An inorganic, white room.


 

In the center of a small room, a boy was sleeping alone.
The double-sized bed on which the boy slept was covered with a transparent case, and multiple cords were connected to the wall from below.

 

Inside the case, the temperature was maintained at 31.6 degrees, which induced a state of hibernation in the body and prevented aging through cryopreservation.

 

The boy inside the transparent case was in a deep sleep like a dead person, with his growth halted.
His face still retained a childish look, but he had a handsome appearance.
His skin was as white as snow, and his thin body was covered in lean muscles without any excess fat.
His hair was silver like threads and shone brightly, reaching up to his neck.
His appearance had an artistic beauty that was no less than that of a beautiful boy depicted in a painting.

 

The sleeping boy was subjected to physical modification anti-aging treatment, and his lifespan had been extended to nearly 500 years.
The boy’s age was 81, but due to the extended lifespan and being in cryosleep, his physical and mental appearance was around 15 years old.

 

The boy’s name was Rudy, and he was the only crew member on the spaceship Nike.

 

Suddenly, a electronic sound rang from the cryosleep bed.
After a moment of silence, five minutes later, the transparent case covering the bed made a sound like that of steam pressure and split into two, hiding under the bed.
Rudy’s skin came into contact with the outside air and changed to a more lively color.
After a while, he slowly opened his eyelids.

 

His eyes were odd-colored, with the right eye being blue and the left eye being a green color.
However, the left eye was not real but had an implanted prosthetic.

 

The asymmetrical color of his eyes created a mysterious atmosphere and further highlighted his beautiful face.

 

“Good morning, Master,” a voice called out to Rudy from the speakers that were installed in the room.

 

As he sat up and stretched his body, he responded in a slightly high-pitched boy’s soprano voice.

 

The voice belonged to HAL 200X, the main AI that controlled the spaceship’s navigation and crew’s life support systems.
HAL 200X had been a good partner to Rudy since he purchased the ship 50 years ago.

 

“Have we arrived at our destination?” Rudy asked Hal, and as he placed his bare feet on the white floor, he pulled them back once due to its coldness.


 

“No, not yet,” Hal replied through the speakers.

 

Upon hearing the response, Rudy paused his movement to walk.

 

“Hmm?” He looked up at the ceiling where Hal’s voice came from, puzzled.

 

“I have encountered a problem that I cannot solve.
It’s not an emergency, so I will explain it to you when you arrive at the main bridge,” Hal continued.

 

“I see.
But before that, I have one question.
Is the problem happening now or is it already too late?” Rudy asked.

 

Hal remained silent for a moment before answering, “Both.”

 

“Shouldn’t have asked…” Rudy shook his head at Hal’s response.
He then changed into a body suit that fit his body perfectly and headed to the main bridge.

 

As Rudy sat in the pilot’s seat on the main bridge, he listened to Hal’s explanation while slowly turning the paper cup of warm coffee in his hand, lost in thought.

 

Even after Hal finished the report, Rudy stayed motionless for a while as if he had been asleep.
But then he let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes.

 

“So, let me get this straight.
Due to a jump gate malfunction, we didn’t arrive at our intended star system but instead jumped into an unknown one?” Rudy asked incredulously.

 

“Yes, Master,” Hal replied in an emotionless tone.

 

Rudy let out another sigh and reflected on the job he had accepted.
As a space transporter, Rudy and his spaceship, the Nike, were hired to deliver essentials and equipment to terraformed planets.

 


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