𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘, 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

"Is the theory true that this is a cover-up story for aliens!?"

"Shouldn't you tell the world that this is a serious crime against the environment!?"

"Is this really about destroying Earth?!"

"Could this be a death mission!?"

"Does Doctor Iwanek think there's a disease destroying us?!"

Reporters bombarded me and about seven other people with questions.

Some were understandable, others just plain ridiculous.

I stood there trying to make sense of the chaos, but even the smartest students at Oxford asked the dumbest questions sometimes.

But this... this was next level if I have to be honest.

We were supposed to be heading to a press conference, but these so-called reporters felt more like someone who picked the wrong job or need to rethink their choices.

I mean, who even asks questions like this without just wanting to stir up drama?

The guy standing next to me – I didn't know his name, just like I didn't know the names of the rest of the people around me – muttered something about amateurs.

Guess we were kinda on the same page. Even if I don't know a single thing about him.

Another thing NASA excels at: keeping secrets. None of us, not even the "mankind" being sent into the unknown for four months, knew anything about each other.

Great start.

NASA is good at almost everything, not gonna lie. But the choice of the crew?

I still hadn't figured out how I even got selected for this mission. One minute I was a professor with a pretty ordinary life, and now here I was, about to be launched into space with a bunch of strangers.

Suddenly security came rushing over and escorted us into the Kennedy Space Center. The doors opened and slammed shut behind us fast enough that the press couldn't get a peek inside.

It was always a dream of mine to see this building, to go into it is next level.

And what did the inside of my "dream" look like?

A dreary grey building, with the occasional NASA logo slapped on the walls. Not quite the space-age wonderland I'd imagined.

"Ah! There's the wonderful crew of Mission D.U.G.!" A voice greeted us. The man who stepped forward was older, grey-haired, with a smile that reminded me of a grandpa sneaking you a cookie after you've brushed your teeth. "My name is Elliot Eryk Iwanek," he announced, as though he wasn't one of the most famous astrologists on the planet. He chuckled at some private joke in his head. "I'd ask you to tell me your names, but I'd probably just mix them up with new star names I get daily. So unless you want to be called Alpha Centauri, I suggest you hold off." He smiled again. "Plus, you're not complete yet."

What the hell. I wasn't sure what I had expected from the famous Doctor Iwanek, but it definitely wasn't this. He could've been arrogant, mad, anything really. But instead, he came off like someone who forgot their glasses were on their head.

"I beg your pardon," a blonde woman spoke up, rocking back and forth on her shoes. It wasn't anxiety or excitement, more pure curiosity. "What do you mean by 'not complete'? I was told the crew had ten members. Can the ship hold more? Do we have enough food? Enough tea? Bloody hell, do we have enough tea?!"

"How you take it, you'll get about two companions, humanely," Iwanek replied and winked, as if he just told us a big secret. "And as for your other two questions, Miss..."

"That is William. Abigail William," A woman walked in, her black hair tied back, lab coat on.

"We're pleased to have you." Behind her, a second woman followed – same black hair, but styled down, wearing a red dress. They looked nearly identical. Twins. As if that was extraordinary, just think about how extraordinary this mission is, Theo.

"We've got enough tea on board to last an average person three hundred thirty-three point three three three three seven days," the woman in the lab coat said. "As for food, we've got a cook preparing hot meals, not the usual astronaut canned goods. All of the food is frozen, so it won't expire quickly."

"And don't forget the garden for fresh vegetables, vitamin C, and a refuge for vitamin D," the woman in the red dress added.

"Thank you, KM and Mea," Doctor Iwanek nodded. "Now, let's get to the conference room. No need to keep the press waiting. They're probably on the edge of their seats, dying to know more about this team."

I wasn't sure if he meant the team or the mission, but either way, I was eager to know more myself.

At least I knew one name now: Abigail William.

She looked young, like she could've been one of my students.

And of course, she had a British accent. I couldn't escape that, could I? Just when I thought I'd catch a break from teaching, I was stuck with someone who reminded me of my post.

Still, I had to keep my opinions to myself. One thing I've learned from all my years in academia: always judge non-bias. It's what makes a good teacher, after all.

"Sir Freasterman, you'll have to join them," the woman in red interrupted my thoughts.

God. Why are they so fast?

The group had already started down the hall, and I rushed after them, giving her a quick thanks.

A/N:

You do not know how much I hated this prologue, I edited it so much we ended up with this. Nevertheless I'll try to update frequently and a lot better chapters, ngl I could've done better but I pushed this in front of me for so long I had to post it.

Stay safe and hoped you enjoyed,
X Liz