The Alien Within

Chapter 239: The Wormhole

One of the engineers finally found his voice. "But how...how did the ship survive the collision? That thing should've vaporized us on impact!"

Tessa turned toward him, her tone shifting into that of a teacher explaining a complex concept to a group of eager students. "The green clay layer. It's a material indigenous to Zubo, and one of its unique properties is its ability to transform and consume or neutralize high-frequency energy waves by absorbing them into its molecular structure. When I designed the ship, I coated its entire frame with a composite of green clay and Beri Metal. It was a precautionary measure—turns out, it was the right call."

Nzak shook his head, still struggling to process everything. "So you're telling me that this whole time, the ship was basically a giant energy sponge?"

Tessa nodded. "Precisely. When the Maelstrom collided with us, the green clay absorbed the initial impact and funneled the energy into the ship's core, where the Beri Metal amplified and stored it. The golden cray shaft, as you might recall, acts as a stabilizer, preventing the energy from overloading the system."

"And now...the ship is faster?" one of the navigators asked hesitantly, still eyeing the control panels as if expecting them to explode.

"Faster, more efficient, and capable of sustaining itself for years without needing an external power source," Tessa confirmed, her voice brimming with pride. "The White Maelstrom wasn't destruction—it was opportunity. We just had to harness it."

The room fell silent as the weight of her words sank in. Slowly, the crew began to exchange glances, their expressions shifting from disbelief to admiration.

Nzak let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples as he leaned back against the console. "You know, Tessa," he said, his tone a mix of exasperation and begrudging respect, "you could've warned us before nearly giving us all a heart attack."

Tessa chuckled, a rare, genuine sound that lightened the tension in the room. "Where's the fun in that?"

As the crew regained their composure and resumed their stations, the faint hum of the ship's newly enhanced engine filled the room. The intercom crackled to life, static punctuating the voice of the communications officer.

"Goddess," came the Aboriginal's steady tone, though the title betrayed his awe of Tessa, "we're detecting an anomaly ahead. It seems to be...a ripple in space-time. Possibly caused by the Maelstrom's dispersal."

Tessa's faint smile disappeared, her expression hardening as her mind raced. The wormhole leading to the universal tree... Could it really be this close? she thought, her heart quickening. The universal tree was more than a myth—its roots were said to stretch across all dimensions, the nexus of creation itself. But her thoughts weren't only of the tree; she also knew that getting her crew involved would only complicate things. I'll leave them near the wormhole. It's safer that way, she resolved silently.

"Set a course for the anomaly," she ordered, her voice crisp and commanding. "If it's connected to the Maelstrom, we need to investigate. Whatever created that energy might still be out there."

Nzak groaned audibly, throwing his hands in the air with theatrical flair. "Of course! We just narrowly avoided being turned into stardust, and now we're diving straight into another cosmic deathtrap. Marvelous!"

Tessa turned to him with a playful grin, her mood lightening momentarily despite the gravity of their situation. "Oh, come on, Nzak. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Retirement," he muttered, shaking his head. "It's sitting on a beach, somewhere far away from death clouds and space-time ripples. That's where my sense of adventure is."

The crew chuckled nervously, the tension easing as Tessa's confidence and Nzak's sarcasm worked their magic. But the lighthearted moment was brief. As the ship surged forward, cutting through the vast expanse of space, Tessa's mind was anything but calm.

The anomaly grew visible on the main display—a swirling vortex of light and shadow, pulsating like a heartbeat. It was mesmerizing, yet ominous, and its gravitational pull could already be felt tugging faintly at the ship. The crew watched in stunned silence as it expanded and contracted, a living thing in the void.

Nzak leaned closer to the display, his earlier sarcasm replaced by a more serious tone. "That's no ordinary ripple. It's pulling matter from the surrounding space...almost as if it's feeding."

Tessa nodded, her cerulean eyes fixed on the vortex. "That's not just a ripple—it's a gateway. A wormhole. And it's likely connected to something dangerous." Tessa didn't want to reveal everything. This was Both for her sake and the safety of the universe tree and the cosmos as we know it

The crew exchanged uneasy glances. The unknown was scarier, there are lots of tales of the unknown, a tale told in whispers, a place of infinite power and danger. Few had dared to search for it, and fewer still had returned to tell the tale.

"Prepare to hold position near the edge of the anomaly," Tessa continued. "We'll need to investigate further before making any decisions."

As the ship slowed, the hum of the engines deepened, resonating through the hull. The crew moved with practiced precision, their earlier panic replaced by determined focus. But Nzak wasn't so easily convinced.

"So, what's the plan, fearless leader?" he asked, folding his arms. "Stroll into the glowing death swirl and hope for the best?"

Tessa smirked but didn't answer directly. Instead, she stepped closer to the console, her fingers dancing over the controls as she locked in coordinates. "We'll hold position here. I'll take a smaller craft to explore the wormhole."

The room erupted into protests.

"You can't go alone!" one engineer exclaimed. "What if something happens? We need you, Goddess."

"We barely survived the Maelstrom," another added. "What if this is worse?"

Tessa raised a hand, silencing them all. "Your concern is noted, but this is my decision. I won't risk all of you on something unknown. The ship is more important than I am—it's the key to completing our mission."

Her words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Nzak finally broke the silence, his voice softer than usual. "You're always so damn noble, our engineering goddess. Fine. But you'd better come back."

Tessa gave him a reassuring smile. "I will."