Non-art book

Found this idk

So funny thing the current published version of OCNTB isn't the first attempt at the rewrite I've managed lol

I found this while scrolling through my docs, it's just the prologue. This was before I decided to dump more trauma on Akik by killing his entire crew before his eyes, and he just suffered alone lmao

-

"I have to leave."

"I-I know you do, it's just... I'm gonna miss you."

"I know. I'm gonna miss you too."

"Promise me you won't die?"

"I promise. I'll be back in a half-orbit's time, okay?"

"Okay."

-

The alarms blared throughout the ship, red lights flashing in most every corner as he ran through the halls. His boots squeaked on the floor as he skidded across the metallic ground before picking up a clank-clank pattern with his footsteps. Quickly he made it to the bridge, the problem barely evident until he saw the flashing screen on the console.

GRAVITATIONAL PULL STRENGTHENING. BOOSTER REINFORCEMENTS NEEDED.

"Ah, crap," he swore as his eyes scanned the words upon his arrival. Without hesitation he ran and sat down in the seat at the console, fingers flying over multiple buttons on the display. A holographic, nearly invisible screen on the front window seemed to flicker, a red outline of a circle-oriented shape.

Wormhole. That's what I thought.

He clicked a few more buttons before curling his hand around a lever, keeping his eyes on the wormhole now made partially visible by the hologram as he pulled back with all of his might.

Outside in the vacuum of (mostly) uncharted space, the thrusters on the sides of the pilot's spaceship flipped around, the gravitation boosters forcing against the powerful pull of the wormhole.

But with a shudder, the light from inside faded.

The pilot's eyes widened as the lights of the console also dimmed, as well as the holographic screen on the window. Replaced on the status screen on the console was a red exclamation mark with two words below:

NO FUEL

The two simple words made his heart sink.

Oh no.

The ship suddenly shook as the gravity took full hold on the vessel. The pilot was tossed from his seat, head hitting the wall with a bang.

A single cry escape his mouth before he went silent, and the spaceship was engulfed into thick darkness.

-

oki that's it bye