Once Upon an Alternate Universe

I've been chasing the last of its kind for years, it felt like forever. Spinning through time and space, I jumped my ship from one sector of the galactic neighborhood I was exploring into another, following hints and rumors of the existence of the long-lost Bennu, the primordial bird which is considered until today as the progenitor of all birds in the known universe.

Last week, I received an encrypted message from planet Condor - a rogue planet in a fairly small solar system with four other planets about 6 light-years from Earth, orbiting Tau Ceti in the constellation Cetus. The message included specific SpaceTime coordinates for my ship navigator which will transfer me to Condor alternative universe where a female Bennu – the last of her kind – is said to be living.

The risk for such coordinates is beyond imagination, you can end up inside the star itself when jumping into Alt – but I had no choice. It’s now or never. I punched in the coordinates and hit the initiation button.

I personally hate Alt jumps – the disorientation takes weeks to pass. Climbing out the hatch of my ship, my head spins, I found myself in front of a massive nest made of an intricate weaving of grass and woods, and there – staring at me was the legendary Bennu.

Tears in my eyes, my hands trembling, I grabbed my cam and hit the record button.