Beltan News: In the Ziggy colony; billionaire, philanthropist, and playboy Ziggy Diggy Liggy The Twentieth is planning on marrying his tenth wife this week. It will be a small celebration—closed to the outside world—and only the Ziggy colonists are invited. But, he sends out a message to all his friends, lovers, ex-lovers, admirers, and enemies, saying, "Please-a, don't-a forget-a to-a donate-a to-a my-a wedding-a."

Wolf had changed into a pink T-shirt with a panda on it and black shorts. Though it wasn't his style when he was around people, it offered him comfort a suit couldn't. Standing in the elevator, he had one hand in his pocket while the other drummed on his thigh, enjoying the monotone elevator music.

Getting out of the elevator, the number of people in the hallway hadn't decreased since he arrived hours ago.

Ruby stared at him from the counter while a customer searched through their purse in front of her. Wolf nodded at her, and she returned the gesture before he proceeded to the conference hall. Pushing the door open, the coldness from the air conditioner prickled his skin, and the mixture of perfumes struck his nose, making him cough.

The room was sizable. It looked like it went half-half with the reception hall. Merchants sat behind long tables by the walls, selling alien merch and costumes. They tried selling Wolf a "one of a kind item" at a "discounted price".

Nothing tickled his fancy, not even the "rare collectibles" from "beloved hentai". Whatever a hentai was.

"Why do they love them so much?" Wolf asked rhetorically. Growing up outside the planets, he never understood the planetarians' obsession with aliens.

"They love aliens because they think they're not real—most of them, at least. If they knew what we know, they would lose their minds," Wednesday said.

"They didn't build the system to accept aliens. It's fine if they're on the screen. We will love them, cry for them, and even worship them. But once we learn they're real, then everything we've ever thought they're capable of becomes true. And that scares the living shit out of humans."

"Why do you think so?"

"Humans project their fears onto others, no matter the species. So if aliens are real, then we fear they would treat us how we've treated each other since... forever. We know how we treat each other is immoral, but we don't want to change. There's comfort in ignorance that most won't admit to. Why spend your energy in learning to become a better person when you can be your shitty self?"

"I was reading a dissertation by Dominique Harper; a student at the University of KEA. She researched the rise of aliens in entertainment media and why humans worshipped them. She placed the sole blame on Memory Labs and even went further to blame the labs for the rise of pure-bloods."

"Rainbow once told me about the Race Wars that happened on Earth forever ago—before humans thought of exploring the system and terraforming it."

"I read about it too. It's the one about Royce Davidstone, right?"

"Yes."

Back when Earth was in its prime, far-right extremists rose from the abyss and ruled the planet. But that hadn't been enough. No, they were out for blood. They re-introduced slavery and begun capturing black and brown people.

The extremists hadn't accounted for the brilliant inventor, Royce Davidstone. After seeing his family get lynched by the extremists, Royce built White Killer—a weapon that disintegrated everyone with white skin. It was the reason there were no more white people in the system.

Though others argued beltans were white-skinned, they didn't count because their skin was pale because of living on the asteroid belt.

Now that Wolf thought about it, The Forgotten Nuns could have orchestrated the Race Wars and the White Killer weapon. The war had led to Earth's collapse.

"In her findings, Dominique suggested mind control as a cure for discrimination," Wednesday said.

Wolf remembered the crown Sister Mary wore to control the golems and chuckled. It always came down to mind control, huh? "And does she know how to do so?"

"No, but creating a mind control device is easy. The Forgotten Nuns wrote the instructions for the one they used in their files. I can make one if—"

"Please don't. People are having a hard time as it is. They don't need an AI Overlord controlling them without their will."

"I would make it for you. Not me."

"No, thank you. The only person I want to control is myself."

"I—"

"No."

"Can—"

"No."

"Make—"

"No."

"One—"

"No."

"That—"

"No."

"Controls—"

"No."

"You."

"No, thank you, Wednesday. For an AI, you're such an egghead."

"I think you meant 'hardhead'."

"I think you meant hardhead," Wolf mocked her voice. "I know what I meant. You know what, goodnight, Wednesday. Talk to you in the morning."

"No, do—"

Wolf turned off the earpiece with a smile. A few hours of peace would do him good.

Standing at the end of the room, a banner with the words ALIEN CONVENTION DAY hung above it, and a blue door with the words MEETING ROOM stood to his right.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he entered the room. The people inside gave him a single glance before focusing on the dark-skinned woman in front. She wore a light green blouse and a skirt. Behind her was a whiteboard, and on it were the words ALIENS ARE REAL ORGANIZATION.

"Psst!" someone called to him.

Wolf turned and saw Bentlee waving at him. With a smile, he went to sit beside her. She narrowed her eyes at him, their scarlet redness sending chills down his spine.

He gulped. "What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you that, I suppose."

"I heard about Alien Con, and I wanted to check it out. You?"

"I'm a member, I suppose." She had changed out of her sweatshirt dress and into light blue pants and a gray T-shirt, but remained with the bucket hat.

"A member? What's this anyway? All the cool stuff is outside."

"This is a meeting for members of Aliens Are Real Org, and you aren't one. Now, leave, I suppose." She pushed him to go, but he stayed in his seat.

"I want to see what The Mage likes to do in her spare time."

Bentlee rolled her eyes before turning away from him. She crossed her arms and focused on what the woman in front was saying. Wolf did the same.

"... conducting prayers in Thai City. I've spoken with Mayor Lalisa, and she has given us a date and time to go there. Inform those who couldn't attend today."

"Who's she?" Wolf asked.

"Diana Myhole. She's the wife of Finga Myhole, the head of the organization, I suppose."

"Finger My What?" Wolf curled his lip.

"Finga—with an a—Myhole. The last name is one word, I suppose," she said with a straight face.

Wolf covered his mouth and started laughing. From all his time in the system, he had never heard of a more ridiculous name. But it made perfect sense. Weird people attracted each other like magnets.

He caught Diana mid-sentence: "... to space and search for aliens. People think we're fools, but we will show them they're the true fools. And when we find the aliens, the same people looking down on us will worship us. And we will find the aliens because..."

"Aliens are real!" the members chanted, including Bentlee.

"And what are we?"

"Aliens Are Real!"

Diana cupped her ears. "I can't hear you!"

"Aliens Are Real! Aliens Are Real! Aliens Are Real!"

Diana spread her arms and smiled like she was some savior. Wolf wanted to stand up and warn them about The Majors. Heck, he didn't want to go that far. Golems had infested the system, and that was a perfect start. But he knew they wouldn't believe him. He would have to provide proof, and he didn't trust them. A golem could've been among them.

Bentlee had the biggest smile on her face. She had eaten up everything Diana had said. At that moment, she looked less like a fierce bounty hunter and more like a child who believed in fairy tales.

"Do you believe aliens are out there?" Wolf asked her.

"Yes, I suppose." Bentlee nodded. "My late grandmother and mother were members of this organization. They taught me everything I know about aliens. They believe aliens will be our salvation, I suppose."

"Salvation from what?"

"Ourselves, I suppose."

"You honestly believe that crap?"

"Yes, I suppose."

Unbelievable.

Bentlee was an alien worshiper, Lola was a masochist, Zorro was an outlaw, and Chichi was...

Wolf hadn't had time to speak to The Lady and find out her quirk. Weird people attracted each other like magnets.

Did it mean he was weird?

Diana pointed towards a man in a light green suit in the front row. He stood, and she didn't have to introduce him. The members chanted his name. With the sitting arrangement having two sides, the right one shouted his first name, while the left said his last.

"Fi-nga!"

"My-hole!"

"Fi-nga!"

"My-hole!"

"They don't hear themselves, do they?" Wolf asked.

Bentlee chuckled. "No, I suppose." Even she had seen the ridiculousness of the chant and remained silent.

Finga Myhole was an average-height man with dark skin and a pear-shaped bald head. He stood in front and smiled, revealing the big gap between his front two teeth. "Ladieth and Gentlemen, the time hath come for uth to look for alienth. Ath my wife said, we bought two unused spaceshipth from The Universal Authority. It cost uth a lot of money, but it wath worth it. Now we can travel to space, search the galaxy and univerth until we find the alienth. And we will."

"What if the aliens turn out to be violent?" Wolf asked.

Everyone turned to him.

Bentlee sank in her seat and scooted away from him. Embarrassment coated her face. Wolf had that effect on those who knew him.

"And you are?" Finga raised his brow.

"Wolf."

Finga chuckled. "Woof, what an odd name. Am I right?" The members laughed before he raised a silencing hand. "Are you a member of thith org, Woof?"

"No."

"Then I can't answer your question, Woof. Please," he pointed at the door, "leave. Thith ith a memberth only meeting."

Wolf had to think fast before they forced him out. He was too curious about their plans to leave now. He also didn't feel sleepy, and he had no intention of going back to his room and stare at the ceiling.

"I'm here with her." He pointed at Bentlee. She poked him on the ribs with her forefinger. He bit his lower lip in pain. It was worth it, though.

"Bentlee, ith thith true?" Finga asked.

Bentlee sat upright. "Yes, I suppose."

"Well, then. A friend of Bentlee ith a friend of ourth. Please, Woof, make yourself at home."

Wolf smiled smugly. "I will."

"Now what wath the question you asked, Woof?"

"What if the aliens turn out to be violent?" Wolf said.

Finga glared at the coyote. He seemed like a man who never enjoyed being questioned about his beliefs. Wolf had met his type many times. They were cowards.

"We here at Alienth Are Real Org see the good in everyone and everything, that includeth the alienth. If there are violent oneth, then there are non-violent oneth too. Remember, the good appleth outweigh the bad oneth." He looked away from Wolf and towards the others as if he knew the coyote would retort. "Now, ath I wath saying before I wath rudely interrupted, we have the shipth, personnel, and weaponth. We will leave in two dayth time. Thoth that are going, pleath say goodbye to your familieth and friendth, and then meet uth at the dock.

"And those who are staying behind, pleath get people to sign up for the UFO Religion. When we return with the alienth, I plan to build a cathedral in the city with the money we would get from sponsorth. I pray for the succeth of uth all. Thank you."

Everyone stood and clapped for Finga as his wife joined him.

Wolf looked at Bentlee and spotted a hint of resentment in her eyes. "You're not going, are you?"

Bentlee rubbed her eyes. "Mother won't allow me, I suppose."

"Mother won't allow you? How old are you?"

"Old enough, I suppose."

Wolf slapped his forehead, remembering Rainbow had warned him never to ask a woman her age. Bentlee looked over eighteen, but younger than twenty-five. If he was to guess, he'd say she was twenty-one or twenty-three—not that it mattered, anyway. The reason he had asked was that she still took orders from her mother at that age. They considered people adults when they turned thirteen. She should have been making her own decisions regarding her life by now.

"Where are you from?"

"You ask a lot of questions. Don't you know you're supposed to take a woman out for dinner if you want to know her better, I suppose?"

"You want me to take you out for dinner?" He arched his brow.

"No—"

"I don't think Lola will like that."

Bentlee groaned. "Never mind, I suppose." Before she left, Wolf grabbed her shoulder. She turned. "What, I suppose?"

"You know that if they find aliens, your friends will die."

Bentlee chewed her upper lip. "I know, I suppose."

"Then why aren't you stopping them?"

"Because when people set their minds to something, you can't stop them. Humans are stubborn like that, I suppose."

"Is that why you wanted to go with them? To protect them?"

Bentlee nodded.

"At least you tried."

"Not hard enough, I suppose." Bentlee left the room.

The other members smiled and congratulated each other. He hadn't noticed it before, but this was a goodbye meeting. There was no sign of fear in any of them. They believed whatever was out there; it was friendly.

Hopefully, they wouldn't meet The Majors. Because if they did, then the solar system was doomed.