PROLOGUE PART 4

Genesis Science Ship, four months later…

Darius Fisher entered the laboratory and called out to Winston Peters, his brother’s right hand. Unlike his science-minded brother Brody, Darius had followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a soldier. He had been stationed on the same ship with Brody as a way of keeping tabs on his brother. Their parents had always believed that Brody’s head was in the clouds with his science and would one day get himself in trouble, and they had been right.

Brody had dedicated his life to finding a solution to mankind’s nomadic existence. Their own planet having died well over five centuries ago. Having been destroyed by oil spills, pollution, clear-cutting and dangerous weather patterns, mankind had abandoned Earth, evacuating its best and brightest, taking to the stars.

In the new order, there was no room for anyone but soldiers and scientists, great defenders and great thinkers. Darius was a defender, as his parents were, and their parents before them, and so on. Brody, however, was utterly brilliant and had followed the road of science. Darius did not claim to understand his brother’s work; it was all Greek to him. Brody had spent years on his theories.

All his work had led up to one moment, one experiment, and a few months ago, Brody had gotten the green light to test his theory. Only his fool of a brother had rushed his work and been missing for months. But now, the entire ship was buzzing with gossip. Saying his brother had not only been found but that Genesis was preparing to enter the wormhole too.

Winston, a tall, thin man with long shaggy hair and a beard to match, looked up from his work as Darius came through the door. “Lt. Fisher, I really don’t have the time for you. I have got to finish figuring out how to get this ship through that wormhole,” he said, rushing around and going about his business. Brody had vanished into that wormhole months ago and had gone unheard from until now.

“So the rumours are true? We are taking the ship through the wormhole?”

“Yes.”

“And you found Brody? He is alive on the other side of that thing?” Darius asked, looking out the lab window at the huge wormhole outside. It was a fair distance from the ship and the first stable reoccurring wormhole they had come in to contact within over five hundred years. Brody had believed that by travelling through a wormhole, they could cross the universe faster and explore many more planets in the hopes of finding one that could sustain life and be colonized. It would appear Brody had been right.

“He was when he sent us the messages. The message says he has found an inhabitable planet,” Winston announced.

Excitement filled Darius. “Really, we could be getting off this ship?”

“If what your brother says is true, then yes,” no one had actually spoken to Brody, only received some rather distorted and degraded transmissions.

“That is incredible,” Darius laughed. “That crazy bastard did it. He actually found one.”

“Yes, he did. I can only imagine what he has learnt since he has been there.” Knowing Brody, it was without a doubt incredibly dull, but a home was a home, and that was all that mattered to Darius.

***

Darius stood at attention while information as the Commander addressed the troops. Commander Jerald Wicker was known for being a real hardass, but today he was smiling as he walked back and forth. “I’m sure you have all heard the rumours that our resident science team has actually found a planet capable of sustaining life. Well, I am proud to say that it is true, and we have just received confirmation from the council to go ahead and begin colonization. As we speak, space stations are emptying, and the ships are headed this way,” he said with pride. “We will be the first to set foot on our new home. We are charged with preparing the new world for settlement in time to receive the others.

“Today, we are pioneers. When we land, we will begin building and exploring. I want a settlement up right away, and some of you will be joining the science team in exploring. I want to know the layout of the planet. I want to know the risks. I want to know if there are any usable resources, anything and everything of value.

“Now, it will not be easy; our intelligence tells us there are natives on this planet, but they are primitive, savage perhaps. It is our job to deal with them. Relocate them if possible; maybe even enlist their assistance in learning about the land. If diplomacy fails, we are authorized to use any means necessary to deal with the native threat.

“So everyone better get some sleep tonight; at o-four-hundred, we go through the wormhole.”

The troops were dismissed, and immediately the gossip started. The ship was filled with excitement. For the first time in over five hundred years, mankind was going to set foot on a planet, feel the sun on their face, and breathe air that had not been recycled. Darius could not wait to get there.

“I’m not going to sleep a wink tonight,” Lt. Susan Tomas said as they dispersed. She had been carrying on a fling with Brody before he disappeared a few months ago. They would be, without a doubt, as happy to see one another as they were to actually get off this Godforsaken ship and set foot on solid ground.

“No, kidding,” Darius smirked. “I just hope Brody’s alright down there.”

“I’m sure he is fine. He is way too smart to get into trouble.”