Compass

This light makes the daytime seem as night. The device has the look of something from another era. The future. And not five to ten years from now, maybe a century ahead of our time. No matter which way I turn or what direction I walk, it points in the direction of the W, as if west is the only direction that exists. Compass, perhaps, pointing me toward the sunset?

A signal from endless wilderness. A call for help? Who would need help with this type of technology? It would depend on where they were coming from and where they were going.

A signal from whom? A signal to whom? I’m intrigued. Not sure I should follow where it wants me to go. A device a century ahead of our time. What benefit would I be to someone with advanced technology like this?

How would I know? This is probably some camping gear somebody lost heading to the woods this morning. I haven’t been to the future a hundred minutes. A hundred days. Not to mention a hundred years.

I have a decent phone, downloaded a handful of apps for, what need be. But these symbols the device is rotating through, these device faces that appear, then change. It’s scanning? I could believe. And the light that seemed brighter than the sun has dimmed as if there’s no longer a need to signal.

“Don’t let the fact that I only point west deter you,” the device said vibrating with each word.

“Excuse me.” I state, more than ask, dropping the device where I stand. “I didn’t say anything about being deterred, I said…”

“You made it quite clear,” stated the device.

“I made nothing clear, because I said nothing.”

“I clearly heard you think…. ‘Why is it this thing only points west no matter which way I turn?’ And this device or compass, at the moment, is informing you it’s not a thing, Airman, Thomas.”

How does it know…thinks Thomas. Did it?

“I don’t have to read your thoughts to know that Airman, Thomas it’s written on your shirt.”

Thomas stares down at the device. “You can see me?”

“I can. Why does this surprise you? You believe I’m advanced, but lack vision? Simply washers and springs, Airman Thomas? A being, no feelings? I speak as well as communicate with you mentally.”

Thomas stares at the device he deems a simple compass and refuses to believe what he’s hearing. He thinks. Tries not to due to the mental invasion of privacy. What would I think if someone told me this thing, this device is a living thing, and it reads minds and can…

“Initiate the conversation when it has a thought or idea about something. Yes, I do,” replies the compass, completing Thomas’ thought. Don’t you, when you have something to say?”

“Yes, but you’re not.”

“Alive. Or, like you. I should be taken apart, experimented on to find out what makes me capable. When taking the time to get to know them, to get to know me would have sufficed.”

Thomas looks incredulous. “I have a mind to throw you off this cliff and go about my day.”

“I noticed that. But you won’t because you’re curious as to why I need your help. Help me out, Airman Thomas.”

“With what?”

“Research,” replies the compass.

Thomas looks around, searching for someone to confirm this venture is a bad idea. “West,” Airman Thomas states.

“West,” says Compass, as Thomas grabs it, brushing dirt and pine straw from its screen.

“Why west? Nothing but mountains. Nothing special,” says Airman, Thomas. What are these symbols on your screen. Is this what the alphabet becomes in a century?”

“No. This is not what the alphabet will become, but what the alphabet has been, ten thousand millennia. What mountains?”

“I don’t know, San Andres, or something like that,” says Thomas. “And your name?"

“You decided on Compass, let’s run with that. You figure you need a good explanation when you write your story. And you need the details straight.”

“And what would be wrong with that. I’d like to remember this.”

And then how do you know your friends aren’t playing a joke on you?”

“If it’s a prank. It’s a prank. All in good fun,” says Thomas. Is this a joke at my expense, Compass?”

“No, Thomas. I need your help with something.”

“With advanced dialect and technology like what you are. I’m sorry. Advanced being, such as yourself, I doubt I’d be of any help.”

“I’ve traveled a long way. I need help with research on the local species of the area, region, quadrant. Tell me more about this place?”

“It’s an Air Force base. The location I found you is five miles from the base inside White Sands Park. The base and the park are connected.

“Thomas, do you enjoy spending leisure time in White Sands?”

“I come to think. Gaze at the stars. See if I can see that aurora thing.”

“Borealis,” says Compass.

“Yes.”

“You just missed it, Thomas. It was here during the storm a few days ago. A minor one. That’s when I arrived.”

“From where? Arizona? Texas? Utah?”

“Well, years ago, we visited the Tularosa Basin after we lost family in an accident in Roswell.”

“We came to take them home. Or at least their remains. But they were no longer at the crash site.”

“The story is somewhat familiar, Thomas said, intrigued. “Home. Where’s home?”

“Now, home is the San Andres mountains, where you are now. Welcome, Thomas.”

“Our original home is among those stars you often come to gaze at. It’s not visible now. A lot goes on when those geo-storms occur. Makes for good cover, though?”

“You live in the mountains?” asks Airman Thomas.

“I do. We do. We have a base here. A home away from home. But our galaxy of eighteen planets can’t be seen right now.”

“What’s wrong with me?” asks Airman Thomas. “I’m moving, but my feet aren’t touching the ground. Nor are my legs and arms able to move.”

“I’ve suspended the gravity around you. And now you’re paralyzed to keep you from hurting yourself while I prepare you for transport.”

“Transport?” Thomas asks.

“Yes to my home galaxy. You’ll be able to see it up close in a day or so. I think you’ll like it. I hope so. You’ll be there for likely a week. Maybe more, maybe less.”

“Why?”

“I’m a collector. I retrieve specimens, Thomas. I rarely test and experiment on what I collect. I could. I’m more of a free spirit. I find it more fun to be out and about, researching, traveling the stars.”

At that moment, the compass is lifted from his hand, and a being appears from the ether. The being places the device on its arm, where it melts into the skin.

“Welcome to our base. This part is my ship. The main base is through that gateway. There are hundreds of corridors through there. If you take the wrong one, you might end up under the ocean. Rest now this music is laced with a frequency to help you sleep.”

The last thing Thomas sees is the brilliant light that greeted him in the forest and the silhouette of the being that materialized before him minutes ago. The music calms his nerves as his eyelids become too heavy to hold open.