I wake up, lying on the cold, metallic table. It is quiet here, but not silent. I can hear hushed voices speaking with excitement. I don't know what's going on. Until two seconds before, I didn't exist. One of the voices approaches me and tells me to stand up. The voice belonged to a tall, slim, and pale green alien. His face was odd. He had slim eyes that looked like slits rather than eyes. His nose was long and thin. And his mouth was disproportionately small.
"Come. I will tell you why you are here." he assured me.
I obediently stand from the table and try to accustom myself to the feeling of my own body. I'm dressed in a black, shining, armor-like suit.
"I am named Pralt. I'm a member of a group called the Preagean Council. I'm telling you this because you have a mission. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Our universe is controlled by an all powerful being called Artist. And he has told us that our universe will soon be swept away like dust. We have elected to ensure our continuity by creating six beings who are unable to die. You are on of them."
This is a lot to carry for someone who was created ten minutes ago. I walked forward with Pralt but didn't speak. It was like this for several minutes. Pralt spoke again, destroying the quiet.
"Your assignment is to inhabit a world, befriend its dominant species, and one day, help them to reestablish our place in the universe."
I listen as he instructs me. Then I speak. It's my first time using my voice.
"And what will be of the five others? Will they be with me?"
"They will be sent to other worlds. Their mission is the same but you cannot go with them. We don't know which world will be capable of rebuilding our species first, so you will each be dispatched to different ones."
"This is disheartening. I would've hoped to be friends with the only people who will live as long as I." I informed him.
"Shame, but there is a positive. When we are brought back into existence, you will be reunited with the others. You can tell them of your journey. And they will tell you of each of theirs."
"I see." I said simply.
I can't decline his assignment. I have to accept.
"When will I have to leave Pralt?"
"Soon. The others are waiting. We will go there now."
He led me through the complex workings of what I assumed was the Council's chamber. As we entered into the room, several beings resembling Pralt stood by and five other beings dressed and built similarly to myself waited in a line. I placed myself in the line and waited. After a short time, a thunderous but calm voice erupted into speech.
"You six will be our hope. You carry the weight of our race upon you. As you scatter across this new universe, guide your worlds. Lead them to the completion of your mission. We entrust you with this goal. Now go. And save us."
The last order rang in my head. There was something so certain about its instruction that slightly uneased me. What if we didn't desire to save you? What if we couldn't? I dismissed the thought as soon as I conceived it. After all, they were going to be obliterated, they couldn't force us to do anything. They had no way to ensure we'd do what they were asking. I kept my secret rebellion to myself and moved onto the ship.
From there, we were further informed in exactly what we were to do. The ship had six capsules. Each capsule had multiple samples of Preagean DNA, the entire record of Preagean history, and several items of Preagean society. We each were told to take one capsule with us and board a jumpship after the End took place. These capsules would be our device for reviving the doomed race that created us. Shortly after being told again what I was required to do, I decided I wasn't going fulfill this request. The others still hadn't spoken to me as of yet.
The last of our creators stepped off of the vessel and we were lifted from the ground. We flew away from the hangar and were carried hundreds of millions of miles away. And we waited.
After what felt like an eternity, we witnessed it. The End. The Preagean universe exploding into a symphony of color and light. The beauty of it filled me with uncertainty as I knew countless lives had been ended. It was horrifyingly beautiful. And I knew that the beginning of my life had ended. One look at the others, and I knew they had the same epiphany.
YOU ARE READING
Traveller #1
AdventureTraveller #1 Journey Series This story depicts the origin of the immortal wanderer called Traveller. It begins with his "birth" and his decision to defy the very reason he was created. And the turmoil that follows. Be prepared to hear of his adventu...