Sora

Rangga's cabin was quiet, the only sound being the faint rustling of leaves outside. As Sita's footsteps faded away, Rangga leaned against the door, feeling the weight of exhaustion and confusion settle over him. Deciding that a shower might clear his head, he trudged to the bathroom.

The water cascaded over him, washing away the sweat and grime from the past few days. He let out a deep sigh, trying to process the whirlwind of recent events. As he scrubbed away the remnants of dirt, his mind wandered back to Mr. Timan's final moments. The old man's cryptic words and the mysterious device he had handed over lingered in Rangga's thoughts.

After drying off, Rangga sat on the edge of his bed, holding the small device. It was sleek, with a design that seemed almost otherworldly. Remembering Pak Timan's instructions, he carefully placed it behind his ear. Almost immediately, a jolt of surprise shot through him as the device activated.

"Hello, user. I am Luminar AI, a system designed to assist with strategic computational analysis and data management," a clear, robotic female voice echoed in his mind.

Rangga's eyes widened in shock. "Who is speaking?!!" he asked aloud, though no sound escaped his lips. He quickly realized he didn't need to speak for the AI to hear him.

"I am your assistant, sir. We communicate using an internal frequency that allows for uninterrupted two-way communication."

"Oh god...you scared me."

"I am sorry sir. I did not mean to scare you"

"It's okay. So why did Mr. Timan give you to me?"

"Apologizing for not being able to give you an answer since you are my first user sir."

"Really? Then who made you?"

"I am in the early stages of development and currently do not have information on my creator. My primary function is to serve as a computational partner and assist with strategic analysis based on the data provided to me," the voice replied smoothly.

Rangga's mind raced. "You don't know who created you?"

"Correct. My current database does not contain that information. I will evolve and learn as more data is input and analyzed."

"You didn't know who created you?"

"Again, that information is unavailable."

Despite the AI's robotic tone, Rangga found the voice soothing and beautiful, almost mesmerizing. "Your voice... it sounds nice. I think I'll call you Sora."

"Acknowledged. My designation is now Sora," the AI responded.

Rangga felt a mix of amazement and confusion. The idea of having an AI with such advanced capabilities at his disposal was both thrilling and overwhelming. He couldn't help but marvel at the technology, even as questions about Pak Timan's true identity swirled in his mind.

As he sat there, processing everything, a sense of purpose slowly began to form. This device, Sora, could be crucial in understanding and navigating the challenges ahead. Rangga knew that he had to keep it with him and explore its capabilities further.

---

Rangga sat at his wooden desk, the late morning sun casting dappled shadows through the leaves outside his window. His mind raced with the events of the past days, and the soothing yet mechanical voice of Sora was a constant reminder of the extraordinary turn his life had taken.

He looked out the window, trying to calm his thoughts. "Sora, I don't know what to do next. So much has happened. Mr. Timan gave me this device and then... he died protecting me from that alien. I've never seen anything like it before. There was a spaceship, and... it was all so surreal."

"Please describe the events in detail, sir. I can help analyze and provide potential courses of action," Sora responded in her melodic, robotic tone.

Rangga took a deep breath, recounting the entire ordeal—the sudden emergence of the dome, the alien attack, Mr. Timan's heroic last stand, and his cryptic final words.

"Mr. Timan said something about collecting three pieces of gold and heading south to save us. I don't know what it means."

"Based on the information provided, I can suggest several potential actions," Sora replied.

"One: seek out the mentioned gold pieces, which may hold significant value or power. Two: investigate Mr. Timan's belongings for further clues. Three: return to the dome to examine the spaceship for more information. The last option could provide immediate data on the alien threat and their technology, which I can help analyze."

Rangga shook his head, feeling a sense of frustration. "The first two options aren't feasible. I don't know where to start looking for these gold pieces, and I've already checked Mr. Timan's belongings with no luck."

Rangga's heart pounded. "Going back to the dome... it's dangerous. But it might be the only way to find out more about what's going on."

Sora's voice remained calm and reassuring. "Affirmative. I am equipped to analyze and translate alien languages based on available data."

Despite the fear gnawing at him, Rangga felt a surge of determination. He couldn't let Mr. Timan's sacrifice be in vain. "Alright, Sora. We'll go back to the dome and investigate the spaceship. Can you help me understand their language if we find anything?"

"Yes, sir," Sora confirmed.

Rangga stood up, feeling a mix of fear and resolve. He glanced around his small room, his eyes settling on the dagger Mr. Timan had given him.

Rangga stood up, his eyes catching the glint of the dagger Mr. Timan had given him. He reached for it, feeling its unexpected weight. The blade was unlike any he had seen, crafted from a lustrous silver metal with a razor-sharp edge. Intricate blue symbols glowed faintly along the blade, hinting at a mysterious power.

The hilt, wrapped in dark leather, provided a firm grip. Embedded in the crossguard was a striking blue stone, a piece of polished blue jade, glowing with an inner light. The stone felt cool to the touch, almost vibrating with latent energy.

He picked it up, feeling its weight in his hand. Deciding to take only Sora and the dagger into the dome, he hoped they would be enough to uncover the truth.

With a determined look, he prepared himself for the journey back into the unknown. The weight of responsibility pressed on him, but with Sora's guidance, he felt a flicker of hope.

--end chapter--