Cosmic Collisions (Novel)

Chapter Four

Chapter Four:

Monday...

Staring at the all too familiar room that Isla had nightmares of the previous night she walked to the chair on the other side of the table and sat down. Refusing to even look at Mr. Snow, who was sitting opposite her, Isla chose a spot on the plain white wall behind him and appeared to stare right through him.

"So Isla," he started clicking his pen with his left thumb, "your task, as we discussed on your training day yesterday is to leave the space pod with the space suit and save a dying dragon. In view of the meteor shower and storm yesterday however this is going to prove to be much harder,"

You would love that, wouldn't you? Isla thought bitterly still focused on the point of the wall behind him.

"Are you ready?" he asked, excitement dancing in his eyes.

"Yes. I'll be going on alone, right?" Isla replied, half hoping the answer would be no.

"Oh, but of course, then it wouldn't be a trial, now would it?" Mr. Snow said, this time with an encouraging smile. Allowing herself to smile back, Isla then followed him into yet another corridor that she hadn't seen before. Even though she'd been in the same space pod her whole life as she walked she felt as if she'd hardly lived there at all. Mr. Snow led her down to yet another hallway. Isla gaped as she realised that the door she saw before her was the same one she'd seen Luca go through in the emotional trial just a few days prior as her other self stayed behind.

There was another IGF officer who clutched Isla's space suits if her life depended on it. Isla's heart thumped against her chest and blood rushed up to her ears making it impossible to hear if anyone had spoken to her at that moment.

"Thank you," Isla whispered barely audible. They both helped her get into the space suit, which proved to be more difficult than they'd anticipated. The woman Intergalactic Federation officer checked the adjustments on it and before Isla pressed the button to lower the bubble visor, she spoke, "Your task today is to save an injured Whale-dragon, who is currently laying on a massive meteor. Just be warned that the dragon could fall off and float away into the abyss," the woman paused and Isla shivered as the lady continued, "This is why you're going to have a rope tied around your waist the entire time,"

"We will both be holding you, while also assessing your methods," Mr. Snow added. Isla nodded trying to avoid her ever growing fear. They helped her to secure the rope and she swallowed the bile rising in her throat, her heart unable to beat steadily.

"Any questions?" the woman asked.

So many.

But Isla simply said, "When I've reached the dragon, how am I supposed to get it back here? Or am I supposed to at all?"

"Use this,"

Mr. Snow and the woman, who Isla later found out was Ms. Clayton, handed her a tiny bag no larger than Finley's A5 sketchbook.

"Don't worry. It looks small, but with IGF's technology it can fit two dragons and one Pluto-jelly. All you have to do is get their tail into the bag and it will do the rest," Ms. Clayton replied.

"Right and will this hurt the dragon further?" Isla asked. They both just shook their heads as she continued to speak, "one last question, are Charlotte and Elliot going to do the same thing?"

"Elliot is, yes," Mr. Snow answered looking at his watch, "okay. We've got to get moving. Remember we've got you at all times,"

What about Charlotte? Isla also wanted to ask how they were going to be able to see her movements when they were safely contained in the space pod. Without responding she neared the door when the screeching sound of the ramp almost deafened her. Pushing the button of her visor, Isla continued a determined look on her face. She was going to do this, even if it killed her. Finally for what seemed like an eternity to her she reached the edge of the ramp and jumped.