Lockstep

In Lockstep, Toby McGonigal awakens 14,000 years later to find a thriving empire ruled by his tyrant brother, forcing him to navigate treachery and reclaim his place.

In Lockstep, seventeen-year-old Toby McGonigal finds himself adrift in the vastness of space, separated from his family and facing the chilling prospect of cold sleep. He assumes that his next drift will be his final one, especially since the planet he's orbiting is frozen, sunless, and devoid of life. However, Toby awakens to a surprising reality: he has been asleep for an astounding 14,000 years and the planet is now home to a thriving civilization. This new world is part of the Lockstep empire, where hibernation is a means of survival and the galaxy's citizens travel between worlds in suspended animation.

As Toby navigates this unfamiliar and prosperous galaxy, he learns that the Lockstep empire is still governed by his family's lineage, which adds a layer of complexity to his return. His brother, Peter, has transformed into a cruel tyrant, suspicious of Toby's reappearance and the potential threat he poses to his reign. The empire's delicate balance is maintained through the hibernation cycles that Toby's family controls, making his return not only significant but perilous.

With the assistance of a Lockstep girl named Corva, Toby must find a way to endure the treacherous landscape of his family's empire. Together, they face the challenges of outsmarting Peter and his forces while striving to preserve the remnants of human civilization. Lockstep is a tale of survival, familial ties, and the quest for identity in a world that has changed beyond recognition.