Prologue

The small craft floated through the blackness of space. The ship’s single occupant sat at the helm with a throbbing head ache and a sick stomach.

He was five-foot nine, he had a slim but firm build. His eyes were an abnormal green tint, bright, and his head was covered with white hair. It was long and straight. The ship’s occupant’s name was: Xavier Crik.

As his head and stomach settled he started noticing where he was. It was a small cramped cockpit, of an old decommissioned escape pod, if he remembered right. The ship must have been at least twenty years-old. The controls were old-some of the readouts were still gauges. On further inspection only auto-pilot could be used and even that had only a few locked-in coordinates. Xavier sat back to let his situation sink into his mind. He’s in a small craft, with limited destinations, and limited fuel and that was all. Nothing else, no memories at all, only emptiness, why? Xavier’s neck started to bead with sweat with panic closing in around him. He thought back groping for anything and still got nothing. He raked his brain for the slightest hint of his past there was nothing. His pulse was rising. He took slow breathes to calm himself. Once calm he glanced around his floating prison again. This time he noticed a small screen mounted in the top right corner of the craft. It was new, installed in the past year; Xavier reached for it to see if it came on. The screen came on, of its own volition when his hand was a foot away.

The man’s face he saw brought memories pounding back into his head with enough force to bring his head ache back. The face was wrinkled, and darkened by age. His eyes were sunken into dark hollows. His hairline had receded leaving a bald scalp exposed. The face brought Xavier a name: James Copeland. He was the Vice-president of one of the biggest security Corporations. Xavier couldn’t remember which. He was also the man who proposed using Post-apocalyptic planets as prisons. This was to be the first step to a utopian society. Every prisoner was exiled to one of these prison planets. Not long after this passed first offenders of almost any kind were exiled.

“Mr. Crik”, Copland began. “Do you know why you’re here?”

Xavier didn’t at first but he realized why when he heard Copland. His panic started mixing with anger. He was on his way to a prison planet.

“I can only assume that I did something wrong,” Xavier’s anger was starting to show in his voice.

“Yes, that is the case in this instance, only I was looking for something more specific.”

“Well, no, smart-ass I can’t remember anything.”

“Now, now, Mr. Crik there’s no need to get angry.”

“No Need!” Xavier burst out, “I have no memory; my entire life history is a cramped cockpit!”

“That’s temporary. You’ll remember, soon enough. It’s just a side effect your treatment.”

“What treatment?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“So, now what do I do?”

“Well you’ve been given a ship with a small burst of fuel; you’re within range of several planets with livable environments now the choice is yours all you can do now is aim towards one and then fire. After you land you’re stuck, and the ship self destructs. That is all.”

“Wait!” Xavier shouted but it was too late the screen was blank.

Xavier’s mind was racing, it hurt his thoughts were so clouded his pulse and panics were both rising. What had he done why had he done it what was he going to do his breathing was out of control. He pushed the launch button the force knocked the rest of the air from his lungs and he passed out.