Thetis Intergalatic

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Five Years Later

Alexandra Church gnawed on the corner of her lip while no one was looking. In her career, she'd been through gateways multiple times, perhaps dozens if she was feeling generous. But the auburn headed commander could never rid the butterflies which invaded her innards at the sight of the generation's greatest innovation.

Having just stepped into Central Station, rows of technicians sat at mounted monitors, leading up to the gateway, a pair of double doors, controlled by the station's basement super computer. Alex stood beside her superiors, Francis, their captain, and Sullivan, his first officer. Though both had confided their apprehension to her, Alex refused to believe their impassive faces did not reflect an inward calm.

As they entered the room, Frank placed his hand on her shoulder. He gave her a rare smile; curling dark skin and bright eyes. “Couldn't have picked a better woman for the job.” He had a deep voice which mirrored his broad shoulders.

Alex broke away, reassured but anxious to appear more confident at her new post. As second officer, all of the technicians were at her hierarchical mercy; she'd need their respect more than anything.

“You know we'll be only a step away from Earth,” Frank continued.

“That's not what I'm worried about.” Her blue eyes were fixated on the crease in the double doors. “No one has ever traveled so far through a gateway. We won't be going to the Moon, or even our own solar system. This is … “

“Unprecedented? I won't argue and claim there are no risks.”

A cheerier voice piped in. “Look at the benefits, though. We'll make history – us, three,” Sullivan said. When he smiled and arched his eyebrows, deep creases bent his skin and wrinkled the edges of his grey-ginger hair. The first officer wrapped an arm over the captain's shoulders; the two had known each other since their years at the Aerospace Academy, and despite their polarizing personalities they were thicker than blood. Alex couldn't help but think she was intruding.

“Speaking of which,” Sully began, “I need to have a quick word with our friend here.” He pointed toward Frank who regarded him warily. 

Alex peered over her shoulder, catching the fleeting glances of the technicians; one strayed just a moment too long. “Don't keep him too long, I hear our boss might make an appearance,” she said with a slight grin.

Sully snorted. “She better. History, I'm telling you.” The second officer turned and strolled to the corner of the room. Their captain looking back momentarily and eyed her, wordlessly warning her against causing trouble in his short absence.

Alex made her way to the fourth row of computer monitors. At the end of the row, a tall, mousy hair girl typed at a speed faster than most could witness. Her headset, a curved device situated between her skull and her right ear, blinked occasionally as the technician controlled it with minute movements. Alex tapped her shoulder.

The technician nearly jumped from her seat, her heavy spectacles almost toppling from the tip of her nose. “Shit!” she blurted under her breath, sparing a cursory glance at Alex before returning to her work. “You gave me quite a start,” she said, shaking her head. In the nearly silent room, the female tech caught the attention of her coworkers for a moment.

“I just thought I'd introduce myself.” Somehow, the girl's awkwardness gave Alex more confidence in her new post.

“You noticed me staring, didn't you?” the girl giggled. “I've heard of you once before, Alex Church. I'm sorry – it's just you're much younger than I expected.”