[WIP] Grace Augustine.

[Moopels]

this story is really good, its a believable evolution on Grace's Character.

[Fighter-of-Wars]

Even longer between updates. My interest with this story comes and goes so I just kept adding to this one chapter over the past many months as inspiration came to me. A big jump in progress though for Grace, and the chapter is 6.5K words so it's longer than my others. Lemme know what you think

Grace awoke from her dreams to people shuffling and bustling around. She sat up with a groan and as she was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she remembered the bulletin on the board. She looked at her watch and immediately jumped up and started getting ready. She was out the door in 10 minutes and to the training center in five but still only got there at 6:30. As the remaining members of team came in they were greeted by a disgruntled Captain.

"Typical science folk; never can get here on time." Were the first words out of Quaritch's mouth.

The team expressed there apologies to the Captain but he didn't want to hear them.

The Captain started on further into the training center waving the team to follow him. They passed through a few sets of doors andarrived at an elevator. The Captain opened the door and waited on the team to follow him in. As the team packed into the elevator the Captain inserted a key and pressed the only button on the panel. With a jolt the elevator started downwards. The elevator descended painfully slow for Grace and the only sounds was the electric motor, shuffling of feet, and the breathing of her teammates all around her. The Captain kept his face forward the whole time till they reached the bottom. As he opened the door the smell was the first thing that hit her. The stalest air she ever breathed hit her and her and a few of the others let out coughs.

The Captain looked back at the team and grinned, "Don't worry, you will get used to it. Follow me." He turned and started across the main floor.

As the team soon followed Grace began glancing around at the complex equipment surrounding her. There were robots, computers, and technology of every sort dotting the area around where they walked.

The Captain continued walking till he came to the next wall and headed right till he came to a door. He pulled a card out of his pocket, scanned it, and pulled the door open and waited on the team to file in.

As Grace entered the room it looked much like the conference room they were in yesterday, but with subtle differences. For one, Robert was waiting for them at the head of the table not looking to happy. The team took seats around the table as the Captain closed the door and went to get what looked like a stack of files behind Selfridge.

As he was doing that, Robert turned around to face the team. "You're late. I figured with people like you I could at least count on you to make it to your first day of training on time." He let that sink in as Quaritch began to pass out files. "But there is work to do, and first we need to brief you on what we know of Pandora.

Grace could tell that Robert was flustered at something more than them being late.

Robert opened his file along with the others. "First, the atmosphere is similar to Earth, with Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. But it also has a good big of Xenon, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The abundance of Xenon makes the atmosphere denser than on Earth. One major problem though is the gas Hydrogen sulfide which is extremely deadly to humans. We figure the creatures on Pandora have evolved to be able to breathe this without harm but we will have to wear filtration system which is being developed specifically for this mission. It’s very compact and lightweight so you won't have to wear spacesuits when on the planet. Another thing is that it being about 72% Earths mass, Gravity will be slightly less. But it shouldn't have but a negligible effect on the mission. He continued on telling the team what was deemed fit for them to know and as they looked through there files and listened to Selfridge, Grace became more and more distracted by the pictures in her folder, mostly by the female looking alien though. She was truly elegant. But Grace noticed things in her posture and facial expression that she hadn't noticed before. Her stance of her facing to the side with her bow in front of her was defensive, most likely because of the probe she was staring at. But the look on her face was of curiosity, and wonderment. Grace hoped she would meet her one day in the future but being as it took many years for the pictures to come back, the RDA to figure out what to do and the 6 years to get there made it seem unlikely.

After awhile she heard Robert ask, "Any questions?"

She saw Rick raise his hand. "What are we to do about the natives?"

Robert replied, "We hope to develop a friendly relationship with them as not to cause conflict. We don't want an interstellar war on our hands."

Harrison raised his hand and asked, "What do you want us to do with what we find?"

Selfridge said back, "Make analysis on everything that can be useful as a fuel source, food source, construction material, and other unknown uses. It is possible that there could be a material that is unknown on Earth that could be present on Pandora. So keep your eyes open and we will keep our options open."

Then Chris raised his hand, "How long are we planning to stay is there a set time of departure or are we staying till rations are depleted?"

Selfridge thought about this for awhile and after a few seconds he said, "We don't quite yet know what we will find. It is possible that the native environment is extremely hostile to our presence and we are unable to stay for long. Or it could be easily habitable with plenty of human healthy food and shelter and perhaps an extended or even permanent establishment could be made."

She then saw Migg put up his hand, "Sorry, um...Why is there such a small team for such a project as this? I mean, we are exploring a whole new world, I figured there would be hundreds onboard."

Robert grinned and said, "We don't want the whole world in on this deal. If to many people get in on this, it could leak out and then other companies would be 'chomping at the bit' to get a share of Pandora, the people in charge wouldn’t like that. The way it is now, few people know what Pandora actually is, and those who have heard of it know nothing about it except it’s a moon a long way away with no importance. And no government has money to spare to send a rogue probe to Pandora to see what's there. So right now we have a very good head start on this and we intend to keep it that way. Are there any more questions?"

With no more hands put forth the Captain stepped forward. "Okay, our first order of business is physical fitness."

This was met with groans from the team. But the Captain put on a stern face and continued, "There are many unknown dangers on Pandora and I need to be sure that every one of you is up to the challenge. There is only way to prove that. This afternoon will be numerous tests, and if you pass those we will start physical training tomorrow at 0600. I will meet you in front of your barracks. Be up and in P.T. gear this time people." And with that he walked out. "Probably to go and shine his running shoes," Grace thought.

Selfridge then stood up and said, "If there is nothing else the physical tests are taking place 2 doors down, “and he pointed the direction.

But Nick raised his hand, "Sorry for the late question, but is there like an appointed team leader. I know that the Captain is the mission leader but who is in charge of the team?

Robert's flustered look returned.

“This must be what he's angry about,” Grace thought.

"The administration decided that I am to go to Pandora to lead the team. There were many other candidates but I got picked. Take it or leave it." With that he stormed out of the room.

Nick shrugged and walked out the door and headed to the testing room.

As the team followed Nick out the door and toward the testing room Patrice came up beside Grace. "Interesting deal isn't it."

Grace was beginning to like her, she didn't talk too much, but when she did it had meaning. "Yes it's turning out to be much more than I thought it was going to be though, both for better and for worse."

Patrice nodded her head, “I know what you mean."

As they entered the testing room they were blinded by white walls, bright fluorescent lights and many types of medical equipment. They were greeted by ready and waiting medical personnel in their white lab coats. Chris followed up the team and closed the door.

*Later that day*

"I can't believe some of those tests they put us through. Some of them were pretty darn invasive if I do say so myself." Migg said as he trudged across the barracks apparently displeased with that afternoon’s exam.

"They have to be sure though." Alex said trying to calm Nick down, "I mean they want to be certain that none of us are going to develop a disease, or would be unable to come out of cryo, or a number of other things while on mission. Because it is a good bet that when we are 4 light years away, proper medical treatment isn't going to be available. And the physical fitness is also a good thing. When we are on Pandora, We will most likely be packing gear through the jungle in the heat. That is very strenuous and we need to be capable of doing that.

The team nodded their heads but Nick said, "I agree, but I still don't like it." And with that he headed off to the showers.

Everyone rested well that night for they knew they had to be up early to begin weeks of physical training along with classes on equipment for the mission survival techniques.

[Fighter-of-Wars]

4 Months later...

As the morning sun peaked through the window and flooded the barracks with a warm glow the team could already be heard shuffling about getting ready for the morning run around the compound with their Captain. Over the recent months they had gotten used to the daily routine of physical and mental preparation for the mission. They had performed hundreds of simulations ranging all the way from zero gravity space walks to high altitude mountain climbing. Needless to say they were getting confident in their ability to overcome anything they have planned to find on Pandora. But burning in the back of their minds was what they would do when they came across something they haven't planned for. Either way, they were the best team the RDA could come up with for this mission and were giving them the best training in four months that could be had.

As Grace was putting on her shoes the Captain could be seen walking through the barracks to make sure no one was slacking about getting ready. He was as eager as the rest of them to get to Pandora and find whatever challenges await there and he wanted those with him to be ready.

As they filed out of the barracks in a steady jog Grace and Patrice began talking like they always do about their past life and what they may find on Pandora, Harrison and Alex began debating about which college sport teams are better, Migg could be seen running backwards, when the Captain wasn't looking, making funny faces at the rest of the team, Chris and Nick were comparing classic video games all the while Rick chanted the cadence. All together they made one hell of a team, and they knew it. They did their best to keep a friendly relationship going between them all. If a situation came up where there was a disagreement, it was dropped quickly.

But the time was growing close to leave and the excitement could be felt throughout the group. Even the Captain wasn't his usual old strict self, but Robert was just as dull as ever and always remindful of what lay ahead of them. The other members of the team that the group really haven't seen much of, the soldiers, the other scientists that they were never introduced to, have kept to themselves mostly, they didn't bug the group and the group didn't bug them. They didn't run with them, they didn't run the simulations with them, and they didn't bunk with them. Much suspicion and curiosity was about them, but the group kept their curiosity to themselves.

"The soldiers are obvious, to keeping us safe," Said Migg one day during supper. "That or to keep us in line," replied Chris. Grace shared their thoughts but asked aloud, "Either way, they have their purpose but what are the no name white coats for? I mean we have most departments covered with us here." The group nodded in agreement. "Maybe they are some sort of government department and not part of the RDA," added Rick. "But why would the RDA let government folk come along?" asked Harrison. A few seconds later Nick replied with, "maybe the government wouldn't authorize the mission without a government presence." Nods were seen again throughout the group. Grace still didn't like the idea of her not knowing who these people were.

As they finished up their run they returned to the barracks for a 10 minute break to change out of their PT gear and into their regular issued clothes. Grace met the rest of the group a few minutes later at the training center as they all piled into the elevator and headed down to the only floor this elevator seemed to go to. As they exited the elevator Grace was once again greeted by the stale air, she never got used to it.

They followed the Captain like they always did to whatever training they would be going through that day. But to their surprise they were lead to the conference room that they were led to when they first arrived. Already sitting at the head of the table in front of projection screen was Robert and sitting around the table were the other soldiers and the 'no name' white coats. As the door closed behind them Robert stood up, "Please be seated," he said. As the members of the group found themselves chairs the Captain moved up to the front of the room and sat an empty chair just around the corner of the table from Robert.

Once they were all seated and had their attention forward, Grace saw a smile creep across Roberts face. He stood and picked up the remote. "This is it ladies and gentlemen," he said as he punched a button on his remote. As he did an image of a large strange looking craft appeared. "This is called the ISV Prometheus; it is what is going to be transporting you from Earth orbit to orbit around Pandora." The name reminded Grace of the day when she came to the RDA office back in the city. She soon recalled the details of the conversation and realized that their departure date was very close. The months have gone by quicker than she thought and here heart rate quickened with excitement.

Robert continued, "The Prometheus has been built specifically for this mission at great cost to the RDA. It is already loaded with all the equipment you will need and, hopefully, some that you won't need. It has a shuttle that will transport the team and equipment to setup a base camp on the surface."

Robert stopped talking as Harrison raised his hand to ask a question, "Sorry, but isn't this something that you would tell us when we would be getting ready to leave, like a mission briefing."

Robert answered with, "Since you are leaving tomorrow morning I figured this was as good a time as any," and without missing a beat he continued, "Team A will go down first to find a suitable location with plenty of palpable food, drinkable water, and shelter. Team A includes, Quaritch, Grace, Miguel, and security escort. As the shuttle returns to load up with supplies the rest of the team will monitor you from orbit and depart as soon as a location is found to begin setting up camp. Once the camp is established Chris, Alex, and Grace will begin to comb the area around the camp and collect samples of edibles and begin finding ways to make them suitable for human digestion. Miguel and Harrison will start geographical surveys of the area to find suitable metals to be used in additional construction. Nick will setup and configure the Superluminal communication system. Rick and Patrice will begin general research on the flora and fauna and they are the number one call when and if contact with the natives occurs.

After he finished the team exchanged glances with those they would be working with. One hand was raised by Rick though, "I have sensed a uneasy feeling across the group about the other members of the team," He pointed the no name white coats, "we don't know who they are or what they are going to do, and as the psychologist it's my job to keep the team in top mental health and I can't help them if I don't know who they are."

Robert could sense that the group was pressing him to answer, even without speaking, their eyes told him they needed to know. "They are members appointed to the team by people higher up in the chain than me. They have their jobs which will supplement your jobs. They are there if you need help, and they are also there to keep an eye on you. Don't ask me why, it's not my decision to have them here." He then began pointing to them and calling out their names, "Zach, he is assistant geologist, Matt, communications officer, Kristin is the electronics technician, Adam is the camp coordinator, and Stan is the equipment coordinator, and if you were wondering, I am in charge, anything of importance ends in me. Are there any more questions?"

With no hands raised he finished with, "Then I leave the rest of the day to you. Your mission gear is already stowed onboard the ship so you just need to worry about your belongings which is limited to one duffel bag. The Captain will meet you in the morning in front of the HQ building at 0600 to board the bus going to shuttle site which will take us to orbit to board the ISV. I will be leaving tonight to make sure everything is already to go with the shuttle in case any of you were wondering."

With that Quaritch stood and walked towards the door and as per silent order the team followed him out.

****

When Grace returned to the barracks she sat on her bunk to try and calm herself. Her heart was in her throat and her excitement was through the roof, "This is it, we're finally going." But the bitter facts were all there as well. She was torn inside she hoped that the RDA wouldn't find anything there useful and go home, but that would mean she would leave as well. "Maybe the Natives will find some way to fight them off even if we find something." Her thoughts continued till Patrice joined her on her bunk.

"What's on your mind?" she asked as she sat down.

"Too much; our mission, Pandora, the RDA, I should be getting ready," Grace replied.

"Yeah, anyone you going to miss while you're gone; friends, family?" Patrice asked.

Grace thought about it for a moment, many of the people she knew in school she fell out of contact with and her family was only limited to her extended family which she hadn't talked to since she was young. She had never really thought about it but she was on her own.

She looked over at Patrice and shook her head.

Patrice refocused her gaze to the rest of the team who were doing about as good a job of containing their excitement as a could be expected, "Everyone else seems to be in good spirits, it is going to be interesting to be finally working together on Pandora," she returned her gaze to Grace and gave her a quick hug, "I'm sure we will do well together, I'll name the animals and you can name the plants." They parted with a quick laugh as Patrice went to get her things.

[Fighter-of-Wars]

5:15 A.M.

The mumbles and grumbles around the barracks were a bit more than normal as they shuffled about gathering their bags and making sure they left the barracks in as close to good shape as they got it. This was a little more difficult seeing as how most of the night was spent in celebration of the coming morning. They regretted it now as they tripped over the escapade from the night before still half asleep. Grace had finally joined them last night after Migg had offered her a drink for the 7th time.

Being as the RDA wasn't quite military drinks were a little easier to get in than normal although if the Captain found out he would be very angry, so they made sure to leave none remaining.

After Grace picked up her share of the mess she grabbed her bag and stepped outside for a smoke. As she was snubbing out the last of her cigarette she saw the bus pull up to the front of the HQ building. She leaned back into the barracks and let the others know it was here and to hurry. She waited for Patrice to get out before they set out for the HQ building with all that was left of their previous lives in the bags on their backs.

As they arrived at the bus they soon spotted the other white coats just as nervous as them. "Maybe they won't be as bad as we think," Grace thought to herself. And in a few moments the Captain appeared out of the HQ building with a little more enthusiasm than usual, it was then that she noticed the shiny new emblems on Quaritchs uniform.

Harrison noticed the new emblems on his uniform as well and said, "Morning Colonel, that's quite the promotion sir."

The Captain, now Colonel cracked a thin smile, "The powers that be decided the nature of my duties and command deserved a higher rank, now if everyone will board the bus I explain further what is to happen."

Grace was less than enthused at Quaritch's promotion, "more power to him, less to us. Already we're starting out on a bad foot."

She took a seat next to the window and Patrice sat just across the aisle next to the window as well.

As everyone boarded and got settled into their seats the Colonel stepped on and spoke to the team, "This is it, the day you have all been waiting for. Don't loose your heads though; we still have a long trip ahead of us and even longer one after that. We should arrive at the shuttle sometime this evening, we will board it immediately and you will walk through the cargo area till you see your seats. Take them immediately and buckle up quickly as the shuttle will begin take-off soon after you get on. Remember, when the shuttle docks with the ISV we will be in zero gravity so if you feel nausea, keep a bag close in hand just in case. The ISV crew will then help you stow your belongings and get you strapped in and prepped for cryo-sleep. That will probably be the last thing you will remember till you wake up when we are in orbit around Pandora. Everyone got that?"

Nods and yeah’s were heard around the bus. He then talked to the driver a few moments and took a seat behind him and they were soon off. As they pulled out of the compound Grace once again noticed the fence, the same as it was before. Except now she was leaving the prison instead of going into it. She still felt the same as before though, uneasy, scared, and maybe a little excited. She and Patrice chatted for a little awhile, as did many of the others but soon silence crept over the bus as the trip dragged on and on.

Before Patrice drifted off to sleep across the aisle she whispered to Grace, "Talk to you again in 6 years."

Grace smiled and like she did on her way in she stuffed her bag between the window and the seat and looked out the window. A small smile crossed her face as the raindrops pattered the bus window and memories of past months began to go in and out of her mind. The late night caught up to her and even though it was only mid-day sleep came all too easy.

Sooner than she expected Grace opened her eyes and was welcomed by a stiff neck. She stretched slightly till she saw that Patrice wasn't in her seat. She looked around the bus quickly to find it empty. They seemed to be parked at what a launch facility would look like. A touch of panic started to set in as no one could be found in the bus or outside the bus. She got up and exited the bus to see the walkway empty of people, looking left and right there wasn't a soul to be found. They were supposed to get to the shuttle in the evening and it was still sunny out. "Maybe they had to use the restroom," she thought. As she went to get back on the bus something caught her eye that shouldn't have been there. She started walking toward her old apartment building crossing the empty walkway. The door was unlocked and she let herself in, as she crossed the foyer the landlord’s door. As she approached it and reached for the door handle it opened before her.

Diana, her landlady was inside sitting in a cozy chair sipping some tea and waved her to take a seat across from her. She always loved her chairs and didn't wait to be asked twice to sit in one. As she sat down she saw Diana eyeing her across the top of the tea cup she was sipping from. She took a final sip and set it down.

"Grace, how have things been with you, it's been awhile since we've talked."

Grace didn't know where to start, "Well I've been busy wi..."

Diana put up her hand to stop her, "No, I want to how you're doing not what you've been doing."

Grace looked down, "I'm scared ma'am."

"Please call me Diana were friends here, now what has you worried?"

"Well, it what I'm doing, is dangerous in more ways than one. It's a dangerous journey but what really scares me is what will happen when we get there. The people there, I'm afraid of what will happen to them when they meet us, it will change them forever, and it will change us forever. I'm sure there is more that we can learn from them than they can learn from us.

Diana kept quite and paid very close attention to what Grace was saying, though she didn't look it while sipping her tea.

Grace continued on, "But I'm afraid that they will be pushed around whatever way is easiest for us. And the choices that I might have to make will either hurt them, us, or me. I don't know if I will be able to make the right one."

Diana put down her tea once again and looked out the one little window she had in her room. "Grace, you know what the right choice will be, in here, “she motioned to her heart, "But it's up to you to follow it, many things will pull you one way or the other, whether it be hate, love, sadness, or even a grudge. But you must stay true to yourself. When you lose Grace, you are just another face in the crowd of people trying to be different, trying to make a difference. We each have the power to do great things, a situation presents itself to everyone, not everyone knows which way to travel on the staircase, and it goes either up or down. If you make the choice you know is right, there is only one way to go." She reached over and touched Grace on shoulder and smiled, "I know you will know what do."

A bump jostled Grace out of her old apartment and into a pretty nice storm outside. The bus was pulling up to the launch site. Launch was a rather broad term here. Though the shuttle could be launched either vertically or horizontally, it was easier while they were still on Earth to use a conventional runway and take-off.

As they pulled up alongside the shuttle everyone could be heard waking up or waking up those still asleep. Grace pulled her bag out from between the seat and the window and made sure that nothing had fallen out of it.

As the bus stopped she stood up and smiled to Patrice as they shuffled out of their seats into the aisle. The Colonel was already standing at the front eyeing the shuttle.

He turned around and made sure everyone was up and ready, "Okay everyone, this storm looks to be getting worse, Selfridge is already on board and we need everyone to hustle in quick and take their seats, now go and I will bring up the rear." With that he stepped out of the way and the white coats and soldiers went first followed by Alex and the rest of the team.

As Grace exited the bus behind Patrice she was hit with a nice gust of wind and rain from the side which gave her a bit of a stumble. Harrison helped balance her out and gave her a little nudge in the right direction. She hurried to catch up with Patrice who was now more than a few steps ahead of her. Just as she looked up a lightning flash against the wet white hull of the shuttle was a strange contrast against the stormy sky. As they came under the wing of the shuttle the rain lessened a little but the wind was still strong till they finally made it to the ramp of the cargo hold. The whole team was in single file leading up into the shuttle and the calm reception it gave from the storm was welcomed by everyone as they took their seats and secured their bags and buckled up.

Grace soon saw the Colonel enter the hold and take his seat at the end of the line of seats. He reached over and grabbed a mic attached to the wall beside him and mutter something that the roar of wind prevented her from hearing. It became obvious though as the door began to close. As soon as it was clanked shut an audible hiss could be heard as the hold was sealed and the roar of the engines could be heard as they began to move.

[Fighter-of-Wars]

Grace took stock of what was in the hold. The white coats and soldiers were seated opposite them on the other side of the hold while the group was all on this side along with Quaritch. In the middle was what Grace suspected the last of the cargo. Everything was in square metal crates all about the same size. Many with names of food companies, tool companies branded on the sides. But one crate, a little larger than the others caught her eye. The name on the side of the crate didn't match any food or tool company that she knew of. Her curiosity was soon pushed aside as a sudden burst of acceleration shifted her sideways in her seat. The roar of the engines became almost unbearable as they soon lifted off. The usual smoothness she expected from other flights didn't seem to come as they were still bounced around in their seats. The cargo in front of her shifted more than she would have liked and she was beginning to wonder if she picked the right seat. The turbulence became almost unbearable then a sudden smoothness was felt.

Grace thought she could feel the whole shuttle let out a deep breath, maybe it was as they were probably entering space, or it was just the anxiety of the rough ride had the team a little scared. Either way they could begin to feel gravity leaving them and a few people could be seen reaching either for they gut or a bag but everyone kept it down as a voice came over the loudspeaker.

"This is the Captain speaking, I apologize for the rough ride out, we will soon begin docking procedures with the Prometheus and if everyone will stay buckled in until we dock we will get this done as soon as possible."

After the Captain was finished Selfridge's voice could be heard through a different loudspeaker, "Welcome to Earth orbit everyone, once we dock you will first unbuckle yourself then retrieve your bag from below your seat and make your way forward to the hatch. There you will be lead from the shuttle to decon where you will be decontaminated and given clothes to wear for when you are in cryo sleep. You will each have your own sealed cryo-chamber and an ISV crew member will help you get ready, I'll see you all on the other side."

As the loudspeaker crackled out many of the men and women of team began talking amongst themselves but Grace kept her eyes fixed on the crate in front of her.

A little while later the shuttle began to slow down and within an hour they found themselves un-latching their belts and grabbing their bags and for the first time in their life experiencing true zero gravity. A few goofed around for a little bit, Migg pushed it a little to far by launching his bag across the hold which was caught by the Colonel who shouted a few sharp words in his direction.

As they made their way to the hatch by pulling and pushing off of the cargo and nets along the walls Rick could be heard talking to Harrison on how zero-gravity effects they way string instruments perform, and Chris was explaining exactly what is going on in the stomach when there is no gravity to a very green Nick. As they crossed through the hatch with the soldiers and white coats once again in front followed by the group and again with Quaritch in the rear.

What they first saw when the entered the ISV was a corridor in the shape of a circle with doors all around it which also matched the shape of the corridor. It was a very odd sight to see. The ISV crew members could be seen about and as the first part of the team members approached they began giving them instructions.

As the group moved farther in a couple of the crew members approached, "Welcome to the ISV Prometheus, each of you will enter one of these doors and de-robe and decontamination will begin, soon after you will put on the clothes provided and exit. We will then lead you to your cryo-chamber and you will stow your bag in a locker next to you chamber. Wait there and one of us will help you get strapped in and the cryo gear attached.

Grace did as she was told and things went very smoothly, decontamination was a breeze with a bright UV light and an audible buzzing sound almost static sound and she could feel her hair, and her skin tingle ever so slightly till it was done. She donned the pale blue shirt and pants that felt surprisingly smooth and grabbed her bag and exited the room. A team member soon waved toward her and she pushed off the wall toward her and as she approached she waved her to follow. As they moved farther into the ship cargo holds were abundant around the ship in perfect symmetry and soon the approached an area labeled 'Cryo-Chamber Pod'.

The lady led Grace to a 2'x2' square panel where she twisted the handle and pulled. As the bed pulled out of the wall she said, "Your locker is there, just pull the handle and open the door. You can put your bag and old clothes in there. In case you were wondering the clothes you are wearing now are specially designed to not damage the skin. Being as we are in zero-gravity your body will not be non-moving all the time, especially during acceleration and deceleration and over the duration of the flight damage could occur."

Grace put her bag and old clothes in the locker and closed it, "I wasn't really wondering. I'm sure it had a purpose. But thanks for letting me know."

The lady smiled, "No problem, some of the others were curious about them." With that she waved to the bed.

Grace pulled herself over and positioned herself on the bed.

The lady began strapping her in, first over her ankles, mid thigh, stomach, and chest. The chest strap was a little more complicated than the others with what looked like little thimbles with wires coming out of them on the left side.

As if on cue the lady explained, "Those are monitors, they keep track of heart and lung function."

As she finished with the last strap Grace was now 'strapped in' but none of the straps were to tight, there was still a good bit of wiggle room, she figured they were there to keep her from bouncing around inside of the chamber more than anything.

The lady opened a small compartment at the head of her bed and pulled out what looked like an IV tube, "This is where the magic comes from; I will insert this into your left arm and push this button here." She motioned to a button on the bulkhead just above the square hole of the chamber and you will go to sleep, I will then lock you into the cryo-chamber and you will not come out for 5 years and 9 months unless circumstances arise that deem early release such as physical instability, but before I do so I need a positive confirmation from you that you are ready."

A few seconds passed, and million things went through Graces head in that instant and she whispered, "I'm ready."