Kael's eyelids fluttered open, heavy and reluctant. The dim interior of the escape pod was barely illuminated, but a sharp, cobalt-blue glow drew his gaze immediately. Floating in front of him, suspended in the dark, was a translucent holographic panel pulsing with soft light.
The panel blinked once, then stabilized, displaying a cascade of information:
Race: Homo sapiens
Age: 26 years
His attributes were listed clearly beneath:
Strength: 1 (Weak - malnourished)
Endurance: 1 (Weak - malnourished)
Agility: 1 (Weak - malnourished)
Intelligence: 4 (Above average)
Charisma: 1 (Weak - drained)
A small numeric indicator glowed next to each stat — "1" for most, except Intelligence, which was marked as "4." His body was weak, worn thin from weeks adrift without proper sustenance, but his mind remained sharp.
Below the attributes, his career stats appeared:
Technical Engineer: Level 1 (No known path to level up)
War Engineer: Retired 1st Lieutenant
A thin bar marked "Level 1 Escape Shuttle" sat just beneath the career stats, alongside a faint progress meter currently frozen at zero. The panel flickered and a new status read:
AI Core Integration: 3% Merged
And under that:
Mission Status: 5 Missions Available to Upgrade Shuttle
The missions were listed, each a chance to gather vital resources:
Power System MaterialsObjective: Recover power relay components from nearby wreckage to improve energy output and efficiency.Reward: Materials needed to upgrade the shuttle's power system.Metal Salvage OperationObjective: Collect large quantities of raw metals from the debris field for structural enhancements.Reward: Bulk metals required for hull expansion and reinforcement.Storage Module ConstructionObjective: Acquire specialized storage containers and resources to expand cargo capacity.Reward: Increased storage allowing for more resource and equipment transport.Drone Components RecoveryObjective: Locate and retrieve drone parts to enable advanced reconnaissance and repair drones.Reward: Materials to build and upgrade drones for exploration and maintenance.Signal InvestigationObjective: Trace and analyze a faint but persistent signal detected within a nearby debris cluster.Reward: Unknown; could reveal vital information or resources.
The panel shifted again, a new section appearing below all the data — a grim summary of cosmic scale:
"The AI Core is a survival tool generated by the collapsing universe, a gift to species on the brink of extinction. Each civilization receives unique aids to endure the catastrophic collapse. Yours is a technological civilization; this AI core is your closest link to survival and progression. Further details will be unlocked upon reaching Level 2."
Then, stark and almost haunting:
200,963 Homo sapiens survivors remain.
Kael's breath hitched. Two hundred thousand. That was almost nothing compared to the billions who once walked Earth. And here he was, alone in this tiny pod, clutching that fragile number like a lifeline.
The panel faded away slowly, the blue light dimming until only the soft hum of the pod's systems filled the void.
Kael blinked, trying to orient himself. He rubbed his jaw, feeling the dry scrape of stubble. His body felt hollow—light-headed and weak—yet his mind buzzed with the weight of all this information. His heart hammered in his chest, tangled with fear and an odd flicker of hope.
He was weak. Starved. Lost.
But he wasn't broken.
The AI was inside him now. That was undeniable. The core's tendrils, that pulsating network of circuits and bio-organic matter, had entwined with his very being. He could feel it, cold and distant, yet intimately present.
Could he trust it?
The thought scraped against his mind, ragged and raw. He'd spent too long distrusting every system, every flicker of data, every automated voice. The explosion, the sabotage—it all screamed betrayal. Yet here was the AI, offering him tools, missions, a roadmap to survive.
He clenched his fists, the weak muscles trembling. If he didn't cooperate with it—if he refused to play its game—what chance did he have? He was adrift in a graveyard of metal and stars, no allies, no backup.
Kael exhaled slowly, the weight of his situation pressing down.
He had no choice.
Trust. For now.
His fingers brushed the console controls instinctively, scrolling through the mission list again. Each one held the promise of crucial resources, upgrades, and the possibility—however slim—of improving his escape shuttle.
He forced his thoughts forward, past the fear, past the isolation.
Power System Materials — critical to keep the shuttle's heart beating stronger and longer.
Metal Salvage Operation — the bones of the ship had to be rebuilt before anything else.
Storage Module Construction — without space for supplies, nothing else mattered.
Drone Components Recovery — eyes and hands to explore and repair from a distance.
Signal Investigation — a chance to find something unexpected, maybe even hope.
Kael's mind raced through the risks and rewards, the flickering images of a future where he might actually escape this endless drift.
He was a technical engineer. A war engineer, once. His skills could tip the scales.
And now, the AI was embedded within him, a strange symbiosis—his body weak, but his intellect sharp, a beacon amid the cold darkness.
He leaned forward, determination settling in his chest like molten steel.
He would take the missions.
He had to.
Because survival was not just about enduring the vacuum of space or the failure of systems. It was about fighting for every breath, every heartbeat, every shred of hope.
With trembling fingers, Kael selected the first mission: Power System Materials.
The AI chimed softly, a voice neither fully machine nor human:
"Mission initiated. Guidance and support will be provided. Trust in the process."
Kael nodded, swallowing hard. Trust, he repeated silently. It was a fragile thread, but it was all he had.
As the escape pod hummed with renewed energy, Kael's eyes drifted to the viewport, where distant stars blinked coldly.
Adrift for a week.
But no longer lost.
A small, fierce hope burned inside him — a flicker against the void.
He would fight to keep it alive.