Year: 2086

With life on earth a dwindling phenomenon, there was only one logical place to ascend—the stars. The order was simple: find a habitable planet for humanity. We had big dreams… If anybody's listening to this—then I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me for what I'm about to do.

"Are you ready, prisoner," says the man with spiky hair through the glass on the small hatch of the vessel. Think of how few people get this opportunity.

"it's not like I got much of a choice," I say with a venomous tone.

"After what you did—hell, you're just lucky they didn't execute you on the spot."

"The way I see it, this is just execution with extra steps."

"Think what you want, but just remember: you pull this off, you've got a clean slate, a place on the colony with the rest of us."

Wait—what colony?

The man's eyes widen. He presses a button on the external console, sealing the hatch for launch.

"What colony, dammit?!" I shout, pounding my fists on the now sealed hatch. "Hell is open, and heaven's closed," I mutter.

I turn to face the small cockpit. The interior of the ship is one room about five feet in width, and fifteen feet long. This is where I'll spend my time until arrival.

Can you hear me prisoner?" says a woman's voice over the intercom. "—Hello?"

"Loud and clear."

"Right–your file indicated no prior flight training, so we went ahead and installed a neural chip in your brain containing all the necessary information for basic flight capability—free of charge!"

"How generous."

anywho. I'm here to catch you up to speed. You'll be collecting samples of the environment: soil conditions, flora and fauna, water, organic lifeforms, geographical structures, etc."

"Oh, is that all?"

"Not in the least, but we can start there," she says, seeming to not notice, or care of the sarcasm in my voice. "Once you reach the planet the ship will only have enough energy for a limited amount of communication to HQ. I suggest you make all communication necessary, and concise."

"You mean I won't get to hear your lovely voice all the time?"

"—The feeling's mutual. Take off will be commencing shortly, I suggest you strap in."

I make my way to the seat at the front of the ship. Although I've never been in one before, my hands know exactly how to strap myself in, as if I've done it a hundred times. It must be that damn neural chip.

An automated voice blares over the intercom, "commencing take off in ten, nine, eight, seven—"

The reality of the situation hits me like a punch to the gut—

"Six, five, four—" the engines roar to life—"three, two, one.

My world turns vertical as the ship rockets upward. G-force pinning me to the seat I'm strapped into. I steel myself against the gravity, holding on for everything I'm worth. All of a sudden the force subsides, the ship is in smooth uniform motion.

The automated voice blares," you have now exited earth's atmosphere. Commencing destination navigation.

The woman's voice chimes over the intercom," From now on the autopilot will take you to the location. You shouldn't have to do much until you arrive."

"How long's it going to take to get there?"

"Approximately one week. You'll find the necessary provisions in the storage locker."

I put my hand on the handle, pulling it forcefully. "Uh, it won't open."

"The other locker. That one contains the tools you'll need once you get to the planet."

"Can you see me?"

"No. There's only two lockers on board."

Right… that should have been obvious. I've gotta' learn to think before I speak.

"What can you tell me about the planet?"

"Preliminary scans suggest an oxygen rich atmosphere, and temperate climate currently In early summer season."

"Great. Anything else?"

"That's supposed to be your job."

In the interim until I arrive at the planet, the days stretch onward, leaving nothing to do but ponder. Nightmares frequent my dreams. I try to stay awake to avoid them, leaving me tired and delirious.

I wake to the woman's voice on the intercom, "you are now approaching your destination."

"Great–" I groan. "I can't wait to see what nightmares await me."

Dust flares up to the windows when the ship lands, disturbing not only my peace but also jostling a simple manual that I found in one of the lockers out of my hands and onto the cold, metal floor.

”Arrival completed.” The automated voice spills out of unseen speakers.

The lady starts again,”Your first task is to find a source of water, living organisms, and not to burn to death. Toodles!”

”Wait-“ no way any normal person ends a sentence like that. What a weirdo.

When I get up from my seat a panel spontaneously appears from the wall.

A big green button is smack dab in the middle of it.

Could you get more obvious? I’m not that clueless.

I nearly pres it until the weight of this decision hits me. I’m going into a new world with unknown threats, life forms, and no way to be sure if I’ll even make it.

Bracing myself, I press the button and nearly drop dead when the heat along with a tentacle hits me.

My back slams into the front of the ship so hard that I’m nearly certain it’s going to bruise.

When I get back up the squid.