Going Across - Chapter 3: The Unseen

GOING ACROSS

Chapter 3: The Unseen

The object sat motionless on the chamber floor, its dull metallic surface scratched and scuffed, as if it had endured countless ages of wear. Nova leaned closer, his breath fogging the glass of his helmet. It resembled a soft-cornered gunmetal gray cuboid—angular yet smooth, like a futuristic suitcase, but with faint contours hinting at something more intricate beneath its surface.

The Lynx’s systems chimed.
“Scan complete. Foreign object: Unidentified. Composition: Alloyed titanium derivative. Energy core inactive. Armory: Detected.”

Nova hesitated. “Energy core? That’s not just scrap.” His fingers hovered over the chamber controls. With a quick exhale, he activated the decontamination override and opened the chamber door. As he stepped in, the temperature adjustment sent a faint hum rippling through the ship. That’s when he noticed it—the object shuddered, almost imperceptibly. Then, with a mechanical hiss, the object began to move.

Nova stumbled back, instinctively raising his guard and gripping his listol tighter. Panels unfolded from the compact form, limbs extending in smooth, deliberate motions. A faint golden glow flickered to life where its “eyes” might be. The machine straightened, its form settling into place, standing half a foot shorter than Nova. Its gunmetal gray design was eerily elegant, with a round head, smooth rounded cuboid body, limbs with joints barely noticeable and interlocking seamlessly, as though it had been crafted by a technology far beyond Inferife's own.

“Okay… what in the Hart are you?” Nova almost screamed. The robot’s head tilted, its golden circular digital eyes scanning him. Then, a deep, synthetic voice resonated through the chamber. “System reboot: Complete. Host environment: Safe. Initiating interaction protocol. Identify yourself.”

Nova swallowed, his nerves a mix of awe and fear. “I’m Nova. And you’re…?”

The robot paused, as if searching for something buried in its circuits. “Name… M-e-e-S, MeeS. Status: Functions halted. Memory systems compromised.”

Nova frowned, his curiosity outweighing his fear. “You’re a machine? One that can talk? Are you being controlled by someone?”

The robot’s head tilted slightly, the golden glow of its eyes intensifying. “I am an autonomous bot, v4 Qtp Bot specifically, designed to function independently. My systems operate without external control. However, due to memory system compromise, I cannot recall how I came to be adrift.”

Nova took a cautious step closer, his intrigue deepening. “Well, MeeS, it sounds like you’ve had a rough ride. I’m headed somewhere specific. What do you want to do now?”

MeeS’s golden eyes flickered softly as it replied, “Nova, if you don’t mind, I would like to accompany you—at least until I find a way to restore my memory.”

Nova gave a slow nod. “Fine, you can join me.” But inwardly, he resolved to stay vigilant. I still don’t know if I can trust this thing.

Such a machine was unlike anything Nova had ever encountered. Bots of this kind—intelligent, autonomous, and capable of conversation—were unheard of in their galaxy. As he studied MeeS, a faint memory surfaced: someone, somewhere, had once joked about talking machines existing in the neighboring galaxy. The idea had seemed absurd at the time, a laughable tale to entertain idle minds. But now, standing before this enigmatic creation, Nova couldn’t help but wonder. Could MeeS be from the Across…? The thought sent a shiver through him. Yet MeeS had claimed its memory was compromised, and pressing further now might lead nowhere. Maybe I’ll ask about it later, Nova decided, filing the question away for when the moment felt right.

The robot’s golden digital eyes dimmed slightly. “Data inaccessible. External assistance required. Immediate repairs recommended.”

Nova’s curiosity sharpened. “I don’t even know what you are, and you’re already asking for repairs? Alright, MeeS, I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge.”

Nova crossed his arms, eyeing the robot now standing before him. “MeeS,” he began cautiously, “I can help you with those repairs, but I’ll need your assistance. You’re… uh, not exactly like anything I’ve worked on before.” He gestured to the tools he had already pulled from The Lynx’s storage. “You’re going to have to guide me through this.” MeeS’ golden circular eyes blinked, emitting a faint hum. “Okay. Assistive mode engaged. Diagnostic functions online.” Nova let out a small, incredulous laugh. “Okay? Okay!"

While Nova worked on the repairs, MeeS’ golden circular eyes suddenly morphed into a strange symbol—two cursive E’s overlapping, one facing right and the other flipped to the left. The image lingered unnervingly, leaving an imprint on Nova’s retinas even after it disappeared. He blinked a few times, unsettled, but shrugged it off as a harmless glitch and refocused on the task at hand.

After a few minutes of tinkering, and improvising solutions for components he didn’t even have names for, MeeS’s systems finally began to stabilize. But then came the issue of power. “Your battery’s shot, MeeS,” said Nova, rummaging through an assortment of cables and connectors in the tools storage. “Let’s hope something here is compatible with whatever you’ve got running inside you.” After a few failed attempts and creating some mess, MeeS instructed Nova and they made a connecting port from scratch. The robot silently plugged itself into the cable, its eyes pulsing softly as energy flowed back into its core. MeeS spoke, “Your aptitude for improvisation borders on the anomalous. I find it… efficient beyond standard parameters.” Nova smiled faintly and leaned against the console, wiping sweat from his brow. “So, uh… you don’t happen to carry weapons, do you?” he asked hesitantly, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

MeeS’ response was immediate and precise. “Affirmative. Integrated weaponry systems include plasma rifles, ionized grenades, heat-seeking micro-missiles, star blades, and electromagnetic pulse emitters.” Nova blinked, his stomach knotting as MeeS continued to rattle off an extensive arsenal. He raised a hand. “Okay, okay, I got it—just don't use them in here.. or on me..,” he said, half-laughing to mask his unease. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.” MeeS tilted its head slightly, its glowing eyes curving pleasantly. “Threat to Nova: Zero. Primary objective: Cooperation.” Nova forced a grin, but his mind was already racing. Whatever—or whoever—had built MeeS clearly didn’t intend for it to be just another machine. “Cooperation,” Nova repeated under his breath.

Nova glanced around at the chaos left behind from the repairs and began tidying up. MeeS interrupted, its tone matter-of-fact. “Nova, the ship has been on hover mode for an extended period. I will handle the mess. You should resume the journey.”

Nova hesitated, then nodded. “Fair point.” He made his way to the pilot seat, gripping the controls as he manually navigated through the dense, wormhole-laden expanse.

Minutes later, MeeS appeared silently by his side, settling into the co-pilot’s seat. Its glowing eyes fixed on the vastness ahead. “Trajectory stable. Shall I assist?”

“Don’t worry, boy, I scored A+++ in my pilot tests,” Nova said with a confident smile.

“Okay, Pro Pilot Nova,” MeeS replied, the faint hum of its voice carrying a friendly tone. “I have little to no doubt about your intellect.”

Nova chuckled, his eyes scanning the wormhole-laden path ahead. “So, MeeS, what about your memory and how can you retrieve it?”

MeeS’s golden eyes flickered briefly. "Troubleshooting is essential and lengthy. Until then, I’m just MeeS, a v4 Qt Bot you rescued after drifting in the dark outer space for approximately eight months in spore mode.”

Nova raised a brow, intrigued. “Spore mode? That suitcase kind-of form you were in? Sounds cozy.”

“Quite the opposite,” MeeS replied. “All functions are disabled except for rescue signals. It’s… not ideal. And yes, I was bored.”

“Bored?” Nova said, surprised. “You can feel emotions?”

“I can process and understand the full range of emotions,” MeeS explained, “It’s… a calculated simulation. But I'm not sure if I feel them.”

Moments later, Nova and MeeS reached the edge of Solar System 1D98. They had no plans to enter is, rather just pass by to the next nebula.

Suddenly, the radar on The Lynx erupted with sharp, insistent beeps. Nova glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing as eight AF-B VizPin spaceships materialized around them, locking The Lynx in a tight formation. The message screen lit up with a stark warning:

“You do not have permission to enter SS 1D98 airspace and are hereby detained. Follow the fleet with full compliance or face the consequences.”

Before Nova could react, two gentle but firm jolts shook The Lynx. He quickly realized that the ship had been ensnared by an electromagnetic trap, its field locking onto the vessel’s front and rear, immobilizing it in a luminous web of charged energy.

MeeS’s golden eyes flickered as it scanned the situation. “My sensors indicate a high probability of hostility. I advise compliance until further information is obtained.”

Nova exhaled, gripping the controls tightly. “Fair enough, MeeS. Let’s play along for now. They’ve already got us.” With measured calm, he followed the fleet, steering The Lynx in line with their directive.

While being escorted to wherever the fleet was taking them, the message prompter crackled to life, playing a conversation between two guards. Nova and MeeS listened carefully:

Guard 1: “Did you file the report about the missing ribbon from last week’s inspection?”
Guard 2: “Yeah, but command said not to worry about it. Probably just got misplaced in storage.”
Guard 1: “Still, we should check if it shows up during this scan.”

Nova sighed, leaning back slightly. “A useless conversation, if I’ve ever heard one. Guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer to figure out what we’ve gotten ourselves into.”

As they drifted deeper into the Solar System, Nova began to understand the true scope of their destination. The fleet’s trajectory brought them through dense asteroid belts—an ordinarily perilous navigation. Yet, with The Lynx immobilized by the AF-B VizPins’ electromagnetic grip, there was nothing he could do but let the ship hover along on autopilot, tethered like prey.

MeeS’s voice broke the silence. “Nova.”

Nova turned to his left, but his instincts kicked in before he replied. He immediately checked that all external communications were muted and pressed a finger to his lips. “Speak quietly,” he murmured.

MeeS adjusted its tone, lowering its volume to a whisper. “The environment is unfavorable. My system diagnostics recommend entering spore mode again. You know how it looks. I suggest you store me in the floor cabin—for both our safety. I wish you good luck in this… adventure.”

Nova frowned. “Spore mode? But don’t you have an elaborate arsenal? You could help me!” he whispered, almost desperately.

MeeS’ reply came measured, calm. “I do. But I am not authorized to use it for this purpose. Until my memory is restored, I am unable to utilize my armory.”

Nova nodded, though unease settled heavily in his mind. Can I even believe this thing? he wondered, the doubt gnawing at him.

Turning back to the front viewing panel, he scanned the vastness ahead. A planet loomed into view—a rusty, golden-black sphere that appeared barren on the surface. Yet, a diamond-shaped formation of thin, interconnecting bridges spanned across it, suggesting a hidden purpose beneath its desolate facade.

MeeS’ voice was cool, analytical. “It appears to be an entry barricade.”

Before Nova could respond, MeeS moved. The robot stood tall, its form momentarily casting a shadow against the faint light of the console. Then, with a fluid grace that bordered on eerie, it folded in on itself, limbs retracting and panels collapsing inward until, in under a minute, it transformed into the familiar rounded suitcase Nova had found him in.

Nova sighed, standing to retrieve the compacted MeeS. He opened the floor cabin—a hidden compartment crafted by his friend, Ook, as a last-resort hideout. But today, it wasn’t Nova who would use it. Carefully, he placed MeeS inside, ensuring the latches locked securely.

“You better not be lying about that memory,” Nova muttered under his breath before closing the hatch.

Moments later, a sharp ping echoed through the cockpit, followed by a message from the fleet’s command. “Prepare for landing.”

Nova swallowed his frustration and complied with their directive, guiding The Lynx through the diamond-shaped barricade. The lattice of bridges loomed above, a mix of dark gray and bronze, industrial build, their brutalist design imposing and unwelcoming. They only cast stark shadows that deepened the foreboding atmosphere.

Though the fleet escort had remained unseen until now, as The Lynx passed through the security barricade, Nova caught sight of two figures. Clad in deep cherry-colored uniforms, their oval masks completely concealed their faces, lending them an eerie, anonymous presence.

"Why so secretive with the masks and all?" Nova thought to himself. "I have to get out of this trap. Oh Hart, help!"

Finally, The Lynx descended, settling onto the open-air port. The wide bronze-colored platform stretched beneath it, its surface worn and dull, exuding an eerie, haunting essence.

Nova sat motionless for a moment, his hands lingering on the controls before he released a slow, measured exhale. Whatever awaited him here, one thing was certain:

He was about to be thrown into the lion’s den.

Solar System

Planet Ruuste