It was a sunny day outside, but inside the space centre's briefing room, the air felt unusually cold.
A long holographic display hovered above the table—showing a distinct planet rotating slowly, like it was waiting.
"And this is how you're all going to get there," the director said. His voice was calm, controlled—too controlled.
No one spoke for a moment.
Then Luna Kennedy tilted her head slightly, her eyes fixed in the hologram.
"I beg your Pardon," She said. "Who'll be the captain of this mission?"
The room shifted.
It wasn't loud, but the silence changed shape.
Even the director paused longer than necessary.
After a few seconds, he finally answered.
"You don't need to worry about that."
He looked around the table once.
"I already have someone in mind."
The time skipped
The scene shifted to a girl sitting alone sitting on a chair, glasses resting on her nose.
Outside the window, the sun was setting in slow orange waves–but she didn't look at it.
Her eyes stayed locked on the case file in her hands.
A murder case.
Then—
Knock. knock.
Emily turned her head slightly. Letting out a low groan before she could even stand.
But the door opened anyway.
The lock clicked on it's own.
The director stepped inside, holding a spare key between his fingers. A calm smile rested on his face–but it didn't reach his eyes.
Emily's gaze sharpened instantly.
"...Why are you here?" She asked, voice flat and tired.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked around her apartment like he owned the silence inside it.
"This FBI job doesn't really suit you," he said at last.
Emily closed the file slowly.
"What the hell do you want now?"
A faint smile returned to his face.
"Oh, Emily, you know I don't like repeating myself." He tilted his head slightly. "We've been watching your recent findings... and we've decided to send you on a field assignment."
Emily stood up now.
"I'm not interested."
The director signed softly, almost disappointed.
"That's unfortunate," He said. "Because yout younger sister, Helena, will receive full premium care for her condition."
A pause.
"And if you still refuse..." his voice lowered slightly, "I won't have many options left."
The next day arrived to quickly.
The meeting room of the space centre felt colder than it should have been, despite the controlled climate. A long table stood in the middle, surrounded by silence and expectation.
"So... where's our Captain?"
Luna's voice broke through the tension, sharp with curiosity and a hint of challenge.
No one answered.
The silence stretched.
Too long.
The air seemed to tighten.
The director slowly turned toward this Assistant and leaned in just enough to whisper, "You know what to do."
The assistant gave a small nod and left the room without hesitation.
A few seconds passed.
Then the door opened.
A woman stepped in.
Emily Scott.
Dressed neatly, composed, unreadable.
The director smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Here's your captain, Luna."
Luna didn't respond immediately, her eyes stayed locked on Emily, assessing.
The director began explaining the mission in a calm, practiced tone. Once he finished, Emily finally spoke.
"So... we just go there, collect natural samples, and study the environment?"
The director gives a sharp nod.
"Unfortunately, yes."
The director placed his pen down deliberately, the sound sharper than it should've been.
"Now, you can choose your crew members yourself."
Emily blinked slightly.
"So... I at least have this freedom..." she murmured under her breath.
The director tilted his head.
"Did you say something?"
Emily didn't answer.
Across the table, Luna gave her a small quiet wave—measuring her like a puzzle she hadn't solved yet.
Time skipped.
Emily stepped out of the room with a file in her hand.
The corridor outside the meeting hall was quieter but not empty.
"Hi! I'm Annie Alverstoke... what's your name?"
Emily didn't respond, she kept walking.
Annie, unfazed, quickly matches her pace.
"So you're an introvert? It's okay! I'm a systems officer."
Still no reaction.
Emily didn't even glance at her.
Annie sighed dramatically but there was amusement in it.
"Okay, fine. If you're not going to speak, then I'll do it for you."
She leaned in slightly forward as she walked beside her.
"I'll guess your name."
A pause.
"It's—"
"Emily Scott."
Emily's voice cut through clean and flat.
She didn't stop walking.
Annie blinked, then smiled—warm, like she had just won something.
"So you're not mute after all."
Emily stepped into the washroom.
Annie stayed outside, waiting.
A hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
She jolted.
"Asher Watson! Not every moment is prank time!"
Asher stood there with a relaxed, charming smirk. Completely unbothered by her reaction.
"Oh, I wasn't trying to scare you," he said lightly. "I was just going to ask about that... new, nonchalant woman."
"New woman?" Annie repeated.
Before she could say anything, another voice cut in.
"She's not new. She definitely has a history I don't know about."
Luna Kennedy stepped into view. Her tone calm—but suspiciously sharp.
Annie quickly clasped her hands together.
"Miss Kennedy! How are—"
"What are you all talking about?"
Kai Pierce joined them, standing beside Asher with a confused glance.
Luna didn't even look at him properly.
"It's something so insignificant, it'd be a waste of breath explaining it to you."
Kai blinked. "Wow. Okay."
A cheerful voice followed.
"Oh, hi everyone, why is everyone crowding here? And why does everyone look angry, Miss Kennedy?"
Noah Oliver appeared, completely oblivious to the tension.
Luna exhaled softly.
Her patience snapped into command.
"Everyone. Just. Leave."
Kai rolled his eyes and walked away.
The others followed slowly, the tension dissolving into scattered footsteps.
Emily stepped out last.
For a brief second, her eyes met Luna's.
Neither of them spoke.
The next day.
Emily returned with a new file in her hand.
Inside it was the final crew list.
Noah Oliver and Kai Pierce — Pilots
Luna Kennedy — Astrobiologis
Asher Watson — Engineer
Annie Alverstoke — Systems Officer
The director read the list carefully, then looked up at her.
"You have a rather... unusual choice, Miss Scott."
A pause.
"Very well. We'll arrange everything."
After the meeting, Annie excitedly showed Asher a pen-sized it.
"If this is a pen, it's a lipstick," She said, twisting it. "Take off the tip—concealer. Back cap—mascara."
Asher stared at it.
"That's... unnecessarily complex."
Emily walked past them without a word.
Annie watched her leave, confused again.
Days passed.
Launch day arrived.
The entire crew stood ready.
For once, Asher looked serious.
Annie stood beside Emily.
"I hope we bond well," she said softly.
Emily didn't respond.
She didn't even look at her.
The countdown began.
Engines roared.
Earth faded beneath them.
Everything was calm... almost too calm.
Then—
The emergency alarm blared.
Red lights filled thee cockpit.
They had crossed light years.
Asher stood to check the systems.
Emily followed.
"No damage reports," He muttered. "Everything looks stable."
Kai frowned. "Then why the alarm?"
A silence.
Kai spoke again, slower this time.
"...we might have to make an emergency landing."
No one argued.
There was no other option.
The ship tilted.
Gravity shifts violently.
The planet below came into view—strange, familiar, almost earth-like but wrong in a way no one could explain.
The hull screamed.
The atmosphere tore around them.
And
CRASH.