A cacophony of screeching sounds filled the noisy platform as a crowd of people stood waiting in the subway. As the doors opened people began pouring into the train in a torrent. Lucky enough to be at the front of the crowd, Reed searched for a free seat and after spotting one hustled towards it lest anyone else took it before he could. Letting out a comfortable sigh he sank into the plastic seat and put in his earphones before rummaging through his bag to retrieve a book. He settled in for the train ride, opened up the book at its earmarked page, and began reading.

After several minutes had gone by, a tap on Reed’s shoulder jarred him from the book. Turning to look at the perpetrator, Reed was somewhat shocked. He hadn’t gotten the best look at the people whom he had sat next to, but he was fairly sure that to his right had been an elderly woman. At the very least he was completely certain that it was not the man who now occupied the seat next to him. Dressed in an immaculate black suit with brown slicked back hair and what appeared to be expensive accessories in the form of rings and a necklace, the man cut a rather impressive figure. Of course, that was without mentioning his most striking aspect, for when Reed met his eyes two piercing yellow irises stared back.

“Pardon the intrusion, but I couldn’t help noticing the title of that book you’re reading there.” He said, giving Reed a friendly smile.

“Yeah… I guess some people might see it as a bit controversial.”

“You don’t think those whom it’s referring to might see it as being more than simply controversial?”

“Maybe.” Reed said in a lackluster voice as he looked down, returning to his book. Despite the man’s unordinary appearance, Reed was exhausted from a full day of work and didn’t relish getting into a debate with a stranger. There was a brief respite before the man spoke again.

“What’s it about?”

“Exactly what the title says, the potential consequences we could face for cooperating with the Sahvorem.”

“Ah, my apologies for being unclear. I was inquiring as to the specificities, what are the arguments the author makes?”

Reed paused for a moment, considering whether to engage. The man didn’t give off the impression of devolving into a yelling match with his formal appearance and manner of speech. After all, who says specificities. Reed decided to engage with the man.

“It talks about the Sahvorem dogmas, their overwhelming power, and why they might cause trouble for us. Like if they suddenly decided we were unworthy and employed a scorched earth policy to remove traces of the knowledge they’ve given us, or that they might just be using us to extract all of our technological advancements.”

“Interesting. Do you think any of the theories hold weight?”

“Not really. I mean they’re certainly possible but so are a thousand others, it’s just a bunch of baseless motives.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“But you don’t disagree with the idea that the Sahvorem have ulterior motives aside from the benevolent guidance of this world’s inhabitants?” The man gave Reed a searching look.

“Nope. With the stuff I’ve seen and read about them they seem to be pretty… human, despite coming from another world. Maybe human isn’t the best word to describe them but it’s the first thing that comes to mind.”

“I understand.” The man said with a smile.

“Anyway, they don’t seem like some benevolent species above it all. I’m sure there’s more to it than helping our race ‘realize its true potential.’” Reed made quotation marks with his fingers.

“Hmm. That certainly isn’t the common train of thought. They’ve been on this planet for nearly two decades and have done nothing but help its inhabitants.”

“Define help. As far as I can tell all they’ve done is let a select few people become space wizards. Do you actually think their sole purpose here is to help us?” Reed responded.

“Well, I happen to know that the intentions of the Sahvorem are true to what you've heard. They wish only to guide this world towards becoming the greatest it can be, at least in their eyes. However, I don't think humans know just what such a thing would entail.”

“You ‘know’ huh?” Reed said before raising a finger to point at his eye, “You must be one of the space wizards then.”

“Something like that.” The yellow-eyed man said, his smile widening. “I have one last question. Out of curiosity, what would your reaction be if I told you that the Sahvorem did in fact wish to do harm to the human race?”

Reed's brows scrunched at the question. The line of questioning had become rather personal, and he wasn't sure if wanted to indulge the man any further. However, the man claimed to be one of the so-called Manipulators, with his eyes serving as evidence towards the fact that there was something unorthodox about him. He decided to play it safe and answer the man, after all he’d be off the train at the next stop.

“Well, I guess I’d be sad wouldn’t I.”

“That's all? You would do nothing to protect that which you hold dear?”

“Nothing I did would make a difference. You’re a Manipulator, you know how powerful they are.”

“But even if you could make a difference, you’re saying that you wouldn’t sacrifice anything for humanity? For your loved ones?” The man said in an accusatory tone.

“Of course not! I would do anything for them… at least I like to think so.”

There was a pause. The man closely observed Reed with his ominous yellow eyes, it gave him the chills. It was after several moments of this that Reed heard the piercing screech of metal against metal, then a body flew past him. Then another, and another, and another. There were sickening crunches as people crashed into chairs, poles, walls, and the floor. It was as if the train had stopped moving in an instant, yet the inertia of everyone on board carried people forward at horrific speed. Everyone except Reed and the man beside him. The two stayed completely stationary, the only indicators of the train having stopped being the hurtling bodies and static window views. As screams and cries of pain first began to ring out, the yellow-eyed man’s hand disappeared. His arm and body language insisted that he was reaching for something, and yet his hand was gone.

That is until he pulled his arm back, his hand reappearing along with something else. It was a sphere, covered in glowing blue markings and surrounded with a contrasting orangish-red haze. The moment it appeared Reed heard a multitude of disgusting squelching noises, so awful they made his skin crawl. Where before a plethora of passengers lay at the front of the train cabin to which they were thrown, now existed only clouds of floating blood, flesh, and bone. With one hand grasping the otherworldly sphere the man reached out towards Reed with his other, and before he had the chance to so much as flinch everything went to black.

When he awoke, Reed found himself head down on the desk of a library with which he was unfamiliar, book in his hand and bag by his feet.