At the Nature Park, there’s a gazebo with a few picnic tables under and an old-fashioned neon sign that flashed the phrase “pick up your trash” every few seconds. Normally Plain-Man, if at the park, would be found at his regular bench with head bent down, looking at his phone. But every so often when it would happen to rain, he was forced to take shelter under some of the other public amenities that the park had to offer. Also when it rained, it meant that there would be less activity on the Quick! app, much to his own chagrin, so he was forced to sit around and wait. He had been pretty busy as of lately though; this was the first slow day to come by in a while, so in a way, he didn’t mind a break from the hustle for a little. Still, he had old CC bills to make payments on and the ever-increasing monthly rent hanging over his head like a menacing shade, but he could stomach it for now.
In the meantime, Plain-Man played with an old app on his phone called ‘Mutant Mapper’, trying to beat his high score from ten years ago, keeping himself from boredom. It wasn’t working out that well.
“Death! The final destruction!” the mobile game blared from his tiny phone speakers.
He sighed, pulling the blue light away from his face and onto the table. Rain continued to steadily fall and form puddles all around the shelter as he hid under its roof, alone. He sat up and stretched, giving relief to his spine from the terrible posture he had forced himself into from sitting all day, extending his arms up and reaching as high as he could above his head. Feeling satisfied, he turned and looked through the wall of dripping raindrops onto the vicinity of the spread out park lawn that stretched down over a slope that led to the street. Out in the middle of the green landscape, Plain-Man just then noticed he wasn’t the only one in the park anymore. A group of people, more than a dozen, now stood in the rain and formed a circle on the grass, all facing towards the middle. Each wore identical garb, which was a long grey baggy robe with a pointed hood that came over their faces, and each held their hands at their chests, forming some sort of prayerful position. Just then, one of them hooded figures walked forward towards the middle and the chants that were whispered suddenly became audible to Plain-Man. Once in the center, the lone figure remained motionless for a minute while the intonations grew louder until after a minute, he or she pulled out an object. Holding with both hands above their head, they held up a large shinning ball that clearly emanated a mauve glow through the down pour of the rain. Just as soon as the mysterious robed person held up the shiny globe, the lone figure collapsed, and fell onto the wet grass. None of the others stirred to move.
Plain-Man watched on, waiting for someone to do something, but seeing no movement, he felt it was time for him to intervene and see if he could help. He rushed through the rain, penetrating the perimeter of the circle and squatted down to attend to the fallen stranger.
“Are you okay?” he asked the supine body.
At once, the collective chanting ceased and nothing but the pitter-patter of the rain hitting leaves and the ground could be heard.
He looked around now and realized each member of the hooded group was now moving forward towards him with hands stretched out. They all came off as very menacing looking, even if Plain-Man couldn’t see their faces, and he was beginning to ready himself for an overwhelming battle until abruptly the fallen figure in the middle had stood up and held out their hands, standing in front of Plain-Man.
“Wait!” a man’s voice yelled from beneath the hood, which he then pulled down revealing a skinny, almost middle-aged face with a long wispy beard. Each of them listened to the command and stopped. The man continued, “We are not to harm this one, the ball has said.” He held up the shinning globe, which Plain-Man noticed there seemed to be some sort of light source coming from inside.
“Is everything alright here?” Plain-Man asked, just to make sure.
“Oh yes, everything’s fine. I apologize for any misunderstanding. Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Marc Paradiso. Your name is Plain-Man, is it not?”
“Yeah… How’d you know?”
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“The ball reveals all.” He said, smiling with a crooked grin.
Plain-Man looked into the light purplish sphere he was holding trying to recognize some sort of interface or intelligibility.
“If you don’t mind me asking… What are you guys up to?”
Marc the unhooded man squinted his eyes, one side of his smile being higher than the other.
“We’re merely performing our annual equinox invocation for Spring, nothing to be concerned about… You’re welcome to join us if you want?”
Plain-Man studied the man’s quizzical expression for a few seconds and politely declined.
“Nice of you to offer, but I’m on duty right now.” he stirred to move when Marc stepped forward, almost grabbing onto Plain-Man’s arm.
“Wait. Before you go, we feel it’s important you should know…”
Plain-man stopped and gave his full attention to him, rain still continuously falling from the sky.
“…Just as every human should know who happens to call Earth his home…” He turned his back to Plain-Man, took a few steps and then did about face looking again directly at him. “What if I told you we weren’t alone in the universe?”
Plain-Man had no clue what to say to such a statement, so he remained silent until Paradiso felt like continuing.
“Yes; it is true that only a dullard would think the human being would be the end-all be-all of existence. One should simply look in any direction around them to find vast quantities of intelligence teeming through the world to realize we are not the only ones conscious here. In fact, there are intelligences much more advanced than we could ever imagine.”
“You don’t say…”
“Yes. In fact, we are lucky those that are greater than us either are practicing an active mercy upon us or wouldn’t even dare to stoop to give creatures so low any attention. We are like ants to them.”
Plain-Man was trying to figure out a way to get out of this conversation, yet could come up with no excuse and could do nothing but continue to listen.
“There is one in particular, a mind so vast and old and superior to ours that you must know...” Marc Paradiso suddenly grabbed his unhooded head and began grimacing. “…Yes… They are reaching out to me… They tell me to reveal to you their present location…” And then he pointed to the sky.
Plain-Man looked up, droplets falling into his eyes and could see nothing but treetops and a cover of clouds.
He looked back down at Paradiso, who was still clutching at his temple, and communicated his confusion nonverbally with nothing but silence.
“Between us and the moon, there they wait for us in their mothership, hovering over our atmosphere like a perched hawk observes its prey. Yet, we should be most grateful this intergalactic mind known as ‘Spectra’ is a merciful entity.”
“Spectra? What is that, a satellite connected to the Global Argus system?”
“Spectra is not only beyond our mere comprehension, but is so old and far-advanced that it has been here before our pitiful species ever had the urge to come down from the trees they once called home.”
“That’s nice.” Plain-Man said indifferently, “Well, if you won’t be needing any help I’ll be-“
“Wait!” the leader of the hooded group screamed as Plain-Man went to walk away, “You must listen!”
“Okay, what is it?”
“The time soon comes, Spectra says, after all these millennium, that man and itself shall become one. And it has revealed that, you, Plain-Man, are vital to this process of integration between it and our species!” Marc Paradiso screamed, followed by the sudden uproar of the rest of the group intoning synchronous group chant that washed upon Plain-man from all sides.
The ball intensified in color as Paradiso held it again over his head mumbling the chant along with the other devotees until a loud, high pitched voice sounded like it came from out of his mouth.
“…Plain-Man!...” the rain increased, “…You have been chosen! Beware of my call!”
And as if all at once, the voice, the chanting, the glow of the ball, and the rain all ceased at once, leaving an uncomfortable silence in the air for a few seconds. Then, as if there was a fire, the group of hooded figures began scrambling, running around in all directions like bees buzzing in proximity of their hive. All except for Paradiso, who remained still, now concealing the ball and his hands in his droopy sleeves.
“Now that you have made a contact, Plain-Man, expect a message to come to you in due time. Do not seek Spectra, they will seek you out!” He said, walking backwards away with the rest of his group towards the entrance of the park.
Plain-Man watched them disperse until every last one was out of sight. The rain picked back up and fell down heavier than ever.
Between them and the FOIO guys, maybe coming to this park isn’t such a good idea, he thought to himself, heading back to the shelter of the park gazebo, out of the rain.