Prologue: The Earthling Has Escaped

A Chapter by Mehere

Hermes the XLII scanned the room hastily, looking for any sign of life...or of the one visitor he had ever had. Carl Sampson was nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, he noticed the glass notepad located on a large living room table of a seemingly undecided shape, placed in front of a massive blue velvet sofa, placed so that anyone sitting in it would get a view of the strange garden outside through a huge panorama window. Strange only began to describe it. Among colourful plants of different kinds huge screens screamed out their advertising at anyone passing by. Capitalism had invaded this planet like it was nobody's business, and in many ways it wasn't. Hermes had no eyes for the advertisement though, he only saw the glass notepad lying on the table in the middle of the room. It was blinking red, signalling a new note left for someone else. In no time at all Hermes had closed the gap between himself and the notepad and proceeded to press a couple of the few buttons it had. Then he read the message Carl had left him, with his disappointment growing the further he got.

'Dear Hermes...

I don't know quite how to say this... It's not that I don't appreciate that you brought me here, but I've had enough of hiding like this. I understand the danger of going out alone, but I had to. If I'm going to be alive, I might as well actually live. By the time you read this, I will already be far away, with a mining company. Recently, I've heard of the Altar of Truth, and that's where I'm going. The miners have told me that's where they are going as well, and that I may come with them. So, if I don't see you again, Good Bye, and take care.

Your old friend Carl.'

Hermes sighed, weighed down by the disappointment he felt over Carl's disappearance. For the first time in many years he wondered what might lay ahead of him. He knew he would have to go after Carl, he just didn't know how he could ever find him. He too knew of The Altar of Truth, but knew all too well that going after it was a wild goose chase that most would avoid. Not Carl Sampson apparently. Hermes drew a deep breath before he finally left the apartment once again.

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