Corporal Samuel Horowitz and Private Joe Besser walk on either side of you as they make their way through the corridors of the spaceship. The hum of the engines and the bustle of crew members engaged in various tasks fill the air. Some of the Marines are working on the weapons mount, and a few more are running simulations on their tablets.

As they walk, Corporal Horowitz turns to you and smiles. “Ya know, me faddah was also a medical doctah. He worked in Mars. Me? I always wanted to explore space, see the stars up close. That’s why I joined the military. Why’d you become a doctor, uh, doc?”

Doctor Dudley answers.

You arrive at the Combat Information Center (CIC), which you last saw seven years ago. For you, that was yesterday.

Horowitz touches his ear piece. “Sir, we have Doctor Dudley.”

Horowitz tilts his head, listens for a moment, and the door opens.

“After you, doc.”