Inside the ship, the lights dimmed as the clock struck midnight.
A soft chime echoed through the control deck.
> [R.C: 2001st Birthday Detected – Congratulations, Master.]
Krish chuckled bitterly. "Two thousand and one years… yet I still don't know who I am."
R.C.'s holographic form flickered into existence, taking the shape of a calm woman with silver hair and golden eyes. "Master, though I cannot comprehend human emotions, I must remind you—your existence itself is extraordinary. No human has lived this long."
"That's exactly the problem, R.C." Krish stood and walked to the viewing glass, staring into the vast galaxy ahead. "If I'm not human, then what am I?"
---
For a moment, silence filled the ship. Then R.C.'s voice broke it:
"Master, I have detected… something unusual."
Krish frowned. "Unusual?"
"Yes. A black hole, but its readings are abnormal. Its energy is not stable. It almost appears… alive."
---
Krish's heart skipped a beat. He had studied thousands of black holes across the cosmos, but never had R.C. described one in such a way.
"Show me," he commanded.
A projection appeared in front of him. It showed a swirling vortex of darkness, far more violent than any ordinary black hole. Around it, space itself trembled, as though resisting its pull.
"This…" Krish muttered, "this is no ordinary singularity."
R.C.'s tone sharpened. "Master, I recommend caution. The gravitational waves are beyond calculation. Approaching could be dangerous."
Krish smirked faintly. "Dangerous is fine. If it can devour light itself, maybe it can devour my questions too… and give me answers."
---
The ship adjusted course, engines roaring softly as they steered toward the anomaly.
As they drew closer, the ship shuddered violently. The black hole pulsed like a beating heart, pulling everything into its abyss.
> [Warning! Gravitational pull exceeding maximum resistance!]
R.C.'s voice grew urgent. "Master! We must retreat! The ship will not survive if—"
"Hold steady!" Krish shouted, gripping the controls. His eyes blazed with a strange light. "If this thing is alive… then maybe it's calling me!"
---
The ship trembled, alarms blaring. Metal creaked. Systems flickered.
And then—
The black hole opened wider, like an eye awakening from eternal slumber. A crushing force enveloped Krish's body, pulling not only the ship, but his very soul.
R.C.'s last words echoed before everything turned to darkness.
"Master… it's swallowing us whole!"
---
When Krish opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the same universe.
---