Orbital Research Blacksite Ovaettr

“Aren't you concerned about the ethics of this John? Implanting a newborn with a full-array memory module per-loaded with all of humanity's knowledge?”

“It's already sectioned up and locked down via the standard Experiential Learning method Aubrey. I'm not dumping all of that into an unprepared mind. He may remember these events in time, he may not. I certainly won't be alive to find out.”

“You mean the rumors are...?”

“They're underestimating things. And just this once, I'm gonna say 'fuck it' to regulations and orders. System, prepare a medical transport capsule. Contents: one times patient and one times doctor. Start : Surgery Bay Five. Destination: Cryo Null.”

“System, amend previous. Contents: one times patient and two times doctor.”

“System Acknowledges. MTC arriving in three minutes from mark. Mark.”

“Aubrey, you can't be serious.”

“John, you know as well as I do that you'll need my help with the cryosleep procedures. You ethics may be dubious and your methodology abhorrent but your objective is correct. At least one of us needs to survive this. An unauthorized newborn...”

“No records, no evidence, no trail in this time. Neither our government nor any other can track him. And, if the cyrosleep works, no connection to what happened when he is rediscovered.”

“Except what we keep in our own heads John.”

“Why do you think I didn't want you to come Aubrey?”

Hylli Star System, Planet R02-CCF-D

Colloquial Name: Steinhull

Are'Akre'Sen pinched the end of her long nose in frustration. This was just the latest system in an endless string of empty systems, though the presence of a life-bearing world was a welcome interruption. Scout/Survey work was tedious in the extreme, especially as a 'second wave' Scout, destined to eternally follow up on worlds mapped in passing by the pioneers.

“Computer, add entry to Exploration log. Entry begins : Arrival at Hylli system. System entry scans indicate no significant changes from records. Proceeding with automated survey of System, followed by automated detailed survey of planet arr oh two dash cee cee eff dash dee, henceforth refereed to in this log as Steinhull. Entry ends. Computer, confirm entry into Exploration log.”

“Exploration log entry added and available for review.”

Are'Akre'Sen glanced down at the display and read the transcribed text. “Commuter, Exploration Log review complete. Begin automated system survey.”

“Automated system survey processes started. Estimated time to completion: eleven days and fourteen hours from mark. Mark.”

“Computer, add task to queue. Task : Automated detailed planetary body survey of current system.”

“Task queued. Time until completion of all tasks is now fifteen days and nine hours.”

Are'Akre'Sen stood up, stretched her rams to the bulkhead, and headed for her quarters. The advantage to being the only being on the ship, she mused, was that you could do pretty much whatever you liked. Hyperpulse comms provided enough of a link to civilization to stay sane, but it was nice to be able to leave the unflattering and restrictive uniform on its rack and head to the bath without worrying about offending anyone.

Methodical and uncaring, her ship's computer worked at it's assigned task. In fifteen days and nine hours it would alert Are'Akre'Sen to an anomaly on the surface of Steinhull. What she would discover there would change her life forever.