"Tit....tit...tit...., wake up, wake up," I jolted from my sleep, hitting my head against some kind of shifting surface. "Ouch... Where am I?" My eyes struggled to focus, revealing that I was inside an oddly shaped cocoon-like structure. Its surface moved and shifted, changing forms before my eyes.
I reached out and touched the surface, and then a robotic voice echoed, "Good morning, Master. How was your sleep?"
"Master? Who am I?" I mumbled, my confusion growing. Suddenly, the cocoon emitted a pulsating red light.
"Alert, Alert, red code 2534 has been triggered, starting recovery," the robotic voice announced. The cocoon contracted tightly around me, leaving me gasping for breath.
Just as I was about to scream, a surge of memories filled my head.
After the cocoon finished uploading my memories, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been splashed in my face.
My name is Sept, and I'm a mad scientist from planet Xomurd. It turned out I had a teleportation accident while experimenting with my teleporter prototype.
"Haaaahh..., it seems it still failed again. How dumb," I muttered to myself.
"Lexi, show me our current location," I spoke to the cocoon. This cocoon was actually made of my personal nanobots, one of my earliest achievements that earned me the title of "space scientist." People often called me a "mad scientist" because of my unorthodox research methods.
"Yes, Master. Scanning..." After a few minutes, Lexi responded, "Master, after calculating the teleportation trajectory and analyzing the surrounding star map, it seems we are on an uncharted planet, designated as BEZ-30-???"
"What?!?" I exclaimed. Based on my knowledge, this planet was incredibly distant, likely more than a billion light-years from Earth.
The mapping system in use began with the Milky Way and extended to neighboring galaxies. My home planet was A-40-876-6, within the same cluster as the Milky Way. Yet, my prototype teleporter had managed to send me into the unknown.
"Lexi, provide me with the teleporter's report."
"Affirmative... reporting: the current state of the teleporter is 95% damaged, and the autonomous repair system is non-functional. During the last teleportation, it used 90% of its fuel capacity, breaching the fuel tank limit."
As I heard the report, I couldn't help but berate myself. It wasn't the teleporter's failure that frustrated me; it was my impatience. I'd rushed the experiment when the teleporter was only 80% ready.
I collected my thoughts and began to plan my next move. This planet wasn't even on our database; our technology had only mapped the Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies. My top priority was to learn more about this place.
"Lexi," I said, "Open the cocoon."
"Master, the planet's atmosphere contains only 50% of the oxygen on our home planet. Do you wish to activate the armor mode?"
"Yes," I replied. "Confirmed, activate armor mode."
The cocoon began to reshape itself, forming a black armored suit around me. Once fully formed, I ordered Lexi to scan the planet.
"Master, do you wish to engage X-scan mode?" Lexi inquired.
I pondered for a moment and decided against it. X-scan mode was designed for comprehensive planetary scans and was typically used by explorer ships in orbit to assess resources. In my current situation, with only nanobots at my disposal, it would likely attract unwanted attention and potentially trigger unforeseen reactions.
"Lexi, how many nanobots were used to create this armor?" I asked.
"Master, this armor utilized only 20% of the nanobots, while the remaining 80% are distributed as a safety reserve," Lexi replied.
"Very well. Gather all the nanobots in one location," I commanded.
As if by magic, the area within a 100-meter radius suddenly darkened, and a ball formed from nanobots appeared in front of me, about two meters in diameter.
"Lexi, divide this into six parts. Use 50% of the nanobots to create a pseudo-satellite and place it in lower orbit. Make sure it can monitor me and harness the local star's energy."
"Yes, Master," Lexi replied.
The black ball in front of me divided into two spheres. One of them began to change shape, forming an egg-like structure with sharp edges. The larger part of the egg split into four sections, stretching into thinner parts to create a net-like structure. From the smaller part of the egg emerged a hole, surrounded by five claw-like protrusions.
After five minutes of transformation, the satellite was ready. "Master, awaiting launch orders," Lexi announced.
"Launch," I ordered.
The satellite ascended into the sky at an astonishing speed, reaching its destination in just ten minutes. A notification appeared on my helmet, indicating that the satellite had successfully reached its position. A screen displayed the planet's current view.
The planet I was on was of normal size, with a dark purple and grayish color scheme. Grayish plants covered the terrain, and the sky had a gray hue, a stark contrast to the orange skies of my home planet. It was going to take some time getting used to.
"Huuuhhhh, I need to adapt to this," I muttered to myself.
Next, I commanded Lexi to divide the remaining nanobots into five parts: 10% for weaponry systems and 40% into smaller drones, each consisting of 2% of the total. These drones would act as scouts, scanning the surroundings using a lower scanning mode. With the combined efforts of the drones and the satellite, I could survey the area without drawing too much attention.
Once the nanobots were shaped for their respective tasks, I called out to Lexi. "Lexi?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Use the drones to scan the surrounding area within a 100-kilometer radius. Notify me of any living creatures and potential mineral sources."
"Yes, Master."
The drones sprang into action, spreading out to scan the trees and terrain around us. Soon, my helmet was flooded with notifications:
- 'Ding. A new tree species has been discovered. What name do you suggest?...'
- 'Ding, a new species has been found. What name...'
- 'Ding, a new flora species has be...'
- 'Ding, a new...'
- 'Ding...'
"Oh my god, Lexi, use the auto-naming system for these discoveries. Only notify me if the drones find potential mineral deposits or suitable living spaces," I instructed.
"Affirmative, Master."
After more than two hours of waiting, the drones finally detected a potential mineral source. Two hours later, they reported a potential living space: a cave. The cave entrance was preceded by an open expanse of land that seemed out of place.
Once, I got the notificiation, I directly went into the cave.
As I ventured deeper into the cave, the passage began to widen, revealing a breathtaking sight.
The crystalline formations that adorned the walls now grew larger and more intricate. They pulsed with an ethereal glow, casting a mesmerizing play of colors on the rocky floor.
My suit's sensors picked up an increase in the energy readings as I moved forward. It was as if I was approaching the very heart of this enigmatic place. Lexi chimed in with a reminder, "Master, the energy readings are intensifying. Proceed with caution."
I acknowledged Lexi's warning and took slower steps, my eyes transfixed on the magnificent display before me. The cave's interior seemed almost alive, resonating with an energy I had never encountered before.
As I ventured deeper, I noticed a subtle change in the composition of the cave walls. The crystalline structures transitioned into an iridescent liquid-like substance. It flowed in intricate patterns, resembling veins of an alien world. It was both beautiful and perplexing.
Curiosity drove me to approach one of the flowing streams of this mysterious substance. I extended my gloved hand to touch it gently, and to my amazement, it reacted to my touch. The substance pulsed and emitted a warm, soothing light.
"Lexi, record this. It's unlike anything I've ever seen," I said, my voice tinged with awe.
"Recording, Master," Lexi responded, capturing the interaction with the alien substance.
After recording the mesmerizing alien substance, I continued my journey deeper into the cave. The surroundings shifted with every step, revealing new wonders and mysteries that left me in awe. The natural beauty of this planet, so distinct from my home, filled me with a profound sense of wonder and humility.
As I ventured further, the cave's splendor was juxtaposed with a growing sense of vulnerability. Despite the breathtaking scenery, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was an outsider in this world. It was a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead on my quest for survival.
Navigating through the labyrinthine tunnels of the cave, I relied on Lexi's guidance to avoid any potential dangers. The path was a mix of narrow passages and expansive chambers, each with its unique geological formations that hinted at the planet's ancient history.
I gathered samples of the unique minerals and crystals that adorned the cave walls, storing them in a secure compartment of my suit. These materials held untapped potential, and with my scientific background, I couldn't resist the opportunity to study them more closely.
Hours turned into days as I ventured deeper into the cave system. My encounters with the local wildlife were minimal, as they seemed to avoid these underground depths. However, I remained vigilant, knowing that the planet's mysteries extended far beyond the surface.
One day, as I explored a particularly vast chamber, my helmet's sensors detected a faint, rhythmic vibration in the cave floor. It was unlike anything I'd encountered before, and Lexi struggled to identify its source.
Curiosity piqued, I cautiously approached the origin of the vibrations. With every step, the resonance grew stronger until I entered a chamber unlike any other. In the center of the cavern stood a massive, luminous crystal formation that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
"Lexi, can you analyze this crystal?" I inquired, my voice tinged with both excitement and trepidation.
The AI's response came after a brief pause, "Master, this crystal exhibits properties beyond our current understanding. Its composition is unlike any mineral we've encountered so far, and its energy readings are off the charts."
Fascinated by the crystal's enigmatic presence, I couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch it gently. As my gloved hand made contact with the radiant surface, a surge of images and emotions filled my mind.
Visions of ancient civilizations, long-lost technologies, and the secrets of the universe itself flashed before me. It was as if the crystal held the accumulated knowledge of countless eons, waiting to be unlocked.
Overwhelmed by the experience, I withdrew my hand, gasping for breath. The crystal continued to pulse, revealing that there was much more to discover on this remarkable planet. With newfound determination, I knew my journey was far from over.