PROLOGUE

NASA EXPLORATION BASE

TOKYO

JAPAN

BRIEFING SUMMATION:

CONCERNING ALL PERSONELL, STAFF AND RESEARCHERS:

Approval to proceed with expedition 1015B has been given. Please note that under section heading 2A, paragraph 12, information regarding any extraterrestrial findings; be they of biological, chemical or geographical nature, be kept confidential unless otherwise directed by the company. Failure to comply with any of the above will result in direct termination of the expedition and possible suspension of employee license. All safety procedures will remain constant and unaltered. Details can be found in the safety and instruction manual guide on page 2270. Failure to comply with the afore mentioned will result in direct termination of employee license. It has been noted that this is the first time that the company has allowed a civilian on board, and for such reasons it is imperative that all security and confidentiality measures be strictly followed. Please report back immediately or inform authorities if you fail to understand these instructions. Let it also be noted that all expedition members have successfully passed all psychological, physical and medical examinations. If, however, you feel that it is essential to undergo further treatment at this point, do not fail to inform the proper authorities. Please refer to the addendum for additional information on research and security protocol. Weyland Yutani and its subsidiary, NASA, thank you for your cooperation.

Listed below are crew and research members:

Jarreck H. Fox. ID: DJ678157

Barnaby G. David. ID: JO0078163

Regan Y. Mender. ID: AD436709

Tamayuya Yoshi. ID: RT716298

Lexington Mash. ID: XV019283

Omitsu K. Hiromi. ID: XD243587

Reuban R. Jakob. ID: ER708911

Reuban K. Helen. ID: NONE-CIVILIAN

1700 HRS

NARITAINTERNATIONALAIRPORT

TOKYO

'Oh would you please stop huffing, Helen, and take the stupid sweater,'

'Mom please. Everyone's looking – I don't need this right now!'

'I don't care. Space is cold. The ship's going to be cold.'

'This is the 27th century! It's not like we don't have heating on board! Jeez,'

'Just take it, okay? For me?'

The girl looked into her mother's widened brown eyes, pursed her lip and eventually consented. Her mother smiled back knowingly and stroked the girl's dark hair with the palm of her hand. 'Honey, it's just that – you know...this isn't exactly what...well, what I'm trying to say is, this isn't a class field trip. You're actually going out there-'

'-into unchartered territory, yeah I know. But just think! It'll look great on my college application – kinda like an internship, and all this experience will let me know whether this field is right for me.'

'I just wish you could...maybe, try something a little closer to home – is all.'

Helen looked around, holding her duffel bag to her knees. All these faces – apart from her mother's – all unfamiliar, foreign and unknown. It made her spine tingle. She had never been outside her home town, let alone her own country, and that was all the push she required, all the incentive she needed to discover the world on her own. Her parents were entomologists, and before they settled down when she was born, they had traveled the globe searching for new species and life forms, which were abundant given that atmospheric conditions had changed during the past two decades. But discovering new terrestrial species was boring. Science had taken not one, but several giant leaps forward in what was known as the new fad in exploration. Some referred to it as "the gold of the galaxy", "spectacular species"...whatever the term; it was undoubtedly the hottest field in research exploration. For botanists, biologists, geologists and even chemists. Technology and advanced field methods enabled the discovery of new species – eighty eight percent of them were microscopic organisms – but even so, the exponential rate at which these species were being discovered was enough to make any scientist's heart skip several beats.

And that was why she was here.

'Home ain't where the gold is, mom.' said Helen.

'Stop saying that – you're beginning to sound like him.'

'What's wrong with that? You're the one who married him in the first place,'

Helen watched in sudden regret as her mother closed her eyes, attempting to ignore that last comment. Her parents were in the midst of a bitter divorce – a drawn-out, painful procedure that had lasted the entire month. Helen had been placed in the custody of her mother, but as for the settlement of household items – such a conclusion had not yet been reached. As a result of such ongoing tensions, living at home with her already strung-out mother had reached an unbearable level. Her mother decided that it was probably best if Helen take a vacation with some of her friends or family – to get away from home for a while – while she, her mother, would attempt to sort through things alone. And then her reclusive uncle – Jakob, her mother's brother - a respected entomologist himself, showed up and offered Helen the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to actually accompany him on one of his expeditions to the southern quarter of the Andromeda galaxy.

Helen's mother hadn't taken to his offer well. She expected to send Helen off to London or New Zealand even – definitely not out into the reaches of space. But, to contend with the persistent will of a bright fourteen year old was something she was not up to. And besides, she was with her uncle, family. True, he might be slightly eccentric, but he always took care of his own. Unlike Helen's father.

'Sorry, mom... I didn't mean it.'

'I know, I know. Anyway, where on earth is your uncle?'

'Remember? He said he couldn't come, but he'd send someone to get me.'

'He could've easily just come and get you himself...' said Helen's mother.

'What can I say? He's a busy man.' And then as an afterthought, to appease her anxious mother, she added, 'But he'll definitely make sure I get there safely. He promised.'

Her mother continued to pan her head around, unconvinced. She sighed and changed the topic. 'Don't forget to cook any meat on board. I know that meat spoils easily at lower, humid temperatures.'

'The food's pre-cooked. Wait-' Helen looked to her left to see three men, two Japanese and one European walk up to the two of them.

All three were dressed in dark pinstriped suits, and carried thin, leather briefcases at their sides. Helen's mother noted that they would seem awfully automated, and could even pass off as company synthetics if not for the seemingly warm smiles they wore on greeting the two people.

'Ms. Reuban?' said one, offering out his hand.

Helen nodded and shook it loosely as the other gentleman continued. 'I hope you had a comfortable flight,'

'Comfortable enough,' started Helen's mother, 'an hour from L.A. to Tokyo would be great if only the seating in coach wasn't like being cramped up in a sardine tin.'

It was her mother's idea of a joke. The men didn't crack a smile. 'Well, Ms. Reuban, if you're ready – we should probably make our way to the car.'

'Sure, just give us a minute.' spoke Helen's mother. The man nodded, but stood still, next to mother and daughter with his other compatriots. 'Alone.' she stressed. They took the hint with no expressive sign of offense and walked over to a coffee stand a few meters away.

'Guess this is it then.' said Helen, smiling wanly.

Her mother leaned closer and threw her arms around Helen in a tight embrace. 'Okay kiddo. Take good care of yourself, okay? You know I'm not going to be around to nag you...but that doesn't mean you get to be careless about your health. And don't-'

'Mom, a lot of people travel to outer worlds, you know it's nothing new! I'll be fine.'

Her mother pulled back and smiled. 'You're still my little girl. You know that even if you were camping out in our back yard I'd say the same thing!'

'Not quite!' chuckled Helen.

Her mother laughed. 'Alright, alright...I get the message. Hey listen, when you get back, what say we actually take a trip around the globe – see the world's wonders? If you're still up to it, of course – after your galaxy exploits.'

Helen kissed her mother and walked away slowly while speaking. 'Count me in!' She waved, 'See you in two months!'

As she watched her daughter walk off, she felt a sudden painful twinge go through her mind, as if something was pulling her back – holding her to one spot. But Mrs. Reuban simply smiled and shrugged off such a ridiculous notion, dismissing it to the effects of jet lag.