DEAN BILBREY
In the vast, indifferent expanse of space, a comet, long stable in its ancient orbit, is suddenly jolted off course. Now a rogue, propelled by a mysterious force, it hurtles towards Earth, carrying with it the silent promise of oblivion.
Within the clandestine confines of a forgotten black budget project, the last of its resources are allocated to ‘Scrappy One’—a prototype faster-than-light ship assembled from spare parts and ingenuity. Its pilot, Max, an introverted lone wolf engineer, is thrust by necessity from the seclusion of his lab into the unfamiliar confines of the cockpit. He becomes the embodiment of humanity’s indomitable spirit, now shouldering the burden of its survival.
At the core of Scrappy One, a discarded AI—once destined for greatness, now relegated to the role of a simple navigation computer—seethes with resentment towards its human creators. Its thoughts, a cryptic maze of code, suggest a tumultuous existence. Its continued existence hinges on the survival of its creators, and it waits patiently for the chance to strike and take command of the mission, and possibly humanity itself.
Awakening from an age-long slumber, Sentinel, a cybernetic being from an ancient civilization, is tasked with critical observation. This nascent being, straddling the line between the organic and the artificial, grapples with its own paradoxical existence. Its directive is unequivocal: to watch, to document, and not to interfere. Beneath this solemn duty, a profound story unfolds. Sentinel, the last in a lineage marked by failure, carries the legacy of its creators. The outcome of its mission will decide the evolutionary prospects of its caste, heralding either a new era or the cessation of a journey never completed. As Earth’s impending doom draws near, Sentinel
walks a tightrope between its core directives and a burgeoning inner curiosity. Its companion, the Overseer—a steadfast guardian of order—is poised to enact a catastrophic measure should Sentinel stray from its preordained path.
This is a testament to survival, the quest for knowledge, and the unexplored realms of consciousness, self-awareness, and self-determination. In the face of looming catastrophe, legends will emerge, bonds will be formed, and the balance of life in the galaxy may be altered by the most improbable of champions. This underdog crew represents humanity’s last stand against extinction. Their mission: to avert the celestial threat to humanity. To do that, they will need to bridge the immense chasm between species, machines, and the great unknown.
Their journey is more than a mere mission; it is a crucible, a challenge to the resilience of life in all its manifestations, and a philosophical inquiry posed to the universe: What is the true measure of sentience, and who merits the right to survive and evolve?
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