"Computer, bring up a... " I started, before thinking better of the question, "Actually no. Computer, can you search for individual planets?"
"If individual planets are known to the Combined Federation of Planets then said planet will be present in my data-banks," The Computer chirped, there was nothing that annoyed more than an artificially happy artificial intelligence.
"Do a search for a planet called Earth," I ordered the machine, digging my nails into the palms of my hands. It was a long shot, a last ditch effort to be connected to sothing that might resemble my ho universe. If there was an Earth in this universe, then that ant there could be humans as well. Although I wouldn't be from the sa universe as them, at least I could feel so sort of kinship them. I wouldn't be alone.
"Planet with designation 'Earth' is not in the Combined Federation of Planets Data-Banks," The Computer chirped again, its happiness at direct odds with my own deepening sorrow.
"Okay, well what about the Human race?" I asked, my breathing becoming short and shallow. I couldn't be the only one.
"Species with designation 'Human' is not in the Combined Federation of Planets Data-Banks," It chirped once more.
I felt as if the universe had opened up and swallowed whole. As if a big gaping crack and ripped its way through the wooden floors of the space station and cast out to the depths, where I would surely choke and die. Alone. The only human in the entire universe. Or at least the only human in close proximity to this Federation of Planets the computer kept talking about, which probably may as well be alone for all the good it was worth. I took what felt like the thousandth deep breath of the day and tried to slow my thoughts down.
"Wait, if the Federation has never encountered my species before, how are you speaking English?" I asked, pouncing on the first coherent thought that sprung out of the chaos.
"Please place your hand on the skin behind your right ear," The computer instructed, which was a strange response to the question I had asked. Nevertheless, I felt a very small bump in the area. "What you are feeling is the slight scar from a cranial implant. The implant intercepts your brain waves and converts both visual and auditory data into a form you will understand!"
The knowledge that sothing had been planted directly into my skull worried for a mont, but considering it hadn't killed yet I had to assu it was both safe and doing its job. Not only that, it suggested that whatever alien creatures were on this ship knew of my existence and I hadn't just been dropped here by the Reaper without warning. A set of circumstances had led to being almost completely naked in this very luxurious bedroom. I intended to find out what those circumstances were.
"Computer, what is the function of this station, and where is it located?" I asked.
"You are currently located on the Etax Pri Star Base, a station orbiting the third, and only habitable, planet in the Etax System. This base functions as a trading outpost and living quarters for over thirty different species in the Combined Federation of Planets. It acts as a central hub to the rest of this sector!" The Computer said.
The computers explanation had helped calm so of my worries. There was a relatively high chance that this could have been so sort of military outpost, and considering this Federation had never encountered the Human race before they may have wanted to interrogate, or perhaps even experint on, . What with this being a civilian trading outpost I likely had very little to worry about on that front.
"Does the governing body of this station know that I am on board?"
"Yes, of course they do, they brought in your wreck after all," The Computer said, a hint of amusent in its modulated tone.
"My wreck?"
"Your ship was found drifting and battered. Hull integrity was at 5% and your life support was fading fast, luckily for you our stations long range sensors picked up your ships beacons and a rescue team was sent out imdiately. The current hypothesis is that you were attacked by pirates or so other form of vandal. I have inford the captain of the station that you have woken, he will want to speak with you as soon as possible," The Computer explained.
I suppose that was sothing to do with the Reaper then. It had likely found so old junker in a scrap yard sowhere, put in it, and then set off to drift near a fairly populated space station. It would stop from having to answer too many awkward questions, and if I were lucky the people on this station would pity the poor and lonely nomad of a long lost species enough to fix the ship up or get a new one entirely. The Reaper seed to have thought of everything, dropping into a highly populated area with absolutely no backstory would have raised far too many questions. Though the creature had torn away from everything I had ever known and left in a new world with no instruction on what I was ant to do next, I couldn't help but feel a little grateful that he hadn't cast out with absolutely nothing.
I pushed my fingers against themselves until they gave a loud and satisfying pop. If the reaper wanted to lead a successful and fulfilling life in this world I could only assu that he had set up with so advantages. It was then that I noticed the neatly folded bundle of clothes and a pair of sturdy looking combat boots at the foot of my bed, as well as a small sealed envelope with my na written on the front in elegant writing. I picked up the envelope first and opened it, I already knew it was the last words from the Reaper. The dark beings final instructions.
"As I explained to you in our encounter after your untily demise, you have been sent to a universe that closely aligns with that of your dreams. This universe is filled with spacefaring races that have mastery over technology so advanced that it will likely seem impossible to you. Upon the opening of this letter an enchantnt was placed upon you that has made your weak human brain more malleable to new ideas and scenarios. It is a more potent and direct form of what made you feel calm and serene when you entered the Void. You are likely already noticing the feelings of panic begin to recede from your mind, this does not an that you will never be panicked or scared again, only that the new universe you find yourself in will be automatically accepted as your new reality.
The point of you existing in this new universe is simple, beco the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. Explore the universe. Help those that you can. Beco a beacon of light and hope. I have left you a ship, the Zietriss, as you beco more in tune with this new universe more and more of her powers will open themselves up to you. Never allow yourself to beco separated from this ship, she will protect you from anything that is yet to co."
I folded the letter back up and placed it back into its envelope. To be told that you had been enchanted by a paranormal being to not be worried about things would normally bring on waves of worry and panic, yet the creature's words held true. Though I knew I should be worried and that I should be panicking over the thought it had ssed with my brain I was not. It was as if every ti I thought about the Reaper or the Void or even the fact I had been transported to this new universe a wave of artificial calm swept over and kept from freaking out. In honesty, it was a new ntal function that would probably end up being pretty useful. Though I had never been one to unduly panic, this had been a pretty stressful situation, and to have that taken away in one fell swoop was rather relaxing.
I dressed myself with the clothes on the floor, a simple pair of jeans, a black t-shirt and a three quarter length jacket that didn't actually do up. It was a simple look, but with my new and improved body I imagined it would co across as rather striking. Good, I had no idea what awaited on the other side of these bedroom doors. Whatever type of alien was waiting out there to et , I wanted to make a lasting impression from the off.
"So then Computer," I said,plunging my hands into my jeans pockets and allowing my jacket to flow back behind them. "How do I get to the captain's office?"
"Engaging teleport beam now!" The Computer announced, and the world faded away in a swirl of colour.
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