In the middle of my work at my corporate job, something happened that completely changed the course of my life.

  "Because you wished for it in your mind, and we detected it."

  How could I have known that after hearing that single line, I would be standing-no, floating-at the very edge of the universe, about to embark on a journey no species had ever attempted before?

  May 2, 2024. It was just another ordinary day at my corporate digital marketing job. I arrived at the office, logged in, and started managing my clients' social media accounts. The job was challenging, and the workplace was decent enough to keep me going. I genuinely enjoyed the work, but deep down, I always had this lingering thought-what would it be like to explore the universe?

  Living in the 21st century meant that humankind had yet to invent a way to explore the final frontier beyond our own solar system. Don't get me wrong-I deeply appreciate the miracle of our existence on this planet, the fact that we are intelligent beings capable of recognizing the vastness of the cosmos. But I couldn't shake the questions that haunted me from time to time: What lies beyond Earth? What other species exist out there? What are the secrets of the universe? What's beyond the universe itself?

  "So, did you bring lunch?"

  George's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He stood at my cubicle, grinning.

  "Oh, ah, no, I didn't actually."

  "Well, in that case, let's grab something outside!" he said cheerfully.

  I nodded, closing the slide deck I had been preparing for a client. We walked toward the elevator. George was my work buddy, someone I got along with really well-almost like an old university friend, which isn't always easy to find after stepping into the adult working world.

  "So, what's the plan after work?" he asked as we entered the elevator.

  "I don't know... maybe the video game bar?"

  There was a place in town where we could play classic video games from our childhood. We went there from time to time.

  "Good idea, man," he said, nodding approvingly.

  We grabbed some tacos from a Mexican place and headed back to the office. The West Coast lifestyle was relaxed-sunny but with just the right amount of breeze to make being outside enjoyable during lunchtime. Life wasn't bad. Yet, no matter how much I tried to focus on the present, the thought of the universe's mysteries always lingered in the back of my mind.

  As we returned, takeout in hand, I found myself lost in those thoughts again. And then, in an instant, everything changed.

  One moment, I was stepping back into the office. The next, I was standing before a massive glass window, staring out into the vastness of space. My tacos were gone, probably dropped on the pavement outside. And George? He was likely still standing there, mouth agape, trying to process the fact that I had just disappeared before his eyes.

  Where the hell am I?

  I blinked, struggling to comprehend my surroundings. A spaceship? That was the only explanation I could piece together. I was still wearing my suit-everything was intact except my lunch. Too shocked to move, I stood frozen, staring out into the cosmic abyss. Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity before I finally forced myself to turn around.

  And then, I saw the others.

  A being-tall, slender, humanoid in shape, but unmistakably alien. Their deep blue skin shimmered under the ship's lighting, and their eyes-pale like the sky yet strangely translucent-studied me with an unreadable expression. their black, form-fitting outfit resembled a wetsuit, and their bare feet pressed against the pristine white floor. Then, their fish-like mouth opened, and they spoke.

  "Welcome, Tom."

  They spoke English?! Or did they somehow learn my language? And how did they know my name? Had I been abducted? My mind raced with questions I couldn't process fast enough.

  "I know this must be shocking, and I apologize for the abruptness of our meeting. But I believe clarity is best achieved through direct action," the being continued.

  I finally found my voice. "I'm sorry... what?" But even as I spoke, I could hardly believe that I was having a conversation with what seems to be...an alien at this very moment.

  "My name is Sadara," they said. "I come from a planet called Alecio, located several thousand galaxies away from yours."

  I stared, struggling to comprehend their words.

  "I apologize for this sudden approach, but I hope you will understand once I explain our purpose. My people, the Alecians, have spent thousands of years studying the cosmos, searching for answers to the greatest mysteries of existence. Recently, through our advanced detection systems, we have found a region where the cosmic radiation density sharply drops-an anomaly we believe marks the frontier between our universe and... something else. Our goal is to reach this anomaly, to uncover what lies beyond the known universe. And for such an endeavour, we decided it should not be undertaken by Alecians alone. We sought to include beings from different corners of the cosmos. Thus, we recruited four additional members-each from a different species."

  Speechless, I tried to absorb what they were saying. And then, I noticed them.

  Three other beings stood behind Sadara, each watching me with varying degrees of curiosity and confusion. I hadn't even registered them at first-I had been too overwhelmed by Sadara's presence. Now, as my mind caught up, I took in my surroundings. We were in what looked like a cockpit bridge-bright, sleek, and futuristic. Three seats surrounded a central captain's chair, flanked by consoles and monitors displaying unknown data.

  "So, as I said, we recruited four members. And you, Tom, are the fourth." Sadara's gaze was steady.

  This is unreal.

  "...How did you find me? And why me?" I asked finally.

  Sadara's lips curled into what I assumed was a smile. "Because you wished for it in your mind. And we detected it."

  "What do you mean, detected it?"

  "We possess technology that allows us to sense thoughts-no matter the species or location. Once a being reaches a certain level of intelligence, consciousness emerges. And consciousness is not bound by space-time. It exists beyond the physical laws of physics. Thoughts, as you know, are instantaneous and constant within yourself. And with the right technology, they can travel across the universe in an instant. That's how we found you-and the others."

  Sadara paused before adding, "And as for why you, specifically... your desire was stronger than anyone else's on your planet. Even knowing that humanity was centuries away from interstellar travel, your will remained unwavering."

  A device that can capture thoughts across the universe...? Theoretically, it made sense, but the reality of it was overwhelming.

  "Let me introduce the others," Sadara continued, gesturing to the being on their right.

  The first figure was seated in a hovering chair, only about 80 centimetres tall. He had no hair, moss-gray skin, and a grumpy expression. His small, frail body was draped over the floating device.

  "This is Mashta, from the planet Ilyas. Their technology is a couple of millions of years ahead of Earth's."

  Mashta inclined his head slightly. "Pleasure to meet you, Tom," he rasped. His voice was aged, like worn stone.

  Sadara turned to their left. "And this is Ashti, from the planet Erivon."

  The being standing before me was roughly my height, their form wrapped in flowing, iridescent fabric that shimmered between deep violet and silver as they moved. Their elongated face had sharp, elegant features, and their golden eyes resembled molten metal. Small bioluminescent markings traced patterns along their temples and down their long, tapering fingers.

  "Tom," Ashti said with a nod, their voice smooth and melodic, almost like a song.

  I managed a nod in return, still too overwhelmed to process everything.

  Sadara then gestured to the final figure.

  "And this is K'ravon, from the planet Voren."

  K'ravon was massive-easily the most physically imposing of the group. Broad-shouldered and covered in dark, segmented plating that looked both organic and armour-like, She had piercing red eyes and a pair of short, curved horns protruding from her forehead. Her long tail flicked behind her, betraying a restless energy.

  Unlike the others, She didn't greet me right away. She simply stared, arms crossed, exhaling sharply through her nostrils.

  "So, this is the human." Her voice was deep and rough, carrying a slight growl beneath her words. "We'll see if you're worth the trouble."

  That was... encouraging.

  I swallowed, still trying to process everything. My mind latched onto something Sadara had said earlier.

  "You mentioned... an anomaly. What is that exactly? Is that where we're trying to go?"

  Sadara inclined their head slightly as if appreciating the question. "Yes. Through our advanced detection systems, we've identified a region where the cosmic radiation density sharply drops—far lower than anywhere else in the known universe."

  I frowned. "And that's unusual because...?"

  "In space, cosmic radiation is everywhere. It's a fundamental byproduct of stars, galaxies, and all matter in existence. But this region—this anomaly—has a radiation density so low, it defies all natural laws as we understand them. It's as if something is absorbing or suppressing it. Or perhaps..." Sadara hesitated, their black eyes flickering with thought. "Perhaps it is beyond the influence of our universe entirely."

  I exhaled slowly. "So... you're saying this anomaly might be the actual edge of the universe?"

  "That is our theory."

  A shiver ran down my spine. The edge of the universe. The place where everything we know simply... ends.

  "Then, you scanned the entire universe for beings who had an innate desire to explore. And somehow, my thoughts led you to me?"

  Sadara nodded. "Precisely."

  I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling. "Okay. And now what? You expect me to just... go with you?"

  The Alecian leader gave me a small smile. "That is entirely up to you."

  I turned back toward the massive glass window, staring out at the infinite unknown. Earth was gone. My old life was gone.

  For as long as I could remember, I had wished for this. And now, that dream stood before me, waiting.

  Did I dare take the first step?

  "But let me get this straight," I said. "You're trying to go beyond the edge of the universe, right?" I asked Sadara.

  "That's right-or rather, beyond the boundaries of the universe," Sadara replied with a smile.

  "How can you go beyond it? And what do boundaries even mean to the universe?"

  I had thought about the edge or the boundaries of the universe before-or at least, I think everyone has wondered about it at some point in their lives. As soon as we learn there's something beyond Earth-outer space itself-the question naturally follows. But life keeps us so busy that we forget those moments when we first encounter concepts or phenomena that shake the very meaning of our existence.

  Take the realization of mortality, for example. When we first learn that life isn't permanent-that death awaits us all-it can be terrifying. As children, that fear swallows us whole. And then, consciously or subconsciously, we start searching for meaning, eventually becoming numb to the fact that death is inevitable. There are many truths in life that we take for granted simply because they feel too detached from our everyday existence. The boundaries of the universe is one of them.

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  It's something we all briefly wonder about at least once or twice in our lives before moving on-because, in the 21st century, we all know we'll never be able to examine it. And yet, deep down, we also know that the universe is the final frontier.

  "The universe is mind-bogglingly vast," Sadara said. "But let me show you what we're trying to accomplish."

  They stepped past me, raising their right hand and waving it over the floor. A small, 60-centimetre pole emerged seamlessly from the surface. With another wave of their hand, the massive window in front of us transformed into a screen. It displayed something-something doughnut-shaped.

  "Our universe is quite possibly shaped like this-a torus," Sadara said, turning around and standing next to the pole. "Your scientists on Earth have already theorized this as well, Tom."

  What? Really? I didn't know that. The other three members nodded as if this were common knowledge.

  "Let me explain why we believe the universe is shaped like a torus. First, we learned that our universe is flat."

  "Wait, what do you mean flat? We're not in a 2D world-we're in 3D," I interjected.

  "Yes, you're correct," Sadara nodded. "But I'm explaining it this way to make it easier to understand. The flatness of a 3D world is difficult to imagine, so for now, we're bringing the discussion into a 2D perspective. If I were to explain flatness in 3D, it means that space, on the largest scales, does not curve in on itself like a sphere, nor does it expand outward like a saddle. Instead, Instead, it follows the rules of a geometry, where parallel lines stay parallel forever. This was discovered by analysing the light first emitted after the beginning of everything, you call the Big Bang in your home planet."

  Sounds like the theory of the Big Bang is common knowledge across the universe.

  "The earliest image of the universe we can observe today dates back to about 400 million years after the Big Bang. This is also known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB). By analyzing the CMB, we can learn many different things."

  The screen now displayed an oblong image dotted with patches of blue, red, and yellow.

  "This is how the universe looked 400 million years after the Big Bang. If we imagine the universe's current age as a 100-year-old human, this image represents the universe at about seven months old. It was still quite young at this point."

  How do we know we're seeing the universe as it used to be? I'd heard of this before: the farther we look into space, the older the image we're seeing. A star we observe in the distance might not even exist anymore. That's because even light-the fastest thing in existence-takes an unimaginably long time to travel. So, when we look as far as possible into the universe, we're essentially seeing a snapshot of how it appeared in the past. That's why we can capture images like the one on the screen.

  Light can travel around Earth seven and a half times in a single second. On Earth, this makes it feel almost instantaneous. But in the inconceivably vast universe, even light takes an enormous amount of time to travel. It's a bit like playing an old video game-if you move too fast, the graphics ahead of you take time to load. Without light, we wouldn't be able to observe or perceive anything at all.

  "In this image, if you connect three points of light-since the early universe was filled with light coming from all directions-you can draw a triangle. If the sum of the three inner angles equals exactly 180 degrees, it means the universe's curvature is zero, confirming that space is flat. When scientists performed this calculation, it showed precisely 180 degrees, proving that the universe is flat.

  "The next step was to determine whether the universe is infinite. A flat space can theoretically extend forever, but we needed to verify if that was truly the case. To do this, we examined the CMB again-this time measuring the heat of the light. The theory suggests that if there's an upper limit to the temperature-meaning no light source exceeds a certain maximum temperature-then the universe must be finite. And the results confirmed that there is, in fact, a maximum temperature."

  Sadara paused before concluding, "So, in the end, we discovered that the universe is both flat and finite. And when something is flat yet finite, it must eventually loop back on itself. The only shape that fits this description is a doughnut-like structure-or, to be more scientifically accurate, a torus. And our attempt is to reach outside of our torus-shaped universe basically."

  Ashti opened her mouth, her eyes calm even in a situation like this. "But what if we can't survive?" she asked softly. "Honestly, I don't even think the rules of our world apply over there."

  Exactly what I was thinking.

  Sadara leaned forward slightly. "I'm part of a group of believers on our planet, and we suspect there could be an intelligence on the other side of the universe. Think about it—once you step off your own planet, you're met with extreme cold. No carbon-based life forms can survive for long because there's no oxygen to breathe. Space is set up in a way that keeps species locked on their own planets. Do you know why?"

  Sadara scanned our faces, waiting for a response.

  K'ravon kept her arms crossed. "You're saying we're stuck on our planets on purpose? Like something out there that doesn't want us leaving? And if we get smart enough to figure it out, then we'll be ready to meet them?"

  Sadara nodded. "That's exactly what my group and I believe. Space isn't just dangerous by chance—it's a test. Whatever is out there is maybe watching, waiting to see if we can break free."

  Sadara's words lingered in the air.

  "What do you think?" I asked, looking around. "What are your thoughts on this?"

  "Well, the idea of some sort of intelligence existing outside our universe is a possibility," Mashta finally spoke. "Our kind has been around in the universe for millions of years now and has witnessed phenomena that our level of science cannot explain—miracles of nature, events that make you wonder if this universe was created artificially. That's why I've always been curious whether intelligence truly exists beyond us. But at the same time, it's also possible that nothing lies out there. If we ever manage to leave this realm, we might simply cease to exist." Mashta looked around at everyone.

  "Like death itself..." I added.

  "We wonder what happens after death, but we can never know, because we can't bring back any after-death information once we die, right?" I looked at everyone, searching for their thoughts.

  "Well, maybe that's true for your kind. But for my race, we have a way to connect with those who have left this world. We can still reach them," Ashti said.

  "We don't have a way. Once we die, that's it," K'ravon added.

  "I honestly don't care whether intelligence exists or not. When I was a kid, I thought about that sort of thing a lot. But as the chief commander of my world, all I care about is the safety of my planet."

  "Really? Then why do you think you were invited onto this ship?" Ashti asked.

  "I don't know. Ask this guy over here." K'ravon glanced at Mashta first, then turned to Sadara.

  "K'ravon's kind, the Veronians, are a warrior race, recognized for their strength across many galaxies," Sadara explained. "Their individual combat abilities surpass those of most other races we came across before, and they possess an unshakable loyalty to their own kind."

  "That's an honour. We only recently started traveling to a nearby galaxy, but it's good to know our race is already making a name for itself. But I guess that makes me your weaponry option, huh?" K'ravon laughed it off.

  "No, not at all. And I apologize if I came across that way," Sadara said. "But an expedition like us often attracts idealists, and I believe we also need a realist on our team."

  "Fair enough. I am a realist. Our people are a bunch of realists. We don't just rely on hopes or dreams." K'ravon crossed her arms again. It made me wonder what she had gone through to get to where she is now.

  Sadara turned off the screen and asked, "What are your thoughts on the outside, Ashti?"

  "Our people have always believed in a deity... It is the hope of many that one day, we will meet our Creator." Ashti turned to face the large window, gazing out into the vastness beyond.

  "We call that 'God' on Earth," I responded.

  Ashti looked at me and smiled. "God... that is an interesting name. But yes, that is who we hope to meet. Many of us believe the Creator exists beyond our universe. If our universe was made, then we believe it wasn't created artificially. This vast, ever-expanding space has never collapsed in all of history, allowing countless species to flourish and even allowing us to meet like this. Who could wield such immense power? I don't believe any of us could, and we don't think an even more advanced civilization did either. It is something divine—beyond our understanding—one that has given us all life. So, I do not believe we are being tested in this plane of existence like you mentioned Sadara." Ashti turned to Sadara.

  "But we are being watched and protected. That is what we believe."

  "That is a fair belief," Sadara responded.

  "We used to think that way—before. But we don't believe it anymore," K'ravon said.

  Mashta spoke next. "It is truly remarkable that the universe has endured for so long since its birth without tearing itself apart. But through our research, we have found a few evidence that point out that the universe might possess self-correcting mechanisms. For instance, each fundamental particle has a corresponding partner, maintaining balance at the most fundamental level. This pairing even helped dissipate the immense heat left over from the first singularity, preventing the universe from collapsing in its earliest moments. Such evidence leads us to believe that the universe was carefully designed with a grand calculus in mind."

  "What do you mean by self-correcting?" I asked Mashta for clarification.

  "It means that even when the universe faces a potential threat to its own existence, it has mechanisms in place to counteract the threat and preserve itself."

  "So you're saying the universe is alive?" K'ravon asked.

  Mashta chuckled. "Not necessarily, but it has built-in self-protective functions. Think of a spaceship—it's usually designed with multiple compartments. If one section is breached and loses air, the ship detects it, seals off the area, and prevents passengers from accidentally walking into it, where they could suffocate or, worse, be expelled into space. The universe has similar protective mechanisms to ensure its survival. Take the example of fundamental particles having corresponding partners, which I mentioned earlier. Thanks to this balance, the immense heat from the universe's birth was eventually cooled, bringing stability to space."

  I was blown away by this revelation—yet at the same time, I was reminded once again that I was standing inside a spacecraft unlike anything humankind had ever built.

  Sadara turned to me. "What about you, Tom? What's your opinion?"

  "On Earth, we believe God might exist—or maybe we're just living in a simulation. I guess that would still mean there's intelligence beyond our world? Some people say there's nothing at all, but I can't wrap my head around that. How can nothingness be a thing when we're all here in this universe, you know?"

  I glanced at Ashti and Mashta's faces, searching for their reactions.

  "Personally, I just want to know if there's something more out there... I'm not sure if this is a good answer, but... I don't know, I just feel drawn to the idea of trying—of seeing if there's anything beyond our world. I'm fortunate to be alive today, but I also know that with our current technology, I would have never been able to explore the universe, let alone go beyond it..." I paused to gather my thoughts.

  "I mean, I'm still processing the fact that I'm even meeting all of you. A lot of us on Earth believe in aliens, but also a lot of us don't. It's totally surreal. I'm standing here, talking to you all. This could very well be humanity's first encounter with extraterrestrial beings..."

  "Tom, Earth actually has a bit of history interacting with aliens," Sadara said, catching me completely off guard.

  "Wait—we've met aliens before?" I asked, stunned.

  Sadara nodded slowly. "There have been a few occasions where alien ships have crashed on your planet—including one from Ilyas's people, Mashta's kind."

  Sadara looked at Mashta, who smiled knowingly. "You've probably heard stories about crash-landed spacecraft," Mashta said.

  My mind reeled. They had to be talking about the Roswell incident!

  "Are you talking about the Ros—? I mean, I don't think you'd know the name, but are you referring to an incident that happened about 80 years ago?"

  Mashta shrugged. "Well, I can't recall the precise time off the top of my head, but there have been a few cases."

  I was beyond speechless. Alien encounters weren't just conspiracy theories after all. But another question quickly popped into my mind.

  "Wait—how are we even communicating? Is there some kind of real-time translation happening?"

  "Precisely," Sadara replied. "It's the ship. It enables real-time translation."

  "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who's right once we cross that point," K'ravon smirked.

  "What happens now?" Ashti turned away from the window and looked at Sadara.

  Sadara's expression softened, as if they had been waiting for this question.

  "Once we have everyone's consent to join this expedition, we can leave at any time. But as you all suspect, this might be a one-way trip. I won't force anyone to continue this journey, of course. Even if we manage to return safely to this universe, I cannot guarantee how much time will have passed since we left. What lies beyond the universe is completely unmeasurable at this point."

  The weight of it all pressed down on me. I exhaled slowly, my mind still struggling to process everything that had happened in such a short time. But beneath the confusion and shock, something else stirred—excitement. The kind of adventure I had only ever dreamed of was unfolding before me. I needed to make up my mind. And if I chose to go with them, there was something I had to do first.

  "If I decide to go with you, can I leave a message for my family?" I asked Sadara.

  "Yes. You may record a short video."

  My parents are going to be sick with worry. I can't tell them the truth, obviously—they wouldn't believe me. But I don't want to lie, either. I need to tell them something. At the same time, I have to come to terms with the fact that I might never be able to return home. The weight of that realization hit me hard.

  A sudden, wild thought popped into my head.

  "Is there any way—" I hesitated, then chuckled nervously. "I mean, is there anyone who can help me create a clone of myself? Haha... so they won't notice I'm gone?"

  Sadara gave me a strange look. I must have seemed frantic.

  "We do have cloning technology," they said after a pause. "It is possible to send a clone back to Earth in your place. Would you like me to proceed?"

  "Wait—does it actually age like a real human? And will it have my personality?"

  "Yes. It is a carbon-based life form, just like you, and it ages naturally like any other human. As for its personality, the moment you stepped onto our ship, we recorded and scanned your brain. The clone will be imprinted with that information to replicate your personality."

  They scanned my brain? That felt... invasive. But at the same time, this was an incredible opportunity. If the clone could live as me, my parents wouldn't have to worry.

  I asked Sadara to show me the clone before sending it to Earth. The moment I saw it, I was stunned. I couldn't tell the difference. It looked exactly like me. It moved like me. A true sci-fi moment.

  I stepped forward and looked into my clone's eyes. "Take care of my parents, okay?"

  The clone nodded.

  I swallowed hard. I couldn't believe it—this might be the last time I'd ever see my family.

  But I had already made up my mind. That's why I boarded this ship in the first place.

  Once the clone was teleported to Earth, appearing exactly at the entrance of my office, I turned to Sadara and took a deep breath.

  "I'm ready."

  Sadara nodded, then looked around at the others.

  "Ashti?"

  "I'm ready," Ashti said firmly.

  Mashta smirked. "I'm a clone of a clone of... I don't even remember how many versions now. They can always retrieve my backup consciousness somewhere. I'm ready to go."

  K'ravon nodded. "I just need to send a message to my entire force about my absence. Then I'm good to go."

  She stepped toward the metallic pole we had seen earlier. This time, instead of projecting onto the large window, it generated a smaller, hovering screen just in front of her. She quickly recorded her message, her expression firm and resolute.

  Once she finished, the pole retracted into the floor.

  Sadara turned to face all of us, their expression unreadable. Then they said, "Let's set the course to our destination, then."