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“We have told you that we are different from humans in all aspects. Technologies, ways of thinking, biological structures and everything.”

“Still doesn’t make sense if I’m one of you.”

“You are one of us. You are one of the samples of genetic manipulation that has matrix of a human soul.”

“So why I don’t have to power to control people’s mind? Shouldn’t I also have the ability?”

“That is not the only ability we have. We can do many things that humans cannot. You definitely have one of the abilities.”

“I don’t think I have any special weirdness inside me.”

“Not weirdness, but ability.”

“Whatever you call it, I obviously don’t feel any different than people here.”

“Try to remember. Have you ever done something you think does not make sense?”

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As fast as flash of light, Adji sent back his memories to twenty-four hours earlier. “Does healing included as one of the abilities?”

“It was one of ours. Do you have such the ability?”

“Um…maybe, I’m not sure.”

“Tell me.”

“Um....there was an incident yesterday,” Adji shared the story. “Someone was shot, and I immediately healed the wound just by putting my palm on it. But I don’t think having such the ability means I was from another planet. Maybe I’m blessed with this gift since I was born.”

“You are right. You have the gift since you were born.

But you were not born on planet Earth.” Ptaah gave a brief pause before continue, “Did you feel your energy drained after healing? Feel incredibly fatigue, difficulty to concentrate, or sensitive to sound?”

Adji nodded.

“That was a normal effect because planet Earth’s atmosphere does not suit you. If you continue to use this

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ability on planet Earth, your biological structure will be damaged and only matters of time before you die.”

Adji didn’t respond, although the word ‘die’ was like sucking the air from his lungs.

Ptaah kept talking, “What you experienced was the first stage of Akino. It happens to our races who about to entered the stage of maturity. This Akino, which has been activated, sent a signal to planet Erra. That is the reason we came, to take you home before planet Earth’s atmosphere damaging the biological structure of your body even more.”

“Akino?” Adji remained calm, even when he saw the man’s eyeball just changed color from bluish-white to green mixed with yellow.

“Humans call it collective consciousness,” said Ptaah.

“When our individuals enter the stage of maturity, we will connect with that consciousness for the first time. The physical symptoms you experienced after you use your healing power will not happen again when you are in the atmosphere of planet Erra. It was a sign for you to connect with your collective consciousness as soon as possible.”

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Adji looked more confused. “What this collective consciousness really is?”

“Everything about our races is now inside you. All knowledge, life experience, patterns of thought, behavior, emotions, and anything related to us are in your collective consciousness now, in your Akino. This Akino is already inside you before you know it. And since you have activated it, then you have to connect with this Akino immediately. You must be in planet Erra’s atmosphere to be connected. If not....”

“I’m gonna die,” Adji assumed, and his lungs seemed to run out of air while saying it. “Didn’t you just say it only happens if I use again my power on this planet? So it means that if I don’t use it anymore then I’ll be just fine. Right?”

“Correct. But you still have to go back to planet Erra.

It is important for you to connect with your Akino.”

Adji suddenly realized that he wasn’t making sense by keep responding this conversation. “What I am talking about?

Why should I bother thinking about this? I don’t even believe that I’m one of you.”

“What kind of proof you need?”

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“Nothing. I just wanna go home now.”

Adji was about to turn around. But Ptaah’s hand reached out and grabbed his arm. It felt weird. There was a flash of light that suddenly burst in his mind. It was flying, floating toward him, and glowing a green-yellow-blue color. It was so bright and glittering.

“Do not leave,” Ptaah said without any threat in his voice.

“Or what? Are you gonna make me? Are you gonna control my mind too?” Adji let go his arm from the man’s grip.

“We cannot manipulate your mind because you are still part of us.”

“Listen, this is crazy! Everything you said doesn’t make sense at all. Even if I believe you, there’s no way I’m gonna let go my life here. That’s just impossible!”

“We will give you time to understand who you really are. But we will come back.”

“Suit yourself, but my answer remains the same.” Adji observed Ptaah’s eyeballs just turned back to bluish-white, but he ignored it and walked away.

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Joannes Rhino

Suddenly, the wind was blowing with unusual force.

The street lights were extinguished simultaneously along with the house lights in the area. All electricity wasn’t working anymore. The situation was like the similar incident a while ago.

Adji felt biases rays from behind his back, and turned around. That metal plate saucer-shaped was again returned, floating in the air like on water surface. At the bottom of the metal, a bluish-white light lined down to the ground and sucked in the man who spoke with him earlier. A half minute later, that mysterious object gone to the north of the horizon with an amazing speed, then spread out into three small pieces before finally disappeared.

Adji didn’t even want to understand what just happened. He quickly moved his feet and head home. He passed at the small café he visited a while ago, but had no intention to go there just to say hello to the men who were still watching football on television. Now, he looked down as he passed the guardhouse. Luckily, those two men ignored him as if they forgot the incident earlier.

As finally got home, he immediately laid down on the bed. His head full with information. But he certainly didn’t - 101 -

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believe what the man said. He even thought it wasn’t really happened. It was simply his imagination. Hopefully, it was just an imagination.

Adji smiled to his own stupidity as he turned the radio on. I think I’m going insane. The song ‘When I Look Into Your Eyes’ played in the last melody, and without a pause followed by ‘I Can not Fight This Feeling’. He just ignored those same songs played back in sequence as he closed his eyes and began to re-thinking of Lisa.

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VI Wednesday - May 22, 2002 10.15 a.m.

Gejayan Road, one of the blackest places in Jogjakarta, was very popular with drug activities. Although so many drug dealers had been caught there, the activity kept on going. It was because most of the dealers were children under age, so they just sent to jail or formality rehab for weeks before they returned to society.

Alex and Rahmat’s boarding house were in the area, precisely inside the alley behind highways, a row with a sealed timber bar tenement which used to be a nest of the dealers. Around ten o’clock, Antonio and his men slowly drove through the neighborhood. His hands gripped the steering wheel while the eyes studied all directions in wary. It felt like he was entering a war zone. Two police pick-up trucks were trailing him from headquarter.

He parked in front of a full-graffiti house, and the target building located three houses ahead, in dull beige painted and rusty iron black fenced. It really didn’t look like a - 103 -

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decent place to live. So Antonio ordered his men to arrest the suspect without any violence, unless necessary. Then six of eight officers on the pick-up immediately moved towards to the target. Some of them were seen grasping a rod of iron.

The locals began to react, watching from their houses or standing at the side roads. They suspected a routine antidrug raid was in process. Some thugs who no doubt own drugs in their pockets quickly stepped away. A bunch of kids suddenly jumped out of a house, then ran scattered to all directions. Antonio believed he could easily capture dealers if he wanted to. But that wasn’t the reason he came.

At the time, Rahmat was completely unaware. He didn’t even hear the officers were interrogating people inside his boarding house. He was still half asleep. As a result, less than ten minutes, he had been dragged out silently.

Antonio sat on his car hood when the suspect was escorted to him. No doubt, based on police records, it was Rahmat. His body was so emaciated with blackish-brown skin.

His age ranged from twenty to thirty. He has big eyes and rumpled hair. He didn’t say anything at the time, not even trying to argue or make self-defense. He was in silence, in half-conscious state of mind.

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“Take him to the office,” Antonio commanded his men.

10.30 a.m.

“I’m fine. Stop asking me that.” Lisa repeated the statement for the million times.

Rika sat on the bed, watching her from head to toe.

But Lisa looked alright indeed, no visible injury.

“But that’s impossible. I’m pretty damn sure what I saw. You got shot, Liz.” Rika began to feel dizzy. Although Lisa kept saying that, she found it hard to believe the fact she saw that night.

The fact that there was gunfire and Lisa suddenly fell off right after the shot.

“Listen, for the last time I tell you, I’m perfectly fine.

Beside, if I was shot, who’d take you home then?” Lisa tried to convince her.

Rika vaguely remembered. “So, who took shot?”

“Who said there was gunshot?”

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“Didn’t you hear?”

“Nope. Stop assuming, Rik. Even the cops didn’t find anything.” Lisa sounded like Adji now.

“I’m not assuming. I just…..”

“You’re even unable to talk. You’re in mental disorders. Don’t you remember?” She then laughed.

“I was in shocked okay. How else should I react?”

“Well at least you didn’t have to look like an idiot.”

Rika smiled at the joke. “Satisfied? You know I can’t stand bloods.”

“That’s another assumption.”

“What do you mean?”

“You must’ve seen the stain on my dress. Well it was just chili sauce. Adji accidentally spilled it on me.”

“No way.”

“How come you don’t believe me?”

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“As panic as I was, Liz, I still have eyes. I clearly saw him spilling sauce on you on purpose.”

Lisa laughed again. “I believe you haven’t completely recovered yet.”

“I’m serious, Liz! Why would I lie anyway?”

“Okay, tell me what you saw?”

Rika folded her knees up to the chin. “I was washing my hands when I heard the gunshot.”

“Interruption, it hasn’t confirmed yet.”

“Whatever, Liz. Anyway, I heard whatever it was when I was at the sink. And when I turned around, I saw you lying on the floor with bloods all over you.”

“Another interruption, it was chili sauce and it has confirmed.”

“Do you want me to continue?”

“Sorry.”

“As I said, I saw you lying on the floor, and Adji was already sitting next to you. I didn’t see what he did. But all the - 107 -

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sudden, you’re awake and he spilled the sauce on you before he ran out.” Rika gave a brief pause. “You sure you don’t remember any of this?”

As hard as Lisa tried to remember, she really didn’t remember anything that Rika said.

“Um…what do you think he did?” Lisa looked serious now.

“I’m the one who suppose to ask you that?”

“Um....maybe he’s about to get the sauce on the table near me. Then he was surprised because of the blast and spilled it on me. Um....I guess I was also surprised and fell off.

Then maybe he was checking me up before left the place. He believed it was just flat tire or firecrackers.”

“And this is just your assumption, right?”

“Well he said so.”

“What do you mean he said so?”

“Um....I spoke to him.”

“Wow, stop right there! Am I missing something here? So he finally talked to you?”

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Lisa avoided eye contact when replied, “I asked him.”

“Well done, Liz. Bravo! So, did you ask him why he’s so weird?” Rika said sarcastically as she moved closer, seemed enthusiastic with the discussion.

“You know what? I’m gonna stop talking now.”

“Okay, okay, let’s talk seriously.” Rika showed her funny serious face. “So what were you lovers talking about?

Did you share personal experience one another and show the attraction? Was there chemistry between you two?”

“You clearly have mental disorders.”

“I don’t know you have that kinda’ feeling on him.”

Rika loud of laughed now.

“You caused this, you know that? I needed to talk to someone, but you still detained at mental hospital.”

“So it’s my fault that you like him?”

“Let’s just talk something else okay.” Lisa felt her cheeks begin to flush.

“Okay, okay, let’s back to the topic. So what exactly he said?”

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“He said he was shocked and accidentally poured the sauce on me. Not exactly your version of story.”

“I’m just telling you what I saw, that’s all. I’d never lie to you, you know that. It’s up to you who to trust.”

“Of course I trust you. You have no reason to lie. But why he lied to me then?”

“Maybe he just wanted to talk to you so badly. He spilled sauce on purpose just to get the chance to talk to you.”

“He’s not that kind of guy.”

“So what kinda’ guy he is? You seem to know him a lot now.”

“Don’t start.”

“Well I just wanna know.”

Lisa didn’t respond that. She moved her numb legs and changed seat position.

“You know, Liz? I’ve had a crazy thought ‘bout him. I thought he has some sort of healing power.”

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“No doubt you’re crazy.”

“Well it’s just a thought.”

“Too much movies.”

“I’m just glad you’re alright.”

Frankly, Lisa wasn’t sure if she was alright. She kept thinking about the handprint on her body and not sure how to react. So, was she really alright? She can’t even answer such question.

During a long pause, Rika glanced at Lisa’s eyes. There was a glint in those eyes. Not sort of the reflection of sunlight that penetrated into the room or reflection in the eyes after crying, but it was more to something that didn’t look physically. Something from inside because she knew her too long. Something that saying she was hiding something. And whatever it was, she must know.

So she grabbed Lisa’s hand gently. “Liz, I’ve been your friend since decades. I know you’re hiding something.”

“Um…..”

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“Don’t you trust me anymore? C’mon, it’s me. Did I ever tell your secret to anyone?”

Lisa was badly needed badly to share this issue with Rika. After a long silence, she finally spoke, “I didn’t want to keep this from you. I just….still not sure what to say.”

Rika leaned against the wall. “Just say it. How hard could it be?”

“You have no idea.”

“Try me.”

“You have to promise me not to tell anyone.”

“Tell what? You haven’t told me anything.”

Then Lisa slightly lifted the bottom of her shirt to show the layer of her skin.

“What are you doing, Liz? What are you trying to show me?”

She didn’t understand why Rika reacted that way. So she looked down and stunned herself when realize the handprint has disappeared. And by knowing the fact, she got

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terrified even more because of some stupid thoughts about her future.

“Liz, what is it you’re trying to tell me?”

“Um....there should be a handprint on my hip. But it’s gone now, and that’s a good thing.” She tried to act calm, but lying seemed never been her expertise.

“What handprint? I don’t understand.”

“It’s gone. Just drop it, okay?”

“I won’t. I want you to start explain what do you mean by handprint.”

Lisa had no option but start talking. She explained everything; starting from the moment she found the mysterious handprint until the last time she saw it this morning. At the end of the story, she said, “I know you may think I was just hallucinating. But whether you believe it or not, I beg you not to tell anyone.”

Rika confused, found it hard to believe. However, Lisa was her best friend, and that should be enough for her to believe the story.

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“Have you told your mother?” She asked.

“She’d better never know this. God knows how she’d react.”

“You have to tell someone you know.”

“You’re this someone.”

“I mean someone who knows things like this.”

“And who would that be? I don’t even know how it got there the first place.”

There was a short pause before Rika assumed. “I think this had to do with the incident in your place. Adji was the only person near you after you fell. He must’ve done something to you.”

“You mean I was shot and he healed me with his super power ability? And so the handprint on my body was his? Is that the best you can come up with?”

“It’s quite make sense you know.”

Without trying to make sense the assumption, Lisa replied, “Yup, make sense for people who have mental

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disorders like you.” She then laughed, trying to loose her own tension.

“Well in case you’re not aware, you’re one of them now.” Rika continued the joke.

“I guess so. It’s contagious.”

Rika got off the bed and walked to the wardrobe. She pulled out one set of clothes. “I think you better talk to police, Liz.” “You’re actually right. So they can laugh at me right on the face. Is that what you’re saying? I have nothing to proof. Why do you think I tell you?”

Rika was about to leave the room as she turned back at Lisa. “They’re interrogated all witnesses from the incident, aren’t they? Maybe you can find clues.”

“That’s still doesn’t explain the handprint.”

“One step at the time. What’s important now is you have to make sure this handprint thing related to the incident that night or something else.”

“If it does?”

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“We’ll figure out later.” Rika opened the door next to her. “So are we headed to police station?”

“Do you wanna skip class again?”

“Just an idea.”

“Go take a shower. I don’t wanna come late.”

11.30 a.m.

It had been minutes since Adji watched his reflection in the mirror. The white part in his both eyes looked red, and the skin under the eyes looked like a small pouch. But that was still normal knowing he had trouble sleeping the last few days.

He then imagined his face changed shape. The size of the head became bigger than the body, and hairless. The face became oval, with big dark and oval-shaped eyes dominated the area. The nose shape was in the form of two small dots. In the mouth, there was no lip; just a flat line without teeth or oral cavity. Now Adji no longer looked like normal humans. He was an alien from outer space. But of course that was only his imagination.

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“Jeez, what am I doing?” He muttered, realizing he just tried to change his identity into another creature.

He turned down the radio which was playing a classical instrument. Not the kind of music he wanted to hear at that time. He moved his seat to the edge of the bed, refused to lay down, afraid to fall asleep.

Strange dream, He remembered what happen last night. He then smiled, thinking about it. If he really had such the ability to magically heal people, he would probably quit college and become a doctor. Without any degree would not be matter. As long as he can heal people, he would be successful.

Outside the room, his mother was calling him. So he went out to the kitchen.

“Adji, please help me replace that lamp.” She pointed at the only lights in the room. “There’s a new one in the drawer beside TV.” Adji walked into the living room and returned to the kitchen after taking the aluminum ladder from the barn. “I just changed this lamp a week ago,” he informed his mother.

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Citra didn’t respond. She helped Adji to adjust the position’s ladder. And after that Adji climbed up the stairs until the second highest rung. He reached up, grabbed the lamp and squeezed off very carefully. He managed his grip of the lamp to avoid it slipped and slid down to the floor.

“Try it now, Mom,” he said after installing the new lamp.

And the lamp went on with such extraordinary bright capacity. But Adji kept staring at it. He felt like there were colorful light balls flying into his pupils. They were very shiny.

He heard his mother’s voice, but he was unable to move. He felt his mouth was about to say, but no sound came out of it.

Suddenly he realized the entire room was completely in mute.

“Mom!” He shouted. He could felt his neck muscles vibrate, but could not hear his own voice.

With lots of efforts he finally turned his head to see his mother. But the light balls seemed to follow his view and seen two times brighter now. Wake up! He ordered himself with no reaction whatsoever. He felt like there were coals of fire attached inside his head and make his eyes burn.

Suddenly, the colorful light balls exploded right after he - 118 -

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closed his eyes. All the sudden the entire world turned to dark.

He could no longer felt the ladder beneath his feet.

He fell off in the darkness and silence. He noticed the cold floor under his back and started to hear voices. His eyes opened. He can still see rays of light, but no such effect as the colorful light balls earlier.

“Jesus! Are you okay?” Citra helped her son back on his feet.

Adji rubbed his eyes, didn’t realize he just injured himself on the left arm.

Citra guided him to the table. “You got dizzy or something? Why didn’t you say so?”

He wasn’t sure what he just experienced. “I was just off balanced.”

“Be careful next time, okay? Let me take care of that.”

She grabbed the boy’s left arm to pour some medicine on it.

At the time, Adji realized the wound and pulled back his arm. “That’s okay, Mom. This is nothing.”

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So he left his mother after he cleaned up the wound on the sink. Inside the room, he stared at the little finger scratch on his left arm. He then tried to touch the skin and gently covered the wound. He even realized how silly he was by doing so. He grumbled to himself. Shit! What’s in me? How can I believe I can heal this? He then thought what happened at Lisa’s café was the act of God and had nothing to do with him. Maybe it just wasn’t her time to go yet. Yes, that’s simple.

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VII 12.30 p.m.

Pass midday, while waiting his class which about to start in the next half an hour, he sat under a hedge tree at campus.

He was staring at the sky and imagining himself as free as the birds up there. His eyes captured a sparrow that effortlessly flied on the roof building. The bird tried to flap its wings, but wasn’t able to maintain the altitude. It dived; spinning like a fired combat airplane, then fell to the ground after break through the hedge of trees. On the ground, the sparrow still tried to move, but it had out of power.

Adji stood and approached to the animal that was lying two feet from him. He squatted and slowly lifted the bird into the palm of his hand. He touched its entire body gently.

The bird tried to move but wasn’t able to fly because the wings broken.

So he held the bird into his palms. And it happened. A white bright light shined out of his hands as if it came from the bird’s body. The ten seconds incident ended when he felt something was moving inside his hands. And once he opened his palms, the dying sparrow flew out and up to the air.

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Adji gaped, hard to believe. He even had to rub his eyes just to make sure that was the same bird. Indeed, it was a miracle. Maybe it wasn’t the bird time to die yet, just like Lisa two days ago.

He leaned his back at the tree, very slowly and carefully, as if the tree contained sharp thorns. He felt dizzy as his body got weaker. Flashes of light crossed inside his mind while his eyes closed, and made him incredibly headache. His vision blurred as he force his eyes opened.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

He vaguely heard a voice and knew who it was right away. Then Lisa’s face blocked his view above. She wore a white shirt without pattern along with pink sweater. Her hair piled up, and a few strands of them seemed falling to her neck. She looked beautiful, as always.

“Hey, you okay?” Lisa waved her hand over his face.

Adji still stunned but already awake. “Oh, I’m alright.

Thanks for asking.”

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Lisa noticed how pale the boy at the time. She sat next to him and put her hand on his forehead. “You look pale, you know that? Are you sick?”

He glanced at behind Lisa’s body when he was about to respond. He saw Rika come closer, so decided to keep silent.

“Liz, should I go ahead? I think you both need privacy,” Rika said sarcastically and walked away with a mocking smile.

“Are you really okay?” Lisa wanted to make sure.

“I’m fine. You better go now if you don’t wanna be late for class.”

He was alright indeed. The headache had vanished.

His temperature was about to go normal. And there were definitely no more light balls in his mind. Everything had under control now.

Lisa smiled. “All right then. I’ll see you later.”

He replied with a smile as well. See you later. That was such beautiful words. It meant Lisa still want to meet him, talk to him and spend more time with him. Yes, that was - 123 -

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such beautiful words for Adji. He was really looking forward to it.

1.05 p.m.

Antonio grabbed a file on his desk and briefly checked to make sure it was the right document he needed. He noticed Mr. Budianto just stepped out from the office to get his early lunch. Antonio hastily fled from his desk to avoid the chance meeting him. But it was too late. The man had seen him already.

“How’s the investigation?” He asked. His tone explained that he wasn’t satisfied with the report he received yesterday.

“Which cases, Sir?” “The gunshot case at Tambak Bayan. What else should I be asking?”

“Oh, that case. Good news. We just found another suspect.”

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“So where’s the report now? The one you gave me yesterday I put it into a trash, just so you know. There’s no clarity ‘bout the incident and no supporting evidence. It didn’t explain any shit. How come you just gave assumptions? I need result, a solid explanation of the case, not just people’s assumptions.”

Antonio squeezed the document in his hand. “I’m still on it, Sir.” “Make it done fast. I want it on my desk tomorrow after lunch. And just to remind you, I don’t wanna see the same shit in the report. What’s so hard ‘bout this case?

There’s no evidence and no casualties. You should know what it means.”

“But Alex’s testimony says....”

Mr. Budianto interrupted before Antonio finished the line. “I’ve read the report. I don’t need you to remind me.

What I want is very simple, clarity of the case. That’s all. If you believed in Alex’s testimony, give me the supporting evidence. How do you think I’m gonna explain this to my boss? He also needs the explanation and proof. Not just words or eyewitnesses’ assumptions.”

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Antonio kept silence. He didn’t want to argue for much longer.

“Tell me, do you have any problem handling this case? Should I hand over to someone else?”

“No, Sir. I just need time to solve this.”

“I understand your position. But you also have to understand mine. This case has already in the local paper, and my boss kept asking me the progress. Try to understand the situation, okay?”

Antonio was really pissed when he replied, “Yes, Sir. I’ll get it done for you.”

“I’ll give you a quick advice. Don’t get influenced by assumptions. It’s a waste of time. Just look at the evidence.”

And he left afterwards.

Antonio was pretty much used to such treatment from him. So, he walked away to the interrogation room.

Rahmat sat with outstretched hands down beside the body. Although he was trying to sit upright, his shoulders - 126 -

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looked so week as if there was an iron chain around his neck.

His eyes focused on the edge of the table. A blank stare, as if he has volunteered himself to go to jail for the next few years.

“Smoke?” Antonio asked the boy.

Rahmat nodded without moving eyeball.

Antonio threw a pack of cigarette and a document on the table before stepping into the water dispenser. He filled two plastic cups with water and then sat in front of the suspect. At that time, the boy’s eyeball locked in to the water dispenser, focused on the bubbles in the gallon as if it was a strange thing.

Antonio snapped his finger in front of the boy’s face.

“Wake up.” The eyeball was blinking several times before focused on him. “You know why you here?”

The face was slightly moving, in hesitated.

“Do you have friend named Alex?”

He shook the head, still in hesitated.

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“Alexius Susanto? Not familiar with the name? That’s strange. He lived in the same boarding house as you. Do I need to bring him here?”

Rahmat nodded. “Oh, that Alex, I know.”

“Look, I don’t have a lot of time. I know everything.”

“Um....but that’s not mine. It just kept it for a friend.

I’m not a dealer.” The boy testified all the sudden, had no idea what kind of trouble he was in.

But Antonio surely knew that. Everything has summed in the file on the table. In fact, he didn’t even need any police report to explain that the boy was a junkie. It was obviously explained from his look like living skeleton body.

Based on police report, Rahmat came from a poor family. His father was a factory worker while his mother opened a sewing shop in the house. The first time he used drugs was at junior school. By the age of fifteen, he spent one month in the rehabilitation unit in downtown of Jogjakarta.

And after he released, he immediately went to a dealer. Not until two months he was caught and returned to the same rehabilitation for three months. By the age of sixteen, he had been from one rehabilitation center to another, but didn’t - 128 -

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make any progress. So the court sent him to the special training for troubled teenage in the rehabilitation facility in Jakarta. But the security system in that place was terrible, and somehow still got supply of drugs. A well known drugs adviser who worked there said that Rahmat was one tragic case with no possibility of healed. So he was finally handed back to the family.

However, he didn’t have any violence record. He was arrested five times for drug-related cases. Record from his school said that he was suspended several times due to caught in hand with needles in the school bathroom.

Additional notes from the campus health unit said that he often came with headaches or fever complaint. He was no more than a pathetic drug addict.

“This time I’ll release you for that charge.” Antonio said as he once again read the file of the suspect.

Rahmat pulled out a cigarette to tuck in his left ear, and another one into his lips. He looked confident now. “So I can go now?”

Antonio closed the file. “Not so fast young man. Do you still remember what you do two days ago?”

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“I was at campus of course,” he answered. His fingers were tapping on the table surface.

“Were you with Alex?”

His fingers stopped. “Um....we have different campus.”

“That’s not my question. I ask did you or did you not with Alex two days ago?”

He shook his head, slowly. He seemed to know it was a trick question.

“So you didn’t meet Alex the whole day at somewhere?”

Another shook in the head, with a cloud of smoke.

“Are you familiar with Blue Cookies café?”

This time his forehead wrinkled.

“You sure? Do you need time to refresh your memory?”

“Never heard of it,” he answered without any slightest vibration in his voice.

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“I’ll help you to remember. Two days ago you came to that café with Alex, at night. Ring the bell?” Antonio gave pause. The boy’s fingers were back tapping on the table. “You know, so many people claimed seeing you there.”

“Um....I met Alex at this café, but I can’t remember the name.”

“I thought you said you didn’t see him the whole day.”

“Oh...um...I guess I forgot. I was accidentally met him there.”

“So by the time you got there, he was already there, alone?”

“Guess so.”

“And you went there alone?”

“Yup.” “You sure you don’t wanna make correction from your answer? I’ll give you time to remember.” Antonio gave pause, observed the boy’s reaction. He reopened the file on the table, pretending to study a note in it. “I’m aware you go - 131 -

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to jail quite often. Is it some kind of a hobby? Did you feel comfortable in jail?”

The boy was speechless. It was a cruel joke to him.

“You know, it’s a lot different between drug-related case and murder case. When it comes to murder case, even if you’re only an accomplice, you could be jailed for decades.

But I think it won’t be hard for you because you’re familiar with the food. I’m sure you can survive.”

“I’m not a murderer,” the boy half shouted.

“That’s not what the eyewitness thinks.”

“They don’t know what they saw! It was an accident!

That’s not even my gun!” There was a vibration in his voice, indicating fears. The tapping on the table got harder.

“I never mentioned anything about a gun. But okay, let’s discuss that.” Antonio smiled as he closed the file. Based on his experience, it wasn’t hard to scare junkies. Their brain was too weak because so many chemicals contaminated. It only took a simple threat before all the truths revealed.

“So whose gun it was?”

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Rahmat kept thinking to lie. But he was guessing Alex had been caught and must have mentioned about Toni. That was exactly what he should say. Maybe if Toni came after him, he just simply said Alex was the one who testified.

“It was Toni’s,” he admitted.

Antonio soon wrote down the name in his brain.

Another suspect obtained, and that makes all three suspects had successfully identified. The next step was to find the evidence before this case closed. Antonio smiled, thinking he might get a promotion.

“Toni? Can you give me his full name?”

“Toni Lukman.”

“You know where he lives?”

“Cokroaminoto Street.”

“You know how he got the gun?”

Rahmat shook his head.

“How do you know him?”

“I bought weeds from him.”

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Antonio nodded, didn’t look surprise. Cokroaminoto Street had been on police blacklist for at least the past ten years.

“So he’s a dealer. Why he brought a gun to the café?”

Rahmat shook his head as his fingers stopped tapping the table.

Antonio leaned closer. “What’re you doing in the café? Was it only drug thing?”

The boy burned another cigarette. “We just hung out.

I didn’t know he brought a gun. It was an accident. None of us wanted to hurt the girl.”

Antonio surprised. No one ever mentioned about the victim in the incident. But this testimony stated that the victim was female. He then tried to remember all testimony from the eyewitness, and two names came out to his brain.

Lisa and Adji. Their statements indeed looked suspicious. They must have hid something. It was clear that this case wasn’t just an ordinary gunshot case. There must be something more.

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“If you didn’t do anything, why you ran? Why didn’t you help the girl?”

“Spontaneous reaction.”

Antonio called the officer at the door. And the officer left the interrogation room after he whispered something to him.

“How many times the gun was shot?” he continued interrogating.

“One, but it’s an accident.”

“You know the girl who got shot?”

“I don’t think so.”

The officer entered the room with a file, and handed over to Antonio. Then, Antonio opened the file and showed picture of a girl in it. “Do you know her?”

The boy’s forehead wrinkled, his eyes narrowed sharply but he clearly wasn’t recognize the person in the picture. And Antonio nodded staring at Rika’s picture in the file. He turned to the next page where Lisa’s was in it.

“What about her?”

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Rahmat looked down and shook his head after seeing the picture. “We’d never intend to kill her.”

“Okay, let me get this straight. Three of you came to Blue Cookies café two days ago, between seven to ten at night. Toni showed a gun and you got curious wanna see it closely. The gun accidentally exploded and shot the girl you saw in the file. After that, three of you ran out of the café.”

Antonio gave a brief pause. “Am I missing something?”

Rahmat amazed hearing full version of the incident.

He then assumed that Alex was the one who gave such information.

“I guess this would be enough for now.”

“So I’m a free man now?”

Antonio stood up and replied, “Yes, you’re free to go from this room to join your friend behind bars.”

The boy believed that was another cruel joke. So he grunted as he pulled another cigarette to tuck in his right ear.

Antonio glanced at his watch. Nearly at two o’clock.

The only thing crossed to his mind was the conspiracy between Lisa and Adji. He even almost forgot the third - 136 -

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suspect who had just obtained from the interrogation earlier.

So he returned to his desk and told his men to search anything about Toni Lukman. No more than two hours all the information he wanted was collected. Finally, before three o’clock, he with his men rolled into the target.

Speeding below fifty miles per hour, three police pickups convoyed to Cokroaminoto region. Antonio ordered his men to be aware because they were entering the red zone area. He himself seemed aware. His right hand never let go a grip of a pistol in the holster, ready to use it anytime. His eyes focused to every crowd in the street. Everyone in the area should be wary of, without any exception.

The convoy finally stopped in front of a cementwalled tenement. According to Rahmat’s testimony, that was Toni’s residence. Antonio gave the instruction, and numbers of armed officers immediately searched the entire building.

Three officers remained outside in case the suspect managed to get away. Antonio was also stand outside with eyes looking at all directions. His hand was still on the grip of his gun while his ears were waiting for gunfire that may soon be heard.

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Thirty minutes later an officer reported that the suspect wasn’t found in the building, so did the evidence.

Antonio then gave orders to his men to extend the searching down to nearby alleys. He also sent two officers to start questioning people around. But no result. Toni seemed to be vanished and no one knows where he had gone. He left without a trace.

At half-before six, Antonio withdrew all his men and returned to headquarter. He officially failed to find the third suspect. On the way back he was thinking what to write in the report. He might just write down Rahmat’s interrogation which was still in blur and no clarity of the case. However, there was another clue left; Lisa and Adji. Those names were his next target. It was about time for him to see this case from different point of view.

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VIII 6.30 p.m.

The small building was walled timber and corrugated iron roof. A light shined inside the building; the only light that lit up the entire room. The place was obviously not an appropriate place to live. But apparently, Ahmad Salim had been living in that slum for nearly ten years.

Antonio sat on the only seats available. His eyes locked on the figure of the first president of Indonesia who painted in the frame above the bed. He suspected Ahmad was one of the many people who fanatic with former president Sukarno. But such information of curse wasn’t useful to the case he investigated.

The door opened, and Ahmad entered. He just had finished bathing in the mosque nearby. “I’m so sorry you have to wait.” He said as he wiped his face with a towel around his neck.

“That’s okay. Take your time.”

He sat on the bed. “Do you need something from me, officer?”

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“I’m investigating the case occurred two days ago at the café nearby, which you’re there.”

“Oh, I remember. Are you now gonna ask me to fill some forms?”

“That won’t be necessary. I just need to ask you something.”

“How can I help you, officer?”

“Could you tell me what you saw that night?”

“Well....let’s see…I heard gunfire, then I saw those kids ran out.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“Well…that’s all I know, officer.”

“Did you get the chance to see the gun, or where it was pointed at?”

“Well….I thought that girl was shot. But, apparently she’s fine.”

“Why you assumed she was shot?”

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Ahmad burned a cigarette. “Well….I thought I saw bloods on her dress. But it turned out to be chili sauce.”

“So, based on what you saw, who do you think was shot then?”

He played the cigarette on his fingers. “Well….you see there was this boy.”

“What boy?”

“He was sitting next to me. And he walked a bit weird before he left.”

“What do you mean by weird?”

“Well...you know not normal, off balance, like just been shot.”

Antonio nodded, and noted this information in his head. “Did you see this boy make physical contact with someone after gunshot?”

“Yes, he ran to the girl. I guess he wanted to help her because maybe he thought she had been shot.”

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“So this boy was approaching the girl and made physical contact to her before left the place off balance?”

Antonio confirmed.

“That’s exactly what I meant, officer.”

Antonio frowned. This case turned out to be a lot complicated than he thought earlier. “Did you see what he did to her?”

“The tables were blocking my sight.”

“Okay, let me clarify once more. So you heard gunfire and saw kids ran out of the café afterwards. And this boy who was sitting next to you spontaneously ran to the girl. Then after knowing she’s fine, he just left and walked stagger. Am I missing something?”

“That’s perfectly what I saw, officer.”

Antonio nodded. He seemed to get the information he required. He can even pictured the incident in his mind.

And what he needed now was the last version from Rika. He looked at his watch. Fifteen minutes to seven. I better visit her now. He confirmed the next location of investigation.

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Joannes Rhino

He stood up. “I guess this’d be enough, Sir. Thanks for your information.”

“Is that all, officer? Well…I’ll be here if you still need me by chance.”

7.15 p.m.

“So, when you gonna make a move to this Kevin guy?”

Rika stunned and felt uncomfortable hearing the question. The way Lisa said it as if it wasn’t a big deal. It was like saying what do you like from Kevin, or what if suddenly Kevin want to be your boyfriend. But the problem wasn’t about how she felt to Kevin. It was more about pride, which of course big issue for her.

She cradled a small bottle of eucalyptus oil perfume.

She really needed the smell. The sensed of comfort as if she walked among the old trees make all problems seem disappear for a moment. And she splashed few drops of oil into the pillow on her lap. The smell of eucalyptus flowers immediately clouded her nose.

- 143 -

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She glanced at Lisa, who was busy rifled through her drawers. If only Lisa had just seen her shed a fragrance, Lisa would immediately say that habit was a subconscious sign to acknowledge that her suggestion was true. But Lisa was such an awful friend, and always gave terrible advice. This advice for example: “So, when you gonna make a move to this Kevin guy?”

“I hate you, Liz.” “Thanks,” Lisa replied with a satisfied smile.

“This is why I hate you. You’re the worse best friend I ever had. A good friend wouldn’t give advice like that, telling me to be a slut.”

Lisa turned, facing at her, still with the smile. “Just a minute. Did I tell you to be a slut? I was just suggesting you go for him. Start from simple things like showing attention, having quality conversation, spending much time together, or....well you know stuff like that.”

“How can I do that when you’re always around?”

- 144 -

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“Oh, so that’s the problem. You never said so. In that case, I won’t bother you anymore. And this is start immediately.”

“So you can spend much time with Adji, huh?”

Lisa faced back to the dresser. “Don’t change the subject.”

“Come on, Liz, just be honest. You’re having crush on him, aren’t you?”

Cell phone rang. Just in time. She reached into her bag under the dresser. “It’s my mother,” she said after looking at the screen.

“Saved by the phone,” Rika kept mocking.

“Yes Mom…. At Rika’s…. I told you I went to the library... Um... we’re studying now.... Alright, alright, I’m going now.”

Lisa glanced at the digital clock on the phone. It was past seven in the evening. No wonder her mother was angry.

It was supposed to be her shift in the café, even since two hours ago.

- 145 -

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“I’m still waiting you know.” Rika continued.

“What are you talking about? I must go home now.

My mom’s furious.”

“This is another sample of you not being a good friend. Always making excuses.”

Lisa got up. “I’m going anyway.”

“I don’t need to take you, do I?” The door suddenly opened, and Rika’s step mother was standing there.

“Home already, Liz?” The woman said.

“Yeah, my mom needs me.”

She took a step into the room and looked at Rika.

“There’s a cop looking for you.”

“A cop?”

The woman leaned in the doorway for Lisa to pass.

“You’re not in trouble, are you?”

Rika got up of the bed and walked out. In the meantime, Lisa slid out and peered from behind the wall.

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There was an officer sitting in the living room. His face looked familiar. The officer then stood up when Rika and her mother approached him.

“I’m sorry I have to come this late. But it’s just gonna be quick,” he said to Rika.

Rika frowned and sat down beside her stepmother.

She tried to read the name attached above the left pocket of the man’s uniform. “What is it, Sir?” He leaned forward as he introduced himself, “My name is Antonio Suprapto. I’m investigating a case that occurred two days ago at the café nearby. Blue Cookies café.

You were there at the time.”

Of course Rika was familiar with the place. So she nodded.

“Could you tell me what you saw that night?”

The cell phone once again rang before Rika had time to respond the question. And from a distance, Lisa quickly answered the call. “What is it, Mom? I’m on the way home now…. You want me to buy what…. Eggs, half a kilo. Okay, noted. I gotta go now. Bye.” - 147 -

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Lisa finally came out from behind the wall and moved towards the exit door. All eyes were on her now.

The officer pointed a finger to her. “If I’m not mistaken you’re Lisa.”

He then looked closely at the girl’s body; observed the way she walked and noticed whether she has scars from the incident. But he found anything. For someone who had been shot two days ago, she looked perfectly fine. Something wasn’t right.

Lisa nodded, felt uncomfortable with the stare.

“May I have your time as well? It’ll only take a minute.”

“I’m in a hurry, officer.” Lisa then looked at Rika. “I’ll call you later.” She frowned and squinted to her. It was a message. She was hoping Rika understand what it meant.

As an investigator, of course Antonio noticed the inaudible conversation that just happened. It wasn’t clear what was Lisa trying to say, but these girls were definitely hiding something. There might be a conspiracy between them, and there was also a possibility Adji was in it too.

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Seconds later she had disappeared from the living room.

“Shall we continue?” Antonio tried to stay calm.

“I’m not sure what I saw.” Rika answered in doubt.

“It’s okay. Just tell me what you saw.”

“Um....I saw Lisa fell, and then someone spilled sauce on her.” Those words were spilling out just like that. She was supposed to say what she saw. But for some reasons, she decided to describe what Lisa assumed.

Antonio tried to find a lie of the response. Conspiracy.

The word continued to replay in his mind. “Are you familiar with the person who spilled the sauce?”

“The name’s Adji, Sir. He lives in the neighborhood.”

“You mentioned Lisa fell. You know why?”

“I guess she’s shocked because um….something exploded.”

“Something like gunfire you mean?”

“Um....it could be anything.”

- 149 -

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Antonio thought her confession was pretty much the same with Lisa’s and Adji’s, but totally different with other eyewitnesses. And it was only mean one thing; there definitely was a conspiracy between the three of them.

“Okay, correct me if I’m wrong. So Lisa fell because in shock after hearing something exploded. And Adji was near her at the time, so he accidentally spilled sauce on her dress.

What else did you see?”

“That’s just it.”

“Did you have a chance to see what he did to her afterwards?”

“I was in the sink. I can’t see anything. Maybe he just wanted to help her.”

“And what happened after that?”

“Well he just left.”

“Did you notice the way he walked when leaving the place?”

“I was focused on my friend because I thought something happened to her.” There was a brief pause before - 150 -

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she asked, “Why you wanna know the way he walked anyway? Do you think he got hurt or something?”

“And how do you think?”

“I think that’s impossible because I met him on campus today. And he seemed okay.”

“How well do you know him?”

“Not so well. Just by reputation.” She smiled.

“And what’s wrong with his reputation?”

“There’s actually nothing’s wrong with him. He’s not a bad-guy kinda’ person. It’s just he’s so quiet around people.

He even has no friends on campus.”

Antonio wrote down this information in his head. He got really interested to know more about the boy.

“What about your friend, Lisa? Does she also have the same perception as you?”

Rika’s smile got wider. “She called him a freak.”

“Funny nickname for a loyal customer, don’t you think?”

- 151 -

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“Actually, that’s not the funny part. Let me tell you a secret, and this is totally off the record. You see, I believe she’s having a crush on him.” Rika chuckled.

Antonio folded his arms across his chest, enthusiastic to respond the information. “And what about him?”

“That’s obvious. Why he even bother to come to her café everyday? And I think, just an assumption, he spilled sauce on purpose just to make conversation.” Rika laughed.

Antonio sipped a cup of hot tea before continuing the interrogation. “Let’s back to the topic. Was Lisa sharing something to you about the incident?”

Rika shook her head in doubt. The smile on her lips instantly turned into a flat line.

“You sure she didn’t tell you anything?”

“I feel like a suspect now.”

“I’m just doing my investigation.”

“If you’re doing investigation, why you asked things that had nothing to do with the case? Why you kept asking

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about Adji or my relationship with Lisa?” Clearly Rika got a bit sensitive.

Antonio took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions. “This is our standard procedure of investigation.

We need a lot of information to solve the case. All things I asked are important to the case.”

“Well if you insist to know what Lisa’s opinion about this, you should ask her yourself because she didn’t tell me anything.”

“Is my daughter in trouble, officer?” Rika’s step mother finally spoke up.

“No, Ma’am. Not at all. I’m just investigating a case.

Don’t worry. Your daughter is not the suspect.”

“Oh, thank God. I thought she was in some serious problem.”

Antonio stood up as he decided to end the investigation. “I guess I have what I needed. Thank you once again for having me this late.”

“You’re welcome, officer.”

- 153 -

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The following hour, Antonio was already lying on a couch in Mr. Budianto’s office. He let the light off so no one knows he was there. He made a pillow with his left arm folded under his head, and then tried to make comfortable himself.

It was almost nine o’clock, and he still wasn’t home. This reminded him of his father’s habit; leaving home before six o’clock in the morning and come back home at least after ten o’clock at night. Now it seemed the habit transmitted to him; making the office as a primary residence rather than his own house. Maybe that was the stake of being a cop.

He stared at the dark ceiling as he tried to imagine the situation in the café two days ago. A movie screen in his mind began to play, showing nine people in the room. Three suspects named Alex, Rahmat and Toni sat on the table behind Lisa and Rika who were chatting. Two young men named Elias and Ilham was on other table, chatting as well.

Then there was an old man named Ahmad who came alone.

And the last visitor was Adji, who probably was busy watching Lisa at the time.

The screen now played the moment before the gunshot. Rika was in the sink when Adji saw an opportunity to - 154 -

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speak with Lisa. So he approached to her by pretending to borrow a bottle of chili sauce. Then the gun exploded. Three suspects immediately fled, and two young men chased them.

In the meantime, Adji was in shocked and accidentally spilled the sauce onto Lisa’s dress. Lisa was in shocked as well and fell to the floor. Then he checked up on her before left the place. The screen stopped playing.

But Antonio refused to believe what he saw in the movie. It couldn’t be that simple. There was something missing. He then remembered Ahmad’s testimony. He said he saw Adji was approaching to Lisa after the gun exploded. So that means Adji was still on his table when it happened. That didn’t match with what Antonio saw in the screen earlier. And plus, according to Adji’s confession, he absolutely believed had no physical contact with Lisa.

So he played back the movie, but this time based on Ahmad’s point of view. The gun was exploded. Three suspects immediately fled, and two young men chased them. Lisa fell, and Adji spontaneously ran toward her. Seconds later Lisa got up, and Adji immediately left the place in staggered. The screen stopped.

- 155 -

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No doubt Antonio got incredibly confused. Based on Rahmat’s testimony, the gun aimed into the room. But there was no evidence found and no casualties. So this fact left him with three versions of the story. The first one was Adji’s version that claimed had no physical contact to Lisa whatsoever. The second version came from Rika that mentioned Adji was near Lisa when the gun exploded and he did something to her. The last version was Ahmad’s who believed Adji was approaching to Lisa and had physical contact right after the gunshot. And the worst part was those versions weren’t connected one another. Antonio believed one of them gave false testimony, and he suspected it was Adji. But, why he lied? He was going to find out tomorrow.

9.50 p.m.

The night was still young but Adji already prepared to sleep.

He decided to sleep early for no reason. See you later. Lisa’s words continued to play in his head like broken record. Even the cuts of violin on the radio somehow sounded melodious in his ears. Maybe this was what happened when a person was in love. Anything can be magically transformed to beautiful.

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But suddenly, an earthquake occurred. The room was shaking, making all the glass object seemed to burst. Seconds later the electricity went down, leaving static voice on the radio. So Adji quickly got out from his room to wake her mother up. But just about to break into the room, the electricity back on and the earthquake stopped. So he went back to his room.

The radio kept in static voice when he walked toward the window to close the opened curtains. And he surprised as he looked out and saw a man standing outside the fence. No doubt, it was the same man he met last night who claimed to be from outer space.

He frowned; trying to make sure it wasn’t just tricks of his mind. But as if knowing what was inside his mind, the man spoke, “This is not the tricks of your mind. We are real.”

Adji knew what the man’s intended, and quickly responded, “I don’t have time right now. You better go.”

“Can we talk outside?” Ptaah replied.

“This conversation is over.”

- 157 -

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When he about to close the window, Ptaah continued, “Do not you want to know the impact of the healing?”

He changed his mind and left the window half-open.

“I already know. Feeling tired, hard to concentrate, sensitive to voices. What else? And I think that’s normal. That doesn’t make me an alien.”

“Not to you, but to the human you healed. What you did will affect the future. You have changed the natural laws on planet Earth.”

He got fully focused now. How could he not? Lisa was on the topic, and anything related to her must be taken seriously. Especially if it had to do with what he did.

“But um….she’s fine until now.” He began a bit scare.

“Can we talk outside? We will explain.”

Adji complied. He had no other choice because he needed to know the affect on Lisa. Before left the room, he glanced at the clock beside the door. It was five minutes after ten, but the clock seemed broken.

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“Tell me everything I need to know.” He started to walk beside Ptaah.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything, start from the affect to the person I healed?”

“The laws of nature will apply.”

“What do you mean by that? What laws? How? Tell me in detail. I need full information on this.”

“We do not know exactly how the natural laws on planet Earth. But based on our research, it is unique,” Ptaah began to explain. “There are things called the past, the present, and the future. They are related one another. What happened in the past have impacts on the present. What happens in the present will affect the future. And what happens in the future is the impact of the past.”

“Don’t tell me what I already know. I just wanna know what will happen to her. What’s the affects of my healing on her?”

“Based on information from our researchers, human believe in what is called fate. That is the impact on the human - 159 -

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you healed. Something that suppose to be happened, but just delayed for a moment.”

Adji was speechless. Fear seemed to crawl in through the pores of his skin and get to the sensitive area in the brain.

He imagined Lisa was dying and at the time he wasn’t be able to help her. That was her fate; died of the gunshot.

“So you mean…. What should I do then?”

“We do not have the answer of that question.”

“There should be something I could do to help her.

There’s no way I’m just gonna let her die. This is very important! Tell me what to do!”

“We can not help you.”

There was a long pause.

“Um….as far as you know, is there usually a physical mark after the healing?” Adji just remembered the handprint on Lisa’s body.

“Yes, based on the experience of our Nordic and Hybrid who has healing power.”

“Excuse me? Based on whose experience?”

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“Nordic. It is what human named us, to make difference between our kind and others who came to planet Earth.”

“So, what they said about the mark?”

“Based on their experience, all the healing will leave marks on the object they healed. The mark is in many shapes and glowing.”

“And according to them how long it will last until the effects happen to the object?”

“What I do know is the laws of nature will apply after the mark has disappeared.”

“And how long is that? Give me numbers!”

“We cannot tell.”

“This makes no sense. You make no sense at all. You see this?” He then showed a scar on his left arm. “If let’s say I do have such the ability, shouldn’t I able to heal this one?”

“You cannot heal yourself, just like we cannot manipulate your mind. We cannot perform our ability to our own race.”

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“Makes no sense!”

“It makes no sense for humans. And because you have been on planet Earth too long, your brain cells automatically adapted to human thought.”

“None of these are real. This is just a dream.”

“Come with us, return to your home. All your doubts will be answered.”

Adji suddenly stopped walking. “Stop it! This is too much for me! Just leave me alone and don’t bother me anymore!”

Ptaah’s hands reached out to grab Adji who about to walked away. “We remind you not to use your power ever again. Do not perform any kind of healing because the atmosphere on planet Earth will absorb your energy. We want to take you home in one piece.”

“How you even know I used my power anyway?”

“Your Akino has been activated, and it will send signal to planet Erra everytime you use your power. We have an obligation to pick up anyone who sends signal as soon as possible before the atmosphere on the planet they lived - 162 -

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damaging the cell structure of their bodies. We have explained this at the first time visit you.”

“Yup, yesterday.”

“That is based on the time on planet Earth. Planet Erra has no such thing.”

“So how you know hour, day, date and stuff like that?”

“We do not know.”

“This is another nonsense coming from you. I’m talking to you since minutes ago is called time. And now it’s wasted to discuss things like this.”

“That is one of the differences between the lives on planet Earth with planet Erra. Human’s world is in three dimensions, and humans are able to move in those dimensions,” Ptaah explained. “A space will not be existing unless humans make it happen. For humans, the distance between atoms in a material is so small, and can only be calculated with hypothetical measurements. These kind of measurements created by human is called time. Time becomes so real, and it seems humans cannot survive without - 163 -

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it. Let us say if humans live in an atom and their body size is adjusted, then the distance to the next atom would be so big.”

Of course Adji didn’t understand anything he said.

“Don’t understand. All I know this is absurd. That’s all.”

“The level of human intelligence is low. It is difficult to understand the things that related to larger life forms. But since you are still our kind, it should not be hard for you to understand. What you need to do is to get connected with your Akino soon.”

“Akino? It’s pretty much like telepathy, huh?”

“Collective

consciousness,”

Ptaah

corrected.

“Telepathy is only in the form of inner attachment. But collective consciousness has bigger scope because it is directly from the experiences of the individuals who live in their own society. This is sort of subconscious attachment that will give you clarity about the actual existence of your world. Collective consciousness

is

necessary

for

you

to

understand

completely.”

“Well I don’t think I need that. Here’s my world and my life.”

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“We cannot force you. But whenever you feel ready, use your ability. We will come.”

“Don’t bother. I won’t use it anymore.”

So he walked away without looking back, even though he knew a strange natural phenomenon was taking place again. He got no curiosity whatsoever. By the time he arrived home and inside the room, the radio was functionally normal, still with the same strains of violin as before. Adji grumbled to the radio station before he glanced at the clock and noticed that it wasn’t broken. It showed five minutes after ten.

His eyes closed, but still couldn’t sleep. There were unbearable voices crawling inside his head. Although he refused to believe that he was a fusion between human genes and extraterrestrial gene, he couldn’t escape from the fact that he has the ability to heal living creatures. And from now on, he promised to look after Lisa. She was the only thing that matter.

- 165 -

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IX Thursday - May 23, 2002 Jakarta, Indonesia 10.18 a.m.

The building, however, was a vital place for Ivan, though occasionally it became a mocking-field from the skeptical people. Located in the southern of Jakarta, the building was stand firmly in the corner of the intersection. There were one meter high walls with coil wires surrounding the place. It has a well-groomed decorated plants park. Most locals called the two-storey building as a gathering place for freaks. But the place was actually Ivan’s shelter for the last decade, which also the headquarters of Alpha-Omega association.

Alpha-Omega was known as a serious community of people who observed UFOs phenomenon. Ivan Novianto, thirty-something old guy, was the brain behind the community. He worked at a financial company as consultant for eight years now. This UFO stuff was his hobby since childhood. He even loved this community than his official job.

Three years ago he got divorced because too obsessed of - 166 -

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doing UFO things. But he had no regrets, and kept continue doing this hobby.

Ivan shared ideas about UFO with Shintya Fitriani and Imam Noormansyah. They were his junior in college, who also has a common hobby. Shintya, a thirty-four year old housewife, loved everything about UFOs and life in outer space since the age of fourteen. Her knowledge about UFO was so amazing. In debates, she has the ability to let three or four arguments live together before linking all statements in a principal outstanding logical thinking. That was probably because she loved to read and always updated about UFO related things. We could say she was a ‘UFO Freak’. But unlike Ivan, this hobby didn’t ruin her marriage.

On the other hand, Imam’s character was quite contrary to Shintya. When it came to personal matter he didn’t hesitate to share. He even told his abduction by alien to everyone, and didn’t care a bit of the way they responded. In the age of thirty-two, he vowed to find the actual evidence of the existence of extraterrestrials along humans. We could say his character was pretty much the same like Agent Mulder in the X-Files television series, an ambitious to discover the truth. He didn’t mind to scarify anything for this ambition.

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At the very beginning, three of them were never planned to have this sort of community. They just enjoyed having discussion about UFO phenomena that occurred throughout the world, and then analyzed the truth. But as time went by, with internet as their communication media, they gained a lot of feedback who would like to join as members. So as a result, a no-named community officially established on June 27, 1997 as Alpha-Omega.

The vision and mission of the community was to become an international credible UFO observer and a reference to educate public of the reality and implications of UFO existences. And also to clarify and studying UFO phenomenon activities.

Ivan personally explained to the prospective members that Alpha-Omega was not a devotee UFO community. He also stated the purpose of establishment of the community was to examine the problem of UFO, record all sightings, then analyze and study it before they draw conclusions of the findings to the public.

Alpha-Omega conducted research and investigation of UFO in scientific point of view, without putting religion as an issue. However, Ivan realized there were pros and cons of - 168 -

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this. But he still hoped, in the future, this community would educate or change the skeptical perceptions about UFO. He also hoped to create conducive environment in community to willingly

participate

and

communicate

about

UFO

phenomenon.

And so, now Alpha-Omega has composed of thousands of UFO lovers who only communicate through cyberspace.

That day, before noon, Imam broke into Ivan’s workspace with passionate zeal. “Shin, have you checked email?”

Shintya was just sitting at the computer when he entered, and looked at him in strange expression. She had been familiar with Imam’s character. She knew that he was about discussing of UFO things.

“I just got here. What is it?”

“This is awesome! We’ve sightings, and we’ve gotta go to Jogja ASAP!” Shintya rotated her seat, facing the man who paced in front of her. “Jogja? Slow down for a sec. Do explain.”

- 169 -

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“Where’s Ivan anyway? We’ve gotta tell him ‘bout this.”

“You do aware what time now. Some people are loyal to their job, unlike you. I can tell you didn’t go to work today, did you?”

“Ah, working’s suck. I better call Ivan now.” He grabbed out the cell of his pants.

“Just tell me what happened in Jogja. Is it too much to ask?”

“You’ll find out on email.” He then talked with Ivan on the phone. “Hey, have you heard the latest info? There’re sightings in Jogja, two days in a row. This is awesome! We can’t miss this one...... Didn’t you check email since yesterday? The news is everywhere..... That’s why we have to investigate this. Let’s just go to Jogja. Who knows we may see another sightings.... Yup, she’s here.... Alright then.”

“What he said?” Shintya asked, still waiting the computer responded.

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“He wants you to ask our members there, in case any of them upload photos of this UFO. And search in local newspaper as well.”

“So we’re not going to Jogja then?” She giggled.

“Happy? I guess I’m the only one who wanna know the truth.”

“The truth is out there, not here,” she replied sarcastically, quoting the famous statement from the X-Files.

“Besides, as I know, there never been sightings in two consecutive days in the same location. It could be another scam.”

“That’s what I meant. We should be getting information in the location, not on the internet.”

“But it’s gonna be wasted if this turn out to be another scam.”

“Just do what Ivan asked. Okay?”

“Can’t you see I’m doin’ it?”

Imam stepped to the door. “I’ve gotta go now.”

“To Jogja?” Shintya laughed.

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“Fuck you! I’ll be back soon.” He left the room, and still heard Shintya was laughing at him.

Jogjakarta, Indonesia 10.30 a.m.

The man broke into the café where Lisa works. He grasped a semi-automatic in his hand while he kept walking. He then raised his hand and started to shoot like a maniac. Three visitors immediately hid under the table and two other ran as fact as possible. Adji was there. He jumped into the back of the boxes pile and decided to remain there.

Ten seconds after, the mad man left the place, and people began to groaning in pain. Adji slowly peered through a small hole in the boxes to see the victim. A boy was lying under the table, motionless. Another two men were moaning beside chairs. And not far from them, there was a girl lying face down on the floor.

Adji stepped closer to check up on her. It turned out to be Lisa by the time he reversed the body. Bloods were all over her dress. So he tried to heal her with his power. But he - 172 -

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wasn’t able to do that. He lost his power. He just stared at Lisa’s face before she finally died.

Adji snapped out, and thanked God it was just a dream. He got up on the bed, still unable to eliminate the picture of Lisa’s dying a while ago. A jazz music gradually flied into his eardrums, and he glanced at the clock. “Damn! I overslept!” He jumped out of bed and hurried out of the room.

11.03 a.m.

“Still no progress?” Mr. Budianto disbelieved.

“I’m still working on it, Sir.” Antonio remained calm.

“Working on what? This report is no different than the last one.”

“But we just caught another suspect. It should something.”

Mr. Budianto stood and slightly bent over. “You have hearing problem, or too stupid to understand what I was

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saying? All I need just a simple clarity of the incident, not just words with no supporting evidence.”

“I think there’s something wrong in this case.”

“The only wrong thing I could find is what you wrote in the report. Have you asked yourself why you can’t find the gun? Because it was never exist.”

“I’ll find it. I’ll make sure of that. Rahmat, the second suspect, already testified about this. We only need to find Toni, the last suspect.” Antonio was almost unable to control his emotion.

“So where’s this Toni guy?”

“We’re still chasing him.”

“It’s just wasting time, you know that?” Mr. Budianto continued as he sat back. “Okay, let’s analyze the case.

There’re people claimed to hear a sound like gunshot, but they’re not sure. No casualties during the incident and no evidence found. So what’s that mean? It’s obvious, right?”

“What about testimony from the suspect? Can’t it be considered? Or testimony from witnesses who claimed saw a girl fell down and a boy left the place in staggered? If it wasn’t - 174 -

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really a gunshot, why the suspects ran out from the scene?”

Antonio tried to argue this time.

“Don’t you see that all witnesses gave different information? So what that means? Use your logic on this. The girl, who fell, turned out to be alright. The boy who walked staggered, you’ve interrogated him, and he’s fine. Maybe he’s just drunk. You agree with me this far?”

Antonio kept silent and felt his body began to shrink.

“Of course you are. This is no more than a misassumption. That simple.”

“And the suspects?”

“What about them?” Mr. Budianto massaged his forehead, indicating that he just lost his patience. “You should know who your suspects are. They’re drug users, and how ridiculous if you trust them. They ran after incident because they’re just doin’ transaction. Of course they didn’t wanna get caught with drugs in hand.”

Antonio felt his body continues to shrink.

“Use your logic. If there’s no evidence, logic must take part. Maybe I better ask someone to help you on this case.”

- 175 -

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“But Sir...”

“This doesn’t mean I underestimate your quality as an investigator. I just want this case closed. There’re other far more important cases to be addressed.”

- 176 -

Joannes Rhino

X 11.45 a.m.

Before midday, when Lisa and Rika just finished their class, they saw Adji sitting under a tree outside campus building.

“Hey, what are you doing here? You waiting for someone?”

Lisa asked as she walked closer.

“Well of course he’s waiting for you, Liz,” Rika giggled.

“Just mind her. You okay?” Lisa kept focus on the boy who seem hiding something.

But Adji was too nervous to deal with the third party around them. “Um….actually, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it? You seem serious.”

“Um…can we talk in private?” He glanced at Rika.

“Okay, I understand. You both need privacy. I’m goin’ now.” Rika laughed before left them alone.

“I’ll call you,” Lisa said to her as she gave funny eye contact.

- 177 -

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“I’m sorry. I don’t know you have plans with her.” Adji said when Rika had left.

“What plans? Anyway, what do you want to talk about?”

“Let’s talk inside.”

So they went to an empty class. Adji sat on a table, still confused to start the conversation. “What is it?

Something troubling you?” Lisa asked to blast the silence.

He looked down. “I don’t know how to start this.”

“Well you can start by telling me what you wanna tell me.”

“Um….if you don’t mind, I wanna see the handprint you showed me the other day.”

“Oh, that handprint. What for?”

“Just wanna make sure.”

“What’s to make sure? Is it something I need to know?”

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“I’ll tell you everything. I just have to take a quick look first.”

“It’s gone.”

Adji surprised. “You sure?”

“What do you expect? See?” She lifted her shirt to show her left hip.

Adji went silent, remembering what Pttah said last night. He actually didn’t want to believe it, but the fact he got now was only mean one thing; Lisa was about to die. He then shook his head; stopped himself to imagine it further.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the boy looked confuse.

“Nothing.”

She stood up and sat on the table next to him. “I don’t believe you. You must know something that I don’t. Just tell me everything. How hard could it be?”

“You’ve no idea.”

“Well, if this has something to do with me, don’t you think I have right to know?”

- 179 -

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She was right. She had to know this, sooner or later.

“I think it was mine, Liz,” he finally said it.

“What’s yours?”

“The um….the handprint on your body, I believe it was mine.”

Lisa frowned. “I still don’t get it.”

“Which part of it was mine you don’t understand?

Maybe it’s easier to explain this if it was still there.”

“Okay, let’s say I believe you. So, you better tell me how it got there then.”

“Um…it’s kinda’ complicated and not make sense.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Starts explain.”

He looked down. “Um....you still remember the incident in your place?”

“We’ve talked ‘bout it.”

“Um....I was lying.”

“Which part?”

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“The whole thing. That’s not what happened.”

“I don’t understand why you have to lie ‘bout this.

Now tell me what really happened that night.”

“I need you to promise not to tell anyone about what I’m gonna tell you.”

“Just start talking, could you?”

“Um....you were shot. What people heard was right.”

Lisa didn’t look surprise at all, but she obviously got confuse even more.

“And what makes you so sure because….” She let Adji finished the line.

“Because I healed you.”

She smiled. “How many times you use this line to ask a girl out? All you have to do is simply asked, no need to make up things like this.”

“I’m not making this up. I didn’t even know I had this thing in me. All I know I heard gunshot, and the next seconds I saw bloods all over you. Then you woke up after I touched the

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wound on your body. That’s why I needed to make sure it was my handprint.”

Lisa listened carefully but didn’t know what to say or react. It was just impossible for her.

“This is the reason why I lied. I have no other choice,” he continued, still hoping Lisa could accept that explanation.

“Do you aware what you were saying?”

“I know how it sounds, Liz. But, believe it or not, that’s the truth.”

“I’m not saying I don’t trust you. But it just can’t be.

Unless, you have something real to support this explanation.”

“You’re right. I have nothing to proof. The handprint was the only thing I had.”

“So why not make another one? Start with that.” Her eyes pointed to Adji’s left arm.

Adji glanced at his own scar. “I’ve tried, but seems like I can’t heal myself.”

“Listen, I’m sure you’re not lying and I’d like to believe you. But I just need something to make sure.”

- 182 -

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Adji kept silence, looked upset. But as he glanced, he noticed a red dot on Lisa’s left cheek. “That looks fresh,” he said, staring at the acne on Lisa’s face.

“It so obvious, huh?”

“Could I….” His hand tried to reach the face.

“It’s just a pimple, not a wound.”

“I guess it’s still a disease. And maybe I could make it disappear.”

“Well if you could, I’d be so grateful.”

“It’s worth a shot.”

Adji moved in front of her. He seemed to be ready, but actually didn’t really know what to do.

“I honestly don’t know what I’m doing now. You better close your eyes.”

Lisa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Seconds later, there was a glimmer of white light rising out of the crush of Adji’s palm and Lisa’s face. Adji felt there was an invisible bubble suddenly covered him and Lisa. This sort of bubble was the first time he experience after two previous - 183 -

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healings. In the meantime, Lisa looked so peaceful, as if she was in another world.

Less than ten seconds, the twinkle light began to fade.

The transparent bubble suddenly broke up and disappeared like the wind. Adji then gasped and stumbled backward. Lisa slowly opened her eyes. She shuddered, feeling there was something happened inside her but didn’t know what. Adji looked exhausted in front of her.

“Hey, you okay?” She helped him to get up.

“I’m fine. Just a lil’ bit dizzy.”

He stood up and felt his energy drained out. He was completely powerless. His face was extremely pale. Unusual sweats flooded on his face and all over his body. His body was shaking badly.

“You sure you okay?”

Adji nodded, so weak. It was difficult for him to do that. He then glanced at Lisa’s face. There was a white tiny spot on her cheek.

“You okay, Liz? Do you feel anything?” He asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

- 184 -

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She touched her cheek and frowned. But she wasn’t sure. So she grabbed her purse to find a mirror. She couldn’t believe what she saw in the mirror. The acne was gone, and replaced by a white vague spot.

“It’s gone! What’ve you done to me?” Her voice quivered. She freaked out.

Adji finally sat down. Every once in a while his head slumped back. He began to unconscious. This time the effect was so fast.

“That the proof you’re asking. You believe me now?”

His voice twisted.

“You don’t look alright.” As much as she needed an explanation, she was aware of Adji’s condition at the time. He was in pain but didn’t want to admit it.

“You’re so stubborn! This is not the first time I saw you like this.”

Adji felt his throat clogged. “I just....so weak. I don’t…” He didn’t continue. His eyeballs circled inside the eyes, and all the sudden everything went dark.

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Images now began to creep inside his mind. Pictures of unfamiliar faces, animals, plants, all of them crammed into his mind. There was also a picture of death, birth, celebration, fight, love, and many more until he no longer sure what was shown by his thoughts. All of them were flowing wild in his mind, like a formatted slide projector. Then, series of musical notes without rhythm were also filling his mind. Without rules, the voices gave shock waves to his eardrums.

“Adji!!!” Lisa screamed as she saw Adji’s head limped forward and smashed to the table surface.

“Adji, can you hear me? Wake up!!” Her voice echoed in the room.

She immediately shrugged him and held his neck to make sure his head will not limp back. Adji’s head was so weak, as if boneless. A minute after, his eyelids spin but then back to normal position, and his hands started to move. He was about to recovered. Lisa sighed, relieved.

“I’m very tired,” he spoke as if it explained everything.

Lisa still looked at him with great dismay. She almost saw something horrible. “You’ve just fainted. What’s wrong with you?”

- 186 -

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“I just tired okay.”

“This is not the time for another lies. I’m gonna take you to hospital.” Adrenaline was still spreading in Lisa’s body.

All her nerves were in tense.

Adji’s eyeballs rotated. His head began bobbing, about to collapse again. But Lisa grabbed his shoulder to make his body remain upright.

“Take me home, Liz. I just need a rest.”

She helped him to stand and led him out of the room.

Adji sounded breathless, another fact to ensure that he was really sick.

Lisa tried to act normal when all eyes pointed at her and Adji outside the building. Some of them giggled, assuming Adji was so drunk at the time. Even a security guy asked her, just to make sure. But Lisa remained calm.

She then called a taxi outside the gate. The driver helped Adji without any question. Lisa relieved because she didn’t want to talk with anyone at the time. After gave direction to the driver, she jumped in to the cab.

“Adji, you okay?”

- 187 -

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Adji kept his head down. His eyes were half open with eyeballs kept spinning inside. Lisa then realized how stupid the question was. Maybe she just didn’t know what to say to make him alright.

Ten minutes later, the taxi stopped. Lisa handed some amount of money, and without waiting the change she quickly helped Adji out. Adji’s mother was about to enter the house when she saw them.

“My God! Adji, what happened to you?” She screamed as she ran closer.

Lisa helped him walk into the house. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He just exhausted with no reason.”

In the meantime, Adji’s condition was getting worst.

His consciousness was diminishing. Those images appeared again inside his head, but this time without musical accompaniment. Then he felt his back lay on the bed. For a moment, he saw Lisa’s face above him. But his eyes began to blur until he finally blacked out.

“Thank you for taking him home,” Citra said after giving compress to her son.

- 188 -

Joannes Rhino

Lisa’s tensions subsided. She was a little bit relaxed now. “Oh, I don’t mind at all, Ma’am.”

“I wonder what’s wrong with him.”

“Does he get this often?”

“This is the first time I see him like this. He barely sick.

I better call my husband now.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“You’ve done enough.”

“So I better get going now.”

“Thank you once again.”

Lisa smiled. “Well I just did what I had to do.”

“So where do you live?”

“It’s near here. Blue cookies café, that’s also my house.”

“My gosh, you’re Mrs. Enny’s daughter? I didn’t notice that. You looked different since the last time I saw you.”

- 189 -

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“Hope that’s a compliment.”

“It is. Say hi to your Mom.” “I will. I’m going now, Ma’am.”

“I’ll tell Adji to call you when he awake.”

4.30 p.m.

It wasn’t five o’clock yet but Antonio has prepared to go already. He spent the whole day on his desk; calling all police stations in Jogjakarta, sending fax Toni’s picture to several places, and waiting the result. He waited the phone on his desk rang to give good news. He had run out of ideas. All effort has been made, but still no progress whatsoever.

He had enough. He must do something. He took a quick look to his note in desk drawer. There was a question mark after Lisa’s and Adji’s name. Maybe that was what he should do; re-interrogate those witnesses.

He left his number to an officer, and told him to inform any progress concerning the last suspect. He then immediately drove to Lisa’s residence. No longer than fifteen

- 190 -

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minutes, he arrived. He walked straight in when seeing Lisa behind the counter table.

“Good afternoon. I wanna ask you few questions related the incident several days ago,” he just jumped in to the topic.

“How can I help, officer?”

Antonio sat right in front of the girl. “I just wanna know what you remember about that night.”

Instead of thinking what the officer asked, Lisa was thinking about Adji’s condition right now. Is he getting any better? Will he come today?

“I need all information you could remember.”

“Um.....I remember talking to my friend...”

“Is it Rika?” Antonio confirmed.

“Yup, I was talking to her. Then she went to dishwasher, and the next thing I know I was sitting on the floor.”

“So you just blackout after Rika left?”

- 191 -

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“Um….probably.”

“When you were on the floor, you remember feeling any pain in your body, or anything that seem odd to you?”

Lisa frowned, and then shook her head.

“There’s eyewitness saying someone’s approaching you after you fell. You remember that?”

“Like I said, I can’t remember anything after Rika left.”

“So you don’t remember what this person was doing near you?”

“Well I guess he just wanted to get something,” she answered, avoiding eye contact.

The girl looked innocent, but Antonio still noticed her anxiety. She constantly cleaned up the table’s surface in front of her with a napkin.

“Did you notice him leaving this place?”

“I don’t think so.” She kept pressing the napkin on the table as if there was a hard stain there.

- 192 -

Joannes Rhino

Antonio began to record things in his head. “You familiar with this guy?”

“The name’s Adji,” she replied dryly; continued to observe the invisible stain on the table.

“How well do you know him?”

“We’re just friend.”

“What kind of friend? Childhood friend, or simply just customer friend?”

“What do you think? We lived in the same neighborhood. We shared the same campus. He’s my regular customer. You can figure it out yourself what kind of friend he is.” She was getting frustrated with the questions.

“So you met him on campus and you met him here as well, but there’s no particular feeling between you both?”

Suddenly Lisa felt this officer sounded like Rika.

“What are you trying to say, officer? Why is it too important for you to know my relation with him? Is it even related with your investigation?”

- 193 -

Falling From The Sky

“I didn’t mean to offend you. I just need information.

And it’d be wise if you cooperate.”

She got up along with a guest who about to pay. And she back on her seat again. “We’re just friend. That’s all you need to know. Anything else you’d like to ask? I have to work here.” She meant what she said.

“That’d be enough.” Antonio then glanced at the list of foods attached to the wall. “What food you can recommend me?”

“All foods you see there.”

“Well, a fried noodle seems tempting. I’ll have one.”

- 194 -

Joannes Rhino

XI Jakarta, Indonesia 6.37 p.m.

“Is he not home yet?” God knows how many times he asked that question within the last hour.

Shintya kept focus on the computer screen. “You can see it yourself.”

Imam sighed. “Where is he? What take him so long?”

“Traffic.”

He glanced at the clock next to the computer as he walked toward the window. “It’s almost seven. We’re gonna missed the last train.”

“You’re talking like you don’t know him. I’m sure he’ll wait until another sighting before we go there.”

“There’s no way I’m gonna missed the next one.”

He pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. And Shintya glanced at him. “Do it outside. Can’t you see the sign?” She warned as if there was a no-smoking sign in the room.

- 195 -

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Imam chuckled as he put back the cigarettes in the box. “This is wasting time.”

“You better help me then.”

“Help you on what?”

“Check this out.” Shintya showed a site on the computer.

Imam stood behind her. He saw Alpha-Omega site on the screen. “Something wrong with our site?”

Shintya dragged the mouse. “Someone posted info to us about last sightings in Jogja in 1982. And in the same place, the previous sightings took place in 1978, 1958, 1932 and 1912. Now let’s see at the local news.” She replaced AlphaOmega site with other sites. “It’s also mentioned that throughout this century, all sightings were recorded in the same years; 1982, 1978, 1958, 1932 and 1912.”

Imam pulled a chair and sat down beside her. “So you’re saying whoever posted that info got the story from the news?”

She returned to Alpha-Omega site. “Now check out other sightings in other cities. Sightings in Pontianak 1973 and - 196 -

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continue in 1993. Sightings in Bandung 1980 and continue in 1960. Previous sightings in 1943 and 1963.”

“Don’t you think I didn’t know that?’

“My point is all the sightings occurred in the same time interval.”

“Every twenty years you mean? It’s just a coincidence, Shin. There’re other sightings happened in the same year, you know. You’re pushing this.”

“There’s no such thing as coincidence in UFO phenomenon. There must be a certain pattern. In case you don’t know, in every sixty one months UFOs appeared simultaneously in regional and moving eastwards. It’s called UFO wave. These kinda’ patterns have been examined by UFO experts.”

“So why this one’s pattern is twenty years?”

“I think this is had to do with....”

“With what?” Someone’s voice emerged from the door.

- 197 -

Falling From The Sky

Spontaneously, they turned toward the sound. And Imam stood up. “What took you so long? We’ve gotta go to Jogja now. The last train is leaving at ten. We still have time.”

Ivan put his briefcase next to the wardrobe and moved closer to Shintya. “You found anything?”

She showed the computer screen. “I’ve asked our members there, but no one has the picture. And there’s also no info in the local news.”

“That’s why we better get going. We’re not gonna find anything from the internet,” Imam snapped.

Ivan loosened his tie as he continued watching the screen. He flickered and occasionally frowned. “What do you think, Shin? Should we respond this seriously?”

Shintya nodded, but hesitated. She then clicked the mouse. “If you see from all sightings in Jogja since early nineties, you’ll find they’re connected one to another.”

“She meant there’s twenty years gap,” Imam snapped again.

“Not every twenty years,” Shintya corrected while she scrolled up the mouse. “This one is the example. There was - 198 -

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sighting in 1912 and another one in 1932. The next one was in 1958 and 1978. And the last one happened yesterday, after previously in 1982. Each sighting has twenty years lag time.

There was the first twenty, then a random gap, and then another twenty, and so on. I believe every sighting has own patterns.”

Ivan sat down and took over the mouse. “You were saying this might have to do with something.”

“Well I think this has to do with Nordic.”

Imam stepped closer and leaned against the computer desk. “Nordic? How can you tell?”

“It’s just my assumption. But if you really think about it, kinda’ makes sense you know.”

“Start explains,” Ivan said, folded his hands to his chest.

Shintya clicked at other sites on the screen before begin her explanation. “You see all sightings that ever recorded, all of them without any pattern. They came to Earth for observations or maybe to take human samples for their research. And such activity happened without pattern, in - 199 -

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random, and has no accurate time calculation. So we basically can’t predict the exact time they’ll return to our planet. They could come any time they wished without us knowing it. But it doesn’t mean we don’t have such technology to predict their arrival. It has nothing to do with technology. It’s related with time. In this planet we have date, day, year and other stuff related with time. But Alien doesn’t know such thing because they use intelligence to measure it. More like telepathy between fellow races, which they’re using it to live their daily lives. They use it for reproduce, communication, socialization, and everything from A to Z. “Now let’s back to sightings in Jogja,” she continued after clicking the mouse. “Until today, there were three sightings with the same pattern. The first one in 1912 and 1932, with twenty years lags. In this point there was a random interval before the second phase in 1958 and 1978. Then another random interval until the last phase took place in 1982. And twenty years from 1982 is 2002, this year, which just happened yesterday.”

“If this is the same pattern, so why there were two sightings this year? Yesterday, two days in a row?” Imam interrupted. “And what’s the connection between this twenty - 200 -

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years pattern with Nordic? They’re like any other alien, aren’t they? They’re not familiar with time.”

Ivan stroked his forehead, still wanted to hear the whole analysis.

“The Nordic doesn’t familiar with time, that’s correct.

But we do know they’re the only alien race that human trust.

They’ve never abducted our people. They always came in peace.”

She clicked a mouse button. “If we look at other sightings with random pattern, all of them ended with chaos.

Let’s say missing people, crop-circle and bizarre marks, and so on. But not in Jogja. I found nothing in local papers during the last two days. There’s no weird incident after the sightings. So my guess’s it was Nordic who came visit us yesterday and the day before.”

“Makes sense. But you do know not all sightings with random pattern ended with chaos. So does it mean that it was also Nordic?”

“Have you read Billy Meier article when he was interviewing Nordic in 70s?”

- 201 -

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Imam nodded. “Dialogue with the Outsider.”

“In the article, the Nordic said their race use collective consciousness to run their lives. And he also explained that all Nordics in other planets will always be connected one another using this collective consciousness.”

“So you’re saying there’s Nordic in Jogja trying to communicate with another Nordic, and they communicate only one time in every twenty years?” Imam drew his own conclusion. “So now tell me how they can calculate twenty years because as you said they’re not familiar with our time zone. And for what reason they came?”

“If you ask me the reason, I still have no idea. But there’s an answer about this twenty years pattern.” Shintya gave a brief pause. “Hybrid, that’s the answer. We, human, trust the Nordic. So we let them take the sample of our bodies, and then this Hybrid remains on our planet. And because this Hybrid is half Nordic, so they also have collective consciousness. And because they’re half human, they’re also familiar with our time zone.”

“So this twenty years pattern is based on human calculation? And by the age of twenty, a Nordic connects with - 202 -

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the collective consciousness for the first time,” Imam revealed his analysis.

“As you read in the article.”

Ivan took over the mouse to open the local site during the last two days. “It quite makes sense that our guest was Nordic. Good analysis.”

“Some of our members had tried to report this to media. But they wouldn’t publish because there’s no picture of the sightings,” Shintya added.

“I don’t know ‘bout you guys. But I feel something’s strange with this one,” Imam spoke up. “Two days in a row?

That should be a big deal. But no one seemed to be aware.

C’mon, we all know something’s wrong here.”

Ivan nodded. “Any suggestion, Shin?”

“I agree with him. Something’s not right here. It has changed the twenty years pattern for sure.”

Ivan turned to Imam. “You have any idea why the pattern changed this year?”

- 203 -

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“Based on Nordic and their collective consciousness, I guess everytime the Hybrid starts to connect with consciousness they would pick them up to go back to their original planet. So my guess this Hybrid refused to go on the first day of sighting. That’s why there was another sighting yesterday. And there’s a possibility this Hybrid still refused to go. And there’ll be other sightings until this Hybrid willing to go.”

Ivan looked back the display on the screen, studying related sites. Few moments later he leaned, took off his glasses and rubbed the base of his nose, as if a massive headache was centered there.

“Could you take sudden leave in the office?”

Imam then smiled. “Consider it’s done.”

Ivan turned to Shintya. “What about you? Would your husband allow you to go?”

“When are we leaving?”

“Well now, when do you think?” Imam snapped as he kept looking at the clock, hoping the time stops moving.

“I can’t go tonight. But I’ll catch up.”

- 204 -

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Ivan closed his eyes as he stroked his forehead, felt like the headache now had moved to the area. “My hunch telling me there’ll be another sighting tonight.”

“You bet, and we can’t miss it. We have to be there by tomorrow.” Imam began to pace.

Jogjakarta, Indonesia 7.36 pm You were shot….I healed you. The way Adji said as if it wasn’t a big deal, as if it happened to anyone all the time. But it made Lisa stress out, even just by thinking of it. She looked closely at the mirror. The white dot was still there, vaguely left mark on her cheek. It was hard for her to stop questions that seem overflow. But she has no other choice beside believe what it seen. She needed explanation. So she decided to make a quick visit to meet Adji.

The cell phone vibrated on the bed. She looked at the name on the screen. “Hey, you.”

“So what did you say to him?” Rika spat without any introduction.

- 205 -

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Lisa frowned, thinking. “What did I say what to whom?”

“You know exactly what I meant. Did he finally ask you out?” Rika giggled.

“You’re mentally ill. He just wanted to talk.”

“So what were you two talking about?”

“Um....well still ‘bout the incident.” Lisa tried not to get nervous.

“Oh, so in case the cop asks, you both have the same answer.”

“Speaking of witch, what did you say to the cop last night?”

“All I know.”

“Which is?”

“Well everything. Am I being interrogated now?”

“Just wanna make sure coz he stopped by at my place today.”

- 206 -

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“Actually, that officer’s kinda’ weird. He asked so many things ‘bout Adji and all stuff related to him. I think he tried to put Adji as a suspect.”

“That’s impossible. He had nothing to do with the incident.”

“Wow, slow down. Am I accusing him? I was just saying the officer tried to put him as a suspect. What is it with you, Liz?” “Sorry, I just….”

“Are you protecting him now?”

“I’m not, you mental. I’m just sure he’s innocent.”

“Is this based on assumption or simply interest?”

“Proof.”

“What kinda’ proof?”

Of course Lisa didn’t want to share this one to anyone. Although Rika stood as her best friend, but this secret must remain untold.

“I gotta go now. My mom needs me.”

- 207 -

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“Liz, you’re not keeping anything from me, are you?”

“What are you talking about? I’m going now. Bye.” Once the line cut, Lisa immediately switched the cell off. She left the room after decided to wear jeans and dark green sweater. She said she will be back before ten o’clock to her mother. And less than fifteen minutes, she arrived at Adji’s house. She believed it still wasn’t late for a visit.

She saw a pair of leg sticking out and wiggling in a frame window beside the main entrance. And it was Adji who sitting there. He looked perfectly fine now.

“Lisa?” Adji hardly believed his eyes.

“How do you feel?”

“Oh, I’m okay. Thanks for taking me home.” He jumped off the window and walked toward her.

“You sure?”

“Just need a rest,” he said after letting Lisa in.

Lisa sat on the patio chair. “What happened to you exactly?”

- 208 -

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“Nothing happened. I was just needed a rest, that’s all.”

He seated and felt his heart beating so hard. How could he not? He was imagining Lisa, and out of the blue she showed up. What he saw in a fantasy bubble turned out to be real.

“Were you in the middle of something?”

“Is there something you need, Liz?” He suddenly realized how silly the question was.

“Um....I’m just checking you up. But you look better now.”

Adji felt like over the clouds at the time. His mind illustrated a picture of something shiny that burst up and then exploded into the field of stars in the sky. He then pondered whether this was the perfect moment to tell her the way he felt.

“I’m okay. Thanks for coming.”

“Actually, I also wanna ask you something.”

“What is it?”

- 209 -

Falling From The Sky

She pointed to the left side of her face. “It’s gone. I don’t know what you did, or how you did. But it’s definitely gone now. So you better explain.”

Adji glanced then looked down. He sustained his forehead with the palm of the hand. “I honestly don’t know how to explain. I’m not even sure I have this thing in me. I really don’t know what’s happening to me. Sorry, Liz.” “You don’t have to apologize. You did nothing wrong.”

“Yes, I did.”

“What do you mean?”

He lifted his face, staring straight ahead but still refused to make eye contact. “I told you what actually happened at your café, didn’t I?” “You healed me.”

“That’s my point. I shouldn’t do that. It’ll impact you in the future.”

“I’m not following you.”

“It’s really, really complicated.”

- 210 -

Joannes Rhino

“Okay. Let me make it easier then. I ask and you answer. Fair enough?”

He nodded and took a long sigh. Soon Lisa will know who he really was.

“So I was shot and you healed me?” Lisa felt how weird that question came out of her mouth.

“Reflex. I didn’t know I can do that.”

“So it was the first time you realize you have this healing ability?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you talked with your parents ‘bout this, or anyone?”

“Just you.”

“May I ask why you told me? I mean what made you so sure I’m not gonna tell this to anyone.”

“I have no other choice. This is about your future.”

“Okay, now let’s talk ‘bout that. Do you also have ability to see future?”

- 211 -

Falling From The Sky

“Not that I aware of.”

“Then why you kept telling me this is about my future?”

“Someone told me.”

“And this someone you mean God?” “I know this is sound ridiculous.”

“Not yet, but I’m bound to hear.”

Adji was still thinking the right words to explain. “You believe there’s another life up there?”

“You mean life after death?”

“Life on other planets. Outer space.”

“Aliens?” Lisa raised her eyebrows and smiled.

“Something like that.” Adji thought how ridiculous he discussed this with Lisa.

“Well there’s a possibility. But what’s this alien stuff has to do with what we discussed anyway?”

- 212 -

Joannes Rhino

So Adji started his confession. “The day after the incident in your place, there was a man came here and claimed coming from outer space. And the reason he came was to pick me up because he said I’m part of them. He also mentioned I have some sort of ability to heal human.”

He stopped talking and glanced briefly to Lisa. She looked so focused listening to his explanation. Wild wrinkles on her forehead indicating that she had trouble digesting the explanation. Adji then continued his confession. He told about the impact of this ability to his physical condition.

A long pause suddenly arrived between them. Adji couldn’t look at Lisa at all. The fear covered him like undeniable poison. His biggest fear was to see Lisa run out after knowing the truth. On the other hand, Lisa didn’t know how to react. She kept silent. She knew Adji wouldn’t talk stuff like this unless important.

Adji looked down at his feet, and then tried to end the silence, “I know this may sounds absurd. But I just need you to believe this.”

Lisa cleared her throat. “So you’re saying you’re alien?”

- 213 -

Falling From The Sky

“I’m not sure. But he told me that I’m sort of Hybrid.”

“Hybrid? I think I’ve read such thing in some books. I just never thought it really exists.”

“To be honest, I don’t believe it myself. But I must take action before too late.”

“You talking ‘bout my future? What did he say to you exactly?”

“Um....he said the laws of nature will apply. It means that what happened to you that night will happen again in the future.”

The words were like sucking the air from her lungs, and she felt like running out of breath. “So you’re saying someone will shoot me, and this time I’ll die?”

Adji kept his head down. He felt the same way as her.

“That’s impossible! No one can tell future,” she protested.

“I’m not trying to scare you, Liz. I just….I thought you should know this.”

- 214 -

Joannes Rhino

“Well I know now, and let’s say I believe you. So what can you do to change my destiny?”

“At least I can look after you. I can heal you whenever it happens again.”

“You’re so sure ‘bout this, aren’t you?”

Adji glanced. She looked so beautiful. And it made the transparent bubble inside him instantly exploded. It was the only barrier to maintain the capacity of his feelings to Lisa. But now it has broken, leaving him alone.

“Like I said, I’m not sure. But being precaution wouldn’t be so hard, would it?”

Lisa stroked her forehead. “As much as I wanted to believe you, I need to see something real to support this kinda’ explanation.”

“Maybe I can help you with that.”

She looked surprise. “Really? You can ask this alien guy to come?”

“Guess so, because he told me he’ll come right after I use my power.”

- 215 -

Falling From The Sky

“So where is he? You used your power already.”

“Well he should be here by now.”

“By the way, what time is it?”

Adji peeked through a crack in the door. “Half past nine.”

“Oh shit! I should get going now. I promised my mom be home before ten.”

Adji stood up after Lisa. “Do you mind if I take you home?”

Lisa smiled. “That’d be great.”

Fifteen minutes seemed like a blink. They had arrived at Lisa’s café. “Keep me inform,” Lisa said as she noticed two men sitting inside the room.

“I will.”

“Wait here.” She rushed inside, and came out with a small of paper in her hand. She handed it to Adji. “This is my number. Call me anytime.”

- 216 -

Joannes Rhino

“I will.” He saved that scrap of paper so tightly in his hand.

“Thanks for taking me home.” She stepped inside.

On the way home, Adji felt so happy. His fear about how Lisa reacts had been answered, and he was grateful. He glanced at his right hand, and observed the scratches of ink pens in a small paper in there. He smiled.

Minutes later he realized that every aisle looked so quiet. The dogs were howling and barking wildly. Street lights were flickering, radiating light and die simultaneously with all electrics in the current area. This phenomenon occurred again, and Adji knew what it means. So he stopped walking and waiting.

“Can we talk?”

The voice came from behind, and Adji recognized it.

He sighed, wishing Lisa was here.

Ptaah flipped his palms and stretched to him. “Are you ready?”

- 217 -

Falling From The Sky

Adji took a step back, keep a distance. “Ready for what? I told you I’d never go with you! Earth is my home!”

“When you use your ability, it means you need us to come.”

“I did. I wanted you to come to explain.”

Ptaah pulled back his arm. “What information you need?”

“Not me, but the person I healed. You must explain this to her.”

“We cannot grant your request.”

“This is not a request. This is a must. She has right to know the consequences of my healing.”

“The pattern of human thoughts is limited. And chaos would happen if human cannot accept the information we provide.”

“She’s different, and I trust her. Just wait here. I’ll go get her.”

“We will not allow you.”

- 218 -

Joannes Rhino

Adji observed half of Ptaah’s pupil suddenly change color to yellowish-green and red, and the other half stay with the bluish-white color. Adji guessed he was making contact with his races up there, or maybe it was just the way to show a certain emotion.

“Try me.”

He turned around and started to run back to Lisa’s.

Less than five minutes, he arrived and stood behind the entrance. Two visitors were still enjoying their late diner, while Lisa sat alone behind the counter. Adji turned around, and Ptaah was still standing two steps behind.

“What do you want us to do?” Ptaah asked.

“Just explain everything, whatever she asks.”

“We cannot do that.”

Adji ignored him, and called Lisa in half-whisper. He then waved his hand until she walked closer.

Lisa glanced at the clock. It was fifteen minutes before ten. “What’s a matter? You forgot something?”

- 219 -

Falling From The Sky

He stepped back. “This is the guy, Liz. This is the guy I was talking about.”

She frowned. “You sure you okay?”

Adji make sure Ptaah was still there.

“We can manipulate human mind,” Ptaah said.

“I’d consider go with you if you stop controlling her mind and began to explain,” Adji bragged to the man.

“Hey, who are you talking to?” Lisa was definitely confused.

“You’ll find out.”

“We remind you once again. There will be chaos if human knew.” Ptaah threatened in flat tone. The half of his pupil just returned to bluish-white color.

“Let me worry about that. Just show yourself to her.”

“As you wish.”

The white robe Ptaah wore immediately splashed a bright blue fraction for seconds. Adji and Lisa were at the same time covering their eyes.

- 220 -

Joannes Rhino

“What do you want to know?” Ptaah now talked to Lisa.

Lisa’s eyes were like going off. Her heart beat rate abysmally. Both her knees felt weak instantly. Her body was shaking. She lost balance and swung to the edge of the door but still remain standing.

“Liz, you okay?” Adji responded, holding her shoulders to keep balance.

She didn’t answer. She was like in drugged, unable to do anything but staring at the tall-large creature that suddenly appeared. In her eyes, the creature looked so beautiful, from the tip of the foot until the blond crown hair.

The creature looked so tall and untouched.

“I’m guessing you’re seeing him now.” Adji helped her to sit on a long wooden chair outside the building.

Lisa kept staring at the creature and remained silent.

“Start talking,” Adji said to Ptaah.

“What do you want to know?”

- 221 -

Falling From The Sky

Adji glanced at Lisa. She looked shocked. Of course.

This has exceeded reasonable limits. Anxiety began to crawl inside him. He was afraid of what Ptaah said, that chaos will happen. And by chaos maybe he meant the incapacity human mental condition to accept this sort of thing.

Realizing Lisa was still in mute, he took control. “Just explain why you here and the impact of the healing I did.”

Before Ptaah had chance to answer, Lisa finally spoke, “Um…where are you from?”

Ptaah raised his hand up. “Planet Erra, at Pleiadaes constellation, the constellation of Taurus.”

“Explain what will happen to her.” Adji snapped.

“The laws of nature on planet Earth will apply. What should happened to you just be delayed due to the interference of our race. Our strengths are temporary for humans.”

“That means….I’m dying?”

As hard as she tried to convince herself that her death wouldn’t come this soon, still she couldn’t erase the picture of

- 222 -

Joannes Rhino

hers lying on the floor with bloods all over her. She even imagined the main topic in the local paper about the incident.

“Nobody’s gonna die. You’ll be alright. I won’t let anything happen to you, Liz.” Adji looked at Ptaah. “This has to be a way out. There must something I can do. Just tell me how!”

“This is beyond our power.”

“Bullshit!” Adji protested. “We’ve gotta save her.

She’s our responsibility too.”

“We can only help our fellow race. And now we are worry about you. The atmosphere on planet Earth is making you week.”

“Adji, what is he saying?” Lisa asked, in worried as well.

“Don’t sweat it. It doesn’t matter,” Adji replied dismissively.

“It is important to us. We have to take you away from planet Earth while you are still functioning.”

“What will happen to him?” Lisa finally asked Ptaah.

- 223 -

Falling From The Sky

“The atmosphere on planet Earth is damaging the cells of his body,” Ptaah explained. “He should be in the atmosphere of planet Erra when the first time he connected with his Akino. His body will stop functioning if he is not in the right atmosphere when his Akino continues.”

Lisa frowned. “I don’t understand. Akino?”

“Collective consciousness, all kinds of information about our race. The power he has is the first stage of this process. And he is not allowed to use it outside planet Erra.

The cells of his body will weaken, and become dysfunctional.

He

should

immediately

connect

with

his

collective

consciousness. And to achieve it, he should be on planet Erra.

That is why we came. We came to pick up our race.”

Lisa glanced at Adji. “You even believe this?”

“I didn’t want to. But….look I understand this sounds ridiculous. But I need you to believe me on this, just this once, because this is about you.”

“So what you think I should do?”

Adji sat next to her. “Nothing. We’ll just wait. I’ll do my best on this,” he promised.

- 224 -

Joannes Rhino

“I believe you won’t let anything happened to me.”

Lisa sounded relief.

“So tell me, what can we do now?” He talked to Ptaah.

“We cannot help on this subject.” Ptaah replied.

“What about my collective consciousness? My Akino?”

“You must immediately connect with your Akino.”

“That’s what you always say. I mean what’d happen to me if I finally connected with this Akino? What kind of ability I may have?”

“The Akino we have is so strong. If an individual has been fully connected with this Akino, that individual has an unlimited capacity of ability and can do anything.”

“Can you do anything?” Adji muttered.

Ptaah read Adji’s mind. “The laws of nature on planet Erra is different with planet Earth. We can use our abilities on planet Earth without limits. But if we keep doing that, beside will affect to our body’s cells, it would also change the laws of - 225 -

Falling From The Sky

nature on planet Earth. One action in changing the laws of nature on planet Earth will disrupt other laws on planet Earth.

And we are not allowed to do that. We did not come to create chaos. We come in peace.”

“So basically, I can beat this if I have fully connected with my Akino.”

“We cannot be certain. There has never been any of our race do such thing.”

Adji rose from the chair. “I’ll the first one. Now tell me what should I do to fully connect with my Akino?”

“You cannot do it outside the atmosphere of planet Erra.”

“That’s because nobody ever tried. Just tell me how!”

“We cannot help you. We will not give information that would endanger our fellow race. We are fully responsible for the continuity of the function of your body.”

“And I also have to account for what I did to her,” Adji emphasized his point. “If I’m still part of your descendants, you should help me on this. Tell me what to do to connect with this Akino!”

- 226 -

Joannes Rhino

“It will harm you.”

“I can take care myself. Just tell me how! I’m willing to do anything for her.”

Of course Ptaah has no definite concept of feelings.

He didn’t understand what Adji felt at the time. “Come with us. Connect with your Akino. Unlimited powers are waiting for you.”

“I’m not coming with you. I can’t let her alone through all this.”

“Farewell, we will go now. We will give you time to solve this problem.”

Adji tried to reach Ptaah when he began to step into the middle of the road. But Ptaah suddenly stood across the street, moving by the speed of light. “Do what you must do.

You are the only one who can enable your Akino. You can feel it when Akino began to grow in you.”

Adji stared silently at the far side of the sidewalk without being able to understand the meaning of his word.

Seconds later, there was a light approaching from one direction of the sky, and floating in the air about five hundred - 227 -

Falling From The Sky

feet above Ptaah. Soon Ptaah sucked up and in to that metal object. And finally the mysterious object darted up with lightning speed and then dispersed into three white dots on the northern of horizon.

Adji turned around when all the lights started back on. He noticed Lisa with her blank reaction. There was just lain a pile of jumbo-sized metal hovered in front of her. A spacecraft. Alien spacecraft. A plane that made in some planet and some galaxy whose name still remains unknown.

“Liz, you okay?”

Lisa nodded in panic. “I won’t tell this to anyone. I promise.”

Adji sat next to her. “Look, I know this is too much.”

“No, it’s cool. I can handle this.” She was clearly in shock. “It’s getting late. I still have things to do.”

“Let me help you closing down.”

“That’s okay. I can do it myself. You just go home.”

She quickly walked away and disappeared behind the door.

- 228 -

Joannes Rhino

She rushed to sit behind the counter. Her fingers squeezed each other. Her eyes straight into the desk surface; a blank stare. Her head full of images. There was a picture of her lying on the floor and covered with bloods. There was a new picture of an alien craft she just saw. There was a picture of a strange man who claimed to be extraterrestrials. But most of all, everywhere inside her head, there were images of Adji.

She shook, unable to accept numbers of newly acquired information. She glanced at the clock, and frowned.

It was still fifteen minutes before ten o’clock.

- 229 -

Falling From The Sky

XII Friday - 24 May 2002 Jogjakarta, Indonesia 6.30 a.m.

Taksaka train stopped at Tugu station Jogjakarta as scheduled.

They were immediately queued and tried to squeeze in between other passengers on the train door. Once finally off the train, Imam rushed to an empty chair nearby. He couldn’t wait to access Internet. He was sure there was plenty of incoming email to Alpha-Omega site.

In the platform station chair, there was a man lying with a blanket covered his body. Imam immediately sat down next to him without further ado. The man looked at him for a moment before covering his entire face with blanket. But Imam didn’t care. He was about to focus on the laptop screen on his lap. And it only took less than a minute before he starts reading incoming emails.

Ivan, who just came back from rest room, stood in front of him. “Let’s find hotel.”

- 230 -

Joannes Rhino

“See? I told you. There was another sighting last night.”

“We’ll talk about that later. Now let’s find a place to clean up.”

They checked in at Pearl Hotel, located not far from the station. The place was tucked between shops and local markets, in the very busy street. It was a three stars hotel, looked standard, modern architecture, three-storey high with yellow-white painting. The parking lot was in the ground level.

Ivan rent a room on the second floor. It was very standard room; double bed with bathroom and television. Beside the access near the station, he took the place because it was relatively cheap.

Imam threw his backpack on the bed, then sat down and pulled out a laptop. “So where we should start our investigation?”

Ivan half shouted from the bathroom. “Try to send email our members here. Ask their addresses or cell phone.”

“Maybe I should call them directly to get quick response?”

- 231 -

Falling From The Sky

Ivan picked up his travel bag and pulled out several pieces of shirts to be placed in the wardrobe. He then lay down on the bed. “We’ll wait.”

“If no one reply?”

“Then we go with plan B.” “Which is?”

“We’ll figure out later.”

6.45 a.m.

Sleeping seemed to be impossible for Lisa. All night long, she felt sorry for herself. She wanted to shout for help. But ask for what? For something that still uncertain? Who would even believe her? He was angry, but not sure to whom she should be angry at. She wanted to cry. But would it make her any better?

She pressed the memory button number three on her cell phone. She needed to talk with someone. Dial tone stopped at the fifth ring.

- 232 -

Joannes Rhino

“Do you believe in UFO?” she blurted without further ado.

“Liz?” Rika was still half-sleep.

“Are you asleep?”

“What do you think?”

“I thought you woke up already. Alright then, see you at campus.”

“What the hell? You woke me up just to say see you at campus? Am I an idiot? What is it, Liz?” She hesitated. “Um....nothing big. I’ll talk to you later.”

“No way I’m gonna let you hang up on me. I know this is ‘bout him.”

“Not everything has to do with Adji you know.”

“Who said anything ‘bout Adji? I only mentioned him, and he can be anyone. But since we’re on the same page now, why don’t you tell me what you wanna tell.” Rika giggled.

“Um....you believe in UFO?” She finally said that.

- 233 -

Falling From The Sky

There was a pause for seconds before Rika’s laughter exploded in the earpiece of the phone. “My goodness, Liz. Do you even hear yourself?”

“Rik, seriously. I just need second opinion on this.”

“Okay, okay, what did you ask? Oh, yeah, UFO. You know what? I, a hundred percent, believe it.”

“You do?”

“We’re talking in the movie, aren’t we?” She then laughed out loud.

Lisa sniffed. “I forgot you’re a mental.”

“That’s because you’re asking silly question. Who would believe in UFO? It’s just no more than showbiz.”

“I guess so.”

“Why you’re asking this anyway?”

“Um.....I thought I saw one last night.”

Rika laughed again. “Tell me what did you see? A fastmoving small light that suddenly disappear?”

- 234 -

Joannes Rhino

Lisa imagined the space craft she had seen. That giant metal plate was floating in the air without a buffer, and then sped away to the sky. It was clear. It was real.

“Um….guess so.”

“It could be anything, Liz. Come on, I thought you’re smarter than this.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe it was just planes or even nothing.”

“I wonder where this is coming from. Is this the effect of spending too much time with Adji? You both are weird couple now.”

“Happy?”

“Pretty much. Thank you for waking me up for this.”

“See ya, Rik.” She sat in front of the dresser. There was no use talking this issue to anyone. No one would ever believe her.

She accidentally watched her face in the mirror reflection. The white spot on her left cheek has gone now. Panicking then attacked her. She believed this means something. But - 235 -

Falling From The Sky

whatever that means, whatever the cause, Adji was her only hope.

8.00 a.m.

Antonio focused on documents in hands, which still no progress. No information. Nothing. No one even updated the case to him. He must do something. Anything besides sitting alone waiting for nothing.

He noticed a guy just about stepping closer his desk.

The guy was in uniform. An uptown boy. Very neat. Aged about twenty-five to thirty. White clean and fresh face. He was very well maintained. The body was sturdy and athletic.

Such a perfect profile. Maybe he used to be a model back home.

“Can I help you?” Antonio asked.

“Oh, um....I’m looking for Mr. Antonio Suprapto. They said I could find him in this room,” the young man replied.

“Who wants to know?”

“Are you him?”

- 236 -

Joannes Rhino

“What do you want kid?”

“Mr. Budianto sent me. My name is Michael Kurnia Greenson. I’m at your service, Sir.” “I don’t remember requesting any help.”

“Didn’t Mr. Budianto tell you?”

Antonio stepped out of his desk. “Look, I don’t have much time. Just tell me why you here.”

“Um....he told me to help you with your case.”

He then observed. The boy seemed like a joke. What a bad news to start the day. Not only he was considered incompetent to finish the job, but also he must share the case with this fresh out graduated officer.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty five this year, Sir.” “Just graduated, huh?”

“The best graduates in my class, Sir.” The boy smiled, feeling proud.

- 237 -

Falling From The Sky

But that was a bad move for Antonio. He doesn’t need an arrogant person. He doesn’t need a super smart person. He doesn’t need any assistance in this case. He only needed information. And the kid’s attitude wasn’t very helpful. Minus one Antonio gave to his future co-worker.

“What do you want me to do, Sir?” The boy asked, following his new boss who walked away.

“What do you know about my case?”

“Nothing at the moment. But I can keep up. You certainly can count on me on this.”

Another bad move. Over confident. Minus one has given to him again.

Antonio stopped and turned to the boy. “You know what I really need right now? I need someone to stay on my desk while I’m gone.”

“No problem. Is there anything I should be aware of?”

“Just note all my calls.”

- 238 -

Joannes Rhino

Inside the car, Antonio was accompanied by hates to his boss. He thought that was completely outrageous. Getting reinforcement from a newly graduated officer was like being slapped on the face. He clearly was being underestimated as an investigator. And that was unacceptable. He must resolve this case right away.

In fifteen minutes his car parked in front of GunawanCitra residence, and Antonio was sitting in the living room.

“What brings you here, officer?” Citra asked while seated in front of the officer.

“Well I happened to be in the neighborhood. So I thought I just drop by.

“So how can I help you?”

He looked around the living room. “How long you’ve been lived here?”

“I’m not sure. Twenty years perhaps.”

“What

do

you

think

the

security

in

neighborhood?”

“It’s okay, until the last incident days ago.”

- 239 -

this

Falling From The Sky

“Yeah, that incident.” He felt sorry for himself because still unable to solve the case.

“Any progress with the case?”

“Definitely. Anyway, what does your husband do?” He quickly turned to other topics.

“Oh, he’s an administration in the fire department.”

Antonio began to look at the pictures on the wall. “So Adji is your only child?”

“He is.”

The woman then bowed limply. Despite having Adji, she still couldn’t deceive herself that Adji wasn’t her own blood. That sort of guilt continued to haunt her since the past twenty years.

Antonio noticed the sadness in her eyes. “Something I said?”

“Oh, no officer. I just….well I don’t wanna trouble you with my personal issue.”

“I don’t mind at all if you wanna share. I still have plenty of time.”

- 240 -

Joannes Rhino

So finally Citra shared the story. She described the difficulties in the early days of her marriage, all the efforts to get a child. She showed her guilt to her husband. In the other hand, for some reason, Antonio felt this might be important note for his investigation.

“So Adji is not....I’m sorry to hear that.”

Citra forced to smile. “For what is worth, he’s still our son. And we’re happy now.”

“Did you have a chance to meet his biological parent?”

“We

found

him

in

a

homecare.

Someone

recommended the place to us.”

“Where is it?”

“Somewhere in Bantul.”

Antonio gasped. He lived in the area during childhood. “You still remember this organization name?”

“Um....if I’m not mistaken, it was Tunas Karya.”

“Mrs. Dibyo?” he convinced.

- 241 -

Falling From The Sky

“Oh yes, that’s the owner. You know her?”

“I’ve heard some stories. The organization was quite famous at that time.”

“She wanted us to adopt Adji. And she didn’t wanna receive a dime of it. She entrusted Adji to us completely.”

“And that was the right decision. Adji is in the right family.” Antonio planned the next stopover site.

“Yes, we thank God for him.”

It was nearly nine-thirty. Time shouldn’t be waste it.

He got the latest information. He had to go now.

“I think I’ve gotta go now. Thanks for the chat. I need that.”

Citra got up the couch after the officer. “I’m terrible sorry officer for wasting your time with my personal issue.”

“Not at all. Good day.”

- 242 -

Joannes Rhino

XIII 10.17 a.m.

“There’s a respond!” Imam shouted.

Ivan jerked out of sleep and about to jump on the bed. He was out of breath with eyes all over the room.

Whatever he dreamed of, Imam’s voice saved him.

“We received email. We have the exact location now.”

Ivan crawled to the edge of the bed. “What did he say?”

“He saw the sightings in three straight days at the same spot. He really saw this UFO not far from his home.”

Ivan looked at his glasses lying on the table next to television, but felt too tired to go there. Then, he put his face near the laptop screen and squinted. And it gave him dizzy.

“Where he lived?”

“Tambak Bayan Street.”

- 243 -

Falling From The Sky

Ivan was still trying to expel reel in his eyes. “Tell him we’re going for a visit.”

“Done.”

Ivan got up the bed to the bathroom. While he was washing his face, Imam yelled, “He replied! He’ll wait.”

Fifteen minutes later, they were standing on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. Imam waved to the first taxi he saw. “Tambak Bayan, Sir. Please hurry.”

Along the way, Imam tried to imagine the information he will received shortly. Inside his head there was a movie screen showing UFO hovering in the air and then it sent down some crews through a small light under the plane. He had just spent eight hours in train. He didn’t want it just wasted for some lame stories. He needed a spectacular one. He deserved more.

The cab reduced its speed and turned into an alley. It then tracked along the alley, stopped briefly to ask for directions, then started winding into several small alleys until finally stopped in front of a house painted in dull-green.

- 244 -

Joannes Rhino

While Ivan was still waiting for the change, Imam stepped out of the cab and spoke to a middle-aged woman who was watering the asphalt road from behind a fence. The woman then opened the gate and let him in.

The living room had cement floors, brick walls without windows, and crowded with sacks of rice. The room was so dark, even in daytime. The only light in the room came from the main door of the house. The room was perhaps more appropriately called as warehouse rather than a reception. In fact, if only sacks of rice were replaced with sandbags and add some arms ammunition, the room was already resembled a bunker.

Imam tried to find something interesting in the room when a door rattled and opened. Agus Setiawan, a thin man aged about twenty-five with shoulder-length curls and loose hair. At that time he was wearing a white shirt covered with patterned long sleeved shirt and plaid pants from stiff thick black cloth. He has become an official member of AlphaOmega since a year ago, and his contribution was quite a lot.

Periodically, he provided the latest UFO information from around the globe.

- 245 -

Falling From The Sky

Ivan stood up and stretched his hand. “My name’s Ivan. This is Imam. We’re from Alpha-Omega.”

Agus, who was about to go to campus, grabbed a chair and sat down. “You’re askin’ ‘bout the sightings, aren’t ya?”

“Yup. Could you describe the sightings in specific?”

Imam snapped to cut the chit-chat.

“As I told ya in the email, I saw this thing three nights in a row. It was UFO, I’m telling you that. Very huge with lights everywhere. I saw it between nine to eleven.”

“You think you saw the same UFO each night?”

“Affirmative. Same shape, same lights and same place.”

“Didn’t cross your mind at all to get a picture? Don’t you think a little bit weird the same UFO appeared in three nights?”

Agus snorted. “You’re all the same in the end. Need evidence. Words never gonna enough.”

- 246 -

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Ivan quickly interrupted. “Actually, we didn’t come to judge or to ensure the reliability of your story. We never doubted all the stories related with UFO. One of our goals in this community is to accommodate people who wants to share about UFO experience but don’t know where to go.

We’re all sharing information here. So don’t hesitate to tell us what you saw and experienced.”

“I know what I saw. Why do you think I’m not telling this to local news or radio station? Because I have nothin’ to support my testimony.”

“It’s okay. Sharing this to us is the right choice,” Ivan said wisely.

“You remember the exact location when this UFO appeared?” Imam continued attacking the eyewitness.

“It looked very huge and very close to my position. So I’m guessing it was around here.”

“Did you notice the activity? I mean how long it appeared, what it did, or anything.”

- 247 -

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“It lasted for few minutes, and then gone. But then it came again and gone. This activity continues in the following days.”

“So it means there are two sightings each night?”

“Yup.” “You know other members in town?” Ivan asked.

“I only communicate with four or five of them.”

“What they think about the sightings?”

“They lived far form here so they only saw glimpse of lights in the sky. But we’re discussing ‘bout this yesterday.

We’re guessing that UFO probably was on mission. That’s why it’s still comin’ back. Maybe they’re doin’ some research or somethin’.”

“Is there any strange events happened around here since the first sighting?”

Agus frowned. “What do you mean by strange?”

“Missing people perhaps, or damaged public facilities under mysterious circumstances? Any illogical thing.”

- 248 -

Joannes Rhino

“Not that I aware of.”

“There’s absolutely no rumor or nothing going on the last few days?”

Agus went silent for a moment. “The only rumor around here is a robbery at this café nearby. It happened two or three day ago, I couldn’t remember. But it had nothin’ to do with UFO.” “Another dead end.” Imam spoke to Ivan.

Ivan was also thinking the same thing. It was indeed very limited information. So he decided to end the interrogation.

“We’re still around till the next few days. So if you have any info related the sightings, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our numbers recorded on Alpha-Omega site.”

“Sure thing.”

So they left the place with no useful information.

“I got a feeling there’ll be another sighting tonight,” Imam believed.

“Based on what?”

- 249 -

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“Just a hunch.”

Ivan stopped at the sidewalk. “We should look for additional info from the locals. Who knew someone may see something.”

10.35 a.m.

Before midday, Lisa stepped into the campus. Still ringing in her mind what happened last night. That was too much for her. Now she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t even know what to say if she met Adji today. If she saw him waiting at the front door of the classroom, whether that meant she had to discuss about what happened last night? What could she say to him anyway? Should she make small talk about something else and then quickly go to class, or just pretend not knowing at all? All she wanted just to get back her boring but normal life. Could it be?

She took a long sigh when seeing Adji was sitting on the bench terrace building. Crossed in her mind to make a uturn and entered the room through a side door. But it was too late. He already saw her. So, with heavy steps, she walked closer.

- 250 -

Joannes Rhino

“Hey, what time is your class?” A truly nonsense question just came out.

Adji looked up and forced to smile. “Eleven.”

She noticed the boy’s face looked so pale and like loss too much bloods. His both eyes looked so weak and shut occasionally.

“Trouble sleeping?” she said with smile, a bit relieved because she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep last night.

One shook of his head, so weak.

Lisa sat down. Her smile now turned into a flat line.

“What happened? You okay?”

“I must connect with my Akino, Liz,” he whispered.

“You must what?”

“I must connect with my Akino, my collective consciousness, soon!” he repeated in half-shouted.

Suddenly, a variety of images flashed through his head. Preview of the various known and unknown faces, animals and plants, birth and funerals, war and party, and - 251 -

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even algebraic formulas. Everything seemed crowded into his mind. He then closed his eyes tightly.

“Hey, lower your voice.”

“I must fix this. This is all my fault.”

“Let’s find a place to talk.”

They moved to the cafeteria. It was much more noisy and crowded. But Lisa thought the more crowded the better, so no one would hear or notice their conversation.

She helped him to sit. Many heads turned and spun toward them. Many conversations suddenly stopped in midsentence because seeing them. Even some waiters seemed out of focus with what they were doing.

Adji realized Lisa was the center of attention in that place. She looked beautiful as always. Today she wore a short sleeved shirt with light blue knee-length skirt made subordinate limp black cloth. Even the worn out old clothes from a flea market will look good if embedded in her body.

She already pretty as it is. Especially if her hair piled up, adding sexy impression on her, as if she still needed it.

- 252 -

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“Listen, about last night....”

“I’m really sorry to put you into this, Liz. But I promise I’ll take care of this.”

“I believe you. Everything will be alright.”

Adji bowed limply. “But how can I pretend everything will be alright? I don’t even know what to do.”

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“I just need to fully connect with my Akino.”

“You know how?”

“Um….not sure. But it’s worth a shot.”

“How?” “It’s just my assumption, but I notice every time I use my ability I feel like something’s happening in me. I saw images in my head. Images of people I’m not familiar with and things I’ve never seen before. And they all come to my head after I use my ability.”

“You feel like you hear someone in your head?”

- 253 -

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“Not just a person, maybe hundred or even more.

And each of them shared a lot of information. So I think that’s the only way to connect with my Akino. I should use my ability more often.”

“But you do realize the consequences to yourself, don’t you?”

“As long as it can help you, I’ll take any risks.”

“You’re making me guilty then.”

“Why’s that? I’m just trying to help you…”

“By putting yourself in danger? No, I’m won’t allow you to.”

Lisa’s phone suddenly rang. She reached into the purse and found Rika’s name appeared on the display. But she rejected the call and immediately switched off. She remembered promise Rika to meet in the class.

Lisa continued. “Okay, the point is I don’t want you to be reckless over this. I don’t want you to use you ability if it’s gonna harm you. The hell with your Akino! You don’t have to connect if you don’t want to. We’ll face this together.”

- 254 -

Joannes Rhino

“Guess you’re right. I’ll find another way to connect with Akino.”

“Just never use your ability. Stop being a doctor.” Lisa smiled her own joke.

“I’m better than doctors.”

“But you don’t have license. And speaking of witch, you should check your condition. You look terrible.”

“To the alien section, huh?” And they laughed out loud.

- 255 -

Falling From The Sky

XIV 1.16 p.m.

Antonio had prepared questions in his mind when the car he drove just crossed over a huge signboard that read ‘Tunas Karya’. It wasn’t difficult to find the place knowing how the reputation grew for the past decade. As he parked the car, he studied the building. It looked simple and classic as well. The texture was so eighties in light brown. It has ornamental plants around the building and a small playground. It was definitely cozy as Antonio thought when he walked to the terrace.

A boy greeted toward him, “Mr. Policeman, Mr. Policeman, are you going to arrest someone here?”

“How can I help you, officer?” A girl asked from inside the house.

“I’d like to see Mrs. Dibyo,” Antonio answered, patting the boy’s head near his waist.

“Let me get her for you. Please come in.”

- 256 -

Joannes Rhino

This year Mrs. Dibyo had just entered seventy-three years. However, she was still full of energy. She was like an old warrior; rescue abandoned children, the outcast and the alienated, the threatened with extinction, the one that being suffered and isolated from the world. She provided them a new decent life.

Personally, Antonio admired what Mrs. Dibyo had done to the children. As a policeman, his job was also providing assistance to people who needed. But he got paid for doing that, while Mrs. Dibyo never accepted a dime for what she did to the world. The development of her organization was funded from her part-time job as an English tutor. Mrs. Dibyo only allowed people to give contribution in parenting children and moral support. We could say Mrs. Dibyo was the reincarnation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India.

She finally came out from a room. She walked very slowly, as if one of the ankles was winding with a ball chain.

Perhaps she was supposed to be using a walking stick, but for any reason she decided not to. With alacrity, Antonio helped the lady to sit. “Is there something you need, young man?�

- 257 -

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Antonio was ready with the questions, but he got distracted when watching the lady closely. She was very emaciated. Her skins were sagging; no flesh but bones inside it. Wrinkles were everywhere. Her cheeks were sunken, as if there was a wire inside the mouth that pulled the cheeks in.

Ancient stemmed glasses framed her black-clean eyes. Those eyes had seen too much pain, kept the wounds deeply and couldn’t be alleviated, which came from her nearly century of journey. However, her enthusiasm in life was shown when she tried to smile.

Felt reluctant, Antonio decided not to explain the reason he came. “It’s just social visit, Ma’am. I used to live around here, but never had a chance to step over. So, here I am now.”

And the conversation was just flowing. Due to familiar with the neighborhood, they played the game ‘Who did you know?’ They found a couple of tenuous relationships. Mrs. Dibyo knew Antonio’s parents. And then he knew someone, she knew someone, and so on. For someone in her age, Mrs. Dibyo spoke with a fairly fluent prose. Sentences rolled out of her mouth without hesitation. There was never an ‘um’ or a pause before talking. There was no fear of mistake. When - 258 -

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explaining something, Mrs. Dibyo explained it in very detailed.

Sometimes she used very old vocabulary, possibly due to differences of generation.

When Mrs. Dibyo talked about her foster kids, Antonio found himself enchanted. He could imagine those homeless kids used to live on the streets or under bridges, and taking drugs in an early age. If there wasn’t someone like Mrs. Dibyo, who knows what happened to them.

“What matters to me is to give what best for them.

Give them a decent life,” she said after almost a half an hour sharing her experiences in saving children.

“How do you trust the parents who want to adopt your kids?” Antonio spoke half-loud due to Mrs. Dibyo’s hearing somewhat disturbed.

“Of course there’s a process. They who want to adopt my kids must be willing to wait until the process is complete.

It takes months if necessary. I won’t let my kids to the wrong hands. I have to make sure that they’ll get a better life with anyone who will adopt them.”

“Are you keeping track all your kids?”

- 259 -

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“I surly am. I keep all parents profiles on my storage. I sometimes communicate with them.”

Antonio suddenly remembered the reason he came.

“You know what? I have a friend who adopted a child from here.”

“Oh really? What’s his name? Maybe I remember.”

“Citra, she lived in Jogja now. About twenty years ago she adopted one of your kids.”

The lady fell silent as she time-traveled to the past.

Antonio noticed the sudden chance of expression. She looked crumbled.

“Did I say something upsetting you?”

She tried to hold the tears drop. “I remember that couple. They came around eighties if I’m not mistaken. They couldn’t have child.”

“That’s why they adopted.”

“But this child, oh poor baby.”

“Why? What about him?”

- 260 -

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She wandered around the room trying to control emotions. “He was the most handsome baby I have ever seen in my entire life. I’ll never forget him. No one ever knew his real parents were.”

“So who handed him to you?”

She took off her glasses and wiped off the unbearable tears. “The locals. They found him in the forest among the shrubs, naked. We had tried to find anyone who has heart to dump him, but we found nothing. Maybe people can forget this little child. But I can’t.”

Antonio didn’t know what to say. Words seemed disappear. List of questions he had been prepared, seemed useless now. He actually hoped to get information about the whereabouts of Adji’s biological parents. But he wasn’t expecting this at all. The question mark at Adji’s profile still no answered.

Mrs. Dibyo put on her glasses. Her wet eyes dried. “At least he’s in the right family now, isn’t he?”

“Oh certainly, they’re good people. You don’t have to worry about that.”

- 261 -

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Antonio realized he had nothing else to talk about. He was also out of idea to continue this investigation. Everything ended there. Clogged.

1.50 p.m.

“Where the hell you’ve been?” Rika yelled when stepping into Blue Cookies café. Luckily, there was no guest at the time.

Lisa had predicted that kind of reaction coming from her, and it was reasonable. So she came up with an excuse. “I wasn’t feeling well. So I skipped class.”

Rika put her purse on the table and pulled up a chair to sit in front of Lisa. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“I thought I text you this morning.”

“Did you? Last time I checked my phone’s working fine.”

“Well I thought I did. But maybe I forgot and fell asleep or something. Sorry?”

“That’s all you’ve gotta say? Sorry? You really are a terrible friend.”

- 262 -

Joannes Rhino

Lisa smiled. “So how’s the class?”

“Totally boring.”

“You sure? How’s Kevin doing today?” Lisa giggled.

“That’s why I hate you, Liz.” “Didn’t you say you don’t want me around when Kevin’s there? Why do you think I skipped class?”

Rika chuckled. “I didn’t make a move if that’s what you wanna know. I didn’t know what to talk about.”

“Well talk about anything. How hard could that be?”

“What I felt this time is different.”

“Are we talking about love?”

“Um.....let’s say so.”

“Well, you’ve gotta be active then. Show him how you feel.”

“This is why you are a terrible friend. A good friend wouldn’t give such advice.”

- 263 -

Falling From The Sky

“Wow, slow down there. Let me make a note. So a good friend is an idiot who would only say things you wanna hear?”

Rika sighed. “Yeah, I know. You’re right. I’ve gotta get the hell out of this misery.”

“Now that’s the spirit.”

- 264 -

Joannes Rhino

XV 3.38 p.m.

“Is there anything I can do, Mom?” Adji asked when enter the kitchen.

“Would you mind to change that gallon with water refill?”

“A water refill? Didn’t Dad always say.....”

“Water refills are not healthy. Better to buy in the market,” they said together.

It was strange indeed how people recorded so many habits and other things about their closest person without they realized. Just like simple things that Adji and his mother said. Adji knew his father type of person, who always maintained all things to be clean. And her mother always put two sugars in the coffee and angry if anyone made comment about it. Those were a pile of information Adji stored inside his mind and became some sort of special file in his brain tissue.

- 265 -

Falling From The Sky

He stored hundreds of this kind of files; include the files of his childhood. And it was very important for him to know all of this information. At least, by knowing it, he felt like any normal human being who has memories, not as half human-half alien creature who remembered things that don’t exist in the memory.

But still, as hard as he tried to be normal, he can no longer deny that he wasn’t. It was the third day now since he recovered that he stored memories of his other life. The memories of those he had never met, the events he had never been, and the things he had never done. But it felt like they were real in one point. Maybe that was collective consciousness. Akino.

Ever since knowing about Akino, he felt like there was a thin plastic layer covered him. This layer seemed to be thicker every day and became a sort of barrier between him and other people and things around him, including barrier between him and his own feelings. But perhaps the air in the plastic contained a gas tranquilizer. Because Adji, or whoever he was, didn’t care that he was being isolated with the existing world. He didn’t care that at the time he was having a conversation with his mother confined a transparent plastic - 266 -

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layer. He found it hard to care about anything but one person; Lisa.

It was strange how he still concerned in that subject.

Of all the information files in his mind, Lisa’s was the most clearly perceived by him. Perhaps that was because the human element in him was still quite blend, or because of the ironic fact that the girl’s future was in his hand.

“Let me help with the carrots,” he said.

“Feel free.”

He walked around the kitchen table to the refrigerator. But suddenly he felt his body three times heavier than usual.

“Didn’t you wanna say anything about yesterday?”

Citra eyes kept focus on the minced meat.

He closed the refrigerator with his feet and put the carrots on the table. “What should I say?”

“I was worried. Look at yourself now. You look so tired.”

- 267 -

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He sat reluctantly. “I’m fine, Mom. No need to worry.”

“You’re not using drugs, are you?”

“Of course not.”

Adji noticed a gray hair in his mother’s hair. He pulled it and showed it to her.

“You’ll have one eventually,” her mother said.

He then observed other gray strands in her mother’s hair, and spontaneously reached out to touch them. And the sensation happened. A white light glowed between his palm and his mother head. Seconds later, those gray hairs were back to black now. Adji felt his body shaking, but still able to hold on not to collapse. His head dizzy and he was exhausted.

But he was pretty much familiar with such condition.

“So tell me, what really happened to you yesterday?”

Citra continued.

“Um....I was…I guess just really tired, that’s all.”

“You obviously looked sick. Don’t try to hide anything from me.”

- 268 -

Joannes Rhino

“I don’t.”

His condition was getting worst. And he didn’t want her mother to notice that. So he got up and walked out the kitchen.

“Hey, where you going? I’m talking here.”

“Something I need to do, Mom. Talk to you later.” He then disappeared.

He was in the safe zone now, in his room. He sat on the bed with eyes closed, feeling the Akino began to process.

Colors started to fill his mind; emerald green, blue sparkle, hot red, warm yellow, dark purple and so many other blinding lights. A moment later there was a series of tones which each note vibrated in different frequency in his veins.

This is it! Adji convinced himself that the collective consciousness has come and he should immediately connected with them. Images then stuck out and crammed into his mind. And with mind power he tried to reach; looked for a solid glimmer of light, whisper or something to guide him. He forced all energy to send himself out into the universe. Exceed the end of the galaxy. Far into the silence of space. Somewhere out there a collection of every living soul - 269 -

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from planet Erra must be found. That place recorded every thought, emotion and dream. And he must be able to feel all those.

He felt his body weaker, but his mind became stronger. All his senses functioned beyond reasonable. He was able to see the aura color of the strange faces in his mind, felt their emotions and found their visions. He heard their voices and the music they played. He smelled their body; the fragrance of rose, cedar, cinnamon and almonds.

Let me fully connect with Akino! Adji tried to shape a message in front of him and sent it across the dimensions.

A moment later he heard a faint reply. Rake-thin facial hair, he felt the presence of a thought or a set of other thoughts come to his mind. He felt a touch from another dimension and the sound of million voices. Those voices screamed out loud, as if trying to get his attention. He could feel his blood flowing in arteries and veins when trying to reach into the voices. He felt his vessels were swollen, filled with bloods and erupted.

He tried to open his mouth, desperately wanted to scream, but not a single word had spoken. He couldn’t face it - 270 -

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any longer. His body limped back, slammed into the bed.

Unconscious.

Now everything went dark.

The next thing he heard was someone’s voice.

“We must stop seeing like this.”

He opened his eyes in slow motion, and surprised to see Ptaah was standing right beside him. He had thought that he was in another dimension and meet Ptaah in his collective consciousness.

“You must not keep doing this. You do not know what you are doing,” Ptaah continued.

Adji then realized he was still in the same dimension; his room on planet Earth. “I tried to connect with my Akino.”

“You are endangering yourself.”

He frowned, staring out the window. It was still noon.

“Why you here? I wasn’t using my power.”

“You were using your Akino to contact us.”

- 271 -

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He crawled on the bed to find a perfect spot to lean.

He was a bit dizzy. “Right, about that. Um….how can I tell I have connected with my Akino?”

“You have.”

“I mean fully connected.”

“Each individual feels differently when Akino is on process.”

Adji saw a yellow color just displacing blue color in Ptaah’s pupils, but he ignored it. “I felt something I’ve never felt before. It was strange. There were images, colors, smells, voices and everything. They’re all quite messed up in my head. What’s that mean?”

“All things you saw in your mind, the faces you have never seen, are the individuals who inhabit planet Erra. The colors you saw were their aura. What you smelled was the smell of their bodies. The voices you heard were the voices of those who try to communicate with you. They are took place in collectively. When you are communicating with one of our individual, then you are communicating with all individuals who inhabit planet Erra. We do everything in collectively.”

- 272 -

Joannes Rhino

“So this is not a bad thing, right?”

“This is a bad thing, unless you are in the atmosphere of planet Erra.”

“Didn’t we discuss this? I’m not going anywhere.”

“You do not realize the danger you are dealing with.

The atmosphere of planet Earth does not support you to connect with Akino.”

“You know what? You don’t know anything about this planet. You don’t know anything about human nature. I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m still fine until now. So how do you know I’m gonna be alright live on another planet?”

Ptaah changed his pupils to green. “There has never been one of our individuals succeed to connect with Akino outside planet Erra.”

“I’ll be the first. And should you be proud of me.”

“You are dealing with something beyond your power.”

Adji folded his hands to his chest, and hugged his body. He could feel himself shaking. “Listen. You’re not a - 273 -

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scientist or something. So don’t make any assumption. I’m still gonna end this process here. Whatever it takes.”

“It seems like human elements has taken the most of you.”

“That’s because I’m not one of you, and will never be.”

4.00 p.m.

Stuck in the hotel room began to stress Imam out. Everything he did seem wrong. Internet connection kept online but no incoming email. The television was on, but all channels were so lame. Everything seemed to be suck at the moment, and he couldn’t face it any longer.

Throughout this afternoon he and Ivan had questioned several people who live around Tambak Bayan.

They questioned people in the local market, on the street nearby and in some stalls. But it was a big zero. Some people even laughed at them or gave that funny look. Dead end.

He snorted as he rose from bed. He must do something instead of kept waiting uncertain email.

- 274 -

Joannes Rhino

“Where you going?” Ivan asked, kept focus on the news in the television.

“I just need to get the hell out of here.”

“Did Shintya text you?”

“Her train probably delayed.”

“Why don’t you make sure?”

Imam leaned to the television table while he tried to call Shintya. “Hey, where you at?”

“I’ll be there less than an hour. Where you wanna pick me up?” Shintya half-shouted in the speaker phone.

“Are we gonna pick her somewhere?” Imam asked to Ivan.

“Just tell her to come straight here.”

“You’re all alone. We’ll be waiting in the hotel. I’ll text you the direction,” Imam returned to Shintya.

“Okay.”

- 275 -

Falling From The Sky

After Shintya arrived, the three of them went out for diner nearby. The food was delicious and variable, but the price unbelievably joking. For simple fried rice they charged three times than normal price.

When Ivan’s grilled chicken came and spread the smell, Shintya said, “I’m pretty sure we’re dealing with Nordic here. Last night was the third sighting. I think it’s possible that this Nordic came to pick up the Hybrid, but he or she always refused to go.”

Imam glanced at Ivan’s grilled chicken that looks tasty. “It’s still dead end. We don’t have enough information.”

“What ‘bout the locals? Didn’t any of them saw it or noticed weird things the past three days? That’s gotta be someone.”

“Maybe we asked the wrong people. Maybe they’re not sensitive in such thing,” Ivan said.

Imam sipped his iced tea. “You know what? I think we better find hotel around Tambak Bayan. It’s easier to dig up, and if we’re lucky enough we could actually see the next sighting. How ‘bout that?”

- 276 -

Joannes Rhino

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Shintya added.

“Alright then, we’ll find the place tomorrow.” Ivan decided within seconds.

“Tomorrow? Why can’t we just check out now and find another place to crash? We’re gonna missed the sighting tonight,” Imam protested.

“It’s already late. We’ll do it first thing in the morning.”

Shintya took the last spoon of her diner. “Should we dig information from the authority as well?”

“Don’t bring cops into this. It’s just gonna be waste of time,” Imam took the respond.

“Who knew they had info ‘bout strange events the past three days.”

“And you think they’re gonna share to you?”

“Well we’ll never know.”

“Um…Shin, you think you can go to police station by yourself?” Ivan asked.

- 277 -

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“No problem.”

“Alright, you go there. I’ll be around Tambak Bayan with Imam.”

“Cool.”

11.50 p.m.

After closing down café, Lisa just went straight to the bed. She was so sleepy. She hadn’t slept properly since yesterday. It’s payback time. She tried to put everything out of her head.

But then, out of the blue, Adji stood next the bed. His face was vague, filled with a million colors blend together as if emanating from within him. “Adji?” Lisa murmured. He didn’t respond, remained in the same position until finally sat on the edge of the bed.

Lisa’s heart was beating hard and irregular. Her muscles tighten all at once and she couldn’t move. She felt like her back skin was sticky with the bed mattress, or furthermore felt like there was a transparent heavy load pressed her body against the bed. She no longer had control over her own body, like being hypnotized.

- 278 -

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Meanwhile Adji stared at her closely, deeply and full of passion. Then his face began to move closer. Lisa could felt his warm breath on her face. Seconds later, she felt a gentle kiss on her lips. Not just touch between lips or a French kind of kiss. That kiss was a way different. That kiss came from someone who already familiar with the lips he about to kissed. It was so soft and gentle; didn’t want to hurt the lips he kissed. So magnificent.

Lisa felt the glint inside her began to swell and merge with numbers of auras from Adji. Those colorful lights then filled her body with maximum warmth. The warmth that melts and the blinding lights. It felt sensational.

That delicious sensation ended abruptly when she took a deep breath. Only within a split second she realized that Adji wasn’t really there, that she was alone in the room dreaming of him. So she got out of bed. No doubt she was in shock. She wasn’t ready to face that kind of situation with him.

She needed to talk with someone. Her hand outstretched to the edge of the pillow, groping and found the phone. She pressed the memory button number three on the phone. Dial tone stopped at the sixth ring.

- 279 -

Falling From The Sky

“He just kissed me,” she said without preamble. “.....Oh Liz, you have any idea what time now?”

Certainly Rika didn’t hear what she just said.

“Sorry, I thought….never mind. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Rika cleared her throat. “Liz, this is the second time you wake me up over nonsense. You still owe me explanation you know.”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Well tell me now! I’m awake.”

“Um....I don’t know what to say.”

“Just tell what’s in your mind when you decide to call me.”

“Um......I dreamed of him.”

Rika giggled. “So finally we’re talking ‘bout him.

Anyway, how’s the dream?”

“Um.....he kissed me.”

“Wow! It’s going serious huh between you two?”

- 280 -

Joannes Rhino

“Please don’t do that. I don’t even know why I dreamed of him.”

“Simple, Liz. I’ll give you two options. That’s the way you feel on him, or just a prediction. Which one suits you best?”

“None. I don’t have that kinda’ feeling on him. We’re just friends.”

“Okay, okay, just friends. So it’s a prediction then.”

Amused tone still sounded in Rika’s voice.

“Don’t be an idiot.”

“You know what? I wonder want the dream like. How did he kiss you? Did you kiss him back? What’s it like? Tell me everything, Liz.” Lisa sighed. “He was suddenly in my room, didn’t say anything. He just kissed me. That’s it.”

“Well, it sounds like him indeed. No talk, action only.

So what about the kiss? What’s it like?” Rika couldn’t resist her curiosity.

- 281 -

Falling From The Sky

“Straight on the lips, very quick, felt nothing.” Lisa pretended not to care about the kiss. But surely she cannot fool herself what happened in the dream was something special. The sensation was indescribable. That kiss was like opened a small crack inside her to see something special.

Love perhaps.

“You sure you didn’t feel anything? There’s no use lying to me.”

“What do you expect? It wasn’t a sex dream.”

“Well I don’t mind having a sex dream.” She laughed.

Lisa slumped on the bed. “You’re crazy. Go back to sleep. I won’t bother you this time.”

“When I come over to your place, I wanna hear something new.”

She hung up the phone while Rika was laughing out loud. She stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense what the dream means. She was obviously unable to resist thinking about it. She didn’t know how to address this issue when she had face to face with Adji. She couldn’t think how to act normal in front of him.

- 282 -

Joannes Rhino

XVI Saturday – May 25, 2002 7.30 a.m.

“New day!” Lisa exclaimed giving spirit to herself, although she knew it wouldn’t give her much better. Especially with the prediction that in every new day there was a possibility it was going to be the last day of her life.

She sat on the edge of the bed; stretched the muscles of her shoulders and neck. She felt a bit better. However, the dream last night was still haunting her. She then immediately blocked everything about Adji.

What actually was deterring her to like Adji? Whether because his quietness, or because he wasn’t one hundred percent human? It makes no sense indeed. But that was the most fundamental reasons. Human cannot unite in love with a creature from another planet. And Lisa thought not to risk her feelings for something that shouldn’t suppose to be. It was like having an imaginary lover. It might be perfect and beautiful, but unreal.

- 283 -

Falling From The Sky

She frowned looking at her own reflection, and slowly rose to get closer to the mirror. Her heart seemed to jump out when she noticed the face area, precisely on her left cheek. That tiny little thing, which had been there and disappeared for a while, now returned.

She lost balance and collapsed onto the bed. In full consciousness, she felt a strange feeling. Not fear or a current panic, but rather resigned because she cannot fight destiny.

She will be shot within days, and no one can save her this time. Her body will continue to bleed until it run out, then die.

Yes, that would be the end of her.

9.17 a.m.

They walked aimlessly along Tambak Bayan; disappeared a moment in the bus stop crowd and crossed the overhang streets where food stalls were usually lined up at the sidewalk at night. At the time daylight was still trying to penetrate the storey-high buildings in the east. The air was still clean and the humidity was still awake. Morning dews still made an impression on the leaves and automobile glasses.

- 284 -

Joannes Rhino

That day Imam decided to wear a dark brown shirt with black pants made from lose subordinates. His shoes polished in black. Those were part of the disguise, he thought.

He believed this was the appearance of ‘Men in Black’; a sort of fiction government officials who specialized in UFO investigation.

“Ivan, a quick time-out please. My stomach hurt,” he complained.

Indeed, took a long walk after breakfast made his stomach felt like being stab by needles. He then thought his breakfast at the hotel a while ago was going to be wasted.

“In a minute. We find a place to stay first. We don’t have much time to sit around, do we?” Ivan said while crossing the street.

“Why don’t we stay there?” Imam pointed to a hotel in the distant road.

“That’s the worst case scenario. Now we’re looking the affordable one.”

Imam snorted. “I should’ve gone with Shintya. I’m sure she’s now having quality time in air-con room.”

- 285 -

Falling From The Sky

They stopped for a moment to ask a girl who just passed through. The girl then pointed to a direction, while a small dog she was carrying look the right spot to take a dump.

A young man in training jacket approached to them and joined the conversation. He also pointed the same direction.

So Ivan and Imam followed the guidance. They entered into a narrow alley and began to explore the winding road. For about ten minutes without any view, they finally reached the place.

That one-floor building was so horrible. The paint on the walls looked moldy. Garbage strewn on the porch, and the gardener who was there just sat comfortably having smoked. There was definitely no view point in the area other than trash. Perhaps this place was more suitable to be called as a barn than public inn. The name of the place was Blossom Inn. There were five bedrooms which all available. No wonder. Who would have stayed in this slump? Ivan spoke with a woman behind a receptionist. She explained the room rates and facilities. It was a five dollars room per night. Do not expect air conditioning kind of room with mini bar and bathroom onsite. It only had one jumbo-sized bed in - 286 -

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miserable condition and a fourteen-inch television placed on the wooden table. There was only a bathroom available in the entire building, which located in the separate building.

“You sure you wanna stay in that shit-hole?” Imam complained after leaving the place.

Ivan looked back, briefly, just to make sure. Then he kept on walking. “That’s the cheapest place around here.

Beside I think it’s strategic enough to see sightings.”

“I wonder how Shintya would react.”

In the meantime, Shintya stepped in to the information section, and a pair of cold eyes greeted her. Those eyes seemed to say ‘We don’t have the information you need.

Please go away.’

“What do you need?” the officer asked with no welcome expression.

“I’m a representative from Alpha-Omega organization in Jakarta.” Shintya introduced herself. “And I’m doing research about UFO phenomenon in this town. Do you now where I should go?”

- 287 -

Falling From The Sky

“UFO huh?”

“Yup, UFO, spacecraft, alien, stuff like that.”

He then laughed. “You’re definitely in a wrong place, Ma’am. You should go to alien section.”

“And where would that be?”

“Somewhere not here.”

“How helpful you are.”

“Well I’m paid to serve.”

“You surely are.”

“Hey, I don’t like that tone!”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you. I just….”

“Look, Ma’am, we don’t have that kind of information. I’d appreciate if you just go and find in another place.”

Michael suddenly appeared from behind. “Mr. Antonio arrived yet?” he asked to the officer at the information desk.

- 288 -

Joannes Rhino

“Not yet, Sir.” Shintya left the officer she just spoke with and pursuit that young officer.

“Excuse

me,

officer.

I’m

from

Alpha-Omega

organization. I’m doing research about strange events happened around here.” She introduced herself again.

Michael looked at her briefly and smiled. “Strange events?”

“Yeah, anything that sounds weird or not makes sense. Perhaps someone has reported such event?”

“Which magazine you working with?”

“Oh, I’m not a journalist. I don’t work for any media.”

“Why you’re looking for this info then?”

“You see, our organization is a UFO community. And the reason I came is to find any information that might be related to UFO sightings in this town.”

“UFO? Here? No way.”

“That’s why I wanna make sure.”

- 289 -

Falling From The Sky

They walked through the main aisle into the room with lots of tables, peoples and sounds of typewriters.

Michael then pointed to a chair while he sat on Antonio’s working desk.

“So what kind of information you need from me?” He asked Shintya to sit.

“Anything that seem strange.”

Michael looked comfy in the chair he sat on, pretending like he had been working there for quite some times. “Um.....I don’t think there’s any report about strange events around here.”

“You sure? Nothing at all? Is there any case that hasn’t been solved recently?”

He rocked in his swivel chair. “It’s classified. But for your curiosity, it has nothing to do with UFO.” “May I know the case?”

“What case?” A man just joined the conversation.

Michael turned around and startled. His gaze locked on the man behind him who was also looked back at him, like - 290 -

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a deer highlighted by headlights. He then nodded as he quickly rose from the chair.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I thought you haven’t arrived.”

Antonio switched positions with that young officer, sitting on a swivel chair. “Bring me a coffee.”

“Right away, Sir.” “Anything you’d like to drink?” he asked Shintya.

“Oh, anything.”

“Bring this lady a cup of tea.” he ordered that young officer.

“Okay, Sir,” Michael replied and left.

“Now, what can I do for you?”

“I’m from Alpha-Omega organization. And I’m doing research about strange events happened around here recently.” That was the third time she introduced herself. She began to tire of doing it.

“What do you mean by strange?”

“Unsolved and can’t be explained logically.”

- 291 -

Falling From The Sky

Antonio nodded as if he understands what she meant.

“Which organization you represent?”

“Alpha-Omega, an organization of UFO community.”

“Hmm interesting. So you think that UFO really exists? Based on what? What makes you so sure?”

“There’s lots of evidence to support this issue, like pictures, video recordings, or testimony of people who saw or even had direct contact with the alien.”

“And that’s it?”

“I understand that for some people this subject may seem out of reach. But if we really thought ‘bout it, it’s quite make sense.”

“Make sense if we see it from different perspective.”

“So you do believe that alien really exists?”

For no specific reason Antonio found himself interest on having this conversation. “I’d probably believe if you say there’s civilization on other planets. But I don’t believe if they can make interaction with us. We both know the distance between the planets is very far. And to make such a journey - 292 -

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there must have an advanced facility that the velocity exceeds the speed of light, which is over three hundred thousand kilometers per second. And it’s impossible such facilities exist.”

Shintya had never thought to find a perfect opponent about UFO. And this was a challenge for her to show that she was good on the subject.

“Lots of people made wrong perception about this.

I’m not saying that I underestimate your knowledge about quantum physics.”

“No problem. It’s a free country. Go ahead, speak up your mind.”

Shintya began her theory. “UFO, spaceship, comes from another planet. And this planet has a different dimension with ours. We know the absolute laws of nature like law of gravity, law of attraction, and other physical laws.

But our natural laws don’t apply to them because they come from a different dimension that has its own natural laws.

That’s why UFO can appear and disappear without us even knowing it. The nature laws of our planet don’t affect them.

- 293 -

Falling From The Sky

“So I think UFO is a phenomenon of another dimension. Therefore, it’s logically difficult for us to understand because of the limited ability of the human senses.”

“Another Antonio

dimension,

murmured.

“I’ve

huh? never

That’s thought

interesting.” this

way.

Well.....there are many theories or any other speculations about UFO. And it happened because there’s no solid evidence of UFO. UFO is still likely to be considered as pseudo-science of some people, like me, because of the difficultly in having evidence or scientific data that could be developed into a scientific theory.”

“Which is why me and my team are studying and investigating this case from witnesses who saw or even had direct contact with it.”

“But personally, I think UFO is a reflective event.”

“Reflective?”

“The manifestation is reflective. This means that UFO sightings are usually seen based on what the witnesses saw.

That explains why the reports related with UFO tend to vary.

- 294 -

Joannes Rhino

It’s because the witnesses previously had their own image of UFO, according to what they believe.”

“So you mean they just hallucinated?”

“If they’re not, why only few people who able to see it?”

“The answer is my explanation at the beginning. UFO comes from a different dimension. And when they entered to our dimension, they’re only in the form of particles of energy that can only be seen in the right frequency.”

“This frequency by means the energy emitted from our brains? Isn’t that the same as hallucinating?”

“Okay, let me explain,” Shintya tried to fight her theory. “In the state of pure energy, each particle will move by itself, such as the connections of nerve cells of our brain that stores a lot of information in a specific frequency. All this information will be recorded at a frequency in our brains, and the overall form of pure energy can go into that information by adjust its frequency, as if when we’re searching a channel in radio. So in other words, no complicated circuit is required to receive the whole wave energy. Only by adjusting the frequency we can convert these energy particles into a form.”

- 295 -

Falling From The Sky

“That still doesn’t explain why only a few people who can adjust this frequency.”

“Everyone can actually manage this frequency. This energy is still operating in the frequency spectrum. Although the frequency is very high, this energy doesn’t need to conform to our nature. Those energy particles are virtually already here, and will always exist because they’re not limited by three-dimensional space.”

“You still don’t answer my question.”

“We’re talking an intelligent energy here. When it penetrates to our natural dimension, each particle can retain control each other. Controlling in this case means sending weakly impulses of low level energy that can penetrate to our brain, which means they can control our thoughts.”

“So your point is I may have seen UFO but my mind was being controlled and unable to see it even though I already adjust the frequency of my brain with this energy?”

“This energy shows its form if they want it.”

- 296 -

Joannes Rhino

Antonio fully impressed with the explanation. “I’m quite satisfied with your explanation. But what makes you think there has been UFO sighting here?”

“Based on information of our existing members in this town.”

“So you’re not from here.”

“I came from Jakarta.”

“And you came all the way here just to follow up on this? What if this is just a scam? Do you always respond to all information as this serious?”

Shintya smiled. “We’re doing our homework. We won’t be here if not necessary.”

“I wonder the kind of information you get from your members.”

“He claimed to see UFO over three consecutive days around his house.”

“Oh, did he? When was this happened? How come no police report about this?”

“Just few days ago.”

- 297 -

Falling From The Sky

Michael approached with their order.

“Please have a drink,” Antonio said after Michael placing the cup of tea on the table.

“Thank you, officer.”

Michael then pulled a chair to join the conversation.

Antonio sipped his coffee, and the taste was terrible.

Another minus one to the officer who served this coffee. “I didn’t hear any weird events during this week.”

“That’s what I told her, Sir.” Michael snapped without permission.

Antonio tried to ignore. “Based on the information you have, do you know where it happened?”

“Around Tambak Bayan,” Shintya replied.

“Don’t we have a case in that area right now?”

Michael snapped again.

Antonio had enough. That kid must be re-educated about manners. He then looked back with hateful stares at the officer.

- 298 -

Joannes Rhino

“What kind of case, Sir?” “Well just a minor criminal case. It had nothing to do with UFO.” Antonio was reluctant to discuss the case further.

“We never know. When this happened?”

“About three days ago or four.”

“Was it a robbery? Murder? Drugs?” Shintya seemed like a crime reporter for a local newspaper.

“It’s still under our investigation.”

“Is there any strange thing about the case that makes it still unsolved?”

“Nothing that we can handle.”

“Things that don’t make sense perhaps?”

“Well if there’s any, I certainly will discuss to you.”

Shintya nodded, appreciated the officer’s react. She realized how impossible to obtain information about criminal case from the authorities. However, it was worth to try. She glanced at the officer’s watch. It was past ten o’clock. So she quick sipped the tea.

- 299 -

Falling From The Sky

“Well I guess it’s my time to go. Thank you for your time.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you.”

“No problem. But in case you remember anything, this is my business card. I hope I’ll be hearing from you.”

“Likewise.”

“Good luck finding this UFO,” Michael said as he threw his model smile, radiant and confident.

“So, anything I need to do right now, Sir?” he asked when the guest just left.

Antonio chuckled and long sighed. “Do anything you want. I don’t care.”

- 300 -

Joannes Rhino

XVII 11.00 a.m.

They kept circling around the area; asked people, gathered information, or simply just became a mocking bird every once in a while. That was indeed the risk they aware of. They stepped by at Blue Cookies café. Based on the locals, there was a crime scene occurred recently in the place. Even though there wasn’t any confession mentioned strange events, Ivan got a hunch that whatever happened in that place had to do with the sightings.

Lisa walked toward them with a tray of fried rice and noodle. “Please enjoy the meals,” she said after placing the orders.

“Excuse miss, do you have a minute?” Ivan asked before the girl left.

“Anything else you wanna order?”

“This’d be enough. I just wanna ask you something if you don’t mind.”

The girl leaned on the nearest table. “What is it, Sir?” - 301 -

Falling From The Sky

“I’ve heard stories there was a robbery here.”

“Who told you that?”

“The locals. Some of them even mentioned murder case. So is it true?”

She hesitated and wanted to make sure the people she talked with. “Are you cops?”

“Oh, not even close. You have nothing to worry about. We don’t work for any government organization.

We’re just looking for information.”

“Are you journalist then?”

“We’re just doing research about strange events, for personal needs. Perhaps you could help us on the subject?”

“What do you mean by strange?”

“Anything related with UFO.” Lisa simultaneously chilled hearing the word ‘UFO’.

She was terrified. Not because of the spacecraft she had seen or the alien she spoke with, but because of the prophecy that she would die someday soon. She wondered could it be today the day she died.

- 302 -

Joannes Rhino

She shook her head in panic. “No. Never. I’ve never seen UFO my entire life.”

“Well it could also be any strange things related with UFO.” “I’m sorry, Sir. I can’t help you.”

Cell phone rang, and Imam reached in his pocket.

“It’s okay. I just need to know what actually happened here few days ago.”

“That had nothing to do with UFO.” Ivan smiled. “So it’s just a robbery?”

“Yes. Um....maybe, um…I don’t know for sure. I wasn’t here at the time.”

“Ivan, where we’re gonna meet Shintya?” Imam interrupted.

“Tell her to come here.”

Imam started to text back Shintya. “How long we’re gonna be here anyway? Don’t we have things to do?”

“Just text her to get here. We’ll figure out later.”

- 303 -

Falling From The Sky

Ivan wanted to continue his interrogation but apparently the girl already left and sat behind the counter.

She still tried to manage her emotions when Adji came up in the doorway and stepped in. She was still embarrassed by the dream last night, and didn’t know how to react. Should she tell him about the dream? Could she even speak to him without imagining how the kiss was?

She wanted everything like the way it was, but the kiss was an exception. Selfish? You could say so. Because what if it turns out the dream has any meaning? Does not every girl believe everything has meaning? What if the dream was a forecast to future events or projections of her true feelings? However, she didn’t want to have a love-endedtragically story.

“Hi Liz.” Startled, Lisa looked at him in blank stare. “Hah?” He grabbed a chair and sat in front of her. “Are you okay? You look….”

“Oh, um…I’m fine. Never been better.”

- 304 -

Joannes Rhino

“You busy? I have something to talk about.”

“No, no, I’m good.”

Adji frowned.

“What do you wanna talk about?”

“About you know, my Akino.”

“Oh, about that. Any progress?”

“Guess so. Yesterday I was accidentally using my power.”

“Oh.” Lisa looked down, pretending to write something on a sheet of paper. Obviously she was totally distracted, and Adji aware of it.

“You clearly have something to do. Maybe I’ll come back later.”

She stared at him, and he stared back. Such a big mistake. She shouldn’t look at him. Now she realized that he really was charming. And this didn’t help at all to reduce her anxiety of the dream.

- 305 -

Falling From The Sky

However, the boy looked different today. His face pale as if lost too much blood. There were black lines under his glazed eyes. And the bones of the cheek looked prominent, as if about to get out of the thin skin of the face.

In overall, he looked terrible. That perhaps was the effect of the Earth’s atmosphere.

“Gosh! Look at you!”

“I know. Pretty much mess up, huh? It’s just a process of Akino.”

“You must stop doing this. You put yourself in danger you know that.”

“I’m responsible of what I did to you.”

“I know, and I thank you for that. But, look at you?

Does it worth it? You’re killing yourself.”

“Whatever the risk, Liz. It’s you I’m worry about.”

“Well, I guess I came in the right time.” Rika snapped from behind. No one had noticed she arrived.

She sat down next to Lisa. “Am I disturbing your hot chat?” she continued sarcastically.

- 306 -

Joannes Rhino

Adji gave a courtesy nod to her. “I better go now.”

“Are you in hurry or something? I was just about to talk to you.”

“About what?”

Lisa glared at her. “Yeah, want do you wanna talk about?”

“Did she tell you the dream she had?” Rika talked to Adji, and giggled.

Adji frowned.

“Don’t you dare!” Lisa warned her.

“She was dreaming ‘bout you.” She then laughed.

“Oh, really? How’s the dream?

“Just mind her. You said you wanna go.” Lisa diverted.

She wished she has a mask to cover her face.

Adji rose from the chair, and threw a smile at her.

“Let me know if there’s anything new.”

“You’re unbelievable you know that.” Lisa muttered when Adji has left the place.

- 307 -

Falling From The Sky

But Rika was also looked upset. “I plead guilty. But you also have something to explain.”

“I have nothing to explain.”

“Oh, really? So let me know if there’s anything new doesn’t mean anything? What’s that all about?”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“You are hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

“I don’t even know why he said that.”

Actually, Lisa told the truth. She didn’t understand why Adji said that. Was it just a farewell speech like ‘I’ll see you later’ or ‘we’ll talk again’? Or it was because Rika suddenly came up and interrupted their conversation.

Rika sighed. “You’re changing you know that. I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”

“Rika, please don’t say that. I keep nothing from you.”

“Hope you do.”

- 308 -

Joannes Rhino

Imam was checking out the room when he realized how boring the place could be. There wasn’t any decoration on the walls, pictures or ornaments like normal café. He hoped this was the last time he came here. He thrown the silly straw on the tea cup and sipped his drink slowly.

“Why don’t we ask them?” He glanced to the girls at the counter table.

Ivan slurped his noodles. “Later.”

“This is wasting time.”

Imam couldn’t take it anymore. He got up and walked toward the counter.

“You wanna take the bill, Sir?” Lisa asked.

“Not just yet. I just wanna ask few things.”

“What else?” she responded tartly, wondering what these people really want.

But Imam decided to talk to Rika. “Have you seen strange things lately?”

The girl looked at him and frowned. “What do you mean?”

- 309 -

Falling From The Sky

“He’s about to ask whether you saw UFO or alien the past few days,” Lisa took the respond.

“Me? Nope. But you had.”

“So you’ve seen this UFO?” Imam turned to Lisa.

She didn’t think Rika would say that. “Oh....um....I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was nothing.”

“When this happened and where?”

“I forgot.”

“Two days ago. How come you forgot?” Rika snapped.

Imam nodded, suspicious. He believed this girl has something he needs. “Forgot, huh? Well anyway, could you describe what you saw?”

She stared at the ceiling, as if there was an answer above her. “Well....it’s just a flash of light. And I don’t think that was UFO. It could be anything.”

“But you saw it around here?”

She shrugged. “Up in the sky that’s for sure.”

- 310 -

Joannes Rhino

Imam snorted. Although unsatisfied with the answer, he decided to stop the interrogation and started to think like a cop. A smart cop made a quick interrogation at the first meeting then let the witness / target / suspect became restless so the next meeting would be full of information.

“Alright then. I won’t bother you anymore.” He then left the counter.

“Cops?” Rika whispered.

Lisa, who was relatively new in the keep-your-secret game started to look back quite often and thinking what she did was totally illegal. That was why hearing the word ‘cops’ put her heart jumped out. But she then laughed of the cowardice that wasn’t reasonable. She didn’t do any criminal act. So, why should be afraid of dealing with the authorities?

“They’re just doing research. But I don’t know what they’re up to.”

“But you’re not doing anything illegal with Adji, are you?”

“What are you talking about? I told you I have nothing with him. Is it so hard for you to believe?”

- 311 -

Falling From The Sky

“Hardly.”

“That girl right there is definitely hiding something,” Imam whispered.

“I thought so. What she told you?”

“You know what? She saw this UFO. Well…she claimed to see lights in the sky. But I can tell she’s lying.”

Ivan stroked the stem glasses. “Why she lied to me?”

“I believe she’s keeping information. Maybe we should stay focus on her from now on.”

A green taxi stopped in front of café and Shintya stepped out. She shook her head, showing the unsatisfied expression.

“I know that look,” Imam guessed.

She sat down, took a long sigh. “I don’t know why I volunteer to go there the first place.” She then looked around. “Can I get cold orange juice here, please?” She ordered to the waitress at the counter.

- 312 -

Joannes Rhino

“So you got nothing?” Ivan confirmed.

“Not really. Did you know that police were investigating a case in this neighborhood? They didn’t wanna tell me the case. But they mentioned it happened three or four days ago.”

“That’s perfect. That’s gotta be a connection,” Imam snapped.

“Connection on what?”

Imam glanced to the girl who was concocting drinks beside the sink. “She knows. She lied to us. She pretended to forget everything she knew. And now, the report from authorities. I’m sure she’s the answer we’re looking for.”

“Hold on a minute. What did I miss?”

“Listen, based on the information from locals, there was a strange incident happened in this place days ago. And you just told us police are doing a case investigation around here. So this gotta be it.”

Shintya frowned. “I’m lost.”

- 313 -

Falling From The Sky

They paused their conversation when Lisa came and placed the order to the table.

“Anything else you need?”

“This’d be enough for now. Thank you,” Ivan said politely.

Imam made sure the girl sat in the counter before finish his assumption. “She knows about the sightings because she was the one who made it happened.”

“Okay, let me get this straight. So you think she’s Hybrid?” Shintya began to see Imam’s thought.

“Definitely. She had no reason to lie to us about UFO. Try to put on her shoes. If you’re Hybrid which had contact with aliens and suddenly strangers ask you about UFO, what’d you say? Clearly you don’t want anyone know that you had experience with such thing, do you? You just wanna stay low.

Like her.”

“What do you think, Shin? You have something to add?” Ivan asked.

Shintya shrugged his shoulders. “What other choice we have?”

- 314 -

Joannes Rhino

“So, we’re agreed?” Imam convinced his both colleagues.

Ivan nodded. “The first plan is observation. We have to observe her everytime. And then we wait. If she really is Hybrid, its collective consciousness would send signals to planet she came from. We’re just waiting when our ‘guests’ visit us again.”

“So it means we take shift?” Shintya asked.

“Oh, you haven’t seen our new hotel. You’ll love it.”

Imam then laughed.

- 315 -

Falling From The Sky

XVIII 8.34 p.m.

It has been nearly an hour Antonio studied the name on the card. He wanted to make a call, no more than courtesy call, but his mind doubted. It was quiet at the time, and the air can be quite friendly. But still it cannot help him to think.

He glanced. His wife had just entered the room, probably straight to sleep. And he was about to catch up the next one or two hours. That was kind of their habit for the past ten years married. Woke up in the early morn and had quick breakfast, then dinner and went to bed. Even sometimes they skipped the diner section due to Antonio just arrived home past midnight.

Boring? Indeed. That only happened when love wasn’t the foundation in marriage. Antonio married his wife because a mandate of his parents. The relationship between two families that had grown since decades made Antonio had no choice. And the fact that his wife wasn’t able to give him a child made everything worst. How could it not? Having a child was the only hope to make the marriage back on track. But it was just dream now. So, one thing left now was just the - 316 -

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picture of his tragic life for decades to come. Loneliness and emptiness until death arrived.

He sniffed upset thinking about the ugly truth of his life, and refused to think it even further. Work has always been a place to escape. At least he can divert his stresses in the office by doing cases.

He had it enough and rose from the couch to grab a phone. He was stalling to prepare the right words in the head.

The card squeezed between his fingers. He had no other choice at the time. His mind was clogged and dull, meanwhile he really needed information, feedback, or anything to speed up the case solved.

Finally, with face up close to the business card, he began to press the phone button. He glanced at the clock to make sure it wasn’t late to make a call.

“Hello?”

“Good evening. I wanna speak to Mrs. Shintya Fitriani.”

“Speaking.”

“Is this the right time?”

- 317 -

Falling From The Sky

“For what? Who’s this?”

“This is Antonio Suprapto. We spoke this afternoon at police station.”

“Oh, how can I help you officer?”

“I’m a bit curious and interested on your explanation about unexplainable things.”

“You mean UFO?” “Unexplainable things,” Antonio asserted, refused to use the word ‘UFO’.

“What’d you like to know?”

Frankly,

Antonio

didn’t

know

what

kind

of

information he needed from UFO freak. He even still couldn’t believe he called this woman. However, once again, his mind was clogged. He just needed someone to talk to.

“Better we don’t discuss this over the phone.”

“We can arrange a meeting then.”

“That’d be great if you don’t mind.”

“Why would I? So when are we gonna meet?”

- 318 -

Joannes Rhino

“How about tomorrow?”

“That’ll do. Should I step by at your office?”

“No, no. That’s too much trouble for you. Where are you staying?”

“Around Tambak Bayan. But my hotel’s somewhat difficult to find. Maybe we should meet somewhere else.”

“Any ideas?”

“I know a café near my hotel. Blue cookies café? You familiar with?”

Antonio almost jumped off the couch. Of course he knew the place. Was it just a coincidence this woman wanted to meet there? Or maybe she already knew this information from other parties? It crossed to Antonio’s mind that Michael was the one who leaked the information.

“I know the place. What time we meet?”

“I’m free all day.”

“Ten o’clock in the morning would be good?”

- 319 -

Falling From The Sky

“Splendid. I’ll bring my colleagues as well if that’s okay with you.”

“No problem.”

“Well said. See you then, officer.”

Antonio leaned into the couch. He wasn’t sure whether this was the right decision. Did UFO freaks can help him solve this case? What was the connection between the case and UFO anyway? He was supposed to focus on finding the third suspect instead of doing something he didn’t even understand. But at least, he thought, tomorrow he doesn’t have to stay at home all day and feeling lonely.

Shintya broke in the room and said, “We have progress.”

“Excuse me?” Ivan then ignored the television show.

Shintya flung herself onto bed. “A cop that I met today wanted to see us tomorrow. He said he wanna know more about our expertise and things we do. There’s a good chance he wanna link his case with our sightings.”

- 320 -

Joannes Rhino

“Now that’s one hell of news of the day.” Imam put aside his laptop to the mattress.

“So tomorrow prepare yourself at ten coz we’re going to Blue Cookies.”

“Better we come early.”

“Did you or he who suggested the place?” Ivan asked.

“I do, coz I thought we can also monitor the waitress girl.”

Ivan nodded and glanced at Imam. “You received update from Agus or other members?”

Imam typed few keys on keyboard and then snorted.

“Zero.”

“That’s strange. No sightings report or weird stuff the past 24 hours,” Shintya muttered. “What if the girl is not the Hybrid?”

“You mean our Hybrid has returned to his planet?”

“Well it’s possible. Based on our assumptions, the sightings kept continue coz this Hybrid refused to go.”

- 321 -

Falling From The Sky

“I refuse to believe that. She is our Hybrid. We just have to wait.”

“Don’t put your hope over the clouds.”

“If we’re out of hope, what’s the point of living then?”

10.16 p.m.

“You need to be more careful about this. How many times should I remind you?” Lisa said for a million times.

“You know my reason. I have to fully connect with Akino.”

“I know. All I ask at least let me know when you’re about using your power. I could help you or something.”

Adji smiled. Now his feelings became more and more chaotic. He claimed to be focused on saving the girl rather than his deepening love to her. If he however kept thinking about the way he felt on her, his defenses will collapse. The transparent bubble that covered him with Akino will immediately fall apart, leaving him with his own feelings and ignoring his primary mission to save the girl.

- 322 -

Joannes Rhino

“Just so you know I haven’t used it today,” he preached as if it could make her feel better.

“Good. And you better stop using it for a while. Wait up for a couple of days until you fully recover.”

“I don’t have much time. I should be ready when the day comes.”

Lisa was moving the dirty dishes to the sink. “No one can predict the future. I could get an accident or hit by a car tomorrow.”

“Stop talking like that.”

“I was just trying to say that everyone has own fate, and no one can control it.”

Adji helped her in the sink. “I just want you to stop being negative about this.”

“Well I’m not. I’m just being real.”

“You haven’t told anyone about this, have you?”

She put the plates to the shelf next to her. “By anyone you mean Rika?”

- 323 -

Falling From The Sky

Adji pass another plate to her and accidentally looked at her closely. As usual, he was amazed to see how pretty that girl with curled hair loose around her shoulders, the curve of her perfect thin lips and dark eyes that looked tempting. But then he quickly disposed the feelings.

“No need to worry. Your secret is safe. But you know what? Someone was asking me about UFO today.”

“Who?” He leaned on the counter, looking at other direction beside Lisa’s face.

“When you come here this afternoon, did you notice two men sitting there?” She directed her finger to the table nearby.

Adji nodded. “So they’re cops?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What did you say to them?”

“What else you think I’d say?”

“If they’re cops, I don’t see any reason why they asked about UFO.” “I thought so.”

- 324 -

Joannes Rhino

“But I’m sure they’re up to something.”

“Probably it has to do with your Akino.”

“You mean they’re alien?”

Lisa shrugged. “The point is you should be more careful from now on.”

“Thanks, Liz.” “Just because I keep remind you to be more careful?”

“Just thanks for being on my side.”

“You did nothing. Of course I took a side on you.”

- 325 -

Falling From The Sky

XIX Sunday – May 26, 2002 9.45 a.m.

Lisa felt being observed by those guests. Their looks stripped her since the past half an hour. She didn’t know what was wrong with them. Or maybe there was something wrong with herself. Was it the way she served to them? Perhaps the tea she made was too sweet. However, for whatever reason, they made her very uncomfortable.

She then began overreacted. She became clumsy. She accidentally dropped the spoon, nudged the glass full of water, or shed the boiled water to her own arm. That was really clumsy. And to make it even worse, she repeated the same things until two or three times.

It crossed to her mind whether those guests had deliberately waited her to make that kind of mistakes, or anything that could reduce her value as a competent shop keeper. But Lisa was sure they definitely weren’t government officials who were conducting a survey on the quality of a waitress.

- 326 -

Joannes Rhino

She didn’t take it anymore and decided to stop doing anything for a moment. She sat down, drawing a deep breath, trying to calm down, while hiding her face behind the counter window. Only by doing so the terror of those guests could be conquered.

“I still couldn’t believe she’s Hybrid. She looks no different than us,” Shintya whispered to her colleagues.

Imam sipped his tea. “That’s the amazing thing ‘bout Hybrid. The manipulation of alien’s race that has soul of human matrix.”

“No need to tell me ‘bout that. I just....well this is my first time, up close and personal with Hybrid. It’s really incredible.” Shintya chuckled admiringly.

“This is nothing. It’s just a warming up. We’ll see the greater than this.”

“UFO?” “Always aim higher. We’ll just have to wait until she uses her collective consciousness.”

- 327 -

Falling From The Sky

Shintya saw a shadow on the surface of the table before looked towards the entrance. For a moment she didn’t recognize the man, until finally he approached and said, “Didn’t we agree at ten?”

“Oh officer, we just arrived. Guys, this is the person I was talking about.” She pointed a finger at the man without his official uniform.

Ivan rose from his chair and stretched out his hand.

“My name is Ivan. And this is my co-worker, Imam.”

“Antonio Suprapto.” He greeted those men hand.

“Thanks for meeting us here.”

Antonio sat next to Shintya, face to face with the guys. “Well I was the one who ask for this appointment.”

“How can we help, officer?” Shintya said.

“I’m interested of what you explained to me.”

“So what you need from us?”

He raised his hand, and within seconds Lisa was standing beside him.

- 328 -

Joannes Rhino

“Can I take your order, officer?”

“I wanna have your famous noodle.”

“Drink?”

“Tea with the rocks.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s it. Take your time. I’m not in hurry this time.”

“You come here often?” Shintya asked, seconds after the girl left.

“Not really. So where were we?”

“What kind of information you need from us?”

“You see, I always interest in knowing stuff like planets, universe, and whatever life up there. And the way you explained yesterday makes me wanna know more about this.”

“You mean UFO?” “I forgot the name of your organization. Beta something?”

- 329 -

Falling From The Sky

“It’s Alpha-Omega,” Ivan corrected.

“Oh yes, Alpha-Omega.” Antonio turned toward the person he talked with. “So this organization formed based on hobby of the members?”

“At first, but of course we do have mission and vision of establishing this organization.”

“Oh really?”

“We’re not a UFO cult like most UFO organizations are,” Ivan confirmed the statement. “We’re a serious community who observed UFO phenomenon. We wanna clarify UFO, studying its agenda and activity, and if possible to educate the public of the reality and implications of this.”

“To be honest I never imagined that such an organization actually exists.”

“Actually, UFO investigations have existed since long ago, but deliberately not publicized,” Shintya took over the conversation. “This issue began to take seriously under investigation around thirteen centuries in Japan. At the time, so many Japanese troops observed the unexplained lights phenomenon in the sky. The Japanese government then - 330 -

Joannes Rhino

commissioned a group of investigators to study the case. And they concluded that what they saw was just starts moving in the air because of winds.”

“Classic government conspiracy,” Imam snapped.

Shintya continued the story. “This investigation began to retake seriously in 1920 in Australia. There was Australian warship disappeared in Bass Strait. And the loss of this ship happened with lots of reports about the mysterious lights in that strait. In 1933 the world shocked again with Ghost Plane phenomenon in Scandinavia and other countries in mainland Europe. And then Roswell in 1947 that we all familiar with. In 1978, UFO issue was formally addressed in a special committee of the UN general assembly, which results a formation of formal organization to investigate this. In Indonesia, our government has done serious research as well.

Perhaps you familiar with the name J. Salatun, a retirement from Air Force?”

“I’ve heard. But do explain,” Antonio replied.

“He testified seeing UFO in the territory of Indonesia, not just once or twice, but several times. And finally in 1967 he got fully support from the Air Force to conduct an - 331 -

Falling From The Sky

investigation of this phenomenon. Even the Air Force commander at the time also considered that UFO phenomenon was a real thing and really happened case in Indonesia.

“So based on the information, along with how easy to access internet these days, public interest in UFO is increasing. Finally, the independents observer of UFO, like us, started popping up in Indonesia.” She finally ended the story and took a sip of her orange juice.

Antonio was amazed to hear such an explanation.

“Your knowledge about this stuff is incredible.”

“She’s half-alien. Ask her anything ‘bout UFO, she surely knows the answer,” Imam joked as he burned a cigarette.

“I’ve heard that some people believed UFO is sort of an omen of future disaster.”

Shintya briefly glanced to Imam. But of course she had no right to forbid him to smoke. “Such belief indeed exists. There are several parties who try to connect UFO with religious or superstitious matters. But that’s because of their lack of knowledge about UFO.” - 332 -

Joannes Rhino

“I also have read that UFO phenomenon often believed as an event of gods’ arrival to teach culture and technology on modern human origins.”

“It’s true. That’s the beliefs of pre-historic people. It happened because at early beginning human don’t know the existence of flying object in the sky. But now, since we’ve got the technology to explore the universe, the identity of UFO began to grow rapidly. The success of Wright brothers who made aircraft proved that fly is not impossible for human as well. And with these achievements, people began to see that UFO phenomenon is now measurable. Not as gods who descended from heaven, but as a result of technology from a greater civilization.”

“So tell me then, why UFO-related cases still have no answer? People just speak up their theory without any supporting evidence.”

“UFO phenomenon and the theory within is a mysterious topic. Even centuries of study, still not many conclusions can be drawn. In fact, as sophisticated our technology increases, UFO phenomenon still save lots of mystery or even likely gets more confusing. This may occur because the limited sightings we have or encounter with UFO - 333 -

Falling From The Sky

that can be used as reference, and not to mention the tendency of negative reaction from the authorities and skeptical people.”

“Why do you think UFO come to our planet?”

“Abductions,” Imam snapped.

Antonio looked at him and frowned. “Kidnapping?

What makes you say that?”

Before Imam expressed his abductees experience by aliens, Shintya immediately interrupted, “Actually, there’re so many reasons. And one of the reasons is abductions, or more precisely called as the process of gene manipulation.”

“And that is what?”

“They came to our planet not just to learn all forms of our civilization. They also studied our technology, culture, beliefs, social life, and more. They even studied our structure body.”

“By doing abductions. But what it has to do with the process of gene manipulation?”

- 334 -

Joannes Rhino

“Having our sample bodies, they’re experimenting genetic engineering to blend human gene and alien.”

“Human-alien gene? Does it really exist?”

“It does,” Imam murmured when Lisa approached to their table and placed the order.

“Thank you,” Antonio said with smile, but the girl ignored him and just left.

So Shintya continued, “I personally have never seen this human-alien gene in physically. But based on the information I have, it does exist.”

“And where you got that information?”

“Government.”

Antonio was about to eat his noodles, but changed mind. “The government? Which government dared to issue such information?”

“Actually it’s not an official statement.”

“So?”

- 335 -

Falling From The Sky

“You see, in 1983 the FBI headquarters in New York had a breach. And right after that there was a rumor directly from American government sources explained that Grey aliens are responsible for the manifold on human biological evolution through manipulation of DNA that has been done on this planet since two thousand five hundred years ago.”

“What alien species?”

“Grey alien,” Shintya answered and directly explain.

“There’re several types of alien. But I don’t think right now it’s important for me to explain in detail each of them. The point is these Grey alien species have been doing the abductions of human and taking sample of our bodies.”

“But we both know this information hasn’t been confirmed officially because unsupported by physical evidence.”

“That’s why we’re here. We’re about to make sure,” Imam snapped again.

“So you’re telling me there was a UFO came to this town and make abductions?”

“It’s possible.”

- 336 -

Joannes Rhino

“That’s why yesterday I asked you about unusual incident during this week,” Shintya added.

Antonio faced back to the bowl of noodles in front of him. “Not that I aware of. There was no report of such things.”

“What about the unsolved case you’re investigating?”

“That has nothing to do with the topic we discussed.”

Imam had enough and urged. “But it happened here, right? We think it has anything to do with our investigation.”

“How come you said that?”

“If you don’t mind, you could tell us your case. And then we can figure out what we came up with. Let’s just say we’re helping each other,” Ivan finally spoke wisely.

Although reluctant to disclose his case, Antonio needed supply of information. He understood how illogical to link his case with UFO phenomenon. However, he also realized his own case has no logical explanation as well.

“What kind of information you got?” he asked just to make sure what these people have.

- 337 -

Falling From The Sky

“Some say a robbery, drug transaction, and even gangs war. But all people we asked mention a gunshot. That’s why we need clarity from you as the person who investigated,” said Ivan.

“My

information

wasn’t

much

different.

I

interrogated several witnesses from the incident, and they all claimed to hear the sound of gunfire. But the thing is there was no gun found at the scene, bullets or gunpowder. I’m still investigating this further.”

“So it happened here, in this café?” Imam whispered.

Antonio nodded. These people were indeed quite competent in handling this kind of thing. All of the information they collected and the variety of assumptions they expressed should be given a thumbs up. Antonio thought if only all police investigators have potential like these guys.

Enterprising, tenacious, smart, full of ideas and have an expertise in digging information. Such a proper profile of an investigator.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Imam talked to Ivan.

Antonio still confused. “I still can’t see the link between my case and your UFO investigation.”

- 338 -

Joannes Rhino

“Allow me to explain,” Imam quickly responded before Shintya had a chance to say anything. “We got info from our member who lives around here. He claimed to see sightings during the last few days.”

“She already told me that.” Antonio directed his eyes to Shintya.

“Well, these sightings happened around here. We dug info from the locals, and it turns out all info lead to this café.

Your unsolved case happened here as well. So, is this just a coincidence? I don’t think so.”

“I’m still not following you. I can’t see the connection.”

“As you said, your case has no evidence.”

“Just tell me what you’re trying to say.”

“What I was trying to say is your case has interference with alien issue. That’s why you can’t find anything to support your investigation.”

Antonio shook his head. This has beyond reasonable limits.

- 339 -

Falling From The Sky

“Aliens, huh?” he muttered. “Okay, let’s just say I respect your opinion. So you’re telling me I’m not gonna be able to solve this case?”

“What I’m about to say is I don’t think you’re gonna find reasonable solution of this.”

“That won’t be a problem. I just need to get over with.”

Imam glanced at the girl behind the counter. “Well in that case, it’s just a matter of time before you get your answer.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“You were asking the proof of human-alien gene, weren’t you? Well you’re looking at it.”

“Her?” Antonio Looked at Lisa and tried to make sure.

“Yeah, she’s one of them. Human with alien gene.”

“You’re kidding me. I know her. You better has one damn good reason by making such allegation.”

- 340 -

Joannes Rhino

“I can’t explain how I can be so sure. But I need you to be patient and wait until the next few days. You’ll be surprise to see what she able to do.”

“I don’t like surprise. So you better tell me now.”

Imam put out his cigarette to astray. “It’s kinda’ hard to explain without any proof. But just so you know, she can communicate with aliens. The sightings that occurred the past few days, she was the one who called them.”

“This is nonsense.” Antonio tried to find other opinion through Shintya. “You agree with him?”

Shintya nodded. “If you familiar with things like this, I believe you’ll find how reasonable this would be.”

“Fill me with everything you know then.”

“As we talked earlier one of the reasons UFO come to our planet is to study the biological structure of our bodies, which will be combined with alien DNA,” Shintya began to explain. “The combination of human-alien DNA is called Hybrid. So it means they’re physically human but with alien capability. And these Hybrids have also capability to

- 341 -

Falling From The Sky

communicate with their fellow race by using collective consciousness, which we called telepathy.”

“So these Hybrids communicate to their fellow race to make an invasion in our planet?”

“It’s possible,” Imam snapped.

But Shintya immediately corrected Imam’s statement, “In my personal opinion, they actually didn’t intend to make this sort of communication. In fact, probably some Hybrids still don’t know if they’re half-alien. But the communication happened because of their collective consciousness. These Hybrids unconsciously were responding the communications.

And the result, every time they communicate by using collective consciousness, perhaps the aliens felt obliged to pick up these Hybrids back home.”

“So why these Hybrids were allowed to live on our planet at the first place?”

“For that, I’m still trying find the best answer. But maybe it’s the part of their research, by letting these Hybrids socializing with our people.”

- 342 -

Joannes Rhino

“I admit that I don’t know much about this stuff. But I still can’t see the link between my case and UFO.” “We’re actually still guessing here,” Ivan made contribution on the discussion. “So if you don’t mind, we can share information from now on. The more information we get, the sooner we find the answer.”

Imam was still looking at the waitress girl. “I believe she’s the key on this.”

Deep down, Antonio agreed that Lisa was one of the key factors of his case. It wasn’t news flash. He doubted the girl’s testimony since the first interrogation. But no slightest crossed his mind that she was an alien.

“I’m not a skeptical type. So I’m open for all information. Yeah, I think we should share information from now on.”

“That’s what we expect, officer,” Ivan replied.

His cell phone rung and Antonio looked at the numbers listed in the phone screen. “Excuse me, I have to answer this.”

- 343 -

Falling From The Sky

The voice came out of the cell phone. “Hello, Sir. It’s Michael. Sorry to bother you on your day off.”

Antonio snorted. “What do you want?”

“I just received communication from the office. We’ve caught the suspect.”

Antonio was almost jumping off the bench. That was indeed great news. By this, it means the case will soon be resolved. And of course he didn’t have to bother thinking to link the case with UFO crap.

He turned around and talked a bit softer. “Where’s he now?”

“Still on the way, Sir. He’ll be arrived soon. He was caught in Surabaya.”

“Keep me inform. Don’t let anyone interrogate him before I come.”

He then cut off the line.

“Progress on the case?” Shintya asked when the officer faced her.

- 344 -

Joannes Rhino

“I’m sorry. This one is strictly confidential. It’s internal. Well anyway, where were we?”

“We

were

in

the

agreement

‘bout

sharing

information,” Imam replied sarcastically.

“Oh yes, I couldn’t agree more.”

- 345 -

Falling From The Sky

XX 7.30 p.m.

“I don’t think they’re alien, Liz,” Adji assumed, hearing the information of the guests at Lisa’s café this morning.

Lisa sat next to him at the porch. “My guess is they are from government.”

“Cops?”

“At least one of them.”

“You know what they were talking about?”

“I’m pretty sure they mentioned ‘UFO’ like every five minutes. And whoever they are, my feeling’s telling me that they had to do with the guy you introduced me that night.”

“Ptaah? The alien guy?”

“Yup. But the point I’m telling you this is for you to be extremely careful.”

“Well I am. I haven’t used my power these last couple of days.”

- 346 -

Joannes Rhino

“Good then. Better keep it low at least until we know who we’re dealing with.”

“Time is chasing us. You do know that, don’t you? I don’t even know whether my Akino is still active now.”

Lisa faced the flower pots hanging before her. “I always wonder how it feels when you connect with Akino.”

“Hard to explain.”

“Was it like seeing a gleam of colorful light?” She didn’t realize that she was describing what she felt when Adji kissed her in the dream.

Adji wondered perhaps Lisa felt the sensation when he healed her. “How do you know?”

“Wild guess. So it was then?”

“That’s just the small part.”

“So what else?”

“I can see so many things, and they’re all mixed up.

There were events and people I’ve never been and met before. There were also voices, music, smells and other things I can’t describe.”

- 347 -

Falling From The Sky

“Could you show it to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, it’s gonna be fun.”

He frowned. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Would you do that?”

“Even if I can do that, don’t you think it’d be dangerous? You said yourself I should be more careful with my power.”

“Well you’re not using it to heal. I suppose it’s harmless.”

“Alright, you asked for it.” Adji moved his chair facing her. “Maybe you should close your eyes, and try to feel as comfortable as you can.”

He reached and grasped Lisa’s hands before closed his eyes. Just a moment passed by, a mixture of perfumes spread around them. Lisa breathed deeply and enjoyed the smell of fragrant cinnamon and rose’s fragrance. Minutes later, she found herself covered with colorful balls that spin and shimmering. She smiled when a ball touched her skin. It felt - 348 -

Joannes Rhino

so soft, like a soap bubble. And at the same time she heard sweet musical notes. At this point, Lisa believed she has connected with Adji’s Akino.

She then searched for a bubble that could trigger a vibration inside her. But there were so many wonderful tones.

Finally, she grabbed a greenish-blue bubble nearby. That bubble buzzed like a music therapy. And by the time it burst in her hand, a giant screen displayed. It was showing the picture of herself with Adji on the banks of the lake. She saw Adji hug and lean on her. She could felt the warmth of Adji’s lips. Adji then closed a short distance between their lips with a gentle kiss. At this very moment, everything felt fragile for Lisa.

She heard Adji softly sigh, and just within seconds she gasped in pain.

Adji released his grip from her hands. “What is it, Liz? You okay?”

She was even far much better. What she felt was beyond believe. But she wasn’t sure whose feelings she saw back then.

“Just a scratch. I’ll live.”

- 349 -

Falling From The Sky

“Let me fix that up.”

“No. You mustn’t use your power.”

“It’s just a minor injury. I promise you I won’t use much of my power,” he insisted as he grabbed Lisa’s hand.

He took a deep breath and started to build the necessary contacts to heal the wound. But instead of getting a picture of Lisa’s recovery, he saw his own shadow with eyeballs spinning. He was unable to heal the wound. No matter how hard he focused, he still couldn’t manage to cure the wound.

And Lisa noticed that. “Adji, it’s okay. I’ll be alright.”

He sniffed, looked upset. “Guess my Akino has left me. I lost my power.”

“But you’re fine, aren’t you?”

He was definitely not okay at all. He just about lost conscious. He felt a lump in his throat. His both eyes got wet for no reason. Perhaps just one blink, the tears would drop.

He went off balance and nearly collapsed when about to stand up. Luckily Lisa deftly held his arm.

- 350 -

Joannes Rhino

“Hey, you sure you okay?” Lisa worried.

“I’ll live.” He replied and smiled while his hand held firmly on the door handle.

“Alright, I better get going now. It’s getting late.”

“Guess so. But I’m afraid I can’t walk you home.

Something I need to do.”

“That’s okay. See ya?”

When she arrived home, Rika has waited. She was wrapped in bright green dress which looked beautiful on her.

She looked stunning that night.

“From the internet café, huh?” She smiled when Lisa approached. It was such the most fake smile she ever showed to anyone.

“Well somebody just back from a date.”

“Um…Rika, would you help Lisa closing down?” Enny, Lisa’s mother, left the counter and walked into the house.

“Yes Ma’am.”

- 351 -

Falling From The Sky

“So Rika, tell me how’s the date?”

“You forgot, huh?”

Lisa

frowned.

She

didn’t

remember

making

appointment with her today. “No, I’m not. What do you mean?”

“Clearly you are. We’re supposed to meet at the theatre on seven. Movie night? Ring a bell?”

“Oh yeah, no, I remembered. I just….I thought you’re on a date.”

“I was with Kevin until I decided to meet my best friend to our girl’s night out which has turned out to be bad decision ever.”

“Oh, um…I thought I text you, didn’t I?” “You know what? You’re such a bad liar.”

Lisa of course felt guilty. Rika has every right to be angry with her.

“Rika, I’m terribly sorry. I did forget. I got distraction a lot lately,” she said regretfully.

- 352 -

Joannes Rhino

Rika sighed. “I’m starting to doubt you as my best friend, Liz.” “You’re not saying that.”

“You clearly changed, and I hate the person you are now.”

“Come on, I just totally forgot, that’s all.”

“And that’s because something distracted you? Why don’t you start explain then about this something that distracts you?”

“Adji,” Lisa shortly answered.

“Oh, still about him, huh? I thought you said you don’t have any feeling on him.”

“I did say that. But now I just…not sure.”

“Not sure as you have a crush on him now?”

“I suppose.”

“So how deep are we talking here?”

- 353 -

Falling From The Sky

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just a silly thing to feel. Just never mind I ever mentioned that. This started with one lousy dream for God’s sake.”

“No. That’s not silly at all. That’s understandable.”

Rika tried to cheer her up.

“Oh, you’re such a good friend. What would I do without you?”

“Don’t be such a drama queen. I just need you tell everything from now on. No more secrets?”

“No more secrets.” Lisa got up and walked toward the sink after saying that. She didn’t want Rika looked at her eyes to find another lies.

“Why don’t you tell him what you feel?”

“Why? He’s my regular customer in case you didn’t notice. I don’t wanna risk anything over something that started with a dream.”

“You know something else that might happen?” Rika asked softly. “He might say he feels the same way too. You and I know that he liked you.”

- 354 -

Joannes Rhino

“He’s just a customer for now and maybe a friend as well.”

“God knows what he’ll become tomorrow.” Rika joked then laughed out loud.

- 355 -

Falling From The Sky

XXI Monday - May 27, 2002 9.17 a.m.

Although it still looked fresh because rebuild a month ago, the room was still a prison. Surrounded by new color paints and iron bars that seem solid, the room was still a prison. And whatever happened in it, the room wasn’t going to change the name. It would still just a room with no window and hope.

The room, however, was the place where all the suspects exiled for a moment.

Toni arrived at the District Police headquarters of Jogjakarta at nine o’clock in the morning, and immediately confined one cell with his associates. He was accidentally caught during anti-drug raid at the famous discotheque in the southern city of Surabaya. Police actually didn’t find a single package of drugs in him. He was completely clean at the time.

But, unfortunately for him, there was an officer who recognized his face from a distributed flyer.

So identity checks continued, and Toni wasn’t able to dodge. He then dragged to the nearest police station.

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However, because of his experience face to face with the authority, he didn’t speak a word to any of the interrogator.

He was provoked, cajoled, and even threatened, but no words came out of his mouth. There was no solid evidence that could incriminate him. But after being confirmed that he was a fugitive in question, Toni immediately dispatched to Jogjakarta with two police cars escorted.

Now he was leaning at the cell bars. His eyes sharply narrowed to Rahmat who was sitting in the corner.

Occasionally he glanced at Alex in the other corner. But he knew that the boy with bruises all over the face didn’t say anything to the police.

“What the fuck you said to them? I told you never mention my name you fucking idiot,” he yelled as he approached Rahmat.

Rahmat was curled up on the cement floor, sat halfsquat with heart felt like pumped-out. “I swear to you I said nothing.” He was gasping for breath, and pointed to Alex. “It could be him.”

Toni then moved to the other corner. “So you sold my name, huh?”

- 357 -

Falling From The Sky

Alex spontaneously eyeballed of such an allegation.

He quickly took a defensive position to protect his face. It was a reasonable reaction knowing his mental was still in shock.

He kept being haunted by the physical sensation when his face was beaten. He continued to imagine those violent men who threw the first punch at him. He could even hear himself cried in pain at the time. It was an experience that will remain permanently.

But luckily for him, suddenly the cell clanged. An officer then pulled Toni out to the interrogation room.

Antonio, who was waiting, asked the boy to sit. In the file has been recorded that this one was a troubled kid. He often engaged in a school fight. Prison seemed to be his second home. In the last five years he had been in jail eight times; four times for drug cases, three times for shoplifting, and one case for stealing motorbike. However, none of the cases related to murder. “What were you doing in Surabaya?� Antonio asked as he closed the file in his hand.

- 358 -

Joannes Rhino

“I’ve got things to taken care of. Something’s wrong with that?” he replied in brave and confident.

Antonio was quite impressed with the boy’s attitude.

“By things you mean drug related stuff?”

“Look, I’m cleaned. You’ve got nothin’ to prove.

Beside I’m out of business.”

“So now you’re starting new business, let’s say gun dealers?”

“What do you mean? Please somebody tell me why I’m here.”

“How long you’ve been in this new business?”

“Look officer, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“So you wanna play hard, huh? We can do that.”

“Look, I will cooperate. Just please fill me why I’m here.”

“Stop acting like you don’t know a shit. You know damn well why you here. You’ve met your friends back in the cell. So stop playing this I forgot officer shit.”

- 359 -

Falling From The Sky

The boy looked down and nodded.

“Now, tell me what you remember about the incident.”

“I’ve got nothin’ to tell. I just met them, and that’s it.”

“You do realize how difficult your situation now, don’t you? Especially with this I don’t know anything attitude. You even realize that your friends testified against you on this?

Not to mention the eyewitness’s statements. So, if I were you, I’ll be wise enough to use this opportunity to save myself.”

“But I did nothin’, officer,” he protested.

“If you claim not guilty on this, I’m all ears for your story.”

The boy sighed and guessed this officer probably knew the different side of story. So he lifted his face and stared the officer as he spoke, “Okay, I admit I was selling grass to Rahmat. Is that what you wanna know?”

“You’re here not for that charge. Finish your story.”

“Well said. So before I left the place, I was showing this gun to Rahmat. But he took it of me. I got panicked, so I - 360 -

Joannes Rhino

grabbed back. And maybe that idiot Rahmat accidentally touched the trigger. Lucky me, it ain’t pointed at me. And right after that, I just ran out.”

“Where’s this gun now?”

Surely Toni couldn’t say that the gun was already sold to a dealer because he will be hunted to death for providing such information.

“God knows. I put it away that night.”

“Where?”

“I forgot, officer. I was panicked.”

“Think harder!”

“Um....I think at this river close to my house.”

In Cokroaminoto Street, there was Pasu River that runs along five miles to the west of Jogjakarta. And, it would be impossible for Antonio ordered his men to search the area.

It was just going to be time wasted, and not to mention pointless. He now considered the gun was no where to be found.

- 361 -

Falling From The Sky

He sighed as he clenched his hands tightly. Upset. Of course he was. He gave up all hopes to this third suspect. He had thought this boy was found with the evidence, and testified he directly fired the gun outside of the café. If so, then this case has completed. Lisa startled and spontaneously fell off to the floor. Adji was also surprised and spilled the chili sauce on her. Other testimony from eyewitnesses was just miss-perception. And that was it. Case closed. And Toni will be charged for possession of illegal weapon.

But unfortunately, still no evidence found up to now.

And Antonio has no idea what to write in his report. He then rose from his chair, hopeless.

“I think that’d be enough for now. However, you have to remain at custody for further interrogation.”

“Until when?”

“Until I say so.”

He then left the room. Five minutes later, Michael entered with his notes and continued the interrogation.

10.14 a.m.

- 362 -

Joannes Rhino

Lisa felt the tears sting her eyes all over again. Come on, Liz. Be strong. She said to herself. She shouldn’t be crying. She must not show her fear in front of Adji. She must stop react like this, or otherwise Adji would ask her to leave.

However she realized she made him uncomfortable.

How could she not? She was like holding a notice board that reads: “Adji, are you dying?”

Well he surely looked terrible, wrinkle on the bed.

The sweats seemed to struggle to get out from the pores of his skin. His body trembled every once in a while. His lip was moving, but not clear what he was about to say. Occasionally the eyes opened, glaring, but immediately shut with eyeball still swirling in it.

The door opened. Adji’s mother entered with a basin of warm water and small towel. She looked pale, obviously frightened. This was the second time the boy’s condition dropped dramatically like this.

“Let me help you.” Lisa took over a bowl and damp towel from her hand.

“Any progress?” The woman sat on the bed and put her hand on Adji’s forehead. “I think he got bad fever.”

- 363 -

Falling From The Sky

“How long he’s been like this?”

“I just noticed this morning.”

“He’ll be alright.” Lisa gave encouragement, even though she was already filled with the sadness atmosphere in the room.

Adji suddenly took a long and hard deep breath that sounded so painful. Lisa was concerned how he could stand to breathe like that for the past several hours.

“I better call a doctor. Keep your eyes on him.” The woman then left the room.

Lisa believed that Adji’s disease cannot be cured by any chemical medicine. He just needed time to recover himself. But she surly cannot mention such information to his mother. So she looked back at Adji and studied his face. He looked like just half asleep. Finally, now she can really looked at him, examined the changes that happened to him, without worrying to make him uncomfortable.

She watched him in detail as if she was in the biological lab. Adji was like a heap of damaged flesh. Small

- 364 -

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flakes of his skin were peeling out with some dried bloods. He looked awful. However, he was still Adji.

Lisa grabbed his hand, hoping he will wake up soon.

She tightened the grip on her hand, but seemed wasn’t enough. Adji was so cold and slid away from her. So she hugged him and buried her face on his shoulder, trying to share the warmth of her body.

“Hey, wake up. I need you. I can’t get through this without you. Please, wake up.”

There was no sign of life in him. She resumed her seat and pressed her finger to Adji’s lip, to make sure he was still breathing. His eyes finally blinked, along with the painful moans and sigh. Soon his mouth opened, but only a click sound came out.

Was this what they called delirium of dying people?

Lisa quickly put aside such thought. She obviously ran out of idea. She didn’t know what to do to make him better. Should she call an ambulance? At least the medical team knows what to do. Or should she cry out loud asking for alien to come because this wasn’t human disease? She didn’t know. She couldn’t think straight.

- 365 -

Falling From The Sky

“Liz,” Adji said with choked voice.

“Hey, I’m here. You feeling better?”

His eyes now wide opened. “I’ve just had….this dream….you hugging me.”

“You’re not dreaming.”

Adji smiled in such torment. The sweats were running down his face. He winced as the sweats crawled on his skin.

“You feel better now? What happened with you? Is this the effect of last night?”

“Liz, I….love you….always,” he said slowly along with his eyelids quivering shut.

“Adji!!!” Lisa screamed as she grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

She laid her face on his chest. But she wasn’t sure.

She was no longer hear the exhausted breath of him. Then, she pressed his wrist. But she was so shaking and only heard her own heartbeat. She tried to force open his eyelid. She saw the pupil move slightly, but didn’t know what it means.

- 366 -

Joannes Rhino

Adji’s mother ran into the room. “What is it, Liz! What’s wrong with him!”

She didn’t answer, didn’t respond.

The woman threw some aspirins and a thermometer onto the bed, and then checked her son condition. She bent down, checked his pulse, checked his heartbeat, and checked the breath from his nostrils.

“I need you to go to this address. Ask for Doctor Saragih.” She handed over a note to Lisa.

Lisa nodded and immediately disappeared from the room. Luckily, she had no trouble finding a cab to get there.

So in fifteen minutes she had arrived at the place and the doctor was already in position to go. He waited in front of his house.

Along the way back, Lisa felt the taxi moved in slow motion. She asked the driver to speed up over and over again.

And the driver just nodded without any intention of doing so.

Suddenly, there was a screen play in her mind, showing Adji was lying pale in a coffin. The coffin then lowered into the grave using a wire mine that squeaks. Lisa - 367 -

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tried to remove the horrible event of her mind. But it became more real. She could even smell the red dust in the field.

Minutes later the movie turned into many screens. One screen showed Adji buried in the field with only a handful of mourners who came. Another screen showed aliens came to Earth to make invasion as the equal price of Adji’s death. In the last screen, Lisa saw herself standing alone in the vast expanse of flat land covered with snow. She yelled, screamed, but no reply except her echoes. She was alone in the large white of desert until finally her turn to die.

She glanced at the doctor. She knew if she told what she had in mind, he would probably say that Adji would be fine, that there must be a cure for all diseases. But the thing was Adji wasn’t an ordinary human. He was half-alien.

The car finally stopped. She immediately jumped out and gave the driver extra for his pointless effort of speeding up the cab. Adji’s mother has waited in the living room.

“How’s he?” Lisa asked.

She didn’t look panic. Her emotion has stabilized.

“He’s making progress.”

- 368 -

Joannes Rhino

“What are the symptoms?” The doctor asked as he walked into the bedroom.

“Cold sweats and his body trembling.”

“Did you give him something?”

“Just some aspirin, Doc.” He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed while groping the boy’s forehead. He then opened his equipment bag and began to start overall check. But only minutes before he put back all his stuff into the bag. That was quick examination. Even Lisa thought the doctor didn’t do what he had to do.

“What’s wrong with my son?”

“He had fever. But don’t worry. Just give him enough rest.”

“Are you sure, Doc? Because this is the second time he’d been like this.”

The doctor stepped out of the room. “I guess he just too tired. Do you aware his activities these last few days?”

“Well, you know regular stuff.....”

- 369 -

Falling From The Sky

Lisa didn’t continue to follow the rest of the conversation. She decided remain next to Adji. And Adji indeed made some progress. His breath now was getting normal. A good signed. Lisa thanked God.

- 370 -

Joannes Rhino

XXII 1.45 p.m.

“Speaking of the devil,” Imam whispered when Lisa just went home.

They had arrived at Blue Cookies café around ten this morning. And the fact that the girl wasn’t there seemed suspicious to them. Who knows what she did when she wasn’t under supervision.

“I wonder where she was.” Imam eye’s continued to terrorize the girl in question.

“Maybe she had class,” Shintya said, but unsure.

“That’s impossible. Look at her. She didn’t bring anything. We should’ve been here earlier.”

“Just for your information, we’re not stalking anyone.

We’re doing investigation. Can you see the difference?”

“She’s right,” Ivan added. “Everyone has privacy. And we can’t interfere something that has nothing to do with our investigation.”

- 371 -

Falling From The Sky

“She was gone for like several hours. Like hell it had nothing to do with alien stuff. She might just communicate with the ET.” “We don’t know that.”

“Damn right we don’t. That’s way we must always stick with her.”

Shintya’s cell rang. “Hello,” she greeted on the phone.

“Is this Shintya Fitriani?” Antonio’s voice was in the phone, and Shintya recognize it.

“Oh, Officer Antonio. How can I help you?”

“If you have time I’d like to continue our pending chat. I wanna know more of the investigation you’re doing.”

“Sure thing. We happened at the yesterday’s café right now. If you wanna join us, we’ll wait.”

“Perfect. I’m going now.”

“It’s the cop, isn’t it?” Imam asked after Shintya put the cell on the table.

Shintya nodded. “He wants to join us.”

- 372 -

Joannes Rhino

“That’s even better. Now we have an authority on our side. So we have nothing to worry ‘bout this stalking thing.”

“How long they’ve been here, Mom?” Lisa asked about the guests in the café.

“Since morning I guess.”

“Did they question you?”

The woman frowned. “Why would they? You knew them?”

“Nah. It’s just they questioned me about the incident.”

“So they’re cops?”

“Hope not. I’m tired being interrogated about this.”

“That’s what they do. After all the case hasn’t solved yet.”

“Indeed. So Mom, why don’t you go inside? I’ll take it from here.”

- 373 -

Falling From The Sky

Before left, she pointed at a note on the counter desk. “That’s their orders.”

2.07 p.m.

“And how long we have to wait?” Antonio asked. He had to agree to see his case from another perspective.

“We don’t know that for sure,” Shintya replied.

“Don’t you guys have something to do back in Jakarta? I’m not saying that this is not important. I’m just thinking that haven’t cross your mind it’s gonna be such a waste?”

Imam felt offended. “Look, officer, if you think what we’re doing here is wasting your time, you’re welcome to leave you know.”

“Easy. I was just being reasonable that’s all.”

“We’re pretty sure it’s just a matter of time,” Shintya took over the conversation before they start arguing.

“How come you’d be so sure?”

- 374 -

Joannes Rhino

“Based on our research, the UFO phenomenon that occurred last week had its own pattern. And this pattern is once in every twenty years.”

“So you’re telling me the same thing happened twenty years ago?” Antonio then set back his memory, tried to remember whether he had heard the similar stories back then.

“Pretty much. But I’m not saying that all sightings occurred in every twenty years.”

“What makes this one different then?”

Shintya was ready to give a thorough explanation.

“Our planet got visited by UFO quite often, but not all UFO sightings were in the same patterned because they came from different planets. As I explained, there are types of aliens. I mentioned Grey alien species if you still remember.

But the one who came last week and twenty years before was a Nordic.”

“Nordic?”

Antonio

considered

whether

information can be useful to him.

- 375 -

this

Falling From The Sky

“This Nordic species is different than the other aliens who came to our planet. They never do any abduction to our people. Instead, they wanna make friends with us. One of their goals is to study our biological structure, which the result is genetic engineering we called Hybrid. This Hybrid then sent here to live among us until he/she was entering a stage that called collective consciousness.

“When a Hybrid has already in that stage, he/she would see images of life on the planet origin. Then, unconsciously this Hybrid will respond to it by using its collective consciousness which directly notify the Nordic. And the Nordic must come to pick up this Hybrid.”

“If it was Nordic who came last week, don’t you thing something went wrong with the pattern? Because as I remember you once mentioned the sightings happened in three streak days.” Antonio interrupted.

“Something went wrong indeed. That’s why wanna clarify this. In my opinion, it happened because this Hybrid refused to go with the Nordic. For whatever reason, we don’t know yet. But at least now we have a candidate of this Hybrid.”

- 376 -

Joannes Rhino

Four of them simultaneously glanced at the girl in question.

“Not candidate. She’s Hybrid,” Imam corrected.

“So, again, how long we should wait?” Antonio worried because for him time is the most crucial thing.

Time was very precious to him. The sooner he got the evidence concerning the identity of Lisa, the sooner the case solved. He could write the girl’s ability on the report, and it would be enough to explain the incident a week ago. And as bonus, he could also get a promotion because of successfully solving this unusual case. In addition, he may be famous as well for giving solid evidence of UFO phenomenon. Yes, that was his mission now. To get recognition that he was great.

Shintya sighed. “I can’t tell. But I have your number.

I’ll call you for any progress.”

“You do that. I wanna clarity this as well.” Antonio took a brief sip of his tea. “I wonder how you know all this information.”

“I did my homework. Google helped me a lot.” She then smiled.

- 377 -

Falling From The Sky

8.00 p.m.

It was nearly an hour he looked at the small note on the table.

He has doubt whether to dial the numbers or just leave it that way. He actually had million reasons to call Lisa. He could pretend to discuss about his Akino issue, or just simply say thank you for keeping him safe during the critical times earlier. Or perhaps, he could just chat about anything. But, frankly, he only wanted to know how Lisa’s response regarding his testimony.

“Liz, I love you always.” How could he forget saying that?

He remembered clearly when Lisa hugged him and said that she needed him. But what was that mean? Was it just spontaneous words for facing someone who were about to die? And the hug, was it just an expression of embrace compassion?

This kind of emotion was really stressing him out. And he needed to end it. He must find out what the girl thought about this. There was only one solution. Adji then started to dial on his phone.

- 378 -

Joannes Rhino

“Hello?” Lisa greeted on the other line.

“Um....Liz, it’s me. Adji,” he introduced himself as if he needed to do that.

“Oh, how are you now?”

“Much better thanks to you.”

“Thanks to me? I didn’t do anything.”

“Anyway, you busy now?”

“I’m at Rika’s. What is it? Something happened again?”

“Uh, no. I just....um…I wanna talk to you.”

“Shoot.”

“I meant in person.”

“Oh, okay, I can do that. I’m about to leave anyway.

Just come to my place.”

“I’ll be there in half an hour.”

He felt relief when the line cut off. Soon all worries will be over. He jumped out of the bed and dashed toward - 379 -

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the closet. If only still had enough time, he would buy a new suit to give elegant impression on Lisa. But then he thought to buy it tomorrow and wear it on their first date someday.

“Adji, huh?” Rika showed her typical sarcastic expression.

“I gotta go now.”

“Don’t you dare running away on me.”

“I have to close down the stall you know that.”

“Ah, that is so you with your classic excuse.”

“Well what do you want me to say?

“Just say you wanna meet him.”

“Okay, I wanna meet him. Happy?”

Rika smiled. “You’ve no idea.”

“I don’t know why he wanted to see me” “Maybe he wants to say I love you again.” She then laughed.

- 380 -

Joannes Rhino

“You’re not helping.”

“Listen, I’m saying now as a friend. You should clarify this coz it’s not fair for him.”

“I’m still not sure what I feel right now. You don’t know what kinda’ trouble I’m gonna jump into.”

“Wait a minute. What kind of trouble we’re talking now? Is there something I need to know?”

“Never mind. Why should I be worry about this anyway? He might just wanna discuss something else.”

“And what would that be?” Rika looked suspicious now.

“We’ll find out soon. I’ll update you.”

“You better do that, or don’t you dare come here again.”

“Just keep your cell active.”

“Speak to yourself.”

- 381 -

Falling From The Sky

Lisa half ran return to her place. Occasionally she looked back and dimly saw a shadow just turn into an alley.

Throughout the day she felt like a fugitive who was under surveillance by the authorities. This afternoon she was already observed by the guests at the café. Then, few hours ago, she felt like someone was following her to Rika’s. And until now the terror was still remain.

Strong winds suddenly arrived and its capacity kept growing. The branches of trees were swaying with hussies sound. The dogs started to bark from houses nearby. They looked restless, tried to pull off the leash around their neck.

Then the power went off all together, but just brief before it back on.

“Liz?” Someone shouted from behind.

She turned around and noticed Adji was approaching.

“You certainly look alright now.”

He smiled. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

“I wasn’t saying that. But you sure you’re feeling well?”

“As you can see.”

- 382 -

Joannes Rhino

They began to walk. “Tell me now, what really was happening to you?”

“I was just tired.”

“Was it because you were trying to show me your Akino?”

“Um….apparently.”

“So it’s my fault then.” Lisa pleaded “It’s no one fault. We didn’t know.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Please stop apologized, Liz.” “I couldn’t.”

“You know, the reason I wanted to see you is um….not about that.”

“So what is it?”

He tried to calm down. “Um…I just wanna know your respond.”

“About what?”

- 383 -

Falling From The Sky

“You know, about what I said earlier um…”

He suddenly changed his mind when someone was approaching them. At first he didn’t recognize who the man was. But then, that tall man was getting closer and closer. It was Ptaah.

“You know what, we’ll talk about this some other time.” Adji lead Lisa’s eyes to look at the third party.

Lisa turned around and found no one around. “What is it?”

“Stop playing mind games on her. Just show yourself,” he commanded Ptaah.

The bluish-white light immediately exploded before their eyes to make a form of human. Lisa surprised. She didn’t prepare for such thing. She gasped out of breath and lost balance. Fortunately, Adji kept her body from falling.

In just ten yards behind them, Imam reacted as shock as Lisa. He was stunned and had jumped to hit the fence wall of the house where he had been hiding. Luckily, he didn’t make any suspicious sound. He was still safe.

- 384 -

Joannes Rhino

Slowly, he peeked through the cracks bush. He couldn’t believe what he saw. But it was real; there was a man with bright white-robed who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He believed the girl must have just used her collective consciousness to contact that creature, or whatever he was. He must report this amazing news right away. So he reached in his jacket to pull out his phone.

“Ivan! Get here ASAP!” he half whispered.

“What’s wrong? Where you at?”

“Just come, quick! You won’t believe this! I’m at this alley around Tambak Bayan Seventh Street.”

“Another sightings?”

Imam peeked. They were all still there. “This is far much awesome than sighting. Call me when you’re nearby. I don’t wanna ruin this one.”

- 385 -

Falling From The Sky

XXIII

“The structure of your body is weakened if you keep using your power on planet Earth.” Ptaah explained.

“I’m fully aware of what I’m doing. But, unless you have another idea so I could completely connect this Akino, I’ll keep doing this.”

“There is only one choice. Come with us, join with your Akino.”

“Listen, you have no right to come here and tell me what to do,” he protested while Lisa squeezed his arm.

“Better you just go back to wherever you came from. Let me just do it in my way if you don’t wanna help me.”

“We cannot control the laws of nature on planet Earth.”

“There’s no use you’re here then.”

“We are here to save you from the extinction on Earth’s atmosphere.”

- 386 -

Joannes Rhino

“Save me, huh?” He regulated his abysmally breath due to emotion. “Alright, I’ll make it easier for you. I’d go with you if you could help me save her.”

“Adji, don’t do that. There’s gotta be another way.”

Lisa hugged Adji’s waist.

Adji was fully aware of the risk if the request granted

by Ptaah. He will not be able to see Lisa again. But his decision was reasonable. He knew how weak his current condition.

And with such fact, he couldn’t save Lisa from destiny. He will lose the girl one way or another.

“There’s no other way, Liz.” Ptaah just changed his pupils to yellow and green colors, and then returned to bluish-white. He probably was making communication with his fellow race out there.

“What I’m offering is a win-win solution. She stays alive and you accomplished your mission. And me, I’ll live with a maximum Akino in your planet. How ‘bout that?”

“There may be one way,” Ptaah said.

“Tell me what should I do?”

- 387 -

Falling From The Sky

“This doesn’t concern you.”

“What do you mean?”

“We can take her out of planet Earth for a while so the laws of nature on planet Earth will not apply to her,” Ptaah explained.

“No! I don’t wanna leave!” Lisa protested in fear.

“How long we’re talking here?” Adji tried to make sure.

“It cannot be ascertained. We do not have computation time as human.”

“So you’re telling me that she could return here in decades?”

“We cannot ascertain. Based on our research, one second on planet Earth is as the same as many days on planet Erra.”

Adji gaped, and Lisa frowned on his body. “So she might be back here with the same physical condition while all things have changed? Isn’t there another way?”

- 388 -

Joannes Rhino

Ptaah didn’t say anything. He kept silent with no expression. Adji then thought that was the only possible solution.

“It’s up to you’ Liz,” he said, turned to the girl.

Of course Lisa refused the offer without second thought. Thinking about the family and all relatives who would consider she was dead, that was too much. Moreover, she also had to settle down for unknown time in a place that she didn’t believe it exists. It was clearly no option of doing that.

She then released her body on Adji, and tried to stand up straight. “Maybe you better go with him.”

“And you?”

“I’ll stay. Don’t worry about me.”

“In that case, I’ll stay with you.”

“Adji, you realize you’re getting weaker? You won’t be able to heal me. After all, this is my destiny, not yours.”

“Don’t talk like you’re dying.”

“Well I am. Just save yourself.”

- 389 -

Falling From The Sky

Adji limped. However, how Lisa’s pronounce it as if it was her last words. “I can not leave you know that.”

“I understand you feel responsible on this.”

“No, it’s not just being responsible. It’s also me being selfish.”

“What are you saying?”

“Liz, I can’t leave because I love you too much. Yeah, I finally said it. I love you, Liz.” Those words were actually she had been waiting for.

But the situation was different now. There were so many things to consider, and being selfish wasn’t a wise decision at the time.

“We can’t be together you know that. We’re different.”

Adji frowned. “So you’ve never felt the same way?”

She looked him in the eyes. It felt like there was tons of weight on her shoulder when doing that. “I’m sorry.”

As if there was a sledgehammer slammed on Adji’s head when hearing the answer. His face turned to pale, his - 390 -

Joannes Rhino

legs felt weak, and his soul went cold. The sky seemed fall on him in the blink of an eye. Just like night candles that had burned out, his journey of love had to end that night.

“That tall dude is an alien,” Imam informed when Shintya and Ivan just arrived.

Shintya squatted next to him. “You’re joking me.”

“Why would I? He wasn’t there you know, and then….Bam!!! He’s there.”

“Did you have the chance to see the UFO?” Ivan asked.

“I didn’t notice.”

“So that guy just appeared out of nowhere?” Shintya confirmed.

“I didn’t even blink, Shin. I saw that café girl talk to her dude friend over there, and all the sudden there was this blue-white light around them. The next thing I saw that alien was talking with them.”

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“She was just using her collective consciousness to call him.”

“But I still don’t get it. Why this alien show himself to that dude?”

“There’s a good chance he’s also Hybrid.”

“So he’s gonna pick them both? God, this is awesome! You bring camera, don’t you? This must be well documented.”

Not far from their hiding spot, Antonio just parked his car on the roadside. He then contacted Shintya for further instructions. He was actually confused why he must leave his vehicle there and walked quietly up to three alleys ahead.

Shintya was also mentioned not to make any suspicious noise.

That was definitely strange. But, however, Antonio had been notified that this was related to UFO phenomenon, which of course all things not necessarily to be logic.

“What’s going on? Why we’re sneaking like thieves?”

Antonio half whispered and bent down next to Imam.

“Not so lout, officer. You don’t wanna get caught, do you?”

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He squatted, peered and looked at those people ten yards in front. “What exactly am I looking now?”

Imam pointed a finger. “You see that tall guy? He’s alien.”

Antonio tried to imagine an alien appearance he has in mind. Based on what he knew from any information obtained, alien was supposed to be three or four feet high with gray or grayish brown skin. The head should be bigger than its body. The characteristics of the face should be showed a pair of large eyes, sunken or deep, and slanted as Mongolian. No ears should be found on alien. The nose should be vague with just a tiny flat mouth. The arms were illustrated as long and skinny, down to the knees, which contained four fingers with no thumb.

The man he was looking at clearly not an alien. He was tall and big, but maybe he was just a Europe tourist. The only questionable thing from him was the outfit. He was wearing a long and shiny dress.

“He just a tourist,” he said.

“If you don’t believe me, just wait. We’ll find out soon.”

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“I’m thinking he could be Nordic,” Shintya added.

“And what makes you say that?”

“They’re different than other aliens in appearance.”

“So Nordic’s appearance is like us? Like him?”

Shintya nodded and began to quick share her knowledge. “Nordic is the entity that most closely related to humans. They’re related to us from the creation of human in genetic. So basically we shared the same ancestors, which originally came from Lyra-Vega star system. That’s why they have a kinship with humans, and in essence they’re the only aliens that humans trusted.”

“You know what? This information is too much for me. But let’s just say I understand.”

“Same here,” Imam snapped.

Antonio observed Adji and Lisa. “Why he speak to them?”

“This is the part that I explained yesterday. As we assumed that the girl is Hybrid, she was using her collective consciousness to call him. That’s the reason he came. He - 394 -

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probably wanted to send her back to the origin planet. But let’s wait whether she’s willing to go or not.”

“I don’t wanna take that risk. This must be stopped now.”

“Hang on!” Imam held the officer’s shoulder.

“Let’s just observe for a minute, officer. We’ll wait until we see any dangerous indication of this,” Ivan finally opened his mouth.

Antonio nodded, not agreed, but ensuring the gun on his waist was ready to use.

“Come with us, now,” Ptaah was about to take his hand.

But Adji just stood firm. He had spent his whole life on this planet, growing up and been raised by his parents. It was impossible for him to give everything up and make a new start on another planet. No doubt his heart just broken, but that wasn’t enough to be an excuse to leave this planet.

“This is my home. I’ll stay.”

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“You don’t belong here.”

“I have to save her.”

“Adji, you’re not being reasonable. You’re getting worst. Can’t you see?” Lisa begged him.

“I’ll get used to it. Besides, no one can tell future. Isn’t that what you always told me?”

Ptaah’s pupils just changed to bright green. “If you use your power again, you probably will not survive on planet Earth. And we will not be able to save you.”

“I’ll take the risk. At least I’d like as human.”

“One thing we have learned about human is they are selfish creature.”

Ptaah then stepped back and raised his hands.

Seconds later the wind was going wild when lights object came slowly out of nowhere and float on top of them. The bluish-white color then lighted out from beneath it to make a five hundred feet straight line to the asphalt road.

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From behind the bushes, mouths a gaped. They were all stunned and held breath while watching the spectacular phenomenon.

That was real. The aircraft was clearly spread out before them. The jumbo sized metal piece that made on another planet and somewhere outside the galaxy they had never imagined before. Its construction was very impressive.

There was no connection around its layer. No bolts. No buffer.

It was such aero-dynamic; more like something liquid as if melted and rippled as if breathed.

“He’s about to kidnap them!” Antonio elbowed Imam and out of the bushes.

“Hey!

Freeze!

Step

away

from

them!”

He

commanded, clutching the handle of his gun. His eyes focused on the movements of the stranger.

Ivan with his two colleagues came out of the bushes, trailing the officer, slowly walked near the target.

Adji turned around. “No! He’s harmless!” He said as he motioned the officer not to approach.

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“You two get your ass from him!” He barked and kept alert.

Behind Adji’s body, Ptaah raised his right arm. And Antonio believed it was indicating a resistance and potentially threatening. Then, swiftly he grabbed out the gun and pointed to that person.

“Hold on, officer! Hear me out!” Adji shouted as he moved forward in front of Lisa.

“Just get the fuck of there young man!”

In the meantime, Ptaah’s arm continued to move and grabbed Lisa’s shoulder. He then built a contact to her. His pupils turned into a reddish-yellow when he began to fill his aura to the girl. A glimpse of shadows crossed. They were passed in a colorful blur. He heard her heartbeat, and then continued explore the structure of her body. When his aura reached in the head, he felt how confuse the girl was. He then chosen a blood vessel and squeezed in using mind power. The purpose was to make the girl unconscious when this has ended.

“Freeze you bastard!!!” Antonio shouted, seeing that physical contact.

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The light line from the aircraft was slowly shifted and wrapped Ptaah’s body before he sucked up in an amazing speed. Then, within a split second, Ptaah who had disappeared suddenly changed position with Lisa. Now Lisa was the one who disappeared in their eyes.

Antonio couldn’t believe it. He suspected Lisa had just been abducted to the aircraft. “Where the hell is she!” He shouted and stopped walking few feet away. His eyes firmed, focused on the target within the shooting range.

“Please lower the gun, officer!” Adji screamed franticly. And he decided to step closer to the officer.

Lisa was also terrified. She grabbed Adji’s shoulder, not to leave her. “Adji, don’t.”

But all thoughts have been manipulated at the time.

And in Antonio’s eyes, the stranger was about to take Adji as well. Of course he wouldn’t let that happen.

And then, Bang!!!

The hot tin was ejected from the gun.

Lisa looked down, and bloods began to spread out on her dress. She put hand on the left side of her waist, then her - 399 -

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eyes began to blur. She had felt her body was flying on the air before smashed to the asphalt road.

Adji turned. His face paled. This shouldn’t be happened! Not now! He wasn’t fully connected with Akino.

He was still powerless to make any healing. However, it was Lisa, the girl he loved. And he has to heal her one way or another.

His knees creaked when kneeling beside her. He then moved his hand, slipped into the girl’s dress. And he pressed the center of the wound using his mind power. But no matter how hard he tried and kept trying, he still couldn’t feel his power.

The prediction has come, and he couldn’t prevent it.

Shintya stepped closer as she watched the victim. She noticed bloods on the girl’s body. So she was thinking. If the girl was Hybrid, humanoid figure who came from a mold division of biological characteristics and racial identical from extraterrestrials, there should be no blood as it should.

Should only be a grayish liquid on her skin layer.

She looked up. That inverted bowl-shaped metal plane started to high, then sped toward the south of horizon - 400 -

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and spread out into three small dots in the sky. Shintya slowly nodded, aware of what had just happened.

Meanwhile, Antonio was still motionless with mouth agape, couldn’t believe he just shot that girl. It was impossible for him. It wasn’t her he had seen earlier.

A glimpse vague of shadow crossed. It was getting closer, and began to clear. Antonio noticed a young man suddenly, with precision timing and perfect action, threw a cross short punch right on his chin. He didn’t have time to react. He just heard a loud crunching sound on his face, but didn’t have time to do anything. Antonio fell off to the asphalt road, rolling resting on his side and managed to sustain his body with one knee. But another punch landed, right on his nose like a gun blast.

Imam and Ivan were quickly pulled Adji away of him.

But the boy kept struggled in their grasp. He screamed, clenched his fists tightly and punched the air. Still, all of these actions were useless. He still wasn’t being able to heal Lisa for the second time. Everything now seemed meaningless. The sky collapsed above him and began to darken. He then went unconscious.

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XXIV Tuesday - May 28, 2002 7.00 a.m.

When someone did something that he/she can’t take back, something big and scary, he/she will start holding onto anything to keep him/her away from the fear and reacts as if it will ultimately pass by. But what if everything remains the same despite all efforts have been made? How could that person go on with such feeling?

Early morning Antonio had already waited in Mr. Budianto’s office. His body limped on the couch with head slumped back. His eyes were glazed staring at the ceiling. He has no hope whatsoever. He must account for what he did.

He was ready to accept whatever punishment that would be.

The worst possibility was being dismissed without honor from the department, or being mutated to another division.

Certainly, his license as an investigator will be revoked.

After the incident, Shintya had told him what was really happened. She explained that it happened because of aliens’

interference,

that

all

thoughts

were - 402 -

being

Joannes Rhino

manipulated, that they all saw Lisa was gone when the shooting took place. But still it doesn’t change the fact that the girl died because of him. And of course he couldn’t put any alien excuse in the report.

He glanced at his watch while stroking his bandaged nose. He was still sleepy. He hadn’t slept all night. He had to make report when transferring the victim’s body to the hospital. He had to fill in some reports in his office. Not to mention he also had to explain to the victim’s relatives. Long story short, he was pretty much busy last night.

He snorted. Time kept ticking and counting down to the destruction of his career. But he has no regret. Not because death is an impossible phase in life to be prevented, but if he faced a similar situation like last night in the future he would act the same. Anyone who was in his position would have reacted the same. He was just in the wrong time and wrong place.

In midday, the sky around cemetery looked cloudy as if grieving. Sunlight biases pierced the clumps of dark gray clouds. Morning fog remained still along with a roar that - 403 -

Falling From The Sky

echoed. Hundreds of mourners were standing around a coffin that soon would be buried three feet under. Millions of tears scattered in the two hectares area. Some faces of the mourners confused or mumbled, couldn’t believe what happened to Lisa.

Adji was listless next to his mother. He was still in shock. His eyes blanked and stared straight to the soil of dust.

The picture of Lisa lying on the asphalt road wouldn’t disappear. She died for the second time, as if God had given her a second chance to live. But in reality, it was just a weird phase that she must faced before actually died. Ironic indeed, but that was the way it was.

There were so many emotions running wild inside Adji. Anger, love, suffer, and all together in one. He held a scream that seemed to jump out. He wanted to scream out loud, expressed all the resentment that brought him into this situation. His heart was crying of his powerlessness, weeping the part of him that seemed died with her, grieving the remaining part of his soul that don’t know how to continue this life.

He tried over and over again to convince himself that it was her fate that she was supposed to die in the first - 404 -

Joannes Rhino

incident, that this had nothing to do with his alien abilities.

But the fact of not seeing her ever again made him fall apart.

It seemed impossible for him to continue this life.

The coffin hook rope was creaking into the grave, while pitiful cries joined the casket until beneath the earth.

Some mourners walked over the grave and scattered strands of jasmine, then expressed theirs sorrows to Lisa’s parents.

Lisa’s mother looked so pale. Her eyes were glazed, and the bags under both eyes were hanging tender. She fell on Rika’s shoulder at the time. Meanwhile, standing in a distance, her husband stunned in silence since the ceremony.

His face was cold with no expression. A relative took his hand, helped him to move. Adji understand their feelings. Lisa was their only child, the only hope for them to continue the generation. She shouldn’t had to go this fast.

Well, everyone prefers a happy ending. Nobody wants ended tragically. However, we can’t deny there are so many surprises in life. And sometimes, they came very fast and potentially collapsed someone’s life within a blink. That is life.

That is how it is.

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Adji’s

mother

looked

at

her

son

anxiously.

“Everything’s gonna be alright.”

Adji snorted. If only his mother knew how this incident began. If only someone knew about his alien abilities.

If only he could tell the world what he had in mind. Although it will not change the situation, at least he has someone to talk with. Someone with open minded. Someone he can be trusted. Someone who believe in him. Someone who may be able to help him. Someone like Lisa. Yes, if only.

He shook his head while staring at the dust on his feet. How could everything be alright? He wondered why his mother was saying that.

“Nothing lasts forever,” his mother continued in halfwhisper. “We all die eventually. It’s just a matter of when and how, not why.”

That was the conclusion. The world wisest advice is only implicit in three short words. Nothing lasts forever.

However, is that motivation line applies for Adji as well? As half alien, will he too die of age, or simply extinct without any logical reason? For what is worth, it would be much better to die than to have an eternal life and knowing the people we - 406 -

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loved died. Death is certainly painless because the victims of death are actually the ones who left behind.

Adji looked up. A glimmer of light had just through out of the cloud, as if to split the sky in two. Clumps of dark clouds slowly shifted and disappeared when the sky began to change from dark to bright. A strand of bright blue canvas as if wrapped the sky. The warm air then began to blow, gentle and breeze, whispering and sneaking among the leaves of trees, to make perfect the new phenomenon.

The days ahead are a new adventure for him. He doesn’t know what will happen to him with his alien abilities.

He doesn’t know what will happen when his Akino has reached the level of perfection. But he knew someday in the future there will be another Ptaah come to Earth for him. He knew there will be another fights, and hopefully without losing anyone this time.

All that have been lost will never be returned. There were guilt and pains wrapped him like a second skin. All he can do is try to learn from previous mistakes and start a new page. Sometimes there are pains that nothing can heal. But in the end we have to make peace with the past, and begin a new journey. - The End - 407 -

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joannes Rhino is an Indonesian author who born on June 26, 1980. He was graduated from a hospitality university. He realizes his lack of knowledge in literature. However, he believes nothing is impossible. “You are what you think you are.� That is his motto in life.

This novel is his sixth work. He was nominated as one of the best young writer under 30 in Khatulistiwa Literary Award 2009. He published his collection of poems in England. Rhino spends lots of time traveling. Now he lives in Bali, Indonesia.