Beyond the Stars [Hiatus]

ONE

The stars shone brightly in the vast expanse of space, illuminating the endless nothingness that stretched out in every direction. Alex, a young scientist working aboard the XGL spaceship, stood at the observation deck, his eyes fixed on the cosmic dance above. It had been only a year  since he had left the confines of Earth behind.

His family, like so many others, had been caught up in the war that raged on the planet's surface. They had perished in the crossfire, leaving Alex an orphan. He had been taken in by the space academy, where he had honed his skills and knowledge in computer science and astronomy. It was there that he had met his closest friends: Jason, the pilot; Sarah, the engineer; and Tom, the doctor.

Jason, a tall and broad-shouldered man with an infectious laugh, was currently at the helm of the ship. His dark hair was tousled, reflecting the stress of their recent mission. They had been tasked with investigating an unidentified object that had been detected near a newly discovered planet. As they approached the object, Alex could feel the anticipation and tension building within him.

Sarah, a petite but strong-willed woman with an unruly mop of auburn hair, was checking everything in the engine room, making sure that everything was running smoothly. She glanced up at Alex as he passed by, offering him a reassuring smile. He smiled back, feeling grateful for her expertise and friendship. And Tom, a kind-hearted man with a perpetual twinkle in his eye, was in the medical bay. He waved to Alex as he went by, giving him a thumbs-up, Alex returned the gesture.

As Alex continued his rounds, he couldn't help but marvel at the incredible technology that surrounded him. The XGL was a marvel of human engineering, capable of traveling faster than light and housing a crew of ten. He had often dreamed of being part of such an expedition as a child, and now here he was, living that dream.

Their approach to the unidentified object was cautious, yet swift. Jason expertly navigated the ship through the vast expanse of space, while Alex and Sarah monitored the controls, ready to react at a moment's notice. The tension was palpable as they drew nearer, but Alex couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement running through him. This was what he had trained for; this was why he was here.

As they drew within visual range, Alex gasped in awe at the sight before them. The object was unlike anything they had encountered before. Its surface was a shimmering, iridescent blue, and it seemed to pulse with an energy that was both captivating and unnerving. Jason slowed the ship to a stop, and Alex, Sarah, and Tom hurried to the observation deck to get a better look.

"Alex, you think this could be some kind of alien life?" Jason asked, his voice hushed with reverence.

"I don't know," Alex replied, his mind racing. "But it's certainly unlike anything we've ever encountered before. Let's run some tests and find out."

After getting the object on board, they spent hours analyzing the data from their sensors and studying the object through the ship's powerful telescopes. As they worked, they couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and curiosity about what they had stumbled upon. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Alex turned to his friends with a grin.

"Jason, Sarah, Tom, I think we've found something amazing."