Okay so...journeying through a black hole wasn't the best idea I've had,but it was the only one we haven't tried...
Earlier:
On our base, me and Tess worked for so long trying to find a way home. But as the months(years?)went by, we got more and more frustrated. And then things started to get weird(er), at this point we have become quite familiar with the languages of the different alien species and we noticed a few things.
One: They NEVER have anything new to talk about apart from anything related to their work.
Two:The "other travelers existing thing" is likely bull. No matter how hard we press, they NEVER seem to have any concrete info other than "there are others like you"
Three: They don't react to us asking the same questions, they just say the same thing every time we ask like robots(even the robots)
Four: The way everything seemed to be easy and convenient is well, too easy and convenient.
Everything seemed too static,NOTHING changed. The alien wildlife, the goddamn alien cat we had was more life-like and intelligent than the actual "intelligent" beings on the stations.
We had enough, and knew that there was nothing for us in the system. So after a teary goodbye to the Kat from Tess, we packed our ship and set off.
We drifted from system to system looking for any changes, but we always found the same.
Lifeless aliens in the stations, and the feeling of no progress.
Then we saw it, a pitch-black void, a black hole.
"It's something different." I say to Tess.
"Yeah but, are you sure we should?"Tess asks."what if it kills us? I'm pretty sure black holes aren't something you would call safe."
"It's the only thing we've haven't done that I know we can do in the game.Well, aside from reaching the center, and I'm sure it won't kill us. I want to go home Tess, can you even remember how long we've been in here?" I stare into the void and sigh. "I lost track after 11 months."
"Do it." says Tess.
"Are you sure? I don't want to have guilt-tripped you into this…"
Tess puts her hand on my shoulder, "I'm sure, I want to go home too." she smiles.
I just noticed she has a pretty cute smile...
"Well then let's not waste any time. Got your helmet on?"
"yep." she answers.
"Then let's go" I say as I pilot the ship towards the black hole.
As we approach the black hole, light start to bend outside the cockpit. The wings and nose of the ship seem to stretch before we are suddenly shown a cascade of colors. We're in the black hole.
*bzzt* systems malfunction...systems malfunction
The ship begins to shake violently and the dials start to glitch and spark!
"uh Lucas, I think this thing is gonna explode!!"
"It won't, trust me!" I had no idea if it actually would or not.
It's almost as if the ship is trying to thrash us around.
It feels like an eternity before the ship starts to calm down.
"haha, I think we made it…"
System damage critical
Present:
black hole passage...successful...system damage critical...please move to the nearest station for repairs...black hole passage...successful...syst-
"Well that was intense, right Tess?"
She doesn't answer. "Tess?"
"Tess, you okay?" no answer "Tess?!"
I look back at tess to make sure she's okay, she's slumped over in her seat. "TESS!?"
"I think I'm gonna vomit." she mumbles.
"Sh my god, you scared the crap outta me Tess!"
"Sorry"
With that worry done, I turn back to look at the console to see what the damage is.
"Lucas, look." she points outside.
I look up and see several huge ships zoom into orbit around this systems station. "Well, that's new. Never seen those in the game."
"Hey Luc, don't those look like-"
"Star destroyers, like in star wars."
Several smaller ships zoom past, looking nothing like any ships I've ever seen...
"Hey Lucas, why does my screen have the word 'NEXT' on them?"
It's on my screen too...
"what is NEXT?" Tess asks again.
"I don't know, but I get the feeling we're going to hear a lot more of it pretty soon…".
To be continued...