2400 AD

Her pain was unbearable. Only she knew that, and even though she fought it, she knew she couldn’t keep fighting. Her brain, her body would succumb.

Everyone gathered around Lillian’s bed expected her to perish at any moment. Her death would bring devastation upon devastation and no one around her knew where or how it would happen.

Their only hope, Jacob, was unreachable, and that tore at her very core. Even though she had all this power, there was nothing she could do to get him back. Nothing anyone could do.

She would die without a heir to her responsibility.

And the earth and all of humanity would suffer.

In keeping with Samarand ritual, one person had to remain with her until the very end. This person would take up the challenge the moment she passed.

Jacob was out of the equation. She had to make a choice. It made no difference who, male, female, child, senior citizen, it didn’t matter.

“Lillian,” one of the elders stepped forward and took her cold hand. “It is time to choose a successor. You must call on him or her to come to your side. Are you ready?”

Lillian closed her eyes.

“Lillian, have you made a decision?”

She whispered, “Thespian.”