"Have I not told you to avoid going solo?" Kim said with a stern face and Marcus was completely surprised by this welcome. "It is not like…" Marcus started but Kim broke out into laughter, hugging Marcus and patting his large back. "It is so good to see you again Marcus. After all these years I thought you lost." True emotions were visible in Kim's eyes and Marcus was touched. "You must have gone through hell." Kim said after he stepped back and looked Marcus up and down.

Marcus knew Kim had spent two years alone on a planet to push himself to the limit, an exercise he very much regretted later in his life. If there was anybody on Earth who could understand him it was Kim. "The loneliness was worse than the food and the monsters together." Marcus said honestly.

Until we met.

Yes, but that came with a new set of challenges.

Agreed.

Kim could see the change in the young man, but it was not a bad one. He had feared Marcus had gone wild, savage like he had in those horrible years. Marcus seemed surprisingly calm and centered. "You look better after four years than I did after two." Kim said and studied the eyes of his young disciple.

Let's get it over with?

Like ripping of a band-aid. "Well, a lot of people want to meet you and I have something planned later too." Kim said and showed him the way to the door but Marcus asked him to wait. "Can I trust you?" Marcus asked with any prologue.

Kim stopped and sized Marcus up again and then took a moment to think what this question really meant. He knew Marcus, at least the young man that had left Earth four years ago, and he would not ask something like this if it was not crucial. "In how much trouble are you?" He asked mirroring Marcus' direct tone and body language.

"Enough to change the world." Marcus said with a dry tone and Xeen laughed inside his head.

Marcus followed Kim into a small room and the door closed behind him with a hiss and a mechanical noise. The room had only a few chairs and a table but Kim walked by them and touched a device at the wall. "As far as I know nobody and nothing can now overhear us." Kim said and Marcus took a chair. "For a few hours, this room is basically separated from the rest of the world." Kim said and took a chair opposite of Marcus. In this small room Marcus told Kim everything about Xeen, including his true class. He took a big risk but he had to trust some people, in the end of the day. Kim asked smart and precise questions and stayed very calm through all of it.

Kim had his eyes closed and thought, while Marcus watched him. "This must be incredible difficult for both of you." he said with his eyes still closed. "It was at the start but after two years and with the mute option it has become… normal." Marcus said. Kim opened his eyes and gave him a sad smile. For a while nobody said anything and Marcus could see Kim's mind working behind his eyes. "I know you said you want to keep it secret but I would like to tell Jack, Amy and of course Jura. I trust all of them with my life and vouch for their integrity. Telling them will make everything from here on out much easier." Kim finally said and Marcus agreed.

"And here I thought Earth politics was the worst you had to worry about." Kim said as they walked to the office, where the rest was still waiting. "What do you mean?" Marcus was a bit surprised by this statement. "Well, the reason I had you coming here was to reveal you to the world, as my disciple and as the Titan. Without that, I would have visited you at your home." Kim said with a small smile on his face. Grace would have gone bonkers, Marcus thought. He really had to make those two meet, it was one of her biggest dreams.

"We will first deal with this situation and later we can work on your reveal video." Kim looked cheerful but Marcus felt like ice water was rising through his bones.

Are you that worried about the reaction of the world?

You do not know the internet and even worse, Kim's fanatic fans. My life will never be the same again.

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Worse than being mind bonded to an ancient alien?

You dislike this description, don't you Xeen?

It is technically true but it has a degrading tone to it. Besides I am not just anybody.

I know that, even so you constantly avoid talking about yourself.

In time.

We will have a lot of that for sure, he thought and felt bitter.

"Are you talking with Xeen?" Kim asked watching him as they moved up the elevator to his office. Kim had been confident that the security in his office was good enough to have the discussion there and it was also a lot more comfortable. Marcus nodded to answer the question.

They reached the office and a lavish buffet with all kinds of tasty food (and sweets) was waiting together with Kim's trusted friends. They gave Marcus a warm welcome and were ready to ask a billion questions about his journey, but Kim took the lead and explained the situation to them. "If it was anybody else Ye-jun I would not believe one word. But you are so lacking in humor it has to be true." Jack said and looked at Marcus with wide eyes. Amy and Jura had the same expression on their faces and the expected questions started to pour in. By now Marcus was used to them and answered all the basics like a pro.

What followed were over two hours of discussions and blown minds. Kim and his people quickly came to terms with Xeen's existence, while certain other facts made them shiver. "So how long do you think this whole thing with the monoliths and Astral Plane is going on for?" Amy asked and Marcus answered "Unknown, but at least for one or maybe even two million years." Jack dropped his head "That is soul crushing. Can you imagine how many species have been destroyed in all this time? We are nothing more than cattle to this horrific contraption." Kim slapped him on the back "Cheer up. We are still alive and we will do what ever we can to keep it that way, and with "we" I mean humanity. This brings me to the next point how do we spread this information, Jack ideas?"

They discussed various strategies until Jura made a good point "No matter what, this information is so juicy, that the source will always be investigated. How about we go the other way and make it super public and official?" the rest looked at her and Kim asked "How so?" Jura looked at Marcus "Isn't your father a really important scientist in the UN? Could we not make up some alien device that contained all the information and have him spread the information?" she said and Kim nodded "That could work if your father was on board with this. In that case nobody would question the source or validity of the information. It would be ideal." They discussed it more and Marcus decided to talk with his father. Afterwards they played more questions & answers with Xeen and hours went by, while the food slowly vanished. When did he become so comfortable hanging out with these people, Marcus thought. Kim and his friends are part of the absolute elite on Earth.

Your vision has shifted, Earth is no longer your horizon. You know Azaa and other ginghi who are much stronger than the humans in front of you. And you know me, and the glimpses of information I have given you.

'Know you', is at the same time an understatement and also an exaggeration Xeen. But you are right, they no longer feel that scary, especially compared to some of the monsters we have seen on the journey. Marcus shivered and Kim saw it "Maybe we should stop for today. We all need time to think and rest after all these news. Tomorrow we will work on your big reveal video, that part at least will be fun." All agreed and not long after Marcus was in a lavish suite to spent the night. Before Kim left him he warned Marcus to not discuss anything important over normal phones.

Marcus dropped his bag and took a deep breath. World wide reveal… it had to happen but it was a lot. Reunion with his father and telling him about Xeen and the scheme they wanted to pull was a lot too. Then the clan and taking care of his relationship with Azaa. It was all a lot.

He watched the sun fade away and felt no desire to switch the lights on. For a long time Marcus sat on his oversize bed and looked through large windows at the night vista. A full moon reflected in the quiet sea and Marcus felt lost right then. So much had changed and so much was changing, even so all he was yearning for was "home".

Our universe is a transient one, always changing. No matter what, you can not hold on to a moment. Marcus did not react to his input. Xeen could feel the exhaustion and read the frustration inside Marcus' mind. The years of mortal terror and the stress of the reunion had left deep marks on him. His current mental state was far more fragile than the people around him expected and he was about to break under the pressure. Xeen felt the need to do something.

Ask me what you want to know, I will answer you honestly.

Marcus was pulled out of his dark musings and focused on Xeen. What is your real objective Xeen or should I say D'dera Tresmaga Grand Sorcerer of Cyras? Some time passed and Marcus expected Xeen to think of his answer.

Originally, I intended to manipulate you into creating a new body for me. Followed by regaining my power and ultimately bending your people to my will. That was my first reaction after you woke me from my slumber. I was still thinking, I was the man I once have been. Regaining control, advancing plans and enforcing my will, because I know better, because… it was impossible that I could be wrong. But I was wrong, I lost everything and even in this sorry state I could not accept that.

But then, I was forced to share your mind, see and experience your life day after day. Long before we had reached Earth, I had changed my mind, no... I have changed. I do no longer crave to return. I am done with it. Should others worry and bear the burden of responsibility. It is your time now.

I want you to show me a different path than the one I took, and I want to help you walk it.

Marcus listened with his eyes closed and then shared his thoughts and pain with Xeen. The night was long but when the sun emerged from the depths of the sea, Marcus and Xeen watched it together in silence.

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