The year was 2033, and the universe had never felt so vast, so full of promise—and so utterly silent. Kai Izanagi sat alone in the captain's chair of the starship Odyssey, its corridors now an empty tomb of dreams and voices lost to the void. The hum of the engines was his only companion as he stared into the swirling expanse of starlight ahead. Somewhere, out there, lay answers—or perhaps just more questions. But when the ship's scanners locked onto a distant planet, one impossibly familiar yet light-years away from anything he had ever known, Kai felt a spark of something he hadn't felt in weeks: hope.
Kai shot up from the chair, his fingers scrambling across the control panel as he brought up the image of the mysterious planet. When the 3D hologram materialized before him, his breath caught in his throat. It was unmistakable. The planet... It was Earth. But how? Earth was a thousand light-years away—yet there it was. The landmasses, the oceans, every detail was eerily familiar. His mind raced with questions: Was he hallucinating? Was this some kind of dream? His heart pounded in his chest, his body trembling with uncertainty and fear, his wide eyes fixed on the impossible image. For a moment, he stood frozen, his thoughts spiraling. Then, with a deep, steadying breath, he composed himself. There had to be an explanation—and the only way to find it was to land on this Earth-like planet and uncover its secrets.
Hands steady on the control panel, heart now composed, the spaceship inched closer to the mysterious planet. Kai's thoughts swirled. What could be waiting down there? Would everything truly be the same? Perhaps… it really was Earth, and the ship had somehow turned back after all his crewmates had perished. That glimmer of hope warmed him—the thought of returning home, to his family, to the life he had left behind. But his daydream was abruptly shattered by the sharp chime of an incoming notification. His eyes darted to the panel. A call? From the planet? His breath quickened as he answered it, his gaze shifting toward the display screen. His pulse pounded in his ears as he stood, anticipation coursing through him. Could it be someone from the ISS? A rescue crew? But as the hologram flickered to life, his hope crumbled. A man appeared on the screen—bearded, clad in a military uniform unfamiliar to Kai. He looked to be in his fifties, standing with the stern posture of a high-ranking officer, hands clasped behind his back. The man's piercing gaze locked onto Kai. ...Who was this stranger?
"Young man. State your name, your spaceship's name, and the total number of crewmates," the man commanded, his rough voice echoing with authority. Kai's mouth trembled, caught between fear, uncertainty, and nervousness. He hesitated, unsure whether to comply, but realized he had no other choice. Taking a shaky breath, he finally spoke. "My name is Kai Izanagi... Sir. The spaceship is called Odyssey, and as for the crew... There are—" he paused, the weight of the truth sinking in, "—were 20 crewmates, including engineers, scientists, and the captain. But... I'm the only one left... Sir." His voice wavered as he stared at the floor, fighting back tears. The man on the screen was silent for a moment, then responded in a tone as cold as steel. "We cannot identify your ship, young man. There is no record of a spaceship like yours in our database. The model, the name, the place of manufacture—none of it exists in our system." Kai's head shot up, his wide eyes locking onto the hologram in shock. What was he talking about? How could Odyssey not be in their records? Then, like a thunderclap, realization struck him. This wasn't Earth. It had never been.
The man's voice cut through the silence again. "Regardless, you are granted permission to land your spaceship at Docking Bay 7. However, do not think for a moment that you are free to roam. As soon as your ship lands, it will be subjected to a full scan, investigation, and inspection to ensure it contains no illegal items. As for you, young man, you will be escorted by a military unit to my office. We will have a... conversation. Hackett out." The call ended abruptly, and the hologram flickered before vanishing.
Kai slumped back into the chair, his mind racing in disbelief. This wasn't Earth. He didn't belong here. If the Odyssey didn't exist in their records, then... did that mean he didn't exist here either? On this planet, he was a ghost—no history, no identity, nothing. A bitter laugh escaped his lips, tinged with a mix of hysteria and despair. The absurdity of it all was too much. It was almost... funny.
Docking Bay 7? That didn't exist back on Earth. And did the man just say "Hackett"? Was that his name? Questions swirled in Kai's mind, but there were no answers—only uncertainty. Still, he had no other options. This planet was his only lead, his one chance to uncover the truth. Taking a deep breath, Kai guided the Odyssey toward the surface. As the ship descended, the differences became stark. This wasn't Earth. The planet's landscape was dominated by sprawling structures and towering spires of technology, with trees and natural features almost nonexistent. Advanced tech was everywhere—devices and machinery he couldn't begin to comprehend. This was no Earth space station, no relic of the U.S. or any other familiar power. It was far larger, far more advanced, and utterly alien.
His eyes locked onto the platform marked with a large "07," its stark number painted in bright, industrial lines. The Odyssey landed with a soft hiss as the docking clamps engaged. Kai sat still for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest, the reality of his situation sinking in. Then, rising from the captain's chair, he made his way toward the main door. Whatever awaited him beyond those walls, he knew one thing—this was a world unlike any he had ever known, and he had no choice but to face it.