A lifetime of winter escapes the cryo-pod as the lid pops open. the sounds of thawing ice overwhelms the senses. Cora reaches down to assist the man inside. He coughs and blinks, struggling to sit upright.

“Cora?” His words come with relative difficulty. She helps him out and onto his feet, but still under the aftereffects of cryogenic sleep, he stumbles immediately to a knee. “They thawed you first?”

“No particular order, but the Pathfinder Team’s been given priority from what I hear.”

“No, no, its good they woke you up first—” he leans back into a seated position and waves her hands away to get a moment to recover on his own.

Cora stands off to his side, looming over, with a hand firmly on her hip. “600 hundred years and you still have time to hold a grudge?

Gingerly, the man works his way back to a knee and then finally to a fragile but standing position. “I only speak the truth.”

“Alec picked you reason—”

“Picked us.

“He’s always respected your honesty, Finn, even when it went against what he thought was best.”

Finn places a hand on her shoulder for balance. “We both know the old man prefers you, Harper.” Cora remains silent, merely watching as he hunches over, attempting to keep himself physically composed.

“In any case, we need to be mission-ready within the hour. Are you going to be okay?”

Finn gives a mild thumbs up. Two members of the medical staff approach to properly examine him, forcing Cora to step aside and observe patiently with hands folded behind her back.

“Take a seat, you’ll want to take it easy. Now look this way. And now here.” Finn’s eyes follow the doctor’s fingers. “Finn Evans, First Contact Specialist, Pathfinder Mission Team.” He nods. The doctor checks a few other vitals. “All within acceptable range. That said, I’m concerned about the residual levels of adenosine still in your system.”

“See? I’m fine.” Finn gives Cora an obnoxious grin. The doctor shakes her head but clears him anyway. “How are the Ryders? They thaw—” the floor shakes violently sending many toppling over. Electricity surges, lights flicker and scores of machinery send sparks flying across the Hyperion interior. Within moments, all unmounted objects and organics lift into the air. Cora scrambles to balance out, to find some semblance of equilibrium.

“Gravity’s out!” she reaches to pull Finn her way.

“Get to the Ryder’s!”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine, go!”

In quiet acknowledgement, Cora grabs onto structures and objects to assist in navigating the interior enroute to the next medical bay. Despite the residual adenosine, Finn manages to adjust to the sudden loss of gravity.

“Let me,” he insists, taking hold of the cryo-pod from the doctors and lowering it as close to the floor as possible. As if on cue, the rest of the staff follows suit, first securing any upended pods then collecting less essential equipment. Less oriented members of the staff occupy their efforts with checking on compromised systems of the Hyperion infrastructure. After a series of weightless moments suspended in air, Cora’s voice finally comes through comms warning everyone to prepare for a gravity reset.

Feet, tools, equipment, and bodies clatter to the floor. Finn and most of the medical staff manage to land with relative ease, then spend time put things back in order. Minutes later, Cora’s voice comes through Finn’s private channel.

“Everyone okay?”

“All signs point to it. Find the Ryder twins?”

“I’m with Seryna now, but we may have some complications. Pathfinder is calling for us. Meet you on the bridge?”

“Negative. Go on ahead. I’ll link up with the rest of Pathfinder team and make sure we are good to go.”

There’s a slight pause before her voice comes through again. “Righ— copy that.”

Finn terminates the transmission and heads for the team’s locker room. He nearly bumps into another man upon exiting into the corridor.

“Evans, that you?”

“Greer? Shit, walk with me.” The two men match strides and head to the locker room, traversing exposed wires, screeching terminals, and debris along the way.

“You got any idea what happened?”

“Not a clue; but Harper’s gone ahead. She’ll fill us in soon enough.”

“Shouldn’t that be you?” They stop at a set of doors still under repair. Feeling the undue pressure of two combat-ready men at his back, the engineer works with haste, praying not to make a mistake. “It’s not my place to say, but you put too much on her.”

“Harper’s a big girl, I’m sure she can handle it.”

“Then I’m saying it wrong—” the door slides open with a mechanical hiss. As they pass through, the engineer hunches over, giving an audible sigh of relief. “Pushing off your duties like that— keep that up and she’ll be the successor to the Pathfinder.”

“As it should be. I’m sure the old man would agree.”

“Seryna’s right, you really can be a sour bunch.” Greer stops, letting Finn pass unobstructed into the locker room. Greer opens the first footlocker and pulls out the pieces of his hard suit. “Regardless of what you think, he chose you for a reason.”

“Yeah? Well, when you find that reason, you let me know.” Finn’s voice fades as he rounds the row of footlockers and runs into Fisher and Kirkland who were almost ready to go. The two men stand and the three of them exchange greetings fit for young teenage boys. Kirkland nearly trips over his helmet upon returning to his seat.

“You got any idea of what’s going on out there?”

“Nope!” Greer’s head pops up over the row of footlocker’s between them. “He’s letting Cora do all the driving.” In near perfect unison, Kirkland and Greer laugh through intermittent cat calls. Fisher puts a hand on Finn’s shoulder.

“Don’t let it bother you. Greer’s just mad no one’s been driving him even before we left the milky way.” Everyone but Greer bursts into a hysterical fit of laughter. Embarrassed and out of retorts, Greer vanishes back to his side. “Now let’s get some music going!”

Amidst the laughter and donning of equipment, Cora enters the room. “Harper—” Finn pauses to make sure he appears at least halfway decent. Cora catches a glimpse of something on his large back, a tattoo perhaps, but quickly moves to maintain eye contact just as he turns to face the woman. “What’s the situation?”

“Not good. The Pathfinder all but chewed the bridge out on protocol, and we’re going planetside in 30.”

“Greer, Kirkland, Fisher, you heard the lieutenant.”

Acknowledging, the other men immediately begin finalizing preparations. Almost abruptly, Seryna comes through the doors just behind Cora’s heels. She steps past, barely noticing the others.

“Good morning to you too.” Finn leans over the locker next to Seryna then looks around for a moment. “Where’s your brother?” The eldest Ryder meets Finn’s young and slightly weathered face. She makes a quick glance around of her own then mouths something he could not quite pick up. Cora steps partially between them.

“There were…complications in cryogenics. The power failure made it dangerous to thaw him. Lexi promises—”

“Thanks, Seryna.” With nothing more but a stern glance to Cora, and pat on Seryna’s shoulder, he steps past them both to finish getting ready. Cora starts to apologize but the timing becomes increasingly awkward with clearly Finn moving on to other tasks. There is a tug at the lieutenant’s sleeve. Seryna smiles up at her, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s just—”

“I’m fine.” Cora’s abrupt side glance and words cut Seryna’s sympathy at the pass. She merely sighs, letting it go as Cora changes the topic and joins in getting ready.

“My brother’s going to hate that he missed this.”

“Are all the Ryders adrenaline junkies?”

“I guess it’s in our blood. Even though I beat him into the world by a minute, I feel like we are still competing neck and neck.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’m sure he will pull through.”

“When he does, he’s gonna want stories.”

“So let’s get out there and find him some.” Cora shuts the locker tight. “You’ll want to grab your helmet too, and maybe stop at the good luck rock before we go.”

“The what?”

The women’s side conversation catches Greer’s attention. “Didn’t take you for the superstitious sort, Lieutenant.”

“I’m not— I mean, it’s just something the pathfinder does—” she turns her attention back to Seryna. “It’s an old superstition of your dad’s. He was mountain climbing back on Earth. It caught him from falling. Way things are going today, we’ll need any luck we can get.”

Kirkland stands, fully armored and ready to go, and approaches Seryna holding out a hand.

“Hey Ryder.”

She shakes his hands as firmly as possible. “It’s Kirkland, right?”

“Yeah, I think we met just before the Hyperion left Earth. Not sure if you know Greer.” He points over the lockers, but Greer emerges on there side with an extended hand of his own.

“Hi, there. Your dad say anything about what’s going on?”

“Yeah, sensors are scrambled, so we are planetfall in thirty. With any luck, we’re on our way home.”

“Well, at least it keeps things interesting,” says Kirkland.

“Yeah, be a shame to go through all this training and not put it to good use.”

“See you guys on the ride down,” says Seryna, returning to getting ready. Kirkland and Greer step away, starting a rather casual conversation of their own. After a brief minute or two, the Simulated Adaptive Matrix voice comes over comms.

“The Pathfinder is now requiring sidearms. I’ve opened the armaments locker.”

Ryder hops to her feet slightly panicked and anxious. “We expecting trouble, SAM?”

“A precaution. Please arm yourself, Ryder.”

Fisher notices Finn checking and loading a customized M-96 Mattock assault rifle.

“He said sidearms. What kind of first contact you expecting, FC?”

“The worst kind.” Finn cocks the gun. “Wouldn’t be much of a First-Contact specialist if I wasn’t. Here’s hoping to being pleasantly surprised. Wrap it up and let’s get moving.”

Fish, Greer, and Kirkland grab several crates. Seryna waits near Cora as them file out passing Finn who stands by the door. Seryna balances the pistol in her palm. “Hope I won’t need this.” Cora looks at her with a soft smile.

“You never know.” They both look at the screens lining the interior indication several warning and ship-wide system errors. “So, just another boring day at the office, huh?”

“You know what they say, no plan is perfect. The most complicated voyage anyone’s ever attempted. Something’s bound to go wrong.”

“It’s a good test to see what we’re made of. I always wondered what it was like when explorers crossed the ocean. Nothing but stars and dead reckoning to guide them.”

“And a map that said, ‘here be dragons.’”

“Well, if they made it, we can too. And maybe see a dragon along the way.”

“Now that’ll make for a great story. Let’s keep an eye out.”          

“And our distance.” Cora chuckles then notices Kirkland, Greer, and Fisher had already gotten most of the equipment out and onto the tram. “Now let’s get to those shuttles.”

She lets Seryna go first, passing Finn who normally leads the rear. Cora takes moves but stops short as Finn grabs hold of her arm. She pivots slightly, only turning partially towards him. Seryna, curious, stops just on the other side of the locker room door but shoos Greer and the rest ahead.

“Not going to touch the lucky stone?”

“Going to make a joke about it too?”

Finn scoffs, though feels he partially deserved that, and let’s go over her arm. “I was just trying to say thanks, for uh, being there, you know? To fish me out cryo.”

Cora gradually turns to completely face him. “Well, the doctors said it helps to see a familiar face.”

“That so?” He puts his helmet on, modulating his voice. “Well, I appreciate you making it yours.” Hearing those words bring Cora a light sense of relief, although of what from, she did not know. Unfortunately, the sudden sound of Ryder’s helmet skating across the floor prevents her from exploring the notion further.

“Shoot,” says Seryna, nearly stumbling over in an attempt to quickly pick up the helmet in plain view of Finn and Cora. Finn takes the opportunity to slide pass Cora, visibly touching the rock in the process.

“Tighten it up ladies,” he says with a gentle nudge to the lieutenant and playful shimmy pass Seryna. Seryna mouths an apology to Cora while falling in line behind Finn.

2

Off the tram and well into the shuttle bay, Finn forges ahead, regrouping with Fisher and the rest, leaving Ryder and Cora behind a few paces behind.

“Doctor Carlyle,” begins Cora as she and Ryder approach one of the shuttles. With everything going on, I’d think the ark needs you more than we do?”

“Pathfinder wants a medic on hand. And if that is home down there, I’m happy to knock on the door.” His statement puts the listening Seryna at ease.

“Things could get rough with us not being sure what await on the other side of that door.” Cora and Carlyle nod in agreement to Seryna’s statement. The doctor gets up and walks alongside them. “But if it’s what we hope it is, this will be one for the history books. You got a quote ready? You know? ‘One small step…’”?

“I’m pretty sure your dad will handle that honor. I’m just there to patch people up and, if whatever’s done there has sharp teeth, yank’em out. I brought pliers.” Carlyle smirks and takes a dramatic bow, before taking up his kit and equipment then heading to the shuttle.

“All right, team, button it up. We leave in five,” says a confident, Alec Ryder from the entrance of the first shuttle. Cora takes a step front and center.

“Sir. We broke out the weapons as requested. Anything we should know about?”

“Seemed prudent, given the situation.” Alec eyes a well-armed Finn Evans who stand within earshot. “Evans, it would have been nice for you to have joined us on the bridge as requested. There’s things you ought to know; and, depending on how Habitat 7 pans out, you might be taking up the mettle as pathfinder.

“Yeah, and I might not.” Finn remains focused on securing weapons and gear. Alec gives a short sigh.

“We need to be on the same page. We’ll be shorthanded with my son out.” At the mentioning of the younger Ryder twin, both Alec and Cora glance over to Seryna. Her father steps from the shuttle and talks to her intimately. “I heard what happened. Your brother is strong. He will make it.”

“He wanted to make bets on who would be the first to hit the ground running. I didn’t imagine winning like this; but if I know him, he wouldn’t want us to worry because of him.”

“He will want to go double or nothing on who climbs the tallest mountain once he’s able, and you’re right. The mission comes first. Though I doubt your mother would’ve seen it that way. I promised her I’d get you two here safely. She would be proud. Of both you.” Alec steps back onto the shuttle and requests everyone’s attention. “Okay, team. Listen up. I chose each of you for the Pathfinder team, not just because you’re talented and passionate. But because you’re dreamers, like me. We dream of exploring the unknown, of finding the edge of the map–and then discovering what lies beyond. When people look back on this— and they will— they’ll remember we didn’t give up. We kept dreaming. That our first, few faltering steps in Andromeda were the beginning of everything they know. We only get one chance to be first. So let’s go make history.”

Greer nudges Finn in the arm. “That reason you were looking for? There’s answer right there.”

Shuttle two pulls alongside the first and opens its side door. “Been waiting 600 years for this,” says an inspired Liam clapping Seryna lightly in the arm. He motions for her to come aboard. Cora follows on Alec’s heels into the first shuttle along with Carlyle, Hayes, and Finn. “You ready for this?” Cora asks with an open hand to help pull Finn aboard.

“You bet.”

Alec’s voice breaks over comms. “Ark Hyperion, this is Shuttle One, switching to manual guidance.”

“Shuttle Two, taking your lead,” says Kirkland.

“Good luck, Pathfinder team,” says Captain Dunn.

END