The Daedalus Encounter Novels & Stories

"No more ghosts. No more blueprints. Just... us." "Just us," Audrey agreed, looking out at the infinite dark of the "Deep-Space-Beyond." "And whoever is out there, waiting for a 'Visit'." The Union’s "Universal-Foundry" turned its gaze toward the "Cosmic-Horizon." The "Story" was no longer about survival. It was about "Encounter."

As the New Year's bell was about to chime, I heard Zac's voice, thinking it was a hallucination. "Anna." I raised my head, and the doorbell at the entrance rang. I opened the door to find Zac holding fireworks under the moonlight, his eyes glistening with a faint watery sheen. "Anna, Happy New Year!" His finely scattered bangs partially covered his eyebrows. In the gentle, mist-like starlight, the man's dark and profound eyes exuded the tranquility of a peaceful time. The man's melodious voice echoed above, and at the same time, the pitch-black sky behind him bloomed with colorful fireworks.

She closed her eyes, letting the reality settle in. They had survived. But they hadn’t won. The door sealed. The hovercraft rose. Behind them, the underground city of Chimera lay fractured, its gleaming towers dim, its AI core obliterated. But Daniel had escaped. ~~*~~ Aboard a stealth cruiser gliding over the Baltic Sea, Daniel watched static flicker on his main screen. The remnants of Chimera. Gone. His fingers drummed the console slowly. “Argos,” he muttered. “A worthy opponent.”

David asked, still following them, his mind reeling in shock. "What did it feel like when she touched you?" his curiosity piqued. Niklaus smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "We are ready, David." "Oh, yes," he added, as if remembering something, "Apollo three to port home." As they moved to their spots, which glowed softly on the ground, they appeared back in Atlantis, the familiar surroundings a stark contrast to the mystical encounter they had just experienced. "I've got to tell Abatrose, he'll never believe me!" David said hurrying back to his quarters.

He had never mentioned her to me before. I handed the baby to him and said, "Congratulations, the surgery went smoothly. Both mother and daughter are safe." Nathan's tense expression visibly relaxed, and his gaze toward me was filled with unfamiliar gratitude. "Thank you, doctor. May I ask your name?" With my cap and mask covering most of my face, Nathan failed to recognize me. I stared into his eyes, trying to detect a hint of guilt. "My last name is Sterling. Just call me Dr. Sterling."

“You... I...” Dax chuckled wryly and said, “I’m so surprised that I don’t even know what to say. “I never thought you’d still be alive. If the Second War God found out, he’d wake up in the middle of the night from fright.” The Second War God! A glint flashed in Andrius’ eyes. “What exactly happened?” Dax sighed and looked at Andrius carefully, trying to see through the man before him. “What did you experience in the water, and how did you escape?”

Amelia answered and Adelia, who had just collected a glass of water from Adrian, gasped in horror and the glass slipped from her hand. “Your memories are coming back?” Adelia asked her, inwardly praying that wouldn’t happen. “Is there something I should know since you remember everything?” Amelia fired back at Adelia and the latter gave her a nervous smile before shaking her head. Amelia sighed and she returned her attention back to Arthur who for some reason had been silent. “Did anything serious happen while I was out?” “The hydras attacked humans again and they wiped out a pack,” Arthur told her and her shoulder slumped in defeat as she realized that the war was already happening.

We had updated them. "Mia!" Dax’s voice was faint, drifting away. I reached for him, but the explosion had pushed us apart. I was drifting one way, he was drifting another. And then, I saw it. Behind the wreckage of the Nullity ship, a wormhole was opening. A swirling vortex of pure white light. It was pulling everything in the debris, the energy... and us. "Dax!" I screamed, thrashing in the vacuum. "Don't fight it!" Dax yelled back, his form tumbling into the light. "It’s the Architects! They're pulling us back!"

With a flourish, he motioned for the others to follow him, and we stepped out into the night, where a multitude of onlookers stood in awe, their faces illuminated by the lingering glow of the resurrection ritual. As we emerged, Dagon's presence seemed to command the attention of all around him. He addressed the gathered crowd, his voice carrying with an otherworldly resonance. "My loyal followers, after centuries of slumber, I have returned to you. The time has finally arrived for us to forge a new era of prosperity and enlightenment together." The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their fervor mingling with a sense of reverence and awe. End of POV Meanwhile… The boat rocked gently as

The deeper he dug, the closer he came to breaking. "No... No! Evelyn, no! No!" A strand of hair appeared first. Daniel went still for a heartbeat, then dug faster, tearing the soil away until her pale face, her shoulders, and then her whole body came into view. The stench of decay rose up, but her features were still and peaceful, as if untouched by time. Daniel let out a raw howl and dragged her into his arms. He pressed his forehead to hers like he could wake her that way. "Evelyn, wake up. It's snowing. We've been together eight years now. Open your eyes and look at the snow!"