With the final question answered, Adrian handed the pad back to the blue-skinned being.
The being took the pad and scanned its surface for a few seconds, as if confirming that Adrian had, in fact, left nothing unanswered of the 4,250 questions. After a moment, he stood and motioned for Adrian to follow.
Adrian was directed to walk up to the same circular platform on the floor, which he now recognized as their standard method of teleportation.
'Are we returning to the arrival chamber? No, it's been hours. They can't still be just standing there.'
The being seemed to cut through his thoughts, his voice just as dispassionate as before, but with a new, official-sounding title.
"Adrian. You can call me Cero, by the way. I'm the manager of your assigned sector."
"Sector?" Adrian repeated in surprise. But yet again, his question didn't get a reply.
