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?”