Ψυχή – Dawn of the Galaxy

04 — O.UNI-X A Leap into the Unknown: Layered Space and Shior’s Fraying Nerves

“Layered space… You’re telling me we’re creating a parallel domain within this sector? That’s utterly impossible! We’ve no authority over what happens there afterwards!”

Shior’s voice rose in protest, her words fighting to be heard over the blaring alarms and the cool, mechanical tones of Mother’s system announcements. But she did not relent.

Yet, neither Captain Love, nor Eft, nor Lite paid heed to her objections. Their hands were already set to action.

Before them, unfolding across the main screen, was the impossible — a glowing portal of pure white light, an unprecedented gateway into the unknown.

Love kept her eyes firmly on the main screen as she addressed One, who had somehow appeared quietly beside her.

“One, this had better be safe. You’re absolutely certain this layered space won’t tear us apart?”

One fixed his gaze somewhere far beyond the immediate scene, as if focusing on an unseen depth beyond the veil of space, and nodded faintly.

“Yes… it will be fine. They are at ease, so there’s no cause for concern on the other side.”

His words sounded less like a technical assessment and more like fragments of an unseen conversation. Shior opened her mouth again to interject, desperate to slice through the fog of confusion, but Love and One’s attention was already locked upon the glowing gateway, oblivious to her concerns.

“Eft! That thing— the gateway ahead! Take us through, now!”

Love’s command rang out across the bridge.

The entirety of the main screen was consumed by brilliant, searing white light — the portal yawned open before them, a gaping invitation into the unknown depths of the cosmos.

“Aye aye, Captain! Leave it to me! This… this is bloody fantastic!”

Eft, who only moments ago had been on the verge of tears, now wore a wide, exhilarated grin as her hands gripped the controls with eager confidence. For her, this unprecedented crisis was nothing less than the most thrilling of games. Her formerly erratic piloting transformed once more into bold, daring manoeuvres.

And beside her, One murmured softly to no one in particular, his voice gentle, almost amused.

“Ah yes… I quite agree. It seems we still have much to learn, don’t we…”

His words floated in the air, oddly serene, utterly at odds with the dire situation playing out around them.