A New World

Aldric moved purposefully through Arcadia's sleek, gleaming corridors, the vast mothership that would soon become his new home. The vessel was a marvel of engineering, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and stocked with every imaginable resource he might need. Space exploration was as uncertain as it was vast; no one could predict how long it might take to journey from one point in the galaxy to another. The years ahead were an open question, a frontier as daunting as thrilling.

At the heart of Arcadia, Aldric entered the command center, where he would meet his companion for this journey—an advanced AI system designed to assist him in every aspect of the mission. The AI was no ordinary machine; it could calculate astronomical data with unfathomable speed, make real-time decisions in emergencies, and even adapt its programming as the journey progressed. As Aldric approached the central console, he felt the familiar power hum radiating from the core of the ship.

A soft chime echoed through the command center as a calm; synthetic voice filled the space.

[Welcome, Commander Aldric] the AI intoned, its voice a perfect balance of authority and calm assurance.

[I am C-EN, Centurion-Enhanced Nexus, designated to facilitate mission control and provide comprehensive support throughout your expedition. You may call me Cen for short.]

Aldric gave a slight nod, appreciating the fluidity and presence of Cen's voice—it was as close to human as a machine could sound without crossing into discomfort. Knowing he would have Cen's presence beside him as he ventured into the unknown felt oddly reassuring.

"Cen, report on final preparations," Aldric said, his voice steady.

[All supplies have been secured, fuel reserves are at maximum capacity, and navigational systems are online and calibrated] Cen replied smoothly.

[All systems indicate optimal performance. We await your command to initiate the launch sequence.]

Aldric took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the journey settle into him.

"Thank you, Cen," he replied, his voice barely more than a murmur. At this moment, on the brink of an endless frontier, he was grateful for this machine—a companion who would be constant and unwavering as they ventured into the vast unknown.

Aldric took a steadying breath and issued his next command, "Cen, connect to the central exploration database. I need a comprehensive scan of unexplored planets within an optimal but extended range."

A brief hum followed as Cen processed his request. The system rapidly analyzed countless celestial charts and data logs with a precision that only a super-advanced AI could achieve. The console screen flickered, displaying a list of potential destinations, with one entry highlighted in bright green.

[Commander Aldric] Cen's voice replied smoothly, [based on your criteria, I suggest Neryon-7. It was cataloged by the Solace satellite only five years ago, though it remains unvisited due to its considerable distance and challenging orbit. According to current projections, the journey will be lengthy but feasible with Arcadia's capabilities. The planet has a high probability of rare mineral deposits, potentially including Arctium—an energy-dense compound used in advanced reactor cores.]

Aldric's gaze sharpened at the mention of Arctium. Discovering a source of this mineral could revolutionize New Earth's power systems. It was exactly the kind of high-stakes, high-reward mission he wanted to undertake. Neryon-7's remoteness only added to the appeal; it was the sort of mission worthy of an experienced explorer like himself.

"Cen," Aldric said, "register Neryon-7 as my destination. Transmit my claim to the central exploration network so there's no interference."

[Understood, Commander] Cen replied. [Claim on Neryon-7 has been submitted. Marking it as an active mission under your command, with exclusive access granted per intergalactic exploration protocol.]

A small notification blinked on the console, confirming that Neryon-7 was now marked as his destination, deterring any other space explorers from setting their sights on the planet.

[Exploration rights confirmed.] Cen intoned. [Neryon-7 is officially designated as your mission objective, Commander Aldric. The preparation phase is complete. I await your command to begin the launch sequence.]

Aldric felt a surge of anticipation as he looked out at the stars beyond the viewports. He was ready.

As Aldric prepared for launch, he felt a sudden pang of hesitation—a rare moment of uncertainty creeping in. He paused, fingertips hovering over the console, then opened the communications system and began drafting a message. He quickly typed a short, simple note addressed to his friends.

He considered calling them but decided against it; they were busy people, important figures with their own responsibilities and lives to lead. He didn't want to interrupt, and deep down, he wondered if he even had the words to say goodbye in person. He thanked each of them for their friendship, their camaraderie, and their loyalty. As he re-read his words for a moment, it felt oddly like a farewell—a final message to say goodbye. Aldric scoffed and shook his head, laughing quietly at the notion. It wasn't as if he wouldn't return…even if that return might take years.

Shaking off the feeling, he hit "send" and straightened. This was no different from any other mission, he told himself. Just one more journey, one more uncharted frontier to map.

Still, he ordered another round of inspections, relaying each command to Cen and even taking it upon himself to inspect each system manually. Engines, propulsion systems, life support, storage—all in top condition. Every instrument gleamed with readiness, and every light on the console burned steady green.

Finally, Aldric took his place at the command seat and nodded. "Cen, all systems are ready. Initiate takeoff sequence."

[Acknowledged] Cen replied, its tone steady and composed. [Initiating countdown. T-minus ten seconds to liftoff.]

The hum of energy filled the cabin, the soft vibrations building as Arcadia prepared to break from its moorings. Aldric's grip tightened on the console as the countdown continued, his gaze fixed on the starlit expanse just beyond the viewport. Whatever awaited him on Neryon-7, he was ready.

The countdown ensued, each number ticking away steadily—

10...

9...

8...

7...

6...

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

In an instant, Arcadia was enveloped in a brilliant white portal, its vast form shimmering as it entered the phenomenon known as a space jump. Space jumps were marvels of technology, wormholes engineered by the government to make vast distances traversable in a fraction of the time it would take otherwise.

The nearest space hub was millions of light-years away, and without this jump, Aldric would have taken hundreds of years to reach Neryon-7. But with the space jump, the journey would be condensed into ten years. Access to these jumps was restricted and limited to only those with the highest privileges. But Aldric's rank and connections granted him an easy pass.

[Commander Aldric] Cen's voice announced calmly as the portal's energies built up around the ship, [all systems are nominal. Jump field stabilizing, coordinates locked, preparing for dimensional rift entry in T-minus thirty seconds.]

As the countdown neared completion, the portal's glow shifted suddenly from white to a deep, pulsing red. The once-stable energy around them began to warp violently, and cracks splintered across the viewports as if reality was splitting apart. Alarms blared, and Cen's voice rang out, laced with urgency.

[Alert. Alert. Alert. Alert. Alert. Alert. Alert. Dimensional rift instability detected. Structural integrity at risk. Jump field unstable. Commander, recommend immediate shutdown!]

Aldric's hand shot toward the controls to shut it down, but the chaos surged faster than he could react; it was already too late. With no other choice, he shouted a command to raise the barriers to full power, hoping they could hold.

"Cen!" he shouted, feeling the ship shudder as it was pulled deeper into the rift, "Engage full ship barrier! Divert all remaining power!"

Aldric's heart pounded as he assessed the situation. This wasn't supposed to happen—space jumps were the safest means of intergalactic travel, perfectly stable under normal conditions. But this was different; the portal collapsed, twisting into a chaotic red maelstrom, threatening to tear Arcadia apart.

[Commander, warning: activating the barrier will drain primary and secondary reserves by 97%] Cen replied. [Power will be severely limited post-jump.]

Aldric didn't hesitate. "Do it!"

The barrier system roared to life, enclosing the ship in a shimmering, dense shield as Arcadia was hurled deeper into the unstable rift. Alarms blared louder, and the turbulence inside the ship grew so intense that Aldric could barely keep his balance. The hull groaned under the strain, and he could feel the chaos twisting around him, threatening to rip the ship—and him—into nothingness.

A blinding flash of light filled the command center, and with a final, violent jolt, Aldric's vision went white. He barely registered the sensation of his body going limp as consciousness slipped away, the last echoes of Cen's voice barely audible through the turmoil:

[Warning: catastrophic energy surge detected…shield integrity critical…]

And then, silence.