I was discovered.
I do not know how else to say it diplomatically. I did not intend to be found, though that is an unacceptable excuse by Orval’s terms, let alone by the dictates of our ship. It is a problematic change in our mission, of that I am certain.
I have not told Korvath-is of this development yet, though it is my duty to do so. If he were to become involved, I would be placed in quarantine for the rest of our stay. That would place him in charge of everything indefinitely, which would ultimately slow our progress and delay our departure. While I would never willfully disobey the Law, I feel that the circumstances are unique enough to make it acceptable.
Thankfully, there is only one that knows of my existence. I may have to kill her to shield our presence from the rest, but I would like to learn as much as possible from her first.
Recounting the entire story requires sifting through a large amount of data from the past few days. For now, I shall develop a series of questions to ask her before deciding her fate.
End his entry.
Earlier today, Korvath-is informed me that the mission’s progress must be accelerated. I warily agreed before he interrupted me and explained the nature of his mandate: we are to now go about the humans in the daylight. I raised many objections, but their number and ferocity fell to deafness. By the time I had given consent, he had ordered me outside to do my work.
Although I was horrified, I still maintained a sense of duty and performed my research without complaint. Upon re-entry, I observed humans wandering about and ultimately chose a flock to trail behind. At first, I thought they were all of one group until some individuals started to break away from the whole. I cannot determine what logic they were dividing by; some left in pairs or greater, for example, while others merely drifted away in a direction without informing the others. If this is humanity’s traveling procedure, I cannot imagine them cooperating on any task.
While I did not learn much about their movement patterns, I found out that the small enclosure we had infiltrated earlier was now under surveillance:
I have marked that area in my memory as a forbidden zone and have passed this information on to Korvath-is as well. I surmise from the data we have that these are the local authorities, for the markings and artificial lights they carry match the descriptions. These should also be avoided.
End his entry.
We followed- or rather, I followed- Korvath-is’ readings to a fairly-populated location. Both of us were noticeably disturbed at this revelation; if Adras crashed close to this civilization, they may already be expecting others like us to arrive. The further we went, the less I monitored Korvath-is’ agitated state and the more I paid attention to my own.
When we finally determined the origin of the signal, it was empty. Peering through the glass walls, we saw that there was nothing of value left. No objects were visible. The floor was stripped bare of the usual bedding, and the walls were in disrepair. If Adras or any member of the missing ship was ever here, they are no longer.
With both of us staring at nothing, it occurred to me that neither of us was doing anything. Hesitantly, I offered to perform a sweep of the area to confirm that Adras had not left something that could lead us further in our investigation.
Korvath-is merely grunted and waved me off. He turned and headed down the path to what I assumed was the ship. Unable to decipher his monosyllabic response, I searched the grounds surrounding the site (for what, I do not know) for a short period before leaving.
Now that I am back on the ship, I have avoided contact with Korvath-is moreso than before. His disappointment registers on a metaphysical level, and I would rather not be the focus of ire.
End his entry.
After being ignored for two days, Korvath-is requested my presence.
He told me that he had tracked a signal from Adras’ ship to a specific point in the city. I did not question how he achieved this even though I was very curious; without the master drone, I do not know of any other method. If he has managed to pinpoint the other ship, Korvath-is must be harboring some kind of technology that I am unaware of. While this bothers me, the order of our ranks discourages further prying on my part.
It should also be noted that Korvath-is was unusually agitated. Although the possible discovery of Adras’ ship undoubtedly is a major development in our mission, it is uncharacteristic of him to act in such a way. I will keep a closer watch on him.
We are to embark tonight to find the signal’s origin.
End his entry.
Using the images I had last recorded, I managed to convince Korvath-is that I had discovered a possible cache of resources. Last night, we revisited the enclosure that supposedly housed the raw material necessary to repair our craft. Before embarking, we elected to enter through a back passage to avoid detection and outlined three different escape routes. We also studied human anatomy to pinpoint its weakest parts, though Korvath-is adamantly stated that our attacks should be non-lethal if confronted. I was fairly confident about the odds of success after having prepared for multiple scenarios.
The expedition was a monumental failure. We searched every possible area within the small hovel and found nothing of value; if there were materials there, they are now gone. The only positive outcome was that we did not find any humans either.
While we did not find what we originally came for, I did glean more information about the enclosures. Some have had additional barriers erected around them, though there is no visible clue as to why this is. I theorized that the occupants may be separated from others due to a social incompatibility with the rest of the city, or perhaps the interred population are under a general quarantine. In some instances, I have seen machines both large and small in the immediate vicinity, which leads to the least adventurous conclusion that the structures are being repaired or destroyed. Whatever the explanation might be, it is best to observe them from a distance.
I am losing all credibility on this mission, to the extent that Korvath-is might no longer ask for my expertise or even override my future input. In addition, he had previously overlooked the fact that I had engaged in an unauthorized visit to the settlement to obtain my (useless) information; he will certainly hold that fact against me now that the results have proven to be fruitless.
For the time being, I await further instructions from Korvath-is as the initiatives I had previously suggested are now being ignored.
End his entry.
Last night, I explored the settlement without the aid of Korvath-is. While he would label my solo venture as dangerous, I had reason to believe that some of the materials needed for the ship’s repair was inside one of the many enclosures.
These “enclosures” come in various sizes, but the most common are giant spires that reach high above the ground. At first, I thought them to be sculptures or markers of dominance by different clans/ castes. In reality, many of them serve as living quarters. Despite their large size, they are not signs of opulence: dozens of humans are sequestered inside from what I can tell. The number and position of glass fixtures suggest that the number is quite high. If it were merely a few individuals, there would be larger cross-sections of glass and fewer of them; such is what I learned on Ragnos and their cultural edifices.
In relation to my clandestine operation, I managed to find a transparent display that listed the elements of this world (among the data we possess, a compendium of natural isotopes that the humans denote by abbreviations). These materials may or may not be what we need, but we know of one possible place to look now:
Unfortunately, the glass wall blocked my progress. Because of its dimensions though, I determined that not many lived within its confines. Korvath-is and I should be able to obtain the resources with little interference should we be attacked.
I will propose an investigation of this specific structure after I determine possible entryways, blind spots, and escape routes if detected. We must also prepare for a confrontation of both a peaceful and hostile nature with the human inhabitants; all outcomes must be anticipated.
End his entry.
(In accordance with our mission objectives, I imprinted visual images of our trip into my memory for Orval’s future reference.)
The darkness worked well, cloaking our first exploration of our hosts. For the most part, our expedition to the colony was uneventful. We were not accosted, nor did we take part in any substantial interaction with any of them. I was relieved, but I do not expect this trend to continue indefinitely.
We did not find the resources we were looking for, nor did we discover a significant sign of Adras or the missing ship. As we have only traversed a miniscule part of the area, we should not be discouraged by these results.
The trip was not a complete waste of time. During our visit, we spied a huge archway that may have been part of a gigantic structure at one point. Perhaps it is the sole monument of a great empire: I can’t imagine a sentient being that large to fit through it. I wonder if there is a species we have not encountered yet, or if they have died out or been removed. Whatever the case may be, it is a magnificent example of design. I wanted to test it for its potential as a means of an intergalactic doorway, but I do not think that the humans are advanced enough to harness that technology. After making a record of it, we decided to return to the ship with our findings; at a later date, I will take the opportunity to inspect it further.
It should be noted that our general feeling throughout was of disorientation, alienation, and overall isolation in this collective of life. I can only assume that we missed the greater part of the typical human experience in the “city.”
End his entry.
After reviewing the recovered raw materials, I have concluded that we may have to enter the nearby colony. There are certain resources that do not appear to be present in the the immediate vicinity. While there is no guarantee that the items needed to return the ship to working capacity will be in the humans’ possession, it is a risk we must take.
I have proposed the idea to Korvath-is, who did not provide much resistance to the idea. Perhaps he is eager to search the settlement for the remains of Adras’ ship since no sign has been detected out here. I advised waiting for the dark to cover our journey, and he readily agreed.
Tonight, we will walk among them as if allies but actually strangers.
Yesterday was our first foray into the wilderness. I gave Korvath-is a face and recommended that he use it. He grunted but formed it without objection. I admit that his was the least appealing of the pair I had made, but I neglected to inform him of that.
When the Yuvor (or sun, as they call it) was out of view, we exited the ship. We hardened our skins to its highest state. While this level of concentration drained our energy and limited our stay in the outside environment, it was a prudent measure: we do not know what organisms can infect or harm us on this world, nor do we wish to bring any on-board.
Not all of the humans retreated to their homes, but activity was noticeably lower than during the sun’s presence. Thankfully, we did not engage any humans during our expedition. We observed them from our vantage point, but they did not notice our presence. This was well because we needed to scavenge for materials necessary to repair our ship unmolested. Before it was lost, I was able to compile a list from data gathered from the late drone’s memory bank; whether we will find all the required parts is unknown.
I also did not want to meet any humans for other reasons. I have been thinking a great deal about the disappearance of the master drone. After logging the loss in our records, I considered several possibilities as to its fate. While it may potentially have been destroyed or disabled by some natural occurrence, there is also the possibility that it was apprehended. Obtaining our technology would be a boon for any group on Earth. While I hope that their purposes would be scientific, it is just as likely that a martial unit would express interest.
If this is the case, then we must be especially cautious. If they are inclined to capture something without provocation, then we must assume they would do the same to Korvath-is and myself. I will advise that we venture out using the natural camouflage of darkness whenever possible.
End his entry.
It is maddening. The amount of types and subtypes of human proportions makes it improbable that we can determine a single, superior phenotype. There are so many variations for the most trivial aspect of the human body, and there is no single authority on which is best. Skin color, for instance, ranges from the lightest to the darkest hues, and I find none to hold a significant genetic advantage over the other. One would think that any choice of pigment would be sufficient for a disguise.
Upon studying societal relations, however, there is a distinct favoring of lighter skins in certain areas of the world. In these parts, those of fair complexion hold higher positions in political and civic arenas and are generally treated with greater respect. Those that are relatively darker do not and are or were oppressed in some form of ill manner (to phrase it generally and diplomatically) if their histories are to be believed.
Analysis of this social oddity can wait though: our greatest issue concerns the outer appearance of the head. I require more time to determine an acceptable visage for us to use while outside. While Korvath-is disagrees with my project, he has allowed me to continue my research for another day. Currently, I am perusing the measurement ratios that are associated with the scientific standard. For example, the distance between the eyes should be 46 percent of the face’s total width.
Symmetry is a sign of beauty on this world, though why this is remains unclear. Therefore, I need only design half a face that is pleasing to the eye. I do not want to design one that is too “perfect,” for fear of attracting too much attention. Likewise, if I create one that is abhorrent, we will be ostracized or possibly killed. An above average one should allow enough privileges but avoid detection as well. This horrible mental exercise fosters a greater appreciation for our natural, uncomplicated grodoe.
I just realized that I must make at least two distinct faces: one for Korvath-is and one for myself. I now have a smaller window of time than previously thought.
End his entry.
