Ben, Doctor of Fortunes—the literal translation of his surname still made him grin—arrived at his lab ten minutes before his scheduled meeting with Myzme ko’Khanaa. During their ten-week residence on the planet Dremiks, Ben had…

Many hours later, Dr. Ben Fortunas’s communications chip chirped in his ear. His eyes snapped open. He assessed his surroundings, instantly noting that the baby’s cries had not awakened him. Beside him in the bed, Dr. Cassie Ruger snored softly. The windowless room of their box-like home allowed no outside light to penetrate. Ben flipped his wrist over as he slid from the bed.

Part seven of this peek into a blended family surviving on an alien planet.

Ben Fortunas didn’t believe in sleeping on a problem. Exhortations about the human brain needing rest made logical sense, but he could not “shut-down” with a mystery rattling around in his head.