[ WP ] Unknown by the general populace , humanity has already begun deep space colonization . You have been drafted for the latest expedition .

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 I breathed a sigh of relief as I plopped down on my sofa. Mr.Fibbles jumped up and rubbed his head against my leg. 
 “ Hey, buddy. ” I sighed. “ I think I got the job. ” A slow smile crept across my face as I contently vegetated on my couch. The last couple of days had been a flurry of studying up on the most recent cryptography breakthroughs in science. Being an unemployed computer science major was a rarity these days, but I had been going through a lot. A year ago I sure as hell wasn ’ t sober, and Eva had just broken up with me. But now, my life was back on track. The NSA had seemed pleased as I walked out the door, although I felt the vague feeling they were watching me to the car. 
 “ Things are finally looking up, Fibbles. ” I purred. I turned on Netflix, but soon I was asleep, dreaming- finally- of having peace. 
 
 “ Are you sure he ’ s the best one? ” The voice was gruff. Unforgiving. Scarred. 
 “ He ’ s the only one. Darned instagram and snapchat make it suspicious if someone disappears for a few days, let alone their whole lives. ” 
 
 “ What makes him different, then, dammit? ” The voice came into focus. It was wearing a uniform. It had been tempered by steel. 
 
 “ For one, he quit all social media when he became a different person, a year ago, after he decided to sober u- ” 
 
 “ That ’ s just the thing! The last thing we need is this… this… guy drinking all the ethanol in sick bay when we need him on the computer! ” 
 
 “ All reconnaissance done in the last 6 months seems to indicate he ’ s completely clean- a changed man, even. Just him and his cat. ” 
 
 The General growled again, but said nothing. 
 
 “ Sir, you said it yourself a few days ago… if we can ’ t find someone soon, the situation on Domus goes from what we have… to complete anarchy. All the last 50 years, gone. ” 
 
 The General seemed to be contemplating, grinding his jaw and glaring at the screen. Finally, he nodded. “ Send them in. ” 
 
 I woke up with a start. Had I imagined the knocking? The downstairs couple always seemed to be knocking chairs over. Maybe that was it… I layed down and closed my eyes… 
 
 The noise again. 
 
 Groaning, I threw the sheets off my face and looked at my alarm. 2:30 am. Dead of night, the burning neon told me. Who was it? 
 
 A pit of ice settled in my stomach. Was it Alex, back for his money from 2 years ago? Was it Frank, needing another quick fix? 
 
 Dreamlike, I drifted to the door, afraid to look out. 
 
 The ice cube melted as I saw a pair of suited men. Tax collectors I could deal with. As I unbolted the door and creaked it open, fearful I ’ d wake Mrs.Whitcomb up down the hall, I groggily began to wonder if this had to do with the interview. 
 Too late. 
 
 “ Mr.Tim Lodz? ” The men asked. 
 
 I nodded after a few moments. Behind me, I felt Mr.Fibbles slide in between my legs. I gently kicked him back. 
 
 “ Tim Lodz, the programmer? ” 
 
 I nodded again. What a strange question at 2:30. 
 
 “ Tim Lodz, parents deceased, no family at all? ” 
 
 The men were huge, dressed in black business suits. If I saw them walking down the street- if I noticed them at all- I ’ d hardly think they were anything but normal. “ I hardly think I should be answering a question like that at… at… ” 
 
 “ 2:32 in the morning. ” One of them answered without a beat. 
 
 “ May we come in? ” The other said, cracking his neck. 
 
 “ I hardly think that this is the time for… social calls. ” My brain was still groggy. 
 
 They didn ’ t listen, and pushed into my apartment. 
 
 “ Hey there! ” My voice was rising. I was fully awake now. “ Who do you think you are, barging in here like that!'' 
 
 They both looked at me. `` Sir, close the door.'' Neck crack said that. `` The sooner we talk, the sooner we can leave.'' 
 
 `` We leave? I think you've got something wrong, buddy! This is *my* house, and ***you'll*** be leaving!'' 
 
 They looked at each other, and without a word marched over to me and picked me up, each holding an arm. They dragged me over to my lazy boy, and threw me in. Mr Fibbles watched safely. `` Coward.'' I whispered. 
 
 They both sat down on the sofa- the same spot Sally died. I pushed that thought out of my memory. I sat up attentively. If I was being robbed, they were holding themselves quite well. In my sleep addled mind, I gave a slight giggle. Were they here to tell me I was special? A wizard? Maybe. The thought made me smile. 
 
 If neck crack could have rolled his eyes, he would have. `` My name is agent Smith. And my friend here is agent Ferrier.'' 
 
 `` Creative names.'' I quipped. I was feeling bold. 
 
 They looked at each other again. The one called Ferrier began to speak, iron jaw locked in position. 
 
 `` Mr.Lodz. As you know, you were recently interviewed for a computer programmer position at the NSA.'' 
 
 I was right! They were here about the job. 
 
 `` The interview went far better than expected, and you have been accepted.'' 
 
 `` Great!'' I yelled. `` But did you guys have to wake me up to tell me that?'' I paused a bit. `` Accepted to what?'' 
 
 Smith stood up. `` Sir, what we are about to tell you might shock you. But you must listen. Your immediate future is at stake. The U.S. government, alongside Russia, China, India, and the European Union, have created stations on a number of worlds, including bases on the moon, mars, and Europa.'' 
 
 My jaw hung open. Where were the cameras? Was this some kind of TV show? 
 
 Mr.Smith cleared his throat. `` 13 years ago, the U.S. government discovered the secrets to faster than light travel. I'm not a scientist, but try to think of it like'tearing a hole in the space time' to shrink distance.'' 
 
 I nodded, but a slight grin overtook my face. They had to be joking. 
 
 `` I assure you, this is not a joke, Mr.Lodz. The aforementioned powers colonized Proxima Centauri b, at first only a few buildings, but now home to about 600 researchers. Recentlly, the station has come under internal threat from a number of dissidents, who are targeting the station's transceivers and storage bank-'' 
 
 `` Hold up...'' I chuckled. `` If this Faster-Than-Light thing really was real, why not just tell everyone? What's the harm?'' 
 
 `` The drive has... other capabilities. If detonated inside an atmosphere, it instantly becomes equivalent to 100 atomic bombs, vaporizing whole states.'' 
 
 I held up my finger. `` Well, if there really are terrorists on your compound, you guys still screwed up then! Check your potholes. This screenplay still has a few of them.'' 
 
 A vein bulged on Ferriers neck. `` The dissidents are not your typical terrorist. In fact, they are all researchers. The matter currently in dispute is the level of autonomy that this colony currently has.'' 
 
 `` You guys are fighting people who want you to take more direct control?'' 
 
 Now Smith looked annoyed. `` Mr.Lodz, it is the U.S. government's policy to exert control over a research station on this planet as we would any other.'' 
 
 I snorted. 
 
 Ferrier looked at his watch. `` We're running out of time.'' 
 
 Smith glared beneath his glasses. `` Mr.Lodz, would you like to join this group of individuals on the planet?'' 
 
 I threw my hands up, and stood out of my chair. `` Hell yeah! But I do n't know what the hell you guys have been smok-'' 
 
 Ferrier was behind me. I had n't even heard him move. I felt a cold needle plunge into my neck, and fell a great distance... Behind me, I heard Fibbles meow. 
 
 *Good boy*. Was my last thought.
