We The Tahirians

Prologue

“We who are happy to die for you, what else could we do? We, the ones who are waiting for who knows what. We, the dark, the short, the greasy, the shifty, the fat, the anaemic. We the barbarians.”

Herrera, Yuri. 2015. Signs Preceding the End of the World, trans. by Lisa Dillman (London; New York: Other Stories)

I

Just close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open

– Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia

   "Ash?!"

Teigan's voice rang through the celeste sky, her voice a mixture of anger and anxiety. Damp leaves clung to her as she navigated her way through the fields.

. The air was humid, insects buzzing around her. Teigan's golden hair fell unto her face, and in frustration, she brushed it away. Exhausted from the search for her evasive best friend, Teigan sat down by the old willow tree, their favourite spot.

  Ashanti was nowhere to be seen, and the constant buzzing grated on Teigan’s nerves. Slowly standing up, she brushed her dress, not wanting her parents to think she was getting into trouble with Ashanti again. Heading home seemed like the best option, yearning for the familiar scent of her dog that would greet her.

  Through the fields Teigan trudged, feeling a mixture of longing for Ashanti's company and a tinge of resentment. Spotting the old windmill across the winding path, she thought she saw a face peering through the crumbling windows.

   "Ashanti?"

She gave one last shout before Ashanti appeared from the direction of the windmill, her eyes filled with mystery.

   “Tig? Oh Tig, where have you been? I’ve found someone magnificent! Like me!”

Teigan became, yet again, roped into Ashanti’s escapades. She hoped that whatever Ashanti had found, they would make it home for tea. Flying through the wet grass, they arrived at the entrance of the aged windmill, a decrepit sign clearly stating,

'NO ENTRY.’

     "Don't talk until I do; it'll scare Asteria," Ashanti cautioned. Their hands were clasped as they clambered carefully up the rickety stairs, Teigan studying Ashanti's face for any hint of what was going on.

  Ascending to the Victorianesque room above, Teigan stumbled over a pair of sturdy legs, evoking a gasp from her lips.

Before her stretched a giantess.

 
..

Titania

In contrast to the futuristic planet of Tahiri, Lowdham unfolded as a soothing tapestry. Crisp country air filled Titania’s lungs, and she marvelled at the bumblebees buzzing around her harmoniously.

  Determined to find Asteria, she considered how to blend in. Drawing inspiration from her and Asteria’s shared love for films and cultures from all over the Universe, she envisioned Pulp Fiction’s Mia Wallace in her brain. Shape-shifting to a smaller version of herself, feeling the short black haircut and the unfamiliar touch of human clothes, a newfound sense of coolness enveloped her. Like the stars, it appeared as if she was glittering as her bright blue eyes burned fiercely.

  After following the meagre signs to the local station, Titania had found herself utterly exhausted. Without a working communicator to divine knowledge of her location, she felt lost, and there was a looming sense of danger.

During their escape from Tahiri, Titania had spontaneously decided to rescue her newly diagnosed neurodivergent twin sisters, aided by her Dad, Orion, and her grandmother, Satya. Her right-leaning politician mother Thesis, unsupportive of her ‘rebellious’ daughter, were perhaps, only steps away from taking them back. And Titania had no way of finding out, or if Orion and Satya were able to escape Thesis’ thundering outrage.

   "Mia Wallace," the man at the train station sneered. Startled, Titania looked up from her seat to see a man exuding a pungent odour of beer and yesterday's clothes. Desperate thoughts echoed in Titania’s mind and she attempted to walk away, hoping for a friendly voice to guide her to an electronics shop.

     "You're too young to wander alone," the man snarled, rising to follow her.

‘Not now … ’ Titania pleaded silently. Her heart thudded beneath her black trenchcoat and her eyes started to spark.

     "Leave that girl alone!"

A voice from the crowd interrupted; Titania turned towards it. An Indian man confronted the sweaty, red-faced aggressor.

     “I said, leave her alone,” he stated again, assertive.

The belligerent man retreated, muttering incoherently.

Titania's heartbeat slowed; clarity returned to her mind. She observed the man in his bright red jumper, its warmth mirroring his vibrant demeanour.

     "I'm Rohan," he beamed.

II

The Caged Bird Sings of Freedom

 - Maya Angelou, I know why the Caged Bird Sings

Teigan often found herself irritated by Ashanti's snores during their many sleepovers, entertaining thoughts of silencing Ashanti with her pillow. However, the giant snores of Asteria were an entirely different experience – a symphony of resonant breaths that carried one into the realms of vivid dreams.

Sensing the two girls’ presence, Asteria's eyes began to flutter. Ashanti, sensing Teigan’s apprehension, gently held her hand.

Asteria’s eyes opened, focusing on the two girls. Teigan immediately collapsed to the floor.

   “Teigan!”

Ashanti lifted a gentle hand to Teigan’s forehead. Observing what was going on, Asteria shape-shifted so that she was human-sized and picked Teigan up into her arms. Taking Ashanti’s hand, they were transported back into the countryside. A huge, rose-pink spaceship, unseen and unheard by Asteria and Teigan who had run straight past it, shimmered into existence, recognising its owner’s proximity.

  The door creaked open revealing an otherworldly interior filled with hues of magenta, and they entered, Asteria laying Teigan down on a colossal sofa adorned with vibrant cushions.

   “Oh god, I’m so sorry! Let me give her this”.

She pulled a pleasantly fragrant flask from out of her pocket. Teigan stirred as the aroma wafted into her nose. Taking the flask, warmth flooded through her, and she now felt sure that what she saw before her was real - she wasn’t having a nervous breakdown.

   “Teigan, isn’t it?” Asteria smiled.

   “Let me begin my tale … my name is Asteria, and I come from the planet Tahiri, millions of miles away from Earth. I travelled here in this spaceship, my Cerise. You must understand that I have travelled further than humans could even dream of.”

Ashanti and Teigan stared at Asteria wide-eyed, as they imagined interconnected galaxies, picturing the iridescent night sky and burning stars.

      “We Tahirians value intelligence, resilience, and pride, casting away neurodivergent and disabled Tahirians who don't meet these criteria, like myself. After living with my dear Aunt Circe on Jupiter for six years, my Aunt Helena and parents took risks to bring me to Tahiri. Aunt Helena is a government spy and was able to hide my differences and protect many others, you see.”

She paused, collecting herself.

     “Afterwards, I met my girlfriend Titania and things were OK. For a while … but I could never live in happiness and stability there”.

  As Asteria poured out her feelings, tears cascaded down her cheeks like waterfalls. Teigan and Ashanti stared in shock, witnessing the giantess transform before them, each teardrop a page of a story etched in emotion.

  Ashanti took Asteria’s hand, her heart swelling with joy at the discovery of a kindred spirit from the cosmos.

     “I'm just like you,” she spoke softly.

     "But Titania, she’s gone! I don't know where she is, I can't find my communicator, and I can't let my parents know I'm OK!" Asteria confessed.

      "Communicator?" Ashanti interjected, feeling the weight of a lump in her pocket.

      "I found this in the fields ... before discovering you."

Ashanti revealed an otherworldly device. Astounded, Asteria took it from her and ran outside, without uttering a word. The two best friends exchanged bewildered looks.

Little did they realise that Asteria's arrival would reshape their lives in ways beyond imagination.

III

You are Iron. And you are strong.

-      N.P

What had unfolded before the two girls was beyond their wildest imaginations. Teigan anticipated waking up in her room greeted by her dog Peanut licking her face.

      "Pinch me”, she demanded.

      “I must be going mad.”

Ashanti pinched her, leaving a red mark.

      “Ow!” Teigan exclaimed.

     “It had to be hard,” Ashanti laughed, dancing around the room.

     “To convince you that you are wide awake.”

Teigan scowled, then joined Ashanti, both ensnared in Cerise’s enchantment.

      “Isn’t Asteria cool?” Ashanti shouted gleefully.

      “We have to help her.”

Teigan pondered Ashanti's words.

      “I can’t believe she’s like you! I can’t believe neurodiversity appears on another planet. They’re magic; surely, they can just make it go away ...”

Her words trailed off as she realised her mistake. Ashanti's expression switched from joy to rage, tears welling in her eyes.

       “This is what you don’t understand, Teigan. Different doesn’t mean abnormal, and we don’t want to be fixed! I'm sure Asteria, just like me, wants to live a normal life, yet people tell us we can’t.

        I wish I could escape. Maybe I should.”

        “Ash, I’m sorry! Is this about school again?”

Ashanti didn’t respond but ran upstairs leaving Teigan alone.

Teigan checked her watch; it was five-thirty. Panicking, she realised she had to be home by six, and the walk back took exactly half an hour.

      “Mum and Dad!" she gasped. Time with Ashanti always seemed to slip away. Ashanti often entered moods and it was best to leave her alone during those times, yet Teigan longed for her best friend and the uniquely shaped world that was formed only when they were together.

     “Ash! I’m going home!” she called.

     “Please message me later! I love you!”

The ‘I love you’ echoed throughout Cerise carrying more than one meaning, a secret locked away in their minds.

Ashanti embraced her sexual identity proudly, yet secretly the prospect of walking home alone with someone of the same sex filled her with apprehension. Teigan shared similar sentiments. Surrounded by family members who were all esteemed doctors in heterosexual relationships, Teigan had an innate fear of disappointing them. In moments of doubt she longed for Ashanti, certain Ashanti was the only person who could make her heart move.

And that terrified her.

Teigan got up, her head a tangle of thoughts.

    “AH!” she screamed as she opened the door to a deathly drop. She scurried back inside, peeking out. Asteria looked up from the ground, where she was peering blankly at her Communicator.

     “You are silly … I’ll come and get you.”

She flew up nimbly, Teigan staring down at her in fascination

     “I need to go home," Teigan said woefully.

     “Where is Ashanti?” Asteria asked, staring at Teigan’s crestfallen face.

     “Right here!!”

Ashanti had tiptoed downstairs and picked up a book from Asteria’s bookshelf. She couldn’t understand the strange, unearthly dialect it was written in.

     “How … do you understand us?” she asked. Asteria was amused.

     “Wait for it.”

Perplexed, Ashanti’s eyes flickered to the page again, and the words shifted into English.

     “She truly is amazing, isn’t she!” Asteria chuckled, patting Cerise tenderly.

      “As for me, we’re all like this. All of us Tahirians. Jupiter, Zyphoria, Aquatia and Lorelia – they’re not so lucky. All of the planets in our Universe wield aspects that the other can’t.”

She observed the girls' stunned expressions unable to contain her laughter, Cerise seeming to join in with its gentle vibrations.                 “Sometimes, I think Aunt Circe is fated to be something special. Someone special. She has the ability to transfer her Tahirian knowledge of languages, you see, which no other witch on Jupiter can.”

    "Seriously? That's so cool!" Ashanti and Teigan chimed in together, totally blown away. 

    “Did you message -” Ashanti started but Asteria interrupted, putting a finger to Ashanti’s lips. Clasping Teigan and Ashanti’s hands and closing her eyes. they suddenly felt an immense pressure of air as Asteria flew them out of Cerise, into the sky.

Now they were all invisible to the world but could vividly see each other, their bodies shimmering like stardust. They hovered in the sky, tinted with rays from the sun, surrounded by cushion-like clouds. Birds swooped away as they sensed the presence of Asteria, startled at this invasion of their world.

Ashanti snickered silently at Teigan’s dumfounded expression but still refused to speak to her, instead turning to Asteria.

   “Drop us at that bus stop down there! We’ll walk.”

   “Walk … how peculiar?” Asteria meditated but didn’t question them. Slowly, they glided to the ground.

  "Don't worry, we'll come tomorrow!" Ashanti reassured her, embracing the giantess. Teigan timidly followed suit, amazed at the warmth Asteria radiated even in her minimised form.

  “So long … farewell,” Asteria sighed. Now alone, she considered her situation, her mind aflame with the events of her first day on Earth.

  The walk home was painfully silent, Ashanti putting her headphones on the moment Asteria was out of sight.

  “Yet another argument?” Teigan’s parents asked sorrowfully as she entered the house, dejectedly punctual at six o'clock. The excitement of the day began to wilt as she shrugged and dragged her feet up the stairs.

  “Teigan! What about dinner? I made your favourite!” her mum called up to her.

  “Later!” Teigan shouted back, throwing herself onto her bed. Her dog, Peanut joined her, jumping excitedly.

  "Peanut, you silly boy," she said, burying her face in his fur lovingly. He barked, nudging her towards her window.

  “Peanut?”

Teigan’s confusion transformed into relief as she spotted a familiar flashlight through Ashanti’s window.

... /.-.. ---...-. / -.-- ---..-

 “I love you too.”

Titania

Titania woke with a jolt.

 "Asteria!" she wailed, trembling from the aftermath of a haunting dream. Mirai Patel rushed into the room upon hearing Titania's screams.

  "Don't fret," she uttered softly, sitting on the edge of Titania's bed.

Exhausted from her travels, Titania had found a temporary home with Rohan's family. Despite the potential dangers, she had been too tired to worry and crashed into bed, plunging into a deep slumber.

Only to be cruelly awakened by a dream that she was in Asteria’s arms.

She looked up, rubbing away tears.

      "I'm sorry ... what is your name?" she spoke, befuddled.

       “Mirai.”

 Mirai lifted her hand carefully to Titania's pain-stricken face.

       “Come down for some breakfast, love. You’ll feel better once you’ve eaten.”

Titania nodded, and Mirai left the room.

        “Get your act together!” Titania whispered to herself. Whatever she was dealing with, Asteria was surely facing ten times worse. Titania decided to adopt the small British town of Lowdham as her new home for now, yet she longed for the home she’d known for 13 years and the delicate purrs of her cat, Milky Way.

Despite her homesickness, she could sense in her mind that the fire back in Tahiri was broiling.

  Seeking clarity, Titania reached for her bag, finding nothing but crushed-up components of her communicator.

       “Surely it's not that bad?” she tried to convince herself.

       “No, it's not.”

Titania jumped, recognising Rohan appearing behind her.

       "Get some proper clothes on, love. I have a gift for you, It's my elder daughter's old pyjamas. She's at Oxford now; she won't mind."

He stared at Titania as she looked down timidly.

      "Breakfast is waiting!" he declared, grinning.

Indeed it was. Laid out on the elegant dining table was a feast fit for the gods. Titania observed the egg bhurji, chai, and the thick, spiced porridge. ‘Interesting …’ she thought, as she entered the kitchen in her fluffy pyjamas.

    "Dig in; you must be hungry," Mirai said as she gestured to the laden table. Titania sat down anxiously, feeling the eyes of a small child boring into her.

     "I …" she started, but was interrupted by Rohan, who had sat down next to Mirai with a look of intent.

    "You had a fitful sleep. We worried about you."

Reality hit Titania.

    "I need to find Asteria" was all she could say.

   "Okay … Well, you're welcome to stay with us, my dear. I think I know how to help you."

   "But you don't know me!" she remarked, surprised that humans could be so welcoming to a random stranger.

   “We know more than people see," he replied simply.

   "Dig in!"

Confused, Titania bit into the unfamiliar foods, and her eyes glittered as warmth spread throughout her body. The little girl next to her looked up, smiling broadly.

    "Good, isn't it?" Mirai smiled.

IV

 Try to praise the mutilated world

-      Adam Zagajewski, trans Clare Cavanagh. Try to Praise the Mutilated World

Asteria’s fingers traced her intricate bookshelf. Nestled on the shelves was a picture frame embellished with golden twines that her Aunt Circe had made for her, Titania’s face shining from the frame.

Brooding, she tossed her communicator back and forth, thinking about the fact that even after everyone was reunited their Tahirian story would not be over.

What she would do to be in her parents’ arms again.

Asteria held her communicator to her ear, dialling familiar numbers.

       “Asteria?! Arezus, come quick!”

Athezea’s ethereal voice sang comfort in Asteria’s ear.

       “Mum …” she whispered faintly.

       “Mum … I’ve made it.”

Athezea’s voice crackled across the vast distance.

       “Are you safe, sweetheart? Is Titania with you? What is going on?”

There were too many questions for Asteria to comprehend and answer. Finally, tears flowed from her emerald eyes.

       “I don’t know!”

Arezus’ gruff voice travelled down the line as he heard his daughter’s distress.

                  “Asteria, sweetheart. Me and your mother are coming for you as soon as we ca- ”

Asteria heard muffled shouts of angst in the background.

      “Mum … Dad … Circe?!”

The line had gone flat. Asteria was about to call again when a message pinged from her aunt.

‘Things are a bit difficult in Jupiter and Tahiri right now … can’t explain, but we’re safe and we're coming. Don’t worry, my astralis[1].’

Things were indeed difficult, the true magnitude of their journey unexpected. When Circe eventually relinquished Asteria to her parents and embraced her mystical existence in the woods of Jupiter, she believed she had imparted the wisdom to keep Asteria safe. However, individuals like Asteria could never find true sanctuary in Tahiri.

Amidst the trees, Helena sat in this unfamiliar place where nature overpowered technology. “Really?” she’d exclaimed when Circe was preparing their dinner, bringing out a large crockpot and striking matches for the fire. This process would have taken five minutes in Tahiri, as opposed to the forty minutes it took here. It also didn’t help that Jupiter was a planet that resolved to do things the ‘natural way,’ refusing the advances in technology that Tahiri followed, preserving its sage green forests.

Helena watched her wife Ariadne move gracefully through the waters, and the yearning for a simpler life gnawed at her. Born in Tahiri, triplets Helena, Circe and Athezea, were orphaned as their neurodivergent parents were executed by the state for their escape from Mistbank - an institution synonymous with cruelty and despair. Watching helplessly as their sister Circe tested positive for autism and ADHD and was confined to the dreaded Mistbank, fate had smiled upon the siblings as underground rebels, allies of their late parents emerged as adoptive beacons of hope. Even though their sister had been rescued, her relocation to Jupiter for safety left Helena and Athezea bereft, a sisterly bond severed.

Despite her unwavering commitment to the cause, Helena yearned for the normality that graced the lives of the neurotypicals in Tahiri. The twin babes in her arms cooed, their tinted pink cheeks a gentle reassurance.

    "Don’t worry. You’ll be with your sister very soon" she consoled.

    "Helena!"

The urgent shouts of her sisters disrupted the peace.

     "We’ve been found! We must go now!"

. Helena's face remained resolute as she and Ariadne prepared to run, the twins starting to cry. She wouldn't succumb to tears, like a child.

[1] Astralis – belonging to the stars

V

 They should fly like owls, flicker like bats, and slip like cats

-      David Almond, My name is Mina

Ashanti wasn’t going to let Asteria down. When she woke the next morning, she told her parents she was going to the lake. Waiting for them to leave for their daily walk, she rummaged through the cupboards, gathering whatever she could. Uncertain of what Tahirians ate, Ashanti collected an assortment of Plantain Chips, freshly made mango juice from the fridge, and the newly baked Gizzada cake her Mum had left for her earlier.

She joyfully skipped next door with her offerings, finding Teigan draped in a pink robe and fluffy slipper socks.

    "Ash!"

Teigan was overjoyed at Ashanti’s appearance. Her eyes darted to the picnic basket Ashanti held, recognising what the basket meant: one of the last summer days they had, free from everyone and everything. However, slightly bitter, she realised Asteria’s presence would erase the secrecy of their place.

Ashanti tenderly ran her fingers through Teigan's hair, catching sight of an orange ladybird. Gently she scooped it up, placing it onto a vibrant green leaf.

        "Let's go find Asteria!" Ashanti urged. Despite grappling with nerves, Teigan harboured a deep certainty that anything was possible in Ashanti's presence, where the boundaries between humanity and the otherworldly blurred.

They dashed indoors and hurried past Teigan's mum, who was busy in the kitchen chopping apples for a pie.

         "Teigan! Weren't you supposed to bake with us today?"

Teigan's head peeked from the top of the stairs, drawn by the tantalising scent of pastry. Ashanti grabbed her arm, shooting her a meaningful look.

         "Sorry, Jill! We'll be back before you know it," Ashanti called over her shoulder, their voices fading as they disappeared into Teigan's room.

She leapt onto Teigan's bed, eliciting a deathly stare.

        "You'll break the damn bed!" Teigan complained.

        "You'll learn how to break the bed in a few months," Ashanti winked mischievously.

Teigan blushed, averting her gaze to the mirror.

        "Is it really like that?" she spoke anxiously, picking up her dungarees from her beanbag.

        "I'm scared, Ash. I won't know anyone there.”

       "You're not like me, Tig" Ashanti murmured, comforting Teigan.

       "You can do anything your mind wants you to."

       "I can't do some things.” Teigan sighed.

She caught Ashanti's eye briefly before looking away.

       "Like what?" Ashanti pressed.

Teigan didn’t answer Ashanti's question, but instead diverted her attention.

       "Turn around!"

Ashanti huffed and obeyed her request. Teigan’s brand-new uniform shone from the hook on the back of her door, like a slap in the face. Teigan would be entering a new stage in her life, finally free of Our Lady of Fatima Middle School (a school that did NOT align with any Catholic values), and Ashanti found herself reflecting on her educational desires.

She had briefly considered Thornhill Grammar School with its dazzling green and red uniform. She half wanted the intellectual challenge and being around like-minded brains.

But not now.

Restless, she turned around, catching Teigan still in a state of undress.

         "Ashanti!" Teigan exclaimed, hastily trying to cover herself. Ashanti giggled as Teigan threw a hairbrush towards her. Undeterred, she chose a T-shirt for Teigan.

         "Wear this one under your dungarees,” she instructed. Teigan hesitated.

          "No questions! Just do it!"

 As she passed the T-shirt to Teigan, she noticed tears forming in Teigan's eyes. She tenderly caressed Teigan's cheek, their eyes meeting briefly.

          "I'll love you forever, Ash," Teigan whispered.

          "Calm down, it's just stupid old school," Ashanti joked, brushing Teigan's hair.

Teigan rolled her eyes and shrieked, realising she was still in her underwear. Pulling her T-shirt on, they examined themselves in the mirror, Teigan frowning at her appearance.

         "The epitome of beauty," Ashanti professed.

Teigan turned to face Ashanti, closing her eyes and inhaling her rose-scented perfume. When she opened her eyes, Ashanti was gazing deeply into them.

Now was the time Ashanti thought, as she leaned in and their lips met. Startled yet exhilarated, Teigan relished the sweetness. Then the worst thing possible happened - a knock interrupted their intimate moment.

       "Teigan!" her Mum called, entering the room. The girls quickly pulled away, Teigan grabbing her gown.

       "Mum! Don't you knock?"

Ashanti sat awkwardly on the desk chair, trying to mask her embarrassment with a laugh.

       "Sorry!" Teigan’s mum apologised, leaving the room.

       "Teigan, I've made you some jam sandwiches. I'll be holding you to that baking promise soon," she added before descending the stairs.

       "Mum!"

Ashanti sniggered, then swiftly attempted to feign annoyance. The two girls broke out into paired laughter, Teigan watching Ashanti’s hazel eyes and how they glinted when she smiled.

  Now, they lay huddled under the willow tree. Grasshoppers gracefully waltzed amidst golden waves of wheat and the relentless sun bore down upon Ashanti, beads of sweat trickling down her brow. Her mind was engrossed in the memory of the secret kiss, and Teigan’s was too.

 Yet they said nothing, sunbathing in peace. Amidst it all, Asteria remained oblivious to the girls' blissful silence. Following the call she’d had the night before, she craved companionship more than ever.

Asteria couldn't help but imagine how this place was reminiscent of Circe’s home with its eruptions of the earth. She missed her. So much.

      "Here’s a place my Aunt Circe would adore," she sighed. Her words were almost lost amongst the quiet, but Ashanti's keen ears caught them.

     "What is she like?" Ashanti asked, curiosity piqued.

Asteria sat up. A smile played on her lips as she recalled river swimming and sizzling barbeques — like what Teigan and Ashanti enjoyed here on Earth.

    "Extraordinary ... simply the best aunt anyone could have."

She exhaled heavily, the events of last night replaying in her mind like a relentless film reel, calling upon the fact that Tahiri would now be swept up in the whirlwind of change.

   "I heard from my parents last night," she blurted out abruptly.

   "Are they ..." Teigan began, but Asteria hushed her.

   "They're fine … we thank Gaia …" Asteria's voice trailed off, and a gentle stir in the wind echoed their gratitude.

   "Gaia?" Teigan asked, evidently confused.

   "The Goddess of the Earth," Ashanti replied matter-of-factly. The more she learned about Asteria and her life in Tahiri, the more she respected this magnificent being.

   "I've ruined everyone’s lives," Asteria spoke remorsefully, but this time it was Teigan who silenced her with a gentle touch.

    "Let's go!" she declared, seizing Asteria's hand. Overjoyed, Ashanti picked up their picnic basket, and they started running together towards the lake that summoned them.

Titania

Rohan’s obscure way of talking puzzled Titania.

     “Come on, slowcoach!” he teased.

She frowned as she thought that this journey could have been simplified if she had just flown.

Rohan’s grin widened as he glanced at her.

     “Have you got a better mode of transport?”

Titania halted in shock, studying Rohan’s face. He winked at her; she remained baffled, wondering where on Earth she had ended up.

      "Anyway ... here we are!"

Titania couldn’t understand Rohan’s excitement for a second. Then, realisation dawned as she absorbed the sight of Rohan's workman attire, the tools scattered in his workplace, and the metallic scent of solder in the air.

     "He's an electrician," she uttered, unable to articulate more.

     "I'm an electrician," he confirmed.

Titania couldn't contain her joy, the prospect of reuniting with Asteria and feeling less adrift now tangible.

     "Humans are heavenly!" she exclaimed, pulling Rohan into an embrace.

     “But how …”

She considered the consequences of a human witnessing technology thousands of years ahead of them.

Rohan bent down, whispering in Titania’s ear.

     “You’re not the only special one, you know.”

VI

 Do I dare disturb the Universe?

  - T.S Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

“We glitter in the shafts of light, like stars, like flies, like flakes of dust.”
- My name is Mina, David Almond

The lake was bathed in shimmers of golden light, the reflections of the three girls dancing upon the liquid glass. Ashanti opened the picnic basket, revealing its contents to Asteria's curious eyes. Asteria sniffed the Gizzada, intrigued.

          "It’s Gizzada!” Ashanti said, eagerly awaiting Asteria's reaction.

          "This is my favourite thing to get when Mum drives me and Tig to Jamrock Cafe"

          “What else is your favourite?” Asteria asked.

Ashanti thought for a moment.

                    “Jamrock make the best mac and cheese. It’s such a long drive there though …”

           “You’ll have to take me there one day. Here, let me show you something”.

Without hesitation, Asteria disappeared. Not even giving them time to react, she reappeared with three dripping sandwiches in her hand and took a bite out of one.

         “How is it you can do so much?!” Teigan asked, her mind imploding. She scanned the surroundings to ensure they were alone; fortunately, the lake was seldom visited on weekdays.

Asteria grinned.

           “I only went to Cerise ... try some! It’s Jupiter’s special.”

Still, the girls brains remained boggled, reluctant to try whatever was sandwiched between the unearthly bread.

            “We mean the teleporting!” Teigan pronounced.

            “Oh! I should take you on a run one day” Asteria laughed.

            “Tahirians have a range of magical abilities. When we’re 18, we’re focused on a singular one.”

            “I’d hate to lose all of what you have! It’s so cool!” Teigan said, admirably.

            “We keep a little of the aspects we have developed, though. I won’t be able to fly or teleport as far if I don’t choose it, but I’ll be able to do this.”

Asteria lifted her hands to the sky. She beamed as a symphony of song-bearers filled the air, a flock materialising in perfect formation above them.

           “Wow!” Ashanti and Teigan cried out. “They’re wonderful!”

           “Titania always liked that trick” Asteria chuckled.

           “But she can’t do it. Circe showed me. I’ll always have both of my Jupiter and Tahirian identities within me, and I hold them with honour.”

           “Have you heard from her?” Ashanti asked gently.

Asteria said nothing. Teigan and Ashanti shifted uneasily, their thoughts mirroring her own: no news.

            "Well ... this isn't a day for gloom … it’s a day for discovery!" Ashanti declared, trying to shake off the sense of foreboding. Suddenly, a bizarre sound interrupted their conversation, causing Ashanti to freeze in place, fork half held up to her mouth.

           "Was that ..." she began before Asteria swiftly silenced them both and fumbled to retrieve her Communicator from her pocket.

            "Titania?"

Titania and Circe’s location finally made their appearance on the screen.

They were mere metres away.

Titania

As a result of Rohan's expertise, Titania finally managed to fix her communicator and contact Circe. Bursting with excitement at being so close to locating Asteria, Titania promptly excused herself and dialled Athezea's number.

Titania’s expectations were dashed when a different voice answered the call.

           "Circe?"

           "Titania?! Thank Gaia, I've been trying to reach you for ages! Is everything all right?"

Circe's frantic tone sent a chill down Titania's spine.

           "There were some complications …” Titania started slowly.

          “My communicator was completely packed up, but it's fixed now. Circe, what's happening?"

          "Titania, don't panic, as I do have news. You need to inform Asteria, as Athezea and Arezus aren't available to relay messages now.”

          "What? Circe, explain!" Titania demanded, her voice wavering.

Circe's tone sharpened as she conveyed the gravity of the situation.

         "They're gone! Taken! Oh, Titania, it's all gone wrong!"

Across the street, Rohan observed Titania's demeanour with concern.

          "Circe, share your location with me," Titania said, striving to maintain composure. "Let’s talk in person.”

Circe had landed Hamamelis in a field close to Cerise; this was where Titania, after what had felt like light years, arrived with Rohan and his family. 

They ran up to each other, relieved. Mirai’s young daughter giggled and ran up to the spaceship, unable to believe her eyes as she took in its immensity.

Circe turned around, shocked.

            “Mahiri! Stop running around!” Miriai called out, running to retrieve her daughter whilst observing Circe’s stunned face. Placing her hands on Mirai’s cheek, Circe closed her eyes as she absorbed Mirai’s aura into her brain.

          “Descendants of Rishis …” she finally said after she had removed her hand from Mirai’s face.

           “Rishis?”

Titania surveyed Rohan and his family, her brain computing.

            “They’re Seers …” she concluded. Rohan laughed at her bemused face.

            “How did you not guess, dear?”

            “I wasn’t born on Jupiter, was I!” she exclaimed, scowling.

Suddenly Circe became serious, her head turning towards Hamamelis. Her husband Nicholas emerged, detecting Circe’s need for comfort.

            “Titania …” Circe started, her eyes flickering towards Rohan.

            “Titania … there’s something we’ve wanted to tell you and Asteria. Something we’ve been keeping from you for a while … Athezea, Arezus, Helena, Ariadne – they won’t be coming to earth anytime soon.”

           “What!”

Asteria’s voice came from across the fields. Forgetting the sandwich, she had ran to find Titania, Ashanti and Teigan following behind. Feeling uneasy about the absence of her parent’s presence, she’d stood defiantly where they couldn’t see her, eavesdropping.

          “Asteria?! Oh Asteria …”

Titania finally started to cry, and they ran to each other.

         “Nice haircut” Asteria quipped through tears, nearly crushing Titania as they held each other tight.

         “Right … should we move this inside then?”

Mirai observed what was about to unfold and felt it was better for them all to be seated as everything finally began to tie together.

  They gathered inside Hamamelis, hypnotised by its olive glow.

       "Milky Way!" Titania exclaimed, ecstatic to be reunited as her cat darted into her arms. Taking in the scene around her, she spotted her baby sisters nestled in a wooden cot. Overwhelmed with emotion, she rushed to them.

      "You're safe now," she soothed.

The atmosphere shifted from curiosity, as everyone marvelled at the wonder of Hamamelis, to apprehension as they awaited Circe’s words. She tapped her leg anxiously.

     "It's a pleasure to meet such delightful humans," Circe began.

     "I would like to thank you for your kindness and hospitality. We were unsure of what our time on Earth would bring, but now I see it's been filled with generosity that kept my niece's girlfriend safe."

Titania and Rohan exchanged glances of understanding, while Asteria observed them curiously. Titania would be all right ... they would all be all right. Or so they hoped.

       "But now, I have some explaining to do," Circe continued.

       "We've been planning this, Asteria, for a couple of years after you moved away to be with my sisters. I missed you so much, and when they came to me to explain everything I was swamped, but thrilled to have you back!"

She reached out to stroke Asteria's cheek, but Asteria recoiled.

     "Carry on," she demanded.

Circe hesitated, then continued.

     "Oh, Asteria, please don't be upset! We had to do it. We planned for you and Titania to reach safety, and then Nic and I would look after you. And here we are."

She paused, gathering her thoughts.

     "Asteria, your parents and Helena … they’re warriors. They’re fighting to take Tahiri back, our true home. Agamemnon is searching for you, for Titania's sisters, for Helena after her betrayal. They will be after us too. We planned to escape, but they found us - Gaia knows how, but they did."

    "They found you?" Asteria's voice trembled.

    "Asteria ..." Circe struggled for words.

    "They've been taken by Agamemnon’s henchmen. Helena and Ariadne managed to escape, and they will rescue your parents. I know it."

Asteria couldn’t contain her confusion and anger at Circe’s words, dashing from the spaceship.

    "Asteria, wait!" Circe called.

Titania was lost for words, enveloped by an oppressive silence. Finally, she rose and embraced Circe tightly.

    "I'm so sorry, Circe," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

    "You don’t deserve any of this."

    "You’re the ones who don’t deserve it, my dear," Circe replied sadly.

    "Titania, what are we going to do?"

VI

Hello World

 
“I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing
Than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance”
 - E.E Cummings, You shall above all things be glad and young
 

  Asteria rocked back and forth, overwhelmed by the enormity of the day's events. What started as a moment of joy in the company of her newfound friends quickly spiralled into chaos. She’d found Titania, she’d found Circe, but the whereabouts of her parents and Helena remained a mystery.

The once twinkling field now felt suffocating, closing in on her like a claustrophobic box. Her clothes clung to her skin uncomfortably; she tugged at them in frustration. Perhaps they should have just left her on Jupiter with Circe. Or even better – not had her at all.

Asteria felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and jumped, alarmed.

            "Relax ... it's me," Ashanti assured, offering her a fidget toy and a pair of earbuds. Asteria hesitated at first and licked them.

            "It's a fidget toy!” Ashanti laughed.

           “See, the earbuds drown out the noise, and the fidget toy helps you feel calm.   Watch me."

Asteria started to feel the panic subside as she quietened, exploring her new toy. A wave of embarrassment washed over her.

           "I'm sorry ... they must think I'm so dramatic,"

           "Of course not!" Ashanti exclaimed, reassuringly. "I would react the same way. I love my parents so much. They would do anything for me."

Before Asteria could dwell on her embarrassment, Titania's voice cut through their conversation. Locking eyes with Asteria, she beckoned her over.

           "We have news!"

Part of Asteria longed to flee back to the lake, if only for a brief respite from the weight of her Tahirian past. Yet, as she gradually regained her composure, she found herself more receptive. It was difficult to comprehend that everyone had conspired to leave her and Titania behind. While she understood the necessity, the time dawning for Tahiri’s ancient neurodivergent community of Othraqier to rise from the embers of their smoked town, a selfish part of her yearned for a family reunion and the chance to forge a new life, throwing away her Tahirian identity.

Observing Ashanti's self-assurance despite her struggles, Asteria felt a surge of determination. ‘If Ashanti can be brave here on Earth, then I can be brave for my people,’ she resolved silently.

Back inside Hamamelis, anticipation hung heavy in the air. All eyes were fixed on Circe's communicator tuned to Tahiri’s hidden channel.

      “Good evening, Othraqiens!”

Recognising the voice of Chrysanthe Diem, the beloved underground Othraqien journalist, Asteria's face lit up with delight. She couldn't help but break into applause. Titania’s heart swelled at the sight of her girlfriend's transition to pure happiness.

      "This is Chrysanthe Diem reporting, delivering the latest updates on the unfolding situation in Tahiri," the radio continued.

       "Today, we interrupt our regular programming with breaking news. Helena, you can take it from here."

        "Helena?!" Circe's voice trembled with emotion, tears of relief streaming down her cheeks. The four Tahirians gathered in a tight huddle. At that moment, the weight of uncertainty lifted, replaced by collective relief that the situation in Tahiri wasn't as dire as they had feared. Teigan, Ashanti, and the Patel family looked on, glad to witness the shift in the room's atmosphere.

       "Thank you so much, Chrys! Asteria, Titania ... knowing you both, I'm certain you've arrived safely on Earth. I apologise deeply for keeping the truth from you, my dears ... we all do."

      "Helena, let me speak now," came the unexpected voice of Arezus. Asteria's heart skipped a beat, unable to believe her ears.

     "Dad!" she exclaimed, a mix of shock and joy flooding her senses.

     "Asteria,” Arezus started hurriedly.

   “This is bigger than just us now. This is about everything. Your mother and I are safe, and I trust Circe and Nic to relay this to you and take care of you on Earth. I'm so sorry, my fallen star."

Athezea's gentle tone followed,

   “We’re with a lovely family now, but we must go. Be brave, take care of each other. Never let go."

   “We love you!” came Ariadne’s voice.

The line abruptly cut off and Chrysanthe resumed.

   "We will forever honour Helena and her sisters' sacrifices for us. Helena, if you’re hearing this, your parents would be so proud of you all.”

Suddenly, a gruff voice interrupted, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Though not everyone in the room had encountered Agamemnon before, they recognised his malevolence immediately.

  "Well, what a charming reunion," Agamemnon chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm and menace.

  "But let's keep this brief, Asteria." He practically spat out her name, as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  "You've proven yourself to be quite clever, evading detection all this time. While I may have harboured disdain for your parents, Helena played her part admirably. I trusted her ... but it seems I underestimated her cunning."

His sinister laughter echoed.

  "Tahiri is no place for the … mentally slow. I would gladly leave you and your cursed family there to rot, but you have run away with something we want, I hear. Return them to us. This is a war your kind has never won, and never will."

His voice dripped with venom.

  "Unfortunately for Helena ... well, everyone meets their end eventually."

The radio fell silent, leaving a stunned silence as everyone processed the gravity of his words, Mirai blocking Mahiri’s ears. The twins started to cry and Asteria felt paralysed by helplessness. She snapped back into life and tried to run out of Hamamelis but Circe's hand closed around hers, halting her before she could flee.

  "Asteria, hold on" she pleaded.

  "Your parents entrusted me with your safety. Asteria, this is all part of a plan for the greater good."

   “Are you serious?! Helena is your sister, or have you forgotten?"

Asteria's rage bubbled to the surface, fuelled by the betrayal she felt. Circe's tears flowed anew.

    "Asteria ... Helena will be okay. She's one of the strongest women Tahiri has ever birthed," Nic soothed. He looked around the room, meeting the solemn of those present.

   "For now, we must adapt to life on Earth. Let us rest. Humans, if you could give us some space. It's a difficult time."

They all nodded in understanding. Ashanti was slightly disappointed; she wanted to stay with the magical beings for a little while longer. Asteria had Titania now though, just like Ashanti had Teigan. Perhaps she and Teigan could have a sleepover later, finally baking with Teigan’s Mum, and then returning to Hamamelis and the Tahirians tomorrow.

The Patel family bid their farewells, Mahiri hiding shyly in her mother’s arms. Titania ensured they exchanged contact information, hugging them firmly.

    "You'll have to take Asteria and me shopping on Earth," she teased to Teigan and Ashanti, rocking her sisters’ cot gently to calm them down.

    "Our communicators barely reach back home, so we brought boosters. We’ll need whatever you guys have. Oh, and we’ll want new clothes of course."

Asteria perked up at the mention of a shopping trip.

    "You’ll have pink communicators here, right?”

Amid troubling times, remained pink communicators. And hope.

   Titania, Nic, Asteria, and Circe convened, marvelling. After invoking a prayer to Gaia, Circe had received precisely what she had requested - an enchanted forest created in her eye encompassed by a protection circle, a place for their spaceships to remain concealed.

Now, they faced the dilemma of finding a home. All eyes turned to Circe and Nicholas, Asteria casting a sorrowful glance back at Cerise.

    "We can't risk it, Asteria... We must blend in," Titania reasoned.

    "Come on, Circe must have a plan,"

With a sigh, Circe acknowledged her next challenge. Though it was late afternoon, giving her a short timeframe for her mystical abilities and, she had promised Athezea, Arezus, and Helena, so she would deliver.

   As the Tahirian giantess who grew up in Jupiter, Circe stood out amongst her purely Tahirian sisters in many ways. Her upbringing fostered a different set of skills, rooted in the arts of botany and witchcraft. Despite this, her lineage still traced back to Tahiri, endowing her with a keen intellect that she wielded with finesse when approached by Athezea, Helena, and Arezus with their plans to send Asteria and Titania to Earth.

  In a charming exchange, the effervescent estate agent Rose handed over the keys just before closing time.

“Bye Rose!” Circe waved, flirtatiously. Amused, Nicholas looked at her and rolled his eyes.

“Hey, you try astral projecting that far you, twit. It was no easy feat – but I did it. Athezea and Arezus, I did it.”

Nic chuckled warmly, gently grasping Circe's hand.

"Of course, you did it, my love. You are truly the finest witch on Jupiter."

He pressed a tender kiss to Circe's hand before they crossed the threshold into their new home on Earth. Nic's astonishment mirrored Circe's delight as they explored the botanical splendour of their new home, a stark contrast to their humble forest dwelling on Jupiter. Circe's infectious laughter filled the air, her connection with the natural world indisputable as she observed the thriving ecosystems around them. She beckoned for Nic to follow her as she pranced out into the garden.

In a moment of reflection, Circe paused to marvel at what had grown and flourished in her absence, tended to by the attentive Rose.

"Rose... she's outstanding," Circe breathed, reclining gracefully on the tufts of the homely Earth.

"Outstanding at what?" Nic huffed.

"She's only ‘outstanding’ because you played with her mind."

"Only to secure the house with no suspicion! Everything else that we did was of our own accord."

Circe playfully puckered her lips emitting exaggerated smooching noises, eliciting a feigned gag from Nic.

"Now, Rose mentioned something about a service called Deliveroo here – looks like it's just us for now. Let’s not call the girls back here yet."

"Assuming Rose isn't lurking around," Nicholas quipped.

Incredulously, Circe gracefully rose onto her tiptoes, intertwining her fingers with her husband's as she looked lovingly into his eyes.

"So, it's acceptable for you to wander with half the male population of Jupiter, is it?" she teased, giving him a playful shove.

Nic responded by scooping her up, dashing up the stairs as she erupted into joyful laughter.

  Asteria didn’t know which emotion to process first. She had been offered a fresh start, complete with a room shared with her beloved — a space promised to be transformed by Circe's enchanting touch through magical décor and delightful furniture shopping excursions. In the bewitching garden awaited a trampoline, a playful addition to their new life.

Two days had stretched on without a word from either her dad or her Grandmother, a creeping worry began to take hold on Titania. Despite the passing time, she held tightly to the belief that perhaps, amidst the tumult in Tahiri, Satya and Orion would be on the run, together. She refused to succumb to Agamemnon’s negativity – a positive shift in Tahiri was underway, and now she knew that her sisters would grow up embraced for their differences, not shunned.

As the night settled in, a peaceful sleep enveloped the household. Back at Teigan's home she and Ashanti lay side by side, plates of apple pie resting on the desk whilst Peanut nestled at Teigan's feet. Four minds, different in stature, were alive with the events that had transpired in just a few short days, and what would become of them now.

Epilogue

           Asteria’s crafted response to Agamemnon's taunts, with hints of Ashanti, Titania and Teigan and proofread with love by Rohan and Mirai. Transmitted with great effort by Circe and Nic, Asteria’s words soon reached Helena and then were broadcast to Tahiri’s news.

 A beacon of resistance shining brightly amidst the stars.

“I bear witness to the havoc we wrought and our struggle to contain our voices. We, who are not conventional, leave traces of our disgust upon your thresholds and inadvertently tear through your barriers. We are perceived as invaders corrupting our species, yet we prevail. Our presence infuses your pristine streets with rage, yet still, we walk. We are deemed worthy of being shackled, and seen as expendable beings. We, the marginalised and misunderstood, embody traits deemed undesirable - blunt, uncommunicative, anxious, hyperactive, impulsive, and ‘unusual.’ We are the outsiders, the outcasts.

Yet, we are and will always remain Tahirians.”