Starbound

4 - The Headquarters

Zach

Room 0890 is full of the selected teenagers. I stand with the LOE staff, zoning out as Angela speaks to the group, telling them what she already told me two days ago. I scan the group, some looked annoyed, some looked exited. a pair in the corner were weeping. No one looked as if they would refuse to go, they were all mindless slaves. One girl was practically jumping around with excitement. Of all feelings I could've felt for her, I felt sympathy. She probably thought that she would be home in less than a year as a hero and simply return to her apartment then and there.

'I hope you've all said your goodbyes to your families because you will never be seeing them again,' I can hear Angela saying from somewhere on my right. I see the girl glance sideways, to a boy who's beginning to tear up. I see her eyes swell up with tears too and watch as she tries to blink them back. She seemed so enthusiastic only seconds ago, is it the mention of her family that has caused this? Of course there's nothing odd about it, I'd expect her and everyone else in the room to be missing their families but it just seems strange that she would cry, she comes off as the sort of girl who shows no emotion, almost like Angela. Though no one can be as good as Angela at hiding their true emotions.

'Now, could you please all follow me out to the carrier.' I stepped out of the way to allow Angela and the trio through the door before spinning and following them.

After sitting in the carrier for three hours straight, my legs are beginning to cramp. When the vehicle finally stops and we are ordered to get out, I do so gladly. Stretching my legs out, I dawdle behind the rest of the chosen as they follow Angela and her trio into the LOE headquarters I have been living in for the past two days. I roll my eyes at the group as they ogle the massive structure, with grand white pillars that are clearly from another age and four storeys worth of labs, control centres and hundreds of other rooms. To them, it's some shiny new toy, a paradise before they leave everything behind forever. But I've been here long enough for the gleam to wear off, to see the crumbling building beneath it.

Passing through the automatic doors, I wait for the group to walk inside before stepping in behind them. Once the doors close behind me, I glance around the entrance hall. The white marble floor and white painted walls remind me of a hospital, just like that room I first stayed in upon coming here. We move through the halls quickly, Angela leading us with her sweeping gait. When we finally stop, I crane my neck to look over the top of everyone, glad to be tall. At the head of the group, Angela and the trio stand before a set of steel doors, punching a passcode into a panel beside it to unlock the doors. A green light blinked just above the panel and the doors slid open to reveal the room behind it. All I can see from where I stand is a blue light coming from the room. As the group moves into the room, I hurry along behind them, curious to see which room we are entering. Despite having spent the past few days in this building, it's far too big for me to explore thoroughly in such a short amount of time. In fact, I hadn't been in this part of the building at all in the time I'd spent here, I'd been restricted to the dorm room they'd given me and it's few surrounding halls. I looked around the room as I stepped inside, taking in the rows and rows of computer screens, giving off the blue glare I saw before. Suddenly, the overhead lights flicker on, forcing me to blink to adjust my eyes.

'Welcome to the control centre from which our expert staff will be assisting you on your journey,' Angela announces. 'Each of you will be given one expert to help throughout your entire mission with whatever questions you have. Each expert has been thoroughly trained on how to survive in space and although they won't be up there with you, they'll have the solution to almost any problem. Of course there will also be another hundred or so unassigned experts in this room at any given time. They will help your expert should they need it as well as track your ship and monitor it, checking daily for signs of any problems with your oxygen levels and your food and water stores. Now, does anyone have any questions?' Her question surprises me, I didn't expect her to be someone who would answer questions. She'd more likely expect everyone to know everything already. Then again, I suppose she has to ask for questions, to ensure that we are all informed so there is no chance of chaos, only organisation. That's what this place runs on because without all the organisation, the population would panic as they would have no one to rely on, to tell them what to do. I hate how these people in the LOE have us all under control, how they influence every second of our lives. Yes, it may be essential for our survival but can't we make our own decisions for once? Sometimes I feel like everyone around is in a trance, obeying their every command and I'm the only one awake, the only one who can think for myself.

'No? Okay then, follow me and I'll take you to the dorm rooms where I'll tell you who you're Paired with,' obediently, the group scurries after Angela, eager to discover their Pairs. I scuttle along behind them, in no rush to get there. We will have to leave Earth behind soon so why rush? Don't they want to stay on a proper planet for as long as they can before they are forced to live on a spaceship for the rest of their lives? Of course, I won't be getting on my assigned spaceship because I'm not leaving this planet.

The next time we stop, I know exactly where we are. This is a hall I know very well by now, it's the hall which contains the dorm room I've been staying in. I lean against the wall, keeping back while the group gathers around Angela and her trio, trembling with excitement. They are so desperate to find out who the person they'll die with is that's it's pathetic. I refrain from rolling my eyes at them while Angela's gaze snaps to mine while she begins to speak. I hold her gaze, pretending to listen but instead I let my mind drift away from me. She rattles of the names of the Pairs and the group around her moves, the Pairs finding each other and squealing with excitement. Then, one name captures my attention.

'Zachary Oscove and Charlotte Desquita,' she calls above the racket. I freeze, my mind immediately going quiet, I have been Paired at last. I feel sorry for the girl I've been Paired with, knowing she'll be left disappointed when I refuse to go. Perhaps she'll get another Pair, perhaps she'll never get to go. But she'll thank me one day, no matter the outcome. She'll either be glad that she didn't have to spend her final moments with me or that she never had to leave at all. I continue to stare at Angela, not bothering to seek the girl out. She can find me herself.