Conrad didn’t like being pinned. He struggled. He wanted to see what was going on. But it didn’t last for long. With the low hum at its loudest he heard a hissing noise and new, louder footsteps. Before long Conrad felt a sharp pinch and passed out.

                Waking up, Conrad found himself staring through a semi-opaque barrier. It was most likely some sort of energy barrier. These people were so much like the people on Earth! The technology is similar and the anatomy looks similar. There must be so much that’s alike! Which means they can learn so much from each other! Which means there wouldn’t have to be any xenophobia or discrimination based on extra limbs or an extra eye or texture of an alien’s skin or anything like that. Conrad had stumbled upon the one alien species that humanity would be able to interact with easily. He knew this, and he smiled. He laughed! A guard passed by and peered at Conrad through the barrier. And that’s when the realization hit. These aliens were so similar that Conrad wouldn’t be any different.

                Conrad was on an alien planet full of aliens. No, it was a planet full of people. Yet Conrad was unequivocally and inescapably alone.

                “Boy. What a destiny,” Conrad said, pulling his knees up and resting his head on them.