Nebula

Arrival

After an everlasting train trip the train was finally closing up to our destination. We turned right towards a tube that was shut off by a huge gate, you couldn't see in, and we were met with big red flashing lights as we approached.

"That's definitely the camp." Stella glued her cheek to the window so she could see better.

The train stopped, and a loud alarm started going off. Everyone had their hands over their ears, except me.

The doors slowly opened, letting the train through. I was still the only one not covering my ears, there had constantly been alarms going off back at the facility since day one. You just had to sigh and sit through it until someone ran and turned it off.

"God, that's loud!" Travis yelled.

"Do they need to alarm everyone within 100 miles. 'The gates are opening!' " Taya waved her arms around in the air. I laughed, their reactions were quite funny.

The gates opened and the train started moving again, we went past the gate. This tube was very strange, it was more like a sphere. You could probably use several hours walking from one side to the other.

The terrain was just a plain grassfield. Far away I could hint to what looked like a military base, it must've been the training camp.

"Look that's the camp!" Taya pointed out the window. "Thats really big - and it spans even further than this?" Stella nodded, "yea, you have no idea how many people actually want to become a space explorer. Something along the lines of 100 thousand or more each year."

Taya looked shocked, "but - the number of explorers is nowhere near 100 thousand"

Stella sighed. "That's the thing, only the best become a part of Nebula. About 5 thousand succeed every year." Taya stared at Stella. "WHAT!? No one has told me that!? I have like no chance of getting in. I mean look at some of these people," Taya threw a look over at a group of very muscular guys who were laughing.

"Tch - just because they have strength doesn't mean they'll succeed. I mean - you need to learn a lot about space, and not to mention the ships' mechanics. Those meatheads probably don't even remember their own exercise routine."

Stella laughed. "Probably - hey, how many months before that pixie from earlier gets sent home?"

Travis laughed. "Months? Hah, one week and she's out." I giggled. "Yea - but seriously, I think she'll last a year." Taya rolled her eyes at me, like I sounded stupid.

"She'll succeed," Stella whispered under her breath. "No way you'd think that! She had nothing going for her!"

Stella shrugged. "I mean she rude - yeah. But that doesn't mean her chances are lower. People like her are only vicious behind closed doors. to some when the superiours aren't watching." I sighed and leaned my head back.

"I'll make her be sent home." Travis laughed an evil laugh. "Stop it Travis, you're not any better than her, you were the one causing the scene." Travis stared at me, with an angry look, "Oh so you're on her side now? She wasn't going to hold back her attitude and you know it." Taya shook her head in disappointment.

Travis got up. "Where are you going?" I asked, "whatever." He brushed me off before walking into the other wagon. "Don't follow him, it's what he wants. He always acts like this," Taya clarified. But I still felt bad, maybe I had been too harsh on him...

The train stopped when it reached the camp. "Come on," Taya grabbed mine and Stella's hand. She us out the train like children who couldn't walk themselves.

Everyone was just as confused when we stood here on the platform with no one there to greet us.

"Why is no one here? I thought this was organized by ISE not public school."