1 Chapter 1 - Landfall

The chains rustled as he shifted slightly, already steeled for the electrical discharge as punishment for moving. The onlooking guards smirked at the beep of the machine as it began recharging. Dustin's breathing never changed. He was used to the pain by now. He just wished the chair was more comfortable.

"Prisoner 313564, stand up. We have arrived at our destination. Time for you to receive your sentencing."

The guard's breath smelled awful, as he leaned down into his face to give his orders.

Standing suddenly, Dustin smashed his head into the guard's face, and keeping physical contact while the machine discharged.

"Ahhhhh!" the guard screamed, falling to the ground, and promptly peeing himself. He clutched his face where blood was spewing.

"Oops," he said, not moving as he spoke so as not to set off the charge again. The beep of the machine was loud as the other guards glared at him.

"Turn that thing off, and get him to the discharge room!" barked the commander as a few more guards entered the room to drag the injured guy away.

Dragging him from the room, Dustin was carried to an unimpressive room with a small emergency evacuation capsule.

"Prisoner 313564, you have been charged with murder. You have been sentenced to one year on planet 3.54365. As compensation for your family holdings, you will be given a Personal Evolution Device, or PED. I'm sure you are familiar with them. As per custom, if you are found alive, at the end of your one-year sentence, you will be cleared of all charges and free to go. Also, half of all of your family holdings will be returned to you." The mechanical voice shut off with a whir.

One of the guards stepped forward, while the others held him still, and closed the bracer-like device over his forearm. Gritting his teeth as needles drove themselves into his arm, he fought the urge to pass out. He would not give them that satisfaction.

The commander motioned for them to place him inside the capsule, and he stared at it in horror. It would be a tight fit, and there were no safety features. If he ran out of air before he landed, he would die. It probably didn't have a parachute either.

"Just so you know," said the commander while they shoved him into this coffin, "this planet is known to be a hunter paradise world among the Josagn aliens. No one has ever survived this. I don't expect to see you again."

Dustin took a calming breath, as they strapped him into the temporary restraints, and released his cuff restraints. He closed his eyes and focused on slowing his breathing and his heart. He needed the air inside this tank to last as long as possible, and if he could slow his body down, it would need less. As soon as the latch was sealed, the restraints automatically released, but he didn't move.

He could hear them, vaguely, on the outside of the glass, laughing and hazing him, but he shut it out. He knew they were taking a long time to release him, probably to use up more of the air.

There was a whoosh, and then it was silent. Immediately, he felt the cold of space, and cursed inwardly. This crappy coffin didn't even have any protection from the elements. How was he supposed to survive reentry?

"Initiating reentry," came a soft voice in his ear. There was some form of computer in this thing. Maybe he had a chance after all.

"Computer, tell me about the planet," he asked, slow and gentle. Talking used more oxygen, but he needed to know what to expect.

"The planet 3.54365 has an atmosphere primarily of oxygen, and nitrogen. It is too rich for human survival. The surface of the planet is thickly covered in plant growth and has a healthy animal population."

Crap, if the atmosphere was unbreathable, he would only have a few minutes to find something to steal genetic material from. No wonder no one survived this planet. Cursing his luck, he turned his attention to the PED on his arm, and activated it. It was a good thing his dad was a war hero before he died. It had left plenty of money for his mother to waste drinking away her sorrows. It also left enough for him to be granted this little gizmo.

Dustin wasn't sure how the system worked exactly, but he knew that the more money the government stood to gain when you were thrown in prison, the fancier the parting gift. Without this thing, he didn't have a fighting chance.

(INTERFACING STARTED – 15 MINUTES UNTIL COMPLETE)

"Time to planet fall 14 minutes 57 seconds."

Breathing evenly, Dustin cursed his luck. He should have started it up the moment his hands were free. If he survived, it wouldn't happen again. Running what he knew through his head, he focused on what he had to do.

As soon as he was released from this metal and glass coffin, he had to immediately look for an animal, any animal, and get a sample from it. The PED would need the sample to be inserted into it before it could extract the genetic material and initiate an evolutionary change into his body. He couldn't remember how long the change took. He would just have to hope it was quick.

The ship started bouncing around as it hit turbulence. He could feel the burn of the flames flickering outside his window. Knowing that he would have burnt to a crisp by now if there were no protection, he was impressed. Whoever built this thing really did care, kinda.

"Landfall imminent. Prepare for ground contact," came the mechanical voice in his ear. He focused on continuing to breath. The air was about used up. His head was starting to ache, and he had to fight to keep his breathing slow.

There was a loud screech, and he was thrown against the glass, that popped open. He was suddenly face down in the cold mud of an alien planet. Looking around confused, he held his breath, knowing it was his only chance. Spying a worm wiggling in the mud, he grabbed it and shoved it at the genetic entry port of the PED. It wouldn't open.

Staring at it in confusion, he kept jabbing the very dead worm into the port.

(INTERFACING COMPLETE – READY FOR GENETIC SAMPLE)

The port opened and the worm was inserted. He almost pulled it out again, but the port shut too quickly. His eyes were starting to droop, and he was having trouble seeing.

(GENETIC SAMPLE AQCUIRED. ATMOSPHERE INHOSPITABLE TO HOST, INITIATING GENETIC RESEQUENCING WITH AVAILABLE SAMPLE)

He fell back into the mud, and watched the clouds drift by. If anything had come by to eat him at that moment, he would have been a goner.

(EVOLUTION COMPLETE. ATMOSPHERE BREATHABLE)

With a huge gulp of air, Dustin woke up. He breathed deep several more times, before he went to sit up. Then he felt the tentacle that had wrapped around his ankle, tighten and jerk him beneath the water.