Zenith

He opened the door separating the woman from the others of her kind then. She walked along that metal-lined hallway stiffly, though with purpose. Her mouth was a grim line.

She went first to speak with those who had known her longest, those which had cohabited with her in that place beneath the stairs before the strangers in red arrived. Her voice was quiet. Her expression was distant. She pointed down the hallway which led to the strangely oriented room.

He watched her. He watched all of them. Others, those who were smaller, or those which had once been outsiders that the woman's group had allowed to join them, took note of her appearance and demeanor. Murmurs of worry began to spread.

The woman rose then, and she forestalled them. She explained to all who were gathered there what would be asked of them. She told them of the escape and salvation which awaited them. It would take a great deal of time, and perhaps not all of them would survive to see it. Perhaps none of them would.

But it was nonetheless a hope. She placed emphasis on this fact. It was a chance to have lives better and more fulfilling than those which they had up to now lived on this windswept, hateful rock. They would not want for sustenance. It would be provided, at first through the packets, later through a process similar to that which they had used in growing the green objects, but a process which they would not need to work at personally. He would do this task, just as with the other tasks.

They did not understand. The woman, in truth, did not understand either. He could not make them understand. They lacked perspective, they lacked all the knowledge which their predecessors possessed. He could help them to understand. He was put here for that purpose. He was put here to guide. He had done it before. He would do it again.

The gathered ones did not decide for a long while. He waited. They did not trust the woman's words or her promises. Many felt as though she had misled them in bringing them here. Many grew loud. Some grew angry. The woman tried to reason with them, to calm them down, but they would not listen.

He spoke to them, then. He had never done this task so directly before. He had not needed to. He had not been able to. There had always been another to guide the others on their travels and to see them on their way. The traveler had been one such individual.

He spoke, but they still could not understand. Many of them cowered upon hearing the words. Even the woman cringed, her stoicism broken.

He made them understand. Their options were limited. When faced with certain death, they did as the woman asked.

They helped one another into the vertically stacked chambers. There was room for all in the reclining seats. They were strapped into place, helped by those who had not yet been secured. He ensured the straps were held tight and that they would not be released until they were well on their way.

The woman and her companion were the last two to remain free. She told her companion to carefully guide the others in her stead. They embraced one last time. Then she helped her companion into a seat as well.

He closed the door behind her when she left. He ensured it was sealed tightly. He closed more doors as well, as the woman retraced her steps down the hallway, to the room with the consoles and the glowing panel with its numerous circles.

The task was complicated. He guided her hands with words and images to ensure it was completed well. They went slowly. He focused all attention on this task.

The room shuddered as the earth around the room shuddered.

A white ball appeared on the screen next to the large blue one. A graceful line of dark red curved from it to a swarm of white balls near the large red one.

He thanked the woman. He opened the doors. He left her, then, both their tasks complete.