Darkness. Everything she can really feel is darkness. A black huge space wrapping her body like an amoebic entity of great size that is trying to eat her extending his enlarged body. A cold and shadowy place from no one else can escape. She can neither.

Abruptly, a strange tremor shakes the woman from her head to her feet. As if she was suffering a heart attack, all her body begins to move on erratic waves. The legs move up and down. The eyes half open, showing the iris in a clear white colour. The abdomen raises, cambering her back. But this convoluted spectacle is coming to is pointy end.

She finally begins to regain her consciousness. At the same time, her body stops the erratic movements, calming down. The woman breathes air, needing desperately oxygen to enhance her organism. She leaves a little whisper from her mouth.

After everything is quite, Elizabeth opens her eyes. It's time to wake up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A blinking light blinds Elizabeth's vision. She turns her eyes in a disgusting expression at the same time she's able to perceive a distorted silhouette. At first, she's afraid to see this strange figure, forcing her body to retract into a defensive position but, as the light lets to incide in her eyesight, she discovers that the dangerous shadow is only doctor James Webb, a biologist supervising her recovery.

The man stares at her, observing her moves and reactions. An unexpected brightness emanates from his brown eyes, reflected by the lenses from his glasses, making him a more eminent person. A quality he deserves.

"A good sleep, Ms Burton?", asks the man.

Elizabeth nods her head from side to side. She feels a little bit tired.

"Yes", answers clearly.

"Any problem in your body that do you want to notify?", continues Webb with no interruption.

Elizabeth simply moves her head in clear sign of negation.

"Headaches?, continues the scientist as if he haven't got the intention of stop. "Stomach ache? Back strain?"

The woman is exhausted of this interrogation.

"I'm OK!", says in a fit of rage.

James steps back, shocked at the unexpected reaction of Elizabeth. He must be careful of the woman, as her temperamental personality is like a volcano in the limit of erupting.

"Sorry", tells in a polite tone, "I was only worried about your state".

Elizabeth smiles. She knows how the things are in the moment she became involved in the GE: Galactica Programme for Hibernation in Suspended Animation are. This project was founded in the beginning of space exploration that began in the year 2025, with the arrival of the first humans on Mars. After this, four new expeditions were made to planets like Venus, Jupiter or Mercury. In 2045, the first colony was successfully established in the surface of Mars, with a regular population of 501 people. Several other colonies were founded in the red planet and many others in different worlds from the solar system. Despite these incredible advances, the relationship between this colonies and planet Earth was difficult due to the long distances that separates both worlds. The ships sent were automatized, controlled by computers and transporting resources and material for the maintenance of the colonies. But the problems to send people forced the most important agencies, including General Electrics, to develop new technologies and begin new investigations in the light of helping in the space travel and the colonization of new worlds.

This lead to the conclusion of expanding the colonization process to the nearby solar systems but the distances are really long. Alpha Centauri A, the most proximal star to our Solar System, is at a distance of 4,37 light years from the Sun, something little but in fact are 41,3 billions of km. More than anyone could imagine. Because of this situation, new projects and investigations have begun to ease interstellar travel. One of them is the Programme of Hibernation in Suspended Animation, which is attempting to develop perfect ways to induce hibernation on humans, keeping them in a perfect condition of low metabolic function that would allow to not get old. The one in which Elizabeth was involved.

She is in a stretcher, clothed with a white coat and connected to a machine that measures her vital signs. Seeing in the screen, she feels more comfortable in finding that everything went well. It was not far less. She was suspended in a pod containing hydrogen sulphide on gaseous state for a year. Elizabeth offered herself to participate in the program as a test subject, having spent 5 years on it. She was induced into comas that extended from days to weeks to finally reach months. But this last was the largest. And dangerous.

James continues analysing Elizabeth for another amount of time after he concludes she's good, with any anomaly or damage made to her body by the hibernation process. He carefully observes her constants, seeing her heartbeats are correct and her body heat is increasing to his good point. At the end, he clarifies that she is in a fantastic state.

"So, there is any problem?", Elizabeth asks, expecting what James could say.

The man takes his glasses and cleans them with the sleeve from his scientific gown. Then, he turns to Elizabeth with a benevolent smile in his face.

"No", answers clearly. "Everything is fine.

She's glad to hear that. This means all her months of hard training and special diets containing proteins and vitamins did worked in helping her to resist all this time of induced coma. And now, this again would help her to recover, although now it would be faster as her body is adapting better to this new situation. An objective that the Project is chasing with hard ambition.

"Do you need any help?, says the man in a friendly expression, seeing Elizabeth is standing up from the stretcher.

"No, thanks", replies her with a beautiful smile. She gets up from the litter, evidencing that she's in perfect conditions.

The man sighs as he sees the woman making her way out of the room. Staring alone in this place, he thinks about how everything started and how all their actions have taken them to this complicated point.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you completely out of your mind!", James screams with fury.

The man sitting in front of him doesn't look to be disturbed by the spontaneous attack of rage from the scientist. His short white hair, the wrinkles lining his face and the twinkling brown eyes show that professor Abraham Masterson is someone with great experience in leadership of great science projects and also in dealing with angry workers like James.

He stays in his position with no sign of anger or bother at Webb's behaviour. Professor Masterson only cross his hands in a gesture of patience, not showing any evidence of preparing to punish James for his unexpected attitude. He only stays in silence, as if nothing could disturb him. Meanwhile, the scientist begins to reflect in the problems they are discussing.

"I don't think is the best idea", claims Webb, "we will put her in extreme danger".

James turns away to the professor. He's completely worried about the new proposition of Masterson. He thinks this will harm Elizabeth, something he doesn't want. Taking his glasses to clean them, a gesture that shows when he's nervous, he continues imagining the horrible scenario that presents for the woman.

"I know it's dangerous", answers abruptly Abraham, "but you know that we don't have a best opportunity like this.

James turns to the professor, not really happy to hear these words. The expression in his face becomes more severe. He definitively is very disgusted with Professor Masterson's decision.

"What are you talking about?, asks Webb, doubtful of where the conversation is beginning to turn in something worst.

Professor Masterson takes a breath, like if he is trying to keep enough forces for what he will say.

"Humanity needs to survive and we know the only way is colonizing other worlds", says completely convinced of his words. "Earth is transforming in a small place for living and with the contamination generated by the overgrowing population is only a matter of time for our world to be unable to maintain all of us.

"We have colonized other planets like Mars or moons like Europe", replies James. "There is no reason for interplanetary travel".

Abraham continues stoic despite the argument of Webb. For James, the professor is like a great stone in the middle of a road. Giant, heavy and irremovable, blocking the only way for the best solution. He is a person of straight values. James knows that he can't change his opinion although he has the best arguments to do it. It's a losing battle.

The leader of the most ambitious programme of GE: Galactica stands up from his seat and walks towards Webb. He sees the professor with a bit of distrust. The two men stay in their position for a time, with their eyes posing at each other.

"I know you are worried about her", says the professor, "but don't confuse your feelings. Sooner or later, this moment would come."

James really knows what the professor is referring. 4 years of collaboration are enough to develop a friendly relationship with Elizabeth. But, in his deep mind, something more complex is standing. And now, he has to hold all of these out for the best.

He takes between his hands the presentation report sent by her to be accepted in the project. With some reluctance, he begins the reading.

"Name: Elizabeth Burton. Age: 21 years old. Nationality: Australian. Studies: A degree in Telecommunications. Job: No. Height: 1,68 m. Weight: 61 kg. Eyes colour: Blue. Hair colour: Light brown. Blood type: B positive."

He remembers the first time the two met. It was an important moment, not only because he saw a perfect candidate for the experiment but also, someone incredible. They became closer during work in the programme and it was undeniable to James that he was falling for Elizabeth. But, he doesn't know if she feels the same and after the news given by Professor Masterson, maybe he will never discover it.

"5 years", mentions afraid James.

"Exactly, it's the time we have calculated better for the investigation", replies Abraham.

James rubs his short black hair with one hand as he continues reading the report. Lots of bad ideas walk across his mind, imagining a terrible destiny for Elizabeth. Feeling the panic, he turns to the professor.

"Don't you have any other way to investigate the body resistance?, questions desperate. "I mean, we know the precise data of the body resisting during hibernation. We don't need to send her to space."

Again, Abraham Masterson maintains his position about the discussion.

"You can argue all you want but my decision is clear. We need to see how the body responds in space. Is the only way."

James is frustrated. He knows there is nothing more to do. It's not only professor Masterson decision but also from the rest of the team and he is aware that they will support him. Also, the directive of General Electrics: Galactica will give a good approval. More than anyone else, because they want results. So, he is completely alone in his fight.

Seeing his disappointment, Professor Masterson takes a more close position with James. He puts his hand on his shoulder, attempting to console him with this gesture. Webb observes the old man with scepticism.

"We are scientist, James", states the professor. "And you know that sometimes, we have to make great sacrifices for the good of our civilization.

"I do", says in a little whisper, "but is not fair for Elizabeth".

"Believe me, she would be really pleased of being part of this".

Hearing these words makes James to accept the truth. Elizabeth offered herself as a test subject. Anything was imposed, she signed all the agreements and was in accordance with all the stipulated. He knows she is the first person wanting to do this. And stopping her, only would make it harder for all of them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The lights turn on when the people enters the room. It's a small lounge with a series of computers established in the background wall. James goes to one of them to control the system, seeing that everything is prepared. In front of him is the hibernation pod, a cylindrical object of sparkling white colour that makes the pod looks like if it's manufactured with ivory. A series of tubes, two in the left side and other two in the right side, are connected to heavy tanks of plastic that contain a gaseous solution of hydrogen sulphide. 

Formed by the union of two atoms of hydrogen and one of sulphur, this gas is toxic to humans, but in this solution is only 5% present, making it less dangerous. Additionally, to protect the subjects from the toxicity, an injection of nanorrobots is taken. This little machines enter the bloodstream and prevent the deposition of toxic particles of the gas. And with this process is how GE: Galactica prepares the future travels through space.

The doors open and Elizabeth, accompanied by two technicians, enters the room. James takes a look on her and sees her aspect. She has picked up her long brown hair in a serpentine ponytail. She wears a tank top and short trousers. Her pale skin contrasts strongly with her intense blue eyes. Elizabeth walks a few steps after arriving to James side. The scientist shakes a little in the woman presence. She goes to the pod and touches the surface.

"So, this is the place where I will live for the next five years" mourns calm.

"Yes", replies him. The two look to their eyes, feeling a little moment of connection.

"Are you afraid?, asks him nervous.

"No", she smiles nicely. "I have accustomed to hide in this little pod that I haven't got any fear of it."

Surprised by her nature bravery, the only thing James is capable is only to smile. Elizabeth has a very optimistic view of the situation that results contagious.

"You will be placed here and then, our technicians will close it, liberating the gas that will make your body to low your organic metabolism", talk Webb in a very informative tone. "Your breathing will be slower, your heart will beat at a lower intensity and your brain will work at a decreased level. You will be practically in an induced coma".

How I will wake up?". The question sounded more interesting than worrying.

"The computer will simply open the pod and your body, which will be in a low temperature, will get used to the hot environment. Also, an injection of adrenaline will wake you up faster."

A funny smile forms in her face. She knows he's trying to comfort her but James doesn't need to do it. Despite of this, she is aware of why he's doing this. Unfortunately, the time is not in their favour.

With all prepared, Elizabeth enters the pod. She leans in the comfortable mattress, expecting to the gate to be closed. James takes a last look on her. The two smiles. It's obvious that they are really afraid.

"I will see you again in five years", she says like a promise.

"Of course!", answers him, hoping that it will be truth.

The door is closed and the gas is liberated. Elizabeth closes her eyes. The eternal dream begins.