"Be fruitful and multiply."

-Genesis 1:28

Gaia, Novosibirsk ("New Siberia"). June 22nd 2038. 0700 hours.

Douyasha stirred in her sleep as a cold draft crept through the cracks of her prefabricated wooden home. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she remained motionless, her body heavy with fatigue. The blanket wrapped around her provided some warmth, but not nearly enough to banish the ever-present chill. With a sigh, she reached under her pillow, retrieving her scratched but functional cellphone. Its screen illuminated the small, cabin-like room, casting a faint glow on the frosted window.

The clock read 7:00 AM, yet the world outside her window remained as dark as midnight. She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and pulled herself to her feet, her thick woolen socks muffling her steps. Peering out the window, she was greeted by the familiar sight of the storm. Snow swirled violently in the endless blizzard, and the howling winds rattled the wooden walls of their home. It had been this way since the day they arrived on Gaia—Novosibirsk, or "New Siberia," as her parents called it, was less a settlement and more a frozen prison.

The house, built with prefabricated wooden panels shipped through the portal, was cozy in its design, blending a rustic warmth with the harsh reality of their environment. Thick rugs covered the floors, and a small, ever-burning fireplace cast flickering shadows across the walls. Yet despite their efforts to make it feel like home, the biting cold seeped into every corner.

Douyasha sighed deeply. Compared to their old home in Nizhny Tagil, this place felt like a cruel joke. The excitement she had felt months ago, when her mother, Yeva, told her their family had been selected as part of the first wave of colonists, had long since evaporated. She still remembered how her parents had spoken of adventure and new beginnings, but Gaia’s frozen wasteland offered little of either.

The moment Douyasha stepped through the portal, she had been struck by the sheer cold. The air was sharper than any winter she had experienced on Earth, and the unrelenting darkness gave her an immediate sense of unease. Scientists theorize that the strange climate on Northern Gaia is caused by the planet's unusual axial tilt. This causes the planet to experience permanent winter and little to no sunlight reaching the surface in certain regions.

This perpetual darkness rendered agriculture impossible. The colonists relied heavily on rations shipped from Earth, but with growing numbers of settlers, supplies ran out quickly. Desperation and hunger bred violence as communities fractured and scattered into isolated enclaves. Douyasha’s family had found themselves in one such community, a settlement of 120 people, eking out a fragile existence in the snowbound wasteland.

Their settlement was fortunate, if one could call it that. Beneath the ice, they had discovered reserves of coal, which provided heat and electricity. The central generator ran continuously, powering homes and keeping water pipes from freezing. Even so, the cold was ever-present. Douyasha wore layer upon layer of clothing, but she could still feel the chill prickling her skin.

The hardships didn’t end with the cold. A few days ago, the community's water pump had broken, killing the fragile hydroponic crops that had been their lifeline. Food and water were rationed to the bare minimum. Showers were a distant luxury, and meals consisted of dehydrated rations soaked in melted snow.

Her father, Mikhailovich, and her mother, had left days ago in search of food. Douyasha had pleaded with them not to go, terrified that they wouldn’t return. The wasteland was an endless expanse of snow and ice, devoid of life—at least, that was what everyone believed.

Douyasha rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself as she paced the room. Her breath hung in the air, visible even indoors. She glanced at the window again, but there was no change outside. The blizzard raged on, an eternal storm that had become part of their lives.

To distract herself from her growing anxiety, she reached for her phone and opened Tetris. The lack of Wi-Fi meant no social media or endless streams of videos, but Douyasha had grown to appreciate the simplicity of the game. She lost herself in arranging falling blocks, the familiar beep of the game filling the silence.

Several hours passed, and Douyasha was still glued to her game when she heard the front door creak open. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. For a moment, she thought she had imagined it, but then came the unmistakable sound of boots stomping on the wooden floor.

Her heart leapt. "Mama? Papa?" she called hesitantly, setting her phone aside and sliding off the bed.

She hurried to the living room, and there they were—her parents, covered in snow, their faces red from the cold but alive.

“Douyasha!” Yeva exclaimed, opening her arms just in time for her daughter to rush into them. The girl hugged her mother tightly before turning to embrace her father. Their clothes were soaked, and they shivered uncontrollably, but the relief on their faces was unmistakable.

“You were gone so long,” Douyasha said, her voice trembling. “I thought—”

“We’re here now, little one,” Mikhailovich interrupted gently, patting her head. “And we brought something.”

He held up several plastic bags filled with chunks of meat. The sight made Douyasha’s stomach growl, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Real food?” she asked.

Yeva nodded. “Yes, real food. No more rations for a while.”

As Douyasha stored the meat in their makeshift refrigerator, a question lingered in her mind: 'Where had they found it?' For months, no one had seen so much as a bird or rabbit in the wasteland. But she pushed the thought aside. Food was food, and she wasn’t about to question her parents’ luck.

Yeva set to work, cutting the meat into smaller pieces and boiling it for a long time. She explained that it was necessary to kill any potential bacteria or viruses, but Douyasha barely listened. She was too engrossed in her game of Tetris, the familiar music drowning out her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Mikhailovich left for the administrative hall to report their discovery. The strange, glowing crystals in the cave might hold the key to their survival. If these anomalies could be harnessed, they could provide wealth, energy, or even a new source of light in this dark and frozen world.

The cave was unlike anything they had ever seen, and Mikhailovich was determined to share its potential with the community. Little did he know, the crystals weren’t just a geological oddity—they were something far more powerful, and their discovery would soon change everything.

Gaia, Southeastern "New Asia", Nusantara. July 8th 2038. 1200 Hours

It was noon on Gaia, and the Indonesian colony of Nusantara was alive with the sounds of activity. Among the bustle of settlers tending to their tasks, a group of five children ventured to a vast, open grass field on the outskirts of the settlement. The sky above stretched infinitely blue, dotted with only a few wisps of clouds, while a soft breeze swept across the land, making the tall grass dance in waves. The air was crisp and invigorating, a far cry from the humid, dense forests of Indonesia that one of the boys, Ananda, used to call home.

Ananda dropped to the ground, laughing, and began to roll around in the grass, his arms spread wide. "Anjir I've never seen a field this big before," he said, beaming. Back in Kalimantan, nature was thick and enclosed, dominated by towering trees and tangled undergrowth. But here on Gaia, the expanse of the grasslands seemed to go on forever, blending seamlessly into the horizon.

"Hey, Ananda!" Yudin called, tugging on a spool of thread as he launched his kite into the sky. Beside him, Farhan was doing the same. The boys laughed as their kites climbed higher and higher, the steady breeze making it easy to fly them. "Look at my Layang-Layang!" Yudin boasted, pointing to the intricate Garuda design on his kite.

Farhan grinned. "Mine's higher!"

The two boys bickered playfully while the others watched. Tito, from Sumatra, sat cross-legged on the grass, munching on a piece of dried pisang goreng his mother had packed. Beside him, Afri, a spirited boy from Papua, held a ball under his arm, waiting for the perfect moment to suggest something that would bring everyone together.

"Alright, enough with the kites," Afri said, standing up and holding the ball aloft. "Let's play football!"

The group perked up at the idea. "Where’d you get that ball?" Tito asked, raising an eyebrow.

Afri shrugged with a mischievous grin. "My dad brought it from Earth. Don’t ask me how he smuggled it past the security."

Everyone laughed and gathered around, excitement bubbling. But Tito frowned, crossing his arms. "There’s only five of us. Football needs at least six, anjir lah, What now?"

The children began brainstorming. Afri suggested asking Joko, but Ananda shook his head. "Joko? He won’t come. He’s probably playing Mobile Legends in his house right now."

"Hah! That copycat game? It’s just DOTA 2 for people who can’t afford a computer!" Yudin quipped, sending the group into fits of laughter.

"What about Fawas?" Tito suggested.

Afri snorted. "Fawas? He gets tired just walking to the local warung! He's basically a mini CaseOh, you think he’ll play football?"

As the laughter subsided, Afri’s eyes suddenly darted toward a hill in the distance. "Wait," he said, pointing. "What’s that?"

The others turned to see what he was pointing at. Peeking over the top of the hill were five heads—large, horned heads that at first glance resembled buffaloes. The children froze, their laughter replaced by curiosity and a touch of fear.

The figures stood up, revealing themselves fully. They were bipedal creatures, their bodies covered in short fur ranging in hues from tawny brown to deep black. Their faces were distinctly bovine, with wide nostrils and curved horns, but their proportions were eerily similar to those of humans.

"Are those... Karbau?" Yudin whispered, recalling stories from their parents about the alien species on Gaia.

The creatures hesitated for a moment, then began waving awkwardly. It was a gesture of peace, but the children were unsure. Tito stepped forward cautiously, gesturing for the others to stay behind. "Stay here. I’ll try talking to them."

He shouted a greeting in his native Papuan language. The creatures tilted their heads, clearly not understanding. Yudin tried next, using Javanese, but was met with the same confused expressions.

"Wait," Ananda said, stepping forward. "Tito, give me the ball."

Afri hesitated but handed it over. Ananda took a deep breath and began performing tricks with the ball. He juggled it on his knees, balanced it on his head, and kicked it high into the air before catching it deftly with his foot. The creatures watched, their expressions shifting from confusion to amazement.

One of the Minotaurs stepped forward cautiously. He pointed at the ball, then at himself, as if to ask, 'Can I try?'

Ananda smiled and rolled the ball toward him. The creature stopped it with his hoof-like foot and, to everyone’s astonishment, began juggling it with surprising skill. He kicked it back to Ananda, who laughed.

"They know football!" Afri exclaimed.

Within minutes, the two groups were playing together, the initial tension melting away as they formed teams. Makeshift goals were constructed from sticks and rocks, and the game began. The Minotaurs, despite their unfamiliar appearance, proved to be excellent players. Their agility and strength gave them an edge, but the children’s teamwork and strategy kept the game evenly matched.

Words like "kick" and "goal" began to be understood by both groups, their shared enthusiasm for the game bridging the language gap. They laughed, cheered, and celebrated each goal with high-fives and fist bumps, forming a bond that transcended their differences.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, the two groups exchanged farewells. They agreed to meet again next week, same time, same place. Each child left with a sense of wonder and excitement, their first encounter with an alien species marked not by fear or conflict, but by friendship and fun.

The story of their game soon went viral, with videos uploaded to the internet showing humans and cow-like creatures playing football together. It captured the hearts of people around the world, proving that even in a new and uncertain world, the simple joy of a game could bring species together.

When the Indonesian government sent a delegation to officially establish contact with the alien species, they found that the groundwork for diplomacy had already been laid. The children’s game became a symbol of unity, demonstrating that sometimes, the most profound connections begin with something as simple as a shared love for play.

Gaia, Northeastern "New Asia", Setsujoku. July 10th 2038. 2350 Hours

The night was cold and eerily quiet outside the makeshift hospital in the Japanese colony of Setsujoku. The wind howled faintly, whispering through the cracks in the prefabricated walls of the building. Inside, however, the air was charged with tension and the soft hum of medical equipment. The nurses and doctors moved swiftly through the sterile, dimly lit corridors, their every step deliberate as they prepared for a moment that would etch itself into the annals of human history.

It was a little past midnight, and the hospital was alive with activity. The atmosphere was a blend of excitement and apprehension. Every person in the room understood the gravity of what was happening. This was no ordinary medical procedure. What they were witnessing was an event unprecedented in human history: the birth of the first human child on Gaia.

The maternity ward had been transformed into a controlled chaos of activity. Monitors beeped rhythmically, tracking the vitals of Mitsue Mikka, a 23-year-old woman lying on a hospital bed in the center of the room. She was drenched in sweat, her breaths heavy and labored as contractions wracked her body. Beside her, a nurse wiped her brow with a damp cloth, whispering reassurances in soft, soothing tones.

Mikka’s husband, Fujii Toshiaki, paced nervously outside the delivery room, wringing his hands and glancing at the closed door every few seconds. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement. He longed to be by his wife's side but was barred from entering until the critical moment passed. The hallway around him was stark, illuminated by cold fluorescent lights. Other colonists, some close friends and others simply curious onlookers, whispered among themselves, awaiting news of the historic event.

Unlike other nations, Japan’s approach to colonization prioritized young adults between the ages of 22 and 30. The government, desperate to reverse decades of population decline, had crafted a plan to encourage a demographic renaissance on Gaia. Land ownership, economic benefits, and extensive support for families with more than three children were among the incentives offered. The result was unprecedented: marriage and childbirth rates soared. Young couples embraced the idea of starting anew on a planet filled with opportunity.

The success of the program caught the attention of other nations grappling with similar demographic issues, such as South Korea and China, who began drafting their own versions of Japan’s policy.

Inside the delivery room, a team of five medical professionals worked with clockwork precision. The head doctor, Dr. Hiroshi Nakamura, had years of experience in obstetrics but admitted to himself that this particular case felt different. Although Gaia’s gravity was only 10% lower than Earth’s, there were still concerns about how this would impact childbirth. Every step of the procedure had been meticulously planned, and additional equipment had been brought from Earth to ensure a safe delivery.

Mikka winced as another contraction hit. Dr. Nakamura studied the monitor displaying the baby’s heart rate and gave a firm nod to his team.
“The baby is coming,” he said calmly. “Prepare for delivery.”

A nurse adjusted Mikka’s oxygen mask while another held her hand, guiding her through the process. Sterile instruments gleamed under the bright surgical lights as Dr. Nakamura positioned himself to assist in the delivery. The room was thick with anticipation as Mikka screamed, her voice breaking the tension like a crack of thunder.

“Push, Mitsue-san,” urged the nurse. “You’re doing great. One more push!”

With a final, determined effort, Mikka bore down, and the first cry of a newborn baby pierced the room. It was a sound that brought tears to the eyes of everyone present. The nurse immediately wrapped the baby in a warm towel, carefully cutting the umbilical cord while Dr. Nakamura checked for any complications.

“It’s a boy,” Dr. Nakamura announced, his voice filled with relief and joy. The room erupted in quiet cheers and applause as the baby was handed to a nurse for a health check. The newborn squirmed and cried, his tiny hands grasping at the air. His skin was pink and warm, his lungs strong—a perfect symbol of hope for humanity’s future on Gaia.

As soon as the initial checks were completed, the nurse brought the baby to Mikka, who held him close to her chest. Her tears of pain turned to tears of joy as she gazed down at her son. Fujii burst into the room, unable to contain himself any longer. He rushed to Mikka’s side, his eyes wide with wonder as he looked at his child for the first time.

“Congratulations, Fujii-san,” Dr. Nakamura said, smiling. “You’re a father.”

Fujii knelt beside the bed, wrapping his arms around his wife and son. “He’s… perfect,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Our little Izanagi.”

In the corner of the room, a scientist observed quietly, scribbling notes in a journal. The baby’s health and development would be closely monitored, as humanity still had much to learn about how life on Gaia might differ from life on Earth. Would the planet’s unique gravitational field and atmospheric composition affect human biology in the long term? So far, the signs were promising.

Meanwhile, the couple’s joy spread far beyond the hospital walls. A nurse took a photo of the newborn and uploaded it to the colony’s network. Within hours, the news had reached Earth. Television screens and online news outlets were ablaze with headlines: First Human Born on Gaia!

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Back in the hospital room, Mikka and Fujii marveled at their son, who had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms. The room had grown quieter now, the earlier tension replaced with a warm sense of peace. As the first parents on Gaia, they knew they bore a special responsibility, but for now, they simply cherished the miracle of their child.

Outside the hospital, the stars of Gaia shone brightly against the dark sky, as if welcoming the newest member of humanity to their home.

Author's Note

Why was Japan's colony called "Setsujoku"?
I got the inspiration from the Dawn Of Victory space opera.

Btw, how many children do you think you would make if you were a colonist on Gaia?