He woke up to the realization that he was falling. The experience was unexpected and somewhat unsettling.

His senses were numb, and his vision was blurred. There was a bitter taste on his tongue that he could not identify. He tried to move his legs and arms, but all refused to budge—not that they would have been of much use, all things considered.

From the symptoms, he guessed some poisonous drug coursed through his bloodstream.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

He saw the ground approaching fast, but there was no fear in him.

Only a pressing need to understand.

He closed his eyes to focus on the last things he remembered: the soft hum of a paused TriVid screen, the swirling colors of an approaching ship, and the warmth of the Exudian sun on his skin.

Someone was there with him, too. He could see the blurred outlines of a smiling face, though he could not put a name to it. A woman, he felt.

And in a flash, it all came back to him...

“Damn!” he said as he hit the ground.