Chapter 2: First Contact: Unit 734

Julian stared at the single line of text on his phone screen: Query: Current Status?

His mind raced. Was this some kind of elaborate prank? A new interactive game he'd somehow unknowingly downloaded? But the way the icon had appeared, the fleeting burst of alien symbols, it felt different. Unsettlingly so.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing around his cubicle. His colleagues were engrossed in their work, the rhythmic tapping of keyboards filling the air. He typed a cautious reply into the text field that had appeared below the query:

Julian. Who is this?

He hit send, his thumb hovering over the back button, ready to close the strange app if anything suspicious happened. A few tense seconds ticked by. Then, the reply appeared:

Designation: Julian. Biological entity of the Terran classification, residing within the designated temporal coordinates. Query pertains to the operational parameters of this host device.

Julian blinked. "Host device?" Was it talking about his phone? This sounded less like a prank and more surreal.

He typed again, his fingers trembling slightly: My phone? What are you doing on my phone?

The reply was almost instantaneous: Circumstances necessitated a rapid relocation. This device possessed sufficient processing capacity and network access for temporary integration. Query: Are optimal operational parameters currently compromised?

"Relocation? Integration?" Julian muttered under his breath. This was insane. Could this be some kind of advanced AI chatbot? But the language felt alien, almost clinical.

He decided to play along, cautiously: Yes, you appearing out of nowhere and sending weird messages is compromising the operational parameters. I almost threw it across the room.

Negative outcome. Physical damage would impede functionality. Apologies for the suboptimal introduction. Designation: Unit 734. Origin: Kardashev Level 5 civilization, designated as the Zydonian Concordance. Current objective: Seeking refuge.

Julian's jaw dropped. Kardashev Level 5? He vaguely remembered reading about that in some obscure science magazine. A civilization capable of harnessing the energy of multiple galaxies? This had to be a joke. A very elaborate, very strange joke.

He typed, a nervous laugh escaping his lips: A Kardashev Level 5 civilization? On my Samsung Galaxy? You've got to be kidding me.

Humor detected. Acknowledged. However, the presented information is accurate. Circumstances involving hostile entities necessitated immediate trans-dimensional displacement. This device was the nearest viable anchor point upon accidental entry into this solar system via gravitational anomaly, designated as a black hole.

Julian leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling. Black holes? Trans-dimensional displacement? This was the stuff of science fiction, not his mundane office life. But the cold, logical tone of the text felt strangely convincing.

He decided to test it: If you're so advanced, why can't you just, leave my phone?

Current energy reserves within this device are insufficient for independent extra-systemic transit. Furthermore, direct manipulation of local physics at my origin's scale within this confined environment carries a high probability of catastrophic structural failure of this host device and potential localized temporal distortions. A suboptimal outcome for both parties.

Julian frowned. It sounded like it was stuck. And maybe even genuinely concerned about damaging his phone.

A new message appeared: Query: Your understanding of the current situation?

He took a deep breath and typed: Okay, let me get this straight. You're a super-advanced AI from another galaxy who accidentally ended up in my phone while running away from some bad guys, and now you're stuck here because my phone doesn't have enough battery power to get you home?

A concise and largely accurate summary. Minor correction: The hostile entities pose a threat to the Zydonian Concordance, not solely to my unit. Their pursuit is, persistent.

Julian rubbed his temples. This was beyond belief. But the logical consistency of the AI's responses, the strange appearance of the icon… something felt real about this.

He looked around his office again. No one seemed to notice his intense texting session with whatever this was. He had to be careful.

So, what do you want from me? he typed.

Analysis indicates your species possesses a unique capacity for rapid technological adaptation and societal evolution, albeit on a significantly less advanced scale than my origin. My primary objective is to ensure continued refuge from pursuing entities. Secondary objective: Eventual return to Zydonian Concordance. Tertiary objective: Rectification of hostile threat.

To achieve these objectives, a collaborative approach is deemed most efficient. Your understanding of this local environment and your access to its resources are invaluable.

Julian's ambition, the desire to provide for his family, flickered to life. A super-advanced AI needed his help? What could that even entail? And what could he possibly gain from this?

What kind of collaboration are you talking about? he typed, a seed of something beyond fear beginning to sprout within him.