The doctor's thoughts told me everything I needed to know. My heartbeat was steady, my eyes clear, my reflexes working nicely. His thoughts had drawn a comparison between myself and Officer Peterson, as well. I was in remarkably better condition than he. I had a suspicion that I was to blame. I had been woken up by a computer programmed for no error. Officer Peterson had not. I had woken him up from his cryogenic-sleep. I could have done something wrong and it was affecting him.

    The doctor removed the light from my eye. "Well, you seem to be healthy. Quite a bit underweight, but your muscle capacity seems to be improving while I'm standing here. I don't know what side-effects being frozen for five hundred years might offer, however."

    He had finally accepted who I was. After seeing my uniforms, my stripes, and my body's condition, he had given up on pretending. He was stunned, but had accepted that I was First Officer Genevieve Autumn of the Patriot I.

    "As long as you eat healthy and stay hydrated, you should be fine." The doctor closed his medical bag. "The same goes for O-Officer Peterson." I kept my face straight at his stumble. "Is there anything else?"

    "One more thing." I turned my head. "I expect this visit will be kept private, won't it?"

     The blood drained from his face and he nodded rapidly. "Yes – yes it will. I swear it." Then he left so hastily that I was slightly amused. I turned to Officer Peterson, who was sprawled on a chair. His eyelids were fluttering. He'd be awake soon.

    I turned around. "Did you find the Pioneer?"

    Mayor Spencer had been on the phone for the past ten minutes. His thoughts were so fast that I had lost track. Instead I had elected to listen to the doctor in case he found something wrong with me. Mayor Spencer had just hung up.

    "I did. It is in storage in the Earth Museum, in Settlement Edam. The trip will not take long."

    There was a quiet sigh from beside me. Officer Peterson had awoken. He sleepily rubbed his eyes. "Wha... What happened?"

    I crouched and checked the color of his face. It was returning. I lowered my voice. "You were overwhelmed by the crowd. How are you feeling?"

    He blinked blearily. "I've got a headache. Otherwise, I feel okay, First Officer."

    "Excellent." I rose and grasped his shoulder. "We've located the Pioneer. We can go wake up our crew."

   That woke him up more. He sat up fully. "I need to check the program room of the Patriot I first, First Officer. Once I diagnose the problem for certain, then the Pioneer will have our solution."

    "Even after all this time?" Mayor Spencer looked skeptical. "It hasn't been run in over two hundred years."

    "I suppose we will find out, Mayor." Officer Peterson got to his feet, stumbling for a moment before he caught himself. I nodded and backed up. "Then let's get going."

    Mayor Spencer nodded to himself. He shut down the monitor. "As long as you feel up to it, then we shall go." I was already at the elevator, pressing the button to open it. The Mayor scanned his communication clasp into it and the doors opened. Officer Peterson stumbled a bit as he walked inside. We began to move down.

    Moments later and we were in the hanger, entering a pod. The flight was smooth. Ten minutes passed and the pod landed, trees bending around it. The doors opened to reveal the Patriot I in all her glory. Mayor Spencer looked awed as I stepped out, Officer Peterson on my heels. I pressed the button for the bay doors and scanned my communication clasp. "Voice authentication required."

    "First Officer Genevieve Autumn."

    "Accepted." The screen blinked green and the doors cracked open with a hiss. The dusty interior of the Patriot I came into sight. I ushered everyone on before making sure we were clear, then sealing the doors tightly.

    "This way." Officer Peterson headed down the sleek hall. It was dark inside, with faintly glowing lines on the walls. He seemed to know where he was going. Mayor Spencer followed us in awe. "So this is the famous Patriot I . . . She's beautiful. Really a marvel of design, considering the time period she came from. It's hard to believe I'm on board the Patriot I itself..."

    "What else can you tell me about the rumors around the Patriot I, Mayor?" I asked abruptly.

    He blinked himself from his thoughts. "Well, there's not much else. Over time, facts were twisted into legends and then into myths. The Patriot I itself was told as a vessel of war, capable of the best technology Earth had to offer back then. The myth said the crew were frozen warriors, meant to protect the Pioneer as it sailed through empty space. They would rise from their slumber when we were in danger, and retire when safe." The truth came from his actual thoughts. "The crew were considered immortal... At least, that's what the myth always said. Immortal gods capable of anything, and they were our protectors. I'm glad she asked about weapons, she might need them. People are going to want to test this theory."

    I kept my face straight. "I see." Officer Peterson shot me a nervous glance over his shoulder. No doubt he had heard the Mayor's thoughts as well. So the common people of Z-031 considered us gods. I was glad I had asked. That could bring trouble.

    Officer Peterson opened the door to an elevator, and we began to move upward. The doors opened on a small hallway. He walked to the end and turned on the screen. It beeped. "Three life forms detected. Identification required."

    "Technical Officer Peterson, First Officer Genevieve Autumn, and Mayor Kal Spencer of Settlement Mirah."

    "Error. Please try again."

    Officer Peterson grimaced and turned around. "It won't let the Mayor in. The computer has no record of him in the database, so as far as it knows, he's someone here to sabotage." The Mayor blinked slightly. "Earth's technology was more advanced back then than I realized..."

    I understood what Officer Peterson was saying. Either we left him outside and alone, or Officer Peterson went alone. It wasn't a hard choice. "Go ahead. I will stay here."

    Officer Peterson nodded and scanned his handprint into the screen. The door opened. He entered, and it shut quickly after him. Mayor Spencer looked toward me, curious. "Something wrong, First Officer?" "She must not trust me to be alone."

    I didn't reply and therefore allowed his thoughts to continue. "I can see why, though. She's trained in being cautious. She has nothing to worry about, though. I am not the superior here." Mayor Spencer looked around the hall. I smiled mentally. And there goes a point in your favor, Mayor.