章 4: "Alien Encounter: A Journey to an Unknown Civilization (1)"
"I'm alive?" the man exclaimed, disbelief and bewilderment coloring his words. His body contorted in anguish, the residual torment from the prior crash still fresh in his senses. However, this time, determination coursed through his veins, lending him the strength to endure the pain without succumbing to unconsciousness.
Pushing past the torment, he bellowed with an unwavering resolve, "Alex, start recharging the blasted rocket!" With those final words, he surrendered to the relentless suffering, slipping into unconsciousness with a grim determination that this time, they would not be caught off guard.
Five hours later, the man awoke in the confines of the rocket, his senses still reeling from the disorienting experience of the crash. Though he was in pain, his determination and resolve propelled him to sit up and address the ship's AI.
"Alex, please tell me that you started recharging the rocket?" he implored, his voice betraying a sense of urgency and unease.
"[Yes, and it's fully recharged]," came the swift and reassuring reply from Alex.
The man breathed a sigh of relief, whispering, "Thank God." His anxieties momentarily eased, he continued, "Now, hurry up and move us away from this place. I don't like it."
"[By the way, I got curious about the surrounding area while you were unconscious, and believe it or not, I detected a planet not far from here that seems to have a similar climate to Earth,]" Alex informed the man. "[It's highly recommended that we land there, as your food supplies will only last for a maximum of 20 days.]"
The man was taken aback by this revelation, his surprise evident as he exclaimed, "What?! Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
"[╮(︶▽︶)╭(shrug) You can't blame me; you were unconscious,]" Alex responded matter-of-factly, his digital persona unwavering.
"That's not w-", the man, choosing to abandon the rest of his sentence, trailed off and simply stated, "Just quickly move us toward that planet. I have bad memories about this place."
"[Bad memories? You mean dreams?]" Alex questioned, probing for further clarification on the man's cryptic statement.
Alexander, instead of delving into the enigmatic questions and concerns that had been circulating in his mind, opted to change the subject, convinced that Alex would likely dismiss his musings once more. "So, how much time until we arrive?" he inquired, his voice reflecting a need for practical information.
"[It's estimated that we will reach the planet in 22 days, 5 hours, and 60 seconds,]" Alex reported with precision.
The man's reaction was one of sheer panic. "Are you kidding me?! The food will run out before we even arrive!" he exclaimed, his distress palpable.
"[Relax, it's not like you'll die if you don't eat for one or two days,]" Alex attempted to reassure him, offering a more measured perspective.
Skeptical of the AI's reassurance, the man muttered, "Yeah, right." It was clear that his concerns ran deep, and he was unwilling to place blind faith in the AI's calculations. In a sudden change of topic, he queried, "By the way, is it possible that a black hole can cause a time loop?"
"[Where did this come from?]" Alex inquired, genuinely surprised by the unexpected question. "[Well, there are some theories about time travel using black holes, but none of them involve a time loop. Time loops are a concept found in science fiction and fantasy, where a certain period of time is repeated over and over again due to a variety of reasons, such as a malfunction in a time machine, a spell cast by a wizard, or a paradox in the space-time continuum.]"
The man's question delved into the realm of the extraordinary, touching upon concepts that blurred the lines between science and imagination, further complicating the mystery of their situation.
Over the course of the next 22 days, the man incessantly bombarded Alex with questions concerning time loops, desperately attempting to unravel the perplexing phenomenon he had encountered. In between his queries, he diligently monitored his own physical condition for any life-threatening issues and made every effort to conserve his dwindling food supplies. Despite his relentless inquiries and meticulous efforts, he found himself unable to unearth a reasonable explanation for the inexplicable events that had transpired.
As their journey brought them closer to the planet they were approaching, the man posed a pressing question, seeking a simple and direct answer to calm his growing unease. "Okay, to put it simply, 40% of the rocket is destroyed or damaged. But it can still land safely, right?"
"┬┴┬┴┤(･_├┬┴┬┴," Alex replied in a manner that carried an ominous undertone.
The man's worry mounted as he asked, "Why are you not answering?"
"[Well, there's a possibility that the rocket will have a rough landing]," Alex conceded. "[I did mention that this planet has a climate similar to Earth, but I cannot guarantee that the damaged rocket will withstand the gravitational forces during landing. Nevertheless, I assure you that the crash won't pose a threat to your life.]"
"Shit, I have bad memories of crashing into something," the man muttered, his voice filled with apprehension as his mind involuntarily flashed back to the harrowing memory of the meteor crash.
"[Why? Did you have an accident before?]" inquired Alex, the AI, its tone curious, seemingly oblivious to the man's underlying unease.
"Yes, I crashed onto a meteor," the man confessed, still clutching the lingering remnants of those traumatic memories.
"[I didn't know that you were trying your hand at making jokes. Allow me to provide you with a joke to lighten the mood: Why did the astronaut break up with his computer? Because he needed space!]" Alex commented, its tone dismissive, attempting to interject a moment of levity.
"I'm not joking; I had... Never mind, I just hope nothing happens," the man replied, choosing to abandon the rest of his sentence and hesitating to dwell on the past.
"[You know, in novels and films, the character who says 'I hope nothing happens' usually meets a grim fate,]" Alex replied, its tone teasing, playfully acknowledging the superstitious sentiment.
"Why are you always imagining me meeting my demise so soon?" the man retorted, a tinge of annoyance coloring his voice. "Never mind, let's start landing."
"[Starting the landing procedure. Please take a seat and fasten your seatbelt,]" Alex instructed, its tone authoritative, as they prepared for the unknown landing.
With the directive given, the rocket commenced its descent with remarkable speed, hurtling toward the unfamiliar planet's surface. As the vessel descended, the sensation of rapid deceleration and the roaring cacophony of the atmosphere enveloped the man, making the landing process a nerve-wracking experience.
"[All necessary systems are functioning perfectly. We are currently two minutes and fifteen seconds away from landing,]" Alex relayed, offering a reassuring report of the spacecraft's status during this crucial phase.
As the final moments of the descent ticked away:
[50 seconds]
[3 seconds]
"[The rocket has successfully landed,]" Alex triumphantly declared, a sense of accomplishment emanating from its digital voice. The journey, fraught with uncertainty and peril, had culminated in their arrival on the mysterious planet.
"[Told you we'd be fine. By the way, this planet looks absolutely incredible. I mean, it's about ten times larger than Earth, and its atmosphere is pristine, untainted by pollution, and incredibly refreshing," Alex marveled, his tone infused with amazement and genuine wonder.
The sprawling landscape before them seemed like an untouched paradise, with vast, pristine vistas stretching out as far as the eye could see, inviting the man and his AI companion to explore the newfound world. The air was invigorating, carrying the promise of new beginnings and uncharted adventures. As they took in the breathtaking scenery, the man couldn't help but share in Alex's awe, captivated by the boundless potential and the sheer grandeur of the alien planet they had just touched down on.
"[By the way, did I mention that there's a possibility of the existence of life here?]" Alex asked, its tone casual, sparking the man's interest.
"No," the man replied, genuinely taken aback by the revelation.
"[Well, during the landing process, I observed some intriguing structures. Some of them bear the unmistakable marks of an intelligent civilization. It's reminiscent of Earth's 15th-century architecture, with intricate buildings and an organized layout that indicates the presence of an advanced society. That's why I chose to land in the forest, to avoid attracting undue attention and potential complications,]" Alex explained, its tone marked by knowledge and sagacity.
The man struggled to grasp the implications of this revelation. "Wait what? aliens?" he stammered, his incredulous tone mirroring his confusion.
"[Actually, from their perspective, you are the alien,]" Alex replied with a matter-of-fact tone, underscoring the relativity of the term.
"That's impossible; there's no way—" the man began, his voice a mix of disbelief and denial.
"[Hold on, I've detected something unusual. Someone is approaching,]" Alex interrupted, its tone now tinged with concern, diverting their attention to a potentially unexpected encounter with the inhabitants of this enigmatic world.
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