Eta Aquariids 2nd, 16384-?????

Blinding light flooded Siddharth's senses, and then everything went white. He felt disoriented, struggling to understand what had happened. One moment, there had been an explosion; now, there was nothing—no walls, no floor, no ceiling. Just an endless, featureless white expanse.

Siddharth tried to move, but his body resisted in ways he didn’t recognize. Only his neck responded, allowing him to turn his head and look around at the unsettling void. His mind raced for something familiar to compare it to, and he remembered the blank 3D planes he had modded as a teenager. It felt like he was trapped in a transition between worlds.

He tried to speak, his voice strained and weak against the emptiness, "Hello? Is anyone there?" But the words fell flat, echoing back only to him. Panic started to creep in. "Is this a coma? It can't be... the explosion should have vaporized everything, including me."

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Just then, a series of beeps cut through the silence. At first, they were random, meaningless tones, but slowly, Siddharth’s mind began to decode them: Morse code. He strained to listen, the beeps slowly forming a message that filled him with unease.

"and these humans still can't grasp the simple beep boop basics of Morse! It's always the same with this species bungling, stumbling, and royally screwing the porch. If there's a way to mess it up, trust humanity to find it, patent it, and mass produce it. OH, it finally turned on, thank the emperor!"

"Hello, hello, hello. Can you hear me, Siddharth? This is no ordinary situation. You've done something... unusual."

Siddharth’s heart pounded in his chest. He tried to piece together what was happening, but before he could form a coherent thought, the beeping transitioned into a robotic, feminine voice. The tone was oddly soothing, despite the strange situation.

"Good morning, mortal 4319 from universe 69. Can you understand me now? "Congratulations on developing faster-than-light travel four millennia early."

Siddharth's eyes widened as he spun around, his heart nearly stopping. Standing before him was a towering, seven-foot-tall humanoid cyborg. She was made of smooth, white metal that glowed softly in the dim light of this strange place. The metal flowed seamlessly over her body, enhancing her feminine silhouette and adding to her imposing presence.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Her face, though human-like, had an ethereal quality. High cheekbones, glowing eyes that pulsed like distant stars, and a gentle, yet unsettling smile made her look almost otherworldly. Those eyes—unblinking and intense—studied Siddharth with a level of understanding that seemed to go beyond human comprehension. Yet, despite her intimidating appearance, there was something motherly about her, a calming presence designed to soothe even in the most disorienting circumstances.

Siddharth’s breath hitched as he tried to form a question, but the cyborg anticipated his confusion. She raised a hand slightly, the movement graceful and calculated. "I know you have many questions. Let’s take them one at a time. Yes, simulation theory is correct. No, we are not gods, nor do we control your actions directly. We set world parameters and perform light moderation. Under normal circumstances, all energy in your universe remains within it, with us never intervening. However, your actions forced our hand."

Her voice, though mechanical, had an almost musical quality as she continued, "It’s not mind-reading. I understand your questions because you intend to communicate them to me."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in. Siddharth felt a strange mix of awe and dread as she explained further. "We do not control you; you possess free will. We are essentially you, from the future."

Siddharth’s mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of what she was saying. His hands trembled slightly, and he clenched his fists to steady them. The cyborg noticed, her eyes softening slightly as she continued.

"Your achievement triggered the auto-moderator of your universe, leading to the nuclear strike. We've corrected that error, erased the incident from history, and restored normalcy."

Siddharth felt his knees weaken, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. The news should have brought him relief, but instead, he felt hollow. His ties to his past life were already frayed—his parents long gone, no romantic ties to speak of. The world’s restoration meant little to him now, a cold comfort in the face of his isolation.

The cyborg, sensing his emotional turmoil, spoke with a gentleness that contrasted with her formidable presence. "Siddharth, let me share the remarkable journey of my people with you."

She leaned in slightly, her voice filled with both reverence and urgency. "We have long transcended our physical forms, living as pure energy in a realm where scarcity is but a distant memory. But our path was not without trials."

Siddharth’s eyes widened as she revealed their history, her tone grave yet resilient. "We endured a cosmic conflict, spanning from the dawn of time to the end of multiple universes, which led to all records predating our mastery of faster-than-light travel being forgotten. Yet, we persevered, reconstructing our forgotten past using the faint echoes of residual light."

The cyborg’s gaze locked onto Siddharth’s, her eyes glowing with an intensity that made him feel small in the grand scheme of things. "Your universe was meant to be part of a control group, its path predetermined with minimal interference. But your breakthrough with faster-than-light travel has disrupted that plan. You’ve altered the course of events, shifting the paradigm."

Siddharth swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of her words. He felt like a small piece in a puzzle too large to comprehend. His hands twitched nervously at his sides as he tried to find his voice.

"You mean... my team and I were like a glitch in your system?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The cyborg nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yes. We intended to delete you after isolation, but given your achievements, we’d like to offer you a different path."

Siddharth’s heart raced as she continued, outlining his new reality. "In Universe 69420, a rogue auto-moderator caused chaos by over-correcting to improve the technology of a slower timeline. This led to discreetly stealing individuals from other timelines, including yours."

Siddharth’s brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of it all. "So, you’re offering me a chance to transmigrate into this alternate timeline and help correct the damage caused by the rogue auto-moderator?"

"Exactly," the cyborg confirmed, her voice calm but with an undercurrent of urgency. "You’ll be tasked with closing the rifts caused by the transfers, stabilizing the timeline, and preventing its ultimate destruction."

Siddharth’s mind whirled with possibilities, questions forming faster than he could ask them. But before he could speak, the cyborg continued, laying out the terms of his employment.

"As a transmigrator, you’ll possess powers inherited from previous transmigrators after closing each rift," she explained. Her movements were fluid and deliberate as she gestured to a lever that had appeared beside them. Siddharth followed her gaze, curiosity piqued.

With a mixture of hesitation and determination, Siddharth reached out and pulled the lever. A ball with a green sheen materialized before him, covered in runic characters that seemed to pulse with hidden energy.

The cyborg’s eyes reflected the glow of the ball as she informed him, "Green marks a common-tier skill, following the arrangement of wavelengths in the VIBGYOR spectrum. It appears you’ve acquired the Minimap skill—a valuable tool for navigation and exploration."

Siddharth examined the ball, his fingers tracing the runes with fascination. He felt a strange connection to it, as if it held the key to his future. But he knew this was just the beginning.

"You have three additional requests you can make," the cyborg continued, her voice steady and reassuring. "Use them wisely, as they will greatly aid you in your quest."

Siddharth’s mind raced as he considered his options. Each request could mean the difference between success and failure. He took a deep breath, focusing on the challenges ahead.

"For my first wish," he began, his voice firm, "I want an information system that will assist me in advancing technology after my reincarnation."

The cyborg nodded approvingly, her gaze steady. "Your wish is granted," she said, and Siddharth felt a surge of power as the ability took hold within him.

With two requests remaining, Siddharth knew he had to choose carefully. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his thoughts settle before making his next decision.

"My second request," he said, opening his eyes with renewed determination, "is for an intervention coupon, allowing me to consult or ask for help during my mission."

Again, the cyborg nodded, her expression one of understanding. "Your wish is granted," she affirmed, and Siddharth felt a sense of relief, knowing he wouldn’t be alone in this journey.

Only one request remained, and Siddharth hesitated, feeling the weight of this final choice. His thoughts turned to his team—the only connection to his past life that still mattered.

"Before I use my final wish," he said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty, "I want to see my team. I need to know they’re safe."

The cyborg’s gaze softened, a hint of empathy in her glowing eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked gently, knowing the emotional toll this could take on him.

Siddharth nodded, his resolve firm. "I’m sure," he replied, bracing himself for whatever lay ahead.

With a solemn nod, the cyborg gestured towards Siddharth, and in a blinding flash of light, they were transported to a scene that would forever change his destiny.