Horizon || ATEEZ Space AU

Chapter 2: The Exam

"Is the question usually on the exam? About the auxiliary engine failure?"

"I don't know, San," the voice sighs through his earpiece, a little muffled from how far away it is. "It's not like I took it more than once."

"But you took the Specialist Proficiency test," San points out, juggling the various sheets of paper sliding out of his notebook. "That counts, doesn't it?"

"I took the Engineer's Specialist Proficiency test, so of course it was on there. You'll need to know how to answer it at some point, assuming you get into the Project." There are some shuffling sounds on the other end before it quiets. "If you're asking me whether the question will be on the acceptance exam, I really have no idea. Anything else you wanted to ask me?"

"No, Haneul, that's everything." San smiles and looks out the tram window, scanning the sky for the shining satellite he knows his sister is on, even as she speaks to him over a comm call. "How are things on the Citadel?"

"Ah, right," she perks up on the other end and the sound of a door sliding shut comes through the line. She must have just gotten back to her room. "About that..."

"What is it?" San sits up straighter in his seat and holds his breath. Has something happened? Is Haneul in trouble?

"No, no, everything's great, don't worry," she rushes to console him, cutting him off before he travels down that path. "I've just been reassigned, that's all."

"Reassigned?" He asks after ruminating for a second. "Not... not fired?"

"Not fired," she concedes. "Not promoted either. Just reassigned. It's normal in the IPF. Eventually we're supposed to settle down with a job at the Citadel and leave the exploration to the new kids-- you guys!"

San blushes and chuckles into the earpiece. Exploration of space. That's assuming he gets in, of course. "What exactly is your new job then?"

"Practically the same," she shrugs, forgetting that he can't see her. "I'm still an engineer, just a domestic officer now. I fix other people's spacecraft and other issues on the Citadel. If you follow in my footsteps, that'll be you one day."

San's laugh softens into a smile. The living in the Citadel part is exciting, but to him the thrill of exploring new worlds is the real selling point of the Horizon Project.

Which brings him back to the notes crowding his booth on the tram. All the intricate concepts and technical instructions he's struggled with are scrawled across page after page in hurried chicken scratch. San didn't think it was possible to cram for a test you've spent your entire life studying for, but here he is in a state of panic because he can finally see the glittering skyscrapers of Seoul coming into view up ahead, and suddenly he's realising that this is actually happening. Regardless of how well he scores, his entire life is about to change. Hopefully for the better.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Haneul's voice interrupts his thoughts. "You've been quiet for too long."

"What if..." San starts off in a whisper. "What if I get rejected? What is everyone back home going to think--"

"San, we've been over this. You'll be fine. No one's going to stop loving you just because you don't pass a stupid test."

"It's not a stupid test, though!" San protests, and then lowers his voice abashedly when the old woman across the aisle shushes him. "The entire village has their expectations on me. Even though everyone knows the chances of two siblings both getting into the Project are slim to none."

"Sannie, there are things other than the Project that are worthwhile, you know. And we're already proud of you- I'm already proud of you. Don't feel like you absolutely have to be just like me at all costs. You should try being you."