Stepping further into the vast expanse of the megastation, Felix, Ivan, and Leo parted ways, drawn by their individual genetic codings and specialized training.
Felix headed straight for the ultra-advanced navigation and logic-coding lab to begin mapping new cosmic coordinates.
Ivan walked toward the energy and combat-testing zone to keep his Siberian fighter instincts razor-sharp.
Leo made his way to the massive engineering and mechanical sector to inspect the station's complex power grid and intricate core mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Commander Misha entered the station's prime command center and AI core alone. Waiting for her there was a truly remarkable high-tech presence—a humanoid AI robot designed with uncanny human-like features, possessing warm vocal inflections and subtle glimmers of synthetic emotion in its eyes.
Bowing respectfully with a gentle smile as Misha approached, the AI spoke:
"Welcome back, Commander Misha. You are logged into the primary system of the megastation. The activities of your three companions have been successfully registered. Tell me, what should our very first move be in this uncharted chapter of human history?"
Misha settled into the command chair, her gaze drifting out past the panoramic glass window toward the endless sea of twinkling stars. Conversing with an AI that felt almost human brought a strange, grounding sense of peace to her. Back on Earth, they had been mere test subjects for a callous science; but here, floating inside this colossal station, they were finally the masters of their own destiny.Standing before the massive panoramic glass window of the megastation's prime command center, Misha looked toward the humanoid AI robot and let loose the questions weighing on her mind. Her voice carried a distinct blend of curiosity and apprehension.
"Tell me... which world are we actually heading toward? Exactly how many millions of miles away is it, how many years will it take us to get there, and are we going to be put into cryo-sleep for the journey?"
Hearing Misha's inquiries, the human-like AI smiled gently. For a fleeting second, a complex stream of glowing data flickered across its synthetic eyes. It then responded in a calm, measured voice:
"Commander Misha, the answers to your questions are quite extraordinary. First, we are not heading toward any conventional star system or familiar galaxy. Our destination is a dark exoplanet whose exact coordinates and map were entirely unknown to NASA; those coordinates are pre-programmed directly into the deep bio-code of your DNA. In terms of traditional distance, it lies billions of light-years away from Earth."
Pausing briefly, the AI activated a series of holographic projections across the control panel and continued:
"Second, under normal circumstances, a conventional rocket would take hundreds of years to cross such a vast expanse. However, the hyper-drive of our vessel and the megastation's quantum-curving engines possess the ability to bend space-time itself. Therefore, you will not need to enter cryogenic stasis or sleep away decades in deep slumber. You will remain fully awake and alive, arriving at that uncharted planet in just a matter of weeks."
Misha fell silent for a moment as the AI's words sank in. The realization that they wouldn't have to spend years unconscious in cryo-sleep was a relief, but it only deepened the ultimate mysterywho, or what cosmic force, had embedded this secret route directly into their DNA?
Drawing a quiet breath, Misha activated the command intercom to share this startling new information with Felix, Ivan, and Leo.The Mystery of the Wormhole and the AI's Cunning Reply
As the talk of the black hole sank in, Misha's curiosity intensified. A crease formed on her forehead because the complex scientific terms weren't entirely clear to her. Turning quickly toward the humanoid AI robot, she asked in a firm tone:
"What on earth is a wormhole? How does it work? And why did NASA's scientists send us on this mission without telling us a single word about this terrifying black hole or wormhole?"
Hearing Misha's question, a mysterious, cunning smile broke across the lips of the humanoid AI robot. Moving a step closer with human-like cleverness, it replied in a chillingly calm voice:
"Commander Misha, the scientists at NASA didn't spend millions of dollars giving you that flawless, super-human, and elite training for nothing. They knew that if you had known from the very beginning that you would have to pass through a black hole, fear might have taken root, or you might have outright refused to embark on this suicidal mission. Your minds and genetic codes were purposely wired with specific human psychological traits so that when standing face-to-face with the dark, you wouldn't feel terror you would feel curiosity instead."
Pausing for a moment, the AI took another step forward and pointed toward the massive viewport:
"To put it simplya wormhole is a shortcut tunnel that lets you travel instantly from one end of the universe to the other. And the black hole is the gateway to that tunnel. NASA taught you everything else, but they deliberately kept this final secret hidden so you could piece it together using your own intellect."
As the AI's clever and chilling truth settled in, Misha's eyes narrowed. She realized they weren't NASA's heroic saviors after all, but rather living puppets trapped inside a massive cosmic conspiracy. Yet, instead of sparking fear, a strange and thrilling rush coursed straight through her veins.After hearing the AI robot's cruel yet undeniable truth, Misha didn't offer a single word of rebuttal. She realized there was no turning back now; Earth had long since faded into the distance, and the massive, gaping maw of the black hole ahead was fully prepared to swallow them whole.
Misha slowly stood up from the command chair. There was no hesitation or trace of fear in her eyes—only a stony, absolute resolve. Without a word, she walked toward the main console of the control panel. Felix, Ivan, and Leo were waiting on the intercom for their commander's next order; they, too, sensed the final moment was upon them.
Misha placed her bio-code against the main engine panel without a flicker of hesitation. Instantly, a strange, brilliant blue-gold glow erupted from the megastation's massive engines.
"Engines to full power. We are entering the wormhole," Misha's voice was now cold as ice and resolute.
Within a heartbeat, the entire megastation shuddered. The massive, swirling ring of light from the black hole outside enveloped the ship. The starlight outside seemed to shatter, stretching into long, ethereal filaments in every direction. The craft seemed to tear through the very fabric of time, plunging headlong into the darkness.
The entire station trembled under the immense force. Looking out, Misha watched as every familiar star in the universe blurred into streaks of light. They had finally breached the mysterious wormhole. For a split second, it felt as though all the light in the universe had been extinguished, and the next, a blinding, searing white light flooded the entire cabin.
They were no longer mere children of Earth; they were voyagers, crossing the threshold of time, hurtling toward an unknown cosmic destiny.
As the blinding glare of the wormhole faded and the megastation's quantum gravity systems restabilized, the cabin lights softened into a calm, golden hue. Having crossed the threshold of space-time, they found themselves drifting into a tranquil yet chilling silence.
To shake off the lingering exhaustion, the four of them gathered around the massive dining table inside the colossal, stadium-sized kitchen. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass windows, the strange, iridescent blue glow of an uncharted galaxy shimmered in the distance.
Even with food set before them, none of them felt a genuine appetite. Misha, Felix, Ivan, and Leo sat in quiet contemplation, exchanging knowing glances. They had long since figured out the true reason behind their deployment. No matter how much NASA dressed it up as a "glorious mission to save humanity," the harsh reality written deep within their DNA told a different story. They were nothing more than carefully engineered genetic experiments, discarded into the cosmos to fulfill an unknown purpose.
As they began to eat in silence, Ivan suddenly paused. Raising a glass of chilled water to his lips, a cold, sharp smirk cut across his face—the trademark expression of his ruthless Siberian training.
Leaning forward over the table, Ivan spoke in a low, chillingly calm voice:
"Tell me... have you guys noticed something? The scientists loaded our blood with hyper-intelligence, peak physical strength, and unbreakable endurance... but did they ever grant us a normal childhood, or the simple comfort of a home-cooked meal? We were born in a sterile laboratory tube, engineered from scratch to be living, breathing machines. So tell me, why don't any of us feel an ounce of grief now that Earth is completely dead and gone? Simple... because they never bothered to code a real 'human soul' inside us to begin with. We aren't saviors. We're just ticking time bombs wearing human skin."
Ivan's blunt, unvarnished truth hung heavily in the air, thickening the atmosphere around the table. Misha set her utensils down in stunned silence, while Felix and Leo exchanged a dark, knowing smile that acknowledged the bitter reality of what they had truly become.The heavy silence hanging over the table only intensified after Ivan's blunt realization. Just as everyone sat processing his words, Ivan set his glass down on the metallic table and dropped a bombshell that caught everyone completely off guard.
Leaning back and locking his gaze directly onto Misha, Ivan spoke with absolute, unwavering directness:
"We aren't going to survive the rest of our lives drifting through this massive, dead station or on some alien world by keeping to ourselves. If humanity is actually going to be revived, we need a new generation. Let's cut to the chase I want a child, and the responsibility to start that falls on us."
Ivan's sudden and unfiltered declaration instantly froze the air in the cabin.
The moment the words left his lips, a deep blush rushed across Misha's cheeks, burning hot with embarrassment. She quickly lowered her gaze, staring fixedly down at her glass of water, utterly speechless. Right beside her, Felix and Leo froze for a split second before turning their heads, fixing wide, unblinking stares on both Ivan and Misha, a subtle and knowing spark of amusement playing in their eyes. Breaking the heavy silence hanging over the table, Ivan locked his piercing gaze directly onto Misha once again. His intense, unwavering stare seemed to lock her in place.
Misha's cheeks were still flushed bright red from embarrassment, her eyes stubbornly fixed down on her glass as she tried to compose herself. Noticing her hesitation, Ivan leaned forward slightly, a faint, cryptic smirk playing on his lips as he spoke in a calm, cool voice:
"What is it, Commander? Why so quiet? Were the genetic perfection and hyper-intelligence engineered into our blood just meant for drifting aimlessly through space? Or is it up to us to plant the very first seeds of a new world?"
Hearing that, Felix and Leo could no longer hold back their amusement. A quiet, knowing smile touched their lips as they exchanged a quick glance, watching the tense dynamic unfold with deep curiosity. Gathering every ounce of her composure, Misha slowly lifted her chin and met Ivan's gaze head-on her razor-sharp eyes masking her sudden blush with a cool, unyielding defiance. As Ivan's unfiltered words heated the cabin air even further, Misha could no longer hold back. Gripping her glass tightly, she straightened up in one swift motion. The flush of embarrassment vanished from her pale face in an instant, replaced by a razor-sharp, ice-cold expression.
Locking her eyes directly onto Ivan, she snapped at him in a firm, commanding tone:
"Shut your mouth, Ivan!"
The authority in Misha's voice instantly hushed the expansive kitchen into absolute silence. With a cold yet piercing edge, she continued, "We didn't come here to play out some cosmic romance, and I am not your machine for breeding a new dynasty. Our mission is to cross the edge of this galaxy and reach that uncharted planet. If you ever bring up nonsense like that again, I won't hesitate for a single second to eject those prized Siberian fighter skills of yours right out of this megastation's airlock."
Hearing Misha's fierce, unyielding warning, Ivan went quiet for a split second. Yet, instead of fear, a crooked, amused smirk played across his lips as if seeing this stubborn, fiery side of Misha was exactly what he had wanted all along.
Beside them, Felix and Leo bit the inside of their cheeks to hide their grins, taking calm sips from their water glasses. The heavy tension at the table instantly morphed into a thrilling, crackling edge of excitement. Despite Misha's ice-cold warning and the literal threat of being ejected through the airlock, not a single trace of fear crossed Ivan's face. Instead, the crooked, mocking smirk at the corner of his lips only widened.
Resting his forearms casually on the table, he leaned forward and replied in a light, teasing tone:
"Relax, Commander, why are you getting so heated? No need to take things so seriously! I was simply stating a logical point. When the four of us are the absolute last remnants of humanity left in this entire universe, is it really a crime to talk about keeping the species alive? Though... I have to admit, that quick temper of yours suits you quite well."
Hearing Ivan's unfiltered and completely unfazed response, Felix and Leo finally broke their composure, letting out quiet, amused laughs. Misha's cheeks flushed an even deeper, burning shade of red, mixed with pure annoyance. She narrowed her eyes and glared at Ivan with a look that clearly communicated she would gladly launch him out into deep space given half a chance.