Return Of The Cosmic God

Six months after our graduation, Maki and I got married. The ceremony wasn't that big but it was filled with the people who mattered most…. Like our closest friends, some family, and a few colleagues from JSRI…. We didn't need anything grand to celebrate our wedding; after everything we had been through, all we wanted was a celebration that was filled with love and sweet memories… a moment to breathe before the next chapter of our lives started…

The venue was set up in a small, open garden overlooking a tranquil river, with some simple decorations…. white lilies, and delicate lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. I wore a crisp black suit. To truly speaking that suit was pretty uncomfortable to wear, but nothing could ruin the fact that today was the happiest day of my life….

It wasn't easy to pull off this wedding. Before I went to Kepler-009AV mission I wanted to marry Maki. Our mission will be long… before I go, I wanted to give our relationship a true meaning….

Joseph and I had already spent three months in brutal mental and physical training for the Kepler-009AV Program. The program demanded everything…. rigorous survival exercises, intense physical training, endurance tests, simulations of zero-gravity maneuvers, and psychological training to prepare us for the isolating expanse of space. It wasn't just about technical skill… the program was aimed to push every cadet to the point of breaking apart both mentally and physically. It was to see how well we would function under intense pressure….

It wasn't just about our bodies… our minds were tested, too. We spent hours in sensory deprivation tanks, training our focus in pitch-black silence. We underwent simulation drills designed to mimic high-stress situations—emergencies, equipment failures, and even simulated isolation for weeks on end. Some recruits broke under the pressure and were dropped from the program. Joseph and I??... We pushed through everything to make our dream a reality…

I always felt relieved knowing the fact that Joseph was going through the same struggle as me and he was always by my side as a great friend. No matter how bad it got…. No matter how exhausted or frustrated we became…. his sense of humor and his willpower never wavered…

"Hey, Shin," Joseph said one morning after we were strapped into the spinning gyroscopes for spatial disorientation training. "If I puke, do you think the instructor will give me a break??..."

"Doubt it," I replied, grinning. "He'll probably make you clean it up…."

"You know, Shin…..." Joseph had said one particular day after a brutal endurance test, "At this point, if the aliens don't kill us, the paperwork sure will…."

I could barely breathe from the weight of the training gear strapped onto me, but I still managed to laugh. That was Joseph… always finding a way to make the hardest moments funny….

Abdul was now a key engineer for the Kepler mission and was working from Earth's central space research hub. Abdul was assigned to manage technical systems for the mission. Even with his busy schedule, he made time to come to our wedding….

"I had to beg to the head engineer on my knees to get a day off…" Abdul grumbled when he arrived while adjusting his tie. "But today is my best friend's marriage… How can I miss such an important event… That's worth the trouble… I guess…"

I clapped him on the shoulder, laughing. "Thanks for making it, man… I owe you one… You might have to help me survive Joseph, though..."

Abdul smirked, glancing toward where Joseph was busy with some guests, already sipping champagne. "We both know Joseph is here to cause chaos. We should just bury him in the garden after the ceremony is done, to save everyone…."

"Deal…" I said with a grin. "You go distract him, and I'll go grab a shovel..."

Maki looked stunning in her white colored dress; her short dark hair pinned neatly to the side. When she smiled at me from across the aisle, I felt like the whole world narrowed to just her.

The way her eyes locked with mine as she walked down the aisle made my heart race. I wore a classic black suit, the same kind Joseph and Abdul were wearing, though Joseph's tie was already loosened like he was at a party…

We stood at the altar, hand in hand, the moment was filled with emotion and promises that words could barely express…

The officiant had just reached the part where we exchanged vows when Joseph purposely created a scene…

The officiant said the words: "If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace..."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Joseph interrupted, stepping forward with a wide grin across his face. He raised his hand. "I'm sorry… But I think there has been a mistake…."

The crowd was shocked… now chuckled nervously, not knowing whether Joseph was serious or joking.

Maki shot him a death glare from her side of the altar, whispering, "Joseph, I swear to god..."

Meanwhile, Abdul groaned audibly. "I told you not to let him drink before the ceremony…" he muttered to me.

"Yeah, I'll add that to my regret list…", I replied under my breath.

Joseph, undeterred, continued his antics. "Listen, folks…" he said, addressing the guests now. "Are we sure Shin Takamiya…. the same guy who once forgot to bring his laptop to a presentation and got scolded by the professor… is capable of marriage??! I mean, that guy can barely dress himself half of the time…"

Laughter erupted from the crowd, including a giggle from Maki despite her best efforts to look serious.

Abdul stepped forward quickly, trying to control him. "Alright, Joseph… I think that's enough. Let Shin get married in peace… Don't ruin his most important day of life…."

But Joseph wasn't finished. "I'm just saying... This is a marriage we're talking about… it's the ultimate high-stakes mission!!! Are you sure you're ready?! Maybe we need a quick simulation run, like those VR drills we do at 4 am…"

"Joseph," I warned, struggling to hold my laughter. "I'm going to kill you for sure, man…."

"I'll help…" Abdul added solemnly, crossing his arms. "We'll make it look like an accident…"

Joseph grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright, alright!! Fine. I'll behave… for now... at least…"

The officiant coughed, trying to suppress his laughter, and the ceremony resumed…

When it was finally time to exchange vows, everything seemed to fall into place. The chaos of the world melted away as Maki and I spoke our promises, our words quiet but it was filled with the weight of everything we had gone through...

"I've loved you since we were kids…" Maki whispered, her eyes shining. "Through everything…. the pain, the joy, the chaos… you were always there. And I will always be here for you..."

I smiled, squeezing her hand gently. "And I will always love you, Maki. Till my last breath... I promise..."

The officiant cleared his throat with a soft smile. "Shin Takamiya, you may now kiss the bride…"

I pulled Maki into my arms, her body warm and familiar against mine, and kissed her gently, sealing our promises under the bright afternoon sun. For that brief moment, everything was perfect… It was just her and me, and the life we were starting together…

At the reception, Abdul gave a short but thoughtful speech. He stood at the podium, adjusting his glasses before addressing the crowd….

"To be honest, I wasn't sure if Shin would ever get his life together," Abdul began, his tone affectionate. "But if there's one person who could keep him grounded, it's Maki. And for Joseph... I have no words…."

The audience burst into laughter as Abdul continued. "All jokes aside, I've known Shin and Maki for years. They've been through more than most people ever will, and if anyone deserves a happy ending, it's them. I'm proud to call both of you, my friends. Just... make sure Joseph never names your first child…."

The room filled with laughter and applause as Abdul raised his glass. "To Shin and Maki—may your love be as strong as titanium…"

The reception afterward was exactly like what you would expect from a group like ours… filled with laughter, teasing, and more than a few chaotic moments, thanks to Joseph. He somehow managed to convince the DJ to play an old pop song from the early 2100s, then dragged me onto the dance floor despite my protests.

Abdul, stayed far away from the dance floor, sipping water quietly at a table. When Joseph finally tired himself out, he plopped down next to Abdul, grinning like a maniac…

"Admit it…" Joseph said, nudging Abdul. "You missed this kind of chaos…."

Abdul gave him a flat look. "I miss silence. You're exhausting…"

Joseph threw an arm around Abdul's shoulders. "You love me. Don't even try to deny it..." Then he went to the dance floor again, dancing like a maniac…

Abdul glanced over at me with an expression that screamed, why do we even keep him around??...

I walked over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for coming, Abdul… I know you're busy..."

He gave a small nod, "I wouldn't have missed it. Even if it means dealing with Joseph…"

"You love him…" I said with a grin. "Admit it…"

Abdul snorted. "The only thing I love less than Joseph is zero-G toilet maintenance. But I'll tolerate it for both of you... for now…"

I laughed, clapping him on the back. "It's too late to back out now, Abdul. We're stuck with him…"

"Unfortunately…though" Abdul muttered, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Later that night, after the guests had left and the lights began to dim, Maki and I stood together at the edge of the garden, looking up at the stars...

"Do you think the Kepler mission will change you??!..." Maki asked quietly, her hand in mine…

"It'll change a lot of things," I admitted. "But not how I feel about you…."

Maki's gaze softened, and she leaned in to kiss me, slow and lingering. "Just come back to me…" she whispered against my lips…

"I will…" I promised, wrapping my arms around her.

After the wedding, life settled into a comfortable rhythm. Maki continued her work at Kyodo Technologies, where she specialized in the development of AI and robotics. She was carrying on the legacy that her parents had left behind. It was a challenging job, but she threw herself into it with the same determination she had shown in everything she did….

"I think we're designing AI smarter than Joseph," she joked one night over dinner.

"Hey, I am not that idiot…", Joseph texted in response when I told him about it.

We found joy in the little things, late-night conversations, quiet mornings spent drinking coffee together, and the fact that we were building a life, step by step…

Abdul was a busy man. We kept in touch regularly, though his schedule was as brutal as ours… He was responsible for ensuring the ship's systems were in perfect working order…

"Just don't break anything on the ship," Abdul warned us during one of our calls. "Because if you do, I'll have to fix it. And I don't have time to babysit you two in space…"

Joseph grinned. "What if I 'accidentally' open the airlock ??!..."

"Then I'll make sure your spacesuit malfunctions," Abdul replied dryly….

After a few days of the marriage, Joseph and I boarded a flight back to the spaceport to resume our training for the Kepler mission. The drills were harder than ever….

With each passing day, the mission grew closer. The training pushed us to our limits, but through it all, we leaned on each other. Joseph's humor, Abdul's steady presence, and Maki's unwavering support.

The idea for a friend tour came up after one intense training session. Joseph, as always, planted the seed of chaos with a simple suggestion:

One day while texting online Joseph said, "We need to earn this guys. One whole month off… just us. No instructors yelling at us, no emergency drills, no VR simulations. Just pure freedom before we're locked inside a tin can, millions of miles away from Earth…"

At first, Abdul and I laughed it off, thinking it was just one of Joseph's crazy ideas again. But the more we thought about it, the more the idea made sense. We had gone through months of intense training… our days were filled with gym workouts, mental stress tests, spatial disorientation drills, and even fire simulations inside spaceship mock-ups. Physically and mentally all of us were exhausted. We all knew we could use a break…

Joseph and I approached our trainers about taking the time off, and Abdul went to his head engineer, hoping for the best.

"Surprisingly," I said to Joseph after the meeting, "they approved it. One month…"

Joseph with his wide grin said, "I told you!! They know they can't send us into space without letting us unwind first. This is our mission zero. Rest and relaxation."

Later that night Abdul texted, "Hey guys!! Guess what… I also got a month of vacation…"

But there was just one obstacle. Maki….

As newlyweds, she naturally assumed she'd be coming along. When I mentioned the idea of a friend-only tour, the skeptical look on her face was almost scarier than a ghost...

"So, let me get this straight…" Maki said, arms crossed, giving me her best interrogation face. "You're going on a month-long vacation… without me??!!..."

I gave her my most innocent smile. "It's just a friend thing, Maki… You know… one last hurrah before the mission… You wouldn't want me to miss that, right??!!..."

Her eyebrows rose, unimpressed. "So, you and Joseph are going to go around the world causing trouble??!!..."

"Abdul will keep us in line…" I said, hoping the mention of Abdul's responsibility would reassure her.

Abdul, who had shown up to help me with the conversation, nodded solemnly. "I'll make sure nothing stupid happens…."

Maki gave us both a long, suspicious look. "The fact that Joseph is involved already means something stupid will happen…"

I smiled nervously. "It's just a few weeks. I'll bring you back some cool stuff!! You'll barely even notice I'm gone..."

Maki crossed her arms tighter, her lips pursing into a pout. "Newly married and already ditching your wife... I'm impressed."

"I promise it's not like that!" I said quickly, wrapping my arms around her. "We'll have our own adventure when I get back, okay??!!... Please let me go!!..."

After a few minutes of silence, Maki let out a sigh. "Fine. But if I hear about any girls swooning over you, I swear I'll make you regret it..."

Joseph, who was lurking just out of sight, couldn't help but poke his head around the corner. "Shady girls??... Who, us?... Never."

Maki shot him a glare so sharp that even Joseph backed off, laughing. "Okay, okay! I'm out!!!..."

TO BE CONTINUED