Sidus

In the twenty-second century, humankind established contact with alien civilizations. The average person saw little change. Our galactic neighbors had no interest in our minerals, nor in settling here, or in anything else for that matter. In the vastness of space, Earth was not unique. It was one of untellable millions. It was a sad realization that our Solar System, sitting in the backwaters of the galaxy, was of little to no value and held no consequence for anyone. Earth bumbled on alone, and hardly anyone saw true extraterrestrials. Ultimately, it would not be aliens coming to us. It would be the other way around. A few of us did make it out there. I was one of them. I am the first of my kind.

My name is Carter Riley. I am a veteran peacekeeper; once a one-armed, homeless, jobless father, now the first human ever to come into contact with the Precursors' Cube on Mars, and proud owner of the most combative hamster in the galaxy. The artifact is what brought me to Sidus, a mysterious space station at the center of the galaxy. A dozen or so alien civilizations have also found their way here, seemingly to unite against a common enemy. Or common enemies. Honestly, we don't know what it is that we need to face, for all the species on Sidus combined have barely explored a fraction of the galaxy. We can only guess at what other secrets are held by that dark, obscure expanse. It does hold something, that's for sure. Something sinister. And it's up to me to find out what. After all, I am the first, the protector of my kind. Before doing that, though, I need to tie my laces and swap out this crappy blaster for something a little more high-tech.

A Month Ago, I Was an Average Guy on Earth. Now, the Fate of the Galaxy Rests in My Hands. Life had dealt me a tough hand as an unemployed and disabled individual on Earth, but an unexpected twist of fate hurled me to Sidus. Picture this: a bustling nexus in space where advanced extraterrestrial races converge, having survived the grueling tests of ancient forebearers. Amidst them all, I stood out. The Sentience of Sidus identified me as a unique entity-the first of my kind and the chosen protector. My roles shifted dramatically-from the mighty dragon at the helm of the Triad and an esteemed agent to being romantically involved with Earth's president's sister. But life has its highs and lows. Cast back into societal shadows, I now helm a motley crew of misfits. Our mission? Not just to champion justice but to wage a race against time, ensuring the survival of our species-and possibly the entire galaxy.