Eclipse

Pioneer drifts through the mysterious star's solar system, the silence of space enveloping him as he draws closer. A strange phenomenon catches his attention, a total eclipse. The star's light is obscured by another gigantic planet. He watches as this star's core flickers erratically, on the verge of collapse. The star pulses faintly, as if panting, its fiery glow fading in slow, agonizing flashes. It is a star about to explode, its last breath suspended in time. Pioneer's double explains to him that this star is going to go supernova. He says that several stars die at the same time in different timelines and in different universes. Strangely, all versions of Pioneer always arrive at this precise moment, which creates a rift in the universe. The double explains that the neutron star seen earlier and this star are going to die simultaneously and that they are currently in another universe. He has a plan, but he's not sure it will work. Pioneer accepts the challenge.