Sita

Rangga stumbled back into his cabin, feeling an unusual heaviness in his limbs. A wave of dizziness hit him, and he began to shiver despite the warmth of the morning. His skin felt clammy, and he couldn't shake off the sensation of an impending fever.

He barely made it to his bed before collapsing onto the mattress, his body wracked with chills. As he lay there, his consciousness slipping away, he was vaguely aware of the intense heat spreading through his body. He drifted into a deep, fevered sleep, his mind lost to the throes of a fever dream.

Throughout the day, Rangga's body underwent a profound transformation. Unbeknownst to him, every cell in his body was regenerating at an accelerated rate. His muscles restructured and strengthened, his bones became denser, and his senses sharpened. Beads of sweat formed constantly on his skin, expelling dead and damaged cells, leaving behind a body that was becoming more perfect with each passing hour.

As the sun set and the fever finally broke, Rangga began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and he blinked in the dim light of the cabin. His mind felt unusually clear, the fog of confusion from the previous days lifting. There was a newfound sharpness to his thoughts, and he felt an energy coursing through him like never before.

Slowly, he pushed himself up from the bed. The motion felt effortless as if his body was now finely tuned and efficient. He noticed the dampness of his clothes, clinging to his skin, and the strange, pungent smell emanating from them—a mix of sweat and something more unpleasant, almost like decay.

Curious and a bit apprehensive, Rangga made his way to the small mirror on the wall. He froze as he saw his reflection. The man staring back at him was both familiar and completely foreign. His body was now lean and muscular, with a balance and symmetry that seemed almost unreal. His skin was clear and smooth, his features sharper and more defined. He looked like a figure out of a fitness magazine, the embodiment of physical perfection.

"What... what has happened to me?" he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and wonder.

For a moment, he just stood there, taking it all in. His old self felt like a distant memory, replaced by this new, enhanced version. The strangeness of the situation was overwhelming, but he couldn't deny the sense of power and health that radiated from him.

He peeled off his sweat-soaked clothes, grimacing at the smell, and headed to the bathroom to clean himself up. As the water washed over him, he felt a sense of renewal, both physically and mentally.

His mind flashed back to the dome, to the surreal encounter with the alien and the final moments of Mr. Timan. The memory was a jumbled mess of emotions and sensations, but one thing was clear: he had changed, and there was no going back. The transformation had left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, but also strangely powerful.

A deep sense of unease settled in his chest as he stood there, trying to piece together the fragments of his new reality. The dome had changed him in ways he couldn't yet comprehend, and the path ahead seemed fraught with uncertainty. But one thing was certain: he could no longer live as he had before. The ordinary life he had once yearned for was now a distant memory, eclipsed by the extraordinary turn his life had taken.

Meanwhile, a sleek sports car sped towards the mining site, its engine roaring through the quiet landscape.

A knock on the door pulled him from his turmoil. Rangga glanced at himself, his shirt clinging to his skin, soaked with sweat. He took a deep breath and walked to the door, his steps heavy with exhaustion. When he opened it, he was met with a sight that momentarily stole his breath away.

A woman stood there, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, full of determination and warmth, met his. She was strikingly beautiful, her presence almost ethereal against the backdrop of the morning light. She wore a simple yet elegant outfit that hinted at her purpose.

"Hello, you must be Rangga," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "My name is Sita. I've been sent by Tommy to assist you. I'm a new employee at the Garuda Guild, and my first task is to help you get through your cadet training registration."

Rangga blinked, trying to process her words through the fog of his confusion. He felt an odd mix of emotions—attraction, bewilderment, and a lingering sense of dread.

"Yes, I...sorry what training?"

"Yes, everyone who awakens must register and undergo special training to learn about becoming a Dome Ranger."

"...", Rangga is trying to process what is going on.

She continued, "Additionally, they are provided with various facilities related to their lives, all covered by the state until they complete their training. Each Dome Ranger will also be accompanied by a manager who takes care of all their needs."

Sita smiled a gesture that left Rangga stunned. He found it difficult to process her words, utterly captivated by a beauty he had never encountered in his life. Her smile seemed to light up the room, casting a spell on him and making time itself stand still. Rangga's heart raced, and for a moment, the weight of his new reality was overshadowed by the sheer allure of Sita's presence.

"Mmm...then when exactly should I leave?"

"As soon as possible. But, I know you have to take care couple of things here, so I don't mind waiting. I will stay at a hotel nearby, I'll give you my number so you can call me when you are ready. How bout that?", she smiled.

"Sure, I...I'll contact you as soon as possible."

"Then I'll take my leave, bye Rangga"

"Yeah...goodbye."

With that, Sita turned and walked away, leaving Rangga standing in the doorway, watching her retreating figure. Her visit, brief as it was, had given him a glimmer of hope. He closed the door and leaned against it, his mind still racing but now carrying a faint sense of determination.

Rangga then fell silent, pondering his next steps. However, a nagging thought lingered, something he needed to address before leaving everything behind and heading to Jakarta. The weight of this unresolved issue pressed on his mind, making it impossible for him to fully commit to the path ahead until he had found clarity.

--end chapter--