Two months after his death, my father’s burden on me died as well. Not completely, I knew I’d always feel this way deep down, but it was easier to ignore what he’d done. Still, I’d always hate him, for the rest of my life. But suicide wasn’t what I’d hate him for. I’d find another reason all too soon.
The day had come for the estimates on who will be entering Novelta first. They’d be placing us in groups, to determine the approximate amount of supplies and any tools necessary for the given task. Anyone learning their job only upon leaving Earth is considered an apprentice to those who have extensive knowledge about their job.
“We’ll be sending groups to predetermined places around Novelta for specific given tasks. Most of these groups will be located on a close proximity to the ship, but some will need to travel so we can get all the information we can within the shortest amount of time.”
Mrs. Ester paced around the small stage on the main floor of the ship. She was a stern, slightly heavyset woman. She’d taken over the job my father had before his death.
The main floor was filled with young adults, all eager for adventure and ready to look death in the face. The wall to her left was the one covered in names of those lost in Earth’s explosion, and it gave a slightly ominous effect to the speech given by Mrs. Ester. Her permanent scowl and harsh voice didn’t help any.
“Each group will consist of roughly eight members, respectfully. The professions needed in each group will be determined by the jobs and skills needed for each area being explored. Generally, we will need: a Pilot, Navigator, Monitor, Technologist, Biologist, and three apprentices. The apprentices, as you know, will need to have taken some kind of Biology or Technical class. For our current groups, the apprentices will be chosen, for now, by these.” She holds up a paper, which has the results of our Mid-Exam on it. We’d taken the tests about two weeks ago and it was kind of a rough insight to who would actually be accepted as an apprentice. They told us it didn’t count but we knew that if we didn’t do well on it- even if we did much better on the Final Exam- our chances of being accepted were slim.
“All groups have already been chosen by us, with the exception of the Pilots and Navigators, which will be chosen by the head of planes and flying equipment. We’ll have fifteen traveling groups, and a few more groups to stay in the ship area. Apprentices: don’t worry if your name is not called now. Right now we’re just mainly getting the members of each crew defined. Remember, we haven’t taken the final tests yet,” she said with an almost evil grin. It screamed ‘the final test means nothing, it’s now or never chumps, sorry.’
I looked at Kimberly. She’d come with me to the meeting even though she was waiting to enter Novelta with everyone else. After my little falling out with Allie last month, she definitely wasn’t coming with me. I half expected Allie to come lecture me about how dangerous this was and whatnot but I didn’t hear a word. She must really be mad.
I hadn’t told my mom of my intention to go yet. She probably wouldn’t approve. Or maybe she wouldn’t care.
People were standing and going to their respectful little stations around the room leaving just us apprentice wannabes sitting. There were about a couple hundreds of us, by the looks of it. Fifteen groups with three apprentices each… forty-five of us could go. I knew I’d done well, heck, all I’d done the month and half before the test was study, but did I do well enough..?
They started calling out the names and I covered my ears. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted this. I’d let Kimberly listen for me.
It didn’t take too long. I looked up when I felt movement of bodies around me. Kimberly was half smiling.
“Well..?”
