The dim glow of the cockpit's consoles bathed Atlas Kael's face in a cold, bluish light. Outside, the infinite blackness stretched endlessly, indifferent and silent.
For the first time, he felt the weight of his solitude pressing in not just the physical void outside but the vast emptiness inside him.
He powered up the ship's recording system, fingers trembling slightly. The microphone crackled to life with a faint static hum. He hesitated, then took a slow breath.
"This is Atlas Kael. Log number one." His voice sounded distant, unfamiliar, as if coming from someone else.
He paused, searching for words to anchor himself.
Date: Unknown.
Location: Drifting somewhere beyond mapped space.
Cause: Unknown.
Atlas looked out the viewport at the starless abyss. "Hyperspace jump failed. Mc engine destroyed mid-flight. No communication with command. No response to distress signals."
He ran a hand through his hair, voice cracking slightly.
"I'm alive... for now."
A beat of silence. "This log is my light to reality, to memory, to hope. If anyone ever finds this... I want them to know. I was here. I fought. I survived as long as I could."
He swallowed hard, eyes misting over.
"I don't know how long I'll last. Food supplies are finite. Power reserves are dwindling. But I refuse to give up not yet."
Atlas glanced sideways at EVA's console. The A.I.'s light pulsed steadily his sole companion in this vast solitude.
"I'm not sure if you can understand me, EVA. But thank you... for being here."
He took a shaky breath and exhaled slowly, trying to steady his trembling hands.
"End log one"
He hit the save button and leaned back, eyes closed. For a moment, tears slipped down his cheeks silent witnesses to a man trapped between hope and despair, caught in the infinite black.
Outside, space remained indifferent. Inside, a small flame flickered stubbornly against the void.