Prologue
(A/N: My knowledge about this kind of genre is limited, so give feedbacks and suggestions along the ride.)
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Chapter 1 — Prologue
Planet Earth | Interstellar Year XXXX.
Ainodis City | 11:00 AM.
A new morning; a new monotonous day. The blazing sun hovering by the distance, bringing warmth light to the many tall and busy infrastructures.
"Ugh, so freakin' hot!"
Arriving at the school's rooftop, a young handsome man grumbled, holding a bag of sandwich and iced-beverage.
His bosom plopped to a bench, staring incredulously at the captivating scenery laid before his eyes. No matter how much thought he poured into it, the school's peaceful and quiet rooftop was definitely the number one spot in the world.
The young man is known as Jason Star — though, you may just call him as Jason for short. He was your average 19 years old college student. Not even smoking nor using drugs, but he sometimes drink alcohol that was secretly a juice to socialize.
Jason was a very average upright and responsible person that take cares of his own health more than anything.
However, he's still currently a single pure man with his V-Card still intact. And also an orphan who grew up within an orphanage since his birth without any known relatives.
Jason's hobbies consisted of watching anime, reading books, and playing his favourite virtual game.
He sat leisurely on the bench for a long time, enjoying the school's break time as much as possible.
Tremble....!
Tremble...!
"...!?"
A powerful earthquake suddenly occured, surprising Jason who slightly panicked as he felt the whole school building to violently shake with a loud siren resounding everywhere.
The only saving grace, however, is about the school being built with a sturdy and firm foundation.
Jason composed himself, but then prompted his head to the sky, his pupils shrinking in size after seeing the blue sky now being entirely dark with turbulent black clouds that were accompanied with many enormous crimson lightnings.
Rumble~!
Rumble~!
Crackle...!
"What the hell...?"
The crackling lightnings caused him to shiver in fear and nervousness. He felt he was about to get hit at any moment.
"The tremors grew weaker...!"
The earthquake's intensity lessened, Jason immediately choosing to the leave rooftop, while ignoring the subtle shaking of the entire floor. He thought it was more rational to leave the rooftop rather than getting hit by a stray lightning.
Crackle...!
Crackle...!
Jason dashed toward the exit, constantly hearing loud lightnings flashing behind his back. It made his legs go weak, but he was grateful to himself for immediately thinking of evacuating right away.
His lips curled upward, freedom just before his sight. He was about to near the exit, but an enormous crimson lightning suddenly fell from the sky—
—And struck his body from the crown of the head into the legs.
Jason's body spasmed intensely, as if he experienced a severe seizure. A faint sizzling sound drifting into his ears, along with the burning charred smell of his own flesh.
It was at this moment that realization also struck him—that his life itself was now completely fucked up.
And that there were no sudden chances of him becoming the Flash or the God of Thunder
"Haha...."
How stupidly lucky he was... To get suddenly hit by a random lightning.
Jason felt himself nearing the lady of death, not even having hopes of survival left. He heard there were people that survived after getting struck by a lightning, but his case was extremely different compared to them.
The crimson lightning was extremely powerful and strange, not something a normal human like him could possibly survive from.
Thud!
Jason fell into the hard cold floor, his consiousness wavering between the life and death.
He was feeling many mundane regrets while seeing himself slowly dying.
Not being able to see his favourite anime, books, and virtual game anymore...
Jason's eyes slowly grew hazy and cloudy, falling into an eternal darkness. The final thing he saw was the dark chaotic sky being filled with crimson cracks that shone eerily, forming into something that resembled a frightening hollowed eyes.
His other senses followed after his dying sight—accompanied by the sound of his heartbeat halting.
O' how lamentable it was.
And what a pathetic death.
Such was indeed a fitting end for a person like him.
...
Rooftop (‽) | 10:30 AM (‽).
"Hey, you're finally awake?"
"Huh?"
Jason abruptly opened his hazy eyes in confusion, catching a glimpse at the familiar blue sky with white clouds again.
He turned his puzzled head to the side, seeing a kind-looking old janitor who he found very familiar.
A realization dawned upon Jason as he slowly sat up from the bench.
He realized that he unknowingly fell asleep while dreaming about himself dying ridiculously
Jason wiped the drool falling from the corner of his mouth with a tissue. He then started to laugh incredulously, causing the old janitor to look weirdly at him.
Nonetheless, Jason was just glad.
That what he experienced was just a horrible dream.
But why do he feel like something changed within himself after waking up from that dream?
"Oh sorry... It looks like I somehow dozed off after eating," Jason apologized embarrassedly.
"No, its fine," The janitor shook his head with a gentle wrinkled smile. "However, do you perhaps need any help? It looks like you were having difficulties while sleeping."
"Eh, really? I didn't know it showed even while I was asleep," Jason shook his head to reject the old janitor's offer.
He then thought something about this strange janitor who Jason always see helping random troubled people. It now stirred his heart somehow after the old janitor also extended his hand toward him.
"May I ask why you offered me your help just because of some small thing? Is there any real reason behind you wanting to help others?"
"Hmm, why do you ask?
"I'm just quite surprised to always see you being so kind and helpful, constantly lending troubled people with your help—no matter how small or big it is. Most people would usually just mind their own business, not wanting to get involve themselves with others."
Jason thought the current society worked like that.
The janitor sat besides Jason, patting his shoulder slowly.
"There's actually no real reasons for me wanting to help others. I just want to help, so I helped the people who I think really need others help. I like to see them smile happily once again even while troubled because it makes me feel less pathetic and insignificant as a human. To be honest, I might also look selfish and foolish to other people's eyes.
"I see... It feels similar to my own reason of living because I wanted to completely live my own life for better or worse," Jason was somewhat grateful toward the old janitor who chortled after hearing his answer.
It was an interesting answer to the old janitor.
Jason saw himself dying, but then woke up to realize it was a mere dream.
The dream felt clear and realistic, but in the end, it was nothing more than a mere dream or nightmare.
And yet, an ominous feeling took root within his heart, making him feel that his own fate was already set in stone.
Jason decided to skip school, and went to an arcade center to help him forget about the dream.
He went to the nearest arcade center to play his favourite virtual game. The place wasn't that busy and crowded, only a few people currently playing inside.
Jason paid the owner in order to play the virtual game, receiving a key to his own cubicle in return.
The inside of the cubicle consisted of a small comfortable bed, and the latest version of virtual helmet with 90% assimilation rate, which was also already installed with the virtual game.
Jason immediately plopped to the bed and wore the virtual helmet. The device was capable of scanning the retina for identification, allowing him to immediately log in to his own personal account.
"Link Start!" Jason declared the activation phase, his vision encapsulated with various myriad colours
[ Welcome, Jason Star! ]
Jason saw his surroundings changing into something entirely different. He was transported into the private space lobby.
He searched his friend list, seeing there were only a few active people with the majority being offline.
Jason felt quite said after remembering that most of his friends haven't been active for many months now.
Maybe it was due to them busily living their life now as an adult.
—NewsPirate: Yo Star! Have you heard about the strange rumors circulating around?
Jason saw one of his few active friends chatting him, capturing his interest.
—UnrivaledStar: I don't know. Tell me about it.
—NewsPirate: Okay, okay. I've heard that a massive cult that has been propagating rapidly throughout the world, claiming that the Earth will soon meet its destruction under the invasion of unknown alien race.
—UnrivaledStar: I'm blocking you again.
—NewsPirate: Eh? why!?
—UnrivaledStar: I keep telling you that I don't believe any kinds of rumours and gossips without actual evidence. Tell me that nonsense again when you support it with real actual facts.
—NewsPirate: But many people have claimed about it being the truth!
—NewsPirate: Ugh... Ur so meanie for not replying.
Shaking his head Jason decided to open the Interstellar Ranking List.
His attention was on the Top Five Star Pilots and Top Five Alien Warriors.
And nothing seemed to change within the ranking list.
Jason then smiled after seeing the name at the very top of the Interstellar Pilot Ranking List.
—Number 1: BitchSlayer.
This was a pseudonym that Jason wrote just for fun and trolling. And yes, he was indeed the most respected number one pilot of the most famous virtual game despite just being an average person in real life.
BitchSlayer mysteriously came out of nowhere, rising like a meteor to quickly reach the number one pilot spot with just several months of hard work. Since his ascension, no one were able to take the number one pilot spot away from him.
As a result, Jason was also known as UnrivaledStar besides his pseudonym.
[ FuckYouStar sent a ranking challenge towards you. ]
[ Accept? ]
[ Y/N. ]
Without even showing any hesitation, Jason decisively accepted the challenge.
This person with a very disrespectful and weird pseudonym was the actually the number one alien warrior of the Interstellar Alien List.
—And the two of them shared a very complicated and weird history with each others.
However, the alien person had never once won a fight against Jason who was just built different.
—FuckYouStar: I'll definitely win against you this time! If I win, I'll definitely tentacle r@pe your dead body! I also demand you hand over my lovely Princess Mecha!"
—BitchSlayer: Still not over that, huh? Well, try to defeat me. If I win again, send me your premium limited version of Mechanical Unicorn Force this time..
—FuckYouStar: That...
—BitchSlayer: Hoh, you afraid now? You can still back away, you know?
—FuckYouStar: Huh, who's scared!? I'll do it!
—BitchSlayer: Haha, so an easy fool.
[ Ranking Battle Commencing... ]
Jason suddenly appeared inside a futuristic cockpit, his lips curling upward. It was time to let this person know again where he properly belongs.
And that the UnrivaledStar shouldn't be disrespected.
...
[ Game End. ]
[ Winner: UnrivaledStar! ]
Silence....
The fight between the two opposite faction's number one players soon ended
And Jason won by using pure piloting skills and complex mind games.
It was an overwhelming victory.
—BitchSlayer: Lol. EZ.
—FuckYouStar: You cheating bitch!
—BitchSlayer: Huh, who again?
—BitchSlayer: Anyway, remember to send what we promised to my dorm address later on.
—BitchSlayer: And make sure to challenge me once you get more better. I don't want to take advantage of your gambling addiction since you always lose over and over again.
—FuckYouStar: Aghh! I hope you die soon, bitch!
[ FuckYouStar has left the game. ]
Jason chuckled seeing his very rich rival and friend rage quitting. He found it fun to mess with such a spoiled heir.
He then decided to also quit the game since he wasn't in the mood to play anymore with his friends mostly inactive.
He left the arcade center while feeling empty within his heart, wandering around aimlessly before arriving at a nature park where many children were playing energetically.
Jason sat down on a bench which strangely emitted auspicious aura. He stared toward the playing children, looking quite nostalgic.
He remembered the kids from his old orphanage, making him feel bittersweet. He thought of visiting them since it has been a long time.
Jason liked the sight of the pure and adorable children playing hide & seek happily, making him remember that he was also once as pure and innocent like them
He then shook his head, decided it was now time to leave after resting enough. However, he suddenly felt the the whole world shaking violently—the weather undergoing massive changes.
His heart started to beat faster and faster, the ominous feeling surfacing from within heart once again.
Jason looked above, seeing the strangely familiar chaotic dark sky filled with black clouds and roaring crimson lightnings.
This was the same!
Jason turned to look toward the children again, relieved to see their parents already evacuating with them.
He was also prepared to evacuate, but then saw a mysterious little girl wearing a white mask. She just stood over there, holding a red balloon while staring above blankly.
There were no other people approaching to take care of her.
Jason ran toward the girl after seeing the situation wasn't still that dangerous, making it rational for him to at least instruct that girl to evacuate from the area.
"Hey! Where are your parents?" Jason Immediately asked, but felt quite uneasy while staring at her white smiling mask.
"I don't have a family," The masked girl simply shook her head while still staring toward the sky.
Jason became silent, realizing this girl was like him—an orphan kid. And it felt like she had it worse than him.
He felt a strange bond with the girl, as if it was a sense of comradeship.
"Anyway, we must immediately evacuate from this dangerous place," Jason grabbed onto her hand, but she remained immobile.
"I don't need to evacuate. And neither do you, mister."
"?? What are you saying..?"
The masked girl simply pointed her finger toward the sky.
"The world is already coming to an end."
Jason wondered if she part of those recently created cult, but his heart soon skipped a beat after seeing what was above the sky.
There were various crimson cracks across the sky, countless hideous placenta-like tentacles emerging from within them, spreading all over across the ground and tall infrastructures which were luckily still faraway from them.
"What the hell is happening...!?"
"The end of the world!"
"Yeah, but how are you so certain about it?"
"Look what's happening everywhere, mister. I don't need any other evidence to prove it toward you!"
"I'll just wait for my death here since there's no where else for me to even escape."
Jason knew her words were indeed logical and reasonable, but some parts of him were denying the reality.
And furthermore, he didn't like how this little girl already gave up on living.
"Stop thinking like that! At the very least, I don't want you die," Jason said firmly before forcefully carrying her over his back to evacuate from the area.
He then realized she was very light and skinny, as if he wasn't carrying anyone behind his back.
The girl was severely malnourished.
"Hey mister, why do you even want to live?"
"I just want to live! And I'm afraid of dying! Isn't that so obvious!?"
"You're so weird, mister," The masked girl muttered while wrapping her arms tightly around Jason.
Jason ran across the street without any tall infrastructures, thinking of where they could even evacuate. The current situation was driving his head crazy, his sanity on the brink of collapsing.
The hot wind was harsh and powerful, and the earthquake wasn't also stopping. The dark sky was still filled with crimson lightnings that constantly strike down into the ground.
Jason looked everywhere alertly, but then saw something wide and large falling down toward them.
It was a wrecked and deformed truck that seemed to be thrown away by something beyond human understanding from a distance.
"A flying truck!?"
Fuck.
The truck was quickly falling down toward them at a very fast speed.
And suddenly, Jason felt his perception slowing down as adrenaline surged toward his brain. He immediately understood that he couldn't avoid the avoid the truck himself, making him decide to instantly throw the little girl ahead of him. It was better for the girl to survive instead of them futilely dying together. Jason knew the probability of his own survival was very low, except for the girl who he could throw away easily with her feather like weight.
Jason also understand that even if the girl wasn't with him at this very moment, his situation wouldn't become that much different from now. It was at this moment he once realized again — that his life and fate were inevitable.
Despite that fact, Jason still chose to jump at the same time he threw the girl forward—a faint hope about the low chance of escaping from his inevitable fate.
Bam!
The truck slammed loudly and intensely into the ground, but it didn't thankfully exploded.
Thud!
Jason fell to the ground, but strangely felt nothing. Nonetheless, he was glad to escape from his fate of getting completely crushed by the truck. He then turned to look at the girl who stood up with some difficulty.
"...You alright?" He asked with a hoarst voice.
The girl nodded her head before revealing a look of horror.
"How about you, mister...?"
"...why do you look so strange?"
The girl pointed her shaking fingers behind him, Jason slowly turning his head around to see what it was.
His pupils soon shrunk, his eyes widening largely with his face growing pale. However, he soon shook his head with a helpless expression.
Jason came to accept it.
Before his own sight, Jason saw his entire lower body being utterly crushed by the flying truck. It looked horrible to witness, a pool of blood and flesh being formed.
It was no wonder why he couldn't feel anything from his lower body nor pain.
Jason didn't grew angry, sorrowful, nor depressed, realizing his dream already foreshadowed one of his inevitable path toward death.
At least... He was able to save a life as pathetic as he maybe.
Jason felt his chest growing warm... His cheeks tainted with tears. He cried, but inwardly felt so blissful to save someone this time. It seemed like the old janitor didn't lied to him.
While Jason was lamenting, a woman who was evacuating like them, suddenly approached them after seeing their current situation.
"Uhm, can I do anything to help you?" She tried to help Jason out of the truck, but it was too heavy to even lift.
Jason was slightly touched by her kindness which most people didn't have. Even now, people were running without caring about them.
However, it was impossible for her to save him now. He even saw the gas liquids spilling on the ground, meaning there was a chance of the truck exploding.
"It's already too late... Just please take care of this girl," Jason shook his head while replying. Even now as he speak, some objects were falling from the sky.
The woman nodded while biting her lips, feeling sorrowful about Jason's current predicament.
"No, mister! I'll stay here and die with you! I'll rather die than live without love, but only suffering!" The girl refused while grabbing his hand.
Jason was stunned as he coughed some blood to the ground.
"You fool! Don't waste my death after I tried to save you!" Jason grew angry, gathering his strength in order to push her hands away.
"But..." The masked girl looked hesitantly and afraid.
"Fucking brat, just go! Don't waste my damn sacrifice!" Jason said furiously. "And if you think that nobody cares about a fool like you, then remember that a nobody also died for you...! That, I cared about your life..."
With a heave of difficulty, his blood stained finger flicked her forehead.
"Don't think of dying so soon... Live long honourably and not pathetically like me. You must continue forward even If it's not for your own wish, but my dying wish."
"I don't care if you call me selfish or whatever you want... Just remember that life is much wonderful than death, I, at least know that."
The little girl started crying behind her white smiling mask, feeling it was the first time someone cared so much about her.
Ever since she was born, all she received were abuses and ridicules, not even receiving affections nor love.
Such a life of suffering would be much better to wither early — she thought while staring a the distorted sky.
And yet, a stranger showed so much care and affection toward a nobody like her.
Even a little amount of care and affection were enough to make her heart waver.
"I understand... But what's your name, mister...?"
Jason's vision already fell into darkness, but he still could her voice. He tried to move his mouth, but no sounds escaped.
He didn't gave up so easily, constantly trying to utter his own name before finally managing to say it.
"...Ja..son."
The girl nodded while crying, thanking Jason for saving her. She then went away along with the woman, leaving Jason alone.
It felt eternity for Jason.
He felt so lonely and afraid before the face of death.
Jason wondered if there was anything beyond death?
As his consiousness slipped away, something suddenly crashed besides his head, as if it was a gift from the gods who wanted to repay Jason for the good deeds he committed.
The 'thing' radiated a strange feeling, bringing Jason a warm and bright sensation.
His consiousness slowly rose up from the deepest depths of the hell, his hand slowly inching toward the 'thing'.
It was difficult to do something so easy, yes, but he mustered every ounces of his remaining strength and willpower — finally managing to touch the 'thing' before succumbing to death.
His life truly came to an end
Then suddenly—
A dim crimson light exploded from his fingertips, slowly entering his entire body through it
Jason had clearly already died, but his journey wasn't over yet.
Nay, it was merely just the start of a new grand beginning.
⟨ Parasiting in progress... ⟩
⟨ Mechanical Symbiote Is Online... ⟩
⟨ Cold Sleep and Body Modification starting... ⟩
⟨ See you soon, my dear pitiful host... ⟩
....
Planet Earth.
The planet was already destroyed after being invaded by the unknown alien race that was only known by highest officials from the world government.
However, hope wasn't still lose yet.
The world government had already long known about the existance of the unknown alien lifeform, having already prepared countless countermeasures and failsafe plans in case the Earth was destroyed.
To ensure the Human Race survival, the world government sent out many self-sufficient Interstellar seed ships into the space to escape from extinction.
Amongst the seed ships, there was a certain seed ship that was from the Ainodis City.
A woman was nervously hugging a masked young girl who was staring at the gigantic monitor before her eyes, displaying the ruined appearance of the Earth that was split into half.
She resolutely swore an oath to live long enough.
Someday, she would get humanity's revenge against the aliens that destroyed the Earth.
.
Everything were for Jason.
....
Lost Interstellar Year XXXX | Somewhere In The Ever-Expanding Space.
The Intergalactic Spaceship, Sidonia. A massive interstellar seed ship that is known as the last remnant of humanity since Earth's destruction. A spaceship that protects humanity and its culture.
It is the final sanctuary of humanity, or at least that was what the majority thought.
Sidonia | Main Command Bridge.
The spaceship's command hub was a very spacious room filled with all kinds of intricate futuristic machines.
The hub held many of the ship's functions such as the communication system, weapon system, gravity control system and many other more function.
Currently at present time, there were many people working inside the command bridge.
Alert! Alert!
A warning message suddenly resounded inside the command bridge.
"An unknown object has been located ahead of Sidonia!" A girl wearing a white mask quickly reported.
"Quickly analyze the object and project the live video to the main screen." commanded a woman who was also wearing a white mask that covered majority of her face. She seemed to be the commander.
"Roger, captain!" The masked girl immediately projected the live video to the main screen.
The main screen infront of them blinked as a static sound echoed. The screen soon showed a video about a large object that was floating aimlessly on space. The object was shaped like a capsule and seemed archaic.
"What is that thing?" A white-haired man asked. He was stationed next below the commander.
"The analyze results said it's an unknown object and seemed to be manmade. That thing is not within our database."
The commander frowned behind her mask and contemplated for awhile.
An unknown object that also seemed to made by humans...
Was it perhaps an ancient artifact?
Nay...
She then raised her head as a bizarre thought crossed her mind.
"Is it an remnant from another seed ship like Sidonia?" The commander uttered while rubbing her chin.
The white-haired man was surprised hearing that.
It was a possibility, and not completely improbable. He knew that Sidonia wasn't the only seed ship wandering around the vast space.
However, due to the fact there were not any contacts received from other seed ship for a long time, many thought that Sidonia was the only one remaining.
The masked commander stared at the main screen for a moment.
"Do a quick internal inspection of the foreign object. See if there's any danger behind it. If not, quickly order a Guardian Squad to seize the object as soon as possible."
"Roger." The girl nodded and quickly did a through external and internal inspection. She soon found out there wasn't any danger. However, she managed to find that there was someone inside the foreign object.
However, their heat signature was very low, but not enough to harm them. It was like they were in some kind of frozen state.
"No possibile danger has been detected, including with the surrounding environment. The Guardian Squad will now commence the operation to seize it. Commander, your permission?"
The masked commander nodded, "Good, the seizing operation may now commence."
The Guardian Squad soon left the Sidonia and formed into their signature palm formation, traversing through the space.
The retrieval went smoothly. It was a successful operation. The Guardian Squad soon returned toward their base without encountering troubles.
At the expansive hangar of the spaceship, the domineering tall Gardes returned to their respective docks. Meanwhile, the capsule had been already taken care by the workers.
They were all filled with curiosity about the unknown object they were handling.
The masked commander soon arrived at the place where the unknown object is situated.
"Have you found the way to open and research it?" She questioned the worker tinkering with the unknown object.
The worker shook his head and sighed, "Unfortunately, not yet at the moment, Commander."
"I see."
The commander simply said that and was not disappointed or angry at all. She approached the metallic unknown object which was shaped like a capsule or a pod. It had a rough and damaged appearance. A faint mark of zero could be seen over its surface.
She touched the surface of it softly, but was them surprise to suddenly see a faint red light scanning her body.
"A scanner?" The workers besides her said and became very cautious.
A red light swept over the commander's whole body, scanning it ever so carefully. It soon stopped, but nothing seemed to happened.
However, a mechanical voice soon sounded.
⟨ Human Race Verification ID Confirmed ⟩
⟨ Exiting Deep Sleep Hibernation ⟩
The workers were then stunned to see the unknown object showing changes. Faint crimson lines all over the top of it and the upper part soon slowly opened upwards with frosty air slowly leaking out.
The commander and the workers stared at it with curiosity. They were also very alarmed.
Then once the frosty air was finally gone and the object was fully opened, their heart started beating rapidly.
Inside the unknown object, a living human was sitting on a futuristic chair.
A man whose beauty was unparalleled. A silky black hair that was unkempt and even slightly covered with ice. A skin so pale that made it seemed he was already dead, however, his chest that slowly moved was a sign that his heart was still beating.
The man from the unknown was alive.
And he was the first man that didn't originated from Sidonia, but instead, somewhere away in the unknown universe.
This was also seed of hope, a hope that other humanity still exist out there somewhere, and they weren't the only one still left in this lonely, desolated, and cold universe.
...
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