Zak Qlikman sits alone, their voice reverberating with an air of cynicism and resignation. S/He recites a series of statements, each one more intriguing than the last. Their words echo with a sense of disillusionment and a twisted fascination with the universe's deterioration.
The room's atmosphere matches their somber tone, filled with scattered papers, half-empty coffee cups, and a terminal waiting patiently for the next input to be typed.
Interrupting the quiet scene, a voice calls out from the doorway. It is Charamaynne. Eager for news, Zak turns to inquire about their whereabouts, only to be met with uncertainty.
Zak’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as s/he mentions bizarre occurrences happening around the Welcome Habitat—life forms without memories, amnesiac wanderers, and suppressed transmissions from Kepler-22b.
Missing scientists and unexplained deaths are all part of a sinister plan.
Zak mentions their friend, the fragrance seller from Bhopal, who recently disappeared without a trace. They decide to visit their old place, hoping to find some clues about their whereabouts.
When they arrive at their now-empty room, they notice a tablet on the floor.
The tablet tells the tale of the visitor of a planet that never existed, a wanderer in the city who had abandoned school in pursuit of a job that required minimal effort. The story takes them on a journey through the intricate alleys and hidden corners of the Welcome Habitat.
As they continue reading, they realize that the visitor of a planet that never existed's story is somehow eerily connected to their own reality. The more they delve into the narrative, the more they sense a deeper meaning, as if it is an allegory for their own life.
"S/He's trying to tell us something."
"What a day. Let’s go back."