veil of the unknown

Chapter 5: Waiting and Wondering

With the initial assessment phase over, Soren and the other candidates were given a brief reprieve. They were told to rest, recuperate, and wait for the results that would determine who would move forward. For Soren, the waiting was excruciating. Each day felt like it stretched into eternity, each hour punctuated by a nagging sense of doubt and anticipation.

Friends and family offered support, though there was an unspoken understanding that not everyone would make it. His father would occasionally drop by to give him a reassuring pat on the back, sometimes sharing a few words of encouragement. "Just remember, Soren," he would say, "they're looking for people who can keep going, no matter what. You've already made it this far."

But the words only held Soren's doubts at bay for so long. What if he wasn't cut out for this? What if the other candidates had outperformed him? What if, after all the hard work, he was sent back to the ordinary life he so desperately wanted to escape?

The world outside the training program seemed to carry on as if nothing monumental was happening, but Soren felt the weight of every new announcement and news article about the project. Updates on the planet Kepler-186f filtered through the media, adding to the excitement and tension surrounding the mission. One report described the recent discovery of freshwater lakes and what scientists believed were forested areas on the distant planet. Another report speculated about the potential dangers of life on Kepler: dense gravity, fluctuating climates, and the unknown effects of an atmosphere so different from Earth's.

The world watched with cautious optimism as the science team behind the Luxembourg Space Colonization Program briefed the public on their ongoing findings. But in private briefings with the candidates, the instructors painted a starker picture.

---

In one such briefing, Soren and the others were gathered in a small room, the lights dimmed as an instructor projected images of Kepler's landscapes onto the wall. Towering mountains, dark forests, and vast bodies of water filled the screen, each one breathtakingly beautiful but undeniably alien.

"This is what you'll be up against," the instructor said, his tone blunt. "Kepler is habitable, but it's also dangerous. Its gravity is 1.6 times that of Earth's, which means every movement will require more effort. Your muscles, bones, even your cardiovascular system will be tested in ways you can't fully anticipate. There is oxygen, yes, and water, but there is also an ecosystem we barely understand."

The room was silent, the weight of his words settling heavily over them. Soren's gaze stayed fixed on the images, trying to imagine what it would be like to walk through those forests, to feel the pull of Kepler's gravity with every step.

"But there's something else you should know," the instructor continued, his voice dropping slightly. "Not everyone on Kepler will have the same intentions. Each country is sending its own candidates, each with its own agenda. Once you're there, cooperation isn't guaranteed. We expect tensions, possibly even conflict. Luxembourg is a small nation, and your numbers will be limited. You'll need to rely on each other and be prepared to assert yourselves if necessary."

Soren exchanged a glance with Elise, who sat beside him. Her expression was serious, her jaw set as she absorbed the information. He felt a flicker of resolve settle within him. This wasn't just about exploration; it was about survival in every sense of the word.

The instructor went on, outlining the political stakes of the mission. He described how the larger countries would likely attempt to establish dominance, consolidating resources and power. Luxembourg, with its limited representation, would face an uphill battle. "Don't underestimate the possibility of a power struggle," he warned. "Each of you will carry the responsibility of representing Luxembourg's interests. It won't be easy."

The briefing ended on that somber note, leaving the candidates in thoughtful silence. Soren lingered as the others filtered out, feeling the weight of the mission pressing down on him. This wasn't the grand adventure he'd once imagined. The risks were real, and the journey would be fraught with danger—both from the unknown world and from those they would share it with.

---

After the briefing, Soren found himself standing outside, staring up at the night sky. The stars seemed to stretch on forever, each one a tiny reminder of how vast and incomprehensible the universe was. Somewhere out there, Kepler-186f waited, a distant dot on the map of existence.

Elise joined him, her gaze also fixed on the stars. She didn't say anything for a while, just stood there beside him, the quiet settling between them like an unspoken agreement.

"It's a lot to think about," she said eventually, her voice barely a whisper.

Soren nodded. "Yeah. It's... bigger than I realized. More complicated."

She glanced at him, a faint smile crossing her lips. "You'll be fine. I know you will."

Her confidence in him was both reassuring and intimidating. He wanted to believe her, but the doubts still clung to him, the fear that he wasn't strong enough for what lay ahead. But standing there beside Elise, with the stars overhead and the world stretching out before him, he felt a flicker of determination—a quiet, unshakable resolve that he didn't fully understand.

---

The wait for the final selection results stretched on, each day blurring into the next as Soren tried to stay focused. He spent his time in quiet preparation, going over everything he'd learned, replaying the lessons and advice from the instructors in his mind. He reached out to his family, sending them a message, though he kept his words brief. He didn't want to worry them, and he knew that whatever happened, he would carry their support with him.

Then, finally, the results came.

He received the notification late one evening, his tablet buzzing quietly on his bedside table. Heart pounding, he picked it up, staring at the message that would determine his future.

"Congratulations, Soren. You have been selected to move forward with the next phase of training for the Luxembourg Space Colonization Program."

For a moment, he couldn't breathe. The words seemed to blur before his eyes, the reality of what they meant sinking in. He had made it. He was going to Kepler.

He allowed himself a rare moment of celebration, a brief, silent exhale of relief and joy. All the doubts, all the fears, seemed to fade away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of purpose. He wasn't just Soren, a kid from Luxembourg. He was part of something monumental, something that would change his life—and possibly the fate of humanity—forever.

He sent a quick message to his family, keeping it simple, but he knew they would understand the significance of what he'd accomplished.

That night, as he lay in bed, he felt a peace settle over him, a sense of rightness that he hadn't felt in a long time. Whatever came next, he was ready for it.

And with that thought, he drifted into a dreamless sleep, the weight of his doubts finally lifted.