Chapter 1: Quantum Entanglement
“Gravitational anomalies present. Suggestion: Exercise caution, navigational amendment—Critical error: Navigation not present. Unable to resolve. Engineering automatons required. Critical error: Communication timeout. Unable to resolve. Critical error—”
“Warning: body is in shock, administering CNS depressants. Kinetic inhibitors required. Elevated KE proteins. Danger: heart rate critically low. Suggest: Urgent medical attention. Error: Medical personnel not found. Fatal Error: Unable to reach relay. Calling Dr. Kingsley to the bridge. Dr. Kingsley to the bridge. Dr. Kingsley to the—”
“Medical emergency. Suggest: FAS Stabiliser, APNT pain inhibitor, Creetech stimulant, MAE nanites, immediate medical attention by trained professional—”
“Unknown gravitational anomaly causing catastrophic failure in… Sector A: subsection J2. Engine malfunction. Critical damage reported in—”
Artificial gravity is out?!
quitter.
The droid control was out.
Navigations were down.
I don’t know how to fix something of this magnitude.
I’m… stranded.
their ridiculing faces and their dismissive attitude.
“A young man with too much pride and more money than sense.”
“A reckless loner desperate to prove himself.”
“Smart, but not wise.”
What do I do?
I… don’t know.
I’m going to die.
“Warning: critically low power. Shutting down all non-essential systems.”
I would die due to a random series of events!
“Life support disabled. Limit of breathable atmosphere: two hours.”
Two hours? I’ll be lucky if I had two more minutes!
I just… wanted to be someone who made an impact.
Why?
Where in the Universe am I?
If anything, I should be wide-awake with shock.
was.
If facts cannot be reconciled in your theory, then your theory must be revised to fit the phenomenon.
How? How… could I be an infant?!
Was it the ship? Was it the cargo? Was it…
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Reality… what in the Universe is that anyway?
How should I approach this?
WHAT IN THE BLOODY HECK WAS GOING ON?
Herculean in magnitude. Eventually, I calmed down, the excitement giving way to boredom. Well, in actuality, I tired myself out with the emotional stress. After a few cycles of panicking and sleeping, I had eventually adapted.
Am I Pavlov’s dog? I thought myself wryly.
Milk. Apparently, this world didn’t have the nutrient-rich substitute baby-formulas and relied on a mother’s milk. I’d heard of these ‘all-natural’ approaches but that didn’t diminish the fact I was sucking on a breast from a woman I barely knew! The young woman, different to the one I first saw, was always caring for me attentively, but I couldn’t help but notice a slight crinkle among her eyebrows.
I’m… definitely going crazy, or they’re giving me drugs that are making me go crazy.
A neck snapping has got to be less painful than this.
Or, I’ve been so radically changed, would I even be considered their son anymore?
It could be years before they are notified of my death.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that they were ancient roleplaying fanatics. Well, they probably weren’t purists, because they had access to considerable technology.
But… this is too real.
Ha, serves you right. I thought, but immediately crushed that under mortification. What was I doing feeling pleased about winning a battle of wills with a five year old girl? That was pathetic!
What does she want with me?
It’s a mathematical ratio, but alright, let’s go with whirlwind.
My mother held me aloft and cradled me in her arms. She held out her hand. “Look! I can do it too!”
Sekrath aliminic hellan!”
The field manipulation is quite advanced.
You’re taking this roleplaying seriously, aren’t you?
What was she talking about? That maybe I’ll be able to access the A.I.?
Should I play along?
huge. The extravagance to build this, especially in this sort of style, mimicry or not, had to be expensive. There were at least three floors to this thing, and there were many, many rooms, most of them not used.
Imagine that! Real human servants! Unless they were doing something highly illegal, I don’t think these servants were droids, but how could someone afford to keep so many?!
Wait, what if these people are those maniacs…? Could it be that I’m not human? That I’m also a construct?
That was one hundred percent my fault, though. I let it slip accidentally when I blurted it out one time she was feeding me. I even tried to call her by her first name, but she got really, really, mad. I’m pretty sure these guys are insane. I better keep my thoughts to myself.
Okay… why would you do that? Is this the culture of your people, or are you just as delusional as the rest of them? Even worse, am I delusional and this is a personal hell of my own creation?
Hey, hey, what about all that speech about the safety of your son?
Woah, woah, woah, woah! Are you just going to stand there? This individual is clearly insane!
Oh sweet stars above, he actually…
Why…
WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE SO CRAZY?!