Chapter One: The Silence Settles

“How much longer will we have to continue hiding, Papa?” A young boy asked his father.

“Not much longer, my boy. I feel her, she is coming soon.” His father replied.

“Who is she?” The young boy asked, his voice dripping with curiosity.

“She doesn’t know who she is, but she is our savior. The last of the Sere, she will bring rise to the Medownians again. She will break us from this tyranny. Only then will we truly be out of hiding.” His father replied, taking a seat next to the young boy.

“Why is it we cannot leave until she returns, papa?” The young boy asked again.

“Because Nikolai, she is our only hope. She will return and we will soon be freed.” His father replied.

Suddenly there was pounding on the door, the young boy and his father exchanged looks. Nikolai ran for the cupboard, while his father held some form of weapon.

Nikolai strained to look through the small slit in the cupboard door. All he saw was the front door being broken down, and 20 guards running into their home. 

“Eianar, you are charged with treason against her imperial highness, the queen. How do you plead?” One of the guards said, taking off his golden helmet.

“Treason?” Nikolai asked himself quietly.

“Her Imperial Highness will not reign much longer, our savior is coming. She will break us from this tyranny.”

Suddenly Nikolai’s eyes filled with tears as the guard raised his weapon to Eianar’s head.

“Where’s your savior now?” The guard asked as he pulled the trigger.

Nikolai held his hands to his mouth as his eyes flooded with tears. He watched his fathers body dissolve into nothing more than ash, as soon as the coast was clear he ran to what was left of his father. He pulled a golden ring from the ashes and held it to his heart as he started crying once again.

She jumped out of her bed in a cold sweat. It was the 3rd time this week she had woken up that way and it was barely even wednesday. She turned and looked at her alarm clock, “03:13” she said to herself.

“Adelaide, is that you?” someone called from downstairs.

“Yes, sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” she replied.

“You didn’t wake me up dear, come downstairs. I’ve made tea.” They called.

Adelaide rolled out of bed and pulled a sweatshirt off of her chair and put it on. She walked out of her room and headed down the stairs.

“Mrs. Laurier, I didn’t mean to disturb you.” Adelaide said while opening the kitchen door.

“Mr. Whitlow? What are you doing here?” Adelaide said, as she saw her foster mother having tea with her boss.

“Ah, Adelaide. Good Morning.” Mr. Whitlow replied.

“Sir, respectfully, you didn’t answer my question.” She shot.

“Well, that’s no way to talk to your boss. And I was just telling your mother about the amazing work you’ve been doing in the science division. And how you have been out doing everyone, despite you being the youngest.” Mr. Whitlow replied, motioning for her to take a seat.

“Foster.” 

“What?” He asked.

“Foster Mother.” Both Adelaide and Mrs.Laurier said at the same time.

“Forgive me.” Mr. Whitlow said, nodding his head.

“No forgive me, Sir, It is 3 in the morning and you happen to be here? I think I would like an explanation.” Adelaide snapped, while Mrs.Laurier put her hand on Adelaide’s.

“I do suppose I owe you an explanation. The Vinicia Shuttle crash landed on pluto.” He said, carefully picking his words.

The room fell silent.

“What does this have to do with me?” Adelaide asked, once again taking her seat.

“On Vinicia, there were samples, samples that are irreplaceable. And Vital to our program-” He went on.

“I know what’s on Vinicia. I will ask again, What does this have to do with me?” She said, taking a sip of the tea.

“Adelaide,you are the only scientist who has training in both flight training and sample recovery. You are also the only person who has passed a flying course with flying colours.” He started.

Mrs. Laurier sat and listened.

“What are you asking of me?” 

“I am asking for you to lead the rescue team. We have reconnaissance experts on that team, but you are the only one who can retrieve the samples.” He replied.

“You can’t ask that of her, Sir. She is just a child.” Mrs. Laurier stated.

“Ma’am, due to the circumstances I have to. We need her.” He said with much sympathy.

Adelaide sat there, with all eyes trained on her, not knowing what to say. Her head was spinning as everyone started screaming and arguing. She slammed her glass on the marble countertop. All eyes were once again trained on young Adelaide.

“I’ll do it.” she blurted.

“Under one circumstance.” She added.

“Yes?” He asked.

“My family will be compensated, whether or not I make it back. That is my circumstance. Take it or leave it.” Adelaide said, making dead eye contact with Mr. Whitlow.

Once she realized she had claimed her dominance. She took another sip of tea. 

Mrs. Laurier looked at her shocked. Shocked that she not only agreed, but that she didn’t think she would make it back.

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