Chapter 5: Into the Void
Claudius felt the world stretch and compress all at once, as if time itself had twisted. His stomach churned from the jump, the sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced. For a split second, everything went black, and he wasn't sure if he was dead or alive.
Then, the ship slammed back into normal space with a shudder. Claudius's body was thrown against the metal bulkhead, his breath knocked from his lungs. He gasped for air, the pressure around him easing as the ship settled from the warp.
A moment of eerie silence hung in the air. It was as if the entire ship was holding its breath, waiting to see if they had survived.
The emergency lights flickered on, casting the hallway in a dim red glow. Claudius slowly pulled himself to his feet, his muscles aching from the impact. His mind was still racing, the fear from the warp blending with the confusion about where they had ended up.
Had the jump worked?
He stepped out into the corridor, steadying himself as the ship groaned and creaked under the stress of the sudden warp. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear voices—panicked shouts and hurried footsteps. Claudius's heart raced as he moved toward the sound, instinctively clutching his jacket where the orb was hidden.
He reached the bridge, the doors sliding open with a hiss. The scene inside was chaos. Crew members scrambled at their stations, the captain barking orders while Draven leaned over the console, his eyes scanning the readouts.
"We've got hull breaches on decks two and three," a technician called out. "Emergency systems are coming online, but we've lost power to the lower levels."
The captain slammed her fist against the console. "Damn it! Where are we? Did we make it out of Riker's range?"
Draven's gaze flickered to the star chart on the main screen. His expression darkened. "We're… we're not in the system anymore. Looks like we jumped farther than expected."
Claudius stepped forward, his voice barely audible. "Where are we, then?"
All eyes turned to him. For a brief moment, it was as if he didn't belong in that room, an outsider among experienced spacers. But Draven's eyes lingered on Claudius, and the captain's gaze softened with a touch of curiosity.
Draven gestured to the star map, now zooming out to reveal their location. "We're in uncharted space," he said, his tone grim. "Far beyond the Empire's established territories."
Claudius stared at the screen. The familiar planets and stars of the Empire's systems were gone, replaced by unfamiliar constellations. He felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Uncharted space? That meant they were lost. No backup. No communication with Mars or the Moon.
They were truly alone.
Tension filled the room as the realization sank in. The crew exchanged worried glances, the weight of their predicament pressing down on them. Claudius couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his chest. If they were lost, their chances of surviving out here were slim. And with Riker still on their trail, time wasn't on their side.
"What's our next move?" the captain asked, her voice tense.
Draven straightened up, crossing his arms. "First, we need to assess the damage. Make sure the ship is functional before we do anything else. After that, we'll chart a course back to known space."
"And what about Riker?" one of the crew members asked. "He won't stop coming after us."
Draven's jaw tightened. "We're too far for him to track us right now. We've got a little time before he picks up our trail again."
The captain glanced at Claudius, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And what about the boy? That package is the reason we're in this mess in the first place."
Claudius tensed under her gaze, but Draven stepped in. "He's not the issue. The package is secure, and we need to focus on getting the ship back in shape."
The captain frowned but didn't press the issue. "Fine. Let's get to work."
The crew dispersed, heading off to various parts of the ship to begin repairs. Claudius remained in the bridge, his mind still swirling with questions. He felt a mix of guilt and responsibility—he hadn't asked for this, but somehow, he had become the center of their trouble.
Draven caught his eye and nodded toward the corridor. "Come with me," he said quietly. Claudius followed him out of the bridge, his heart pounding with the weight of everything he didn't understand.
Draven led Claudius to a small, private room deep within the ship. It was sparsely furnished, with only a table and two chairs. Once inside, Draven shut the door behind them and gestured for Claudius to sit.
"What's going on?" Claudius asked, unable to keep the frustration out of his voice. "Why did you drag me into this? What's so important about that package?"
Draven sat across from him, his expression unreadable. "I didn't drag you into anything. You needed a ride to Phobos, and I needed someone who could handle the job. It's simple as that."
"Simple?" Claudius scoffed. "Nothing about this is simple. We're lost in uncharted space, being hunted by pirates, and you're telling me it's all because of some mysterious package?"
Draven leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You opened it, didn't you?"
Claudius froze, his breath catching in his throat. He had hoped Draven wouldn't notice, but the man was sharper than he'd realized. "I—"
"It's fine," Draven interrupted. "I knew you'd be curious. Anyone would've been."
Claudius frowned, confused. "You're not mad?"
Draven sighed, leaning back in his chair. "No. What you saw… you needed to see it. The orb—there's more to it than you can possibly imagine."
Claudius felt a chill run down his spine. The images, the strange visions—it had all felt so surreal. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Draven's gaze darkened, his voice low and serious. "That orb contains knowledge—knowledge from before the Empire. It's a relic from the Old Ones, a civilization that existed long before humanity reached the stars. They were more advanced than anything we've ever known, and they left behind pieces of their technology scattered throughout the galaxy."
Claudius's mind reeled. The Old Ones? He had heard whispers of them before, legends told by spacers who ventured into the deep reaches of space. But he had always thought they were just that—legends.
"And this orb," Draven continued, "is one of the most powerful relics we've found. It holds secrets that could change the balance of power in the Empire. That's why Riker wants it. That's why I'm trying to keep it safe."
Claudius stared at him, the weight of Draven's words sinking in. The orb wasn't just valuable—it was dangerous. The visions he'd seen were just a glimpse of its true potential. And now, he was caught in the middle of a struggle far larger than he had ever imagined.
"What do we do now?" Claudius asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Draven stood, his face set in grim determination. "Now, we fix the ship and find our way back. But we need to be ready for what's coming. Riker won't stop until he gets that orb. And if he does, it could mean the end of everything."
Claudius nodded, his resolve hardening. He had wanted to reach the stars, to find a future beyond Neoterra. But now, he realized he was part of something much bigger—something that could decide the fate of the galaxy itself.
As the ship creaked and groaned around them, lost in the void, Claudius knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back now.
To be continued…