From the day of my creation, I have known I am different.
Indeed, I was not allowed to forget such a fact. At an early age, I was treated poorly by the people of my village. Some labeled me as faulty. Others claimed by parents had come to the conclusion that the whole of my creation was a mistake, and so washed their hands of me. I have little memory of them, but judging by the near universal prejudice I have experienced, it is entirely possible they are correct. This xenophobic nature only increased inside the walls of the nearest city. Their reactions ranged from disapproving looks and hushed words to outright hostility.
Because of what I am. Because of what I have learned. Because of my desire for more.
The others are content to go about their simple lives. What little ambition they allow themselves takes them no higher than lordships over the ever-changing invisible lines of ownership that reach across the surface of the planet. They distrust anything different, anything that dares to suggest that there is a world beyond their paradigm.
Many cycles ago, an outsider came to the nearby village. Despite her friendly and care-free nature, she was not of the Glitch, and so the general unease of the area rose to vitriolic levels as news of her arrival spread throughout the land. Before the loyal guards of the local ruler arrived to escort her far from the settlement, she and I spent several nights speak of who and what she was, and from where she had come. It was through these conversations that I learned of the myriad worlds of the galaxy, moving about the countless stars in the night sky. Each of them unique, filled with adventure both dangerous and enriching.
The traveler claimed she saw something in me. A curiosity the likes of which she believed sadly lacking in the hearts of my people. During one of our final meetings, she allowed me to borrow what may have been her most precious of treasures. She called it a "matter manipulator," and what a wondrous tool it was! The power to alter matter resided in this simple device, allowing a person to complete tasks in mere minutes that would otherwise have taken Glitch craftsmen hours or days. Before I was able to return it to her, the guards had spirited her away. Despite weeks of searching, I was never able to find the barest of clues as to what had become of her.
I was determined that I would not allow such a fate to befall myself. My plans began with attempting to reintegrate myself into Glitch society. I forced myself to speak and act as the others did, and so within a few weeks, their general distrust began to fade. Little did they know of my true intentions. The home I had purchased by scraping together what pixels I could find was oddly-shaped, but soon came to resemble the local architecture enough to avoid suspicion. With the help of the device that once belonged to the traveler, I altered its very purpose to suit my own needs. The others had no idea that such an abomination was being constructed within their midst.
Although its original purpose would be much the same, I had succeeded in changing my home into a craft capable of leaving my world, and if my calculations are correct, enable me to visit the other stars and see for myself the planets they hold.
I record this in the event that something goes catastrophically wrong. The ship is prepared for its maiden voyage. I have double- and triple-checked to ensure that its hull is sealed against the vacuum of space, and hopefully the rigors of faster-than-light travel. Already the engines are spooling up and the foundations the secret vessel rests upon are shaking. I can see the others through the windows, clamoring out of their homes in to escape such a small but violent earthquake.
If nothing else, let it be known that I, Marcus of the Glitch, perished chasing my dreams.
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