I thought I had my life figured out. I'd already done what I wanted and felt like I'd accomplished all I ever would. I didn't need any more adventures or close calls with death.

   An envelope changed everything.

   I arrived at the post office to pick up a few packages. But along with the two boxes from Amazon, the woman behind the counter slid over a dark blue envelope. My gaze landed upon it immediately, locating the golden stamp. An official, digital seal. The stamp meant governmental authority. The last time I received a letter with a government stamp, it was an invitation to enlist in the military.

   I'd accepted the offer back then. But I wasn't about to go back. Thus I hesitated, not exactly sure I wanted to take the envelope. I could just return it.

   The woman pressed a button on her computer. "This is all for today."

   "You marked the envelope as delivered, didn't you?"

   She looked up, startled. She probably had no idea I knew that governmental envelopes required confirmation of delivery. "I did. Was I not supposed to?"

   Now I was stuck with it. I just shook my head and picked up the boxes.

   "I can send it back," she offered, reaching forward for the envelope. The moment her finger brushed the stamp, she yelped and dropped it. The electric alert halted and the envelope rested gently on the counter.

   I grimaced, having seen that coming. Now that she'd marked the envelope as delivered, anyone besides me would get shocked if they touched the stamp. Genetic technology... What a joy. I tucked the envelope under my arm and bid her goodbye.

   Once home, I opened the envelope and read the letter, sitting alone in my kitchen. But it wasn't from the military. The letter was sent by the International Galactic Space Commission. A director of affairs at IGSC wanted to meet with me, in private. Plane tickets were included, as well as a hotel address.

   I wasn't sure what the IGSC wanted with me. Regardless, the director had worked hard to ensure I was the only person to read this letter. And it wasn't as much of an invitation as it was a gentle order. I had no desire to anger the IGSC. Being summoned was either a good thing or an incredibly bad thing. Thus, two days and a plane ticket later, I found myself entering the lobby of the IGSC Center in Houston, Texas.

   The sound of my heels clicked against the tile floor of the marble lobby. The young man at the desk took my name and sent me straight up the elevator.

   Director Wilds was a younger fellow, maybe a few years older than I was. His dark hair was braided down his back, and an earring hung from his left ear. The right one was partially missing. Definitely a military man, but I recognized that he had an education. Possibly a doctorate. His speech flowed back and forth between slow and rapid-fire, as if he had to keep reminding his thoughts to slow down for his mouth to keep up.

   "Pleasure to meet you, Genevieve." He gestured at his seat. I sat across from him and waited patiently. He sat down, framed by his windows displaying the Houston skyline. "Thank you for coming."

   "You're welcome. The envelope . . . Certainly a surprise."

   "I imagine so. How have you been?"

   He'd seen my military file. He wouldn't have asked if he didn't know about my history. Though I'd already suspected that. He didn't just randomly pick someone from across the country. He had a reason for inviting me.

   "I've been well, thank you."

   "And your health?"

   Determining if I'm ready for duty. A director from the ISGC concerned for my health? Hm.

   "Perfect. The degenerative disorder was cured three years ago. My vision is back to normal."

   "That's wonderful to hear." Director Wilds smiled. "In that case, I shall get right to the point. The IGSC has been working on an international project for decades. It's never gotten into the public eye, though everyone knows this has been a main goal for our entire existence. And I'm proud to say that mankind will be landing on another planet soon."

   My eyebrow raised. "Wow. I thought that would take another few decades. Mars?"

   "Not Mars. The target is Z-031. It's within our galaxy, but a little ways out of our Solar System. Set in the Goldilocks Zone of its star, it has water and an atmosphere. We've scoped it out to be our destination for the first ever off-world settlement."

   "I wasn't aware we had the technology to travel outside of the Asteroid Belt, much less the System."

   "That's intentional, on our part."

   "And you have the technology to transport people that far?"

   He smiled. "We do. The technology has been completed. There are two ships ready to leave at any moment."

   I studied his face. "That far of a trip must take a long time, Director."

   "Exactly. It will take about three hundred years."

   Ah. The catch. "That's quite a long time."

   He nodded again, pushing up his glasses. His expression turned more serious, as opposed to proud. "It is, but we can get living people there. As mentioned, there are two ships. The Pioneer is the first ever Generational Ship. It is a large ship, one that will sustain people for three hundred years. They will live, procreate, age, and die on that ship. It is, in essence, a habitat for humans that will be equipped with training through their whole lives to prepare for landing and populating the planet."

   A Generational Ship. My first thought was, I really hope he's not asking me to be a part of that. Spending the rest of my life floating through space did not sound as pleasing as retirement on Earth. Then I realized he probably wasn't going to ask me that. I wasn't a mechanic or astronaut. I was a solider.

   Still wondering why I was here, I asked, "And the second ship?"

   His fingers twined on the desk. "The Patriot. It is the first of its own line. It's a smaller ship, equipped to protect the Pioneer. Think of the Pioneer as the Mayflower, and the Patriot as the canons and weaponry on the Mayflower. The Patriot will escort the Pioneer safely to Z-031 and ensure the protection of the citizens on the planet."

   Suspicion nagged at me. I kept my gaze on his, watching his expression carefully. "What about the crew?"

  Director Wilds chewed his next words carefully. Almost as if they could be devastating if said wrong.

   "We have another method of transporting people. It's risker, but it offers the adventure of a lifetime."

   What does that mean? "I don't like that answer, Director." Too vague. Distrust marred my features.

   The Director deflated slightly. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eye. "To put it simply, Genevieve Autumn, we can freeze people."

   I could believe that trans-system travel was possible, that two ships were ready to fly, and that this project had been hidden for decades successfully. But I drew the line there.

   "I fail to see how that technology could exist, much less be successful."

   "It's hard to believe," he admitted. "But here." He turned around his laptop. I leaned forward to skim the Word document. It appeared to be a report filed by Lailah Moore and her assistant, Ambrogio Tase. I recognized Moore's name. She was a world-famous scientist, known for her studies on the mind and biology.

   The more I read of the report, the more my insides twisted. It was about cryogenic-freezing. There had already been four trials of testing and the final round had a perfect success rate. People went through a lengthy process of freezing and were awoken months later, perfectly fine. Their bodies suffered no damage. This was a legitimate report.

   Cryogenic-freezing was real and successful.

   My gut sank, as I began to realize why I was here.

   "This looks classified," was my response.

   Director Wilds cleared his throat and turned the laptop back around.

   "I'm not going to beat around the bush. I've been tasked with gathering a crew for one of the two ships. After extensive research, I came across your profile. You fit my criteria perfectly: strong military background, no ties, trustworthy, and you have passed all of my tests in this interview."

   He was evading what I already knew. "A crew for the Pioneer or the Patriot?"

   Director Wilds gave me a deadpan look.

   I leaned back in my seat, afraid of that. "You want me to be willingly frozen for three centuries? To travel to a planet we've never set foot on with the sole purpose of tackling the dangers it holds?" It sounded like a death wish. He had to realize how far-fetched it seemed.

   My military background wasn't that good. Compared to soldiers who won awards or battles, I was pretty average. I'd been in the Air Force until my eye degenerative disorder took too much of my vision. I transferred to the Army (which in itself was painstaking) during treatments. Then after seven years of service, I retired. I'd held average officer positions in both branches of the military.

   "What's stopping you?" asked the Director.

   "It's ludicrous," I said flatly.

   He chuckled warmly. "That it is. Just consider it, Genevieve. I don't need an answer today. Go home and think about it. You've got a fortnight to decide." He leaned back into his seat, setting his glasses back on. "I like you. You're quick to the chase, clever, and cautious. The future of humanity could use your skills. The position on the Patriot is yours if you want it."

✫ ✬ ✫ ✬

   Thunder boomed from outside. I sat on the sofa of my couch, idly turning a wine glass in my hand. Clad in sweatpants and a tank top, I sat with my legs folded under my body. I gazed outside at the rainstorm, stuck within my own thoughts.

   I'd just gotten home today. But I couldn't stop thinking about his offer. To leave the planet for the rest of my life... Who would agree to that? My whole life was here.

   I looked at the picture on the table. Carefully, I picked it up. My brother's face looked back, as he sat on my mother's lap. I had his brown eyes and her average brown hair. Well, Director Wilds was right. I had no ties. My brother had died when I was little. He'd gotten sick, and by the time he was taken to the hospital, it was too late. Mom passed away while I was in the military.

   After leaving the military, I'd drifted around aimlessly. I had no family. I had no other close friends, either. The friends I'd made in the military disappeared into their own lives. I lived a reclusive life in this city. It didn't feel like living, honestly. It felt like . . . existing. But definitely not living.

   But to leave everything I've ever known? This wasn't a job -- it was a life. Well, if I survived being frozen for three centuries. I had no idea about any benefits of this offer, either. Was there even a salary?

   I set down the picture. I wasn't sure what to think. When I thought about it, there was nothing tying me here. Maybe the faint hope that I could still marry and settle down, but I didn't want a family. And it wasn't like I'd been trying all that hard to find a partner. I didn't have any friends that would miss me if I left for good.

   I was the assistant Dean at a college nearby, but I wasn't tied to it. I could leave that job without harm.

   Honestly, there was no reason to stay. No family, no spouse, no friends, no career. All I'd done was take care of my mother, fight in the military, and live in this purgatory afterwards.

   But not having anything to stay for was a far cry from having reasons to go. That journey could kill me at any time. I could die in my sleep. The ship could fail. I could die on the planet. Hell, I could even die to extraterrestrial life before I got to Z-031.

   Although, fear of death hadn't stopped me in the Air Force. I'd joined because I had nothing else to do, and I might as well serve my country.

   Wasn't that what this offer was? A way to not only serve my country, but our species?

   In that moment, I realized that I hadn't found a reason to stay. Not one.

   I made up my mind. With one hand, I picked up my phone, and the other I used to grab my glass of wine. As the phone dialed, I drank the rest of the glass in one go. Director Wilds answered, even though it was late. I'd known he wouldn't deny a call with my ID.

   "Yes, Ms. Autumn?"

   I pulled the glass away and licked my lips. "I'll do it."

✫ ✬ ✫ ✬

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