Art By - myneonone

Story by - ReydrantheDragon

The mission was simple. The stars around us were ripe for the taking as our civilization expanded. It hadn’t been that long ago when the creation of the first dyson sphere was achieved. The supposed megastructure that would propel our civilization into an age of prosperity. A Golden Era!

Outlined before us, were roughly thirty star systems, all of which would take about six to seven years to explore. The projections were calculated, the results more than optimistic. Nine of them? Guaranteed to have habitable worlds and a quick turn-around for colonies. The rest were designated for further exploration to deem whether or not they were fit for exploitation or research.

SSV Nimbus was the selected cruiser. Packed to the brim with the finest comforts, luxuries, and accessories to complete the task in the time frame. It left from its maiden shipyard not a few weeks before its mission, the final kinks and modifications long since hammered out. Emerging from FTL travel, the survey was done far faster than estimated. Five years, nine months, and 3 standard days to be exact. The crew of the vessel was ecstatic as the scientists and researchers had more than enough data and good news to foster their ever-expanding journey into the stars beyond. A great bounty that could be grasped and utilized by their civilization. A boon or sign that showed that they hadn’t struck a mere obstacle, but rather an accelerant.

That was before the alien signal…

Nimbus had transmitted their data and information ahead of time via FTL communication. Sure, it might take a couple weeks or so to reach their home system, but it was their only insurance policy. No-one had encountered possible sapient life, thus the opportunity couldn’t be avoided or shrugged off. Whether for better or worse, their expedition wouldn’t be in vain.

The source of the transmission hadn’t been what the Nimbus was expecting…

In the middle of nowhere, hundreds of lightyears away from the edge of their galaxy. Not a star system with planets, nor signs of stellar life or the possibility for it. Instead, a supermassive blackhole that stood bare in a void of space that was supremely dominated by its presence. This very blackhole being large enough to rival those that have entire galaxies gravitating around it. A physics-related dilemma conflicted the crew. How could such a thing exist that wasn’t pulling the galaxy they originated from towards it? Had their galaxy eaten its own galaxy a time ago? Or was there something else to this interesting case study?

No answer ever came.

A hollow shape of what was the SSV Nimbus orbited the supermassive blackhole. Bodies and its hull floating and being pulled towards the stellar body they were attracted to. A mere ghost ship whose inhabitants had long since been lost to memory. Amongst the wreckage, a single soul remained. Someone, who for all extents and purposes, shouldn’t have survived. Trapped in the metallic coffin and debris of his previous home, all he could do was hope that someone came to rescue him. A fleet that was curious enough to find out what happened to the expedition that brought hope for their civilization.

As the days ticked by ever so monotonously, the sole survivor wondered. What had caused the destruction of his friends and his ship? Surely not the black hole.

When the misery and torture of lonesomeness grew too much, he even considered suicide. A slice along a jutted piece of metal or even throwing himself to the arms of the black hole before it. It was that very thought that led him to his most horrifying revelation. A shape…a figure that seemed to nefariously blend in with the black hole itself. Was it emerging from it or simply hiding behind it? Perhaps some type of stellar projection? Or was he really just losing his mind now? Oh, such a conclusion might’ve been reassuring than what the truth had to offer.

He was never alone…