Chapter 1:
Chapter One — My New Home
MNH: Planetary Address
Silence stretched endlessly. Carlton drifted alone through the void of space, his ship reduced to a quiet speck among distant stars.
「Alice, you’re still connected to your main server on Earth, right?」The ship’s AI responded without delay. ⟦Yes, I am.⟧Carlton exhaled softly, his fingers tightening against the armrest.「What’s the status of everyone back there?」There was a pause—barely perceptible, yet heavy. ⟦Everyone is okay.⟧「…I see.」With that reassurance, Carlton leaned back and allowed the systems to pull him into stasis.
◽Two Years Later◽
Heat.Dry, suffocating heat was the first thing Carlton felt as consciousness clawed its way back. His eyes snapped open.Above him was the fractured interior of his ship—panels cracked, wires exposed, warning lights long dead.
Carlton yawned groggily.「…Damn. Was the ship always this damaged?」A familiar presence answered, through speakers—and visible within his vision. ⟦No, it wasn’t. But considering where we are, we should count ourselves lucky.⟧Carlton froze.「…Okay. I definitely don’t remember you being in my vision.」⟦A lot happened.⟧
Slowly, he pushed himself upright and staggered toward a nearby mirror. The reflection staring back at him made his breath hitch. He was taller. Leaner. Older.
Carlton studied himself carefully.「Judging by my height… I grew up. By Earth standards, I’d be about eleven years old now.」He clenched his fists.「What happened, Alice?」【Like I said—a lot.】The voice echoed inside his mind.Carlton’s eyes widened slightly.「…Telepathy?」【You could call it that.The bio-chip synchronized completely during our rough transit.】
Understanding slowly dawned.
「So the nano-chip’s last stable position turned my brain into a server… during the crash.」⟦Correct.⟧ The voice shifted back to the ship’s speakers.【And as long as my interface exists, I can operate externally…And internally. With no lag.】Alice chimed in his head.Carlton let out a low chuckle.「Understood.」
The ship’s hatch groaned open. A harsh, alien desert stretched endlessly before him—jagged dunes, cracked stone, and a sky burned pale by relentless heat.
Carlton blinked.「…Huh. Definitely not Earth. But Earth-like conditions. Alice—where are we?」【Unknown. But based on drone reconnaissance, this region is a confirmed no-go zone for intelligent life—assuming any exists here at all.Think of it as if the Sahara Desert and Australia fucked and had a very angry child. One that grew up and decided to personally hate the universe.】Carlton burst out laughing.「I’m a child, you know.」【Don’t worry, kid. You’ll get used to it.】
He took a few steps forward, turning back to gaze at the massive wrecked hull behind him.
Carlton folded his arms.「If you’re right, then survival comes down to one thing. Water.」【Which means machines.】Carlton nodded slowly.「Then I’d better start designing.」
◽One Hour Later◽
Blueprints covered the meeting room display.Carlton stood at the center, eyes sharp and focused.⟦So, what’ve you got?⟧ Alice asked.「Aren’t you connected to my mind?」⟦Only to what you allow me to read.⟧Carlton paused—but filed that thought away for later.「Fair enough. I’ve got five concepts. Guess what they’re for.」⟦Lay it on me.⟧Carlton pointed to the first schematic.「A.E.G.I.S Condenser—Atmosphere Extraction & Gas Integration System.」⟦Pulls moisture from the air—even at near-zero humidity. Thermal cycling and pressure collapse. Especially effective at night.⟧Carlton nodded.「Correct.」He moved on.「S.A.N.D.R.E.A.P Unit—Substrate Assimilation & Neutral Distillation Reactor.」⟦Extracts liquids from sand, rock, mineral salts. Filters toxins, breaks molecular bonds safely, right?.⟧Carlton chuckled.「Am I really that untrustworthy?」⟦You want my honest opinion?⟧「…Let’s move on.」He gestured again.「O.R.E Still.」⟦Organic Reclamation Engine. Endless recycling. Pulls water from organic material doesn't it.⟧Carlton grinned proudly.「Naturally. Next—V.A.P.O.R Forge.」⟦Volatile Atmospheric Phase Oscillation Reactor. Harvests liquids from vapor trails, gases, thermal gradients. Perfect for desert heat spikes.⟧Carlton nodded.「Exactly. And finally—T.H.I.R.S.T Core.」⟦Thermal Harvest & Ionic Reconstitution Transmuter. Converts temperature differences into condensation.⟧ Alice sounded genuinely entertained now. ⟦You’ve thought this through.⟧「Of course.」⟦And the power source?⟧Carlton crossed his arms.「The Sol Engine. The ship still has reserve fuel, so I’ll work on it once I find something sustainable on this planet.」He looked up.「Will you help me?」⟦Of course. Someone has to keep you alive on this hostile rock.⟧Carlton stared at the blueprints, a spark igniting in his eyes.「…Might as well do it the same way he did, right?」⟦Imitation is a form of respect. Regardless if it's friend or foe.⟧
「Alice, you’re still connected to your main server on Earth, right?」The ship’s AI responded without delay. ⟦Yes, I am.⟧Carlton exhaled softly, his fingers tightening against the armrest.「What’s the status of everyone back there?」There was a pause—barely perceptible, yet heavy. ⟦Everyone is okay.⟧「…I see.」With that reassurance, Carlton leaned back and allowed the systems to pull him into stasis.
◽Two Years Later◽
Heat.Dry, suffocating heat was the first thing Carlton felt as consciousness clawed its way back. His eyes snapped open.Above him was the fractured interior of his ship—panels cracked, wires exposed, warning lights long dead.
Carlton yawned groggily.「…Damn. Was the ship always this damaged?」A familiar presence answered, through speakers—and visible within his vision. ⟦No, it wasn’t. But considering where we are, we should count ourselves lucky.⟧Carlton froze.「…Okay. I definitely don’t remember you being in my vision.」⟦A lot happened.⟧
Slowly, he pushed himself upright and staggered toward a nearby mirror. The reflection staring back at him made his breath hitch. He was taller. Leaner. Older.
Carlton studied himself carefully.「Judging by my height… I grew up. By Earth standards, I’d be about eleven years old now.」He clenched his fists.「What happened, Alice?」【Like I said—a lot.】The voice echoed inside his mind.Carlton’s eyes widened slightly.「…Telepathy?」【You could call it that.The bio-chip synchronized completely during our rough transit.】
Understanding slowly dawned.
「So the nano-chip’s last stable position turned my brain into a server… during the crash.」⟦Correct.⟧ The voice shifted back to the ship’s speakers.【And as long as my interface exists, I can operate externally…And internally. With no lag.】Alice chimed in his head.Carlton let out a low chuckle.「Understood.」
The ship’s hatch groaned open. A harsh, alien desert stretched endlessly before him—jagged dunes, cracked stone, and a sky burned pale by relentless heat.
Carlton blinked.「…Huh. Definitely not Earth. But Earth-like conditions. Alice—where are we?」【Unknown. But based on drone reconnaissance, this region is a confirmed no-go zone for intelligent life—assuming any exists here at all.Think of it as if the Sahara Desert and Australia fucked and had a very angry child. One that grew up and decided to personally hate the universe.】Carlton burst out laughing.「I’m a child, you know.」【Don’t worry, kid. You’ll get used to it.】
He took a few steps forward, turning back to gaze at the massive wrecked hull behind him.
Carlton folded his arms.「If you’re right, then survival comes down to one thing. Water.」【Which means machines.】Carlton nodded slowly.「Then I’d better start designing.」
◽One Hour Later◽
Blueprints covered the meeting room display.Carlton stood at the center, eyes sharp and focused.⟦So, what’ve you got?⟧ Alice asked.「Aren’t you connected to my mind?」⟦Only to what you allow me to read.⟧Carlton paused—but filed that thought away for later.「Fair enough. I’ve got five concepts. Guess what they’re for.」⟦Lay it on me.⟧Carlton pointed to the first schematic.「A.E.G.I.S Condenser—Atmosphere Extraction & Gas Integration System.」⟦Pulls moisture from the air—even at near-zero humidity. Thermal cycling and pressure collapse. Especially effective at night.⟧Carlton nodded.「Correct.」He moved on.「S.A.N.D.R.E.A.P Unit—Substrate Assimilation & Neutral Distillation Reactor.」⟦Extracts liquids from sand, rock, mineral salts. Filters toxins, breaks molecular bonds safely, right?.⟧Carlton chuckled.「Am I really that untrustworthy?」⟦You want my honest opinion?⟧「…Let’s move on.」He gestured again.「O.R.E Still.」⟦Organic Reclamation Engine. Endless recycling. Pulls water from organic material doesn't it.⟧Carlton grinned proudly.「Naturally. Next—V.A.P.O.R Forge.」⟦Volatile Atmospheric Phase Oscillation Reactor. Harvests liquids from vapor trails, gases, thermal gradients. Perfect for desert heat spikes.⟧Carlton nodded.「Exactly. And finally—T.H.I.R.S.T Core.」⟦Thermal Harvest & Ionic Reconstitution Transmuter. Converts temperature differences into condensation.⟧ Alice sounded genuinely entertained now. ⟦You’ve thought this through.⟧「Of course.」⟦And the power source?⟧Carlton crossed his arms.「The Sol Engine. The ship still has reserve fuel, so I’ll work on it once I find something sustainable on this planet.」He looked up.「Will you help me?」⟦Of course. Someone has to keep you alive on this hostile rock.⟧Carlton stared at the blueprints, a spark igniting in his eyes.「…Might as well do it the same way he did, right?」⟦Imitation is a form of respect. Regardless if it's friend or foe.⟧
Please sign in to leave a comment.