14.

**CHAPTER FOURTEEN.**

It’s D-Day.

I wake up feeling a swarm of nerves and spend about thirty minutes in the bathroom preparing myself for the unknown. Then, I put on the space suit that Caitlyn brought for me just before I went to bed last night. The suit is a bit thick and heavy, and it has my name embroidered on the chest. It also comes with a large helmet, but I decided not to wear it just yet.

“You ready?” Caitlyn enters the room just as I finish tying my hair into a ponytail.

I turn slightly to get a better look at her and nod. She’s dressed in full military uniform, complete with a cap. She looks like she’s gearing up for battle, and it honestly makes her look a bit intimidating. “I like your outfit,” I tell her, my voice wavering slightly. “It makes you look like *Captain Marvel* in uniform—or should I say *Furiosa* from Mad Max?”

Caitlyn doesn’t respond to the comment. She doesn’t even crack a smile as she steps closer. Then, she reaches out to adjust my space suit. “You don’t need to make a joke to mask your nerves, Ophelia. I can tell you’re scared.”

She’s figured me out already. I’m not just nervous—I’m terrified. Of what I might encounter on planet Xyriel. It makes me want to back down, but I can’t. My life belongs to NASA now, and I’d be killed if I tried to run. I feel like crying, but I hold it back. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry again after my first week in prison, six years ago.

“It’s okay to be scared,” she says softly, smiling at me. “We’ve only spent a week together, but I’m glad I got to know someone as strong as you, Ophelia. I hope to see you back on Earth again.”

She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug that almost knocks the wind out of me, but I don’t pull away. If anything, I find comfort in it. When she finally lets go, she picks up my helmet and hands it to me as if presenting an award or a certificate. I take it from her with a bow, which makes her laugh. Good. At least I manage to make her laugh before I leave Earth.

We exit the room together, and she leads me through a series of staircases and elevators that take us outside. It’s a sunny day, and the field is buzzing with military personnel, people in lab coats, and others dressed like me. I spot about eight rockets lined up—NASA’s space shuttles, each designed to carry up to seven people. I learned that during our briefing on mechanical and space engineering.

“Alright, Ophelia,” Caitlyn starts, drawing my attention.

I turn to see her giving me a crisp military salute. My heart swells as I break out laughing, while she maintains a serious expression. When I finally stop laughing, I imitate her stance and salute back. “Thank you, Caitlyn, for everything. I hope we see each other again.”

With that, we part ways. I give her one last glance before joining the rest of the recruits while Caitlyn heads to where the military personnel are lined up.

When I reach my group, I see Amanda and wave at her. I also greet a few others I’ve gotten to know, including London, whose name I now know instead of just referring to him as Wendy’s logo. But I don’t see Xyriel anywhere in the lineup, and for some reason, that makes me anxious.

My gaze darts around desperately, scanning each row of recruits. I even contemplate asking one of the officers if they’ve seen him, but I hold back.

He shouldn’t matter so much to me. I barely know him. It’s only been a week since we met, yet, I can't deny that he's the only one who’s made me feel...warm. There’s something in the way he looks at me, his eyes are almost too curious— like a child just discovering the existence of school, and too empty at the same time like he’s seeing the world or the way of a human for the first time.

But beyond that emptiness, there’s a softness to his presence, a fleeting sense of wanting to understand me — which no one else has ever shown me.

After a few minutes of standing under the sun with the other recruits, Dr. Alericap steps onto a makeshift podium in front of the eight rockets. A microphone is set up there, and loudspeakers are positioned around us. She clears her throat before speaking.

“My dear recruits, today is the day,” she begins like she’s about to launch into an hour-long pep talk—which she very well might. “Two military personnel have been assigned by the government to monitor and take charge of any dialogues involving our space neighbors. They'll also guide every one of you on this mission.”

She pauses as if expecting a grand round of applause, but it doesn’t come.

“First Sergeant Douglas—” she announces as a military man in uniform steps up to the stage. He's a black man, one whose face is as hard as steel, impassive, not even a frown is on there. “— and Sergeant Major Nicolas of the U.S. Marine Corps.”

Sergeant Major Nicolas joins First Sergeant Douglas on stage. His tanned skin hints at long days spent under the harsh sun. Like Douglas, his expression remains impassive, almost intimidating.

“They'll be the two military personnel on this journey with you,” Dr Alericap says as she introduces them to us. “We wish you all success in this mission. Six months before the impact, but we hope to hear good news from you all before that.”

A clap resounds on the field as she leaves the stage with the two military officers who are immediately handed a space suit by some men in a lab coat.

I scan the field again, but Xyriel is still nowhere to be found. It makes me worried. Has Dr. Alericap decided to pull him from the mission at the last minute because of his schizophrenia? That can’t be right—can it? I’ve grown so attached to him that the thought of not seeing him anymore makes me feel an unexpected sadness.

When we're being shared into a group of seven and handed a space gear which contains first aid kits and other necessary things we'll be needing, I still don't see Xyriel.

When we're told to wear our helmets only when we land in space as we make a beeline into the rocket, I still don’t see Xyriel.

When we’re finally strapped in with harnesses and given intercoms, my pulse pounding as I watch the field and everything unfold on the wide screen, Xyriel is still missing.

And when the military personnel give us a final salute as the countdown to launch begins, I can’t help but worry about Xyriel.

I take in a deep breath, letting my eyes flutter shut for a moment as I try to focus on the mission ahead instead. But it’s no use. My thoughts keep drifting back to Xyriel.

Five… Four… Three…

The rocket hums beneath me, a low, powerful vibration that resonates through my being. I grip the armrests of my seat, stealing one last glance at the screen that shows the field outside. Still, no Xyriel.

Two…One…