Ch. 3 - Unwanted Assignment

After a few minutes of absorbing the things they just heard, Samantha and the Deputy Administrator began walking back to the main floor.

“What do we tell everyone?” Samantha asks.

“We don’t,” she said dryly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if everyone knows about this, then the press will find out, then the people will find out. We can’t risk anymore panic,” she replied in a stern voice.

Samantha could only stare ahead at the bustling crowd. Jack sees them coming and heads in there direction.

“Are you two alright? That was the biggest one yet.”

“We’re just fine,” the Deputy Administrator answered for both of them.

Jack noticed the expression on Samantha’s face. “Are you alright?”

Time seemed to nearly stop for Samantha. Being a scientist, she is used to releasing all of the information that she knows. She never had to keep a secret before. There wasn't a dishonest bone in her body. She usually had no one to keep the secret from. Now she held the biggest secret she had ever known. Samantha looks at Jack. Then at the Deputy Administrator. "I'm fine," she manages to say. Butterflies fill her stomach. She earned an approving look from the Deputy Administrator.

Jack gives a puzzled look. Then goes back o his office to continue making calls.

Samantha returns to the computers on the main floor, hoping to get her mind off of the secret that she has inside. She sits down with a sigh. How can I keep this terrible news to myself? It seems so wrong not to tell people what there future holds.

⤓ ⤓ ⤓ ⤓ ⤓

"Dr. Cole?" A fellow scientist called.

Samantha looked up from her research.

"The Deputy Administrator wants to see you in the main office."

She nodded and rose from her seat. The main office was a few corridors down. As she walked, she silently wondered why she was wanted. Then she reached the main office and opened the door. Dumbstruck, Samantha stood in the doorway.

"If you wouldn't mind closing the door..." the Deputy Administrator starts.

"Oh! Of course," she manages to avoid sounding like an idiot.

After the door is shut, the Deputy Administrator begins. "Mr. President, this is Dr. Cole. Dr. Cole, this is the president.

"H- Hello," Samantha was still very much surprised. Why did the president want to see her? Was he going to tell her that she is going into space? Was he about to tell her that she would be sacrificed, left behind on earth in a final effort to save it?

"Dr. Cole," the president started, "As you well know, the people of the world are in great danger. And, no doubt, you have heard that the worlds leaders, myself included, held a conference only a short time ago."

Samantha nodded her head. "Yes, sir. I have."

"We have decided that we need people who are strong and determined... People who have had professional training... People like you."

Oh no, here it comes. she thought. He'll lay on the flattery, and then drop the bomb!

"Dr. Cole- Samantha," He took a breath and rested his hand on her shoulder, "We need a group of those kind of people to leave earth. To search for a suitable, life-sustaining planet that can provide a home- a new home -for the citizens of this planet. And you will make a perfect member of that group."

Samantha could do nothing more than just stand there. Wide eyed and stunned.

Further instructions will be waiting for you in your office," he said. After a pause he gave her a small smile, then walked past her toward the door. "I'd like to speak with you in your office later. After I have personally notified all the members of our new team," he said to the Deputy Administrator.

She nodded but kept her gaze on Samantha.

Samantha finally managed to recover and speak. She let out a nervous giggle. "I don't remember being asked."

She gave a sympathetic smile. "That's ok. He never did," she says sarcastically. But Samantha wasn't laughing. "I'm sorry. Are you going to be alright?"

Samantha nodded. Though she was anything but ok.

⤓ ⤓ ⤓ ⤓ ⤓

Back in her office, Samantha picked up the rather thick folder that contained her instructions. “Contains sensitive information,” she read aloud, “The contents are not to be shared with any party other than specified.”

“Sure,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

Opening the folder revealed a collection of papers. All related in some way to her new -unwanted- assignment.

“List of duties... List of mandatory briefings... Goals...” she glanced at the various papers. Then something caught her eye.

“Time I have to prepare?” she stopped at this heading. She felt a rush. Like all the blood was leaving her head. She had never thought about exactly how soon she would be beginning this assignment. Running her hand nervously through her hair, she made herself scan down to the answer to that heading.

Time seemed to stop.

“Ten... Days... Until...” She nearly fainted. She couldn’t believe was she was reading. “Leave... Earth? In only ten days? Why would they choose me? Why?”

Samantha never thought for one single minute of her life about going into space. Not her. Her idea of an adventure would be hiking in the forest somewhere, trying to predict the next big tectonic movement. How- How could she leave her home. Forever. To go out into the unknown. Who knows what’s out there?

“You need to get a hold of yourself, Sam. You’re a professional. Sure, not a professional space explorer. But a professional nonetheless,” she said firmly to herself. “You are going to take this assignment with grace and dignity.”