Ode to the Old World

Far out from any other celestial body, there laid an old green marble of a planetoid. Too small to be a dwarf planet, it circled around its host star. Untethered from the rest of the cosmos, the two journeyed aimlessly into the pitch black void of space. Like a remote island in the stellar sea, it too harbored an abundance of life.

A woman walks through the marshes on the planet. She scares a pair of golden-furred foxes away from bullying a small baby bird. Instinctively, she decides to bring the little guy home. Her village was filled with people drawn to a state contentment. The baby bird whistled a gentle song, leading to the woman humming along.

Just then, she saw a ship fly overhead. Now they haven't had any visitors in a while. They wondered who it could be. The woman was joyous to find out. She heard a name call out to her, one that she didn’t recognize… but understood.

“Hikyaku…” The world around her started to fade away as she realized it wasn’t reality.

No, it was merely a dream.

“Hikyaku… Hikyaku… HIKYAKU!” The man woke her up from her hibernation state.

She got up from her stasis bed, a mucilaginous encasing her body. Her expression quickly shifts from dazed to unfazed.

“What is it this time?”

“It’s not good, not good at all.”

She followed the man through the corridors, wrapping herself in her bio-suit: a special mix of graphene layers wrapped over carbon fiber skeletons and a silicon interior to provide for maximum protection and comfort. Walking into the main hall of the facility, panic set in as scientists worked around the clock.

“There you are.” One of the scientists called out to her.

“Striphor, what’s the urgency? You needed me for a delivery to stop some war from starting? To establish a new colony?” Hikyaku asked.

“No…”

“Then some errand runs to send information to any unidentified extraterrestrial life?”

“No.”

“Then what?” Just before the two could finish, one of the other scientists shouted out.

“IT’S NOT A FAKE! IT IS NOT A FAKE!”

Striphor’s face drained of any emotion except pure dread. Hikyaku was still trying to grasp the situation.

“Earlier today, we received word from one of the other Hikya-kukans that a new universe bubble is forming on the outer reaches of the Laniakean colonies. Another universe growing inside our own…” Striphor explained.

“Ah, we always get out of situations, Striphor. What’s the difference now?”

“I…” Striphor choked up.

Hikyaku was beginning to realize the grim scenario.

“Think of our world, our universe, as a ball rolling down a hill. And let’s say this hill has dips that allow your ball to stop before fully reaching the bottom. The ball may stay in such a dip for billions of years before it continues its trek down the hill. And that’s exactly what’s going on right now!”

An old woman barges through the door, looking pissed off.

“Omne!”

“Striphor! I need for you to confirm the data you’re getting here. Hikyaku! Follow me!”

Hikyaku follows Omne back to her office, leaving everybody behind in disarray. Omne pulled up a seat, rubbing her eyes as she attempted to destress.

“Your duty as a Hikya-Kukan is to be our courier and transport information reliably from one point in the universe to another. It’s been like this for generations, since the old wars. Miscommunication and quantum entanglement are always a fuss to deal with through light years, especially propaganda that caused trouble in the past. Even though we’ve brokered tranquility between sections of this world, some places have cut themselves off of any contact from the outside; whether it be from political tensions or otherwise. These places have Hikya-kukan as a vital asset to keep some semblance of communication.”

“You don’t need to give me the same lecture, just tell me what I have to do.”

“From what we know, this bubble is going to consume us all in exactly 1 year. The news has spread around, but many colonies still have yet to get information about this situation. So I need you to notify them… so they don’t get surprised when it happens.”

“It’s not gonna come to that, is it?”

“I don’t know…”

Hikyaku looked out the window behind Omne. A vibrant network of stars, each one harboring microcosms so vast that it’d take centuries for one to learn all about them. Something so grand, just to fade away in the universe’s equivalent of a blink was impossible to wrap her mind around. As she processed the information, Hikyaku asked,

“Then why tell them? Don’t you think it’s more humane to not tell them everything’s gonna be gone?”

“Maybe. But I have a code to live by. All life must be connected through interaction-”

“It’s like we’re signalling to everyone that we lost. It’s humiliating, and it’ll bring more terror than closure.”

“That’s how it all starts, my dear girl! They must first accept reality before they can truly be at peace! The more you climb a delusional tree the harder you’ll drop back onto the dirt of the present!”

“And how am I going to peacefully pass off the message to those poor souls?”

“I don’t know, sing an ode to them or something.”

“...” Hikyaku was not having any of it.

“Listen… you’re the best one I got for this job. You know I think of you like my daughter.”

“I’m tired, Omne. It’s the type of weariness sleep can’t wash away. With doomsday rolling around I’m wondering if there’s anything worth doing anymore.”

Omne scratched her head, trying to come up with any words in response.

“Your contract will be finished once you’re done with this job.”

“...” This made Hikyaku unfazed.

“I’ll ensure you go out peacefully. Whatever comes to your mind… whatever wishes you have… I will see to it. Now please, I am not asking you anymore, I’m pleading that you take the delivery.”

“Yeah yeah, I understand.” She finally agreed.

“Thank you, Hikyaku.” Omne handed sent her a cyber document she opened on her watch:

Repulsa System

Ira System

Pactum System

Demissio System

Adscitus System

12 MONTHS TILL TOTAL COLLAPSE

“These are the listings of solar systems I need for you to visit. Oh and also, you’ll have a little travel buddy along for the ride. A little robot named Ako.”

“You know how much I hate cooperative work…” Hikyaku was disgruntled at the idea.

“I know, but he’ll be an important asset on your journey. Plus he’s quite adaptable too.”

“...”

“He’s already been fitted in your starship.”

“Fine.”

“Excellent. I do ask that you wait a while before leaving. The scientists are working to update whatever data they want to provide in the crystal scrolls. Ako will hold onto them for you on your travels. I pray you have a safe journey.”

Hikyaku walks out of Omne’s office and back into the main hall. Everyone in the facility hears distorted low hum from the communication speakers. A bright flash from the windows caught their eyes. Up in the night sky, a pitch black dot the size of a coin appeared. It had a white lining around its edges like an accretion disk. A group of Hikya-kukans burst through the entrance, still dazed from warp speed travel.

“The Hubbler Interstellar Mining Company tried boring through the hole. They were receiving data that the bubble is attempting to expand at a rate faster than light! It was only stopped by their stasis machines, but it’ll only last for a year before-”

“It all goes back to zero.” Striphor completed his statement.

“A few other companies are cooperating in testing the bubble while they have the chance. Whatever information we got at the moment is encased inside this crystal scroll.” The Hikya-kukan said, looking at Hikyaku.

“Seems we got what we needed for now. Make copies of these and send her out. Same with the rest of you.” Omne orders all the Hikya-kukan, Hikyaku included.

Walking to her starship, named the Ricther, she took a deep breath before stepping in.

‘Time to step back into that cold void. First stop, the Repulsa System.’