"50,000 kilometers! We're drawing close!"\n\n"No, it's all wrong!" You shout, falling to your knees. " Look, you've got to see, there's no stars out there!"\n\n"We've got to turn back [[before it's too late!]]"
The stars are almost blinding in their majesty, but you've got important business to attend to. You walk over to the navigation apparatus and [[press a few buttons]].
The bridge is illuminated not only by the glowing screens and buttons but also by the countless stars flowing out in the dark. You lose your footing and almost trip, distracted by the sight out the [[ship's windows]].
"Hey, Hudson, d'you have [[sweet dreams]]?" you ask.\n\n"Oh, you know me, I always do."
"100,00 kilometers!.\n\nYou hear a ringing in your ears as you try to remain standing, hanging on the shoulder of the navigator.\n\n"Please, [[listen...]]" you plead.
You are an engineer aboard [[the largest starship ever to leave the earth's solar system]]. You and your crew are on an expedition to find the end of the universe.
The doctor says something about things all checking out. In the distance you think you hear an unusual [[hum...|what is that noise...]]
It's cold, and you can't see anyone around you. You hear a strange noise off in the distance, like nothing you've ever heard before.\n\nWhere are you? It's so dark...\n\n\nIt's so dark and that noise... [[what is that noise...]]
"What were they this time?"\n\nAs Hudson begins to describe their latest dreams, you zone out, trying to remember what exactly it was you dreamt of while you were asleep. You don't pay attention to any of their words and your [[vision gets fuzzy]].
The configuration display pops up. Everything appears normal and in the green. The //Catherine// has proceeded <<print either("past the Antares Strain", "through Orion's asteroid belt", "alongside Tippet's comet")>> and <<print either("around Cassiopeia", "into the Queen's Nebula")>>, with <<print either("a stop along the Circe Crescent", "a refueling at Pluto")>>, just as planned. You and your crew are [[on course]].
"300,000 kilometers!"\n\nYou aren't sure why, but you begin to shake.\n\n"... [[wait...]]" you mutter.
.passage\t{\n\tfont-size: 18pt;\n}\n#sidebar { display: none; }
You've been in cryogenic stasis off and on for the last 9 years, waking up periodically to confirm that the ship is still on the right course. It's time for you to [[wake up]] one final time as you approach the sector of space deemed by scientists back on Earth to be the farthest reaches of the universe.
Your eyes open slowly as your body warms up. You still aren't used to being woken from the cryo-stasis and you're not sure you ever will be. At least you're not sick to your stomach this time.\n\n[[Hudson]] and [[Marquez]] are waking up to your right and left as the door of your cryopod opens.
//Catherine// by Pete R
body {\n\tbackground-image: url("http://37.media.tumblr.com/98f72a11bcd6af82548c57eefb9496ac/tumblr_n82agbnFsi1s1njm2o4_1280.png");\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}
body {\n\tbackground-image: url("http://31.media.tumblr.com/4d32e0f0f60212b34b8fac4afb1d18ca/tumblr_n82agbnFsi1s1njm2o3_1280.png");\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}
body {\n\tbackground-image: url("http://38.media.tumblr.com/f8d54a5268766c4cdb96a157c05c843a/tumblr_n829mlyEM91s1njm2o1_1280.png");\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}\n
body {\n\tbackground-image: url("http://37.media.tumblr.com/a5f047de9b3795dcf6c312e746e83aec/tumblr_n82agbnFsi1s1njm2o2_1280.png");\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}
body {\n\tbackground-image: url("http://31.media.tumblr.com/31c8fe396203809624035dd2882b2f89/tumblr_n82agbnFsi1s1njm2o1_1280.png");\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}
The ship continues on its course.\n\n"[[250,000 kilometers!]]"
Your CO slaps you on the shoulder and you snap out of your reverie.\n\n"Pilgrim! Ready for the last leg of our mission?"\n\n"Yes, ma'am!"\n\nYou walk out onto [[the bridge]] of the ship.
Judging by your calculations, the //Catherine// should be reaching the target sector of space shortly. The science counselors on board with you have made some predictions about what will happen when you cross the threshold of space -- some think you'll be transported to the other side of the universe; some think you'll sail through an empty void until you turn around; one even predicted it'd lead you to a different universe entirely. You yourself aren't sure, but as you approach [[the threshold of known existence]] a quiet dread builds up inside you.
Marquez stumbles out of her cryopod and looks over at you.\n\n"It's been too long, Pilgrim! I feel like it's been years since I've seen you!"\n\nYou both laugh and head out toward [[the medical bay]].
\nbody {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}\n\n.passage {\n\tbackground-color: black;\n}
You sit on the examination table as the doctor begins your physical. The stethoscope is cold on your chest and back. You [[close your eyes]].
"[[400,000 kilometers]] to destination," one of the specialists says.
"200,000 kilometers!" the specialist shouts.\n\nYou look out the windows and see that something's different. You can't quite place it but you feel it deep inside you. You can't keep your hands from shaking as you try to speak.\n\n"No... [[we've got to turn back]]."
The ship, called the UESS //Catherine//, is manned by a crew of 48 men, women, and non-binary people. You helped callibrate the navigation system and are on board to help maintain its accuracy for the duration of your [[10 year flight]].
Pete R
The rest of the crew on the bridge seems to ignore your words.\n\n"150,000 kilometers!"\n\nYou turn to the navigator nearest you and grab his shoulder.\n\n"Please, can't you see? There's [[something wrong]] out there!"