Images played in William Hunter’s mind as he lay motionless. His chestnut-colored Arabian stood nearby, awaiting a command. A rain-moistened earth cradled the fallen rider. Hunter was oblivious to his classmates gathering around him and the world outside his private theater.

Hunter's goal was to be valedictorian of the class of 2025, but he had four long years before graduation—time enough to enjoy being a teen and little time to become a commander.

“He’s hurt bad… breathing is shallow, pupils are non-responsive. Severe contusion to the head and possible neck and back injury; I’m calling for air rescue.”

His mind drifted back to when he and his foster parents visited the Museum of Science and Technology to see the old NASA crafts. He could hear them again. “Ever since he could walk, he wanted to fly, and once he learned to talk, all he ever said was ‘three… two… one…’, as they frequently boasted. His logical mind began critiquing his reminiscences.

“X-rays show damage to the seven cervical vertebrae. I want a detailed MR image STAT—before we go further. Keep him strapped and sand-bagged—let’s give this kid every attention.”

Still unconscious, his body twitched as the medical staff attended to him. His mind reacted by settling into a deeper, safer place from the trauma. He imagined his ego-pleasing future: success, attention, and, most importantly, adventure. Exploration was at the core of his being, and he wanted to be a part of the new adventurers who would genuinely touch and explore the planets in the solar system. Like a musketeer, he envisioned a young D'Artagnan embarking on an adventure that would take him across France and England and then out to the cosmos.

“Relieving pressure from the nerve now—slight laceration of the C1-8 nerves. That’s all we can do; the rest is up to his recuperative powers. He’s young and strong. He won’t set any track and field records but will be ambulatory. Finish closing, please, while I go and speak to the family.”

With each drip of intravenous medication, Hunter slipped more deeply into a dreamless, convalescing sleep—his mind and body now answering all-stop.