Limbo

Eta Aquariids 2nd, 16384-?????

Blinding light gave way to relentless white as Siddharth's consciousness flickered back to life. The abrupt shift from the catastrophic explosion to this featureless expanse disoriented him. No walls, no ceiling, no ground—just an infinite void that seemed to pulse with a silent, oppressive whiteness.

 Every attempt to move was met with an unfamiliar resistance; only his neck obeyed, allowing his gaze to dart across the unsettling uniformity. His mind scrambled for a comparison, and it found one in the memory of his teenage years, spent modding virtual landscapes, which often used such blank 3D planes as transitional spaces between complex maps.

His voice strained against the void, calling out for any sign of life, but it faltered, reaching only him. Panic set in, A coma? Impossible. The explosion should have vaporized everything, including him.

Then, beeps pierced the silence. At first, they were indiscernible, a series of tones without meaning. Gradually, his mind began to parse the rhythmic pattern: Morse code.

".... . .-.. .-.. --- --..-- --..-- .... . .-.. .-.. --- --- .... ..-. ..- -.-. -.- . .-. .... -. --- .-.-.- .-.-.- ....- ...-- .---- ----. .... --- ..-. .... ... .. -- ..- .-.. .- - .. --- -. .... -.... ----. .... -.-. .- -. .... -.-- --- ..- .... .... . .- .-. .... -- . .... --- .... .... -... --- -.-- --..-- .... . .... -.. --- . ... .... -. --- - .... ... . . -- .... - --- --- .... ..- -. -.. . .-. ... - .- -. -.. .... .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. --..-- --..-- - .... . ... . .... .--. .-. .. -- .- - . ... -.-.-- .- -. -.-- .-- .- -.-- ... .... .-- .... .- - .... .-- .- ... .... - .... .. ... .... --. ..- -.-- ... .... .-.. .- -. --. ..- .- --. . .... .- --. .- .. -. --..-- --..-- .- .- .... .- .- --..-- --..-- .... . .-. . .... .. - .... .. … "i swear to god -... . . .--. / -... --- --- .--. -.-.-- / --- ..-. / .- .-.. .-.. / - .... . / .. -.. .. --- - .. -.-. --..-- / ... .... --- .-. - / -.-. .. .-. -.-. ..- .. - . -.. --..-- / .-. ..- ... - / .-. .. -.. -.. . -. / ..-. .- ..- .-.. - ... / --- ..-. / - .... .. ... / ... .--. . -.-. .. . ... --..-- / - .... . .. .-. / - --- - .- .-.. / .. --. -. --- .-. .- -. -.-. . / --- ..-. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / - --- .--. ... / - .... . / -.-. .... .- .-. - ... -.-.-- / .. - .-..-. ... / -.. --- - ... / .- -. -.. / -.. .- ... .... . ... --..-- / ..-. --- .-. / -.-. .. .-. -.-. ..- .. - .-..-. ... / ... .- -.- . --..-- / -. --- - / --.- ..- .- -. - ..- -- / .--. .... -.-- ... .. -.-. ... -.-.-- / . ...- . .-. -.-- / - .. -- . --..-- / . ...- . .-. -.-- / ... .. -. --. .-.. . / -... .-.. .- ... - . -.. / - .. -- . --..-- / .. - .-..-. ... / .... ..- -- .- -. ... / ... -.-. .-. . .-- .. -. --. / - .... .. -. --. ... / ..- .--. --..-- / -- . -.. -.. .-.. .. -. --. / .-- .. - .... / - . -.-. .... / - .... . -.-- / -... .- .-. . .-.. -.-- / ..- -. -.. . .-. ... - .- -. -.. .-.-.- / .... . .-. . / .. / .- -- --..-- / .- / -- .- ... - . .-. .--. .. . -.-. . / --- ..-. / .-- .. .-. . ... / .- -. -.. / .-.. --- --. .. -.-. --..-- / .-- .- ... - .. -. --. / -- -.-- / -.-. -.-- -.-. .-.. . ... / -.. . -.-. --- -.. .. -. --. / - .... . .. .-. / .--. .-. .. -- .. - .. ...- . / -... .-.. .- -... -... . .-. / .-- .... . -. / .. / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .--. .-. --- -.-. . ... ... .. -. --. / --. .- .-.. .- -..- .. . ... / --- ..-. / -.. .- - .- .-.-.- / .- -. -.. / .-.. . - .-..-. ... / -. --- - / . ...- . -. / ... - .- .-. - / --- -. / -- -.-- / -.. .- .. .-.. -.-- / -. --- ..- .-. .. ... .... -- . -. - / .... .- -.-.-- / .-- .... .- - / .- / .--- --- -.- . -.-.-- / .-- .... --- / -. . . -.. ... / --- .. .-.. / .- -. -.. / -- .- .. -. - . -. .- -. -.-. . / .-- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -. / .-. ..- -. / .- / -- .- .-. .- - .... --- -. / --- -. / .... ..- -- .- -. / .. -. -.-. --- -- .--. . - . -. -.-. . ..--.. / ... .-.. . . .--. ..--.. / .- / -.. .. ... - .- -. - / -- . -- --- .-. -.-- / .- .-. -.-. .... .. ...- . -.. / .. -. / ... --- -- . / -.. ..- ... - -.-- / -.-. --- .-. -. . .-. / --- ..-. / -- -.-- / .... .- .-. -.. / -.. .-. .. ...- . --..-- / --- ...- . .-. .-. .. -.. -.. . -. / -... -.-- / . -. -.. .-.. . ... ... / . .-. .-. --- .-. / -- . ... ... .- --. . ... / -.-. .- ..- ... . -.. / -... -.-- / - .... . ... . / ..-. .-.. . ... .... / .- -. -.. / -... --- -. . / . .-. .-. --- .-. / ..-. .- -.-. - --- .-. .. . ... .-.-.- / - .... . -.-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. -. .-..-. - / .-. . -.-. --- --. -. .. --.. . / .- / -... .. -. .- .-. -.-- / -.-. --- -.. . / .. ..-. / .. - / ..-. .-.. .- ... .... . -.. / .. -. / - .... . .. .-. / -.. .. -- / .-- .. - - . -.. / ..-. .- -.-. . ... .-.-.- / .. / -- . .- -. --..-- / -.-. --- -- . / --- -. -.-.-- / .. - .-..-. ... / - .... . / ..--- .---- ... - / -.-. . -. - ..- .-. -.-- --..-- / .- -. -.. / - .... . ... . / .... ..- -- .- -. ... / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / -.-. .- -. .-..-. - / --. .-. .- ... .--. / - .... . / -... . . .--. / -... --- --- .--. / -... .- ... .. -.-. ... / --- ..-. / -- --- .-. ... . -.-.-- / .. - .----. ... / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... / - .... . / ... .- -- . / .-- .. - .... / - .... .. ... / ... .--. . -.-. .. . ... / -... ..- -. --. .-.. .. -. --. --..-- / ... - ..- -- -... .-.. .. -. --. --..-- / .- -. -.. / -.-- . ... --..-- / .-. --- -.-- .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ... -.-. .-. . .-- .. -. --. / - .... . / .--. --- --- -.-. .... .-.-.- / .. ..-. /...and these humans still can't grasp the beep boop basics of Morse! It's always the same with this species bungling, stumbling, and royally screwing the porch. If there's a way to mess it up, trust humanity to find it, patent it, and mass produce it. OH, it finally turned on, thank the emperor !"

the beeps continued , slowly turning to words he can now understand, with a feminine robotic voice starting with "uhm….., good morning mortal 4319 from universe 69, can you understand me now ?"

"Congratulations on developing faster-than-light travel four millennia early" 

Siddharth turns around and sees a tall, seven-foot humanoid cyborg. She is made from a smooth, shiny white metal that glows softly in the low light of this place. 

 The metal itself appears smooth and almost fluid, conforming naturally to a distinctly feminine silhouette, enhancing her stature and presence.

Her face, while largely human in shape, carries an ethereal quality with high cheekbones and luminous eyes that emit a soft, pulsating glow, reminiscent of distant stars.

These eyes, unblinking and penetrating, assess Siddharth with an intelligence that transcends human understanding, yet her smile, gentle and reassuring, tempers the intensity of her gaze.

The cyborg's body, while formidable in size and seemingly indestructible, possesses an elegance that belies its strength. Her movements are graceful and measured, each gesture calculated with precision yet fluid as if choreographed. 

Her appearance is both captivating and daunting, highlighting her role as both a guardian and a powerful authority.

She exudes a motherly yet authoritative aura, a comforting presence that seems designed to soothe and reassure, even in the most disorienting of circumstances. 

Before Siddharth can ask any questions, she anticipates his confusion. "I know you have many questions. Let's address them one at a time. Yes, simulation theory is correct. No, we are not gods, nor do we control your actions directly. We set world parameters and perform light moderation. Under normal circumstances, all energy in your universe remains within it, with us never intervening. However, due to your involvement, we had to pull all energies near you.'"

She explains further, sensing his unasked questions, "It's not mind reading. I receive your questions because of your intention to communicate them to me."

Continuing, she provides context to their existence: "We do not control you; you possess free will. We are essentially you, from the future." 

"Your achievement triggered the auto-moderator of your universe, leading to the nuclear strike. We've corrected that error, erased the incident from history, and restored normalcy."

Despite her assurances of restored world order, Siddharth finds himself emotionally unmoored. His ties to his past life are tenuous—his parents long passed and no romantic ties to anchor his emotions.

 The news of his world's restoration, therefore, strikes a hollow note within him, resonating with a sense of isolation rather than relief.

As the robotic voice unfurls the mysteries of Siddharth's current reality, her words craft a vivid tableau of an advanced civilization that transcends his wildest scientific ambitions. She explains their role and existence with an unsettling calm:

The cyborg turned her gaze towards Siddharth, her words carrying a weight of history and possibility. "Siddharth," she began, her voice resonating with both reverence and urgency, "let me share the remarkable journey of my people with you."

"We have long transcended our physical forms," she explained, her eyes reflecting the vastness of their collective experience, "living as pure energy in a realm where scarcity is but a distant memory." Leaning in, she continued, "But our path was not without its trials."

"We endured a cosmic conflict," she revealed, her tone grave yet resilient, "spanning from the dawn of time to the inevitable end of multiple universes, which led to all records predating our mastery of faster-than-light travel being forgotten." With a determined nod, she added, "Yet, we persevered, reconstructing our forgotten past using the faint echoes of residual light."

With a sharp focus on Siddharth, the cyborg conveyed a sense of urgency. "Siddharth," she addressed him directly, "listen closely. Your universe, it was meant to be part of the control group, its path predetermined though with minimal interference."

Her words carried a weight of significance as she continued, "But your breakthrough with faster-than-light travel has disrupted that plan." Her tone grew more urgent, "You've altered the course of events, shifting the paradigm." 

"Your team was like a software bug in our experiment. We intended to delete you after isolation, but given your achievements, we'd like to employ you." 

The cyborg's words hung heavy in the air as Siddharth processed the weight of his new reality. He listened intently as she detailed the complexities of Universe 69420 and the role he was destined to play within it.

"In Universe 69420, a rogue auto-moderator caused chaos by over-correcting to improve the technology of a slower timeline," the cyborg explained, her voice tinged with solemnity. "This led to the discreet stealing of individuals from other timelines, including yours."

Siddharth nodded, absorbing the information as he tried to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. "So, I'm being offered a chance to transmigrate into this alternate timeline and help correct the damage caused by the rogue auto-moderator?" he clarified.

"Exactly," the cyborg confirmed. "You'll be tasked with closing the rifts caused by the transfers, stabilizing the timeline, and preventing its ultimate destruction."

Siddharth's mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, the cyborg continued, outlining the terms of his employment.

"As a transmigrator, you'll possess powers inherited from previous transmigrators after closing of each rift," she explained. "These powers will manifest as skills, which can be utilized to aid you in your mission."

She gestured towards a lever that had suddenly appeared beside them, prompting Siddharth's gaze to follow. With a sense of anticipation, he approached the lever and pulled it, causing a ball with a green sheen to materialize before him. Runic characters adorned its surface, hinting at the skill contained within.

The cyborg informed him that green marked a common-tier skill, following the arrangement of wavelengths in the VIBGYOR spectrum. Siddharth examined the ball with fascination, knowing that within it lay a crucial ability for his journey ahead.

"It seems you've acquired the Minimap skill," the cyborg remarked, her luminous eyes reflecting Siddharth's newfound power. "A valuable tool for navigation and exploration."

Siddharth nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a sense of gratitude for the skill bestowed upon him. But he knew there was more to come.

"You have three additional requests you can make," the cyborg informed him. "Use them wisely, as they will greatly aid you in your quest."

Siddharth pondered his options carefully, considering the challenges he would face and the tools he would need to overcome them. After much deliberation, he made his first request.

 "For my first wish," he declared, "I want an information system that will assist me in advancing technology after my reincarnation."

The cyborg nodded in approval, acknowledging the practicality of his request. "Your wish is granted," she affirmed, as Siddharth felt the power of his newfound ability coursing through him.

With two requests remaining, Siddharth thought carefully about how best to utilize them. He knew that each one could mean the difference between success and failure in his mission.

After a moment of contemplation, he made his second request. "I ask for an intervention coupon, allowing me to consult or directly ask for intervention during my mission," he stated, recognizing the value of having assistance when faced with unexpected challenges.

Again, the cyborg nodded in understanding, acknowledging the importance of collaboration in the face of adversity. "Your wish is granted," she affirmed, as Siddharth felt a sense of reassurance knowing that aid would be available when needed most.

With only one request remaining, Siddharth took a deep breath, steeling himself for the final decision. He knew that this request would be pivotal in shaping his journey and determining his fate in this strange new world.

"Before I use my final wish, I want to see my team," he declared, maintaining a steady voice amid the rising uncertainty. "They're the only connection I have left, and I need to know they're safe."

The cyborg looked at him with a mixture of understanding and caution, aware of the emotional weight behind his request. "Are you sure?" she asked gently, knowing that what he was about to witness might be difficult to bear.

Siddharth nodded resolutely, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. "I'm sure," he affirmed, his gaze unwavering as he prepared to confront the truth of his new reality.

With a solemn nod, the cyborg gestured towards Siddharth, and with a blinding flash of light, they were transported to a scene that would forever alter the course of his destiny.