“I wish we could have adventures like we did then.” Jaron had a faraway look in his eyes.
“It sounds like what you have planned is a pretty good new adventure.”
“It is, but it’s so…” he shrugged, “it’s not exactly like it stimulates the imagination. It’s just recruiting people to tell our world leaders that we want the Consortium to have fair governance.”
“Adults don’t get to have adventures. Not like that. We get piled down in paperwork and practicality and the world around us grows mundane.” I said. That’s why I loved research so much. I could go out and experience something different. It fed something in my soul.
We ate and started back to work, taking a wide loop around the campus. We were coming around a building when we saw our dean with the university president, a rare sight since the president rarely left her office and was usually busy schmoozing people who could give generous donations to the university.What made the sight even more concerning was the three clearly high-ranking Consortium Military officers.
“What do you think is going on?” Curiosity glinted in Jaron’s eyes.
“No idea, but whatever it is, we should avoid it. Let’s go this way.” We had only just stepped onto a path that would lead us around another building, out of sight of the group, when President Sharpe looked our way and said something to her companions. Our dean turned in our direction and waved, almost frantically.
I sighed. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
“Because after being an adult for so long you’re not as attuned to adventure as you should be.”
“This is not the kind of adventure I need. Unless they want to give me my year’s worth of work back.” I grumbled, thoroughly soured by seeing the two men and one woman in the same uniform as those who’d barged in and taken the most exciting research I’d ever had.
Reluctantly, I followed a step behind my overly enthusiastic brother as he headed down the wide stone path to the group that was now all looking at us with rapt attention.
Yes, I had a really bad feeling about this.
Chapter 2
“A xenoarchaeological cultural research mission, off planet?” I could hardly believe my ears. My heart gave a leap of excitement. This was a dream come true. And yet… “what’s the catch?”
The officer who had done most of the speaking after politely but firmly telling Jaron, Dean Romo, and President Sharpe to leave, put his hands up. “There is no catch, Jacqueline. We want you to be able to do the work that you’re so good at.”
As much as it pained me, I waited. I knew better than to dive in and agree to something that sounded too good to be true.
“This planet is largely uninhabited and the area you'll work in has been abandoned by the vorpyr for some time.” The woman to the right of the first officer spoke. Her companions glanced at her. “You would get to be one of the first to actually study an abandoned part of an alien civilization, andthefirst to studya vorpyr civilization. We'll outfit you with a ship, and after running background on the team you select, they can go as well. The only thing we ask in return is copies of your notes and findings, and a debriefing.”
I tried not to let my growing excitement show. I wanted this so badly. Would it really hurt to deal with these people a little more to get my dream field mission? I had nothing against the Triplanetary Consortium or their military. It had just been the taking of my work that had frustrated me so badly. Now they were offering me aspaceshipto take the team of my choice. This would likely be the most amazing experience I would get in my lifetime.
“What is the timeline you’re looking at for the trip?” I pretended not to see the look of victory in the officer’s eyes.
The one who hadn’t spoken yet, another man, said, “I can get your team outfitted and a pilot assigned to you in seven weeks. It will take you a week to reach it, and you’ll be on-planet for two weeks to a month, entirely dependent on your decision when you’re there doing your work.”
Seven weeks of prepping for a research expedition like this was not a lot of time, but I knew the best in their fields and I was certain that I could get them to come with me. I was also thrilled to learn that I had a say in how long we stayed. It would definitely be a month. I already wished it could be more. Iwassurprised that they would be able to get it to me so quickly. Had they planned for me to say yes ahead of time?
“You'll need to send us the names and contact information of the people that you will want on your team by the end of next week. For planet security reasons we will go through a deep background check and interview each person,” the woman said.
“I'll do that.” Every time they spoke I became more concerned about why they’d suddenly decided to greenlight this expedition, despite what they’d said about only requesting my “notes andfindings.” I also wondered what the debriefing entailed. When I asked, they brushed it off, assuring me it would just be a conversation between them and us about our discoveries.
After I asked several more questions regarding logistics, they left.
I sat for a moment, trying to collect myself as my heart raced and excitement had my mind buzzing with what I would need to prepare and who I would need to contact.
I was light and happy as I left the room, like I’d been given wings.
Jaron was pacing outside the door. He arched an eyebrow when he saw me. “I wasn't expecting you to look so jovial after a visit with the Consortium Military. In fact, I was worried I would have to bust in and rescue you. And you know how bad I look in orange.”
A grin flashed across my face. “Let’s talk about this at dinner after work. I’m cooking steaks.”
“You’re making me nervous.” Jaron eyed me.
“See you at my house at seven.” I was too mature to skip, but the prospect of another research mission, one that fit into everything I loved to do, filled me with delight. I loved studying the cultures of my own planet, and now I could truly study the language and cultures ofother species,sanctioned. Without my work being taken from me.
