I think I might have just fucked up the entire world.

I work as a janitor for the local university. It’s not the greatest job in the world, but it’s a job nonetheless. Each night me and a few others would start at one end of the campus, cleaning each room we pass on the way to the other end, and then do it all again. I’ve never really liked the night shifts, but have gotten used to it over the years. One night, as I was making my way through one particular wing of a building, I saw one of the faculty members standing in a doorway. She was staring at the ground, looking at something. I thought nothing of it and moved on with my cleaning. She must have heard me, because she called out to me. We chatted for a moment and I went on my way again. After I had walked away I heard her call out to me again. This time it was a series of numbers and a word. “You know what to do with this right? Echelon.” I stopped in my tracks. I had heard those numbers before. About a week or two ago, I had seen a student, late teens probably, with a clipboard walking up to students and asking them if they’d like to join a “study group.” He said it was called Echelon and gave them the same numbers and told them to give them to whoever they asked for the building after hours. My job doesn’t allow me in the main building after 9, but tonight I decided it would be different. At 9, instead of closing up, I made my way to the main building. When I got there, I walked up to the intercom at the main entrance and gave the numbers. “Who is this?” “It’s janitorial services.” “Proceed.” I heard the door unlock and stepped inside. I made my way to the elevators, where I hit the button for floor 47, and stepped on. If you knew the campus I work at, you would understand how strange this is. The building only goes to floor 23, and they’re all numbered accordingly. This place is huge, but with only 23 floors. I rode the elevator to floor 47, with no issues. Stepped off and looked around. I was in a big room, one that was easily the size of a football field. I saw a few people walking towards me. One was the woman from earlier, another was the kid with the clipboard, and the last one...I don’t even know how to describe what I saw. It was tall, at least 12 feet, and had no discernible features. Everything about it was just... blurry. And it moved in odd ways. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream, but I was in shock. No words came from my lips as they approached me. “Welcome, janitor,” She said. The woman smiled at me. “Tonight you get to do your part to help humanity advance.” The kid smiled at me, and started to walk away. He turned back around. “Can I ask something?” “Yes, of course.” She replied. I stepped forward, about to ask what the hell was going on. “I’m not going to die, am I?” “No, you aren’t. You’re going to help us make a better world, one where we can grow and expand as we should. Echelon has been going on for decades, and we’re so close to making the next step for humanity.” I still couldn’t talk. I was just watching whatever was happening in front of me dumbfounded. I wanted to know more about Echelon, but I don’t think I’m ready to know more. The kid and woman turned back towards me “Let’s get started.” They walked me to a big machine in the middle of the room. Attached to it was a harness, with a small seat. “Please, sit.” I sat. “What is this?” I asked. “This is going to expand your consciousness. Make it bigger. Wider and more capable of holding more information.” I don’t know why, but I didn’t care anymore. They attached sensors to my temples and started the machine. A bright light filled my vision as they turned it on. I can feel... something. My head feels different. “Was that it?” I asked. The woman stepped forward. “Not quite yet. We need you to open this door.” She handed me a keycard. I walked forward, the keycard in my hand. I used it, and the sound of machinery filled my ears. I looked back at the woman and kid. They were smiling at me. I looked to the being. It gave me a slight nod, as if to say, it’s okay. I turned and looked through the window next to the door I had just opened. There was nothing on the other side. But stars. Many, many stars. It was space on the other side. I turned back to them. “What the fuck is this place? Was I just in a secret space program? What the shit did you just do to me?” “We’re not a space program.” The woman replied. “We’re a program to colonize other planets. We have been expanding consciousness for decades. Now we’re at the point where we can make the next leap in our species evolution.” I lost it. “This is the most insane thing that I’ve ever seen or heard. Am I on some shitty drug? What the hell is going on? None of this makes sense.” “It makes perfect sense,” The kid said. “We’re going to make the universe our home, and you just helped.” “Am I drugged? Am I dreaming?” “No,” The being said. “You are not dreaming. This is reality. Mankind has always been among the stars.” I couldn’t say anything else. I was lost for words. I had 10,000 questions. I just stood there. Eventually, the woman broke the silence. “You may go.” I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know if I’m going to tell anyone. I don’t know what to believe or what I saw. But for right now, I think I’m going to keep this between us. I’m going to stay right here, in this bed, thinking. I have a lot of thinking to do. If you made it this far, congratulations. I don’t know what you believe, but I think I’m going to end this here.

I think I might have just fucked up the entire world.

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