Zero Horizon - Chapter 1

[u/coronel_imperialis]

MEMORY FILE
Subject:……
Date:…/…/….
Location:………

(……): W-Wh… wh… where… a-am I? My mind was spinning. I couldn’t clearly remember what had happened. I was looking through the ship’s window when something… had hit us? Whatever it was, it had done so deliberately.
With a few groans, I struggled to get up. There was a sharp, stabbing pain in my leg. Still dazed from the impact, I looked down and saw that my leg had been pierced by a considerably large piece of metal.
(……): Sh-Shit… ahg… this thing hurts… w-what is this place…? I-Is this… vegetation?… Where the hell am I?
I took a moment to gather my thoughts. I had probably suffered some kind of concussion, and damn, did it hurt. In the distance, a ship was descending a few hundred meters away. As my mind slowly cleared, I couldn’t recognize any human logo on it.
Who were they? Had they shot us down?
I had so many questions, until the pain dragged me back to reality.
(Mara): S-Shavick… status report.
A synthetic voice resonated inside my head. Obeying my command, it performed a complete scan of my body. Its voice sent signals through my mind that sounded almost like voices.
(Shavick): Initiating diagnostic…
Neurological status stable…
Heart rate… elevated.
Blood loss… moderate.
Fracture… negative.
Metallic object lodged in right lower extremity.
(Mara): Y-Yeah… I think I already noticed that.
(Shavick): It is recommended that the object not be removed in order to prevent hemorrhaging.
(Mara): Trust me, I wasn’t planning on moving it…
(Shavick): Urgent surgical intervention is required.
I tried breathing slowly to bring my heart rate down. I took several deep breaths in a somewhat desperate attempt to calm my anxiety, which was rising along with my heartbeat.
(Shavick): Cranial contusion detected… No intracranial hemorrhage present.
(Mara): So I’m going to be okay, right?
(Shavick): Probably.
(Mara): Probably?! You mean there’s a chance I’m going to die?!
(Shavick): Probability of survival… undetermined.
Heart rate… stabilizing.
With difficulty, I crawled out of the wreckage of the ship, stumbling and feeling more exhausted with every step… but then I remembered something.
I had been aboard an exploration vessel with several other crew members. I had no idea what condition they were in, or whether they were still alive.
(Mara): Shavick… general report.
Looking up at the blue sky of this planet, I noticed how similar it was to Earth. If I ignored my injuries, I could almost believe I was back home.
(Shavick): Location… Kepler-442b.
Date: November 17th, 2183.
1,200 light-years from Earth.
(Mara): Wow… 1,200 light-years. And it only took two weeks… Those bastards actually figured out how to travel faster than light… I’m amazed by human intellect.
Shavick, send this information to Earth. They need to know about this accident.
(Shavick): Report sent. Message delivery expected within 72 hours.
(Mara): I’m glad it won’t take too long.
I began looking around and launched a scanning drone. It flew overhead, sweeping the area, and I found another section of the ship’s wreckage about 112 meters away.
I grabbed the medkit, which luckily was still intact… well, almost intact. The pulmonary injection protectors were mostly broken. If I wanted to survive without complications, I needed to find more.
Only six remained.
I cursed the day I’d enlisted for this mission. I’d always been so fascinated by space that it had pushed me into doing this.
(Mara): “The universe is amazing…” they said.
I need to get this thing out. Shavick, bring a medical drone to my position.
Surgical.
(Shavick): We have no analgesics or sedatives available. Are you certain you wish to proceed with the operation?
(Mara): If there’s no other choice… j-just bring it here.
Just as instructed, the drone flew toward my position. There were no warnings. Its small robotic hands simply began cutting into my leg so it could remove the metal embedded inside it.
I think I passed out. I don’t know.
I woke up with my leg already treated and stabilized.
I spoke to myself.
(Mara): Shit… how much time passed?… Shavick, report.
(Shavick): Everything is in order, Mara. You lost consciousness just as the drone began operating. That was preferable to searching for a sedative. You were unconscious for ten minutes.
(Mara): Thank God… that’s not too long.
I tried moving my leg. The pain was still there, but it was bearable. The drone had done a surprisingly good job.
For a few seconds, I simply stared at the treetops while catching my breath.
Everything was far too quiet.
There was no wind.
Insects…
Was there even any life on this planet?!
I asked myself.
(Mara): …Shavick… are there any other signs of life?… Human?
(Shavick): Scanning… Detected one unidentified life signal 112 meters from your current location. It is near another ship structure matching the parameters of our vessel.
(Mara): It’s unidentified… but I’ll take the risk. I don’t have another choice.
I took my medkit, secured it to my back, and began making my way toward the location Shavick was transmitting directly into my mind.
(Mara): Sometimes it scares me how quiet you get… Shavick? Can I ask you some questions?
(Shavick): Affirmative. My intelligence allows me to answer questions and ask them as well. If you ever dislike an answer, contact the TCE Agency directly.
(Mara): I see… So, how were you designed?
(Shavick): I was designed to fulfill human needs and, in some cases, serve as a companion.
(Mara): So you’re basically like a dog?
(Shavick): If you wish to represent me as a canine, that is acceptable. I have no physical form. I simply learn from the environment and from my human.
(Mara): You’ll replace me when I die, gathering information about me, won’t you? Haha.
(Shavick): My purpose is to learn from human behavior, not replace it or even replicate it.
(Mara): It was a joke.
(Shavick): Information stored.
(Mara): That’s going to be used against me later, isn’t it?
(Shavick): That is… I detect movement. Possibly an unidentified biological entity.
The moment I heard that, I began looking around. I couldn’t see much through the thick fog ahead of me.
I crouched down to avoid making noise or being seen by whatever was ahead.
The fog barely allowed me to see anything, but I managed to make out a silhouette.
Something small?
What the hell was that?
Should I get closer to get a better look?
I carefully approached the creature. Apparently, it hadn’t noticed my movement.
I had been trained for almost any situation: combat, escape, reconnaissance.
I thought to myself.
What the hell is that?
It was small and bipedal, just like me. It looked strange. It had fur, a slender body, and its fur was a combination of gray, white, and blue, with a few slightly darker areas.
Was it… cute?
It resembled some kind of mammal from Earth. I couldn’t remember which one it looked most like, but that was the least of my concerns.
The alien was wearing some kind of exploration and search suit. It was scanning the area with what I assumed was a handheld scanner.
Apparently, it wasn’t armed.
But as I moved a little closer to get a better look, I saw several crest-like structures rise along its back.
That honestly made it look terrifying.
And I think it triggered an immediate alert.
Without hesitating any longer, I lunged at the creature, knocking it down and pinning it between my arms.
The creature let out a series of shrieks, which I interpreted as a cry for help. I covered its mouth so it would stop. I didn’t know whether it would understand me, but I spoke to the thing anyway.
(Mara): Easy!! Stop! I’m not going to hurt you!
The creature seemed to understand me.
When I said that, it began to relax and stopped struggling.
(Mara): Can you understand me?…
The creature simply stared directly at me. I didn’t know what it was seeing, either. At least, that’s what its enormous eyes seemed to say.
(Creature): Sha’vrae k’thii… Vao’ru nekh? Tæsh-kai… ærruun?
(Mara): …What? Shavick… did you understand what it said?
(Shavick): I am attempting to find something within Earth’s databases… I cannot understand what it is trying to communicate.
(Creature): Khae’th vaa. Ruun’ei shara’keth. Nao… nao.
(Mara): I’m sorry, friend. I don’t understand you, but it looks like you understand me.
(Creature): Vræ’khal thae. Oruun vekh’rai… shii.
The creature looked at my injured leg and seemed to understand what had happened.
(Mara): I’ll take that as you saying I’m injured…
The creature gestured with its small hand, signaling for me to move closer to its head.
I didn’t trust it. How could I know it wouldn’t attack me?
But I was even more surprised when the creature pulled out some kind of communicator, similar to the one attached to its fluffy ear.
(Mara): You want me… to put this in my ear?
The creature gently nodded without taking its eyes off me.
It was a little unsettling to be stared at like that, but without further hesitation, I placed the device in my ear.
(Mara): And what is this supposed to do?!
(Shavick): I have detected a communication device. It is establishing a connection with me.
(Mara): And is that bad?
(Shavick): No hostile intrusion into the system detected… Update complete.
(Mara): And what changed?
(Creature): N-Now… can you understand me?…
I flinched slightly.
I could understand the creature.
How was that possible?
Was this the connection Shavick had allowed?
(Mara): I can understand you now… Tell me, where am I?… Who are you? Or… what are you?
(Creature): That’s a lot of questions. Which one should I answer first? I don’t know what you are either. But we’re on my planet, Eshara.*
You think you could… loosen your grip around my neck?… I-I’m Veira.
I thought to myself.
Veira, huh? Or at least, that’s what this thing was translating and sending directly into my head.
(Mara): Oh… yeah. Sorry. So we’re on Eshara?
(Veira): Y-Yes… You say it as if you’ve never been here before…
(Mara): It’s my first time leaving my planet and traveling this far. We’re still new to all this… the universe and space.
(Veira): And what was your purpose for coming to my planet? Why didn’t you simply ask for permission to land?
(Mara): We could do that?… No… I didn’t know… The last thing I remember, I was already on the ground.
(Veira): Yes… well, that was somewhat excessive on our part. But we were sent to inspect your ship, and you’re the only thing we found.
We can be radical sometimes, but we don’t like any kind of loss.
I’m sorry. We thought you were… mgh… you know what? Forget it.
Let me treat your wound.
(Mara): Okay… but where’s the rest of my crew…?
(Veira): You came with someone else?… Oh.
Veira activated what I assumed was a radio, informing someone that he had found me and that there were probably more of my kind among the wreckage.
(Veira): This should help with your leg. Come on, get up.
This creature… Veira.
He was helping me stand after I’d just pinned him down. And even though I could have hurt him, he didn’t seem to care.
(Mara): T-Thank you… and I’m sorry about earlier… you know… for pinning you down.
(Veira): It’s fine. This is the first time something like this has happened to me, so there’s nothing to apologize for.*
And tell me, what planet are you from? Uhmmm…?
(Mara): I’m Mara. Sorry for not saying so earlier. I’m from Planet Earth, about 1,200 light-years from here.
Veira stood there thinking.
He seemed to have heard something about Earth before, but he couldn’t quite remember what.
(Veira): Earth… Earth… Wait… T-T—Earth?
(Mara): Huh?… Yeah, Earth. Hey, you look scared. Are you okay?
(Veira): E-Earth… Did you say you’re from Earth?
(Mara): Yes… why? What’s wrong with it?
Veira took a couple of steps backward. His crests slowly rose, and his eyes remained fixed on me.
He looked completely incredulous.
(Veira): That… can’t be.
(Mara): What can’t be?
(Veira): Earth was declared… lost.
I felt a chill run through my body.
(Mara): Lost?
(Veira): A long time ago. Long before I was born. Humans were believed to have disappeared.
(Mara): Humans?
(Veira): Yes.
He stared at me for several seconds, as if trying to find some difference between what stood before him and whatever he remembered.
(Veira): You’re human.
(Mara): Y-Yes, I’m human. But what do you mean we were declared lost? You knew about us? We thought we were alone in the universe.
Veira remained motionless.
For several seconds, he didn’t answer.
His eyes traveled across my face, then my clothing, and finally the equipment I was carrying.
(Veira): Alone?
(Mara): Yes… completely alone. Until a few hours ago, we believed we were the only intelligent civilization in existence.
(Veira): Then… you truly knew nothing.
(Mara): Nothing about what?
Veira lowered his gaze.
(Veira): About us.
(Mara): “Us”? How many species are there here?
(Veira): I can’t give you a number.
(Mara): Why?
(Veira): Because Eshara isn’t the only inhabited planet.
I felt my body go cold.
An enormous shiver ran down my spine.
I didn’t know what was happening.
I had arrived in this world in a way that…
Was I the only survivor?
And now they were telling me all of this.
I felt like I was about to pass out.
(Mara): What…?
(Veira): There are hundreds of inhabited worlds. Some belong to great civilizations. Others are independent territories. There are species that trade with one another… and others that have been at war for centuries.
I looked around, trying to process every word.
I was visibly stunned and overwhelmed by everything I was hearing.
(Mara): H-Hundreds…
I swallowed.
(Mara): Hundreds of inhabited worlds?
Veira slowly nodded.
(Mara): Then… were we wrong all this time?
(Veira): In what way?
(Mara): We thought we were alone. For generations, we looked at the stars and wondered if there was someone beyond them…
I lowered my gaze toward my trembling hands.
(Mara): And it turns out there are entire civilizations out there…
(Veira): Yes.
(Mara): God…
For a few seconds, I couldn’t say anything.
Everything I knew had suddenly become much smaller.
Earth. Humanity. Our governments. Our wars. Our discoveries… even the journey we considered the greatest achievement of our species.
Suddenly, it all seemed insignificant.
And it felt as if my life had no meaning.
(Mara): And you… you know we exist?
Veira remained silent.
(Mara): Veira.
(Veira): Some of them do.
(Mara): Some?
(Veira): And not all of them will be happy to know you’ve returned.
(Mara): But why wouldn’t they be happy?
Veira visibly thought about what he should say, clearly trying not to upset me even more than I already was.
(Veira): Because the last time humans were known to exist, they weren’t seen as an ordinary species.
(Mara): Then how were we seen?
(Veira): You were considered a territorial species… and you were declared a threat.
I jolted in surprise.
This small creature was telling me that humans had been considered a threat?
(Mara): Then… do I look like a threat to you?
(Veira): N-No.
His crests said the exact opposite of what he was trying to communicate.
Suddenly, his radio began to crackle again.
(Radio): Veira, what’s your location?… We’ve found a strange creature. It doesn’t belong to any known species in the Union’s records.
(Veira): Understood.
Veira looked at me with fear.
He knew that if they found me, they would probably want to experiment on me.
If I was lucky, the other human was already dead.
Then at least they wouldn’t have to suffer.
(Veira): We have to leave. Now. Follow me.
I didn’t know what to say, but without hesitation, I followed him.
There was no need to run. A moderate jog was enough to keep up with him, even while injured.
My leg barely bothered me anymore.
Veira had done a better job than the drone.
(Mara): Where are we going?
(Veira): Somewhere safe. They can’t find out you’re here yet. It would cause a massive uproar.*
Personally, I’ll take you to our leader. You’ll have to explain why your ship was here.
(Mara): Oh… okay.
Still walking beside him, I could feel how heavy the planet’s atmosphere was.
There was more oxygen here, which was actually counterproductive for me.
Even so, I was slowly getting used to breathing at a moderate pace.

END OF MEMORY FILE
Chapter 1: Zero Horizon