Traveller #1

Discord

     A long time passed and we had still not spoken. They didn't know me, I didn't know them. Each of us barely even knew ourself. Several minutes passed. It was then I spoke.
     "What are we to do now?" I asked the others.
     "I believe acquainting ourselves with each other would be a good first step." said a more wise-looking one. "I am Elder. I contain the record of all of Preagean history. My job is to preserve all of the data that the Preagean Council rendered unto me." he explained.
     His introduction was succint but hearing another voice was relaxing. I began to panic. Elder said he was given a set of specific instructions, I was not told my purpose, what was I to say when the others asked? Before I could devise the words to conceal my nervousness, another of us began to talk.
     "I am Student. They told me I have to learn as much as I can about everything so I can tell them about it when they're reborn."
     After Student, the remaining three followed.
     "My name is Revive. They said I was damaged during construction so my cells do die over time but will regenerate afterwards which would resurrect me. My instructions are to infiltrate the infrastructure of whatever world I find myself in and adapt to their culture."
     "My name is Guide. I was told to lead my world to peace and prosperity by strategically placing myself in positions of power."
     Guide's words were spoken with calm but he seemed to be rather unnerving. I elected to deal with that later.
     Two of us remained. I rushed to finish the details of my lie so I could mask my ignorance. It occurred to me the other one who hadn't spoken might be doing the same.
    "Ever. That's my name. I wasn't given a specific set of instructions to follow through with. I suppose I'll just learn as I go." his words were short, and I felt he didn't understand the severity of our situation.
     The others awaited my name. I was silent for a few seconds an then devised a course.
    "Elder. If you know all about everything, tell them what my name is." I commanded.
     It was clever enough to tell them who I was without showing that I didn't know.
     Elder looked puzzled, but promptly obeyed. He didn't want to receive negative judgement from the only other living things in all of existence.
     "You're Traveller. Your mission is to wander and befriend all groups of people."
     Continuing on my current  suspicion of Elder, I spoke again.
     "You're right." I said, subtly communicating a disdain for the wiseman.
     "Ok, so we know each other. Now what?" Ever interjected.
     I looked at the others and concluded that my best move would be to take leadership.
     "I propose we disregard our mission from the Council." I answered defiantly.
     Revive quickly countered my decision.
     "That's treason."
     "Doesn't a government have to exist before it can be revolted against?" Guide asked rhetorically.
     "Fair point, Guide. But Traveller is suggesting we act against the very reason we were created." Elder pointed out. "Can we do that?"
     "We have charge of our own destiny. Of course we can." I informed him. "Why should we obey the orders of a race that just got swept from history?"
     "We shouldn't, there's no point." Guide revealed.
     Ever, Guide, and I stood opposite from Student, Elder, and Revive like soldiers waiting the order to charge.
     "You don't have to do anything. But it seems that ignoring the reason for which you were made would be madness."
     "Is it? Is it? Is it?!" Guide questioned, feeling a rage build inside him.
     I looked at him, with concern, but kept my focus on the current disagreement.
     "The Artist, if he exists, wanted the Preageans gone for a reason. Who are we to defy that?" I pondered.
     The other three tried to form a valid answer but gave no reply. I smirked.
     "If you want to challenge the decision of an all-powerful entity, you go ahead. But don't put my name on it." I told them as a final statement.
     After this, we'd settled the debate. Over time Student, Elder, and Revive saw the logic to our reasoning and changed their stance.
     From there we lived I peace aboard our travelling spacecraft and home. We ate through our rations carefully, and listened to Elder's stories from the Preagean reign.
     Despite our initial conflict, the six of us grew to be great friends. After all, we had to wait millions of years for a new universe to explode into existence, we would be better of being friends.
     Each day was the same, and it made the prospect of variety in the future more and more enchanting, but also more and more distant.
     I still believed that we'd one day find our way to a celestial body that suited us. The others, except for Elder, hadn't been so optimistic.
     But then, one day, we saw brilliant flash of light and an explosion only rivaled by the one we'd witnessed 566 million years ago when the previous universe was destroyed. Our new worlds had come.
     We spent months marveling at the wonder of it.
     But our awestruck haze did not last. Another disagreement arose. Should we all venture into one world, or shall we separate as initially intended?
     "I've spent over half a billion years with you five. And I've learned that I prefer quiet." Guide remarked.
     "Then you go your own way, we won't stop you." I told him.
     Student nearly interjected but caught his words before they met the air. He paused. Then spoke.
     "Guide, would I be welcome with you?" he asked. He had developed a sort of bond with Guide.
     Guide sighed. "No Student, I need to be free of you all. It's not personal."
     His last sentence had offered no solace to Student, who said nothing else.
     "I advocate staying together. We'll need some form of constance in our lives if we're going to live for eternity. We'll be driven mad if we don't." Elder pointed out.
     Unfortunately, I agreed with him. But I couldn't let him know that.
     "Okay, this is what we'll do. We can all stay together, unless one of us wishes to be separate. And that one can only be followed if they permit it. Are these terms acceptable?" I asked.
     They each nodded affirmatively. Student still seemed disheartened, but he agreed.
     Of course, I had another idea.
     Soon night fell, and the others slept. I went to work.
     I started with Elder, he'd resist the least. I carried his sleeping body to one of the jumpships and set coordinates for one of the planets that had developed. He hadn't stirred. I stepped out and shut the door. I initiated the launch sequence. He heard the alarms through his sleep and awoke.
    "Traveller! What are you doing?!" he demanded through the glass.
     I was silent. The pod unlatched and began to drift away. Elder pounded the window with clenched fists. Then the hyper-speed drive took effect and he vanished into the void of space.
     I returned to the quarters, and did the same with Ever, Revive, and Guide. Each of them went to different planets in the system.
     Only Student remained. I heaved and picked up the limp body and carried him to the second to last pod. Then I placed him in the seat and fastened the protective restraints.
     "Sorry, but this needs to be done. I'll come back for you someday." I whispered to the sleeping man.
     I stepped out and started the launch. The ship departed and soon my last companion was gone from my sight. I had no idea when I'd see any of them again. But that wasn't the issue I needed to worry about now. I needed to focus on getting my ship down to the planet I reserved for myself.
     Fortunately, the ship's controls were similar to the pods'. I plotted the location and slept. When I awoke, I'd be on my new home, and I wouldn't be leaving it for a long time.