space rocks

The day of your Journey back has begun.  You return with Professor Scot and Professor Jane.  They both seem more worried than with the launch but they don’t really show it all too much and their calm tone of voices encourages you to stay brave.

The same man that talked you through the launch is also now talking over the radio.

Professor Jane undocks the shuttle right above America.

 

“Charlie, Professor Jane here is really good at what she does.  But sometimes, we don’t land where we intended to.  Keep calm, you’re your eyes on me, and listen to your suit.  I know you could do those calculations yourself but you need to concentrate on landing in the right spot.  The suit can’t do that for you. Don’t panic if you can’t see where I landed, I will trance your location if that happens.  Don’t panic, keep to the training.  This will all be over soon, you can do this.”  I must look a lot more worried than I thought, you think to yourself.

 

Professor Jane rotates the shuttle and says, “falling in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five,  four three, two, one.”

 

Falling back down to earth is much faster than flying up.  As you enter the atmosphere flames engulf the ship and then dissipate.  Professor Jane waits for the man on the radio to give her the green light to eject the pod.

“In T minus fifteen seconds….eject in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.  Eject.”

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You burst forward into open air, freefalling for a few seconds you wait the computer in your suit to tell you the exact moment to open the parachute.  You’re approaching an empty field just outside of Houston when you hear the AI recording, as you release the chute you are yanked backwards, but you manage to keep your balance.  You are about a hundred meters away from Professor Scot.  You have landed safely and a NASA team was sent to help you get out of the pod and back to headquarters.

AS you arrive at NASA’s ground control you find that there is no welcome party, no flags, only a few protestors and policemen fighting at the gates that has been locked for safety.  A few reporters are standing in the distance trying to shoot some footage for the news.  Moorland is waiting to escort everyone back to their residences.

 

“Professor Jane, Scot, Charlie, Doctor and the rest nice to see you all.  I’ll take you to your rooms.  I’m afraid you can’t leave here until the rock has passed.  President’s order.  Some dark web nuts got rewards for your heads pending.  They don’t believe it will miss earth.  Think you murdered us all, Charlie.”

 

Since when is Moorland such a straight shooter? you think to yourself.  The team all load their bags from the trailer and make their way to the residences. 

 

“You see that park over there, kid?  I’m not letting you rot in your room this time.  See those benches in the distance under the evergreens? Those tables are chess boards.  I challenge you to a few games.” Doctor Penner takes your head and turns it to towards the tables.

 

“Uhm, Doctor Penner, he is a chess master.  No, he is a grand master.  You’ll not enjoy it as much as you think.”  Professor Jane chuckles, holds up and waves her index finger jokingly as she squints her mouth.

 

“Change of plans.  Kid, I humbly ask that you give me some chess lessons.  Me and Professor Scot here got some business to tend to.” Doctor Penner slaps her hands together, holds it out in front of her and pushes her bottom lip forward.  Then she turns to Professor Jane and twitches her head slightly as she grumbles jokingly.

 

“Ha, you’ll never beat me, Penner.  My kid would love to play chess with us too.  You know, I think you’d get along swell.” Professor Scot moves a few imaginary chess pieces and looks towards you.

 

“Ha, yeah, you know what, I can totally see that working.”

 

“Well, I guess I could do with a friend my own age.”

 

“A friend?”

 

“Oh, hush Penner, give it a rest!” Professor Jane rolls her eyes and she and Professor Scot laughs as Doctor Penner speed walks into the building.

 

The big glass doors open automatically as you approach them.  You feel more at home now and allow yourself to take in your surroundings.

There are green plants and models of solar systems for decorations.  There are modern abstract paintings that in a way looks like some galaxies.  The metal work and the reception desk is blued steel.  This building must have cost a fortune to build, you think to yourself.

 

“You all know your way, your families are waiting for you in your residences.”  Moorland turns to you and says, “I moved you to a bigger one.”

 

Moorland is surprisingly silent as he leads you to your residence.

“Here you go, residence nr 13. This is your key card.”  He takes a card from his wallet, opens the door and hands it to you.  “Over here is the living room, its small, but it will do.  You don’t have a family residence so you only got one bedroom.  The view is much better too.

The kitchen is nice and big as you can see.  You got a fridge here, the stove is under this white lid here.  And through the sliding white doors there in the corner you’ll find your bedroom and your marvellous en suite bathroom.”

 

“Oh, uh, thank you, Moorland.”

 

“Oh and read the pamphlet on your bed, it’s an invitation to tonight’s formal dinner.  NASA got you an outfit, so don’t worry about looking fancy.  I got you covered.”  Moorland isn’t all that bad, you think to yourself as he leaves your residence. 

 

You walk to the sliding door, pick up the invitation, fall on your bed and set your cell phone alarm for two hours before the dinner.  You’ll need to make a few calls to let everyone know you’re safe.