The gate was a colossal structure, unlike anything I had ever seen. It hovered in the void of space, a swirling vortex of light and energy. Concentric rings made of some unknown metal framed a central portal, which was filled with a swirling pool of liquid energy. The surface of the energy shimmered and rippled, resembling a liquid mirror that shifted colors—from deep blues and purples to blinding whites and golds. Intricate glyphs and symbols lined the edges of the gate, glowing faintly as if charged with some ancient power.
As the ship approached, the gate came alive. The glyphs on the rings began to light up, their glow intensifying and sending ripples across the portal’s surface. The inner rings rotated slowly at first, then gained speed, aligning with a precise, almost mechanical rhythm. The energy within the portal surged and expanded, creating a shimmering tunnel that seemed to pierce through space itself.
“Whoa,” Elyria whispered beside me, her eyes wide with awe. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Same here,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from the spectacle. “It’s… beautiful.”
Theo’s voice broke through our reverie. “This gate and those like it are a marvel of ancient engineering, designed to bridge vast distances at faster than light speeds. It will take us to our next destination, where we will travel at ships speed to the next gate.”
“How does it work?” I asked, still mesmerized by the swirling energy.
“The gate utilizes a form of spatial manipulation, creating a temporary corridor through hyperspace,” Theo explained. “It requires precise calibration and a significant amount of energy, but it allows for faster than light travel between distant points.”
“Can you send it anywhere?” I asked, wondering why it would take a year to get home with something like this available.
“No Caveman, things like that hardly exist at all and they aren’t available for just anyone. These gates can only go to their partner gates at their destination.”
“Oh I guess that makes sense, so it is like a tunnel then?” I guessed.
“Precisely.” Theo affirmed.
“Don’t I get 5% intelligence increase or something?” I questioned, feeling slighted.
“That was obvious Caveman, just what I would expect of you. Think of something unobvious and then I will be impressed.” I rolled my eyes at that.
As the ship approached the tunnel the edges glowed with a brilliant white light, while the interior was filled with swirling patterns of stars and cosmic dust zooming past us at dizzying speeds. The ship glided smoothly through the tunnel, and the viewscreen showed the stars outside blurring into streaks of light. It was an awe-inspiring sight, like being inside a living conduit of energy. Theo would later tell me the gate system was truly wonderful but limited. They were ancient structures, predating the current era and the System by millennia. The gates were built by an unknown, previously dominant, presumed to be wiped-out species. No new gates had been constructed since long before current memories and their origin was truly unknown.
The next few hours were a surreal blend of wonder, conversation, and culinary torture. Elyria and I spent much of the time standing by the viewing window, watching the universe streak past us in a kaleidoscope of light. The tunnel created by the gate surrounded us with a dazzling display of cosmic energy, stars, and space dust, all moving at speeds faster than I could comprehend.
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Every so often, the ship's automated system would deliver another sustenance shake, as though trying to remind us that even in space, bodily needs didn’t take a break. Elyria grumbled as she sipped on her third cup of the thick, rust-colored sludge, her face twisted in disgust. “I already feel bloated,” she muttered, pushing the half-empty cup away. “This stuff is going to make me explode.”
“Just think of it as fuel,” I said, though I was just as sick of the taste. “Not gourmet, but it keeps us going.” I took another gulp, grimacing at the irony tang and grainy texture that seemed to cling to my tongue like a bad memory.
Elyria laughed, though it was more of a resigned chuckle. “You really know how to sell it, Ev.” She turned back to the window, her eyes reflecting the shimmering lights of the tunnel. “So, tell me more about Earth. What's it really like?”
I leaned against the window frame, thinking about how to describe home to someone who had never been there. “It’s… complicated. Earth’s beautiful, but it's also a mess. Technology’s everywhere, but so are problems like pollution and overpopulation. And then there’s the people. They can be amazing, innovative, and compassionate. But they can also be short-sighted, destructive, and cruel.”
“Sounds a lot like every place I’ve ever been,” she said, her gaze distant. “People are people, no matter where you go, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true,” I replied, taking another swig of the coffee to chase away the lingering taste of the sustenance shake.
As we talked, the stars continued to rush by, a constant reminder of how far from home I really was. I found myself sharing stories about the simple pleasures I missed—my girlfriend, my family, my friends, sports and American life. Elyria listened with a mix of fascination and nostalgia, her questions painting a picture of her own experiences and longings.
Time blurred into an indistinct flow as we traveled through the tunnel. Despite the excitement of the journey and the surreal beauty of the cosmic scenery, a deep fatigue began to settle into my bones. I wasn’t sure if it was the relentless pace of the past days or the effects of the sustenance shakes, but my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity but must have been just a few hours, the ship emerged from the gate into a new star system. The transition from the bright, swirling tunnel to the serene expanse of space was almost anticlimactic. Stars dotted the inky blackness, and a distant sun cast a soft glow over the planetary system we had entered.
“We’ve arrived,” Theo announced, his voice resonating through the ship’s intercom. “Welcome to your new system. I recommend you report to your VERTEX pods for rest. You’ll need to be fully refreshed for the start of your quest tomorrow.”
I turned to Elyria, who was stretching and yawning beside me. “Guess we should follow orders,” I said, trying to muster some enthusiasm despite my fatigue. “We’ll sleep in the pods and wake up to a brand-new adventure.”
She nodded, rubbing her eyes. “I’m ready for some real sleep. These shakes are messing with my head.”
We made our way back through the ship’s corridors, the excitement of the journey tempered by the exhaustion that clung to us like a heavy cloak. The thought of the VERTEX pods—our strange, futuristic beds—was oddly comforting. At least in them, I wouldn’t have to choke down any more shakes for a while.
As we approached the pods, I glanced back at Elyria. Her steps were slow, and she looked just as tired as I felt. “See you on the other side?”
Elyria shook her head, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “We’re separated, remember?”
“Oh yeah,” I said, realizing my mistake. “I need to find you right away.”
“Don’t forget about me then, okay? Life’s too boring without you.” She winked, her eyes had a warmth that sent a flush through my chest.
“I promise,” I said, feeling a surge of something warm inside me. I held her gaze for a moment, I had missed her.
With a final nod, I climbed into my pod, the soft hum of the machinery enveloping me as the lid closed. The familiar sensation of hyper sleep washed over me, pulling me into a deep, dreamless rest. Tomorrow, a new quest awaited, filled with the unknown challenges and wonders of VERTEX. But for now, sleep was all that mattered. As my consciousness faded, Elyria’s wink and her words lingered in my mind.