As Murphy set out on this truly one-way journey, he was in such a hurry that he hadn't even had time to say goodbye to his brave little players.
And in the instant he plunged into the Lightless Sea, Murphy's thoughts nearly ground to a halt. It wasn't that he'd turned into some ultimate life-form; it was simply that this damned place followed rules utterly unlike those of the outside world. Every being that entered had to undergo a "transformation of existence."
The process could take more or less time. Of course, there was little point discussing time in the place where all things began, since time didn't flow continuously here at all. And according to the Sentinel Corps, anything could happen in this damned place.
For instance, the moment Murphy came to his senses, he saw through the bridge's observation window an identical Scarlet Dawn sailing toward them from another direction.
It definitely wasn't an illusion.
Perhaps he'd witnessed the future. And as the two starships sailed past one another, Murphy saw a figure standing beside the opposite ship's observation window.
It wasn't him. It was Triss.
The future Triss seemed to have seen him. She waved over and over, trying to get Murphy's attention, but there was no sorrow or despair on her face—only the curiosity and eagerness of someone who'd spotted something interesting.
That put Murphy at ease again.
It was most likely just some strange phenomenon caused by the Lightless Sea's unusual rules, but at least it meant he hadn't met some absurd fate aboard that other ship.
Murphy watched the other Scarlet Dawn vanish into the waves of the Lightless Sea, then turned to look at everyone on the bridge. Everyone but him was still undergoing "rule transformation." Not only Triss and Adele, but even