TRL

TRL 1

¹The traveler lies awake. ²She knows that she should get some sleep before the journey that lies ahead, but she is restless. ³And although the traveler knows that she has had a good life, born and raised on earth, she was never quite satisfied with the whims of the world. ⁴So she built an impressive machine, a vessel, capable of taking a single passenger on an epic journey through space and time. ⁵And as the traveler lies awake, her thoughts race, thinking about what lies ahead, mostly, wondering what awaits her, if humanity will have even made it all the way out there. ⁶Eventually, the moment arrives, and the traveler faces the vessel. ⁷She knows that she will have to leave her home behind, because although the vessel is impressive, and it is fast, it can only move forward. ⁸The emotions flow through her, anxiety, excitement, fear, but they all seem to blend together as she takes one last glance at earth. ⁹And the traveler sees her fellow humans, surrounding her, clapping and cheering and crying, but their faces all look the same to her. ¹⁰But she is at ease, because she feels as though she has seen all that this world could offer, and will be satisfied with her journey, no matter if she is enlightened or destroyed. ¹¹The traveler steps into the vessel, and its door shuts. ¹²And as the computers and engines of the vessel whir to life, the traveler notices a small note, left by someone she knows, a dear friend, perhaps. ¹³Good luck, it reads, and the traveler smiles and almost drops the note, but decides to turn it over, revealing scribbled text, scratched out, but still legible. ¹⁴The traveler examines the paper for a few moments, confused, before speaking the written words out loud, not to anybody in particular. ¹⁵“Do you believe in obligation?”

TRL 2

¹The traveler observes a new world, gleaming bright against the blackness of the void behind it. ²From her perspective, she has only just left earth, but she knows that by now, she must already be a million eons away. ³She is nervous, but mostly relieved, because she knows that there was no guarantee that the vessel would find humans, all the way out here. ⁴But as the vessel lands atop an impressive structure and the traveler steps out, all thoughts of home vanish. ⁵She gazes out at the view, golden skyscrapers and glimmering bridges extending past the horizon, as far as her eyes can see. ⁶“Welcome, traveler. ⁷I know who you are. ⁸There were rumors that someone like you could be out there. ⁹I represent humanity, on this world, in all our glory. ¹⁰I am beyond honored that you chose to visit our world.” ¹¹The traveler is startled by the voice, loud and clear, and she turns around, and she sees the representative, undeniably human, quite like herself, in a way. ¹²“It’s gorgeous, but, I.” ¹³The traveler does not quite finish her sentence, as she looks at the representative, who smiles, genuinely, and looks back. ¹⁴“Do not worry, dear traveler, I know you must have had quite a journey. ¹⁵I will show you what we have built. ¹⁶The limits of humanity are greater than you could possibly dream.” ¹⁷“Do you not see it? ¹⁸Your world, it’s absolutely stunning, dear representative, and I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it back home. ¹⁹Let me ask, how did you achieve such perfection?” ²⁰“It took a lot of work. ²¹A lot, dear traveler, and I don’t think you would really understand what we’ve been through on this world. ²²But it was worth the toil, because now, we have it all. ²³Any problem you can think of has been solved and any pleasure you can imagine is free.” ²⁴“But, dear representative, what’s the secret? ²⁵Have you found it? ²⁶Something divine, magical, even, something true and pure in all of the chaos?” ²⁷And the representative laughs, but looks away, and does not respond. ²⁸By now, the traveler sits, and she is enjoying this world, but she feels a profound emptiness, too. ²⁹“I am not surprised that you are curious, dear traveler, and maybe you can understand me, because I know that you are from earth. ³⁰Oh, if only I could have seen earth, the moon and the pyramids. ³¹Because sometimes I stand where you are now, and I look out into the universe, at all the beauty that I can see. ³²But it feels so empty, because I know I still have not seen all of it, and I worry that I have barely even scratched the surface. ³³But still, I am happy, or at least I hope. ³⁴And you are more than welcome to stay, dear traveler, if you’d like, and maybe you can help me understand what it is all about.” ³⁵And the traveler had suspected that the representative would eventually ask, but still, the words stun her, because although she is grateful to have seen this world, she knows in her heart and soul that she cannot stay. ³⁶“I would love to, dear representative. ³⁷But will you keep me strong? ³⁸For I fear that I am not yet sure what I am searching for. ³⁹And I’m grateful for you, I really am, I promise, but can you inspire me?”

TRL 3

¹The traveler finds herself lost. ²Her memory is fuzzy since exiting the vessel, and she stands atop some sort of overpass, looking down at the humans of this world, who fly past, so fast, it seems. ³A cold snow falls from the sky, but not quite like the snow on earth, and the traveler cannot help but think of home. ⁴“Be careful, traveler.” ⁵The representative stands behind the traveler, but she does not turn, and only gazes at the concrete halls below. ⁶“Where am I?” ⁷And although she is confident, as she has prepared well for her journey, she is anxious, too, because she worries about time. ⁸“I know, the walls are thick and the wind is harsh sometimes. ⁹But at least I’m here with you, right?” ¹⁰“I should give you something, dear representative. ¹¹I don’t quite know what it is, yet, but you deserve it, all of you, the humans of this world. ¹²And it’s not anything perfect, but it’s something, and even just by speaking to you, now, I am creating it, putting it out into the world.” ¹³The representative is silent for a moment. ¹⁴“You are free to do as you wish here, traveler. ¹⁵But please, promise me that as you wander these walls, you will be careful, and more importantly, you will be precise, because the stairs are many, but the doors are locked, you see.” ¹⁶The traveler finally turns around and looks into the eyes of the representative. ¹⁷“But I need my ship. ¹⁸Where is it? ¹⁹Tell me, please, dear representative, because I really should get going by now.” ²⁰The traveler is frustrated, for she does not understand this world, as she wanders its streets and steps, searching. ²¹But even in the maze, the representative always seems to follow her close. ²²“I can help you, traveler. ²³I do not know where your ship is. ²⁴But let me ask, is it hiding from you, or are you hiding from it?” ²⁵The traveler does not listen, and sits in a dark corner of an empty corridor. ²⁶And her eye catches something peculiar, fluttering softly in the wind, a page of an old book, perhaps. ²⁷She examines it, for a moment, but she cannot understand its mysterious symbols. ²⁸And the traveler wishes she could read it, for she knows that it must have meaning, but she can only wonder. ²⁹And she feels contempt towards the representative, in this moment, and she almost wants to cry and scream, but she stops herself. ³⁰“I will accept your help, dear representative, and I am grateful, but I hope you know that although this world is impressive, you can do better, I’m sure of it.”

TRL 4

¹The traveler sits comfortably in the vessel, gazing out of its window. ²This world is empty and dark, it seems, but peaceful, the stars above dimly lighting up the rivers and fields around her. ³And as she sits, her thoughts race, thinking about home and herself and all the worlds she has seen. ⁴She almost wishes she could stay in the vessel forever, only watching tomorrow instead of living it. ⁵But she knows she has no choice, for she is a traveler, so she begins to roam this world. ⁶And humanity’s presence is subtle, but certain, as she wanders aimlessly through the crops and the ruins. ⁷The traveler cannot quite grasp what it is, but this world gives her an eerie feeling, enough to send a shiver down her spine. ⁸“Who are you?” ⁹She knew to expect the representative, eventually, but not like this. ¹⁰“I am a traveler. ¹¹I come from a world, far, far away.” ¹²The representative does not move, and only stares at the traveler. ¹³“I guess it was only a matter of time before someone like you showed up.” ¹⁴The traveler is confused. ¹⁵“How is life on your world? ¹⁶Are you happy? ¹⁷Tell me, please, because I know that you are human, and you represent the humans of this world.” ¹⁸The representative and the traveler face each other. ¹⁹It is night, and it is dark. ²⁰“Do you understand it now?” ²¹“Maybe. ²²I don’t know. ²³Because what if you’re wrong?” ²⁴“If I’m wrong then I’m wrong, and I fear it every day. ²⁵But I’d rather be wrong and be destroyed than live without trying.” ²⁶“You don’t get it. ²⁷You’ll never know what it’s like to be me.” ²⁸“I know, I never will. ²⁹But do you not dream of grandeur? ³⁰Do you not wonder what lies between you and the face of death?” ³¹And as the traveler and the representative face each other, the sky lights up, epic purples and pinks flooding the heavens, almost as if there were a window into the soul of infinity ^^TKS^^. ³²By now, the traveler is inside, and she is cozy, but she is lost in her thoughts. ³³The representative speaks, offering the traveler a warm drink. ³⁴“Would you like some?” ³⁵The traveler glances up. ³⁶“Yes, please, thank you.” ³⁷“But what is your secret, traveler? ³⁸How do you find the strength to continue your journey, when even the stars themselves begin to cool down?” ³⁹The traveler smiles, but looks down. ⁴⁰“I don’t know. ⁴¹I’ll be completely honest with you, dear representative. ⁴²I don’t believe in ghosts. ⁴³But still, I fear there is more in life and death than what is possible in this world. ⁴⁴But it doesn’t keep me up at night, no, not quite like it used to. ⁴⁵It only inspires me to climb closer to glory. ⁴⁶And I don’t know if my pride or my heart will destroy me first, but I don’t think that I could stop fighting, even if I wanted, because I fear what I am more than anything.” ⁴⁷The representative’s eyes are closed, and there is a moment of silence. ⁴⁸“Your words impress me.”

TRL 5

¹“Wow.” ²The traveler stands in a peaceful garden, high in the sky, and does not speak to anybody in particular, gazing at the white arches and elegant columns around her. ³She is at ease, but exhausted, certainly, for the journey has been long. ⁴She notices the vines, especially, climbing up the walls, gracefully yet relentlessly. ⁵“It catches up to you, doesn’t it?” ⁶The voice comes from behind the traveler, out of sight. ⁷And she smiles, turning around. ⁸“It’s gorgeous.” ⁹“I hope you enjoy our world. ¹⁰It has not always been so pleasant here. ¹¹But we have overcome our struggles, dear traveler, and built a paradise among the stars.” ¹²The traveler and the representative sit, together, overlooking the world, their legs swinging freely in the open air. ¹³“Dear representative, you impress me. ¹⁴For I have seen many worlds on my journey, gold and grim, barren and nonsensical, and everything in between. ¹⁵But there is always more to see, as every world is something new, something unique, but it can be lonely, too. ¹⁶And I enjoy my travels, I really do, but I love your world, with all my heart, and I would love to stay, to live and die here. ¹⁷But it would not be the end of my journey, no, but a new beginning, I’d hope.” ¹⁸The representative looks at the traveler, and she notices an expression of deep sadness in the representative, something she has not seen in a very long time. ¹⁹“I’m sorry, beloved traveler, but you can’t stay.” ²⁰By now, the traveler and the representative lie down, together, gazing at the sky. ²¹And as she looks at the unfamiliar stars, she is overcome with a deep nostalgia so profound that it is almost unbearable, the feeling of home so close, but she still cannot quite grasp it. ²²“But why? ²³I trust you, dear representative, and I promise that I can offer you more than you could know, so don’t you trust me, too?” ²⁴But even as the words flow out, she is distracted, and she only thinks of her home and her bed. ²⁵“I’m sorry, I really am, but it’s just the way it is. ²⁶You are a traveler. ²⁷This is not the place for you.” ²⁸And the traveler is heartbroken, but she understands, because she knows that the representative is right, in a way, her humanity no match for that of this world.

TRL 6

¹The traveler steps out of the door of the vessel. ²This world is gray, and stormy, with mighty cities extending past the horizon, reflective blacks and jagged towers as far as her eyes can see. ³And despite the fierce wind against her back, she finds comfort in the view. ⁴The traveler notices the representative, facing away from her, looking down, at the streets below. ⁵“Impressive.” ⁶The representative does not turn, but flinches slightly at the traveler’s words. ⁷“I know who you are, traveler. ⁸I didn’t think you’d ever end up here.” ⁹She sees that the representative is a warrior, worn down from ages of conflict, but undeniably human, quite like herself. ¹⁰But the traveler’s age shows, too, in her eyes, especially, because although the vessel is remarkable, the journey has been long. ¹¹The traveler laughs. ¹²“I try to come around.” ¹³“Can you help us? ¹⁴This world is failing. ¹⁵We have so much, but our humanity is dying. ¹⁶I am afraid.” ¹⁷The wind howls loudly, sweeping through the rusted metal spires surrounding them. ¹⁸“Yes, I can help you, dear representative. ¹⁹I hope you’ll be impressed with what I have to offer.” ²⁰The representative glances back at the traveler. ²¹“Can I ask you something, mighty traveler? ²²In all of your travels, did you ever find it? ²³I think you know what I mean.” ²⁴“Yes, I think I see it now. ²⁵Not all of it, no, I doubt that’s possible, and I’m sure you see parts of it, too. ²⁶And I’m only human, so I can’t promise perfection, but I can promise that I will try. ²⁷And I’m speaking to you, dear humans of this world, because if you can see it, too, then your world can heal, and you will be greater than you could possibly dream. ²⁸I don’t know what I did to deserve my journey and my vessel. ²⁹But I know that I must help you, and if I die trying then I will die, being grateful to have been at your service. ³⁰Because yes, I see it, dear representative, and some days it’s as cloudy as the storms of this world, but other days it’s as clear as the sky back home. ³¹Oh, god, if only you could see the sky back home.” ³²By now, the traveler is crying, overwhelmed by the grandeur of the moment, but the representative does not look into her eyes, only down, at the streets below. ³³“Continue, please, traveler, I am listening.”

TRL 7

¹The traveler finds herself launched into the air. ²An error in the vessel’s systems, perhaps, or some unfortunate collision, but the ship cannot handle it, using its dying effort to keep the traveler safe, as it crashes into the grass below in a fiery explosion. ³The traveler watches as flames consume the vessel, trillions of transistors breaking as the ship disintegrates, its infinite complexity vanishing, swallowed by the life of the fire, reduced to a hunk of metal and plastic and glass. ⁴And in this moment, the traveler almost cannot believe her eyes, as it all happened so fast. ⁵But she is at ease, because although now she can never leave, she already knew that, for home is millions of eons away, lost to time, which she knew would eventually claim her vessel, too. ⁶The traveler notices a tattered structure, overgrown and crumbling, that she recognizes as human from its rugged square angles and intricate pillars, too complex to be created by wind and water. ⁷And after looking closer, she sees faded words, an engraving at the top of the structure, and to her surprise, she even recognizes some of the chiseled symbols. ⁸And although the meaning is unintelligible, she smiles, because even here, so many eons away, she sees a reflection of home. ⁹Still descending slowly, she makes out the text, which reads T–v- K_–-d– S–-j. ¹⁰And when the traveler touches the surface, she falls to her knees, bringing her face almost to the soft grass. ¹¹And she speaks, out loud, the words ringing out into the open clearing in front. ¹²“Dear universe, in all your glory, let me speak to you, please. ¹³I don’t know where you brought me, but if I am alone, let me be at peace, and if they await me, let them await me with love. ¹⁴And I know I can never go back home, but I’m grateful I had it, and I am grateful for my journey, too, the beauty and the grace of it all. ¹⁵And although I have seen so much of you, I fear I have only caught a glimpse of your truth, for you are too grand, dear universe. ¹⁶So hold me close, my creator and my grave, as I ask you, dearly, to bring me fortune and to bring me health in this world. ¹⁷Because just as I am part of you, you are part of me, too, so above all else, keep me strong, and let me be humble in your vastness.”