The Way Back [Book 2 of One Tragic End to a Million Stories]

The Past

A/N: So, I wasn't going to, but I may have added my main OC to this book. Read my OC book for more information about her.

We did eventually find everyone. Even the colonists. Believe it or not, no one was dead. Turns out, the robot was correct.

By the time everyone had woken up, it was dark. Even so, we had no idea what time it really was, or how long it took for the planet to completely rotate on its axis. So, I asked Google. He said the planet's cycle was the same as Earth. Then he smiled more creepily. He can be creepy sometimes, but he's useful.

We decided to get some rest. We didn't have any camping supplies since we were supposed to be in cryo until we got back to Earth, so we just slept on the ground.

Suddenly, I was back in the cryo-pod. "Software update complete."

"No! Not now!"

"Good morning, Captain. We are currently ERROR years into our journey. Coffee is enough route. Current ship status is absolutely catastrophic."

"Please, no!" Suddenly, the cryo-pod crumbled into pieces. Mark's did, too. "Mark...?" No one was in there. "Oh, God." The entire ship crumbled to pieces, then into nothing, and I was at the Universal Stability Agency. Mark was there.

"This has been a weird day--"

"I'm gonna cut you off right there, because the ship just--..." I was interrupted by a series of glitching.

The Bandit glitched in for a moment. "You can't make me sing!" She glitched out.

Lady glitched in. "H-h-hello, huma-a-a--..." The clutching was getting worse. It seemed to be stuttering if that makes sense. We glitched into her office. "Th-th-this is yo-yo-your wormho-o-o-ole?"

Then, everything went black.

Black as in, like, a dark, black room with nothing and no one but me inside of it.

Lady glitched in for a quarter of a second, then glitched out, then Old Mark did the same, then Yancy.

Yancy.

I missed him.

I went into a flashback.

"I'll come find you, okay?! I'll go back to Earth and I'll find you!" There was a low rumbling.

"Promise?" Tears were now streaming down both of our faces.

"I promise!"

He pulled me in for one last kiss as an explosion hit, fixing the multiverse and sending me back.

I gasped at the sudden flashback. I didn't know why I didn't expect it. Most times I think of Yancy, I get flashbacks.

I want to go back.

I want to stay with him.

I want to never have left him.

"You can't change the past, Y/N," A feminine voice said.

"I could if I had the warp core!"

"But you don't, and you know what would happen if you did."

"Who are you?" I asked the voice.

A girl with long, brown hair and brown eyes stepped into view. "My name is Jessica. I used to be just like you. Captain of the Invisible II."

"Wait. Captain of the Invisible II? But... I'm Captain of the Invisible II! I'm the first and only one!"

"I know. You are the first and only one. In this universe."

"What are you talking about?!" I demanded.

I thought I saw Jessica flinch a bit, but maybe that was just me. "There are infinite universes in this multiverse, Y/N. Infinite realities where infinite things are different. Some of these universes don't have you as Captain of the Invisible II. I am here, Y/N. Right here on this planet with you. In my universe, I went through to this universe and onto this planet when trying and failing to fix the multiverse. I couldn't make it back to my ship, or to any other universe. However, in a different universe, before this universe, I picked up a thing or two about telepathy. I should've gone back to my universe, but I used an incredible amount of psychic power to stay and wait."

"For what?"

"You. I knew you were coming. I just didn't know when, where, or what would happen after that."

"Where are you?"

"In the forest. On your right. Don't worry. I'll come to you."

She began to fade away. "Wait! How many Captains have tried and failed?!"

"All of them. All but you." She faded away completely, and I woke up.

I looked to my right to see if there was really a forest. There was.