I wake with a start, and the first thing I feel is the phantom pain from the wound that was opened in my forearm. It was excruciating the first time I experienced it, but now it's a dull ache. It takes me a moment to fix my pain receptors until the pain subsides. I look at my arm, and see that the wound has already closed, and the scar has all but disappeared. I scan the surrounding area, and I can sense the cold ground: it is still night. I get up and make my way to the exit.
"We'll figure it out." I hear a female voice say.
"We always do." I said. I looked up into the sky as I was exiting my shelter to see that the sun was rising. "Kensi, my princess, where are you at this moment? Where is our dear sweet Rosa?"
"Talking to yourself again?"
"Hello, Gerard. What do you need this time?" I asked.
Gerard was a tall man, six feet and eleven inches tall, olive skin tone, an athletic build, amber eyes, and black hair.
"Max is looking for you." Gerard said.
"I have to ask, how did Max end up in his predicament?" I asked.
"How did he wind up a disembodied voice that takes the form of a sex toy of sorts?" Gerard asked.
"Yeah, though the sex toy is a nice touch." I said.
"He contract a disease that was slowly destroying his body." Gerard said.
"So, as a last-ditch effort, Max transferred his consciousness into a machine? Max didn't think about transferring his brain into a mechanical body, like me?" I asked.
"Did you want to become an android?" Gerard asked.
"That was a decision I wasn't able to make, and I probably wouldn't have consented to the procedure." I said.
"Max's point has been proven." Gerard said, and then walked away.
I stare out at the rising sun for a moment longer, and then follow Gerard. As I'm walking away, I can feel a bead of sweat run down the back of my neck and because of that I know that it's going to be another scorcher later today. This might complicate the mission that we are going to embark on.
"Deeks, so glad you could join us." Max said.
"Hello, Max. What do you and you the council have for us?" I asked.
"The group is heading off world, while you are heading in Sunless territory." Max said.
"Please tell me that is a joke." I said.
"Afraid not." Max said.
"Why is he going by himself?" A random man asked.
"That's a suicide mission." A random female said, both are people I never bother to learn their names.
"Today, when Deeks heads into Sunless territory, he won't be stopped, harassed, or detained." A new A.I. member said.
"Identify yourself and clarify why I won't be stopped by the guards when I head to Xerora." I said.
"That is our leader: Corius." Max said.
"I've been in touch with a woman from beyond our planet who worked out a deal to you, Deeks, to the Gagarin system." Corius said.
"I'm guessing that woman is Hetty." I said.
"How did you know it was her?" Max asked.
"I know the woman." I said.
"Deeks was formerly employed by Hetty when humanity still inhabited Earth." Corius said.
"You're from Earth?" Gerard asked.
"Formerly. Do you have any information, or equipment I need to get through customs?" I asked.
"Lilly, if you would be so kind to do the honors for us." Corius said.
Lily, who was the definition of blonde bombshell, walked over to me and handed me a thumb drive.
"Place this in every slot you come across, and you won't have any problems clearing security." Lilly said.
"Forgive my impertinence, but is this foolproof? I don't want a repeat of last time." I said.
"The backstop on the thumb drive is tailored specifically for getting you off of this world. This id was created specifically for you." Lilly said.
I pull the cap off of the thumb drive and plug it into one of my ports. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. A very long time." I said when I came across the name in the dossier.
It was an identity I created while I was still on Earth. I thought.
"That is why Hetty chose it." Corius said.
Not exactly. I thought.
"How long until I'm supposed to meet Hetty's contacts in the Gagarin system?" I asked.
"It will take you five days to reach the Gagarin system. Hetty's team will take more time to get there. How much is unknown, but the planet you are going to is Gagarin Five." Max said.
"What can you tell me about the fifth planet of the Gagarin system?" I asked.
"Not much is known, other than it's inhabitants worship a tree of massive stature." Gerard said.
"Yggdrasil." I said.
"In Norse mythology, the tree is known by that name, but it is unknown if that world follows that mythos." Corius said.
There was a moment of silence, as I looked amongst my team. We shared a look, a few hugs were shared, and then we parted ways.
"I'll be seeing you, Deeks." Gerard said.
We both shared a look, and then I said. "No, you won't."
To some that last statement seems harsh, but Gerard and I both know that this is the last time we will be seeing each other. Gerard and I fist bumped, and then went our separate ways. I make for the garage and grab my speeder for one last ride knowing full well I won't be able to use it where I'm going.
Star Ocean
Paldean system-
The ship carrying Sam, Callen, and Kensi came out of hyperspace just outside of the gravity well of the third planet in the Palden system. Sam and Callen were already in the cockpit, and bringing the ship into the planet's orbit as Kensi was entering the cockpit.
"Do we have a line on Turk?" Kensi asked, as she was getting seating and strapped in.
"Yeah, we shot him a message as we were approaching the system." Sam said.
"Only problem is we're going to have to ditch our ship before we head to Gagarin to meet our man." Callen said.
"You mean machine?" Sam asked.
"Don't do this Sam. Hetty wanted us to play nice." Callen said.
"Okay, and what do we do if this machine is going to come along willing? Let alone if they're going to be friendly?" Sam asked.
"Well, if you're going to be a dick to him, he has ever reason to be hostile." Kensi said.
"Shut it, Kensi." Sam said.
"I mean, she's not wrong." Callen said.
"Whose side are you on?" Sam asked, looking at Callen, then over his shoulder he said to Kensi. "You can't tell me I'm wrong."
"It's not about right or wrong. Hetty told us pick the guy up, so we're picking the guy up." Kensi said.
"Why do we have to pick a robot? Hetty knows they can't be trust." Sam said.
"I understand that big guy, how do you think Hetty feels? It was her decision that got James killed." Callen said.
"I had a bad feeling about that machine when he joined the group." Sam said.
"Sam, you were always skeptically of androids before the last mission anyways." Kensi said, as the ship started to bounce around as it entered the planet's atmosphere.
"You can't blame me for that." Sam said.
"We can, but that is an argument for another time. We're being hailed." Callen said.
"Is it our man?" Kensi asked.
"Hope so because I don't want to think of the consequences of what might happen if the locals know of our presence." Callen said.
"Bringing it up on screen." Sam said.
"Sam. Callen, how's everything going?" A woman said, on the screen.
"Vera, so nice to see you. And everything is going fine." Callen said.
Vera is a woman of Asian descent: pale yellowish skin, brown eyes, black hair, and thin frame.
"What exactly brings you to our doorstep today?" Vera asked.
"Hetty wants us to find this machine." Sam said, showing Vera the picture that Hetty gave the team.
"I know the man, but he's currently enroute to Gagarin 5." Vera said.
"Do we have an estimated time before we leave?" Kensi asked.
"Turk has been preparing since Hetty got in contact with you. Departure for the Gagarin system will be completed and be ready to leave within the hour." Vera said.
"We know where to go." Sam said.
"See you in a bit." Vera said, and then the screen went blank.
Callen brought the ship through the atmosphere, and then headed for the usual landing platform, and set the ship down.
"Set the usual defenses and lets get out of here. We need to get to the Gagarin system and get the machine back to known space." Sam said.
"Whatever." Kensi said, and as she unbuckled her seatbelt and made her way to the landing ramp.
"Let's get out of here." Callen said.
Kensi was already outside of the ship and waiting for Sam and Callen. As soon as Callen stepped off of the landing ramp and stepped clear, Sam raised the ramp and armed the ship.
"Let's get over to Arlo's placed, and then get to Gagarin 5." Sam said.
"Long time no see, Kensi." Arlo said, approaching the group.
"It's a pleasure, Turk." Kensi said, as the three of them turned to see Turk and Vera.
"How long?" Sam asked.
"Unless you have any pressing matters, we can depart posthaste." Turk said.
"Lead the way." Callen said.
"Follow me." Turk said, and then led the group to his ship.
"How long, after we leave, will it take to get us to Gagarin 5?" Sam asked.
"Three day, ten hours, and twenty-four minutes." Turk said.
"What can you tell us about our target?" Kensi asked.
"He would not be to pleasure to hear you calling him a mark; especially you Kensi. I'm certain Hetty has already said this, but the man that you are after is a former team member." Turk said.
"We've never seen that machine before." Sam said.
"I'd watch your tongue, Sam. That machine is more important to this team than you think." Turk said.
"Whatever." Sam said.
"We're here." Turk said.
Kensi has never been aboard Turk's ship, so she was in for a treat: it was VGT-4 Vergnis freighter. It was larger than Sam and Callen's ship, meant to transport large amounts of cargo with a few more guns in case it had to defend itself.
"How long until we get this thing in the air?" Kensi asked, after the landing ramp had been raised and secured.
"Mere minutes." Turk said.
"I'm heading for the living quarters." Kensi said.
"We're right behind you." Sam said, followed by Callen.
"Vera give them the necessary clothing and gear. I'll be in the cockpit." Turk said.
"Roger that." Vera said.
It was another twenty minutes, then ship leaving planet side and making the jump to hyperspace, the group meet in the mess hall. The group was eating, and talking for a half an hour before Callen asked the pertinent question.
"This man—"
"Machine." Sam said, cutting off Callen.
"He isn't just some machine." Turk said.
"Yes, you've already said as much, but who is he." Kensi said.
"If Hetty hasn't told you, I'm not going to. All I know is that he has data that can save the human race." Turk said.
"How?" Callen asked.
"Supposedly when his brain was placed into his current body, a data packet was placed in his storage that lead humanity back home." Vera said.
"Home." Kensi said.
There was a moment of silence before Callen said. "You can't be serious."
"That's a question for Hetty." Turk said.
"Are you telling me this machine has information on how to terraform Earth again?" Sam asked.
"That's the going rumor." Turk said.
At that exact moment, the alarm for hyperspace drive would be disengaging soon started beeping.
"Let's head to the cockpit." Turk said.
The group headed for the cockpit. Vera got in the copilot seat, while Turk got in the pilots' seat, while Kensi, Sam, and Callen got in the passenger seats.
"What do we know about the Gagarin system?" Sam asked.
"Mostly outlaws, but we're in their good graces for the moment." Turk said.
"We can expect a shoot out after we collect our man." Callen said.
"Most likely." Vera said.
"Is there a place to set the ship down, incase we have to make a quick getaway?" Kensi asked.
"Not that I'm aware." Turk said.
At that moment, Turk's ship exited hyperspace on the dark side of Gagarin 5.
"Anything on the long-range sensors?" Sam asked.
"At the moment, no. Let's get down there and get to looking." Turk said.
"Copy that." Vera said, as she and Turk took the ship planet side.
The engines kicked in, and then ship lurched forward entering the Gagarin 5's atmosphere.
Star Ocean
Gagarin 5-
I was wandering the roots of the world tree when I had this weird feeling enter the pit of my stomach. I looked up to see a ship entering the planet's atmosphere. I pulled the scope out of my hip pocket and zoomed in on the ship. I can't make out any of the markings, but I was able to make out the ship and model: VGT-4 Vergnis freighter. Not a very common ship, so the list of suspects won't be long.
I logged into the ship registry, and ran it down, while doing so I kept making my way up the tree. It wasn't long before I got a hit. The name was an alias, but the picture was anything but: it was a picture of Arlo Turk. I haven't seen him in a few millennia.
"What's going on Max?" One of the hikers with me asked.
"My ride off of this planet has just arrived." I said.
"Think you help us complete the mission?" Another hiker asked.
"Let's make it fast. I don't want to be here with the creatures return." I said.
The three of us returned to climbing the roots.