Chapter Three

I pulled my hair up into a braid as I walked down the hallway, then flipped it over my shoulder. That’s the only way you can tell me from my sister, by the way. She has a banded ponytail instead, like that one Arabian princess from the really old movie. I like old movies.

I arrived in our kitchen. “Good morning, Charlotte,” our spaceship’s computer Stella said. “Would you like your usual breakfast?”

“Sure,” I said. A second later, I had my eggs and bacon in front of me. I couldn't believe that people used to have to make food themselves. And it took really long, too!

I started eating. A minute later, my twin came downstairs, looking far more peppy than I did, that’s for certain.

“Congratulations!” she said.

I tilted my head. “What?”

“Today’s your special day!” Loretta reminded me. “Remember? The mission for the TTA.”

“That’s right,” I said. It was my first TTA mission without my family… just me and another teenager. I was meeting him today.

“His ship should be arriving any minute,” she said.

I nodded, speed finished my food, and rushed down to the hangar.

He arrived in a TTA cruiser- probably lent to him. I didn’t know much about him except that his name was Silas, only Silas as his birth planet doesn't do last names, he’s an orphan and lives at the Mission Center, and he’s a tech wizard and a Naxos genius- like me.

He opened the door and- I sorta had an instant crush on him, despite the fact that he was green. He looked like basically all the boy models in the old movies that I like, but better. If Tom Holland had green skin and red hair, this would be him.

“Hi,” I whispered.

“Hi,” he said. “Charlotte, right?”

I nodded. “Uh…” ''Remember his name, girl! It's not that hard!''

“Silas,” he reminded me.

“Right! Silas.”

“Should we get started?” he asked. “We have a debriefing in five minutes,” he reminded me.

“Y-yeah!”

We walked to the Naxos room, where a screen had been lit up for us. My dad was in there. “Hey, kiddo,” he said, “I was just finishing the set-up.”

I hugged him. “Thanks, dad.”

“You know, I’m kind of worried about you going on solo missions. Family missions are one thing, but-”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a solo mission. Plus, I’m almost 14, I can take care of myself.”

“Whatever, just be careful.”

“Will do,” I said, and he left.

The screen flashed to life, with Admirals Watson and Crick- one alien, actually, but with two distinctive heads and personalities- starting the video call.

“Silas, Charlotte,” Watson said, “we’re glad you could join us.”

“Yes, there is a big problem!” Crick said. “As big as the planet you’re going to!”

“Quiet, Crick, I’m telling them.”

“Okay, okay, being qui-”

“Ah-hem,” Watson said, clearing his throat. “Anyway, we have a base on a planet called Jessalium.” Charlotte felt Silas tense slightly. “It shut down. We need you to restart it for us.”

Silas jerked his head up. “And why did you call us for something small like this?”

“We fear that something is wrong,” Watson said.

“Really wrong!”

“Crick…”

“Okay, okay!”

“And Silas knows the land,” Watson said with a pointed glance at Silas. “He’ll make sure you get out fine. Tomorrowland Over The Moon-”

“And don’t forget your flashlights!” Crick yelled as the feed cut out.

I shook my head at his silliness. But Silas seemed to have other things on his mind. I saw his eyes darken, but it must have been an illusion. He smiled at me. “Since your family needs their starship- and this is a wonderful starship,” he said, gesturing around the room, “we should take the cruiser the TTA lent to me. Come on, I’ll show you how to get to Jessalium.”

He held his hand out to me. Nervous and blushing, I took it. I shook myself. ''Relax, girl, it's just a mission. Don’t let your heart play tricks on you.''