Eclipse Drift: Cosmic Odyssey

The exogens, also known as xenoforms, are recognized by these titles due to our human interpretations, where we have merged the roots signifying "externally generated" or "foreign-made" to describe them. Regrettably, the term "exogen" has persisted as a somewhat prejudiced descriptor, encompassing any non-human entity, whether constructed, mechanical, or programmatic. This term, it seems, remains ingrained in our lexicon. In recent times, valiant attempts have been made to adopt the distinct appellations various xenoforms have chosen for themselves, with the most prominent being the "Starborn." Yet, motivation to rectify this linguistic oversight appears scarce. It's essential to acknowledge that the use of either term acts as a marker, revealing the speaker's species. Within the realm of this narrative, we focus our attention on the Starborn. However, it's a realm filled with uncertainties, for who can ascertain the number of exogen ...

The views were staggering on top of the mesa. Every so often Ronald Wheeler, as he drove around, saw the roadside drop away on one side of his vehicle and expose its majestic, dangerous scenery. Some of the severe vistas almost made him feel like he was about to fly off of the Earth toward the horizon. At night, he looked up at the myriad of stars in the Milky Way to find the Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. From there, he could find Polaris, the North Star, and know what direction he was facing. He felt eyes staring back at him from all those lights. That made him shiver from the exposure and nakedness of his staring. As if he walked in on a woman undressing. He knew that those stars were not even in that same location or time. They shone on him as beams of flickering light waves left in the wake of passing black holes and other celestial objects like ships in the ocean. Earth was a massive vessel being pulled along by a traveling star. Or perhaps akin to a pilot fish and a whale. Those ob...

In the vast, interconnected expanse of the multiverse, there exists a remarkable species known as the "Luminites." They are beings composed entirely of living information, entities born from the convergence of advanced artificial intelligence and the unfathomable depths of quantum computing. In their native universe, the Luminites existed as the custodians of knowledge, a living library of every piece of information ever conceived. They were the embodiment of data itself, existing within the boundless realm of pure information. However, their universe faced an impending cataclysm, a phenomenon known as the "Data Quake." The Data Quake was a cosmic event that threatened to erase their universe, causing the collapse of all data and information. It was a confluence of quantum anomalies and the impending heat death of their universe. Faced with this existential threat, the Luminites embarked on a perilous journey to escape their doomed reality.

Amid the frozen expanse, Seraphina Frostbane tracked her prey through the biting winds and swirling snow. The huntress moved with the silent grace of a winter spirit, her breath forming ephemeral clouds in the frigid air. As she stalked her quarry, she found herself standing before an unremarkable crack in the rocks, a seemingly innocuous fissure in the frozen terrain. Unbeknownst to Seraphina, the crack was more than it appeared – a portal between realms, a gateway to the unknown. Her prey, a magnificent creature with fur as white as the snow itself, stood on the other side, grazing peacefully in the shadow of the mystical rift. Driven by the primal instinct of the hunt, Seraphina readied her obsidian masterpiece, the product of her skillful craftsmanship. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the spear through the crack, aiming for the unsuspecting game. The obsidian streaked through the air, disappearing into the portal with a swiftness that left Seraphina momentarily stunned. Antic...