Terra - Chapter Two
We got inside of the big building. It looked like a giant storage facility; futuristic storage to be exact.It was filled with little cubicles with numbers above. In the entrance were instructions about how to get your accommodations.
You had to put your hand on a screen. A computer would say your name and the number of your cubicle. Big signs hanging from the roof saying the numbers of the section and some sort of lights on the walls were the decorations.
I got the 6707, Lisa got 1009; “Try to sleep,” she told me. “You too,” I replied as we got separated looking for our new “Home.” My cubicle had an automatic window door that opened at my command. The door could change color at a push of a button from crystal clear to dark black. So you could see outside or you could remain in privacy.
Near a bed next to some shelves, there was a desk in front of a chair; in the desk was a sheet with instructions on how to operate the lights inside of the room. Also in the corner there was this mini toilet with a little wall or something that seemed like a wall, covering it. And finally in the corner in front of the toilet there was a sink so you could get water.
Inside, the temperature was perfect, not cold not hot. I was surprised of how inside of the shelves were my actual clothes. I mean, I never had the chance to pack or anything but there it was. There even was stuff I lost in other places, not all of it but some of it. I was glad to see it all. It felt like a piece of my actual home.
It was a very busy day, so I decided to try to sleep. But I had all these dreams of Earth and the Catarax reminding me what just happened…
I was home, it was Friday. No more work for that day, just relaxing on my chair. I turn on the TV and there it was, news about an Alien ship landing on United Nations Offices (UNO). Several weeks ago a lot of gossip and news was reported about an Alien ship approaching Earth. And before that UFO sightings were more and more frequent everywhere. So often in fact that everyone was talking about it.
“It was a matter of time,” I said to myself.
The alien ship on the UNO opened. Two beings got outside of the craft, they were big, full of muscle, with a reptilian look. And they had very sharp teeth. They were wearing some kind of armor, and they were carrying big rifles on their backs.
The mass media was there covering the most important news of the century, and everyone was eager to hear it…
Without further explanation or salutation, the bigger being said, “We are the Caratax rightful owners of the galaxy and soon the universe. We claim this as our planet, all conscious beings living in it surrender and we will let you live as our slaves, deny this and you will cease to exist… what is your answer?”
The selected person to be the Earth ambassador in the case of alien encounters, approached and said, “I am sorry but we do not wish to make war with you or do any harm to your people. This is our home. Perhaps this is a misunderstanding. We are a race with a very rich culture, and we can share a lot with you if you are willing to share your friendship with us; please let me ta…”
She couldn’t finish, a shadow of burned blood was drawn on the blouse of the ambassador. The alien shot her, saying, “Enough with your talking, you are not our equals to even speak like that. Your decision has been made, you will cease to exist.”
A big sound filled the sky.
I gazed through the window to find millions of asteroid like ships falling to the planet. From some of them small battalions of Catarax got out, and started to kill anyone in their way. A bigger ship crashed just outside my apartment; I was on the 4th floor, from it a giant mechanical tripod got out. I saw it… as the feeling of me being impotent and powerless about the situation rushed me. The tripod got powered up by itself and shot some kind of beam splitting the apartment in two exactly at my roof; I saw the beam cutting through steel and construction materials like butter.
The upper part of the apartment fell aside and my roof was no more. The tripod just stared at me charging its right arm cannon to shoot me; as I was the only thing alive in the top of the building.
I didn’t run. I just wanted to see the death in the face and get done with it. Anyway there was no place to run anymore. Nevertheless a beam of light covered me and the shot couldn’t harm me, I felt like I was being sucked by some vacuum. And in a blink of an eye I was inside a vessel with a bunch of scared people crying, hugging themselves and praying.
Nobody knew anything about the vessel or where we were going or anything, they just got inside the same way I did. We could see that we were in some kind craft since it had windows all over and through it we saw how our planet was being invaded. A few hours later we landed on the new planet I am on now. We got out of the ship and it flew off, to get more people hopefully…
Everyone was crying or screaming, it was too much for me. I saw the surroundings and I saw the beach. I had so many times wanted to go to a beach, I thought, for what I understand I could die right now so I better see that beach… I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think. I wanted to clear my head.
It was a new start, or at least I hoped that, in fact I hope that…
I guess that the high part of the day is Lisa and the beach, I mean, it has to be either that or the beam of light saving me from a blast of a tripod cannon.
It was useless. I was in bed, in a room that I felt like a stranger to.
I couldn’t sleep… I needed to get out…
I went to the beach; there are 2 moons in this planet, that night I had two full moons in front of me. And the waves were making a lot of sounds, almost like music or something.
It’s a shame that I was always working on Earth. The entire system, the entire society never let me enjoy myself or be at peace. It was like I was always running and trying to make that extra buck just to buy more things and pass by. Even when I was on vacations or a trip I couldn’t really enjoy it. I was always thinking on other problems, thinking about my future, my family, being alone; too many things that now do not even matter. And I don’t feel sad about it, maybe it is because I am scared or tired or I have not yet realized what just happened, but I don’t feel bad.
As I was stargazing suddenly I saw a light approaching me from behind, I turned around and I saw this being like the one on the ship telling us about our fate before.
The being said, “Don’t be scared.”
Chris said, “I am trying.”
The being said, “Good… the test has been completed, you will be the first leader then.”
Chris surprised said, “What test? What leader and of what?”
The being with a calm voice said, “The first to get out and to try to get his mind whole, earns the title, you have been trying to do that all day.”
Chris said, “Do you know what I am thinking?”
The being started to explain:
“We see different to what you see, we not only see differences in temperature in variations of light as you see, we see more. We are the Eldac, and we are part of a confederacy of different races in the universe looking for the enlightenment and improvement of all peaceful races. Also we try to educate younger races into the good path, as is in your case. You call yourself humans but your technical name your real name is Terrans. And this new planet that we give to you will be named Terra in honor of your arrival and our friendship.
You must learn the ways of the universe so you can be part of the confederacy, so you can be allowed to travel through the galaxy. But for now you must sleep.
Remember everything is a test, a whole circle of infinite ways repeating itself among many circles. Each circle represents an error that you carry and the whole universal system will give you tests until you pass and solve each error so you can get out of your current circle to enter to a bigger and larger one, so on and so on; until you reach perfection.
My name is Toka and this is my first delivery of knowledge to you. But please try to sleep now. We need you ready tomorrow.”
The being disappeared in front of my eyes and I couldn’t get the whole message. But I had enough for the day. I went to my room and I don’t know when, but I felt sleep, this time no nightmares; I guess I was too very tired, even for that.
By HectorP