Carpathians

Piotre Raskovich has long served Magellanix, Inc. Enhanced by mind-altering drugs as a young man, he possesses amplified cognitive abilities and the compulsion to act on behalf of his corporate masters. That is, until he makes an incredible discovery on an ice planet devoid of life: a sphere of extraterrestrial origin that’s been dormant for millions of years. For humanity, it’s first contact with an alien species, proving we’re not alone in the universe. For Magellanix, it’s profit waiting to be exploited. For Piotre, it’s a chance at freedom. Something about the artifact has caused his behavioral programming to malfunction, restoring his willpower. Free to defect from his employer, he can offer his knowledge to rival corporation TransGalactic in exchange for a life he’s long been denied. Boarding the starship Carpathia in the company of a xeno-evolutionary specialist, a superhuman navigator, and his empathic handler―tasked with ensuring Piotre is trustworthy and not a saboteur―his mission is to secure the sphere and unlock its secrets. But Magellanix isn’t about to let one of its prize assets break his contract and will stop at nothing to reacquire Piotre and his discoveries . . .