Hadrizahens raced down the path from Trade Outpost Rugo-395 as quickly as his legs would allow. He didn't look back. If he did, he might have lost his nerve to keep going. He carried nothing with him, as Korvax had very little need for personal belongings with sentimental value. The only thing of personal value that Hadrizahens possessed was the data he had collected on the flora and fauna of Cireenob XV, but that data was all stored in his memory banks. All of the data could easily be downloaded to a datapad if he so chose. There was no time for him to pack, anyway. Now that the Traveller's mission with the Mercenary's Guild was completed, there was no reason for it to linger on the planet. For all Hadrizahens knew, the Traveller could be making the final preparations to leave the temporary base for good. Hadrizahen's only saving grace was that the Traveller would have a difficult time packing up and deconstructing all the base structures should it be interested in departing in the current downpour. The hot rain still showed no signs of letting up soon, and most of the native organic life that did not evolve any protection against the rain was taking shelter. Hadrizahens assumed there would be a good chance that the Traveller would be as well. Then again, the hostile Sentinels might make for a good incentive to risk the weather and prepare for departure anyway. There was no way for Hadrizahens to know for certain, so he decided against risking the journey at a slower pace, even if the rain made the grass slippery and the earth soggy. Hadrizahens had survived a sprint between the two locations before, and he liked his odds of survival much better for this trip. There was less laser fire so far.
The rainfall proved to be the only challenge that Hadrizahens had to face in his trek across the plains. He had not anticipated the conditions to be so poor, as he never ventured far outside of the outpost during weather such as this. The fetid bog had become a stinking pond thanks to the runoff from the hills surrounding it. All of the stones and little islands of dirt Hadrizahens had used to cross the night before were either submerged in water, or far too wet and slippery to risk leaping across. Without any real traction, Hadrizahens would risk slipping into the water with one wrong step if he attempted to leap across the widely spaced bits of exposed land. With rocks just below the surface of the water, any one of the more solid parts of his casing could crack on impact, and his systems might flood with bog water. He had no choice but to wade through the opaque water carefully. Moving quickly forced his feet deeper into the mud at the bottom of the mire. Finding it difficult to pull himself free from the muck and the weeds, Hadrizahens had to slow his pace even further to make it across. Using reeds growing on the banks of the other side, he hauled himself out of the bog onto the slope of the ridge. He had hoped for a respite as soon as he was free of the water, but the ridge proved to be no easier to conquer. His feet were caked with mud and slime and the hill was soaked from the rain. Small streams of water from the runoff formed and tumbled down the hill, under the long grass where Hadrizahens could not detect it. More than once, he chose his footing poorly and nearly tumbled back down into the bog with the rain water until he learned to climb the hill with both his hands and his feet to help him grip. The result was him reaching the top of the ridge covered in mud and bits of grass from head to foot. He looked an absolute mess, but he cared little for his appearance at the moment. The rain would wash all of the plant material and the earth away.
He was tired, he was dirty, and his casing was starting to overheat from activity and the temperature of the rain, but Hadrizahens had made it. He could see the Traveller's base from his vantage point. The rest of the journey was literally downhill. Looking down more carefully into the valley, Hadrizahens saw that the Traveller had not yet finished deconstructing its base, nor had it even finished packing up materials that were scattered around. There were multiple green storage crates littered around the base alongside much smaller red containers that weren't present the night before. The Traveller must have been getting ready to pack before the rainstorm had hit, and then taken a break to avoid the weather. Hadrizahens was certain that the Traveller's exosuit could handle the weather on this planet; it appeared to be well enough made and upgraded, but technology such as internal temperature regulators weren't capable of generating perpetual energy. It took a fair amount of charge to maintain a hazard suit, especially if the organic life form within could only survive in a very specific temperature range. It was much more efficient to take a break and save on energy costs by waiting inside the structure for the scalding rain to cease. At least, that was Hadrizahens' initial assessment. He was, however, incorrect in his assumption. Though visibility was low through the deluge and the profuse amounts of steam it caused, Hadrizahens did manage to spot some movement at the base. Apparently, the Traveller had only just gone inside temporarily for something. The doors of the base opened, allowing the Traveller to walk outside while carrying one more of the small, red containers. It placed the container next to a few others just beside its spaceship and turned to go back inside.
Something must have caught its eye. Perhaps a flash of lightning or a roll of thunder, but the Traveller suddenly looked up towards the ridge where Hadrizahens was now attempting to scurry down from. If the loose dirt had been difficult to keep a balance on before, it was impossible now that it was wet and eroding. Hadrizahens only managed to proceed about two meters before the dirt crumbled and gave way beneath him. A large hunk of the ridge started slipping down to the valley with poor Hadrizahens on top. All the young Korvax could manage to do was fall on his rear and slide down with the muddy earth. His landing was unrefined and horribly messy, and he found it almost impossible to get back on his feet. The mud had laid to rest at the bottom of the ridge, where a pool of rainwater had been gathering. The resulting mixture of substances created a slurry that was as slick as oil. Covered in mud, flustered, and rushed, Hadrizahens couldn't regain his composure enough to find himself a good footing in the mess he had caused. And in front of the Traveller, no less. Why had the Traveller seen him? Why couldn't the Traveller have been focused on packing instead of witnessing Hadrizahens' entire shameful descent? Part of Hadrizahens desperately wanted to lay in the mud and simply let it swallow him up and out of sight of the Traveller. It was a tempting thought, but one that he decided against. He returned to his clumsy attempt to free himself of the mud, taking each step slowly and carefully. Once he thought that he had finally got a foothold thanks to a more gravelly patch of mud, the gravel slipped out from under his feet and he fell backwards, bracing for impact.
A strong pair of hands stopped him, gripping his wrist tightly to keep it from slipping away from the grasp. While Hadrizahens had been focused on his own embarrassment and attempting to shuffle out of the mud, the Traveller had made it over to Hadrizahens' little mud puddle and had bravely deemed to rescue him from humiliating himself once again. The attempt to save Hadrizahens was almost more than the Traveller itself could handle, though. Not even The Atlas's Chosen had the power to stand against a puddle of slick mud-clay. Hadrizahens felt the Traveller start to slip around in the mud as well. The shockwaves from the Traveller jerking around to maintain its own balance kept Hadrizahens from correcting his. Finally, the mess of soupy earth at their feet became too much for either of them to manage, and they both tumbled ungracefully into the brownish muck. Mud splattered over both of them as they sat defeatedly in the hot puddle. The two were silent for a moment as they contemplated how foolish they must have looked, and how they were both bested by wet dirt, until Hadrizahens came out of his own embarrassment to realize whom he had just dragged into the messy pool with him. The realization was far more mortifying than any of the wild gestures he had made to keep his balance had been.
"Please forgive me-! I did not mean for this to happe-...!"
The Traveller held up a hand to silence Hadrizahens, who fell immediately quiet. He did not want to offend the Traveller further. Not now. He had already done so much to make himself seem more troublesome than he might be worth.
He was shocked when he heard the Traveller begin to laugh. At least, Hadrizahens assumed it was a laugh. He wasn't familiar with-... whatever species the Traveller happened to be. All he could do was sit in stunned silence as the Traveller continued to make the laugh-like sound until it wore itself out.
"You are very prone to accidents." The Traveller observed, still chuckling as it rolled out of the mud. Hadrizahens watched it get back to its feet and shake some of the mud from its hands before holding them straight out in front of itself to allow the rain shower to wash them further.
"...It's not my intention to be…" Hadrizahens muttered, still embarrassed. He couldn't tell if the rise in his internal temperature was from the weather, or from something else. He hoped it was the weather. If not, he could still excuse it as the weather. He got up as well, though much slower and more subtly. He didn't want to draw any more attention to himself than he already had. In truth, he was ashamed enough to go back to the outpost and never speak to the Traveller again. He had made a fool of himself almost every time they had spoken. But he didn't dare return a failure. What would be more embarrassing? Continuing to speak with the Traveller now, or returning to Taskmaster Orzhoku and explaining that he had fallen in the mud and immediately returned because he was too upset? Hadrizahens decided to take his chances with the stranger.
"There are no Sentinels this time." The Traveller offered gently, clearly trying to keep the mood light and make Hadrizahens feel better.
"You are correct…" Hadrizahens admitted appreciatively. It wasn't much to calm his nerves, but he was thankful for the Traveller's gesture to make him feel better.
"So, if Merchant Assistant Entity Hadrizahens is not in danger, why do they visit?" the Traveller asked, crossing his arms expectantly now that the rain had washed them clean. There was no spite or malice in the voice of the Traveller, as Hadrizahens had come to expect when being asked a question. The Traveller wasn't attempting to interrogate him, it was genuinely curious about Hadrizahens' answer.
Hadrizahens was too stunned to offer a response at first. Had the Traveller truly recorded Hadrizahens' full designation to memory? Even when Hadrizahens had only proved himself at best useless and at worst an annoyance? He was flattered and flustered. He wasn't sure he would be able to respond… but he had to. He simply was unsure where to begin. "I had a request…"
"One you will name? Or keep to yourself?" The Traveler pressed, though not impatiently. It seemed to find Hadrizahens… amusing? Endearing? It was impossible to say.
The Traveller had no idea what Hadrizahens was about to ask of it. Did Hadrizahens even dare? Maybe he would explain Taskmaster Orzhoku's vision to the Traveller. Then again, perhaps he shouldn't. How often did lifeforms harass the Traveller claiming to have seen visions? He wished he had come up with any sort of plan, or anything to say at all. Anxious thoughts buzzed around in his processor, sending his circuits overloading with unused energy. It was too much. He had to say something. The Traveller was waiting on him and he was making a fool of himself.
"Let me come with you."
Hadrizahens watched in dismay as the entire demeanor of the Traveller suddenly shifted. It had appeared so cordial and engaging a moment before, but now it stood silent. Its body tensed up as it stared at Hadrizahens for a very long, painful stretch of time. Hadrizahens now knew what Orzhoku meant when they had said that the Traveller clearly favored him. He had never seen the Traveller visibly bristle towards him before.
"It is unwise for me to take in strangers." The Traveller answered slowly. "You should stay here with your work."
"Traveller Entity estimated before that the probability of deadly Sentinel attack would increase until it was unsafe for any Korvax to remain on the planet!" Hadrizahens spoke in alarm, knowing that he had to do something to change the Traveller's mind. Right now, there was no hope of getting off of the planet with the Traveller's help.
"That is true…" The Traveller backpedalled slightly. "Though that was not an invitation."
"Was it not? Did the Traveller see a space vessel at Trade Outpost Rugo-395? How are any evacuations expected if none present can make it off of the planet's surface?" Hadrizahens pressed, becoming even more desperate. "Without any sort of space craft, there is no way to evacuate. The others wish to say, but I do not."
This seemed to get the attention of the Traveller. Hadrizahens watched as the biological entity shuffled and fidgeted in place. It was a clear physical reaction to help it try to think of any sort of rationale to use against Hadrizahens, but they both knew there was no excuse. The Traveller had shown its benevolent side too many times to leave Hadrizahens to his fate. That was what Hadrizahens had been banking on. Why bother saving someone from the Sentinels if you were going to leave them to die later on from the same sort of attack?
"...I can take you to a space station. You can find a place to go after that." The Traveller finally conceded.
This wasn't good enough. Not for Hadrizahens. He didn't know a damn thing about the universe outside of his outpost. At least, not a thing that would help him to find a new place to go or a new job to take on. He'd need a new designation and the training required to operate it. But Hadrizahens knew that, if he went to a space station to seek a new designation, he would not receive one. If he wasn't sent back to Outpost Rugo-395, he would be shipped off to a different trading post and given the same job. This wasn't at all what he wanted. Not when he had sampled the elation of being free to explore an entire universe unfettered. It was everything he ever dreamed of. He wouldn't settle for less. He couldn't settle for less.
"I want to stay with you." Hadrizahens said more firmly, though even he knew it sounded unconvincing.
The Traveller tensed again. "This is not an option."
"Why not? Theoretical predictions and probabilities state that this is a significantly valid outcome. A preferable outcome. It would be in your benefit-"
"In my benefit? To take in a Merchant Assistant Entity?" The Traveller interrupted again, trying to stop the argument before it gained any further traction. "There is no need."
"Redesignate me." Hadrizahens suggested quickly. He had no idea where the idea had come from, or how he had come to it so quickly. Perhaps it was better if he didn't calculate what he was saying to the Traveller beforehand.
The Traveller stared at Hadrizahens in confusion. It's helmeted head tilted to the side as it observed Hadrizahens like a new, more complex entity. Perhaps it did not know how designation and task assigning worked in Korvax culture. "...What?"
"The Traveller Entity holds enough esteem in Korvax society to redesignate an Entity at will, and that designation will be believed and respected." Hadrizahens explained. He wasn't actually sure that the Traveller had that sort of social sway, but what Korvax would dare to question it? If a Traveller referred to Hadrizahens with a different designation, who would try to correct it? It was a perfect plan. And Hadrizahens knew how to follow up his first suggestions with more ideas. Ones that would prove to the Traveller that he could be of use. "Redesignate this entity as an entity of science. I have experience in cataloguing lifeforms. The data is very useful and can be accessed for your benefit at any time."
"I already have a Scientist Entity." The Traveller said flatly.
This startled Hadrizahens. He wasn't sure what to say now. The Traveller had come to Cireenob XV alone, so Hadrizahens had assumed that the Traveller was completely alone. So had Taskmaster Orzhoku. The Traveller had also referred to the scientist as though it were Korvax. It had called the individual a Scientist Entity, and no other creatures went by that phraseology for designations. Where was this scientist that the Traveller spoke of now? Was Orzhoku's vision wrong? What was Hadrizahens supposed to do now?
"I am honored that you want to help, but I have no need. I must return to the stars soon. I will leave you at the Space Station." The Traveller shook its head and turned on its heel. As though to emphasize that its decision was final, the Traveller also bent down to retrieve a container from the muddy ground. It must have dropped the container while trying to help Hadrizahens from falling into the mud earlier. Hadrizahens watched helplessly as the Traveller continued with its business.
"You won't take me with you? You won't even consider the positive outcomes?" Hadrizahens pleaded, stalling for time while he desperately tried to think of what might change the Traveller's mind.
"No need." The Traveller repeated. "I do not need a Korvax.
Hadrizahens felt the moment slipping from his fingers faster than the mud had washed out of his hands in the rain. He was losing his chance to join the Traveller. It was a once in a millenia chance, he knew it, and he was letting it go. He had to do something. He had to say something that would change the Traveller's mind. Something to convince it of his worth as a companion. He didn't want to go back to the outpost to keep scrubbing the floors for Merchant Entity Taudi while Scientist Entity Podoim watched and teased him. He didn't want to be a customer service entity. He wanted something more. He was meant for something greater, he HAD to be. But what could he do? There was only one thing he could think of. It was a stretch, and it was risky. He didn't wish to trigger the Traveller, but he could see no other options.
"The stars must be lonely, even with a scientist entity. You are still alone." Hadrizahens tried to keep his voice as even as he could. He had to commit. He couldn't afford to ruin his one last chance. He knew that he had crossed a line, inciting loneliness. He would not be able to come back from that line if he truly offended the Traveller.
The Traveller stopped, but only for a moment. Something in what Hadrizahens had said caught its attention, but it shook it off quickly. Hadrizahens could hear the tone of its voice lowering in an attempt to compensate for its moment of hesitation. He knew that he had the attention of the Traveller now, for better or for worse. "I am not alone. There are others like me. There are others who help me."
"Where are they?" Hadrizahens raised his voice so he could be heard over the storm. He wanted the Traveller to be able to hear him clearly, both in word and in meaning.
"Elsewhere." The Traveller answered shortly. It did not turn to look towards Hadrizahens. It was attempting to keep its composure, but Hadrizahens knew that this was a sign of its weakness. It felt vulnerable.
Hadrizahens felt a pang of guilt in his core. He had chosen his strategy with the intent of influencing the Traveller on a more emotional level, but he hadn't expected it to have such an impact on himself. There was a pain behind the stiff figure of the Traveller. One that Hadrizahens couldn't have possibly predicted coming into this situation. He had thought that inciting loneliness could be his way into the Traveller's party, but he didn't know how deep the scar went.
"You are alone, aren't you?" Hadrizahens asked quietly, almost too quietly to be heard over the storm.
The Traveller did not answer this time. But it had heard.
"There are others, but they did not accompany you to this planet. They didn't help apprehend the bounty." Hadrizahens spoke carefully. Not because he was afraid of missing an opportunity, but because he was genuinely sympathetic to the Traveller. The thought of leaving the planet with the Traveller was no longer what drove Hadrizahens' words. Perhaps that was what made the Traveller more receptive now.
"They weren't needed." The Traveller answered.
Hadrizahens knew what the Traveller had meant to say, what it had wanted to say. He felt an empathetic ache in his echo as he watched the once proud Traveller hanging its head, refusing to look in his direction. Orzhoku had been correct. It was as plain as the Traveller's own broken responses.
They weren't what the Traveller needed.
"What are you looking for in the stars? Why does the Traveller Entity travel so far?" Hadrizahens asked softly.
"It is all I have…" The Traveller whispered. "...All that there is to me."
Hadrizahens' felt a strange pull, almost as though a magnet was being aimed at his midsection. His circuits felt both knotted but buzzing with energy. There was a connection being established. A Convergence, for lack of a better term, between them. Hadrizahens had no other term to describe what he felt, though it wasn't a true Korvax Convergence. Hadrizahens began to understand that, even as such a venerated lifeform, the Traveller might be just as aimless as he was. Perhaps even just as afraid. They were similar enough for Hadrizahens to understand. A new question came to his mind, unbidden, but he felt compelled to speak it. Somehow he knew that it was the right thing to ask. Hadrizahens was unsure if the Traveller Entity could feel the same pull he was feeling, but if the Traveller did, this would solidify it for sure.
"What is your designation, Traveller Entity?" Hadrizahens asked. "What do you call yourself?"
"Me?" The Traveller asked, turning back around to face Hadrizahens as though for the first time. The Traveller's face was still hidden behind the black tinted visor, but Hadrizahens knew that it was surprised. He could see that the Traveller was observing Hadrizahens in a completely different way. Perhaps the Traveller did sense what Hadrizahens felt. "No one asks me this question anymore…"
"Will you answer it?" Hadrizahens urged, wanting desperately to know the designation of the Traveller. Who was the Traveller? Why was the Traveller so lonely? He wanted to know. He wanted to discover.
The Traveller hesitated, looking towards its base and space shuttle. There was a deep contemplation about the being, as though it was warring with itself. Hadrizahens saw the Traveller work through its own thoughts while he waited for an answer. He waited for any sort of response. His calm exterior hid the anxiety and excitement pulsing through his wiring. He felt like his systems were in overdrive. Why? Why was this suddenly so important? Why was he so drawn to the Traveller?
"...Perhaps a purpose can be found even when none can be seen, even against better judgement." The Traveller finally spoke.
Hadrizahens blinked his visor light inquiringly at the Traveller, wondering what sort of question it was answering to itself. It wasn't an answer to Hadrizahens' question, that was for certain. "Elaboration required; your statement was not understood…"
"Help load the storage containers. We will depart as the weather breaks." The Traveller nodded towards the other containers littering the area. Hadrizahens wondered if he dared speak up, but he didn't wish to stop debating if he had not won the Traveller's favor. He wouldn't be tricked into being left behind on the space station. That was worse than being denied outright. The Traveller seemed to see his unrest and spoke again. "I will take you with and see if you are useful."
Hadrizahens had never felt an elation like this before in his life. The surge of energy that coursed through his casing threatened to overload his system and blow every fuse in his body. He needed to regulate his power output, but he couldn't stop himself from feeling so full of joy and excitement. The Traveller had agreed to take him with, even though Hadrizahens had done nothing to give himself a good impression with the Traveller outside of this singular conversation. Perhaps it was destiny. How else would he have been able to make such a connection with an utterly foreign entity? Did the Traveller sense it too?
"This is an optimal decision, one that will not be regretted. I assure you-!" Hadrizahens all but stammered as he hurried towards the Traveller. He stopped as he realized that, in his excitement, he had completely forgotten the orders that the Traveller had given him. Stumbling back, he grabbed one of the containers and then turned to follow the Traveller to its ship.
"You will do your best. I know." The Traveller nodded, watching Hadrizahens out of the corner of its eye. He knew he was being watched, because the Traveller let out a little chuckle as Hadrizahens nearly fell on his faceplate after stumbling on rock and slipping in the mud. "Explorer Entity Hadrizahens seems eager to prove themselves."
Hadrizahens lost sensation in his legs temporarily as he processed what the Traveller had said to him. He nearly fell once again out of pure shock and joy. It was only a balance warning that had flashed him back to his senses in time that prevented him from falling. A brand new designation. From a Traveller. And a very interesting and important sounding one, at that. "Yes, I will prove myself!"
"Good." The Traveller said with a pleasant tone to its voice. "Traveller Entity Theus and Explorer Entity Hadrizahens… sounds like a good team."
Hadrizahens didn't think he could have gotten any happier, but he was wrong. A new designation, and now he had a name to address the Traveller with. It seemed so fitting. The designation must have come from The Atlas itself, because there was no way the Traveller could have any other name. Traveller Entity Theus… "Affirmative."