STORY: Betwixt

Sci-Fi Fantasy, Alternate world travel

Setting is a narrow space in between existences. To cross the boundaries of time, space, dimensions, reality, etc. beyond the natural order brings you to or through this space.
It appears to be a massive tube bounded by cosmic clouds with stars and space beyond. At one end of the tube is a light brighter than the sun that warms the space and the life that exists there. At the other end is an abyss of swirling darkness.
The light is a point in time and space at the creation of the universe, a reflection of the big bang. Approaching it exposes a life form or craft to high levels of energy and tidal forces that accelerates their perceived time to greater and greater degrees until even the most sturdy vehicle or long lived life form are dispersed into waves of energy. The force of the energy tends to push most things away from the light before they can be consumed.
The dark is a polar opposite, a sucking vacuum that like a black hole, consumes light and energy and time. It is a point at the end of the universe when and where all matter in existence collapses in on itself to a single point. To approach it slows time and progressively drains all energy from an object until it crumbles to dust and is sucked into the darkness. Most lifeforms freeze in time and in the cold before they cross the threshold.

This space is not empty, rather it is full of flotsam from all times and places. Lifeforms, technology, solids, liquids and gases from any point in the universe might be found here. However none came to this place willingly or knowingly. Jutting through the space are latices of crystal like roots, most of which terminate inside the space, forming the foundation of communities and structures that offer stability in the chaotic space. These latices are the tears in time and space when either by artificial or natural forces material is forced through the natural boundaries of existence. Time travel, wormholes, dimensional rifts, subspace jumps all must pass through this space to reach their intended target. The greater the energy used, the larger the lattice, the closer the attempt got to its target, the longer it is. Most attempts fail in disaster, stranding the lifeforms and material in the space between. There are a few latices that span across the entire space, presumed evidence of successful crossings. A popular theory among the denizens is that if one could reach one of these complete bridges they might be able to return to normal space time, though not in their own time or space. If one were to travel to the walls of the space they would find innumerable looping bridges, evidence of small attempts at crossing time or space that succeeded, they can be seen from time to time glowing, evidence that they are in use. Though the crossing happens so quickly, even the most diligent watchers have never been known to be able to catch one for study, and the wall of the tube is a transparent shell that no force from the inside has been found to affect.

The wall of the space is the boundary of existence, circling onto itself and spanning the beginning or time to the end of it. Through the wall a person can observe all of existence warped by time and gravity as swirling stars, gaseous nebulas and planets shimmering like mirages.
One never knows when a new lattice will enter the space, large or small. But when one does it deposits new life and materials that the inhabitants collect up for their use and may destroy existing structures and lattices.
Time does not pass in the space at the same rate os normal space nor even at the same rate in its own boundaries. But for most of the peoples living here near the center of the tube it passes in a familiar way. Though those used to the turnings of seasons and night to day find need to travel to places where those states exist rather than waiting for them to come round on their own.
The effects or normal physics like gravity and momentum can be observed though they are warped and skewed. If one were to jump off one of the floating islands they would be drawn towards a body large enough to attract them. Otherwise they would fall steadily towards the center of the space, blown away from the light slowly and steadily towards the darkness.

The lifeforms that exist here survive by a combination of community rules established by the oldest beings and technologies collected before falling into the darkness. The powerful are the ones who hold and command structures and resources like food and water and maintain control by force of arms and strength of technology. Most peoples live under these controllers, reforming water and growing food.
When one faction is lacking in materials they need they will often barter with others for it, usually peacefully. The criminal elements in the space are pirates and thieves that attempt to loot transports when they appear or break into strongholds periodically.
In between, traveling the space from one end to the other are the salvagers, the adventurers who race to new latices to collect materials and peoples before the other or before falling into the hands of raiders or the crushing abyss.
There are evil creatures in the space, though rarely seen, that live on the very edge of the abyss. They're motivated by the desire for power and the need to escape back into normal space. They appear only rarely, when some powerful technology or new discovery emerges that they believe will aid their efforts and sometimes when their waiting becomes too boring to bare. By living close to the abyss they have extended their life spans from time dilation, and through some combination of technology and natural ability they maintain awareness of the rest of the space. But even this knowledge is partially deception, the truth is these beings can come and go from the between space as they choose, but only from a point in time near the end of their existence, so they are there trying to collect knowledge and technologies that may take their race to the beginning of time so that they might survive and pass through history again as the dominant force in all existence.

This story follows the life of one (or more) new 'drifters' who appear in the space between as they adjust to their new home and their new lives, however long or short they may be. From being unceremoniously drawn into the space, being collected by salvagers or pirates then realizing that they will never be able to leave and finally settling with one faction or another.

The Rookie, The Warrior, The Mascot, The Mentor, The Pilot, The Veteran, The Noble, The Criminal, The Lunatic, The Devout, The Child, The Beast, The Prophet, The Doctor, The Queen, The Guardian

Factions are divided by their species, grouping together their survival needs. Creatures that require very specific environments like rare gasses or liquids often die shortly after entering the space. Most of the intelligent creatures in the space share common requirements of atmosphere and nutrition or have adaptations that allow them to survive more or less comfortably than others.

Aquatic, Insectoid, Reptilian, Mammalian, Avian, Flora, Mineral, Energetic, Parasitic/Symbiotic, Mechanical

Aquatic: Intelligent species that live in liquids like water populate floating spheres of water held secure by gravitational binders. The beings there manage the liquid in the orbs and recycle wastes from other factions into usable fluids. They ensure universal availability of the life giving substances by predation of unwelcome visitors. They also house major food production and medical quarantine facilities. There is a single major cluster with sub clusters attached to other faction areas. This makes the supply of liquids as nourishment and fuel inherently well regulated and secure.

Insectoid: Exoskeletal lifeforms have superior physical abilities and resistances. They are present in every corner of space in near infinite shapes and sizes. The intelligent species band together in a single Hive with a ruling monarchy. Those living among other intelligent creatures perform many laborious and hazardous jobs like handling dangerous materials or recycling the dead and refuse. Because of this and their sometimes incomprehensible methods of communication, they tend to be poorly treated by others.

Flora: Plant type beings manage the growth of food and other plants that are used as building material. Some also provide necessary recycling of gases and liquids through their own biological processes. The y are on every surface that they can take root and grow and work with all other lifeforms. They get along equally well with all and have relatively few requirements of other creatures aside from fertilizing that comes from the insectoids.

Mineral: Though few in number there are some creatures that live as rock or crystals with myriad abilities. These rare beings are left to their own devices slowly building the islands and structures that make up settlements. Some assemble structures for other races like glass, stone walls or iron bars. Other silicone based creatures have been known to colonize into living computer networks that other creatures  employ to manage their settlements. Mineral creatures tend to not need anything from others and are left alone by all except the Flora. The most important of these life forms are the ones that collect the energetic dust that blows from the Light and in time coalesces it into usable chunks. These creatures are monitored and protected in the best interest of all in the space.

Energetic: There are a few known life forms that are energy based. They prefer to keep to themselves and live closest to the light. Most interactions with them are warnings to turn back from dangerous areas or acting as temporary power sources or even manipulating dangerous electromagnetic hazards. The ones that are most commonly seen among other creatures are built of psionic energy, sustaining themselves on the thoughts and mental energy of others.

Parasites/Sybiotes: Lifeforms that require close contact and dependence on others to survive as a single organism are not uncommon but tend to be the most disliked and are often eradicated upon arrival as they have a tendency to try spreading like a plague. The ones that remain and cooperate share with their host anything from great knowledge to enhanced strength and healing.

Avian: Those species with natural flight ability have proven to be the best suited for life in the space. They dominate travel and combat making them the most visibly powerful and influential creatures in the space. They tend to make their roosts on or near the walls, hooking to the lattice loops and remaining relatively out of the way of flying debris and the noise of other settlements.

Mechanical: Sometimes artificial life forms life androids or drones are sent through as test probes. More rarely evolved mechanical creatures arrive that become guardians and scientists. Since most all of these entities require a considerable energy source more than food or water or what the Light can provide alone, they assimilate to one community or another, trading power and companionship for technology and protection.

Reptilian and Mammalian: These vertebrate species are clearly different in appearance though they possess they same varieties, temperaments and requirements aside from the reptilian's inherent dislike of the cold, keeping them away from the darker reaches where mammalian lifeforms can be more comfortable and survive.