A New World ll

On New Earth, a thirteen-year-old boy laughed as he chased a sleek, gray cat around the garden, their game echoing through the quiet street. After a while, the cat grew tired, curling up contentedly on the steps, and the boy's gaze wandered to the now-empty house next door. Once, a man named Aldric Skye had lived there—a towering figure with a kind face who was well-loved in the neighborhood for his unfailing politeness and dependability. Aldric had often helped his family, and the boy's parents spoke fondly of him, recounting the many times he'd been there in moments big and small.

One day, Aldric came to their door, his face serious but gentle, carrying the cat that now lay purring by the boy's side. Aldric had knelt, looking the boy in the eyes, and asked him to take good care of the cat. He was setting off on a journey, a grand adventure across the stars. Ever since then, the boy had wondered about the mysteries of space, and he looked up at the vast sky with a mix of curiosity and awe, imagining what it might be like out there among the stars.

Without thinking, he bolted toward the kitchen, where his mother was busy with dinner, and shouted, "Mom! I want to explore space too—just like Uncle Aldric!"

She turned, startled, and shook her head, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Oh, now you're off to explore space, are you?" She touched her hip, giving him a gentle but firm look. "Aren't you forgetting to feed that poor cat first?"

The boy's face fell slightly, realizing his mother had caught him in his excitement. He nodded, grumbling a bit as he returned to his furry charge. But as he reached down to pet the cat, he couldn't help but glance back at the sky, wondering if he'd ever get the chance to venture as far as Aldric someday.

....

Aldric's consciousness flickered back to life, his eyes opening to the dim glow inside a life pod filled with a dense, healing liquid. His body felt heavy, suspended in the pod's thick substance, each pulse of pain reminding him of the severity of his injuries. Around him, Automated Crew Units (ACUs) worked tirelessly, scanning and mending his wounds, their mechanical arms precise and efficient.

He tried to move, but his strength was drained, and before he could fully take in his surroundings, his vision faded once more.

This cycle repeated several times—brief moments of awareness followed by darkness—until, finally, a steady voice filled the silence.

[Commander Aldric] Cen's calm tone echoed through his mind as his consciousness stirred again.

[Welcome back. You've been on life support for two weeks. Current health status is at 60% functionality. Life support is no longer required.]

Aldric blinked, groggily taking in the information. Two weeks? He flexed his fingers, feeling a dull ache across his body, but he was alive. His regenerative abilities had done much to heal his injuries, but he realized now how close he had come to death.

As he tried to focus, Cen continued.

[Commander, there is extensive damage to the mothership. Automated repairs have been underway, courtesy of the ACUs, but Arcadia remains at reduced capacity. Additionally, we are not on Neryon-7; scans indicate we have landed on an unidentified planet.]

Aldric's heart skipped a beat at this news. "Not... Neryon-7?" he managed, his voice a rasp.

[Affirmative. The planet's life signals and atmospheric readings do not match any in the database. Analysis suggests that we are in an unknown sector. The dimensional rift's instability likely altered our course significantly.]

He processed the information slowly, marveling at the sheer improbability of his survival. An unstable dimensional crack, a crash landing, no shield—none of those would have been fatal, and yet he'd made it through. If not for the relentless repairs of the ACUs, he could have remained in that pod indefinitely; his body left to heal itself alone in the unknown.

"Cen," he murmured, regaining some strength, "status report. What do we know about this place?"

[Minimal data currently available] Cen replied.

[Preliminary scans indicate a breathable atmosphere, abundant organic life, and possible water sources. Recommend reconnaissance and complete environmental analysis once you are cleared to exit the pod.]

Aldric took a slow, deep breath, feeling his resilience kick in. He wasn't where he'd planned to be, but he was alive, and his mission—whatever form it would take now—had only just begun.

...

After a week, Aldric was finally back to full strength. During his recovery, he hadn't been idle—despite the temptation to go outside, he knew better than to step into an unknown environment without proper intel. Fortunately, Arcadia was stocked with an array of advanced exploration tools, most of which had now been repaired by the diligent ACUs. Some of the more powerful assets included a few of the classified Eradicator-Class weapons, powerful enough to level a city. These were the handiwork of Ren Althar, a friend notorious for "smuggling" high-yield gear onto missions where he deemed it "might come in handy." Aldric figured there wouldn't be any need for something of that scale, but then again, they were in an unknown world.

For the initial survey, he launched waves of drones, programming them to fan out within a strict 20-kilometer radius. Even from within the ship's safety, he noted the interference plaguing their signals—something in the atmosphere or terrain was limiting their range. He would need to build a signal tower to extend his exploration perimeter. Yet every scan brought back the same data: endless expanses of trees, thick canopies stretching in every direction, and no sign of civilization or large structures.

The drones also transmitted images of unfamiliar flora and fauna, life forms with structures and behaviors that defied his understanding. Some creatures had appendages flickered like liquid, shifting colors in the sunlight. In contrast, others had skin that seemed to reflect their surroundings with uncanny precision, blending in almost perfectly with the dense foliage. Even Cen, typically reserved in its curiosity, suggested collecting samples for study.

[Commander Aldric] Cen announced, its voice laced with a subtle eagerness.

[Several organisms in the vicinity display properties highly unusual in known biological systems. Data collection on these specimens may yield insights valuable to our understanding of alien ecosystems—and may assist in potential long-term survival on this planet.]

Aldric raised an eyebrow at the AI's interest. The Centurion model had been designed for exploration and equipped with an extensive scientific database, but it was rare to see Cen so enthusiastic about gathering data.

"Alright, Cen," he replied, intrigued. "Prep a drone for sample retrieval. Let's see what we're dealing with here. And if we're going to be building that tower, I'll need detailed terrain analysis, too. Let's figure out the safest place to set up."

As the drones moved out to gather samples and chart the land, Aldric prepared for the next step. This world was an enigma, but he was determined to make sense of it.