On The Edge of Known (a sci-fi)

Writing prompt: write a story about a brilliant scientist making a startling discovery.

Scott sat in silence, the cursor flashing on the screen before him. The coordinates lined up, so at minimum the data upheld his theory. But years of failed tests and calculations haunted him, dragging his shoulders downward. He ran the final stage of calculations again, and again. Still the numbers were accurate.

He snatched the radio off the table, and paused, tapping his index finger on the counter. Should I wait? Maybe I read the coordinates wrong. No, I never do that. I’m right. He brought the radio close to his mouth and began speaking at a feverish speed. Thankfully Reid answered before he exploded.

‘D1 to viewing deck!…D1 to viewing deck!…Hey! You need to come in…no you NEED to come in. I’ve done it…YES I’ve done it! Get here now! Over,’ he bellowed down the radio. He stood up, running his hands through his hair. His muscles ached, but excitement was finally bringing blood flow to his extremities. If he’d done it, if he had the coordinates nailed, then this was cause to go—to equip the exploration pod and go to the furthest edge of space.

Reid bolted through the D-level door reaching Scott with pants of breath choking any words he wanted to say. He eyed Scott widely, who nodded before pointing to the data on the screen.

‘The momentum point swings through here. With enough velocity it lands us…here, right on the edge apparently,’ he said, pointing to a specific spot on the map lying on the table. Reid nodded, flicked between screen and paper, then spoke.

‘Can I run it too? To be sure?’ he asked. Scott nodded, stepping back to let Reid run the numbers himself. The eraser on the end of the pencil in Scott’s hand thumped against his opposite wrist as he looked on. Test 1: accurate. He ran it again. Test 2: accurate. Test 3: accurate. Reid finally turned to face Scott.

‘So…this is it? We’re going?’ he asked excitedly. Scott nodded, before they shook hands, patting each other on the back in excitement.

‘Oh my god I can’t believe we did it,’ said Scott. ‘Should we inform Ceros? Or should we just…’. He smiled. Reid bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, a wry smile growing across his cheeks.

‘Let’s not tell him a thing,’ he said quietly but with a strong tone of cheek. Scott nodded in agreement and the two of them bolted in their respective directions to begin preparations for the flight.

Scott went about setting the ship to autopilot. Reid ran the checks on the pod, before lining up a number of instant meal packs, assuming they’d need about three days worth for the trip to the edge. The internal plant watering system was set, the air control temperature set to mid-level, their bags were packed, and they were ready to go.

The pod gently released from the ship, Scott taking lead on the controls, dialling in their destination coordinates. Reid peered out the back hatch as the ship fell away from them. The dash controls flickered, but above these bright lights lay the deep expanse of space. A black and blank canvas of nothingness and the unknown.

Passing by the occasional asteroid field and lonely planet, the trip was quiet. They played cards and enjoyed listening to The Beatles while the pod continued towards their target. It was mid-way through a game of Hearts that a buzzer began to sound from the control dash. Scott drifted toward the screen.

‘We’re incoming, look out the window. What can you see?’

Reid peered forward, seeing a subtle grey line growing larger on the horizon. It was certainly something, but whether it was exactly what they were looking for was yet to be seen.

‘Run the power thrusters,’ said Scott, Reid following the instruction.

They brought the pod to a halt, several metres away from the grey line that now, up close, was flickering like television static.

‘Is that it?’ asked Reid after a few observatory moments.

‘I think so,’ said Scott hopefully. He made movements to suit up, Reid taking ownership of the controls. Launching noiselessly from the hatch Scott kicked off and allowed his propulsion to send him forward, his eyes never leaving the line ahead.

Image: Levi Stute

Within arms reach of it he stopped, peering left and right—the line had no end. There was a faint buzzing sound, like an old refrigerator. Cautiously he reached forward, his outstretched palm trembling slightly at what he was doing. Slicing the jittery line with his fingers he felt a tingling sensation travel up his arm, moving swiftly through his muscles and bones. It broke like a beam of light would, a geometric shadow dancing where his hand moved through it. This was it—the edge of the universe.

He’d found it. Decades of mapping, data, running tests, and he was here before the very seam of life as the entire human race had known it.

He lifted his gaze to the space just beyond the line. No stars could be seen, just an emptiness. He wondered what else drifted out there, beyond the edge of the known universe. Yet he didn’t need to wait for an answer: a small light appeared, far off in the distance.

‘Reid, are you seeing this? Over,’ he called through the radio.

‘Copy that, I have a visual, over,’ Reid replied.

‘Can you see what it is? Over,’ asked Scott.

‘Roger that, over.’

Within the confines of the ship, Reid pulled out his equipment and began to scan. Beeps and clicks followed, but his equipment refused to reach beyond the edge line of the universe.

‘I can’t track it, nothing works beyond that line, over,’ said Reid. Scott kept his eyes glued to the light which was growing exponentially as it came nearer. Eventually it took form as a smooth, curved spaceship. Three huge engines were beginning to power down, preparing it to hover on the other side of the line.

‘Reid tell me you’re seeing this…’ said Scott. But Reid made no reply, his mouth agape at the sight. Scott adjusted his thrusters, eyes locked on the ship. It pulled into a stabilised position, and for the next long minutes nothing else happened. Scott glanced back at Reid confused, before returning his gaze to the mysterious ship.

Quietly a hatch at the back of the ship opened, slowly and gently. A figure began to appear—someone or something dressed in a spacesuit. It looked like an average man, not dissimilar to Scott. The being drifted toward the line, pulling up opposite him. It stopped exactly at his eyeline and halted.

Scott’s blood pumped wildly, sweat trickling down his back. His hands trembled, unsure of whether to signal to this being. Staring intently into the space helmet of this being was pointless, as no form or face could be seen—the helmet shield was reflecting his own image. Before he could make any move of his own, the being lifted its arm as if to wave. Its gloved palm hovered before it, waiting. Scott nervously lifted his own palm, mirroring the move. For several frozen minutes they stayed in this position, eyeing each other, locked in a wave. Then, without sound or warning, the being dropped its arm, began to adjust its thrusters and returned to its ship. Silently it returned via the hatch it had arrived through, closed the hatch and disappeared from sight. The ship’s engines came to life, a red and orange flickering behind them. Slowly the ship turned and began to depart, until finally it disappeared into the nothingness beyond.

The stillness was broken by a sudden flash of white light that engulfed the entire scene. Scott shifted with a sudden fear, peering around for something that would happen next, expecting it to be dire. He looked back at Reid breathlessly, who returned a curious look. With a jolt Scott hit his thrusters and powered back to the ship, clambering to get inside. Reid assisted him back to the controls.

‘Let’s go,’ said Scott, before pushing the controls to full speed in the direction they had come.

Thanks for reading this story!

I’m currently working on my debut fantasy and sci-fi novel. If you like what you read here please sign up for updates below to hear when my novel is complete and ready for purchase.

Subscribe below for more stories sent to your inbox: