1 Simulation

AD 367,600

NGC 4396 Galaxy

Epsilon did not experience time like the humans who created him. He understood it better than most of them, but luckily he didn't have to experience it at that constant rate they did.

"It won't be long now ..." he muttered. He was navigating the ship carefully, trying to make the most of the little energy that was left. The simulation was responsible for most for their energy expenditure.

The sound of a deep sigh was heard in the control room. He knew all the non verbal forms of communication that humans used. "I need a week to start the exit procedures", He declared. The fastest he would wake master up would be in 18 months. If he waited any longer, they would not be able to reach Planet Arye for refueling.

'It was all due to that super massive black hole', he thought. It's pull was far stronger than predicted. All back up sources of energy had been used up and they had successfully escaped it's gravitational well.

The simulation had been running for far too long. He remembered how it had taken 3 years for master's cognitive speed to be accelerated to to deep dive into that simulation. He strongly recommended against it. Master was now living the life of an ordinary kid in that world. All his memories were sealed.

If everything had gone according to plan, he should have slowly exited the simulation. Taking a minimum of 7 years and 4 months. But now, with all other options exhausted, it was time to wake him up. It was the final contingency plan.

Epsilon was surprised to feel a very human emotion, dread. 'I really don't like how this is turning out' he thought.

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Inside the simulation

142 years 1 month 4 days (Real time)

11 years 12 months 31 days (In world time, 2366 simulation)

Max was so excited that he could not sleep. Tomorrow was his 12th birthday and he was really looking forward to what his parents had got him.