1. Angel S:1E:1 Pilot Part I "Failure" (Original Version) 2. Angel Season One Episode 1 "Pilot Part 1 Failure" (Revised Alternate Opening) 3. Angel S:1E:2 Pilot Part II "The Switch" 4. Angel S:1E:3 Pilot Part III Icarus 5. Angel S:1E:4 Solitude 6. Angel S:1E:5 Anguish 7. Angel S:1E:6 DC 8. Angel S:1E:7 Event Horizon 9. Angel S:1E:8 Its the End of the World as We Know It 10. Angel S:1.5 E:9 Needle in a Haystack 11. Angel S:1 E:10 Home Sweet Home 12. Angel S:1 E:11 Motherland 13. Angel S:1 E:11.5 Motherland 14. Angel Season One, Episode 12 "Motherland Part II" 15. Angel Season One, Episode 12.5 "Motherland Part II" 16. Angel S:1 E:13 Hope Lost 17. Angel S:1 E:13.5 Hope Lost 18. Angel S:1 E:14 "Dwayne's World" 19. Angel S:1 E:14.5 "Dwayne's World" 20. Angel S:1 E:15 "The Hero and the Terror Part 1" 21. Angel S:1 E:15.5 "The Hero and the Terror Part I" 22. Angel S:1 E:16 Season One Finale The Hero and the Terror Part II 23. Angel S:1 E:16.5 Season One Finale The Hero and the Terror Part II

Author's Chapter Notes: Mission commander Michael Owen is on the verge death after a failed mission in space to save the planet earth. Saved by what he thinks to be an angel, this friend from another world offers Michael the opportunity to save his planet my endowing him with great power, but at a great personal cost. Set in the world of an iconic super hero but using only characters of my imagination. (You might run into a few throughout the story)

Angel S:1E:1 “Pilot Part I”

By G.M. Shephard

Copyright 2012

Edited by: jeffusually

kiitylover

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Prologue



My bare feet savored the silkiness of the fine powder as it filled the space between my toes. With the sea off to my right, I took care to lay my towel, stretching it out across the ground. Confident I was alone, with no prying eyes to spy on me, I unsnapped the button on my jean shorts and slid them down my long slender legs. Stepping out with one foot, I lifted the shorts up to my hand where I shook the dust off before folding them up and putting them on my bag. Next I slipped my tight pink shirt up over my head pulling my long wavy golden hair through the opening, taking care not to undo the strap to my metallic silver bikini. Setting my shirt next to my shorts, I stood up and stretched before adjusting my bikini bottom so that it was even around my shapely behind, followed by a quick tug tightening the bow resting high on my hip.



Taking my place stretched out on the soft ground with my back on the towel, I enjoyed the warm rays of the Sun penetrating my near naked body. The world around me was eerily silent, I was utterly alone with no one to disturb me as my naked eyes feasted on the most majestic sight one can ever hope to witness. For an old broad reeling in 4.5 billion years, the Earth is still radiating in beauty and splendor, looking better in her age than the day she was born. The blue/green planet I call home rose over the horizon partially eclipsed by the remains of Tranquility Base where decades ago my childhood hero made history with that famous footstep into the lunar soil. Today, my trips to the moon are like a spontaneous trip to the beach, no planning involved, no years of training, no special protection. Every Oct 18th, I come here for an hour or two, bathing in the energizing solar energy, and celebrate my birthday, the one where I was re-born ten years ago......



---Part I “Failure”---



The gauge showed oxygen levels down to 5%. Using the mirror attached to the left wrist on my EMU suit, I savored my final glimpses of the Earth. It was the best I could do to keep the blue and green sphere that I called home in my view during my final moments among the world of the living. With no nitrogen left in my Manned Maneuvering Unit, I couldn’t correct my axis to face the Earth directly. This is how it will end for me, I will die alone in the blackness of space, and my decaying corpse will drift forever throughout the cosmos. No longer able to talk to my crew safe on board the Deliverance, I waited nervously for death to finally come to me. It’s ironic, that our very ship was named the Deliverance. There was no deliverance, Operation THOR was a failure, and the people of Earth, including my family, are about to die. The death I now face, I deserved, and in a matter of minutes it will come for me as my oxygen supply finally runs out.



It was almost two and a half years ago, that our deep space probes detected an anomaly in space near the orbit of Saturn. Using a wide field survey, astronomers discovered a four mile wide asteroid whose trajectory was on a collision course with Earth. The planet’s mightiest nations were locked in a bitter cold war, with their citizens living in fear every day that their leaders would do something rash and launch global thermonuclear war, killing all life on the planet. Upon the U.S.S.R’s validation of the asteroid data, an alliance between them and the USA was formed under the leadership of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachyov. The two countries, aided by Japan, China, Britain and Germany, pooled the greatest minds together to build the technology to stop the asteroid officially named Icarus by the International Astronomical Union.



The Russians were already developing plans for deep space vehicles that would utilize nuclear propulsion to reach the planet Mars in four months rather than the usual 9-12 months. The design would allow constant thrust versus a single long burn that would insert them into a trajectory where they could rendezvous with the Red Planet. The advantage of this design would allow us to leave at any time without having to wait for an optimal orbital trajectory window requiring Earth to be used as a slingshot to propel a craft towards the target destination. The Russians' designs were ingenious, but they lacked the capital and resources that would have allowed it take form. The US, Japan, and other countries were able to offer financing and the technological know how to improve the Russian designs and bring the Soviets' concept into reality. As part of the USA’s contribution, our new space shuttle fleet would be instrumental in launching the components needed to build the craft into orbit, where they could be constructed in space. Atlantis was selected to undergo heavy modification and become the core vehicle and command module of the entire craft. The modified Atlantis would dock with the nuclear powered FAST Pack, as we called it, that would provide constant thrust towards the massive rock that threatened our home.



World War II was the last time that the people of Earth saw a mighty industrial machine that bound nations together and in such a short time unleashed technological wonders that would have taken decades of slow incremental progress to bring to fruition. The world’s people found themselves truly united and working together as one to overcome a threat that guaranteed death to all regardless of race, sex, or religion. All the trivial matters that divided mankind and kept them fighting each other were rendered pointless. The Icarus didn’t care about skin color, gender, rich or poor. It didn’t care what god you prayed to, it threatened the whole of humanity. It was the best time to be alive, to be able to witness mankind finally growing up and putting their differences aside, united to fight a universal threat.



After a 4 month journey, we rendezvoused with the asteroid. All the photos and models failed to prepare us for the immense size of the object. We were in the largest space craft yet to be built by man yet ants in comparison. Shuttle pilot Collins and I navigated the lander on the surface of the asteroid and our teams began working for weeks, drilling deep enough to plant the devices. Dr. Eugene Shephard, selected as part of the team for his expertise and background in geology and studies of meteorites led the team of four to begin drilling 100 meters into the rock. His vast knowledge of geology made him a valuable asset oil tycoons who needed his experience to help them reach the black gold that fueled their lavish lifestyles. Initially he was approached as a consultant, but was quickly added to the team for his experience drilling through all types of materials. The uncertainty by astronomers as to the composition and density of the asteroid would require an expert on site to be able to improvise and overcome difficulties in reaching the target depths. Types of asteroids varied and the Icarus could be solid rock, solid metals, or a loosely bound cluster of smaller objects drawn tightly together by their gravitational attraction.



Pendleton, or “MIRV” as we called him, joined the team at the demand of the military who insisted one of their own accompany the nuclear devices. Pendleton was the mission’s first casualty and certainly not the last. Dr. Megan McCormack, in flight surgeon and Psychologist was unable to save him after a sudden out gassing from the asteroid ruptured his EMU suit causing him to rapidly decompress. His lungs ruptured and by the time he was brought back on board, he had circulatory failure and ice formation in his respiratory tract. He had already been unconscious for a close to 2 minutes and was unable to be revived even after re-pressurization.



Dr. McCormack was gifted in her fields, rising to the top of the selection list, not only for her medical training, but for her extensive psychological studies on humans living for long durations in enclosed environments. In order to go to Mars one day, astronauts would have to live in close, confined spaces for the duration of the mission lasting up to two years or more. It was decided that having her expertise in the psych was critical as the weight of the mission would cause high stress levels amongst the crew. Her genius allowed her to be easily cross trained in the operation of many of the ship's systems. During the critical aspects of the mission, she was responsible for the local monitoring of ground crew’s vital stats while operating remote systems and external imaging.



Mitri and Yeltsov where the U.S.S.R.’s contribution to the team and were experts in the nuclear reaction engines of the Deliverance. They were cross trained to assist in the planting of the devices. With the exception of the loss of Pendleton, the mission up to this point was successful. Shephard collected many samples of the asteroid’s composition declaring new elements not part of the periodic table were present. His excitement at being the first to discover these new elements and the benefit to his career they would bring him came to a crashing halt when the devices failed to deflect the asteroid. Its mass was greater that we had expected and the explosion did little to move the object.



Asteroid debris from the detonation finally caught up with the Deliverance en route back to Earth and pummeled its hull. The barrage of debris inflicted damage to the nuclear and conventional RCS systems that allowed us to adjust the ship’s attitude. Yeltsov was killed by debris that punctured the right common carotid artery in his neck causing him to rapidly bleed out. Collins, also injured in the process, required immediate attention. With McCormack and Mitri desperately trying to save Yeltsov’s life, Shephard tended to Collins, ignoring the greater threat. With the cabin rapidly depressurizing, I made a rash decision to go EVA to seal the hull breach. What would have been an impossible effort - identifying the breach - was made easy as the crimson stain of Yeltsov’s blood was seen spewing into space, instantly freezing. As if the ship itself were bleeding out, I identified the wound in my bird, and sealed it with special expanding airtight foam that restored cabin pressure.



With the crisis averted, I made my way back to the airlock to rejoin my crew and ascertain casualties and the damage done to my bird. Before I could reach the airlock, a slow moving piece of debris hit me from behind, ejecting me away from the ship and sending me into an uncontrollable spin. The velocity at which I was traveling took me away from the vehicle and I knew immediately my situation was hopeless. The Manned Maneuvering Units where designed for attitude correction and minor propulsion, they were not intended for free flight in space.



The uncontrolled spin was making me nauseous. My head was still slightly dazed from the impact and watching the Earth spin around me every few seconds was making things worse. I did a quick calculation and determined I had enough fuel to stop the spin. I grabbed the stick and fired my thrusters to counter the spin. Counting downward as I began slowing my spin. 3...2...1...0... Stop. Stability was returned and my nausea was slowly clearing. I gently fired the thrusters to turn my direction so I could see how far I had drifted, but I was getting no response from the MMU.



“Impossible!”



I had calculated correctly and should have had a little remaining, but sure enough, the fuel gauge showed that I was out of nitrogen. I looked at my gauge again and again but my eyes were not deceiving me, It was empty. Worse, I noticed, my O2 levels were at 80% and gradually dropping. My EMU life support pack was fully charged prior to leaving and the only explanation was a rupture in my suit.



An hour was spent communicating with what was left of the crew before losing contact. In the time, I plead with them to abandon any attempts to come after me. I knew Collins was in bad shape and unable to fly. It was stupid of me for leaving, now even if the ships systems were ok, they would not be able to get back home.



“Michael, you did the right thing,” it was Megan trying to calm me down as I tried to face the reality of my situation, “If you didn’t react as quickly as you did, we would all be dead right now. Yes we are in a desperate situation, but all is not lost. We will be ok,”



She was right and it was good to hear her voice now. We spent lots of time where I unloaded the stress weighing on my shoulders. As the commander of the most important space mission the world has ever known, I had a huge burden to bear. I was about as tough a man as you could get, and all through life, showed little emotion, but at several times throughout our journey, I broke down from the anxiety filling my mind. Thoughts and dreams of my family being killed as the asteroid impacted the planet consumed my mind at times, clouding my judgement. In the privacy of the space lab module, McCormack counseled me and taught me to control my fears. As inadequate as I felt, she assured me that only those who did not care about the life we were trying to save would be void of the feelings I had. Any person they chose for this mission, would be suffering just the same.



In our time together, we had become friends to the point where she was the only one who called me by my first name. We were all close, and I repeatedly told the crew they could call me Michael, but they all respected my rank and refused. I was named Michael by my overly religious mother, who had an infatuation with Angels. She named me after the Arch Angel Michael and refused to let anyone call me Mike. It was Michael or nothing else. The religious etymology behind my name was unimportant and long after my mother abandoned our family I continued to insist people not call me Mike.



They stayed connected to me as long as they could talking to me as I drifted further and further away. Mitri thanked me for being such a good friend to him. He had been skeptical that Americans would not want to work with their mortal enemies, but I enjoyed talking with him and Yeltsov. “I will drink your half of special vodka waiting for us back home,” Disciplined to no end, I didn’t touch the stuff, but in my off time, I enjoyed drinking. Mitri, Yeltsov and I spent much time talking and helping me improve the Russian I learned in the Air Force. Little did they know I was flying spy planes over their home a decade before and had been taught to speak passable Russian. In four months, they helped me become near fluent and insisted I come to the U.S.S.R. to visit when we returned.



Collins, a very devout Christian, chose to pray for me in my final moments, while Dr. Shephard chose silence followed by a quick goodbye. He was not sentimental and uncomfortable showing emotion. Before I had time to say my final goodbyes, the radio cut out, leaving me alone to face my final moments in this world. My O2 was down to 5% and my time was near. I began preparing my soul in preparation to meet my maker.



---Angel of Mercy---



I did not want to slowly suffocate to death. Delaying death any longer was pointless; my soul was prepared to depart this cruel world. Being rescued was a mere fantasy that would never become reality; my mind understood that it was impossible for my crew to come save me even if the Deliverance was operational. We all knew the risks of Extra Vehicular Activity and the consequences that would be associated with drifting out of reach of the vehicle. This was not science fiction where space ships could fly around space as if they were in the atmosphere. Maneuvering in space required dozens of smaller rocket thrusters strategically placed around the craft to control the vehicles yaw, pitch, and roll. The flight stick was similar to that of an airplane, but instead of controlling ailerons to change the flow of air over the wings, the controls were connected via a fly-by-wires system to a complex computer that fired the thrusters at various times to turn or stop the ship. To change course required fuel for each of the Vernier thrusters and when fuel was exhausted, your angle was fixed.



I had experienced so much this life had to offer, and in a matter of minutes it would all be gone. It was time for me to go. Impulsively, I reached up and grabbed the latch on my helmet.



“Goodbye Liz, goodbye Ash. I’m sorry I failed you. I hope you are someplace safe, where the apocalypse I failed to prevent, will pass over you. My heart agonizes at the thought of your deaths. If you fall victim to my failure, may I be given enough mercy to be with you again in a few days. May you not have to suffer because of me and be granted a quick painless death. I love you two.”



Reaching up, I pulled on my helmet’s seal to expose myself to the vacuum of space. Exposure to a vacuum does not yield an instant death as most seem to think. One could actually live for over 20 seconds before the oxygen, no longer able to be transferred to the blood stream, starves your brain and you pass out. The victim could be re-pressurized and revived up to 90 second from first exposure with little long term effects. I could speed up the the experience by being exposed with a full breath of air which would cause rapid decompression and rupture my lungs as what happened to Pendleton. It would beat a slow agonizing death as I gasped for the little air I had left. Inhaling as much as I could to give me the quicker death I longed for, I pulled the latch...Nothing, I pulled harder, still nothing, It wouldn’t budge. Something was jamming the seal preventing me from killing myself.



I was cussing loudly as alarms within my suit sounded signaling my O2 had run out. It started becoming hard to breathe. I was gasping for air. After about a minute I settled down; suddenly I felt really peaceful and calm. A white flash a light appeared. This is it, the moment of death came before me. In a few more moments, it will be all over. The light continued to get brighter. The tunnel to heaven was opening to receive me. The light was intense and filled my visor with heavenly illumination. Out of the tunnel a figure approached me with the light to their back as I reached out trying to touch it. The Angel was beautiful, clothed in white, seemingly glowing garments made by the hand of God himself. As she transgressed the dimensions of heaven into the physical world, she came to a rest floating in the vacuum outside my face mask. She reached out to me offering to take me to the peaceful world where she came from. Her hand was soft and smooth radiating light. Longing to touch her and be taken into the safety of her embrace, I reached out my arms to my Angel of Mercy as I exhaled my final breath, then everything went black.



---Heaven---



I opened my eyes to see nothing but bright white light flooding my retinas everywhere I looked. Rubbing my eyes and squinting several times trying to adjust to my transition from darkness to light helped my eyesight come into focus, allowing me to see more clearly. It came to my attention that I was lying down and no longer wearing my bulky spacesuit; instead my body was clothed in Angelic white.



“Am I dead?” I said aloud.



“You are very much alive,” A soft voice said. The Angel appeared out of nowhere and stood beside me, kneeling down so that her face was level with mine. She reached out to touch my face causing me to retract in fear and back up.



“It’s ok, I am not going to harm you, you are perfectly safe and sound,” She looked human, long wavy blond hair, stunningly beautiful slender face and light blue eyes like radiating topaz. She had an almost metallic white suit on that was hugging her slender body very tightly emphasizing an absolutely perfect figure. The Angel before me was the most perfect example of feminine beauty one can ever hope to savor with their eyes.



“Who are you, where am I?” I asked her.



She smiled, pushing her tongue against the back of her teeth and gave a soft cute laugh.



“I’m a friend” She replied, “you are on board my ship,”



Now it was my turn to laugh.



“Hahaha, very funny,” I said as I looked around trying to locate the deity with the sense of humor behind the cosmic prank, breaking in the newly deceased.



“I am serious, you are not dead, I found you drifting in space and brought you back to my ship. Luckily for you, I came by and found you when I did. You would have been dead for real had I come by a few minutes later.” I sat up and looked at my Angelic prankster.



“Look, it couldn’t have been real. I’m a scientist and what you did back there is impossible, one can not move through space on their own without protection.”



“Quite a scientist, appealing to the supernatural over a rational explanation, but It’s ok, I am going to tell you everything," the Angel replied. "Rest assured, you are safe and if you listen to what I am going to tell you, you will still have the chance to save your home. Are you willing to listen to me?” I nodded yes. “Good, I am glad to hear that, because I need your help saving my home as well,” the Angel continued.



“My name is Kaaren. I am from another world far away in another part of the galaxy. My planet is doomed much like yours, but our sun is dying and will explode in about 80 years killing, everyone on the planet. My father was a great scientist and has figured out that our planet has little time, but the high council is made up of many who take to silly religions over hard science and are ignoring the dangers, choosing instead to silence even noble high ranking people such my father. Our people are being lied to and all opposition trying to expose the truth to the people are dealt with swiftly. My father, in an act of rebellion against the high council, planned to come to Earth in order to bring back hope for the people of my planet. To keep me safe, he brought me along to remain safely on planet Earth while he returned to free our people and save them. As we were making our escape, my planet’s security forces attacked us and crippled our ship, mortally wounding my father as we made our way into the wormhole. Now, in order to save the people of my planet, I must carry out the mission he set out to do.”



I started laughing uncontrollably. The Angel looked at me smiling, knowing full well that her story was hard to believe.



“You're kidding? So let me get something straight, you are not an Angel, but an alien, and you have come to Earth to get something that is going to stop your sun from exploding? We can’t even stop an asteroid and you came here to stop a star from going supernova?” I continued, “I figured God to have a sense of humor, but this is taking it a little too far. OK, jokes over, can I get my harp now?”



Angel again smiled at me. “Michael, I know this all sounds weird. Come let me show you. Will you take my hand and follow me?” She stood up and reached out offering her hand. “How did she know my first name? All my suit had on it was my last name. Regardless, there was something calming and trustworthy about her, so I reached up and took her hand, and stood up. I realized for the first time I was no longer in a zero G environment, but had both feet firmly planted on the ground. Maybe it was true and I was indeed still alive having escaped death and not yet crossed over into the spirit world. The world surrounding me, while strange, still had a familiar physical and tangible feel to it leading me to conclude, my last breath had not yet come.



---The Ship---



My savior led me out of the room. I looked around and noticed all the walls appeared to be some kind of crystal-like material. It didn’t look like a ship at all. Certainly not like we would make. We passed by several rooms with the same look, nothing mechanical or metal. We came before a door. She reached out and touched a crystal on what looked like a console to the right. The crystal lit up and the door opened. Before me I saw the blackness of space all around.



“Come, it’s ok,” She caressed my hand and gave me this reassuring trust, that it was ok.



It was amazing. Our space vehicles only had very small windows that we would peer out of to witness the wonders of the galaxy. The observation deck of her ship gave me an almost panoramic view of the universe around me. Kaaren touched another panel and the ship seemed to turn. Space began to pan to the right. Suddenly the Earth began appearing in the view. At our distance the Earth was about half the size the moon appeares to be in the night sky.



Kaaren touched the screen where the earth was and with both index fingers pulled on imaginary edges around the small planet, pulling them in opposite directions. Suddenly the image of Earth magnified.



“How cool was that?” I thought to myself. The technology on board this ship was amazing and sophisticated, yet organic. It was not made up of bulky machines and masses of wires. I continued to watch as the pale blue dot, grew until I could see the clouds, the land and the oceans in great detail. I started sobbing.



“Are you ok?” She said.



“I am fine, I never thought I would see that again. Is this really real, this is not come kind of joke?”



“It is perfectly real, I never lie. You are safe, and soon so shall be your people. If you choose to help me, you and you alone can save them, while saving the people of my planet at the same time,” She swiped her hand across the screen and the Earth disappeared to the left as if her hand was pushing an object off a table. The image of Earth quickly panned out of sight and asteroid 1983 RQ 36 or the Icarus as the International Astronomical Union officially named it came into view. My heart lifted, I was filled with excitement. I was alive, and there was hope. I would see my wife and daughter, the crew of my ship, and all my friends again.



“What do we need to do,” I asked. She looked at me and smiled. She had the prettiest smile in the world, I was willing to do anything she wanted.



“Come, let us talk some more,” She gently took my hand and led me to another room. “Here, have a seat,” she said guiding me to a small seat with a white metallic looking cushion. It was nice and soft. Kaaren, my Angel stood before me. I couldn’t help looking at her figure in that tight outfit. I overcame my feelings and looked her in her eyes that that seemed to radiate.



“The star in the the center of your solar system is unique,” she said as a 3 dimensional model of my solar system appeared in the room. “Its temperature and size are unique in this galaxy. It is a middle-aged star that will continue to burn its hydrogen and helium fuel for another 5 billion years. Unlike the people of your planet, my people, while we look human, have a much different molecular structure. We absorb the energy from your star and it endows us tremendous power. Only a handful of people on our planet know of that fact and to protect your people a secret society was formed whose members will die to keep that fact safe. On your planet we are capable of almost anything, and are essentially gods, immortal and capable of amazing wonders.” I was starting to think all of this as a joke again.

'Is she serious?' I thought to myself. 'How can a star make someone immortal, that made no logical sense to me and violated so many laws of physics.' She continued before I could verbalize what my brain was thinking.



“For example, when you saw me the first time, unprotected in the vacuum of space, I was able to move freely without aid of machines because my body absorbs radiation from your Sun. This energy in turn can be used to propel myself at great speeds through space while seemingly impervious to harm. This body of mine may not look like much, but I can exert amazing force on matter allowing me to move the heaviest of objects, much like that asteroid that is threatening your world,” It did indeed explain what I saw, but I was skeptical.



“I’m sorry, but this is a little much for me,” That enlightening smile returned. “I never lie. Believe me.” Somehow I knew she was not blowing smoke up my backside. “Everything I am telling you is the truth. I can spend time proving to you, or we can save our people.”



“I want to save my wife and daughter along with my crew, and the rest of humanity. So my Sun gives you powers, how am I going to be able to do anything?”



“Like us, you have a unique physiology," Kaaren continued. "On Earth, you are like us on our world, but you will be empowered with similar abilities charged by a radiation given off by our planet. This is my world,” The solar system started to become very small disappearing into the blackness of space between the Cygnus-Orion and Carina-Sagittarius arms of the Milky Way. The image stopped to show the full galaxy as if we were on top of it looking down. There was a long bar running across the middle of the Galactic Center where the two sets of arms were joined.



“Is this what our actual Galaxy looks like?” No one has ever, nor will likely ever, see what our galaxy looks like. It is over 100,000 Light years in diameter. At best we can detect the radiation given off by cooled hydrogen 1 atoms visible in the microwave radio wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. The long, low energy waves are able to penetrate the dark gas clouds and allow us to map out what we think the galaxy looks like.



“Yes, it is based on direct observations from outside the galaxy. Amazing isn’t it?” she said while I tried to memorize every detail of the image before it was gone. The image zoomed back in to show her home in relation to ours. By calculations, her world was possibly only 20-50 Light Years away.



“Amazing, yes, I stand here in awe of what you just showed me. That data alone is worth so much back home, with it I could advance our knowledge of the galaxy that would otherwise take about 30 years to achieve. So, what you are telling me, is I will have the same power you have now, but on your world? Incredible! I will then save your planet from destruction, while you save mine? Just how will I be able to stop a star from dying?”



For the first time since I met her, Kaaren’s face got very serious. “You can’t save our world. It is inevitable that our star will die, it can’t be stopped, yet we do have the capability to evacuate. My people can be saved by moving them to other habitable planets near us, but the plan will take decades and that time is running out. My people need a hero to overthrow the corruption and lead them to safety. One that could not be me made silent by our corrupt leaders,” It was starting to make sense to me. She continued.



“Time is running out, I have already lost precious time due to damage done to my ship’s Super-Drive that allows faster-than-light travel between two wormhole points. We had to take an emergency exit from our faster-than-light journey in order to repair this ship. It was one of my father’s final act before succumbing to his wounds. I have enough power to finish my mission here, and head home.”



“Faster-than-light travel - impossible, yet somehow possible,” I thought. Something else was causing me to scratch my head.



“Kaaren, I’m sorry, but I have to ask. Um, how is it you can speak my language?” She started laughing.



“Michael, it was planned that I would live on your planet until my father’s mission was complete, it would only be beneficial for me to learn how to speak the local languages in order to blend in among your people. Others from my planet have surveyed your world in the past and returned with vast data about your culture and languages. During my journey here, I studied all the data available, data which I will make available to you. Your world has so much diversity amongst your people. We are rather boring in comparison only having one language and culture.”



“How could I resist such an offer. I’m completely sold. I will become the first human to travel beyond our solar system and visit another civilized planet.” Something bothered me.



“Kaaren, when you were talking about your ship having enough power, you said you will head home, don’t you mean I will be going?”



“Michael, I watched as you risked your life trying to save your crew. You knew this would be a one way ticket, and you left your Liz and Ashley behind in exchange for a greater good because your character is a strong one. Your life was worth risking in order to save a people who didn’t deserve salvation. You love the people of your planet and have high hope for them that one day they will finally mature and put an end their childish behavior. I could have traveled to the planet and looked for others to help me, but I chose you, Michael, because I believe it was fate that one of Earth’s finest humans would drift right in front of me.



My jaw was wide open,“ how do you know that, how do you know my wife and daughter’s names, what is it you chose me to do?”



“Even on my planet, apart from the powers given by your Sun, I can see into people’s hearts and read whatever they are thinking at the time. I have seen your heart Michael, and for that, I will entrust my life into your possession. Come, I want to introduce you to someone.” Kaaren took my hand and led me to another room. In it there was a crystal case about the size of a coffin. She led me to the side.



“This is my father. This was his mission, his plan. I swore I would carry out his mission and save our people.”



---The Mission---



I looked at the body, he was wrapped in white metallic clothes and had an emblem on his chest.



“He looked like quite a man, I am sorry for your loss,” A tear ran from her face. She turned and looked at me.



“Time is running out. Will you help me do what my father could not?” I nodded yes. “My father’s knew our people well. He was an elder, and a great scientist. He knew it wouldn’t be enough to find a human to go to our home and lead a people that they would know nothing about. He knew he would have to be the one to carry it out. His mission, the mission I have sworn to accomplish is to find a human of noble character to who he would entrust great power to.”



“I am confused. Am I supposed to go your your planet or not?” She nodded.



“No, you will stay here, I will go back.” she said.



“Ok, now I am really confused,” I was starting to get impatient like listening to a little green dyslexic Jedi master speaking in riddles.



Kaaren put her hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “Listen to me very carefully - my father devised a way to switch one’s spirit with another. He intended to switch places with whomever he chose until his work was accomplished and our people safe. Then he would return and relinquish his power. That is why he wanted someone such as yourself, someone who will give up that power when the time is right.”



“Wait a second, you want to switch bodies with me?” The weight of the idea came crashing down on me. All this knowledge and power in exchange for my body.



“Why me, why not find woman to switch with?” In case you haven’t realized, we are different. You want to become a man, and you want me to become you?”



“No Michael, I need to become a man. It would have been easier if my father was alive, but I am all that is left to follow his plan through. You are thinking like the people of my planet. Women have no regard in upper levels of power. Even one endowed with super power, the religious leaders would deem me to be an abomination and convince the people to follow them into damnation rather than following a woman.”



“I’m sorry Kaaren, it’s not something I was expecting. I am very much a man. It might be easy for a woman to take on male body, but the other way around is, it’s, um -”



“- Degrading? Yes, I know. From what I have read, woman of your planet deal with the same thing as we do. It’s sad really, but I envy your women. You are light years behind our most basic technology, yet females of Earth have a much higher place in life and have made much progress in achieving equality.”



“Well I didn’t really mean it like that, but as men, we are taught to be strong and tough and not allowed to show our soft sides.”



“Michael, in this body, you will never be weak or frail. You can be strong, yet show any emotion you want. There is really no difference between males and females, our spirits have no gender, we simply pilot different machinery, surely you of all people can understand that concept. Our bodies have different capabilities, responses, and advantages. We are taught from the moment of birth how to only control one vehicle to carry us through life. Wouldn’t you like to know what is it like to handle a sexy curvy body with a hell of an engine underneath the hood?”



That is so not fair, her using her mind reading to appeal to the pilot in me as well as the man in me. The entire time she was talking, I was thinking of my Porsche back home. She was indeed sexy and fast and more fun to drive. Still the thought of being a woman was not appealing to me at all.



---The Decision---



'I gotta man up,' I thought to myself. 'Seriously, what choice do I have? My wife and daughter along with about 85% of Earth’s inhabitants are going to die when the asteroid hits Earth. Kaaren is about to bestow the second greatest gift man kind has ever received and I am reluctant because it involves me becoming a woman?'



“Think about it, you will be the most powerful woman in all of human history,” Kaaren said aloud, as if reading my thoughts. “Unlike all other females, you will never have to submit to the egos of men. They will never have power over you. But greater than all that, imagine what you can do for your world. What was your job before this happened? You were a scientist, a pilot, and a space explorer. Imagine all that, free from the bounds of your frail body. You can boldly go where no one has gone before and explore the worlds in your solar system freed from the confines of special ships and suits. You can soar through the clouds of your planet free as a bird and see things your people wouldn’t believe. Vast knowledge of two worlds will be yours to know and use for the good of all.”



“Wow, I never thought about it like that. How can I pass this up? Of course, of course. I am sorry, I was a fool, how could I turn this down. Besides, you will be back right?”



“It will take some time, but I anticipate completing my mission and returning in about ten to twelve years. My trip will be a near instantaneous journey unlike the last trip now that the Super-Drive is repaired, but two years will pass before you until I reach home. I will barely have enough power left in my ship when I do. I anticipate ten years to be able to take control of my planet and lead my people safely to a new world. Then I will be able to return and you can return to your wife and daughter. So if this is this what you want, are you ready to change your world?”



---The Change---



Kaaren led me into a room deep in the ship. The room was made of more crystal. Many researchers on Earth have proposed the benefit of using crystals for data storage and other applications, but it was apparent that wherever she was from, they built a whole technology around manipulating various types of crystals for all kinds of applications. In the middle of the room, there were two large crystal like chambers.



“Is this where the magic is going to happen?” I asked.



“It’s not magic, but science. Built for other reasons, My father discovered a way to separate and transfer one’s inner spirit to another host. Our spirits are immortal, yet our bodies eventually die. If one could create new bodies and transfer one’s spirit into a more robust body, one might be able to live longer. His young apprentice, my lover, whom I will miss, was working on other discoveries that might help us move off our dying planet and hopefully live longer lives elsewhere.”



“So how does this work?” I asked, wanting to know just what I was getting involved with.



“What will happen is this: I will go into one chamber, while you go into the other. After a short painless process, you will emerge as me, and I as you. My ship has the capability of storing my planet’s radiation and as soon as you leave, I will expose my human body to it while I return home. Upon arrival, I will be powerful enough to begin my crusade. If my calculations are correct, I will arrive with just enough power to return home,” She paused, “Do you have any questions?”



Actually..,”About a million of them. How will I know how to control my abilities, what limitations do I have, will there be any that can cause me harm?”



Kaaren replied, “As for control, you will learn as you go. I have not fully grasped it myself, relax and concentrate on where you want to go. You will be able to survive in a vacuum and exposure to all known radiation will not harm you. Your body will be extremely dense and give you great strength. There is much more, but I will let you be surprised, the scientist in you will know at once, what I am talking about. We will not meet again after the transfer,” She held three crystals in her hand and showed them to me.



“In my my suit, you will find these three crystals,” She held up two crystals, one clear, one blue. “The clear one contains all the collected data we possess from your world and ours. I have added new information relevant to our new modified plan. Everything I know about using my powers, to understanding the intricacies of my anatomy. All my knowledge will become yours for you to use and I will make sure that you are not alone in your journey, but I will always be by your side in spirit to guide you in until I return.



Good, I didn’t have to figure this all out on my own. With any luck, She will be back before I know it. “The blue crystal will create the means for you to read the data on the clear crystal, while the magenta colored crystal will serve as a beacon announcing my return. It will glow bright letting you know it’s time to return to your family,” She put all three into pouches on a belt tightly hugging her slender waist above her curvy hips.



“Quit staring Michael, they will be yours in a few minutes,” she said making me a little uncomfortable, “Are you ready?” She reached out to me and led me to my chamber then looked at me and smiled.



“Thank you Michael. Enjoy all the discoveries you make while in my body for everything it has to offer is yours to explore and cherish. Promise me you will respect the gift I have bestowed you and never use it to cause pain, instead, use this opportunity to do good by bringing your people together and furthering its technology for all. Will you promise me?” She asked while looking down into my eyes. She was so tall, easily six feet or more.



“Yes, I promise,” I said looking up into her sparkling blue eyes.



“Now close your eyes and keep them closed,” I closed them and before I could react, I felt a very warm kiss on the cheek that seemed to persist for an eternity. As she pulled away, a loud hissing sound signified that the door to the chamber was closing. There was no turning back.





To Be Continued....Episode 2 “Pilot Part II”



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