Set in the late 21st century, this science fiction story begins on a giant spaceship, the Exodus Challenger, as it is being completed for humankind’s first exploration outside our solar system. Dr. Calton Kumar-Smyth, the lead engineer responsible for the advanced A.I., SARIS, is having a typical workday in one of the Challenger’s escape modules, fine-tuning its higher-level functions. Suddenly, the big ship is rocked by a terrific explosion. With the emergency rapidly unfolding, mission control directs him to take the module to the badly damaged engine section to assess the destruction and find survivors. As the module glides silently over the big ship, strange events unfold. First, he sees two figures in EVA suits on a loading platform waving franticly, but it is impossible because one is identified as Mary Otumo, a crew member killed in the explosion, and the other figure has no identity on record! Moments after the strange encounter, a massive power surge hits the module, and the blackness of space envelopes the vessel’s cabin. In the darkness, SARIS’ A.I. voice comes unexpectedly in Calton’s earpiece, “Something strange is happening. I’m closing down, I will try to survive.”
One by one, Mary Otumo, the AI SARIS, and Kumar-Smyth find themselves isolated in a strange and alien universe. They have no idea where they are or if they can ever get home. There, they encounter a powerful entity that remorsefully confesses its kind caused the explosion and promises to help them return home and restore the damaged ship and its crew. But can they trust beings so different and advanced? Can a transformed A.I. struggling with human emotions help unite these enigmatic beings and humans in a quest to return home and save humanity?