Chapter 1: Embers From Chaos

The light from the sun cuts across the cold, barren fields of Planet X7-U. Jak, a retired commander, stands outside his hut on the city’s outskirts, gazing towards the red giant as it descends behind the silhouette of the industrial human colony, as if being sucked into the depths of the mechanical beast. It's the one moment of the day that Jak feels the beauty of the universe, before the sun retreats behind the skyline and the city lights take over. The deep red hue reveals the inescapable reality that the sun is approaching the end of its life; a constant reminder of the imminent end to all life in this system. Jak’s thoughts flash back to his former life near a younger star, full of warmth and love. The moment is fleeting. Familiar feelings of loss and isolation resurge. Since the death of his wife and the unexpected loss of his daughter years after, he is numb. No-one knows exactly when the sun will die, but Jak thinks of the spectacular view that would be, and almost wishes he could live to see it.

Jak gazes across the sky thinking of the life that surrounds him. It's been thousands of years since humans arrived in this part of the galaxy, searching for precious materials to maintain their ceaseless expansion into the voids of space. Seeing the distant star, Jak’s thoughts turn to the Ardor, a race of mysterious ancient beings native to the system. Little is known of them, except they have been here far longer than mankind. Although they appear to inhabit only a distant planet close to the sun, it is rumored they once occupied the far reaches of known space. Jak takes a moment to contemplate the deep time and distance this would require. It couldn’t be true, he concludes, looking back down to the city before him. That much expansion would leave a trail of waste and endless artifacts. 

In recent times, the human race has grown exponentially in a chaotic frenzy, finding any possible land to settle on and resources to mine. Jak sees the fumes of the city. He hates the ugly sight, and despises himself for aiding humanity’s colonization in his younger days. Out here there is little that he understands; he would live further from the colony if he could, but the zones outside of the human settlements are wild and unregulated. 

He glances back at the red giant one last time, feeling kinship with it as they both patiently drift towards the end of their lives. The last shimmers of the sun are consumed by the city’s vast metallic entrails.

Jak retires to his hut, which is filled floor to ceiling with countless artifacts from the Old World. Over the years the space has become more workshop than abode. He collects these relics, and feels a certain connection with them. After his daughter’s death Jak left the military and has resided here ever since. He once remembered the Old World as a place of hope and possibility. He’s tried going back; too many bitter and painful memories there. A swig of his homemade liquor quickly scrubs these intrusive thoughts from his mind.

Jak crosses the room to inspect an old mechanical object on his workbench that he’s been attempting to repair for longer than he’s willing to admit to himself. He pauses for a moment before putting it down, instead reaching back to his drink. He sits and lets the alcohol permeate his system, as he does every night. Suddenly, he sees a light blinking on his console. It’s a message from the only contact he has left in the system…