The world is slowly dying. Populations are swelling to unsustainable numbers. Terror and violence has taken over many cities and towns. As the men and women of the Galactic Exploration and Search Unit attempt to soothe the masses, they inform everyone that colonization on other worlds is the answer. But with no habitable planet in sight, all hope seems lost. Not everyone has given up yet. Rusty Bolt, captain and master pilot of the Hope Merchant, his co-pilot Joel Carr, and their dedicated crew begin a space trek with the goal of colonizing a new world. As the ship begins its journey, all...

When young adventurer Early T. Riser discovers a dead body alongside the riverbank, he's thoroughly intrigued. What interests Riser is not so much the bullet hole through the big man's forehead, but rather the folded parchment map containing a sprig of unknown vegetation. To Riser, the map has all the characteristics of a fake treasure map, but it is nonetheless interesting. Riser shares the unique map with his best friend, Chili Dog, a man schooled in biology. The two embark on a journey to see what treasures the map may or may not hold. While aboard the "Breaker" on their way to the...