Before that moment, I believed anticipation to be a weak emotion. Weak is not the right word, simple, perhaps? Either way, the feeling of anticipation is most certainly always outshined by the fulfillment that follows it. But today, anticipation grasped me like no other feeling ever has. It was as if I had chopped up chunks of my fear and excitement and stirred them into a goopy sludge of anxious waiting.
Today, I stand in a massive circle of human beings. And from today onward, our species must be clarified, as we will soon speak with beings from beyond. Two weeks ago, I was called into the Oval Office along with thirty other Secret Service agents. We were told that extra-terrestrial life has made contact with Earth, and they will soon arrive, with some “incredible reveal.” I sadly was never told by what means this message was received, or how my fellow humans could have even understood the words of another species. My only responsibility was to be there on the estimated Day of Arrival, to accompany the President and multiple other world leaders in their interaction with these other worldly creatures, people, whatever they may be.
For two weeks we argued and debated. We knew nothing. Some thought the meeting would result in a new golden age for humanity, others, complete annihilation. I worried not about the subject matter of this exchange, I was simply too excited to see them. As a child my eyes would glue to the night sky in my suburban backyard. What I would give to pat that boy on the back and say “They’ll be here soon,” before he sauntered back inside.
On this warm day in the Arizona desert, I stand shivering with childish excitement pulsing through my arms and legs. Various moods were scattered about the facial expressions of the Secret Service. Some men drenched in fear, already caressing the handle of the pistol resting within their suit jacket. Some men rolled their eyes, thinking this all to be some drawn out training exercise. Most were silent and still, and I stared through many pairs of sunglasses, wondering if the eyes beneath them were as eager to document these creatures as mine were.
Then at once, all doubts, fears, and anticipation transformed to complete shock. With an explosive and echoing crack, the air above us seemed to split in half. It was as if a fleet of giant cannons had blasted gravity in every possible direction. Then, like some invisible mirror-like smoke had dissipated, a large black structure appeared in the air above us. Gasps and murmurs began, but my mind was set on analyzing this thing. It was like an upside down Empire State Building that had been designed by the Mayans and entirely coated in charcoal, a greatly decorated black pillar levitating proudly. The many lights flickering about the structure were the brightest energy I have ever witnessed, sometimes I still find them glazed onto my vision when I close my eyes. Our circular crowd began to disperse when the building-like craft descended closer to the Earth. When the ship had reached the surface, a small triangular pod protruded from it’s base. The moment was finally here, my colleagues and I surrounded the President, the heavier armed men closer to him. Dust began to clear around the pod and it’s door began to split horizontally like a sideways elevator, blinding light followed, our guns gripped tightly.
“Earth…once again.”
My entire body froze with fear and that childish excitement retreated back to it’s mother. The voice I just heard, was not only incredibly loud and clear, but it came from within my own skull. Quickly looking around at my comrades, they all bared the same dumbfounded expression. Finally, I face the speaker. It was taller than me, and certainly more built. In fact, I would even call it a man. However, the skin of this man boasted a pleasing purple tint with a rough, dry texture, and his head was slightly too tall to be human. I wondered what trials their species had undergone in order for evolution to grant them this rugged appearance. Now that I had seen them, I was far from horrified by these purple men, but I found their lack of a mouth rather unsettling.
“Life of Earth, we ask you to be calmed. We come with exciting news.”
I was shocked at the clarity of their English, it was almost more surprising than the fact that they were speaking to over thirty people telepathically. The mans voice was as cracked as his rocky purple skin. A solid amount of silence followed this first sentence, as we and the travelers stared blankly at one another. Finally the President spoke up, “Very well, we will hear your news.”
This time, my spine truly rattled within my back. This information, whatever it may be, will surely change humanity forever. Our very first particle of knowledge from other intelligent life, what secrets of the universe could they hold in store for us? How will this moment define the rest of our existence?
“People of Earth…know this: Many centuries ago, we once visited this planet. We left our mark on this land, the structures you refer to as The Pyramids.”
…
“Please, continue.” Said the President.
“That is all.” The purple man replied.
My colleagues shifted uncomfortably and shot each other nervous glances. The President’s puzzled expression was one I had never seen on his usually strong face. “Well, to be honest with you…um…Sir? It would have been nearly impossible for any humans back then to build such a structure…we sort of guessed it could have been you, it’s quite a popular theory!” Nervous words were tumbling from the President’s mouth, and I wondered if he was aware what he was spilling out. “In fact, we have countless wonders and landmarks across Earth that are even more incredible! We were actually hoping to hear more about your technolo-“
“The Pyramids are of little importance, I see.” The Purple man interjected.
“That’s not necessarily what I meant, I just-“
“The Pyramids are our sacred duty, they are the sole existence of our people. We traverse the stars, building the Pyramids on every hospitable world across the entire universe. We are praised everywhere for our wonderful structures. The entirety of the universe has agreed, The Pyramids are the greatest objects to come of this physical dimension. Earth was our final stop in The Milky Way Galaxy, we were coming here to celebrate our successful expedition.” The purple man sounded quite frustrated, and the sternness of his voice made us all shake in our shoes.
“But Earth is clearly an ungrateful world, we apologize for coming here, you are clearly uncultured and savage beings who are not ready to appreciate true artistic forms. We will now depart and enjoy our wonderful Pyramids with the rest of a universe that truly understands them.”
The entire crowd became extremely frantic as the extraterrestrials strolled pompously back to the pod, which i now realized was in fact a God damn pyramid.
THOMAS MAZZAFERRO 