The Traveler

Summit

So this is the one time I can learn, the one life I lead. It's only fair that I give back to those who have taken me into their care. I thought about that a lot recently. I was really indebted to Krenwill.

"Hey Kren?" I was perched at the end of the bed watching the morning light filter through the window. A ray of sunlight warmed my legs that dangled lazily from the mattress.

Kren was getting his boots on slowly. There was a different look on his face. "You're still thinking about us right?"

He raised his eyes to meet mine. "What do you mean by 'us'?"

"I mean how you feel about a human and-"

"Please. I'd like to be considered one of your kind. Our past is just so terribly embarrassing."

A pause filled the sunlit space between us; "I guess we have one thing in common then." I smiled.

"And what is that?" He smiled his perfect smile back at me. "We both have messed up histories."

"Maybe. But don't compare yours to ours. Alright?"

I just shrugged. I then realized the depth of his truth and nodded in accordance. He was right. He remembered the mistakes. Still...sometimes I still feel that's better than what I have now. Nothing. Nothing is a lot to bear.

We drove the last few miles to the city in our car, to our destination; the 'central' or 'headquarters' of his kind. He was very serious about it. This wasn't an underground bunker, nor was it an isolated basement or studio. This was the single tallest skyscraper in Atlanta; also just another building amidst the grey skyline. I stared upward at the massive metal and glass building in awe. We stepped out of the car in a lot; Kren paid for our fare at the parking fee stand. The bustling heat was very different than what I was accustomed to. There were horns and sirens in the cramped yet colorful flowing streets. The cars and buses passed by in an anxious march towards some all-important destination. Or perhaps these individuals were off to work from a nearby apartment or city home. I stood awhile in the acrid air waiting for Kren; managing to observe a couple solitary figures on the streets. In the city everyone was moving with a purpose. I did not see anyone standing around or resting on a bench; the pace was much more upbeat and rhythmic. Music escaped from the cars stuck in the glacial glue of traffic. There was rap, rock, and various undertones of opera and jazz. The mingling of these sounds produced a cacophonous orchestra that enveloped each street in a fog of confusion and excitement. The beeps and the hissing of midday heat clouded my vision and orientation. I was ill at ease here, suggesting that I had not come from a city. I had figured one thing out, or guessed at it.

Kren tapped me on the shoulder softly. He had sensed my insecurity and tension. He did not speak, but he touched the faintest reaches of my mind carefully, not to startle me. I acknowledged the gesture by smiling faintly. Warmth flowed into me. I stood up straighter and smiled, Kren was very helpful when I became doubtful. The telepathy was amazing, and I wished I could do something that unbelievable too. I followed him down a street corner and up to the revolving entrance of the unmarked skyscraper. Then I was completely engulfed by the mouth of the building.

Across the dull brown lounge, there sat a desk with a typical secretary at her post. I felt prying eyes from all over. A few couches and chairs clustered around a window to the right. Kren and the woman made eye contact and I felt, to my dismay, my mental line being temporarily shut off for a private discussion. I waited patiently and with growing nerve. Their mental conversation lasted for a good five minutes.

Kren merely led me away to an elevator door. There was a low, pleasant ding as the doors slid open. We stepped inside and Kren pressed Level 21. We rose. Another ding as the doors slid open this time. Before us lay a long and ominous hall. On both sides of the narrow hallway there hung portraits; they were paintings, rather, of unusually attractive businessmen. All wore suits and looked about the same age. As a matter of fact, their kind looked all the same age...except for the 'commander' of the Kren's group (Kren pointed him out in a whisper, as we walked down the hall)...he was slightly older. But the rest were all young and prime in their youth. I was going to pose a question about this to Kren, but he silenced me this time with a physical gesture of his finger to his lips. I stayed silent and followed Kren with a sense of dread. I know not why I felt so ready to flee, but I did not feel welcome here. At the end of the long hall stood a semi-transparent glass door with the words "Administration Head Office" printed in black. I paused, my breath held in fear of being too noisy, hoping that Kren would enter before me. To my dismay, he signaled for me to go alone. I had to say something.

"What exactly is this?" I had a welling-up anxiety that penetrated his composure.

He replied with a rather oddly calm enthusiasm. "Call it your orientation." A quick smile followed, to reassure me that it was alright.

The door creaked open from the inside as I felt my head buzz. Someone else had tapped into my consciousness. I took a deep breath and entered. There was no one at the door. I heard the door shut behind me as Kren whispered, "Don't worry."

I was truly clueless. It really was odd that nobody had told me what was going on. I found it a bit distrustful and suspicious.

There was a beautiful sculpture in the center of the bright room. The walls, I suddenly realized, were covered in paintings of flowers and floral designs. Miniscule birds and butterflies carpeted the walls. I approached the sculpture in cautious fascination. The thing was of a shiny metallic form. It was a collection of spirals and branches of metal; the arms stretched intricately upwards. A bluish light pulsated at the center. I noticed this phenomenon as I came up to the sculpture. I felt incredibly compelled to reach among the silver branches to touch the blue center. It took up space but did not appear to be a physical object. I was about to, if it wasn't for a mental voice that warned me against this.

"Please don't touch. Just look. Don't touch. Why do humans always want to touch? As I said. Humans."

I was aware of someone else's presence in the room, besides the woman who addressed me. I wondered who it was. Turning around, I took in the two beautiful creatures before me. They were not human. They resembled Kren in his alien form. Their holographic, shifting shapes were difficult to focus on as they moved. But the type of light that made up the larger one was of a bright red glow. The one at its side was green. I assumed that the red one was in a higher-ranked social position. I was right.

I felt my ankles weaken as something probed my mind. I winced as I involuntarily sank to my knees before them. It gave me a sense of humiliation and weakness. I let the current take me away as I closed my eyes and sank under the stream of thought. I was watched under serene calm.

My inner eye opened to see the pale green background. Where did this come from?
"I know you are confused. That is only natural." The female voice was more friendly.

"Am I a threat?"

"Of course not. You are innocent."

"I don't want to be rude, but what exactly am I supposed to do here? And where's Krenwill?"

The male voice was less soothing. "Quiet. Mother is in the middle of something."

"It is alright. This is a one-on-one conversation. I would appreciate your patience right now."

"Yes Mother."

"As I was saying..." she continued. "You had a connection to one of us and have not yet received the Brand, correct?"

"I... yes." I assumed she meant me and Kren by the 'connection'.

"Then here you are. Child of mine. Defender. You are quite famous among our kind."

I was famous? I was very pleased to hear that I was so easily accepted by the Krell, but never expected a Brand of Union to be given to me this way. I felt...special.

"Wait." I had one question for her.

"Yes?" her reply was patient and calm. This reassured me further.

"Are you the head of this group of uh...I forgot your official name." I blushed.

"We call ourselves the Krell; a name from the ancient language. Yes. Now we must commence. I still have a lot to attend to today."

"Of course. Thank you." I added. I did not want to mess with her. I could feel her powerful mind wrap around the room and enter my own mind again. She was truly a frightening but respectable entity. Whomever the Krell held in such regard was not to be taken lightly. And their acceptance of me, a human, was an honor I had underestimated.