Weeks had passed since Ryan and Keira joined the team at Observation Station KA-10. The alien researchers barely paused for anything beyond their work. Sleep, food, or even social connections seemed secondary to their singular focus on the Erebus Anomaly. Ryan and Keira adapted in their own ways. While Keira dove into her team’s complex projects, Ryan found himself observing the Lugias solar system, one of the latest regions to fall under the anomaly’s grasp.
Though Ryan’s background as a technician from Earth left him feeling out of place among the brilliant alien minds, he made an effort to contribute. His firsthand experience with Erebus and his role in Lumina Frontier had given him a perspective few others had. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
One day, Vorklath, the station’s chief scientist, addressed the team. “The next rotation for close-range observation in the Lugias system departs in two cycles (cycle=day),” he announced. “The team will remain stationed near the system’s boundary for extended study. Volunteers are welcome.”
The announcement sparked a fire within Ryan. Lugias was a single-star system with seven planets, five of which were under the anomaly's influence. The thought of getting closer to observe the Erebus Anomaly again both excited and terrified him.
Keira approached him as soon as she noticed his expression. “Ryan, you’re not seriously thinking about volunteering, are you?” she asked, her concern evident.
“I have to,” Ryan replied. “I’ve been sitting here for weeks, taking notes and running distant observations. It’s not enough. I want to see it again—up close. Maybe I can understand it better this time.”
Keira frowned. “You’ve seen what Erebus can do. You were there when it destroyed Earth. This isn’t just some random phenomenon. It’s chaos incarnate.”
“I know,” Ryan said, his tone calm but resolute. “But I can’t sit here and do nothing. If I can help, even a little, I have to try.”
Keira sighed. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
The next day, Ryan informed Vorklath of his decision to join the mission. The chief scientist nodded, his expression neutral. “You’ve been close to Erebus before. Your perspective might prove valuable. We depart in one cycle.”
The day of departure arrived swiftly. Keira came to see Ryan off, her worry evident. “Don’t do anything reckless,” she said softly.
Ryan smiled faintly. “I’ll be fine, Keira. I’ll come back with plenty of boring notes for you to critique.”
Boarding the alien shuttle was a surreal experience. Its sleek, angular design was unlike anything Ryan had seen, even on Lumina Prime. Inside, the ship was a marvel of advanced technology, with walls that glowed faintly with pulsating energy and corridors lined with interfaces that responded to the crew’s presence.
Ryan was shown to his cabin, a compact but comfortable space with a large observation window. As the shuttle departed KA-10, Ryan pressed his face against the glass, eager to take in the view.
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The station receded into the distance, shrinking until it was just a speck against the endless black backdrop of space. Ryan’s cabin filled with a faint hum as the ship activated its faster-than-light propulsion.
The journey to the Emperius Century galaxy took several hours, during which Ryan remained glued to the window. Nebulas glimmered in shades of blue, pink, and gold, their vibrant colors contrasting against the darkness. Distant star clusters sparkled like scattered jewels, and faint trails of cosmic dust swirled through the void.
As they approached the edge of the Emperius Century galaxy, Ryan felt a sense of awe and unease. The galaxy’s outer rim was a chaotic mix of vibrant stars and faint, eerie distortions caused by the Erebus Anomaly. It was beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
The shuttle slowed as it neared the galaxy’s boundary, allowing Ryan to get a clearer view. Emperius Century was vast, with sprawling star systems interconnected by glowing cosmic filaments. Yet, even from this distance, the anomaly’s effects were visible. Certain regions of the galaxy appeared darker, their stars dim and distorted, as if veiled by an invisible force.
Ryan’s thoughts turned to Earth and Lumina Prime. How many worlds had been lost to Infinitum? Was there any hope of stopping it, or were they merely delaying the inevitable?
The shuttle eventually arrived near the Lugias solar system, a relatively small system on the galaxy’s edge. Ryan’s breath caught as he saw it for the first time. The system’s seven planets orbited a single, medium-sized star. Two of the planets were massive gas giants, their atmospheres swirling with storms, while the others were rocky worlds of varying sizes.
Five of the planets bore the unmistakable scars of the Erebus Anomaly. Their surfaces were marred by dark, pulsating tendrils that seemed to radiate an unnatural energy. Flickering fields of light surrounded these planets, creating an eerie, otherworldly glow.
Ryan’s shuttle docked at a massive substation positioned just outside the system’s boundary. The substation was a sprawling structure, its design reminiscent of KA-10 but smaller and more heavily fortified. It served as the main hub for all research and observation in the Lugias system.
As Ryan disembarked, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. The station was eerily quiet, its corridors illuminated by faint blue lights. The hum of machinery was the only sound, a constant reminder of the advanced technology that surrounded him.
The new team was briefed upon arrival and assigned quarters. Ryan spent the first few hours familiarizing himself with the station’s layout. Observation decks offered stunning views of the solar system, and advanced instruments allowed for real-time monitoring of the anomaly’s progression.
That night, as Ryan lay in his bunk, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a whirlwind of questions and doubts. Was this the right decision? Was there anything he could truly contribute here?
He thought of Earth, of Lumina Prime, and of the billions of lives lost to the anomaly. Were they truly gone, disintegrated as the Monarch had concluded? Or were they are out there somewhere, scattered across the countless universes that might exist just like them?
Ryan clenched his fists. “If I can get even one step closer to understanding this thing,” he whispered to himself, “then this will be worth it.”
The following day, he began his work at the substation. The Sub station was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. The team used advanced instruments to monitor the anomaly’s progression, gathering data on its effects on the affected planets. Ryan worked diligently, assisting the scientists in any way he could.
Despite his initial trepidation, he found himself drawn to the challenge. The Erebus Anomaly was an enigma—a force that defied all known laws of physics. It wasn’t sentient, as far as they could tell, but its behavior was far from random. Ryan believed that if they could decipher its patterns, they might uncover a way to counteract it.
Days turned into weeks as Ryan immersed himself in the work. The fear he’d felt upon arriving began to fade, replaced by a growing determination. This was his chance to make a difference, to contribute to the fight against the chaos that had upended his life and the lives of so many others.
As he stared out at the Lugias system from the observation deck one evening, he resolved to see this through to the end.